Written Answers of 31 October 1989

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Industrial Location
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to change the current arrangements for encouraging the location of industry across the whole of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Where industry locates in the United Kingdom is a matter for commercial decision. Regional industrial policy provides incentives to encourage industry to invest in the assisted areas of the country. There are at present no plans to change this policy.

  I am however considering the possibilities for realising the property assets of the English Industrial Estates Corporation. Jointly with the board of the corporation, I have commissioned a study to advise on this and also to report on the most effective mechanisms for promoting private sector investment in speculative industrial and commercial space in the assisted areas. This is consistent with our policy that English Estates' first priority is to encourage and facilitate greater private sector activity while focusing its own direct provision in areas where, for the time being, that cannot be achieved.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on payments made to those affected by the collapse of Barlow Clowes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer my hon. Friend to my letters of 16 August and 30 October to all Members, copies of which are placed in the Library.

  Chemical Exports
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what volumes of(a) chloroethanol, (b) dimethylamine, (c) potassium fluoride and (d) dymethylamine hydrochloride have been exported, and to which respective countries, since May 1979; when exports of each respective chemical were halted; and for what reasons.

  Mr. Redwood
  Statistics on the export of these chemicals are not available.

  A licence has been required to export chloroethanol, dimethylamine and potassium fluoride to Iran and Iraq since 12 April 1984 when these items became subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order. The Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No. 4) Order 1989 which came into force on 31 July 1989 extended the control on exports of these chemicals to Libya and Syria. It also brought the export of dimethylamine hydrochloride under control to Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria.
  102
  Controls on the exports of these chemicals have been introduced because of the Government's concerns about the proliferation of the capability for producing chemical weapons. Applications for a licence to export these chemicals to the destinations for which they are controlled are considered on a case-by-case basis in the light of stringent criteria.

  Marine Licensing
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which EEC countries charge a fee for a VHF marine licence for private pleasure craft.

  Mr. Forth
  Details of EEC countries' radio licence fees are not collected centrally. Inquiries made to a number of administrations indicate that fees are charged for the use of maritime radio by private pleasure craft.

  Measurement Accreditation
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that other EEC countries are complying with the Euro-norm agreement on measurement accreditation.

  Mr. Forth
  The United Kingdom's national measurement accreditation service (NAMAS) is co-operating with other Community member states to ensure the implementation of the European standards, the EN 45000 series, which define the criteria for laboratories, the accreditation of laboratories and for the accreditation bodies. These standards are expected to be increasingly used by the Commission in new approach directives and each member state will be responsible to ensure that the requirements of the directives are fully met.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which EEC countries have a national measurement accreditation service to the same standard as the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Forth
  The EEC Commission has placed a contract with the French Reseau National d'Essais (RNE) to carry out a study of accreditation systems operated by member states with the aim of establishing their compliances with international codes of practice and in particular the European standards for accreditation based on the EN 45000 series standards. It is expected that this report will be available in December 1989 and the national measurement accreditation service (NAMAS) will examine the report in detail.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which EEC countries have sought the advice of his Department on measurement accreditation.

  Mr. Forth
  Many of the EEC countries have discussed with the Department's national measurement accreditation service (NAMAS) the development of their own accreditation systems. Additionally representatives of seven member states have attended the NAMAS assessor training course to gain experience of assessment techniques and to assist in setting up their own training courses.

  Consumer Goods (Imports)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the principal categories of consumer goods imported into the United Kingdom, by value, for the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and the first half of 1989.

  United Kingdom Imports (£ million)

  January—June

  SITC Description

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  122 Tobacco, Manufactured

  120

  115

  109

  50

  553 Perfumes, Cosmetics and Toiletries

  233

  258

  282

  145

  554 Soap, Detergents and Polishes

  143

  181

  210

  98

  642 Paper and Board Products

  449

  519

  590

  341

  658 Made-up Textiles

  196

  211

  238

  132

  659 Floorcoverings

  337

  393

  432

  222

  665 Glassware

  185

  173

  206

  101

  666 Pottery

  96

  105

  117

  63

  696 Cutlery

  61

  76

  83

  43

  697 Household Equipment of Metal

  196

  189

  201

  106

  76 TV, Radio, Hi-Fi and Telecom Equipment

  2,402

  2,801

  3,177

  1,680

  775 Domestic Appliances

  905

  917

  989

  430

  781 Motor Cars

  4,809

  5,024

  6,752

  3,871

  785 Motorcycles and cycles

  150

  181

  226

  133

  82 Furniture and Bedding

  776

  878

  989

  577

  83 Travel Goods, Handbags

  200

  231

  251

  135

  84 Clothing

  2,386

  2,778

  3,108

  1,643

  85 Footwear

  734

  799

  908

  489

  885 Watches and Clocks

  268

  286

  340

  155

  892 Printed Matter

  585

  659

  795

  400

  894 Toys, Games and Sporting Goods

  536

  662

  686

  359

  897 Jewellery

  414

  421

  506

  279

  898 Musical Instruments

  625

  729

  823

  434

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics

  Notes:

  1. Full descriptions of the SITC trade classification headings are contained in Business Monitor MA21: Guide to the classifications for Overseas Trade Statistics.

  2. Figures for food and drink are not included as they are the responsibility of MAFF.

  Takeover Bids
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedure is followed by the Office of Fair Trading in its examination of takeover bids.

  Mr. Redwood
  The procedures are conveniently set out in a booklet produced by the Office of Fair Trading entitled "MERGERS—a guide to the procedures under the Fair Trading Act 1973". I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Beer
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decisions he has reached in the light of representations on the draft orders on the supply of beer.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have received representations from a wide range of parties including large and small brewers, tenants' associations, and wholesale and consumer organisations. All representations have been given careful consideration.

  I have now reached final decisions on the orders. The main changes I have decided to make are as follows. First, I have decided that national brewers who are required to free a proportion of their properties from product ties should be able to sell such properties without disadvantage provided they are sold free of ties. This amendment will encourage a more diverse pattern of ownership. I have also decided that in view of the substantial changes brewers will be required to make to a large number of tenancy agreements to free part of their estates the period for such adjustment will run to November 1992.
  104
  Mr. Redwood
  The figures are as follows:

  Secondly, many representations have emphasised the importance of ensuring that tenants of the national brewers should not be subject to pressures to discourage them from exercising their freedom to choose to supply a guest beer. Accordingly, I have amended the guest beer provisions to block a number of possible loopholes that brewers might have used to deter tenants from exercising their choice, and to make it clearer that tenants should be entirely free to choose their supplier.

  Thirdly, the position in respect of those companies, mainly small brewers, who are not subsidiaries but nevertheless fell to be regarded as parts of large brewery groups by virtue of minority shareholdings in them is amended. It will now be provided that no obligations will fall on a company solely because a member of a large brewery group has a minority interest in it. The tied estates of such companies will, however, still count towards the brewery group's limit on tied houses if more than 15 per cent. of the voting rights of the company are held, though account is now due to be taken of the extent to which control of shares is diluted through intermediary companies, if the group owns less than 50 per cent. of the voting rights. The 15 per cent. rule remains, as I believe that a group can exercise a substantial influence at this level of shareholding. The rule will act as some deterrent to further concentration in the industry.

  Finally, the definition of licensed premises has been changed so that the limits on the numbers of tied houses held by national brewers will no longer bite on premises with restricted licences, such as restaurants, where the supply of beer is not a significant part of the business.
  105
  The Office of Fair Trading will be making arrangements to monitor compliance with the orders. The director general will need to collect information for this purpose, and a further order will he made shortly to cover this.

  As was made clear in my right hon. and noble Friend's statement of 10 July the director general will be assessing the effectiveness of the measures in addressing the market detriments found by the MMC once the orders have had time to take effect. The Government will consider the need for further measures in the light of the director general's conclusions. If in the meantime, however, it becomes clear that further steps are necessary either to ensure compliance with the intentions behind the order, or to deal with other anti-competitive or undesirable practices, I will not hesitate to act as necessary.

  In this connection, I shall be keeping under review the position of tenants in advance of enactment of legislation to put their security of tenure on the same basis as that of other business tenants. If necessary, I will consider making an interim order to protect their position. I have also asked the director general to keep under review any anti-competitive moves to limit access to the market by independent manufacturers of beer or other drinks who are without tied estates, or by wholesalers. The Government intend separately to legislate to give tenants protection under the landlord and tenant legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  The changes I have outlined, and other technical points raised in representations, have required a significant number of changes to the orders. Copies of the orders have today been placed in the Libraries of both House and sent to the principal interested parties.

  Any representations on technical drafting points that arise from the revised texts should be submitted to my Department by 10 November. The Loan Ties, Licensed Premises and Wholesale Prices Order will then be made, and the draft Tied Estate Order, which requires resolutions of both Houses, will be laid shortly afterwards.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on proposals by certain breweries to permit tenants to sell a guest beer but to replace any sales lost to the landlord brewery by higher rent.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received representations from the National Licensed Victuallers Association and others that this might occur. It is being made clear in a separate statement made today that the brewer cannot discriminate against a tenant exercising this right.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has had since the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission Report on the supply of beer specifically supporting the introduction of a sliding scale of duty; whether he now favours such a proposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Well over 2,000 written representations have been received. An analysis of each one to determine whether a particular point had been made would be possible only at disproportionate cost. Officials of Customs and Excise are in the process of informally consulting with the trade on the possibility of changing to a method of charging duty based on the beer that is actually produced. The final decision is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  106
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has had since the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer which regret the absence from its report of recommendations to reduce regional and subregional monopolies; whether he will extend the guest ale provision to public houses owned by regional brewers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Well over 2,000 written representations have been received. An analysis of each one to determine whether a particular point had been made would be possible only at disproportionate cost. It has been made clear that the requirement to allow tied tenants to choose a guest beer will apply only to the national brewers.

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the serious fraud squad has completed its inquiries into the issues raised in the report of inspectors into the acquisition of House of Fraser; and when he now expects to publish the report.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: I cannot comment on the state of the inquiries to which my hon. Friend refers. Questions relating to the operation of the serious fraud office are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General. It remains the intention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to publish the report at the earliest possible moment consistent with the even-handed administration of justice.

  CFCs
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what facilities exist for the recycling of chlorofluorocarbons from the foam in refrigerators; what percentage is currently recycled; and what steps he is taking to increase this percentage.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: Recovery of chlorofluorocarbons from the insulating foam in refrigerators is technically very difficult, and I know of no facilities operating successfully at the moment in the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend has commissioned a wide-ranging study into the recovery, recycling and destruction of CFCs; the Government will take its finding into account when considering if any action is called for on this issue. The results of the study are expected early next year.

  Jaguar plc
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on Jaguar plc.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in the House earlier today.

  Professional Liability
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the report of the studies on professional liability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The report of the three study teams on professional liability under the overall chairmanship of Professor Andrew Likierman is published today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.
  107
  The Government set up these studies last year because of the concern expressed by many professionals about the extent of claims for professional negligence and the cost and availability of professional indemnity insurance. This is an area in which there was a wealth of anecdote, but little hard fact. The studies acknowledge that there are difficulties in obtaining comprehensive information, but have none the less brought together much useful material.

  The report finds that the same underlying changes in insurance and law have affected all three groups of professions, but that the effects of the changes on these groups have been different. The study teams have therefore recommended a different package of proposals for each profession.

  We accept the broad conclusions of the report, that professionals have been faced with an increasing exposure to negligence claims, and that the cyclical nature of the insurance market means that at times costs of insurance increase sharply. The report finds that so far the changing position of professionals is having only limited effects on the quality or cost of the service they are providing to consumers. We are conscious of the need to balance the potential adverse effects on consumers against the right of consumers who are victims of negligence to recover damages to the extent possible.

  The construction professionals and the surveyors study teams recommend steps which professionals, their institutions and the associations representing all parties could take to improve standards, practice and collaboration. The Government welcome these recommendations.

  Several of the recommendations addressed to Government are very wide-ranging, including proposals for reform relating to joint and several liability, legal aid and time limitation periods for claims. It is recommended for example that the Law Commission should be asked to consider the case for changes in the law of joint and several liability in commercial cases. While the Government recognise the strongly held feelings that the current arrangements in these areas can in some circumstances operate unfairly against the professions, the changes suggested would have important effects well beyond the immediate context of professional liability. They will require fuller consideration before the Government can form a view.

  Other proposals will be looked at as legislative opportunities become available. The current Companies Bill has already provided an opportunity to pursue two of the recommendations of the auditors study team. We accepted the proposal that the law on directors' insurance should be clarified so that a company can reimburse a director for his liability insurance. We decided against the proposal that an auditor should be able to limit his liability by agreement with the company. Consultation revealed that non-auditors were generally opposed to the idea because it could limit legal redress in the rare cases of poor audits. Some recommendations, however, can already be seen to raise practical difficulties which are such as to preclude further investigation.

  My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Trade and Industry and other colleagues as appropriate will be considering the outstanding points.

  We are very grateful to Professor Likierman, to the chairmen of the three study teams, William Morrison, Professor Donald Bishop and Ian Oddy, and to the study
  108
  team members, all of whom have voluntarily put so much work into this review. We are also grateful to all those who provided evidence for the studies.

WALES

  Forestry
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has considered establishing a separate forestry body for Wales, in line with his proposals to create a unified Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have seen no need to consider such a change.

  Swansea Downs (Nuclear Submarines)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will commission a study on the effects on tourism in Swansea bay and the Gower peninsula of plans to create a reserve Z berth for nuclear-powered submarines at Swansea downs; and what communications he has received from Swansea leisure centre over the Z berth plans.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Department has no plans to commission such a study and I have received no communication from Swansea leisure centre about the proposal.

  Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue a detailed consultation paper setting out the structure of the proposed merged body of the Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission for Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Department has no plans to do so. Full consultation is already taking place between Government Departments and the statutory agencies on this and other pertinent issues.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many requests for exemptions from the requirement to teach Welsh as part of the core curriculum have been received from schools in(a) Wales, (b) each local education authority and (c) Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I have received requests for exemption from teaching Welsh in the national curriculum from 11 schools in Wales. These include four in Gwent; three in Clwyd; two each in West Glamorgan and Dyfed, both in Pembrokeshire.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date the current maintenance backlog on National Health Service properties will be cleared on current and planned capital spending for the National Health Service in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Backlog maintenance is a term generally used to describe the work necessary to bring National
  109
  Health Service property up to a standard of full life expectancy where no expenditure except for routine maintenance is required. District health authorities' programmes to achieve this include investment in the maintenance of buildings which are to be retained, the rationalisation of services to release accommodation which is no longer practicably suitable and the construction of new facilities. They are encouraged to give a high priority to these activities and their performance is monitored by the Department as part of its annual review process. However, in view of progressive improvements in the standards of accommodation required, the continuing need for maintenance investment and the long-term nature of some of the measures to improve the conditions of the estate, it is not possible to estimate when the current maintenance backlog will be substantially eliminated.

