Written Answers of 19 May 1989

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Lingua Programme
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the Government's policy towards the Lingua programme proposed by the European Commission;

  (2) what is the budget contribution from the United Kingdom for five years from 1994, as part of the Lingua programme;

  (3) what projects have been prepared for submission to the Lingua programme proposed by the European Community;

  (4) how much has been spent on preparatory work on the Lingua programme proposed by the European Commission.

  Mr. Jackson
  Modern languages are a key part of the national curriculum and the Government attach great importance to improving our performance in this field. Provided an appropriate legal base can be agreed, the Government are prepared to support those parts of the proposed Lingua programme which relate to student mobility, in-service training for teachers, programmes of co-operation in language teaching between higher education institutions and language training for firms. It is not prepared to support proposals for Community action in areas of school education, which are matters for individual member states. Until the size and shape of the Lingua programme have been agreed, it is not possible to forecast the United Kingdom's budgetary contribution to it, or to invite the submission of projects within it. Preparatory work in this country has to date been limited to that required for negotiating the text of the decision establishing the programme.

  Doctorates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many doctoral research students at the Open university have been awarded doctorates in each year since 1979; and what has been the comparable average success in other United Kingdom universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  Numbers of training doctorates at the Open university are as follows:

  Number

  1979

  14

  1980

  13

  1981

  22

  1982

  31

  1983

  31

  1984

  45

  1985

  41

  1986

  54

  1987

  55

  1988

  39

  1989

  15

  310

  1 To date

  A large proportion of Open university students research for their doctorates on a part-time basis. Information on average completion rates at the OU and at other United Kingdom universities is not readily available.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Education and Science if he will publish a table on student grants updating his answer of 12 December 1988,Official Report, column 389, for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jackson
  The data requested are as follows:

  Mandatory Awards (England and Wales) 1987–88 (Provisional)

  Student Numbers

  1Percentage of award holders

  Full maintenance

  2153,000

  37·7

  Maintenance reduced by assessment:

  (i)Numbers of dependent students with parental contributions of:

  Under £200

  22,800

  5·6

  £201 to £400

  21,900

  5·4

  £401 to £600

  17,100

  4·2

  £601 to £800

  15,800

  3·9

  £801 to £1,000

  14,500

  3·6

  £1,001 to £1,200

  13,600

  3·4

  £1,201 to £1,400

  11,800

  2·9

  £1,401 to £1,600

  10,000

  2·5

  £1,601 to £1,800

  7,700

  1·9

  £1,801 to £2,000

  5,800

  1·4

  Over £2,001

  5,300

  1·3

  (ii)Dependent students who contribute to grant from their own income

  600

  01

  (iii)Independent students

  5,900

  1·4

  Nil maintenance3

  2100,000

  24·7

  1 Percentages calculated on unrounded figures.

  2 Includes dependent and independent students.

  3 For these students only the course fees are paid.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the scales of parental contribution to the student grant, specifying what contribution parents should he making according to their income in the current year.

  Mr. Jackson
  The scales for the current academic year are as follows:

  Residual income1

  2Scale 1

  3Scale 2

  9,900

  50

  37

  10,000

  64

  48

  11,000

  207

  155

  12,000

  350

  262

  12,600

  435

  326

  13,000

  515

  386

  14,000

  715

  536

  15,000

  915

  686

  16,000

  1,115

  836

  17,000

  1,315

  986

  18,000

  1,515

  1,136

  18,400

  1,595

  1,196

  19,000

  1,745

  1,309

  20,000

  1,995

  1,496

  21,000

  2,245

  1,684

  22,000

  2,495

  1,871

  311

  Residual income1

  2Scale 1

  3Scale 2

  23,000

  2,745

  2,059

  24,000

  2,995

  2,246

  25,000

  3,245

  2,434

  26,000

  3,495

  2,621

  27,000

  3,745

  2,809

  28,000

  3,995

  2,996

  29,000

  4,245

  3,184

  30,000

  4,495

  3,371

  31,000

  4,745

  3,559

  31,620

  max 4,900

  3,675

  32,000

  3,746

  33,000

  3,934

  34,000

  4,121

  35,000

  4,309

  36,000

  4,496

  37,000

  4,684

  38,000

  4,871

  38,153

  max 4,900

  1 The starting point in calculating the residual income is the gross income of the parents as computed for tax purposes in the financial year immediately preceding the academic year for which the grant is being assessed. From this gross figure some deductions are allowed—notably those made in parallel with the tax reliefs based on interest payments, including mortgage interest, life insurance premiums (on policies taken out before March 1984) and superannuation payments.

  2 Scale 1 is applied to those students whose courses began before 1 April 1988 and who had attained the age of 18 by 16 March 1988, or to those who had within two years of starting their present course attended another designated course. Scale 2 is applied to all other dependent students.

  3 The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end and where the contribution is in respect of one award holder only. This will depend on the amount of grant against which the contribution has to be set and whether any of the assessed contribution is offest by allowances for other dependent children.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures, for his best available estimate, for the numbers of parents paying the parental contribution towards the student grant, specifying how many parents and how much they are paying in respect of each different level of contribution; and if he will also estimate what proportion of parents pay the full parental contribution at each different level.

  Mr. Jackson
  Although the parents of two out of three mandatory award holders are assessed for a contribution towards the maintenance element of the award, they are under no legal obligation to pay it. Evidence of payment or non-payment is indirect, from surveys of students' income and expenditure, and needs to be treated with caution. Such evidence suggests that the average student receives financial help from parents in excess of their assessed contribution, but that one student in three of those whose parents are assessed for an award may receive less.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which modern foreign languages will be specified for inclusion in the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today jointly published an order, which comes into effect on 1 August 1989, under section 3(2)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988. This specifies two groups of modern foreign languages which 312
  will qualify for the purposes of the national curriculum. The terms of the order reflect consultations on the draft order which we initiated on 3 March. We are grateful for all the comments received during the consultation period.

  Initially this order will apply to the requirement that pupils in key stage 3—normally those aged II to 14—should study a modern foreign language for a reasonable time from autumn 1989 for pupils in England, and from autumn 1990 for those in Wales.

  The first group of languages consists of the eight working languages of the European Community (Danish, Dutch, French, German, Modern Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish) —the schedule 1 languages. The second group contains 11 non-EC languages (Arabic, Bengali, Gujerati, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Russian, Turkish, Urdu)— the schedule 2 languages.

  The order does not require all pupils to study a working language of the European Community. It requires schools to offer at least one such language as the first modern foreign language pupils study; but allows schools also to offer any of the other languages listed in schedule 2 so that pupils can choose to study one of these languages rather than the EC language offered. But the order does not give pupils a right to demand teaching of a non-EC language or an EC language other than that offered.

  Circulars of guidance for England and Wales are also being published today. Copies of the order and circulars will be sent to all LEAs and schools and have been placed in the Library.

WALES

  Wales Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconsider the exclusion of the Welsh Joint Education Committee from the recently reconstituted Wales advisory body for local authority higher education.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The reconstituted Wales advisory body for local authority higher education consists of eight county councillors chaired by myself. The Welsh Joint Education committee nominates four of the eight councillors.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider appointing a representative of professional public sector higher education drawn from within the Principality to the newly constituted Wales advisory body for local authority higher education.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The former board of the Wales advisory body for local authority higher education has been reconstituted as the standing working group for the new single-tier Wales advisory body. Members appointed to the standing working group by my right hon. Friend are drawn from a variety of institutions. The only representative members are those appointed by the Welsh Counties committee and the Welsh joint education committee.

TRANSPORT

  Settle-Carlisle Railway
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information has been received to date from British Rail on the progress of consultation on private sector involvement in the Settle-Carlisle railway line.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that British Rail is considering, with the relevant local authorities, the precise scope of private sector involvement.

  European Community Infrastructure Grant
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will give a breakdown by region of the monies received from the European Community for transport or infrastructure investment for each year since 1980;

  (2) what monies have been or will be received from the European Community for infrastructure investment connected with the Channel tunnel; and if he will give a breakdown by standard region;

  (3) what information he has about what moneys are available from the European Community for infrastructure investment connected with the Channel tunnel for which Her Majesty's Government do not intend to apply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  European Community transport infrastructure grant to the United Kingdom since 1985 by regions and year has been as follows:

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  South East

  11·2

  6·6

  2·1

  7·0

  Eastern

  1·5

  2·6

  —

  —

  Wales

  —

  —

  1·4

  —

  Northern Ireland

  0·4

  —

  —

  —

  EC transport infrastructure grant so far awarded for investment connected with the Channel tunnel amounts to £15·6 million and a further £3·25 million is expected this year. All the projects concerned are in the south-east.

