Written Answers of 17 March 1989

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proposed grant allocation from his Department to the two city technology colleges in Cleveland and Gateshead for each of the next five years and the proposed grant allocation for secondary schools within Durham local education authority for each of the next five years.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend will pay an annual per capita grant to meet the normal running costs of each CTC in line with average costs in LEA-maintained secondary schools in similar areas. The grant for each CTC will depend on a number of factors and the precise levels for the colleges in Cleveland and Gateshead are still under consideration.

  The rate support grant is paid in support of local authority services on the basis of an annual settlement. It is not hypothecated to particular services or components of those services. Revenue support grant will operate on similar principles, and it is therefore not possible to define a grant allocation for an authority's secondary schools over a five-year period.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the capital investment allocation from his Department to the two city technology colleges in Cleveland and Gateshead and of the capital allocation for secondary education for Durham local education authority.

  Mr. Butcher
  The cost of the Macmillan CTC in Middlesbrough, Cleveland will be not more than £7·5 million of which the maximum contribution from the DES will be £5·625 million. A design and cost study is at present in hand on the Gateshead CTC and decisions on the level of capital funding will be taken in the light of this work.

  Barnsley

  Doncaster

  Rotherham

  Sheffield

  All South Yorkshire

  Primary vacancies

  3

  8

  16

  8

  35

  (percentage of teachers in service)

  0·7

  of which, number in:

  Junior

  2

  1

  9

  1

  13

  Other

  1

  7

  7

  7

  22

  Secondary vacancies

  2

  8

  4

  6

  20

  (percentage of teachers in service)

  0·3

  of which, number in:

  English

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  Mathematics

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Languages

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sciences

  1

  1

  0

  0

  2

  Craft Design and Technology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Arts

  0

  2

  1

  0

  3

  356
  Durham's allocation of prescribed capital expenditure for 1989–90 is £2·133 million of which £2·116 million is for schools. Within that sum no separate allocation is made for the secondary sector.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the expected number of pupils of each of the two city technology colleges in Cleveland and Gateshead for each of the next five years and the expected number of pupils attending secondary schools within Durham local education authority for each of the next five years.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Macmillan CTC in Middlesbrough Cleveland will open in September 1989 and places have been offered to 195 first-year pupils. The college will admit around 180 first-year pupils in each of the four succeeding years. No decision has yet been made on early recruitment of a sixth form. No decision has yet been taken on admissions to the proposed Gateshead CTC.

  Projections of pupil numbers for individual local education authorities are not available centrally.

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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".

  Mrs. Rumbold
  As education information normally falls outside the guidelines for what can be included in public service broadcasts, these do not emanate from the Department.

  Teacher Shortages (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by the four district authorities in South Yorkshire, how many vacancies exist currently in primary, junior, middle, high and secondary schools for teachers in English, mathematics, languages, science, craft and arts subjects.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Numbers of vacancies in January 1988 for full-time permanent teacher posts in maintained schools of the four authorities in South Yorkshire are listed in the table. Primary school vacancies are not broken down by subject specialism, and they include middle deemed primary and nursery. Middle deemed secondary and high school vacancies are incorporated in the secondary figures.

  Primary School Closures (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by location and date for the three counties of Yorkshire, the number of primary schools that have closed since 1979; how many were in a rural area; what schools are at present under review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Since January 1985 the following schools have closed in North Yorkshire and in the local education authorities situated in South and West Yorkshire:

  1985

  Barnsley

  St. Edwin's Junior School

  Dunford Hazelhead Junior and Infants School

  Crane Moor CE Junior and Infants School

  Darfield Shroggs Head Infants School

  North Yorkshire

  Silton and Kepwick CE Primary School

  Bradford

  Horton Percy Nursery School

  Kirklees

  Longcroft Junior School

  Leeds

  Barwick in Elmet Infants School

  1986

  Wakefield

  East Hardwick Cawoods Junior and Infants School

  Knottingley Simpson's Lane First School

  Knottingley Tithe Barn First School

  Knottingley Throstle Farm First School

  North Yorkshire

  Askrigg CE Primary School

  Reighton and Speeton Primary School

  Bilborough Fairfax Primary School

  Hunsingore Primary School

  Constable Burton CE Primary School

  1987

  North Yorkshire

  Flaxton on the Moor CE Primary School

  Wighill CE Primary School

  Leeds

  Pudsey Littlemoor Infants School

  1988

  North Yorkshire

  Willerby Staxton Primary School

  Ganton CE Primary School

  Galphay County Primary School

  Grantley CE Primary School

  Doncaster

  Thorne Fieldside First School

  Leeds

  Brownhills Primary School

  Harehills Primary School

  Cross Gate St. Theresa's RC Primary School

  Holy Rosary RC Primary School

  St. Anne's RC Primary School

  St. Charles RC Primary School

  St. Gregory's RC Primary School

  Wakefield

  Holy Trinity CE Primary School

  Bradford

  St. Paul's First School

  Grosvenor First School

  1989

  Sheffield

  St. Vincent's RC Junior and Infants School

  Fifteen of these schools were in rural areas.

  Information for previous years is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  358
  The following proposals under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 to close primary schools in Yorkshire local education authorities are at present under consideration by my right hon. Friend:

  Sheffield

  Hackenthorpe Village Infants School

  Grimethorpe Springvale First School

  Leeds

  East Keswick CE Junior and Infants School

  Garforth Parochial CE Junior School

  Horsforth Woodside CE Infants School

  Ledston Lady Elizabeth Hastings CE Junior and Infants School

  Morley St. Peter's CE Infants School

  North Yorkshire

  Aldbrough St. John CE Primary School

  Kirklees

  West Slaithwaite CE Junior and Infants School

  Under-Fives
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish a table showing, for each year 1981–82 to 1987–88 the amount of grant-related expenditure assessment in respect of the additional educational needs of under-fives as a percentage of the total recurrent spending by local authorities on under-fives; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what has been the difference in cash terms, for each year 1981–82 to 1987–88, between the control total for recurrent spending by local authorities on under-fives and the outturn total spending in this category; if he will estimate the amount of any such difference for 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information is not available in the form requested. Grant-related expenditure for the education of under-fives falls under two separate control totals of the grant-related expenditure assessment for education. The nursery control total has 49 per cent. distributed by reference to the additional educational needs index, while the primary total, which includes an allowance for under-fives in primary classes, has 11 per cent. distributed by reference to the additional educational needs index. The under-fives element of the primary control total is not separable from the rest of the total and it is not therefore possible to make the comparison requested.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the grant-related expenditure assessment in respect of primary schools takes account of the numbers of under-fives(a) in nursery classes of primary schools or (b) in ordinary classes of primary schools; what adjustments were made to the grant-related expenditure assessments in respect of primary schools in the years 1981–82 to 1987–88 in connection with the numbers of under-fives in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The grant-related expenditure assessment for primary education takes account of expenditure on under-fives in primary classes. Nursery classes in primary schools fall within the grant-related expenditure assessment for nursery education. The relevant control totals for these GREAs have been increased by 9·7 per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively in real terms between 1981–82 and 1987–88; movements in pupil numbers have been one of the factors taken into account.
  359
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the proportions, for each year 1988–89 and 1989–90 of the present grant-related expenditure assessments in respect of the additional educational needs of under-fives in relation to the control totals for recurrent spending by the local authorities on under-fives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Of the grant-related expenditure assessment for nursery education in 1988–89 and 1989–90, 49 per cent. is distributed by reference to the additional educational needs index for each authority. Under-fives being educated in primary classes fall within the primary total for grant-related expenditure, of which 11 per cent. is distributed by reference to the additional educational needs index for each authority.

  Women Teachers (Career Breaks)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the implications of career breaks for women teachers for the problems of teacher shortages identified by his Department.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My Department's memorandum to the Education, Science and Arts Committee, a copy of which is in the Library, explains the importance of continuing to secure a high rate of teachers returning to the profession, both women and men. I commend to all local authorities the supportive career break schemes developed by some, which provide information and training for teachers out of service and which can ease their return to the profession.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the implication of the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 on delegation of staffing responsibilities to governing bodies for the level of adoption of career break schemes for women teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government do not expect the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 to affect the level of adoption of career break schemes for women teachers.

  English Teaching
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and. Science when he intends to publish for consultation the draft order with attainment targets and programmes of study for English in the national curriculum for pupils aged five to seven years.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have today published for consultation a draft order with an associated document setting out the attainment targets and programmes of study for English in the national curriculum, as I am required to do by section 20(5) of the Education Reform Act. The order relates to key stage 1—pupils aged five to seven. Those consulted are asked to respond no later than 21 April. I aim to make the final order in May and implementation will begin in schools this autumn. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The draft order reflects the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council, following consultations on our proposals for English for ages five to 11. I am most grateful to the council and to its officers for their work on
  360
  this report. The attainment targets and programmes of study I am publishing today relate to key stage 1 pupils aged five to seven only, since requirements for pupils aged seven to 11 will not be implemented until 1990. They build upon the council's recommendations so as to set rigorous objectives, such as the council and I both wish to promote. I am also publishing a statement of reasons why the draft order differs from the precise terms of the council's recommendations, in accordance with section 20(5)(a)(ii) of the Act.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is consulting on the draft order under the provisions of section 21(3) of the Act.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time(a) before cases come to court and (b) for which remand prisoners are held before trial (i) in the Nottingham area and (ii) in England and Wales as a whole.