  NHS White Paper
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money he has currently allocated for the implementation of the White Paper; what proportion of the sums allocated will be used to fund(a) information technology, (b) medical audit, (c) the Welsh Office value for money unit, (d) training, (e) family practitioner committees, (f) health authority costs, and (g) treatment centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department has provided an additional £5 million toward the cost of implementing the White Paper proposals in the current financial year. This has been allocated as follows:

  £ million

  (a) information technology (including the resource management initiative)

  2·34

  (b) medical audit

  0·11

  (c) Value for Money Unit

  0·18

  (d) training

  0·14

  (e) family practitioner committees

  0·11

  (f) health authorities's discretionary use

  1·62

  (g) treatment centres

  0·50

  5·00

  The provision of these additional resources reflect the importance that the Government give to the major programme of improvement now being undertaken within the NHS and their recognition of the need for adequate investment. Provision for 1990–91 and subsequent years is currently under consideration as part of the annual review of public expenditure and will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of(a) the total cost of implementation of the proposals contained within the National Health Service White Paper in Wales, (b) the manpower implications for nurse staffing and (c) the manpower implications for financial, management, administrative and clerical staffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Government's broad estimates of the financial and manpower implications of implementing the White Paper will be given in the financial and explanatory memorandum of the NHS reform Bill. These estimates will relate to the NHS generally and will apply equally to Wales as to other parts of the United Kingdom. The more 110
  detailed manpower implications of the proposals are being addressed as part of the ongoing manpower planning activities being undertaken within the NHS in Wales.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the extent of local education authority schools using(a) changes to school timetables to cover vacancies and (b) non-specialists to teach subjects for which they have minimal qualifications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Information concerning the extent to which changes to school timetables are made to cover staff vacancies or other unforeseen circumstances is not held by the Department. The results of the secondary school staffing survey undertaken this year will provide information on the teaching staff employed, their qualifications and the teaching they undertook. The results will be available towards the end of the year.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies he has undertaken on the size and characteristics of the pool of inactive teachers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  There have been no recent surveys on out-of-service teachers in England and Wales although we are currently considering whether a survey would be beneficial and how best it should be undertaken. In the meantime the education support grant programme for 1990–91 provides funding for LEA pilot projects designed to encourage LEAs to maintain contact with teachers who leave the service and to attract back into the service people in their areas who left the profession some years ago.

  Welsh-medium Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of Welsh-medium teachers needed to staff the national curriculum; what is the current number of Welsh language teachers employed by local education authorities in Wales; and what is the number of students currently training as Welsh-medium teachers.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The national curriculum is not expected to create a need for more Welsh-medium teachers overall in the short term. However its introduction will increase the number of secondary Welsh-medium teachers required for some subjects while decreasing the number required for others. Some retraining of secondary teachers may therefore be necessary to provide for the change in subject mix.

  The numbers of teachers required to teach Welsh as a language will increase as a result of the introduction of the national curriculum. The future numbers are currently being discussed with LEAs. The results of these discussions will enable us to judge the scale and shape of the retraining and recruitment programmes for the years ahead.

  Welsh language specialists tend to be concentrated in the secondary sector. Current information on the number of Welsh language teachers employed by LEAs in Wales will not be available until the results of the 1989 secondary school staffing survey are to hand later this year. There are 358 students currently training as Welsh-medium teachers at initial teacher training institutions in Wales.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of students who have received bursaries for initial teacher training in Wales; what is the total value of those bursaries; and what is the numbers of students by teaching speciality.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Between 1986–87 and 1988–89 a total of 379 students have received £526,000 from the bursary scheme as shown in the following table:

  Subject

  Total students

  Mathematics

  153

  Physics

  119

  CDT1

  107

  379

  1 An additional equipment allowance of £200 is paid to CDT students.

  1974

  1979

  1st quarter 1989

  Per cent change per annum

  Average daily available beds:

  1974–79

  1979–89

  Acute1

  12,190·8

  11,302·7

  10,350·4

  -1·5

  -0·9

  Long stay

  12,516·7

  12,153·4

  9,938·0

  -0·6

  2·0

  Percentage Occupancy:

  Acute

  68·4

  68·3

  70·4

  Long stay

  89·9

  86·7

  84·2

  1 Excludes geriatrics, younger disabled, mental illness and mental handicap.

  My hon. Friend will wish to note that the rate of change of bed numbers in the long-stay sector has increased since 1979 in line with the policy of caring for such patients in the community where possible. Over the same period the increase in percentage occupancy of acute beds had been accompanied by an increase in the number of acute in-patients treated of 85,193 or 26·9 per cent., which represents an increase of 2·6 per cent. a year. The equivalent figures for 1974 to 1979 were an increase of 14,458, representing 4·8 per cent. or 0·9 per cent. a year.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  GCSE
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of failure to complete the GCSE examination is expected now that GCSE has been introduced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The most recent figures show that of the 5·23 million entries for the 1988 summer GCSE examinations, 4·6 per cent. were recorded as absent. A further 3·4 per cent. were ungraded.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance has been issued on the national curriculum in relation to special schools for children with learning difficulties.

  NHS Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what will be the capital expenditure at each National Health Service treatment centre site, on(a) new buildings and (b) alterations to existing buildings; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he intends to make any financial provision for the travel costs of patients using the new National Health Service treatment centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Monday 30 October 1989.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the number of beds in Welsh hospitals in(a) 1974, (b) 1979 and (c) the current year with the annual rate of decline in the periods 1974 to 1979 and 1979 to 1989;

  (2) what was the average bed occupancy in National Health Service hospitals in Wales in (a) 1974, (b) 1979 and (c) the current year.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The National Curriculum Council has recently published a booklet entitled "A Curriculum For All" which gives guidance on ensuring access to the national curriculum for all pupils with special educational needs, whether in maintained special schools or mainstream schools. I have placed a copy in the Library. The Department has also recently issued a joint circular with the Department of Health on assessments and statements of special educational needs which also includes guidance on the national curriculum. Departmental circulars on various other aspects of the national curriculum also include guidance on their application to pupils with special educational needs.

  Leicester Polytechnic
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement of the finance available from public funds for Leicester polytechnic; and what special provision will be made(a) to re-open a building which has had to be closed on grounds of safety; (b) to prevent further closures on such grounds; to bring the general stock of buildings into a reasonable state of repair.

  Mr. Jackson
  The allocation of public funds to Leicester polytechnic is the responsibility of the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC). I understand that the Cumberland street annexe building, which was closed on safety grounds in June 1989, has been replaced by accommodation in a larger and more suitable
  113
  building with the aid of a specific allocation of £700,000 from the PCFC's contingency fund. The safety and state of repair of the buildings is essentially the responsibility of the polytechnic itself.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will express the additional sum of £600 million for teachers' pay 1990–91, stated in his remit to the interim advisory committee, in terms of percentage increases in the inter-quartile range of private sector pay settlements for the latest available 12-month period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The interim advisory committee's remit represents an increase of some 7·6 per cent. on the 1990–91 teachers' pay bill. the inter-quartile range of private sector non-manual basic pay movements for the 12 months ending in June 1989 was 6·3 per cent. to 8·5 per cent, with a median of 7·3 per cent.

  Statemented Children
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a table showing, for local education authorities in England in each of the last three years for which records exist(a) how many children and what proportion of children of school age have been statemented as having special educational needs and (b) what extra resources in terms of teacher-hours per statemented pupil per year have been made available by each local education authority in England, respectively.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information on teacher resources in special education is not available centrally. Information on numbers of pupils with statements will be provided as soon as possible.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Remand
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to take steps to bring remand limits in line with the Scottish limit of 110 days.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. Custody time limits are now in force in England and Wales, except in London and the south-east, where we plan to introduce them in 1990. The limits in England and Wales are 56 days to summary trial or 70 days to committal in magistrates' courts; and 112 days from committal to arraignment in the Crown court. In Scotland, the limits are 40 days to trial for summary offences and 110 days from commitment to trial for indictment cases. The different limits in England and Wales reflect the diferences in pre-trial procedures and the amount of business.

  Trials
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to bring the United Kingdom in line with the prompt trial requirement of the European convention on human rights; and if he will make a statement.
  114
  Mr. John Patten
  The United Kingdom complies with the European convention on human rights requirements for trial for any criminal charge against a person within a reasonable time.

  Crime (Investigations)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to setting up a national criminal intelligence unit along the lines of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States and as to what purposes it would have which are not adequately covered by existing policing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The developing challenge of serious criminal activity across local, regional and national borders requires effective enforcement counter-measures, based on the best intelligence. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) said in his speech to the Police Superintendents Association annual conference on 26 September, we need to make sure that these new needs are met. We have therefore initiated consultations with the Association of Chief Police Officers who have accordingly set up a working party on our criminal intelligence arrangements to assess the case for a national criminal intelligence unit, as part of the strengthening of police co-operation at home and internationally to deal with serious cross-border crime.

  Any such unit will be necessarily different from that of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States of America, and will need to take account both of existing national intelligence arrangements for specific kinds of crime, notably drugs, and our system of locally based police forces and regional crime squads.

  Immigration
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the scale of the abuse of immigration laws by people obtaining false birth certificates; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Detailed information is not available, but there is some evidence of abuse in individual cases, which are under consideration. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health published a Green Paper entitled "Registration: a modern service" (Cm. 531) in December 1988. The Green Paper contained proposals to limit the issue of certificates from the more recent records of the registration of births, marriages and deaths to those who have a legitimate interest in them. My right hon. Friend is considering possible restrictions on the issue of certificates in the light of responses received.

  Trial by Jury
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to restrict the right of an accused person to opt for trial by jury.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no present plans to do so.

  Hunt Saboteurs
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake a review of the law with a view to extending the criminal law to cover trespass on land in cases involving the activities of hunt saboteurs; and if he will make a statement.
  115
  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans to undertake such a review. Trespass on land is in general a matter for the civil law. There are powers to deal with those who commit criminal acts such as criminal damage, assault or causing harassment, alarm or distress while trespassing.

  Guildford Four
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to write to Patrick Armstrong, Gerard Conlon, Carole Richardson and Paul Hill expressing apologies on behalf of Her Majesty's Government for the injustice they suffered; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) expressed regret at this serious miscarriage of justice in his statement to the House on 19 October at columns 271–73.

  Football (Arrests)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to analyse the arrests made at Football League matches in London(a) outside the ground, (b) inside the ground and (c) by the nature of the alleged offence in each case.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  During the 1988–89 season at Football League matches in London there were 649 arrests inside grounds and 724 outside directly related to the matches. Figures showing the nature of the alleged offences or the outcome of these arrests are not collated centrally by the Metropolitan police or the Association of Chief Police Officers, and we have no plans to ask that this work should be undertaken.

  Television Licence Fees
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet able to announce the level of the television licence fees to take effect from 1 April 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  On 27 October 1987, at column 204, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) announced that the licence fees for the three years starting from 1 April 1988 would be calculated in accordance with changes in the retail prices index, which determines the rate of increase of pensions and other state benefits. The RPI figure for September published on 13 October showed a year-on-year increase of 7·6 per cent. I have accordingly decided that from 1 April 1990 the colour licence fee should be £71 and the monochrome fee £24. The necessary regulations will be laid before the House in due course.

  As was made clear in last year's White Paper on "Broadcasting in the '90s" (Cm 517), fee increases from 1 April 1991 onwards may be set at less than RPI in a way which takes account of the BBC's capacity to generate income from subscription.

  Vulnerable Prisoners (Report)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received the report of the working group on the management of vulnerable prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have received this helpful and thorough report, copies of which are being placed in the 116
  Library. The study focused particularly on the arrangements concerning prisoners segregated for their own protection. The main improvements recommended, all of which I have accepted, with a procedural modification in respect of one, are:

  (a) Rule 43 of the prison rules to be amended (i) to allow authoritative directions on its interpretation to be given by the Secretary of State; (ii) to allow governors to authorise segregation for up to three days; and (iii) to remove an anomaly affecting young persons under 21 held in prisons and remand centres Young offender institution rule 46 also to be amended as at (i) and (ii). The aim of (i) is to be achieved by administrative guidance rather than by amendment of the rules;

  (b) a board of visitors, on a proposal of the governor, to be able to decide, in the light of facilities available, to dispense with rule 43 controls for a particular group of vulnerable prisoners;

  (c) present guidance on the personal legal liability of individual officers to be revised in supportive terms;

  (d) certain training prisons to be re-organised to take rule 43—own protection—prisoners, so that they can be allocated from local prisons in the normal way;

  (e) creation of a further vulnerable prisoner unit for about 100 category B prisoners;

  (f) improvements in regimes and implementation of proposed guidelines on best practice to be carried forward through governors' annual contracts for 1990–91 (earlier wherever possible), under the functional responsibility of a senior member of the management.

  While certain recommendations requiring resources may take some time to implement fully, most of the 35 recommendations are resource-neutral and work on bringing them into effect has been put in hand.

  Metropolitan Police Operations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding the number of occasions in the past 12 months when the Metropolitan police have invited representatives of the media to accompany police officers on major operations; at what command level decisions are taken to invite a media presence; and what criteria are used in such cases.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 18 October 1989]: I understand from the Commissioner that the position is as follows. Media representatives accompany police officers on a wide variety of operations about which it is not possible to generalise. Arrangements are made centrally or locally by invitation from the police or on request from the media. Figures are not collated centrally, but the number of such arrangements exceeds 750 a year.

  Decisions to invite media representatives to witness raids are made by officers of chief superintendent rank or above, in consultation with the Metropolitan police directorate of public affairs.

  Invitations to the media are an important part of the Commissioner's policy of encouraging greater public understanding of police operations; are part of his policy of openness; and are an example of the accountability of the police to the public, on whose behalf they operate. The resulting news coverage may act as a deterrent to criminals, and provides independent reporting of events which might, otherwise, attract false and malicious allegations.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many marketing consultancy grants have been made by the Rural Development Commission in the past year.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Rural Development Commission made 71 marketing consultancy grants in the year ended 31 March 1989, the latest period for which figures are readily available.

  Housing Expenditure (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the housing capital expenditure which Lambeth council is permitted to undertake from capital receipts in addition to the approved housing investment programme of £30·6 million.

  Mr. Chope
  No such estimate has been made. It would be possible to construct a theoretical estimate based on information reported by Lambeth council, but as authorities are free to vire receipts and borrowing between services in 1988–89, and to use receipts for non-prescribed capital expenditure, such a theoretical estimate would be of limited value.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Nature Conservancy Council takes non-scientific criteria into account when declaring, confirming or revoking sites of special scientific interest under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Nature Conservancy Council's "Guidelines for Selection of Biological SSSIs" gives details of the scientific guidelines currently in use. The NCC proposes also to publish guidelines in respect of geological and physiographical SSSIs in the context of its geological conservation review. In the exercise of its duty, under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the council has a duty under section 37 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the needs of agriculture, forestry and the economic and social interests of rural areas.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on initiatives he plans to promote in response to the conclusions of the Commonwealth expert group on climate change and sea level rise, in respect of Her Majesty's Government's policies on mitigation of the greenhouse effect;

  (2) if he, or any other Minister or official of his Department, was present at, or presented a paper to, the seminar on the greenhouse effect at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on 29 September;

  (3) what departmental representation there was, and what departmental papers were presented, at the global conference on the greenhouse effect, co-sponsored by the United Nations environment programme, held in Japan in September.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We welcome the contribution that the report of the Commonwealth expert group makes 118
  to the debate on climate change, and we recognise the particular concern of some Commonwealth countries about a potential rise in sea-levels. The Langkawi declaration on the environment which followed the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting supported the work of the intergovernmental panel on climate change and endorsed the United Kingdom's call for an international convention on climate change. We are fully committed to the work of the IPCC, in which the United Kingdom is playing a leading role, and we will continue to press the case for a framework convention on climate change.

  There was no ministerial representation at the IME seminar on 29 September. An official from the Building Research Establishment presented a paper entitled "Energy Efficiency in Buildings and the Greenhouse Effect."

  There was no departmental representation at the conference on the global environment and human response held in Tokyo on 11 to 13 September 1989.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department differentiates between global warming caused by(a) natural and (b) man-made changes; what information he has on the reasons for global temperature rises before chlorofluorocarbons; and if his Department has made an appraisal of the thesis on global warming of Doctor Bruce Denness of the Bureau of Applied Sciences.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There is a "natural" greenhouse effect caused by the earth's atmosphere without which the earth would not be habitable. Current concerns arise from the increase in the concentration of anthropogenic greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and the chlorofluorocarbons. The impact of those increases, and the effects which will flow from them, are the subject of intensive scientific review within the intergovernmental panel on climate change which is due to report next summer. I understand that report is unlikely to endorse the views of Dr. Denness.

  Trades Union Congress (Charter for the Environment)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent meetings he has had with representatives of the Trades Union Congress over its charter for the environment, adopted in September.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met representatives of the Trades Union Congress to discuss its charter, but he has recently accepted an invitation from the general secretary to do so.

