Written Answers of 24 May 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have so far opted for grant-maintained status; and how many applications are at present being processed.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has so far approved 37 proposals for grant-maintained status and has announced that he is minded to approve a further three proposals subject to agreement with the governing body about minor modifications to admissions arrangements. Eleven proposals have been published following parental ballots in favour of an application for grant-maintained status and will reach my right hon. Friend for decision shortly. The governing bodies of six schools where parents have voted in favour of an application have yet to publish proposals.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools have shown an interest in seeking grant-maintained status.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No ballots have so far been held at primary schools on grant-maintained status. Of the 37 schools which my right hon. Friend has so far approved for grant-mantained status, 35 are secondary schools and two are middle-deemed secondary schools. Recently numerous of the larger primary schools have requested copies of the DES booklet "Grant Maintained Schools: Questions Parents Ask".

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of opt-out ballots have resulted in a decision in favour of grant-maintained status; and at how many schools there has had to be a second ballot.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Parental ballots have been held at 89 schools—parents at 68 of these schools (75 per cent.) have voted in favour of an application for grant-maintained status. Second ballots have had to be held at eight schools because the turnout in the first ballot was below 50 per cent. A second ballot may also be held at a school where at least 12 months have elapsed since the first balloting took place. One school has held a second ballot in such circumstances—in this case parents voted against an application in 1989, but in favour of an application in 1990.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the schools which have opted for grant-maintained status are(a) grammar schools, (b) voluntary-aided schools and (c) single-sex schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Of the 37 schools which my right hon. Friend has so far approved for grant-maintained status 268
  (a) 14 are selective and 23 are non-selective schools; (b) six were voluntary-aided schools, six were voluntary-controlled schools, one was a special agreement school and 24 were county schools; (c) 13 are single-sex boys' schools, six are single-sex girls' schools and 18 schools are co-educational.

  Of the three schools which my right hon. Friend has announced that he is minded to approve for grant-maintained status (a) one is a selective school and two are non-selective schools; (b) all three are county schools; (c) one is a single-sex boys' school and two are co-educational.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average turnout figure in parental ballots taken in schools on whether to obtain grant-maintained status.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The average participation rate so far in parental ballots is 67·5 per cent.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the level of rises or falls in admissions to grant-maintained schools; and where such changes have taken place.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information about admissions to grant-maintained schools in September 1990 is not yet available. However, earlier this year the Grant Maintained Schools Trust carried out a survey of applications for places for September 1990 at a number of grant-maintained schools. It found that applications had increased by 40 per cent. on average over last year at those schools for which it had information. For example, at Baverstock school in Birmingham there were 350 applications for 210 places, representing an increase of 50 per cent. over last year. At Hendon school there has been an increase of 100 per cent. in applications over 1989.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local authorities are selling back services to schools which have become grant-maintained.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Detailed information is not collected by the Department. But our understanding is that many local authorities are selling services to schools which have become grant-maintained. For example, Lincolnshire LEA is offering to sell a range of services including payroll, school meals, ground and property maintenance, advisory, architectural and financial services and in-service training for teaching staff. Grant-maintained schools in Lincolnshire have bought a number of these services on a selective basis.

  Governor Training
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent on support grants for governor training in the year 1988–89; and how much is planned to be spent in the current year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No education support grant was allocated for governor training in the financial year 1988–89. Accounts are not yet finalised for 1989–90, but the amount made available through the education support grant programme for governor training in that year was £4,900,000. The amount which is being made available in the 1990–91 financial year is £5,152,700. The programme is scheduled to continue for a further year.

  Schools, North Wiltshire
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools were closed in each of the past five years within the constituency of Wiltshire, North.

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

  Schools, Leicestershire
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received, and from whom, regarding opting out of schools in Leicestershire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has so far received one application for grant-maintained status from a school in Leicestershire. The proposal for GM status from Longfield high school in Melton Mowbray, and the objections received, were given careful consideration by my right hon. Friend before he announced his decision to approve the request for grant-maintained status with effect from August 1990.

  Rothera Point Airstrip, Antarctica
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the containment capacity of the retaining berm for the fuel tank farm under construction at the Rothera Point airstrip in Antarctica.

  Mr. Jackson
  The retaining berm for the fuel tank farm at Rothera Point has a capacity of approximately 125,000 imperial gallons.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measure he proposes to take to reduce the incidence of dust covering the site of the Rothera Point airstrip in Antarctica; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Measures to be employed by the contractor to reduce the incidence of dust during construction of the Rothera Point airstrip in Antarctica are given in the final comprehensive environmental evaluation published in September 1989 by the NERC. A copy is in the Library.

  Schoolgirls (Achievement)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps the Government are taking to encourage schools to enable girls to achieve across the curriculum;

  (2) what advice the Government have given to local education authorities regarding equal opportunity for girls across the curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The duties of local education authorities and others under the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 were explained in circular 2/76 (WO 20/76).

  The broad and balanced education provided by the foundation subjects of the national curriculum is intended to prevent premature specialisation by either boys or girls. The non-statutory subject working groups established to
  270
  advise on the national curriculum have been asked to bear in mind that the curriculum should provide equal opportunities for boys and girls; and circular 6/89, which accompanied the mathematics and science orders laid under section 4 of the Education Reform Act 1988, advised that it would be particularly important to ensure that boys and girls have equal opportunity and equal encouragement to undertake the full model A science course.

  The criteria for initial teacher training specify equal opportunities as an example of a cross-curricular dimension that students should be able to incorporate into their teaching by the time they qualify. It is also required that students learn to guard against preconceptions based on gender.

  Government objectives in this area are also supported by the DE Training Agency-funded technical and vocational education initiative (TVEI). One criterion of TVEI, in which nearly all local education authorities are now involved, is that action will be taken to avoid sex stereotyping both in curriculum options and in teaching and learning styles.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on local management of schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [pursuant to her reply, 8 May 1990, c. 8–10]: My right hon. Friend has been asked by several local education authorities to make the necessary regulations to permit them to include special schools in their statutory local management of schools schemes. Before making his decision, he intends to give very careful consideration to all the implications, both for special schools and for pupils with statements of special educational need in primary and secondary schools. He has therefore invited Touche Ross Management Consultants to undertake a detailed feasibility study, and to report their findings to him. Copies of that report will be placed in the Library and will also be sent to LEAs and special schools in both England and Wales. In the light of that report the Government will consider whether, and, if so, when, it will be appropriate to make enabling regulations.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how great a percentage of the average school budget, excluding those which have opted for grant-maintained status, is controlled by the local authority under local management of schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) on 5 February 1990 at column 451.

  Cash limits
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are any changes to the cash limits for his Department's votes.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1990, c. 397–98]: Subject to parliamentary approval to the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for class XI vote 1: schools, research and miscellaneous services, will be reduced as follows:

  271

  Class XI Vote 1 (£)

  Current cash limit

  653,421,000

  Change

  -80,000

  Revised cash limit

  653,341,000

  The reduction results from the appropriation in aid of receipts originally expected in 1989–90 from private sector cash sponsorship for the project to build a school in Armenia following the 1988 earthquake. These more than offset increased gross provision in 1990–91 for the project which is nearing completion.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. K. J. Warne
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide the hon. Member for South Hams with a copy of the original signed judgment of the appeal to the social security commissioners by Mr. K. J. Warne of 61 Clobeills, South Brent, South Devon; and the supporting material sent to Mr. Warne by his office during the week commencing 14 May.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. I have written to the hon. Member enclosing the documents requested.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Lord Chancellor's Department's cash limit and running costs limit for 1990–91.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Lord Chancellor's Department, class X, vote 1 will be increased by £1,832,000 from £319,300,000 to £321,132,000.

  The increase reflects transfers from other Departments, of £1,915,000 from the Property Services Agency to cover responsibilities formerly exercised by that agency and of £20,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry for work to be undertaken by the Law Commission. It also reflects a transfer of £103,000 to the Department of Social Security for additional work falling to the legal aid assessment office.

  The supplementary estimate also gives effect to an increase of £2,000,000 in the Department's provision for departmental estate maintenance which is fully offset by an increase of £2,000,000 in net recoveries from civil fees. These increases will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The running costs limit for the Department will be increased by £1,898,000 from £279,084,000 to £280,982,000.

ENVIRONMENT

  Office Complex, Warwick
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he decided not to call in the planning decision of Warwickshire county council to allow the firm Conoco to build an office complex at the Warwick technology park.
  272
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Outline planning permission for Warwick technology park was granted by Warwickshire county council in 1986. It is very rare for the Secretary of State to call in a reserved matters application and this application by the county council did not appear to justify such an exceptional procedure.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any officials of his west midlands regional staff have been disciplined as a result of the advice given, or failure to give advice, arising from Warwickshire county council's decision to allow Conoco plc to build an office complex at Warwick.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No. I am, however, writing separately to my hon. Friend with a full explanation of the events in question.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the 100-day rule for liability for the business rate for bed-and-breakfast establishments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this matter; and I have met several of my hon. Friends to discuss their concerns.

  Many home owners providing bed-and-breakfast have argued for a more generous exemption but others, particularly the hotel trade, believe that any exemption in this area could lead to unfair competition. The tourist authorities have represented that the rule could lead to a shortening of the season in which such accommodation is available. We are considering these arguments and others that have been put to us.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those organisations which responded to his consultation paper of December 1988 on the application of the business rate for bed-and-breakfast establishments.

  Mr. Chope
  The following organisations responded to the consultation paper on "The boundary between domestic and non-domestic property", issued in December 1988:

  The Association of District Councils

  The Association of County Councils

  The Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  The National Association of Local Councils

  Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

  Blackpool Borough Council

  Bournemouth Borough Council

  Cambridge City Council

  Carrick District Council

  City of London

  Cleethorpes Borough Council

  Eastbourne Borough Council

  East Dorset District Council

  Fylde Borough Council

  Borough of Great Yarmouth

  Hertfordshire County Council

  Huntingdonshire District Council

  Kennet District Council

  Lancaster City Council

  Borough of Luton

  Middlesbrough Borough Council

  Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme

  New Forest District Council

  North Norfolk District Council

  273

  Penwith District Council

  Preston Borough Council

  Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

  Somerset County Council

  South Herefordshire District Council

  Tendring District Council

  Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council

  Vale Royal Borough Council

  West Somerset District Council

  Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

  Wyre Borough Council

  Country Landowners Association

  The Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers

  Institute of Housing

  The Institution of Civil Engineers

  The Rating Officers Guild

  The Rating Surveyors Association

  The Rating and Valuation Association

  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

  Edward Erdman Surveyors

  Gerald Eve Chartered Surveyors

  Grimley J. R. Eve Chartered Surveyors

  Matthews and Goodman Chartered Surveyors

  J. P. Sturge Chartered Surveyors

  Association of Independent Businesses

  British Holiday & Home Parks Association Ltd.

  The British Hotels Restaurants and Caterers Association

  British Property Federation

  British Retailers Association

  British Self Catering Federation

  Chalfont St. Peter Chamber of Commerce

  Cumbria and Lakeland Self-Caterers Association

  Federation of Cornwall Hotels and Tourism Associations

  Historic Houses Association

  The Land Institute

  London Chamber of Commerce

  The National Association of Warehouse Keepers

  The National Council of Hotels Associations

  National Federation of Retail Newsagents

  The National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses Limited

  The National Licensed Victuallers' Association

  Skegness Holiday Flat Owners Association

  The Water Companies Association

  Action With Communities in Rural England

  British Mountaineering Council

  Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom

  Forestry Commission

  Oxford Polytechnic

  Royal National Institute for the Blind

  Community Charge
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of gross income is paid in community charge by persons earning(a) £5,000 per year, (b) £10,000 per year and (c) £20,000 per year when the community charge is (i) £300, (ii) £400 and (iii) £500.

  Mr. Chope
  The amount paid in community charge would vary depending on entitlement to community charge benefit. The level of benefit applicable in each case would depend on the family and financial circumstances of the individual involved.

  Aviation Fuel Pollution
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that certificates issued under clause 142(4) of the Environmental Protection Bill will not prevent effective action being taken against pollution from Royal Air Force training exercises involving the deliberate burning of aviation fuel and other substances.
  274
  Mr. Trippier
  My Department is currently discussing with the Ministry of Defence whether amendments may be necessary to the Environmental Protection Bill to ensure that the operational activities of the armed services are not unduly restricted. I will write to the hon. Lady about the outcome of those discussions.

  VDUs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy in respect of safeguards for operatives working with VDUs within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My Department aims to provide safe systems and methods of work that are without risk to health for its employees. In providing for the comfort and health of the users of VDUs the Department takes account of the guidance produced by the Health and Safety Executive and jointly by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and the Council of Civil Service Unions.

  Local Government (Cost)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in real terms the cost of local government between 1979–80 and predicted 1990–91 on the basis of(a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure pro rata for a comparable level of services and the equivalent level of income tax that would be required to finance local government expenditure (a) at present levels of services and (b) at service levels equivalent to 1979–80, in each of those years.

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

  Cash Limits
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimates:

  (a) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 2 (miscellaneous housing administration and grants) will be reduced by £24,876,000 from £122,908,000 to £98,032,000. There will be a reduction of £25,000,000 on housing action trusts (HATs) as a result of the decision of tenants not to proceed with a HAT in Sunderland. This reduction will be partly offset by increases totalling £124,000 elsewhere on the vote;

  (b) the cash limit for class VIII, vote 5 (central environmental services, etc.) will be reduced by £700,000 from £358,596,000 to £357,896,000. This reduction relates mainly to the transfer of responsibility for the Football Licensing Authority (£670,000) to the Home Office from my Department. There is also a transfer of £30,000 to my Department's class VIII, vote 6 (royal palaces, royal parks, historic buildings, ancient monuments and the national heritage) to provide additional funding for the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission to recreate certain documents of importance that were accidentally destroyed;

  (c) the cash limit for Class VIII, Vote 6 (royal palaces, royal parks, historic buildings etc.) will be reduced by £305,000 from £150,152,000 to £149,847,000). This reduction relates to the transfer of responsibility for external repair of Horseguards Building to the Ministry of Defence (£235,000), and for road rescue archaeology to the Department of Transport (£100,000). The net reduction of £305,000 on this vote takes account of £30,000 transferred from class VIII, vote 5 to which I referred earlier.

  Redundant Churches
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to publish the report on the care of redundant churches carried out by Mr. Richard Wilding.

  Mr. Trippier
  Mr. Wilding's report, which was presented to Ministers and to the Church Commissioners at the end of March, is being published today, by HMSO. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The report gives a valuable overview of the operation of the redundant churches fund and the context in which its work is carried out. In general, the report concludes that the present system for handling and financing the preservation of Church of England churches works well. But it identifies a number of ways in which the present arrangements could be improved, and makes a number of recommendations relating to this and to the handling of redundant churches and chapels of other denominations.

  The recommendations also relate to the respective responsibilities of the Department of the Environment and the Church Commissioners in respect of the fund. A number of them, if implemented, would require amendment either of the Pastoral Measure 1983 or of the Redundant Churches and Other Religious Buildings Act 1969. My right hon. Friend welcomes the general thrust of the report. He will be considering all the recommendations most carefully in consultation with the Church Commissioners and there will be discussions with the fund and the advisory board for redundant churches before any conclusions are reached. During this process, they will also take into account any views which other bodies or individuals may wish to make: such comments should be sent to the Department at room C11/02,2 Marsham street, London SW1P 3EB or to the Church Commissioners at 1 Millbank, London SW1P 3JZ, by 31 August.

  I hope that with the aid of this useful and readable report we shall be able to improve still further on the systems for ensuring that the best of our heritage of historic churches which are no longer needed for pastoral use are preserved in the mutual interests of the Church and the nation.

  Local Government Employees
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the total annual cost and the average annual cost of full-time local government employees; and if he will break down the average cost for a full-time equivalent post into pay, national insurance, superannuation and other costs, such as office space, heating, lighting, etc., for each year since 1979–80.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: Actual figures are not available. It is estimated that for 1988–89, the position was as follows:

  £

  Total local government employees costs

  23,300 million

  Average annual cost per full-time equivalent of which:

  12,100

  Pay

  10,400

  National insurance

  700

  Superannuation

  1,000

  276
  Note: Associated employees' costs such as office space, heating, lighting etc, are excluded.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report, in tabular form for each local authority in England and Wales, the recommended community charge level, the total amount in central Government grant, the number of over-18-yearolds within the area, identifying with an asterisk those authorities which have been charge-capped by his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: I am arranging for information to be placed in the Library of the House showing for each charging authority in England

  (a) the average community charge at 1 April.

  (b) the charge that would have been set had each notifiable authority spent broadly at the level of its SSA.

  (c) the amount of revenue support grant, adjusted for the area safety net, and special transitional grants receivable and

  (d) the relevant population for 1990–91 calculated in accordance with the population report.

  Comparable figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total level of central Government assistance per charge payer, as expressed on the community charge collection notice for(a) Westminster, (b) Castle Morpeth, (c) Alnwick and (d) Berwick-upon-Tweed.

  Mr. Portillo
  The figures are as follows:

  Revenue support grant

  Special grants

  Area safety net

  Westminster

  865·84

  53·32

  -75·00

  Castle Morpeth

  180·25

  —

  -5·84

  Alnwick

  193·84

  —

  48·16

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  186·48

  17·34

  52·18

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each charging authority in England in receipt of safety net grant the amount to be withdrawn in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1992–93, expressed both in £ million and £ per head.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State proposed last November that transitional protection for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 would be paid by way of a special grant calculated so that the equivalent of £25 per adult or 25 per cent. of the combined protection given by the safety net and the low rateable values area special grant in 1990–91, whichever is the greater, is withdrawn each year. I will place in the Library a table exemplifying the effects of these proposals.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been issued by his Department on the practice of managing agents charging residents of blocks of flats sums of money to pay the poll tax of live-in staff such as caretakers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A person who is subject to a personal community charge is individually liable to pay the
  277
  community charge as it has effect for the year. Only where the joint and several liability provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 apply would another person—the spouse—also be liable for the same amount. It is possible, however, for any person to pay another person's community charge for him or her. If an employer pays an employee's charge, the employer is chargeable to income tax on the amount concerned. Whether or not in such circumstances managing agents seek to defray their costs through charges to residents of blocks of flats will be a contractual matter for agreement between residents and the agents.

  Caravans and Chalets
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish new legislation governing the designation of caravans and chalets for standard community charge or business rate; and if he will make a statement on the precise changes he intends to introduce.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope) on 30 March 1990 to my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), at columns 346–47.

  Residential Holiday Centres
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has issued on the designation of accommodation used by staff at residential holiday centres for the collective community charge; what monitoring of such designation he has undertaken: and if he has any plans to review the use of such designations.

  Mr. Portillo
  A building may be designated for the purposes of the collective charge if, in the opinion of the community charges registration officer, the building is used wholly or mainly as the sole or main residence of individuals most of whom reside there for short periods and are not undertaking full-time courses of education and if it would probably be difficult to maintain the register and collect payments in respect of the building if a designation were not made. Advice on the application of the collective community charge was given to local authorities in the Department's practice note 14. A person may appeal against a designation for the collective charge first to the charging authority and then to a valuation and community charge tribunal. We will continue to monitor the application of the collective charge, but at present I see no need to change the provisions governing designation.

  Tied Tenants
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the situation of tied tenants who own separate accommodation for retirement or job loss and are liable for both personal and standard community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  In addition to the classes of circumstances which have been prescribed by the Secretary of State, authorities have wide discretion to specify their own standard charge classes so as to reduce the standard charge 278
  multiplier or to levy no charge. We have given authorities advice on the scope and exercise of their discretion. It is open to authorities to provide for cases where a person is required to live elsewhere as a condition of his employment, such as in the case of tied tenants.

  I am concerned that not all authorities are using their discretion sensitively and my right hon. Friend is considering what further adjustments may be needed for 1991–92.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stockton, North,Official Report, 9 May, columns 166–67, he will estimate (a) the proportion of low and intermediate-level nuclear waste created by the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from foreign contracts, which will make up the initial inventory for the Nirex repository and (b) the time period over which high-level nuclear waste arising from foreign spent fuel reprocessing contracts will remain in the United Kingdom before being returned to the country of origin.

  Mr. Baldry
  I understand from British Nuclear Fuels plc that intermediate-level waste arising from the company's overseas reprocessing contracts prior to 1976 is estimated to be in the order of 1 per cent. of the intermediate-level waste included in the initial inventory for the Nirex repository. Low-level waste arising from such contracts will be disposed of at Drigg and not in the Nirex repository.

  For the disposal of wastes arising from BNFL's post-1976 contracts and the time period for returning high-level waste from such contracts, I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1986, at columns 500–01.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has made of the impact of(a) the commission of new gas-fired generating capacity and (b) the importation through east coast ports of low-sulphur content coal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The extent to which the generators construct new gas generating capacity and import low-sulphur coal will depend on the level of electricity demand, fuel prices and capital costs.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has made of the impact of the cancellations of plans to instal flue gas emission cleaning equipment in British power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The electricity generators' present declared intention is to fit flue gas desulphurisation equipment to 8 GW of generating plant. In the longer term, the challenge for British Coal is to make its coal sufficiently attractive to the generators so that they would choose to retrofit further power stations with FGD equipment.
  279
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he gave to the effect on the balance of payments when he permitted the target of 12,000 MW to be fitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment to be reduced to 8,000 MW.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It is for the electricity generators to decide how best they can achieve the reduction in emissions of sulphur dioxide called for in the EC large combustion plants directive. The Government, while determined to ensure compliance with the reductions set out in the directive, do not seek to control imports of oil or coal.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from British Boilermakers about the amount of generating plant to be fitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have received a number of representations from the United Kingdom power plant construction industry concerning various issues, including the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation equipment.

  Central Electricity Generating Board
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what level of fuel oil stocks were held by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1989–90 and each year since 1984–85.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Information relating to the levels of oil stocks for the purposes of section 6 of the Energy Act 1976 is supplied to the Department on a "commercial in confidence" basis and is therefore not published.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what, in respect of Sizewell B, is the latest estimate for(a) the date of fuel loading and (b) the date of full commercial load; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has just received a major report from Nuclear Electric plc on the progress of Sizewell B and is considering it in detail with the company. We understand that Nuclear Electric remains committed to its existing timetable.

  Nottinghamshire Coalfield
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers about job losses in the Nottinghamshire coalfield.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet officers of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

  Dinorwig and Maentwrog
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when a generating licence for the pump/storage generation stations of Dinorwig and Maentwrog was granted to the National Grid Company.

  Mr. Baldry
  A generating licence was granted to the pumped storage division of National Grid Company on 26 280
  March 1990 and came into force on 31 March. Copies of the licences which came into force on vesting day have been lodged with the Libraries of both Houses.

  Hinkley C
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to publish the inspector's report from the Hinkley C inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The inspector's report from the Hinkley C inquiry is still awaited. My right hon. Friend will decide on the arrangements for its publication once it has been received.

  Coal Supply
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many tonnes of coal British Coal is contracted to supply to National Power and PowerGen this year and in the two succeeding years.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The British Coal Corporation is contracted to supply the following approximate coal tonnages, at prescribed calorific values, to National Power and PowerGen:

  National Power

  44 million tonnes for 1990–91 and for 1991–92

  40 million tonnes for 1992–93

  PowerGen

  26 million tonnes for 1990–91 and for 1991–92

  25 million tonnes for 1992–93

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what level of coal stocks were held by British Coal and the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1989–90 and each year since 1984–85.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The level of coal stocks in million tonnes at the end of December was:

  British Coal

  Power stations Great Britain

  1984–85

  20·75

  14·40

  1985–86

  9·23

  23·94

  1986–87

  8·70

  27·98

  1987–88

  6·14

  25·29

  1988–89

  7·33

  27·00

  1989–90

  10·05

  27·35

  Source: Energy Trends, April 1990.

  Power stations stocks include those held by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland electricity board.

  Spent Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has carried out as to the value of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer) on 26 June 1989, at column 357.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wrongful Imprisonment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year for the last 10 years, how many people have been wrongfully imprisoned; and what was their length of stay in custody.

  Mr. John Patten
  The tables give details of the cases referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction, since 1980 (table I); and of free pardons (for convictions involving custody) (table II).

  Table I References by the Home Secretary to the Court of Appeal under Section 17(1) (a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction

  Years

  Number of cases referred

  Number of defendants

  Appeals allowed

  1980

  3

  3

  1

  1981

  1

  1

  0

  1982

  4

  7

  4

  1983

  3

  3

  3

  1984

  12

  14

  3

  1985

  4

  4

  2

  1986

  4

  4

  1

  1987

  6

  13

  3

  1988

  2

  2

  0

  1989

  13

  6

  2

  Total

  42

  57

  19

  1 one to be heard

  Table II Free Pardons (for convictions involving custody)

  Number

  1980

  0

  1981

  1

  1982

  1

  1983

  0

  1984

  0

  1985

  0

  1986

  0

  1987

  0

  1988

  0

  1989

  0

  Vagrancy Arrests
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homeless persons have been arrested under the Vagrancy Act in central London in each year since 1980 and how many in each month since January 1989.

  Mr. John Patten
  Prosecutions were brought under the Vagrancy Act for sleeping out in the metropolitan district and the City of London as follows:

  Numbers

  1980

  188

  1983

  45

  1986

  4

  1987

  9

  1988

  12

  Figures for 1989 will be available later in the year.

  Trafalgar Square (Incident)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 25 mounted officers deployed to disperse demonstrators in Trafalgar square on 31 March were women.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that five of the 25 mounted officers deployed to disperse demonstrators in Trafalgar square on 31 March were women.

  Political Asylum
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to which factors account for the increase in applications for political asylum in 1989.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Provisional figures suggest that the number of asylum applications increased from 5,105 in 1988 to 12,570 in 1989. The arrival of some 3,700 Turkish asylum seekers in the second quarter was an important factor but there were also significant increases in the number of applications from Somalia, Sri Lanka and Uganda. The overall increase is in line with trends elsewhere in Europe. Individual decisions to seek asylum are rooted in personal circumstances and conditions in countries of origin. In some cases would-be migrants claim asylum in an attempt to circumvent firm controls on other categories of immigration.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have sought political asylum so far this year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A provisional breakdown by nationality of applications made in each quarter is supplied to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Copies are placed in the Library. The provisional total for the first quarter of 1990 is 2,031 applications.

  Immigration
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) of 21 May, what information he has with regard to present whereabouts of the 670 immigrants detained on the Earl William in 1987.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no central records of those who were detained on the Earl William in 1987.

