Written Answers of 16 March 1989

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Treasury Counsel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide for the latest available 12-month period(a) the number of Treasury counsel, (b) the amount of total public money received by the Treasury counsel, (c) the number of cases dealt with by the Treasury counsel and (d) the amount of public money received by Treasury counsel in respect of criminal matters; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) 14.

  (b) The total sum paid to Treasury counsel by Departments for which I have responsibility, in the current financial year, is £1,442,569.

  (c) This cannot be established save at disproportionate cost.

  (d) £1,259,703.

DEFENCE

  Medical Discharge
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual expenditure by his Department on providing rehabilitation services for service men who are seriously injured and discharged from the services on medical grounds.

  Mr. Neubert
  Information on the cost of service rehabilitation facilities is not available in the specific detail requested.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute counselling and other services of assistance for service men who are discharged as medically unfit from the services within three months of the date of the medical board recommendation to that effect.

  Mr. Neubert
  A full range of counselling and other services of assistance are already available, as a matter of routine, for service men who are discharged as medically unfit from the services.

  Courts Martial
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to ensure that adequate and proper soundproofed accommodation is provided for courts martial to be conducted at operational Royal Air Force bases.

  Mr. Neubert
  Royal Air Force regulations require stations to provide a suitable room (of unspecified dimensions) to house the courts martial and additional rooms adjacent for robing facilities for the court officials.
  276
  The room chosen will vary from station to station dependent upon availability; no sound attenuation is laid down as a requirement. To minimise disruption and inconvenience to the court, stations restrict the level and area of flying activity during the courts martial whenever possible. In cases where disruption is unavoidable, an alternative location is provided when this is practical.

  MARILYN
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to mount a recruitment campaign for the regular Army through the medium of television as a result of the MARILYN studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  We are planning a three-week television advertising campaign towards the end of this month promoting both the Regular Army and the TA, called "Today's Army".

  Bombing Range
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Taunton on 1 March,Official Report, column 220, he will state how the prohibition referred to therein affects aircraft using the practice bombing range in the Bristol channel in the vicinity of Hinkley Point.

  Mr. Neubert
  The prohibition extends to military aircraft using the Lilstock practice bombing range.

  Defence Non-Nuclear Research Establishment
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will report progress on the proposal to establish the defence non-nuclear research establishment as an executive agency.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has accepted that change is needed in the way defence research is organised in order to obtain better value for money for our expenditure on defence research and project support. It is considered that this could be best achieved through a sharper relationship between the customers for and suppliers of defence research and by better focused and strengthened internal management in the establishments.

  It has therefore been decided to establish the four main non-nuclear research establishments: the Admiralty research establishment, the Royal aerospace establishment, the Royal armament research and development establishment and the Royal Signals and radar establishment as a single organisation with the intention that they should become an executive agency under the Government's next steps policy. Other parts of MOD may also be included following current studies.

  There will be full consultation with trades unions. In addition, steps are being taken to select and appoint, by open competition, a chief executive (designate), who will be responsible for day-to-day management of the organisation and for developing a comprehensive management plan for the proposed agency in response to MOD requirements. In parallel, an implementation team is being set up in MOD charged with overall co-ordination of the project. Final decisions to proceed and on the status

  277
  of the agency within the public sector will be taken in the light of this further work, with the aim of establishing the agency in the spring of 1991.

PRIME MINISTER

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

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

  Debt Burden
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what action the Government are taking to reduce the debt burden on poor countries.

  The Prime Minister
  Following my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's initiative, agreement was reached at the Toronto summit for concessional rescheduling through the Paris club for the poorest and most heavily indebted countries which are following approved adjustment programmes. The United Kingdom and others will reduce interest rates to prevent debt compounding. The United Kingdom has also written off £1 billion of old aid loans, of which nearly £300 million were for sub-Saharan Africa. We have also agreed to subsidise loans to the poorest countries of up to about £750 million through a special IMF facility, the enhanced structural adjustment facility, of £4·5 billion. This makes us the largest single contributor to the interest subsidy account.

  Piper Alpha
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy that each Government Department will undertake to accept and implement any safety recommendation of the Piper Alpha inquiry relevant to their responsibilities.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has already told Parliament that if the Piper Alpha public inquiry can recommend improvements to the present offshore safety regime these will be accepted.

  Engagements
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 March.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 March.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 March.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 March.
  278
  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Hungarian Foreign Minister. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

WALES

  Departmental Management Information System
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which company was awarded the contract for Welsh Office management information service system; what is the value of the contract awarded in August 1986; how much has so far been paid to the contractors; when the contract will be concluded; and what are the reasons for the delay in completion.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A contract for the supply of computer hardware and software together with computerised statistical, financial and management systems was awarded to IBM (UK) Ltd. in August 1986. The value of the contract, over 10 years, is £1·6 million. Approximately £1 million has been paid to the contractor in accordance with the terms of the contract for goods and services which have been delivered to and accepted by my Department. The contractor was unable to deliver all the components specified in the contract to the original timetable because of technical difficulties, but it is now expected that the contract will be completely fulfilled by the end of September 1989.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1988–89 by the Welsh Office on(a) TV advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what is the 1989–90 budget for each of these categories of spending.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: Spending in 1988–89 is expected to be (a) TV advertising £42,307, (b) radio advertising nil, (c) newspaper advertising £71,000 and (d) other promotional material £870,000.

  Detailed decisions on the 1989–90 budget by media have not yet been taken but the expected overall expenditure on publicity will be in the region of £1·75 million.

  Housing Capital Allocations
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the housing capital allocations for each Welsh district council since 1979 and at constant prices.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The information requested is shown in the tables. Allocations for 1988–89 are provisional. The allocations for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are not strictly comparable with subsequent years as a new system for local authority finance was introduced in 1981–82.
  279 280

  Local authority housing capital allocations 1979–80 to 1988–89 (cash prices)

  Local authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,820

  2,540

  2,520

  2,873

  2,922

  2,234

  2,102

  2,148

  1,925

  1,797

  Colwyn

  1,990

  1,590

  1,610

  2,342

  2,483

  2,089

  2,046

  1,671

  1,798

  1,662

  Delyn

  1,280

  1,020

  1,350

  1,681

  2,025

  1,459

  1,225

  1,585

  1,424

  1,576

  Glyndwr

  1,650

  1,610

  1,000

  1,581

  2,345

  1,521

  1,377

  1,311

  1,237

  1,409

  Rhuddlan

  690

  710

  850

  1,273

  1,189

  951

  831

  858

  1,479

  2,426

  Wrexham Maelor

  2,860

  3,410

  3,230

  3,616

  3,833

  3,746

  3,589

  5,021

  5,526

  4,075

  Carmarthen

  2,240

  1,820

  2,030

  3,823

  8,160

  3,571

  2,898

  3,469

  3,545

  2,531

  Ceredigion

  2,150

  2,080

  1,740

  3,635

  4,478

  2,790

  2,124

  2,502

  2,383

  2,091

  Dinefwr

  1,240

  1,140

  850

  1,278

  2,334

  1,414

  924

  1,051

  1,260

  1,446

  Llanelli

  2,980

  2,470

  1,950

  3,104

  3,745

  2,737

  2,310

  2,225

  2,428

  2,679

  Preseli

  1,780

  1,310

  1,740

  1,783

  3,526

  2,862

  1,870

  1,956

  1,842

  2,372

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,710

  1,340

  1,140

  2,365

  3,804

  2,323

  1,694

  1,550

  3,417

  2,472

  Blaenau Gwent

  8,000

  6,500

  4,010

  10,172

  10,236

  6,238

  5,114

  8,515

  11,023

  6,606

  Islwyn

  3,470

  3,020

  2,280

  4,685

  5,215

  4,499

  4,699

  7,854

  6,876

  6,183

  Monmouth

  1,820

  1,460

  1,850

  2,917

  4,643

  3,599

  3,336

  3,218

  3,081

  1,973

  Newport

  7,430

  7,100

  6,500

  10,956

  9,137

  6,554

  6,084

  7,153

  6,378

  5,848

  Torfaen

  4,610

  3,890

  2,890

  4,370

  4,370

  4,002

  3,740

  5,012

  5,112

  4,540

  Aberconwy

  1,700

  1,550

  1,420

  1,708

  2,006

  1,635

  1,308

  1,308

  1,330

  1,301

  Arfon

  1,980

  2,770

  2,500

  2,936

  3,469

  2,940

  2,107

  2,034

  2,165

  2,698

  Dwyfor

  820

  740

  770

  1,119

  3,032

  1,800

  605

  1,127

  1,100

  1,314

  Meirionnydd

  1,220

  930

  1,020

  1,289

  3,282

  1,352

  886

  886

  920

  1,212

  Ynys Mon

  2,750

  2,330

  1,370

  2,471

  5,260

  2,350

  2,457

  3,109

  3,528

  2,785

  Cynon Valley

  3,180

  2,690

  2,430

  2,830

  4,323

  3,090

  2,472

  3,545

  4,829

  5,717

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,700

  3,610

  2,704

  2,885

  3,993

  2,521

  2,119

  3,742

  3,821

  3,762

  Ogwr

  6,950

  5,080

  4,530

  6,197

  5,870

  5,011

  4,181

  4,117

  5,633

  4,397

  Rhondda

  6,900

  6,180

  4,310

  5,546

  12,030

  7,468

  5,972

  9,218

  10,814

  14,463

  Rhymney Valley

  5,260

  5,150

  3,650

  6,211

  5,465

  4,412

  4,750

  7,143

  8,564

  8,263

  Taff Ely

  5,540

  5,060

  5,830

  7,020

  8,886

  4,999

  4,253

  4,801

  6,182

  4,643

  Brecknock

  1,010

  980

  1,110

  1,283

  2,851

  1,321

  1,663

  2,087

  1,876

  584

  Montgomeryshire

  1,130

  1,070

  950

  1,292

  3,393

  1,548

  1,344

  1,503

  1,425

  1,624

  Radnor

  420

  780

  640

  1,376

  1,593

  976

  791

  925

  921

  111

  Cardiff

  13,630

  11,730

  10,690

  13,607

  17,835

  12,557

  12,055

  16,000

  16,300

  13,974

  Vale of Glamorgan

  2,930

  3,350

  3,200

  4,812

  5,333

  3,080

  2,664

  3,229

  3,509

  3,193

  Port Talbot

  1,430

  1,490

  1,800

  1,842

  1,982

  1,586

  1,347

  2,563

  3,069

  2,915

  Lliw Valley

  4,270

  3,580

  2,760

  4,078

  3,992

  3,220

  2,596

  2,995

  2,963

  2,562

  Neath

  2,030

  1,730

  1,720

  4,118

  3,892

  2,064

  2,151

  2,688

  3,217

  2,515

  Swansea

  5,670

  6,210

  6,674

  10,760

  11,365

  9,073

  7,460

  9,008

  8,426

  7,623

  Total Districts

  121,240

  110,020

  97,618

  145,834

  184,297

  125,592

  109,144

  139,127

  151,326

  138,008

  Local authority housing capital allocations 1979–80 to 1988–89 (1988–89 prices)

  Local authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  Alyn and Deeside

  3,395

  4,001

  3,613

  3,845

  3,740

  2,722

  2,428

  2,402

  2,045

  1,797

  Colwyn

  3,712

  2,504

  2,308

  3,134

  3,178

  2,545

  2,363

  1,869

  1,910

  1,662

  Delyn

  2,388

  1,607

  1,936

  2,250

  2,592

  1,777

  1,415

  1,773

  1,513

  1,576

  Glyndwr

  3,078

  2,536

  1,434

  2,116

  3,001

  1,853

  1,590

  1,466

  1,314

  1,409

  Rhuddlan

  1,287

  1,118

  1,219

  1,704

  1,522

  1,159

  960

  960

  1,571

  2,426

  Wrexham Maelor

  5,335

  5,371

  4,631

  4,839

  4,906

  4,564

  4,145

  5,616

  5,871

  4,075

  Carmarthen

  4,179

  2,867

  2,911

  5,116

  10,444

  4,350

  3,347

  3,880

  3,767

  2,531

  Ceredigion

  4,011

  3,276

  2,495

  4,864

  5,731

  3,399

  2,453

  2,798

  2,532

  2,091

  Dinefwr

  2,313

  1,796

  1,219

  1,710

  2,987

  1,723

  1,067

  1,175

  1,339

  1,446

  Llanelli

  5,559

  3,890

  2,796

  4,154

  4,793

  3,334

  2,668

  2,489

  2,580

  2,679

  Preseli

  3,321

  2,063

  2,495

  2,386

  4,513

  3,487

  2,160

  2,188

  1,957

  2,372

  South Pembrokeshire

  3,190

  2,111

  1,635

  3,165

  4,869

  2,830

  1,957

  1,734

  3,631

  2,472

  Blaenau Gwent

  14,924

  10,238

  5,750

  13,612

  13,101

  7,600

  5,907

  9,524

  11,712

  6,606

  Islwyn

  6,473

  4,757

  3,269

  6,269

  6,675

  5,481

  5,427

  8,784

  7,306

  6,183

  Monmouth

  3,395

  2,300

  2,653

  3,904

  5,943

  4,385

  3,853

  3,599

  3,274

  1,973

  Newport

  13,861

  11,183

  9,320

  14,661

  11,694

  7,985

  7,027

  8,000

  6,777

  5,848

  Torfaen

  8,600

  6,127

  4,144

  5,848

  5,593

  4,876

  4,320

  5,606

  4,432

  4,540

  Aberconwy

  3,171

  2,441

  2,036

  2,286

  2,567

  1,992

  1,511

  1,463

  1,413

  1,301

  Arfon

  3,694

  4,363

  3,584

  3,929

  4,440

  3,582

  2,434

  2,275

  2,300

  2,698

  Dwyfor

  1,530

  1,166

  1,104

  1,497

  3,881

  2,193

  699

  1,260

  1,169

  1,314

  Meirionnydd

  2,276

  1,465

  1,462

  1,725

  4,201

  1,647

  1,023

  991

  978

  1,212

  Ynys Mon

  5,130

  3,670

  1,964

  3,307

  6,732

  2,863

  2,838

  3,477

  3,749

  2,785

  Cynon Valley

  5,932

  4,237

  3,484

  3,787

  5,533

  3,764

  2,855

  3,965

  5,131

  5,717

  Merthyr Tydfil

  8,768

  5,686

  3,877

  3,861

  5,111

  3,071

  2,447

  4,185

  4,060

  3,762

  Ogwr

  12,965

  8,001

  6,495

  8,293

  7,513

  6,105

  4,829

  4,605

  5,985

  4,397

  Rhondda

  12,872

  9,734

  6,180

  7,422

  15,397

  9,098

  6,898

  10,310

  11,490

  14,463

  Rhymney Valley

  9,813

  8,111

  5,233

  8,312

  6,995

  5,375

  5,486

  7,989

  9,099

  8,263

  Taff Ely

  10,335

  7,970

  8,359

  9,394

  11,373

  6,090

  4,912

  5,370

  6,568

  4,643

  Brecknock

  1,884

  1,544

  1,592

  1,717

  3,649

  1,609

  1,921

  2,334

  1,993

  584

  Montgomeryshire

  2,108

  1,685

  1,362

  1,729

  4,343

  1,886

  1,552

  1,681

  1,514

  1,624

  Radnor

  784

  1,229

  918

  1,841

  2,039

  1,189

  914

  1,035

  979

  777

  281

  Local authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  Cardiff

  25,427

  18,475

  15,327

  18,209

  22,827

  15,298

  13,923

  17,895

  17,319

  13,974

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,466

  5,276

  4,588

  6,439

  6,826

  3,752

  3,077

  3,611

  3,728

  3,193

  Port Talbot

  2,668

  2,347

  2,581

  2,465

  2,537

  1,932

  1,556

  2,867

  3,261

  2,915

  Lliw Valley

  7,966

  5,639

  3,957

  5,457

  5,109

  3,923

  2,998

  3,350

  3,148

  2,562

  Neath

  3,787

  2,725

  2,466

  5,511

  4,981

  2,515

  2,484

  3,006

  3,418

  2,515

  Swansea

  10,577

  9,781

  9,569

  14,399

  14,546

  11,053

  8,616

  10,075

  8,953

  7,623

  TOTAL DISTRICTS

  226,174

  173,282

  139,964

  195,154

  235,883

  153,005

  126,060

  155,606

  160,784

  138,008

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table, taking 1979 as 100, of investment in real terms in manufacturing(a) in the north-east and (b) for the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Atkins
  No regional breakdown of manufacturing investment for 1987 and 1988 is yet available. The required information for the period 1979 to 1986 is shown in the following table:

  Manufacturing investment1 in the north-east2, and in the United Kingdom in constant (1980) prices, as a percentage of the 1979 level

  North-east

  United Kingdom

  1979

  100

  100

  1980

  66

  84

  1981

  42

  65

  1982

  41

  61

  1983

  41

  64

  1984

  47

  77

  1985

  58

  83

  1986

  50

  78

  1 Excluding expenditure on assets leased from the financial industries.

  2 The north-east is not a standard region of the United Kingdom but can be defined as the north less Cumbria. It comprises Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

  Since 1986, manufacturing investment in the country as a whole has risen sharply; and is predicted to continue rising.

  Dolls' Houses (Synthetic Food)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if his Department treats the EEC directive to make illegal the inclusion of items of synthetic food in dolls' houses as falling to be considered by majority vote under the Single European Act; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on this issue;

  (2) when the directive was submitted by the EEC Commission to make illegal the inclusion of items of synthetic food in dolls' houses; if the proposal is part of the measures to complete the internal market; and in what form Parliament will be asked to consider the proposals.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 14 March at column 128 to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence), in which I said that I was proposing to exempt from the proposed Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations imitation food supplied for use in dolls' houses or model scenes or settings.

