Written Answers of 6 November 1989

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Bostik
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received representations concerning the proposed sale by Black and Decker of Bostik of Leicester to Orkem.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am not aware of having received any such representations.

  Computer Codes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to construct satisfactory criteria to be met by all computer codes which may be used as part of the decision-making processes involving public safety.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government are particularly concerned to ensure that safety-related systems are constructed to satisfactory standards; the identification and apportionment of risk attributable to software within systems is part of this process. They are actively taking steps to encourage the development of suitable standards and guidelines, at both national and international levels, to be met by all systems incorporating software on which public safety may in some way depend. The work is motivated not by a recognition of particular present dangers; rather by a desire to anticipate and forestall hazards which may arise with the very rapid pace of technical change.

  Activity is being co-ordinated by a working group of the Interdepartmental Committee on Software Engineering (ICSE) on which all interested Government Departments are represented.

  The working group, drawing on expertise from outside Government, is currently devising a strategy which includes the development of a requirement for harmonised standards applicable to the civil and defence sectors. The strategy will also embrace research and development, education and training, and the encouragement of technology transfer to equip software producers for the high quality of work to be demanded. The ICSE work on safety-related software is a particular aspect of the efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry to encourage

  Number of inward investment decisions

  Regional breakdown

  Scotland

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  28 (15·3)

  2,757 (19·3)

  n/a

  2,757 (19·3)

  15·8

  1980

  31 (20·0)

  4,474 (24·0)

  n/a

  4,474 (24·0)

  18·8

  1981

  28 (21·0)

  5,756 (35·1)

  n/a

  5,756 (35·1)

  22·1

  1982

  28 (21·0)

  2,258 (21·4)

  n/a

  2,258 (21·4)

  13·6

  400
  higher quality software in general through the promotion of best practice, support for standards-making, and the establishment of certification schemes where appropriate.

  A number of studies have recently been carried out, for example, by the Health and Safety Executive, and jointly by the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the British Computer Society (with financial support from the Department of Trade and Industry). The recommendations resulting from this work are being considered by ICSE in the development of its strategy. In particular, ICSE is working on a standards framework proposed by the Health and Safety Executive, which will take into account interim defence standards 00–55 (requirements for the procurement of safety critical software in defence equipment) and 00–56 (requirements for the analysis of safety critical hazards) as well as international standards currently being produced. The framework which eventually emerges from the ICSE work will, after normal consultation with United Kingdom industry, be presented to the International Electro Technical Commission, a body with a wide membership, whose responsibilities include the production of international standards for computer-based systems and the software used therein.

  "Single Market News"
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines are followed when allowing firms to advertise within his departmental publication "Single Market News".

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: Advertising is accepted on normal commercial terms and in accordance with the British code of advertising practice.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a breakdown of inward investment in the United Kingdom, by standard English regions and for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for each of the years 1979–80 to 1988–89 inclusive showing(a) the total number of investments, (b) the number received as a percentage of the total in each year, (c) the total number of associated jobs both new and safeguarded, (d) the number of jobs as a percentage of the total in each year and (e) the total amount of Government financial assistance provided.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: The table sets out the number of inward investment decisions known to the invest in Britain bureau for the calendar years 1979–88, together with the value of regional selective assistance offers to foreign-owned companies in England, Scotland and Wales and the financial assistance offered in Northern Ireland to such companies. It is currently not possible to provide all the information requested on a financial year basis.
  401

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1983

  49 (20·8)

  5,135 (33·0)

  3,432 (22·5)

  8,567 (27·8)

  25·9

  1984

  74 (22·6)

  8,761 (32·3)

  1,463 (7·6)

  10,224 (22·0)

  45·8

  1985

  57 (15·2)

  4,971 (19·4)

  2,922 (15·6)

  7,893 (17·8)

  36·8

  1986

  36 (10·6)

  1,881 (11·6)

  607 (5·6)

  2,488 (9·2)

  12·7

  1987

  31 (10·2)

  3,704 (18·6)

  2,061 (12·1)

  5,765 (15·6)

  22·1

  1988

  58 (17·6)

  5,392 (20·3)

  1,978 (10·9)

  7,370 (16·5)

  24·8

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  Wales

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  18 (9·8)

  854 (6·0)

  n/a

  854 (6·0)

  3·7

  1980

  16 (10·3)

  3,332 (17·9)

  n/a

  3,332 (47·9)

  4·5

  1981

  20 (15·0)

  1,986 (12·1)

  n/a

  1,986 (12·1)

  11·6

  1982

  17 (12·8)

  901 (8·6)

  n/a

  901 (8·6)

  13·5

  1983

  31 (13·1)

  2,116 (13·6)

  1,913 (12·5)

  4,029 (13·1)

  10·9

  1984

  42 (12·8)

  3,958 (14·6)

  5,015 (26·0)

  8,973 (19·3)

  29·8

  1985

  45 (12·0)

  2,416 (9·4)

  1,350 (7·2)

  3,766 (8·5)

  21·6

  1986

  49 (14·5)

  2,364 (14·5)

  2,232 (20·7)

  4,596 (17·0)

  14·6

  1987

  57 (18·8)

  3,954 (19·9)

  877 (5·6)

  4,831 (13·1)

  18·1

  1988

  55 (16·7)

  5,856 (22·1)

  2,085 (11·5)

  7,941 (17·8)

  14·9

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  Northern Ireland

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance1 (£ million)

  1979

  18 (9·8)

  2,794 (19·5)

  n/a

  2,794 (19·5)

  —

  1980

  20 (12·9)

  2,760 (14·8)

  n/a

  2,760 (14·8)

  —

  1981

  15 (11·3)

  2,429 (14·8)

  n/a

  2,429 (14·8)

  —

  1982

  6 (4·5)

  1,893 (18·0)

  n/a

  1,893 (18·0)

  —

  1983

  11 (4·7)

  548 (3·5)

  1,192 (7·8)

  1,740 (5·6)

  20·4

  1984

  27 (8·2)

  2,256 (8·3)

  2,876 (14·9)

  5,132 (11·1)

  42·1

  1985

  22 (5·9)

  771 (3·0)

  1,424 (7·6)

  2,195 (5·0)

  31·0

  1986

  18 (5·3)

  693 (4·3)

  1,722 (16·0)

  2,415 (8·9)

  27·1

  1987

  17 (5·6)

  946 (4·8)

  1,341 (7·9)

  2,287 (6·2)

  25·6

  1988

  22 (6·7)

  2,610 (9·8)

  916 (5·1)

  3,526 (7·9)

  57·5

  1 Figures for financial assistance in Northern Ireland are only available since the Industrial Development Board was established and are only available on a financial year basis.

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  North East

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  21 (11·5)

  1,466 (10·2)

  n/a

  1,466 (10·2)

  7·1

  1980

  19 (12·3)

  2,923 (15·7)

  n/a

  2,923 (15·7)

  5·6

  1981

  14 (10·5)

  1,021 (6·2)

  n/a

  1,021 (6·2)

  8·5

  402 403

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1982

  15 (11·3)

  539 (5·1)

  n/a

  539 (5·1)

  4·1

  1983

  20 (8·5)

  1,066 (6·9)

  720 (4·7)

  1,786 (5·8)

  1·9

  1984

  29 (8·8)

  4,589 (16·9)

  230 (1·2)

  4,819 (10·4)

  42·8

  1985

  26 (6·9)

  1,987 (7·8)

  1,572 (8·4)

  3,559 (8·0)

  10·2

  1986

  30 (8·8)

  1,581 (9·7)

  1,158 (10·8)

  2,739 (10·1)

  6·9

  1987

  31 (10·2)

  3,491 (17·5)

  852 (5·0)

  4,343 (11·8)

  15·6

  1988

  22 (6·7)

  2,041 (7·7)

  31 (0·2)

  2,072 (4·6)

  17·1

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  North West

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  9 (4·9)

  379 (2·6)

  n/a

  379 (2·6)

  7·5

  1980

  15 (9·7)

  913 (4·9)

  n/a

  913 (4·9)

  2·9

  1981

  12 (9·0)

  1,177 (7·2)

  n/a

  1,177 (7·2)

  5·9

  1982

  14 (10·5)

  1,291 (12·3)

  n/a

  1,291 (12·3)

  3·1

  1983

  22 (9·3)

  709 (4·6)

  1,114 (7·3)

  1,823 (5·9)

  1·9

  1984

  40 (12·2)

  1,135 (4·2)

  1,911 (9·9)

  3,046 (6·6)

  1·2

  1985

  28 (7·5)

  2,271 (8·9)

  1,378 (7·4)

  3,649 (8·2)

  10·1

  1986

  34 (10·0)

  1,400 (8·6)

  1,389 (12·9)

  2,789 (10·3)

  17·2

  1987

  22 (7·3)

  356 (1·8)

  1,946 (11·4)

  2,302 (6·2)

  16·1

  1988

  24 (7·3)

  1,604 (6·0)

  3,169 (17·5)

  4,773 (10·7)

  18·7

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  27 (14·8)

  1,176 (8·2)

  n/a

  1,176 (8·2)

  5·4

  1980

  17 (11·0)

  890 (4·8)

  n/a

  890 (4·8)

  1·6

  1981

  6 (4·5)

  167 (1·0)

  n/a

  167 (1·0)

  0·3

  1982

  7 (5·3)

  104 (0·9)

  n/a

  104 (1·0)

  1·9

  1983

  10 (4·2)

  345 (2·2)

  502 (3·3)

  847 (2·7)

  0·4

  1984

  7 (2·1)

  119 (0·4)

  860 (4·5)

  979 (2·1)

  1·1

  1985

  16 (4·3)

  2,263 (8·8)

  2,969 (15·9)

  5,232 (11·8)

  6·7

  1986

  11 (3·2)

  158 (0·9)

  57 (0·5)

  215 (0·7)

  7·9

  1987

  22 (7·3)

  938 (4·7)

  961 (5·7)

  1,899 (5·1)

  4·3

  1988

  14 (4·2)

  1,507 (5·7)

  250 (1·4)

  1,757 (3·9)

  2·4

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  West Midlands

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  11 (6·0)

  864 (6·0)

  n/a

  864 (6·0)

  0·0

  1980

  3 (1·9)

  1,040 (5·6)

  n/a

  1,040 (5·6)

  0·0

  1981

  7 (5·3)

  425 (2·6)

  n/a

  425 (2·6)

  0·0

  1982

  1 (0·7)

  100 (0·9)

  n/a

  100 (0·9)

  0·0

  404 405

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1983

  13 (5·5)

  1,201 (7·7)

  3,179 (20·8)

  4,380 (14·2)

  0·0

  1984

  14 (4·3)

  1,531 (5·6)

  5,240 (27·2)

  6,771 (14·6)

  0·0

  1985

  63 (16·8)

  5,197 (20·3)

  1,375 (7·4)

  6,572 (14·8)

  2·7

  1986

  74 (21·8)

  4,393 (27·0)

  1,899 (17·7)

  6,292 (23·3)

  5·1

  1987

  50 (16·5)

  3,002 (15·1)

  1,952 (11·5)

  4,954 (13·4)

  18·1

  1988

  66 (20·0)

  3,656 (13·8)

  7,824 (43·2)

  11,480 (25·7)

  8·3

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  East Midlands

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  15 (8·2)

  1,174 (8·2)

  n/a

  1,174 (8·2)

  0·2

  1980

  5 (3·2)

  276 (1·5)

  n/a

  276 (1·5)

  0·8

  1981

  8 (6·0)

  290 (1·8)

  n/a

  290 (1·8)

  0·5

  1982

  13 (9·8)

  848 (8·1)

  n/a

  848 (8·1)

  0·7

  1983

  12 (5·1)

  939 (6·0)

  80 (0·5)

  1,019 (3·3)

  3·6

  1984

  11 (3·4)

  658 (2·4)

  303 (1·6)

  961 (2·1)

  2·5

  1985

  19 (5·1)

  778 (3·0)

  0 0

  778 (1·8)

  1·9

  1986

  15 (4·4)

  557 (3·4)

  20 (0·1)

  577 (2·1)

  0·4

  1987

  11 (3·6)

  456 (2·3)

  398 (2·3)

  854 (2·3)

  0·2

  1988

  16 (4·8)

  836 (3·1)

  880 (4·9)

  1,716 (3·8)

  0·7

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  South East

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  23 (12·6)

  908 (6·3)

  n/a

  908 (6·3)

  0·0

  1980

  23 (14·6)

  1,046 (5·6)

  n/a

  1,046 (5·6)

  0·0

  1981

  15 (11·3)

  967 (5·9)

  n/a

  967 (5·9)

  0·0

  1982

  25 (18·8)

  1,300 (12·4)

  n/a

  1,300 (12·4)

  0·0

  1983

  59 (25·0)

  3,036 (19·5)

  2,667 (17·5)

  5,703 (18·5)

  0·0

  1984

  70 (21·3)

  2,731 (10·1)

  810 (4·2)

  3,541 (7·6)

  0·0

  1985

  84 (22·4)

  3,649 (14·3)

  5,712 (30·5)

  9,361 (21·1)

  0·0

  1986

  60 (17·7)

  2,118 (13·0)

  1,148 (10·7)

  3,266 (12·1)

  0·0

  1987

  50 (16·5)

  2,503 (12·6)

  599 (3·5)

  3,102 (8·4)

  0·0

  1988

  45 (13·6)

  2,240 (8·4)

  983 (5·4)

  3,223 (7·2)

  0·0

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  South West

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1979

  13 (7·1)

  1,938 (13·5)

  n/a

  1,938 (13·5)

  1·5

  1980

  6 (3·9)

  1,008 (5·4)

  n/a

  1,008 (5·4)

  0·5

  1981

  8 (6·0)

  2,199 (13·4)

  n/a

  2,199 (13·4)

  0·1

  1982

  7 (5·3)

  1,295 (12·3)

  n/a

  1,295 (12·3)

  4·3

  1983

  9 (3·8)

  451 (2·9)

  458 (3·0)

  909 (2·9)

  1·2

  406 407

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1984

  14 (4·3)

  1,364 (5·0)

  586 (3·0)

  1,950 (4·2)

  3·1

  1985

  15 (4·0)

  1,281 (5·0)

  19 (0·1)

  1,300 (2·9)

  1·2

  1986

  12 (3·5)

  1,129 (6·9)

  528 (4·9)

  1,657 (6·1)

  1·8

  1987

  11 (3·6)

  564 (2·8)

  328 (1·9)

  892 (2·4)

  1·5

  1988

  5 (1·5)

  479 (1·8)

  0 (0)

  479 (1·1)

  3·3

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  United Kingdom (not specified)

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance (£ million)

  1987

  1 (0·3)

  — —

  5,700 (33·5)

  5,700 (15·4)

  —

  1988

  3 (0·9)

  325 (1·2)

  0 (0)

  325 (0·7)

  —

  Notes:

  Figures in brackets apply to percentage of total for each region. These figures refer to decisions known to the IBB, and are provided by the companies themselves. The jobs are those associated with the projects over the long term.

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

  Total United Kingdom

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs (New jobs + Safeguarded jobs)

  Government assistance1 (£ million)

  1979

  183

  14,310

  n/a

  14,310

  41·2

  1980

  155

  18,662

  n/a

  18,662

  34·7

  1981

  133

  16,417

  n/a

  16,417

  49·0

  1982

  133

  10,529

  n/a

  10,529

  41·2

  1983

  236

  15,546

  15,257

  30,803

  45·9

  1984

  328

  27,102

  19,294

  46,396

  126·3

  1985

  375

  25,584

  18,721

  44,305

  91·2

  1986

  339

  16,274

  10,760

  27,034

  66·6

  1987

  303

  19,914

  17,015

  36,929

  96·0

  1988

  330

  26,546

  18,116

  44,662

  90·2

  1 Excludes Northern Ireland.

  n/a = Not available.

  Notes:

  Figures for Government assistance in England, Scotland and Wales are for offers of Regional Selective Assistance accepted by foreign-owned companies in the years shown. (NB: by no means all inward investment projects receive RSA.) Comparable information on other forms of financial assistance is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are(a) the most recent figures for homelessness by county and metropolitan district in England and (b). as a percentage of the population in county and metropolitan districts in England;

  (2) what are the most recent figures for homelessness for England and by English regions as a percentage of the population;

  (3) what are the most recent figures for homelessness for England, with regional breakdowns.

  Mr. Chope
  Figures for homelessness for non-metropolitan and metropolitan districts appear in table 7 of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness 408
  provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the second quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables". This table gives the numbers of homeless acceptances and acceptances per 1,000 households for those districts which reported.

  The latest estimates of households accepted as homeless expressed as numbers and per 1,000 households for England and by regions appear respectively in tables 1(a) and 1(b) of the same publication. Tables 1(a) and 1(b) include estimates for non-responders.

  A copy of the supplementary tables is available in the Library.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of young people under 18 years of age who are currently homeless; and how these estimates have changed over the last three years.
  409
  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: The numbers of young people among the households accepted as homeless are not reported by local authorities and my Department has no estimates.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My Department's records of correspondence from hon. Members are stored on a computer system. The system incorporates certain basic data for each case, including the length of time taken to send a reply to each letter.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering introducing any new schemes to promote the sale of council homes in England.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall be considering the experimental schemes recently announced in Scotland and Wales to enable tenants to buy their homes while deferring payment of part of the purchase price.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes were sold in 1988; what were the figures for five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is as follows:

  Local authority and new town sales, England

  (Thousands)

  1973

  1978

  1983

  1988

  Number of sales

  39

  30

  137

  142

  It is clear that the right to buy, introduced in 1980, continues to meet the desire of very many tenants to take on the responsibilities of home ownership.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold in the northern region since 1980.

  Mr. Chope
  From April 1980 to June 1989 an estimated 74,000 dwellings were sold by local authorities and new towns in the northern region.

  Housing (Rents)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average(a) council home rent, (b) new town development corporation home rent, and (c) housing association rent in England.

  Mr. Chope
  The estimated average weekly unrebated rent for local authority dwellings in England in April 1989 was £20·62; for new town dwellings it was £21·20.

  For housing associations the average rent for fair rent lettings in the first half of 1989 was £26·47. Since January this year most new lettings by housing associations have been on assured tenancies but information about the rents charged under such tenancies is not yet available.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Housing Corporation has been given permission to issue index-linked housing loan stock to participants in self-build schemes for rent.

  Mr. Chope
  The Housing Corporation and the Department are currently examining a proposition of this kind.

  European Environment Agency
  Mr. Siliars
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which body will make the final decision about the location of the European Environment Agency.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It will be for the Council of Ministers to make the final decision about the location of the European Environment Agency.

  Land Sales
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of publicly-owned land in the northern region have been sold since 1980; and how many are still held.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not held centrally. The Department's land register for public bodies covered by part X of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 records unused and underused land. At 30 September the register shows that in the northern region pubic bodies had disposed of 4,700 acres of such land since 1980; 10,100 acres remained on the register.

  Hazardous Waste Cargoes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the requirements for cargo checks and physical assay of hazardous and toxic waste cargoes imported into the United Kingdom when border deregulation is implemented with the single European Market on 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Trippier
  Controls over tranfrontier movement of hazardous wastes are based on prior notifications to the waste disposal authority responsible for the intended disposal facility and do not depend on cargo checks or assay at borders. Waste disposal authorities already have wide powers to inspect and take samples, wherever necessary, in the performance of their functions. The European Commission has accepted that after the creation of the single market controls on movements of hazardous waste between member states will still be necessary.

  Industrial Pollution
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money was spent on clearing up pollution and environmental damage resulting from the release of pollutants into the environment by industry, in each of the last 10 years for the United Kingdom as a whole; and how much of this sum was spent in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This information is not collected in the form requested. Some expenditures incurred by public undertakings in dealing with
  411
  environmental pollution are published for England and Wales in my Department's digest of environmental protection and water statistics but these cover much more than clearing up.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the community charge legislation in order to exempt from liability to pay the charge all persons who are in receipt of attendance allowance.

  Mr. Chope
  No, but my right hon. Friend intends to amend the legislation by order to enable anyone who is in receipt of attendance allowance, or constant attendance allowance, and who is severely mentally impaired to be exempt from the community charge. This will enable people suffering from degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease to qualify for exemption.

  Radioactive Waste, Drigg
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the letter dated 6 October from the hon. Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Woodgreen relating to the Sixth Report of the Environment Committee, session 1988–89 "Disposal of Low-level Radioactive Waste at Drigg."

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes. The text of my hon. Friend's letter is as follows:"I was interested to see your Committee's report on the "Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste at Drigg" which was published in August. I am pleased that the Committee welcomed the progress that has been made by British Nuclear Fuels plc to respond to the Committee's earlier criticisms of the Drigg operation and to implement the Committee's recommendations.
  BNFL has made substantial efforts to improve the Drigg site and to reduce any environmental impact. This, and the company's commitment to further improvements, is encouraging news.
  I note, however, that the Committee considers there is still some work to be done in reducing the volume of waste being sent to the site. The Department agrees and will continue to press the waste producers to reduce the volume of the waste prior to disposal".

  Pollution
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards there are to ensure that public funds do not go to businesses or activities which cause pollution and environmental damage.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have a legislative framework which provides systems for controlling pollution across all environmental media. We have strengthened the control of water pollution with the passage of the Water Act 1989. We propose to improve the effectiveness of other control systems with further environmental protection legislation. This framework provides the safeguard, and industrial and other activities, whether supported by public funds or not, must be regulated by these controls.

  Public Standpipes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how payment is to be made to water undertakers for water taken from a public standpipe for domestic use when drought conditions exist.
  412
  Mr. Howard
  There is no separate charge to domestic consumers for water taken from public standpipes erected during a period of water shortage.

