Written Answers of 22 May 1990

CIVIL SERVICE

  Racial Equality
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to promote racial equality in the civil service.

  Mr. Luce
  I have today introduced a programme for action to strengthen equality of opportunity in the civil service for people of ethnic minority origin. Copies have been placed in the Library.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Malawi
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail the total funding by his Department of the Vipyha forestry project in Malawi; and if he will make a statement about its future.

  Mrs. Chalker
  British aid for the Vipyha plantation in Malawi started in the 1950s when the Commonwealth Development Corporation established pilot pine plantations. British Government loans were first made in 1964.

  Figures for earlier expenditure are not available except at disproportionate cost, but since 1978 almost £3,000,000 in capital aid has been committed, and we have also provided technical and advisory support. The sum of £200,000 for fire-fighting vehicles and equipment was approved in February 1990. The future of the plantation is a matter for the Malawi Government. I understand that a number of possible ways of utilising the timber on a viable and sustainable basis are being considered.

DEFENCE

  Mine Warfare Training, Ostend
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what co-operation exists between the Royal Navy and the Belgian navy over the mine warfare training centre at Ostend.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Royal Navy personnel regularly attend courses at the Belgian Navy's Ecole de Guerre des Mines (EGUERMIN) near Ostend. Through our contribution to the NATO infrastructure central fund, the

  Cheese imports into the United Kingdom

  (000 tonnes)

  Country of Export

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Republic of Ireland

  43

  48

  52

  61

  48

  62

  44

  France

  10

  11

  13

  14

  17

  24

  30

  Belgium/Luxembourg1

  7

  13

  15

  15

  14

  16

  14

  Netherlands

  23

  21

  23

  25

  21

  25

  23

  94
  United Kingdom will provide a share of the costs of the proposed minehunting simulator to be installed at EGUERMIN. We will continue to seek opportunities for co-operation in mine warfare training with our NATO partners wherever practical and beneficial.

  Military Exports
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which African countries the United Kingdom has exported arms and military equipment since 1979; and what has been the total value of these exports in present-day prices.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to publish such detailed information for reasons of commercial confidentiality and national security. However, statistics of United Kingdom defence sales from 1948 to 1989 by broad geographic terms are set out in volume 2 of SDE 90.

  HMS Warspite
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current condition of HMS Warspite and the progress of work on the nuclear reactors of British nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Warspite is currently undergoing refit. The programme of inspections of our nuclear-powered submarines is continuing.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has given any consideration to extending payments made to farmers inside environmentally sensitive areas to include farmers operating within national parks generally.

  Mr. Maclean
  Payments under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme can be made only to farmers within the boundaries of the designated ESAs. I have no plans at present to extend these boundaries, but I will be reviewing the scheme during 1991. A number of the ESAs are in national parks.

  Cheese
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much Irish, French, Belgian, Dutch, German, Swiss and Greek cheese respectively, was imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1983; what proportion this was of the cheese market in each year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is shown in the table:
  95

  Country of Export

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Federal Republic of Germany

  16

  23

  28

  26

  27

  36

  33

  Switzerland

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Greece

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  100

  117

  132

  142

  128

  164

  146

  Above total as proportion of total United Kingdom domestic uses per cent.

  29

  32

  35

  37

  32

  37

  34

  1 not separately identified

  2 less than 500 tonnes

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Bereavement Damages
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Attorney-General how many of the 265 replies he has received to his consultation paper on bereavement damages were in favour of(a) increasing the limit to (i) £5,000 and (ii) £10,000 or (b) leaving the limit unchanged.

  The Attorney-General
  All the responses to the consultation are still being evaluated and the Lord Chancellor hopes to make an announcement before the summer recess.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Training
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where were the number of apprentices in Northern Ireland in(a) engineering, (b) plumbing, (c) joinery and (d)bricklaying, in the years 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: The number of apprentices registered for training in the specified occupational trades were as follows:

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  (a) Engineering

  232

  306

  396

  (b) Plumbing

  42

  104

  130

  (c) Joinery

  638

  777

  933

  (d) Bricklaying

  333

  461

  575

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people attended each Government training centre in Northern Ireland in 1987–88, and in 1988–89; and what percentage of those from each centre, on completion of their training, went to(a) jobs and (b) self-employment.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: The table below shows the number of young people trained at the various training centre in Northern Ireland in 1987–88 and 1988–89 and the percentages of such young people who entered employment. There are no figures available for the percentages entering self-employment; as the young people trained at the centres would have completed initial training only in the skills required for apprenticeships etc., it is unlikely that many would have entered self-employment.
  96

  Number of young people trained

  Percentage entering employment

  Year

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Centre

  Ballymena

  223

  294

  85

  83

  Boucher road

  110

  135

  54

  64

  Craigavon

  232

  272

  86

  91

  Dundonald

  278

  300

  82

  93

  Enniskillen

  83

  102

  78

  82

  Felden

  173

  228

  79

  78

  Lisburn

  89

  108

  76

  93

  Maydown

  135

  148

  57

  80

  Newry

  183

  240

  93

  94

  Omagh

  105

  153

  74

  96

  Springtown

  89

  86

  78

  91

  Grant Aid
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much grant aid M. Kernan (Compost) Limited of 270 Battleford road, Benburb, Dungannon, received during 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989;

  (2) how much grant aid McAnallen Group of Companies of 259 Battleford road, Benburb, Dungannon, received during 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989;

  (3) how much grant aid Donnelly Bros. of 201 Killylea road, Caledon, received during 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: Grant aid received by these companies in each financial year since April 1985 was as follows:

  M. Kernan (Compost) Ltd.

  McAnallen Group

  Donnelly Bros.

  £

  £

  £

  1985–86

  50,328

  7,301

  1,400

  1986–87

  13,971

  182,538

  —

  1987–88

  5,536

  59,664

  —

  1988–89

  327,606

  21,433

  —

  1989–90

  28,126

  578,751

  —

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Saving
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent suggestions he has received to encourage saving.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has received a number of suggestions on how saving might best be encouraged. This year's Budget included a series of measures to help the small saver, reinforce the habit of savings and further encourage wider share ownership. In addition, he announced an increase in the interest rates paid on some DNS products.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what value added tax duty is payable on transactions involving nuclear waste.

  Mr. Ryder
  Transactions involving nuclear waste are liable to the standard rate of VAT.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what excise duty is payable on nuclear waste(a) imported to and (b) exported from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  None.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level of divergence between United Kingdom inflation and the European average he assesses it would be appropriate for the pound sterling to enter the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Ryderz
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's evidence to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee on the 1990 Budget—questions 304 to 307.

  Tax Deferral
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters have been received by his Department suggesting the implementation of a tax deferral scheme allowing firms to reinvest their profits for a three-year period.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor received one such suggestion before his Budget this year; and from time to time he receives letters proposing favourable tax treatment for profits retained in a business.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the establishment of the European bank for reconstruction and development.

  Mr. Major
  The Government warmly welcome the decision to establish the European bank for reconstruction and development in London. It is particularly welcome that London will be the centre of the international effort to help eastern European countries build on the reforms they have made and to assist them in their move to market economies. We shall be working closely with the president designate to ensure that the bank can begin its operations as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Classical Languages
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many entries were made for A-levels in 1989 in Latin and ancient Greek, respectively; and how many grades A and B in each subject were attained.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The following table shows information for school leavers in England in 1988:98

  Number of school leavers in 1988

  Thousands

  A-level Latin

  Entered

  1·76

  Achieved grade A

  0·56

  Achieved grade B

  0·35

  A-level Ancient Greek

  Entered

  0·43

  Achieved grade A

  0·23

  Achieved grade B

  0·11

  Comparable information is not yet available for 1988–89.

  School Meals
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average price of a school meal in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The average price of school meals in primary schools in England in October 1988, the latest date for which information is available, was 65p. It is not possible to give a figure for secondary schools as most operate a cash cafeteria system.

  Information relating to Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number and percentage of free school meals provided in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many and what percentage of children in England and Wales took school meals in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In January 1989 the number and percentage of pupils provided with school meals in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England are as follows. Information relating to Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Pupils

  Number of pupils provided with free school meals

  779,131

  as a percentage of all pupils on roll

  11

  Total number of pupils taking school meals

  3,006,710

  as a percentage of all pupils on roll

  43

  Local education authorities are empowered to provide at their discretion refreshment and facilities for the consumption of refreshments in the middle of the day for pupils in schools maintained by them. The Social Security Act 1986 requires that pupils whose parents or who themselves are in receipt of income support should receive such provision free of charge.

  National Curriculum Council
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures have been taken to ensure that practising school teachers are represented among the membership of working groups established by the National Curriculum Council, whether there is a practising school teacher among the membership of each subject working group; and if he will make a statement.
  99
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Subject working groups are established by the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales to advise them on national curriculum attainment targets and programmes of study. Task groups are set up by the National Curriculum Council for specific tasks such as advice on consultation and non-statutory guidance. All past and existing groups of both types have included practising teachers among their members.

  School Closures
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many schools were closed in each of the past five years in the Greenwich education authority area;

  (2) how many schools were closed in each of the past five years within the constituency of Peterborough.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Greenwich local education authority came into being on 1 April 1990. Information on school closures in Greenwich is not readily available before this date.

  Information for parliamentary constituencies or other areas within education authorities is not available centrally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of(a) domestic sales and (b) exports of furs from factory-farm animals; how many animals he estimates this represents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Figures relating specifically to factory-farmed furs, or the number of animals involved, are not available. Nor do domestic sales figures distinguish between furs and other animal skins. The total value of United Kingdom exports of all furs in 1989 was £132 million.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the companies so far commissioned by Her Majesty's Government to provide professional assistance under the terms of the enterprise initiative;

  (2) how much the Government have so far spent in the form of direct payments to companies under the terms of the enterprise initiative;

  (3) how many requests for assistance the Government have received under the terms of the enterprise initiative; and what proportion have enjoyed Government support;

  (4) if he will list the names of all those companies which have so far received more than (a) 10, (b) 50 and (c) 100 commissions from the Government under the terms of the enterprise initiative.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Between the launch of the assisted consultancy scheme under the enterprise initiative on 13 January 1988 and 31 March 1990, 47,994 applications were received of which one third had at that date completed their consultancy projects. The Department's contribution to the cost of these projects was £49·9 million.100
  Payments are made via independent scheme contractors to the consultants commissioned to undertake projects, and not directly to the client companies.

  It is not our practice to provide details of the consultancy firms used by scheme contractors to undertake assisted consultancy projects. This is to avoid the risk of appearing to bestow a form of Government approval or endorsement, to the unfair disadvantage of practices no less competent but which for one reason or another are not associated with the scheme.

  Packaging Industry
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of plastic production is now used by the packaging industry.

  Mr. Forth
  Appoximately 35 per cent., measured by weight.

  Bergen Conference
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration his Department intends to give to the implications for United Kingdom industry of the results of the Bergen conference on the environment.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department will be giving careful consideration to the outcome of the conference and its implications for United Kingdom industry. These will be covered in our day-to-day contacts with industry.

  Product Safety
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to support the European Parliament's amendments to the draft product safety directive at meetings of the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The amendments suggested by the European Parliament will of course be taken fully into account during further negotiations on this directive. However, I can give no commitment to supporting their amendments, some of which are directly contrary to the motion supported by the House following the debate on 10 May.

  Renault
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the effect on the competitiveness of the British car industry of the refusal of the French Government to reclaim substantial sums from messrs Renault, as instructed by the European Economic Community Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  I understand that the Commission has made a decision on this case only today. I do not know what the considered response of the French Government will be. I will continue to watch the case closely.

  Tear Gasr
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requirement there is for sales of tear gas to be notified to his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: There is no requirement for sales of tear gas to be notified to my Department. It is the practice to require a licence to export tear gas to any destination.

  Jordan (Arms Purchases)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost to the Exchequer of Jordan reneging on payment for equipment supplied by British companies under the £275 million Jordan defence package.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: I do not expect the Exchequer to incur any losses in connection with defence exports to Jordan.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support was required from the Export Credit Guarantees Department for the recent arms deals with the Jordanian Government.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose information about individual cases.

  National Council for Environmental Waste Policy
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the responsibilities of his Department in the establishment of the National Council for Environmental Waste Policy in April; and what role his Department will play in the work of the council in future.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: My Department has had no involvement in the establishment of such a council. However, under its environmental programme, the Department is seeking to promote greater recycling of waste and higher standards of waste management and waste minimisation within business and is always prepared to consider co-operating with other organisations pursuing similar objectives.

  Japan (Visit)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech in Tokyo to Japanese business men on 14 May.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: I have placed a copy of my speech at the inward investment seminar in Tokyo on 14 May in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  MPs' Travel
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the total payment made on account of Members of Parliament travel during 1989–90, analysed by(a) travel by rail, (b) travel by car and (c) travel by air, with respect to travel within their constituencies, or between London and their constituencies.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Payments made from the House of Commons Members Salaries etc. vote (class XX, vote 20) during 1989–90 in respect of travel by Members between their homes, Westminster and their constituencies and within their constituencies amounted to £5,913,667.

  The analysis of this cost relating to the method of travel is as follows:

  £

  Travel by rail

  820,827

  Travel by car

  4,374,286

  Travel by air

  718,554

  102
  Detailed figures in respect of Members' travel within constituencies or between London and constituencies a re not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT

  Contaminated Land
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to receive the departmental working party report on the feasibility of establishing registers of contaminated land; whether he will place a copy in the Library; whether he intends the registers to be compulsory or voluntary; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the departmental working group on drawing up registers of contaminated land.

  Mr. Trippier
  Following receipt of the departmental working party report on 25 April, I announced during the Commons Report stage of the Environmental Protection Bill on 30 April that the Government proposed to introduce an amendment placing a duty upon district councils in England and Wales to compile and maintain registers of potentially contaminating land uses. That amendment is to be tabled in the Lords, following consultation with the local authority associations on the detailed implications and practicalities involved.

  I have placed a copy of the working party report in the Library.

  Genetically Engineered Organisms
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from Greenpeace in respect of his plans to regulate the release of genetically engineered organisms.

  Mr. Trippier
  Greenpeace made representations in a letter dated 24 August 1989 in response to the Department's June 1989 consultation paper on proposals for the control of genetically modified organisms which now form part VI of the Environmental Protection Bill currently before Parliament.

  Pollution Inspectors
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of Her Majesty's inspectors of pollution are currently responsible for the west midlands area.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are currently six pollution inspectors in post discharging Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution regulatory responsibilities in the west midlands area.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on morale within Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Morale in HMIP is high, and staff are preparing with energy and enthusiasm for integrated pollution control and the other new responsibilities proposed for them under the Environmental Protection Bill.
  103
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on staffing levels within Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how far Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is below its full staff complement;

  (2) how many of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution inspectors have been appointed as a result of the recent recruitment round.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  There are currently 206 staff in post in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, compared with 148 when HMIP was established in April 1987. The staff complement has recently been increased further to 250. HMIP therefore has 44 vacancies within the increased complement. Twenty-five of the vacancies are for professional staff, of which seven are reserved for successful candidates to date from the current recruitment competition. We are continuing to recruit actively to fill the remaining posts.

