Written Answers of 11 February 1992

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  House Repossessions
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of court orders for house repossession in the area covering the Crewe and Nantwich constituency for the years 1979–80, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crewe and Nantwich constituency is covered by Crewe county court. The figures for the number of orders made on mortgage possession actions for the year 1979–80 are not available. The table shows the number of actions entered and orders made in Crewe county court for the years 1990–91 and the first three quarters of 1991–92. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all the orders made will have resulted in the execution of warrants of possession. At this stage the 1991–92 figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision in the future.

  Mortgage possession actions at Crewe county court

  Actions entered

  Orders made

  April 1990 to March 1991

  290

  175

  January 1991 to December 1991

  325

  206

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General how many mortgage repossession orders have been granted by the courts covering the city of Nottingham in each year since 1978.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 6 February 1992 at column 248.

  Derek Bentley
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General what action the Lord Chancellor has taken in respect of papers relating to the case of Derek Bentley; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding making the papers available to the public.

  The Attorney-General
  The Metropolitan police file on the Bentley case held by the Public Record Office is closed for 75 years under a Lord Chancellor's instrument, made under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958. Two excerpts from the Home Office file are likewise closed for 75 years; the file as a whole will not be 30 years old until 1996. The court file is awaiting transfer to the Public Record Office and will be open to inspection on transfer. Questions of access to records which are subject to extended closure under the Public Records Act, or which are not yet 30 years old, are the responsibility of the originating department.

TRANSPORT

  Departmental Correspondence
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington can expect a response from the Minister for Roads and Traffic to his letter of 29 September 1991, requesting a reply to the deputation he received from Shrewley parish council.

  Mr. Chope
  I have written to my hon. Friend.

  Driving Tests, Portsmouth
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average waiting time for a driving test in Portsmouth.

  Mr. Chope
  I am asking the chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency to write to my hon. Friend direct.

  Drivers (Eyesight)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to ensure that motorists meet the Department's eyesight requirements.

  Mr. Chope
  All drivers are required to pass the statutory number plate eyesight test at the start of their driving test. They are required to meet this standard at all times when driving. Drivers aged 70 or over are required to renew their driving licences at regular intervals, and at each renewal to certify that they meet the eyesight standard. The police have powers to stop and test drivers whom they believe have defective eyesight. There are about 300 prosecutions for eyesight offences each year.

  Roads (Leicester)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated total cost of (i) the A46/A47 link road and (ii) the Leicester eastern district distributor road.

  Mr. Chope
  Both these schemes are the responsibility of the local highway authority, Leicestershire county council.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received a copy of the kenwood proposals for the Leicester eastern bypass; and if he will instruct the Department's consultants to discuss the kenwood proposals with interested parties.

  Mr. Chope
  Proposals for an eastern bypass of Leicester were received from a Mr. Henwood in 1987. We have no plans to discuss them with other parties.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he first received representations regarding the Leicester eastern bypass; what are the expected dates for(a) the start and (b) completion of the Leicester eastern bypass; and what is the total estimated cost of the Leicester eastern bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  The first correspondence about Leicester eastern bypass following the inclusion of the scheme in the national roads programme was received in summer 1989. Subject to the identification of a viable scheme, the availability of funds and the satisfactory completion of
  419
  statutory procedures, work could start around the turn of the century and would take about two years to complete. The estimated cost of the scheme is £45 million.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions(a) officials and (b) Ministers from his Department visited Leicester to acquaint themselves with the environmental problems associated with roads in the city.

  Mr. Chope
  It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate costs, to determine how many officials have visited Leicester to examine traffic-related environmental problems although officials do visit the city on a regular basis. I chaired the East Midlands regional annual consultative committee in Leicester on 17 December last year.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission an independent survey of the traffic flows of eastern Leicester, relating to both the eastern distributor road and the Leicester eastern bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is already assessing traffic flows in connection with its Leicester eastern bypass scheme. This assessment will take account of the effect of other road proposals in the area.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Leicester western bypass was first proposed; in which years consultation and design took place; and what was the estimated cost of the bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  The Leicester western bypass was added to the national roads programme in 1976. Public consultation took place in 1978 and 1979. Design of the scheme has been a continuous process up to the invitation of construction tenders last month. The scheme is currently estimated to cost £87 million.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present traffic flow on the distributor road network in Leicester.

  Mr. Chope
  The distributor road network in Leicester is the responsibility of the local highway authority, Leicestershire county council.

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department has only three data systems with external links or commitments to supply information to which data protection provisions also apply. They are:the register of drivers and vehicles maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, from which information is currently supplied to the police for law enforcement in accordance with existing registrations under the Data Protection Act 1984;
  the traffic commissioners record of licensed goods operators, to which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the
  420
  Vehicle Inspectorate Agency and the Customs and Excise drugs intelligence unit have access for law enforcement and road safety purposes in accordance with existing registrations under the Data Protection Act 1984;
  the record of licensed public service vehicle operators currently under development which will operate under identical data protection registrations as that for goods vehicle operators.

  In addition the traffic commissioners have access to the vehicle inspectorate's roadworthiness and enforcement database for road safety and law enforcement purposes.

  The Department periodically reviews both the scope of and the means by which protected data is transferred to other agencies. The purpose for any external data request is considered carefully and the Data Protection Registrar would be consulted before any change in registration purposes implemented.

  DVLC (Vehicle Registrations)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) vehicles in total were registered with the DVLC in each year since 1980; how many (i) motor cars and (ii) heavy goods vehicles are currently registered for addresses in the east midlands region; and what is his estimate for the total number of (1) motor cars and (2) heavy goods vehicles in Great Britain.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is as follows:

  Thousands

  Year

  Heavy Goods Vehicles

  Total Vehicles

  1980

  475

  19,200

  1981

  451

  19,347

  1982

  436

  19,762

  1983

  436

  20,209

  1984

  437

  20,765

  1985

  432

  21,157

  1986

  435

  21,699

  1987

  444

  22,152

  1988

  462

  23,202

  1989

  478

  24,196

  1990

  460

  24,673

  East Midlands Region: 1990

  Thousands

  Motor Cars

  Heavy Goods Vehicles

  1,403

  37

  It is forecast that the number of vehicles of body type car in Great Britain in 2000 will be in the range of 24 to 26 million.

  My Department does not forecast the number of heavy goods vehicles, but it forecasts that HGV traffic in 2000 will be 15 to 27 per cent. higher than in 1990.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 632, what steps he has taken to obtain the agreement of the European Community to compulsory three point belts for rear centre seating on all saloon motor vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  Negotiations are still continuing in the European Community on dates for the fitment of three
  421
  point belts for rear outer seats in new cars. Requiring three point belts in rear centre seats would be technically complex, would take time to develop and, would be unlikely to secure agreement. The quickest and most effective way forward is for manufacturers voluntarily to introduce three point belts for rear centre seats wherever technically possible.

  Transport Supplementary Credit Approvals
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the amount of transport supplementary credit approvals(a) applied for and (b) granted to Leicestershire county council in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  Supplementary credit approvals were first introduced in the 1990–91 transport supplementary grant settlement. The figures are:

  Bid £ million

  Granted £ million

  1990–91

  0

  0·081

  1991–92

  0

  0·944

  1992–93

  1·163

  1·312

  Travers Morgan
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the contracts let by his Department to Travers Morgan since 1979.

  Mr. Chope
  This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

  New Roads
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the considerations taken into account when proposing new roads.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government's objectives, as set out in the 1989 White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" are:to assist economic growth by reducing transport costs;
  to improve the environment by removing through traffic from unsuitable roads in towns and villages;
  to enhance road safety.

  Taxi Drivers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what appeal procedure is available to a taxi driver who is considered not to be a fit and proper person to hold a taxi licence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Any person who is aggrieved at the decision of a licensing authority to refuse, suspend or revoke a hackney carriage (taxi) driver licence for any reason has a right of appeal as follows:

  In London
  The appeal should be made under section 17 of the Transport Act 1985 to either the licensing authority (the Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis) for reconsideration; or to a magistrates' court.
  An unsuccessful appeal to the assistant commissioner does not preclude an appeal to a Magistrates' court.

  Outside London
  In the case of councils who license under Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 the appeal should be made to the magistrates court under section 59 of that Act.
  For councils who have not adopted the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and only license under
  422
  the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, appeals should be made to the crown Court under Section 7(1)(a) of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890.
  Any appeal to a court must be within 21 days of the licensing authority's decision.
  As far as I am aware in general this system works satisfactorily.

  London Taxis (Wheelchairs)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to ending the requirements that each new London taxi is accessible to wheelchair users and that by 2000 all London taxis will be accessible.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  The requirement of wheelchair access to London taxis was introduced at the instigation of the Department of Transport after extensive research. The availability of such taxis is already making a major contribution to the independent mobility of large numbers of disabled people.

  A6
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his intention that the A6 should become a strategic alternative to the M1 motorway.

  Mr. Chope
  The A6 is already a strategic route within the national network of trunk roads.

  Speed Limits
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce speed limits of 20 mph in areas immediately adjacent to schools.

  Mr. Chope
  The Road Traffic Act 1991 makes provision for variable speed limits. My Department will be mounting trials involving the setting of 20 mph speed limits outside schools at the times when children are arriving or leaving. These trials will provide a basis for guidance to local authorities on the establishment of such limits.

  Grant Projects
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the projects receiving transport support grant in Darlington since 1979, together with the amounts concerned.

  Mr. Chope
  Since 1979 three schemes have received transport supplementary grant in Darlington district. They are:

  £ million

  A6072

  Heighington Bypass

  1·8

  A67

  Teesside Link and Airport Access

  6·3

  A68

  Darlington Cross Town Route Stage 1

  5·7

  The Heighington bypass was completed in 1983 and the Teesside link is now under construction.

  Bus Use (London)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on the allocation of resources for measures to promote bus use in London.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to announce the allocation of £500,000 of supplementary credit approvals in 1992–93 for bus priority measures in the boroughs of Haringey, Newham, Camden and Ealing. Table 1 sets out the detailed allocations. Further resources are being held for possible allocation to other schemes in south and west London and Tower Hamlets when details have been considered in respect of firm proposals.

  Table 1

  Local authority supplementary credit approvals for bus priority measures in London 1992–93

  London boroughs

  £'000

  Haringey

  100

  Newham

  200

  Camden

  100

  Ealing

  100

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the percentage of their mainline railway networks which have been electrified for each country in the EC.

  Mr. Freeman
  UIC figures for the percentage of the mainline railway network electrified for each country are as follows:

  Percent.

  Belgium (SNCB)

  65

  Denmark (DSB)

  10

  France (SNCF)

  36

  Germany (DR/DB)

  38

  Great Britain (BR)

  27

  Greece (CH)

  0

  Holland (NS)

  69

  Italy (FS)

  59

  Luxembourg (CFL)

  72

  Portugal (CP)

  15

  Republic of Ireland (CIE)

  2

  Spain (RENFE)

  51

  Source:—UIC International Railway Statistics 1989.

  Norsea
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the prototype launching gear involved in the accident on the Norsea; when this launching gear was fitted; whether similar launching gear is fitted on any other vessel; and when the marine accident investigations branch inquiry will be completed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  These matters will be addressed during the investigation being carried out by the marine accident investigation branch. It is far too early to say when the comprehensive investigation into this accident will be completed.

  Severn Tunnel
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway workers have been arrested in connection with the recent Severn tunnel railway accident;424
  if he will place in the Library a copy of the evidence submitted to the British Rail inquiry; and what guidelines he has issued to the British transport police on co-operation with internal British Rail inquiries.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Transport police (BTP) have informed me that they arrested three British Rail staff in connection with their inquiries into the Severn tunnel train accident. No charges have been made and the staff have been released on bail pending enquiries.

  Publication of evidence to an internal British Rail inquiry is a matter for BR.

  We are not aware of any lack of co-operation between the BTP and BR in their respective investigations into this incident. BTP are keeping HM railway inspectorate fully informed.

  Life-saving Equipment
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline the procedures which govern the testing of prototype life-saving equipment on(a) operational ferries and (b) other vessels.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The procedures for testing the life-saving equipment on all merchant ships are prescribed in the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986, as amended, and described in detail in the Department's publication, "Survey of Life-Saving Appliances; volume 2". Prototype, modified and production appliances are subject to the appropriate strength and operational tests to ensure that they are safe and will be effective in service.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met representatives of Tayside and Grampian regional councils to discuss the financing of the electrification of the main east coast line between Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen; if he plans to do so in the future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Ministers have not met representatives from Tayside and Grampian regional councils to discuss the electrification of the Edinburgh to Aberdeen line. The councils should approach British Rail, as it is for BR to bring forward proposals if it considers there is a case for electrification and that it merits sufficient priority within its investment programme.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total mileage of the United Kingdom's mainline railway network; how many of these miles have been electrified to date; and how many miles are currently programmed to be electrified.

  Mr. Freeman
  InterCity mainline services currently operate over 3,328 route miles of which 1,178 route miles are electrified. InterCity has not put forward any further plans for mainline electrification.

  Fire Engines
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what income has been raised through road fund licences on vintage and private fire engines since exemption from such tax was removed.
  425
  Mr. Chope
  The information requested on the amount of duty collected from previously exempt fire engines is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  There are however approximately 1,300 such vehicles identified prior to the change. If all of these relicenced for the full year in the private and light goods (PLG) taxation class, the revenue raised would amount to £130,000.

  Cargo Straps
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he has to introduce regulatory control of cargo straps used by road haulage vehicles;

  (2) how many road accidents each year are attributable to failures of road haulage cargo straps.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer Friday 7 February 1992]: There are no national statistics which identify the role of insecure loads in accidents. A recent study, however, estimated that nationally fewer than 30 fatal accidents each year involve insecure loads. It is uncertain how many of these involve cargo strap failure. The most important factor in reducing insecure load accidents is the configuration and type of restraint systems. A revised code of practice dealing with this is to be issued for consultation shortly.

  Vehicle Movements (Greater London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has of the likely number of daily vehicle movements in Greater London for the current year, 1995, 1997 and 2000; and what are the comparable figures for 1990, 1987 and 1980.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer Monday 10 February 1992]: My Department does not have either forecasts or past estimates available in the form requested. Surveys indicate an overall traffic growth rate for Greater London of about 1 per cent. per year through the 1980s. Traffic growth was lower in inner London than in the outer areas. Traffic forecasts for London alone are not available.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Personal Information
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to allow a parent or student to consent to, or be aware of, those uses and disclosures of personal information not obvious at the time the parent or student provides the information; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  Guidance to schools on the implications of the Data Protection Act, issued last November, includes information on the data protection principles.

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what is the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.
  426
  Mr. Fallon
  The Department's information systems are concerned wholly with the administration of the Department's business. It has no systems where information is made generally available which is not otherwise publicly available. Where appropriate such systems are registered under the Data Protection Act.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those full inspections which have taken place in relation to grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  To date there have been no full inspections of grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he intends to use for the publication of inspection reports on grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  In all cases where an inspection is planned by Her Majesty's inspectorate to lead to a published report, my right hon. and learned Friend has published the reports. The same principle will be applied to any reports on grant-maintained schools.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the expenditure and achievements of his Department in North Yorkshire during 1991; and what was the comparable position between June 1978 and May 1980.

  Mr. Eggar
  Most Government support for expenditure on education in North Yorkshire is paid to North Yorkshire county council as unhypothecated revenue support grant. In 1991–92, the Department is making available specific grant to North Yorkshire local education authority of some £3,168,000 through its programme of grants for education support and training, to support expenditure on implementing the national curriculum, local management of schools and a number of other national priorities; and of some £83,000 to support the education of children of travellers, refugees and other displaced persons. There were no similar specific grants between 1978 and 1980. The Department also pays grant to North Yorkshire local education authority to cover the cost of mandatory awards to students undertaking higher education. The Department additionally pays grant to the University Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council, which support higher education in North Yorkshire.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.
  427
  Mr. Leigh
  The Department utilises a wide range of information technology systems to provide support in the conduct of its business. A number of these use information from external sources, both within the United Kingdom and in Europe. This information is often commercially available, and increasingly it is available electronically. Furthermore, the Department uses IT systems to provide modern communication facilities such as electronic mail.

  Although much of the Departmental information is not of a personal nature and therefore not subject to the Data Protection Act, in those instances where personal information forms any part of an IT system its use is registered as required under the Data Protection Act. Registration information is available from the Data Protection Registrar. The Department's central personnel system is computerised, and data are exchanged between this system and the HM Treasury pay system at Chessington.

  Data Protection (European Directive)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings he has had with representatives from organisations about the contents of the proposed European directives on data protection and in relation to data protection and communications; how many meetings were with organisations representing the interests of the data users or the telecommunications industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The responsibility for these directives falls mainly to the Home Office, although the Department of Trade and Industry lead on the directive on data protection in telecommunications and the decision on information security. There have been no meetings with DTI Ministers specifically on this issue, but regular representations have been received at official level.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect his Department estimates a general agreement on tariffs and trade settlement will have upon clothing and textile employment in the respective regions of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 1 July 1991 to a question from the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), at column 20. Professor Silberston did not attempt a regional breakdown of the effect on employment of ending the multi-fibre arrangement, although he did give detailed consideration to those factors, such as regional levels of employment opportunities, which appeared to be relevant. A successful outcome to the GATT Uruguay round would include strengthened rules and disciplines and increased multilateral market access: this, taken together with the 10-year transitional period for phasing out textile restraints, should mitigate the impact on employment in the industry.

  Beer Complaints
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints he has received from members of the public in Scotland concerning froth on beer.
  428
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: None of the recent complaints I have received has come from members of the public in Scotland. However, surveys by trading standards departments in Scotland have shown many instances in which licensees served less than a full measure of liquid beer.

  Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress with his Department's review of the operation of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  The issues arising from the review of the operation of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 are being carefully considered. If any changes are considered to be appropriate, the Government will consult with interested parties.

ENERGY

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the expenditure and achievements of his Department in North Yorkshire during 1991; and what was the comparable position between June 1979 and May 1980.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department does not keep information in a suitable form to carry out the required analysis.

  Nuclear Safeguards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the oral answer of 4 February by the Minister for Defence Procurement,Official Report, column 119, how much extra funding Her Majesty's Government will make available for nuclear safeguards inspection under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty provisions.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Negotiations on safeguards agreements between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the former republics of the Soviet Union have not yet begun, and provision for safeguards has not been made in the agency's budget. IAEA activities in Iraq are funded by the special commission. The needs of the safeguards system will naturally occupy a central part of the discussions on the agency's budget.

THE ARTS

  Data Protection Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what data information systems his office has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The Office of Arts and Libraries has no major data information system of its own; it has access to the system of the Cabinet Office/Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, with which it is closely associated. It also
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  has a number of stand-alone personal computers to help meet the functions of the Department. My office has not been consulted with a view to taking part in any other data information systems.

  There is no current or planned link to the police national computer. An electronic mail link is being planned by the Cabinet Office to operate between each of its major networks and to other Government Departments.

  The 1984 Data Protection Act applies, and registrations have been made where appropriate.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of mortgage tax relief in 1991.

  Mr. Maude
  Tax relief is calculated for the fiscal year. Provisional estimates of the cost of mortgage interest tax relief for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are £7·7 billion and £6·1 billion respectively.

  VAT (Bloodstock)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement concerning representations to the European Commission on the Irish VAT rate for bloodstock.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The European Commission, on its own initiative, is currently examining the present practices in Ireland in relation to VAT and bloodstock.

  Tax Allowances and Reliefs
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1992–93, and in a full year, of introducing an upper limit on all income tax allowances and reliefs of(a) £9,000, (b) £10,000, (c) £11,000, (d) £12,000, (e) £13,000, (f) £14,000, (g) £15,000 and (h) £16,000 giving the number of people affected in each case, distinguishing between (i) basic-rate taxpayers and (ii) higher-rate taxpayers, and giving the number who brought into higher rate tax in each case, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  It is estimated that at 1991–92 levels of income the introduction of the upper limits specified would yield the following:

  Upper limit for total allowances and reliefs

  Yield in full year

  £

  £ million

  9,000

  930

  10,000

  590

  11,000

  440

  12,000

  360

  13,000

  310

  14,000

  270

  15,000

  240

  16,000

  210

  The number of people who would be affected are as follows:
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  Upper limit for total allowances and reliefs £

  Basic rate taxpayers and non taxpayers (000's)

  Higher rate taxpayers (000's)

  9,000

  1,090

  555

  10,000

  250

  385

  11,000

  55

  215

  12,000

  30

  135

  13,000

  20

  100

  14,000

  15

  75

  15,000

  10

  65

  16,000

  10

  55

  Fewer than 5,000 basic rate taxpayers would become higher rate taxpayers.

