Written Answers of 5 November 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by, for, or on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department or the Law Officers since 11 July 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  One such survey has been carried out by the Lord Chancellor's Department since 11 July. This was an exit survey conducted in a sample of courts on the northern circuit by the north west legal services committee. It was commissioned in May 1991. and it was undertaken on various dates during the summer. In the survey the public were asked to answer a number of questions on the quality of the service and facilities that had been provided for them in the court.

  No national public opinion survey has been conducted by any of the departments for which I am responsible since 11 July 1991. No records are held centrally of any local surveys that may have been conducted by area staff of the Crown prosecution service, and such information could be acquired only at disproportionate cost.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by the Lord Chancellor's Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans to carry out any television advertising campaigns during 1991–92, nor any individual publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will give separate figures for spending by the Lord Chancellor's Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  The Attorney-General
  The figures for the Lord Chancellor's Department, excluding staff costs, are as follows:14

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  £

  £

  £

  £1

  Television advertising

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Radio advertising

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Newspaper advertising

  15,000

  3,967

  50,242

  4,900

  Other promotional material

  32,500

  31,208

  77,968

  69,550

  1 Estimated.

  Figures for the budget for 1992–93 will not be available until after the autumn statement and after budgets have been finalised.

  The breakdown of the amounts spent on respective areas and the amounts spent for the previous years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the total expenditure, including staff costs, was:

  £

  1984–85

  135,730

  1985–86

  176,613

  1986–87

  148,020

  1987–88

  137,001

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor's Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has not sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total expenditure by the Lord Chancellor's Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  The Attorney-General: Total expenditure on press and public relations excluding staff costs is as follows:

  £

  1984–85

  5,180

  1985–86

  13,253

  1986–87

  23,282

  1987–88

  34,500

  1988–89

  34,159

  1989–90

  33,616

  1990–91

  136,960

  1 As revised

  The revised 1990–91 figure was lower than anticipated because the Lord Chancellor's Department was not required to contribute to the Children Act publicity to the extent originally envisaged.

  The amounts spent between 1979 and 1984 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The estimate for 1991–92 is £63,450. This includes the Lord Chancellor's Department press office's additional responsibility for departmental leaflets, the increased cost of publicity to explain the role of the courts and the judiciary, to expand public understanding in areas where new legislation is proposed or implemented, or law reforms considered.

  Figures for the budget for 1992–93 will not be available until after the autumn statement and after budgets have been finalised.

ENVIRONMENT

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The following surveys, carried out by my Department since 11 July 1991, include questions to individuals about their opinions:

  Evaluation of the DOE "Wake-Up" leaflet.

  Monitoring Housing Management Performance in Housing Associations and Local Authorities.

  Survey of Household Budgets and Housing Costs.

  Evaluation of Block Action.

  Development Work for 1991 English House Condition Survey: (a) Dairy System (b) Pre-pilot.

  National Survey on attitudes towards Environmental Noise (fieldwork in progress).

  Energy Efficiency Campaign—Creative Development Research [Stage 1 and Stage 2] (jointly sponsored with the Department of Energy).

  Evaluation of Energy Efficiency Campaign (jointly sponsored with the Department of Energy).

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure by the Nature Conservancy Council on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93;

  (2) if he will give separate figures for spending by the Nature Conservancy Council on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have asked the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material;

  (2) if he will give separate figures for spending by the Ordnance Survey on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93;

  (3) what was the total expenditure by the Ordnance Survey on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I will ask the Director General of Ordnance Survey to reply to the hon. Member on behalf of his organisation.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by(a) the Department of the Environment, (b) Ordnance Survey, (c) the Nature Conservancy Council and (d) the Countryside Commission during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the
  16
  commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department has carried out no television advertising during 1991–92 and has no plans to do so.

  I gave the hon. Member information regarding my Department's expenditure on publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 on 1 July 1991. The advertising company Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners has been selected to undertake strategic and creative work for the joint campaign with the Department of Energy to promote home energy efficiency. The public relations firm Maxima has been selected to carry out promotional work for the campaign. The campaign begins today and is intended to run for at least three years.

  I will ask the Director General of Ordnance Survey and the chairmen of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission to write to the hon. Member replying for their organisations.

  Mr. Frank Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Heseltine
  In May 1989, deliveries of a leaflet explaining the community charge were made to 19 million households in England. In January 1990, my Department sent leaflets to 1·6 million businesses giving details of the new business rate. In February 1991, a leaflet explaining the dangers of radon in houses and inviting householders to take advantage of free radon testing was delivered to 660,000 households in Devon and Cornwall.

  From time to time, samples of the Department's publications are sent directly to interested bodies for information.

  Local Authority Pension Scheme
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to equalise female contribution survivor benefits within the local authority superannuation pension scheme.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Regulations are being prepared to amend the local government superannuation scheme to provide equal survivor benefits. Subject to the necessary parliamentary procedures, the regulations will come into force as soon as possible.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the standard spending assessments for each education and social services authority for(a) education and (b) social services functions for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, together with a description of how those standard spending assessments were constructed.

  Mr. Key
  Standard spending assessments—SSAs—replaced grant-related expenditure assessments—GREs—in 1990–91. The education and social services SSAs for each relevant local authority in England are given in tables 2A, in £s million, and 2B, £s per adult, of the "Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1990/91" and the "Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1991/92".
  17
  The method used to calculate these SSAs is set out in "The Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England)" and "The Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England)". The 1989–90 GREs for education and social services are shown in table C.3.1 of "The Technical Handbook of Grant-Related Expenditure 1989–90" and the method of calculation is described in "The Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1989/90". All these documents are in the Library.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Black pool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Heseltine
  No.

  Thames House, Millbank
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether planning consent was sought by his Department from Westminster council prior to building the eight-storey block between the arches of Thames House, Millbank.

  Mr. Yeo
  Planning consultation under DOE circular 18/84 took place between the Property Services Agency and Westminster city council between September 1989 and November 1989. On 9 November 1989, Westminster city council confirmed that it had decided to raise no objections to the proposals put forward, in respect of both listed building consent and planning consent.

  Sports Clubs (Rates)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many non-profit making sports clubs in England applied for rate relief for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1991–92 and as a total over the same period; and how many of these clubs were granted rate relief of(a) 25 per cent. or under, (b) 25 to 50 per cent., (c) 50 to 65 per cent., (d) 65 to 90 per cent. and (e) 90 to 100 per cent.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not available. However, the results of a recent departmental survey, based on returns received from 81 per cent. of local authorities, reveal that more non-profit making recreational clubs received more relief in 1990–91 than in 1989–90, the last year of general rates. The table shows the number of properties occupied by non-profit making recreational clubs receiving relief in the two years and the percentage amounts of relief given.

  Year

  Number of properties receiving relief

  Number of properties granted relief of:

  less than 20 per cent.

  21–50 per cent.

  51–80 per cent.

  more than 80 per cent.

  1989–90

  8,500

  300

  5,200

  1,100

  1,900

  1990–91

  10,200

  700

  3,900

  2,800

  2,900

  Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  Right to Buy
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take on the performance of Lambeth in processing right-to-buy applications.

  Mr. Yeo
  Lambeth is one of several London authorities where large numbers of tenants have experienced delays in the processing of their right-to-buy applications and who have thus been denied their statutory rights. The performance of all London authorities is monitored annually, and the poorest performers are required to submit monthly reports. In March 1989 the Government introduced procedures which enabled tenants to have rent counted as advance payments towards purchase of their home if sale was delayed. Through this measure, the tenant gains some recompense and the authority loses part of the receipt on sale.

  Following these measures the number of delays in monitored authorities has fallen dramatically, from 15,457 in March 1989 to 3,712 in September 1990. Most London authorities now have only a handful of cases, if any, where tenants are being delayed in the exercise of their statutory right. Only two authorities are still subject to monthly monitoring—Lambeth and Hackney.

  Lambeth accounted for 40 per cent. of the total cases delayed in London in September 1990. On the basis of the most recent return, Lambeth still has 843 cases out of time, which is three times as many as the next worst authority. Not only are right-to-buy applicants continuing to suffer, but Lambeth tenants and residents as a whole pay for this inefficiency through the receipts forgone on delayed sales. This is clearly unacceptable. On 29 October I therefore invited the leader of Lambeth council and his senior relevant officials to meet me to discuss this situation and what needs to be done to bring Lambeth's right-to-buy performance to an acceptable level.

  Local Government (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish his proposals for extending the requirement for compulsory competitive tendering for local authority services.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am today publishing "Competing for Quality—Competition in the Provision of Local Services", in order to start the process of consulting widely on the Government's proposals for clarifying and extending the requirement for compulsory competitive tendering for local authority services. The citizens charter underlines our belief that the widest possible application of competition will bring benefits to the local taxpayer and the consumer. The consultation paper, therefore, seeks to tighten up on anti-competitive behaviour so that private firms have a fair chance to compete for local authority contracts, and explains how we propose to extend compulsory competitive tendering to a wide range of professional and technical activities. Copies are being placed in the Library.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure by the Countryside Commission on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.
  19
  Mr. Heseltine
  I have asked the chairman of the Countryside Commission to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

TRANSPORT

  Transpennine Road Crossing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now proposes to publish the report on the consultation on a possible transpennine road crossing.

  Mr. Chope
  As soon as possible.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The spending by my Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year and the estimated spending in 1991–92 is as follows:

  Television

  Radio

  Newspaper

  Other

  £,000

  £,000

  £,000

  £,000

  1979–80

  4,141

  62

  105

  1,532

  1980–81

  3,502

  336

  129

  1,737

  1981–82

  3,615

  6

  410

  1,457

  Topic

  Commencement date

  Duration

  Company

  Child road safety

  —cycle helmets

  23 April

  3 weeks

  Miller and Leeves WAHT

  —driving speeds

  21 October

  3 weeks

  DMB and B

  Drinking and driving

  3 December

  4 weeks

  DMB and B

  The following publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 have been or are being carried out in 1991–92:

  Topic

  Commencement date

  Duration

  Company

  New rear seat belt legislation

  1 June

  4 weeks

  Miller and Leeves WAHT

  Drinking and driving

  1 July

  4 weeks

  Miller and Leeves WAHT

  Coastal safety

  —

  Ongoing

  None

  Transport and the environment

  6 July

  Ongoing

  None

  Safety on the Move exhibition programme

  —

  Ongoing

  None

  Road Traffic Act

  15 August

  Ongoing

  None

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The total expenditure on the Department's press and public relations office since 1984–85 is as follows:20

  Television

  Radio

  Newspaper

  Other

  £,000

  £,000

  £,000

  £,000

  1982–83

  2,319

  98

  816

  1,415

  1983–84

  4,655

  22

  334

  1,488

  1984–85

  1,723

  207

  476

  2,873

  1985–86

  70

  858

  834

  4,026

  1986–87

  72

  520

  738

  4,489

  1987–88

  2,310

  50

  140

  3,010

  1988–89

  1,867

  110

  365

  3,367

  1989–90

  1,930

  233

  982

  3,289

  1990–91

  3,122

  145

  833

  3,962

  1991–92

  3,414

  306

  794

  5,053

  Detailed decisions have not yet been taken on expenditure by media for 1992–93, but the overall figure is expected to be approximately £9·5 million.

  The increase in expenditure this year is largely due to the child road safety campaign; other major areas of expenditure include campaigns on drink driving and rear seat belts.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The following television advertising campaigns have been carried out or are planned by my Department in 1991–92:

  £

  1984–85

  339,426

  1985–86

  354,393

  1986–87

  363,446

  1987–88

  389,473

  1988–89

  437,950

  1989–90

  451,214

  1990–91

  517,905

  11991–92

  565,336

  21992–93

  590,776

  1 Estimate.

  2 Budget.

  21
  These figures cover the overall costs of running the press office, calculated using the ready reckoner for staff-related costs.

  Before 1984–85 the information division was a common service of the Departments of Transport and the Environment and the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No.

  A12
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement detailing his plans for the future of the A12 trunk road in Suffolk in respect of dualling and bypasses; and the latest timetable for each section.

  Mr. Chope
  The proposals to upgrade the A12 in Suffolk north of Ipswich to a two-lane dual carriageway have been split into five schemes. The latest timetables for each section are as follows. The whole programme of improvements should be completed by the end of the decade.

  (1) Martlesham to Wickham Market:—Preferred route decision Autumn 1992.

  (2) Wickham Market to Saxmundham Bypass:—Publication of draft orders Summer 1992.

  (3) Saxmundham Bypass dualling:—Publication of draft orders Spring 1993.

  (4) Saxmundham Bypass—South of Wrentham:—Preferred route decision late 1993.

  (5) South of Wrentham-Kessingland:—Preferred route decision late 1992.

  Barrow Crossings
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had over the Health and Safety Executive decision to take away barrow crossings at stations.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate supports British Rail's decision to remove barrow crossings from locations where they are no longer needed because of the risk of unauthorised use which presents a safety hazard, particularly at unmanned stations and at those where there is third rail electrification. A few letters have been received from people who formerly used them.

  Public Expenditure
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish an updated version of table 7.18 of chapter 7 of the 1990–91 to 1992–93 public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 1007, extending the series there up to date.

  Mr. Chope
  The figures are published in table 1 of "National road maintenance condition survey. Report on the 1990 survey". A copy is in the Library. Figures previously published in Cm. 1007 have been revised following a review of the way the index is calculated, carried out in particular to ensure that the cost weightings used take account of current maintenance practices.

  Bypasses (Compensation)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of claims for compensation for noise and disturbance arising from the construction of(a) the A696 Woolsington bypass and (b) the A1 Newcastle western bypass; and how many of those claims had been settled by 1 October.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of claims under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 received in respect of the A696 Woolsington bypass and A1 Newcastle western bypass are 104 and 550 respectively. None of these claims had been settled by 1 October.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department regularly commissions surveys. A list of all surveys is maintained, but it is not possible to identify easily from this list those surveys which include questions of opinion. The answer on 11 July 1991 to the hon. Member referred to 101 surveys of all types reported to the Department's survey control unit in 1990. A further 69 have been reported since and I am sending a list of these to the hon. Member.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. Some officials came to Blackpool to discuss departmental business and then left.

  Channel Tunnel
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated number of(a) private cars and (b) lorries entering and leaving the channel tunnel portal at Folkestone from the Eurotunnel shuttle service in (i) 1993, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 2003.

  Mr. Freeman
  The latest available figures are contained in a report published in August 1990 by the cross-channel traffic group. The report provides estimates of the total number of cars and goods vehicles using the tunnel on an average annual day. The table shows the figures multiplied by 365:

  Cars

  Goods vehicles

  1993

  3,176,595

  547,500

  2003

  4,352,990

  888,045

  No estimate was made for 1998.

  Vehicle Air Bags
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has undertaken to examine the feasibility of introducing air bags into vehicles for safety purposes.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is currently studying the experiences of USA and Canada in the application of air
  23
  bags, in both research conditions and production vehicles. Information from this study will be considered in the development of proposals for an improved European standard for vehicle occupant protection in frontal impacts.

  There is no restriction on the introduction and use of air-bags in cars in the United Kingdom. It would not be sensible, however, to make fitment compulsory in the absence of an agreed European standard. Meanwhile, seat belts, which are both effective and cheaper to fit than air bags, will remain the main secondary safety feature in vehicles in the United Kingdom.

  Disabled Rail Passengers
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it part of British Rail's quality of service objectives that all British Rail stations are fully accessible to disabled passengers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  British Rail already does much to make its network accessible to those with disabilities. I expect BR's commitment to improving the existing arrangements to be set out in the forthcoming BR passengers charter.

  Casualties killed in road accidents in London: By age and sex: 1979 to 1990

  Age 0–15

  Age 16–59

  Age 60 and over

  All ages2

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  1979

  Greater London

  37

  18

  55

  260

  71

  331

  113

  100

  213

  410

  192

  602

  Westminster/City of London

  —

  —

  —

  14

  3

  17

  7

  2

  9

  21

  5

  26

  1980

  Greater London

  41

  16

  57

  234

  59

  293

  110

  95

  205

  388

  170

  558

  Westminster/City of London

  1

  —

  1

  5

  6

  11

  5

  3

  8

  11

  9

  20

  1981

  Greater London

  30

  14

  44

  235

  60

  295

  104

  88

  192

  374

  163

  537

  Westminster/City of London

  —

  —

  —

  11

  5

  16

  2

  1

  3

  13

  6

  19

  1982

  Greater London

  39

  14

  53

  240

  74

  314

  87

  80

  167

  377

  176

  553

  Westminster/City of London

  1

  —

  1

  11

  3

  14

  3

  3

  6

  15

  7

  22

  1983

  Greater London

  38

  14

  52

  219

  61

  280

  100

  97

  197

  366

  175

  541

  Westminster/City of London

  —

  —

  —

  5

  3

  8

  3

  8

  11

  8

  13

  21

  1984

  Greater London

  32

  15

  47

  237

  54

  291

  93

  104

  197

  390

  181

  571

  Westminster/City of London

  1

  —

  1

  11

  5

  16

  4

  8

  12

  18

  15

  33

  1985

  Greater London

  31

  5

  36

  218

  60

  278

  100

  76

  176

  351

  142

  493

  Westminster/City of London

  —

  —

  —

  9

  3

  12

  4

  4

  8

  13

  7

  20

  1986

  Greater London

  20

  8

  28

  238

  62

  300

  106

  78

  184

  372

  148

  520

  Westminster/City of London

  1

  —

  1

  14

  4

  18

  3

  4

  7

  18

  8

  26

  1987

  Greater London

  23

  10

  33

  207

  52

  259

  86

  74

  160

  319

  137

  456

  Westminster/City of London

  —

  —

  —

  16

  4

  20

  6

  5

  11

  22

  9

  31

  1988

  Greater London

  30

  13

  43

  188

  55

  243

  77

  60

  137

  310

  136

  446

  Westminster/City of London

  1

  —

  1

  10

  4

  14

  3

  2

  5

  15

  6

  21

  1989

  Greater London

  34

  9

  43

  196

  46

  242

  77

  74

  151

  328

  132

  460

  Westminster/City of London

  3

  —

  3

  6

  4

  10

  5

  2

  7

  14

  7

  21

  24
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with British Rail over the funding of disabled access to stations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The funding of access to stations for disabled people is not considered as a separate issue. Rather, British Rail is expected to take account of the needs of people with disabilities whenever it plans the modification or refurbishment of stations.