  HMIP has also introduced an additional assistant pollution inspector recruitment grade, for candidates with full professional qualifications and at least two years industry experience, who will qualify as pollution inspectors through further training and experience in the inspectorate. This will widen the recruitment for future pollution inspectors, while fully maintaining the present professional standards. The first recruitment competition for APIs is now in progress.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made an assessment of staffing and inspection levels within Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution necessary for the effectiveness of the enforcement powers contained within the Environmental Protection Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution inspectors will be required to undertake(a) the writing of IPC (IPR) authorisations under the Environmental Protection Bill, (b) the writing of new Batneec notes under the Environmental Protection Bill and (c) routine site inspections of scheduled processes.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: I am committed to ensuring that Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will effectively discharge its responsibilities and the new duties proposed for it in the Environmental Protection Bill. The level of resources required to accomplish this is kept under continual review.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution inspectors are available in the field to undertake inspections of scheduled processes.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer, 17 May 1990]: There is currently a total of 69 inspectors posted to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's regional field force.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposed inspection rates for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in MINIS 9 and MINIS 10 have been achieved.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer, 17 May 1990]: Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution came close to meeting
  104
  most of the proposals for inspection activity set out in MINIS 10, bettered a number, and did not fully achieve some others. The figures are as follows:

  1989–90 Performance

  MINIS 10 Target

  Air:

  Inspections

  7,350

  7,550

  Samples taken

  1,350

  1,900

  Water:

  Inspection of sewage treatment works

  545

  500

  Discharge consents issued to water authorities

  1,302

  800

  Radioactive Substances Inspections:

  Nuclear premises

  259

  270

  Non-nuclear premises

  606

  680

  Waste:

  Visits to Waste Disposal Authorities

  1154

  350

  Inspections of major hazardous waste facilities

  2267

  3100

  1 of which 22 programmed

  2 50 programmed

  3 programmed

  A full account of the year's activity will be given in HMIP's MINIS 11 return, which will be published in due course.

  As I described in the answer I gave today we have recently increased HMIP's complement to 250 posts, and are actively recruiting professional staff to bring the inspectorate up to the increased strength.

  The MINIS 10 return, available in the Library, reported on achievement of MINIS 9 proposals.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what inspection rates are proposed for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in MINIS 11; and what were the proposed rates in MINIS 9 and MINIS 10.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: The Department's MINIS 11 directorate returns will as usual be published when ministerial colleagues and I have completed consideration of them. The MINIS 9 and 10 returns are available in the Library.

  Satellite TV Dishes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the cost to public funds of installing satellite television receiving equipment in the House; and where it will be located.

  Mr. Chope
  At the request of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee the Parliamentary Works Office is at present looking into the options for providing satellite television services to the House. It is hoped to provide a report, including costs, before the spring Adjournment.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of English local authority expenditure is devoted to(a) fulfilment of statutory duties, and (b) discretionary expenditure.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Councillors(Personal Interests)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dispensations to speak and vote he gave in 1989 to local councillors with personal or pecuniary interests.
  106
  Mr. Portillo
  In 1989, 1,318 councillors with pecuniary interests were given dispensation to speak and vote.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations to which he has given(a) an increase in grant and (b) a decrease in grant in 1990–91 compared with 1989–90 under the system of grants to voluntary organisations working in the field of homelessness together with the actual change and percentage change in each case.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him yesterday.

  School Meals
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of administration to provide school meals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The cost of administration of school catering is provisionally estimated at £33 million in 1988–89, which is the latest year for which information is available. This estimate excludes any local authority general administration costs recharged to individual services.

  Sovereign's Entrance
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the work to be carried out to allow the Sovereign's Entrance in the Palace of Westminster to be used for the line of route.

  Mr. Chope
  The contract for the work has been let. Subject to the manufacturer achieving the quoted delivery period for the railings, visitors should be able to use the Entrance before the end of June.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment of the impact on the homeless was made prior to his decision to stop section 73 funding to CHAR;

  (2) what representations he has received about CHAR losing section 73 funding; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: We have increased the resources available for grants to voluntary bodies under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 from £680,000 in 1989–90 to £2 million for 1990–91. Half that total is allocated to a national homelessness advice service involving citizens advice bureaux, the Shelter Housing Aid Centre and Shelter; half to practical projects providing direct help to homeless people. Twenty-six bodies have been offered grant in respect of specific practical projects. I believe that this approach will provide more direct help to homeless people than the previous use of section 73 funds for core funding voluntary bodies. I have received a number of representations on behalf of CHAR, but I will not raise hopes of further funding this year: all the funds are earmarked.

  "Football Spectator Violence"
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will issue copies of the 1984 Government report "Football Spectator Violence", of which his officials were members, to all police forces in the United Kingdom;
  108
  (2) if he will (a) reissue his 1984 departmental report, "Football Spectator Violence" published by HMSO, ISBN 0 11 751749 6, and (b) distribute copies to the Football Association and the Football League.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: The report on football spectator violence was issued in 1984 and copies were sent to the football authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers among others. One of its recommendations was that high-risk clubs should not play away at major seaside towns on or during public holidays. Following the disgraceful scenes of football hooliganism in Bournemouth on 5 May, my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has secured an undertaking from the Football League that in future it will give proper regard to a chief constable's assessment of the prospect of disorder when determining fixtures.

  Landlords
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett),Official Report, 16 March, column 389, on the gains made by private landlords, if he will make it his policy to set up an inquiry into profits made by landlords in (a) Manchester and (b) England from not reducing rate-inclusive rents by appropriate amounts following the introduction of the poll tax.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: No.

  Toxic Wastes
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what dangerous chemicals included on the red list are being deposited in landfill sites in west Yorkshire.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: Information on deposits of red list substances in landfill sites in west Yorkshire is not held centrally. Consent for such deposits is a matter for the waste disposal authorities concerned acting in consultation with the NRA.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the inflationary factor used when determining the new infrastructure charge limits agreed for the new water companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: In determining the infrastructure charge limits it was assumed that construction costs would move relative to the RPI as follows

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  +3·6

  1991–92

  -0·2

  1992–93

  -3·7

  1993–94

  -4·6

  11994–95

  0

  1 and subsequent years.

  and that the RPI would increase by 5 per cent. in 1990–91. After 1990–91 the limits may increase by the RPI unless they are subject to review by the director general in the context of a review of the general charges limits.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of permitting married women who do not undertake employment, and have no investment income, to pay only 20 per cent. of the community charge.

  Mr. Michael Portillo
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope), yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin).

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to bring forward his alternative proposals for the operation of the poll tax.

  Mr. Chope
  We are looking to see whether any improvements could be made to the operation of the community charge. If and when any such improvements are identified they will be announced at the appropriate time.

  Conservation, Islay
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from parties who feel that they have been disadvantaged by the decision to protect Duich Moss on Islay.

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

  No representations have been received since the agreement to protect Duich Moss was announced on 13 May 1989.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Council of Europe
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the 86th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 10 May.

  Mr. Maude
  The 86th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe focused on the interest in the Council shown by the countries of central and eastern Europe and on the contribution the Council could make to further progress in the CSCE process. The United Kingdom was represented by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  A copy of the final communiqué of the meeting is being placed in the Library.

  Fiji
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the Fijian Government intend to hold a referendum on the basis of one person one vote before accepting any new constitution; what contacts Her Majesty's Government have had with the Fijians on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
  110
  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no information on whether the Fiji Government intend to hold such a referendum. We have had no contacts with the Fiji Government or the Fijians on this matter.

  Embassies
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list British embassies according to the grade of the ambassador.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our policy to disclose the grades of our ambassadors.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will discuss with the Governor of Hong Kong(a) the conditions and state of health of the Vietnamese refugees confined in each of the camps in Hong Kong, respectively and (b) recent riots in each of the camps in Hong Kong, respectively.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes. The best way to improve conditions in the camps and to remove the risk of riots is for those found after status-determination procedures not to be refugees to be returned in safety to their own communities in Vietnam.

  Diplomatic Relations
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the dates on which diplomatic relations with any member state of the United Nations were severed, indicating in each case whether it was Britain or the country concerned which severed the relations.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following is the information:

  Cases in which the United Kingdom has initiated a break in diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom since 1946

  Country

  Dates

  1.

  Albania

  1946

  —

  2.

  Uganda

  28 July 1976

  21 April 1979

  3.

  Argentina

  2 April 1982

  19 February 1990

  4.

  Libya

  30 April 1984

  —

  5.

  Syria

  31 October 1986

  —

  6.

  Cambodia

  6 December 1979

  —

  Cases in which other countries initiated a break in diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom since 1946

  Country

  Dates

  1.

  Iran

  1951

  December 1952

  7 March 1989

  —

  2.

  Saudi Arabia

  17 November 1956

  28 July 1963

  3.

  Yemen

  16 February 1963

  December 1967

  4.

  Somali Republic

  18 March 1963

  4 January 1968

  5.

  Guatemala

  Reduced to consular level 31 July 1963

  Consular relations broken September 1981

  Resumed August 1986

  Full diplomatic relations resumed December 1986

  111

  Country

  Dates

  6.

  Algeria

  18 December 1965

  10 April 1968

  7.

  Congo (Brazzaville)

  16 December 1965

  10 April 1968

  8.

  Ghana

  16 December 1965

  5 March 1966

  9.

  Guinea

  15 December 1965

  20 February 1968

  10.

  Mali

  16 December 1965

  10 April 1968

  11.

  Mauritania

  17 December 1965

  10 April 1968

  12.

  Sudan

  18 December 1965 6 June 1967

  16 April 1966 25 January 1968

  13.

  Tanzania

  15 December 1965

  4 July 1968

  14.

  UAR

  17 December 1965 1956

  12 December 1967 1959

  15.

  Iraq

  8 June 1967 1 December 1967

  1 May 1968 resumed by 5 September 1974

  16.

  Syria

  6 June 1967

  28 May 1973

  17.

  Iceland

  19 February 1976

  2 June 1976

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries with which Britain has diplomatic relations but where there is no resident ambassador in the country to which he is accredited, indicating in each case where the ambassador resides.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have full diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis with the following countries (the country of residence of Her Majesty's ambassador/high commissioner is shown in parentheses after each):

  Antigua and Barbuda (Barbados)

  Benin (Nigeria)

  Burkina (Ivory Coast)

  Burundi (Zaire)

  Cape Verde (Senegal)

  Central African Republic (Cameroon)

  Chad (London)

  Comoros (Mauritius)

  Djibouti (Yemen, North)

  Commonwealth of Dominica (Barbados)

  Dominican Republic (Venezuela)

  El Salvador (Honduras)

  Equatorial Guinea (Cameroon)

  Grenada (Barbados)

  Guinea (Senegal)

  Guinea-Bissau (Senegal)

  Haiti (Jamaica)

  Laos (Thailand)

  Maldives (Sri Lanka)

  Mali (Senegal)

  Mauritania (Senegal)

  Nauru (Fiji)

  Nicaragua (Costa Rica)

  Niger (Ivory Coast)

  Rwanda (Zaire)

  St. Kitts, Nevis (Barbados)

  St. Lucia (Barbados)

  St. Vincent and The Grenadines (Barbados)

  Sao Tome (Angola)

  Surinam (Guyana)

  Togo (Ghana)

  Tuvalu (Fiji)

  Western Samoa (New Zealand)

  112
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the member states of the United Nations Organisation with which the United Kingdom does not have diplomatic relations.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The following is the information:

  Albania

  Bhutan

  Cambodia

  Iran

  Libya

  Syria

  International Organisations
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the international organisations of which Britain is a member, indicating in each case the date of joining, the cost of membership, and the number of British nationals employed by the organisation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There is no central list of all the international organisations to which the United Kingdom belongs. The information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the Japanese Government to investigate allegations, made by British ex-service men, of war crimes against Kiyoaki Tanara and Shigeyuki Hashimoto; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no evidence in our records to support these allegations and do not, therefore, feel justified in raising this matter with the Japanese Government.

  Mrs. Maroof Jan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken on the application made to the British high commission in Islamabad by Mrs. Maroof Jan, whose date of birth is 1958, ref. IMM/43953, to enter the United Kingdom.

  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 as soon as possible.

  Border Checks
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 15 May,Official Report, column 380, if he will specify the sections of the debate on inter-community frontiers on 4 May 1989 which set out the border checks on individuals which are to be removed in consequence of the European Economic Community arrangements described in the pamphlet "Europe in the 1990s", issued by his Department.

  Mr. Maude
  As stated in my answer on 15 May, c.380, my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary set out our position in full in the debate on 4 May 1989. Discussions continue with our partners.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 11 May, what factors have led to the increase in the United Kingdom net contribution to the European Community for 1989 to £2,315 million.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 23 to 27 of the statement on the 1990 Community budget which was presented to the House on 26 April.

  Assize of European Parliamentarians
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the assize of European parliamentarians comprising 50 per cent. Members of the European Parliament and 50 per cent. national Members of Parliament, scheduled to be held in Italy in the autumn, setting out what knowledge he may have of its status, the terms and conditions under which it is established, how it is to be funded and the authority and standing of any conclusions that it may reach.

  Mr. Maude
  We understand that the Italian Chamber of Deputies has agreed to host the meeting with national parliaments in Rome in October which had been advocated by the European Parliament. The European Parliament has not yet made clear what organisational or financial arrangements it proposes. Such a meeting would enjoy no status under the treaty and the authority of any conclusions reached would derive from the support of those present.

  Single European Act
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the operation of the Single European Act.

  Mr. Maude
  We will publish our observations on the report at 1530 hours on 22 May 1990.

WALES

  Trunk Road Improvements
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent on trunk road improvements in Gwynedd in the last 12 months excluding the A55 expressway.

  Mr. Roberts
  Estimated expenditure in 1989–90 on new construction and improvement in Gwynedd, excluding the A55 north Wales coast road, is £5·4 million.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the latest average unemployment rate in development areas in Wales and (b) the unemployment rate on the same date for each travel-to-work area which had an unemployment rate higher than the average for development areas in Wales, denoting which of the areas have in their territory a development area.
  114
  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Per cent.1

  Status

  (a)Average for development areas in Wales

  7·1

  (b) Travel-to-work areas with a higher unemployment rate than the average for the development areas in Wales:

  Aberdare

  10·3

  DA

  Holyhead

  9·7

  DA

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  9·4

  DA

  Bangor and Caernarfon

  9·0

  IA

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  8·5

  DA

  South Pembrokeshire

  8·1

  DA

  Llanelli

  8·0

  IA

  Pwllheli

  7·6

  IA

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  7·5

  DA

  Haverfordwest

  7·4

  IA

  1 Workforce-based unemployment rate, per cent., April 1990.

  DA denotes development area.

  IA denotes intermediate area.

  Note: Development areas are defined in terms of "Travel-to-Work areas".

  Schools (Spending)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total capital spending in Welsh schools in current prices in each year from 1979–80 to 1988–89.

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

  Total capital expenditure on Welsh schools in 1988–89 prices

  £000

  1979–80

  32,906

  1980–81

  41,026

  1981–82

  34,726

  1982–83

  36,810

  1983–84

  34,823

  1984–85

  30,323

  1985–86

  26,767

  1986–87

  32,786

  1987–88

  38,393

  1988–89

  37,568

  Source Capital Outturn Returns.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers in Wales in total and in percentage terms entered(a) further and (b) higher education in 1979, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Roberts
  The latest available data on the first destination of school leavers are for the academic year 1987–88. They are not however available in the form requested. The following table gives the number and percentages of school leavers entering degree and teacher training courses and other further and higher education.

  1979–80

  1987–88

  Number of school leavers with intended destination1:

  Degree and teacher training courses

  3,850

  3,970

  Other further and higher education courses

  7,005

  9,620

  Leavers' destinations as a percentage of all leavers1:

  Degree and teacher training courses

  9

  10

  Other further and higher education courses

  15

  24

  1 School leavers survey. This is a 10 per cent, sample survey and therefore the data will be subject to sampling error.

  North Wales Expressway
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total cost of constructing the north Wales expressway; and if he will publish information on the anticipated traffic volumes on this road, after completion, by category of users.

  Mr. Roberts
  Total expenditure on dualling the A55 is estimated at around £620 million. Estimates of anticipated traffic volumes for 15 years after opening have been or will be published for each section of the route as part of the evidence put before the public inquiry. Current annual average daily traffic flows on the A55 range between 15,000 and 30,000 vehicles, of which 8 to 10 per cent. are heavy goods vehicles.

  Care and Repair Schemes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many care and repair schemes are currently operative in Wales; and if he will make a statement on the future funding of such schemes.

  Mr. Grist
  Since March 1987 our Department has helped to establish 15 home improvement agencies in Wales. Ten schemes are funded by our Department under the care and repair agencies initiative and the remaining five from other sources of Welsh Office funding. Two further agencies are operating independently.

  The performance of home improvement agencies has been monitored over the past three years by the school for advanced urban studies in Bristol and we are currently studying its conclusions. We will decide shortly on the future of existing agencies and their possible further development.

