Written Answers of 16 March 1992

PRIME MINISTER

  Gambling
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on encouraging the demand for gambling.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 13 January 1992, at column 460.

  Government Objectives
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the present objectives of the Government; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's objectives were set out in the Queen's Speech on 31 October 1991 at columns 5–7.

  Progress made on these objectives is detailed in today's Prorogation Speech.

  European Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the changes proposed by the new article 8—citizens of the union—of the revised treaty of Rome, as specified in the draft treaty on European union, what variation will occur between the future status of any citizens of the United Kingdom and that of its monarch.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: There will be no change in the status of citizens of the United Kingdom or that of the monarch. Every person who is a United Kingdom national for European Community purposes will hold citizenship of the union as an additional right.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime Statistics, Newham
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish figures for(a) total recorded offences, (b) all violent crimes, (c) burglaries and (d) murders in Newham for each year from 1980–81 to 1991–92.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information has been given in the table. Annual figures for murder cannot be provided in time; I shall therefore write to the hon. Member with them shortly.
  790

  Notifiable offences recorded in the borough of Newham

  Year

  Total notifiable offences

  Total violent crime

  Burglary1

  1980

  18,230

  952

  4,309

  1981

  21,465

  977

  5,267

  1982

  21,233

  1,097

  5,695

  1983

  20,050

  1,081

  5,411

  1984

  23,561

  1,460

  6,180

  1985

  24,064

  1,476

  5,845

  1986

  23,109

  1,439

  5,150

  1987

  23,595

  1,685

  4,945

  1988

  25,090

  1,759

  4,971

  1989

  26,607

  2,007

  5,808

  1990

  28,332

  2,348

  6,609

  1991

  30,731

  2,854

  7,166

  1 Includes going equipped for stealing.

  Gambling
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to raise money for the arts from the proceeds of gambling.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government have decided to establish a national lottery to raise money for good causes, including the arts. On 6 March, we published a White Paper setting out the broad framework for the national lottery and inviting views of interested parties on a number of the practical issues.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Home Office has completed a number of relocation reviews, and a current wider review of the Police National Computer Organisation includes the question of relocation. Some 2,000 posts in Prison Service headquarters and DTELS will move to the east midlands. There are no plans to relocate any posts to Mansfield.

  Eavesdropping Devices
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 344, to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn); if he has any plans to restrict the circumstances in which eavesdropping devices may be used; what consideration he has given to the effect of their use on personal privacy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No, but the effect of the use of devices which amplify and transmit sound is kept under review.

  Parole
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners in England and Wales eligible for parole, who are awaiting consideration of their applications for parole; and what was the comparable figure at the same time in 1991 and 1990.
  791
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Central records show that there are now some 4,600 cases under consideration for parole and on which no decision has yet been reached. An additional unknown number of inmates will have had their reviews started locally, but the cases have not yet been received at the centre. At this time last year there were about 5,000 cases being processed at the centre. Figures for previous years are not readily available.

  Auto Crime
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning the methods to be used in the apprehension of those suspected of acts of aggravated vehicle-taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  This is an operational matter for the police.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has for the latest available year of all motor vehicles stolen or broken into, on the number of cases in which the method of entry was via(a) a forced window, (b) a smashed window and (c) a forced door.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The only information held centrally is from the British crime survey. The most recent sweep, conducted in early 1988, showed that of a sample of 1,500 motor vehicles which were stolen or broken into over the past year, entry was as shown below. The survey does not ask for methods of entry in quite the same way as the question specifies. Nor do all victims, particularly those of theft of cars, know the method of entry. The other methods referred to in the third row include entry by unlocked doors and open windows.

  Percentage

  Estimated number of crimes

  Broken windows

  33

  811,000

  Forced lock

  18

  445,000

  Other methods/not known

  49

  1,217,000

  Total

  100

  2,473,000

  Prisons
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement changes in the prison disciplinary system.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have laid before the House amendments to the prison rules and young offender institution rules which will implement, from 1 April, important changes to the prison disciplinary system. These implement commitments in the White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice". On 1 April boards of visitors will cease to have a role in hearing disciplinary cases or in remitting or mitigating any punishment. Governors will in future hear all charges, using their existing powers, and will refer allegations of serious criminal offences committed in prisons to the police for investigation. Guidelines have been agreed with the police and the Crown prosecution service on the referral of such cases. Governors will also be responsible for remitting or mitigating punishments. These changes will free boards of visitors to concentrate on their "watchdog" role.
  792
  The amendments to the prison rules also increase the statutory entitlement of convicted adult prisoners to receive visits from one a month to two. This change was implemented administratively in June 1991. In addition, the rule amendments make provision for their application to contracted-out prisons.

  Magistrates Courts
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached conclusions on the review of magistrates courts procedures initiated in 1989.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have now received the report of the committee invited to review magistrates courts procedure by my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) and have placed a copy in the Library. I am grateful to all those from the magistrates courts service and other bodies who participated in the review. With the exceptions noted below, and subject to deferral of questions relating to liquor licensing for further consideration, I am glad to endorse its recommendations. Some will require primary legislation, and I therefore cannot at this stage indicate when it will be possible to bring the necessary legislative proposals before Parliament. Others can be taken forward through changes to subordinate legislation or guidance to the courts.

  The recommendations on which I am not persuaded that action is justified are those that it should be an offence to fail to carry a driving licence when driving, that failure to produce a licence at court should attract a fixed penalty fine and that a review of the witnesses' oath should be undertaken.

  With these exceptions, I believe that the recommendations in the report will help to simplify and modernise court procedures in a way which maintains the requirements of justice. They should yield useful improvements in the efficiency of the criminal justice process as well as making court procedures clearer and more convenient for court users, in line with the citizens charter.

  Crime, Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in the crime rate in Basildon in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John Patten
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the implementation of EC identity cards for senior citizens.

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

  Animal Welfare Groups
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance is available for animal welfare groups in Basildon.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Tethering
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been ma de since the implementation of the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Taxi Licences
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the issuing of licences to taxi drivers and private car hire drivers in Basildon.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply. I will write to my hon. Friend.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Training Schemes
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest information he has on the destination of people leaving the youth training programme.

  Mr. Needham
  The most recent information available on the destination of participants leaving the youth training programme is for the period 1 April 1991 to 29 February 1992.

  YTP leavers whose destination is known

  Number of young people

  Percentage of total

  To employment

  5,583

  54

  To full-time education

  723

  7

  Unemployed

  4,022

  39

  Languages
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish a table to show the number of students in each education and library board area who passed in Irish language at(a) O-level or GCSE and (b) A-level in 1989, 1990 and 1991;

  (2) if he will publish a table to show how many students in each education and library board area passed at (a) GCSE or O-level and (b) A-level in each language taught, other than English and Irish, in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not readily available by board area. However the overall number of students who passed GCSE—that is, obtained grades A to C—and A-level—that is, obtained grades A to E—in languages other than English was as follows:

  GCSE passes (grades A to C)

  Subject

  1989

  1990

  1991

  French

  8,704

  8,549

  8,901

  Irish

  1,133

  955

  959

  German

  1,051

  1,054

  1,094

  Spanish

  997

  1,022

  1,155

  Italian

  123

  110

  170

  Latin

  362

  349

  263

  Greek

  13

  7

  13

  794

  GCE A-level passes (grades A to E)

  Subject

  1989

  1990

  1991

  French

  1,266

  1,239

  1,354

  Irish

  183

  229

  214

  German

  175

  210

  259

  Spanish

  227

  342

  294

  Italian

  33

  38

  36

  Latin

  72

  84

  63

  Greek

  8

  7

  —

  Department of Economic Development
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the achievements since 1979 of the Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Department of Economic Development has developed policies to stimulate the development of enterprise, to promote a more enterprising culture and to encourage the competitiveness and growth of small firms.

  Since the inception of the Industrial Development Board in September 1982 new investment projects worth a total of £ 2,740 million have been secured, an overall total of 41,446 new jobs have been promoted and 69,467 jobs safeguarded. Since 1979 LEDU, the small firms agency, has promoted 42,476 jobs.

  Harland and Wolff plc was privatised in September 1989 and Shorts Brothers in October 1989.

  On 2 April 1990 the Department launched the Training and Employment Agency which has 1,700 staff and a budget of £ 172 million. It assists employers to improve the competitive position of Northern Ireland companies and delivers programmes designed to provide skills and abilities to unemployed people and those seeking to enter the labour market.

  Against the background of plans for completion of the single European market, the Department adopted a new strategy which was set out in "Competing in the 1990s—the Key to Growth". The new strategy changes the emphasis of Government assistance for business away from grants for capital expenditure towards measures designed to improve business preformance in areas such as marketing, research, exporting, design and innovation.

  In March 1992 the Department of Economic Development published a comprehensive research and development strategy for Northern Ireland—"Innovation 2000"—and established a new industrial research and technology unit to improve the competitiveness of industry and strengthen the economy.

  The Electricity (NI) Order 1992 made on 11 February 1992, provides for the reorganisation and privatisation of the electricity supply industry in Northern Ireland. Proceeds from the sale of the four generating stations, subject to audit, will amount to about £ 353 million. The sale of Ballylumford power station will lead to the construction of a gas pipeline between Northern Ireland and Scotland and agreement has also been reached to construct a 240 MW electricity link between these two parts of the United Kingdom.

  An estimated 15 per cent. reduction in energy consumption by the public sector has been achieved since 1984.

  The Government have considerably strengthened the law against unlawful discrimination in employment in Northern Ireland through the introduction of the Fair

  795
  Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. It represents the most radical anti-discrimination law ever enacted in the United Kingdom. Through the monitoring information which has been gathered and published by the Commission, a clearer picture has emerged of the extent of the problem of inequality in the work force. Already, a small but helpful improvement in the situation is evident.

  Department of Education
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the achievements since 1979 of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since 1979 spending on education and related services has increased, in real terms, by over 30 per cent; in 1992–93 the total spend will be £ 1.2 billion.

  Pupil-teacher ratios have improved between 1979–80 and 1990–91 from 23·8 to 22·8 in the primary sector and from 15·5 to 14·9 in the secondary sector. The proportion of 16-year-olds, over school leaving age, and 17-year-olds staying on at schools has increased over that period from 36·7 and 25·5 per cent. to 49·9 and 35·1 per cent. respectively. The proportion of school leavers with at least one A-level increased from 21·1 to 30 per cent., while the proportion leaving with no GCSE/O-level pass has fallen from 27 to 15·3 per cent.

  Some £ 650 million has been invested in capital projects by the Department. This has enabled work to be carried out on more than 210 major building projects at schools and further education colleges and on nine new libraries.

  Local management of schools— LMS— arrangements for financing schools, which gave all secondary schools responsibility for their own budgets, were introduced in April 1991.

  In further education, the number of students enrolled has increased by almost 30 per cent. Special resource allocations have been made available to improve staffing levels, replace equipment, provide for staff development and to implement a major computerisation programme which will improve management and financial information systems. Boards of governors of colleges have been reconstituted to strengthen the representation from the business world and local management of colleges—LMC— has given colleges responsibility for the management of their resources.

  In higher education, the outcome of a review in the early 1980s, led to the removal of the binary divide in Northern Ireland and the establishment of the University of Ulster. The number of full-time NI domiciled undergraduates in higher education rose by 54 per cent. and the proportion of female full-time undergraduate and postgraduate university students in Northern Ireland has increased from 42 and 37 per cent. in 1980–81 to 51 and 46 per cent. in 1990–91.

  Expenditure by DENI on recurrent and capital grants for arts, museums and libraries has increased from £ 17·429 million in 1979–80 to £ 33·299 million in 1990–91.

  The Department has promoted the improvement of community relations in the schools and youth sectors. The cross-community contact scheme was established in 1987, and to date some 420 schools and 300 youth and community groups have been involved. A common curriculum has been introduced in all grant-aided schools.

  Department of Health and Social Security
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the achievements since 1979 of the Department of Health and Social Security for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since 1978–79, expenditure on health and personal social services in Northern Ireland has increased by 31 per cent. after allowing for general inflation. Cost improvement programmes have also generated savings of nearly £ 70 million for investment in services to patients and clients.

  Over the same period, levels of activity have increased by 33 per cent. Since 1981 the number of hospital in-patients has risen by 10 per cent. from 249,198 to 272,986; the number of day cases has increased fivefold, from 9,853 to 49,724; the number of operations has risen by 20 per cent.; and the number of out-patient attendances has risen by 17 per cent. from 1·7 million to 2 million.

  There have also been substantial increases in the numbers of professional staff: there are now 10 per cent. more dentists; 17 per cent. more hospital doctors; 26 per cent. more general practitioners; 9 per cent. more nurses and midwives; and 99 per cent. more qualified social workers. Particular emphasis has been placed on the training and development of professional staff. The training budget currently stands at over £ 14 million a year.

  Since 1979, perinatal and infant mortality rates in Northern Ireland have been reduced from 16.6 and 14.8 to 7.6 and 7.5 respectively. The latest available rates, for 1990, are, for the first time, the lowest in the United Kingdom.

  Through the emphasis on developing community services, there have been reductions of 34 and 28 per cent. respectively in the number of patients in psychiatric and mental handicap hospitals.

  The charter for patients and clients published on 10 March 1992 places a particular emphasis on quality and sets new, improved standards for the delivery of care and treatment.

  The social security benefits system has been maintained and reformed on the same basis as in the rest of the United Kingdom. The cash value of pensions and other long-term benefits have been secured in real terms.

  In July 1991 a Social Security Agency was established as part of the next steps initiative. The agency has attracted around 850 jobs to Northern Ireland providing services to the benefit network in Great Britain. Investment in computer technology has enhanced the efficiency of the services provided.

  Adoption law and practice were brought broadly into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

  A major reform of gambling and club registration laws has been undertaken.

  Since 1979 aid to the voluntary sector has been increased by 69 per cent. in real terms.

  Department of Agriculture
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the achievements since 1979 of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since 1979 grants totalling £ 470 million have been paid to support capital investments on farms.

  To facilitate animal disease control the Department has introduced computerised animal health records to enable

  797
  the movement of animals to be monitored for disease control purposes. The Department has assisted in improving the hygiene standards of milk production resulting in the attainment of STEP II standards under the heat treated milk directive. It has also obtained an extra 65,000 tonnes of milk quota for the Province in 1984 in recognition of the special importance of milk production to the Northern Ireland economy.

  Since 1979 significant scientific advances have been made and an extensive research and development programme continues.

  Considerable advances have been made in assessing the pollution potential of farm effluents and an enhanced programme of marine and freshwater fisheries research, including the acquisition of a sea-going research vessel, has made a significant impact on national and international fisheries resource management. The advent of an experimental food irradiation facility has led to significant results on the extension of shelf life of food products and to a prospective methodology for the detection of irradiation treatment of foods.

  The Department's staff have carried out more than one third of a million personal consultations within the agri-food industry aimed at improving the efficiency of production and marketing and co-operation between individual businesses within the industry as a whole. A quality assurance scheme has been initiated within the agri-food industry designed to promote and sell a quality assured product. The Department has also encouraged farmers and growers to adopt good health and safety practices by a fivefold increase in farm inspections resulting in a 33 per cent. decline in the number of fatal farm accidents.

  Since 1979 the Department has catered for a threefold increase in the number of students on full-time and part-time courses at agricultural colleges and in excess of a sevenfold increase in the number of participants on short courses.

  Landings of fish into Northern Ireland ports have increased from the 12,800 tonnes in 1979 to 24,400 tonnes in 1991 and the number of persons employed full-time in the catching sector of the industry increased from 700 to 1,050. Numbers employed in the fish processing sector have also increased. Major development works costing some £ 8·8 million have been carried out at the three main fishery harbours in the Province.

  Timber sales by the Department's Forest Service have increased from 54,000 m3— value £ 580,000— in 1979 to 184,000 m3— value £ 3.6 million—in 1991. In the same period some 9,500 hectares of new afforestation has taken place and 10 new nature reserves have been established on forest land.

  A total of £ 80 million has been spent by the Department on capital projects to improve drainage infrastructure and to assist development. Currently some £ 17 million per annum is spent on new schemes and maintenance works to alleviate flooding and minimise risk to life and damage to property.

  Since 1987 the environmentally sensitive areas scheme has attracted a total of almost 1,000 farmers to enter 18,000 hectares of land in five-year agreements with the Department to use environmentally friendly farming practices.

  Some 160 water recreation projects have been completed.

  Department of the Environment
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the achievements since 1979 of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since 1979, the Department of the Environment has made substantial progress in conserving and improving the quality of the built and natural environment in Northern Ireland.

  Housing condition surveys show that the level of unfitness declined from 14·1 per cent. in 1979 to 8·4 per cent. in 1987 and that the proportion of dwellings lacking at least one basic amenity declined from 17·9 to 5·5 per cent. The level of home ownership, which was 52 per cent. in 1979, is now 65 per cent. The housing situation of people unable to purchase their own dwellings has also improved with a fall in the Housing Executive's urgent waiting list from nearly 19,000 in 1981 to under 10,000 at present.

  A total of £ 347 million has been invested in the further development of the road system, there has been considerable upgrading and expansion of the facilities at Aldergrove airport and extensive improvements at Belfast, Londonderry, Lame and Warrenpoint ports.

  In 1989 the Department gained approval from the European Commission for a comprehensive programme for a new transport infrastructure in Northern Ireland, involving total expenditure of over £ 150 million of which £ 100 million will come from the European regional development fund.

  Belfast city centre has seen a huge expansion of retail opportunities; areas of inner-city deprivation have been helped through the work of nine action teams; the Laganside corporation has been established to regenerate vacant and underused riverside land, and a new weir on the River Lagan is under construction. Londonderry has also seen significant economic improvement, with public and private investment in the last three years either spent or planned totalling over £ 200 million creating 2,500 full-time and part-time jobs.

  An extensive programme of economic and environmental improvement schemes is also being carried out in the provincial towns.

  New legislation during the period has helped improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of district councils. The local government auditor has completed seven value-for-money studies. Compulsory competitive tendering and improvements in the conduct of council business will soon be statutory requirements.

  As part of the next steps agency policy, a Rate Collection Agency was established in 1991, and an Ordnance Survey Agency and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are to come into being from 1 April 1992.

  Since 1979, grants of £ 3·2 million to district councils have enabled 31,000 houses to convert to burn smokeless fuel. Two hundred and fifteen river water quality stations have been installed to monitor and control water pollution. Three major pieces of legislation have been introduced to protect and keep open rights of way; to designate areas of outstanding natural beauty and of special scientific interest; and to protect certain plants and animal species.

  In addition, 4,300 buildings of architectural or historic importance have been listed, 700 monuments have been scheduled as being of archaeological or historic

  799
  importance and 32 monuments have been taken into state care. Four areas of outstanding beauty, covering 147,000 hectares, have been developed and 36 areas of special scientific interest covering 7,550 hectares.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been(a) lost and (b) created in manufacturing industry in East Antrim in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information in the table relates to redundancies notified to the Department of Economic Development, and its predecessors, involving 10 or more employees in manufacturing at any specific worksite and jobs promoted in manufacturing by Government agencies.

  East Antrim parliamentary constituency

  Notified redundancies in manufacturing

  Job promoted in manufacturing department of commerce-IDB

  LEDU

  1982

  182

  n/a

  29

  1983

  690

  n/a

  46

  1984

  38

  n/a

  95

  1985

  661

  n/a

  222

  1986

  955

  n/a

  114

  1987

  177

  37

  160

  1988

  85

  230

  188

  1989

  110

  596

  193

  1990

  401

  651

  110

  1991

  782

  129

  101

  Notes:

  Figures for notified redundancies refer to the calendar year in question; figures for jobs promoted refer to the financial year ending in March of that year.

  Figures from LEDU are not available for the parliamentary constituency of East Antrim. The figures given above relate to the district council areas of Lame and Carrickfergus.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) job losses have occurred and (b) new jobs have been created in each of the last 10 years in manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The information in the table relates to redundancies notified to the Department of Economic Development, and its predecessors, involving 10 or more employees in manufacturing at any specific worksite and jobs promoted in manufacturing by Government agencies.

  Notified redundancies in manufacturing

  Job promoted in manufacturing

  1982

  17,581

  2,974

  1983

  7,596

  5,571

  1984

  5,212

  6,024

  Northern Ireland— (Based on CM 1917— Table 1.1)

  Expenditure covered by 2·75/100 formula

  Expenditure within S of S switching discretion

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE

  Law, Order and Protective Services

  481

  546

  581

  638

  699:

  776:

  832

  880

  924

  NORTHERN IRELAND DEPARTMENTS

  National Agriculture (non Block) Local Agriculture, Fish and Forestry

  83

  85

  84

  97

  101:

  117:

  119

  124

  129

  800

  Notified redundancies in manufacturing

  Job promoted in manufacturing

  1985

  3,449

  8,051

  1986

  3,609

  5,435

  1987

  3,269

  6,394

  1988

  2,569

  7,741

  1989

  3,129

  8,110

  1990

  1,986

  7,100

  1991

  4,240

  4,937

  Note:

  Figures for notified redundancies refer to the calendar year in question; figures for jobs promoted refer to the financial year ending in March of that year.

  Stevens Report
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the main conclusions of the Stevens report into alleged collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the British military.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary published a summary of Mr. Stevens's report on 17 May 1990 and a copy is in the Library.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish a table, consistent with table 1.1 of Cm 1917, showing separately for each sub-programme for the years 1986–87 to 1994–95,(a) expenditure within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purposes of the application of the 2·75:100 formula, (b) expenditure within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purposes of the Secretary of State's expenditure-switching discretion and (c) expenditure outside these blocks;

  (2) if he will publish tables, analysing for the years 1986–87 to 1994–95, the data in table 1.1 of Cm 1917, analysing the components of (a) expenditure within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purpose of the application of the 2·75:100 formula and (b) expenditure within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purposes of the Secretary of State's expenditure-switching discretion, by (i) public expenditure sub-programme and (ii) the functional classification used in the identifiable expenditure figures appendix E of Cm 1920.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The information requested is as follows.

  For Northern Ireland, expenditure covered by the 2·75:100 formula is the same as that defined as being within the Secretary of State's switching discretion.
  801

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment

  353

  388

  723

  689

  397:

  389:

  450

  446

  444

  Transport

  123

  119

  131

  148

  146:

  163:

  173

  181

  187

  Housing

  335

  337

  334

  268

  245:

  258:

  249

  257

  267

  Environmental and Miscellaneous Services

  154

  174

  192

  209

  230:

  170:

  199

  234

  240

  Law Order and Protective Services

  21

  26

  28

  29

  32:

  35:

  27

  39

  40

  Education and Science, Arts and Libraries

  695

  750

  811

  897

  1,005:

  1,122:

  1,211

  1,274

  1,327

  Health and Personal Social Services

  733

  798

  880

  949

  1,052:

  1,162:

  1,242

  1,294

  1,344

  Social Security

  76

  96

  97

  110

  117:

  129:

  150

  150

  148

  Other Public Services

  39

  38

  46

  54

  56:

  66:

  90

  93

  102

  Total Northern Ireland

  3,092

  3,355

  3,907

  4,088

  4,079:

  4,386:

  4,754

  4,973

  5,153

  Northern Ireland (Based on CM 1917—Table 1.1)

  Expenditure not covered by 2·75/100 formula

  Expenditure not within S of S switching discretion

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  NORTHERN IRELAND DEPARTMENTS

  National Agriculture (Non-Block)

  72

  69

  63

  80

  86

  85

  94

  90

  89

  Social Security

  1,335

  1,335

  1,466

  1,557

  1,705:

  1,978:

  2,177

  2,350

  2,494

  Total Northern Ireland

  1,407

  1,473

  1,528

  1,637

  1,791:

  2,063:

  2,271

  2,440

  2,583

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table, analysing the data in table 12.1 of Cm 1917, showing separately for each row for the years 1986–87 to 1994–95,(a) expenditure within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purposes of the application of the 2·75:100 formula, (b) expenditure

  Northern Ireland (Based on CM 1917—Table 12.1)

  Expenditure covered by 2·75/100 formula

  Expenditure within S of S switching discretion

  £ million

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Outturn

  1988–89 Outturn

  1989–90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Estimated Outturn

  1992–93 Plans

  1993–94 Plans

  1994–95 Plans

  NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE

  Central Government's own expenditure Voted in Estimates

  Law, order and protective services

  481

  544

  581

  637

  699

  776

  832

  880

  924

  Total Northern Ireland Office

  481

  544

  581

  637

  699

  776

  832

  880

  924

  NORTHERN IRELAND DEPARTMENTS

  Central Government expenditure Voted in Northern Ireland Estimates

  National agriculture and fisheries support Northern Ireland agriculture, fisheries and

  forestry services and support

  83

  85

  84

  97

  101

  117

  119

  124

  129

  Industry, energy trade, and employment

  377

  356

  761

  726

  468

  457

  442

  438

  435

  Of which:

  Northern Ireland Electricty

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Transport

  123

  126

  126

  147

  146

  167

  172

  179

  185

  Of which:

  Northern Ireland Public Trust Port Authorities

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company

  22

  21

  19

  22

  22

  23

  22

  23

  23

  Housing

  238

  237

  248

  187

  186

  195

  193

  198

  206

  Of which:

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  203

  202

  213

  157

  159

  162

  160

  162

  170

  Environmental and miscellaneous services

  124

  142

  160

  175

  196

  131

  158

  191

  194

  802
  within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purposes of the Secretary of State's expenditure-switching discretion and (c) expenditure outside these blocks.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The information requested is as follows:

  For Northern Ireland, the expenditure covered by the 2·75:100 formula is the same as that defined as being within the Secretary of State's switching discretion.
  803

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Outturn

  1988–89 Outturn

  1989–90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Estimated Outturn

  1992–93 Plans

  1993–94 Plans

  1994–95 Plans

  Of which:

  Laganside Development Corporation

  —

  —

  —

  3

  6

  8

  6

  5

  5

  Law, order and protective services (Fire Service)

  21

  26

  28

  29

  32

  35

  37

  39

  40

  Education, arts and libraries

  690

  746

  807

  894

  1,002

  1,118

  1,208

  1,270

  1,324

  Health and personal social services

  733

  798

  880

  949

  1,052

  1,162

  1,242

  1,294

  1,344

  Social security

  49

  60

  59

  68

  71

  83

  101

  98

  93

  Other public services

  38

  37

  46

  53

  55

  65

  89

  92

  101

  Total voted in Northern Ireland Estimates

  2,476

  2,614

  3,198

  3,325

  3,310

  3,529

  3,761

  3,924

  4,054

  Of which:

  Central Government's own expenditure

  2,243

  2,390

  2,966

  3,142

  3,123

  3,396

  3,573

  3,735

  3,856

  Public corporations (excluding nationalized industries)

  233

  223

  232

  182

  187

  193

  188

  190

  198

  Other (non-Voted)

  Industry, energy, trade and employment

  -26

  25

  -41

  -43

  -73

  -74

  2

  2

  2

  Of which:

  Northern Ireland Electricity

  -37

  21

  -42

  -45

  -73

  -76

  —

  —

  —

  Social security

  28

  28

  30

  35

  38

  38

  41

  44

  46

  Housing—Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  96

  99

  86

  80

  60

  64

  56

  59

  61

  Transport—Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company

  —

  -7

  5

  2

  -1

  -4

  2

  2

  2

  Total other (non-Voted)

  98

  146

  81

  75

  24

  24

  102

  107

  111

  Of which:

  Central Government's own expenditure

  38

  33

  32

  38

  38

  40

  44

  46

  48

  Public corporations (excluding nationalised industries)

  60

  113

  49

  37

  -14

  -16

  58

  61

  63

  Total central Government expenditure for Northern Ireland Departments

  2,574

  2,760

  3,279

  3,400

  3,333

  3,552

  3,864

  4,302

  4,165

  Of which:

  Central Government's own expenditure

  2,281

  2,424

  2,998

  3,180

  3,161

  3,376

  3,618

  3,781

  3,904

  Public corporations (excluding nationalised industries)

  293

  336

  282

  220

  173

  176

  246

  250

  261

  Central Government grants to local authorities Voted in Northern Ireland Estimates

  Current grants—

  Environmental and miscellaneous services

  29

  31

  31

  33

  33

  37

  39

  42

  44

  Education, arts and libraries

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Capital grants—

  Industry, energy, trade and employment

  2

  6

  3

  5

  2

  6

  6

  7

  7

  Environmental and miscellaneous services

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  2

  2

  Education, arts and libraries

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Total voted in Northern Ireland Estimates

  37

  42

  39

  42

  39

  50

  51

  53

  55

  Other (non-Voted) —Current grants Social security

  —

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  9

  Total central Government grants to local authorities

  37

  50

  46

  50

  47

  58

  59

  62

  63

  Of which:

  Current

  31

  41

  41

  42

  44

  48

  50

  52

  55

  Capital

  6

  9

  5

  7

  3

  10

  9

  9

  9

  Total Northern Ireland Departments

  2,611

  2,810

  3,326

  3,449

  3,380

  3,610

  3,923

  4,093

  4,229

  Total expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibility1

  3.092

  3,355

  3,907

  4,088

  4,079

  4,386

  4,754

  4,973

  5,153

  Comprising:

  National agriculture and fisheries support

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  The Northern Ireland Block2

  3,092

  3,355

  3,907

  4,088

  4,079

  4,386

  4,754

  4,973

  5,153

  1 The Departmental programme deals only with expenditure in Northern Ireland which is within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. There is expenditure in Northern Ireland in other programmes.