  Road Fatalities
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed and how many people were injured in road accidents by age group and sex in(a) the Greater London area and (b) central London in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is given in the tables. It is given for the years 1979 to 1990 only, as information for earlier years is not readily available. It is possible to break down the information only to the level of London boroughs. Data for the greater London area are for all the London boroughs, while figures for the cities of London and Westminster are given separately to cover central London.
  25

  Age 0–15

  Age 16–59

  Age 60 and over

  All ages2

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  Male

  Female

  Total1

  1990

  Greater London

  20

  7

  27

  176

  39

  215

  83

  56

  139

  300

  108

  408

  Westminster/City of London

  —

  —

  —

  9

  1

  10

  2

  5

  7

  12

  7

  19

  1 Includes sex not reported.

  2 Includes age not recorded.

  Casualties injured1 in road accidents in London: By age and sex: 1979 to 1990

  Age 0–15

  Age 16–59

  Age 60 and over

  All ages3

  Male

  Female

  Total2

  Male

  Female

  Total2

  Male

  Female

  Total2

  Male

  Female

  Total2

  1979

  Greater London

  5,069

  3,061

  8,170

  26,449

  12,563

  39,067

  2,753

  3,171

  5,935

  37,183

  20,594

  58,076

  Westminster/City of London

  142

  111

  255

  2,090

  1,111

  3,207

  237

  265

  502

  2,771

  1,684

  4,484

  1980

  Greater London

  4,764

  2,666

  7,480

  25,274

  11,967

  37,320

  2,806

  3,091

  5,917

  35,451

  19,411

  55,238

  Westminster/City of London

  126

  77

  204

  1,927

  991

  2,921

  233

  230

  465

  2,532

  1,470

  4,023

  1981

  Greater London

  4,580

  2,548

  7,193

  24,555

  12,112

  36,738

  2,597

  2,976

  5,589

  34,226

  19,220

  53,837

  Westminster/City of London

  130

  87

  222

  2,029

  1,008

  3,044

  226

  223

  449

  2,617

  1,477

  4,129

  1982

  Greater London

  4,711

  2,667

  7,378

  27,527

  13,486

  41,013

  2,813

  3,172

  5,985

  36,884

  20,424

  57,308

  Westminster/City of London

  138

  68

  206

  2,209

  1,111

  3,320

  245

  248

  493

  2,798

  1,582

  4,380

  1983

  Greater London

  4,574

  2,486

  7,060

  24,537

  12,651

  37,188

  2,657

  2,989

  5,646

  33,514

  19,149

  52,663

  Westminster/City of London

  125

  72

  197

  1,977

  1,101

  3,078

  232

  259

  491

  2,497

  1,559

  4,056

  1984

  Greater London

  4,597

  2,567

  7,164

  24,524

  12,724

  37,248

  2,613

  3,129

  5,742

  33,659

  19,641

  53,300

  Westminster/City of London

  126

  82

  208

  2,064

  1,064

  3,128

  238

  257

  495

  2,637

  1,546

  4,183

  1985

  Greater London

  4,145

  2,357

  6,502

  23,206

  12,306

  35,512

  2,459

  2,923

  5,382

  32,050

  18,926

  50,976

  Westminster/City of London

  140

  71

  211

  1,998

  1,051

  3,049

  222

  225

  447

  2,564

  1,462

  4,026

  1986

  Greater London

  3,943

  2,323

  6,266

  23,257

  12,738

  35,995

  2,381

  2,859

  5,240

  31,774

  19,316

  51,090

  Westminster/City of London

  117

  72

  189

  1,917

  985

  2,902

  197

  224

  421

  2,445

  1,409

  3,854

  1987

  Greater London

  3,581

  2,240

  5,821

  22,475

  12,749

  35,224

  2,182

  2,593

  4,775

  30,140

  18,858

  48,998

  Westminster/City of London

  88

  70

  158

  1,901

  951

  2,852

  183

  205

  388

  2,355

  1,352

  3,707

  1988

  Greater London

  3,631

  2,330

  5,961

  22,628

  13,016

  35,644

  2,243

  2,695

  4,938

  30,400

  19,268

  49,668

  Westminster/City of London

  105

  72

  177

  1,948

  956

  2,904

  181

  204

  385

  2,424

  1,344

  3,768

  1989

  Greater London

  3,850

  2,422

  6,272

  23,895

  13,748

  37,643

  2,286

  2,699

  4,985

  32,045

  20,274

  52,319

  Westminster/City of London

  117

  66

  183

  2,054

  954

  3,008

  181

  203

  384

  2,584

  1,371

  3,955

  1990

  Greater London

  3,864

  2,408

  6,272

  23,273

  13,598

  36,871

  2,284

  2,686

  4,970

  31,399

  20,064

  51,463

  Westminster/City of London

  101

  72

  173

  1,871

  856

  2,727

  150

  163

  313

  2,328

  1,229

  3,557

  1 Excludes those killed.

  2 Includes sex not reported.

  3 Includes age not reported.

  Crash Cushions
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will adopt the draft CEN specification for the use of crash cushions in the United Kingdom as soon as possible.

  Mr. Chope
  Working group 1 of CEN technical committee TC226 is preparing draft standards coveting terminology, performance classes, testing methods and test acceptance criteria for vehicle safety restraint systems, including crash cushions.
  26
  Further examination is taking place of the required testing criteria for crash cushions. This will delay the preparation of the draft standard covering performance classes for this type of device.

  When these standards are agreed, the United Kingdom will consider their adoption.

  Edinburgh-Aberdeen Line
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to electrify the Edinburgh-Aberdeen railway line.
  27
  Mr. Freeman
  It is for the British Railways Board to determine investment priorities within the funds made available to it by the Government. It is not for Ministers to tell BR when a specific project should be brought forward.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 15 July 1991.

  Mr. Renton
  No public opinion surveys have been carried out by my office since 15 July 1991.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Rights of the Child Convention
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Considerable progress has been made towards ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child. We hope to be in a position to ratify in the coming months.

  Western Sahara
  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the latest position regarding the United Nations efforts to secure a solution to the problems of the western Sahara.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A ceasefire in the territory took effect on 6 September. A referendum on the future of the territory, envisaged in the United Nations Secretary General's plan, is scheduled for January 1992. The United Nations mission supervising the referendum—MINURSO—has been deployed. It is now drawing up a list of voters. The United Kingdom is contributing to the cost of MINURSO and has provided 15 military observers.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to the hon. Member on 1 July at column 24 and 11 July at columns 421–22.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on advertising and other promotional material for the years 1979–80 to 1990–91, latest estimates for 1991–92 and budget provisions for 1992–93 are:

  FCO Diplomatic wing

  FCO ODA wing

  £

  £

  1979–80

  100,266

  214,739

  1980–81

  116,532

  145,697

  1981–82

  162,998

  207,964

  1982–83

  229,711

  135,506

  1983–84

  205,247

  252,691

  1984–85

  149,932

  234,050

  1985–86

  160,535

  271,084

  1986–87

  335,754

  228,347

  1987–88

  195,000

  351,000

  1988–89

  289,184

  689,631

  1989–90

  395,842

  1,066,447

  1990–91

  926,610

  902,000

  1991–92

  638,000

  1,031,000

  1992–93

  1,063,000

  1,057,000

  These figures cannot be disaggregated to identify the medium used without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information is as follows:
  29

  Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on press and public relations from 1983–84 to 1990–91, latest estimates for 1991–92 and budget provisions for 1992–93 are (£ million)

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Payments to Central Office of Information for overseas information material and related activities

  17·4

  18·8

  18·3

  18·7

  19·2

  18·3

  18·1

  15·7

  12·3

  12·0

  Other information services

  0·9

  0·8

  0·9

  0·7

  0·9

  0·9

  3·3

  5·8

  4·8

  4·9

  Running costs of Diplomatic Wing Information/News Department

  1·8

  1·4

  1·9

  1·9

  2·0

  1·8

  2·4

  3·6

  4·1

  4·3

  Running costs of ODA Wing Information Department

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·4

  0·4

  0·4

  0·4

  Costs of information staff at overseas posts

  12·4

  12·8

  13·6

  14·6

  17·6

  17·5

  18·8

  23·2

  24·8

  25·9

  Total

  32·8

  34·1

  35·0

  36·1

  39·9

  38·8

  43·0

  48·7

  46·4

  47·5

  Figures for the period before 1983–84 are not available on a comparable basis.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the United States Government about joint efforts to promote and monitor observance of human rights in Vietnam and the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy on repatriation of the boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We remain in close touch with the United States Government about the situation in Vietnam, and welcome the recent Vietnamese reaffirmation that no Vietnamese migrant returning to Vietnam will be persecuted. The Vietnamese have also agreed to continue to facilitate the monitoring of conditions of all returnees to Vietnam by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  One such poll has been conducted.

  Diplomatic Missions (Parking Fines)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish up-to-date figures recording the number of unpaid parking fines incurred by each diplomatic mission in London in the first six months of the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested by my hon. Friend is given in the table. The table also includes those international organisations which incurred unpaid fines. The figures may be reduced by late payments.

  The total of 3,000 for the first six months of 1991 represents a 22 per cent. reduction from the figure of 3,842 for the same period in 1990. It compares with nearly 67,000 in the first six months of 1984 before publication of the 1985 White Paper. We welcome this further reduction in unpaid parking fines that has been achieved during 1991 and appreciate the co-operation of diplomatic missions since the introduction of the parking policy. We shall
  30
  continue to monitor carefully the level of unpaid fines and bring pressure to bear on diplomatic missions to reduce this still further.

  Unpaid Parking Fines

  Diplomatic Mission

  January-June 1991

  January-June 1990

  Saudi Arabia

  194

  176

  Soviet Union

  167

  171

  Kuwait

  165

  100

  UAE

  140

  104

  Poland

  115

  344

  Cameroon

  110

  96

  Israel

  92

  62

  Greece

  80

  70

  Pakistan

  78

  120

  Morocco

  78

  87

  Thailand

  77

  67

  China

  74

  57

  Turkey

  73

  49

  Korea

  71

  74

  France

  69

  53

  Jordan

  62

  55

  Bulgaria

  61

  52

  Ghana

  59

  20

  Sudan

  51

  110

  Nigeria

  47

  29

  Egypt

  44

  133

  Oman

  42

  31

  Cote d'Ivoire

  41

  105

  Zambia

  38

  68

  Canada

  35

  27

  Brazil

  33

  27

  Portugal

  33

  34

  Iraq, Interests Sec.

  32

  77

  FRG

  30

  41

  Cyprus

  30

  60

  Barbados

  27

  25

  Yugoslavia

  27

  70

  Guyana

  26

  11

  Brunei

  25

  47

  Tanzania

  25

  5

  India

  24

  74

  Gambia

  23

  24

  Hungary

  22

  58

  Spain

  22

  61

  Guatemala

  22

  9

  Gabon

  22

  13

  Bahrain

  21

  7

  Romania

  20

  31

  Italy

  20

  21

  Zimbabwe

  19

  20

  Sierra Leone

  18

  30

  Tunisia

  18

  13

  Bangladesh

  18

  27

  Uruguay

  17

  18

  Jamaica

  15

  25

  Algeria

  15

  21

  31

  Diplomatic Mission

  January-June 1991

  January-June 1990

  Yemen

  14

  12

  Ethiopia

  14

  12

  Finland

  13

  9

  Chile

  12

  10

  Honduras

  12

  9

  Malaysia

  11

  65

  Venezuela

  10

  7

  Malawi

  10

  5

  Myanmar

  10

  7

  Zaire

  10

  12

  Liberia

  10

  18

  Vietnam

  9

  12

  Iran

  9

  0

  Togo

  8

  5

  Panama

  8

  2

  Cuba

  8

  14

  Japan

  7

  18

  Czechoslovakia

  7

  16

  Trinidad

  7

  5

  Peru

  7

  1

  Bolivia

  7

  2

  Austria

  6

  9

  USA

  6

  8

  Uganda

  5

  5

  Somalia

  5

  9

  Mongolia

  5

  8

  Mauritius

  5

  13

  Lesotho

  5

  8

  Eastern Caribbean States

  5

  2

  Sweden

  4

  2

  South Africa

  4

  1

  Seychelles

  4

  25

  Paraguay

  4

  7

  Lebanon

  4

  5

  Belgium

  4

  11

  Australia

  3

  4

  Syria

  3

  0

  Singapore

  3

  4

  Norway

  3

  9

  Luxembourg

  3

  3

  Indonesia

  3

  16

  Fiji

  3

  0

  Argentina

  2

  0

  Mozambique

  2

  0

  Philippines

  2

  19

  Papua New Guinea

  2

  0

  Netherlands

  2

  3

  Iceland

  2

  8

  Bahamas

  2

  0

  Mexico

  2

  3

  Swaziland

  1

  1

  Sri Lanka

  1

  4

  Nepal

  1

  1

  Malta

  1

  0

  Ireland

  1

  6

  Ecuador

  1

  7

  Costa Rica

  1

  0

  Qatar

  0

  111

  Angola

  0

  55

  Denmark

  0

  2

  Senegal

  0

  8

  Antigua

  0

  0

  Tonga

  0

  1

  Afghanistan

  0

  2

  Switzerland

  0

  0

  Botswana

  0

  3

  Belize

  0

  0

  Nicaragua

  0

  11

  New Zealand

  0

  0

  Kenya

  0

  12

  Grenada

  0

  0

  El Salvador

  0

  0

  Dominica

  0

  4

  Colombia

  0

  0

  Benin

  0

  0

  32

  Diplomatic Mission

  January-June 1991

  January-June 1990

  International Organisations

  Commonwealth Secretariat

  13

  24

  Cocoa

  3

  3

  INMARSAT

  1

  0

  IMO

  1

  0

  EC

  1

  0

  WEU

  1

  0

  UN

  0

  0

  Coffee

  0

  1

  Sugar

  0

  0

  3,000

  3,842

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Private Health Insurance (Tax Relief)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated level of deadweight on tax relief for private health insurance;

  (2) what is the total cumulative cost of the tax relief for private health insurance;

  (3) for each year of the scheme's existence, what is (a) the number of people receiving tax relief for private health insurance, (b) the number of these that are pensioners and (c) the cost per pensioner for whom the tax relief has been claimed.

  Mr. Maude
  Of those cases benefiting from tax relief for private medical insurance in 1990–91, the proportion not previously covered by this form of insurance is not known, but is thought to be relatively small. The estimated cost of the relief in respect of 1990–91 was £55 million and for 1991–92 is expected to be about £60 million.

  In 1990–91 relief was available in respect of about 330,000 contracts covering about 600,000 people aged over 60. The revenue cost per insured person was about£90.

  Unemployment
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the full cost including revenues forgone to the Exchequer of every extra 100,000 unemployed people in(a) 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93.

  Mr. Mellor
  A rise of 100,000 in unemployment is estimated directly to add around £305 million to benefit expenditure in 1991–92 and £325 million to benefit expenditure in 1992–93 as shown in table 24 of the DSS Departmental Report, Cm 1514. Estimates of the effects on tax receipts and public finances as a whole would depend on the assumptions made.

  Public Expenditure
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the figures in table 7.3 in Cm. 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91,(a) in cash prices, (b) in 1990–91 prices and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product;

  (2) if he will publish the figures in table 7.2 in Cm. 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91, with a back series to 1978–79 (a) in cash prices, (b) in 1990–91 prices and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product.
  33
  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not currently available. Updated versions of the two tables will be included in the "Statistical Supplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement" which is due to be published at the end of January 1992. Figures for the years 1978–79 to 1984–85 on a basis consistent with the figures given in table 7.2 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement", Cm. 1520, could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the figures for the public sector borrowing requirement/public sector debt repayment for each year back to 1978–79,(a) including privatisation proceeds, (b) excluding privatisation proceeds and (c) both of these as a percentage of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Mellor
  The figures are in the table.

  PSBR

  PSBR excluding privatisation proceeds

  £ million

  as percentage of GDP1

  £ million

  as percentage of GDP1

  1978–79

  9,174

  5·4

  9,174

  5·4

  1979–80

  9,926

  4·9

  10,303

  5·0

  1980–81

  12,519

  5·4

  12,729

  5·5

  1981–82

  8,631

  3·4

  9,124

  3·6

  1982–83

  8,904

  3·2

  9,359

  3·3

  1983–84

  9,678

  3·2

  10,817

  3·6

  1984–85

  10,134

  3·1

  12,184

  3·7

  1985–86

  5,622

  1·6

  8,329

  2·3

  1986–87

  3,559

  0·9

  8,019

  2·1

  1987–88

  -3,406

  -0·8

  1,734

  0·4

  1988–89

  -14,657

  -3·1

  -7,584

  -1·6

  1989–90

  -7,932

  -1·6

  -3,777

  -0·7

  1990–91

  -472

  -0·1

  4,837

  0·9

  (negative numbers indicate debt repayment).

  1 Adjusted for the abolition of domestic rates.

  Books (VAT)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent proposals have been made by the European Commission concerning the rate of value added tax levied on books; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At the 24 June meeting of ECOFIN, agreement was reached that member states which apply zero rates of VAT will be able to retain them, during a transitional period to December 1996, provided that they were in force on 1 January 1991 and are in accordance with Community law. The current zero rating of books is, therefore, safeguarded until at least December 1996, without prejudice to the position thereafter.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table giving the percentage increase in real terms in (a) income from employment, (b) income from self-employment, (c) rent, dividends, interest, (d) social security benefits and (e) personal disposable income after deduction of taxes and interest between1978–79 and 1990–91 giving the contribution of each towards personal disposable income in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  There are no official estimates of individual components of personal disposable income measured at constant prices. Between financial years 1978–79 and 34
  1990–91 real personal disposable income as a whole increased by 41·6 per cent. Estimates of the various components expressed as percentages of personal disposable income, measured at current prices, are given in the table.

  As percentage of real personal disposable income

  1978–79

  1990–91

  Income from employment

  86·6

  82·5

  Income from self-employment

  12·0

  14·8

  Rent, dividends and interest (net)

  11·1

  14·7

  Social security benefits

  13·7

  12·8

  Parent-Teacher Associations
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances fund- raising by parent-teacher associations and similar bodies for use by schools would become liable to VAT.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Only those organisations whose turnover is in excess of £35,000 per annum are required to register and account for tax on their activities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Vertebrate Animals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to sign the European convention for the protection of vertebrate animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have signed the convention and hope to ratify it shortly. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 fully complies with the convention and in a number of ways exceeds its requirements.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give separate figures for spending by the office of the Data Protection Registrar on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  For the years up to 1991–92, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend on 8 May 1991 at columns 483–84, save that the newspaper advertisting budget for this financial year has been revised from £50,000 to £195,000. I understand that the budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been determined.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by(a) the Home Office and (b) the Metropolitan police during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Details of Home Office television campaigns and each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000 during 1991–92 are as follows.
  35

  Television advertising

  Start date

  Duration

  Companies involved

  Crime Prevention (General Awareness)

  1 April 1991

  19 days

  Collett Dickenson Pearce Advertising; Clarke Hooper Consulting Promotions

  Crime Prevention (Car Security)

  12 January 1992

  N.A. Media plan not yet devised

  Leagus Shafron Davis Chick Advertising; Clarke Hooper Consulting Promotions

  Fire Safety (Smoke Alarms ownership)

  January or February 1992

  6 weeks

  FCO Advertising

  Absent Voting Rights

  When a General Election is announced

  2–3 days

  FCO Advertising

  Non-Television publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000

  Start date

  Duration

  Companies involved

  Electoral Registration

  Mid-September 1991

  1 month

  FCO Advertising

  Civil Protection Magazine

  N.A.

  Every quarter

  N.A. (Home Office/COI publication)

  Police Recruitment Graduate:

  1 September 1991

  4 months

  Riley Advertising

  Ethnic:

  1 April 1991

  3 weeks

  Riley Advertising

  Police (Special Constable Recruitment)

  31 July 1991

  3 months

  Riley Advertising

  Crime Prevention (General Awareness, Press, Poster and Radio Advertising)

  1 April 1991

  19 days

  Collett Dickenson Pearce Advertising; Clarke Hooper Consulting Promotions

  Crime Prevention (Car Security, Press, Poster and Radio Advertising)

  12 February 1992

  N.A. Media plan not yet devised

  Leagus Shafron Davis Chick Advertising; Clarke Hooper Consulting Promotions

  Fire Prevention and Safety

  A range of publicity material is available all year round

  None

  Passport renewal

  October 1991

  6 weeks

  FCO Advertising

  Prison Service Recruitment

  January 1992

  3 months

  Riley Advertising

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My Department has not sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The full cost of staff, accommodation and administration for the Home Office press office from 1979–80 to 1990–91 was:

  £

  1979–80

  283,140

  1980–81

  392,532

  1981–82

  381,799

  1982–83

  424,290

  1983–84

  516,362

  1984–85

  560,512

  1985–86

  606,996

  1986–87

  548,136

  1987–88

  599,282

  36

  £

  1988–89

  674,945

  1989–90

  715,646

  1990–91

  786,519

  Notes

  1. Figures supplied before 1986–87 were the costs estimated by the Treasury. After devolved budgets the estimates are based on Home Office costs.

