Skip to main content

Written Answers

Volume 78: debated on Wednesday 1 May 1985

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday 8 May 1985

Defence

Artillery Locating Equipment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the development of proposed artillery locating equipment.

We are examining ways of improving our capability for weapon location. A number of United Kingdom firms are undertaking studies, and we are investigating the possibilities for collaboration with our allies.

Field And Anti-Aircraft Gunners

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the United Kingdom's Army personnel are field and anti-aircraft gunners; by how much these figures have changed over the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will also give such estimates as he has as to the comparable data relating to the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The field and air defence regiments of the Royal Artillery account for 3·9 and 1·3 per cent. respectively of the trained strength of the Regular Army. Equivalent figures for the last 10 years, and comparable data for the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, could be provided only with disproportionate effort and expense.

Defence Act 1842

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the last five occasions since 1979 on which he. or his predecessors, used the powers in sections 16 and 17 of the Defence Act 1842 to stop up or divert any public footpaths or bridleways, stating in each case (a) the date of the stopping up or diversions, (b) the footpaths or bridleways affected by the stopping up or the diversions, and (c) the lengths of footpaths and bridleways stopped up and the length of footpath or bridleway created under the exercise of the powers.

The Defence Act 1842 has been used on one occasion since 1979 to stop up a bridleway. The details are as follows:

  • (a) 5 February 1985.
  • (b) Bridleway Molesworth No. 28.
  • (c) 1·17km and 2·15 km.
  • asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rights of objection the public has to a proposal to stop up or divert a public footpath or bridleway under section 16 of the Defence Act 1842.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence when, and where, he next plans to use section 16 of the Defence Act 1842 to stop up or divert a public footpath or bridleway.

    Ex-Gratia Payments

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-gratia payments were made in 1984 to members, ex-members, or dependants of former members of Her Majesty's forces; and what were the reasons for such payments.

    Ex-gratia payments are made to members and ex-members of the armed forces and their dependants for a wide variety of reasons and no central record is maintained of the number of such payments and the reasons for them. However, no ex-gratia payments were made in 1984 in cases arising out of the operations of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

    Pensions

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his reply of 15 April, Official Report, column 66, to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North, he will list the individual clerical errors which resulted in £188,372 being returned to service pensioners as arrears of pensions previously underpaid, indicating in each case the nature of the clerical error.

    Further checking has shown the estimate of £188,372 to be overstated. It should be revised to £187,091. The individual errors that gave rise to this total of arrears being returned to service pensioners are:

    Category of errorNumber of errors in the categoryArrears returned £
    (a) Simple arithmetical error5937,853
    (b) Oversight of further action3230,135
    (c) Incorrect input to computer2521,573
    (d) Incorrect interpretation of regulations1886,191
    (e) Incorrect information passed to Paymaster General's Office1311,339
    TOTALS147187,091

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, following the letter of the head of Man. S (Org) of his Department to Mr. T. G. Robson. Secretary of his Departments Council of Civil Service Unions of 2 April on the Rayner review of pensions, he will list what steps have been taken to check the state of affairs and put the matter right, where necessary, following the errors which have arisen in the course of the transfer of the original documentation on Royal Navy/Royal Marine pensions to the Paymaster-General's office.

    A check of every RN ratings and RM other ranks pension will be carried out and the necessary corrections made.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list all pensionable allowances in all three services apart from basic pay.

    There are no allowances received by service men that are relevant to the calculation of a service pension.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rank categories were included in the transcription from manual records to computers of the three services for the purpose of the computerisation of service pension records.

    In the computerisation of pension payment records the ranks affected were those of warrant officer class I and equivalent and below.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the computer storing Royal Air Force airmen's pension records closed down; what was the reason for the closure; and why manually recorded records are now being used to calculate airmen's pensions and to answer inquiries.

    Royal Air Force airmen's pensions are maintained on either the Paymaster General's computer system at Crawley or the Director General of Defence Accounts computer system at Bath, neither of which has been closed down.Royal Air Force airmen's pensions are awarded by the Director General of Defence Accounts staff at Worcester. The calculation of these pensions has always been undertaken manually on the basis of information provided from Royal Air Force pay and personnel records. Manually recorded records have always been referred to by the accounts staff at Worcester prior to answering inquiries.

