Written Answers of 16 May 1989

TRANSPORT

  European Market (Freight Links)
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that Britain will be able to compete fully in the European market when the freight links between the Channel tunnel and the manufacturing and exporting base in the north pass through already overcrowded rail routes in London.

  Mr. Portillo
  British Rail's routes in the London area have considerable spare capacity outside the commuter peaks. The board considers it will have ample capacity to handle Channel tunnel freight traffic in the short and medium term and in the longer term if its proposed new passenger rail link is built.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the implications for elderly people with(a) arthritis, (b) Parkinson's disease and (c) heart complaints of his Department's proposals to reform the orange badge scheme.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We propose to tighten the eligibility criteria so that, in accordance with the original aims of the scheme, orange badges are issued to people with severe mobility problems, irrespective of the medical cause.

  We shall be consulting interested parties, including organisations representing disabled and elderly people, on detailed proposals for bringing the criteria into line with this objective.

  River Thames (Traffic)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase the use of the River Thames to reduce vehicular traffic in and around London.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government recognise that transport of passengers and freight by river can contribute to the relief of road congestion in London. This was reflected in an agreement concluded on 22 March under which the Government are making a grant of up to £500,000 to promote and improve the regular passenger services provided by the Riverbus partnership. The Port of London authority is particularly promoting the river carriage of bulk materials including materials for major construction projects in docklands, and refuse.

  A1 Northumberland
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects improvements to be carried out to the A1 between Bellshill and Mousen, Northumberland.
  114
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At present it seems unlikely that work on any improvement of this section of the A1 will start before 1992–93. The flow is low and the cost is high.

  Ticket Barriers (London Underground)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 115, what was the basis of his calculation that the total cost of installing automatic ticket barriers at London Underground stations will be £22·2 million; whether it included electronics, computers and other associated costs of their installation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The estimated final cost at current prices was provided by LRT. I understand it covered the cost of gate equipment, cabling, data circuits and installation. The cost of computers was not included as they serve all the new ticketing system, not just the gates.

  Shipping
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the credit, debit and balance of payments on shipping services in each year since 1974–75.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to table 3.3 in "United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1988 Edition—CSO Pink Book" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Government statistical service, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Figures for the years 1974 to 1976, which are not included in the 1988 edition, are as follows:

  £ million

  Credits

  Debits

  Balance

  1974

  2,665

  2,776

  -111

  1975

  2,651

  2,562

  89

  1976

  3,233

  3,155

  78

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Sellindge parish council, Kent, to move the proposed high speed Channel rail route south of their village.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department can trace no record of having received any representations from Sellindge parish council since British Rail announced its preferred route for the proposed rail link to the Channel tunnel.

  Trunk Roads (Emergency Telephones)
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for further provision of emergency telephones on all-purpose trunk roads.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Over 5,000 calls have been made from emergency telephones on the A180 trunk road between Brigg and Grimsby since they were installed in March 1988. The heavy use demonstrates their value.

  The Department is now to embark on an initial programme of further provision of over 140 emergency telephones at priority sites on selected lengths of the A1, A2, A45, A46, A303 and A604 trunk roads.

  This programme will help all motorists, particularly vulnerable drivers, including those travelling alone or at

  115
  night. The Department also works closely with disability and motoring organisations to promote better emergency and breakdown provision for those unable to leave their cars to use the telephone.

  Further schemes will be added to the programme as the opportunity arises.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given and what policy decisions he has made concerning charging tolls for road vehicles crossing the proposed east London river crossing bridge between Newham and Thamesmead.

  Mr. Channon
  I have no proposals to levy tolls on the east London river crossing scheme.

  British Rail (Costs)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs were identified by British Rail in the last financial year in respect of(a) funding local planning inquiries, (b) meeting specific planning requirements made by local authorities, (c) maintenance of listed buildings and other structures, (d) measures to lessen the impact of noise, (e) measures to lessen the impact of visual intrusion and (f) total expenditure on infrastructure (i) investment and (ii) maintenance.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department does not collect detailed management information on items(a) to (e), from British Rail. British Rail will provide information on infrastructure expenditure in its annual report and accounts for 1988–89, due to be published in July.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Co-responsibility Levies
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much co-responsibility levies will increase when the Green pound is devalued as a result of the 1989 price negotiation.

  Mr. MacGregor
  At the 1989 price fixing, agreement was reached on significant reductions in the levels of milk co-responsibility levy, including its removal in less-favoured areas. It was agreed that this was the first step towards total elimination of the levy, for which the United Kingdom has consistently argued. These changes, together with the 3·2 point green pound devaluation, mean that the rates of levy paid by producers in 1988–89 and that to be paid in 1989–90 compare as follows:

  1988–89 £ per tonne

  1989–90 £ per tonne

  (i) Producers in LFAs:

  First 60,000 kg

  2·861

  Nil

  Remainder

  3·814

  Nil

  (ii) Producers elsewhere:

  Producers of up to 60,000 kg

  3·814

  1·968

  Producers of more than 60,000 kg

  3·814

  2·951

  The cereals co-responsibility levy has two elements. First, there is a fixed basic levy of 3 per cent. of the
  116
  intervention price. Secondly, there is an additional levy which, at the beginning of the marketing year, is set at 3 per cent. of the intervention price and is subsequently adjusted under the stabiliser arrangements if the EC cereals harvest exceeds the maximum guaranteed quantity of 160 million tonnes by less than 3 per cent. The total levy—basic plus additonal—deducted from first sales of cereals at the beginning of the 1988 marketing year was £7·;06 per tonne. This was subsequently adjusted to £5·57, which was the rate applicable at the time of this year's price fixing. Following the 3·9 point green pound devaluation agreed at this year's price fixing, and taking account of the operation of the cereals stabiliser mechanism on the intervention price, the rate of levy to be deducted from the start of the 1989–90 marketing year, 1 July 1989, will be £7·32 per tonne. Any adjustment which may need to be made will depend upon the size of the 1989 EC cereals harvest.

  British Summer Time
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any representations from the National Farmers Union concerning British summer time.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The National Farmers Union responded to my Department's request for comments on a consultation document on the arrangements for summer time to apply from 1990 which was issued on 29 April 1988. Details of the outcome of the consultations will be issued shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC (Manufacturing Trade)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table in the Official Report setting out the surplus or deficit in the manufacturing trade between the United Kingdom and the EEC in each of the past 20 years; and if he will publish a separate table showing the balances with the rest of the world, all on an OTC basis.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is in the following table. Figures prior to 1970 on an OTS basis are not readily available.

  United Kingdom Trade Balance in Manufactures (SITC 5–8)

  £ million

  Year

  EC

  Rest of the world

  1970

  567

  1,687

  1971

  416

  2,383

  1972

  118

  2,016

  1973

  -329

  1,704

  1974

  -596

  2,216

  1975

  -542

  4,009

  1976

  -509

  4,637

  1977

  -685

  5,802

  1978

  -1,988

  5,639

  1979

  -3,154

  4,327

  1980

  -1,751

  5,385

  1981

  -3,183

  5,820

  1982

  -5,029

  5,226

  1983

  -8,076

  3,222

  1984

  -8,847

  2,533

  1985

  -9,522

  3,710

  1986

  -10,848

  2,602

  1987

  -11,085

  1,139

  1988

  -13,417

  -3,912

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  Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Airbus Industrie
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the four member states of Airbus Industrie have yet completed their studies on a new organisational structure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  A new management structure for Airbus Industrie, broadly based on the recommendations contained in the 1988 report of the Airbus "Wise Men", was introduced with effect from 1 April 1989. The new structure is intended to strengthen the strategic control of Airbus projects by the four partners in the consortium while, at the same time, placing the senior managers of Airbus Industrie at the centre of all day-to-day operations of particular Airbus programmes. The supervisory board has been streamlined and now consists of five members, the four chairmen of the partner companies and Dr. Friderichs, the chairman of Airbus Industrie. A new seven-man executive board has been constituted for the

  Inward Investment into Great Britain 1979–88

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Total

  Scotland

  28

  31

  28

  28

  49

  74

  57

  36

  31

  58

  420

  Wales

  18

  16

  20

  17

  31

  42

  45

  49

  58

  55

  351

  Northern Ireland

  18

  20

  15

  6

  11

  27

  22

  18

  17

  22

  176

  North East

  21

  19

  14

  15

  20

  29

  26

  30

  31

  22

  227

  North West

  9

  15

  12

  14

  22

  40

  28

  34

  27

  24

  225

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  27

  17

  6

  7

  10

  7

  16

  11

  23

  14

  138

  West Midlands

  11

  3

  7

  1

  13

  14

  63

  74

  59

  66

  311

  East Midlands

  15

  5

  8

  13

  12

  11

  19

  15

  11

  16

  125

  South East

  23

  23

  15

  25

  59

  70

  84

  60

  55

  45

  459

  South West

  13

  6

  8

  7

  9

  14

  15

  12

  11

  5

  100

  United Kingdom1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  4

  Total

  183

  155

  133

  133

  236

  328

  375

  339

  324

  330

  —

  1 Investment into more than one region.

  Weights and Measures Legislation
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of recent survey evidence of overcharging of customers using stamped brim glasses, he will bring into force section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985.

  Mr. Forth
  Last year the Department introduced revised regulations for the construction of beer measures; and coincidently the Brewers Society published guidelines on the proper use of these measures by bar staff when dispensing beer.

  These initiatives, which seek to accommodate local preferences for the way in which beer is served, are designed to encourage licensees to use the glass most appropriate for the type of beer they are serving.

  I therefore have no plans at present to implement section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of recent evidence of disregard by many establishments of the agreed code of practice on selling wine by the glass, he will now introduce legislation to enforce the code.

  Mr. Forth
  Surveys carried out by individual local authorities generally continue to indicate an increasing level of compliance with the voluntary code of practice for sales of still table wines by the glass, particularly in the quantities in which wine is sold.
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  day-to-day management of Airbus operations. It includes among its members the newly-appointed finance director of AI, Mr. Robert Smith, formerly of British Aerospace's Royal Ordnance operation.

  Overseas Companies
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many overseas companies have set up operations in the United Kingdom since 1979, giving a breakdown by standard region.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following are the Invest in Britain Bureau figures for inward investments announced in each year since 1979 for the United Kingdom broken down by DTI regions. (These figures are not readily available on a United Kingdom standard region basis). The figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and include the establishment of a new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in joint venture.

  I have no present plans to introduce legislation.

  Bradbury-Wilkinson Premises, Saltash
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many inquiries have been received by his Department from companies interested in taking over the former Bradbury-Wilkinson premises at Saltash; and if he will make a statement about the present position and his Department's intentions.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has received no inquiries regarding this site, the future of which is a matter for its private sector owners.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the application of section 47(2) of the Financial Services Act to transactions during the course of takeovers and other dealings and practices on the financial markets.

  Mr. Maude
  Section 47(2) of the Financial Services Act is directed against deliberate manipulation of the market. Some concerns have been expressed that the provision may go wider than was intended. In the light of these concerns it may be helpful to set out my Department's views on some of the points which have been raised.

  It has been suggested, for example, that section 47(2) would prevent or inhibit certain actions which are at

  119
  present common and which are consistent with the takeover code. My Department's view is that the balance of dealings between offeror and offeree company is unaffected by the new provision, and it is difficult to see how actions taken in compliance with the code and not otherwise unlawful could constitute the offence of market manipulation.

  In relation to takeover offers, it has been suggested that the act of buying shares of an offeree company might influence the price and lead in some way to a breach of section 47(2). If shares are bought by associates of the offeror or the offeree company, or by persons already holding 1 per cent. or more of the shares, these purchases must under the code be disclosed. My Department believes that in such circumstances it would not be possible to maintain that the purchase had created a false and misleading impression as to the value of or the market in the shares, since the market would be aware not only of the price and quantity of the purchase but also of the connection (if any) between the purchaser and the relevant parties to the take-over. Although the code does not provide for instantaneous disclosure, the requirements are well-established and recognised by the market as the means by which a false market is avoided.

  Of course, not all purchasers are required under the code to disclose their purchases. Some people in this class may wish the offer to fail because they believe it is in the long-term interests of the offeree company that it should fail. They may, in genuine support of this belief, buy shares at above the offer price. Such a purchase would be based on a commercial assessment of the prospects of the company concerned, and even if others in the market had different views as to the value of the shares in question the Department does not believe that such purchases would amount to market manipulation. Thus we do not take the view that the section outlaws activity of this kind by those who hope that an offer will not succeed.

  In such cases, there is of course a risk that anything said by or on behalf of the offeree company, for example about future prospects, may be inside information, or that any arrangements, however informal, would constitute a Companies Act concert party. Similarly, any financial arrangements raise questions as to whether unlawful assistance is being given. While actions in contravention of section 47(2) may themselves also contravene these provisions my Department does not believe that section 47(2) affects the application of such provisions. The scope for supportive action may therefore be extremely limited.

  In a different context, it has been suggested that a person—say, a fund manager—who needs to buy or sell a large number of shares, and who does so in small quantities so as not to move the price against himself, might be guilty of market manipulation. This view appears to depend on it being accepted that a misleading

  £ million

  1985 Population Thousands

  ERDF

  European social fund2

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1987

  1988

  West Midlands Region

  5,183

  40

  67

  25

  9

  17

  Strathclyde Region

  2,359

  50

  51

  48

  9

  10

  Greater Manchester

  2,583

  14

  22

  24

  7

  7

  Merseyside County

  1,481

  33

  6

  8

  8

  7

  120
  impression as to the value of the shares is being created. The Department does not consider that in such a case the impression created is misleading. The fund manager has done nothing to indicate that he is not going to be a seller of further shares in the future. It would be a different matter if in some way he misrepresented a particular small purchase as his only purchase or dishonestly concealed his intentions in such a way as to induce a sale. Such actions, however, would be more likely to fall under section 47(1), which is a continuation (for these purposes) of what has been statute law for some time.

  It has been suggested that there is some overlap between sections 47(1) and 47(2), in that a statement is capable of constituting conduct of the kind prohibited by section 47(2) even though it may not itself be prohibited by section 47(1). These two subsections define distinct offences and in committing an offence under section 47(2) a person may make statements which are not in themselves an offence under section 47(1). But in such a case it is not the statement itself which is an offence but the conduct which involves making that statement. As a prosecuting authority, the Department cannot envisage a case in which the making of a statement which was not a contravention of section 47(1) would, by and of itself, be held to be an act or course of conduct contrary to section 47(2), given the defence which section 47(3) provides.

  Company Statistics
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many companies were registerd at the latest available date; and how many qualified as(a) small and (b) medium-sized for the purposes of section 248 of the Companies Act 1985.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: There were 1,141,000 companies registered in Great Britain at 8 May 1989. Not all of these are active, but at least 90 per cent. are estimated to be eligible to deliver modified accounts according to the criteria set out in section 248 of the Companies Act 1985. Of these 2 to 3 per cent. are estimated to qualify as medium-sized companies.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funds have been received from the EEC through social fund and European development fund by(a) the west midlands, (b) Strathclyde, (c) Greater Manchester and (d) Merseyside county.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: European regional development fund and European social fund commitments in recent years are shown in the table. Allocations to individual regions fluctuate considerably from year to year, according to decisions by the European Commission.
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  Notes:

  1 Parts of west midlands region and of Greater Manchester have not been eligible for the ERDF.

  2 Figures for the European social fund exclude funding provided by the ESF for central Government programmes, for which a regional breakdown is not available.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much advertising air time the Department of Trade and Industry purchased with each commercial television company in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: I am advised by the Central Office of Information, through which the Department buys such advertising, that the information is commercially confidential.