  Professional Services (Advertising)
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the reports of the Monopolies and 282
  Mergers Commission on restrictions on advertising in the supply of the services of medical practitioners, professionally regulated osteopaths and civil engineering consultants are to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The three reports on advertising restrictions in the professions are published today. The findings of the commission with regard to each one are as follows:

  Services of medical practitioners

  The commission was asked to investigate and report on the advertising restrictions observed by registered medical practitioners and their effect on the public interest.

  The commission finds that observance of the guidance of both the GMC and BMA governing advertising by specialists to members of the public does not operate against the public interest, except in so far as it prevents associations of specialists from responding to direct requests for information from members of the public.

  The commission finds that observance of the GMC guidance (in the version currently circulated to members) and the similar BMA guidance restricting advertising by specialists to other doctors, operates against the public interest. During the inquiry the GMC amended its guidance to allow specialists to contact their colleagues as they see fit. The commission considers that these changes remove the adverse effects of this part of the GMC guidance.

  The commission notes that during the inquiry the GMC relaxed, but did not entirely remove, restrictions on the ability of doctors or their professional associations to communicate with other bodies or professionals in circumstances where they are not offering medical treatment to patients. The commission finds observance of the remaining restrictions on such contacts imposed by the GMC and BMA operates against the public interest.

  The commission finds that observance of those parts of the GMC and BMA guidance which restrict advertising by general practitioners to members of the public operates against the public interest. The commission also finds that one part of the guidance offered by the Royal College of General Practitioners, namely that general practitioners should ensure that their practice leaflets are acceptable to local colleagues, operates against the public interest.

  The commission considers that the broad principles that should govern advertising by doctors are that advertising by them should not be of a character that could reasonably be regarded as likely to bring the profession into disrepute and that their advertising should not be such as to abuse the trust of patients or potential patients or exploit their lack of knowledge. It suggests that these principles might be reflected in guidelines for GPs' advertising, that the content of advertisements should be limited to factual information, should be legal, decent, honest and truthful and should not disparage other

  283
  doctors or make claims of superiority; that no advertisement should include explicit or implicit claims to cure particular complaints and that GPs should not use "cold calling" or other means of trying to target individual members of the public and should not advertise so frequently as to cause a nuisance to potential patients or put them under pressure.

  The Government welcome the conclusions and recommendations of the report and today my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked the Director General of Fair Trading to seek, under section 88 of the Fair Trading Act, undertakings from each of the General Medical Council, British Medical Association and Royal College of General Practitioners that it will revise its guidance on advertising, along the lines proposed by the commission and in a form to be agreed with the director general, within six months.

  My right hon. and noble Friend has no doubt that the GMC, as the statutory body charged with advising doctors on standards of professional conduct, will implement swiftly the MMC's public interest findings and that the BMA and RCGP will follow a similar line. He does not therefore intend at present to use the order-making powers which are available in respect of these latter bodies.

  Services of professionally regulated osteopaths

  The commission was asked to investigate and report on the advertising rules observed by regulated osteopaths and the effects of their restriction on the public interest.

  There are 12 bodies representing osteopaths with rules that govern advertising by their members. The members of one body, the British Osteopathic Association, are nearly all registerd medical practitioners and as such are bound by the rules of the General Medical Council, which are the subject of the report already discussed. The commission finds the observance of the rules of all the other 11 bodies is against the public interest. The commission has recommended that the rules of those bodies should be no longer observed. The commission has suggested that the 11 bodies should consider the adoption of rules avoiding the detrimental effects identified. The commission considers that the broad principles underlying any new rules should be in accordance with the principles of the British code of advertising practice, should contain nothing which would reasonably be regarded as likely to bring the profession into disrepute, and should not be such as to abuse the trust of potential patients or exploit their lack of knowledge.

  The Government welcome the conclusions and recommendations of the report and accordingly my right hon. and noble Friend has asked the Director General of Fair Trading to seek, under section 88 of the Fair Trading Act, undertakings from each of the bodies specified in paragraphs 7.34 and 7.35 of the commission's report that it will within a period of six months revise its rules according to the principles set out in the report and in a form to be agreed with the director general.

  If any of the bodies fail to agree to amend their rules in accordance with the public interest findings of the commission there are order-making powers under the Fair Trading Act which may be brought to bear.

  Civil engineering consultancy services

  The commission was asked to investigate and report on the advertising rules observed by consulting civil engineers and the effects of their restrictions on the public interest.
  284
  The commission was primarily concerned with two sets of rules; those of the Institute of Civil Engineers and those of the Association of Consulting Engineers.

  The commission finds that observance of the ICE rules by consulting civil engineers is not against the public interest. The commission is concerned, however, that some members of ICE appear to believe that the ICE rules are more restrictive than the interpretation it was given, and the commission has suggested that ICE should take steps to clarify the situation.

  The commission finds that the observance of the present ACE rules by its consulting civil engineer members is against the public interest.

  The commission considers that ACE should amend its rules to avoid the detrimental effects identified. The broad principles underlying any new rules should be that consulting civil engineers are free to advertise in accordance with the principles of the British code of advertising practice but that such advertising should contain nothing which would reasonably be regarded as likely to bring the profession into disrepute. The commission was told by ACE that its council would shortly be putting revised rules to the membership for approval.

  The Government welcome the conclusions and recommendations of the report. My right hon. and noble Friend has asked the Director General of Fair Trading to seek undertakings, under section 88 of the Fair Trading Act, from the ACE that, within six months, it will revise its rules and guidance on advertising in a form to be agreed with the director general on the principles stated in paragraph 7.35 of the report.

  Given the proposals which ACE put to the commission, my right hon. and noble Friend believes that the order-making powers which are available under the Act are not appropriate at this time.

  My right hon. and noble Friend has also invited the Director General of Fair Trading to discuss with ICEs council how the interpretation of its rules may be better publicised.

  Renaval Programme (Plymouth)
  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for Plymouth to benefit from the Renaval programme for grants to shipbuilding and shiprepair areas.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sending to the Commission before Easter an application for support for Plymouth amounting to £13·25 million over three years under the Renaval programme, which is financed from the European regional development fund and is intended to mitigate the effects of closures and reductions in employment in shipbuilding/repair areas. Subject to the Commission's approval, the funding will be used in particular to introduce my Department's regional enterprise grants to the area and to support infrastructure projects to develop industrial sites and tourism.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any further progress has been made on the disposal of the subsidiaries of British Shipbuilders, and if he will make a statement.
  285
  Mr. Newton
  I have agreed with British Shipbuilders that it may dispose of the assets and goodwill of its subsidiary British Shipbuilders Training Ltd to a management team. This will retain a valuable training resource at Govan on the Clyde which is already closely involved with the youth training scheme and will be increasingly involved with the employment training programme.

  I have also agreed with British Shipbuilders that it may open negotiations with William Steward (Holdings) Ltd as preferred bidder for the disposal of its pipework and electrical supply subsidiary Sunderland Forge Services Ltd. Finally, British Shipbuilders' preferred bidder for its design and computing subsidiary Marine Design Consultants Ltd based at Sunderland and Dundee has withdrawn. I have agreed with the corporation's chairman that he should invite further bids no later than Friday 14 April.

  Consumer Protection (European Community)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which European Economic Community Commissioners are responsible for aspects of consumer affairs in addition to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection; and which Commissioner is responsible for consumer price matters.

  Mr. Forth
  I have placed in the Library of the House a background note produced by the Commission, which lists the new Commissioners and their portfolios. While lead responsibility rests with Mr. Van Miert, the Commissioner for Consumer Protection, others with responsibility for areas of policy affecting consumers include Sir Leon Brittan, Dr. Bangemann and Mr. MacSharry. In line with the Council resolution adopted in October 1986, the consumer interest needs to be taken into account in all proposals which affect those interests.

TRANSPORT

  Coastguard Service
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the current levels of overtime payments being made in the coastguard service, he will review his decision to reduce the operational complement of the service by 28.

  Mr. Portillo
  The amount of overtime worked by Her Majesty's coastguard over recent years has declined to a stable level. The reduction in the overall watchkeeping complement is commensurate with the merging of the area responsibilities of coastguard stations, and it is not anticipated that the total level of overtime payments will be unduly affected.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that employees of the coastguard service are not required to monitor and work with visual display units for excessively prolonged periods; and what is the maximum continuous period of work with display units allowed.

  Mr. Portillo
  Watchkeeping coastguards work 12-hour shifts, including a one and a half hour meal break, which may be taken in one or more parts. Whilst the use of visual display units has increased, it is unusual for any individual 286
  to spend more than 5–10 per cent. of the watch using one. This percentage may be exceeded during busy periods. Although there is no laid down maximum continuous period of work, there are regular breaks, and duties within the watch are varied.

  Parachuting Safety
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce controls to separate hobby parachutists' landing areas and those of aircraft landing or taking off.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The air accidents investigation branch, assisted by the British Parachute Association, is investigating the recent accident in which a parachutist fell onto a taxiing aircraft and was killed. The investigation will determine whether the current controls were applied and whether they are adequate. The introduction of any further controls will depend on the recommendation arising from the accident investigation.

  Thamesline River Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions there have been concerning the support from public funds of the Thamesline river services in central London; what decisions have been made; and what sums have been allocated to this service in the year 1989–90.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 23 February at column 729. The estimated support from public funds in the year 1989–90 is £400,000.

  Bus Miles (London)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of doubling the number of bus miles travelled in London.

  Mr. Portillo
  The cost of doubling bus miles in London cannot realistically be assessed. In addition to substantial investment in vehicles' premises, facilities and staff, unknown factors include the routing and type of services provided, the demand for them and the revenues generated. Decisions about the appropriate level of bus services for London are matters for London Regional Transport.

  Voyage Data Recorder
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are to be taken by the marine directorate to monitor the performance of the newly developed voyage data recorder; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department has jointly funded, with Lloyd's Register of Shipping, the development of this voyage data recorder. Consideration is now being given to additional funding to carry out further research and to monitor the performance and reliability of the recorder in service.

  Ship Crew Manning Levels
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning reductions of crew manning levels in relation to ship safety; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Many ships carry voluntary minimum safe manning certificates issued by the Department. In addition, the larger passenger ships are required to carry approved crew muster lists. The Department has received a number of representations from Members of this House, the seafarers' union and others concerning the reduction of crew manning levels in relation to ship safety. If necessary, marine surveyors inspect the vessel to ensure that it can be operated in a safe manner.

  Flight Deck Crewing
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in relation to safe flight deck crewing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Safe flight deck crewing is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation. I understand that the Civil Aviation Authority's requirements comply with internationally recognised criteria.

  Marine Examination Fees
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in response to proposals to increase marine examination fees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Two representations were received, which did not oppose the proposed average increase of 12 per cent. in marine examination fees, which is to be implemented on 1 April and which is broadly in line with inflation since the last changes in these fees. A third representation proposed that these and certain other fees should be abolished. We believe, however, that the costs of such services should be borne by those who use them and not by the taxpayer.

  Aeronautical Safety
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken to ensure that the move of frequency for aeronautical radar can be effected without prejudice to aircraft safety; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I suggest that the hon. Gentleman puts his question to the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority which, together with the Ministry of Defence, is responsible for the national air traffic services.

  Single Line Junctions
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of junctions between double track railway routes where the former double junction has been replaced by a single track line switch and associated crossover, together with the number of such layouts where the short single line section is protected by a safety neck; and whether he has asked the railways inspectorate to carry out an assessment of the safety implications of such junctions.
  288
  Mr. Portillo
  Information regarding the precise number of single line junctions, and those protected by a safety neck, is not readily available. These junctions have been used extensively throughout the British Rail network for many years. Whether or not this type of layout was in any way a contributory factor to the recent accident in Glasgow is a matter for the public inquiry, a starting date for which will be announced shortly.

  Vehicle Mileages
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to respond to the proposals put to him by the Director General of Fair Trading to combat the practice of clocking vehicle mileages.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have today written to Sir Gordon Borrie. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

  While deploring this criminal practice the Government do not believe that the expensive system proposed for collecting and storing data in order to deter clocking would be sufficiently reliable to warrant the cost arid bureaucracy involved. The mileage information would not carry conviction with the public. We believe it may be possible to devise a voluntary alternative scheme that is more accurately targeted against vehicles more susceptible to clocking, for instance relatively new, high-mileage vehicles. It has been suggested to the Office of Fair Trading's used car working group that further work should be done on the circumstances and vehicles most likely to lead to clocking, and the true scale of the problem.

  Services are already provided by private sector companies to investigate mileages where prudent purchasers wish to double-check on condition and value before buying. These could meet the public's needs better than the blanket system proposed by the group. We believe that the industry can do more to develop an odometer which cannot be covertly tampered with or replaced.

  It would be better to make clocking much more difficult at the outset than create a burdensome system that still cannot guarantee to detect the offence. There is much that the industry can so more cost-effectively do than Government to combat clocking.

  Computer Safety
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been undertaken to ensure protection from unauthorised penetration into any parts of the rail network that are currently computerised

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 15 March 1989]: I understand that British Rail's physical and electronic protection of its computerisecl systems is such that any unauthorised penetration would be extremely unlikely to have any effect on safety. It would not be appropriate to give details. Protection of information held on computers is wholly a matter for British Rail. If my hon. Friend has any particular problems in mind perhaps she would approach British Rail.

  MARPOL Convention
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the numbers of personnel and vessels that will be made available by his Department for enforcement of annex V of the marine pollution convention within British territorial waters.
  289
  Mr. Portillo
  [holding reply 13 March 1989]: Department of Transport marine surveyors who already visit ships to carry out surveys for the issue of safety and pollution certificates and who inspect ships for port state control will ascertain that arrangements for complying with Annex V of MARPOL 73/78 have been made. Additionally, surveyors will verify that port reception facilities for garbage are adequate.

  The use of vessels to ensure compliance is not envisaged.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Agriculture and Food Research Council
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of financial resources for the Agriculture and Food Research Council.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend recently announced an allocation from the science budget of £74·57 million to the Agricultural and Food Research Council for 1989–90. The planning figures for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 are £78·25 million and £81·74 million respectively. The allocation for 1989–90 is 22 per cent. higher than provision in the current financial year.

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

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Education Reform Act has created new opportunities for parents, employers and others in the community to be directly involved in education. In schools and colleges of further education governing bodies, which include employers and elected parents, will have responsibility for directing the policies of the institutions and managing the budgets delegated by local education authorities. We have also given parents the opportunity to seek grant-maintained status for the schools attended by their children. Over 3 million copies of a booklet designed for parents "Our Changing Schools" have been distributed: this booklet encourages parents to take a practical interest in their children's education.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Ms. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) those local education authorities which include and (b) those which do not include head teachers in their calculation of pupil to teacher ratios in primary schools.

  Mr. Butcher
  The pupil/teacher ratios published by the Department for each local education authority in England include all qualified teachers including head teachers. The number of pupils and teachers is derived from returns made to the Department by schools in January of each year. A statistical bulletin giving the pupil/teacher ratio for each local education authority in England in January 1988 will be published shortly.

  City Technology Colleges
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in paying grant monies under the city technology college programme for improving facilities at a school whose governors have given notice under section 14 of the Education Act 1944 to discontinue voluntary status, he will make it his policy to ensure that the governors retain the discretion to withdraw that notice.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend has made clear the factors on which he will need to satisfy himself before reaching a decision on any proposals from the governors of a voluntary school to discontinue that school in order to make the premises available for the establishment of a CTC. These include agreement in principle on a funding agreement, including grant towards capital costs, which would be recoverable in the event of the CTC failing to open for any reason.

  Advisory Board for the Research Councils
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the membership of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The present members of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils are:

  Professor Sir David Phillips KBE FRS (Chairman)—Professor of Molecular Biophysics, University of Oxford.

  Professor E. Ash CBE FRS FEng—Rector, Imperial College, University of London.

  Professor R. L. Bell CB—Director-General of ADAS, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Professor Margaret Boden FBA—Professor of Philosophy and Psychology, University of Sussex.

  Dr. R. F. Coleman—Chief Engineer and Scientist, Department of Trade and Industry.

  Sir Roger Elliott FRS—Secretary to the Delegates and Chief Executive, Oxford University Press.

  Mr. J. Fairclough FEng—Chief Scientific Adviser, Cabinet Office.

  Dr. D. J. Fisk—Chief Scientist, Department of the Environment.

  Mr. J. S. Flemming—Executive Director, Bank of England.

  Professor J. L. Knill—Chairman, Natural Environment Research Council.

  Professor June Lloyd FRCP—Professor, Institute of Child Health, University of London.

  Professor E. W. J. Mitchell CBE FRS—Chairman, Science and Engineering Research Council.

  Mr. J. R. S. Morris CBE FEng (Deputy Chairman)—Chairman, Brown and Root (UK) Ltd.

  Professor H. Newby—Chairman, Economic and Social Research Council.

  Professor Sir Richard Norman FRS—Scientific Adviser, Department of Energy.

  Professor E. R. Oxburgh, FRS—Chief Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Defence.

  Profesor R. W. O'Grady, CBE—Chief Scientist, Department of Health.

  Sir Charles Reece—formerly Research and Technology Director, ICI.

  Dr. D. A. Rees, FRS—Secretary, Medical Research Council.

  Dr. N. J. Shackleton, FRS—Director of Quaternary Research, University of Cambridge.

  Sir David Smith, FRS—Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Edinburgh.

  Professor W. D. P. Stewart, DSc, FRSE, FRS—Secretary, Agricultural and Food Research Council.

  Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer, KBE, FRS—Chairman, University Grants Committee.

  Sir Francis Tombs, FEng—Chairman, Rolls-Royce Ltd.; Chairman, ACOST.

  291

  Mr. J. M. M. Vereker—Department of Education and Science (Assessor).

  Mr. D. A. Wilkinson—Department of Education and Science (Assessor).