  2 The Northern Ireland Block comprises expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments excluding National Agriculture and Fisheries Support. The allocation of expenditure for future years among the services included in the Northern Ireland Block (except social security benefit expenditure) may be altered at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Expenditure on national agriculture and fisheries support is not part of the Block because it is influenced to a greater extent than others by national and EC policies.

  3 Includes expenditure financed by receipts from the European Communities. The amounts involved are as follows:

  804 805

  Financed by ERDF receipts

  23

  46

  47

  40

  49

  64

  75

  84

  52

  Financed by ESF receipts

  53

  56

  36

  46

  51

  54

  52

  49

  50

  Financed by EAGGF (Guidance section) receipts

  1

  9

  13

  9

  10

  38

  28

  25

  17

  Northern Ireland(Based on CM 1917—Table 12·1)

  Expenditure not covered by 2·75/100 formula

  Expenditure not within the S of S switching discretion

  £ million

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Outturn

  1988–89 Outturn

  1989–90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Estimated Outturn

  1992–93 Plans

  1993–94 Plans

  1994–95 Plans

  NORTHERN IRELAND DEPARTMENTS

  Central Government's expenditureVoted in Northern Ireland

  National agriculture and fisheries support

  72

  69

  63

  80

  86

  85

  94

  90

  89

  Social security

  700

  736

  772

  813

  899

  1,059

  1,201

  1,308

  1,405

  Total Voted in Northern Ireland Estimates

  772

  805

  835

  893

  985

  1,144

  1,295

  1,398

  1,494

  Of which:

  Central Government's own expenditure

  772

  805

  835

  893

  985

  1,144

  1,295

  1,398

  1,494

  Other (non-Voted)-Social security

  635

  667

  694

  744

  806

  919

  976

  1,042

  1,089

  Total other (non-Voted)

  635

  667

  694

  744

  806

  919

  976

  1,042

  1,089

  Of which:

  Central Government's own expenditure

  635

  667

  694

  744

  806

  919

  976

  1,042

  1,089

  Total central Government expenditure for Northern Ireland Departments

  1,407

  1,473

  1,528

  1,637

  1,791

  2,063

  2,271

  2,440

  2,583

  Of which:

  Central Government's own expenditure

  1,407

  1,473

  1,528

  1,637

  1,791

  2,063

  2,271

  2,440

  2,583

  Total expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibility

  1,407

  1,473

  1,528

  1,637

  1,791

  2,063

  2,271

  2,440

  2,583

  Comprising:

  National agriculture and fisheries support

  72

  69

  63

  80

  86

  85

  94

  90

  89

  The Northern Ireland Block

  1,335

  1,404

  1,465

  1,550

  1,705

  1,978

  2,177

  2,350

  2,494

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish tables, covering the years 1986–87 to 1994–95 and consistent with Cm 1917, analysing by economic category within spending sector for(a) expenditure within the Northern Ireland block as defined for the purpose of the application of the 2·75: 100 formula, (b) expenditure within the Northern Ireland

  Northern Ireland (based on Cm 1917—Table 12·4)

  Expenditure covered by 2·75/100 Formula

  Expenditure within Secretary of States Switching Discretion

  Spending Sector:

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Outturn

  1988–89 Outturn

  1989–90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Estimated Outturn

  1992–93 Plans

  1993–94 Plans

  1994–95 Plans

  Central governments own expenditure

  Departmental running costs

  344

  380

  399

  429

  484

  535

  580

  551

  564

  Other public service pay and current expenditure

  1,624

  1,767

  1,924

  2,103

  2,339

  2,447

  2,676

  2,866

  2,996

  Subsidies

  52

  48

  50

  50

  38

  39

  41

  41

  43

  Current grants

  312

  329

  365

  405

  440

  522

  566

  590

  614

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  157

  178

  190

  238

  250

  307

  316

  353

  363

  Capital grants

  217

  205

  195

  190

  197

  206

  191

  199

  197

  Lending and other financial transactions

  55

  62

  457

  403

  112

  97

  79

  61

  50

  Total

  2,762

  2,968

  3,579

  3,818

  3,860

  4,152

  4,449

  4,661

  4,828

  Local Authority element of planning total

  Current grants

  31

  41

  41

  42

  44

  48

  50

  52

  55

  Capital grants

  6

  9

  5

  7

  3

  10

  9

  9

  9

  Total

  37

  50

  46

  50

  47

  58

  59

  62

  63

  Central Governments other public corporations

  806
  block as defined for the purposes of the Secretary of State's expenditure-switching discretion and (c) expenditure outside these blocks.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The information requested is as follows:

  For Northern Ireland, expenditure covered by the 2·75: 100 formula is the same as that defined as being within the Secretary of State's switching discretion.
  807

  Spending Sector:

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Outturn

  1988–89 Outturn

  1989–90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Estimated Outturn

  1992–93 Plans

  1993–94 Plans

  1994–95 Plans

  Subsidies

  168

  171

  185

  139

  149

  153

  144

  144

  152

  Capital Grants

  65

  53

  48

  43

  38

  40

  44

  45

  46

  Lending and other financial transactions

  60

  113

  49

  37

  -14

  -16

  58

  61

  63

  Total

  293

  336

  282

  220

  173

  176

  246

  250

  261

  Total Northern Ireland

  3,092

  3,355

  3,907

  4,088

  4,079

  4,386

  4,754

  4,973

  5,153

  Spending Sector:

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Outturn

  1988–89 Outturn

  1989–90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Estimated Outturn

  1992–93 Plans

  1993–94 Plans

  1994–95 Plans

  Central Government's own expenditure

  Subsidies

  34

  36

  39

  57

  66

  65

  74

  73

  73

  Current Grants

  1,336

  1,404

  1,466

  1,557

  1,705

  1,978

  2,177

  2,350

  2,494

  Capital grants

  38

  33

  23

  23

  20

  20

  20

  17

  16

  Total

  1,407

  1,473

  1,528

  1,637

  1,791

  2,063

  2,271

  2,440

  2,583

CIVIL SERVICE

  Agencies
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what effect the next steps initiative has had on the quality of service to the public.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what effect the next steps initiative has had on customers.

  Mr. Renton
  Next steps is improving the quality of service provided to the public. There are many examples of this in the "Next Steps Annual Review"—Cm 1760— published last year. Agencies are set demanding quality of service targets and are increasingly consulting their customers about priorities.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are currently serving in civil service agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  There are currently 221,000 civil servants in next steps agencies and other organisations operating on next steps lines. I expect this to increase to half the civil service in the next few weeks.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what recent meetings he has had with trade union representatives regarding equal opportunities.

  Mr. Renton
  None, but my officials have regular meetings with the trades unions on equal opportunity issues. The Council of Civil Service Unions fully supports the programmes on race and disability and the excellent new programme for action on women, published earlier this month following discussions with the trade union side.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on opportunities for disabled people in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  The civil service is committed to providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Our 808
  magazine, Independent, published on 28 February, shows continuing progress. Copies have been placed in the Library.

THE ARTS

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what special allocation has been made to help with museums and galleries buildings.

  Mr. Renton
  I have allocated £196 million in 1992–93 to 1994–95 to the building programme of the National museums and galleries, which I sponsor, and last November within that sum I made a number of special additional allocations amounting to £ 9·3 million to priority projects.

  Arts Support
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the level of support for the Arts by private and corporate donations since 1979.

  Mr. Renton
  Comprehensive figures on donations to arts organisations are not available. I know, however, that they make a much valued contribution to the well-being of the arts. The gift aid scheme introduced in October 1990 has already attracted £ 200 million in donations to United Kingdom charities. The decision of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor to reduce the minimum threshold on qualifying gifts will provide a further important stimulus to charitable giving from which the arts and other good causes will derive substantial benefit.

  Libraries
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what public funds have been made available to libraries during the current year; what the amount was in May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Expenditure on the public library service in England in 1979–80 was £ 214 million. The estimated outturn figure for 1991–92 is £ 590 million, which is a cash increase of £ 283·6 million and an increase in real terms of 18·6 per cent.

  Living Arts
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his estimate of the contribution to the economy made by the living arts.

  Mr. Renton
  There is no definitive assessment of the economic importance of the arts. A report by the Policy Studies Institute in 1988 suggested that the arts generated a turnover of around £10 billion and employed almost half a million people. Official figures suggest that in 1990, the arts contributed almost £6 billion to the United Kingdom's balance of payments.

  Although it is difficult to be precise, it is clear that the arts are a major sector of economic activity.

  Arts Opportunities
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he next intends to visit Battersea to discuss arts opportunities for young people.

  Mr. Renton
  I visited the Battersea arts centre last year and was impressed by the number of projects concerned with the arts for young people. I am delighted that the London arts board has increased the centre's grant by 40 per cent. I am also well aware of the excellent work with young people being done by other arts organisations in Wandsworth.

  Exhibitions
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what exhibitions he has in mind to fund in the coming year.

  Mr. Renton
  The Office of Arts and Libraries does not itself directly fund individual exhibitions. The OAL provides grant-in-aid to the national museums and galleries which mount a number of major exhibitions each year. In addition, the Arts Council provides funds to organisations which arrange exhibitions as part of their programmes.

  To celebrate the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Community in the second half of 1992, £6 million has been allocated by the OAL towards a European arts festival. Some of this will be used to mount a variety of exhibitions in both national and regional museums and galleries.

  East Midlands Arts
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what recent meetings he has had with East Midlands Arts representatives to discuss local ventures.

  Mr. Renton
  I met the chairman and director of the East Midlands arts board on a number of occasions last year, when a range of subjects were discussed.

  I was delighted to be able to congratulate them personally on 1 October last year when the Arts Council announced that the east midlands region had won the competition to be the venue for the Arts 2000 year of dance in 1993.

  New Theatre, Keswick
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on the funding of a new theatre by the side of Lake Derwentwater at Keswick.
  810
  Mr. Renton
  I have received no such representations. But I am pleased that planning permission has been given for the construction of a theatre by Lake Derwentwater.

  Tourism
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the contribution made by the arts to tourism in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  The United Kingdom as a tourist venue is a centre of cultural and artistic excellence; and, as year round activities, both the performing arts and heritage venues are major attractions to tourists, whether from within the United Kingdom or from abroad. Attendances at London's west end theatres reached a record high in 1990 at 11·3 million, and remained at around 11 million in 1991. The latest visitor figures for museums and art galleries show that there were 74 million such visits in 1990 throughout the United Kingdom.

  Cash Limits
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give details of any proposed changes to the cash limits for his Department's votes for 1991–92.

  Mr. Renton
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the late spring supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XII, vote 2, is to be increased by £10,800,000, to £240,092,000, to increase the grant in aid for the Arts Council.

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

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will(a) arrange for the issue of an erratum slip with the "Report for 1992 of the Office of Arts and Libraries", Cm. 1912, in respect of the last sentence of paragraph 3.3 of that report and (b) issue a press notice, to draw attention to his answer to the hon. Member for Warley, East of 2 March, Official Report, column 20, on current Government policy in respect of access to the contingency reserve for the purpose of covering acceptances in lieu of tax.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 9 March 1992]An erratum slip will be issued shortly by my office, amending the two final sentences of paragraph 3.3 of the above Report to read:"Lord Gowrie announced in July 1985 that the provision for Acceptance in Lieu may be supplemented by access to the Contingency Reserve for large and important offers. He said that "Looking simply at recent and current levels of acceptance in lieu offers, we would expect to call on the Reserve for around £10 million or so a year, taking one year with another. I must emphasise strongly that this is an estimate; it is neither a target nor a limit, as in any given year the demand could be either less or more."

  I see no need to issue a press notice on this matter.

  Scottish Arts Council
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the annual grant by the Scottish Arts Council to arts organisations and events in the regions of Scotland and the cities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee in the financial year 1991–92, and projected for the year 1992–93.
  811
  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Information for the Scottish regions is not available in the form requested. Projected figures for the cities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee for the financial year 1992–93 have yet to be decided. Information for 1991–92 is as follows:

  1991–92

  £

  Glasgow

  10,540,721

  Edinburgh

  3,959,670

  Aberdeen

  218,361

  Dundee

  449,979

  The figures for Glasgow and Edinburgh reflect the fact that they are the permanent bases for national organisations such as Scottish Opera, Royal Scottish Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Ballet, all of which tour throughout Scotland.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Payments to EC Farmers
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals the European Commission has made this year for additional payments to farmers in European Community countries; and if he will list the amounts involved for each country.

  Mr. Curry
  No proposals have so far been made by the European Commission in 1992 for additional payments to farmers.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  No parts of the Department are currently under review for relocation. Major reviews completed recently have resulted in decisions to move a total of about 1,000 posts to North Yorkshire over the next four years.

  Arctic Foxes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) for how long Grange farm, Ovenden wood, Halifax has continuously factory farmed arctic foxes;

  (2) how many arctic fox factory farms are currently operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information is not collected on the keeping of arctic foxes in England and Wales. There are no arctic fox farms operating in Northern Ireland.

  Mink
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink factory farms are currently operating under licence in each county of England and Wales.
  812
  Mr. Maclean
  No mink farms are currently operating in Wales. Details for England are as follows:

  England

  As a 12 March 1992

  Northumberland

  1

  North Yorkshire

  1

  West Yorkshire

  3

  South Yorkshire

  1

  Humberside

  1

  Lancashire

  8

  Cheshire

  1

  Staffordshire

  1

  Norfolk

  1

  Suffolk

  3

  Hampshire

  1

  Isle of Wight

  1

  Cornwall

  2

  Total

  25

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether neck breaking or an intra-abdominal injection of chloral hydrate are permitted means of killing mink in fur farms.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Protection of Animals Act 1911 requires any operation performed on an animal, including killing, to be performed with due care and humanity. The Department is not aware of either of the methods described being used on mink farms and intra-abdominal injection of chloral hydrate is not recommended. These methods would not be permitted for the routine slaughter of mink under the proposed Community regulation on protection of animals at slaughter.

  Factory Farmers (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions of factory farmers there have been under the Welfare of Livestock (Intensive Units) Regulations 1978.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mink and Fox Carcases
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations exist(a) governing the disposal of mink and fox carcases and (b) regarding the use of mink and fox carcases in pet food.

  Mr. Maclean
  The disposal of mink and fox carcases is controlled under part IV of the Agriculture Act of 1970, the Meat (Sterilisation and Staining) Regulations 1982, and the Processed Animal Protein Order 1989. If they were to be used in pet food these same safeguards would apply.

  Meat and Poultry
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the sale as fresh turkeys of originally frozen birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Ministry has received no such representations.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been brought in
  813
  the last 12 months for selling as fresh meat and poultry previously frozen meat and poultry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Such information is not held centrally.

  Farm Produce (Marketing)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he will give to help establish a farm producers marketing co-operative to sell west country produce to major supermarkets.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 3 March 1992,Official Report, column 120.

  Any eligible producer groups who wish to seek assistance under the group marketing grant will be entitled to apply.

  Leptospirosis
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his Ministry's involvement in the control of leptospirosis, including the testing of cattle for the disease; what information he has about the incidence of the disease for each year since 1980; and whether local veterinarians are expected to pass test results on to his Ministry.

  Mr. Gummer
  There are no statutory controls relating to Leptospira hardjo in cattle. Precise figures on disease incidence are not available, but it is considered not to be widespread. My officials need not be informed of test results unless the farmer is a member of the voluntary cattle health scheme.

  Land Settlement Association
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to provide money to the Land Settlement Association's tenants who did not benefit from the litigation settlement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no such plans. Legal advice clearly indicates that those tenants who were not party to the litigation are not entitled to receive any money as a result of the settlement.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the sale of the Land Settlement Association headquarters, including the date of sale, the amount the building was sold for; what proportion of this money has been given to the Land Settlement Association's central reserve fund; and what proportion has been used in the litigation settlement with Land Settlement Association tenants.

  Mr. Gummer
  The headquarters building of the Land Settlement Association Ltd. was the company's private property and the Ministry was not entitled to receive any money arising from the disposal of the building. I believe that the building was sold in August 1985, but I have no information about the sale price. None of the proceeds of the sale were transferred to the Land Settlement Association's general reserve fund or used in the litigation settlement.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the 814
  Land Settlement Association central reserve fund, including the amount that was in the fund at the end of each of the past five financial years; whether money in this fund has been used in the litigation settlement to Land Settlement Association tenants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Land Settlement Association general reserve was created in October 1951 as a reserve against losses on the revenue account. Three appropriations were made over the years for that purpose. At the end of March 1982 the funds in the general reserve amounted to £236,277. This money was then absorbed into the revenue appropriation account and the deficit suspense account to cover some of the accumulated losses. The general reserve was nil on 1 April 1983 and no funds have been transferred into it since then. No money from the general reserve has been used to fund the settlement of litigation with Land Settlement Association tenants. Full details are contained in the reports and accounts for the year ended 31 March 1983 and for the nine months ended 31 December 1983 submitted to my Department by the Land Settlement Association Ltd. I am placing a copy of these in the Library of the House.

  ADAS
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the Agricultural Development Advisory Service laboratories which have been closed since 1979 giving their location, date of closure and type of laboratory, distinguishing between research and development, veterinary, farm and countryside service or general.

  Mr. Gummer
  Work has been concentrated on fewer sites in the farm and countryside service, research and development service and veterinary service in order to improve efficiency and hence service to customers. The laboratories that have closed or merged as a result of this since 1979 are as follows:

  Date

  Farm and countryside service

  Accrington

  1 September 1989

  Bangor

  31 March 1986

  Caernarfon

  1 April 1990

  Carmarthen

  31 March 1990

  Cheshunt

  31 March 1987

  Crewe

  1983

  Evesham

  30 November 1989

  Kendal

  31 March 1987

  Liverpool

  1987

  Ormskirk

  1990

  Rhydmyn

  31 March 1990

  Shardlow

  31 March 1986

  Shrewsbury

  1979

  Wrexham

  1982

  Research and development

  Liverpool

  1 August 1982

  Tolworth

  29 February 1992

  Norwich

  29 February 1992

  Veterinary investigation centres

  Weybridge

  December 1980

  Cardiff

  March 1986

  Gloucester

  June 1986

  Leeds

  June 1986

  Northampton

  July 1986

  Chester

  April 1986

  Wye

  July 1991

  815

  Date

  Bangor

  September 1991

  Lincoln

  September 1991

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of(a) scientists and (b) advisory staff employed by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of staff employed by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service as advisory officers since 1979 is:

  Number

  1979

  1,252

  1980

  1,243

  1981

  1,240

  1982

  1,156

  1983

  1,183

  1984

  1,193

  1985

  1,202

  1986

  1,159

  1987

  1,069

  1988

  1,061

  1989

  1,003

  1990

  925

  1991

  876

  Details for scientific staff would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

  Farming, Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special assistance has been made available to help farming in Basildon over the past five years.

  Mr. Gummer
  Farmers in Basildon, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom, have benefited from the Government's determination to ensure fair treatment for British farmers under the common agricultural policy. This has already led to the virtual eradication of green pound discrimination, it has ensured a growing consensus for a fair alternative to Mr. MacSharry's proposals and it will continue to mean that Britain will not accept measures that distort agriculture to the detriment of our farming community.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the measures which he has taken to ensure there is equality of enforcement and implementation of the common agricultural policy in all EC member states.

  Mr. Gummer
  At the United Kingdom's instigation a declaration was agreed by member states at Maastricht stressing the need to ensure that Community law is properly implemented and enforced, and changes to the treaty were agreed giving the European Court the power to impose financial penalties on member states that persistently fail to comply with their Community obligations.

  We, of course, are still ready to draw to the Commission's attention any failures by other member states to implement and enforce the CAP. For example I
  816
  recently pressed the Commissioner responsible for agricultural policy and the French Minister of Agriculture on the apparent failure by the French Government to impose charges for poultrymeat inspection at the level required by Community legislation. I will continue to seek an urgent solution.

  Water Abstraction
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent appeals his Department has received against the refusal of the National Rivers Authority to approve an abstraction licence application, and with what result.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 12 March 1992]: I have been asked to reply.

  My Department has outstanding three appeals against refusal of a licence. These appeals are being held in abeyance while the appellants and the authority attempt to agree terms under which the licences might be granted.

SCOTLAND

  Manufacturing Exports
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of Scottish manufacturing exports in real terms in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Scottish Council (Development and Industry) carries out an annual survey of Scottish exporters. This is the most comprehensive source of information on Scottish manufacturing exports. Up until 1984, the survey was only carried out on a triennial basis and coverage was less complete than in later years. These points should be borne in mind when interpreting the series, which is expressed in 1990 constant prices using the council's own suggested deflator; the United Kingdom producer price index for home sales of manufactured goods.

  Scottish manufacturing exports 1974–1990

  Year

  £ billion (1990 prices)

  Year

  £ billion (1990 prices)

  1974

  6·8

  1982

  5·7

  1975

  5·9

  1983

  6·0

  1976

  6·5

  1984

  6·6

  1977

  6·7

  1985

  7·0

  1978

  7·1

  1986

  6·4

  1979

  6·8

  1987

  7·4

  1980

  6·5

  1988

  8·0

  1981

  6·3

  1989

  8·1

  1990

  8·6

  GDP
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of(a) Scottish and (b) United Kingdom gross domestic product was derived from (i) manufacturing and (ii) electronics in (1) 1979 and (2) the most recent figures available.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what share of Scotland's gross domestic product has been invested in education in each year since 1970.
  817
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 March 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Scotland's share of United Kingdom gross domestic product has been in each year since 1971 until the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Information on Scotland's share of United Kingdom GDP since 1971 is set out in the table.

  Scotland's share of United Kingdom GDP1 1971–1990

  Year

  Per cent. share

  Year

  Per cent. share

  1971

  8·8

  1981

  8·9

  1972

  8·7

  1982

  8·9

  1973

  8·9

  1983

  8·9

  1974

  8·9

  1984

  8·8

  1975

  9·0

  1985

  8·7

  1976

  92

  1986

  8·5

  1977

  9·0

  1987

  8·4

  1978

  8·8

  1988

  8·3

  1979

  8·8

  1989

  8·2

  1980

  8·7

  1990

  8·2

  Source: Central Statistical Office, regional accounts.

  1 United Kingdom less the continental shelf.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage of Scottish gross domestic product invested in(a) health and (b) education in Scotland in each year since 1979 until the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Company Statistics
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the number of new companies established (b) the total number of registered companies and (c) the total number of bankruptcies in Scotland in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Charing Cross Clinic, Glasgow
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the future of Greater Glasgow health board's Charing Cross clinic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Greater Glasgow health board has no plans affecting the future of the Charing Cross clinic or its location.

  NHS Estate
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate for every health authority and trust in Scotland the amount required to bring the national health service estate to a condition B, exhibiting only minor deterioration.