  Civil Service Dispersal
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central Borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Around 38 per cent. of the Department of the Environment's staff of approximately 6,000 (excluding the Property Services Agency) are already located outside London, 24 per cent. outside the south-east. The Department's eastern regional office moved from London to Bedford last year. Staff working for the newly-established Historic Royal Palaces Agency have recently moved from central London to Hampton Court palace.

  Information about the Department's review currently being carried out of the scope for further relocation was given in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 21 July (Official Report, Vol. 157, col. 785.)

  Apart from the Property Services Agency, the Department's work is principally concerned with policies affecting England. We have not, therefore, considered locating posts in Scotland.

  Seventy per cent. of the PSA's staff of 22,800 are already located outside London, 45 per cent. outside the south-east. The PSA is being restructured in preparation for privatisation, and the scope for further relocation is being examined through the business planning process.

  Council House Building
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council dwellings were started in England and Wales for 1988; and how many starts have occurred in 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  Figures of local authority and new town housebuilding starts in England appear in table 2 of my Department's press release number 577 issued on 2 November 1989, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  For information on Wales I refer to the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement in respect of damage in Yorkshire and Humberside to sites of special scientific interest(a) at Thorne, Crowle and Goole Moors (b) Sandall Beat wood and (c) Shirley Pool.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The latest information on these sites is being assembled by the Nature Conservancy Council. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table placed in the Library on 19 July illustrating the impact, in each local authority area, of a system of local government finance based on a local income tax and on a system which combines local income tax with capital value based domestic rates, making the same assumptions but reflecting his estimates of 1990–91 expenditure, standard spending assessments and aggregate external finance.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today placed a table in the Library showing the figures requested, consistent with the announcements my right hon. Friend made in his statement today and with the exemplications of his proposals which he has sent to local authorities.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms for the payment of community charge transitional relief in 1991–92 and 1992–93; and what will be the amount of relief granted.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  On 11 October my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced in the other place details of the community charge transitional relief scheme. In 1990–91 the estimated cost of relief is £300 million. Transitional relief will be phased out over a three year period. The arrangements for future years are that in 1991–92 the amount of relief granted to an individual in 1990–91 will be reduced by 25p a week and by a further 25p in 1992–93. The cost of relief in 1991–92 is estimated to be £230 million and in 1992–93 £180 million.

  Travel Passes
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide the money to local authorities to ensure that free bus travel passes are available for retired persons.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: The main avenue for Government support for local authority services will be revenue support grant, which is in aid of services generally. It is for local authorities to decide how much to spend on any particular activity, and in particular to decide the extent to which they support concessionary fare schemes.

  Housing (Barnsley)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met Barnsley metropolitan borough council to discuss its housing needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: My officials met Barnsley metropolitan borough council on 3 October 1989 to discuss the district's housing needs and the council's proposed housing investment programme. The outcome of these discussions will be taken into account when the decisions are taken on the allocation of housing resources to Barnsley for the next financial year.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many right-to-buy applicants in each of the London boroughs were awaiting the determination of appeals to the district valuer at the most recent convenient date.
  414
  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: The following table gives the number of right to buy valuation appeals awaiting determination by district valuers at 19 October. It excludes appeals which have not yet passed to district valuers or which have recently been the subject of determination reports to the local authority and the applicant:

  District

  Number

  Barking

  20

  Barnet

  19

  Bexley

  4

  Brent

  24

  Bromley

  2

  Camden

  323

  Croydon

  44

  Ealing

  11

  Enfield

  8

  Greenwich

  384

  Hackney

  33

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  36

  Haringey

  18

  Harrow

  4

  Havering

  38

  Hillingdon

  4

  Hounslow

  21

  Islington

  51

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3

  Kingston

  3

  Lambeth

  34

  Lewisham

  81

  Merton

  9

  Newham

  68

  Redbridge

  18

  Richmond

  2

  Southwark

  59

  Sutton

  18

  Tower Hamlets

  93

  Waltham Forest

  11

  Wandsworth

  17

  Westminster

  29

  City

  0

  These figures suggest that the boroughs with very high numbers of appeals to the district valuer should be reviewing their valuation policies.

PRIME MINISTER

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the arrangements that have been made to assist overseas Governments, should they have a major nuclear accident.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom signed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency as soon as it was opened for signature in September 1986. As at 28 September 1989 this convention had been signed by 70 states and ratified by 37 states. Copies of this convention are available in the Library (Cm. 566).

  We undertook, on signature, to act as if bound by the convention pending ratification which is expected to take place early next year.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will set up a special unit in Downing street to deal with the problem of child abuse.
  415
  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  United Nations Environment Programme
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to announce an increase in the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations environment programme when she addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 8 November.

  The Prime Minister
  I announced in March this year that the United Kingdom will increase its contribution to the United Nations environment programme to £3 million.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Minister of the House responsible for policy relating to the textile industry; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I am satisfied with the present arrangements.

  Immigration and Nationality Policy
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister why responsibility for immigration and nationality policy has been passed to a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Responsibility for immigration and nationality policy rests with the Secretary of State for the Home Department. He will be assisted in the discharge of this duty by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd). They will continue the firm and fair administration of our immigration laws.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the model transitional agreements which he has suggested as viable contractual agreements between British Coal and National Power and Power Gen to take effect after the privatisation of electricity.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Coal contracts are a matter for commercial negotiation between British Coal and the generators.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what date has now been fixed for the sale to the private sector of each component branch of the electricity supply industry; and what level of certainty he attaches to the proposed date of each such sale.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Government are firmly committed to completing the privatisation of the industry within this Parliament. The area boards will be offered for sale in autumn 1990. The two generating companies will be offered for sale in the first half of 1991. The precise timing for this has yet to be settled.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the likely effects of electricity privatisation on levels of employment in the British coal mining industry.
  416
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The coal industry will need to ensure that its future output and prices meet the needs of its main customers including the privatised electricity generators. Employment in the industry will depend both on demand for coal and future productivity gains. It is for British Coal to determine what its manpower requirements are and how it will meet them.

  Civil Service Dispersal
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.

  Mr. Wakeham
  There are no plans for relocation. As I told the hon. Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 26 July 1989 (col.720), the position will be reviewed in early 1991 when the Department will have had some 18 months' experience of working in its new headquarters building. No sections of my Department have been relocated in the last five years.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the energy cost of each Government Department for the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Property Services Agency is currently responsible for paying fuel bills on behalf of most Departments. They will be writing to my right hon. Friend giving the precise information within two weeks.

  Energy Savings (London)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the energy savings of each London borough council for the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Information on the energy savings of each London borough council is not available centrally.

TRANSPORT

  Concessionary Fares Scheme
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals there are for changes to the operation of the concessionary fares scheme in Greater London.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am not aware of any such proposals. Decisions on concessionary fares rest with the London local authorities in negotiation with London Regional Transport.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will amend the law to provide that any fares imposed on users of concessionary travel permits in London will require parliamentary approval.

  Mr. Portillo
  This is a matter for the London boroughs and the City of London who pay for the concessionary fares scheme.

  Passenger Rail Services
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail management about reopening to passenger traffic lines now used only for freight traffic, or where the trackbed remains wholly or substantially intact; if he has discussed the case put by the Wealden line campaign for the reopening of the Lewes-Uckfield link; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am aware of the campaign to re-open the Lewes-Uckfield line. It is for the British Railways Board to decide on the re-opening of freight railway lines to experimental passenger services, as they are empowered to do under the Transport Act 1962 (Amendment) Act 1981, (the "Speller" Act).

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assurance he has received from British Rail regarding the availability for use when the tunnel opens of a high-speed rail link to London from the Channel tunnel for passengers and freight.

  Mr. Portillo
  In the early years of the tunnel's operation, BR plan to use existing lines, upgraded as necessary, for international passenger and freight services. British Rail and their joint venture partners, Eurorail, are planning to build a new passenger rail link between the Channel tunnel and London to overcome capacity constraints on the existing network. This new line, which is expected to be operational in 1998, will release additional capacity on existing lines for the growth of international freight traffic.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assurance he has received from British Rail regarding the availability of the station facilities required in the Ashford area for the Channel tunnel link at the opening of cross-Channel services.

  Mr. Portillo
  British Rail and Eurorail have reaffirmed their intention to have an international passenger station at Ashford when the Channel tunnel opens. To this end the board has announced its intention to introduce a private Bill later this month to seek powers to change the proposed location of Ashford IPS in order to fit in with the proposed new Channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what engineering and costing investigations have been made by his Department into the viability of tunnelling the high-speed rail link to King's Cross through south-east London.

  Mr. Portillo
  Engineering and costing investigations for the Channel tunnel rail link are for British Rail and Eurorail, not the Department.

  Prestwick Airport
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley,Official Report, 23 October, columns 371–72, he will state (a) how many of the 1,815 acres of land and buildings not directly or immediately required for airport operations were adjacent to Prestwick airport and (b) what was the value of land not directly or immediately required for airport operations at or adjacent to Prestwick airport at 8 July 1987.
  418
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The prospectus issued when BAA plc shares were offered for sale noted that of these 1,815 acres, 938 acres were at BAA's Scottish airports, predominantly at Prestwick. Plans showing this land are in the House Library.

  The gross current cost valuation of land and buildings at Prestwick, shown in the 1987 BAA company accounts, includes the value of land and buildings not immediately or directly required for airport operation. A separate valuation was not identified.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Disarmament
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any proposals from the Soviet Union for its complete unilateral disarmament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Lockerbie Air Crash
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold urgent talks with the West German Government about the level of co-operation available to the Scottish police force investigating the Lockerbie crash.

  Mr. Maude
  No such talks are necessary. The close contact which the investigating authorities have enjoyed with their West German colleagues has been an important and productive feature throughout the investigation and will continue.

  Dashevsky Family
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet Government so as to obtain permission for Vladimir Dashevsky of 26 Bakinskich Icomissarov, Moscow, to leave the Soviet Union to travel to Israel together with his wife and three children.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We take every opportunity to press the Soviet authorities on individual refusenik cases such as Vladimir Dashevsky. My right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised this case most recently when he met Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We shall maintain our pressure until Vladimir Dashevsky is given permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union.

  Civil Service Dispersal
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central Borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.

  Mr. Maude
  The diplomatic wing has not relocated any jobs in the last five years, but some 250 jobs, (mainly in
  419
  administration departments) have been identified for relocation from central London to the FCO estate at Hanslope park near Milton Keynes by 1995.

  In the aid wing, 18 jobs have been relocated to the East Kilbride office in the last five years following the relocation of 427 jobs there in 1981; and some 390 jobs from the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute are being relocated from London and the Thames Valley to Chatham between 1988 and 1990, most of which have already been transferred. In addition, about 100 further aid wing jobs will move from London, mostly to East Kilbride. The exact number of jobs and timing have yet to be decided.

  Mr. Raghubinder Singh
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's migration and visa correspondence unit intends to reply to the letter dated 4 September from the hon. Member for Woolwich about the case of Mr. Raghubinder Singh.

  Mr. Maude
  The hon. Member's letter has not been received in the MV correspondence unit. I understand that he is sending a duplicate, which will receive prompt attention.

  Missile Technology Control
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are taking place between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government concerning ways of strengthening the missile technology control regime.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have had frequent discussions of this subject with the American Government at both ministerial and official level. We are agreed that the most effective means of strengthening the regime is to encourage more countries to participate. We hope in the near future to host a meeting of partners to discuss expanding the regime.

  ASEAN
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received or sent to the Association of South-East Asian Nations countries concerning their nuclear-free policies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There have been no communications on this issue recently with the member states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

  Southern Africa
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the claims of the South African Foreign Minister arising from interception of communications of United Kingdom units serving as UNTAG border monitors.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  United Nations' investigations have found no evidence to support the South African claims. We have no reason to question this judgment.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Nursery School Places
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he plans to take to increase the number of nursery school places to encourage mothers to return to work; and what representations he has had on this subject.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Nursery education takes place within the hours of the school day and children commonly attend part time. Day care facilities such as day nurseries play a more important part in enabling mothers to return to work. They are the responsibility at Government level of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he plans to take account of the additional costs for disabled students in his current proposals in the White Paper on top-up loans for students.

  Mr. Jackson
  Disabled students will continue to qualify for the additional allowances available with the grant. They are also specifically exempted from the ending of students' benefit entitlements. After their courses, they will be protected by the provisions for deferment of repayments and write-off of the debt if their income is low.

  Teachers
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what assessment has made of whether the 5·3 per cent. salary offer to teachers in maintained further education colleges will attract and retain top quality graduates and people with industrial and business expertise;

  (2) what steps he will take to ensure that teachers remain attracted and committed to a career in further education; whether he has received the report by Hay Management Consultants on pay of principals of maintained sector colleges and if he will make a statement.

  (3) whether he will bring forward proposals to establish for those teachers employed in adult education a properly graded salary structure.

  Mr. Jackson
  The pay and conditions of lecturers in further education, including adult education, are a matter for their local authority employers. At national level, they are negotiated by the employers and the lecturer unions in the National Joint Council (Further Education).

  Human Genome Organisations
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial contributions he expects will be made from United Kingdom sources to the human genome organisations in 1989–90 and in each of the following four financial years.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that the Medical Research Council has not been approached to make a financial contribution to the human genome organisation. We have no information about possible approaches to private funding sources.

  Disabled Students' Grant
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities follow procedures which enable them to pay the full three years disabled students' grant in a single lump sum.

  Mr. Jackson
  This informaton is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many local education authorities have guidelines governing the award of disabled students' grants.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations empower local education authorities to assess extra grant in respect of certain types of expenditure incurred by disabled students. Within the framework specified in the regulations, how this power is exercised is a matter for individual authorities. Information about their procedures is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many disabled students following higher education courses incur costs related to their disability that exceed the level of the disabled students' grant.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Fire Safety (Schools)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken or is considering to improve fire safety in schools.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 23 October 1989 at column 323.

  Top-up Loans
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to amend the financial assumptions upon which the top-up loans White Paper is based.

  Mr. Jackson
  We have no plans to adjust the assumptions made for the purpose of Cm. 520 as to the long-term rates of take-up, deferment, default or inflation. The size of the loan facility offered to students in any year will be determined the previous autumn in the light of actual and anticipated cost increases.

  Open University
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision for inflation he will make in calculating grant aid to the Open university in 1990–91.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Treasury's expectation of price movements in the economy in 1990–91 will be announced in the Autumn Statement. Changes in the planned provision for the Open university in the forthcoming three years will be announced following the Autumn Statement.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Justice Act
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to bring section 43 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 into effect.

  Mr. John Patten
  Section 43 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 came into effect on 31 July this year. By subsection (5), the wider power it gives the Court of Appeal to order a retrial does not apply where notice of appeal or application for leave to appeal was given before that date.

  Drug Prevention Units
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy when considering the location for the recently announced drug prevention units, to consider Bolton as a base for a unit.

  Mr. Mellor
  Drug prevention units will be located in those areas judged most at risk from drug misuse and in particular from a threat of cocaine and crack. We are not yet in a position to announce which areas will be chosen.

  Bingo
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to amend section 42 of the Gaming Act 1968 to allow bingo organisers to advertise specific games of bingo at pre-arranged times and places; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 1 November at column 185 to an earlier question from him about the advertising of licensed bingo clubs.

  Guildford Four
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that interim compensation is paid immediately to Paul Hill, Gerard Conlon, Patrick Armstrong and Carole Richardson in light of the Appeal Court's decision in their case.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend has made interim payments of compensation to all four.

  May Inquiry
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that Sir John May's inquiry into the case of the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven be held in public.

  Mr. John Patten
  The conduct of the inquiry is a matter for Sir John May, but I understand that it is his intention that as much of the evidence as possible will be heard in public.

  Terrorism Suspects (Interviews)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure tighter safeguards for persons in custody on suspicion of terrorist offences; and if he will introduce video and sound recordings of all interviews of such persons, and immediate access to legal advice.
  423
  Mr. Waddington
  There are already safeguards in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1989 to ensure that interviews under the terrorist provisions are carried out properly and that those detained are properly treated. New provision was made in schedule 3 of the 1989 Act, in accordance with Lord Colville's recommendations in his report on the workings of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1984, for the supervision of the detention and examination powers in the Act by means of regular reviews during the first 48 hours. Any extension of detention beyond that period (up to a maximum of a further five days) requires my authority.

  Preparatory work is now underway for the trial use of tape-recording in interviews with those held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. There are no proposals for video recordings in these cases.

  There is already a right of access to legal advice for those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act but I believe that it is essential that the police should continue to have the power to delay the exercise of that right for a prescribed period where it is necessary to do so and the statutory criteria are met.

  Prisoner No. B51715
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received an application for the temporary transfer of prisoner No. B51715 from Frankland prison to a prison in Northern Ireland; if he will outline the compassionate grounds on which the application was based; and if he will give sympathetic consideration to immediately granting this application.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 14 August 1989 the inmate concerned submitted a petition requesting temporary transfer to a prison in Northern Ireland in order to receive accumulated visits from members of his family who live in Belfast. The petition expressed concern about the strain being experienced by the inmate's family and particularly about the wellbeing of the inmate's wife, daughter and mother. We and the Northern Ireland Office need to take both security and compassionate considerations into account before deciding whether the request can be granted. No decision has yet been reached. I should add that the inmate has also submitted a petition for permanent transfer to Northern Ireland. This, too, is being carefully considered.

  James Armstrong
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the internal inquiry into the death of James Armstrong at Risley remand centre revealed.

  Mr. Mellor
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the inquiries which, in accordance with standard practice, were carried out at the time by the governor of Risley into Mr. Armstrong's death. Those inquiries established the facts of the case as subsequently disclosed at the coroner's inquest and as summarised in correspondence with the hon. Member.

  Cable Authority
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to ensure that companies being awarded cable franchises by the Cable Authority proceed to actual cabling within an agreed time scale.
  424
  Mr. Mellor
  This is primarily a matter for the Cable Authority. There is inevitably some delay between the award of a cable franchise and the subsequent issue of the licences under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 and the Telecommunications Act 1984 which enable the operator to start operations. Before franchise holders can be granted such licences they need to be able to satisfy the Cable Authority and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (who is responsible for the issue of licences under the Telecommunications Act) on a range of matters. I understand that the Cable Authority has recently announced that it will review franchises after one year, with a view to withdrawing them if the holder has not made satisfactory progress in this regard.

  Before a Telecommunications Act licence is issued, the cable operator has to agree a schedule for the construction of his system in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Director General of Telecommunications and the Cable Authority. Monitoring compliance with the Telecommunications Act licence is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table showing(a) the list of cable franchises awarded by the Cable Authority, showing the name of the franchise, the successful applicant and the responsibility of the company who has won the franchise, and (b). a list of cable franchises currently on offer by the Cable Authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  I understand from the Cable Authority that a total of 53 cable franchises have been granted, of which 16 have been licensed by the Cable Authority, and 14 are operational. Copies of the lists requested have been placed in the Library.

  Prisons
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will(a). give the optimum operation capacity of each prison in England and Wales and (b) the actual numbers of prisoners currently housed in each prison in England and Wales.

  Mr. Waddington
  The maximum number of inmates an establishment can hold without some overcrowding is known as its certified normal accommodation (CNA).