  The advisory board was established by the Secretary of State for Education and Science in 1972. It has the following terms of reference:—

  (a) To advise the Secretary of State on his responsibilities for civil science with particular reference to the research council system, its articulation with the universities and departments, the support of postgraduate students and the proper balance between international and national scientific activity;

  (b) To advise the Secretary of State on the allocation of the Science Budget among the research councils and other bodies, taking into account funds paid to them by customer departments and the purposes to which such funds are devoted;

  (c) To promote close liaison between councils and the users of their research.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the remit of the committee of the advisory board for the research councils investigating the funding of the biological sciences in Britain has been extended to include a review of the research councils themselves; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Advisory Board for the Research Councils announced the following terms of reference for its review of research councils' responsibilities for biological sciences, on 22 June 1988:

  1. To review the disposition between Research Councils of responsibilities for research and training in the biological sciences and present arrangements for co-ordination.

  2. To recommend any changes, in the present disposition of responsibilities and co-ordinating arrangements, that are needed to improve efficiency and effectiveness—taking account of national needs, trends in the biological sciences, and implications for Councils' responsibilities in related fields.

  I understand that these have not been changed.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  National Stud
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek powers to privatise the national stud; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  No.

  Prisoners (Her Majesty's Pleasure)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been sentenced to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure in each year since 1959; and if he will state in each case (i) whether they are still detained and (ii) how many years of imprisonment they served before they were released.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 9 March 1989]: The information requested on those sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure is published annually in "Criminal statistics England and Wales", (table S2.1 (A) of the latest issue, for 1987 Cm. 498) copies of which are in the Library. Information about the length of time detained in institutions other than prison service establishments is
  292
  not readily available. The average time spent under sentence in prison service establishments by persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure was between six and a half and seven years for those first released on licence in the years 1978 to 1987.

  Including those recalled following an earlier release on licence, the population of such detainees held in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 1988 was about 200. Provision of further information would incur disproportionate cost.

  Firearms Safety (Thames Valley)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police as to what were the security arrangements in operation prior to the granting and variations of the firearms certificate issued to the late Michael Ryan for the safekeeping of the rubber stamp of the signature of the appropriate chief officer of police of the Thames Valley police and as to what additional security precautions have been taken concerning such rubber stamps since the Hungerford tragedy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Arrangements for the safekeeping of office equipment are a matter entirely for individual chief officers of police.

  Television and Radio Programmes (Disabled People)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of hours of broadcast programmes which(a) are subtitled and (b) have a sign language interpreter on (i) BBC1, (ii) BBC2, (iii) ITV and (iv) Channel 4 in the last year.

  Mr. Renton
  I understand that the BBC and IBA broadcast respectively approximately 1,650 and 1,560 hours of subtitled programmes last year for reception on teletext sets. No precise information is available on open-caption sub-titling or on signing.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of hours of broadcast programmes on(a) BBC1, (b) BBC2, (c) ITV, (d) Channel 4, (e) BBC Radio and (f) independent local radio, which are specifically directed at people with disabilities, during the last year.

  Mr. Renton
  I understand that the number of hours of such programmes broadcast last year on BBC television, ITV and Channel 4, and on BBC radio were approximately 40, 35 and 53 respectively. In addition, many other programmes featured items directed both at people with disabilities and at the general audience. No precise information is available for independent local radio.

  Police (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the names of the chief constables of Leicestershire since 1959 and the years they served in that capacity.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:
  293

  Date

  Mr. J. A. Taylor CBE, QPM, DL

  1950–1972

  Mr. A. Goodson OBE, QPM

  1972–1986

  Mr. M. J. Hirst QPM

  1986-

  Taxi Driving Licences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the frequency of subject access requests to police forces from drivers in connection with applications for taxi driving licences.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None. Applicants for subject access under the Data Protection Act are not required to state the reasons for their application.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to release data subjects from the obligation to apply to police forces for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act to procure information for transmission to a third party; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. There is no such obligation under the Data Protection Act.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his most recent estimate of the number of people benefiting from £5 concessionary television licences.

  Mr. Renton
  The concessionary licence fee is now payable per household, rather than per individual. It is estimated that on 31 January 1989 about 808,500 people in 634,110 households were covered by the concessionary licence.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the change in the number of people who would qualify for a concessionary television licence as a result of changes in the qualifying regulations effective from May 1988.

  Mr. Renton
  It is not possible to estimate the change in the number of people who may be able to qualify for the concessionary licence. No one who had the concession before May 1988 lost it as a result of the change in the regulations. Since May 1988 the number of people covered by the licence has increased by about 44,000.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how local authority sheltered housing provided from conversion of tower blocks into vertical warden schemes with a flat dedicated for communal use will be treated in respect of the concessionary television licence scheme.

  Mr. Renton
  Tower blocks are treated in the same way as any other sheltered housing schemes, and can qualify for the concessionary licence provided they satisfy the conditions set out in the regulations.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,294
  Official Report, column 765, he will update the 1985–86 review of the arrangements to sell the electoral register to include consideration of (a) the ability of the electoral registrar being able to access copies of the information held by the community charge officer and (b) the restriction placed on the sale of the extract of the community charge register; if he will publish the 1985–86 review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  To the first part of the question the answer is no, for the reasons given in my previous answer. Copies of the consultation paper which instituted the 1985–86 review were deposited in the Library in December 1984; subsequently, regulations authorising the supply of the register in computer-compatible form were debated in the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments on 21 January 1986.

  Police (Sex Discrimination)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought against police forces for non-compliance with the Sex Discrimination Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Complaints alleging non-compliance with the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 are dealt with under the civil law by applications to industrial tribunals. I understand from the Equal Opportunities Commission that it is not possible to identify applications made against police forces.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the implications for community programming of proposals outlined in the White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition, Choice and Quality".

  Mr. Renton
  We have now had over 2,700 responses to the broadcasting White Paper, including a number from charities, voluntary organisations and other organisations with a particular interest in community programming. We are considering very carefully all the responses we have received.

  Police (Disciplinary Offences)
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time police officers are suspended from duty awaiting the results of investigations into alleged disciplinary offences in(a) Cheshire police, (b) Greater Manchester police and (c) Merseyside police; how many police officers are currently suspended from duty for this reason in each of the three forces; and, over the past five years, how many of those suspended have subsequently had no charges or disciplinary action taken against them.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  Average length of time of suspension (calculated over the most recent convenient 12-month period):

  (a) 11 months, (b) 7·4 months, (c) 9·6 months

  Number of officers currently suspended

  (a) 1, (b) 9, (c)

  Over the last five years, number of suspended oficers who subsequently had no charges or disciplinary proceedings brought against them

  295

  (a) 0, out of a total of 10 officers.

  (b) 2, out of a total of 57 officers, including 9 whose cases are still under consideration. (Information relates to period from 1 January 1985 only—previous year's figures not readily available).

  (c) 3, out of a total of 41 officers, including 6 whose cases are still under consideration.

  Prisoners (AIDS)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has authorised the setting up of an isolation area in the hospital wing at Her Majesty's prison, Winson Green, for prisoners known to be HIV positive.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Birmingham is one of a number of prison service establishments with medical facilities which the director of prison medical services considers to be suitable for the care, support and (when necessary for their own protection) isolation of prisoners with AIDS-related illness or other infectious conditions.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers at Her Majesty's prison, Winson Green(a) requested and (b) received HIV tests in 1987 and 1988; and with what results.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Department does not disclose information of this nature.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines he has issued to prison governors about the association of prisoners known to be HIV positive with other prisoners;

  (2) what guidelines he has issued to prison governors on the confinement of prisoners found to be HIV positive; and whether he will make a statement;

  (3) what is his policy on the segregation of prisoners known to be HIV positive.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Department's policy on the management of such prisoners follows the broad principles of the Government's general policy but necessarily takes account of the special nature of prisons and the prison environment. Prisoners who are identified as HIV antibody positive and have no symptoms of illness are located in single accommodation or accommodated with other antibody positive prisoners, but there is no requirement that they should otherwise be precluded from associating with prisoners who are not so identified.

  The guidelines to local management stress the importance of enabling HIV antibody positive prisoners to participate as fully as possible in normal prison life. It has also been made clear both to management and to staff that prisoners who have no symptoms of illness need not be located in the prison hospital or other special accommodation. However, the management of individual cases is a matter which must be decided by the governor and medical officer in the light of local circumstances and the nature and needs of the individual prisoner.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protective clothing is available at Her Majesty's prison, Winson Green, for the use of prison officers when restraining prisoners known to be HIV positive.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In January 1987 arrangements were made for all prison service establishments in England and 296
  Wales to be supplied with sets of protective clothing comprising a zip-up one piece overall, rubber surgical gloves, a paper face mask and plastic eye goggles.

  Drug Abuse (TV Advertisement)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Independent Broadcasting Authority to withdraw the current advertising campaign relating to drugs on independent commercial radio stations to ensure that foul language is not used on the air.

  Mr. Renton
  No. Under section 9 of the Broadcasting Act 1981, the Independent Broadcasting Authority has responsibility for drawing up a code of advertising standards and practice and for ensuring that programme contracts comply with it.

  Bail Information Schemes
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to expand bail information schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  By April 1990 we expect bail information schemes to have been extended from the present 13 to 20 courts.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase the usage of bail hostels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Resources are being provided for the creation of about 500 new bail places at approved hostels by April 1991. The attention of the courts was drawn, in Home Office circular 25/1988 issued on 11 May 1988, to the range of bail hostel accommodation facilities available for persons whom they might be considering for the grant of bail.

  A consultation paper on "Bail Accommodation and Secure Bail Hostels" was issued on 13 February 1989. The paper discusses the purpose and use of existing accommodation for bailees and the concept of a more secure type of hostel for those defendants who may currently be remanded in custody because of a lack of suitable bail places. The closing date for responses is 9 May 1989.

  Community and Probationary Schemes
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage the further use of community and probationary schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  In "Tackling Offending: An Action Plan", issued to the probation service in August 1988 following publication of the Green Paper "Punishment, Custody and the Community", the Home Office gave guidelines for enhancing and promoting the use of non-custodial penalties, including the probation order. Each area probation service was asked to take the lead in establishing a local action plan for work with young adult offenders, on the basis of these guidelines.

  The Home Office has introduced national standards for community service orders which are due to come into

  297
  effect on 1 April. Their purpose is to increase the confidence of the courts and the public in community service orders by ensuring that the orders are demanding and that they are strictly enforced.

  The Government believe that there is considerable scope for increasing the use of probation and community service orders for offenders who would otherwise receive custodial sentences.

  Trial Deadlines
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans for the introduction of wide-scale application of trial deadlines: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Berkshire, East (Mr. MacKay) on 8 February at column 676.

  Remand (Minor Offenders)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that minor offenders are not given remand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 23 February at column 393.

  Remand System
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations took place with officers in the prison service during the course of the preparation of the report on the practicality of private sector involvement in the remand system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There was extensive consultation and discussion with prison staff at all levels including trade union representatives. Details are given in appendix II of

  Arrests

  Attendance

  Arrests as a proportion of attendance percentage

  1984–85

  Wimbledon

  123

  92,920

  0·3

  Total league clubs (divisions 1 and 2 only)

  5,517

  13,839,261

  0·04

  1985–86

  Wimbledon

  7

  95,793

  0·01

  Total league clubs

  4,143

  16,438,757

  0·2

  1986–87

  Wimbledon

  35

  163,652

  0·02

  Total league clubs

  5,531

  17,427,601

  0·03

  1987–88

  Wimbledon

  49

  159,691

  0·03

  Total league clubs

  6,106

  17,968,965

  0·03

  Television Advertising
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to change the
  298
  the "Report to the Home Office on the Practicality of Private Sector Involvement in the Remand System" by Deloitte Haskins and Sells (1 March 1989), a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Football Matches (Arrests)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he can provide figures giving the number of arrests made during league football matches for each season from 1979–80 to the present time;

  (2) if he will make it his policy in future to ensure that figures for arrests made at football grounds are kept separately for arrests made inside and outside grounds, respectively.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The number of arrests made at Football League matches each season from 1984–85, when the Association of Chief Police Officers first collated these figures, is as follows:

  Season

  Total arrests

  1984–85

  15,517

  1985–86

  4,143

  1986–87

  5,531

  1987–88

  6,106

  1 Includes Divisions 1 and 2 only.

  These figures do not distinguish between arrests made inside grounds and those directly connected with matches made outside. Nor are the figures confined to arrests made only during the time a match was being played. Any further sub-division of these figures would be a matter for Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can provide figures for (a) the number of arrests made at Wimbledon football club as a percentage of the gate and (b) the corresponding average figures for the football league as a whole for each season from 1979–80 to the present time.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The available figures are as follows:

  current statutory ban on unreasonable discrimination by television companies against advertisers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC and Army Raids
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many properties have been searched by the armed forces and the Royal Ulster Constabulary during each of the last five years;

  (2) if a record is kept of the denominational affiliation of the householders whose properties have been searched by the armed forces and the Royal Ulster Constabulary during the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The available information on searches of premises under section 15 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 is as follows:

  Army

  RUC

  Year

  Occupied

  Unoccupied

  1984

  Not available

  Not available

  1985

  104

  58

  Not available

  1986

  137

  41

  1,818

  1987

  393

  72

  2,474

  1988

  1749

  1195

  4,136

  1 These figures are still subject to confirmation.

  The majority of searches conducted by the Army would have been in conjunction with the RUC and are also counted in their figures.

  Information relating to the religion of the householder is not kept by the police. Although it is recorded by the Army at the time of the search, it could not be made available without disproportionate cost.

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

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Only one Select Committee recommendation has been made about this Department, and then indirectly. The recommendation was in fact mainly relevant to the Department of Social Security and was not accepted by them or us.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for 1989–90.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation is:

  Year

  £

  1979–80

  nil

  1980–81

  nil

  1981–82

  nil

  1982–83

  nil

  1983–84

  nil

  1984–85

  nil

  1985–86

  52,380

  1986–87

  4,298

  1987–88

  2,411

  300
  Precise figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 are not yet available.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many former residents of the Kincora boys' home have received compensation payments from the Eastern health board for assaults; how many former residents have made claims; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 15 March 1989]: Eleven claims for compensation have been received by health and social services boards from former residents of Kincora boys' home. To date three claims have been settled and payment has already been made jointly by the Eastern and Northern health and social services boards in respect of one of these. The question of compensation is entirely a matter for settlement between the parties concerned.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Frank Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for(a) the estimated expenditure by the Treasury on press and public relations during 1988–89 and (b) the budget for 1989–90.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The estimated expenditure for the current year is £539,162; the budget provision for 1989–90 is £559,980.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total estimated cost of work put out by the Central Office of Information to private agencies this year; what it was in 1987–88; and what it is estimated to be in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The cost of work put out by the Central Office of Information on behalf of other Government Departments to private agencies is as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  114·6

  1988–89

  1113·2

  1 Estimated.

  Detailed decisions on estimated expenditure by COI on behalf of other Government Departments for 1989–90 is a matter for departmental Ministers and the amount to be put out to private agencies is not yet known.

  Employer Housing Grants
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the number, (b) the value and (c) the cost in revenue forgone, of tax-free employer grants to employees moving to higher cost housing areas in each year this scheme has been in force; and what is his estimate for the current year.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that reliable estimates are not available.

  Civil Servants (Allowances and Pensions)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioner civil servants receive indexed allowances and pensions.

  Mr. Brooke
  Principal Civil Service pension scheme pensions, in common with other public service pensions, are index-linked under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, as amended. There were about 381,000 such pensions in payment to retired civil servants during 1988–89.

  Netherlands Antilles (Double Taxation)
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a new double taxation convention has been negotiated with the Netherlands Antilles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  As foreshadowed in the Inland Revenue press release of 24 June 1988, the United Kingdom Government gave notice of termination of the existing convention by 30 June 1988 in accordance with the provisions of that convention. The existing convention will, therefore, cease to have effect in the United Kingdom from April 1989. Discussions are continuing at official level about a new double taxation convention. Whatever the outcome of these discussions, the Government propose, in accordance with the undertaking given in the press release, to introduce provisions for this year's Finance Bill to preserve the existing exemption from tax of interest paid from the United Kingdom to the Netherlands Antilles to fund the payment of interest on Eurobonds issued by Netherlands Antilles finance subsidiaries before 26 July 1984. These provisions will apply to interest payments paid from the United Kingdom on or after 1 April 1989.

  Charities
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes the Government have introduced since 1979 to benefit charities financially.

  Mr. Lilley
  Successive Finance Acts, and the measures announced in the Budget on March 14 will have:

  (i) reduced the period of charitable covenants qualifying for tax relief from "over six" to "over three" years (1980);

  (ii) would allow heritage and conservation charities to give covenanted members free or cheap entry to properties without loss of tax relief on covenants (1989 Budget);

  (iii) introduced higher rate income tax relief for charitable covenants with a £3,000 limit (1980); increased the qualifying limit to £5,000 (1983); and to £10,000 (1985); and abolished the limit completely in 1986;

  (iv) raised the capital transfer tax exemption limit for gifts to charities on or within one year of death from £100,000 to £200,000 (1980) and then to £250,000 (1982) before abolishing the limit completely in 1983;

  (v) provided in place of reduced rate relief, a complete exemption from stamp duty for all transfers to charities, whether by sale or gift (1982);

  (vi) given tax relief for employers costs met by a company during a period of secondment to a charity (1983), and extended that to all employers (1984);

  (vii) introduced relief for single donations by non-close companies (1986);

  (viii) introduced VAT zero rating for cars leased to the disabled (1984). The Budget would exempt such cars from car tax as well;

  (ix) extended the range of specialised goods and services eligible for VAT zero rating when acquired by charities (eg medicinal products (1986)). The Budget extends this relief to sterilising equipment and to classified advertising;

  302

  (x) largely shielded charities from the effect of the ECJ judgement on UK zero-rates by zero-rating fuel and power and new construction for charities' non-business purposes; and by not giving landlords the option to tax rent from charities non-business buildings other than offices and by phasing in over 5 years options to tax the rent on charities' business and office accommodation;

  (xi) the Budget exempted from VAT fund-raising events by charities;

  (xii) introduced the payroll giving scheme (1986) with an annual limit of £100, to operate from April 1987. The limit was subsequently raised to £120 (1987) and doubled to £240 (1988). The Budget would double this limit again to £480.