  The United Kingdom has also received support for transport infrastructure from the European regional development fund. Since 1980 this has been by region:

  £ million

  Northern

  142·6

  East Midland

  8·5

  North-West

  128·1

  South-West

  49·9

  West Midland

  78·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  94·9

  Figures for transport infrastructure grant earlier than 1985 or for a separation into years of the European regional development figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  We are therefore receiving funds from both available sources. We have no information of any other monies available from the EC for infrastructure investments connected with the Channel tunnel.

ENERGY

  Standing Charges
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairmen of electricity boards, he will urge them to abolish standing charges on electricity bills for pensioner customers.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Standing charges are a matter for the electricity industry. They cover the cost of providing a connection to the distribution network, as well as all aspects of customer services, including those of meter reading, accounting and billing. These costs arise no matter how much or how little electricity is used. They reflect the fixed costs which the electricity supply industry incurs in maintaining a constant and safe supply to each customer's home. Abolition of standing charges would increase the unit rate.

  I do not, therefore, believe that the abolition of standing charges on electricity bills for pensioner customers would be in the interests of customers as a whole.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the Director-General of Gas Supply, he will seek the abolition of standing charges on gas bills for pensioner customers.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No. Standing charges for gas are subject to the conditions of British Gas's authorisation as a public gas supplier.

  Uranium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many tonnes of uranium have been imported into the United Kingdom annually since 1979; whether the safeguards designation for each consignment was N or P; which authorities made the safeguards designation; from which countries the uranium originated; and was any subsequently re-exported.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The Euratom authorities assign appropriate safeguards coding, according to the conditions imposed by the government of the supplying country, at the time contracts are signed. Since 1979 over 10,000 tonnes of uranium as ore concentrate has been imported for use in the United Kingdom civil programme; all of it is subject to peaceful end-use restrictions imposed by the supplier country, with the exception of that from Namibia which was subject to obligation code "N". The ore concentrate was imported from Canada, United States of America and Namibia. No uranium ore concentrate has been imported from Namibia since 1984.

  In addition to uranium imported for use in the United Kingdom, over 30,000 tonnes of uranium, as ore concentrate, has been processed by British Nuclear Fuels Limited since 1979, on behalf of overseas customers for subsequent re-export. The origin of such material is a matter for these customers to determine.

  All uranium imported either for the United Kingdom civil programme or for re-export is subject to Euratom safeguards and the terms of the United Kingdom Euratom-International Atomic Energy Authority safeguards agreement and to any end use obligations imposed by the supplier country.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Polyester Silk Plants
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by year for the last 10 years the value in current prices of polyester silk plants imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will show in his answer the country of origin.

  United Kingdom exports of knitted or crocheted goods to Turkey (£'000)

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  11988

  Outerwear (group 845·0)

  72·3

  93·9

  159·4

  150·4

  73·6

  500·8

  968·0

  1,088·1

  435·4

  —

  Underwear (group 846·0)

  9·6

  0·7

  42·3

  160·9

  68·0

  37·8

  72·9

  171·5

  126·6

  —

  Accessories (sub-group 847·2)

  —

  —

  0·6

  1·3

  1·8

  44·0

  14·2

  22·4

  1·4

  —

  Headgear (item 848·43)

  3·6

  —

  1·3

  —

  113·7

  1·5

  4·7

  —

  3·4

  —

  Total

  85·5

  94·6

  203·6

  312·6

  257·1

  583·5

  1,059·8

  1,282·0

  566·8

  417·4

  1 Provisional.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes

  1. Descriptions and group, sub-group and item references based on Standard International Trade Classification Revision 2 (SITC R2).

  2. Due to the changes in the classification with the introduction of the SITC Revision 3 (SITC R3) in 1988 direct comparisons with earlier years not available.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Premium Savings Bond
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to review the premium savings bond either by replacing it, or supplementing it with another scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The terms of premium bonds, like all National Savings products, are kept under constant review. There are no plans to replace or restructure the scheme.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total amount of capital expenditure by construction, distribution and financial industries at constant factor prices in each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales and for each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Major
  Capital expenditure by the construction, distribution and financial industries is not estimated for Scotland, Wales or the regions of England at either current or constant prices.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total amount of capital expenditure by manufacturing industry at constant factor prices for each standard region, Scotland and Wales and for each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Major
  Capital expenditure is not estimated at constant prices in the regional accounts for Scotland, Wales or the regions of England, because there are no regional price indices. Current price estimates for 1983–86 were published in Economic Trends No. 421, November 1988, on page 97. Estimates for 1987 will be published in Economic Trends No. 433.
  316
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is not available.

  Knitted Goods
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list United Kingdom exports to Turkey of knitted goods in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is given in the table:

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the gross domestic product at constant factor prices for each standard region, Scotland and Wales and for each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Major
  Gross domestic product (output-based) at constant prices for Scotland from 1963–1987 was published by the Scottish Office on 3 May; comparable estimates are not made for Wales or the regions of England. Current price estimates (income based) for Scotland, Wales and the English regions for 1977–87 were published in Economic Trends No. 421, November 1988, on page 90. Provisional estimates for 1988 will be published in Economic Trends No. 433. Constant price income based estimates are not made because there are no regional price indices.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  London Underground (Equal Opportunities)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the managing director of London Underground Ltd. as to the proportion of its senior managers who are(a) black and (b) women; and what action he proposes to take to promote equal opportunities.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a matter for London Underground Ltd. as employers.

  Asylum
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were made at ports of entry when the applicant did not have prior entrance clearance to the United Kingdom; and how many such applicants were
  317
  granted (i) asylum and (ii) exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, in each of the years 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

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

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were refused entry to the United Kingdom at ports of entry; and how many of those refused entry subsequently applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, in the years 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Renton
  The total number of passengers refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom in 1985, 1986 and 1987 is published in table 4.2 of the Home Office publication "Immigration Nationality and Passports, October 1988", a copy of which is in the Library. The total in 1988 was 20,871. Information on the numbers of these passengers who subsequently applied for refugee status in the United Kingdom is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average Home Office decision time for asylum applications made at ports of entry in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 and at the current time.

  Mr. Renton
  The available information is given in the table. Information for 1988 is not yet available.

  Estimated average length of time1 taken to reach a decision on an application2 made at a port, for refugee status in the United Kingdom, for cases decided during the year.

  Average time in months

  1985

  38

  1986

  16

  1987

  11

  1 Excluding the time accounted for by an appeal where practicable, although this cannot be done in all cases.

  2 Excluding dependants.

  3 The 1985 figure may be an underestimate.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with other EC Governments regarding harmonisation of asylum procedures in preparation for the implementation of the Single European Act in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Asylum procedures have been discussed in regular meetings of Ministers responsible for immigration, held on six occasions since December 1986. For details of the two most recent meetings, I refer the hon. Member to the replies my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 14 December 1988 at columns 576–7 and for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on 17 May 1989 at column 208.

  My right hon. Friend and I have also discussed asylum matters in various bilaterial contacts with Ministers from other member states.

  Broadcasting (Ownership)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the proposals in the White Paper on broadcasting ownership.
  318
  Mr. Hurd
  The White Paper made clear our determination that ownership in the independent broadcasting sector should remain widely spread, and that unhealthy concentrations of ownership and excessive cross-media ownership should be prevented. We are grateful to those who responded to the invitation to comment on the scope and formulation of the rules needed to achieve this objective.

  The White Paper envisaged (paragraph 6.51) that the same group would be permitted to hold two, but not more than two, regional Channel 3 licences. Many of those commenting thought it would be undesirable if the same group could control two large or contiguous Channel 3 regions. It has also been argued that some flexibility is needed to take account of the ways in which independent terrestrial television might develop.

  In the light of these responses we propose to strengthen the rules envisaged in the White Paper in the following way. Power would be taken to prescribe in subordinate legislation limits on the number of Independent Television Commission or Radio Authority licences within each main licence category which any one body or group would be permitted to hold or control. In the case of regional Channel 3 licences the initial limit would be set at two, as envisaged in the White Paper. But these limits would be capable of further restriction by reference to audience share and contiguity of licence area. The Government do not envisage that the same group should be allowed to own two large franchises or two franchises for contiguous areas.

  Paragraph 6·53 of the White Paper proposed clear reciprocal limits on broadcasting and newspaper cross-holdings. Taking account of comments on the White Paper, we propose that no proprietor of a national newspaper should be allowed to have an interest exceeding 20 per cent. in any DBS, UHF TV (including regional Channel 3) or national radio franchise. We also see a strong case for debarring national newspaper proprietors from having a significant financial interest in more than one such franchise. These limits also apply reciprocally to the holders of such franchises investing in groups controlling national newspapers. No regional or local newspaper would be allowed to have more than a 20 per cent. interest in any regional or local Independent Television Commission or Radio Authority licensee with whose area it substantially overlapped, and vice versa.