  Seals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to amend the Seals Act 1970 so as to increase protection of seals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have no plans to do so.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes to the 1990–91 cash limits within his responsibilities and to his Department's running costs limit.
  283
  Mr. Waddington
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on class IX, vote 3, Home Office administration, immigration and police support services, England and Wales, will be increased by £2,302,000 to £758,925,000. The additional provision is necessary because of several new initiatives, primarily a new drugs demand reduction task force, increased aid to Colombia for anti-drug trafficking measures, and the expected cost of police investigations if the War Crimes Bill receives Royal Assent. This increase of £1,607,000 will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Responsibility for the new Football Licensing Authority has also been transferred to the Home Office from the Department of the Environment and the cash limit for class VIII, vote 5, has been reduced accordingly.

  The Home Office running cost limit will be increased by £267,000 from £1,012,392,000 to £1,012,659,000. In addition to the cost of the Football Licensing Authority transferred from the Department of the Environment a further £25,000 has been offset by a corresponding decrease within the Department of Transport's running cost limit (class VIII, vote 2).

PRIME MINISTER

  High Commissioner for India
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has met the new high commissioner for India; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes. I look forward to working with him and to seeing Indo-British relations improve still further during his time in London.

  Gujarat
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her meeting with the Chief Minister of the Gujarat on 8 May.

  The Prime Minister
  I had a useful discussion with the Chief Minister about current events in Gujarat, and about the Gujarati community in this country.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the current findings of the inquiry into the possible link between cot deaths and toxic gases.

  The Prime Minister
  I am not yet able to add to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave the hon. Members for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith), for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) and for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) on 16 May, at column 414.

  Inner-city Development (Leicester)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Minister to oversee inner-city development in Leicester.

  The Prime Minister
  In December 1989 the Government announced the formation of a new team of Ministers to help co-ordinate action in inner-city areas covered by city action teams and task forces. Baroness 284
  Hooper, Under-Secretary of State for Health, advises the city action team which co-ordinates the Government's inner-city programmes in Leicester.

  Advisers
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply of 21 May,Official Report, column 17, if she will list in the Official Report the specialism for which each of her advisers who were not career civil servants for each year since 1981 were employed by the Cabinet Office, where relevant; what salary was agreed between each adviser and the Cabinet Office, in those cases where payment was made out of public funds; and what other employment those advisers recorded whilst working in the Prime Minister's office.

  The Prime Minister
  Advisers offer advice on a range of issues. It is not my normal practice to provide information on individual salaries, or on other employment held by part-time advisers. Special advisers are subject to the requirement applying to all civil servants that they must avoid any conflict of interest with their official duties.

  Secretary of State for Energy
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what official back-up is being provided to the Secretary of State for Energy in his new co-ordinating role; to which Department those officials will be allocated; and what provision is to be made for parliamentary questions on his performance of these new responsibilities.

  The Prime Minister
  The Secretary of State for Energy will be supported by my chief press secretary and his office. He will receive advice as necessary from the Cabinet Office on questions of propriety of Government publicity. Questions arising from the Secretary of State's new responsibilities should be addressed to him. Questions on publicity issues relating to a specific Department should be addressed to the Minister concerned.

TRANSPORT

  Traffic Area Offices
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the staff turnover figures for each of the traffic area offices in the last three years for which information is available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following are the figures:

  Percentage Turnover

  Traffic Area Office

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  North East (Newcastle)

  8·5

  8·6

  2·4

  North East (Leeds)

  12·3

  4·5

  27·0

  North West

  15·4

  8·0

  12·4

  West Midlands

  15·6

  18·2

  13·6

  Scottish

  26·2

  6·3

  15·6

  South Wales

  19·6

  8·7

  8·1

  Western

  16·1

  11·1

  9·7

  Eastern (Nottingham)

  10·8

  6·1

  10·1

  Eastern (Cambridge)

  22·8

  22·8

  20·0

  South East

  24·3

  17·4

  16·6

  Metropolitan

  25·4

  43·5

  20·2

  (These figures do not include internal transfers)

  Rail Electrification
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the estimated rate of return on the investment approved for the electrification of the Carstairs-Edinburgh line.

  Mr. Freeman
  Electrification of the Carstairs-Edinburgh line for InterCity services was approved by British Rail itself, on the basis that the scheme meets BR's normal criterion of an 8 per cent. financial return for investment in its commercial sectors.

  Electric Freight Locomotives
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected operational range, in the continental direction, of the new electric freight locomotives, approval for which was announced on 18 May by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Freeman
  BR currently plans to operate the new electric freight locomotives as far as Frethun, just beyond the French channel tunnel portal, where trains will be re-formed for journeys into France and beyond.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of rail coaches, or train sets, constructed, purchased, or modified for use on channel tunnel services, other than those on London-Paris and London-Brussels services, which he expects to be used on through services beyond London.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a commercial matter for British Rail. British Rail published its plans for services beyond London on 14 December and I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) on that date at column 767. It has not yet submitted its investment proposals.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to apply and publish a cost benefit analysis comparable to that applied to the building of the London Victoria line to the proposed line between London and the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the disposal procedures adopted for those polychlorinated byphenyls associated with the work begun on a channel tunnel in 1974.

  Mr. Freeman
  Disposal procedures were generally a matter for the companies concerned. In one instance a contractor, contrary to the terms of his contract, spilt a considerable quantity of polychlorinated byphenyl on site in the course of removing a tunnelling machine. The Department subsequently disposed of the contaminated soil in accordance with procedures based on the recommendations of a firm of consulting engineers, and agreed with the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of the Environment and Kent county council.

  Traffic Office, Newcastle
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to announce the conclusions of his review of the northern area traffic office in Newcastle upon Tyne.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 17 May 1990 at column 543.

  Speed Restrictions
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current criteria for speed restrictions on A roads through villages; and if he has any plans to revise them.

  Mr. Atkins
  The current criteria for speed limits on all roads including those through villages are set out in circular "Roads" 1/80 and 4/83. Copies of these are available from the Library of the House. They are kept under review.

  Railways
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals for further investment in the railway system have been put forward for when the present diesel fleet of high-speed trains are taken out of service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail has no current proposals for the premature replacement of its high-speed diesel train fleet. British Rail expects these trains to remain in service on a number of routes until around the end of the century.

  Midland Main Line
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the report of the midland main line strategy study entitled "Electrification of the MML—a Key to Prosperity"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have not received this report.

  Merchant Shipping
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will set in hand an examination of the state of the British merchant shipping industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I am pleased to announce the setting up of a joint working party, under my chairmanship and that of the president of the General Council of British Shipping, to establish the present circumstances in which the British shipping industry operates both domestically and internationally. The working party has been asked to report no later than 14 September 1990.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current size of the British merchant fleet in terms of(a) the total number of vessels and (b) total tonnage; and what were the comparable figures 10 and 20 years ago.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested has been set out in the form of a table:
  287

  Trading vessels registered in the United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies of 500 gross registered tonnes (grt) and above

  Date

  Number of vessels

  Tonnage

  grt 000

  dwt 000

  31 March 1990

  441

  6,072

  8,530

  31 December 1979

  1,305

  25,232

  41,221

  31 December 1969

  2,002

  22,274

  32,386

  dwt = deadweight tonnage.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received concerning the size of the British merchant fleet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We receive representations from all sections of the shipping industry, including most recently NUMAST. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State earlier today, announcing the setting up of a joint working party with the General Council of British Shipping.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number and tonnage of new merchant vessels registered in Britain in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Figures for new registrations of British ships are provided in the table, which shows separately the vessels registered in the United Kingdom's Crown dependencies and dependent territories. The figures relate to the calendar year 1989 and to trading vessels over 500 gross registered tonnes (grt).

  Number

  Tonnage 000'sgrt

  United Kingdom

  20

  137

  Crown Dependencies

  10

  183

  Dependent Territories excluding Hong Kong

  18

  274

  Hong Kong

  33

  1,039

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit and running costs limit for his Department.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary and revised estimates, the cash limits in class VII will be changed as follows:

  Current cash limit £000

  Change £000

  Revised cash limit £000

  Class VII Vote 2

  256,266

  -3,030

  253,236

  Class VII Vote 4

  129,904

  + 3,005

  132,909

  These changes to the cash limits take account of the following transfers from class VII vote 2:

  (a) £2,813,000 to class VII vote 4 of certain departmental running costs;

  (b) £192,000 to class VII vote 4 as a result of the transfer of responsibility for medical fees for heavy goods vehicle and public service vehicle driving licence applications to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. These fees will be reclassified as running costs; and

  (c) £25,000 of departmental running costs to class IX vote 3 for some civil aviation services.

  288
  The Department's running cost limit has been increased from £320,734,000 to £320,901,000.

  The changes do not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  General Council of British Shipping
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the General Council of British Shipping; and what was discussed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Secretary of State and I regularly meet the General Council of British Shipping to discuss a wide range of shipping issues of mutual concern. The last such meeting was on 3 April.

  Radiation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the typical annual radiation dose equivalent exposure for crew members serving on board ships for a typical voyage duration owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd., and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Over the period 1983 to 1989 inclusive, the average annual radiation dose received by crew members serving on board ships owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. ranged from 0·1 to 0·4 mSv. Over the same period the maximum annual radiation dose received by an individual was between 0·5 and 1·7 mSv.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions within the last 15 years there has been an accidental release of radiation or exceptional levels of emission from irradiated fuel flasks or other radioactive material containers on board ships owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There have been no significant releases of radioactivity from irradiated fuel flasks or other radioactive material containers on board ships owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. Transporting spent fuel by sea has been carried out safely since the mid-1960s.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the provision of alternative methods, other than central crash barriers, of preventing crossover accidents on dual carriageways.

  Mr. Atkins
  Consideration has been given to a number of alternatives including earth bunds, dense shrubbery and "arrester strips". All were assessed to be less safe, less practicable or otherwise less effective than safety fences and barriers.

  M66
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about progress on the M66; and when he expects it to be open.

  Mr. Atkins
  Supplementary orders for the northern section of the scheme in the Rhodes and Heaton Park area
  289
  (which involves widening of the existing M66) were published this week. Construction of this section should start next year. Supplementary orders for the rest of the scheme will be published in the autumn with a view to start of works in 1992. The Department aims to have the whole of the new motorway open in 1996.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of, and total value of, bypass schemes in the forward road programme at 1990 prices.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are at present more than 150 bypass schemes in the road programme, with a total works cost of about £3·5 billion at 1990 prices.

  British Rail (Grants)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money the Government have provided in grants to British Rail in each of the last five years and for what purposes, at current prices.

  Mr. Freeman
  Figures for Government support paid to the British Railways Board are given in the table. They include both the public service obligation grant under EC regulation 1191/69 and section 3 of the Railways Act 1974, which compensates BR for maintaining loss-making passenger services on Network SouthEast and provincial (InterCity services were removed from the obligation on 1 April 1988), and level crossings grant under EC regulation 1192/69. Final claims have yet to be agreed for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Cash

  1990–91 prices

  1985–86

  838

  1,110

  1986–87

  689

  882

  1987–88

  783

  951

  1988–89

  557

  632

  1989–90

  511

  544

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much money the Government have provided in grants to London Buses Ltd. in each of the last five years and for what purposes, at current prices;

  (2) how much money the Government have provided in grants to London Underground Ltd. in each of the last five years, and for what purposes, at current prices.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government pay grant to London Regional Transport which is responsible for distributing it to its subsidiaries, including London Buses Ltd. and London Underground Ltd.

  The total grant for the last five years at 1989–90 prices has been as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  391

  1986–87

  347

  1987–88

  271

  1988–89

  203

  1989–90

  287

  The purpose of the grant is to meet LRT's cash deficit; the Government do not pay specific grants to LRT for
  290
  specific purposes. Over the last five years the proportion of the grant devoted to revenue subsidy has reduced while the proportion supporting capital investment has increased. The effect has been that LRT's investment has grown by 42 per cent. in real terms over the same period.

  Civil Aviation (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the Civil Aviation Authority's net safety benefit analysis, particularly in relation to validity of the statistics used and the assumptions made concerning time and duration of fires.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The net safety benefit analysis is not the sole basis for the CAA's position on smoke hoods. It is the way in which the benefits and disbenefits of passenger smoke hoods can be weighed in a situation where there is a potential for loss of life due, for example, to delay in evacuation, as well as the saving of life. In the light of the inevitable lack of precise evidence as to the progress of an aircraft fire, and the time taken to evacuate in such incidents, both the CAA and the Department accept that there will always be some element of subjective assessment in work of this nature.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline the process and procedures of evaluation to be undertaken(a) by his Department and/or (b) by the Civil Aviation Authority in order to measure the effectiveness of alternative smoke hood systems for aeroplanes and to certify those that meet the required performance standards.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. The required level of passenger protection to be provided by any smoke hood is set out in CAA specification No. 20 which was developed in consultation with industry. I am advised that the authority has received our initial applications for approval of smoke hoods, now reduced to three by the withdrawal of one applicant. To date no evidence has been provided or demonstrated to the authority that any smoke hood can provide the specified level of protection in the event of an aircraft fire.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy to make smoke hood provision mandatory in civilian aeroplanes once equipment has been certified as being capable of meeting the appropriate Civil Aviation Authority standard.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. The mandatory provision of smoke hoods on civilian aeroplanes is a matter for the authority.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what development period he estimates will be required before he will be able to legislate for water spray systems to be fitted as standard on civil aeroplanes.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The statutory responsibility for the regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). I am advised that the
  291
  CAA, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Transport Canada are currently co-operating in a research programme to test the effectiveness of cabin water spray systems in civil aircraft. The CAA's research into narrow-bodied fuselage systems should be completed by later this year. FAA research into wide-bodied aircraft fuselage fires is also expected to be completed by the end of this year. If these tests prove satisfactory, work to finalise a specification for such systems can start in early 1991.

  M67-M66-A57 Junction (Traffic Lights)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to approve the scheme to install traffic lights at the roundabout junction of the M67, M66 and A57.

  Mr. Atkins
  I expect to approve the design of this scheme shortly, with the intention of starting works in the current financial year.

  Catamaran (Loss)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the loss of the catamaran Bootlegger off Lulworth cove, Dorset, on 30 July 1988; what investigations have been carried out by his Department into the cause of the loss; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Roads
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total value of the forward road programme at 1990 prices; and what percentage(a) road building and (b) maintenance comprise of the total.

  Mr. Atkins
  The works value of the entire trunk road construction programme, as published in "Trunk Roads, England: Into the 1990s" is £16,750 million at 1990 prices. Maintenance is not planned in the same way as the construction programme, and figures are available only for the three years to the end of 1992–93; for that period the value of maintenance is £1,685 million cash.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money his Department has spent on its road programme in each of the last five years at current prices.

  Mr. Atkins
  Expenditure on the roads programme in the last five years at 1990–91 prices is as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  801

  1986–87

  800

  1987–88

  784

  1988–89

  832

  1989–90

  1985

  1 Provisional

  These figures are net of receipts and exclude expenditure on road and bridge maintenance.

  Road Junction (Audenshaw)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider the decision not to allow the construction of an improved junction for Stamford road/Corporation road, Audenshaw, in Tameside's transportation policies and plans settlement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  We have accepted £203,000 of Tameside's expenditure on minor works for transport supplementary grant in 1990–91. It is for the local highway authority to decide how best to use these and any other resources.

  Railway Links (London)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made as to the approximate cost of constructing(a) new cross-London railway links and (b) new underground railway links in London, at 1990 prices.

  Mr. Freeman
  The east-west crossrail and Chelsea to Hackney line proposed by the central London rail study would respectively cost about £1·4 billion and £1·8 billion to build at today's prices. The Jubilee line extension will cost over £1 billion at today's prices. No other proposals for new cross-London or underground links have been submitted to the Department.

  Rail Industry (Injuries)
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway staff have been killed or suffered major injuries for the period 1979 to 1983 and 1984 to 1988; and what they represent as a proportion per 1,000 railway staff employed.

  Mr. Parkinson
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: In the period 1984 to 1988, 98 staff died and 979 suffered major injuries, totalling 1,077. The average number of staff employed during that period was 181,200. The proportion of deaths and major injuries to 1,000 employed was 5·94 per cent.

  In the period 1979 to 1983, 153 railway staff died and 1,613 suffered major injuries, totalling 1,766. The average number of staff employed during that period was 228,200. The proportion of deaths and major injuries to 1,000 employed was 7·74 per cent.

  In the period 1974 to 1978, 209 railway staff died and 3,023 suffered major injuries, totalling 3,232. The average number of staff employed during that period was 264,400. The proportion of deaths and major injuries to 1,000 employed was 13·1 per cent.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the total figures of death and major injuries in the railway industry for the period 1979 to 1983 and 1984 to 1988; and what is the total percentage increase.

  Mr. Parkinson
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: In the period 1974 to 1978 there were 500 deaths (including passengers, staff and others) and 3,855 major injuries, totalling 4,355. In the period 1979 to 1983, there were 374 deaths and 2,330 major injuries, totalling 2,704. This represents a reduction of 37·9 per cent. In the period 1984 to 1988, there were 448 deaths and 1,983 major injuries, totalling 2,431. This represents a reduction of 10·1 per cent.

  Railway Inspectorate
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many professionally qualified inspectors were employed by the railway inspectorate for each year since 1979; and what was the full establishment level for each year.

  Mr. Parkinson
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: The number of professionally qualified staff in post at 31 December of each year, together with the establishment for that year, is set out in the table.

  Year

  Staff in post

  Establishment

  1979

  22

  22

  1980

  22

  22

  1981

  22

  22

  1982

  22

  22

  1983

  22

  22

  1984

  23

  222

  1985

  23

  222

  1986

  19

  222

  1987

  19

  24

  1988

  16

  24

  11989

  24

  32

  1 Includes one part-time.

  2 + 1 supernumerary.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recommendations were made by the departmental review on the railway inspectorate; and what action he has taken.

  Mr. Parkinson
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: A report of the review was presented in 1987, and included numerous recommendations. A copy is in the Library of the House. Many of the recommendations have been implemented. Work continues on the others.

  Speed Limits (Coaches)
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider adding to the MOT test the verification of speed limiters on relevant coaches as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [ holding answer 23 May 1990]: I am considering adding a check of speed limiter fitment to the annual tests of relevant coaches.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  National Audit Office
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission whether the commission has appointed new auditors for the National Audit Office.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  Yes. The commission has appointed the firm of Clark Whitehill. The appointment will be for a period of up to five years from 1 April 1990.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1990–91 cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service.
  294
  Mr. Luce
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £978,000 from £42,643,000 to £43,621,000. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The increase is required to cover the additional cost of making physical security improvements; the initial costs of a new unit to co-ordinate efforts to improve British representation in European Community institutions; the cost of upgrading the management information system for the Civil Service Commission in anticipation of its move to agency status in 1991–92 and the cost of improvements in services provided by the civil service college (this charge will be offset by increased appropriations in aid). Provision is also sought to cover the additional cost of recruitment for the purchasing and supply specialism and recruitment costs of the scheme to prepare candidates for entry to the European Community institutions. The cost of the purchasing and supply recruitment scheme will be met by recoveries from participating Departments together with an increase in expected recoveries from Departments for existing recruitment schemes. The proposed supplementary estimate identifies the cost of civil service college training courses for the staff of the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service offset by recoveries from the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service together with a reassessment of the college's recoveries from other sources.

  Some of the changes in provision have a consequent effect on the Department's running costs limit which will be increased by £403,000 from £33,319,000 to £33,722,000.

  Crown Servants (Business Appointments)
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish a further report on business appointments of former Crown servants.

  Mr. Luce
  I have today placed copies of a statistical report entitled "Acceptance of Outside Appointments by Crown Servants—1989" in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Business
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the cost to public funds of providing an answer to the question tabled by the right hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on parliamentary business,Official Report, 11 May, column 243.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Approximately £40.

  Printing Costs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is his estimate of the total cost to public funds and the volumes of newsprint that have been involved in the printing this Session of(a) the Order Paper, (b) the notices of questions, (c) the written and oral questions reprinted after appearing for the first time, (d) notices of motions, (e) Votes and Proceedings of the House, (f) Standing Committee proceedings and Division lists, (g) remaining Orders of the Day and (h) the Vote bundle as a whole.
  295
  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The total cost to public funds for the supply of the Vote bundle as a whole in this Session up to the end of April, is estimated at £4·1 million. The volume of paper consumed in production of the Vote bundle for the same period is 159 tonnes.

  It is not possible to produce the estimated cost to public funds of printing the individual categories of the Vote bundle without incurring disproportionate expense.

  Creche
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he has taken to consult(a) staff unions and (b) the staff creche committee about the design of the survey of demand for a workplace nursery in the House.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Following initiatives by the House of Commons Commission and the Services Committee, the Administration Department has been asked to undertake a feasibility study of the provision of child care facilities in the House or in conjunction with other public services in the Westminster area. Once that study is complete any consultation exercise will necessarily embrace all those with an interest.

  Railway Warrants
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any plans to change the number of spouse railway warrants allocated to Members in view of the change in ticket validities recently announced by British Rail.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The resolution of 22 July 1975 limits the number of free return journeys for a Member's spouse to 15. We have no plans to change this.

  Stationery
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list each item of stationery issued by the Serjeant at Arms stores and the percentage content of recycled paper in each item of scale zero to 100 per cent.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: A list of each item of stationery issued by the Serjeant at Arms stores is shown on the Members' stationery demands form. Currently the ruled writing paper contains 100 per cent. recycled paper and the buff envelopes and file covers contain at least 50 per cent. recycled paper. I understand that approval has now been given by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee for a number of items, including printed memos, compliment slips and typing top sheets to be replaced by recycled ranges once existing stocks are exhausted and that orders should be placed on an experimental basis for a range of writing paper and envelopes in recycled paper to be available.

  New Parliamentary Building
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Members' offices in the new parliamentary building, phase 1, will contain marble fireplaces; and whether provision of such fireplaces has affected the timetable for completion of phase 1.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  The hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) and his colleagues on the New Building Sub-Committee can be assured that there is no basis for the allegations made by
  296
  the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 17 May at column 1020. There are no fireplaces in the new Members' offices and those in the restored accommodation are either already in place or are off site being restored. This work is not on the critical path and is not expected to cause problems.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Workplace Nurseries
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effect of his proposals on workplace nurseries on the number of women in the work force.

  Mr. Lilley
  The proposal to exempt workplace nurseries from tax as a benefit will remove a perceived obstacle to the growth of such facilities. The measure will thus assist employers who wish to set up nursery or similar facilities and the employees who use them; but it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the likely effect of this change on the number of women in the work force.

  Corporation Tax
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the number of firms benefiting from raising the ceiling on corporation tax to £200,000.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is estimated that 20,000 companies will benefit from the increase in profit limits for the small companies' rate of corporation tax and associated marginal relief.

  Pay Statistics
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest statistics on top people's pay.

  Mr. Ryder
  Rates of pay are a matter for the parties directly concerned as only they can know what is right for their particular circumstances. The Government have said repeatedly, however, that we are opposed to excessive pay increases since they threaten jobs.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Madrid conditions for exchange rate mechanism participation to be satisfied.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 26 April, at column 475.

  Civil Service
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of civil service jobs which he proposes to devolve to(a) Leeds and (b) Newcastle upon Tyne, indicating to which Departments these jobs apply, together with the original location of these jobs.

  Mr. Ryder
  Decisions on relocation venues rest with departmental Ministers. I would refer the hon. Member to
  297
  the statements made by the Secretaries of State for Social Security and for Health on 14 November 1989, at columns 170 and 197, about the relocation of DSS and Department of Health posts to Leeds; and to the statement by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 May 1990, at column 466, concerning the relocation of intervention board posts to Newcastle. In addition, the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 25 April during a visit to the north-east that 1,000 jobs dealing with national insurance contributions work would be transferred to Newcastle from other regions over the next 12 months.

  VAT (Water)
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated annual cost to industry in Scotland of applying value added tax to water supply from 1 July;

  (2) what is the estimated annual cost to industry of applying value added tax to water supply from 1 July;

  (3) what is the estimated annual cost to industry in Wales of applying value added tax to water supply from 1 July.

  Mr. Major
  Negligible. VAT to be charged on water supplies to industry after 1 July will, in virtually all cases, be reclaimable as input tax by those affected.

  Capital Taxes Office, Shepherds Bush
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of employees presently employed at the capital taxes office in Shepherds Bush he expects to be unwilling or unable to relocate; and what efforts his Department will be making to find other suitable work for those employees.

  Mr. Lilley
  All the work of the capital taxes office in Shepherds Bush will be relocated to Nottingham. The number of employees presently working there who will be unwilling or unable to relocate is not known because staff have not, as yet, been asked to state their preferences about moving to Nottingham.

  The Department will make every effort to redeploy in other parts of the Inland Revenue or in other Government Departments those employees who cannot or do not wish to move.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of employees at the capital taxes office in Shepherds Bush he expects to be relocated to sites in Nottingham within the next three years.

  Mr. Lilley
  The capital taxes office will be relocated to Nottingham. The number of employees who will move to Nottingham is not yet known.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the site of the capital taxes office in Shepherds Bush once the relocation to Nottingham has taken place.

  Mr. Lilley
  The future of the site in Shepherds Bush following relocation of work to Nottingham will be for the Department of the Environment (Directorate General of Property Holdings) to determine.

  Schedule D (Actors and Artists)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to amend the appropriate regulation and/or legislation in order to restore arrangements which allowed actors and artists with a similar work pattern to be taxed under schedule D.

  Mr. Lilley
  When the House debated this subject on 27 February, as reported in the Official Report, at columns 250–56, I promised to consider carefully the suggestion that a statutory provision should be introduced to ensure that performers should be treated as self-employed and not subject to PAYE, irrespective of their position under the usual tests of employment/self-employment laid down by the courts. Having done so, I concluded that it would not be appropriate to make this change. That would be unfair to other taxpayers whose tax treatment is governed by the general rules on employment/self-employment, and would raise the other difficulties I explained in the debate.

  I conveyed my conclusions on this issue to the industry shortly after the Budget. It is of course open to it, or any individual actor, to challenge the Inland Revenue's view of the law in the courts. The Revenue will do everything it can to help in selecting suitable cases for appeal if the industry decides it wishes to do so.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was to Her Majesty's Treasury of higher-rate mortgage tax relief for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Lilley
  Estimates for financial years are as follows:

  Cost of mortgage interest relief at excess over the basic rate of income tax

  Year

  £ million

  1987–88

  430

  1988–89

  310

  11989–90

  430

  1 Provisional.

  Cash Accounting
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many value added tax registered traders are eligible to adopt cash accounting; how many have done so; at what cost; and what would be the cost were all those eligible to adopt cash accounting.

  Mr. Ryder
  Of the 1·7 million businesses registered for VAT, 1·3 million are eligible to apply for cash accounting as their taxable turnover is less than £250,000 a year; but of these, only an estimated 375,000 businesses would benefit from the scheme. Businesses which already benefit from other special schemes, for example, those for retailers and those that regularly receive repayments of tax from Customs and Excise, would gain no additional benefit from cash accounting. To date, some 85,000 businesses have adopted cash accounting at an estimated take-up cost to the revenue of £40 million. If all businesses that would be likely to benefit adopted the scheme the estimated cost to the revenue would be about £180 million.