    19801981198219831984
    Below Higher Executive and equivalent136273784
    Higher Executive Officer and equivalent1417324467
    Senior Executive Officer and equivalent1124335374
    Principal and equivalent2128194489
    Senior Principal and equivalent6792332
    Assistant Secretary and equivalent5781322
    Under Secretary46778
    Deputy Secretary2234
    Second Permanent/Permanent Secretary11
    TOTAL7498137224381
    Lists of the areas within the Ministry of Defence in which the individuals concerned were employed are not readily available.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to establish the companies subsequently employing civil servants who have resigned from his Department in each of the years from 1980 to 1984; and if he will list each of the subsequent employers concerned.

    Civil servants resigning from the Ministry of Defence to take up alternative employment are required to notify details of their prospective employer(s) where the company concerned is in a contractual or other special relationship with the Department. Certain more senior grades, of the rank of under secretary and above, are required to notify any intended employment. No comprehensive list of companies or bodies employing former civil servants is available.

    Departmental Selection And Management Organisation Procedures

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to re-evaluate selection and

    Ex-Senior Civil Servants (Appointments)

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the number of civil servants who resign or retire from his Department and take up appointments in defence-related industries other than immediately after leaving the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

    Civil servants resigning or retiring from the Ministry of Defence in order to take up appointments in defence-related industries are required to seek prior departmental approval before so doing. This requirement remains effective for a period of two years following an individual's date of retirement or resignation. The number of civil servants who take up such appointments within the two years is not readily available. The number who take up appointments after two years is not known to my Department.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down by grade and division within his Department the officials who have left to take jobs in industry in each of the years from 1980 to 1984.

    The number of civil servants who made applications under the business appointments rules in the years in question are as follows:management organisation procedures in his Department in the light of the steady increase in the rate of departure of his civil servants for jobs in industry.

    Resignations

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the reasons given by civil servants resigning from his Department in each of the years from 1980 to 1984.

    Civil servants resigning from the Ministry of Defence to take up alternative employment are not required to provide specific reasons for so doing; but where such information is volunteered, the reasons given vary widely and include such reasons as domestic circumstances and better career prospects.

    Defence Research And Intra-Mural Research Committee

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the recent reorganisation of his Department affected the defence research and intra-mural research committee; and what are its present functions and composition.

    The defence research and intra-mural research committee (DRIRC) was replaced in the recent MOD reorganisation by a new body, the defence research committee (DRC). This committee has a similar task to its predecessor: to provide advice to the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) on policy options and priorities concerning scientific and technological research and, against the background of resource availability, to provide guidance to the Controller of R and D Establishments, Research and Nuclear (CERN) regarding the content of his research programme.Membership of the new committee includes representatives of the major R and D "customers", the defence staff, the defence scientific staff, and the office of management and budget. Other scientific advisers and representatives of other Government Departments may also be invited to attend.

    Defence Scientific Advisory Council

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the present functions and membership of the defence scientific advisory council.

    The defence scientific advisory council is established to advise the Secretary of State for Defence on scientific and technological matters of concern to the Ministry of Defence. The chairman and other independent members are all distinguished scientists in the academic or industrial world, and their contributions to the MOD through the DSAC are much appreciated. Each is appointed in his personal capacity by the Secretary of State.

    Defence Secretariat 17

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence which parts of his Department now handle the responsibilities formerly handled by defence secretariat 17.

    Sensitive Information

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken in his Department to account for documents and manuals containing sensitive information.

    Ministry of Defence security regulations specify the measures to be taken, which vary according to the classification of the documents and manuals.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the classified defence documents found lying on a rubbish dump near the Thames barrier.

    Investigations are in progress into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of these documents and it would be wrong to comment further until these investigations have been completed.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will re-examine the procedures for the disposal of manuals and documents containing sensitive information.

    Security procedures are regularly reviewed and changes are made when necessary.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the circumstances in which the plan of a proposed new security fence for AWRE Aldermaston were found in south-east London by two schoolboys near a rubbish tip.