  Motor Neurone Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much assistance his Department gave by way of grant to the Motor Neurone Disease Association during 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  None.

  Physically Handicapped People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing, in current money equivalent terms, the spending by social services departments in Wales on services for registered physically handicapped people during 1988–89 and for each of the previous 10 years, together with the number of such people who were beneficiaries of these services in each year and the corresponding average spending per assisted case.

  Mr. Grist
  The information available on spending is given in the tables:

  Local authority expenditure on physically disabled1

  £ million at 1988–89 prices

  1978–79

  4·7

  1979–80

  4·4

  1980–81

  4·2

  1981–82

  4·1

  1982–83

  4·0

  1983–84

  4·8

  116

  £ million at 1988–89 prices

  1984–85

  2—

  1985–86

  3·8

  1986–87

  4·1

  1987–88

  34·6

  1988–89

  34·8

  1 Excludes expenditure on day care. Data for 1978–79 and 1986–87 are estimated from outturn information shown in the Local Authority Social Services Planning Statements for Wales. These figures may include some expenditure on the elderly.

  2 Not available.

  3 Information for 1987–88 and 1988–89 was collected on a different basis and is not strictly comparable with earlier years.

  Information relating to the receipt of services provided by social services departments is as follows:

  Number of residents under the age of 65 supported by local authorities1 2

  Cases of assistance provided by Social Services Departments 3 4

  1979

  720

  28,707

  1980

  689

  28,418

  1981

  634

  25,293

  1982

  630

  26,920

  1983

  583

  31,290

  1984

  599

  41,659

  1985

  548

  39,312

  1986

  417

  42,423

  1987

  416

  44,510

  1988

  404

  45,285

  1989

  418

  47,730

  1 In local authority, private and voluntary homes. Some of these residents may not be physically disabled.

  2 As at 31 March.

  3 Telephone rentals, personal equipment, adaptations to property, holidays etc. Information given relates to cases as opposed to beneficiaries (an individual beneficiary may receive more than one case of assistance). Figures quoted include all age groups and relate to assistance provided to both physically disabled people and other client groups.

  4 Year ending 31 March.

  It is not statistically meaningful to calculate average spending per assisted case because of the differing natures of the various services provided. These services vary from smaller forms of assistance, such as the provision of personal aids, through to the long-term support in residential care.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers in Wales have entered full-time employment annually in total and percentage terms for each year from 1979.

  Mr. Roberts
  The numbers and percentages of those school leavers in Wales entering full-time employment are given in the table:

  School leavers intending to enter the labour market1

  Number

  Percentage of all leavers

  1979–80

  34,270

  76

  1980–81

  32,040

  73

  1981–82

  32,195

  71

  1982–83

  31,410

  69

  1983–84

  30,950

  70

  1984–85

  30,610

  69

  1985–86

  29,840

  69

  117

  Number

  Percentage of all leavers

  1986–87

  29,915

  68

  1987–88

  27,015

  66

  1 Including leavers whose destination is unknown.

  Source: School Leavers Survey. This is on a 10 per cent. sample and therefore the data will be subject to sampling error.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what redress there is if a health authority that is counselling the closure of a hospital fails to conform with the provisions of planning paper V, entitled "Procedure for Consultation on the Closure and Change of Use of Health Buildings".

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 16 May 1990, column 479–80. In addition, it is open to people or bodies who consider that they have not been properly consulted under the terms of service planning paper 5 to make an application to the High Court for a judicial review of the health authority's actions.

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the maintained school pupil population in Wales and by local education authority, in separate tables for primary, secondary and all pupils(a) in 1988 and (b) projected for 1995 and 2000.

  Mr. Roberts
  The information requested is given in the following tables:

  Number of pupils in maintained primary schools in Wales (thousands)

  Welsh Counties

  1988–89

  1995–96

  2000–01

  Clwyd

  38·7

  41·9

  44·3

  Dyfed

  31·9

  34·4

  36·0

  Gwent

  41·4

  44·9

  47·3

  Gwynedd

  20·0

  20·2

  22·2

  Mid Glamorgan

  54·1

  57·3

  60·7

  Powys

  10·2

  10·8

  11·3

  South Glamorgan

  36·0

  39·9

  43·1

  West Glamorgan

  36·2

  37·5

  39·1

  Male Teachers

  LEA

  Salary Scale

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glam

  Powys

  S. Glam

  W. Glam

  WALES

  Head

  236

  255

  166

  187

  208

  96

  118

  140

  1,406

  Deputy

  146

  99

  145

  99

  190

  32

  117

  131

  959

  2nd M&M

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Main Scale & E

  85

  16

  78

  21

  92

  9

  63

  44

  408

  Main Scale & D

  197

  156

  163

  79

  172

  35

  155

  137

  1,094

  Main Scale & C

  14

  13

  49

  3

  1

  1

  7

  17

  105

  Main Scale & B

  345

  304

  319

  232

  533

  125

  314

  287

  2,459

  Main Scale & A

  34

  18

  61

  26

  1

  22

  41

  38

  241

  Main Scale & None

  404

  390

  533

  301

  809

  149

  383

  433

  3,402

  Other

  1

  1

  1

  2

  6

  1

  3

  0

  15

  Total

  1,462

  1,252

  1,515

  950

  2,014

  470

  1,201

  1,227

  10,091

  Female Teachers

  LEA

  Salary Scale

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glam

  Powys

  S. Glam

  W.Glam

  WALES

  Head

  88

  126

  127

  45

  180

  42

  94

  73

  775

  Deputy

  163

  159

  149

  78

  245

  50

  140

  106

  1,090

  2nd M&M

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Main Scale & E

  10

  5

  15

  5

  30

  1

  11

  14

  91

  Main Scale & D

  72

  37

  60

  24

  62

  5

  62

  42

  364

  118

  Welsh Counties

  1988–89

  1995–96

  2000–01

  Wales

  268·5

  286·9

  304·0

  Number of pupils in maintained secondary schools in Wales (thousands)

  West Counties

  1988–89

  1995–96

  2000–01

  Clwyd

  27·4

  27·4

  28·6

  Dyfed

  23·7

  24·7

  25·9

  Gwent

  29·2

  29·6

  31·2

  Gwynedd

  16·4

  16·3

  16·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  37·5

  37·1

  39·0

  Powys

  8·0

  7·8

  8·0

  South Glamorgan

  26·6

  27·9

  30·3

  West Glamorgan

  23·2

  23·6

  24·3

  Wales

  192·0

  194·4

  203·8

  Numbers of pupils in all maintained schools in Wales1 (thousands)

  Welsh Counties

  1988–89

  1995–96

  2000–01

  Clwyd

  66·4

  69·7

  73·2

  Dyfed

  55·8

  59·3

  62·1

  Gwent

  71·8

  75·7

  79·6

  Gwynedd

  36·3

  37·1

  38·8

  Mid Glamorgan

  92·9

  95·8

  101·1

  Powys

  18·2

  18·7

  19·3

  South Glamorgan

  63·4

  68·7

  74·3

  West Glamorgan

  59·6

  61·4

  63·6

  Wales

  464·4

  486·4

  512·0

  1 Includes maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the full-time equivalent number of teachers in Wales and in each Welsh local education authority, by Burnham scale and sex.

  Mr. Roberts
  The number of teachers receiving incentive allowances at March 1988 is given in the following table.

  The Burnham scale has been replaced in schools by the school teachers pay and conditions document.
  119

  Salary Scale

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glam

  Powys

  S. Glam

  W.Glam

  WALES

  Main Scale & C

  7

  5

  35

  3

  2

  0

  4

  6

  62

  Main Scale & B

  403

  339

  345

  177

  430

  75

  303

  410

  2,482

  Main Scale & A

  89

  30

  110

  46

  5

  29

  121

  121

  551

  Main Scale & None

  1,110

  1,246

  1,540

  874

  2,284

  457

  1,365

  1,353

  10,229

  Other

  3

  1

  4

  2

  12

  4

  4

  1

  31

  Total

  1,945

  1,948

  2,385

  1,254

  3,251

  663

  2,104

  2,126

  15,676

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, by education authority and for Wales as a whole, what is the number and percentage of teachers by sex with(a) less than one year, (b) one year, (c) two years, (d) three years, (e) four years, (f) five years, (g) six to 10 years,(h) 11 to 15 years and (i) over 16 years teaching experience in their current school.

  Teachers in primary schools

  Experience in present school1

  Local authority

  Less than I year (per cent.)

  1 year (per cent.)

  2 years (per cent.)

  3 years (per cent.)

  4 years (per cent.)

  5 years (per cent.)

  6–10 years (per cent.)

  11–15 years (per cent.)

  More than 15 years (per cent.)

  Total (per cent.)

  Total (thousands)

  Male

  Clwyd

  4·5

  7·9

  7·4

  15·8

  4·0

  6·7

  25·7

  11·4

  16·6

  100

  0·4

  Dyfed

  6·6

  12·3

  16·2

  6·3

  6·9

  6·3

  15·0

  12·9

  17·4

  100

  0·3

  Gwent

  12·5

  8·7

  16·3

  9·4

  3·4

  6·5

  15·2

  17·0

  11·0

  100

  0·4

  Gwynedd

  4·5

  10·4

  7·5

  4·5

  10·1

  5·2

  28·0

  9·7

  20·1

  100

  0·3

  Mid Glamorgan

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Powys

  7·5

  6·7

  8·2

  11·2

  8·2

  4·5

  20·1

  16·4

  17·2

  100

  0·1

  South Glamorgan

  9·5

  8·7

  12·0

  7·4

  8·7

  14·0

  17·4

  12·0

  10·3

  100

  0·2

  West Glamorgan

  14·7

  13·5

  6·9

  5·8

  5·8

  3·7

  23·1

  15·0

  11·5

  100

  0·3

  Total2

  8·9

  9·8

  10·9

  8·9

  6·0

  6·8

  20·6

  13·6

  14·4

  100

  2·7

  Female

  Clwyd

  7·0

  7·1

  10·2

  5·6

  4·7

  5·4

  29·2

  13·5

  17·3

  100

  1·3

  Dyfed

  14·9

  8·3

  7·5

  5·9

  6·0

  6·1

  18·6

  16·2

  16·5

  100

  1·2

  Gwent

  11·2

  10·2

  10·9

  8·1

  6·3

  4·4

  16·9

  17·1

  14·8

  100

  1·5

  Gwynedd

  11·2

  8·1

  8·2

  7·6

  6·3

  3·4

  19·7

  16·9

  18·6

  100

  0·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Powys

  12·6

  13·1

  7·7

  5·4

  5·6

  4·2

  17·1

  16·6

  17·6

  100

  0·4

  South Glamorgan

  20·9

  8·4

  8·4

  6·9

  4·8

  3·8

  19·0

  15·3

  12·4

  100

  1·4

  West Glamorgan

  19·8

  8·0

  6·3

  6·0

  6·7

  4·7

  14·3

  18·7

  15·7

  100

  1·5

  Total2

  14·5

  8·6

  8·5

  6·6

  5·9

  4·6

  19·1

  16·5

  15·7

  100

  9·9

  1 These figures are based on primary school staffing survey carried out in March 1987. Only 32 per cent, of teachers responded to the survey and thus figures shown are estimates based on grossed data.

  2 No data is available for Mid Glamorgan but the Wales totals include an estimate for the county.

  n/a=Not available.

  Teachers in secondary schools1

  Experience in present school

  Local authority

  Less than 1 year (per cent.)

  1 year (per cent.)

  2 years (per cent.)

  3 years (per cent.)

  4 years (per cent.)

  5 years (per cent.)

  6–10 years (per cent.)

  11–15 years (per cent.)

  More than 15 years (per cent.)

  Total (per cent.)

  Total (thousands)

  Male

  Clwyd

  8·3

  5·3

  5·7

  6·6

  3·7

  5·5

  21·1

  20·4

  23·4

  100

  1·0

  Dyfed

  5·8

  5·0

  4·5

  5·3

  5·9

  6·9

  20·7

  23·2

  22·7

  100

  0·8

  Gwent

  5·2

  3·7

  5·4

  5·1

  3·9

  4·8

  22·0

  26·2

  23·9

  100

  1·0

  Gwynedd

  5·8

  5·3

  4·2

  4·1

  6·3

  4·5

  24·7

  17·0

  28·1

  100

  0·6

  Mid Glamorgan

  5·4

  4·4

  3·6

  2·8

  4·1

  6·4

  21·2

  23·5

  28·5

  100

  1·3

  Powys

  12·6

  4·5

  4·9

  5·5

  4·9

  6·5

  14·9

  16·8

  29·4

  100

  0·3

  South Glamorgan

  6·2

  7·4

  3·9

  4·4

  4·0

  3·8

  17·2

  23·3

  29·9

  100

  0·8

  West Glamorgan

  5·6

  4·3

  6·1

  7·8

  4·3

  3·3

  19·3

  23·2

  26·3

  100

  0·8

  Total

  6·3

  4·9

  4·8

  5·0

  4·5

  5·2

  20·6

  22·4

  26·3

  100

  6·6

  Female

  Clwyd

  13·4

  7·1

  7·1

  5·8

  6·8

  5·8

  26·3

  18·1

  9·7

  100

  0·8

  Dyfed

  18·0

  7·7

  6·1

  6·3

  4·7

  6·5

  18·8

  15·7

  16·1

  100

  0·8

  Gwent

  14·8

  8·3

  7·4

  4·5

  4·6

  4·1

  22·7

  17·9

  15·7

  100

  1·0

  Gwynedd

  13·4

  7·3

  4·4

  5·3

  4·5

  7·1

  25·6

  15·4

  17·1

  100

  0·6

  Mid Glamorgan

  8·5

  8·7

  5·1

  5·0

  3·8

  6·4

  23·6

  20·1

  18·7

  100

  1·1

  Powys

  22·4

  8·3

  5·8

  8·7

  2·5

  5·1

  20·6

  8·7

  18·1

  100

  0·3

  South Glamorgan

  18·1

  10·1

  7·0

  4·7

  5·6

  4·2

  20·5

  16·9

  12·9

  100

  0·8

  West Glamorgan

  15·4

  4·9

  7·0

  5·0

  4·6

  4·0

  19·9

  19·9

  19·3

  100

  0·8

  Total

  14·6

  7·8

  6·3

  5·3

  4·8

  5·4

  22·4

  17·5

  15·8

  100

  6·2

  1 These figures are based on secondary school staffing survey carried out in February 1989. Seventy-eight per cent, of teachers responded to the survey and thus figures shown are estimates based on grossed data.

  120
  Mr. Roberts
  The information requested is available only in the form of estimates produced from the 1987 primary schools staffing survey and the 1989 secondary schools staffing survey, and is provided in the following tables:

  Training
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, column 724, if he will provide the latest available figures on trainees undergoing employment training and training scheme vacancies by county.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  County

  Total numbers on employment training at 31 March 1990

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,975

  South Glamorgan

  1,975

  Gwent

  2,536

  Dyfed

  2,466

  West Glamorgan

  2,125

  Clwyd

  2,196

  Powys

  493

  Gwynedd

  1,163

  The figures given in my right hon. Friend's reply of 11 January on unfilled places are the latest available.

  Urban Aid Grants
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make suitable financial arrangements to ensure(a) that successful applicants for urban aid grants in 1990–91 have adequate time to undertake the work set out in their application and (b) that carry-over arrangements arising from this year's late grant decisions are (i) sympathetic to the problems that applicants may have and (b) funded in full by his Department.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Monday 21 May.

  Homelessness (Grants)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the organisations to which he has given(a) an increase in grant and (b) a decrease in grant in 1990–91 compared with 1989–90 under the system of grants to voluntary organisations working in the field of homelessness together with the actual change and percentage change in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Our Department has given substantial increases in grant to the three voluntary organisations which tackle homelessness on a strategic level. Not including any supplementary grants given in 1989–90, the figures are as follows:

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Differences

  Per cent, increase

  Shelter

  59,115

  114,684

  +55,569

  48

  Welsh Womens Aid (WWA)

  41,832

  63,286

  +21,454

  34

  Swansea

  Accommodation for the single homeless (SASH)

  35,591

  71,150

  +35,559

  50

  Further resources have been made available for this financial year specifically for new initiatives by voluntary bodies in helping to tackle homelessness on a strategic level.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the convictions for river pollution in Wales and, in each case, show the contravention, the polluter and the river polluted.

