Written Answers of 9 February 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Blue Coat School, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when he expects to make an announcement on the proposal to turn the Blue Coat school, Liverpool, into a four-term entry school;

  (2) when he received the submission to alter the size of the Blue Coat school, Liverpool; what was the last date for objection; and what is the average length of time it takes to process an application.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend will come to a decision on this proposal as quickly as is compatible with a full and careful consideration of all the issues involved.

  My right hon. Friend received the governors' submission on 20 July 1989. The period of statutory objection to the proposals ended on 18 September 1989. The current average length of time for the consideration of statutory proposals is about six months.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the 10 authorities which have the highest number of children in nursery education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In January 1989 the 10 local education authorities which had the highest percentage of children under five in nursery education were as follows:

  Number of children under five in nursery schools and classes

  Per cent. of estimated 3 and 4-year-old population

  Hounslow

  3,786

  65

  Walsall

  4,148

  58

  Wolverhampton

  3,860

  58

  Newham

  4,086

  55

  Manchester

  7,154

  55

  Cleveland

  8,847

  54

  North Tyneside

  2,505

  53

  Salford

  3,140

  52

  South Tyneside

  1,986

  51

  Liverpool

  6,190

  49

  Teachers' Pay
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the remit he has given to the interim advisory committee regarding the total cost of recommendations on school teachers' pay and allowances has been reflected in the education components of standard spending assessments for 1990–91; if he will make a statement on the distribution of the relevant provision between(a) London and south-east England, (b) all other regions of England and (c) Wales; what amount and proportion of relevant provision has been allocated to each of (a), (b) and (c) above; and what percentage increase this represents in each case.
  794
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Education standard spending for England for 1990–91 allows in full for the remit given in September to the interim advisory committee, the English element of which was £563 million. Education standard spending, net of specific grants, is distributed between authorities on the basis of client numbers adjusted by factors which allow for local circumstances. These factors include an area cost adjustment which takes account of differential labour costs as between inner London, outer London, south-eastern counties and the rest of England. The area cost adjustment factors are set out in annex F of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England). The basis of the standard spending assessment in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Schools (Local Management)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local education authorities whose schemes for local management of schools have been(a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) upon which no decision has been made.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have announced our approval decisions on all 97 local education authorities' LMS schemes which were submitted last autumn. The following local education authorities have either received formal approval for their schemes or are being consulted on modifications prior to approval for implementation in April 1990:

  Avon

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  Barnsley

  Bedfordshire

  Berkshire

  Bexley

  Birmingham

  Bolton

  Bradford

  Brent

  Bromley

  Buckinghamshire

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Cornwall

  Coventry

  Cumbria

  Derbyshire

  Devon

  Doncaster

  Dorset

  Dudley

  Durham

  Ealing

  East Sussex

  Enfield

  Essex

  Gateshead

  Gloucestershire

  Hampshire

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Humberside

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Kingston

  Kirklees

  795

  Knowsley

  Lancashire

  Leeds

  Lincolnshire

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Merton

  Newcastle

  Norfolk

  North Tyneside

  North Yorkshire

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  Nottinghamshire

  Oldham

  Oxfordshire

  Redbridge

  Richmond

  Rochdale

  Rotherham

  Sandwell

  Salford

  Sefton

  Sheffield

  Shropshire

  Solihull

  Somerset

  South Tyneside

  Staffordshire

  St. Helens

  Stockport

  Suffolk

  Sunderland

  Surrey

  Sutton

  Tameside

  Trafford

  Wakefield

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Warwickshire

  West Sussex

  Westminster

  Wigan

  Wiltshire

  Wirral

  Wolverhampton

  LEAs whose schemes cannot be approved in their present form are Croydon, Hereford and Worcester, Hertfordshire, the Isles of Scilly, Leicestershire and Newham.

  Mummified Relics
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a table showing(a) the universities which have mummified aboriginal or Maori relics in their collections and (b) the number of such relics in each collection.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Arts and Science Courses
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of undergraduates following first degree courses in the arts and science faculties at Scottish universities take a four-year course; and what is the comparable figure for England and Wales.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 22 January 1990]: The Universities' Statistical Record shows that, for the academic year 1988–89, 77 per cent. of full-time and sandwich students pursuing first degrees in arts and science
  796
  subjects at Scottish universities were on four-year courses. The comparable figure for England and Wales was 22 per cent.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Plastic Bullets
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times plastic bullets were used in the first six months of 1989; what were the circumstances of each incident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I am writing to the hon. and learned Member with the details for the first six months of 1989, in which 235 plastic baton rounds were fired. I shall place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Red Book Prisoners
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the status of a red book prisoner in terms of parole and review procedures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  In Northern Ireland, top risk (commonly known as "red book") prisoners are those who are considered to have the greatest escape potential and who, if at large, would pose the greatest threat to society and the security forces.

  There is no system of parole in Northern Ireland but there is provision for compassionate home leave, pre-release home leave and Christmas and summer home leave. All prisoners, including those in the top risk category, are eligible to apply for compassionate home leave in the event of the death or critical illness of a member of the immediate family; each case is considered on its merits. Applications from all fixed-term prisoners, including those in the top risk category, for pre-release home leave or Christmas home leave are also considered on their merits. Top risk prisoners were, however, excluded from the 1989 Christmas home leave scheme for indeterminate sentence prisoners who had served 13 years in custody because they had not made satisfactory progress towards release.

  The cases of all indeterminate sentence prisoners are reviewed at regular stages throughout sentence. At each review all the relevant factors pertaining to the prisoner, including his security categorisation, are taken into account in deciding whether to recommend release or to set the date of the next review.

  All top risk prisoners have their cases reviewed regularly to see if they can be downgraded to a lower security category.

  Western Education and library Service
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what increases in staff are presently proposed by the Western education and library board for or during the present or next financial year; what are the grades and salaries of such staff; and whether they are to be funded by an increase in the sums allocated by his Department or from the presently existing level of funds.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 23 January 1990]: Staffing complements and structures are primarily a

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  matter for each education and library board to determine. Information about lower graded staff outside head-quarters is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Western education and library board has provided the following information about its additional headquarters staffing proposals:

  Grade

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Salary scale £

  Adviser

  —

  5

  23,679–25,389

  Senior administration officer

  —

  2

  16,743–18,225

  Seconded teacher

  —

  1

  Teachers salary plus allowance of £1,260 pa

  Systems analyst

  —

  1

  14,658–15,810

  Administrative officer

  1

  —

  14,658–15,810

  Senior executive officer

  —

  1

  11,667–13,824

  Executive officer

  1

  —

  8,967–11,301

  Senior clerical officer

  —

  1

  8,181–8,787

  Clerical officer

  —

  1

  4,308–8,007

  Clerk-typist

  1

  —

  4,308–8,007

  3

  12

  The Department of Education has made additional funds available to education and library boards for a number of new initiatives. The above posts will be funded by the Western education and library board from these funds and from the board's enhanced block grant allocation. The Western board will also consider the appointment of further staff in 1990–91 but decisions have not yet been taken about the number of grades of such additional staff.