  Pool Betting Duty
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will cut pool betting duty from 42·5 per cent. to 40 per cent. as proposed in his Budget statement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  In my Budget statement I proposed reducing the rate of pool betting duty from 42·5 per cent. to 40 per cent., subject to review after five years, on condition that the benefit of the reduction is transferred to the Football Trust for use in implementing Lord Justice Taylor's recommendations for improving comfort and safety for football spectators.

  I am glad to say that the Football Trust, the pool promoters and football authorities have entered into binding arrangements which will ensure payment by the pool promoters of the whole of the duty reduction to the Football Trust, for use on capital works at Football League and Scottish Football League grounds and the three national stadiums—Wembley, Hampden Park and Windsor Park, Belfast. In addition, the Football Trust expects to allocate £75 million to professional football over the next 10 years from contributions made to the trust from the Pool Promoters Association's spot-the-ball competition. Accordingly, I propose to reduce the rate of pool betting duty to 40 per cent. from 28 May 1990. The new rate will apply to bets made at any time by reference to any event taking place on or after 28 May 1990.

  The Football Trust has undertaken to account separately for the moneys made available to it by the reduction in pool betting duty; and to produce an annual statement of this separate account, to be audited by an independent auditor whose report will be made available to Government.

  We will be introducing a new clause on the Report stage of the Finance Bill seeking to reduce the duty with effect from 28 May 1990.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to public funds in the current financial year, and with retrospective effect to 6 April, of increasing the entitlement to transitional relief so as to reflect the actual community charge levied rather than the figures assumed by the Government for local authorities.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: Basing the community charge transitional relief on actual charges would have increased the cost of the scheme by over £1 billion in England. Transitional relief was designed to give some protection to households in the changeover to the new system; it was not designed to insulate charge payers from increases in local authority spending.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what rate of income tax would be necessary to finance all current local government expenditure in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what rate of value added tax would be necessary to finance all current local government expenditure in the United Kingdom;

  (3) what rate of corporation tax would be necessary to finance all current local government expenditure in the United Kingdom.
  300
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: If local authorities spent in line with total standard spending in England and Wales, and total current expenditure in Scotland, total current expenditure would be around £39·8 billion. Assuming that central Government grant to local authorities ceased and that expenditure currently funded in part by local authorities all fell to central Government, this would imply additional central Government expenditure of around £11 billion.

  This is equivalent to an increase of around 7½p in the basic rate of income tax, or an increase of 5½ percentage points in the VAT rate, or an increase of around 28 percentage points in the full rate of corporation tax. These calculations take no account of any consequential behavioural effects, which are likely to be significant.

SCOTLAND

  Roof Tax
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recent representations he has received supporting a roof tax.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a handful of letters supporting the Labour party's proposed local tax on houses.

  Rents into Mortgages
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State For Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his rents-into-mortgages scheme; if he has any plans to extend its scope; how many tenants have made firm applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Response to the scheme has been encouraging so far and indications are that it is attracting the interest of the intended target group. As at 30 April, Scottish Homes the body responsible for the administration of the scheme had received 135 firm applications to purchase. The scheme will continue to be closely monitored with a view to evaluating the case for any adaptations or extensions which appear to be appropriate.

  Radioactive Substances
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the National Radiological Protection Board and nuclear installations inspectorate took to locate and recover the lost caesium at Dounreay seven months ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate is satisfied that the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has conducted a thorough search for the sealed source and has taken all reasonable steps to protect and inform both its employees and members of the public.

  Grampian Health Board
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he approved the 10-year strategy of Grampian health board; what are the estimated annual costs of this strategy; and what financial allocations have been made or are to be made for each of the years covered by the 10-year strategy.
  301
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Grampian health board's 10-year strategy will be the subject of discussions between NHS management executive and the board at an autumn meeting to review progress on delivering the priorities set out in the SHAPE and SHARPEN reports. The board's strategic plans are expected to consider a range of assumptions about the level of financial resources that might be allocated to it in the future.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected population for the year 1990–91 within the area served by Grampian health board; what is the weighted population used by the Scottish Home and Health Department for grant allocation purposes; and what difference in grant allocation results from these population figures.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The estimated resident population served by Grampian health board in 1990–91 is 505,156. In common with other boards in order to reflect the relative health needs of the area the crude population figure is adjusted to take account of the age, sex and estimated morbidity of the population. The 1990–91 adjusted figure for the Grampian health board is 471,000. Grampian health board's allocation was increased by £13·762 million in the current year.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost to Grampian health board of pay and price inflation for the financial year 1990–91; and what sum of money has been allocated by SHHD to meet these costs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth:
  The allocation to Grampian health board in 1990–91 for recurrent expenditure on hospital and community health services was £187·725 million.

  The figure was based on the relative health needs of the board's resident population.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial allocation was made to Grampian health board for general purposes and medical equipment for the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is for boards to determine their spending priorities on medical equipment and other matters within their available resources.

  M8 Kingston Bridge
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the structural safety of the M8 Kingston bridge in Glasgow.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The M8 Kingston bridge in Glasgow is the responsibility of Strathclyde regional council. The Scottish Development Department has been assured by the director of roads for Strathclyde region that there is no concern for public safety or to users of the Kingston bridge.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of Scottish registered fishing vessels currently using 110 mm nets and what was the figure for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Lang
  Under the North sea management arrangements announced in March, 17 Scottish-based 302
  vessels have chosen to use 110 mm nets as opposed to limiting the number of days in which they fish in the North sea. Information on the net sizes used by Scottish fishermen in past years is not readily available.

  Training
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage LEC consortia to submit outline bids for a training credit pilot programme.

  Mr. Lang
  The Industry Department for Scotland encouraged all local enterprise company consortia which had been awarded development funding by 27 March 1990 to consider bidding to run a training credit pilot scheme. Three consortia (Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, Grampian Enterprise and Fife Enterprise) submitted outline bids by the deadline of 4 May 1990.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of managing agents providing work-based training under YTS in Scotland are approved training organisations.

  Mr. Lang
  In Scotland, 99·7 per cent. of managing agents providing work-based training under YTS are approved training organisations.

  Coronary Heart Disease
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the source of the table on page 68, appendix 3(ii), of the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council's publication of December 1989 entitled "Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Scotland".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The table was compiled from the following three sources:

  1. Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, Diet and Cardiovascular Disease (The COMA Report), London: HMSO, 1984. (Reports on Health and Social Subjects No. 28).

  2. National Advisory Committee on Nutritional Education: Proposals for Nutritional Guidelines for Health Education in Britain (The NACNE Report), London: Health Education Council, 1983.

  3. Thomson M et al. Alcohol Consumption and Nutrient Intake in Middle-aged Scottish Men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1988; 47: 139–45.

  Copies of the first two reports are in the Library.

  Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been invested in the Eastern General hospital, Edinburgh, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Capital expenditure at the Eastern General hospital in the last five years was as follows:

  Year

  £

  1985–86

  264,155

  1986–87

  174,130

  1987–88

  898,092

  1988–89

  968,719

  1989–90

  505,655

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make changes to the cash limits for 1990–91 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 27: hospital and community health services, family practitioner services (part) and other health services, Scotland, will be increased by £24,274,000 from £2,031,840,000 to £2,056,114,000. This is to provide funds towards the costs of the pay awards to medical staff recommended in the reports of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine and on doctors' and dentists' remuneration and to allow for increased receipts and increased capital expenditure by health boards.

  The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Tobacco Works, Glasgow
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to bring more jobs to the east end of Glasgow, in the light of the proposed closure of the tobacco works in Dennistoun; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: The announcement of the closure of the Imperial Tobacco factory at Dennistoun—with the associated loss of jobs—is to be regretted. I understand that the decision has been taken on strictly commercial grounds as part of an overall rationalisation programme to enable the company to compete within the single European market. The company's northern trading division will remain in Glasgow.

  While the decision is ultimately one for the company, in the light of its commercial judgment, we are concerned that Imperial Tobacco should take all possible steps to alleviate the economic and social effects of the closure on the east end of Glasgow. In this context, it is reassuring that Hanson International, which owns Imperial Tobacco, is to undertake a major counselling, re-training and job search exercise, in addition to its offer of generous redundancy terms to staff who will lose their jobs.

  The local enterprise trust, the East End Executive, will be available to complement the company's efforts through the provision of business counselling and advice.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Gordon,Official Report, 11 May, column 240, when discharges of liquid sodium metal or other occurrences with potential safety implications ceased to be operational matters for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; and at what point his Department assumes responsibility.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: The safe operation of the civil nuclear installation at Dounreay is a matter for the operator, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, at all times.

  Details of incidents at such establishments having significance or potential significance for the health and
  304
  safety of the work force or the general public, are provided by the operator to the Health and Safety Executive and to interested Departments and their respective Ministers. This is done in accordance with the incident reporting criteria set out in the statement made in this House on 30 April 1987 by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad).

  In the event of an incident in Scotland with potential off-site consequences there are comprehensive plans available which would be invoked if necessary. Within those general arrangements the Scottish Office would become the lead Department.

  There was no danger to either the work force or to the general public from the incident at Dounreay on 24 April.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate for each of the periods 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 and 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 of the average amount per place of employer contribution for ET and for YTS.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government do not publish estimates of the average employer contribution per place.

  The level of contribution will justifiably vary between employers, trainees and types of provider and contributions are made in a variety of ways, for example sponsorship, support in kind and payments for work experience provision.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, based on the information given in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 1006), the estimated total percentage of all employment training leavers going into jobs, further education, or training and self-employment in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: Th.e estimated percentage of all employment training leavers going into jobs, self-employment, further education or training is as follows:

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  44

  1991–92

  48

  1992–93

  51

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the actual spend and the budgeted spend in the standard regions on employment training for 1989–90.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Provisional outturn expenditure in 1989–90 on employment training (ET) for each region Js shown in the table. Information on budgets is for internal management purposes.

  £ millions

  South East

  31·21

  London

  46·11

  South West

  25·60

  West Midlands

  43·23

  East Midlands and Eastern

  33·08

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50·97

  305

  £ millions

  North West

  56·11

  Northern

  42·10

  Wales

  32·74

  Scotland

  60·70

  National Providers Unit

  109·30

  Note: These figures exclude expenditure on trainee allowances and other centrally administered ET expenditure.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, for each region, and for Great Britain, for each month since October 1988, what was the number of entrants to(a) job clubs, (b) employment training, (c) restart courses, and (d) enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information for(b) and (d) is given in the following tables. As parts (a) and (c) of the question refer to programmes under the operational control of the employment service, Mr. Mike Fogden, the chief executive of the employment service, will be replying in writing to the hon. Lady.

  Training agency regions of England

  South East

  London

  South West

  West Midlands

  East Midlands and Eastern

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  Northern

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain1

  1989

  January

  2,300

  3,800

  2,100

  4,300

  2,900

  5,500

  5,500

  3,600

  2,900

  3,700

  36,700

  February

  2,500

  3,400

  2,500

  5,000

  3,600

  6,100

  7,100

  4,800

  3,600

  5,400

  43,900

  March

  2,100

  3,800

  2,300

  4,900

  3,200

  5,400

  6,500

  4,700

  3,200

  6,000

  42,200

  April

  2,300

  3,100

  2,000

  4,100

  3,100

  4,900

  5,800

  3,800

  2,900

  4,400

  36,300

  May

  1,600

  2,600

  1,700

  3,300

  2,400

  4,100

  4,800

  3,200

  2,300

  4,400

  30,000

  June

  2,400

  3,100

  1,900

  3,800

  2,800

  4,500

  6,300

  4,100

  2,600

  4,800

  36,400

  July

  4,500

  3,100

  1,500

  3,300

  3,000

  3,800

  5,300

  3,600

  2,700

  3,400

  34,200

  August

  1,900

  2,700

  1,200

  3,200

  2,500

  3,500

  4,500

  3,000

  2,300

  4,500

  29,300

  September

  3,400

  4,800

  2,300

  4,500

  3,500

  5,500

  6,200

  4,900

  3,700

  5,600

  44,200

  October

  2,500

  3,300

  1,900

  3,800

  2,800

  4,600

  5,200

  3,700

  2,900

  4,800

  35,600

  November

  2,300

  3,600

  1,700

  3,800

  2,800

  4,800

  5,600

  3,700

  2,400

  4,900

  36,200

  December

  1,500

  2,600

  1,400

  2,900

  2,100

  3,700

  3,700

  2,900

  1,900

  3,500

  26,300

  1 Great Britain total includes small number of trainees at Residential Training Colleges and Large Contractors not included in regional figures.

  Training agency regions of England

  1990

  January

  February

  March

  South East

  2,800

  2,600

  3,300

  London

  3,900

  4,100

  4,500

  South West

  2,000

  1,800

  2,500

  West Midlands

  3,600

  4,500

  5,300

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,500

  3,100

  3,700

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,400

  5,100

  6,100

  North West

  5,400

  5,900

  7,300

  Northern

  3,300

  4,100

  4,900

  Entrants to the enterprise allowance scheme: October 1988 to April 1990 Training agency regions of England

  London

  South East

  South West

  West Midlands

  East Midlands

  North West

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1988

  October

  896

  811

  763

  790

  675

  1,211

  452

  777

  502

  639

  7,516

  November

  1,015

  812

  809

  881

  721

  1,303

  465

  739

  601

  648

  7,994

  December

  820

  769

  690

  657

  693

  1,139

  391

  774

  513

  542

  6,988

  1989

  January

  748

  658

  653

  592

  627

  884

  343

  629

  444

  453

  6,031

  February

  828

  768

  768

  697

  673

  1,106

  429

  678

  542

  622

  7,111

  March

  891

  782

  788

  792

  770

  1,209

  482

  763

  574

  680

  7,731

  April

  758

  746

  745

  743

  721

  1,123

  514

  719

  520

  649

  7,238

  May

  904

  887

  920

  878

  884

  1,426

  542

  948

  644

  795

  8,828

  June

  675

  608

  643

  669

  667

  1,039

  440

  634

  439

  594

  6,408

  306

  Numbers starting employment training with training managers: October 1988 to March 1990 Training agency regions of England

  1988

  October

  November

  December

  South East

  2,100

  2,000

  1,700

  London

  3,100

  3,100

  2,400

  South West

  1,700

  2,000

  1,700

  West Midlands

  3,700

  3,800

  3,300

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,700

  2,900

  2,200

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,500

  5,500

  4,400

  North West

  5,000

  5,500

  4,100

  Northern

  3,200

  3,600

  2,900

  Wales

  2,000

  2,700

  2,200

  Scotland

  3,100

  4,100

  3,900

  Great Britain

  31,100

  35,200

  28,900

  1990

  January

  February

  March

  Wales

  2,500

  3,100

  3,400

  Scotland

  3,900

  5,300

  6,300

  Great Britain1

  34,400

  39,600

  47,300

  1Great Britain total includes small number of trainees at Residential Training Colleges and Large Contractors not included in regional figures.

  307

  London

  South East

  South West

  West Midlands

  East Midlands

  North West

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  July

  830

  828

  686

  785

  823

  1,164

  507

  723

  606

  695

  7,647

  August

  664

  602

  543

  512

  532

  891

  385

  627

  382

  497

  5,635

  September

  699

  614

  529

  580

  532

  952

  380

  571

  405

  541

  5,773

  October

  882

  797

  615

  788

  822

  1,279

  446

  900

  528

  674

  7,731

  November

  827

  635

  529

  609

  643

  1,003

  397

  713

  450

  510

  6,313

  December

  728

  708

  605

  600

  592

  899

  370

  673

  431

  608

  6,214

  1990

  January

  636

  539

  493

  377

  509

  731

  249

  491

  310

  385

  4,720

  February

  672

  643

  513

  558

  527

  832

  313

  537

  353

  495

  5,443

  March

  706

  646

  550

  611

  631

  908

  342

  636

  382

  524

  5,936

  April

  663

  655

  564

  590

  694

  940

  351

  563

  440

  628

  6,038

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, for each region, and for Great Britain, how many(a) employment training agents there are and how many have got through either stage one or stage two of the ATO process (b) employment training managers there are, and how many have got through either stage one or two of the ATO process and (c) youth training managing agents there are and how many have got through either stage one or stage two of the ATO process.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the numbers of employment training agents by region who have achieved approved training organisation status, stage one and stage two at 30 April 1990 is given in table 1. Table 2 shows similar information for training managers. Area offices and training and enterprise councils hold details of YT managing agents and ET training agents and training managers with whom they have contracted. To obtain the information would incur disproportionate cost.

  Table 1

  Training Agents

  Total who have achieved stage I at 30 April 1990

  Scotland

  18

  Northern

  13

  North West

  22

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  15

  Wales

  9

  West Midlands

  15

  East Midlands

  10

  South West

  9

  South East

  25

  London

  17

  Great Britain total

  153

  Note: There are no stage II completions for training agents at 30 March 1990.

  Table 2

  Training Managers

  Total who have achieved A TO stage I at 30 April 1990

  Total who have achieved A TO stage II at 30 April 1990

  Scotland

  157

  —

  Northern

  90

  —

  North West

  117

  —

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  105

  1

  Wales

  94

  —

  West Midlands

  68

  1

  East Midlands

  77

  1

  South West

  47

  —

  South East

  56

  —

  London

  47

  —

  308

  Total who have achieved A TO stage I at 30 April 1990

  Total who have achieved A TO stage II at 30 April 1990

  RTC Unit

  15

  —

  ET LCU

  Great Britain total

  873

  3

  RTC—Residential training college

  LCU—Large contractors unit

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of contracts with training providers under the employment training scheme which have been re-negotiated, broken down by the standard regions.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much notice was given to employment training providers by the Training Agency concerning the end of existing contracts.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As required by contract, at least four weeks' notice in writing was given to all employment training providers concerning termination of agreements.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether training and enterprise councils or employment training training managers are empowered to alter the child care payments being paid to single parents who have already started their training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils and area. offices of the Training Agency have discretion over the. means of providing child care support, but they must ensure that the costs of caring for children under 16 are met for lone parents on employment training.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to designate employment training as an approved training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department has no plans to designate employment training as an approved training scheme. About 670,000 unemployed people to date have taken advantage of the help it offers them to obtain the skills and experience they need to get jobs.

  Action for Jobs
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the total expenditure on the action for jobs campaign in 1987–88 was spent on(a) press advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) outdoor advertising, (d) exhibition material and (e) research.

  Mr. Eggar
  A total of £820,000 was spent on press advertising on the action for jobs campaign in 1987–88; £194,000 was spent on radio advertising; £1,380,000 was spent on outdoor advertising; £500,000 on exhibition material; and £6,000 on research.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the main headings of expenditure on action for jobs, in addition to expenditure on television advertising and printed material, in 1986–87.

  Mr. Eggar
  The main headings of expenditure on action for jobs in 1986–87, in addition to expenditure on television advertising and printed material, were press, radio and outdoor advertising, presentations, exhibition material and research.

  Compact Scheme
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the compact scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  Excellent progress has been made since the launch of the initiative in 1988, when the Government announced funding for 15 inner-city compacts.

  Local education/business partnerships have shown considerable interest in the initiative and as a result 40 compacts had been granted funding by the end of 1989. Given this success my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State announced in January 1990, that funding would be made available for compacts to be developed in all the remaining urban programme authority (UPA) inner-city areas from April this year.

  There are now 29 operational compacts and 20 under development. A further eight are about to commence development. A full list is given in the table.

  Information from the operational compacts show that the initiative is receiving a great deal of support:
  4,000 employers and training organisations are actively involved in compact activities and committing some 20,000 jobs with training to those young people who meet their goals.
  230 schools are participating and 40,000 young people have signed their compact agreement.
  In 1989 over £3 million was contributed by employers, education authorities and others to match Government funding.

  The initiative has shown clearly what can be achieved by local compact partnership. This will be further enhanced by the advent of training and enterprise councils (TECs) which will progressively take over responsibility for compacts arrangements (where the education partners agree).

  Operational Compacts

  Birmingham

  Blackburn

  Bolton

  Bristol

  Cleveland

  Coventry

  Doncaster

  Dudley

  East London

  Hull

  310

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Newham

  North London

  Rochdale

  Salford

  Sheffield

  South East London

  Walsall

  West London

  Wolverhampton

  Wrekin

  Scotland

  Clydebank

  Dundee

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  Development Compacts

  Barnsley

  Bradford

  Burnley

  Halton

  Haringey

  Knowsley

  Lambeth

  Plymouth

  Preston

  Rotherham

  Sefton (Bootle)

  South London

  Tyneside (Newcastle/Gateshead)

  Wandsworth

  Wigan

  Wales

  Clwyd

  Mid Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  South Glamorgan

  Scotland

  UPAs/Priority area not covered by a compact

  England

  Brent

  Derby

  North Tyneside

  Oldham

  South Tyneside

  St. Helens

  Sunderland

  Wirral

  Scotland

  Coatbridge

  Inverclyde

  Motherwell

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing employment in manufacturing industry by standard economic region in Great Britain and for each Welsh county for each year since 1979, each quarter of 1989; and the first quarter of the current year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Table 1 shows employees in employment for each of the standard regions in Great Britain up to December 1989, the latest date for which information is available.
  311
  Figures for the counties are available only from censuses of employment taken in 1981, 1984 and 1987 and are given in table 2.

  Table 1

  Employees in employment in the manufacturing industry1 for each of the standard regions of Great Britain

  (Thousands)

  South East

  Greater London

  East Anglia

  South West

  West Midlands

  East Midlands

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  North

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain (sum of regions)

  June 1979

  1,871

  n/a

  206

  439

  985

  606

  708

  971

  410

  315

  604

  7,115

  June 1980

  1,820

  n/a

  203

  427

  933

  582

  669

  931

  387

  290

  564

  6,806

  June 1981

  1,684

  n/a

  185

  397

  817

  532

  583

  810

  339

  240

  510

  6,099

  June 1982

  1,604

  649

  180

  385

  757

  514

  542

  744

  321

  226

  477

  5,751

  June 1983

  1,533

  609

  178

  366

  713

  485

  500

  694

  291

  213

  444

  5,418

  June 1984

  1,483

  573

  185

  373

  706

  482

  481

  669

  277

  212

  434

  5,301

  June 1985

  1,447

  539

  184

  375

  693

  487

  480

  664

  278

  211

  433

  5,254

  June 1986

  1,390

  506

  178

  367

  673

  487

  476

  653

  272

  210

  416

  5,122

  June 1987

  1,340

  465

  174

  367

  663

  483

  471

  657

  272

  217

  407

  5,049

  June 1988

  1,329

  452

  179

  370

  667

  491

  485

  673

  279

  233

  409

  5,116

  March 1989

  1,321

  437

  180

  371

  669

  491

  485

  681

  282

  241

  418

  5,141

  June 1989

  1,319

  442

  176

  369

  668

  493

  484

  678

  283

  243

  416

  5,128

  September 1989

  1,316

  432

  179

  375

  673

  503

  490

  686

  290

  250

  423

  5,185

  December 1989

  1,308

  426

  178

  376

  667

  499

  487

  685

  291

  250

  424

  5,165

  The figures are unadjusted for seasonal variations.

  1 Standard Industrial Classification 1980 Division 2–4.

  Table 2

  Employees in employment in the manufacturing industries1 in counties of Wales2

  Thousands

  September

  1981

  1984

  1987

  Clwyd

  33·7

  35·2

  39·1

  Dyfed

  17·1

  15·9

  14·5

  Gwent

  52·8

  46·1

  49·1

  Gwynedd

  11·5

  9·3

  10·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  52·5

  44·7

  52·1

  Powys

  7·0

  6·9

  8·4

  South Glamorgan

  26·6

  25·2

  22·8

  West Glamorgan

  36·9

  28·8

  27·9

  1 Standard Industrial Classification 1980 Division 2–4.

  2 Counties are defined in terms of ward boundaries as at September 1981.

  Wages (Underpayment)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will name the employers in each year since 1979 who have been prosecuted for contravention of wages council legislation, specifying the contravention in

  Injuries to employees reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates and local authorities, 1988–893

  Fatal

  Major

  Over 3 day

  Ratio of fatal to other injuries

  Age of injured person

  No.

  Rate1

  No.

  Rate1

  No.

  Rate1

  Under 16

  —

  n/a

  22

  n/a

  40

  n/a

  —

  16–19

  25

  0·01

  1,686

  0·83

  9,071

  4·47

  1:430

  20–24

  37

  0·01

  2,209

  0·72

  18,499

  6·06

  1:560

  25–34

  48

  2—

  3,609

  0·67

  35,986

  6·70

  1:825

  35–44

  61

  0·01

  3,346

  0·64

  31,332

  6·04

  1:568

  45·54

  56

  0·01

  3,324

  0·83

  26,239

  6·57

  1:528

  55–59

  30

  0·02

  1,550

  1·02

  10,104

  6·68

  1:388

  60–64

  28

  0·03

  817

  1·01

  5,246

  6·49

  1:217

  65+

  4

  0·01

  103

  0·36

  166

  0·59

  1:67

  Not known

  13

  n/a

  1,571

  n/a

  9,091

  n/a

  1:820

  Total

  302

  0·01

  18,237

  0·82

  145,774

  6·55

  1:543

  1 Rate per 1,000 employees.

  2 Rate less than 001.

  3 Provisional.

  312
  each case, and, where the prosecution occurred for underpayment of wages council rates, if he will specify the hourly rates paid to the affected employees.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Industrial Accidents
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for the last year for which figures are available for the age groups(a) below 19 years, (b) 20 to 29 years, (c) 30 to 39 years, (d) 40 to 49 years and (e) over 50 years information regarding industrial accidents on (i) the number of people injured or killed, (ii) the number of deaths and injuries per 1,000 people in each age group and (iii) the ratio of deaths to injuries in each age group.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is given in the table.
  313
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaths due to industrial accidents occurred on each day of the week, in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information for the year beginning 1 April 1988 is provided in the table:

  Fatal injuries resulting from work activity reported1 to enforcing authorities2

  Day of week

  Numbers

  Sunday

  37

  Monday

  83

  Tuesday

  79

  Wednesday3

  262

  Thursday

  103

  Friday

  99

  Saturday

  50

  1Fatal injuries to employees, self-employed persons and non-employed persons injured as a result of work activity as reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985.