    Investigations are in progress into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of these documents, and it would be wrong to comment further until these investigations have been completed.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the documents relating to Tornado which were found on a rubbish dump near the Thames barrier.

    Restricted documents relating to the servicing of the Tornado aircraft, reproduced on microfiche.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the documents relating to the Aldermaston research centre which were found a rubbish dump near the Thames barrier.

    A plan of part of an internal security fence and of adjacent areas at AWRE Aldermaston, classified restricted.

    Hms Otter

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence by whom the propellor shafts of HMS Otter are being repaired; and if he will make a statement.

    Replacement propellor shafts are being supplied by Devonport dockyard, where refurbishment of such items takes place. Their cost, together with the cost of other material supplied to the firm undertaking the refit, will be reflected in the final assessment of the overall cost of the project.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence by whom the hatch covers of HMS Otter are being repaired; and if he will make a statement.

    Such work as is necessary is being undertaken by the firm carrying out the refit. If it emerges that new hatch covers are needed, they will be issued from Ministry of Defence stock.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what technical and manpower assistance is being provided to Humber Ship Repairers in its work on refitting HMS Otter.

    There is an eight-man Ministry of Defence team at Humber Ship Repairers to provide technical guidance and oversee the refit. Additional technical advice is provided by the Ministry of Defence as necessary. The cost of providing all such assistance will be reflected in the final assessment of the cost of the project.

    Army Board (Appeals)

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many appeals have been lodged by soldiers with the Army Board in the last two years; and of those, how many have resulted in a successful outcome for the appellant.

    A total of 30 appeals against the findings of courts martial under section 8(2) of the Courts Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 and 46 applications for redress of complaints under the Army Act 1955, sections 180 and 181, lodged by officers and soldiers reached the Army Board in the last two years. Their outcome is as follows:

    UpheldDeniedSentence mitigated/ Partially upheld
    Appeals against CM4179
    Redress of complaint82117
    I should stress that only those redress of complaint cases that are not upheld by the intervening authorities reach the Army Board.

    Falkland Islands

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken toward pest control on the Falkland Islands; and whether any private contractors have been used for this purpose.

    A military environmental health officer has been appointed to the staff of the Commander British Forces Falkland Islands. In addition to being responsible for pest control at all military establishments, he also advises the Falkland Island Government on pest control. I understand that the airport contractors at Mount Pleasant are taking normal pest control precautions and are employing a pest control officer.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which military personnel from other countries have visited the Falklands since 1983, stating in each case their country of origin and the purpose of the visit.

    Porton Down (Waste)

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of waste from Porton Down have been sent to Re-Chem plants at Bonnybridge and Pontypool for disposal since 1975.

    Available records show that since 1975 the chemical defence establishment Porton Down has sent waste to the Re-Chem plant at Pontypool for disposal under contract on one occasion, in 1983. The material comprised 30 tonnes of solid waste, in the form of salt of phosphoric acid. No waste has been sent to the Bonnybridge plant.

    Type 23 Frigate (Tenders)

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to invite tenders for further type 23 frigates.

    Tenders will be sought in the late summer for the third and fourth type 23 frigates. All United Kingdom shipyards capable of constructing frigates will be invited to bid.As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said on 28 January, Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Limited will at the same time also be invited to tender for the second type 23 frigate.

    Raf Trainer Aircraft

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received following the award of the contract for the Royal Air Force trainer to Shorts; what is the substance of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

    A number of representations have been received from British Aerospace. In particular, the company has expressed disappointment at losing the competition and said that it had believed that the final bid it submitted on 19 March for the PC-9 would have been cheaper for the Ministry than acceptance of the bid from Shorts for Tucano. This was definitely not so; the total acquisition cost would have been higher for the PC-9 than it was from the Tucano, as was also true of operating costs. British Aerospace has also asked both for the opportunity to be de-briefed on the trainer project which, following normal practice, has been granted and for a review of the ground rules governing such competitions.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any contract for the supply of the Royal Air Force trainer has yet been signed with Shorts.

    Yes. The contract was signed on 30 April 1985, following a letter of intent on 4 April 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether, subsequent to the receipt of Short's bid for the Royal Air Force air basic trainer on 14 March, any member of his Department requested Shorts to make a revised offer;(2) why, on 15 March, the controller of aircraft of his Department's procurement executive requested a revised bid from British Aerospace for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force.

