Written Answers of 25 February 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase in fire service manpower he will require to deal with the obligations of the new building regulations and the removal of Crown immunity from health service bodies for initial fire inspection and ongoing monitoring; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government take account of additional burdens on local authorities in the revenue support grant settlement each year, but it is for fire authorities to determine their manpower establishments in the light of their statutory duties under the Fire Services Act 1947 and the Fire Precautions Act 1971. My Department is discussing with the local authority associations the additional resources required by fire authorities as a result of the removal of Crown immunity from health service bodies. Those associations have the opportunity to inform the Government of their views on local authority expenditure needs through the annual consultations on the local government finance settlement.

  International Crime Surveys
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the position of the United Kingdom in the figures produced for European countries in the international crime surveys for rape, robberies, assaults and murder.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The 1989 international crime survey, measuring crime in 1988, suggests that the robbery rate in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland was lower than the western European average. The same was true of assaults. The survey provides no reliable figures for rape, but for sexual assaults generally the position of the United Kingdom was again low. The results of the survey are published in "Experience of Crime across the World: Key Findings from the 1989 International Crime Survey'" which is in the Library.

  The survey cannot by its nature cover murder, but in 1988 rates of homicide, and attempted homicide, recorded by the police were lower in England and Wales than in 10 other of the EC countries. Rates in Northern Ireland and Scotland were higher than elsewhere except Luxembourg.

  Crime, Leicestershire
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what number, and by what percentage, reported(a) criminal offences and (b) crimes of violence have increased in Leicestershire since May 1979.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information compares the 12 months to June 1979 with the 12 months to June 422
  1991. Between these periods, the total of notifiable offences in Leicestershire increased by 52,906—29,481 to 82,387 —offences and crimes of violence increased by 2,245 offences—1,823 to 4,068.

  Safer Cities Programme
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add Oxford to the areas covered by the safer cities programme.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no plans at present to extend the safer cities programme beyond the current 20 projects. The objectives of the Home Office-funded safer cities programme are to reduce crime; lessen the fear of crime and create safer cities where economic enterprise and community life can flourish. We have now reached our target of 20 projects and there are no plans or resources at present to extend the programme any further.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for areas eligible for funding for crime research under the safer cities programme.

  Mr. John Patten
  Safer cities is a crime prevention initiative and not primarily a research programme. Areas were eligible for consideration for inclusion in the safer cities programme if they: (i) were districts, metropolitan districts or London boroughs within the urban programme; (ii) had serious crime and other social problems; (iii) were already the focus for Government action, and; (iv) were willing to participate. All 20 project areas in the current programme have been selected.

  Oxfordshire Motor Project
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to take a decision on the application for funding by the Oxfordshire motor project.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We will announce a decision shortly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to respond to the letters of 4 November 1991 and 3 January 1992 from the hon. Member for Bradford, North concerning Mr. P. M. B. Fell of Lister Gardens, Bradford BD8 7AG.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It appears that the hon. Member's letters were not received in the Home Office. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which went to Mr. Fell on 28 November 1991.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  It is the policy to install low-energy lighting and other energy-saving devices where practicable into all Home Office buildings.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the poll tax cases which resulted in imprisonment, where evidence had been used of the kind ruled out by the High Court on 20 February.

  Mr. John Patten
  No.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority a magistrate can adjourn a case in anticipation of Parliament amending a law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Magistrates courts have general powers to adjourn in both criminal and civil proceedings under the Magistrates Courts Act 1980.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to magistrates and clerks of the court regarding the use of computer evidence in poll tax cases following the High Court decision of 20 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I do not think that any further guidance is necessary following this case.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated additional police expenditure associated with the War Crimes Act 1991 for each of the next three financial years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Additional police expenditure associated with the War Crimes Act is estimated as follows:

  £million

  1992–93

  1·5

  1993–94

  1·7

  1994–95

  1·65

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Rabies
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that quarantine will continue to be a requirement in regard to the import of those species which are vulnerable to rabies until the rest of the European Community is declared to be free of rabies.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to end rabies quarantine for dogs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Members to my reply of 24 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Hill).

  Low-Energy lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.
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  Mr. Curry
  It is the existing policy of the Department to carry out in its buildings all energy-saving measures which can be shown to be worthwhile. As a result of this, a substantial investment has already been made in energy-efficient lighting; this will be extended to other buildings wherever practicable and as resources allow.

  East Anglia
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy for the East Anglian farming industry in general and the livestock, dairy, cereals and poultry sectors in particular in the light of the single market opening.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government's policy for the United Kingdom farming industry as a whole is set out in the policy statement "Our Farming Future" launched by my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 15 November.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his departmental plant pathologists have made of results for agriculture of changes in the ozone layer.

  Mr. Curry
  Against the background of the Department of the Environment's continuing programme of work on the effects of ozone depletion on plants, this Department is considering advertising for a research proposal on this matter.

ENVIRONMENT

  Norman Shaw Buildings
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the power failed in the Norman Shaw buildings at 2.35 pm on 13 February; and what steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.

  Mr. Yeo
  The power failure in the Norman Shaw buildings on 13 February which lasted for less than two seconds, was caused by a fault within the London Electricity supply network. There was insufficient time for the back-up generator system to be activated.

  Business Property Values
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanisms exist or are planned for review of rateable values for the uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  All rateable values, including those currently prescribed by my right hon. Friend, will be reassessed in 1995. We have announced that the proposed valuation date for the revaluation is 1 April 1993. In preparation, a committee is also reviewing the rating of plant and machinery.

  All assessments in current rating lists are based on a common valuation date of 1 April 1988. Any changes in relative values since that date will be taken into account at the next revaluation. All ratepayers had the right to challenge their individual assessments during the first six months of the current lists. They continue to have rights of challenge where there is a change of circumstances affecting a property and in certain other prescribed cases.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under which Act the regulations in the poll tax reduction schemes were made.

  Mr. Key
  Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, as inserted by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated revenue that will be received in 1991–92 from those who are required to pay 20 per cent. of their poll tax, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: The potential revenue in 1991–92 in Great Britain from those on maximum community charge benefit is £200 million and from students £34 million. Whilst information is held centrally on overall rates of collection by local authorities, no separate information is held on collection from those making the 20 per cent. contribution.

  Nature Conservancy
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the recommendation from the former Nature Conservancy Council that a number of non-native species should be added to schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mr. Trippier
  Following recommendations made by the former Nature Conservancy Council and consultation with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and other bodies, I have decided that we should add the following species to schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:

  Animals

  Noble crayfish

  Signal crayfish

  Turkish crayfish

  Sika deer

  New Zealand flatworm

  Italian crested newt

  Aesculapian snake

  Plants

  3 species of Giant kelp

  macrocystis angustifolia

  macrocystis integrifolia

  macrocystis laevis

  Japanese kelp

  Green seafingers

  Californian red seaweed

  Hooked asparagus seaweed

  All non-native laver seaweeds

  Wakame

  I have placed an order before Parliament today which will bring these additions into effect on 16 March.

  Tyre Tread Depths
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision is being made in landfill sites for the tipping of extra tyres as a result of the increase in minimum legal tyre tread depth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are making no specific provision although the United Kingdom is participating in an EC waste management study group which is considering 426
  means of achieving higher scrap tyre retreading and recycling rates across the community. Whole tyres are difficult to deal with on landfill sites, and an increasing number are now being shredded before disposal, but disposal in landfill is currently a matter for local authority regulators, site operators and producers of waste tyres. It would be for these parties to consider any immediate consequences of changes in tread depth requirements.

  Cleaning Contract, Waveney
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision on the inquiries into the way Waveney district council assigned their buildings cleaning work contract to its own direct services organisation in March 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Waveney district council's response to the notice served under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 is being considered. My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decision shortly.

  Electronic Equipment (Recycling)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the recently published report, "End-of-Life Electronic Equipment: The Case for Recycling", prepared by the Centre for Exploitation of Science and Technology.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Library has a copy on order.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department's policy relating to the installation of low-energy lighting is to replace all standard luminaires, both tungsten and fluorescent, with low-energy consuming equivalents, wherever this is practicable and cost-effective. A programme of lighting replacement is in progress and low-energy lighting has already been installed in six major buildings representing about 60 per cent. of my Department's office estate.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if advice on access arrangements for disabled people will be included in the published version of Planning Policy Guidance Note 1; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  We want to encourage the design and construction of new buildings that provide adequately for the needs of disabled people. Development control policy note 16, published in 1985, set out the role of local planning authorities in seeking to achieve that objective. It emphasised the need for the local planning authority and the developer to discuss the arrangements proposed for meeting the needs of disabled people, as one aspect of negotiation over planning applications. It also made clear that the role of the planning system in this context is limited. This is because the internal layout and design of buildings are not normally material to planning applications.
  427
  Part M of the building regulations imposes requirements on the design and construction of new non-domestic buildings, so that reasonable access and facilities for disabled people can be secured. Where the requirements of part M apply, planning legislation should not normally be used to impose separate requirements. This is because the internal standards of building construction are best regulated by means of a national code, so that developers know what to expect irrespective of the local authority area in which they are building. The building regulations do not yet extend to internal requirements for disabled people in new buildings. My Department is currently assessing the scope and timing of such an extension, which it hopes to implement next year.

  In the interim, we welcome action by local authorities to bring the needs of disabled people in new housing development to the attention of developers, but it would not be right for individual authorities to spend time designing alternative standards, and seeking to impose these through local or unitary development plans, or through planning conditions. However, where there is clear evidence of local need, a local planning authority could include in a local plan a policy indicating that it would seek to negotiate elements of housing accessible to the disabled on suitable sites.

  The Government consulted on new guidance on access and the planning system in an annex to the draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 1, issued for public consultation on 1 October 1991. In view of the current work on part M of the building regulations, we have concluded that it would not be appropriate to include detailed guidance which would be soon out of date in the final version of PPG' to be published shortly. Instead, we propose to issue a circular in due course on access requirements which will take account of progress on this issue.

  Revenue Support Grant
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the actual or estimated total of all debt charges by the charging authorities receiving revenue support grant; and if he will state the reasons for the difference between this sum and the sum of £2,469,200,000 ascribed to debts charges in Annex B of HC 190 of 1991–92.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 21 February 1992]: Charging authorities budgeted for debt charges of £2,328 million in 1991–92. This is not comparable with the sum of £2,469,200,000 shown in annex B of HC 190, which relates to both charging and precepting authorities, and represents the net provision for debt charges in 1992–93 after capital financing grants have been taken into account.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to monitor the ecological suspension of plutonium in the environment arising from the atmospheric distribution of plutonium in the accident at Sellafield on 19 June 1961.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Details of this incident were provided to the Windscale inquiry in 1977 and in information supplied to Sir Douglas Black's independent advisory group's investigations in 1984 into the incident of leukaemias. Monitoring of radionuclides in the environment was initiated in 1952 and their transfer from one environmental medium to another has been the subject of detailed investigation.

WALES

  Child Refugees
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support he is providing to child refugees in Cardiff.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Refugee matters are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Services provided by health and local authorities are not in general differentiated by status of user and it is not possible separately to identify funding provided by the Department for services to child refugees from wider support for services for children. Urban programme funding of some £394,000 has however been approved in South Glamorgan since 1989–90 for projects directed towards the needs of refugees; it is likely that children will have benefited.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of resources have been allocated for speech therapy for children in Wales and in Gwent with a formal statement of needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally. The provision of speech therapy services is primarily a matter for the individual health authority to deliver in light of competing demands on available resources.

  A predicted national shortage of trained speech therapists has been identified for which the Department has made funding of £62,000 available to the health authorities to sponsor ten speech therapy students placements. In addition, the Scientific Staffs Whitley Council has introduced a more flexible pay and grading structure to help overcome local problems of recruitment and retention.

  A48
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make an announcement regarding his proposals to introduce a crawler lane for the A48 at Hardwick hill, Chepstow; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Gwent county council, as agent, is currently considering several options for the improvement of Hardwick Hill on its existing alignment. To confirm the feasibility of each of these options further studies have to be carried out. It is not possible to predict when an announcement will be made until the results of these studies are evaluated.

  Livestock Exports
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many livestock exporters have been prosecuted in 1991 for breach of the welfare code for export of live animals to the EC; and what were the corresponding figures for the last five years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not available centrally.

  School Repairs
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school buildings were assessed as being in need of fundamental repair in the years 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Local education authorities are responsible for the repair and maintenance of their school buildings and this information is not held centrally.

  Development Initiatives
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evaluation he has carried out of the(a) Swansea bay initiative, (b) valleys initiative, (c) information technology initiative, (d) financial services initiative and (e) road to opportunity initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows.

  The valleys initiative launched in 1986 by Mr. Nicholas Edwards, now Lord Crickhowell, was evaluated in 1988 by the department of town planning, UWIST, Cardiff. Progress on the programme for the valleys, launched by my predecessor in 1988, is monitored at six-monthly intervals. Reports are published regularly; the most recent was on 19 February 1992. I will consider the most appropriate form of evaluation when the programme ends in March 1993.