  The latest figures available for:

  (i) CNA; and

  (ii) population

  of each establishment in England and Wales is as follows:

  Establishment

  Total CNA for September 1989

  Population on 3 November 1989

  Acklington

  448

  441

  Albany

  389

  379

  Aldington

  127

  119

  Ashford

  374

  0

  Ashwell

  404

  404

  Askham Grange

  134

  104

  Aylesbury

  296

  272

  Bedford

  178

  305

  Birmingham

  593

  981

  Blantyre House

  87

  86

  Blundeston

  405

  406

  Bristol

  552

  602

  Brixton

  729

  1,096

  Brockhill

  161

  252

  Buckley Hall

  139

  44

  425

  Establishment

  Total CNA for September 1989

  Population on 3 November 1989

  Bullwood Hall

  126

  151

  Camp Hill

  461

  479

  Campsfield House

  66

  63

  Canterbury

  230

  362

  Cardiff

  337

  428

  Castington

  300

  234

  Channings Wood

  538

  536

  Chelmsford

  242

  407

  Coldingley

  303

  298

  Cookham Wood

  120

  120

  Dartmoor

  631

  614

  Deerbolt

  420

  398

  Dorchester

  152

  235

  Dover

  247

  223

  Downview

  91

  91

  Drake Hall

  288

  260

  Durham

  729

  1,009

  East Sutton Park

  84

  77

  Eastwood Park

  134

  101

  Erlestoke

  218

  212

  Everthorpe

  304

  370

  Exeter

  310

  333

  Featherstone

  509

  574

  Feltham

  846

  713

  Finnamore Wood

  116

  114

  Ford

  536

  505

  Frankland

  447

  385

  Full Sutton

  432

  407

  Garth

  512

  494

  Gartree

  320

  313

  Glen Parva

  600

  584

  Gloucester

  200

  277

  Grendon

  261

  239

  Guys Marsh

  180

  104

  Haslar

  95

  69

  Hatfield

  180

  160

  Haverigg

  337

  385

  Hewell Grange

  136

  109

  High Point

  825

  798

  Hindley

  312

  401

  Hollesley Bay

  451

  355

  Holloway

  517

  482

  Hull

  402

  673

  Huntercombe

  180

  192

  Kingston

  150

  139

  Kirkham

  632

  589

  Lancaster

  186

  253

  Latchmere House

  127

  144

  Leeds

  633

  1,189

  Leicester

  205

  343

  Lewes

  371

  554

  Leyhill

  384

  384

  Lincoln

  391

  568

  Lindholme

  1,001

  850

  Littlehey

  484

  482

  Liverpool

  967

  1,309

  Long Lartin

  432

  422

  Lowdham Grange

  304

  121

  Low Newton

  185

  278

  Maidstone

  550

  551

  Manchester

  997

  1,536

  Morton Hall

  192

  151

  Mount

  484

  346

  New Hall

  120

  96

  Northallerton

  127

  184

  Northeye

  249

  232

  North Sea Camp

  202

  130

  Norwich

  487

  637

  Nottingham

  245

  320

  Onley

  352

  336

  Oxford

  124

  201

  Parkhurst

  261

  235

  Pentonville

  641

  996

  Portland

  527

  476

  Preston

  428

  485

  Pucklechurch

  159

  161

  Ranby

  404

  405

  426

  Establishment

  Total CNA for September 1989

  Population on 3 November 1989

  Reading

  178

  286

  Risley

  318

  378

  Rochester

  375

  332

  Rudgate

  378

  336

  Send

  101

  99

  Shepton Mallet

  173

  240

  Shrewsbury

  174

  249

  Spring Hill

  210

  211

  Stafford

  588

  811

  Standford Hill

  444

  428

  Stocken

  302

  304

  Stoke Heath

  360

  403

  Styal

  258

  249

  Sudbury

  601

  550

  Swaleside

  504

  497

  Swansea

  229

  278

  Swinfern Hall

  124

  131

  Thorn Cross

  300

  198

  Thorp Arch

  156

  146

  USK

  238

  147

  Verne

  595

  599

  Wakefield

  756

  716

  Wandsworth

  1,275

  1,556

  Wayland

  484

  484

  Wellingborough

  344

  290

  Werrington

  110

  75

  Wetherby

  196

  145

  Whatton

  167

  146

  Winchester

  471

  652

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,024

  1,048

  Wymott

  816

  720

  TOTAL

  44,991

  48,632

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will actively facilitate the transfer of those prisoners in British gaols who have requested to serve their sentences in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mellor
  All such requests are considered in the light of the criteria governing such transfers, which were set out in the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 23 June 1989 at column 263.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make his reply to the report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons on conditions within Wandsworth prison.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) published his response to the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on Wandsworth on 20 October 1989 and a copy was placed in the Library.

  Mr. Lorrain Esme Osman
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish all the representations he has received about Mr. Lorrain Esme Osman.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not normal practice to publish such correspondence, and I can see no reason to make an exception in this case.

  Drugs
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the estimated cost of the Metropolitan police drugs raid on Broadwater Farm estate on 29 September; and what type and quantity of drugs were seized during the raid.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the additional overtime costs were about £42,500. There were some other minor additional costs but these cannot readily be identified. The forensic examination and weighing of the drugs found has not yet been completed, but an initial examination indicates that about a kilo of cannabis was seized as well as some cocaine.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his written answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross) of 27 July,Official Report, column 856, if he will indicate the particular section of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order (SI 1983. No. 764) which makes provision to appeal from decision to destroy a dog which has bitten a person.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Article 33(1) of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 requires a court to make an order directing that a dog be destroyed where it appears to the court that the dog has attacked any person or attacked or killed livestock.

  Articles 143 and 146 of the Magistrates Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 as applied and modified by article 33(6) of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 enable an owner to appeal to a county court from an order for the destruction of a dog or, where a point of law is involved, to apply to the magistrates' court to state a case for the opinion of the Court of Appeal.

  Students
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of providing education for European Community students in Northern Ireland in(a) the current academic year and (b) each of the last three years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is not possible to disaggregate such overall costs.

  The cost of remitting the tuition fees of eligible European students for the previous three years was:

  Year

  Amount £

  1988–89

  702,650

  1987–88

  418,000

  1986–87

  216,000

  Current year figures are not yet available.

  Mr. Gerard Slane
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary on the circumstances of 428
  the murder of Mr. Gerard Slane in respect of whether any leaking of official photographs and documents relating to Mr. Slane were involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  No. However, at the request of the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the deputy chief constable of Cambridgeshire, Mr. John Stevens, is already undertaking a full and impartial investigation into the alleged leaking of security material with a view to the earliest possible comprehensive report to the chief constable.

  Seamus Duffy
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the present state of investigation by the police and the independent Police Complaints Commission into the circumstances in which Seamus Duffy was killed by a police plastic baton round in Belfast on 9 August.

  Mr. Cope
  The police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Seamus Duffy is being actively pursued and has reached an advanced stage. The investigation is being closely monitored by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland. Once the investigation has been completed the investigating officer's final report will go to the Commission which will then issue a statement to the chief constable on the conduct of the investigation. The papers will then be passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Until such time as the DPP has issued directions on the case, or any proceedings have terminated, it would not be appropriate to give details of the investigations.

  Prisons
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give(a) the optimum operational capacity of each prison in Northern Ireland and (b) the actual numbers of prisoners currently housed in each prison in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  The optimum operational capacity of each prison in Northern Ireland together with the actual numbers of prisoners currently housed is:

  Population as at 08.30 hours 3 November 1989

  Accommodation

  Number

  Her Majesty 's prison Belfast

  1433

  533

  Her Majesty 's prison Maghaberry

  1486

  2297

  Her Majesty's prison Magilligan

  1300

  266

  Her Majesty's prison Maze

  1750

  517

  1 Single cell accommodation.

  2 Including 23 female prisoners.

  These figures include prisoners on home leave and in outside hospitals.

  In addition, the young offenders centre, Hydebank, has single cell accommodation for 300 and has a current population of 158.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total prison population in Northern Ireland in each of the years since 1980.
  429
  Mr. Cope
  The average prison population in each of the years since 1980 was:

  Numbers

  11980

  2,489

  11981

  2,521

  11982

  2,481

  11983

  2,453

  11984

  2,248

  11985

  2,943

  21986–87

  1,907

  21987–88

  1,947

  21988–89

  1,860

  1 Calendar year.

  2 Financial year.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  IMF/World Bank (Meetings)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's action in response to the outcome of the recent annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 October to my hon. Friend, the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) at column 202. The United Kingdom will play its full part in furthering these policies.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the gross domestic product per head for(a) Wales, (b) England and (c) the United Kingdom for the most recent 10 years;

  (2) if he will list the main components of the gross domestic product per head which result in the total for Wales being lower than the total for England and the United Kingdom for the most recent 10 years.

  Mr. Lamont
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: For the latest estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) per head, I refer the hon. Member to "Economic Trends" No. 421, November 1988, page 90. An industrial analysis of

  Income Tax and NICS Payments at Multiples of Average Earnings, 1989–90

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  21·05

  38·27

  55·49

  89·92

  139·27

  249·47

  359·67

  469·87

  690·27

  1,020·87

  2,122·87

  NICS

  10·46

  16·66

  22·86

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  Total

  31·51

  54·93

  78·35

  117·66

  167·01

  277·21

  387·41

  497·61

  718·01

  1,048·61

  2,150·61

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  19·86

  36·10

  52·35

  84·83

  131·39

  235·35

  339·31

  443·27

  651·20

  963·08

  2,002·71

  NICS

  9·87

  15·72

  21·57

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  Total

  29·73

  51·82

  73·92

  111·00

  157·56

  261·52

  365·48

  469·44

  677·37

  989·25

  2,028·88

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax (per cent.)

  15·3

  18·5

  20·1

  21·8

  25·3

  30·2

  32·6

  34·1

  35·8

  37·1

  38·5

  NICS (per cent.)

  7·6

  8·1

  8·3

  6·7

  5·0

  3·4

  2·5

  2·0

  1·4

  1·0

  0·5

  Total (per cent.)

  22·9

  26·6

  28·4

  28·5

  30·3

  33·5

  35·2

  36·1

  37·2

  38·1

  39·0

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  13·40

  30·62

  47·84

  82·28

  127·03

  237·23

  347·43

  457·63

  678·03

  1,008·63

  2,110·63

  430
  GDP is given on page 93 of the same article which gives detailed figures for the latest four years; a copy of which is available in the Library. A copy of the information requested on the main components of the gross domestic product for the 10 most recent years has been placed in the Library.

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of parents paying tax on the provision or subsidy of child care facilities by employers and the amount of tax collected in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: I regret that information on which to base reliable estimates of the number of parents paying tax on this benefit in kind and the amount of tax collected is not available.

  Families with Children
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families with children fall below the tax threshold.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: In 1989–90, it is estimated that some 1·6 million families with children have taxable incomes below the income tax threshold. The estimate is based on a projection of the 1986 family expenditure survey and is therefore provisional.

  Tax and Insurance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give up to date figures on income tax and national insurance averages on the same basis as in his reply to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) of 10 January,Official Report, columns 633–56, including data for 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: Figures for 1978–79 to 1988–89 were earlier placed in the Library of the House on 13 April 1989. Revised estimates for 1988–89 and estimates for 1989–90 are set out in the tables.
  431

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  NICS

  10·46

  16·66

  22·86

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  Total

  23·86

  47·28

  70·7

  110·02

  154·77

  264·97

  375·17

  485·37

  705·77

  1,036·37

  2,138·37

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  12·64

  28·89

  45·13

  77·62

  119·84

  223·80

  327·76

  431·73

  639·65

  951·54

  1,991·16

  NICS

  9·87

  15·72

  21·57

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  Total

  22·51

  44·60

  66·70

  103·79

  146·01

  249·97

  353·93

  457·90

  665·82

  977·71

  2,017·33

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax (per cent.)

  9·7

  14·8

  17·4

  19·9

  23·1

  28·7

  31·5

  33·2

  35·2

  36·6

  38·3

  NICS (per cent.)

  7·6

  8·1

  8·3

  6·7

  5·0

  3·4

  2·5

  2·0

  1·4

  1·0

  0·5

  Total (per cent.)

  17·3

  22·9

  25·7

  26·6

  28·1

  32·1

  34·0

  35·2

  36·6

  37·6

  38·8

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  0·01

  17·23

  34·45

  68·89

  105·61

  186·49

  280·16

  388·73

  609·13

  939·73

  2,041·73

  NICS

  9·39

  15·59

  21·79

  34·18

  46·08

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  Total

  9·40

  32·82

  56·24

  103·07

  151·69

  241·98

  335·65

  444·22

  664·62

  995·22

  2,097·22

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  0·01

  16·25

  32·50

  64·99

  99·63

  175·93

  264·30

  366·73

  574·65

  886·54

  1,926·16

  NICS

  8·86

  14·71

  20·56

  32·25

  43·47

  52·35

  52·35

  52·35

  52·35

  52·35

  52·35

  Total

  8·87

  30·96

  53·06

  97·24

  143·10

  228·28

  316·65

  419·08

  627·00

  938·89

  1,978·51

  Per cent. of Earnings

  Income Tax (per cent.)

  0·0

  8·3

  12·5

  16·7

  19·2

  22·6

  25·4

  28·2

  31·6

  34·1

  37·1

  NICS (per cent.)

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  8·3

  8·4

  6·7

  5·0

  4·0

  2·9

  2·0

  1·0

  Total (per cent.)

  6·8

  15·9

  20·4

  24·9

  27·5

  29·3

  30·5

  32·2

  34·5

  36·1

  38·1

  Married, two children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  -1·1

  16·12

  33·34

  67·78

  112·53

  222·73

  332·93

  443·13

  663·53

  994·13

  2,096·13

  NICS

  10·46

  16·66

  22·86

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  360·6

  140·2

  7470·

  1,021·

  Total

  9·36

  32·78

  56·20

  95·52

  50

  250·47

  87

  91·27

  87

  2,123·87

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  -1·04

  15·21

  31·45

  63·94

  106·16

  210·12

  314·08

  418·05

  625·97

  937·86

  1,977·48

  NICS

  9·87

  15·72

  21·57

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  26·17

  Total

  8·83

  30·92

  53·02

  90·11

  132·33

  236·29

  340·25

  444·22

  652·14

  964·03

  2,003·65

  Per cent. of Earnings

  Income tax (per cent.)

  -0·8

  7·8

  12·1

  16·4

  20·4

  26·9

  30·2

  32·2

  34·4

  36·1

  38·0

  NICS (per cent.)

  7·6

  8·1

  8·3

  6·7

  5·0

  3·4

  2·5

  2·0

  1·4

  1·0

  0·5

  Total (per cent.)

  6·8

  15·9

  20·4

  23·1

  25·5

  30·3

  32·7

  34·2

  35·8

  37·1

  38·5

  Income Tax and NICS payments at multiples of Average Earnings, 1988–89

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  19·51

  35·53

  51·55

  83·59

  129·33

  231·85

  334·37

  436·89

  641·93

  949·49

  1,974·69

  NICS

  11·53

  17·30

  23·07

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  Total

  31·04

  52·83

  74·62

  111·04

  156·78

  259·3

  361·82

  464·34

  669·38

  976·94

  2,002·14

  Per cent. of Earnings

  Income Tax

  per cent.

  15·2

  18·5

  20·1

  21·7

  25·2

  30·2

  32·6

  34·1

  35·8

  37·0

  38·5

  NICS per cent.

  9·0

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  3·6

  2·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·1

  0·5

  Total per cent.

  24·2

  27·5

  29·1

  28·9

  30·6

  33·7

  35·3

  36·2

  37·3

  38·1

  39·1

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  12·35

  28·37

  44·39

  76·43

  117·87

  220·39

  322·91

  425·43

  630·47

  938·03

  1,963·23

  NICS

  11·53

  17·30

  23·07

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  Total

  23·88

  45·67

  67·46

  103·88

  145·32

  247·84

  350·36

  452·88

  657·92

  96·48

  1,990·68

  Per cent. of Earnings

  Income Tax

  per cent.

  9·6

  14·8

  17·3

  19·9

  23·0

  28·7

  31·5

  33·2

  35·1

  36·6

  38·3

  432 433

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  NICS per cent.

  9·0

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  3·6

  2·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·1

  0·5

  Total per cent.

  18·6

  23·8

  26·3

  27·0

  28·3

  32·2

  34·2

  35·3

  36·7

  37·7

  38·8

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  0

  15·84

  31·86

  63·9

  97·83

  173·19

  260·33

  361·18

  566·22

  873·78

  1,898·98

  NICS

  7·95

  15·76

  21·02

  34·60

  45·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  Total

  7·95

  31·60

  52·88

  98·50

  143·73

  228·09

  315·23

  416·08

  621·12

  928·68

  1,953·88

  Per cent. of Earnings

  Income Tax per cent.

  0·0

  8·2

  12·4

  16·6

  19·1

  22·5

  25·4

  28·2

  31·6

  34·1

  37·0

  NICS per cent.

  6·2

  8·2

  8·2

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  4·3

  3·1

  2·1

  1·1

  Total per cent.

  6·2

  16·4

  20·6

  25·6

  28·0

  29·7

  30·7

  32·5

  34·6

  36·2

  38·1

  Married, two children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  -2·15

  13·87

  29·89

  61·93

  103·37

  205·89

  308·41

  409·93

  615·97

  923·53

  1,948·73

  NICS

  11·53

  17·3

  23·07

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  Total

  9·38

  31·17

  52·96

  89·38

  130·82

  233·34

  335·86

  437·38

  643·42

  950·98

  1,976·18

  Per cent. of Earnings

  Income Tax per cent.

  -1·7

  7·2

  11·7

  16·1

  20·2

  26·8

  30·1

  32·0

  34·3

  36·0

  38·0

  NICS per cent.

  9·0

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  3·6

  2·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·1

  0·5

  Total per cent.

  7·3

  16·2

  20·7

  23·2

  25·5

  30·3

  32·8

  34·1

  35·9

  37·1

  38·6

  Notes to Tables:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the tax units receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances. Earners, including working wives, are assumed to pay Class 1 NI contributions at the contracted in rate. The figures for NI contributions are financial year averages.

  2. The two earner married couple is assumed to have combined earnings equal to the various multiples of average earnings. In calculating disposable income it is assumed that these earnings are split between husband and wife in the ratio 60:40.

  3. For the married couple with two children, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax.

  4. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These were £256.30 per week in 1988–89, and estimated to be £275.50 per week in 1989–90 using the Government Actuary Department's assumption of 7½ per cent. growth over 1988–89 as published in the GAD annual report in December 1988.

  5. 1989–90 figures are converted into 1988–89 prices by assuming that the RPI is 6 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than the previous financial year. This is consistent with the forecasts published in the 1989–90 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  EEC (Contributions)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the net contribution to the EEC in 1989.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 31 October 1989]: The Government's latest published estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget in 1989 is £1,966 million. A new estimate of the United Kingdom's net payments to European Community institutions for the financial year 1989–90 will be published in the Autumn Statement.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Charities
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sum is currently given per capita in donations to overseas aid charities; and what was the equivalent sum in donations in 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There is no Government record of the public's donations to voluntary agencies for work overseas. However, each major agency publishes an 434
  annual report and accounts. It is clear that voluntary giving for overseas aid agencies has increased substantially since 1979.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way Her Majesty's Government are helping to reduce the consequences of famine in Ethiopia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Substantial amounts of food aid are likely to be needed but a fuller picture will emerge when United Nations crop assessment data become available shortly. Meanwhile, I announced in August 5,000 tonnes of wheatflour and I have recently approved a further 5,000 tonnes. We are, of course, working closely with other aid donors on emergency help.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to help alleviate famine in Ethiopia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I have said in reply to the question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Kirkhope), the situation is not yet fully clear, but it is likely that substantial amounts of food aid will be
  435
  needed to prevent the recurrence of famine in northern Ethiopia over the coming year. I announced in August the allocation of 5,000 tonnes of wheatflour to Ethiopia and I have recently approved the allocation of a further 5,000 tonnes. We shall continue to monitor the situation very closely and to liaise with other aid donors.

  South Africa
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safeguards exist to monitor the allocation of overseas Government funding to organisations in South Africa and to South African organisations not currently located within South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Staff of our Embassy in Pretoria and of the British Council make frequent visits to the organisations to which we provide aid and the projects we help finance. Officials from my Department visit South Africa regularly to oversee our aid programme and to ensure that it is being well spent. We do not finance any South African organisations outside South Africa.

  Namibia
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid he proposes to make available to Namibia on attainment of independence.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in the House on 26 October, we are willing to provide financial assistance to independent Namibia. But it will not be possible to make specific plans until we have had discussions with the elected Government on their own priorities and policies.

  Wildlife Conservation (Africa)
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what ways Britain is helping to conserve wildlife in Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Britain has long been helping African Governments with their wildlife conservation efforts, and we are always ready to consider new requests for help. I have placed a list of recent and continuing activities in the Library of the House.

  Northern Somalia
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of United Kingdom aid to Somalia particularly in terms of alleviating the poverty and suffering of people in northern Somalia; whether his policy has been reviewed in the light of renewed internal conflicts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The security situation in northern Somalia since the beginning of the civil conflict there has prevented an effective relief effort being mounted, although we remain ready to support the operations of the international relief agencies and British voluntary organisations when these become possible. Concern about human rights abuses led us to suspend an offer of new capital aid to Somalia in October last year and following the deterioration of conditions since mid-July, we concluded that it was necessary to reduce our existing technical co-operation programme.

  Brundtland Commission Report
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the Brundtland Commission report on environment and development issues.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government's commitment to sustainable development is set out in the United Kingdom response of July 1988 to the Brundtland report and in a progress report, "Sustaining our Common Future", produced recently by the Department of the Environment. Copies of both documents are in the Library. Among the things they show is how, through the aid programme, we are working to promote sustainable economic and social progress and alleviate poverty in developing countries.

  India
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom is giving to support primary education in India.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A grant of just over £31 million was approved earlier this year for a primary education project in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It provides for the design and construction of some 1,100 teachers centres and 4,000 classrooms mostly in remote rural areas throughout the state. It will also cover the training of teachers and teacher educators, teaching materials and research and evaluation activities designed to measure and improve the effectiveness of training and child-centred learning techniques.

  Overseas Aid Programme
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of world economic conditions, he will review the priorities in the United Kingdom overseas aid programme.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Priorities in the United Kingdom overseas aid programme are kept under constant review, as indicated in the Government's observations on the 1987 FAC report on bilateral aid, Cm. 225.

  Amazonian Rain Forest
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific developments have now resulted from the visit by the right hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten) to the Amazonian rain forest.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In August and September British experts visited Brazil and identified a number of well-defined possibilities for collaborative projects. One of these, a joint five year project by Brazilian scientific institutions and the Institute of Hydrology to improve our knowledge of the critical effect of rainforests on climate, has been worked out in detail and has been put forward to the Brazilian authorities for agreement. If it is acceptable, I hope work will start by January, 1990.

  In addition, Dr. Synnott of the Oxford Forestry Institute will visit Brazil again later this month to try to finalise the details of certain projects in sustainable forestry management and the genetic resources of forests so that work on these can also start early next year.

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many former colonies are currently in receipt of overseas aid from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are 59 former British dependent territories currently in receipt of British aid.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of gross domestic product is currently spent on overseas aid.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage proportion of gross domestic product is currently spent on overseas aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  United Kingdom aid as a proportion of gross national product stood at 0·32 per cent. in 1988–14 per cent. up on the figure for 1987.