    [pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 262]: On 15 March controller aircraft rang Sir Raymond Lygo, managing director of British Aerospace, to confirm that Sir Raymond understood that the bid received by the relevant MOD contracts branch before noon the previous day was indeed its final offer. Sir Raymond indicated that he was not aware that this was so and shortly thereafter submitted a revised bid. At the same time controller aircraft rang Sir Philip Foreman, chairman of Short Brothers, who confirmed that its bid submitted before 14 March deadline was its final one.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will state the ranks and posts held of the members of the procurement executive who telephoned British Aerospace on 13 March to inform it of the deadline date for tender for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force; to whom he spoke; and if the call was logged by his Department.

    [pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 262]: The telephone call was made by the principal director of contracts, air, to the group commercial director of British Aerospace. Telephone calls in the Ministry of Defence are not normally logged.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past the procurement executive has telephoned tenders for his Department's contracts or contracts worth more than £100 million giving the deadline date for tendering; whether this is the normal procedure within his Department; and on how many occasions such a telephone call has been confirmed by letter, telex or other written communication.

    [pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 261–2]: The original deadline for the receipt of "best and final" bids had been set by telex at 31 January. The telephone call made to British Aerospace on 13 March dealt only with the end-point for post-tender improvements to those bids and followed on previous discussions with the two firms who had submitted the most attractive bids. Written communications are the normal and preferred practice within the Ministry of Defence; the telephone is used only when this is more suitable for giving or receiving information in the time available, and such information is confirmed in writing where necessary.

    Committees of Privy Councillors
    Subject investigatedChairmanDate appointedDate reportedCmnd. No.
    (i) 1955-May 1979
    SecurityMarquess of SalisburyNovember 1955March 19569715
    The Interception of CommunicationsSir Norman BirkettJune 1957September 1957283
    Security in the Public ServiceLord RadcliffeMay 1961November 19611681
    'D' Notice MattersLord RadcliffeFebruary 1967May 19673309
    Interrogation of TerroristsLord Parker of WaddingtonNovember 1971January 19724901
    Ministerial MemoirsViscount RadcliffeApril 1975January 19766386
    Recruitment of MercenariesLord DiplockFebruary 1975August 19756569
    Cabinet Document SecurityLord HoughtonJuly 1977October 19776677
    (ii) May 1979-present
    Falkland Islands ReviewLord FranksJuly 1982January 19833787
    Committees of Inquiry commissioned by the Prime Minister
    Subject investigatedChairmanDate appointedDate reportedCmnd. No.
    (i) 1955–1968
    Crown LandsSir Malcolm Trustram EveDecember 195417 May 19559483
    The Organisation of the Atomic Energy AuthoritySir Alexander FleckOctober 195716 December 1957338
    Health and Safety in the Atomic Energy AuthoritySir Alexander FleckOctober 195719 December 1957342
    The Preservation of Downing StreetEarl of Crawford and BalcarresJuly 19571 March 1958457
    The Windscale PilesSir Alexander FleckOctober 195717 June 1958471
    The Misuse of Official FacilitiesSir Norman Brook5 November 195811 November 1958583
    Security at the National GalleryLord Bridges26 September 196113 February 19621750
    The Vassall CaseSir Charles Cunningham22 October 19627 November 1962(1871)
    The Security Service and Mr. ProfumoLord Denning21 June 196316 September 19632152
    Higher EducationProfessor Lord Robbins8 February 196123 September 19632154
    The Organisation of Civil ScienceSir Burke TrendMarch 196223 September 19632171
    Representational Services OverseasLord Plowden30 July 19622 December 19632276
    The Remuneration of Ministers and MPsSir Geoffrey Lawrence19 December 196320 October 19642516
    The Bossard and Allen CasesSir Henry Wilson Smith9 August 19656 September 19652773
    The Civil ServiceLord Fulton8 February 196619 June 19683638
    Defence ProcurementD. RaynerOctober 1970March 19714641
    Dispersal of Government work from LondonSir H. HardmanOctober 1970June 19735322
    Conduct in Local GovernmentLord Redcliffe-MaudOctober 1973May 19745636
    (ii) May 1979-present
    Non-departmental Public BodiesSir Leo Pliatzky1979January 19807197
    Value of PensionsSir Bernard Scott1980February 19818147

    International Fund For Agricultural Development

    asked the Prime Minister if she will give a commitment at the Bonn economic summit to contribute at least 50 million dollars to the new replenishment of the International fund for agricultural development.