  Mr. John Patten
  National estimates of the time taken to process criminal cases in magistrates courts are published regularly in Home Office statistical bulletins—the most recent being issue 2/89 of January 1989. The table also gives the estimated number of days from offence to the date of first listing at magistrates court for Nottingham.

  Information is not available centrally on the average time spent on remand in individual establishments. The information available relates to the average time spent on remand in all prison service establishments by untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners and is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.1 of the latest issue for 1987, Cm 547). Copies of both the bulletin and the Command Paper are in the Library.

  Time between offence and first listing at magistrates court

  Days

  England and Wales

  Nottingham

  Indictable offences 1987

  63

  77

  Summary non-motoring offences June 1987

  103

  93

  Summary motoring offences June 1987

  117

  134

  Butane Gas Sales
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retailers have been prosecuted in the last year for failing to obey the law in respect of selling butane gas canisters or gas refills to minors; and whether he has given any advice to police forces about pursuing a more vigorous prosecution policy in this area.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Statistics of prosecutions brought under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 do not distinguish between the supply of butane gas canisters and of other volatile substances. In 1987—the latest year for which information is available—15 people were prosecuted for supplying such substances to minors, and 11 of them were found guilty. Circulars have been issued to police forces giving guidance on solvent misuse and
  361
  drawing attention to the provisions of the 1985 Act. Enforcement of the Act is an operational matter for chief officers of police.

  Senior Police Officers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has for each police force

  Police forces in England and Wales

  Male

  Female

  31 December 1988

  Chief Constable1

  Deputy Chief Constable2

  Assistant Chief Constable3

  Chief Superintendent

  Assistant Chief Constable3

  Chief Superintendent

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  1

  3

  36

  —

  1

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  —

  —

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  —

  —

  City of London

  1

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  1

  1

  2

  7

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  1

  1

  1

  7

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  —

  1

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  1

  3

  13

  —

  —

  Dorset

  1

  1

  1

  5

  —

  1

  Durham

  1

  1

  2

  6

  —

  1

  Dyfed-Powys

  1

  1

  1

  7

  —

  —

  Essex

  1

  1

  3

  11

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  1

  1

  6

  26

  —

  1

  Gwent

  1

  1

  1

  5

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  3

  10

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  1

  1

  2

  9

  —

  —

  Humberside

  1

  1

  2

  7

  —

  1

  Kent

  1

  1

  4

  10

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  1

  1

  3

  13

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  1

  1

  2

  7

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  1

  1

  3

  19

  1

  —

  Metropolitan

  6

  16

  36

  155

  2

  3

  Norfolk

  1

  1

  1

  7

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  1

  1

  3

  13

  —

  —

  North Wales

  1

  1

  1

  7

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  1

  1

  1

  7

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  2

  8

  —

  —

  South Wales

  1

  1

  3

  14

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  1

  1

  3

  11

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  1

  1

  1

  11

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  1

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  Surrey

  1

  1

  2

  7

  —

  —

  Sussex

  1

  1

  3

  12

  —

  —

  Thames Valley

  1

  1

  3

  11

  —

  1

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  1

  5

  —

  —

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  2

  10

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  5

  21

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  4

  19

  —

  1

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  Total

  48

  58

  125

  577

  3

  11

  1 Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in metropolitan police and commissioner in City of London police.

  2 Includes deputy asistant commissioner in Metropolitan police and assistant commissioner in City of London police.

  3 Includes commanders in Metropolitan police and City of London police.

  Mentally Disturbed Prisoners
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to institute a system of psychiatric bail hostels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  A consultation paper "Bail Accommodation and Secure Bail Hostels" was issued on 13 February 1989. Among other issues, the paper raises the question of bail hostels for the mentally disturbed and invites comments by the closing date of 9 May 1989.
  362
  of the number of (a) senior management, (b) detective inspectors and (c) officers in specialist crime squads, and as to the numbers of men and women in each group.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on the sex of detective inspectors and officers in specialist crime squads is not held centrally. Information on the senior officers down to chief superintendent level in each force is set out in the table.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to keep mentally disturbed individuals remanded in custody out of prison or police cells for minor offences when those individuals declare they have no fixed abode; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Bail hostels and other accommodation for bailees are available for mentally disturbed individuals who have no fixed abode as for any other individual at risk of remand in custody. Courts have information about such accommodation drawn regularly to their attention.

  Armed Forces (Personnel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of service personnel who take up employment in(a) the police force and (b) the prison service after leaving the armed forces; and what percentage of these are armed forces personnel who left before fulfilling their contract of engagement.

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

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the purposes for which 111,313 classic lethal dose 50 or lethal concentration 50 tests were undertaken in 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The figures, under the headings used in table 2 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1987 (Cm. 515), are as follows:

  Primary purpose

  Scientific procedures Thousands

  A. Body-system studies (fundamental and applied)

  Respiratory or cardiovascular

  6

  Alimentary

  4

  Other system of body, multiple, or system not relevant

  39

  B. Applied studies or purposes

  Diagnosis

  2

  Safety

  59

  Production

  1

  Total

  111

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to remove the requirement for LD50 tests where he considers these no longer necessary.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Secretary is not responsible for any such requirements.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what severity level was permitted in toxicity tests involving 1,902 beagle dogs in 1987 for substances used in agriculture, substances used in households, testing of food additives and testing for cosmetics and toiletries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not available centrally.

  "The Satanic Verses"
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he received from Moslem organisations concerning Mr. Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" prior to 14 January.

  Mr. John Patten
  About 90 letters. In addition, I met a delegation of ambassadors from three Islamic countries and the director of the Islamic cultural centre of London.

  Bristol University Bombing
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief 364
  constable for Avon and Somerset as to the section of the Prevention of Terrorism Act under which the 10 people arrested following the recent bombing at Bristol university were held.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am informed that 10 people were arrested in connection with offences of criminal damage and detained under the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  "Punishment, Custody and the Community"
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations and individuals who have made written responses to date to the Green Paper entitled "Punishment, Custody and the Community"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have received over 160 responses to the Green Paper. These came from judges, the Magistrates Association, benches of magistrates and individual magistrates; from the Central Council of Probation Committees, the Association of Chief Officers of Probation, the National Association of Senior Probation Officers, some probation committees and chief probation officers; from police representative organisations; from the Justices Clerks Society and the Prison Governors Association; from the Association of County Councils, the Association of Directors of Social Services, the British Association of Social Workers, the Conservative Women's National Committee, the Labour party, the Law Society, MACRO, the Prison Reform Trust, Victim Support, and other organisations and individuals. We are considering these comments carefully and a further statement will be made in due course.

  Gibraltar Inquest
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of Metropolitan police officers who were assigned to duties in Gibraltar in March 1988 unconnected with the circumstances which led to the deaths of three terrorists and as to what advice was given to them as to whether to appear as witnesses at the inquest into the deaths of the alleged terrorists.

  Mr. Hurd
  I understand that four Metropolitan police officers were assigned to duties in Gibraltar in March 1988 to carry out inquiries into criminal activities unconnected with the circumstances which led to the deaths of the three terrorists. They were there with the permission of the Gibraltar authorities. It was a matter for the coroner to decide whom to call as witnesses at the inquest. Those four officers were not called.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on blood samples taken in drinking and driving cases in the Greater Manchester police area since 1986.

  Mr. Hurd
  All forces in England and Wales, other than the Metropolitan and City of London forces, are supplied with blood sampling kits by the Home Office. Between March 1987 and December 1988, police stations in the
  365
  Greater Manchester police area were issued with kits in which the alcohol-free swabs had been replaced by the stores department of the force with swabs acquired from an independent source.

  It was later found that these locally substituted swabs contained a solution with a very small percentage of alcohol. The blood analysis results in a number of these cases may therefore have been affected. The Home Office was notified by Greater Manchester police as soon as this knowledge became available. I am arranging to review as quickly as possible convictions which may be unsafe as a result and will also consider representations from individuals who believe that they were wrongly convicted.

  This was a regrettable error within the Greater Manchester police. The unsuitable swabs were withdrawn from use in Greater Manchester immediately the problem came to light. This affects cases in the Greater Manchester police area only. Inquiries have established that no other force has substituted unsuitable swabs for those supplied by the Home Office.

  Prisoners (Family Ties)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to promote prison inmates' family ties.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have taken a number of steps in recent years to help prisoners in maintaining contact with their families, in particular through increased opportunities for home leave, the introduction of payphones in open prisons and the abolition and relaxation of routine censorship of inmates correspondence in open and category C establishments.