  Mr. Lang
  The most recent information from health boards relates to 1990–91 and is set out in the table. There were no trusts in Scotland at that time.
  818

  Total estimated costs required to bring the National Health Service estate in Scotland up to Condition B, exhibiting only minor deterioration

  Health Boards

  £ million

  Argyll and Clyde

  4·9

  Ayr and Arran

  1·5

  Borders

  1·6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5·3

  Fife

  19·7

  Forth Valley

  7·6

  Grampian

  12·9

  Greater Glasgow

  131·3

  Highland

  11·9

  Lanarkshire

  18·1

  Lothian

  48·2

  Orkney

  0·1

  Shetland

  0·4

  Tayside

  23·7

  Western Isles

  0·2

  Total

  287·4

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the composition of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland and the date when he expects it to report.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Nebulisers
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of(a) adults and (b) children in Scotland who are on health service waiting lists for nebulisers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the number of nebulisers supplied or awaiting supply is not collected centrally.

  Powered nebulisers may be provided by the NHS in cases where a hospital respiratory consultant has judged it to be clinically necessary. Health boards are responsible for meeting the costs of the nebulisers supplied to patients.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 626, if he will list the sites in the Baillieston, Carmyle, Broomhouse and Mount Vernon areas of Shettleston constituency where industrial, commercial and household wastes have been deposited, and the sites where chromium waste has been deposited.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Local Government Commissioner
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in each of the last five years, and for each district council area in Scotland, how many complaints have been referred to the Local Government Commissioner; how many of these have been followed up by the commissioner; and how many have been found in favour of the complainant.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the change in(a) the number of employees in employment and (b) the number of employees in employment in manufacturing in Scotland between June 1979 and June 1991; and what the changes are in percentage terms.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Development Expenditure
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the gross provision for the Scottish Development Agency in every year since 1979 and the non-training element of Scottish Enterprise for 1991–92 and 1992–93 in cash prices.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Number of crimes and offences recorded hr the police 1979–90

  Grampian Region

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Total crimes

  22,821

  25,203

  26,569

  30,037

  29,144

  31,340

  33,384

  37,466

  39,556

  33,567

  34,034

  37,070

  Non-sexual crimes of violence

  484

  854

  940

  823

  882

  868

  890

  910

  937

  814

  892

  860

  Crimes of indecency

  393

  370

  312

  407

  520

  589

  703

  602

  507

  548

  800

  737

  Crimes of dishonesty

  16,653

  17,790

  20,556

  21,682

  20,161

  21,592

  22,789

  26,278

  28,003

  22,923

  22,242

  24,887

  Fire-raising, vandalism etc.

  4,624

  5,421

  5,774

  6,039

  6,288

  6,697

  7,570

  8,203

  8,358

  7,374

  7,850

  8,302

  Other crimes

  667

  768

  987

  1,086

  1,293

  1,394

  1,432

  1,473

  1,751

  1,908

  2,250

  2,284

  Total offences

  27,783

  31,404

  31,110

  30,179

  34,128

  35,110

  38,275

  40,628

  39,198

  38,307

  42,504

  45,001

  Miscellaneous offences

  11,580

  12,032

  10,753

  10,296

  10,885

  11,080

  12,485

  13,560

  13,935

  13,946

  14,899

  15,204

  Motor vehicle offences

  16,203

  19,372

  20,357

  19,883

  23,243

  24,030

  25,790

  27,068

  25,263

  24,361

  27,605

  29,797

  Total crimes and offences

  50,604

  56,607

  59,679

  60,216

  63,272

  66,450

  71,659

  78,094

  78,754

  71,874

  76,538

  82,071

  Notes:

  Data for 1979 have been regrouped on the basis of the current Scottish Office Home and Health Department classification of crimes and offences which was revised in 1980.

  Prior to 1980, the return included crimes and offences reported to the procurator fiscal by agencies other than the police in which a prosecution was taken. Since 1980, these cases have been excluded. In 1982, there were about 6,400 such cases in the whole of Scotland, of a total of 762,483 crimes and offences.

  Details of the SOHHD classification are given in the SOHHD statistical bulletin "Recorded crime in Scotland, 1990" a copy of which is in the Library.

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals Trust
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish the business plan and details of the application for trust status for the Aberdeen royal hospitals trust.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer to the reply given to the hon. Member on 18 December 1991, at column 201.

  Job Losses, Inverbervie
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take in relation to job losses in Inverbervie as a result of the closure of Sidlaw's textile mill and the Inlak's seafood processing factory.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Exports
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the composition of Scottish-manufactured exports, by standard industrial classification, for each year from 1979.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Council Tax Rebates
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to provide a rebate for carers, under the proposals for the council tax.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Crime
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the crime figures for Grampian region broken down by standard category, including the total figure of crimes and offences, for every year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information for 1979–90 is set out in the table.

  Grampian Police
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of police officers requested by the chief constable of Grampian police for every year since 1986 and (b) the number of additional officers permitted in response.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Grampian regional council sought the consent of the Secretary of State for increases in the authorised establishment of Grampian police as follows:

  Year

  Request for increase in police establishment

  1986

  40

  1987

  11

  1988

  61

  821

  Year

  Request for increase in police establishment

  1989

  47

  1990

  42

  1991

  20

  Consent was given in full for each request.

  Bankruptcy
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute an inquiry into the causes of bankruptcy in individuals in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government are presently reviewing all aspects of the operation of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985. It is clear that the major factor influencing the number of sequestrations in Scotland is the easier access by individuals to the sequestration process following the introduction of the 1985 Act.

  The Government are actively considering the need for changes to the present legislation.

  Education (Funding)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in favour of making an additional grant to Scottish local authorities for the purposes of ensuring a pay settlement for teachers in

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  (a) No. of sequestration awards where final outcome is known

  —

  3

  8

  24

  90

  373

  (b) No. of sequestration awards

  295

  437

  834

  1,457

  2,344

  4,364

  (c) No. of sequestration awards where final outcome is known expressed as a percentage of total number of sequestration awards

  —

  0·69

  0·96

  1·65

  3·84

  8·54

  Health Boards
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reviews conducted by his Department into the accountability of health boards; and when he expects to publish the findings.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The chief executive of the NHS in Scotland carries out accountability reviews of each health board each year. The reviews are primarily intended to agree the board's objectives for the following year. These will be reflected in a variety of published documents, such as the board's local health strategy, local charter for health etcetera.

  Sheriff Courts
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1986 the population of each sheriff court jurisdiction in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table gives population estimates for the sheriffdom and sheriff court districts in 1981. These figures were prepared for a review which confirmed the district areas in 1983.
  822
  Scotland for 1992–93 in line with that in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on his policy on this subject.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what element of the increase in the revenue support grant to Scottish local authorities in 1992–93 was allocated to(a) education spending and (b) pay for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Sequestration Awards
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, columns 348–50, if he will give gross payments to trustees including outlays, statutory fees, remunerations and VAT but excluding recoveries for each year from 1985 to 1991 in respect of the awards of sequestration granted in that year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the public purse.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, columns 348–49, if he will list for each year since 1985 (a) the number of sequestration awards for which the final outcome is known and (b) the number as a percentage of the total number of awards.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is:

  Table

  Sheriffdom and Court district

  Estimated population

  Grampian, Highland and Islands

  Aberdeen

  269,000

  Stonehaven

  40,000

  Elgin

  83,000

  Banff

  80,000

  Peterhead

  Dingwall

  45,000

  Tain

  Dornoch,

  13,000

  Wick

  27,000

  Kirkwall

  18,000

  Lerwick

  22,000

  Inverness

  76,000

  Fort William

  20,000

  Portree

  10,000

  Lochmaddy

  30,000

  Stornoway

  Totals

  733,000

  Tayside, Central and Fife

  Dundee

  189,000

  Perth

  119,000

  Cupar

  65,000

  Kirkcaldy

  149,000

  Stirling

  79,000

  823

  Sheriffdom and Court district

  Estimated population

  Falkirk

  144,000

  Dunfermline

  126,000

  Alloa

  48,000

  Forfar

  92,000

  Arbroath

  Totals

  1,011,000

  Lothian and Borders

  Edinburgh

  538,000

  Haddington

  79,000

  Peebles

  14,000

  Linlithgow

  132,000

  Jedburgh

  35,000

  Selkirk

  33,000

  Duns

  18,000

  Totals

  849,000

  North Strathclyde

  Paisley

  267,000

  Kilmarnock

  218,000

  Dumbarton

  171,000

  Greenock

  101,000

  Campbeltown

  64,000

  Dunoon

  Oban

  Rothesay

  Totals

  821,000

  South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

  Airdrie

  174,000

  Hamilton

  341,000

  Lanark

  57,000

  Ayr

  158,000

  Dumfries

  91,000

  Kirkcudbright

  22,000

  Stranraer

  29,000

  Totals

  872,000

  Glasgow and Strathkelvin

  Glasgow

  869,000

  Totals

  869,000

  Total (all sheriffdoms)

  5,155,000

  Private Forestry
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the rate of discount for calculation of compensation has been agreed between the Nature Conservancy Council and the representative body for private forestry as provided for under annex A of the financial guidelines to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The former Nature Conservancy Council did not reach agreement with the representative body for private forestry on the appropriate rate of discount to apply as provided for under the guidelines. There are a number of outstanding cases in Scotland involving afforestation proposals in respect of which application for afforestation grant was submitted prior to May 1989 when it was announced that compensation would no longer be offered for the refusal of grant where it was refused solely on nature conservation grounds. In deciding how such compensation in these cases can most appropriately be determined, the fact that such forestry planting would have been eligible for grant 824
  from the Forestry Commission and, prior to the 1988 Budget, to tax allowances, means that in general it should be expected to earn a commercial rate of return comparable to other forms of investment. On the advice of the Forestry Commission, I have concluded that it would have been reasonable for those undertaking such investments to have expected a real return of 6 per cent. on the assumption of no real increase in timber prices and I believe that this figure reflects a realistic view of the rate of return that investors in forestry might have been seeking. I am accordingly advising NCCS—and, as from 1 April 1992, Scottish Natural Heritage—that this figure should be used in negotiating management agreements in any of the outstanding cases where application for forestry grant was submitted before 10 May 1989.

  In general, I would find it hard to justify compensation under paragraph 3 of annex A of the guidelines based on a calculation of net revenue forgone which exceeded an estimate of the unrestricted value of the land and its crop, unless some exceptional circumstances so warranted.

  The review of the guidelines which will be undertaken later this year will take account of this change.

  Inheritance Tax
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any works of art accepted in lieu of inheritance tax have been allocated since he last made an announcement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts announced on 26 April 1991 that the following items had been accepted in lieu of inheritance tax.

  Items

  Amount of tax satisfied

  Portrait of Thomas Lamb by Allan Ramsay; two paintings and two volumes of drawings by Alexander Runciman

  £196,000

  I am pleased to announce that I have decided to allocate these items to the national galleries of Scotland.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many apprenticeships there were in Scotland and in what trades, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 February 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Traffic Offences
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the annual figures for (i) road deaths and (ii) injuries for each year since 1981, including the number of(a) children and (b) adults who have been hit by cars on or near pedestrian crossings.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Adult Students
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 February 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Agricultural Investment
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures for the investment in agriculture in Scotland for each of the last eight years.

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Current £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  Current £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  Current £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  Government support

  3,007

  369

  3,376

  3,146

  372

  3,518

  3,519

  426

  3,945

  Expenditure

  3,730

  408

  4,138

  4,024

  416

  4,440

  4,364

  455

  4,819

  Self-financed expenditure

  723

  39

  762

  878

  44

  922

  845

  29

  874

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Current £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  Current £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  Current £ million

  Capital £ million

  Total £ million

  Government support

  3,810

  453

  4,263

  3,956

  456

  4,412

  4,791

  493

  5,284

  Expenditure

  4,654

  500

  5,154

  5,119

  487

  5,606

  5,592

  552

  6,144

  Self-financed expenditure

  844

  47

  891

  1,163

  31

  1,194

  801

  59

  860

  Notes:

  1. Government support for current expenditure consists of rate support grant (for 1986–87 to 1989–90), revenue support grant (from 1989–90 to 1991–92), community charge grant (from 1991–92), non-domestic rate income (for the years 1986–87 to 1989–90 local authorities were responsible for setting the level of non-domestic rates but since 1990–91 the Government have determined the level to be set), specific grants within aggregate external finance (AEF) and AEF grants outside the Secretary of State's responsibility. The figures in Cm 1915 represent the amounts paid in the respective year, not necessarily in respect of that year.

  2. Government support for capital expenditure represents tenet capital non-housing allocation.

  3. The current expenditure figures are total relevant expenditure figures including loan and leasing charges and are final outturn figures for the years 1986–87 to 1989–90, near final outturn for 1990–91 and is a budget estimate for 1991–92.

  4. The capital expenditure figures are net of receipts and are final outturn for the years 1986–87 to 1990–91 and estimated outturn for 1991–92.

  5. The self-financed expenditure in relation to current expenditure is financed by way of domestic rate income for the years 1986–87 to 1988–89 and community charge income for the years 1989–90 to 1991–92.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table, covering the years 1986–87 and consistent with Cm. 1915, showing by sub-programme(a) total local authority expenditure in Scotland, (b) local authority expenditure in Scotland on services for which he has policy responsibility and (c) an analysis of the diferences between (a) and (b).

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The information requested is contained in tables 9.4 and 9.5 of Cm. 1915. It should be noted that due to a printing error, the last column in table 9.4 is erroneously headed "1991–92 Outturn"; it should read "1991–92 Budget Estimate".

  Crime Survey
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the British crime survey for Scotland before Monday 16 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Work on the survey is not yet complete. The results will be published as soon as possible.
  826
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 9 March 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a reconciliation between the local authority expenditure and(a) its financing figures contained in tables 9.1, 9.2 and 9.4 and chart 9.3 of Cm 1920, and (b) the figures announced in the latest revenue support grant and other settlements.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 March 19921: The information, based on total relevant local authority non-housing expenditure for the years 1986–87 to 1991–92 is as follows:

  Fish Processers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining the Government's position on the provisions of article 7 of EC directive 91/493 dealing with derogations for small-scale fish processors.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Detailed guidance and application forms for derogations under article 7 of directive 91/493/EEC are being prepared. It is hoped to send these to local authorities early in April.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to provide guidance to environmental health officers to enable them to advise small-scale fish processors of the opportunities open to them to be exempt from the officially set health requirements as detailed by EC directive 91/493.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Small-scale fish processors are not exempt from the provisions of EC directive 91/493. However under article 7 of that directive fish processors may seek temporary derogations from certain structural and equipment requirements. It is hoped to issue guidance and application forms to local authorities early in April.
  827
  In addition, under article 14 of the directive, there is a prospect that minimum structural and equipment requirements may be set for small establishments which distribute on the local market and are situated in regions subject to particular supply constraints. This possibility is largely dependent on the content of a report to be submitted to the Council by the Commission by 1 July 1992 and the outcome of subsequent discussions.

  Arts Grants
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual grant to arts organisations and events in the regions of Scotland and the cities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee for the financial year 1991–92 and projected for the year 1992–93.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: For those areas of expenditure on the arts for which the Scottish Office Education Department is responsible I set out the grants made to the national institutions and arts organisations in 1991–92 and those expected to be made in 1992–93.

  199–92 £ million

  1992–93 £ million

  National Museums of Scotland

  13·355

  15·804

  National Galleries of Scotland

  7·379

  8·569

  National Library of Scotland

  11·801

  15·994

  Scottish Museums Council

  0·665

  0·731

  Scottish Film Council

  0·619

  0·686

  Scottish Film Production Fund

  0·087

  0·090

  Scottish Community Drama Association

  0·025

  0·025

  Scottish Youth Theatre

  0·053

  0·055

  National Youth Orchestra of Scotland

  0·034

  0·035

  The majority of the grants to the national institutions will be spent in Edinburgh. Grants to other organisations are to support their work throughout Scotland.

  In addition to the above grants, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 28 February that he would make an exceptional payment of £500,000 to Scottish Opera in the financial year 1992–93 to reduce their current deficit.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Passes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council pursuant to his answer of 17 December,Official Report, column 99, if he will request those hon. Members who have places on the research assistants' list which are currently not filled to release them in order to reallocate spare places to the hon. Members who require a researcher's pass; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  There are 172 actual pass holders, out of the 230 places allowed, which means that 58 Members are currently not filling their places. I suspect that this has come about because of the imminence of the general election and some Members who have places are not filling them until they know whether they will need their places after the general election.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy not to allow any hon. Member to 828
  have two full researchers passes until all hon. Members requiring only one such pass have been allocated one; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Only the leaders of the official Opposition and of the Liberal Democrats have two full researchers' places, and, due to the imminence of the general election, I did not think that we could consider changing their entitlements.

  I am sure that the situation over Members' research assistants' places will sort itself out in the aftermath of the general election. However, if it does not, I think that it would be an appropriate subject for the Administration Committee to investigate.

  Evacuation (Westminster)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what account is taken, during the evacuation of Westminster station due to bomb threats, of the need to alert or evacuate staff in St. Stephen's house overlooking the station.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Full account is taken of the need to alert—or to evacuate if necessary—all staff in the vicinity of any bomb threat.

  European Delegates
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what are his plans for the appointment of the delegation for the 1992–93 session of the Council of Europe/Western European Union.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making the appointments to the delegation at the end of April and will announce them to the House as soon as practicable thereafter.

  Office Costs Allowance
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he received the Top Salaries Review Body report on the office costs allowance; and what implications it has for the uprating of the office costs allowance on 1 April.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have recently received the TSRB's report on the office costs allowance. It makes a number of important recommendations which it should be for the new Parliament to consider. Accordingly copies will be placed in the Vote Office and Library early in the new Parliament.

  The House will wish to know that the report recommends no immediate change in the uprating mechanism. It will be for the new House to decide what recommendations in the report it wishes to implement and in what time scale. Meanwhile, under the resolution of this House of 21 July 1987 the OCA will, as in recent years, be uprated from 1 April 1992 in line with the increase in the maximum point on the scale for civil service senior personal secretaries in receipt of inner London weighting. The uprating will be implemented as soon as a settlement is reached covering senior personal secretaries in the civil service.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training Guarantee
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have been taken to ensure that the training guarantee to young and unemployed people in Greenwich can be met during the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Our officials and their counterparts in the South Thames training and enterprise council have been seeking agreement on the level of youth training—YT—provision needed in 1992–93 in Greenwich and other areas for which the TEC is responsible. The aim is to agree a

  Employees and self employed persons (aged 16 or over) with a second job by sex, female marital status and occupation of second job: Spring 1991

  Great Britain

  Thousands

  Occupation of second job2

  All persons

  Males

  Married 3females

  Non-married females

  All occupations4

  1,074

  501

  395

  177

  1 Managers and administrators

  113

  73

  33

  1—

  2 Professional occupations

  147

  93

  42

  12

  3 Associate professional and technical occupations

  149

  84

  44

  21

  4 Clerical and secretarial

  141

  40

  83

  18

  5 Craft and related

  44

  34

  1—

  1—

  6 Personal and protective services

  233

  87

  76

  71

  7 Selling

  78

  27

  31

  21

  8 Plant and machine operatives

  36

  26

  1—

  1—

  9 Other occupations

  127

  33

  73

  22

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  1 Less than 10,000 in cell: estimate not shown.

  2 Based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) major groups, (first published February 1990).

  3 Married includes those reported as cohabiting.

  4 Includes persons with a second job for which the occupation was inadequately described or not stated.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total average hours worked per week by those with second jobs, broken down by occupational group, for employees and the self-employed,

  Average total actual hours worked in the survey week (excluding mealbreaks), by employees and self employed persons (aged 16 or over) with a second job, by sex, female marital status and occupation of second job: spring 1991—Great Britain

  Hours2

  Occupation of second jobs3

  All persons

  Males

  4Married females

  Non-married females

  All occupations5

  39·1

  48·3

  29·1

  35·7

  1 Managers and administrators

  51·0

  57·1

  38·5

  1—

  2 Professional occupations

  35·6

  41·1

  31·5

  33·7

  3 Associate professional and technical occupations

  40·3

  45·5

  30·5

  39–0

  4 Clerical and secretarial

  34·3

  45–4

  29·3

  32·8

  5 Craft and related

  48·0

  38·0

  1—

  1—

  6 Personal and protective services

  37·7

  49·4

  26·2

  35·7

  7 Selling

  35·1

  41·7

  29·2

  35·3

  8 Plant and machine operatives

  46·4

  50·9

  1—

  1—

  9 Other occupations

  30·1

  42·5

  24·1

  21·9

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  1 Less than 10,000 in cell: estimate not shown·

  2 Averages are based only on persons reporting valid hours of work

  3 Based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) major groups (first published February 1990)

  4 Married includes those reported as cohabiting

  5 Includes persons with a second job for which the occupation was inadequately described or not stated

  Second Jobs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average number of hours worked in second jobs, broken down by occupation, for employees 830
  business plan sufficient to support the guarantee of the offer of a suitable YT place to young people under 18 who are unemployed and are seeking training.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the occupational distribution of the number of persons employed in second jobs, including both employees and the self-employed, in the labour force survey for the latest year for which figures are available, giving the information by males, married females, other females and all persons.

  Mr. Forth
  Estimates for Great Britain from the spring 1991 labour force survey are as follows:

  in the labour force survey for the latest year for which figures are available, giving the information by males, married females, other females and all persons.

  Mr. Forth
  Estimates for Great Britain from the spring 1991 labour force survey are as follows.

  and the self-employed in the labour force survey for the latest year for which information is available, giving the information by males, married females, other females and all persons.
  831
  Mr. Forth
  Estimates for Great Britain from the spring 1991 labour force survey are as follows.

  Average actual hours worked in second jobs in the survey week (excluding mealbreaks), by employees and self employed persons (aged 16 or over) with a second job, by sex, female marital status and occupation of second job: spring 1991—Great Britain·

  2Hours

  Occupation of second job3

  All persons

  Males

  Married females4

  Non-married females

  All occupations5

  9·5

  10·5

  8·8

  8·4

  1 Managers and administrators

  13·7

  15·1

  11·2

  1—

  2 Professional occupations

  6·0

  6·0

  6·5

  4·3

  3 Associate professional and technical occupations

  8·5

  8·9

  7·6

  8·4

  4 Clerical and secretarial

  8·8

  9·5

  8·5

  8·4

  5 Craft and related

  11·3

  11·0

  1—

  1—

  6 Personal and protective service

  9·7

  11·4

  9·0

  8·4

  7 Selling

  8·5

  9·8

  8·0

  7·4

  8 Plant and machine operatives

  14·4

  14·9

  1—

  1—

  9 Other occupations

  10·4

  13·7

  9·1

  10·0

  Source: Labour Force Survey·

  1 Less than 10,000 in cell: estimate not shown·

  2 Averages are based only on persons reporting valid hours of work

  3 Based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) major groups (first published February 1990)

  4 Married includes those reported as cohabiting

  5 Includes persons with a second job for which the occupation was inadequately described or not stated

  Collier Industrial Waste Ltd.
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action the Health and Safety Executive factory inspectorate has taken following the incident on 2 August 1991 when a worker in the paint shop at Collier Industrial Waste Ltd. collapsed, was hospitalised and diagnosed as suffering from isocyanate-induced asthma; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive's factory inspectorate has received no notification of an incident on 2 August 1991 at Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park, in which a worker collapsed in the paint shop and was diagnosed as suffering from isocyanate-induced asthma.

  However, on 8 August 1991 an employment medical adviser from HSE interviewed an employee who had a medical history consistent with isocyanate-induced asthma. An inspector subsequently visited the company and wrote to it to confirm the precautions to be observed during the spraying of isocyanate paint.

  A follow-up visit was also paid.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information has been laid against Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park and P. J. Collier Ltd., Rixton by the Health and Safety Executive since January 1989.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what prosecutions have been taken and what convictions gained against Collier Industrial Waste Ltd.. Trafford Park and P. J. Collier Ltd., Rixton by the Health and Safety factory inspectorate since January 1989.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences were reported to the Health and Safety Executive by Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park and P. J. Collier Ltd., Rixton since January 1989.
  832
  Mr. Forth
  Since January 1989, Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park has reported no diseases or dangerous occurrences but has reported to the Health and Safety Executive the following three injuries:

  in 1989 a tyre fitter sustained an injury to his forehead;

  in 1990 an employee tripped and broke his arm;

  in 1991 a fitter/welder received bruises to his arm and leg.

  No injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences have been reported to HSE by P. J. Collier Ltd., Rixton, since January 1989.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what notices have been issued against Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park and P. J. Collier Ltd., Rixton, by the Health and Safety Executive Factory Inspectorate since January 1989.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive's factory inspectorate has issued one improvement notice against Collier Industrial Waste Ltd., Trafford Park, since January 1989, in respect of machinery safety.

  The factory inspectorate has issued no notices against P. J. Collier Ltd., Rixton, since January 1989.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action was taken since February 1991 by the Health and Safety Executive factory inspectorate to ensure that paint shop workers at Collier Industrial Waste Ltd. were not exposed to dangerous isocyanate fumes, by taking action including carrying out dust sampling and consideration of the use of alternative paints in the paint shop and consideration of the adequacy of respiratory protection.

  Mr. Forth
  Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations, it is the legal responsibility of Collier Industrial Waste Ltd. to ensure that its paint shop workers are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. This includes the risk of exposure to dangerous isocyanate fumes. Since February 1991, the Health and Safety Executive's factory inspectorate has visited the premises at Trafford Park on two occasions and has drawn the company's attention to its legal obligations, including the duty to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988. In
  833
  particular the company's attention has been drawn to the need to assess exposure to dust in the paint shop, to consider using alternative paints and to check the adequacy of the respiratory protective equipment provided.

  Hazardous Waste (Disposal)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive factory inspectorate and the employment medical advisory service to investigate reports of ill-health by employees of hazardous waste disposal companies.