    Prime Minister

    Committees Of Privy Councillors And Committees Of Inquiry

    asked the Prime Minister (1) how many committees of Privy Councillors she and her predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the Privy Councillors investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported;(2) how many committees of inquiry she and her predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

    The information available is contained in the following two tables. As we do not hold central records, we cannot be absolutely sure that it is complete.

    The replenishment of the International fund for agricultural development (IFAD) was not discussed specifically in Bonn. IFAD is financed on the basis of equitable burden-sharing among its member countries. The Government contributed 5 per cent. of the share provided by OECD countries to the last replenishment, and we would expect to contribute a similar share of the next one if and when it is approved by the donors collectively.

    Agriculture Aid

    asked the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to give a commitment at the Bonn economic summit to increase the amount of aid allocated to agriculture, especially to subsistence farmers in the Third world.

    I draw the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to paragraph 9 of the communiqué reporting the outcome of the Bonn economic summit, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

    Africa (Aid)

    asked the Prime Minister if, at the Bonn economic summit, she will reiterate Her Majesty's Government's commitment to maintain or increase resources for the aid programme for both emergency and long-term needs in Africa.

    I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my statement on the Bonn economic summit, at columns 625–26, and in particular to paragraphs 7 and 9 of the communiqué issued afterwards, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

    Sharelga (Sinking)

    asked the Prime Minister how much compensation was paid by Her Majesty's Government to the Irish Government in respect of the sinking of the Irish trawler Sharelga; and for what reason such compensation was paid.

    An Irish trawler named "Sharelga" was sunk in the Irish Sea in 1982 after its nets were snagged by a British submarine. The Ministry of Defence accepted liability for the incident and agreed to pay fair and reasonable compensation. The amount of compensation is a matter for negotiation between the vessel's owner and the Ministry of Defence. No payments have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Irish Government in respect of this incident.

    Raf Trainer Aircraft

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list the Departments which were involved, directly or indirectly, in the decision to purchase the Tucano fighter trainer; and if she will make a statement.

    No. The principle of collective responsibility applies to this as to all ministerial decisions.

    EnglandWalesScotland
    Rate Support GrantRate Support GrantRate Support Grant
    £ million*per capita £per cent. of local govt. expen.†£ million*per capita £per cent. of local govt. expen.†£ million||per capita£per cent. of local govt. expen.†
    1975–765357·4115427·5153¶552·211569·7
    1976–775827·5125463·6166822·715868·8
    1977–785982·5128483·1173882·817063·7
    1978–796569·8141511·8183960·018563·3
    1979–807370·2158589·92101090·121162·5
    1980–818659·2185694–22471247·924262–1
    1981–829000·919245·2744·826560·41503·129261·1

    Leeward Islands Air Transport (Aircraft Purchase)

    asked the Prime Minister if she is now in a position to publish the European Commission's reasons for rejecting the Leeward Islands Air Transport view that the Super 748 offer from British Aerospace best fulfilled the procurement criteria of the Lomé convention; if she has had further communication with the European Commission on this matter; whether she has had any recent representations from Leeward Islands Air Transport; and if she will make a statement.

    My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development published the European Commission's explanation in an answer given to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 26 February, at column 102. The European Commission is not involved with present arrangements to finance the purchase by the Leeward Islands Air Transport of four HS-Super 748 aircraft from British Aerospace; we have had no recent communication with it on this matter, and no representations from Leeward Islands Air Transport. Satisfactory arrangements have now been made for the package of two HS-Super 748 aircraft with finance provided by the Caribbean Development Bank, and LIAT has accepted Her Majesty's Government's offer of assistance from the aid and trade provision for a further two aircraft.

    Rates

    asked the Prime Minister what comparisons have been made between the relative rateable value of comparable properties, small businesses and industries in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively; and if she will publish this information in the form of a table.