  In addition, 10 field officers (teachers on short-term secondments) have been appointed to the Western board's advisory and support service in 1989–90; their salaries will continue to he paid directly by the Department.

ENERGY

  Southern Electricity
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he will announce the names of the chairman and members of the Southern Electricity consumers committee.

  Mr. Baldry
  The appointment of the chairman of the electricity consumers committee for the Southern region is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply in consultation with the Secretary of State and an announcement is expected shortly. The consumers committee members will be appointed by the director general in consultation with the chairman.

  Licensed Mines
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretry of State for Energy when British Coal's annual report on developments in licensed mines will be made available.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The first of British Coal's annual reports on developments in licensed mines has been received, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

PRIME MINISTER

  "British Briefing"
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what correspondence she or her officials have had concerning the publication "British Briefing"; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None, so far as I am aware.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what correspondence she or her officials have had with(a) Mr. David Hart and (b) Mr. Charles Powell; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 21 December 1989 at column 365.

  "Codename Badger"
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Prime Minister whether her authorisation was sought prior to the publication in America of "Codename Badger" by John Cottell.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list by name and post all former or current Crown servants referred to in the material passed to her by Mr. Colin Wallace; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list by name and post all those former or current Crown servants who were in any way responsible for supervising the activities of Mr. Colin Wallace whilst he served with Army Intelligence in Northern Ireland or at any other time; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Drugs
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any proposals to improve inter-departmental co-operation in the field of drugs; and if the Government will now ratify the 1988 United Nations convention against drugs.

  The Prime Minister
  Government policy for tackling drug misuse and trafficking is co-ordinated through the ministerial group on the misuse of drugs, chaired by the Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor).
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  Provisions have been introduced in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Bill to enable us to ratify the 1988 United Nations convention against the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

ENVIRONMENT

  Domestic and Special Waste
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by name and location, mineshafts currently in use as dumps for domestic waste and special waste.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 7 February 1990]: My Department has records of six mineshafts in England and Wales being used to accept controlled waste. These are listed in the table. None of these facilities accepts domestic wastes, and only some may accept special waste. The local waste disposal authority can advise as to the current status of each facility:

  ICI Ltd.

  Holford Brine Cavities

  Northwich

  Cheshire

  Severn Trent Water

  Hawkwell Shaft

  Nailbridge

  Gloucestershire

  ICI Ltd.

  Brine Cavity

  Stalmine

  Hambleton

  Lancashire

  Effluent Disposal Ltd.

  Empire Brickworks, Stubbers Green Road

  Aldridge, Walsall

  West Midlands

  Frost and Sons (Moxley) Ltd.

  Falcon Galvanising

  Holyhead Road

  Moxley

  Walsall

  West Midlands

  J. B. and S. Lees Ltd.

  Albion Road

  West Bromwich

  Sandwell

  West Midlands

  Rebates and Homing Benefit
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total cost of rent and rate rebate, and of housing benefit, in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is shown in the table. The expenditure shown for rent and rebates is also included in the housing benefit total.

  Housing Benefit Expenditure 1985–86 to 1989–90

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Rent rebate

  2,292

  2,420

  2,528

  2,661

  2,855

  Rate rebate

  1,479

  1,635

  1,714

  1,373

  1,483

  Total housing benefit expenditure

  4,609

  5,009

  5,289

  5,074

  5,592

  800
  Notes: Rates rebates for 1989–90 include community charge rebates in Scotland.

  Source: Public Expenditure White Paper 1990.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many job losses he expects to occur when the Property Services Agency and Crown Suppliers are privatised.

  Mr. Chope
  The sales of PSA and TCS should not cause job losses. Thereafter employment levels will depend on the success of the privatised organisations.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Fair Employment Bill
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on what date the House gave a Third Reading to the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Bill 1989.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  This information is available in the Journal of the House of Commons.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of new claims for housing benefit received from young people in London for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that the information collected does not allow particular client groups to be identified.

  Mentally Handicapped People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many mentally handicapped people he estimates will benefit from the proposals outlined in "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People".

  Mr. Scott
  Our data sources do not enable us to isolate the number of mentally handicapped people who will gain from the changes to existing social security benefits detailed in "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People". The number of mentally handicapped people who will benefit from the introduction of the two new benefits, a disability allowance and a disability employment credit, will depend on the precise details of these benefits on which further work has yet to be done.

  Income Support
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the number of income support claimants with deductions for(a) electricity debts, (b) gas debts, (c) water debts and (d) social fund loan repayments.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Figures for the number of income support claimants with deductions for electricity and gas debts are contained in table 10 of the "Department of Social Security Income Support Statistics Annual
  801
  Statistical Enquiry, May 1988", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Figures are not collected for deductions for water debts. Deductions are not all for debt: some are for current consumption only.

  In December 1989 there was a total of 391,000 people making social fund loan repayments for 344,000 budgeting loans and 47,000 crisis loans. These figures relate to applicants who were in receipt of income support when the loan was taken out. Some may since have ceased to be in receipt of income support.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost or saving resulting from the introduction of a common waiting period of three months for attendance and mobility allowance in place of the present six months' waiting period for attendance allowance(a) for all claimants and (b) for those aged under 65 years.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that, taking into account the full effect of the removal of the six-month waiting period for attendance allowance for people who are terminally ill, the net effect on expenditure would be(a) an increase of about £120 million a year and (b) an increase of about £10 million a year.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what funds he will commit to undertake research which would allow a reassessment of the decision of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council not to distinguish between the development of chronic bronchitis or emphysema through smoking and that brought on by exposure to substances associated with the processing, smelting, working or production of steel.

  Mr. Scott
  It is not the practice of this Department to fund medical research into diseases which may be occupationally related.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to reassess its previous decisions relating to the acceptance of work-related causes for steel workers developing chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

  Mr. Scott
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's report of May 1988 on bronchitis and emphysema (Cm. 379) concluded that it was not possible on the available evidence to recommend prescription of these diseases in their own right. The council intends to review this subject again when further evidence is available.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of abolishing the 2 per cent. rate of national insurance contribution below £46 a week in 1990–91.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  National insurance contributions are not payable on earnings that do not reach the lower earnings limit (£46 per week from April 1990). On the basis of assumptions contained in the report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 1990 and the Social Security 802
  (Contributions) (Re-rating) Order 1990 (Cm 948), the cost of abolishing the 2 per cent. rate of national insurance contributions in 1990–91 would be £890 million. This figure relates to Great Britain.

  Earnings
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of average male earnings the upper earnings limit represents; and what percentage it represented in each year since 1978–79.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is in the table:

  Average male earnings1 £

  Upper earnings limit for class 1 NICs £

  Percentage of average earnings Per cent.

  April 1978

  89·10

  120·00

  134·7

  April 1979

  101·40

  135·00

  133·1

  April 1980

  124·50

  165·00

  132·5

  April 1981

  140·50

  200·00

  142·3

  April 1982

  154·50

  220·00

  142·4

  April 1983

  167·50

  235·00

  140·3

  April 1984

  178·80

  250.00

  139·8

  April 1985

  192·40

  265·00

  137·7

  April 1986

  207·50

  285·00

  137·3

  April 1987

  224·00

  295·00

  131·7

  April 1988

  245·80

  305·00

  124·1

  April 1989

  269·50

  325·00

  120·6

  1 Average earnings of all adult male workers.

  Source: Social Security Statistics 1989.