  2. Press Office figures include the costs for staff, accommodation and administration costs.

  The estimated cost for 1991–92 is £800,275.

  The budget for 1992–93 has not been confirmed but the estimate is for the same amount of staff and the projected figure is £832,285.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Figures for expenditure on advertising and other promotional material for the years from 1986–87 to 1990–91 are as follows:
  37

  Year

  TV advertising

  Radio advertising

  Newspaper advertising

  Other promotional material

  Total

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1986–87

  Total advertising = 5·0

  1·40

  6·40

  1987–88

  Total advertising = 4·7

  2·10

  6·80

  1988–89

  Total advertising = 5·4

  2·80

  8·20

  1989–90

  Total advertising = 5·5

  3·70

  9·20

  1990–91

  2·024

  0·109

  3·595

  6·75

  12·47

  1991–92 estimates

  1·131

  0·236

  2·172

  6·46

  11·89

  Note: £1·9 million for crime prevention remains to be committed. 1992–93 cannot yet estimate

  It would not be possible to provide more detailed information on advertising except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure by the office of the Data Protection Registrar on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  For the years up to 1991–92, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend on 3 May 1991 at column 339. I understand that the budget for 1992–93 has not yet been determined.

  Murderers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his general policy to release the relevant medical records of convicted murderers prior to their release.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those convicted murderers since 1979 who have been released from prison and subsequently were convicted for another murder.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I assume that the question relates to convicted murderers released since 1979. There have been five: J. W. Charlton; K. Pollard; J. Johnson; M. N. Robinson; and M. J. Green.

  Year

  Force

  Additional cost £

  Percentage increase in costs between each year

  (a) Labour

  1987

  Sussex

  23,000

  —

  1988

  Lancashire

  61,000

  + 165

  1989

  Sussex

  4,000

  - 93

  1990

  Lancashire

  97,545

  + 2,339

  1991

  Sussex

  10,000

  - 90

  Percentage change between 1987 and 1991 = -57 per cent

  (b) Conservative

  1987

  Lancashire

  829,000

  —

  1988

  Sussex

  1,400,000

  + 69

  1989

  Lancashire

  1,080,000

  - 23

  1990

  Dorset

  2,000,000

  + 85

  1991

  Lancashire

  1,379,000

  - 31

  Percentage change between 1987 and 1991 = +66 per cent

  (c) Liberal Democrats

  No identifiable

  1987

  N.A.

  policing costs

  —

  No identifiable

  1988

  Lancashire

  policing costs

  —

  No identifiable

  1989

  Sussex

  policing costs

  —

  38
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors were considered in the decision to release convicted murderers from prison after serving sentence for a first murder.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend may release a life sentence prisoner only if recommended to do so by the Parole Board and after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and the trial judge if available. The main factors which are taken into account are whether the prisoner has been detained long enough to satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence for the offence, and whether it is considered safe to release him to the community.

  Party Conferences
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the cost of policing the party conferences for(a) the Labour party, (b) the Conservative party and (c) the Liberal Democrats, for each year from 1987 to 1991, giving the percentage increase in costs between each year and the percentage increase between 1987 to 1991; and if he will give an estimate of the full economic cost of policing each conference.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief officers of the forces concerned that the additional costs of policing the party conferences for the Labour party, the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats for each year from 1987 to 1991 were estimated as follows:
  39

  Year

  Force

  Additional cost £

  Percentage increase in costs between each year

  No identifiable

  1990

  Lancashire

  policing costs

  —

  No identifiable

  1991

  Dorset

  policing costs

  —

  Information about full economic costs is not available.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  No.

  Betting Shops
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had any approaches from members of the public or punters' associations in favour of evening opening of betting shops.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the year ending 30 September 1991, we received no direct representations in favour of evening opening of licensed betting offices from members of the public or any association representing punters.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has had in favour of the evening opening of betting offices; and what interests they represent.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the year ending 30 September 1991, we received one direct representation from an independent bookmaker in favour of evening opening of licensed betting offices. We are also aware that a number of organisations expressed their support for evening opening in the course of the Home Affairs Committee's recent inquiries into the levy on horseracing.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will extend the consultative period over the evening opening of betting offices.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We should be willing to arrange for written comments to be received after 29 November if any organisations are unable to submit them by that date. Until all written comments have been received, it is not possible to predict what further consultations may be necessary nor how long they may take to complete.

  Horse Racing
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many evening horse racing meetings took place during the last 12-month period when figures were available; and what estimate he has of the annual attendance at these evening meetings, and at all horserace meetings during that year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There were 134 evening horserace meetings in 1990 attended by 654,302 racegoers. The total attendance for all horserace meetings in 1990 was 4,901,515.

  Asylum
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum as listed in his answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 338, were (a) in country and (b) at port of entry on entry in each quarter of 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures are for principal applicants excluding dependants. The 1990 figures for after-entry applications understate because of delays in recording, particularly for the fourth quarter.

  Applications received1 2 for asylum in the United Kingdom, by location of application, 1990–91

  At port of entry

  After entry3 4

  Total3 4

  19903

  Quarter 1

  1,450

  1,910

  3,360

  Quarter 2

  1,615

  2,000

  3,615

  Quarter 3

  2,580

  4,220

  6,800

  Quarter 4

  3,550

  3,995

  7,545

  1991

  Quarter 1

  3,520

  8,180

  11,700

  Quarter 2

  2,040

  10,030

  12,070

  Quarter 3

  1,970

  8,630

  10,600

  1 Excluding dependants.

  2 Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest 5.

  3 The after-entry, and total, figures for 1990 understate because of delays in recording, particularly for the fourth quarter. In total, applications in 1990, excluding dependants, are estimated at over 22,000 (over 30,000 including dependants).

  4 Includes also the small number of principal applications made from overseas

  Young Prisoners
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to achieve his commitment to end the practice of holding young people in prison accommodation.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has established a national steering group to plan and take forward the work needed to give effect to the juvenile remand provisons of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, including the abolition of prison remands for 15 and 16-year-old boys.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My Department's public relations branch has commissioned three market research surveys since 11 July:

  Pre-campaign research for smoke alarms maintenance advertising.

  Qualitative research among samples of the target audience for Special Constables recruitment advertising.

  41

  Post-campaign research for electoral registration advertising.

  Greyhound Tracks
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many greyhound tracks operate throughout England, Scotland and Wales in the evening for the last year when figures were available; and what information he has as to the approximate annual attendance at greyhound evening meetings.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On the basis of figures provided by the joint standing committee of the British Greyhound Racing Board and the National Greyhound Racing Club to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into the financing of greyhound racing, I understand that there were about 87 greyhound tracks operating in the evening in 1990 with annual attendance estimated at about 5 million.

  Residential Psychiatric Patients
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former residential psychiatric patients were prosecuted for offences in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the number of former residential patients who have been prosecuted for offences is not collected centrally.

  Adoption
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of children brought into the United Kingdom for the purpose of adoption each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information held centrally relates to Romanian children during the last two years only. In 1990 the issue of 114 entry clearances was authorised to Romanian children with a view to adoption by British couples. To date the corresponding figure for 1991 is 212. In 1990, a total of 80 and in 1991 to date seven Romanian children have been brought to the United Kingdom without entry clearance with a view to adoption. In addition I understand that in 1990 our High Commission in Sri Lanka issued 54 entry clearances to Sri Lankan children with a view to adoption by British couples.

PRIME MINISTER

  Terrorist Offences
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Prime Minister in how many cases since 1975, excepting those initiated under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, British courts have exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction conferred upon them by anti-terrorism legislation in compliance with mulilateral conventions for the suppression of hijacking, hostage-taking and similar terrorist offences.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is not available.

  Separation of Powers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to ensure a constitutional separation of powers and to enhance the powers of the elected representatives vis-à-vis those of the Government.
  42
  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister how many political advisers are in post in Her Majesty's Government; in which Departments they are in post; what is the salary in each case; and what is the total salary bill of such posts.

  The Prime Minister
  There are currently 34 political advisers to Ministers employed in the civil service. The number in each Department is as follows:

  Number

  Cabinet Office (including No. 10)

  8

  Defence

  1

  Department of the Environment

  3

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  2

  Department of Health

  3

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  3

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  1

  Department of Education and Science

  2

  Department of Energy

  1

  Department of Employment

  1

  Home Office

  2

  Lord President of the Council

  1

  Lord Privy Seal

  1

  Scottish Office

  1

  Department of Social Security

  1

  Department of Trade and Industry

  2

  Department of Transport

  1

  It is not our practice to reveal the salary of any advisor as it is negotiated individually in relation to previous earnings and is therefore confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine comprising 30 points, as follows:

  Scale Point

  Salary (Inclusive) £

  30

  57,706

  29

  55,486

  28

  53,352

  27

  52,104

  26

  50,861

  25

  49,271

  24

  47,681

  23

  45,509

  22

  43,818

  21

  42,135

  20

  40,372

  19

  38,595

  18

  36,818

  17

  35,048

  16

  32,937

  15

  31,595

  14

  30,527

  13

  29,464

  12

  28,347

  11

  27,328

  10

  26,490

  9

  25,316

  8

  24,422

  7

  23,627

  6

  22,843

  5

  22,042

  4

  20,869

  3

  20,155

  2

  19,546

  1

  18,403

  43
  The two most senior special advisers are paid personal salaries above the spine limit of £57,706. The current total salary bill, excluding one adviser who is paid a daily rate, is £1,249,970.

  Nuclear Weapons Tests
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes he plans to announce in the programme of testing British nuclear weapons.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what representation he has received from the Government of Australia or the representatives of the Maralinga aboriginal people to fund a clean-up of the British nuclear bomb test site at Maralinga, Australia.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a letter from the Australian Prime Minister on the question of a further clean-up at the former nuclear weapon test sites at Maralinga and Emu field, and requesting discussions between Ministers and officials from both countries. We are considering the points raised by Mr. Hawke and have agreed to meet the relevant Australian Minister and officials later this year. In addition, a delegation representing the Maralinga aborigines called on my noble Friend the Earl of Arran, Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, and senior officials on 30 October to present their views on the same topic.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to representations from the Shoshone nation against the continuation of the British nuclear bomb test site in Nevada.

  The Prime Minister
  I have asked Her Majesty's ambassador in Washington to reply on my behalf.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Dutch Presidency's proposals for economic and monetary union with his own call for an EC of 30 states; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The question of enlargement will be high on the European Community's agenda in the coming years; we must ensure that decisions taken in the intergovernmental conferences do not pose a barrier to the accession of applicants who wish to join and meet all the conditions of membership.

  The text produced by the Dutch Presidency is a useful basis for further negotiation towards an agreement. But the United Kingdom and other member states are not committed to any particular part of its contents. The Government have plenty to say about it in the intergovernmental conference and we will make our views clear to the other member states. I remain confident that it will be possible to reach an agreement on economic and monetary union. Such an agreement should not hinder the enlargement of the Community.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from pensioners about the level of their pension increase.
  44
  The Prime Minister
  I have received many representations on this topic.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what impact the declaration of independence for the Ukraine has had upon Her Majesty's Government's policy.

  The Prime Minister
  We are naturally paying close attention to developments in the Ukraine and intend to build on the good contacts we have established there. Questions of recognition and our future policy towards the Ukraine will largely depend on the outcome of discussions which are still going on between the Ukraine, the centre and other republics on the form of its future relationships. The Ukrainian people will vote on their Supreme Soviet's declaration of independence on 1 December.

  Paid Public Appointments
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish an up-to-date directory of paid public appointments made by Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A list of public bodies by Departments, with the number of paid and unpaid appointments, is now given in "Public Bodies", published annually by the Cabinet Office (OMCS). The 1990 edition is available from the House of Commons Library; the 1991 edition will be published in December.

  World Development
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Prime Minister what interdepartmental meetings are held to discuss how world development issues can be covered within British schools.

  The Prime Minister
  As a result of the introduction of the national curriculum world development issues will be firmly established in school timetables. Government Departments worked together on the formulation of the national curriculum.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure by the Cabinet Office on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  The Prime Minister
  Expenditure on press and public relations by the Cabinet Office was:

  £

  1984–85

  247,495

  1985–86

  232,980

  1986–87

  224,813

  1987–88

  215,925

  1988–89

  201,837

  1989–90

  205,650

  1990–91

  165,601

  The latest estimate for 1991–92 is £1,005,000 and the provisional budget for 1992–93 is £508,000.

  Similar information is not available for the years prior to 1984–85.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give separate figures for spending by his office on(a) television

  45
  advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  The Prime Minister
  My office has incurred no expenditure on advertising or promotional material and there are no plans for any such expenditure in 1991–92.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether(a) the Prime Minister's office or (b) the Cabinet Office have sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  The Prime Minister
  My office has not sent any unsolicited direct mail. The Cabinet Office, as part of its central civil service function, has sent the following publicity material:An approach has been made to heads of universities and local authority chief executives advising them of European Community recruitment competitions as part of the ongoing initiative to improve United Kingdom representation in EC institutions.
  Each year we inform certain private sector companies of the date by which the Cabinet Office needs to receive applications for the top management programme in the forthcoming cycle.
  The public appointments unit approaches individuals, in respect of whom they have received a recommendation, seeking their willingness to be considered for senior appointments.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure by his office on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  The Prime Minister
  Expenditure by my office on press and public relations was not recorded separately before 1987–88. The total expenditure for each year since then is as follows; the budget for 1992–93 has not yet been finalised.

  £

  1987–88

  377,987

  1988–89

  419,326

  1989–90

  427,802

  1990–91

  553,068

  1991–92

  1560,750

  1 Estimate.

  Note: The figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 include notional superannuation costs which are excluded from the figures for earlier years.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by(a) the Prime Minister's Office and (b) the Cabinet Office during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  The Prime Minister
  My office has not undertaken any advertising campaigns in 1991–92; nor has the Cabinet Office undertaken any television advertising during 1991–92.

  Details of the only advertising campaign costing over £100,000 carried out by the Cabinet Office in this period are as follows:
  46

  (i) Citizen's Charter White Paper

  (ii) 22 July 1991

  (iii) 7 weeks

  (iv) the campaign was managed by the Central Office of Information

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give separate figures for spending by the Cabinet Office on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  The Prime Minister
  The Cabinet Office has not incurred and does not expect to incur any expenditure on promotional advertising on television or radio in the years 1979 to 1993. Expenditure in this period on promotional advertising in newspapers is estimated at £585,000 in 1991–92 and £300,000 in 1992–93.

  Information on other promotional material is not available for the years 1979 to 1987. Expenditure on such material from 1987–88 was:

  £

  1987–88

  19,306

  1988–89

  9,500

  1989–90

  14,833

  1990–91

  876

  The Cabinet Office does not expect to incur any expenditure on other promotional material in 1991–92 or 1992–93.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the kind of shops and markets and the goods which may legally be offered for sale to the public on the Sundays between 10 November and Christmas in England.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Private Health Insurance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on tax relief on private health insurance for the elderly.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government intend neither to abolish the existing relief nor to extend it to the under-60s.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether any member of(a) the Prime Minister's Office's or (b) the Cabinet Office's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  The Prime Minister
  One private secretary and one secretary were available to assist me in my official duties. Three members of my policy unit were also in attendance.

  Interned Soldiers
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he or his predecessors have made and what efforts he is currently making on behalf of civilians of Dutch, British and Commonwealth citizenship interned by invading and occupying forces in Indonesia and other Asian countries in the years 1942 to 1945 to secure adequate and meaningful compensation.
  47
  The Prime Minister
  Successive Governments have taken the view that the question of compensation for former prisoners of war and civilian internees of the Japanese was settled in the 1951 treaty of peace with Japan.

  Cabinet Committees
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now give details of the name, composition and remit of each Cabinet committee and sub-committee.

  The Prime Minister
  No. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 6 June 1991 at column 280.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5 November.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 15 July 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Two surveys have been carried out since 15 July: one, a survey of customer attitudes towards the service provided by the Social Security Agency with relation to national insurance contributions, the other a survey examining employment and possible improvements in services and the general environment in the Rathcoole/Bawnmore/Longlands area.

  Campaign

  Commencement Date

  Duration

  Company

  Pedestrain Safety

  26 June 1991

  1 month

  A V Browne

  16 September 1991

  1 month

  Advertising Ltd

  Environmental Awareness and Energy Efficiency

  22 August 1991

  3 months

  Chrysalis TV

  Crime prevention

  2 September 1991

  3 years

  Cannot be disclosed on security grounds

  Confidential Telephone

  Mid-December 1991

  4 months

  Cannot be disclosed on security grounds

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1979–80

  281,641

  1980–81

  344,596

  1981–82

  393,239

  1982–83

  519,912

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information could be obtained in the form requested only at disproportionate cost; the total figures for spending on all advertising and other promotional material are, however, set out in the table.

  £

  1979–80

  468,972

  1980–81

  487,393

  1981–82

  613,464

  1982–83

  1,550,896

  1983–84

  2,853,451

  1984–85

  2,699,659

  1985–86

  3,916,824

  1986–87

  3,787,628

  1987–88

  4,028,259

  1988–89

  4,606,655

  1989–90

  5,227,759

  1990–91

  5,886,796

  1991–92

  15,970,883

  1992–93

  24,845,837

  1 (Estimate)

  2 (Budget)

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1983–84

  482,188

  1984–85

  528,666

  1985–86

  701,685

  1986–87

  684,727

  1987–88

  783,771

  1988–89

  3,622,972

  1989–90

  4,226,581

  1990–91

  5,699,510

  1991–92

  15,502,537

  1992–93

  25,800,516

  1 Estimate.

  2 Budget.

  49
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Yes.

  Police Custody (Injuries)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many payments of compensation for injuries suffered in police custody have been made in each year since 1987; and if he will list the amounts paid in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Sports Clubs (Rate Relief)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-profit making sports clubs in Northern Ireland applied for rate relief for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1991–92 and as a total over the same period; and how many of these clubs were granted rate relief of(a) 25 per cent. or under (b) 25 to 50 per cent., (c) 50 to 65 per cent., (d) 65 to 90 per cent. and (e) 90 to 100 per cent.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Rate relief for non-profit making sports clubs is a mandatory 65 per cent., but is restricted to those parts of the premises used solely for sporting purposes. This is administered by the Commissioner of Valuation who is responsible for the maintenance of the valuation list.

  Relief is granted as of right to these clubs and there is no need for them to apply.

  The application of sports and recreational relief is governed by article 31 of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, and the Rates (Recreational Hereditaments) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has reached a decision on the Royal group of hospitals' application for health and social services trust status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have decided to establish the Royal group of hospitals as a health and social services trust to become operational on 1 April 1993.

  In making my decision I considered carefully the Royal group of hospitals' application and the comments made on it during consultation.

