Written Answers of 9 March 1989

THE ARTS

  Induction Loops
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the number of clients of the Arts Council who have fitted induction loops.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: This information is not held centrally. I will ask the chairman of the Arts Council to write to the hon. Member direct on this subject.

  Museums (Registration)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the Museums and Galleries Commission will be responsible for registering national museums.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: I understand that there is no obligation on the national museums and galleries to apply for registration under the Museums and Galleries Commission's registration scheme, which is a voluntary scheme.

  I hope, however, that the national institutions will lend their support to a scheme which seeks to set standards for the museums' community.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what is his best estimate of the amount of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants under the control of his Department;

  (2) what plans there are to minimise the risk of leaks of chlorofluorocarbons from refrigeration and air conditioning systems under his Department's control.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 6 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 6 March.

SCOTLAND

  Protein Fractionation Centre
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to extend Crown immunity to the protein fractionation centre so as to exempt it from the legal requirement for manufacturing or product licences.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The protein fractionation centre is part of the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service and as such is entitled to whatever immunities that agency, as a Crown body, has from the application of statute. I have no plans for extension of Crown immunity in this field.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current regulations governing building standards in Scotland, and the parent legislation from which they derive.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Building standards regulations in Scotland are made under the Building (Scotland) Act 1959. The current regulations are:

  The Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1981

  The Building Standards (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1982

  The Building Standards (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1984

  The Building Standards (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1986

  The Building Standards (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1987

  Torness Power Station
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information was submitted to the assessor of public undertakings by the South of Scotland electricity board in respect of generating capacity at Torness power station on 1 October 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  The information submitted by the South of Scotland electricity board to the assessor of public undertakings (Scotland) was that, on 1 October 1988, the installed generating capacity at Torness was nil. The relevant statutory instrument requires the board to certify the generating capacity in each rating area on the basis that all generators which were installed were capable of being fully used at the relevant time. I understand that the No. I unit at Torness had not completed its test run on the date in question.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution, in megawatts, has been made to the national grid by Torness power station in each month since generation started at that site.

  Mr. Lang
  I am advised by the South of Scotland electricity board that the first unit at Torness synchronised on to the national grid on 25 May 1988, following which a gradual build up in power proceeded in accordance with a programme agreed with the nuclear installations inspectorate. By the end of July 1988, an interim rating of 682 MW gross was achieved. Since then the unit has operated for much of the time at this power although occasional interruptions for scheduled testing have continued.

  Torness unit No. 2 synchronised on 3 February 1989 and is presently operating at 540 MW gross. It is expected that this unit will achieve its interim rating of 682 MW gross before the end of this month.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will direct the South of Scotland electricity board to review the figure relating to generating capacity at Torness which was submitted to the assessor of public undertakings on 1 October 1988, with a view to ensuring that the board makes an appropriate financial contribution to the budgets of Lothian region and East Lothian district during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The apportionment of the South of Scotland electricity board's rateable value among rating areas is
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  carried out in accordance with the formula set out in the Scottish Electricity Boards (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 1985. Part of the apportionment to East Lothian district council for 1989–90 is based on the board's generating capacity within the district council's area on 1 October 1988 as certified by the board to the assessor of public undertakings (Scotland). The Secretary of State has no powers to direct the South of Scotland electricity board to review its certified figures.

  Crops, Plants and Plant Health
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet received the report of the review of the functions of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in the area of crops, plants and plant health, which commenced in April 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The report of this internal review has now been received and is being considered. Decisions on the recommendations in the report will be reached as quickly as possible, following appropriate consultation with interested parties.

  Newbattle Abbey College
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet replied to the letter of 21 December 1988 from the acting chairman of the governors of Newbattle Abbey college; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I met the chairman and other representatives of the governors on 24 February and have today written to him. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library. This confirms my intention, announced in December 1987, to cease grant payments to the college at the end of this academic year.

  The future of the college is a matter for the governors and trustees. The Government are committed to increasing the proportion of mature students in higher education in Scotland and our current projections assume that numbers of such entrants will be maintained at more than 6,000 a year. The Scottish wider access programme (SWAP) announced last year is working to that end, and resources released from Newbattle will support collaboration under SWAP between further and higher education institutions and education authorities in regional consortia based on each of the four main cities. Such consortia are already operating in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and plans are far advanced in Dundee and Aberdeen.

  Castlehill Site, Aye (Sale)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made with the Ayrshire and Arran health board regarding the use of funds arising from the sale of the Castlehill site in Ayr; what he expects the proceeds from the sale to be spent on; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: If the sale of Castlehill estate is concluded in the financial year 1989–90 as expected, the proceeds will be retained by Ayrshire and Arran health board and used for capital projects designed to improve the retained properties in its area, to reduce running costs and improve health care.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  "Action for Cities"
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made with "Action for Cities" over its first year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I am today publishing a report "Progress on Cities" which outlines the Government's strategy for inner-city regeneration, illustrates achievements to date region by region and sets out the Government's priorities for future action.

  The report shows that the economic regeneration of our inner cities, based on businesses earning commercial returns, is clearly under way. Unemployment is falling rapidly. New shops, offices, factories and homes are under construction. There is growing confidence and co-operation between the private sector, public authorities, voluntary organisations and local communities. The Government will encourage this growing partnership, continue to emphasise the crucial role that business can play and work to ensure that inner-city residents are able to benefit fully from the regeneration of their neighbourhoods.

  I am sending copies of the report to hon. Members with constituencies in inner city target areas. Copies will also be placed in the Library and are available in the Vote Office.

  Task Forces
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he intends to make any changes to the location of the inner-city task forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government's inner-city task forces have proved highly successful in creating jobs, encouraging training opportunities and stimulating enterprise in the areas where they work. They have now been involved in nearly 1,100 projects with total commitments of nearly £33 million.

  The task force budget for 1989–90 will be £17 million, representing an increase of over 20 per cent. compared with the present year. I have today given approval for some 50 further task force projects involving funding of over £3 million, together with a number of other inner city projects amounting to about £2 million.

  I have decided to establish new task forces in Bradford, in Lewisham (Deptford), and in Liverpool (Granby/Toxteth). My officials will be discussing their precise boundaries with the local authorities and City Action teams, with a view to the task forces starting their work as soon as possible.

  These new task forces, like the existing ones, are not intended to be permanent Government agencies in the areas concerned. Their aim is to promote changes and provide opportunities which will have a continuing beneficial effect, and to foster the development of local organisations which can carry forward and build on the task forces' work when the task force itself leaves.

  The task force in Birmingham, Handsworth is now nearing the completion of its programme, following my predecessor's announcement in June 1988 that it would come to an end in March 1989 and that the task force effort in Birmingham would be refocussed in east

  593
  Birmingham. A very encouraging evaluation of the Handsworth task force's work, by independent consultants, was published last week.

  In the light of this experience, and of the significant progress they have made, I have decided that it would be right now to set the end of this year as the date by which the task forces in Leicester (Highfields), Preston and Wolverhampton should complete their programme and withdraw from their areas. During that time they will continue their important task of building up the capacity of local bodies which can take over responsibility for their work in future. They will, therefore, be embarking on discussions locally about future arrangements, including where necessary some continued period of support for particular projects.

  A number of important new projects by these task forces are among those I have announced today, and they will continue to welcome new proposals until the end of May.

  Pharmaceuticals
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will print in the Official Report the surplus of deficit on the United Kingdom's total trade in pharmaceutical products in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, the total value of exports and imports of pharmaceuticals in 1987 and 1988, the total value of parallel imports of pharmaceuticals from other European Economic Community members for 1986, 1987 and 1988, and the total value of parallel imports from Greece in 1986, 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Information parallel imports from countries in the European Community is not available. The remaining information requested is given in the following tables:

  Table 1

  United Kingdom trade in medicinal and pharmaceutical products 1984 to 1988

  Value in £ million

  Division 54

  Balance

  1984

  680·1

  1985

  836·6

  1986

  853·0

  1987

  834·4

  1988

  859·4

  Table 2

  Total value of imports and exports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products 1987 to 1988

  Value in £ million

  Exports

  Imports

  1987

  1,620·7

  786·3

  1988

  1,735·3

  875·9

  Notes:

  (i) 1988 figures are provisional.

  (ii) exports fob; imports cif.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Select Committees (Recommendations)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about and how many accepted, by his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Forth
  In the two reports by the Trade and Industry Committee completed since June 1987, to which the 594
  Government have responded, 62 recommendations were made, of which 37 have been accepted in whole or in part by the Government, or noted, where no further action by Government was sought.

  Computerised Information (Confidentiality)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the potential risks of unauthorised entry into the computer systems which calculate the monthly balance of payments figures.

  Mr. Forth
  The security requirements of the computer system used in my Department for calculating the United Kingdom visible balance of trade were addressed before the system was designed and put into operation. Security safeguards designed to minimise the risks of unauthorised entry were incorporated into the system, taking account of appropriate specialist advice. Security of the system is regularly reviewed.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the possible effects on financial markets in the United Kingdom and abroad of the unauthorised penetration of sensitive information held by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  The security of sensitive information is addressed at an early stage in the design of new systems by assessing the impact of unauthorised disclosure or loss of the information to be held. Measures are introduced to reduce the risks of unauthorised penetration to a justifiable minimum.

  Chambers of Commerce
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many chambers of commerce have received assistance from his Department; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department provides assistance on a wide range of matters to many chambers throughout the country.

  Textiles
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a scheme under the Industry Act 1972, as amended, to provide grant aid for the textile dyeing industry to invest in machinery which reduces water consumption; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  No. Member states are bound by restrictions on sectoral aid for the textile and clothing industry. However, firms in assisted areas may apply for regional selective assistance under the Industry Act towards investment projects which meet the established criteria. Firms in the industry may also be eligible for assistance under the enterprise initiative.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the Government's proposal to review the Wool Textile Industry (Export Promotion) Levy; what views have been expressed by the Confederation of British Wool Textiles:, what is his response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received a number of representations from interested parties, including hon. Members, trade
  595
  associations and trade unions. The Confederation of British Wool Textiles stated that it wished the statutory levy to be retained. All views expressed will be taken fully into account before a decision is taken.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on quota arrangements for textiles in the European Economic Community by 1992; and what consideration has been given as to whether imports will be controlled on a Communitywide basis or quotas for imports allocated to each member state.

  Mr. Maude
  It is the Commission's view that individual member states quotas or shares of any ECwide quotas, backed up by derogations from the normal free-circulation rules authorised by the Commission under article 115 of the treaty of Rome, would be inconsistent with the completion of the single market in 1992. How far this might extend to the treatment of textiles and clothing is unclear although the curent EC bilateral textile agreements under the multi-fibre arrangement already allow for automatic transfers between member states' share of EC wide quotas. There has, however, been no detailed Community discussion of future arrangements for EC quotas on textiles and clothing. The current extension of the MFA lapses in 1991 and the future of the arrangement itself is under discussion within the GATT round of multilateral trade negotiations which themselves are due for completion in September 1990.

  Tin
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution the United Kingdom is making to the administrative account of the International Tin Council in the current year.

  New merchant shipbuilding orders

  Thousand gross registered tons

  1987

  1988

  Qtr. 1

  Qtr. 2

  Qtr. 3

  Qtr. 4

  Qtr. 1

  Qtr. 2

  Qtr. 3

  Belgium

  0

  1

  0

  26

  20

  0

  7

  Denmark

  60

  1

  5

  216

  50

  17

  48

  France

  0

  30

  26

  2

  44

  1

  5

  Germany

  176

  67

  168

  154

  40

  307

  158

  Italy

  301

  127

  14

  18

  2

  33

  3

  Netherlands

  9

  7

  11

  9

  36

  26

  21

  Greece

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Portugal

  79

  0

  0

  2

  7

  1

  3

  Spain

  12

  26

  44

  324

  14

  106

  245

  United Kingdom

  6

  75

  10

  8

  8

  6

  83

  Total EEC

  644

  334

  279

  760

  221

  499

  573

  Japan

  913

  1,307

  1,314

  1,216

  1,168

  1,079

  1,522

  South Korea

  1,023

  1,307

  605

  1,225

  726

  778

  612

  Other

  838

  762

  422

  749

  640

  485

  692

  Total

  3,418

  3,710

  2,620

  3,950

  2,755

  2,841

  3,399

  Source: Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

  Honey
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much of honey exports is produced from British hives and how much is imported honey packaged or repackaged in Britain.
  596
  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's contribution to the administrative account for the year ending 30 June 1989 was assessed by the International Tin Council as £15,007.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what have been the costs to date of defending the various legal actions brought against the Government following the collapse of the international tin agreement in 1985.

  Mr. Atkins
  Payments in respect of legal costs by the Treasury Solicitor acting for Government Departments concerned in various actions in the courts in England arising out of the cessation of the buffer stock operation of the International Tin Council totalled £375,106 at 31 January 1989.

  Defence Exhibition
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the countries which will be represented at the defence components and equipment exhibition at the Birmingham national exhibition centre on 9 to 11 May.

  Mr. Atkins
  I understand that over 250 British companies are exhibiting at the event together with a number of European firms, the majority of whom are currently engaged in collaborative projects with British firms in the defence field. Visitors are expected from many countries.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent information he has on the gross tonnage of new shipbuilding orders won by each European Community country, Japan, South Korea and all other countries in 1987 and 1988 quarter by quarter.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information available is shown in the table:

  Mr. Ryder
  I have been asked to reply to this question.

  There is no information available to distinguish between the honey exports that are produced from British hives and those from packaged or repackaged imports.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  National Insurance
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will allow a repayment supplement to individual taxpayers where there has been a mistake in their class 4 national insurance contributions and the Inland Revenue is at fault;

  (2) if he will seek to amend section 824 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 to allow a repayment supplement, as with the case of income tax, on class 4 national insurance contributions, where the individual has been overcharged because of an error on the Inland Revenue's part.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Security has no plans to amend Social Security legislation to reflect the provisions of section 824 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 to class 4 national insurance contributions.

  Shipping (Investment)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a brief summary of the main differences between the Norwegian K/S investment scheme and the business expansion scheme in so far as they affect investment in shipping.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Norwegian K/S partnerships and the business expansion scheme are entirely different. K/S partnerships, which are usually involved in shipping, are in principle similar to United Kingdom limited partnerships. A K/S partnership is not itself chargeable to tax; instead, the individual partners are taxed on their share of the partnership's profits and are entitled to the tax allowances associated with the partnership's business. This carries certain tax advantages for investors. The Norwegian Government have recently made proposals to limit the use of such partnerships.

  The business expansion scheme offers tax relief on investments made by outside investors in new full-risk equity of small United Kingdom unquoted companies, including companies which operate or let ships. The Government welcome the fact that more shipping companies are using the BES to raise finance this year.

  Computers (Unauthorised Entry)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any contingency measures to deal with the possibility of unauthorised tampering with computerised systems in the money markets.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is the responsibility of individual participants in the money markets to ensure the integrity of their respective computerised systems.

  Shipping
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the contribution of British shipping to the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1988 and what it was in 1978, expressed both in current value and constant value terms.

  Mr. Major
  The latest annual information relates to 1987, when the direct overseas earnings of ships operated 598
  by United Kingdom companies, net of their overseas expenditure, was £500 million. The equivalent figure in 1978 was £662 million, or about £1 billion at 1987 prices.

  Tax System
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations he has given to the codification of the United Kingdom tax system, along the lines of that in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 2 March 1989]: Any such change to the present system would need to be considered in the wider context of statute law as a whole. I refer my hon. Friend to the report of the Renton committee (Cmnd. 6053, presented to Parliament on 7 May 1975) for the arguments which led ito recommend against continuous codification of statutue law. It also looked specifically at fiscal legislation but was not persuaded that it deserved special treatment and I see no reason to depart from that view. When drafting legislation, parliamentary counsel do use the textual amendment approach where practicable. This is a convenient and well-understood drafting technique which helps to reduce difficulties for practitioners. In particular it allows related tax legislation in different Finance Acts to be brought together in the Taxes Acts which the Inland Revenue updates and publishes annually.

ENERGY

  Windpower Farm (Isle of Wight)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration has been given to the benefits of siting a windpower farm at Tennyson downs on the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No consideration has been given by my Department to siting a wind farm at Tennyson downs on the Isle of Wight.

  Domestic Energy Resources
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what current estimate he has of the number of households in England and Wales which are unable to obtain a gas supply.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  As my hon. Friend will appreciate this is now a matter for British Gas plc, since it has been privatised.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what current estimate he has of the number of householders in England and Wales who are unable to burn coal or wood fires.

  Mr. Parkinson
  A recent market survey by Audit Great Britain (AGB) estimated that the number of households in England and Wales who did not have the potential to burn coal or wood fires in the winter of 1987–89 was 12·843 million.

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since June 1987.
  599
  Mr. Parkinson
  The Government have responded to recommendations made in three reports of the Energy Select Committee published since June 1987. The responses are contained in the following reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.The Effect of Oil and Gas Prices on Activity in the North Sea:
  Energy Committee: First Special Report Session 1987/88 House of Commons 205
  The Department of Energy's Spending Plans 1988–89:
  Energy Committee: Second Special Report Session 1987/88 House of Commons 693
  The Structure, Regulation and Economic Consequences of Electricity Supply in the Private Sector:
  Energy Committee: Third Special Report Session 1987/88 House of Commons 701

PRIME MINISTER

  Pensioners
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what action she is taking to co-ordinate Government policy to ensure that all pensioners have an adequate standard of living.

  The Prime Minister
  This Government's success in co-ordinating policies to ensure that pensioners have an adequate standard of living is clearly shown by the fact that we have maintained the value of retirement pension, ensured that pensioners' savings keep their value, and encouraged the growth of occupational pensions. These policies resulted in a 23 per cent. real terms increase in pensioners' total average net income in our first seven years in office. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced in November last year that an extra £200 million annually is to be made available to certain groups of pensioners through the income support scheme, who have not shared fully in the prosperity enjoyed by pensioners as a whole.

  Granborough
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Granborough near Rugby.

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

  Sea Defences
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the protection of the British coast line and the development of appropriate sea defences; and which of her Ministers has overall responsibility for the development and implementation of such a policy.

  The Prime Minister
  Through the provision of grant aid to water and other drainage authorities and to maritime district councils, Her Majesty's Government provide a substantial contribution to the cost of capital works undertaken by these bodies for the protection of the coastline from flooding and erosion by the sea.

  Ministerial responsibility in England for flood and coastal defences rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and in other parts of the United Kingdom the respective Secretaries of State.

  Civil Service Code
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to amend the operation of the Civil Service code as it relates to staff at 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  The Civil Service code applies to all civil servants. I have no plans to make any changes which relate specially to staff at 10 Downing street.

  Middle East
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she intends to discuss issues relating to the peace process in the middle east with President Gorbachev during his forthcoming visit to Britain.

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to discuss with Mr. Gorbachev a wide range of issues of mutual interest including the middle east.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with President Mitterrand of France, she discussed the joint development of inherently safe nuclear reactors.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Non-proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with President Mitterrand of France, she raised the possibility of France signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Test Ban Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with President Mitterrand of France, she raised the possiblity of Franco-British technical co-operation to resolve outstanding technical problems of verification for a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Sudan (Visit)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement following the postponement of her visit to the Sudan.

  The Prime Minister
  I concluded that it would be considerate to postpone my visit to Sudan because of the present political difficulties there. The Government hope that all parties in Sudan will work for the restoration of peace and stability.

  Engagements
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 March.
  601
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be presenting the north-east business man of the year awards in Gateshead.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Examination Results
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all local education authorities in England in rank order of expenditure per secondary pupil per year, together with their position in the table of examination results for school leavers achieving five or more O-levels at grades A to C or CSE grade 1, for the year 1984–85.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information in the table gives the average cost per secondary school pupil for the financial year 1984–85; and the three-year average, over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87, of the proportion of school leavers who attained five or more higher grades at O-level/CSE. The latter figures are drawn from a 10 per cent. sample of pupils at each school and are presented in the form of a three-year average, rather than for any single year, to help mitigate the effects of sampling error.

  Secondary schools in England

  Examination results: Average over the academic year 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87

  Expenditure per pupil (£) in the financial year 1984–85

  Percentage of school leavers attaining 5+ higher grades at O-level/CSE

  Ranking

  Local education authorities:

  ILEA

  1,940

  15·4

  90

  Haringey

  1,615

  17·3

  83

  Brent

  1,525

  19·1

  75

  Newham

  1,485

  12·4

  93

  Waltham Forest

  1,450

  11·0

  94

  Ealing

  1,315

  19·6

  69

  Manchester

  1,295

  17·3

  82

  Hillingdon

  1,275

  21·2

  62

  Barnet

  1,265

  41·0

  1

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,245

  17·7

  80

  Knowsley

  1,240

  10·6

  95

  Harrow

  1,240

  37·8

  2

  Havering

  1,230

  23·9

  44

  Barking

  1,225

  9·9

  96

  Croydon

  1,225

  22·9

  52

  Hounslow

  1,190

  21·5

  61

  Redbridge

  1,185

  25·6

  32

  North Tyneside

  1,180

  21·9

  56

  Coventry

  1,180

  19·9

  67

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,170

  26·5

  26

  602

  Examination results: Average over the academic year 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87

  Expenditure per pupil (£) in the financial year 1984–85

  Percentage of school leavers attaining 5 + higher grades at O-level/CSE

  Ranking

  Liverpool

  1,165

  17·0

  84

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,165

  34·8

  3

  Rochdale

  1,155

  20·2

  64

  Bromley

  1,155

  30·5

  10

  South Tyneside

  1,150

  18·1

  79

  Enfield

  1,150

  23·7

  45

  Sheffield

  1,150

  18·9

  74

  Sandwell

  1,135

  13·4

  92

  Wolverhampton

  1,130

  15·4

  89

  Stockport

  1,130

  24·3

  41

  Wigan

  1,110

  27·2

  19

  Nottinghamshire

  1,110

  19·6

  68

  Salford

  1,110

  18·9

  76

  Walsall

  1,105

  19·1

  73

  Leicestershire

  1,100

  22·9

  51

  Bury

  1,100

  28·4

  16

  Buckinghamshire

  1,095

  31·6

  8

  Avon

  1,085

  24·7

  38

  Bexley

  1,080

  26·6

  24

  Gateshead

  1,080

  18·8

  77

  Hertfordshire

  1,075

  28·9

  13

  Cleveland

  1,075

  27·5

  18

  Barnsley

  1,070

  15·7

  88

  Tameside

  1,070

  23·5

  48

  Oxfordshire

  1,070

  26·5

  25

  Doncaster

  1,065

  19·2

  72

  Birmingham

  1,060

  16·9

  85

  Bedfordshire

  1,060

  25·9

  29

  Sutton

  1,060

  34·4

  4

  Sunderland

  1,060

  19·3

  70

  Berkshire

  1,055

  27·5

  17

  Sefton

  1,045

  27·0

  21

  St. Helens

  1,040

  23·6

  46

  Merton

  1,040

  24·9

  36

  Shropshire

  1,040

  27·0

  22

  Humberside

  1,040

  21·1

  63

  Trafford

  1,040

  31·7

  7

  Wirral

  1,035

  23·5

  47

  Bolton

  1,035

  24·9

  37

  Northamptonshire

  1,035

  20·0

  66

  North Yorkshire

  1,035

  31·4

  9

  Surrey

  1,030

  34·4

  5

  Cumbria

  1,025

  24·2

  42

  Staffordshire

  1,025

  23·4

  50

  Derbyshire

  1,020

  21·5

  58

  Solihull

  1,020

  29·4

  11

  Essex

  1,015

  25·1

  35

  Lancashire

  1,015

  24·7

  39

  Gloucestershire

  1,015

  28·6

  14

  Cheshire

  1,010

  26·6

  23

  Norfolk

  1,010

  21·9

  57

  Warwickshire

  1,010

  26·2

  27

  East Sussex

  1,000

  25·7

  30

  Calderdale

  1,000

  19·3

  71

  Northumberland

  1,000

  29·0

  12

  Oldham

  995

  16·1

  87

  Rotherham

  995

  17·4

  81

  Dudley

  990

  21·5

  60

  Bradford

  990

  16·7

  86

  Lincolnshire

  985

  25·3

  34

  Devon

  980

  23·4

  49

  Hampshire

  980

  26·0

  28

  Suffolk

  975

  22·0

  55

  Wiltshire

  975

  22·1

  54

  Wakefield

  975

  15·4

  91

  Leeds

  970

  21·5

  59

  Durham

  965

  20·0

  65

  West Sussex

  965

  32·1

  6

  Cornwall

  965

  25·5

  33

  603

  Examination results: Average over the academic year 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87

  Expenditure per pupil (£) in the financial year 1984–85

  Percentage of school leavers attaining 5 + higher grades at O-level/CSE

  Ranking

  Dorset

  960

  28·4

  15

  Isle of Wight

  960

  18·3

  78

  Hereford and Worcester

  955

  25·7

  31

  Somerset

  950

  22·2

  53

  Kirklees

  950

  24·1

  43

  Kent

  935

  27·1

  20

  Cambridgeshire

  690

  24·4

  40

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for each of the local education authorities in England the number of A-level grades A to E awarded to pupils in maintained institutions, including both secondary schools and tertiary colleges, in each year from 1982–83 to the latest for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not readily available. I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

  University Teachers
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when and where it was stated and agreed in 1986 that the staged salary increase for university teachers was to cover three years; how long the standard response letter from his Department signed by Miss J. Bonde, in reply to representations concerning the Association of University Teachers dispute has been in use; and if it is his intention to revise it.