    [pursuant to her reply, Tuesday 7 May 1985, c. 310]: I regret that comparable information for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland is not available centrally.

    asked the Prime Minister what was the level of the rate support grant, including the per capita value for each year, from central Government to Scotland, England and Wales, for each of the last 10 years; what percentage this represented of total local government expenditure for each year; and if she will publish a table.

    [pursuant to her reply, Tuesday 7 May 1985, c. 310]: The information is shown in the table.

    England

    Wales

    Scotland

    Rate Support Grant

    Rate Support Grant

    Rate Support Grant

    £ million*

    per capita £

    per cent. of local govt. expen.

    £ million*

    per capita £

    per cent. of local govt. expen.

    £ million||

    per capita£

    per cent. of local govt. expen.

    1982–839018·819341·4797·328460·01677·732557·9
    1983–849067·119439·3814·529058·01744·233955·9
    1984–858852·818937·2810·828955·81713·233353·4

    Notes

    *Needs/Resources/Domestic elements for the years 1975–76 to 1980–81 and Rate Support Grant for subsequent years.

    † Grant as a percentage of 'relevant' Local Government Expenditure.
    ‡ The information is not available for England and Wales separately.
    || The information on rate Support Grants and Local government expenditure is taken from the RSG (Scotland) Orders and therefore reflects the Government's provision for expenditure in each year. The price bases adopted are those pertaining at the time of the RSG Settlement each year.
    ¶ The financial year 1975–76 covers a period of 10½ months.

    The percentage for England and Wales combined are as follows:

    England & Wales Grant as percentage of local Government expenditure

    1975–7657·9
    1976–7755·0
    1977–7852·3
    1978–7951·9
    1979–8048·6
    1980–8148·8

    For the years 1975–76 to 1977–78 Revenue expenditure has been used to derive the percentages. For the years 1978–79 to 1980–81 Relevant expenditure has been used at November price levels.

    Solicitor-General For Scotland

    Coal Industry Dispute

    asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many police complaints have been recorded in the course of the miners' industrial dispute.

    [pursuant to his reply, 4 April 1985, c. 719]: During the relevant period 14 of the complaints against the police received by regional procurators fiscal related to the miners' industrial dispute. Other complaints of a non-criminal nature may have been received by the individual police forces concerned.

    EstablishedTitle/SubjectChairReportedCmnd
    1955Administrative tribunals and enquiriesLord Franks1957218
    1957Law Relating to Rights of LightThe Right Honourable Lord Justice Harman1957473
    1958Funds in CourtLord Pearson1959818
    1958Business of the Criminal Courts (Commissioned by the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary)Sir Geoffrey Hugh Benbow Streatfield19611289
    1958Chancery chambers and the Chancery Registrar's OfficeThe Right Honourable Lord Justice Harman1960967
    1959Conflicts of jurisdiction affecting childrenLord Hodson1959842

    Attorney-General

    Departmental Committees Of Inquiry

    asked the Attorney-General how many departmental committees of inquiry the Lord Chancellor and his predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them, and the dates they reported.

    The following list, which may not be exhaustive, includes Royal Commissions dealing with areas in the Lord Chancellor's responsibility and other major inquiries most of whose reports were (or are expected to be) published by HMSO, and presented to Parliament; it excludes official committees and standing advisory committees.

    Established

    Title/Subject

    Chair

    Reported

    Cmnd

    1960Magistrates Courts in London (Commissioned by the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary)His Honour Sir Carl Aarvold19621606
    1961Limitation of actions in cases of personal injuryLord Edmund-Davies19621829
    1963Committee on Legal RecordsLord Denning19663084
    1963Positive covenants affecting landLord Wilberforce19652719
    1964Court of Criminal Appeal (Commissioned by the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary)Lord Donovan19652755
    1964Mechanical recording of court proceedingsThe Right Honourable