HEALTH

  Emergency Service
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the full cost of both police service and Army assistance will be charged to the National Health Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The reasonable cost of police and Army assistance in the current dispute will be met by those regions benefiting from the service, which will also of course have offsetting savings on salaries and fuel costs.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount of the additional revenue raised by the £10 charge for sight tests has been allocated to the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As from 1 April 1989, free NHS sight tests ceased to be generally available except to young people, those in respect of certain social security benefits or assessed as being on low incomes, and people with certain medical needs. The savings, estimated at £70 million in a full year, which have been generated from the reduced number of NHS sight tests to be paid for have been used to fund other areas of primary health care.

  Hormone Replacement Therapy
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission an independent study of the health advantages of the wider use of hormone replacement therapy.
  803
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) on 18 January at column 403.

  The main agency through which the Government fund bio-medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science. The MRC has set up a sub-group of its physiological systems board to review the need for further research on osteoporosis. This group is examining the feasibility of mounting a multicentre prospective trial of screening methods to identify at risk women who are likely to benefit from hormone replacement therapy. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research which will be considered in competition with other applications.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice, and from whom, he has received about the side effects and long-term risks of hormone replacement therapy when the hormone is taken over a long period;

  (2) what advice he has received about the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in preventing osteoporosis in women; and from whom;

  (3) what information he has on the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department obtains its advice and information on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and osteoporosis from experts and advisers working in the field and from published work in the scientific press. It also receives advice from working groups set up by professional or other bodies such as the Royal College of Physicians working group on fractured neck of femur.

  Recently the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was given funds by the Department towards the funding of a study group of experts on HRT and osteoporosis.

  HRT has a role to play in the prevention of osteoporosis and the treatment of menopausal symptoms; it is also possible that HRT may lead to a reduction in heart disease and strokes. However, since there may be risks, such as a possible increased risk of developing breast cancer, as well as benefits associated with its use, the individual patient's suitability for HRT is a matter for the clinical judgment of her doctor.

  In the past HRT has been associated with an increased risk of cancer of the womb; however, it is believed that HRT containing combined oestrogen-progestogen substantially reduces this risk.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the current cost to the National Health Service of hormone replacement therapy; and what the cost would be if all women aged between 50 and 60 years took the treatment;

  (2) what is the estimated number of women having hormone replacement therapy; and what percentage this is of the women at risk of osteoporosis.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available in the form requested. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be administered in a variety of forms. The current cost to the NHS in England and Wales of oral HRT prescriptions is around £4 million per annum. This figure does not include women using implants or stick-on patches or who receive HRT on private prescriptions.
  804
  The Department has recently agreed to fund an economic evaluation of HRT, which will look at its costs and benefits in relation to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken into a possible link between hormone replacement therapy and increased cancers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, East (Mr. Beggs) on 12 December 1989 at column 627.

  The Department of Health is about to commission a review of osteoporosis and related problems which will investigate the statistical association between hormone replacement therapy and cancer risk.

  Clinical Research
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with medical research charities about the effect of the National Health Service reorganisation on clinical research carried out in National Health Service hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Officials have met representatives of the Association of Medical Research Charities and some individual charities and have explained the measures that we are taking to ensure the continuation of high quality research in the NHS.

  Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has had discussions with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund regarding subsidies from the fund to National Health Service hospitals to pay for patient care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Officials have discussed this issue with representatives of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will prepare guidance and provide funds for the new National Health Service hospital trusts to ensure that their participation in clinical research is not diminished by their new status;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the necessary facilities for teaching and research will continue to be provided on a long-term basis for medical and scientific professors and readers holding honorary appointments in the hospitals which are interested in becoming National Health Service hospital trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Guidance on applications for NHS trust status make it clear that plans for involvement in research should be clearly set out. Orders establishing trusts will specify research as a function of individual trusts where it already plays a major part. The National Health Service and Community Care Bill provides explicit powers for NHS trusts to engage in research and support research by others and for the existence of reserve powers to ensure continued involvement in research.
  805
  In addition to money provided through contracts between purchasers and providers, funds will be available through SIFT: a similar scheme is being developed for non-teaching locations to meet the excess service costs to the NHS of research by universities and others. These should provide that hospitals will not become uncompetitive as a result of their involvement in research.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with university authorities regarding the provision of research and teaching facilities for academic staff in the National Health Service hospitals that have expressed an interest in becoming National Health Service hospital trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  University authorities have been represented at meetings with officials at which these issues have been discussed, notably in the steering group on undergraduate medical and dental education.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the teaching hospitals that have expressed an interest in becoming a National Health Service hospital trust currently have medical and scientific professors and readers holding honorary appointments; and what is the total number of such professors and readers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All teaching hospitals might be expected to have medical and scientific professors and readers holding honorary appointments working in them. Medical teaching and research now takes place in many locations outside the main university hospitals. Details of honorary appointments are not held centrally.

  Patient Care
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Health Service retains its customary obligation to fund patient care when patients in National Health Service hospitals are participating in charitably funded research studies.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is a presumption that health authorities should meet the costs of care where the treatment involved forms part of the service which an authority would normally be expected to provide. The district health authority must, however, retain the final decision on how its funds can best be spent in the interests of its patients.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what cost and by which research institutions work has been undertaken into distinguishing between the contribution of tobacco smoke and exposure to substances arising from steel production to the development of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department of Health has not commissioned any research into the specific areas mentioned by the hon. Member.

  The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main agency through which the Government fund bio-medical and clinical research in the United Kingdom. The MRC receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science. I understand that the MRC has in the past conducted research into these diseases. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research which will be considered in competition with other applications.

  Nursing Homes (Prescriptions)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to check prescriptions taken to dispensing chemists on behalf of elderly residents in private nursing homes are not misused;

  (2) what steps he has taken to ensure surplus prescribed drugs in private nursing homes are not stockpiled for unauthorised use.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Registered Homes Act 1984 requires the registering district health authority to inspect private nursing homes at least twice each year to ensure that adequate arrangements exist for the recording, safekeeping, handling and disposal of drugs held. Prescribed medicines may be obtained only on the authorisation of a qualified and experienced pharmacist employed by the nursing home and countersigned by a doctor or dentist. It is for the dispensing chemist to satisfy himself as to the appropriateness of each prescription for drugs. Medicines dispensed to individual patients must be given to the patient on discharge or otherwise destroyed in the presence of a patient or relation.

  NHS Price Indices
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report tables 13·3 and 13·21 of Cm. 1013 adjusted by the appropriate National Health Service price indices.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 5 February 1990]: It is not possible to reproduce tables 13.3 and 13.21 of Cm. 1013 adjusted in the manner requested, for the following reasons:

  i. no price indices exist for the NHS in the United Kingdom as a whole;

  ii. no specific price indices are available for the following categories of expenditure in England:

  —central health and miscellaneous services;

  —departmental administration;

  —family practitioner services administration;

  —family practitioner services capital;

  iii. as no estimate is made of NHS pay and price inflation before the end of the current financial year it is not possible to adjust figures for 1989–90 to 1992–93.