  Paragraph 6·53 of the White Paper proposed, folowing a recommendation by the Home Affairs Committee, that ownership of satellite channels not using United Kingdom broadcasting frequencies but receivable in the United Kingdom (whether based here or abroad) should be capable of being taken into account by the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority in operating their controls. We propose that no operator of such a service should be permitted to have more than a 20 per cent. interest in a DBS, UHF TV (including regional Channel 3) or national radio licensee, and that cross-interests exceeding 20 per cent. between DBS, UHF TV and national radio licensees should not be permitted. Similarly, cross-interests exceeding 20 per cent. would not be permitted between regional Channel 3, local delivery operator and local radio licensees whose areas substantially overlapped. These limits would be expressed in subordinate legislation and would be capable of variation. We envisage that legislation would also leave open the possibility of limiting other forms of cross-holding.
  319
  In line with paragraph 6·49 of the White Paper, local authorities and bodies whose objectives are wholly or mainly of a political or religious nature (and also bodies which are affiliated to or controlled by such bodies) would be disqualified from holding any ITC licence. Local authorities and political bodies would similarly be disqualified from holding any Radio Authority licence: as envisaged in paragraph 7·10 of the radio Green Paper, religious bodies would be allowed to have a financial interest in radio stations provided this did not lead to bias or editorialising on religious or controversial matters.

  We propose that no ITC or Radio Authority licence may be held or controlled by a non-EC company or individual not ordinarily resident in the EC, with the exception of local delivery licences and any operators licensed under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984. In the case of these exceptions, concerns about editorial and cultural influence, which are less applicable to local service delivery, are outweighed by the advantages for investment which the possibility of non-EC control would bring about.

  While the Government do not envisage that the ITC or Radio Authority would have a wide discretion in dealing with ownership questions, they do propose that they should be given the enforcement powers needed to police the rules effectively. These would include the ability to include licence conditions requiring licensees to give advance notice of, and seek prior consent for, changes in shareholdings. The ITC and Radio Authority would also be able, for the purposes of enforcing the ownership rules, to require changes in a company or group as a condition of its being awarded, or retaining, a licence, and to withdraw licences if declarations to them proved false.

  Transitional account will be taken, in framing the rules, of the position of shareholders in franchises awarded under existing legislation.

  Magistrates Clerks
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many magistrates courts' days have been lost or shortened because of the inadequacy in numbers of available clerks.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information, not available at present, is now being obtained from magistrates courts committees on a quarterly basis. I shall write to the right hon. Member as soon as the first set of returns has been collated.

  Drugs
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of goods seized under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.

  Mr. John Patten
  The best available information relates to confiscation orders. For the value of such orders to date, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 11 May at column 986.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department has with regard to the proportion of burglaries committed by drug addicts(a) in the Wirral, (b) in Merseyside and (c) nationally.
  320
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available nationally. However, a Home Office research study "opioid use and burglary", published in 1986 estimated that in 1983, 1 per cent. of adult males convicted of burglary in a dwelling at Liverpool magistrates court, and 15 per cent. convicted at Wirral magistrates court were drug addicts notified to the Home Office. Other research has suggested that in 1985 at least half of the adult males convicted of burglary in the Wirral may have been drug misusers.

  Lone Occupants (Names and Addresses)
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to limit publication of names and addresses of lone occupants of houses.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to do so. The only published official source in England and Wales from which such information might be inferred, so far as I am aware, is the electoral register. It is not, however, a comprehensive guide as to who lives at a particular address or whether a person on it is a lone occupant. We have no evidence of widespread misuse of the register for criminal or other illegitimate purposes. If my hon. Friend is aware of a particular problem, perhaps he would write to me about it.

  Segregated Prisoners
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners on the most recent convenient date were segregated under rule 43 of the prison rules (i) for their own protection and (ii) for reasons of good order and discipline.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The numbers of prisoners (sentenced and unsentenced) so segregated on 31 March 1989 was as follows:

  Own protection

  Good order or discipline

  Male

  2,193

  227

  Female

  21

  8

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 20 December 1988,Official Report, column 178, what representation he has received about the legal validity of the powers used by immigration officers to sign notices of intention to deport under the Immigration Act 1971; what response he has made; if he will review these powers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 17 May 1989]: This issue has been raised in a number of appeals before the independent appellate authorities. The immigration appeal tribunal has now endorsed the view that the service of notices of intention to deport authorised by members of the immigration service not below the rank of inspector is valid.

  We have also received two other letters about the delegation of the powers of the Secretary of State. A reply was sent to the first letter in November 1988 in similar

  321
  terms to the answer given to the hon. Member on 20 December 1988 at column 178. The second letter was received recently and a reply will be sent shortly.

  Motor Vehicle Keys
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek power to prohibit the sale to the public by open mail order of skeleton key sets suitable to open the locked doors of motor vehicles without the knowledge or permission of the owners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 17 May 1989]: There is no existing legislation prohibiting the sale of skeleton key sets, but it is an offence to carry such an article for use in the course of or in connection with theft. There are legitimate uses of skeleton key sets—eg by locksmiths—and any proposals for controls on sales would need to take this into account. Inquiries made of the police by the Home Office crime prevention centre at Stafford have not revealed evidence of significant use of skeleton key sets in criminal offences.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Asylum
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General how many appeals against refusal of asylum in the United Kingdom were heard by the immigration appellate authorities in each of the years 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

  The Attorney-General
  In 1987, 407 such appeals were heard before adjudicators and 42 before the immmigration appeal tribunal. In 1988, 525 appeals were heard before adjudicators and 80 before the tribunal. Figures for 1985 and 1986 are not available.

  Police Computers (Disclosure of Information)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General, what is his policy towards the prosecution of perpetrators of unauthorised disclosures of information from police computers under the Official Secrets Act; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The institution or continuance of criminal proceedings in these cases, as with all other cases, is considered in accordance with the guidelines set out in the code for crown prosecutors issued under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. Proceedings will be instituted or continued only where the evidence is sufficient to conclude that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and a prosecution is required by the public interest.

ENVIRONMENT

  Seal Products
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government will support an indefinite extension of European Community Directive 83/129/EEC which bans the importation of harp and hooded seal pup skins and products; and if he will make a statement on the health of seals in United Kingdom waters.
  322
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The killing of harp and hooded seals for trade has aroused strong public concern in many countries. We have considered carefully the conservation case for trade controls on these species and have consulted the sea mammal research unit of the Natural Environment Research Council, which is internationally acknowledged for its expertise in this area.

  Our view is that a permanent extension of the current temporary European Community directive (83/129 EEC) controlling this trade, which is due to expire on 1 October 1989, is required to ensure the conservation of the seal populations in question.

  The Government have also taken additional conservation measures to help reduce the threat to the United Kingdom seal population. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department announced last October the introduction of new orders under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 which extend throughout the year the general protection given under the Act. These measures apply to common and grey seals in England and common seals in Scotland.

  The seal population in the North sea and Irish sea have been affected by a virus. Research is continuing into the epidemic at the sea mammal research unit as part of this Department's North sea research programme. A total of around 2,750 seals were reported dead from a population of 95,000 grey seals and 25,000 common seals.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the factual errors in his Department's leaflet "The Community Charge—How It Will Work for You".

  Mr. Gummer
  There is none.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will explain the provisions for exemption of prisoners as set out in his Department's leaflet "The Community Charge—How It Will Work for You."

  Mr. Gummer
  The Department's leaflet gives an accurate summary of the circumstances in which persons in detention are exempt from liability to the community charge, the full provisions of which are set out in paragraph 1 of schedule 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the cost of(a) production and (b) distribution of his Department's leaflet "The Community Charge—How It Will Work for You."

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has produced 23 million copies of the leaflet "The Community Charge—How It Will Work for You" at a total cost of £367,887.

  The estimated cost for distributing this leaflet to all households in England is under £600,000.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of widows he estimates will gain under the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no estimate of the proportion of widows who would pay less under the community charge than with rates. I would expect many to be gainers since 83 per cent. of single pensioner households and 75 per cent. of other single adult households are expected to gain.
  323
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet able to publish the community charge payable this year(a) on average in England and Wales and (b) in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Gummer
  Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once data needed from local authorities has been received and analysed.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to publish illustrative poll tax figures for English local authorities based on 1989–90 budgets.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once data needed from local authorities has been received and analysed.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of single-parent families he estimates will gain under the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  I expect nearly 80 per cent. of single families to pay less with the community charge than they would with rates.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the wealth distribution effects on lower income groups of the changeover from domestic rates to community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  Figures placed in the Library on 15 December 1988 confirm that many of the poorest households would be better off under the community charge than under the rates. Community charges on average would be less than domestic rates for all income bands up to £200 per week; and households with a net weekly income of under £50 would, on average, pay over 20 per cent. less with community charge than with domestic rates.