  In addition, the 1988 Local Government Finance Act provides for charities to be relieved from April 1990 of at minimum 80 per cent. of their business rate due.

  It is estimated that the total amount of tax repaid to charities in respect of income from which tax has been deducted increased from £130 million in 1978–79 to some £400 million in 1987–88; this was itself an increase of £60 million compared with 1986–87. The Government provide substantial support in grants as well as in tax relief. The total level of grants increased by over 90 per cent. in real terms between 1979–80 and 1986–87 when it stood at £1,173 million.

THE ARTS

  Victoria and Albert Museum
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether staff from his Department have met the director of the Victoria and Albert museum to discuss staffing in the(a) last three months and (b) last six months.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: The organisation and staffing of the Victoria and Albert museum are matters for the director and trustees of the museum.

  The director has explained to me and to my Department the objectives of the plans announced by the museum on 27 January. I fully support those objectives.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service College
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the criteria on which the Civil Service college arranges sessions for new members of the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  Most induction training for civil servants is carried out by Departments for their own staff. College courses are designed to meet the needs of particular groups of more senior staff, administration trainees and professional groups of whom there are only a few new entrants in any one Department each year.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide figures showing the total amount of Government aid which has been sent to Ethiopia to help fight the spread of meningitis.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Over the last month and in response to requests from several British voluntary agencies, we have provided over £500,000 for vaccines used to combat the current meningitis epidemic. This includes our share of assistance provided by the European Community, also for vaccines.

  Japan
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's discussions in Japan on Japanese rain forest policy.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I raised British concern over the destruction of the rainforest with both Japan's aid loan agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both stressed that Japan is paying increasing attention to the environment in its aid programmes. Japanese officials have paid several visits to the Overseas Development Administration to study our environmental assessment procedures.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the value of the basic retirement pension as a proportion of average earnings in April 1989.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not yet available.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many representations he has received from war pensioners or war pensioners' organisations on the reduction of the full war pension disregard for housing benefit to £5 from April 1988;

  (2) if he will list the local authorities which have abandoned or modified discretionary housing benefit enchancements for war pensioners after the withdrawal of a full disregard in April 1988; and if he will estimate the number of war pensioners affected by such abandonments or modifications;

  (3) if he will estimate the total savings made as a result of disregarding £5 of each war pension for housing benefit purposes after April 1988 rather than the total amount as before;

  (4) if he will list the local authorities who exercised a discretionary scheme to pay housing benefit at a higher rate to war pensioners prior to April 1988; and what is the number of war pensioners benefiting from such schemes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Prior to April 1988 the first £4 of a war pension was disregarded in housing benefit but local authorities had discretion to enhance the scheme—for example by disregarding war pensions or other income in full—at their own cost. The local authorities which operated such schemes are listed at A. From April 1988 discretionary local schemes other than variation of the disregard for war pensions were abolished and the statutory war pension disregard was increased to £5. Although local authorities retain the discretion to disregard war pensions in full at their own cost some chose to abandon or modify their local scheme in April 1988, as listed at B.

  I regret that information on the numbers affected by local schemes is not available.

  A. Local authorities who operated a local scheme for war pensioners prior to April 1988

  A. Local authorities who operated a local scheme for war pensioners prior to April 1988

  Aberdeen

  Annandale and Eskdale

  Adur

  Argyll and Bute

  Amber Valley

  Aylesbury Vale

  Angus

  Banff and Buchan

  304

  Barking and Dagenham

  Bromley

  Barnet

  Broxbourne

  Basingstoke

  Broxtowe

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  Burnley

  Berwickshire

  Bury

  Bexley

  Caithness

  Birmingham

  Calderdale

  Blaby

  Cambridge

  Blackburn

  Camden

  Blackpool

  Cardiff

  Boothferry

  Carlisle

  Borders

  Castle Point

  Boston

  Central Regional Council

  Bournemouth

  (Scotland)

  Bracknell

  Ceredigion

  Bradford

  Charnwood

  Braintree

  Chelmsford

  Breckland

  Cheltenham

  Brecknock

  Chester

  Brent

  Chesterfield

  Brentwood

  Chiltern

  Brighton

  Chorley

  Durham

  Christchurch

  Dwyfor

  Clackmannan

  Ealing

  Clydebank

  East Cambridgeshire

  Clydesdale

  East Devon

  Corby

  East Hampshire

  Coventry

  East Kilbride

  Craven

  East Kilbride Development

  Crawley

  Corporation

  Crewe and Nantwich

  East Lothian

  Cumbernauld

  East Staffordshire

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  Eastleigh

  District Council

  Eastwood

  Cumnock and Doon

  Edinburgh

  Cunninghame

  Ellesmere Port

  Dacorum

  Elmbridge

  Darlington

  Enfield

  Daventry

  Epsom and Ewell

  Delyn

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  Derby

  Exeter

  Doncaster

  Falkirk

  Dover

  Fenland

  Dudley

  Fife

  Dumbarton

  Forest of Dean

  Dundee

  Gedling

  Dunfermline

  Glasgow

  Glenrothes DC

  Huntingdon

  Gloucester

  Inverclyde

  Gordon

  Inverness

  Gosport

  Islington

  Great Yarmouth

  Kennet

  Guildford

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  Hackney

  Kincardine and Deeside

  Hambleton

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  Hamilton

  Kingswood

  Hammersmith

  Kirkcaldy

  Harborough

  Kirklees

  Haringey

  Knowsley

  Harlow

  Kyle and Carrick

  Harrow

  Lambeth

  Hart

  Langbaurgh

  Hartlepool

  Leicester

  Havant

  Lewes

  Havering

  Lewisham

  Hereford

  Lincoln

  Hertsmere

  Livingston Development

  High Peak

  Corp

  Highland

  Lliw Valley

  Hillingdon

  Lochaber

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  Lothian

  Horsham

  Luton

  Hounslow

  Macclesfield

  Merton

  Maidstone

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Maldon

  Mid Devon

  Medina

  Middlesbrough

  Meirionnydd

  Midlothian

  Mendip

  Milton Keynes

  305

  Mole Valley

  North Tyneside

  Monklands

  North West Leicester

  Montgomery

  North Wiltshire

  Moray

  Northampton

  Motherwell

  Nottingham

  Nairn

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  Neath

  Oadby and Wigston

  New Forest

  Ogwr

  Newbury

  Oldham

  Newham

  Orkney

  Newport

  Penwith

  Nithsdale

  Perth and Kinross

  North Bedfordshire

  Peterborough

  North Cornwall

  Plymouth

  North Dorset

  Poole

  North East Fife

  Port Talbot

  North Hertfordshire

  Portsmouth

  North Kesteven

  Radnor

  North Shropshire

  Redditch

  Reigate and Banstead

  Slough

  Renfrew

  Solihull

  Rhondda

  South Bucks

  Rhuddlan

  South Cambridgeshire

  Ribble Valley

  South Herefordshire

  Richmond upon Thames

  South Holland

  Richmondshire

  South Lakeland

  Ross and Cromarty

  South Northampton

  Rossendale

  South Ribble

  Rother

  South Staffordshire

  Roxburgh

  South Tyneside

  Rugby

  South Wight

  Runnymede

  Southampton

  Rushcliffe

  Southend on Sea

  Ryedale

  Southwark

  Salford

  Spelthorne

  Sandwell

  St. Helens

  Scarborough

  Staffs. Moorlands

  Scottish Special HA

  Stevenage

  Sedgefield

  Stewartry

  Sefton

  Stirling

  Selby

  Stockton on Tees

  Shepway

  Stratford on Avon

  Shetland

  Strathclyde

  Skye and Lochalsh

  Strathkelvin

  Surrey Heath

  Watford

  Sutherland

  Waverley

  Sutton

  Wealdon

  Swale

  Welwyn Hatfield

  Swansea

  West Derbyshire

  Tameside

  West Lothian

  Tandridge

  West Norfolk

  Tayside

  West Somerset

  Tendring

  West Wiltshire

  Test Valley

  Western Isles

  Tewkesbury

  Westminster

  Thamesdown

  Weymouth and Portland

  Three Rivers

  Wigan

  Thurrock

  Wigtown

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Wimborne

  Tower Hamlets

  Winchester

  Tunbridge Wells

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Tweeddale

  Wirral

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Woking

  Vale of White Horse

  Wolverhampton

  Vale Royal

  Woodspring

  Wakefield

  Worthing

  Walsall

  Wycombe

  Waltham Forest

  York

  Wandsworth

  B. Local authorities who abandoned or modified their local scheme for war pensioners in April 1988

  Barking and Dagenham

  Mid Devon

  Barnet

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  Bexley

  Portsmouth

  Boothferry

  South Bucks

  Bournemouth

  South Herefordshire

  Brecknock

  Swansea

  Fenland

  Thamesdown

  Havant

  West Norfolk

  Lliw Valley

  Weymouth and Portland

  306
  Source: 1988 returns from 476 of the 483 local authorities in Great Britain.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the likely implications on public service broadcasts emanating from his Department of the White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition, Choice and Quality."

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is no reason to suppose that the proposals in the White Paper will alter the present arrangements whereby public service messages are broadcast by the BBC. It will be for the new Channel 3 and 5 licensees to consider whether they will broadcast such messages. The arrangements for paid Government advertising on television will not be affected by the proposals.

  Student Grants
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if local authorities treat a full-time student who receives no grant as though he did receive a full grant, for the purpose of assessing housing benefit eligibility.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  When an award is made in respect of student maintenance, the full grant is taken into account for the purposes of establishing entitlement to housing benefit. This applies even when the amount of grant payable has been reduced or extinguished by an assessed contribution in respect of the income of a parent or a spouse of the student, whether or not that contribution has actually been received by the student.

  When no award has been made, however, there is no provision to take a notional grant into account.

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the annual amount which will be saved as a result of the £2 cut on housing benefit transitional payments;

  (2) what is his estimate of the saving in public expenditure which will result from his imposition of a closing date of 31 March 1989 for applications for housing benefit transitional payments.

  (3) what is the estimated take-up of housing benefit transitional payments.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In view of the number of applications for housing benefit transitional payments which continue to be received and to ensure the maximum take-up of these awards the closing date for receipt of housing benefit transitional payments has been extended to 30 June 1989. It is not yet possible to estimate either the final expenditure and caseload or the effect of the £2 flat rate deduction from 10 April 1989. By the time the closing date is reached we expect the vast majority of people eligible for transitional payments to have applied for them and we do not, therefore, expect any significant saving in expenditure.

  Young Homeless People
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has any plans to assist financially young people of 16 and 17 years of age who have been excluded from the parental home or who have no parental home to go to; and if he will make a statement;
  307
  (2) what are the means being used by his Department to determine the extent and degree of poverty among those aged 16 and 17 years who, for whatever reason, are not living in the parental home; and if he will publish the results of any such examination.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In addition to our monitoring we have examined evidence from organisations such as Barnardo's and the Church of England Children's Society. We have also had discussions with representatives from these and other bodies in the voluntary sector as well as local authority associations.

  Our own monitoring has included careful observation of the types of cases referred for consideration under the severe hardship provision.

  Our current policies are sound for the overwhelming majority of 16 and 17-year-olds. However, our studies reveal that a minority of young people who, for good reason, have to live independently are facing difficulties. We have therefore decided to introduced the changes announced by my hon. Friend on 13 March at columns 27–28.

  Elderly People (Care Provisions)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether the personal allowance element of pensions paid to elderly persons in hospitals, nursing homes and residential care homes is intended for the personal use of pensioners for the purchase of items not provided by the establishment, such as clothing and stationery;

  (2) what evidence he has that some residential institutions include the personal allowance of pensions in the minimum charge demanded of the pensioner.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The level of fees in an independent residential care home or nursing home is a matter between the resident and the proprietor and depends on the level of services to be provided. The income support personal expenses allowance is intended to cover day-to-day living expenses but claimants are, of course, free to spend this money in any way they choose.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) during the benefit year April 1988 to April 1989 how many claims for attendance allowance were received; how many claims for attendance allowance were granted; how many claims for attendance allowance were awarded posthumously; and what is this figure as a percentage of total number of claims received and number of claims granted; of the posthumously awarded claims, how many were granted following a request for review or appeal after initially being refused; and what is this figure as a percentage of total claims made and number of claims granted;

  (2) during the benefit year April 1987 to April 1988; how many claims for attendance allowance were received; how many claims for attendance allowance were awarded; how many claims for attendance allowance were awarded posthumously; what is this figure as a percentage of total claims made and number of claims granted; of the posthumously awarded claims, how many were granted following a request for review or appeal after initially being refused; and what is this figure as a percentage of total claims made and number of claims granted.
  308
  Mr. Scott
  Information about posthumous awards of attendance allowance is not recorded as a matter of course and could be extracted only at disproportionate cost. The information which is available is in the table.

  Table

  Attendance allowance: Numbers of claims received and awards made 1987–88 and 1988–89

  Year

  Number of claims received

  Number of awards made

  1987–88

  351,554

  213,907

  1988–89

  1292,485

  2156,137

  1 To 28 February 1989.

  2 To 31 December 1988.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the extra spending on family credit is attributable to the freeze in child benefit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  When the 1989 uprating was announced it was estimated that the total cost of the family credit uprating would be £128 million, of which £23 million was directly attributable to the 45p added to the child credit rates as compensation for the child benefit standstill.

  Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion and how many supplementary benefit/income support claims from couples are made by women.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of supplementary benefit claims from couples made by women is 19,000. This represents 1·77 per cent. of supplementary benefit claims from couples.

  I regret income support information is not yet available.

  Note: Number of claims rounded to nearest thousand.

  Source: May 1987 Annual Statistical Inquiry.

  Retirement Age
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost for equalising retirement ages for men and women at the ages of 60, 62, 63 and 65 years assuming everyone elects to retire at the specified age; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 February 1989, c. 598]: I regret that the reply given has been found to contain an error. The information requested with the amended figures is as follows.

  The most recent estimates, which are based on 1985–86 benfit rates, are that the approximate net annual cost to public funds of equalising state pension age at 60 years would be £3,000 million and at 63 years £800 million; equalisation at 65 years would save about £500 million. Estimates are not available for equalisation at 62 years.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the anticipated end of the year out-turn on the numbers of

  309
  claimants and levels of expenditure, (b) the most recent figures for the numbers of claimants and levels of expenditure and (c) the anticipated numbers of claimants and levels of expenditure for 1988–89 for (i) funeral payments from the social fund and (ii) maternity payments from the social fund.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 December 1988, c. 534]: The available information is as follows:

  Anticipated end of year out turn

  Type of payment

  Number of claimants

  Expenditure £ million

  Maternity payments

  173,000

  15

  Funeral payments

  48,000

  21

  Actual claims and expenditure to and including October 1988

  Type of payment

  Number of claimants

  Expenditure £ million

  Maternity payments

  102,603

  9

  Funeral payments

  28,582

  11

EMPLOYMENT

  Perivale Skill Centre
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the Perivale skill centre.

  Mr. Cope
  Perivale skill centre is part of the Skills Training Agency which, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 13 March, is to be offered for sale through a private tender process.

  Wages Council
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central, 6 March,Official Report, column 412, whether he will now indicate the current level of total responses received on his wages councils consultative document; and if he is now in a position to break down the responses into those supporting and those opposing the abolition of wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The current level of total responses is 394. The breakdown of the responses into those supporting and

  Annual average unemployment 1983 to 1988

  19831

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Unemployed claimants

  Percentage in Greater London

  Unemployed claimants

  Percentage in Greater London

  Unemployed claimants

  Percentage in Greater London

  Unemployed claimants

  Percentage in Greater London

  Unemployed claimants

  Percentage in Greater London

  Unemployed claimants

  Percentage in Greater London

  London Docklands

  5,109

  1·4

  5,465

  1·4

  5,775

  1·4

  5,762

  1·4

  5,236

  1·4

  4,274

  1·5

  Newham

  15,673

  4·3

  16,254

  4·5

  17,007

  4·2

  17,468

  4·4

  15,746

  4·3

  12,825

  4·4

  Southwark

  17,991

  5·0

  19,563

  5·1

  21,016

  5·2

  21,632

  5·3

  19,820

  5·4

  16,819

  5·8

  Tower Hamlets

  15,451

  4·3

  15,457

  4·0

  16,132

  4·0

  16,257

  4·0

  15,346

  4·2

  12,955

  4·4

  1 Average of seven months June to December 1983, comparable figures for earlier months are not available on the same geographical basis.

  Tourism
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the review of tourism will be published.

  Mr. Lee
  We shall announce decisions following the review of tourism policy as soon as possible.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many TECs he is planning for London.
  310
  those opposing the abolition of wages councils will be published in due course.

  Employment Training
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many approved employment training agencies deal solely with unemployed graduates; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None. All training agents and training managers will deal with unemployed graduates as required.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many unemployed graduates are currently on employment training courses;

  (2) how many unemployed graduates have left employment training courses since September 1988.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information about the number of graduates on or leaving employment training is not yet available.

  Docklands
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the level of unemployment in the Docklands urban development area as a percentage of the total London figure in each year since 1981; and what are the same calculations for the three Docklands boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham and Southwark.

  Mr. Cope
  The following information is also available from the Library. The table shows the annual average number of unemployed claimants in London docklands and the London boroughs of Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets for the years 1983 to 1988, in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the number of unemployed claimants in Greater London. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available on the same geographical basis. Comparisons are affected by changes in the coverage of the count.

  Mr. Cope
  The prospectus for training and enterprise councils was published on Friday 10 March. It is now for business leaders wishing to establish a TEC to come together and apply for development funding, and it is for the employers themselves to propose the area the TEC should cover, having consulted the regional director of the Training Agency.