  From April the prison department will for the first time be able to make grants towards the costs of running visitors' centres outside prisons. Such grants may be made either to help start up new centres or to help existing ones in financial difficulty. In some cases these grants are likely to be crucial to the survival of the centres concerned. The department is also encouraging the establishment of creches within prison visiting rooms wherever practicable, to improve the quality of visits for small children and for their parents alike. The assisted prison visits scheme, under which close relatives on low incomes may have the costs of their visits to prisoners paid by the Government, is to be extended so that assisted visits to sentenced prisoners may take place straight after reception. Cardphones for inmates' use are to be installed in all category C prisons and their equivalents in the female and young offender systems later this year. Revised prison standing orders which come into force on 1 April will abolish long-standing restrictions on the purchase of stamps by inmates from their own money and relax restrictions on the purchase of phonecards. All these measures will help prisoners to keep in touch with their families while in custody and, we hope, help them to stay clear of crime after their release.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on British Shipbuilders' external finance limit for 1988–89.
  366
  Mr. Newton
  British Shipbuilders' external finance limit for 1988–89 was originally set and published in the 1987 Autumn Statement at £80 million. Against the background of the disposal and closure of British Shipbuilders subsidiaries, I have now set a revised EFL for 1988–89 of £145 million. This increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Tibet
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Chinese Government regarding the latest actions by Chinese troops in Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Chinese Government are aware of our dismay at further violence and loss of life in Lhasa. We believe that the most promising solution to the problem of Tibet is through dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Tibetan people, including the Dalai Lama. We have called for the early start of such a dialogue which the Chinese Government have themselves proposed.

  Brazil (Debt Rescheduling)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussion with Sir Kit McMahon, chairman of the Midland bank, about the rescheduling of debt to Brazil, and the consequences for Amazonia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed Amazonia or the rescheduling of Brazil's bank debt with the chairman of the Midland bank.

WALES

  Roads
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will show 1986–87 outturn expenditure, 1987–88 estimated expenditure and 1988–89 planned on (i) trunk roads, broken down into(a) new construction and improvement, (b) structural maintenance, and (c) routine maintenance, and (ii) local authority roads broken down into (a) new construction and improvements, and (b) maintenance, (iii) public transport administration and (iv) local authority car parks, broken down into (a) capital and (b) current (net), and (c) road safety in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Planned

  Trunk Road Expenditure

  (i) New construction and improvement

  99·829

  119·090

  141·878

  (ofwhich renewal of roads and bridges)1

  19·760

  15·925

  16·150

  (ii) Current maintenance2

  14·632

  13·341

  13·865

  Local Authority Expenditure

  (i) New construction and improvement of roads

  66·867

  681·523

  58·352

  (ii) Maintenance of roads

  81·925

  694·074

  89·539

  (iii) Professional and technical services3

  367

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Planned

  Highways, lighting, parking and road safety4

  14·744

  614·230

  19·334

  Public passenger transport5

  1·057

  61·019

  (iv) Car Parks

  Capital

  1·602

  61·689

  0·785

  Current (net of receipts)

  -2·006

  6 -1·873

  -2·189

  (v) Revenue support for public transport and concessionary fares

  14·494

  614·177

  17·806

  (vi) Road safety

  0·673

  60·720

  1·209

  1 Formerly structural maintenance—capital.

  2 Formerly general maintenance—includes routine maintenance; winter maintenance; maintenance of road lighting and communications and maintenance of vehicles, depots and equipment.

  3 Used to be called "Local transport administration".

  4 All expenditure relating to the administrative costs other than publicity and training costs. This expenditure mainly covers the cost of the surveyors and engineers department, at all levels, providing technical support and which has not been allocated to the cost of individual projects. Not including administrative costs recoverable from central government for trunk roads.

  5 All expenditure relating to the administrative costs of planning, tendering for, awarding contracts and overseeing public transport service subsidies and concessionary fares schemes.

  6 Provisional.

  Housing Sites
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how much of the 200 acres designated for housing in the valleys, housebuilding has started; at what sites; for how many dwellings; of what approximate final selling cost; and by what private companies or housing associations.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: The current total figure for Land Authority for Wales land designated for housing in the valleys programme area is 245 acres.

  Since the start of the programme the authority has sold or contracted to sell sites totalling 27 acres at Penpedairheol and Pontypandy, which will result in approximately 170 new starts on dwellings in the first year of the programme and are as follows:

  i. Penpedairheol (19 acres)—purchased by Wimpey.

  Start 1st phase, 90 dwellings, week commencing 20 March 1989.

  Selling price—complete range of dwelling types from 2 bedroomed terraced to 4 bedroomed detached from £40,000–£95,000.

  ii. Pontypandy, 8 acres—purchased jointly by Eastlake and Deri Homes, Caerphilly.

  Start 80 dwellings mid summer 1989.

  Selling price 30 per cent. under £40,000; 40 per cent. £40,000–£55,000; 30 per cent. £60,000–£75,000.

  The land authority anticipates bringing forward 40 acres per annum, mid-year to mid-year, to cater for all sectors of the housing market and envisage further sales will take place between now and the middle of the current year.

  In addition to disposing of its existing land bank in the area, the authority is actively investigating the purchase of additional sites throughout the programme area, and are also discussing co-operative ventures with Tai Cymru and the WDA.

EMPLOYMENT

  Passive Smoking
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Health and Safety Executive's advice on passive smoking.
  368
  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive advises employers to limit the exposure at work of non-smokers to tobacco smoke. I welcome the publication by the executive in November 1988 of a free booklet, "Passive Smoking at Work", which recommends that employers, in consultation with employees or their representatives, develop and implement policies to control smoking in the work place. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  Training Boards
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what level of funding and what percentage of the training within each industry is provided by the statutory training boards;

  (2) in each industry for which statutory training boards exist, what is the estimated amount of funding spent on training outside the training boards.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the forms requested. Details of the activities of industrial training boards are published in their annual reports, which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what relationships he envisages between statutory and non-statutory training boards and training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Cope
  Industrial training organisations, whether statutory or non-statutory, have important sectoral training roles including standard settings which were set out in the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s". The TECs will not set their own standards. We expect that ITOs and TECs will seek to work together to promote training and enterprise among employers in particular sectors at local level.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what period unemployed people are enabled to make use of the services of job clubs for the purposes of seeking employment.

  Mr. Lee
  There is no time limit on job club membership. Members can stay for as long as it takes to find a job, provided that they continue to comply with the terms of membership.

ENVIRONMENT

  Gravelines Nuclear Plant (Leak)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he was informed by the French nuclear safety authorities about the leak in the reactor housing of the Gravelines nuclear plant on the Channel in February; and what assessment he has made of the danger it posed to members of the United Kingdom public.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We were not informed of this incident. We understand that there was no release of radioactivity to the environment, and consequently there was no need for Her Majesty's Government to be informed.

  Historic Sites
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a breakdown of central
  369
  Government support for sites of historical interest by any convenient chronological classification of the date of the sites.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is not possible to analyse expenditure according to types or age of sites. Public funds for the recording, preservation or maintenance of sites of historical interest are provided through a number of channels.

  English Heritage has powers to make grants for the repair or maintenance of individual buildings of outstanding architectural or historical interest and, where necessary, to acquire buildings or to assist local authorities or the National Trust to do so. It also funds rescue archaeology, aimed at making a record of important sites before development. Total central Government grant in aid for English Heritage's activities during 1988–89 was £66·1 million. Funds were allocated as follows:

  £ million

  Properties in care

  18·0

  Grants for historic buildings and ancient monuments/buildings in conservation areas

  24·0

  Archaeology

  7·3

  Activities equivalent to those of English Heritage are carried out in Scotland and Wales by the Scottish Development Department and the Welsh Office respectively.

  The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England exists principally to maintain the scholarly archive on architecture and archaeology. In 1988–89, it received £3·9 million from central Government funds. Similar activities to those of the English Commission are carried out by its Scottish and Welsh counterparts.

  The National Heritage Memorial Fund is empowered to give financial assistance towards the cost of acquiring, maintaining or preserving land, buildings, works of art and other objects of outstanding interest which are also of importance to the national heritage. There must be some connection between the subject of an application for assistance from the fund and the United Kingdom. Grant in aid for 1988–89 amounted to £3 million.

  The Redundant Churches Fund seeks to preserve certain Church of England churches of special historic, architectural or archaeological significance, which have become redundant. Central Government assistance for 1988–89 was £0·95 million.

  The Department of the Environment has direct responsibility for managing and maintaining the royal parks and palaces estate. In 1988–89, the net provision for this purpose was £45 million.

  In addition, the Property Services Agency has a large number of historic buildings and monuments in its care, including the Houses of Parliament and major government buildings.

  Amazon Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission an urgent study of the effects on the climate of northern Europe of widespread destruction of the Amazon rain forest, particularly in relation to westerly air currents, originating in the area of the Andes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Work on the potential impact of Amazon rain forest destruction on global and regional 370
  climate change is already in hand as part of the Meteorological Office's research programme. An international review of all aspects of the science of climate change, of which rain forest destruction is only one, is currently being carried out by the inter-governmental panel on climate change, set up under UNEP/WMO auspices in November 1988. The science review is led by the director general of the Meteorological Office, Dr. John Houghton, with funding from the Departments of Environment and Energy and is expected to report in mid-1990.