  Mr. Jackson
  The pay settlement for university non-academic and academic related staff agreed in March 1987 provided for increases of 16·6 per cent from 1 December 1986 and 7·4 per cent from 1 March 1988. At the time of the settlement, the Government gave a clear indication to the employers that no further funds would be made available to finance further increases from 1 April 1988. In the nature of things many correspondents make the same points and accordingly there are areas of similarity in the Department's replies. The comments made on all matters are revised when necessary.

  Travellers' Children
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of travellers' children being educated by each local education authority.

  Mr. Butcher
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested.

  Top-up Loans
  Mr. Straw
  To ak the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library copies of the submissions which he has received from organisations and bodies in response to his White Paper "Top-up Loans", in a manner similar to the arrangements he made in respect 604
  of submissions on the consultative documents for the Education Reform Bill; and if he wll list those organisations.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on 15 February and 7 March to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) at columns 209 and 465–67. Formal responses have also been received from Oxford university, Liverpool polytechnic and the Association of Colleges for Further and Higher Education.

  Deaf/Blind Children
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the statement on the educational needs of deaf/blind children.

  Mr. Butcher
  The statement has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend and I hope that it will help those concerned to make the most suitable provision for the education of deaf-blind children. We are grateful for the help that voluntary organisations, in particular SENSE, and local education authorities have given the Department in drawing up this statement.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Cable Television
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many households in Northern Ireland are at present able to receive cable television.

  Mr. Renton
  Ulster Cablevision has the Cable Authority franchise to provide cable television to 136,000 homes in Belfast. This franchise is not operational yet. In addition, the Cable Authority has authorised a number of satellite master antennae television systems in Northern Ireland. Information on the number of households connected to such systems is not readily available.

  Broadcasting Acts
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the 1981 and 1987 Broadcasting Acts as they affect Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Renton
  The Broadcasting Act 1981 sets out the statutory framework for the operation of independent television and radio in the United Kingdom. Under it Ulster Television was re-awarded the ITV franchise for Northern Ireland in 1981 and Downtown Radio had its contract for the provision of the Northern Ireland ILR service extended by a further eight years in 1986. In accordance with the Broadcasting Act 1987, which makes provision for extending existing ITV contracts with the IBA until 31 December 1992, the franchise of Ulster Television is extended to that date.

  Electric Trains (Radio Interference)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has carried out any investigations into the effect of arcing created by electric trains travelling at
  605
  speeds of over 200 km per hour on the transmission of UHF and VHF broadcasts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  My right hon. Friend has not commissioned any such investigations; neither are we aware of any. Neither the BBC nor the IBA are aware of any problems in transmission or reception of UHF or VHF broadcasts caused by arcing from high speed electric trains.

  Mr. Salman Rushdie
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long police protection has been provided for Mr. Salman Rushdie; and what has been the cost to public funds of that provision.

  Mr. Hurd
  On 14 February 1989, the Metropolitan police decided that it was necessary to provide Mr. Rushdie with police protection. It would not be sensible to disclose information about police protection which would indicate its scale in a particular case.

  Sealink Harbours Ltd. (Special Constables)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there has been any change in the advice given to chief constables concerning the appointment of special constables as in the case of Sealink Harbours Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There has been no change in the advice given to chief officers of police about the appointment of special constables for their police force area under section 16 of the Police Act 1964. Chief officers are not parties to the appointment, by Justices, of persons nominated by a statutory harbour authority (under the terms of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847) whose special constabulary powers apply only within the port and one mile around it.

  Football (Offences)
  Mr. John Marsh
  all To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those arrested at football grounds during the past two seasons were (a) subsequently charged with offences and (b) convicted; and if he will provide a breakdown of the types of offences for which convictions were secured.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not recorded centrally.

  Relate (Funding)
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding was given to Relate: National Marriage Guidance for England and Wales in each of the last five years; what funding is set for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: Grants-in-aid to relate for the years 1984–85 to 1988–89 were:

  £

  1984–85

  827,460

  1985–86

  864,570

  1986–87

  890,500

  606

  £

  1987–88

  912,870

  1988–89

  11,035,910

  1 Includes £100,000 supplementary grant-in-aid.

  Subject to the approval of Parliament the provision for 1989–90 will be £959,310. That provision will be reviewed during the year.

  Safer Cities Initiative
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish initial reports on the safer cities initiative in Hartlepool.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: A progress report on the safer cities programme will be produced later this year.

  Public Drinking Ban
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the results of the pilot scheme ban on drinking in public places operating in Stockton-on-Tees.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: The experimental byelaw in Stockton-on-Tees, which makes it an offence to drink alcohol in designated public places, was made by the council on 24 February and is expected to be confirmed, subject to the statutory requirements being fulfilled. The experiment will last two years during which its operation will be monitored by the local authority with the assistance of the Home Office. It is expected that the results of the pilot scheme, which involves six other local authorities, will be available in 1991.

  Crime (Cleveland)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures his Department is taking to prevent crime in Cleveland;

  (2) how many neighbourhood watch schemes have been established in Cleveland.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: At the end of November 1988 the Cleveland police force strength was 1,470 police officers and 429 civilians. This represents increases of 123 police officers and 111 civilians since 1 97 9. Nine police officers and one civilian work full time on crime prevention. Four crime prevention panels are in operation in the area and there are 463 neighbourhood watch schemes, covering 15,826 homes. As part of the Government's "Action for Cities" initiative, a safer cities project is being established in Hartlepool.

  Ex-offenders (Hostels)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places in hostels he estimates will be lost to ex-offenders as a result of' the introduction of the new social security regulations.

  Mr. John Patten
  None.

  Select Committee (Recommendations)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted, by his Department since June 1987.
  607
  Mr. Hurd
  In the five departmental Select Committee reports completed since June 1987, to which the Government have responded, 56 recommendations were made, of which 44 have been accepted in whole or in part by the Government, or noted, where no further action by Government was sought.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department is evaluating the effects and use of its guidance on child abuse issued to the police in July 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has asked HM inspectorate of constabulary, as part of its annual force inspections, to discuss with chief officers and to report to him on the implementation of Home Office circular 52/1988.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department's guidance to police officers on child abuse issued in July 1988 is available to(a) hon. Members and (b) the public.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Yes. A copy of Home Office circular 52/1988 on the investigation of child sexual abuse, which was issued on 6 July 1988, was placed in the Library. Copies are available to members of the public on request.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the inter-departmental working group on child sexual abuse has met.

  Mr. David Mellor
  I have been asked to reply. Eight times.

  Private Security Firms
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that employees of private security firms are properly vetted.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to questions by the hon. Members for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) and for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 15 December 1988 at column 716.

  Juveniles (Crime)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles under 17 years sentenced by juvenile and Crown courts in Greater Manchester received custody in 1988; and what proportion this is of the total number of juveniles sentenced to custody in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1987, a total of 502 juveniles aged under 17 years were sentenced to immediate custody at all courts in Greater Manchester; that was 12 per cent. of the juveniles sentenced to immediate custody in 1987 throughout England and Wales. The 1988 figures are not yet available.

  Dog Fighting
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to establish the extent of dog fighting; and if he will make a statement.
  608
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Dog fighting is an offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and penalties were recently increased by the Protection of Animals (Penalties) Act 1987 and the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1988. The investigation of crime is a matter for the chief officer of the police force concerned.

  Official Secrets Bill
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it will be an offence under the Official Secrets Bill as currently drafted for an organisation to act as United Kingdom publisher of a copy of an international publication compiled outside the United Kingdom and including information based on official confidential United Kingdom communications to the European Commission.

  Mr. Hurd
  Any such disclosure could be an offence only if, among other elements of the offence, the prosecution could prove beyond reasonable doubt that the information related to security or intelligence, defence or international relations, as defined in the Bill; that it had previously been published without the authority of the international organisation to which it had been given; that, despite its previous publication, its further disclosure met the relevant test of harm set out in the Bill; and that the discloser had reasonable cause to believe that it would. It is difficult to imagine that a disclosure in the circumstances described could meet these tests.

  Strip Searches
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) males and (ii) females were strip-searched by(a) the police, (b) immigration officers, (c) prison officers and (d) other authorities in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on the number of strip searches carried out by police officers is not collected centrally. Comprehensive information about the strip-searching of prison inmates is not available because establishments are not required to record every strip search. Immigration officers normally seek the co-operation of Her Majesty's Customs in any search of a passenger's baggage or person which may be considered necessary, and in practice immigration officers do not carry out strip searches. With regard to the number of strip searches carried out by Customs officers, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to a question from the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) on 10 February at columns 836–37.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action is being taken in the light of local staffing difficulties at Her Majesty's prison, Leeds over (i) searching, (ii) provision of library, (iii) staffing of landings, and (iv) weekend closure of some facilities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what action is being taken in the light of local staffing difficulties at Her Majesty's prison, Lindholme over (i) regular suspension of searching, internal cleaning and workshop patrols, and (ii) occasional suspension of receptions, censoring, canteen and library services; and if he will make a statement;
  609
  (3) what action is being taken in the light of local staffing difficulties at Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield over (i) occasional suspension of searching and (ii) regular closure of workshops; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In all three prisons systematic searching is completed on a regular basis in both residential and non-residential areas. Searching is never suspended, but occasional staff shortages may cause changes to a particular programme of searching. Programmes of category A searching are always adhered to.

  I understand that there has been some reduction in access to library services at Her Majesty's prison, Leeds in recent weeks, but that this difficulty has now been resolved. Since the introduction of fresh start working practices at Leeds, there are more staff now available to work on the landings. Only one recent cancellation of weekend association (on Sunday 28 August 1988) has been recorded.

  In Her Majesty's prison Lindholme, wing officers control the cleaning of the wings. Other officers are allocated to the different parties that clean the various areas around the Lindholme site. The task is accomplished to a satisfactory level on a regular basis. On workshop patrols, the preferred manning level is four officers, with an additional officer available to give assistance to the instructors if required. Staff absences and other commitments mean that this manning level is not often fully achieved, and there is a local agreement to drop the additional officer tasks if the suggested patrol numbers are short. Work on receptions, censoring, canteen and library services fluctuates according to demand and staff are deployed accordingly.

  In Her Majesty's prison Wakefield, workshops are not regularly closed, but there are occasional closures, for example due to staff absences or interruptions in the supply of materials.

  Ex-offenders (Employment Prospects)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to improve employment prospects for ex-offenders.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: The Home Office has issued advice to prison establishments and to the probation service about employment training and its relevance to offenders and ex-offenders. Prison officers in several establishments are receiving special training and support to enable them to provide employment guidance to inmates. It is intended that the vocational training currently provided within prison establishments should be expanded in line with the Government's policy initiative on the competence-based and work-related national vocational qualifications. Advice is currently being offered to prisoners by prison education departments and through pre-release schemes and post-release counselling on opportunities to continue

  Reported8 fatalities in the construction industry9

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  Date of accident

  Falls of persons1

  Falls of materials2

  Work in excavations3

  Transport4

  Electricity

  Cranes5

  Hoists6

  Others

  Total

  Employees

  1960

  154

  29

  17

  28

  14

  1010

  2

  24

  278

  1961

  129

  40

  13

  28

  12

  1021

  —

  29

  272

  1962

  152

  38

  19

  30

  12

  1010

  1

  19

  281

  610
  skills training following release. Long-term prisoners who are coming near the end of their sentences may apply for temporary release, living in a pre-release employment scheme hostel and working for local employers.

  The Home Office after-care grant scheme contributes towards the central and administrative costs of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders and the Apex Trust, organisations which are actively involved with the Training Agency to provide training and employment opportunities for ex-offenders. The Home Office also contributes to a number of other organisations which seek to place ex-offenders in employment as a regular part of their programme of rehabilitation and after-care.

  The Home Office takes part in regular meetings with the Training Agency, Department of Employment, the probation service, voluntary organisations and others to co-ordinate initiatives for improving employment prospects for ex-offenders.

  Criminal Injuries (Compensation)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to ensure that the entitlement to benefits of victims is not affected by compensation awards from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  Payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are treated in exactly the same way as any other payments made in compensation for a personal injury. lf the award is placed on trust it will be fully disregarded if the recipient is a child or young person, or for at least two years if the recipient is an adult. However, any payments made by the trustees will be treated as income or capital in the normal way. There are no proposals for changing these provisions.

EMPLOYMENT

  Construction Industry (Fatalities)
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total number of fatalities in the construction industry reported by the Health and Safety Executive for each year between 1960 and 1987, inclusive that were caused by(a) falls of persons, (b) falls of materials, (c) work in excavations, (d) transport, (e) electricity, (f) cranes, (g) hoists and (h) other.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the available information. Fatalities to the self-employed and members of the public were not reportable until 1 January 1981. The few voluntary reports collected between 1978 and 1980 are included with employees. Fatal injuries to the self-employed working on their own have never been reportable.
  611

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  Date of accident

  Falls of persons1

  Falls of materials2

  Work in excavations3

  Transport4

  Electricity

  Cranes5

  Hoists6

  Others

  Total

  1963

  143

  15

  16

  19

  15

  1012

  4

  23

  247

  1964

  140

  35

  25

  16

  21

  1012

  1

  21

  271

  1965

  118

  33

  16

  22

  8

  1015

  4

  14

  230

  1966

  130

  42

  19

  40

  18

  716

  3

  24

  292

  1967

  115

  20

  7

  20

  9

  711

  4

  18

  204

  1968

  124

  28

  19

  18

  11

  724

  2

  14

  240

  1969

  124

  22

  23

  35

  14

  726

  1

  23

  268

  1970

  84

  22

  10

  35

  13

  720

  4

  16

  204

  1971

  96

  13

  22

  29

  10

  715

  5

  11

  201

  1972

  80

  17

  21

  25

  12

  716

  4

  15

  190

  1973

  98

  16

  23

  35

  10

  722

  4

  23

  231

  1974

  76

  13

  9

  21

  12

  724

  —

  11

  166

  1975

  67

  23

  11

  26

  10

  721

  1

  23

  182

  1976

  72

  18

  7

  18

  8

  712

  1

  18

  186

  1977

  73

  6

  4

  17

  3

  716

  —

  11

  130

  1978

  88

  16

  10

  11

  9

  105

  4

  10

  153

  1979

  81

  18

  11

  11

  4

  104

  3

  17

  149

  1980

  93

  17

  9

  19

  14

  10—

  —

  13

  165

  1981

  52

  13

  5

  23

  5

  10—

  —

  7

  105

  1982

  53

  16

  4

  24

  3

  10—

  —

  —

  100

  1983

  64

  14

  9

  11

  6

  10—

  —

  14

  118

  1984

  47

  16

  8

  24

  3

  10—

  —

  2

  100

  1985

  51

  18

  9

  21

  3

  10—

  —

  2

  104

  198610

  12

  2

  —

  5

  1

  10—

  —

  4

  24

  1986–8711

  45

  9

  6

  12

  4

  10—

  —

  23

  99

  1987–8811

  47

  9

  3

  22

  4

  10—

  —

  15

  100

  Self-employed

  1981

  8

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  1982

  11

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1

  18

  1983

  15

  1

  1

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1322

  1984

  12

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  17

  1985

  15

  4

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  22

  198610

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1986–8711

  18

  2

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  3

  26

  1987–8811 12

  26

  3

  —

  2

  3

  —

  —

  7

  41

  Non-employed

  1981

  —

  3

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  5

  12

  1982

  6

  3

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1

  13

  1983

  6

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  11

  1984

  3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  7

  1985

  3

  4

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  198610

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1986–8711

  8

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  14

  1987–8811 12

  7

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  6

  16

  1 Includes falls into excavations but excludes falls from vehicles
  which are included under transport.

  2 Excludes falls of earth in trenches which are included under work
  in excavations.

  3 Includes falls of earth in trenches but excludes falls into
  excavations which are included under falls of persons.

  4 Includes falls from vehicles.

  5 Includes injuries involving lifting machinery other than hoists, except in 1978–79 when cranes only are included.

  6 Excludes falls of persons and materials; these are included in columns 1 and 2.

  7 Includes falls of persons and materials; these are not included in columns 1 and 2.

  8 Reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates and all other relevant enforcing authorities under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR) for 1981 to March 1986, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR) for 1986–87 onwards. Fatalities between 1960 and 1980 are limited to those reported to Her Majesty's factory inspectorate.

  9 The construction industry is defined as in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 1968 (Order XX) up to 1980 and as in SIC 1980 (Division 5) from 1981.

  10 First quarter (January to March).

  11 Year commencing 1 April.

  12 Provisional.

  13 Revised.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the total number of health and safety inspectors who have been employed in each of the past 10 years; and for how many the specific purpose of employment has been to oversee the safety of workplaces.
  612
  Mr. Nicholls
  Since 1979, the total number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive is as follows (1 April figures):

  Number

  1979

  1,424

  1980

  1,435

  1981

  1,404

  1982

  1,323

  1983

  1,276

  613

  Number

  1984

  1,242

  1985

  1,266

  1986

  1,231

  11987

  1,204

  1988

  1,165

  21989

  1,185

  1 Her Majesty's industrial air pollution inspectors (37 posts) transferred to the Department of the Environment on 1 April 1987.

  2 1 February.

  All HSE inspectors are recruited specifically to contribute to the executive's role in overseeing the safety of workplaces, by inspection, advisory and enforcement activities, or by the provision of specialist technical advice to visiting inspectors. In the course of their employment inspectors may also spend time on other duties including line management responsibilities and contributing to the development of legislation, guidance and technical standards.

  Industrial Accidents
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the total number of people killed as the result of accidents in the workplace in each of the last five years showing, in each year, what the figures were in the previous 10, 20 and 30 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the available information. Fatalities to the self-employed and members of the public were not reportable until 1 January 1981.

  Fatalities as a result of work activity to all enforcing authorities1

  Great Britain

  Date of accident

  Employees

  Self employed2

  Non employed

  Total

  1987–883 8

  340

  83

  102

  525

  1986–873

  355

  52

  91

  498

  1986 Q14

  98

  10

  24

  132

  1985

  399

  71

  5159

  629

  1984

  438

  60

  105

  603

  1983

  447

  65

  85

  597

  Yearly average:

  1973–826

  588

  9..

  9..

  9..

  1963–726

  939

  9..

  9..

  9..

  1953–626

  7677

  9..

  9..

  9..

  1 Reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates and all other relevant enforcing authorities under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR) for 1981 to March 1986, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR) for 1986–87 onwards. Prior to 1981, injuries were reported under various legal requirements. Fatalities between 1953 and 1962 are limited to those reported to HSE's factory inspectorate. Fatal injuries to the self-employed and the non-employed reported to the mines and quarries inspectorate for the years 1981 to 1984, and reported to local authorities for the years 1981 to 1985 are included with employees.

  2 Fatal injuries to the self-employed working on their own have never been reportable.

  3 year commencing 1 April.

  4 First quarter (January to March)

  5 Includes 56 members of the public killed in the Bradford City football club fire disaster.

  614
  6 Average yearly figure for the 10-year period.

  7 Factory inspectorate only.

  8 Provisional.

  9..Not available.

  Further Education Programme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to provide for consultation with local authorities and other interested parties in relation to the future further education programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I have no plans for formal consultation in relation to the further education programme. My officials are in regular contact with local education authorities through their associations and with other interested parties.

  Voluntary Organisations (Bradford)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make funds available to Bradford metropolitan district council to enable voluntary organisations, previously funded by the Manpower Services Commission, to continue.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Funds are already available under employment training to enable Bradford metropolitan district council to provide training for unemployed people. It is for the council to decide how it will organise this training and which voluntary organisations it will fund as a training provider.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons on the employment training programme have had two days' training plus three days' work a week for at least a four-week period each month since September 1988.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None. Employment training is a full-time training programme five days a week. In exceptional circumstances people can undertake a part-time introduction to the programme or part-time training, but people in those circumstances are individuals who are not able, for medical or other reasons, to work during the time they are not attending employment training.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the components of the cost of living index on which increases in the retirement pension are based.

  Mr. Lee
  Retirement pensions are uprated in line with the "all items" retail prices index. The index covers practically all the goods and services on which people spend their money. The main groups used for classification are food, catering, alcoholic drink, tobacco, housing, fuel and light, household goods, household services, clothing and footwear, personal goods and services, motoring expenditure, fares and other travel costs, leisure goods and leisure services.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number in the civilian labour force in 1988, and in each quarter of 1988; and what is his estimate of the number of persons economically active in employment in 1988, and in each quarter of 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  An estimate of the civilian labour force in Great Britain in mid-1988 will be available shortly using the results of the labour force survey conducted in the spring of 1988; the projection published last year was 27,538,000. Quarterly estimates of the civilian labour force are not available.

  Estimates of the number of persons economically active in employment in spring 1988 will also be available shortly from the labour force survey. Quarterly estimates are not available.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in each travel-to-work area of Hampshire in each year since 1979; and if he will express this as a percentage increase or decrease on the preceding year.