  Mr. Forth
  Regulation 5 of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 requires certain occupational diseases to be reported to the appropriate enforcing authority. The information on all reports of diseases made to the Health and Safety Executive, including those in respect of employees of hazardous waste disposal companies, is verified by HSE's Employment Medical Advisory Service to ensure that it is accurate and complete. EMAS investigates all reported exposures to toxic substances. Other incidents are selected for investigation if in the judgment of the employment medical adviser, intervention may secure prevention or recurrence, prevent exposure of other workers, or derive new information about the cause or prevention of occupational ill health.

  EMAS liaises closely with HSE's factory inspectorate, which also determines, using similar criteria, whether a report of an occupational disease should be investigated. The subsequent investigation of those reports selected may be carried out either independently by factory inspectors, jointly by factory inspectors and EMAS, or by EMAS at the request of the factory inspectorate.

  A current priority of HSE's field operations division is to raise awareness of occupational health in industry.

  Unfair Dismissal
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number and proportion of reinstatements for cases of unfair dismissal over the last five years.

  Mr. Forth
  The number and proportion of reinstatement and re-engagement orders made by industrial tribunals over the last five financial years are as follows:

  Year

  Number of Percentage of reinstatement/re-engagement orders

  Percentage of unfair dismissal cases proceeding to a hearing

  1990–91

  63

  1·0

  1989–90

  59

  1·0

  1988–89

  58

  1·0

  1987–88

  83

  1·1

  1986–87

  103

  1·1

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of claims for unfair dismissal by(a) trade union safety representatives and (b) trade union representatives for the last five years; and what was the average settlement for each group.
  834
  Mr. Forth
  We do not have this information for the period before 1989–90. For the period 1989–90 and after, this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive factory inspectorate to ensure that companies which handle hazardous waste are fully implementing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.

  Mr. Forth
  Inspectors seek compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations —1985COSHH—at all premises and work activities for which they have enforcement responsibility for health and safety legislation and to which the regulations apply, including those of companies which handle hazardous waste. Enforcement of the regulations has been integrated into normal inspection arrangements and inspectors take whatever action is appropriate to ensure that those responsible comply with their duties under the legislation.

  Inspectors give a high priority to exaimining employers' action to comply with COSHH when there is exposure to hazardous substances, and liaise with the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service on matters relating to health risk and medical surveillance. The action taken by inspectors to secure compliance can range from giving advice to the use of enforcement notices and legal proceedings in those circumstances where there is a disregard for health and safety. Inspectors enforce the regulations vigorously and pursue their inquiries to the highest levels in companies which do not meet the required standards.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 November 1989,Official Report, columns 471–72, to the hon. Member for Roxborough and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood).

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and which, training and enterprise councils have notified his Department in writing about a failure to deliver(a) the youth training guarantee or (b) the employment training requirement as required under the TEC contract for 1991–92; how many individual youth training and employment training cases this involved; how the problems were resolved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The delivery of the YT and ET guarantee is a contractual commitment upon the TECs. Additional funds have been provided in the year 1991–92 to the following TECs:
  835

  Essex

  Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire

  Somerset Avon

  Dudley

  Hereford and Worcester

  Sandwell

  Shropshire

  Walsall

  Sheffield

  Rochdale

  Bolton and Bury

  This is consistent with maintaining the delivery of the guarantees. Meanwhile, the existence of a procedure under which individuals may register problems covering their treatment under the training guarantees is an important aspect of the policy in guarantees, and will continue under the new TEC operating agreement for 1992–93.

  Training Initiatives
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what training initiatives have been introduced in Basildon in each of the last two years.

  Mr. Jackson
  Over the last two years Essex TEC has carried out the training initiatives specified in its contract, including youth training, employment training, enterprise allowance scheme, high technology national training, business enterprise training and various education programmes, such as education business partnerships. TECs have also been given the flexibility to introduce other initiatives to meet specific local needs and information on these can be obtained by contacting Essex TEC direct.

  European Grants
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what European grants have been made to Basildon in the last year.

  Mr. Jackson
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his current estimate of the number of self-employed people in the northern region.

  Mr. Forth
  In September 1991 there were 115,000 self-employed in the northern region.

  Tourism
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what help is available for tourism in Basildon.

  Mr. Forth
  Basildon is within the area of the East Anglian tourist board which, with the help of financial support from the English tourist board, encourages the development and promotion of tourism within its region.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what help is available to help small businesses start up in Basildon.

  Mr. Forth
  The Essex training and enterprise council provides a wide range of help and advice to small business.836
  This includes a business start-up programme which in 1991–92 will assist some 800 people throughout the county. In addition, my Department operates a loan guarantee scheme to help viable small businesses obtain loans where conventional funding would not otherwise be available.

ENERGY

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what have been his Department's achievements in the development of combined heat and power since 1979; and what plans he has to further advance the development of combined heat and power in the next five years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The main achievements of my Department in the development of CHP since 1979, mainly through the programmes of the Energy Efficiency Office and in conjunction with industry and other Government Departments, have been:The 'Lead City' programme to evaluate the potential for large scale CHP/Community Heating (CHP/CH). This stimulated widespread interest in the potential for CHP/CH which is culminating in schemes such as that recently announced by Citigen.
  To develop and demonstrate the use of small-scale packaged CHP for buildings, leading to an unprecedented rise in the installation of such units.
  The development and encouragement of the use of cost effective CHP applications in industry based on the use of modern gas turbines.
  The environmental benefits of CHP have been assessed and the potential of the technology to reduce environmentally harmful emissions is now widely acknowledged.
  The privatisation of both the electricity and gas industries has led to the creation of new competitive markets. CHP operators can obtain gas on a non-discriminatory basis and they have a market into which they can sell surplus electricity. The majority of genuine on-site CHP operators generating for own use are free to continue to do so without the need for a licence and, therefore, do not have to pay the fossil fuel levy. This has provided a commercial environment which is stimulating interest in CHP not only from the privatised companies but from energy users in all sectors of the economy. The Pooling and Settlement Agreement now enables companies generating their own electricity to sell only surplus power to the pool, instead of having to sell all they generate and buy back their own requirements.
  Measures have also been provided, where appropriate, to assist the development of CHP. Under the 1989 Electricity Act CHP operators as licensed generators may have powers to break streets to lay heat and power mains. There are special provisions for the treatment of CHP in the Department of Environment's Integrated Pollution Control regulations. Equitable treatment for CHP/CH schemes in the Department of Environment's rating formulae has been secured.
  The Department has produced a wide range of publications and two videos highlighting successful applications of CHP technology. The Department has also successfully collaborated with industry on the promotion and marketing of CHP, particularly with the CHPA on their Power Plus campaign. These activities have helped to raise the profile and awareness of CHP in industry, commerce and the public sector to a record level.

  Throughout the remainder of the 1990s the EEO will continue to vigorously promote the technology through its best practice programme and will aim to achieve the environment White Paper commitment to double CHP capacity to 4,000MWe by 2000.

  British Coal
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what figures he has for the change in the level of productivity in British Coal since 1983–84.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Since 1983–84 productivity at British Coal's deep mines has increased by 110 per cent.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department carries out an annual relocation review as part of the public expenditure survey. An independent assessment of the case for and against the relocation of my Department's petroleum engineering directorate to Aberdeen is currently being undertaken. No posts are currently being considered for relocation to the east midlands.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Thames Polytechnic
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what public resources are made available to Thames polytechnic.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council—PCFC—has made the following public funds available to Thames polytechnic for the financial year 1991–92:

  £

  Main allocation

  19,307,579

  Equipment

  1,933,332

  Hunter capital

  541,700

  Minor works

  424,000

  Research

  250,000

  Total

  22,456,611

  In addition the polytechnic's publicly funded tuition fee from funded places is expected to be £11,944,000. Total public funds available to the polytechnic are therefore £34,400,611. Institutions are free to recruit additional students who do not attract PCFC grant but who bring with them the publicly funded tuition fee, averaging £2,200 in the PCFC sector in 1991–92.

  Handicapped Pupils
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the latest developments in Government policy to ensure the integration of handicapped children into the maintained school system.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Government's policy on the intergration of children with special needs in mainstream schools is reflected in the provisions of the Education Act 838
  1981. The Act requires local education authorities to educate children with statements of special educational needs in ordinary schools wherever possible.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department is considering the scope for relocating some 50 posts from London to Darlington in 1992.

  Seven-year-olds
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, columns 374–76, if he will list by local education authority (a) the proportion of usable return from maintained schools for seven-year-olds and (b) the number of children seven plus years old included in the seven-plus league tables of usable returns as a percentage of the total number of seven-plus pupils in maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  Tables showing this information were provided in written answers to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 15 January,Official Report, columns 580–82, and the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) on 17 February, Official Report, columns 35–36.

  The following tables have been updated to incorporate details for Lambeth and Tower Hamlets, which were not included in the original tables.

  LEA RANKING

  Proportion of returns from maintained schools with 7 year olds used to compile the National analyses of the 1991 test results

  Percentage Returns used

  Avon

  100

  Barking

  100

  Berkshire

  100

  Bexley

  100

  Bury

  100

  Cleveland

  100

  Coventry

  100

  Croydon

  100

  Enfield

  100

  Essex

  100

  Hackney

  100

  Hammersmith

  100

  Haringey

  100

  Havering

  100

  Kensington and Chelsea

  100

  Kingston Upon Thames

  100

  Merton

  100

  Northamptonshire

  100

  Stockport

  100

  Sutton

  100

  Calderdale

  99

  Devon

  99

  Hereford and Worcester

  99

  Humberside

  99

  Lincolnshire

  99

  Sunderland

  99

  Tameside

  99

  839

  Percenteage Returns used

  Wakefield

  99

  Walsall

  99

  West Sussex

  99

  Bradford

  98

  Bromley

  98

  Cambridgeshire

  98

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  98

  Dudley

  98

  North Yorkshire

  98

  Northumberland

  98

  Rotherham

  98

  Solihull

  98

  South Tyneside

  98

  Suffolk

  98

  Warwickshire

  98

  Gateshead

  97

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  97

  Surrey

  97

  Trafford

  97

  Westminster

  97

  Wirral

  97

  Wolverhampton

  97

  Manchester

  96

  Shropshire

  96

  Somerset

  96

  Redbridge

  95

  Sefton

  95

  Waltham Forest

  95

  Kent

  94

  St. Helens

  94

  Staffordshire

  94

  Barnet

  93

  Gloucestershire

  93

  Leeds

  93

  Rochdale

  93

  Wiltshire

  93

  Barnsley

  92

  Brent

  92

  Camden

  92

  Cheshire

  92

  Cumbria

  92

  Doncaster

  92

  Knowsley

  92

  Sandwell

  92

  Durham

  91

  Harrow

  91

  Hertfordshire

  91

  Lancashire

  91

  Bedfordshire

  90

  Derbyshire

  89

  Isle of Wight

  89

  Lewisham

  89

  Oldham

  89

  Nottinghamshire

  88

  Richmond Upon Thames

  88

  Wandsworth

  88

  Sheffield

  87

  Dorset

  87

  Lambeth

  83

  Hampshire

  82

  Leicestershire

  81

  840

  percentage Returns used

  Hillingdon

  78

  Ealing

  77

  Greenwich

  75

  Wigan

  75

  Tower Hamlets

  74

  North Tyneside

  73

  Birmingham

  72

  Bolton

  70

  Liverpool

  70

  Oxfordshire

  70

  East Sussex

  66

  Islington

  65

  Kirklees

  65

  Salford

  65

  Southwark

  60

  Buckinghamshire

  59

  Norfolk

  59

  Hounslow

  58

  Newham

  55

  Proportion of 7 year old pupils from maintained schools included in the national analyses of the 1991 test results

  Percentage of pupils in KSI results

  Camden

  94

  Greenwich

  74

  Hackney

  100

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  100

  Islington

  62

  Kensington and Chelsea

  100

  Lambeth

  82

  Lewisham

  90

  Tower Hamlets

  67

  Southwark

  55

  Wandsworth

  85

  Westminster

  96

  Barking and Dagenham

  100

  Barnet

  91

  Bexley

  100

  Brent

  91

  Bromley

  97

  Croydon

  100

  Ealing

  72

  Enfield

  100

  Haringey

  100

  Harrow

  92

  Havering

  100

  Hillingdon

  78

  Hounslow

  49

  Kingston upon Thames

  100

  Merton

  100

  Newham

  46

  Redbridge

  95

  Richmond upon Thames

  86

  Sutton

  100

  Waltham Forest

  94

  Birmingham

  72

  Coventry

  100

  Dudley

  98

  Sandwell

  93

  Solihull

  99

  Walsall

  100

  841

  Percentage of pupils in KSI results

  Wolverhampton

  96

  Knowsley

  91

  Liverpool

  67

  St. Helens

  94

  Sefton

  98

  Wirral

  97

  Bolton

  68

  Bury

  100

  Manchester

  97

  Oldham

  86

  Rochdale

  94

  Salford

  63

  Stockport

  100

  Tameside

  99

  Trafford

  94

  Wigan

  73

  Barnsley

  93

  Doncaster

  87

  Rotherham

  97

  Sheffield

  87

  Bradford

  99

  Calderdale

  100

  Kirklees

  59

  Leeds

  96

  Wakefield

  100

  Gateshead

  97

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  96

  North Tyneside

  74

  South Tyneside

  96

  Sunderland

  98

  Avon

  100

  Bedfordshire

  89

  Berkshire

  99

  Buckinghamshire

  56

  Cambridgeshire

  98

  Cheshire

  88

  Cleveland

  100

  Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

  99

  Cumbria

  93

  Derbyshire

  88

  Devon

  99

  Dorset

  89

  Durham

  91

  East Sussex

  62

  Essex

  100

  Gloucestershire

  93

  Hampshire

  78

  Hereford and Worcester

  99

  Hertfordshire

  93

  Humberside

  98

  Isle of Wight

  84

  Kent

  94

  Lancashire

  90

  Leicestershire

  85

  Lincolnshire

  too

  Norfolk

  60

  North Yorkshire

  100

  Northamptonshire

  100

  Northumberland

  100

  Nottinghamshire

  89

  Oxfordshire

  72

  Shropshire

  96

  Somerset

  95

  Staffordshire

  93

  Suffolk

  96

  Surrey

  97

  Warwickshire

  97

  West Sussex

  99

  Wiltshire

  92

  Total England

  89

  Expenditure, Eastern England
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the GM-relevant costs less the expenditure on school meals in each of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex local education authorities.

  Mr. Eggar
  Using the definition of GM-relevant costs set out in the reply to my hon. Friend on 17 December 1991,Official Report, columns 114–16, the information, taken from the LEAs' section 42 budget statements for 1991–92, is as follows:

  £

  Norfolk

  172,117,000

  Suffolk

  149,632,000

  Essex

  364,119,000

  Note:

  The GM-relevant costs constitute the total budget in respect of the LEA's maintained schools which corresponds to the total annual maintenance grant—AMG—of grant-maintained—GM—schools, is the general schools budget less expenditure on items for which provision is made outside the AMG of GM schools, those items being: central Government specific grants; capital expenditure; and expenditure on home to school transport, education welfare officers and psychologists, pupil support, statemented pupils and special units.

  Ethnic Minority Teaching
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 3 March,Official Report, column 116, if he will send the letter referred to, to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, before the dissolution of Parliament; and what is the reason for the delay.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend wrote to the right hon. Member on 13 March confirming his decision.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Amens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children went into higher education in each of the last two years in Basildon.

  Mr. Eggar
  Information for the Basildon area is not available centrally.

  The estimated numbers of school leavers from maintained schools in the Essex local education authority area whose intended destination was further or higher education for the academic years 1988–89 and 1989–90, the latest years available, were 5,000 and 6,150 respectively. Information for higher education is not available separately at local authority level.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give the numbers attending full-time and sandwich courses at universities and polytechnics in the northern region in 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of home and overseas domiciled students attending full-time and sandwich higher education courses at the three polytechnics in the northern region in 1990 was 18,900, and the number attending similar courses at the two universities in the region was 14,700.

  Operating Initiatives
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what operating initiatives have been launched in Basildon in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The main on-going initiative launched by Essex education authority in Basildon was the establishment of Basildon tertiary college and the consequent abolition of school sixth forms in the area. More recently, in response to local demand, my right hon. and learned Friend accorded grant-maintained status to Chalvedon school, and re-established its sixth form.

ENVIRONMENT

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each private sector consultancy firm which has been retained by each agency within his Department, and for his Department as a whole, for the purposes of advising on the market testing programme; and whether the appointment in each case was the result of competitive tendering.

  Mr. Heseltine
  To date no private sector consultancy firms have been retained by my Department, or any of its agencies, to advise on the market testing programme as a whole. However, Messrs Donaldson are advising on the preparation of contractual documentation for market testing property management services. Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte are advising on, among other things the value for money of alternative arrangements for providing the services offered by the Government car service and the interdepartmental dispatch service. Watts and Partners are advising on documentation for royal parks works contracts. All these contracts were let by competitive tender.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information about the(a) percentage of people who have made a payment of the community charge, (b) percentage of community charge collected by 31 December, (c) percentage of community charge collected for the financial year ending 5 April and (d) level of community charge for 1991–92 and 1992–93 for the boroughs of Gedling, Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and the City of Nottingham.

  Mr. Key
  The latest information concerning the percentage of people making community charge payments in 1991–92, and the collection rates to December 1991–92 for all authorities who have provided information, is listed in the departmental press release No. 164 which was placed in the Library on 27 February 1992.

  Charging authorities have until 18 March to make their "Demands and Precepts Return" to the Department and until 1 April to set a 1992–93 community charge. The available community charge information is as follows.
  844

  1991–92 Average Community Charge£

  1992–93 Average Community Charge£

  Gedling

  266·58

  No return

  Rushcliffe

  265·11

  No return

  Broxtowe

  265

  278·54

  Nottingham

  295

  316

  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when rates or the community charge have been capped in Basildon since 1983;

  (2) what is the proposed level of community charge in Basildon; and at what levels it or rates have been set in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Key
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the revenue support grant per capita for 1992–93 in the Wandsworth, Westminster and Rotherham local authorities; and if he will state the community charge which has been determined by each of these authorities for 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  Many authorities have yet to make a return to the Department giving information about community charges. Charging authorities have until 18 March to make their "Demands and Precepts Return" to the Department and they have until 1 April to set a charge.

  The available information is as follows:

  1992–93 revenue support grant £ per adult

  1992–93 revenue support grant £ per adult

  Westminster

  1,263

  36

  Wandsworth

  975

  No return

  Rotherham

  406

  No return

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will hold a public inquiry regarding the application by National Power to burn orimulsion at Padiham power station before allowing a decision to be made on the said application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am satisfied that the public have been made aware of this application. HM IP has received a number of representations which it will take into account in determining the application.

  It remains open to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to direct that the application should be referred for his determination. In that event, he would consider whether a local public inquiry would be appropriate.

  A299
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the proposed route for the A299 Thanet way between Whitstable and Herne Bay will be the subject of a public inquiry.

  Mr. Yeo
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Community Charges
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the proposed level of community charges in London in 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Wild Birds
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to establish a new inspection and enforcement service to ensure adequate safeguards for the trade in wild birds.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 9 March 1992,Official Report, at column 372.

  New Homes
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate discussions on the future use of public sector sites which are no longer needed, as areas for new homes construction.

  Mr. Yeo
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  EC Habitats Directive
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is available to local authorities concerning the need to assess the effect that plans or projects may have on special areas of conservation designated under the new EC habitats directive.

  Mr. Trippier
  Our obligation under the forthcoming directive to assess the effect of plans and projects on designated special areas of conservation is covered in the draft planning policy guidance on nature conservation. This was circulated for consultation by the Department of the Environment on 27 February.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to identify those areas in the United Kingdom which should be considered for designation as special areas for conservation under the forthcoming EC habitats directive.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government and their scientific advisers are currently examining the criteria set out in annex III of the forthcoming EC habitats directive with a view to evaluating the eligibility of sites for inclusion on the United Kingdom's proposed national list of SITES of Community importance. While I expect it to be some time before I am in a position to determine the full list, the Government intend to comply with the timetable set by the directive.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to introduce in order to comply with article 6·2—avoidance of the deterioration of the habitats—of the EC directive on the conservation of natural and semi-natural habitats arid of wild fauna and flora—the habitats directive.

  Mr. Trippier
  Officials are currently consulting the statutory nature conservation agencies and other 846
  Government Departments about the legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions through which the forthcoming directive is to be implemented in the United Kingdom. The measures already in place under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, give considerable protection to the important wildlife habitat in this country. A recent further welcome step has been the launch of English Nature's wildlife enhancement scheme to secure more positive management of sites of special scientific interest.

  Aqueous Cleaners
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to tackle the increase in effluent from disposal of increased amounts of aqueous cleaners used to replace CFC-G113; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Such discharges would be subject to existing statutory authorisation procedures as appropriate under section 88 of the Water Resources Act 1991, sections 118 and 120 of the Water Industry Act 1991, and section 6 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the reference to little weight being attached to the loss of moderate and poor quality agricultural land in paragraph 2·5 of planning policy guidance note 7 "The Countryside and Rural Economy" refers only to that aspect of paragraph 2·4 which deals with the agricultural value of land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes. When paragraph 2·5 of PPG7 says that "little weight" should normally be attached to the loss of lower grade agricultural land it means little weight in terms of agricultural value; other factors such as landscape and nature conservation need to be taken fully into account. The PPG explains the Government's policy of encouraging rural enterprise, while ensuring that the environment is protected. It reminds planning authorities of the need for a balanced approach to rural development and conservation. The planning system helps to integrate development necessary to sustain the rural economy with protection of the countryside for the sake of its beauty, its diversity of landscape, its wealth of natural resources arid its ecological, agricultural and recreational value.

  Local Government Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete the consultation exercise prior to amending the local government superannuation regulations concerning the treatment of war service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Local Government Superannuation (Amendment) Regulations which came into force on 28 February 1992 include a provision enabling certain probation officers to count their war service for superannuation purposes. No formal request has been received to make further amendments to the provisions on war service already included in the regulations and no consultation exercise is planned.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his letter of 4 March, what consideration he has given to banning immediately the production of ozone-depleting substances and filling essential applications, including asthma inhalers, from existing stocks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government are firmly committed to phasing out CFCs by the end of 1995 at the latest. An immediate phase-out of these substances would not be possible, because substitutes for some relatively high volume uses of CFCs still require further development before the overall demand will be low enough to be met by existing stocks.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect on emissions of(a) carbon dioxide and (b) carcinogens of the increased use of unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Trippier
  Increased use of unleaded petrol will result in a modest increase in carbon dioxide emissions from refineries. Any effect on carcinogenic emissions is likely to be very small, but a detailed assessment of hydrocarbon emissions from cars using leaded and unleaded fuel is in progress and results are expected in the autumn. Catalytic converters will be mandatory on all new petrol-engine cars from the end of this year and will secure dramatic reductions in all harmful emissions, including carcinogens. Cars equipped with catalysts can run only on unleaded petrol.

  Waste Carriers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the level of registration for waste carriers; what information he has on how many waste carriers have received information on duty of care regulations; whether he has had any discussions with the Institution of Environmental Health Officers about the practicability of meeting the 1 April deadline for registration of waste carriers; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Buildings (Disabled Persons' Access)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest developments in Government policy to ensure maximum mobility and access to buildings by registered disabled persons on visits to buildings and installations in both the public and private sectors.
  848
  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have introduced revised Building Regulations relating to access and facilities for disabled people which come into force on 1 June this year and apply in both the public and private sectors. The requirements have been extended to cover all floors of new non-domestic buildings and most extensions to such buildings. They now, for the first time, address some of the needs of people with impaired hearing and sight.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the 1992–93 schemes for recovery of pollution control costs in England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  Cost-recovery charging to cover the costs of regulating processes under integrated pollution control, under local authority air pollution control, and premises subject to regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 were introduced in April 1991, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.

  With the agreement of the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has now made revised charging schemes to introduce the 1992–93 scales of fees and charges, which will take effect from 1 April 1992. I have placed copies of the revised schemes in the Library.

  The schemes have been prepared following consultation with industry and other bodies.

  The form of the schemes remains the same. For integrated pollution control—IPC—the scheme comprises an application fee to cover the cost of assessment of the operator's proposals and preparation of the authorisation; an annual subsistence charge for holding an authorisation, to cover the costs of inspection and oversight of the plant; and a variation fee to cover the costs of assessment of any proposals for substantial variation to a process.

  The application fee for 1992–93 is £2,450 per component for processes which have previously been subject to air pollution control; £3,650 per component for processes coming under regulation by HMIP for the first time. These fees reflect the amount of time and cost involved in the assessment of IPC applications in 1991–92, which has proved to be higher than the estimates on which the 1991–92 fees were based. However, HMIP has set itself the objective for 1992–93 of reducing its average application handling time by 12½ per cent., and the fee levels allow for this efficiency target.

  HMIP is publishing extensive technical IPC guidance notes, and is also organising a programme of local seminars for industries currently involved in preparing IPC applications. These steps will ensure that industry has all the necessary information, and will help to achieve speedier authorisation, and reduce application handling further.

  The variation fee is £1,200 per component—one third of the application fee.

  On 8 November 1991 I announced a further substantial strengthening of HMIP's complement for 1992–93, to ensure that the inspectorate is able to maintain rigorous levels of inspection and oversight, and provide the high degree of public confidence which industry requires to be able to conduct its business. The annual subsistence charge of £1,500 per component reflects the costs of the higher level of oversight which HMIP will be able to provide in 1992–93.
  849
  As noted, the IPC fees for 1991–92 underestimated the time involved in assessing IPC applications, the cost of which was therefore not fully recovered. The legislation governing the charging scheme requires that costs and income are balanced, taking one financial year with another. It is therefore necessary to recoup the under-recovery of costs in 1991–92. However this recoupment will be spread over the remaining four years of the IPC implementation period. It will be carried out by way of an additional charge applied only to authorisations related to applications submitted during 1991–92. The additional charge in 1991–92 will be £410 per component for processes previously under air pollution control, £610 per component for others.

  The charges payable on a plant are related to its complexity and scale by being linked to the number of defined components which the plant contains. The schedule of components has been reviewed in consultation with industry, in the light of experience in operating the charging scheme, and revised for 1992–93.