  The effect on receipts in the first year would depend on the administrative arrangements for applying a limit.

  It is not possible to provide detailed estimates for 1992–93.

  The estimates do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such a limit.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average tax allowances and reliefs for those with gross incomes(a) under £10,000, (b) between £10,000 and £20,000, (c) between £20,000 and £30,000, (d) between £30,000 and £40,000, (e) between £40,000 and £50,000, (f) between £50,000 and £60,000, (g) between £60,000 and £70,000, (h) between £70,000 and £80,000 and (i) above £80,000.

  Mr. Maude
  Latest estimates for taxpayers in 1991–92 are as follows:

  Gross income £ per year

  Amount of tax reliefs and allowances set against income £

  0-10,000

  4,200

  10,000-20,000

  5,900

  20,000-30,000

  7,000

  30,000-40,000

  7,800

  40,000-50,000

  8,400

  50,000-60,000

  8,900

  60,000-70,000

  9,500

  70,000-80,000

  9,900

  Over 80,000

  13,300

  Average

  5,500

  Taxation
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people with gross incomes of over £100,000 pay an income tax bill of less than(a) 35 per cent., (b) 30 per cent., (c) 25 per cent., (d) 20 per cent., (e) 15 per cent., (f) 10 per cent. and (g) 5 per cent. of their gross incomes;

  (2) how many higher-rate taxpayers pay an income tax bill of less than (a) 35 per cent., (b) 30 per cent., (c) 25 per cent., (d) 20 per cent., (e) 15 per cent., (f) 10 per cent. and (g) 5 per cent. of their gross incomes.

  Mr. Maude
  Available information for 1991–92 is as follows:
  431

  Estimated number of taxpayers (thousands)

  Income tax liability as a percentage of gross income1

  Gross income over £80,000

  Higher rate taxpayers

  Less than 35 per cent.

  110

  1,590

  Less than 30 per cent.

  20

  1,420

  Less than 25 per cent.

  —

  1,000

  Less than 20 Per cent.

  —

  300

  Less than 15 Per cent.

  —

  —

  Less than 10 Per cent.

  —

  —

  Less than 5 Per cent.

  —

  —

  1 Total income for income tax purposes.

  I regret that a reliable analysis of taxpayers with incomes over £100,000 is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Air Quality
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has of breathing air quality levels falling below European Community safety standards; in what respect, what areas and for what duration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information on the concentrations of various air pollutants is collected by monitoring networks operated on behalf of my Department. The European Community has set air quality standards in Directives covering smoke and sulphur dioxide, lead, and nitrogen dioxide. Since 1988–89, there have been only the following exceedences of the Directives' limit values:

  1989
  Lead limit value exceeded in Walsall (21 weeks over the annual mean concentration limit value);

  1989–90
  Smoke/sulphur dioxide limit values exceeded at two sites in Belfast (i) 15 days (sulphur dioxide and (ii) eight days (sulphur dioxide) and six days (smoke); at Newry and Mourne, 17 days (smoke); and at Sunderland, 12 days (smoke);
  Nitrogen dioxide directive breached in west London (27 more hours over the hourly average concentration than allowed by the directive (175));

  1990–91
  Smoke/sulphur dioxide limit values exceeded at three sites in Belfast, (i) eight days (smoke), (ii) seven days (smoke) and (iii) 12 days (sulphur dioxide) and nine days (smoke).

  The breach in west London was merely a technical breach caused by local vehicle emissions from an indoor source adjacent to the monitoring probe. The measured air quality was therefore not representative of human exposure in the area.

  Leigh Barton
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many years Leigh Barton, near Churstow, has been closed to the public; and when it is planned to be reopened.

  Mr. Yeo
  Opening Leigh Barton to the general public has not yet proved possible due to the extensive repair work which was necessary following its acquisition. However, interested groups have been allowed supervised visits since 1986. English Heritage is currently looking at the possibility of a beneficial use which would contribute to completion of the repair work and be compatible with some future public access.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment from whom the hon. Member for Dover is to receive a reply to letters sent to his Department and to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution during the current session regarding work done by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in connection with Orimulsion.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have replied to three letters in the current session in connection with Orimulsion. These were sent to my hon. Friend on 18 November 1991, 16 December 1991 and 3 February 1992.

  Ozone-depleting Chemicals
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those applications for which Her Majesty's Government considers chlorofluorocarbons are still needed and where substitutes are not yet available; when it is expected that each such CFC-producing application can be phased out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  CFCs are still needed for some refrigeration, air conditioning and solvent applications, and for certain foams and medical aerosol products. The Government have proposed a 1996 phase-out for supply of new CFCs, except for any essential uses for which the Montreal protocol parties agree that alternatives are not available at that time.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek an emergency meeting of the Montreal protocol so that an immediate ban on all ozone-depleting chemicals can be introduced.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask for an emergency meeting of the Montreal protocol to discuss the recent data on the Arctic and northern hemisphere ozone hole; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on ozone-depleting substances.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Montreal protocol parties are already due to meet in November this year and will consider whether the controls on ozone-depleting substances should be tightened. Official level negotiations begin on 6 April. I proposed to the EC Environment Council last December that the protocol's phase-out dates be brought forward to 1995 for halons and 1996 for other ozone-depleting substances, an acceleration ranging from four to nine years. As far as I am aware, the United Kingdom is so far the only country to have made firm proposals to strengthen the protocol. An immediate CFC phase-out is not practicable—for many applications, such as food preservation, insulating foam and medical aerosols, replacement technologies are not yet adequately developed.

  Community Charge (Liverpool)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost involved in issuing the 145,000 summonses served by Liverpool city council in the cases of alleged community charge non-payers; and what redress is open to recipients who have paid their community charge.
  433
  Mr. Key
  My Department does not collect information on the costs incurred by local authorities in taking enforcement action against non-payers of the community charge. Following the issue of a summons, the magistrates court may grant the local authority a liability order against an individual only if it is satisfied that his community charge is payable and remains unpaid.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the number of jobs in the area covered by Leeds development corporation at its inception, and on the latest available figures.

  Mr. Key
  The number of jobs in the area covered by the Leeds development corporation is updated annually with effect from 1 April by the development corporation. As my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities said in his reply of 18 October 1991 at column 283, a total of 31,871 people were employed in the Leeds development corporation's area at the time of inception. The latest available figure is 37,733 as at March 1991.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Leeds development corporation expects to publish planning proposals for the East street area of Leeds 9; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Proposals for the north side of East street are contained in the Marsh lane/Saxton lane and the Low Fold planning frameworks which were published by Leeds development corporation in February 1990, following a period of public consultation. Proposals for the south side of East street are shown in the draft development framework for Clarence dock, which was published for public consultation on 27 January 1992.

  Manchester City Council
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indemnify Manchester city council against any costs incurred as a result of successful prosecutions in relation to failure to fulfil its statutory duty to provide adaptations for disabled people.

  Mr. Yeo
  A local authority is open to legal challenge if it fails to fulfil its statutory duty to provide house adaptations for people with disabilities. There is no express power to compensate an authority for the financial consequences of a successful prosecution.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the letter of 4 February from the chairman of the Manchester city council housing committee about funding for adaptations for disabled occupants of council-owned accommodation.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Secretary of State has received a letter on this subject from the chair of the housing committee of Manchester city council, and I am considering what response should be made.

  Estate Action
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been made available under the estate action programme; how many schemes have been or are being supported; and if he will make a statement.
  434
  Mr. Yeo
  The estate action programme has now passed an important milestone—over £1 billion has been allocated to or earmarked for about 1,000 schemes since the programme began in 1986.

  On 11 February 1991, the programme was relaunched with tougher criteria. We are now looking for a strategic approach which promotes comprehensive regeneration, an effective partnership between local authorities, tenants and the private sector, and housing investment which complements other urban policies.

  We are backing this with substantially increased resources—in 1992–93, the estate action budget will rise to £364 million. I have been encouraged by the extent to which the approach we are advocating is reflected in the schemes put forward by authorities for inclusion in next year's programme.

  Local Government (Structure)
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to publish CSL Group Ltd.'s report on guidance to the Local Government Commission on assessing costs and benefits of change in the structure of local government.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have placed copies of the report in the Library. I have today sent copies of it to the local authority associations and to the Audit Commission, with a request for comments by 13 March.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table indicating for each year of its operation, the total allocation from the Department of the Environment for the urban programme expressed both as net expenditure at current prices and as a percentage of total urban block expenditure; and if he will indicate, for each of the next three years, his best estimate of total urban programme allocation, expressed both as net expenditure and as a percentage total of urban block expenditure.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 4 February 1992]: My Department's urban group of programmes has evolved during the 1980s from the original urban and derelict land programmes to include urban development corporations, city grant, city action teams and most recently city challenge. These various policy instruments have been developed to tackle the complex range of economic, environmental and social problems in inner city areas.

  The urban programme figures include my Department's outturn/provision only. Some variations arise from different arrangements for recording other Government Departments' contributions over the period.

  The figures are as follows:

  Year

  Urban programme provision outturn £ million 1991–92 prices

  Urban programme as percentage of urban block

  1994–95

  plan 238

  30

  1993–94

  plan 232

  29

  1992–93

  plan 245

  30

  1991–92

  plan 242

  27

  1990–91

  242

  25

  1989–90

  259

  29

  435

  Year

  Urban programme provision outturn £ million 1991–92 prices

  Urban programme as percentage of urban block

  1988–89

  277

  41

  1987–88

  326

  51

  1986–87

  331

  55

  1985–86

  366

  58

  1984–85

  291

  55

  1983–84

  261

  50

  1982–83

  268

  57

  1981–82

  168

  58

  1980–81

  220

  79

  1979–80

  193

  80

  1978–79

  128

  70

  1977–78

  12

  40

  1976–77

  12

  55

  1975–76

  16

  100

  1974–75

  24

  100

  1973–74

  7

  100

  Figures before 1973–74 are not readily available.

  Hong Kong (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he took part in party-political activities in addition to official duties on his visit to Hong Kong in September 1991.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: My wife and I visited Hong Kong at our own expense in September 1991. We stayed with the governor. I took the opportunity to vist the PSA headquarters.

  Wild Bird Trade
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on United Kingdom participation in the conference in Japan in March 1992 on the wild bird trade.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: A number of proposals concerning the wild bird trade have been submitted for consideration at the conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to be held in Kyota, Japan, next month. We are considering these carefully, in consultation with our scientific advisers and other interested organisations. I will make a further statement in due course.

WALES

  Toll Bridges
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the figures for the(a) annual income and cost and (b) capital debt outstanding for toll bridges in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Cleddau bridge is the only toll bridge in Wales for which we have published accounts.

  The figures are:

  For 1990–91

  £ million

  1. Annual income (from tolls)

  1·24

  2. Annual cost:

  Operating Expenses

  0·39

  436

  For 1990–91

  £ million

  Debt and Other Charges

  0·49

  Total Expenditure

  0·88

  Outstanding debt at 31 March 1991

  5·78

  Fishing
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will approve the application for byelaws to regulate fishing for sea fish in coastal areas, including the Severn and Dee estuaries submitted to him by the Welsh region of the National Rivers Authority in June 1991, in time to provide protection for migratory fish during the 1992 fishing season; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A decision on whether to approve the byelaws proposed by the National Rivers Authority will be taken shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Moneyreagh Primary School
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the enrolment in each of the most recent five years at Moneyreagh primary school; what plans there are to replace the temporary accommodation at this school with permanent accommodation; what provision is being made at this school for the increasing population at Moneyreagh; what proposals he has for nursery education at Moneyreagh; and if he will make a statement about education opportunities at Moneyreagh.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The enrolments at Moneyreagh primary school in the last five years were as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  134

  1989

  136

  1990

  133

  1991

  129

  1992

  136

  Note: The enrolment figures given are for January in each year.

  The school's approved enrolment and maximum admissions numbers for September 1992 are 171 and 26 respectively and are considered sufficient to meet the immediate demand for places. The position will be kept under review in light of enrolment trends; at present, the South-Eastern education and library board has no plans to increase the accommodation at the school or to replace the temporary accommodation.

  The provision of nursery education at Moneyreagh is, in the first instance, a matter for the South Eastern education and library board; to date no proposals have been made by the board.

  My right hon. and noble Friend the Paymaster-General is satisfied that the school is able to provide appropriate educational opportunities for children in the area.

  Northern Ireland Airports Ltd.
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual salary of the part-time chairman of Northern Ireland Airports Ltd.
  437
  Mr. Needham
  £13,385.

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All relevant IT systems in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments are registered under the Data Protection Act and are therefore subject to this legislation. Each Department has registered for various purposes, and disclosure is addressed within each register entry.

  For security reasons, it would be inappropriate to reveal which systems are linked to the police national computer or to other systems.

  Belfast Airport
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the new freight cargo centre at Belfast international airport.

  Mr. Needham
  £8,175,500.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are liable to pay national insurance contributions who earn between(a) the lower earnings limit and (b) the 1991 equivalent of the 1980 level of the lower earnings limit, revalued in line with earnings.

  Mr. Hanley
  If the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions had been revalued in line with the increase in earnings since 1980, its present level would be £64·00. It is estimated that 15,000 people in Northern Ireland have weekly earnings between this figure and the current lower earnings limit of £52·00.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in 1991–92 are liable to pay national insurance contributions who have earnings between the lower earnings limit and £64·80 per week in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is estimated that, on average, some 15,000 people in Northern Ireland with weekly earnings between £52·00, the current lower earnings limit, and £64·80 will be liable to pay national insurance contributions in 1991–92.

DEFENCE

  Chemical Weapons (Destruction)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methods are used for the destruction of chemical weapons taken into custody by the special commission of the International Atomic Energy Authority.
  438
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Chemical weapons are not taken into custody by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The United Nations special commission in Iraq is, however, charged under Security Council resolution 687 to ensure the destruction of Iraqi chemical weapons. Good progress is being made in planning for the destruction of Iraqi stocks declared or discovered to date. The special commission's destruction advisory panel has put forward proposals for the destruction of 122 mm rockets by explosive detonation and the use of fuel thereby ignited to create a destructive fireball. The Iraqis have been asked to construct an incinerator for mustard agent destruction to designs approved by the special commission, and trials of nerve agent destruction by hydrolysis were observed at the end of January 1992 by the chemical weapons inspection team in Iraq. Careful attention is being paid to safety and environmental protection in all destruction methods considered by the special commission.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the approximate cost of the United Kingdom's military commitment in Zimbabwe for training and other purposes each year since 1981–82(a) in cash terms and (b) at 1981–82 prices; and if he will list the percentage increase or decrease on the previous year for each year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to disclose the cost of assistance to individual countries.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the approximate number of United Kingdom service men operating in Zimbabwe for training and other purposes each year since 1981–82.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The number of United Kingdom service men operating in Zimbabwe (excluding the defence adviser and his staff) since 1982 are as follows:

  Numbers

  1982

  74

  1983

  104

  1984

  58

  1985

  60

  1986

  63

  1987

  50

  1988

  43

  1989

  43

  1990

  61

  1991

  58

  1992

  56

  All figures are at 31 March except for 1982 (31 September) and 1992 (31 January). Figures for 1981 are unavailable.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the presence of United Kingdom service men in Zimbabwe for training and other purposes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government's military assistance programme in Zimbabwe aims to contribute to the maintenance of stability in the region. Following the country's independence in 1980, a British military training team has been helping to train the Zimbabwean forces. Another team has been involved in training elements of the Mozambican forces at a base in Zimbabwe.
  439
  Both teams are in Zimbabwe at the invitation of the Zimbabwean Government.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom service men while stationed in Zimbabwe have been killed, seriously injured or wounded in the course of their military duties since 1981–82.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Antares
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary for Defence what are the reasons for the delay in the consideration of possible disciplinary action following the sinking of the fishing vessel Antares;what action he has taken to speed up the consideration; when he now expects the consideration to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The question whether there should be disciplinary proceedings is entirely the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet. I understand that his decision will be made shortly. As these matters are still under consideration, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

  100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under whose operational command 100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA will come; and what will be its place within eastern district.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  On 1 April 1992, 100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA will begin to re-role as a field howitzer 70 regiment supporting one of the British divisions of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps under the operational command of 3 UK Division. Although administrative command will continue to be exercised through the Regimental Headquarters in London district for the time being, it is planned to move the RHQ into eastern district in the medium term.

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated net capital cost of the proposed changes in 100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The announced changes to 100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA are part of the overall restructuring of the TA in response to major changes in its role—notably to support the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps. Detailed costings will not be available until clearer plans for locations have been made.

  Iraq (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall),Official Report, 4 February, column 152, what information he has as to whether any of the military equipment used by Iraq in the Gulf war and examined by the United Kingdom and its allies was (a) manufactured in, or (b) purchased from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Investigations of Iraqi military equipment recovered by the United Kingdom and the United States are continuing. Some electrical items or components of British manufacture have been found.

  Military Ranges
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ranges will be used by TA Royal Artillery batteries equipped with FH70 for(a) live and (b) dry training; and what assessment was made of the relative ease of access to such ranges by units at (i) Brighton and (ii) Bulwell.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Field howitzer 70 live firings in the United Kingdom can be conducted in training areas in Wiltshire (Salisbury plain), Wales (Sennybridge) and Northumberland (Otterburn). Dry training, at battery level, is available in East Anglia (Stanford) or in the north-west (Warcop); both areas will be used regularly by units and formations which 100 Field Regiment, RA will support in time of war. Proximity to these areas is an advantage, and access is assessed as satisfactory.

  Trident
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money his Department has so far spent on the Trident programme; and how much has been contractually committed.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Total expenditure for the Trident programme to the end of November 1991 was £5,074 million, and the total contractually committed £6,649 million.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the expenditure and achievements of his Department in North Yorkshire during 1991; and what was the comparable position between June 1978 and May 1980.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not held in the form requested.

  Regiments and Corps (Titles)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any decisions have been made regarding the titles of regiments and corps of the regular Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following titles have been approved:The Royal Dragoon Guards (amalgamation of 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards)
  The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) (amalgamation of the Queen's Own Hussars and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars)
  The King's Royal Hussars (amalgamation of the Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales' Own) and 14th/20th King's Hussars)
  The Light Dragoons (amalgamation of 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars)
  The Queen's Royal Lancers (amalgamation of 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers and 17th/21st Lancers)
  The Royal Logistic Corps (The Corps will form in April 1993 by the amalgamation of the Royal Corps of Transport; the Royal Army Ordnance Corps; the Royal Pioneer Corps; the Army Catering Corps; and the Postal and Courier Service, Corps of Royal Engineers; as announced in "Britain's Army for the 90s" (Cm 1595) published in July 1991).
  The titles of other new regiments will be announced when decisions have been taken.

  Army Districts
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in restructuring Army districts.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Wales and Western district is operational, and the new eastern district will be formed in April this year. I can now confirm that the last phase of restructuring will also take effect from April this year, when it is intended that the existing south-east and south-west districts will be amalgamated to form southern district, with its headquarters in Aldershot.

  The new structure will therefore comprise five Districts —Scotland, eastern, Wales and western, Southern and London.

  Implications for civilian staff employed within the new southern District will be the subject of consultation with the trade unions.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.

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

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fire Service College
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student places have been confirmed for(a) local authority financed brigades and (b) industrial and overseas courses at the Fire Service college for the year beginning April 1992; how many student weeks each of these two categories represents; and if he will make a statement on the financial position of the college.

  Mr. John Patten
  Three thousand, three hundred and forty eight places covering 13,019 student weeks have so far been confirmed for local authority fire brigades for the year from 1 April 1992. One hundred and sixty nine places covering 263 student weeks have been confirmed for the industrial and overseas sectors, others being held in reserve until the full demand from the local authority sector, the college's primary customer, is known and met. This position is consistent with the college's business plan, by which it aims to meet its expenditure wholly from income, provide high quality training and deliver good value for money.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in police cells committed acts of self-injury or attempted suicide in 1991.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not recorded centrally.