  Mr. Lee
  The table gives the available information, taken from the September 1981 and September 1984 censuses of employment, for each of the travel-to-work areas which fall wholly or partly within the county of Hampshire:

  Employees in employment1

  Numbers (thousands)

  Percentage change

  September 1981

  September 1984

  1981 to 1984

  Travel-to-work area2

  Basingstoke and Alton

  64·1

  69·6

  +8·7

  Gosport and Fareham

  45·5

  48·6

  +6·8

  Southampton

  163·5

  162·7

  -0·5

  Winchester and Eastleigh

  70·7

  73·0

  +3·2

  Travel-to-work area3

  Andover

  25·6

  26·7

  +4·6

  Bournemouth

  83·6

  81·8

  -2·2

  Guildford and Aldershot

  152·5

  160·3

  +5·1

  Newbury

  28·1

  31·8

  +13·3

  Portsmouth

  143·0

  133·9

  -6·3

  Salisbury

  370

  38·1

  +2·9

  1 Excludes the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.

  2 Travel-to-work areas wholly contained within the county of Hampshire.

  3 Travel-to-work areas partly contained within the county.

  Fletcher Hunt and Connaughts
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will prosecute the employment agencies known as Fletcher Hunt and Connaughts for the charging of clients for counselling and other services, contrary to the Employment Agencies Act 1973.

  Mr. Lee
  It is not an offence under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 to charge clients for counselling and other services. The offence is to make the provision of a job-finding service conditional on the use of chargeable services. No evidence of the offence has been found hitherto in Fletcher Hunt and Connaughts. The practices of all agencies are kept under review.

  Inner Cities
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans for new initiatives in inner cities.

  Mr. Fowler
  My Department makes a substantial contribution to inner city regeneration through its employment, training and enterprise programmes and the special initiatives that we already fund as part of the action for cities programme.

  We now plan to fund a range of further initiatives which build on our existing services and extend them further to help even more people in the inner cities.

  Progress on the existing school/industry compacts has been excellent. Thirty bids for development funding were accepted in August 1988 and the first four applications for operational funding—Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry and Hull—have now been approved. Other applications will be considered shortly. We will now be inviting bids for up to a further 10 compacts (nine in England and one in Scotland) from partnerships of employers and education authorities.

  I am anxious that more unemployed inner city residents should have the opportunity of training designed to help meet emerging skill shortages. In 10 inner city areas we will therefore pilot an initiative in employment training to allow people who have been unemployed for between three and six months to join the programme in addition to the existing eligible groups.

  I am also concerned to improve the job opportunities for people who have been out of work for six months or more. As an extension of the restart process we will therefore pilot a job interview guarantee in 20 inner city areas. It will offer employers a comprehensive range of ways, including short work trials, to choose the right people for their jobs. In return for the enhanced service they will be offered, employers will enter into formal agreements with the employment service in which they guarantee to interview long-term unemployed clients.

  I am convinced that these new initiatives announced today will help to enhance the valuable work already being undertaken by my Department in the inner cities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the principal achievements of his Department since 1987.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department has been in the forefront of efforts to achieve further progress in reforming the CAP, the arrangements embodied in the February 1988 European Council agreement being the most significant step taken so far. This introduced for the first time a legally binding ceiling on CAP market support expenditure; and limited its growth to about 2 per cent. in real terms between 1988 and 1992 compared to 10 per cent. a year over the previous four years. Stabilisers are now in place for most CAP commodities, and these are backed up by practical measures to strengthen financial control. Community spending on agricultural market support has been kept under control. Both the outturn for 1988 and the budget for 1989 are well within the financial guideline.
  617
  The 1988 price-fixing settlement built on this progress. The negotiations demonstrated clearly the impact of the new rules on budget discipline, and the final settlement respected the expenditure ceiling for 1989 and 1990. At the same time, the Government continued to press United Kingdom farm interests and achieved a devaluation of the green pound worth about £120 million on farm incomes in a full year.

  Since 1987, the much criticised EC surpluses in most major commodities, as demonstrated by intervention stocks, have fallen significantly. Stocks of butter have fallen 88 per cent. since the end of 1987. Cereals stocks are down about 40 per cent. since August 1987. Skimmed milk powder stocks, which were nearly 800,000 tonnes in 1987, are now virtually non-existent.

  We have reached agreement in the European Community on new support arrangements for beef which significantly reduce the role of intervention and its cost, leave the market more responsive to supply and demand and provide direct payments to beef producers.

  To complement the policy of price restraint and increased market orientation, the Government have introduced a range of schemes designed to achieve a better balance between agricultural production and the environment, encourage farm diversification and alternative land use, and encourage farming practices that are beneficial to the landscape and to the conservation of wildlife.

  The introduction in 1988 of a set-aside scheme provided incentives for the reduction of surplus cereal production, while keeping the land set aside in good heart.

  Following the passage of the Farm Land and Rural Development Act 1988, the Government introduced the farm woodland scheme 1988 which is designed to encourage planting of trees on land previously in agricultural production and which has already got off to an encouraging start. Grants for enterprise feasibility studies and marketing costs of diversified enterprises were introduced in August 1988. These complement the capital grants for farm diversification introduced on 1 January 1988.

  The farm and conservation grants scheme was introduced in February 1989. This targets assistance on investments to prevent water pollution by farm operations and to enhance the conservation of the countryside. The lowland grant rate of 50 per cent. for waste treatment and disposal facilities is the highest level ever offered in those areas and is also the best rate of grant available anywhere in the Community. Extra help is also provided for horticulture. Prompt action was taken to assist farmers and growers adversely affected by the great storm of 16 October 1987 through extra grants for the replanting of orchard trees and replacement of damaged hedges and walls.

  We have established 10 environmentally sensitive areas in England. The scheme, which is voluntary, encourages environmentally beneficial agricultural practices. Over 300,000 hectares of land are within environmentally sensitive areas. This represents a considerable commitment to helping to protect some of the most beautiful parts of the country.

  We have taken further measures for the safe application of pesticides by requiring certification of certain groups of operators. Statutory controls to limit pesticide residues in crops and food have been introduced. Measures have been
  618
  taken to ensure that farmers limit pesticides to approved uses only and clear guidance has been issued on disposal of surplus pesticides.

  The Government have engaged in extensive consultations with industry and consumers as a part of our major review of existing primary food legislation and hope to bring this forward as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

  We have strengthened the science base for consumers' protection by building up a comprehensive food monitoring and investigative system under the auspices of the steering group on food surveillance. The objective is to provide a basis for regulation and advice to consumers.

  In July 1987 the Government issued guidelines on nutrition labelling of foods which aim to standardise the presentation of nutritional information. This is helping consumers to achieve a balanced diet by enabling them to compare food more easily.

  The United Kingdom has taken an active role in negotiating Community directives which form part of the single market food law harmonisation programme and which will remove barriers to trade and benefit both consumers and industry. Last year agreement was reached on nine Community directives including the five important framework directives on food additives, materials and articles in contact with food, foods for particular nutritional uses and the official inspection of foodstuffs.

  The Government have enacted about 30 food law measures and proposals have been issued for consultation on a further 10 measures including draft regulations on soft drinks, fish products and fat spread products, and amendments to the Food Labelling Regulations to introduce alcoholic strength marking and restriction on the use of the term "low alcohol".

  As soon as it became clear that there was a problem with salmonella enteritidis in eggs, the Government acted immediately to tackle the problems at every point in the production chain, from feed production through breeders, hatcheries and laying flocks to the food distribution industry and consumers.

  A working party was set up under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Southwood to look at all aspects of the new cattle disease called bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The Government took prompt action in imposing a feed ban to cut off the most likely source of disease to cattle, and responded quickly to the working party's interim recommendations to slaughter affected animals and destroy the carcases and milk from them. The working party's full report, which was published on 27 February, welcomed the Government's prompt action.

  The United Kingdom has been successful—along with Denmark—in achieving Community recognition of its higher (step 2) hygiene status under the EC heat-treated milk directive.

  In the animal welfare area we have banned veal crates, made new legislation on battery hens and poultry transport, and produced new on-farm codes for seven species.

  Following sustained United Kingdom pressure, the Council of Agriculture Ministers reached agreement in December 1988 on a new regulation defining spirits, which will greatly strengthen the competitive position of the United Kingdom drink industry.

  Increased Government funding for the construction and improvement of flood and coastal defences, was announced in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement 1988.
  619
  For water authorities, £15·9 million of extra grant will be made available over the next three financial years, increasing Government support in this sector by 1991–92 to nearly £25 million annually. In addition the grant-aided capital programme of local authority flood and sea defence work is being increased over the same period by £8·8 million, increasing the Government funded programme by 1991–92 to £11 million.

  Updated guidance to drainage authorities on their environmental responsibilities was issued and regulations were made to implement the EC environmental assessment directive regarding flood defence improvement work.

  During 1988, the Government secured improvements in the EC fish conservation, marketing and control regimes, including improved measures to protect juvenile mackerel and plaice and provision for carry-over premium for herring and mackerel. We also secured a satisfactory settlement of the 1989 catch quota including the right to take some of our western mackerel quota east of 4 west and a 1989 North sea haddock quota which took account of our special claims under The Hague preference. We have announced new national measures to improve the conservation of bass stocks.

  Deer
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each of the last five years (a) how many live deer and of what species were exported from the United Kingdom, (b) how many were exported for the purpose of deer farming or the improvement of stocks of foreign deer and (c) to what countries they were exported; what procedures were carried out to determine if they were free from disease; and whether any tests were carried out for tuberculosis.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested about the numbers and species of deer exported, their purpose and countries of destination is not available. Consignments of deer for export are normally accompanied by a health certificate produced in accordance with the importing countries requirements. To date certificates have been agreed for exports to Austria, China, Denmark, New Zealand, Guernsey, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Taiwan, South Africa, United States of America and Oman.

  In all cases the certificate is signed at the boarding point by a local veterinary inspector who is required to confirm that, amongst other things the animals are healthy and free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease. A number of countries also require certification to the effect that the animals have been tested for tuberculosis with negative results.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any representations concerning the payment of environmentally sensitive areas payments to landlords; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have received no representations concerning the payment of ESA payments to landlords. ESA payments are made direct to the applicant who will usually be an owner-occupier or tenant.
  620
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of farmers who have entered into environmentally sensitive area agreements who are(a) owner-occupiers, (b) tenants of private landlords and (c) tenants of public authorities; and if, in respect of the latter, he will state the number of tenants of each public body in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.

  Mr. Ryder
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and would not be available in the form requested.

  Forestry Commission (Hunting Permission)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 24 February,Official Report, column 853, if he will now place in the Library the appendices referred to in the form of permission to hunt used in the Forestry Commission's east England conservancy.

  Mr. Ryder
  Each standard form of hunt permission issued in the Forestry Commission's east England conservancy is accompanied by the appropriate schedules referred to in condition 1 of the permission. These schedules are completed in each case to show the areas of land which the hunt may enter and the conditions of such entry. I have arranged for copies of the schedule forms to be placed in the Library, although they do not add anything to the information already given in condition 1 of the permission.

  Ruminant Feedstuffs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on how many occasions since 18 July 1988 his Department has taken and tested samples of ruminant feedstuffs containing ruminant-derived protein material;

  (2) what action his Department is taking to monitor the effectiveness of his ban on the use of ruminant-derived protein material in ruminant feedstuffs.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Ministry officials are empowered to take and test samples of ruminant feedstuffs if they have reason to believe the ban on the use of ruminant-derived protein is being broken. To date, there has been no reason to believe the law has been broken and such action has not been necessary.

  Scrapie
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those animal species known by his Department to be infected with scrapie or scrapie-like infections.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Scrapie in sheep and goats and BSE in cattle belong to a group of progressive degenerative diseases caused by unconventional transmissible agents. Similar diseases are known to have occurred in other countries in mink, captive mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the sites in the Crewe and
  621
  Nantwich constituency being used to dispose of cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy; if he will identify the method of disposal; if he will take steps to ensure the supervision by his officers; and if he will list the numbers of occasions on which the Wardle landfill site has been used for such a purpose.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Slaughtered cattle suspected of having BSE are buried at the Wardle landfill site, Nantwich under the supervision of Ministry staff. Since 24 June 1988, a total of 46 carcasses have been buried there.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council on 6–7 March in Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The main business before the Council, at which I represented the Government, consisted of the Commission's proposals for agricultural prices and other aspects of the farm support system for 1989–90. There was extensive discussion, but no agreement was reached. In the main, I supported the Commission's proposals, while pressing points of particular importance for our farmers, including an appropriate devaluation of the green pound.

  The meeting also discussed a proposal to make payments to farmers specifically to encourage them to diversify into certain non-surplus products. Along with several other Ministers I objected to some aspects of the proposal because of the risk that established producers of non-surplus products could be unfairly affected by subsidised competition. I was particularly concerned about the impact on our soft fruit growers and horticultural businesses producing plants and flowers. I was able to secure sufficient support to prevent these sectors from being included in the list of sectors eligible for subsidised competition, and the president decided therefore to remit the proposal for further study. It could otherwise have been accepted with the exclusion of those products at the Council. We shall return to the issues at a subsequent Council.

  The Commission again urged, with our support, that a decision be taken on future arrangements for imports of butter and sheepmeat from New Zealand but several member states were still unwilling to reach a decision for the time being. The matter will be discussed again at the Council beginning on 20 March.

  Finally, the Council had a first reading of proposals from the Commission which it entitled an action programme for forestry. These will likewise be discussed further at a later date.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Nurses' Pay
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses in Northern Ireland are unsatisfied with their pay award and how many appeals are outstanding.

  Mr. Viggers
  Of the 15,400 nurses in Northern Ireland, some 6,000 have requested informal reviews with their nurse managers. 4,280 reviews have been completed of 622
  which 682 posts have been upgraded. 2,574 cases a re proceeding with formal appeals of which 26 posts have so far been upgraded.

  Security
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  The House will be aware of the explosion at Buncrana road, Londonderry last night in which two soldiers were tragically killed and six of their colleagues were injured. The House will also be aware of the indiscriminate shooting attack at Coagh village on Tuesday afternoon in which three civilians died. The total deaths since I last answered questions in the House on 9 February are 13. This includes three soldiers and 10 civilians. The Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for eight of these murders, the IPLO for one, while the remaining four are thought to have been carried out by Loyalist terrorist groups.

  These figures confirm the serious warnings that the RUC has given about the high security threat, against which the security forces are maintaining their high level of response.

  Since the beginning of the year 53 persons have been charged with serious offences including four with murder and seven with attempted murder. A total of 99 weapons, over 9,400 rounds of ammunition and 154 lbs of explosives have been recovered in Northern Ireland. I understand that the Garda Siochana has recovered 21 weapons, 9,500 rounds of ammunition, and 175 lbs of explosives.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on any recent meetings which he has had with Ministers of the Republic of Ireland under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I met Ministers of the Republic of Ireland at the last meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on 8 February. A copy of the communiqué, which lists the subjects discussed, has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the review of the operation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement to be completed.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to be able to report on the completion of the review of the operation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
  623
  Mr. Tom King
  I would expect it to be before the summer.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on the review of the operation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have received a number of representations in response to my invitation to members of the public, political parties, and other interested bodies to submit their views on the working of the Intergovernmental Conference under the Anglo-Irish Agreement. These are being carefully considered.

  Lagan College
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects work to start on the provision of permanent buildings for Lagan college.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Early 1990.

  Political Parties (Talks)
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in holding talks with the political parties in Northern Ireland since 14 February.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses he has received to his call for talks with the political parties in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response his appeal to the political parties in Northern Ireland to engage in talks with him has received.

  Mr. Tom King
  In my speech in east Belfast on 14 February, I said that we would be seeking to explore with all in Northern Ireland who have a contribution to make, what possibilities may now exist for political progress. This process has now started.

  Charitable Donations
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the level of donations to charities and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland; and whether any patterns can be discerned over the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information held by the Government about donations from the public to charities and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland is limited to returns from Provincewide house-to-house collections. These do not enable general conclusions to be drawn about patterns of giving.

  The Government have taken steps over the past three years to encourage giving in the workplace, through the payroll giving scheme. The scheme in Northern Ireland has been growing steadily, and expects to handle some £100,000 in the 1988–89 financial year. Over 200 employers are now enrolled with the scheme.

  Auxiliary Oiler Vessel
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the financial arrangements with 624
  potential acquirers of Harland and Wolff for meeting existing liabilities or for meeting losses on existing contracts will exclude any liabilities or losses in respect of the AOR1, contract.

  Mr. Viggers
  The financial arrangements with potential acquirers of Harland and Wolff will involve a complex range of factors. I can confirm, however, that they will include provision for meeting losses on existing contracts.

  Irish Sea (Pollution)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will consider the implications for the environment and health of Northern Ireland of current levels of pollution in the Irish sea.

  Mr. Tom King
  Discussions between the United Kingdom and Irish Governments about pollution in the Irish sea have hitherto been conducted by the Ministers and officials directly concerned rather than through the Intergovernmental Conference. I am sure that this remains the right approach.

  South Down (Investment)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each year from 1984 to 1988 the number of occasions when the Industrial Development Board and Local Enterprise Development Unit brought potential investing companies to South Down for the purposes of new development and job creation; and to what bodies or persons they were introduced.

  Mr. Viggers
  Since 1984, the industrial development board has accompanied potential inward investors on 15 visits to the hon. Gentleman's constituency as follows:

  Number

  1984

  1

  1985

  3

  1986

  1

  1987

  4

  1988

  4

  In 1989 there have so far been two such visits. The visitors met local business men, and inspected industrial estates, port, training and employment service facilities in the area. The role of the local enterprise development unit is to support locally based projects.

  Housing Executive (Public Liability Claims)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total of public liability claims paid by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive(a) in 1979–80, and (b) in 1987–88.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that the information is not available in the form requested.

  He has informed me that during 1979–80 the Housing Executive insured against public liability risk and the amount paid out by the insurance company is not known.

  During 1987–88 the executive paid out £1·4 million in respect of public liability claims.

  Local Government Reforms
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals to introduce local government reforms in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland published a consultative paper on local government last November, setting out proposals with regard to the conduct of district council business, the administrative structure of environmental health and building control services, and the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for certain services. Comments were requested by I March 1989 and are now being considered.

  Extradition
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been extradited from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland during the last three months; and of these how many were charged with terrorist-type offences.

  Mr. Tom King
  No persons have been extradited from the Republic of Ireland during the last three months. One application has been made and 18 applications are pending. There is no differentiation in the applications between terrorist and non-terrorist cases.

  Cross-border Security
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on improvements in cross-border co-operation on the frontier between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985.

  Mr. Tom King
  A number of steps have been taken in the field of co-operation, intelligence, communication and other related aspects which are all directed towards improving cross-border co-operation.

  Single European Act
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in preparing Northern Ireland for the implementation of the Single European Act.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  We have set in train action on a broad front to prepare Northern Ireland for the implementation of the Single European Act. This action includes gearing up the private sector for the challenges and opportunities of the single European market, ensuring that the public sector is alert to changing requirements on such matters as standards and public purchasing arrangements, and preparing the necessary development plan and programmes to take advantage of the Province's objective 1 priority status under the reformed structural funds.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary (Traffic Accidents)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motor accidents involving members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve there have been in Northern Ireland during 1986, 1987 and 1988; and in how many cases the police officers were to blame in each case.
  626
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Records are not maintained on the number of police officers involved in road traffic accidents whilst driving private vehicles. However, the number of accidents involving police vehicles is summarised as follows:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Total number of accidents involving police vehicles

  864

  736

  696

  Accidents in which police drivers were adjudged to be blame worthy

  275

  293

  209

  A substantial number of these accidents were of a minor nature, many of them occurring within police property. Further information may be found in the Chief Constable's annual reports.

  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fatalities, other than police officers, there have been as a result of motor accidents involving members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve in which police officers were held responsible for the accident.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information requested is not available from current records.

  Police Officers (Driving Training)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what driving skills training is available to police officers in Northern Ireland; what encouragement is offered to them to take up this training; and how many police officers have taken the advanced driving test in 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  All qualified drivers who join the Royal Ulster Constabulary are given a four-week initial standard driving course as part of their initial training. On passing this course to the required standard they are appointed as police drivers. No officer may drive a police vehicle unless appointed as a police driver. Throughout an officer's career he or she may at any time apply to become an advanced driver or motor cyclist. Each application is considered on its merit and a high percentage are so trained. Numbers trained were as follows:

  Advanced driving courses

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Number of officers trained

  102

  90

  70

  Number passed

  97

  86

  67

  Police Officers (Traffic Offences)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions for road traffic offences were taken against police officers in 1986, 1987 and 1988; and how many were for(a) driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, (b) speeding and (c) dangerous or reckless driving.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Information is not available as to the number of police officers prosecuted for all road traffic offences. However, the number prosecuted for drunken driving and reckless driving was as follows:
  627

  Royal Ulster Constabulary officers prosecuted under Article 141(1) and 145(1) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (Drunken Driving)

  Year

  Number of officers

  Number convicted

  Number acquitted

  No result of hearing yet received

  1986

  24

  23

  1

  —

  1987

  27

  25

  2

  —

  1988

  37

  28

  —

  9

  RUC officers prosecuted under article 139(1) and (2) of the Road Traffic (NI) Order 1981 (Reckless Driving)

  Year

  Number officers

  Number convicted

  Number acquitted

  No result of hearing yet received

  1986

  12

  11

  1

  —

  1987

  11

  10

  1

  —

  1988

  9

  6

  —

  3

  Note: Ten officers appear in both tables, having been prosecuted in the same proceedings for both an offence of reckless driving and an offence of drunken driving.

  Housing
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people live in(a) public sector housing, (b) the private sector rented, and (c) owner-occupied housing in the Province expressed in figures and as percentages of the total; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  This information is not available in the form requested. However, details of tenure of occupied housing stock at October 1988 are as follows:

  Number

  Percentage

  Owner Occupied

  322,000

  61·7

  Public Sector (Northern Ireland Housing Executive)

  171,000

  32·7

  Private Rented Sector)including Housing Associations)

  29,000

  5·6

  Total

  522,000

  100

  Devolution
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent information he has on the extent of popular support in favour of devolved government for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I am anxious to establish more precisely the degree of support in the Province for political progress. For that reason and with the assistance of my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) I am exploring with the parties and interested groups the possibilities for political movement. A copy of my speech given to the Belfast East Rotarions on 14 February has been place in the Library.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners there are in Northern Ireland who have served more than 10 years in prison, and were under 21 years when convicted.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Seventy-four.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vietnam
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any proposals for the removal of restrictions upon trade and overseas aid to Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no restrictions on trade with Vietnam. We ceased aid to Vietnam in 1979 following the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. We welcome the Vietnamese announcement of intention to withdraw from Cambodia and are following developments closely, but we have no immediate plans to change our policy.

  Hong Kong (Refugee Camps)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what levels of grant were made by Her Majesty's Government for UNHCR's English language training programmes in refugee camps in Hong Kong in each of the years 1986 to 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We contributed £100,000 in March 1988 and £1 million in October 1988 to UNHCR's programme in Hong Kong. This programme includes their English language training schemes for Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

TRANSPORT

  Airports
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to which local authorities are currently conducting negotiations for the sale of their airports to the private sector in whole or in part.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None. Such information would be a commercial matter for the authorities and those with whom they were negotiating.