  2 Includes injuries reported to all HSC/E enforcing authorities.

  3 Includes the 167 fatalities of the Piper Alpha disaster. Without

  Piper Alpha the figure would be 95.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the changes in employment law which have affected part-time workers' employment rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Changes made to individual employment rights since 1979, which have affected both part-time and
  full-time employees, are as follows:qualifying period on unfair dismissal increased progressively from 26 weeks to two years;
  qualifying period for written reasons for dismissal increased from 26 weeks to two years;
  dismissal for non-membership of a trade union made automatically unfair in all circumstances;
  maternity provisions amended to strengthen notification requirements, exempt very small firms in certain circumstances, and introduce a new right to time off for ante-natal care;
  industrial tribunal procedures amended to provide for pre-hearing assessments and power to introduce pre-hearing reviews and require deposits; widen rule on award of costs; remove requirement to provide written reasons for decisions in all cases; amend provisions on the basic award; change the onus of proof for unfair dismissal; and require tribunals to take into account the size and administrative resources of the employer;
  paid time off for trade union officials restricted to duties in respect of which the union is recognised;
  guarantee pay provisions changed from fixed to rolling quarters;
  employers with less than 20 employees exempted from the requirement to provide note on disciplinary rules.

  Workfare
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to commission a feasibility study on the possibility of introducing a workfare system for dealing with the long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is constantly looking for ways of improving the effectiveness of its measures to help long-term unemployed people back to work. As part of that process we announced recently a number of changes 314
  which will extend and improve the employment service's present system of offering counselling and advice to unemployed people. My right hon. and learned Friend also announced to the House on 11 May our intention to introduce regulations later this year which will enable employment service staff to require the attendance at a restart course of those who have been unemployed for two years or more and who refuse to participate in any of my Department's employment and training programmes. We shall continue to keep all these measures under review.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department is doing or commissioning into the problems of repetitive strain injury.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supported a major study at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in Edinburgh, whose report can be found in the Library, deposited paper No. 5131. It has funded a further study by the institute which aims to produce an ergometric guide or assessment aid to enable non-experts to identify work activities which may lead to upper limb disorders. A report is expected in July.

  The Health and Safety Executive has also funded a study by the university of Birmingham, which attempts to link specific upper limb disorders to particular work routines, to analyse these routines and to evaluate methods aimed at prevention. The report is still awaited.

  The Health and Safety Executive intends to follow up this work by commissioning further studies to investigate repetitive strain injuries in specific occupational groups, and is currently negotiating with the Institute of Occupational Medicine to carry out a study of keyboard users.

  In addition to these extra-mural studies the Health and Safety Executive is itself carrying out a wide-ranging study of musculo-skeletal symptoms in supermarket cashier operators.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside, 11 May,Official Report, column 270, on adult earnings, if he will make a statement on the criteria he uses in answering questions from hon. Members regarding earnings statistics.

  Mr. Nicholls
  When the information available to answer a question on earnings has already been published, it is the long-standing practice to refer the hon. Member to that source. The source publication referred to for earnings questions is predominantly but not exclusively the annual new earnings survey report.

  VDUs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present analysis of the potential health implications resulting from prolonged exposure to VDUs.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Visual display units in themselves are not a hazard to health. Prolonged work at a VDU can cause some people to experience problems such as headaches,
  315
  temporary eyestrain, or pain and sometimes disorder in the hands and arms; but none of these are specific to VDU work. They can be avoided by ergonomic design of furniture, equipment and lighting; and by good design of work tasks to allow changes of activity and avoid prolonged spells without changes in posture.

  Youth Training Allowances
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the real value of the youth training allowances for 16 and 17-year-olds if they had been raised by(a) the rise in the retail prices index and (b) the rise in average earnings since their introduction as the YOP allowance in April 1978; when was the last rise in the allowances; what plans he has for further rises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The weekly allowance paid to young people on the youth opportunities programme (YOP) in April 1978 was £19·50, equivalent to £49·45 if adjusted for changes in the retail prices index and equivalent to £63·48 if adjusted for changes in the index of average earnings.

  The lower level of the youth training allowance—£29·50 per week—was set in July 1988. The higher level of the youth training allowance has remained unchanged since it was set in April 1986. There are no plans to increase these training allowances, but from the introduction of youth training on 29 May, young people will receive the higher level of allowance from their 17th birthday rather than on completing a year of training, so that most young people will receive the higher level earlier in their training.

  YTS and—especially—youth training, incorporates substantially higher quality training than YOP. In contrast with YOP, youth training will provide all trainees with the opportunity to obtain a recognised vocational qualification. It is therefore misleading to compare the values of the YOP and YTS youth training allowances, which reflect the fact that trainees are still learning.

  Increasing numbers of employers have been supplementing the minimum trainee allowances and many trainees are now in receipt of more than the minimum. Many are also employed, and receiving wages.

  Footwear and Textile Industries
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 May,Official Report, column 638, on employment in the footwear and textile industries, if he will break down the figures by region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Skill Centres
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the price received for the 27 skill centre sites sold to Astra Training Services Ltd.; what conditions are imposed on the sale; and how he applied the provisions of appendix IV, principal lease terms, of the information memorandum issued by Deloitte Corporate Finance on his behalf.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: The sale of the skill centre sites to Astra Training Services Ltd. formed part of the overall sale package, which will involve a
  316
  payment from the Government to Astra of some £11 million. My right hon. and learned Friend gave details to the House on 13 February 1990 at column 144 of the conditions that would apply to the sale in respect of any development gains made by Astra.

  My sale advisers took full account of the principal lease terms set out in appendix IV of the information memorandum in their negotiations with successful bidders.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the sale of the Liverpool skill centre to METEL; and what information he has on the decision to make redundant all the staff transferred from the Skills Training Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: The sale of the training business at Liverpool skill centre to Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Limited (METEL) was negotiated in good faith and completed on 14 May. I regret the decision of METEL to make staff from the skill centre redundant. My Department has given support to its former employees by offering them access to legal advice on the severance terms being offered by METEL.

  Action Credit
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the employers involved in the three action credit pilot schemes and provide the lowest, highest, and median hourly rates of pay to participants in each of the three pilots.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 May 1990]: This information is not available.

  Ticket Touts
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to make the resale of tickets at pop concerts by touts unlawful; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no such plans to make unlawful the activities of ticket touts at pop concerts. The tout pays the asking price for tickets, so the ticket seller does not lose and the person purchasing a ticket from the tout is willing to pay above its face value in order to obtain it.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Private Medical Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security why his Department has employed AMI Healthcare Group to carry out medical health checks of staff at some benefit offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The health screening is a three-month pilot exercise to assess the costs and benefits of this provision for staff. AMI Healthcare Group was selected from a number of leading companies in the field of corporate health screening invited to submit tenders.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list his Department's benefit and other
  317
  offices where the AMI Healthcare Group is carrying out medical health checks on the staff; what is the cost to his Department per individual; and what is the total cost to his Department.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimated 3,000 members of staff participating in the health screening exercise are from our local offices at Ayr, Basildon, Devonport, Edmonton, Gateshead, Glasgow (Springburn), Hull (West), Manchester (Sale), Mansfield, Norwich (Mountergate), Poole, Rotherham (South), St. Helens, Southampton, Telford, Worcester, central offices at Blackpool and Newcastle, the Information Technology Services Agency at Lytham St. Annes, the London South regional office and London headquarters offices. To disclose the costs of the exercise at this stage would prejudice competition should there be negotiations with other companies following an assessment of the results of the pilot programme.

  War Disablement Pension
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time for the determination of an application for war disablement pension; and what is the reason for the delay after notifying the applicant that the injury has been accepted before a final decision is made.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The average length of time for the determination of a claim for a war disablement pension is about 36 weeks. The notification to a claimant that an injury has been accepted as attributable to or aggravated by service is normally in effect the final decision on the claim. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I should be pleased to look into it.

  Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has considered the effect of the introduction of the age-related addition in severe disablement allowance on 16 and 17-year-olds in receipt of income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Nearly 9,000 16 and 17-year-olds were receiving severe disablement allowance in April 1988. It is estimated that about 4,000 who will qualify for the age addition in December will no longer need to be dependent on income support.

  Community Charge
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of net income at which full community charge becomes payable for people earning(a) £310 per week, (b) £320 per week, (c) £325 per week, (d) £345 per week, (e) £355 per week, (f) £360 per week, (g) £385 per week, (h) £390 per week, (i) £415 per week, (j) £420 per week, (k) £430 per week, (l) £435 per week and (m) £440 per week (w) for a single person (i) under 25 years, (ii) over 25 years, (iii) 60 to 75 years, (iv) 75 to 80 years and (v) over 80 years, and (x) married couples with (i) no children, (ii) two children under 11 years and (iii) one child under 11 years and one aged 11 to 15 years, (y) a pensioner couple aged under 75 years and (z) a lone parent with (i) one child under 11 years and (ii) two children under 11 years.
  318
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The hon. Member's question cannot be answered because the level of net income at which full community charge becomes payable also depends upon the level of the community charge set by the local authority. The question does not specify any level for the community charge.

  Practitioners' Handbook
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place any recent amendments to the delegated medical practitioners' handbook in the Library.

  Mr. Scott
  I have today placed in the Library copies of amendments made to the handbook for delegated medical practitioners since it was published in 1988. The handbook contains guidance for doctors who decide on behalf of the attendance allowance board whether the attendance needs criteria are met for payment of attendance allowance. I understand that the board intends to reissue the handbook later this year.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there have been any changes to the cash limits or running costs limit of his Department for 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIV, vote 7 (administration and miscellaneous services) will be increased by £3,080,000 from £1,703,179,000 to £1,706,259,000. The revision takes account of the work involved in the change to capital limits announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement (£4,520,000); increased activity in the recovery of maintenance payments from liable relatives (£6,750,000); a transfer to the Department of Health (class XIII, vote 3) of £3,561,000; a transfer from Lord Chancellor's Department (class X, vote 1) of £103,000; a transfer from Treasury Solicitors Department (class X, vote 9) of £47,000 and a transfer from Department of the Environment (property holdings) (class VIII, vote 7) of £1,500,000. The additional requirements are partially offset by an increase in receipts from the national insurance fund to the vote of £6,279,000. The balance will be charged to the reserve and will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure. As a result of the changes the running costs limit of the Department of Social Security is increased by £7,859,000 from £1,922,467,000 to £1,930,326,000.

  Pension Arrears
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reason his Department has not paid over to a constituent of the right hon. Member for Woking the arrears of pension remitted to it from France on 31 October 1989, under the Department's reference 3392/AA229393A/OVB A3P.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department has been unable to trace any record of receipt of arrears of French pension which the French authorities state was sent on 9 or 31 October 1989. Inquiries are continuing but in the meantime arrangements are being made, exceptionally, to
  319
  pay the pensioner the sum estimated to be due to her after adjustment to take account of other benefit paid to her over the period covered by the arrears.

  Part-time Students
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether unemployed claimants who are solely in receipt of unemployment benefit and are available for and actively seeking work can study part time on courses of advanced education and higher education; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether unemployed claimants who are on income support and available for and actively seeking work can study part time on courses of advanced education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Yes. Claimants may continue to receive both unemployment benefit and income support whilst studying part time provided they satisfy the availability for work and actively seeking work conditions.

  Pneumoconiosis
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been awarded disablement benefit arising from pneumoconiosis (D1) in each year; and how many people had their claim for disablement benefit dismissed because it was decided that they do not suffer from pneumoconiosis in each year.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is set out in the table:

  D1 pneumoconiosis: diagnoses by special medical boards

  Boarding excluding reassessments

  Diagnosed

  Not diagnosed

  1989

  1,940

  661

  1,279

  1988

  1,929

  562

  1,367

  1987

  1,996

  652

  1,344

  1986

  2,336

  747

  1,589

  1985

  2,300

  702

  1,598

  Social Fund
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to his Department of the publication of leaflet SFL 10 from March 1990: and how many copies of the leaflet were produced.

  Mr. Scott
  The cost to the Department of the publication of leaflet SFL 10 ("Have you been refused a Social Fund Loan or Grant? A recent High Court decision may affect you") since March 1990 has been £5,900. Six hundred thousand copies have been produced.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds have received payments from the social fund for each quarter since April 1988 and for each standard region.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Asbestosis
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been awarded disablement benefit arising from asbestosis in each available year; and 320
  how many people have been refused disablement benefit because it has been decided that they do not suffer from asbestosis in each year.

  Mr. Scott
  Asbestosis is not itself a prescribed disease, but falls within the definition of pneumoconiosis—fibrosis of the lungs due to silica dust, asbestos dust or other dust. The numbers of claims for pneumoconiosis arising out of employment in the asbestos industry which were referred to special medical boards in the years 1985 to 1989, are set out in the table.

  Pneumoconiosis in the asbestos industry

  References (excluding reassessments)

  Diagnosed

  Not diagnosed

  1989

  741

  268

  473

  1988

  688

  202

  486

  1987

  758

  247

  511

  1986

  426

  312

  614

  1985

  748

  273

  475

  Severe Disability Premium
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have received a lump sum backdated payment of severe disability premium; and when such payments were made(a) for each standard region and (b) for each Merseyside office.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met the trustees of the independent living fund; and what was the outcome of the discussions.

  Mr. Scott
  I met the trustees of the independent living fund on 5 April 1990. At that meeting the trustees agreed to write to me outlining their proposals for the fund's operation during 1990–91.

  Household Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a list of the dates on which the low-income family, households below average income statistics have been published since May 1979, indicating the year to which the statistics refer.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information available is in the table:

  Publication date

  Years covered

  Low income families

  7 April 1982 (revised 20 July 1982)

  1975, 1976, 1977, 1979

  24 October 1983

  1977, 1979, 1981

  25 July 1986

  1979, 1981, 1983

  19 May 1988

  1981, 1983, 1985

  Households below average income

  19 May 1988

  1981, 1983, 1985

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (I) what would be the additional cost, net of savings in other benefits, of reducing the male state
  321
  retirement pension age to 64, 63, 62, 61 and to 60 years (a) on the basis of current male contributor dependant and survivor benefit rights and (b) on the basis that male contributors receive the same dependant and survivor rights as female contributors do currently;

  (2) what would be the saving, net of additional costs in other benefits, of increasing the female state retirement pension to 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 years (a) on the basis of current female contributor dependant and survivor rights and (b) on the basis that female contributors receive the same dependant and survivor rights as male contributors do currently.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of women pensioners and the proportion of total women pensioners, who receive a reduced pension as a result of the married woman's half test.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Complete figures are not available in the form requested. The latest available figures show that on 31 March 1989 there were 6·11 million women pensioners in Great Britain.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what age the state retirement pension age could be equalised at nil additional cost taking savings in other benefits into account.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest available figures based on 1985–86 benefit rates are that the cost of equalisation at age 63 is £800 million while at age 65 there is a saving of £500 million.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to take steps to help pensioners presently disqualified from community charge benefit due to(a) receipt of an occupational pension or (b) the tariff income rules on savings above £3,000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no such plans. It is a common feature of all income-related benefits, including community charge benefit, that income from occupational pensions and any tariff income from savings is counted as income when benefit claims are assessed. This approach achieves the Government's policy of targeting help on those who need it most.

  Sheltered Placement Scheme
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he plans to increase in 1991 the number of disabled people employed as a result of the sheltered placement scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The sheltered placement scheme is the responsibility of my Department. The Department is committed to support for the scheme and will be reviewing, later in the year, the arrangements for funding in the context of the Department's expenditure plans.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Ulster Defence Regiment
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the 28 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who were arrested during an operation on 9 October 1989 have been charged with firearms offences; and what form of apology has been given to those who were not charged.

  Mr. Cope
  All police operations in the Province are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and he has informed us that nine members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were charged with 11 firearms offences. I know of no apology issued to those who were not charged.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statements were issued following the arrest of 28 Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers on 9 October 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I understand that 25 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were arrested on 8 October 1990 and a further three on 9 October. Deputy Chief Constable Stevens issued a statement on 8 October and a further one on 13 October.

  Stevens Inquiry
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any assurances have been sought or given to the Government of the Irish Republic concerning bail conditions for those charged by the Stevens team.

  Mr. Cope
  The Irish Government have not sought any assurances concerning bail conditions for those charged in connection with the Stevens inquiry, and none has been given.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations there have been in the inter-governmental conference under the Anglo-Irish Agreement with the Government of the Irish Republic concerning the Stevens inquiry team.

  Mr. Cope
  There have been no consultations with the Irish Government concerning the staff seconded to the Stevens inquiry.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the gross expenditure for hospital purposes by each of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland for 1989–90; what is the allocation to each for such purposes for 1990–91; and if he will express all such figures in terms of per capita spending in each board area.

  Mr. Needham
  The information for 1988–89, the latest year available, is as follows:
  323

  Hospital Gross Revenue Expenditure

  Population Figures1

  Expenditure Per Capita

  £

  £

  Northern Board

  61,944,350

  384,300

  161·19

  Southern Board

  65,403,315

  289,800

  225·68

  Eastern Board

  244,551,304

  645,200

  379·03

  Western Board

  64,333,977

  258,800

  248·59

  1These are the resident populations within each board area. No adjustment has been made for patients who, while being resident within one board area, receive hospital treatment within another board area (cross-boundary flows). This happens, for example, in the provision of regional specialties by the Eastern board.

  Information is not held centrally on the amount each board will allocate to hospital services for 1990–91. Allocations to the health and social services boards are made by the Department of Health and Social Services on a block basis and it is a matter for each board to arrange its services, commensurate with regional strategic priorities.

  Police Pay
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the annual pay rates for(a) a Royal Ulster Constabulary constable after two years' service and (b) a Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve constable after two years' service.

  Mr. Cope
  The annual rate of pay for a constable with two years' service in both the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the full-time reserve is £12,462. A constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary part-time reserve is paid on an hourly basis according to the hours of duty actually performed.

  Security
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the number of arms, explosives and other equipment captured by the security forces since 1 January.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 10 May 1990]: During the first quarter of 1990 a total of 63 firearms and 3,388 lbs of explosives were found by the police and Army. Other finds included 7,038 rounds of ammunition, 66 detonators, seven rocket/mortar launchers and seven rocket/rounds.

  Investment
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage American companies to invest in the constituency of Newry and Armagh.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: The Industrial Development Board is currently intensifying its efforts to attract industry from the United States, with the establishment of an independent representational network. We are already beginning to see an encouraging flow of new projects. I am undertaking a programme of visits to the United States, in some cases with the support of local politicians, and will be actively promoting the Newry and Armagh areas as prime locations within Northern Ireland. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have also had discussions with representatives of the local community
  324
  and are prepared to consider close co-operation between local representatives and Government Departments and their agencies in order to encourage industrial development and economic regeneration.

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

  Mr. Needham
  [ holding answer 22 May 1990]: The latest published statistics show that the number of registered child minders in Northern Ireland, as at 31 December 1987, was 2,729. The provisional figure for 31 March 1989 is 3,091.

  BPA Deprivation Supplement
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what areas listed in the deprivation supplement to the basic practice allowance are covered by those designations which do not refer to electoral wards; and what are the criteria for selecting areas other than strictly by electoral ward.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: None. All the areas designated are based on electoral wards.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the deprivation supplement to BPA in Northern Ireland as to why a proposed formula and area list circulated among general practitioners prior to the contract date was withdrawn; and what are the differences between that formula and list and those which have now been decided.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: Following consultations with the General Medical Services Committee (Northern Ireland) agreement was reached on 25 January 1990 on an index of deprivation to be used to calculate the deprivation supplement to BPA. Subsequently representations were made to the Department of Health and Social Services that the index could operate unfairly in Northern Ireland because variables for the "under fives" and "unskilled working population" had been omitted. These groups had been subject to under-enumeration in the 1981 census. An exercise to refine the Northern Ireland index was carried out. This exercise has been completed and agreement on a revised index using other sources of data was reached on 25 April with GMSC(NI). The variables used in both indices were:

  Original index Per cent.

  Revised index Per cent.

  Unemployment

  Unemployment

  Elderly living alone

  Elderly living alone

  Single parents

  Single parents

  Overcrowded households

  Overcrowded households

  Households lacking one or more amenities

  Households lacking one or more amenities

  —

  Under-5s

  —

  Unskilled

  —

  Moved House

  The following table lists the electoral wards included under each index:

  325

  Original index

  Revised index

  High

  High

  Londonderry

  St. Columb's Wells

  Belfast

  Cromac

  Belfast

  Falls

  Belfast

  Shankill

  Belfast

  Shankill

  Belfast

  Court

  Belfast

  Ballymacarrett

  Belfast

  New Lodge

  Belfast

  New Lodge

  Belfast

  Strabane East

  Belfast

  Clonard

  Belfast

  Falls

  Belfast

  Cromac

  Belfast

  Ballymacarrett

  Belfast

  North Howard

  Belfast

  Strabane West

  Belfast

  Central

  Belfast

  Grosvenor

  —

  —

  Belfast

  The Mount

  Medium

  Medium

  Belfast

  Court

  Belfast

  North Howard

  Belfast

  The Mount

  Londonderry

  St. Columb's Wells

  Belfast

  Island

  Belfast

  St. George's

  Cookstown

  Ardboe

  Cookstown

  Ardboe

  Newry and Mourne

  Crossmaglen

  Moyle

  Glenaan

  Dungannon

  Washing Bay

  Newry and Mourne

  Creggan

  Londonderry

  Creggan South

  Belfast

  Island

  Belfast

  Whiterock

  Moyle

  Bushmills

  Belfast

  Wood vale

  Belfast

  Clonard

  Belfast

  Duncairn

  Belfast

  Crumlin

  Belfast

  Donegal

  Limavady

  Coolessan

  Moyle

  Ballintoy

  Belfast

  Wood vale

  Dungannon

  Killymaddy

  Newry and Mourne

  Crossmaglen

  Moyle

  Glenaan

  Armagh

  Lurgyvallen

  Londonderry

  Brandywell

  Belfast

  Ardoyne

  Strabane

  Glenderg

  Newry and Mourne

  Forkhill

  Magherafelt

  Lower Glenshane

  Armagh

  Keady

  Omagh

  Drumquin

  Londonderry

  Shan tallow

  Moyle

  Knocklayd

  —

  —

  Dungannon

  Coalisland North

  —

  —

  Newry and Mourne

  Forkhill

  —

  —

  Magherafelt

  Gulladuff

  —

  —

  Low

  Low

  Belfast

  Ardoyne

  Londonderry

  Riverside

  Londonderry

  Westland

  Belfast

  Donegall

  Strabane

  Dunnamanagh

  Dungannon

  Killymaddy

  Newry and Mourne

  St. Patrick's

  Moyle

  Glenariff

  Moyle

  Bushmills

  Belfast

  University

  Londonderry

  Banagher

  Newry and Mourne

  Camlough

  Strabane

  East

  Londonderry

  Creggan South

  Limavady

  Greysteel

  Newry and Mourne

  St. Patrick's

  Omagh

  Drumnakilly

  Belfast

  Whiterock

  Newry and Mourne

  Ballybot

  Cookstown

  Killycolpy

  Ballymoney

  Benvardin

  Dungannon

  Coalisland, South

  Omagh

  Sixmilecross

  Dungannon

  Coalisland, North

  Strabane

  West

  Newry and Mourne

  Daisy Hill

  Dungannon

  Altmore

  Magherafelt

  Draperstown

  Fermanagh

  Rosslea

  Belfast

  Duncairn

  Newry and Mourne

  Creggan

  Limavady

  Magilligan

  Cookstown

  Killycolpy

  Moyle

  Glendun

  Craigavon

  Woodside

  Craigavon

  Woodside

  Craigavon

  Court

  Limavady

  Binevenagh

  Dungannon

  Ballygawley

  Dungannon

  Washingbay

  Craigavon

  Church

  Craigavon

  Woodville

  Belfast

  Suffolk

  Londonderry

  Waterloo

  Cookstown

  Dunnamore

  Limavady

  Dungiven

  Magherafelt

  Draperstown

  Craigavon

  Brownlow

  Fermanagh

  Newtownbutler

  Cookstown

  Gortalowry

  Cookstown

  Pomeroy

  Lisburn

  Collin

  Moyle

  Glenariff

  Omagh

  Owenglen

  Limavady

  Feeny

  Strabane

  Castlederg

  Ballymoney

  Kiloquin Upper

  Omagh

  Drumquin

  Armagh

  Downs

  Newry and Mourne

  Ballybot

  Strabane

  Clare

  Omagh

  Killyclogher

  Strabane

  Castlederg

  Londonderry

  Springtown

  Newry and Mourne

  Belleek

  Newry and Mourne

  Newtownhamilton

  Belfast

  St. James

  Limavady

  Feeny

  Londonderry

  Waterloo

  —

  —

  Limavady

  The Highlands

  —

  —

  Coleraine

  Churchland

  —

  —

  Magherafelt

  Bellaghy

  —

  —

  Newry and Mourne

  Fathom

  —

  —

  Omagh

  Fintona

  —

  —

  Newry and Mourne

  Newtownhamilton

  —

  —

  326 327

  Original index

  Revised index

  Belfast

  St. George's

  —

  —

  Belfast

  Grove

  —

  —

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the items discussed at the meeting of Foreign Secretaries of the member states of the European Economic Community at Parknarsilla, Eire, on 19 and 20 May.

  Mr. Maude
  This was a successful meeting. Ministers discussed political union, (on which the debate was constructive) and preparations for the Dublin European Council. They also covered relations with other states in Europe and north America. There was a brief discussion of South Africa, during which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave an account of President de Klerk's visit to this country. As is normal at informal meetings, no decisions were taken.

  Vietnamese Boat People
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the suspending of the screening process for Vietnamese boat people at the Upper and Lower Chi Ma Wan detention centres in November 1989.

  Mr. Maude
  Screening was suspended at the Chi Ma Wan centres in November 1989 because the boat people refused to attend the screening interviews.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of time between arrival in Hong Kong and a screening interview for a Vietnamese refugee at each detention centre.

  Mr. Maude
  Drawing on recent experience, we estimate that the average length of time between arrival in Hong Kong and a screening interview for a Vietnamese refugee is nine months.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is numbers and percentages of Vietnamese boat people screened in Hong Kong have(a) served in the armed forces of the former Government of South Vietnam, (b) been involved in political organisations opposed to the present Vietnamese Government, (c) recorded participation in religious activities in Vietnam, (d) complained of deprivation of economic and social rights and (e) been prosecuted or disciplined by the present regime in Vietnam.

  Mr. Maude
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the categories of people identified in this question are likely to have a strong case for refugee status. The composite screening-in rate (ie the combined total of those screened-in at the first instance and at appeal stages) is about 16 per cent.
  328
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Fore:ign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of a screening interview for Vietnamese refugees at detention camps in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  Most screening interviews take about half a day, but it is not uncommon for interviewing to take up to two days.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of Vietnamese boat people who have had their refugee status confirmed on the principle of family reunification.

  Mr. Maude
  A total of 663 people have been granted refugee status on family reunification grounds.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of Vietnamese boat people who have not been granted refugee status after the first screening interview have applied for review of their cases; and with what results.

  Mr. Maude
  Ninety-nine per cent. of those screened-out at the first stage have applied for review by the refugee status review board. Of the reviews completed so far, 8·5 per cent. have been successful and in 91·5 per cent. of cases the board has upheld the director of immigration's initial decision.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of the rules for the conduct of refugee status review boards for Vietnamese boat people in the Library.