  Aid (Debt)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what weight he gives to a country's level of indebtedness when making decisions about the level of aid allocated to them.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our criteria for allocating bilateral aid are set out in the Government's observation on the 1987 FAC report on bilateral aid, Cm. 225. Indebtedness by itself is not a reason for providing aid. In the context of support for economic policy reform the level of debt servicing obligations a country has to meet, after any debt rescheduling or relief, is one of the factors taken into account on deciding on the level of bilateral aid provision.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his answer of 6 March,Official Report, column 403, he will estimate when the research would be complete in order to assess the impact of AIDS on developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are supporting research on the demographic and economic impact of AIDS in developing countries. We expect this work to be completed in October 1990.

  Developing Countries
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report on strengthening environmental co-operation with developing countries, published in the current year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Yes. A copy has been placed in the Library.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Guildford Four
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the granting of immunity from prosecution to those giving evidence in the judicial inquiry on the convictions of the Guildford Four.
  438
  The Attorney-General
  There is a distinction between a full immunity from prosecution, which might be given to a particular witness, and an assurance to that witness that any evidence he might give would not be used against him in criminal proceedings. I have discussed these matters in general terms with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Civil Legal Aid
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of adults are now estimated to be eligible for civil legal aid; and what was the comparative figure in 1979.

  The Attorney-General
  Eligibility for legal aid is determined by a great number of factors. Among them is the fact that a large proportion of civil legal aid is for matrimonial proceedings where it is not easy to estimate who might be eligible as proceedings only arise where there has been a breakdown of an existing household. Officials have been considering how it might be possible to make more reliable estimates of current eligibility for civil legal aid. Their work is not yet complete.

  Relator Proceedings
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he has received any representations about his criteria for deciding on the granting of relator proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Representations have been made in the context of recent proceedings brought against Barratt Manchester Ltd. and Bolton metropolitan borough council. The solicitor to the two relators concerned has confirmed that one of them is an undischarged bankrupt. Despite his making the usual inquiries, this was not known to him or the Attorney-General at the time consent was granted. The relator concerned has now withdrawn from the action.

  Judicial Review
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the rule that application for judicial review must normally be made within three months from the decision complained of; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government have no plans to review the three month period within which applications for leave to apply for judicial review must normally be made. The present rules both encourage promptness and allow exceptions to be made where necessary.

  Legal Profession
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has had any recent representations from the judiciary on the green papers on the legal profession; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor received a number of representations from the judiciary on the Green Papers on the legal profession during the consultation period, but none since the White Paper was published on 19 July.

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General how many justices of the peace are currently in post; how many of these are from ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The total number of active justices of the peace in England and Wales at 1 January 1989 was 28,211. Records are not kept of the racial origins of magistrates but surveys in 1987 indicated that 528 were members of an ethnic minority.

  Since then an informal count has revealed that the number of appointments of justices from the ethnic minority has exceeded their proportion in the population age groups from which appointments are normally made. Subject to the personal suitability of candidates, it is desirable that each bench should broadly reflect the local community. Where this is not currently the case, advisory committees seek to redress the balance.

  City Fraud
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent meetings he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding serious City fraud; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Matters of serious City fraud are largely the responsibility of the serious fraud office. I have met the director and deputy director of the serious fraud office on a number of occasions in the past month to discuss matters of departmental interest.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Attorney-General what information his Department and the Lord Chancellor's Department have on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  The Attorney-General
  Between 1 January 1989 and 30 September 1989, 67 per cent. of letters from hon. Members to the Lord Chancellor's Department were answered within 28 days of receipt. Information for earlier periods is not available.

  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 31 October 1989 at col. 133 to his earlier question concerning my own Department.

  Ministers (Prosecution)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) if his fiat has been refused in any cases where citizens have attempted to bring a private prosecution against a Government Minister for alleged serious offences; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if his power of consent has been used at any time to refuse the prosecution of Government Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  My consent to the institution of criminal proceedings is required only when the statute creating an offence so stipulates. I have not refused any request from a prosecuting authority or any other source for such consent.

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Attorney-General if the serious fraud squad was able to secure in Egypt the papers it sought in connection with its inquiries into the House of Fraser report; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Egyptian authorities have recently informed the Crown prosecution service that their inquiries are continuing into the matters in respect of which assistance was sought.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Attorney-General if the serious fraud squad has yet completed its inquiries into the issues raised by the House of Fraser reports; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The inquiries have necessarily been protracted on account of the nature of the matters under investigation and the need for a substantial proportion of the relevant evidence to be gathered from overseas. I am satisfied that these inquiries, with which I personally keep in touch, are being conducted with all proper expedition. I hope that a decision about this case will be taken shortly.

WALES

  Far East (Visit)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his visit to the Far East.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In Korea I had talks with 19 top companies and in Japan with 27. As a result I expect a good number of positive decisions to invest in Wales to be made over the next 12 months.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of overseas investment in Wales for the period 1979–88.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The available figures show that, between 1979 and 1988 inclusive, 360 individual inward investment projects have been secured in Wales, promising over 43,000 jobs. 1988 was a record year in which Wales secured 22 per cent. of the new jobs associated with inward investment to the United Kingdom. The associated capital investment for that year was over £1 billion.

  Elderly Patients
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to provide the area health authorities with additional resources to enable them to improve hospital facilities for the long stay elderly.

  Mr. Grist
  Funding of long-stay hospital facilities for the elderly is a matter for district health authorities, using their discretionary resources. In 1989–90 total resources available to district health authorities, the bulk of which will be available for their discretionary use, will amount to over £961 million—an increase of £72 million over 1988–89.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that no doctor in Wales will be unable to prescribe for his or her patients the medication or drugs most appropriate to their condition if the Government's plans for the Health Service are implemented in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Government's White Paper proposals relating to general practitioners' prescribing will not in any way prevent people getting the medicines they need. Our policy is to implement these proposals in Wales.

  Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of grants which Wales has received from the European regional development fund in the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  European regional development fund commitments to Wales since 1979 have amounted to £460 million.

  CBI
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of Wales Confederation of British Industry; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I last met members of CBI Wales on 12 June during a seminar to consider information technology and the single European market (1992).

  National Curriculum (Teachers)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be sufficient teachers qualified in all the necessary subjects to teach the national curriculum in its further stages from September 1990.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The requirements of the national curriculum are being taken fully into account in setting the intakes to initial teacher training, in revising the criteria for initial teacher training courses and in planning the LEA in-service training grant scheme and education support grants.

  Puppy Farming
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning appeals he has dealt with relating to puppy farming in Wales in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Grist
  None.

  Welsh Language Board
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the Welsh Language Board.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Language Board has made encouraging progress in its first year of operation. It has issued voluntary guidelines governing the use of Welsh in both the public and private sectors. It has been instrumental in finding practical solutions to problems 442
  encountered by Welsh speakers. I am now discussing with the board next steps in relation to its strategy for the future.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed in the Principality, at the latest available date, by employers who had no place of business in the Principality 10 years earlier.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  This information is not available in the form requested. However, on the basis of VAT returns, the stock of businesses in Wales rose by some 11,300 between 1979 and 1988. In addition, the Department's regional data system indicates that manufacturing units employing 10 or more and which have opened since 1979 currently provide 44,500 jobs.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unadjusted figures for unemployment in(a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On 14 September 1989 the numbers of unemployment claimants in the Newport district, Gwent and Wales were 4,893, 14,970 and 90,594 respectively. Unadjusted figures for 1979 are not available on a basis that enables a valid comparison to be made. Unemployment in the hon. Gentleman's constituency was 87 per cent, higher when the Government was re-elected in June 1987 than it is today.

  Departmental Anniversary
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to mark the 25th anniversary of the setting up of his Department.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Welsh Office falls on 1 April 1990. I intend to mark the anniversary in an appropriate manner and will announce my plans in due course.

  National Museum
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to meet the president and director of the National Museum of Wales to discuss the museum's strategy plan and future funding.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend meets the president and director of the National Museum of Wales to discuss matters of mutual interest as occasion demands. Decisions on the need for a meeting to discuss the museum's next strategy plan will be taken when it is received early next year.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the change in the number of people visiting the National museum in Cardiff since the introduction of entrance charges.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the totals of visitors to the National museum of Wales, Cathays Park, since admission charges were introduced and for the previous comparable period.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Recorded visitor numbers were:
  443

  December 1988-September 1989 (inclusive) 62,583

  December 1987-September 1988 (inclusive) 329,949

  The National museum issued a statement on 24 October explaining the reason for these differentials. Comparisons are difficult because in the earlier period both the Chinese Dinosaurs exhibition and the Gerald of Wales exhibition were taking place. Subsequently major building works at the museum have prevented the staging of major exhibitions. During the current financial year the attendance at Cathays park is 3,000 below budget—a shortfall of 8 per cent. Conversely the number of visitors attending the Welsh folk museum is 39,000 above budget—an increase of 20 per cent. The museum believes that these differences were accounted for by the exceptional summer weather and that its experience is in line with other indoor and outdoor attractions in Wales. The museum holds the view that with the reopening of the east wing in March 1990, refurbishment of the major temporary exhibition gallery which is now complete and the sound financial position, the museum could attract major temporary exhibitions which in turn would substantially improve visitor numbers.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implications for Welsh conservation of the proposed merger of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The proposed new arrangements will mean clearer lines of responsibility and facilitate the development of conservation policies fully sensitive to the needs of Wales.

  Welsh Water
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of Welsh Water plc; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am in regular contact with the chairman and discuss with him a wide range of issues related to the business of Welsh Water.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to stop Welsh Water from proceeding with a long sewage outfall from Swansea where this conflicts with any European Community directive.

  Mr. Grist
  The design and construction of a long sea outfall at Swansea bay is a matter for Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig. The company will, no doubt, have full regard to all existing statutory requirements in the preparation of its detailed proposals.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the waiting lists and the numbers of patients treated for 1979 and for the latest available corresponding period for(a) in-patients, (b) out-patients and (c) day patients.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is as follows:

  1978–79

  1988–89

  Patient treated:

  In-patient cases

  345,305

  456,378

  New out-patients

  425,927

  524,113

  444

  1978–79

  1988–89

  Day cases

  26,456

  84,758

  31 March 1979

  31 March 1989

  Waiting lists:

  In-patients

  39,527

  41,964

  Out-patients

  57,832

  90,745

  Day cases

  3,397

  6,914

  Fishguard Harbour
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards the development of Fishguard harbour, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This is a matter for Sealink, the port's operators.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his latest visit to mid-Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My most recent visit was to Builth Wells on 17 October, when I addressed the 1989 Welsh agricultural outlook conference.

  Egg Industry
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the present state of the egg industry in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The egg laying flock in Wales is relatively small. The market for eggs is very buoyant and prices are stable.

  Heartbeat Wales
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the level and sources of funding of the campaign Heartbeat Wales in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Grist
  Central contributions to Heartbeat Wales, the Welsh heart programme, were identifiable in the programme's first two years of operation, are shown as follows:

  1985·86 £

  1986–87 £

  Health Education Council

  365,000

  350,000

  Welsh Office

  130,000

  215,000

  From 1 April 1987 responsibility for Heartbeat Wales was assumed by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, a Welsh Office-funded special health authority, which receives an unhypothecated allocation for its range of activities and expenditure. Funding for the authority in 1987–88 was £1·218 million; and 1–838 million in 1988–89; the allocation for 1989–90 is £2–057 million. In addition to central contributions, Heartbeat Wales has attracted income from sponsorship and other sources.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.
  445
  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department holds information on the date of letters, the date they are received in the Department and the date a reply issues for all correspondence from hon. Members since 1984. This enables aggregate information to be produced on the length of time taken to respond to Members' letters.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the likely effects on employment in the Welsh coal industry of the privatisation of the electricity industry.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  This will depend on a number of factors which cannot now be predicted. Among them will be the terms eventually agreed between British Coal, National Power and PowerGen on the future of coal supplies and the competitiveness of mines in Wales.

  Channel Tunnel
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the negotiations currently under way between his office and British Rail concerning the nature of the rail links between south Wales and the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Officials took part in British Rail's consultations on the plan of services they are required to present to the Government by the end of this year under S40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. That report is now awaited.

  East Glamorgan General Hospital
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the progress achieved to date in bringing to fruition the planned replacement hospital for the existing East Glamorgan general hospital;

  (2) where the planned replacement hospital for East Glamorgan general hospital will be sited.

  Mr. Grist
  Though a number of planning approval and funding issues remain to be resolved we understand that Mid Glamorgan health authority continues to focus its management effort on securing an area of land at Ynys-y-Plwm for the proposed new district general hospital covering Taff-Ely and Rhondda.

  Sewage Disposal
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, when he next meets the Welsh regional chairman of the National Rivers Authority, he will request him to address as a priority, stopping the Welsh water authority from depositing raw sewage from its treatment plants into the rivers, estuaries and bays of Wales.

  Mr. Ian Grist
  All of Dwr Cymru's sewage treatment plants have consents. It is for the National Rivers Authority to determine what to do if the consents are breached.

  The NRA has already been asked to set in hand an urgent review of the way in which discharge consents are set and the way in which compliance with these consents is assessed.

  Ynysplwm (Investment)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to encourage inward industrial investment located at the Ynysplwm site at Clantrisant, Mid Glamorgan.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am determined to continue to encourage inward investment into Wales and to this end I am actively involved in promoting all areas of the Principality. The Welsh Development Agency is responsible for identifying and promoting individual sites for inward investment and I am advised that it believes that there may be some land available at Ynysplwm which is suitable for one or more such projects.

  Schools (Local Management)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the criteria which will be taken into account in the needs-related component of the formula funding under local management of schools.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Each LEA was required to devise its own formula having regard to local needs and circumstances and after consultation with its schools. The formula must be based on an assessment of school's objective needs and conform to the requirements of the Education Reform Act and the guidance in circular 36/88. The central determinant of a school's needs should be the number of pupils weighted for age differences.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implications of local management of schools in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Local management will enable governors and headteachers of all county and voluntary secondary schools, and of larger primary schools, to target funds on their own educational needs and priorities by giving them control over their running costs. It will make schools more responsive to the clients—parents, the local community, and employers—by relating the funding that schools receive mainly to the numbers of pupils. Local management gives the local education authority the lead function in deciding the basis for allocating funds to schools and in supporting them in the efficient and effective provision of education.

  The Department is currently considering the LEAs' schemes for the local management of schools.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the implications of local management of schools on(a) administrative costs at school levels, (b) responsibilities and workloads of head teachers and (c) information technology requirements at school level.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Over time the administrative costs associated with the introduction of local management of schools should be offset by the more effective use of resources. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science, has asked the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions to advise on the implications of local management for the workload of headteachers when reporting to him on school teachers' pay and conditions for 1990–91.

  Up to £1 million has been made available to LEAs in Wales in 1989–90 for the introduction of local

  447
  management. Of this £500,000 has been earmarked for the introduction of management information systems into schools.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the Member for Alyn and Deeside of 30 October, when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on staffing requirements under the proposals of the White Paper, "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Monday 30 October at col.34. The manpower implications of the proposals contained in the White Paper "Working for Patients" are being considered as part of the ongoing manpower planning and management process within the NHS in Wales alongside a number of other initiatives. A number of these initiatives naturally interrelate and to some degree overlap for example, it is likely that the White Paper proposals will require a further strengthening of the personnel, finance and information technology functions within the NHS in Wales, in addition to the work that is already being undertaken in these areas as part of the continuing development of the management of the service.

  Similarly, the proposals contained in a review of the Combined Training Institute at Cardiff and in an option appraisal of nurse education arrangements in Wales as part of the wider task of implementing Project 2000 are being considered alongside the outcome of the manpower resource planning exercise. The proposals contained in the White Paper overlay such initiatives to some extent and will be taken into account in that context. The annual manpower resource planning exercise will enable the NHS in Wales to take stock of the manpower requirements over the next decade.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for a scheme of transitional relief to help community chargepayers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In July I announced that the average community charge in Wales for 1990–91 would be £175, provided that Welsh local authorities budgeted in line with my plans. This will benefit all Welsh community chargepayers. In addition to this a three-year scheme of community charge transitional relief is to be introduced which will provide further assistance to personal chargepayers in Wales. The cost of the scheme will be £17·5 million in 1990–91.

  I am placing in the Library copies of a paper setting out my proposals, which have been the subject of consultation with the Welsh local authority associations. The scheme gives protection to those facing significant increases over their 1989–90 domestic rates bills. It will provide broadly the same protection as that provided by a district safety net but without the need for contributions from chargepayers.

  The scheme I am announcing today will mean that in 1990–91 personal chargepayers in communities where domestic ratable values are low will face an increase of no more than £25 per year—less than 50p a week—over the average 1989–90 domestic rates bill for each adult in their community area, provided that local authorities spend in
  448
  line with my plans. Residents of many communities and some inner city communities will be protected from large increases as we introduce the new system.

  In bringing forward these proposals, I must emphasise the important responsibility which now falls upon Welsh local authorities in their budget-making for 1990–91. The announcement I have made must not be taken by authorities as a signal to increase spending; rather, I look to Welsh local authorities to ensure, in setting their budgets for 1990–91, that the full benefits of these new arrangements flow through to chargepayers.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales at what level he proposes to set the total of revenue support grant, the national non-domestic rate multiplier and the distributable amount of national non-domestic rate for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I announced on 20 July that I proposed to set the total of aggregate external finance (the level of central Government support for local authority revenue spending) at £1,733 million, an increase of 8·6 per cent. over the comparable level for 1989–90. This support comprises three component elements: revenue support grant, the national non-domestic rates distributable amount, and relevant specific grants.

  I now estimate that the amount of business rates to be distributed in 1990–91 (the distributable amount) will be £454 million. This is the amount (adjusted to allow for certain technical factors) which I expect charging authorities to receive in respect of rates paid by private businesses, nationalised industries, and local authorities themselves, together with a contribution in respect of Crown property. This amount includes an element from the business sector which is broadly the same in real terms as the equivalent amount for 1989–90. In arriving at the distributable amount I have estimated that the national non-domestic rating multiplier for 1990–91 will be 38p; but this figure will be provisional until I have final information about the effects of the revaluation and other relevant factors.

  I estimate that relevant specific grants towards local authority revenue expenditure will total £154·2 million. Further details will be available at the time of the Autumn Statement.

  I propose that the total of revenue support grant should be £1,124·8 million. I am today consulting Welsh local authorities and their associations on this amount.

  I will also shortly be notifying the associations of my proposals for the distribution and population reports, together with exemplifications of the likely effect of my proposals on individual authorities. These will be based on provisional population figures from community charge registers. The Welsh local authority associations share the view that it would not be helpful to publish exemplifications at this stage.

HEALTH

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will implement a scheme of compensation over and above the £10 million granted in November 1987, for haemophilia HIV positive people who have contracted the virus from infected imported blood products during National Health Service treatment.
  449
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The £10 million that the Government provided to set up the Macfarlane Trust was an ex-gratia payment and not compensation. I understand that the trust funds are not yet fully committed, but, as we made clear when the £10 million grant was announced. we shall not be closed to any representations about further funding which may be made at a later date.

  Some haemophiliacs who are HIV positive are now pursuing compensation through the courts and I am advised that this matter is now sub judice.

  Wheelchairs (Children)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the demand for, and availability of, electronic and hi-tech wheelchairs for disabled children.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Disablement Services Authority is the special health authority responsible for the provision of artificial limbs and wheelchairs. My hon. Friend should address his question to the DSA.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will create a specific section dealing with the problem of child abuse.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is a policy section specifically concerned with the problem of child abuse within the Department of Health. The section draws on professional advice from within and outside the Department, and, through the interdepartmental group on child abuse, works with other Government Departments to provide a co-ordinated approach to child protection.

  Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate a research project to discover how many clinics there are currently which have been set up to help child abusers overcome their problem.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department is aware of a number of clinics and other facilities and projects working with child abusers in a variety of settings. A definitive count of such clinics is not available, since some offer a specialist service while others help child abusers as part of a wider programme.

  Health Authority Boundaries
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations are taking place on health authority boundary changes in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Consultation is taking place on the proposed transfer of north east Westminster from Bloomsbury health authority (North East Thames regional health authority) to Parkside health authority (North West Thames regional health authority). A consultation document has been issued, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  A further consultation exercise will take place later this year on a proposal by North East Thames regional health authority to merge the remaining part of Bloomsbury health authority with Islington health authority (also in North East Thames).

  Erythropoietin
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Minister of State's reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 23 October about the prescribing of erythropoietin for patients with kidney failure, if he has now assessed the information received from health authorities about the likely need for the drug and its expenditure implications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have nothing to add to the reply that my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) gave to the right hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 23 October at columns 316–17.

  Medical Education and Research
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in view of the proposed Health Service arrangements, if he will establish a mechanism for evaluating the impact of the changes in medical education and research.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As was made clear in the White Paper "Working for Patients", the Government are firmly committed to maintaining the quality of medical education and research and we recognise the complexity and special needs of these areas.

  The steering group on undergraduate medical and dental education, the standing committee on postgraduate medical education, and the Chief Medical Officer's expert advisory group are considering the impact that the proposed changes may have on medical education.

  Beverley Lewis
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement about the Beverley Lewis case;

  (2) whether he has any plans to review the Mental Health Act in the light of the Beverley Lewis case.

  Mr. Freeman
  The death of Beverley Lewis is a very tragic case. We have asked for reports on it from the health and social services authorities concerned. These reports and the inquest findings will be examined very carefully to see what needs to be done to close any gaps in legislation or in guidance to the authorities.

  Mr. Jeremy Harrison (Correspondence)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from Mr. Jeremy Harrison, a chiropodist of 433 Aigburth road. Liverpool 17.