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Data Protection Registrar has studied the privacy implications that arise from the combination of publicly available council tax information with(a) the sale of the electoral register, (b) public extracts of the community charge register, (c) anonymised census information and (d) county court judgments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The enforcement of the Data Protection Act 1984 is a matter for the Data Protection Registrar, the data protection tribunal and, ultimately the courts. I understand, however, that the registrar is currently studying certain data-matching issues.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what is the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Home Office has 151 systems processing personal data registered under the Data Protection Act 1984. All Home Office systems processing such data are registered under the Act and are used as described in their registration. That procedure will apply also to any new systems which may be brought into use in the future.

  Electoral Registration Form
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce an electoral registration form which has a statement indicating that a voter's personal data can be used and disclosed without the knowledge and consent of the voter.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. The only information taken from the electoral registration form which is published is that which is requried for the register of electors. The purpose of the electoral register is to provide a comprehensive and publicly available list of the names and addresses of those who are eligible to vote. Since the register is a public document, making the information contained in it available cannot be held to constitute a breach of confidentiality.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he has had with representatives from organisations about the contents of the proposed European directive on data protection; how many meetings were with organisations representing the interests of data users; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Ministers have had two, and officials a number of, meetings with organisations which asked to see the Home Office. All represented data users.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards agreement on the proposed European directive on data protection.
  443
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Discussions in the Council's working group continue. The European Parliament is considering the draft directive. The European Commission is expected to produce a revised draft in the light of the views of the European Parliament.

  Data Protection (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each prosecution brought under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1984 since 1987, detailing the nature of the offence, the section of the Act used, the year, and whether the prosecution was successful; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Prosecutions brought under the Act by the Data Protection Registrar are listed in his fifth, sixth and seventh annual reports to Parliament. Prosecutions under the Act initiated by the Director of Public Prosecutions are not separately listed.

  Isobutylnitrite
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions are in force for the sale of the chemical isobutylnitrate; and if he will add it to the list of solvents known to be damaging to children.

  Mr. John Patten
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the chemical known as isobutylnitrite; it is one of a group of chemicals known as alkylnitrites. Isobutylnitrite—which currently has no licit medical use—is not strictly speaking a solvent, but it can be misused by inhalation of its vapours. Sales of intoxicating substances are regulated by the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 which makes it an offence for people such as retailers to sell or supply intoxicating substances to persons under 18 who they believe intend to misuse them. The Act has no specific list of chemicals: there is a wide range of everyday products which can be misused by inhalation. The Government have provided funding for Re-Solv, which has issued guidance leaflets to retailers advising them how to recognise signs that a young person may be misusing such substances and how to refuse to sell them. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has recommended against bringing alkylnitrites under the control of the misuse of drugs legislation as their use in the community does not appear to pose a serious social problem.

  Malicious Communications Act 1988
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 in(a) 1990 and (b)

  Mr. John Patten
  In England and Wales in 1989, there were 49 prosecutions under the Malicious Communications Act 1988. Information collected centrally for 1990 does not identify offences committed under this specific Act from other summary offences. 1991 data are not yet available.

  Data Protection (European Directive)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the position of each of the other EC countries with respect to the content 444
  of the proposed European directive on data protection in relation to (a) the inclusion of manual files in the directive, (b) the consent requirements, (c) the inclusion of personal data held for national security purposes and (d) the proposals with respect to direct mail and profiling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It would not be appropriate to attempt to describe the position of each member state on each of these issues. Discussion in the Council's working group has shown that some countries tend to favour the approach taken by the Commission's draft directive (SYN 287), which includes manual files and provisions for notification and consent of the data subject. Other countries, have been arguing for a directive closer to the Council of Europe's convention 108 on data processing, which applies only to computerised personal data and does not have consent provisions as such; and other countries favour an element of both approaches.

  Data Protection Registrar (Briefing Materials)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the titles of the briefing materials presented to the Data Protection Registrar in relation to(a) TREVI, (b) Schengen, (c) the DNA database and (d) the new Police National Computer.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I understand that the Data Protection Registrar has received correspondence and documents relating to European police, immigration and customs systems, the keeping of DNA records and the new police national computer. It would not be appropriate or practicable to list correspondence and documents by title.

  Drugs Seizures
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of successful seizures of illegal drugs in the past five years have been made(a) by police and (b) by customs officers.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is contained in table 2.3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of the misuse of drugs: seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1990", a copy of which is in the Library. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Crime (Tower Hamlets)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of burglaries of(a) domestic dwellings and (b) all other buildings in Tower Hamlets for each year between 1985 and 1990.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in Tower Hamlets for each year from 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information for Tower Hamlets is given in the following table.

  Notifiable offences recorded in Tower Hamlets 1985–90

  Burglary

  Year

  In dwelling

  Other building

  Total notifiable offences

  1985

  1—

  1—

  23,967

  1986

  2,484

  2,574

  27,797

  1987

  2,586

  2,305

  25,342

  445

  Burglary

  Year

  In dwelling

  Other building

  Total notifiable offences

  1988

  2,256

  1,931

  23,914

  1989

  2,549

  2,148

  26,218

  1990

  2,463

  2,163

  25,998

  1 Not readily available.

  West Indies
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Trinidad and Tobago, (b) Guyana, (c) Barbados and (d) Jamaica have (i) been admitted and (ii) been refused admittance and removed each month during the period January to December 1991.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Selected nationalities admitted to, and refused leave to enter and removed from, the United Kingdom in 1991.

  Number of persons

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  Trinidad and Tobago

  January1

  1,110

  7

  February1

  800

  13

  March1

  1,100

  7

  April

  1,160

  6

  May

  1,160

  6

  June

  1,710

  4

  July

  2,000

  4

  August

  2,090

  1

  September

  1,680

  4

  October

  1,390

  7

  November

  950

  4

  December

  ..

  7

  Year

  ..

  70

  Guyana

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  January1

  300

  3

  February1

  300

  4

  March1

  380

  6

  April

  340

  1

  May

  450

  6

  June

  490

  7

  July

  610

  2

  August

  830

  5

  September

  590

  7

  October

  470

  8

  November

  370

  3

  December

  n/a

  5

  Year

  n/a

  57

  n/a =Not available.

  Bardados

  Total admitted

  Total refused admitted leave to enter and remove

  January1

  360

  5

  February1

  250

  3

  March1

  400

  2

  April

  500

  2

  446

  Bardados

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and remove

  May

  590

  1

  June

  1,010

  5

  July

  1,200

  4

  August

  1,060

  1

  September

  830

  2

  October

  590

  —

  November

  460

  1

  December

  n/a

  —

  Year

  n/a

  26

  n/a=Not available.

  Jamaica

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  January1

  1,700

  33

  February1

  1,340

  32

  March1

  1,650

  37

  April

  1,770

  34

  May

  2,040

  36

  June

  2,800

  32

  July

  3,240

  50

  August

  3,210

  12

  September

  2,640

  28

  October

  1,880

  33

  November

  1,730

  26

  December

  n.a.

  39

  Year

  n.a.

  392

  1 Admissions data have been revised.

  n.a. Not yet available.

  Passports
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist to enable embassies and high commissions in the United Kingdom, where they have received an application from one of their nationals for a replacement passport, to consult local police forces to establish whether a report has been received of a lost passport or other details about the applicant.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Anyone reporting a lost or stolen passport to a local police station will receive a unique reference number specific to that report. This will enable an embassy or high commission to confirm with the police force concerned that a report was made of a lost or stolen passport. No other details about an applicant would be relevant to such an inquiry.

  Life Sentences (Parole)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations by the Parole Board for the releases on parole or licence of prisoners serving life sentences have been(a) accepted and (b) rejected by him in each year since 1981.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information on the numbers of life sentence prisoners recommended as suitable for release by the Parole Board and the numbers of those recommendations not accepted by Home Secretaries is published in successive annual reports of the Parole Board. For convenience, the figures for 1981–90, which include re-releases following a period in prison after recall from a previous licence, are set out in the table. Parole Board
  447
  recommendations of "suitable for release" have been for dates ranging from the immediate future to up to two and a half years ahead.

  Life sentence prisoners recommended for release by the Parole Board 1981–90

  Year of recommendation

  Recommended

  Not accepted by Home Secretary

  1981

  147

  4

  1982

  144

  5

  1983

  121

  16

  1984

  112

  10

  1985

  94

  16

  1986

  120

  14

  1987

  147

  23

  1988

  91

  13

  1989

  119

  15

  1990

  138

  41

  Mr. Abdul Farooq
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the post in Islamabad was advised to issue a visa to Mr. Abdul Farooq Ref. TH/14646/90, to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Walvis Bay
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 432 regarding Walvis bay; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking in pursuit of this policy.

  Mrs. Chalker
  When voting in favour of UN Security Council resolution 432, we stated that this issue was best resolved through bilateral negotiation between the Governments of Namibia and South Africa. We have urged the South African Government to negotiate constructively, and welcome the progress made since bilateral talks commenced in March 1991.

  Angola
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on his policy towards the achievement of a settlement in Angola and the representations which he is making to the parties involved.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We attach importance to the convening of free and fair elections in September 1992 in completion of the settlement agreed in Portugal on 31 May 1991 which ended the Angolan civil war. We have regular discussions with both sides, and are assisting in the formation of a new integrated army to help bring stability to the country.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on his policy towards the achievement of a settlement in Mozambique and the representations which he is making to the parties involved.
  448
  Mrs. Chalker
  We seek the earliest possible end to the fighting in Mozambique and have been encouraged by recent progress in the peace talks in Rome. We are members of the joint verification commission, which was set up to monitor the partial ceasefire agreement of 1 December 1990, and have participated in European Community démarches to both parties encouraging them to reach early agreement. In addition to regular bilateral contact with the Mozambican Government, we have urged RENAMO to adhere to the partial ceasefire and reach an early comprehensive settlement.

  Civil Rights
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take into account the civil rights record of a country and, in particular, its use of capital punishment and the persecution of any group of people in respect of their sexual orientation, ethnic background, religion or minority status before he establishes or re-establishes diplomatic relations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  When considering whether to establish or re-establish diplomatic relations with a country, we judge each case on its merits.

  Qaiser Khan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be made on the application of Qaiser Khan, Ref. CON/3343, to the post in Islamabad for British citizenship; when his application was submitted; when he was interviewed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Qaiser Khan's application form, which was dated 9 October 1989, was submitted to the British high commission at Islamabad on 6 December 1989. In interview on 27 February 1990, the family were asked to produce a further document in support of the application. To date, that document has not been received and the application therefore remains pending.

  I have asked the high commission for a full report on the case and will write to the hon. Member when it is to hand.

  Albania
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the United Kingdom has made to the special account for emergency aid for Albania, opened by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have been asked to reply.

  In conjunction with the local authority associations, the Government launched an appeal on 4 February to help Albanian schoolchildren. Aimed at schools and other educational institutions, the appeal seeks their help in providing a number of essential items such as paper, exercise books, books, pens, pencils and educational toys. Feed the Children, a charity operating in Albania, is administering the day-to-day running of the appeal with financial assistance from the Government towards the administrative costs of collection, storage, transportation and distribution of the material raised.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  East Timor
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral answer of the Minister for Overseas Development on 9 December,Official Report, column 607, on East Timor, what review has taken place of the United Kingdom aid programme to Indonesia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As far as new commitments are concerned, following the shootings in East Timor on 12 November, we concluded that projects already agreed would continue as planned.

  We also concluded that projects under our technical assistance programme should continue to be developed as planned. The next major such project is in support of primary education.

  As for capital aid, the second concessional loan with Indonesia expired in August 1991. No decisions have been made about a successor agreement.

  Development Market Research
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will adopt development market research for the design and implementation of development projects in Overseas Development Administration activities;

  (2) what is the policy of the Overseas Development Administration on the use of market and opinion research in relevant target areas when evaluating the feasibility of development projects;

  (3) if he will consider the use of the "Training Manual for Development Market Research Investigators" recently published by the BBC World Service to benefit aid projects in which Britain is involved.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Aid projects in developing countries are very varied in nature. The Overseas Development Administration takes forecast demand, users' willingness to pay and the views and opinions of people affected into consideration in designing and appraising projects, as appropriate. The techniques used are numerous and are constantly being refined. They could, in some instances, involve procedures used in market research, including those used by the BBC.

  Angola
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding Overseas Development Administration spending in Angola.

  Mrs. Chalker
  British bilateral aid to Angola totalled £1·2 million in 1990. It was divided more or less equally between food and other emergency aid and technical co-operation, mainly in support of English language teaching. The attainment of peace in Angola has opened the prospect of a more substantial aid involvement and present plans include assistance for the forthcoming elections, support for the resettlement of refugees, displaced persons and ex-combatants and continued assistance with the teaching of English, with which we are particularly well placed to help.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding Overseas Development Administration spending in Mozambique.

  Mrs. Chalker
  British bilateral aid to Mozambique totalled £25·4 million in 1990. Of that, £12 million was in the form of balance-of-payments assistance in support of the continuing programme of economic reform, while project aid—devoted primarily to the rehabilitation of transport infrastructure—and technical co-operation
  mainly in the form of manpower assistance, consultancies and training, accounted for some £3 million each. A further £6 million took the form of food and other emergency aid in response to the long-standing emergency. Expenditure is likely to remain substantial in the period immediately ahead.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he intends to take to advertise the new disability allowances; and at what time of day he intends adverts to be screened on television.

  Mr. Scott
  The advertising campaign for disability living allowance and disability working allowance commenced on 5 February. The campaign includes television commercials, supported by advertising in the national, local, specialist and ethnic press, as well as a number of other publications. The television commercials are being shown at various times throughout the day and evening, on both ITV and Channel 4. The current schedule is available in the Library. The advertisements invite people to telephone a freephone number or send off a coupon to a freepost address to obtain the "Guide to New Benefits for Disabled People".

  The advertisements form part of a larger publicity campaign targeted at disabled people, carers, advisers and health professionals. As part of this campaign, we have written to over 1 million existing beneficiaries of attendance allowance and mobility allowance to let them know about the benefit changes and how to claim extra help, if appropriate. We are also writing to organisations of and for disabled people, advisers and health professionals—such as doctors, nurses and therapists—telling them about the benefits and how they can help their clients and patients to claim. We are also making use of the new out-of-hours service BBC Select to broadcast a series of information programmes about DLA and DWA.

  The key materials—including the commercials and advertisements—have been researched with disabled people, and the campaign has been prepared in liaison with representatives of organisations of and for disabled people.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what training and advice has been given to staff in preparation for the introduction of the new disability allowances on 15 April.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the new disability benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief
  451
  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.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to ensure that the personal expenses allowance for those in residential care or nursing homes is ring-fenced from being used to meet shortfalls between the maximum income support limit and the weekly residential care charge.

  Miss Widdecombe
  How the personal expenses allowance is used is a matter for the claimant. From April 1993, local authorities will ensure that people placed under the new community care arrangements will retain an amount of their income for personal expenses.

  Terminal Illness
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the definition of terminal illness used for those cared for in hospices and residential care nursing homes deemed eligible for the higher income support limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  People staying in a nursing home which is able to provide a level of care appropriate to someone suffering from a terminal illness may receive the terminal illness limit if they are actually receiving such care.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people would benefit by increasing the retirement pension for a single pensioner by £5 in each constituency in Merseyside and in the constituencies of Ellesmere Port and Neston; Chester; Warrington, South; Halton; and Lancashire, West;

  (2) how many couples would gain by an increase in the retirement pension for a married couple in each Merseyside constituency and in the constituencies of Ellesmere Port and Neston; Chester; Warrington, South; Halton; and Lancashire, West.

  Miss Widdecombe
  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.

  Community Charge
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would benefit and on average by how much from abolition of the 20 per cent. minimum rule for the payment of the community charge as it affects people in receipt of benefit in each Merseyside constituency and in the constituencies of Ellesmere Port and Neston; Chester; Warrington, South; Halton; and Lancashire, West.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information relates to August 1991, and at that time about 287,000 people were receiving community charge benefit on Merseyside as a whole, of which about 155,000 were in receipt of income support. Abolishing the 20 per cent. community charge contribution by awarding maximum 452
  rebates of 100 per cent. of liability would help all those currently receiving benefit. In addition, a number of people would become entitled to benefit for the first time. In the Merseyside area as a whole, the 20 per cent. contribution is currently estimated to be £1·13 a week and, assuming no reduction in the amounts currently included in income-related benefit levels to help towards the 20 per cent. contribution, all current benefit recipients would gain to this extent.

  Information concerning the individual constituencies requested is not available.

  Source: August 1991 Management Information System.

  Pensions
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate as to the effect on future funds of the Maastricht pensions protocol overriding the Barber judgment on equal treatment in pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The protocol to article 119 of the treaty of Rome, which was agreed at Maastricht, is intended to clarify the retrospective effect of the Barber judgment—it does not overturn the judgment. The full implications of the protocol are still being considered.

  Private Nursing Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what qualifications and training adjudication officers have in order to establish whether claimants in receipt of income support towards private nursing care(a) actually require such care and (b) are in receipt of it;

  (2) what steps are taken by adjudication officers to confirm that in addition to residing in private nursing homes, claimants of income support towards private nursing care are (a) in receipt of such care and (b) actually in need of such care.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support 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.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how social fund budgets are adapted to meet increased demands arising from increased unemployment; and what account is taken of regional trends in unemployment in setting the budgets.

  Mr. Scott
  The trend in unemployment is one of the factors taken into account during our routine reviews of the amounts allocated to the national and district social fund budgets. These reviews have resulted in total increases of £49·6 million to the discretionary budget in 1991–92.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the remaining social fund budget of the Wakefield district Benefits Agency office.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund 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.
  453
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of successful claims for the last three years for which figures were available for(a) social fund loans and (b) social fund grants in (i) Wakefield, (ii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iii) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Scott
  Such information as is available is in the Library.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is taken to assist benefit agency offices when increased claims exceed social fund budgets during any financial year.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund 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.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in 1991–92 are liable to pay national insurance contributions who have earnings between the lower earnings limit and £64·80 per week in Great Britain.

  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated that, on average, some 600,000 people with weekly earnings between the lower earnings limit and £64·80 will be liable to pay national insurance contributions in 1991–92.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the current lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions if revalued from its 1980 level in line with earnings; and how many people have weekly earnings between this figure and the current lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Jack
  If the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions had been revalued in line with the increase in earnings since 1980, its present level would be £64. It is estimated that nearly 600,000 people have weekly earnings between this figure and the current lower earnings limit of £52.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the calculated public expenditure on benefits and grants to local authorities for benefit subsidy for rate rebates in England and Wales, and community charge benefit in Scotland, for income support claimants in Great Britain in 1989–90.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Outturn figures are not available in the form requested. However, we estimate that rate rebate subsidy paid to local authorities in England and Wales in respect of income support claimants for 1989–90 was about £730 million. The comparable estimate of benefit subsidy for community charge rebates in Scotland is £120 million.

  Local Office, Stratford
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details of the refurbishment programme for the Jubilee department of social security offices in Stratford, London E15.
  454
  Miss Widdecombe
  The planning for the refurbishment of local DSS offices is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available, and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the policy of the Child Support Agency on demanding maintenance payments from former husbands regardless of whether a former wife has asked for such payments or whether a court has imposed a maintenance order in cases where the former wife is claiming income support.

  Mr. Jack
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 January 1992, c. 469–470]Incorrect information was given in the reply. The correct information is as follows:

  From April 1993, the Child Support Agency will take over from the courts the main responsibility for obtaining maintenance for children. It will provide a service for use by all families for whom child maintenance is an issue whether they are on benefit or not. Where the parent with care of a child claims income support, family credit or disability working allowance provisions in the Child Support Act 1991 mean that she will be expected to authorise the Child Support Agency to take maintenance action for her child. The agency will not act without such authorisation. Experience shows that most parents wish to co-operate in arranging financial support for the benefit of their children. It is very much in the child's interest that both parents should do what they can to support their child.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  House of Commons Services
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what arrangements will be made for answering hon. Members' questions relating to the services of the House, following the appointment of the new committees recommended in Sir Robin Ibbs' report on House of Commons services.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I intend in the near future to make a minor change in the question rota consequent upon the replacement of the Services Committee by the Finance and Services Committee and the new Domestic Committees. After consultation with the House of Commons Commission, I have agreed that a small amount of time should be set aside for oral questions to the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee, who will respond in particular to questions concerning the estimates for House of Commons expenditure (which will be prepared under his Committee's supervision), the financial performance of Departments of the House, and the financial implications of any new or expanded services which may be proposed by the committees appointed under Standing Order No. 125 (Domestic Committees).