  Mr. Maude
  A copy is being placed in the Library of the House.

  El Salvador
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement concerning the findings of the detectives from Scotland Yard who visited El Salvador to assist investigations into the murder of the six Jesuit priests, their cook and daughter;

  (2) if he will place a copy of the Scotland Yard detectives' report into the murders at the Central American university in El Salvador, in the Library.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 21 May at column 33.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have made any representations to the Government of the United States of America concerning the levels of American military aid to El Salvador.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government
  329
  of El Salvador concerning the progress on the investigation into the murders at the Central American university.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We and our EC partners have frequently made clear to the Salvadorean Government the importance of bringing the investigation to a successful conclusion, and the murderers to justice.

  Indo-Chinese Refugees
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will a statement on the outcome of the informal working level meeting in Manila in 17–18 May of the steering committee set up under the comprehensive plan of action adopted by the 1989 Geneva conference on Indo-Chinese refugees.

  Mr. Maude
  Representatives of 26 countries, the EC Commission and the International Organisation for Migration met in Manila on 17–18 May to review all components of the comprehensive plan of action (CPA).

  On 16 May, representatives of the Governments of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and the United Kingdom/Hong Kong issued the following statement:
  "For over 15 years, countries in South-East Asia and Hong Kong have provided temporary refuge to Vietnamese boat people at tremendous cost to themselves. This burden has become intolerable and cannot continue. The CPA adopted by the ICIR in June 1989 is aimed at securing a durable solution to the VBP problem within a definite time frame of three years through the implementation of all its interdependent provisions.
  The viability of the CPA, however, has been undermined by selective implementation of its provisions. While countries of temporary refuge have been urged to continue to provide first asylum, crucial elements of the CPA have either not been given due focus or totally ignored. In particular, clandestine departures from Vietnam have continued and two CPA participants have blocked repatriation of non-refugees who do not volunteer to return.
  In the light of the above, countries of temporary refuge wish to stress the following:

  1. Responsibility for solving the problem of VBP rests primarily with Vietnam as the country of origin;

  2. Vietnam should take more effective measures to deter clandestine departure and promote the Orderly Departure Programme (ODP) as the sole mode of departure for emigration. On humanitarian grounds, all CPA participants have a duty to co-operate to bring to an end clandestine departures involving risky journeys across the sea or otherwise;

  3. The near consensus reached at the Steering Committee Meeting in January 1990 in Geneva, particularly the date for ending the moratorium on repatriating non-refugees who do not volunteer, should be implemented as from 1 July 1990;

  4. The repatriation of non-refugees who do not volunteer to return is essential to the CPA's viability and survival. Without it, the status determination procedure has no meaning or purpose;

  5. There is an obligation on any country which opposes the repatriation of non-refugees who do not volunteer to offer an effective intermediate solution, such as the setting up and financing on its own territory of a regional holding centre for all non-refugees, as envisaged in the CPA;

  6. In the event of failure to agree even an intermediate solution to the VBP problem, countries of temporary refuge must reserve the right to take such unilateral action as they deem necessary to safeguard their national interests, including the abandonment of temporary refuge.

  Countries of temporary refuge express their concern at the recent upsurge of Cambodian boat people in South-East Asia, noting that this category of boat people is not covered by CPA".
  330
  The overwhelming majority of participants at the Manila meeting reaffirmed that non-refugees should return to their country of origin in accordance with international practice reflecting the responsibilities of states towards their own citizens. If, however, agreement on the near consensus of the last steering committee on the duration of a moratorium on non-voluntary repatriation was again prevented, an intermediate solution, such as the establishment of a holding centre for non-refugees, should be found. They also agreed on the importance to tackle the root causes of clandestine departure from Vietnam through humanitarian programmes in that country. In that connection the British delegation announced a special scheme to support NGO activities in those parts of North Vietnam from which boat people come, for which purpose a sum of £1 million has been set aside. In addition, Vietnam has been added to the list of countries participating in the general joint funding scheme under which the ODA meets 50 per cent. of the costs of agreed NGO projects.

  Finally, the meeting recommended that the full steering committee should meet again in the very near future, possibly in late June in Geneva. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees was requested to bring the gravity of the situation to the attention of the Governments concerned and it was also noted that various demarches would be made to the same end by other participating states.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to make any changes in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class II, vote 2 (other external relations) will be increased by £12,130,00 from £163,889,000 to £176,019,000. This change reflects increased costs on United Nations Observer Force in Central America (ONUCA), International Support and Verification Commission in Central America (CIAV), drugs, assistance to dependent territories and military assistance to Portugal. Part of this increase is offset by a transfer from class II, vote 1 (overseas representation) where the cash limit will be reduced by £1,330,000 from £536,052,000 to £534,722,000 representing a reduced provision for the overseas estate. Part is offset by transfer from Ministry of Defence class I, vote 2. The balance of the increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

HEALTH

  Health Authorities (Spending)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing for each of the health regions in England(a) the gross revenue spending per head of population and (b) the capital spending per head of population for the year 1989–90 and the corresponding allocations for 1990–91.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The 1989–90 annual accounts are not yet due for submission to the Department and information
  331
  derived from them will not be available until the autumn. It is not possible to publish comparable figures for allocations in 1990–91. This is because allocations to health authorities are made on a net basis and exclude such things as income generation receipts, Iand sales, etc. Details of net allocations per head of population, for both revenue and capital, are given in the table.

  Region

  1990–91 Revenue allocation per head of population

  1990–91 Capital allocation per head of population

  £'s

  £'s

  Northern

  298

  20

  Yorkshire

  283

  20

  Trent

  273

  21

  East Anglian

  272

  18

  North West Thames

  300

  19

  North East Thames

  343

  20

  South East Thames

  317

  19

  South West Thames

  311

  17

  Wessex

  263

  20

  Oxford

  392

  26

  South Western

  284

  19

  West Midlands

  280

  24

  Mersey

  302

  19

  North Western

  311

  22

  England

  298

  20

  Notes: At initial cash allocation levels.

  St. Ann's Psychiatric Unit, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the closure of St. Ann's adolescent psychiatric unit in Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received two representations about St. Ann's, including one from the hon. Member. I understand that Nottingham health authority plans to strengthen its adolescent psychiatric service by appointing a professor with a supporting senior lecturer and fifth mental health team. In the meantime, the health authority hopes to cover the consultant vacancy with a locum.

  Dental Technicians
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the qualifications required for a National Health Service dental technician.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Dental technicians are graded as medical technical officers (MTOs). The Whitley council agreement requires that MTOs should hold a Business and Technical Education Council/Scottish Vocational Educational Council qualification, City and Guilds or other suitable technical qualification in an appropriate discipline.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the scales of pay for National Health Service(a) dental surgeon assistants and (b) dental technicians.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The pay and conditions of service of these groups are matters for negotiation by the Professional and Technical Staffs B Whitley council.

  Current rates for dental surgery assistants (DSAs) effective from 1 July 1989, are set out in the table:
  332

  Student DSA

  DSA

  Senior

  Tutor

  £

  Age

  £

  £

  £

  3,885

  16

  5,523

  5,875

  7,291

  4,089

  17

  5,797

  6,187

  7,622

  4,513

  18

  6,063

  6,598

  7,934

  4,671

  19

  6,319

  6,959

  8,238

  4,816

  20

  6,567

  7,310

  8,558

  4,964

  21 and over

  7,025

  7,647

  8,869

  5,118

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,267

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,499

  —

  —

  —

  —

  I understand that negotiations on the staff side's pay claim for this group have not yet started.

  Dental technicians are graded as medical technical officers (MTOs). Current rates of pay, effective from 1 September 1989 following a grade restructuring, are set out in the table:

  Trainee

  MTO1

  MTO2

  MTO3

  MTO4

  MTO5

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  4,743

  6,751

  8,542

  11,241

  13,676

  16,639

  4,933

  7,021

  8,884

  11,690

  14,223

  17,304

  5,130

  7,302

  9,239

  12,158

  14,792

  17,996

  5,335

  7,594

  9,608

  12,644

  15,383

  18,716

  5,549

  7,897

  9,993

  13,150

  15,999

  19,465

  5,771

  8,213

  10,392

  113,676

  116,639

  120,244

  6,001

  18,542

  10,808

  114,223

  117,304

  121,053

  —

  18,884

  111,241

  114,792

  117,996

  121,895

  —

  19,239

  111,690

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  112,158

  —

  —

  —

  1 Salary points are for use when salary scales have been advanced to recognise special skills or additional responsibilities.

  I understand negotiations on the staff side's pay claim for this group are continuing.

  Hospital Beds, Greenwich
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of hospital beds in each of the past five years in the London borough of Greenwich.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The available information is given in the table.

  Average daily available beds, and in-patient cases treated, Greenwich district health authority, 1984–1988/89.

  Year

  Available beds

  In-patient cases treated

  In-patient cases treated per available bed

  1984

  1,586

  40,137

  25·3

  1985

  1,517

  40,381

  26·6

  1986

  1,334

  36,358

  27·3

  1987–88

  1,249

  36,943

  29·6

  1988–89

  1,150

  34,554

  30·0

  Source:

  SH3 return, 1984–1986

  KHO3 & SH3a returns, 1987–88 onwards

  DES/stilboestrol
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence he has on a connection between the use of the drug DES/stilboestrol to treat pregnant women and the incidence of cancer in their daughters in early womanhood;

  (2) if he has any evidence of effects on the sons of women who have been treated with the drug DES/ stilboestrol during pregnancy;
  333
  (3) if there is any evidence that treatment of pregnant women with the drug DES/stilboestrol gives rise to congenital abnormality in future generations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1971 a study was published reporting the occurrence in the United States of America of delayed onset genital tract cancer in the daughters of women treated with stilboestrol in pregnancy. In May 1973 the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) sent a letter to all doctors describing these findings, at which time no cases had been reported in the United Kingdom. A retrospective study by CSM in 1973 did not identify any case of genital tract cancer associated with maternal stilboestrol treatment. It was not until 1978 that the first United Kingdom case was reported in a publication. Further communications in 1981 between the authors and CSM described another patient. It has been estimated in the United States of America that the incidence of genital tract cancer is 1·4 per 1,000 women whose mothers received stilboestrol. It has been estimated that in the United Kingdom approximately 7,500 women received stilboestrol during pregnancy; on the basis of the incidence figures in the United States of America, we would expect no more than 11 United Kingdom cases of cancer in the second generation. It is possible that the incidence in the United Kingdom is less, since dosage and pattern of usage have been reported to differ from those of the United States of America.

  A paper published in 1975 reported cases of congenital structural abnormalities of the male and female genital tract in patients whose mothers were treated with stilboestrol during pregnancy. Since then there have been further published papers.

  CSM has received no reports of congenital abnormality of the reproductive tract associated with stilboestrol treatment.

  At present in the United Kingdom, stilboestrol is indicated for the treatment of prostatic cancer, and of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is contraindicated in pregnancy.

  Global Nutritional Guidelines
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if any decision was taken at the recent World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva concerning the adoption or development of global nutritional guidelines; what is his policy on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No decision was taken about global nutrition guidelines at the recent WHO (World Health Assembly) meeting in Geneva. We are aware that the WHO has this matter under consideration but no guidelines have yet been prepared. The Department of Health takes the lead in matters connected with the WHO and will be involved in any discussion on this topic. Our policy on nutritional guidelines is based upon advice from the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy and at present relates only to the United Kingdom.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many representations he has received, and from whom, in the past three years concerning the availability of a wider range of shades for National Health Service hearing aids;
  334
  (2) if he will make a wider range of shades available for National Health Service hearing aids; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  At least one model in each of the standard ranges of National Health Service post-aural hearing aids is available in dark brown as well as beige.

  I am advised by the Mersey regional health authority, which negotiates the national contracts for standard range models on behalf of the NHS, that demand for the dark brown models was very low until about two years ago. Since then an increased demand for dark brown aids led to a temporary shortage which caused a number of representations to Mersey RHA by hearing aid centres. I am pleased to say that this problem has been resolved and that both colours are now readily available.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hearing aids have been distributed by the National Health Service for each of the past 10 years to(a) children under 16 years of age and (b) adults over 16 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Area Health Authorities (Devon)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requests for changes or amalgamations he has received from area health authorities in Devon; and what is his response.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None.

  Leicestershire Health Authority
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to deal with financial problems affecting the Leicestershire health authority; and if he will make a statement on what progress has been made in this matter.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As the hon. Member is well aware, district health authorities are responsible for living within their cash limits. Leicestershire health authority has a budget of £222 million for 1990–91 and has produced prudent plans to make sure it can balance its books.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any changes will be made to the cash limits and running cost limits for his Department in 1990–91.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:

  The cash limit for class XIII vote 1 (hospital and community health services, family practitioner services (part) and other services, England) will be increased by £178,800,000 (from £13,724,057,000 to £13,902,857,000) to help provide, from 1 April 1990, for the pay awards recommended in the 1990 reports of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives and professions allied to medicine, and on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 February 1990.

  The cash limit for class XIII vote 3 (Department of Health administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England) will be increased by £1,531,000 (from £686,387,000 to £687,918,000).
  335
  This increase provides for £1,200,000 to meet, from 1 April 1990, the review body recommendations mentioned above; for a £40,000 transfer from class VI, vote 2, (Department of Employment, other programmes and central services) in respect of the workplace advisory services and a net transfer (£291,000) from class XIV, vote 7 (Department of Social Security, administration and miscellaneous services) in respect of printing and office machines. The provision for running costs on this vote and the Department's running cost limit is increased by £3,594,000 from £198,493,000 to £202,087,000.

  The public expenditure costs of these changes have been charged to the reserve and do not add to the public expenditure planning total.

  Regional Health Authority Chairmen
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a statement on the appointment of regional health authority chairmen from 1 August.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The terms of office of 12 of the 14 regional health authority chairmen expire on 31 July 1990. I am pleased to announce that I have made four new appointments as follows:

  Northern RHA: Peter Carr

  North East Thames RHA: Tim Chessells

  South Western RHA: Charles Stuart

  Oxford RHA: Dr. Stuart Burgess

  These appointments run until 31 July 1992.

  The chairmen of the following eight RHAs have accepted my invitation to serve in these most important positions for another four years each:

  Yorkshire: Sir Bryan Askew

  North West Thames: Mr. William Doughty

  Trent: Sir Michael Carlisle

  South West Thames RHA: Baroness Cumberlege of Newick

  West Midlands RHA: Sir James Ackers

  Mersey RHA: Sir Donald Wilson

  North Western RHA: Mr. Bruce Martin

  Wessex RHA: Mr. Robin Buchanan

  Infant Milk Products
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether guidelines have been issued to hospitals on the use of infant milk products containing soya.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Yes. Advice to health authorities about infant feeding issued in July 1989 drew the attention of health care professionals to the report from the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy "Present day practice in Infant Feeding." This report stated that soya-based infant formulas can be used where an alternative to a formula based on cow's milk is clinically indicated but that in such cases a dietician's expert advice is essential to ensure that this does not lead to any nutritional deficiencies.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing, in the case of the Northern regional health authority, how the reduction in provision of hospital provision for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped has been translated into increased community care provision, using both output indicators and input indicators.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We do not hold information centrally that would enable us to establish a valid correlation between 336
  hospital provision for mentally ill or mentally handicapped people in the region and community care provision.

  I recently announced plans which will enable local authorities to increase the level of care they offer to mentally ill people being treated in the community. Health authorities will be required to ensure that any reduction in the number of hospital beds for mentally handicapped and mentally ill people does not outpace the development of alternative community services. The hon. Member may care to contact the chairman of the Northern regional health authority for more information.

  Abortion
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health district, for the last available year,(a) the percentage of second trimester abortions and (b) the abortion rate.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to seek to change(a) the legal requirements concerning notification of abortions to the chief medical officer or (b) the penalties in cases where such requirements are not met; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The regulations relating to notification of abortions to the chief medical officer would need to be amended to meet the requirements of any changes Parliament decided to make to the law on abortion during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. We have no plans in relation to the penalty prescribed in section 2(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 as amended.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what explanations have been offered to the chief medical officer explaining late submissions of abortion notifications.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Most of the notifications in question were completed at the time of termination. The explanations given to the chief medical officer are usually admitted oversight, personnel changes, forms being temporarily mislaid through filing in hospital notes, or staff illness.

  Smoking (Children)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising and sponsorship being circumvented by the practice of tobacco companies paying film companies for the placing of brand name tobacco products in films likely to be televised and watched by children; and what steps he will take to stop this practice.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have recently received representations on the question of "product placement", as this practice is known, from ASH and Parents Against Tobacco quoting examples of American-produced films shown in the United Kingdom. We do not have any evidence that this practice is being used by the United Kingdom tobacco industry but if such evidence emerges we will raise the matter with it in the context of our system of voluntary agreements.
  337
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the illegal sale of single cigarettes to children; and if he will take steps to prohibit the practice of selling cigarettes from opened packs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received three representations on this subject, two of them from hon. Members.

  The sale of any tobacco product to a child under 16 years of age is already illegal. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is considering ways in which the relevant legislation can be strengthened.
  338
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to bring in legislation to tackle the problem of children smoking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are very concerned about children smoking and the way in which the law on the sale of tobacco to children is being flouted. The steps which might be taken to strengthen the law in this area are under review.

  Cot Deaths
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what stage his official scientific inquiry into cot deaths has reached; when he anticipates receiving this report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave the hon. Members for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith), for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) and for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) on 16 May at column 414.

  Secure Accommodation (Young People)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority social services departments provide secure accommodation for young people which can he used as an alternative to prison.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Local authority social services departments provide a range of facilities and services which may be used as an alternative to a custodial sentence or a prison department remand. This includes a national network of approved secure accommodation, currently provided by 27 social services departments in England in 34 individual secure units, to which all local authorities have access.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the population served of each district health authority; and how many accident and emergency centres each district has.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: The available information is given in the table.

  Comparisons between district health authorities based on the number of accident and emergency departments per head of resident population may be misleading as factors such as the population density, the numbers of holidaymakers or workers coming into the district, and ready access to specialised services in adjacent districts are taken into account when planning services. Furthermore the heading "accident and emergency" includes departments offering a wide range of levels of service.

  Resident population estimates, by district health authority, as at 30 June 1988, and numbers of NHS hospital sites having accident and emergency departments, by health authority, as at 31 March 1989 Northern RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Hartlepool

  88·4

  1

  North Tees

  176·8

  1

  South Tees

  287·9

  11

  East Cumbria

  179·4

  13

  South Cumbria

  172·6

  2

  West Cumbria

  137·2

  13

  Darlington

  124·5

  1

  Durham

  233·9

  1

  North West Durham

  85·9

  1

  South West Durham

  152·5

  1

  Northumberland

  301·4

  17

  Gateshead

  206·2

  1

  Newcastle

  279·6

  2

  North Tyneside

  192·9

  5

  South Tyneside

  155·7

  2

  Sunderland

  296·1

  2

  340

  Yorkshire RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Hull

  297·6

  9

  East Yorkshire

  198·8

  9

  Grimsby

  157·5

  1

  Scunthorpe

  196·6

  3

  Northallerton

  117·2

  7

  York

  264·7

  7

  Scarborough

  145·8

  7

  Harrogate

  135·8

  2

  Bradford

  337·0

  2

  Airedale

  176·7

  4

  Calderdale

  195·9

  1

  Huddersfield

  211·5

  1

  Dewsbury

  163·8

  1

  Leeds Western

  365·3

  2

  Leeds Eastern

  344·3

  2

  Wakefield

  145·2

  1

  Pontefract

  166·4

  4

  Trent RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  North Derbyshire

  363·2

  10

  Southern Derbyshire

  530·8

  13

  Leicestershire

  885·5

  23

  North Lincolnshire

  273·2

  12

  South Lincolnshire

  309·4

  14

  Bassetlaw

  104·8

  1

  Central Nottinghamshire

  289·2

  2

  Nottingham

  613·7

  1

  Barnsley

  220·9

  1

  Doncaster

  291·6

  3

  Rotherham

  251·8

  1

  Sheffield

  528·3

  5

  East Anglian RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Cambridge

  275·6

  1

  Peterborough

  208·5

  5

  West Suffolk

  228·1

  5

  East Suffolk

  322·6

  9

  Norwich

  472·4

  11

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  200·1

  4

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  191·4

  7

  Huntingdon

  135·7

  1

  North West Thames RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  North Bedfordshire

  251·6

  1

  South Bedfordshire

  279·1

  1

  North Hertfordshire

  186·0

  4

  East Hertfordshire

  294·6

  1

  North West Hertfordshire

  261·4

  2

  South West Hertfordshire

  243·9

  1

  Barnet

  301·4

  3

  Harrow

  197·1

  1

  Hillingdon

  231·7

  2

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  276·6

  6

  Ealing

  297·3

  I

  Riverside

  276·0

  4

  Parkside

  373·7

  4

  341

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Basildon and Thurrock

  282·0

  2

  Mid Essex

  290·8

  1

  North East Essex

  311·6

  7

  West Essex

  249·9

  11

  Southend

  325·3

  1

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  453·1

  2

  Hampstead

  108·4

  1

  Bloomsbury

  126·7

  1

  Islington

  169·2

  1

  City and Hackney

  193·3

  2

  Newham

  207·0

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  161·8

  2

  Enfield

  260·9

  1

  Haringey

  192·3

  1

  Redbridge

  230·8

  1

  Waltham Forest

  213·3

  I

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Health Authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Brighton

  308·2

  5

  Eastbourne

  235·2

  4

  Hastings

  169·3

  9

  South East Kent

  268·4

  4

  Canterbury and Thanet

  309·3

  12

  Dartford and Gravesham

  217·2

  3

  Maidstone

  199·3

  2

  Med way

  330·2

  3

  Tunbridge Wells

  196·0

  10

  Bexley

  220·4

  1

  Greenwich

  214·5

  2

  Bromley

  298·2

  3

  West Lambeth

  158·6

  1

  Camberwell

  210·5

  1

  Lewisham and North South wark

  316·3

  3

  South West Thames RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  North West Surrey

  206·9

  8

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  277·6

  1

  South West Surrey

  181·1

  7

  Mid Surrey

  165·2

  5

  East Surrey

  182·6

  10

  Chichester

  182·6

  n/a

  Mid Downs

  276·8

  4

  Worthing

  244·0

  4

  Croydon

  317·2

  4

  Kingston and Esher

  177·2

  2

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  229·7

  1

  Wandsworth

  188·2

  2

  Merton and Sutton

  332·3

  5

  342

  Wessex RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  East Dorset

  451·7

  11

  West Dorset

  203·9

  17

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  527·9

  17

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  419·7

  2

  Winchester

  212·3

  2

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  220·9

  1

  Salisbury

  121·0

  2

  Swindon

  234·2

  4

  Bath

  407·0

  12

  Isle of Wight

  129·8

  1

  Oxford RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  East Berkshire

  362·1

  2

  West Berkshire

  454·2

  5

  Aylesbury Vale

  145·4

  2

  Wycombe

  268·2

  9

  Milton Keynes

  177·6

  1

  Kettering

  258·3

  1

  Northampton

  312·0

  1

  Oxfordshire

  545·9

  32

  South Western RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Bristol and Weston

  367·7

  4

  Frenchay

  221·8

  5

  Southmead

  232·3

  4

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  460·6

  23

  Exeter

  308·6

  24

  North Devon

  135·6

  19

  Plymouth

  334·3

  16

  Torbay

  242·6

  21

  Cheltenham

  212·4

  17

  Gloucester

  315·1

  12

  Somerset

  405·0

  18

  West Midlands RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  167·1

  3

  Herefordshire

  157·3

  6

  Kidderminster and District

  102·6

  4

  Worcester and District

  243·9

  11

  Shropshire

  400·8

  36

  Mid Staffordshire

  313·8

  4

  North Staffordshire

  461·5

  3

  South East Staffordshire

  257·6

  8

  Rugby

  86·3

  1

  North Warwickshire

  175·1

  1

  South Warwickshire

  223·3

  7

  Central Birmingham

  180·2

  2

  East Birmingham

  196·9

  1

  North Birmingham

  164·0

  1

  South Birmingham

  246·1

  2

  West Birmingham

  206·6

  2

  Coventry

  306·2

  2

  Dudley

  304·3

  1

  Sandwell

  296·3

  1

  343

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Solihull

  204·9

  2

  Walsall

  262·3

  1

  Wolverhampton

  249·4

  2

  Mersey RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Chester

  176·7

  1

  Crewe

  248·5

  2

  Halton

  143·6

  2

  Macclesfield

  179·9

  13

  Warrington

  187·7

  1

  Liverpool

  469·6

  13

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  346·0

  2

  Southport and Formby

  120·1

  1

  South Sefton

  177·5

  3

  Wirral

  354·3

  3

  North Western RHA

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  Lancaster

  131·1

  1

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  320·0

  13

  Preston

  128·1

  1

  Blackburn, Hynburn and Ribble Valley

  264·8

  3

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  228·3

  1

  West Lancashire

  105·4

  1

  Chorley and South Ribble

  196·8

  2

  Bolton

  263·6

  2

  Bury

  175·0

  2

  North Manchester

  139·7

  2

  Central Manchester

  122·4

  6

  South Manchester

  183·8

  2

  Oldham

  219·5

  1

  Rochdale

  214·2

  1

  Salford

  235·6

  1

  Stockport

  290·9

  1

  Tameside and Glossop

  247·0

  1

  Trafford

  215·8

  3

  Wigan

  307·6

  2

  Special Health Authorities

  Health authority

  Resident population (thousands)

  Number of hospital sites having A and E departments

  The Hospitals for Sick Children

  —

  1

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  —

  1

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals

  —

  1

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's

  —

  1

  The Eastman Dental Hospital

  —

  2

  Source: Population estimates, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  A and E departments, KH03 return.

  n/a = not available.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for(a) the number of people on the community charge register, (b) the number who have applied for rebates and (c) how many of these have been successful, for (i) Carmarthen district, (ii) the borough of Dinefwr and (iii) Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest figures notified to me state the position as at 1 December 1989. These are:

  Numbers

  Carmarthen district

  44,208

  Dinefwr borough

  30,028

  Wales

  2,215,187

  Information about the matters listed under (b) and (c) is not yet available.

  Health Care (Elderly People)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provisions have been made to provide improved health care facilities for the elderly in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In addition to services provided specifically for them, the elderly have benefited from the considerable improvements made to health services in general. Since 1978–79, 41 per cent. more revenue resources in real terms have been provided and between September 1979 and September 1989 over 18 per cent. more staff directly concerned with patient care. Throughput of in-patients increased by 31 per cent. and new out-patients by 22 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1988–89. Further improvements are in prospect under the reforms proposed in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill. In addition, the Department's initiative on the elderly in Wales has funded demonstration projects testing out new ways of providing the elderly with health and social care.