  Sea Pollution
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions Her Majesty's Government have held during this Parliament with representatives of the Irish Government concerning pollution levels in the Irish sea.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Regular formal and informal contact takes place between representatives of the United Kingdom and Irish Governments on particular aspects of the marine environment such as the falling discharge of radioactive substances or factors relevant to the management of fisheries. More wide-ranging discussions on the marine environment take place from time to time. The next such meeting of officials is scheduled for 24–25 May.

  Local Authority Estates
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department holds on the estate management board partnership arrangements between local authority tenants and some local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department's consultants, the Priority Estates Project (PEP) Ltd., are currently working with local authorities and tenants on eight council estates to set up estate management boards (EMBs). They are:
  324

  Local authority

  Estate

  Birmingham

  Bloomsbury

  Blackburn

  Shadsworth

  Bristol

  Halston Drive

  Burnley

  Stoops/Hargher Clough

  Rochdale

  Freehold

  Rossendale

  Bacup

  Stoke

  Chell Heath

  West Lancashire

  Digmoor

  Tenants on the Belle Isle North estate in Leeds are also developing an EMB with the support of the city council.

  My Department welcomes the development of EM Bs as an important new way of giving council tenants much more say in how their estates are managed.

  I am placing in the Library copies of the Priority Estates Project's guide to setting up EMBs.

  I hope that other local authorities will want to consider EMBs as one possible way of improving delivery of housing services for their tenants.

  Leasehold Reform Act 1967
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire, on 17 January,Official Report, column 148, if he is yet in a position to announce his conclusions to the consultation paper on disputes between valuations under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

  Mr. Trippier
  We are still considering the responses to our consultation paper in conjunction with the Welsh Office and hope to announce our joint conclusions later this summer.

  Rose Theatre
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider scheduling the recently discovered site of the Rose theatre in Southwark in view of the imminent threat from developers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 12 May 1989]: The question of scheduling will be kept under review. Given the developers' strong commitment to preserve the remains the priority is for all parties concerned urgently to explore the best means of safeguarding them physically and the scope for providing public access in the future.

HEALTH

  Health Service Income
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each district health authority, regional health authority and special health authority and for England as a total, the amount of income to the National Health Service from(a) charitable appeals, (b) subscriptions, (c) donations and grants, (d) legacies, (e) dividends and interest and (f) the total trust fund income for the latest available year.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information for 1987–88 (the latest year available) as shown in the annual accounts of health authorities and special trustees in England has been placed in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Pollution (Bristol Channel)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will seek to reduce the pollution of the Bristol channel by co-ordinating those departments which authorise or control dumping of sewerage, chemical, agricultural, nuclear and industrial waste into the Bristol channel, together with control of dumping ships' refuse or the pumping out of tanks by ships in passage.

  The Prime Minister
  Departments with responsibilities in this field already co-ordinate their activities, and at national level policies to protect the marine environment are coordinated by the Department of the Environment. The Bristol channel, and all other United Kingdom coastal waters will benefit from the range of new initiatives adopted at the second North sea conference hosted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in November 1987. These are set out in the guidance note on the ministerial declaration published in February 1988, a copy of which is in the Library.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the answer to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on Tuesday 16 May,Official Report, column 165, concerning EC funds includes bids made by local authorities for the European regional development fund; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes, all bids from local authorities and from other bodies are put forward in the name of the member state, and grants paid to local authorities count as part of the member state's receipts.

DEFENCE

  Clyde Submarine Base
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many workers at the Clyde submarine base have been retired on medical grounds in each of the years since 1974.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested is as follows:

  Retirements on medical grounds

  Year

  Numbers

  11975

  8

  11976

  8

  11977

  4

  11978

  13

  11979

  12

  1980

  9

  1981

  6

  1982

  11

  1983

  9

  1984

  15

  1985

  16

  1986

  37

  1987

  20

  1988

  17

  1 Figures for these years relate to industrial staff only.

  Absent Without Leave
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in the Queen's Own Hussars went absent without leave in 1987.
  326
  Mr. Neubert
  Six.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will request the National Radiological Protection Board to produce an update of its report on the mortality of nuclear test veterans;

  (2) if he will detail the nature of the work that is proceeding with the study by the National Radiological Protection Board of the mortality of nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: Details of deaths of nuclear test veterans are currently flagged at the National Health Service central register and are passed to the NRPB. This information is then added to NRPB's database which maintains a record of all deaths and personnel present during the test programme together with the control group. The NRPB is examining the position this year (five years from the previous cut off date) and will advise whether the major effort of a full scale statistical analysis would be justified.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of officers in each of grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively, in his Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not available in the form requested because records are held on a combined basis with the Department of Health. I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 22 March at column 679.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department has conducted monitoring exercises in compliance with the code for the Commission on Racial Equality and Equal Opportunity Commission, respectively, separate from the Department of Health; whether his Department plans to do so; whether his Department plans to maintain records of the ethnic origins of its staff and officers separate from the Department of Health; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Department will continue to pursue the equal opportunities policies and practices of the former Department of Health and Social Security. These follow the guidance in the codes of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission and include the monitoring of personnel policies and procedures as set out in the codes of practice. Work is in hand to enable staff records, including ethnic origin data, to be separately identified from those for staff of the Department of Health.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time workers are not in occupational or personal pension schemes; and what was the equivalent number in 1979.
  327
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In 1979, 11·8 million employees were not members of occupational pension schemes. Of these, 7·65 million were full-time employees.

  Provisional figures for 1987 show that 11·4 million employees were not members of occupational pension schemes. This was of course before the Government's pension reforms took effect; since the introduction of personal pensions in July 1988, over 2 million people have opted to join a personal pension scheme. The number of full-time employees is not yet known.

  Vaccine Damage
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many vaccine damage payments were made in 1985; and if he will categorise these according to the age of the child when the vaccination took place, the year of vaccination, and the nature of the vaccination.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Twenty-six payments were awarded in 1985 under the provisions of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979. Details are in the table.

  Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme

  Awards made in 1985 by age of child at date of vaccination; year of vaccination and type of vaccination

  Age at date of vaccination (months)

  Year vaccination was given

  Type of vaccination cited on the claim form

  1.

  9 to 12

  1962

  Triple

  2.

  0 to3

  1969

  Pertussis

  3.

  6 to 9

  1978

  Pertussis

  4.

  3 to 6

  1979

  Triple

  5.

  3 to 6

  1963

  Triple

  6.

  3 to 6

  1973

  Triple

  7.

  6 to 9

  1983

  Pertussis

  8.

  3 to 6

  1967

  Triple

  9.

  3 to 6

  1969

  Triple

  10.

  0.to.3

  1959

  Polio

  11.

  6 to 9

  1971

  Triple/Pertussis

  12.

  3 to 6

  1962

  Triple

  13.

  3 to 6

  1957

  Triple

  Office: Port Glasgow ILO 1988–89

  Number of times a reason for refusal used

  Grants

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost

  1

  0

  0

  Not in receipt of IS

  n/a

  137

  0

  Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks

  n/a

  180

  0

  Not in receipt of IS and unlikey to qualify

  45

  n/a

  0

  Item(s) excluded by Direction

  27

  69

  1

  Applicant excluded

  113

  5

  0

  Applied for less than £30

  6

  19

  0

  Adjusted amount less than £30

  2

  6

  0

  Total debt exceeds £1,000

  n/a

  0

  0

  Previous application and decision for the item

  27

  66

  2

  No serious risk to health or safety

  n/a

  n/a

  7

  Inability to repay

  n/a

  58

  3

  Help available from another source

  5

  7

  3

  Priority too low to meet from the budget

  18

  333

  6

  Alternative available to the whole application

  10

  6

  7

  Loan refused because CCG awarded

  n/a

  43

  1

  Others not covered above

  72

  17

  18

  n/a—Not available.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by each charging authority in England and Wales the income level at which(a) a single person aged under 25 years, (b) a single person aged over 25 years, (c) a single pensioner, (d) a pensioner couple
  328

  Age at date of vaccination (months)

  Year vaccination was given

  Type of vaccination cited on the claim form

  14.

  6 to 9

  1974

  Triple

  15.

  0 to 3

  1983

  Polio

  16.

  15 to 18

  1963

  Pertussis

  17.

  3 to 6

  1957

  Diptheria/Pertussis

  18.

  3 to 6

  1962

  Pertussis

  19.

  3 to 6

  1981

  Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio

  20.

  3 to 6

  1976

  Pertussis

  21.

  3 to 6

  1969

  Pertussis

  22.