  The financial services initiative, the Swansea Bay partnership and IT Wales are initiatives organised by local authorities, the private sector and the Welsh Development Agency, which are intended to help promote inward investment. It is primarily for the partners concerned to evaluate progress. Based on information provided by companies at the time of their decision to invest, 151 inward investment projects have been recorded for Wales so far this financial year. These projects promise more than 14,000 new and safeguarded jobs and include eight projects in financial services, 12 in information technology and 19 in Swansea bay.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, announced on 11 December 1991 his intention to launch a review of the "A55—Road of Opportunity". The review is proceeding.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is already my Department's policy to introduce low-energy lighting where it is feasible and economic to do so.

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Cardiff royal infirmary following the rejection of the application to pursue trust status.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The future of the hospital is a matter initially for the South Glamorgan health authority. No application for NHS trust status has been made. The position is that following the expression of interest
  431
  submitted by the Cardiff Royal group of hospitals, the decision whether to invite a formal application was deferred pending the outcome of the strategic review announced by the South and Mid Glamorgan health authorities.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those decisions already made on hospital reorganisation or closures which have been deferred from being announced in February, March or April(a) by his Department and (b) by each district health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much secure accommodation is available in Wales for persistent young offenders; and what representations he has received about his current proposals on the subject.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No secure accommodation is available in Wales for persistent young offenders. The three existing small secure units are suitable for short-term use only.

  On 14 August 1991, I published proposals for a comprehensive strategy to tackle this problem emphasising the development of alternatives to secure accommodation as well as proposing a new all-Wales facility. There has been a general endorsement of the report and its recommendations and responses have included additional comments and suggestions which will now be taken forward for discussion with a consortium of relevant authorities. Some of the recommendations contained in the report for Welsh Office action are already in hand or have been actioned, for example a review of conditions of use of the existing secure units in Wales. I have also considered applications for funding special initiatives aimed at avoiding the need for young people to be placed in secure accommodation. Two successful applications have already been announced and I hope to announce a third later in the year.

  Adult Students
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many adult students have been, or are at present on access courses leading to higher education during the years 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1991–92 in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of students aged 19 and over, recorded by colleges of higher and further education as being on access courses, was 123 in 1989–90 and 503 in 1990–91. Information for 1991–92 is not yet available.

  Health Promotion Authority
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the budget for the Health Promotion Authority for Wales in 1992–93.
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  Mr. David Hunt
  Subject to parliamentary approval, in 1992–93 a total of £2,830,000 will be made available for the authority's core allocation, and a further £355,000 will be allocated for new projects. An additional £29,000 will be available as a further earmarked reserve to meet the cost of the authority's contribution to the family planning information service, and in addition £20,000 will be available to fund the authority's capital expenditure. Finally, for 1992–93 only, the Department will make a further £126,000 available for the authority's life education centres project. The allocation will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of annual performance review. It represents a further and substantial commitment of resources to the authority.

  Food (Self-sufficiency)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of self-sufficiency of Wales in(a) fish, (b) mutton and lamb, (c) poultrymeat, (d) beef, (e) oats, (f) cheese, (g) liquid milk, (h) barley, (i) potatoes, (j) pigmeat, (k) eggs, (l) wheat and (m) butter and what were the equivalent figures for 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: Estimates of the level of self sufficiency, defined as the ratio of production to consumption, are given in the table. The consumption figures, which are taken from the results of the national food survey, are based on a sample size of 480 households in Wales. The self-sufficiency ratios will therefore be subject to significant estimation errors. Information is not yet available in respect of 1991.

  Self-sufficiency (production/consumption)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  (a) fish

  2n.a.

  (b) mutton and lamb

  4·9

  1—

  4·4

  (c) poultrymeat

  2·0

  1·9

  1·6

  (d) beef

  3·6

  1—

  4·0

  (e) oats

  2n.a.

  (f) cheese

  2·1

  2·1

  2·4

  (g) liquid milk

  3·5

  3·4

  3·3

  (h) barley

  2n.a.

  (i) potatoes

  0·9

  0·7

  0·7

  (j) pigmeat

  0·5

  0·6

  0·4

  (k) eggs

  0·8

  0·9

  0·9

  (i) wheat

  2n.a.

  (m) butter

  1·3

  1·6

  1·9

  1 Self-sufficiency ratios for mutton and lamb and beef have not been calculated for 1989 as the relevant per capita consumption data for Wales are not regarded as reliable.

  2 Not available.

  Empty Council Houses
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of unoccupied council houses in Wales in the years 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: The information requested is given in the table:
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  Local authority vacant dwellings1

  Available for letting2

  Undergoing repair or improvement3

  Awaiting repair or improvement

  Awaiting sale

  Awaiting demolition

  Other

  Total vacant dwellings

  Vacant for more than 6 months

  Local authority stock4 (thousands)

  1981

  583

  1,207

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,790

  —

  288,359

  1982

  2,005

  1,621

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,626

  —

  278,400

  1983

  1,389

  1,980

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,369

  —

  265,287

  1984

  1,603

  1,665

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,268

  —

  259,823

  1985

  1,100

  1,820

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,920

  —

  255,886

  1986

  774

  1,501

  396

  56

  54

  147

  2,928

  329

  258,050

  1987

  690

  1,656

  653

  103

  47

  180

  3,329

  437

  253,178

  1988

  840

  1,731

  496

  29

  12

  81

  3,189

  385

  248,074

  1989

  768

  1,616

  371

  25

  29

  143

  2,952

  474

  237,702

  1990

  794

  1,518

  355

  13

  178

  165

  3,023

  327

  228,204

  1991

  639

  1,511

  —

  43

  73

  164

  2,430

  406

  223,576

  1 At 1 April.

  2 Includes 42 dwellings from transferred Cwmbran stock.

  3 Prior to 1986 this figure includes vacant dwellings awaiting repair or improvements prior to 1986. The figure for 1986 includes 82 dwellings in the transferred Cwmbran stock for which no breakdown between dwellings undergoing or awaiting repair or improvement is available. Figures after 1990 represent the total number of dwellings to be let after repairs.

  4 Excludes New Towns. Cwmbran ceased to be designated as a New Town on 1 April 1986 at which date its stock was transferred to Torfaen and is included in local authority stock since 1986.

  This information was published in "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 11, 1991", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homeless people there were in Wales by district council area in the years, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: This information is given in the table.

  Number of persons in households accepted as homeless under Part III of the Housing Act 1985, by district

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Aberconwy

  177

  108

  162

  137

  104

  Alyn and Deeside

  330

  485

  528

  474

  499

  Arfon

  102

  63

  65

  77

  93

  Blaenau Gwent

  463

  595

  695

  841

  761

  Brecknock

  180

  176

  243

  269

  318

  Cardiff

  1,592

  2,971

  3,334

  2,483

  4,052

  Carmarthen

  255

  213

  164

  189

  227

  Ceredigion

  188

  187

  180

  331

  373

  Colwyn

  104

  87

  93

  1103

  178

  Cynon Valley

  603

  710

  530

  623

  1,017

  Delyn

  712

  679

  1,002

  825

  683

  Dinefwr

  141

  185

  124

  181

  410

  Dwyfor

  163

  119

  178

  162

  127

  Glyndwr

  63

  30

  43

  46

  87

  Islwyn

  121

  204

  313

  370

  399

  Llanelli

  408

  302

  343

  297

  383

  Lliw Valley

  254

  143

  288

  338

  284

  Meirionnydd

  137

  210

  230

  250

  257

  Merthyr Tydfil

  207

  191

  359

  496

  365

  Monmouth

  618

  576

  357

  281

  388

  Montgomeryshire

  100

  156

  127

  188

  259

  Neath

  629

  636

  496

  610

  656

  Newport

  1,550

  1,635

  2,460

  2,696

  2,936

  Ogwr

  994

  1,193

  1,176

  1,332

  1,671

  Port Talbot

  357

  327

  442

  303

  340

  Preseli

  176

  194

  153

  209

  255

  Radnorshire

  31

  60

  36

  64

  45

  Rhondda

  268

  270

  292

  166

  358

  Rhuddlan

  296

  256

  273

  293

  177

  Rhymney Valley

  410

  580

  655

  439

  2395

  South Pembrokeshire

  210

  271

  241

  248

  205

  Swansea3

  654

  439

  345

  450

  1,779

  Taff-Ely

  321

  395

  442

  568

  715

  Torfaen

  708

  881

  968

  1,216

  1.038

  Vale of Glamorgan

  293

  755

  1,042

  1,160

  1,184

  434

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Wrexham Maelor

  522

  717

  740

  863

  730

  Ynys Mon

  65

  106

  49

  97

  111

  1 Excludes those persons in the 2,000 estimated households made homeless as a result of the major flooding incident in February 1990.

  2 Information for 1991 is provisional.

  3 It is known that the figure for Swansea prior to 1991 was was under-recorded by the authority.

  Source: Welsh Office local authority returns.

THE ARTS

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the total number of employees in the Office of Arts and Libraries; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. Renton
  The Office of Arts and Libraries has currently 59 members of staff. Equal opportunities policy is monitored on an on-going basis in the Department.

  All staff are asked to complete a questionnaire on their ethnic origins but individuals are not obliged to return them. Currently, three respondents to the questionnaire have declared they are members of the ethnic minorities. One member of staff in the Department is currently registered as disabled, but there may be others with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his office in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. Renton
  The current number of men and women in the Office of Arts and Libraries in grades 2, 5, 6, 7, SEO, HEO, HEO(D), EO, AO and AA is as follows. The Department does not employ anyone at grades 1, 3 and 4.

  Men

  Women

  Grade 2

  1

  —

  Grade 5

  3

  1

  Grade 6

  —

  1

  Grade 7

  8

  2

  SEO

  2

  1

  435

  Men

  Women

  HEO

  5

  5

  HEO(D)/AT

  —

  1

  EO

  3

  5

  AO

  3

  5

  AA

  3

  1

  Total

  28

  22

ENERGY

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Low-energy lighting is installed in major areas of the Department's headquarters building, 1 Palace street, which accounts for some 85 per cent. of its energy use. Further installations are under active consideration.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Stock Exchange Investment
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the yield from capital gains on the sale of stock exchange investment by individuals(a) cashing in and (b) reinvesting, in 1988–89 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Maude
  Total net capital gains tax liabilities of individuals and trusts are estimated to be:

  1988–89 liabilities—£2,000 million

  1990–91 liabilities—£1,150 million.

  Table 12.6 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1991", which provides an analysis of net chargeable gains on 1988–89 disposals broken down by type of asset, suggests that about a quarter of the 1988–89 liability is attributable to ordinary shares quoted on the London stock exchange. A comparable analysis of 1990–91 liabilities is not yet available.

  Finer analysis to isolate the amount of gains where the proceeds are reinvested is not available, but from the evidence which is available, it is thought that more of the tax liability from quoted shares will arise from disposals where the proceeds are reinvested than where the proceeds are used for other purposes.

  The figures quoted exclude gains made by companies included in corporation tax.

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reduction in annual liability to capital gains tax, in 1991–92 and 1992–93 as against the 1978–79 indexed regime specifying in each case the total and average reduction per taxpayer as well as the number of taxpayers in each year, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates of the difference between the CGT liability on the current regime and on the 1978–79 indexed regime are not available, as indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on 15 March 1991,Official Report, columns 704–5.
  436
  Latest available estimates of taxpayer numbers for capital gains tax for 1991–92 and 1992–93, assuming statutory indexation of the annual exempt amount, excluding gains realised by companies, which are included in assessments to corporation tax, are:

  Liabilities

  Thousands

  1991–92

  105

  1992–93

  90

  Debtor Countries
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will encourage commercial banks to make a response to debtor countries comparable with that of Governments through the Trinidad terms.

  Mr. Maples
  The Government's position is that whenever the Paris club grants Trinidad arrangements, it should insist that the debtor seeks similar treatment from other creditors. The Government have also supported proposals for limited use of IMF and World bank resources to support voluntary agreements on debt relief between debtors and banks. But the final decisions on relief concerning these commercial debts must be made by the banks and is a matter for their commercial judgment.

PRIME MINISTER

  Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions have been held to seek joint purchases of MRI scanners by the Northern Ireland health authorities with the Departments of Health in Scotland and England.

  The Prime Minister
  No approaches have been made to health authorities in England about the purchase of MRI scanners. However, the Northern Ireland health and personal social services management executive is shortly to establish a new regionally managed supplies organisation which will be expected to seek opportunities for greater savings by co-operating with other supplies agencies in the United Kingdom.

  The Scottish Health Common Services Agency has already placed an order for a number of MRIs—and it is therefore not possible for the Northern Ireland authorities to join with Scotland at this stage.

  Exchange Rate Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his letter dated 13 February to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on the effect of exchange rate policy, what assessment has been made of the effect on pricing out of overseas markets of United Kingdom exports, and the pricing into domestic markets of imports, of increases in the real value of the pound sterling; and if he will publish a table showing the changes in the indices of import and export values of manufactures as a consequence of each quinquennial change in the statistical base.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government cannot determine the real exchange rate over the medium term. The crucial factor determining competitiveness is the effectiveness of United Kingdom producers in controlling their costs. Value indices of trade in manufacturing are not published.
  437
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) further to his letter dated 13 February to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, whether he will distinguish those periods in the last 25 years in which Her Majesty's Government assess the pound sterling to have been(a) overvalued and (b) undervalued;

  (2) if he will give the figures underlying the statement in his letter to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 13 February that the central rate at which the pound sterling entered the ERM was close to the pound sterling's average real rate over the previous 25 years.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Treasury bulletin for winter 1990–91 volume 2, issue 1, pages 25–32 which analyses"measures of real exchange rates and competitiveness",
  in particular chart 4 on page 31 shows the real sterling exchange rate against other ERM countries and the long run average 1966 to 1990.

  Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a table showing, for each of the years 1965 to 1991, the Department of Trade and Industry and the International Monetary Fund indices of trade-weighted relative export unit values base on the second half of 1973 = 100, estimated where necessary on the basis of movements in the rate of exchange since the quarter in which the figures for other countries were last made available.

  The Prime Minister
  The Department of Trade and Industry does not produce a relative export unit value series. The information from the International Monetary Fund series is in the table. Data for 1991 are not available.

  United Kingdom relative1 export unit value index—UVI— for manufactured goods

  Value

  1979

  119·9

  1980

  134·0

  1981

  131·5

  1982

  123·7

  1983

  120·4

  1984

  117·6

  1985

  119·7

  1986

  116·9

  1987

  121·5

  1988

  131·8

  1989

  124·6

  1990

  129·1

  1 United Kingdom's UVI of manufactured goods compared with an export·weighted average of 16 major competitors, in common currency.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his letter dated 13 February to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, what criteria he uses in judging whether United Kingdom manufactures are fully competitive at home and overseas.

  The Prime Minister
  A number of indicators of competitiveness are readily available in, for example, the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics". But the underlying competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturers is best demonstrated by the United Kingdom's rising share of world trade over the last three years, as shown by the chart on page 62 of the Autumn Statement.

  Pelagic Fish
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make an assessment of the implications for the pelagic fishing industry of the collapse of markets in eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the discussions held with President Yeltsin concerning supplies of pelagic fish to Russian and other Commonwealth of Independent States markets;

  (3) what progress he has made following his discussions with President Yeltsin in establishing pelagic fish as part of the European Community food aid programme to eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Disruption of the long-established trade with Russia and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States could have serious implications for the Scottish pelagic fishing industry, even though they have been making commendable efforts to find other market outlets. The possibility that pelagic fish might be included in the EC's food aid programme or credit guarantee scheme is being explored by Departments, including in contacts with the Russian authorities. So far, no request for assistance of this type has been received from Russia.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the offices used in connection with his offices of state.

  The Prime Minister
  Following an energy audit of 10 to 12 Downing street, high-efficiency, low-energy lamps have been installed where appropriate. Low-energy luminaires and krypton tubes have also been installed.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar (Homosexuals)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the requirements of article 8 of the European convention on human rights apply to homosexual acts between consenting adults in Gibraltar.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The European convention on human rights applies in Gibraltar and its laws must, therefore, comply with the convention's provisions. To meet the particular requirement of article 8 of the convention, the Gibraltar Government have drafted an amendment to their criminal offences ordinance. We are considering this.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom, as a depositary state for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, received a copy of the safeguards agreement deposited with the International Atomic Energy Agency on 30 January by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, pursuant to North Korea's obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom's status as a depositary power for the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons—NPT—does not of itself entitle us to receive copies of safeguards agreements negotiated by the International Atomic Energy Agency with states parties to the NPT. However, as a member of the IAEA board of governors the United Kingdom has received a copy of the minor amendments to the standard full scope safeguards text agreed between the IAEA and the North Koreans.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessments he has made of the quality of the BBC World Service broadcasts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The BBC World Service's reputation for the high quality, accuracy and impartiality of its broadcasts is well established and fully merited. The World Service attracts the largest audience of any international broadcaster, estimated at more than 120 million regular listeners.

  We continue to place great value on the World Service and the benefits it brings to Britain's international reputation.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to restore diplomatic relations with Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Diplomatic relations with Afghanistan have not been broken. The Afghan embassy in London continues to function under a charge d'affaires. British diplomats were withdrawn from Kabul in February 1989 because of the uncertain security situation. We have no present plans to reopen the embassy.

  Croatia
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) of 5 February,Official Report, columns 190–91, if he will list the undertakings given by the Croatian Government on minorities legislation; and what plans he has to monitor their implementation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Croatian Government have stated their full acceptance of the provisions in the draft treaty prepared by Lord Carrington on the rights of national minorities and an autonomy for areas in which persons belonging to a national or ethnic group form a majority. We are pressing for the implementation of these provisions in Croatian legislation.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Her Majesty's Government have undertaken of the extent to which each of the Baltic states is respecting the rights of all residents in full accordance with international requirements of respect for human rights, without regard to race, religion and colour.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Baltic States are members of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe and have therefore undertaken to abide by the human rights provisions of that agreement. In our political dialogue with the Baltic states, we make clear whenever appropriate the importance we attach to human rights.

  Lithuania
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the borders of Lithuania as currently recognised by Her Majesty's Government; and what is the historical basis for that recognition.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The borders of Lithuania are those within which the former Soviet Republic of Lithuania existed de facto at the time of our recognition of the Republic of Lithuania as an independent state, in August 1991.

  Low-Energy lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It is already the policy of both diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office progressively to install energy-efficient lighting in their buildings.

  Abortion
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Government of Ireland to change the anti-abortion provision in its constitution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Irish Supreme Court is considering how article 40.3.3 of the Irish constitution should be applied. It would not be right for the British Government to intervene.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Commonwealth of Independent States
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost of the airlift of food to the Commonwealth of Independent States to(a) Britain and (b) all donors.

  Mrs. Chalker
  British beef flown to St. Petersburg at the turn of the year formed part of the European Community's 200 mecu food aid package. All transportation costs are being met from this allocation. No other significant airlifts of food from Britain have taken place.
  441
  The British Government have no figures for costs incurred by other countries in airlifting food to the former Soviet Union.

  Development Assistance
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the amounts of official development assistance allocated as bilateral aid in the sectors of primary health, primary education, rural water supply and family planning in the years 1974 to the present, including financial aid and technical co-operation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Figures prior to 1980 are not available. Bilateral aid expenditure for the period 1980 to 1990 was as follows:

  United Kingdom bilateral aid expenditure on primary health, primary education, rural water supply and family planning 1980–1990 (cash prices)1 2

  £ thousands

  Primary education

  Primary health3

  Family planning

  Rural water supply

  1980

  171

  4,134

  886

  1,609

  1981

  419

  730

  283

  1,518

  1982

  119

  1,868

  1,829

  1,246

  1983

  128

  4,195

  3,794

  557

  1984

  614

  2,939

  2,747

  742

  1985

  384

  3,586

  2,439

  1,280

  1986

  509

  2,041

  1,520

  53,918

  1987

  723

  752

  686

  7,601

  1988

  1,425

  5,891

  1,746

  7,826

  1989

  1,071

  5,264

  1,115

  10,006

  1990

  1,678

  15,026

  6,232

  3,718

  1 Figures refer to the primary sector which benefits from any expenditure. They exclude expenditure classified to other sectors which may also benefit the primary sector (e.g. expenditure on primary teacher training may be classified under teacher training, not primary education).

  2 Technical cooperation expenditure is not included for 1980–87.

  3 Includes family planning.

  Note: Figures include Project Aid provided by the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

  Health Care Projects
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the amounts of official development assistance allocated as bilateral project aid in the primary health care sector for the years 1974 to the present.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Figures prior to 1980 are not available. Bilateral project aid expenditure, excluding technical co-operation, for the period 1980 to 1990 was as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure (£ thousands)

  1980

  4,134

  1981

  730

  1982

  1,868

  1983

  4,195

  1984

  2,939

  1985

  3,586

  1986

  2,041

  1987

  752

  1988

  2,575

  1989

  844

  1990

  9,308

  Note: Includes expenditure on family planning.

  Workers' Co-operatives
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many projects involving the development of workers' co-operatives in the third world have commenced since 1988, by year;

  (2) what is the total amount of money invested in the development and setting up of workers' co-operatives in the third world since 1988, by year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Comprehensive statistics on aid to workers' co-operatives are not separately maintained and cannot readily or accurately be extracted. A number of projects financed under country programmes have, during the period, included significant elements supporting workers' co-operatives, for example the rural development project in Bangladesh, the co-operatives and rural business development training project in Vanuatu and the handicraft marketing project in Zimbabwe. Other projects will have include smaller components for workers' co-operatives.

  Assistance has also been provided under the joint funding scheme. The number and cost of projects approved since 1988 which were primarily concerned with workers' co-operatives were:

  Number

  Cost (£)

  1988–89

  3

  9,000

  1989–90

  6

  31,000

  1990–91

  6

  57,900

  1991–92

  3

  10,700

  In other cases, support for workers' co-operatives will have formed a smaller part of the project.

  In addition to project support, an annual average of three members of workers' co-operatives have, since 1988, been given awards to attend courses at the international co-operative training centre at Loughborough.

HEALTH

  NHS Overseas Ltd
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when NHS Overseas Services Ltd. was set up; what its objectives are; whether its mission statement and business plan have been placed in the Library; how many staff it employs and at what grade; and what its cost in 1992–93 is expected to be.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have arranged for the Chairman of NHS Overseas Enterprises to write to the hon. Member; a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  GP Complaints
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to speed up the family practitioner committee complaints system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On 2 April 1990 the Government introduced changes to speed up and simplify the family health services complaints system. We are presently considering the scope for Family Health Services Authorities to improve the administration of the complaints procedures.
  443
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to publicise statistics of complaints received by family practitioner committees and the General Medical Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Statistics on the number of formal investigations into complaints by Family Health Services Authorities are published annually in "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library.

  The General Medical Council is an independent statutory body whose procedures are governed by the 1983 Medical Act. A summary of complaints received and considered by the council is published by it annually.

  King's College Hospital (Death)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an inquiry into the death of Frederick Seymour at King's college hospital, London SE5, at the accident and emergency department, following the remarks of the coroner at the inquest on the deceased.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The regional health authority has set up an external inquiry to investigate this tragic incident.

  Hospitals (Parking)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are issued to health authorities regarding the imposition of car parking charges for patients, visitors or staff at national health service hospitals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No such guidance has been issued, as this is a matter for local determination.

  No-fault Compensation
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the working of no-fault compensation schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Total Prescriptions Dispensed by Chemist and Appliance Contractors

  FPC Name

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Total

  Chargeable

  Percentage

  Total

  Chargeable

  Percentage

  Cleveland

  4,645,593

  674,509

  14·5

  4,742,004

  648,293

  13·7

  Cumbria

  3,465,124

  650,960

  18·8

  3,566,067

  633,483

  17·8

  Durham

  4,875,161

  740,129

  15·2

  5,005,114

  708,441

  14·2

  Northumberland

  2,077,930

  375,987

  18·1

  2,135,101

  365,735

  17·1

  Gateshead

  1,774,914

  258,388

  14·6

  1,791,076

  244,524

  13·7

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,551,553

  326,188

  12·8

  2,585,659

  312,000

  12·1

  North Tyneside

  1,838,823

  251,353

  13·7

  1,853,674

  237,069

  12·8

  South Tynside

  1,441,112

  171,487

  11·9

  1,479,724

  161,017

  10·9

  Sunderland

  2,898,914

  342,866

  11·8

  2,926,604

  325,004

  11·1

  Northern

  25,569,124

  3,791,868

  14·8

  26,085,023

  3,635,566

  13·9

  Humberside

  6,768,700

  1,027,742

  15·2

  6,846,640

  978,061

  14·3

  North Yorkshire

  4,275,083

  757,755

  17·7

  4,389,417

  740,198

  16·9

  Bradford

  4,277,766

  578,667

  13·5

  4,328,881

  549,174

  12·7

  Calderdale

  1,639,454

  271,693

  16·6

  1,702,257

  267,932

  15·7

  Kirklees

  2,857,411

  513,388

  18·0

  2,898,651

  486,789

  16·8

  Leeds

  6,013,320

  930,678

  15·5

  6,104,747

  890·517

  14·6

  Wakefield

  2,759,190

  438,637

  15·9

  2,844,187

  425,105

  14·9

  Yorkshire

  28,590,924

  4,518,559

  15·8

  29,114,780

  4,337,776

  14·9

  Derbyshire

  6,487,547

  1,184,802

  18·3

  6,624,863

  1,143,588

  17·3

  Leicestershire

  6,153,752

  1,153,423

  1·87

  6,271,886

  1,100,908

  17·6

  Lincolnshire

  3,658,907

  619,919

  16·9

  3,757,464

  584,846

  15·6

  Nottinghamshire

  7,254,541

  1,285,193

  17·7

  7,458,561

  1,228,879

  16·5

  Barnsley

  2,191,445

  279,842

  12·8

  2,187,861

  260,122

  11·9

  444
  Mr. Dorrell
  No full assessment has been made of the working of no-fault compensation schemes, although the Department has noted developments in Scandinavian countries and New Zealand. The question of no-fault compensation was fully debated last year during the NHS (Compensation) Bill. The House decided on a free vote against the measure and the Bill did not receive a Second Reading.