  Mr. Freeman
  I met Mr. Harrison in the presence of the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 25 September 1989 to discuss a number of issues concerning the practice of chiropody by state-registered and non-state-registered practitioners. The issues are very complex and I will be giving a considered reply to the questions raised by Mr. Harrison at this meeting as soon as possible.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the anticipated levels of supply of factor VIII from the blood products laboratory, Elstree, over the last 12 months in monthly figures;
  451
  (2) what are the anticipated levels of supply of plasma to the blood products laboratory in Elstree over the next 12 months' in monthly figures:

  (3) what were the quantities of plasma held in stockpile at the blood products laboratory, Elstree, over the last 12 months, in monthly figures;

  (4) what were the quantities of plasma received at the blood products laboratory, Elstree, over the last 12 months, in monthly figures.

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

  Table 1

  Levels of supply of Factor VIII from BPL over the last 12 months und projections for the next 12 months

  millions of international units

  1988

  11989

  November

  6·6

  6·0

  December

  6·2

  6·0

  1989

  1990

  January

  5·6

  6·0

  February

  5·6

  6·0

  March

  5·7

  6·0

  April

  5·4

  7·3

  May

  5·4

  7·3

  June

  5·9

  7·3

  July

  4·6

  7·3

  August

  6·0

  7·3

  September

  5·0

  7·3

  October

  5·4

  7·3

  1 Projections.

  Table 2

  Anticipated levels of plasma supply to BPL over the next 12 months

  Tonnes

  November

  35

  December

  35

  January

  35

  February

  35

  March

  35

  April

  40

  May

  40

  June

  41

  July

  41

  August

  41

  September

  41

  October

  41

  Table 3

  Quantities of plasma held in stockpile at BPL over last 12 months

  Tonnes

  November

  307

  December

  304

  January

  289

  February

  278

  March

  261

  April

  263

  May

  253

  June

  248

  July

  237

  August

  232

  September

  219

  October

  213

  Table 4

  Quantities of plasma received at BPL over the last 12 months

  Tonnes

  November

  33

  December

  28

  January

  33

  452

  Tonnes

  February

  35

  March

  35

  April

  35

  May

  3l

  June

  44

  July

  34

  August

  34

  September

  39

  October

  35

  North West RHA
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of inflation in the financial allocations to the North West regional health authority in connection with the reimbursement of costs for caring for the former residents of large mental institutions; and what allowance was made to that authority for the years 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Freeman
  In general, allocations to regional health authorities do not make separate provision for individual clinical services or client groups. It is for authorities to determine how the resources available to them should be spent in line with national policy guidelines and their assessment of local needs and priorities.

  Listeriosis
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give details of any information he has received about outbreaks of listeriosis in Mexico, Canada and California;

  (2) if he will give the numbers of reported cases of listeriosis for each year since 1978;

  (3) when he first became aware of any research programmes into listeriosis carried out in the United States of America, Austria and West Germany;

  (4) when he first received the World Health Organisation report entitled "Foodborne Listeriosis";

  (5) whether he has received advice from bodies representing informed medical opinion as to whether the public should be made aware of the risks of listeriosis.

  Mr. Freeman
  The number of reported cases of listeriosis for each year since 1978 is as follows:

  Number

  1978

  187

  1979

  170

  1980

  175

  1981

  186

  1982

  177

  1983

  115

  1984

  115

  1985

  149

  1986

  137

  1987

  259

  1988

  291

  19892

  231

  1 These figures cannot be compared with later figures which reflect a change in reporting systems.

  2 Figures are from January to September only and are provisional.

  Information on listeriosis in California and Canada is available in evidence given to the Social Services Committee in its examination of food poisoning, listeria and listeriosis earlier this year. Of particular interest was

  453
  the following table. Mexican-style soft cheese was

  Examples of outbreaks of food-borne listeriosis

  Numbers of cases (deaths)

  Ref. Place

  Years

  Total

  Maternal/foetal/ neonatal

  Non-pregnant adult and juvenile

  Food implicated

  Serotype

  1. Boston, United States of America

  1979

  20 (5)

  0

  20 (5)

  ? raw vegetables

  4b

  2. Halifax, Canada

  1981

  41 (18)

  34 (16)

  7 (2)

  coleslaw

  4b

  3. Boston, United States of America

  1983

  49 (14)

  7 (2)

  42 (12)

  ? milk

  4b

  4. Los Angeles, United States of America

  1985

  142 (48)

  93 (30)

  49 (18)

  soft cheese

  4b

  5. Vaud, Switzerland

  1983–7

  122 (33)

  61 (nk)

  61 (nk)

  soft cheese

  4b

  nk = Not known.

  1. Ho et al. Arch Intern Med 1986; 146: 520–4.

  2. Schlech et al New Engl J Med 1983; 308: 203–6.

  3. Fleming et al New Engl J Med 1985; 312: 404 –7.

  4. Linnan et al New Engl J Med 1988; 319: 823–8.

  5. Bille & Glauser. Bulletin des Bundesamtes fur Gesundheitswesen 1988; 28: 28·9.

  The report of the WHO informal working group on foodborne listeriosis was published in May 1988.

  The government have been working with all interests, including the medical profession, since the end of 1987 to assess and decide how best to deal with potential hazards from listeria monocytogenes as evidence of cases of listeriosis linked to food emerged in Europe. The Government have kept in close touch with relevant research worldwide.

  Mentally Ill patients
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the experiment in release of long-stay mentally ill patients known as the "Daily Living Programme".

  Mr. Freeman
  The pattern of care and treatment used in the daily living programme has been used very successfully for some years both in parts of the United States of America and in Australia.

  The present research programme is to assess the value of this pattern of care in an urban environment in England. The daily living programme is designed to give people with early and acute mental illness the treatment that they need without unnecessary use of in-patient care. The patients in the daily living programme can be admitted or readmitted to hospital whenever it is considered necessary by their clinical team and preliminary results show that over 80 per cent. of patients in the programme have been admitted to hospital during their time on the programme. Patients in the programme can stay in hospital for as long as is judged necessary. The daily living programme is not concerned with the rehabilitation of long-stay patients. The programme is a research project, which has been partly funded by the Department of Health for three years until September 1990. A full evaluation is due at the end of 1990.

  Health Authorities (Internal Markets)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities that are to be tested in the development of internal markets; what services are to be tested; and when he hopes to report on the results of the scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All health authorities are engaged upon development work to get ready for the first 454
  implicated in the Los Angles (California) outbreak in 1985. The Department has no information on any outbreak of listeriosis in Mexico.

  contracts for health services. Subject to the passage of the necessary legislation these should be operative from April 1991. We are however funding certain authorities whose development work is more advanced. The purpose of this funding is to enable them both to progress faster and to document their experience for the benefit of those authorities who are at a less advanced stage.

  The projects are for:

  (a) the development of contracts for services between three DHAs and hospitals within their own boundaries, hospitals in other districts and with the private sector. The DHAs are Cambridge, Peterborough and Huntingdon. The project will produce regular reports of its work, the next being due in March 1990.

  (b) the development of management contracts between four DHAs and hospitals they directly manage. The DHAs are West Norfolk and Wisbech, West Suffolk, East Suffolk, and Great Yarmouth and Waveney. The project will produce regular reports of its work, the next being due in March 1990.

  (c) The development of service contracts between authorities in respect of flows of patients across district boundaries. The project involves all DHAs within the South Western region. The project will produce regular reports, the next being due early in 1990.

  The Department is in addition funding some other projects concerned with related aspects of the "Working for Patients" proposals.

  Mental Health Act Commission
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has yet received the option appraisal on the future location of the Mental Health Act Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. We welcome the commission's decision to centralise its administration and, in the light of the information contained in the commission's report of its review, and in the option appraisal, have decided that the office should be located in Nottingham.

  Hyperactivity
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken into allergies leading to hyperactivity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Medical Research Council, which receives a grant-in-aid from this Department, is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. The council is not currently supporting research into

  455
  allergies leading to hyperactivity, though it is supporting other work on hyperactivity. The council is always willing to consider soundly-based proposals for new research programmes in competition with other proposals.

  Cytomegalovirus
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department funds into the foetal disease cytomegalovirus.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from this Department, is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. I understand that the council is supporting the following projects concerning cytomegalovirus:

  Dr. J. D. Gram, Molecular Genetic Laboratory, Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton.

  Project Title:

  Expression of a human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein genes in cultures of eschcrichia coli.

  Dr. G. H. Farrar, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton.

  Project Title:

  Isolation and characterisation of human cytomegalovirus glycoproteins.

  Professor C. A. Mims, Department of Microbiology, United Medical School Guy's and St. Thomas's London.

  Project Title:

  Studies of the interaction of m urine cytomegalovirus with the immune system.

  Dr. P. D. Griffiths, Department of Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London.

  Project Title:

  Studies on the protein composition of cytomegalovirus found in the body fluids.

  Professor Catherine Peckham, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, London.

  Project Title:

  Long-term follow-up of children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

  Dr. Minson, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge.

  Project Title:

  The indentification and characterisation of the glycoproteins in human cytomegalovirus.

  Dr. V. C. Emery, Department of Virology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London.

  Project Title:

  Quantification of cytomegalovirus in clinical samples. Additionally, research on cytomegalovirus may be being pursued by university departments and medical schools with support from UFC block grants and by health authorities; but information on this is not collected centrally.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Mobility Allowance
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the total cost to the Exchequer of extending mobility allowance at(a) current levels of payment and (b) proposed updated levels of payment to people aged over 75 years of age.
  456
  Mr. Scott
  Mobility allowance must be claimed before age 66 and in respect of disability arising before age 65. Section 8 of the Social Security Act 1989 has already provided for existing recipients of the allowance who reach age 75 to continue to receive it to age 80. The annual cost of this will rise to £8 million in 1991–92. The cost of complete abolition of all age limits would be nearly £1·5 billion a year at current rates and nearly £1·6 billion at the proposed new rates.

  Unemployed Claimants
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in what circumstances an unemployed person in receipt of income support who has their benefit suspended for two weeks for not actually seeking work will(a) continue to receive uninterrupted income support and eligibility for passported benefits such as housing benefit, less the 40 per cent. deduction to their personal allowance and (b) have to claim individually for a hardship payment; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) under what circumstances an unemployed person in receipt only of unemployment benefit who has that benefit suspended for two weeks for not actively seeking work would (a) automatically be paid income support, less the 40 per cent. personal allowance deduction and (b) have to make a separate hardship claim for income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Normally payment of benefit will be suspended when a question arises about whether an unemployed claimant has been actively seeking employment. However, there can still be entitlement to income support at a reduced rate (and eligibility for passported benefits including housing benefit) if the adjudication officer decides that the claimant (or member of his/her family) would suffer hardship if benefit was not paid.

  The adjudication officer should consider the question of hardship automatically for those already in receipt of income support. Where it is decided that benefit should continue the local office will do its best to ensure payments remain uninterrupted.

  Those in receipt only of unemployment benefit when the actively seeking employment question arises need to make a separate claim before the adjudication officer can consider whether a payment of income support can be made.

  Allowances
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the information in his reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) about child and family allowances of 7 June,Official Report, columns 563–66, expressed in April prices to include the years 1989–90.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is as follows:
  457

  Value of child support1 for each child in standard rate tax-paying families expressed at April 19892 prices (£)

  Children under age 11

  Children aged 11–15

  Children aged 16 and over

  Date3

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd child4

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd child4

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd child4

  April 1958

  7·60

  10·01

  10·76

  9·46

  11·96

  12·52

  11·40

  13·82

  14·46

  April 1959

  6·96

  9·47

  10·12

  8·63

  11·23

  11·88

  10·39

  12·90

  13·64

  April 1960

  6·91

  9·40

  10·13

  8·57

  11·15

  11·79

  10·32

  12·81

  13·54

  April 1961

  6·73

  9·15

  9·87

  8·34

  10·85

  11·48

  10·05

  12·47

  13·19

  April 1962

  6·37

  8·66

  9·34

  7·89

  10·27

  10·86

  9·51

  11·80

  12·48

  April 1963

  7·15

  9·40

  10·06

  8·65

  11·06

  11·56

  10·23

  12·56

  13·14

  April 1964

  7·01

  9·21

  9·86

  8·48

  10·84

  11·33

  10·03

  12·31

  12·88

  April 1965

  7·03

  9·19

  9·65

  8·57

  10·66

  11·20

  10·12

  12·20

  12·74

  April 1966

  6·78

  8·87

  9·32

  8·28

  10·29

  10·81

  9·77

  11·78

  12·30

  April 1967

  6·59

  8·61

  9·05

  8·03

  9·99

  10·49

  9·48

  11·44

  11·94

  April 1968

  6·31

  7·90

  8·38

  7·69

  9·29

  9·70

  90·8

  10·60

  11·09

  April 1969

  5·98

  7·81

  82·7

  7·29

  9·13

  9·59

  8·60

  10·44

  10·83

  April 1970

  5·66

  7·40

  7·83

  6·90

  8·64

  9·08

  8·15

  9·89

  10·26

  April 1971

  6·59

  8·35

  8·75

  7·61

  9·43

  9·83

  8·69

  10·46

  10·85

  April 1972

  6·20

  7·86

  8·23

  7·16

  8·87

  9·25

  8·18

  9·84

  10·21

  April 1973

  5·63

  7·05

  7·39

  6·66

  8·03

  8·37

  7·49

  8·86

  9·20

  April 1974

  6·46

  7·65

  7·95

  7·44

  8·54

  8·88

  8·24

  9·35

  9·69

  April 1975

  5·66

  7·82

  7·82

  6·46

  8·63

  8·63

  7·16

  9·36

  9·36

  April 1976

  5·93

  7·78

  7·78

  6·61

  8·46

  8·46

  7·23

  9·05

  9·05

  April 1977

  5·70

  6·53

  6·53

  6·28

  7·10

  7·10

  6·78

  7·58

  7·58

  April 1978

  6·79

  6·79

  6·79

  7·32

  7·32

  7·32

  7·76

  7·76

  7·76

  April 1979

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  8·42

  November 1980

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  7·81

  November 1981

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  November 1982

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  8·09

  November 1983

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  8·57

  November 1984

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  8·61

  November 1985

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  8·34

  July 1986

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  8·32

  April 1987

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  April 1988

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  7·83

  April 1989

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  7·25

  1 The combined value of child tax-allowances after clawback and family allowance/child benefit.

  2 Based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices at April 1989.

  3 Child tax allowance ceased after the 1978–79 tax year end and up-rating dates are shown from 1979 onwards.

  4 And subsequent children.

  Child Support
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of Sate for Social Security if he will update to April 1990 to the information provided in the reply of 28 November 1988 to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett)Official Report,columns 93–96, relating to child support.

  (a)

  (b) MICUB rate

  (c) Dep increase

  (d) Child Benefit/Family allowance

  (e) Total child1 support

  (f) Column (e) as a percentage of column (b)

  (g) Column (e) ex- pressed at April 1989 prices2

  (h) Column (g) as index April 1989=100

  Date

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  5th July 1948

  2·10

  0·375

  0·25

  0·625

  29·8

  9·02

  62·2

  30th August 1951

  2·10

  0·625

  0·25

  0·875

  41·7

  10·74

  74·1

  24th July 1952

  2·70

  0·65

  0·25

  0·90

  33·3

  10·20

  70·3

  19th May 1955

  3·25

  0·75

  0·40

  1·15

  35·4

  12·24

  84·4

  6th February 1958

  4·00

  1·10

  0·40

  1·50

  37·5

  14·17

  97·7

  6th April 1961

  4·625

  1·35

  0·40

  1·75

  37·8

  15·70

  108·3

  7th March 1963

  5·45

  1·60

  0·40

  2·00

  36·7

  16·68

  115·0

  28th January 1965

  6·50

  1·85

  0·40

  2·25

  34·6

  17·77

  122·6

  28th October 1967

  7·30

  2·10

  0·40

  2·50

  34·2

  18·06

  124·6

  llth April 1968

  7·30

  2·05

  0·75

  2·80

  38·4

  19·40

  133·8

  lOth October 1968

  7·30

  1·90

  0·90

  2·80

  38·4

  19·16

  132·1

  6th November 1969

  8·10

  2·20

  0·90

  3·10

  38·3

  20·08

  138·5

  23rd September 1971

  9·70

  2·80

  0·90

  3·70

  3·81

  20·58

  141·9

  5th October 1972

  10·90

  3·30

  0·90

  4·20

  38·5

  21·53

  148·5

  4th October 1973

  11·90

  3·70

  0·90

  4·60

  38·7

  21·46

  148·0

  25th July 1974

  13·90

  4·50

  0·90

  5·40

  38·8

  22·20

  153·1

  7th April 1975

  15·90

  4·70

  1·50

  6·20

  39·0

  21·66

  149·4

  20th November 1975

  18·00

  5·50

  1·50

  7·00

  38·9

  21·89

  151·0

  18th November 1976

  20·90

  6·60

  1·50

  8·10

  38·8

  22·03

  151·9

  4th April 1977

  20·90

  5·60

  2·50

  8·10

  38·8

  20·26

  139·7

  17th November 1977

  23·80

  6·50

  2·50

  9·00

  37·8

  21·66

  149·4

  458
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The figures, updated to April 1989, are set out as follows. The table cannot be updated to April 1990 until the movement in the index of retail prices to that month is known.
  459

  (a)

  (b) M/C UB rate

  (c) Dep increase

  (d) Child Benefit/Family allowance

  (e) Total child1 support

  (f) Column (e) as a percentage ofcolumn (b)

  (g) Column (e) ex- pressed at April 1989 prices2

  (h) Column (g) as index April 1989 = 100

  Date

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  4th April 1978

  23·80

  4·40

  4·60

  9·00

  37·8

  20·85

  143·8

  16th November 1978

  25·50

  3·70

  6·00

  9·70

  38·0

  21·60

  149·0

  2nd April 1979

  25·50

  1·70

  8·00

  9·70

  38·0

  20·42

  140·8

  15th November 1979

  29·95

  3·40

  8·00

  11·40

  38·1

  21·63

  149·2

  24th November 1980

  33·40

  2·50

  9·50

  12·00

  35·9

  19·74

  136·1

  23rd November 1981

  36·40

  1·60

  10·50

  12·10

  33·2

  17·78

  122·6

  25th November 1982

  40·45

  0·60

  11·70

  12·30

  30·4

  17·01

  117·3

  24th November 1983

  43·75

  0·30

  13·00

  13·30

  30·4

  17·54

  121·0

  26th November 1984

  46·00

  —3

  13·70

  13·70

  29·8

  17·22

  118·8

  28th November 1985

  49·25

  —

  14·00

  14·00

  28·4

  16·68

  115·0

  28th July 1986

  49·80

  —

  14·20

  14·20

  28·5

  16·64

  114·8

  6th April 1987

  50·85

  —

  14·50

  14·50

  28·5

  16·28

  112·3

  11th April 1988

  52·95

  —

  14·50

  14·50

  27·4

  15·66

  108·0

  10th April 1989

  56·10

  —

  14·50

  14·50

  25·8

  14·50

  100·0

  1 Does not show the effect of child tax allowance to the standard rate taxpayer. In years prior to April 1979 some recipients of Unemployment Benefit would also have derived advantage from child tax allowance because of their receipt of earnings in the course of the tax year.

  2 Based on the movement in the general Index of Retail Prices between the dates shown and April 1989.

  3 Child dependency addition abolished from 26 November 1984.

  Family Credit
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families were or are(a) entitled to and (b) receiving family credit in 1988 and 1989; and what is his estimate of the number of families who will be entitled to it in 1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In 1988 the number of families eligible for family credit was about 500,000 amongst employees: information covering the self-employed is not available. Estimates of the eligible population in 1989 and 1990 cannot be made until information from the family expenditure surveys for those years becomes available.

  During 1988 the average number of families receiving family credit was 277,000, of which 253,000 were employee cases. The latest information for 1989 is for July when the total family credit caseload was over 320,000.

  Correspondence
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the replies given to the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham in his letter dated 28 September.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is set out as follows:Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures giving the disposable incomes, after taking into account means-tested benefits of single wage married couples with two children under five years and mortgages of (a) £20,000, (b) £30,000, (c) £40,000 and (d) £50,000 firstly when out of work and receiving Income Support and secondly when in work earning £100, £150, £200, £250 and £300 a week.
  The information requested is set out in the table below:
  460

  Total net income of a married couple with two children (aged 3 and 4) who are purchasing their home in April 1989

  Total net income: unemployed and claiming Income Support

  Capital outstanding on mortgage £

  In receipt of Income Support for less than 16 weeks £

  In receipt of Income Support for over 16 weeks £

  20,000

  115·57

  135·47

  30,000

  125·52

  155·48

  40,000

  138·79

  181·91

  50,000

  152·06

  208·45

  Notes:

  1. Total net income on income support comprises social security benefits plus help with housing costs, plus regular benefits in kind. This includes mortgage interest based on a gross interest rate of 13·8 per cent.

  2. Assumes average local authority rates appropriate to family size.

  Total net income: in work

  Gross earnings

  £ per week

  100

  128·38

  150

  137·07

  200

  167·53

  250

  200·53

  300

  233·53

  Note: Total net income is defined as take-home pay plus social security benefits.

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many and what percentage of families with children have mortgages distinguishing between working and out of work families and between those who earn: (a) under £150 per week, (b) £150–200, (c) £200–300 and (d) over £300.

  The information requested is set out in the table below:

  Number and percentage of families with children who have mortgages 1986

  Gross weekly earned income

  Working families with mortgages 000's

  Percentage of all such work- ing families

  Weekly morl-gage interest £

  Under£150

  450

  46

  22·90

  £150–£200

  580

  62

  21·70

  £200–300

  1,400

  79

  26·10

  Over £300

  1,420

  88

  40·70

  461

  Gross weekly earned income

  Working families with mortgages 000's

  Percentage of all such working families

  Weekly mortgage interest £

  Total

  3,850

  73

  30·50

  Unemployed families 000 's

  Percentage of all unemployed families

  Weekly mortgage interest £

  Total

  80

  19

  21·30

  Source: 1986 Family Expenditure Survey.