  Details of the relevant pay and price deflators for HCHS current and capital and FPS current expenditure in England between 1984–85 and 1988–89 are shown in the table, together with an index for the NHS in England based on a weighted average of these indices:

  NHS pay and price inflation 1984–85 to 1988–89

  HCHS Current

  HCHS Capital

  FPS Current

  NHS Total

  1988–89

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  1987–88

  110·5

  105·8

  109·6

  110·0

  1986–87

  119·5

  111·2

  117·2

  118·7

  1985–86

  128·2

  116·8

  123·3

  126·3

  1984–85

  134·8

  123·6

  129·4

  132·9

  NHS Doctors
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by grade, the numbers of doctors working for the National Health Service, including consultants with part-time contracts, for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 8 February 1990]: The information is given in the table:

  807

  Hospital medical staff as at 30 September each year England

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Percentage increase 1979 to 1988

  All staff

  39,859

  40,757

  41,169

  42,147

  42,709

  42,728

  43,495

  43,992

  43,957

  45,574

  14

  Consultant

  11,891

  12,134

  12,397

  12,603

  12,892

  13,185

  13,458

  13,785

  13,992

  14,429

  21

  Associate Specialist

  935

  967

  939

  954

  939

  906

  849

  809

  792

  779

  -17

  Senior Registrar

  2,724

  2,855

  2,935

  2,951

  3,084

  2,988

  3,132

  3,253

  3,215

  3,182

  17

  Registrar

  5,457

  5,552

  5,857

  5,771

  5,821

  5,755

  5,749

  5,849

  5,873

  6,146

  13

  Senior House Officer

  8,880

  9,197

  9,453

  9,514

  9,627

  9,589

  9,792

  9,690

  9,457

  9,960

  12

  House Officer

  2,610

  2,654

  2,716

  2,710

  2,826

  2,773

  2,838

  2,813

  2,790

  2,862

  10

  Other staff

  110

  116

  121

  82

  49

  142

  41

  79

  93

  62

  -44

  Hospital Practitioner

  601

  725

  845

  848

  882

  903

  845

  850

  894

  853

  -42

  Para 94 appointments

  6,651

  6,557

  6,556

  6,714

  6,589

  6,487

  6,791

  6,864

  6,851

  7,301

  10

  Includes permanent paid and honorary staff.

  From 1987 Senior Hospital Medical Officers with allowance are included with 'Other staff.

  Community health service medical staff as at 30 September each year England

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Percentage increase 1979 to 1988

  All staff

  5,885

  5,981

  6,035

  6,171

  6,331

  6,156

  6,145

  6,032

  6,297

  6,155

  5

  Includes permanent paid and honorary staff.

  General Medical Practitioner as at 1 October each year England

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Percentage increase 1979 to 1988

  All staff

  23,062

  23,674

  24,359

  24,835

  25,341

  25,788

  26,190

  26,529

  27,023

  27,420

  19

  Footnote:

  Any staff holding appointments in these grades and additionally working as general medical practitioner (GMP) will also appear in the GMP table.

WALES

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will address an all-Wales conference of community health councils concerning his plans to reduce the number of community health councils in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We are always prepared to consider requests to attend conferences, subject to parliamentary and other commitments. I have in fact agreed to address the annual conference of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales in Swansea in July.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet(a) Clwyd South CHC and (b) Clwyd North community health council to discuss his Department's plans to merge Clwyd South and Clwyd North community health councils.

  Mr. Grist
  The consultation period on the Government's proposals for CHCs in Wales runs until the end of February 1990. Most CHCs have yet to respond and I have no plans to meet CHCs on an individual basis at present.

  Football Grounds (Safety)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has assessed the implications for international soccer matches played in Wales arising from the Government's policy for the safety of football grounds in the wake of the Taylor report.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the House on 29 January and to the schedule placed in the Library.

  The Government accept, in principle, the recommendations of Lord Justice Taylor's final report. Consultations will take place with the appropriate representative bodies on the implementation, as necessary, of the recommendations.

  Historic Monuments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total annual income and the income from grant in aid of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments from 1984–85 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The table shows actual income received by Cadw for 1984–85 to 1988–89, provisional estimates 1989–90 and planned income for 1990–91:
  809

  £000

  1984–85 out turn

  1985–86 out turn

  1986–87 out turn

  1987–88 out turn

  1988–89 out turn

  1989–90 estimate

  1990–911 estimate

  Total Cadw receipts

  949

  1,361

  1,517

  1,797

  2,291

  2,170

  2,870

  Income received from Cadw's presentation activities (included in above total)

  949

  1,361

  1,515

  1,783

  2,275

  2,155

  2,850

  1 Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supply Estimate.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount paid by Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments by category of grant in each year since 1984–85; what is the budget for 1989–90; and what is the estimate for 1990–91.

  Gross expenditure on grants by Cadw

  £000

  1984–85 out turn

  1985–86 out turn

  1986–87 out turn

  1987–88 out turn

  1988–89 out turn

  1989–90 estimate

  1990–911 estimate

  HBC grants

  1,424

  2,087

  1,889

  2,061

  2,194

  3,000

  3,187

  Ancient monuments grants:

  Grants to owners

  44

  135

  204

  131

  202

  165

  250

  Grants to trusts

  413

  398

  450

  522

  605

  635

  715

  RCAHM(W)

  538

  550

  608

  711

  655

  715

  830

  1 The provision for 1990–91 is subject to parliamentary approval.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which bodies received grant aid from Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments annually from 1984–85 to 1989–90; and what were the amounts involved.

  £000

  1984–85 out turn

  1985–86 out turn

  1986–87 out turn

  1987–88 out turn

  1988–89 out turn

  1989–90 forecast

  RCAHM (W)

  538

  550

  608

  711

  655

  715

  Archaeological trusts

  413

  398

  450

  522

  605

  635

  CTW

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25

  25

  Severn Crossing and Barrage
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the South Wales standing conference on regional policy to discuss(a) the second Severn crossing and (b) outline plans for a Severn barrage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already agreed to meet the South Wales standing conference on regional policy to discuss the proposals for a second Severn crossing. This meeting will be arranged once the successful tenderer is known. It is open to the standing conference to request that the agenda be extended to include the Severn barrage.

  River Dee Crossing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Clwyd county council to discuss plans for the proposed new River Dee crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The scheme has been conditionally accepted in the transport grant settlement for 1990–91. Its progress is a matter for the county council.
  810
  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is 10 be found in the table:

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The only bodies Cadw specifically grant-aided are: Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (RCAHM (W)), the four archaeological trusts and the Civic Trust for Wales (CTW). The grant figures for each of the years requested are as follows:

  Coal Mines (Applications)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for(a) private opencast coal mines and (b) private underground coal mines have been received via British Coal or otherwise by the Welsh Office since 1 February 1989.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None. The responsibility for the issuing of licenses for the extraction of coal either by opencast or deep mining methods, by private companies, rests solely with British Coal.

