Written Answers of 1 March 1989

HOME DEPARTMENT

  "The Satanic Verses"
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite the Commission for Racial Equality and the local police community liaison committees set up under the Police and Criminal Justice Act to clarify to the leaders of ethnic minority groups that he has no power to ban the publication of Mr. Salman Rushdie's hook, "The Satanic Verses."

  Mr. Hurd
  The Minister of State and I have taken every opportunity to explain the position directly to the Moslem communities. My impression is that their representatives are well aware that I have no power to ban the publication of Mr. Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses". I welcome the press statement by the Commission for Racial Equality, sent to all community relations councils, condemning the Ayatollah's statements, paying tribute to the way Moslems have adapted to the requirements of this country and calling for tolerance. I also welcome what the police are doing to explain the legal position to community leaders through various channels of communication; police community consultative groups are available for this purpose.

  Lynx Ltd.
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an inquiry into the charitable status of the company known as Lynx Ltd.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand that Lynx Ltd. is not a charity.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time spent in custody by prisoners awaiting trial, and what was the comparable figure for 1979.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest readily available information was published in table 2.1 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1987" (Cm. 547), a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Complaints Against the Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year and by police force for each of the last five years the number of civil cases that have been taken out against the police and the number of cases that were proved; what was the disciplinary action taken; what compensation was paid out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information is available centrally only in respect of the Metropolitan police. For that force the available information is as follows:
  182

  Year

  Awards made by the courts

  Total amount paid

  Settlements out of court

  Total amount paid

  1984

  7

  £15,617

  37

  £162,986

  1985

  7

  £13,949

  56

  £193,558

  1986

  10

  £46,836

  52

  £330,332

  1987

  6

  £11,233

  63

  £173,714

  1988

  17

  £107,035

  49

  £250,556

  Corresponding information for other forces, and details of any disciplinary action taken are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Eamonn John Wadley
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his correspondence with the hon. Member for Leyton concerning Mr. Eamonn John Wadley, if he will name the doctors who decided that he could be interrogated; if he will direct them to explain their reasons for disagreeing with Mr. Wadley's private doctor and the police surgeon who regarded such interrogation as not suitable because of Mr. Wadley's state of health; why they made their decision after Mr. Wadley's doctor and the police surgeon had left the scene; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards interrogation of individuals with a history of recurrent mental illness.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 lays down a statutory procedure for investigating complaints against police. Under this procedure it is open to Mr. Wadley to make a complaint, or for anyone else to do so on his behalf, if he considers that there was misconduct on the part of a police officer during the time he spent in police custody.

  Guidance to the police on interviewing suspects who are mentally ill or mentally handicapped is contained in the code of practice for the Detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers, issued in accordance with the 1984 Act.

  Drugs
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the value of drugs seized by the police, for the most recent five years for which figures are available, in(a) Derby, (b) Preston, (c) Darlington, (d) Slough, (e) Luton and (f) Gloucester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Criminal Justice Legislation
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish the findings of the working group in connection with proposals for changes to criminal justice legislation.

  Mr. John Patten
  I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the working group set up last year to advise on changes in the law relating to the right of silence. My right hon. Friend expects to receive the working group's report around Easter, and to arrange publication thereafter.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library revised
  183
  tables 2 and 3 of the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1987" (Cm. 515) relating to the number of procedures recorded under safety studies.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The errors are regretted. Revised copies of the tables have been placed in the Library today. Corrected figures will be published in the 1988 statistics in the middle of this year.

  Broadcasting (Gaelic and Welsh)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of hours in(a) Gaelic and (b) Welsh broadcast by (i) BBC1 and BBC2 and (ii) ITV, C4 and S4C in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: The relevant broadcasting organisations have provided the following information. The figures given are for new programming only and do not include the significant number of repeat programmes shown in each category each year.

  Table 1

  Transmission hours for Gaelic language programmes

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  BBC

  20·0

  21·5

  30·0

  42·0

  16·0

  Grampian14

  19·5

  19·5

  28·5

  43·5

  32·0

  Scottish Television24

  23·0

  21·5

  26·5

  28·5

  29·0

  TOTAL

  62·5

  62·5

  85·0

  114·0

  77·0

  Persons received into prison service establishments in England and Wales as unsentenced prisoners: by outcome of court proceedings and ethnic origin, 1986

  Percentage

  Outcome

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese Arab Mixed Origin

  Other, not recorded, refusal

  All persons

  Found not guilty or not proceeded against

  4

  8

  9

  7

  6

  4

  Non-custodial or freed on rising

  31

  28

  24

  31

  33

  30

  Received under sentence

  54

  46

  51

  49

  28

  52

  Outcome not recorded

  12

  18

  16

  13

  34

  13

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  (Number of receptions)

  (53,180)

  (6,307)

  (1,174)

  (1,303)

  (1,523)

  (63,487)

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the composition of the remand and sentenced prison population by ethnic background of(a) Holloway, (b) Brixton, (c)

  Population1 of specified Prison Service establishments on 30 June 1988: by establishment, type of prisoner and ethnic origin

  Number

  Establishment and type of prisoner

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin

  Other, not recorded, refusal

  All origins

  Holloway:

  Untried

  118

  79

  5

  9

  53

  264

  Convicted unsentenced

  28

  5

  —

  3

  5

  41

  Sentenced

  101

  50

  2

  5

  6

  164

  Non-criminal

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  184

  Table 2

  Transmission hours for Welsh language programmes—shown on S4C3

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  BBC

  443

  495

  568

  466

  546

  ITV

  400

  442

  508

  454

  480

  Independent producers

  192

  184

  206

  217

  253

  TOTAL

  1,035

  1,121

  1,282

  1,137

  1,279

  1These figures include some material made by Scottish Television and broadcast by Grampian.

  2These figures include some material made by Grampian Television and broadcast by Scottish Television.

  3S4C, the Welsh Fourth Language channel transmits programmes.

  4ITV

  Prisoners
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of people remanded in custody and classified as(a) white, (b) West Indian, Guyanese, African, (c) Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and (d) Chinese, Arab and mixed origin were given a non-custodial sentence during 1987, or for the latest date available;

  (2) what percentage of prisoners who were remanded in custody and who were classified as (a) white, (b) West Indian, Guyanese, African, (c) Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and (d) Chinese, Arab and mixed origin were eventually acquitted or not proceeded with in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: The information for 1986 is given in the table. The latest information, for 1987, is a less reliable guide because for a large proportion—one fifth—the outcome of court proceedings is not recorded.

  Wormwood scrubs, (d) Wandsworth, (e) Pentonville, (f) Birmingham, (g) Manchester and (h) Liverpool for the latest date available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: The latest readily available information is given in the table.
  185

  Establishment and type of prisoner

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin

  Other, not recorded, refusal

  All origins

  All prisoners

  249

  135

  7

  17

  64

  472

  Brixton:

  Untried

  411

  156

  15

  16

  15

  613

  Convicted unsentenced

  113

  40

  5

  1

  8

  167

  Sentenced

  226

  59

  10

  5

  1

  301

  Non-criminal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All prisoners

  750

  255

  30

  22

  24

  1,081

  Wormwood Scrubs:

  Untried

  324

  201

  26

  19

  19

  589

  Convicted unsentenced

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sentenced

  354

  67

  20

  12

  8

  461

  Non-criminal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All prisoners

  678

  268

  46

  31

  27

  1,050

  Wandsworth:

  Untried

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Convicted unsentenced

  55

  2

  —

  1

  2

  60

  Sentenced

  1,073

  298

  41

  44

  21

  1,477

  Non-criminal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All prisoners

  1,128

  300

  41

  45

  23

  1,537

  Pentonville:

  Untried

  169

  84

  16

  8

  6

  283

  Convicted unsentenced

  87

  6

  4

  3

  —

  100

  Sentenced

  353

  57

  8

  6

  6

  430

  Non-criminal

  15

  5

  2

  3

  1

  26

  All prisoners

  624

  152

  30

  20

  13

  839

  Birmingham:

  Untried

  332

  66

  35

  8

  17

  458

  Convicted unsentenced

  32

  6

  5

  —

  4

  47

  Sentenced

  461

  79

  26

  19

  5

  590

  Non-criminal

  6

  2

  5

  —

  1

  14

  All prisoners

  831

  153

  71

  27

  27

  1,109

  Manchester2:

  Untried

  515

  39

  23

  24

  12

  613

  Convicted unsentenced

  143

  8

  —

  1

  4

  156

  Sentenced

  928

  43

  27

  14

  3

  1,015

  Non-criminal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All prisoners

  1,586

  90

  50

  39

  19

  1,784

  Liverpool:

  Untried

  6

  —

  —

  —

  3

  9

  Convicted unsentenced

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Sentenced

  1,306

  26

  7

  14

  21

  1,374

  Non-criminal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All prisoners

  1,318

  26

  7

  14

  24

  1,389

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate.

  2 Remand centre and local prison.

TRANSPORT

  Short Sea Europe Conference
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be sending a representative to the short sea Europe conference on 14 to 15 March.

  Mr. Portillo
  Yes.

  Grid-lock Traffic Jams
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to prevent grid-lock traffic jams; and when he intends to implement action throughout the country.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The term "grid-lock" relates mainly to traffic jams that occur in city centres. Often these are the result of particular incidents such as breakdowns.186
  The police have primary responsibility for controlling the: movement of traffic. Local highway authorities are. responsible for the construction and management of most urban roads. They and the police are able to call on a wide range of traffic management techniques and technology to ease traffic flow.

  In London, where congestion is particularly heavy, my right hon. Friend has issued a statement which sets out his policies for improving traffic conditions. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Picnic Areas
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will give the number of picnic areas with toilet facilities proposed by his Department, the cost per site and the anticipated dates of opening;
  187
  (2) what considerations he has given to appointing a private contractor to operate the picnic sites proposed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We propose the provision of six further picnic sites on all-purpose trunk roads in England. The estimated cost per site ranges between £52,000 and £300,000. Five of the sites are due to open before the end of 1989, and the sixth is planned to open in 1992.

  Our policy is to arrange for the general management and maintenance of picnic areas to be carried out by county councils as agent authorities. A small catering facility is also provided at many picnic areas. About half of the existing 26 sites have one and it is intended to provide one at each of the six proposed sites. Private contractors are appointed to operate all such catering facilities. The contractors are selected by competitive tender.

  Ferries (Vehicle Weights)
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to discuss with our EEC partners a requirement for all vehicles using roll-on roll-off passenger vessels to be weighed; and whether he will consider extending this to non-passenger vessels.

  Mr. Portillo
  There have been discussions with European shipping administrations about the United Kingdom regulations requiring the weighing of goods vehicles before loading on passenger ro-ro vessels. Whilst most Administrations have appreciated the value of our regulations, the extent to which they are likely to take such measures themselves is not clear.

  I have no plans at present to extend the regulations to non-passenger ro-ro vessels.

  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to extend the requirements of Statutory Instrument 1988 No. 1275 concerning the weighing of vehicles using roll-on roll-off passenger vessels to foreign registered ships.

  Mr. Portillo
  A draft order extending the Merchant Shipping (Weighing of Goods Vehicles and Other Cargo) Regulations 1988 to non-United Kingdom ships will be laid this week. Subject to the appropriate parliamentary approval the new regulations will come into force on 31 March.

  Chelmsford Bypass
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when emergency telephones will be installed on the A12 bypass at Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It is not general policy to site emergency telephones on non-motorway trunk roads given the other telephone facilities frequently available. We are to announce shortly a limited number of sites where we propose to install such telephones because of the particular need for them there. It is not currently planned to site one on the A12 bypass at Chelmsford.

  British Island Airways
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the appeal was lodged by British Island Airways to his Department regarding the 188
  Gatwick-Glasgow, Gatwick-Edinburgh and Gatwick-Manchester routes; when he will make his decision; and what is the reason for the delay.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The appeal was lodged on 23 August 1988. It was one of a number of cases resulting from licensing decisions which followed the merger of British Airways and British Caledonian. My right hon. Friend's decision on the appeal was issued on 22 February.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Rear Seat Belts by Children) Act 1988 will be brought into operation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Act requires that the regulations to give effect to the legislation have first to be approved by Parliament. We have today published draft regulations, together with an explanatory memorandum, for public consultation. Copies have been placed in the Library. Comments are invited by 2 May.

  Our intention is to bring the draft regulations before the House shortly, with a view to their coming into effect during the summer.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Single European Market
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of opportunities that exist for the wood processing industry in the United Kingdom on the completion of the single internal market in Europe in 1992.

  Mr. Maude
  The reduction in administrative and technical barriers will provide opportunities for companies throughout the United Kingdom in many business areas and industries. The Government are making every effort to ensure that United Kingdom companies take the necessary action to prepare for the single market.

  Dolls' House Furniture
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to lay an order prohibiting the manufacture, sale and display of doll's house furniture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  No. I am consulting about the implementation of the European Community dangerous imitations directive 87/357/EEC. The directive prohibits the supply of articles, which, because of their similarity to foodstuffs, endanger health and safety of consumers, especially children. The regulations will not apply to food imitations that do not constitute a hazard, but concern has been expressed about the possibility that the directive may affect imitation food supplies with dolls' houses. All comments made during the current consultation will be carefully considered before final decisions on implementation are made.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans to seek to amend the Financial Services Act 1986.
  189
  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State has today published a consultative document proposing two amendments to the Financial Services Act. The first amendment would provide a new basis for the assessment by the Securities and Investments Board of the rules of a self-regulating organisation. The second amendment would enhance the ability of the board and of recognised self-regulating organisations, when carrying out functions under the Act, to rely upon other regulators of the same or similar kinds of financial services. It is intended to effect any changes by means of amendments to the Companies Bill currently being considered in another place. Comments are invited on the proposals by 31 March. A copy of the consultative document has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Telephone Calls (Overcharging)
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will call for a report from the Director General of Telecommunications providing figures, expressed in percentage terms of total calls, of failure rates of British Telecom metering equipment resulting in overcharging for telephone calls for the latest period for which figures are available(a) in the Stroud exchange area, (b) in the Sevenoaks area, and (c) nationally.

  Mr. Maude
  The Director General of Telecommunications already takes a close interest in the accuracy of metering. On 29 June 1988, he announced the establishment of a new scheme for the approval of public telecommunications operators' metering and billing systems. Under this scheme, the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications will grant approval to systems which meet a performance standard and the British Standards Institution will undertake routine independent monitoring of quality control procedures. The scheme is currently being implemented. I understand that the director general is already considering the particular issues that my hon. Friend raises and that he will write to my hon. Friend directly once his considerations are complete.

  Directory Inquiries
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will direct Oftel to discuss with the chairman of British Telecom whether there has been any diminution in the standard of service and efficiency offered by British Telecom's directory inquiries unit following the transfer of all standard directory telephone numbers on to computer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The Director General of Telecommunications already keeps such matters under review. It is for him to decide which issues he should raise with British Telecom, but I shall draw my hon. Friend's interest to the director general's attention.

  British Telecom's six-monthly quality of service reports include information on directory inquiry services. I understand that the latest report is available in the Library of the House.

  Gas Prices
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the price of firm gas charged to large industrial gas users in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Spain, (d) Luxembourg, (e) Belgium, (f) Italy, (g) West Germany and (h) Holland; what is the price per therm in each of these countries; and what effect any disparity in these figures has upon British industry's competitive position in the European Community, the world and in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to the recent study by the Office of Gas Supply "The EEC Industrial Gas Market" for data on the six main gas-consuming countries of the EEC; comparable figures for Spain and Luxembourg are not available. The relative price of gas is only one of many factors affecting British companies' competitive position.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the effect that British Gas's present policies relating to the pricing of firm gas to large industrial users has upon British industry's competitiveness in(a) the European Community, (b) the world and (c) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on gas (Cm. 500) indicated that British Gas's policy of extensive discrimination in the pricing of firm gas placed an arbitrary cost disadvantage on some of its large industrial users, thereby distorting competition in the markets in which they operate. Part of the action taken following publication of the report, as announced by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 19 October 1988, is to require British Gas not to supply gas to any one contract customer on terms which are more or less favourable than the terms on which it supplies other contract customers with similar volumes, load factors, provision for interruptibility and other relevant conditions of supply.