  Pesticides
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the report on pesticide use in the United Kingdom, sent to him on 7 August by the Green Alliance and the British Agrochemicals Association.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has replied to these organisations on behalf of all the Ministers responsible for the control of pesticides in a letter dated 26 September. A copy of the letter has been deposited today in the Library of the House.

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the performance assessment of geological isolation systems for radioactive waste programmes sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities; and what are the implications of the PAGIS programme for future nuclear waste disposal in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  PAGIS (Performance Assessment of Geological Isolation Systems), a six-year multinational research project on the safety assessment of high-level waste (HLW) disposal, was launched in 1982 as part of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste management. Reports of the PAGIS project have been published by the European Commission. PAGIS reinforces the Government view that all categories of radioactive waste can in principle be safely disposed of in the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received a copy of the report from the European Commission on the evaluation of the third Community programme on radioactive waste management and storage, 1985–1989, published in July as document EUR 12264 EN; and what are the implications for the United Kingdom of this programme for the United Kingdom's radioactive waste inventory.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department received a copy of the executive summary of document EUR 12264 EN in July. The programme has no implications for the United Kingdom's radioactive waste inventory.

  Milton Keynes Year of the Environment
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support he has given to the Milton Keynes Year of the Environment project launched on 19 September; and when he plans to visit Milton Keynes to promote environmental initiatives in the city.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) sent a message of support to the organisers of the Milton Keynes Year of the Environment. I endorse that message, and will follow the year's progress with interest.

  Air Pollution
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are to be taken to ensure that local authority environmental health departments have sufficient resources and information available to implement effectively the proposed changes to controls over air pollution from industrial sources.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A joint committee to provide a forum for discussion between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and local authority environmental health departments was set up at the end of 1988. The secretariat is provided by HMIP's local authority unit which has already begun to consider draft guidance notes on some 20 of the processes to be scheduled for local authority air pollution control. Information exchange on such matters as training is also being developed in the same forum.
  120
  As the new system represents a rationalisation and streamlining of local authorities' existing air pollution controls the Government estimated that it would add only £0·5 million to their current expenditure.

  Ivory
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what agreements were made regarding the release of the ivory stockpile in Hong Kong with the European Environment Council during October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  None; the last meeting of the European Environment Council was held on 19 September. The issue of the stockpile of ivory in Hong Kong was not discussed.

  Homelessness
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange a meeting with building societies to discuss additional measures to reduce homelessness.

  Mr. Chope
  Regular meetings are held with representatives of building societies. These cover a wide range of housing issues including homelessness.

  Rivers
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentages of United Kingdom rivers are classed as being of good or fair quality by the European Community; and what is the European Community average.

  Mr. Howard
  There is no river quality classification scheme laid down by the European Community. Each member state uses different systems, criteria and class boundaries for categorising rivers which makes assessments at Community level difficult. However, a review of classification schemes across member states published in 1988 by the Water Research Centre showed that on the basis of comparisons with the river classification scheme used in this country, an average of 83 per cent. of EC rivers were of good or fair quality compared with 95 per cent. in the United Kingdom. No other member state had a higher proportion of good or fair quality rivers than the United Kingdom, although our position was equalled by the Netherlands.

  Local Government Bill
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is intended that the new ceiling in the Local Government Bill for involvement in political activity be index-linked.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The salary level of £19,500 specified in the Bill is not a "ceiling on political activity". It is simply a dividing line in the machinery for determining which posts in local government service should be politically restricted. Above that level posts are restricted unless specifically exempted. Below that level they are free unless they are specifically restricted.

  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has indicated that the Government propose to use the regulation-making power in the Bill to replace the reference to £19,500 with a reference to point 44 on the

  121
  national joint council's recommended pay scale, as it is for the time being. The specified salary will thus change in accordance with national pay agreements.

  Residuary Bodies
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay before Parliament the 1988–89 annual reports and accounts of the London and metropolitan residuary bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The 1988–89 annual reports and statements of accounts of the London and metropolitan residuary bodies were laid before Parliament today. A copy of the Secretary of State's direction under section 78(2) of the Local Government Act 1985 as to the content and structure of the accounts has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The residuary bodies' reports provide continuing evidence of the considerable progress which they have made in discharging the responsibilities they inherited from the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils. Among other achievements in 1988–89, over £314 million in capital receipts were realised from sales of surplus property, the benefits of which are being distributed to the local authorities.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Greater Manchester residuary body will complete its work and be wound up; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Greater Manchester residuary body was formally dissolved today. During the three and a half years since abolition the record of the residuary body has been impressive. It has sold or transferred to the successor dstrict authorities 10,650 former county council property interests and distributed £12·25 million of capital receipts to the local authorities.

  There will be further amounts to come from sales which have not yet reached completion. This is in addition to the distribution of some £55 million in revenue balances.

  The Greater Manchester residuary body is the third of the seven residuary bodies to wind up. The RB inherited a very considerable number of property interests, rights and liabilities from the former Greater Manchester county council, not least those in respect of the Greater Manchester exhibition centre (GMEX). That these have been disposed of with the full co-operation of all the successor authorities is a credit to all concerned.

  The order under section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985 transferred the remainder of the residuary body's property functions, rights and liabilities to the city of Manchester and the metropolitan boroughs and districts of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan on 31 August 1989.

  The Greater Manchester residuary body inherited a particularly wide and complex range of tasks. I am grateful to the chairman, board and staff for discharging this task of winding up the affairs of the former Greater Manchester metropolitan county council with such efficiency and dispatch. Their final report is being laid before Parliament today.

  Unified Business Rate
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any special provisions are to he made to mitigate the impact of the unified business rate on small businesses initially.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes. There will be transitional protection for businesses facing large increases as a result of the combined effects of the 1990 revaluation and the introduction on 1 April 1990 of a uniform national business rate. There will be a ceiling of 20 per cent. on the amount by which any rate bill can rise in any one year in real terms for properties with a rateable value of £10,000 in the new rating list (£15,000 in London) or more. But for properties with a rateable value between £500 and £10,000 (£15,000 in London)—which will include 75 per cent. of all business premises—the annual ceiling will be 15 per cent. in real. terms.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year since 1981(a) the applications received by his Department from the Nature Conservancy Council for orders under section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (b) those applications which resulted in such an order being made.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 17 October 1989]: The number of orders made or rejected in England is as follows:

  Made

  Rejected

  1981

  —

  —

  1982

  2

  —

  1983

  3

  1

  1984

  4

  1

  1985

  5

  2

  1986

  1

  —

  1987

  2

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  1989

  5

  —

  In addition it has been unnecessary for the Secretary of State to make an order on around six occasions because agreement was reached with the owner/occupier of the land concerned or the threat to the land did not materialise.

  The responsibility for making orders in Wales and Scotland rests with the respective Secretaries of State.

  Photochemical Smog
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of photochemical smog events which have occurred during the last year in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: Photochemical smog, consisting of ozone and other ingredients, is a result of the reaction between oxides of nitrogen and gaseous hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight. In the United Kingdom a network of 17 sites monitors ozone levels. There is always some ozone in the lower atmosphere, and the definition of an "event" is inevitably arbitary. However, in August my Department announced that it would issue daily summaries of ozone

  123
  concentrations for periods when several network sites recorded an hourly average of 60 parts per billion or more. Since then there have been three such periods. The record for the period before August shows a further five periods during the last year.

  Nuclear Accidents (Water Contamination)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any comprehensive studies have been made to ensure the effectiveness of treatment methods for removing radionuclides typically released from accidents involving nuclear reactors into the water supply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: A report that the Department commissioned last year concluded that most forms of water treatment would remove the major part of radioactivity from water supplies in the event of an accidental release of radioactivity. However, it is most unlikely that emergency reference levels would be reached in such circumstances even before water supplies are treated, except possibly in the immediate locality of a catastrophic release of radioactivity.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how it is intended that the community charge will be collected from itinerants.

  Mr. David Hunt
  People with no fixed abode are exempt from the community charge, and the question of collection does not, therefore, arise. Travellers who are solely resident in caravans or boats will be liable to pay a personal charge in the area where they last become subject to a community charge on a particular day. It is for registration officers and charging authorities to make suitable arrangements for registration for, and collection of, the community charge in the light of local circumstances.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent community charge registration officers disclosing anonymous personal information to credit companies, mail order companies or police forces.

  Mr. Chope
  No such legislation is necessary. Community charges registration oficers have no power to provide personal information to any of the bodies referred to by the hon. Gentleman. Recent changes to the Local Government Finance Act specifically preclude the provision of any information from which any individual can be identified.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to provide further public information on the community charge.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In order to provide further information on individuals' rights and duties under the community charge, my right hon. Friend has decided to make additional resources available to ensure that those who are eligible for community charge rebates and transitional relief are aware of their entitlement.

HEALTH

  Germanium
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he can give to AIDS sufferers and others on the use of dietary supplements containing germanium.

  Mr. Freeman
  Dietary supplements containing germanium have been sold in health stores, pharmacies and by mail order. Product literature and articles sponsored by manufacturers claimed or implied potential health benefits, including an improved immune response. However, the Department of Health has no evidence that germanium is beneficial to health, and a report from Japan suggests that, taken as a dietary supplement, it may actually be harmful. The Department of Health has therefore advised that sales and consumption of dietary supplements containing germanium should cease.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the allocation of the 100 new consultant posts promised in the White Paper, "Working for Patients."

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have approved 35 new posts for the first year of the scheme in 1989–90. Officials have today written to health authorities advising them of successful bids for posts in their area. The new posts we have created are over and above existing plans for new consultants. They are targeted on districts and specialties where there are long waiting times for treatment. They will enable many extra cases to be treated from waiting lists and will make a significant impact on the increasing demand which leads to long waits.

  We will meet the full costs of the new posts up to a maximum of £500,000, which will cover the cost of the new consultants, plus additional staff and running costs, and essential equipment in support of the posts.

  The annual running cost of posts approved in the first year of the scheme averages £360,000 with an additional average cost of £40,000 to cover one-off capital expenditure. The new posts are in general surgery (10 posts); trauma and orthopaedics (7 posts); obstetrics and gynaecology (5); ophthalmology (5); urology (3); ear nose and throat surgery (2); and (one post each in) medicine, oral surgery and plastic surgery. These new posts will be supported by additional medical and non-medical staff. A total of 13·5 whole-time equivalent consultants in anaesthetics; a small number of extra consultant sessions in radiology, audiology and histopathology; 16 whole-time equivalent junior medical staff; 377 nurses; 68 professional and technical staff and 113 other non-medical staff will be provided as a result of the scheme in its first year. We are seeking further information from health authorities on a number of the other bids, and I expect to announce the allocation of the remaining 65 new posts early next year.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has received from the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the National Health Service White Paper "Working for Patients"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The response we have received from the Royal College of Psychiatrists endorses the Government's
  125
  aims for the Health Service. It raises a number of concerns regarding the implication of our proposed reforms for mental health services. Many of these concerns will be addressed in the White Paper on the future development of community care which we hope to publish very shortly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years;

  (2) what information his Department has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information is not available on the time taken to reply to correspondence before November 1988. Since then 51 per cent. of letters from hon. and right hon. Members have received a reply within four weeks. I regret that information on delays in replying beyond four weeks is not available in the detail requested. Following a very large increase in the amount of correspondence received earlier this year the Department has taken steps to improve the speed of reply.

  Wheelchairs and Artificial Limbs
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all regional health authorities have submitted to his Department their detailed proposals for the integration of the wheelchair and artificial limb services in 1991; how far advanced the preparations for the integration are; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Proposals for the integration of the Disablement Services Authority's services have now been received from all regional health authorities. We shall be assessing the progress made with preparations for integration at the Disablement Services Authority's annual review meeting on 9 November.

  Students (Free Prescriptions and Dental Treatment)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding free prescriptions and free dental treatment for all students; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the last 12 months we have received six letters from hon. Members and four letters from members of the public about free prescriptions for students. We have also had a small number of representations about free dental treatment for students.

  Students up to the age of 18 are entitled to free prescriptions and free dental treatment. Students aged 19 and over can apply for help under the NHS low income scheme. We believe it is right that students of that age who can afford to pay for their prescriptions and dental treatment should do so.

  Central Nottingham DHA
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the present 10-year capital programme of Trent regional health authority for Central Nottingham district health authority.
  126
  Mr. Freeman
  Responsibility for capital programmes lies with regional health authorities which maintain records. I have asked the regional chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Babies
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many babies born in England and Wales, in 1987 and 1988 at 25, 26 or 27 weeks gestation who have been handicapped from oxygen starvation or other causes will need special care for the rest of their lives; and what is the estimated cost to the National Health Service of this special care over the estimated lifetime of these children;

  (2) how many babies were born in England and Wales, in 1987 and 1988 at 25, 26, and 27 weeks gestation and survived one year.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not available; information on gestation is not collected at live birth registration.

  Tranquillisers
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will respond to the statement made by the Pharmaceutical Society setting out its concerns about the quantity of tranquillisers still being prescribed.

  Mr. Freeman
  I welcome the concern shown by the Royal Phamaceutical Society of Great Britain about the need to avoid incorrect prescribing of benzodiazepines. As its statement makes clear, the Committee on Safety of Medicines has already given guidelines on the use of benzodiazepines.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breaches of the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising between his Department and the tobacco industry there have been in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the past 12 months, the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship has recorded nine instances in which the voluntary agreements that it monitors were breached. The agreements monitored by the committee are the 1987 agreement on the sponsorship of sport, and the 1986 agreement on tobacco products advertising and promotion, and health warnings. On one of these occasions—a televised sporting event—a number of breaches of the same agreement occurred. In addition to this, the committee referred one complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority, which decided that it was in breach of the cigarette code.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Department of Health and Tobacco Industry Committee monitoring the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising and their occupations; and whether he has any plans to reconstitute the committee to include fewer representatives from the tobacco industry.

  Mr. Freeman
  The committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship was set up as part of the 1986 voluntary agreement on tobacco products advertising and promotion, and health warnings,
  127
  and the terms of that agreement stated that the Committee should have equal representation from interested Government departments and from the tobacco industry. The Government cannot decide unilaterally to reconstitute the committee; this would have to be discussed with and agreed by the tobacco industry. The independent chairman of the committee is Sir Peter Lazarus. The Government members are Mr. T. S. Heppell, Mr. N. M. Hale and Mr. W. Burroughs, all from the Department of Health, Mr. A. King, Scottish Office, Mr. D. MacDonald, Department of the Environment, Mr. D. Adams, Welsh Office and Mr. J. Scott, from the Department of Health and Social Security (Northern Ireland). The industry members are Mr. W. C. Owen and Mr. D. R. Hare from the Tobacco Advisory Council, Dr. R. R. Boxall, Gallaher Limited, Mr. Haynes, Imperial Tobacco Company, Mr. E. D. Oxberry, Rothmans (UK) Limited, and Mr. B. C. W. Heard from the Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council. The seventh industry member has just resigned from the committee and has not yet been replaced.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to make the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising binding on the tobacco industry.