  Medical Training
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the December High Court ruling in respect of the Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training; if he has any plans to revise the arrangements by which the General Medical Council delegates to the medical royal colleges the regulation of post graduate medical training leading to United Kingdom accreditation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  An appeal has been lodged against the High Court ruling and we would not wish to comment until the outcome of the appeal is known.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each NHS region and health district what was(a) the total number of prescriptions and (b) the total number of prescriptions that incurred charges in 1988 and 1991; and if he will express the latter as a percentage of the former.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information for 1988–89 is not available. Information for the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91 is in the table.
  445

  FPC Name

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Total

  Chargeable

  Percentage

  Total

  Chargeable

  Percentage

  Doncaster

  2,765,903

  387,152

  14·0

  2,836,161

  369,282

  13·0

  Rotherham

  2,082,331

  292,406

  14·0

  2,107,267

  278,733

  13·2

  Sheffield

  4,817,349

  654,625

  13·6

  4,893,289

  626,028

  12·8

  Trent

  35,411,775

  5,857,363

  16·5

  36,137,352

  5,592,386

  15·5

  Cambridgeshire

  3,480,702

  725,805

  20·9

  3,622,234

  702,202

  19·4

  Norfolk

  4,047,224

  743,357

  18·4

  4,230,216

  731,160

  17·3

  Suffolk

  3,476,437

  696,214

  20·0

  3,567,657

  673,420

  18·9

  East Anglia

  11,004,363

  2,165,376

  19·7

  11,420,107

  2,106,782

  18·4

  Bedfordshire

  3,340,943

  691,350

  20·7

  3,385,068

  657,867

  19·4

  Hertfordshire

  6,321,276

  1,469,875

  23·3

  6,453,717

  1,415,252

  21·9

  Barnet

  2,048,821

  396,549

  19·4

  2,075,473

  381,753

  18·4

  Brent and Harrow

  3,245,635

  612,335

  18·9

  3,287,635

  576,916

  17·5

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  4,693,664

  896,906

  19·1

  4,741,660

  841,151

  17·7

  Hillingdon

  1,700,576

  369,255

  21·7

  1,721,949

  350,928

  20·4

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  2,358,714

  655,211

  27·8

  2,361,988

  623,929

  26·4

  North West Thames

  23,709,629

  5,091,481

  21·5

  24,027,490

  4,847,797

  20·2

  Essex

  9,874,403

  2,043,221

  20·7

  10,132,792

  1,961,065

  19·4

  Barking and Havering

  2,801,735

  537,117

  19·2

  2,807,571

  499,236

  17·8

  Camden and Islington

  2,555,908

  485,247

  19·0

  2,570,372

  451,263

  17·6

  City, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets

  5,116,857

  698,195

  13·6

  5,203,786

  643,292

  12·4

  Enfield and Haringey

  3,151,598

  592,033

  18·8

  3,253,609

  555,331

  17·1

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  3,566,650

  645,390

  18·1

  3,604,724

  604,857

  16·8

  North East Thames

  27,067,151

  5,001,203

  18·5

  27,572,854

  4,715,044

  17·1

  East Sussex

  5,714,784

  929,082

  16·3

  5,809,616

  889,044

  15·3

  Kent

  10,708,354

  2,068,884

  19·3

  10,906,431

  1,983,984

  18·2

  Bexley and Greenwich

  3,090,571

  579,471

  18·7

  3,122,385

  539,132

  17·3

  Bromley

  1,975,701

  425,869

  21·6

  2,008,178

  410,927

  20·5

  Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark

  5,171,672

  832,863

  16·1

  5,269,598

  780,601

  14·8

  South East Thames

  26,661,082

  4,836,169

  18·1

  27,116,208

  4,603,688

  17·0

  Surrey

  6,287,851

  1,526,647

  24·3

  6,377,659

  1,474,506

  23·1

  West Sussex

  4,985,936

  906,329

  18·2

  5,077,230

  874,149

  17·2

  Croydon

  2,117,939

  452,523

  21·4

  2,132,843

  429,607

  20·1

  Kingston and Richmond

  2,076,122

  475,683

  22·9

  2,079,613

  459,077

  22·1

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  4,146,503

  800,263

  19·3

  4,221,855

  774,851

  18·4

  South West Thames

  19,614,351

  4,161,444

  21·2

  19,889,200

  4,012,190

  20·2

  Dorset

  5,060,355

  815,042

  16·1

  5,205,630

  784,249

  15·1

  Hampshire

  10,620,014

  2,163,583

  20·4

  10,871,595

  2,095,593

  19·3

  Wiltshire

  3,370,352

  712,109

  21·1

  3,444,502

  692,623

  20·1

  Isle of Wight

  1,003,261

  162,154

  16·2

  1,027,719

  157,997

  15·4

  Wessex

  20,053,982

  3,852,889

  19·2

  20,549,446

  3,730,462

  18·2

  Berkshire

  4,510,779

  1,117,376

  24·8

  4,625,941

  1,081,873

  23·4

  Buckinghamshire

  3,656,942

  895,191

  24·5

  3,742,879

  863,281

  23·1

  Northamptonshire

  3,592,195

  740,776

  20·6

  3,676,666

  713,415

  19·4

  Oxfordshire

  2,752,473

  671,793

  24·4

  2,826,551

  653,246

  23·1

  Oxford

  14,512,389

  3,425,135

  23·6

  14,872,037

  3,311,816

  22·3

  Avon

  6,390,596

  1,257,301

  19·7

  6,502,170

  1,207,801

  18·6

  Cornwall

  3,078,878

  481,932

  15·7

  3,180,072

  465,614

  14·6

  Devon

  7,633,769

  1,223,816

  16·0

  7,848,651

  1,188,226

  15·1

  Gloucestershire

  3,087,228

  642,122

  20·8

  3,158,325

  626,206

  19·8

  Somerset

  2,943,809

  541,796

  18·4

  3,009,379

  524,533

  17·4

  South Western

  23,134,280

  4,146,966

  17·9

  23,698,597

  4,012,379

  16·9

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  4,113,740

  812,683

  19·8

  4,203,161

  793,452

  18·9

  Salop

  2,600,082

  466,427

  17·9

  2,617,820

  450,264

  17·2

  Staffordshire

  7,579,951

  1,422,494

  18·8

  7,736,986

  1,364,350

  17·6

  Warwickshire

  3,240,435

  639,082

  19·7

  3,284,385

  611,940

  18·6

  Birmingham

  9,288,033

  1,145,009

  12·3

  9,401,661

  1,071,959

  11·4

  Coventry

  2,731,192

  408,062

  14·9

  2,735,711

  376,780

  138

  Dudley

  2,324,858

  423,633

  18·2

  2,349,260

  406,447

  17·3

  Sandwell

  2,869,891

  392,390

  13·7

  2,864,781

  357,595

  12·5

  446 447

  FPC Name

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Total

  Chargeable

  Percentage

  Total

  Chargeable

  Percentage

  Solihull

  1,508,560

  298,745

  19·8

  1,531,261

  285,528

  18·6

  Walsall

  2,547,769

  370,237

  14·5

  2,530,137

  341,679

  13·5

  Wolverhampton

  2,273,563

  333,547

  14·7

  2,272,690

  314,026

  13·8

  West Midlands

  41,078,074

  6,712,307

  16·3

  41,527,853

  6,374,020

  15·3

  Cheshire

  7,447,839

  1,343,351

  1·80

  7,617,115

  1,284,739

  16·9

  Liverpool

  5,202,664

  451,909

  8·7

  5,309,343

  418,933

  7·9

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  3,517,069

  393,842

  11·2

  3,628,178

  371,783

  10·2

  Sefton

  2,887,641

  375,084

  13·0

  2,961,666

  351,658

  11·9

  Wirral

  3,263,855

  423,098

  13·0

  3,344,633

  401,672

  12·0

  Mersey

  22,319,068

  2,987,284

  13·4

  22,860,935

  2,828,784

  12·4

  Lancashire

  13,019,122

  1,927,035

  14·8

  13,225,919

  1,833,966

  13·9

  Bolton

  2,278,039

  346,806

  15·2

  2,327,601

  331,371

  14·2

  Bury

  1,709,275

  259,782

  15·2

  1,743,156

  247,298

  14·2

  Manchester

  4,466,316

  491,264

  11·0

  4,512,237

  458,344

  10·2

  Oldham

  2,094,502

  307,895

  14·7

  2,139,172

  284,895

  13·3

  Rochdale

  2,023,600

  275,252

  13·6

  2,063,949

  259,195

  12·6

  Salford

  2,505,149

  303,759

  12·1

  2,534,318

  281,965

  11·1

  Stockport

  2,433,369

  430,941

  17·7

  2,475,952

  417,509

  16·9

  Tameside

  2,003,432

  308,615

  15·4

  2,036,652

  290,122

  14·2

  Trafford

  2,192,308

  364,438

  16·6

  2,233,437

  349,379

  15·6

  Wigan

  2,912,792

  455,527

  15·6

  2,948,785

  438,338

  14·9

  North Western

  37,637,904

  5,471,314

  14·5

  38,241,178

  5,192,383

  13·6

  England

  356,364,096

  62,019,359

  17·4

  363,113,060

  59,301,074

  16·3

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a chronic asthmatic on invalidity benefit and in receipt of housing benefits and poll tax benefit but below pensionable age is entitled to free prescriptions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since 1968, when medical exemptions from prescription charges were first introduced, asthma has not been a condition which of itself attracts free prescriptions. The NHS low income scheme underpins wide-ranging exemption arrangements on grounds of health or status, thus ensuring that no one need be deterred from obtaining any necessary medication for financial reasons.

  As a result of the exemption and charge remission arrangements, coupled with the prescription prepayment certificate scheme, less than one item in six dispensed in the NHS attracts a charge. In 1991 100 million more items were dispensed free than in 1979, when one in three attracted a charge.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of employees in his Department; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As at 3 February 1992, there were 4,5111 people employed by the Department of Health of whom 5392 were of ethnic minority origin. As at January 1992, 853 members of staff were registered disabled. A survey early in 1991 identified a further 61 additional members of staff with a disability who were not registered disabled.

  Notes:

  1 Figure obtained from the Department's payroll held by the Information and Technology Systems Agency.

  2 Figure based on questionnaires voluntarily completed by staff.

  3 Figure obtained from the Personnel Computer System which does not include four people on the sheltered placement scheme.
  448
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of the grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Grade

  Men

  Women

  1

  1

  0

  2

  5

  2

  3

  21

  5

  4

  17

  7

  5

  108

  55

  6

  69

  17

  7

  349

  154

  SEO

  224

  74

  HEO

  339

  278

  AT

  5

  5

  EO

  332

  482

  AO (CO)

  322

  880

  AA (CA)

  218

  542

  Total

  2,010

  2,501

  Note

  Figures obtained from the Department's payroll held by the Information and Technology Systems Agency on 3 February 1992.

  Medical Doctors
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to increase the statutory protection for the title "doctor" as applied in the medical field.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Statutory protection already exists. Any person who wilfully and falsely uses any title, including that of "doctor of medicine", implying that he is registered as a medical practitioner under the Medical Act 1983 is guilty of an offence under section 49 of that Act.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the estimated population of(a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Greater London, (d) outer London, (e) inner London, (f) Manchester, (g) Liverpool, (h) Birmingham, (i) Leeds, (j) Sheffield, (k) Bristol and (l) Glasgow in 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1991.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is as follows:

  Estimated resident population

  (Thousands)

  Mid-year:—

  1961

  1971

  1981

  11990

  United Kingdom

  52,807·4

  55,928·0

  56,352·2

  57,236·2

  England

  43,561·0

  46,411·7

  46,820·8

  47,837·3

  Greater London

  7,997·0

  7,529·4

  6,805·6

  6,794·4

  Outer London

  4,496·0

  4,469·7

  4,255·4

  4,271·2

  Inner London

  3,481·0

  3,059·7

  2,550·1

  2,523·2

  Local Government areas

  Manchester

  657·0

  553·6

  462·7

  446·7

  Liverpool

  741·0

  610·2

  517·0

  462·9

  Birmingham

  1,179·0

  1,106·8

  1,020·7

  992·8

  Leeds

  710·0

  748·5

  717·9

  712·2

  Sheffield

  581·0

  578·8

  547·8

  525·8

  Bristol

  436·0

  432·5

  401·2

  374·3

  Glasgow City

  2N/A

  982·6

  774·1

  689·2

  1 The latest estimates available relate to mid-1990. They are based upon 1981 Census data, with allowance for subsequent births, deaths, and migration. Estimates for mid-1991 based upon results of the 1991 Census will become available in Autumn this year.

  2 There is no estimate available for 1961 comparable with the figures presented for 1971, 1981, and 1990 relating to the present Glasgow city authority area.

  "Confronting Elder Abuse"
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to take on the report of the social services inspectorate "Confronting Elder Abuse".

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The report is the result of the first phase of a project being undertaken by the social services inspectorate. It describes how staff in two social services authorities responded to referrals about elder abuse in domestic settings. The inspectorate is now working to produce guidance on standards as part of our work programme implementing care in the community and improving standards in service provision for the elderly.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is already the policy and practice of the Department to introduce low-energy lighting as part of its pursuit of improved energy efficiency.

  Abortion
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has discussed with his EC counterparts for the harmonisation of provision for abortion within the Community; and if he will make a statement.
  450
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No such proposals have come forward. Arrangements in respect of abortion are the responsibility of each member state.

DEFENCE

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library statistical information about the radiation doses received by(a) service personnel and (b) civilian workers during refits of the Resolution class submarines.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Radiation dose information is not available in the form requested.