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Ridley
  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.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will send guidance notes to community charge registration officers reminding them that any personal data held by them cannot be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless specifically allowed for by legislation or supporting regulations; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Detailed guidance on data protection and the community charge is contained in community charge practice note No. 4, which was published in August 1988, and in practice note No. 10, published in February 1989. Copies of all practice notes are in the Library.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, how many responses he has received to the regulations on students and the poll tax; what was the balance of opinion in these responses; and if he will list the organisations that have responded, and place their responses in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 7 March 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. We have received 43 responses to the draft regulations on students and the community charge. Most of the comments concern the detail of the draft regulations and it is not therefore possible to attribute a balance of opinion to the responses. The organisations which have responded are listed in the table. Their responses were not submitted on the basis that they would be published although anybody who wished could make their own response known

  Practitioners' Working Group (incorporating ADC, AMA, ACC, ALA and LBA)

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  London Boroughs Association

  Association of London Authorities

  Rating Officers' Guild

  Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

  371

  Council on Tribunals

  Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom

  Committee of Directors of Polytechnics

  Standing Conference of Principals and Directors of the Colleges and Institutes of Higher Education

  Heads of Research Councils

  Churches Main Committee

  Society of Education Officers

  Association of Lecturers in Higher Education

  Open University

  National Union of Students

  Cranfield Institute of Technology

  United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  United Kingdom Council for Overseas Student Affairs

  Association for Recognised English Language Teaching Establishments in Britain

  Aberconwy Borough Council

  Alnwick District Council

  Aylesbury Vale District Council

  Blackpool Borough Council

  Bolsover District Council

  Cardiff City Council

  Chester City Council

  Dartford Borough Council

  Dwyfor District Council

  Eden District Council

  Kettering Borough Council

  Kingswood Borough Council

  Lancaster City Council

  Medina Borough Council

  Middlesbrough Borough Council

  Mid Suffolk District Council

  North Norfolk District Council

  Preston Borough Council

  Tendring District Council

  Wrexham Maelor Borough Council

  Wycombe District Council

  Wyre Forest District Council

  Engagements
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for 4 January, the places visited by him, his travel arrangements and the mileage involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  No.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist to prevent(a) a chair of a parish council and (b) a parish councillor, also holding the post of clerk to the same council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  By section 80(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, anyone holding a paid office (other than chairman or vice-chairman) under a local authority is disqualified for membership of that authority. Neither the chairman nor a member of a parish council may therefore be a paid clerk of the council. By section 112(5) of that Act, however, any member of a parish council may be appointed as an unpaid officer of the council. A chairman or member of a parish council may thus be an honorary clerk to the council.

  Local Authority Assets
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the privatisation of local authority assets.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Specific guidance is issued on such matters as the transfer of local authority housing, as appropriate. The Audit Commission report on local authority property management published in February 1988 has already recommended that local authorities regularly review their property portfolio to ensure that it is being put to appropriate use and is not surplus to their requirements. Progress in implementing these recommendations is being monitored by the Department in consultation with the Audit Commission and the local authority associations.

  Redbridge (Voluntary Transfer)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations on the London borough of Redbridge's intention to spend £500,000 on its proposals for voluntary transfer.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department has received no such representations.

  Asbestos Water Pipes
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what adverse effects have been identified from the use of asbestos pipes for water supplies; what is the total estimated use of such pipes; what is the current estimated cost of replacement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 15 March 1989]: There is no evidence of a risk to health from the levels of asbestos found in drinking water in the United Kingdom, including any derived from the use of asbestos cement pipes.

  About 10 per cent. of water mains in the United Kingdom are made of asbestos cement. The cost of replacing them is not known.

  Thames Water Authority (Land)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Islington, North,Official Report, 14 December 1988, columns 904–5, he will state what exclusive, or near exclusive, arrangement has been made by the Thames water authority concerning disposal of land it deems surplus to operational requirements.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 15 March 1989]: The arrangements made by water authorities for the disposal of surplus land are a matter for those authorities subject to the statutory obligation to achieve the best price reasonably obtainable for the property they sell.

TRANSPORT

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the railway inspectorate to examine whether
  373
  the design of passenger carriages in new trains proposed for any of London's Underground lines provide for either (a) fewer seats or (b) more people to stand, than the current carriages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The railway inspectorate examines as a matter of course all aspects of proposed designs for new underground rolling stock submitted to it by London Underground Ltd.

  Exit Barriers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the annual year-on-year estimated cost of repairs and maintenance for the automatic exit barriers installed in London Underground stations following completion of the installation programme; and what is the estimated life of such barriers.

  Mr. Portillo
  These are management matters for the Underground, to which the questions should be addressed.

  Transport Police
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the real unit cost of each additional officer recruited to the transport police.

  Mr. Portillo
  Additions to the complement of the BTP are estimated to add some £30,000 per annum per officer to the total cost of the force in a full year.

  Ticket Machines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to what items of information are held on the magnetic strips of the weekly, monthly and season tickets used in London Transport's automatic ticket machines.

  Mr. Portillo
  The magnetic strip holds data relating to the type and validity of the ticket but the precise details are commercially confidential to prevent fraud.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce legislation to prevent the installation of automatic ticket machines which can trace or monitor the movements of a particular ticket holder; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. The matter of compliance with or enforcement of the Data Protection Act is a matter for the Data Protection Registrar.

  Milford Bypass (Sound Barrier)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of the construction of sound barrier banks on the A3 Milford bypass; how many residents will benefit from them; and what compensation is being paid to those where no barrier is proposed.

  Mr. Channon
  Sound barrier banks will be provided at no additional cost. Some 70 properties will benefit by a noise reduction of 1dBa or more. Compensation will be payable under the relevant legislation. The amounts, which will be subject to negotiation with the district valuer, cannot be estimated at this stage.

  High-Speed Rail Line
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department's financial evaluation 374
  of British Rail's high-speed line proposal will be expected to show, after using a commercial discount rate, a positive net present value in the year in which construction commences to ensure compliance with the provisions of section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

  Mr. Portillo
  Before this project can proceed, the Government will require any British Rail investment in it to show a positive net present value discounted at the discount rate agreed between the Department and British Rail. For the purpose of such calculations the year to which the costs and revenues are discounted is immaterial.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he estimates will be the minimum discount rate that will be applied to his Department's financial evaluation of British Rail's high-speed line proposed to ensure compliance with the provisions of section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

  Mr. Portillo
  If the new line were to be financed by British Rail, the board would need to demonstrate that the project would produce a commercial return. The discount rate used to test this (currently 7 per cent.) will be agreed between BR and the Department. It will need to reflect the Treasury's required rate of return, which is intended to ensure that commercial public sector investment programmes (such as BR's) provide a rate of return which is broadly equivalent to that which could be achieved in the private sector. The required rate of return was set in 1978 and is currently under review.

  Driver Licensing (Harmonisation)
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consult motoring and other transport organisations about the European Commission's proposals to harmonise driver licensing in member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are today consulting interested organisations about the Commission's proposals for driver licensing. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library.

  Bringing our driver licensing system into line with other European countries makes sense. Drivers who go abroad will benefit from having an internationally recognised licence. There is still a good deal of work to be done on the details of the proposal. Our objectives in the forthcoming negotiations will be to ensure that:
  road safety remains the first priority of driver licensing and the transport needs of all United Kingdom citizens are fully recognised in the years ahead;
  licence holders from other member states who come to live in Great Britain are required to obtain a British licence;
  drivers of minibuses used for non commercial purposes and light goods vehicles up to 7·5 tonnes are not forced to take a second test;
  the degree of detail relating to disabilities required to be shown on the licence is reduced to a level that is compatible with our licensing arrangements.

  Provided that we can get these important points satisfactorily resolved, the proposed European Community regulations should benefit drivers by ensuring that when they go abroad they have an internationally recognised licence, and do not face complications about their rights or abilities to drive different categories of vehicle.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy and practice for providing new motorway service areas in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Our general policy for motorways is to provide service areas at strategic sites roughly 30 miles apart. Motorway service area (MSAs) rank as Crown developments and the general policy is that their siting, planning, design and operation are arranged by the Department to ensure:

  (1) The development of an adequate national network of MSAs;

  (2) Genuine competition between prospective operators through the competitive tendering of sites;

  (3) Road safety, by restricting access to the motorways; and by preventing inappropriate activities at MSAs, in particular consumption of alcohol;

  (4) The maintenance of the necessary range of facilities for 24 hours a day, including facilities for the disabled and provision for heavy goods vehicles.

  In practice, the Department identifies sites, seeks planning clearance for a proposal and acquires the freehold of a site, either by agreement or by compulsory purchase. Competitive tenders are then sought from the private sector for the development and a long lease of the site in return for a premium payment. The successful tenderer then builds and operates the MSA.

  It is sometimes suggested that service areas would be developed more quickly if the Department were to withdraw from MSA provision. There is no reason to believe this would be the case. There would remain a need for careful choice of site subject to the normal planning processes, and delay would be likely to arise from the need to determine competing planning applications, particularly where public inquiries were necessary. There have already in fact been cases where competing applications have delayed provision of the Department's strategic sites.

  To ensure the development of a national network and the other objectives of competition, road safety and range of facilities, it is essential for the Government to take the lead in the provision of MSAs.

  TRRL (Research Marketing)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives exist for the transport and road research laboratory to market British research in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: As part of the United States strategic highway research programme, the Department of Transport has co-financed (with the science and engineering research council) a representative to join the permanent staff in Washington.