  Percentage speech therapy staff by grade as at 30 September 1987

  Regional Health Authority

  Snr II

  Snr I

  Ch IV

  Ch III

  Dist II

  Ch Dist I

  Ch Dist Snr chief

  Northern

  39·43

  40·89

  3·99

  6·33

  8·73

  0·00

  0·63

  Yorkshire

  35·69

  49·78

  1·12

  3·60

  6·08

  2·48

  1·24

  Trent

  47·94

  32·38

  4·55

  10·37

  2·38

  0·40

  1·98

  East Anglian

  47·05

  36·27

  2·22

  7·87

  5·73

  0·86

  0·00

  North West Thames

  40·70

  41·08

  4·40

  8·67

  3·75

  0·47

  0·94

  North East Thames

  36·13

  39·18

  3·18

  15·59

  4·66

  0·85

  0·42

  South East Thames

  39·38

  39·94

  3·60

  10·62

  5·08

  0·92

  0·46

  South West Thames

  28·83

  51·20

  0·42

  13·82

  5·14

  0·60

  0·00

  Wessex

  46·47

  27·99

  4·90

  13·21

  4·45

  2·97

  0·00

  Oxford

  31·87

  44·40

  3·48

  15·38

  2·09

  2·78

  0·00

  South Western

  34·47

  49·26

  2·75

  8·03

  2·20

  2·20

  1·10

  West Midlands

  45·07

  36·03

  6·17

  6·05

  5·11

  0·79

  0·79

  Mersey

  41·53

  34·48

  0·88

  13·58

  6·88

  2·65

  0·00

  North Western

  44·98

  37·75

  4·05

  6·76

  5·60

  0·43

  0·43

  Percentage speech therapy staff by grade as at 30 September 1988

  Regional Health Authority

  Grade A

  Grade B

  Grade C

  Grade D

  Grade E

  Northern

  13·37

  47·96

  25·13

  11·17

  2·38

  Yorkshire

  7·11

  49·83

  33·68

  5·98

  3·40

  Trent

  10·72

  56·83

  26·79

  2·38

  3·28

  East Anglian

  9·40

  59·77

  21·78

  6·49

  2·56

  North West Thames1

  10·93

  63·80

  16·37

  5·32

  3·58

  North East Thames

  12·55

  32·01

  36·06

  14·67

  4·72

  South East Thames

  15·03

  52·02

  22·14

  8·43

  2·38

  South West Thames

  10·28

  54·30

  27·56

  5·24

  2·62

  Wessex

  5·23

  61·72

  24·10

  5·23

  3·73

  Oxford

  6·85

  53·45

  28·51

  7·19

  3·99

  South Western2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  10·59

  59·21

  20·43

  7·58

  2·20

  Mersey

  13·30

  48·23

  29·79

  6·03

  2·66

  North Western

  14·81

  39·98

  36·60

  4·30

  4·30

  1 North Western figures as at 31 March 1989.

  2 South Western figures not available in comparable form.

  128
  Mr. Freeman
  The tobacco industry has undertaken to honour the current agreement and its operation is monitored by the independent committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship (COMATAS). The chairman of COMATAS, Sir Peter Lazarus, concluded in the second annual report of the committee, published in April this year, that the industry tries hard to keep to the agreement.

  Speech Therapists
  The Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the grades of speech therapists in England, Wales and Scotland following the regrading under HSS(TC7)3188 broken down by area board, showing the percentage in each grade before regrading and the percentage after.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [Pursuant to the reply, 6 July 1989, cols. 238–40]: My hon. and learned Friend gave information for the "percentage of speech therapists in each grade in England at 30 September 1989". This was incorrect and should have read, "We do not have the information in the form requested, but the tables show the percentage of speech therapists in each grade in regional health authorities in England on the dates shown."

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Radioactivity Research and Environmental Monitoring Committee
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the radioactivity research and environmental monitoring committee since its inception.

  Mr. Maclean
  The function of the radioactivity research and environmental monitoring committee (RADREM) is to review research and monitoring requirements and activities relating to radioactive waste management. In addition to contributing to the joint scientific secretariat for this committee, my Department has been represented on and played a full and active part in the work of the committee since its inception in 1986. Officials in my Department also chair two RADREM sub-committees, set up in 1988, dealing with research on radioactivity in the terrestrial environment and the aquatic environment respectively.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. However, in the financial year 1988–89, a total of 88 per cent. of letters receiving a ministerial reply, including those from hon. Members, were answered within three weeks.

  Radioactive Fallout
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek information from the Ukrainian and Byelorussian agriculture departments on the emergence of unpredicted mutations in vegetations in pine, oak and acacia trees, and in rodents and waterfowl in areas contaminated by radioactive fallout from Chernobyl.

  Mr. Maclean
  Scientists from my own and other Departments keep fully abreast of scientific developments through contact with their Soviet counterparts and others in various international fora. Migratory waterfowl that might have been in the vicinity of Chernobyl at the time of the accident were examined as part of my Department's extensive post-Chernobyl monitoring programme to ensure the safety of United Kingdom food supplies. The wider environmental implications of the accident are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Goats
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government proposes to revise the set-aside scheme so as to accommodate fibre-producing animals such as cashmere and angora goats.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government have decided not to take up the option under the Community set-aside scheme to 130
  introduce grazed fallow because of problems of control and possible adverse effects upon existing livestock producers, particularly in the hills. The Community rules do not permit restriction of the option to particular types of animals such as fibre-producing goats.

SCOTLAND

  Piper Alpha
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he can make of the total cost of the inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster chaired by Ford Cullen; and what will be the costs met by the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Rikind
  The public inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster was established by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, whose Department spent £1·05 million in 1988–89 on setting up and running the inquiry. In 1989–90 the best estimate of the costs of the inquiry is £2·7 million, although the precise figure will depend on how long it lasts. It is not yet possible to estimate any further costs which may be involved in the completion of the report.

  The only costs being met by my Department are those associated with providing legal advice and counsel to the Department of Energy. In 1988–89 these amounted to approximately £0·1 million and the best estimate for 1989–90 is £0·3 million.

  Gaelic Television Services
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from organisations supporting the expansion of Gaelic television services.

  Mr. Lang
  The Secretary of State has received a wide range of representations about the future of Gaelic broadcasting. All call for a substantial increase in Gaelic television programming, although many differ as to how this might be best achieved. The Government are currently considering the future of Gaelic broadcasting and an announcement of their conclusion will be made shortly.

  Environmental Research
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the radioactivity research and environment monitoring committee since its inception.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office has been represented on the radioactivity research and environmental monitoring committee since it was established in 1986 and has taken a full part in the committee's work. This has included reviewing and collating the programmes of research and monitoring undertaken both by Government and industry. It has ensured that appropriate work is in hand to cover both the United Kingdom and Scottish interests.

  Self-governing Hospitals
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how a large mental health hospital will compete for patients if accorded self-governing status.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  All self-governing NHS trusts will be required to enter into contracts with health boards
  131
  and other purchasers of health services. Their ability to win contracts will depend on the quality of the services they are able to provide and the prices they wish to charge.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will accord self-governing status to hospitals or other medical units other than major acute hospitals as part of the two hospitals he envisages awarding such status.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend will give careful consideration to all applications for self-governing status.

  National Health Service Reform
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether separate legislation will be required to implement "Working for Patients" in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No.

  Cash Limits
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any further changes to the cash limits for 1989–90 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Yes. I intend to make changes to nine of the cash limits within my responsibility.

  As a result of reduced requirements the cash limit for class XVI, vote 3—regional and general industrial support—has been decreased by £4,000,000 from £148,249,000 to £144,249,000. This reduction will partially offset increases in other votes.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 6—roads, transport and environmental services—will be increased by £1,881,000 from £211,061,000 to £212,942,000 reflecting the take-up of entitlement to carry forward underspends in 1988–89 under the end year flexibility arrangements as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 20 July 1989. The full entitlement of £1,673,000 on capital expenditure and £208,000 in respect of running costs for historic buildings and monuments are taken up.

  The cash limit on class XVI, vote 14—prisons, hospitals and community health services, etc.—is being reduced by £4,630,000 from £2,003,389,000 to £1,998,759,000. The supplementary estimate includes take-up of the entitlement to carry forward £388,000 under the end year flexibility scheme for running costs.

  There is a new cash-limited vote, class XVI, vote 27—hospital and community health services—covering from 1 January 1990 the hospital and community health services formerly carried on vote 14.

  The cash limit has been set at £8,697,000, reflecting gross expenditure of £542,199,000 and appropriations in aid of £533,502,000. This comprises transfers from vote 14 for the final quarter of the financial year, together with additional resources, originally agreed for vote 14, of £4,747,000 on capital expenditure for the take-up of the full entitlement to carry forward underspending in 1988–89 under the end year flexibility scheme and £3,950,000 for NHS review implementation costs, partly offset by savings of £200,000 on class XVI, vote 14.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote
  132
  15—education, arts, libraries and social work—will be increased by £162,000 from £215,649,000 to £215,811,000 to take account of the changes in payment of income support for hostel dwellers.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 19—General Register Office for Scotland—will be increased by £50,000 from £5,318,000 to £5,368,000 reflecting the take-up of the full entitlement to carry forward underspends in 1988–89 under the end year flexibility scheme for running costs. In addition, the running costs limits for the General Register Office for Scotland will be increased by £50,000 from £5,815,000 to £5,865,000.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 21—Scottish Office administration—will be increased by £1,014,000 from £120,358,000 to £121,372,000. The increase includes take-up under the end year flexibility scheme for running costs of £379,000 and legal expenses of other departments for which legal advice is provided. As a result of these changes and the full take-up of carry forward under the end year flexibility scheme by historic buildings and monuments within class XVI, vote 6 and by prisons within class XVI, vote 14, the running costs limit for the Scottish Office will be increased by £1,057,000 from £205,865,000 to £206,922,000.

  Cash block SO/LA1, which covers non-housing capital expenditure by local authorities, is to be increased by £12,000,000 from £501,035,000 to £513,035,000 reflecting the take-up of the full entitlement to carry forward underspending under the end year flexibility scheme for capital expenditure.

  Cash block SO/LA2, which covers housing capital expenditure by local authorities and capital expenditure by new towns, is to be increased by £18,524,000 from £326,900,000 to £345,424,000. Within this total, £24,900,000 reflects the take-up of the full entitlement to carry forward underspending under the end year flexibility scheme for capital expenditure.

  The net effect of these changes will be met from the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Lead Water Pipes
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total of central Government grant in each of the past 10 financial years for the replacement of lead piping.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: Information is not held centrally on the element of grants for house improvements relating to the replacement of lead piping. However about 58,000 grants which included lead plumbing replacement were made in the period 1982–88 inclusive.

  House Repossessions
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply of 18 October,Official Report, column 170, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, if he will make it his policy to collect information about house repossessions in Scotland.
  133
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: The possibility of obtaining such information is being pursued.

  Dyslexia
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what guidelines the Scottish Education Department has issued to local education authorities concerning the testing for dyslexia among young schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recent consultations have been conducted between officials of the Scottish Education Department and local education authorities concerning the detection of dyslexia among schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 October 1989]: Responsibility for identifying children who have difficulty with reading or writing rests with education authorities, whose teaching staff are becoming increasingly well-equipped, through improved training, to recognise and to help such children. While the Scottish Education Department has not issued guidance or held consultations with authorities, its inspectorate has, in approving teacher training courses, ensured that these now contain a special educational needs component. Special educational needs diploma courses include specific instruction in recognising dyslexia.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  The Attorney-General
  Letters from hon. Members are treated as a matter of priority within my Department, and are answered as soon as the necessary information is available. The legal secretariat does not have the facilities to produce the information requested at other than disproportionate cost. Nevertheless I can safely say that the vast majority of letters from hon. Members receive a substantive reply within two weeks.

  Guildford Four
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will make it his policy to express apologies on behalf of the legal profession to Patrick Armstrong, Gerard Conlon, Carole Richardson, and Paul Hill for the miscarriage of justice they have suffered; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No. The outcome of Sir John May's inquiry may be expected to provide a reliable foundation for any comment on these cases.

  Petty Officer John Black
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement on the current position regarding his proposed application to the courts to hold a fresh inquest in respect of the death of the late Petty Officer John Black, RN, at Sabinillas, Spain, in December 1983.
  134
  The Attorney-General
  The application and supporting documents were lodged in the Crown Office at the High Court of Justice on 16 August. The Crown Office has not yet fixed a date for the hearing of the application.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to his class XX, vote 16, cash limit and running costs limit for the Treasury Solicitor's Department's estimate.

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit has been increased by £293,000 from £12,784,000 to £13,077,000 and the Department's running costs limit by £243,000 from £14,127,000 to £14,370,000. This increase has been charged to the Reserve and will not increase the planned total of public expenditure.

  Agreement on the early implementation of the recommendations contained in Sir Robert Andrew's review of the Government legal service, which resulted in the setting up of the lawyers management unit and the early acquisition of a computerised system for repayment billing, was reached too late for provision to be taken in the main estimate, and is therefore reflected in this additional provision.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what evaluation is made by his and the Lord Chancellor's Department as to the progress of civil cases which are legally aided to ensure that public money is not wasted as a result of inefficiency or unnecessary delay by solicitors and counsel.

  The Attorney-General
  Neither my office nor the Lord Chancellor's Department evaluates the progress of civil cases which are legally aided.

  It is the responsibility of the Legal Aid Board to establish controls to ensure that legally aided cases are not unjustifiably prolonged, and that expenses are not wasted or unnecessarily incurred. The board is in the process of preparing a case control procedure and will be reporting to the Lord Chancellor when this is settled.

TRANSPORT

  Marine Rescue Services
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those coastguard stations equipped with MF radio.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Every coastguard rescue centre except Belfast and Oban is fitted with an MF transceiver.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those coastguard stations which have not maintained a 24-hour watch on the MF frequencies together with the dates when they were off the air, in the last 12 months.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There is no requirement for Her Majesty's coastguard to maintain a 24-hour watch on MF distress frequencies. The MF transceivers are provided at rescue centres for the conduct of search and rescue
  135
  operations outwith VHF range. Her Majesty's coastguard contracts British Telecom International to maintain a continuous watch on the MF distress frequencies.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that Her Majesty's coastguard do not answer routine calls from unlicensed VHF installations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The majority of VHF transmissions to Her Majesty's coastguard are of a distress or safety nature. Much congestion on VHF already exists in some areas and attempts to verify that the installation is licensed would aggravate the congestion. Routine calls should be directed via British Telecom coast radio stations which are obliged to verify the installations licence for billing purposes.

  InterCity Routes
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about improvements to the main InterCity South Yorkshire to London line, and when they could be scheduled for implementation.

  Mr. Portillo
  InterCity services are a commercial matter for British Rail. Any new investment would need to earn a proper return. British Rail introduced improved services on the midland main line, with faster and more frequent trains, on 2 October.

  Ilfracombe (Incident)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many minutes elapsed between the first reporting of an incident involving a child or children in difficulties in the sea at Ilfracombe on 16 August before the coastguard(a) was dispatched to the scene and (b) arrived at the scene.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The first notification to Swansea MRCC of an incident at Ilfracombe on 16 August was by 999 telephone call at 1620 local time. The auxiliary coastguard at Ilfracombe was tasked at 1624, and arrived on scene at 1641. This first notification, from two sources, was of a person "on the rocks, cut off by tide". Swansea MRCC was subsequently advised at 1635 that a person was in the water, the helicopter was tasked, and was on scene within 10 minutes.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement explaining the reasons for any delay on the part of the coastguard in responding to the incident at Ilfracombe on 16 August in which Mark Woodward was drowned.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is not considered that there was any delay on the part of Her Majesty's coastguard at Swansea in acting on the information received regarding this tragic incident.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personnel were scheduled to be on duty at Swansea coastguard station on 16 August.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There were five persons detailed to be on watch on 16 August, comprising three regular coastguard officers, and two auxiliary coastguards.
  136
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the normal establishment of Swansea coastguard station.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Swansea coastguard has a complement of 18 watchkeeping officers and a three-man district management team.

  Emergency 999 Service
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had any discussions with British Telecom about ways of improving the emergency 999 service since 16 August.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There is a continuing programme of discussions between Her Majesty's coastguard and BTI in South Wales, on the 999 emergency service. Any problems encountered are the subject of an immediate reporting procedure, with follow-up discussion at subsequent meetings between BTI and senior members of the coastguard staff from Swansea coastguard region.

  A69
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a new survey of traffic flows on the A69 west of Hexham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  At present the Department has two permanent traffic counters west of Hexham on the A69 trunk road. One of these is east of Haltwhistle where regular counting takes place. The other is close to Greenhead village, and operates on alternate months.