PRIME MINISTER

  Maidstone
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Maidstone.

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

  Disciplinary Powers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 24 April,Official Report, column 392, what steps are taken to monitor centrally the exercise of disciplinary powers by individual Government Departments; and where ministerial responsibility lies for ensuring consistency in the application of such powers.

  The Prime Minister
  The principles which govern the conduct of the Home Civil Service are my responsibility as Minister for the Civil Service, which includes laying down the general procedures to be followed to ensure fairness and consistency of practice. The Cabinet Office (Office of the Minister for the Civil Service) is available to provide advice and guidance on their application to particular cases. Disciplinary action against an individual is the responsibility of the Department concerned and is not monitored centrally.

  Wild Birds
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to protect the feeding grounds of breeding seabirds in the United Kingdom's waters under EEC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's scientific adviser, the Nature Conservancy Council, is in the process of identifying the most important seabird feeding and gathering grounds in United Kingdom waters. It will advise the Department of the Environment when the results have been obtained. The Department will then consider the most appropriate measures to safeguard these areas.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will co-ordinate the activities of the Chancellor of the 122
  Exchequer, the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Attorney-General to ensure that the pay scales of both the Crown Prosecution Service and the magistrates' clerks are such that there is no shortage of staffs in either.

  The Prime Minister
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General explained to the House on 8 May, there is an overall shortage of lawyers nationwide. This is of course taken into account in determining the pay of qualified lawyers employed by the Crown Prosecution Service and the magistrates courts.

  EC Legislation
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the volume of legislation stemming from the European Economic Community and the democratic procedures for considering it; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. I recognise the concern at the number of proposals for EC legislation now corning forward and the need for effective scrutiny of them. My right hon. Friend the Lord President keeps our arrangements under close review and currently is holding discussions with the Procedure and European Legislation Committees to establish what improvements may be made.

  Voluntary Bodies (Government Grants)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the total amounts paid in grants by Government Departments to voluntary bodies during the financial year 1987–88; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The figures are shown in the table. The total amount provided in 1987 represents a cash increase of 4·6 per cent. on the level of provision in 1986–87. In the period between 1979–80 and 1987–88 the level of Government support to voluntary bodies has risen by 237 per cent. (or in real terms 91·6 per cent.).

  Grants by Government Departments in 1987–88

  £

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  187,765

  Defence

  5,297,319

  Education and Science1

  7,207,000

  Employment

  40,289,647

  Energy

  1,067,187

  Environment:

  direct grants

  6,160,502

  urban programme

  66,644,000

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  1,202,750

  Overseas Development Administration

  42,475,571

  Health and Social Security

  36,571,661

  Home Office

  21,945,889

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  712,000

  Northern Ireland Department

  14,263,793

  Scottish Office:

  direct grants

  9,790,137

  urban programme

  20,400,000

  Trade and Industry

  9,069,000

  Transport

  671,000

  Welsh Office:

  direct grants

  5,530,466

  urban programme

  3,430,000

  Total

  292,915,687

  123

  1 The 1979–80 figure for DES included £3,736,000 paid to certain adult education bodies. These have been excluded in later years as not being strictly speaking, grants to voluntary organisations. In addition the sum listed for DES grants is lower than in previous years because (i) responsibility for grants to village halls and community centres has now been transferred to local government; and (ii) a number of other bodies included hitherto are no longer classified as voluntary bodies.

  Employment In addition, payments were made directly to voluntary bodies under various employment programmes

  £

  Training Agency (formerly Manpower Services Commission):

  Community Programme

  564,400,000

  Voluntary Projects Programme

  8,700,000

  Youth Training Scheme

  118,305,000

  Total

  691,405,000

  The MSC and the Department of Employment made payments to voluntary bodies under other programmes but these cannot be given in detail except at disproportionate cost.

  Northern Ireland, Department of Economic Development

  £

  Action for Community Employment

  27,674,880

  Community Workshops

  16,180,266

  Community Volunteering Scheme

  645,000

  Youth Community Project

  757,000

  Youth Help

  750,295

  Total

  46,007,441

  Departments also made grants and payments to housing associations and societies, these are as follows

  £

  Department of Environment

  923,040,000

  Northern Ireland Office (Department of the Environment)

  43,000,000

  Scottish Office

  115,319,000

  Welsh Office

  56,600,000

  Total

  1,137,959,000

  Grants made to voluntary bodies in 1987–88 by non-departmental public bodies include the following

  £

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  69,044

  Commission for Racial Equality

  1,884,358

  Countryside Commission

  2,900,000

  Countryside Commission for Scotland

  502,310

  Health Education Council

  729,000

  Highlands and Islands Development Board

  797,920

  Nature Conservancy Council

  2,140,501

  Sports Council

  16,203,000

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  431,232

  Sports Council for Scotland

  2,319,285

  Sports Council for Wales

  1,486,347

  Total

  29,462,997

  Grand Total

  2,197,750,125

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 May.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 May.
  124
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 May.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty The Queen.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Staff Statistics
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each local education authority (a) the number of teachers in post, (b) the number of administrative and support staff and (c) the proportion that (b) is of (a) and (b).

  Mr. Butcher
  The total full-time equivalent teaching staff in maintained schools and colleges in each local education authority area in January 1988 is shown in the table.

  The Department does not hold centrally information on administrative and support staff employed by local education authorities. However, figures from the Joint Manpower Watch indicate that for England as a whole non-teaching staff amount to 76 per cent. of teaching staff.

  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy publication "Education Statistics 1988–89 Estimates", a copy of which is in the Library, shows breakdowns of teaching and non-teaching staff for each authority responding to its survey.

  Full-time equivalent teaching staff in maintained schools and colleges. January 1988

  LEA

  Number

  Barking

  2,264·1

  Barnet

  3,046·9

  Bexley

  2,103·1

  Brent

  3,394·0

  Bromley

  2,418·7

  Croydon

  3,207·1

  Ealing

  3,187·8

  Enneld

  3,330·9

  Haringey

  2,423·1

  Harrow

  2,094·5

  Havering

  2,508·7

  Hillingdon

  2,083·3

  Hounslow

  2,556·3

  Kingston

  1,923·4

  Merton

  1,601·2

  Newham

  2,784·9

  Redbridge

  1,979·8

  Richmond

  1,393·0

  Sutton

  1,534·6

  Waltham Forest

  2,772·7

  ILEA

  32,000·8

  Birmingham

  12,282·9

  Coventry

  4,344·2

  Dudley

  3,420·5

  Sandwell

  3,630·7

  Solihull

  2,285·1

  Walsall

  3,611·4

  Wolverhampton

  3,879·9

  Knowsley

  1,972·6

  Liverpool

  6,784·7

  St. Helens

  2,285·2

  Sefton

  2,901·2

  Wirral

  3,681·2

  Bolton

  3,293·3

  Bury

  1,920·0

  125

  LEA

  Number

  Manchester

  7,183·9

  Oldham

  2,676·5

  Rochdale

  2,580·3

  Salford

  2,861·7

  Stockport

  3,129·9

  Tameside

  2,187·2

  Trafford

  2,143·4

  Wigan

  4,063·5

  Barnsley

  2,356·4

  Doncaster

  3,375·7

  Rotherham

  3,039·2

  Sheffield

  6,704·0

  Bradford

  6,343·4

  Calderdale

  2,186·4

  Kirklees

  5,196·2

  Leeds

  8,819·4

  Wakefield

  3,627·4

  Gateshead

  2,132·5

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3,956·3

  North Tyneside

  2,398·5

  South Tyneside

  1,917·5

  Sunderland

  3,752·0

  Avon

  9,808·2

  Bedfordshire

  6,020·3

  Berkshire

  7,690·7

  Buckinghamshire

  6,213·1

  Cambridgeshire

  6,556·5

  Cheshire

  10,352·5

  Cleveland

  7,340·3

  Cornwall

  4,428·4

  Cumbria

  5·393·1

  Derbyshire

  10,4671

  Devon

  9·530·3

  Dorset

  5,804·5

  Durham

  6,253·3

  East Sussex

  6,073·3

  Essex

  14,590·1

  Gloucestershire

  5,140·8

  Hampshire

  15,789·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,689·0

  Hertfordshire

  11,284·5

  Humberside

  9,915·0

  Isle of Wight

  1,197·7

  Kent

  14,390·5

  Lancashire

  15,780·2

  Leicestershire

  10,088·1

  Lincolnshire

  5,597·6

  Norfolk

  6,882·8

  North Yorkshire

  6,801·6

  Northamptonshire

  6,475·5

  Northumberland

  3,088·5

  Nottinghamshire

  11,565·2

  Oxfordshire

  5,628·9

  Shropshire

  4,245·3

  Somerset

  4,379·9

  Staffordshire

  11,292·7

  Suffolk

  5,960·1

  Surrey

  8,702·4

  Warwickshire

  5,283·9

  West Sussex

  5,858·7

  Wiltshire

  5,488·2

  England

  523,580·9

  Irradiated Rodent Carcases
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out all the methods that have been adopted by the Medical Research Council for the disposal of irradiated rodent carcases following experiments.

  Mr. Jackson
  The disposal of irradiated rodent carcases used in radiation experimental work is subject to authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. The disposal routes for such carcases used by the Medical Research Council are:126

  1. Maceration followed by disposal to the sewer; or

  2. Incineration and landfill.

  Academics (Earnings)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will undertake a sample survey of universities to ascertain information about the levels of non-pay earnings among academics;

  (2) if he will commission research into the levels of outside earnings of academics.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has no intention at present to undertake a survey himself, or commission research about, the non-pay earnings of academic staff.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply of 2 May,Official Report, Column 2, if he will list those recent departmental decisions which are based on anecdotal evidence.

  Mr. Jackson
  Decisions reached by the Department are based on full consideration of those facts which are available and relevant.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the practice of universities in the treatment of academic staff's outside earnings.

  Mr. Jackson
  This is not a matter on which the Department collects information.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the average working week of university academic staff on research and teaching duties.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not collected.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to encourage universities to make contractual provision for time to make outside earnings for university academic staff.

  Mr. Jackson
  That is a matter for university managements.

  Open University
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the contribution made to environmental education and research by the Open university.

  Mr. Jackson
  Courses about or related to the environment are available in the university's undergraduate and continuing education programmes. The university also supports research undertaken by the energy and environment research group.

  Cancer Research
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support Her Majesty's Government have given to research trials of cytokines, particularly interferon, in treatment of common cancers.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from this Department, is the main
  127
  agency through which the Government support medical research. The council has mounted three trials involving the use of cytokines in the treatment of cancer, all of which are currently recruiting patients. Details of the trials are as follows:

  A phase II evaluation of human lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) in malignant glioma.
  This trial was launched in October 1988; the approximate annual support provided by the council is £7,000.

  A trial of alpha-interferon in chronic myeloid leukaemia
  This trial was launched in September 1986 and is one arm of a larger trial of chronic myeloid leukaemia, for which the approximate annual support provided by the council is £23,000.

  A trial of the use of alpha-2b INF in the plateau phase of myelomatosis.
  This trial was launched in December 1988 and is one arm of a larger trial of myelomatosis, for which the trial co-ordinator receives grant support of approximately £32,000 per annum. In addition, the council provides approximately £13,000 per annum for this trial.

  Teachers (Pay)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the 1989–90 cost of the recommended changes to school teachers pay, above the original £385 million limit proposed; what amount and proportion of this excess above the original limit will be offset by the net 0·4 per cent. reduction in employers contributions for superannuation identified in his reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, of 4 May,Official Report, column 177, as being free from other assumed offset purposes; what amount and proportion will not be so offset; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The salary bill for school teachers in England will rise by some £440 million in the financial year 1989–90. This is £80 million above the England element of the original limit proposed. The effect of the extra 0·4 per cent. reduction in the cost of employers' contributions to teachers superannuation will be to reduce the school teachers salary bill by about £25 million. The remaining £55 million to be borne by local education authorities represents less than 0·4 per cent. of local authority education provision.

  LINK
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about progress on LINK.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government attach great importance to LINK, which aims to increase the benefits to the United Kingdom economy from Government-funded research by encouraging collaboration between industry and the science base.

  I am pleased to announce today a major new LINK programme in structural composites. Collaborative research in this area is vital to ensure that United Kingdom industry is well placed to adopt these new materials in a cost effective way.

  This programme will develop both new and existing expertise, and will widen the use of such materials within United Kingdom industry. The use of advanced composites as structural components is likely to have a major impact in the future.
  128
  A key aim of the programme is to co-ordinate, and stimulate existing and new United Kingdom R & D in composite materials with particular emphasis on structural applications. It will support research which will meet industry's future demands for composites with improved properties, more efficient processability and lower cost.

  More than 40 companies and over 20 science base organisations have already indicated that they wish to be involved in individual collaborative research projects. Special efforts will be made to encourage the involvement of small and medium sized firms.

  The structural composites programme will raise the level of United Kingdom activity at a time when national programmes are being undertaken within Europe, Japan and the USA and will complement R & D work being undertaken through the European Community's BRITE/EURAM initiative.

  This programme, the 14th to be announced under LINK, will be jointly funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (£14 million) and the Science and Engineering Research Council (£6 million); matching support from industry will be needed for this £40 million, five-year programme.

  Training Grants
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce his proposals for the local education authorities training grants scheme in 1990–91.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Subject to consultation with local education authorities the main thrust of the scheme will continue to be the successful implementation of the Education Reform Act, in particular the national curriculum and associated assessment arrangements. My right hon. Friend also intends to include support for the introduction of teacher appraisal, eligible training for licensed teachers and pilot schemes for articled teachers, training in managing pupils' behaviour in response to the committee of inquiry into discipline in schools and training to develop teaching and assessment of competence-based qualifications in further education.

  £120·5 million is planned to be allocated for training on national priority areas—an increase of £36·3 million on 1989–90—which will qualify for 65 per cent. grant and £94·7 million on local priorities which will qualify for 50 per cent. grant.

  Copies of the consultation letter have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

WALES

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each year since 1979(a) each hospital closed completely and (b) each hospital closed partially; and if he will break that list down by each health authority, and regional health authority.