  Nicaragua and Kampuchea
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the value of exports to, and imports from, Nicaragua for the years 1986, 1987 and 1988; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what was the value of exports to, and imports from, Nicaragua as a proportion of the European Community's total figure for the years 1986, 1987 and 1988; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what was the value of exports to, and imports from, Kampuchea for the years 1986, 1987 and 1988; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what was the value of exports to, and imports from, Kampuchea as a proportion of the European Community's total figure for the years 1986, 1987 and 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The available information is in the tables:
  191

  United Kingdom and European Community trade1

  (i) Exports

  million ECUs

  Total EC exports to:

  United Kingdom exports to:

  World2

  Nicaragua

  Kampuchea

  Nicaragua

  Kampuchea

  1986

  341,934

  150·2

  2·3

  11·0

  0·3

  1987

  339,338

  132·5

  2·7

  11·2

  0·6

  1988 January to June3

  170,465

  39·0

  1·5

  3·7

  0·3

  (ii) Imports

  million ECUs

  Total EC imports from:

  United Kingdom imports from:

  World2

  Nicaragua

  Kampuchea

  Nicaragua

  Kampuchea

  1986

  334,564

  146·7

  0·4

  2·4

  0·1

  1987

  340,058

  84·6

  0·3

  1·2

  0·1

  1988 January to June3

  183,950

  43·3

  0·1

  0·3

  0·0

  1 Special trade.

  2 Trade with non-EC countries.

  3 EC excludes Greece.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Thanet Working Group
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Thanet working group and action taken following publication of the Thanet working group report.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of a progress report by the working group, entitled "Thanet into the 1990s". I am grateful to those in the local authorities and other organisations who have played their part in the activities of the group and the production of this report.

  The business improvement services scheme which DTI launched less than a year ago, has been a success. Two companies supported by this scheme have gone on to win national prizes for marketing and enterprise. Our enterprise initiative business consultancy scheme has also been attractive to Thanet firms. Up to the end of 1988, more than 30 companies had received application forms and a dozen business reviews, for which the DTI pays the full cost, had been completed. The DTI's enterprise and education initiative adviser for Kent is paying special attention to the needs of Thanet.

  Thanet now enjoys European Community employment area status. A major business park development is in train as the working group recommended. United Kingdom and foreign-owned firms are starting to take an interest in the area. Communications are being improved.

  Many of the recommendations that the working group put forward just over a year ago have been followed up, but there is still work to be done. We know that local communities and agencies will continue to tackle the area's development needs with commitment and enthusiasm.

  The DTI south-east's area office in Reigate and our office in Margate, in Thanet itself, are well placed to offer advice and help and necessary contact with all Departments.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Indirect Taxation
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of central Government revenue was raised by indirect taxation in the latest year for which 192
  figures are available; and what information he has on the corresponding figures for the other member states of the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Major
  The latest directly comparable OECD figures are for 1986. They show the percentage of total general Government taxes and social security contributions derived from indirect taxes.

  Percentage of total taxes and social security contributions derived from indirect taxes

  1986

  Belgium

  25

  Denmark

  39

  France

  35

  Federal Republic of Germany

  30

  Greece

  50

  Italy

  28

  Netherlands

  27

  Spain

  35

  United Kingdom

  43

  Source: Economic Trends, January 1989.

  Casinos
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was received in the latest available year from(a) the licensing of casinos and (b) the taxation of casinos gaming.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the financial year 1987–88, a total of £58,000 accrued from the licensing of gaming premises and £61 million from the duty on gross gaming yield.

  VAT
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to make an announcement concerning the rate of value added tax that he will apply to the supply of water and sewerage services respectively to commercial and industrial users, and other items currently not subject to that tax, in accordance with the ruling of the court of the European Economic Community of 21 June 1988, and state for each commodity the range of tax permitted by that ruling together with the range of estimated annual yields.
  193
  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) on 6 February at columns 548–50.

  EC Fraud Inspectorate
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what approach or request has been received by Her Majesty's Government from the Commission of the European Economic Community concerning resources for the expansion of its fraud inspectorate; and what response he has made to such requests.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Commission proposed additional posts for anti-fraud work in the 1988 and 1989 preliminary draft budgets. The posts were part of a wider staffing bid which the United Kingdom was not able to accept in full. But the Government have consistently supported the Commission as regards the anti-fraud posts.

  VAT (Zero-rating)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the assurances given by Her Majesty's Government on the alteration of zero-rating includes domestic water supplies, books, magazines and periodicals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 February 1989]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Foot) in the debate on indirect tax harmonisation on 11 May 1988 at column 412.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Statistics
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total public and private aid and investment from the United Kingdom to under developed countries during 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The figures are not yet available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Plastic Bullets
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times plastic bullets have been used since they came into use; what were the circumstances at each incident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information requested by the right hon. Member has been held in the Library since August 1984. Details of incidents prior to this period are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  I am writing to the hon. Member with the information for 1988, in which 3,109 plastic baton rounds were fired and I shall place a copy of my letter in the Library. The higher number of plastic baton rounds fired during 1988 than in 1987 was largely in response to widespread rioting in West Belfast during March and August.

  Emergency Provisions Acts
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to accept the recommendations made by Lord Colville in his review of the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts 1978 and 1987.

  Mr. Tom King
  I warmly welcome Lord Colville's report. It contains a number of important recommendations both for the short and medium term. In particular I welcome his recommendations that certain powers in the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 can now be allowed to lapse. These are section 24, under which the security forces have the power to call upon assemblies to disperse, paragraph 4 of schedule 3 under which the Royal Ulster Constabulary may impose directions on the conduct of funerals, and paragraph 5 of schedule 3 under which the Secretary of State has a power to close licensed premises, clubs and so on by order. The draft order and regulations that have been laid before the House today will allow these provisions to lapse, apart from one section of paragraph 4 of schedule 3 which gives the Royal Ulster Constabulary the power to require people taking part in funerals to travel in vehicles.

  The fact that these provisions are being allowed to lapse demonstrates the Government's purpose in keeping the emergency law under review, and in making adjustments where these are justified. I will be giving careful consideration over the coming months to some other recommendations in Lord Colville's report which have implications for the longer term.

  Prisoners (Education)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provisions are made for prisoners wishing to continue their studies while in prison at all levels of education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 February 1989]: There is an education service in every prison and young offenders' centre in Northern Ireland, and, except for those who are in custody for very short periods, all prisoners—including those on remand—are offered continuing education on a voluntary basis throughout the period of their imprisonment. This enables the majority of prisoners to continue with studies that may have been interrupted by their arrest and subsequent imprisonment. It also allows adult prisoners, not previously involved in any educational activities, a second chance to further their education. The service is orientated towards the needs of the individual and all programmes and courses reflect those needs.

  The range of subjects taught runs from adult basic education through to Open university level and prisoners are prepared for the various public examinations—for example, GCSE; A-levels; Royal Society Arts; City and. Guilds of London Institute. Statistics available for the 1987–88 academic year show that about 47 per cent. of the. total prison population were involved in some form of education. Of this, 28 per cent. were enrolled in basic education, 55 per cent. were enrolled in examination classes and the remaining 17 per cent. were enrolled in social-leisure classes.

  In addition, 86 were involved in Open University degree courses, five of whom completed their degrees in this academic year.
  195
  A comprehensive library service is available to all prisoners, with 35,000 books on loan from the various education and library boards. About 60 per cent. of the prison population use this facility.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the ratio of teachers to prisoners in Northern Ireland over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 February 1989]: A total of 12 full-time and approximately 70 part-time teachers are employed in providing the education service to prisoners. This number has remained fairly constant over the past five years and works out at a student-teacher ratio of between 1:5 and 1:6. Problems of security, control and layout of Northern Ireland prisons militate against a more economical ratio such as might be expected in mainstream education.

WALES

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to make provision for the use of Welsh in forms relating to the community charge.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The introduction of the community charge provides an excellent opportunity to enhance the use of the Welsh language in local government administration. Under existing legislation district councils are not obliged to provide rate demands in Welsh and, while many choose to do so, others do not.

  We propose that, as a minimum, all those liable for the community charge will have a right to receive their community charge demand in Welsh if they require it. District councils who choose to send out demands in English will have to state clearly on that demand that a version in Welsh will be available on request. We will be prescribing the content of both the English and Welsh demands by regulation so there will be no translation burden for local authorities.

  We will also be prescribing a bilingual version of the demand which local authorities will be encouraged to adopt. I hope that eventually all authorities will issue bilingual demands as a matter of course. But if they wish, they will be able by resolution of the council to use the English or Welsh versions instead. Even if some councils choose to use the English version of the demand, Welsh speakers in those areas will be able to request a community charge demand in Welsh.

  I propose that similar arrangements should apply for the issue of non-domestic rate demands from April 1990.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Scottish Universities (Funding)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received seeking the establishment of a Scottish university funding committee.

  Mr. Jackson
  None since debates on various amendments during the passage of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the percentage change in average class size and the total number of pupils in nursery, primary and secondary education since 1979.

  Mr. Butcher
  The information requested is given for maintained schools in England in the table. Class sizes relate to those taught by one teacher during a selected period on the day of the census count in January. They do not necessarily represent the pattern of classes over the academic year as a whole. The average class size in maintained nursery schools is not available centrally.

  Percentage

  January each year

  1979

  1988

  Change

  Average size of class taught by one teacher

  Primary1

  25·9

  25·4

  -1·9

  Secondary1

  21·0

  19·9

  -5·2

  Total pupils on roll in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools (Thousands)1

  8,438·9

  6,965·0

  -17·5

  1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  Logica Report
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the management consultants Logica, commissioned by his Department to carry out a study of information requirements relating to teachers, to report; and if he will publish that report.

  Mr. Butcher
  The final report from Logica Consultancy Ltd. was considered by the Department's information systems steering committee on 24 February 1989. Work is now in hand to enable the Department to make proposals to local education authorities and others. Meanwhile I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  >University Salaries
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to set up a review of university salaries; and what terms of reference he intends for such a review.

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

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to intervene in order to assist a settlement in the current dispute regarding the remuneration of university teachers; and what proposals he has for bringing about a meeting of committee A, or asking the chairman of committee A to exercise his powers as an arbitrator.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend is in correspondence with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Association of University Teachers, about their dispute.

  Under the existing arrangements committee A brings together representatives of the vice-chancellors and of the university teachers on a voluntary basis. My right hon. Friend is not represented on committee A and is not involved in decisions whether to convene it.
  197
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why university teachers have so far received no pay award for 1988; and what sum of money he has allocated to the University Grants Committee for salaries in(a) 1988 and (b)

  Mr. Jackson
  University lecturers received a pay increase of 7·4 per cent. from 1 March 1988 following one of 16·6 per cent. with effect from December 1986. Salary levels are currently under discussion. Grants to the UGC are based on an assessment of universities' needs as a whole and do not, as a rule, treat salaries separately. The Government exceptionally provided conditional additional funding amounting to £40 million in 1987–88, £56 million in 1988–89 and £71 million in 1989–90 in respect of the 1987 academic pay restructuring settlement. The Government have also allocated sums of £3·1 million in 1988 and £2·8 million in 1989 to enable the universities to meet the extra costs of paying salaries to clinical academics in line with settlements following the reports of the review body for doctors and dentists.

  Grade

  11 January 1980

  1 April 1983

  1 January 1986

  1 February 1989

  Grade 5 (Chief Information Officer)

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Grade 5 (Assistant Secretary)

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Personal Secretary

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Grade 7 (Principal Information Officer)

  3

  1

  2

  2

  Senior Information Officer

  5

  5

  5

  6

  Information Officer

  7

  8

  8

  11

  Assistant Information Officer

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Graphics Officer (Higher)

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Graphics Officer (Lower)

  4

  6

  5

  5

  Senior Executive Officer

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Executive Officer

  2

  1

  1

  2

  Administrative Officer

  11

  8

  9

  5

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  4

  3

  3

  Total numbers

  38

  37

  37

  39

  2 Total estimated salary costs

  £557,550

  £539,765

  £546,935

  £611,952

  1 Figures for 1979 are not available.

  2 Calculated at current average salary rates for each grade.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the size of the total labour force each year since 1970, calculated from the labour force survey data; what was the percentage change each year; and if he will estimate the size of the total labour force for the current year and for each year up to 1995.

  Mr. Lee
  Consistent estimates of the size of the labour force in past years and projections for the future, based on a number of sources including the labour force survey, are available only for the civilian labour force, and back to 1971. They are given in the table:

  Civilian labour force in Great Britain

  Level (thousand)

  Annual/ Change (per cent.)

  Estimates

  1971

  24,895

  —

  1972

  24,953

  0·2

  1973

  25,125

  0·7

  1974

  25,269

  0·6

  Teachers (Salaries)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he is making in setting up new permanent machinery for the negotiation of the salaries of teachers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 31 January at column 159

  Departmental Publicity and Press Work
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of officials engaged upon information publicity and press work in his Department; at what grades; and at what estimated cost, for the years 1979, 1983, 1986 and 1989.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: Information in the precise form requested is not available. The total number of officials engaged in information, publicity and press work on the dates shown below was as follows:

  Level (thousand)

  Annual/ Change (per cent.)

  1975

  25,305

  0·1

  1976

  25,702

  1·6

  1977

  25,901

  0·8

  1978

  25,949

  0·2

  1979

  26,021

  0·3

  1980

  26,198

  0·7

  1981

  26,242

  0·2

  1982

  26,045

  -0·8

  1983

  25,907

  -0·5

  1984

  26,428

  2·0

  1985

  26,639

  0·8

  1986

  26,735

  0·4

  1987

  27,161

  1·6

  Projections

  1988

  27,538

  1·4

  1989

  27,690

  0·6

  1990

  27,790

  0·4

  1991

  27,872

  0·3

  1992

  27,928

  0·2

  1993

  27,959

  0·1

  1994

  28,001

  0·2

  1995

  28,073

  0·3

  Source: "Employment Gazette", May 1987 and March 1988.
  199
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate for 1979 and the most recently available date for the number of(a) full-time and (b) part-time employees with a length of service of (i) up to six months, (ii) from six months to one year, (iii) from one year to two years and (iv) over two years, giving the figures separately for men and women.

  Employees—length of time continuously employed by current employer—Great Britain, Spring 1987 estimates

  thousands

  Men

  Length of employment

  Full-time1

  Part-time2

  All3

  Full-lime1

  Part-time1

  All3

  Less than 6 months

  857

  146

  1,005

  512

  686

  1,200

  6 months less than 1 year

  745

  103

  852

  487

  513

  1,003

  1 year but less than 2 years

  968

  93

  1,064

  604

  592

  1,198

  2 years or more

  8,063

  370

  8,458

  3,212

  2,717

  5,938

  All employees4

  10,674

  714

  11,399

  4,822

  4,515

  9,356

  1 basic usual hours (i.e. excluding paid and unpaid overtime and meal-breaks) of 31 hours or more per week

  2 basic usual hours of 30 hours or less per week.

  3 includes those employees who did not state hours worked.

  4 includes those employees who did not state length of time continuously employed by current employer.

  Comparable estimates are not available from the 1979 LFS.