  Because of London's unique labour market, it is important that the development of the TEC network there should be considered very carefully, particularly in the

  311
  centre of London. I have therefore decided, in consultation with Brian Wolfson, chairman of the National Training Task Force, that a small temporary group of employers should look at the issues in London and report to the task force accordingly.

  Allen Sheppard, chairman and chief executive of Grand Metropolitan plc and a member of the task force, has agreed to lead the group's discussions. Employers and others wishing to make their views known to the group should do so through the Training Agency's regional director for London, Mark Addison.

  Open College
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has plans for further funding for the Open college; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I am pleased to announce that we have decided to provide further funding for the Open college to develop its important work. We are currently discussing with the college arrangements for this further funding, which would be up to a maximum of £12 million for its commercial activities over the next three years, and further £6 million for broadcasting activities.

  The college's recent performance has been very encouraging. Sales of courses are now running at over 5,000 a month, and over 60,000 learners have taken college courses since its start. Some 600 companies are associated with the college and many major companies and institutions are collaborating with the college to produce training materials to meet their specific training needs.

  The achievement of self-financing of the college within the next three years remains our firm goal. However, in order to give the college the secure base it needs to achieve this, further funding would be required. Support will also be needed for broadcasting.

  In order to ensure the best value for money for the public purse, this funding is subject to important conditions, not least that the college should have agreed with us the next stage of its business plan setting out the route to self-financing over the three year period without any further calls on public support thereafter. The plan would also outline how the college's work over this period would support out training objectives. Michael Green, the college's chairman, has welcomed our decision and fully accepts these conditions.

  This further funding provides the opportunity the college needs to secure its work with others in industry and education in helping to meet the nation's skill needs. The college will encourage employers to provide more effective training for their workforce; it will help individuals including the unemployed to gain the skills they need to contribute effectively to the economy; and will support us in our task of persuading individuals and employers increasingly to invest in their future by providing effective training.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  South Africa
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has given consideration to the recent Disclosure of Foreign Funding Bill, passed by the South African Government, which will place 312
  restrictions on organisations in South Africa receiving financial support from abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We made clear to the South African Government our serious concern about certain features of the draft Disclosure of Foreign Funding Bill, which has since been amended substantially. We shall continue to make clear the unacceptable nature of any legislation which restricted or inhibited the provision of aid funds to the black community.

  Sudan
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in Sudan.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We call on all parties in Sudan to work for the restoration of peace and stability and the early implementation of the plan of action agreed in Khartoum on 9 March by the United Nations conference on the displaced.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Guillotine
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the occasions on which the Government have introduced the guillotine since 1979 and indicate after how many hours in Committee on each Bill.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Guillotining of Bills

  Session and Bill

  Hours in committee before guillotined

  Total hours in committee

  1979–80

  Education (No. 2)

  82

  104

  Social Security

  60

  99

  Housing

  110

  149

  Social Security (No. 2)

  44

  66

  1980–81

  Transport

  55

  95

  British Nationality

  90

  145

  1981–82

  Oil and Gas (Enterprise)

  70

  104

  Employment

  91

  107

  Northern Ireland (CWH)

  54

  63·30

  1982–83

  Transport

  80

  100

  Telecommunications

  110

  158

  Housing and Building Control

  90

  110

  1983–84

  Telecommunications

  80

  112

  Rates

  80

  112

  Rating and Valuation (Amendment) (Scotland)

  82

  99

  1984–85

  Local Government

  86

  153

  Transport

  76

  134

  1985–86

  Gas

  85

  129

  313

  Session and Bill

  Hours in committee before guillotined

  Total hours in committee

  Social Security

  115

  167

  European Communities (Amendment) (CWH)

  18

  23

  1986–87

  Local Government Finance (CWH)

  14·50

  20·50

  Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland)

  101

  124

  1987–88

  Education Reform

  88

  151

  Local Government Finance

  72

  129

  Social Security2

  —

  —

  Firearms (Amendment)1

  —

  —

  School Boards (Scotland)2

  —

  —

  Housing2

  —

  —

  1988–89

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions)

  52

  63

  Water

  75

  145

  Official Secrets (CWH)

  14

  29

  (CWH = Committee of the Whole House).

  1 Guillotined on consideration on Report.

  2 Guillotined on consideration of Lords Amendments.

  Parliamentary Passes
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many passes have been issued to persons acting as secretarial or research assistants to the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on(a) 1 October 1988, (b) 1 November 1988 and (c) 1 February 1989.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It would be inappropriate for me to provide information about passes sponsored by individual right hon. and hon. Members.

SCOTLAND

  Agriculture
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last made a speech outlining the Government's plans for developing Scotland's agriculture in less populated areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The importance of agriculture in Scotland's rural areas is a regular theme of speeches by my right hon. and learned and noble Friends. Most recently my noble Friend dealt with this among other issues in his keynote address to the annual general meeting of the Scottish National Farmers Union last week.

  Dialysis
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new patients per million population in Scotland received (i) haemodialysis and (ii) continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in 1988 or the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available in the exact form requested. In 1987 (the most recent year for which figures are available) the number of new patients per million of the population (pmp) received on to all 314
  forms of dialysis was 58·2. This includes continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The total number of patients (both new and existing) receiving dialysis in 1987 was as follows:

  Actual

  Hospital dialysis

  264

  Home dialysis

  181

  Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

  346

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 749, he will update the 1985–86 review of the arrangements to sell the electoral register to include consideration of (a) the ability of the electoral register being able to access copies of the information held by the community charge officer and (b) the restriction placed on the sale of the extract of the community charge register; if he will publish the 1985–86 review; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no plans for a further review, for the reasons given in my previous answer to the hon. Gentleman on 24 February at column 749. Copies of the consultation paper which instituted the 1985–86 review were deposited in the Library in December 1984; subsequently, regulations authorising the supply of the register in computer-compatible form were debated in the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments on 21 January 1986.

  A850 Broadford-Kyleakin Road, Skye
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposal which he has received from Highland regional council concerning the upgrading of the A850 Broadford-Kyleakin road, Isle of Skye, with particular reference to(a) the number of objections received and (b) whether he intends to call the application in for public inquiry procedures.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend considered the notice of intention to develop, submitted to him by Highland regional council as planning authority on 15 December 1988, together with the 213 letters of objection received, and has decided that the issues involved do not warrant his intervention. A letter was sent to Highland regional council on 23 February indicating that planning permission for the proposed development was deemed to have been granted.

  Youth Unemployment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures from all available sources as to the number of 16 to 18-year-olds in Greenock and Port Glasgow without a YTS place, and known to the local careers office to be without work.

  Mr. Lang
  The only information available on the number of young people seeking YTS places is that held by the local careers services. I understand that on 9 March 1989, 116 young people were registered for work or a YTS place at careers offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow.

  Self-Governing Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will name the two hospitals he expects to have self-governing status by 1992.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This will be a matter for discussion with health boards in the light of responses to the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Crack
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Government measures being taken to reduce the availability and use of the drug known as crack.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government's strategy and the wide range of measures being taken to deal with the problem of drug misuse, including the interdiction of cocaine of which "crack" is a derivative, are described in "Tackling Drug Misuse—A Summary of the Government's Strategy", copies of the third (1988) edition of which are available in the Library.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of his Department are employed specifically to assist firms preparing for the single European market of 1992; and if he will give a breakdown of the number by grade.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Within the Industry Department for Scotland there are 63 officers, plus appropriate clerical support staff, employed to deliver assistance to industry under the enterprise initiative. This number comprises:

  1 Grade 3

  2 Grade 5

  1 Grade 6

  6 Grade 7

  8 Senior Executive Officers

  1 Senior Scientific Officer

  1 Senior Professional and Technical Officer

  22 Higher Executive Officers

  21 Executive Officers

  The enterprise initiative schemes, although capable of wider application, can all be used by companies to help prepare for the single market. There are also staff in other Scottish Office Departments whose duties include the monitoring of single market developments in specific industrial sectors and to provide appropriate assistance to their client groups.

  Investment Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total number of applications(a) received and (b) approved for investment grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988; what was the total amount of expenditure involved; and what the total estimated expenditure planned for that period;

  (2) what was the total number of applications (a) received and (b) approved for innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988; the total amount of expenditure involved; and the total estimated expenditure involved and (c) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period;

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is shown below for the period 1 April to 31 December.
  316

  Regional Selective Assistance

  Number

  Applications received

  188

  Applications processed

  171

  £ million

  Payment authorisations made

  23·5

  The provision of the financial year 1988–89 is £60·4 million. Expenditure under this scheme is normally concentrated in the last quarter of the financial year.

ENVIRONMENT

  London Docklands
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many firms or businesses have been relocated with London Docklands development corporation assistance since 1981; how many of these firms were moved to locations outside the urban development area; and how many jobs were in firms or businesses relocated with London Docklands development corporation assistance since 1981.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the London Docklands development corporation has done to co-ordinate information on job opportunities, trends and forecasts, training needs and take-up of training opportunities.

  Mr. Trippier
  Several employment and training co-ordinating groups have now been set up in Docklands, which exchange information of this type, and on which the LDDC, local authorities, other agencies and the private sector are all represented.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what gaps in training provisions the London Docklands development corporation has identified; and what intervention it has undertaken to remedy them.

  Mr. Trippier
  This is primarily a matter for agencies responsible for training provision. The corporation is helping by providing information, improving coordination among those involved, and by its contribution to a wide range of training projects.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the London Docklands development corporation has taken to see that a high proportion of jobs at Tobacco dock will go to local people.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 January at column 201.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown and analysis of existing jobs in the Royal docks area of Newham.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the LDDC's 1987 census of employment, a copy of which has been laid in the Library.

  National Newspapers (Docklands)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people, employed by national newspapers who were previously located in the Fleet street area, are now located in Docklands.
  317
  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not held by the Department.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of refrigeration units in the United Kingdom containing chlorofluorocarbons that will need to be disposed of by 1995; and what plans are in place to ensure the safe disposal of these units without releasing the contained chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are estimated to be some 30 million domestic refrigerators and freezers in use in the United Kingdom. Some 2 million appliances are disposed of each year. As yet no techniques for the safe disposal of the insulation material have been developed. At least one retailer of domestic refrigerators and freezers will collect the old appliance and recover the refrigerant for recycling. Recycling services, provided by both United Kingdom manufacturers of CFCs and by some refrigeration companies, are widely used by commercial and industrial refrigerants.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations are in place to segregate wastes containing chlorofluorocarbons from other wastes at municipal disposal sites.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None. Officials of the Department will shortly be meeting representatives of the local authorities to discuss their role in efforts to reduce emissions of CFCs.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions he has made to ensure that obsolete fridges, aerosols and packaging containing chlorofluorocarbons are disposed of in a way that does not release the chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contained in aerosols are emitted to the atmosphere as their contents are used—old aerosol cans do not therefore generally contain CFCs. The difficulties inherent in identifying which packaging materials contain CFCs, and the logistical problems involved, mean that to legislate for their safe disposal is not a practical proposition. The industries are in any case rapidly moving away from the use of CFCs. For the disposal of refrigerators, I refer to the answer that I gave the hon. Member earlier today.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress in research into chlorofluorocarbon replacement(a) HCFC-22 and (b) HCFC-134a.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  HCFC-22 is already commercially available. HCF-134a is expected to be available in commercial quantities in the early 1990s, subject to the satisfactory outcome of toxicological testing and environmental evaluation.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress towards reducing ozone layer depletion following the conference on saving the ozone layer on 5 to 7 March; and what agreements have been reached with the People's Republic of China to ensure their production of chlorofluorocarbons is minimised.
  318
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Progress expected to flow from the saving the ozone layer conference is summarised in the chairman's message prepared by my right hon. Friend. The message will be delivered to the first meeting of the contracting parties to the Montreal protocol in Helsinki in May. I am arranging for the message and the rapporteur's more detailed account of the conference to be placed in the Library. At the conference the People's Republic of China was one of a number of countries to indicate that it would give serious consideration to acceding to the Montreal protocol.

  Environmental Council
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings of the Council of European Community Environment Ministers he has attended in person since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the basis on which it is decided which Minister should attend such meetings.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 6 December 1988 at col.153.

  Home Insulation
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with the local authority associations a joint programme of home heating insulation and make the necessary finance available.

  Mr. Trippier
  The local authority associations are consulted each year on the method of distributing capital allocations for housing to individual local authorities. In setting allocations, the Department takes into account authorities' own assessments of needs, including that for insulation and heating. A specific sum is currently set aside to finance grants under the homes insulation scheme, but it is otherwise for authorities to determine their own investment priorities for insulation within the total resources available.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, on the same basis as table F5, in the Green paper, "Paying for Local Government", what percentage of householders in Leyton constituency whose equivalent net income falls in the range of(a) £100 to £200 per week and (b) £400 to £500 per week would, on 1988–89 figures, pay a higher net community charge, without safety nets, than net rates.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is not available. The table in the Green Paper was based on a sample survey which cannot provide reliable estimates for individual constituencies.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) all Government publications relating to the community charge which are to be made available in ethnic minority languages and (b) the languages to be used in each case.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland on 16 February at column 383. My right hon. Friend and I have

  319
  been preparing a programme for public information which includes these important matters and we shall be making an announcement on our decisions on minority translations in the near future.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of how many people will pay more in poll tax than they currently pay in rates in the Nottingham, North constituency.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Nor have we any estimate of the numbers of gainers and losers in each local authority or constituency, as a result of the introduction of the community charge. Figures published on 15 December 1988 show that nationally nearly 60 per cent. of all households would pay less with the community charge than they do now with domestic rates.

  Litter
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make the abatement of litter by local authorities a statutory obligation as provided for in the Litter Act 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Litter Act 1983 gives local authorities powers to take action on litter. We are pursuing a series of initiatives within the existing legal framework and will consider whether any strengthening of the legislation is necessary, including the possibility of implementing section 4 of the Act to require authorities to prepare litter plans.

  Detergents
  Mr. William Ross
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what quantities of phosphorus-free detergents were(a) produced and (b) used in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what percentage of these were domestic detergents; and whether he has any plans to encourage the wider use of such detergents.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Over the last three years there has been no production of phosphate-free detergents in the United Kingdom. Usage, from imports, is estimated to be well below 0·5 per cent. of the total United Kingdom market for detergents. The environmental safety of some current phosphorus substitutes is uncertain. The Government have no plans at present to encourage the wider use of phosphate-free detergents.

  Methane Gas
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what initiatives he has under consideration for improving data collection and monitoring of the sources and sinks of methane gas in respect of the rate of increase of methane concentration in the air; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what initiatives he has under consideration to investigate reasons for the rate of increase of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: Inventories and assessments of atmospheric concentrations of methane and nitros oxide are in hand under the DOE's research programme as part of the
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  NASA global atmospheric gases experiment. The results will be available for the work of the UNEP/WMO intergovernmental panel on climate change. The chemical sinks of methane are also being studied under DOE's research programme.

  Tenants' Charter
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he takes to ensure that all local authorities bring to the attention of their tenants arid to those on their housing waiting lists, particularly single people, the provisions of the tenants' charter in the Housing Act 1980 with particular reference to the creation of sub-tenancies.

  Mr. Trippier
  Responsibility for informing their existing and potential tenants must lie with local authorities, but leaflets on the tenants' charter and, specifically, on lodgers, are distributed widely by my Department.

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to hold discussions with local authority associations with a view to devising a fairer and more realistic waiting list system for the public housing sector.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have no plans to do so.

  Public Sector Housing
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report for each local authority in England the number of (a) single people under the age of 21 years and (b) single mothers under the age of 21 years registered as seeking public sector housing.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not available centrally.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to require local planning authorities to pay the costs of appeals by applicants against their decisions that are upheld.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department's circular 2/87 makes clear that costs may be awarded following a public local inquiry if any party to a planning appeal is judged to have acted unreasonably. The Government have no plans to alter the basis for awarding costs.

  Catalytic Converters
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of other Governments regarding catalytic converters.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Discussions at ministerial level on vehicle emission control issues are a frequent feature of the European Community Environment Council meetings and the preparations for them. If the common position on stage II of the Luxembourg directive
  321
  for small cars reached at the November 1988 Council is adopted following completion of the co-operation procedure with the European Parliament, we expect that virtually all cars will need to be fitted with some form of catalytic converters.

  Racial Harassment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish fully the Brunel university study into racial harassment which his Department commissioned; and when he expects to announce new proposals to counter such activity.

  Mr. Trippier
  I cannot yet say when any products of this study will be published; we do not yet have a final draft of the proposed good practice guide, or a draft of the study report.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures for the comparative level of(a) carbon monoxide and (b) nitrogen oxide in the air in British cities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: The results of air quality monitoring programmes carried out for the Department have been published annually since 1979 in the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" and its complementary "Statistical Bulletins". Copies of these documents are placed in the Library of the House. Results for carbon monoxide were first published in Digest No. 2, 1980, and for nitrogen oxides in Digest No. 3, 1981.

  New Towns
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the remaining new town development corporations to have completed the development of their respective towns.

  Mr. Trippier
  Following statutory-consultations, I have announced that Warrington and Runcorn development corporation will be wound up in September 1989. The proposed wind-up dates for the remaining development corporations are September 1991 for Telford and March 1992 for Milton Keynes.

  Rural Communities Council
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the Rural Communities Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of Action with Communities in Rural England, the national body representing rural community councils, on 21 December 1988, when they formed part of a deputation from Rural Voice to discuss rural housing issues. He also spoke about rural housing to the annual general meeting of the Gloucestershire rural community council on 1 September 1988.

  Right to Buy
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether officials from his Department 322
  have had meetings with officials of the London borough of Sutton to discuss the right to buy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Officials in my Department last met officials of the London borough of Sutton on 19 May 1988 to discuss right to buy. The Government continue to keep a close interest in the performance of all local authorities under right-to-buy legislation.