  For the longer term, we wish to consider the option of moving to a system of direct charging for IPC applications according to the time and costs incurred in dealing with each application.

  For local authority air pollution control, the application fee is increased to £900, and the annual subsistence fee to £550, taking account of the local authority associations' submissions to the Department reporting that local authorities' staff are spending more time than expected in implementing part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The substantial change fee and the fee for processes already registered under the Alkali Act are increased to £580. Fees and charges for small waste oil burners, which reflect a simplified authorisation procedure, remain unchanged at £100.

  The form of the radioactive substances regulations—RSA 60—charging scheme also remains the same. Nuclear licensed premises will be billed individually on the basis of regulatory time spent and costs incurred at each site. Non-nuclear premises are charged on the basis of flat-rate fees similar to the IPC scheme, relating to applications, substantial variations, and the subsistence of consents to cover inspection and oversight costs.

  For premises authorised to accumulate and dispose of radioactive waste—"band 3 premises", for example, research establishments, major universities—the application and variation fee will be £1,350 and the annual subsistence charge £800. For premises registered to keep and use radioactive material—"band 4 premises", for example industrial users of radioactive sources—the application and variation fee will be £500. The annual subsistence charge will be £80, but this will apply only to holders of larger sources. The majority of registration holders, using smaller closed sources, will not pay any annual subsistence charge, since these sources do not require routine inspection.

  As with the IPC scheme, the RSA60 application fees set for 1991–92 underestimated the time involved in assessing applications, and costs were under-recovered. This scheme is also subject to a statutory requirement to balance income and costs. As for the IPC scheme, it has been agreed with the Treasury that the recovery will be spread over four years, through an additional charge applying to
  850
  consents related to applications made in 1991–92, which will be £210 for band 3 authorisations, and £80 for band 4 registrations.

  Charging schemes for Scotland will be made in due course.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many replies were received in response to the consultation paper "Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Proposed New Regulations"; and if he will make the responses publicly available.

  Mr. Baldry
  Copies of the 181 responses received have been placed in the Department's library, where they are available for public inspection. A list of responses received has also been placed in the Library of the House, through which copies of individual responses may be obtained.

  Urban Areas
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by his Department in revitalising the urban and inner-city areas of the northern region since June 1987.

  Mr. Key
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Historic Churches, Basildon
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants are available to restore historic churches in Basildon.

  Mr. Yeo
  English Heritage provide grants for the repair of outstanding historic churches from grant in avid provided by my Department. The church grants budget proposed for 1992–93 is some £9 million. Local authorities also have discretionary powers to provide assistance.

  Pitsea
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what moneys are available to clean up Pitsea creek;

  (2) what response he has made to the Environment Committee's report on dumping on Pitsea tip, seventh report of 1990–91, HC 263;

  (3) what recent representations he has received; and what response he has made about dumping on Pitsea tip.

  Mr. Baldry
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council and Commission for the New Towns houses have been sold in Basildon since(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Yeo
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Rochester upon Medway City Council (Housing Stock)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the district auditor into the sale by Rochester upon Medway city council of its housing stock to the Medway housing society; and if he will make a statement.
  851
  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 5 March 1992]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Homeless Families
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the comparative public sector revenue costs of housing homeless families in(a) Greater London, (b) other metropolitan authorities and (c) English non-metropolitan areas by (i) providing them with newly built council dwellings, (ii) providing them with council dwellings newly acquired from the private sector and improved for letting and (iii) providing them with bed-and-breakfast accommodation; and if he will publish these figures on a comparable basis with those in his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 23 February 1989, Official Report, column 741.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 11 March 1992]: I have looked carefully at the basis on which such an answer can be given and have concluded that the information is not available in a form which enables a valid comparison to be made.

  Expenditure, London
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the budget and forecast actual expenditure of his Department's London region office in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 12 March 1992]: The London regional office's budget for pay and day-to-day running costs, excluding accommodation which is centrally funded, was £3·184 million for 1991–92. Forecast actual expenditure for the year is £3·092 million. The budget for 1992–93 has not been finalised.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the expenditure of the London residuary body on administration in each year from 1986–87 to 1991–92, at current prices.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 12 March 1992]: Expressed in current prices, net expenditure by the London residuary body on general management or administrative services, including preparation and transfer of records to successor bodies by the LRB's administration department, was as follows in the years 1986–87 to 1991–92:

  £'000

  1986–87

  6,874

  1987–88

  4,164

  1988–89

  3,597

  1989–90

  2,962

  11990–91

  7,365

  21991–92

  3,466

  1 On April 1 1990 the LRB took on responsibility for winding up the affairs of the Inner London Education Authority.

  2 The figures for 1991–92 are from the LRB's 1991–92 original budget while information for other years comes from the LRB's Annual Report and Accounts for the relevant year.

  Further details may be found in the London residuary body's annual report and accounts.

  Birds
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recommendations he has received from the chairman of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee relating to United Kingdom nature conservation and land use policies arising from the publication of the recent reports sponsored by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on birds and pastoral agriculture in Europe; the conservation of lowland dry grassland birds in Europe; and breeding waders on wet grassland.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: None. However, the studies and recommendations contained in the reports will make a valuable contribution to our consideration of countryside policies in the United Kingdom and Europe.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the sum allocated by the London Docklands development corporation for its sponsorship of the Sports Scholarship Foundation for sports scholarships in the United States of America; the sum it is likely to expend in its trial event to be held in Florida in July next; the residential and other qualifications it expects of those it intends to sponsor at the trial event and the particulars of the persons there present who will make the selection for scholarship awards, together with details of any charges met in cash or kind for the trial event or the scholarships from individuals or bodies other than the corporation.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The corporation has made provision for expenditure of £3,000 for the sponsorship of local young people attending the scholarship trials in Florida this year. From those urban development association residents selected by LDDC as suitable to attend the trial, a number who would otherwise be unable to take part will receive financial assistance.

  The Sports Scholarship Foundation—an independent body—is entirely responsible for the running and organisation of the sports trial event. Assessment of an individual's sporting ability and the related costs are matters for the foundation.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the expenditure of the London Docklands development corporation on administration, research and planning for each year since its creation, at current prices.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 12 March 1992]: Expenditure by the London Docklands development corporation on administration, research and planning, at current prices, is as follows:

  £ million (rounded)

  Year

  Amount

  1981–82

  4

  1982–83

  10

  1983–84

  10

  1984–85

  12

  1985–86

  12

  1986–87

  12

  1987–88

  12

  1988–89

  14

  1989–90

  17

  853

  Year

  Amount

  1990–91

  18

  11991–92

  16

  1 Estimated.

  It is not possible to separate the amount specific to each item.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect on businesses in Greater Manchester of the introduction of the uniform business rate.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: The table shows the average change, between 1989–90 and 1990–91, in non-domestic rates bills in Greater Manchester flowing from the introduction of the uniform business rate and the 1990 revaluation, but taking no account of the transitional arrangements.

  District

  Average effect on rates bills per cent.

  Bolton

  -8

  Bury

  -19

  Manchester

  -38

  Oldham

  -34

  Rochdale

  -35

  Salford

  -36

  Stockport

  -18

  Tameside

  -34

  Trafford

  -14

  Wigan

  -39

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in respect of the Local Government Boundary Commission's recommendations that Thamesmead East ward be transferred from the London borough of Bexley to the London borough of Greenwich.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Seventy-six representations from hon. Members, local groups, members of the public and other interested persons have been received. Most of these oppose the proposed transfer.

DEFENCE

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of contracts awarded by his Department in each of the four calendar years to 31 December 1990 to(a) GPT Ltd. Strategic Communications Systems, (b) Rolls-Royce Industrial and Marine Gas Turbines Ltd., (c) Lucas Aerospace Ltd., (d) Dunlop Aviation Division, (e) Alvis Ltd., (f) Abbey Panels Ltd., (g) Commercial Hydraulics Keelavite Ltd., (h) Cornercroft Ltd., (i) Neol Penny Turbines Ltd., (j) J. S. Chinn Ltd., (k) Rotherhams Ltd., and (l) Self-Changing Gears Ltd.; and if he will list the total amount paid to each company in each of those years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information the hon. Gentleman requests is commercially sensitive and cannot be released.

  1 Submarine Squadron
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the home addresses of the 350 naval personnel committed to the 1 Submarine Squadron; and whether they are home owners or tenants.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information on home addresses is held locally on all service personnel who work for the 1 Submarine Squadron. About one third are home owners, the remainder are either private tenants or occupy RN accommodation. It is not possible at this stage to say which personnel will move to Devonport.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of relocating the 1 Submarine Squadron from Gosport to Devonport.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The estimated cost is some £3·5 million. With annual savings in running costs of some £2 million per year, we expect to recoup these costs within two years.

  HMS Dolphin
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the type 2400 Upholder class submarine maintenance facilities at HMS Dolphin, Gosport.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since the mid-1980s some £4·4 million has been spent on the provision of facilities at HMS Dolphin specifically for the maintenance of Upholder class submarines.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number and nature of the workers who will be transferred from Gunwharf, Portsmouth to HMS Dolphin, Gosport as envisaged in the Minister of State for the Armed Forces' letter of 10 March to the hon. Member for Gosport.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A total of around 100 service and civilian posts are expected to relocate from Gunwharf to HMS Dolphin in the mid-1990s, although further work still needs to be done on our detailed plans. The following units are expected to transfer:

  the Royal Engineers Diving Establishment;

  the Minewarfare and Maritime Trade School;

  the DNIS Management Systems Group and Small Systems Group;

  the Fleet Diving Group;

  the Portsmouth Area Clearance Diving Unit.

  Green Rover
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the sale of the former Royal Navy ship Green Rover to Indonesia; and what restrictions have been placed on its use.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Indonesian Government are purchasing the surplus Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Green Rover. She is a replenishment ship for fresh water, fuel and refrigerated goods. She has no offensive capability. Restrictions on her use would be irrelevant.

  Telecommunications Station, Outhmuir
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed telecommunications station being built at Outhmuir, Fife, giving details of the costs and the purpose of the system in terms of overall operation.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The installations under construction at Outhmuir, Fife, are components of the Uniter communications system and the associated bearer network, Boxer. The estimated total costs of Uniter and Boxer at 1991–92 prices are about £410 million and £230 million respectively.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Much work is going on within the Ministry of Defence to determine future locations for both service and headquarters personnel. The aim is wherever possible to rationalise and concentrate personnel on existing defence sites away from London and the south-east. Certain RAF recruitment activities will transfer to RAF Cranwell, with the addition of 89 service and 70 civilian jobs for the region. At present, no posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield.

  Submarine Notification Scheme
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has come to a conclusion on the extension of the submarine notification scheme to cover the whole of the Minches.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Extension of the SUBFACTS notification scheme is one of the subjects covered in a consultation document on submarine operations and fishing vessels which has recently been circulated to fishing industry representatives, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. A decision on the areas to be covered by the extended arrangements will be made once this consultation has been completed.

  Cwrt-y-Gollen Camp
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision will be made in the near future by the Ministry of Defence to ensure the education of the children of service personnel shortly to move into Cwrt-y-Gollen camp, Crickhowell.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The responsibility for making provision for the education of the children of service personnel in the United Kingdom rests with local education authorities.

  Defence Contracts
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence contracts have benefited Basildon in each of the last three years.
  856
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The number and value of defence contracts placed in the Basildon/Southend-on-Sea area are as follows:

  1990–91—311 contracts valued at £34·733 million.

  1991–92—280 contracts valued at £18·175 million to end January.

  Figures for earlier years could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.

  Pacific Atomic Tests
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of whether former service man Andrew Dickson, now of Wakefield, was contaminated from radioactive fallout from atomic bombs tested in the atmosphere over the Pacific in 1959; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 March 1992]: In general it is not the policy of this Department to detail individual dose records which are medically confidential. Almost all participants in the United Kingdom nuclear test programme, however, were not exposed to ionising radiation from the tests. An independent study by the National Radiological Protection Board showed neither a loss of life expectancy nor an overall increase in the incidence of malignant disease.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Basildon Crown Court
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Attorney-General when he proposes to start the building of a Crown court in Basildon.

  The Attorney-General
  It is expected that construction of a Crown court in Basildon will commence in the summer of 1993.

HEALTH

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds(a) in each individual health authority in England and (b) in each health trust in England and were designated (i) for intensive care and (ii) for children's intensive care; how many of such beds were closed or otherwise not available for use on 31 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Organ Transplants
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further steps he intends to take to encourage more organ transplant donors.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We are continually looking at ways of improving the supply of donor organs.

  Hospital Beds, Leeds
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) acute and (b) long-stay hospital beds there were in the Leeds metropolitan district in each year since 1979 shown (i) in total and (ii) by hospital.
  857
  Mr. Dorrell
  Details requested about acute beds for each year from 1979 are given in the tables. Information about the total number of long-stay beds and the number

  Number of daily available beds of Acute specialties for each hospital in Leeds Western and Leeds Eastern Health Districts for the years 1979 to 1990–91

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  B6201 Leeds General Infirmary

  649

  654

  653

  669

  650

  615

  620

  618

  625

  631

  621

  606

  B6203 Cookridge Hospital

  152

  149

  150

  149

  151

  153

  138

  117

  104

  118

  117

  119

  B6204 Ida and Robert Arthington Hospital

  91

  82

  78

  79

  74

  31

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  B6205 Leeds Maternity Hospital

  28

  28

  28

  28

  25

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  B6207 Wharfedale Hospital, Otley

  140

  142

  142

  141

  144

  142

  145

  142

  134

  136

  136

  140

  B6210 Roundhay Hall Hospital

  78

  81

  80

  81

  68

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  B6211 Middleton Hospital

  82

  70

  58

  58

  52

  47

  36

  29

  10

  0

  0

  0

  B6212 Ilkley Convalescent Home

  53

  56

  56

  56

  56

  55

  58

  58

  56

  58

  0

  0

  B6219 Chapel Allerton Hospital

  284

  285

  280

  232

  189

  188

  184

  213

  207

  187

  173

  120

  B6230 Clarendon Wing, General Infirmary

  0

  0

  0

  0

  17

  178

  173

  178

  176

  172

  166

  170

  B6313 St. James' Hospital

  784

  788

  786

  789

  790

  792

  797

  813

  819

  802

  804

  756

  B6314 Seacroft Hospital

  178

  176

  173

  271

  287

  273

  269

  253

  242

  234

  248

  219

  B6315 Killingbeck Hospital

  201

  202

  198

  195

  177

  172

  164

  166

  173

  167

  168

  171

  B6321 Marguerite Hepton Hospital

  46

  47

  47

  47

  47

  36

  32

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  B6322 Gateforth Hospital

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  2,786

  2,760

  2,729

  2,795

  2,727

  2,682

  2,651

  2,612

  2,583

  2,530

  2,458

  2,326

  Please note that Chapel Allerton Hospital was in Leeds Eastern for 1979–81 and Leeds Western 1982–91.

  Source: DH Form SH3 and KHO3

  SM1 Fylde 4 March 1992.

  Leeds Acute In-Patient and Day Case Activity 1979 to 1990–91

  In-Patients

  Day Cases

  Total

  1979

  76,887

  14,213

  91,100

  1980

  81,476

  14,601

  96.077

  1981

  82,636

  14,934

  97,570

  1982

  82,492

  14,988

  97,480

  1983

  88,638

  16,872

  105,510

  1984

  90,705

  16,397

  107,102

  1985

  93,181

  17,075

  110,256

  1986

  94,670

  18,055

  112,725

  1987–88

  95,892

  0

  95,892

  1988–89

  104,925

  18,427

  123,352

  1989–90

  104,637

  23,733

  128,370

  1990–91

  1104,846

  227,024

  131,870

  1 Increase 28·7 per cent.

  2 Increase 90·1 per cent.

  Number of authorised pay beds in NHS hospital

  Regions

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Northern

  56

  56

  78

  103

  103

  105

  95

  101

  96

  99

  97

  97

  Yorkshire

  140

  140

  154

  182

  199

  199

  193

  193

  187

  192

  188

  188

  Trent

  130

  130

  150

  143

  143

  143

  138

  136

  128

  136

  136

  136

  East Anglian

  90

  90

  94

  106

  106

  108

  108

  108

  96

  108

  108

  108

  North West Thames

  339

  339

  352

  292

  292

  292

  287

  285

  271

  285

  283

  283

  North East Thames

  278

  278

  286

  398

  404

  410

  413

  411

  347

  393

  411

  411

  South East Thames

  263

  263

  302

  332

  337

  337

  339

  341

  322

  333

  333

  333

  South West Thames

  156

  156

  168

  180

  182

  194

  182

  180

  141

  180

  180

  180

  Wessex

  99

  99

  106

  117

  120

  120

  116

  116

  105

  115

  116

  116

  Oxford

  164

  164

  180

  180

  180

  180

  183

  193

  188

  193

  194

  194

  South Western

  78

  78

  82

  102

  104

  104

  104

  102

  96

  100

  100

  100

  West Midlands

  181

  181

  217

  258

  267

  276

  273

  270

  209

  281

  276

  276

  Mersey

  67

  67

  92

  112

  123

  123

  123

  129

  123

  129

  129

  129

  North Western

  170

  170

  214

  231

  244

  245

  243

  237

  207

  233

  233

  227

  858
  of long-stay beds by hospital is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. P. Smith, the chairman of leeds health authority, for detalls.

  Family Planning Clinics
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the figures from 1979 to 1992 inclusive for the number of family planning clinics in(a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Leeds, (e) Newcastle, (f) Southampton, (g) Bristol and (h) England and Wales.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Pay Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of pay beds in each district health authority in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available centrally is given in the tables.
  859

  Regions

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Special health authorities and boards of governors

  194

  194

  202

  183

  183

  183

  178

  178

  177

  160

  178

  178

  England

  2,405

  2,405

  2,677

  2,919

  2,987

  3,019

  2,975

  2,980

  2,693

  2,937

  2,962

  2,956

  Private Bed—Number of beds authorised in District under section 65 of the National Health Service Act19711

  District Health Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  A01 Hartlepool

  6

  6

  6

  6

  A02 North Tees

  7

  7

  7

  7

  A03 South Tees

  13

  15

  15

  15

  A04 East Cumbria

  10

  10

  10

  10

  A05 South Cumbria

  9

  9

  9

  9

  A06 West Cumbria

  4

  4

  4

  4

  A07 Darlington

  6

  5

  5

  5

  A08 Durham

  2

  2

  2

  2

  A09 North West Durham

  3

  5

  3

  3

  A10 South West Durham

  3

  3

  3

  3

  A11 Northumberland

  4

  4

  4

  4

  A12 Gateshead

  3

  3

  3

  3

  A13 Newcastle upon Tyne

  15

  15

  15

  15

  A14 North Tyneside

  2

  2

  2

  2

  A15 South Tyneside

  2

  2

  2

  2

  A16 Sunderland

  7

  7

  7

  7

  B12 Hull

  12

  12

  12

  12

  B13 East Yorkshire

  10

  10

  8

  8

  B14 Grimsby

  7

  7

  7

  7

  B15 Scunthorpe

  9

  7

  7

  7

  B22 Northallerton

  5

  7

  7

  7

  B23 York

  3

  5

  5

  5

  B24 Scarborough

  6

  6

  6

  6

  B25 Harrogate

  6

  6

  6

  6

  B32 Bradford

  34

  31

  31

  31

  B33 Airedale

  15

  12

  12

  12

  B42 Calderdale

  24

  24

  24

  24

  B52 Huddersfield

  0

  10

  10

  10

  B53 Dewsbury

  6

  6

  6

  6

  B62 Leeds Western

  31

  29

  29

  29

  B63 Leeds Eastern

  7

  6

  6

  6

  B72 Wakefield

  10

  10

  10

  10

  B73 Pontefract

  2

  4

  2

  2

  C01 North Derbyshire

  8

  6

  6

  6

  C02 Southern Derbyshire

  15

  15

  15

  15

  C03 Leicestershire

  23

  30

  30

  30

  C04 North Lincolnshire

  18

  18

  18

  18

  C05 South Lincolnshire

  10

  10

  10

  10

  C06 Bassetlaw

  6

  6

  6

  6

  C07 Central Nottinghamshire

  15

  15

  15

  15

  C08 Nottingham

  20

  20

  20

  20

  C09 Barnsley

  3

  5

  5

  5

  C10 Doncaster

  2

  3

  3

  3

  C11 Rotherham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  C12 Sheffield

  8

  8

  8

  8

  1 Source: DH form KH02

  Private beds Number of authorised in district under section 65 of NHS act 19771

  District health authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  D01 Cambridge

  11

  11

  11

  11

  D02 Peterborough

  6

  18

  18

  18

  D03 West Suffolk

  10

  10

  10

  10

  D04 East Suffolk

  24

  24

  24

  24

  D06 Norwich

  28

  28

  28

  28

  D07 Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  5

  5

  5

  5

  D08 West Norfolk and Wisbech

  8

  8

  8

  8

  D09 Huntingdon

  4

  4

  4

  4

  E01 North Bedfordshire

  10

  12

  12

  12

  E02 South Bedfordshire

  7

  9

  9

  9

  E03 North Hertfordshire

  10

  10

  8

  8

  E04 East Hertfordshire

  10

  10

  10

  10

  E05 North West Hertfordshire

  18

  13

  13

  13

  860 861

  District health authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  E06 South West Hertfordshire

  6

  6

  6

  6

  E07 Barnet

  12

  12

  12

  12

  E08 Harrow

  13

  13

  13

  13

  E09 Hillingdon

  30

  30

  30

  30

  E10 Hounslow and Spelthorne

  7

  7

  7

  7

  E11 Ealing

  0

  3

  3

  3

  E12 Brent2

  10

  E13 Paddington and North Kensington2

  53

  E14 Riverside

  85

  85

  85

  85

  E17 Parkside2

  75

  75

  75

  F01 Basildon and Thurrock

  9

  11

  11

  11

  F02 Mid Essex

  18

  18

  18

  18

  F03 North East Essex

  9

  9

  9

  9

  F04 West Essex

  18

  20

  21

  21

  F05 Southend

  17

  19

  19

  19

  F06 Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  10

  13

  13

  13

  F07 Hampstead

  27

  29

  29

  29

  F08 Bloomsbury

  132

  161

  178

  178

  F09 Islington

  31

  31

  31

  31

  F10 City and Hackney

  9

  15

  15

  15

  F11 Newham

  2

  2

  2

  2

  F12 Tower Hamlets

  34

  34

  34

  34

  F13 Enfield

  6

  6

  6

  6

  F14 Haringey

  10

  10

  10

  10

  F15 Redbridge

  8

  8

  8

  8

  F16 Waltham Forest

  7

  7

  7

  7

  1 Source: DH form KH02.

  2 E12and E1 combined to form E17 from 1988–89.

  Private Beds—Number of beds authorized in District under section 65 of National Health Service Act 19771

  District health authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  G01 Brighton

  24

  24

  24

  24

  G02 Eastbourne

  10

  10

  10

  10

  G03 Hastings

  6

  6

  6

  6

  G04 South East Kent

  10

  10

  10

  10

  G05 Canterbury and Thanet

  27

  29

  29

  29

  G06 Dartford and Gravesham

  6

  8

  8

  8

  G07 Maidstone

  5

  7

  7

  7

  G08 Medway

  6

  8

  8

  8

  G09 Tunbridge Wells

  37

  37

  37

  37

  G10 Bexley

  10

  10

  10

  10

  G11 Greenwich

  12

  14

  14

  14

  G12 Bromley

  22

  22

  22

  22

  G13 West Lambeth

  37

  38

  38

  38

  G14 Camberwell

  41

  41

  41

  41

  G15 Lewisham and North Southwark

  69

  69

  69

  69

  H01 North West Surrey

  15

  11

  11

  11

  H02 West Surrey/North East Hants

  12

  9

  9

  9

  H03 South West Surrey

  0

  15

  15

  15

  H04 Mid Surrey

  20

  20

  20

  20

  H05 East Surrey

  21

  23

  23

  23

  H06 Chichester

  0

  6

  6

  6

  H07 Mid Downs

  19

  21

  21

  21

  H08 Worthing

  5

  4

  4

  4

  H09 Croydon

  10

  12

  12

  12

  H10 Kingston and Esher

  8

  6

  6

  6

  H11 Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  12

  12

  12

  12

  H12 Wandsworth

  0

  20

  20

  20

  H13 Merton and Sutton

  19

  21

  21

  21

  J11 East Dorset

  14

  14

  14

  14

  J12 West Dorset

  11

  13

  13

  13

  J21 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  14

  14

  14

  14

  J22 Southampton and South West Hampshire

  16

  14

  14

  14

  J23 Winchester

  0

  11

  11

  11

  J24 Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  11

  11

  11

  11

  J31 Salisbury

  10

  10

  10

  10

  J32 Swindon

  12

  12

  12

  12

  J33 Bath

  11

  10

  11

  11

  J41 Isle of Wight

  6

  6

  6

  6

  K11 East Berkshire

  17

  17

  17

  17

  K12 West Berkshire

  36

  36

  36

  36

  K21 Aylesbury Vale

  29

  31

  32

  32

  K22 Wycombe

  24

  24

  24

  24

  862 863

  District health authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  K23 Milton Keynes

  5

  5

  5

  5

  K31 Kettering

  10

  10

  10

  10

  K32 Northampton

  10

  13

  13

  13

  K41 Oxfordshire

  57

  57

  57

  57

  1 Source: DH form KH02.

  Private beds—Number of beds authorised in district under section 65 of NHS Act 19771

  District health authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  L11 Bristol and Weston

  6

  6

  6

  6

  L12 Frenchay

  4

  4

  4

  4

  L13 Southmead

  2

  2

  2

  2

  L21 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  13

  13

  13

  13

  L31 Exeter

  10

  10

  10

  10

  L32 North Devon

  5

  5

  5

  5

  L33 Plymouth

  6

  6

  6

  6

  L34 Torbay

  9

  9

  9

  9

  L41 Cheltenham

  14

  14

  14

  14

  L42 Gloucester

  14

  18

  18

  18

  L51 Somerset

  13

  13

  13

  13

  M01 Bromsgrove and Redditch

  6

  6

  6

  6

  M02 Herefordshire

  2

  4

  4

  4

  M03 Kidderminster and District

  6

  6

  6

  6

  M04 Worcester and District

  8

  20

  20

  20

  M05 Shropshire

  14

  14

  14

  14

  M06 Mid Staffordshire

  8

  10

  8

  8

  M07 North Staffordshire

  16

  16

  16

  16

  M08 South East Staffordshire

  8

  8

  8

  8

  M09 Rugby

  5

  13

  13

  13

  M10 North Warwickshire

  3

  6

  3

  3

  M11 South Warwickshire

  0

  13

  13

  13

  M12 Central Birmingham

  30

  67

  67

  67

  M13 East Birmingham

  10

  10

  10

  10

  M14 North Birmingham

  9

  9

  9

  9

  M15 South Birmingham

  21

  21

  21

  21

  M16 West Birmingham

  10

  10

  10

  10

  M17 Coventry

  15

  10

  10

  10

  M18 Dudley

  10

  10

  10

  10

  M19 Sandwell

  6

  6

  6

  6

  M20 Solihull

  4

  4

  4

  4

  M21 Walsall

  11

  11

  11

  11

  M22 Wolverhampton

  7

  7

  7

  7

  N11 Chester

  6

  8

  8

  8

  N12 Crewe

  15

  16

  16

  16

  N13 Halton

  6

  6

  6

  6

  M14 Macclesfield

  15

  15

  15

  15

  N15 Warrington

  14

  15

  15

  15

  N21 Liverpool

  20

  20

  20

  20

  N31 St. Helens and Knowsley

  15

  15

  15

  15

  N41 Southport and Formby

  7

  7

  7

  7

  N42 South Sefton

  10

  10

  10

  10

  N51 Wirral

  15

  17

  17

  17

  1 Source: DHform KH02.

  Private beds—Number of beds authorised in district under section 65 of NHS Act 19771

  District Health Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  P01 Lancaster

  13

  13

  13

  13

  P02 Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  15

  15

  15

  15

  P03 Preston

  18

  12

  12

  12

  P04 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  7

  7

  7

  7

  P05 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  6

  8

  8

  2

  P06 West Lancashire

  9

  9

  9

  9

  P07 Chorley and South Ribble

  0

  4

  4

  4

  P08 Bolton

  6

  20

  20

  20

  P09 Bury

  13

  13

  13

  13

  P10 North Manchester

  7

  9

  9

  9

  P11 Central Manchester

  43

  43

  43

  43

  P12 South Manchester

  33

  33

  33

  33

  P13 Oldham

  5

  5

  5

  5

  P14 Rochdale

  2

  2

  2

  2

  P15 Salford

  9

  11

  11

  11

  P16 Stockport

  5

  6

  6

  6

  864 865

  District Health Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  P17 Tameside and Glossop

  0

  2

  2

  2

  P18 Trafford

  0

  5

  5

  5

  P19 Wigan

  16

  16

  16

  16

  T01 Hospital for Sick Children

  31

  31

  31

  31

  T02 National Hospital for Nervous Diseases

  17

  16

  16

  16

  T03 Moorfields Eye Hospital

  20

  22

  22

  22

  T04 Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals

  6

  6

  6

  6

  T05 National Heart and Chest Hospitals

  38

  38

  38

  38

  T06 The Royal Marsden Hospitals

  27

  27

  27

  27

  T07 Hammersmith and Queen Charlottes

  38

  20

  38

  38

  T09 Eastman Dental Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  England

  2,693

  2,937

  2,962

  2,956

  1 Source: DH form KHO2

  NHS Estate
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate for every district health authority and trust in England the amount required to bring the national health service estate to a condition B, exhibiting only minor deterioration.