  Wages Councils
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown by wages

  Table A: Prosecutions for underpayment

  Division

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  London

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South East

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Eastern

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  South West

  4

  2

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  North West

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Northern

  1

  3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  9

  8

  8

  4

  2

  2

  2

  2

  4

  10

  Table B: Establishments found to be underpaying 1979–85

  Division

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  London (East)

  431

  495

  440

  391

  441

  324

  298

  London (West)

  249

  259

  270

  294

  339

  354

  357

  South East

  521

  769

  749

  764

  871

  703

  670

  Southern

  585

  576

  450

  441

  494

  475

  556

  Eastern

  685

  941

  848

  726

  727

  914

  688

  South West

  1,010

  1,201

  1,070

  954

  1,078

  1,033

  929

  Midlands (East)

  634

  771

  623

  532

  573

  534

  430

  Midlands (West)

  605

  674

  598

  666

  543

  552

  712

  North West (East)

  946

  879

  613

  648

  704

  560

  529

  North West (West)

  1,115

  1,060

  688

  652

  865

  886

  804

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,156

  1,119

  871

  964

  941

  1,026

  818

  Northern

  893

  902

  736

  552

  630

  721

  815

  Scotland (East)

  710

  687

  529

  515

  525

  480

  488

  Scotland (West)

  597

  750

  556

  349

  389

  365

  361

  Wales

  832

  1,071

  1,033

  821

  722

  534

  609

  Totals

  10,969

  12,154

  10,074

  9,269

  9,842

  9,461

  9,064

  Table C: Establishments found to be underpaying 1986–88

  Division

  1986

  1987

  1988

  London

  608

  270

  317

  South East

  646

  503

  537

  Eastern

  974

  405

  462

  South West

  832

  961

  1,156

  Midlands

  943

  525

  747

  North East

  1,397

  541

  869

  200
  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 28 February 1989]: Estimates from the 1987 labour force survey (LFS) of the number of full and part-time employees in Great Britain, by the length of time continuously employed by their current employer, are shown in the following table:

  inspectorate division of the information given in his answer of 17 January, Official Report, column 182, regarding the establishments underpaying and prosecutions for underpayment of wages council rates.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is given in the tables:

  Division

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  805

  511

  631

  Northern

  844

  404

  369

  Scotland

  656

  323

  509

  Wales

  500

  —

  —

  Totals

  8,205

  4,443

  5,597

  201
  Note: The statistics of underpayments have been separated into two tables because the divisional boundaries were changed in 1986.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the levels of employment and changes in employment levels for each wages council for each year from 1979 to 1988.

  Comparison of the 1979, 1982 and 1987 estimates of coverage by wages councils

  Number of workers covered

  1979

  1982

  1987

  Wages council

  All workers

  Excluding under-21s

  Retail trades (non-food)

  563,700

  512,800

  745,000

  Licensed non-residential establishment

  470,000

  508,700

  492,000

  Retail food and allied trades

  522,800

  519,300

  465,000

  Licensed residential establishment and licensed restaurant

  530,000

  555,300

  379,000

  Clothing1

  294,500

  252,800

  147,000

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  121,900

  116,400

  96,000

  Hairdressing undertakings

  128,600

  135,600

  64,000

  Laundry

  39,200

  33,700

  26,000

  General waste materials reclamation

  20,200

  19,300

  13,000

  Toy manufacturing

  23,300

  18,900

  11,000

  Aerated waters

  14,900

  15,000

  5,500

  Boot and shoe repairing

  7,900

  7,100

  5,000

  Hat cap and millinery

  7,800

  6,800

  4,000

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  5,000

  5,200

  4,000

  Made-up textiles

  6,500

  4,800

  3,000

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  5,600

  5,200

  2,500

  Rope twine and net

  4,000

  4,000

  2,500

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  2,100

  1,500

  2,000

  Fur

  5,100

  4,500

  1,500

  Button manufacturing

  3,300

  2,100

  1,000

  Sack and bag

  1,800

  1,400

  1,000

  Lace finishing

  700

  800

  900

  Flax and hemp

  2,300

  1,400

  500

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  1,500

  1,400

  500

  Cotton waste reclamation

  400

  500

  300

  Coffin furniture and cerement-making

  500

  300

  200

  TOTAL

  2,783,600

  2,734,800

  2,472,400

  1 In 1979 there were seven councils covering the clothing manufacturing trade.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the statistics on wages council employment and compliance

  Table 1

  Establishments Covered by Wages Councils on Register—as at January 1988

  Divisions

  London

  S. East

  Eastern

  S. West

  Midlands

  N. West

  Yorks & H'side

  North

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Wages Councils

  Aerated Waters

  7

  14

  57

  16

  111

  25

  24

  22

  66

  342

  Clothing Manufacture

  3,006

  159

  306

  301

  1,282

  937

  452

  214

  307

  6,964

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  764

  255

  258

  345

  373

  406

  277

  70

  130

  2,878

  Button Manufacturing

  18

  4

  4

  4

  18

  4

  3

  1

  1

  57

  Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making

  1

  —

  —

  2

  8

  2

  5

  0

  2

  20

  Cotton Waste Reclamation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  28

  8

  3

  2

  42

  Flax and Hemp

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6

  8

  Fur

  147

  8

  3

  7

  14

  28

  11

  3

  36

  262

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  124

  74

  107

  151

  291

  308

  240

  99

  137

  1,531

  Hairdressing Undertakings

  4,482

  3,181

  3,302

  4,106

  5,362

  5,171

  3,029

  1,968

  2,840

  33,441

  Hat Cap and Millinery

  25

  2

  44

  5

  12

  14

  8

  11

  2

  123

  Lace Finishing

  —

  —

  —

  1

  73

  —

  —

  —

  —

  74

  202
  Mr. Nicholls
  Statistical returns of the number of workers in Great Britain employed in establishments within scope of wages councils are not collected, but periodic estimates are made. The results of exercises conducted in 1979, 1982 and 1987 are shown in the table. The figures in the third column exclude young people under 21 who are in scope of t he legislation but for whom the councils are not empowered to fix minimum rates.

  with wages council rates in 1988, in the same format as in the reply given on 4 March 1988, Official Report, columns 731–36.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is given in the following tables:
  203

  Divisions

  London

  S. East

  Eastern

  S. West

  Midlands

  N. West

  Yorks & H'Side

  North

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Laundry

  215

  281

  79

  114

  105

  68

  67

  35

  122

  1,086

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief

  2

  1

  3

  3

  10

  80

  9

  1

  5

  114

  Made-up Textile

  34

  13

  36

  31

  51

  34

  42

  18

  33

  292

  Ostrich and Fancy Feather

  12

  1

  6

  4

  —

  —

  —

  4

  3

  30

  Perambulator and Invalid Carriage

  3

  2

  5

  3

  11

  4

  6

  1

  1

  36

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  180

  55

  52

  38

  42

  52

  39

  14

  37

  509

  Rope Twine and Net

  —

  1

  5

  12

  5

  20

  18

  5

  19

  85

  Sack and Bag

  20

  —

  7

  5

  14

  20

  12

  2

  6

  86

  Toy Manufacturing

  17

  16

  45

  30

  35

  40

  32

  15

  9

  239

  Retail Non-Food Trades

  20,069

  11,990

  9,840

  12,085

  19,457

  13,350

  8,712

  4,495

  8,840

  108,838

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  11,770

  13,100

  10,066

  12,853

  13,339

  15,891

  10,018

  7,199

  10,881

  105,117

  Licensed Non-Residential

  6,263

  5,962

  6,363

  9,323

  12,406

  9,540

  6,452

  4,001

  5,429

  65,739

  Licensed Residential and Restaurant

  5,023

  3,901

  3,595

  6,842

  3,591

  3,355

  2,013

  1,418

  3,890

  33,628

  Unlicensed Place of Refreshment

  4,143

  2,049

  1,540

  2,585

  1,746

  1,977

  1,324

  851

  1,497

  17,712

  Total

  56,325

  41,069

  35,728

  48,867

  58,357

  51,354

  32,801

  20,451

  34,301

  379,253

  Table 2

  Establishments checked and underpayments found in wages council trades—1

  Wages councils

  Establishments checked by all methods

  Percentage of register checked

  Establishments checked by visit

  Percentage of register checked by visit

  Establishments found underpaying

  Percentage of all establishments checked underpaying

  Percentage of establishments visited underpaying

  Aerated waters

  31

  9·0

  21

  6·1

  2

  6·4

  9·5

  Clothing manufacture

  603

  8·6

  559

  8·0

  128

  21·2

  22·8

  Boot and shoe repairing

  245

  8·5

  166

  5·7

  18

  7·3

  10·8

  Button manufacturing

  7

  12·2

  6

  10·5

  —

  —

  —

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  3

  15·0

  2

  10·0

  —

  —

  —

  Cotton waste reclamation

  4

  9·5

  4

  9·5

  —

  —

  —

  Flax and hemp

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fur

  18

  6·8

  18

  6·8

  2

  11·1

  11·1

  General waste materials reclamation

  150

  9·7

  111

  7·2

  11

  7·3

  9·9

  Hairdressing undertakings

  2,392

  7·1

  1,654

  4·9

  330

  13·7

  19·9

  Hat, cap and millinery

  26

  21·1

  23

  18·6

  —

  —

  —

  Lace finishing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Laundry

  125

  11·5

  97

  8·9

  20

  16·0

  20·6

  Linen and cotton handkerchief

  12

  10·5

  11

  9·6

  4

  33·3

  36·3

  Made-up textile

  32

  10·9

  25

  8·5

  2

  6·2

  8·0

  Ostrich and fancy feather

  3

  10·0

  2

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  2

  5·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  43

  8·4

  37

  7·2

  6

  13·9

  16·2

  Rope, twine and net

  8

  9·4

  6

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  Sack and bag

  12

  13·9

  11

  12·7

  —

  —

  —

  Toy manufacturing

  24

  10·0

  23

  9·6

  2

  8·3

  8·6

  Retail non-food trades

  9,649

  8·8

  4,219

  3·8

  1,130

  11·7

  26·7

  Retail food and allied trades

  9,860

  9·3

  5,713

  5·4

  2,143

  21·7

  37·5

  Licensed non-residential

  5,063

  7·7

  3,503

  5·3

  1,016

  20·0

  29·0

  Licensed residential and restaurant

  2,631

  7·8

  2,143

  6·3

  405

  15·3

  18·8

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  1,530

  8·6

  1,218

  6·8

  378

  24·7

  31·0

  Total

  32,474

  8·6

  19,573

  5·2

  5,597

  17·2

  28·6

  Table 3

  Workers covered by wages councils and results of checks—1988

  Wages councils

  Number of workers covered by Wages Order (Est. 1988)

  Workers whose pay was checked by all methods

  Workers whose pay was checked by visit

  Workers found underpaid

  Percentage underpaid of all workers checked

  Percentage underpaid of all workers checked by visit

  Arrears paid

  Arrears not pursued at workers request

  Arrears not pursued for other reasons

  Total arrears assessed as due

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Aerated waters

  5,500

  2,798

  390

  13

  0·4

  3·3

  336

  —

  —

  336

  Clothing manufacture

  147,000

  12,662

  11,083

  453

  3·5

  4·0

  31,015

  10,469

  7,546

  49,030

  Boot and shoe repairing

  5,000

  759

  548

  20

  2·6

  3·6

  1,623

  652

  —

  2,275

  204 205

  Wages councils

  Number of workers covered by Wages Order (Est. 1988)

  Workers whose pay was checked by all methods

  Workers whose pay was checked by visit

  Workers found underpaid

  Percentage underpaid of all workers checked

  Percentage underpaid of all workers checked by visit

  Arrears paid

  Arrears not pursued at workers request

  Arrears not pursued for other reasons

  Total arrears assessed as due

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Button manufacturing

  1,000

  163

  150

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  200

  42

  32

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cotton waste reclamation

  300

  54

  54

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Flex and hemp

  500

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fur

  1,500

  220

  220

  2

  0·9

  0·9

  150

  120

  1,654

  1,924

  General waste materials reclamation

  13,000

  1,425

  1,163

  12

  0·8

  1·0

  2,204

  —

  167

  2,371

  Hairdressing undertakings

  64,000

  8,063

  5,515

  418

  5·1

  7·5

  41,742

  6,822

  6,397

  54,961

  Hat cap and millinery

  4,000

  651

  599

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lace finishing

  900

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Laundry

  26,000

  4,044

  2,696

  42

  1·0

  1·5

  3,685

  347

  2,730

  6,762

  Linen and cotton handkerchief

  2,500

  404

  396

  49

  12·1

  12·3

  2,766

  2,771

  —

  5,537

  Made-up textile

  3,000

  540

  440

  8

  1·4

  1·8

  125

  —

  —

  125

  Ostrich and fancy feather

  500

  33

  15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  2,000

  139

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  4,000

  161

  147

  8

  4·9

  5·4

  474

  107

  —

  581

  Rope twine and net

  2,500

  300

  234

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sack and bag

  1,000

  154

  124

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Toy manufacturing

  11,000

  583

  571

  4

  0·6

  0·7

  23

  —

  259

  282

  Retail non-food trades

  745,000

  95,502

  17,849

  1,731

  1·8

  9·6

  156,327

  69,883

  24,049

  250,259

  Retail food and allied trades

  465,000

  121,718

  21,598

  4,052

  3·3

  18·7

  321,851

  158,094

  74,568

  554,513

  Licensed non-residential

  492,000

  33,200

  22,541

  2,532

  7·6

  11·2

  160,502

  23,012

  22,590

  206,104

  Licensed residential and restaurant

  379,000

  30,898

  26,524

  753

  2·4

  2·8

  67,220

  5,304

  13,685

  86,209

  Unlicensed Place of refreshment

  96,000

  8,526

  6,182

  763

  8·9

  12·3

  52,149

  18,165

  11,934

  82,248

  Total

  2,472,400

  323,091

  119,123

  10,860

  3·3

  9·1

  842,192

  295,746

  165,579

  1,303,517

  Table 4

  Checks carried out and underpayments found in wages inspectorate divisions—1988

  Division

  Establishments checked by all methods

  Percentage of register checked

  Establishments checked by visit

  Percentage of register checked by visit

  Establishments found underpaying

  Percentage of all establishments checked underpaying

  Percentage of establishments visited underpaying

  London

  3,732

  6·6

  1,893

  3·4

  317

  8·5

  16·7

  South East

  2,539

  6·2

  1,654

  4·0

  537

  21·2

  32·5

  Eastern

  5,415

  151

  2,509

  7·0

  462

  8·5

  18·4

  South West

  3,586

  7·3

  2,512

  5·1

  1,156

  32·2

  46·0

  Midlands

  4,999

  8·6

  2,609

  4·5

  747

  14·9

  28·6

  North West

  4,085

  7·9

  3,198

  6·2

  869

  21·3

  27·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,123

  9·5

  1,931

  5·9

  631

  20·2

  32·7

  Northern

  1,686

  8·2

  1,004

  4·9

  369

  21·9

  36·8

  Scotland

  3,309

  9·6

  2,263

  6·6

  509

  15·4

  22·5

  Great Britain

  32,474

  8·6

  19,573

  5·2

  5,597

  17·2

  28·6

  All branches of mulitiple firms are recorded under the division in which the Head Office is located. Account has to be taken of this when comparing divisional figures.