  Turtles
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to curb the import of North American box turtles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Anyone wishing to import these turtles into the United Kingdom is already required to obtain a licence under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976. We are satisfied that trade does not at present pose any threat to the survival of the species, and it is therefore generally permitted. However, it is and will continue to be carefully monitored so that, if necessary, stricter controls can be introduced to ensure that the animals do not become endangered in the wild.

  HMS Cambridge
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will call in the decision by the South Hams district council to refuse permission to erect a five foot high security fence around the borders of HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school at Wembury near Plymouth;

  (2) if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposal to erect fencing around the boundaries of HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school at Wembury near Plymouth.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  No proposal for fencing at HMS Cambridge has been referred to the Secretary of State. Crown development which would require planning permission if carried out by a private owner (including fencing over two metres in height) is the subject of consultation with the local planning authority. So also is development which would not need specific permission but would have a significant planning impact, visually or otherwise, beyond the Department's own site; circular 18/84 sets this out. If the local planning authority objects, the matter must then be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment. If a proposal is referred, there is provision for a non-statutory public local inquiry.

  Incinerators (Pollution)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for new limitations on pollution from incinerators of municipal rubbish; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) (Amendment) Regulations 1989, which are due to come into force on 31 March 1989, will bring under the control of the national air pollution inspectorates all incinerators capable of burning 1 tonne or more of municipal waste per hour. When drawing up control requirements the inspectorates will ensure compliance with the EC directive on the
  323
  prevention of air pollution from new municipal waste incinerators. Agreement on this directive was reached at the Council of Environment Ministers' meeting on 2 March 1989. Discussions are continuing within the Community on a draft directive dealing with existing municipal waste incinerators.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for new guidance on practices at incinerators to limit dioxin discharges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  From 31 March all large incinerators will be under the control of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution. We propose to minimise emissions of dioxins by the strict control of combustion conditions. This is the approach adopted in the EC directive on the prevention of air pollution from new municipal waste incineration plants agreed by the Council of Environment Ministers on 2 March. The EC Commission is setting up a working party of experts to report on control of dioxins from incinerators. We will co-operate fully with this work.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of the newspaper advertisements, "Council Tenants—Who Should Manage Your Home?" placed in the press on Sunday 12 March.

  Mr. Trippier
  Approximately £81,350.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his definition of the term "acceptable rent" referred to in his Department's advert placed in the Sunday press on 12 March; to which section of the Housing Act 1988 it refers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The term "acceptable rent" is a reference to the proposals for rents (including arrangements for rent review) which tenants transferring under tenants' choice will have accepted in consultations under section 102 of the Housing Act 1988.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had an opportunity to consider the consultants' reports on housing action trusts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have today published the consultants' reports on the six areas that we proposed for housing action trusts. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The consultants have concluded that, having regard to the matters listed in section 60 of the Housing Act 1988, the Loughborough and Angell town estates in Lambeth; the North Peckham and Gloucester grove estates in Southwark; and the Downhill, Town End farm, Hylton castle and part of the Red house estates in Sunderland justify the establishment of trusts. I therefore propose to proceed in these areas, subject to some minor boundary changes.

  In Leeds, the consultants consider that the Halton moor, Seacroft South and Gipton estates meet the criteria for designation: but that the most compelling case for a trust is at Gipton. I therefore propose to proceed in that area only.
  324
  In Sandwell, the consultants consider that there is not a strong enough case to establish a HAT for the Lion farm, Wallace close and Titford estates; but that the Windmill lane estate would benefit from a trust and that there is also a case for treating a w Klee area of the Cape hill community. I agree with the consultants' findings. I am therefore asking them to carry out a further study to help us decide whether to proceed with proposals for a trust in that area and where to draw the boundaries.

  In Tower Hamlets, the consultants conclude that the problems associated with the six run-down council estates they studied justify the establishment of a HAT. However, a trust could tackle the overcrowding that exists on the estates only if it had enough land to provide more housing for the people who now live there. This could involve considerable disruption of the existing communities and would require a much larger area for a trust than we originally proposed. I have therefore decided not to proceed with my original proposal. If, after discussion with tenants, the council wishes to bring forward a proposal for a different trust area, I would be prepared to consider it.

  The Housing Act requires me to consult local authorities and hold a ballot of tenants in each proposed area before I can seek Parliament's approval to orders setting up a trust. My hon. Friend is writing to the leaders of the councils concerned today. I also intend to consult local people fully about how we propose to take matters forward. As a first step, we are sending explanatory leaflets to all individual residents in the proposed trust areas. I also propose to appoint consultants to discuss the proposals with residents and to seek their own ideas for improving the design, condition, management and general living conditions of their estates. Tenants will have time to consider the ideas which emerge from these consultations before they vote on a trust in a ballot.

  The creation of trusts provides an opportunity to target extra Government resources on some of our most difficult estates. But it will be for individual tenants to decide whether they want me to proceed. If they do not want a trust, then the available resources can be used to tackle areas of problem housing elsewhere. I am therefore prepared to consider sympathetically any proposal which other councils or tenants wish to bring forward for a trust in their area.

  HMS Cambridge
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in the light of the designation of land at HMS Cambridge in South Hams as an area of outstanding natural beauty, great landscape value, and part of the heritage coastline, if he will ensure that any security fencing in and around the camp is designed with the consent of the parish council and the district council; and if he will make a statement on the present situation;

  (2) if he will ensure that no security fencing is erected in or around HMS Cambridge at Wembury in South Hams without planning consent being first obtained from the relevant authority or from him on appeal;

  (3) if he will ensure that any security fencing around HMS Cambridge, the Gunnery School at Wembury in South Hams is confined to the immediate area justified by security considerations.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have been asked to reply. I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Architecture (Protection)
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the guidance his Department issues on the protection of squares and other specific forms of architectural layout against inappropriate development in (i) London and (ii) elsewhere.

  Mr. Chope
  Where there is a clear policy in an up-to-data local plan, which is consistent with the relevant provisions of the structure plan, it will carry considerable weight, and I will be guided by it and my inspectorate in dealing with planning appeals, particularly where the proposal in question raises purely local considerations. The Government recognise the importance of many of London's squares and are satisfied that any proposals affecting them are regulated in the public interest through the planning system.

  Many squares also have conservation area protection; special attention must be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area in the exercise of development control.

HEALTH

  Student Midwives
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives already holding registered nurse qualifications have been seconded by their health authority for their midwifery course; and what proportion is this of all student midwives who are registered nurses.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of research into the sudden infant death syndrome and the Government's contribution to such research.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Medical Research Council (MRC), the main agency through which the Government sponsors biomedical and clinical research, has, over the years, funded a wide range of research related to sudden infant death syndrome.

  I am, however, advised that no particular clinical factors have yet been unequivocally identified as the cause of sudden infant death syndrome. For current MRC research I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 20 February at columns 524–5. A number of epidemiological factors have been shown to be associated with sudden infant death syndrome. But again none have been unequivocally identified as the cause.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of hearing aids dispensed, and their subsequent usage.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are at present giving detailed consideration to suggestions for changes to the current arrangements for the provision of hearing aids in the context of proposals made by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
  326
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the current organisation of hearing aid services.

  Mr. Mellor
  Sixty-two representations have been received calling attention to the recent proposals made by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the "Hearing Aids—the Case for Change" proposals brought forward by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

  Mr. Mellor
  The suggestions for changes in hearing aid services which have been made by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf are being carefully considered.

  Audiology Services
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf to discuss audiology services.

  Mr. Mellor
  The most recent meeting on this subject between the Department and representatives of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf was at official level and took place on 25 November 1988. The then Minister of State for Health—my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton)—and my hon. Friend the Minister for the Disabled met representatives of the institute on 29 June 1988 to discuss their views on audiology services.

  Midwives (Pay)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Royal College of Midwives to discuss its rates of pay.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State met the president and the general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives on 7 December. They had a friendly and useful discussion on a range of issues arising from the 1988 pay award and associated regrading exercise, which gave midwives an average pay increase of over 20 per cent. last year.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the latest available figures for the number of people on waiting lists in the area of the Trent regional health authority, and the percentage of those on waiting lists who have been waiting for(a) six months or more and (b) one year or more.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the publication "Hospital In-patient waiting lists—England at 30 September 1988—National Regional and District summaries", copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the names, professional qualifications and occupations of members of the Central Council for the Education and Training of Social Workers.

  Mr. Mellor
  The names and occupations of members of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social
  327
  Work are set out in the list. There is currently one vacancy on the council. A new council will be appointed from 1 September 1989. We do not hold centrally information concerning the professional qualifications of members.

  Social Workers
    CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN SOCIAL WORK

      Membership of Council as at 9 March 1989
      Chair

      Professor B. Saul—Vice Chancellor, University of York

      Other Members

      Kina, Lady Avebury—Planning Co-ordinator, Tower Hamlets, Social Services Strategy Group

      Mrs. V. Benjamin—Training Officer, Gwynned Social Services Department

      Dr. B. R. Bewley—Senior Lecturer and Consultant, Department of Information and Planning, St. George's Hospital, London

      Mr. M. G. Clarke—Director, Local Government Training Board

      Mr. P. Cresswell—Social Worker, Speke, Liverpool

      Miss J. D. Ford—Lecturer/Acting Head of Department, Department of Social Administration and Social Work, University of Glasgow

      Miss. S. Hall—Principal Officer, Research and Development Barnardo's

      Miss M. C. Hartnoll—Director of Social Work, Grampian Regional Council, Aberdeen

      Miss S. Irwin—Director of Social Services, Northern Health and Social Services Board, Northern Ireland

      Councillor Mrs. D. N. James—Chair, Social Services Committee, Surrey County Council

      Mr. D. N. Jones—General Secretary, British Association of Social Workers

      Mrs. T. Jowell—Director, Community Care Special Action Project, Birmingham Social Services Department

      Dr. G. H. Michael—Senior Lecturer in Social Work, University of Ulster

      Mr. E. Morrell—Chief Probation Officer, West Midlands Probation Service

      Professor J. O'Neill—Former Director (retired), Trent Polytechnic, Nottinghamshire

      Professor P. Parsloe—Head of Department/Professor of Social Work, University of Bristol

      Professor G. Pearson—Head of School of Social Work, Middlesex Polytechnic

      Mrs. C. C. Pryde—District Officer, Social Work Department, Motherwell, Scotland

      Councillor B. M. Scott—Vice-Chairman, Social Work Committee, Strathclyde Regional Council

      Mr. P. G. Senior—Senior Probation Officer (Training), South Yorkshire Probation Service, and Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Sheffield City Polytechnic

      Mr. J. W. Small—Assistant Director, Social Services Department, London Borough of Hackney

      His Honour Judge E. Stockdale—Circuit Judge

      Mr. T. C. Storrie—Principal, Cassio College, Watford

      Dr. R. G. Walton—Director of School of Social Work, University College, Cardiff

      Mr. Burt
      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many post-qualifying social work courses specialising in mental health and mental disorder have been approved by the Central Council for Education and Training of Social Workers; and how many students completed these courses in each year since 1983.

      Mr. Mellor
      During the period that the Approved Social Worker (ASW) Examining Board was in being (1983–1986), 1,660 candidates working with mentally ill people were successful in ASW examinations. Since 1986 the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work has approved 60 training courses for ASWs in local authorities with places for approximately 900 students. In addition, since the 1983–84 academic year CCETSW have approved the following relevant post-qualifying courses:328

      (a) Mental illness disorder: seven specialist courses with an output of 91 social work students arid 36 non-social work students;

      (b) Mental handicap: six specialist courses which have provided an output of 11 social work arid 16 non-social work students;

      (c) Other post-qualifying training courses: a further 103 social work students undertook options in this area of work as part of other post-qualifying studies.

  Parallel Imports
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy not to issue product licences for parallel imports for products originating from countries that are not members of the pharmaceutical inspection committee.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. The United Kingdom product licence (parallel import) scheme covers products from any member state of the European Community. To discriminate against those member states which are not members of the pharmaceutical inspection convention (PIC) might be interpreted as a quantitative restriction on imports and as such would offend article 30 of the treaty of Rome.

  Medical Control Agency (Director)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make an announcement regarding the appointment of a director for the Medicines Control Agency.

  Mr. Mellor
  The appointment of Dr. Keith H. Jones as the first director of the Medicines Control Agency was announced on 3 March 1989. A copy of the press release is in the Library. The agency will come into operation from 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to expand the provision of genito-urinary clinics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I wrote to regional health authorities on 28 February announcing that for 1989–90 the Department was doubling the resources available to the National Health Service for the prevention of HIV infection and the provision of services related to HIV infection and AIDS from £58·6 to £129·5 million. In the letter I asked authorities to give particular prominence in the use of the extra money to substantial upgrading of genito-urinary medicine services.

  Psychiatric Care
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether every regional health authority area contains secure psychiatric units; how many such units there are in each region; and what steps are being taken to provide further such units;

  (2) how many secure units are available to his Department for accommodating mentally disturbed individuals; whether they are available for use by mentally disturbed prisoners; what capacity is available for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Every regional health authority, except South West Thames, has a regional secure unit and many
  329
  330
  also have interim secure facilities. Officials are to meet representatives of South West Thames Regional Health Authority in April to discuss their proposals for secure provision. Following is a list of regional secure units and interim secure facilities.

  Regional secure units: summary of latest position—December 1988

  ("MI denotes mental illness hospital, "MH" denotes mental handicap hospital. This applies to the main hospital, not necessarily to the patients admitted to the Unit. The dates shown for opening are when the Unit first admitted patients.)

  Region and regional bed target (basis: 20 per million population)

  Permanent RSU(S) completed under construction/proposed

  Declared interim secure facilities

  Northern—62

  Hutton Unit, St. Lukes Hospital, Middlesbrough (MI) 25 beds—opened November 1980

  Yorkshire—71

  Newton Lodge, Fieldhead Hospital, Wakefleld (MH) 48 beds—opened July 1984

  Broadgate Hospital, Beverley (MI) 2 Units—38 beds (Total)

  Clifton Hospital, York (MI) 15 beds

  Storthes Hall Hospital, Huddersfield (MI) 11 beds

  High Royds Hospital, Ilkley (MI) 16 beds

  Stanley Royd Hospital, Wakefield (MI) 8 beds

  Trent—91

  Arnold Lodge, Towers Hospital, Leicester (MI) 45 beds—30 beds now open—opened July 1983.

  A network of local intensive care facilities for the mentally ill and mentally impaired is being developed throughout the region to complement the RSU

  East Anglian—36

  Norvic Clinic, St. Andrews Hospital, Norwich (MI) 36 beds—opened May 1984

  North West Thames—69

  Three Bridges Unit, St. Bernards wing of Ealing Hospital, Ealing (MI) 40 beds—opened November 1986

  North East Thames—74

  Unit at Runwell Hospital, Wickford, near Southend (MI) 10 beds—opened September 1983. Four additional beds opened October 1988

  Friern Hospital, New Southgate (MI) 10 beds—operational August 1986

  Proposed

  Friern Hospital, Southgate (MI) 32 beds Homerton Hospital (MI) 30 beds. (Scheme starts 1990–91)

  Hackney Hospital (MI) 12 beds: available from December 1987

  South East Thames—72

  Bethlem Royal Hospital1 (MI) 30 beds—opened August 1985 Cane Hill Hospital, Coulsdon (MI) 15 beds—opened October 1984 Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone (MI) 15 beds—opened May 1985 Bexley Hospital (MI) 15 beds—opened June 1985 Hellingly Hospital, Hailsham (MI) 15 beds—opened June 1986

  South West Thames—58

  A 15 bed unit in the London area is in the planning stage. The unit will function in association with eight district and supra-district intensive care units (MI) throughout the region. The MH strategy is under review

  Wessex—53

  Ravenswood House, Knowle Hospital, Fareham (MI) 31 beds—opened January 1985

  Oxford—44

  Sycamores Unit, Borocourt Hospital (MH) 14 beds—opened June 1987

  Nine places opened in July 1987. The remaining five places opened in a phased manner in late 1988, early 1989

  Marlborough House, Milton Keynes (MI) 12 beds

  To open December 1988 with six, increase to 12 over the next few months

  Rotherfield Unit, Fair Mile Hospital, Wallingford (MI)—14 beds, due to be completed over the next few months

  To open 10 April 1989 with four patients initially

  South Western—63

  Butler Clinic, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish (MH) 30 beds—opened June 1983

  Interim unit of 10 places is proposed for Glenside Hospital pending the opening of the Fromeside Clinic

  Fromeside Clinic, Glenside Hospital, Bristol (MI)—30 beds

  West Midlands—104

  Reaside Clinic, Rubery Hill Hospital, Birmingham (MI) 100 beds—40 beds opened October 1987; to be increased to 70 in April 1989; to 84 in April 1990; to 100 in April 1991

  Coleshill Hall Hospital, Birmingham (MH) eight beds

  Mersey—50

  Scott Clinic, Rainhill Hospital, Prescott, Liverpool (MI) 50 beds—opened August 1983

  All these units are able to take mentally disturbed prisoners where it is clinically appropriate.
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  Region and regional bed target (basis: 20 per million population)

  Permanent RSU(S) completed under construction/proposed

  Declared interim secure facilities

  North Western—82

  Gardiner Unit (Adolescent) Prestwich Hospital, Manchester (MI) 20 beds—opened January 1985

  Langdale Unit Whittingham Hospital, Preston (MI) 24 beds. The future of the Langdale Unit will need to be considered as part of the contraction of Whittingham Hospital

  Edenfield Centre (Adult) Prestwich Hospital, Manchester (MI) 88 beds—opened July 1986 (66 beds open only)

  1 The question of the closure of some of these beds is under consideration.

  Drugs
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many companies have not agreed their annual financial return under the PPRS for the following years(a) before 1985, (b) 1985, (c) 1986 and (d)

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of annual financial returns under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme not yet cleared for each of the years concerned is as follows:

  Number

  pre 1985

  1

  1985

  3

  1986

  6

  1987

  28

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent, in settling pharmaceutical company annual financial returns under the PPRS, he is taking into consideration the general return to British industry as reflected in the FT 500 index or comparable index.