  Mr. Grist
  A list of hospitals which closed, and remain closed, between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1988 is given in the following table. These closures are the result of reorganisations and improvements of health care services in Wales since 1979, notably the provision of seven
  129
  new hospitals, including five district general hospitals, at a cost of some 162·4 million at 1989–90 prices. Information on changes in bed complements for individual hospitals is published annually in "Bed Use Statistics", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  District health authority hospital

  Year of closure

  Clwyd

  Prince Edward's War Memorial

  1980

  Llangwyfan

  1981

  Chatsworth House

  1985

  Colwyn Bay Maternity

  1985

  Wrexham War Memorial

  1986

  Chirk

  1987

  East Dyfed

  Cilymaenllwyd

  1984

  Allt-y-Mynydd

  1986

  Gwent

  Snatchwood

  1980

  Cefn Mably

  1983

  Gwynedd

  Gors Maternity

  1980

  Caernarvonshire and Anglesey General

  1984

  Galltysil

  1985

  Mid Glamorgan

  Glyncornel

  1979

  Blackmill

  1985

  Bridgend and District

  1985

  Cefn Hirgoed

  1985

  Powys

  Adelina Patti

  1986

  West Glamorgan

  Llwynderw

  1979

  Drymma Hall

  1986

  Cwmdonkin

  1987

  Neath Annexe

  1988

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many deaths occurred on Welsh roads in each of the last three years;

  (2) how many people were injured on the roads of Wales in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Casualties

  1986

  1987

  11988

  Fatal2

  235

  220

  226

  Serious3

  3,243

  3,173

  2,900

  Slight4

  10,967

  10,890

  12,024

  1 Provisional.

  2 When death occurs in less than 30 days as a result of the accident.

  3 When a person sustains an injury for which he/she is detained in hospital as an "in-patient" or any of the following injuries whether or not he/she is detained in hospital; fractures, concussion, internal injuries, crushings, severe cuts and lacerations, severe general shock requiring medical treatment, injuries causing death 30 or more days after the accident.

  4 When a person sustains an injury of a minor character such as a sprain, bruise or cut not judged to be severe, or slight shock requiring roadside attention.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after road accidents in Wales in each of the last three years.
  130
  Mr. Grist
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the number of patients and day cases who died in hospitals in Wales or were discharged from them after road traffic accidents in the last three years for which data are available is as follows:

  Number

  1985

  3,332

  1986

  3,263

  1987

  2,978

  This may understate the true position as not all hospitals provide full clinical details relating to discharges and deaths. The numbers with "serious" injuries cannot be separately identified.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to introduce a scheme to convert council house rents into mortgages, along the lines of that announced by the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am examining a scheme similar to that recently announced in Scotland.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to examine the provision of education for the under-fives along the same lines as those recently announced by the Department of Education and Science in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science has established and will be chairing a committee of inquiry to consider the quality and content of the educational experience offered to under-five-year-olds, as one of the responses to the Education, Science and Arts Committee's report on educational provision for the under-fives in England. I shall be keeping in close touch with the work of this group, on which the Welsh Office has observer status.

  I shall be keeping under review the need for any action in Wales in the light of the deliberations and findings of the new committee.

SCOTLAND

  Pay
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's action to improve pay levels in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government have sought to create the conditions in which sustained growth in output and real incomes can take place. Pay levels, in Scotland as elsewhere, are essentially for employers and employees to determine, but the Government have removed a number of statutory obstacles to sensible pay determination and have encouraged employers to link pay to the performance of their firm. In their dealings with its own employees the Government have introduced more flexibility by means of performance-related pay, and new, flexible, long-term pay agreements.

  Roads
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total budget for 1988–89 which was allocated to the Scottish Development Department for road building and maintenance: and if he will show the projects completed and projects commenced during that financial year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Gross provision for trunk road building and maintenance in Scotland in 1988–89 was £130 million. Schemes costing over £1 million completed and commenced during that financial year are shown in the following table:

  1988–89

  Schemes Costing Over £1 million

  Completed

  A75

  Castle Douglas Bypass

  A75

  Ringford Bypass

  M8

  Starlaw Junction

  A82

  Auchendennan-Arden

  A830

  Mallaig-Kinsadel I

  A830

  Polnish-Lochailort

  A9

  Dornoch Bridge Northern Approach Roads

  A9

  Dornoch Bridge Southern Approach Roads

  A9

  Mound Bridges

  A92

  Murcar-Balmedie

  A929

  Kinsway-Powrie

  A96

  Bucksburn-Tyrebagger I

  A96

  Forres Bypass

  Commenced

  A7

  North Middleton Bypass

  A75

  Dumfries Bypass

  A77

  Balsalloch-Balcreuchan

  A835

  Garve Railway Bridge

  A9

  Dunblane Bypass

  A9

  Dornoch Firth Bridge

  A94

  Parkford-Balnabreich1

  A94

  Upper Northwaterbridge-Oatyhill

  A96

  Inverurie Bypass1

  1 Schemes commenced in that a contract was let during the year but actual construction did not start until a few weeks later.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the proposed roads budget allocated to the Scottish Development Department for the financial year 1989–90.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  £162 million, net of receipts, has been allocated for motorway and trunk road expenditure in Scotland in 1989–90.

  Health Education
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the effectiveness of health education in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have announced today the setting up of a major and wide-ranging review of health education in Scotland. This is one of the four central priority areas recommended in the SHARPEN report and which were accepted by the Government. It is a key aspect of health policy.

  The review will consider the purpose of health education programmes, identify the principal objectives of such programmes and the means by which the effectiveness of those objectives can be assessed.

  It will also consider and examine the way in which health education is undertaken at both national and local levels and the role of those involved, including the Scottish
  132
  Health Education Group, health boards and voluntary bodies as well as the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Scottish Education Department.

  We hope to appoint management consultants to conduct the review. I expect them to talk to a large number of organisations and individuals in the course of the review and to complete their work towards the end of 1989.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each local authority in Scotland(a) the community charge level for 1989–90, (b) the Government's previous estimate of the level of community charge and (c) the percentage difference between (a) and (b).

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is set out in the table. The Government's estimates were of what each authority's community charge would be if the authority maintained the level of services provided in 1988–89 and therefore did not increase the volume of its spending. The figures for regional and islands councils include water charges.

  Actual Community Charge £

  Government Estimate £

  Percentage Difference per cent.

  Borders

  205

  151

  35·8

  Central

  213

  167

  27·8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  206·5

  157

  31·4

  Fife

  238

  206

  15·8

  Grampian

  219

  150

  46·2

  Highland

  200

  165

  21·2

  Lothian

  305

  247

  23·6

  Strathclyde

  219

  221

  -0·8

  Tayside

  241

  193

  24·7

  Islands Councils

  Orkney

  148

  84

  77·1

  Shetland

  114·16

  202

  -43·5

  Western Isles

  171

  126

  36·2

  District Council

  Berwickshire

  31

  26

  19·2

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  42

  29

  44·8

  Roxburgh

  42

  39

  8·8

  Tweeddale

  43

  23

  84·5

  Clackmannan

  87

  58

  49·6

  Falkirk

  46

  44

  3·9

  Stirling

  97

  83

  17·6

  Annandale and Eskdale

  47

  39

  19·2

  Nithsdale

  39

  35

  10·6

  Stewartry

  37

  39

  -40

  Wigtown

  40

  21

  89·0

  Dunfermline

  55

  43

  26·6

  Kirkcaldy

  60

  51

  18·0

  North East Fife

  82

  46

  79·7

  Aberdeen City

  85

  51

  65·4

  Banff and Buchan

  56·7

  35

  60·2

  Gordon

  44

  33

  31·7

  Kincardine and Deeside

  32

  18

  76·4

  Moray

  42

  26

  59·6

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  35

  21

  69·1

  Caithness

  25

  31

  -18·5

  Inverness

  26

  24

  9·8

  Lochaber

  37

  37

  0·7

  Nairn

  28

  16

  76·9

  Ross and Cromarty

  39

  25

  56·4

  133

  Actual Community Charge

  Government Estimate

  Percentage Difference

  £

  £

  per cent.

  Skye and Lochalsh

  25

  22

  12·8

  Sutherland

  6

  3

  139·0

  East Lothian

  69

  60

  15·0

  Edinburgh City

  87

  66

  31·3

  Midlothian

  59

  59

  -0·7

  West Lothian

  54

  49

  10·1

  Argyll and Bute

  58

  72

  -19·7

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  79

  58

  35·5

  Clydebank

  78

  72

  8·0

  Clydesdale

  82

  72

  13·5

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  56

  72

  -22·5

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  57

  72

  -21·1

  Cunninghame

  59

  72

  -18·3

  Dumbarton

  79

  72

  9·4

  East Kilbride

  99

  72

  37·1

  Eastwood

  63

  43

  47·6

  Glasgow City

  87

  72

  20·5

  Hamilton

  72

  72

  -0·3

  Inverclyde

  72

  62

  16·5

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  50

  72

  -30·8

  Kyle and Carrick

  89

  69

  28·6

  Monklands

  74

  72

  2·5

  Motherwell

  86

  67

  28·7

  Renfrew

  76

  72

  5·2

  Strathkelvin

  80

  72

  10·8

  Angus

  52

  45

  15·9

  Dundee City

  83

  81

  3·1

  Perth and Kinross

  58

  43

  34·1

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of aplications for regional selective assistance received between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989, (b) the number of applications that have been processed and (c) the total amount of money paid out in that period.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: In the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989, 255 applications for regional selective assistance were received in Scotland. Of these, 237 have been fully processed. The remaining 18 are being processed. Total payments of regional selective assistance in Scotland in the same period have amounted to £37·6 million.

  Investment Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was(a) the total number of applications for the investment grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period and the estimated expenditure for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92;

  (2) what was (a) the total number of applications for the innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period and the estimated expenditure for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.
  134
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The information requested is as follows for the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.

  Regional enterprise grants

  Innovation grants

  Investment grants

  Number of applications received

  100

  374

  Number of applications approved

  37

  189

  Value of applications approved

  £851,000

  £1,097,000

  Total expenditure on regional enterprise grants for the period covered is £282,000 out of a provision for 1988–89 of £1·6 million. Planned provision for 1989–90 is published in the Supply Estimates. Planned net provision for regional selective assistance and related schemes (including regional enterprise grants), consistent with the figures published in "Public Expenditure to 1991–92, A Commentary on the Scotland Programme", for each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is £80 million.

  Regional Development Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of applications for regional development grants outstanding on 31 March 1988, (b) the number of those outstanding applications that have subsequently been processed, (c) the number of applications that are still outstanding and (d) the total amount of money paid out on regional development grants since 31 March.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The figures requested for applications in Scotland under the revised regional development grant scheme are as follows:

  Number

  Number of applications outstanding at 31 March 1988

  5,117

  Number of these fully processed by 3 May 1989:

  4,932

  Number under consideration but awaiting response from applicants:

  185

  Number of applications awaiting attention:

  nil

  Total payments made between 31 March 1988 and 31 March 1989:

  £50·8 million

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of European regional development fund money allocated to each of the regions in 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

  £ million (rounded)

  Project awards1

  Central

  2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  Fife

  2

  Highland

  9

  Strathclyde

  12

  Shetland

  2

  Western Isles

  11

  Programme awards2

  Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation3

  34

  Highlands and Islands4

  11

  Tayside5

  4

  135

  £ million (rounded)

  West Lothian

  7

  Total

  95

  136
  1 Grampian and Lothian each received project awards of less than £0·5 million.

  2 Programme awards show only 1988 entries. Substantial forward commitment under programmes has been secured.

  3 Covers development areas in Strathclyde, plus Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway and Dumgoyne ward in Central.

  4 Covers Highlands and Islands Development Board area.

  5 Tayside figure differs from that in the programme due to a rescheduling of expenditure.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Torture
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the number of representations he has made in the last five years about the denial of human rights and use of torture in each of the nations in membership of the United Nations.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the last five years we have made many representations to the Governments of many countries, both bilaterally and with our European Community partners.

  The precise information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Nasim Ahmed who was born on 2 July 1965, and whose reference is IMM/84536 and A.421238, first applied to the British post in Islamabad to enter the United Kingdom; when Mr. Ahmed successfully appealed against refusal to grant him entry, and when the British port in Islamabad was instructed to issue Mr. Ahmed with a visa to enter the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not immediately available. A further reply will be sent to the hon. Member in due course.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when Mrs. Musrat Begum, whose date of birth is 1 January 1958, applied to the post in Islamabad, to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and when a decision will be taken on her application;

  (2) when Mr. Mohd Arif, who was born on 1 September 1963, will he issued with a visa by the post in Islamabad following his successful appeal against refusal to grant him permission to enter the United Kingdom;

  (3) when Shamin Akhter, who was born on 12 November 1964, applied to the post in Islamabad to enter the United Kingdom; when her application was refused; when the post despatched an explanatory statement setting out the reasons her application was refused; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) when Mr. Sodigar Hussain applied to the post in Islamabad to join his wife, Mrs. Zaidah Begum whose date of birth is 27 January 1967; and when a decision on his application will be taken.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1989, c. 362]: In accordance with the recent guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the questions to the correspondence unit of migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit in due course.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Married Prisoners (Visits)
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will review the current arrangements for visits between married prisoners where both spouses are in custody serving prison sentences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The current arrangements for visits between imprisoned spouses and other close relatives are set out in "Prison Standing Order 5A 20", which is available in the Library. I see no need for a review.

  Postal Voting
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will examine the procedures and forms associated with postal voting in order to make them less complex.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 2 March 1989, at column 274.

  Driving Offences (Ministerial Immunity)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe the system which grants Ministers immunity from prosecution for driving offences while on official business.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In general, road traffic law applies to vehicles and persons in the public service of the Crown as it applies to other motorists. Ministers have no immunity from prosecution for driving offences.

  Football (Arrests)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of those arrested for football-related incidents during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons were season ticket holders;

  (2) how many of those arrested for football-related incidents during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons were of pensioner age;

  (3) how many of those arrested for football-related incidents during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons were women.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not recorded centrally.

  Tamil Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tamil asylum seekers have been returned to Sri Lanka after being refused asylum in the United Kingdom since February 1988; and what efforts he has made to monitor the situation of those returned from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  No distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans. Removals and deportations of failed asylum seekers are not normally recorded separately. However, it is known that 47 Sri Lankans who sought asylum at ports have been removed to Sri Lanka since 1 February 1988. Additionally, in the
  139
  same period 28 Sri Lankans have been removed as illegal entrants and seven have been deported. Most of these applied for asylum and were refused after consideration of their application. Information on passengers refused entry and removed, as illegal entrants or as deportees, is published annually in "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom". The 1988 volume will be published in the summer.

  On monitoring, I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 15 March, at column 232.

  Trevi Group
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a co-ordinator representing the interests of the United Kingdom has been appointed for the Trevi group.

  Mr. Renton
  A senior officer of the Home Office is co-ordinating issues concerning the free movement of persons, pursuant to the decision of the Rhodes council last December, and is attending regular meetings with his Community counterparts.

  Police (Allowances)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police officers who presently receive a rent and rates allowance are to be given a poll tax allowance following the abolition of rates.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The recent arbitration award on police rent allowance stated specifically that payments of the community charge levied on police officers should not be reimbursed by police authorities.

  Parole Board
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the operation of the parole board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The parole board is an independent advisory body responsible for its own organisation. We are, however, aware that, to cope with the increased caseload, the board has increased its sittings and the number of cases considered at each one. My right hon. Friend will also be appointing extra members to the board. In addition, we are taking steps to improve the service provided to the board by the parole unit.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by the parole board to decide upon the recommendaton of the local panel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  For parole applications referred to the parole board, the average time between receiving the local review committee recommendation and notifying the inmate of the result is about five months.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether electronic surveillance devices are used by his Department or by any organisation or agency acting on its behalf; and if he will make a statement.
  140
  Mr. Hurd
  My hon. Friend may wish to refer to the Home Office's guidelines on the use of surveillance in police operations issued on 19 December 1984, a copy of which was placed in the Library.