  Table 5

  Workers whose pay was checked in wages inspectorate divisions—1988

  Division

  Workers whose pay was checked by all methods

  Workers whose pay was checked by visit

  Workers found underpaid

  Per cent, underpaid of all workers checked

  Per cent, underpaid of all workers checked by visit

  Arrears paid

  Arrears not pursued at workers request

  Arrears not pursued for other reasons

  Total arrears assessed as due

  £

  £

  £

  £

  London

  54,501

  13,365

  513

  0·9

  3·8

  65,756

  5,588

  7,186

  78,530

  South East

  13,089

  8,635

  975

  7·4

  11·3

  87,439

  27,315

  7,810

  122,564

  Eastern

  50,221

  14,996

  895

  1·8

  5·7

  79,713

  21,590

  47,460

  148,763

  South. West

  20,855

  14,015

  2,204

  10·6

  15·7

  133,376

  58,255

  30,952

  222,583

  Midlands

  36,503

  18,222

  1,425

  3·9

  7·8

  113,335

  50,908

  26,455

  190,698

  North West

  94,318

  19,369

  1,697

  1·8

  8·7

  144,990

  52,505

  14,531

  212,026

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  22,405

  10,741

  1,270

  5·7

  11·8

  72,947

  44,466

  6,088

  123,501

  Northern

  8,827

  5,553

  784

  8·9

  14·1

  60,465

  6,734

  9,139

  76,338

  Scotland

  22,372

  14,228

  1,097

  4·9

  7·7

  84,171

  28,385

  15,958

  128,514

  Great Britain

  323,091

  119,123

  10,860

  3·4

  9·1

  842,192

  295,746

  165,579

  1,303,517

  The numbers of workers in branches of multiple firms are recorded under the division in which the Head Office is located. Account has to be taken of this when comparing divisional figures.
  206

  "How to be Better off in Work"
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many copies of his Department's booklet "How to be Better off in Work" were printed, and at what cost; how many copies were distributed to his Department's offices; and, of these, how many were issued to the public and how many remain in stock.

  Mr. Lee
  The production and distribution of the booklet were as follows:

  Number of booklets printed

  3,000,000

  Cost

  £98,395

  Number of booklets distributed to Employment Service Offices

  1,768,000

  The balance is in stock.

  A publicity campaign to explain in-work benefits ran from 15 August to 24 October 1988. It is recorded that some 550,000 copies were issued to the public during that period.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will revise his Department's booklet "How to be Better off in Work", to include(a) an example of an income support claimant with a mortgage, (b) mention of the taper affecting withdrawal of benefits as wages rise and (c) a warning that claimants who take low-paid employment who then leave because they are financially worse off risk a 26-week period of reduced income support.

  Mr. Lee
  The purpose of the booklet "How to be Better off in Work" is to show unemployed people that finding a job need not mean losing out on benefits. The booklet is intended to be a simple illustrative guide. It would not be possible to cover within this format every circumstance which might affect an individual's entitlement. That is why unemployed people are advised in the booklet to contact their local unemployment benefit office or jobcentre for further information.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will revise his Department's booklet "How to be Better off in Work", to take account in the family examples given of costs of travelling to work, and the loss of free school meals and free milk for the under-five-year-olds abolished by the Social Security Act 1988; what rates were used, and why different rent and rates figures were used for each example in the current edition of the booklet.

  Mr. Lee
  Travel-to-work costs are not included in the examples in the booklet "How to be Better off in Work", as they vary widely and many people do not have to pay them. The examples clearly state that only the out-of-work families are entitled to free school meals and milk tokens. The rent and rates figures were based on the 1987 average of all local authority rent and rates in Great Britain uprated by the retail prices index which gives a figure of £27·14; the booklet gives examples both above and below this figure.

  Disabled People (Factories Act 1961)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with disability organisations on the proposal to repeal section 119A of the Factories Act 1961; which organisations were consulted; and if he will make a statement.
  208
  Mr. Cope
  My Department issued a consultation paper last November setting out proposals for alternative arrangements to replace section 119A of the Factories Act 1961; copies have been placed in the Library. Comments were invited by 28 February 1989. Annex 4 of the paper lists the organisations representing disabled people who were sent the document when it was first issued. A copy was subsequently supplied to the Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment training places in each Training Agency area have been filled with starts with training managers, and what percentage that is in each case of total employment training places contracted in each Training Agency area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Employment training places

  Area office

  Filled places at 17 February

  Filled places as a percentage of total contracted places in December

  South East Region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  995

  54·3

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  1,357

  53·2

  Essex

  1,380

  38·4

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  1,900

  59·0

  Kent

  1,987

  52·4

  Surrey

  370

  32·0

  Sussex

  1,290

  42·7

  London Region

  Inner London North

  4,951

  67·7

  Inner London South

  2,480

  52·3

  London East

  2,001

  69·2

  London North

  2,881

  70·0

  London South

  1,259

  73·0

  London West

  1,051

  72·0

  South West Region

  Avon

  1,858

  48·0

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,035

  71·0

  Dorset and Somerset

  1,612

  54·0

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  1,172

  40·0

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  5,406

  50·1

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  1,972

  42·4

  Dudley and Sandwell

  2,248

  46·0

  Staffordshire

  2,945

  60·0

  The Marches, Hereford/Worcester

  2,181

  52·1

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  2,532

  47·0

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  1,438

  70·0

  Derbyshire

  2,247

  51·1

  Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

  2,287

  52·0

  Lincolnshire

  1,114

  55·0

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  2,456

  59·5

  Nottinghamshire

  2,619

  48·0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  3,825

  61·0

  Humberside

  4,576

  79·1

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  3,558

  53·5

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  4,768

  59·0

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  4,789

  70·0

  209

  Area office

  Filled places at 17 February

  Filled places as a percentage of total contracted places in December

  North West Region

  Cheshire

  2,570

  51·0

  Cumbria

  1,173

  54·1

  Lancashire

  3,872

  54·0

  Central Manchester

  3,260

  35·2

  Greater Manchester North

  2,236

  34·5

  Greater Manchester East

  2,105

  54·0

  Merseyside

  6,182

  37·4

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  4,900

  51·1

  County Durham

  3,955

  56·0

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  3,229

  43·0

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  4,867

  49·4

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  3,300

  52·1

  Gwent

  1,676

  43·0

  Gwynedd, Clywd and Powys

  2,420

  45·0

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  3,845

  47·0

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  2,183

  47·0

  Central and Fife

  2,278

  47·0

  Glasgow City

  3,279

  33·3

  Grampian and Tayside

  2,006

  46·0

  Highlands and Islands

  597

  35·1

  Lanarkshire

  1,847

  39·1

  Lothian and Borders

  2,686

  51·1

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  1,988

  33·1

  Retail Trades (Working Conditions)
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has made any survey of working hours and conditions in the retail trades with reference to(a) the extent of reduction of working hours to levels which put them outside statutory employment rights, and (b) the extent of unpaid working time imposed on check-out operators and sales staff by any requirements to work beyond closing hours but counting their paid hours only up to closing time.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: My right hon. Friend has not made any such survey, but information on working hours is available from the labour force survey. In general, pay is a matter for employers and employees, provided that in wages council trades the total amount paid to workers for all time worked is not less than the minimum due.

ENERGY

  Employment Potential
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what work his Department has undertaken on the employment potential which would accrue in the course of achieving his target of £8 billion annual savings in the national energy bill.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is very difficult to assess the precise employment potential of energy efficiency measures. However, projects under the community insulation programme have provided work experience and 210
  training for the long-term unemployed, and improved energy efficiency enables industry to become more competitive which facilitates economic growth and creates new job opportunities.

  Gas Prices
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Energy if he has any information as to the manner by which gas supply industries in(a) Holland, (b) France, West Germany, (d) Italy, (e) Belgium, (f) Spain and (g) Luxembourg calculate the price to be charged for the supply of firm gas to large industrial users; and how British Gas calculates such a price.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Yes. I refer my hon. Friend to the chapter on pricing principles in the report "The EEC Industrial Gas Market" published by the Office of Gas Supply in January 1989. I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what controls he has over the prices of gas charged by British Gas to large industrial consumers.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  None. Under the proposed modification to British Gas's authorisation published on 30 January, the Director General of Gas Supply would have control over the structure of British Gas's price schedule for large industrial customers. The actual level of prices however would remain a matter for British Gas.

  Gas
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to estimate when British Gas will have less than a 90 per cent. share in the supply of piped gas in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is a matter for the Director General of Gas Supply to monitor the gas market as he sees fit. However I will, of course, take a close interest in such work.

  Grimethorpe Power Station
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are his future plans in respect of Grimethorpe power station; if he has any plans to provide Government funding to assist research at this plant to continue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department is at present considering carefully a request from British Coal for financial support for additional trials to be carried out at the Grimethorpe experimental facility. I am not yet able to make a statement.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Oman (British Base)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the agreement made in 1958 with the Sultan of Oman in which the air base in that country was handed over to British control for 99 years still applies in its original form or has been updated: and if he will make a statement.
  211
  Mrs. Chalker
  The RAF maintained an air base on Masirah island until the late 1960s.

  South Africa (Sanctions)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of Nelson Mandela's continued imprisonment, he will reconsider his opposition to economic sanctions against South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No.

  Short-range Nuclear Missiles
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards a NATO agreement on short-range nuclear missiles.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Short-range nuclear missiles play an important role in NATO's strategy of flexible response: the Alliance is united in its resolve to keep its weapons up to date as necessary. Discussions on how this is to be done are under way in the Alliance.

  EC Central American Meeting
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the last European Community central American meeting which he attended in Honduras; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the last European Community central American meeting which he attended in Honduras; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We will make available to the House the economic and political communiqués which we expect the conference to adopt when it concludes on 1 March.

  Islamic Fundamentalism
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the consequences for international stability of Islamic fundamentalism in(a) Iran and (b) Afghanistan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We fully support the right of the Iranian and Afghan peoples to choose freely their own representative Governments and to run their own affairs. If they choose Islamic fundamentalist Governments that is their right.

  Central America (Visit)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he discussed during his recent visit to central America.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State does not return from his trip to Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala until 6 March.

  Iran
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the state of diplomatic relations with Iran.
  212
  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and learned Friend's statement in the House on 21 February.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present eight meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for March.

  The Environment Council will meet on 2 March. It will discuss two draft directives on genetically modified organisms; limits on emissions from municipal waste incineration plants; discharges of dangerous substances in water; limits on emissions of sulphur dioxide; the prospects for further reductions in CFCs; transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste, and possibly the conservation of the African elephant.

  The Industry Council meets on 6 March to consider three items on Community support for small and medium enterprises: a Commission paper on the establishment of the enterprise directorate, DG XXIII; the third report on the action programme and an evaluation of Europartenariat (trans-national co-operation between small firms). It will also hold a general orientation debate on the industrial aspects of high definition television and possibly a preliminary discussion of the Commission's proposed Council decision on HDTV, which is due to be discussed in detail at the Telecommunications Council on 27 April.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 6, 7 and possibly 8 March and again on 20, 21 and possibly 22 March to discuss 1989 CAP price fixing proposals, New Zealand butter and sheepmeat, aid for the conversion of agricultural production, and the forestry action programme. It may also consider the proposal on preservatives for use in foodstuffs.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 13 March to consider the Commission's quarterly review of the economic situation in the Community; to discuss fraud against the EC budget in the context of the Court of Auditors' annual report and the discharge of the 1987 budget; and to prepare for the spring IMF/IBRD meetings.

  The Research Council will meet on 14 March. The agenda anticipates the adoption of three R and D programme proposals: large-scale facilities (a plan to facilitate access to large-scale scientific facilities of European interest); JOULE (non-nuclear energy and efficient use of energy) and BRITE/EURAM (research in manufacturing technologies and advanced materials). The Commission hopes that common positions will be agreed on the following programmes: FLAIR, MAST, DOSES, VALUE, MONITOR, and EUROTRA. It is hoped to adopt a decision on a programme of decommissioning of nuclear installations. There will also be an initial debate on the mid-term review of the framework programme (1987–1991).

  The Transport Council on 14 March is expected to continue its discussions on the weights and dimensions of 2, 3 and 4-axled commercial vehicles; the rules governing access to the road haulage profession; a scheme for dealing with overcapacity on certain inland waterways; and

  213
  possible arrangements for introducing road haulage cabotage. It may also discuss the inter-regional air services directive, and allow initial exchanges on the future of Community spending on transport infrastructure, and on road safety issues. The Commission may give an interim report on its negotiations with Austria, Switzerland and Yugoslavia on the transit through those countries of Community traffic.

  The Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 20 March will probably be asked to give the Commission the guidance necessary to ensure a positive outcome to the April meeting of the GATT round trade negotiations committee. The Council will also discuss EC/Council of Europe relations. In the margins there will be an EC/Malta Association Council to discuss matters of mutual concern arising out of the EC/Malta association agreement, and an informal meeting between Community and EFTA Ministers to discuss future economic co-operation between the EC and EFTA.

ENVIRONMENT

  River Pollution
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions there have been under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in respect of alleged river pollution since the implementation of this Act; if he will list such prosecutions in date order and location; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 8 December at column 276 and 11 January at column 659 and to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Home Department, on 3 February at columns 417–18.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the level of funding from each local authority to housing associations in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested is shown in the "HIP2 ALL ITEMS PRINT" which was placed in the Library in response to a question from the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) at columns 704–5. The figures shown there are as reported by local authorities in their 1988 HIP returns.

  Rats
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the rat population of Great Britain; what measures he is encouraging to reduce it; and whether his Department is investigating the possible growth of a more virulent species of rat.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not held centrally on rat population. The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, places a general duty on local authorities to ensure that their districts are kept free from rats and mice so far as practicable. There is no evidence to show that there has been a growth of a more virulent species of rat.

  Dust and Noise (St. Stephen's House)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to initiate an inquiry into noise measured in all work areas in St. Stephen's house.

  Mr. Chope
  Some noise from the construction of the new parliamentary building and refurbishment of No 1 Cannon row is unavoidable. The contractors are required to follow good working practices. The Cannon row contract restricts particularly noisy work to between 8 am and 10 am. The imposition of any additional conditions or any instructions to stop work could delay completion of this additional accommodation for Members and their staff and cause extra costs. There is no need for an inquiry.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (i) if he will list, for each scheme carried out under the Housing Corporation's programme to provide homeless households with hostel accommodation through a mixture of public and private funding(a) during 1987–88, and (b) during 1988–89, stating in each case (i) the capital cost of the scheme, (ii) the proportion of the capital cost met by HAG, (iii) the first year revenue cost of loan repayments, (iv) the weekly management and maintenance allowance, and (v) the average weekly rent charged to the homeless households;

  (2) if he will list each scheme carried out under the Housing Corporation's programme to provide homeless households with hostel accommodation through a mixture of public and private funding (a) during 1987–88, and (b) during 1988–89, stating in each case (i) the number of units of accommodation provided, (ii) the housing association involved, (iii) the local authority with nomination rights to these units, and (iv) the date of completion of the scheme.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not held centrally, and I have asked the Housing Corporation to supply it direct to the hon. Member.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will keep a record of the households that have their mains water cut off after privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  As a condition of their appointment companies will be required to report to the director general each year on unplanned supply interruptions, giving reasons where these have exceeded targets set by them. The director general may also undertake such monitoring of planned interruptions as he considers appropriate—for instance so that he can review the operation of appointees' codes of practice on disconnections for non-payment of water charges.

  The Government have welcomed the proposed revisions to the model disconnection code of practice announced by the water industry on 9 February, which should help to ensure that disconnections are kept to the absolute minimum of those customers who can pay but refuse to do so.

  Exchequer Grants
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total amount of
  215
  Exchequer grant paid to (a) all the inner London boroughs excluding the City of London for each year since

  (a) Aggregate Exchequer Grant—cash terms

  £m

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Inner London boroughs (excluding City of London)

  387

  418

  431

  413

  476

  673

  689

  736

  South East excluding Greater London

  1,685

  1,651

  1,697

  1,760

  1,607

  1,645

  1,656

  1,545

  (a) Aggregate Exchequer Grant—1988–89

  £m

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Inner London boroughs (excluding City of London)

  555

  559

  552

  503

  550

  753

  732

  736

  South East excluding Greater London

  2,417

  2,210

  2,172

  2,144

  1,858

  1,840

  1,759

  1,545

  Cash values have been converted to constant 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Croxteth Hall and Country Park
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of Croxteth hall and country park, Merseyside.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mr. Thornton) on 22 December, at column 437, I said that we would be consulting the district councils and other interested parties on the proposed transfer of Croxteth hall and country park to Liverpool city council with a ringfenced endowment of £3 million. The consultation period ended on 27 January 1989 and I have considered the responses very carefully.