  Mr. Mellor
  The renegotiation of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme in 1986 included agreement on percentage rates of return on capital employed for the years 1986–87 and 1987–88. From 1988–89, the Department is required to review the rate of return each year on the basis of principles set out in the scheme. These include taking account of any "significant alterations since the last PPRS rate change in the underlying average return on capital of British industry as brought out for example in relevant changes in the FT 500 index." This requirement is being followed in the Department's operation of the scheme.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmaceutical companies supplying the National Health Service have not applied for a price increase in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested, for companies providing full financial returns under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, is as follows:

  Number

  1984

  29

  1985

  38

  1986

  37

  1987

  30

  1988

  31

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the indexed aggregate cost of National Health Service medicines supplied under the PPRS in relation to general inflation from 1986.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not have the information in the form requested.
  332
  The table shows the indexed aggregate expenditure in NHS medicines in total in 1986–87 and 1987–88; this includes expenditure on generic drugs which are not covered by the PPRS.

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Indexed aggregate expenditure on NHS medicines in total

  100

  110·7

  Index of GDP deflator

  100

  105·3

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions have been and are taking place on amending the grey area of PPRS; when an interim review is scheduled; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions have been and are taking place on amending the research and development allowance element of PPRS; when an interim review is scheduled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  There have been discussions between officials of the Department and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry clarifying the Department's implementation of the provisions in the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme relating to "grey area" excess profits and research and development support arrangements. No amendments to the scheme's provisions are being considered. The scheme provides for either party to request a review "after not less than three years"—i.e. from October 1989.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount spent on drugs in the National Health Service per head of population for each year in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total expenditure on drugs in the NHS, per head of population

  Total

  1978–79

  17·22

  1979–80

  19·43

  1980–81

  23·26

  1981–82

  26·74

  1982–83

  30·59

  1983–84

  33·88

  1984–85

  36·39

  1985–86

  38·76

  1986–87

  41·42

  1987–88

  45·71

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount spent on drugs in the National Health Service per head of population in real terms for each year in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is as follows:
  333

  Total expenditure on drugs in the NHS per head of population, at 1987–88 prices1

  £

  1978–79

  35·34

  1979–80

  34·11

  1980–81

  34·48

  1981–82

  36·09

  1982–83

  38·53

  1983–84

  40·81

  1984–85

  41·73

  1985–86

  42·17

  1986–87

  43·61

  1987–88

  45·71

  1 Adjusted in line with the GDP deflator.

  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount spent on drugs in the National Health Service in real terms for the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total expenditure on drugs in the NHS, at 1987–88 prices1

  £ million

  1978–79

  1,648

  1979–80

  1,593

  1980–81

  1,613

  1981–82

  1,690

  1982–83

  1,803

  1983–84

  1,912

  1984–85

  1,959

  1985–86

  1,987

  1986–87

  2,061

  1987–88

  2,167

  1 Adjusted in line with the GDP deflator.

  NHS (Review)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further representations he has received on his White Paper on the review of the National Health Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have received a number of representations on the White Paper. Many still have questions but I have been very pleased by the positive and constructive nature of many of them.

  Junior Hospital Doctors (Working Hours)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how far the target maximum of one night in three rota commitment for junior hospital doctors has been achieved in each year from 1982 in terms of (1) the number of such rotas and (2) the number of doctors working them.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information in the form requested is not readily available. The number of junior hospital medical and dental staff in England and Wales who were contracted for 84 hours (broadly equivalent to a one in three rota commitment) or less is estimated to have increased from 9,796 at 30 September 1986 to 10,724 at 30 September 1987.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average number of contracted hours of duty of junior hospital doctors.

  Mr. Mellor
  The average weekly number of contracted hours of duty of junior hospital doctors in England and Wales was 83 on 30 September 1987. A survey in 1985 showed that the average weekly number of hours actually worked as against on duty was 57.
  334
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior hospital doctors are known to have contracted hours of duty in excess of 104 hours per week.

  Mr. Mellor
  In England and Wales on 30 September 1987, 1,463.

  Consultants (Support Staff)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional staff other than consultants have been assessed as necessary to support consultants in acute specialties under circular EL 88 P82.

  Mr. Mellor
  Health authorities will report their staffing proposals under this circular to the Department in October this year.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments he expects to make to self-governing hospital trusts assuming 250 such trusts and a board of 10; and if he will estimate the value of such appointments assuming the chairpersons of such trusts were remunerated on the present basis of district health authority chairs and the other directly appointed members received £1,000 each.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  As the hon. Member will be aware from chapter 3 of the White Paper "Working for Patients", I shall be responsible for appointing the chairman of each National Health Service hospital trust and up to three out of a possible five non-executive members. I am considering the question of remuneration for the chairman and non-executive members. There is little point in calculating the value of these appointments on the basis of assumptions plucked out of the air.

  Health Authorities (Allocations)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will provide exemplifications of allocations to regional health authorities on a weighted capitation basis for 1988–89 and 1989–90 on the assumption that direct payments between regions have the same net effect as cross-boundary flow adjustments;

  (2) if he will list the cash allocations to regional health authorities for 1984–85 and subsequently both before and after later cross-boundary flow adjustments, and expressing those adjustments as a percentage of the initial allocation.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under the resource allocation working party method of resource allocation, inter-regional flows were taken into account by adjusting the weighted populations used to determine target shares of resources available. Within the formula, their impact on weighted populations was relatively small. Actual allocations reflected the acceptable pace of change towards these targets over time. It is therefore not possible to disaggregate the cash element of cross-boundary flows in regional health authority allocations to date.

  Prescribing Costs
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the per capita prescribing cost for each family practitioner committee in England and Wales in 1987–88.
  335
  Mr. Mellor
  The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. The net ingredient cost per capita of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors for each family practitioner committee in England in 1987 was as follows:

  F.P.C.

  Average NIC per person £

  Avon

  31·27

  Barking and Havering

  32·08

  Barnet

  30·80

  Barnsley

  40·78

  Bedfordshire

  31·60

  Berkshire

  30·66

  Bexley and Greenwich

  29·69

  Birmingham

  38·34

  Bolton

  34·84

  Bradford

  35·20

  Brent and Harrow

  32·76

  Bromley

  30·31

  Buckinghamshire

  30·05

  Bury

  41·44

  Calderdale

  37·33

  Cambridgeshire

  30·73

  Camden and Islington

  31·36

  Cheshire

  35·41

  City, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets

  34·11

  Cleveland

  38·59

  Cornwall

  37·75

  Coventry

  35·68

  Croydon

  29·87

  Cumbria

  36·65

  Derbyshire

  32·96

  Devon

  35·58

  Doncaster

  38·21

  Dorset

  39·31

  Dudley

  31·64

  Durham

  38·19

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  31·87

  East Sussex

  37·96

  Enfield and Haringey

  29·96

  Essex

  32·15

  Gateshead

  37·00

  Gloucestershire

  29·74

  Hampshire

  32·53

  Hereford and Worcester

  31·66

  Hertfordshire

  31·03

  Hillingdon

  31·65

  Humberside

  37·35

  Isle of Wight

  40·53

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  37·13

  Kent

  34·17

  Kingston and Richmond

  32·97

  Kirklees

  32·81

  Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark

  31·27

  Lancashire

  40·65

  Leeds

  36·05

  Leicestershire

  32·58

  Lincolnshire

  38·08

  Liverpool

  40·08

  Manchester

  37·84

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  31·79

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  36·99

  Norfolk

  35·67

  North Tyneside

  44·66

  North Yorkshire

  33·94

  Northamptonshire

  30·96

  Northumberland

  36·37

  Nottinghamshire

  31·16

  Oldham

  35·60

  Oxfordshire

  28·94

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  34·39

  Rochdale

  38·21

  Rotherham

  34·17

  Salford

  44·22

  Salop

  33·10

  336

  F.P.C.

  Average NIC per person £

  Sandwell

  39·41

  Sefton

  36·72

  Sheffield

  34·79

  Solihull

  34·73

  Somerset

  33·68

  South Tyneside

  37·62

  St. Helens with Knowsley

  36·58

  Staffordshire

  33·56

  Stockport

  36·92

  Suffolk

  33·02

  Sunderland

  41·15

  Surrey

  31·16

  Tameside

  37·26

  Trafford

  40·92

  Wakefield

  38·90

  Walsall

  39·35

  Warwickshire

  34·13

  West Sussex

  36·66

  Wigan

  39·90

  Wiltshire

  31·04

  Wirral

  40·09

  Wolverhampton

  37·98

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is available about per capita prescribing costs for individual general practitioners or general practitioner practices.

  Mr. Mellor
  A prescribing information system, known as PACT, provides GPs within a practice with information on the number of items per patient and the average cost per patient for their practice, compared with the FPC average. The practice average is calculated using the number of patients on the practice list.

  Performance-related Pay (Sunderland)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of the bonus paid in 1988 to the Sunderland district general manager and each of his unit general managers.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. Additions to salary paid under the performance-related pay scheme are confidential between managers and their employing authority.

  NHS Policy Board
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the professional qualifications of each member of the new National Health Service policy board;

  (2) if he will summarise what expertise and experience in the management and planning of health care provision each member of the new National Health Service policy board has.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have not yet decided on the membership of the National Health Service Policy Board.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if an application to establish a National Health Service hospital trust by the chairman and general manager of a district health authority will be sufficient to initiate the process; and what is the procedure of appeal against establishing a hospital trust.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  It will be open to a variety of interests, including the chairman and general manager of
  337
  a district health authority, to initiate the process. There will be no formal appeal procedure but, in considering an application, I will take account of the views of those with an interest.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if any decisions have yet been taken on the remuneration that will be paid, when a National Health Service hospital trust is established, to(a) the chairman, (b) executive members of the board of directors and (c) non-executive directors.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. I will set the level of any remuneration for the chairmen and non-executive directors of NHS hospital trusts with the consent of the Treasury. The executive directors will be employees of the trust and their remuneration will therefore be a matter for the trust to determine.

  District Health Authorities
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what remuneration the current chairmen and members of district health authorities receive.

  Mr. Mellor
  Chairmen are entitled to receive remuneration which currently stands at £11,868 a year. They may as an alternative choose to claim financial loss allowance. Members do not receive remuneration, although in certain circumstances they may claim financial loss allowance. Both chairmen and members are entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowances.

  Resource Management Initiative
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the resource management initiative; and what savings its introduction has achieved.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department of Health has contributed £2·3 million to the six pilot acute resource managment sites to date. In addition, health authorities, both regional and district, have provided some funding to the projects. Piloting at the six sites is still continuing and the initiative is scheduled to be evaluated by the joint consultants committee and the management executive, the co-sponsers of the projects, in October 1989. Financial savings and quality of care benefits will mainly accrue at the sites once their new systems are fully implemented. At most sites this will be during 1989–90 at which point the sites should be absorbing their continuing running costs. To date, benefits have been mainly in the form of an improvement in the working relationship between staff groups and in planning and budget setting.

  Dental Charges
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much, on average, dental check-ups are costing patients since December 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  From 1 January 1989 the charge for a dental examination is £3·15. Dental examinations are free for people under 18, full-time students under 19, pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the previous 12 months, recipients of income support and family credit and others on a low income.

  Benodiazepines
  Dr. Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the average length of time that it takes for those addicted to benodiazepines to be free of all withdrawal symptoms from these drugs.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has no information on this matter.

  Dr. Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has that benzodiazepines are still being routinely prescribed as sleeping tablets in hospitals; and for what periods.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect centrally information about prescribing patterns of hospital doctors.

  Dr. Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any more recent estimates than that published in 1986 of the number of people addicted to or dependent on benzodiazepines; and whether he will give financial support to help people withdraw from these drugs.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no precise figures to show the level or trend in benzodiazepine dependence. Significant sums have been invested in the treatment of drug misuse including £17·5 million centrally in grants to 188 local projects many of which also offer help to tranquilliser victims. Regional health authorities have since 1986 received earmarked funds annually for the development of services for those experiencing problems from the use of illicit or prescribed drugs. In 1989–90, the sum will be increased to £14 million. In addition, we are funding MIND to establish a national directory of services for tranquilliser dependants and to produce up-to-date publicity material, and Tranx UK has this year received £10,000 towards its national activities.

  Cholesterol Screening
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department's standing medical advisory committee to report on mass cholesterol screening; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I expect to receive the standing medical advisory committee's report on the cost-effectiveness of opportunistic cholesterol testing by late summer. The standing medical advisory committee has established a working party which is considering the issues and taking expert advice. I understand it will report back to the main committee shortly.

  Civil Servants (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 15 March 1989]: Eight officers in the Department are wholly engaged in work related to the EC. Others are involved from time to time. Expenditure on travel on EC business is not differentiated from other departmental travel expenditure.

  Hospitals (Nurseries and Creches)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the health authorities that provide nursery and creche facilities at hospitals in their district, the names of the hospitals concerned; the number of places available; and the fees normally charged.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 15 March 1989]: We do not collect this information centrally.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the health of bees is improved rather than impaired by modern agricultural practice.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has commissioned on the effect on the food chain of pesticides and changes in habitat of bees.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Improvement of bee health is primarily a matter for beekeepers themselves. However, I believe that bees will benefit from environmental and set aside measures that we are now taking.

  My Department commissions research in several areas relating to pesticides, the habitat of bees and the human and broader food chains. More specifically, we are undertaking research on techniques for monitoring pesticide residues in agricultural produce, on spray drift and on the foraging behaviour of bees and the way of deterring their exposure to pesticides whch are applied to crops.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the veterinary products committee to report on its consideration of bovine somatotropin.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The veterinary products committee will recommend whether or not any BST product should he licensed when it has received and evaluated all pertinent data. I cannot say when this will be.

  Fraud (EC)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to tackle fraud in the European Community.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have regularly been raising the matter of fraud in the Council of Agricultural Ministers. I have suggested various lines of action at the February Council and I shall continue to press the European Commission and the Council of Ministers to strengthen the controls in agricultural legislation against fraud and to follow up vigorously the work done by the Court of Auditors.

  Farm and Conservation Grants
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what responses he has received to his announcement of the farm and conservation grants scheme.
  340
  Mr. Ryder
  This new scheme was given a warm welcome by organisations with an interest in countryside and environmental matters, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Council for the Protection of Rural England, as well as by the National Farmers Union and the Country Landowners Association.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about the future of research and development in his Ministry.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department remains firmly committed to supporting strategic research and work of a public good nature in relation to issues such as food safety, environmental protection and animals welfare. We are engaged in talks with the industry on the Government's decisions that it will in future look to the industry to fund within a reasonable timescale near-market research which is primarily of benefit to the industry.

  Sheep Scab Dipping
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account has been taken in his Department's review of sheep scab dipping policy of the consequential benefits in the control of other sheep ectoparasites.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In the course of our review we have consulted widely, and considered carefully all the comments received, including those on the incidental benefits in the control of other ectoparasites as well as the scab mite. We have concluded that our control arrangement should include an annual nationwide compulsory dip. There should therefore continue to be benefits in the control of other ectoparasites.

  National Farmers Union
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the National Farmers Union; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the National Farmers Union, and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the President of the National Farmers Union on 1 March 1989 to discuss potato marketing.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is next due to meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no present plans to do so.

  Development Advisory Service
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the Agricultural development advisory service.

  Mr. MacGregor
  ADAS continues to provide excellent service. Its future size depends in part on the extent to which industry is prepared to fund near-market R and D and pay for appropriate advisory services.

  Veterinary Schools
  Mr. Adams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications for animal health of the proposed closure of the Glasgow or Cambridge veterinary schools.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My concern is to ensure that sufficient qualified veterinarians are available. This is important among other things to meet the needs of my Department's veterinary service and to ensure that animal health requirements are enforced.

  The recommendations of Sir Ralph Riley's report on veterinary education are not about the availability of veterinary manpower but concentrate on the structure of veterinary schools.

  These matters are primarily for the Universities Funding Council and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the implications for the supply of veterinary surgeons for the agricultural industry of plans for the future of the United Kingdom veterinary schools.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have received representations from the veterinary profession on this subject.

  Meat Products
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Shropshire county council trading standards officer regarding compositional standard in meat products.

  Mr. Ryder
  The trading standards department of Shropshire county council wrote to my Department in

  Title

  Contractor

  Bacteriological hazards in cooling meats in catering and long storage life chilled foods in catering

  Huddersfield Polytechnic

  Heat induced thermotolerance in food poisoning organisms

  IFRB

  Pasteurised milk imports

  MAFF (FSL)

  Listeria survey

  MAFF (FSL)

  Nucleic acid hybridisation for hepatitis A virus

  PHLS

  Epidemiology of camplylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens

  Bristol University/ PHL Exeter

  Survey of the incidence of listeria species in food in the United Kingdom

  Leicester University

  Low sodium chloride foods/microbiological safety and technological characteristics

  BFMIRA

  Shelf life prediction of chilled food

  BRMIRA

  Spore studies in relation to heat processed foods

  CFDRA

  Resistance of bacterial spores to sterilisation of packaging materials

  CFDRA

  Growth characteristics of food poisoning organisms at sub-optimal temperatures

  CFDRA

  Survival and growth of salmonellae and bacillus subtilis in bakery ingredients, products or fillings

  FMBRA

  Influence of food components and preservative factors on food borne pathogens

  IFRN

  Development of rapid methods for the detection of pathogenic Aeromonas species in food

  Reading University

  Bacteria and hygiene in abbatoirs

  IFRB

  Bacteria in meat and food borne illness

  IFRB

  Define factors controlling microbial growth and develop predictive models

  IFRB

  Manipulation of the microbial flora of the gut of young chicks to control salmonellas in broilers

  IFRB

  Safety and quality of poultry products in relation to processing

  IFRB

  Microbiological hazards in domestic and institutional handling of food

  IFRN

  Extension of shelf-life of pre-cooked chilled foods

  Huddersfield Polytechnic

  The modes of action and interaction of preservatives on micro-organisms

  BFMIRA

  Microbial antagonism to increase the safety and stability of chilled foods

  BFMIRA/CFDRA

  342
  April 1985 concerning the labelling of meat products which contain mechanically recovered meat, and again in December 1986 about the meat content of various meat products.