  As a trust, the Royal group of hospitals will continue to be a regional centre of excellence with a commitment to the provision of services to its local community and to teaching and research. The trust will remain firmly within the Northern Ireland health and personal social services
  50
  and will continue to be financed from public funds. However, it will have new freedoms and I am confident that the trust will use these to benefit patients and improve its quality of service while giving greater job satisfaction to its employees. I am also confident that the trust will build on the existing involvement of senior professional staff in the management of the unit.

  Consultation on the application revealed a number of problems which need to be resolved concerning the future of the Royal group of hospitals. In order to give time for these matters to be addressed I have decided to delay the operational date of the trust for one year. In the meantime the Eastern health and social services board will retain overall managerial responsibility for the unit. A shadow board for the trust will be appointed which will take over full responsibility for the Royal group of hospitals from April 1993.

  Stillbirths
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be(a) the initial costs and (b) the annual running costs of confidential inquiries into stillbirths and infant deaths in Northern Ireland; and what additional funds he is making available to (i) the Northern Ireland Office, (ii) the General Register Office and (iii) health and social services boards to (a) set up and (b) run the inquiries.

  Mr. Hanley
  Resources will be made available to allow Northern Ireland to participate fully in the national confidential inquiry. It will not be possible, however, to provide detailed information about the funding and costs of the inquiry in Northern Ireland until expert advice on its design and content has been formulated by the national advisory board which is being set up to guide and oversee the work throughout the United Kingdom.

WALES

  Publicity
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, in declining order of size of print run, all leaflets and circulars printed by him for general or mass circulation distribution in the past two years on education, health, and other topics relating to his departmental responsibilities, and their cost in each case.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested by the hon. Gentleman is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A breakdown of annual expenditure by the Welsh Office in advertising and other publicity from 1979–80 to 1990–91 is set out in the following table.

  Publicity expenditure in 1991–92 is planned to be about £2,000,000. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of this under each heading because in many cases decisions

  51
  about the extent to which different media will be used are taken as projects develop. Budgets for 1992–93 have yet to be finalised.

  Welsh Office Publicity Spend

  Year

  Radio Advertising

  Television Advertising

  1Joint Press and Television Advertising

  Press Advertising

  Other Promotional Material

  (£.000)

  (£.000)

  (£.000)

  (£.000)

  (£.000)

  1979–80

  Nil

  61

  24

  1980–81

  Nil

  62

  22

  1981–82

  Nil

  100

  44

  1982–83

  Nil

  99

  28

  1983–84

  Nil

  108

  34

  1984–85

  Nil

  66

  100

  1985–86

  Nil

  Nil

  31

  92

  1986–87

  Nil

  27

  49

  331

  1987–88

  Nil

  39

  191

  615

  1988–89

  Nil

  64

  112

  1,105

  1989–90

  Nil

  57

  354

  1,758

  1990–91

  Nil

  17

  251

  1,161

  1 Television and Press advertising for the years 1979–85 cannot be readily separated.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80, and each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Figures for expenditure by the Department's information division, including staff and press cutting service, but excluding media advertising and promotional material, cannot readily be disaggregated for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88.

  Figures for the succeeding years are:

  £

  1988–89

  469,000

  1989–90

  487,000

  1990–91

  481,000

  Campaign

  Timing

  Companies

  Enterprise Wales

  Ongoing

  McCann Erickson Payne Golley/ Hall Harrison Cowley

  Road Safety

  Ongoing

  Dragon Advertising/Hall Harrison Cowley

  Drug and Alcohol Misuse

  Ongoing

  Hall Harrison Cowley

  Parents Charter

  Commenced 27 September 1991

  None commissioned by Welsh Office

  Patients Charter

  Commenced 28 October 1991

  None commissioned by Welsh Office

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Yes. Such direct marketing to date includes distribution of agricultural information to farmers, valleys promotional literature, community charge information and promotional material for the Enterprise Wales scheme.

  Infant Deaths
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be(a) the initial costs and (b) the annual running costs of confidential inquiries into stillbirths and infant deaths in Wales; and what additional funds he is making available to (i) the Welsh Office and (ii) health authorities to (a) set up and (b) run the inquiries.
  52
  Estimated expenditure for 1991–92 is in the region of £530,000. Budgets for 1992–93 have yet to be finalised.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and for each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Welsh Office does not plan to run any television campaigns.

  The Department will run five publicity campaigns in 1991–92 costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The confidential enquiry into stillbirths and infant deaths was announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 2 July 1991. Wales will take a full part in the enquiry.

  Heart Specialists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will indicate where in the health authorities of Wales there is a shortage of consultant heart specialists;

  (2) what steps he will take to eliminate the shortage of consultant heart specialists in order to reduce waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee advises the Department on the relative priority of consultant appointments and reflects in its recommendations any shortages identified by district health authorities.
  53
  The latest information shows no shortage in this speciality.

  Sports Clubs
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many non-profit making sports clubs in Wales applied for rate relief for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1991–92 and as a total over the same period; and how many of these clubs were granted rate relief of

  Number of applications

  Total number awarded relief

  Number of properties granted relief of up to:

  20 per cent.

  21–50 per cent.

  51–80 per cent.

  Over 80 per cent.

  1989–90

  Not known

  744

  19

  408

  156

  161

  1990–91

  756

  673

  105

  297

  80

  191

  Information for 1991–92 will not be available before September 1992.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any member of his Department's mess and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers (Pension Scheme)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to equalise female contributor survivor benefits within the teachers' superannuation pension scheme.

  Mr. Fallon
  With effect from 6 April 1988 widowers' pension benefits and associated benefits for children are payable in every case, subject to completion of the necessary qualifying period. Individual female teachers had the option at the time to elect to purchase service before 1988 for benefits if they so wished.

  Manchester Schools (Repairs)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further recent representations he has had about the urgency of the need for additional funding for repairs to Manchester's school buildings; what response he has made; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  I recently met an all-party delegation from Manchester city council to discuss its capital programme for 1992–93.

  I was able to allocate funds through the issue of a supplementary credit approval over and above Manchester's existing capital allocation for this year, to enable the LEA to start urgently needed work in two of its primary schools—Chapel Street and Charlestown. This will entail a total government commitment of some £6 million for an immediate start in 1991–92.

  Manchester's bid for 1992–93 is being considered in the normal way. Its allocation will be announced in December.
  54
  (a) 25 per cent. or under, (b) 25 to 50 per cent., (c) 50 to 65 per cent., (d) 65 to 90 per cent. and (e) 90 to 100 per cent.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested for the years 1979–80 to 1988–89 is not available. Information relating to discretionary rate relief for non-profit making clubs used for recreational purposes, including sporting organisations, for 1989–90 and 1990–91 is shown in the following table:

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Eggar
  No.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultation he has undertaken with those directly involved in educating adults, in relation to his White Paper proposals on adult education; and how many meetings have been held with adult educators.

  Mr. Eggar
  Among those my right hon. and learned Friend and I have met in this context are the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education, the National Federation of Women's Institutes, the Pre-Retirernent Association, and the principals of Devon community colleges and Richmond adult and community college.

  School Inspectors
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the procedure for the appointment of each of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools; what is the role of the Privy Council in such appointments; and by what procedure inspectors may be made redundant or otherwise have their employment terminated.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Her Majesty's inspectors are recruited by open competition after advertisements in the national and education press. The holder of my office recommends the names of prospective HMI through the Privy Council to Her Majesty the Queen. Any terminations of employment would be made in accordance with central guidance currently operating within the civil service.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Eggar
  The expenditure figures for press and publicity by this Department for the financial years
  55
  1984–85 to 1991–92 are given in the table. Figures for 1979–80 to 1983–84 are not available on a comparable basis. The figure for 1991–92 is estimated expenditure. The Government's expenditure plans for 1992–93 will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement. The Department does not incur expenditure on public relations.

  Year

  £000

  1984–85

  788·8

  1985–86

  1,026·3

  1986–87

  1,937·8

  1987–88

  2,313·6

  1988–89

  2,336·2

  1989–90

  2,596·0

  1990–91

  2,106·5

  11991–92

  4,881·0

  1Estimated.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend launched a teacher recruitment campaign on 1 July which included advertising on television for a period of three weeks and advertisements in the national press for four weeks. The second phase of this campaign began on 27 September and included advertisements in the national press for four weeks and in cinemas in selected towns for six alternating weeks. The campaign has been designed by Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising Ltd.

  The parents charter was launched on 27 September. Advertisements were scheduled to appear in national newspapers and women's magazines from 27 September until 31 October. In addition, it is planned to place some advertisements in the ethnic minority community press. The company involved is BMP DDB Needham.

  An exhibition to provide parents with information about recent changes in education will also be launched in the current financial year. HP:ICM has been commissioned to mount the exhibition which will visit a number of venues across the country. The timing and duration of this campaign has yet to be finalised.

  The professional, industrial and commercial updating (PICKUP) programme continues to support and encourage colleges, polytechnics and universities to improve and increase their provision to meet the training needs of employers and their employees. The Services to Business campaign, run as part of the PICKUP programme, is managed by Quadrangle Communications Ltd.
  56
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department has not sent unsolicited mail direct to members of the public. It is the practice of the Department, however, to send sample copies of publicity material for parents to libraries and to schools, offering the latter the opportunity to order additional stocks to distribute to pupils to give to their parents.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Eggar
  The expenditure figures for advertising and other promotional materials by this Department for the financial years 1979–80 to 1991–92 are given in the table. The figure for 1991–92 is estimated expenditure. The Government's expenditure plans for 1992–93 will be announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement. The rise in expenditure since 1989–90 is the result of the teachers recruitment campaign and the parents charter.

  Year

  Television

  Radio

  Newspaper

  Other

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  1979–80

  —

  —

  91·6

  12–2

  1980–81

  —

  —

  8·9

  58·3

  1981–82

  —

  —

  86·9

  49·9

  1982–83

  —

  —

  6·0

  33·7

  1983–84

  —

  —

  9·6

  74·9

  1984–85

  —

  —

  18·5

  150·6

  1985–86

  —

  —

  14·8

  184·1

  1986–87

  —

  —

  532·0

  533·0

  1987–88

  —

  —

  280·0

  1,459·0

  1988–89

  —

  40·0

  475·0

  1,156·0

  1989–90

  —

  11·8

  238·0

  1,150·0

  1990–91

  1,100·0

  97·0

  1,407·0

  1,916·0

  11991–92

  812·0

  —

  2,049·0

  4,081·0

  1 Estimated

  Education Spending
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a series going back to 1978–79 in(a) cash prices, (b) 1990–91 prices and (c) as a proportion of GDP, Government spending on education, sub-divided into primary, secondary and others both in total and divided into (i) capital spending, net and gross of receipts, and (ii) current.

  Mr. Fallon
  The available information on actual expenditure by the Department of Education and Science is shown in the tables. The records do not show a breakdown of expenditure between the primary and secondary schools sector. The figures for receipts appropriated in aid are aggregated for schools and other education and do not distinguish between capital and recurrent receipts.
  57

  Department of Education and Science: Expenditure

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Cash

  Schools

  capital

  16

  20

  22

  24

  22

  19

  25

  31

  27

  32

  57

  82

  115

  current

  24

  27

  26

  29

  29

  26

  44

  56

  62

  74

  84

  1102

  1128

  Other

  capital

  82

  108

  116

  121

  124

  122

  126

  138

  152

  151

  166

  2254

  2292

  current

  1,120

  1,360

  1,731

  1,900

  2,016

  2,151

  2,191

  2,217

  2,294

  2,606

  2,818

  24,074

  24,725

  Total

  1,242

  1,515

  1,895

  2,074

  2,191

  2,318

  2,386

  2,442

  2,535

  2,863

  3,125

  4,512

  5,260

  Receipts appropriated in aid

  9

  14

  2

  4

  4

  8

  9

  8

  10

  11

  12

  112

  115

  1990–91 prices

  Schools

  capital

  40

  43

  40

  40

  34

  28

  35

  42

  35

  39

  65

  88

  115

  current

  61

  58

  48

  48

  45

  27

  62

  75

  80

  91

  96

  110

  128

  Other

  capital

  207

  234

  212

  202

  193

  181

  178

  185

  197

  186

  190

  274

  292

  current

  2,825

  2,941

  3,163

  3,166

  3,136

  3,199

  3,101

  2,976

  2,976

  3,209

  3,230

  4,390

  4,725

  Total

  3,133

  3,277

  3,462

  3,456

  3,409

  3,447

  3,376

  3,278

  3,288

  3,526

  3,582

  4,862

  5,260

  Receipts

  23

  30

  4

  7

  6

  12

  13

  11

  13

  14

  14

  13

  15

  As a proportion of GDP

  Schools

  capital

  0·009

  0·010

  0·009

  0·009

  0·008

  0·006

  0·008

  0·009

  0·007

  0·008

  0·012

  0·016

  0·021

  current

  0·014

  0·013

  0·011

  0·011

  0·010

  0·009

  0·014

  0·016

  0·016

  0·017

  0·018

  0·020

  0·023

  Other

  capital

  0·048

  0·053

  0·050

  0·047

  0·044

  0·040

  0·039

  0·039

  0·040

  0·036

  0·035

  0·050

  0·053

  current

  0·656

  0·664

  0·741

  0·741

  0·719

  0·707

  0·672

  0·622

  0·598

  0·614

  0·597

  0·799

  0·864

  Total

  0·728

  0·739

  0·811

  0·809

  0·781

  0·762

  0·732

  0·685

  0·661

  0·675

  0·662

  0·885

  0·962

  1 Figures do not include annual maintenance grant to GM schools, recouped from LEAs. The cash figures for this were £15 million for 1989–90 and £59 million for 1990–91.

  2 Includes institutions transferred from LEA sector.

  Devonport Schools
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will approve immediately the proposal by Devon county council to reorganise Devonport schools in Plymouth by closing St. Peter's and designating Devonport secondary school as a Church-aided four-form entry comprehensive school for 11 to 16-year-olds.

  Mr. Fallon
  The proposals under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 to which my hon. Friend refers were published on 5 July and are currently before the Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend aims to reach decisions on such proposals within five months from the date of publication if possible.

  St. Anne's School, Rock Ferry
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will approve plans for St. Anne's primary school, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, which are now lodged with his Department.

  Mr. Fallon
  The capital plans put forward by local education authorities for 1992–93 are still under consideration and decisions will be announced in December.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.

  Mr. Eggar
  Since 11 July, the Department has not conducted any widespread public opinion surveys but has undertaken some market research.

  Reading Standards
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to respond to the third report, Session 1990–91, of the Education, Science and Arts Committee on standards of reading in primary schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have written today to the Chairman of the Select Committee, setting out the Government's response.

  The report is an important timely contribution to the current debate on reading standards in schools. Its conclusion that a fall in reading standards has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt provides no grounds for complacency. Rather it highlights the inadequacies of our present data, and the need for a reliable and consistent basis for the measurement of pupils' attainments. This is just what the national curriculum and the associated testing arrangements will provide.

  Reading is the most fundamental of skills and the Government are determined to ensure that standards are

  59
  improved in line with society's ever-more demanding needs for literacy. My response to the Select Committee sets out the steps we are taking to secure such improvements, notably through the implementation of the national curriculum which establishes clear national targets for pupils' reading across the full age range for compulsory education. Pupils' progress will be measured against those targets at the ages of seven, 11, 14 and 16. The results will help teachers to build up a detailed picture of each pupil's strengths and weaknesses to inform their teaching. They will also give parents the accurate information about their children's progress to which they are entitled under the parents charter. In aggregate they will in due course enable comparisons to be made of pupils' performance, for example, between the sexes, between local education authorities and between schools. I shall shortly publish an analysis of the results of the first tests of the performance of pupils at the age of seven.

  The recent changes that I have announced to the system of testing of seven-year olds will give more detailed information to parents and the public next year. Teachers will be required to make a more precise grading of the reading attainments of those seven-year olds—roughly half the age group in 1991—who were assessed as of average ability for their age. We shall also be introducing for the first time in 1992 an optional written test of reading comprehension which will likewise be aimed at pupils of average ability and yield a finer grading of their attainments.

  All schools should strive to match the standards of the best. The Government have taken a number of measures to promote good practice in the teaching of reading. HMI's findings on good practice based on a report produced last January have been circulated to schools, and discussed at regional conferences for LEA inspectors and advisers. HMI has also provided guidance for schools on how to improve their libraries. Substantial resources have been made available for books related to the national curriculum and the training of school library staff, as well as for in-service teacher training.

  Local education authorities should ensure that reading standards in their area are kept under review. The Government have urged all education committees to take an active and critical interest in this. The report rightly emphasises the importance of the active engagement of parents. Schools will be required to include in all reports the name of a contact with whom parents can discuss their children's progress. The Government are also supporting projects designed to strengthen home-school links, particularly in inner-city areas.

  Copies of the Government's response are being placed in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Nursery
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the dates during last Session on which the hon. Members' staff's union, the Transport and General Workers Union parliamentary branch, has been consulted about establishment of a nursery for their children; and if he has any plans to consult their union in the coming parliamentary year.
  60
  Mr. MacGregor
  In accordance with a decision on the Services Committee, no survey of potential demand will be undertaken until detailed advice is received on the feasibility of establishing a child care facility in the parliamentary estate.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made in the last Session towards establishment of a nursery for the children of hon. Members' staff.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 22 July 1991,Hansard, column 386. Possible suitable accommodation for a child care facility in advance of phase 2 is still being sought. This will be an early matter for consideration by the Accommodation and Works Committee as soon as it is established.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the number of applications received from businesses in the north-west region for regional selective assistance in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Leigh
  In the financial year 1990–91 my Department received 354 applications for assistance from businesses in the north-west region under the regional selective assistance scheme. Between 1 April 1991 and 31 October 1991 a further 280 applications were received from businesses in that region.

  Note: The north-west region includes the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Iancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside and the High Peak district of Derbyshire.

  Computers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will summarise the findings of his review of trade in computers; and what is his estimate of the percentage of exports imported in (i) the same form and (ii) after further processing in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This review has now been published and is available in the House of Commons Library, entitled "Broad Balance of Trade of Major Companies in the Electronics and Information Technology Sector". The further detailed information requested is not available, although the above review contains a reference to entrepot trade.

  Mountain Rescue Teams
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to clarify and safeguard the position of volunteer mountain rescue teams under the European Community draft directive on the liability of suppliers of services; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The present draft of the services liability directive excludes public safety services, and we are seeking to have this exemption extended to private sector safety services run on a voluntary basis.

  Post Office
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to remove the statutory exemption from liability for negligence from the Post Office.

  Mr. Leigh
  We have no present plans to do so. However, as we said in the citizens charter, we have asked the Post Office to carry out an urgent review of its redress schemes with POUNC, the statutory body representing the interests of all Post Office users. The review is looking at the scope of current compensation arrangements as well as at the levels of compensation offered.

  As also set out in the charter, it is our intention that in future the Secretary of State will have powers to approve the arrangements for redress where service fails to meet the reasonable expectations of the Post Office's customers.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will specify those transactions which are permitted in Post Office Counters Crown offices but not in privately owned sub-post offices or franchised outlets.

  Mr. Leigh
  The range of business transacted at Crown post offices and sub-post office agencies is an operational matter determined in negotiations between Post Office Counters Ltd. and each individual client.

  I understand that, with the exception of those located at international airports, sub-post office agencies do not issue British visitors passports; and that the issue of motor vehicle licences is carried out by 2,825 offices, both Crown and agency, at the request of DVLA. Other transactions available in Crown offices and some but not all agency offices are acceptance of datapost and the re-setting of franking machines. There is no change in the range of transactions carried out by Crown offices which have been converted to sub-post offices.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office Crown branch offices in(a) Britain and (b) south Wales are in each of the three categories A, B and C specified by Post Office Counters for (i) 1989 and (ii) projected by management for the end of 1992; and what is the proposed percentage change in each category.