  Rolling Stock Technicians
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from British Rail regarding the costing of the rolling stock technicians, grade two, on stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  None. These are management matters for the British Railways Board.

  Belgian Trawler (Sinking)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the location, time, weather conditions and other circumstances regarding the sinking of a Belgian trawler in the Irish sea on 6–7 March; whether the sinking was in United Kingdom territorial waters; what information he has on whether any submarines were in the vicinity; what arrangements have been made for an inquiry into the cause of the sinking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Belgian-registered trawler Tijl Uilenspiegel sank approximately 25 miles south-east of the
  629
  Isle of Man on Sunday 5 March 1989. No distress signal was received from the vessel by Her Majesty's Coastguard. The precise time of the casualty if not known—it is thought to have sunk after noon.

  Her Majesty's Coastguard were alerted to the incident when another Belgian trawler, Drakkar, recovered a body at 8.18 pm that evening. A subsequent major full scale search was mounted all that night and on Monday 6 March 1989, but no further bodies or any liferaft have been recovered. The sea condition was moderate, with a south east wind of 17 to 21 knots, with visibility at seven miles.

  The casualty occurred outside United Kingdom territorial waters and no investigation will be undertaken by the Department. Department officials have contacted the Belgian maritime authorities to ascertain whether Belgium will be undertaking an investigation into the cause of this tragedy.

  I am advised that no United Kingdom or allied submarine was operating in the area at the time of the incident.

  Roads (Hampshire)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on roads in Hampshire for which it is the highway authority each year since 1979, expressed(a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms based on 1979 and (c) as a percentage increase or decrease on each preceding year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information in the form requested is not available. It could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Manchester city council has received as a contribution to rates from Manchester international airport for the years 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We do not have this information. I suggest that my hon. Friend contacts the local authority.

  Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge Bypass
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stretford of 2 March,Official Report, column 294, he will give the dates on which different sections of the report of Allet and Lomax, consulting engineers, as to the performance of the consulting engineers employed on the Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge bypass, were received at his Department; when he expects to receive further sections of the report; what is the content of those sections; and when he estimates he will be in a position to consider whether to place the full report in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The scheme took longer and cost more than expected. The report, which will deal with the geotechnical difficulties encountered on the scheme, is being prepared in phases. A summary of the first two phases was received by the Department on 3 March 1989. This is under consideration. Various interim technical statements received prior to 3 March form appendices to the summary report. The amount of work in the later 630
  phases depends on earlier findings, and it is difficult to give firm completion dates. When it is complete, we will consider whether it is appropriate to place it in the Library.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has caused delays in announcing further road improvement works beyond the Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge bypass; whether reappraisals have taken place in the light of the cost overspend on this section; and whether particular routes have now been ruled out because of doubts about the geology of the area.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The response to the public consultation on the adjoining A6 Disley-High Lane bypass proposal was exceptional. It included suggestions for 18 alternative routes which have had to he evaluated.

  Our estimates for all routes have allowed for dealing with geological conditions. At this stage, no route has been ruled out on geological grounds.

  Manchester Airport (Accident)
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to improve passenger safety arising out of the lessons learned during the course of the Manchester aircraft accident investigation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The CAA has in fact already actioned many of the AAIB's recommendations. In the weeks and months following the accident changes were made to the maintenance procedures for the Pratt and Whitney JT8D engines fitted to this aircraft, and to methods of assessing the effect of repair schemes based on operators' fleet experience with this engine.

  Other significant recommendations which have been acted upon include amendments to cabin materials certification to limit smoke and toxic gas emission in the event of fires.

  In consultation with the industry, the authority has formulated requirements for the provision of smoke hoods and masks for passenger protection during fires, issuing a specification for passenger protection breathing equipment-smoke hoods, which defines both equipment performance and installation requirements. I understand that, at this stage, the CAA will not be making the provision of passenger smoke hoods mandatory.

  The CAA has, in response to a safety recommendation, initiated a comprehensive research programme to investigate the introduction on civil aircraft of cabin water spray systems.

  Channel Tunnel
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has taken any decisions on British Rail's proposal for a new rail link between London and the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  I welcome the fact that blight has now been removed from large stretches of Kent; that British Rail's intentions on compensation and the alleviation of blight have been made clear; and that in formulating its route proposal British Rail has clearly been guided by the environmental criteria set out by Kent county council. The Government will need to consider between now and
  631
  November whether they will support the introduction of a private Bill by British Rail for the necessary powers to construct and operate the proposed route.

  In reaching our decision, we shall be considering two main factors. First, we shall need to be satisfied that the route has been subjected to a full environmental assessment and that any Bill can be accompanied by a satisfactory environmental statement. Secondly, we shall want to satisfy ourselves that British Rail investment would be likely within a reasonable time to earn a proper commercial return. This means that British Rail will need to consider further the uncertainties about the traffic forecasts, the costs of the project and the revenues. In doing so, it will be considering proposals from the private sector for building and financing the line.

  Settle-Carlisle Railway Line
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the future of the Settle-Carlisle railway line.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend will make a statement when he has fully considered all the evidence. We are, however, conscious that the continuing uncertainty may cause difficulty to businesses in the area of the line. We therefore wish to make it clear that, whatever decision my right hon. Friend reaches on the closure case, he will not permit British Rail to withdraw its services at least until mid-October, when the timetable for all British Rail services changes.

  Birmingham Heartlands (Spine Road)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will announce his decision on the application by Birmingham heartlands for approval for the heartlands spine road.

  (i) Total net expenditure since 1981–82 is shown below. Information relating to total expenditure is not available on a consistent basis prior to 1981–82

  Total expenditure1—by authority in £000

  Counties

  1981–82 outturn

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 revised estimates

  1988–89 budgets

  Clwyd

  130,321

  139,097

  146,678

  150,403

  156,895

  169,753

  179,940

  193,982

  Dyfed

  107,212

  113,391

  120,506

  126,488

  130,335

  147,245

  160,456

  176,591

  Gwent

  148,524

  153,730

  160,316

  166,119

  173,327

  184,342

  202,169

  219,701

  Gwynedd

  77,217

  81,993

  86,314

  91,214

  94,465

  101,560

  110,645

  120,437

  Mid Glamorgan

  183,315

  194,759

  207,517

  217,985

  218,722

  239,148

  256,992

  280,363

  Powis

  41,777

  46,954

  49,515

  51,026

  52,911

  56,186

  59,465

  64,861

  South Glamorgan

  121,462

  129,407

  138,750

  141,274

  147,716

  162,111

  174,693

  191,518

  West Glamorgan

  126,551

  137,196

  141,924

  144,826

  150,228

  164,292

  176,418

  193,130

  1 Total expenditure is based on the same definition as that for Rate Support Grant purposes, that is net of local income (fees, sales and charges etc.) and net of specific grants.

  (ii) The county council precepts since 1977–78 are shown below. There are no separate business or domestic precepts as each county precepts for the amount that it requires. (Domestic Rate Relief Grant is paid to districts rather than counties.)

  Counties

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  (p)

  Clwyd

  71·5

  79·0

  99·5

  124·0

  148·0

  148·0

  148·0

  162·0

  172·0

  189·0

  198·0

  210·0

  Dyfed

  64·1

  67·9

  87·0

  111·3

  122·2

  122·3

  130·7

  142·7

  170·6

  195·3

  208·9

  219·9

  Gwent

  73·9

  79·0

  98·0

  117·0

  129·0

  135·0

  141·0

  141·0

  146·0

  173·0

  192·0

  208·0

  Gwynedd

  63·5

  70·0

  96·5

  111·0

  128·0

  123·0

  136·0

  145·0

  150·0

  168·0

  183·0

  203·0

  Mid Glamorgan

  72·4

  73·4

  95·7

  119·4

  144·9

  144·8

  154·1

  180·4

  187·4

  205·9

  215·8

  228·4

  Powys

  54·0

  57·0

  81·0

  108·0

  124·0

  128·0

  128·0

  134·0

  154·0

  177·0

  188·0

  201·0

  South Glamorgan

  66·5

  72·5

  90·0

  101·9

  116·4

  133·4

  124·8

  132·4

  147·4

  183·2

  190·7

  204·9

  West Glamorgan

  73·9

  79·5

  109·6

  133·0

  156·0

  161·0

  165·0

  175·0

  184·0

  197·0

  225·0

  263·0

  632
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are considering the detailed case for a Birmingham heartlands spine road as part of our current review of the road programme. We will make an announcement when we can.

  Selby Bypass
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the route line and draft side road orders for the Selby bypass; and if he will make a statement on the overall progress of the project.

  Mr. Bottomley
  The additional preliminary investigations on this scheme are nearing completion.

  We shall shortly commence preparation of the draft line and side roads orders. Present progress indicates that these orders should be published by the end of this year.

WALES

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each county council (i) the net expenditure in each year since 1977–78, (ii) the domestic and business precept in each year since 1977–78, (iii) the percentage rise in the precept in each year since 1977–78, (iv) the percentage rise in the precept in the periods 1977–78 to 1980–81, 1981–82 to 1985–86, 1986–87 to 1989–90 and 1977–78 to 1989–90, (v) the change in the number of staff employed at the end of the periods 1977–78 to 1980–81, 1981–82 to 1985–86, 1986–87 to 1989–90 and 1977–78 to 1989–90 expressed in number and percentage terms, (vi) the political composition of the councils in 1977 to 1981, 1981 to 1985, 1985 to 1989; and if he will list the councils in rank order by largest increase in precept over the period 1985–86 to 1989–90 starting with the council with the highest increase in that period.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is shown in the following tables:
  633

  (iii) The percentage rise in the precept in each year since 1977–78 is shown below.

  Percentage change

  Counties

  1977–78 to 1978–79

  1978–79 to 1979–80

  1979–80 to 1980–81

  1980–81 to 1981–82

  1981–82 to 1982–83

  1982–83 to 1983–84

  1983–84 to 1984–85

  1984–85 to 1985–86

  1985–86 to 1986–87

  1986–87 to 1987–88

  1987–88 to 1988–89

  Clwyd

  10·5

  25·9

  24·6

  19·4

  0·0

  0·0

  9·5

  6·2

  9·9

  4·8

  6·1

  Dyfed

  5·9

  28·1

  27·9

  9·8

  0·1

  6·9

  9·2

  19·6

  14·5

  6·9

  5·3

  Gwent

  6·9

  24·1

  19·4

  10·3

  4·7

  4·4

  0·0

  3·5

  18·5

  11·0

  8·3

  Gwynedd

  10·2

  37·9

  15·0

  15·3

  -3·9

  10·6

  6·6

  3·4

  12·0

  8·9

  10·9

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·4

  30·4

  24·7

  21·4

  -0·1

  6·4

  17·1

  3·9

  9·9

  4·8

  5·8

  Powys

  5·6

  42·1

  33·3

  14·8

  3·2

  0·0

  4·7

  14·9

  14·9

  6·2

  6·9

  South Glamorgan

  9·0

  24·1

  13·2

  14·2

  14·6

  -6·4

  6·1

  11·3

  24·3

  4·1

  7·4

  West Glamorgan

  7·6

  37·9

  21·4

  17·3

  3·2

  2·5

  6·1

  5·1

  7·1

  14·2

  16·9

  (iv) The percentage rise in county council precepts for the periods requested is shown below. Information for 1989–90 is not yet available.

  Percentage change

  Counties

  1977–78 to 1980–81

  1981–82 to 1985–86

  1986–87 to 1988–89

  1977–78 to 1988–89

  Clwyd

  73·4

  16·2

  11·1

  193·7

  Dyfed

  73·7

  39·6

  12·6

  243·0

  Gwent

  58·3

  13·2

  20·2

  181·5

  Gwynedd

  74·8

  17·2

  20·8

  219·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  64·9

  29·3

  10·9

  215·4

  Powys

  100·0

  24·2

  13·6

  272·2

  South Glamorgan

  53·2

  26·6

  11·8

  208·1

  West Glamorgan

  80·0

  17·9

  33·5

  255·9

  (v) The change in numbers of staff employed in "general services" by county councils is shown below for the years where data is available.

  Individual authority data is not held centrally prior to December 1978 or later than September 1988. In order to minimise the effect of seasonal variation, March quarter returns for the appropriate years have been used.

  Counties

  Change

  Percentage change

  March 1979

  March 1981

  March 1986

  March 1988

  1979 to 1981

  1981 to 1986

  1986 to 1988

  1979 to 1988

  1979 to 1981

  1981 to 1986

  1986 to 1988

  1979 to 1988

  Full time staff

  Clwyd

  9,007

  8,724

  8,460

  8,371

  -283

  -264

  -89

  -636

  -3·14

  -3·03

  -1·05

  -7·06

  Dyfed

  8,388

  8,091

  7,693

  7,856

  -297

  -398

  163

  -532

  -3·54

  -4·92

  2·12

  -6·34

  Gwent

  10,929

  10,516

  9,856

  9,734

  -413

  -660

  -122

  -1,195

  -3·78

  -6·28

  -1·24

  -10·93

  Gwynedd

  6,151

  6,120

  5,613

  5,550

  -31

  -507

  -63

  -601

  -0·50

  -8·28

  -1·12

  -9·77

  Mid Glamorgan

  14,770

  13,977

  13,276

  13,463

  -793

  -701

  187

  -1,307

  -5·37

  -5·02

  1·41

  -8·85

  Powys

  3,285

  3,208

  3,078

  3,005

  -77

  -130

  -73

  -280

  -2·34

  -4·05

  -2·37

  -8·52

  South Glamorgan

  8,670

  8,661

  8,249

  8,171

  -9

  -412

  -78

  -499

  -0·10

  -4·76

  -0·95

  -5·76

  West Glamorgan

  9,954

  9,228

  8,584

  8,616

  -726

  -644

  32

  -1,338

  -7·29

  -6·98

  0·37

  -13·44

  Part time staff

  Clwyd

  6,045

  5,959

  6,933

  7,541

  -86

  974

  608

  1,496

  -1·42

  16·35

  8·77

  24·75

  Dyfed

  5,296

  4,996

  5,538

  6,296

  -300

  542

  758

  1,000

  -5·66

  10·85

  13·69

  18·88

  Gwent

  7,860

  7,839

  8,286

  9,390

  -21

  447

  1,104

  1,530

  -0·27

  5·70

  13·32

  19·47

  Gwynedd

  3,649

  3,607

  3,925

  4,201

  -42

  318

  276

  552

  -1·15

  8·82

  7·03

  15·13

  Mid Glamorgan

  8,689

  9,411

  10,704

  10,893

  722

  1,293

  189

  2,204

  8·31

  13·74

  1·77

  25·37

  Powys

  1,804

  1,762

  2,024

  2,340

  -42

  262

  316

  536

  -2·33

  14·87

  15·61

  29·71

  South Glamorgan

  6,038

  5,936

  6,361

  7,223

  -102

  425

  862

  1,185

  -1·69

  7·16

  13·55

  19·63

  West Glamorgan

  5,594

  5,349

  5,785

  5,871

  -245

  436

  86

  277

  -4·38

  8·15

  1·49

  4·95

  (vi) The political composition of the councils for the first and last year of the periods requested has been extracted from the "Municipal Year Book" for that year and is shown below.

  Counties

  Independent

  Conservative

  Labour

  Plaid Cymru

  Other

  Clwyd

  1977

  27

  11

  23

  0

  5

  1981

  22

  21

  20

  0

  1

  1985

  21

  13

  28

  0

  4

  1989

  19

  15

  25

  0

  7

  Dyfed

  1977

  42

  0

  29

  1

  6

  1981

  43

  0

  25

  6

  5

  1985

  40

  0

  28

  5

  5

  1989

  34

  0

  29

  5

  9

  Gwent

  1977

  1

  12

  59

  0

  4

  1981

  4

  26

  38

  2

  3

  1985

  0

  12

  65

  0

  1

  1989

  0

  9

  67

  1

  1

  Gwynedd

  1977

  56

  0

  5

  5

  0

  634 635

  Counties

  Independent

  Conservative

  Labour

  Plaid Cymru

  Other

  1981

  44

  8

  3

  9

  2

  1985

  45

  2

  5

  8

  6

  1989

  40

  3

  5

  10

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  1977

  4

  3

  61

  9

  3

  1981

  6

  8

  48

  16

  3

  1985

  4

  3

  64

  7

  4

  1989

  3

  1

  68

  7

  6

  Powys

  1977

  53

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1981

  53

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1985

  45

  1

  4

  0

  8

  1989

  41

  0

  8

  0

  8

  South Glamorgan

  1977

  3

  34

  42

  0

  0

  1981

  0

  64

  14

  0

  0

  1985

  0

  35

  41

  1

  3

  1989

  0

  18

  34

  1

  9

  West Glamorgan

  1977

  6

  9

  51

  1

  1

  1981

  3

  10

  43

  2

  0

  1985

  2

  10

  56

  0

  1

  1989

  2

  7

  53

  0

  5

  (vii) The increase in precept over the period 1985–86 to 1988–89 in rank order of increase is shown below. Information for 1989–90 is not yet available.

  Counties

  Percentage change 1985–86 to 1988–89

  West Glamorgan

  42·9

  Gwent

  42·5

  South Glamorgan

  39·0

  Gwynedd

  35·3

  Powys

  30·5

  Dyfed

  28·9

  Clwyd

  22·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  21·8

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Welsh Affairs Committee has since June 1987 submitted one report, to which I have responded. The report made two recommendations, and I have accepted both.

  Consumers (Consultation)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements there are for consulting consumers in the work and decisions of his Department.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Consumer organisations are consulted as and when appropriate.

  Ffrwyd Farm, Meerywinch (Pollution)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the pollution incident at Ffrwyd farm, Meerywinch which occurred on 27 February.

  Mr. Grist
  This is a matter for the Welsh water authority, which is currently investigating the incident.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many additional staff have been employed in the local enterprise agency network since 14 June 1988 in the valleys initiative area.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There are 10 approved local enterprise agencies operating partly or wholly within the programme for the valleys area. Since 14 June 1988, a total of seven additional staff have been recruited by these agencies.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional finance has been given to the local enterprise agency network since 14 June 1988 in the valleys initiative area.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The 10 local enterprise agencies which operate within the programme for the valleys boundary will receive within the financial year 1988–89 funding of £220,000 (through the Welsh Development Agency, Mid Wales Development and the urban programme) with an additional £45,000 of urban programme funding provided for specific projects with which the agencies are involved. My Department is also providing additional funding of £9,100 to assist agencies in establishing new services for small businesses. These figures relate to the whole financial year; it is not possible to provide part figures from 14 June 1988. No enterprise agencies existed during the previous Labour Government in which the hon. Gentleman was a Minister.

  Valleys Small Loan Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the valleys small loan scheme;

  (2) what has been the number of (a) applications and (b) acceptances under the valleys small loan scheme; and what was (i) their value, (ii) the name and location of the companies and (iii) the number of new jobs created in each case.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Valleys Enterprise Loan Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the valleys enterprise loan scheme;

  (2) what has been the number of (a) applications and (b) acceptances under the valleys enterprise loan scheme; and what was (i) their value, (ii) the name and location of the companies and (iii) the number of new jobs created in each case.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Community Enterprise
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the community enterprise scheme.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Welsh Technology Development Fund
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the Welsh technology development fund;

  (2) what has been the number of (a) applications and (b) acceptances under the Welsh technology development fund; and what was (i) their value, (ii) the name and location of the companies and (iii) the number of new jobs created in each case.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what revenue has accrued to the Forestry Commission from the sale of woodlands in Wales for each of the last seven years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is shown in the following table:

  Receipts from sale of forest land

  Year to 31 March

  £000

  1982

  105

  1983

  376

  1984

  1,767

  1985

  2,406

  1986

  2,193

  1987

  1,576

  1988

  871

  These receipts are surrendered by the Forestry Commission to the Consolidated Fund.

  "Authority to Hunt"
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library the Forestry Commission's Wales Conservancy's "Authority to Hunt" document.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A copy of the form of authority used in the Forestry Commission's Wales Conservancy is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the number of applications for housing benefit for each year since 1979; and what was the number accepted for each district council;

  (2) what was the value of housing benefit distributed in Wales for each year since 1979 at constant prices;

  (3) what was the value of housing benefit distributed in Wales by district council for each year since 1979 at constant prices.

  Mr. Grist
  Housing benefit was introduced for some supplementary benefit claimants from November 1982 with full implemenation for all claimants following from April 1983. The information given in the following tables shows the payments and the numbers of recipients from 1983–84 onwards at 1987–88 prices. Figures for the numbers of rate rebates, rent rebates and rent allowances have been provided separately, as there is a significant overlap; most households getting assistance with rent will also be in receipt of a rate rebate. Data prior to 1983–84 are not held on a consistent basis. Information on the number of applications is not held centrally.