  3 to 6

  1967

  Pertussis

  23.

  3 to 6

  1983

  Triple/Polio

  24.

  0 to 3

  1971

  Pertussis

  25.

  3 to 6

  1982

  Triple/Polio

  26.

  5 years

  1969

  pertussis/Polio

  Claims Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for the Greenock and Port Glasgow offices of his Department the statistical information he has to date regarding the different reasons given by social fund officers for refusals to claimants for (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis loans and (iii) community care grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 15 May 1989]: Provisional figures for the period 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 are set out in the table.

  The table gives the number of times that a reason for decision is used by social fund officers for determining a nil award for community care grants, budgeting, and crisis loans.

  An application can be refused for more than one reason. The total number of reasons for decision used will be equal to or greater than the number of applications refused. Information on the numbers of applications processed and awarded is available in the Library.

  and (e) a couple with two children all with no savings would lose entitlement to a community charge rebate, assuming the Department of the Environment's latest community charge figures.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 27 April 1989]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to amend the rule whereby the retirement pension is paid not from the day of retirement but from the first day of the week following retirement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans to do so. The majority of new claims for retirement pension are paid from the Monday following retirement.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the composition of(a) the pensioners prices index and (b) the retail prices index.

  Mr. Lee
  I have been asked to reply.

  The price indices for one—and two—person pensioner households whose incomes are mainly comprised of state benefits are based on the expenditure patterns of such households and changes in prices across the full range of goods and services, with the exception of housing.

  The general index of retail prices is based on expenditure patterns of all households, excluding the pensioner households above and the 3–4 per cent. of households with the highest income, and changes in prices across the full range of goods and services including housing.

  More details can be found in "A short guide to the Retail Price Index", Employment Gazette, August 1987, pp 393–406.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEATH AFFAIRS

  CSCE Human Rights Conference
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming CSCE human rights conference in Paris.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Paris meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension (CDH) opens on 30 May and will last four weeks. Its main tasks will be to review human rights cases and situations in CSCE participating states as well as the working of the human rights monitoring mechanism agreed at the Vienna CSCE meeting.

  CSCE Information Forum
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent CSCE information forum in London.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Information Forum, held at the Government's invitation in London from 18 April to 12 May 1989, was the first of the series of regular meetings in the Helsinki process following the third main CSCE follow-up meeting held in Vienna from November 1986 to January 1989. The forum was opened by the Prime Minister, and was attended by some 650 delegates from the 330
  35 CSCE participating states. For the first time in CSCE meetings, all working sessions were open to the press and public.

  Many personalities in the field of information participated in the forum. The British delegation was led by Lord Rees-Mogg, and included journalists, telecommunications experts, cultural personalities and academics, as well as a small number of Government officials. The forum was a success: it stimulated numerous direct personal contacts between media experts from East and West; generated worthwhile ideas for future contact and co-operation; and welcomed the progress made towards greater freedom of expression in the Soviet Union and eastern Europe whilst exposing the Governments of those countries to demands for closer compliance with their commitments in the information field. Some 67 proposals for follow-up action (largely on improving working conditions for journalists) were tabled: they will go forward to the CSCE follow-up conference at Helsinki in 1992, and will meanwhile be studied by Governments.

  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 IM M/84536 and A.421238, first applied to the British post in Islambad to enter the United Kingdom; when Mr. Ahmed successfully appealed against refusal to grant him entry; and when the British post in Islambad was instructed to issue Mr. Ahmed with a visa to enter the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to the reply, 16 May 1989, col. 135]: 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 question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit in due course.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on work-related Government employment and training programmes by sex, in each of the standard regions and Wales, for each of the years 1983 to 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  The estimates of participants in work-related Government training programmes as included in the work force in employment statistics published in the monthly labour market press notice and Employment Gazette are given in the following table. They include those participants who in the course of their participation receive training in the context of a workplace but are not employees, self-employed or in Her Majesty's forces. The latest available figures are for December 1988.
  331

  Participants in work related Governmen training programmes in Great Britain1

  December each year

  Thousand

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Males

  Females

  All

  Males

  Females

  All

  Males

  Females

  All

  Males

  Females

  All

  Males

  Females

  All

  Males

  Females

  All

  South East

  19

  17

  36

  22

  18

  40

  22

  16

  38

  23

  19

  42

  34

  24

  58

  36

  24

  60

  Greater London (included in South East)

  6

  5

  11

  7

  5

  12

  6

  5

  12

  7

  6

  14

  10

  8

  19

  13

  10

  23

  East Anglia

  3

  1

  15

  4

  1

  5

  4

  3

  7

  5

  4

  8

  7

  5

  12

  8

  4

  12

  South West

  8

  7

  5

  9

  7

  16

  10

  8

  18

  11

  9

  20

  17

  12

  29

  18

  12

  30

  West Midlands

  11

  10

  20

  12

  11

  23

  13

  11

  24

  21

  17

  38

  26

  20

  46

  28

  19

  47

  East Midlands

  10

  8

  18

  11

  9

  20

  11

  9

  21

  11

  9

  20

  17

  11

  28

  18

  11

  29

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  10

  9

  20

  12

  10

  22

  13

  11

  23

  16

  13

  29

  25

  17

  42

  32

  18

  50

  North West

  13

  11

  24

  14

  13

  27

  15

  13

  28

  22

  18

  39

  30

  22

  52

  36

  23

  59

  North

  7

  7

  14

  7

  7

  15

  9

  8

  17

  13

  11

  24

  18

  13

  31

  25

  15

  40

  Wales

  6

  5

  11

  7

  5

  12

  7

  6

  12

  11

  8

  18

  13

  9

  22

  17

  9

  26

  Scotland

  8

  7

  16

  11

  9

  19

  12

  9

  21

  15

  12

  27

  22

  15

  37

  29

  18

  48

  1 Participants in the YTS who receive work experience except those who have contracts of employment (those who have contracts of employment are counted as employees in employment) plus participants in new JTS (up to September 1988) and ET participants who receive work experience (from December 1988).

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total number of planned employment training places in September 1988 for each of the standard regions and Wales.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the planned level of filled employment training places is for internal management information purposes only.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total number of places by local authorities, private employees, voluntary sector and other public sector sponsors on the latest date for which information is available for each of the standard regions and Wales.

  Employees in employment in manufacturing industries

  Thousand

  December each year

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  South East

  1,505

  1,481

  1,447

  1,386

  1,388

  1,355

  Greater London (included in South East

  585

  567

  548

  515

  519

  491

  East Anglia

  184

  192

  199

  207

  217

  232

  South West

  368

  376

  373

  369

  371

  378

  West Midlands

  709

  707

  709

  698

  710

  732

  East Midlands

  487

  486

  495

  492

  504

  509

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  495

  482

  477

  456

  456

  456

  North West

  682

  661

  650

  623

  618

  618

  North

  281

  280

  276

  265

  266

  271

  Wales

  212

  211

  209

  205

  215

  224

  Scotland

  437

  433

  423

  404

  395

  402

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of employees in

  Employees in employment in manufacturing industries

  March each year

  Thousand

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  South East

  1,870

  1,838

  1,719

  1,621

  1,541

  1,489

  1,464

  1,427

  1,363

  1,384

  1,333

  Greater London (included in South East

  1

  1

  1

  657

  615

  577

  560

  539

  498

  517

  474

  East Anglia

  204

  203

  187

  181

  179

  181

  192

  198

  206

  218

  231

  South West

  440

  433

  402

  387

  369

  368

  374

  369

  365

  371

  375

  West Midlands

  987

  962

  828

  770

  719

  704

  701

  702

  690

  706

  729

  East Midlands

  602

  593

  541

  521

  486

  477

  483

  491

  486

  500

  506

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  707

  682

  603

  554

  510

  486

  473

  467

  446

  454

  451

  North West

  976

  936

  832

  767

  702

  672

  653

  636

  614

  615

  610

  332
  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the number of filled employment training places by type of training manager is not held.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of employees in employment in manufacturing in each of the standard regions and Wales, for each of the years 1983 to 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is as follows:

  employment in manufacturing industry in each of the years March 1979 to March 1989, for each of the standard regions and Wales.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is as follows:
  333

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  North

  408

  393

  348

  329

  296

  279

  279

  269

  260

  267

  267

  Wales

  314

  305

  248

  229

  214

  211

  210

  206

  205

  215

  221

  Scotland

  604

  578

  519

  486

  450

  432

  430

  415

  396

  396

  401

  1 Not available.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of self-employed in each of the standard regions and Wales, for each of the years 1983 to 1988.