  Local Authority Dwellings
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the estimated capital investment in real terms on(a) renovation and (b) renovation grants of local authority dwellings for each local authority for each year since 1979

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information collected centrally for local authorities relates in general to the category new construction and works, which includes renovation work. The only area of local authority capital expenditure where separate information is available for construction alone is the building of dwellings, figures for which are shown in the following tables. Information for 1979–80 and 1980–81 was not collected on a comparable basis and is therefore not included.

  Capital payments on building of dwellings 1981–82 to 1984–85: Cash prices

  £000

  Local Authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  Alyn and Deeside

  657

  1,507

  894

  1,115

  Colwyn

  408

  514

  442

  439

  Delyn

  131

  91

  0

  849

  345

  Local Authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  Glyndwr

  1,250

  906

  317

  26

  Rhuddlan

  652

  832

  762

  709

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,067

  1,340

  1,493

  1,524

  Carmarthen

  1,659

  1,926

  1,933

  1,040

  Ceredigion

  1,619

  1,240

  2,630

  908

  Dinefwr

  263

  480

  1,003

  510

  Llanelli

  690

  666

  708

  1,287

  Preseli

  409

  178

  6

  304

  South Pembroke

  109

  109

  399

  431

  Blaenau Gwent

  2,523

  1,478

  549

  1,931

  Islwyn

  860

  648

  1,333

  760

  Monmouth

  1,382

  1,407

  2,186

  2,072

  Newport

  3,898

  2,092

  3,476

  4,290

  Torfaen

  1,230

  2,240

  1,963

  1,090

  Aberconwy

  183

  483

  390

  563

  Arfon

  703

  445

  609

  454

  Dwyfor

  250

  82

  84

  146

  Meirionnydd

  550

  619

  539

  71

  Ynys Môn

  1,008

  1,156

  1,545

  803

  Cynon Valley

  116

  252

  562

  306

  Merthyr Tydfil

  730

  425

  373

  96

  Ogwr

  1,659

  952

  1,897

  1,882

  Rhondda

  912

  131

  56

  54

  Rhymney Valley

  1,655

  1,790

  2,471

  1,200

  Taff Ely

  1,820

  1,613

  1,988

  411

  Brecknock

  428

  650

  480

  192

  Montgomeryshire

  229

  431

  424

  421

  Radnorshire

  270

  889

  743

  284

  Cardiff

  6,358

  5,703

  7,409

  2,484

  Vale of Glamorgan

  756

  731

  341

  603

  Pot Talbot

  250

  79

  0

  13

  Lliw Valley

  1,685

  1,611

  1,720

  739

  Neath

  801

  779

  782

  924

  Swansea

  1,988

  1,716

  1,799

  1,363

  Total Wales

  41,158

  38,191

  44,306

  32,294

  Capital payments on building of dwellings 1985–86 to 1988–89: Cash prices

  £000

  Local Authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Alyn and Deeside

  661

  1,112

  996

  1,076

  Colwyn

  210

  134

  0

  0

  Delyn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glyndwr

  12

  6

  90

  897

  Rhuddlan

  714

  589

  526

  518

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,013

  854

  571

  412

  Carmarthen

  665

  907

  0

  292

  Ceredigion

  943

  1,196

  1,163

  563

  Dinefwr

  422

  848

  574

  128

  Llanelli

  1,800

  1,504

  1,718

  2,132

  Preseli

  250

  578

  377

  448

  South Pembroke

  106

  122

  9

  0

  Blaenau Gwent

  629

  643

  1,718

  1,237

  Islwyn

  428

  1,639

  1,040

  451

  Monmouth

  1,980

  1,052

  469

  827

  Newport

  3,293

  1,682

  7,366

  3,354

  Torfaen

  757

  911

  681

  143

  Aberconwy

  185

  5

  30

  0

  Arfon

  217

  377

  526

  565

  Dwyfor

  126

  71

  21

  109

  Meirionnydd

  21

  27

  198

  203

  Ynys Môn

  662

  662

  801

  392

  Cynon Valley

  42

  221

  421

  103

  Merthyr Tydfil

  151

  85

  601

  0

  Ogwr

  973

  366

  1,039

  1,152

  Rhondda

  60

  14

  2

  0

  Rhymney Valley

  779

  385

  581

  458

  Taff Ely

  571

  1,257

  1,378

  1,886

  Brecknock

  439

  659

  799

  656

  Montgomeryshire

  328

  453

  550

  585

  Radnorshire

  205

  318

  75

  305

  Cardiff

  435

  350

  1,792

  582

  Vale of Glamorgan

  479

  545

  766

  692

  Port Talbot

  6

  0

  0

  0

  Lliw Valley

  587

  385

  726

  667

  346

  Local Authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Neath

  760

  847

  1,166

  901

  Swansea

  612

  1,146

  1,230

  1,171

  Total Wales

  21,521

  21,950

  30,000

  22,905

  Capital payments on building of dwellings 1981–82 to 1984–85: 1988–89 prices1

  £000

  Local Authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  Alyn and Deeside

  952

  2,036

  1,154

  1,371

  Colwyn

  591

  694

  570

  540

  Delyn

  190

  123

  0

  1,044

  Glyndwr

  1,810

  1,224

  409

  32

  Rhuddlan

  944

  1,124

  983

  872

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,545

  1,810

  1,927

  1,874

  Carmarthen

  2,403

  2,602

  2,495

  1,279

  Ceredigion

  2,345

  1,675

  3,394

  1,116

  Dinefwr

  381

  648

  1,294

  627

  Llanelli

  999

  900

  914

  1,582

  Preseli

  592

  240

  8

  374

  South Pembroke

  158

  147

  515

  530

  Blaenau Gwent

  3,654

  1,997

  709

  2,374

  Islwyn

  1,246

  875

  1,720

  934

  Monmouth

  2,002

  1,901

  2,821

  2,548

  Newport

  5,646

  2,826

  4,486

  5,275

  Torfaen

  1,781

  3,026

  2,533

  1,340

  Aberconwy

  265

  652

  503

  692

  Arfon

  1,018

  601

  786

  558

  Dwyfor

  362

  111

  108

  180

  Meirionnydd

  797

  836

  696

  87

  Ynys Môn

  1,460

  1,562

  1,994

  987

  Cynon Valley

  168

  340

  725

  376

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1,057

  574

  481

  118

  Ogwr

  2,403

  1,286

  2,448

  2,314

  Rhondda

  1,321

  177

  72

  66

  Rhymney Valley

  2,397

  2,418

  3,189

  1,475

  Taff Ely

  2,636

  2,179

  2,566

  505

  Brecknock

  620

  878

  619

  236

  Montgomeryshire

  332

  582

  547

  518

  Radnorshire

  391

  1,201

  959

  349

  Cardiff

  9,209

  7,704

  9,562

  3,054

  Vale of Glamorgan

  1,095

  987

  440

  741

  Port Talbot

  362

  107

  0

  16

  Lliw Valley

  2,440

  2,176

  2,220

  909

  Neath

  1,160

  1,052

  1,009

  1,136

  Swansea

  2,879

  2,318

  2,322

  1,676

  Total Wales

  59,611

  51,590

  57,182

  39,706

  1 Adjusted to a constant price basis using the GDP deflator.

  Capital payments on building of dwellings 1985–86 to 1988–89: 1988–89 prices1

  £000

  Local Authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Alyn and Deeside

  771

  1,255

  1,067

  1,076

  Colwyn

  245

  151

  0

  0

  Delyn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glyndwr

  14

  7

  96

  897

  Rhuddlan

  833

  665

  563

  518

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,182

  964

  612

  412

  Carmarthen

  776

  1,024

  0

  292

  Ceredigion

  1,100

  1,350

  1,246

  563

  Dinefwr

  492

  957

  615

  128

  Llanelli

  2,101

  1,697

  1,840

  2,132

  Preseli

  292

  652

  404

  448

  South Pembroke

  124

  138

  10

  0

  Blaenau Gwent

  734

  726

  1,840

  1,237

  Islwyn

  499

  1,850

  1,114

  451

  Monmouth

  2,311

  1,187

  502

  827

  Newport

  3,843

  1,898

  7,891

  3,354

  Torfaen

  883

  1,028

  729

  143

  Aberconwy

  216

  6

  32

  0

  Arfon

  253

  425

  563

  565

  347

  Local Authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Dwyfor

  147

  80

  22

  109

  Meirionnydd

  25

  30

  212

  203

  Ynys Môn

  773

  747

  858

  392

  Cynon Valley

  49

  249

  451

  103

  Merthyr Tydfil

  176

  96

  644

  0

  Ogwr

  1,135

  413

  1,113

  1,152

  Rhondda

  70

  16

  2

  0

  Rhymney Valley

  909

  435

  622

  458

  Taff Ely

  666

  1,419

  1,476

  1,886

  Brecknock

  512

  744

  856

  656

  Montgomeryshire

  383

  511

  589

  585

  Radnorshire

  239

  359

  80

  305

  Cardiff

  508

  395

  1,920

  582

  Vale of Glamorgan

  559

  615

  821

  692

  Port Talbot

  7

  0

  0

  0

  Lliw Valley

  685

  435

  778

  667

  Neath

  887

  956

  1,249

  901

  Gross renovation of local authority dwellings: cash prices

  £000

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Alyn and Deeside

  852

  1,170

  1,260

  1,428

  1,682

  1,918

  1,583

  1,827

  Colwyn

  602

  596

  733

  461

  965

  1,280

  853

  893

  Delyn

  760

  581

  1,122

  0

  858

  1,741

  1,376

  2,794

  Glyndwr

  129

  349

  670

  1,023

  924

  1,108

  1,119

  735

  Rhuddlan

  83

  154

  94

  131

  34

  286

  301

  175

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,248

  1,657

  2,355

  2,186

  3,046

  4,815

  5,653

  4,435

  Carmarthen

  228

  244

  529

  322

  659

  775

  2,321

  1,487

  Ceredigion

  222

  714

  1,165

  289

  724

  439

  798

  1,085

  Dinefwr

  349

  695

  202

  269

  433

  403

  805

  773

  Llanelli

  570

  923

  1,311

  144

  269

  356

  482

  256

  Preseli

  900

  1,806

  1,474

  1,442

  1,311

  1,353

  1,352

  1,298

  South Pembroke

  254

  506

  520

  244

  495

  428

  628

  557

  Blaenau Gwent

  1,210

  5,351

  3,385

  2,310

  2,533

  6,586

  4,920

  3,862

  Islwyn

  820

  2,442

  2,848

  2,638

  1,548

  1,617

  1,870

  1,687

  Monmouth

  190

  256

  592

  586

  2,296

  3,295

  4,317

  3,067

  Newport

  927

  2,655

  2,770

  2,727

  3,470

  3,366

  3,619

  2,751

  Torfaen

  1,630

  2,382

  2,080

  2,710

  2,733

  4,506

  3,242

  6,462

  Aberconwy

  331

  433

  1,118

  966

  808

  1,131

  1,240

  1,704

  Arfon

  1,108

  890

  1,406

  569

  594

  648

  1,084

  725

  Dwyfor

  58

  107

  120

  86

  59

  101

  54

  275

  Meirionnydd

  28

  112

  319

  314

  0

  44

  49

  271

  Ynys Môn

  272

  603

  993

  33

  118

  1,476

  1,492

  2,171

  Cynon Valley

  611

  801

  655

  456

  638

  943

  1,593

  1,139

  Merthyr Tydfil

  648

  1,363

  1,453

  1,454

  904

  2,231

  3,916

  2,600

  Ogwr

  731

  1,809

  2,907

  1,952

  1,975

  1,827

  2,426

  3,120

  Rhondda

  1,554

  1,981

  2,148

  1,093

  603

  668

  2,257

  8,355

  Rhymney Valley

  422

  1,414

  1,461

  1,843

  2,026

  3,990

  4,269

  4,830

  Taff Ely

  916

  1,376

  1,176

  942

  874

  2,399

  4,263

  2,355

  Brecknock

  237

  196

  383

  502

  603

  527

  246

  595

  Montgomeryshire

  286

  230

  460

  477

  299

  1,213

  1,392

  688

  Radnorshire

  71

  195

  141

  51

  206

  196

  126

  182

  Cardiff

  1,564

  3,898

  3,890

  4,392

  8,379

  7,025

  14,342

  19,243

  Vale of Glamorgan

  286

  1,383

  779

  803

  385

  1,682

  1,721

  1,132

  Lliw Valley

  303

  630

  858

  972

  1,033

  1,343

  1,907

  2,191

  Neath

  318

  1,107

  695

  235

  1,202

  1,583

  2,041

  2,440

  Port Talbot

  285

  1,243

  1,505

  1,887

  1,085

  1,580

  4,169

  3,921

  Swansea

  2,930

  3,744

  2,724

  4,968

  3,899

  3,904

  4,153

  3,378

  Total Wales

  23,933

  45,996

  48,301

  42,905

  49,670

  68,783

  87,979

  95,459

  Gross renovation from local authorities to the private sector: cash prices

  £000

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Alyn and Deeside

  193

  489

  781

  844

  323

  558

  729

  610

  Colwyn

  262

  557

  1,072

  692

  743

  749

  862

  802

  Delyn

  239

  495

  1,098

  459

  389

  512

  576

  424

  Glyndwr

  123

  574

  1,507

  1,511

  571

  458

  528

  636

  Rhuddlan

  14

  39

  67

  158

  74

  114

  163

  236

  Wrexham Maelor

  125

  268

  500

  407

  317

  289

  222

  293

  Carmarthen

  536

  1,083

  6,275

  2,766

  1,898

  1,917

  1,977

  1,657

  Ceredigion

  319

  925

  2,941

  1,833

  1,123

  1,609

  818

  643

  Dinefwr

  171

  201

  1,360

  840

  416

  364

  410

  388

  Llanelli

  227

  605

  2,119

  1,795

  770

  882

  1,232

  1,465

  Preseli

  459

  647

  2,411

  2,512

  1,240

  1,530

  1,485

  1,348

  South Pembroke

  427

  1,074

  2,607

  3,082

  1,884

  1,760

  1,901

  1,848

  348

  Local Authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Swansea

  714

  1,293

  1,318

  1,171

  Total Wales

  25,115

  24,774

  32,136

  22,905

  1 Adjusted to a constant price basis using the GDP deflator.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the estimated capital investment in real terms on(a) renovation and (b) renovation grants of local authority dwellings for each local authority for each year since 1979 (i) in cash and (ii) in real terms.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information available is shown in the tables. Information for 1979–80 and for 1980–81 was not collected on a comparable basis and is therefore not included.
  349

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Blaenau Gwent

  453

  2,206

  6,141

  3,496

  1,193

  2,137

  3,068

  1,530

  Islwyn

  408

  1,202

  2,748

  2,500

  2,650

  3,436

  3,178

  4,002

  Monmouth

  208

  857

  3,132

  1,058

  643

  902

  859

  417

  Newport

  1,252

  3,350

  4,019

  2,093

  2,380

  2,392

  2,118

  1,974

  Torfaen

  198

  390

  1,562

  2,082

  1,156

  1,396

  1,400

  1,524

  Aberconwy

  265

  340

  763

  530

  524

  412

  365

  557

  Arfon

  654

  883

  1,913

  1,913

  1,841

  1,786

  1,582

  1,322

  Dwyfor

  237

  674

  2,560

  1,190

  377

  665

  526

  461

  Meirionnydd

  194

  432

  2,599

  3,086

  1,465

  937

  256

  339

  Ynys Môn

  173

  654

  3,950

  1,116

  1,167

  779

  748

  776

  Cynon Valley

  255

  1,008

  2,554

  1,326

  1,123

  2,048

  3,849

  3,280

  Merthyr Tydfil

  383

  842

  2,419

  1,400

  1,228

  1,187

  1,468

  1,964

  Ogwr

  876

  1,815

  2,730

  3,083

  1,664

  2,180

  2,596

  3,190

  Rhondda

  1,277

  2,739

  9,016

  9,558

  6,001

  5,853

  5,543

  5,113

  Rhymney Valley

  503

  1,495

  2,918

  3,303

  1,408

  2,062

  3,132

  3,065

  Taff Ely

  1,238

  2,841

  5,902

  3,691

  1,782

  1,859

  872

  1,097

  Brecknock

  225

  535

  2,049

  984

  364

  407

  546

  571

  Montgomeryshire

  121

  603

  2,585

  1,094

  449

  530

  532

  753

  Radnorshire

  132

  337

  920

  552

  408

  289

  360

  381

  Cardiff

  1,292

  2,530

  10,623

  6,904

  7,378

  9,103

  10,764

  9,436

  Vale of Glamorgan

  423

  1,567

  3,409

  2,489

  1,013

  1,729

  1,288

  1,342

  Lliw Valley

  586

  1,206

  1,314

  1,081

  413

  792

  1,452

  1,315

  Neath

  284

  1,269

  2,602

  1,360

  923

  1,354

  1,400

  1,395

  Port Talbot

  270

  250

  500

  361

  738

  943

  1,135

  1,127

  Swansea

  1,483

  3,680

  5,796

  5,748

  5,095

  5,470

  3,839

  5,084

  Total Wales

  16,485

  40,662

  107,462

  78,897

  53,131

  61,390

  63,779

  62,365

  Gross renovation of local authority dwellings: 1988–89 prices1

  £000

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,234

  1,580

  1,626

  1,756

  1,963

  2,165

  1,696

  1,827

  Colwyn

  872

  805

  946

  567

  1,126

  1,445

  914

  893

  Delyn

  1,101

  785

  1,448

  0

  1,001

  1,965

  1,474

  2,794

  Glyndwr

  187

  471

  865

  1,258

  1,078

  1,251

  1,199

  735

  Rhuddlan

  120

  208

  121

  161

  40

  323

  322

  175

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,808

  2,238

  3,039

  2,688

  3,555

  5,434

  6,056

  4,435

  Carmarthen

  330

  330

  683

  396

  769

  875

  2,486

  1,487

  Ceredigion

  322

  964

  1,504

  355

  845

  495

  855

  1,085

  Dinefwr

  505

  939

  261

  331

  505

  455

  862

  773

  Llanelli

  826

  1,247

  1,692

  177

  314

  402

  516

  256

  Preseli

  1,304

  2,440

  1,902

  1,773

  1,530

  1,527

  1,448

  1,298

  South Pembroke

  368

  684

  671

  300

  578

  483

  673

  557

  Blaenau Gwent

  1,753

  7,228

  4,369

  2,840

  2,956

  7,433

  5,270

  3,862

  Islwyn

  1,188

  3,299

  3,676

  3,243

  1,806

  1,825

  2,003

  1,687

  Monmouth

  275

  346

  764

  721

  2,679

  3,719

  4,624

  3,067

  Newport

  1,343

  3,586

  3,575

  3,353

  4,049

  3,799

  3,877

  2,751

  Torfaen

  2,361

  3,218

  2,684

  3,332

  3,189

  5,086

  3,473

  6,462

  Aberconwy

  479

  585

  1,443

  1,188

  943

  1,276

  1,328

  1,704

  Arfon

  1,605

  1,202

  1,815

  700

  693

  731

  1,161

  725

  Dwyfor

  84

  145

  155

  106

  69

  114

  58

  275

  Meirionnydd

  41

  151

  412

  386

  0

  50

  52

  271

  Ynys Môn

  394

  815

  1,282

  41

  138

  1,666

  1,598

  2,171

  Cynon Valley

  885

  1,082

  845

  561

  745

  1,064

  1,706

  1,139

  Merthyr Tydfil

  939

  1,841

  1,875

  1,788

  1,055

  2,518

  4,195

  2,600

  Ogwr

  1,059

  2,444

  3,752

  2,400

  2,305

  2,062

  2,599

  3,120

  Rhondda

  2,251

  2,676

  2,772

  1,344

  704

  754

  2,418

  8,355

  Rhymney Valley

  611

  1,910

  1,886

  2,266

  2,364

  4,503

  4,573

  4,830

  Taff Ely

  1,327

  1,859

  1,518

  1,158

  1,020

  2,708

  4,567

  2,355

  Brecknock

  343

  265

  494

  617

  704

  595

  264

  595

  Montgomeryshire

  414

  311

  594

  586

  349

  1,369

  1,491

  688

  Radnorshire

  103

  263

  182

  63

  240

  221

  135

  182

  Cardiff

  2,265

  5,266

  5,020

  5,400

  9,778

  7,929

  15,363

  19,243

  Vale of Glarmorgan

  414

  1,868

  1,005

  987

  449

  1,898

  1,844

  1,132

  Lliw Valley

  439

  851

  1,107

  1,195

  1,205

  1,516

  2,043

  2,191

  Neath

  461

  1,495

  897

  289

  1,403

  1,787

  2,186

  2,440

  Port Talbot

  413

  1,679

  1,942

  2,320

  1,266

  1,783

  4,466

  3,921

  Swansea

  4,244

  5,058

  3,516

  6,108

  4,550

  4,406

  4,449

  3,378

  Total Wales

  34,663

  62,133

  62,338

  52,753

  57,964

  77,631

  94,244

  95,459

  1 Adjusted to constant price basis using the GDP deflator.

  350 351

  Gross renovation grants from local authorities to the private sector: 1988/89 prices1

  £000

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Alyn and Deeside

  280

  661

  1,008

  1,038

  377

  630

  781

  610

  Colwyn

  379

  752

  1,384

  851

  867

  845

  923

  802

  Delyn

  346

  669

  1,417

  564

  454

  578

  617

  424

  Glyndwr

  178

  775

  1,945

  1,858

  666

  517

  566

  636

  Rhuddlan

  20

  53

  86

  194

  86

  129

  175

  236

  Wrexham Maelor

  181

  362

  645

  500

  370

  326

  238

  293

  Carmarthen

  776

  1,463

  8,099

  3,401

  2,215

  2,164

  2,118

  1,657

  Ceredigion

  462

  1,250

  3,796

  2,254

  1,311

  1,816

  876

  643

  Dinefwr

  248

  272

  1,755

  1,033

  485

  411

  439

  388

  Llanelli

  329

  817

  2,735

  2,207

  899

  995

  1,320

  1,465

  Preseli

  665

  874

  3,112

  3,089

  1,447

  1,727

  1,591

  1,348

  South Pembroke

  618

  1,451

  3,365

  3,789

  2,199

  1,986

  2,036

  1,848

  Blaenau Gwent

  656

  2,980

  7,926

  4,298

  1,392

  2,412

  3,286

  1,530

  Islwyn

  591

  1,624

  3,547

  3,074

  3,093

  3,878

  3,404

  4,002

  Monmouth

  301

  1,158

  4,042

  1,301

  750

  1,018

  920

  417

  Newport

  1,813

  4,525

  5,187

  2,573

  2,777

  2,700

  2,269

  1,974

  Torfaen

  287

  527

  2,016

  2,560

  1,349

  1,576

  1,500

  1,524

  Aberconwy

  384

  459

  985

  652

  611

  465

  391

  557

  Arfon

  947

  1,193

  2,469

  2,352

  2,148

  2,016

  1,695

  1,322

  Dwyfor

  343

  910

  3,304

  1,463

  440

  751

  563

  461

  Meirionnydd

  281

  584

  3,354

  3,794

  1,710

  1,058

  274

  339

  Ynys Môn

  251

  883

  5,098

  1,372

  1,362

  879

  801

  776

  Cynon Valley

  369

  1,362

  3,296

  1,630

  1,311

  2,311

  4,123

  3,280

  Merthyr Tydfil

  555

  1,137

  3,122

  1,721

  1,433

  1,340

  1,573

  1,964

  Ogwr

  1,269

  2,452

  3,523

  3,791

  1,942

  2,460

  3,781

  3,190

  Rhondda

  1,850

  3,700

  11,636

  11,752

  7,003

  6,606

  5,938

  5,113

  Rhymney Valley

  729

  2,020

  3,766

  4,061

  1,643

  2,327

  3,355

  3,065

  Taff Ely

  1,793

  3,838

  7,617

  4,538

  2,080

  2,098

  934

  1,097

  Brecknock

  326

  723

  2,644

  1,210

  425

  459

  585

  571

  Montgomeryshire

  175

  815

  3,336

  1,345

  524

  598

  570

  753

  Radnorshire

  191

  455

  1,187

  679

  476

  326

  386

  381

  Cardiff

  1,871

  3,418

  13,710

  8,489

  8,610

  10,274

  11,531

  9,436

  Vale of Glarmorgan

  613

  2,117

  4,400

  3,060

  1,182

  1,951

  1,380

  1,342

  Lliw Valley

  849

  1,629

  1,696

  1,329

  482

  894

  1,555

  1,315

  Neath

  411

  1,714

  3,358

  1,672

  1,077

  1,528

  1,500

  1,395

  Port Talbot

  391

  338

  645

  444

  861

  1,064

  1,216

  1,127

  Swansea

  2,148

  4,971

  7,480

  7,067

  5,946

  6,174

  4,112

  5,084

  Total Wales

  23,876

  54,928

  138,691

  97,006

  62,003

  69,287

  68,321

  62,365

  1Adjusted to constant price basis using the GDP deflator.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new factory units have been built, and how much industrial land has been purchased by the Welsh Development Agency in Gwynedd during the past 12 months.

  Mr. David Hunt
  During the 1989–90 financial year the Welsh Development Agency completed 10 units totalling 19·5k sq ft at Porthmadog. Presently under construction are 18 units measuring 56k sq ft at Gaerwen and 14 units measuring 27k sq ft at Cibyn industrial estate, Caernarfon. The Welsh Development Agency will shortly be starting the construction of a 12k sq ft business centre at Parc Menai, near Bangor, which will be followed later in the year by four high specification units totalling 20k sq ft. During this financial year the Welsh Development Agency also intends to start construction on rural workshop schemes at Llangefni and Porthmadog each measuring some 10k sq ft.

  Land acquisitions in the county over the same period total 45 acres, and an option to purchase a further 20·5 acres was also completed in the year. Efforts to identify further strategic sites in the region are continuing.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was his estimate of the likely radiation levels in sheep in Wales in the period from the Chernobyl accident to May 1990; and what was the actual level.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In view of the complex factors involved, it is not possible to make meaningful estimates of this kind. The percentage of sheep failing the live monitor test when leaving the restricted areas fell from 14 per cent. in 1987 to 4 per cent. in 1989.

  National Health Service and Community Care Bill
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what mechanisms will exist after the implementation of he National Health Service and Community Care Bill to enable district health authorities to ensure that the wishes of their local communities are taken into account.

  Mr. Grist
  The interests of local communities in the health service in their district will continue to be represented by the community health councils. District health authorities will continue to consult on proposals for substantial developments or variations in the provision of the service.