  In order to accommodate these questions without further consequential changes to the rest of the question rota, I intend to arrange for questions to the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee to be taken every

  455
  third Monday at 3.20 pm, with questions to the Lord President of the Council as Leader of the House following at 3.25 pm.

  Questions to the Member answering on behalf of the House of Commons Commission will continue to be taken every sixth Monday, at 3.15 pm.

  In addition, following the replacement of the Services Committee by individual Domestic Committees, Questions concerning the exercise of the responsibilities of those Committees should be tabled for written answer to the Chairman of the Committee concerned.

  I shall, of course, continue to answer questions on a wide range of matters as Leader of the House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what data information systems his office has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking

  Number of available beds for mental illness

  Greater Manchester health districts

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1Community reprovision

  Bolton

  227

  226

  244

  0

  Bury

  117

  133

  128

  7

  North Manchester

  321

  298

  271

  19

  Central Manchester

  84

  87

  88

  21

  South Manchester

  242

  220

  206

  1

  Oldham

  199

  203

  190

  20

  Rochdale

  132

  132

  136

  0

  Salford

  1,018

  903

  788

  128

  Stockport

  286

  269

  273

  0

  Tameside and Glossop

  185

  145

  169

  19

  Trafford

  150

  130

  119

  8

  Wigan

  290

  277

  238

  30

  Total

  3,231

  3,023

  2,850

  253

  1Source: District Purchasing Plans Quarterly Monitoring Community 1991–92.

  456
  part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Duchy of Lancaster office has a data information system for routine administrative purposes. It is not linked to any other computer system. The office is bound by the Data Protection Act 1984 to the extent specified in section 38 of the Act.

HEALTH

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total number of beds available in the NHS hospitals in the Greater Manchester area, for the treatment of mental illness in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is as follows:

  Management Executive
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the present organisational structure of the NHS management executive with the numbers of staff involved in each directorate area and division within their grades.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The present structure of the NHS management executive and the numbers of staff involved are shown in the tables.

  NHS Management Executive Staff in Post on 1 January 1992

  Chief Executive and Directors

  Number

  Grade 1a

  1

  Grade 2

  6

  Principal Nursing Officer

  1

  Total

  18

  1non-executive Director

  Corporate Affairs Directorate

  Central Management of the Management Executive

  Number

  Grade 5

  2

  Senion Medical Officer

  1

  Grade 7

  6·5

  Senior Executive Officer

  6

  Higher Executive Officer

  15

  Executive Officer

  13

  Administrative Officer

  7

  Administrative Assistant

  5

  Personal Secretary

  4

  Typist

  1

  Total

  60·5

  Policy unit

  Number

  Grade 5

  1

  Senior Executive Officer

  1

  Personal Secretary

  1

  Total

  3

  Information management group

  Number

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  2

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  15

  Senior Executive Officer

  19

  Higher Executive Officer

  16

  Executive Officer

  12

  Administrative Officer

  11

  Administrative Assistant

  4

  Personal Secretary

  5

  Consultants

  39

  NHS Technical and Administrative Support

  34

  TOTAL

  160

  Economic and operational research

  Number

  Grade 5

  2

  Grade 7

  7

  Economic Assistant/Senior Economic Assistant

  3

  458

  Economic and operational research

  Number

  Senior/Higher/Scientific Officer

  3

  Executive Officer

  1

  Personal Secretary

  1

  TOTAL

  17

  Personnel and Resources in the Management Executive

  Number

  Grade 5

  1

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  4

  Senior Executive Officer

  2

  Higher Executive Officer

  13

  Executive Officer

  12

  Administrative Officer

  5

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  Personal Secretary

  2

  Total

  43

  Performance Management Directorate

  Number

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 4

  2

  Grade 5

  5

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  21

  Senior Executive Officer

  1

  Higher Executive Officer

  15

  Executive Officer

  16

  Administrative Officer

  7

  Administrative Assistant

  5

  Senior Personal Secretary

  4

  Personal Secretary

  7

  Total

  86

  Research and Development Directorate

  Number

  Grade 4

  1

  Grade 5

  1

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  2

  Senior Executive Officer

  2

  Higher Executive Officer

  6

  Executive Officer

  4

  Administrative Officer

  6

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  Personal Secretary

  1

  Total

  29

  Finance and Corporate Information Directorate

  Number

  Finance

  Grade 3

  1·0

  Grade 5

  4·0

  Grade 6

  2·0

  Grade 7

  14·5

  Senior Executive Officer

  5·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  22·0

  Executive Officer

  17·0

  Administrative Officer

  15·5

  Administrative Assistant

  3·0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1·0

  Personal Secretary

  6·0

  Total

  90·0

  459

  Corporate Information

  Number

  Grade 5

  2·0

  Grade 6

  3·0

  Grade 7

  15·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  3·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  11·0

  Executive Officer

  14·0

  Administrative Officer

  5·0

  Administrative Assistant

  2·0

  Personal Secretary

  2·0

  Total

  47·0

  Health Care Directorate

  Number

  Medical manpower and education

  Grade 3

  1·0

  Grade 5

  4·0

  Grade 7

  4·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  2·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  5·0

  Executive officer

  9·0

  Administrative Officer

  2·0

  Administrative Assistant

  2·0

  Personal Secretary

  3·0

  Senior personal Secretary

  1·0

  Typist

  1·0

  Total

  34·0

  Number

  Services development

  Grade 3

  2·0

  Grade 5

  6·5

  Grade 6

  2·5

  Grade 7

  11·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  5·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  9·0

  Executive Officer

  13·0

  Administrative Officer

  10·0

  Administrative Assistant

  3·0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  3·0

  Personal Secretary

  7·0

  Typist

  1·0

  Total

  73·0

  Number

  Public health

  Grade 3

  1·0

  Grade 5

  4·5

  Higher Executive Officer

  2·0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1·0

  Personal Secretary

  2·5

  Total

  11·0

  Nursing Directorate

  Number

  Grade 3

  1·0

  Grade 5

  1·0

  Grade 6

  13·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  1·0

  Executive Officer

  0·6

  Administrative Officer

  1·0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1·0

  Personal Secretary

  8·0

  Total

  26·6

  460

  Personnel Directorate

  Personnel development division (including NHS Women's Unit)

  Number

  Grade 3

  1·0

  Grade 5

  2·0

  Grade 6

  1·0

  Grade 7

  ·5

  Senior Executive Officer

  3·5

  Higher Executive Officer

  5·0

  Executive Officer

  3·0

  Administrative Officer

  3·0

  Administrative Assistant

  1·0

  Personal Secretary

  1·0

  Total

  21

  Health Authority Personnel (including HAP Statistics)

  Number

  Grade 3

  1·0

  Grade 4

  1·0

  Grade 5

  4·0

  Grade 6

  2·0

  Grade 7

  12·5

  Senior Executive Officer

  9·5

  Higher Executive Officer

  26·0

  Executive Officer

  31·5

  Administrative Officer

  25·0

  Administrative Assistant

  9·0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  2·0

  Personal Secretary

  5·0

  Typist

  2·0

  Total

  130·5

  Health authority superannuation branch

  Number

  Grade 6

  1·0

  Grade 7

  4·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  12·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  32·0

  Executive Officer

  102·0

  Administrative Officer

  277·0

  Administrative Assistant

  106·5

  Personal Secretary

  1·0

  Support Manager Grade 3

  1·0

  Support Grade Band 1

  8·0

  Support Grade Band 2

  46·0

  Typist

  13·5

  TOTAL

  604·0

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the numbers of staff employed on the NHS management executive, and the cost of salary ranges of such staff(a) before the functions review took place and (b) at the present time.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Before the functions review took place there was a chief executive and nine directors, plus one part-time non-executive director, on the NHS management executive at an annual cost of £719,492. The salary range was £44,205 to £85,447. One director was on secondment for whose services a fee is paid. Following the functions review there is the chief executive and seven directors plus one part-time non-executive director. The annual cost is £591,614 and the salary range is £44,205 to £85,447, with a fee paid in respect of one director.

  Local Authority Secure Places
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many approved local authority secure places were available in the northern region on 1 January 1985 and on the same date in each succeeding year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information collected centrally relates to the position at 31 March, and is shown in the table.

  Number of approved places available in secure units in the Northern Region

  Year

  Number of approved places available at 31 March

  1985

  51

  1986

  53

  1987

  53

  1988

  53

  1989

  58

  1990

  55

  11991

  49

  1 Provisional.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what external audit requirements he has imposed on NHS trusts and companies and trade subsidiaries linked to trusts; and whether he has required external auditors to report on the financial performance and prospects of trusts and their related companies and financial subsidiaries to him, to the trust directors, to Parliament and to the public.

  Mr. Dorrell
  NHS trusts will be externally audited by the Audit Commission. External auditors will certify public annual financial statements to ensure that they represent a true and fair view of the state of affairs of a NHS trust and of its income and expenditure for the year in question.

  NHS trusts are firmly part of the NHS and will therefore be included in the Audit Commission's programme of NHS value for money studies.

  Financial statements will be adopted by the boards of NHS trusts, and presented to the general public at annual meetings. Summarised accounts will be laid before Parliament.

  NHS trusts have no powers to set up subsidiary or trading companies.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reporting requirements he has laid on NHS trusts for financial information; what information he has required them to produce in public annual financial reports; and if he will require them to produce information on salary ranges and other data analogous to that in company reports.

  Mr. Dorrell
  All NHS trusts are required to produce financial information for NHS management executive monitoring purposes on a quarterly basis. Published annual financial statements for each trust will generally follow commercial disclosure requirements. They will show the number of employees receiving remuneration of over £40,000 in bands of £5,000. They will also show the emoluments of the highest paid board member separately and the number of board members receiving emoluments in bands of £5,000 with no lower limit.
  462
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how often he proposes to report the statistical returns from NHS trusts to Parliament; in what form employment returns will be reported; and whether NHS trust employment continues to be included in the overall returns for district, regional and national NHS hospital and community health service data.

  Mr. Dorrell
  NHS trusts are required to return the same kind of data to the management executive as other provider units, that is, activity data, and manpower information. The latter is in the form of the numbers of medical and non-medical staff employed and the numbers joining and leaving. This information forms part of the national aggregated NHS data returns. It is not routinely reported to Parliament but is included in statistical publications such as statistical bulletins and the annual volume "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what internal audit requirements he has imposed on NHS trusts; whether he has required asset sales and acquisitions to be reported to him and the trust board; and whether he has required companies and trading subsidiaries linked to NHS trusts to report to him and the trust board, Parliament and the public.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The trust management is responsible for ensuring that an adequate internal audit function is established. The objectives and scope of internal audit within the trust should be based upon the principles described in the NHS internal audit manual. External auditors will report on the adequacy of financial controls, including internal audit, within NHS trusts.

  Trusts are required to submit details of major capital expenditure and asset sales on a quarterly basis to the NHS management executive. NHS trust boards will determine what management information they require to ensure that they meet their statutory financial duties.

  Trusts will prepare annual financial statements to be adopted by the board, submitted to the NHS management executive, and presented to the general public at annual meetings. Summarised accounts will be laid before Parliament.

  NHS trusts have no power to set up subsidiary or trading companies.

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the items of data that comprise the contract minimum data set; what representations his Department has received as to whether the current procedures surrounding the security of the data set are adequate; what plans he has to indemnify health authorities should an individual be awarded compensation for the damage caused by breach of security; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The data items that comprise the general in-patient contract minimum data set are set out in the list.

  Contract minimum data set general in-patients

  Contract Details

  Contract Identifier

  Patient Details

  Patient's name

  463

  Patient's Usual Address

  HA Code (Of Residence)

  Sex

  Marital Status

  Birth Date

  Code of GP (Registered)

  Provider Spell Details

  Code of GP (Referring)

  Code of GP Practice

  Category of Patient

  Decided to Admit Date

  Start Date (Hospital Provider Spell)

  Admission Method

  Duration of Elective Wait

  Intended Management

  Source of Admission

  End Date (Hospital Provider Spell)

  Discharge Method

  Discharge Destination

  Patient Classification

  Chronically Sick or Disabled

  Consultant Episode Details

  Local Patient Identifier

  Episode Number

  Start Date (Consultant Episode)

  End Date (Consultant Episode)

  Overseas Visitor Status

  Specialty

  Specialty (Shared Care Episode)

  Code of Consultant

  Code of Consultant (Shared Care Episode)

  Patient Diagnosis:

  Primary

  Subsidiary (if necessary)

  (1-5)

  Patient Operative Procedure:

  Primary Operation

  Procedure Code

  Date

  Member of Consultant Firm (Surgeon)

  Member of Consultant Firm (Anaesthetist)

  2nd Operation—4th Operation

  (As above)

  The Department has not received any representations specifically about the procedures for the secure handling of the contract minimum data set. Ensuring the security of personal health information is a prime concern of the Department of the medical profession and of NHS Managers. We are currently exploring whether steps need be taken further to strengthen security in the handling of those data sets.

  There are no plans to indemnify health authorities in the event of compensation being awarded as a result of a breach of security.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the Police National Computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has a large number of data information systems. It would not be possible to fully document these other than at disproportionate cost. Where appropriate departmental systems are registered 464
  under the Data Protection Act 1984. Where there is a requirement to link to other computer systems the provisions of the Act are taken fully into account.

  Anti-depressant Drugs
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure per head of population on general practitioner prescribed anti-depressant drugs in each NHS region and family health service authority area for the second half of 1991; and what were the corresponding figures for equivalent periods in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information for 1991 is not yet available. The figures for 1988, 1989 and 1990 are given in the table.

  Anti-depressants Cost per head of population

  FHSA Regional health authority

  1988 £

  1989 £

  1990 £

  Cleveland

  0·90

  1·04

  1·16

  Cumbria

  0·88

  1·15

  1·02

  Durham

  1·09

  0·97

  1·13

  Northumberland

  0·98

  0·93

  0·85

  Gateshead

  0·83

  1·11

  1·37

  Newcastle

  1·00

  1·13

  1·29

  North Tyneside

  1·00

  1·00

  1·37

  South Tyneside

  0·79

  0·89

  1·02

  Sunderland

  0·66

  0·71

  0·82

  Northern regional health authority

  0·92

  1·00

  1·10

  Humberside

  0·71

  0·83

  0·87

  North Yorkshire

  0·64

  0·88

  0·81

  Bradford

  0·80

  1·02

  0·95

  Calderdale

  0·87

  0·76

  1·17

  Kirklees

  0·70

  0·76

  1·17

  Leeds

  1·04

  1·41

  1·17

  Wakefield

  0·77

  0·81

  1·30

  Yorkshire regional health authority

  0·79

  0·97

  1·01

  Derbyshire

  0·63

  0·70

  0·82

  Leicester

  0·69

  0·65

  0·84

  Lincoln

  0·67

  0·70

  0·71

  Nottinghamshire

  0·56

  0·60

  0·72

  Barnsley

  0·55

  0·94

  1·14

  Doncaster

  0·65

  0·74

  0·84

  Rotherham

  0·74

  0·86

  0·88

  Sheffield

  0·83

  0·86

  0·90

  Trent regional health authority

  0·66

  0·71

  0·82

  Cambridgeshire

  0·42

  0·50

  0·81

  Norfolk

  0·60

  0·72

  0·93

  Suffolk

  0·67

  0·83

  0·79

  East Anglia RHA

  0·56

  0·69

  0·85

  Bedford

  0·49

  0·59

  0·84

  Hertfordshire

  0·60

  0·61

  0·82

  Barnet

  0·52

  0·56

  0·69

  Brent and Harrow

  0·56

  0·44

  0·56

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  0·45

  0·64

  0·87

  Hillingdon

  0·63

  0·72

  0·72

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  0·64

  0·84

  1·09

  North West Thames RHA

  0·55

  0·61

  0·80

  Essex

  0·57

  0·62

  0·76

  Barking and Havering

  0·54

  0·59

  0·60

  Camden and Islington

  1·04

  0·68

  0·92

  City and East London

  0·50

  0·63

  0·78

  Enfield and Harringey

  0·67

  0·52

  0·49

  465

  FHSA Regional health authority

  1988 £

  1989 £

  1990 £

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0·42

  0·69

  0·78

  North East Thames RHA

  0·59

  0·62

  0·73

  East Sussex

  0·65

  0·77

  0·95

  Kent

  0·64

  0·75

  0·82

  Bexley and Greenwich

  0·41

  0·51

  0·47

  Bromley

  0·61

  0·60

  1·00

  Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark

  0·62

  0·62

  0·71

  South East Thames RHA

  0·61

  0·69

  0·80

  Surrey

  0·69

  0·81

  0·81

  West Sussex

  0·61

  0·56

  0·89

  Croydon

  0·76

  0·88

  0·69

  Kingston and Richmond

  0·71

  0·70

  0·88

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0·61

  0·70

  0·78

  South West Thames RHA

  0·66

  0·72

  0·82

  Dorset

  0·80

  0·83

  0·91

  Hampshire

  0·73

  0·75

  0·90

  Wiltshire

  0·74

  0·95

  0·95

  Isle of Wight

  0·89

  0·91

  0·80

  Wessex RHA

  0·75

  0·81

  0·91

  Berkshire

  0·64

  0·58

  0·72

  Buckinghamshire

  0·59

  0·55

  0·54

  Northamptonshire

  0·53

  0·57

  0·63

  Oxfordshire

  0·41

  0·42

  0·57

  Oxford RHA

  0·55

  0·53

  0·62

  Avon

  0·58

  0·74

  0·80

  Cornwall

  0·47

  0·70

  0·79

  Devon

  0·69

  0·81

  0·92

  Gloucester

  0·74

  0·76

  0·96

  Somerset

  0·65

  0·83

  0·69

  South Western RHA

  0·63

  0·77

  0·84

  Hereford and Worcester

  0·67

  0·78

  0·95

  Salop

  0·65

  0·61

  0·89

  Staffordshire

  0·63

  0·56

  0·79

  Warwickshire

  0·61

  0·58

  0·70

  Birmingham

  0·72

  0·79

  0·88

  Coventry

  0·55

  0·74

  0·80

  Dudley

  0·58

  0·73

  0·68

  Sandwell

  0·77

  1·06

  1·13

  Solihull

  0·81

  0·66

  1·17

  Walsall

  0·82

  0·91

  1·10

  Wolverhampton

  0·70

  0·87

  1·01

  West Midlands RHA

  0·67

  0·72

  0·88

  Cheshire

  0·72

  0·74

  0·80

  Liverpool

  0·69

  0·86

  1·08

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  0·52

  0·65

  0·92

  Sefton

  0·60

  0·90

  1·13

  Wirral

  0·87

  1·00

  1·05

  Mersey RHA

  0·69

  0·81

  0·95

  Lancashire

  0·80

  0·79

  0·94

  Bolton

  0·70

  0·61

  0·81

  Bury

  0·89

  0·70

  1·32

  Manchester

  1·02

  0·91

  1·13

  Oldham

  0·45

  0·57

  0·83

  Rochdale

  1·22

  1·33

  1·16

  Salford

  0·96

  1·33

  1·35

  Stockport

  1·01

  0·97

  1·20

  Tameside

  0·54

  0·72

  1·21

  Trafford

  0·98

  1·17

  1·42

  Wigan

  0·91

  0·95

  1·17

  North Western RHA

  0·86

  0·88

  1·08

  466

  FHSA Regional health authority

  1988 £

  1989 £

  1990 £

  England

  0·68

  0·75

  0·88

  Note: The data are estimates based on a sample of prescriptions of 1 in 200 dispensed by chemists in England. The population figures used are based on the OPCS estimates of residential population for the appropriate mid-year.

  Prescribing
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adjudications have been considered by the independent medical adviser in each family health services authority on the financial responsibility for prescribing as between general practitioners and hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no such formal adjudication mechanism.

  Mid-Cheshire Hospital Trust
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines on nursing provision and nursing grades he has provided to the Mid-Cheshire hospital trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for the trust to develop human resource strategies to enable it to provide a high quality health service.

  NHS (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of(a) auxiliary nursing staff, (b) qualified nurses and (c) unit managers and higher grades in the national health service are from an ethnic minority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Blood
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many transfers of(a) blood and (b) blood products were performed by the national health service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each year from 1978 to the latest year available;

  (2) how many donations of blood were taken by the National Blood Transfusion Service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in each year from 1978 to the latest year available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on the number of trans-fusions is not held centrally.