  Mr. Grist
  This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority.

  Cheese
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the marketing of Welsh cheese.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I take every opportunity to urge all Welsh producers to improve the marketing arid presentation of their products. The Welsh Development Agency, through its Welsh food initiative, assists food producers to market their products. "Good Food from Wales", compiled by the Welsh food initiative, includes 28 cheese companies.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria are used by his Department to measure the efficiency of health authorities, and facilities within health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to section VI of the "Corporate Management Programme for the Health Service in Wales", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  The corporate management programme is currently being developed to take account of the changes proposed in the White Papers "Working for Patients" and "Caring for People".

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners there are in each health district in Wales on the latest available information; and how many registered patients there are in each such area.

  Mr. Grist
  The latest available information is given in the following table:

  Family Practitioner Committee

  Number of principals1

  Registered patients2

  Clwyd

  214

  415,469

  Dyfed

  206

  354,261

  Gwent

  241

  456,739

  Gwynedd

  147

  242,277

  Mid Glamorgan

  295

  560,040

  Powys

  76

  123,820

  South Glamorgan

  226

  426,692

  West Glamorgan

  194

  380,580

  1 Unrestricted principals as at 1 October 1988

  2 Number of patients on lists of unrestricted principals for whom the FPC was responsible.

  Registered Child Minders
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many registered child minders there are in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of registered child minders in Wales as at 31 March 1989 is 3,448.

  Health Service (Catering)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of catering provisions per patient per day in each Welsh health authority in each year since 1979, expressed in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Grist
  The available information is shown in the following table, for 1987–88 and 1988–89. Figures for the years before 1987–88 are not readily available.

  1987–88

  1988–89

  actual £

  constant1 £

  actual £

  Clwyd

  1·49

  1·60

  1·63

  East Dyfed

  1·64

  1·76

  1·50

  Gwent

  1·64

  1·76

  1·77

  Gwynedd

  1·66

  1·78

  1·73

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·85

  1·98

  1·83

  Powys

  1·46

  1·56

  1·69

  South Glamorgan

  1·49

  1·60

  1·57

  West Glamorgan

  1·63

  1·75

  1·83

  Pembrokeshire2

  —

  —

  —

  Wales

  1·60

  1·71

  1·67

  1 Revalued to 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.

  2 Not available as catering is 'contracted out'.

  Cardiff Shooting Range
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) on what date the factories inspectorate was called to visit the national sports centre for Wales; when the visit took place; and what reports were made;

  (2) on what dates the Health and Safety Executive was called to visit the national sports centre, Cardiff shooting range; for what reasons it visited; and what reports were received.

  District health authorities revenue formula shares Resource formula for distribution in Wales

  Recurrent allocation

  Residual allocation (after removal of "protected" services from formula assessment)

  Formula assessment

  Over (-) Under (+) provision relative to formula assessment

  £

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  1984–85

  Clwyd

  71·686

  59·848

  61·934

  13·32

  +2086

  +2·9

  East Dyfed

  44·318

  36·215

  36·603

  7·87

  +0·388

  +0·9

  Pembrokeshire

  14·485

  13·958

  15·548

  3·34

  +1·590

  +11·0

  Gwent

  89·021

  75·972

  71·868

  15·45

  -4·104

  -4·6

  Gwynedd

  43·689

  39·277

  36·873

  7·93

  -2·404

  -5·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  102·483

  81·544

  82·580

  17·75

  +1·036

  +10

  Powys

  20·432

  13·203

  13·340

  2·87

  +0·137

  +0·7

  South Glamorgan

  117·123

  78·186

  78·489

  16·88

  +0·303

  +0·3

  West Glamorgan

  74·381

  66·872

  67·840

  14·59

  +0·968

  +1·3

  577·618

  465·075

  465·075

  —

  —

  1984–85 prices

  1984–86

  Clwyd

  76·323

  64·226

  64·451

  13·21

  +0·225

  +0·3

  East Dyfed

  47·598

  38·748

  38·029

  7·79

  -0·719

  -1·5

  Pembrokeshire

  16·167

  15·658

  17·055

  3·49

  +1·397

  +8·6

  Gwent

  93·328

  76·283

  75·515

  15·47

  -0·768

  -0·8

  Gwynedd

  45·988

  39·952

  38·892

  7·97

  -1·060

  -2·3

  Mid Glamorgan

  108·250

  85·455

  84·639

  17·34

  -0·816

  -0·8

  Powys

  21·475

  14·484

  14·837

  3·04

  +0·353

  +1·6

  South Glamorgan

  124·125

  82·600

  85·127

  17·45

  +2·527

  +2·0

  West Glamorgan

  78·640

  70·654

  69·515

  14·24

  -1·139

  -1·4

  611·894

  488·060

  488·060

  —

  —

  1985–86 prices

  124
  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Staff of the factory inspectorate, an arm of the Health and Safety Executive, visited the shooting range at the national sports centre, Cardiff on 6 May 1988 and subsequent occasions. The recommendations by the inspectorate and subsequent action taken are matters for the Sports Council for Wales, and I have arranged for the hon. Gentleman's questions to be drawn to the attention of the council.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales under what circumstances safety inspections of the back plate at the shooting range at the national sports centre for Wales at Cardiff are carried out.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: This is a matter for the Sports Council for Wales which is responsible for the management of the shooting range at the national sports centre, Cardiff and I have arranged for the hon. Gentleman's question to be drawn to the attention of the council.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the relative over or underprovision of revenue to each of the nine district health authorities in Wales for the five years 1984–85 to 1989–90 relative to the RAWG formula, expressed in both money terms and as percentage variations.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: The information requested in respect of the RAWG revenue formula assessments for the years 1984–85 to 1989–90 is as follows:
  125

  Recurrent allocation

  Residual allocation (after removal of "protected" services from formula assessment)

  Formula assessment

  Over ( - ) Under ( + ) provision relative to formula assessment

  £

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  1986–87

  Clwyd

  77·850

  65·212

  64·797

  13·37

  -0·415

  -0·5

  East Dyfed

  48·262

  38·755

  40·890

  8·43

  +2·135

  +4·4

  Pembrokeshire

  16·725

  16·227

  17·636

  3·64

  +1·409

  +8·4

  Gwent

  94·148

  73·673

  73·907

  15·25

  +0·234

  +0·2

  Gwynedd

  46·984

  41·429

  38·878

  8·02

  -2·551

  -5·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  110·210

  86·449

  86·554

  17·85

  +0·095

  +0·1

  Powys

  21·806

  14·582

  15·054

  3·11

  +0·472

  +2·2

  South Glamorgan

  126·507

  77·561

  79·145

  16·33

  +1·584

  +1·3

  West Glamorgan

  10·385

  70·810

  67·847

  14·00

  -2·963

  -3·7

  622·877

  484·698

  484·698

  —

  —

  1986–87 prices

  1987–88

  Clwyd

  82·067

  67·919

  69·443

  13·65

  +1·524

  +1·9

  East Dyfed

  51·397

  41·314

  42·593

  8·37

  +1·279

  -2·5

  Pembrokeshire

  17·806

  17·119

  18·828

  3·70

  +1·709

  +9·6

  Gwent

  99·272

  76·428

  77·607

  15·25

  +1·179

  +1·2

  Gwynedd

  49·510

  43·416

  41·533

  8·16

  -1·883

  -3·8

  Mid Glamorgan

  117·097

  91·857

  91·077

  17·89

  -0·780

  -0·7

  Powys

  23·52

  15·662

  15·664

  3·08

  +0·002

  —

  South Glamorgan

  134·535

  81·424

  80·413

  15·80

  -1·011

  -0·8

  West Glamorgan

  86·684

  73·758

  71·739

  14·10

  -2·019

  -2·3

  661·520

  508·897

  508·897

  —

  —

  1986–87 prices

  1988–89

  Clwyd

  87·962

  72·259

  74·448

  13·69

  +2·189

  +2·5

  East Dyfed

  55·641

  44·365

  45·896

  8·44

  +1·531

  +2·8

  Pembrokeshire

  20·441

  19·246

  20·314

  3·74

  +1·068

  +5·2

  Gwent

  106·049

  81·616

  83·380

  15·34

  +1·764

  +1·7

  Gwynedd

  53·399

  46·065

  44·386

  8·16

  -1·679

  -3·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  124·949

  98·184

  98·465

  18·11

  +0·281

  +0·2

  Powys

  24·799

  16·371

  16·393

  3·02

  +0·022

  +0·1

  South Glamorgan

  144·113

  86·787

  84·741

  15·59

  -2·046

  -1·4

  West Glamorgan

  92·390

  78·776

  75·646

  13·91

  -3·130

  -3·4

  709·743

  543·669

  543·669

  1987–88 prices

  1989–90

  Clwyd

  101·760

  83·408

  84·663

  13·58

  +1·255

  +1·2

  East Dyfed

  65·444

  52·105

  53·802

  8·63

  +1·697

  +2·6

  Pembrokeshire

  24·198

  22·839

  23·254

  3·73

  +0·415

  +1·7

  Gwent

  121·691

  94·752

  95·386

  15·30

  +0·634

  +0·5

  Gwynedd

  61·411

  51·914

  51·244

  8·22

  -0·668

  -1·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  143·180

  111·655

  113·153

  18·15

  +1·498

  +1·0

  Powys

  28·382

  18·181

  19·202

  3·08

  +1·021

  +3·6

  South Glamorgan

  164·856

  98·776

  96·196

  15·43

  -2·580

  -1·6

  West Glamorgan

  105·570

  89·805

  86·533

  13·88

  -3·272

  -3·1

  816·492

  623·435

  623·435

  1988–89 prices

  Note: Formula assessments taking into account all outstanding funding for this revenue costs of new hospital development.

  It should be noted that the authorities' target percentage formula shares have changed over time as a result of demographic changes and also changes to the structure of the formula.

  It should also be noted that the assessments are made before the determination of revenue provision for the years in question and therefore each assessment is based on allocations in the year immediately preceding that for which the assessment is made. The assessments are then taken into account in determining allocations for the years in question via the distribution of such funding as is made
  126
  available for equalisation purposes. This is shown in the following tables which express initial revenue allocations for the years in question in terms of distance from the percentage formula targets given in the previous tables and thus show the impact of equalisation funding in reducing the range of difference from target as between authorities.
  127

  Resource formula for distribution in Wales

  District health authority

  Recurrent allocation

  Residual allocation (after removal of "protected" services from formula assessment)

  Formula assessment

  Over ( - ) Under ( + ) provision relative to formula assessment

  £

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  1984–85

  Clwyd

  72·819

  60·981

  62·587

  13·32

  +1·606

  +2·2

  East Dyfed

  44·816

  36·713

  37·023

  7·88

  +0·310

  +0·7

  Pembrokeshire

  15·359

  14·832

  15·711

  3·34

  +0·879

  +5·7

  Gwent

  89·133

  76·084

  72·622

  15·45

  -3·462

  -3·9

  Gwynedd

  43·717

  39·305

  37·261

  7·93

  -2·044

  -4·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  103·159

  82·220

  83·451

  17·75

  +1·231

  +1·2

  Powys

  20·509

  13·280

  13·480

  2·87

  +0·200

  +1·0

  South Glamorgan

  118·024

  79·087

  79·317

  16·87

  +0·230

  +0·2

  West Glamorgan

  75·015

  67·506

  68·556

  14·59

  -1·050

  +1·4

  582·551

  470·008

  470·008

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85 prices

  1985–86

  Clwyd

  77·337

  65·240

  65·583

  13·20

  +0·343

  +0·4

  East Dyfed

  47·904

  39·054

  38·755

  7·80

  -0·299

  -0·6

  Pembrokeshire

  16·591

  16·082

  17·353

  3·49

  +1·271

  +7·7

  Gwent

  94·041

  76·996

  76·837

  15·47

  -0·159

  -0·2

  Gwynedd

  46·768

  40·732

  39·572

  7·97

  -1·160

  -2·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  110·182

  87·387

  86·128

  17·35

  -1·259

  -1·1

  Powys

  21·678

  14·687

  15·097

  3·04

  +0·410

  +1·9

  South Glamorgan

  125·886

  84·361

  86·623

  17·44

  +2·262

  +1·8

  West Glamorgan

  80·134

  72·148

  70·739

  14·24

  -1·409

  -1·8

  620·521

  496·687

  496·687

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86 prices

  1986–87

  Clwyd

  82·063

  68·856

  68·741

  13·37

  -0·115

  -0·1

  East Dyfed

  51·239

  41·304

  43·400

  8·44

  +2·096

  +4·1

  Pembrokeshire

  17·858

  17·710

  18·710

  3·64

  +1·372

  +7·7

  Gwent

  99·396

  78·000

  78·407

  15·25

  +0·407

  +0·4

  Gwynedd

  49·417

  43·612

  41·245

  8·02

  -2·367

  -4·8

  Mid Glamorgan

  116·477

  91·647

  91·817

  17·85

  +0·170

  +0·1

  Powys

  23·002

  15·453

  15·971

  3·11

  +0·518

  +2·3

  South Glamorgan

  133·578

  82·429

  83·972

  16·32

  +1·543

  +1·2

  West Glamorgan

  85·615

  75·609

  71·985

  14·00

  -3·624

  -4·2

  658·645

  514·248

  514·248

  —

  —

  1986–87 prices

  1987–88

  Clwyd

  87·433

  72·779

  74·669

  13·64

  +1·890

  +2·2

  East Dyfed

  54·555

  44·408

  45·849

  8·38

  +1·441

  +2·6

  Pembrokeshire

  20·110

  19·397

  20·244

  3·70

  +0·847

  +4·2

  Gwent

  105·568

  81·999

  83·447

  15·25

  +1·448

  +1·4

  Gwynedd

  52·599

  46·276

  44·659

  8·16

  -1·617

  -3·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  124·401

  98·214

  97·931

  17·89

  -0·283

  -0·2

  Powys

  24·751

  16·980

  16·843

  3·08

  -0·137

  -0·6

  South Glamorgan

  142·742

  88·537

  86·464

  15·80

  -2·073

  -1·5

  West Glamorgan

  92·048

  78·653

  77·137

  14·10

  -1·516

  -1·6

  704·207

  547·243

  547·243

  —

  —

  1987–88 prices

  1988–89

  Clwyd

  95·180

  78·331

  80·588

  13·67

  +2·257

  +2·4

  East Dyfed

  59·759

  49·486

  50·699

  8·60

  +1·213

  +2·0

  Pembrokeshire

  22·674

  21·395

  21·989

  3·735

  +0·594

  +2·6

  Gwent

  114·532

  88·223

  90·257

  15·31

  +2·034

  +1·8

  Gwynedd

  57·787

  49·593

  48·047

  8·15

  -1·546

  -2·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  134·733

  106·044

  106·586

  18·08

  +0·542

  +0·4

  Powys

  26,978

  17·836

  17·745

  3·01

  -0·091

  -0·3

  South Glamorgan

  154·986

  93·931

  91·730

  15·56

  -2·201

  -1·4

  West Glamorgan

  99·349

  84·687

  81·885

  13·89

  -2·802

  -2·8

  765·978

  589·526

  589·526

  —

  —

  —

  1988–90 prices

  1989–90

  Clwyd

  106·334

  87·161

  88·189

  13·58

  +1·028

  +1·0

  East Dyfed

  68·872

  55·376

  56·043

  8·63

  +0·667

  +1·0

  Pembrokeshire

  25·383

  23·977

  24·223

  3·73

  +0·246

  +1·0

  128 129

  District health authority

  Recurrent allocation

  Residual allocation (after removal of "protected" services from formula assessment)

  Formula assessment

  Over ( - ) Under ( + ) provision relative to formula assessment

  £

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  Gwent

  126·560

  98·505

  99·358

  15·30

  +0·853

  +0·7

  Gwynedd

  63·703

  53·893

  53·381

  8·22

  -0·512

  -0·8

  Mid Glamorgan

  148·905

  116·411

  117·866

  15·15

  +1·455

  +1·0

  Powys

  30·321

  19·707

  20·001

  3·08

  +0·294

  +1·0

  South Glamorgan

  170·561

  101·081

  100·202

  15·43

  -0·879

  -0·5

  West Glamorgan

  109·590

  93·289

  90·137

  13·88

  -3·152

  -2·9

  850·229

  649·400

  649·400

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90 prices

  Note: Formula assessment taking into account all outstanding funding for this revenue cost of new capital development.