  Although not all districts felt able to agree with our proposals, there was majority support for transfer of the estate. We remain of the opinion that transfer to Liverpool city council with an endowment is the only realistic available option that will provide for the long-term future of Croxteth. It is a valued facility with considerable countrywide support and should be maintained for all the people of Merseyside to use.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has therefore laid before Parliament an order giving effect to the transfer and endowment on 1 April 1989.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest available figures on the arrears of rent outstanding to each local authority in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have today arranged for details of the rent arrears outstanding to English local authorities as at 1 April 1988 to be placed in the Library.

  The 16 per cent. overall increase during 1987–88 is very disappointing and highlights yet again the poor performance of a minority of authorities. No less than 38 per cent. of the total arrears of £226 million (and 66 per cent. of the increase during the year) is attributable to just 10 authorities, nine Labour-controlled inner London boroughs and Liverpool.

  This sorry state of affairs can be attributed only to poor housing management. That is the conclusion of independent reports by both the Audit Commission and the centre for housing research, University of Glasgow.
  216
  1981–82 and (b) the south-east, excluding Greater London for each year since 1981–82, showing the amounts in cash terms and at 1988–89 prices.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information is as follows:

  The control of rent arrears is a vital part of good housing management. Lack of proper control is doubly unfair on those tenants who do pay their rents—it deprives authorities of money that could be used to keep their stock in good order; and it pushes rents higher than they need to be. It is unfair, too, on ratepayers who are called upon to underwrite this blatant inefficiency. We do not intend to let this state of affairs persist. Our proposals for a new financial regime will prevent subsidisation of the housing revenue account from the general rate fund. We are also considering further measures to raise management standards. But I must stress that the responsibility lies with authorities to collect the rent due to them properly and efficiently, for the benefit of all their tenants and ratepayers.

  Football Membership Scheme
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, columns 987–88, if he will reject the recommendations of his working party report for non-United Kingdom passport holders who wish to attend league matches and international matches in England and Wales.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 28 February 1989]: It has always been our view that everyone, including foreigners, who intends to visit Football League matches, should be a member of the scheme. However, we have also accepted that special arrangements should be made for occasional foreign visitors to attend a particular game. Clubs could issue temporary membership cards in advance of the match. It is possible that the presentation of passports might have a part to play in this process. That is for the Football Membership Authority to consider.

  It will be for the Football Membership Authority to consider appropriate arrangements in consultation with the clubs and, in the case of international matches, the Wembley authorities, and to submit its proposals to the Secretary of State for approval.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for each local authority in England, the community charge for 1989–90 which is consistent with the expenditure and grant assumptions in the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement, showing the estimated budget figures for 1988–89 and the percentage change between the two figures.
  217
  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]I have placed the information requested in the Library.

  The community charges shown assume that local authorities will spend according to the assumptions used for the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement and rate accordingly, and that non-domestic rate income increases in line with the RPI. When 1989–90 budget returns have been received, I will publish a further set of illustrative charges. If these show charges higher than those I have placed in the Library today, this will be entirely the result of the individual authorities deciding to spend more than was assumed.

  Government Officers
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of office buildings acquired by Her Majesty's Government in the London SW1 area since 1980, the additional square footage now available and the number of civil servants now working in these new offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 23 February 1989]: The present size of the Government office estate in the London SW1 postal district is approximately 754,000 sq m. Equivalent figures for 1980 for this postal district are not available. Details of the number of civil servants working in SW I are not available, but for Greater London as a whole the total floor space in offices on PSA's estate works out to an average of 18·8 sq m per non-industrial civil servant.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Forestry
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number of forestry projects are currently taking place in Essex.

  Mr. Ryder
  Between 1 April 1988 and 31 January 1989 the Forestry Commission has, under its grant scheme, approved 45 new applications for planting grants in Essex.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of forestry projects currently taking place in Cleveland and Durham.

  Mr. Ryder
  Between 1 April 1988 and 31 January 1989 the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved 16 new applications for planting grants in Cleveland and Durham.

  Name

  Area (hectares)

  Grid reference

  Species1

  Woodlands sold in Kent

  Challock Woodlands

  Brook Wood

  19·0

  TR 069 439

  C

  Burnt Oak Wood

  2·3

  TQ 950 438

  C

  Cadman's Wood

  13·5

  TR 082 428

  B

  Handen Wood

  9·4

  TR 052 367

  C

  Longbeech Wood

  41·4

  TQ 971 502

  C

  March Wood

  42·0

  TQ 945 433

  C

  Newlands Wood

  24·0

  TQ 955 432

  C

  Norland and Pierland Wood

  35·0

  TR 024 358

  C

  Church Wood

  25·0

  TQ 570 632

  C

  College Wood

  17·0

  TQ 676 652

  B

  Court Farm (Churchlands)

  16·0

  TQ 669 649

  C

  Covet Wood (land at)

  0·1

  TR 178 497

  C

  Covet Wood (land at)

  0·3

  TR 173 494

  C

  218
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of forestry projects currently taking place in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Ryder
  Between 1 April 1988 and 31 January 1989 the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved 14 new applications for planting grants in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of forestry projects currently taking place in the county of Avon.

  Mr. Ryder
  Between 1 April 1988 and 31 January 1989 the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved eight new applications for planting grants in Avon.

  New Forest
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made towards ensuring the future well-being of the New Forest.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In 1986, with the future well-being of the New Forest foremost in mind, the Forestry Commissioners set up the New Forest review group consisting of representatives from the Forestry Commission, the Countryside Commission, the New Forest district council, the Verderers of the New Forest, Hampshire county council and the Nature Conservancy Council, with the following terms of reference:to appraise the aims and effectiveness of the measures already taken to safeguard the New Forest;
  to consider whether these measures need to be changed or developed;
  to identify whether further measures may be necessary to maintain the character of the New Forest;
  to report within two years, making recommendations.

  The report was published in January 1989 and its recommendations are being considered by the Forestry Commissioners.

  Woodlands (Kent)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all woodlands in Kent either sold or proposed for sale by the Forestry Commission since the passage of the Forestry Act 1981 and state, for each such woodland the(a) acreage, (b) map reference and (c) species composition, by percentage.

  Mr. Ryder
  The information is given in the following tables:
  219

  Name

  Area (hectares)

  Grid reference

  Species1

  Ford Manor Estate:

  Bowshot Wood (part)

  2·5

  TQ 433 421

  B

  Jules Wood/Grey bury

  24·0

  TQ 436 422

  B

  Middleroom, Coalhearth (parts)

  18·5

  TQ 435 430

  B

  Hurst Wood

  16·5

  TQ 568 405

  B

  Hurst Wood Platt

  66·0

  TQ 628 550

  C

  Joydens Wood and Gattons Wood

  127·0

  TQ 500 718

  B

  Little Sharsted Wood

  6·0

  TQ 944 585

  C

  Maplescombe Farm Woods

  53·6

  TQ 563 626

  B

  Quornden Wood

  13·0

  TQ 477 533

  C

  Rochester and Monk Wood

  294·0

  TQ 680 650

  B

  St. Julian's Wood

  17·0

  TQ 545 525

  C

  Sharsted Wood and Plantation

  82·9

  TQ 946 581

  B

  Spring Wood Dene Park

  5·0

  TQ 597 501

  C

  Squerryes Court

  85·0

  TQ 440 520

  C

  Woodlands proposed for sale in Kent

  Eggringe Wood (land at)

  3·3

  TR 094 508

  B

  Flimwell Outliers:

  Crouches Wood

  9·0

  TQ 705 353

  C

  Furnace Wood etc.

  68·0

  TQ 735 354

  C

  Lillesden Wood

  5·0

  TQ 714 358

  B

  Priors Heath Wood

  7·0

  TQ 708 348

  C

  Renacre Wood

  26·0

  TQ 945 440

  C

  Shoreham Wood

  101·5

  TQ 505 615

  B

  1 The species composition is not available in any more detail than B for mainly broadleaves and C for mainly conifers.

  Water Quality
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make available in the Library the recent report quoted by the clerk and chief fishery officer of the Eastern sea fisheries joint committee in the chapter on pollution in his annual report for 1989 in which he refers to Government actions on standards of water quality applicable to sewage in the interim period during which the water public limited companies are established.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No. The report to which I believe the hon. Member is referring was neither prepared for nor published by Her Majesty's Government.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place corrected copies of the report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and BEIC working group on salmonella and eggs in the Library.

  Mr. Ryder
  An error was made in transcribing one of the paragraphs of the "conclusions" section of the report from an earlier draft into the final version. A corrected version, clearly distinguishable by its orange cover, has been placed in the Library of the House. The body of the report and the summary of its recommendations were in no way affected.

  Research
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of the number of redundancies amongst scientists resulting from the switch in AFRC funding of research away from its own institutes to universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand that no redundancies are expected over the next two years as a result of AFRC's plans to increase its support for research at higher education institutions.
  220
  The position in later years will depend on the decisions that the council takes in the light of the future level of allocations to the AFRC from the science budget.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safety precautions exist in respect of RAF aircraft on low-flying exercises in the vicinity of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) on 19 November 1987,Official Report, column 452.

  Royal Military Police
  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of Royal Military policemen who have passed out from the RMP training barracks in Chichester in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The numbers of RMP men and women who have passed out from the RMP training course at Chichester, having completed their basic provost course, are as follows:

  Men

  Women

  1979

  179

  65

  1980

  291

  45

  1981

  210

  32

  1982

  160

  37

  1983

  182

  52

  1984

  245

  41

  1985

  294

  26

  1986

  302

  37

  1987

  172

  52

  1988

  157

  58

  221
  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the principal operational responsibilities of the Royal military police; and what is the total number of military policemen currently in service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The principal operational responsibilities of the Royal military police in peace, on transition to war and in war are to:

  a. enforce the law with the military community and assist with the maintenance of military discipline;

  b. assist and support the Services and other law enforcement agencies;

  c. provide an assistance, advice and information service to the military community and the public;

  d. provide a crime prevention service to the military community;

  e. provide a close protection service;

  f. provide operational Provost Support.

  The total number of regular military police currently in service is 2,411 which may be broken down as follows:

  Male

  Female

  Officers

  149

  6

  Other Ranks

  1,977

  279

  Total

  2,126

  285

  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses to assess the quality of training and defence contribution of the Royal military police; and if these are currently being met.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The role of the Royal military police is to provide the provost support required by the Army, meeting legal obligations and operational requirements at least cost. RMP training is framed against these criteria and its effectiveness is judged by theatre commanders throughout the Army. The training programme itself is reviewed continuously in the light, inter alia, of feedback from theatre commanders and to reflect changes in policy and law as they arise.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence proposals he has to replace military police personnel with private security guards at any Ministry of Defence establishments in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The use of private security firms in guarding establishments is an option open to the Ministry of Defence in cases where their use can satisfy certain security criteria.

  We have no proposals at present to replace military police personnel in this way. However, such an arrangement might be considered at an establishment following a change in the use of the premises and a reappraisal of the security circumstances.

  Clyde Submarine Base (Security)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will strengthen the Ministry of Defence police establishment at the Clyde submarine base in the light of the break-ins by civilians at Faslane.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The numbers of MOD police required at individual locations as well as physical security arrangements are reviewed regularly in the light of current policing and security needs. Additional MOD police have recently been provided at the Clyde submarine base.

  Police
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Defence Police Federation on the future size of the Ministry of Defence police establishment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. Hughes) on 23 February 1989 at column 760.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Defence Police Federation on the future deployment of Ministry of Defence Police personnel at Ministry of Defence establishments in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Defence Police Federation is a member of two joint committees which provide it with the opportunity to raise questions on a wide range of issues including complementing.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the replacement of retiring Ministry of Defence police personnel.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Recruitment targets are set to attract the numbers necessary to meet these levels, taking account of natural wastage through retirement and other causes.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present approved establishment for the Ministry of Defence police; how many staff are currently in post; and what is the proposed establishment for each of the next three years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The strength of the MOD police on 1 February 1989 was 4,772 (inclusive of dedicated civilians, and of manpower provided to repayment users). The requirements for MOD police are reviewed regularly in the light of policing and security needs and it is not MOD policy to provide details of future manning levels.

  Security Staff
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of private sector security staff commissioned by his Department on each of the past three years to guard Ministry of Defence establishments in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The number of private security guards employed at MOD establishments is variable. The totals in the last three years were approximately:

  Number

  1986–87

  200

  1987–88

  200

  1988–89

  250

  Thermal Imaging
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what examination he has made of the effects of installing thermal imaging equipment at those high security military bases where firearms, ammunition, missiles and warheads are stored.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Security at all Ministry of Defence establishments is under continuous review and the
  223
  use of thermal imaging equipment has been considered, together with other aids to physical security which have become available through advances in technology. The cost-effectiveness of such equipment has to be taken into account in our response to the assessed security threat at any particular establishment.

  Security
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the security arrangements at RAF Honington and at the United States airbases at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath; whether he has any proposals to improve the present levels and methods of preventing or detecting access by unauthorised personnel; how the guarding duties of the RAF Regiment, the auxiliary air force, the Ministry of Defence police and the civil police are co-ordinated; and under which senior officer's direct command they are.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The security of a military establishment is the responsibility of its commanding officer, who is normally responsible for any necessary liaison with the civil police. In the case of bases made available to United States forces, the RAF commander is responsible for liaison with the civil police. Security at RAF Honington, as at other Ministry of Defence establishments, is kept under continuous review—and I understand that the same applies to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath—but it is not our practice to comment in detail on such matters.

  A90 Project
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from Mr. Michael Phillips of Haden Young on developments in the A90 contract.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment had been made of the progress of the A90 project prior to its amendment to a cost-plus basis.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 10 appendix 4 of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General—"Control and Management of the Trident Programme"—HC 27.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with Sir Ronald Mason the role of managers and scientists at AWE Aldermaston in the development of the A90 construction project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to basing the design and construction techniques used for the A90 project closely on similar projects in the United States of America.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In response to a report in 1978 by an independent expert, Sir Edward Pochin, which highlighted deficiencies in existing aging facilities at AWRE, MOD instituted a study to examine the available options to 224
  ensure the retention of nuclear warhead research and development and fissile component manufacturing capabilities. This study concluded that the best course would be to build a new facility based on the TA55 plutonium facility at Los Alamos scientific laboratory. In 1980 the then Secretary of State approved the construction of the new facility together with associated minimum remedial work essential for the United Kingdom location.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any allegations have been received by him concerning the conduct of the A90 project by any participating contractors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I assume the hon. Member has in mind the allegations made in the recent "World in Action" programme. The contract in question is the responsibility of the Property Services Agency which I understand is currently investigating the claims made in the programme.

  EMP Simulators
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the largest vehicle which can be subjected to test by the EMP simulators at Aldermaston atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The working dimensions of the EMP simulators at AWE are 25 m long, 11 m wide, and 6 m high. The facility will accommodate all current service land vehicles.

  Procurement
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met members of the Defence Manufacturers Association to discuss matters relating to procurement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  On 6 December 1988 at a meeting of the National Defence Industries Council.

  Aviation Medicine Training Centre
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proposed move of the Royal Air Force aviation medicine training centre from RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, to RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth, which was originally notified to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton by ministerial letter D/US of S(AF) RNF 19/2/11 of 27 January 1987.

  Mr. Neubert
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  No. 144 Signals Unit
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his intention to move the RAF No. 144 Signals unit from RAF Wattisham to RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, in early 1989, as originally notified to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton by ministerial letter D/US of S(AF) RNF 4844 of 10 March 1988; and whether he will give details of the number of personnel who will be transferred in such a move.

  Mr. Neubert
  The move of No. 144 Signals unit from RAF Wattisham to RAF North Luffenham is being reviewed following a reassessment of the unit's role.