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

  Hospital Services, London
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the report on hospital services in London.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In October 1991, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science appointed Sir Bernard Tomlinson, assisted by a small team of experts, to advise us on London's health services, and on medical education and research issues in the capital. This appointment is for about 12 months. During that time Sir Bernard will provide us with advice on the many aspects of his remit. We have not requested the production of a single report.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on recent changes in waiting lists and waiting times in Greenwich.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Provisional figures for January 1992 show that since last March, the number of patients waiting over two years in Greenwich health authority has fallen by 91 per cent. and the number over one year by 41 per cent. The authority—along with all other authorities—expects to have no patient waiting more than two years by 31 March.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the spending, in real terms, each year since 1974 on the family health services authority and on the hospital services in the Greenwich area.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested for the years since 1 April 1982, which is derived from annual accounts submitted to the Department, is shown in the table. This shows overall, real-terms increases, measured at 1991–92 prices, in revenue expenditure between 1982–83 and 1990–91 of 29·9 per cent. for family health services and 3·6 per cent. for hospital and community health services, Greenwich 1·2 per cent. and Bexley 7·7 per cent.

  Expenditure figures for individual health authorities are not readily available centrally for 1974–75. However, for Greenwich and Bexley taken together the relevant annual
  866
  accounts record total revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services—HCHS—and family health services—formerly family practitioner services—of £44·4 million cash in 1975–76, £62 million cash in 1978–79 and £181·3 million cash in 1990–91, the latest year available.

  The figures represent increased expenditure in 1990–91 in real terms of 12·5 per cent. on 1975–76 and 15·2 per cent. on 1978–79, measured at 1991–92 prices.

  Total revenue expenditure in Greenwich and Bexley

  Family Health Services (FHS)

  Greenwich and Bexley Family Health Services Authority

  £'000(Cash)

  £'000(At 1991–92 prices)

  1982–83

  21,748

  36,376

  1983–84

  23,098

  36,924

  1984–85

  25,439

  38,731

  1985–86

  26,365

  38,040

  1986–87

  29,330

  40,971

  1987–88

  32,681

  43,295

  1988–89

  36,993

  45,727

  1989–90

  39,507

  45,855

  1990–91

  44,158

  47,249

  Hospital and community health services (HCHS)

  Greenwich health authority

  Bexley health authority

  Total

  £000(cash)

  £000(at 1991–92 prices)

  £000(cash)

  £000(at 1991–92 prices)

  £000(cash)

  £000(at 1991–92 prices)

  1982–83

  54,159

  90,586

  30,536

  51,075

  84,695

  141,661

  1983–84

  55,996

  89,515

  32,164

  51,418

  88,160

  140,933

  1984–85

  57,825

  88,039

  34,447

  52,445

  92,272

  140,484

  1985–86

  61,135

  88,206

  35,608

  51,375

  96,743

  139,581

  1986–87

  61,441

  85,827

  38,012

  53,099

  99,453

  138,926

  1987–88

  64,894

  85,972

  41,924

  55,541

  106,818

  141,513

  1988–89

  73,312

  90,621

  46,685

  57,707

  119,997

  148,328

  1989–90

  79,534

  92,315

  48,473

  56,263

  128,007

  148,578

  1990–91

  85,685

  91,683

  51,431

  55,031

  137,116

  146,714

  Sources:

  Annual accounts of the Greenwich and Bexley Health Authorities and the Greenwich and Bexley Family Health Services Authority. (Predecessor Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority: Greenwich and Bexley Family Practitioner Committee).

  Notes:

  1. The figures have been expressed at 1991–92 prices by the use of Gross Domestic Product deflators.

  2. HCHS covers total expenditure managed or accounted for by the health authorities during the years concerned and includes hospital, community health and other services.

  3. All expenditure on family health services—FHS (formerly family practitioner services) is essentially regarded as current (ie revenue) expenditure. It is not strictly attributable to particular districts and is recorded in annual accounts after the deduction of charges to patients.
  867
  4. The FHS figures for the years since 1 April 1985 also include the administrative expenses of the Greenwich and Bexley Family Health Services Authority which are shown below. Prior to 1 April 1985 the Greenwich and Bexley Family Practitioner Committee was associated with the Bexley Health Authority/Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority and its administrative costs formed a comparatively small part of those health authorities' total expenditure and are not separately identifiable.

  £ 000 (cash)

  1985–86

  612

  1986–87

  643

  1987–88

  676

  1988–89

  765

  1989–90

  805

  1990–91

  1,290

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the work of the Royal Free trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We receive information on all the first wave NHS trusts and we are glad to say that the Royal Free is doing well. We are especially pleased to note that since becoming a trust the Royal Free has opened a new AIDS day care, out-patient, and counselling centre. It is also pleasing to note that the Royal Free has sucessfully devised and launched its own "Learning from Patients" initiative. This scheme sits particularly well with the spirit and aims of the patients charter.

  We are delighted to note the increase in admissions which the Royal Free has achieved since becoming a trust. This is illustrated by the fact that in the trust's first year ordinary admissions increased by 4·2 per cent. We are very pleased to note the trust's success in reducing its waiting lists. For example in June 1991 there were 560 people waiting over a year for general surgery, currently no one has to wait over a year, a reduction of 100 per cent. in seven months.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions prevent a hospital trust or other trust from seeking to leave the national health service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  By virtue of section 5(a) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is empowered to establish NHS trusts to assume responsibility for the ownership and management of hospitals or other establishments or facilities previously provided by health authorities. The order establishing the trust sets out its functions and it may only undertake to treat private patients and generate income to the extent that this does not interfere with the performance of its obligations under any NHS contract or the obligations imposed on the trust by its establishment order.

  Brook Hospital
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since July 1991 on the future of the Brook hospital from the Brook Hospital Defence Campaign.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have not received any representations from this organisation.

  St. Thomas's Hospital
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the timetable for St. Thomas's hospital to become an NHS trust.

  Mr. Dorrell
  St. Thomas's was established as a NHS trust on 1 November 1991 and will, subject to the recommendations to be made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the inquiry headed by Sir Bernard Tomlinson, become fully operational on 1 April 1993.

  Childhood Diseases
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on recent changes in the levels of child protection against avoidable illnesses or diseases.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimates for national childhood immunisation uptake are:

  Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio vaccines—93 per cent. at 18 months.

  Whooping cough—88 per cent. at 18 months.

  Measles, Mumps and Rubella—90 per cent. at 24 months.

  Notifications of these diseases are now running at exceptionally low levels, and provisional returns show that in 1991 no child died from acute measles or whooping cough. The introduction of measles, mumps and rubella immunisation in October 1988, the GP targets scheme in April 1990 and the accelerated infant schedule in May 1990, have all contributed to this success. We plan to add another vaccine, "Hib", to the programme from October 1992. This will protect young children against invasive haemophilus disease, a major cause of bacterial meningitis.

  Human Organs
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EC countries about establishing an EC directive banning the sale of human organs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. The sale of human organs for transplantation is prohibited in the United Kingdom by the Human Organ Transplant Act 1989.

  Nurses
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are currently employed by the national health service; how many there were five years previously; and how many in 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The whole-time equivalent number of nursing and midwifery staff, including agency staff, employed by the NHS in England was 402,100 at September 1990, 401,200 at September 1985 and 358,400 at September 1979. These figures are derived from the Department's annual census of non-medical manpower. They have not been adjusted for the reduction in nurses' working hours during 1980–81 from 40 to 37·5 hours per week.

  Adoption
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking in relation to children coming to this country from Romania for adoption.
  869
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I understand that the Romanian Adoption Committee is not at present authorising arrangements for overseas adoption pending agreement with foreign Governments on the arrangements to be made. A delegation of officials from the Department is at present in Romania and I hope that a voluntary working arrangement can shortly be agreed on behalf of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will establish a helpline for local authorities and prospective adopters seeking information on adoption from overseas.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made with setting up a helpline for inter-country adoption; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have now reached an agreement with the Bridge Child Care Consultancy who will host the project to start as soon as possible. The Bridge is a well-established registered charity with a reputation for work with children in substitute families and I am confident that they will provide an excellent base for this project. The objective of the project is to provide a service of sound information on intercountry adoptions arid for prospective adopters themselves. The project will not arrange adoptions for particular children.

  The grant of the order of £43,000 will be for six months in the first instance during which time requirements for the service will be assessed.

  The project will be steered by a board on to which I am inviting members from statutory and voluntary sector.

  GPs (Referrals)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of written referral requests by general practitioners to consultant ophthalmologist out-patient clinics for each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information available centrally is given in the table.

  Consultant Ophthalmology Out-patient clinics, NHS hospitals, England

  Year

  General practitioner written referral requests

  1987–88

  451,006

  1988–89

  467,371

  1989–90

  462,710

  1990–91

  478,141

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has been monitoring the costs charged by optometrists for a private eye test; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will conduct any further surveys into the numbers of people having their eyes tested.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department collects information on NHS sight tests only. Other sight tests are private transactions and, as such are inappropriate for Government information gathering. Surveys conducted by the optical profession indicate that the total number of sight tests has returned to 1987 levels, the last typical year before changes in the sight testing arrangements were announced.

  Hypertension and Diabetic Clinics
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives have been taken by the Government in developing specialist hypertension and diabetic clinics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Clinics are held by hospital consultants and by some general practioners for the treatment of diabetes. Some hospitals have specialist hypertension clinics and some GPs run clinics which include screening for hypertension.

  Kevin Rooney
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the case of Kevin Rooney.

  Mr. Dorrell
  An independent inquiry has been established by the North East Thames regional health authority. The chairman is Mr. Andrew Collins QC. The other members are Dr. Oscar Hill, consultant psychiatrist, St. Luke's Woodside hospital, and Mr. Michael Taylor, director of social services, London borough of Hillingdon. The committee will seek other professional advice as the need arises.

  The terms of reference are:
  "To inquire into the arrangements for the assessment, care, discharge and follow-up of Mr. Kevin Rooney by the mental health and related services in City and Hackney Health Authority and North East Thames Region;
  To consider the adequacy of these arrangements;
  To report their findings and to recommend any action which, in the light of these, might assist the assessment and care of mentally disordered patients and the protection of those patients and the public from the risk of harm."

  The committee has been asked to report by July 1992.

  Infant Deaths
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the numbers of infant deaths each year between 1974 and the most recent year for which figures are available(a) in numbers and (b) as a rate per thousand live births.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information for the period 1974–1990, is given in the table.

  Infant deaths, England and Wales 1974–1990: (a) Numbers; (b) rates (per 1,000 live births)

  Year

  Numbers

  Rates

  1974

  10,459

  16·3

  1975

  9,488

  15·7

  1976

  8,334

  14·3

  1977

  7,841

  13·8

  1978

  7,881

  13·2

  1979

  8,178

  12·8

  1980

  7,899

  12·0

  1981

  7,021

  11·1

  1982

  6,775

  10·8

  1983

  6,381

  10·1

  1984

  6,037

  9·5

  1985

  6,141

  9·4

  1986

  6,313

  9·6

  1987

  6,272

  9·2

  1988

  6,270

  9·0

  1989

  5,808

  8·4

  1990

  5,564

  7·9

  Source: Key population and vital statistics, Series VS.
  871
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the infant mortality rate in 1979 and the most recent year for which figures are available.

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

  Infant mortality rate (England and Wales)

  Year

  Rate per thousand live births

  1979

  12·8

  1990

  7·9

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in waiting lists in all specialties of health care in each of the last three years.

  Wailing lists: changes in the number of patients waiting over two years—March 1990-March 1991

  Regional health authority

  General surgery

  Urology

  Trauma and orthopaedics

  ENT

  Opthalmology

  Oral surgery

  Plastic surgery

  Obs and gyn (gynaecology)

  Other

  All specialties

  Northern

  -433

  -129

  -262

  -32

  -79

  -123

  -507

  -19

  -14

  -1,598

  Yorkshire

  223

  -257

  -123

  -18

  125

  -110

  -480

  -117

  60

  -697

  Trent

  -391

  -228

  -685

  -167

  -112

  -208

  -912

  -180

  -73

  -2,956

  East Anglia

  -2

  98

  -180

  -49

  7

  -206

  -455

  -222

  -62

  -1,071

  North West Thames

  -98

  159

  -8

  0

  57

  264

  -1,772

  6

  -24

  -1,416

  North East Thames

  -795

  -33

  -1,259

  -1,068

  -44

  -1,805

  -1,191

  -152

  -209

  -6,556

  South East Thames

  -1,184

  342

  -1,219

  -569

  -58

  -158

  -12

  -134

  -130

  -3,122

  South West Thames

  -718

  -218

  -811

  -436

  -485

  -132

  -266

  -364

  -47

  -3,477

  Wessex

  -344

  -136

  -454

  -10

  -1

  -120

  96

  181

  30

  -758

  Oxford

  -183

  -64

  -250

  -137

  9

  6

  -324

  -98

  1

  -1,040

  South Western

  -423

  44

  -304

  -106

  -11

  -200

  -62

  26

  -7

  -1,043

  West Midlands

  -679

  -420

  -109

  -594

  -113

  -286

  -327

  -212

  -226

  -2,966

  Mersey

  n/1

  n/1

  n/1

  n/1

  n/1

  n/1

  17

  n/1

  n/1

  -17

  North Western

  -657

  -278

  -325

  -504

  -285

  -249

  -627

  -83

  -214

  -3,222

  Notes:

  Based on KH07 returns at 31 March 1990 and 31 March 1991.

  Includes ordinary admissions and day case waiting lists.

  n/1 denotes no one waiting over two years at March 1990 and March 1991.

  Positive values indicate an increase from March 1990 to March 1991.

  Negative values indicate a decrease from March 1990 to March 1991.

  Drugs Abuse, Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives and programmes have been launched over the past five years to prevent drug abuse in Basildon.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Disabled Organisations, Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants and help has been made available to disabled organisations in Basildon in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Patient Statistics
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will give the number of in-patients, out-patients and day patients treated in the northern region in 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Lead
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to amend the law relating to lead levels in the light of recent research; and if he will make a statement.
  872
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, by specialty and by region, the decrease in the numbers of people waiting over two years during his recent initiative to reduce long waits.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 21 February 1992]: The latest information available centrally by region and specialty is given in the table. Provisional figures for January show that since last March the number of patients waiting over two years in all specialties has fallen by a further 30,730—60 per cent. in January alone, over-two-year waiters fell by 30 per cent.—the largest monthly fall ever.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department keeps under review the results of research into the effects of lead on health and advises as necessary those Departments that are responsible for legislation to control exposure to lead.

  I understand that there are no proposals currently to amend any regulations or guidelines relating to lead levels.

  Measures already taken have reduced lead exposure through petrol, water, air, food, industrial emissions, paint, cosmetics, ceramic glazes and toys, and monitoring programmes have shown a continuing fall in blood lead levels in children and adults.

  The Government's policy remains to contain and reduce exposure to lead wherever practicable.

  Community Pharmacists
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the factors taken into account in attributing the profit of £20·2 million under the community pharmacists balance sheet in its final year of operation 1988–89.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Pure profit was calculated at 1 per cent. of the total cost of labour, overheads, interest charges, ingredients and containers.

  Children
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to give assistance to the international initiative, Children Youth Families; what help he is giving to the Boys and Girls Welfare Society in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  During 1992–93, the Department will relocate to Leeds around 1,100 posts in the National Health Service Management Executive and the National Health Service Estates Agency. There are no plans at present to relocate further posts, to Leeds or elsewhere.

  Immunisation
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports of serious adverse reactions to immunisation there have been in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: The reports were as follows:

  Year

  Number of reports

  1982

  125

  1983

  104

  1984

  165

  1985

  160

  1986

  162

  1987

  121

  1988

  242

  1989

  272

  1990

  210

  1991

  159

  A report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily denote a causal association between the reaction, the outcome and the vaccine.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports of serious adverse reactions to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine there have been in each year since it has been widely used.

  Mrs. Viginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 2 March 1992:] Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was introduced in this country in October 1988. Reports of suspected serious adverse reactions since then have been as follows:
  874

  Number

  11988

  13

  1989

  110

  1990

  58

  1991

  37

  1Part.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the ratio of intensive care beds per 1,000 of the population or other convenient measures, in Coventry, the west midlands, and the United Kingdom; and what is the ratio of intensive care beds to the total number of national health service beds in Coventry, the west midlands and the United Kingdom at(a) the latest convenient date, (b) three years ago, (c) seven years ago and (d) 12 years ago.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 9 March 1992]: I will write to the hon. Member.

  Health Service, York
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered private hospital and nursing home beds there were in the York health authority area, and previously in York health district, in 1979 and each year since then.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 11 March 1992]: The information available centrally is given in the table. Information prior to 1985 is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the York health authority for details. Private hospitals, homes and clinics registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984, in York health authority area are as follows:

  Number of beds in private institutions

  Year

  Nursing Homes

  1Hospitals

  1985

  414

  24

  1986

  478

  24

  1987–88

  616

  24

  1988–89

  936

  34

  1989–90

  1,201

  34

  1990–91

  1,218

  34

  1 Private institutions with operating theatres.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many full-time equivalent hospital doctors worked in York health authority hospitals, and previously in York health district hospitals, in 1974 and each year since then;

  (2) how many national health service staff, expressed (a) in terms of a full-time equivalent and (b) in terms of total hours worked, were employed by York health authority, and previously in York health district, in 1974 and each year since then.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 11 March 1992]: The available data are shown in the following table:

  875

  NHS hospitals, York Health Authority

  Year

  Hospital doctors in York Health Authority—30 September each year analysis by WTE1

  Directly Employed Staff in post at 30 September each year — York DHA (WTE)2

  Total Number of

  In-patients

  Day Cases

  1979

  —

  —

  27,296

  4,444

  1980

  —

  —

  28,085

  4,658

  1981

  —

  —

  28,330

  4,548

  1982

  89·9

  4,340

  27,071

  3,796

  1983

  88·2

  4,290

  29,641

  4,444

  1984

  89·7

  4,590

  30,020

  4,469

  1985

  79·8

  4,420

  31,646

  4,801

  1986

  84·0

  4,370

  32,596

  5,686

  1987–88

  88·4

  4,310

  34,062

  4,549

  1988–89

  87·4

  4,230

  334,176

  5,523

  1988–89

  —

  —

  438,184

  5,523

  1989–90

  98·7

  3,970

  39,434

  5,626

  1990–;91

  79·6

  3,950

  39,530

  5,425

  Notes:

  1 Please note that the figures include permanent paid and honorary staff but exclude consultants and senior registrars whose contracts are held by the region. Details therefore refer to junior doctors, clerical assistants and hospital practitioners. Information prior to 1982 is not available.

  Mental health services transferred from Clifton Hospital, York to Harrogate, Northallerton and Scarborough in 1982. Doctors transferred with the service.

  2 (1) All figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalent.

  (2) Medical staff-figures include permanent paid and honorary staff but exclude consultants and senior registrars whose contracts are held by the region.

  (3) Figures include agency nursing and midwifery staff.

  Information prior to 1982 is not available. Information in terms of total hours worked is not collected centrally.

  3 discharges and deaths

  4 finished consultant episodes

  in-patients 1979—1988–89 discharges and deaths

  in-patients 1988–89—1990–91 finished consultant episodes 1990–91 figures provisional

  Between 1979 and 1990–91 in York health authority the numbers of in-patient cases treated in the acute sector increased from 19,460 hospital discharges to 26, 726 finished consultant episodes, an increase of 31 per cent. On a comparable basis, and for all sectors increased by 30 per cent. from 27,296 hospital discharges to 39,530 finished consultant episodes.

  Breakdown of income from charges which supports the data shown in table 4 of Cm. 1913

  Breakdown of income from charges

  Year

  Total income from charges £ million

  Hospitals2£ million

  Pharmaceutical £ million

  General dental £ million

  General ophthalmic £ million

  Welfare foods £ million

  1978–79

  141·0

  35·0

  24·0

  55·3

  26·5

  0·2

  1979–80

  171·0

  38·2

  39·1

  66·3

  27·2

  0·2

  1980–81

  245·0

  52·5

  71·2

  92·0

  29·0

  0·3

  1981–82

  298·0

  64·3

  86·2

  115·1

  32·1

  0·3

  1982–83

  348·0

  66·7

  102·1

  141·1

  37·8

  0·3

  1983–84

  383·2

  74·2

  110·0

  155·3

  43·4

  0·3

  1984–85

  414·8

  78·0

  122·1

  170·7

  43·8

  0·2

  1985–86

  422·6

  85·7

  129·2

  195·9

  11·5

  0·3

  1986–87

  465·5

  91·1

  150·1

  223·5

  0·5

  0·3

  1987–88

  493·5

  95·6

  157·5

  240·1

  —

  0·3

  1988–89

  601·3

  106·8

  203·6

  290·6

  —

  0·3

  1989–90

  956·7

  398·7

  191·3

  366·2

  —

  0·5

  1990–911

  1,014·8

  404·8

  220·6

  389·2

  —

  0·2

  1991–921

  1,059·2

  395·1

  237·6

  426·0

  —

  0·5

  1 Estimated.

  2 Mainly income from pay and amenity beds.

  3 Figures for 1978–90 are from the appropriation accounts and for 1990–991–rom the Vote Estimates.

  Health Service Finance
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide detailed information on the amount and origins of the income from charges column of table 4 Cm. 1913.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 3 March 1992]: The information requested is as follows:

TRANSPORT

  Marine Accidents (Reports)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the marine accidents investigation branch report into the Wilhemina J and the Zulficar.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents expects to submit his report to the Secretary of State around mid April; following which it will be published.

  Quality Assurance
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will restrict the awarding of his Department's contracts to companies with accredited quality assurance;

  (2) if he will make a further statement on his policy regarding quality assurance and companies tendering for his Department's contracts;

  (3) what favourable consideration he gives when awarding his Department's contracts to companies which have accredited quality assurance.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Seafreight Freeway
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North with a copy of all reports relating to the Seafreight Freeway incident of 1988.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The investigation into the engine room fire on board the Seafreight Freeway on 23 May 1988 was carried out by the Department on behalf of Bermuda, the flag state. A report was produced for the Bermudian authorities, but was not generally released.