  Landfill Sites
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated average cost, per site, of remedial work required to safeguard landfill sites in Wales, including the costs associated with the investigation of geology and hydrogeology necessary as a precursor to such remedial work.

  Mr. Grist
  The estimation of costs is a matter for the operator of the site. As an approximate indicator Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has adopted an average sum of £250,000 when assessing the likely resource implications of landfill gas control.

  Clwyd Language Centre
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of financial support earmarked by the Welsh Office for the Clwyd language centre, Canolfan Laith Clwyd, in the coming financial year.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Canolfan Laith Clwyd is one of many organisations that have applied for grant support next year. Whether they have been successful will be announced in due course.

  Teachers' Pay
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision has been made for increases in school teachers' pay in the standard spending assessments for 1990–91; what percentage increase this represents; how this provision has been calculated; how this provision is related to the remit given to the interim advisory committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Under the local authority revenue settlement for 1990–91 provision for total standard spending (TSS) is 9·4 per cent. over the equivalent figure for 1989–90 and 7·1 per cent. over local authorities' 1989–90 budgets. The remit given to the IAC was allowed for in full and the effect of the IAC's proposals on the community charge for standard spending is thus minimal. Standard spending assessments for individual local authorities are based on TSS but are not hypothecated to particular services. Further information about the settlement is provided in the reports approved by the House on 24 January 1990.

  Community Care
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial contribution he intends to make available to housing associations in Wales in order to enable them to make the contribution he expects from them towards implementation of the community care White Paper in respect of(a) elderly and very elderly people and (b) disabled people.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department makes funding available to Housing for Wales in support of housing associations within the Principality: for this purpose gross provision for 1990–91 will be raised by 40 per cent. over that for 1989–90. As to the future we have made it clear in draft planning guidance recently issued for consultation, that as a first step we expect housing associations to be consulted closely in the development of social care plans and to maintain and develop their crucial role—working within supporting guidance set out by Housing for Wales.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial contribution he intends to make available to local authorities in Wales in order to enable them to make the contribution he expects from them towards implementation of the community care White Paper in respect of(a) elderly and very elderly people and (b) disabled people.

  Mr. Grist
  The position in respect of funding the new framework for community care in Wales is fully set out in paragraphs 11.34 to 11.41 of the White Paper "Caring for People" Cm. 849. In addition, we are to make available in 812
  each of the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 some £330,000 which will be used towards the costs of demonstration projects in each of the Welsh counties the aim of which will be to help authorities establish effective assessment and case management arrangements.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy that Government contributions to support people living in homes for the elderly in Wales shall be calculated on the same basis, irrespective of whether the home is run by a local authority, a voluntary or charitable body, or on a private commercial basis.

  Mr. Grist
  Our policies for the future funding of care in the community are fully set out in the White Paper "Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond" Cm. 849.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has offered to housing associations in Wales on the contribution he expects them to make towards the provision of suitable homes for(a) disabled people and (b) elderly and very elderly people as part of the implementation of community care policies outlined in his recent White Paper.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 8 February.

  Inspector of Schools Report
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive Her Majesty's inspector of schools Wales annual report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  We have received the report and propose to publish it next week.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to convene a conference in Wales of local education authorities, parent-teachers associations and teacher unions to discuss Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools report of 5 February;

  (2) what initiatives he will take consequent upon the publication on 5 February of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools report.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools which was published on 5 February related to England only.

  Queensferry High School, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Clwyd local education authority to discuss the future of Queensferry high school.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Should the LEA publish a statutory notice affecting the future of the school and there are statutory objections, the matter falls to my right hon. Friend for determination.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Queensferry high school to meet(a) staff members and (b) the parent-teachers association.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 7 February 1990.

  Dyslexic Children
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has issued any guidance to local education authorities concerning early diagnosis of dyslexic children;

  (2) what arrangements have been made for the diagnosis of pre-school children who suffer from dyslexia;

  (3) what steps he is taking to support the role of local health and local education authorities in the teaching of dyslexic children.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Education Act 1981 imposes duties on local education authorities to identify, assess and make appropriate provisions for children with special educational needs, including dyslexics. For children under five, the Act places a duty on health authorities to inform parents when they are of the view that a child has, or is likely to have, special educational needs and, after discussion, to bring that view to the attention of the LEA. Welsh Office circular 54/89 gives guidance to LEAs on special educational needs and stresses the importance of early identification of any difficulties. The national curriculum will apply to all children, including dyslexics, as far as is practicable.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what advice he is issuing to local education authorities concerning the training of teachers of dyslexic children;

  (2) what proposals he has to increase the number of teachers trained to teach dyslexic children.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The new criteria for the training of teachers, set out in Welsh Office circular 59/89, have been designed to ensure that students, on completion of their course, should be able to identify pupils with special educational needs or with learning difficulties; and that they should understand the way in which the potential of such pupils can be developed.

  There is provision within the local education authority training grants scheme for the training of existing teachers to enable them to offer advice to colleagues on meeting the special educational needs of children in ordinary schools. A draft Welsh Office circular will issue for consultation shortly, offering guidance on staffing for pupils with special educational needs generally.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Representations (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the representations and the subjects in each case which he has received from Nottinghamshire on matters within his responsibility up to 7 February.

  Mr. Luce
  I am not aware of any such representations.

DEFENCE

  Community Charge
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has issued to the armed services on the status as students for community charge purposes of members of Her Majesty's forces undergoing training; and if he will estimate numbers of(a) trainees at Her Majesty's
  814
  forces establishments and (b) members of Her Majesty's forces attending courses at institutions of further and higher education who will be classified as students for poll tax purposes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have promulgated information about the classification as students of personnel on long training courses at RAF Halton, and asked other training establishments to seek such classification for other similar categories. As decisions on classification are taken by community charge registration officers on the basis of all the relevant facts, I cannot estimate how many members of Her Majesty's forces will eventually be classified as students.

  Computer Security
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken and is taking to improve the security of its computer systems.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  For unclassified but sensitive systems Departments are expected to follow Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) guidance covering all aspects of IT security, and the application of this has been tightened recently. CCTA advice is kept under continuous review and is based upon the analysis of security risks and requirements using structured methods such as the CCTA risk analysis and management methodology (CRAMM), which has also been made commercially available.

  For classified systems more stringent conditions apply. MOD computer security staff continuously review the Department's computer security policy and its application to ensure that constant and adequate levels of protection are provided for those systems processing or holding classified material. In the interests of national security the nature and extent of the security countermeasures utilised to protect classified MOD computer systems cannot be revealed.

  Preventable Loss
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of preventable loss arising from theft or misappropriation in his Department.

  Mr. Neubert
  Causes of theft or misappropriation in the Ministry of Defence are centrally recorded and, where appropriate, published in the losses statement attached to the appropriation accounts. In the light of analysis of individual cases, systems and procedures are changed as necessary.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the number of professionally qualified loss prevention staff employed by his Department and the qualifications held by such staff, excluding qualifications obtained during police or military service.

  Mr. Neubert
  Responsibility for the prevention of loss, as for all matters of regularity and propriety, including the development, introduction and operation of internal control systems, rests with line managers. There are no staff employed specifically on loss prevention.