  Conscription
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of conscription for
  225
  an 18-month period of (a) all males and (b) both males and females of 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Government have no plans to reintroduce conscription.

  Contractors
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now list in the Official Report the precise amounts paid to each of the contractors listed on page 15 of "Statement of the Defence Estimates 2", Cm 344-II, by his Department in the financial year 1986–87.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The payments made to each of these companies in the year ended 31 March 1987 in respect of headquarters contracts were as follows:

  Company

  Payments £ million

  British Aerospace plc (Aircraft)

  320

  British Aerospace plc (Dynamics)

  610

  The General Electric Co. plc

  850

  The Plessey Co. plc

  365

  Rolls Royce Ltd.

  425

  Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd.

  345

  The British Petroleum Co. plc

  100

  Ferranti plc

  200

  Hunting Associated Industries plc

  205

  Racal Electronics plc

  105

  Royal Ordnance plc

  245

  Thorn-EMI plc

  155

  Vickers plc

  115

  Westland plc

  135

  British Railways Board

  58

  British Telecommunications plc

  56

  Dowty Group plc

  66

  ESSO United Kingdom plc

  91

  Lucas Industries plc

  61

  General Motors Ltd.

  51

  Pilkington Bros, plc

  69

  Philips Electronic and Associated Industries Ltd.

  54

  The "Shell" Transport and Trading Co. plc

  52

  Short Bros plc

  67

  STC plc

  76

  Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd.

  77

  Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd.

  92

  Austin Rover Group Ltd.

  47

  British Airways plc

  33

  BTR plc

  27

  Civil Aviation Authority

  25

  Digital Equipment Co. Ltd.

  35

  F R Group plc

  37

  GKN plc

  38

  Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd.

  47

  Paccar UK Ltd.

  27

  Smiths Industries plc

  28

  United Scientific Holdings plc

  38

  Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd.

  38

  Avon Rubber plc

  10

  BET plc

  21

  The British and Commonwealth Shipping Co. plc

  13

  British Shipbuilders

  14

  Cambridge Electronic Industries plc

  16

  Coats Viyella plc

  18

  Control Data Ltd.

  10

  Cossor Electronics Ltd.

  21

  Clanfield Institute of Technology

  14

  Cray Electronics Holding plc

  12

  DRG plc

  22

  Frazer-Nash Group Ltd.

  12

  Harland and Wolff plc

  11

  Hawker Siddeley Group plc

  12

  Hewlett Packard Ltd.

  14

  Honeywell Ltd.

  12

  226

  Company

  Payments £ million

  Mobil Holdings Ltd.

  11

  Northern Engineering Industries plc

  11

  Petrofina (UK) Ltd.

  10

  RCA Ltd.

  21

  Remploy Ltd.

  11

  Singer Link Miles Ltd.

  12

  Systems Designers plc

  13

  UK Universities

  12

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  13

  The Weir Group plc

  19

  Yarrow plc

  14

  Apricot Computers plc

  6

  BBA Group

  6

  BMARC Ltd.

  9

  Bodycote International plc

  5

  Caledonian Aviation Group plc

  5

  CAP Group plc

  7

  The Charente Steamship Co. Ltd.

  7

  Chemring Group plc

  7

  Chloride Group plc

  6

  Commercial Shearing Inc.

  5

  CONOCO (UK) Ltd.

  10

  Courtaulds plc

  7

  David Brown (Holdings) Ltd.

  5

  F. L. Smidth and Co. (Holdings) Ltd.

  7

  Ford Motor Co. Ltd.

  7

  George Blair plc

  8

  Gibraltar Shiprepair Ltd.

  7

  Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (GB) Ltd.

  8

  Hall Russell Ltd.

  8

  Hogg Robinson Group plc

  6

  Humber Shiprepairers Ltd.

  6

  IBM United Kingdom Holdings Ltd.

  8

  Inchcape plc

  9

  J. C. Bamford Excavators Ltd.

  9

  John Brown plc

  7

  Logica plc

  7

  MacTaggart Scott (Holdings) Ltd.

  5

  M. L. Holdings plc

  5

  Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd.

  5

  Massey Ferguson Holdings Ltd.

  7

  Meggitt Holdings plc

  6

  Portsmouth Aviation Ltd.

  5

  The Rank Organisation plc

  9

  Readicut International plc

  5

  RFD Group plc

  6

  RHP Group plc

  5

  Ropner plc

  9

  Saft (UK) Ltd.

  7

  Schlumberger Measurement and Control (UK) Ltd.

  7

  Total Oil Holdings Ltd.

  5

  Tozer Kemsley and Millbourn Holdings plc

  8

  Watsham's plc

  6

  Waverley Electronics

  6

  Wills Group plc

  5

  Note: The figures below £100 million are rounded to the nearest £1 million and those above £100 million are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

SCOTLAND

  Rating Reform
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the latest forecast about the impact of the community charge on single pensioners.

  Mr. Lang
  It is estimated that over 80 per cent. of single pensioner households in Scotland will benefit from the introduction of the community charge.
  227
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the administration of the poll tax registers in Scotland, as regards variations adopted with regard to the furnishings of dates of birth.

  Mr. Lang
  Section 13(1)(d) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 1988, requires the community charges register for each registration area to specify the date of birth of each natural person registered therein. Statutory responsibility for compiling these registers rests with the community charges registration officer for each area and it is for them to decide, within the framework of the powers given to them, how best to carry out their functions.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from organisations and individuals seeking to have poll tax liability removed from all persons who are mentally or physically impaired.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations from Members of Parliament, interested organisations and individuals about the liability for the community charge of people with various forms of physical and mental disability.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the level of community charge in Lothian region.

  Mr. Lang
  Since the beginning of this year my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received about 30 representations on the level of the community charge in Lothian region. All have expressed dismay at the unacceptably high level of charges imposed in Lothian region.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what use is being made of the Bellwin scheme to help local authorities deal with the consequences of the storm damage in Scotland on 13 February.

  Mr. Lang
  It is too soon to say whether it would be appropriate to invoke the Bellwin scheme in relation to the recent storms.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the cost of the clearing-up operations following the storm of 13 February.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce details of his response to local authorities and other interested parties within the Highlands and Islands on financial assistance following the flooding and storm damage of this winter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss the financial implications of the recent severe weather in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  It is too soon to assess the full extent and cost of damage and restoration work arising from the 228
  recent flooding and storms. Rather than initiate discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, my right hon. and learned Friend has sought detailed reports directly from those authorities in the Highlands affected by the flooding, and from housing authorities, so that he can make an assessment of the situation as soon as possible. He made it clear in the House on 14 February that if other authorities make representations about excessive costs, he will consider these on the basis of principles for financial assistance well established in previous years. A decision on whether special financial assistance would be appropriate for any area will be made as soon as reports have been received and assessed.

  Procurator Fiscal Service
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of 'State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the National Audit Office report into the procurator fiscal service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the National Audit Office report into the procurator fiscal service; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Five representatives have been received by the Lord Advocate on the National Audit Office report on the prosecution of crime in Scotland and review of the procurator fiscal service. Since the report of the Public Accounts Committee has not yet been published, it would be inappropriate to make a statement.

  Transport Links
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the future adequacy of transport links between the central belt and the north-east of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have received several representations about rail links about the future adversity of trunk road links between the central belt and north-east of Scotland. Over the last few years the Government have made it a major priority to upgrade the A94 to dual carriageway standard. That committment is now nearly fulfilled.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate for the number of people with Alzheimer's disease in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Alzheimer's disease is one of a number of degenerative brain disorders which occur in later life. It is not possible to give accurate estimates of the numbers of people with these conditions because of the very gradual onset of symptoms and changes in the diagnostic classifications as a result of research in this area. Recent studies have, however, suggested that between 112,000 and 160,000 people in Scotland may have dementia of varying severity in one form or another of whom between one half and two thirds may have Alzheimer's disease.

  Education (Renfrewshire)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has recently received in relation to the provision of school education in Renfrewshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from parents of pupils attending St. Aelred's high school, Paisley and others expressing opposition to a proposal by Strathclyde regional council to close the school. That proposal has been submitted by the education authority to my right hon. and learned Friend for his consent.

  Tourism
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants for section 4 grants under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, have been approved; what was the value awarded for each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 16 February. Prior to 1984–85 the approvals were:

  Financial year

  Number of approvals

  Value of assistance (£ million)

  1980–81

  126

  2·2

  1981–82

  165

  2·7

  1982–83

  188

  3·3

  1983–84

  250

  5·5

  I have no statement to make on the operation of section 4 in Scotland.

  Church of Scotland
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from the church and nation committee of the Church of Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Claim of Right
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received about the "A Claim of Right for Scotland" document.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received concerning the document "A Claim of Right for Scotland".

  Mr. David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what further representations he has received about the "A Claim of Right for Scotland" document.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the right hon. Member and the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) on 9 November 1988 at column 228. No further representations have been received.

  Scottish National Party
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has recently received from the Scottish National party about the future government of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
  230
  Mr. Rifkind
  None.

  Scottish Constitutional Convention
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the Scottish constitutional convention.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to meet the Scottish constitutional convention.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudon (Mr. McKelvey).

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had concerning the Scottish constitutional convention.

  Mr. Rifkind
  No representations have been received since my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) on 9 November 1988 at column 228. Both letters referred to in that reply advocated the establishment of a Scottish constitutional convention.

  Scotland (Government)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will deposit in the Library copies of all the speeches he has made on the structure of government in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  No. Copies of speeches which I have made in the House on the structure of government in Scotland are recorded in the Official Report and are thus available for reference. I often refer on other occasions to aspects of the structure of government in Scotland, but no comprehensive record of these comments is available.

  Forestry (Perthshire)
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of forestry projects currently taking place in Perthshire.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Between 1 April 1988 and 31 January 1989, the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved 71 new applications for planting grants in Perthshire.

  Legal Profession
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the president of the Law Society of Scotland and the dean of the Faculty of Advocates.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has at present no such engagement, but has had a recent meeting with the president of the Law Society and the dean of the Faculty of Advocates on Monday 19 December 1988.

  Devolution
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for legislation to devolve power to an elected Scottish Assembly.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to introduce legislation to devolve further powers to Scotland.
  231
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he intends to bring forward to improve the democratic accountability of government in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Bray).

  Forest Parks
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans are in progress to enhance public usage of forest parks.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are now 12 forest parks in Britain, the latest being Tummel forest park which was declared by the Forestry Commission last year. A free leaflet publicising the parks was issued by the commission last June. Plans for encouraging increased public use of the forest parks include the provision of further recreational facilities, the development of an attractive style of signing—already introduced at certain forest parks—and the production of a new series of forest park guidebooks.

  Harbours
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the number of harbour developments in Scotland funded by European Community assistance since 1979; what is the total level of funding associated with these developments; and what is the cost associated with each development.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of harbour development projects in Scotland since 1979 which received financial assistance from the European Community totalled 144. The total cost of these developments amounted to £97·5 million to which the European Community contributed £34·7 million. A list of individual projects could be provided only at disproportionate costs, but projects ranged in cost between £10,000 and £5 million.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now take steps to assess the level of demand for a Scottish Parliament.

  Mr. Rifkind
  No.

  Scottish Assembly
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have received four letters since June 1987, culminating in October last year in representations about the claim of right document advocating the establishment of a Scottish constitutional convention.

  NHS White Paper
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has had from area health boards on the White Paper on the future of the National Health Service.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I received an encouraging and positive response at my meetings with health board chairmen, general managers and senior professionals, held at the time of the launch of the White Paper "Working for Patients" (Cm. 555), We shall now be working closely with health boards and others to ensure that the White Paper proposals are effectively implemented.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a detailed analysis of the implications of the chapter of the Health Service White Paper "Working for Patients" which relates to Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend will shortly be issuing to interested parties various working papers giving further details of our proposals for the Scottish Health Service set out in chapter 10 of the White Paper "Working for Patients" (Cm. 555). I shall ensure copies of these are made available in the Library.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he will be publishing working papers detailing the changes resulting in Scotland from the "Working for Patients" White Paper, similar to those issued by the Department of Health;

  (2) whether the consultation period on the "Working for Patients" White Paper will be extended in Scotland to take account of the current lack of working papers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The first in the series of six Scottish working papers will be published shortly. It is intended to complete the consultation process by the end of May, which we regard as a reasonable time scale.

  Investment
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of inward investment announcements in Scotland over the past year; what has been the level of investment secured; and if he will give the number of jobs associated with these projects.

  Mr. Lang
  In 1987–88, the latest complete year for which figures are available, there were 88 decisions to locate in Scotland. These projects were associated with total planned investment of £337 million and 11,852 jobs.

  Scottish Independence
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many written representations he has received since June 1987 advocating an independent Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Seventeen.

  NHS (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of resources for direct patient care he expects to be released through competitive tendering in the National Health Service.
  233
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Contracts awarded so far will release £15·6 million over the next three years for reinvestment in direct patient care. This is equivalent to the cost of around 2,600 bypass operations or 5,300 hip replacement operations or could buy around 1,500 renal dialysis machines.

  Local Services (Payment)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning alternative means of paying for local services.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations over the years suggesting alternatives to the unfair and discredited domestic rating system.

  Public Housing (Springburn)
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision he is making to improve public housing for families in Springburn.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As the statutory housing authority, Glasgow district council is responsible for determining its own policies and programmes for dealing with improvements to its housing stock. This year the council received a gross capital allocation of £89·3 million for investment in its own housing stock. The council also has additional resources available through a covenant scheme providing £140 million over a five-year period.

  The Housing Corporation has made £4·4 million available in the current year to the Springburn and Possilpark housing association programme, of which £3·8 million will go towards family housing and owner-occupation. The association has five rehabilitation schemes on site, at a total cost of £5·5 million, which will provide 165 housing units, 104 of which will be for general needs.

  The association is also progressing a new build scheme for shared ownership which will provide 49 units at a cost of £1·6 million, towards which the corporation has committed a subsidy of 15 per cent.

  The Scottish special housing association is landlord of 848 properties in Springburn and has recently completed a new build development of 26 amenity flats in the area.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of applications for the purchase of council housing in Scotland; what is the proportion of houses in Scotland now under owner-occupation; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  During 1988 a monthly average of over 4,100 council house purchase applications were received. Over 44 per cent. of Scottish houses are now in owner-occupation. The sustained high level of 234
  applications from public sector tenants seeking to exercise the right to buy is clear evidence of the continuing success of the Government's right-to-buy policy.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the total of tenants to have purchased a property under the right to buy to reach 150,000.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  From information available to date, the number of local authority and new town tenants who have purchased houses under the right to buy legislation between October 1980 and December 1988 is over 108,000. Since April 1979 total sales of public sector stock to sitting tenants in Scotland are over 144,000. This figure may reach 150,000 within the next few months.

  Japanese and Korean Investment
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what action he has taken to encourage Japanese and Korean investment in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Through Locate in Scotland, the Government continue successfully to encourage companies from the far east to establish themselves in Scotland. To further increase the effectiveness of Locate in Scotland operations in the Japanese and other far eastern markets, two new posts have been established in Tokyo within the past 12 months. An additional far east post was also created at Locate in Scotland headquarters in Glasgow last year.

  Elderly People (Housing Management)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will introduce legislation to allow residents of private housing developments for older people to change their management agency following a ballot.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent(a) on teachers' salaries and (b) books and learning materials in the past year and five, 10, 15 and 20 years ago in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information in the tables is taken from local authority financial returns; details for 1967–68 are no longer held.