  Mr. Leigh
  The numbers of Crown post offices in categories A, B, and C in(a) Britain and (b) south Wales counters district (B and C not separately identified) at 31 March 1989 were as follows:

  A

  B

  C

  Britain

  498

  552

  443

  South Wales

  20

  —35—

  An effect of the Crown conversion programme may be to change the percentage distribution of offices between these categories; in addition, the precise effect in any area will depend on negotiations with potential agency operators and the outcome of the local consultation procedure. It is therefore not possible to project numbers for the end of 1992.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department issues advice on care for domestic pets where fireworks are used; what 62
  information his Department has on the law relating to the sale of fireworks in other countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have been asked to reply.

  The main thrust of the Government's annual firework safety campaign is to publicise the firework code, which urges the public to keep pets indoors. The law on fireworks varies greatly in other countries.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Leigh
  I refer to the answers given to the hon. Member on 13 March 1990 (Official Report, column 172) and 30 April 1991 (column 127).

  The final outturn for 1990–91 and estimated expenditure in the current year are as follows:

  £000

  1990–91

  2,383

  1991–92

  2,410

  The figures include regional press officer and other support services. The budget for 1992–93 is not yet finalised.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by(a) the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) the Export Credits Guarantee Department, during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Department of Trade and Industry

  I refer to the answers given to the hon. Member on 1 July (Official Report, column 20), 12 July (column 523) and 17 July (column 180–81). The Department continues to have no plans for television advertising in the current year.

  (b) Export Credits Guarantee Department

  Television advertising campaigns in 1991–92: None. Other campaign:

  (i) Topic: ECGD's strength in Europe.

  (ii) Commenced: 22 April 1991.

  (iii) Duration: four weeks.

  (iv) Advertising agency: Leo Burnett.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total expenditure by the ECGD on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The response for the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 is contained in the Official Report for 3 May 1991, columns 364–65. The figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows:

  63

  Year

  £000

  1990–91

  1,067

  11991–92

  1,326

  1 Latest estimate.

  The budget for 1992–93 has still to be prepared.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department uses carefully targeted direct mail in support of a number of its objectives, including the stimulation of innovation, the promotion of exports and the provision of information to business about new methods, opportunities and management skills.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give separate figures for spending by the ECGD on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The response for the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 is contained in the Official Report for 8 May 1991, column 502. The figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows:

  Total

  Press advertising

  Other

  £000

  £000

  £000

  1990–91

  1,067

  692

  375

  11991–92

  1,326

  875

  451

  1 Latest estimate.

  No expenditure has been incurred on TV and radio advertising. The budget for 1992–93 has still to be prepared.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Leigh
  I refer to the answers given to the hon. Member on 13 March 1990 (Official Report, columns 173–74) and 29 April 1991 (column 55–56). Final outturn figures for expenditure from the Department's central publicity during 1990–91 were as follows:

  £000

  Television advertising

  3,938

  Radio advertising

  141

  Press advertising

  1,905

  Other promotional materials1

  3,778

  United Kingdom Exports 1980–89

  Beryllium 1

  Bismuth 2

  Volume (kg)

  Value (£k) Total

  of which to EC

  Volume (MT)

  Value (£k) Total

  of which to EC

  1980

  0

  0

  0

  289

  1,469

  …

  1981

  1,100

  11

  0

  298

  945

  …

  1982

  603

  3

  1

  292

  1,140

  …

  64
  1Publications, audio-visual materials and posters.

  I expect expenditure on such activities this year to be well within last year's total. Media allocations are made according to need during the course of the year, but the Department has no plans for television advertising this year.

  South Sefton Business Centre
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make an official visit to South Sefton business centre.

  Mr. Leigh
  I do not at present have any plans to visit the South Sefton business centre.

  Thomson Consumer Electronics
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department will offer to promote industrial activity(a) in the Gosport area in general and (b) at the Ferguson plant in particular in the light of the announcement by Thomson Consumer Electronics that it intends to close the Ferguson factory.

  Mr. Leigh
  The best way for the Government to support firms in the Gosport area is through its policies aimed at controlling inflation and encouraging sustained economic growth. Eligible firms there benefit from access to DTI schemes aimed at helping them to become more efficient, encouraging innovation and promoting exports. DTI's Invest in Britain Bureau and the English unit promote new direct investment by overseas firms to the United Kingdom. IBB can give individual inward investors information about locations where sites, premises and labour are readily available to meet their particular needs.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 12 July 1991.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department has carried out no general public opinion surveys in this period.

  Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the value and volume of exports in each year of the 1980's of(a) beryllium, (b) polonium and (c) bismuth, specifying in each case the countries stated as the destinations of the exports.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information is given in the table. Information on polonium is not available as it is not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics. To provide country details would involve disproportionate cost.
  65

  Beryllium 1

  Bismuth 2

  Volume (kg)

  Value (£k) Total

  of which to EC

  Volume (MT)

  Value (£k) Total

  of which to EC

  1983

  17,898

  23

  0

  310

  1,343

  …

  1984

  452

  33

  2

  292

  1,881

  …

  1985

  725

  44

  0

  …

  …

  …

  1986

  0

  0

  0

  …

  …

  …

  1987

  13

  4

  3

  …

  …

  …

  1988

  6

  3

  3

  566

  4,270

  2,109

  1989

  0

  0

  0

  413

  3,419

  2,135

  1 As defined by code 689.91 of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).

  2 As defined by SITC Code 689.92 for 1988–89 and Combined Nomenclature Code 810411 (part of SITC 689.99) for 1980–87. …= not available.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics

  Businesses, North-West
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentages of businesses in the north-west have reported a decline in sales over the last six months.

  Mr. Leigh
  Statistical information of this nature is not collected by my Department.

  Manufacturing Standards
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy for assisting British trade and professional organisations with travel and administration costs for meetings in connection with achieving Europeanwide standards of manufacture for 1993 onwards.

  Mr. Leigh
  We continue to make available through the British Standards Institution substantial financial support towards the travel costs of leaders of BSI delegations and of principal experts and other selected personnel attending standards meetings overseas.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Leigh
  No.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1991–92.

  Mr. Leigh
  British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1991–92 was set at £5·8 million as recorded in the Government's expenditure plans 1991–92 to 1993–94 published in February 1991. I am now able to announce a reduced EFL for 1991–92 of £3·6 million which amounts to a net improvement of £9·4 million. This is principally due to the release of the provision of legal fees totalling £6 million following the out-of-court settlement of the Scott Lithgow dispute in March 1991 and the deferred receipt of asset sales at North East Shipbuilders Ltd. (NESL) which included £2·075 million from the sale of Pallion, the only remaining NESL yard.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on Monday 4 November.

  Mr. Redwood
  The main item was a further discussion on the European Commission plans to apply "MAC" standards to direct-to-house satellite broadcasting. I continued to argue strongly for service provider freedom to follow their commercial judgment. Consumers should not have imposed on them the costs of these changes, especially where they do not derive benefits from new services on offer. I am pleased to say that opinion among EC states does seem to have shifted in this direction to some extent and I hope that the Commission's revised proposals, expected later this year, will show considerable improvement.

  The Council reached political agreement on a resolution on satellite communications, which envisages future liberalisation of that sector. A common position was reached on a Council directive on the application of open network provision to leased lines, which will facilitate future liberalisation of the European telecommunication services market. Agreement was also reached on a Council decision on the harmonisation of the international access code, subject to approval by the United Kingdom parliamentary scrutiny committees and the availability of the opinion by the European Parliament.

  The Commission announced that it hoped to produce a Green Paper on postal services for discussion at the next Telecommunications Council on 5 December 1991. The Commission also announced its intention to produce a Communication on a co-ordinated EC position for the world administrative radio conference (WARC), in February 1992. All member states agreed with the United Kingdom that CEPT should remain the principal European body dealing with international radio frequencies and that member states should where possible support the common CEPT proposals at WARC.

ENERGY

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No.

  Publicity
  M r. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested for 1989–90 and earlier years was contained in my reply to the hon. Member on 25 April,Official Report, col. 500. Expenditure in 1990–91, and estimated expenditure in 1991–92, is as follows:

  £'000

  1991–92

  1990–911

  Television Advertising

  —

  —

  Newspaper Advertising

  606

  559

  Radio Advertising

  —

  —

  Other Promotional Material

  900

  1,074

  1 Does not include expenditure on the privatisation of the Electricity Supply Industry.

  Decisions on expenditure by media in 1992–93 have not yet been taken.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Unsolicited direct mail has been used from time to time when it has been considered the best method of disseminating advice or information to specific audiences. A recent example was a mailing to head teachers of a booklet entitled "Energy Efficiency in Buildings—Schools".

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department has a continuing programme of publicity to promote energy efficiency, including a joint campaign with the Department of the Environment on the environment and home energy efficiency and the "Making a Corporate Commitment" campaign, the United Kingdom offshore supplies industry and renewable sources of energy. None of these campaigns will involve television advertising in the current year.

  The joint campaign which was launched on Monday 4 November and will run for three years is being handled by Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners Ltd., and Maxima. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage householders to make their homes more energy efficient.

  The "Making a Corporate Commitment" campaign was launched on 16 October 1991 and will run until 1992–93. The aim of the campaign is to encourage top management to make a corporate commitment to energy efficiency. The campaign is being handled by Laing Henry Ltd. and Network Ltd.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total expenditure by his Department on press 68
  and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The estimated expenditure in 1991–92 is £675,000. This figure includes:

  (i) forecast expenditure by the Press Office;

  (ii) staff costs (salaries, accommodation and common services) for all the permanent information service and support staff in the Press Office (including the Speech Writing Unit), at 1 November 1991.

  The corresponding expenditure for previous years was set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 30 April, Official Report, c. 107–8.

  Details of proposed expenditure for 1992–93 are not available.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Trawsfynydd Power Station
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the problems being encountered at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station and its future life expectancy.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 14 October, (col. 6). I understand that Nuclear Electric plc's interim safety case for the restart of Trawsfynydd remains the subject of discussions between it and the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  Nuclear Material (Reprocessing)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement outlining the sequence of events leading to Her Majesty's Government offering to accept nuclear material from Iraq for reprocessing in Scotland; what offers of assistance in dealing with the material have been forthcoming from other countries; and what is the current position regarding the possible importation of the materials.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Following an approach from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Government indicated that facilities at Dounreay would be available if required for making safe certain nuclear materials which will be removed from Iraq in accordance with Security Council resolution 687. The IAEA requested tenders for this work and an alliance of British and French companies submitted bids. It will be for the agency to assess these and any other offers received on technical and economic grounds.

EMPLOYMENT

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give separate figures for spending by the Training Agency or Manpower Services Commission
  69
  on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d)other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  TV (£)

  Radio (£)

  Press (£)

  Other (£)

  Total (£)

  Actual

  1979–80

  N.A.

  N.A.

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  424,102

  4,127

  2,496,440

  2,588,540

  5,513,209

  1981–82

  —

  62,896

  1,814,935

  2,784,279

  4,662,110

  1982–83

  —

  89,654

  2,984,230

  3,222,031

  6,295,915

  1983–84

  1,479,748

  17,434

  764,409

  2,670,666

  4,932,257

  1984–85

  944,975

  3,477

  717,057

  4,473,283

  6,138,792

  1985–86

  9,676,257

  311,537

  1,867,286

  5,111,180

  16,966,260

  1986–87

  15,624,000

  258,631

  6,927,370

  12,124,000

  34,934,001

  1987–88

  17,321,000

  26,841

  6,950,159

  11,647,000

  35,945,000

  1988–89

  12,569,000

  —

  5,502,000

  12,449,000

  30,520,000

  1989–90

  8,610,000

  56,000

  6,164,000

  12,485,000

  27,315,000

  1990–91

  6,115,000

  —

  3,803,000

  9,912,000

  19,830,000

  All the figures refer only to expenditure by the former Manpower Services Commission, Training Commission and Training Agency. Following the abolition of the Training Agency, from 1991–92 the Department's advertising and publicity budget is held centrally.

  The total budget for 1991–92 (excluding HSE and ACAS) is £18·41 million. Estimate of the breakdown by media is as follows:

  TV (£)

  Press (£)

  Others (£)

  Total (£)

  8,594,000

  1,166,000

  8,650,000

  18,410,000

  (c) Expenditure levels for 1992–93 are in the process of being set.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Forth
  (a) Expenditure on advertising and promotional material by the Department of Employment from 1979–80 to 1985–86 was as follows:

  £

  1979–80

  70,000

  1980–81

  320,000

  1981–82

  400,000

  1982–83

  360,000

  1983–84

  500,000

  1984–85

  320,000

  1985–86

  1,220,000

  Figures for television, radio and newspaper advertising and other promotional material are not available separately.

  The figures for 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 are as follows:

  Television

  Press/Radio

  Other Promotional

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  1986–87

  9·3

  3·0

  4·1

  1987–88

  3·3

  0·8

  2·8

  1988–89

  2·1

  2·3

  1·3

  1989–90

  0·9

  0·9

  1·2

  1990–91

  n/a

  0·5

  2·4

  70
  Mr. Forth
  (a) The information requested is given in the table:

  (b)From 1991–92 the Department's advertising and publicity budget has been held centrally. Details of expenditure for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93 are being provided for the hon. Member in a reply to a separate question.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Year

  Expenditure

  £ million

  Actual

  1979–80 to 1985–86

  n/a

  1986–87

  1·080

  1987–88

  1·014

  1988–89

  3·185

  1989–90

  3·331

  1990–91

  3·507

  Estimated

  1991–92

  3·870

  Figures for 1986–87 and 1987–88 are for Department of Employment information division only. Figures for TA are not available.

  Figures for 1988–89 represent total expenditure separately incurred by DE information division and TA information services branch; the two merged to form DE information branch in November 1989. Figures for 1990–91 onwards represent expenditure by the DE information branch.

  Expenditure levels for 1992–93 are in the process of being set.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by(a) the Department of Employment and (b) the Training Agency during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.
  71
  Mr. Forth
  Two television advertising campaigns have been carried out for the Department so far in 1991–92, for TECs and for Just the Job. No further television advertising is planned by the Department during the remainder of the financial year. The Training Agency is now part of the Department.

  Topic

  Start Date

  Duration

  Company

  Career Development Loans Press

  July 1991

  3 months

  1GGT

  Jobclub Press

  Late 1991

  3 months

  2DMB&B

  Job Review Workshops Press

  Early 1992

  1–2 months

  DMB&B

  National Training Awards Press

  March 1991

  3 months

  GGT

  National Training Awards Press

  December 1991

  4 days

  GGT

  High Technology National Training Press

  April 1991

  1 month

  GGT

  High Technology National Training Press

  September 1991

  2 weeks

  GGT

  Just the Job Press

  September 1991

  2 months

  DMB&B

  TECs Press

  April 1991

  2 months

  GGT

  Investors in People Press

  October 1991

  1 month

  GGT

  1Gold Greenlees Trott.

  2D'Arcy Masius Benton and Bowles.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether(a) the Department of Employment and (b) the Training Agency or Manpower Services Commission have sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Forth
  Direct mail containing information about the national training awards was sent to senior figures in British industry as part of the March to May 1991 campaign to encourage entries for the awards.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will consider seeking derogations from the EC proposals for limiting working hours of employees for seasonal agricultural activities;

  (2) if he will consider seeking derogations from the EC proposals for limiting working hours of employees for food manufacturing dependent on shift, night and weekend work;

  (3) what derogations are currently being considered in the discussions with his EC counterparts on the proposals for limiting working hours of employees.

  Mr. Forth
  In discussions on the draft directive it has been proposed that member states should be able to make derogations from the main requirements of the draft directive in a number of circumstances. These include activities where the workplace is at a distance from the worker's place of residence; activities where continuity of production or service is necessary; unforeseen exceptional circumstances which are limited in time and predictable peaks of work such as in agriculture. In all such cases employees must be afforded equivalent periods of compensatory rest, or, where this is not possible, other forms of equivalent protection. The Government consider the draft directive unnecessary and unjustified, but will continue to seek to limit the damaging effects of the directive, if adopted, on all employers and employees in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current position regarding EC proposals for limiting working hours of employees.

  Mr. Forth
  A draft directive on the organisation of working time was proposed by the European Commission
  72
  Other publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 carried out or planned during 1991–92 are set out in the table:

  under its social action programme in July 1990. It is under discussion in the Council. Various amendments have been proposed by other member states in discussions, including a limit of 48 hours on the working week and a requirement for the weekly rest period in principle to include Sunday.

  The Government question the need for this proposed directive, which would have a damaging effect on the flexibility of firms in the United Kingdom and throughout the EC, increasing their costs and prejudicing their competitiveness. Hours of work are best decided between employers and employees. The Government did not consider the Commission's original proposals justified as minimum requirements for the protection of the health and safety of workers. The Government strongly question the justification for further restrictions on weekly hours and Sunday work.

  Earnings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the average weekly earnings of(a) a male manual worker, (b) a female manual worker, (c) a male non-manual worker and (d) a female non-manual worker.

  Mr. Forth
  The available information for April 1991 is published in part A of the 1991 New Earnings Survey report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Unemployment Benefits
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the number of benefit staff units dealing with unemployment benefit claims in each of the Employment Service administrative regions, (b) the number of unemployed people claiming benefit in each of the administrative regions and (c) the benefit staff unit to claimant ratio in each of the administrative regions as at 1 March 1990, September 1990 and September 1991.

  Mr. Forth
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department's various research branches do not commission public opinion surveys as such. However, they carry out research projects on a variety of employment-related issues which involve surveys of individuals. Listed are those research studies, commissioned or partly funded by the Employment Department Group—ED, Employment Service, Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service—which have involved surveys of individuals commissioned since 11 July 1991.

  Abolition of the Dock Labour Scheme

  Top Managers Views of the ED Group

  A Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications

  Customer Satisfaction Survey

  New Clients Survey

  Job Link

  Restart Courses Follow-Up

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to increase the supply of qualified tradesmen, including mechanics and engineers, to small businesses located in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The primary responsibility for training lies with employers, who must recognise that investment in training is essential to ensure the success of their business. This is just as relevant for all businesses, large or small, wherever they are based.

  The Government are supporting and encouraging the efforts of employers in a number of ways. In particular, the employer-led training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies have been charged with helping to ensure that local people develop the skills that businesses need. They also have particular responsibility for promoting the growth of small firms.

  Employer-led industry training organisations also have a key role at industry level to develop strategies to meet the needs of particular industries and to work with TECS and LECS to encourage effective training.

  Central European Time
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the benefits to the tourism industry of moving the United Kingdom into central European time.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department contributed towards the costs of the work leading to the Policy Studies Institute report "Making The Most Of Daylight Hours", published 74
  in 1988. This report concluded that the adoption of single/double summer time would bring a number of likely benefits to the tourism industry.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Forth
  No.

  Commission-only Work
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number and percentage of commission-only jobs available at jobcentres on the most recent date for which information is available; if he will outline the procedures for clients viewing commission-only jobs; and if he will list the occupations likely to be offered on a commission-only basis.