  This officer's duties include seeking opportunities for British research organisations to tender for contracts within the $150 million SHRP budget. The transport and road research laboratory has submitted a tender within this framework, together with several other United Kingdom organisations.

SCOTLAND

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will send guidance notes to community charge 376
  registration officers reminding them that any personal data held by them cannot be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless specifically allowed for by legislation or supporting regulations; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Data protection guidelines for community charges registration officers in Scotland which cover the disclosure of personal data have been prepared by the Scottish Assessors Association following discussion between themselves and the Data Protection Registrar. My right hon. and learned Friend does not propose to issue any additional guidance on this matter.

  Taxi Driving Licences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Applicants for subject access under the Data Protection Act are not required to state the reasons for their application.

  Mentally Disturbed Prisoners
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in each year for the past five years the number of suicides in each establishment for which he is responsible; how many of those concerned were known to have had a history of mental disturbance; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is given in the table below.

  Penal establishment: Number of suicides

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Barlinnie Prison

  2

  3

  3

  3

  5

  Cornton Vale Institution

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Dumfries Young Offenders

  Institution

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Edinburgh Prison

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Glenochil Institution

  1

  2

  —

  1

  1

  Perth Prison

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  State Hospital

  State Hospital, Carstairs

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Of the 34 cases of suicide, 14 of the inmates were known to have had a history of mental disorder.

  Wherever inmates are considered to be at risk preventive measures are taken in relation to their accommodation and observation. In the event of a suicide, careful consideration is given to the subsequent findings of the fatal accident inquiry or internal investigation and procedures reviewed. Although the greatest care is taken by staff to identify, protect and treat those who are thought to be at risk, deaths from unpredictable and determined acts of self-destruction do occur.

  Roads
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will show 1986–87 outturn expenditure, 1987–88 estimated expenditure and 1988–89 planned expenditure on (i) trunk roads, broken down into(a) new

  377
  construction and improvement, (b) structural maintenance, and (c) routine maintenance and (ii) local authority roads broken down into (a) new contruction and improvements, and (b) maintenance, (iii) public administration and (iv) local authority car parks, broken down into (a) capital and (b) current (net), and (c) road safety in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  £ million cash

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Outturn

  Outturn1

  Estimate

  1. Motorways and Trunk Roads

  (a) New construction and improvement

  79·2

  94·6

  88·6

  (b) Structural maintenance

  15·9

  18·2

  22·9

  (c) Routine and winter maintenance

  19·3

  17·8

  18·7

  2. Local Authority Roads

  (a) New construction and improvement2

  130·5

  115·5

  130·8

  (b) Maintenance

  156·2

  172·4

  192·7

  3. Public Transport Administration3

  25·2

  27·8

  29·0

  4. Road Safety in Scotland4

  1·5

  1·7

  1·7

  1 Local authority outturn figures are provisional only.

  2 Includes local authority expenditure on car parks which is no longer separately identified.

  3 Local authority expenditure on administration of roads and transport services.

  4 Excludes expenditure by the Department of Transport on national road safety publicity. Expenditure on new construction and improvements and on maintenance also contributes to road safety.

  Appledore-Ferguson Ltd.
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a letter from Mr. Hugh Hagen, convenor shop-stewards' committee, Appledore-Ferguson Ltd., Newark Shipyard, Port Glasgow on the negotiation on the disposal of the yard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend received a letter on 7 March from Mr. Hagen requesting a meeting with him to discuss the future of the Ferguson yard. In view of the statement made to the House on 24 February by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when he announced that British Shipbuilders were inviting new bids for Fergusons by 31 March, it would be premature for my right hon. and learned Friend or me to meet representatives of the work force at this stage. My right hon. and learned Friend has written to Mr. Hagen accordingly.

  Lurcher's Gully
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all inquiries which have been undertaken into the status and development of Lurcher's Gully since 1979, giving in each case the cost to public funds.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The inquiry held in 1982 is the only inquiry under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts which has been held into possible development at Lurcher's Gully. The cost of that inquiry to public funds could not now be established except at 378
  disproportionate cost. The Select Committee on Scottish Affairs made recommendations about future skiing development at Cairngorm in the report of its inquiry into the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1985, but the cost of that inquiry is not a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend.

THE ARTS

  Museum of Mankind
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will ask the trustees of the Museum of Mankind to mount an exhibition and seminar to promote Amer-Indian art from the Brazilian rain forest.

  Mr. Luce
  The exhibitions policy of the British museum, of which the Museum of Mankind is a part, is a matter for the museum's director and trustees and is not something in which I should intervene.

  I understand, however, that between 1985 and 1987 the museum mounted a major exhibition entitled "The Hidden Peoples of the Amazon", which included two thirds of the Amazonian collections of featherwork, costumes, pottery and other everyday artifacts, many of which show a strong artistic inspiration. The exhibition was supported by a series of films and lectures at which contemporary environmental and cultural problems were discussed.

  In 1978 the museum hosted a smaller exhibition on the art of the Brazilian Indians and it continues to provide many schools, specialists and general inquiries with information about the native peoples of Amazonia.

DEFENCE

  Frequency Transmissions
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies his Department has undertaken to determine the effects of electromagnetic radiation at extremely low frequencies on human health;

  (2) what studies his Department has undertaken to determine the effects of electromagnetic radiation at extremely low frequencies on plant life;

  (3) what studies his Department has undertaken to determine the effects of electromagnetic radiation at extremely low frequencies on animal life;

  (4) what information he has regarding the effects of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic radiation on plant, animal and human life.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Long-term studies of the effects of ELF and power line frequencies have produced no evidence to suggest that there are adverse public health effects or adverse effects on plants and animals. The fields that would be produced by the proposed system are several orders of magnitude less than the National Radiological Protection Board's reference level figures for the protection of persons.

  Frequency Transmissions
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the antennae for the planned trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland will be mounted above ground or buried below ground;
  379
  (2) to which local authority application will be made in regard to planning permission for the planned trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland;

  (3) when planning permission will be applied for in regard to the planned trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland;

  (4) what is the proposed maximum power requirement for the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland; and what will be its maximum power output;

  (5) what areas of the United Kingdom have been identified as potential sites for operational extremely low frequency transmitters;

  (6) if the exact site characteristics and possible cable routes for the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland have now been identified;

  (7) if he will state the conductivity, in mho per metre, of the underlying bedrock of the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland;

  (8) what will be the maximum range of the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland;

  (9) what area, in hectares, the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland will cover.

  Mr. Neubert
  The present plan for the proposed trial ELF transmitter at Glengarry forest is that a notice of proposed development (NOPD) is to be produced with a view to submission to the Highland regional council later this year. The NOPD will be a comprehensive formal document containing information about the purpose of the ELF aerial, its proposed course, the unique features of the site, positioning of related facilities, technical and civil engineering concepts, design proposals and methods of construction.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the total cost to date of the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland; what is the latest estimated construction cost of the project in the years 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993; and what is the current total estimated cost of the project;

  (2) how much has been spent, to date, by his Department on the area of extremely low frequency communications; and how much it is planned to spend by the end of 1993.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our policy to give out details of expenditure on specific research projects.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the progress of the upgrading programme for the Royal Navy very low frequency communications system.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 10 February 1989 at columns 859–60.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any contracts have been awarded to Rediffusion Radio Systems, in regard to extremely low frequency communication systems.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.
  380
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet determined whether or not extremely low frequency communications systems will have an operation role to play in improving the operational effectiveness of Royal Navy submarines.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  One of the functions of the ELF demonstrator programme is to investigate what operational capabilities such a system might offer. No decision on the use of ELF will be taken prior to the results of such research being available.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if there has been any co-operation between the United Kingdom and French Governments with regard to the use of extremely low frequency technology for the purpose of communicating with submarines;

  (2) if there have been any agreements between the United Kingdom and French Governments regarding the use of extremely low frequency communications facilities for the purpose of communicating with submarines;

  (3) if it is proposed that there will be any co-operation between the United Kingdom and French Governments with regard to the use of extremely low frequency technology for the purpose of communicating with submarines;

  (4) if it is proposed that there will be any agreements between the United Kingdom and French Governments regarding the use of extremely low frequency communications facilities for the purpose of communicating with submarines.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  While it is the policy of the United Kingdom Government to partake in research collaboration with other nations in order to make the most efficient and cost-effective use of our resources; it is not our policy to disclose specific topics which are the subject of such collaboration.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any agreement exists between the United Kingdom and United States Governments regarding the use of TACAMO very low frequency communications systems for communication with Royal Navy submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United States TACAMO very low frequency communication system is used with a NATO role.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  TACAMO is a United States communication system. It could therefore be used to relay NATO messages to United States forces assigned to NATO.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if any Royal Navy submarines are currently equipped to receive extremely low frequency transmissions;

  (2) how many Royal Navy submarines will be equipped to receive extremely low frequency transmissions from the proposed trial extremely low frequency transmitter at Glengarry forest in Scotland when it becomes operational in 1993.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to comment on operational matters of thus kind.
  381
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any Royal Navy submarine has ever used the United States TACAMO very low frequency communications system.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any agreements exist covering the use of the extremely low frequency transmitters in Wisconsin and Michigan, USA, for the purpose of communicating with Royal Navy submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no agreements between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments concerning the use of these transmitters.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the United Kingdom first entered into negotiations towards nuclear disarmament under the terms of article VI of the 1970 non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Article VI of the nonproliferation treaty requires the parties to it to pursue negotiations on effective measures connected with nuclear disarmament. Since the United States and the Soviet Union possess between them the overwhelming preponderance of nuclear weapons it is universally recognised that the primary responsibility for negotiations falls to them. The United States and the Soviet Union are currently engaged in such negotiations which aim at 50 per cent. reductions in their strategic nuclear weapons.