  Number of recipients 1983–84

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates

  Alyn and Deeside

  4,237

  621

  8,200

  Colwyn

  2,421

  1,435

  9,673

  Delyn

  5,212

  703

  10,305

  Glyndwr

  2,414

  327

  4,078

  Rhuddlan

  2,165

  1,783

  8,926

  Wrexham Maelor

  9,996

  932

  17,140

  Carmarthen

  2,347

  581

  4,291

  Ceredigion

  1,930

  1,122

  4,755

  Dinefwr

  1,793

  331

  3,495

  Llanelli

  5,642

  660

  10,025

  Preseli Pembs

  4,336

  668

  6,704

  South Pembroke

  2,301

  673

  3,912

  Blaenau Gwent

  8,153

  562

  11,460

  Islwyn

  4,876

  793

  8,310

  Monmouth

  3,695

  644

  6,563

  Newport

  10,880

  2,410

  9,400

  Torfaen

  5,538

  705

  14,211

  Aberconwy

  2,250

  1,206

  6,536

  Arfon

  3,913

  1,200

  6,690

  Dwyfor

  1,158

  546

  3,351

  Meirionnydd

  1,716

  492

  4,127

  Ynys Mon

  4,373

  810

  8,377

  Cynon Valley

  4,202

  1,010

  9,526

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5,379

  854

  8,437

  Ogwr

  8,223

  1,323

  15,617

  Rhondda

  4,217

  1,161

  11,616

  Rhymney Valley

  8,887

  1,249

  15,238

  Taff Ely

  6,103

  936

  10,008

  Brecknock

  2,051

  461

  3,582

  Montgomeryshire

  1,955

  690

  3,410

  Radnor

  923

  529

  1,761

  Cardiff

  15,066

  10,537

  32,486

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,074

  1,950

  11,377

  Port Talbot

  4,988

  413

  7,975

  Lliw Valley

  3,831

  391

  7,228

  Neath

  4,622

  647

  9,049

  Swansea

  13,787

  3,009

  27,853

  Total Wales

  180,654

  44,364

  345,792

  639

  Number of recipients 1984–85

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates

  Alyn and Deeside

  4,077

  668

  8,114

  Colwyn

  2,560

  1,447

  9,050

  Delyn

  4,984

  863

  10,016

  Glyndwr

  2,160

  460

  4,050

  Rhuddlan

  2,106

  2,026

  9,000

  Wrexham Maelor

  9,728

  971

  15,040

  Carmarthen

  2,397

  730

  3,991

  Ceredigion

  2,490

  1,519

  6,872

  Dinefwr

  1,957

  384

  3,900

  Llanelli

  5,433

  637

  10,668

  Preseli Pembs

  4,358

  758

  7,624

  South Pembroke

  2,265

  815

  4,117

  Blaenau Gwent

  7,979

  627

  11,687

  Islwyn

  4,868

  830

  8,317

  Monmouth

  3,843

  722

  7,175

  Newport

  10,903

  2,547

  10,000

  Torfaen

  6,199

  553

  14,081

  Aberconwy

  2,385

  1,369

  7,140

  Arfon

  3,891

  1,702

  5,301

  Dwyfor

  1,160

  601

  2,817

  Meirionnydd

  1,628

  505

  3,924

  Ynys Môn

  4,430

  1,161

  8,088

  Cynon Valley

  4,625

  1,409

  10,505

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5,444

  972

  9,037

  Ogwr

  8,255

  1,362

  16,038

  Rhondda

  4,236

  947

  10,078

  Rhymney Valley

  8,577

  1,442

  16,960

  Taff Ely

  6,172

  940

  10,087

  Brecknock

  2,013

  479

  3,428

  Montgomeryshire

  2,114

  764

  4,201

  Radnor

  882

  565

  1,804

  Cardiff

  17,133

  11,581

  36,248

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,112

  1,990

  10,712

  Port Talbot

  4,776

  336

  7,816

  Lliw Valley

  4,002

  400

  7,894

  Neath

  4,550

  715

  9,152

  Swansea

  13,768

  3,349

  28,404

  TOTAL WALES

  183,460

  49,146

  353,336

  Number of Recipients 1985–86

  Rent Rebates

  Rent Allowances

  Rate Rebates

  Alyn and Deeside

  4,059

  693

  7,591

  Colwyn

  2,662

  1,772

  13,672

  Delyn

  5,021

  892

  8,702

  Glyndwr

  2,183

  464

  3,512

  Rhuddlan

  2,100

  2,133

  9,092

  Wrexham Maelor

  9,884

  941

  14,224

  Carmarthen

  2,379

  812

  4,051

  Ceredigion

  2,777

  4,211

  7,816

  Dinefwr

  3,014

  518

  5,344

  Llanelli

  5,440

  851

  9,646

  Preseli Pembs

  4,418

  940

  7,934

  South Pembroke

  2,276

  787

  4,169

  Blaenau Gwent

  8,065

  601

  10,411

  Islwyn

  4,872

  1,008

  8,457

  Monmouth

  3,573

  993

  5,326

  Newport

  10,950

  2,665

  23,265

  Torfaen

  10,203

  613

  9,869

  Aberconwy

  2,349

  1,346

  6,949

  Arfon

  3,930

  1,395

  6,619

  Dwyfor

  1,104

  638

  3,179

  Meirionnydd

  1,612

  549

  4,865

  Ynys Mon

  4,499

  1,110

  7,539

  Cynon Valley

  4,268

  1,158

  9,146

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5,498

  1,214

  9,522

  Ogwr

  8,321

  1,376

  16,518

  Rhondda

  4,199

  1,216

  11,131

  Rhymney Valley

  8,664

  1,380

  15,848

  Taff Ely

  6,204

  1,245

  10,029

  Brecknock

  2,015

  532

  3,403

  Montgomeryshire

  2,734

  862

  4,142

  Radnor

  829

  572

  1,665

  640

  Rent Rebates

  Rent Allowances

  Rate Rebates

  Cardiff

  17,156

  10,828

  34,357

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,025

  2,266

  10,381

  Port Talbot

  4,143

  448

  7,384

  Lliw Valley

  4,527

  716

  7,737

  Neath

  4,760

  338

  8,814

  Swansea

  13,585

  3,272

  27,831

  Total Wales

  189,298

  53,355

  360,140

  Number of recipients 1986–87

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates

  Alyn and Deeside

  4,310

  669

  7,653

  Colwyn

  2,330

  2,277

  8,019

  Delyn

  3,857

  557

  7,236

  Glyndwr

  2,110

  580

  3,100

  Rhuddlan

  2,026

  2,159

  8,648

  Wrexham Maelor

  9,915

  1,023

  14,143

  Carmarthen

  2,391

  980

  4,293

  Ceredigion

  2,320

  2,639

  6,310

  Dinefwr

  3,232

  917

  6,072

  Llanelli

  5,432

  914

  9,375

  Preseli Pembs

  4,218

  848

  6,866

  South Pembroke

  2,323

  870

  4,355

  Blaenau Gwent

  8,018

  707

  10,541

  Islwyn

  4,704

  875

  8,227

  Monmouth

  3,415

  739

  5,330

  Newport

  11,000

  2,900

  22,250

  Torfaen

  10,055

  647

  13,456

  Aberconwy

  2,260

  1,451

  7,248

  Arfon

  4,265

  1,868

  8,195

  Dwyfor

  1,128

  863

  3,014

  Meirionnydd

  1,580

  571

  4,909

  Ynys Mon

  4,605

  1,414

  7,665

  Cynon Valley

  4,211

  1,192

  8,687

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5,940

  1,168

  8,810

  Ogwr

  8,279

  1,392

  15,738

  Rhondda

  4,298

  1,077

  10,309

  Rhymney Valley

  8,621

  1,435

  15,457

  Taff Ely

  6,175

  1,854

  10,747

  Brecknock

  2,009

  534

  3,444

  Montgomeryshire

  2,033

  820

  4,170

  Radnor

  769

  597

  1,767

  Cardiff

  17,322

  12,815

  36,876

  Vale of Glamorgan

  4,933

  2,486

  10,513

  Port Talbot

  4,557

  383

  7,023

  Lliw Valley

  3,799

  556

  7,206

  Neath

  4,417

  980

  8,524

  Swansea

  13,708

  4,362

  26,830

  Total Wales

  186,565

  58,119

  353,006

  Number of recipients 1987–88

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates

  Alyn and Deeside

  3,897

  702

  7,102

  Colwyn

  2,450

  2,460

  8,472

  Delyn

  3,703

  532

  6,943

  Glyndwr

  2,265

  608

  3,675

  Rhuddlan

  2,053

  2,075

  8,214

  Wrexham Maelor

  9,593

  1,067

  13,554

  Carmarthen

  2,369

  872

  4,197

  Ceredigion

  2,257

  2,318

  6,264

  Dinefwr

  3,947

  930

  7,496

  Llanelli

  5,323

  785

  9,526

  Preseli Pembs

  4,387

  1,027

  7,635

  South Pembroke

  2,261

  953

  4,184

  Blaenau Gwent

  7,841

  760

  10,362

  Islwyn

  4,477

  786

  7,595

  Monmouth

  3,404

  819

  5,304

  Newport

  10,400

  3,500

  20,400

  Torfaen

  9,750

  623

  23,185

  Aberconwy

  2,220

  1,500

  6,092

  Arfon

  4,300

  1,900

  8,325

  641

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates

  Dwyfor

  1,115

  730

  2,896

  Meirionnydd

  1,505

  545

  3,997

  Ynys Mon

  4,462

  1,132

  7,715

  Cynon Valley

  4,226

  1,211

  8,847

  Merthyr Tydfil

  5,843

  1,195

  9,890

  Ogwr

  8,017

  1,367

  14,918

  Rhondda

  4,220

  1,083

  10,360

  Rhymney Valley

  8,237

  1,412

  15,438

  Taff Ely

  6,034

  1,797

  10,582

  Brecknock

  2,017

  545

  3,562

  1983–84

  Amounts granted

  £ thousands

  Rent rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Rent allowance at 1987–88 prices

  Rate rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Total at 1987–88 prices

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,159

  345

  1,315

  3,819

  Colwyn

  1,646

  1,090

  1,153

  3,889

  Delyn

  3,213

  293

  1,442

  4,947

  Glyndwr

  1,396

  245

  516

  2,156

  Rhuddlan

  1,209

  1,297

  1,419

  3,926

  Wrexham Maelor

  4,499

  516

  2,219

  7,234

  Carmarthen

  1,672

  252

  419

  2,343

  Ceredigion

  1,665

  835

  519

  3,019

  Dinefwr

  1,062

  176

  337

  1,576

  Llanelli

  3,873

  394

  1,159

  5,426

  Preseli Pembs

  2,891

  466

  805

  4,162

  South Pembroke

  1,752

  595

  490

  2,837

  Blaenau Gwent

  6,433

  277

  1,371

  8,081

  Islwyn

  3,037

  426

  846

  4,309

  Monmouth

  2,430

  499

  831

  3,760

  Newport

  8,491

  1,650

  3,443

  13,584

  Torfaen

  4,568

  326

  1,921

  6,816

  Aberconwy

  1,725

  689

  922

  3,336

  Arfon

  2,743

  740

  764

  4,246

  Dwyfor

  719

  282

  323

  1,324

  Meirionnydd

  1,199

  272

  525

  1,996

  Ynys Mon

  3,087

  611

  1,070

  4,768

  Cynon Valley

  2,874

  431

  942

  4,247

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3,770

  561

  1,202

  5,534

  Ogwr

  6,386

  853

  2,151

  9,390

  Rhondda

  3,169

  345

  1,032

  4,546

  Rhymney Valley

  6,783

  638

  1,960

  9,382

  Taff Ely

  4,228

  410

  1,259

  5,897

  Brecknock

  1,277

  322

  326

  1,925

  Montgomeryshire

  1,438

  385

  491

  2,315

  Radnor

  652

  335

  194

  1,181

  Cardiff

  13,736

  6,747

  5,989

  26,473

  Vale of Glamorgan

  4,060

  1,387

  1,619

  7,065

  Port Talbot

  2,725

  276

  1,213

  4,214

  Lliw Valley

  2,625

  222

  981

  3,827

  Neath

  2,913

  351

  1,218

  4,481

  Swansea

  9,086

  1,888

  4,720

  15,694

  Total Wales

  127,192

  27,424

  49,104

  203,720

  1984–85

  Amounts granted (£ thousands)

  Rent rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Rent allowance at 1987–88 prices

  Rate rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Total at 1987–88 prices

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,065

  429

  1,392

  3,886

  Colwyn

  1,550

  1,402

  1,233

  4,185

  Delyn

  3,056

  335

  1,532

  4,922

  Glyndwr

  1,334

  334

  532

  2,199

  Rhuddlan

  1,198

  1,524

  1,640

  4,362

  Wrexham Maelor

  4,480

  604

  2,340

  7,424

  Carmarthen

  1,695

  427

  469

  2,590

  Ceredigion

  1,665

  1,143

  579

  3,387

  Dinefwr

  1,159

  260

  406

  1,825

  Llanelli

  3,815

  447

  1,314

  5,576

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  2,924

  635

  686

  4,245

  South Pembroke

  1,715

  785

  549

  3,050

  Blaenau Gwent

  7,023

  409

  1,410

  8,843

  Islwyn

  3,238

  704

  949

  4,891

  642

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates

  Montgomeryshire

  1,964

  775

  4,031

  Radnor

  720

  615

  1,700

  Cardiff

  16,217

  11,438

  37,608

  Vale of Glamorgan

  4,776

  2,555

  10,342

  Port Talbot

  4,357

  423

  6,993

  Lliw Valley

  3,804

  457

  6,537

  Neath

  4,518

  1,004

  7,950

  Swansea

  13,681

  4,419

  30,511

  Total Wales

  182,610

  56,920

  362,402

  643

  Rent rebates at 1987–s

  Rent allowance at 1987–88 prices

  Rate rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Total at 1987–88 prices

  Monraouth

  2,284

  609

  798

  3,691

  Newport

  8,539

  1,978

  3,438

  13,954

  Torfaen

  5,116

  414

  2,066

  7,596

  Aberconwy

  1,699

  866

  1,039

  3,604

  Arfon

  2,777

  986

  824

  4,588

  Dwyfor

  671

  338

  330

  1,339

  Meirionnydd

  1,142

  334

  518

  1,994

  Ynys Mon

  3,163

  798

  1,163

  5,124

  Cynon Valley

  3,364

  670

  1,284

  5,318

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,144

  793

  1,421

  6,358

  Ogwr

  7,521

  503

  2,463

  10,487

  Rhondda

  3,364

  480

  1,225

  5,069

  Rhymney Valley

  7,240

  893

  2,494

  10,627

  Taff Ely

  4,635

  588

  1,781

  7,003

  Brecknock

  1,368

  335

  404

  2,106

  Montgomeryshire

  1,382

  420

  604

  2,406

  Radnor

  639

  383

  203

  1,225

  Cardiff

  14,218

  8,461

  6,059

  28,737

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,998

  1,551

  1,668

  7,218

  Port Talbot

  2,731

  271

  1,199

  4,201

  Lliw Valley

  2,821

  277

  1,069

  4,167

  Neath

  2,900

  494

  1,283

  4,677

  Swansea

  9,471

  2,258

  4,887

  16,615

  Total Wales

  132,101

  34,141

  53,249

  219,492

  1985–86

  Amounts granted

  £ thousands

  Rent rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Rent allowance at 1987–88 prices

  Rate rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Total at 1987–88 prices

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,205

  482

  1,415

  4,102

  Colwyn

  1,676

  1,667

  1,321

  4,664

  Delyn

  3,028

  385

  1,553

  4,966

  Glyndwr

  1,403

  399

  554

  2,356

  Rhuddlan

  1,261

  1,892

  1,601

  4,754

  Wrexham Maelor

  4,838

  759

  2,351

  7,948

  Carmarthen

  1,765

  626

  554

  2,944

  Ceredigion

  1,720

  1,388

  738

  3,846

  Dinefwr

  1,179

  244

  423

  1,846

  Llanelli

  3,748

  577

  1,457

  5,781

  Preseli Pembs

  3,001

  759

  982

  4,743

  South Pembroke

  1,858

  917

  695

  3,470

  Blaenau Gwent

  7,179

  738

  1,270

  9,186

  Islwyn

  3,413

  909

  833

  5,155

  Monmouth

  2,750

  1,078

  891

  4,719

  Newport

  9,554

  3,150

  3,424

  16,128

  Torfaen

  7,921

  810

  2,057

  10,788

  Aberconwy

  1,817

  1,003

  1,061

  3,880

  Arfon

  2,956

  1,217

  845

  5,018

  Dwyfor

  671

  430

  338

  1,439

  Meirionnydd

  1,199

  391

  521

  2,110

  Ynys Mon

  3,291

  1,050

  1,206

  5,547

  Cynon Valley

  3,254

  671

  1,109

  5,304

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,330

  946

  1,373

  6,649

  Ogwr

  7,555

  1,147

  2,465

  11,167

  Rhondda

  3,533

  565

  1,226

  5,324

  Rhymney Valley

  7,293

  938

  2,263

  10,494

  Taff Ely

  4,936

  741

  1,729

  7,405

  Brecknock

  1,324

  394

  431

  2,149

  Montgomeryshire

  1,953

  606

  604

  3,162

  Radnor

  604

  454

  231

  1,288

  Cardiff

  15,466

  10,655

  6,523

  32,644

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,944

  1,862

  1,848

  7,654

  Port Talbot

  2,826

  367

  1,138

  4,331

  Lliw Valley

  2,966

  570

  1,000

  4,535

  Neath

  3,046

  297

  1,193

  4,536

  Swansea

  10,008

  2,764

  4,898

  17,670

  Total Wales

  141,470

  43,847

  54,120

  239,437

  644 645

  1986–87

  Amounts granted

  £ thousands

  Rent rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Rent allowance at 1987–88 prices

  Rate rebates at 1987–88 prices

  Total at 1987–88 prices

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,259

  553

  1,501

  4,313

  Colwyn

  1,735

  1,890

  1,433

  5,057

  Delyn

  2,947

  401

  1,663

  5,011

  Glyndwr

  1,418

  543

  591

  2,552

  Rhuddlan

  1,285

  2,173

  1,727

  5,185

  Wrexham Maelor

  4,840

  71

  2,587

  7,497

  Carmarthen

  1,720

  810

  646

  3,176

  Ceredigion

  1,730

  1,559

  841

  4,130

  Dinefwr

  1,204

  256

  501

  1,961

  Llanelli

  3,757

  531

  1,649

  5,937

  Preseli Pembs

  2,921

  812

  1,158

  4,891

  South Pembroke

  1,851

  1,000

  787

  3,638

  Blaenau Gwent

  7,225

  477

  1,518

  9,220

  Islwyn

  3,509

  647

  976

  5,132

  Monmouth

  2,784

  646

  1,040

  4,470

  Newport

  8,917

  2,825

  3,889

  15,630

  Torfaen

  7,784

  556

  2,352

  10,692

  Aberconwy

  1,852

  1,138

  1,176

  4,166

  Arfon

  2,766

  1,414

  932

  5,111

  Dwyfor

  640

  480

  380

  1,500

  Meirionnydd

  1,144

  418

  556

  2,118

  Ynys Mon

  3,344

  1,246

  1,369

  5,959

  Cynon Valley

  3,431

  781

  1,193

  5,405

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,278

  954

  1,468

  6,700

  Ogwr

  7,633

  1,170

  2,718

  11,520

  Rhondda

  3,839

  669

  1,373

  5,881

  Rhymney Valley

  7,650

  973

  2,450

  11,073

  Taff Ely

  4,863

  1,074

  1,933

  7,869

  Brecknock

  1,321

  430

  502

  2,253

  Montgomeryshire

  1,416

  618

  697

  2,731

  Radnor

  558

  486

  265

  1,310

  Cardiff

  15,547

  11,168

  8,072

  34,786

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,696

  2,126

  2,230

  8,052

  Port Talbot

  2,944

  304

  1,145

  4,393

  Lliw Valley

  2,916

  370

  1,048

  4,333

  Neath

  2,896

  691

  1,249

  4,835

  Swansea

  10,027

  3,448

  5,136

  18,611

  Total Wales

  140,649

  45,706

  60,750

  247,105

  1987–88

  Amounts granted

  £ thousands

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowance

  Rate rebates

  Total

  Alyn and Deeside

  2,141

  538

  1,454

  4,133

  Colwyn

  1,644

  2,136

  1,394

  5,174

  Delyn

  2,415

  418

  1,819

  4,652

  Glyndwr

  1,298

  485

  584

  2,367

  Rhuddlan

  1,293

  2,206

  1,660

  5,159

  Wrexham Maelor

  4,569

  857

  2,518

  7,944

  Carmarthen

  1,704

  820

  670

  3,194

  Ceredigion

  1,718

  1,833

  870

  4,421

  Dinefwr

  1,177

  246

  543

  1,966

  Llanelli

  3,797

  533

  1,674

  6,004

  Preseli Pembs

  2,773

  1,020

  1,138

  4,931

  South Pembroke

  1,810

  1,061

  798

  3,669

  Blaenau Gwent

  6,880

  569

  1,581

  9,030

  Islwyn

  3,278

  651

  1,008

  4,937

  Monmouth

  2,839

  610

  1,057

  4,506

  Newport

  8,244

  2,849

  4,093

  15,186

  Torfaen

  7,153

  542

  2,325

  10,020

  Aberconwy

  1,686

  1,213

  1,194

  4,093

  Arfon

  2,914

  1,479

  965

  5,358

  Dwyfor

  610

  503

  397

  1,510

  Meirionnydd

  1,068

  416

  555

  2,039

  Ynys Mon

  3,272

  1,283

  1,383

  5,938

  Cynon Valley

  3,397

  944

  1,203

  5,544

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,131

  1,008

  1,446

  6,585

  Ogwr

  7,582

  1,251

  2,655

  11,488

  Rhondda

  3,765

  751

  1,348

  5,864

  Rhymney Valley

  7,350

  1,051

  2,396

  10,797

  Taff Ely

  4,691

  944

  1,928

  7,563

  646 647

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowance

  Rate rebates

  Total

  Brecknock

  1,342

  418

  522

  2,282

  Montgomeryshire

  1,378

  574

  690

  2,642

  Radnor

  484

  483

  252

  1,219

  Cardiff

  14,057

  11,008

  8,084

  33,149

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3,370

  2,217

  2,157

  7,744

  Port Talbot

  2,837

  339

  1,189

  4,365

  Lliw Valley

  2,918

  361

  1,133

  4,412

  Neath

  2,851

  698

  1,329

  4,878

  Swansea

  10,051

  3,587

  5,684

  19,322

  Total Wales

  134,487

  47,902

  61,696

  244,085

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to publish a separate commentary on Welsh Office public expenditure.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am pleased to say that the first Welsh Office public expenditure commentary is being published today. The commentary, which has been produced bilingually, expands upon the information already published in the Wales chapter of the 1989 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 617), and will be a valuable source document for anyone wanting to know more about the Government's expenditure plans for Wales.

  I have arranged for copies of the commentary to be made available through the Vote Office.

  Housing Enveloping Schemes
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing enveloping schemes have been carried

  Local authority and scheme

  Number of houses

  Scheme cost

  Date of approval

  £ million

  Blaenau Gwent

  Six Bells, Abertillery

  262

  2·4

  September 1986

  Marine Street, CWM

  230

  1·4

  September 1987

  Cynon Valley

  Rheola Street, Penrhiwceiber

  75

  0·6

  September 1986

  Park View Terrace Abercwmboi

  105

  0·8

  September 1986

  Wyndham Crescent, Aberaman

  114

  1·0

  June 1988

  John Street, Abercwmboi

  71

  0·6

  Jun 1988

  Glanlay Street, Penriwceiber

  82

  0·6

  May 1988

  Carnetown, Abercynon

  191

  1·4

  March 1989

  Kings Street-Queen Street, Cwmdare

  88

  0·6

  March 1989

  Dinefwr

  Victoria Street, Llandovery

  24

  0·2

  June 1987

  Llandeilo

  26

  0·2

  May 1988

  Orchard Street, Llandovery

  28

  0·3

  October 1988

  Islwyn

  Cwmfelin Fach

  326

  1·6

  July 1986

  Woodside Terrace, Crumlin

  20

  0·1

  January 1987

  West End, Abercarn

  242

  2·0

  September 1988

  Wattsville

  73

  0·7

  December 1988

  Viaduct Terrace, Crumlin

  49

  0·5

  February 1989

  Llanelli

  Silver Terrace, Bury Port

  20

  0·1

  May 1987

  Cross Hands, Llanelli

  25

  0·2

  February 1989

  Neath

  Canalside

  29

  0·2

  June 1988

  Rhondda

  Cwmparc

  164

  1·0

  March 1986

  Maerdy Phase II

  192

  1·3

  March 1986

  Ynyswen

  127

  0·9

  May 1987

  Tylorstown

  72

  0·5

  June 1987

  648
  out in each south Wales valley district council area in each year since 1986; how many are planned for 1989, 1990 and 1991; how many houses were involved in each scheme; how much each scheme cost; and from what budget or funds each scheme was funded.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: Since 1986, nine local authorities in the south Wales valleys have undertaken a total of 38 enveloping schemes incorporating some 4,000 homes at a cost of over £29 million. Details of the projects are given in the following table. The projects have been funded both from local authorities' main housing allocations and from additional resources we have made available.