  Mr. Forth
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables to show for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, the latest results of the YTS leavers survey, to show for male and female trainees and for each separate ethnic group and for those with a disability(a) those in full-time work with the same employer, (b) those in full-time work with a different employer, (c) those in part-time work, (d) those on a full-time course at a college or training centre, (e) those on another YTS, (f) those doing something else, (g) those who were unemployed, (h) those who had obtained a vocational qualification, (i) the number of questionnaires issued, (j) the usable percentage response rate and (k) the percentage of respondents who were early leavers; what were the numbers of accidents on YTS, fatal, major and minor, for the latest available three-month period; and how many YTS placements were closed or not accepted in that period and in the three preceding months.

  Mr. Forth
  The complete information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Table 1 provides information about the situation of young people three months after leaving youth training in the period April 1990 to September 1990. Table 2 provides separate figures on the numbers of accidents for the period April 1991 to June 1991. Separate figures for closures and rejections of YT placements are no longer available.
  75

  Table 1

  Youth Training Outcomes April—September 1990: All Leavers

  GB1

  Scotland

  Northern

  Y&H

  North West

  West Midlands

  Wales

  South West

  South East

  London

  East Midlands and Anglia

  Number of returned questionnaires

  78,489

  10,827

  6,112

  9,114

  10,597

  8,460

  4,502

  5,599

  5,414

  2,252

  10,886

  GB1

  Scotland

  Northern

  Y&H

  North West

  West Midlands

  Wales

  South West

  South East

  London

  East Midlands and Anglia

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  In jobs at time of survey2

  65

  61

  55

  63

  62

  67

  61

  71

  71

  61

  70

  In jobs, YT or another full-time course at time of survey2

  80

  78

  74

  79

  78

  82

  76

  83

  83

  75

  83

  Gained qualification

  47

  47

  42

  43

  45

  49

  41

  57

  56

  40

  49

  Source: YT National Follow-up-Survey.

  1 Includes some trainees not identified to a particular region.

  2 Activity 3 months after leaving.

  Youth training accident statistics April 1991—June 1991

  Fatal

  Major

  Minor

  West Midlands

  0

  10

  49

  East Midlands and Eastern

  0

  6

  24

  London

  0

  3

  12

  South East

  0

  8

  22

  South West

  0

  5

  14

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  0

  11

  47

  Northern

  0

  8

  67

  Wales

  0

  8

  34

  North West

  0

  18

  52

  Scotland

  0

  11

  32

  National

  0

  87

  353

  (a) Employment Department figures have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the Employment Department's figures include a number of accidents to trainees in educational establishments and road traffic accidents which would not have been reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals been employed.

  (b) Major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. These regualtions which came into force on 1 April 1986 reclassified fractured wrists and ankles as major injuries which were not considered to be major under the previous regulations, the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR).

  Public Expenditure
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish updated versions of tables 6.5 and 6.6 of chapter 6 of the 1990–91 to 1992–93 public expenditure White Paper (Cm 1006) extending the series published there up to date.
  76
  Mr. Forth
  Tables 6.5 and 6.6 of chapter 6 of the 1990–91 to 1992–93 Public Expenditure White Paper were published in an amended form as tables 6.6 and 6.8 of the 1991 departmental report.

  It was necessary to change the format as TECs have taken over delivery of the youth training and employment training programmes. Entrant numbers and target outcomes for all these programmes will be negotiated with all 82 TECs in January, and TEC business plans will be agreed at the beginning of the financial year, after publication of the departmental report at the beginning of the year. The national aggregate of individual TEC targets will be announced to Parliament following completion of the negotiations with all the TECs.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the total cost to United Kingdom consumer/taxpayers of direct and indirect support to farmers and horticulturalists.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost per adult in the United Kingdom of the common agricultural policy for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Curry
  The CAP system of agricultural support, in common with the support policies of other industrial countries, gives rise to substantial costs to taxpayers and consumers compared with a situation in which foodstuffs were imported at world market prices with no support to domestic producers. Estimates of these costs, and the savings that could be secured if current policies were
  77
  ended, are possible only by making many assumptions. Important judgments are necessary about the current levels of world prices—no simple matter given the wide variations in quotations and substantial fluctuations from year to year—and the changes in these prices if present policies were abandoned. The latter depend on how producers and consumers throughout the world might respond to the new circumstances and on the impact on factors such as exchange rates.

  Estimates made by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, using a particular set of assumptions, imply that the transfers from consumers and taxpayers in 1990 resulting from agricultural policies in the European Community as a whole—separate figures for the United Kingdom are not available—were equivalent to £4·4 per head of total population per week. It is not meaningful to express this per adult. This figure is derived from the OECD estimate of the aggregate cost of 105·1 billion ecu for 1990, assuming the EC12 population is 327·1 million and that 1 ecu = £0·7139. Corresponding estimates can be derived from OECD studies for 1986 to 1989 as follows, expressed per head per week: 1986, £4·0; 1987, £4·4; 1988, £4·0; 1989, £3·7. Consistently based estimates for earlier years have not been published.

  The figure for 1990 is one estimate of the extent to which the CAP raised the cost of food and agricultural products, and incurs budgetary costs, compared to existing "world" prices. As I have emphasised on a number of occasions, and as the OECD has made clear, the estimate takes no account of the effect that removal of farm support would have on world prices, and other variables, and thus gives no indication of the extent to which taxpayers and consumers might be better off if current policies were removed. Consumers/taxpayers would benefit by considerably less than £4·4 per head per week if all agricultural support were removed.

  "Our Farming Future"
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to consult outside organisations prior to publishing his policy document "Our Farming Future"; and whether it will be a consultation document.

  Mr. Gummer
  "Our Farming Future" will be a policy statement by the Government, not a consultation document. Consequently we have not consulted outside organisations specifically in its preparation although our regular meetings with consumers, farmers, environmental organisations, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have enforced our policies.

  Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are ready to consider industry proposals for decommissioning provided that these form part of a wider conservation package aimed at reducing fishing effort.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

  Agricultural Marketing
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations that his Ministry funded that promoted the marketing of agricultural produce giving the amount funded in each case in(a) 1980 and (b) 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department contributes to a number of bodies concerned with marketing.

  These contributions and the purposes concerned are shown for 1990–91 in respect of the main bodies. Information for 1980 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Food From Britain

  £4·5 million to cover establishment costs and some marketing activities.

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  £240,000 to cover salaries and related costs.

  Home-Grown Cereals Authority

  £115,000 towards administrative expenses.

  Potato Marketing Board

  £300,000 for the provision of statistical information.

  Healthy Eating
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his catering working group expects to publish a report and make recommendations on healthy eating in different catering establishments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The group is conducting a review and will report to the MAFF/DH/HEA nutrition liaison group as and when it is appropriate to do so.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.

  Mr. Curry
  Public opinion surveys carried out by my Department since 11 July are as follows:Food Sense Publications Campaign: pre-campaign market research.
  MAFF Touring Exhibition: post-project evaluation research.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Curry
  Expenditure by the Department in the financial year 1982–83 and each subsequent year was as follows:
  79

  Television

  Radio

  Press advertising

  Other publicity material

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1982–83

  Nil

  Nil

  3,000

  n/a

  1983–84

  Nil

  Nil

  27,000

  n/a

  1984–85

  Nil

  Nil

  26,000

  575,000

  1985–86

  Nil

  Nil

  29,000

  656,000

  1986–87

  Nil

  Nil

  54,000

  825,000

  1987–88

  Nil

  Nil

  12,000

  693,000

  1988–89

  Nil

  Nil

  380,000

  1,004,000

  1989–90

  Nil

  Nil

  116,000

  2,373,000

  1990–91

  Nil

  Nil

  53,000

  2,379,000

  11991–92

  157,000

  Nil

  108,000

  4,135,000

  1 Forecast.

  Figures for publicity advertising prior to 1982–83 are not available as the information for those years includes recruitment and other types of advertising. Information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in newspapers and that in the press generally.

  Separate figures for expenditure on other publicity material prior to 1984–85 are available only at disproportionate cost. A figure for the overall publicity budget for 1992–93 is not yet available.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Curry
  Publicising the new "Food Sense" series of publications, launched in August this year, will include limited regional TV advertising in 1991–92. The production has been undertaken by Coleman RSCG, who were commissioned by the Central Office of Information.

  A touring exhibition carried consumer information, on a wide range of food safety and environmental issues, to major shopping centres and agricultural shows between May and October this year. The exhibition was produced by Interactive Learning Productions of Newcastle upon Tyne.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Curry
  The information required for the financial years 1979–80 to 1983–84 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The figures for the subsequent years are as follows:—

  Year

  Television advertising

  Radio advertising

  Newspaper advertising

  Other promotional material

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1,620

  1,629

  1983–84

  96

  13

  2,182

  1,698

  1984–85

  147

  154

  3,153

  2,133

  80

  £ million

  1984–85

  3·2

  1985–86

  3·5

  1986–87

  3·0

  1987–88

  0·6

  1988–89

  0·8

  1989–90

  1·1

  1990–91

  0·5

  1991–92

  0·5

  Figures for the years 1984–85 to 1986–87 refer to the total cost of press services and paid publicity which could be separated to show expenditure on press services only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 1987–88 to 1991–92 relate to press services alone. The budget for press services for 1992–93 is not yet available.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

  Catering Working Group
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the different types of catering establishments that are being considered by his catering working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The group is considering ways of increasing the provision of healthier food in all types of catering outlets.

SCOTLAND

  Sports Clubs (Rate Relief)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-profit making sports clubs in Scotland applied for rate relief for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1991–92 and as a total over the same period; and how many of these clubs were granted rate relief of(a) 25 per cent. or under, (b) 25 to 50 per cent., (c) 50 to 65 per cent., (d) 65 to 90 per cent. and (e) 90 to 100 per cent.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give separate figures for spending by the Scottish Development Agency on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information is set out in the table.
  81

  Year

  Television advertising

  Radio advertising

  Newspaper advertising

  Other promotional material

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  1985–86

  253

  16

  2,553

  1,738

  1986–87

  152

  5

  1,860

  1,339

  1987–88

  201

  9

  1,708

  822

  1988–89

  —

  —

  1,430

  1,877

  1989–90

  —

  —

  1,513

  1,550

  1990–91

  —

  —

  1,592

  1,433

  The information for 1979–80 to 1981–82 cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. The Scottish Development Agency, along with the activity of the Training Agency in Scotland, was replaced by Scottish Enterprise on 1 April 1991.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give separate figures for the spending by the Forestry Commission on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 May 1991, at column 537. The estimate for the current year is £260,000. No figure is available at this stage for 1992–93.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure by the Forestry Commission on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 May 1991, columns 346–47. The estimate for the current year is £2 million. No figure is available at this stage for 1992–93.

  Mar Lodge
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to bring Mar Lodge estate into public ownership.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Our objective is to enable Scottish Natural Heritage to negotiate a management agreement with the new owner of Mar Lodge estate, whoever that may be, which will safeguard the conservation and other qualities of the estate.

  Foresterhill Hospital
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy not to allow Foresterhill hospital, Aberdeen, to opt out of local health board control.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The application for NHS trust status submitted on behalf of the Foresterhill group of hospitals will be considered against the published criteria.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.
  82
  Mr. Lang
  No.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many first-time voters appeared on the electoral register(a) in each Scottish constituency and (b) in the whole of Scotland in each year since 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the number of those attaining the age of 18 and appearing on the electoral register in Scotland for the first time, by parliamentary constituency and in total, is contained in the annual series "Electoral Statistics" compiled by OPCS. Copies are available in the House Library.

  Dunoon General Hospital
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the future of Dunoon general hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This is a matter for Argyll and Clyde health board, but any changes proposed by the board would require the consent of the Secretary of State.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No.

  Income Support
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he expects to change entitlement from income support to family credit as a result of the Income Support (General Amendment) Regulations, S.I., 1991, No. 1559.

  Mr. Jack
  We estimate that around 45,000 families on income support and working over 16 hours a week will become eligible for family credit in April 1992.

  In the longer term we expect the reduction in the qualifying hours rule to attract many more people who are on income support into work and on to family credit.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of pensioners claim income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are about 1·4 million pensioners claiming income support, some 14 per cent. of all pensioners.

  Source: 1990 Annual Statistical Inquiry.
  83
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the categories of income support claimants(a) who have to sign on as unemployed, be available for work and be actively seeking work and (b) who do not; and if he will give in table form the numbers and the percentages of total income support claimants in each case.

  Mr. Jack
  All claimants who are not specifically exempt from the availability for work and actively seeking work requirements must satisfy these conditions in order to be entitled to income support.

  The circumstances in which exemptions apply are set out in schedule 1 to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987.

  Detailed information on the number of IS claimants taking advantage of each of the exemptions is not available. However, the following table gives a general breakdown of claimant categories, based on entitlement to IS premiums, as at May 1990.

  IS claimants by category

  Category

  Number

  Percentage

  Unemployed and required to sign

  1,063,053

  25

  Not required to sign

  In receipt of training allowance

  125,075

  3

  Lone parents

  793,099

  19

  In receipt of disability premium

  330,076

  8

  Aged 60 or over

  1,674,714

  40

  Other cases

  193,883

  5

  Total

  4,179,900

  100

  Note:

  The table is based on information contained in table 3.1 of the "IS Annual Enquiry" for May 1990 which categories IS claimants by premium entitlement.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of how many additional pensioners in receipt of the retirement pension will be eligible for income support as a consequence of the income support level being higher than the retirement pension as a result of his uprating statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is estimated that around 400,000 people may become eligible to claim income support following the proposed uprating of benefits in April 1992. The majority of these are likely to be benefit units where one or more members is aged 60 or over, although it is difficult to be precise about the proportion, which is extremely sensitive to assumptions used in the estimating model.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986–87–88 Family Expenditure Surveys at 1992 prices.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the number of people on transitional protection in April 1991.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is estimated that, immediately after the uprating in April 1991, 25,000 income support claimants were receiving a transitional addition.1 It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of income support claimants who were then receiving a boarder's protected sum. At that time housing benefit transitional protection payments were being made to 21,000 people.

  1 Source: Based on modelling using date drawn from the May 1990 Annual Statistical Enquiry of Income Support recipients.
  84
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women and how many men were in receipt of each of the premia paid with income support, listed separately, at the latest date for which information is available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information for May 1990, the latest date for which it is available, is as follows:

  Single

  Couples

  Premium

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Higher pensioner

  86,946

  490,815

  102,324

  8,186

  Enhanced pensioner

  38,039

  238,755

  35,418

  1,792

  Pensioner

  90,767

  307,342

  94,929

  2,987

  Severe disability

  10,485

  50,713

  1,095

  100

  Disability

  108,127

  145,774

  68,585

  8,491

  Lone parent

  34,119

  759,180

  199

  —

  Disabled child

  698

  10,683

  5,995

  399

  Family premium

  38,113

  777,460

  317,725

  10,796

  Notes:

  (1) There is free choice of claimant between couples; either may claim. Classification by sex denotes the sex of the claimant, and does not identify which partner qualifies for the premium.

  (2) Figures show the number of premiums in payment; a case may have more than one premium.

  (3) The carer premium, introduced in October 1990, is not included.

  (4) Source: Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry 1990.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effects on incentives to work of the Income Support (General Amendment) Regulations S.I., 1991, No. 1559 for people who receive income support for mortgage interest payments.

  Mr. Jack
  The change in the hours rule will mean that 30,000 families with children who are receiving income support and working between 16 and 24 hours a week—some of whom pay mortgage interest—will be better off by claiming family credit.

  There will be some people working between 16 and 24 hours a week and receiving income support at the time of the change who will either not be eligible to claim family credit or will not be better off by doing so. These will include some with mortgages. They can continue to claim income support and their work incentives will not therefore be affected.

  Benefits Uprating
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give precise details of the calculation he made before uprating means-tested benefits by 7 per cent. rather than 7·2 per cent. for April 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The new index to be used in April 1992 differs from its predecessor in that water and sewerage charges, 20 per cent. of the community charge and miscellaneous housing costs—dwelling insurance and ground rent, repair and maintenance charges, do-it-yourself materials—will be included. Rent and mortgage interest remain wholly excluded. The new index shows a rise of 7 per cent. in September 1991 compared with its level in September 1990.

  Marginal Tax Rate
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the marginal tax rate incurred by a combination of income tax, national insurance, housing
  85
  benefit rent withdrawal taper and the community charge benefit withdrawal taper in 1990; and what is the contribution of each of these to the total.

  Mr. Jack
  The marginal deduction rate for a person paying standard rate income tax, national insurance and receiving both a rent rebate and community charge benefit as from April is 87 per cent.

  The marginal deduction rate on total gross pay for each element is:

  Per cent.

  Tax

  25

  NI

  9

  Housing Benefit

  43

  Community Charge Benefit

  10

  Widows
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of widows aged under 60 years in receipt of (1) widow's pension,(a) full and (b) reduced, and (2) widowed mother's allowance also claim (i) income support, (ii) family credit and (iii) housing benefit.

  Table 1

  Single pensioners

  Averages of income components by quintile

  (per week, 1988 prices)

  Total benefits

  Occupational pensions

  Investment income

  Earnings

  Total gross

  Total net

  1st Quintile

  43·60

  1·10

  2·90

  0·10

  47·80

  46·40

  2nd Quintile

  51·00

  2·90

  3·40

  0·40

  57·70

  56·80

  3rd Quintile

  57·80

  5·80

  3·30

  0·50

  67·50

  66·40

  4th Quintile

  55·00

  18·10

  11·10

  2·30

  86·60

  81·30

  5th Quintile

  49·90

  64·00

  56·00

  16·90

  186·70

  155·30

  Overall

  51·80

  16·50

  13·70

  3·50

  85·50

  78·50

  Table 2

  Single pensioners

  Proportion of average gross income derived from each component, by quintile

  (per cent.)

  Total benefits

  Occupational pensions

  Investment income

  Earnings

  Total gross

  1st Quintile

  91

  2

  6

  *

  100

  2nd Quintile

  88

  5

  6

  1

  100

  3rd Quintile

  86

  9

  5

  1

  100

  4th Quintile

  63

  21

  13

  3

  100

  5th Quintile

  27

  34

  30

  9

  100

  Overall

  61

  19

  16

  4

  100

  Table 3

  Pensioner couples

  Averages of income components by quintile

  (per week, 1988 prices,

  Total benefits

  Occupational pensions

  Investment income

  Earnings

  Total gross

  Total net

  1st quintile

  71·30

  3·70

  5·00

  1·10

  81·00

  78·80

  2nd quintile

  80·30

  10·20

  6·20

  1·30

  98·00

  96·30

  3rd quintile

  81·30

  22·80

  9·70

  2·90

  116·80

  111·90

  4th quintile

  77·60

  42·80

  19·80

  13·30

  153·40

  141·70

  5th quintile

  69·50

  12·400

  89·80

  64·90

  348·20

  286·60

  Overall

  75·20

  45·80

  30·20

  19·90

  171·20

  151·90

  86
  Miss Widdecombe
  It is not possible to answer all the question. The most recent available data on widows' benefits are for March 1990 and for income support and housing benefit, May 1990. These two data sources have been combined to provide estimates of the proportion of those on widows' benefits on other benefits. Statistically valid figures of the number of widows receiving both widows' benefits and family credit are not available. A total of 18,000 or 6 per cent. of those in receipt of widow's pension and 6,000 or 9 per cent. of those in receipt of widowed mother's allowance were also in receipt of income support. A further 24,000, or 7 per cent., of those in receipt of either widow's pension or widowed mother's allowance also received housing benefit.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the composition of income for single pensioners and pensioner couples by quintile of income, using the 1988 family expenditure survey, broken down by average gross weekly income, and the proportion derived from social security benefits, occupational pensions, savings and investment and earnings.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is in the tables.
  87

  Table 4

  Pensioner couples

  Proportion of average gross income derived from each component, by quintile

  (per cent.)