  "Peace and Security"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the book "Peace and Security" edited by Susan Forrester.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence library already has a copy.

  Scientists Against Nuclear Arms
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any invitation has been received for officials in his Department to attend as observers at the annual conference of Scientists Against Nuclear Arms on 22 and 23 April.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  To the best of my knowledge, no invitations have been received for officials in my Department to attend as observers at the annual conference of Scientists Against Nuclear Arms.

  Condor 2
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the range of the Condor 2 ballistic missile system under development by Argentina.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no reason to doubt recent press reports which suggest that the Condor missile could have a range in the region of 600 miles (1,000 km).

  Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role was played by Her Majesty's Government in the 382
  drafting of (a) the 1983 Montebello agreement and (b) the 1987–88 intermediate nuclear land forces treaty of Washington.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  On the first part of the hon. Member's question, Her Majesty's Government were fully involved in both the preparation of the high level group report and in the subsequent ministerial meeting at Montebello in October 1983.

  On the second, the 1987–88 intermediate land nuclear forces treaty is a treaty between the Governments of the United States and the Soviet Union. However, as one of the five European basing countries, Her Majesty's Government were kept fully informed at all stages of the negotiations.

  Calder Hall and Chapelcross
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has with(a) British Nuclear Fuels plc and (b) any other corporate organisations in respect of Calder hall and Chapelcross; and what is their value.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  British Nuclear Fuels plc produces and processes special nuclear materials for the Ministry of Defence, but for security reasons and in accordance with the practice of successive Governments, details and costs of the programmes undertaken by the company cannot be disclosed.

  Vehicle Testing
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what criteria roughly 470 miles of cross country use on each of two medium mobility DROPS validation vehicles is considered adequate troop trialling;

  (2) what mileage onroad, offroad, and cross country he will expect future medium mobility vehicles to complete in trials; and what similar mileages have been demanded of other medium mobility vehicles in the past;

  (3) why he has not so far submitted the performance and reliability of the latest design of MMLC DROPS to protracted cross-country trialling; and if he will make a statement on the implications for the confidence of soldiers and the general public in such equipment of the absence of such trials.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 March 1989]: Trials requirements for medium mobility vehicles vary according to their roles and battlefield missions. In the case of the DROPS medium mobility load carrier they are particularly demanding, but the programme is nevertheless ahead of schedule. In addition to troop trials, in the evaluation and validation phases the DROPS vehicle has so far covered some 146,000 km including some 10 per cent. cross-country and 20 per cent. off-road. The design of vehicle recently trialled by BAOR is essentially the same as that originally evaluated and has been accepted by the Army as meeting the operational requirement.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Desert Locust Control Organisation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Desert Locust
  383
  Control Organisation in 1988; whether its work has been restricted in any countries; what action the Government have taken to maximise the Desert Locust Control Organisation's effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1988 we contributed a total of over £700,000 for the locust control activities of the Desert Locust Control Organisation in Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA), mainly in the form of emergency supplies. We also committed 1·75 million for its armyworm control project, of which we spent over £60,000 in 1988. We understand that conflict in northern Somalia and Ethiopia restricted DLCO-EA's ability to work in certain areas.

  Following a review of DLCO-EA in 1987, carried out with the European Community, we are providing an operations adviser, two pilots and training for DLCO-EA staff to help to improve operational performance. We have also offered to provide expert advice in strategic planning, financial management and vehicle fleet management, together with a number of trucks. Only when we receive confirmation that DLCO-EA is implementing the recommendations of the 1987 review will we consider providing further long-term support.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total fees paid out by his Department to management consultants in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for the current year.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 13 March 1989]: The estimate of fees to be paid to outside consultants in the current year and amounts spent in each of the last four years is as follows:

  £ thousand

  1984–85

  1,217

  1985–86

  2,041

  1986–87

  2,094

  1987–88

  2,347

  1988–89

  2,510

  Comparable figures for the years 1979–80 to 1981–82 are not available because of machinery of Government changes and the figures for 1982–83 and 1983–84 could only be given at disproportionate cost. The figure for the the current year is a forecast outturn. Information distinguishing between different types of consultancies (for example, management and other) is not available.

  Fish Farms
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to on what advice or research work, with respect to disease and parasite control stocking density and site separation, the Crown Estate Commissioners have based their revised guidelines for the siting and design of fish farms.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: In preparing revised guidelines on fish farming the Crown Estate Commissioners have drawn on a wide range of experience and research. Guidelines on the siting and
  384
  design of marine fish farms in Scotland were published in 1987 following consultation with the relevant departments, agencies and interest groups. Further experience and commissioned research provide the basis now for an expansion of the locational framework and the advice on operating standards. One of the most important elements is the distance between fish farms and the indicative standards recommended in the guidelines reflect the range of expert opinion.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to which interested parties are being consulted over the Crown Estate Commissioners' revised guidelines for the siting and design of marine fish farms.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: The Crown Estate Commissioners have consulted the following bodies with a draft of their development strategy and area guidelines:

  Scottish Office Departments

  Highlands and Islands Development Board

  Countryside Commission for Scotland

  Nature Conservancy Council

  Relevant Planning Authorities

  National Farmers Union of Scotland

  Scottish Salmon Growers Association

  Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers

HEALTH

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department's study of child abuse to make its report.

  Mr. Mellor
  Perhaps the hon. Member would specify which study he is referring to.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to whom responses to the White Paper, "Working for Patients" from organisations representing patients should be sent; and by what date they should be sent.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Each working paper gives the name and address of a contact point in the Department. Where proposals depend on primary legislation the necessary discussions with interested parties need to be completed by May 1989.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from rural general practitioners since the publication of the White Paper, "Working for Patients."

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We have received a very small number of representations from individual GPs.

  Medical Audit
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on medical audit in other European Economic Community countries, including the cost thereof.

  Mr. Mellor
  Comprehensive information on EC work on medical audit could only be provided at disproportionate cost, but I have lodged a list of publications in English, compiled by the Kings Fund Centre, in the Library.

  Malaria
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conveniently available figures he has for the costs of research, work and treatment of malaria and related disease.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no central figure available for the cost of treatment of malaria and related disease. The number of cases of malaria notified in England and Wales in 1986 (the latest year for which figures are available) was 1,663.

  The main agency through which the Government support medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. In the financial year 1987–88, the total cost of projects with relevance to malaria supported by the MRC was approximately 1·8 million. The MRC is always willing to consider soundly based research proposals for funding in competition with other applications.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton,Official Report, 22 February, columns 671–72, if he will list separately in the Official Report for (a) each district health authority and (b) each family practitioner committee the number of members from black and ethnic minority communities as at (i) 1 January 1979 (ii) 1 January 1984, and (iii) 1 January 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The appointment of district health authority members is the responsibility of the relevant regional health authority and local authorities. In our guidance about how these appointments should be made we encourage them to draw members from ethnic minority groups where appropriate.

  We do not monitor the ethnic composition of family practitioner committees. However, FPCs are asked when seeking nominations to ensure that organisations representing ethnic minorities are encouraged to put names forward.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. Mellor
  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.

  Organ Transplants
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he can report on the introduction of the Hoffenberg system of audit of brainstem deaths; whether there has been any increase in the number of transplanted organs since previous years; and if he will make a statement.
  386
  Mr. Freeman
  The national audit of deaths in intensive care commenced on 1 January 1989. We shall shortly be assessing its operation; it is too early to draw general conclusions from the study.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently on the waiting list for kidney and other transplants.

  Mr. Freeman
  According to information provided by the United Kingdom transplant service the number of National Health Service patients waiting for organ transplants in the United Kingdom on 12 March 1989 was:

  Organ

  Number

  Kidney

  3,556

  Heart or Heart/Lung

  442

  Liver

  47

  Decade of Disabled Persons
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department is giving to the United Nations global project to promote the decade of disabled persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Department of Health is providing rent-free office accommodation at its premises in London for the project manager of the global secretariat of the United Nations global project.

  South Cumbria District Health Authority
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in front-line staff in South Cumbria district health authority have been achieved since 30 September 1982 in both numbers and percentages.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is shown in the table:

  NHS staff in post in South Cumbria district health authority at 30 September: Front line staff2

  Whole-time equivalents1

  Change 1982 to 1987

  1982

  1987

  WTE1

  Percentage

  1,280

  1,330

  +50

  +3·9

  Source: Department of Health Annual Census of NHS Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 Figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole time equivalents. Changes calculated on unrounded figures.

  2 Includes medical and dental (permanent paid, honorary and locum staff, nursing and midwifery [including agency] and professional and technical [excluding works]) staff.