  Local authorities throughout Wales have been invited to submit bids for 1989–90 by 1 April 1989. I am confident these will include substantial new schemes in the valleys area which will enable them to make even greater progress in tackling the problems of the older housing stock.
  649

  Local authority and scheme

  Number of houses

  Scheme cost £ million

  Date of approval

  Penyrenglyn

  140

  1·0

  July 1987

  Maerdy Phase III

  132

  0·8

  April 1988

  Cymmer

  131

  0·9

  June 1988

  Maerdy Phase IV

  92

  0·7

  June 1988

  Ynsfeio

  101

  0·7

  July 1988

  Ystrad and Clydach Vale

  116

  0·9

  July 1988

  Rhymney

  Jubilee Road, New Tredegar II

  84

  0·5

  July 1986

  Brithdir Phase I

  125

  0·9

  April 1987

  Brithdir Phase II

  185

  1·5

  April 1988

  Torfaen

  Plas Y Coed, Phase I

  71

  0·5

  January 1987

  Plas Y Coed, Phase II

  25

  0·2

  August 1987

  Hanbury Road,Pontypool, Phase I

  26

  0·2

  May 1988

  Hanbury Road, Phase II

  55

  0·4

  May 1988

  Hanbury Road, Phase III

  73

  0·6

  June 1988

  Housing Allocations
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what capital allocations to housing associations Housing for Wales will make for(a) new building and (b) renovation in 1989; and what capital allocations are planned for 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: It will not be possible to say how much of the £72 million available to Housing for Wales will be allocated to associations until the value of projected schemes is known. However, Housing for Wales plans to allocate funds in 1989–90 for 1,600 new build and 800 rehabilitation projects. No decisions have yet been made about the ratio of new build to rehabilitation for 1990–91.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what capital allocations were made by the House Corporation to housing associations in the valleys for:(a) new building and (b) renovation in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: This information for the financial years prior to 1984–85 is not held centrally. Allocations in the approved development programme from 1984–85 for new projects were as follows:

  £000

  Year

  New build

  Rehabilitation

  1984–85

  3,500

  10,300

  1985–86

  4,655

  7,350

  1986–87

  7,409

  6,729

  1987–88

  8,448

  9,360

  1988–89

  19,240

  10,536

  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what capital allocations have been made in each year since their inception to the Welsh priority estates; how much is planned for 1989, 1990 and 1991; and from which budget or funds these allocations have been made.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: The capital allocations which have been made for Welsh priority estates projects since the inception of the programme are as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1984–85

  1·3

  1985–86

  1·2

  1986–87

  2·8

  650

  Year

  £ million

  1987–88

  5·2

  1988–89

  7·6

  1989–90

  8·0

  Decisions on the level of PEP allocations for 1990–91 have not yet been taken.

  PEP capital allocations, as with all other capital allocations for local authority housing services, form part of the overall capital resource made available to local authorities in Wales. Decisions on the level and distribution for 1989–90 were announced by my right hon. Friend on 23 November 1988 at column 6.

  NHS Hospitals (Trust Status)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospitals he expects will have National Health Service hospital trust status in 1991; and how many hospitals he expects will eventually achieve that status.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: It will be possible by the early 1990s for a major acute hospital that so desires to become self-governing, provided that it shows clearly that it will have the capacity to provide efficiently and effectively an adequate range and depth of services to the population it serves. It is too soon to say how many hospitals will initially or eventually request and secure trust status.

HEALTH

  Records
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department keeps any records of business conducted by health authorities.

  Mr. Mellor
  A wide variety of financial, statistical and other information relating to their business is sent by health authorities to this Department.

  Health Authority Meetings
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of(a) full, (b) public and (c) private meetings of regional health authorities, held for the last five years.
  651
  Mr. Mellor
  This is a local matter.

  Cigarette Advertisements
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the protection for children from exposure to cigarette advertisements in the agreement which he is currently negotiating with the tobacco industry on advertising and health warnings.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government will be seeking to renegotiate the voluntary agreement on tobacco products' advertising and promotion, and health warnings, but these negotiations are not yet under way. The current agreements already incorporate measures to protect children from exposure to advertisements, but this matter is among those which we intend to address.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount of Government funds was spent on producing the National Health Service pamphlet "Working for Patients, the Health Service, Caring for the 1990s"; how many of these pamphlets have been printed; and what was the cost of distribution to post offices, as a separate figure.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The cost of printing 3·1 million copies of the pamphlet "Working for Patients" was 117,000.

  The Post Office makes a single annual charge for the display of my Department's leaflets and posters. The charge covers distribution to individual Post Offices and changes to the leaflets and posters on display at regular intervals. It is not possible to separate out the costs of the pamphlet "Working for Patients".

  Counterfeit Products
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Taunton,Official Report, 10 January, column 604, what representations he has received about alleged breaches of the requirements listed in that answer; and what action he has taken.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have records of one complaint which is currently under investigation.

  Dioxins
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he intends to publish his report on the investigations that he has carried out within his areas of responsibility into chlorine-bleached packaging, dioxins and food.

  Mr. Freeman
  A report on dioxins is to be published by the Department of the Environment and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment. The Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has been asked to consider the possible hazards to human health from dioxins. The committee's advice will form part of this statement.

  Nottingham Health Authority
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he is yet in a position to respond to the letter from 652
  the hon. Member for Nottingham, North regarding consultation on closures and transfers by the Nottingham health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  I wrote to the hon. Member on Wednesday 8 March.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the delay in answering the question on food safety put down for answer on 15 December 1988 by the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley), eventually answered on 15 February 1989, giving details of each stage in the processing of question and answer.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have already apologised to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) for the delay in answering his question at column 864 during the debate on 21 February 1989, but I am happy to repeat that apology.

  The reply which I gave him on 15 February 1989 answered only the first part of his question. The delay arose because officials were attempting to collect information on staffing levels and costs over the past five years, but eventually had to conclude that this could be achieved only at disproportionate cost. As soon as that decision was taken, the answer was processed without delay.

  Registered Homes Tribunals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if registered homes tribunals have a right to impose additional categories of registration in addition to those which relate to the number of residents and their age, sex or category.

  Mr. Mellor
  In a recent case (Warwickshire county council v Valerie McSweeney (1988)) the High Court held that a registered homes tribunal's power to impose conditions in respect of a registration for a residential care home is limited to those cases set out in section 5(3) of the Registered Homes Act 1984—that is, as to the total number of residents and their age, sex or category. Decisions of the High Court arising from an appeal on a point of law are binding on subsequent registered homes tribunals.

  Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on encouraging a diversity of ownership of private residential and nursing homes.

  Mr. Mellor
  We welcome a broad-based service developed in response to public demand. The extent to which individuals, companies or charitable bodies own private residential care or nursing homes is a matter for their commercial judgment.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many establishments which were formerly used as local authority homes or National Health Service hospitals are now used for private residential or nursing care;

  (2) how many former poor law institutions are currently still used for (a) local authority residential care, (b) National Health Service in-patient care, (c) private residential care and (d) private nursing care.
  653
  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold the information requested centrally.

  Nursing Home Fees
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Health Service accepts responsibility for providing in-patient nursing care for patients needing such care, whose financial resources, including pension entitlements and income support, where applicable, are insufficient to cover nursing home fees.

  Mr. Mellor
  The NHS has a responsibility to provide in-patient nursing care for those patients, whatever their financial circumstances, who have been identified as needing it. It is a matter for health authorities to decide the level and pattern of services in the light of local circumstances and available resources. This might include the potential contribution of private or voluntary facilities.

  "Home Life"
  Mr Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy to encourage registration authorities to implement recommendations contained in the publication "Home Life", which are not incorporated in the Registered Homes Act.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Secretaries of State for Social Services and Wales endorsed "Home Life" as an excellent guide to good practice and asked local authorities to regard it in the same light as the general guidance issued from time to time under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. In local authority circular (84)15 we said authorities should draw up local guidelines in the light of the Registered Homes Act 1984 and associated regulations, the guidance issued with that Circular and the recommendations in "Home Life". Copies of these documents are in the Library.

  NHS Assets
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what level he expects to set the interest element of the capital charge on National Health Service assets.

  Mr. Freeman
  The interest element of capital charges will be set at a level which is consistent with the cost of capital used for other public sector capital assets. The rate of interest will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors will determine the interest element of the capital charge on National Health Service assets.

  Mr. Freeman
  The rate of interest element of the capital charges for National Health Service assets will be consistent with the cost of capital used for other public sector capital matters.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the valuations of National Health Service land and buildings referred to in paragraph 2.7 of the capital charges working paper.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have placed in the Library a summary of the valuation of the NHS estate as at June 1987. There will be a new valuation of the NHS estate before capital charging is inroduced, and the figures will be available next year.

  Hampshire (Electoral Rolls)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the predicted(a) total population and (b) number of people on the electoral roll of each local government district of Hampshire in 1995.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not available. The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys does not make projections of either total population or the number of people on the electoral roll for local government districts.

  NHS (Charges)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about National Health Service charges and spectacle vouchers.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I will shortly be laying before the House regulations for increases in prescription charges in the National Health Service in England and Wales to come into effect on 1 April 1989. The prescription charge will increase by 20p from £2·60 to £2·80. This increase of 7·7 per cent. reflects the higher costs of the pharmaceutical services and will provide an extra £10 million in income helping us to increase the total resources available to the Health Service in England and Wales by the equivalent of over £2 billion next year. The new charge will continue to represent less than half the cost of an average prescription to the NHS. Under existing exemption arrangements over three quarters of prescriptions are provided free of charge, and these arrangements will continue. The new charges are therefore only likely to be levied on less than a quarter of all prescriptions.

  The four-monthly and annual prepayment certificate fees will increase from £13·50 and £37·50 to £14·50 and £40·00 respectively.

  The charges for elastic stockings and tights, wigs and fabric supports supplied through the hospital service will also be increased from 1 April, as shown in table A.

  From the same date, we will be making regulations under the powers now available to us in the Health and Medicines Act to extend the system of fully proportional charges for dental treatment to include dentures and bridges, which are currently on a fixed scale of charges. This means that all charges for dental treatment, including dentures and bridges, in the general dental service, and dentures and bridges in the hospital service, will be on a uniform charging basis as a fixed proportion of cost.

  Also from 1 April, the values of spectacle vouchers will increase by around 4·5 per cent. but vouchers for those with the poorest sight and who need the most expensive glasses are to increase by 10 per cent. Voucher values for the hospital eye service will rise by the same amount with the exception of the voucher for contact lenses which remains unchanged. The NHS charge for contact lenses prescribed through the hospital eye service will rise from 1 April to equal the voucher value of £26·50. The revised voucher values are shown at table B.
  655

  Table A

  New hospital service charges from 1 April 1989 (Present charges in brackets):

  Elastic stockings and tights, wigs and fabric supports

  £

  £

  Each elastic stocking

  2·80

  (2·60)

  Tights supplied through the hospital service

  5·60 a pair

  (5·20 a pair)

  Stock modacrylic wig

  24·00

  (22·00)

  Partial human hair wig

  62·00

  (58·00)

  Full bespoke human hair wig

  97·00

  (90·00)

  Surgical brassiere

  12·00

  (11·00)

  Spinal or Abdominal support

  16·00

  (15·00)

  Table B

  NHS spectacle voucher values from 1 April 1989 (present values in brackets)

  Voucher

  £

  £

  A

  17·00

  (16·25)

  B

  28·00

  (27·00)

  C

  46·00

  (44·00)

  D

  32·75

  (31·00)

  E

  58·00

  (52·50)

  F

  98·00

  (89·00)

  G Hospital

  98·00

  (89·00)

  H eye service

  26·50 per lens

  (26·50)

  Complex

  3·25

  (3·00)

  lenses

  18·00

  (17·00)

  Prisms per lens

  3·75 single vision

  (3·50)

  4·75 bifocal

  (4·50)

  Tints both lenses

  3·80 single vision

  (3·50)

  4·80 bifocal

  (4·50)

  Photochromic

  3·80 single vision

  (3·50)

  both lenses (Hospital eye service)

  4·80 bifocal

  (4·50)

  Small frame supplement

  33·00

  (31·50)

  Total population

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  Mid year 1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Basingstoke and Deane

  127,300

  129,000

  131,000

  132,100

  134,000

  136,300

  137,600

  137,891

  138,418

  East Hants

  87,800

  89,600

  91,600

  91,700

  93,600

  95,000

  97,000

  97,760

  100,210

  Eastleigh

  89,200

  91,200

  93,000

  94,000

  96,000

  97,600

  99,000

  99,523

  99,882

  Fareham

  87,000

  88,000

  89,000

  88,200

  90,800

  92,600

  94,200

  95,705

  98,154

  Gosport

  77,400

  78,300

  77,800

  77,200

  77,100

  77,200

  77,800

  77,513

  83,294

  Hart

  73,900

  76,000

  76,300

  76,800

  77,200

  79,000

  80,200

  81,283

  83,294

  Havant

  115,200

  115,300

  115,700

  115,700

  116,600

  117,400

  118,500

  118,918

  118,789

  New Forest

  142,300

  144,100

  145,500

  146,200

  149,000

  151,800

  155,600

  159,000

  161,250

  Portsmouth

  191,900

  190,200

  191,400

  191,000

  191,600

  188,600

  187,900

  186,884

  188,822

  Rushmoor

  79,700

  79,800

  80,600

  80,400

  79,400

  80,600

  81,400

  79,145

  77,671

  Southampton

  211,300

  209,900

  209,900

  207,400

  206,300

  203,900

  202,300

  200,501

  199,071

  Test Valley

  91,500

  92,100

  93,700

  94,100

  95,500

  97,100

  98,700

  99,335

  100,399

  Winchester

  90,600

  91,800

  93,000

  92,800

  92,300

  92,400

  93,700

  94,208

  95,612

  Local government electorate1

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Basingstoke and Deane

  88,897

  90,810

  92,905

  95,287

  97,494

  99,964

  102,286

  103,724

  104,967

  106,299

  East Hampshire

  63,104

  64,452

  65,884

  67,644

  69,034

  70,942

  72,087

  73,579

  74,463

  76,592

  Eastleigh

  65,269

  67,598

  69,280

  71,126

  72,546

  74,481

  75,579

  76,716

  77,827

  78,277

  Fareham

  62,441

  63,911

  64,989

  66,633

  67,977

  69,328

  70,900

  71,958

  73,706

  75,542

  Gosport

  52,057

  53,464

  54,619

  55,088

  55,955

  56,930

  57,881

  57,947

  57,936

  58,828

  Hart

  50,675

  52,038

  53,130

  54,406

  55,568

  56,652

  57,755

  58,935

  60,260

  62,187

  Havant

  83,333

  84,485

  85,752

  86,847

  87,821

  89,541

  90,483

  91,737

  92,845

  93,233

  New Forest

  108,466

  110,989

  113,148

  114,752

  116,803

  119,673

  121,457

  124,119

  126,690

  127,965

  Portsmouth

  137,589

  137,298

  138,565

  139,794

  140,428

  141,096

  142,068

  142,641

  142,665

  142,974

  Rushmoor

  48,634

  49,219

  50,135

  51,769

  52,586

  52,935

  53,215

  53,537

  53,425

  53,401

  Southampton

  159,914

  159,250

  159,464

  160,722

  159,639

  159,722

  159,299

  159,131

  158,894

  158,956

  Test Valley

  63,255

  64,528

  66,111

  67,263

  68,198

  69,527

  70,928

  72,617

  74,253

  75,713

  Winchester

  66,350

  67,270

  68,583

  69,808

  70,557

  71,001

  71,618

  72,760

  73,603

  74,738

  Note: 1979–85 total populations are in rounded figures.

  Source: OPCS EL Monitors and OPCS mid year estimates.

  1 The electorate figures relate to registers which came into effect in February of each year, based on qualification in October of the preceding year.
  656

  Voucher

  £

  £

  Supplement for special facial characteristics (Hospital eye service)

  33·00

  (31·50)

  Health Service Indicators
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the next set of Health Service indicators will be issued.

  Mr. Freeman
  The timetable for issuing the new set of Health Service indicators based on data for 1987–88 and, for the first time, using the Körner minimum data sets is as follows: each regional health authority will be sent the indicator values for its own districts at the end of March to be validated. This is being done at the request of the regions because the indicator definitions are new and untried with the new data. This process of validation will take up to three months. Once the values have been checked the full package of indicators will be brought together and published in July. The aim is to publish the set of the indicators based on 1988–89 data in January 1990.

  Hampshire (Electoral Rolls)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been(a) the total population and (b) the number of people on the electoral roll of each local government district of Hampshire in each year since 1979.

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

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have been transferred from unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit to invalidity benefit for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret the information is not available in the form requested. The following table gives the number of incapacity spells where invalidity benefit commenced in each year and the number of these spells which relate to previous unemployment.

  Year

  All commencement of invalidity benefit

  Claimant unemployed at start of spell

  Claim links with unemployment benefit claim

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  1987–881

  278

  126

  89

  1986–87

  284

  120

  82

  1985–86

  285

  106

  68

  1984–85

  272

  103

  67

  1983–84

  278

  101

  77

  1 Provisional.

  Notes:

  1. All figures are in thousands.

  2. A spell of incapacity following unemployment may begin with immediate entitlement to invalidity benefit, because there is a link to an earlier spell of incapacity. Where there is no such link, a spell of incapacity following unemployment will begin with entitlement to sickness benefit. The information in columns (ii) and (iii) relates to the situation at the start of the spell of incapacity, where this begins with sickness benefit or invalidity benefit.

  3. Many of the cases included in column (iii) will also be in column (ii), but they are not necessarily the same. This is because someone can be unemployed at the start of the incapacity spell, but if they have not registered there is no link with an unemployment benefit claim. Conversely, someone who goes back to work after an unemployment benefit claim but then goes sick within eight weeks has a link with that unemployment benefit claim but is not recorded as unemployed at the start of the incapacity spell.

  4. Information is not available to distinguish in columns (ii) and (iii) whether, during the preceding unemployment, the benefit paid was unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit, or a combination of the two.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the percentage take-up of child benefit;

  (2) whether the take-up of child benefit has changed since the abolition of universal maternity grants.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available estimates show that the take-up of child benefit has remained substantially the same (around 98 per cent.) since its introduction in 1977.

  Maternity Benefits
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements have been made by his Department following the abolition of universal maternity benefit to ensure that newly nursing mothers get child benefit claim forms.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Claim forms for child benefit are available, on request, from the Department's local offices. Requests for the forms may be made by post, telephone or 658
  personal call to any local office—it does not have to be the one covering the claimant's home area. In addition, leaflet FB8 "Babies and Benefits", which is available from health centres, ante natal and child health clinics and maternity hospitals as well as social security offices, includes a cut-out coupon which can be used to obtain the appropriate claim form.

  Plastic National Insurance Cards
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stockport dated 6 March, whether plastic national insurance cards are capable of being adapted for use in cash dispensing machines.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Whether the plastic national insurance number card has the capacity to be adapted to this purpose has not been tested, but we have already made it clear that there are no plans to consider such a use for the card.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the amount of money paid out of the social fund since its inception, both in terms of cash arid a:3 a percentage of the social fund budget as a whole, from the following offices: Bolton, Bury, Crewe, Manchester (Sale), Preston (North), Preston (South) St. Helens, Warrington, Widnes and Wigan.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Such information is available from the details held in the Library.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice he is offering housing authorities in Scotland on the need to make fresh assessments of current claims from private tenants to ensure landlords reduce rate and rent charges to reflect the abolition of rates from 1 April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Local authorities in Scotland have been advised that housing benefit should be assessed on the basis of the amount of rent the tenant is contractually liable to pay to occupy his home. After 1 April, when domestic rates are abolished in Scotland, local authorities will no longer be obliged to apportion rent between rent and rates in cases where the tenant has no personal liability to pay rates but pays an inclusive sum to his landlord. In such cases, the maximum housing benefit payable will therefore be 100 per cent. of the global sum as opposed to 100 per cent. of the amount apportioned as rent plus 80 per cent. of the amount apportioned as rates. Landlords will no doubt take the reduction in their overheads as a result of the abolition of domestic rates into account in setting the level of rents. Local authorities have powers to restrict the amount of housing benefit payable where the rent charged is unreasonably high.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to be in a position to respond to the letter from the honourable Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye concerning the application for family credit from the Reverend John Macleod, Porthahomack, Ross-shire; and if he will make a statement.
  659
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A reply was sent on 8 March.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families are now receiving family credit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the end of February 254,000 families were receiving family credit, and a further 42,400 claims were awaiting determination.

  Transitional Protection
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the following categories of claimants in receipt of income support will receive no increase in their benefit payments as a result of the current year's uprating because of the effect of transitional additions:(a) pensioners, (b) persons in receipt of a disability premium, (c) single parents, (d) unemployed married couples, (e) unemployed single people, (f) unemployed with children, and (g) others.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 6 March 1989]: Precise information is not available. The estimated number of claimants in each of the categories listed who will receive no increase in benefit at this year's uprating is as follows:

  Number

  Pensioners

  200,000

  Persons in receipt of disability premium

  10,000

  Lone parents

  40,000

  Unemployed couples without children

  10,000

  Unemployed single people

  190,000

  Unemployed couples with children

  10,000

  Others

  110,000

  Total

  570,000

ENVIRONMENT

  River Pollution
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those firms which have been prosecuted for pollution offences in respect of rivers in each year since 1980; which were convicted; and what was the penalty in each case.

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not held by the Department. However, the new National Rivers Authority will in future enforce water pollution controls on a

  Urban Development Grant

  Department of Environment Region

  Number of Schemes Approved

  Approved Grant

  Value of Schemes Approved

  Grant1 Expenditure

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1984–85

  West Midlands

  13

  1·934

  8·330

  3·275

  North West

  9

  5·786

  34·856

  1·632

  Northern

  7

  3·154

  10·460

  1·464

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  10

  2·186

  13·124

  0·582

  London

  4

  7·982

  35·295

  4·605

  East Midlands

  3

  1·104

  6·316

  0·614

  Merseyside

  3

  0·419

  1·685

  0·917

  South West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South East

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  55

  22·565

  110·066

  13·089

  660
  national and more consistent basis as a result of which information of this nature should become more readily available.

  Grants
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to shorten the time taken to process applications by the private sector for city grant.

  Mr. Trippier
  With the introduction of city grant in May 1988 new procedures were adopted to help reduce the time taken to process applications. These include more thorough pre-application discussions to assist developers in producing workable proposals, a streamlined application procedure and a commitment by the Department to provide an early indication of the progress of each application. There are no plans to revise the procedures but they are kept under review.

  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff in his Department in London and in each regional office have been allocated to processing applications from the private sector for urban development grant and city grant for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban development grant (UDG) applications were and city grant (CG) applications are handled by regional and centrally located staff who are involved in various aspects of urban renewal work. It is not possible to give a figure for staff devoted solely to UDG and CG work.