  Hillsborough Disaster
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that the additional cost of the Hillsborough disaster inquiry to any individual police force be borne by central funds.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 12 May, at column 569.

  Hull Prison
  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to implement that part of Judge Stephen Tumin's report which stated that B wing of Hull prison was no place for 15 and 16-year-old boys, or for any unconvicted prisoner under 21 years of age.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is no feasible alternative at present to the continued use of B Wing of Hull prison to accommodate unsentenced prisoners under 21 years of age. The plan is for a new remand centre to be built at Everthorpe in 1991–92 which will relieve the situation. Meanwhile strenuous efforts are being made to improve the regime and conditions in Hull's B wing.

  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any young people from Doncaster area are currently held in Hull prison while waiting for their cases to be dealt with by the courts.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 12 May there were in Hull prison 14 unsentenced prisoners aged between 17 and 20 whose home addresses were recorded as in Doncaster.

  Hunt Saboteurs
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home department (1) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Buckinghamshire as to why hunt saboteurs were permitted to disrupt the activities of the Northamptonshire mink hounds at Snelson, near Olney, Buckinghamshire, on 6 May; and what action has been taken in relation to the alleged recording of the car numbers of supporters by some hunt saboteurs present for intimidatory purposes;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Buckinghamshire on the policing arrangements at the meet of the Northamptonshire mink hounds at Snelson, near Olney, Buckinghamshire, on 6 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police that, following attempts to disrupt the start of the hunt, 15 demonstrators and one huntsman were arrested in order to prevent a breach of the peace. All were subsequently released without charge. The event itself took place without serious disruption. A number of huntsmen and demonstrators recorded each other's vehicle registration numbers before dispersing without further incident. In the circumstances, further police action was not considered appropriate.

  Vagrancy
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 11 May, what statistics his Department collects on arrests of young people for vagrancy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information about the total number of arrests by each police force is collected centrally but it is not broken down into specific offence categories. Information on the number of persons dealt with by the courts in respect of offences under sections 3 and 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 is published annually in "Criminal Statistics". The available information for 1987 appears in tables 1.1c and 1.1d of the supplementary tables volume 1.

  Voluntary Sector (Funding)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for a review of Government funding of the voluntary sector.

  Mr. Hurd
  Government funding of the voluntary sector has risen steadily over the last decade and now amounts to some £2 billion. It serves a wide variety of valuable purposes in areas ranging from health care to employment and training and to the environment. The Government acknowledge the voluntary sector's important position as a third force alongside the public and private sectors of the economy and the valuable contribution which it makes.

  The Government have concluded that it would be timely to examine their funding of the voluntary sector with a view to ensuring that the purposes for which grants are made are properly defined and have a beneficial purpose; and that funds are being effectively and efficiently deployed in a way which is of practical help and achieves the benefits intended.

  The Government have decided, therefore, to set in hand an efficiency scrutiny of Government funding of the voluntary sector. Its terms of reference will be to examine:

  (i) the full range of programmes for Government funding of the voluntary sector;

  (ii) the purposes for which financial provision is made under these programmes;

  (iii) the different types of funding employed;

  (iv) arrangements for the identification and selection of suitable voluntary organisations for particular tasks, for the setting of objectives and the monitoring and review of performance and results;

  (v) arrangements for the administration of the programmes;

  and to make recommendations for achieving cost effective improvements where necessary.

  The matters to which the scrutiny will have regard include:

  (i) the need for improvements in the procedures for agreeing payment of grants and in the conditions under which grants are awarded, to ensure that Government funds are applied properly and without waste;

  (ii) the need for standard conditions in respect of political activities, campaigning, equal opportunities and so on;

  (iii) whether there is scope for standard criteria to be followed in agreeing grant applications and setting priorities;

  (iv) ways of improving the setting of objectives both for particular projects and for continuing funding;

  (v) the scope for improving the arrangements for evaluation and monitoring of the work carried out with Government funds by (a) periodic review and (b) regular monitoring;

  142

  (vi) the levels at which financial authority is exercised under various programmes;

  (vii) methods of devising measures of performance both for continuing and short-term grants;

  (viii) the information about the purposes of a particular programme made available (prior to application) to those seeking funding;

  (ix) the benefits or otherwise of standard grant application procedures, taking account of the different circumstances where there is open application and where a single organisation is supported.

  Such a wide-ranging scrutiny is unprecedented. It has therefore been agreed that it will be carried out by a team of officials from a number of Government Departments led by Mrs. Juliet Reisz (Home Office) under the ministerial supervision of a group of Ministers chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten). I expect to receive the scrutiny report in September.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last 10 years, what funding his Department has provided for refuges for victims of domestic violence.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: None, but I understand that some public funds have been provided from other sources. We understand that some funds are available from local authorities and through the Department of Environment's urban aid programme. The Department of Health provides £100,000 per year to the Women's Aid Federation, which provides information and advice to local refuges.

DEFENCE

  Jet Aircraft (Anniversary)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary on 12 July 1994 of the introduction of jet aircraft into RAF service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am sure that the Royal Air Force will play an appropriate part in commemorating this important event. Detailed planning will be set in hand nearer the time.

  Nuclear Tests (Radiation)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any information as to whether there were any significant differences regarding exposure to radiation as between the British and United States nuclear tests.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  An assessment on the basis of the evidence available to us shows that there were considerable differences in the situations pertaining to British and United States nuclear tests.

  Royal Navy
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Defence how many ships of the present surface fleet are having their lives extended.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A number of surface ships are currently undergoing routine maintenance and refit, but none is
  143
  having work done on it designed to extend its service life. Consideration is being given to the feasibility of extending the lives of the assault ships HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid in parallel with other options for replacing the capability they represent.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment Agency
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of unlawful discrimination were investigated by the Fair Employment Agency; how many such complaints were found proved; and how many employers were ordered to pay compensation as a result of those findings, for each year since 1981.

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

  Complaints investigated

  Findings of unlawful discrimination

  Number of payments1

  1981

  42

  5

  —

  1982

  41

  2

  7

  1983

  28

  5

  4

  1984

  34

  10

  3

  1985

  46

  7

  2

  1986

  60

  11

  5

  1987

  56

  4

  8

  1988

  41

  6

  6

  21989

  7

  1

  1

  TOTAL

  355

  51

  36

  1 Based on the date of payment, which does not necessarily fall in the year in which the finding is made.

  2 To 30 April.

  Harland and Wolff
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement setting out the progress made in securing the sale of Messrs Harland and Wolff since his statement to the House on 22 March,Official Report, columns 1089–1100; and if, in particular, he will outline the financial contributions and loans being made available to the new owners by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: Following the signing of the heads of agreement on 22 March, preparation for the formal completion of the sale is under way. Discussions between officials and the MEBO/Olsen team are continuing, and officials are also involved in discussions with the European Commission in seeking its approval to the terms of the sale.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear to the House on 22 March, under the heads of agreement the privatised company will receive repayable loan stock and grant towards rationalisation of £98·75 million and intervention aid on new merchant orders.

  Police Discipline
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent 144
  Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has directed that disciplinary tribunals be set up under article 14 of the order;

  (2) in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland directed the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to prefer disciplinary charges against members of the police service;

  (3) in how many cases of complaints brought to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland directed the Chief Constable to send reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions as empowered under articles of the order;

  (4) in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the investigation was conducted;

  (5) how many cases to date have in the public interest been referred to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland by (a) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and (b) the Northern Ireland police authority, under section 8 of the Police (N.I.) Order 1987;

  (6) how many cases to date, which have not been the subject of formal complaint, have been referred to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland under section 8 of the Police (N.I.) Order 1987;

  (7) in how many instances to date the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has been asked by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for reports relating to its functions, other than the report supplied at the end of each calendar year.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: The answer to each of these questions is none.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland recommended to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary that disciplinary charges should be preferred against members of the police service.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Twenty.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases of complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 against junior officers the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has determined that a criminal offence was committed; and in how many of these the Chief Constable determined that charges ought to be brought.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: It is not the function of the Chief Constable either to determine that offences have been committed or that charges should be brought. He is, however, able to determine that a criminal offence may have been committed by police officers and that the officers ought to be charged. It is then his duty to send the appropriate papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  The available information does not indicate in how many cases he has referred papers to the director since the 1987 order came into force.
  145
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has disapproved of the person appointed to carry out the investigation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Two.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases to date of complaints made under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has decided, in the public interest, to supervise the investigation where not required to do so under articles 9(I) and 8(I) of the order.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Ninety-nine.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases of complaints involving serious injury made to date, under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987, the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland has supervised the investigation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Seventy-four.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been investigated by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland under section 9 of the order.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Article 9 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 deals with the supervisory powers of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints. To date 173 cases have been supervised under the provisions of article 9.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many complaints have been made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 against officers below the rank of superintendent; and how many of these have been investigated(a) informally and (b) formally;

  (2) how many complaints have been made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 against officers of the rank of superintendent and above; and how many of these have been investigated (a) informally and (b) formally.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Information is not available in the form requested. However, since the commencement of the Police (NI) Order 1987 on 29 February 1988 there were 2,809 complaints against police officers below the rank of assistant chief constable. Of these, 752 have been withdrawn; 128 informally resolved and 1,929 have been or are at present being formally investigated.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been investigated formally by(a) members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary appointed to do so and (b) members of our United Kingdom police forces.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: I understand that 1,929 complaints have been or are at
  146
  present being formally investigated by members of the RUC. No complaints have been investigated by members of other United Kingdom police forces.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been deemed suitable for informal resolution by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: I understand that 128 complaints have been found suitable for informal resolution since February 1988.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (N.I.) Order 1987 have been referred by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland for investigation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: The investigation of complaints is a police responsibility. The Independent Commission for Police Complaints has wide supervisory powers in relation to complaints. To date 2,446 complaints have been referred by the Chief Constable to the commission.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints made to date under the Police (NJ.) Order 1987, have been adjudicated upon by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: The Chief Constable has not himself chaired any disciplinary hearings arising from complaints made under the order.

  Elections
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been or will be taken to ascertain the number of persons refused a ballot paper at(a) the local government elections in Northern Ireland on 17 May and (b) EEC election in June, on the grounds that they were not able to produce one of the documents set out as necessary for the proof of identity.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: None. I have no evidence to suggest that such steps are necessary. All electors should possess or can readily obtain free of charge at least one of the range of specified documents which are listed on the back of the poll card, and I am satisfied that the system is now well understood.

ENERGY

  Energy Sources
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to encourage the greater use of environment-friendly sources of energy.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  All sources of energy have enrivonmental consequences, but the non-fossil obligation in the Electricity Bill will guarantee a level of diversity for electricity generation. In addition, my Department is giving specific encouragement through its support for research and development on renewable forms of energy and clean, more efficient, coal technologies.
  147
  In recognition of the potential of renewables, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced that the Government had decided to add a number of extra tranches to the non-fossil fuel obligation. These will be reserved exclusively for renewable projects. This will help realise the environmental benefits which renewables offer.

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas),Official Report, 3 May, column 151, what reply, and on what date, he made to the letter from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The letter is currently receiving attention and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the current research projects into renewable sources of energy which are sponsored by his Department, with their estimated costs.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 19 December 1988, at columns 30–35. An update of this list, together with the estimated costs of the projects, will today be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HEALTH

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year since 1979(a) the number of acute beds available and (b) the number of non-acute beds available in each district health authority, SHA and regional health authority; and if he will give the national total for each year.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested has been placed in the Library and I have written to the hon. Member with a copy of such information. These figures amend those for 1987–88 provided to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 22 December, in the light of changes since reported by health authorities.

  Abortions
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prostoglandin abortions were performed in England and Wales in 1987(a) with and (b) without the use of other agents.

  Mr. Freeman
  The data are as follows.

  Number of Prostoglandin Abortions performed in England and Wales in 1987.

  a. Prostoglandins with other agents, 5,431.

  b. Prostoglandins (only), 3,701.

  John Leeman
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health why John Leeman was discharged from Broadmoor in(a) 1974 and (b) 1981; what previous offences had been committed by John Leeman prior to being imprisoned in 1975; and what recommendations were made prior to the discharge of John Leeman from Broadmoor in 1981.
  148
  Mr. Freeman
  Mr. Leeman was conditionally discharged from Broadmoor hospital in 1974 on the recommendation of his responsible medical officer and a mental health review tribunal. Discharge was authorised by the Home Secretary.

  Mr. Leeman was not discharged from Broadmoor in 1981. A Home Office direction terminating the restrictions on his discharge under the Mental Health Act 1959 took effect when he was in Parkhurst prison.

  The record of an individual's criminal convictions is considered to be confidential, and is not disclosed except where there are overriding reasons for departure from the normal rules of confidentiality.

  Health Care (Expenditure)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the review of the Health Service considered the reasons for the cost of health care in the United Kingdom compared with other industrial countries; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage of gross domestic product to one place of decimals spent on (a) public and (b) private health care in other industrial countries together with an estimate of the extent to which the relative cost in the United Kingdom is due to (i) the standard of health (ii) the number of elderly persons, (iii) the level of remuneration of employees and (iv) the level of public provisions.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government's review of the NHS took into account a wide range of information about the costs of health care provision in this country and overseas.

  The OECD's latest estimates of public and private expenditure on health as percentages of GDP in 12 leading industrial countries are shown in the table.

  Differences in health expenditures between countries both in absolute and in relative terms are influenced by a wide range of economic, social and cultural factors the individual components and impacts of which are the subject of continuing research both here and abroad.

  However, the raw percentages reported by the OECD will reflect the effects of factors such as the type of health funding systems adopted by individual countries; the mix of items comprising expenditure on health care and differences in relative prices.

  It is not possible without disproportionate cost to summarise here the results of relevant international research into this subject.

  Public and private expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP, 1986

  Public

  Private

  Australia

  5·3

  2·1

  Belgium

  5·5

  1·6

  Canada

  6·5

  1·9

  Denmark

  5·2

  1·0

  France

  6·7

  1·8

  Germany

  6·3

  1·8

  Italy

  5·2

  1·5

  Netherlands

  6·6

  1·8

  Spain

  4·3

  1·7

  Switzerland

  5·4

  2·6

  United Kingdom

  5·3

  0·9

  United States

  4·5

  6·6

  Hospitals (Running Costs)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government will take into account the
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  higher cost of running hospitals in buildings such as hutted camps and Victorian workhouses when the new arrangements for the hospital services are introduced.

  Mr. Freeman
  The introduction of a system for charging for capital announced in the White Paper "Working for Patients" will enable health authorities to appraise capital investment options more effectively. Comparison of the running costs of hospitals of different ages, types and functional conditions is complicated by a number of factors including the tendency for new hospitals to be used more intensively than those they replace. The Department is sponsoring research in this area to see to what extent overall running costs are related to the physical characteristics of the hospital stock. If successful this research would add further to the quality of investment appraisal in the National Health Service.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by region the population of females over 60 years and males over 65 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows.