  Notes:

  1. A "working family" is defined as one where at least one of the two parents is in full-time employment or self-employment (working 24 or more hours each week for employees in employment and 30 hours or more for the self-employed). "Unemployed" couples with children are defined by the supplementary benefit status of the head of the family.

  2. For working families, gross weekly earned income excluded income from state benefits.

  Community Charge
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will republish and complete his reply to the question dated 24 July, from the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham, showing the effect of the community charge on the numbers of(a) families and (b) persons dependent on means-tested benefits.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The community charge transitional household relief scheme for England announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, West (Mr. Hunt) on 11 October will have a considerable impact on the numbers of people who will get community charge benefit. Detailed work on these estimates has not yet been completed. I will write to my right hon. Friend after the Government's public expenditure plans for 1990–91 have been made public. In broad terms between a quarter and a third of those liable to pay the full community charge will be entitled to community charge benefit.

  Income Support
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of working families with children and a mortgage, whose net incomes after income tax, national insurance contribution, mortgage and local authority rates were within(a) 80 per cent. and (b) 70–79 per cent. of their income support entitlements.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is estimated that in 1989–90 approximately 10,000 working heads of families with children and mortgages had net incomes within 80 per cent. of their potential out-of-work net incomes. A further 20,000 had net incomes between 70 and 79 per cent. of their out-of-work net incomes. (Net in-work income is defined as gross wages less appropriate tax and national insurance deductions and housing costs. Full take-up of in-work benefits is assumed where appropriate.)

  Income Levels
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to reply to the question from the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham dated 24 June, showing the number of working families and out-of-work families with children at specified income levels.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I will reply as soon as possible.

  Civil Service Disposal
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Full details of all moves of sections of the Department over the last five years are not available but they include the following where sizeable numbers of staff are involved:

  1985—Legal Aid work transferred to Preston

  1987—Retirement pension work transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne

  1987—Agency benefit work transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne

  1987—Departmental records work transferred to Nelson, Lancashire

  1988—Development work on the computerisation of social security benefits transferred to Lytham St. Annes.

  My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State announced on 16 January 1989 that 1,060 jobs in total would be relocated from London to Glasgow, Wigan and Belfast. This relocation is under way and should be completed during the summer of 1991. The sites for relocation have been chosen in line with the Government policy on relocation announced by my right hon. Friend the former Paymaster General in March 1988 taking into account labour markets, value for money and increases in efficiency.

  Under this policy my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State also announced on 23 June 1988 that he was considering a report on the possibility of moving some of the Department's HQ work away from London. We hope to make an announcement about this shortly.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on how the independent living fund is helping disabled people in Suffolk and Norfolk; how many people are benefiting; in what ways; and how much is being paid to them.

  Mr. Scott
  The independent living fund enables severely disabled people to live independently in the community by providing regular financial help towards the cost of personal care and domestic support. The fund can also make one-off payments for specific items of equipment if this would reduce care costs. To date, the fund has helped more than 2,000 people, with weekly payments ranging from less than £5 to more than £400. I regret that separate information is not available for Suffolk and Norfolk.

  Income Support
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of income support is allocated for poll tax payments in(a) Bristol, (b) south-west region and (c) nationally.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Income support levels were adjusted on a national basis in April this year to include help towards the average contribution to the community charge that recipients would be expected to pay. The amounts included were £1·15 a week for single people aged 18–24, £1·30 a week for single people aged 25 or over and £2·30 a week for couples. These amounts now form part of the overall benefit levels which will he up-rated from April next year.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioner couples have a total income currently of less than £80 a week;

  (2) how many single pensioners have a total income currently of less than £60 a week.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest available information refers to 1986. At that time, 1989 gross incomes of £60 and £80 would have been the equivalent of £51·35 and £68·47 respectively. In 1986, 25 per cent. of single pensioners had gross incomes below £51·35 and 3 per cent. of pensioner couples had gross incomes below £68·47.

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

  Severe Hardship
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in the Official Report the criteria he uses for assessing (a) severe hardship when considering applications for entitlement to benefit from 16 and 17-year-olds and (b) whether individuals in these age groups are genuinely estranged from their parents.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Secretary of State has the power to direct that, where unavoidable severe hardship would result if benefit were to be withheld, a young person will be entitled to income support even though that young person would ordinarily not be so entitled. Such decisions are made by officials authorised to act on his behalf. Each case is considered on its individual merits and in the light of its particular circumstances. There can therefore be no fixed criteria. Examples of factors which may be considered include: the young person's health and vulnerability, including the threat of homelessness; the availability of any income or savings; the prospects of a speedy entry into YTS; the availability of casual work; whether the person has any friends or relatives who can offer him or her accommodation or other assistance; and the financial commitments of the person and the prospect of postponing any payments.

  A young person who is estranged from his or her parents, and who has of necessity to live away from home because of that estrangement, may be entitled to income suport during the child benefit extension period. Decisions in such cases are made by adjudication officers. Guidance to adjudication officers is given by the chief adjudication officer in the adjudication officers guide, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Contracted-out Rebates
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest estimates of the probable rates of contracted-out rebate for each quinquennium from now until the year 2018.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: The Government Actuary estimates that, on the same assumptions as those set out in his report "Review of certain contracting out terms" (Cm. 110), in particular assuming that the weightings by age and sex remain the same, the contracted out contribution reduction in successive five year periods would be as follows:

  Per cent.

  1993–98

  4·8

  1998–2003

  4·3

  2003–08

  3·9

  2008–13

  3·6

  2013–18

  3·5

  2018 onwards

  3·4

  These figures assume that the 0·4 per cent. additional margin which has been included in the rebate of 5·8 per cent for 1988–93 will not be added in later periods. The gradually reducing level of the rebate reflects the declining proportion of those contracted-out who will be accruing guaranteed minimum pensions at an accelerated rate.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  CAP (Fraud)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the extent of fraud in the common agricultural policy and its monetary value.

  Mr. Curry
  It is not possible to estimate the extent of fraud in the common agricultural policy since, by definition, undetected fraud cannot be measured. In 1988, 482 cases of irregularity (the definition of which goes wider than fraud) were reported by member states with a value of 121 mecu (£82 million). These cases represent about 0.4 per cent. of CAP expenditure in that year.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to seek a further green pound devaluation.

  Mr. Curry
  It is customary to take decisions on the level of green rates at the time of the annual price fixing.

  Conservation
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Ministry gives to farmers about conserving the countryside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service offers advice to farmers on the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside. This covers such topics as the retention and maintenance of hedgerows, trees, areas of scrub, ditches and other wildlife habitats as well as, where possible, the creation of new ones.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the use of bovine somatotropin to boost milk production; and if he has any plans to amend the Medicines Act 1968 so as to provide for greater control over the use of such substances.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Scrutiny Committee has recommended that a European Commission proposal to ban the use of BST until the end of 1990 should be debated. and arrangements are in hand. Meanwhile the scientific assessment of BST continues with the assistance of data generated in authorised field trials here and in other countries. The Medicines Act already provides strict safeguard controls by requiring that such substances must be licensed and that they must first be demonstrated to be both safe and effective in use. I have no plans to amend the Act.

  Labelling
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the introduction of nutritional labelling.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are taking an active part in negotiation of the European Commission's nutrition labelling proposals and hope that a common position will be reached soon. The proposals are similar to the Ministry's nutrition labelling guidelines and provide for a voluntary system of nutrition labelling with a mandatory format so that consumers can compare products more easily. Nutrition labelling would be compulsory only when a nutrition claim was made. There is provision for a three-year lead-in period to allow labels to be changed and, given the close resemblance of the guidelines to the Commission proposals, I hope that manufacturers and retailers will be encouraged to provide as much nutrition information as possible within their resources according to the guidelines until Community legislation is in place.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the debate on nutritional labelling in Standing Committee on 1 November 1989.

  Friends of the Earth
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of Friends of the Earth; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Maclean
  I met officials of the Friends of the Earth on 31 October. We had a broad-ranging and constructive discussion covering many areas of mutual interest.

  Fish Diseases
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there has been any change in the incidence of diseases in cod and other fish caught in British coastal waters in the past year.

  Mr. Curry
  The evidence is that there has been no change in the incidence of disease in cod or other fish caught in British coastal waters in the past year. Disease is a natural phenomenon in fish as in all animals and can vary seasonally.

  Papain
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will describe the effects of the tenderiser papain on the organs of a living animal.

  Mr. Maclean
  Research carried out by the Ministry has established that the tenderiser has no effect on the living animal. In the event of a delay between treatment and slaughter the enzyme is excreted harmlessly.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what evidence he has on the presence of residues of the tenderiser papain in partly cooked/rare meat;

  (2) what information he has on the presence of residues of the tenderiser papain in butchers' meat.

  Mr. Maclean
  To be effective, papain must be present in the meat during cooking. It is introduced at levels of less than five parts per million. Cooking activates and then destroys the enzyme. It is a natural vegetable protein approved as safe for use in food by the United Kingdom's expert advisory committees.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the purposes for which set-aside land will be employed by British farmers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Under the terms of the scheme, participants may use land for permanent or rotational fallow, for woodland, or for a range of non-agricultural uses. The most popular option is permanent fallow, which has attracted about 80 per cent. of uptake.

  Eggs
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many prosecutions have been initiated as a result of the discovery by his Department of free-range eggs which have not been packed in a packing station being sold from shops.;

  (2) how many staff are employed by his Department in ensuring that free-range eggs are not sold in shops unless they have been through a packing station;

  (3) what is the best estimate of the total number of shops in the United Kingdom currently selling free-range eggs which have not been packed in a packing station;

  (4) what was the total cost to public funds of the visit made by Mr. Sweetman, of the regional egg marketing insepectorate, at Leeds, to the Good Life shop, Wooler, on 1 November, in connection with the sale of free-range eggs; and what was the amount of time spent by the officer concerned (a) in travelling for the purpose of the visit and (b) at the premises;

  (5) whether he has any plans to publicise to consumers and to retailers the regulations restricting the sale of free-range eggs from shops which have not been packed in a packing station.

  Mr. Curry
  EC regulations require that all hens' eggs sold by retail (other than eggs sold by the producer directly to the final consumer on the producer's own premises, by door-to-door deliveries or in a local public market) are graded and packed by authorised packing centres. This applies to free range eggs as well as to those produced in other systems.
  467
  Enforcement of the regulations at retail level is a matter for local authorities and not my Department, and I have no estimate of the number of shops which currently breach the regulations. When requested, my egg marketing inspectorate gives assistance to the local authorities but it is not possible to identify what proportion of this assistance is devoted to the enforcement of the rules specific to free range eggs. The visit in question was made during the course of routine visits in Northumberland in the period 1–2 November by the regional egg marketing inspector.

  The present rules concerning the sale of free range eggs came into operation on 16 July 1985 and were publicised (with other changes to the regulations) in a trade press notice of 17 July 1985 (a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House). This was reinforced by a further press notice on 27 August 1987 (a copy of this is also in the Library). My Department has taken pains to explain these rules to all who enquire about them or whose businesses include the marketing of eggs. We shall continue to offer such advice as necessary.

  BSE
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what international co-operation in research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy is currently being undertaken by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: An international collaborative project to determine the transmissibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( BSE) to mink is currently being planned with colleagues in the USA.

  International co-operation in research into BSE has been and will continue to be discussed in various international fora, including the EEC and the Organisation Internationale des Epizooties. In addition, a round table on BSE, attended by US and European delegates, was held in the United States of America in June 1989. From these discussions further collaborative research studies may he instituted.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has commissioned on set-aside in Scotland; and what plans he has to review existing provisions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him today.

  Hill Livestock Scheme
  Mr. David Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to representations from the Scottish NFU regarding the MacSharry proposals for the HLCA system.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 18 October at col. 129–30.

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment Review Interviews
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, when an unemployed claimant is at a review interview and an employment service counsellor expresses doubt about whether they are available for or actively seeking work and completes a UB672, the claimant is entitled to ask for and receive a copy of the UB672; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A copy of the UB672 would not normally be issued to the claimant as the form is an internal document used by the employment service to refer cases of doubt to the independent adjudication authorities.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the enterprise allowance scheme to ensure that adequate security of income is provided for potential entrepreneurs with family responsibilities who are dependent on social security.

  Mr. Eggar
  The enterprise allowance scheme is not a benefit. It is intended to supplement business income during the early months of trading while the business is being established. The allowance is higher than previous benefit for 70 per cent. of entrants. Recipients with family responsibilities may also qualify for in-work benefits such as family credits depending on their circumstances.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will estimate the number of employed and self-employed people in the northern region for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows:

  Employees in Employment and Self Employed for Northern Region

  (June each year)

  (Thousands)

  Employees in Employment

  Self employed

  1983

  1,057

  91

  1984

  1,059

  92

  1985

  1,057

  104

  1986

  1,061

  105

  1987

  1,068

  108

  1988

  1,094

  113

  1989

  1,088

  117

  (Unadjusted for seasonal variations)

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed persons there were in Liverpool on the latest available date; and how many registered job vacancies there were in Liverpool on that date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The following information is available from the Library. In September 1989, there were 66,636 unemployed claimants in Liverpool travel-to-work area. In the closest aggregation of jobcentres there were 3,469 unfilled vacancies. Research shows that nationally only about a third of vacancies in the economy are notified to jobcentres.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to provide child care facilities for part-time workers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The Government welcome measures taken by employers to help employees, including part-time employees, combine work and family responsibilities such as the provision of creche facilities, flexible working hours and family leave. However the Government consider that it is for employers and employees to decide which arrangements best suit their individual needs and resources.

  Child Care Provision
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures his Department is taking to encourage workplace creches and other child care provision to enable mothers to return to work; and what representations he has had on this subject.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am continuing to take every opportunity to encourage employers to help employees combine work and family responsibilities.

  The Government welcome measures taken by employers including assistance with child care, flexible working hours, more part-time work and at higher occupational levels, and family leave. However, we believe that it is for employers and employees to decide which arrangements for combining work and family responsibilities best suit their individual needs and resources.

  The Government are also taking steps to encourage the growth of childcare provision to assist working parents through the ministerial group on women's issues of which I am a member. The group recently announced progress on its five point plan designed to pave the way for the provision of child care to suit family needs. Within the last two years I and colleagues in the Employment Department have answered 12 questions in this House on this subject, received 29 letters from hon. Members and 34 from members of the public.

  I have discussed the question of child care with my Advisory Committee on Women's Employment. This committee includes the chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe), the hon. Member for Barking, (Ms. Richardson), representatives of the CBI, TUC and the Women's National Commission. I have also had discussions with the National Council for One Parent Families, the Working Mothers Association, and Pre-School Playgroups Association, Gingerbread and the National Childminding Association.

  Civil Service Dispersal
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 2 August 1989, I announced that 1,100 jobs from my Department's headquarters will be moved to 470
  Runcorn and Sheffield over the next two to three years. This represents another major dispersal of head office jobs in the employment department group to the north; and will mean that since 1979 over 5,000 administrative head office jobs have been relocated in the north. Previous major dispersals have been to Runcorn, to Sheffield, where the Manpower Services Commission was based and Bootle where parts of the Health and Safety Executive are now based.

  When considering possible regional locations I looked at a range of factors and sites and concluded that, for operational and logistical reasons, jobs should be moved only to those locations where my Department has existing headquarters establishments.

  When this stage of relocation is complete more that four out of five of my Department's administrative head office jobs will be located outside London. I am persuaded that there is unlikely to be scope for any further relocation.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the additional responsibilities given to the Health and Safety Executive since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 laid upon the Health and Safety Commission and Executive responsibility for virtually all aspects of industrial health and safety, and most aspects of the protection of the public from work activity. Within this overall competence, the Commission or Executive have acquired the following new responsibilities since 1979:

  (i) carriage by road, classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances;

  (ii) notification of new substances before they are placed on the market and of existing substances;

  (iii) action under the European directive on the control of industrial major accident hazards, including new responsibility for protection of the environment from hazardous installations;

  (iv) mains gas safety;

  (v) asbestos licensing;

  (vi) the enforcement of part 3 of the Food and Environment Protection Act and its related Control of Pesticides regulations;

  (vii) responsibility under the Control of Pesticides Regulations for the registration and assessment of non-agricultural pesticides.

  (viii) new and expanded nuclear safety work including preparations for licensing UKAEA sites and responsibilities from April 1990 in connection with nuclear safety research.

  In addition new or substantially expanded work has been acquired in connection with the control of dangerous substances in harbour areas, radiation and noise and the health and safety implications of the development and use of new technology including programmable electronics and biotechnology. There has also been a significant growth of EC activity and directives in areas affecting safety and health, and a significant growth in public and international interest in relevant environmental and major hazards issues.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of Health and Safety Executive staff in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The total number of permanent staff employed by the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1975 is as follows:
  471

  Number

  1 August

  1975

  2,937

  1 April

  1976

  3,282·5

  1977

  3,917

  1978

  4,104·5

  1979

  4,170

  1980

  4,110

  1981

  3,884

  1982

  3,712

  1983

  3,593

  1984

  3,563·5

  1985

  3,616

  1986

  3,585

  1987

  3,526

  1988

  3,410

  1989

  3,449

  1 October

  1989

  3,526·5

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of(a) factory inspectors and (b) agricultural inspectors who left the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the numbers of factory and agricultural inspectors who left HSE since July 1979 is as follows. Information is not available before 1976 and for 1976 to June 1979 could be obtained only at dispropoprtionate cost.

  Factor inspectors

  Agricultural inspectors

  11979–80

  27

  7

  1980–81

  32

  8

  1981–82

  53

  9

  1982–83

  22

  7

  1983–84

  26

  5

  1984–85

  28

  8

  1985–86

  30

  7

  1986–87

  35

  7

  1987–88

  45

  5

  1988–89

  38

  5

  1 Figures cover July 1979 to March 1980 only.

  The figures include inspectors who resigned, transferred to other Civil Service posts or retired.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the level of funding to the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1975, expressed at 1975 price-levels.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The level of gross financial provision to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive for each year since 1975, expressed at the 1974–75 price level, is as follows:

  £ 000s

  1974–75

  13,320

  1975–76

  22,701

  1976–77

  26,802

  1977–78

  28,203

  1978–79

  27,555

  1979–80

  27,796

  1980–81

  31,275

  1981–82

  31,257

  1982–83

  30,224

  1983–84

  31,339

  472

  £ 000s

  1984–85

  30,566

  1985–86

  30,521

  1986–87

  29,831

  1987–88

  30,395

  1988–89

  30,092

  For consistency, the figures have been adjusted to remove funds provided during 1981–82 to 1984–85 for HSE's dispersal to Bootle; and to remove provision in earlier years for the industrial air pollution inspectorate which transferred to the Department of Environment in 1987.

  Agricultural Inspectors
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number and location of agricultural inspectors covering the east of Scotland area in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on agricultural inspectors' location, corresponding to the Scotland east area, is available only from 1 April 1985 and is as follows:

  Number of agricultural inspectors in:

  Edinburgh

  Aberdeen

  Inverness

  Dundee1

  Total

  1 April

  1985

  5

  2

  2

  1

  10

  1986

  6

  3

  2

  1

  12

  1987

  7

  4

  2

  1

  14

  1988

  7

  4

  2

  —

  13

  1989

  7

  4

  2

  —

  13

  1 October

  1989

  6

  4

  2

  —

  12

  1 HSE's Dundee office closed on 31 March 1988

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of agricultural inspectors in post in each year since 1975 for(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Numbers of agricultural inspectors in Scotland and Great Britain are as follows:

  Agricultural inspectors in:

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1 March

  19771

  n/a

  191

  1 April

  1977

  17

  187

  1978

  15

  186

  1979

  16

  190

  1980

  18

  187

  1981

  17

  176

  1982

  15

  166

  1983

  17

  159

  1984

  16

  154

  1985

  16

  162

  1986

  18

  163

  1987

  21

  166

  1988

  20

  158

  1989

  19

  165

  1 October

  1989

  18

  167

  1 Agricultural inspectors joined HSE from MAFF from March 1976 with the field force being in place in March 1977.

  473
  Notes:

  1. Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  2. Totals for Great Britain include inspectors in the inspectorate's and in HSE's headquarters engaged on line management work or contributing to international and national policy or standards work.

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number and location of factory inspectors concerning the east of Scotland area in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The earliest date for which figures are available for factory inspectors in HSE's Scotland east area is 1 November 1976. Details of inspectors' location within the area before 1985 are not available. The available information is as follows:

  Number of factory inspectors in:

  Edinburgh

  Aberdeen

  Dundee1

  Total in Scotland East

  1 November

  1976

  —

  —

  —

  26

  1 April

  1977

  —

  —

  —

  29

  1978

  —

  —

  —

  31

  1979

  —

  —

  —

  32

  1980

  —

  —

  —

  33

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  31

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  32

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  25

  1985

  18

  5

  3

  26

  1986

  16

  4

  3

  23

  1987

  16

  4

  3

  23

  1988

  16·5

  4

  —

  20·5

  1989

  19·5

  4

  —

  23·5

  1 October

  1989

  21·5

  5

  —

  26·5

  1 HSE's Dundee office closed on 31 March 1988.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total number of factory inspectors in post for(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Numbers of factory inspectors in Scotland and Great Britain are listed. HSE does not enforce health and safety legislation in Northern Ireland.