  A further two sites are proposed, one is to be located close to the Cumbria border, the other to the east of Haydon Bridge. The intention is to monitor and count these sites every alternate month.

  The length of the A69 west of Hexham to the Cumbria border is approximately 20 miles and the Department considers that with all these counters in operation sufficient information will be available to keep a close check on the use of this section of the trunk road.

  Merchant Navy Reserve
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current strength of the Merchant Navy Reserve.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 25 October 1989, membership of the Merchant Navy Reserve stood at 188.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Areas of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many areas of special scientific interest have been declared under the terms of article 24 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Twenty four.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland intends to declare the freshwater lagoon within the Belfast harbour estate known as BP1 (or D1) an area of special scientific interest.
  137
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No.

  Lagoons
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland issued the written consent for the infilling of the two lagoons known as BP1 and BP2.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Written consent under article 25 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 to the infilling of the two lagoons known as BP2 and BP3 (not BP1 and BP2) was issued by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on 16 March 1988. It was a condition of the consent that such infilling should not commence before 1 March 1993.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland received an application to infill the two lagoons in the Belfast harbour estate known as BP2 and BP3.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Following lengthy discussions, formal written application was received on 16 March 1988.

  Mr. Charles Haughey (Security)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many(a) soldiers of the regular Army, (b) members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and (c) members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were deployed to provide security for the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October;

  (2) how many man hours were required in respect of (a) the regular Army, (b) the Ulster Defence Regiment and (c) the Royal Ulster Constabulary to provide security for the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October;

  (3) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the roads closed off by the security forces in the provision of security cover for the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October, showing the periods for which each such road was closed off.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: No; it is not considered appropriate in the interests of security to give this information.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how may people live in the area covered by the security measures taken during the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: This information is not available.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any members of the civic guards were at Eglinton airport on 19 October.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: It is not considered appropriate in the interests of security to give this information.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what restrictions were placed on the free 138
  movement of people in the Eglinton area due to the security measures taken during the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: There were no restrictions on the movement of people in the Eglinton area; however, some traffic disruption may have been experienced in the area as a result of the security operation which was mounted.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the security measures taken on 19 October to cover the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport, broken down as far as is possible, into costs for(a) the regular Army, (b) the Ulster Defence Regiment and (c) the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: For security reasons, it is not considered appropriate to provide this information.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total cost to(a) the Government of the United Kingdom and (b) the Londonderry council in relation to the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October;

  (2) whether any council employees were given advance notice of the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport on 19 October;

  (3) whether councillors known to be members of Sinn Fein were given advance notice of the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Eglinton airport.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: The arrangements for the event were made by the company which funded and organised it. Therefore, apart from the cost of the security operation, no other public moneys were involved.

  Gerard Conlon
  Mr. Corbyn
  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 questioning and holding of Gerard Conlon in Belfast on Tuesday 24 October.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: No. This is a matter for the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; if a complaint is made to him, it will be investigated.

THE ARTS

  Exports Review
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he is able to announce the publication date of the report of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art for the year ended 30 June.

  Mr. Luce
  I have today presented the 35th report of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art for 1988–89. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. I am particularly pleased such a prompt publication date has been achieved and I draw the attention of the House to the concise treatment given in the report to the role of the reviewing committee in the issue of export licences.

Prime MINISTER

  Public Holidays
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received concerning the pattern of public holidays.

  The Prime Minister
  A number of differing views have been expressed about the pattern of public holidays, including the position of the first Monday in May, which are under consideration.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to deduct poll tax payments directly from payments of income support; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland) Act 1987 was amended by the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to provide this additional power for the enforcement of community charge debts. The Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Reglations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 507) made under this power enable the social security adjudicating authorities to authorise deductions to be made from income support in Scotland to pay community charge debts. Deductions can only be made at the request of a charging authority which must first obtain a warrant from a court to prove the debt. Parallel regulations will apply in England and Wales from April 1990.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received requesting that British Telecom be renationalised; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None. The public generally and British Telecom's 1·2 million private shareholders have benefited substantially from the 60 per cent. increase in investment, the 2,000 digital exchanges which have been installed and the increase in profitability and efficiency since British Telecom was privatised.

  Law and Order
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the real term increase in Government expenditure on law and order since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  In the current financial year spending on law and order services in England and Wales was increased in real terms by 73·5 per cent. over expenditure in 1978–79.

  GATT
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the use of the general agreement on tariffs and trade as an arbitration in resolving disputes between the EEC and other trading groups.

  The Prime Minister
  The British Government, like our Community partners, strongly believe that the general 140
  agreement on tariffs and trade provides the best route for the resolution of trade disputes. We have pressed for improvements to its dispute settlement procedures in the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations and an initial package of such measures is now in force following the December 1988 ministerial meeting in Montreal. We take all appropriate opportunities for reminding our Community partners of the importance we attach to GATT dispute settlement procedures, and the need to improve them still further.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received requesting that responsibility for the Metropolitan police be removed from the Home Secretary and placed in the hands of an elected authority.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received no such representations. I have every confidence in the present system. The Home Secretary, as police authority, is answerable to Parliament.

  Prevention of Terrorism Act
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she has received any recent representations requesting the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received no such representations. We need to have firm measures to combat terrorism and the Prevention of Terrorism Act will remain in force for as long as necessary.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement about the levels of unemployment since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  In September 1989 the number of unemployed claimants, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 1,695,000. Unemployment has been falling for 38 consecutive months. It is now at its lowest level for nearly nine years, and well below the European Community average.

  Corporate Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister what estimates she has made about the likely consequences for British industry and commerce of a rise or fall in the level of corporate taxation.

  The Prime Minister
  A change of one percentage point in the full rate of corporation tax from 1 April 1989 is estimated to have a full-year effect on tax payments of £580 million. An equivalent change in the small companies' rate is estimated to have a full-year effect of £50 million.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received about the National Health Service.

  The Prime Minister
  Since the publication of the White Paper, "Working for Patients", my right hon. and learned
  141
  Friend the Secretary of State for Health has received some 12,000 representations making suggestions or seeking further information about our proposals.

  House of Lords
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received seeking the abolition of the House of Lords.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government receive representations from time to time advocating abolition or reform of the House of Lords.

  Independent Schools
  Sir Michael Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received in the past year seeking to abolish the assisted places scheme and withdraw charitable status from independent schools.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received no recent representations on these matters. This year the assisted places scheme will make available up to 33,000 places at 278 independent schools throughout England. The scheme continues to provide an important means by which parents who would not otherwise be able to afford to do so can receive financial help towards sending their children to independent schools.

  Import Controls
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she has received any requests for import controls to be imposed.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received very few requests to impose import controls. It is the Government's policy to promote free and fair trade and it is not generally to the United Kingdom's advantage to impose import restrictions.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Nelson
  Q.120 To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on progress made in rationalising the steel industry since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  During the period since 1979 the Government promoted the Phoenix joint ventures involving private sector steel companies and the then nationalised British Steel Corporation and also a private sector steel scheme. These initiatives have now ceased, but they reduced product overlap between the private and public sectors and contributed towards rationalisation within the industry as a whole. British Steel itself was then returned to the private sector in December 1988 and recently announced record profits of £593 million compared with substantial losses while nationalised. Productivity in the United Kingdom steel industry rose by 151 per cent. between 1979 and 1988.

  Further mergers and acquisitions have taken place within the industry as it adjusts and responds to the challenge of a competitive market.

  Immigration
  Sir William Clark
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received seeking repeal of the primary purpose rule and the immigration Acts of 1971, 1981 and 1988.
  142
  The Prime Minister
  The Home Secretary and I receive many representations from Members of Parliament and others about the operation of immigration and nationality legislation, including the primary purpose rule. The Government have no plans to remove the primary purpose test which is an important safeguard against abuse of the immigration rules.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to Ethiopia.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister what information she has on the length of time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive an enormous number of letters each week from Members of Parliament and others. It is not possible for me to deal with all these letters personally and I must accordingly refer most of them to the Minister and the Department with the responsibility for the policy in question. All correspondence is dealt with as quickly as possible.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the implementation of the community charge and the uniform business rate.

  The Prime Minister
  Following the successful introduction of these arrangements in Scotland, I understand that most local authorities in England and Wales are making excellent progress in preparing for the new community charge and uniform business rating arrangements. Registration for the charge is proceeding smoothly and on time. I have every confidence that all authorities will wish to ensure that bills, with any necessary adjustment for transitional relief and rebates, will be issued to chargepayers on time next April.

  Engagements
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 31 October.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 31 October.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 31 October.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 31 October.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chernobyl
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compensation has been sought from the Soviet Union to offset payments made to
  143
  United Kingdom farmers for losses resulting from radioactive fallout contaminating land and animals after the Chernobyl accident in 1986.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The position remains as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 21 July 1986.

  Paris Conference
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who were the United Kingdom's representatives at the recent Paris conference on the future of the Antarctic; what papers were presented by the delegation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom delegation at Paris consisted of Dr. J. A. Heap, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Mr. N. Bonner, one time deputy director and head of life sciences division of the British Antarctic Survey; Mr. R. Cummins, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. P. Hancock, Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, and Mr. I. Hendry, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Of about 89 working papers submitted to the meeting, the United Kingdom delegation was sole or joint author of 26. The papers dealt with aspects of environmental protection, encouragement of scientific research and operational safety in the Antarctic.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those Commonwealth Governments which have not yet acceded to or ratified international covenants on human rights.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Thirty Commonwealth countries have not yet acceded to or ratified the international covenant on civil and political rights or the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Kiribati, Lesotho,144
  Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Swaziland, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa and Zimbabwe.

  The Solomon Islands and Uganda have ratified the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights but not the international covenant on civil and political rights.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been provided by Her Majesty's Government to Cambodian resistance groups; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Since 1979 we have provided over £13 million of assistance to Cambodians living along the Thai border in camps administered by the non-Communist resistance groups. So far this year we have donated £350,000 through the United Nations border relief operation. We have commited a further £120,000 to the non-Communist resistance for English language training and humanitarian assistance.

  Mr. Fiassel Abdel Waheb Salem
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Fiassel Abdel Waheb Salem applied at Her Majesty's embassy in Cairo for a re-entry stamp in his passport to enable him to return to the United Kingdom; and what has been the cause of the delay in issuing it.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit in due course.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  International Fund for Agricultural Development
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the negotiations to replenish the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and what will be the United Kingdom's contribution.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I am glad to say that for its third replenishment IFAD will receive $566·3 million to cover its operations up to 30 June 1992. This compares with only $487 million pledged for the full three years' second replenishment. There will be two main components, "core funding" and "supplementary funding". The first consists of OPEC (category 2) pledges totalling $124·4 million and matching pledges by OECD donors (category 1) in the ratio 60:40 totalling $186·8 million. The second is made up of pledges from non-oil exporting developing countries (category 3) totalling $63·8 million and OECD matching contributions in the ratio 3:1 totalling $191·5 million. This second element is seen by both category 3 and category 1 as wholly exceptional and confined to this replenishment.

  Britain's contribution to the replenishment will be £11·305 million ($19·8 million), comprising core funding of £5·098 million ($8·9 million), and a supplementary matching contribution of £6·217 million ($10·9 million). Parliamentary approval for this contribution will be sought in due course.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Unemployed People (Part-time Study)
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the position of unemployed people who undertake part-time study.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is the prime responsibility of unemployed people claiming benefit to make every effort to secure paid employment. So long as they remain available for and actively seeking employment, they are free to spend their spare time usefully by pursuing a course of part-time study. They must, though, organise their studies so that they can make adequate arrangements to seek work and must be prepared to break off their studies if a job opportunity arises.

  21-hour Rule
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the continuance of the 21-hour rule.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no plans to change the 21-hour rule.

  Local Expenditure and Benefits
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables on spending power using the assumptions in the answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 June 1988,Official Report, columns 571–76, but using expenditure and benefit figures appropriate for families in (a) Doncaster and (b) Wath-on-Dearne together with a column showing the extent of the differences resulting from the changes in April and October 1989.
  146
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There were no prescribed procedures for uprating supplementary benefit, housing benefit or family income supplement—different elements of these schemes were uprated in different ways and by different indices at different times. It is impossible to say what the rates of these benefits would have been in April 1989 it' the reform of social security had not been introduced in April 1988. A simple mechanistic uprating of the April 1987 system of benefits would be unrealistic. The tax benefit model tables for 1989 will be published shortly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the contents of the letter dated 7 June sent by Mrs. P. Henry of the class 4 group of the social security central office at Newcasle-upon-Tyne, relating to correspondence with people in Wales, represents his Department's policy on such matters.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department's policy is that local offices in Wales will reply in Welsh to any letters received in that language. However some social security matters are administered centrally from outside Wales. When correspondence from Wales, in Welsh, is received by any of these central offices it is normally answered in Welsh, provided the reply is one of substance and not, for example, a routine acknowledgment. Following the hon. Member's question, staff at Newcastle central office have been reminded to comply with this policy.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No information is available on the time taken to reply to correspondence before November 1988. Since then, 41 per cent. of letters from hon. and right hon. Members have received a reply within four weeks.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the numbers in receipt of housing benefit and (b) the average amount of benefit payment in constant terms for (i) Burnley and (ii) each region in England for the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimated number of housing benefit recipients in Burnley is given in the table. Similar estimates are not available on a regional basis. The average amount of housing benefit in payment is not available at local authority or regional level.

  Estimated recipients of Housing Benefit in Burnley

  Year

  Number

  1983–84

  13,206

  1984–85

  11,356

  1985–86

  11,274

  1986–87

  11,346

  1987–88

  10,924

  1988–89

  8,436

  Note: 1983–84 to 1987–88—estimates for caseload during the year.

  1988–89—caseload count, 31 May 1988.

  Child Support
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to amend existing legislation to ensure that non-custodial parents do more to meet their responsibilities to support their children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  When income support is claimed by a lone parent, existing legislation places a duty on the non-custodial parent to meet their responsibilities wherever they can afford to do so. However, for over three quarters of lone parent families receiving income support the absent parent pays no maintenance at all. We are naturally concerned by this and will continue to look for ways to ensure that our efforts to obtain a contribution from non-custodial parents are even more effective.

  Means Testing and Targeting
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what definition his Department uses of the terms(a) means testing and (b) targeting; and what is his policy towards the use of each.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Income-related or means-tested benefits are paid to people whose resources are below levels laid down by Parliament and who meet other tests of eligibility. Means testing is, therefore, one of the mechanisms which can be used to establish entitlement. Targeting, which means the effective and responsive provision of extra financial help to groups of people needing particular priority, is an important objective of social security policy. Thus, my right hon. Friend's uprating statement for April 1990,Official Report, 25 October, columns 841–54, continues the policy of targeting worthwhile extra help to groups like the less-well-off among families with children, elderly and disabled pensioners and the long-term sick and disabled.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of his Department's local offices in Greater London he now plans to close; and what steps he is taking to ensure that income support claimants in the affected areas will still be able to have personal access to officers dealing with their cases.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department announced on 16 January that in order to improve service to customers in London it was moving backroom work not requiring face-to-face contact with the public out of 21 London local offices. Such work will be processed in three social security centres (SSCs) in Glasgow, Belfast and Ashton-in-Makerfield near Wigan.

  I must stress that the Department has no plans to close any of its offices in London as a result of this relocation of work. A full network of branch offices will be retained in London to carry out that work which does need face-to-face contact with our customers. Indeed, we are planning to open wholly new branch offices in two localities—Wembley and Dulwich—where we do not have any provision at the moment.

  Social security claimants in the areas affected by the relocation of work will be able to call at any branch office
  148
  in their district to conduct their business. Alternatively, by using a special telephone number, they will be able to talk directly to the person dealing with their claim in the social security centre. All calls to the SSC will be charged at the London local call rate.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers in receipt of housing benefit and the average level of housing benefit payments in (a) Dundee district and (b) Scotland in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 19 October 1989]: The estimated numbers receiving rent rebates or rent allowance are given in the table. The average amount of housing benefit in payment is not available at local authority level.