  Table 1

  Expenditure on teachers' salaries

  £000 at 1987–88 prices

  Year

  Expenditure

  1972–73

  580,115

  1977–78

  688,345

  1982–83

  731,209

  1987–88

  791,410

  235

  Table 2

  Expenditure on supplies and services

  £000 at 1987–88 prices

  Year

  Text and library books

  Equipment and materials

  Provisions

  Other supplies and services

  Total supplies and services

  1972–73

  19,726

  24,069

  212

  3,845

  47,852

  1977–78

  9,956

  —

  604

  29,838

  40,398

  1982–83

  9,406

  19,475

  344

  7,299

  36,524

  1987–88

  8,396

  20,585

  266

  4,552

  33,799

  Note: In 1977–78 expenditure on equipment and materials was not separately identified in local authority financial returns.

  Self-employed People
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet representatives of the National Federation of Self-Employed; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to meet the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses Limited. I met representatives of the federation in July of last year and I will continue to correspond with the federation on issues of mutual concern.

  Wood Products
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the level of demand for wood products has been over the past year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The apparent consumption of wood and wood products in the United Kingdom in 1987, the latest year for which figures are available, was 49·4 million cu m of wood raw material equivalent. This does not include recycled waste paper and residues of United Kingdom origin.

  Ancillary staff: Estimated average hours worked and average weekly pay1

  Males

  Females

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  Grade2

  Pay scale

  Hours

  Pay

  Hours

  Pay

  Hours

  Pay

  Hours

  Pay

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Non-supervisors and chargehands

  A

  46

  130

  30

  78

  42

  114

  23

  60

  B

  45

  132

  25

  68

  42

  114

  26

  71

  C

  46

  156

  26

  85

  42

  134

  26

  79

  D

  50

  172

  —

  —

  44

  157

  30

  102

  Supervisors

  I

  46

  137

  —

  —

  43

  140

  27

  84

  II

  47

  168

  —

  —

  41

  135

  28

  88

  III

  47

  167

  —

  —

  41

  129

  —

  —

  IV

  47

  169

  —

  —

  42

  150

  —

  —

  1 Pay is based on 1987–88 rates.

  2 Grades with fewer than 20 staff are omitted.

  Resource Management
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current status of the resource management initiative at Inverclyde royal infirmary and Bangour general hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Pilot projects are being undertaken at both Inverclyde royal hospital (Argyll and Clyde health board) and Bangour general hospital (Lothian health board) and valuable experience on the introduction of resource management has already been gained from the work at these sites. Initially work

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Scotland has received from the European regional development fund since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  Awards totalled £738 million between 1979 and 1988.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of ancillary staffs employed in the National Health Service in Scotland as at 30 September 1988, excluding nurse auxiliaries, (b) the number of whole-time equivalents in Scotland, (c) the average hours of ancillary staffs, whole-time, by grade together with average pay by grade and (d) the average hours of part-time ancillary staffs by grade and average pay; broken down by male and female for of each of categories (b), (c) and (d).

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are 30,439 ancillary staff employed by the National Health Service in Scotland at 30 September 1988, a contracted whole-time equivalent of 22,068 of whom 6,176 were males and 15,892 females. Average hours and average weekly pay are shown in the tables.

  concentrated on the development and introduction of suitable information systems with a computerised patient administration system at the core and various related "feeder" systems, some clerical and some computerised. However, there is still a need for futher work at both sites before the resource management objectives can be met. In particular, there is a requirement for a clinical information system to provide consultants with the detailed information they require. Further work is also required on the development of treatment costings.

  Argyll and Clyde health board has recently proposed an extension of the project at Inverclyde following the installation of a clinical information system which will give

  237
  clinicians a lead role in the exercise. These plans include an increase in the administrative support necessary to operate resource management. The Scottish Home and Health Department and the directorate of health service information systems (DHSIS) of the Common Services Agency will be sharing the costs of this project with the board, initially on a 50–50 basis, and contracts are about to be signed.

  Lothian health board is also looking at ways of extending the Bangour project. An essential corollary of any resource management initiative is the provision of clinically informative data and in Lothian there are established clinical auditing systems which can be built upon. These will be taken account of in the board's proposals which are currently being prepared and the Department and DHSIS will consider the extent of further financial support which should be provided for this project from central funds.

  Solicitors (Interim Payment)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce arrangements for interim payment to a solicitor for work done under a section 1 certificate.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamiliton
  The Scottish Home and Health Department is currently discussing such a possibility with the Law Society of Scotland.

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give consideration to relaxation of the criteria governing determination of hardship provisions under the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 1988 where(a) a pursuer, and (b) a defender to a small claims process has been in receipt of advice and assistance cover in respect of such small claims and where property has been recovered or preserved by such pursuer or defender.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I see no need to do so. The regulations provide that in cases where the recovery provision might, in the opinion of the solicitor, cause grave hardship or distress to the client or could be effected only with reasonable difficulty because of the nature of the property, the solicitor may apply to the board for authority not to enforce payment of his fees or outlays out of any property recovered or preserved.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recommendations his Department has received from the Scottish Legal Aid Board on the need for additional resources to enable it to discharge its statutory functions; and what response has been made.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamiliton
  Following representations from the Scottish Legal Aid Board, additional funds have been made available for legal aid adminstration increasing this year's provision from £4·96 million to £5·09 million. In addition, the planned expenditure on the Scottish legal aid fund has been increased—subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate—from £52 million to £54 million to meet increased demand.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to amend the Legal Aid 238
  (Scotland) Act 1986 to remove the disentitlement to payment of solicitors for work necessarily and reasonably done.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Act contains no such provision.

  Prisons (Staff Inspections)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reintroduce staff inspection to Scottish prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish prison service operational manpower unit will begin a staff inspection on the residential and operations functional areas of Edinburgh prison on 6 March. Similar staff inspections at Perth, Glonochil and Shotts prisons are planned during the coming year. The programme of inspections was suspended during the introduction of the fresh start restructuring exercise.

  Penal Institutions (Visiting Committees)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many penal institutions in Scotland have visiting committees; and if he will list the numbers serving in each such committee.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Every penal institution in Scotland is served by a visiting committee. The table lists the numbers serving on each:

  Prison visiting committees

  Establishment

  Number of members

  Aberdeen

  12

  Barlinnie

  35

  Cornton Vale

  29

  Dungavel

  13

  Edinburgh

  25

  Glenochil

  22

  Inverness

  14

  Low Moss

  11

  Noranside

  12

  Penninghame

  14

  Perth

  22

  Peterhead

  13

  Shotts

  13

  Young offenders institution visiting committees

  Establishment

  Number of members

  Castle Huntly

  10

  Cornton Vale

  10

  Dumfries

  11

  Glenochil

  12

  Greenock

  9

  Polmont

  7

  Friarton prison is served by a sub-group of Perth prison visiting committee. Longriggend remand institution is served by a sub-group of Barlinnie prison visiting committee.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to encourage attendance at meetings of visiting committees of penal institutions in Scotland.
  239
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am anxious to encourage members of visiting committees to play an effective role in the work of their committees. In January 1989, the Scottish Home and Health Department organised a conference at which every visiting committee was given the opportunity to be represented. Delegates to the conference discussed the duties of visiting committee members and the issue of training. A comprehensive manual of guidance for all visiting committee members has been prepared by the Scottish Home and Health Department and will be issued shortly. This emphasises the need for regular attendance by members at penal establishments. Moreover the Scottish Home and Health Department gave support to the establishment, in September 1988, of an Association of Visiting Committees for Scotland, with the aim of encouraging and supporting visiting committee members in their duties.

  Establishment

  Complement at 1 April 1988

  Staff currently in post or training1

  Difference plus/minus

  1. Aberdeen

  104·0

  110

  +6·0

  2. Barlinnie

  485·0

  497

  +12·0

  3. BSU

  16·0

  15

  -1·0

  4. Castle Huntly

  67·0

  64

  -3·0

  5. Cornton Vale

  179·5

  184

  +4·5

  6. Dumfries

  112·5

  121

  +8·5

  7. Dungavel

  67·0

  63

  -4·0

  8. Edinburgh

  360·0

  383

  +23·0

  9. Friarton

  48·0

  51

  +3·0

  10. Glenochil

  387·5

  380

  -7·5

  11. Greenock

  146·5

  155

  +8·5

  12. Inverness

  86·5

  97

  +10·5

  13. Longriggend

  149·5

  155

  +5·5

  14. Low Moss

  121·0

  124

  +3·0

  15. Noranside

  63·0

  64

  +1·0

  16. Penninghame

  33·5

  31

  -2·5

  17. Perth

  319·0

  329

  +10·0

  18. Peterhead

  260·5

  270

  +9·5

  19. Polmont

  232·5

  252

  +19·5

  20. Shotts

  325·5

  331

  +5·5

  21. SPSC

  29·0

  28

  -1·0

  TOTAL

  35,93·0

  3,704

  +111·0

  1 Staff in post or in training exceed the complement because of the need to anticipate the reduction of prison officers' contracted hours by 2 hours per officer per week from 1 April 1989.

  Prison Industries
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposes to take to increase the turnover in prison industries; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  So far as is consistent with the needs of security and providing balanced regimes for inmates, I will continue policies to maximise manufacturing efficiency. Measures are being taken to ensure that working hours reflect, as closely as possible, those of private sector industry, that staff and inmates are properly trained and that contracts are completed on time and to the required quality standards.

  The Scottish prison service is planning to increase the value of industrial production by £275,000 in 1989–90.

  Penal Institutions (Workshops)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers are employed in supervising workshops; and in which penal institutions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Industrial workshops in prisons are supervised by civilian industrial managers and assistant managers. There are 18 such staff. Under their supervision 176 uniformed prison officers are employed as instructors in the workshops. In addition 50 prison officers work as relief instructors to cover annual leave and sick leave of instructional staff.

  Penal Institutions
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the staffing establishment of each penal institution in Scotland together with staff vacancies in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table sets out the current position.

  Schools (Associated Places)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the cost to his Department of the assisted places scheme in each school in Scotland which benefited in the latest year for which figures are available and the number of pupils involved in each school.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is as follows:

  School

  Total expenditure in 1987–88 school year

  Number of pupils

  Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen

  26,852

  15

  Belmont House School, Newton Mearns

  30,926

  17

  Craigholme School for Girls, Glasgow

  42,158

  30

  241

  School

  Total expenditure in 1987–88 school year

  Number of pupils

  Daniel Stewarts & Melville College, Edinburgh

  1,054,034

  560

  Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh

  George Watsons College, Edinburgh

  Dollar Academy

  99,923

  57

  Edinburgh Academy

  94,858

  38

  Fernhill School, Glasgow

  64,669

  42

  Fettes College, Edinburgh

  93,060

  26

  Fort Augustus Abbey School

  110,700

  43

  George Heriot's School, Edinburgh

  397,293

  221

  Glasgow Academy

  79,471

  42

  Glenalmond College, Perthshire

  124,965

  35

  Gordonstoun School, Morayshire

  82,209

  22

  The High School of Dundee

  309,400

  170

  The High School of Glasgow

  100,843

  58

  Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow

  1205,125

  148

  Keil School, Dumbarton

  117,456

  57

  Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

  102,809

  54

  Kilgraston (Convent of the Sacred Heart)

  98,374

  51

  Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas

  34,354

  17

  Laurel Bank School, Glasgow

  128,202

  60

  Lomond School, Helensburgh

  88,898

  43

  Loretto School, Musselburgh

  81,711

  23

  Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

  167,206

  49

  Morrison's Academy, Crieff

  1267,297

  156

  The Park School, Glasgow

  116,530

  54

  Rannoch School, Perthshire

  68,081

  25

  Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen

  181,119

  54

  Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh

  98,283

  58

  St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow

  231,765

  137

  St. Columba's Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire

  97,841

  47

  St. Denis & Cranley School, Edinburgh

  41,471

  20

  St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  31,512

  16

  St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews

  53,692

  22

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen

  23,404

  13

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  107,711

  54

  Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire

  122,736

  34

  Wellington School, Ayr

  174,600

  41

  Westbourne School for Girls, Glasgow

  151,647

  71

  Total

  5,303,185

  2,680

  1 Provisional figures.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to seek to change the law on Sunday trading in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  With one small exception relating to hairdressers and barbers, the restrictions on Sunday trading in the Shops Act 1950 do not apply in Scotland. I have no present plans to change the existing law.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the law on Sunday trading in Scotland from(a) the Keep
  242
  Sunday Special campaign and (b) the Shopping Hours Reform Council; what analysis of the economic consequences of implementing these representations he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received the proposals of both the Keep Sunday Special campaign and the Shopping Hours Reform Council. He has no plans to implement the proposals of the Keep Sunday Special campaign which would impose new restrictions on Sunday trading in Scotland. The proposals of the Shopping Hours Reform Council on Sunday trading are not intended to extend to Scotland. He has, therefore, made no analysis of the economic consequences of implementing the proposals.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be issuing a document detailing his proposals for changes to general practitioners' terms of service and remuneration system.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall shortly be writing to all general practitioners in Scotland with a report setting out the proposed changes to GPs' remuneration and terms of service as they would apply in Scotland.

  Child Care (Fife)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the discharge by Fife regional council of its statutory responsibilities for child care.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Scottish Office officials have undertaken extensive discussions with officials of Fife regional council concerning the discharge by the authority of certain statutory functions relating to the use of voluntary and compulsory measures of care for children, together with relations between the social work department and the children's panel. In the course of these discussions, clear differences of view have emerged as to whether the practice followed by the social work department is consistent with the best interests of children at risk and with the provision of effective support to the children's hearings system in the region. I have concluded after careful consideration that, with a view to resolving these issues, it would now be right for me to constitute an inquiry under section 99 of the Children Act 1975. The terms of reference are as follows:1. To inquire into the policies pursued by Fife regional council through its social work department in discharging its functions under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and related legislation
  in the use of voluntary and compulsory measures of care for children, and
  in particular, in the advice given to children's hearings before they decide on or review compulsory measures of care for children referred to them.
  2. To assess the extent to which the regional council's current policies relating to these matters and the Department's interpretation and application of them meet the best interests of children at risk.
  3. To make recommendations for any modification of the child care policies of Fife regional council and their interpretation and application in the best interests of children.
  4. To report to the Secretary of State.

  I have invited Sheriff Brian Kearney to undertake the inquiry. Sheriff Kearney will be assisted by Professor Elisabeth Mapstone, OBE, professor of social administration and social work, University of Dundee.
  243
  I hope that it will be possible for the inquiry to be completed within three months.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income-Related Benefits
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update tables I b, 5b and 7b of the paper entitled "The Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits" published in October 1987 to show the position after October 1989, taking into account benefit upratings and the additional payments for pensioners aged 75 years and over.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the reply can be supplied only at disproportionate cost. There was no prescribed procedure for uprating supplementary benefit, housing

  Total staff

  Female staff

  1 Ethnic minorities staff

  Numbers

  Per cent.

  Numbers

  Per cent.

  Grades 1 to 7

  1,066

  149

  13·9

  12

  1·1

  SEO and HEO

  6,885

  2,195

  31·8

  63

  0·9

  EO

  23,245

  13,543

  58·2

  534

  2·3

  AO and below

  61,749

  46,221

  74·8

  2,752

  4·4

  Others2

  3,280

  812

  24·7

  125

  3·8

  Total

  96,225

  62,920

  65·3

  3,495

  3·6

  1 Ethnic minorities figures are based on questionnaires voluntarily completed by staff.

  2 eg Industrial and professional staff.

  Benefits
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent by way of benefit on(a) all families with children aged under 16 years for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Separate information on family support for families with children aged under 16 years is not available. In 1988–89, it is estimated that, excluding unemployment benefit, social security support for all families with children totals almost £8·6 billion. Of this, approximately £3·4 billion is being provided for lone parents.

  Social Security Act 1986
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to review the first year's operation of the Social Security Act 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 January at columns 802–3.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with disability organisations concerning proposed criteria for the forthcoming review of disability benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  Ian Bruce, director-general, Royal National Institute for the Blind, has recently written to me on behalf of his and seven other disability organisations to ask about plans for a review of disability benefits after the publication of all the reports by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on its surveys of disability. My 244
  benefit or family income supplement—different elements of these schemes were uprated in different ways and by different indices at different times. It is therefore impossible to say what the rates of these benefits would have been in April 1989 if reforms had not been introduced. A simple mechanistic uprating in line with the retail price indices would be unrealistic.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of officers in each grade and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.