  Crown Offices
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Crown offices in Wales have been(a) closed and (b) regraded following the setting up of the franchising programme for the Post Office counter business.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand that no Crown offices have been closed in the Principality, and that 14 Crown offices have been regraded as part of the Post Office's network conversion programme.

PRIME MINISTER

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress is being made with the Government's review of the operation of the community charge.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are taking into account the various suggestions which have been made on the operation of the community charge and will announce the results of the review in due course.

  German Unification
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the cost to member states of the reunification of Germany within the European Economic Community; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  This matter was considered at the informal summit on 28 April about which I informed the House on 1 May. The financial effects of the integration into the Economic Community of the territory which is now the German Democratic Republic are inevitably uncertain, given the lack of any reliable economic statistics for the German Democratic Republic, the unknown timing of unification, and the inevitable unreliability of present estimates of the likely effect on the German Democratic Republic economy of(a) German economic and monetary union this summer and (b) unification, and hence Economic Community entry, next year or later.

  Welsh Office
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will appoint an additional Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Welsh Office.

  The Prime Minister
  No. I am satisfied that my right hon. Friend has a very experienced ministerial team well able to cover the full range of its responsibilities.

  Engagements
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

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

  Advisers
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the Prime Minister's advisers who were not career civil servants for each year since 1981, expressed in real terms.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The expenditure on my advisers who are not career civil servants for each year since 1981, expressed in real terms, is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1981

  55,453

  1982

  109,286

  1983

  169,237

  131

  Year

  £

  1984

  92,771

  1985

  129,261

  1986

  141,683

  1987

  173,116

  1988

  141,965

  1989

  214,807

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently on income support in Ealing; what was the comparable figure five years ago; what percentage of the population this represents in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The London borough of Ealing is served by Ealing district office but the boundaries are not conterminous. From 4 February 1990 Ealing district office took responsibility for income support work previously undertaken by the Department's local offices at Acton, Ealing, Notting Hill and Southall. The comparable figures for the district office area are as follows:

  Number of supplementary benefit/income support claimants1

  Date

  Number

  February 1985

  47,855

  February 1990

  37,039

  1 Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data for February 1990 is provisional and subject to amendment.

  Data on the total population by DSS office area are unavailable.

  Benefits, Northamptonshire
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the number of people presently receiving and the estimated

  Year

  Gross average weekly earnings + family allowance/child benefit £

  Net income after deducting tax and NI contribution £

  Standard rate of unemployment benefit + family allowance/child benefit £

  Net income as percentage of earnings + family allowance/ child benefit Per cent.

  Benefit as percentage of net income Per cent.

  (a) Married couple with 2 children

  October 1972

  40·60

  32·50

  15·10

  80·0

  46·5

  November 1982

  172·30

  124·20

  52·75

  72·1

  42·5

  April 1987

  238·50

  177·50

  65·35

  74·4

  36·8

  April 1989

  284·00

  213·40

  70·60

  75·1

  33·1

  (b) Single person (family allowance/child benefit does not apply)

  October 1972

  39·70

  28·80

  6·75

  72·5

  23·4

  November 1982

  160·60

  107·40

  25·00

  66·9

  23·3

  April 1987

  224·00

  155·90

  31·45

  69·6

  20·2

  April 1989

  269·50

  191·30

  34·70

  71·0

  18·1

  Note: Figures taken from the Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices Average Earnings Social Security Benefits and Contributions, Table 6.1b, except for revised figures for April 1989, which will be published in August 1990.
  132
  cost to each local authority in Northamptonshire of (a) housing benefit and (b) income support and housing benefit; and what comparable figures he has for 12 months ago.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information for the current financial year is not comparable with 1989–90 because rate rebates in housing benefit have been replaced by community charge benefit. A count of the numbers receiving benefits on 31 May 1990 will be taken by local authorities with the result becoming available later in the summer. The local authority initial estimates of 1990–91 total expenditure on housing benefit and community charge benefit are in the table. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 5 March at col.527 which gave information for 1989–90.

  Housing benefit and community charge benefit Local authority initial expenditure estimates 1990–91

  £ million

  Corby

  n/a

  Daventry

  3·8

  East Northampton

  4·0

  Kettering

  6·1

  Northampton

  15·2

  South Northants

  2·7

  Wellingborough

  6·2

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a chart or table showing unemployment benefit as a percentage of average earnings for the years 1972, 1982, 1987 and 1989(a) for a worker with two children and (b) for a single worker tabulated against equivalent figures in each case for European Community countries.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information for Great Britain is shown in the table. Equivalent information for other European Community countries is not available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Overseas Voters
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the actual expenditure per head of British citizens on advertising the rights of overseas voters under the Representation of the People Act 1989, for each overseas country, in 1989–90; if he will give a detailed breakdown of expenditure in South Africa by press, television and radio; and if he will give the apportionment of expenditure in South Africa by ethnic grouping.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The table gives estimates of the expenditure per head on publicity/advertising in each country, based on estimates of the number of British citizens living in each country who are likely to have spent less than 20 years there.

  In South Africa, advertisements are being placed in The Star (Johannesburg), the Sunday Times (Johannesburg), The Argus (Cape Town), the Cape Times and the Daily News (Durban), costing a total of £7,676. In addition, a total of £2,250 has been allocated to diplomatic posts in South Africa for local publicity or advertising. No advertising is being done on radio or television.

  The advertising and publicity in South Africa is aimed at British citizens living there; expenditure has not been apportioned on the basis of ethnic grouping.

  Electoral registration overseas:

  Estimated expenditure per eligible British citizen, by country, of Home Office/Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on publicity/advertising in 1990–91

  Country

  Expenditure per head £

  Algeria

  8·81

  Angola

  0·75

  Antigua

  6·50

  Argentina

  1·24

  Ascension

  0·32

  Australia

  0·06

  Austria

  1·33

  Bahamas

  0·30

  Bahrain

  0·18

  Bangladesh

  3·66

  Barbados

  0·48

  Belgium

  0·07

  Belize

  2·50

  Benin

  0·10

  Bermuda

  0·86

  Botswana

  0·14

  Brazil

  1·65

  Brunei

  0·32

  Bulgaria

  0·50

  Burma

  0·66

  Cameroon

  0·10

  Canada

  0·04

  Canary Islands

  0·15

  Cayman Islands

  0·02

  Chile

  1·60

  China.

  2·65

  Colombia

  1·50

  Costa Rica

  1·25

  Cuba

  2·50

  Cyprus

  2·47

  Czechoslovakia

  5·00

  Denmark

  0·26

  East Germany

  0·43

  Ecuador

  2·08

  E1 Salvador

  12·50

  Egypt

  0·17

  Ethiopia

  0·33

  134

  Country

  Expenditure per head £

  Falkland Islands

  0·74

  Fiji

  0·83

  Finland

  7·33

  France

  0·12

  Gabon

  0·75

  Gambia

  8·33

  Ghana

  0·04

  Gibraltar

  0·55

  Greece

  0·38

  Grenada

  0·33

  Guatemala

  5·00

  Guinea

  4·60

  Guinea-Bissau

  0·50

  Guyana

  1·23

  Honduras

  2·22

  Hong Kong

  0·21

  Hungary

  0·11

  Ireland

  2·38

  India

  0·50

  Indonesia

  1·03

  Israel

  0·10

  Italy

  1·06

  Ivory Coast

  0·02

  Jamaica

  1·03

  Japan

  16·41

  Jordan

  0·20

  Kenya

  0·37

  Kiribati

  4·44

  Korea

  1·56

  Kuwait

  0·34

  Lebanon

  0·22

  Leeward Islands

  0·10

  Lesotho

  0·42

  Liberia

  1·38

  Luxembourg

  0·60

  Madagascar

  0·90

  Malawi

  0·08

  Malaysia

  0·43

  Malta

  0·80

  Mauritius

  0·22

  Mexico

  1·15

  Montserrat

  1·00

  Morocco

  3·07

  Mozambique

  0·29

  Nepal

  0·20

  Netherlands

  0·39

  New Zealand

  0·03

  Nicaragua

  0·60

  Nigeria

  0·44

  North Yemen

  1·43

  Norway

  0·50

  Oman

  0·36

  Pakistan

  1·15

  Panama

  2·50

  Papua New Guinea

  0·52

  Paraguay

  2·00

  Peru

  5·30

  Philippines

  2·23

  Poland

  0·20

  Portugal

  0·44

  Qatar

  0·25

  Republic of Ireland

  0·01

  Romania

  5·00

  St. Helena

  0·10

  St. Kitts

  0·25

  St. Vincent

  0·19

  Saudi Arabia

  0·17

  Senegal

  5·89

  Seychelles

  0·67

  Singapore

  0·77

  Solomon Islands

  0·38

  Somalia

  0·07

  South Africa

  0·05

  Spain

  0·39

  Sri Lanka

  0·10

  Sudan

  0·05

  135

  Country

  Expenditure per head £

  Swaziland

  0·18

  Sweden

  0·29

  Switzerland

  0·42

  Syria

  1·73

  Tanzania

  0·18

  Thailand

  0·83

  Tonga

  0·10

  Trinidad

  1·03

  Tristan da Cunha

  1·10

  Tunisia

  6·13

  Turkey

  1·56

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  0·10

  Uganda

  0·82

  United Arab Emirates

  0·15

  Uruguay

  0·50

  United States of America

  0·09

  USSR

  0·75

  Vanuatu

  0·33

  Venezuela

  0·33

  Vietnam

  7·50

  Virgin Islands

  1·36

  West Germany

  0·30

  Yugoslavia

  4·75

  Zaire

  1·50

  Zambia

  0·31

  Zimbabwe

  0·22

  Unsolved Crimes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number and percentage of crimes that are unsolved in each police force for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the main reasons for such unsolved crimes.

  Mr. John Patten
  The readily available information is the number and percentage of recorded crimes that were cleared up in each police force area in 1986–89. For 1986–88 the information is published in tables 2.18 and 2.19 of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales". For 1989 the information is given in the following table. Although there are many reasons why crimes are not solved, a major factor is likely to be inadequate information or evidence on which to base further inquiries.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police which were cleared up by police force area

  England and Wales 1989

  Police force area

  Number cleared up

  Percentage cleared up

  Avon and Somerset

  32,135

  33

  Bedfordshire

  13,592

  34

  Cambridgeshire

  13,707

  38

  Cheshire

  23,121

  52

  Cleveland

  21,029

  36

  Cumbria

  13,343

  49

  Derbyshire

  16,621

  37

  Devon and Cornwall

  26,848

  36

  Dorset

  16,520

  42

  Durham

  17,622

  42

  Essex

  23,814

  32

  Gloucestershire

  12,496

  36

  Greater Manchester

  82,227

  30

  Hampshire

  31,023

  32

  Hertfordshire

  17,678

  44

  Humberside

  31,073

  35

  Kent

  25,350

  32

  Lancashire

  31,011

  40

  Leicestershire

  21,345

  40

  Lincolnshire

  14,276

  42

  London, City of

  1,424

  20

  Merseyside

  57,670

  45

  136

  Police force area

  Number cleared up

  Percentage cleared up

  Metropolitan Police District

  127,984

  17

  Norfolk

  17,671

  40

  Northamptonshire

  16,264

  43

  Northumbria

  67,880

  40

  North Yorkshire

  12,092

  35

  Nottinghamshire

  35,607

  35

  South Yorkshire

  39,222

  43

  Staffordshire

  24,874

  43

  Suffolk

  13,222

  43

  Surrey

  10,944

  33

  Sussex

  22,727

  31

  Thames Valley

  39,142

  33

  Warwickshire

  8,697

  35

  West Mercia

  19,290

  39

  West Midlands

  87,225

  39

  Women Police Officers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of women police officers in the north Wales constabulary area, and the ranks held, showing the appropriate percentage in each case.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The position as at 31 March 1990 was as follows:

  Women police officers

  Rank

  Number

  Percentage of strength

  Inspector

  2

  3·0

  Sergeant

  7

  3·3

  Constable

  127

  12·7

  TOTAL

  136

  10·1

  NATO Civil Wartime Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 27 April,Official Report, column 362 when he expects an agreement to be drawn up to cover the legal aspects of the proposed employment of United Kingdom civil servants as staff of NATO civil wartime agencies; when he expects agreement to be reached on the status under international law for United Kingdom civil servants and representatives of private industry when they take up their proposed roles as NATO civil wartime agencies staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  An ad hoc group within NATO headquarters is considering the status and employment of NATO civil wartime agency staff. I am not yet able to say when agreements will be reached.

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations involved in civic emergency disaster planning in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John Patten
  Planning for peacetime emergencies involves a very wide range of organisations. These include central and local government, emergency services, the public utilities and voluntary organisations, but other organisations may also be involved.
  137
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the civil emergency disaster planning organisations to bring them under one body; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1989 the Home Office completed a review of the response to civil emergencies. The Government concluded that the prime responsibility for handling particular disasters should remain at the local level but that there should be improved arrangements for co-ordinated emergency planning. These conclusions were announced in a written answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 15 June 1989 at column 514.

  A civil emergencies adviser was appointed following the review and one of the matters he is considering is how planning procedures might be improved.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year for the last 10 years in real terms the amount spent on civil defence emergency planning.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested, at 1990–91 prices, is as follows:

  £ thousands

  1980–81

  62,587

  1981–82

  51,261

  1982–83

  78,338

  1983–84

  93,712

  1984–85

  93,336

  1985–86

  109,449

  1986–87

  111,019

  1987–88

  116,643

  1988–89

  122,899

  1989–90

  1129,229

  1 Estimated.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will carry out a review to give fire and civil defence authorities the same statutory powers as county councils in dealing with emergency planning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Under section 156 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, fire and civil defence authorities have power to incur expenditure in preparing emergency plans for a possible emergency or disaster.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to change those arrangements. He has, however, asked his civil emergencies adviser, Mr. Brook, to consider whether there should be a statutory duty on local authorities to plan for peacetime emergencies. His report is awaited.

  Prison Deaths
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will detail the circumstances which led to a prisoner dying from burns on 23 March 1989, having been transferred to hospital from Gloucester prison;

  (2) if he will detail the circumstances which led to a prisoner dying of drug poisoning in Pentonville prison on 22 March 1989.

  Mr. Mellor
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of civil defence grant aid for staff costs, building work and other costs in financial years from 1983–84 to 1988–89 and projected for 1989–90, received by each metropolitan district.

  Mr. John Patten
  The total amount of civil defence grant paid to each metropolitan district in respect of the financial years 1985–86 to 1988–89 is shown in the table. Figures for individual districts are not yet available in respect of 1989–90. Figures for 1983–85 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Total civil defence grant paid in respect of financial years 1985–86 to 1988–89

  Metropolitan districts

  1985–86 (£)

  1986–87 (£)

  1987–88 (£)

  1988–89 (£)

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  3,679

  3,757

  4,220

  4,959

  Bury

  1,481

  2,038

  1,801

  1,890

  Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Oldham

  1,240

  2,000

  2,397

  3,696

  Rochdale

  2,407

  2,427

  2,430

  2,327

  Salford

  970

  990

  —

  —

  Stockport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tameside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trafford

  3,713

  6,244

  547

  443

  Wigan

  574

  560

  416

  2,028

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  775

  1,007

  1,005

  957

  Liverpool

  2,405

  3,008

  3,073

  —

  St. Helens

  —

  125

  125

  —

  Sefton

  350

  350

  350

  366

  Wirral

  559

  678

  599

  682

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  1,283

  1,566

  1,624

  1,515

  Doncaster

  2,010

  2,448

  2,840

  2,897

  Rotherham

  1,470

  1,419

  1,567

  1,778

  Sheffield

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,405

  1,406

  1,428

  1,493

  North Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  3,784

  4,054

  4,227

  4,061

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coventry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dudley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sandwell

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Solihull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Walsall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  1,373

  1,465

  1,549

  —

  Calderdale

  2,455

  2,574

  3,039

  —

  Kirklees

  1—1,557

  1—15,705

  3,445

  —

  Leeds

  949

  1,050

  1,100

  —

  Wakefield

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Income from the sale of premises previously funded by grant aid.