  Housing Benefit

  Estimated recipients of rent rebate/allowance

  Dundee district council

  Scotland

  1983–84

  25,046

  563,038

  1984–85

  30,395

  563,692

  1985–86

  26,480

  583,671

  1986–87

  26,964

  591,694

  1987–88

  26,953

  598,151

  1988–89

  24,523

  572,181

  Note:

  1983–84 to 1987–88—estimates for caseload during the year.

  1988–89—caseload count, 31 May 1988.

  Average amount of Housing Benefit in payment: Scotland

  Claims where Supplementary Benefit/ Income Support also in payment

  Claims where Housing Benefit only in payment

  Rent rebate £ weekly

  Rent allowance £ weekly

  Rent rebate £ weekly

  Rent allowance £ weekly

  1983

  9·50

  13·20

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1984

  9·90

  14·10

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1985

  11·00

  18·50

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1986

  12·70

  21·50

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1987

  14·20

  23·90

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1988

  15·73

  24·77

  11·22

  13·77

  Notes:

  1. Rate rebate information is not collected for Scottish District Councils.

  2. 1983–87 based on sample information about recipients of Supplementary Benefit from local authorities in November or December.

  3. 1988 based on sample of all HB recipients on 31 May 1988.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Banking Services Review
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government has completed its consideration of the findings of the review committee of banking services law, published in February; and if he will make a statement on how these considerations will affect the banking ombudsman system.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government are still considering a number of detailed comments on the review committee's
  149
  recommendations. The report was widely welcomed as presenting an extremely clear and comprehensive critique of the present law on banking services, but reservations were expressed about some of the recommendations. The Government are considering these comments very carefully in formulating their response.

  Currency Reserves
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his practice to publish a report of major movements in the total and composition of the United Kingdom currency reserves; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The change in the level of the United Kingdom official reserves is published each month. I see no reason to change the practice of successive Governments regarding disclosure of details of the composition of the reserves.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there will be any changes to the Treasury's cash and running costs limits in 1989–90.

  Mr. Major
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIX, vote 11 will be increased by £1,004,000 from £55,779.000 to £56,783,000.

  This increase reflects the take-up of entitlement to carry forward underspending in 1988–89 under the end of year flexibility arrangements, as I announced on 20 July 1989 at columns 258–62. The full entitlement of £661,000 on capital expenditure is taken up together with £223,000 of the £302,000 entitlement on running costs. Additionally, it reflects an increase in expenditure of £35,000 by the History of Parliament Trust to meet the costs of additional research staff. These increases will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  There is also an increase in provision of £85,000 to meet the setting-up costs at Chessington computer centre prior to the take-on of new payroll work, which will be offset by corresponding decreases in running costs limits of other Departments, as well as an increase to meet the increased costs of services provided by the Government Actuary's Department, which will be offset by a corresponding payment from the Government Actuary's Department vote (class XIX, vote 4).

  As a result, the running costs limit of Her Majesty's Treasury will be increased by £308,000 from £74,944,000 to £75,252,000.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost limit for 1989–90 for the Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Lilley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIX vote 7 will be increased from £1,209,573,000 to £1,234,973,000 and the running cost limit from £1,174,692,000 to £1,202,092,000. The changes in running costs reflect the amount agreed for the Department under the running costs end-year flexibility scheme, and to enable the Department to meet its forecast work loads including 150
  setting up independent taxation. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure.

  Civil Service Pay
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a list of the pay agreements in the Civil Service and in the public services sector which make reference to inter-quartile settlement levels in the private sector; if he will state the annual period of time used as the base period for such inter-quartile settlement figures and the gap of time before the effective date of pay increases under each agreement; and if he will state the approximate number of employees and the total annual pay bill under each agreement;

  (2) what is the longest period of time in any Civil Service or public services sector pay agreement between the relevant period of data collection, such as inter-quartile settlement levels in the private sector and the effective date of pay increases under the agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are now six long-term flexible pay agreements covering separate groups of staff in the Civil Service which take the inter-quartile range of settlements in the private sector as a negotiating constraint. There are no similar arrangements in the rest of the public services sector. The relevant inter-quartile range of pay settlements is available to the parties to the pay agreements approximately one month before the settlement date and takes account of pay settlements in the private sector over the previous 12 months.

  The six pay agreements in the Civil Service together with the number of employees on the basic pay bill covered by each is as follows:

  Main grades covered

  Number of employees

  1989–90 paybill £ million1

  1. Scientific and technical grades

  55,000

  755

  2. Departmental grades in the Inland Revenue

  60,000

  570

  3. Grades 5 to 7

  23,000

  585

  4. Executive and office support grades

  130,000

  1,625

  5. Clerical, typing and secretarial grades

  195,000

  1,350

  6. Industrial grades

  68,000

  590

  1 Estimate.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what have been the total sums in debt and financial liabilities written off in each case of privatisation since 1979, both at current prices and at 1989 prices; and in each case how capital reconstruction altered the balance sheet in relation with the profit or loss position beforehand;

  (2) how much in write-offs was granted to each company and industry privatised since 1979; and how much is planned over the next three years.

  Mr. Peter Lilley
  [holding answers 18 and 19 October 1989]: The normal practice on privatization—of a nationalised industry or company wholly or majority owned by Government—is to repay, rather than write off debt. This repayment may be financed from the company's existing resources, the injection of new equity, or new debt

  151
  finance. In some cases, the Government provide the finance to repay debts, for example, by an equity injection. Such finance is shown in the relevant departmental

  National loan fund debt has been formally written off only in the following privatisation cases:

  Year

  Company

  Amount £

  1980–81

  National Freight Corporation (under Section 45 of the Transport Act 1980)

  100,000,000

  1982–83

  British Transport Docks Board (under Section 6(1) of the Transport Act 1981)

  81,293,616

  1984–85

  British Telecom (BT (Extinguishment of Loans) Order 1982)

  2,789,865,772

  1986–87

  BAA (under section 3 of the Airports Act 1986)

  43,503,340

  Details of the debt write-offs proposed for the 10 water plcs are set out in the reply by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 26 October 1989.

  These write-offs had no direct effect on public expenditure in as much as they represented a reconstruction of the balance sheets of the industries concerned. In each case, having had NLF debt written off, the successor company issued new securities to be held by the Secretary of State as assets of the Consolidated Fund pending realisation.

  Public dividend capital has been reduced in three privatisation cases:

  Year

  Company

  Amount £

  1980–81

  British Airways Board (under the Civil Aviation Act 1980 S1(1))

  160,000,000

  1980–81

  British Aerospace (under the British Aerospace Act 1980)

  60,000,000

  1988–89

  British Steel (under the British Steel Act 1988)

  500,000,000

  A further £3,480,000,000 of borrowing by British Steel under the Iron and Steel Act 1982 (S18(1)) was written off on privatisation.

  Details of the capital reconstruction of the companies concerned can be found in the individual prospectuses.

  Any further write-offs over the next three years will be announced at the time of a specific privatisation.

  Charity Shops
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to oppose the proposed extension of value added tax to goods donated to charity shops.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 24 October 1989]: The Government have no plans to alter the VAT relief for donated goods sold by charity shops and will not accept any proposals from the EC Commission which affect the United Kingdom's ability to apply zero rates. Changes to EC tax law require unanimity, and there is no question of any unwelcome proposals being forced upon us.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were(a) the ratio of inflation and (b) the levels of interest rates in each of the EEC countries, Japan and the United States of America for the most recent dates for which figures are available.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: Following is the information requested:

  Inflation and short-term interest rates. in the EC, United States and Japan

  Short-term interest rates1

  12 month inflation rates excluding estimates of home-owners costs2

  United Kingdom

  15·1

  5·8

  United States

  8·5

  4·7

  Japan

  6·4

  3·0

  Germany

  8·2

  2·8

  France

  10·1

  3·4

  Italy

  13·0

  6·6

  Spain

  15·0

  7·4

  Netherlands

  8·2

  0·8

  Belgium

  9·7

  3·2

  Portugal

  12·9

  13·7

  Greece

  20·0

  13·6

  Denmark

  11·4

  3·2

  Ireland

  11·6

  3·7

  Luxembourg

  9·7

  3·4

  1 Figures refer to close 24 October, except for Portugal (September), Spain, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg (open 25 October).

  2 Figures refer to August, except for Italy and the United Kingdom (September), Netherlands and Spain (July) and Ireland (Q2).

  Source inflation rates estimated from OECD and national sources, interest rates from national sources.

  Manufacturing Output (East Midlands)
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much manufacturing output in the east midlands has changed since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: Gross value added in manufacturing industry in the east midlands rose by 90 per cent. between 1979 and 1987, the latest year for which figures are available. The corresponding figure for the United Kingdom was 66 per cent.

  These figures measure changes in the value of output; changes in volume would be smaller.

  VAT
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of value added tax refund claims under Customs and Excise notice 719 processed during 1988–89.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 27 October 1989]: The number of claims under Customs and Excise notice 719 (Refund of VAT to Do-It-Yourself Builders) processed in 1988–89 was 9,052.

  Charities (Scotland)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes will be required to the administrative arrangements and the requirements for
  153
  confidentiality in the Inland Revenue in order to implement the Government's proposals for the improved regulation of charities in Scotland.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 23 October, legislation will be introduced to enable the Inland Revenue to disclose the names and addresses of bodies in Scotland which it has recognised as charitable for tax purposes. The rules of confidentiality under which the Inland Revenue normally operates will be modified for this specific purpose.

  When the legislation is enacted, arrangements will be made for members of the public to find out from the Inland Revenue claims branch in Edinburgh whether a body has been recognised by it as charitable for tax purposes.

  Statistics (Report)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council;

  (2) what are the conclusions of the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council on the quality of Government statistics collected by the Government statistical service since the Rayner review;

  (3) what are the principal conclusions on the education statistics made in the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council;

  (4) what are the principal conclusions on unemployment statistics made in the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council;

  (5) what is the reason for the delay in the publication of the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council;

  (6) what were the principal conclusions on the objectivity of Government statistical presentation made in the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council;

  (7) when he will authorise the publication of the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences" prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council;

  (8) when the report, "Accessibility and Other Problems Relating to Statistics Used by Social Sciences", prepared by Professor Bernard Benjamin for the Economic and Social Research Council was completed and presented for consideration.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 30 October 1989]: Professor Benjamin was commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to prepare a report for the ESRC and the Royal Statistical Society on the accessibility
  154
  and availability of official statistics for social science researchers. Questions on the conclusions and publication of the report are matters for these two bodies.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has come to a decision on the future of wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No.

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

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

  Workplace Nurseries
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary for Employment what recent discussions he has had concerning workplace nurseries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have had discussions on child care, including the provision of workplace nurseries, with my advisory committee on women's employment. This committee includes the EOC chair, 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 am also a member of the ministerial group on women's issues which has been looking at the whole question of child care.

  I have also had discussions on child care, including workplace nurseries, with the National Council for One Parent Families, the Working Mothers Association, the National Out of School Alliance, the Pre-School Playgroups Association and the National Childminding Association and have attended and spoken at a number of conferences dealing with these and related matters.

  Construction Workers (Safety)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for improving the safety of workers on construction sites.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I shortly expect to bring before the House legislation to make the wearing of safety helmets on site compulsory. The HSC has recently published a consultative document setting out proposals for strengthening the management of health and safety on sites and HSE inspectors will be paying more attention to site management. The HSE has increased the number of inspectors dedicated to the construction industry and aims to have 100 by 1990.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision his Department has made for the provision of employment training and YTS under the training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Training Agency will contract with training and enterprise councils to deliver employment training and YTS in their areas.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many areas have now made applications to set up training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Fowler
  To date, 40 applications for development funding from prospective training and enterprise councils have been received by the national training task force. A table that lists the areas from which applications have been received has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in establishing training and enterprise councils in the south-east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers in the south-east and throughout the country to our invitation to form training and enterprise councils. Some 40 groups of senior employers from around the country have applied for development funding of which six are from employer groups in the south-east.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department will monitor the spending of public funds by the training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training and enterprise councils will be required to submit an income and expenditure account for each programme funded by my Department at the end of every four-week accounting period. In addition, TECs will be required to submit a balance sheet showing their financial position at the end of each accounting period.

  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in establishing training and enterprise councils in the west country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers in the west country and throughout the country to our invitation to form training and enterprise councils.

  Some 40 groups of senior employers from around the country have applied for development funding, of which four are from employer groups in the Training Agency's south-west region.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to ensure that training and enterprise councils provide a uniform quality of training provision throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In England and Wales, training and enterprise councils will arrange training provision within a broad national framework, to suit local circumstances. The TECs will be required to set out their strategy for 156
  delivering quality training in their corporate and business plans. In Scotland, local enterprise companies will have similar arrangements for ensuring quality training.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in establishing training and enterprise councils in the east midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers in the east midlands and throughout the country to our invitation to form training and enterprise councils.

  Some 40 groups of senior employers from around the country have applied for development funding, of which three are from employer groups in the Training Agency's east midlands and eastern region.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in establishing training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in establishing training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers throughout the country to our invitation to form training and enterprise councils.

  A total of 40 groups of senior employers in England and Wales have applied for development funding, of which 31 have been approved; the table lists the areas from which we have had applications and indicates their status.

  List of training and enterprise councils that have applied for development funding at 23 October

  Status

  South East

  Milton Keynes

  Approved

  Hertfordshire

  Approved

  Essex

  Approved

  Hampshire

  Approved

  Isle of Wight

  Approved

  Thames Valley

  Approved

  London

  Kingston/Merton

  Approved

  London East

  Under consideration

  South West

  Devon/Cornwall

  Approved

  Dorset

  Approved

  Somerset

  Approved

  Avon

  Under consideration

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  Approved

  Walsall

  Approved

  Staffordshire

  Approved

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  Under consideration

  Dudley

  Under consideration

  East Midlands and Eastern

  North Nottinghamshire

  Approved

  Norfolk/Waveney

  Approved

  Suffolk

  Under consideration

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Sheffield

  Approved

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  Approved

  North Yorkshire

  Approved

  157

  Status

  Rotherham

  Approved

  North West

  Cumbria

  Approved

  East Lancashire

  Approved

  Rochdale

  Approved

  Oldham

  Approved

  South and East Cheshire

  Approved

  Wigan

  Approved

  Manchester

  Under consideration

  Stockport/High Peak

  Under consideration

  Northern

  Teeside

  Approved

  Tyneside

  Approved

  Wearside

  Approved

  County Durham

  Under consideration

  Northumberland

  Under consideration

  Wales

  Mid Glamorgan

  Approved

  North East Wales

  Approved

  West Wales

  Approved

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how training and enterprise councils will respond to the interests of small firms and voluntary organisations within the local community.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training and enterprise councils will be expected to undertake a comprehensive assessment of local market needs to enable them to draw up their corporate and business plans. Consultation with a range of organisations and individuals, including employers of all sizes and voluntary organisations, will be vital to this assessment.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in establishing training and enterprise councils in East Anglia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers in East Anglia and throughout the country to our invitation to form training and enterprise councils. A total of 40 groups of senior employers in England and Wales have applied for development funding, of which three are from the East Anglia area.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the small business support programmes of the training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training and enterprise councils will be directly responsible for the major current programmes which help small firms and promote self-employment. These include the enterprise allowance scheme, business growth training, enterprise in employment training and counselling for small firms in England. Some training and enterprise councils are also being invited to run elements of the Department of Trade and Industry's enterprise initiative. The councils will also be able to use their local initiative fund to strengthen and expand existing programmes and services or to finance new initiatives to support business growth and enterprise.

  EC Social Charter
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest position concerning the European social charter.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what response his Department has made to the European Commission's draft social charter.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about the effect on employment of the European Commission's proposed social charter.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any further representation on the social charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress on the negotiations between European Community Employment Ministers on the social charter.