  Mr. Moore
  Information in the form required is not available because records are held on a combined basis with the Department of Health. Information for both Departments as at 23 February is given in the table:

  response makes it clear that I would welcome the opportunity to meet Mr. Bruce and his colleagues to listen to views and reactions on the OPCS reports already published and their implications. I have sent a copy of my reply to the right hon. Member.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to increase the age limit for mobility allowance; and how many people reaching the age of 75 years in the current year stand to have their mobility allowance withdrawn from 1 April.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) on 13 February at column 63. No existing beneficiaries will reach age 75 before 29 November.

HEALTH

  NHS Costs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will indicate in cash terms for the current year the cost of the teaching hospitals based in London and other national resources for the National Health Service based in London.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect information in the form requested. But London is a centre for a wide range of services a number of which are of national importance. Costing returns submitted to the Department by district and special health authorities in London for major hospitals in teaching districts and postgraduate teaching
  245
  hospitals respectively show that total revenue expenditure attributable to those hospitals amounted to some £656 million in 1986–87.

  For further information on the expenditure and statistics relevant to individual London teaching hospitals I refer the hon. Member to the Department's annual publication "Health Services Costing Returns" (the latest being for 1986–87), copies of which are in the Library.

  AIDS
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department is conducting of early intervention strategies for AIDS and HIV infection in the United States of America;

  (2) what proposals there are for assessment of early intervention strategies with the aim of restraining, slowing down or stopping the development of AIDS in people who are HIV anti-body positive including (a) complementary/ alternative medicine, (b) therapies, (c) diet and (d) psychological approaches.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Medical Research Council is the main Government agency for biomedical research. It is conducting a clinical trial of zidovudine in early HIV infection, but no other early intervention is seen to be ready for evaluation by clinical trial. The MRC keeps abreast of results of clinical trials in HIV infection both from the United States of America and elsewhere.

  Doctors and Dentists
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors and (b) dentists born and trained in the Republic of Ireland have taken up National Health Service posts in the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.

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

  Phlebotomists and Venepuncturists
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to equalise the scale of wages paid by health authorities to phlebotomists and venepuncturists.

  Mr. Mellor
  The pay of phlebotomists and venepuncturists is a matter for negotiation in the appropriate Whitley council.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what directives he intends issuing to general practitioners to ensure effective plans are made to inform relatives of patients suffering from diabetes and glaucoma that eye tests will be free provided that general practitioners provide confirmatory certification.

  Mr. Freeman
  From 1 April 1989 close relatives aged 40 and over of patients with glaucoma will be eligible for an NHS sight test. A leaflet describing the importance of regular eye checks for this group, their eligibility for an NHS sight test and the method of making a claim will be sent to general practitioners and health authorities for display in waiting rooms and out-patient departments. It is also intended to write to hospital doctors asking them to 246
  supply copies for patients with diagnosed glaucoma to pass to their relatives. Regular eye-testing for diabetic retinopathy is appropriate only for people already known to have diabetes and they are eligible for NHS sight tests.

  MMR Immunisation
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report any preliminary figures available for the uptake of MMR immunisation in each health authority in England during the first three months of the MMR being available.

  Mr. Freeman
  Immunisation uptake figures are reported and recorded on an annual (financial year) basis. Rates for health authorities in general, following the introduction of MMR vaccine, will not, therefore, be available for some time. Reports from a sample of districts who have co-operated with the communicable disease surveillance centre are being analysed and the results will be made public as soon as possible. However, the distribution of doses of the vaccine from 1 October to the end of January (1·2 million against a maximum requirement from the two priority groups of children of 400,000) indicates a very high uptake level and a likely acceleration of the "catch up" period for other children.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of officers in each grade and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We do not have information in the form requested because records are held on a combined basis with the Department of Social Security. Information for both Departments as at 23 February is given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security in his reply to the hon. and learned Member today.

  Fullerton Hospital, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed sale of Fullerton hospital for old people at Denaby, Doncaster, will be taken into account in the local health authority's general manager and senior manager's performance-related pay scheme.

  Mr. Mellor
  The assessment for performance-related pay will take account of all the objectives which have been set for the manager concerned. We do not hold centrally information about the objectives set for individual managers. For this purpose property sales or planned hospital closures would normally be set in the context of wider objectives such as improving the use of ark authority's resources or developing new patterns of service and the assessment would reflect the achievement of these wider objectives.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide details of placements of elderly persons in(a) private residential homes per county in England and (b) private nursing homes in England.

  Mr. Mellor
  Provisional information on the number of elderly people supported by local authorities in private
  247
  residential accommodation for elderly and younger physically handicapped people as at 31 March 1987 is given in the table. The numbers of elderly people receiving treatment in private nursing homes under contractual arrangements is given in "Patients Receiving Treatment Under Contractual Arrangements with Institutions Outside the NHS in England, National and Regional Summaries" (form SH9). The latest available data relates to 31 December 1986. A copy is available in the Library.

  Number of residents aged 65 and over supported by local authorities in private homes for elderly people and younger physically handicapped people, as at 31 March 1987 (provisional).

  Local Authority

  Supported residents aged 65 and over in private homes

  Cleveland

  4

  Cumbria

  1

  Durham

  0

  Northumberland

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2

  North Tyneside

  1

  South Tyneside

  0

  Sunderland

  4

  Humberside

  0

  North Yorkshire

  1

  Barnsley

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  Sheffield

  0

  Bradford

  4

  Calderdale

  0

  Kirklees

  15

  Leeds

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  Lancashire

  1

  Bolton

  0

  Bury

  0

  Manchester

  0

  Oldham

  2

  Rochdale

  6

  Salford

  0

  Stockport

  0

  Tameside

  0

  Trafford

  0

  Wigan

  0

  Knowsley

  5

  Liverpool

  4

  Sefton

  19

  St. Helens

  0

  Wirral

  1

  Hereford & Worcester

  1

  Shropshire

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  Warwickshire

  4

  Birmingham

  8

  Coventry

  0

  Dudley

  0

  Sandwell

  1

  Solihull

  0

  Walsall

  2

  Wolverhampton

  7

  Derbyshire

  0

  Leicestershire

  4

  Lincolnshire

  4

  Northamptonshire

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  Bedfordshire

  0

  Berkshire

  6

  Buckinghamshire

  10

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  Essex

  0

  248

  Local Authority

  Supported residents aged 65 and over in private homes

  Hertfordshire

  0

  Norfolk

  10

  Oxfordshire

  6

  Suffolk

  3

  Camden

  27

  Greenwich

  0

  Hackney

  34

  Hammersmith

  3

  Islington

  23

  Kensington

  6

  Lambeth

  0

  Lewisham

  22

  Southwark

  16

  Tower Hamlets

  34

  Wandsworth

  27

  Westminster

  15

  City of London

  6

  Barking

  0

  Barnet

  24

  Bexley

  0

  Brent

  9

  Bromley

  1

  Croydon

  0

  Ealing

  39

  Enfield

  1

  Haringey

  20

  Harrow

  0

  Havering

  1

  Hillingdon

  4

  Hounslow

  0

  Kingston upon Thames

  30

  Merton

  12

  Newham

  0

  Redbridge

  1

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  Sutton

  1

  Waltham Forest

  21

  Dorset

  0

  Hampshire

  22

  Isle of Wight

  0

  Kent

  0

  Surrey

  1

  East Sussex

  0

  West Sussex

  16

  Wiltshire

  5

  Avon

  0

  Cornwall

  0

  Devon

  0

  Gloucestershire

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Somerset

  0

  England

  558

  Health Statistics (Norwich)
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the incidence of(a) leukaemia, (b) cot deaths and (c) birth abnormalities in the Norwich area; and what are the national averages.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: Numbers and rates for (a) notifications of newly diagnosed cases of leukaemia, (b) deaths with leukaemia as underlying cause, (c) cot deaths1 and (d) birth abnormalities' for Norwich district health authority and England and Wales in 1987, except registrations of leukaemia for which 1984 is the latest available data.
  249

  Norwich DHA

  England and Wales

  Numbers

  Rate

  Numbers

  Rate

  Registrations of leukaemia 19841

  46

  210·11

  4,307

  28·65

  Deaths from leukaemia 19871

  45

  29·60

  3,650

  27·26

  Cot deaths4

  6

  31·11

  1,528

  32·23

  Number of malformed babies5

  74

  313·71

  13,581

  319·83

  1 Leukaemia assigned to an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision code 204–208.

  2 Rate per 100,000 population.

  3 Rate per 1,000 total births.

  4 Any mention of cot death or similar term on death certificate whether underlying cause or not. Under 1 year of age only.

  5 Information is derived from a voluntary system of notifications at birth or up to 7 days afterwards. It is likely to be an incomplete measure of the total number of babies affected.

  Electromagnetic Radiation
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has undertaken to determine the effects of electromagnetic radiation at extremely low frequencies on human health.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department does not itself undertake research into possible hazards to health from radiation. However, the National Radiological Protection Board is under a statutory duty to inform and advise Government, and others, in relation to any such hazards.

  I understand that the electricity supply industry is currently funding a research programme to investigate any late effects on health from electromagnetic fields. Other research into the subject is continuing, both nationally and internationally, and we shall monitor the results closely.

  Trent Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by district health authority within the Trent regional health authority, how much National Health Service land has been sold in 1987–88 prices for each year since 1979

  Mr. Freeman
  A list of all land and property sold by the Trent RHA was given in my hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 22 December 1988 at columns 401–4. To arrive at 1987–88 prices the figures should be divided by the following gross domestic product (market prices) deflators:

  1979–80—0·56955

  1980–81—0·67460

  1981–82—0·74104

  1982–83—0·79398

  1983–84—0·83014

  1984–85—0·87214

  1985–86—0·91922

  1986–87—0·94988

  These deflators however take no account of the volatility of the property market.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much undeveloped National Health Service land is owned by the Trent regional health authority; and who benefits from the sale of such land.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information on the amount of NHS land which is undeveloped is not held. However at 31 March 1988 the total land holding of Trent RHA amounted to approximately 4,324 acres, of which just over 800 acres had been declared surplus to requirements and was in the process of disposal. All proceeds from the sale of surplus NHS land are retained by health authorities for reinvestment in the service.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 February concerning the>
  250
  resource allocation working party, Official Report, column 803, what is his best estimate of the likely impact on resources available to the Trent region, of the trends he describes.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The question is a rephrasing of the hon. Member's original question and there is nothing that I can sensibly add to my original answer.

  Ambulance Service (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number of out-patient appointments were cancelled at(a) the Newham general and (b) St. Andrews hospital, Bow, in each of the weeks in January and at first two in February consequent on no ambulance being available; and if he will list comparable figures for each of the divisions of the London ambulance service over the same period, together with respective totals.

  Mr. Freeman
  Out-patient appointments cancelled at Newham general and St. Andrews hospital, Bow, because no ambulance was available, were as follows:

  Week ending

  Newham general

  St, Andrews, Bow

  January 7

  13

  35

  January 14

  24

  18

  January 21

  0

  3

  January 28

  5

  0

  February 4

  1

  4

  February 11

  8

  7

  Out-patient appointments cancelled in each division of the London ambulance service because no ambulance was available were as follows:

  Week ending

  North East

  North West

  South East

  South West

  Total

  January 7

  140

  43

  9

  0

  192

  January 14

  157

  53

  22

  2

  234

  January 21

  69

  62

  14

  3

  148

  January 28

  132

  60

  56

  0

  248

  February 4

  125

  34

  21

  0

  180

  February 11

  87

  56

  9

  8

  160

  Note:

  The North East division is the largest and carries the highest number of patients.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South of 23 February concerning expenditure of the London ambulance service he will itemise the expenditure of £23,967,237 on emergency ambulance service and £7,977,645 on non-emergency services, respectively, in the year 1987–88; and what are the recent sums budgeted for in the year 1988–89.
  251
  Mr. Freeman
  A breakdown of the figures requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The figures for the emergency and non-emergency services for 1988–89 will be available when the South West Thames regional health authority produces its final accounts later this year.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what publication the annual expenditure and income of the London ambulance service has been made available to the public; when he expects its budget for the financial years 1989–90 to be agreed; and with what body or bodies he consulted prior to its determination.

  Mr. Freeman
  The budget for the London ambulance service is determined by the South West Thames regional health authority, not by my right hon. and learned Friend. The information requested is published in the authority's annual accounts. It is also included in the Department's publication "Health Services Costing Returns" (latest edition 1986–87) copies of which are in the Library.

  The 1989–90 budget for the LAS is currently the subject of discussion with the other three Thames regions, and district health authorities, community health authorities and family practitioners committees will be consulted before the budget is approved by South West Thames regional health authority.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated or actual proportion of emergency calls to the headquarters of the London ambulance service which were initially referred to a recorded message service during the first and second weeks of February, respectively, together with the highest proportion during a specific day and hour during that fortnight.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected routinely in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mid-Essex Health Authority
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on hospital building and upgrading of existing facilities in the Mid-Essex health authority since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chairman of Mid-Essex health authority for the information he seeks.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of(a) in-patients and (b) out-patients treated by the National Health Service in the Mid-Essex health authority area in 1979 and the latest available year, respectively.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is given in the table:
  252

  Mid-Essex health authority

  1979

  1987–88

  In-patient cases treated

  20,971

  30,218

  Total out-patient attendances, of which

  119,443

  147,698

  new out-patient cases

  34,853

  39,354

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hip replacement operations were carried out in the Mid-Essex health authority area in 1979 and the latest available year, respectively;

  (2) how many cataract operations were carried out in the Mid-Essex health authority area in 1979 and the latest available year, respectively.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chairman of Mid-Essex health authority for the information he seeks.

  Humana Hospital (Inquiry)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Bloomsbury health authority inquiry has yet revealed who billed recipients of kidneys received at the Wellington Humana hospital;

  (2) whether the computerised billing records of the Wellington Humana hospital have been made available to the Bloomsbury health authority inquiry.

  Mr. Freeman
  The allegations have been carefully examined. None of the inquiries, including an examination of the hospital's computerised billing, have revealed evidence of the sale or purchase of human kidneys for transplantation. As is normal practice, the bills were sent to the admitting clinician.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all papers prepared by his Department or by the public health laboratory service for the working group on salmonella and eggs.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: The public health laboratory service represented my Department on this group. I am informed that all its documents were working documents. As such, none were intended for, nor were they in a form suitable for, separate publication.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has of salmonella enteriditis being found in imported eggs.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: I have no evidence that salmonella enteriditis has been found in imported eggs.

  MOTOR VEHICLES (WEARING OF SEAT BELTS BY CHILDREN) ACT 1988
  MOTOR VEHICLES (WEARING OF SEAT BELTS BY CHILDREN) ACT 1988
  INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION CONTROL
  INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION CONTROL
  LOCAL AUTHORITY RENT ARREARS
  LOCAL AUTHORITY RENT ARREARS
  NITRATE POLLUTION
  NITRATE POLLUTION
  WATER AUTHORITY LAND: PUBLIC ACCESS
  WATER AUTHORITY LAND: PUBLIC ACCESS
  OUTER SPACE TREATY: AMBIT
  OUTER SPACE TREATY: AMBIT
  FEMALE CIRCUMCISION ACT 1985
  FEMALE CIRCUMCISION ACT 1985
  METROPOLITAN POLICE: DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES
  METROPOLITAN POLICE: DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES
  MR. EARL BARTON: POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION
  MR. EARL BARTON: POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION
  WIDOWS' PENSIONS
  WIDOWS' PENSIONS