  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (I) how many successful applications by the private sector have been made, broken down by Department of Environment region, for urban development grant and city grant in each of the last five years;

  (2) what has been the allocation and expenditure, by Department of Environment region, for urban development grant and city grant for each of the last five years;

  (3) what is the total value of projects, broken down by Department of the Environment region, that are dependent on urban development grant or city grant for each of the last five years; and what is his estimate for 1989–90.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are no regional allocations for city grant and there were no such allocations for urban development grant. The tables show the figures requested by region for schemes approved in each year.
  661

  Department of Environment Region

  Number of Schemes Approved

  Approved Grant

  Value of Schemes Approved

  Grant1 Expenditure

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1985–86

  West Midlands

  9

  2·063

  8·955

  4·589

  North West

  10

  6·427

  30·887

  5·671

  Northern

  8

  1·225

  5·511

  2·637

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  13

  4·263

  13·886

  1·498

  London

  5

  5·576

  19·967

  4·655

  East Midlands

  1

  0·460

  5·213

  0·900

  Merseyside

  1

  0·164

  1·999

  1·614

  South West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South East

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  47

  20·178

  86·418

  21·564

  1986·87

  West Midlands

  13

  12·421

  67·746

  4·581

  North West

  10

  1·531

  5·535

  4·196

  Northern

  10

  3·039

  10·780

  2·010

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8

  2·092

  7·129

  4·912

  London

  7

  4·551

  29·702

  4·609

  East Midlands

  6

  3·250

  12·638

  0·452

  Merseyside

  4

  6·093

  33·397

  0·546

  South West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South East

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  58

  32·977

  166·927

  21·036

  1987·88

  West Midlands

  5

  0·550

  2·664

  5·943

  North West

  11

  2·596

  14·189

  4·038

  Northern

  5

  5·240

  18·278

  3·154

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  10

  3·626

  13·454

  2·480

  London

  4

  2·097

  8·657

  5·956

  East Midlands

  6

  3·358

  21·280

  1·972

  Merseyside

  2

  0·433

  1·247

  0·713

  South West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South East

  1

  0·249

  1·118

  0·090

  Totals

  44

  18·149

  80·887

  24·346

  1988·89 (to date)

  West Midlands

  6

  2·182

  8·610

  5·236

  North West

  5

  2·557

  15·156

  3·048

  Northern

  4

  1·115

  4·828

  2·389

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8

  5·008

  20·994

  3·538

  London

  4

  2·143

  12·100

  2·378

  East Midlands

  2

  0·222

  1·033

  3·463

  Merseyside

  2

  0·455

  1·972

  3·813

  South West

  1

  0·098

  1·447

  0·049

  South East

  0

  0

  0

  0·159

  Totals

  32

  13·770

  66·140

  24·073

  1 Expenditure in any year depends upon the progress on schemes
  approved in several previous years.

  City Grant (Scheme began May 1988)

  1988–89 (to date)

  Number of Schemes Approved

  Approved Grant

  Value of Schemes Approved

  Grant Expenditure

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  DOE Region

  West Midlands

  7

  5·368

  27·922

  0·714

  North West

  7

  5·559

  27·151

  0·109

  Northern

  3

  0·579

  2·841

  0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4

  0·784

  4·210

  0

  London

  5

  5·570

  28·648

  0

  East Midlands

  9

  8·802

  38·144

  0·152

  Merseyside

  1

  0·168

  2·468

  0

  South West

  1

  0·145

  0·485

  0

  South East

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  37

  26·975

  131·869

  0·435

  662 663
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the
  processing of city grant was delegated to his Department's regional offices;

  (2) by what criteria applications for city grant are referred to be processed by his
  Department in London.

  Mr. Trippier
  Regional offices are responsible for dealing with proposals
  and inquiries from developers at the pre-application stage and for receiving and checking formal
  applications. Complete applications are passed to a city grant appraiser based in London. It is
  then the responsibility of the Department's central inner cities division to progress the
  application through to a decision by Ministers.

  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much
  clawback of urban development grant and city grant has been obtained by his Department from the
  private sector in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate for 1989–90.

  Mr. Trippier
  The following amounts of urban development grant have been
  clawed back to date:

  Average processing time for applications approved (in
  days)

  Urban Development Grant

  DOE Region

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  West Midlands

  162

  142

  182

  246

  110

  North West

  142

  126

  187

  150

  68

  Northern

  147

  152

  109

  182

  100

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  173

  114

  148

  170

  120

  London

  135

  143

  147

  184

  96

  East Midlands

  0

  257

  160

  153

  32

  Merseyside

  116

  137

  299

  172

  70

  South West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  61

  South East

  0

  552

  0

  0

  0

  Average processing time for all applications decided (in
  days)

  City grant (scheme began May 1988)

  DOE region

  1988–89

  West Midlands

  118

  North West

  92

  Northern

  62

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  93

  London

  64

  East Midlands

  72

  Merseyside

  162

  South West

  56

  South East

  —

  Strom Damage
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment what was the
  total amount of Government assistance given for repairs and compensation following the stroms of
  October 1987; and if he will give a breakdown of the figure.

  Mrs. Virgina Bottomley
  To 7 March 1989 the Department has given financial
  assistance to local authorities totaling £21,311,968 under the Bellwin scheme announced
  on final audited claims. of the amounts in authorities' initial claims. Final settlement will be
  on the basis of audited claims.
  664

  £ million

  1986–87

  0·63

  1987–88

  0·96

  1988–9

  0·27

  No city grant schemes have yet been completed and thus no grant has been clawed back.

  No accurate estimate is possible for 1989–90.

  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the average time taken, by Department of the Environment regions, to process private sector applications for(a) urban development grant and (b) city grant for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Trippier
  The figures for the processing time of applications are set out in the tables according to the year in which a decision was given. The times for UDG schemes do no include the processing of the application by the local authority before submission to the Department. The times for city grant exclude periods when schemes are, with the agreement of the applicant, held in abeyance.

  List A

  £

  Adur

  164,733

  Arun

  55,824

  Ashford

  173,825

  Babergh

  57,502

  Bracknell

  35,126

  Brighton

  250,651

  Bromley

  994,042

  Canterbury

  297,901

  Chelmsford

  64,434

  Dover

  30,050

  East Hampshire

  13,400

  East Hertfordshire

  15,733

  Eastleigh

  15,339

  Forest Heath

  10,561

  Gillingham

  50,512

  Gosport

  113,702

  Gravesham

  80,718

  Harlow

  13,138

  Hastings

  177,708

  Havant

  18,581

  Hove

  125,262

  Isle of Wight

  30,617

  Lewes

  34,859

  Medina

  33,178

  Mid Suffolk

  10,092

  Mid Sussex

  382,468

  Mole Valley

  58,275

  New Forest

  41,141

  North Hertfordshire

  11,137

  Reigate and Banstead

  18,963

  Rochford

  45,502

  Rother

  20,431

  Rushmoor

  20,237

  Sevenoaks

  334,928

  Spelthorne

  14,526

  665

  £

  Stevenage

  12,715

  Suffolk Coast

  21,013

  Surrey Heath

  18,519

  Tendring

  15,111

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  35,449

  Tunbridge Wells

  250,483

  Wandsworth

  394,797

  Waverley

  40,205

  Wealden

  66,118

  Welwyn Hatfield

  15,143

  West Sussex

  4,021,001

  8,455,650

  1 Amount paid on the basis of initial claim net of amount to be recovered as a result of final audited claims.

  List B

  £

  Barking and Dagenham

  340,200

  Basildon

  35,000

  Basingstoke

  29,700

  Bexley

  347,600

  Braintree

  101,000

  Brentwood

  210,000

  Broxbourne

  18,000

  Castle Point

  32,000

  Colchester

  17,000

  Christchurch

  74,925

  Eastbourne

  103,275

  East Sussex

  1,592,000

  Edenbridge

  210,600

  Epsom and Ewel

  21,600

  Great Yarmouth

  11,700

  Greenwich

  192,375

  Hackney

  235,575

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  28,000

  Hertsmere

  25,000

  Horsham

  119,475

  Ipswich

  168,075

  Kent

  3,364,200

  Lewisham

  138,375

  Maidstone

  148,500

  Merton

  222,750

  Norwich

  97,200

  Poole

  24,975

  Portsmouth

  64,125

  Shepway

  143,323

  Southend on Sea

  278,000

  South Wight

  178,200

  Suffolk

  47,700

  Surrey

  2,631,150

  Sutton

  297,500

  Swale

  153,000

  Tandridge

  247,050

  Thanet

  177,525

  Thurrock

  35,000

  Tower Hamlets

  303,345

  Waltham Forest

  259,000

  Waveney

  2,700

  Woking

  12,150

  Worthing

  117,450

  Total

  £12,856,318

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will express the Ealing domestic rates of 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 as a notional community charge; and if he will make a statement.
  666
  Mr. Gummer
  The illustrative community charges published by the Department are based on local authority returns. The figures for Ealing from 1985–86 to 1988–89 are as follows.

  Illustrative community charge in Ealing

  £

  1985–86

  172

  1986–87

  164

  1987–88

  278

  1988–89

  234

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the Department's estimate of the community charge for 1990 for the district authorities in (a) Merseyside, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the London boroughs.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 7 March 1989.]: The Government have made no estimates of future community charges. Illustrative figures are published on 23 June showing what the community charge would have been i:n each area had the new system been in force in 1988–89. Those illustrative figures assume existing levels of spending and existing local authority responsibilities.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the estimate of the community charge that his Department expects for each district in (a) Cumbria, (b) Merseyside and (c) the London boroughs.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have made no estimates of future community charges. Illustrative figures were published on 23 June showing what the community charge would have been in each area had the new system been in force in 1988–89. Those illustrative figures assume existing levels of spending and existing local authority responsibilities.

  Interest Rates
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current standard national interesl: rate as defined in the Housing Act 1985, schedule 16(2); what were the monthly averages for(a) base rate, (b) average building society rate of interest and (c) standard national rate from the start date of the Housing Act 1985; and how he calculates the standard national interest rate.

  Mr. Trippier
  The current standard national rate. introduced on 6 February 1989, is 13·5 per cent. The standard national rate is calculated taking into account. interest rates charged by building societies in the United Kingdom and any movement in those rates.

  The monthly averages requested are as follows:

  Base rates Selected retail banks

  Average Building society rate of interest

  Standard National rate of interest

  1986

  April

  10·5

  12·16

  12·65

  May

  10·0

  12·04

  12·00

  June

  10·0

  11·06

  11·00

  July

  10·0

  11·04

  11·00

  August

  10·0

  11·04

  11·00

  September

  10·0

  11·04

  11·00

  October

  11·0

  11·04

  11·00

  November

  11·0

  12·28

  11·00

  667

  Base rates Selected retail banks

  Average Building society rate of interest

  Standard National rate of interest

  December

  11·0

  12·32

  12·30

  1987

  January

  11·0

  12·32

  12·30

  February

  11·0

  12·32

  12·30

  March

  10·0

  12·32

  12·30

  April

  9·5

  12·31

  12·30

  May

  9·0

  11·47

  11·25

  June

  9·0

  11·28

  11·25

  July

  9·0

  11·27

  11·25

  August

  10·0

  11·27

  11·25

  September

  10·0

  11·28

  11·25

  October

  9·5

  11·28

  11·25

  November

  9·0

  11·27

  11·25

  December

  8·5

  10·34

  11·25

  1988

  January

  8·5

  10·27

  10·25

  February

  9·0

  10·26

  10·25

  March

  8·5

  10·26

  10·25

  April

  8·0

  10·26

  10·25

  May

  7·5

  9·84

  10·25

  June

  9·5

  9·78

  9·75

  July

  10·5

  9·78

  9·75

  August

  12·0

  11·45

  10·34

  September

  12·0

  11·54

  11·50

  October

  12·0

  12·70

  11·98

  November

  13·0

  12·71

  12·75

  December

  n/a

  12·75

  12·75

  Sources:

  Base rates—"Financial Statistics", table 13.10 (rate at end of period).

  Building Society rates—"Financial Statistics", table 13.12.
  Standard National rate—Department of the Environment.

  Limehouse Link Road
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those sites identified or currently being considered for replacement accommodation for tenants affected by the Limehouse link road, giving for each the size and number of units that could be provided;

  (2) where the London Docklands development corporation has purchased or is considering purchasing completed units in private housing developments in docklands in order to rehouse tenants affected by the Limehouse link road; if he will give details of the developments involved including the numbers and types of units and the name of the development company; whether the corporation will purchase units at, below or above prices currently being asked by developers on the open market; and what mechanisms the corporation will adopt to ensure that any units purchased will be made available to tenants at affordable rents;

  (3) what consideration the London Docklands development corporation has given in order to rehouse tenants affected by the Limehouse link road, to purchasing completed units at the Ideal Homes Limited development at Timber Wharves Village, London E14.

  Mr. Trippier
  The LDDC has identified a number of sites for replacement housing including:Timber Wharves, E14—up to 421 units of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom accommodation.
  Devons road, E3–70 units of 3, 4, 5 and 6 bedroom houses.
  Lukin street, E1–30 units of 3, 4, 5 and 6 bedroom houses.
  668
  The LDDC recently announced its intention to purchase Timber Wharves, which is a development by Ideal Homes (London) Ltd.

  The prices paid for acquisitions are a matter of commercial confidentiality, but are subject to certification by independent valuers and will reflect the benefits of bulk purchase where appropriate. The corporation will assist the housing associations who will manage the properties to ensure that rents are set at levels which the tenants can afford.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest available estimate for the total cost of rehousing tenants affected by the Limehouse link road.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under the LDDC's accord with the London borough of Tower Hamlets, at least 400 households would be rehoused. The LDDC currently estimates that the average cost per household would be £142,000. This is based on assumptions about tenants' choices as between new housing association dwellings and existing council dwellings and about construction costs and so on. It would be offset by the LDDC's receipts from the eventual disposal of property released by rehousing.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the figures on imports of special waste given in the answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 28 October 1988,Official Report, column 427.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is not yet possible to update the information given in reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 28 October 1988. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution expects to have the information from the waste disposal authorities later this year.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide figures for the tonnage of special waste, both indigenous and imported, disposed of in the United Kingdom in each year from 1978 to the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Records of imported special wastes have been gathered by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (and its predecessors) only since the financial year 1981–82. This information was provided in my answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 28 October 1988,Official Report, column 427. Figures for indigenous special waste arisings have been given in the hazardous waste inspectorate's three reports which have been placed in the Library. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution advises that the total of special waste (indigenous and imported) for financial year 1987–88 is 1,845,833 tonnes.

  Select Committee Recommendations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Ridley
  Copies of the Select Committee reports made since June 1987 which contain recommendations for my Department, and copies of the responses made by the Government, are available in the Library of the House.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects a reply to be sent by the London Docklands development corporation to the letter from the hon. Member for Newham, North-East, of 22 February addressed to Mr. Michael Honey.

  Mr. Trippier
  I understand that Mr. Honey will reply this week.

  Voluntary Organisations (Bradford)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of urban programme funding for voluntary organisations in Bradford, and as to what steps he is taking to ameliorate the effects of discontinuing such funds.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have made no decisions yet on Bradford's urban programme for 1989–90. I hope to do so shortly. I should point out that there are proposals within the programme for the funding of voluntary sector schemes to the extent of £1·29 million. I understand that several projects which have reached the end of their approved funding period, and which were not included in next year's programme, may come forward for consideration. I will of course examine these very closely.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make additional funds available to Bradford metropolitan district council to enable voluntary oranisations currently funded both by public agencies and by the council, to continue to receive funding at current levels.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have no plans to do so. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier) about urban programme funding in Bradford.

  Rent Officers
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the role of the rent officer under the Housing Act 1988;

  (2) what guidance is given on the criteria by which the rent officers will decide market rents.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under the draft orders laid before Parliament last month, rent officers would, from 1 April, have the function of assessing whether the rents paid by housing benefit claimants in the deregulated private rented sector are reasonable for housing benefit subsidy purposes, and whether claimants are occupying over-large accommodation. The draft orders specify the criteria to be applied. Rent officers will be required to compare the rent paid by a benefit claimant with the rents paid in the open market by tenants who are not receiving benefit.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals for the recovery of chlorofluorocarbons currently in use for domestic or commercial refrigeration.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Both United Kingdom manufacturers of CFCs as well as some refrigeration 670
  companies offer a recycling service for used refrigerants. At least one retailer of domestic refrigerators and freezers has agreed to remove old appliances free of charge to extract the refrigerant for recycling.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to prohibit the release of CFCs into the atmosphere.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Overall production and consumption of cholorofluorocarbons (CFCs) is controlled within the European Community by the EC regulation implementing the Montreal protocol. Within that framework we are strongly encouraging action on a voluntary basis to reduce CFC use to the maximum possible extent by such measures as use of alternative substances, products and processes, prevention of leaks and wastage, and recovery and recycling. The steps already being taken by all sectors of industry will ensure that the United Kingdom will more than halve its consumption of CFCs by the end of 1989—10 years ahead of the protocol requirement. Following the initiative of the United Kingdom, EC Environment Ministers agreed on 2 March on the need to reduce CFC production and consumption by at least 85 per cent. as soon as possible with a view to a complete phase out by the end of the century, and to strengthen the protocol accordingly. The "Saving the Ozone Layer" London conference on 5 to 7 March underlined the need for tougher international measures. The United Kingdom hopes that such action will be agreed when the parties to the protocol meet in London 1990.

  Water Pollution (Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been affected by the impure water supply in Oxfordshire.

  Mr. Howard
  The diarrhoeal illness cryptosporidiosis is caused by the organism, cryptosporidium, which is widespread in the environment. It is not therefore known how many of the 69 people so far identified this year as affected by the illness in Oxfordshire were infected through the water supply. However, as the organism was positively identified in the water supply to areas where there was a higher incidence of the illness than normal, precautionary advice was given that water to be used by children under two and immuno-compromised adults should be boiled for one minute.

  Badgers
  Mr. Ron Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the changes in the numbers and distribution of badgers in the wild following the passing of the Badgers Act 1973.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The first reliable national survey of the badger population in Great Britain was commissioned by the Nature Conservancy Council and carried out between 1985 and 1988 by Bristol university and the Mammal Society. The initial findings are that there are approximately 42,000 main setts or social groups in Great Britain, equivalent to a population of approximately 240,000 animals. The final results of this study will be used as a baseline for future surveys. It is not possible accurately to assess changes in the British badger population since 1973.

  East Thames-side
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his consultancy study of the housing potential of the five large sites in East Thames-side.

  Mr. Ridley
  The study has provided information on the potential of the five areas in east London for housing development. A copy of the study report is in the Library. It is clear these areas at the Greenwich peninsula, Beckton, Barking reach, the lower Lea Valley and Stratford can make an important contribution towards meeting the pressing housing needs of east London.

  The capacity of the areas considered developable depends on many factors, not least decisions on a balance of land uses and the chosen density of housing development. The five areas are substantially owned by local authorities, other public bodies or recently privatised industries. Although parts are in useful occupation, within the areas extensive sites remain undeveloped or underused. To a considerable extent their lack of productive use has been the result of prolonged designation as operational land despite a lack of specific plans for their actual development. Realisation of the unsatisfactory nature of this situation has been growing among those directly concerned. The reasons are, principally, pressure from Government, the rising value of the asset and the opportunity cost of its underuse, and initiative in some cases by local planning authorities. Each of the five areas will require a different solution. To prosper they will need concerted and co-ordinated action by the local authorities, landowners and developers.

  There is now enormous scope for mixed housing for at least 20,000 new homes including low-cost dwellings. The study and the Government's new initiatives to improve transport for Docklands and East Thames-side have now helped to bring the prospect of development nearer.

  Ancient Monuments
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the protection available for ancient monuments in the light of the recent decision at Gloucester Crown court relating to Condicote Henge.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Our 13,000 scheduled ancient monuments are an important part of our heritage. Monuments entered on the statutory schedule of ancient monuments are fully protected. English Heritage will continue to press vigorously for prosecution in cases of wilful damage to such monuments.

  The recent prosecution at Gloucester Crown court failed because the court was not satisfied with the evidence produced in court that the particular monument was included in the schedule. Documentary evidence was available in the Department's offices in London, but the Department had not been invited to provide a witness. We understand that the question of an appeal is being considered.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the maximum discount allowed to tenants exercising the right to buy their homes.
  672
  Mr. Trippier
  My hon. Friend and many other hon. Members have pointed out that the present limits work unfairly for tenants living in areas where property values are high. My right hon. Friend therefore proposes to lay before the House an order under section 131 of the Housing Act 1985, and regulations under section 171C, raising the limit to £50,000. The present limit of £35,000 was set in January 1987. I am sure the increase will be welcomed by the many tenants in London and the south-east who have not been able to exercise their right to buy with the present limit on discount.

  Housing Act 1988
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent on press and public relations material and advertising in respect of the Housing Act 1988 in total; what are future spending plans; and how much has been spent on publicising(a) housing action trusts and (b) council estate ballots on opting out of council control.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: Expenditure on informing people of their rights and opportunities under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988 amounts to about £84,000 to date of which £7,600 relates to housing action trusts including translation of material into ethnic minority languages. There has been no expenditure on publicising council estate ballots on council proposals to transfer their stock. Further expenditure of around £620,000 will be required to inform people about tenants' choice, and to report back to tenants in the proposed HAT areas the results of the consultants studies of their estates. For 1989–90 a total of £1 million has been earmarked for information directly related to recent changes in legislation and policy: the final breakdown has yet to be decided but the programme is likely to include material on housing associations, on tenants choice, on housing action trusts and on the proposed changes to the improvement grant system.

  Capper Pass Works Humberside
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the report from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the subject of the emission of radiation from the Capper Pass works in North Humberside.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has now completed its report on emissions from the Capper Pass smelting works in north Humberside. I hope shortly to place copies in the Library of the House. I will ensure that a copy is also sent to my hon. Friend.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total final number of(a) countries, (b) international organisations and (c) other interested bodies who have accepted invitations to attend the conference on the ozone layer and chlorofluorocarbons in London on 5 to 7 March.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 March 1989]: A total of 123 countries and the European Community registered attendance at the "Saving the Ozone Layer" London conference on 5 to 7 March. In addition to the United Nations environment programme,

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  four UN agencies accepted invitations to send an observer. Representatives of the Citizens' Symposium on CFCs also attended, and a large number of industrial companies, trade associations and scientific organisations provided speakers and technical experts.

  Rate Swap Arrangements
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those local authorities which he knows to have entered into interest rate swap arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 6 March 1989]: The London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham recently sought my right hon. Friend's sanctions for certain payments and receipts due under interest rate swaps and I am aware from press and market reports that other authorities have entered into such arrangements. Individual authorities are not, however, required to inform my Department before entering into swaps and do not do so. Advice on the powers of local authorities to enter into swaps was circulated to all authorities by the Audit Commission last year. I am aware therefore neither of how many authorities have entered into these arrangements nor of how many have done so outside the guidelines on the powers of local authorities to enter into swaps which was circulated to all authorities by the Audit Commission last year.

  Civil Servants (Political Activity)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff within his Department in the category "politically restricted," as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions code, have permission to engage in local political activity.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: Nine.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff within his Department in each of the categories(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, are local authority councillors.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The following numbers of staff are recorded as being local authority members:

  Numbers

  Politically restricted

  6

  Intermediate

  13

  The Department does not keep a record of the number of staff in the politically free group who are councillors.