  Expatriate Voters
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many expatriates have had a vote registered in the United Kingdom under the 1989 Act; and if he will give a breakdown of the countries where they are resident.
  139
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested will not become available until draft electoral registers for 1991–92 are published, on or before 28 November this year.

  Metropolitan Police
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the national and international policing functions which are exercised by the Metropolitan police or in premises under their control; and if he will describe the funding arrangements for each.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Immigration
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the criteria adopted under the present immigration rules in deciding whether the non-United Kingdom spouse of a United Kingdom citizen has the right to settle in the United Kingdom;

  (2) whether the non-United Kingdom spouses of British citizens have an absolute right to enter the United Kingdom under the immigration rules;

  (3) what right the non-United Kingdom spouse of a United Kingdom citizen who has lived in the United Kingdom for a period of three years has to settle in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under the immigration rules, a person who wishes to settle in the United Kingdom with a spouse who is a British citizen must hold a current entry clearance granted for that purpose. An applicant must satisfy the entry clearance officer:

  a. that the marriage was not entered into primarily to obtain permission to the United Kingdom; and

  b. that each of the parties has the intention of living permanently with the other as his or her spouse; and

  c. that the parties to the marriage have met; and

  d. that there will be adequate accommodation for the parties and their dependants without recourse to public funds in accommodation of their own or which they occupy themselves; and

  e. that the parties will be able to maintain themselves and their dependants adequately without recourse to public funds.

  A person holding an entry clearance issued for this purpose is normally admitted for an initial period of 12 months and granted settlement at the end of that period provided that the conditions are still met.

  The spouse of a British citizen may apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after three years' residence in the United Kingdom. Naturalisation is at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Among other requirements set out in schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981, applicants must be of full age and capacity, good character, and meet specified periods of residence in the United Kingdom.

  In 1989, 320 spouses and finance(e)s resident in Hong Kong were granted entry clearances to settle in the United Kingdom on the basis of marriage to British citizens and six applications were refused.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of a common and exclusive boundary, in connection with the regulations covering concessionary television licences for old people.
  140
  Mr. Mellor
  The Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1988 require that for the occupants to qualify for concessionary television licences sheltered accommodation must, among other things, comprise a group of at least four dwellings "within a common and exclusive boundary". This is not further defined in statute. Each application is considered on its merits, bearing in mind the intention of the regulations that only sheltered accommodation which is directly comparable to residential homes should qualify.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to assure himself that experiments carried out by Professor Wilhelm Feldberg and his staff were in accordance with the project licence provided by the Home Office under section 5 of the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has been sent a report and an edited video recording concerned with, among other matters, alleged failures of Professor Feldberg's anaesthetic techniques. This material has been passed to the inspectorate and a report will also be prepared for the animal procedures committee. The licences held by Professor Feldberg and his assistant were revoked earlier at their request.

HEALTH

  Hospital Accident and Emergency Units
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the hospital accident and emergency units open in December 1989;

  (2) how many existing hospital accident and emergency units are open for less than 24 hours a day.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information which has been placed in the Library shows(a) the 418 hospital sites which reported that on 31 March 1989 they had an accident and emergency department open a full seven days a week and (b) the 91 who reported that they had an accident and emergency department open less than a full seven days per week.

  (Note:—Data on hours of opening were not received on 2 accident and emergency departments, Hemel Hempstead hospital, NW Herts DHA and St. Richards, Chichester DHA.)

  Community Care
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the Association of Directors of Social Services to discuss community care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I hold regular formal and informal meetings with the ADSS. No firm date has been arranged for the next meeting.

  Ambulance Service (Crewe and Nantwich)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will initiate an immediate inquiry into the response times of the ambulance service in the Crewe and Nantwich area;
  141
  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that sufficient funding is made available to Mersey regional health authority to provide for the urgent recruitment of sufficient ambulance personnel to ensure the provision of an accident and emergency service in the Crewe and Nantwich area;

  (3) if he will hold immediate talks with Mersey regional health authority about the provision of emergency ambulance services in the Crewe and Nantwich area.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Responsibility for ambulance services in Cheshire is a matter for Chester health authority. Resources are allocated to Chester health authority by the Mersey regional health authority taking into account the level and extent of services required in the districts within Cheshire. Chester health authority has recently taken measures to improve the service, including an improvement in response times. The hon. Member may care to contact the chairman of Chester health authority for details.

  Medicine Imports
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licences for parallel imports of medicines have been granted by his Department.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information about the number of licences for parallel imports granted by the Medicines Control Agency is published regularly in MAIL (Medicines Act Information Letter). The most recent edition (April 1990) states that as at 31 January 1990, 2,200 licences had been issued. A copy is available in the Library.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the reasons why the new precautionary measures required by the Medicines Control Agency to detect possible counterfeit

  £

  Group

  1 September 1986

  1 September 1987

  1 September 1988

  1 September 1989

  1 January 1990

  District General Managers

  DGM 1

  From

  33,500

  35,175

  37,110

  39,520

  40,500

  To

  44,220

  46,431

  48,985

  56,513

  58,500

  DGM 2

  From

  32,000

  33,600

  35,450

  37,750

  38,250

  To

  42,240

  44,352

  46,794

  53,983

  55,250

  DGM 3

  From

  30,500

  32,025

  33,790

  35,990

  35,000

  To

  40,260

  42,273

  44,603

  51,466

  50,750

  Unit General Managers

  UGM 1

  From

  28,000

  29,400

  31,020

  33,040

  35,000

  To

  38,640

  40,572

  42,808

  49,395

  50,750

  UGM 2

  From

  25,500

  26,775

  28,250

  30,090

  30,750

  To

  35,190

  36,950

  38,985

  44,985

  44,500

  UGM 3

  From

  23,000

  24,150

  25,480

  27,140

  27,750

  To

  31,740

  33,327

  35,162

  >40,574

  40,250

  UGM 4

  From

  20,000

  21,000

  22,160

  23,600

  24,000

  To

  27,600

  28,980

  30,581

  35,282

  34,750

  UGM 5

  From

  16,500

  17,325

  18,280

  19,470

  —

  To

  22,770

  23,909

  25,226

  29,108

  —

  Notes:

  1. The higher figures shown include the maximum loading for job weight and the maximum possible performance-related pay.

  2. The UGM 5 group was merged with UGM 4 from 1 January 1990. This was one of a number of changes introduced to simplify the pay system and make it more flexible.
  142
  medicines among parallel imports from European Community member states do not require batch analysis of all such imports.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No formal representations have been received.

  District Unit Managers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the last salary pay scale per grade for district and unit administrators and by year for district unit managers since that new title became effective.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The minima and maxima of the salary scales for district administrators in 1985–86 were:

  Teaching

  Non-teaching

  Group

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Minimum

  Maximum

  £

  £

  £

  £

  DHA 1 +

  23,656

  26,933

  —

  —

  DHA 1

  23,247

  26,460

  22,032

  25,343

  DHA 2

  22,849

  25,992

  21,112

  24,650

  DHA 3

  22,490

  25,722

  20,196

  24,235

  There was no scale specifically for unit administrators, but a range of scales depending on the classification of the unit. In 1985–86 these gave a minimum of £9,137 and a maximum of £23,183.

  The pay arrangements introduced for general managers in 1986 are radically different from the old incremental scales for administrators. General managers must be employed on short-term rolling contracts and any increase in their pay depends on performance in achieving their objectives. The table shows the ranges of pay for districts and unit general managers since September 1986.
  143
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the change of responsibilities for district and unit administrators when they became district unit managers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1984 following the NHS management inquiry led by Sir Roy Griffiths the Government issued guidance to health authorities to establish the general management function and to identify individual general managers. Health circular HC(84)13 annex C paragraph 4 contained guidance on the responsibilities of these new managers. This superseded health circular HC(80)8 paragraph 23–25 which contained guidance about the responsibilities of district administrators. Information about the responsibilities of unit administrators is contained in the "Administration and Clerical Staff Whitley Council Handbook" (updated 1984) paragraph 504–505. Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

  Mentally Handicapped Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has by local authority, and by year, since his Department's policy of releasing mentally handicapped patients into the community, on how many committed suicide.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  HIV-positive Babies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year for the last five years and by regional health authority the number of babies that have had blood samples taken and been found to be HIV positive.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The table shows the annual national totals reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre. In line with the procedure followed in reports under the AIDS (Control) Act, and to safeguard confidentiality actual figures in the range of one to nine diagnosed in individual regional health authorities are not published.

  Reported HIV antibody positive persons aged less than one year1

  Number

  1985

  1

  1986

  5

  1987

  9

  1988

  16

  1989

  11

  1990

  5

  1 It should be noted that a positive test from a newborn baby indicates that the mother is infected but whether or not the baby is infected cannot be confirmed by antibody tests for some months.

  Creutzfeldt Jakob Dementia
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis he is collating information relating to Creutzfeldt Jakob dementia; if he will publish the latest information that he has; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of Health has funded Dr. R. G. Will of Edinburgh university to investigate all relevant details of United Kingdom cases of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. The study commenced on 1 May 1990. We will encourage the investigator to make available appropriate information from this study through presentations and publications in the scientific press.

  Hip Replacements
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hip replacement operations were performed in 1989; and if he will estimate the average time spent on the waiting list for such an operation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Health authorities in England reported 45,000 hip replacement operations in 1988–89. In 1985, the latest year for which information is available centrally, the estimated median interval between the time an in-patient was placed on the waiting list and admission to an NHS hospital for this operation was 21 weeks.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by district health authority in the counties of Yorkshire and Humberside, the number of cases of meningitis reported during(a) 1989 and (b) the current year to date.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The exact information requested is not available.

  Notifications of meningitis are made on a local authority basis. It is not possible to accurately aggregate these to district health authority boundaries. Provisional data for those local authorities within Yorkshire and Humberside are shown in the table.

  Notifications of all forms of meningitis, and meningococcal meningitis by county/county districts in Yorkshire and Humberside region for 1989 and 19901

  Area

  All forms of meningitis

  Meningococcal meningitis

  1989

  19901

  1989

  19901

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  329

  122

  106

  57

  County/County District

  South Yorkshire

  94

  41

  39

  16

  Barnsley

  13

  4

  6

  2

  Doncaster

  23

  10

  17

  8

  Rotherham

  20

  10

  4

  3

  Sheffield

  38

  17

  12

  3

  West Yorkshire

  148

  39

  37

  19

  Bradford

  30

  13

  11

  6

  Calderdale

  14

  4

  4

  4

  Kirklees

  16

  3

  9

  2

  Leeds

  66

  13

  7

  5

  Wakefield

  22

  6

  6

  2

  Humberside

  59

  25

  20

  13

  Boothferry

  3

  3

  2

  —

  Cleethorpes

  2

  —

  —

  —

  East Yorkshire

  4

  5

  1

  5

  East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley

  4

  4

  1

  1

  Glanford

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Great Grimsby

  6

  6

  4

  5

  Holderness

  4

  —

  1

  —

  Kingston upon Hull

  26

  7

  9

  2

  Scunthorpe

  6

  —

  2

  —

  North Yorkshire

  28

  17

  10

  9

  Craven

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Hambleton

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Harrogate

  3

  2

  1

  1

  Richmondshire

  1

  3

  1

  2

  Ryedale

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Scarborough

  11

  4

  1

  1

  Selby

  5

  5

  3

  5

  York

  4

  1

  3

  —

  1 Provisional data for 1 January to 4 May 1990.

  Preventive Health Care
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources his Department has allocated to general practitioner training in preventive health care in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. However "Health Promotion and the Prevention of Illness" is one of the three subject areas in which GPs must attend courses in order to be eligible for the postgraduate education allowance.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, when he releases the details of the sight tests survey commissioned by his Department, he plans to give details of the age, sex, income, and sampling point location of each respondent.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We expect the survey results to contain details of the age, sex and region of respondents.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date in mid-April NOP completed the field work on the sight tests survey commissioned by his Department; and on what date this information was received by his Department.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Field work by NOP was completed on 23 April. The information for analysis was received by the Department of Health on 16 May.

  Private Clinics
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the control of advertising by private sector clinics.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I am aware of the concern about certain advertising by some clinics. All those connected with the advertising of clinical services have a duty to ensure that people are not misled by false, doubtful or exaggerated claims. Doctors have a particular responsibility in this. I understand that the General Medical Council is considering how best to make it clear that doctors who have any kind of financial or professional relationship with a private clinic bear some responsibility for any advertising it undertakes. I welcome this. In addition my Department has recently agreed with the Advertising Standards Authority that it pays special attention to such advertising and acts against any that breaches the British code of advertising practice. We will also look at the possibility of legislation to control advertising by these clinics.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to ban cigarette smoke pollution in public places; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Statutory bans on smoking already apply in certain areas because of safety considerations such as fire risks in the London Underground. In other public areas the Government encourage the introduction of voluntary policies to discourage smoking, for example through the HEA's campaigns. This approach results in good progress being made and policies being tailored to circumstances.

  Blood Products
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the proportion of blood products recently supplied to the National Health Service and recalled by the supplier which has been four d to have been poisoned with hepatitis B.

  Mr. Dorrell
  All donations collected by the blood transfusion service (BTS) are tested for the hepatitis B virus and neither cellular products for patients nor plasma for fractionation and resultant plasma products are issued unless the test is negative. At the fractionation laboratory all plasma pools are tested for hepatitis B and used only if found negative. All plasma products undergo virus inactivation procedures and finished plasma products are tested for hepatitis B and issued only if found negative. All hepatitis B test results on plasma pools and finished products are confirmed by the National Institute for Biological Stanards and Control before product release.

  In the recent episode to which the question refers, a blood donation which tested negative for hepatitis at the regional transfusion centre was separated and the plasma processed into blood products. The cellular components were transfused into a patient who subsequently contracted hepatitis. As is standard procedure, the original donor was traced, a blood sample taken and retested for hepatitis B by two laboratories. One test gave a marginally positive result. As a precautionary measure, all plasma products derived from this donation were recalled. Because of the various safeguards listed, the risk to patients from use of the products in question is considered to be extremely small.

  The quantities recalled, and for comparison the quantities (issued to the NHS) in the last year for which information is available, are as follows:

  Quantities recalled (Vials)

  Quantities issued 1989–90 (Vials)

  Factor VIII

  2,500

  251,000

  Factor IX

  500

  36,000

  Albumin

  2,200

  279,000

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, for the month of April and for each ambulance service in England(a) the amount of overtime worked, by grade and (b) the average number of staff employed, by grade, as a whole-time equivalent; and if he will give similar figures for April 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  International Sweeteners Organisation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the committee on toxicity are consultants to the International Sweeteners Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  One member of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment acts as a consultant to the International Sweeteners Association. This interest is declared at each committee meeting whenever sweeteners are discussed and is minuted.

SCOTLAND

  Fisheries
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has on the average number of employees per vessel in the Scottish fish catching sector by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food category vessel size bands.

  Mr. Lang
  The average number of crew on fishing vessels based in Scotland is as follows:

  Registered length of vessel

  Average number of crew

  Under 10 metres

  2

  10 metres to 39·9 ft

  2

  40 ft to 59·9 ft

  4

  60 ft to 79·9 ft

  7

  80 ft to 109·9 ft

  10

  110 ft and over

  12

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has on the average earnings of employees in the Scottish fish catching sector by salary grade.

  Mr. Lang
  My Department conducts an annual survey of the costs and earnings of the Scottish fishing fleet, and this provides guidance on average crews' shares. The traditional share system of crews' remuneration in Scotland does not, however, distinguish between grades.