  Road Improvement Schemes
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the value of road improvement schemes for Yorkshire/Humberside between(a) 1979 and 1987 and (b) 1987 and 1991; and how much is due to be spent over the next five years.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Red Routes (London)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the consultation period on the red route proposals for London.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Taxis
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to make any adjustments to the existing policy of supply of taxi services to registered disabled persons by licensed taxi cab operators in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. This is a matter for the London boroughs, which operate the London taxicard scheme.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government policy on subsidies for the transport by taxis and similar vehicles of registered disabled persons making essential journeys.
  878
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Throughout the country the provision and funding of concessionary fares schemes for elderly and disabled people and special service transport —for example, dial-a-ride services—are responsibilities of local authorities. Some special services in London are also provided by London Transport.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the working papers produced by his Department and British Rail for the high-level forum on the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Rifkind
  No papers were produced for the inaugural meeting of the high-level consultative forum on the rail link held on 17 February. Some of the material for subsequent meetings will need to be confidential to forum members so as to avoid generating unnecessary blight.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  One formal relocation review—of part of the Department's highways, safety and traffic command—is currently in progress.

  The review has only recently begun and a short list of locations has yet to be drawn up.

  M3
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was his original estimate of the cost of the M3 extension from Bar End to Compton; what is his current estimate; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to place "Welcome to Basildon" signs on trunk roads and motorways in the Basildon area.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the impact of the citizens charter on the standards of rail services delivered to Pitsea, Basildon and Laindon stations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The objective of BR's passengers charter is to raise standards on all lines, including the London, Tilbury and Southend line. To this end it outlines a range of measures to encourage efficient management and to make BR more responsive to customers' needs. On the London, Tilbury and Southend line a further key factor in achieving a significant improvement in quality of service will be the £50 million resignalling programme for which BR intends to let a contract shortly.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Village Halls
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to date of zero-rating the construction of new village halls and those buildings which are similarly treated for VAT purposes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that this information is not available because builders do not have to identify the value of this work separately in their VAT returns.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many refunds of VAT under section 20 of the Value Added Tax Act 1983 have been made to parish councils in connection with building work for voluntary village halls, carried out as part of the council's non-business activity; and what is the value of these refunds.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  This information is not available. Local authorities are not required to distinguish, in their VAT returns, the tax refunded under section 20 from the tax deducted on their business inputs; nor are they required to itemise the section 20 tax to reveal the sort of information requested by my hon. Friend.

  VAT
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations have so far been recognised by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise as falling within schedule 3 S.I. note 4(1) Finance Act 1989 relating to charging of VAT at zero rate on the construction of a new building for a charity use.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs and Excise do not have any formal system of "recognition". Any charity constructing a new building for the use specified in note (4) to group 8 of schedule 5 to the VAT Act 1983, as amended by the Finance Act 1989, is eligible to claim zero-rating by giving a certificate to the building contractor or developer.

  Civil Servants (Travel Expenses)
  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each Government Department, including executive agencies, their estimated expenditure on travel and associated expenses incurred by civil servants in the current year.

  Mr. Maples
  This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of civil servants in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maples
  This information can be found in the publication "Civil Service Statistics" 1991 edition, which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those parts of his Department including the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise,880
  which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation; to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Among the Chancellor's departments, a relocation review is currently in progress in the Registry of Friendly Societies, though none of the posts are expected to go to the east midlands. Under the current policy, departments review the location of their work regularly and systematically with a view to making best use of resources. As a result, the Chancellor's departments have announced relocation decisions involving more than 9,300 posts, of which more than 2,300 Inland Revenue posts are relocating to the east midlands, including 2,100 to Nottingham and 160 to Leicester.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, columns 163–64, if he will list by Department the distribution of the 24,000 Government Department posts still under review for relocation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The departmental distribution of the 24,000 posts which were in the relocation review process in June 1991 is as follows:

  Department

  Review started

  Review planned

  Trade and Industry

  3,110

  —

  Property Holdings

  —

  1,640

  Defence

  2,280

  12,000

  Paymaster General's Office

  850

  —

  MAFF

  700

  —

  Home Office

  370

  —

  Office of Fair Trading

  —

  320

  Treasury

  250

  —

  Transport

  180

  240

  Registry of Friendly Societies

  130

  —

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  110

  630

  Land Registry

  100

  —

  Energy

  90

  800

  Crown Prosecution Service

  70

  —

  Environment

  30

  50

  Education and Science

  30

  20

  8,300

  15,700

  National Income
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures for per capita national income for the 20 most prosperous countries.

  Mr. Maples
  Following are the latest OECD estimates of gross domestic product per capita in 1991, using purchasing power parities for the 20 most prosperous OECD countries.

  GDP per capita, 1991. Converted at purchasing power parities, United Kingdom = 100

  GDP per capita

  United States

  137

  Switzerland

  134

  Luxembourg

  127

  Canada

  121

  Germany

  121

  881

  GDP per capita

  Japan

  119

  France

  114

  Denmark

  111

  Austria

  110

  Belgium

  108

  Norway

  107

  Sweden

  107

  Italy

  104

  Netherlands

  104

  Iceland

  103

  Australia

  101

  Finland

  101

  United Kingdom

  100

  New Zealand

  85

  Spain

  78

  Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators, February 1992.

  Low Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what definition of low incomes he used to determine that 4 million people on low incomes will pay income tax at only the 20p rate; and how many of those 4 million people will lose benefit as a result of the new 20 per cent. lower tax rate.

  Mr. Maude
  The new 20 per cent. tax rate applies to the first £2,000 of taxable income in 1992–93. Nearly 4 million taxpayers will pay tax only at this new rate as their taxable income is £2,000 or less.

  Of these, about half a million will be entitled to a smaller amount of income-related benefit as a result of the introduction of the lower rate band, when their benefit is next assessed.

  TESSA
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 November 1991,Official Report, column 588, if, in his regular review of the tax-exempt special savings account scheme, he will consider what measures may need to be taken to attract new money to the scheme rather than funds switched from other savings products.

  Mr. Maude
  The objective of TESSA was to encourage the culture of thrift and, by giving tax relief only to accounts held for five years, to make savings less liquid. The proportion of new savings attracted into the scheme is likely to increase. The TESSA rules are designed to be as simple as possible and I have no current plans to change them.

  Budget
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from pensioners in Basildon about the Budget.

  Mr. Maples
  A large number of Budget representations have been received from pensioners, but we cannot separately calculate the number from Basildon except at excessive cost.

  Pensions
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are(a) under state retirement age
  882
  and (b) over state retirement age, and receiving (i) an occupational pension and (ii) a personal pension, giving in each case the number who are (1) non-taxpayers, (2) basic rate taxpayers and (3) higher rate taxpayers in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 13 March 1992]: Available estimates for 1992–93 for taxpayers with occupational pensions are as follows. I regret that information on personal pension recipients is not available.

  Thousands

  Lower rate taxpayers

  Basic rate taxpayers

  Higher rate taxpayers

  Aged under 65

  220

  700

  50

  Aged 65 and over

  570

  990

  70

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Research Funding
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria he uses in determining whether or not research applications for his Department's funding are near market.

  Mr. Leigh
  The DTI does not normally support near-market R and D under its innovation programmes. Research and development work is prima facie near-market if its primary objective is the development of a specific product or process for commercial sale or use. Typically, near-market R and D will display low technological risks, and the returns from the project will mostly accrue to the firm itself, with externalities or wider benefits being relatively minor. Such risks as there are will largely be commercial. Commercial risks are generally inappropriate for Government to underpin.

  However, exceptions may be made where, for instance, enterprises may lack some of the necessary information to enable them to make a sensible judgment on their competitive position or on the way the market will develop, for example in the case of small firms, or where commercial outcomes may be significantly affected by future United Kingdom, foreign or international legislation. Moreover, Government support may be considered if a project exhibits a significant degree of both technical risk and wider benefits, or if it exhibits one of these characteristics to a very marked degree, or for other policy reasons such as the promotion of international collaboration or the facilitation of exports. The case for support would be strengthened if other forms of market failure were shown to exist. The project would also need to satisfy established criteria such as additionality, viability, degree of innovation and value for money.

  China
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the export from the United Kingdom of surveillance equipment and instruments of torture to the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The export of a range of equipment that may be used for surveillance is controlled by the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1991. As to "instruments of torture" I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 23 January,Official Report, columns 293–94.

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The locations of some 300 posts in the Radiocommunications Agency and 120 in parts of the Insolvency Service are currently under review. None of these is planned for relocation to the east midlands.

  Scottish Bankruptcy System
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the cost to date of the evaluation process of the Scottish bankruptcy system initiated in March 1990; and whether the inquiry has considered(a) the provision of insolvency advice to the public by means of helplines or otherwise and (b) procedures in (i) other European countries, (ii) the United States of America and (iii) Canada.

  Mr. Redwood
  No specific figures are available for the cost of the evaluation process. The details of the review are confidential, but all points raised by those who submitted comments have been taken into consideration.

  Newspaper Recycling
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to offer financial support for investment in newspaper recycling at Aylesford, Kent.

  Mr. Lilley
  Having consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, I decided to consider an application from the Swedish paper-making company, SCA, for a grant under the assistance to exceptional projects facility. I took that decision primarily because of the significant environmental benefits which the proposed new mill, at Aylesford in Kent, would provide.

  After thorough appraisal, we propose to offer a £20 million grant to the company to encourage it to invest £260 million in a newspaper recycling plant at Aylesford. Our proposal will require the approval of the House and the agreement of the European Commission which has been told about the project.

  This investment will quadruple the amount of newsprint currently produced at Aylesford from 100 per cent. recycled fibre. The plant will consume 430,000 tonnes of waste paper a year, much of it from household waste paper. This will make a vital contribution to the achievement of the Government's recycling targets.

  The Aylesford project would be the first to produce this volume of newsprint from 100 per cent. recycled waste and it will have the immediate environmental benefit of reducing the need for landfill.

  Section 8(8) of the Industrial Development Act 1982, requires that the assistance proposed be authorised by a resolution of this House. The resolution will offer an opportunity to give more details about the project and to debate its merits.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Local Offices
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many offices providing public access for the purpose of claiming benefit, including unemployment benefit, were in operation on 1 April 1979, and at the latest available date, in Great Britain.

  Mr. Jack
  The payment of social security benefits, excluding unemployment benefit, is the responsibility of the Department of Social Security. We are unable to supply precise figures for social security offices for 1979, as records are not readily available, but it is estimated that there were about 800 offices open to the public at that time. These included both national insurance offices and area offices which dealt solely with supplementary benefit.

  At 30 September 1991, the latest available date for which figures are held, there were 694 offices providing public access. This reduction was in part due to the creation of integrated local offices, combining some former national insurance offices and area offices. Overall there has been an increase in the accessibility to the service available including the provision of improved telecommunications, better publications and services such as Freeline.

  I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that precise figures for 1979 are not held centrally, but there were about 1,000 unemployment benefit offices open to the public at that time. At 31 January 1992, the latest date for which figures are held, there were 1,028 such offices.

  Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if will update the figures provided for the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Dixon) on 7 February 1985,Official Report, columns 685–86, on the level of state old age pensions as a percentage of current gross average earnings.

  Mr. Jack
  There are no meaningful, updated comparable statistics available on average earnings in the member states of the European Community, and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 14 January at column 552.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answers to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) of 27 March 1990,Official Report, column 161–62, using the 1989 family expenditure survey on pensioner incomes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested for 1989 is not yet available. In 1988, 16 per cent. of pensioner units received all their income from state benefits compared with 23 per cent. in 1979. The original tables have been updated(a) to include details of the information held using the 1988 family expenditure survey and (b) with medians rather than means used to calculate the average incomes in each quintile and decile. The updated tables are as follows:

  Table 1: Real percentage changes in pensioners' net income by quintile.

  Quintile

  Lowest

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Highest

  All

  1979–80

  4

  2

  2

  2

  0

  2

  1980–81

  5

  6

  6

  4

  3

  5

  1981–82

  3

  3

  2

  1

  -3

  -1

  885

  Quintile

  Lowest

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Highest

  All

  1982–83

  5

  6

  7

  9

  12

  11

  1983–84

  2

  1

  -2

  -2

  -1

  -1

  1984–85

  -1

  0

  1

  0

  4

  2

  1985–86

  2

  2

  3

  6

  8

  5

  1986–87

  -2

  1

  2

  4

  4

  7

  1987–88

  -3

  0

  1

  3

  6

  2

  Overall

  14

  24

  24

  30

  37

  34

  Table 2: Cash changes in real equivalised income at each decile group of pensioner tax units. Change since previous year in £ per week in 1988 prices. Median values used for deciles, means for total values.

  1979 to 1980

  1980 to 1981

  1981 to 1982

  1982 to 1983

  1983 to 1984

  1984 to 1985

  Lowest Q1

  1·10

  4·10

  -0·40

  4·40

  0·90

  -0·60

  Q2

  0·50

  4·80

  0·90

  4·50

  1·10

  -1·10

  Q3

  1·00

  5·30

  1·00

  5·10

  1·50

  -1·10

  Q4

  0·80

  5·00

  1·70

  5·80

  0·80

  -0·50

  Q5

  0·90

  4·90

  2·00

  6·30

  0·40

  0·60

  Q6

  0·90

  5·00

  2·20

  6·80

  0·50

  -0·20

  Q7

  0·80

  5·30

  1·80

  7·80

  0·70

  -0·40

  Q8

  -1·00

  7·30

  0·80

  10·80

  -1·00

  2·50

  Q9

  -0·90

  10·20

  -3·00

  16·10

  -4·50

  7·00

  Q10

  12·00

  4·40

  -10·40

  29·60

  -3·60

  11·90

  Total

  1·40

  6·60

  -1·40

  11·60

  0·10

  0·30

  Change since 1979

  1·40

  8·00

  6·60

  18·20

  18·30

  18·60

  1985 to 1986

  1986 to 1987

  1987 to 1988

  Lowest Q1

  1·90

  -1·90

  -0·50

  Q2

  2·20

  0·00

  -1·50

  Q3

  2·50

  0·60

  -1·60

  Q4

  3·40

  0·80

  -1·00

  Q5

  2·80

  2·10

  -1·00

  Q6

  3-40

  3·10

  -0·30

  Q7

  3·70

  4·70

  1·40

  Q8

  6·50

  4·70

  5·70

  Q9

  7·00

  6·10

  13·00

  Q10

  15·30

  22·90

  20·10

  Total

  6·40

  6·80

  1·40

  Change since 1979

  25·00

  31·80

  33·10

  Table 2: Percentage changes in real equivalised income of each decile group of pensioner tax units. Percentage change since previous year. Median values used for deciles, means for total values.

  1979 to 1980

  1980 to 1981

  1981 to 1982

  1982 to 1983

  1983 to 1984

  1984 to 1985

  Lowest Q1

  2

  6

  -1

  6

  1

  -1

  Q2

  1

  7

  1

  6

  1

  -1

  Q3

  1

  7

  1

  6

  2

  -1

  Q4

  1

  6

  2

  6

  1

  -1

  Q5

  1

  6

  2

  7

  0

  1

  Q6

  1

  5

  2

  7

  0

  0

  Q7

  1

  5

  2

  7

  1

  -1

  Q8

  -1

  6

  1

  9

  -1

  2

  Q9

  -1

  7

  -2

  11

  -3

  4

  Q10

  6

  2

  -5

  14

  -2

  5

  Total

  1

  6

  -1

  10

  0

  0

  Change since 1979

  1

  7

  6

  17

  117

  17

  886

  1985 to 1986

  1986 to 1987

  1987 to 1988

  Lowest Q1

  3

  -3

  -1

  Q2

  3

  0

  -2

  Q3

  3

  1

  -2

  Q4

  4

  1

  -1

  Q5

  3

  2

  -1

  Q6

  3

  3

  0

  Q7

  3

  4

  1

  Q8

  5

  3

  4

  Q9

  4

  4

  7

  Q10

  6

  9

  7

  Total

  5

  5

  1

  Change since 1979

  23

  30

  31

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many additional pensioners will be brought into means testing by becoming eligible for income support as a result of the proposed addition to the income support pensioner premium.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is estimated that up to half a million pensioners on low incomes will become newly entitled to claim income-related benefits from October. Around three quarters of these will qualify for income support, and the remainder for housing benefit and or community charge benefit.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the real-terms increase in benefit expenditure on the elderly is attributable to the commencement and growth of spending on additional pensions with contributory benefit between 1978–79 and the latest available date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Benefit expenditure on the elderly rose by 32·6 per cent, in real terms between 1978–79 and 1991–92. Additional pensions account for4·4 percent, real terms growth between those years, and all other benefits account for 28·2 per cent, real terms growth.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) of 3 July 1990,Official Report, columns 513–16 concerning the income of retired households, using the 1989 family expenditure survey.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Sir I. Gilmour) of 2 December 1991,Official Report, column 51, on pensioner incomes, using the information in the 1989 family expenditure survey.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion and number of pensioners will benefit from the addition to the income support pensioner premium.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is estimated that some 5 million people aged over 60 will stand to gain from the increases announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the
  887
  Exchequer on 10 March. About half these will gain from income support and about half from housing benefit and community charge benefit. Nearly half of all those over pension age will be entitled to extra benefit as a result of the increase.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) of 18 October 1991,Official Report, columns 273–74, regarding pensioners' living standards, to take account of the 1989 family expenditure survey results.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Income and Benefits Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give, for each uprating date since November 1979,(a) the cash level, (b) the percentage

  Table 1

  Unemployment benefit

  Uprating date

  Single

  Couple

  Percentage increase in RPI since previous uprating date

  Percentage increase in adult male gross full-time earnings since previous uprating date

  Percentage increase in adult male net full-time earnings since previous uprating date

  Rate (£)

  Percentage increase on previous rate

  Rate (£)

  Percentage increase on previous rate

  Single

  Couple

  November 1979

  18·50

  —

  29·95

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  November 1980

  20·65

  11·6

  33·40

  11·5

  15·3

  18·4

  16·9

  17·0

  November 1981

  22·50

  9·0

  36·40

  9·0

  12·0

  10·7

  8·1

  7·8

  November 1982

  25·00

  11·1

  40·45

  11·1

  6·3

  7·4

  6·3

  6·7

  November 1983

  27·05

  8·2

  43·75

  8·2

  4·8

  7·3

  7·5

  7·2

  November 1984

  28·45

  5·2

  46·00

  5·1

  4·9

  8·7

  9·0

  9·0

  November 1985

  30·45

  7·0

  49·25

  7·1

  5·5

  6·5

  6·8

  6·9

  July 1986

  30·80

  1·1

  49·80

  1·1

  1·7

  5·7

  7·0

  6·1

  April 1987

  31·45

  2·1

  50·85

  2·1

  4·4

  6·2

  8·4

  7·6

  April 1988

  32·75

  4·1

  52·95

  4·1

  3·9

  9·7

  12·1

  11·2

  April 1989

  34·70

  6·0

  56·10

  5·9

  8·0

  9·6

  9·4

  9·3

  April 1990

  37·35

  7·6

  60·40

  7·7

  9·4

  9·7

  11·2

  11·2

  April 1991

  41·40

  10·8

  66·95

  10·8

  6·4

  7·9

  8·1

  7·8

  Table 2: Sickness Benefit

  Single

  Couple

  Uprating date

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate Per cent.

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate Per cent.

  November 1979

  16·50

  —

  29·95

  —

  November 1980

  20·65

  11·6

  33·40

  11·5

  November 1981

  22·50

  9·0

  36·40

  9·0

  November 1982

  25·00

  11·1

  40·45

  11·1

  November 1983

  25·95

  3·8

  41·95

  3·7

  November 1984

  27·25

  5·0

  44·05

  5·0

  November 1985

  29·15

  7·0

  47·15

  7·0

  July 1986

  29·45

  1·0

  47·65

  1·1

  April 1987

  30·05

  2·0

  48·65

  2·1

  April 1988

  31·30

  4·2

  50·70

  4·2

  April 1989

  33·20

  6·1

  53·75

  6·0

  April 1990

  35·70

  7·5

  57·80

  7·5

  April 1991

  39·60

  10·9

  64·10

  10·9

  888
  increase on the previous year, (c) the percentage increase in the retail prices index since the previous year, (d) the percentage increase in adult male gross average full-time earnings since the previous year, (e) the percentage increase in adult male average full-time earnings net of national insurance and income tax since the previous year, for (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) sickness benefit, (iii) statutory sick pay since its introduction, (iv) child benefit, (v) retirement pension, (vi) invalidity benefit, (vii) one-parent benefit and (viii) maternity benefit at the single and couple rate, where appropriate.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is in the tables. As the information requested in(c), (d) and (e) is identical for all the benefits-with the exception of statutory sick pay, which was uprated on a different month from the other benefits mentioned here from 1983 until 1987. This is given once in table 1.
  889

  Table 3

  Statutory sick pay

  Uprating date (April)

  Rate (£)

  Percentage increase on previous rate

  Percentage increase in RPI since previous uprating date

  Percentage increase in adult male gross full-time earnings since previous uprating date

  Percentage increase in adult male net full-time earnings since previous uprating date

  Standard

  Middle

  Lower

  Standard

  Middle

  Lower

  Single

  Couple

  1983

  40·25

  33·75

  27·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  42·25

  35·45

  28·55

  5·0

  5·0

  5·0

  5·2

  8·6

  8·8

  9·2

  1985

  44·35

  37·20

  30·00

  5·0

  4·9

  5·1

  6·9

  7·6

  7·9

  7·9

  1986

  46·75

  39·20

  31·60

  5·4

  5·4

  5·3

  3·0

  7·8

  8·9

  8·5

  1987

  47·20

  —

  32·85

  1·0

  —

  4·0

  4·2

  8·0

  10·0

  9·4

  1988

  49·20

  —

  34·25

  4·2

  —

  4·3

  3·9

  9·7

  12·1

  11·7

  1989

  52·10

  36·25

  5·9

  —

  5·8

  8·0

  9·6

  9·4

  9·3

  1990

  52·50

  —

  39·25

  0·8

  —

  8·3

  9·4

  9·7

  11·2

  11·2

  1991

  52·50

  —

  43·50

  0·0

  —

  10·8

  6·4

  7·9

  8·1

  7·8

  Table 4: Child Benefit (Standard Rate for first or eldest child)

  Uprating Date

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate

  April 1979

  4·00

  33·3

  November 1980

  4·75

  18·8

  November 1981

  5·25

  10·5

  November 1982

  5·85

  11·4

  November 1983

  6·50

  11·1

  November 1984

  6·85

  5·4

  November 1985

  7·00

  2·2

  July 1986

  7·10

  1·4

  April 1987

  7·25

  2·1

  April 1988

  7·25

  0·0

  April 1989

  7·25

  0·0

  April 1990

  7·25

  0·0

  April 1991

  8·25

  13·8

  October 1991

  9·25

  12·1

  Table 5: Retirement Pension

  Uprating Date

  Single

  Couple

  Rate

  Percentage Increase on Previous Rate

  Rate

  Percentage Increase on Previous Rate

  November 1979

  Under 80

  £23·30

  —

  £37·30

  —

  Over 80

  £23·55

  —

  £37·80

  —

  Novemerber 1980

  Under 80

  £27·15

  16·5

  £43·45

  16·5

  Over 80

  £27·40

  16·3

  £43·95

  16·3

  November 1981

  Under 80

  £29·60

  9·0

  £47·35

  9·0

  Over 80

  £29·85

  8·9

  £47·85

  8·9

  November 1982

  Table 6: Invalidity Benefit

  Single

  Couple

  Uprating date

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate Per cent.

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate Per cent.

  November 1979

  23·30

  —

  37·30

  —

  November 1980

  26·00

  11·6

  41·60

  11·5

  November 1981

  28·35

  9·0

  45·35

  9·0

  November 1982

  31·45

  10·9

  50·30

  10·9

  November 1983

  32·60

  3·7

  52·15

  3·7

  November 1984

  34·25

  5·1

  54·80

  5·1

  November 1985

  38·30

  11·8

  61·30

  11·9

  July 1986

  38·70

  1·0

  61·95

  1·1

  April 1987

  39·50

  2·1

  63·25

  2·1

  April 1988

  41·15

  4·2

  65·90

  4·2

  April 1989

  43·60

  6·0

  69·80

  5·9

  April 1990

  46·90

  7·6

  75·10

  7·6

  April 1991

  52·00

  10·9

  83·25

  10·9

  890

  Uprating Date

  Single

  Couple

  Rate

  Percentage Increase on Previous Rate

  Rate

  Percentage Increase on Previous Rate

  Under 80

  £32·85

  11·0

  £52·55

  11·0

  Over 80

  £33·10

  10·9

  £53·05

  10·9

  November 1983

  Under 80

  £34·05

  3·7

  £54·50

  3·7

  Over 80

  £34·30

  3·6

  £55·00

  3·7

  November 1984

  Under 80

  £35·80

  5·1

  £57·30

  5·1

  Over 80

  £36·05

  5·1

  £57·80

  5·1

  November 1985

  Under 80

  £38·30

  7·0

  £61·30

  7·0

  Over 80

  £38·55

  6·9

  £61·80

  6·9

  July 1986

  Under 80

  £38·70

  1·0

  £61·95

  1·1

  Over 80

  £38·95

  1·0

  £62·45

  1·1

  April 1987

  Under 80

  £39·50

  2·1

  £63·25

  2·1

  Over 80

  £39·75

  2·1

  £63·75

  2·1

  April 1988

  Under 80

  £41·15

  4·2

  £65·90

  4·2

  Over 80

  £41·40

  4·2

  £66·40

  4·2

  April 1989

  Under 80

  £43·60

  6·0

  £69·80

  5·9

  Over 80

  £43·85

  5·9

  £70·30

  5·9

  April 1990

  Under 80

  £46·90

  7·6

  £75·10

  7·6

  Over 80

  £47·15

  7·5

  £75·60

  7·5

  April 1991

  Under 80

  £52·00

  10·9

  £83·25

  10·9

  Over 80

  £52·25

  10·8

  £83·75

  10·8

  891

  Table 7: One Parent Benefit

  Uprating date

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate

  November 1979

  2·50

  —

  November 1980

  3·00

  20·0

  November 1981

  3·30

  10·0

  November 1982

  3·65

  10·6

  November 1983

  4·05

  11·0

  November 1984

  4·25

  4·9

  Table 8: maternity benefit

  Single

  Couple

  Uprating date

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate Per cent.