  Household Division
  Sir Alan Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the duties of the Household Division apart from ceremonial duties and (b) the areas in which units are serving and have served in recent years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Household Division comprises both cavalry and infantry regiments and undertakes a wide range of duties outside its ceremonial functions. The division has eight battalions of foot guards, all of which undertake regular infantry tasks both in the United Kingdom and around the world. Recently this has meant units serving as far afield as Cyprus, Belize, Berlin, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. Units are presently deployed at various locations in the United Kingdom, West Germany and Berlin. The division's two regiments of cavalry alternate between tours of duty with the British Army of the Rhine and 5 Airborne Brigade at Windsor.

  Submarines
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) nuclear-powered hunter killer and (b) Polaris submarines have been withdrawn from duties or recalled from patrol following the recent discovery of faults in Royal Navy nuclear submarine reactors.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answers that I gave the hon. Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Evans) on 5 February at column 460.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines and of which types, were withdrawn from Soviet naval service in 1989; and what was the comparable figure for 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Over the past two years the Soviet Navy has embarked on a major force modernisation programme to rid its inventory of obsolete submarines. The rate at which units are being decommissioned and the numbers subsequently sold for scrapping in foreign shipyards has increased markedly during 1989. During that year the Soviets removed a total of at least 35 submarines from service compared with at least two in 1988. The vast majority of these units were the 1950s vintage WHISKEY class general purpose diesel submarines.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent so far on conceptual and design work on a new generation of hunter killer submarines for the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Neubert
  Concept studies were completed in 1985. Some £28 million at 1989–90 prices has been spent so far on feasibility studies for a new generation of hunter killer submarines for the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, as part of his policy of devolving budget responsibilities and allocating costs to users, he will instruct hunter killer submarine units to charge the Polaris force for anti-submarine protection services rendered.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a Royal Navy Polaris submarine has ever been detected by Soviet forces while on patrol.
  816
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Soviet Union has never to our knowledge detected one of our Polaris submarines on patrol.

  Naval Aircraft
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all major accidents to naval aircraft in 1989, giving the type, tail number, location, date and cause of accident in each case.

  Mr. Neubert
  All accidents to Royal Navy aircraft during 1989 are currently under official investigation. As such, details of the causes cannot be given. However, the remaining information is as follows:

  Aircraft type

  Tail No.

  Location

  Date

  Accidents to aircraft in flight

  Jetstream T2

  XX489

  Portland Harbour

  8 May 1989

  Lynx

  XZ244

  Kenya

  14 May 1989

  Sea King

  XV699

  Pont Henri, Llanelli

  5 June 1989

  Sea Fury FB11

  TF956

  Firth of Clyde

  10 June 1989

  Sea Harrier

  ZA191

  Lyme Bay

  4 October 1989

  Sea King

  XZ582

  Off Bermuda

  27 October 1989

  Sea Harrier

  XZ451

  Off Sardinia

  1 December 1989

  Accidents to aircraft on the ground/on board ship

  Sea King

  XV676

  Prestwick airport

  31 May 1989

  Sea Harrier

  XZ440

  Off Bermuda

  30 October 1989

  Naval Arms Control
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to naval arms control.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO's current priorities in arms control were set out in "The Alliance's Comprehensive Concept" in May 1989. In the conventional field this called primarily for the establishment of a secure and stable balance of conventional forces in Europe at lower levels. Naval forces are, by the agreement of all parties, specifically excluded from the CFE negotiations.

  Soviet Aircraft
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Royal Air Force aircraft operating from United Kingdom bases have ever intercepted a Soviet backfire aircraft.

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

  Soviet Warships
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on how many port visits were made to non-Warsaw pact countries by Soviet warships in 1989; what proportion of these involved submarines; and what were the comparable figures for 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are aware of 95 port visits made by Soviet warships to non-Warsaw pact countries in 1989; nine of these visits were by submarines.

  We recorded 125 port visits to non-Warsaw pact countries by Soviet warships in 1988, including 16 visits by submarines.

  Soviet Tanks
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of main battle tanks built by the Soviet Union in 1989; and what was the comparable figure for 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We believe that the Soviet Union produced approximately 3,500 tanks in 1988. Preliminary estimates suggest that tank production in 1989 may have been reduced to about half that level.

  Soviet Submarines
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of new nuclear-powered submarines which entered Soviet naval service in 1989; and what was the comparable figure for 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We believe that the USSR completed construction of five nuclear-powered sub-marines in 1988, and that a comparable level of output was maintained in 1989.

  Sea Harriers
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the major accident rate per 10,000 flying hours for the Sea Harrier aircraft in 1989.

  Mr. Neubert
  Information for individual aircraft types is classified. However, the fixed-wing major accident rate for the Royal Navy, shortly to be published in the Statement on the Defence Estimates, is 1·52 per 10,000 hours.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about trends in the level of unemployment in Greater London since 1985.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is available in the Library. In December 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the Greater London region was 201,300, a fall of 181,300, or 47·4 per cent. since December 1985.

  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
  The information is available in the Library. In December 1989 there were 23,537 unemployed claimants in Derbyshire. This figure represents a fall of 9,962 or 29·7 per cent.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the current rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom and list those member states of the European Community whose rate of unemployment is higher.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In December 1989, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was 818
  5·8 per cent. On the OECD international definition the unemployment rate is higher in Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many measures he has introduced to help small businesses during the course of this Parliament.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has made major improvements in the provision of training for small businesses with the introduction last April of business growth training (BGT). For small firms, BGT offers help for owner managers in producing better business and training plans; training for starting their own businesses; and training to improve the business skills of owner managers and to help the more ambitious achieve their plans for growth. This year BGT will offer 90,000 such opportunities to small firms. The Training Agency also sponsored the launch last month of the small business programme, and open learning initiative backed by the Open university and Cranfield School of Management.

  The groundwork has been laid for the new network of training and enterprise councils which will take over responsibility from the Training Agency for planning and delivering training for, and to support the development of, small businesses. They will be responsible both for encouraging more firms to invest in training and for enterprise activities designed to strengthen local economic growth.

  My Department has continued with its campaign to make Government procurement more accessible to small firms by simplifying purchasing practices and by improving their awareness of the benefits for small suppliers. We have updated the booklet "Tendering for Government Contracts" and published our advice to purchasing officers in "Think Big, Buy Small". Last December I appointed a consultant to work closely with the central unit of purchasing to further improve purchasing practices and to strengthen the monitoring of small firms involvement.

  In 1988 the Government published the booklet "Prompt Payment Please" as part of an initiative to encourage good payment practice in both large and small firms and to foster closer co-operation between buyers and suppliers. The booklet gives guidance to small firms on credit management and correct invoicing and to large firms on their responsibility to suppliers, particularly small firms. It was prepared in conjunction with the CBI, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, the Institute of Directors and the Institute of Purchasing and Supply and has met with a positive response from both the public and private sectors.

  The local enterprise agency project scheme was introduced in April 1988 as part of the Action for Cities initiative. Grants have been made available to support project-based activity in approved enterprise agencies in any of the 57 urban programme authority areas. To date £729,893 has been given in support of 102 projects, with matched cash contributions of £914,734 from the private sector.