  The latest sample relates to 1989. Provisional results are as follows:

  Vessel length

  Number in sample

  Annual average share per fisherman £

  40 ft—59·9 ft

  32

  9,510

  60 ft—69·9 ft

  31

  11,110

  70 ft—79·9 ft

  30

  13,980

  Over 80 ft

  20

  19,900

  Senior crew members (for example skippers who do not own their vessel and mates) may receive an additional part share. This is normally financed from the share allocated to the boat. Arrangements vary from vessel to vessel and details are not available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has on the average earnings of employees in the Scottish fish catching sector by(a) region and (b) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food category vessel size bands.

  Mr. Lang
  Information on average earnings by region is not available. Earnings by vessel size bands were given in my earlier answer of today to the hon. Member.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish for each health board area in Scotland figures showing per head of resident population(a) the gross revenue spending and (b) the capital spending for the year 1989–90 and the corresponding allocations for 1990–91.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Gross revenue spending details for 1989–90 are not yet available. Allocations for 1990–91 per head of resident population are as follows:148

  Health board

  Revenue £

  Capital £

  Argyll and Clyde

  330

  11

  Ayrshire and Arran

  304

  59

  Borders

  326

  14

  Dumfries and Galloway

  372

  10

  Fife

  303

  18

  Forth Valley

  360

  21

  Grampian

  372

  22

  Greater Glasgow

  550

  26

  Highland

  391

  19

  Lanarkshire

  300

  20

  Lothian

  434

  23

  Orkney

  316

  18

  Shetland

  325

  65

  Tayside

  476

  28

  Western Isles

  353

  273

  Highland Regional Council
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 5 April,Official Report, columns 830–31, to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) if his consultation invited representations both in favour and opposed to Highland regional council's draft structure plan; and if he will set out in the Official Report the terms on which representations were sought.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend was not responsible for the advertisement of Highland regional council's structure plan review; this was a matter for the regional council. As the relevant legislation requires, the council invited objections to the plan, indicating that they should be made in writing to the secretary of the Scottish Development Department before 2 March 1990.

  Department of the Registers of Scotland
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific, financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Department of the Registers of Scotland for the current year and for the longer term.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) on 5 April, at columns 829–30.

  Takare Contract
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, further to his reply of 2 May to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen,Official Report, column 581, he is able to give a specific date when Greater Glasgow health board will release details of the Takare contract.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that Greater Glasgow health board will write to the hon. Member this week.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the inaugural business plan of local enterprise companies will be made public by him.
  149
  Mr. Lang
  As indicated in paragraph 7.2 of the Scottish Enterprise handbook, local enterprise companies themselves will normally be required to publish a summary of their annual business plan.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which components of the Training Agency's budget in Scotland will be allocated to local enterprise companies; and how much is currently spent on each of these schemes.

  Mr. Lang
  Total planned expenditure in Scotland in 1990–91 on each of the Training Agency budget components which will partly or wholly be delivered by local enterprise companies is shown in the table:

  £

  Youth training (including Compacts and Community Industry)

  92,089,000

  Employment training

  112,850,000

  Business growth training

  5,436,000

  Enterprise allowance scheme

  14,722,000

  Training and education support programmes

  5,168,000

  Marketing, advertising and publicity

  2,157,000

  Administrative costs

  18,516,000

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what aspects of contracts awarded to local enterprise companies will be open to the public.

  Mr. Lang
  Decisions on the extent to which it would be appropriate to make public aspects of contracts made between local enterprise companies and the Training Agency, the Scottish Development Agency, the Highlands and Islands Development Board, Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise (as the case may be) will be taken in the light of the structure eventually adopted for such contracts. It may be that some material associated with individual contracts will be commercial in confidence.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he proposes to make public about how much money is allocated to each local enterprise company; and for what purposes.

  Mr. Lang
  Announcements on allocations will be a matter for the relevant funding body (Scottish Development Development Board, Training Agency, Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise as the case may be). Local enterprise companies will be required to publish accounts showing the sources and application of their funds.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects specific budget allocations to be made to local enterprise companies.

  Mr. Lang
  A specific budget allocation to each local enterprise company will be made by the Training Agency and the Scottish Development Agency or the Highlands and Islands Development Board (as the case may be) once that local enterprise company's business plan has been approved and when an operating contract is awarded to the company.

  School Meals
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average price of a school meal; and if he will make a statement;
  150
  (2) what is the number and percentage of free school meals provided; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many and what percentage of children took school meals in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested, taken from the annual school meal census carried out in January 1989, is as follows:

  Information

  (1) Average charge for a fixed price school meal

  61p

  (2) Number of pupils present on Census day

  713,034

  (3) Number of pupils taking meals

  328,688

  (4) (3) as a percentage of (2)

  46·1

  (5) Number of pupils receiving free meals

  105,232

  (6) (5) as a percentage of (2)

  14·8

  The proportion of children taking meals is greater than at the 1988 census.

  Responsibility for the provision and content of meals lies with education authorities.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the recommendations of the Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte report on the organisation of Scottish Enterprise has been accepted; and what changes have been made which were not proposed therein.

  Mr. Lang
  The report was accepted as a whole as a general basis for further planning. Some fine-tuning has been undertaken; but all developments to date are compatible with the terms of the report.

  Registered Child Minders
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many registered child minders there are in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  At 31 March 1989 there were 5,444 registered child minders in Scotland.

  Forestry
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times the Nature Conservancy Council consulted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds over new forestry proposals in each Nature Conservancy Council region in Scotland in each year since 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am consulting the Nature Conservancy Council and will write to the hon. Member.

  Hospital Catering
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of catering provisions per patient per day in each health board in each year since 1979, expressed in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is not readily available, but I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his policy in respect of allocation of funds among general practitioners where eligible applications for reimbursement of computer costs exceed the budgeted figure;

  (2) what is his budget for the reimbursement of computer costs for general practitioners in 1990–91; and how many general practitioners are eligible to apply.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: In 1990–91 £3 million has been made available for direct reimbursement of general practice computing costs in Scotland, the balance of expenditure being reimbursed indirectly through fees and allowances; all general practitioners who meet the qualifying criteria are eligible to apply. Should funds become fully committed valid claims which are not paid in 1990–91 may be resubmitted in the next financial year.

  School Class Sizes
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide information on the average size of teaching groups for the years S1 to S6 in the secondary school subjects: English, mathematics, science subjects, history, geography, modern studies, home economics, physical education, technical education and modern languages.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: The information for session 1987–88 was published in SED statistical bulletin No. 14/C7/1989, a copy of which is in the Library. Information for session 1989–90 is not yet ready for publication and will be published later in the year.

  Thousand tonnes

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  London (including Tilbury)

  0·2

  0·3

  —

  0·2

  1·5

  Folkestone

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  Southampton

  1·5

  0·8

  0·5

  2·1

  2·1

  Avonmouth

  —

  0·1

  —

  0·4

  —

  Newport, Gwent

  15·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·2

  Goole

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  0·7

  Hull

  1·9

  1·2

  —

  0·1

  —

  River Trent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·7

  Immingham

  68·8

  26·3

  98·2

  41·1

  36·4

  Grimsby

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·1

  Ipswich

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  —

  Total

  88·4

  28·8

  98·8

  43·9

  53·9

  Thousand tonnes

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  19891

  London (including Tilbury)

  0·4

  0·3

  0·4

  0·3

  0·3

  Southampton

  2·2

  2·2

  2·0

  4·2

  6·4

  Swansea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·2

  Mostyn

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  Ellesmere Port

  —

  1·1

  —

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  0·5

  2·7

  —

  —

  —

  Grangemouth

  —

  —

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  Leith

  —

  0·5

  —

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  —

  —

  —

  0·2

  —

  Goole

  0·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hull

  0·2

  0·2

  1·3

  1·3

  0·4

  Immingham

  63·4

  75·7

  57·8

  18·2

  6·8

  Grimsby

  7·9

  —

  1·4

  —

  0·5

TRANSPORT

  Rural Land Loss
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year, and by the counties for Yorkshire and Humberside, the number of acres of rural land that has been lost to road schemes in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not readily available in the Department's records and could not be collected at reasonable cost.

  London Underground (Safety)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of London Regional Transport on the implications for public safety of the death of Mr. Raymond Knight at Aldgate underground station on 23 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I naturally regret Mr. Knight's death. This will be subject to investigation at a coroner's inquest, and I will take note of any recommendations that Her Majesty's coroner might make.

  South African Steel Imports
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the last 10 years, and by port, the amount in tonnes of steel imported from South Africa.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise figures for imports of iron and steel (excluding iron ore, pig iron, ferro alloys, and waste and scrap) consigned from South Africa for the last 10 years and by port, are given in the table.
  153

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  19891

  Felixstowe

  1·1

  2·4

  2·7

  5·3

  7·9

  Ipswich

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  Harwich

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  76·6

  85·2

  65·7

  29·7

  22·5

  1 Provisional.

  Driver Standards
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Driver Standards Agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Atkins
  Details of the Driver Standards Agency's financial, efficiency and quality of service targets for the current financial year are contained in the agency's business plan for 1990–91, copies of which are available in the Library.

  The financial targets take the form of unit cost targets for the main activities, including £18·72 per L test and £41·71 per HGV-PSV test. The main service level targets are to reduce the national average waiting time for L tests to eight weeks by 31 March 1991 (12 weeks in the Metropolitan region); and to provide HGV and PSV tests at all centres within four weeks.

  In the longer term the agency intends to reduce the average L test waiting time to at least six weeks. New measures of service performance which the agency intends progressively to introduce are set out in annex C to the agency's framework document, copies of which are also in the Library.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Atkins
  The major targets set for DVLA are:

  (1) Financial—to achieve a 6·1 per cent. efficiency gain in its workload unit cost performance.

  (2) Efficiency—to improve its overall productivity by a further 2 per cent.

  (3) Quality of service

  (a)—To turn round Driver and Vehicle transactions as follows:

  (i) Driver licences—turn round 90 per cent. of those received within six days of receipt.

  (ii) Vehicle transactions—turn round 90 per cent. within eight to 10 days of receipt.

  Full details of the 1990–91 targets are contained in the DVLA business plan, copies of which are placed in the House of Commons Library. Targets beyond 1991–92 have yet to be set.

  Liverpool (Visit)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the recent official visit to Liverpool of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin).

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I visited Liverpool airport on 25 April. Following arrangements made some weeks ago, I also visited the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company on 154
  17 May and toured the company's docks and facilities. I regret that I had to cancel my proposed visit to the Liverpool marine office on 17 May.

  Air Shows
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what special regulations are in force relating to flying, especially low flying, in connection with air shows for public entertainment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority.

  I am advised by the authority that the Air Navigation Order 1989, at article 56, requires organisers of exhibitions of flying to obtain the permission of the authority. The order specifies conditions and enables the authority to specify such further conditions as it sees fit. The order covers civil aircraft participating in any displays.

  Comparable safety standards covering United Kingdom military, visiting military or foreign military aircraft participating in Ministry of Defence and other air displays are contained in joint service publications.

  Railways, London
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he will use when choosing between the east-west cross rail and the Chelsea-Hackney line for investment.

  Mr. Freeman
  A decision will be based on all the relevant factors including the relief of congestion provided by the schemes; their economic and financial performance; and how the schemes might be financed and safeguarded.

  Air Services
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce changes to the United States-United Kingdom bilateral air services agreement; what implications they will have for fifth freedom rights into other EEC countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A detailed statement would not be appropriate while our negotiations with the United States Government continue; but we are, of course, seeking an early resolution.

  Safety at Sea
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to how many representative organisations he sent Professor Ivan Brown's report on his study into hours of work, fatigue and safety at sea; and how many have responded with comments.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Copies of Professor Brown's report were circulated on 2 February to five representative
  155
  organisations: the National Union of Maritime, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST); the National Union of Seamen (NUS); the General Council of British Shipping (GCBS); the British Motor Ship Owners Association (BMSOA); and the British Offshore Support Vessels Association (BOSVA). All of these organisations have now responded with comments, although one has reserved the right to make further comments at a later stage.

  Glasgow Airport
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority about the installation of radar equipment at Glasgow airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. The installation of radar equipment at Glasgow airport is a matter for the British Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Motorway Traffic
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to ensure that the number of service stations to be opened under the Government's strategic plans for motorway services areas in England will be adequate to cover his Department's estimate of the increase in the volume of traffic using the motorways after 1992.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department's design specifications for new motorway service areas (MSAs) are geared to catering for estimated traffic in the year 2020. There are at present more MSAs planned for existing and new motorways. These are at various stages: two will open soon (Tamworth on M42 and Thurrock on M25) and another four or five sites are expected to be tendered this year for construction and subsequent operation by 1992.

  There are 42 existing MSAs in England. The Department is reviewing the capacity of each of these with operators. Its aim is to expand sites wherever possible to meet demand at least for 15 years ahead. Where adequate expansion proves impracticable, new infill sites will be sought between existing MSAs.

  Roads Investment
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss future capital investment on roads.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have at present no plans to do so.

ENERGY

  Council of Energy Ministers
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he expects to attend future meetings of the European Community Council of Energy Ministers for discussions on energy saving and anti-pollution measures.

  Mr. Wakeham
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1990, c. 590]: The Council, under the presidency of Mr. Molloy, the Irish Energy Minister, made useful progress.
  156
  The Council made significant progress towards establishing a single energy market by adopting a directive on transparency of gas and electricity prices and reaching agreement on a directive on transit on electricity networks. However, in the context of gas transit, support for the monopoly privileges of the main gas transmission companies remains strong in the industry and certain member states; we hope for further progress under the next presidency.

  The Commission agreed to give priority over its recent proposal to a more thorough implementation of the existing regulations on notification of investment projects.

  In addition, the Council debated a European Commission report on energy and the environment and adopted valuable conclusions on the contribution energy policies should make to protecting the environment. It approved the Thermie programme for demonstrating and disseminating new energy technologies which should contribute significantly to that end. Commissioner Cardoso reported to the Council on the Commission's recent "Energy for a New Century Conference" which is expected to be a source of ideas for developing future energy policy.

EMPLOYMENT

  Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has commissioned any research into the implementation of the COSHH regulations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive is committed to an evaluation of the impact of the COSHH regulations. A baseline survey was undertaken before the regulations came into force on 1 October 1989, but it is too early yet to commence work on the post-implementation evaluation.

  Strikes
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to remove the right of employers to secure an injunction against an unlawful strike.

  Mr. Howard
  Anyone threatened with unlawful action is entitled to apply to the courts for an injunction to prevent it. To restrict that right in respect of any particular group of bodies would place them above the law and could not possibly be justified.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses were started under the enterprise allowance scheme in 1989–90.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1989–90 almost 78,000 businesses were started under the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses have been started under the enterprise allowance scheme since it began.

  Mr. Eggar
  Over 500,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business under the enterprise allowance scheme since it began in 1982.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to improve health protection and safety conditions in the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Responsibility for ensuring satisfactory health and safety standards rests with employers and others concerned at the workplace. The Government have increased financial provision for the Health and Safety Commission and Executive over previously agreed levels again in 1990–91.

  The commission's priorities for improving health and safety at work will be set out in its plan of work for 1990–91 and beyond, to be published shortly.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to extend health and safety protection in the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for bringing forward proposals for the reform and extension as necessary of health and safety legislation. Details of the Commission's future legislative programme will be contained in its plan of work for 1990–91 and beyond, which it hopes to publish shortly.

  Union Ballots
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about the balloting provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department continues to receive representation on various aspects of industrial relations law including matters relating to the balloting provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received from members of trade unions in the last month urging repeal of the balloting provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No such representations have been received.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the protection of part-time workers.

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

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total work force in employment in(a) May 1979, (b) June 1987 and (c) the latest month for which figures are available.

  Mr. Howard
  The work force in employment stood at 25·4 million in June 1979, 25·1 million in June 1987, and 27·1 million in December 1989, its highest level ever.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment in the north-west region in April 1986 and April 1990; and if he will make a statement.
  158
  Mr. Nicholls
  In April 1990, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north-west region was 231,500, compared with 425,200 in April 1986, a fall of 45·6 per cent.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the population in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham is in full-time employment; and what is the national average.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Consistent information at local level on employment and population by place of residence is available only from the census of population.