  Mr. Fowler
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) earlier today.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to have further discussions with his European counterparts concerning the proposed European social charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I will next meet my counterparts in the European Community at the meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 30 November. The European Commission's proposal for a social charter is not presently on the agenda of that meeting.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Commission of the EEC has yet notified member states as to whether it intends to present social charter directives to be determined by majority vote; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The European Commission has indicated its intention to present an action programme of social measures to the Council of Ministers before the end of the year. The Commission has not yet notified member states of the voting arrangements of any directives which they may bring forward.

  Public Sector Strikes
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any recent representations about strikes in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Representations have been received from a variety of organisations. The Government are reviewing the law on industrial action. Proposals made in the Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" aim to discourage "wildcat" action in public and private sectors alike.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to combat strikes in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government are reviewing the law on industrial action. Proposals made in the Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" aim to discourage "wildcat" action in public and private sectors alike.

  Training
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have completed the new entrants training scheme to date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is estimated that 239,000 people had left employment training by the end of September 1989, the latest date for which information is available. We cannot say at present how many of these people had completed their planned training.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department intends to encourage training provision for those aged 16 to 19 years in employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training and enterprise councils will pursue the Government's aim that all young people in the labour market participate in vocational training leading to recognised qualifications.

  The opportunity to undertake training is already available to all young people eligible for YTS. As the number of school leavers diminishes those seeking jobs will be looking for jobs with training. Now is the right time for all employers recruiting young people to take advantage of YTS and give a real commitment to training.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department intends to encourage the numbers of trainees and apprentices in manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Many employers in manufacturing participate in YTS for training young people, including apprentices. The Government will continue to encourage employers to make quality, vocational training available to all young people as the best way of meeting the skill needs of the modern economy.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department will encourage the provision of training to those persons aged 25 years and over.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Responsibility for training for employed people rests primarily with employers and individuals. Training and enterprise councils will have a key role to play in encouraging employers to train the whole of their work force throughout working life. The business growth training programme and other measures taken by my Department to raise employers' awareness of the importance of training will help in this. My Department will continue to develop employment training as a quality training programme which is available to people aged 25 and over who are eligible.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to encourage private employers to provide more extensive training opportunities.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to encourage the provision of training by employers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training and enterprise councils in England and Wales and local enterprise companies in Scotland will ensure that private sector employers lead 160
  Britain's training effort into the 1990s. They will increase employer commitment to training and will use private and public resources. In particular they will support employers through business growth training.

  Labour Statistics>
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people in full-time employment.

  Mr. Fowler
  In June 1989 the number of people in full-time employment in Great Britain was 19,482,000, an increase of over a quarter of a million since June 1988.

  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in which regions of the United Kingdom the unemployment rate has fallen most rapidly over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 12 months to September 1989 the region which experienced the largest fall in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was west midlands which fell by 2·5 percentage points to 6 per cent. followed by the north and Wales which both fell by 2·4 percentage points to 9·3 and 7·2 per cent. respectively. This compares with a fall of 1·8 percentage points in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months to 6 per cent.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider introducing arrangements to allow independent scrutiny of unemployment statistics.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Details of the methodologies used to compile this Department's unemployment statistics are well documented and in the public domain.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the unemployment figures for the Barnstaple and Ilfracombe travel-to-work area for August 1979, August 1984 and August 1989, respectively.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the Barnstaple and Ilfracombe travel-to-work area in August 1989 and August 1984, along with the number of unemployed registrants in the Barnstaple and Ilfracombe jobcentre-based travel-to-work areas in August 1979. The figures are affected by the changes in the boundaries of travel-to-work areas as well as the changes in the coverage of the unemployment count.

  Barnstaple and Ilfracombe Travel to Work Area Unemployed Claimants

  Total

  Rate1

  August 1984

  2,906

  12·4

  August 1989

  1,517

  6·0

  Barnstaple and Ilfracombe Jobcentre Travel-to-work Areas Unemployed Registrants—August 1979

  Total

  Rate1

  Barnstaple

  1,178

  5·3

  Ilfracombe

  242

  5·6

  And for these areas together

  1,420

  5·3

  1 Unemployed expressed as a percentage of employees-in-employment and the unemployed. Workforce based unemployment rates for small areas are not available prior to 1983.

  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average monthly fall in the number of long-term unemployed aged under 25 in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
  161
  Mr. Nicholls
  Unemployment figures by age and duration are calculated on a quarterly basis. Between July 1984 and July 1989, the number of unemployed claimants aged 18 to 24 years in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for one year or more fell by an average of 11,142 per quarter. This comparison is affected by the change in compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the fall in unemployment in the northern region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 12 months to September 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north fell by 35,000 or 28·9 per cent., on a consistent basis. Unemployment in the north is now at its lowest level for nearly nine years, as it is in the country as a whole.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of job vacancies currently notified to his Department in the Birmingham travel-to-work area; and what was the figure 12 months ago.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In September 1989 the number of notified vacancies at jobcentres in the Birmingham travel-to-work area was 6,021 compared to 4,689 12 months ago. Vacancies at jobcentres do not represent the total number of vacancies in the economy. Research shows that nationally only about one third of vacancies are notified to jobcentres; however a recent survey covering part of the west midlands region shows that the stock of vacancies held at jobcentres in this area is about one quarter of the total.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of unemployment in the Rugby and Daventry travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In September 1989 in the Rugby and Daventry travel-to-work area there were 1,935 unemployed claimants or 3·3 per cent. of the estimated total work force.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost in industrial disputes(a) in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available and (b) in 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A total of 4,568,000 working days were lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the most recent 12-month period ending in August 1989. In 1978, a total of 9,405,000 working days were lost.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Derbyshire are currently unemployed; and by what percentage this figure has changed in the last year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 26 October 1989]: In September 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in Derbyshire was 25,859. This compares to a total of 38,275 in September 1988, a fall of 32·4 per cent.

  These unadjusted unemployment figures are slightly affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had from trade unions about the understaffing of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since the beginning of 1989, my right hon. Friend has had representations about the staffing of the Health and Safety Executive from the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT), and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU).

  Mr Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 October 1989, a total of 1,204·5 inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive. The executive plans to increase the total number of inspectors employed to 1,277 by 1 April 1990.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the Health and Safety Executive's management board possess(a) professional management or (b) professional accounting qualifications.

  Mr. Nicholls
  One member of the Health and Safety Executive management board holds a professional management qualification. None of the members holds a professional accounting qualification.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff, and of which grades, are employed in the Health and Safety Executive's press department.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of staff and their grades employed in the Health and Safety Executive press department as at 1 October 1989 is as follows:

  1 Grade 7

  5 Senior Press Officers (SIO Grade)

  2 Press Officers (IO Grade)

  1 Executive Officer

  1 Administrative Officer

  1 Administrative Assistant

  1 Personal Secretary

  1 Part-time Personal Secretary

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to appoint the ninth Health and Safety Commission commissioner.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 29 September my right hon. Friend announced his intention to replace a member of the commission, who had indicated that he was unable to continue as a commissioner, and reappoint the remaining seven commissioners for a further period of six months. In the interim, my right hon. Friend will consider reconstituting the commission, and bearing in mind the increasingly important role played by the commission, he is giving consideration to the appointment of a ninth member. My right hon. Friend will announce the new appointments early next year.

  YTS
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether all persons aged 16 years who seek a YTS place are now offered one.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Under the Government's guarantee over 500,000 places are available to YTS eligible young people aged 16 and 17. Young people should consult the careers service to see which particular training place is suitable for them. If there are particular difficulties in individual cases careers officers have been asked to approach the Training Agency for assistance as necessary.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to reduce the accident rate among peope while participating in YTS.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am introducing a more vigorous description of health and safety arrangements as part of the YTS contract, and also an improved approach to monitoring which reflects assessment of the degree of risk. I have also set up two exercises to assist with further policy development. An independent study of the YTS accident statistics has been set up which will be published in the spring of next year, and a review of general YTS health and safety arrangements by the Training Agency and HSE is now in progress.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient YTS places exist throughout the United Kingdom for those aged 16 and 17 years seeking such a place.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Particular care is taken to ensure that there are enough YTS places to meet demand throughout the year. There are currently close to 400,000 young people in YTS. My Department has in total contracted with managing agents for over 500,000 places to be available.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local authorities have withdrawn from employment training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Seven local authorities have withdrawn from employment training. These are: Barrow borough council; Rochdale metropolitan borough council; Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council; Nottinghamshire county council and Cleveland county council, which withdrew because of political decisions; and London borough of Merton and London borough of Barnet, which withdrew because of operational difficulties.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to grant approved training organisation status to employment training agents and managers.

  Table 1

  Referrals to employment training from restart interviews: May 1989 to August 1989

  Employment service region

  May

  June

  July

  August

  London and South East

  5,700

  7,200

  5,300

  5,900

  South West

  1,200

  1,100

  1,000

  1,000

  West Midlands

  3,800

  3,900

  3,300

  3,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,400

  3,000

  2,200

  2,200

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,800

  3,200

  2,600

  2,800

  North West

  4,100

  5,000

  4,300

  4,100

  Northern

  2,600

  3,200

  2,300

  2,700

  164
  Mr. Nicholls
  Approved status will be granted to the first groups of employment training agents and managers during April and May 1990.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from individuals or organisations over participants in the Government's employment training scheme leaving the scheme before completing their training programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department has received various representations about employment training. These all receive careful consideration. Many people leave employment training in order to take jobs, though it is possible to continue the training while being employed.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment training trainees have received the full or part of the training bonus.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information is not yet available on the number of trainees receiving training bonuses.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names of those employment training training agents that have been given approved status since the inception of employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No employment training training agents have yet been granted approved status. All organisations that have applied to become training agents have until September 1990 to satisfy the rigorous criteria for gaining approved status.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for Great Britain and each standard Training Agency region, what are the monthly statistics for the latest available four months for employment training showing(a) the number of referrals to employment training from Restart interviews, (b) the number of employment training action plans completed, (c) the number of starts with employment training training managers, (d) the number of employment training filled places and (e) the number of profiled or contracted employment training places.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the numbers of referrals to employment training from restart interviews are given in table 1. The numbers of action plans agreed at training agents are given in table 2. The numbers of starts and filled places are given in tables 3 and 4. The numbers of contracted places as at 30 September, the only date for which information is available, are given in table 5.
  165

  Employment service region

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Wales

  1,900

  2,100

  1,700

  1,500

  Scotland

  5,000

  6,500

  4,000

  4,600

  Great Britain

  29,500

  35,200

  26,900

  28,300

  Table 2

  Employment training action plans agreed at training agents: June 1988 to September 1989

  Training agency region

  June

  July

  August

  September

  South East

  3,200

  3,500

  2,900

  3,600

  London

  4,700

  4,200

  4,400

  5,000

  South West

  2,200

  1,800

  1,800

  2,800

  West Midlands

  4,500

  4,300

  3,900

  5,200

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,400

  3,100

  3,100

  3,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,800

  4,700

  4,600

  6,300

  North West

  6,400

  6,000

  5,600

  6,600

  Northern

  4,700

  4,000

  3,900

  5,100

  Wales

  2,700

  2,300

  2,200

  3,200

  Scotland

  6,200

  4,500

  5,500

  6,400

  Great Britain

  42,800

  38,200

  37,900

  47,700

  Table 3

  Starts at employment training managers: June 1989 to September 1989

  Training agency region

  June

  July

  August

  September

  South East

  2,400

  4,500

  1,900

  3,400

  London

  3,100

  3,100

  2,700

  4,800

  South West

  1,900

  1,500

  1,200

  2,300

  West Midlands

  3,800

  3,300

  3,200

  4,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,800

  3,000

  2,500

  3,500

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,500

  3,800

  3,500

  5,500

  North West

  6,300

  5,300

  4,500

  6,200

  Northern

  4,100

  3,600

  3,000

  4,900

  Wales

  2,600

  2,700

  2,300

  3,700

  Scotland

  4,800

  3,400

  4,500

  5,600

  Great Britain

  36,400

  34,200

  29,300

  44,200

  Table 4

  Employment training filled places: June 1988 to September 1989

  Training agency region

  June

  July

  August

  September

  South East

  11,500

  14,500

  14,200

  14,900

  London

  18,300

  19,000

  19,000

  20,200

  South West

  11,800

  11,800

  11,500

  12,000

  West Midlands

  22,800

  23,200

  23,600

  23,400

  East Midlands and Eastern

  15,500

  16,400

  16,800

  16,900

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25,200

  25,200

  25,100

  25,200

  North West

  27,600

  29,000

  28,700

  29,100

  Northern

  23,000

  24,400

  24,700

  24,900

  Wales

  14,800

  15,800

  16,000

  16,500

  Scotland

  23,200

  23,700

  24,400

  25,100

  Great Britain

  193,700

  203,000

  204,000

  208,000

  Table 5

  Employment training contracted places: 30 September 1989

  Training agency region

  September

  South East

  16,700

  London

  22,800

  South West

  13,500

  West Midlands

  28,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  17,800

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  29,100

  North West

  36,800

  Northern

  27,000

  Wales

  20,900

  Scotland

  31,200

  Great Britain

  244,000

  166
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the nature of the relationship between employment training training managers and local education authorities.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Local education authorities, like any other organizations, may apply to become either training agents or training managers within employment training. They may also choose to act as subcontractors to training managers.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently undertaking employment training in the north-west of England.
  167
  Mr. Nicholls
  On 13 October, the latest date for which information is available, there were 28,800 people on employment training in the north-west of England.

  Cooling-off Periods
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about his proposals for statutory cooling-off periods in industrial disputes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government are reviewing the law on industrial action.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average annual growth in manufacturing productivity since 1980 in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is as follows:

  Manufacturing output per person employed1 1980–1988

  Country

  Annual average percentage change

  Ireland

  9·8

  Luxembourg

  6·1

  Portugal

  5·6

  United Kingdom

  5·3

  Austria

  4·4

  Finland

  4·4

  Belgium

  4·2

  United States

  4·1

  Italy

  3·8

  Canada

  3·6

  Spain

  3·3

  France

  3·1

  Japan

  3·1

  Netherlands

  3·0

  Norway

  2·8

  Sweden

  2·7

  Switzerland

  2·6

  Germany

  2·2

  Australia

  2·1

  Denmark

  0·6

  Greece

  0·5

  1 Exact coverage differs between countries.

  Source: OECD; IMF; CSO.

  Unofficial Strikes
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about unofficial strikes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on unofficial industrial action from a wide variety of sources. Proposals for reform of industrial relations law to limit the scope for such action have been made in the Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" (Cm. 821).

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce legislation to enable employers to dismiss employees who have taken part in unofficial industrial action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" (Cm. 821) proposes changes to industrial 168
  relations and trade union law to discourage wildcat industrial action. It includes proposals which would allow greater freedom for employers to dismiss those who choose to take unofficial industrial action.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to introduce his proposals to reform the law covering unofficial strike action.

  Mr. Nicholls
  These proposals were published for public consultation in the Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" (Cm. 821), which invites comments by 1 December.

  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to meet representatives of the Trades Union Congress to discuss forthcoming legislation on unofficial strikes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets representatives of the Trades Union Congress to discuss a wide range of employment issues. He has no current plans for such a meeting.

  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to make unofficial strikes illegal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Unofficial, "wildcat" industrial action is a deep-rooted and long-standing industrial relations problem. It can cause disproportionate damage to businesses and to jobs because of its unpredictable and disruptive nature. It can also cause serious inconvenience to the general public, as in the industrial action affecting the London Underground and British Rail last summer.

  The Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" proposes a number of changes in the law to discourage wildcat industrial action, by extending union responsibility and giving employers greater freedom to dismiss those taking unofficial action.