  The number of donations of blood given in England and Wales since 1978 are given in the table.

  Year

  Number of donations of blood

  11978

  2,123,607

  11979

  2,144,484

  11980

  2,220,036

  1981

  2,065,428

  1982

  2,058,994

  1983

  2,135,840

  1984

  2,158,626

  1985

  2,119,060

  1986

  2,128,450

  467

  Year

  Number of donations of blood

  1987

  2,094,316

  1988

  2,140,810

  1989

  2,225,009

  1990

  2,180,856

  1 For the years 1977–80 figures relate to the number of donors reporting at blood transfusion centres.

  Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department began to collect information on HIV/AIDS.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department first began to collect information on HIV/AIDS in 1981, when the acquired immune deficiency syndrome was recognised in the United States of America. The Public Health Laboratory Service communicable disease surveillance centre began surveillance of AIDS in 1982, shortly after the first case of AIDS was reported in the United Kingdom.

  NHS (Capital Spending)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list total capital spending on the national health service each year since 1979–80 in money terms, real terms, on 1979–80, and as a real terms percentage increase or decrease on the previous year;

  (2) if he will make a further statement on the projected level of capital spending on the national health service this year.

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

  Since 1978–79 we have increased capital spending by 73·1 per cent. in real terms.

  Gross National Health Service capital expenditure

  GDP

  Cash

  Year on year real terms increase

  Cumulative real terms increase 1978–79

  £ million

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1978–79

  373

  —

  —

  1979–80

  417

  -4·2

  -4·2

  1980–81

  568

  15·1

  10·3

  1981–82

  693

  11·3

  22·7

  1982–83

  719

  -3·1

  18·9

  1983–84

  752

  0·0

  18·8

  1984–85

  845

  7·0

  27·1

  1985–86

  928

  4·1

  32·3

  Average daily available beds in wards for general patients elderly

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  England

  54,588

  53,275

  51,042

  48,733

  45,902

  Northern RHA

  3,949

  4,075

  3,958

  3,834

  3,683

  Hartlepool

  157

  158

  168

  166

  157

  North Tees

  195

  183

  176

  164

  160

  South Tees

  312

  320

  290

  281

  244

  East Cumbria

  237

  276

  282

  280

  279

  South Cumbria

  286

  291

  284

  270

  269

  West Cumbria

  204

  207

  201

  201

  194

  468

  GDP

  Cash

  Year on year real terms increase

  Cumulative real terms increase 1978£79

  £ million

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1985–86

  1,013

  —

  —

  1986–87

  1,089

  4·1

  37·7

  1987–88

  1,129

  -1·7

  35·4

  1988–89

  1,221

  0·9

  36·6

  1989–90

  1,454

  11·8

  52·8

  1990–91

  1,603

  1·6

  55·3

  11991–92

  1,912

  11·5

  73·1

  1 Estimated.

  Notes:
  Figures include trusts capital programme financed from (i) external borrowing (EFLs); and (ii) payments by health authorities for services.
  Figures prior to 1985–86 have not been adjusted for the redefinition of capital.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients of 65 years and over have been discharged directly to private nursing homes in the Crewe and Nantwich district health authority from NHS hospitals in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. J. Taylor, the chairman of Crewe health authority, for details.

  Nasogastric Feeding Tubes
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the consultations on the transfer to the family health services of the responsibility for the provision of nasogastric feeding tubes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is too early to say when our consultations, which will begin shortly, will be completed.

  Geriatric Beds
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of geriatric beds for each district health authority for each of the last five years up to 1990–91.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 January 1992]: The information requested is given in the table. Over the period, the number of geriatric cases treated increased nationally from 396,000 to 468,000, as a result of substantial improvements in acute care, rehabilitation and community health services.
  469

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Darlington

  188

  163

  142

  144

  144

  Durham

  224

  235

  211

  193

  173

  North West Durham

  185

  171

  158

  155

  121

  South West Durham

  212

  216

  217

  198

  179

  Northumberland

  300

  341

  359

  346

  339

  Gateshead

  234

  236

  218

  215

  216

  Newcastle

  457

  489

  499

  474

  457

  North Tyneside

  217

  209

  190

  183

  185

  South Tyneside

  155

  173

  170

  172

  171

  Sunderland

  386

  408

  393

  391

  395

  Yorkshire RHA

  4,827

  4,621

  4,291

  4,136

  3,909

  Hull

  268

  264

  259

  253

  239

  East Yorkshire

  276

  236

  196

  184

  178

  Grimsby

  232

  224

  211

  172

  152

  Scunthorpe

  251

  235

  237

  230

  223

  Northallerton

  103

  80

  81

  97

  95

  York

  341

  324

  296

  264

  236

  Scarborough

  199

  177

  173

  174

  177

  Harrogate

  191

  210

  185

  177

  176

  Bradford

  470

  436

  370

  368

  340

  Airedale

  247

  226

  241

  232

  218

  Calderdale

  301

  310

  294

  265

  240

  Huddersfield

  330

  339

  291

  273

  256

  Dewsbury

  238

  230

  208

  215

  175

  Leeds Western

  492

  507

  490

  478

  442

  Leeds Eastern

  467

  412

  376

  376

  386

  Wakefield

  175

  170

  168

  167

  168

  Pontefract

  248

  241

  216

  210

  209

  Trent RHA

  5,263

  5,116

  4,901

  4,655

  4,411

  North Derbyshire

  359

  390

  405

  346

  333

  South Derbyshire

  560

  548

  502

  452

  434

  Leicestershire

  862

  844

  854

  827

  758

  North Lincolnshire

  298

  293

  279

  262

  257

  South Lincolnshire

  416

  315

  281

  272

  276

  Bassetlaw

  131

  131

  119

  105

  105

  Central Nottinghamshire

  383

  315

  331

  293

  282

  Nottingham

  610

  609

  580

  578

  572

  Barnsley

  272

  269

  274

  276

  273

  Doncaster

  344

  310

  293

  292

  283

  Rotherham

  277

  265

  265

  258

  250

  Sheffield

  752

  827

  717

  694

  588

  East Anglian RHA

  2,497

  2,539

  2,500

  2,432

  2,373

  Cambridge

  300

  324

  322

  320

  344

  Peterborough

  230

  230

  240

  246

  238

  West Suffolk

  321

  310

  308

  308

  295

  East Suffolk

  541

  539

  514

  468

  426

  Norwich

  529

  560

  529

  505

  503

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  210

  214

  228

  222

  204

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  255

  253

  252

  254

  251

  Huntingdon

  112

  108

  108

  109

  112

  North West Thames RHA

  3,460

  3,386

  3,305

  3,329

  3,173

  North Bedfordshire

  244

  245

  218

  257

  238

  South Bedfordshire

  182

  196

  196

  189

  169

  North Hertfordshire

  202

  228

  216

  220

  203

  East Hertfordshire

  207

  194

  212

  212

  209

  North West Hertfordshire

  235

  256

  244

  241

  256

  South West Hertfordshire

  235

  229

  220

  198

  184

  Barnet

  509

  552

  529

  524

  473

  Harrow

  156

  158

  172

  176

  169

  Hillingdon

  263

  266

  248

  246

  238

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  286

  219

  219

  239

  230

  Ealing

  158

  162

  164

  178

  131

  Riverside

  325

  272

  253

  235

  255

  Parkside

  458

  409

  414

  414

  418

  North East Thames RHA

  4,614

  4,260

  3,972

  3,878

  3,483

  Basildon and Thurrock

  282

  270

  273

  280

  285

  Mid Essex

  367

  356

  305

  305

  253

  North East Essex

  381

  351

  322

  315

  241

  West Essex

  296

  283

  253

  256

  214

  Southend

  335

  302

  239

  222

  214

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  505

  516

  512

  457

  335

  Hampstead

  130

  129

  125

  131

  130

  Bloomsbury

  247

  102

  100

  70

  76

  470 471

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Islington

  179

  224

  196

  155

  102

  City and Hackney

  304

  72

  72

  121

  149

  Newham

  250

  280

  268

  273

  248

  Tower Hamlets

  237

  231

  231

  232

  225

  Enfield

  230

  271

  248

  239

  209

  Haringey

  212

  242

  226

  215

  221

  Redbridge

  276

  258

  253

  245

  236

  Waltham Forest

  383

  372

  349

  361

  346

  South East Thames RHA

  3,740

  3,533

  3,384

  3,324

  3,212

  Brighton

  330

  334

  320

  282

  229

  Eastbourne

  307

  271

  279

  249

  290

  Hastings

  265

  270

  260

  252

  254

  South East Kent

  348

  319

  302

  312

  316

  Canterbury and Thanet

  393

  301

  282

  307

  298

  Dartford and Gravesham

  189

  188

  182

  165

  166

  Maidstone

  169

  158

  138

  135

  129

  Medway

  239

  238

  236

  220

  228

  Tunbridge Wells

  244

  246

  213

  191

  163

  Bexley

  130

  177

  167

  152

  138

  Greenwich

  317

  243

  214

  212

  189

  Bromley

  270

  234

  237

  267

  249

  West Lambeth

  163

  135

  138

  149

  142

  Camberwell

  188

  189

  172

  167

  164

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  190

  230

  244

  263

  259

  South West Thames RHA

  2,878

  2,832

  2,834

  2,555

  2,566

  North West Surrey

  188

  167

  205

  153

  157

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  218

  235

  186

  185

  174

  South West Surrey

  172

  170

  274

  238

  224

  Mid Surrey

  189

  150

  173

  2

  133

  East Surrey

  223

  209

  208

  189

  180

  Chichester

  145

  92

  123

  129

  98

  Mid Downs

  184

  242

  185

  179

  218

  Worthing

  356

  420

  377

  357

  352

  Croydon

  292

  298

  252

  248

  200

  Kingston and Esher

  175

  154

  235

  230

  231

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  263

  224

  141

  165

  166

  Wandsworth

  192

  188

  191

  199

  189

  Merton and Sutton

  282

  284

  286

  282

  244

  Wessex RHA

  3,433

  3,203

  3,022

  2,923

  2,780

  East Dorset

  690

  658

  627

  580

  583

  West Dorset

  286

  249

  241

  243

  238

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  475

  440

  442

  444

  441

  South West Hampshire and Southampton

  337

  318

  301

  329

  322

  Winchester

  250

  233

  201

  192

  186

  Basingstoke

  189

  182

  187

  177

  165

  Salisbury

  186

  174

  170

  168

  164

  Swindon

  249

  229

  228

  204

  174

  Bath

  624

  578

  500

  459

  378

  Isle of Wight

  147

  143

  125

  127

  127

  Oxford RHA

  1,825

  2,054

  1,832

  1,819

  1,647

  East Berkshire

  209

  234

  203

  184

  165

  West Berkshire

  310

  290

  296

  322

  328

  Aylesbury Vale

  135

  132

  127

  136

  124

  Wycombe

  190

  237

  241

  229

  205

  Milton Keynes

  84

  88

  90

  87

  83

  Kettering

  286

  294

  293

  293

  295

  Northampton

  298

  301

  286

  287

  220

  Oxfordshire

  312

  477

  296

  282

  227

  South Western RHA

  3,720

  3,486

  3,464

  3,366

  3,240

  Bristol and Weston

  163

  193

  172

  194

  206

  Frenchay

  447

  406

  405

  404

  396

  Southmead

  99

  89

  88

  87

  84

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  472

  453

  421

  420

  395

  Exeter

  389

  398

  409

  369

  367

  North Devon

  197

  201

  167

  176

  183

  Plymouth

  497

  451

  461

  433

  414

  Torbay

  267

  270

  253

  214

  221

  Cheltenham

  329

  301

  267

  258

  262

  Gloucester

  380

  285

  355

  352

  296

  Somerset

  479

  440

  466

  459

  417

  West Midlands RHA

  6,054

  6,004

  5,665

  5,084

  4,846

  472 473

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  94

  108

  100

  94

  87

  Herefordshire

  186

  180

  196

  176

  157

  Kidderminster and district

  138

  138

  138

  138

  136

  Worcester and district

  279

  246

  239

  239

  214

  Shropshire

  606

  492

  441

  321

  263

  Mid Staffordshire

  247

  239

  237

  240

  210

  North Staffordshire

  634

  656

  644

  578

  643

  South East Staffordshire

  407

  391

  389

  380

  372

  Rugby

  64

  49

  97

  82

  75

  North Warwickshire

  88

  119

  131

  131

  131

  South Warwickshire

  284

  277

  260

  245

  226

  Central Birmingham

  233

  224

  216

  167

  162

  East Birmingham

  196

  193

  194

  201

  206

  North Birmingham

  136

  136

  144

  158

  160

  South Birmingham

  400

  388

  377

  367

  334

  West Birmingham

  482

  494

  428

  374

  341

  Coventry

  410

  343

  212

  39

  4

  Dudley

  327

  326

  261

  220

  196

  Sandwell

  252

  260

  253

  245

  234

  Solihull

  38

  97

  77

  85

  84

  Walsall

  217

  313

  269

  269

  286

  Wolverhampton

  335

  335

  359

  335

  326

  Mersey RHA

  3,042

  2,909

  2,786

  2,523

  2,047

  Chester

  243

  265

  249

  239

  206

  Crewe

  319

  310

  294

  292

  259

  Halton

  155

  132

  118

  99

  67

  Macclesfield

  200

  274

  196

  157

  108

  Warrington

  185

  186

  180

  135

  96

  Liverpool

  620

  525

  519

  464

  368

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  270

  281

  277

  246

  192

  Southport and Formby

  226

  209

  203

  178

  153

  South Sefton

  360

  296

  298

  286

  212

  Wirral

  462

  432

  452

  427

  387

  North Western RHA

  5,161

  5,128

  5,001

  4,747

  4,406

  Lancaster

  209

  201

  202

  193

  189

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  445

  351

  468

  432

  409

  Preston

  122

  130

  132

  129

  138

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble

  277

  318

  270

  272

  258

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  284

  286

  287

  277

  264

  West Lancashire

  132

  133

  129

  112

  78

  Chorley and South Ribble

  170

  159

  139

  131

  118

  Bolton

  329

  353

  318

  312

  283

  Bury

  211

  203

  191

  192

  210

  North Manchester

  297

  285

  250

  232

  230

  Central Manchester

  173

  162

  149

  142

  142

  South Manchester

  419

  403

  358

  320

  298

  Oldham

  265

  248

  238

  208

  194

  Rochdale

  211

  193

  185

  183

  166

  Salford

  329

  325

  320

  313

  290

  Stockport

  447

  474

  459

  406

  382

  Tameside and Glossop

  255

  307

  308

  305

  230

  Trafford

  210

  219

  218

  223

  210

  Wigan

  378

  379

  379

  365

  317

  Special Health Authorities (SHA's)

  126

  128

  128

  128

  127

  The Hospital for Sick Children

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  National Hospital for Nervous Diseases

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bethlem Royal Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  National Heart and Lung Hospitals SHA

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte

  126

  128

  128

  128

  127

  The Eastman Dental Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett),Official Report, 29 January, columns 601-2, if he will list the latest estimates by the Registrar General of Populations of those aged 17 years and over, plus 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years, for
  474
  each district council area and parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, together in each case with the equivalent year's electoral registration figures.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 February 1992]: Population estimates are not available for parliamentary constituencies. The table shows local government electors on the 1991 registers (qualifying date 10 October 1990) and

  475
  approximately corresponding mid-1990 estimates of resident population for each London borough and county district in England and Wales as requested.

  The electorate figures include unknown numbers of legitimate dual registrations (eg. by persons with second homes and students). The resident population estimates include a proportion of those aged 15 to 19 at mid-1990, who were already 18 or would reach this age during the period when the 1991 electoral register was in use. This proportion has been calculated nationally and applied in every district. The estimates include residents who were not Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Republic of Ireland, and persons detained in mental institutions, who are not eligible to be electors. Resident population estimates are currently based upon the 1981 census; provisional estimates for 1991 based on the 1991 census will be available in the autumn.

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  England

  36,272,066

  38,022·2

  Greater London

  4,928,581

  5,410·0

  City of London

  4,006

  3·6

  Barking and Dagenham

  111,773

  116·1

  Barnet

  212,462

  246·3

  Bexley

  168,238

  175·6

  Brent

  175,698

  201·4

  Bromley

  230,337

  243·5

  Camden

  123,393

  152·6

  Croydon

  236,517

  252·9

  Ealing

  190,036

  233·1

  Enfield

  197,572

  210·4

  Greenwich

  159,278

  168·3

  Hackney

  132,520

  146·9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  99,156

  121·5

  Haringey

  144,362

  151·9

  Harrow

  146,912

  152·0

  Havering

  181,057

  186·4

  Hillingdon

  179,317

  187·3

  Hounslow

  155,535

  154·5

  Islington

  110,607

  139·1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  85,577

  108·1

  Kingston upon Thames

  93,495

  113·1

  Lambeth

  169,510

  184·0

  Lewisham

  175,012

  178·3

  Merton

  122,035

  131·6

  Newham

  156,711

  158·1

  Redbridge

  174,069

  189·0

  Richmond upon Thames

  114,602

  137·3

  Southwark

  178,052

  177·3

  Sutton

  126,038

  135·1

  Tower Hamlets

  105,922

  128·2

  Waltham Forest

  164,464

  168·2

  Wandsworth

  195,928

  208·7

  Westminster, City of

  108,390

  149·6

  Greater Manchester

  1,923,185

  2,037·0

  Bolton

  199,425

  208·1

  Bury

  136,157

  140·3

  Manchester

  313,258

  348·8

  Oldham

  158,683

  172·6

  Rochdale

  152,437

  160·6

  Salford

  170,503

  185·0

  Stockport

  222,145

  231·6

  Tameside

  166,650

  173·3

  Trafford

  166,847

  171·6

  Wigan

  237,080

  245·1

  476

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  Merseyside

  1,088,434

  1,137·2

  Knowsley

  112,660

  120·0

  Liverpool

  353,502

  362·5

  St. Helens

  139,919

  150·1

  Sefton

  226,459

  239·4

  Wirral

  255,894

  265·2

  South Yorkshire

  1,006,984

  1,034·7

  Barnsley

  173,853

  176·1

  Doncaster

  221,303

  231·0

  Rotherham

  196,176

  200·0

  Sheffield

  415,652

  427·7

  Tyne and Wear

  875,820

  897·2

  Gateshead

  159,311

  165·2

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  212,058

  222·1

  North Tyneside

  154,004

  154·0

  South Tyneside

  123,338

  124·6

  Sunderland

  227,109

  231·3

  West Midlands

  1,981,324

  2,050·7

  Birmingham

  737,092

  768·5

  Coventry

  230,634

  237·4

  Dudley

  242,149

  246·4

  Sandwell

  227,217

  232·5

  Solihull

  156,225

  161·9

  Walsall

  200,403

  207·9

  Wolverhampton

  187,604

  196·1

  West Yorkshire

  1,575,622

  1,625·4

  Bradford

  344,471

  357·4

  Calderdale

  148,795

  156·2

  Kirklees

  292,328

  294·4

  Leeds

  547,627

  566·4

  Wakefield

  242,401

  250·9

  Avon

  725,848

  764·3

  Bath

  63,094

  68·1

  Bristol

  288,018

  299·7

  Kingswood

  70,211

  71·5

  Northavon

  100,569

  107·4

  Wansdyke

  64,488

  66·8

  Woodspring

  139,468

  150·7

  Bedfordshire

  388,689

  417·2

  North Bedfordshire

  99,727

  109·2

  Luton

  125,563

  130·5

  Mid Bedfordshire

  81,502

  90·6

  South Bedfordshire

  81,897

  86·8

  Berkshire

  547,299

  592·0

  Bracknell

  65,458

  83·3

  Newbury

  104,000

  110·1

  Reading

  98,147

  103·4

  Slough

  74,921

  77·4

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  98,975

  100·7

  Wokingham

  105,798

  117·2

  Buckinghamshire

  472,986

  500·1

  Aylesbury Vale

  108,242

  115·5

  South Bucks.