  Self-employed in Great Britain

  December each year

  Thousand

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  South East

  794

  881

  904

  968

  1,044

  1,080

  Greater London (included in South East)

  304

  345

  353

  372

  396

  402

  East Anglia

  102

  112

  110

  116

  131

  138

  South West

  223

  242

  254

  267

  288

  302

  West Midlands

  182

  186

  186

  198

  226

  248

  East Midlands

  162

  162

  162

  178

  195

  205

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  186

  213

  219

  226

  234

  237

  North West

  241

  263

  267

  273

  284

  293

  North

  92

  98

  105

  107

  111

  115

  Wales

  135

  145

  150

  151

  147

  149

  Scotland

  182

  193

  203

  200

  204

  220

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of manufacturing

  Employees in employment in Great Britain

  Table 1 Manufacturing industries (Divisions 2–4 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification)

  Thousand

  June each year

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  South East

  1,871

  1,820

  1,684

  1,604

  1,533

  1,483

  1,454

  1,406

  1,365

  1,357

  Greater London (included in South East)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  649

  609

  573

  548

  528

  500

  490

  East Anglia

  206

  203

  185

  180

  178

  185

  193

  200

  207

  224

  South West

  439

  427

  397

  385

  366

  373

  376

  369

  369

  375

  West Midlands

  985

  933

  817

  757

  713

  706

  703

  696

  699

  717

  East Midlands

  606

  582

  532

  514

  485

  482

  489

  494

  493

  508

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  708

  669

  583

  542

  500

  481

  474

  462

  449

  455

  North West

  971

  931

  810

  744

  694

  669

  653

  626

  614

  617

  North

  410

  387

  339

  321

  291

  277

  276

  268

  264

  269

  Wales

  315

  290

  240

  226

  213

  212

  209

  203

  207

  219

  Scotland

  604

  564

  510

  477

  444

  434

  430

  410

  397

  396

  n.a. Not available.

  Table 2 Non-manufacturing industries (Divisions 0, 1, 5–9 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification)

  Thousand

  June each year

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  South East

  5,602

  5,670

  5,579

  5,542

  5,549

  5,699

  5,837

  5,947

  6,110

  6,380

  Greater London (included in South East)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  2,857

  2,845

  2,886

  2,914

  2,941

  2,987

  3,091

  East Anglia

  496

  507

  496

  499

  510

  519

  542

  562

  592

  627

  South West

  1,159

  1,169

  1,144

  1,143

  1,149

  1,169

  1,187

  ,197

  1,231

  1,257

  West Midlands

  1,256

  1,273

  1,234

  1,225

  1,229

  1,259

  1,295

  1,320

  1,360

  1,425

  East Midlands

  949

  958

  935

  938

  941

  961

  1,021

  1,023

  1,041

  1,084

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,303

  1,308

  1,269

  1,265

  1,272

  1,287

  1,305

  1,324

  1,360

  1,402

  NorthWest

  1,705

  1,713

  1,656

  1,627

  1,608

  1,620

  1,632

  1,636

  1,657

  1,695

  North

  838

  822

  783

  772

  766

  782

  788

  810

  830

  859

  Wales

  718

  715

  699

  680

  675

  674

  668

  658

  659

  672

  Scotland

  1,498

  1,518

  1,492

  1,473

  1,455

  1,467

  1,474

  1,477

  1,495

  1,532

  n.a. Not available.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the total number of
  334
  Mr. Lee
  The information is as follows. The latest available figures are for December 1988.

  and non-manufacturing employees in employment for each of the standard regions and Wales for each 12-month period from June 1979 to June 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is as follows:

  registered vacancies as a percentage of the unemployment figure in each standard region and Wales for each of the years 1979 to April 1989, inclusive;
  335
  (2) what is the average number of vacancies in each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive, and for each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Lee
  The following is available from the Library. The tables show for each year from 1980 to 1988 and for each English region and for Wales and Scotland separately the average number of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres, and the average level of unemployment. Also given are the corresponding figures for April 1989. Data for 1979 have

  Unfilled vacancies at jobcentres, seasonally adjusted

  Thousand

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  April 1989

  South East

  58·6

  34·0

  42·3

  50·8

  59·4

  62·3

  70·8

  90·7

  95·1

  75·7

  East Anglia

  4·8

  3·5

  4·4

  5·1

  5·4

  5·8

  6·2

  8·0

  9·7

  8·6

  South West

  10·3

  7·7

  10·7

  12·7

  13·6

  16·1

  18·1

  19·7

  20·4

  18·5

  West Midlands

  7·5

  5·9

  7·2

  9·6

  10·7

  12·2

  15·4

  21·1

  24·1

  21·9

  East Midlands

  7·3

  5·4

  7·2

  8·0

  8·1

  9·0

  10·3

  12·2

  13·8

  21·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  7·7

  5·3

  7·2

  8·7

  8·2

  8·7

  11·3

  15·6

  15·5

  13·4

  North West

  10·4

  7·9

  10·0

  13·2

  14·5

  16·0

  19·0

  24·2

  23·9

  23·5

  North

  5·6

  4·0

  5·1

  5·9

  6·6

  7·8

  9·8

  12·0

  11·4

  10·7

  Wales

  5·8

  4·9

  6·0

  6·8

  7·3

  8·0

  9·5

  11·1

  12·1

  13·3

  Scotland

  15·3

  11·6

  13·1

  15·3

  14·8

  14·6

  16·3

  18·8

  20·0

  20·3

  Unemployment, seasonally adjusted

  Thousand

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  April 1989

  South East

  267·2

  469·2

  577·2

  645·7

  691·0

  728·5

  750·2

  657·9

  496·1

  374·3

  East Anglia

  32·0

  52·5

  62·7

  69·3

  71·3

  75·3

  78·8

  69·4

  50·4

  35·5

  South West

  85·3

  130·9

  151·7

  167·6

  179·1

  190·5

  195·8

  172·3

  133·7

  101·6

  West Midlands

  139·6

  253·0

  297·8

  321·3

  322·2

  326·9

  327·7

  292·1

  230·1

  174·1

  East Midlands

  79·5

  132·3

  151·5

  169·6

  180·8

  188·2

  191·3

  175·8

  143·2

  112·9

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  122·6

  201·3

  234·2

  256·5

  268·4

  281·5

  294·3

  270·5

  226·0

  183·8

  North West

  203·3

  312·9

  365·4

  398·6

  412·1

  420·8

  423·1

  385·2

  322·1

  272·0

  North

  115·6

  165·4

  187·2

  202·6

  214·5

  221·1

  221·5

  203·9

  174·0

  149·2

  Wales

  84·5

  126·4

  144·5

  153·9

  161·1

  168·4

  169·3

  149·9

  125·7

  101·2

  Scotland

  172·8

  243·8

  277·5

  298·6

  309·8

  322·0

  332·8

  323·4

  280·1

  243·4

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total number of confirmed redundancies in each standard region and Wales for each of the years 1979 to 1989.

  Confirmed redundancies1 in Great Britain—Annual totals by standard region

  Region

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  South East

  26,798

  70,015

  105,878

  80,300

  58,345

  42,501

  34,926

  39,284

  19,850

  13,007

  (of which: Greater London)

  15,179

  33,951

  54,998

  49,396

  34,078

  24,239

  23,601

  24,737

  12,246

  7,191

  East Anglia

  2,981

  7,554

  11,463

  6,471

  4,165

  2,356

  3,585

  5,001

  2,168

  1,637

  South West

  11,031

  26,598

  30,998

  24,898

  23,777

  15,054

  13,615

  16,509

  13,553

  9,471

  West Midlands

  19,320

  69,436

  59,556

  40,229

  40,413

  29,678

  29,803

  22,645

  12,648

  5,032

  East Midlands

  8,449

  40,957

  33,720

  29,429

  23,259

  24,017

  17,660

  21,283

  14,974

  10,521

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  17,838

  50,879

  63,102

  45,957

  37,807

  26,570

  33,319

  27,151

  15,866

  14,751

  North West

  40,705

  92,596

  91,739

  67,117

  51,019

  37,935

  35,784

  40,132

  23,244

  18,436

  North

  14,985

  33,276

  40,103

  32,424

  30,274

  25,727

  24,834

  22,679

  13,910

  10,907

  Wales

  11,663

  45,215

  36,432

  24,647

  16,041

  11,441

  15,027

  11,359

  5,089

  5,817

  1 Figures are based on follow·up reports to advanced notifications of redundancies under Section 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975 and are not comprehensive as employers are required to make advance notifications only where 10 or more redundancies are expected. Comparisons of trends over a long period of time should be treated with care.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list any reports commissioned by his Department which estimate (i) the projected size of the civilian work force in the 1990s, (ii) the projected size of the working population in the 1990s and (iii) the level of skills shortages in the 1990s.
  336
  not been given because vacancy figures for that year are not available on a comparable basis. All figures are seasonally adjusted, and the unemployment figures allow for changes in coverage.