  Suicides
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in how many Army regiments there were no suicides in the years 1987 to 1991; and in how many there were more than one suicide.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the five years 1987–1991 there were no suicides in 33 regiments and six corps of the Regular Army. In the same period there has been more than one suicide in nine corps and eight regiments.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy that all reports of investigations into suicides are examined centrally, that all regiments where there are more than two suicides a year are visited by an independent investigator and that an annual report is made to Parliament on forces' suicides;

  (2) if he will investigate whether bullying was a factor in any suicide in the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All suicides in the armed forces are thoroughly investigated and there are no plans to change present procedures. Investigations completed into suicides committed since 1987 do not show bullying to have been a factor. Statistical information on suicides is contained in the report on "Annual Health Tables: Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force". Arrangements have been made to place the reports for 1990 and future years in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give for the(a) Royal Navy and Royal Marines, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force for each of the years 1987 to 1991 (i) the number of suicides and (ii) the number of personnel; and if he will express the suicides as the number per 100,000 personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the right hon. Member.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the investigatory procedure that is carried out when a suicide occurs in the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The suspected suicide of a member of the Army in the United Kingdom would be the subject of a coroner's inquest. The coroner would expect to receive a report on an investigation of the case by the civil police assisted where appropriate by the special investigation branch—SIB—of the Royal Military police.
  451
  Suspected suicides of military personnel overseas are investigated by the SIB. A copy of any SIB report is invariably given to the commanding officer of the unit concerned.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, columns 454–56, if he will investigate the reasons for the level of suicides in the Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The level of suicides in the Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is not significantly higher than in other parts of the Army.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will complete his review of search and rescue facilities prior to 9 April.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not yet possible to say when the review will be completed.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is already the policy of the Ministry of Defence, where it is practical to do so.

  Russian Defence System
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the operational effectiveness of Russia's anti-ballistic missile defences.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 November 1991,Official Report, columns 613–14.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with members of the Russian Government concerning(a) the future deployment of additional Russian anti-ballistic missiles and (b) the enhancement of existing Russian anti-ballistic missiles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of the former Soviet Union's early warning radars sited outside Russian territory.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are six ballistic missile early warning sites located outside Russian territory. One of these is in the independent republic of Latvia; there are two sites in the Ukraine and one each in Azerbaijan, Byelorussia and Kazakhstan.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to prevent the proliferation and deployment of anti-ballistic missiles around the world.
  452
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Transfers of anti-missile missiles and related technology from the United Kingdom are subject to rigorous national export controls. Such systems or elements of them may also be subject to the international missile technology control regime. United States and Russian ABM deployments are subject to the 1972 ABM treaty.

  Range Facilities, Benbecula
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans either to develop or to reduce the range facilities at Balivanich, Benbecula.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently no plans to develop or to reduce the range facilities at the Royal Artillery ranges, Hebrides. Range requirements are, however, kept under review.

  Trident
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria his Department will apply in determining the level at which the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear warheads will be deployed on the Trident fleet.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Trident will deploy the minimum number of warheads necessary to provide effective deterrence, presenting the prospect of damage that no aggressor could find acceptable.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the latest statistics for unemployment in the Durham area for those aged(a) under 18, (b) 18 to 40 and (c) over 40 years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information, for the City of Durham parliamentary constituency, is contained in the table and can also be obtained from the NOMIS database system in the Library.

  Unemployed Claimants in the City of Durham January 1992

  Age Group

  Total1

  Under 18

  3

  18 to 39

  2,360

  40 and over

  1,028

  1 The figures are on the unadjusted basis.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of persons employed(a) in manufacturing industry and (b) in service industries for each year since 1981.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information relating to employees in employment is shown in the table:

  United Kingdom (Thousands) Seasonally Adjusted

  September each year

  Manufacturing

  Services

  1981

  6,148

  13,414

  1982

  5,769

  13,384

  1983

  5,485

  13,570

  1984

  5,402

  13,873

  453

  September each year

  Manufacturing

  Services

  1985

  5,371

  14,117

  1986

  5,200

  14,317

  1987

  5,176

  14,693

  1988

  5,217

  15,340

  1989

  5,215

  15,663

  1990

  5,147

  15,826

  1991

  4,795

  15,495

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he makes for each year since 1979 of(a) the total available work force, namely all those of working age regardless of whether they were in work or not, and (b) the percentage of the population which was not in work regardless of whether they were looking for work.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available estimates from the labour force survey are given in the following table.

  Population of working age and percentage not in Employment 1979–90

  Great Britain

  Population of working age1Thousands

  Percentage not in employment2

  1979

  31,966

  26·6

  1981

  32,463

  29·9

  1983

  32,861

  32·4

  1984

  33,125

  31·6

  1985

  33,301

  30·7

  1986

  33,425

  30·6

  1987

  33,620

  29·8

  1988

  33,750

  27·7

  1989

  33,851

  25·6

  1990

  33,922

  25·1

  1 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59.

  2 Unemployed (on ILO definition) plus economically inactive as a percentage of population of working age.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of(a) men and (b) women registered as unemployed in the Tooting constituency on 18 February.

  Mr. Jackson
  In January 1992, the latest available date, there were 4,325 men and 1,636 women claimant unemployed in the Tooting parliamentary constituency, on the unadjusted basis. Figures for February 1992 will be released on 19 March 1992.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of(a) men and (b) women under the age of 21 years who were registered as unemployed in the London borough of Wandsworth on 18 February.

  Mr. Jackson
  Unemployment figures by age are only available on a quarterly basis and are based on particular age bands. In January 1992, the latest available date, there were 561 male and 301 female unemployed claimants aged under 20 years in the London borough of Wandsworth.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs were on offer at each jobcentre in the Leeds metropolitan district in each month since January 1990 showing totals(a) for the Leeds metropolitan district as a whole and (b) for each jobcentre.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
  454
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of people now registered as unemployed in the Greater London area who have been out of work for periods of up to three months, six months, nine months, one year, two years, three years or longer.

  Mr. Jackson
  The latest available information, relating to January 1992, is contained in the following table and can also be obtained from the NOMIS database system in the Library.

  Claimant unemployment by duration in Greater London January 19921

  Duration of unemployment

  Number of unemployed

  Up to 3 months

  108,949

  3 to 6 months

  78,186

  6 to 9 months

  54,548

  9 to 12 months

  44,000

  1 to 2 years

  68,019

  2 to 3 years

  17,054

  Over 3 years

  23,288

  1 Unemployment figures by duration are produced quarterly and are on the unadjusted basis.

  Sheltered Placement Scheme
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the review of the payment arrangements for the sheltered placement scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Employment Service is conducting a review into the arrangements for current and capital funding for both the sheltered placement scheme and sheltered workshops. The review was proposed in the consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" and received widespread support. Proposals for new arrangements will be put for consultation as soon as possible.

  Employment Action
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the best information he has, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, separately for male and female, showing how many people have entered employment action and how many were participating in employment action in December 1991 and in January and February 1992.

  Mr. Jackson
  The tables show the number of people receiving employment action allowances as at each count date, plus the number starting to receive an allowance in the month ending at each count date. Information is not yet available for February. The figure for allowance starts is not available separately for men and women.

  Table 1

  Employment action: allowance starts in month

  Period ending on

  Employment service region

  12 December 1991

  9 January 1992

  Total men and women

  Total men and women

  London and South East

  380

  318

  South West

  203

  103

  West Midlands

  257

  102

  East Midlands

  326

  170

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  352

  137

  455

  Period ending on

  Employment service region

  12 December 1991

  9 January 1992

  Total men and women

  Total men and women

  North West

  410

  170

  Northern

  289

  110

  Wales

  266

  113

  England and Wales

  2,483

  1,223

  Table 2

  Employment action: Receiving allowances on count dale

  Count date

  12 December 1991

  9 January 1992

  Employment service region

  Total

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Men

  Women

  London and South East

  626

  493

  133

  962

  763

  199

  South West

  337

  293

  44

  409

  339

  70

  West Midlands

  429

  377

  52

  503

  441

  62

  East Midlands

  528

  458

  70

  663

  574

  89

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  710

  599

  111

  792

  669

  123

  North West

  790

  696

  94

  904

  792

  112

  Northern

  503

  427

  76

  583

  500

  83

  Wales

  524

  502

  22

  600

  575

  25

  England and Wales

  4,447

  3,845

  602

  5,416

  4,653

  763

  Scotland

  263

  236

  27

  381

  343

  38

  Great Britain

  4,710

  4,081

  629

  5,797

  4,996

  801

  Source: Employment service.

  Employment Service
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, how many unemployed people have been referred to restart courses by employment service counsellors since June 1991; how many of them were unemployed for over two years; how many attended and completed the course; what were the outcomes of the participants; how many had benefit penalties imposed for not attending or failing to complete their attendance at the restart course; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, how many unemployed people have taken part in the job interview guarantee scheme since September 1991; and how many participants have secured full-time employment with their sponsoring employer;

  (3) how many people, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, have attended a restart interview since 1 April 1991; and what were the results of those interviews, broken down in the same way as the reply given in his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) of 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 148;

  (4) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, since September 1991, how many people have joined job clubs; how many have left; how many leavers got jobs; how many entered another positive outcome; and if he will give the information broken down by the ethnic origin and gender of participants;

  (5) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, how many unemployed people have participated in job interview guarantee work trials since September 1991; and how many participants have got full-time employment with their work trial employer.

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
  456

  Period ending on

  Employment service region

  12 December 1991

  9 January 1992

  Total men and women

  Total men and women

  Scotland

  213

  132

  Great Britain

  2,696

  1,355

  Source: Employment Service.

  Lone Parents (Training)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his best estimate, for Great Britain, for each region and for each TEC or LEC, of the number of employment training trainees who are lone parents and have entered the scheme under the lone parent eligibility route; how many are receiving child care allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not held centrally. Training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies are required to deliver programmes that meet the needs of all their client groups. It is for the training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies to determine which trainee groups, such as lone parents, they support with child care.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is set out in the table.

  Representation of men and women by grade in the Employment Department group at 1 April 1991

  Permanent staff in post by grade band All staff (administrative and specialist)

  Grade group

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 1

  2·0

  0·0

  2·0

  Grade 2

  4·0

  1·0

  5·0

  Grade 3

  26·0

  2·0

  28·0

  Grade 4

  18·0

  0·0

  18·0

  Grade 5

  142·0

  280

  170·0

  Grade 6

  253·5

  35·5

  289·0

  Grade 7

  955·5

  132·0

  1,087·5

  SEO

  1,370·5

  386·0

  1,756·5

  HEO

  2,939·0

  1,886·0

  4,825·0

  457

  Grade group

  Male

  Female

  Total

  AT

  2·0

  1·0

  3·0

  EO

  5,510·5

  8,779·5

  14,290·0

  AO

  5,805·5

  17,214·0

  23,019·5

  AA

  707·5

  2,106·0

  2,813·5

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of employees in his Department; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. Jackson
  The total number of employees on 1 April 1991 was 52,784. At the same date there were 2,564 who classified themselves as of ethnic minority origin and 1,688·5 full-time equivalents who were registered as disabled.

  Trade Union Elections
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from Mrs. Pamela Wilkins and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers about the result of an election to the executive committee of the former National Union of Seamen; how many representations he has received about electoral fraud in the trade unions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment has received no representations about that particular election. However, continuing public concern about electoral fraud in trade unions led to the proposals in the Green Paper "Industrial Relations in the 1990s", Cm. 1602, which would help ensure that the basic right of union members to free and fair elections is effectively protected. The Government announced on 28 January that they intend to bring forward legislation to put those proposals into effect.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  As part of the energy efficiency campaign on teh Government estate, it is already the Department's policy to install energy-efficient lighting.

  Earnings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the earnings, expressed as percentages, of(a) young men under 18 years and (b) young women under 18 years, compared with those aged 18 years and over, in 1979 and at the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on the average gross weekly earnings of men and women aged under 18 and aged 18 and over, in April 1979 and April 1991, is published in table 124 of part E of the new earnings survey reports for those years.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time males, part-time males, full-time females and part-time females in employment in the Leeds metropolitan district council earn less than £3·40 per hour.
  458
  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 25 November 1991,Official Report, at column 392.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the effect the removal of wages council legal protection for young people has had on low pay and youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Since 1986 young people have no longer been subject to the minimum rates of pay decided by wages councils. The average earnings of young people have continued to increase in real terms and the greater flexibility resulting from the removal of wage restrictions will have improved their job prospects. However, we have no information which distinguishes between the effects of wages council reforms and other factors in the labour market on young people's pay.

  Wages Inspectors
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments since 1979 have been found to be underpaying their workers and how many prosecutions have taken place; how many wages inspectors are currently in post and how many establishments they cover; and what was the position in 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Establishments underpaying

  Number

  1979

  10,969

  1980

  12,154

  1981

  10,074

  1982

  9,269

  1983

  9,842

  1984

  9,461

  1985

  9,064

  1986

  8,205

  1987

  4,443

  1988

  5,597

  1989

  5,528

  1990

  5,205

  1991

  n/a

  n/a = not yet available.