  Name

  Number of constituencies

  Average number of electors per constituency on 1989 register

  Amount by which average constituency size differs from 1989 electoral quota1

  ENGLAND

  523

  169,533

  Shire counties

  Isle of Wight

  1

  101,859

  46·5

  Wiltshire

  5

  85,552

  23·0

  Gloucestershire

  5

  82,135

  18·1

  Cambridgeshire

  6

  81,326

  17·0

  West Sussex

  7

  80,014

  15·1

  Suffolk

  6

  79,811

  14·8

  Hampshire

  15

  79,399

  14·2

  Berkshire

  7

  79,170

  13·9

  North Yorkshire

  7

  79,146

  13·8

  Buckinghamshire

  6

  78,642

  13·1

  Bedfordshire

  5

  77,815

  11·9

  Shropshire

  4

  77,545

  11·5

  Warwickshire

  5

  75,741

  8·9

  Lincolnshire

  6

  75,678

  8·8

  Hertfordshire

  10

  75,368

  8·4

  Leicestershire

  9

  74,831

  7·6

  Hereford and Worcester

  7

  74,548

  7·2

  Humberside

  9

  73,905

  6·3

  Cheshire

  10

  73,848

  6·2

  Essex

  16

  73,792

  6·1

  Dorset

  8

  73,743

  6·1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  5

  73,296

  5·4

  Staffordshire

  11

  73,037

  5·0

  Norfolk

  8

  73,005

  5·0

  Northamptonshire

  6

  72,639

  4·5

  Avon

  10

  72,637

  4·5

  Somerset

  5

  72,530

  4·3

  Derbyshire

  10

  72,426

  4·2

  Surrey

  11

  72,400

  4·1

  Kent

  16

  71,976

  3·5

  Devon

  11

  71,243

  2·5

  Nottinghamshire

  11

  71,115

  2·3

  Oxfordshire

  6

  70,290

  1·1

  Cleveland

  6

  69,881

  0·5

  East Sussex

  8

  69,787

  0·4

  Durham

  6

  66,858

  -3·8

  150

  Mid 1987 estimates of resident population (thousands)

  Males aged 65 and over

  Females aged 60 and over

  Total persons over retirement age

  England

  2,949·0

  5,750·8

  8,699·8

  North

  186·7

  374·0

  560·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  302·1

  596·2

  898·4

  East Midlands

  243·9

  454·4

  698·3

  East Anglia

  138·2

  247·8

  385·9

  South East

  1,063·1

  2,075·6

  3,138·7

  South West

  333·3

  632·7

  966·0

  West Midlands

  306·5

  591·1

  897·6

  North West

  375·2

  778·9

  1,154·1

  Wales

  183·8

  365·2

  548·9

  Scotland

  286·7

  606·9

  893·6

  Northern Ireland

  74·9

  152·7

  227·6

  Population estimates relating to mid-1988 are currently being prepared and will become available shortly.

  Electorates
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the shire counties, London boroughs and metropolitan boroughs in England in ranking order according to the degree by which their electorates vary from the nationally averaged electorate appropriate to the numbers of parliamentary constituencies within them.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:
  151

  Name

  Number of constituencies

  Average number of electors per constituency on 1989 register

  Amount by which average constituency size differs from 1989 electoral quota1

  Lancashire

  16

  66,748

  -4·0

  Cumbria

  6

  63,944

  -8·0

  Northumberland

  4

  59,039

  -15·1

  London boroughs

  Haringey

  2

  76,780

  10·4

  Hounslow

  2

  75,631

  8·8

  Harrow

  2

  74,720

  7·5

  Hackney

  2

  69,024

  -0·7

  Ealing

  3

  68,938

  -0·9

  Enfield

  3

  67,349

  -3·1

  Wandsworth

  3

  65,101

  -6·4

  Camden

  2

  65,028

  -6·5

  Merton

  2

  63,981

  -8·0

  Sutton

  2

  63,080

  -9·3

  Havering

  3

  61,277

  -11·9

  Brent

  3

  60,648

  -12·8

  Croydon

  4

  60,205

  -13·4

  Lambeth

  3

  59,995

  -13·7

  Hillingdon

  3

  59,824

  -14·0

  Lewisham

  3

  59,716

  -14·1

  Redbridge

  3

  59,654

  -14·2

  Bromley

  4

  58,511

  -15·9

  Richmond upon Thames

  2

  57,182

  -17·8

  Southwark

  3

  57,155

  -17·8

  Tower Hamlets

  2

  56,872

  -18·2

  Bexley

  3

  56,746

  -18·4

  Barking and Dagenham

  2

  56,303

  -19·0

  Barnet

  4

  55,450

  -20·3

  Cities of London and Westminster

  2

  55,434

  -20·3

  Islington

  2

  55,430

  -20·3

  Waltham Forest

  3

  53,972

  -22·4

  Greenwich

  3

  53,290

  -23·4

  Newham

  3

  53,258

  -23·4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2

  49,653

  -28·6

  Kingston upon Thames

  2

  48,696

  -30·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2

  44,387

  -36·2

  Metropolitan counties

  Tyne and Wear

  13

  68,385

  -1·7

  South Yorkshire

  15

  67,234

  -3·3

  West Yorkshire

  23

  67,194

  -3·3

  Greater Manchester

  30

  64,425

  -7·3

  West Midlands

  31

  64,070

  -7·9

  Merseyside

  17

  59,361

  -14·6

  1 A number of parliamentary constituencies straddle metropolitan borough boundaries, and information is therefore provided in respect of metropolitan counties.

  Radiation
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received regarding the genetic effects of radiation exposure.

  Mr. Freeman
  The National Radiological Protection Board is under a statutory obligation to provide advice to Government and others on the effects of radiation. The board's advice on genetic effects of radiation exposure is contained in NRPB publication R226, "Health Effects Models Developed from the 1988 UNSCEAR Report", a copy of which will be placed in the Library shortly. I am advised that there is some evidence that radiation causes genetic defects in animals; however, epidemiological studies of groups of people exposed to large doses of radiation have produced no conclusive evidence of any genetic damage that has been passed on to their children.

  Gynaecologists
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued by his Department 152
  to candidates for consultancy posts in gynaecology concerning their rights under the conscience clause of the Abortion Act 1967.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Department has not issued any guidance to candidates for consultant posts in gynaecology, not all of which involve duties relating to the termination of pregnancy. Under a long-standing agreement with the medical profession no reference to termination duties should be included in the advertisement of hospital posts, but it should be included in the job description made available to all applicants.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are any plans for hospitals in the Yorkshire regional health authority to consult(a) medical staff, (b) non-medical staff and (c) members of the general public in the hospital catchment area before putting themselves forward as possible self-governing hospitals.
  153
  Mr. Mellor
  Only expressions of interest in self-governing status are being requested at this stage. When applications are invited, RHAs will seek the views of those with an interest in an application, particularly the health authorities concerned, staff, general practitioners, CBCs and the local community.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will require hospitals which seek to become self-governing to undertake ballots of all medical and non-medical staff to determine the level of support for such proposals; and whether he will meet the cost of any such ballots.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence of consultation with medical and non-medical staff he will require in support of applications by hospitals to become self-governing;

  (2) what evidence of consultation with patients he will require in support of applications by hospitals to become self-governing.

  Mr. Mellor
  RHAs will give publicity to applications and will seek the views of those with an interest which will be submitted to me to consider alongside the application.

  NHS Review
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he estimates will be the annual capital charge for a body scanner with an initial purchase price of £500,000 under the proposals in his White Paper, "Working for Patients."

  Category of elderly complaints

  Total elderly complaints

  Clinical

  Nursing

  Support services

  Other

  Letters of Appreciation

  19891

  12

  —

  7

  2

  3

  2162

  1988

  6

  1

  4

  1

  —

  557

  1987

  8

  2

  5

  3

  —

  519

  1986

  6

  4

  1

  4

  —

  159

  1985

  10

  2

  6

  5

  —

  3—

  1 January to March.

  2 First quarter.

  3 Not collected.

  Remanded Juveniles
  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is giving any consideration to funding secure accommodation for remanded juveniles from Doncaster and neighbouring areas awaiting a court appearance who, because of their behaviour, are unsuitable for living in normal open local authority children's homes.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have approved a grant in principle, to enable Humberside county council to provide a new 10 place secure unit. This will provide accommodation for remands, and other children, who need this specialised form of care from local authorities in the Yorkshire and Humberside region generally, including Doncaster. I understand tenders have already been sought for the project.

  Westminster and Chelsea Teaching Hospital
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) why no provision is made in table 4 of the
  154
  Mr. Mellor
  We are still considering the detailed basis of valuation of assets for capital charging purposes so no estimate is yet possible. The NHS review working paper Number 5 on capital charges describes in further detail how the proposals will be implemented.

  Pontefract Hospital
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the complaints made by families of patients who have attended the hospital alleging a fall in standards of the elderly care unit in the Pontefract hospital; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many written complaints have been made to authorities about changes in standards at the elderly care unit in Pontefract hospital; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he has received any representation about changes in the standards of the support services in the elderly care unit of Pontefract hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The DHA follows up all complaints (figures in the table show complaints and letters of appreciation). An unusually high figure for January to March this year led to individual discussions with complainants and the CHC secretary. As a result of this local managers have taken action to remedy immediate problems (for example over linen supply) and to improve staff training and counselling. I am sure the DHA will ensure that the appreciation of the services in this unit is matched by high quality care.

  Supply Estimates for class XIV, vote 1, for the costs of constructing the new Westminster and Chelsea teaching hospital;

  (2) what resources have been allocated in the next three financial years for construction of the new Westminster and Chelsea teaching hospital.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 25 April 1989]: Provision for estimated expenditure on the Westminster and Chelsea hospital is contained within the total sum analysed in table 4. As a result of an administrative error the scheme is not, however, separately identified. I apologise for the omission. The information requested, set out in the form in which it would otherwise have appeared in the Supply Estimate, is given in the table.

  Westminster and Chelsea hospital

  Timetable

  Year of start

  1989–90

  Estimated year of completion:

  Original

  1992–93

  155

  Timetable

  Current

  1992–93

  Estimated total cost:

  Original

  £116,070

  Current

  £116,070

  Probable spend to 31 March 1989

  £9,832

  Estimates provision 1989–90

  £22,246

  Estimated spend after 31 March 1989

  £83,992

  Spectacles and Dental Treatment
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will now make a statement on the arrangements which have been made to reimburse those people who may have been required to pay too much for spectacles or dental treatment as a result of incorrect instructions having been issued to the staff in the agency benefits unit.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: Starting in the week beginning 15 May, the agency benefits unit of the Department of Social Security will reassess claims from those who, between 11 April and 4 November 1988, were assessed as having to make a contribution towards relevant costs and had non-dependents living with them.

  Where the reassessment shows entitlement to more help, the unit will send claimants a special claim form which will ask for details of charges paid and other relevant costs incurred. Where people paid too much it will be refunded.

  A special arrangement for optical vouchers is necessary to avoid disproportionate administrative costs. Those who obtained glasses will be paid the difference between the mistakenly assessed contribution and the correct one. This will mean that everyone will get at least their proper entitlement or—generally in the case of the cheaper lens prescriptions—more than that.

  Child Minders
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Nurseries and Childminders Act 1948 for all child minders to be officially registered.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: Local authority social services departments are responsible for enforcing the registration requirements in the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948 (as amended) and they have power to prosecute offenders.

  The Government have undertaken to update the 1948 Act by introducing amendments to the Children Bill at present being considered by a Standing Committee of the House.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by his Department in 1985–86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended 156
  objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office of Information together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989–90.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: The following is a list of major publicity campaigns mounted by my Department where expenditure has exceeded £0·5 million in any financial year over the period 1985–86 to 1988–89:

  Campaign

  Objectives

  Audience

  Aids

  To provide information on the means of transmission of and prevent the spread of HIV infection

  The general public

  Drug misuse

  To provide information on the risks of and reduce the incidence of drug misuse

  The general public

  Nurse recruitment

  To improve recruitment and retention of trainee and qualified nurses to meet the future needs of the NHS

  Potential recruits and former NHS employees

  Information on the outcome of monitoring and the achievement of objectives is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Research conducted by the Central Office of Information on major campaigns over the financial years 1985–86 to 1988–89 is as follows:

  Subject and Title

  Date

  Cost

  AIDS

  Creative pre testing

  August 1985

  49,525

  Survey RS 85/86

  October 1985

  543

  Campaign evaluation

  January 1986

  126,351

  Communication ball test

  March 1986

  26,657

  Moralists/trialists

  March 1986

  2,990

  Omnibus check

  March 1986

  7,059

  Youth campaign development

  August 1986

  21,390

  Leaflet research

  August 1986

  23,920

  Youth tracking study 86

  August 1986

  57,328

  Leaflet post evaluation

  September 1986

  64,055

  Adults qualitative

  November 1986

  18,504

  New campaign-dipstick

  November 1986

  69,089

  Attitudes to condoms quality research

  February 1987

  31,050

  Ethnic attitudes

  February 1987

  8,740

  Antibody test leaflet

  February 1987

  13,513

  Media coverage

  March 1987

  33,976

  AIDS/anti drugs research

  March 1987

  37,088

  Sexual behaviour/holiday abroad

  March 1987

  14,433

  Attitudes of West Indians

  April 1987

  80,500

  AIDS/Drugs D/Head creative concepts summary

  May 1987

  27,370

  AIDS/Drugs 87/88 quality evaluation

  September 1987

  55,050

  Drugs

  Anti-heroin finished ads.