  In the census of population returns for April 1981, 44·7 per cent. of people aged 16 and over and living in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham said that they had worked full-time in the preceding week. The comparable figure for Great Britain was 45·6 per cent.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In April 1990, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,605,600.

  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total increase in the number of jobs in Great Britain since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In December 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 26,487,000, the highest level ever. This represents an increase of 1,720,000, or 7 per cent. since June 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total level of unemployment in the 57 urban programme areas in(a) March 1988 and (b) March 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 57 local authority areas in England within which the Government target inner-city programme aid, the number of unemployed claimants in March 1988 was 982,379, compared with 643,981 in March 1990. Direct comparisons over time are affected by various changes to the count, in particular the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences. Certain areas may also be affected by changes to the redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the level of unemployment fell in Bury, North between September 1986 and April 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Between September 1986 and April 1990 the number of unemployed claimants in Bury, North parliamentary constituency fell by 61 per cent. Direct comparisons are affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average monthly fall in unemployment over the period(a) March 1974 to May 1979 and (b) July 1986 to March 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Between March 1974 and May 1979 there was an average monthly rise in unemployment, seasonally
  159
  adjusted, of 9,484. Between July 1986 to March 1990 the average monthly fall in seasonally adjusted unemployment was 34,761.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of unfilled vacancies held by job centres in the north-west of England during the last full month for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In April 1990 the number of unfilled vacancies, seasonally adjusted, at job centres in the north-west region was 23,200.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the United Kingdom; and what it was in 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The seasonally adjusted series of unemployment provides figures that are comparable over the time period requested. In April 1990, the seasonally adjusted level of claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,605,600, compared with 1,089,100 in April 1979.

  Economic League
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of the Economic League to discuss the protection of employees' privacy.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has had no meetings with representatives of the Economic League.

  Minimum Wage Protection
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on enforcement of minimum wage protection.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The level of compliance with wages orders is very high. My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the present policy of targeting the resources of the wages inspectorate towards those employers most likely to underpay is the most effective way of enforcing minimum wage legislation.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss the implications of 1992.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall be meeting my European Community counterparts at an informal meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 28 May and at a full Council meeting the following day to discuss a number of current employment and social issues.

  Training
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he will improve health and safety conditions on Government training schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It will be for the training and enterprise councils, and the local enterprise councils in Scotland, to carry forward sound and effective policies on health and 160
  safety in conjunction with their training providers. Each TEC must have a detailed planning statement on health and safety incorporated into its contract and will have to comply fully with its terms.

  Under this statement each TEC must have a systematic and effective monitoring strategy, and it will have to ensure that its staff are well trained to carry out their health and safety obligations.

  EC Social Action Programme
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the Government's approach to the European Commission's social action programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  We intend to take a full part in the negotiations on the individual proposals in the social action programme. We will measure each proposal against two key criteria: first, its effect on jobs and unemployment; and secondly, whether it accords with the principle of subsidiarity, which means that action should not be proposed at Community level in areas best left to member states to deal with in accordance with their tradition and practice.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department plans to spend on the technical and vocational education initiative in the current financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  As laid out in the public expenditure White Paper the Department plans to spend £134 million on the technical and vocational education initiative in 1990–91.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any extra staff have been employed by the Health and Safety Executive to monitor health and safety on employment training schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. By virtue of the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1988, participants on employment training and similar training schemes at employers' premises are covered by the full range of statutory health, safety and welfare provisions which apply to employed people. Accordingly, when Health and Safety Executive inspectors are examining conditions at workplaces, they do not differentiate between trainees and employees.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the local authorities which have refused to participate in the employment training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This information is not available.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department will monitor the effectiveness of training enterprise councils.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) will set out in their corporate and business plans detailed
  161
  proposals for training and enterprise to meet local needs. These plans will form part of a TEC's contract with my Department. They will set out key targets and progress towards these targets will be monitored on a regular basis.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have received development funding.

  Mr. Eggar
  Seventy-two training and enterprise councils (TECs) have been awarded development funding to date. Of these, 13 TECs have now been approved to become operational.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of TECs in the north-west.

  Mr. Eggar
  Five training and enterprise councils (TECs) in the north-west have been approved to become operational, covering Cumbria, south and east Cheshire, Oldham, Rochdale and east Lancashire.

  A number of other prospective TECs in the north-west are currently preparing their corporate and business plans and I expect them to become operational in due course.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the first 10 training and enterprise councils to become operational.

  Mr. Eggar
  Contracts for the first 10 training and enterprise councils (TECs) to become operational were signed on 3 April. These covered:

  Hertfordshire

  Thames Valley

  Devon/Cornwall

  Dorset

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  Cumbria

  South and East Cheshire

  Teesside

  Tyneside

  Wearside

  In addition a further three TECs have since been approved to go operational. These cover Oldham, Rochdale and east Lancashire.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new measures he proposes to take to increase employment of disabled people by organisations in both the private and public sectors.

  Mr. Eggar
  Measures to promote the employment of people with disabilities are among the matters being considered in the review of services for people with disabilities which my Department has been undertaking. We expect to publish next month the consultative document giving the results of the review.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people with disabilities are assisted annually by his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1988–89, the latest year for which figures are available, approximately 220,000 people with disabilities were assisted by this Department's employment and training programmes.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to enable people with disabilities to participate more fully in the workplace.
  162
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional measures he will introduce to enable people with disabilities to participate more fully in the work force.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department already maintains a comprehensive network of services to help people with disabilities find and retain jobs. The adequacy of current measures to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in the work force is being considered in the review of services for people with disabilities which my Department has been undertaking. We expect to publish next month the consultative document giving the results of the review.

  Tourism
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the implementation of his tourism review.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Progress continues to be made to implement the results of the review announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler),Official Report, 28 November 1989, column 212. Ministers and officials are regularly reviewing progress on all the recommendations with the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what figures he has for the total number of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 1990; and what was the figure for the first quarter of 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is estimated that overseas residents made 2,310,000 visits to the United Kingdom during the first two months of 1990, the latest period for which results are available. This is 15 per cent. higher than in the equivalent period of 1989.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received any representations for soft loans from the tourist industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It has been suggested to my Department that the tourism industry could benefit from the provision of soft loans towards meeting the cost of capital developments. However, the English tourist board's latest reported record levels of investment in tourism projects show that there is no shortage of investors willing to support good quality and commercially sound tourism projects.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in the current financial year in his Department's grant to the English tourist board.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1990–91 the English tourist board will receive grant in aid of £14,595,000. This represents a 9 per cent. increase over the £13,265,000 grant in aid for 1989–90.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many tourists visited Britain in the last year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is published in table 8.2 of the May issue of Employment Gazette.

  Employment Medical Advisory Service
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many doctors were employed in the employment medical advisory service on the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1990, there were 46 doctors in post in the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service.

  Child Care
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage the provision of child care facilities in the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on 5 December 1989,Official Report, column 196.

  Gateshead Garden Festival
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the Gateshead national garden festival on tourism in the north-east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Experience of previous festivals shows that the Gateshead garden festival will result in a significant increase in the number of visitors to the region.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on progress in current youth training schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are currently 359,500 young people on YTS which is being delivered by some 3,280 managing agents. The latest YTS leavers' survey shows that 86 per cent. of young people who completed their training went into employment and 67 per cent. gained a qualification. Youth training, which will be introduced on 29 May, will build on the successes of YTS. It will enable a more flexible approach to be adopted towards the training of young people, will produce higher levels of skills, and will focus on the needs and interests of the local community. Youth training will be introduced nationally on 29 May. Those training and enterprise councils that are already operational have the opportunity, if they wish, of implementing the new training arrangements before that date.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by year and by regional training area since the inception of the YTS, the percentage of trainees having literacy problems.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Litter Charter
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to promote the codes of practice contained in the environmental litter charter among organisations and businesses involved in tourism.
  164
  Mr. Nicholls
  Through the English tourist board and the regional tourist boards, my Department supports a number of anti-litter initiatives. The litter charter, which was launched by my noble Friend Lord Strathclyde, is a joint London tourism forum initiative, but I am sure that other regions will wish to consider adopting a similar approach.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 15 February,Official Report column 217.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to assist small firms to secure Government procurement and other public sector contracts.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department gives a high priority to encouraging the participation of small firms in tendering for public sector contracts and in making it easier for them to do so.

  We have published and widely distributed to Government purchasers a booklet "Think Big, Buy Small" on how to assist small firms in tendering for Government contracts. This has been well received by all Government Departments. My Department is also supporting a purchasing specialist in the Treasury's Central Unit on Purchasing to look at ways of helping Government Departments to improve their purchasing procedures and to provide greater access by small firms to Government business. We have recently updated "Tendering for Government Contracts", a booklet giving contact points and general information on what Departments buy, their procedures and any special opportunities they offer small firms. I am pleased to say all the major spending Departments now successfully produce their own guidance to potential suppliers, and provide feedback to potential suppliers on their bids wherever possible.

  I intend that my Department should be used as a test bed for good purchasing practices and later this year I hope to meet the heads of Government purchasing departments to update them on the results of this work and to encourage them to explore further the benefits to Government of using small suppliers.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many small firms received counselling from the small firms service in 1988–89.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1988–89 the small firms service in England provided 43,029 counselling sessions to 30,634 clients.

  Footwear Industry
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on job losses in the footwear industry.
  165
  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of employees in employment in the footwear industry fell by 4,000 (8 per cent.) between March 1989 and March 1990.

  Industrial Relations
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to create a special tribunal to assume jurisdiction over cases arising from industrial relations legislation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. Industrial tribunals already exist to hear a range of compaints under employment protection legislation. I have no plans to create a new tribunal.

  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any further representations from the Confederation of British Industry requesting further changes in industrial relations law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  From time to time my Department receives representations from a number of organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, on various aspects of industrial relations law. We continue to keep this legislation under review.

  Modern Languages
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he is doing to improve skills in modern languages among the work force.

  Mr. Eggar
  In schools and colleges the technical and vocational education initiative is building on the foundations of the national curriculum by encouraging the learning of modern languages.

  Both youth training and employment training offer opportunities—where vocationally relevant—for people to learn languages, and an employer-led body has recently been established to develop qualifications which measure practical competence in languages among people at work.

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors were in post on the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1990, 634·5 factory inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive.

  Clothing Industry
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspections were undertaken last year by the clothing industry wages council.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Checking compliance with wages council minimum rates is the responsibility of the wages inspectorate, not the wages council itself.

  For the information requested, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 14 March, Official Report, columns 252–56.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has received about the progress made in Brussels in formulating the various directives arising out of the social charter; and if he will make a statement.
  166
  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that the Commission is well advanced with drafting a number of the directives in the social action programme; and that the first of these—on "atypical" work, for example, part-time and temporary work; and on the adaptation of working time—are expected to be published in June.

  Wages Council Inspectors
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase the number of wages councils inspectors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None.

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

  Mr. Nicholls
  The construction industry training board was reconstituted on 1 May 1990 as an employer-led body.

  Training Levy
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to introduce a training levy of 0·5 per cent. of payroll on business.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The most effective incentive for employers to train is a knowledge and understanding of their skill needs, not centralised regulation based on statutory powers.

  Employment Rights
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to extend employment rights to all those in work.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to extend the employment protection legislation.

  Self-employed Women
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the number of women who are self-employed has changed since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The estimated number of self-employed women in the United Kingdom rose from 357,000 in June 1979 to 782,000 in December 1989, an increase of 426,000 (119 per cent.).

  Low Pay
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms visited in 1989 were paying below the legal wages council minima; and how many were prosecuted.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The wages inspectorate compiles its statistics on the basis of establishments rather than firms. In 1989, 5,528 of the establishments visited were found to be paying less than the statutory minimum due to at least one of their workers.

  There were nine prosecutions for underpayment offences.

  Radiation
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unannounced visits relating to radiation exposure monitoring were made by the factory inspectorate to Ministry of Defence and privatised establishments since 1970, by establishment.

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

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide information on the number of personnel employed by his Department, including the Health and Safety Executive, on the inspection, maintenance and improvement of standards of radiation monitoring, by United Kingdom region, for(a) Ministry of Defence workers' exposure and (b) civilian workers' exposure.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on funding is confidential to my Department and individual employment training (ET) training managers.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits relating to radiation exposure monitoring were made by the factory inspectorate to Ministry of Defence and privatised establishments since 1970, by establishment.

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

  Wages
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report average wage rates since 1979 (a) in Wales and (b) in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on average wage rates is not available, but data of the average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult employees are set out in the table.

  Average gross weekly Earnings of all full·time adult employees Pay not affected by absence; April of each year

  Year

  Wales

  £ per week United Kingdom

  1979

  87·6

  89·4

  1980

  106·4

  110·0

  1981

  119·4

  124·6

  11982

  130·2

  136·3

  21983

  140·0

  147·9

  1983

  139·4

  147·1

  1984

  149·2

  159·0

  1985

  160·3

  170·6

  1986

  170·3

  184·2

  1987

  183·4

  198·4

  1988

  196·5

  217·7

  1989

  215·9

  238·9

  1From 1979 to 1983, males aged 21 and over and females aged 18 and over.

  2From 1983 onwards, all on adult rates irrespective of age.

  Source: New Earnings Surveys.

  Share Community
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent discussions his Department has had with Share Community about its level of activity; and if he will make a statement.
  168
  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department is currently in negotiations with Share Community to establish a new employment training (ET) contract. Our aim is to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total cost to the Exchequer of the loan guarantee scheme to 31 March; what has been the cost per loan guaranteed; and what assumptions have been made about additionality, displacement and failures in computing the net Exchequer cost of the scheme for persons leaving the unemployment count given to the honourable Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 3 May,Official Report, column 639.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total net cost to the Exchequer of the loan guarantee scheme to 31 March 1990 was £122 million, and the cost per loan guaranteed was £4,920.

  To calculate the net Exchequer cost of the scheme per person leaving the unemployment count, it was assumed from evaluation evidence that additionality is about one third, displacement about two thirds and that slightly less than 30 per cent. of firms taking out a guarantee will fail within the first three years. These assumptions are conservative estimates based on the available information from recent surveys.

  New Jobs
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Separate figures of job gains and job losses are not available. Net increases in the work force in employment over the previous five years were as follows:

  Workforce in employment—United Kingdom

  seasonally adjusted—thousands

  Year ending December

  Change

  Percentage change

  1985

  125

  0·5

  1986

  153

  0·6

  1987

  833

  3·4

  1988

  785

  3·1

  1989

  728

  2·8

  Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the establishment of the nuclear installations inspectorate over any convenient period in the last three years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1987, 168·5 staff—103 of them inspectors—were in post in the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate. By 1 April this year, staff in post had increased to 249·5, of whom 162 were inspectors.

  Deaf People (Employment)
  Sir Alan Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the regulations regarding the employment by sub-contractors of deaf people in locations such as weirs.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 employers,

  169
  including sub-contractors, have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety at work of all their employees. Employers should take into account any special hazards that arise from the known state of health of the worker and the circumstances of the job. There are no health and safety regulations which specifically relate to the employment of deaf people generally or by sub-contractors.

  Sheltered Training
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total level of Government funding to sheltered training groups over the past financial year; what is the projected budget for the current financial year; and how many places this has created in each year.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total level of Government funding to sheltered training groups over the past financial year; what is the projected budget for the current financial year; and how many places this has created in each year.
  170
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total level of Government funding to sheltered training groups over the past financial year; what is the projected budget for the current financial year; and how many places this has created in each year.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total level of Government funding to sheltered training groups over the past financial year; what is the projected budget for the current financial year; and how many places this has created in each year.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is estimated that £88 million was spent on the sheltered employment programme last year and that £98 million will be available this year, excluding capital grants. The number of places supported in 1989–90 increased by 1,487 over the year. I do not expect there to be any significant increase in the number of places in the current year.

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