  Total prosecutions (including prosecutions for underpayment)

  Number

  1979

  12(9)

  1980

  8(8)

  1981

  10(8)

  1982

  7(4)

  1983

  2(2)

  1984

  2 (2)

  1985

  2(2)

  1986

  3(2)

  1987

  8(4)

  1988

  11(10)

  1989

  10(9)

  1990

  9(5)

  1991

  17(15)

  459

  Wages inspectors in post

  January 1979

  January 1992

  158

  65

  Establishments covered

  1979

  11990

  390,464

  395,181

  1 Latest available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Short Money
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the current level of financial support provided via Short money to the Opposition parties.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Following the resolution of the House on 21 June 1988, payments are made at a scale of £2,550 for every seat won by each party at the preceding general election, plus £5·10 for every 200 votes cast for its candidates. To qualify for such assistance, a party is required either to have won at least two seats at the general election or, if only one seat has been won, to have received at least 150,000 votes.

  Special Standing Committees
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is his policy towards an extension of the use of Special Standing Committees to examine legislation prior to Second Reading.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It would be quite inappropriate for detailed consideration of a Bill to take place before the principle had been agreed at Second Reading.

  Select Committees
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is his policy towards the Departmental Selection Committees being allowed to play a consultative role in the regular legislative process.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In its report on the working of the Select Committee system—second report, Session 1989–90 —the Procedure Committee did not favour a legislative function for Select Committees related to Government Departments. Nor do I.

  Office Cost Allowance
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the present level of office cost allowance for Back-Bench Members.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The maximum office costs allowance payable to a Member of the House of Commons is £28,986 for the year beginning 1 April 1991, with an additional £2,899–20 per cent.—available for employer pension contributions of staff employed.

  Members' Offices
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) how many rooms are currently available as hon. Members' offices in the Palace of Westminster and other buildings in the parliamentary estate;
  460
  (2) when he expects there to be a sufficient number of offices available to enable each hon. Member to have an offices of his/her own.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  There are at present 294 rooms in the Palace available for Members. A further 236 are located elsewhere in the parliamentary estate. It is expected that, once the phase 2 building is commissioned, every Member who wants a room of his or her own will be able to have one. The timetable for the opening of that building is one of the issues addressed in the report of the Accommodation and Works Committee, due to be published on 27 February.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Library Staff
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is(a) the total number of staff in the House of Commons Library, (b) the total number of staff in the research division of the Commons Library and (c) the number of research staff in the defence and foreign affairs section of the Library.

  Mr. Beith
  The current complement of staff in the Department of the Library, which includes the Vote Office, is 197·2; of that number 52 are employed in the research division and a further 12 in the international affairs and defence section. From 5 April, the total for the international affairs and defence section will be increased to 13.

  Select Committees
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the financial level of support available to each of the departmental Select Committees for the recruitment of the services of specialist advisers.

  Mr. Beith
  A total sum of £257,000 is available in sub-head A.2 (Department of the Clerk of the House) of the vote for House of Commons: administration (class XIX A, vote 1) in the current financial year to meet the fees and other costs of specialist advisers appointed to the Select Committees of the House. The House of Commons Commission does not impose any financial limit on individual Select Committees for the services provided by specialist advisers.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Further Education
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from further education colleges about his policies for further and adult education.

  Mr. Eggar
  A large number of representations were received from further education colleges on the proposals set out in the White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century" (Cm 1536).

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made on the implementation of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Eggar
  The final subjects in the national curriculum —art, music and physical education—will be introduced on time this September in line with the timetable we set in 1989 and have kept to ever since.

  Research Funding
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis future research funding will be assessed for those polytechnics that become universities.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  All higher education institutions will be able to compete for funding for basic and strategic research on the basis of assessed quality. The Universities Funding Council has consulted all institutions on the criteria for its forthcoming research assessment exercise.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the closed shop in local student unions.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  During the course of the consultations initiated by the Government on student unions, my right hon. and learned Friend has received a variety of representations for and against automatic membership of student unions.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the extension of grant-maintained status to all schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  The current arrangements by which schools may apply for grant-maintained status following a ballot of parents are proving very successful. We have no plans to change them. In time I expect grant-maintained status to become the norm for secondary schools in particular.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many maintained schools have so far(a) applied for and (b) been granted grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  As at 18 February 1992, 288 schools had applied for grant-maintained status and 199 had been approved, with 55 awaiting decision.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary schools have now been approved for grant-maintained status; and how many applications are still under consideration.

  Mr. Eggar
  As at 18 February, 174 secondary schools had been approved for grant-maintained status and 35 applications were still under consideration.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar schools, whether local education authority provided or grant maintained, there are in the county of Kent; and if he will make a statement.
  462
  Mr. Eggar
  There are 35 grammar schools in Kent, of which 29 are local authority maintained and six are grant maintained.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of teacher training.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I intend to make teacher training, primary and secondary, much more school based. I issued a consultation document on the reform of postgraduate training for secondary school teaching on 28 January. The consultation period will last until the end of March. I have also asked the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education to advise me on the implications for primary teacher training of the recently published discussion paper on curriculum organisation and classroom practice in primary schools.

  School Repairs
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to deal with the backlog of outstanding repairs in schools.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to deal with the backlog of outstanding repairs in schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  We are already providing huge capital resources. More than £700 million is available for maintained school buildings in 1992–93, an increase of nearly 15 per cent. on the year before, and 35 per cent. above 1991. In addition local education authorities are free to top up their education annual capital guidelines from the overall capital resources at their disposal. It is for them to set expenditure levels and priorities and to use their resources efficiently.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will provide specific funding for the repair and maintenance of schools in the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is not open to the Secretary of State to provide specific funding for such work at county and controlled schools. It is for the local education authority to decide which projects to fund from the capital resources available to it, including education annual capital guidelines made available by my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Grant aid for external repairs and for capital work at voluntary-aided schools is available on application in the normal way.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from headteachers about the effect of the standard spending assessment on school budgets for the forthcoming year.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of letters from headteachers about education's share of the local authority grant settlement.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratio
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the pupil-teacher ratio in 1991; and what was the figure in 1979.

  Mr. Fallon
  The overall pupil-teacher ratios in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England in January 1991 and January 1979 were 17.20 and 18.95 respectively.

  Education Spending, North Yorkshire
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent per pupil in north Yorkshire in 1987 and in the current year.

  Mr. Fallon
  In 1986–87, school-based spending in north Yorkshire was on average some £1,055 per nursery, primary and secondary school pupil. In 1989–90, the latest year for which information on actual spending is available, the figure was some £1,390. That represents a real terms increase of 9 per cent.

  Pupil Placements
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how many pupils are expected to be receiving an education next term in grant-maintained schools or city technology colleges or via the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  Next term, we estimate there will be some 8,000 pupils at CTCs, around 160,000 pupils at grant-maintained schools and 27,400 pupils benefiting from the assisted places scheme.

  London Football Clubs
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had on the effect of the implementation of the Taylor report on first division football clubs in London.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am aware of the concerns of a number of first division clubs about the implementation of the Taylor report but have had no specific consultations with London clubs.

  Teachers
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the cost in each of the last five years of the campaign to recruit teachers.

  Mr. Fallon
  The teacher recruitment advertising campaign has run for only two years. The costs are:

  £

  1990–91

  2,200,000

  1991–92

  2,392,000

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.
  464
  Mr. Atkins
  The number of full-time equivalent men and women in each grade on 1 February 1992 was:

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  1–3

  19

  0

  4

  6

  3

  5

  95

  26

  6

  304

  111

  7

  138

  49

  SEO

  51

  31

  HEO

  154

  134

  Administrative Trainee

  5

  0

  EO

  207

  197

  AO

  132

  335

  AA

  77

  160

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of employees in his Department; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. Atkins
  On 1 April 1991 the Department employed a headcount total of 2,838 staff of whom 261 respondents to the ethnic monitoring survey were of ethnic minority origins.

  The latest figures provided on registered disabled staff relate to 1 June 1991 at which time there were 70 registered disabled staff out of a total of 2,679 full-time equivalent staff. There are other staff in the Department with disabilities who have chosen not to register and are not included in the above figure.

  Reading Standards
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children under seven years of age have not reached a satisfactory standard of reading; and what is his estimate of the numbers who would benefit from a child-centred recovery scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  Pupil's reading abilities are tested under the national curriculum at the end of key stage I when most pupils are aged seven. The 1991 national tests revealed that 28 per cent. of seven-year-olds had not yet reached level 2 in reading, the target set for typical seven-year-olds.

  It is for individual schools to decide how to tackle pupils' reading needs. However, we are undertaking a national trial of the reading recovery programme to be conducted in some 200 inner-city schools in 21 local authorities, and focusing on children who, at the age of six, are experiencing difficulty in learning to read and write. About £10 million is planned to be supported with specific grant under the grants for education support and training programme over the three years 1992–93 to 1994–95 for this and other reading initiatives for inner-city schools.

  Music
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the extent to which his draft orders for music in the national curriculum will meet his original intention of achieving a broad and balanced curriculum.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government's plans for the music curriculum for children aged five to 14 will ensure that all pupils for the first time receive a rigorous and balanced musical education as an integral part of a broad national curriculum. Our plans for increasing the choice of study
  465
  available for 14 to 16-year-olds will ensure that pupils have the opportunity to follow their own particular inclinations and strengths, while still being required to pursue a broader and more balanced curriculum than hitherto.

  Institute Lane Langevin
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of British participation in the Institute Laue Langevin at Grenoble.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs) on 28 November 1991,Official Report, column 590, about the review by the Science and Engineering Research Council of neutron science, formal notice was given on 16 December 1991 of the United Kingdom's intention to terminate the present Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) convention with effect from 1 January 1994, and of our wish to replace it with a new convention from that date. Discussions on this are now in progress with French and German partners in ILL.

  NALGO
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met members of NALGO to discuss expenditure on education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not had any such meeting.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. Atkins
  Practically all the Department's buildings are equipped with low-energy lighting. It is the Department's policy progressively to install energy efficient lighting in premises where such equipment is not already fitted.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Board

  Number of vacancies filled

  Number of applications received

  Number of vacancies filled

  Number of applications received

  Number of vacancies filled

  Number of applications received

  Belfast

  102

  585

  105

  1,249

  98

  823

  North-Eastern

  64

  463

  81

  762

  68

  458

  South-Eastern

  82

  949

  73

  1,228

  32

  267

  Southern

  41

  467

  82

  1,194

  120

  1,924

  Western

  93

  1,065

  77

  650

  96

  683

  In 1989 one complaint against the Southern board was taken to the Fair Employment Agency which upheld the board's decision. In 1990 two complaints were made to the North-Eastern board but went no further. In 1991 two complaints against the Southern board were taken to the Fair Employment Commission, one is now awaiting a tribunal hearing, the other, together with a third complaint, against the Western board, is still under consideration.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for each of the last three years for which figures are available the number of vacancies filled by the Housing Executive, the

  Capital Expenditure, Newham
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the capital expenditure on education by Her Majesty's Government in the London borough of Newham since June 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  The available data indicate that capital allocations for education within Newham LEA since 1981–82 amount to more than £43 million.

  European Community and Sport
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the Government's position in response to the European Commission's communication on the European Community and sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's position is set out in an explanatory memorandum which I submitted to Parliament on 14 February.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the number of vacancies filled in each of the education and library board headquarters, in each of the last available three years, the number of applications received by each board in each of those years, and the number of complaints made under the fair employment legislation in respect of those posts in each year and the number of such complaints which went to a tribunal; how many went to court; what amount of compensation was paid; and how many are still ongoing.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is as follows:

  number of applications received by the Executive for those posts in each year and the number of complaints made under the fair employment legislation in respect of those posts in each year and the number of such complaints which went to a tribunal; how many went to court; what sums were paid in compensation; and how many are still ongoing.

  Mr. Needham
  The information available is as follows:

  1990

  1991

  Number of vacancies filled

  588

  131

  Number of applications received

  7,000

  4,500

  467
  I am advised by the chairman of the Housing Executive that there were no complaints in 1989 or 1991. In 1990 four complaints were taken to the Fair Employment Commission which is still considering them.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the rate collection agency to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment legislation and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

  Mr. Needham
  The rate collection agency has no responsibility for the appointment of its staff. All permanent appointments to the agency are made by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland which has a full-time equal opportunities officer in its employment.

  The recruitment of casual staff by the agency is monitored centrally by the equal opportunities unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps have been taken by the area education and library boards to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments;

  (2) what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in the area education and library boards are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1988.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Following the publication of an equal opportunities policy statement in 1989, committing the boards to the principle of equality of opportunity, each board established an equal opportunties unit, in January 1990, to comply with its statutory obligations.

  This policy statement is emphasised within the overall training programme for board members, officers of the boards, school governors and members of governing bodies of institutions of further education, including training for membership of selection panels for recruitment and promotion purposes. A guidance memorandum has been issued by the boards to all boards of governors, together with a distance learning package, providing advice on all matters relating to equality of opportunity for persons both employed and seeking employment.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by its chairman that the executive has implemented a number of steps to ensure that the fair employment and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

  An equal opportunities unit was established in 1989 and its staff are trained in the legislation relating to fair employment and sex discrimination. The unit is
  468
  responsible for monitoring the impact of personnel policies, including recruitment, throughout the organisation and has developed equal opportunities polices in respect of sex, religion and disability. The application of policies which have been approved by the board of the Executive and agreed with the staff trade union, NIPSA, is monitored by the unit.