  48,055

  49·6

  Chiltern

  70,751

  70·8

  Milton Keynes

  126,731

  139·0

  Wycombe

  119,207

  125·2

  Cambridgeshire

  490,438

  520·6

  Cambridge

  80,525

  81·9

  East Cambridgeshire

  46,614

  48·7

  Fenland

  57,918

  59·6

  Huntingdonshire

  101,517

  117·4

  477

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  Peterborough

  112,392

  118·0

  South Cambridgeshire

  91,472

  95·0

  Cheshire

  738,936

  759·3

  Chester

  89,781

  91·3

  Congleton

  66,035

  69·8

  Crewe and Nantwich

  79,527

  81·6

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  62,469

  62·1

  Halton

  92,391

  93·6

  Macclesfield

  119,006

  122·3

  Vale Royal

  88,356

  89·8

  Warrington

  141,371

  148·6

  Cleveland

  418,369

  429·4

  Hartlepool

  68,737

  70·2

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  111,974

  112·9

  Middlesbrough

  105,594

  108·2

  Stockton-on-Tees

  132,064

  138·1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  369,546

  377·4

  Caradon

  59,697

  59·9

  Carrick

  65·821

  65,0

  Kerrier

  68,913

  70·2

  North Cornwall

  57,906

  59·4

  Penwith

  48,277

  51·4

  Restormel

  67,216

  69·8

  Isles of Scilly

  1,716

  1·6

  Cumbria

  384,204

  397·3

  Allerdale

  75,978

  78·3

  Barrow-in-Furness

  55,976

  55·8

  Carlisle

  79,577

  83·3

  Copeland

  55,515

  57·0

  Eden

  36,559

  38·8

  South Lakeland

  80,599

  84·1

  Derbyshire

  726,446

  745·0

  Amber Valley

  89,819

  92·2

  Bolsover

  55,859

  57·1

  Chesterfield

  79,420

  82·2

  Derby

  167,849

  170·5

  Erewash

  81,420

  85·6

  High Peak

  65,568

  66·9

  North East Derbyshire

  76,694

  78·1

  South Derbyshire

  55,690

  58·3

  Derbyshire Dales

  54,127

  54·1

  Devon

  784,634

  834·6

  East Devon

  94,876

  98·9

  Exeter

  76,510

  83·3

  North Devon

  66,370

  68·6

  Plymouth

  182,161

  201·2

  South Hams

  60,439

  63·2

  Teignbridge

  84,503

  92·0

  Mid Devon

  49,489

  50·9

  Torbay

  93,245

  98·2

  Torridge

  41,173

  42·4

  West Devon

  35,868

  35·9

  Dorset

  523,403

  541·4

  Bournemouth

  126,513

  128·2

  Christchurch

  35,007

  34·3

  North Dorset

  41,567

  44·9

  Poole

  105,023

  107·4

  Purbeck

  33,756

  38·8

  West Dorset

  69,607

  71·4

  Weymouth and Portland

  48,061

  52·2

  East Dorset

  63,869

  64·3

  Durham

  471,130

  478·6

  478

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  Chester-le-Street

  41,282

  42·5

  Darlington

  76,838

  80·0

  Derwentside

  68,906

  69·1

  Durham

  68,444

  70·2

  Easington

  76,553

  74·7

  Sedgefield

  69,666

  70·5

  Teesdale

  19,608

  20·2

  Wear Valley

  49,833

  51·4

  East Sussex

  548,317

  586·6

  Brighton

  115,897

  116·7

  Eastbourne

  63,948

  69·7

  Hastings

  62,700

  65·7

  Hove

  69,218

  77·3

  Lewes

  69,672

  73·9

  Rother

  67,087

  71·5

  Wealden

  99,795

  111·8

  Essex

  1,181,144

  1,222·9

  Basildon

  122,672

  121·7

  Braintree

  89,757

  91·7

  Brentwood

  55,194

  56·1

  Castle Point

  67,319

  67·1

  Chelmsford

  116,696

  119·4

  Colchester

  112,556

  122·7

  Epping Forest

  91,035

  89·9

  Harlow

  57,244

  54·8

  Maldon

  40,670

  42·3

  Rochford

  58,771

  58·8

  Southend-on-Sea

  121,058

  135·3

  Tendring

  101,997

  111·3

  Thurrock

  96,278

  99·2

  Uttlesford

  49,897

  52·5

  Gloucestershire

  410,744

  425·4

  Cheltenham

  68,090

  68·5

  Cotswold

  57,333

  61·3

  Forest of Dean

  59,624

  63·1

  Gloucester

  70,586

  71·9

  Stroud

  85,687

  88·4

  Tewkesbury

  69,424

  72·2

  Hampshire

  1,189,344

  1,227·1

  Basingstoke and Deane

  109,314

  110·8

  East Hampshire

  77,062

  81·1

  Eastleigh

  81,042

  81·6

  Fareham

  77,218

  81·3

  Gosport

  58,550

  58·4

  Hart

  59,777

  62·9

  Havant

  90,382

  88·9

  New Forest

  128,305

  132·2

  Portsmouth

  142,744

  148·7

  Rushmoor

  55,722

  65·2

  Southampton

  156,955

  156·0

  Test Valley

  77,247

  83·1

  Winchester

  75,026

  76·9

  Hereford and Worcester

  525,167

  537·2

  Bromsgrove

  70,916

  70·9

  Hereford

  38,558

  39·0

  Leominster

  31,949

  32·2

  Malvern Hills

  68,819

  70·7

  Redditch

  57,749

  59·2

  South Herefordshire

  40,377

  42·2

  Worcester

  63,582

  65·4

  Wychavon

  79,501

  81·6

  Wyre Forest

  73,716

  76·0

  Hertfordshire

  744,189

  784·7

  Broxbourne

  61,817

  65·5

  479

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  Dacorum

  101,655

  103·7

  East Hertfordshire

  91,671

  96·0

  Hertsmere

  64,991

  70·1

  North Hertfordshire

  86,393

  89·7

  St. Albans

  96,500

  103·7

  Stevenage

  57,514

  58·0

  Three Rivers

  53,600

  64·5

  Watford

  57,484

  59·8

  Welwyn Hatfield

  72,564

  73·7

  Humberside

  671,198

  677·8

  Beverley

  91,553

  94·1

  Boothferry

  50,492

  52·6

  Cleethorpes

  53,843

  54·3

  Glanford

  55,914

  58·2

  Great Grimsby

  68,369

  68·5

  Holderness

  39,031

  41·3

  Kingston upon Hull

  198,204

  190·0

  East Yorkshire

  67,150

  72·6

  Scunthorpe

  46,642

  46·0

  Isle of Wight

  101,682

  106·2

  Medina

  56,947

  59·1

  South Wight

  44,735

  47·1

  Kent

  1,152,764

  1,214· 7

  Ashford

  72,144

  76·4

  Canterbury

  98,452

  106·0

  Dartford

  61,023

  62·2

  Dover

  80,132

  85·8

  Gillingham

  70,749

  73·3

  Gravesham

  70,451

  70·0

  Maidstone

  103,520

  109·8

  Rochester-upon-Medway

  106,196

  116·2

  Sevenoaks

  84,364

  83·3

  Shepway

  63,362

  71·9

  Swale

  88,202

  92·6

  Thanet

  98,544

  106·7

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  78,883

  81·2

  Tunbridge Wells

  76,742

  79·2

  Lancashire

  1,069,037

  1,104·2

  Blackburn

  100,588

  102·6

  Blackpool

  111,929

  114·3

  Burnley

  69,160

  72·9

  Chorley

  73,495

  76·6

  Fylde

  56,959

  60·9

  Hyndburn

  59,316

  61·7

  Lancaster

  100,801

  106·9

  Pendle

  64,546

  66·3

  Preston

  96,586

  99·7

  Ribble Valley

  40,411

  42·5

  Rossendale

  50,513

  50·8

  South Ribble

  78·574

  80·8

  West Lancashire

  83,329

  82·5

  Wyre

  82,830

  85·8

  Leicestershire

  671,043

  705·5

  Blaby

  64,416

  67·8

  Charnwood

  113,295

  120·2

  Harborough

  52,984

  55·9

  Hinckley and Bosworth1

  74,748

  78·6

  Leicester

  202,102

  211·6

  Melton

  35·300

  36·3

  North West Leicestershire

  62,932

  64·6

  Oadby and Wigston

  41,712

  41·8

  Rutland

  23,554

  28·8

  Lincolnshire

  457,179

  476·6

  Boston

  42,010

  42·5

  480

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  East Lindsey

  92,449

  97·7

  Lincoln

  62·373

  64·4

  North Kesteven

  62,202

  70·5

  South Holland

  54,116

  55·5

  South Kesteven

  84,207

  85·2

  West Lindsey

  59,822

  60·8

  Norfolk

  587,093

  608·3

  Breckland

  81,738

  84·2

  Broadland

  83,872

  86·8

  Great Yarmouth

  68,295

  71·4

  North Norfolk

  73,684

  80·0

  Norwich

  94,202

  94·3

  South Norfolk

  81,806

  82·6

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk

  103,496

  109·0

  Northamptonshire

  437,561

  454·4

  Corby

  39,800

  39·3

  Daventry

  48,022

  50·6

  East Northamptonshire

  51,889

  54·1

  Kettering

  58,688

  60·4

  Northampton

  135,407

  143·6

  South Northamptonshire

  52,079

  53·4

  Wellingborough

  51,676

  52·9

  Northumberland

  237,940

  244·0

  Alnwick

  23,752

  25·2

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  21,645

  21·3

  Blyth Valley

  61,324

  62·3

  Castle Morpeth

  38,417

  41·0

  Tynedale

  44,906

  46·4

  Wansbeck

  47,896

  47·8

  North Yorkshire

  555,263

  588·2

  Craven

  40,027

  41·7

  Hambleton

  60,925

  64·3

  Harrogate

  112,937

  120·3

  Richmondshire

  32,096

  43·1

  Ryedale

  72,782

  75·2

  Scarborough

  85,286

  86·9

  Selby

  72,165

  75·3

  York

  79,045

  81·4

  Nottinghamshire

  783,869

  809·7

  Ashfield

  85,172

  87·6

  Bassetlaw

  81,715

  84·4

  Broxtowe

  84,857

  89·6

  Gedling

  86,498

  88·9

  Mansfield

  77,685

  79·3

  Newark and Sherwood

  80,917

  82·3

  Nottingham

  211,014

  215·3

  Rushcliffe

  76,011

  82·3

  Oxfordshire

  419,418

  461·9

  Cherwell

  83,754

  97·5

  Oxford

  83,049

  95·2

  South Oxfordshire

  101,660

  103·4

  Vale of White Horse

  84,029

  89·3

  West Oxfordshire

  66,926

  76·6

  Shropshire

  313,773

  320·9

  Bridgnorth

  39,292

  41·1

  North Shropshire

  41,423

  45·0

  Oswestry

  26,847

  27·3

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  72,019

  72·4

  South Shopshire

  29,378

  29·3

  The Wrekin

  104,814

  105·8

  Somerset

  364,363

  372·7

  481

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  Mendip

  74,479

  75·5

  Sedgemoor

  76,714

  78·6

  Taunton Deane

  74,465

  77·1

  West Somerset

  26,660

  26·8

  South Somerset

  112,045

  114·6

  Staffordshire

  805,258

  827·4

  Cannock Chase

  68,597

  70·3

  East Staffordshire

  75,905

  77·6

  Lichfield

  71,740

  75·0

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  93,028

  95·1

  South Staffordshire

  82,926

  86·6

  Stafford

  92,130

  96·2

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  75,897

  77·7

  Stoke-on-Trent

  193,580

  195·8

  Suffolk

  481,020

  507·0

  Babergh

  62,435

  62·0

  Forest Heath

  33,744

  45·4

  Ipswich

  89,834

  89·4

  Mid Suffolk

  61,078

  62·3

  St. Edmundsbury

  69,984

  72·9

  Suffolk Coastal

  79,265

  88·0

  Waveney

  84,680

  86·8

  Surrey

  778,463

  804·7

  Elmbridge

  85,289

  87·0

  Epsom and Ewell

  49,488

  55·2

  Guildford

  96,164

  98·0

  Mole Valley

  63,316

  61·8

  Reigate and Banstead

  91,642

  92·9

  Runnymede

  57,780

  58·7

  Spelthorne

  64,205

  69·3

  Surrey Heath

  58,529

  66·1

  Tandridge

  58,581

  60·3

  Waverley

  88,778

  87·7

  Woking

  64,691

  67·7

  Warwickshire

  377,894

  386·9

  North Warwickshire

  47,312

  48·3

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  89,859

  91·9

  Rugby

  65,749

  68·3

  Stratford-on-Avon

  82,926

  85·8

  Warwick

  92,048

  92·6

  West Sussex

  557,267

  574·6

  Adur

  46,267

  47·0

  Arun

  105,410

  108·2

  Chichester

  82,015

  88·3

  Crawley

  66,575

  66·7

  Horsham

  84,681

  86·9

  Mid Sussex

  94,401

  95·1

  Worthing

  78,215

  82·4

  Wiltshire

  429,198

  443·4

  Kennet

  50,588

  53·5

  North Wiltshire

  85,271

  90·9

  Salisbury

  80,326

  81·2

  Thamesdown

  129,123

  133·1

  West Wiltshire

  83,890

  84·7

  Wales

  2,206,436

  2,283·2

  Clwyd

  321,383

  327·3

  Alyn and Deeside

  57,171

  57·4

  Colwyn

  44,139

  45·6

  Delyn

  52,801

  52·8

  Glyndwr

  33,147

  33·9

  Rhuddlan

  44,216

  45·8

  482

  Local Government Electors on the 1991 Electoral Register

  Estimated Resident Population Mid 19901 (Aged 17 and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16) Thousands

  Wrexham Maelor

  89,909

  91·8

  Dyfed

  273,900

  283·8

  Carmarthen

  43,770

  46·1

  Ceredigion

  52,863

  55·4

  Dinefwr

  30,793

  31·4

  Llanelli

  60,067

  60·9

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  53,663

  55·5

  South Pembrokeshire

  32,744

  34·4

  Gwent

  332,902

  353·2

  Blaenau Gwent

  58,774

  61·4

  Islwyn

  51,818

  54·3

  Monmouth

  58,765

  64·9

  Newport

  94,055

  99·0

  Torfaen

  69,490

  73·5

  Gwynedd

  186,841

  192·8

  Aberconwy

  42,777

  44·5

  Arfon

  42,533

  44·3

  Dwyfor

  21,832

  22·1

  Meirionnydd

  25,840

  26·3

  Ynys Mon (Isle of Anglesey)

  53,859

  55·6

  Mid Glamorgan

  409,510

  423·2

  Cynon Valley

  49,999

  51·1

  Merthyr Tydfil

  45,558

  46·7

  Ogwr

  102,528

  108·6

  Rhondda

  60,379

  60·4

  Rhymney Valley

  78,200

  80·3

  Taff-Ely

  72,846

  76·2

  Powys

  93,064

  94·5

  Brecknock

  32,672

  33·4

  Montgomeryshire

  41·327

  42·1

  Radnorshire

  19,065

  19·0

  South Glamorgan

  302,706

  319·1

  Cardiff

  218,591

  224·9

  Vale of Glamorgan

  84,115

  94·2

  West Glamorgan

  286,130

  289·3

  Port Talbot

  40,357

  38·7

  Lliw Valley

  49,034

  50·5

  Neath

  51,620

  51·5

  Swansea

  145,119

  148·6

  1 Figures may not add due to rounding.

  Population Estimates Unit, OPCS.

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment (East Midlands)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the east midlands have been unemployed for(a) more than one year and (b) more than five years.

  Mr. Jackson
  There were 38,336 claimants unemployed for over a year and 6,480 unemployed for over five years in the east midlands in October 1991. These figures are on the unadjusted basis.

  Skills Audit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to carry out an audit of skills among the labour force.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department commissions surveys to monitor skills and training issues at a national and regional level.

  It is mainly a matter for training and enterprise councils to decide whether to undertake local skills audit. Several TECs are undertaking studies of that kind.

  Job Creation (Hemsworth)
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what jobs were created in the Hemsworth constituency in each of the years from 1987 to 1991.

  Mr. Jackson
  No records are kept of jobs created, only estimates of the net change in the numbers of employees in employment are made.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current annual cost of providing training for 16 and 17-year-olds.

  Mr. Howard
  Provision for youth training in Great Britain in 1991–92 was £842 million. Yesterday I announced plans for a further £17 million to be allocated to YT in the current financial year, as part of my Department's spring supplementary estimate.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 1991 school leavers sought a place on a youth training scheme; and how many were successful.

  Mr. Howard
  Information about entrants to youth training is not available by reference to the date of their leaving school. The Government remain committed to their guarantee of an offer of a place on YT for all 16 and 17-year-olds not in a job or full-time education.

  Training of Prisoners
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision he has made for the training and employment of prisoners and ex-offenders.

  Mr. Howard
  Responsibility for training in prisons lies with the prison service. Time spent in prison counts as a period of unemployment for the purposes of qualifying within the priority groups eligible to enter employment training, which is delivered by training and enterprise councils. On employment matters, the employment service helps and advises ex-offenders through its extensive jobcentre network.

  London East TEC
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by London East training and enterprise council to improve awareness of its products and aims.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that London East training and enterprise council is improving awareness of its 484
  products and aims through a variety of marketing initiatives such as issuing regular newssheets and holding events for specific audiences including employers, educationalists and young people.

  All TECs are required to publish summaries of their corporate plan and business plan and an annual report. They are also required to hold a public meeting once a year to inform their local community about their work.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to implement any section of the EC social charter.

  Mr. Howard
  The social charter, signed by the eleven other member states, was a political declaration and as such does not require implementation. Where legislation is required to implement directives agreed under the social action programme, we intend to legislate within the timetable for implementation set out in each proposal.

  Foreign Tourists
  Sir Robert McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of foreign tourists who will visit the United Kingdom in 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  The British Tourist Authority's latest estimates show that it expects 18·2 million overseas visitors to the United Kingdom in 1992.

  Trade Unions (Court Jurisdiction)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to transfer jurisdiction over trade unions to a new court.

  Mr. Forth
  No.

  Where trade unions act unlawfully, it should be open to bring proceedings against them before the normal courts.

  Unlawful Strikes
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to give members of the public the right to halt unlawful strikes affecting the public services.

  Mr. Forth
  Yes.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment, to the House on 28 January, Official Report, columns 813-15.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the abolition of the wages councils.

  Mr. Forth
  The wages councils have no permanent place in the labour market and their operation remains under review.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the effect on employment in former coal mining areas of the hold up in payment of European RECHAR funds.
  485
  Mr. Forth
  Employment issues in so far as they might affect Pontefract and Castleford were raised during the Adjournment debate on unemployment (Pontefract and Castleford),Official Report, 28 January 1992, column 922-28.

  Unemployment (Plans)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce new measures to alleviate unemployment.

  Mr. Jackson
  On top of the job placement advice and assistance to which all unemployed people are entitled, we are offering some 840,000 places on our programmes this financial year and almost one million next year to help the unemployed back to work. This package of nationally available measures represents the most comprehensive range of practical help ever and fully meets the differing needs of all unemployed people.

  Career Development Loans
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the numbers, average loan size, and costs to Government of career development loans in each standard region in 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on numbers of career development loans and average loan size by region for the two years in question is given in the following tables. Statistics on the cost of the loans to Government are not available by region. The cost to Government for all career development loans in 1989–90 was £1·2 million and the cost in 1990–91 was £3·7 million.