  Following a review, the loan guarantee scheme was improved in January 1988 by the introduction of a simplified application procedure for loans up to £15,000. In April 1989 the loan limit was increased from £75,000 to £100,000. These changes have led to a doubling of

  819
  applications for usage of the scheme, which are now running at 260 per month. In addition, in June 1988 the proportion guaranteed was increased from 70 per cent. to 85 per cent. for businesses in the 16 inner-city task force areas. In 1988–89, some 2,291 loans were guaranteed to the value of £64·76 million, compared to 1,234 loans totalling £46·23 million in the previous year.

  Earnings
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing average gross weekly earnings for full-time male employees on adult rates in Great Britain for every year from 1979 to the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is published in table 15 of part A of the 1989 new earnings survey report. A copy of the report is in the Library.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average gross hourly earnings in Great Britain for full-time manual workers, full-time non-manual workers, part-time manual workers and part-time non-manual workers, at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available information, for April 1989, is provided in the following table:

  Average gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of employees on adult rates

  £

  Full-time manual employees

  4·44

  Full-time non-manual employees

  6·83

  Part-time manual employees

  2·97

  Part-time non-manual employees

  4·23

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the name of and amount of money invested in each research project into the effects of work in or around steel furnaces on the development of chronic bronchitis, emphysema or other related disorders.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive has not directly funded any research into the effects of work in or around steel furnaces on the development of chronic bronchitis, emphysema or other disorders. The European Coal and Steel Community is now conducting its fifth programme of medical research into occupational ill-health. The Health and Safety Executive has been consulted about the contents of this research and is closely following the programme's progress.

SCOTLAND

  Training
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate what proportion of their turnover firms in the private sector in Scotland spend on training.

  Mr. Rifkind
  It is not feasible to produce the information requested because many companies located in Scotland operate on a national or international basis and their Scottish training costs cannot be separately identified.
  820
  In connection with its major study "Training in Britain" the Training Agency commissioned an employers' activities study. The public and private sector employers in Scotland that responded to that study jointly spent £665 million on training in 1986–87.

  "Training in Britain" estimated that net training expenditure by British employers in 1986–87 was of the order of £18 billion; but was not able to relate this directly to turnover.

  Bed and Breakfast
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for the number of people living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no figures available for the total number of people living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. It is estimated, however, that the number of households placed in such accommodation by local authorities under the provisions of part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 was 295 at 30 September 1989.

  Student Teachers
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional grant or bursary payments are made available to student teachers of mathematics, computing and design and technology in Scotland; and what rules and regulations apply to the receipt of such payments.

  Mr. Lang
  No such payments are made in Scotland.

  North East River Purification Board
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) on how many occasions the Minister has met representatives of the North East River Purification Board in the last nine months; what subjects were discussed; and on what dates the meetings took place;

  (2) if he has received any correspondence from the North East River Purification Board concerning matters relating to the duties and structures of the board for which he is responsible; and whether he has received any representations on such matters.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Secretary of State has not met representatives of the board in the past nine months. No representations have been received about the board's duties and structures; I have received a letter from the hon. Member about the responsibilities of the Secretary of State in this respect, to which I am replying. The clerk to the board wrote to the Department last October intimating the board's intention to restructure its management organisation. There is, of course, day-to-day official correspondence with the board on matters of mutual interest.

  Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints he has received from prisoners or from organisations concerned with prisons that hon. Members have not passed on prisoners' complaints to the parliamentary ombudsman.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have no record of receiving such a complaint.

  House Purchase
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the average income of first-time house buyers and average prices of houses in Scotland in 1989–90;

  (2) what is the average new mortgage in 1989–90 in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is available for the first half of 1989–90 only. Details are set out in the table:

  First-time housebuyers £

  All housebuyers £

  Average income

  12,461

  —

  Average price of all dwellings

  23,152

  35,847

  Average new mortgage (advances)

  —

  25,893

  Source: DOE 5 per cent. sample survey of building society mortgages.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average outstanding mortgage in 1989–90 in Scotland.

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

  Skye (Transport)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the question of improved transport links to Skye.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Minister of State is today announcing that three consortia have been selected to tender for the provision of a privately financed bridge to Skye. Subject to obtaining the necessary powers and approvals, it is hoped that the fixed link will be open to traffic by the mid-1990s. For the interim period however, given the rising popularity of the Skye crossing, approval has also been given today for the replacement of the existing ferries by two new 36-car capacity vessels. Tenders to build will now be invited by Caledonian MacBrayne and it is expected that the vessels will enter service during 1991.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Maintenance Funds
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for maintenance funds under the Finance Act 1982 have taken more than one year to process; and how many have taken more than two years.

  Mr. Lilley
  Of the applications for the establishment of a heritage maintenance fund which have been accepted, five have taken less than one year to process, four between one and two years and 47 more than two years.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for maintenance funds under the Finance Act 1982 are currently under consideration.

  Mr. Lilley
  A total of 58 applications for the establishment of heritage maintenance funds are currently under consideration.
  822
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications to establish maintenance funds have been made in each of the last two years.

  Mr. Lilley
  The total number of applications for the establishment of heritage maintenance funds received in the calendar years 1988 and 1989 was 13 and nine respectively.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have occurred where permission has been given for the establishment of a maintenance fund under the Finance Act 1982 but where the fund has not thereafter been established with an endowment.

  Mr. Lilley
  The number of cases where a maintenance fund has not been established despite approval having been granted by the Inland Revenue or the Treasury is five.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many maintenance funds for heritage property have been established since the Finance Act 1982; and how many have an endowment of less than £20,000.

  Mr. Lilley
  A total number of 56 heritage maintenance funds have been established since the passage of the Finance Act 1982; of these four have an endowment which on establishment was less than £20,000.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many maintenance funds have been established under the Finance Act 1982 with more than one sector.

  Mr. Lilley
  Of the total of 56 maintenance funds established since the passage of the Finance Act 1982, 53 support heritage entities which include property designated under more than one of the categories contained in section 31(1) of the Inheritance Tax Act.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of maintenance funds for heritage property established since the Finance Act 1982.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is not possible to provide a figure for the current value of property held by heritage maintenance funds.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the taxation of tobacco products.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a large number of representations concerning the taxation of tobacco products.

  Interest Rates and Inflation
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has undertaken on the relationship between interest rates and inflation rates in member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Ryder
  The experience of member states of the European Community confirms that an increase in interest rates is the appropriate response to inflationary pressures.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are currently receiving mortgage interest tax relief; and what is the current cost to the Exchequer.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is estimated that 9·3 million tax units will have received mortgage interest relief in 1989–90, at a cost of £7 billion.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many defendants have been electronically tagged since the scheme became operational; and how many of these defendants by each scheme have breached the conditions of their bail;

  (2) how much each electronic tag pilot cost to date;

  (3) when he will be publishing his research findings on the pilot electronic tag schemes;

  (4) whether there will be any further trials of the electronic tag as an alternative to remand in custody; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of defendants electronically monitored and the number of breaches as at 30 January is set out in the table. Electronic monitoring cannot prevent breaches of bail, which are also committed by defendants on bail, subject to other conditions, but it does enable them to be detected.