  The unit has also organised several seminars to ensure that staff are aware of the policies and that they are implemented effectively.

  The Executive has also set up an equality working group, which is comprised of a wide spectrum of Executive staff from across the Province, and participates in the employers equality group which has representatives from some of the major employers in the Province.

  Mr. McCrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by each district council to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

  Mr. Needham
  District councils are employers in their own right and it is a matter, therefore, for each council to ensure that it complies with the statutory requirements of the fair employment and sex discrimination legislation.

  I understand, however, that every council, in recognition of the importance of the requirements, has allocated responsibility for monitoring equality of opportunity to an officer at chief officer level.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in the Northern Ireland Tourist Board are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  Fair employment and sex discrimination legislation are emphasised in training programmes for all board staff likely to be involved in selection interviewing. In advance of selection interviews panel members receive written guidance on good practice and are fully briefed on their responsibilities.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in the rate collection agency are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  The Rate Collection Agency does not at present have responsibility for the convening of interview panels to fill posts within the agency. All full-time appointments to the agency are made by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and where recruitment of such staff is involved this is undertaken by recruitment branch of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

  In so far as recruitment for casual employment is concerned this is undertaken by the agency's own staff by way of interview panels normally consisting of two persons. Only those staff who have received training in recruitment interviewing by the Department of the

  469
  Environment's training branch are eligible to sit on such panels. This training includes briefing on employment legislation in Northern Ireland.

  Promotion to higher grades is also presently the responsibility of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. All agency staff who meet the eligibility criteria for promotion are entitled to be considered and all promotion panels are set up by the Department of the Environment in accordance with established civil service procedures.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination Order (Northern Ireland) 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by its chairman that all staff involved in interviewing either internal or external candidates for posts in the executive must complete a three-day training course. The course contains specific elements relating to equal opportunities issues including fair employment and sex discrimination legislation. Participants are given an overview of the legislation, its purpose and the need for monitoring, together with illustration of types of direct and indirect discriminatory practices.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in district councils are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  Under section 40 of the Local Government Act (NI) 1972 the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland is responsible for establishing a code of procedure for securing fair and equal consideration of applications to district councils by persons seeking to be employed by them.

  The staff commission has established an equality of opportunity working group to review the equality of opportunity policies and practices of district councils. It is anticipated that the staff commission will produce a code of practice on recruitment and selection in May this year for adoption by all councils. The code will require all those involved in interview panels to be properly trained on all aspects of fair employment and sex discrimination legislation. Training will be undertaken by the staff commission and the Public Service Training Council.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to appoint equality officers who will ensure that fair employment legislation and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

  Mr. Needham
  The responsibilities of the board's personnel manager include those of equality officer.

  Improvement and Repair Grants
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications for improvement grants have been(a) made, (b) approved and (c) refused in each year from 1 April 1988, and from 1 April to 31 December 1991, at (i) Lisburn and (ii) Newry offices;

  (2) how many applications for repair grants have been (a) made, (b) approved and (c) refused in each year from 1 April 1988, and from 1 April to 31 December 1991 at (i) Lisburn and (ii) Newry offices.

  Mr. Needham
  These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chairman has advised me that information about the number of cases refused is not recorded and that details of the number of applications received is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of applications approved are as follows:

  Year

  Improvement Grants

  Repair Grants

  Lisburn

  Newry

  Lisburn

  Newry

  1988–89

  158

  305

  318

  181

  1989–90

  127

  195

  330

  205

  1990–91

  153

  192

  200

  170

  11991–92

  142

  172

  207

  130

  1 To 31 December 1991.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for improvement and repair grants have not been approved due to the current moratorium placed on all capital expenditure at (i) Lisburn and (ii) Newry offices.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chairman has informed me that approval of applications for improvement and repair grants has not been affected by the temporary pause in spending on new capital contracts and some maintenance works.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs he estimates to have been lost in the construction industry as a result of the moratorium placed on capital expenditure in early December 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  It is not possible to assess accurately the impact on jobs in the construction industry of the temporary pause in spending on new capital contracts and some maintenance works. The overall employment effects are likely to be minimal as the total volume of public expenditure has not been reduced.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list new housing associations in Northern Ireland registered since 31 December 1987; and how many habitations are provided by each of them.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has registered only one housing association since 31 December 1987. The Oaklee housing association, which was registered on 4 November 1991, does not currently provide any units of habitation, but it
  471
  will take over the properties currently owned by the James Butcher and Nih housing associations when the merger of these two associations is completed on 6 April 1992. The combined stock will consist of 1,473 self-contained dwellings and 254 bed spaces in shared accommodation.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list details of grants and loans made to each unregistered housing association in Northern Ireland by the Housing Executive from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991, and from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991;

  (2) if he will list details of grants and loans made to each housing association in Northern Ireland by the Housing Executive from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991, and from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  The chairman of the Housing Executive has advised me that grants to unregistered housing associations in Northern Ireland have been paid as follows:

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  11991 £

  Glenall Housing Co-operative

  —

  —

  3,750

  7,500

  Victoria Estates

  405

  405

  405

  405

  1 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.

  The Housing Executive has not made any loans to unregistered housing associations in the period since 1 April 1988.

  No grants or loans have been made to registered housing associations in these periods. Government funding of registered housing associations is channelled through the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland; such details as are available are set out in the answer which I gave the hon. Member for North Down (Mr. Kilfedder) on 22 October 1991—Official Report, columns 554–57.

  Privatisations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what change there will be to the block vote to Northern Ireland as a result of the privatisation of Harland and Wolff and Shorts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  These privatisations do not affect the overall level of resources allocated to the Northern Ireland block, which is adjusted mainly through the operation of the comparability arrangements. Some payments are still to be made to the companies under the privatisation agreements but these will taper off over time.

  "The Way Ahead"
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to implement the proposals contained in the Housing Executive document about rural unfitness entitled, "The Way Ahead".

  Mr. Needham
  Implementation of the proposals contained in "The Way Ahead" is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chairman that a number have already been put into practice. This has in some instances required detailed consultation with the Department of the 472
  Environment for Northern Ireland who will continue to support the executive's contribution to the rural initiative programme by responding as quickly as possible to any remaining policy issues.

  Anglo-Irish Conference
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when is the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish ministerial conference.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The next meeting of the conference is likely to take place shortly.

  EC Programmes
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the £18 million approved by the European Commission in respect of STRIDE, Prisma and Telematique programmes will be allocated in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The amounts of EC aid allocated to the Northern Ireland programmes are as follows:

  £10 million—STRIDE

  £4 million—Prisma

  £4 million—Telematique

  All three programmes will be managed by the Department of Economic Development. Press announcements seeking applications for assistance under the STRIDE measure have already appeared and similar calls for Prisma and Telematique projects will be made shortly.

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been charged with(a) an offence under section 25(2)(b) section 25(3)(a) or (c) section 25(3)(b) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 19 February 1992]: No persons have been charged with an offence under any of these provisions since the coming into force of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 on 27 August last year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Frankfurt Exhibition
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of support offered by his Department in respect of the Frankfurt international trade exhibition 1992 to the pottery industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department did not provide financial assistance to the pottery industry for this event.

  British Technology Group
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has discussed with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals or the heads of the research councils the sale of the British Technology Group.

  Mr. Leigh
  The DTI consulted with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the United Kingdom
  473
  universities about the invitations and advertisements issued in connection with the sale of British Technology Group plc, as required by section 7 of the British Technology Group Act 1991.

  Bureaux de Change
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to control exchange rate indications by bureaux de change.

  Mr. Lilley
  For too long the incomplete and obscure way some signs setting out exchange rate indications are displayed has led to confusion. Regulations I have laid before the House today will enable consumers to compare rates more easily and shop around for the best deal.

  The Price Indications (Bureaux de Change) Regulations 1992 mean that exchange rate indications must: give full details of the terms on which transactions will be conducted. Where an operator buys and sells a currency at different rates, or buys and sells travellers cheques at different rates from notes, all rates will have to be given; give full information on commission rates and any other fees, giving them the same degree of prominence as the exchange rates themselves; be easily visible to customers as they approach the premises.

  In addition, customers must be given: all information relevant to a particular transaction when they enquire about an exchange rate; receipts setting out details of the transaction, except in the case of some machines; a clear explanation of the basis on which the rate will be determined when currency is ordered for supply at a later date.

  Bureaux de change must comply with these regulations which come into force on 18 May 1992.

  However, requirements to display the information on fees and commission rates with the same degree of prominence as the exchange rates themselves will take effect on 18 May 1993. This is to allow operators time to modify or replace display equipment.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by EC member states towards providing for a single market in financial services with respect in particular to cross border branch networks and to cross border investment by one financial institution in another.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 19 February 1992]: The United Kingdom financial services sector already conducts a great deal of cross-border business either through subsidiaries or under the freedoms enshrined in the treaty of Rome. The single market programme was designed to facilitate this further by allowing insurance companies, banks, building societies and investment firms the ability to conduct business throughout the EC on the basis of home state authorisation.

  Political agreement has been reached on a directive creating more freedom in non-life insurance and should be adopted by the Council of Ministers before the summer. Adoption of its sister directive on life assurance is expected by the end of this year.

  The adopted second banking co-ordination directive will, from 1 January 1993, enable a credit institution—a bank or a building society in the United Kingdom—to branch and offer services into other member states on the
  474
  basis of certain agreed minimum standards. The supervisory arrangements to deal with cross-border investment by credit institutions in groups which include a bank will also be covered by the second banking consolidated supervision directive which is expected to be adopted shortly.

  Negotiations on the investment services directive, which is intended to allow investment firms to establish branches and provide services throughout the EC subject to minimum standards, are stalled over draft provisions which would impose rules and restrictions on where and how financial transactions are undertaken. The United Kingdom supports the view of a number of member states that these measures would not open the EC investment services market and the directive would, in its current form, hinder the single market in financial services.

  Coalfield Areas (Support)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his statement of 17 February,Official Report, column 22, what contact he had with Commissioner Milian concerning the level and scope of the new business support measures in coalfield areas; what amount of financial resources will be concerned; and from what estimate they will be authorised.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 21 February 1992]: The United Kingdom RECHAR programmes sent to the European Commission in July 1990 all proposed that business support measures should be implemented as part of these programmes.

  Implementation was delayed by the delay to the Commission's approval of the programmes in general. We have informed the Commission in outline about the proposed business support measures, which form one part of the programmes to be approved by Commissioner Millan.

  I told the House on 17 February, Official Report, column 22 that, to contribute to the RECHAR programmes, the Government will shortly be announcing methods of new business support measures of our own to assist small firms in coalfield areas.

  Defence Sales
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much, in each of the last five years, of the Export Credits Guarantee Department budget was available to support overseas defence sales.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 21 February 1992]: No amounts are set aside specifically for defence sales. Ministers announced in June 1988 a facility for providing £1 billion of export credit support for major defence exports, Official Report, 28 June 1988, columns 164–65. While the limit has been largely utilised, this represents only the level of defence sales supported within the terms of the facility.

  EC Co-operative Statute
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations that the United Kingdom Government are consulting on the draft European co-operative statute, adopted by the European Commission in December 1991.
  475
  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: The Government have not yet received a formal translation of the Commission's draft European co-operative statute. Consultation with interested bodies in the United Kingdom will take place as appropriate when we receive a formal proposal.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of each external consultancy study undertaken in each of the last five years into the operation of the national engineering laboratory.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Since the study by Touche Ross Management Consultants, completed in April 1989, there has been no external consultancy study covering the overall operation of NEL.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: I refer to the list of the departmental programmes given to the hon. Member on 1 July 1991, Official Report, column 20. Supporting publicity for those programmes continues, but there are no current plans for television advertising in the period referred to.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it a requirement that the statement in "Social Fund Manual" paragraph 5023 be included in all area social fund officers' guidance.

  Mr. Scott
  We are currently considering the need for extending and amending the existing advice to area social fund officers on the production of their guidance.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest estimates of how many pensioners are(a) male, (b) female, (c) single and (d) married, in Great Britain.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In mid-1990 the estimated number, in thousands, of men and women at state pension age and over in Great Britain was:

  Men

  Women

  Married:

  2,536

  2,995

  Not Married:

  987

  3,741

  Source: OPCS mid-year estimates.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.
  476
  Mr. Jack
  The Department is committed to promoting energy efficiency and this policy was confirmed in the reply given to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 28 January 1991 at column 431–32 and at paragraph 122 of the 1992 departmental report (Cm. 1914), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland are paying national insurance contributions as self-employed.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available separately for Scotland.

  Pensions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 96, what would be the net cost to the Exchequer of raising the basic state pension in 1992–93 to £59.15 per week for single pensioners and £95·70 per week for married couples on the same basis as given in that answer, after taking into account extra income tax receipts and off-setting savings on expenditure on income-related benefits;

  (2) what would be the net cost to the Exchequer, after taking into account higher tax receipts and savings on expenditure on income-related benefits, of increasing the basic state pension in 1992–93 to £59·15 per week for single people and to £94·70 per week for married couples, on the basis that the increased pensions were paid to all regardless of contributory record.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: Information on the savings on income-related benefits is not yet available for 1992–93 in the form requested. However, using existing basic pension rates increased by £5 per week for a single person, giving £57 and £8 per week a married couple, giving £91·25, costings comparable with 1992–93 can be made.