  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been in the numbers of both in-patients and out-patients treated since 30 September 1982 by South Cumbria district health authority, including percentages.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table:

  In-patients and out-patients treated, South Cumbria District Health Authority 1982 and 1987–88

  19821

  1987–88

  Percentage change

  In-patient cases

  17,313

  22,088

  27·6

  New out-patients

  24,291

  30,720

  26·5

  Total out-patients attendances

  107,419

  129,961

  21·0

  387
  1 Data prior to 1987–88 was collected on a calendar year basis, and since then on a financial year basis.

  Doctors (Contracts)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will summarise the responses he has so far received to his proposals to change the doctors' contract.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government's plans for improving the family doctor service and making it more responsive to patients were set out in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health". The objectives of this White Paper were widely supported in many quarters including the representatives of general practitioners, the general medical services committee. Following 12 months' consultation with the GMSC negotiators, I recently set out the Government's plans in more detail in the report "General Practice in the National Health Service—A New Contract", which I sent to all general practitioners.

  I have received a variety of responses in person, in writing and through the helpline set up for GPs in my Department. The response of individual GPs depends to some extent on their circumstances. Those who provide fully comprehensive services and are attracting patients to their lists are able to see how their practice incomes can increase as a result of the reforms we advocate. Others are recognising the need to change the way they run their practices if they are to maintain practice incomes at present levels. To summarise, the responses vary, but a number of important changes are enthusiastically welcomed, such as the greater emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention and on health care in areas of deprivation.

  I intend to have a further meeting with the GMSC negotiators myself and I still regard myself as engaged in a process of consultation with them, despite the outspoken comments of some of their leaders and of some of their local medical committees.

  NHS (Pay)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from National Health Service staff regarding the new pay round; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received almost 700 letters since the beginning of August about the 1989–90 pay round of staff groups covered by Whitley councils; mostly about the pay of professional and technical staff.

  Social Workers (Training)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work has provided guidance to local authorities about refresher training for social workers approved in connection with the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work is to publish guidance on refresher training for local authorities for approved social workers later this year, following widespread consultation.

  M. and I. E. Dentsply
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to re-examine the 388
  allegations that Mr. Richard Gibson, formerly an employee of M. and I. E. Dentsply, has made in relation to the manufacture of hospital anaesthetic equipment; (2) whether, in the light of the allegations made by Mr. Richard Gibson, he will order an immediate inspection of all the medical equipment the National Health Service has purchased from M. and I. E. Dentsply.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. I am satisfied that the allegations have been properly investigated and evaluated.

  Occupational Therapists
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how short of its official establishment of occupational therapists, expressed in percentage terms, is(a) the National Health Service, (b) the Trent region and (c) the Leicestershire health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The most recent survey data published in the evidence to the pay review body indicate that nationally just over 14 per cent. of occupational therapy posts are unfilled after three months. The figure for the Trent region is 19·3 per cent. We do not hold centrally data on unfilled posts at district level.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the waiting time for a first visit by an occupational therapist in(a) the Market Harborough area, (b) the Leicester area, (c) the Trent region and (d) nationally, today; and what were the comparable waiting times (i) five years ago and (ii) 10 years ago.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect this information centrally. Local authorities are responsible for the provision of domicilliary occupational therapy. My hon. Friend may care to write to the relevant local authority for the details he requires.

  Stair Lifts
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average delay in assessing a request for the installation of a stair lift(a) nationally, (b) in the Trent region and (c) in the Leicestershire health authority area.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally. Assessments of need for the installation of a stair lift are the responsibility of local authorities who are required under section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to make an assessment when requested to do so by a disabled person or their carer.

  Mechanical Equipment (Safety)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many anaesthetic machines were recalled during August, September or October 1988; by which companies they were manufactured; and what were the circumstances behind the decision to recall.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on how many occasions in the last five years metal particles or swarf have been discovered in anaesthetic gas systems; and by which companies the machines were manufactured;
  389
  (2) what information he has on the effect the presence in an anaesthetic gas system of metal particles or swarf could have on the machine and the anaesthetised patient.

  Mr. Freeman
  No such incidents have been reported from the NHS to the Department in the period in question under our defect reporting system. The scale of any problem would depend on the size, shape and distribution of particles within the system, the type of breathing system in use, and the positioning and type of filters within the gas system.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances an order is issued by his Department to recall a piece of medical equipment; and what criteria are used when deciding whether to issue such an order.

  Mr. Freeman
  The circumstances under which medical equipment is recalled vary with the type of equipment, the nature of its use and the potential hazard involved. It is recalled primarily where there is an unacceptable risk to the safety of patients or staff.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any faults were found by his Department's inspectors with the quality assurance systems of M. and I. E. Dentsply in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  A small number of points were raised as a result of the inspections and were remedied by the company shortly afterwards. The company remains registered under the Department's manufacturer registration scheme.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department's guidelines allow the purchase of anaesthetic tables for the National Health Service to contain certain industrial valves which have had to be modified for medical use.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. International standard ISO 5358 is the relevant standard and health authorities purchase to this standard.

  Kidney Disease
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the incidence of kidney disease in the Norwich health district and nationally in the most recent year for which statistics are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information on the incidence of disease is not collected centrally. The estimated number of in-patient cases treated in 1985 (the latest year for which statistics are held centrally) are shown.

  Estimated number of in-patient cases treated with main diagnosis of kidney disease in NHS non-psychiatric hospitals, England, 1985

  Number

  Kidney Disease1

  35,160

  Cancer of Kidney2

  5,130

  1 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Codes.

  580–591.

  592·0.

  592·9.

  593.0–593.2.

  593·9.

  2 ICD Codes.

  189.0–189.1.

  223.0–223.1.

  390
  The sample numbers held in the Department's database are too small for reliable estimates to be made for Norwich health district.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a detailed breakdown of his Department's expenditure on the launch of the White Paper, "Working For Patients."

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: The costs of the launch of the "Working for Patients" White Paper were as follows:

  £

  Initial Concept and Designs

  31,265·30

  Videos

  174,615·69

  Teleconference (8 venues)

  440,235·91

  Roadshows (6 venues)

  179,227·83

  Communications Packs, 3000

  302,324·32

  'Popular' Leaflet (3 million)—printing and distribution

  119,817·50

  Management Summary (350,000)—printing and distribution

  111,830·00

  Invitations, Letterheads, Compliment Slips, 3000

  14,397·35

  Catering, Transport, Crew Expenses, Signs and Badges

  21,757·15

  Total Cost

  1,395,471·05

  Operating Department Assistants
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals the Whitley council is considering in relation to improvements in the pay and conditions of operating department assistants; what consideration the Bevan committee is giving to recommendations concerning operating department assistants; and what grade operating department assistants are currently employed on.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: A Department of Health study on staffing and utilisation of operating theatres is being overseen by a steering group chaired by Professor Peter Gilroy Bevan. A final report is due shortly. It is expected that the report will contain some recommendations on the grading and deployment of operating department assistants.

  Operating department assistants are employed in 3 grades, trainee, basic and senior. Their pay and grade structures are being examined by a working group of the management side of the professional and technical staff B Whitley council.

  Benzodiazepines
  Dr. Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, in the light of large-scale addiction to benzodiazepines, he proposes to change the present system of regulating the pharmaceutical companies; and what measures have been taken to ensure that such addictive drugs cannot be introduced in future.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: I have no plans to change the present regulatory system which pharmaceutical companies must follow before a medicinal product can be licensed for sale or supply in the United Kingdom. Benzodiazepines are only available on prescription, and doctors have been issued with guidance on prescribing these drugs in the light of the latest evidence

  391
  on addiction. When considering whether to advise that a new medicinal product should be licensed on the basis of safety, quality and efficacy, the Committee on Safety of Medicines takes account of all relevant factors including any evidence there may be that the product may be addictive. Its advice would be given only after weighing very carefully the likely benefits of the product against anticipated risks. Where appropriate, suitable advice would be issued to prescribers.

  Dr. Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken or is going to be taken following the chief medical officer's meeting with the leaders of the medical profession to discuss benzodiazepine prescribing.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: A number of useful suggestions were made at the meeting including the development of guidance on good practice which could be used at practice level. A research study has been funded to fill some existing gaps in our knowledge with the aim of giving doctors a practical means to improve their prescribing of benzodiazephines.

ENERGY

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the report, "The Transport of Plutonium by Air and Sea", written by Jonathan Spink and Paul Helliwell for the European Proliferation Information Centre on behalf of the national steering committee of the nuclear free zone authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department has received a copy of the report. A copy of my Department's reply on the security and proliferation issues raised in the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Historical Mine Equipment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, what steps are being taken to preserve historical mine equipment in particular when a pit is being closed and the site cleared; and whether he is aware of any records of the original fire engine at Barnburgh pit, Doncaster.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  CEGB (Capital Investment)
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the current rate of return sought by the Central Electricity Generating Board on new capital investment;

  (2) by how much he has increased the rate of return as new capital investment by the Central Electricity Generating Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The current required rate of return on new investment by nationalised industries is 5 per cent.