  Skills Training
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he is considering to upgrade the skills of young people.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he is considering to upgrade the skills of young persons.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he is considering to upgrade the skills of young persons.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he is considering to upgrade the skills of young persons.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" (Cm. 540) announced the formation of local enterprise companies in Scotland and training and enterprise councils in England and Wales. These are being given the task of assessing the key skill needs, prospects for expanded job growth and the adequacy of existing training arrangements in their local labour market. It will be for the councils to develop strategies and measures that will meet the higher skill needs of the economy.
  169
  The White Paper also stated that YTS would be reviewed in the light of the changing labour market. I shall announce shortly the results of this review.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of whether the enterprise allowance scheme provides value for money in creating new jobs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The efficiency unit and the National Audit Office have both endorsed the scheme as a value-for-money employment measure. Survey evidence shows that 65 per cent. of those people who complete their year in the scheme are still operating their business three years after start-up. These same surveys also show that for every 100 businesses still trading at this stage 114 additional jobs have been created.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have participated in the enterprise allowance scheme since its launch in 1983.

  Mr. Eggar
  Over 470,000 people have participated in the enterprise allowance scheme since it began in 1982.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been found to be signing for benefit while working during each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of people who have withdrawn their claims to benefit as a result of investigations by this Department's fraud investigators over the last five years is as follows:

  Number

  1984–85

  22,500

  1985–86

  37,500

  1986–87

  59,500

  1987–88

  80,000

  1988–89

  86,895

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's exercise on the south coast of England to detect benefit fraud among seasonal workers in the tourism industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  The south coast exercise, which was carried out between May and September 1989 and covered the area from Worthing to the New Forest, investigated possible benefit fraud amongst seasonal workers in the tourism industry. A total of 2,380 investigations were undertaken with 634 people withdrawing their claims to benefit. This resulted in net benefit savings of £487,750 and 31 prosecution cases, two of which are collusive employers.

  Electrical Engineering (Skill Shortages)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skill shortages in electrical engineering.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The growth in the economy during recent years, along with new technological developments, has 170
  created a strong demand for staff in the electrical engineering industry, especially those at technician and professional levels. The Government's response to meeting skill needs is set out in the White Paper "Employment in the 1990's" (Cm. 540).

  Unemployment Benefit (Merseyside)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of persons whose entitlement to unemployment benefit was disallowed because they were considered not to be available for work in the adjudication area covering Merseyside for each quarter since June 1988.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table shows the number of persons whose entitlement to unemployment benefit was disallowed because they were considered not to be available for work for the period and area requested.

  Quarter ending

  Number disallowed

  30 June 1988

  160

  30 September 1988

  118

  31 December 1988

  142

  31 March 1989

  146

  30 June 1989

  106

  30 September 1989

  136

  Unemployment Surveys
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will be commissioning any further surveys into long-term unemployment in certain areas of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Surveys of both longer-term unemployed people and employers in the Bristol area have been commissioned in partnership with the Bristol urban development corporation and interviews are currently taking place. There are no plans at present for further surveys in other areas.

  Secondary Industrial Action
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment if he has any plans to legalise secondary action.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The March 1989 Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment" (Cm. 655) proposes changes to the present law to make it unlawful to induce industrial action by workers of an employer not party to a trade dispute except in the case of lawful picketing.

  Unemployed Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding the new test that unemployment benefit claimants have to satisfy proving they are actively seeking work.

  Mr. Eggar
  The "actively seeking employment" condition applies to all claimants and will normally be satisfied by a simple declaration when a person claims benefit—usually fortnightly. It is too early to provide any figures for the number of those interviewed about their job search by employment service counsellors. This change is a timely and appropriate modernisation of unemployment benefit law.

  Aberdeen Journals Limited
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has considered the implications for his legislative programme arising from the developments in the industrial dispute between Aberdeen Journals Ltd. and the National Union of Journalists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no such implications.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce specialist job clubs for specific industries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have no plans to introduce further job clubs for specific industries. In general job clubs work best by having members from different backgrounds working together to find jobs.

  There are currently three job clubs, in London, Birmingham and Manchester, which specialise in helping people seeking work in the hotel and catering industry. It is too early to assess the results they are achieving.

  I am pleased with the continuing success of the job club programme, with over 54,000 people being helped so far this financial year; 54 per cent. have gone into jobs and 14 per cent. into other positive outcomes, including training, further education and self-employment.

  Pensioners (Employment)
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice his Department is issuing to employers about employing those drawing retirement pension.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government believe that employers should see older workers as a valuable resource. Demographic trends mean it is more important than ever that employers use the talents which older workers can contribute to the economy. Although recruitment decisions must be left to employers, in making them they should not discriminate unfairly on age grounds. They should also be considering how best to use workers who want to continue beyond retirement pension age. We are putting these messages across to employers through various media, thus creating opportunities for workers over retirement pension age to remain in or return to employment if they so wish.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on those achieving vocational qualifications in retail business in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number achieving full retail vocational qualifications in the United Kingdom during the academic year 1988–89 was 11,536. In addition, the Scottish Vocational Education Council awarded 7,332 modules for retail distribution.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department intends to increase the numbers of those achieving vocational qualifications in clothing in Britain.
  172
  Mr. Nicholls
  Work on national vocational qualifications (NVQs) for the clothing industry is being co-ordinated by the clothing and allied products industry training board (CAPITB).

  With encouragement from the then Manpower Services Commission, the CAPITB was among the first industry training boards to develop NVQs based on occupational standards. There are already considerable numbers of young people training towards NVQs as machinists, an occupation in which previously few employees were qualified. The Training Agency of the Employment Department has required that those on YTS for machining occupations within the clothing industry are given the opportunity of working towards the NVQ or credit towards it.

  In addition, the CAPITB is receiving specialist advice and a substantial amount of money via the Training Agency's standards programme to assist it to develop high-quality NVQs which reflect the competences employees need to work in other areas of the industry such as cutting and pressing.

  Skills Training Agency
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress his Department is making towards the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency.

  Mr. Nicholls
  An advertisement about the offer of the Skills Training Agency (STA) for sale appeared in the press in September. The response to the advertisement has been encouraging. My sale advisers, Deloitte Corporate Finance, have issued over 100 copies of an information memorandum about STA to potential bidders who have signed a confidentiality undertaking. The next stage of the sale process will be to draw up a shortlist of bidders whose intentions are to run a training business.

  Disabled People (Employment)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he is planning any new initiatives to increase employment opportunities for disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department's general employment and training programmes are designed to help meet the needs of as many people with disabilities as possible. They are supplemented as necessary by a range of provision specifically for people with disabilities including sheltered employment for those with severe disabilities. These programmes are the subject of a review, the results of which will be made available as soon as possible.

  Industrial Action (Ballots)
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what responses he has received on the draft statutory code of practice on industrial action balloting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Various representations were received on the draft code of practice on industrial action balloting during the public consultation period. A modified draft was laid before Parliament on 7 September, and approval for its issue will be sought.

  Trade Unions (Sequestration of Assets)
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received seeking repeal of the legislation on sequestration of union assets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government receive representations on various aspects of industrial relations law from a variety of sources. Sequestration is a penalty that may be imposed by courts, where appropriate, for contempt of court. There is no specific employment law for the sequestration of union assets

  Staff Dispersal
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress his Department has made in relocating its staff from London to the regions.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 3 August 1989 I announced that 1,100 jobs from my Department's headquarters in London and Watford would be moved to Runcorn and Sheffield over the next two to three years. I can report to this House that good progress is being made and the first phase of the move will begin, on schedule, in spring 1990.

  Industrial Disputes (Legal Action)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received seeking the transfer from the High Court to tribunals of consideration of industrial disputes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Various representations about industrial relations law are received from a variety of sources. Industrial tribunals currently have jurisdiction to determine complaints about certain individual employment protection rights and other matters which may relate to industrial disputes.

  Strikes
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many strikes there have been(a) in the public sector and (b) in the private sector on average over the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 10 years to 1988 the annual average of recorded stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the public sector was 541 while in the private sector the average was 720. These statistics exclude stoppages of work involving fewer than 10 workers or lasting less than one day unless the total number of working days lost in the stoppage is greater than 100. This exclusion will have a smaller effect on the public sector figures where the negotiating groups tend to be larger.

  Women Workers
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being considered to attract women back to work.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government are already taking many steps to help women who choose to work to do so while continuing to recognise that women who choose not to do so are doing an equally valuable job in looking after the family at home.
  174
  All Government schemes to help the unemployed, to help the inner cities and to help people set up their own businesses are open equally to women and men. These include Restart courses, job clubs, employment training, inner cities, the enterprise allowance scheme and job share—which is particularly attractive to women returning to work after a career break.

  Job clubs are open to all who have been out of work for six months whether or not in receipt of benefit, and attendance times can be varied to suit domestic requirements.

  My Department's employment service has also produced a special leaflet to tell women interested in returning to work about available opportunities and schemes.

  We are also helping to develop to the full the skills of women by increasing the availability of training to them. All women aged 18 to 59 unemployed for six months or more are eligible to take advantage of employment training. In addition, women returning to the labour market and certain single parents on order books can also enter the programme, full or part-time, without fulfilling the six-month unemployment eligibility condition. All lone parents on employment training can qualify for a child care allowance.

  In the period up to the year 2000, women are expected to account for over 90 per cent. of the new jobs. It is therefore important that employers do what they can to encourage women back to work. The Government are encouraging employers to adapt traditional working practices to accommodate the needs of women. This means more flexibility in hours of work and in holidays, job sharing, career breaks, part-time working and where possible help with child care costs.

  Engineers
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of engineers qualifying in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The continuing supply of engineers is important to the strength of the economy. The number of students graduating in engineering has increased in the last three years. Despite these increases in supply, some employers do find it difficult to meet some of their recruitment needs.

  The Government, under the engineering science and technology initiative, have made more resources available to increase relevant higher education opportunities. My Department, through the Training Agency, is also committing resources to encourage retraining and conversion training for adults wishing to pursue engineering careers. In addition, the agency is providing specific support to institutions that promote increases in the number of women and other under-represented groups studying engineering, and to increase general access to engineering and other high-level training opportunities.

  Industrial Action (Essential Services)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to limit the disruption of essential services by industrial action.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government are reviewing the law as it affects industrial action in essential services. The proposals in the Green Paper "Unofficial Action and the Law" are
  175
  designed to tackle the problem of wildcat strikes and other forms of unofficial industrial action which have been particularly damaging in such essential services as the London Underground and British Rail.

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the average earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in the railway industry and (b) the average of full-time adult male non-manual workers at the latest available date together with the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom for 1959 and 1972 and the information he has on comparable figures for 1972 and the latest available date in France and West Germany.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is provided in the table. Comparable figures for France and West Germany are not readily available.

  Average gross hourly earnings of full-time adult male employees in the United Kingdom; pay not affected by absence, April of each year

  1972 £

  1988 £

  (a) Manual employees in the railway industry

  0·67

  4·25

  (b) All non-manual employees

  1·10

  7·40

  Sources: New Earnings Surveys in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  Air Conditioning (Contamination)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what studies have been conducted by his Department, or consultants to his Department, into mitigation of the effects of contaminated cooling towers and air conditioning systems in high-rise buildings.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is to publish in November a consultative document seeking views on courses of statutory action for the control of legionella. This follows a detailed review of policy undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In addition, a joint Department of Health/HSE working group is examining all aspects of legionella, including its control. It will be making recommendations to the chief medical officer and the HSE on any specific areas of study that are seen to be appropriate.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the financial support from the Government for(a) the community programme per annum since its inception and (b) employment training since its inception until the last available year.

  Quarter ending June 1989

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Other

  Non-respondents

  Total

  Secretariat

  25

  4

  3

  0

  7

  39

  HSD

  67

  2

  9

  1

  15

  94

  SPD

  60

  4

  5

  2

  8

  79

  RPD

  514

  16

  8

  2

  52

  592

  TD

  278

  2

  2

  2

  23

  307

  MQI

  107

  0

  1

  0

  6

  114

  MD

  236

  7

  5

  1

  22

  271

  FAID

  1,332

  17

  11

  7

  136

  1,503

  NII

  181

  6

  3

  1

  29

  220

  176
  Mr. Nicholls
  The community programme was started in 1982, and was replaced by employment training in September 1988. The table shows the expenditure on each programme by the Government in each year since 1982.

  Expenditure £ million

  Community Programme

  1982–83

  1 2177

  1983–84

  1400

  1984–85

  524

  1985–86

  667

  1986–87

  1,043

  1987–88

  1,085

  1988–89

  664

  Employment Training

  September 1988 to September 1989

  977

  1 Includes administrative costs.

  1 Includes some residue of the Community Enterprise Programmes.

  Health and Safety (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, for each Health and Safety Executive area, on how many occasions in the last three years Health and Safety Executive inspectors have been accompanied on work place visits by an interpreter.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the ethnic origin of persons suffering workplace accidents and diseases reported under RIDDOR is recorded by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information about the ethnic origin of people suffering workplace accidents and diseases is not recorded by the Health and Safety Executive. Neither the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences regulations 1985 nor the approved form of report require notification of the ethnic origin of the injured person.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, in relation to the categories used in the Civil Service ethnic monitoring system, how many people in each category have been employed in each division of the Health and Safety Executive, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the ethnic monitoring of staff in each division of the Health and Safety Executive has been collated only since 1987. The tables show the numbers of staff in each category at the end of June 1987, 1988 and 1989.
  177

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Other

  Non-respondents

  Total

  RLSD

  428

  8

  12

  1

  31

  480

  Total

  3,228

  66

  59

  17

  329

  3,699

  Quarter ending June 1988

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Other

  Non-respondents

  Total

  Secretariat

  23

  5

  3

  0

  5

  36

  HSD

  59

  3

  7

  0

  16

  85

  SPD

  139

  5

  5

  1

  25

  175

  RPD

  379

  12

  11

  4

  63

  469

  TD

  267

  1

  0

  2

  37

  307

  MQI

  98

  0

  1

  0

  15

  114

  MD

  220

  6

  6

  0

  29

  261

  FAID

  1,240

  17

  8

  5

  190

  1,460

  NII

  150

  4

  2

  1

  35

  192

  RLSD

  392

  6

  9

  1

  46

  454

  Total

  2,968

  60

  52

  14

  461

  3,555

  Quarter ending June 1987

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Other

  Non-respondents

  Total

  Secretariat

  24

  5

  0

  0

  3

  32

  HSD

  67

  3

  6

  0

  12

  88

  SPD

  52

  3

  3

  0

  13

  71

  RPD

  375

  12

  11

  4

  66

  468

  TD

  365

  4

  1

  3

  52

  425

  MQI

  107

  0

  3

  0

  19

  129

  MD

  236

  5

  6

  0

  34

  281

  FAID

  1,287

  18

  9

  5

  190

  1,509

  NII

  130

  4

  2

  1

  31

  168

  RLSD

  405

  6

  11

  1

  47

  470

  Total

  3,048

  60

  52

  14

  467

  3,641

  Redundancies
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been made redundant by their employers in the past year, having 178
  worked for (a) up to six months, (b) seven to 12 months, (c) 13 to 18 months, (d) 19 to 24 months, (e) 25 to 30 months, (f) 31 to 36 months and (g) more than 36 months respectively.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This information is not available.

  DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION, KABUL
  DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION, KABUL
  SOUTHERN SUDAN: CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS
  SOUTHERN SUDAN: CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE; PREDICTABILITY IN RESEARCH AND TESTING
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE; PREDICTABILITY IN RESEARCH AND TESTING
  ORDNANCE SURVEY PLAN 1990–93
  ORDNANCE SURVEY PLAN 1990–93
  INTERNATIONAL FRAUD PROSECUTION: LAW COMMISSION REPORT
  INTERNATIONAL FRAUD PROSECUTION: LAW COMMISSION REPORT
  INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER-AIDED FRAUD: PROSECUTION
  INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER-AIDED FRAUD: PROSECUTION
  TV LICENCE FEES FOR 1990
  TV LICENCE FEES FOR 1990
  MANAGEMENT OF VULNERABLE PRISONERS: REPORT
  MANAGEMENT OF VULNERABLE PRISONERS: REPORT