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate Per cent.

  November 1979

  18·50

  —

  29·95

  —

  November 1980

  20·65

  11·6

  33·40

  11·5

  November 1981

  22·50

  9·0

  36·40

  9·0

  November 1982

  25·00

  11·1

  40·45

  1l·1

  November 1983

  25·95

  3·8

  41·95

  3·7

  November 1984

  27·25

  5·0

  44·05

  5·0

  November 1985

  29·15

  7·0

  47·15

  7·0

  July 1986

  29·45

  1·0

  47·65

  1·1

  April 1987

  30·05

  2·0

  48·65

  2·1

  April 1988

  31·30

  4·2

  50·70

  4·2

  April 1989

  33·20

  6·1

  53·75

  6·0

  April 1990

  35·70

  7·5

  57·80

  7·5

  April 1991

  40·60

  13·7

  65·10

  12·6

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, column 510, on the number of households claiming a social security benefit, if he will indicate in what form information is available.

  Mr. Jack
  Broad estimates of households' receipt of benefits including retirement pension could be made from the family expenditure survey, subject to some difficulties such as underreporting of certain benefits. These estimates could be obtained for the sequence of years 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 only at disproportionate cost. For the other years, data are not readily available in the form requested and would involve significantly more work, again at disproportionate cost.

  Reliable information on households' receipt of benefits excluding retirement pension is not available for any year because survey data do not distinguish accurately between receipt of supplementary benefit/income support by pensioners and contributory retirement pensions.

  Income Support
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support who are entitled to a disability premium are aged(a) 18 to 19, (b) 20, (c) 21, (d) 22, (e) 23 and (f) 24 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of recipients (thousands)

  Age group

  Disability premium

  Servere disability premium

  Total

  18–19

  10

  —

  10

  20

  6

  *

  6

  21

  6

  *

  6

  22

  6

  *

  6

  892

  Uprating date

  Rate £

  Percentage increase on previous rate

  November 1985

  4·55

  7·1

  July 1986

  4·60

  1·1

  April 1987

  4·70

  2·2

  April 1988

  4·90

  4·3

  April 1989

  5·20

  6·1

  April 1990

  5·60

  7·7

  Number of recipients (thousands)

  Age group

  Disability premium

  Servere disability premium

  Total

  23

  5

  *

  5

  24

  6

  *

  6

  Notes:

  1. All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Number of claimants * denotes fewer than 499.

  3. Included in the above table are 2,000 lone parents who receive income support at the rate appropriate to a person aged 25 or over.

  Source: Annual statistical inquiry May 1990.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give his estimate of the number of separate households comprising 16 and 17-year-olds not eligible for income support.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households are currently receiving income support premiums under the Social Security Act 1986; and how many households he estimates would be eligible for this help but for their lack of accommodation.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In May 1990, 2,898,000 income support claimants were in receipt of one or more premiums. The number of income support claimants without accommodation was 8,000, but it is not possible to estimate how many of these would have been entitled to a premium if they had entered accommodation.

  Residents of boarding establishments and hostels, including homeless families placed in temporary accommodation by local authorities, are entitled to the full range of income support premiums.

  Source: Income support annual statistics inquiry May 1990.
  893
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) of 5 November,Official Report, column 84, on premia paid with income support, if he will give the total number of claimants for each of the premia.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is given in the table:

  Premium

  Total number of recipients

  Higher pensioner

  688,000

  Enhanced pensioner

  314,000

  Pensioner

  496,000

  Severe disability (higher)

  13,000

  Severe disability (lower)

  50,000

  Disability

  331,000

  Lone parent

  793,000

  Disabled child

  18,000

  Family premium

  1,144,000

  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source: Annual statistical inquiry May 1990.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants there were with deductions(a) for arrears of community charge and (b) for recovery of social fund loans, at the end of the most recent months for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: The latest information of the number of income support claimants with deductions for arrears of community charge deductions is contained in the Department's management information statistics for the quarter ending November 1991, a copy of which is available in the Library. The number of social fund loan recoveries made in the most recent month for which figures are available, January 1992, is 693,353. The figures are based on the number of people making repayments during the whole of January and not at the end of that month. It is not possible to exclude from these figures repayments made by people not in receipt of income support.

  Home Visits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1992,Official Report, column 423, what information he has concerning the number of home visits, including specialist visits, excluding those for the purpose of investigating fraud, that were made per 1,000 claimants in 1991–92.

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

  Staffing
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1992,Official Report, column 318, regarding staffing, if he will give the total number of full-time equivalent staff in each year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The total number of full-time equivalent staff administering the social security programme for the years 1979–80 to 1990–91 is in the table.
  894

  Number

  1979–80

  88,429

  1980–81

  87,902

  1981–82

  87,578

  1982–83

  85,698

  1983–84

  82,975

  1984–85

  82,527

  1985–86

  83,869

  1986–87

  85,276

  1987–88

  89,023

  1988–89

  87,137

  1989–90

  81,633

  1990–91

  79,715

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the maximum daily amount an employed person was allowed to earn per day without loss of entitlement to unemployment benefit in 1979–80 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Jack
  Unemployment benefit is primarily for those who are entirely without work. However, a day on which an unemployed person does a small amount of work in a subsidiary occupation can still count as a day of unemployment provided he satisfies the usual conditions and earnings for that day do not exceed the daily limit. In 1979–80 the limit was 75p a day and in 1991–92 it is £2 a day.

  This represents an increase above the rate of growth in the retail prices index.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to change the 21-hour rule which enables unemployed claimants to study part time; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 11 March at column 527.

  Transitional Payments
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his best estimate of the numbers who will still be in receipt of transitional additions in 1992–93; and if he will break it down by pensioners, families with children, lone parents and others.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is estimated that immediately following the April 1992 uprating there will only be 10,000 people in receipt of income support transitional additions. The total can be broken down as follows:

  Number

  Pensioners

  2,000

  Lone parents:

  1,000

  Couples with children

  1

  Others

  5,000

  1 Denotes a caseload of fewer than 500.

  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Loss of Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of people affected by the proposed 20 per cent. income tax lower rate will lose benefit as a result.
  895
  Mr. Jack
  On the introduction of the 20 per cent. income tax rate, all those receiving income-related benefits and who pay tax will be better off. In time the increased net earnings of those eligible for income-related benefits will result in the normal reductions in benefit levels which occur when net earnings are increased. The complex interaction of benefit upratings, tax changes and changes in personal circumstances at April 1992 make it difficult to determine with precision the number of people who will be affected, but we estimate that individual benefit levels will be reduced for around 1 million people out of the 25 million people who will benefit from the lower tax band.

  Bickleigh Down Clinic
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which hon. Members were invited to inspect the site last month of the future Bickleigh Down clinic in the constituency of South Hams; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We are not aware of any hon. Members from this Department invited to inspect a clinic at Bickleigh Down, but at the invitation of Plymouth city council I attended and performed its turf cutting ceremony at the site of the Plymouth Child Support Agency centre. All invitations for this event were issued by Plymouth city council, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) attended.

  Students
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time students are currently receiving housing benefits and income support, by

  Recipients whose Housing Benefit is reduced through non-dependent deductions: May 1990

  Age of claimant

  HB with non dependent deductions LA tenant

  HB with non dependent deductions Private tenant

  All cases

  Non-IS cases

  16–17

  0

  0

  0

  18–24

  400

  200

  600

  Over 25

  126,000

  13,100

  139,100

  All ages

  126,400

  13,300

  139,700

  IS cases

  All ages

  186,400

  23,700

  210,100

  Source: The housing benefit and community charge benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample.

  Disability
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households are currently receiving disabled living allowance and whether he will make a statement as to the effect of housing costs being excluded from calculations for this allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  Disability living allowance will not begin to be paid until 6 April 1992.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inquiries were made through the benefit inquiry line by the end of February; and how many were concerned with(a) disability living allowance, (b) disability working allowance, (c) other disability benefits and (d) a combination of the above.
  896
  entitlement category; and if he will express the total as a proportion of all full-time students who would be entitled to these benefits if they were not students.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available data for term-time indicate that in May 1991, 5,200 students were receiving housing benefit. Of these, 1,200 were also in receipt of income support. Data for August 1991 show 3,100 students were receiving housing benefit of whom 1,600 were also in receipt of income support.

  A breakdown of the different categories of student claiming and information about the number of students on income support but not on housing benefit are not available. Similarly, information on the number of students who would be eligible for benefits but for their student status is not available. However, previous survey data have shown that only a minority of students claimed benefits.

  Source: The housing benefit and community charge benefit management information system quarterly stock count for May and August 1991.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give his estimate of the number of households, by tenure, whose housing benefit is reduced because of non-dependants deductions; and if he will sub-divide this number by 16 to 17-year-old, 18 to 24-year-old, and 25 years old and over age groups.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Such information as is available is in the table.

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

  Relocation
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those parts of his Department which are currently under review for relocation; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to the east midlands; how many of these posts are being considered for relocation to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  During 1992–93 the Department of Social Security will relocate around 700 Benefits Agency
  897
  staff to Leeds. Around 3,000 Child Support Agency staff will be located in centres at Falkirk, Belfast, Birkenhead, Dudley, Hastings and Plymouth during 1993.

  The Contributions Agency has recently reviewed the effectiveness of its activities in local offices and there may be localised relocation of a small number of staff. In those locations where the Contributions Agency has plans to redeploy its resources, a departmental reception service will continue to be provided. There are no significant numbers moving to the east midlands, although there are proposals to increase staff in Mansfield by around six posts.

  Benefits Claims, Scotland
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the target time scale for benefit claims to be dealt with in each region in Scotland.

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

  Social Fund
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many successful and unsuccessful applications were made to the social fund, in the last period for which figures are available, for help with(a) the cost of furniture and other essential household items, (b) rent in advance and (c) other items, by category, and where the application was successful, whether the assistance was provided by way of grant or loan, and the average amount of such assistance.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information for the period 1 April 1991 to 29 February 1992 is in the tables. Information regarding unsuccessful applications for specific items or services could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Fund Loans

  Number of awards

  Size of average award (£)

  Furniture and household

  662,911

  226

  Rent in advance

  14,795

  137

  Washing machines

  33,656

  209

  Home improvements, repairs and maintenance

  12,722

  174

  Removal expenses

  6,180

  154

  Travelling expenses

  5,923

  42

  Living expenses

  441,922

  38

  Clothing and footwear

  49,471

  119

  Bedding

  25,754

  127

  Other

  15,298

  142

  Social fund grants

  Number of awards

  Size of average award (£)

  Furniture and household

  142,139

  387

  Rent in advance

  427

  202

  Washing machines

  14,494

  288

  Home improvements, repairs and maintenance

  7,021

  238

  Removal expenses

  8,624

  182

  Travelling expenses

  45,808

  60

  898

  Number of awards

  Size of average award (£)

  Living expenses

  924

  77

  Clothing and footwear

  26,503

  152

  Bedding

  6,152

  156

  Other

  4,052

  179

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) crisis loans, (b) budget loans and (c) all loans from the social fund have gone to people aged 60 years and over.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the percentage of social fund loans awarded to people aged 60 and over from 1 April 1991 to 31 January 1992.

  Per cent.

  Crisis loans

  1·05

  Budgeting loans

  3·96

  All loans

  2·66

  Carers
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long is the average delay in application for carers' benefits in Scotland, by region, since 1989.

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

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would have been the gross additional cost, in cash terms and at 1991–92 prices, of uprating child benefit fully in line with inflation assuming each child in the family receives the same rate, in April of each year from 1988 to 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: In 1992–93 we estimate that gross expenditure on child benefit will be £5.7 billion. If child benefit had been uprated each April from 1988 in line with the retail prices index, the rate payable for each child from April 1992 would be £9.95. It is estimated that to pay child benefit at this rate in 1992–93 would cost an additional £720 million gross or £470 million net, after allowing for the normal adjustments to other benefits. The extra help that has been made available to less well-off families since 1988 through the income-related benefits will be worth around £620 million in 1992–93.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the current number of political and religious prisoners of conscience held in the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Chinese authorities have said that there are 1.1 million inmates in prisons and reform camps in China, of whom 0·5 per cent.—5,500 people—
  899
  have been indicted for so-called counter-revolutionary offences. Such offences often relate to those regarded in the west as prisoners of conscience. Some foreign researchers estimate that the real figures are much higher, but this cannot be verified.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present BBC World Service broadcasts to the People's Republic of China; and if he has any plans to increase the service.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Broadcasting to China is a high priority. Broadcasts in Mandarin and Cantonese total 241/2 hours and 51/4hours a week respectively. The former will be increased by 31/2 hours a week in early 1993, when the World Service has recruited the necessary specialist staff. World Service broadcasts in English are also audible in China.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has of the number of executions in the People's Republic of China last year.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  According to Amnesty International, there have been published accounts of more than 1,000 executions while unofficial sources suggest that up to 20,000 executions may have taken place in 1991. We have no means of verifying such figures.

  Insolvency, France
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens currently imprisoned in France are presently seeking to prove insolvency under articles 752 and 756 of the French code of penal procedure.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We do not have the requested statistics. British nationals are not obliged to inform consular officers that they or their lawyers are negotiating a reduction or waiver of customs fines imposed by French courts.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reasons for the variation in the English translation of article 198a of the treaty agreed at Maastrict on 11 December 1991.

  Mr. Garel-Jones: The first English version of article 198a referred to
  "representatives of regional and local authorities"
  but in the version signed at Maastricht the word "bodies"
  was substitited for "authorities". Jurists/linguists decided that the term "bodies" translated better the word "collectivites" in the French text.

  Geneva Convention
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is now in a position to state when he will sign the additional protocols of the Geneva convention.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Not yet. Our consultations are still not complete.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about growth in overseas aid since 1986–87.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Between 1986–87 and 1990–91, the aid programme grew by 33·7 per cent. in cash terms, and 2·5 per cent. in real terms.

  Additional Aid
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commnwealth Affairs what proposals have been made by the European Community for additional subsidies, grants and loans to north African countries and Jordan; and if he will state the amounts involved.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As part of the Community's new Mediterranean policy, European Community Foreign Ministers agreed in 1991 to the following new series of financial protocols for 1992–96;

  Grants and risk capital

  Loans

  ecus million

  £ million

  ecus million

  £ million

  Algeria

  70

  149

  280

  196

  Morocco

  218

  153

  220

  154

  Tunisia

  116

  81

  168

  118

  Egypt

  258

  180

  310

  217

  Jordan

  46

  32

  80

  56

  1 Approximate.

  The above countries and others are also eligible for 300 million ecu—£210 million—in grants in support of structural adjustment; and for 230 million ecu—£161 million—in grants and 1,800 million ecu—£1,260 million —in loans for horizontal co-operation—projects benefiting more than one country in the region.

  Bolivia (Soya Beans)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 167, what were the previous uses of the area now under cultivation for soya bean production.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 27 January 1992,Official Report, column 421.

WALES

  Village Halls
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the village halls in Wales which have been assisted financially by the urban aid programme since June 1979, with an indication of the grant given to each, respectively.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The village halls assisted by the urban programme in Wales since June 1979 are listed in the table:
  901

  Name

  Grant £

  Financial year

  Penybryn village hall, Rhymney Valley

  72,000

  1982–83

  Gilwern village hall, Blaenau Gwent

  3,789

  1985–86

  St. Brides village hall, Newport

  79,500

  1991–92

  Pontneath Vaughan village hall, Brecknock

  25,000

  1991–92

  Singleton Hospital
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce his decisions about the night casualty service at Singleton hospital.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend's policy is to allow at least two to three months after the end of the one-month appeal period for careful consideration of any representations made to him about a service change. The appeal period in respect of the Singleton hospital night-time casualty service ended on 28 February.

  Conservation Areas
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he proposes to issue to local authorities regarding the impact of large-scale retail development in conservation areas and on unlisted buildings in conservation areas.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Guidance on development proposals within conservation areas is provided in Welsh Office circular 61/81: "Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas". The Department has also issued guidance on large-scale retail development in planning policy guidance note 6: "Major Retail Development".

  Copies of both documents are available in the Library of the House.

  Roads
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total spending by central Government on roads in Wales since 1979; and how many miles of motorway and trunk roads have been laid since that year.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the spending per capita on roads in Wales.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of road starts in Wales planned in the next two financial years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Since 1979, total net spending by central Government on the roads programme in Wales is almost £2 billion; including £360 million transport grant. Twenty-two miles of motorway and 145 miles of trunk road have been completed. Seven schemes totalling almost 18 miles are presently under construction. Twenty-three local authority schemes are being sponsored by transport grant.

  Total expenditure on roads in Wales per head of population in 1990–91 was £145·49.

  Six major trunk road scheme starts are planned for 1992–93. The total cost of these schemes is estimated to be £204 million. Starts in 1993–94 have not yet been announced, but 20 schemes, costing £391 million, are indicated over the next three years in the 1992 supplement to roads in Wales published in February.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of male and female unemployed in Ogmore, Mid-Glamorgan and Wales at the latest available date, together with the figures for the same areas in May 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Figures that are consistent between 1979 and 1992 are available for Wales only. The seasonally adjusted figures in January 1992 were 97,100 males and 26,500 females. Corresponding figures for May 1979 were 49,800 and 19,000 respectively.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were in work in Wales in May 1979; and what the figure is at the latest available date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The number was 1,157,000 in June 1979, which has now increased to 1,175,000 on the latest available figure.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what figures he has for rural unemployment for(a) Clwyd South West and (b) Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There is no classification by which unemployment can readily be categorised as rural.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the number of male unemployed in Newport, Gwent and Wales at the latest available date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In January 1992, there were 5,712, 16,063 and 101,149 unemployed male claimants in the Newport district, Gwent and Wales respectively.

  Clwyd Health Authority
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of administrative staff employed by the Clwyd health authority; what percentage this is of the total number of staff employed; and what were the equivalent figures for 1979.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Between 1979 and 1990 the numbers of administrative and clerical staff and senior managers increased by 2 per cent. as a proportion of the total work force employed by the district health authority and the family health service authority in Clwyd.

  This compares with the 3 per cent. increase in numbers of nurses and midwives over the same period.

  Health Service Pay
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the difference between the amounts paid by the Welsh Office to Welsh area health authorities to pay for agreed pay rises in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 and the actual costs of the pay rises.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Health authorities must meet the cost of pay awards from within the totality of the resources available to them. They receive a cash increase each year and may receive further funding in-year as a contribution toward the excess costs of review bodies' recommendations. These resources, together with the cash released from cost improvement programmes and income-. generation schemes, have not only been sufficient to meet the cost of pay and price rises over the period since 1987 but permitted a sustained expansion in the volume of services.
  903
  The figures relating to the funding available to health authorities and the actual cost of pay awards is as follows:

  Purchasing power of health authorities1

  Actual cost of pay awards2

  £ million

  £ million

  1987–88

  67·9

  44·5

  1988–89

  83·8

  371·2

  1989–90

  65·6

  49·0

  1990–91

  80·4

  56·1

  1 Welsh Office and value for money unit, Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  2 Health authorities in Wales.

  3 Includes the cost of the clinical regrading of nursing staff.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospitals in Wales have expressed an interest in applying for trust status.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has invited applications from 14 health units for NHS trust status in April 1993. These cover 82 hospitals, 11,000 beds and contractual income of some £600 million. Including Pembrokeshire, some 65 per cent. of acute services and 60 per cent. of community services in Wales could be NHS trust based in 1993.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the recession on small businesses in Wales; and what new initiatives he has taken to help local authorities help Welsh companies.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The number of VAT registered businesses in Wales increased by over 10 per cent. in the years 1988 to 1990—the latest year for which figures are available—to 8,250. Government policy to assist this sector is clearly working and the Welsh economy is strongly placed to respond to the economic upturn.

  Environment Report
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an annual report on the state of the environment in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Welsh Office already publishes the "Environmental Digest for Wales." In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales last September published the "Environment in Wales" report which described progress on environmental matters in Wales since the publication of the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance."

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met leaders of local authorities in Wales to discuss local government finance.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I chaired a meeting of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance on 24 February to discuss implementation of the council tax.
  904
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage change in the amount paid per household under community charge in Wales compared to the last year of domestic rates in real terms.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Average domestic rates per household in Wales for 1989–90, after domestic rate relief, were £327 or around £380 at 1991–92 prices, using the GDP deflator. The average community charge set for 1991–92 after community charge reduction grant was £92, or £184 per two charge payer household—52 per cent. less than the average domestic rates figure for 1989–90.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of how much money could be saved by moving to unitary local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My proposal for a structure of 23 unitary authorities is estimated to be cost neutral; I am placing in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office copies of the report submitted to me by financial consultants.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made to consult with hon. Members on options for local government reorganisation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have invited hon. Members to submit their views to me, and have held meetings with every Member who has requested one.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning hospital closures.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None.

  Coal and Steel Industries
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales were employed in the coal and steel industries in 1979; and what is the total at the latest available date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In December 1979, 55,200 were employed in the steel industry in Wales. The current figure is some 18,000. In March 1979, 31,000 people were employed in the coal industry in Wales. The latest available figures show that some 2,800 people now work in the industry.

  Buses
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from bus operators in Wales on the question of the dual sourcing of buses.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have received no such representations.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce his proposals for the provision of secure accommodation.
  905
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I announced in August 1991 proposals for the provision of a new secure unit in Wales. I made a further announcement on 25 February following consideration of the responses received to those proposals.

  Rail Investment
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss investment in rail services in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend is to meet Sir Bob Reid in the near future.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the total expenditure by the Welsh Office on housing during the current financial year; and how this compares with similar expenditure in real terms in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The latest estimate of expenditure on housing in Wales in 1991–92 is £591 million, an increase of more than 7 per cent. in real terms on the comparable figures for 1987–88. No comparison is possible with expenditure in 1979–80, as figures for that year are not available on a consistent basis.

  Eryri Hospital
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects work to take place on upgrading the Eryri hospital at Caernarfon into a full community hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennet
  It is a matter for Gwynedd health authority to decide when work on the upgrading of Eryri hospital should start.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to strengthen the guidelines governing conflicts of interests involving board members and staff of the Welsh Development Agency and the agency's clients.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Requirements concerning board appointments and procedures are set out in the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975. Guidance is also contained in "Non Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments". The guide is kept under review.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the number of craft workshops available at the Old Cornmill, Porthmadog.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the Welsh Development Agency's Bangor regional office routine monitoring report dated 11 April 1989 in relation to the Old Cornmill, Porthmadog development and of the communication from the Bangor regional office to the agency's head office in December 1989, and of the 906
  chairman's first letter to the then agency chief executive referred to in his second letter to the present chief executive dated 25 November 1991 concerning the same development.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he or his ministerial colleagues were informed of(a) the application for, and payment of, a rural conversion grant to Mr. Gwyn Jones, chairman of the Welsh Development Agency, (b) the request to Mr. Jones for a partial refund of the grant and (c) the basis on which the refund was assessed and its amount.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is:

  (a)—on 13 January 1992

  (b)—I was informed on 13 January 1992 that Dr. Jones had requested advice on the level of partial refund that might be involved.

  (c)—on 18 February 1992.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development agency on improving procedures in making senior agency appointments.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Power Stations
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on licensing policy for gas-fired power stations by(a) PowerGen and National Power and (b) independent generators.

  Mr. David Hunt
  All proposals for new power plant are considered on their merits. All such projects are subject to the relevant provisions of the electricity and town and country planning Acts and also to the pollution controls operated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the National Rivers Authority. These procedures ensure that power station projects take full account of general planning and environmental protection considerations.

  Welsh National Opera
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposals for a new home for the Welsh National Opera Company.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The report of the feasibility study for a Cardiff Bay opera house is still under consideration and no firm decisions have yet been reached.

  NHS Estate
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate for every health authority and trust in Wales the amount required to bring the national health service estate to a condition B, exhibiting only minor deterioration.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  District health authorities in Wales are required to review the cost of backlog maintenance annually and for 1990–91, they estimated that it would cost £186·3 million to bring the whole of the NHS estate in Wales to a standard where it is exhibiting only minor deterioration. There were no trusts in Wales at that time. This sum may be broken down by district health authority as shown in the table:
  907

  DHA

  £ million

  Clwyd

  20·3

  East Dyfed

  17·9

  Gwent

  18·7

  Gwynedd

  11·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  22·1

  908

  DHA

  £ million

  Pembrokeshire

  0·9

  Powys

  3·5

  South Glamorgan

  82·0

  West Glamorgan

  9·5

  WORLD POPULATION PROGRAMMES: UK ASSISTANCE
  WORLD POPULATION PROGRAMMES: UK ASSISTANCE
  ZIMBABWE: LAND ACQUISITION BILL PROPOSAL
  ZIMBABWE: LAND ACQUISITION BILL PROPOSAL
  SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: FOREIGN INVESTMENT
  SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: FOREIGN INVESTMENT
  VIETNAM: US TRADE EMBARGO
  VIETNAM: US TRADE EMBARGO
  HO CHI MINH CITY: UK CONSULATE
  HO CHI MINH CITY: UK CONSULATE
  NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS
  NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS
  ISRAEL AND NORTH KOREA: NUCLEAR WEAPONS
  ISRAEL AND NORTH KOREA: NUCLEAR WEAPONS
  TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION: PUBLICATION
  TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION: PUBLICATION
  TREATY OF ROME: PUBLICATION
  TREATY OF ROME: PUBLICATION
  JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION: CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS COSTS
  JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION: CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS COSTS
  SELF-EMPLOYED: TAXATION
  SELF-EMPLOYED: TAXATION
  TAXATION REVENUES
  TAXATION REVENUES
  MARGINAL TAX RATES
  MARGINAL TAX RATES
  PRISONS: PHYSICALLY DISABLED INMATES
  PRISONS: PHYSICALLY DISABLED INMATES
  NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS: LOCATION
  NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS: LOCATION
  MAGISTRATES' COURTS PROCEDURES: REVIEW
  MAGISTRATES' COURTS PROCEDURES: REVIEW
  POLLUTION CONTROL: COST RECOVERY
  POLLUTION CONTROL: COST RECOVERY