  University Health Studies Centre
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is in a position to respond to the proposal for the establishment of a centre for health studies based on the university college of North Wales, Bangor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  The proposal that a centre for health studies should be established and based on the university college of North Wales, Bangor, is being considered in the context of the Department's consultation paper "The Health Service in Wales Towards 2000: Manpower Planning, Education and Training", responses to which are currently being considered.

  Employment Training
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money in total will be granted by the employment Training Agency for training programmes following the restructuring of funding for local training plans.

  Mr. Roberts
  During 1990–91 the Training Agency in Wales' estimated expenditure on training programmes is £114,000,000. How much of this will be allocated to training and enterprise councils will depend upon their individual start dates. Currently in the development phase, all seven TECs in Wales are expected to be operational by about the turn of the year.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much funding has been provided for training programmes by the employment Training Agency since its inception.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Since the Training Agency was established in September 1988 to 31 March 1990, the latest data available, expenditure on training programmes in Wales has been £161,000,000.

  Welsh Development Agency Properties
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report (a) the location of Welsh Development Agency properties sold to the private sector, for the last available financial year, where a sitting tenant existed, (b) the name of the sitting tenant in each case and (c) the rent paid before and after the property sale.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested in(a) and (b) above is as follows:

  Properties sold as Investments 1989–90

  Hendy industrial estate, Hendy, Dyfed

  Unit 3—Sooner Snacks Ltd.

  Unit 4—Wave Computer Supplies

  Unit 5—St. Teilo Training Services

  Unit 6—Dyfed Building Supplies

  Unit 7—Pavilion Engineering Company Ltd.

  Unit 8—Finning Limited

  Unit 9—Automotive and Industrial Chemicals Ltd.

  Maesgwynne industrial estate, Merthyr Tydfil

  Unit 2—Rayles Rewinds

  Court Road industrial estate, Cwmbran

  Unit 32—Data Stripe Ltd.

  Unit 33—Data Stripe Ltd.

  Unit 45—Photographic Images Ltd.

  Unit 46—Autobind Ltd.

  354

  Unit 47—Easyscene Ltd.

  Springvale industrial estate, Cwmbran

  Unit 50—R. J. B. Glass and Double Glazing Centre

  Unit 51—R. J. B. Glass and Double Glazing Centre

  Unit 52—W. E. D. Automatics Ltd.

  Unit 53—Sacol Hydraulics Ltd.

  The above information excludes sales to sitting tenants, which have comprised the majority of WDA property disposals to date.

  Details of rents paid by individual WDA tenants is commercially confidential information. In general however, it is agency policy to obtain the best consideration available under market circumstances.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what rights exist for a review of rent increases levied on sitting tenants in Welsh Development Agency properties sold into the private sector.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Both public and private sector organisations operate within the general framework of the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954 and tenants' rights conferred by this legislation would apply. In essence the Act provides that existing occupational leases and tenants' contractual rights will remain unaffected by a change of ownership, which means that rents will not be reviewed purely as a result of a sale. Tenants also have statutory protection in respect of security of tenure when the lease is due for renewal. There is a further provision for recourse to arbitration if settlement of rent cannot be achieved between landlord and tenant.

  Nurses
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse recruitment in the border counties of Wales if the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse recruitment in health authorities in Wales if the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse morale in Wales if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of administrative and personnel matters if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;

  (5) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of manpower planning in health authorities in Wales if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990–91.

  Mr. Grist
  The decision to phase implementation of Project 2000 in Wales was taken in the light of information obtained from draft implementation plans submitted by district health authorities, the financial implications of a simultaneous all-Wales implementation set against the resource requirements of the Health Service in Wales generally, and the complex planning task at the local level
  355
  in laying the foundations for the educational reforms which Project 2000 involves. The implications of the decision to phase for manpower issues are being addressed as part of the manpower resource planning process, and other work undertaken by the manpower steering group with health authorities in the wider context of demographic trends and increased competition in the employment field. There will also be administrative implications which each individual health authority will need to address.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy that the Project 2000 initiative on nurse training shall be implemented in south-east Wales, including Newport and Cardiff, in 1990–91.

  Mr. Grist
  No. It has been decided that there should be a phased approach to the implementation of Project 2000 in Wales with the new courses commencing in north Wales in 1991, in west Wales in 1992 and south-east Wales in 1993. The possibility of bringing forward the south-east Wales start to 1992 will be kept under review.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce the detailed timetable for the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses in each part of Wales, giving the specific implementation dates for each health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Implementation of Project 2000 in Wales will proceed on a phased basis commencing with the introduction of the new courses in north Wales (Clwyd and Gwynedd) in autumn 1991, in west Wales (Pembrokeshire, East Dyfed, West Glamorgan and Powys) in 1992, and in south-east Wales (Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and Gwent) in 1993. In the case of west and south-east Wales, it is possible for the courses to begin in the spring of the relevant year, thus involving a delay of only six and 18 months respectively over the original planning assumption.

  The possibility of bringing forward the south-east Wales start to 1992 will be kept under review.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy as to whether the nine health authorities in Wales should continue to cover their present geographical areas during and after the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend has no current proposals to alter the geographical responsibilities of the existing health authorities but the position will be kept under review in light of the provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill, including those for self-governing status.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to issue a directive to health authorities in Wales directing that when a patient at a National Health Service hospital needs to be transferred to another hospital within the same area for treatment or examination, the authority shall bear the responsibility and cost of transport for that transfer.

  Mr. Grist
  This is an operational matter for the district health authorities, which decide on the advice of the patient's clinician, the transport which is appropriate to the patient's needs.

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold urgent discussions with the chair of Gwynedd health authority concerning the effects of the industrial dispute relating to the pay of senior secretarial staff, on the ability of the authority to meet its statutory responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We understand a settlement has been reached and all medical secretaries returned to duty on 22 May.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which officer members of the management team of Gwynedd health authority are appointed under fixed-term contracts; at what date each of these was first appointed; for what period; and when is their next renewal date.

  Mr. Grist
  Other than the district and unit general managers, no officer members of the district management team have been appointed on fixed-term contracts.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the general manager of Gwynedd health authority was first appointed and for what period of time; and when was the contract renewed and for what period.

  Mr. Grist
  The district general manager for Gwynedd health authority was first appointed in February 1985 on a short-term rolling contract for an initial period of three years. The contract is renewable annually and was last renewed this year.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on any formal or informal expressions of interest in the establishment of a National Health Service trust by(a) any hospital in Wales and (b) any health authority; and if he will list the bodies that have expressed any such interest.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend has received no formal expression of interest to date. It would not be appropriate to list informal expressions of interest which may or may not have formalised.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to allow the individuals and communities affected by any hospital or health authority opt-out proposals in Wales to take the final decision themselves;

  (2) if he will set out in full the requirements and pattern of consultation to be followed if any health authority in Wales or any hospital in Wales seeks to consider establishing a National Health Service trust.

  Mr. Grist
  Any application for self governing status will be the subject of consultation with interested parties, including, in particular, the health authorities concerned, hospital staff, general practitioners, community health councils and the local community. Detailed arrangements for consultation will depend on the nature of any particular applications received and decisions will take into account the comments of all consultees.

  Ozone Levels
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will establish a monitoring system and introduce a strategy aimed at reducing high ground-level ozone levels in mid-Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will estimate the annual effect of low-level ozone upon agriculture in Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will estimate how adversely crop yield will be affected if (1) low-level ozone levels in Wales maintain their current rate and (2) they maintain their annual rate of growth; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) by what percentage he expects the level of low-level ozone in Wales to increase in the next decade; and what effects he foresees of its impact upon agriculture.

  Mr. David Hunt
  On behalf of the Government the Warren Spring laboratory operates an ozone monitoring network designed to provide a continuous assessment of the ground-level ozone climate for the whole of the United Kingdom. It includes a site in Wales, and the extent and coverage of the network is kept under review. In addition my Department is currently funding the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Bangor, to carry out a study of the effects of typical rural concentrations of ozone and other atmospheric pollutants on the health of plant species in Wales.

  The effects of ozone on agriculture were considered in a report by the Department of the Environment's independent expert review group on photochemical oxidants. Copies of its first report have been placed in the Library of the House. Its findings, on the basis of research carried out in the United Kingdom and the United States of America indicate that sensitive crops such as turnip, bean, radish, barley, pea and spinach could be expected to show marginally reduced yields during the peak ozone concentrations monitored in Wales. If the rising trend in ozone levels were to continue, the effects on agriculture could be expected to become more severe.

  The Government are, however, already taking steps to reduce substantially emissions of the primary pollutants which react to form ozone. These are detailed in an answer given to the hon. and learned Member today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Community Mental Health Services
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any plans to increase funding for community mental health services in Mid Glamorgan.

  Mr. Grist
  The county joint planning team (CJPT) in Mid Glamorgan has been offered initially £127,700 in 1990–91 to support developments under the mental illness strategy; these resources are in addition to those directly available to partner agencies in the team. Over £100,000 of the total relates to community-based developments of services for people with or recovering from mental illness. The CJPT has been invited to submit fuller details of its proposals in respect of community mental health teams, and we shall be considering these and the related bids for funding in due course.

  NHS (Kings Fund)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy not to use the formula proposed by the Kings Fund of half a million people when determining the scope and area to be covered by procuring authorities in the Health Service in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  We have no plans at present to adjust district health authority boundaries in Wales.

  Mental Illness
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what sums have been allocated on a health district or county basis in Wales to pay for the Welsh office strategy on mental illness;

  (2) how much money has been allocated in total for the Welsh Office strategy on mental illness in Wales for the current financial year.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 30 April at columns 425–26.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if any authority in Wales has received bridging finance for the implementation of the Welsh Office strategy on mental illness.

  Mr. Grist
  The mental illness strategy recognises the need for help in meeting the transitional costs of moving from existing to new patterns of service. Much of the £1·6 million offered to county teams for 1990–91, whilst not specifically described as bridging finance, is intended to enable the transition by supporting the development of locally and community-based services; these are a prerequisite for the redeployment of resources currently tied up in those existing patterns of service which are to be superseded in due course.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what conditions attach to the use by district health authorities, when they sell land or buildings which they own, of capital receipts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 21 May 1990 and to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 30 April 1990.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines have been given to district health authorities in Wales in relation to their revenue performance related to their total asset base; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Health authorities have a statutory obligation to manage both their revenue and capital within the cash provision allocated to them each year by my right hon. Friend. Additionally, they are required to commit at least 7·5 per cent. of their overall resource provision to the maintenance of capital assets. They are also required to submit performance reports for specific specialties and services against targets set by reference, as appropriate, to centrally prescribed strategic guidelines, published performance indicators and locally determined priorities within the framework of their financial plans. Authorities are also
  359
  required to achieve in 1990–91 cash-releasing cost improvements in their delivery of services of at least 1·1 per cent. of their recurring revenue provision and to generate additional recurring income equivalent to a further 0·2 per cent. of their recurrent revenue resources; and those authorities which failed to meet equivalent targets last year will be expected to make up the shortfall in 1990–91 as well as achieving this year's minimum targets.

  Health Services
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the authorities which will be responsible for providing health services in Wales and the area to be covered by each;

  (2) if he will list the authorities which will be responsible for purchasing health services in Wales following implementation of his White Paper proposals.

  Mr. Grist
  The following health authorities will be responsible for securing the provision of services for the population of the areas indicated from 1 April 1991:

  Authority

  Area

  Clwyd district health authority

  County of Clwyd

  Gwent district health authority

  County of Gwent

  Gwynedd district health authority

  County of Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan district health authority

  County of Mid Glamorgan

  Powys district health authority

  County of Powys

  South Glamorgan district health authority

  County of South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan district health authority

  County of West Glamorgan Preseli and South

  Pembrokeshire district health authority

  Pembrokeshire district councils

  East Dyfed district health authority

  Carmarthen, Ceredigion,Dinefwr and Llanelli district councils

  Health Authorities (Management Structure)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which health authorities in Wales have completed a review of their management structures in line with the Government's legislative proposals; and, in each case where this has been completed, whether the approval of his office has yet been given.

  Mr. Grist
  Health authorities are continuously keeping under review the appropriateness of their management structures and will be expected to look particularly at the implications of the Government's proposals set out in the White Papers "Working for Patients" and "Caring for People", and working papers issued subsequently, in that context.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many places there were, respectively, in(a) local authority elderly persons homes and (b) private residential homes for elderly persons in Gwynedd at the most recent available date; and what were the corresponding figures for 1980 and 1985.

  Mr. Grist
  The numbers of places at 31 March in each year were:
  360

  1980

  1985

  1989

  Local Authority Homes

  853

  855

  848

  Private Homes

  141

  630

  1,119

  Out-patient Clinics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by district health authority in Wales, and by discipline, the non-district general hospital locations where out-patient clinics are currently held by consultant National Health Service staffs;

  (2) if he will list, by district health authority in Wales and by discipline, the non-district general hospital locations where in 1980 out-patient clinics were held by consultant National Health Service staff, but which no longer offer such services;

  (3) if he will list by district health authority in Wales, and by discipline, the non-district general hospital locations where out-patient clinics are currently held by consultant National Health Service staffs.

  Mr. Grist
  The latest available information is published in "Bed Use Statistics 1988–89" a copy of which is in the Library. Clinics run by general practitioners are identified separately. Comparable figures for 1980 have been published in "Bed Use Statistics" for that year, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Cervical Screening
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his further plans for the screening of women for cervical cancer in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend and I continue to regard the development of cervical screening services as a priority. All district health authorities in Wales now have computerised screening programmes in place for women aged 20–64 years. Since 1986–87 the Welsh Office has allocated some £1·3 million of recurring central funds to health authorities to help them extend and improve their screening services. Officials of the Welsh Office will continue to keep in close touch with progress and a multi-disciplinary working group is to be formed which will produce further guidance on an all-Wales basis concerning the management and quality assurance of the programme.

  Unit General Managers (Contracts)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the unit general managers serving health authorities in Wales are bound by fixed-term contracts; and whether any guidance is given by his Department as to the length of such contracts or the procedure for renewing such contracts.

  Mr. Grist
  All unit general managers in health authorities in Wales are appointed on short-term rolling contracts of between three and five years. Guidance on appointment procedures, the content, length and renewal of contracts and other related matters was initially issued in 1984 and again in 1986.

  Surgical Procedures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list, for each health authority area in Wales, each of the non-district general hospital locations where
  361
  surgical procedures are still carried out by consultant-led teams; how many surgical cases were treated in each such hospital in the most recently available 12-month period; and what was the number of cases similarly treated in each such hospital in 1980 and in 1985;

  (2) if he will list the non-district general hospital locations in Wales where in 1980 surgical procedures were being carried out by consultant-led teams, but which no longer do so.

  Mr. Grist
  Details of in-patient hospital episodes in 1988–89 under the care of consultants in general surgery, ENT, traumatic and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, urology, plastic surgery, thoracic surgery, dental surgery, orthodontics, neurosurgery, gynaecology, burns surgery and cardiac surgery are published in "Bed Use Statistics" a copy of which is in the Library. Comparable figures for 1980 and 1985 have been published in "Bed Use Statistics" for those years, copies of which are in the Library.

  Educational Medicine
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses are engaged in educational medicine and the care of children in hospitals in Wales; and if he will give similar figures for the last five years.

  Mr. Grist
  Information is available centrally only on the total staff in post for all nursing and midwifery staff. Breakdowns of these figures into occupation category are not considered reliable.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVI, votes 5 and 8 in 1990–91.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 5 will be increased by £495,000 from £317,330,000 to £317,825,000 and the cash limit for class XVI, vote 8 will be increased by £11,125,000 from £951,713,000 to £962,838,000.

  The addition to class XVI, vote 5 largely covers (i) an increase of £245,000 in respect of discretionary assistance for higher education students, particularly those facing high accommodation costs, and (ii) payments to flood appeal funds in north Wales (£150,000), as announced on 15 March 1990, Official Report, at column 348.

  The remainder of the increase for class XVI, vote 5 (£100,000) and the increase for class XVI, vote 8 (£11,125,000) follow the decision to implement the recommendations of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine and on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, as announced by the Prime Minister on 1 February 1990 at column 260.

  The increase to class XVI, vote 5, in respect of the contribution to the north Wales flood appeal funds was offset by savings from class XVII, vote 5 in 1989–90. The other increases will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  National Consumer Council
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has received a copy of the National Consumer Council report, "International Trade and the Consumer Working Paper 2: Textiles and Clothes"; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has received a copy of the National Consumer Council report, "International Trade and the Consumer Working Paper 3: Shoes; the Cost of Neglecting Consumers' Interests"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The National Consumer Council sent copies of its working papers 2 and 3, on textiles and clothes, and shoes, respectively, to all DTI Ministers. We welcome the general thrust of the NCC's conclusions in both papers that the cost to consumers should be taken into account whenever trade restrictions are under consideration. This is a point we regularly make in Community discussions. It needs to be balanced against other interests including those of our producers. I look forward to seeing the final conclusions of the NCC's study.

  European Training Programme
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the young European executives who will be visiting Japan to improve management techniques and gain proficiency in the Japanese language, under the European training programme funded by the European Commission, are British nationals.

  Mr. Redwood
  Nine British nationals will participate in the 10th ETP due to start on 28 May, out of a total of 46 European company executives.

  This is the highest ever number of British participants.

  Cash limits
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any changes will be made to his Department's main supply estimates for cash-limited expenditure in 1990–91.

  Mr. Ridley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for class IV vote 2 (Support for industry, international trade, statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection and administration) will be reduced by £58,000 from £787,435,000 to £787,377,000, and the running cost limit by the same amount from £304,292,000 to £304,234,000. Provision of £4,850,000 will be sought for outstanding ex gratia payments to Barlow Clowes investors and for administrative expenses incurred by the Government's agents in respect of the ex gratia payments, and provision of £2,000,000 for legal costs in connection with Barlow Clowes recovery actions. There will be a corresponding reduction of £6,850,000 in provision for support for industrial research and development, reflecting an anticipated underspend. Additional provision will also be sought for the Companies House executive agency and the radiocommunications executive agency in order to enable them to meet their planned requirements: in both cases, the additional provision will be fully matched by additional receipts. In addition, provision of £38,000 will
  363
  be transferred to class XIX vote 2 (the Cabinet Office) to cover the transfer of the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and provision of £20,000 will be transferred to class X vote 1 (the Lord Chancellor's Department) in respect of work being carried out for the Department.

  The proposed outstanding Barlow Clowes payments and recovery actions are new services and it is expected that some payments will fall due within the next few weeks. Pending parliamentary approval for these new services, expenditure will therefore be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

  Transnor
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission following the Transnor case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: My Department wrote to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on 30 April about the implications of the interlocutory judgment in the "Transnor" case given on 18 April by the United States district court for the southern circuit of New York. Since then the Department has had detailed discussions with the CFTC, culminating in a joint statement issued in London and Washington on 16 May. I have arranged for copies of the letter and statement to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Air Services
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what indications of support and opposition there have been to his own Department and to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission from(a) the regions of England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales regarding (i) the British Airways investment in Sabena World Airways and (ii) its proposals to develop services to and from regional airports in the United Kingdom and regional airports in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 22 May 1990]: My Department has received a number of representations on this subject, the majority of them from Members of Parliament, including Members from Scotland, the north-west, the midlands, and the south-east of England. A number of the representations expressed views in favour of British Airways' investment in SWA. Fewer indicated support for proposals to develop services to and from regional airports in the United Kingdom and regional airports in Europe. Opposition has been indicated to the proposals from several quarters, expressing concerns about the impact of the BA/KLM/SWA arrangements on competition. As the merger created by BA's investment in SWA has now been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. Any representations made to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are a matter for it.

  Computer-based Construction Models
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to take any steps to regulate the codes for computer-based models used for technical decision-making on new civil engineering projects, new building designs and alterations on existing buildings; and if he will make a statement.
  364
  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply. A person carrying out building work must meet the requirements of the building regulations, including those relating to structural stability. Computer programmes may he used for design purposes, but the building control authority will need to consider the basic design assumptions and be satisfied that the building will meet the requirements of the regulations. The possibility of allowing professionally qualified engineers to certify their own work is at present under consideration.

  European Community Trade Mark Office
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it remains his policy to secure the location of the proposed European Community trade mark office in London.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is our policy that the Community trade mark system should be introduced as soon as possible. Early introduction requires agreement in the Community on the location of the office. Our proposal that the office should be in London remains on the table.

  Junk Mail
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations he has received on junk mail posted within the United Kingdom and from abroad; and what plans he has to ban such mail.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I receive a small but steady flow of complaints from individuals about unsolicited mail. Recently, this has included complaints about some mail posted from abroad. Those who complain are primarily concerned about how their names and addresses were obtained.

  I have no plans to ban such mail.

  Hairdressers and Beauty Suppliers
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations his Department has had with the Institute of European Hairdressers and Beauty Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am not aware of any such consultations.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his responsibilites in respect of the operation of the Hairdressing Council under the Hairdressing (Registration) Act 1964.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no responsibilities in respect of the Hairdressing Council.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: The table shows the permanent staff employed by the Department (part-time staff are counted as half):

  Total staff in post (including executive agencies) as at 1 April 1990

  11,793

  365

  Proportion by standard region

  Percentage of total

  Northern Ireland

  0·04

  Scotland

  5·02

  Wales

  13·55

  North

  2·05

  North West

  3·10

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1·99

  East Midlands

  1·46

  West Midlands

  3·89

  South West

  1·73

  South East

  66·39

  East Anglia

  0·78

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which he is responsible, together with the salary and the date when the appointment is due for renewal.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 Ma)' 1990]: Appointments to public bodies for which my Department is responsible are set out in "Public Bodies 1989", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. A more up-to-date list with the full details requested by the hon. Member will be published next month by the Women's National Commission under the title "Women into Public Appointments". A copy of this will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Recycling
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress made so far by the advisory group on recycling.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: The recycling advisory group has met three times. Its latest meeting. held on 26 March, considered the reports of individual subject-specific working parties. These reports have now been revised to take account of the main group's comments, and the views and recommendations they contain will be taken into account in preparing the forthcoming White Paper on the environment.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has conducted a survey into the markets for(a) humus, (b) glass, (c) paper, (d) plastics, (e) metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous, and (f) other materials reclaimed from the domestic waste stream; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 May 1990]: Working parties covering these and other materials were set up by the recycling advisory group. They considered market and other factors influencing recycling rates. The working parties' reports will be taken into account in preparing the forthcoming White Paper on the environment.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage chemical and medical companies to identify beneficial uses of flora in tropical rain forests; and if he will make a statement.
  366
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: My Department is taking no such steps. However such companies will no doubt have noted the recent conference on the rain forest harvest organised earlier this month at the Royal Geographical Society which highlighted such opportunities.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

  Eastern Europe (Information Technology)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the involvement of further education's information technology programme with eastern European countries using the know-how fund.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are discussing with the Hungarian authorities whether they would welcome a computing/ information technology mission which would assess how best to use part of the know-how fund in this area. A similar mission is likely for Czechoslovakia. The terms of reference for the proposed mission would include determining which British academic or other institutions, firms or individuals should be involved.

  Programme of Action
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had urging support for SADCC's programme of action; and what response he has given.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have received a number of representations. The Government's support for SADCC's programme of action is substantial; our total commitments to date for SADCC's regional programmes and projects amount to £70 million. British aid for SADCC member states since 1980 amounts to well over £1,000 million.

  Mozambique and Angola
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report all projects recently undertaken or currently being planned to assist victims of conflict in Mozambique and Angola.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The table lists approved grants. A number of further proposals are currently under consideration.

  Mozambique

  In 1989–90 the allocations listed in the table were made under our emergency allocation for Mozambique. In addition we provided 19,000 MT of emergency food aid. For 1990–91 we have pledged £3·5 million plus 10,000 MT of food aid in response to the Mozambique emergency appeal.

  £

  Accord

  Provisional planning in Niassa

  30,000

  Action Aid

  Airlift of relief food supplies for Maganja

  106,895

  Appraisal of district health services by a Health Consultant

  5,893

  Distribution of clothing to displaced people in Maganja da Costa and Pebane, Zambesia

  300,000

  Light ferry for Naburi

  4,200

  367

  £

  Purchase and distribution of blankets, Maganja da Costa and Pebane

  70,000

  9 tonnes of seeds for Maganja and Naburi

  22,000

  390 tonnes of Red Beans

  163,293

  Emergency spares for Xai-Xai Bridge

  30,168

  CAFOD

  Assistance to emergency programme. Spare parts for Landrovers. Transit centre for displaced people

  100,000

  Food aid for Maputo

  22,785

  Rehabilitation of Pemba Hospital

  18,610

  CARE

  Provision of 15 trucks plus associated protection and spares

  510,000

  Christian Aid

  Local purchase of clothes for distribution to dislocados in Zambezia

  105,000

  Rehabilitation of Namorroi District, Zambezia

  100,000

  Seeds and tools for Zambezia

  117,230

  Concern

  Clothing programme for dislocados, Nampula

  29,072

  Improvement of living conditions in 2 reception centres, Nampula. Provision of clean water, Nampula

  51,601

  Seeds and tools, Memba

  110,000

  Co-operation for Development

  Support for small farmers and co-operatives, Zonas Verdas, Maputo

  100,000

  DPCCN

  Seeds and tools programme

  100,000

  Seeds and tools programme

  300,000

  Oxfam

  Provision of clothing in Zambezia

  500,000

  Seeds and tools in Niassa and Zambezia

  50,000

  Save the Children

  Zambezia bridges

  600,000

  VETAID

  Paravet training in Vilankula District (Rehab)

  70,000

  World Vision

  Agpak Project (agricultural rehabilitation)

  100,000

  Total

  3,916,747

  In addition we have contributed £3 million since January 1989 to the United Nations High Commissioner and £200,000 through NGOs for the relief of Mozambican refugees in neighbouring countries.

  Angola

  Since the beginning of 1989, the allocations from emergency funds for Angola have been as follows:

  £

  CAFOD

  Vehicles

  48,000

  ICRC

  Clothing and blankets

  100,000

  Seeds and distribution costs

  610,000

  Oxfam

  Clothing, blankets, tools

  70,000

  Tarpaulins/prefabricated warehousing

  34,000

  War on Want

  Cholera treatment materials

  10,000

  World Food Programme

  368

  £

  Prefabricated warehousing for food aid storage

  140,000

  Warehousing

  28,000

  Total

  1,040,000

  We continue to monitor the situation closely and are considering what further assistance we might provide in response to the United Nations Secretary-General's appeal of 10 May.

  Tobacco (Aid)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on aid to the tobacco sector in developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Tobacco consumption is a significant health risk in developing countries. Nevertheless tobacco is a legal substance, a major traded commodity and a principal source of export earnings and budgetary revenue for a number of LDCs. The aid programme is used to assist agricultural development in a number of ways, including tobacco where it is an important cash crop for which no suitable substitutes are readily available. Aid funds are not used to finance imports into developing countries of tobacco and cigarettes. The Government believe that, as in United Kingdom domestic policy, the most sensible approach to reducing the damage to health from tobacco is demand reduction. Through our regular contribution to WHO we support that organisation's programme to reduce tobacco consumption in developing countries. We shall consider further support for developing countries in this field, both bilateral and multilateral.