  April 1985

  14,331

  Qualitative heroin dipstick

  November 1985

  32,318

  Heroin 86–87 creative development

  February 1986

  19,435

  Heroin evaluation STG III

  February 1986

  30,544

  Anti heroin double head communication CH

  April 1986

  20,183

  Heroin evaluation STG IV

  June 1986

  37,548

  87 campaign target met research

  November 1986

  31,223

  Heroin evaluation STG V

  January 1987

  35,420

  Campaign evaluation

  August 1987

  37,914

  Anti injection 88

  May 1988

  40,940

  Creative development STG 88/89

  September 1988

  28,520

  Creative development STG III

  November 1988

  17,342

  157

  Subject and Title

  Date

  Cost

  Camp evaluation; stage VII

  December 1988

  44,647

  Camp 88/89 qualitative

  December 1988

  42,182

  Nursing

  Recruitment qualitative camp

  June 1985

  25,588

  Recruitment check

  June 1986

  16,129

  Recruitment strategic research

  June 1987

  26,847

  Recruitment communication check 88

  May 1988

  24,895

  Recruitment campaign evaluation 88

  July 1988

  28,750

  Recruitment tracking 88

  August 1988

  36,855

  Recruitment phone response

  September 1988

  7,388

  Recruitment addline analysis

  October 1988

  5,353

  Back to nursing research

  February 1989

  27,198

  Youth concept research

  March 1989

  14,634

  Male nurse recruitment

  March 1989

  22,954

  £ millions

  Year

  Net contribution before refunds and VAT abatements

  Negotiated refunds

  VAT abatements

  Net contribution after refunds and abatements

  1973

  102

  —

  —

  102

  1974

  29

  —

  —

  29

  1975

  -56

  —

  —

  -56

  1976

  167

  —

  —

  167

  1977

  369

  —

  —

  369

  1978

  822

  —

  —

  822

  1979

  947

  —

  —

  947

  1980

  804

  98

  —

  706

  1981

  1,090

  693

  —

  397

  1982

  1,625

  1,019

  —

  606

  1983

  1,454

  807

  —

  647

  1984

  1,184

  528

  —

  656

  1985

  2,035

  61

  166

  1,808

  1986

  2,273

  —

  1,701

  572

  1987

  2,866

  —

  1,153

  1,713

  1988

  2,956

  —

  1,594

  1,362

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received in favour of the retention of wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have received about 360 representations in favour of retaining wages councils, including those referred to by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 21 March, at columns 555–56.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the Government's proposed abolition of the wages councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent on 21 March,Official Report, columns 555–56, and to the hon. Member for Oldham, West on 23 March, Official Report, columns 798–802. Since those replies about 50 further representations have been received.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from British managers in respect of his plans to abolish wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is not this Department's practice to reveal the content of representations made by either
  158
  The campaigns for 1989–90 have still to be finalised but are likely to include drug misuse and nurse recruitment.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  EC (Contributions)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the net contribution made by the United Kingdom to the EEC in each year of membership, adjusted to take into account rebates and refund.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  individuals or organisations. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 21 March, Official Report, columns 555–56 and to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 23 March, Official Report, columns 798–802.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what protection will be offered to the low-paid after the abolition of the wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The future of the wages councils has yet to be decided. However, the best protection for any worker is the removal of mechanisms and practices which may threaten his continued employment or prevent his initial recruitment.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  430,000 people have started their own business under the enterprise allowance scheme since it began in 1982. Some 87,000 people are currently in receipt of the allowance.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently self-employed in the east midlands.
  159
  Mr. Cope
  In December 1988 there were 205,000 self-employed people in the east midlands, an increase of 27,000 over the previous two years.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently self-employed in the south-west.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, there were an estimated 302,000 self-employed in the south-west region. This represents an increase of 35,000 or 13 per cent. since December 1986.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were self-employed in(a) March 1983 and (b) March 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Estimates for March 1989 are not yet available. In March 1983 there were 2,147,000 self-employed in Great Britain. In December 1988, the latest 160
  date for which figures are available, the number was 2,988,000. This represents an increase of 841,000 or 39 per cent. since March 1983.

  Company Law
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's policy towards implementation of the European Economic Community fifth directive on company law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  We shall continue to oppose vigorously the proposals for compulsory worker participation in this draft directive. They are unnecessary and would seriously damage the excellent voluntary arrangements which exist in many United Kingdom companies.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of fall in unemployment in East Anglia: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In the standard region of East Anglia, defined as Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, unemployment fell by 19,100, or 34·3 per cent., over the 12 months to March 1989 on the consistent seasonally adjusted basis. It is now at its lowest level for well over eight years; and the unemployment rate at 3·5 per cent. is less than half of what it was three years ago.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the recent rate of fall in unemployment in the east midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to March 1989 unemployment in the east midlands fell by 35,500 on the consistent seasonally adjusted basis. At 118,200 unemployment in the region is now at its lowest level for eight years.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of fall in unemployment in the west midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to March 1989, unemployment in the west midlands fell by 67,800, or 27·2 per cent., on the consistent seasonally adjusted basis and is now at its lowest level for well over eight years. The unemployment rate in the west midlands is now down to 6·7 per cent. and has been falling faster than in any other region of the country.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of employment in the European Economic Community nations and in European Free Trade Association nations; and what were the comparable figures five and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest published information available for all countries is for 1987. The figures are as follows:

  Total civilian employment

  (Thousands)

  1977

  1982

  1987

  EC countries

  United Kingdom

  24,538

  23,584

  25,060

  Belgium

  3,665

  3,578

  3,621

  Denmark

  2,414

  2,476

  2,663

  Germany

  25,014

  25,177

  25,440

  Greece

  3,262

  3,501

  3,597

  Spain

  12,253

  11,043

  11,383

  Table B. ILO/OECD unemployed by claimant status: Averages for four years: spring 1985 to spring 19881

  Thousand

  ILO/OECD unemployed

  of which: Claimants

  Non-claimants

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  South East

  380

  283

  663

  296

  126

  422

  83

  157

  241

  (Greater London)

  193

  123

  315

  153

  57

  210

  40

  66

  105

  Rest of South East

  187

  160

  347

  143

  69

  212

  44

  91

  135

  East Anglia

  40

  38

  78

  34

  19

  52

  7

  19

  26

  South West

  95

  81

  176

  77

  38

  115

  18

  43

  61

  West Midlands

  188

  120

  309

  168

  59

  227

  20

  61

  81

  East Midlands

  109

  80

  188

  95

  38

  132

  14

  42

  56

  162

  1977

  1982

  1987

  France

  21,188

  21,240

  20,976

  Ireland

  1,068

  1,131

  1,067

  Italy

  19,791

  20,297

  20,584

  Luxembourg

  157

  158

  169

  Netherlands

  4,701

  5,009

  5,251

  Portugal

  3,784

  3,959

  4,169

  EFTA countries

  Norway

  1,824

  1,943

  2,090

  Sweden

  4,099

  4,219

  4,337

  Finland

  2,221

  2,367

  2,414

  Iceland

  98

  112

  1117

  Austria

  3,222

  3,229

  3,297

  Switzerland

  3,036

  3,190

  3,273

  1 Figure is for 1986.

  Sources:

  United Kingdom—Department of Employment.

  Other EC countries—EC Statistical Office.

  EFTA countries—OECD.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table from the 1988 labour force survey, for each Great Britain region and Greater London, by male-female, and claimant status, showing the numbers of people without work who had looked for a job in the four week reference period, and were available to start work within two weeks.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information for 1988 is given in table A. A reliable analysis of the regional figures by claimant status cannot be provided for individual years, but averages for the four years 1985 to 1988 are given in table B.

  Table A

  People looking for a job in the four week reference period1 who were available to start work within two weeks (ILO/OECD unemployed). Great Britain, Spring 1988 (preliminary results)

  Thousand

  Male

  Female

  Total

  South East

  293

  240

  533

  Greater London

  160

  112

  272

  Rest of South East

  133

  128

  261

  East Anglia

  28

  30

  58

  South West

  74

  67

  141

  West Midlands

  133

  97

  230

  East Midlands

  89

  64

  153

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  160

  99

  259

  North West

  222

  138

  360

  North

  126

  72

  198

  Wales

  91

  54

  145

  Scotland

  183

  114

  297

  Great Britain of which:

  1,398

  976

  2,374

  claimants

  1,160

  460

  1,620

  non-claimants

  238

  516

  754

  1 Including some waiting to start a new job already obtained, as in the ILO/OECD measure of unemployment.

  163

  ILO/OECD unemployed

  of which: Claimants

  Non-claimants

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  174

  108

  282

  155

  55

  210

  19

  53

  71

  North West

  246

  155

  401

  215

  82

  297

  31

  73

  105

  North

  133

  73

  206

  121

  39

  159

  13

  34

  47

  Wales

  102

  63

  165

  91

  31

  122

  11

  31

  42

  Scotland

  206

  124

  330

  184

  67

  251

  22

  57

  79

  Great Britain

  1,672

  1,125

  2,797

  1,436

  533

  1,989

  237

  572

  809

  1 Including preliminary results for 1988.

  Note:

  The figures from the labour force survey are subject to sampling errors. In some cases figures may not appear to add because of rounding.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now employed in service industries in South Yorkshire, expressed as a percentage of the workforce; and what is the comparable figure for the south-east.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information about employment in the county, taken from the census of employment, is for employees in employment and the latest available figures are for September 1984. At that time, 58 per cent. of all employees in employment in South Yorkshire were employed in service industries; the comparable September 1984 figure for the South East region was 73 per cent.

  More up-to-date employee estimates for counties, from the September 1987 census of employment, will become available later this year.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the level of employment in the northern region.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 18 April 1989.Official Report. column 153.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the level of employment in the north-west.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 18 April 1989,Official Report, column 154.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the level of employment in the west midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 18 April 1989.Official Report, column 152.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently in employment.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 the work force in employment in Great Britain stood at 25,961,000, the highest level on record. This represents an increase of 2,964,000 or 13 per cent. since March 1983. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the changes in levels of unemployment on the last 12 months.
  164
  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to March 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom fell by 535,800, on a consistent basis. Unemployment has now fallen over 32 consecutive months by 1,215,100 since July 1986.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently self-employed in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, there were an estimated 138,000 self-employed in East Anglia. This represents an increase of 22,000 or 19 per cent. since December 1986.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the recent rate of fall in unemployment in the south-east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to March 1989, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the south-east fell by 159,500, on a consistent basis. At 387,500, unemployment in the south-east is now at its lowest level for more than eight years.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the level of employment in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) and for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 18 April 1989,Official Report, column 153.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the level of employment in the east midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stamford and Spalding (Mr. Davies) on 18 April 1989,Official Report, column 152.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the level of employment in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) on 18 April 1989,Official Report, column 151.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on current levels of unemployment.

  Mr. Lee
  In March 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 1,918,100, the lowest for more than eight years on a consistent basis.

  Enterprise Training
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently obtaining skills on enterprise training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Over the last financial year about 53,000 people have taken up this type of training. This represents an increase of 9,000 on the previous year's total.

  North Derbyshire (Coalfield Communities)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has plans to increase the numbers in employment in the coalfield communities of north Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department operates a wide range of employment, enterprise and training measures, which are all available in north Derbyshire as elsewhere, and which are helping to increase the numbers in employment.

  During the 12 months to March 1989 unemployment in Derbyshire fell by 10,183, 24·2 per cent. of the March 1988 figure.

  Remedial Education
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government training initiatives aimed at the long-term unemployed includes provision for remedial education where required.

  Mr. Nicholls
  An important aspect of employment training is to improve trainees' awareness of the work environment and enhance their motivation and confidence. Provision for vocational literacy and numeracy training is included in employment training where unemployed people need such help to benefit fully from occupational training. Where appropriate, training is also offered in English as a second language. The aim is to integrate training in these skills with occupational training wherever possible.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the future of the construction industry training board.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 14 February 1989. Consultations with the board and organisations representing employers in the construction industry are continuing.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the eradication of low pay.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Low pay is a relative concept. No matter how much living standards rise, some workers will always be paid less than others. The best way to help the lower paid is through the development of a prosperous and growing economy, which the Government's policies are helping to achieve.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the incidence of low pay in Yorkshire and Humberside.
  166
  Mr. Nicholls
  Pay in Yorkshire and Humberside, as elsewhere, is a matter for employers and employees or their representatives to determine.

  Secondary Picketing
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to seek to alter the present legislation on secondary picketing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As indicated in the Green Paper, "Removing Barriers to Employment", which was published on 20 March 1989, the Government propose no change to the law on picketing.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to meet representatives of the chambers of commerce to discuss the establishment of training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Over the past few months, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had frequent contacts with individual chambers and with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce to discuss the establishment of TECs.

  Chambers of commerce have been very active in improving employer commitment to training and are playing a key role in the establishment of TECs. We look to their continued support and involvement.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met employers to discuss training and enterprise councils in East Anglia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  We have been encouraged by the excellent response from employers throughout the country and in East Anglia to our invitation to form training and enterprise councils. A number of employers from the area attended a dinner on training and enterprise councils in late February given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  We understand that a number of groups of employers are interested in establishing training and enterprise councils in East Anglia and we look forward to receiving their proposals.

  Tourism and Catering
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the development of tourism in Northumbria.

  Mr. Lee
  Northumbria already attracts more than 4 million visitors each year. With its combination of beautiful countryside, historic towns, and a wealth of natural and heritage attractions, the region offers considerable potential for further expansion of its tourism industry. The Gateshead garden festival in 1990 will help provide an additional stimulus to the development of the region.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met with local tourist authorities to discuss promoting and developing tourism in the north-west of England.
  167
  Mr. Lee
  I am in virtually weekly contact with north-west tourist authorities to discuss promoting and developing tourism in that region.

  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in the tourism and catering industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated that, in December 1988, there were 1·4 million employees in employment in tourism-related industries in Great Britain. This figure includes only those catering activities related to tourism. There are no directly comparable estimates for the number of self-employed, but according to the preliminary results of the 1988 labour force survey, it is estimated that there were 0·2 million self-employed workers in the hotel and catering industry in the spring of 1988.

  European Community Social Fund
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to secure European social fund grants for projects in the Borders.

  Mr. Cope
  Applications for finance from the European social fund for the Borders were forwarded to the European Commission in the normal way and with full support from my Department. The decision on which projects are funded rests with the Commission.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what efforts are being made to secure European social fund grants for projects in Cornwall.

  Mr. Cope
  Applications for finance from the European social fund for Cornwall were forwarded to the European Commission in the normal way and with full support from my Department. The decision on which projects are funded rests with the Commission.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the operations of the employment training scheme in south Yorkshire.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training in south Yorkshire continues to make excellent progress providing unemployed people with a wide range of training opportunities to help them acquire the skills and experience needed to get jobs.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether all new recruits to employment training during 1989–90 will continue to receive training premiums of £11·95, £11·25 and £10, depending on their circumstances; whether he has any plans to increase each of these training premiums in line with inflation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As was announced on 12 April 1989, from 22 May all new entrants to employment training will be paid a training premium of £10 per week. All trainees receiving a premium of £11·25 or £11·95 at 22 May will continue to do so until they leave the programme.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the profiles of the number of 168
  expected starts with training managers, excluding conversion from other programmes, on employment training for each month since September 1988, for each training agency area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Profiles of the number of expected starts with training managers are for internal management purposes only.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of European social fund funding he is seeking for employment training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The United Kingdom has submitted a number of applications for European social fund aid in respect of anticipated expenditure under the employment training programme which are being considered by the European Commission in the light of the total demands being made by the United Kingdom and other member states. The Commission has indicated that European social fund aid is to be allocated for the employment training programme but the amounts are not yet known. A decision will be given shortly.

  Wages Inspectors
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many wages inspectors there are in the north-west region; and how many there were in 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are currently 12 inspectors in post in the north west division of the wages inspectorate. There were 21 inspectors in the division in 1979 and 11 in 1987.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many wages inspectors there are nationally; and how many there were in 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Currently there are 66 wages inspectors in post nationally. Arrangements are in hand to bring the number of inspectors up to the full complement of 71. In 1979, there were 158 inspectors.

  Employees (Contracts)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, how many employees have contracts which exclude rights to redundancy or unfair dismissal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Wages
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his best available estimate of the proportion of the work force earning less than £3·80 per hour.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated from the New Earnings Survey that about 40 per cent. of the adult work force in Great Britain, including both full-time and part-time employees, earned less than £3·80 per hour in April 1988.

  Unit Labour Costs
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much unit labour costs in the United
  169
  Kingdom have increased over the last 12 months; and what information he has as to by how much labour costs have increased over the same period in France, West Germany, Japan and the United States of America.