  Career development loans

  Table 1

  Number of loans and value of average loan by region 1989–90

  Region

  Number of loans

  Average loan

  £

  South East

  1,467

  2,878

  Greater London

  1,244

  3,051

  Scotland

  839

  1,848

  North West

  780

  2,025

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  762

  2,348

  West Midlands

  712

  1,790

  South West

  658

  2,529

  East Midlands

  462

  1,983

  Northern

  435

  2,186

  East Anglia

  277

  2,255

  Wales

  268

  2,184

  Table 1

  Health and Safety Commission/Executive

  Inspectorate and Divisional Budgets for Salaries and GAE

  £(000s) cash prices

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Inspectorate/Division

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  HSC/E Sec1

  501

  76

  808

  118

  896

  135

  1,321

  225

  1,481

  244

  1,972

  336

  Solicitor

  316

  4

  354

  4

  363

  5

  396

  7

  519

  12

  627

  12

  Railway2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  422

  43

  1,465

  195

  Special hazards

  1,880

  103

  1,966

  126

  2,125

  129

  2,004

  183

  1,857

  183

  2,115

  230

  Safety and general policy

  1,397

  106

  1,431

  106

  1,817

  135

  1,690

  120

  1,951

  157

  2,892

  237

  Resources and planning

  7,154

  11,639

  7,224

  9,655

  7,747

  9,424

  8,115

  9,113

  9,236

  10,546

  11,577

  16,133

  Offshore safety3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,726

  1,009

  Technology

  5,767

  1,032

  6,236

  1,132

  6,875

  1,262

  7,004

  1,356

  5,500

  1,034

  8,631

  1,652

  Hazardous installations policy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  619

  51

  626

  80

  Industrial air pollution4

  1,235

  271

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Field operations

  21,158

  9,475

  22,019

  10,159

  24,414

  10,929

  25,673

  11,490

  37,308

  12,837

  41,368

  15,746

  Her Majesty's Mines

  3,783

  590

  3,836

  563

  3,722

  561

  3,373

  666

  3,085

  539

  3,218

  543

  Her Majesty's Nuclear

  3,745

  474

  4,821

  676

  5,815

  755

  7,377

  1,246

  9,394

  1,379

  10,446

  1,500

  Health policy

  4,900

  539

  5,100

  602

  5,504

  642

  6,357

  749

  4,094

  590

  2,400

  667

  Research and laboratory services

  6,767

  3,129

  7,004

  2,913

  7,557

  2,900

  7,350

  3,020

  7,349

  3,039

  8,396

  3,495

  486

  Table 2

  Number of loans and value of average loan by region 1990–91

  Region

  Number of loans

  Average loan

  £

  South East

  2,907

  2,774

  Greater London

  2,625

  3,074

  Scotland

  1,644

  2,452

  North West

  1,634

  2,102

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,550

  2,029

  West Midlands

  1,471

  1,823

  South West

  1,287

  2,690

  East Midlands

  953

  1,951

  Northern

  849

  2,285

  East Anglia

  598

  2,205

  Wales

  508

  2,218

  Medical Advisory Service
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to strengthen the employment medical advisory service.

  Mr. Forth
  Since HSE reorganised its field-based staff in April 1990 the Employment medical advisory service has been an integral part of HSE's field operations division. Further plans to increase and broaden the impact of HSE's field force will be set out in the Health and Safety Commission's plans of work for 1992–93 and beyond, which the Commission expects to submit shortly to the Secretary of State for his approval.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each year since 1978 to the latest available date the budget allocation of staff, general administrative expenditure costs, both for each Health and Safety Executive doctorate and division, together with the number in post and the complemented figure for each inspectorate and the number of doctors and nurses in the employment medical advisory service and scientists within research and laboratory services division and medical division.

  Mr. Forth
  Available information is set out in the following tables. Changes in HSE's internal divisional structure and transfers of responsibilities within them mean that figures for budgets and staff are not directly comparable from year to year for divisions. Information is given from the earliest dates available.
  487

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Inspectorate/Division

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Salaries

  GAE

  Electrical equipment certification5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  854

  63

  1,031

  70

  1,219

  93

  Nuclear safety research3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  253

  34

  226

  54

  1 Includes HSE Secretariat, Commission expenses and Chairman's salary.

  2 Transferred from the Department of Transport.

  3 Transferred from the Department of Energy.

  4 Transferred to Department of Environment.

  5 Separated from the Research and Laboratory Services division.

  Table 2: Staff in post in each Inspectorate since 1978 are shown below (1 April):

  Year

  FAC/AGR

  TD

  M and Q

  NII

  RI

  OSD

  1978

  2087·0

  —

  199·0

  166·5

  —

  —

  1979

  2142·5

  —

  195·0

  126·0

  —

  —

  1980

  2168·0

  —

  162·0

  125·0

  —

  —

  1981

  2097·5

  —

  167·0

  133·0

  —

  —

  1982

  1908·5

  —

  163·5

  142·0

  —

  —

  1983

  1809·5

  —

  159·0

  152·0

  —

  —

  1984

  1796·5

  —

  151·5

  159·0

  —

  —

  1985

  1802·0

  —

  142·5

  156·5

  —

  —

  1986

  1472·5

  2349·0

  133·5

  163·0

  —

  —

  1987

  1466·0

  305·0

  134·5

  168·5

  —

  —

  1988

  1420·0

  291·0

  116·5

  186·5

  —

  —

  1989

  1428·5

  289·5

  112·0

  211·5

  —

  —

  MI

  1990

  1490·5

  304·5

  481·0

  249·5

  —

  —

  1FOD

  1991

  1797·0

  1215·5

  77·0

  241·0

  534

  688

  3THSD

  1992 (Feb)

  1859·5

  314·0

  67·0

  264·5

  53

  192

  1 HSE field-based staff were reorganised with effect from 2 April 1990 to form the field operations division (FOD). From that date separate figures are not longer available for factory, agricultural and quarries inspectorates. Staff based at field consultant groups including specialist inspectors and scientists were also transferred to FOD.

  2 In April 1986 specialist inspectors including explosives inspectors who formerly worked within factory inspectorate, transferred to the newly-created technology division.

  3 In November 1991 a new division: technology and health sciences was formed incorporating the technology division.

  4 The quarries inspectorate transferred to the factory and agricultural division in October 1989.

  5 The railway inspectorate transferred to HSE from the Department of Transport in December 1990.

  6 Responsibility for offshore safety transferred to HSE from the department of Energy in April 1991.

  HSE inspectorates do not have formal complements. Budgets are issued to meet staffing targets, but the actual number and grades of staff, and balance between payroll and GAE, will vary according to changes in work demands and other circumstances.

  Table 3: The information requested about doctors, nurses and scientists is given below:

  Year (Apr)

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Scientists

  Within Medical Division including EMAS

  Within RLSD

  1978

  86·5

  85·5

  2·0

  306·0

  1979

  86·5

  91·0

  8·0

  307·5

  1980

  83·0

  80·0

  7·0

  309·0

  1981

  86·0

  72·0

  12·0

  282·0

  1982

  74·0

  59·5

  19·0

  275·0

  1983

  73·0

  60·5

  19·0

  298·0

  1984

  70·0

  63·0

  19·0

  293·0

  1985

  71·5

  50·5

  13·0

  290·0

  1986

  68·5

  53·0

  17·0

  283·0

  1987

  64·5

  49·0

  21·0

  280·0

  1988

  56·5

  53·0

  22·0

  268·5

  1989

  55·0

  50·5

  21·5

  273·5

  1990

  56·0

  53·0

  42·5

  285·5

  1991

  56·5

  53·5

  50·5

  245·5

  (FEb) 1992

  54·5

  53·5

  111·5

  253·0

  1 Following its formation the majority of scientists previously working in the health policy division (previously medical division) transferred to the technology and health sciences division.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the ways in which the employment medical advisory service intends to encourage development of occupational health services in industry.
  488
  Mr. Forth
  The medical and other professional staff in the Health and Safety Executive, will continue to provide advice on the use of occupational health services in industry, organise national and local campaigns, and liaise with relevant professional bodies to encourage the development and maintenance of appropriate standards of training and qualification for occupational health service practitioners. This work is supported by a wide range of HSE publications relevant to the development of occupational health services in industry.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria are used to assess the suitability of appointed doctors; and how many doctors have had their status as appointed doctors withdrawn by employment medical advisory service; what proportion of doctors appointed by EMAS have qualifications in occupational health; how many appointed doctors are currently registered with EMAS; and how many days training, on average, each received from EMAS staff.

  Mr. Forth
  Doctors applying for appointment by the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service need to demonstrate interest in occupational medicine and show that they are sufficiently qualified, experienced and competent to carry out their duties. Appointments are now for five years only and automatically terminate unless reviewed. Suitability is
  489
  assessed by the local senior employment medical adviser concerned, both on appointment and regularly thereafter. In 1991, 174 doctors had their appointment revoked for reasons generally of retirement, or cessation of the particular process or substance requiring appointment.

  There are currently 1,340 appointed doctors registered with EMAS. Over 30 per cent. hold specialist qualifications in occupational medicine. Others have attended courses in occupational medicine which do not lead to formal qualifications, such as the Faculty of Occupational Medicine's introductory course. Each doctor is provided with induction training prior to appointment and the opportunity to attend an EMAS seminar held annually, as well as written guidance material relevant to his or her duties. Records of average training days are not maintained.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to increase the staff of the employment medical advisory service, within the health and safety executive.

  Mr. Forth
  Since HSE, reorganised its field-based staff in April 1990 the employment medical advisory service has become an integral part of HSE's field operations division. HSE plans to increase the number of doctors and nurses working in the division by around 10 during 1992–93, from 98 in post at 1 February 1992.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the rate of doctors and nurses employed by the employment medical advisory service in relation to introduction of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations; and what additional staff resources will be made available to effect this.

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the enforcement of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations lies with the inspectorates in the Health and. Safety Executive (HSE) supported by their professional colleagues who include staff of HSE's employment medical advisory service (EMAS). EMAS has been active in helping to increase awareness of the regulations and advising on the use of occupational health expertise and services. No additional EMAS resources were required specifically for the introduction of these regulations but 56 doctors have been appointed under them to conduct statutory medical examinations.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the current amount of fees outstanding to the employment medical advisory service of the Health and Safety Executive for medical examinations.

  Mr. Forth
  On 31 January 1992, £10,339 was outstanding for medical examinations carried out by the employment medical advisory service.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update the 1976 employment medical advisory service survey on the number of physicians and nurses employed in industry who have specialist qualifications in occupational health; and what action has been taken by the Health and Safety Executive on proposals presented in the 1976 EMAS document "Occupational Health Services—The Way Ahead."

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive has recently commissioned a survey of occupational health 490
  provision in industry which will provide information on the number of physicians, nurses and other professional staff in industry with specialist qualifications in occupational health. The results of the survey should be available by the autumn.

  The 1976 EMAS document, "Occupational Health Services—The Way Ahead", made recommendations relating to epidemiological work, statutory medical examinations, and the provision and operation of occupational health services in relation to occupational medical and nursing input. Progress has been made in all these areas as a result of action taken by the Health and Safety Executive and by the professional bodies concerned.

  The Health and Safety Commission followed up this work by issuing in 1986 a statement of its policy on the development of occupational health services and launching a programme of action to promote the use of occupational health services by employers commensurate with the health hazards and risks in their undertakings. Further impetus was provided by new statutory requirements on health surveillance, particularly the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988. In indicating the current extent of occupational health provision in industry, the survey now commissioned will help the Health and Safety Commission and Executive evaluate the impact of these developments and further develop their policy and programmes on occupational health.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff were employed by the Health and Safety Executive employment medical advisory service in each year since 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by occupation and location; and how many posts are currently vacant.

  Mr. Forth
  An analysis by occupation and location of staff working in the employment medical advisory service (EMAS) is given in the following tables for each year from 1988. EMAS was reorganised with effect from April 1988, from a regional, to an area structure. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  On 1 February 1992 there were 11·5 vacant posts in EMAS.

  Fire Safety Certificates
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many premises subject to the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1984 had yet to be issued with a fire safety certificate on 1 February in each Health and Safety Executive area.

  Mr. Forth
  Information about the number of premises subject to the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984 which have not yet been issued with a fire certificate under the Fire Certification (Special Premises) Regulations 1976 is not readily available centrally. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  HSE does not hold information about premises for which the responsibility for issuing a fire certificate rests with local fire authorities.

  Occupational Diseases
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people died from occupational diseases in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Forth
  Figures for deaths due to asbestosis, mesothelioma and other industrial diseases, taken from the latest published statistics ("Health and Safety Statistics 1989–90"), are given in the table.

  Asbestosis

  Mesothelioma

  Other

  1980

  102

  458

  697

  1981

  137

  472

  633

  1982

  128

  504

  624

  1983

  121

  573

  655

  1984

  129

  624

  531

  1985

  140

  615

  587

  1986

  166

  702

  524

  1987

  144

  808

  484

  1988

  152

  860

  —

  1989

  145

  853

  —

  For asbestosis and mesothelioma the numbers are taken from death certificates mentioning either of these conditions. An estimated 100 mesotheliomas annually are not asbestos-related. For other diseases the numbers are for individual awards of death benefit under the industrial injuries scheme (excluding those for asbestosis and mesothelioma) up to the discontinuation of this benefit in April 1988. These figures exclude asbestos-related lung cancers, which are estimated to be about twice as numerous as mesotheliomas.

  EMAS Staff at 1 April 1988 by Occupational Group and Location

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Others1

  Total

  South West

  5·0

  3·0

  3·5

  11·5

  South

  1·0

  2·0

  1·5

  4·5

  South East

  1·0

  1·0

  1·5

  3·5

  London North

  2·0

  2·0

  3·0

  7·0

  London South

  1·5

  2·0

  2·5

  6·0

  East Anglia

  2·0

  1·0

  1·0

  4·0

  Northern Home Counties

  2·0

  1·0

  2·5

  5·5

  East Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  1·5

  5·0

  West Midlands

  5·0

  3·0

  3·0

  11·0

  Wales

  3·5

  3·0

  3·0

  9·5

  Marches

  2·0

  2·0

  2·0

  6·0

  North Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  0·5

  4·0

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1·0

  3·0

  1·5

  5·5

  West and North Yorkshire

  1·5

  2·0

  2·0

  5·5

  Greater Manchester

  3·5

  2·0

  2·0

  7·5

  Merseyside

  1·5

  2·0

  1·5

  5·0

  North West

  2·0

  3·0

  1·0

  6·0

  North East

  3·5

  5·0

  3·5

  12·0

  Scotland East

  4·5

  3·0

  4·0

  11·5

  Scotland West

  1·0

  3·0

  2·0

  6·0

  1 Administrative and support staff.

  EMAS Staff at 1 April 1989 by Occupational Group and Location

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Others1

  Total

  South West

  4·0

  3·0

  2·5

  9·5

  South

  2·0

  1·0

  1·5

  4·5

  South East

  1·0

  2·0

  1·5

  4·5

  London North

  2·5

  2·0

  3·5

  8·0

  London South

  1·0

  2·0

  2·0

  5·0

  East Anglia

  2·0

  2·0

  2·0

  6·0

  Northern Home Counties

  2·0

  1·0

  2·0

  5·0

  East Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  1·5

  5·0

  West Midlands

  3·0

  2·0

  2·0

  7·0

  Wales

  3·0

  3·0

  3·0

  9·0

  Marches

  2·0

  2·0

  2·0

  6·0

  North Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  1·0

  4·5

  492

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Others1

  Total

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1·0

  3·0

  1·5

  5·5

  West and North Yorkshire

  2·5

  2·0

  2·0

  6·5

  Greater Manchester

  3·5

  2·0

  2·0

  7·5

  Merseyside

  1·5

  2·0

  1·5

  5·0

  North West

  2·0

  3·0

  1·5

  6·5

  North East

  3·0

  5·0

  3·0

  11·0

  Scotland East

  3·5

  2·5

  3·0

  9·0

  Scotland West

  2·5

  2·0

  1·0

  5·5

  1 Administrative and support staff.

  EMAS Staff at 1 April 1990 by Occupational Group and Location

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Others1

  Total

  South West

  4·0

  4·0

  3·0

  11·0

  South

  2·0

  2·0

  1·5

  5·5

  South East

  1·0

  2·0

  1·0

  4·0

  London North

  1·0

  2·0

  2·5

  5·5

  London South

  2·0

  1·0

  1·5

  4·5

  East Anglia

  2·5

  0·5

  2·0

  5·0

  Northern Home Counties

  2·0

  —

  2·0

  4·0

  East Midlands

  2·5

  2·0

  1·5

  6·0

  West Midlands

  3·0

  3·0

  3·0

  9·0

  Wales

  3·0

  4·0

  3·0

  10·0

  Marches

  2·0

  2·0

  2·0

  6·0

  North Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  1·0

  4·5

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1·0

  3·0

  1·5

  5·5

  West and North Yorkshire

  3·5

  1·0

  1·5

  5·5

  Greater Manchester

  1·5

  2·0

  2·5

  6·0

  Merseyside

  1·5

  2·0

  1·5

  5·0

  North West

  2·0

  2·0

  2·5

  6·5

  North East

  4·0

  5·0

  3·0

  12·0

  Scotland East

  3·5

  4·0

  3·0

  10·5

  Scotland West

  2·5

  4·0

  1·5

  8·0

  1 Administrative and support staff.

  EMAS staff at 1 April 1991 by occupational group and location

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Total

  South West

  4·0

  3·0

  7·0

  South

  3·0

  2·0

  5·0

  South East

  2·0

  2·0

  4·0

  London North

  1·5

  3·0

  4·5

  London South

  1·0

  1·0

  2·0

  East Anglia

  3·0

  0·5

  3·5

  Northern Home Counties

  2·0

  1·0

  3·0

  East Midlands

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  West Midlands

  2·0

  3·0

  5·0

  Wales

  2·0

  4·0

  6·0

  Marches

  2·0

  —

  2·0

  North Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  3·5

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  2·0

  2·0

  4·0

  West and North Yorkshire

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  Greater Manchester

  3·5

  2·0

  5·5

  Merseyside

  1·5

  2·0

  3·5

  North West

  2·0

  3·0

  5·0

  North East

  3·0

  5·0

  8·0

  Scotland East

  3·5

  4·0

  7·5

  Scotland West

  2·5

  3·0

  5·5

  Note EMAS became an integral part of HSEs field operations division (FOD) from 2 April 1990. From that date administrative and other field-based support staff were no longer specifically allocated to EMAS, but to FOD itself.

  EMAS staff at 1 February 1992 by occupational group and location

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Total

  South West

  3·0

  3·0

  6·0

  South

  3·0

  2·0

  5·0

  South East

  3·0

  2·0

  5·0

  493

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Total

  London North

  2·5

  3·0

  5·5

  London South

  2·0

  2·0

  4·0

  East Anglia

  2·0

  1·5

  3·5

  Northern Home Counties

  2·0

  1·0

  3·0

  East Midlands

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  West Midlands

  2·0

  3·0

  5·0

  Wales

  2·0

  4·0

  6·0

  Marches

  2·0

  2·0

  4·0

  North Midlands

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  2·0

  1·0

  3·0

  West and North Yorkshire

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  Greater Manchester

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  Merseyside

  2·5

  2·0

  4·5

  North West

  2·0

  3·0

  5·0

  North East

  3·0

  5·0

  8·0

  Scotland East

  4·0

  3·0

  7·0

  Scotland West

  2·5

  3·0

  5·5

  Note. EMAS became an integral part of HSEs field operations division (FOD) from 2 April 1990. From that date administrative and other field-based staff were no longer specifically allocated to EMAS. but to FOD itself.

  Skilled Building Operatives
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has plans to discuss with the Construction Industry Training Board the numbers of skilled building operatives likely to be available in the medium and long term.

  Mr. Jackson
  Both my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State, and I meet the chairman of the Construction Industry Training Board from time to time to discuss matters relating to the industry, including manpower issues. The last such meeting took place in November. No date has yet been set for our next meeting.

  Retirement Employment
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people above retirement age are estimated to be in(a) full-time and (b) part-time work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The available estimates from the labour force survey show that in Great Britain in the spring of 1990, 208,000 people above state pension age were in full-time employment and 556,000 in part-time employment. Older people both above and below state pension age can bring valuable qualities of skill, experience and reliability to a job. The Government encourage people to continue working beyond pension age if they wish, and from October 1989 pensioners' earnings have had no effect on their state pension entitlement.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people, and on average by how much earn less than £3.40 per hour in each constituency of Merseyside and in the constituencies of Ellesmere Port and Neston; Chester; Warrington, South; Halton; and Lancashire, West.
  494
  Mr. Forth
  The information available from the 1991 new earnings survey closest to that requested is given in the table. Information is not available for individual constituencies.

  Employees on adult rates whose pay was unaffected by absence

  Percentage whose gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were below the following specified amounts April 1991

  £2·00

  £2·50

  £3·00

  £3·40

  Merseyside

  Full-time

  Men

  0·2

  0·5

  3·0

  5·7

  Women

  0·7

  2·3

  7·4

  14·8

  Part-time

  Men

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Women

  1·9

  5·7

  17·6

  43·2

  Cheshire

  Full-time

  Men

  0·2

  0·7

  2·4

  4·7

  Women

  2—

  1·3

  7·2

  14·7

  Part-time

  Men

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Women

  2·5

  5·6

  21·6

  44·9

  Lancashire

  Full-time

  Men

  2—

  0·6

  2·6

  6·7

  Women

  0·3

  2·1

  10·0

  19·5

  Part-time

  Men

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Women

  1·8

  4·7

  19·7

  43·5

  Source:

  New Earnings Survey.
  1— Denotes information not available.
  2— Denotes sampling error too large or sample size too small for reliable estimate.