  Total benefits

  Occupational pensions

  Investment income

  Earnings

  Total gross

  1st quintile

  88

  5

  6

  1

  100

  2nd quintile

  82

  10

  6

  1

  100

  3rd quintile

  70

  20

  8

  3

  100

  4th quintile

  51

  28

  13

  9

  100

  5th quintile

  20

  36

  26

  19

  100

  Overall

  44

  27

  18

  12

  100

  Notes:

  1. Source: 1988 Family Expenditure Survey.

  2. Quintiles used are of net equivalised income gross of housing costs.

  3. Quintile groups used are for all pensioners, rather than for singles and couples separately.

  4. Pensioners are defined as single people over state pension age, or couples in which the man is over pension age.

  5. Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding.

  6. All averages in Tables 1 and 3 are means.

  '*' denotes a figure of less than 0·5 per cent.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he is taking to notify those pensioners who qualify for income support as a result of his uprating statement that they now have rights to this additional entitlement, and the consequent passported benefits;

  (2) what steps he is taking to inform and assist local authorities to ensure that all those individuals entitled to additional benefits, including housing benefit, community charge benefit and other passported benefits, arising from pensioners becoming entitled to income support, are notified of their rights by local authorities.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department has written to the local authority associations to tell them that we shall issue a circular asking local authorities to bring to the attention of pensioners receiving the maximum rate of community charge benefit that they might become entitled to income support when benefits are uprated next April.

  We are considering what further steps, through the Benefits Agency or otherwise, can be taken to bring the possibility of new or renewed entitlement to income support for pensioners arising from the uprating.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners received income support and/or housing benefit to top up retirement pension reduced following a stay in hospital of more than six weeks in 1990–91; and what was the cost.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The annual statistical inquiry for 1990 did not reveal any such cases. The inquiry is based on a 1 per cent. sample of all cases.

  Number of claimants, partners and dependants

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Claimants

  2,854,664

  3,117,774

  3,722,563

  4,266,531

  4,349,192

  4,609,310

  —

  4,937,736

  4,895,525

  4,351,520

  4,160,765

  4,179,906

  Partners

  560,871

  620,752

  848,726

  1,010,205

  1,020,610

  1,086,318

  —

  1,126,654

  1,073,579

  841,018

  723,770

  691,157

  Dependants

  954,705

  1,124,718

  1,550,168

  1,792,958

  1,867,840

  2,032,992

  —

  2,226,548

  2,235,824

  2,195,454

  2,138,404

  2,151,159

  Total

  4,370,240

  4,863,244

  6,121,457

  7,069,694

  7,237,642

  7,728,620

  —

  8,290,938

  8,204,928

  7,387,992

  7,022,939

  7,022,222

  Source: Annual Statistical Enquiries

  Eating-out Allowance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of the boarders' eating-out allowance in its final year of operation; how many households received it; and how many individuals received it.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No data are available on either cost or the number of boarders receiving an additional allowance for meals.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of claimants and their dependants living below the supplementary benefit and income support line in each year since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Numbers of individuals and their dependants with incomes below supplementary benefit levels for the years 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985, are held in the low income family tables, copies of which are available in the Library. In October 1990, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published data for 1987. This is the latest available information as these tables are no longer published. Any further figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of claimants and their dependants on supplementary benefit and income support for each year since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This information is published annually in the supplementary benefits or income support statistics. Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the gross additional cost of increasing the period from six to 12 weeks would be before cutting the retirement pension of pensioners who become in-patients; and what the cost would be net of other benefit savings.

  (2) how many (a) retirement pensioners and (b) dependants of retirement pensioners had their retirement pension reduced after staying in hospital for more than six weeks in 1990–91;

  (3) what was the net saving to his Department in 1990–91 from reducing retirement pensions to pensioners or their dependants who became hospital in-patients for in excess of six weeks.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested. Statistics show the percentage rate by which the pension is reduced rather when it is reduced. Furthermore, data on the number of pensioners whose pensions have been reduced is available only on the basis of the number of reductions being made at specified dates during the year—31 March and 30 September. Separate information on dependants of retirement pensioners is not collected.

  At 30 September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of pensioners whose retirement pensions were being reduced as a result of receiving in-patient treatment under the national health service was 55,700.

  Staff Health
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations which were invited to tender for the health checks on his Department's staff aged 35 years or over.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Disclosure of the names of the organisations invited to tender for these health checks could cause commercial damage to the unsuccessful tenderers and jeopardise the Department's future relationship with its suppliers.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) who paid for distribution of the leaflet informing his Department's staff of the health checks on those aged 35 years or over; and what was the cost;

  (2) who paid for the leaflet informing his Department's staff of the health checks on those aged 35 years and over; and what was the cost.

  Income Support

  Year

  Unemployed

  As proportion of all claimants receiving help with mortgages Per cent.

  As proportion of all unemployed claimants Per cent.

  Lone Parents

  As proportion of all claimants receiving help with mortgages Per cent.

  1987

  207,000

  28

  12

  74,000

  10

  1988

  114,000

  38

  8

  62,000

  21

  1989

  88,000

  31

  8

  67,000

  24

  Source:Annual Statistical Enquiries.

  Notes:Figures for numbers of claimants are rounded to the nearest 1,000

  Mr. G. P. Simmons
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that Mr. G. P. Simmons of 13 Hartley street, Bethnal Green, London E2 ON R receives a
  90
  Miss Widdecombe
  The cost of the production and distribution of publicity material was included in the tender and formed an integral part of the contract. This element of the work was not costed separately.

  Severe Disability Premium
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals will be prevented from claiming severe disability premium by the proposed change to regulation 3 of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987; and what saving the Department expects.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The amendment regulation restores the policy intention that the severe disability premium goes to people who live alone or with others on a commercial basis. The number of people who might have tried to establish a commercial relationship with members of their family who are close relatives, but for the amendment regulation, is not known. No savings are anticipated; the amendment avoids unplanned expenditure. Further, the amendment regulations contain preserved rights to the premium, at a cost of £5 million.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claim the severe disability premium on income support by having tenancy agreements with their families; how much it would cost to continue to allow such claims; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested. An estimated 3,000 people may be receiving the premium, or have taken steps to obtain it, on the grounds that since April 1988 they have become joint tenants or co-owners with close relatives with whom they live. The regulations laid on 21 October 1991 provide preserved rights to the premium for this group at an estimated cost of £5 million.

  Mortgage Assistance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the comparable figures to those contained in his answer of 22 October,Official Report, columns 577–78, for 1987, 1988 and 1989; and if he will give unemployed claimants receiving mortgage assistance as a proportion of unemployed claimants.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is given in the table:

  pension book this week plus a Girocheque for any money owed since his book was returned to the Bawhill office in July 1991.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief
  91
  executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners retiring in each of the past 11 years have retired with an occupational pension.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Such information as is available is given in the table. The definition of newly retired pensioners is the one normally used when quoting figures from the Family Expenditure Survey: single women aged 60–64, single men aged 65–69 and couples where the man is aged 65–69, in each respective year.

  Proportion of Newly-retired Pensioner Units in receipt of an Occupational Pension, by Year.

  Percentage in receipt

  1979

  50

  1980

  56

  1981

  54

  1982

  61

  1983

  57

  1984

  55

  1985

  60

  1986

  63

  1987

  64

  1988

  62

  Notes:

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

  2. Pensioner units defined as single people of pensionable age or couples in which the man is of pensionable age.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer,Official Report, 27 March 1990, columns 161–63, concerning pensioners with occupational pensions using the 1988 Family Expenditure Survey.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table.

  Table 2: Pensioners with occupational pensions

  Proportion with occupational pension (per cent)

  Mean amount received (£ per week)

  Median amount received (£ per week)

  All pensioners

  51

  54·10

  27·20

  Single male pensioners

  52

  44·80

  26·40

  Single female pensioners

  37

  38·10

  21·00

  Pensioner couples

  67

  68·00

  33·90

  Single women 75 or over

  33

  32·70

  18·40

  Single men 75 or over

  49

  47·30

  29·60

  Couples where at least one partner is 75 or over

  61

  59·70

  23·20

  Notes:

  1. Source: 1988 Family Expenditure Survey.

  2. All figures refer to pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person of pensionable age or a couple in which the man is of pensionable age.

  3. £s per week at 1988 prices.

  4. Mean and median amounts are for those pensioners actually in receipt of occupational pensions.

  Unemployment
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the full cost to his Department of every extra 100,000 unemployed people in(a) 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is in table 24 of the departmental report, "Social Security—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94" (Cm. 1514), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  Public opinion surveys carried out by the Department of Social Security since 11 July 1991 are listed in the table.

  Survey

  Purpose

  1. National Customer Survey

  Continuing evaluation of customer opinion of benefits delivery by local and central offices of the Benefits Agency.

  2. Family Credit Campaign Evaluation

  A continuing evaluation of the campaign. Surveys conducted in August and October.

  3. Child Support Agency

  Target market study.

  Mrs. Teresa Byrne
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that Mrs. Teresa Byrne of 46 Linden place, Bispham, Blackpool FY2 0QY, who was widowed on 30 October 1990, receives a pension book in the next week.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that an invalidity pension order book was sent to Mrs. Byrne on 1 November 1991.

  SERPS
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to quantify the contribution of the state earnings-related pension scheme to pensioners' incomes derived from(a) social security benefit and (b) occupational pensions in each year since 1978–79.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Administrative data on the average amount of additional pension (SERPS) has been collected since 1978–79, but this is not linked to data on other incomes apart from retirement pension and other benefits paid with it. Questions were added to the 1987 and subsequent annual family expenditure surveys asking for information on the amount of net additional pension (SERPS) paid to each individual and their contracted-out deductions to try to expand the details available on pensioners' incomes. So far, the proportion of those pensioners able to respond accurately to these questions does not appear to be sufficient to estimate the contribution of SERPS to pensioners' total incomes. There is no way of discovering this contribution in any earlier years.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the additional administrative cost of(a) introducing a two-tier child benefit in April 1991 and (b) making a half-year increase in child benefit in October; and what was the yearly cost difference between paying a flat rate child benefit to every child and a two-tier benefit.

  Mr. Jack
  The administration of child benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Benefit Offices
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claim offices were closed to the public at any time during the past year during official opening hours because they were becoming overcrowded or because staff were over-pressed; which offices closed; and for how many days.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Sickness Benefit
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last reviewed eligibility to sickness benefit for a person with an untreatable condition and incapable of work within the first six months of the benefit period who wishes to travel abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The special conditions for eligibility to sickness benefit for a person going abroad are contained in regulation 2 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations 1975. These conditions, along with all the other conditions for eligibility to sickness benefit, whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, are kept under constant review. We have no plans to amend these regulations.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of district offices in which women fleeing domestic violence are classified as a high, medium and low priority, respectively, for the purpose of community care grants paid under the social fund.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Each district manager constructs his guidance, taking into account guidance issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and a variety of local factors. This specific grouping may not always occur within the high priority band of a district's guidance because of the need to ensure payment for even more needy cases. However, all the circumstances of an application will still be considered and discretion can be used to raise the priority of an individual application, allowing a payment to be made.

  Social Fund Loans
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of districts are now paying social fund loans only where there is considered to be serious risk to health and safety.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Student Refugees
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what financial support is available from his Department to a student with refugee status who is barred from taking paid work but unable to claim income support or housing benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand that students with refugee status are not barred from taking up paid employment. The social security system is not intended to support students, who should look to the educational maintenance system for any necessary financial support.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue guidance to area social fund officers reminding them that their guidance on community care grants should specify the priority of needs.

  Mr. Scott
  We are currently considering the need for extending and amending existing guidance. I will write to the hon. Member with details of any action that we decide to take.

  Lower-paid Families
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the numbers of lower-paid families with and without children, whose marginal tax rates including benefit withdrawal will be(a) 90 to 100 per cent., (b) 80 to 90 per cent., (c) 70 to 80 per cent., (d) 60 to 70 per cent., (e) 50 to 60 per cent. and (f) 40 to 50 per cent., taking into account the tax changes for 1991–92.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Marginal Deduction Rates Including Social Security Numbers with marginal deduction rates within each range (thousands) Great Britain

  Per Cent.

  Families with children

  Others

  190 to 99

  50

  0

  80 to 89

  130

  15

  70 to 79

  140

  50

  60 to 69

  0

  5

  50 to 59

  0

  0

  40 to 49

  5

  15

  Figures are based on pooled Family Expenditure Survey data.

  Calculated for benefit units in receipt of income-related benefits where at least one partner works 24 hours per week or more.

  1 There are no families facing marginal deduction rates of 100 per cent. or more.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances payments of income support for mortgage interest are made to the mortgagee rather than the mortgagor.

  Mr. Scott
  Income support for mortgage interest may be paid direct where such payments are in the interest of the mortgagor and his family. To strengthen these arrangements we shall in future be asking all claimants with mortgages to provide evidence of the state of their loan account at the outset of their claim, and annually thereafter. This will enable the Department quickly to identify people who have arrears and for whom direct payment to the lender will be appropriate. We expect to have the new administrative arrangements in operation before the new year.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Test Sites
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his most recent assessment of radioactive surface contamination through venting and cratering at the Nevada nuclear bomb test site.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle) on 29 October 1990,Official Report, column 416.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the talks at his Department with the delegation of aboriginals from South Australia on 30 October about compensation for the effects of British nuclear tests at Maralinga.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A delegation representing the Maralinga aborigine population met my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces and senior officials on 30 October. They presented their views on the further rehabilitation of the former nuclear test sites at Maralinga and Emu field, and on the question of compensation for any remaining restrictions on access that might remain once any rehabilitation is complete. Both sides found the meetings useful.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The earliest year for which figures are available is 1982–83. Figures for period 1982–83 to 1990–91 are as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  5·1

  1983–84

  6·3

  1984–85

  6·8

  1985–86

  6·7

  1986–87

  7·3

  1987–88

  7·0

  1988–89

  7·1

  96

  £ million

  1989–90

  8·0

  1990–91

  8·4

  The estimated expenditure figure for 1991–92 is £9·0 million and for 1992–93 £9·5 million.

  The figures provided include staff costs and expenditure on films, exhibitions, publications and equipment.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Service Accommodation
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the working party report on service accommodation requirements.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The Government's conclusions on the recommendations of the task force on service housing will be made public by announcements in the usual way.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service married quarters he plans to make available for purchase by members of the armed forces; and where they are located.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All surplus married quarters which are suitable for individual sale are normally offered for sale to service personnel through the services' discount scheme in the first instance. Those currently being offered for sale include properties in Exmouth, Devizes, Kirkudbright, Edinburgh, Barton Stacey, Gosport, Peterhead, Ripon, Lower Quinton, Uckfield, Southend, Chatham, Forres, Ely, Folkestone, Portsmouth and Plymouth.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discount will be offered to service personnel wishing to buy their service married quarters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Service personnel purchasing surplus married quarters through the services' discount scheme are given a 30 per cent. discount.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service married quarters are currently vacant; and where they are located.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 30 September 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,834 service married quarters were vacant.

  The regional breakdown is as follows:

  Region

  Total vacant

  Northern

  98

  Yorkshire

  731

  East Midlands

  745

  East Anglia

  622

  South East

  3,604

  South West

  1,659

  West Midlands

  289

  North West

  121

  Wales

  273

  97

  Region

  Total vacant

  Scotland

  1,191

  Northern Ireland

  501

  Total

  9,834

  Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major works or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly, and others were being considered for disposal. In addition, 1,613 houses were in the process of being sold.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether service personnel leaving the armed forces will have the same right to purchase their service married quarters as those continuing in the services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Service personnel in general do not have a right to purchase their service married quarters. There is, however, a scheme under which service personnel may apply to purchase surplus vacant married quarters at a discount. We are examining the scope for giving personnel who will be made redundant a degree of priority under this discount scheme.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of service personnel are married; and what proportion live in service married quarters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Approximately 52 per cent. of service personnel are married and approximately 20 per cent. of service personnel live in service married quarters.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service married quarters he is planning to make available to housing associations; for how long they will be made available; whether the housing associations will be charged; and where the properties are located.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Discussions with housing associations are continuing. It is too soon to provide details of any scheme that may be adopted.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Gordon Highlanders
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the White Paper proposals concerning the Gordon Highlanders.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement during the debate on the Address on 1 November 1991,Official Report, column 186.

  Worcester and Sherwood Foresters
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the absence without leave since 4 October of Private Patrick Callaghan of Tylder road, Worksop and Private Byron Dent of Kilburn 98
  road, Belper now stationed in the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters at Lichfield following their allegations of brutality by non-commissioned officers while stationed in Cyprus this summer; if he will ensure that any disciplinary hearings and sentence will be made in this country and that they will not be sent back to Cyprus.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The two soldiers are no longer absent. The special investigation branch of the Royal Military Police is undertaking a full investigation into the allegations of bullying they have made.

  Bullying is not tolerated in the Army, and anyone found responsible for such behaviour will be appropriately disciplined. Any charges that may follow from the SIB investigation will be dealt with in Cyprus, and the two soldiers may have to return there to give evidence.

  Charges arising from the soldiers' absence will also be dealt with in Cyprus, and their attendance will be necessary. With regard to future postings, as soldiers must be available for duty anywhere in the world, I cannot give the undertaking sought.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Tom King
  No.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which financial institution his Department has arranged the provision of mortgages for service personnel; at what rates will the mortgage be offered; and whether they will be made available to service personnel leaving the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The company concerned has asked that such details are not made public.

  Merchant Ships (Emergency Use)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy for having available a pool of British registered merchant ships for emergency defence use.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Current policy for providing merchant ships for defence purposes during crisis and war is to charter commercially on the open market or, where this is not possible, to requisition ships on the British register.

  Thames House, Millbank
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Government Departments' workers will be located, and what work will be carried out, at Thames house, Millbank, which is currently being refurbished.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Staff will be moved into Thames house from a number of buildings currently occupied. Details will not be finalised for some time yet.

  WEU Satellite Centre
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that the proposed Western European Union ground sector data management sector is based in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The UK is one of three countries to have bid for the location of the proposed WEU satellite centre. All three bids are currently under consideration and await the decision of WEU Ministers on 18 November.

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has of the financial difficulties being experienced by trust hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All the NHS trusts submit details of their financial performance to the NHS management executive on a quarterly or monthly basis. The returns received to date indicate that all trusts are planning to meet their financial duties this year.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his estimate of the start-up cost for each of the first and second wave hospital trusts; and which budget has met this cost in each instance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A sum of £190,000 was allocated for each trust in the first wave and £15,000 towards conveyancing costs. A similar figure will be allocated to the second wave of trusts. This is a top-sliced budget to support expenses arising from the reforms and is a non-recurring revenue addition paid to regions to help cover expenditure incurred by trusts during their shadow running period.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trust boards are without female representation; and if he will list them.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the female trust chief executives and the trusts they manage.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The appointment of the chief executive and other executive directors is a matter for the NHS trust board. The hon. Member may wish to contact the individual NHS trust boards for this information.

  Immunisation and Smear Testing
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will report on the extent to which doctors in the Northern health region have achieved the targets for immunisation and smear testing.

  Mr. Dorrell
  At 1 October 1990, the latest figures available, 74 per cent. of GPs in the Northern regional health authority area had achieved the higher target level for immunisations and 20 per cent. had achieved the lower target level. The corresponding figures for cervical cytology targets were 72 per cent. and 27 per cent. I congratulate all those involved in this splendid achievement.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the percentage increase in the NHS prescription charge, since May 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The figure is 1,600 per cent.