  Mr. Lee
  International comparisons of unit labour costs for the whole economy are not available. However, the latest available information for manufacturing industries is provided in the table:

  Unit labour costs in manufacturing Percentage changes in the year to the fourth quarter of 1988

  per cent.

  United Kingdom

  0·4

  France

  -15

  West Germany

  0·7

  Japan

  -2·0

  United States

  1·1

  Notes:

  1. The percentages are calculated from index series produced by the International Monetary Fund; the latest available figures for the five countries on a consistent basis are for the fourth quarter of 1988.

  2. The source index series are in local currency and are not adjusted for exchange rate changes.

  Skill Centres
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a prospectus will be sent to all those bidding for the skill centres.

  Mr. Cope
  The skills training agency will be offered for sale through a private tender process, and the sale will be open to all interested parties.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who owns the freehold of Deptford skill centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The freehold is Crown property, at present held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment. Management and financial responsibility is a matter for the Training Commission.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will report to the House what progress has been made on the management buy-out of the national network of skill centres.

  Mr. Cope
  In his statement to the House on 13 March,Official Report, column 35, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State referred to the existence of a management buy-out team, and said that he had agreed to give them financial assistance to make a bid when the skills training agency is offered for sale. It is for the team to decide whether to bid when the formal offer for sale occurs.

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in the port of London.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the decline in business and jobs in the port of London and in other ports covered by the scheme.

  Non-oil cargo passing through the port of London area declined by 9 per cent. between 1970–1987, from 30·4
  170
  million tonnes to 27·7 million tonnes. The number of registered dock workers declined from 16,573 in 1970 to 1,739 in May 1989.

  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Hull, Goole and Grimsby.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the ports of Hull, Goole and Grimsby.

  The growth in trade handled by ports on the south and east coasts outside the dock labour scheme has been Far greater than in the scheme ports, including Hull, Goole and Grimsby.

  The number of registered dock workers in Hull, Goole and Grimsby fell from 4,470 in 1970 to 1,563 on 2 May 1989.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers employed in dock labour scheme ports are aged 25–35 years, 35–45 years and over 45 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The 1987 National Dock Labour Board annual report, the most recent available, provides the following information on the numbers of registered dock workers in each age group.

  Age group

  Number of workers

  25–35

  693

  35–45

  3,200

  Over 45

  6,408

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Liverpool.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the decline of business and jobs in the port of Liverpool and in other ports covered by the scheme.

  Non-oil cargo passing through the port of Liverpool (including Garston) decreased from 16,464 tonnes in 1970 to 8,886 in 1987: a fall of 46 per cent. In the same period Heysham, a non-scheme, west coast port increased its traffic by over 300 per cent. The numbers of registered dock workers employed in Liverpool and Birkenhead has fallen from 10,449 in 1970 to 1,244 in April 1989.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers were employed in dock labour scheme ports and in non-dock labour scheme ports in(a) 1959 and (b) 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers were employed in dock labour scheme ports and non-dock labour scheme ports in 1959 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  According to national dock labour board returns employment of registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports declined from 71,846 in 1959 to 9,319 in May 1989. Figures for non-scheme ports over the same period are not available, but between 1983 and 1987 employment of dock workers in those ports rose by 10 per cent. to 3,900. A quarter of all dock workers are therefore now employed in non-scheme ports.
  171
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Southampton.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the port of Southampton.

  The growth in trade handled by ports on the south and east coasts outside the dock labour scheme has been far greater than for scheme ports such as Southampton.

  The number of registered dock workers in Southampton has dropped by 66 per cent., from 1,944 in 1970 to 681 in April 1989.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since 1970, the number of registered dock workers has declined from 45,542 to 9,310—a drop of 79 per cent. Between 1967 and 1987, the share of the United Kingdom market held by non-scheme ports increased from 10 per cent. to nearly 30 per cent. of a smaller total tonnage.

  The dock labour scheme has contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the ports in which it operates.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to discuss the reintroduction of casual labour into dock labour scheme ports with the National Association of Port Employers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Arrangements following the abolition of the Dock Labour Scheme are a matter for employers and dock workers in the ports concerned, as is already the case for other workers in those ports and dock workers in ports outside the scheme. My right hon. Friend has no plans to enter into discussions with those concerned.

  Employers of 93 per cent. of dock workers in scheme ports have given assurances not to return to a system of casual work. I understand that they have indicated a willingness to examine this and other issues on a port by port basis.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations has he received on his White Paper, "Employment in the Ports, the Dock Labour Scheme"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on his plans to abolish the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have received a number of such representations. The abolition of the dock labour scheme will lead to increased investment and employment opportunities in British ports and ports areas, and has been welcomed by all sectors of industry.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Immingham and Grimsby.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the port of Grimsby and Immingham.
  172
  The growth in trade handled by ports on the south and east coasts outside the dock labour scheme has been far greater than for scheme ports such as Grimsby and Immingham. The number of registered dock workers in Grimsby and Immingham fell from 1,344 in 1970 to 684 in May 1989.

  "Removing Barriers to Employment"
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received in response to his Green Paper, "Removing Barriers to Employment".

  Mr. Nicholls
  Our Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment" was published on 20 March and the closing date for comments is 20 June. We are, therefore, in the early stages of the consultation period. To date, six representations have been received.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government will implement the Council of Europe's decency threshold of an hourly rate of £3·80 as a minimum wage.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No, there is no such thing as a Council of Europe decency threshold for a minimum acceptable level of earnings.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to introduce a statutory minimum wage: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. A national minimum wage would raise employers' costs and destroy jobs, including the jobs of those whom it was designed to help.

  Work Force
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the anticipated changes in the make-up of the work force by age and sex over the next 10 years.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department's latest projections of the civilian labour force show a number of significant changes between now and the end of the century. In particular, it is expected that the share of young people in the labour force will decline markedly and the share of women will rise. These projections were published in the April 1989 edition of Employment Gazette, a copy of which is in the Library.

  TUC
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he has any plans to meet the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend meets the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people who would otherwise have been on the unemployment register have been on Government training schemes since 1979.
  173
  Mr. Lee
  No such estimates are available.

  Picketing
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to convert the current law on picketing to a voluntary code as recommended by the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment". published on 20 March, states that the Government propose no change to the law on picketing.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss picketing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans for such a meeting.

  West Midlands (Engineering Apprentices)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of engineering apprenticeships in the west midlands, expressed as a percentage of the numbers available in 1979.

  Mr. Cope
  Currently in the midlands there are 54 per cent. of the number of apprentices registered with the engineering industry training board in 1979. It is not known how many engineering apprentices there are outside the board's registration system.

  Wages Act 1986
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what assessment he has made of the effects of the Wages Act 1986 on young workers' pay(a) by region and (b) nationally.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The removal of wages council minima has enabled employers to offer, and young people to accept, jobs at rates which would previously have been unlawful, and there is evidence that this has resulted in increased job opportunities for those under 21. It is not possible to measure the effect of this greater flexibility on pay levels, but there has been no general reduction in the earnings of young people in wages council trades. These have continued to increase in real terms.

  Skill Training
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skills training in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Cope
  A skilled work force is essential to the growing economy in Yorkshire and Humberside. The Government recognise this and are playing their part. We are establishing local training and enterprise councils which will put employers in the lead in determining local skills training needs. Business growth training launched last month will help companies in Yorkshire and Humberside to improve the effectiveness of their training. In addition young people and unemployed adults are given the opportunity to train through YTS and employment training.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skills training in the west midlands.
  174
  Mr. Cope
  A skilled work force is essential to the growing economy in the west midlands. The Government recognise this and are playing their part. We are establishing local training and enterprise councils which will put employers in the lead in determining local skills training needs. Business growth training launched last month will help companies in the west midlands to improve the effectiveness of their training. In addition young people and unemployed adults are given the opportunity to train through YTS and employment training.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skills training in the north-west.

  Mr. Cope
  A skilled work force is essential to the growing economy in the north-west. The Government recognise this and are playing their part. We are establishing local training and enterprise councils which will put employers in the lead in determining local skills training needs. Business growth training launched last month will help companies in the north-west to improve the effectiveness of their training. In addition young people and unemployed adults are given the opportunity to train through YTS and employment training.

  Training Commission
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the development of the Training Commission.

  Mr. Cope
  The Employment Bill seeks to complete the abolition of the Training Commission.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses have registered for value added tax during the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Cope
  The net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses in 1987 was 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average.

  National Port Employers
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet representatives of the national port employers; and if he will make a statement.

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

  YTS
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of two-year YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  Over 80 per cent. of those who complete their two-year YTS programme go into employment; over 60 per cent. of those who complete gain a qualification. YTS is providing the skills and qualification that young people and the country needs as we move into the 1990s.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS trainees were in receipt of a
  175
  training agency lodging allowance to undertake training away from their home by training agency area, at the end of March 1988, and the end of January, February and March 1989; and how many were in receipt of the allowance by region at March of each year since YTS started.

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

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people of YTS eligible age, registered with jobcentres or the careers service were awaiting an offer of a YTS place at the end of January, February and March 1989; and of those how many were receiving bridging allowance or extended child benefit or income support.

  Mr. Cope
  I am satisfied that the Training Agency has more than sufficient YTS places available in all areas of the country for all those who apply for one.

  Information on numbers receiving bridging allowance and for those whose parents were receiving extended child benefit is provided in the table. Information on the number of young people receiving income support is not available.

  Numbers receiving bridging allowance

  Date

  Number

  12 January 1989

  11,994

  9 February 1989

  14,163

  9 March 1989

  13,955

  Numbers whose parents are receiving extended child benefit

  Date

  Number

  30 January 1989

  1,451

  27 February 1989

  1,960

  27 March 1989

  2,000

  Local Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what amount of Government funding was made available in 1988–89 to local enterprise agencies.

  Mr. Cope
  Government support to local enterprise agencies in the United Kingdom in 1988–89 exceeded £8·3 million.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new initiatives he has to reduce unemployment.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment has fallen by over 1·2 million and for 32 months in succession, the longest and largest sustained fall on record, as a direct result of the sustained growth brought about by the Government's sound economic policies. Since 1983 the workforce in employment has increased by nearly 3 million and there are now more people in work in this country than ever before in our history. We will continue to provide the right conditions for this jobs growth to continue. In addition we already have in place a comprehensive range of measures to help unemployed people back into the jobs that are becoming available—in particular the restart programme, job clubs and employment training.

  Unions (Secondary Action)
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the legislation on secondary action in an industrial action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Proposals for the reform of the law on secondary action are contained in the Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment" which was published on 20 March 1989.

  Smoking
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his departmental policy towards smoking in the work place.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend welcomes the publication by the Health and Safety 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 their work place. The booklet advises employers to limit the exposure at work of non-smokers to tobacco smoke.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, in the light of criticisms of the Health and Safety Executive's booklet "Passive Smoking at Work" he will take steps to withdraw this booklet from circulation and replace it with one which has the approval of the medical profession, and which takes account of the advice of the fourth report of the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend supports the advice given by the Health and Safety Executive in the booklet "Passive Smoking at Work" and has no intention of asking the executive to withdraw or replace it. The booklet takes account of the fourth report of the independent scientific committee on smoking and health and also refers readers to other sources of more detailed advice such as that published by the Health Education Authority. It outlines practical ways in which smoking policies can be introduced at work and was agreed with representatives of employers, trade unions and the medical profession.

  Job Clubs
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job clubs have been closed down, and are to be closed down in(a) Strathclyde, (b) Scotland and (c) England and Wales.

  Mr. Lee
  Changes to the job club network were announced in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 27 January 1989,Official Report column 810. As part of those changes the number of job clubs which have been closed down or are to be closed down shortly is:

  Number

  (a) Strathclyde

  5

  (b) Scotland

  7

  (c) England and Wales

  207

  Alternative provision is available where job clubs have been closed.

  Business Growth Training
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on business growth training.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) on 19 April 1989,Official Report, column 211.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the expansion of small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with the CBI to discuss issues affecting small firms and other matters.

  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Venture Capital Association to discuss the development of small businesses.

  Mr. Cope
  I have regular contact with the BVCA but have no immediate plan to meet the chairman of the association.

  Low Pay Unit
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received the most recent report of the low pay unit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend is aware of this report and of similar publications prepared by the low pay unit, which do not call for any comment from him.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received the low pay Unit report, "Ten Years On: The Poor Decade"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has seen this report and similar publications prepared by the low pay unit, which purport to show large increases in the numbers of low-paid people, based on the unit's own definition and quoting the so-called Council of Europe "decency threshold". The Government do not accept the validity of those calculations. Earnings and take-home pay have increased in real terms at all levels of income since 1979, and among both women and men.

  Companies (Worker Representation)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next intends to discuss worker representation on company boards with his European Economic Community counterparts in the Council of Employment Ministers.

  Mr. Cope
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs will be attending a meeting of internal market Ministers on 12 June when this subject may be discussed.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what investigation the Health and Safety 178
  Executive has conducted into the burning of asbestos at the protein fractionation centre in Edinburgh adjacent to the Liberton and Southfield hospitals; and what conclusions they have reached.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive are currently investigating the incineration of filters at the protein fractionation centre in Edinburgh. I will write to the hon. Member when the investigation is complete.

  Cobalt Dust
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the results of the Health and Safety Executive's recent hard metal special national project.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Results so far available show that measurements of cobalt dust in air were below the current recommended occupational exposure limit at 16 factories visited by the Health and Safety Executive in the hard metal special national project. At 17 factories visited the level of cobalt dust was not controlled below the recommended limit.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action the Health and Safety Executive will be taking to ensure that compliance by the hard metal industry with the occupational exposure limit for cobalt is improved.

  Mr Nicholls
  Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have enforcement powers under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to require an employer to comply with his duties to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of his employees. These duties extend to the risks associated with the exposure of workers to cobalt dust.

  At visits inspectors check that employers comply with the recommended occupational exposure limit for cobalt and its compounds and will take enforcement action necessary where companies do not meet the required standards.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under what instructions Health and Safety Executive inspectors have been working in taking enforcement action in relation to employers' failures to comply with the cobalt occupational exposure limit and to provide adequate medical surveillance.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At visits, inspectors consider whether employers have complied with their duties under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Inspectors check that employers comply with the recommended occupational exposure limit for cobalt and its compounds and will take any enforcement action necessary where companies do not meet the required standards.

  Restart
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants called for restart interview have failed to attend their interview; how many of those failing to attend are believed to have found work; how many of those failing to attend have not found work; how many failing to attend have their benefit stopped and
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  how many of these have successfully appealed against the benefit decision; and how many failing to attend have subsequently re-registered as unemployed in the most recent 12-month period.

  Mr Lee
  Between April 1988 and March 1989, 3,066,000 were called for restart interview of which 326,000 were referred to unemployment benefit offices for failing to attend that interview. 25,387 (7·8 per cent.) of these had their benefit or credits disallowed.

  The other information requested is not available.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants each month have been referred to the unemployment benefit service due to doubts over non-availability or doubts about their restricted availability since December 1988 for each employment service region.

  Mr. Lee
  Up to December 1988 statistics on decisions by adjudication officers on availability cases were produced by the Department of social security on a six-monthly basis. From January 1989 the figures will be produced every quarter. The figures for the period ending 31 March 1989 are not yet available, but I will write to the hon. Member when statistics are to hand on decisions on availability cases for the period requested.