  Note:
  It is estimated that around one fifth of part-time women employees were not covered by the survey because their gross weekly earnings were below the PAYE threshold.

  Woollen Textile Industry
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of redundancies notified to his Department from the woollen textile industry for 1991 in(a) Yorkshire and Humberside and (b) Bradford travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Forth
  In 1991, the Department received advance notification for 1,891 redundancies in the textile industry (SIC 43) in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Information is not available for the woollen textile industry, nor for Bradford travel-to-work area.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment action places are currently filled in Scotland.

  Mr. Jackson
  The latest available data is for 9 January 1992 and showed 381 people in Scotland receiving employment action allowances on that date.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total number of young people in training under the training credits system by training and enterprise council or local enterprise company and by standard occupational classification at the most recent convenient date.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 6 February 192]: At 8 December 1991, the latest date for when information is available, it is estimated that there were over 14,000 young people in training in England and Wales using training credits. The following table shows the figures by pilot area. Figures by standard occupational classification are not yet available.

  Training credits—England and Wales

  In training: provisional estimates1—8 December 1991

  TEC area

  Number

  Birmingham

  2,300

  Bradford

  1,600

  Devon and Cornwall

  4,100

  Hertfordshire

  1,000

  Kent

  300

  North East Wales

  400

  Northumberland

  1,300

  South and East Cheshire

  1,000

  SLOTEC

  800

  Suffolk

  1,300

  England and Wales

  14,100

  1 Figures subject to adjustment.

  Source: OSMOSIS.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Turkeys
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the extent of pododermatitis in turkeys; and what advice his Department gives for the eradication of this ailment.

  Mr. Maclean
  As pododermatitis is not a notifiable disease, there is no comprehensive information on its prevalence in turkeys. Pododermatitis is the result of a complex interaction of factors such as water spillage, ventilation, insulation, diet, litter quality and depth and stocking density. Advice on these factors is available in the Government's welfare code on turkeys. Ministry sponsored research has made a substantial contribution to the understanding of the condition and technical advice to overcome the problem is available from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.

  Poultry De-beaking
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the numbers or proportions of turkey poults which are subject to de-beaking; what guidelines he has issued to the turkey rearing industry; and what action his Department takes to ensure proper supervision of this practice.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the proportion of turkeys which are beak trimmed in this country has fallen to under 20 per cent. Advice on beak trimming is contained in the Government's welfare code on turkeys, which states that beak trimming should be carried out only by a skilled operator or under his supervision.
  496
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to respond to the Farm Animal Welfare Council recommendation that legislation be introduced banning the routine non-therapeutic de-beaking of poultry.

  Mr. Maclean
  We shall be consulting interested organisations on the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of laying hens in colony systems. The Government will respond to the council's recommendations once all the comments received have been considered.

  Data Information Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department has a large number of information systems in use. A central record of the functions of these systems is being set up, but is still in its early stages and it is not possible to provide the required information on the data systems or on any links with other systems until this work is complete. All systems containing details of individuals are registered under the Data Protection Act. There are 37 such registrations covering approximately 850 sub-systems, all of which comply fully with the requirements of the Act. None is linked to the police national computer.

  Dumped Mackerel
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding large quantities of dumped mackerel being trawled in the south west mackerel box; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I have received five letters.

  A pelagic fishery for species other than mackerel is permitted in the mackerel box and only 15 per cent. of the total quantity of the catch retained may be mackerel taken as a by-catch. Our sea fisheries inspectorate vigorously monitors the activities inside the box. The situation is kept under close scrutiny.

  Kingswear, South Devon (Moorings)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet the hon. Member for South Hams and the Dart harbour and navigation authority before making a final decision on the scheme to provide piled pontoon moorings at Kingswear, south Devon, submitted by the authority in February 1989.

  Mr. Curry
  I do not believe that a meeting will be necessary. The application was not complete when formally submitted for approval on 2 December 1991, but the Department is now in the process of examining further information submitted by the Dart harbour and navigation authority and by its consultants, as well as the authority's request dated 4 February 1992 for increased costs to be taken into consideration. Our officials should shortly be in a position to let the authority have a decision on the application for approval.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the expenditure and achievements of his Department in north Yorkshire during 1991; and what was the comparable position between June 1979 and May 1980.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1991, payments to farmers in north Yorkshire under the various agricultural and horticultural schemes amounted to over £19 million, of which over £14 million was paid under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme, the suckler cow and the sheep annual premium schemes. A United Kingdom national harbour improvement grant of £65,127 was made to Scarborough borough council for the construction of a new fish market at Scarborough.

  Since 1979, to enable farmers to diversify and to increase the level of care for the environment, the Department has introduced the farm and conservation grant scheme, the farm woodland scheme, the environmentally sensitive areas scheme, the five-year and one-year set-aside schemes and two pilot extensification schemes. In 1991 in north Yorkshire, over 54 hectares of new woodland planting was approved under the farm woodland scheme. The Pennine dales ESA has been successful in maintaining and enhancing the landscape and wildlife quality of the area. During 1991, the total area set aside under either the five-year or one-year set-aside schemes increased to 3,705 hectares.

  In 1991, the Department spent £562,000 on building maintenance and on new facilities and specialised accommodation in north Yorkshire. It also decided to relocate the central science laboratory to Sand Hutton and to relocate 600 headquarters posts to York. It is expected that some 350 to 400 posts will be recruited locally as a result, and the moves can be expected to provide a boost to the local economy.

  Data for the period June 1979 to May 1980 cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Abattoirs
  Sir Robin Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what(a) United Kingdom and (b) EEC grant aid is available in non-assisted areas of the United Kingdom to help bring abattoirs up to the standard required by the EEC regulation; and what is the comparable position with regard to availability of such grants on (a) France, (b) Holland, (c) Belgium and (d) Germany.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department does not give grants for this purpose. Grants are available to meet priorities which we have agreed with the European Commission under EC regulation 866/90. This scheme also operates in France, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and grants are available according to the investment priorities agreed between the European Commission and the national authorities in those member states. In France, Belgium and some parts of Germany grants are available under this scheme for slaughterhouse modernisation.

  BSE
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations of refrigerated containers dedicated for the use of bovine 498
  spongiform encephalopathy carcases and controlled and monitored by his Ministry outside the south-west of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  In addition to those listed in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 January,Official Report, col. 289, refrigerated containers are used at the incineration plants in Dyfed, Clywd and Hertfordshire.

  Industrial Trawlers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the annual catch of industrial trawlers in the North sea last year; the main species concerned and the estimated by-catch.

  Mr. Curry
  The provisional catch figure for industrial landings by all countries from the North sea during 1990 is 1,003,000 tonnes of which the main species were sandeel and Norway pout with some herring, blue whiting and sprat. The by-catch of haddock, whiting and saithe was 57,000 tonnes.Source: Report of the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management of the International Council for the Exploration of The Sea, May 1991.

  Preliminary figures for 1991 indicate a catch of just over 300,000 tonnes by EC countries. Figures for non-member states are not yet available.

  Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give details of how he intends to allot the extra £16·5 million in compensatory allowances payable on hill sheep and cattle in the 1992–93 scheme year.

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to the reply, 14 November 1991, c. 621]: I am pleased to be able to announce that United Kingdom Agriculture Ministers have completed the autumn review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands and our consideration of responses to the consultation document "Environmental Aspects of Support for Hill Farming" which was issued for comment on 13 November 1991.

  The review has shown that the average net farm income of livestock producers in the United Kingdom's hill and upland areas is forecast to rise in 1991–92 following significant falls in the previous two years. There will be a further increase following the exceptional additional payment of nearly £12 million in suckler cow premium, which I announced today, since over two thirds of this will go to hill farmers. After careful consideration we have concluded that, subject to parliamentary approval, the rates of HLCA per animal should be maintained at the 1991 level but the financial ceilings per hectare should be raised. This will particularly assist those producers—mainly of cattle—who did not fully benefit from last year's substantial (14 per cent.) increase in headage rates. The headage rates and financial ceilings for the 1992 scheme will thus be:

  Severely disadvantaged area (SDA)

  Disadvantaged area (DA)

  £

  £

  Cows

  63·30

  31·65

  Hardy breed ewes

  8·75

  n/a

  Other ewes

  4·90

  245·

  Financial ceiling (per hectare)

  181·13

  26·85

  499
  1Previously 62·48 per hectare.

  2Previously 46·86 per hectare.

  The additional payment limits of 1·4 livestock units per hectare and of six ewes per hectare (SDA) or nine ewes per hectare (DA) remain unchanged.

  The raising of the financial ceilings will add £2·5 million to the cost of the scheme bringing the estimated value of payments to hill farmers in a full scheme year to £148·5 million.

  My right hon. Friends and I have considered carefully the many responses to our consultation documentation "Environmental Aspects of Support for Hill Farming". The responses demonstrated widespread support for our intention to tackle the problems that have been associated with increased livestock numbers in some parts of the less favoured areas (LFA). We have concluded that the measures proposed in the consultation document are well balanced and are recognised as making an important contribution to the upland environment.

  We propose therefore to introduce these measures as follows:
  the new environmentally sensitive areas announced on 20 November situated in hill areas in England and Wales will be introduced during 1992 and 1993. New ESAs within the LFA will also be designated in Scotland and Northern Ireland. They will help farmers to conserve and enhance the landscape and wildlife characteristics of these areas;
  a voluntary code of good upland management will be published and sent to each HLCA claimant this spring;
  the HLCA regulations will be reinforced this year by a specific definition of overgrazing, designed to enable problems to be tackled more effectively on any vegetation type in any part of the LFA. This measure will be further strengthened by unused common land grazing rights in England and Wales no longer being re-allocated for HLCA purposes where overgrazing is found to be occurring;
  it remains our intention to scale SDA sheep headage rates if these are adjusted in the future. Many respondents to the consultation stressed the close links between this proposal and the negotiations on GATT and CAP reform, particularly as regards the ewe premium. Unfortunately, the outcome of these negotiations remains unclear and the impact of scaling HLCA rates is correspondingly uncertain. It would therefore be premature to introduce scaling in the 1992 scheme. Scaling will in future be considered in the context of the autumn review, the precise arrangements being dependent on the resources available at the time. We will of course continue in the negotiations on CAP reform to press for the closer integration of environmental considerations into the common agricultural policy where practical and cost effective.

  We intend to lay regulations before Parliament very shortly which will implement in Great Britain the rates and scheme conditions I have outlined. We are also taking the opportunity to consolidate and refine the current regulations. The new regulations will in particular make the provisions governing the eligibility of cattle and sheep consistent with one another and will include an amendment to the power of entry for inspectors to align it with the powers provided in both the suckler cow and the sheep annual premium regulations. Parallel regulations will be introduced in Northern Ireland.

  My colleagues and I recognise the importance of these payments to producers particularly in easing their winter cash flow problems. Top priority will be given in the next couple of months to processing the HLCA payments, although this may mean that it will take a little longer to pay other grants, at least in England. Payable orders for
  500
  HLCAs should start to be dispatched within the next fortnight to those producers whose claims have been lodged and accepted by local offices.

  Beef Producers
  Sir John Farr
  Asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new measures he is taking to improve returns to specialist beef producers.

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to the reply, 6 February 1992, column 272]: I am very glad to announce an exceptional payment of nearly £12 million to support specialist beef producers. As a consequence the amount of suckler cow premium paid under the 1991 scheme will rise from £74 million to over £85 million. This will be achieved by raising the premium from £51·69 per cow to £59·64 in the less favoured areas, and from £47·43 per cow to £55·38 elsewhere.

  This is a significant increase in support for the suckler cow heard. These increases follow the decision of the Council of Agriculture Ministers to increase the minimum and maximum rates of premium which member states may pay under the 1991 scheme. The rates announced in October were already well above the new minimum rate agreed by the Council. We have nevertheless decided that the rates of premium in the United Kingdom should be increased. This is further evidence of the Government's continuing commitment to promoting quality beef production from the suckler cow herd.

SCOTLAND

  Employment Grant Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the operation of the employment grant scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  None. The hon. Member may care to note that there is no central Government scheme of this title.

  Radiation, Holy Loch
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 503, if he will identify the source of the radiation burst recorded at Holy Loch on 14 August 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 31 January 1992]: It is not possible to identify the source of the two higher than normal radiation readings recorded at Holy Loch on 14 August 1991. I should emphasise the point made in my reply of 12 December 1991 that a local transient increase of this magnitude is not of radiological significance.

  District Nurses
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by health authority, the number of full-time equivalent district nursing posts and the number of potential elderly domiciliary clients, as defined by the Department of the Environment under section 80 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, for 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991.
  501
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: The number (whole-time equivalent) of district nurses in post is given in table 1. This table also shows nurses whose duties were a combination of two or three of the following:

  Table 1

  District nursing staff: whole time equivalent: by health board: as at September

  1976

  1981

  1986

  19912

  District

  Combined

  Total

  District

  Combined

  Total

  District

  Combined

  Total

  District

  Combined

  Total

  Nurse1

  Duty

  Nurse

  Duty

  Nurse

  Duty

  Nurse

  Duty

  Scotland

  1,209·0

  877·0

  2,086·0

  1,732·4

  699·7

  2,432·1

  1,940·7

  647·6

  2,588·3

  1,712·6

  564·8

  2,277·4

  Argyll and Clyde

  86·0

  71·0

  157·0

  153·1

  56·8

  219·9

  175·8

  44·4

  220·2

  167·0

  59·9

  215·9

  Ayrshire and Arran

  36·0

  72·0

  108·0

  73·1

  63·1

  136·2

  109·8

  21·5

  131·3

  131·0

  1·0

  132·0

  Borders

  9·0

  24·0

  33·0

  17·1

  26·5

  43·6

  13·8

  52·9

  66·7

  6·0

  46·9

  52·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  24·0

  49·0

  73·0

  28·5

  44·4

  72·9

  43·0

  38·8

  81·8

  37·3

  42·7

  80·0

  Fife

  81·0

  16·0

  97·0

  140·7

  11·0

  151·7

  162·5

  —

  162·5

  123·0

  —

  121·0

  Forth Valley

  45·0

  63·0

  108·0

  48·4

  77·7

  126·1

  87·9

  75·8

  163·7

  126·4

  18·6

  145·0

  Grampian

  125·0

  96·0

  221·0

  182·7

  83·3

  266·0

  203·3

  77·5

  280·8

  141·1

  77·8

  221·9

  Greater Glasgow

  358·0

  22·0

  380·0

  178·0

  4·0

  482·0

  469·9

  —

  469·9

  384·2

  19·6

  403·8

  Highland

  22·0

  194·0

  216·0

  52·9

  131·6

  184·5

  52·1

  118·6

  180·7

  47·6

  126·9

  176·5

  Lanarkshire

  133·0

  71·0

  204·0

  163·1

  78·0

  241·1

  233·0

  60·0

  293·0

  195·0

  39·1

  234·1

  Lothian

  210·0

  38·0

  248·0

  243·0

  12·4

  255·4

  238·3

  18·4

  256·7

  227·6

  1·5

  229·1

  Orkney

  11·0

  15·0

  26·0

  24·5

  3·0

  27·5

  12·5

  17·6

  30·1

  12·1

  18·8

  30·9

  Shetland

  6·0

  17·0

  23·0

  4·5

  19·0

  23·5

  5·0

  23·5

  28·5

  7·5

  19·1

  26·6

  Tayside

  63·0

  77·0

  140·0

  111·8

  48·1

  159·9

  121·2

  57·8

  179·0

  111·8

  59·0

  170·8

  Western Isles

  —

  52·0

  52·0

  1·0

  40·8

  41·8

  2·6

  40·8

  43·4

  —

  33·9

  33·9

  Table 2

  Estimated home population: age 65 and over; by health board; as at 30 June

  1976

  1981

  1986

  11990

  Scotland

  698,149

  726,604

  742,568

  761,399

  Argyll and Clyde

  56,873

  59,972

  61,873

  63,278

  Ayrshire and Arran

  48,452

  52,520

  54,377

  56,818

  Borders

  17,718

  18,755

  18,855

  19,421

  Dumfries and Galloway

  20,987

  22,877

  24,154

  25,624

  Fife

  44,685

  48,949

  50,413

  52,805

  Forth Valley

  32,992

  35,436

  37,296

  39,317

  Grampian

  66,016

  68,886

  69,309

  71,723

  Greater Glasgow

  152,586

  146,411

  146,652

  143,938

  Highland

  25,175

  27,935

  28,146

  29,676

  Lanarkshire

  55,873

  61,186

  65,364

  69,049

  Lothian

  104,046

  106,999

  109,641

  111,433

  Orkney

  2,933

  3,213

  3,224

  3,229

  Shetland

  3,040

  3,247

  3,132

  3,117

  Tayside

  60,818

  64,352

  64,488

  66,360

  Western Isles

  5,955

  5,866

  5,644

  5,611

  1 Latest available estimates.

  Scottish Universities (Irish Students)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students from the Republic of Ireland are presently receiving their higher education at each university in Scotland; and what is the estimated contribution of his Department towards their tuition fees.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: In academic year 1991–92 there were in total 307 students from the Republic of Ireland attending higher education courses at universities in Scotland. Information on the numbers attending individual universities is not available centrally. In 1991–92, the cost to the Scottish Office education department of paying tuition fees on behalf of the Irish full-time undergraduates is approximately £454,000, assuming that they are all eligible for such payments.
  502
  health visiting, district nursing and midwifery. Numbers of potential elderly domiciliary clients are not available, however table 2 shows the populations of those 65 and over.

  Fines
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to introduce day or unit fines in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: My right hon. Friend will consider the case for unit fines in Scotland further in the light of experience of the statutory scheme to be introduced in England and Wales under the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the initiatives taken by his Department to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and indicate the estimated reduction for each initiative by(a) 2000 and (b)

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on Thursday 6 February 1992 by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment at column 231.

  Recycling
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all measures undertaken by his Department to achieve the target set for the proportion of household waste to be recycled by 2000; and what is the estimated impact of each measure.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the document, "This Common Inheritance—the First Year Report", published in September 1991. Since then the Government have published a report on deposit and refund systems for beverage containers and batteries and have commissioned a major study of economic instruments necessary to encourage the recovery of resources from waste. We are also considering whether any special study of the Scottish situation is required. These reports, together with the

  503
  recycling plans which are now being prepared by every waste collection authority in Scotland, will enable us to assess the extent of any further action that we will need to take.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 630, what is the estimated outturn expenditure for 1991–92 by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board on compensation to victims of crimes of violence in Scotland; and how many victims received compensation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1992]: It is estimated that outturn expenditure by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board on compensation to victims of crimes of violence in Scotland will be of the order of £14 million in 1991–92, but an estimate of the number of victims who will receive compensation is not yet available. In 1990–91 12·5 million was paid to 4,845 victims in Scotland.

  Ferry Services (Orkney and Shetland)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations his Department has made to the European Commission regarding the inclusion of ferry services to Orkney and Shetland within the ambit of community assistance under the European regional development fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: As I have made clear previously, the Government are willing to consider alternative arrangements for financial support for ferry services to Orkney and Shetland, including the possibility of attracting additional European Community funding. As yet, however, we have received no specific proposals for alternative financial arrangements. My Department discussed in December of last year with Orkney and Shetland islands councils the possibility of commissioning a study into alternative arrangements for financial support for ferry services.

  Mink
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) on how many occasions in 1990 and 1991 his inspectors supervised, examined or monitored the slaughter of factory farm mink by injection or gassing;

  (2) if he will outline the methods of gassing used to kill mink observed by his inspectors during visits to fur factory farms in 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: A member of the state veterinary service observed the one gassing session used on a mink farm in Scotland in 1990. This was carried out by means of an internal combustion engine bubbling a mixture of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide through a purification chamber into a wooden box into which mink were inserted. The one other mink farm uses the injection method, but was not observed in operation.

  Ewes
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has of the number of flocks of 1,000 ewes or more in each regional and islands area of Scotland in 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: The information requested is given in the following table:

  Flocks of 1,000 ewes or more

  Borders

  143

  Central

  44

  Dumfries and Galloway

  108

  Fife

  4

  Grampian

  14

  Highland

  82

  Lothian

  22

  Strathclyde

  147

  Tayside

  79

  Orkney

  4

  Shetland

  9

  Western Isles

  6

  Scotland

  659

  Source: Agricultural Census: June 1990.

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