  It is not valid to compare ratios of unfilled vacancies to unemployment, since roughly only a third of vacancies in the economy are reported to jobcentres, and this proportion will tend to vary over time and between regions.

  Mr. Lee
  The readily available information is given in the table. The table shows for Wales and each of the standard regions in England, the number of confirmed redundancies for each calendar year from 1979 to 1988. Data for 1989 are not yet available.

  Mr. Lee
  The following publications are relevant:

  (i) and (ii): "Labour force outlook to the year 2000", in Employment Gazette, April 1989.

  (iii) "Review of the Economy and Employment 1988–89 —Volume 1: Occupational Assessment" and "Review of

  337
  the Economy and Employment 1988–89—volume 2: Occupational studies", both produced by Institute for Employment Research, Februar} 1989.

  Skill Shortages
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give a detailed breakdown of skill shortages for each of the economic regions, Scotland and Wales for the years June 1979 to June 1988, inclusive;

  (2) if he will identify by standard economic region and for Scotland and Wales, areas of skill shortages with reference to an occupational analysis of people in employment.

  Mr. Cope
  The detailed information is not available as requested.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of reports commissioned by his Department on (i) skill shortages and (ii) skill shortages and the anticipated impact of 1992 on sections of British industry.

  Mr. Cope
  My Department has commissioned the following surveys on skill shortages:A survey on skill shortages in manufacturing conducted by the Confederation of British Industry to give information on skill shortages by industry category and occupation (annually 1984–1988, 1988 report due June 1989);
  A study to be conducted by the Institute of Manpower Studies to monitor supply and demand for professional information technology skills (final report due summer 1989);
  A survey of local government conducted by the Local Government Training Board to identify skill shortages in local government (report January 1988);
  A survey of Bus and Coach industry conducted by Bus and Coach Training Ltd to identify training activity, skill shortages and training needs.

  My Department has commissioned the following survey on skill shortages and the anticipated impact of 1992:
  A study of employers conducted by IMS to look at employers' recruitment practices, skill shortages and the impact of 1992 (report due summer 1989).

  In view of the importance of addressing local skill needs, as well as national ones my Department has also commissioned several pieces of research into skills issues and the impact of 1992 in areas such as Kettering, Tayside and Cambridgeshire.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  National Sheep Association
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Sheep Association; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I last met the National Sheep Association on 20 July last year to discuss the review of the sheepmeat regime. My officials keep in regular touch with the National Sheep Association on matters relating to the sheep sector.

  Departmental Restructuring
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to restructure his Department.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have already announced that the central veterinary laboratory and the veterinary medicines directorate are candidates for agency status. We are continuing to consider the application of the "Next Steps" report to other areas of the Ministry's work.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made recently on the question of the tennants' rights of public house landlords.

  Mr. Ryder
  The National Licensed Victualler's Association has discussed with me the recommendations in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer, and I have ensured that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is aware of their views.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what area has been removed from agricultural production under set-aside arrangements within each grade of agricultural land.

  Mr. Ryder
  Information is not collected on the breakdown of set-aside areas by grade of land.

SCOTLAND

  Clyde River Purification Board
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of the Clyde River purification board, the duration of appointment, and the body by which nominated.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Secretary of State is responsible for appointing only one-third of the members of each river purification board, which he does, after consulting such bodies as he thinks fit, to represent the interests of agriculture, fisheries, industry etc. in the board's area. Of the rest, one-third are appointed by the regional councils wholly or partly within the board's area from among their own members, and the remaining third similarly by the district councils. Those appointed by the Secretary of State generally serve for a term of four years, but may be reappointed.

  A list of the members of the Clyde River purification board appointed by the Secretary of State, showing the expiry date for each member's term of office and the body or bodies responsible for each nomination, is inserted in the table. The names and appointing authorities of the regional and district council members will be found on page 4 of the Clyde River purification board's annual report for 1988, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House.
  339

  Member

  Expiry dale

  Nominating body

  Mr. D. A. Biggart

  15 May 1990

  Scottish Anglers National Association

  Salmon and Trout Association

  Anglers Co-operative Association

  Mr. J. Dalziel

  15 May 1990

  Scottish Trades Union Congress

  Hon. D. Galbraith

  15 May 1990

  Scottish Anglers National Association

  Mr. A. Lowdon

  15 May 1990

  Scottish Anglers National Assocition

  Mr. L. Szary

  15 May 1990

  British Coal

  Mrs. J. Mitchell

  15 May 1990

  1

  Mr. J. Reid

  15 May 1990

  Scottish Anglers National Association

  Mr. A. M. Milroy

  15 May 1990

  Confederation of British Industry

  Mr. J. Lyon

  15 May 1990

  National Farmers Union of Scotland

  Captain D. B. McMurray

  15 May 1992

  British Ports Authority

  Mr. J. McAloon

  15 May 1992

  Scottish Anglers National Association

  Anglers Co-operative Association

  Dr. D. Curtis

  15 May 1992

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  Mr. I. G. B. Raby-Jolley

  15 May 1992

  Chambers of Commerce

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  Scottish Anglers National Association

  Dr. F. P. Gardner

  15 May 1992

  Confederation of British Industry

  Mr. A. McCosh

  15 May 1992

  Scottish Landowners Federation

  Mr. W. Gentles

  15 May 1992

  Scottish Anglers National Association

  Mr. G. B. Hill

  15 May 1992

  National Fanners Union of Scotland

  1 Appointed by the Secretary of State following previous service on the Board as a member appointed by a local authority.

  Police (Death on Duty)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers in Scotland have lost their lives in the course of their duty during each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1988 four police officers died in the execution of their duty—two in 1985 and two in 1987. One of the deaths resulted from an accident during a mountain rescue and the other three from road accidents.

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any items have been accepted in lieu of tax since he last made an announcement to Parliament.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Further to my statement of 20 April at column 254, I am pleased to announce that the following items have been accepted in lieu of tax:

  Sir William Beechey, RA—Portrait of Rear Admiral Sir George Campbell.

  Francis Cotes, RA—Portrait of Pryse Campbell.

  Francis Cotes, RA—Portrait of Sarah Campbell.

  Francis Cotes, RA—Portrait of Elizabeth Adams.

  Francis Cots, RA—Portrait of John Campbell Hooke.

  Francis Cotes, RA—Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Campbell.

  Sir Thomas Lawrence, PRA—Portrait of John Frederick,

  Analysis of Scottish Development Agency expenditure by parliamentary constituency for the period 1983–84 to 1987–88

  £ thousands

  Constituency

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Aberdeen North

  53

  277

  248

  120

  46

  Aberdeen South

  478

  2,190

  6,199

  2,758

  2,221

  Angus East

  840

  768

  268

  1,202

  2,674

  Argyll and Bute

  282

  342

  286

  141

  505

  Ayr

  766

  545

  412

  1,064

  358

  Banff and Buchan

  374

  442

  316

  249

  475

  Caithness and Sutherland

  6

  39

  77

  647

  353

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  796

  942

  490

  1,078

  887

  Clackmannan

  367

  519

  568

  576

  710

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  4,101

  3,038

  2,907

  4,091

  2,471

  Clydesdale

  305

  804

  567

  584

  1,509

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  665

  319

  250

  126

  205

  Cunninghame North

  4,871

  2,519

  1,508

  1,328

  1,644

  340

  1st Earl of Cawdor.

  Sir Thomas Lawrence, PRA—Portrait of Elizabeth Cawdor.

  Sir William Beechey, RA—Portrait of Lady Caroline Cawdor.

  The portraits have been formally allocated to the national galleries of Scotland but, in accordance with the condition upon which they were offered, the paintings will remain on public display in situ at Cawdor castle, near Nairn.

  Total amount of tax satisfied—£260,717.

  Locate in Scotland
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of enquiries dealt with by Locate in Scotland, and the number of companies which subsequently located in Scotland for each of the years since its inception.