  Child Minders
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many child minder allowances have been granted to lone parent ET participants since September 1988; and how many were granted during the most recently available monthly period, for each training agency area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information about the number of lone parents on employment training receiving child care payments before April 1989 is not available. The number of lone parents receiving child care payments during April is given in table 1.

  Table 1

  Employment Training

  Number of lone parents receiving child care payments during April 1989

  Training Agency area

  Lone parents

  South East region

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  49

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  47

  Essex

  47

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  43

  Kent

  35

  Surrey

  22

  Sussex

  87

  London region

  Inner London North

  131

  Inner London South

  109

  London East

  92

  London North

  107

  London South

  74

  London West

  27

  South West region

  Avon

  123

  Devon and Cornwall

  121

  Dorset and Somerset

  35

  180

  Training Agency area

  Lone parents

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  46

  West Midlands region

  Birmingham and Solihull

  229

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  55

  Dudley and Sandwell

  45

  Staffordshire

  48

  The Marches, Hereford/Worcester

  55

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  16

  East Midlands and Eastern region

  Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  40

  Derbyshire

  17

  Leicester and Northamptonshire

  84

  Lincolnshire

  19

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  47

  Nottinghamshire

  87

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees

  111

  Humberside

  71

  North Yorkshire and Leeds

  91

  Sheffield and Rotherham

  53

  Wakefield, Doncaster and Barnsley

  38

  North West region

  Cheshire

  45

  Cumbria

  23

  Lancashire

  42

  Central Manchester

  80

  Greater Manchester North

  46

  Greater Manchester East

  96

  Merseyside

  190

  Northern region

  Cleveland

  119

  County Durham

  56

  Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle

  37

  Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead

  41

  Wales

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  58

  Gwent

  21

  Gwynedd, Clwyd and Powys

  56

  Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan

  54

  Scotland

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  44

  Central and Fife

  44

  Glasgow City

  73

  Grampian and Tayside

  69

  Highlands and Islands

  16

  Lanarkshire

  37

  Lothian and Borders

  45

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  21

  Claimants (Surveys)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the terms of reference and other details of the surveys being carried out or commissioned by his Department amongst claimants at either unemployment benefit offices or jobcentres in the west midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department commissioned the Harris Research Centre Ltd. to undertake a survey of claimants at unemployment benefit offices in the west midlands conurbation. Interviewing took place during March and April. All those interviewed were selected at random by interviewers. All interviews were anonymous and voluntary. The aim was to collect information about a representative sample of claimants, not about individuals.
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  This survey is part of a wider study of the labour market in the west midlands conurbation, which also includes a survey of employers' vacancies and recruitment practices. The aim of the study is to establish what the barriers are to the efficient operation of the labour market and, in particular to see what are the factors which prevent longer-term unemployed people from being able to take advantage of the available jobs and to help determine how best my Department's programmes can meet their needs.

  Availability for Work
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list from the 1988 labour force survey by region, including Greater London and by male and female, the number of people not counted as unemployed by the definition using broad ILO guidelines on the grounds that they had not looked for a job in the four weeks prior to interview, but who stated that they would like a job if one was available, and(a) were available to start work within two weeks or (b) were not available to start work within two weeks.

  Mr. Lee
  Preliminary results from the 1988 labour force survey as requested are shown in the following table:

  Persons not in employment and not unemployed on ILO-OECD definition who had not looked jar work in four weeks prior to interview1 but would like a job, by availability to start work

  Spring 1988, thousands

  Available to start within two weeks

  2Not available to start within two weeks

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Great Britain

  367

  763

  294

  554

  Northern

  20

  52

  33

  39

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  34

  84

  30

  51

  East Midlands

  30

  62

  19

  40

  East Anglia

  11

  23

  3

  11

  South East of which Greater

  93

  201

  63

  175

  London

  45

  90

  32

  91

  South West

  18

  57

  16

  40

  West Midlands

  44

  70

  30

  53

  North West

  56

  99

  52

  67

  Wales

  22

  42

  20

  28

  Scotland

  39

  74

  26

  51

  1 Includes those who did not state whether they had looked for work.

  2 Includes those who did not state whether they were available to start work.

  3 Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

  Fair Employment Act (Compensation Payments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those employers who have made a compensatory payment to a complainant under the Fair Employment Act; and what were the sums involved in each case, the original date of each settlement and the actual date of payment since the Act became law to the present time.

  Mr. Viggers
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 21 April 1989 to the question from the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) at column 316.

ENVIRONMENT

  Job Creation
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many part-time jobs have been created by Cleveland county council since 1979.

  Mr. Gummer
  Cleveland county council employed 10,616 part-time staff in December 1979. By December 1988 it employed 12,927, a net increase of 2,311, or 21·8 per cent.

  National Business Rate
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much he estimates Lambeth will receive from the proceeds of the national business rate, in relation to the current yield from rates of non-domestic properties.

  Mr. Gummer
  The proceeds of the national business rate will be distributed as an equal amount per adult. The level of receipts in any area will depend on the distributable amount per adult and the number of adults in that area. This information will not be available before the autumn. It is of no significance to community chargepayers if the income from non-domestic ratepayers retained in Lambeth changes when the new system is introduced. Grant will be paid according to need. So if Lambeth retained more non-domestic rate income, the need for grant would be lower and chargepayers would not benefit.

  Gipsy Sites
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the number of local authorities with designated gipsy sites and those without.

  Mr. Trippier
  The number of local authorities which are designated areas under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 is as follows:

  Designated

  Not designated

  Shire districts

  94

  203

  Metropolitan districts

  10

  26

  London Boroughs

  22

  10

  Brodsworth Parish Council (Letter)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he replied to the letter sent to him by Brodsworth parish council in the county of South Yorkshire, dated 14 March, in respect of sewage and river pollution; and if he will publish his reply in the Official Report.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department replied to the council on 9 May and I have sent a copy to the hon. Member. I have no plans to publish the reply.

  Puffins
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission a study into the disappearance of puffins along the south coast.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. The Nature Conservancy Council advised that there has been no fall in the overall
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  numbers of puffins on the south coast. The latest available figures show a maximum of some 260 birds in the area between 1985 and 1987, compared with 205 in 1969–70. While some small colonies may have declined or moved elsewhere, any localised changes are not considered so significant, in relation to the total British puffin population of over 500,000 breeding pairs, to justify commissioning a study.

  Sulphur Dioxide
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress being made to remove sulphur dioxide from power station and factory emissions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for St. Helen's, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 2 May, at column 53.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table outlining how many people his Department estimates will gain and how many will lose as a result of the introduction of the community charge in(a) Leeds, West and (b) Kirkstall ward.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 16 March at column 318, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out(a) all the exempt categories of those who will not have to pay the poll tax and (b) the exact nature and amount of the exemptions including housing benefit payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. The categories of people who are exempt from liability to pay the personal community charge are listed in schedule 1 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988. We estimate that the number of individuals in these categories will be about half a million.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside of 8 May,Official Report, column 350, he will publish the letter in the Official Report.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 11 May at column 521 to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham).

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who(a) collected the local information for and (b) distributed the newspaper articles on the poll tax in the name of the Minister for Local Government which appeared last week.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. My articles were distributed by the Department's press office and the regional offices of the COI. The information they contained was collected from a range of sources.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the leaflets entitled "The Community Charge (the So-called Poll Tax); How It Will Work for You" have been printed.
  184
  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: A total of 23 million.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of printing the leaflets entitled "The Community Charge (the So-called Poll Tax); How it Will Work for You."

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: The total cost of production was £367,887.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the newspapers which received articles on the poll tax in the name of the Minister for Local Government last week.

  Mr. Gummer
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly with this information.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when regulations relating to the processing of information gathered for the purpose of compiling the poll tax register will come into effect; what guidelines his Department will issue to councils on this matter; what representations he has received concerning the sending out by Westminster city council of registration forms with a 21-day deadline for reply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 10 May 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  Regulations prescribing the powers of community charges registration officers to require information from the public were laid before Parliament on 17 March and come into force on 22 May. Where information is required under this provision, the person concerned has 21 days within which to respond. It is open to CCRO's to seek information before that date on a voluntary basis but they have been advised that such requests would not have any statutory character. I expect however that most recipients of requests before 22 May will co-operate by providing the information to compile the register in a smooth and economical manner.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to meet the costs which have so far been incurred in setting up the community charge system in Nottingham beyond the £307,000 specific grant for 1989–90 already made available.

  Mr. Gummer
  No. To agree to meet any costs incurred by authorities in preparing for the community charge would give no incentive to efficiency. Nottingham has been allocated £306,864 specific grant and a similar amount of expenditure has been supported through RSG. It is now for it to use its available resources to ensure that the new arrangements are effectively implemented.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what a managing director would pay(a) in community charge and (b) in a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in proportions of 80–20, respectively, if he or she lived in a typical five-bedroom house in Hornsey;

  (2) what a home-help would pay (a) in community charge and (b) in a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in proportions of 80–20, respectively, if he or she lived in a typical council high-rise flat in Hornsey.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 2 May, at column 46.

  Sea Dredged Aggregates
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total United Kingdom demand for sea dredged aggregates for the last five years; what is the percentage growth over the last ten years; and what are the predicted levels of demand during the next five years.

  Mr. Chope
  The total United Kingdom demand for sea dredged aggregates over the last five years for which figures are available (1983–87) was 70·03 million tonnes (mt).

  The percentage growth over the last 10 years (1977–87) is 46 per cent. Specific predictions for the estimated level of demand over the next five years (1989–93) are not available. But an estimate is made in MPG5, "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales" that the total level of demand over this period is likely to be 81·1mt.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, (Dr. Thomas)Official Report, 2 May, column 53, he will list the 12 sites earmarked by UK Nirex Ltd for further appraisal.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 2 May Official Report, column 53, if he will list the 12 sites chosen for further appraisal by Nirex.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received a list of the 12 reserve sites identified by Nirex.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the gross amount owed to each local authority in England in rent arrears; what proportion such sums represent as a percentage of rental income; and how much has been owed in each case for (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) one year and (d) two years.

  Mr. Trippier
  A table was placed in the Library on 1 March this year showing rent arrears reported at 1 April 1988 and the arrears as a percentage of rent roll. Corresponding information for the position at 1 April 1989 will be available towards the end of this year.

  Information about total tenants' arrears (including rates and service charges and so on) together with estimates of the length of arrears is contained in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy publication "Housing Rents Statistics at April 1988", a copy of which is also in the Library.

  BISF Homes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he was invited to the national meeting of the BISF home owners held on 6 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I was not invited to this meeting. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 May at column 353, to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart).

  Waste Reduction
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that integrated pollution control will require industry to take account of waste minimisation and waste reduction.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Under the Government's proposals industrial processes scheduled for integrated pollution control will need a consent from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to operate. That consent will require the generation and emission of specified polluting wastes to be minimised through the application of best available technology not entailing excessive cost. The consent will also require the minimisation of the impact on the environment as a whole of all waste outputs from scheduled processes.

  Energy Conservation
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that integrated pollution control will require industry to take account of energy conservation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Integrated pollution control will not directly regulate the energy efficiency of prescribed processes.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 24 April,Official Report, column 413, if he will make a statement as to the parameters within which Her Majesty's Government will define pensions for Crown Suppliers employees as broadly comparable to present arrangements.

  Mr. Chope
  The pension terms on offer would be assessed by the Government Actuary.

  Plumstead Baths and Library
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recommendations he has received from English Heritage about the possible listing of Plumstead baths and library; and what has been his response.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  English Heritage has recommended that the baths and library are not buildings of special architectural or historic interest, and I have decided to accept its advice. Accordingly, these buildings will not be included in the statutory list.

  Cryptosporidia
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research is being undertaken to establish whether cryptosporidia is contained in water filter beds.

  Mr. Howard
  Research into cryptosporidia in water supplies is one of the questions being examined by the group of experts established by the Government under the chairmanship of Sir John Badenoch.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the

  187
  estimated cost for each of (a) Morecombe South; (b) Morecombe North, and (c) Bardsea of (i) a long sea outfall, (ii) full sewage treatment works with a short sea outfall, and (iii) full sewage treatment works with a long sea outfall to enable them to comply with European Economic Community bathing water directive 76/160/EEC; and when the appropriate solution will be put in place, giving the estimated cost of commencement and completion.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 May, at column 352, to his question about the bathing waters at Formby, Ainsdale and Southport.

  Domestic Waste
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage the reprocessing of domestic waste by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for waste disposal authorities to choose the most appropriate method of disposal for their own locality, taking account of the economic and environmental implications in so doing. We are currently considering changes to the legislation which will ensure that the true costs of waste disposal are met by those disposing of the waste. It may well be that recycling or other methods of treating waste will then be seen as more attractive options.

  Local Government Boundaries
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the results of the review of local government district council boundaries in the west midlands.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Before 31 March 1992—the date by which the Local Government Boundary Commission must complete its reviews.

  Paper Recycling
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many paper recycling plants there are operating in the United Kingdom currently; what are their respective capacities; and how much recycled paper they produce.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: I understand that there are 54 mills in the United Kingdom (approximately half of all the paper and board mills in the country) that use waste paper. In 1988 they consumed a total of 2·4 million tonnes of waste paper and
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  produced an estimated 2·1 million tonnes of paper made wholly or partly from waste paper. Details of their respective capacities or production are not available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to encourage the recycling of paper and the use of recycled paper.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: The Department has shown the way by phasing in the use of recycled paper for correspondence since 1984; other Departments are doing the same.

  We are also co-operating in the current series of seminars organised by the Department of Trade and Industry aimed at raising awareness of the growing demand for waste paper as a raw material for newsprint production.

  My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for Trade and Industry has responsibility for co-ordinating Government policy on recycling. I and other colleagues work closely with him to promote recycling whenever it is an economically viable method of waste disposal.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the consequences for local authorities of financing new capital expenditure direct from revenue after the introduction of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: Under the proposed new capital finance system contained in the Local Government and Housing Bill, local authorities will be free to finance additional capital expenditure direct from a revenue account. This freedom will extend the accountability of the community charge to capital as well as revenue expenditure. I am discussing with the local authority associations how allowance for the direct financing of capital expenditure should be included in the total revenue needs assessment used to determine local authorities' needs grant.

  Tree Preservation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce the results of his review of legislation relating to tree preservation orders.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: The review of tree preservation policy and legislation is still in progress.

  It is too soon to say when a further announcement may be made.

  SIB AND SELF-REGULATING ORGANISATIONS
  SIB AND SELF-REGULATING ORGANISATIONS
  LINK PROGRAMMES: PROGRESS
  LINK PROGRAMMES: PROGRESS
  PENSIONABLE AGE POPULATION
  PENSIONABLE AGE POPULATION
  IMPORTED EGGS: SALMONELLA MONITORING
  IMPORTED EGGS: SALMONELLA MONITORING
  VOLUNTARY SECTOR: GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCRUTINY
  VOLUNTARY SECTOR: GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCRUTINY
  VOLUNTARY BODIES: GOVERNMENT GRANTS
  VOLUNTARY BODIES: GOVERNMENT GRANTS