  Care of the Elderly
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the number of beds for the continuing care of the elderly in 1979 and currently.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The average daily number of available geriatric beds in national health service hospitals in England fell from 55,000 in 1979 to 49,000 in 1989–90—the latest figures available. These figures include all beds under the supervision of a geriatric consultant; beds for long-stay patients are not separately identified.

  In the same period, the numbers of elderly patients treated rose from 243,000 to 447,000.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the patients charter will affect health care for patients.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The key aim of the charter is to improve the service provided to patients. Patients will be clear what their rights are under the national health service. They will know the standards of service they can expect to receive and what to do and who to contact if standards of service do not meet expectations. They will also be encouraged to give their views on services to help the NHS to do even better in the future.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to meet representatives of health authorities to discuss waiting lists.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I meet representatives of health authorities regularly to discuss a whole range of NHS issues.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how the length of time for waiting lists is to be calculated.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Waiting time is calculated from the date on which a patient's name is added to a waiting list for in-patient or day case treatment by a hospital doctor.

  Under the patients charter, from 1 April 1992, all patients—except for special cases—are to be guaranteed admission within two years from the date on which their name is added to the waiting list. Health authorities will also set local charter standards on waiting times for first out-patient appointments.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is proposing to provide patients with more information about waiting times for treatment at hospitals before they undergo the initial consultation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The patients charter, published last week, sets out a new right for patients to be
  101
  given detailed information on local health services, including waiting times for treatment. From 1 April 1992, health authorities must provide information about waiting times for in-patient, day case and out-patient treatment by hospital, specialty and individual consultant, set out in a standard way. Health authorities will also set and publicise local charter standards on waiting times for first out-patient appointments.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioners became budget holders on 1 April.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A total of 1,720 general practitioners became budget holders on 1 April in England. This represents 6·8 per cent. of the total number of GPs in England.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners' practices are interested in acquiring fund-holding status from April 1992.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House on 13 March that 306 GP practices in England became fund holders this year. It is anticipated that a similar number will acquire fund-holding status from April 1992.

  Cardiologists
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will obtain a copy of the review into cardiology staffing published jointly by the British Cardiac Society and Royal College of Physicians; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that each district is served by a full-time cardiologist.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We received the report on 29 October. Its implications are being considered.

  Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Liverpool
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the proposed reorganisation of the gynaecology and obstetrics service in Liverpool.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received a letter from the hon. Member about the £16 million development proposed for the new women's hospital that will bring together at last in one place all the services for women and expectant mothers in Liverpool.

  GP Earnings
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the average current earning levels of general practitioners.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  From 1 December 1991, general practitioners are intended to earn, on average, £37,975 per annum. In 1988–89, the latest year for which actual earnings are known, general practitioners earned, on average, £28,979.

  Dorset Health Authorities
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the real level of resources available to(a) West Dorset and (b) East Dorset district health authorities in 1979 and currently.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Total revenue expenditure by Dorset health authority for the financial year 1979–80 equates to some £116,807,000 at 1990–91 prices.

  The total revenue expenditure by the successor East and West Dorset health authorities in the financial year 1990–91 was £165,860,000.

  These figures represent an increase in real terms of some 30 per cent.

  NHS Trusts, Essex
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards self-governing trust status for hospitals in Mid-Essex.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am happy to report that the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS trust was established on 1 November and will become fully operational on 1 April 1992. The unit has an excellent record and I am sure that it will use its new freedoms to bring even greater benefits to its patients.

  NHS Public Finance
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of expenditure by the NHS is raised by public finance in 1991–92, and what was the comparable figure in 1978–79.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is estimated that public expenditure will account for 94·3 per cent. of NHS expenditure in England this year. The comparable figure for 1978–79 was 97·5 per cent.

  Manchester NHS Trust
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the financial viability of Manchester Central Hospitals and Community Care NHS Trust in Manchester.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Manchester Central Hospitals and Community Care NHS trust was financially viable when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State established it last year and continues to be so.

  Stillbirths
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, for the most recent year, the percentage of birthweights under 1500g and the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates for babies whose mothers(a) delivered at a domestic address and originally intended to do so, (b) originally intended to deliver in a national health service hospital but delivered at a domestic address as a result of circumstances which occurred unintentionally during labour, (c) originally intended to deliver at a domestic address but delivered in a national health service hospital as a result of a decision made during labour for clinical or other reasons or (d) delivered in a national health service hospital and originally intended to do so.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not available. Data relating to maternity episodes are
  103
  collected via the hospital episode statistics—HES—system which will in future years provide some of this information. HES data for 1989–90, the latest year currently available, are not of sufficient quality to allow analysis at this level of detail.

  Midwifery
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to include basic and post-basic midwifery education within the terms of reference for the special investigation into how London's health care should be planned in the 1990s.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Sir Bernard Tomlinson, who has been appointed to advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the development of London health services, has been given a wide-ranging remit to look at the provision of health care, the organisation and provision of undergraduate medical teaching, postgraduate medical education and research and development. If, in the course of his investigation, issues arise which have implications for midwifery education, he would be free to offer advice on this area.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the concern expressed in the eighth report of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors and Professions allied to Medicine Review Body with regard to regional discrepancies in the allocation of clinical grades to posts, particularly in midwifery, is being addressed in his Department's evidence to the forthcoming review body report.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are aware of the concerns expressed by the review body in its eighth report about the outcome of the clinical grading review. The Health Departments' evidence to the review body is not published.

  Hospital Closures
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by national health service region for each of the last five years the number of national health service maternity beds which have been lost to the service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is contained in "Summary of Bed Availability—England" a copy of which is available in the Library. This includes the numbers of NHS maternity beds and the annual average percentage change in each region from 1984 to 1989–90.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has used direct mail to every household to inform the public about AIDS and the NHS reforms. A summary of the patients charter will shortly be issued to each household.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.
  104
  Mr. Dorrell
  Information for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 is not available in the form requested.

  The Department's budget for communications and publicity includes provision for nurse recruitment, blood donor recruitment and drug misuse campaigns. The other information is set out in the table.

  £ million

  Expenditure for 1988–89 is as follows

  Television

  1·662

  Radio

  0·205

  Newspaper

  1·196

  Other Material

  7·736

  Expenditure for 1989–90 is as follows:

  Television

  3·549

  Radio

  0·127

  Newspaper

  2·258

  Other Material

  10·828

  Expenditure for 1990–91 is as follows:

  Television

  1·900

  Radio

  0·005

  Newspaper

  2·739

  Other Material

  16·845

  Estimated expenditure for 1991–92 is as follows:

  Television

  3·200

  Radio

  0

  Newspaper

  2·030

  Other Material

  18·853

  The budget for communications and publicity for 1992–93 has yet to be decided.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 1 July at column 54, 10 July at column 414 and 11 July at column 459. In addition to that information, other campaigns for 1991–92 costing more than £100,000 are:

  Advice to elderly people

  —commencing shortly and will be ongoing.

  The Patient's Charter

  —commenced October and will continue to January 1992.

  The only additional major company involved is Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  Television advertising is currently being used for the nursing campaign and will be used in early 1992 for the solvent misuse campaign.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Functions that are commonly associated with press and public relations are carried out by the Department's information division. Manpower and running costs of this division are:
  105

  £million

  1989–90 Expenditure

  0·890

  1990–91 Expenditure

  1·250

  1991–92 Expenditure1

  1·540

  1 Estimated.

  Information for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 is not available in the form requested. Budgets for 1992–93 have yet to be decided.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department first approved the practice of using a macerator to dispose of the bodies of aborted unborn babies into the sewage system.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This method has been used in a small number of private sector approved places since the early 1970s.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the methods of disposal of the bodies of unborn babies by private clinics licensed to perform abortions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is one of the conditions of approval of private sector places under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 that the method of foetal disposal is agreed by the Department and that no change is made without prior consultation.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions and for what reasons his Department has withheld approval of the use of a macerator to dispose of the bodies of aborted unborn babies.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None. The use of maceration following termination of pregnancy will not be approved in future.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement regarding the disposal of the bodies of unborn babies following abortion.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Incineration is the preferred method of disposal following termination of pregnancy.

  Sugar
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those diseases, ailments or other disorders, other than tooth decay, recognised by his Department as being solely or primarily caused by consumption of sugar.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy—COMA—in its 1989 report "Dietary Sugars and Human Disease", identified the consumption of non-milk extrinsic sugars or NMEs, principally sucrose, as the primary cause of tooth decay. It found insufficient evidence to identify dietary sugars as either the sole or primary cause of any other disease or disorder. However, it recommended that intakes of sucrose in excess of about 200g per day should be avoided, since this may be associated in normal adults with elevations of blood cholesterol, glucose and insulin concentrations. It also recommended restriction of intakes of NMEs in the obese and those becoming obese.

  COMA further advised that people with diabetes or hypertriglyceridaemia should restrict their intake of
  106
  NMEs to less than about 25g to 50g per day, unless otherwise instructed by their own physician or dietitian. It also recommended the intensification of research into links between sucrose intake and colo-rectal cancer, renal and biliary calculi and Crohn's Disease as evidence in these areas is inadequate to justify any general dietary recommendations.

  COMA's report, "Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom", published in July of this year, endorsed the findings of the 1989 report. Both reports are available in the Library.

  Birth Statistics
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region the number of babies that were born in 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The number of live births occurring in each regional health authority in England and Wales in 1990 is given in the table.

  Regional Health Authorities

  Total live births

  Northern

  40,446

  Yorkshire

  51,084

  Trent

  59,399

  East Anglian

  28,206

  North West Thames

  47,332

  North East Thames

  60,536

  South East Thames

  51,168

  South West Thames

  38,183

  Wessex

  38,137

  Oxford

  36,211

  South Western

  40,464

  West Midlands

  76,103

  Mersey

  33,008

  North Western

  60,447

  Wales

  37,193

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region(a) the number of babies born weighing less than 1500g and (b) the proportion of births under 1500g in 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The number of low birth weight babies under 1500g, and the proportion of births under 1500g, by regional health authority, in 1990, is as follows:

  RHA by residence of mother

  Total births Under 1500g

  Proportion under 1500g per 100 1 total births

  Northern

  408

  1·0

  Yorkshire

  541

  1·1

  Trent

  723

  1·1

  East Anglian

  231

  0·9

  North East Thames

  596

  1·0

  North West Thames

  540

  1·1

  South East Thames

  542

  1·0

  South West Thames

  397

  1·0

  Wessex

  400

  1·0

  Oxford

  320

  0·9

  South Western

  384

  0·9

  West Midlands

  904

  1·2

  Mersey

  352

  1·0

  North Western

  676

  1·1

  Wales

  371

  1·0

  1 Live and stillbirths.

  107
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region(a) the number of low birth weight babies, under 2500g, and (b) the proportion of births under 2500g in 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The number of low birth weight babies under 2500g, and the proportion of births under 2500g, by regional health authority, in 1990 is as follows:

  Regional health authority by residence of mother

  Total births under 2500 g

  Proportion under 2500 g per 100 total births

  Northern

  2,795

  6·8

  Yorkshire

  3,660

  7·1

  Trent

  4,666

  7·3

  East Anglian

  1,596

  6·0

  North East Thames

  3,956

  6·8

  North West Thames

  3,425

  6·7

  South East Thames

  3,437

  6·6

  South West Thames

  2,461

  6·1

  Wessex

  2,499

  6·5

  Oxford

  2,298

  6·3

  RHA by residence

  Perinatal deaths

  Neonatal deaths

  Postneonatal deaths

  number

  rate

  number

  rate

  number

  rate

  Northern

  322

  7·9

  174

  4·3

  148

  3·6

  Yorkshire

  410

  8·0

  267

  5·2

  200

  3·9

  Trent

  538

  8·4

  307

  4·8

  189

  3·0

  East Anglian

  157

  5·9

  84

  3·2

  99

  3·7

  North West Thames

  380

  7·4

  214

  4·2

  135

  3·0

  North East Thames

  503

  8·6

  240

  4·1

  163

  2·8

  South East Thames

  430

  8·2

  234

  4·5

  189

  3·6

  South West Thames

  282

  7·0

  174

  4·3

  101

  2·5

  Wessex

  271

  7·0

  141

  3·7

  131

  3·4

  Oxford

  299

  8·2

  157

  4·3

  107

  2·9

  South Western

  292

  8·1

  163

  4·0

  118

  2·9

  West Midlands

  771

  10·2

  473

  6·3

  271

  3·6

  Mersey

  268

  7·9

  149

  4·4

  107

  3·2

  North Western

  527

  8·9

  275

  4·7

  228

  3·9

  Wales

  290

  7·4

  152

  3·9

  116

  3·0

  Perinatal mortality: stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life. Rates per 1,000 live and still births.

  Neonatal mortality: deaths in the first 28 days of life. Rates per 1,000 live births.

  Postneonatal deaths: deaths at ages 28 days and over but under one year. Rates per 1,000 live births.

  Aromatherapists
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of unqualified aromatherapists practising in England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a licensing system for practitioners of herbal medicine, aromatherapy and other forms of alternative or complementary medicine.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no such plans.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information readily available relates to the register of surveys maintained by the Central Statistical Office. Titles of surveys carried out since 11 July are as follows:

  Public perception of family doctor services.

  Anti-Drugs Misuse Campaign 1991–92: Strategy.

  108

  Regional health authority by residence of mother

  Total births under 2500 g

  Proportion under 2500 g per 100 total births

  South Western

  2,460

  6·0

  West Midlands

  5,631

  7·5

  Mersey

  2,165

  6·4

  North Western

  4,435

  7·5

  Wales

  2,432

  6·2

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region(a) the number and rates of perinatal deaths, (b) the number and rates of neonatal deaths and (c) the number and rate of post neonatal deaths in 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The numbers and rates of perinatal, neonatal and post neonatal deaths for each regional health authority in 1990 are as follows:

  Clinical Waste (Disposal)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to regional health authorities and district health authorities with regard to the upgrading of existing facilities for the disposal of clinical waste, following the removal of Crown immunity from hospitals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Guidance, under cover of an executive letter ELM(91)M/1, was issued to the NHS on 20 March 1991 in a document entitled "Strategic Guide for Waste Management", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the recommendation to mothers on whether to lie babies down to sleep on back, front or side in the "Pregnancy Book" issued to all mothers(a) in the version issued in 1990, (b) as revised in 1991, (c) as reprinted in 1991 and (d) as intended now; and how many copies of it were printed for distribution;

  (2) what steps he is taking to inform health care professionals, doctors, midwives, and maternity homes of how to advise mothers on avoiding cot deaths;
  109
  (3) when his Department was informed about the New Zealand research and the factors associated with cot deaths; what steps he then took to assess that research; and what other action was taken.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as is available as soon as possible.

  Criminal Justice
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been given to the national steering group on social service departments' role in the Criminal Justice Act on the need for an early report; and what studies are being conducted into the resource implications.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The first meeting of the national steering group is to be held on 8 November. A detailed timetable for the production of an action plan will be considered at that meeting. Members are aware of the need to complete their work by the time the main provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 are implemented in October 1992. Part of the group's remit will be to make an assessment of the additional resources required to enable the practice of remanding juveniles to penal establishments to be abolished.

  Adoption
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the difficulties facing social workers undertaking inquiries into the proposed adoption of children brought into the United Kingdom from other countries; and what guidance has been issued by his Department on procedures to be followed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As part of its responsibilities for liaising with local authority social services departments on all child care matters, the Department's social services inspectorate is in contact with local authorities on intercountry adoption. The inspectorate is available to advise on intercountry adoption in general and on any particular matters of difficulty.

  Detailed guidance on intercountry adoption is contained in letters CI(90)17 and CI(91)14 issued by the chief inspector of the social services inspectorate to directors of social services in England. Copies of which are available in the Library.

  South Yorkshire Ambulance Service
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the hospitals offered in the consultations on the application of the South Yorkshire ambulance service for trust status expressed opposition or criticism of the proposal.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The public consultation exercise was organised by Trent regional health authority; the results are available from the authority.

  Health Authorities
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region(a) the total number of health authority members and (b) the number of female health authority members.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Each regional health authority has five non-executive members. The number of female members in each is as follows:110

  Number

  Northern

  1

  Yorkshire

  1

  Trent

  1

  East Anglian

  2

  North West Thames

  2

  North East Thames

  2

  South East Thames

  1

  South West Thames

  2

  Wessex

  3

  Oxford

  1

  South Western

  1

  West Midlands

  1

  Mersey

  1

  North Western

  1

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region(a) the number of health authorities without female representation and (b) the district health authorities without female representation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information about the number of district health authority members who are female is not collected centrally. The appointment of district health authority members is the responsibility of regional health authorities.

  Hospital Social Workers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of recent changes in the national health service, including the creation of hospital trusts, for the roles and responsibilities of hospital social workers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The NHS reforms have not changed the collaborative arrangements whereby local authorities provide social work services to the NHS without charge or the responsibilities of the individual social workers concerned. Local authority circular LAC(91)14 issued in October 1991 made this clear; a copy of the circular is available in the Library.

  Press and Publicity Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No.

  Dentures
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sets of complete upper and lower synthetic dentures were supplied under the national health service during the financial years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1988–89 there were 439,630 sets of complete upper and lower synthetic dentures provided under the national health service in England. The figure for 1989–90 was 345,430. The figure for 1990–91 is not yet available. The decline in numbers is likely to continue as people retain their natural teeth for longer.

  Lowermoor (Pollution)
  Sir Gerrard Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received the report of the Lowermoor incident health advisory group of their assessment of reports on the health effects on people resident in the Lowermoor distribution area at the time of the pollution incident in 1987 which have become available since the group reported in July 1989; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am pleased to say that the Lowermoor incident health advisory group has completed its report following careful assessment and evaluation of all available information. It has consulted extremely widely on all the matters before it. Its report is being published today, and I am placing copies in the Library.

  The group has concluded that the research reported to it does not provide convincing evidence that harmful accumulation of aluminium has occurred, nor that there is a greater prevalence of organic abnormalities in the exposed population. It does not expect lasting physical harm from the toxicity of the contaminated water itself. Nevertheless, it acknowledges that the incident was unique and although it has no reason to predict any late consequences, it cannot exclude them categorically.
  112
  The group states that it has no doubt that the accident itself and subsequent events have led to real mental and physical suffering in the community. Such a situation is well recognised following major accidents. The district health authority is arranging the continuation of counselling services for at least two years.

  The advisory group has recommended that preliminary work which suggests that some residents are "sensitised" to aluminium, so that they experience increased absorption of aluminium and a worsening of symptoms, be repeated. Agreement in principle has been reached for the Medical Research Council to commission and manage this research, and for the Department of Health to provide funding. The Medical Research Council will provide the mechanism for the development of protocols, and provision of peer review for this research.

  The Government welcome the group's advice, and I have asked the health authority to act on those recommendations for following up the health of local people that the group have made.

  I am grateful to the chairman, Professor Dame Barbara Clayton, and the members of her group for the thorough way in which they have produced such an authoritative report. The Department, the health authority, and the people of the Camelford area have been well served by the group.

  INDO-CHINA: AID
  INDO-CHINA: AID
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 21st OCTOBER
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 21st OCTOBER
  BURMA:POLITCAL REPRESSION
  BURMA:POLITCAL REPRESSION
  VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TO HONG KONG: REPATRIATION
  VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TO HONG KONG: REPATRIATION