  Trial area

  Total monitored

  Breaches1

  Nottingham

  17

  9

  North Tyneside

  13

  8

  Tower Bridge

  16

  7

  Total

  46

  24

  1 Includes defendants who have breached conditions of bail, been arrested for further offences or absconded.

  The cost of the contracts (including VAT) for each trial is as follows: Nottingham £145,529, North Tyneside £158,808, Tower Bridge £260,369.

  We expect to make available later this year an analysis of the outcome of the current trials.

  So far as further trials of electronic monitoring are concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 10 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Knowles) at column 626.

  Charities
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will include the General Synod's miscellaneous paper 317 on new religious movements as evidence to the consultation process on his White Paper, "Charities—a Framework for the Future."

  Mr. Waddington
  I shall certainly do so.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Safety
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list in the Official Report, those food research projects which the Agriculture and Food Research Council will cease to fund as a result of the planned closure of the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for such rationalisation of projects.

  Mr. Curry
  The food research projects listed are those being carried out at IFR Bristol which have been identified as near market, that is, suitable for industrial support. Their funding by my Department is being phased out in 1989–90 during 1990–91.

  1. Effects of poultry breeding, husbandry, handling and processing on carcase composition and quality.

  2. Effects of breeding, husbandry, plant operations on processing quality turkey meat.

  3. Effects of frozen storage on quality and processing (meat)

  4. Carcase characteristics that determine value.

  5. Define processing conditions for optimum and consistent quality in meat products.

  6. Factors controlling meat restructuring processes.

  7. Protein solubilisation and adhesion of reformed meats.

  8. Heat and mass transfer in meat refrigeration.

  9. Temperature and mass change in meat cooking.

  10. Electrical stimulation, hot boning and accelerated ageing.

  11. Electrical stimulation, hot boning and processing properties of beef, pork and poultry.

  12. Meat process engineering.

  13. Robotics in meat handling and processing.

  14. Quality control, robotic vision and meat grading by video image analysis and fibre optics.

  15. Industrial developments and technology transfer.

  16. Carcase composition and meat quality in cattle.

  17. Carcase composition and meat quality in sheep.

  18. Techniques for assessment of carcase composition.

  19. Effects of pre-slaughter handling practices on value of carcase and fresh meat.

  20. Packaging techniques for improved storage and display.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify the measures he is taking to ensure that public interest research and development on the safety and quality of foods, particularly meat and meat products, will not be diminished as a result of the closure of the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research in December 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  Public interest research and development on the safety of food is under way at the Norwich and Reading laboratories of the Institute of Food Research and will be increased following the reorganisation of the institute. In addition, MAFF is commissioning relevant work at Food Research Association and university departments. Food safety research of relevance to the meat industry is also being undertaken by the Ministry's own central veterinary laboratory and by the public health laboratory service.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had, or proposes to have, with representations of consumer interests, the food manufacturing industry, the food retailing industry, and farmers, over the arrangements he is making to ensure that public interest research
  825
  and development into the safety and quality of food, particularly meat and meat products, will be retained after the closure of the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research.

  Mr. Curry
  The research consultative committee on food safety and applied nutrition which consists of representatives from consumer interests and the food manufacturing and the food retailing industries, recently reported to the Priorities Board on the priorities for public interest research in the safety of food, including meat, and discussions are under way with a wide range of contractors to implement these recommendations. This followed consultations with outside organisations, including the food manufacturing and the food retailing industries, on the priorities for food microbiology research in 1988–89. As a consequence, the Ministry commissioned a major strategic initiative in the area of food microbiology research and development at various institutes throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he anticipates that there will be any diminution of the quantity or quality of United Kingdom-based research into(a) food irradiation, (b) micro-wave treatments, (c) exclusion of salmonella from chickens, and (d) the growth of listeria in foods, as a result of the closure of the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research.

  Mr. Curry
  No. Research on these issues will continue to be carried out as necessary at the IFR's other sites at Norwich and Reading and at other research institutions.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what United Kingdom resources capable of monitoring the safety of the food processes of(a) cook-chill and (b) ready meal production on a scale appropriate to industrial conditions will remain following the closure of the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research.

  Mr. Curry
  Facilities for carrying out research and monitoring current conditions on the safety of cook-chill and other ready meal products exist at Leatherhead Food Research Association, Campden Food and Drink Research Association, Huddersfield polytechnic, Sheffield polytechnic and the Dorset Institute of Higher Education. The Ministry is funding work at some of these establishments in the fields in question and recognises the existent expertise.

  Radiation Contamination
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will indicate what level of radiation contamination was present in soft fruit imported to Britain in each year from 1986 onwards;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to monitor future imports of soft fruit to Britain for radiation contamination.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Central records on the monitoring of soft fruit food imports by port health authorities for radiation contamination following the Chernobyl nuclear accident show that since 1986 only consignments of dried prunes from Romania have exceeded maximum permitted levels.
  826
  All consignments concerned have been refused entry into the United Kingdom. United Kingdom monitoring has not picked up any excess readings over the last two years.

  Port health authorities are continuing to monitor food imports from outside the European Community in accordance with the latest European Council regulation (EEC No. 4003/89).

  Therapeutic Medicants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests have been carried out to establish whether therapeutic medicants used in animal feedingstuffs show up in the flesh and offal of animals destined for human consumption; what are the results of these tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department carries out extensive monitoring of residues of veterinary medicines, including therapeutic substances administered in animal feed; 40,000 samples are taken annually at randomly selected slaughterhouses and farms and are subject to screening tests and confirmatory analysis where residues are suspected. In 1989, 97 per cent. of samples analysed for anti-microbial substances passed these tests. In the remaining cases follow-up action was taken with the farms of origin.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research he has commissioned on the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to mice; what figures are available on the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy among mice; and what information he has on the possibility of communication of bovine spongiform encephalopathy from mice to humans;

  (2) what restrictions have been placed on the export of British mice as a result of the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  Research has shown that bovine spongiform encephalopathy can be transmitted to mice in experimental conditions by intra-cerebral inoculation of BSE brain tissue and by feeding large quantities of infective material. Both are unnatural methods of infection which cannot be mimicked in field conditions. Questions about its incidence, risk and control do not therefore arise.

  Free Foodstuffs (EC)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the types of food, the quantities ordered and the locations of the distribution of all free foodstuffs received from Economic Community states for free distribution to pensioners to the United Kingdom over the past six months.

  Mr. Curry
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1990, c. 134]: I have placed in the Library of the House details of distribution centres for butter and beef under the EC surplus food scheme which have been notified to us over the past six months.

  COMMUNITY CHARGE
  COMMUNITY CHARGE
  LEAD IN PAINT: HISTORIC BUILDINGS USE
  LEAD IN PAINT: HISTORIC BUILDINGS USE
  CHILDREN ACT AND COMMUNITY CARE: RSG FUNDING
  CHILDREN ACT AND COMMUNITY CARE: RSG FUNDING
  COMMUNITY CHARGE
  COMMUNITY CHARGE