DEFENCE

  RAF Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the present operational duties of Royal Air Force Finningley; and what are the future proposals for this base.

  Mr. Neubert
  RAF Finningley is the centre for training all non-pilot aircrew for the Royal Air Force, and for 674
  advanced multi-engine pilot training. It is also the base for Yorkshire universities air squadron, and air experience flight and the headquarters of the search and rescue wing. Finningley is designated as a co-located operating base for use by American forces in time of war. There are no plans to change the role of the station.

  Royal Artillery Range, Hebrides
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the operation at the Royal Artillery range, Hebrides, in September 1988, involving a West German Army helicopter.

  Mr. Neubert
  The helicopter referred to was a West German army CH 53 deployed in support of a British Army air defence demonstration held on 13 September 1988. The helicopter added realism to the demonstration by deploying a Javelin missile detachment and recovering them after the missile firing.

  Exercise North Star 89
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Royal Air Force Stornoway will play in Exercise North Star 89.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  Stornoway Airport
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many movements by Tornado aircraft were recorded at Stornoway airport in 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  During 1988 Tornado aircraft were temporarily deployed to Stornoway on eight separate occasions for a single day. Records kept do not identify by aircraft type the number of movements undertaken during the day whilst there.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the noise surveys carried out at Stornoway airport in July 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  Evaluation of the results of the noise survey is almost complete and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account was taken of run and break manoeuvres by military aircraft during the noise surveys at Stornoway airport in July 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  Run and break manoeuvres are rarely carried out at Stornoway and none was observed during the noise survey. Such manoeuvres would, in any case, be unlikely to affect the position of the average 70dB(A) noise contour.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account was taken of overshoot manoeuvres by military aircraft during the noise surveys at Stornoway airport in July 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  Noise measurements were taken of 18 overshoot manoeuvres (13 by Phantom F4 aircraft arid five by Tornado).

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account was taken of noise from ground engine running by military aircraft during the noise surveys at Stornoway airport in July 1988.
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  Mr. Neubert
  The aim of the noise survey was to measure the noise associated with representative aircraft operations at sites which would enable the computer predicted average 70dB(A) noise contour to be validated. Due to the limited duration of the military exercise it was not possible to take specific measurements of noise from ground engine running. Experience of noise surveys at other military airfields suggests that the noise from this activity would not affect the position of the noise contour.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to military pilots using Stornoway airport(a) during periods of military activation of the airfield and (b) during periods when the airport is under civilian operational control, concerning the carrying out of run and break manoeuvres.

  Mr. Neubert
  Military pilots practising run and break manoeuvres at Stornoway airport are instructed to approach runway 36 at a minimum height of 600 ft or 1,000 ft if there is any civilian light aircraft or helicopter activity within the circuit area; and runway 18 at a minimum height of 1,000 ft. Pilots should approach with a displacement of 400 ft from the centre line of the runway to the west side and break to the east, away from the populated area. These instructions apply whether air traffic control is being provided by military or civilian personnel.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many simulated air attacks were made on Stornoway airport during its period of activation for Exercise Ocean Safari in September 1987;

  (2) how many simulated air attacks were made on Stornoway airport during its period of activation for Exercise Flanagan in July 1988;

  (3) how many simulated air attacks were made on Stornoway airport during its period of activation for Exercise Teamwork in September 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  There were no simulated attacks made on Stornoway airport during these exercises.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many simulated air attacks have been made on Stornoway airport since 16 May 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  As my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) said in his reply at column 352 on 16 May 1988, there is no requirement for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to maintain records of simulated air attacks by military aircraft on Stornoway airport, during the normal periods of civil use. However records are maintained by the RAF when the airfield is activated for military exercises.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what minimum height and maximum speed are specified in the instructions to military fast jet pilots carrying out simulated air attacks on Stornoway airport.

  Mr. Neubert
  Simulated air attacks at Stornoway airport are very infrequent and are subject to restrictions of height, speed and angle of approach as set out by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many practice approaches were carried out by military aircraft at Stornoway airport in 1988.
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  Mr. Neubert
  During 1988 there were 278 recorded practice approaches made by military aircraft at Stornoway airport. Of these 134 were made during Exercise Flanagan, when RAF Stornoway was activated from 8 to 17 July, and 42 during Exercise Teamwork during the period 30 August to 12 September.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the planned dates of activation of Stornoway airport for military exercises during 1989; and if he will list the title, scope and purpose of the exercise in each case.

  Mr. Neubert
  At present it is planned that Stornoway airport will be activated for military activity during the following periods: 20 June to 8 July 1989 and 7 to 18 September 1989. I will write to the hon. Member nearer the time giving specific details of the exercises.

  Military Aircraft (Run and Break Manoeuvres)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those military airfields in the United Kingdom where restrictions are imposed on the carrying out of run and break manoeuvres by military aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  Run and break manoeuvres take place at most military airfields according to local conditions. To specify all local restrictions would not be possible without disproportionate cost and effort.

  RAF Stornowa
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role was played by RAF Stornoway in Exercise JMC 89/1.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  Coastal Communications System
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the United Kingdom maritime coastal communications system; when he expects the system to become operational; and if he will list the locations of any of its installations in the Western Isles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom maritime coastal communications system (UKMACCS), which became operational in April 1987, provides high frequency communications to and from ships of the Royal Navy from the United Kingdom coastline out to 200 nautical miles. There are no installations associated with this system in the Western Isles.

  RAF Aird Uig
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the equipment of RAF Aird Uig following the recommendations on Royal Air Force tactical communications equipment set out in paragraph 82 of Cm 228, "Implementing the Lessons of the Falklands Campaign: Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Defence Committee, Session 1986–87".

  Mr. Neubert
  The report in question and the Government's response to it covered military communications over extensive distances between the United
  677
  Kingdom and the south Atlantic in 1982. These have now been improved in a number of ways. The equipment at RAF Aird Uig is a NATO facility designed to support maritime operations over much shorter distances in the north Atlantic. This equipment meets with NATO requirement. There have been no recent changes to it nor are any planned in the immediate future.

  Z-Berths
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ports are currently being considered as possible locations for new Z-berths; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy's requirements for port visits by nuclear-powered submarines are continually under review. When a port appears suitable and practical, the safety considerations are discussed with local civil authorities. Swansea is at pesent under consideration as a possible location for a new Z-berth. My officials have also had preliminary discussions with the port and local authorities at Tilbury.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the port of Hull has been taken off the list of ports with approved Z-berths; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  After navigational problems had been encountered on two occasions, the Royal Navy reluctantly decided in 1985 to discontinue visits to Hull by Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current and future status of the Z-berth in the port of Barry.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Use of the Z-berth in Barry by royal naval nuclear-powered submarines has been discontinued temporarily because of difficulties in maintaining the water level at low tide. We understand that Associated British Ports intends to replace lock gates and modernise the berth's facilities in the near future; once this has been done the berth should again be suitable for use by nuclear-powered submarines.

  Tain Bombing Range, Ross-shire
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on any alterations he is considering over the use of Tain bombing range, Ross-shire, for use by the Army for mortar practice.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 3 March 1989]: The possibility of the Army making very occasional use of the range at RAF Tain for mortar practice is currently under consideration. No decisions have been taken.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what point after take-off an aircraft is considered to be on a low-level flight; and if that definition always applies in determining low-level flight accidents.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 18 January 1989]: An aircraft is judged to have been involved in accident at low level when the accident occurs after it is clear of the airfield area and it is engaged in the low-flying element of its sortie.

  Directorate General of Defence Quality Assurance
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stage he has reached in his consideration of the most cost effective location for those parts of the directorate general of defence quality assurance now at Woolwich and Bromley.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have concluded that a move to Preston farm in Teesside is the most cost-effective solution for the headquarters and laboratories of the directorate general of defence quality assurance now at Woolwich and Bromley. The move would concentrate the headquarters functions and main laboratories of the directorate on a single site with fully modern facilities, while at the same time releasing the Woolwich and Bromley sites for disposal and redevelopment. We will be consulting the trades unions, as is normal practice. Some 1,500 jobs are involved, of which about 650 would be good quality scientific and engineering posts and about 250 would be for apprentices.

  Accident Statistics
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King off Falmouth on 26 September 1984.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While hovering above the water in Falmouth bay, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. A controlled landing was made on the water. None of the crew suffered any injuries. Subsequently, the aircraft was recovered and damage to the airframe was assessed as category 3 (repairable on site but requires assistance beyond the unit's own technical resources).

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King at the Royal Navy AS, Culdrose on 24 August 1984.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Lightning at RAF Binbrook on 19 July 1984.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Shortly after the Lightning touched down, its right main undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft veered off the runway and through the airfield perimeter fence. There were no casualties. The aircraft suffered category 3 damage.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Tornado at RAF Honington on 8 November 1983.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the

  679
  damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Sea King in the English Channel on 20 June 1983.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to an Army Scout helicopter at Sek Kong, Hong Kong, on 18 January 1983.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: During a practice landing, the Scout's tail rotor struck the ground, causing the aircraft to land heavily, resulting in category 3 damage. The crew suffered minor injuries.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Phantom at RAF Stanley on 24 October 1982.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Navy Hunter at the Royal Navy AS at Yeovilton on 19 August 1982.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: After suffering a bird strike while exercising in the Portland sea areas, the Hunter returned to RNAS Yeovilton. Unable to lower the nose-wheel, the pilot landed the aircraft on a prepared foam strip, using the main wheels alone. The pilot was uninjured. The aircraft suffered category 3 damage.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Bulldog of East Midlands Universities Air Squadron in 1982.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Buccaneer of the 15th Squadron over West Germany on the 8 March 1982.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While at 2,000 ft. above the Nordhorn range in the Federal Republic of Germany, a Buccaneer of 15 Squadron sustained a broken turbine blade, which resulted in an engine fire. The pilot landed successfully and without injury at the German Air Force base at Hopsten. Aircraft damage was assessed at category 3.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Canberra at RAE Bedford on 30 November 1981.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Whilst undertaking a night landing in stormy weather at RAE
  680
  Bedford the Canberra's wheels failed to grip the runway due to an excess of rain water. The pilot raised the undercarriage and the aircraft skidded to a halt. Originally, the damage to the aircraft was assessed at category 3. Subsequently, however, it was considered that, due to the aircraft's age, it would not be economic to repair it.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Vulcan at Goose Bay, Canada on 13 November 1981.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There was no accident and there were no casualties. Following a report of a large fuel leak, category 2 (repairable within unit resources) damage to the main cabin conditioning duct of this aircraft was discovered. Subsequently, because of the type, age and location of the aircraft and the damage suffered, the aircraft was written off as beyond economic repair.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Lightning at RAF Binbrook on 27 March 1981.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: After landing, the Lightning's undercarriage retracted accidentally. There were no casualties. The aircraft suffered category 3 damage.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King in the English channel on 13 October 1980.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While conducting a sonar exercise in Falmouth bay, the Sea King suffered an engine failure. The pilot made a controlled landing on the water and taxied the aircraft to a local beach. There were no casualties. The aircraft suffered category 2 damage.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident at Royal Air Force Valley on 27 May 1980.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: After landing at RAF Valley, a RAF Hawk aircraft's left brake failed to operate correctly and the aircraft left the runway. Both pilots ejected and suffered minor injuries. The aircraft suffered category 3 damage when hitting a stanchion belonging to the end of runway arrester equipment.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Hunter, serial number XL567, on 18 August 1980.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of

  681
  damage and (c) the casualties whether civilian or military resulting from the accident to a Royal Aircraft Establishment Canberra at RAF Manston on 20 December 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement(a) the circumstances surrounding the accident to an Army Scout helicopter in Canada on 26 August 1979 and (b) the damages caused by the accident.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While undertaking a routine flight over a training area in Suffield, Canada at a height of 30 ft above ground, the Scout's engine cut out, leading the pilot to make an emergency landing. The helicopter struck the ground heavily and sufered category 3 damage. The crew sustained minor injuries.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1980" shows no major injuries resulting from low-flight accidents overseas for 1979, when table 9 of his letter on 16 August to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, lists four "Army Other" for the year 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There were two such major injuries resulting from an Army helicopter accident overseas during low level flying in 1979. These were omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1980" but were correctly detailed in my predecessor's letter of 16 August.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the death of an Royal Air Force navigator in a Tri-National Tornado training establishment crash in Wales on 17 June 1986 is not included in the lists attached to his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The accident to a German Air Force aircraft and the crew fatalities were listed at annex D of my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member. It was omitted inadvertently from table 4.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the foreign military aircraft accidents listed in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, occurred during low-level flights.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: No.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) fatalities, (b) serious injuries, (c) loss of aircraft, (d) serious damage to aircraft and (e) other damages to military or civilian property resulting from the accident of a Royal Air Force Hawk on 21 April 1983.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While transitting over Fort Angustus as part of a formation, a Hawk aircraft struck power cables, suffering category 3 damage. The rear seat passenger ejected, suffering major injuries, but the pilot landed the aircraft safely. A second Hawk sustained very minor damage after hitting aerial debris caused by the ejection. The power cables required repair, costing £2,886.
  682
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the Jaguar accident caused by disorientation at 6,000 ft on 6 August 1981 was not included as a low-level flight accident.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: This aircraft had completed its low-level manoeuvre and climbed to 5,500 ft before the accident occurred. It would not, therefore, have been accurate to include it among accidents that had taken place during low-level flight.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is still his policy that all accidents to aircraft of the three services which have involved loss of or serious damage to aircraft or which have resulted in fatalities or serious injuries are to be listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Yes.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major injuries resulting from the Tornado/Jaguar collision on 12 July 1984 listed in table 5 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, are not included in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985".

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The major injury suffered by one member of the aircrew was omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985." The relevant information provided in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988, was correct.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether accidents which occurred following pull-up from low-level flights, caused by disorientation in cloud about 2,000 ft, are included in the statistics of low-level flight accidents.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: If the circumstances giving rise to an accident began to develop at or above 2,000 ft above the ground, following a successful pull-up from low level, then clearly such an accident would not be classified as having occurred during low-level flight.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to include in the statistics of low-level flight accidents those occurring during unauthorised low-level display flying.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The Ministry of Defence maintains comprehensive accident records pertinent to flight safety. These records do not deal specifically with accidents occurring during low-level flying, since such information of itself is usually not considered directly relevant to flight safety. All questions from hon. Members about accidents during low-level flight are researched individually according to the information sought. Where appropriate, answers make it clear that information is included or excluded. In my predecessor's letter dated 23 March 1988 and 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member, copies of which were placed in the Library, it was stated that accidents during flying displays were not included in statistics relating to low-level flying exercises.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987" lists only two injuries resulting from the accident on 12 July
  683
  1986, when the lists of deaths and major injuries to military personnel as result of low-level flying attached to his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, record three injuries for that same accident.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The three injuries resulting from the accident to a Gazelle on 12 July 1986 were included in table 5.4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987"; one injury was excluded inadvertently from table 5.8. The relevant information provided in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the two major injuries resulting from the Royal Navy accident of 7 December 1983 were omitted from the lists in table 9 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Royal Navy accident records were not computerised until 1985. Details of accidents before that year can be obtained only by manual search of old accident and signal logs. The information referred to was contained in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984" but omitted inadvertently from my predecessor's letter.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on Defence Estimates 1983", records no major injuries when table 5 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, lists two Royal Navy other major injuries.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: If the hon. Member rereads volume 1 of the "Statement on Defence Estimates 1983", he will see on page 49 a reference to a Royal Navy Sea King accident in which two Royal Navy personnel suffered major injuries. This was the figure quoted in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to the Lightning, which occurred during unauthorised flying aerobatics on 26 June 1983, was not included in his statistics of low-level flight accidents.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident on that date.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the accident to a Royal Navy Wessex listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984" as 7 December 1983 and in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, as 1 December 1983.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The correct date was 7 December 1983.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the accident to a Sea Harrier off Scotland on 15 October 1987 included in the lists provided in his letter of 16 August to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, but excluded from his lists in the letter of 23 March 1988 to the same hon. Member effectively took place.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Yes.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King on 29 February 1984 was omitted from the lists in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985" and included in the lists provided in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.
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  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Only major accidents (categories 4 and 5) are set out in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates". This accident (category 3) was included in the list provided by my predecessor only in response to a specific question tabled by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Jaguar aircraft which made an emergency landing at RAE Bedford in 1984 has flown since that accident; what is its current status; and which unit was assigned to carry out repairs on it.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Whilst undertaking a low-flying sortie the pilot was forced to divert from his planned path by adverse weather. In gaining altitude though cloud, his aircraft struck Charwelton radio tower and subsequently landed at RAE Bedford. The damage to the aircraft was assessed as category 3. Subsequently, however, it was decided that the aircraft was beyond economic repair and the wings are now being used for tests at RAE Farnborough.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to an Army Gazelle of 29 April 1986, as listed in his reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours),Official Report, column 449, 16 November 1987, was not included in the lists in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: It was omitted inadvertently.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983" lists only one injury resulting from the accident on 15 September 1982 when the lists of deaths and major injuries to military personnel as a result of low-level flying, attached to his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, records two injuries for that same accident.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The two major injuries resulting from the accident on 15 September 1982 were included in table 6·6 volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983", but one injury was omitted inadvertently from annex F, volume 1. The relevant information in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" lists four Royal Air Force fast jet major injuries in the Tornado crashes on 3 June and 27 July 1987 when the list in the table in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, records only two such major injuries for 1987.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: My predecessor's letter of 16 August omitted inadvertently the major injuries sustained by the two aircrew of the RAF Tornado which crashed at Manby on 3 June 1987.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" lists only two injuries for the accident on 18 March 1987 when the list of deaths and major injuries to military personnel as a result of low-level flying, attached to his letter to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, of 16 August 1988, records three injuries for that accident.
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  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: My predecessor's letter should have referred to only two major injuries resulting from this accident. The third casualty received only minor injuries.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the Royal Navy Sea King crash in Oman on 30 November 1986 was omitted from the lists in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987".

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The "Statement on the Defence Estimates" includes only major (category 4 and 5) accidents. Damage from this accident was assessed as very minor.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to a Sea King on 23 July 1987 included in the lists provided in his letter of 23 March 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan was excluded from the lists in his letter to the same hon. Member of 16 August 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Since the accident occurred while the aircraft was landing it should not have been included in my predecessor's letter of 23 March.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King on 23 September 1987 occurred during landing as stated in annex E of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, or during low-level flying, as stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours),Official Report, column 449, 16 November 1987.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The Sea King helicopter owned by Westlands but under military registration was undertaking sonar trials at low level when it suffered an engine failure and ditched into the sea.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether in 1979 there were two Royal Air Force fast jet major injuries as shown in table 5 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, or one as listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The major injury to the pilot of the RAF Hunter resulting from a crash on 6 July 1979 was omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1980". The relevant information provided by my predecessor in his letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Navy Bulldog at RAF Leeming on 1 June 1981.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While carrying out a practice forced landing without power at RAF Topcliffe, the RAF Bulldog flown by a Royal Navy pilot hit the runway heavily and the landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid some 100 m along the runway. Category 3 damage was sustained by the aircraft, while the engine and propeller were written off. The pilot suffered slight shock.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the
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  damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Buccaneer of the 16 Squadron at Nellis Air Force base, Nevada, in November 1981.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: There is no record of such an accident.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Jet Provost of the central flying school on 5 July 1984.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: While the pilot was practising aerobatics at a height of some 6,800 ft, a fuel leak caused an engine fire. The pilot made a successful forced landing at RAF Leeming and was not hurt. Originally, damage to the aircraft was assessed at category 3. Subsequently, however, it was considered that as the aircraft was nearing the end of its projected flying life it would not be economic to repair it.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983" records only three major injuries for 1982 when table 9 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, lists four Army other major injuries for that year.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: One such injury was omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983". The relevant information provided in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what unit carried out the repairs on the Royal Air Force Tornado which crashed at RAF Wildenrath on 14 April 1987; and if the aircraft has now re-entered service.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: This aircraft is currently being repaired at RAF Laarbruch by a working party from 431 maintenance unit. It should return to service later this year.

  RAF Phantom XV591
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the withdrawal from use of the Royal Air Force Phantom serial number XV591 during 1987.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: During routine servicing, a serious defect was discovered in this aircraft. It was decided that, since the Phantom FG1 fleet is soon to be withdrawn from service, this aircraft was beyond economical repair.

  Strobe Lights
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total expenditure in each year since 1979 on the fitment of high intensity strobe lights to military aircraft of the three services;

  (2) if he will make a statement on progress in fitting high intensity strobe lights to military aircraft of the three services;

  (3) when the fitment of high intensity strobe lights of RAF Nimrod aircraft was first proposed; what is the current status of the proposal; and what funding has been provided for this programme.
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  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: High intensity strobe lights (HISLs) have so far been fitted to aircraft of the three services as follows:

  Percentage

  Royal Navy

  Sea Harrier

  100

  Gazelle

  80

  Army

  Scout

  100

  Lynx

  85

  Gazelle

  65

  Royal Air Force

  Dominie

  100

  Harrier ¾

  95

  Harrier GR5

  1100

  Jaguar

  100

  Hercules

  75

  Buccaneer

  54

  Hawk

  100

  VC10 C1

  100

  Jetstream

  65

  Bulldog

  2—

  Sea King

  100

  Chinook

  35

  Puma

  85

  Gazelle

  50

  Wessex

  68

  1 Fitted during manufacture.

  2 Programme about to commence.

  3 Trial programme.

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  Consideration is being given to fitting HISLs on a further six RAF aircraft types including Nimrod. It is not, however, our practice to comment on whether individual items are included in the forward defence programme The installation of HISLs is undertaken only as part of a larger modification programme for each aircraft. It would not therefore, be possible to identify separately the discrete expenditure on HISLs for military aircraft since 1979, without disproportionate cost and effort.

  Accident Data Recorders
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the military aircraft types operated by the three services which are fitted with accident data recorders; and in what year each type was first fitted with this equipment;

  (2) what plans exist to fit accident data recorders to aircraft types operated by the three services which do not currently carry such equipment.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 9 February 1989]: The following RAF fixed wing aircraft type entered service fitted with accident data recorders (ADRs):
  VC-10 (1966), Nimrod (1967), Harrier (1969), Hawk (1976), Tornado GR1 (1980), Tornado F3 (1984), BAe 146 (1986), Tristar (1986), Tucano (1988).

  The Andover was modified to carry ADRs from 1970. There are no current plans to fit ADRs retrospectively to other military aircraft.

  INSURANCE CONTRACTS: TERMS
  INSURANCE CONTRACTS: TERMS
  NHS ESTATE
  NHS ESTATE
  BRITISH SUMMER TIME
  BRITISH SUMMER TIME
  TENANTS:RIGHT TO BUY DISCOUNT
  TENANTS:RIGHT TO BUY DISCOUNT
  "WORKING FOR PATIENTS": EVIDENCE
  "WORKING FOR PATIENTS": EVIDENCE
  SALMONELLA AND LISTERIOSIS: CASES
  SALMONELLA AND LISTERIOSIS: CASES
  EDUCATION ACTS: CONSOLIDATION PROGRESS
  EDUCATION ACTS: CONSOLIDATION PROGRESS