  Mr. Lang
  Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure of the Scottish Development Agency to each of the parliamentary constituencies between 1979 and 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  The information, which is available only from 1983–84, is as follows:
  341

  Constituency

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Cunninghame South

  774

  121

  413

  4,362

  1,509

  Dumbarton

  663

  294

  332

  190

  354

  Dumfries

  618

  691

  1,874

  278

  1,792

  Dundee East

  1,110

  1,371

  1,103

  744

  722

  Dundee West

  4,646

  3,016

  4,313

  4,454

  4,891

  Dunfermline East

  1,042

  595

  1,938

  2,877

  495

  Dunfermline West

  376

  114

  183

  243

  324

  East Kilbride

  217

  240

  229

  370

  1,157

  East Lothian

  515

  281

  232

  859

  450

  Eastwood

  67

  82

  27

  281

  45

  Edinburgh Central

  111

  191

  427

  242

  1,115

  Edinburgh East

  540

  166

  622

  54

  785

  Edinburgh Leith

  2,940

  3,009

  2,145

  1,713

  1,444

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  41

  197

  711

  51

  174

  Edinburgh South

  18

  226

  76

  23

  128

  Edinburgh West

  534

  144

  549

  197

  101

  Falkirk East

  539

  107

  276

  254

  162

  Falkirk West

  584

  1,307

  1,518

  957

  505

  Fife Central

  506

  283

  260

  483

  1,098

  Fife North East

  241

  329

  262

  169

  417

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  185

  1,007

  346

  239

  156

  Glasgow Cathcart

  54

  102

  663

  358

  324

  Glasgow Central

  4,506

  4,743

  9,180

  10,348

  5,701

  Glasgow Garscadden

  993

  460

  82

  237

  147

  Glasgow Govan

  1,618

  871

  1,721

  11,194

  23,807

  Glasgow Hillhead

  278

  478

  1,084

  2,030

  1,506

  Glasgow Maryhill

  2,606

  1,051

  2,330

  1,904

  1,474

  Glasgow Pollock

  243

  122

  339

  80

  154

  Glasgow Provan

  5,632

  9,228

  3,524

  628

  1,568

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  1,976

  1,149

  887

  998

  1,858

  Glasgow Shettleston

  4,577

  4,783

  3,072

  2,737

  353

  Glasgow Springburn

  378

  899

  921

  1,087

  345

  Gordon

  76

  1,359

  440

  164

  629

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  1,000

  1,359

  3,327

  2,318

  2,554

  Hamilton

  2,116

  1,067

  979

  797

  1,400

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  929

  195

  134

  522

  1,293

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  1,566

  1,212

  996

  767

  1,071

  Kincardine and Deeside

  50

  30

  72

  152

  116

  Kirkcaldy

  578

  338

  1,375

  136

  1,021

  Linlithgow

  1,552

  1,954

  3,537

  4,277

  1,692

  Livingston

  990

  202

  1,848

  1,707

  1,683

  Midlothian

  649

  973

  480

  481

  253

  Monklands East

  3,033

  3,322

  4,075

  1,908

  1,735

  Monklands West

  941

  1,727

  1,338

  551

  297

  Moray

  196

  215

  119

  83

  162

  Motherwell North

  4,102

  3,826

  2,519

  3,028

  2,156

  Motherwell South

  2,372

  1,517

  2,817

  2,206

  1,442

  North Tayside

  89

  184

  152

  97

  307

  Orkney and Shetland

  32

  138

  681

  91

  83

  Paisley North

  2,117

  1,363

  620

  1,000

  1,067

  Paisley South

  12

  251

  355

  86

  224

  Perth and Kinross

  503

  131

  536

  318

  324

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  1,226

  2,453

  1,451

  1,318

  787

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  622

  316

  132

  1,231

  25

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  572

  228

  177

  254

  495

  Stirling

  4,263

  937

  640

  422

  1,285

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  660

  172

  76

  133

  375

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  2,051

  731

  433

  1,163

  422

  Western Isles

  15

  26

  43

  2

  12

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure of the Scottish Development Agency at constant factor prices for each of the years 1979 to 1988 inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  The information at 1988–89 prices is set out in the table:

  £ million

  1979–80

  151·6

  1980–81

  154·8

  1981–82

  140·9

  1982–83

  165·4

  342

  £ million

  1983–84

  149·4

  1984–85

  144·7

  1985–86

  152·6

  1986–87

  147·4

  1987–88

  145·2

  1988–89

  1142·7

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure at constant
  343
  factor prices on each of the functional divisions of the Scottish Development Agency in each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  Because of changes in agency structure over the years, it is not possible to provide information on expenditure by each functional division of the agency on a consistent basis.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the total amount of industrial factory space owned by the Scottish Development Agency on the latest date for which the information is available.

  Mr. Lang
  It is estimated that at 31 March 1989 the Scottish Development Agency owned 1.62 million square metres of property.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the total amount of industrial space owned by the Scottish Development Agency which is occupied on the latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Lang
  It is estimated that at 31 March 1989, 1·313 million square metres of property owned by the Scottish Development Agency was occupied.

  Highlands and Islands Development Board
  Mr. Henry McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure of the Highlands and Islands Development Board in each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 9 May at column 408.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list his official engagements on Sunday 14 May.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I had no official engagements on 14 May.

  Rent/Mortgage Scheme
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans to introduce a rent/mortgage scheme to certain tenants in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Yes, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 11 May at column 496.

  Drinking in Public Places
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is in a position to state his intentions in regard to possible amendments to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, including any steps he may contemplate in relation to drinking in inappropriate public places.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The recent review of the 1976 Act has revealed a large measure of support for a344
  number of the reforms canvassed in the consultation paper issued in 1986. Some of these are designed to enhance the more civilised regime which has developed since enactment of the 1976 Act, for instance to assist families—particularly in tourist and holiday areas—by introducing special children's certificates which will enable families to enjoy a pub lunch in suitable premises. We propose to legislate accordingly. Other provisions in the proposed legislation will be aimed at reducing unnecessary bureaucracy in the processing of licence applications, for example by enabling applicants to cover the issue of afternoon and Sunday opening in their initial applications. This again will be subject to suitable safeguards against abuse; and, in particular, we accept the clear majority view against any increase in Sunday hours for public houses.

  Other provisions in this package will, however, remove the present prohibition on the operation of off-sales licences in Scotland on Sundays and will allow "tastings" on off-sales premises. We have also received many representations about the proliferation of regular late night extensions; and we propose a much tighter control in that regard, for example, by requiring that applicants shall show good reason why the particular locality needs or would benefit from such extension. We also propose a stricter regime by banning repeated applications within two years of any unsuccessful application; and there will be a number of amendments of a clarificatory or procedural nature. These provisions will be introduced when an appropriate legislative opportunity presents; and we shall, meantime, be very happy to consider any further representations about them.

  Another area of concern has been the problem of drinking in public places. Following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and chief constables, the Government have decided to allow an experiment by up to three local authorities in the use of byelaws to prohibit drinking in certain designated localities. The aim of the experiment, which will be carefully monitored by Scottish Office researchers over a two year period, is to see whether such a byelaw can usefully add to the powers already available to the police to deal with the nuisance and distress which can be caused by the anti-social and loutish behaviour of groups of people who over indulge in alcohol in certain public places. Consultation about the appropriate locations, are well advanced and a further announcement in that regard will be made in early course. We expect to be able to confirm bye-laws for the selected areas by the autumn of this year.

  Health Authorities (Land)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board(a) the square footage of unused properties and (b) the square footage or acreage of unused land and the estimated value of each category as a percentage of total land and property and as a percentage of the total land and property value of each board; and if he will make a statement as to his Department's policy on the sale of unused land and property.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 3 February 1989]: The information requested is not collected routinely and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There were some 1,497 acres of surplus National Health Service property in Scotland—about 15 per cent. of the National Health Service estate. The information by health board is

  345
  listed in the following table. My Department's policy is that surplus land should be sold as expeditiously as possible having regard to the state of the market and good market practice and normally on the open market for the best price or consideration obtainable. To encourage boards to identify and dispose of their unused property, I have arranged for them to retain all the income from such disposals between now and 31 March 1991 for use within their own area.

  Board

  Total estate Acres

  Surplus Acres

  Estate Per cent.

  Argyll and Clyde

  972

  94

  12

  Ayrshire and Arran

  506

  50

  10

  Borders

  190

  26

  14

  Dumfries and Galloway

  383

  20

  5

  Fife

  420

  21

  5

  Forth Valley

  551

  144

  26

  Grampian

  730

  5

  1

  Greater Glasgow

  2,500

  624

  25

  Highland

  707

  98

  14

  Lothian

  1,222

  196

  16

  Orkney

  12

  4

  33

  Shetland

  5

  —

  —

  Tayside

  970

  56

  6

  Western Isles

  40

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  9,741

  1,497

  15

  Lowland Airports Policy
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what analysis he has made of the consequences for the Scottish economy of(a) continuation of the present Scottish lowland airports policy and (b) a policy of allowing airlines to choose airports for use for long haul flights.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 May 1989]: In commenting to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on BAA's request for a review of the Scottish lowland airports policy, my right hon. and learned Friend took into account the effects on the economy as well as the environmental effects and other factors.

  Female Police Officers (Firearms)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by year, for the last 10 years(a) in how many operations firearms were issued to female police officers and (b) in how many of these operations shots were fired by female police officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 May 1989]: This information is not held centrally.