  Factory inspectors in:

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1 July

  19751

  n/a

  557

  1 January

  1976

  53

  568

  1 April

  1976

  54

  624

  1977

  60

  676·5

  1978

  64

  695·5

  1979

  65

  742

  1980

  67

  759·5

  1981

  64

  735

  1982

  62

  678

  1983

  55

  654·5

  1984

  51

  627

  1985

  53

  652

  1986

  48

  623

  474

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1987

  45

  621·5

  1988

  46·5

  592·5

  1989

  46

  604

  1 October

  1989

  51

  619

  1 HSE figures for factory inspectors in Great Britain became available from July 1975, and for Scotland from January 1976.

  n/a = not available.

  Totals for Great Britain include inspectors in the inspectorate and in HSE's headquarters engaged on line management work or contributing to international and national policy or technical standards.

  Workplace Accidents
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were(a) the total number of accidents, (b) the total number of fatal accidents, and (c) the total number of major accidents reported at workplaces in (i) Scotland and (ii) the United Kingdom in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information for injuries reported to Her Majesty's factory and agricultural inspectorates and to the local authorities in Scotland and Great Britain as a whole is given in the tables. Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Figures for the periods 1975–80, 1981–85 and 1986 onwards are not comparable owing to changes in reporting arrangements.

  Year

  Numbers of reported occupational injuries1 to employees in Scotland resulting in

  death2

  major injury3

  absence from work of over 2 days4

  19755

  55

  n/a

  22,833

  19765

  49

  n a

  26,789

  19775

  67

  n/a

  28,213

  19785

  59

  n/a

  25,999

  19795

  72

  n/a

  24,157

  19805

  49

  n/a

  21,732

  1981

  57

  1,233

  39,277

  1982

  57

  1,239

  35,115

  1983

  55

  1,169

  n/a

  1984

  47

  1,162

  n/a

  1985

  37

  1,176

  n/a

  1986–876

  41

  1,878

  13,958

  1987–88

  37

  1,824

  14,827

  Year

  Numbers of reported occupational injuries1 to employees in Great Britain resulting in

  death2

  Major injury3

  absence from work of over 3 days4

  19757

  461

  n/a

  247,909

  19767

  423

  n/a

  246,509

  19777

  390

  n/a

  248,828

  19787

  433

  n/a

  269,123

  19797

  433

  n/a

  250,465

  19807

  411

  n/a

  210,290

  1981

  351

  11,079

  259,252

  1982

  370

  11,084

  327,805

  1983

  370

  11,270

  n/a

  1984

  362

  11,853

  n/a

  1985

  321

  12,112

  n/a

  1986–876

  307

  18,764

  143,152

  1987–88

  308

  18,347

  146,773

  475
  n/a—not available

  1 Injuries notified under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1980 (NADOR) for 1981 to 1985, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR) for later years. Data for the years 1975–1980 are based on reports made under various legislation.

  2Includes fatal injuries to members of the public arising from work activity in respect to those fatal injuries reported to local authorities 1981–1985.

  3The category of major injury was first introduced by NADOR. The definition of a major injury was widened by RIDDOR.

  4 For 1975–80 injuries notified directly to HSE under various health and safety at work legislation. For 1981–82, injuries resulting in claims for industrial injury benefit. From 1983–85 figures are not available as industrial injury benefit ceased in 1983. From April 1986 injuries reported by employers under RIDDOR.

  5For Scotland, injuries in 1975–80 are those reported to factory inspectorate only.

  6Year from I April 1986 when RIDDOR came into force.

  7For Great Britain, injuries reported in 1975–80 are those to factory and agricultural inspectorates only.

  Workplace Inspections
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of workplace inspections conducted by the factory inspectorate in(a) east of Scotland area, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested for the years 1975 to 1984. The following table shows the number of preventive inspection visits carried out by the factory inspectorate in the east of Scotland area, Scotland and Great Britain since 1 April 1985:

  Date

  East of Scotland

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  (1 April–31 March)

  1985–86

  5,375

  9,209

  90,081

  1986–87

  5,142

  8,778

  94,308

  1987–88

  5,750

  10,409

  100,815

  1988–89

  5,169

  8,935

  101,141

  Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Adult Earnings
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many adults in full-time employment in the west midlands currently earn less than £120 per week.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is estimated from the new earnings survey that about 13 per cent. of adults in full-time employment in the west midlands, whose earnings were not affected by absence, earned less than £120 in April 1989.

  Staff Shortages
  Mr. Crowther
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions have been given to reduce the length of new claims interviews in unemployment benefit offices as a result of staff shortages.

  Mr. Eggar
  An average time of 40 minutes is allowed for each new claim interview. No national guidance has been issued advising that the interview length be shortened.
  476
  During the summer period some offices experienced peaks in the number of claims made and had to resort to a shorter interview followed up at a later date by a second interview.

  Bridging Allowance
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds in (i) Scotland and (ii) the United Kingdom are in receipt of a bridging allowance; and what proportion of those who had exhausted their entitlement to a bridging allowance still had not secured a training place under the youth training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On the 12 October, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,385 young people were in receipt of YTS bridging allowance in Scotland and 8,096 in Great Britain. Separate arrangements apply in Northern Ireland.

  The guarantee to young people under 18 who are not in full time employment or education of a suitable YTS place continues to be met nationwide. At the end of September 110,821 YTS places were unfilled out of the 500,000 YTS places in contract.

  Disabled People (Quotas)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in(a) manufacturing industry, (b) the service sector and (c) the construction industry are adhering to the quota system in the employment of disabled people; and what percentage of the firms in each of these groups they represent.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to make changes in the quota system as it affects the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  The quota scheme is amongst the matters being considered in the internal review of services to people with disabilities which my Department has been undertaking, the results of which will be made known as soon as possible.

  Training
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment ( 1) what information he has on the level of employer investment in training employees, net of salaries;

  (2) what information he has on the level of employer spending on training of employees, net of salaries, in each of the European member states.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 2 November 1989]: It is estimated that employers in Great Britain spent £2·8 billion on non-labour costs on training in 1986–87. This figure is based on a survey of employers' training activities carried out in 1987. The survey included agricultural firms with less than 10 employees and the armed services. The estimated expenditure for all employers, including staff costs, was £18 billion. Figures are not available on this basis for other member states.

  The EC labour costs survey shows expenditure on training by employers in the production and construction

  477
  idustries in member states as a percentage of labour costs. The figures are shown in the table and exclude salaries except for apprentice wages.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Ireland

  1·3

  1·4

  0·4

  0·3

  Luxembourg

  0·5

  0·7

  0·4

  0·1

  Belgium

  0·4

  0·4

  1·0

  1·0

  Netherlands

  0·4

  0·1

  0·6

  0·4

  Italy

  0·3

  0·4

  0·2

  0·2

  Training Schemes (Safety)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that all people on training schemes are(a) covered by health and safety legislation relevant to their industry, (b) fully insured and (c) provided with safety clothing and footwear.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) on 17 October 1989 at columns 57–58.

DEFENCE

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to detect and intercept vessels carrying intended immigrants from Vietnam to Hong Kong.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Responsibility for the detection and interception of Vietnamese boat people attempting to enter Hong Kong rests with the Royal Hong Kong marine police. Royal Navy patrol craft occasionally assist in the detection task as part of their general patrol duties in Kong Kong waters. Vietnamese boat people vessels detected by the Royal Navy are immediately notified to the Hong Kong civil authorities for them to take further action.

  Service Women (Job Opportunities)
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the steps being taken to increase job opportunities for women in the Army, Navy and the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Army plans to increase job opportunities for women in line with the recommendations of the report on the study into the long term role and employment of women in the Army, which identified 6,000 additional posts in the Regular Army and 4,000 posts in the Territorial Army that could be opened to women. The RAF is increasing the number of women in ground trades from 5,000 to 7,000, some 10 per cent. of the total ground trades trained strength, over the next five years and has begun recruiting women as pilots and navigators for non-combat roles. The Royal Navy is currently reviewing the possible future employment of the Women's Royal Naval Service and we expect to make an announcement around the end of the year.

  AWACS Verification
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the policy and development implications of the renewed open skies verification regime for the sale and use of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation airborne warning and control system.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A great deal of work remains to be done on the open skies initiative and it is too early to draw any conclusions on how it might be put into effect.

  Ethnic Recruitment
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he received the report on the study into ethnic minority recruitment in the armed services and on what date he will make a statement about it.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The report on the study into ethnic minority recruitment to the armed services was received on 11 July 1989. The report is under consideration within the Ministry of Defence and an announcement will be made shortly.

  Racial Discrimination
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has of racial discrimination in the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no evidence to substantiate claims of racial discrimination in the armed forces. The armed forces are subject to the Race Relations Act 1976 and no form of racial discrimination is tolerated. Complaints of racial discrimination brought by members of the armed forces are fully investigated under the redress of grievance procedures of the service disciplinary Acts.

  UDR Offences
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details for each of the years from 1980 to 30 September 1989 of(a) full-time members and (b) part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment serving in Northern Ireland who have (i) voluntarily resigned having been involved in an offence, (ii) been discharged having been convicted of an offence and (iii) had their engagements terminated following the commission of an offence, but before trial; and what was the nature of the offence in each case.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am afraid that information dealing with the period prior to 1985 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The following information covers both the permanent cadre and the part-time element of the UDR:

  (i) voluntary resignations having been involved in an offence 16

  (ii) discharges having been convicted and awarded custodial sentences, including suspended sentences 54

  (iii) it is not our policy to terminate an individual's engagement before he has been tried and convicted of an offence, although there were three cases where the individuals did not apply to re-engage when their current engagements terminated while they were under investigation or on remand.

  Information on the nature of each offence is not readily available.

  Regular Army Offences
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details for each of the years from 1980 to 30 September 1989 of members of the Regular Army serving in Northern Ireland, who have(a) voluntarily resigned having been involved in an offence (b) been discharged having been convicted of an offence and (c) had their engagements terminated following the commission of an offence, but before trial; and what was the nature of the offence in each case.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Members of the Regular Army serving in Northern Ireland apart from the UDR are not allowed to resign voluntarily after having been involved in an offence. On the second part of the hon. Member's question, separate records are not kept for discharges of soldiers convicted of offences committed in Northern Ireland. It is not our policy to discharge soldiers who are accused of committing offences before they have been tried and convicted.

  UDR Re-vetting
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the circumstances in which current and future members of the Ulster Defence Regiment will be re-vetted in light of paragraph 5 of the joint statement issued following the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 18 October.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is a range of circumstances in which it would be appropriate to carry out screening reviews. However, it would not be appropriate to give details and I therefore have nothing to add to my answer of 19 October to the hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) at column 256.

  Lance Missile
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) by how much the operational life of the Lance missile could be extended by a programme of refurbishment;

  (2) when the Lance missile will come to the end of its effective operational life.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is general practice to keep the performance of all weapon systems under review. On current estimates it is believed that the Lance missile will be unsustainable beyond the mid 1990s.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the recent refurbishment of the rocket motors to the Lance missile has extended its effective operational life.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The recent refurbishment was designed to maintain operational effectiveness throughout the missile's planned operational life; it was not intended to extend the operational life.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", vol. 1, p. 51, fig. 12, how many Lance missiles are deployed to accompany the 88 Lance launchers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The number of Lance missiles deployed in Europe is classified information.

  Tornado Missiles
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) Tornado GRIs and (b) Tornado F3s are currently deployed in frontline service; how many are in reserve; and how many are in storage.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Nine squadrons of Tornado GR1 and four squadrons of Tornado F3 are currently in operational front line service. The precise numbers of the operational aircraft and reserves are classified. Eight early production Tornado F3s are in storage at RAF St. Athan awaiting modifications. No Tornado GF1s are in storage.

  Royal Navy Ships
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy destroyers and frigates are currently permanently available to fulfil NATO roles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All Royal Navy destroyers and frigates are declared to NATO, although at varying levels of readiness and availability. Precise details are classified.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many, and what type of, Royal Navy ships are regularly committed to patrolling the Gulf and Indian ocean area.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 18 July 1989 at column 79. We have no commitment to patrolling in the Indian ocean.

  Combat Aircraft
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", volume 1, p. 47, how many of the combat aircraft on each side are(a) air defence fighters, (b) reconnaissance aircraft and (c) electronic warfare aircraft;

  (2) pursuant to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", volume 1, p. 46, how many of the combat aircraft on each side are (a) air defence fighters, (b) reconnaissance aircraft and (c) electronic warfare aircraft.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Many modern combat aircraft are designed to be capable of performing several different roles. For this reason, it would be misleading to break down the figures as requested.

  BAOR
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made as to the likely effects on the British Army of the Rhine of the use of nuclear artillery shells by United Kingdom forces against WTO forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to comment on operational matters of this kind.

  Merchant Ships
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made as to the minimum number and capacity of the United Kingdom's merchant ships needed to meet the wartime requirements of the United Kingdom's armed forces.
  481
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The defence requirement for merchant shipping in crisis and war is very carefully assessed and regularly reviewed. The details of this particular requirement are classified.

  Conventional Forces
  M. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what figures his Department has provided to the conventional forces in Europe negotiations regarding the numbers and types of the United Kingdom's armed forces; and whether he will make these available to Parliament.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The most recent figures for United Kingdom equipment holdings are contained in the NATO publication "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts", dated November 1988, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. NATO has proposed a formal exchange of data as part of a CFE treaty, but no such exchange has yet taken place.

  SS21
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the accuracy, circular error probability, of the Soviet SS21.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to give this type of information, although the SS21 is considerably more accurate than the FROG missile which it is replacing.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the number of Soviet SS21 launchers deployed in Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since 1981, well over 200 Soviet SS21 launchers have been deployed in Europe west of the Urals.

  Trident
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the financial savings that would accrue from a cancellation of the fourth Trident submarine in 1991.

  Mr. Neubert
  The position remains as set out by MOD officials in evidence to the Select Committee on Defence in response to a question raised by the Clerk to the Committee on 11 May 1989, and published in its report, "The Progress of the Trident Programme" (Defence Committee Fifth Report HC 374, 21 June 1989).

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the yearly running costs of maintaining(a) a three-boat Trident force and (b) a four-boat Trident force.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is too early to state with any precision the likely running costs of the Trident force, other than to say they are not anticipated to be significantly different from those for Polaris.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of warheads that each Trident D5 missile is assumed to carry according to the counting rules adopted in the START negotiations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In their joint summit statement of December 1987, the United States and Soviet 482
  Governments confirmed their assumption that the Trident II missile would be deployed with eight warheads. The United Kingdom Government, which is not, of course, a party to the START negotiations, has already stated that the United Kingdom deploys a maximum of 128 warheads per submarine.

  Soviet Short-Range Missiles
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the number of Soviet short-range nuclear missiles that accompany the 1,450 short-range nuclear launchers deployed by the Warsaw pact in Europe, west of the Urals.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to give this type of information.

  START Negotiations
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the percentage reduction in the total number of strategic nuclear weapons that would occur as a result of the successful outcome of the current START negotiations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not possible to forecast the precise percentage reductions in the number of United States and Soviet strategic offensive weapons systems which may result from a START agreement.

  Population Decline
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the impact upon the armed forces of the decline in the number of 16 to 19-year-old males in the United Kingdom between 1989 and 1993; and how great his Department assesses that decline to be.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The greatest impact of the decline in the number of 16 to 19-year-old males will be in the recruiting field. The services expect a drop of 10·8 per cent. in the number of potential male other rank recruits and a drop of 5·7 per cent. in the number of potential male officer recruits between 1989 and 1993. Consequently, competition for suitably qualified young men will increase. The services will continue to make every effort to recruit the numbers they require.

  Trained Service Personnel
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the short-fall in the number of trained service personnel in each of the armed services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Shortfalls in service manpower are measured by comparing adult trained strengths against trained manpower requirements. As at 30 June 1989, shortfalls were:

  Royal Navy 786, Royal Marines 10, Army 4,113, Royal Air Force 3,566.

  In order to encourage greater efficiency in the use of manpower, policy decisions have been taken to aim manpower plans at levels a little below the full requirement. Not all of these shortfalls are, therefore, unplanned.

  Free-fall Bombs
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a programme of refurbishment would enable the United Kingdom's WE177 free-fall bombs to be kept in serviceable operation beyond the 1990's.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The existing United Kingdom free-fall nuclear bomb is subject to regular inspection, maintenance and refurbishment, and will remain in service only if it continues to meet the requirements for safety and serviceability.

  British Registered Cars
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions there are in British registered cars entering the sovereign base area from(a) north Cyprus, and (b) from the south; what are the reasons for the differences in such restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As long as British-registered vehicles are legally imported to the island of Cyprus, and properly insured in accordance with local legislation, they may freely enter the sovereign base areas.

  Loan Service Personnel
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what definition his Department uses of the term loan service personnel;

  (2) whether military personnel are seconded to assist in the training of foreign armies or armed units other than as loan service personnel;

  (3) whether special forces may be used as loan service personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Service personnel may be loaned from the United Kingdom Armed Forces for service with a Commonwealth or foreign country on either loan service or secondment terms. The principal difference is that loan service personnel are administered and paid by the United Kingdom authorities in the normal way while seconded personnel are wholly administered and receive their pay and allowances directly from the host nation. Individuals selected for loan service or secondment may be drawn from all parts of the Armed Forces.

  Boscombe Down
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about corrosive liquid alleged to have fallen from aircraft at the aircraft and armament experimental establishment at Boscombe down; and if he will compensate those whose property has been damaged.

  Mr. Neubert
  We have received a few reports of car paintwork damaged by droplets of a fluid which may have been discharged from an aircraft operating from the aircraft and armaments experimental establishment at Boscombe down on the afternoon of 25 October. The MOD accepts that it is probable that this damage was caused by the discharge of the fluid, which was a variant of antifreeze. MOD will consider claims for compensation from those whose property has been damaged.

SCOTLAND

  Woodlands
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region those Forestry Commission woodlands disposed of during each of the last three years, stating for each disposal the hectarage involved.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 February 1989 at column 415 to a question from him on the same subject. A list of sales of Forestry Commission woodlands between 22 October 1984 and 21 December 1988 was placed in the Library of the House at that time. A re-ordering of that list into separate years could only be carried out at disproportionate cost.

  The woodlands sold by the commission between 22 December 1988 and 31 March 1989 are as follows:

  Name of property

  County/region

  Area (hectares)

  England

  Bushes Wood

  Buckinghamshire

  5·0

  Kings Wood Pentewan

  Cornwall

  60·0

  Pendarves Wood

  Cornwall

  17·0

  Crag Wood Ulpha

  Cumbria

  3·5

  Farleigh Wallop Lot 7

  Hampshire

  11·0

  Scales Park & East Wood

  Hertfordshire

  90·0

  Hampstead Est. Cpts. 41 & 42

  Isle of Wight

  23·0

  Broadmeadows

  Lancashire

  26·2

  Pt. Little Wood

  Norfolk

  1·1

  Oxborough Woods

  Norfolk

  36·5

  Oxborough Woods

  Norfolk

  16·5

  Oxborough Woods

  Norfolk

  9·5

  Featherstone Castle Est.

  Northumberland

  24·0

  Titlington

  Northumberland

  56·1

  Plumpton Wood

  North Yorkshire

  7·7

  Hand Leasow Wood

  Shropshire

  48·0

  Stiperstones

  Shropshire

  1·0

  Lordshill

  Shropshire

  3·0

  Whettleton & Rottingwood

  Shropshire

  37·5

  Rough Hill

  Warwickshire

  9·0

  Higher House and Land

  West Yorkshire

  6·2

  Wales

  Coednant Barcutan

  Clwyd

  4·7

  Pwll Glas

  Clwyd

  5·3

  Pen-yr-Heol Ddu

  Dyfed

  10·2

  Allt Ty Cam

  Dyfed

  4·4

  Coed Glan Leri

  Dyfed

  7·2

  Talog Package

  Dyfed

  14·0

  Talog Package

  Dyfed

  11·0

  Talog Package

  Dyfed

  9·0

  Talog Package

  Dyfed

  5·0

  Wern Halog Woods

  Dyfed

  16·3

  Trevella Woods

  Gwent

  25·7

  Poolhead Wood

  Gwent

  5·0

  Coed-y-Trauch, Coed Llyneu

  Gwent

  21·1

  Lower Machen

  Gwent

  7·5

  Madryn Castle Woodlands

  Gwynedd

  82·1

  Llwynbedw Isaf

  Gwynedd

  5·3

  Access to Waterloo Wood

  Gwynedd

  1·0

  Dinas Mawddwy Lot 2

  Gwynedd

  58·2

  Mynogau Cpts. 1–3, 6, 8, & 12

  Gwynedd

  318·8

  Pentre Tips

  Mid Glamorgan

  27·8

  Moelgilau

  Mid Glamorgan

  36·0

  Scotland

  Thicket and Broomy Braes

  Borders

  31·8

  Tir Arthur

  Central

  74·0

  Dullarg Wood

  Dumfries and Galloway

  24·0

  Lochfergus

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13·0

  485

  Name of property

  County/region

  Area (hectares)

  Dumfries and

  Barraer Additional

  Galloway

  6·6

  High Valleyfield

  Fife

  28·0

  Auchinroath

  Grampian

  27·8

  Loch Insh Plantation

  Highland

  19·5

  Borthwick

  Lothian

  29·8

  Big Wood Pencaitland

  Lothian

  32·4

  Blackbyres Plantation

  Strathclyde

  5·0

  Morenish

  Tayside

  20·0

  Firbush Plantations

  Tayside

  113·0

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will allow fibre-producing or other animals to be added to existing set-aside scheme provision in Scotland.