  We received yesterday a further letter on the former subject and are examining its content, carefully. The chief trading standards officer has also written to officials about water in poultry meat.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  I met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council on 7 November last year when we discussed a wide range of subjects.

  Scrapie
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to make scrapie a notifiable disease.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no plans to make scrapie a notifiable disease.

  Food Safety
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what particular research projects his Department has commissioned, or is assisting, into the cleanliness and safety of food for human consumption.

  Mr. Ryder
  Those projects sponsored by MAFF, in its 1988–89 food R and D programme, that are relevant to food hygiene and the microbiological safety of foods are as follows:
  343

  Title

  Contractor

  Investigation of combinations of sub-lethal treatments to preserve processed foods

  CFDRA

  Physiological basis of the resistance of food spoilage yeasts to SO2

  Bath University

  Fruit and vegetable preservation by natural mixed acid systems

  Surrey University

  Microbiological safety of chilled foods including salads

  IFRN

  Micro-organisms in food and beverage spoilage

  IFRR

  Effect of eugenol on heat treated yeasts

  Bath University

  Food hazard analysis and assessment of operational risks

  Bath University

  Rapid test for quality and shelf life in catering

  Surrey University

  Gradient plate techniques in the multifactorial control of microbial growth in foods

  University of Wales, Cardiff

  Rapid methods to assess the microbiological quality of foods

  BFMIRA

  Enzyme-linked immunological biosensors for the detection of pathogenic bacteria in food

  IFRR

  Limulus assay on UHT milk to determine raw milk quality

  MMB

  Detection of sub-lethal injury in micro-organisms

  Portsmouth Polytechnic

  Use of non-radioactive DNA probes for the detection and identification of food borne pathogens

  Nottingham University

  Develop objective indices of spoilage from chemical, microbiological and sensory changes

  IFRB

  Improve existing and develop new methods to assess hygienic quality of foods

  IFRR

  Electron transfer coupling as a rapid method for assessment of bacterial contamination

  IFRR

  Key:

  BFMIRA—British Food Manufacturing Industry Research Association (Leatherhead Food RA).

  CFDRA—Campden Food and Drink Research Association.

  FMBRA—Flour Milling and Baking Research Association.

  IFRB—Institute of Food Research, Bristol (AFRC).

  IFRN—Institute of Food Research, Norwich (AFRC).

  IFRR—Institute of Food Research, Reading (AFRC).

  MAFF (FSL)—Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Food Science Laboratory.

  MMB—Milk Marketing Board.

  PHLS—Public Health Laboratory Service.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to set up an independent body to monitor food health.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Food and Health Ministers already receive advice on this subject from a number of independent scientific committees of the highest standing. In addition we are extending the present arrangements by setting up an expert committee, chaired by Sir Mark Richmond, vice chancellor of Manchester university, to provide authoritative advice on microbiological aspects of food safety; the committee will publish reports both on specific issues referred to it by the Government and on such matters as it considers need investigation.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration is given to food safety by his Ministry.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The safety of foodstuffs is central to the Government's food policy. From this point of view all aspects of the nation's food supply are kept under continuous surveillance, and the results of that work are carefully assessed by independent experts who advise the Government on any action that may be necessary.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the current state of the fishing industry in north east England and the likely impact on that industry of conservation proposals now under consideration.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Current fishing opportunities for north-east England fishermen remain broadly 344
  unchanged from those in 1988 with the exception of cod and haddock, the stocks of which are giving rise to concern.

  We are actively discussing with the industry, including representatives of the fishing industry in north-east England, and in the Community, ways in which the present technical conservation measures might be adjusted to assist the improved conservation of these stocks. Any proposals which emerge will take into account their likely impact on the industry.

  Discussions (EC)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met his European Community counterpart Mr. McSharry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the Agriculture Commissioner, Mr. McSharry, at the Agriculture Council on 6–8 March, on which I reported to the House on 9 March at columns 621–22.

  Agriculture and Food Council
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of employees in the Agricultural and Food Research Council.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have not had any meetings with representatives of employees in the Agriculture and Food Research Council, but my noble Friend Baroness Trumpington attended the annual delegate conference of the Agriculture and Food Research Council branch of the Institute of Professional Civil Servants on 9 February this year.

  Green Top Milk
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government have any plans to ban the sale of unpasteurised green top milk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Minister gave to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 23 February at columns 712–3.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the size of the budget within his Ministry for work related to consumer protection; and what plans he has to vary it.

  Mr. Ryder
  Many of the Ministry's programmes relate wholly or partly to consumer protection. In 1987–88 the programmes devoted entirely to this area of work took up an estimated 5 per cent. of the Ministry's total budget, and 8 per cent. of its running costs. Further details are given in our publication "Ministerial Information in MAFF (MINIM) 1988", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Near Market Research
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce the level of future funding for research and development in near market research in horticulture.

  Mr. Ryder
  The level of future funding for research and development in horticulture will not be decided until after our consultations with industry on near-market research have been completed.

  Fish Discards
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for reducing the scale of fish discards by fishing vessels in British waters.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We are actively discussing with our fish industry and in the Community possible measures which are practicable and do not have unwanted consequences to increase the conservation of fish stocks in the North sea, including reducing discards.

  Countryside Commission
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Countryside Commission; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  I met the chairman of the Countryside Commission on 7 November when we discussed many issues of concern to the countryside. I am always ready to discuss matters of mutual concern with the Countryside Commission.

  Country Landowners Association
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Country Landowners Association; and what matters were discussed.
  346
  Mr. MacGregor
  I met the president of the Country Landowners' Association on 15 February when we discussed various matters relating to the tenanted sector, and I also met him on 1 March at a dinner given by Mr. J. Clayton the chairman of the agricultural training board.

  Infant Food
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has chosen to prohibit the inclusion of certain beef products in infant food.

  Mr. Ryder
  As my right hon. Friend announced on 27 February, following the publication of the Southwood report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the measures that we propose to take to restrict the composition of baby foods are purely precautionary.

  Veterinary Officers
  Mrs. Maria Fyfe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of his future requirements for veterinary officers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The requirements for staff are under constant review in the light of changing demands and where an increasing need is identified recruitment is undertaken.

  Intervention Board
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to extend the responsibilities and duties of the intervention board for agricultural prices, Reading, Berkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no such plans.

  Veterinary Service
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I consider it of great importance that this country should have a veterinary service dedicated to the maintenance of our high health status. The structure of this service, along with other, similar Government services, is kept under review.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has had discussions with the Institution of Professional Civil Servants about the future of the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My officials are in frequent contact with the Institute of Professional Civil Servants about matters concerning their members, including those employed in the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary officers he currently employs in the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  From information available at 1 February 1989 there are 439 permanent veterinary officers in all grades employed in the state veterinary service.

  British Veterinary Association
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the British Veterinary Association; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have not met the British Veterinary Association recently but my officials are in frequent contact with them.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will increase the compensation payable on cattle found to be suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I believe the compensation paid is fair, given that the animals are suffering from a terminal illness but are valued as though unaffected by the disease.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the sale of those organs from all cull cows and sheep that are known to carry the viral agent which causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies).

  Cheese
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the use of mineral hydrocarbons in cheese wares.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have spoken with the Dutch Minister of Agriculture. My officials have met various representative groups, including the Dairy Trade Federation, the Creamery Proprietors Association, the European Wax Federation, the United Kingdom Provision Trade Federation and Dutch Ministry of Agriculture officials. All representations related to the use of mineral hydrocarbons in cheese rind.

  EEC Policies
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present agricultural policies within the European Economic Community.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Commission's most recent statements about the CAP emphasise the need to respect the decisions on budgetary discipline and CAP reform taken by the European Council last February, to promote more market-orientated management of the CAP, to make Community agriculture more competitive, to pursue environmental objectives, and to tackle CAP fraud.

  Hedges
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many new miles of hedges have been created in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Ryder
  Figures for new hedge planting carried out without grant aid are not available. However, grants paid 348
  in England and Wales under the agriculture improvement scheme for hedge planting, hedge laying and associated gates and stiles broadly equate to 320 miles of hedge in 1986, 1,000 miles in 1987 and 1,450 miles in 1988 (to September only).

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of arable land will be set aside in 1989; and how many hectares have been registered for possible future set-aside.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Nearly 58,000 hectares (143,000 acres) of arable land is being set aside in the United Kingdom during the current crop year; and about 3 million hectares (7 million acres) have been registered by farmers not yet setting aside land in case they should wish to apply to join the scheme later.

  CAP
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met European Community Agriculture Ministers to discuss common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met European Community Agriculture Ministers at the 6–7 March Agriculture Council in Brussels on which I reported to the House on 9 March at columns 621–2.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to reduce de facto discrimination against British producers within the European common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have always argued that measures adopted by the European Community should be non-discriminatory, and that the burden of CAP reform should be borne equally by all member states. In current negotiations on the Commission's 1989 price proposals I am opposing two measures which would disadvantage United Kingdom producers; the preferential treatment proposed in the agrimonetary arrangements for member states which are members of the exchange rate mechanism; and the proposed timetable for tightening the definition of double-low rapeseed which I believe should be delayed until there are varieties available to our growers which will meet the new definition. The review of the sheepmeat regime and operation of coresponsibility levies are among the other areas where I shall be particularly vigilant to ensure equitable implementation throughout the Community.

  Animal Feed
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to extend the ban on the inclusion of animal protein derived from ruminants in animal feed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The ban on the inclusion of ruminant-derived protein in ruminant feeds will remain in force until processing methods which are sufficient to destroy the agent which causes BSE have been developed and are widely available.

  GATT
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on agricultural trade issues in the current general agreement on tariffs and trade round.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster reported to the House on 12 December 1988 at column 400 the outcome of the ministerial mid-term review of the GATT negotiations, including the absence of agreement on agriculture at that stage.

  Since then informal consultations have been taking place on agriculture and three other unresolved issues under the auspices of the GATT director general. A meeting at official level of the trade negotiating committee of GATT is to be held in Geneva in the first week of April. The Government hope that firm agreement will be reached there on a framework for action and further negotiation on agricultural reform and will be working to that end from within the Community.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his response to the Agriculture Select Committee report on feed salmonella problems, published on 1 March.

  Mr. MacGregor
  As I have already indicated the Government will be considering the Agriculture Select Committee's report and will respond formally in due course.

  Thames Flood Barrier
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times the Thames flood barrier has been(a) tested and (b) used in the last five years.

  Mr. Ryder
  During the five years, the Thames barrier has been closed 59 times for tests and used for flood protection purposes four times.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board; and what was discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have regular contacts with the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss various issues affecting the dairy industry.

  National Consumer Council
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the National Consumer Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) on 16 February,Official Report, column 356.

  Land Release
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the release of grade I agricultural land for residential building in environmentally non-sensitive areas.

  Mr. Ryder
  Government policy on development involving agricultural land was explained in Department of the Environment Circular 16/87 (Welsh Office Circular 25/87) issued on 8 May 1987. Grade I agricultural land is a national resource which should, in general, be protected from irreversible development. Government advice to planning authorities is that such land should not be built on unless there is no other site suitable for the paticular purpose. Responsibility for development control rests primarily with local planning authorities.

  Sheepmeat Regime
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest developments regarding the reform of the sheepmeat regime.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Discussions on the Commission's proposals to reform the sheepmeat regime have made little progress. The revised voluntary restraint agreement with New Zealand will be considered again by the Agricultural Council next week.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the sheepmeat sector of the agriculture industry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I shall continue to maintain regular contacts with all the farming unions on matters relating to the sheepmeat sector.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares have been entered into the environmentally sensitive areas initiative; and what proportion of suitable land this represents.

  Mr. MacGregor
  To date 103,640 hectares have been put forward into the ESA scheme representing some 87 per cent. of the land we considered suitable.

  Research (Funding)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the funding of agricultural research.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 7 March at column 463.

  Lug Worms
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the threat posed by the recent increase in the gathering of lug worms in the Burry estuary to the Penclawdd cockle industry and the whole area.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have been asked to reply.
  351
  Responsibility for the management of the Burry inlet cockle fishery rests with the south Wales sea fisheries committee which has introduced a byelaw to limit the level of bait digging within the fishery. The Committee are currently reviewing the effectiveness of the byelaw.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for the lug worm, arenicola marina, to be included in the list of commercial maritime species to enable it to be included in the bye-laws of sea fisheries committees.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No.

  Oils
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been received by his Department's food advisory committee on

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1. Veterinary laboratories

  (including the central veterinary laboratory, outstations and veterinary investigation centres)

  28

  28

  28

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  22

  22

  22

  2. Other laboratories

  (a) ADAS-farm and countryside service (excluding some minor facilities for milk testing etc.)

  19

  19

  19

  19

  19

  19

  19

  19

  16

  16

  16

  (b) ADAS-research and development service1

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  6

  6

  6

  (c) Fisheries

  8

  8

  8

  7

  7

  7

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  (d) Food science3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  (e) Royal botanic gardens

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  32

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  39

  39

  39

  38

  38

  38

  37

  37

  31

  31

  31

  1 In 1988 the RDS laboratories became known as the central science laboratory in anticipation of their co-location as Wellesbourne in 1992–93.

  2 The 3 Food Science Laboratories are to be co-located at a purpose built site during 1989–90.

  3 Royal botanic gardens transferred to a board of trustees on 1 April 1986.

  Note: My Department will continue to maintain an apropriate number of facilities.

  Exports
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the Commission of the European Economic Community has considered proposals for a Council regulation on the monitoring of payments of amounts granted on export of specified quantities of agricultural products to third countries; if this has been considered by the Council of Ministers; and when it will next consider these proposals.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Following a request from the United Kingdom, the Commission stated at the ECOFIN Council on 13 March that they would bring forward a revised proposal on the monitoring of export refunds which would take account of the points made by the Court of Auditors.

  Dog Licences
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of attacks on livestock in the 12 months preceding the abolition of dog licences; what change in the number of attacks on livestock there has been since the abolition of dog licences; and if he will make a statement.
  352
  the use of tropical oils or vegetable oils from unspecified sources which have increased saturation through hydrogenation processes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The food advisory committee has received no such representations; I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 13 March 1989 at column 833.

  Laboratories
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary and other laboratories were directly under the auspices of his Department in each year since 1979; what proposals he has to maintain these laboratories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 7 March 1989]: The information requested is shown in the table:

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  National statistics on attacks on livestock by dogs have not been collected centrally since 1978. There is no doubting that such attacks are a serious and continuing problem, but there is no evidence that they have increased recently. The Ministry campaigns continuously to encourage owners to take a responsible attitude and keep their dogs under control in livestock areas.

  Poultry Farmers
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will apply the balance of the funds made available for the scheme for compensating poultry farmers for egg production destroyed towards compensating producers in full for their losses from slaughtering of poultry stock.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  An order under section 29 of the Animal Health Act 1981 came into operation on 1 March, providing for the compulsory slaughter where necessary of flocks in which salmonella has been confirmed. Compensation will be paid as required under the provisions of the Act.

  Import Levies
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money the International Board has owed for over 12 months to ships store merchants by way of repayment of import levies.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Under Community regulations, no payments are due in respect of repayment of import levies for ships' stores. Delays have occurred in the payment of export refunds but no claims upon which all necessary information has been properly submitted are delayed as long as 12 months. Compensation is payable on delayed payments under the scheme announced to the House on 28 July 1988.

  Food (Destruction)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each food item, and the quantity of it, destroyed during 1988 under the European Community farm regulations.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The following were the types and amounts of produce withdrawn from the market in the United Kingdom in 1988 under European Community arrangements, together with the quantitites of each product marketed in the same period.
  354

  (Tonnes)

  Withdrawn from the market

  Commodity

  Marketed

  Used for animal feed

  Dumped

  Cauliflowers

  373,727

  1,517

  4,046

  Apples

  240,447

  1,711

  1,702

  Pears

  45,342

  1,587

  387

  Fish

  1643,259

  6,380

  130

  1 Derived from the total catch of eligible species of 649,769.

  EC Price Negotiations
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out for each commodity the Government's objectives in the forthcoming EEC agricultural price negotiations; and if he will specify the Government's overall objectives in the negotiations.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I indicated the Government's reactions to the Commission's 1989 price proposals during the agriculture debate on 27 February. I am seeking to build on the reforms of the CAP achieved so far, to ensure compliance with budget discipline, and to obtain an equitable outcome for United Kingdom producers.

  COUNCIL OF EUROPE: FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
  COUNCIL OF EUROPE: FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
  RIMNET SYSTEM
  RIMNET SYSTEM
  HOUSING ACTION TRUSTS: CONSULTANTS' REPORTS
  HOUSING ACTION TRUSTS: CONSULTANTS' REPORTS
  FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS' MEMBERSHIP SCHEME: EQUIPMENT
  FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS' MEMBERSHIP SCHEME: EQUIPMENT
  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS BY GOVERNMENT
  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS BY GOVERNMENT
  LOCKERBIE AIR DISASTER: WARNINGS
  LOCKERBIE AIR DISASTER: WARNINGS
  BRITISH SUMMER TIME
  BRITISH SUMMER TIME
  MANCHESTER PENSIONERS: INCOME DATA
  MANCHESTER PENSIONERS: INCOME DATA
  SALE OF WINE BY THE GLASS
  SALE OF WINE BY THE GLASS
  ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS IN THE PROFESSIONS: MMC REPORTS
  ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS IN THE PROFESSIONS: MMC REPORTS
  DEER: SLAUGHTER ARRANGEMENTS
  DEER: SLAUGHTER ARRANGEMENTS
  SUGAR: EC PRICE REDUCTION PROPOSALS
  SUGAR: EC PRICE REDUCTION PROPOSALS