  For 1991–92 the gross cost would be £3·9 billion with offsetting savings of £1·0 billion on income-related benefits. Income tax receipts would rise by £0·2 billion. The net cost to the Exchequer would be £2·7 billion. The combined cost of this increase in national insurance contributions to a man on full-time average earnings and his employer would be £5·20 per week in 1991–92.

  Pension Rights
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will introduce an early warning system to inform contributors that they need to make back payments on their national insurance contributions to maximise their pension rights; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will produce advice for the public on arrangements for making back-payments of national insurance contributions to help people to maximise their pension rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: The Department already writes automatically to relevant groups of contributors following the end of any year in which their contribution record is insufficient to count towards basic retirement pension. In addition, the

  477
  Department also provides a retirement pension forecast to contributors: they can request a forecast by completing an application form (BR 19) obtainable at local social security offices. The forecast gives details of the pension entitlement based on the national insurance record held. It states the number of qualifying years required in the future to obtain the maximum pension which can be achieved, and offers advice on the payment of additional contributions, if required.

  The Contributions Agency has a high level of commitment to provide information and assistance to all its customers. This is shown in the charters recently issued by the agency and I will send the hon. Member copies of these documents.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Ambulance Service
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the Scottish Ambulance Service, Greater Glasgow area, in April 1991 and December 1991 the number of(a) urgent calls and (b) emergency calls.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information about the Greater Glasgow area is:

  April 1991

  December 1991

  Number of urgent calls

  2,762

  2,779

  Number of emergency calls

  3,415

  4,175

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of cases currently being considered by the procurator fiscal for fatal accident investigation in which delay in ambulance response from the Scottish Ambulance Service, Greater Glasgow area, is considered a possible factor.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am advised by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate that no such cases are currently being considered.

  Lead Poisoning
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies his Department are conducting into the dangers of lead poisoning, especially for children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In January 1992 the chief scientist office of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department approved funding amounting to £27,000 for a one-year study by Dr. Mary Fulton of the University of Edinburgh to determine the impact of treating water to reduce its lead content on the blood lead levels of those children who participated in her earlier research into the influence of blood lead on the ability and attainment of children in Edinburgh.

  The health implications of lead are fully recognised by the Government and measures have been taken to reduce lead exposure through petrol, water, industrial emissions and a range of other sources.

  Pittenweem Harbour
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to give borrowing consent to Fife regional council for the construction of a breakwater at Pittenweem harbour.
  478
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decisions on capital expenditure consents for local authorities very shortly.

  Texts (Efficiency Scrutiny)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the efficiency scrutiny of text creation in the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Lang
  The efficiency scrutiny was recently completed and I have today placed in the House Library a copy of the scrutiny team's report. It makes a number of recommendations. My Department will now produce an action plan outlining the Scottish Office response to the report.

  Candidiasis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the provision made by each health board in the treatment of candidiasis and myalgic encephalomyelitis; and what is the approximate spend of each health board annually on such treatment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Treatment of these conditions is a matter for general practitioners in the first instance. Costs for the treatment of these conditions cannot be identified separately.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: A television and press publicity campaign on solvent misuse and drug abuse is currently running in Scotland and will continue into March. The cost is £115,000. To date, the only campaign planned for the next financial year is one to promote car crime prevention. It will run on television in April and May at a cost of 110,000.

TRANSPORT

  Shipping (North Sea)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to restrict North sea supply vessels to those which sail under the British flag.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. It is our policy to seek the removal of such restrictions elsewhere. Liberalisation of cabotage trade, including offshore supply services, is currently one of our main objectives in the European Community. We believe this to be in the best interests of the British shipping industry as well as of those who use its services.

  Blackwall Tunnel
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, as part of the improvements for traffic control and avoidance of delays and congestion in and
  479
  around the Blackwall tunnel, he will consider the merits of reverting to the practice of having a heavy duty breakdown vehicle permanently stationed at the north exit of that tunnel.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

  Air Traffic Noise
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider using the noise line statistics when judging the impact of air traffic on local communities.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My noble Friend wrote to the hon. Member on this subject on 18 February.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of the grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table shows staff in the Department of Transport and its agencies by grade equivalent and gender. The figures reflect staff in post at 1 April 1991 of 15,984.

  DTp staff by grade equivalent at 1 April 1991

  Grade

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  1

  Grade 2

  4

  0

  4

  Grade 3

  23

  0

  23

  Grade 4

  17

  0

  17

  Grade 5

  107

  9

  116

  Grade 6

  149

  6

  155

  Grade 7

  686

  69

  755

  SEO

  917

  72

  989

  HEO

  1,098

  310

  1,408

  EO

  3,122

  1,085

  4,207

  AO

  1,597

  2,655

  4,252

  AA

  951

  3,097

  4,048

  Other

  9

  0

  9

  Total

  8,681

  7,303

  15,984

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of employees in his Department; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The total number of non-industrial staff in post in the Department of Transport, and its agencies, on 1 April 1991 was 15,484. A survey of the ethnic origin of non-industrial staff showed that of the respondents—representing 81 per cent. of the Department —619 were from ethnic minority groups.

  MOT Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many MOT tests were conducted in the area of Hawick, Roxburghshire in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  There were 5,595 MOT tests carried out in the Hawick area between January and December 1991.

  British Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether it is his intention that the provisions of the citizens charter applicable to British Rail will also apply to private sector rail operators after privatisation of the railway;

  (2) how many civil servants he estimates will be required to be employed in regulation of safety, access, fares, franchising and service standards monitoring of the railway system after privatisation; and whether their costs will be met by the Exchequer or the railway customer;

  (3) to which authority he intends to give responsibiliy for the safety training of railway staff and for testing in professional competence following the privatisation of British Rail;

  (4) what obligations he intends to place on private sector operators taking over parts of British Rail to contribute to the work of the Railway Heritage Trust and to continue and expand the community involvement currently undertaken by British Rail;

  (5) how he intends introduction of automatic train protection will be financed following the privatisation of British Rail;

  (6) to whom he intends to give responsibility for the maintenance of the bridges, viaducts and other structures on closed branch lines following the privatisation of British Rail;

  (7) which company or authority he intends to nominate to take over the 50 per cent. share of channel tunnel capacity contracted jointly to British Rail and French Railways following privatisation of British Rail;

  (8) how he intends essential safety expenditure will be financed following the privatisation of British Rail;

  (9) what arrangements he intends to make for railway research and development following the privatisation of British Rail;

  (10) which authority he intends will represent Britain's railways on the International Union of Railways and the Community of European Railways following the privatisation of British Rail;

  (11) how he intends to ensure the co-ordination of the planning and publication of timetables and the provision of train service information to customers throughout Great Britain following the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  We shall make known our proposals in due course.

  Passenger Transport, South-East
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the total number of passengers (expressed as millions of passenger miles) carried by(a) London Underground, (b) London Buses, including tendered routes and (c) Network SouthEast in each year since 1980.

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

  Passenger miles (millions)

  London Underground

  London bus services1

  Network SouthEast

  1980

  2,640

  2,579

  8,100

  1981

  2,540

  2,500

  8,000

  1982

  2,270

  2,320

  7,000

  1983

  2,700

  2,436

  7,800

  1984–85

  3,340

  2,587

  7,400

  481

  London Underground

  London bus services1

  Network SouthEast

  1985–86

  3,710

  2,562

  8,100

  1986–87

  3,862

  2,687

  8,500

  1987–88

  3,888

  2,786

  9,000

  1988–89

  3,910

  2,769

  9,400

  1989–90

  3,738

  2,728

  9,300

  1990–91

  3,830

  2,713

  9,300

  1 Including tendered routes.

  Speed Limiters
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he intends to implement the provisions of the recently agreed EC directive requiring the fitment of speed limiters to heavy goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  The United Kingdom has been ahead of the EC in recognising the road safety and environmental benefits associated with speed limiters. It has been a requirement to fit speed limiters on new coaches since April 1989; and new goods vehicles over 7·5 tonnes maximum weight will have to have limiters fitted from 1 August 1992. In addition, domestic regulations already require existing coaches registered since April 1974 to have speed limiters fitted.

  We consulted last year on a proposal to require speed limiters to be fitted to certain types of existing heavy goods vehicles over 16 tonnes, and regulations to implement that initiative will be made shortly. We shall also be introducing regulations requiring that limiters must be secured against tampering only by officially approved centres.

  Domestic regulations will need to be amended in due course to accommodate the additional requirements in the EC directive which will effectively limit the maximum speed of the coaches concerned to 65 mph, and the maximum speed of the heavy goods vehicles concerned to 56 mph. The regulations on existing heavy vehicles and coaches will also have to be extended to accommodate the slightly wider requirements of the EC directive. These amendments, which will ensure that domestic legislation satisfies all the EC requirements, will not need to be implemented until 1994 at the earliest.

  M6
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position on the proposed widening of the M6 and the competition for a private sector route in the Birmingham to Manchester corridor.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have today announced plans for widening the M6 between junctions 11 and 20 to dual four-lane carriageway at an estimated cost of £450 million. A copy of the press notice setting out the details of what is proposed has been placed in the Library. I have also announced the decision that, for a variety of reasons, ranging from environmental to operational, none of the proposals received in response to the competition for a new privately-funded route in the Birmingham-Manchester corridor are to be taken forward. However, we shall keep under review the scope for involving the private sector further in road provision throughout the network.

  In widening the M6, environmental assessment will be carried out and landscaping, planting and noise protection
  482
  measures will be used extensively. We shall continue to consult local authorities and other interested organisations as we develop designs for widening. We will mount exhibitions to show our designs to the public and enable them to comment, prior to embarking on the normal statutory procedures required for this kind of road improvement.

  Birmingham Western Orbital Route
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce the next stage of the competition to build a privately funded Birmingham western orbital route.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am today inviting pre-qualifying bids for this scheme from the private sector. A notice is being published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

  The aim of this pre-qualifying stage is to provide a basis for selecting a limited number of tenderers to avoid wasted tendering effort by the industry. The short-listed candidates will then be invited to tender to design, build, finance and operate the new road as a tolled road under a concession agreement with the Department.

  Authorisation for the road scheme will be sought by procedures introduced by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The road will be required to meet the same environmental and safety standards as any public sector scheme and there will be the same opportunity for a public inquiry.

  The aim is for the scheme to be completed in the late 1990s, the same target as for the previous public scheme.

  Low-Energy Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Guidance on the use of low-energy lighting has been issued throughout this Department and has already been applied in a number of its buildings. Such systems will be progressively introduced where it is cost effective to do so.

  Motorway Lighting
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has made of the impact of lighting on motorways on the incidence of driver/ passenger fatalities and accidents; and with what results.

  Mr. Chope
  The results of a study undertaken by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory were published in 1987. The study concluded that there does not appear to be any evidence to support an increase in the Department's current assumption of a 30 per cent. reduction in night-time accidents, but the range of uncertainty remains high.

  British International Helicopters
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the procedures that were followed when British Airways was privatised with regard to the arrangements entered into
  483
  over British International Helicopters; and what steps were taken to preserve the interests of the Exchequer and the staff of British International Helicopters.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  British International Helicopters, formerly British Airways Helicopters Ltd. (BAHL), a subsidiary of British Airways, was sold in September 1986, prior to the privatisation of British Airways. The decision to sell BAHL and the details of the negotiations were commercial matters for the British Airways Board.

  Aberdeen Airways
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent application has been received for the operation of Aberdeen Airways; and what factors are taken into account in considering such applications.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Civil Aviation Authority has referred the case of Aberdeen Airways to the Secretary of State for Transport under section 66(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 for a decision as to whether the airline's air transport licences should be revoked. All such cases are considered on their merits.

  LITHUANIA AND LATVIA: EMBASSY COSTS
  LITHUANIA AND LATVIA: EMBASSY COSTS
  IRAQ: COMPENSATION TO IRAN AND KUWAIT
  IRAQ: COMPENSATION TO IRAN AND KUWAIT
  SERC: 1992–93 GRANT-IN-AID
  SERC: 1992–93 GRANT-IN-AID
  M.6 WIDENING AND BIRMINGHAM-MANCHESTER CORRIDOR
  M.6 WIDENING AND BIRMINGHAM-MANCHESTER CORRIDOR
  BIRMINGHAM WESTERN ORBITAL ROUTE
  BIRMINGHAM WESTERN ORBITAL ROUTE
  SPEED LIMITERS ON HGVs AND COACHES
  SPEED LIMITERS ON HGVs AND COACHES
  BCCI: BINGHAM INQUIRY
  BCCI: BINGHAM INQUIRY
  EC BUDGET: MEMBER STATES' CONTRIBUTIONS
  EC BUDGET: MEMBER STATES' CONTRIBUTIONS
  WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT: ADDITIONS TO PROTECTED SPECIES
  WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT: ADDITIONS TO PROTECTED SPECIES
  INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL: RELOCATION
  INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL: RELOCATION
  NON-STATE PENSION SCHEMES: NATIONAL INSURANCE FUND PAYMENTS
  NON-STATE PENSION SCHEMES: NATIONAL INSURANCE FUND PAYMENTS
  CIDERS: AVAILABILITY IN PUBLIC HOUSES
  CIDERS: AVAILABILITY IN PUBLIC HOUSES