  Member State

  Number of applications (1988–89)

  Area to be set aside (hectares)

  Proportion of set-aside area as percentage of

  Average set-aside per applicant (hectares)

  Arable land

  Area in cereals

  Belgium

  32

  329

  1—

  1—

  10·2

  France

  1,002

  15,707

  1—

  0·1

  15·6

  Greece

  n/a

  Ireland

  77

  1,310

  0·1

  0·3

  17·0

  Italy

  29,301

  2155,606

  1·8

  3·1

  16·7

  Netherlands

  195

  2,621

  0·3

  1·3

  13·4

  Spain

  518

  34,229

  0·3

  0·4

  66·1

  West Germany

  25,289

  169,729

  2·4

  3·6

  6·7

  United Kingdom

  1,750

  54,779

  0·9

  1·3

  31·3

  Totals

  38,164

  434,310

  0·9

  1·3

  11·3

  1 Lower than 0·1 per cent.

  2 Provisional figures.

  The scheme was not applied in Denmark or Luxembourg in the 1988–89 agricultural season; and Portugal is exempt.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has commissioned on set-aside and what plans he has to review existing provisions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The North of Scotland College of Agriculture has been commissioned to carry out a study to evaluate the uptake and economic impact of the set-aside scheme, as part of a United Kingdom-wide study. This will involve on-farm interviews of a sample of participating farmers. Consideration is currently being given to the need for any further research into the agronomic and environmental impact of the scheme, over and above projects already being undertaken by the Scottish agricultural college.

  The provisions of the scheme are already under close review, in the light of experience gained during the first year of its operation. My right hon. and learned Friend will in due course consider, with the other agriculture Ministers, whether any changes in the scheme rules are warranted.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action his Department is taking to promote research projects on organic farming, and what funding has been allocated to these projects.
  486
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. While Community rules allow member states to permit land fallowed under the set-aside scheme to be used for extensive grazing of agricultural animals, the Government have decided not to take up this option. In arriving at this decision we recognised that the grazing of set-aside land could create unfair competition for existing livestock producers, and particularly for those hill and upland farmers who have few, if any, alternatives to livestock rearing. Community rules do not allow member states to restrict the grazing option to certain types of animals—whether used for fibre, milk or meat—even in cases where these would pose fewer competition problems.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing the set-aside take-up in each EEC country.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest comparative information available to us is set out in the table as follows:

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My Department is currently funding a number of research and development projects by the Scottish agricultural colleges which are both directly and indirectly relevant to organic farming. The cost of this work in 1989–90 is about £200,000. The Edinburgh university centre for human ecology and the Edinburgh school of agriculture are undertaking a joint pilot project over two years to demonstrate the viability of organic farming. The Scottish Development Agency is contributing £175,000 to this project which is also supported by the European Community and Safeway plc.

  Farmers (Surpluses)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to make assistance available to help farmers in Scotland convert from surplus to non-surplus crops and livestock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Council regulation (EEC) No. 1094/88 requires all member states to introduce aid schemes to encourage the conversion of production towards non-surplus products. A proposal by the EC Commission for a Council regulation listing eligible products and setting out the main conditions for payment of aid is currently before the Agriculture Council. Once a Council regulation is adopted, and the necessary detailed implementing regulation has been made by the EC Commission, the agriculture departments will consider the content of a conversion scheme for the United Kingdom.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state what measures he intends to take to protect poll tax payers from increases of more than £3 per week, over previous domestic rates payments.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has announced that a scheme of transitional relief will operate in Scotland. Details of the scheme are at present the subject of discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The scheme will be targeted at households comprising former ratepayers, pensioners and the disabled.

  Provision of special needs housing at 31 March 19891

  Local authority

  New town

  SSHA

  Housing association

  Total

  Sheltered housing2

  Dwellings

  14,705

  434

  1,841

  9,650

  26,630

  Bedspaces

  27,519

  774

  3,220

  15,239

  46,752

  Amenity housing dwellings

  9,185

  1,581

  292

  1,256

  12,314

  1 Where district information is outstanding for 1989, details for earlier year have been included.

  2 Includes sheltered wheelchair.

  Public Sector Landlords
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide information showing the total number of applications made to him by public sector landlords under section 69 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and previously under section 3 of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 and section 1 of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Amendment Act 1980; if he will give his information for each of the years to date since 1980; and if he will further give the total number of cases where he has authorised a landlord to serve a notice of refusal for each of the years to date since 1980.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Year

  1Number

  2Number

  1980

  3

  —

  1981

  8

  1

  1982

  —

  —

  1983

  4

  2

  1984

  4

  2

  1985

  12

  7

  1986

  5

  3

  1987

  15

  7

  1988

  36

  22

  31989

  18

  10

  1Applications.

  2Authorisations to serve notices of refusal.

  3To 30 September 1989.

  Laboratory and Radiodiagnostic Services
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Council of the British Medical Association about the proposed competitive tendering for laboratory and radiodiagnostic services within Greater Glasgow health board, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Officials of the Scottish Home and Health Department met representatives of the

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table showing the total provision of sheltered housing by dwellings and by bedspaces, and of amenity housing by dwelling by public agencies on 31 March or the latest available date; and if he will provide a breakdown of that provision by local authority, Scottish Homes, new towns and housing associations.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information requested, at 31 March 1989, is set out in the following table. Scottish Homes did not begin operation until 1 April 1989 so the figures given relate to the Scottish Special Housing Association.

  Scottish Council of the British Medical Association and of the Scottish Joint Consultants Committee on Friday 6 October to discuss a number of matters of mutual concern including competitive tendering in clinically related services.

  Lithotriptor Centres
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he expects the pilot scheme of new invoicing between the Scottish lithotriptor and customer boards to end.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The pilot scheme was introduced for the financial year 1989–90. No decision has yet been made about arrangements for the next financial year.

  Substandard Housing
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of houses that are(a) below the tolerable standard, (b) require comprehensive modernisation, (c) require major repairs and (d) are affected by dampness, in the public and private sectors, respectively, in each district and islands area; and if he will estimate the cost of carrying out the necessary repairs and improvements.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Returns from local authorities show that the number of houses in Scotland which are below the tolerable standard as at 31 March 1988, in the public and private sectors, is as set out in table 1. Details of local authority stock with dampness and condensation dampness as at 31 March 1988 are set out in Table 2. Comparable information on dampness for other than local authority houses is not held centrally.

  The Government have neither information on the number of houses requiring comprehensive modernisation or major repairs, nor information which would allow an estimate to be made of the cost of any necessary works.
  489

  Table 1

  Dwellings below the tolerable standard by tenure Scotland, as at 31 March 1988

  Public sector1

  Housing association

  Private sector

  Tenure not known

  SCOTLAND

  906

  285

  35,368

  22,318

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  0

  0

  826

  0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  4

  0

  541

  0

  Roxburgh

  0

  0

  255

  0

  Tweeddale

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  425

  Central

  Clackmannan

  0

  0

  474

  0

  Falkirk

  43

  0

  435

  0

  Stirling

  6

  1

  566

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  0

  0

  189

  0

  Nithsdale

  0

  0

  801

  0

  Stewartry

  0

  0

  159

  0

  Wigtown

  0

  0

  78

  0

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  10

  0

  406

  0

  Kirkcaldy

  0

  0

  733

  0

  North East Fife

  37

  0

  1,361

  0

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  314

  30

  1,120

  0

  Banff and Buchan

  1

  0

  1,543

  0

  Gordon

  0

  0

  408

  0

  Kincardine and Deeside

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  375

  Moray

  46

  0

  1,170

  0

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0

  0

  253

  0

  Caithness

  0

  0

  285

  0

  Inverness

  10

  0

  584

  0

  Lochaber

  0

  0

  131

  0

  Nairn

  0

  0

  39

  0

  Ross and Cromarty

  0

  0

  2,500

  0

  Skye and Lochalsh

  0

  0

  650

  0

  Sutherland

  0

  0

  519

  0

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  12

  0

  773

  0

  Edinburgh

  0

  0

  4,732

  0

  Midlothian

  6

  82

  464

  0

  West Lothian

  0

  0

  510

  0

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4,000

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  3

  0

  26

  0

  Clydebank

  0

  0

  12

  0

  Clydesdale

  2

  0

  360

  0

  Cumbernauld & Kilsyth

  0

  8

  57

  0

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  19

  10

  172

  0

  Cunninghame

  0

  0

  2,118

  0

  Dumbarton

  9

  0

  100

  0

  East Kilbride

  0

  0

  103

  0

  Eastwood

  0

  0

  12

  0

  Glasgow

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  16,010

  Hamilton

  0

  0

  820

  0

  Inverclyde

  0

  103

  1,009

  0

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  12

  0

  230

  0

  Kyle and Carrick

  0

  0

  339

  0

  Monklands

  0

  0

  222

  0

  Motherwell

  99

  0

  677

  0

  Renfrew

  263

  0

  844

  0

  Strathkelvin

  0

  0

  33

  0

  Tayside

  Angus

  4

  1

  887

  0

  Dundee

  0

  50

  2,200

  0

  Perth and Kinross

  0

  0

  668

  0

  Orkney Islands

  6

  0

  1,134

  0

  490 491

  Public sector1

  Housing association

  Private sector

  Tenure not known

  Shetland Islands

  0

  0

  928

  0

  Western Isles

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,508

  1 Local authority, new towns, SSHA and Government Departments.

  n/a = Not available.

  Table 2

  Local authority dwellings with dampness Scotland as al 31 March 1986

  Rising and penetrating damp only

  Condensation and damp

  SCOTLAND

  40,476

  77,819

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  0

  0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  0

  300

  Roxburgh1

  —

  —

  Tweeddale

  0

  0

  Central

  Clackmannan

  425

  0

  Falkirk

  510

  5,560

  Stirling

  110

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  0

  0

  Nithsdale

  450

  783

  Stewartry

  0

  0

  Wigtown

  20

  5

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  18

  0

  Kirkcaldy

  0

  0

  North East Fife

  260

  186

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  Not known

  Not known

  Banff and Buchan

  0

  0

  Gordon

  0

  238

  Kincardine and Deeside

  0

  259

  Moray

  67

  0

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0

  0

  Caithness

  1

  0

  Inverness

  0

  242

  Lochaber

  390

  150

  Nairn

  0

  0

  Ross and Cromarty1

  0

  95

  Skye and Lochalsh

  0

  0

  Sutherland

  0

  0

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  30

  1,418

  Edinburgh1

  620

  1,178

  Midlothian

  0

  0

  West Lothian

  0

  0

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  Not known

  2,669

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  0

  0

  Clydebank

  0

  750

  Clydescale

  35

  786

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  n/a

  n/a

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  0

  2,963

  Cuninghame

  124

  0

  Dumbarton1

  715

  2,490

  East Kilbride

  0

  0

  Eastwood

  0

  0

  Glasgow1

  16,485

  15,093

  Hamilton

  7,721

  7,501

  Inverclyde

  0

  9,121

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun1

  280

  4,499

  492

  Rising and penetrating damp only

  Condensation and damp

  Kyle and Carrick

  0

  41

  Monklands1

  0

  175

  Motherwell

  8,564

  6,561

  Renfrew

  0

  10,300

  Strathkelvin

  0

  0

  Tayside

  Angus

  0

  0

  Dundee1

  2,300

  2,331

  Perth and Kinross

  500

  1,000

  Orkney Islands

  0

  0

  Shetland Islands

  761

  572

  Western Isles

  90

  561

  1 Returns with outstanding queries

  n/a Not available.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will show the number of(a) pensioners, (b) families with children and (c) other households living in housing which is below the tolerable standard.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Bed and Breakfast Accommodation (Costs)
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the most recent statistics for people in bed and breakfast accommodation in Scotland, paid for out of public funds.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no overall figures for the number of persons in bed and breakfast accommodation paid for out of public funds. It is estimated that the number of households placed in such accommodation by local authorities under the provisions of the homeless persons legislation in Scotland at 30 June 1989 was 270.

  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has now reached on Comunn Na Gaidhlig's proposal for a Gaelic broadcasting council.

  Mr. Lang
  No decision has yet been taken on proposals for the establishment of a Gaelic broadcasting council. The Government are currently giving very careful consideration to the future of Gaelic broadcasting and an announcement of their conclusion will be made shortly.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Comunn Na Gaidhlig to discuss Gaelic television.
  493
  Mr. Lang
  The Secretary of State met representatives of Comunn Na Gaidhlig on 17 April 1989 to hear their views on the future of Gaelic broadcasting.

  Nuclear Waste (Dounreay)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the geological investigations at Dounreay for a deep repository for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Investigations have not yet commenced. An application by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on behalf of Nirex for planning permission to conduct test boring was refused by the planning authority, Highland regional council, on 12 July. An appeal was lodged by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on 24 August and is at present under consideration by my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Whitson-Fairhurst Houses
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number and location of Whitson-Fairhurst houses in Scotland; and what funds his Department has allocated to alleviate the problems inherent in this type of construction.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on Whitson-Fairhurst houses built for the private sector in Scotland is not held centrally. The number and location of such dwellings originally built for the public sector, including houses subsequently sold under right to buy, are shown in the following table.

  Aggregate capital allocations are made to local authorities to enable broad programmes of work to proceed; funds are not allocated specifically for work on any one type of house. It is for individual local authorities to determine their own policies and priorities for investment in their own housing stock and for assistance to the private sector; and to programme capital expenditure accordingly within the resources made available. If councils identify a particular need for resources to cope with the inherent structural problems found in Whitson-Fairhurst houses then they should in the first instance include proposals for alleviating these problems in their housing capital programmes.

  Whitson-Fairhurst houses in Scotland originally built for the public sector

  District

  Number of houses

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  50

  Roxburgh

  50

  Falkirk

  100

  Nithsdale

  46

  Wigtown

  50

  Dunfermline

  154

  Aberdeen

  204

  Inverness

  100

  Edinburgh

  101

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  56

  Clydebank

  692

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  84

  Dumbarton

  385

  Hamilton

  140

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  100

  Monklands

  200

  Motherwell

  179

  Renfrew

  80

  Strathkelvin

  66

  494

  District

  Number of houses

  Dundee

  128

  Perth and Kinross

  150

  SCOTLAND TOTAL

  3,115

  Note: These figures are estimates based on returns by local authorities as at February 1985.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has undertaken into methods of repairing or reinstating Whitson-Fairhurst houses; and what advice his Department gives to local authorities regarding approved methods of dealing with this type of house.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Development Department has no programme of research into methods of reinstating Whitson-Fairhurst houses. The work which must be done to rectify the inherent defect in such houses is well known. The Scottish Development Department does not directly advise local authorities of approved methods of repairing such houses: authorities are aware that such advice is available from PRC Homes Ltd.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations has he received with regard to railway links in Scotland and those between Scotland and the Channel tunnel.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has received a number of representations from individuals, Members of Parliament and organisations on rail links within Scotland and between Scotland and the Channel tunnel. The provision of such links is however a matter for British Rail and the terms of the representations have been made known to BR through contact at either ministerial or official level.

  Lowland Airports Policy
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has received from businesses in Scotland concerning Scottish lowland airports policy.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State is presently receiving, from businesses in Scotland, copies of their responses to the Secretary of State for Transport's consultative document on Scottish lowland airports policy. The consultation exercise ends on 29 November and any submissions received will be taken fully into account in the review now in progress.

  YTS
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds there are in Scotland; and how many in each of those age groups have secured a training placement under the youth training scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  The projected Scottish populations of 16 and 17-year-olds in 1989 are:
  495

  Numbers

  (a) 16-year-olds

  71,378

  (b) 17-year-olds

  76,716

  Total

  148,094

  At September 1989 there were 50,708 YTS trainees in Scotland. This figure is made up primarily of 16 and 17-year-olds but will include some 18-year-olds. The training agency no longer collects data on numbers of YTS trainees by age.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many YTS places have been contracted with managing agents in Scotland; and if he will list them by regional council area.

  Mr. Lang
  The numbers of YTS places contracted with managing agents in Scotland in total and by regional council area are set out in the table:

  Regional Council area

  Number of YTS places contracted

  Strathclyde

  29,101

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,705

  Grampian

  4,757

  Tayside

  4,280

  Lothian

  6,719

  Borders

  864

  Central

  4,164

  Fife

  5,133

  Orkney

  244

  Shetland

  204

  Western Isles

  290

  Highland

  2,565

  Total

  60,026

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is considering realising the assets of the Scottish Development Agency.

  Mr. Lang
  At the request of my right hon. and learned Friend the agency has submitted proposals for the disposal of parts of its property and investment portfolios. Discussions on these proposals are progressing satisfactorily with the aim of ensuring that any disposals are carried out in an effective manner consistent with Government policy. The agency has disposed of properties and investments on an individual basis for a number of years.

  Schools (Spending)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the capital spend on(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools within the local authority education system in Scotland in each year since 1978 to 1989 up to and including 1988–89; and give these figures both at outturn prices and expressed at 1988–89 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  The information available is given in the following table, which has been compiled from local authority financial returns. Expenditure on primary and secondary schools is not separately identified in these returns. The reduction in expenditure in real terms during the period reflects a substantial and progressive decline in pupil numbers.
  496

  Capital expenditure by local authorities on primary and secondary schools

  Year

  At outturn prices

  £ million At 1988–89 prices

  1978–79

  49·503

  108·608

  1979–80

  44·958

  84·563

  1980–81

  49·637

  78·752

  1981–82

  55·165

  79·749

  1982–83

  49·728

  67·135

  1983–84

  43·359

  55·945

  1984–85

  43·431

  53·399

  1985–86

  48·368

  56·371

  1986–87

  43·011

  48·570

  1987–88

  44·340

  47·576

  11988–89

  57·157

  57·157

  1 provisional

  Note: The outturn figures have been converted to 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the policy considerations on which he based his recent decisions to amend provisions relating to the poll tax; and what consideration he gave to alternative amendments.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Experience of the operation of the community charge in Scotland has enabled us to identify improvements which will result in chargepayers being treated more equitably. We are therefore making a number of changes to the legislation. These include changes to the standard community charge arrangements, widening of the exemption for people who are severely mentally impaired and the introduction of a transitional relief scheme to assist people who have faced a significant increase in expenditure as a result of replacing domestic rates with the community charge.

  Pentland Firth (Crossing)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Orkney Islands council regarding the construction of infrastructure for the proposed short sea crossing of the Pentland firth between Burwick and Gills bay.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Orkney Islands council has applied to the Secretary of State for a harbour empowerment order to operate as a harbour authority at Gills bay. They already hold such powers at Burwick. The council has also inquired about the availability of ERDF funds for the terminals and has been told that no such funds are available.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has received any request for support for the proposed short sea crossing of the Pentland firth between Burwick and Gills hay, and the associated infrastructure developments.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No request has been received for central Government grant towards the Burwick and Gills bay terminals. In January 1989 Orkney Ferries plc requested to be considered for a tariff subsidy similar to that paid to P & O Ferries by my Department. I said at that time that I would want to see the ferry service in operation before considering such a request.

  Prisons
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the optimum operational capacity of each prison in Scotland and (b) the actual numbers of prisoners currently housed in each prison in Scotland.

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

  Design capacity

  Prisoners1

  HMP Aberdeen

  139

  132

  HMP Barlinnie

  979

  812

  HMYOI Castle Huntly

  144

  110

  HMI Cornton Vale

  225

  125

  HMYOI Dumfries

  144

  137

  HMP Dungavel

  147

  118

  HMP Edinburgh

  547

  514

  HMP Friarton

  82

  48

  HMP & Detention Centre Glenochil

  678

  415

  HMP Greenock

  176

  161

  HMP Inverness

  84

  94

  HM Remand Institution Longriggend

  176

  228

  HMP Low Moss

  400

  307

  HMP Noranside

  119

  111

  HMP Penninghame

  73

  71

  HMP Perth

  510

  426

  HMP Peterhead

  183

  122

  HMYOI Polmont

  408

  390

  HMP Shotts

  528

  459

  1 Housed as at 27 October 1989.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total prison population in Scotland, in each of the years since 1980.
  498
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The average daily prison population in 1988 is provisionally estimated as 5,229. For earlier years, corresponding figures are given in appendix 2 of the annual report "Prisons in Scotland Report for 1987" (Cm 551) copies of which are available in the Library.

  Schoolchildren (Clothes)
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a list of expenditure by local education authorities in Scotland on clothes for schoolchildren.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 3 November 1989]: The latest available figures from local authorities are in respect of financial year 1987–88 and are as follows:

  Education Authority

  Expenditure (£'000)

  Borders

  53

  Central

  367

  Dumfies and Galloway

  2

  Fife

  390

  Grampian

  78

  Highland

  133

  Lothian

  847

  Strathclyde

  3,321

  Tayside

  260

  Orkney

  6

  Shetland

  —

  Western Isles

  7

  COMMUNITY CHARGE—WALES: TRANSITIONAL RELIEF
  COMMUNITY CHARGE—WALES: TRANSITIONAL RELIEF
  COMMUNITY CHARGE TRANSITIONAL RELIEF: COST ESTIMATE
  COMMUNITY CHARGE TRANSITIONAL RELIEF: COST ESTIMATE
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE: POLICY
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE: POLICY
  FYLINGDALES RADAR STATION
  FYLINGDALES RADAR STATION
  DISCONTINUED DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL PROPERTY: SALE
  DISCONTINUED DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL PROPERTY: SALE
  MOTH-PROOFING AGENT RELEASE—INCIDENT
  MOTH-PROOFING AGENT RELEASE—INCIDENT
  LORDS AMENDMENTS TO BILLS
  LORDS AMENDMENTS TO BILLS