  Lea Hall
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will discuss with the Central Electricity Generating 392
  Board when Lea Hall power station at Rugeley, Staffordshire, will be retrofitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  It is for the Central Electricity Generating Board and its successors to determine the order in which large coal-fired power stations should be retrofitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment in order to meet their share of the United Kingdom's commitment to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions. The board recently announced the award of a contract to retrofit flue gas desulphurisation equipment to the Drax coal-fired power station.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Veterinary Graduates
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the likely demand on a national basis, for veterinary graduates in the future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Sir Michael Swann's committee of inquiry into the veterinary profession recommended in 1975 that the manpower needs of the profession should be reviewed by the Government at intervals of approximately five years. The last review, chaired by Lord Stodart of Leaston, recommended in 1985 that the annual intake of students by veterinary schools between 1986 and 1990 should be 302 per annum.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I are currently considering whether to carry out another review.

  Green Product Labelling
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has received concerning the creation of an independent expert investigative body to examine green product labelling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 16 March 1989]: No representations have been received concerning the creation of an independent body to examine green product labelling.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the rise in real household income between 1979 and 1985, broken down by economic type, for all decile groups and the average, in the manner of his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh South, 29 July 1988,Official Report, columns 819–20.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A table providing this information has been put in the Library. It should, however, be noted that the principal objective of the "Households Below Average Income" statistics is to measure improvements in living standards in different parts of the income distribution for the population as a whole. The tables are not designed to measure the living standards of individuals by economic
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  status within each decile of the population. Although compositional figures by economic status are included in the main "Households Below Average Income" statistics, it should be noted that the information on real income increases by economic status within each decile provided in reply to this question does not provide a meaningful guide to improved living standards.

  Hostels
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 27 October,Official Report, column 337, he intends to defer any change in hostel dwellers' benefits until after April 1990; and when he expects to make an announcement of any new system of benefits.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 16 March at columns 546–48.

  Statistics
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the scope of statistics recorded by receptionists at his Department's local offices; and what details are included.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Local social security office receptionists keep a simple tally of all callers plus, in the case of some income support and social fund callers, information about identity, residence, and reasons for the call and its outcome. The information about numbers is required for staffing purposes, and about individuals for claim processing purposes. A statistical exercise is conducted for a short period each year to establish caller waiting times. This information is not necessarily recorded by receptionists.

  Pensions (Canada)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions have been held between his Department and the Canadian Government regarding the uprating of pensions payable to pensioners residing in Canada; and when the most recent meeting took place.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The most recent meeting between officials of the Department and Canadian officials to discuss a possible agreement to include the uprating of pensions payable to British pensioners in Canada was in 1983. Further progress has not been possible because of the considerable public expenditure implications—about£48·5 million a year at April 1988 pension rates—of such a change to a policy consistently followed since 1955.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he estimates family credit take-up to have been in 1988 in terms both of expenditure and caseload; and if he will explain the basis on which those estimates have been calculated.

  Mr. Moore
  For employees, the estimated family credit expenditure take-up during 1988 was 65 per cent. Take-up by caseload was about 50 per cent.

  Figures obtained by modelling 1985 and 1986 family expenditure survey data suggested that caseload take-up
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  was approaching 50 per cent., but we wanted to substantiate this with a direct estimate from up-to-date information. We therefore asked the social survey division of the OPCS to carry out a manual examination of FES returns for the period April to December 1988. Five thousand three hundred and six returns were examined. All family credit recipients were identified. Households with no dependent children or no adult in full-time work were eliminated and those families whose income clearly made them ineligible were also excluded. A detailed calculation of family credit entitlement was carried out for the remainder. The results of this exercise indicate a lower total eligible employee population than the assumption originally made in October 1987, and show that in 1988 it was about 500,000. This compares with an average live load during 1988 (including eligible cases awaiting award) of about 253,000. The basis of this estimate is the same as that which was always used to estimate family income supplement take-up. Families which include someone who is self-employed are also eligible for family credit. During 1988 the average number of such families receiving family credit was about 24,000.

  Whilst the sift and calculations were carried out to a very high standard, the results are subject to the uncertainties of small sample sizes. This exercise provides the best and most up-to-date information available, and supports the results we had already obtained from modelling 1985 and 1986 FES data.

  These estimates show that during 1988 there were probably still over 250,000 families who were eligible to receive family credit but who did not claim it. This underlines the need for the major advertising campaign which my Department is planning to start in April to ensure that these people who are, or may become, eligible for family credit are made aware of that eligibility and given every opportunity to claim.

  Transport Disasters (Social Fund)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether there have been any demands on the social fund contingency reserves following the series of transport disasters; and if there is a fixed sum set aside;

  (2) how much has been paid out in social fund crisis loans by the Department of Social Security offices covering the Lockerbie area following the air crash and in Inverness following the recent floods; and if any other Department of Social Security offices have call on this contingency fund.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The local office which serves the Lockerbie area is Dumfries. To date no applications to the social fund have been received as a result of the air crash.

  The local office at Inverness has received four applications to the social fund in respect of the recent flooding in Inverness. These applications resulted in three awards of community care grants totalling £1,571 and one award of a budgeting loan of £260·52. There were no applications for crisis loans.

  A contingency reserve of £2 million is held centrally and is primarily intended to meet additional and unforeseen expenditure arising from disasters and emergencies which individual local offices cannot meet. There are no specific sums set aside within this reserve. To date there have been no applications for additional amounts from the contingency reserve.

  Pensioners (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the additional living costs of pensioners in London.

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

  Transitional Protection
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details of how claimants' benefits will be affected by the £2 a week reduction in housing benefit transitional protection in April; which groups will have their payments reduced; and in what circumstances the reduction will not apply.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It has been made clear from the outset that housing benefit transitional payments would be reduced as increases in other benefits make them less necessary. The flat rate deduction of £2 in April 1989 will apply to the majority of recipients, but will ensure that the majority of them gain in cash terms from the uprating. There will be special arrangements to protect the small number of people dependent on social security benefits who would otherwise see a cash loss.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the predicted income support increases from October of £95 million in 1989–90 and £195 million in 1990–91 will be offset by savings in expenditure on income support transitional protection.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information is not available. Transitional protection will not be affected when the increases are introduced in October.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the allocated funds for transitional protection will be spent in the current year, based on the number of claims received, the proportion of successful claims and the average award; and if he will give an indication of the expected expenditure on the scheme in 1990 on this basis.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Of the 445,885 applications for housing benefit transitional payments received at 13 March 185,726 (45·6 per cent. of those assessed) have been successful, 219,314 refused and the average award is currently £3·91 a week. The majority of cases outstanding are because of inquiry forms not having been returned from local authorities. In view of the recent decision to defer the closing date for applications until 30 June 1989 and the number of applications still being received, it is not yet possible to estimate the expenditure in 1988–89 or 1989–90.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will list, for each social security office in Scotland, for each month of the current financial year, the number of(a) successful claims and (b) unsuccessful claims for assistance from (i) social fund grants and (ii) social fund loans; and if he will give a breakdown of the number of unsuccessful claims at each office into categories of reasons for refusal.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information about the number of successful and unsuccessful claims and applications is 396
  available in the Library. Information about unsuccessful claims and applications broken down into categories of reasons for refusal could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will list, for each social security office in Scotland, the amounts allocated for(a) social fund grants and (b) social fund loans for the current financial year and the total amounts spent from (a) and (b) at the end of each month of the current financial year, expressing the latter figures also as percentages of the total allocations for the current financial year.

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

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, in view of the effect of the Housing Act 1988 on rental levels, he has any plans to impose cash limits on housing benefit payments for 1989–90.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no such plans. Housing benefit will continue to be available to help those on low incomes with their reasonable housing costs up to market rent levels.

  Peto International Institute
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had about providing some financial assistance for the Pe to international institute in Budapest; and whether he has yet made a decision.

  Mr. Scott
  Ministers received an invitation from the Hungarian Government in December 1988 to participate in developing an international Peto institute. I met a delegation from the Hungarian Government in London on 17 January to discuss the Hungarian plan in greater detail, and ways in which any financial contribution from the United Kingdom could benefit children in this country, both through their use of the international institute, and through continued Hungarian support for related developments in the United Kingdom. These discussions are continuing.

  Social Security Reform
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table of each social security change since the major reform of social security in April 1988 including changes as part of the April 1989 uprating, showing the gainers and losers and the spending and savings as a result of each measure.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: The majority of the changes made in social security since April 1988 are set out in the amendments to the regulations made under the Social Security Acts. Major changes have been announced in statements to the House by my right hon. Friend. These include the changes to the capital rule and transitional protection on housing benefit, announced on 27 April 1988 at columns 356–61; the uprating of social security benefits on 27 October 1988 at columns 455–58, which included details of the additional resources available for low-income families with children

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  from April of this year and the extra help for poorer pensioners announced on 24 November 1988 at columns 241–49.

  Other changes have been given in written answers, in particular the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 18 July 1988 at columns 487–88, which detailed changes to board and lodging arrangements; the reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 28 February at columns 161–62 concerning widows' benefits and the reply
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  to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 13 March at columns 27–28 which gave details of additional help to vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds. Precise estimates of the effect of every change in social security since April 1988 are not readily available. Estimates of the numbers affected by individual changes, where available, were included in the announcements. The "Impact of the Reform Structure of Income-Related Benefits" shows the estimated effects on claimants of the changes that took place in April 1988.