DEFENCE

  Reactors (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 15 May to the hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), if he will provide his latest estimate of the cost of decommissioning the reactors a t Calder Hall and Chapelcross; and what proportion he estimates would fall to his Department.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The responsibility for assessing the costs of decommissioning the reactors at Calder Hall and Chapelcross, and for meeting those costs, lies with BNFL. The Ministry of Defence share of the costs will depend on future usage of the reactors.

  A90 Project, Aldermaston
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement upon the condition of the ducting used to carry inert gases and the supporting struts in the A90 plant at Aldermaston; and what reports he has received of gas leaks or potential gas leaks.

  Mr. Neubert
  The replacement of the A90 zone 1 ductwork and its supports by a pipework system was completed in April 1990. Memorandum No. 5 in the House of Commons Defence Committee's fifth report on the progress of the Trident programme (HC 374) gives full
  369
  details of the reasons for the replacement of the zone 1 ventilation ductwork. Full leak testing of the replacement pipework system has been carried out successfully.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in checking the health record of every sailor who has served in a British submarine since 1960; how many have been checked and when he anticipates the checks will be completed; whether from the initial checks any trend of cancer cases among nuclear submariners relative to the general population can be discerned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Medical Research Council is currently conducting an epidemiological research programme into morbidity and mortality of submariners in the special environment in which they serve. Data are still being collected from the individual health records of submariners and I understand that this process will be completed by the end of this year. Analysis of the data will of course take some time after that and it would not be appropriate to speculate now on the study's possible conclusions.

  United States European Reserve
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the operational use of the United States European reserve headquarters at High Wycombe.

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

  United States Hospitals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United States network of wartime-use-only hospitals in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  United States wartime contingency hospitals are currently prepositioned in the United Kingdom at the following locations:

  RAF Chessington, RAF Little Rissington, RAF Nocton

  Hall, RAF Bicester, RAF Feltwell, RAF Upwood.

  United States Submarines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the current operational role of the United States submarines operating from the River Clyde.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Details of the current operational role of United States submarines are a matter for the United States Government. However, United States submarines which visit the facility at Holy Loch generally do so in the course of deployment which contributes to the Alliance's strategy of deterrence.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last four years, the number of United States operational submarines based on the River Clyde.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. All United States submarines visiting the Holy Loch facility operate from bases in the United States.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last five years, the number of breaches that have been made to the exclusion zones at(a) Sizewell and (b) Bradwell nuclear power stations by military jet aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  Over the period concerned, only one complaint about low-flying military jet aircraft near the Sizewell and Bradwell nuclear power stations has been substantiated. This related to a 1985 incident in the vicinity of Sizewell. One recent complaint from Sizewell is currently under investigation.

  United States Aircraft (Crashes)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last five years and by aircraft type and mark the number of United States aircraft that have crashed in the United Kingdom that were(a) based in the United Kingdom and (b) overflying the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Neubert
  Our records show that there have been no crashes in the United Kingdom involving United States military aircraft not based here. Details of major accidents involving United States military aircraft based in the United Kingdom since 17 May 1985 to date are as follows:

  1985 None

  1986 24 July 1986 A USAF RF-4C crashed into the sea in St. Brides Bay, South Wales.

  1987 23 February 1987 A USAF F-111F crashed near Newmarket, Suffolk.

  28 July 1987 A USAF F-111F crashed near Lauder, Berwickshire.

  1988 22 December 1988 A USAF A10A crashed on approach to RAF Alconbury.

  1989 4 April 1989 A USAF A10A crashed through the perimeter fence at RAF Alconbury after landing.

  17 April 1989 A USAF A10A crashed near RAF Alconbury. 1990 5 February 1990 A USAF F-111E crashed into the sea near Wainfleet range.

  6 February 1990 A USAF A10A crashed near Capel-y-Ffyn in Wales.

  2 May 1990 An F-111 crashed near Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk.

  Armed Forces
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to what forecasts he has made of the United Kingdom's armed strength for the late 1990s.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are examining options for change in the structure and deployment of our armed forces but it is too early to forecast the results of this work.

  RAF/USAF Bases
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the network of RAF/USAF co-located bases and their operational use.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following Royal Air Force and procurement executive airfields in the United Kingdom are allocated for use as wartime co-located operating bases by United States forces:

  Abingdon

  Benson

  Boscombe Down

  371

  Brawdy

  Coltishall

  Cottesmore

  Finningley

  Odi ham

  Scampton

  Waddington

  Wittering

  RAF Wildenrath in Germany also holds co-located operating base status.

  It is not our practice to comment on the operational plans for such bases.

  RAF Fairford
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the future use of RAF Fairford.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 12 February at column 119.

  United States Military Maintenance Bases
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United States military maintenance bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The only United States facility entirely given over to maintenance tasks is the United States air force logistics command support group located at RAF Kemble.

  Numbers of Service Personnel for each Service as at 31 March in each year from 1981

  Year

  Royal Navy & Royal Marines

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  1981

  74,273

  70,202

  4,071

  165,990

  159,401

  6,589

  93,492

  87,219

  6,273

  1982

  72,994

  69,034

  3,960

  163,151

  157,178

  5,973

  91,502

  85,734

  5,768

  1983

  71,727

  67,826

  3,901

  159,069

  152,925

  6,144

  89,827

  84,453

  5,374

  1984

  71,281

  67,352

  3,929

  161,539

  154,966

  6,573

  93,089

  87,345

  5,744

  1985

  70,393

  66,687

  3,706

  162,399

  155,628

  6,771

  93,425

  87,475

  5,950

  1986

  67,873

  64,432

  3,442

  161,399

  154,838

  6,561

  93,237

  87,201

  6,036

  1987

  66,536

  63,167

  3,369

  159,686

  153,206

  6,480

  93,627

  87,278

  6,349

  1988

  65,499

  62,172

  3,327

  158,105

  151,817

  6,288

  93,291

  86,960

  6,331

  1989

  64,639

  61,189

  3,450

  155,567

  149,062

  6,505

  91,443

  85,144

  6,299

  1990

  63,214

  59,578

  3,636

  152,812

  145,913

  6,899

  89,685

  83,011

  6,674

  RAF Upper Heyford
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the future role of RAF Upper Heyford.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The 20th tactical fighter wing of the United States air force based at RAF Upper Heyford forms an important part of NATO's longer-range strike capability. No decisions have been taken to change this role.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to what financial savings are planned during the 1990s, following the political changes in eastern Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We will continue to make available the resources necessary to sustain modern and

  United States Tactical Missiles
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Department of Defense in respect of how many of the 450 tactical (SRAM-T) missiles due to be deployed in Europe from 1995 will be based in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  While we have always made clear our support for retaining an up-to-date and effective United States nuclear presence in Europe, the question of the detailed deployment of US SRAM-T missiles has not yet arisen.

  United States Intelligence Centre
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the operational use of the United States joint (intelligence) analysis centre being re-located from Stuttgart to Molesworth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant) on 11 January at columns 691–92.

  Service Personnel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by sex and by year for the last 10 years the number of service personnel in(a) the Army; (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  well-equipped forces adequate for our security needs. We are examining options for change, and while we anticipate opportunities for reductions in some areas it is too early to say what savings might result and how soon they will arise.

  Radiation
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which year neutron emission resulting in underassessment of the radiation dose exposure equivalent of Coulport personnel from the Chevaline warhead during transportation or storage was first recorded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The under-assessment of the neutron and over-assessment of gamma components of radiation dose from Chevaline warheads in Coulport started in 1979. No one working in the nuclear weapon areas during the last 10 years will have a corrected annual dose greater than 20 per cent. of the annual dose limit.
  373
  Since the building environmental review plan in 1989, separate dosimeters have been introduced to monitor gamma and neutron radiation respectively.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum total radiation dose registered in the Institute of Naval Medicine's records held at Alverstoke for any past or present Rosyth dockyard workers; for what period it was accrued; and what are the 20 highest doses recorded.

  Mr. Neubert
  The maximum lifetime total radiation dose for any past or present Rosyth dockyard worker registered in the defence radiological protection service's computerised record-keeping system is 597·75 mSv. This total dose accrued over the period 17 December 1964 to 30 November 1989.

  The 20 highest radiation doses recorded for workers so registered are as follows:

  Cumulative Radiation Exposures (mSv)

  597·75

  595·89

  571·35

  563·78

  534·67

  515·59

  482·52

  480·59

  479·20

  478·22

  474·52

  472·18

  463·02

  452·68

  439·11

  428·03

  427·14

  420·07

  414·16

  410·13

  Radiation dose records for personnel leaving employment before 1979 are not held on computer compatible media, and therefore any large-scale analysis, even where possible, could be conducted only at disproportionate cost.

  Military Pensions
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list British military pensions deriving from wartime service along with compatible information for other European countries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Pensions are not awarded to members of Her Majesty's armed forces in respect of wartime service as such. Service personnel who suffer disability as a result of injuries attributable to their service, whether or not in time of war, may be awarded pensions under the provisions of the war pensions scheme administered by the Department of Social Security. These pensions are related to the degree of disability experienced. A range of supplements and additional allowances are also available under the scheme, subject to eligibility. Service personnel may also receive pensions under the provisions of the occupational schemes for the armed forces, provided that they meet the conditions of eligibility, including length of service given, which are appropriate to their service and the circumstances of its termination. No distinction is made between wartime service, and other periods of service, in determining eligibility and pension 374
  benefits. The Ministry of Defence is not in a position to list comparisons between the provisions made by the British Government and those of other European countries.

  Equipment
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he intends to continue with the development of(a) the battlefield artillery target engagement system, (b) the Trigat anti-tank missile system and (c) the airborne anti-armour weapon after 1990;

  (2) whether he intends to continue to procure (a) the Foxhunter AI 24 radar and (b) the MLRS system after 1990.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As I said to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 13 December 1989 at column 685, we keep our investment in all weapons systems under constant review.

  Manpower
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what consideration has been given to reducing the number of infantry battalions; and to what figure;

  (2) what consideration has been given to reducing the number of surface fleet escorts; and to what figure;

  (3) what assessment has been made of possible increases in the size of (a) the Parachute Regiment and (b) the Royal Marines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government remain committed to the strong defence of the United Kingdom and to meeting our NATO and out-of-area obligations and our future plans will reflect this aim. We have made it clear that the future structure of our armed forces will need to take account of international developments, including arms control. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has stated, we are examining options for change.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent examination of future levels of civilian staff employed by his Department has taken place.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The levels of personnel employed by the Department, both service and civilian, are regularly monitored. Future staff levels are considered annually during the formulation of the long-term costing.

  Shatterproof Glass
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the restrictions placed on capital spending by his Department include the programme for the installation of shatterproof glass on buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence has put in hand a £126 million programme of security enhancements specifically to counter terrorism. Some of this additional expenditure has been allocated to the provision of shatterproof window film. There has been no curtailment of this programme of enhancements.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any proposals to increase the number of helicopter flying hours per month for the Army in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
  375
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to comment on operational matters. However, I can assure my hon. Friend that such matters are kept under constant review.

  Service Pay, Northern Ireland
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the annual pay rates for(a) an Ulster Defence Regiment private, permanent cadre, after two years' service, (b) an Ulster Defence Regiment private, part-time after two years' service and (c) a Regular Army private with two years' service serving in Northern Ireland on (a) six-month tour and (b) two-year posting.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Direct comparisons between the Ulster Defence Regiment (permanent cadre) pay structure and that of the Regular Army are difficult although neither pay scale provides for extra pay after two years' service as a matter of course. All Service men in Northern Ireland receive Northern Ireland additional pay when serving in Northern Ireland at the rate of £3·16 per day with effect from 1 April 1990 and £3·20 per day from 1 January 1991.

  Illustrative annual rates of pay for private soldiers who are likely to have two years' service are as follows:

  With effect from:

  1 April 1990

  1 January 1991

  £

  £

  UDR (Permanent cadre)

  Private, A, Scale B

  9,241·80

  9,541·10

  Regular Army (Infantry)

  Private, Class 1, Band 1, Scale B

  8,705·25

  8,946·15

  Note: UDR private A and Regular Army private class I are both broadly equivalent in that they represent the most highly qualified in their rank and job.

  There is no difference in basic pay between soldiers serving in Northern Ireland for six months and those for two-year periods.

  A private soldier in the part-time element of the UDR will, after two years' service, receive pay at the rate of £22·30 per day. Service in the UDR (part-time) carries a minimum training/operational requirement and the amount of annual pay received will, therefore, depend on the actual number of days attended by each soldier.

  In addition to pay, a soldier who completes the minimum obligatory training/duty and fulfils a number of other criteria, may qualify for payment of an annual bounty. Current rates are £565 on satisfactory completion of the second year of service and £800 for the third and subsequent years.

  Disciplinary Proceedings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been subject to disciplinary proceedings for participation in anti-poll tax activities; what charges were laid and what sentences imposed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As far as we are aware, no service personnel have been subject to disciplinary proceedings as a result of anti-community charge activities. Service personnel may express their views as private individuals on matters such as the community charge provided their actions are lawful and do not contravene service regulations.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline his policy in respect of the development and release of genetically modified organisms.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not the Department's policy to release to the atmosphere any genetically modified organisms which may be developed in relation to research which underpins chemical and biological defence.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any releases of genetically modified organisms have taken place from establishments under his Department's control.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Biological Warfare
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he has made an assessment of the offensive capability of genetically manipulated biological warfare and toxin warfare agents; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list those bacteria he is still considering as potential putative agents;

  (3) what is the purpose of his Department's work with Q fever; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question on 23 April 1990 at column 76.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the dangers to personnel from working with genetically manipulated biological warfare and toxin warfare agents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question on 23 April 1990 at column 76.

  In the handling of any materials in these categories, the Department follows the strict assessment criteria and protocols advised by the independent advisory committee on genetic manipulation, as well as according with the regulations covering the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and the Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the need of stales intending to develop a nuclear weapons capability to conduct nuclear test explosions.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Such matters are kept under review by the Ministry of Defence. However, different countries take different routes to the development of nuclear weapons and it is not possible to generalise regarding the technologies or methods which may be involved.

  Beaufort Dyke Sea Dump
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what materials have been dumped by his Department's personnel from any service in the Beaufort Dyke sea dump in each year since 1980; whether any materials from this dump have subsequently been recovered elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on future dumping in this area.
  377
  Mr. Neubert
  None. My Department has no knowledge of the migration of materials dumped at this site being recovered elsewhere. The MOD has no plans to use Beaufort Dyke for the disposal of any material.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the relevant papers referred to in the written reply of 30 January,Official Report, column 112, include any papers of the Security Service; and whether representatives of Colin Wallace will be given access to all papers considered by the inquiry.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Mr. Calcutt has access to all papers relevant to his inquiry, and will consider what papers he judges Mr. Wallace and his representatives should see. We shall be guided by his advice.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Calcutt inquiry announced on 30 January,Official Report, column 112, will be taking evidence from (a) Len Garrett, (b) Sir Peter Leng, (c) Denis Payne, (d) Jeremy Railton, (e) Penny Sadler, (f) Bernard Sheldon or (g) John Waterfield; and whether it will be open to representatives of Colin Wallace to cross-examine witnesses.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These matters are for Mr. Calcutt.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to the letter of Mr. Colin Wallace to him about his statement on the report into how papers were overlooked in the case of Colin Wallace; and if he will put copies of the correspondence in the Library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received Mr. Wallace's letter of 18 May, which he is considering.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can announce any changes to the defence cash limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Subject to parliamentary aproval of the necessary summer supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:

  Defence cash limits

  Class and Vote

  Current cash limit

  Increase/decrease

  Revised cash limit

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  I, 2

  8,482,308

  +48,900

  8,531,208

  I, 4

  1,875,960

  +55,000

  1,930,960

  These changes total an additional £103,900,000. Of this sum, £110,000,000 is an increase to the defence budget in respect of the special payments to pre-1973 war widows (announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 11 December 1989, Official Report, columns 677 and 678). Funding for these special payments was included in supply estimates 1990–91 in class I, vote 3 (as announced on 30 March 1990, Official Report, column 329), but total class I provision was not increased over that announced in the autumn statement and detailed in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 1001). These increases will be charged to the reserve and they will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
  378
  The changes also take account of a transfer of £6,100,000 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (class II, vote 2) from class I, vote 2 to cover the provision of military assistance to the Government of Portugal.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research and inquiries his Department is undertaking in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy symptoms in(a) cats, (b) mink and (c) other animals.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following is the reply:

  (a) The clinical symptoms of spongiform encephalopathy in cats are being recorded by veterinary clinicians to whom possible cases are presented for examination. The Ministry can provide histopathological diagnosis if requested to do so.

  (b) Studies of the transmissibility of BSE to mink are being planned in collaboration with researchers in the USA. The clinical symptoms of the disease in mink will be recorded, should transmission occur.

  (c) The Ministry is undertaking research into the clinicopathology of BSE. Information describing the clinical symptoms of the disease has been published.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will take urgent steps to ban the removal of cattle brains from crania by means of a modified paint spray gun that mixes water and compressed air; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will take urgent steps to ban the removal of cattle brains from crania by means of a high-power water jet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Cattle which show signs of BSE, or are suspected of having the disease, are slaughtered and do not go for human consumption. The ban on brains and other specified offal is an ultra-precautionary measure applying to clinically healthy animals.

  Nevertheless, we are aware of concerns about particular methods of brain removal. Wherever possible, head meat should be removed before the skull is opened. We have conducted studies into the methods employed for removing brains where this is not feasible. These indicate that high-pressure water and/or air jets should not be used as other, more satisfactory, techniques are available. I have asked the Tyrrell committee to review our findings before guidance is issued. I shall consider whether any further action is desirable having regard to the committee's advice. In the meantime, the state veterinary service is ready to give advice if needed.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has instigated any research into the possible connection between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the chemical reaction between aluminium and organophosphates in the soil; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Epidemiological studies conducted by the Ministry have found no connection beween BSE and the use of treatments or agricultural chemicals.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the manufacturers that his
  379
  Department have discovered have supplied contaminated food products to farmers that could cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy in their cattle.

  Mr. Maclean
  Epidemiological studies have shown that the most likely cause of BSE is the feeding of ruminant rations which included material derived from scrapieinfected sheep.

  All such feed used prior to the ruminant feed ban must be considered as a potential vehicle for the agent which caused the disease.

  Environmental Payments
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has given any consideration to supporting the inclusion of environmental payments within the hill livestock compensatory allowance scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. Friend the Minister announced in the House on 30 January at column 160 that, following changes in the European Community regulation, we would see whether the significant contribution that hill livestock compensatory allowances already provide in terms of environmental benefits should be made more specific. This work is proceeding.

  Sheep Variable Premium
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what date he intends to announce the termination of the sheep variable premium.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are currently consulting interested organisations on the phasing-out of the sheep variable premium scheme which, under the terms of the reformed EC sheepmeat regime, must end by the beginning of the 1993 marketing year at the latest. I am well aware of the need to give good notice of any changes to the arrangements.

  Lambs
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will launch an independent assessment scheme for lambs under the Meat and Livestock Commission to ensure orderly marketing and an effective price reporting system.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Meat and Livestock Commission currently undertakes extensive price reporting activities as part of its involvement in the administration of the sheep variable premium scheme. Under the reformed EC sheepmeat regime, this scheme will be phased out by the beginning of the 1993 marketing year at the latest. New price reporting arrangements will be introduced under the reformed regime, but the EC Commission is yet to come forward with specific proposals. It will be our objective to ensure that the new arrangements are effective.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a scheme to enable young farmers to lease milk quota allocation from the Government.

  Mr. Curry
  As the Minister said in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Miss 380
  Nicholson) on 2 April at column 447, we had hoped to introduce a scheme to loan milk quota to new entrants, but the Commission ruled that there is at present no basis in Community law for such a scheme. It was unwilling to propose the necessary changes at this time but may be prepared to consider the possibility of helping young farmers in this way in the context of the general review of the quota system due next year. We shall be pressing it to do so.

  Straw and Stubble Burning
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy in respect of exemptions to the proposed general ban on straw and stubble burning; and if he has made an estimate of what percentage of material burnt in 1989 will be permitted to be burnt after the general ban comes into force.

  Mr. Maclean
  Exemptions to the proposed ban will be made by order and will be strictly limited. They may be either permanent, for example for linseed, a crop residue which is extremely difficult to incorporate in the soil, or temporary, applying only in particularly difficult seasons in particular areas and possibly restricted to particular crop residues, in circumstances when I am satisfied that there is no practical alternative to burning. It is impossible to forecast when the combinations of circumstances might arise that would justify the granting of such exemptions.

  Hunting Hounds
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many hunting hounds are known to have died from ataxia for each of the last 10 years;

  (2) what research he has undertaken to establish the reasons for the increase in deaths of hunting hounds from hound ataxia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since ataxia in hunting hounds is not a notifiable disease, no official statistics are available on deaths resulting from it.

  The Department is not currently undertaking any research into hound ataxia.

  Arctic Foxes
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where he obtained the 1987 figures for the numbers of Arctic fox factory farms in England and Wales.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on fur farms was collected in 1987 from representatives of the industry for the reviews of the 1982 mink and coypu keeping orders.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will enact similar provisions to those in the Northern Ireland Arctic Fox Keeping Order for the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Ministry is considering whether controls on the keeping of destructive non-indigenous animals should be extended to Arctic fox and other species. A long and expensive campaign has saved the Broads from destruction by the coypu and we would not want another destructive pest species to escape and become established in Britain.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the third report from the Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food has submitted its third report to the Agriculture Ministers and to the chairman of the Agricultural and Food Research Council. We greatly appreciate the work which Dr. Brian Smith and the members of the board have put into their report.

  The report gives advice to the sponsors about future resource allocations and priorities for the publicly funded agricultural and food research and development effort as a whole. It also discusses a number of matters related to the research and development programme. The board supports the Government's aims to encourage industry to take a greater responsibility for funding near market research and development. This will produce changes to the balance and content of the sponsors' research programmes, which the board has taken into account in making its recommendations on future resource allocations. These changes have also persuaded the board to reclassify the Government's agricultural and food research programme into four categories: natural resources, plants, animals and food. The report recommends that the allocation of expenditure to each sector should he as follows:

  Per cent.

  Natural resources

  12

  Plants

  34·5

  Animals

  38·5

  Food

  15

  The sponsors are agreed that, subject to a full consideration of the resource implications, the recommendations should guide the allocation of resources to the future research and development programme. Discussions will be held between the sponsors to plan the implementation of the recommendations.

  The sponsors have also agreed that the report should be published. This is now being arranged and advance copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Brussels Agriculture Council held on 21 and 22 May.

  Mr. Curry
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.

  I drew attention to the need for the Community to prepare for the agricultural consequences of German monetary union on 2 July and of German unification thereafter. The Commission undertook to make proposals as appropriate and to put forward a report for the next meeting of the Council.

  At my suggestion, it was agreed that the potential consequences for agriculture of the draft proposal to
  382
  protect water from nitrate pollution currently before the Environment Council should be assessed and reported on by agricultural experts. This will help the Environment Council to reach informed decisions on this matter.

  On foot and mouth disease a large majority of member states indicated that they were now prepared to harmonise controls on the basis of a slaughter policy, as currently applied in the United Kingdom, rather than a vaccination policy, as currently applied in most continental member states. This represents a significant step towards resolving satisfactorily one potentially difficult problem posed by the single European market.

  Ewe Premium
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the final rate of ewe premium for the 1989 scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  I am pleased to say that the European Commission has now set the final rate of ewe premium for the 1989 scheme. The rates per eligible ewe are £6·94 in Great Britain and £12·78 in Northern Ireland, and £5·55 for those animals (Herdwicks and specified breeds of untupped gimmers in parts of Scotland) for which there are special arrangements and which would not otherwise qualify for premium. Producers in less-favoured areas who have already received an advance payment will now be paid the balance, while producers in other areas will receive the full final rate. Payments will be made as soon as possible. The 1989 premium will be worth in total around £140 million to United Kingdom sheep producers, which represents a very significant input to the sheep industry.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is intended to change the cash limit on any departmental vote for which he has responsibility.

  Mr. Curry
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class III, vote 4 (other agricultural and food services and support for the fishing industry) will be increased by £2,411,000 from £154,960,000 to £157,371,000 to make provision for payments to the British Society for Horticultural Research. The increase will be fully offset by a corresponding reduction to the cash limit for class III, vote 5 from £287,507,000 to £285,096,000 and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. The Department's running costs limit will be decreased by £795,000 from £292,837,000 to £292,042,000.

  As I announced to the House on 17 October 1989 at column 97, the British Society for Horticultural Research will carry out commissioned research and development on behalf of the Ministry. This work will be funded from class III, vote 4. The reduction in expenditure for class III, vote 5 reflects the savings accruing from the consequential reduction of in-house research and development, and increased receipts for this vote cover the attachment of Ministry staff and facilities to the BSHR.

  Furs (Factory Fanning)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has made an assessment of the implications for animal welfare of the procedures carried out in factory farming for furs.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Farm Animal Welfare Council has undertaken an assessment of fur farming and made a statement of its findings on 4 April 1989.

  In addition, officers of the state veterinary service make visits to fur farmes as they do to other livestock farms to undertake welfare inspections. At these visits, the accommodation and management practices are taken into account when assessing the welfare of the animals.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an independent food standards agency.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no plans to do so.

  Crown Estates Commission
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to require the Crown Estates Commission to publish minutes of all meetings and publish all working papers which lead to major policy decisions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. I am satisfied that the provisions of the Crown Estate Act 1961 provide the necessary level of accountability for the Crown Estate Commissioners.

  Beef
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will agree to meet representatives from Mid Glamorgan county council to discuss the consumption of beef.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department has sent detailed information on this matter to the council. That information is both comprehensive and clear, and there is no need for such a meeting.

  FEMALE CANCER SCREENING
  FEMALE CANCER SCREENING
  WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE
  WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE
  NEXT STEPS AGENCY STAFF: SELECTION CRITERIA
  NEXT STEPS AGENCY STAFF: SELECTION CRITERIA
  FOOTBALL POOL BETTING DUTY: REDUCTION
  FOOTBALL POOL BETTING DUTY: REDUCTION
  PRIORITIES BOARD FOR R&D IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD: REPORT
  PRIORITIES BOARD FOR R&D IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD: REPORT
  EWE PREMIUM
  EWE PREMIUM
  PRISONS AND BAIL HOSTELS: CONSTRUCTION AND REFURBISHMENT
  PRISONS AND BAIL HOSTELS: CONSTRUCTION AND REFURBISHMENT