    (a) 1965

    2733
    Sir George Baker

    (b) 1966

    3096
    1964Law of succession in relation to illegitimate personsRussell19663051
    1965Enforcement of Judgment DebtsSir Reginald Withers Payne19693909
    1965Age of MajorityThe Honourable Mr. Justice Latey19673342
    1966Civil Judicial StatisticsP. Adams19683684
    1966Supreme Court of Judicature in Northern IrelandLord MacDermott19704292
    1966Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter SessionsLord Beeching19694153
    1967Legal EducationThe Right Honourable Sir Roger Ormrod19714595
    Personal Injuries LitigationThe Right Honourable Sir Roger Winn19683691
    1971Public Trustee OfficeH. R. Hutton19724913
    1971Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction in Northern Ireland (Commission with Northern Ireland Secretary)Lord Lowry19735431
    1971Law on contempt of court (Commissioned with Lord Advocate)The Right Honourable Sir Henry Josceline Phillimore19745794
    1971Law on DefamationThe Honourable Mr. Justice Faulks19755909
    1973Distribution of business between Crown Courts and Magistrates' CourtsThe Right Honourable Sir Arthur James19756323
    1973Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal InjuryLord Pearson19787054
    1975Judicial Studies and Information (Commission with Home Secretary)Lord Bridge of Harwich1978
    1976Personal Injuries Litigation ProcedureThe Honourable Mr. Jucstice Cantley19797476
    1976Royal Commission on Legal ServicesLord Benson19797648
    1978Selection and access to modern public recordsSir Duncan Wilson19818204
    1979Chancery DivisionThe Right Honourable Lord Justice Oliver19818205
    1983Matrimonial Causes ProcedureThe Honourable Mrs. Justice Booth
    1984ConveyancingProfessor J. T. Farrand

    (a) by non-solicitors

    1984HMSO

    (b) simplification

    1985HMSO

    Established

    Title/Subject

    Chair

    Reported

    Cmnd

    1984Fraud Trials (Commissioned by the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary)Lord Roskill

    Transport

    Mersey Ferries

    40.

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure the preservation of the Mersey ferries during the three years following the proposed abolition of the Merseyside county council; and if he will make a statement.

    The operation of the ferries after the abolition of the county council will remain the responsibility of the passenger transport executive, working within the policies determined by the new passenger transport authority.

    Subject of investigationChairmanDate establishedDate of report
    Lorries, People and the EnvironmentSir Arthur Armitage24 July 19799 December 1980
    Review of Railway FinancesSir David Serpell5 May 198220 December 1982
    Pedestrian Safety at Public Road Level CrossingsRt. Hon. Sally Oppenheim, MP22 November 198220 April 1983
    Review of Public Utilities Street Works Act (PUSWA)Professor Michael Home, OBE30 January 1984Expected late Spring 1985
    Review of Arrangements for Protecting the Clients of Air Travel OrganisersSir Peter Lane12 April 19847 June 1984
    Review of Road Traffic LawDr. Peter North31 January 1985
    Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The list excludes standing advisory committees, departmental inquiries into accidents and public inquiries into road schemes. If my hon. Friend would like further information, I should be happy to write to him.

    M1 (Service Stations)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many types of franchise exist in relation to service stations on the M1 motorway between London and Leeds; and if he will indicate the names and geographical locations of the company or companies involved and their responsibilities to retain continuation of their franchise.

    I have written to the right hon. Member enclosing a list of the nine motorway service areas on the M1 between London and Leeds, with the names and addresses of the operators. Each operates under a 50-year lease from the Secretary of State. The terms of the lease are fairly standard and I am arranging for a copy to be sent to the right hon. Member.

    Cruise Ships (Anglo-Soviet Agreement)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether agreement has yet been reached between British and Soviet passenger cruise ship operators following the latest commercial talks encouraged by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

    The Anglo-Soviet Joint Maritime Commission agreed at its last meeting that the British and Soviet cruise ship operators should meet to discuss the

    Departmental Committees Of Inquiry

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental committees of inquiry he and his predecessors, including Ministers of Transport and Ministers of War Transport, have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

    The following committees of inquiry have been set up since 1979.1986 cruise programmes to be offered in the British market. These commercial talks took place in early April and it was agreed that there should be further reductions in Soviet capacity offered in the British market. It was also agreed that a further meeting will take place in 1986.

    M2 (Traffic Study)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend his Department's traffic study on the future of the M2 motorway to include consideration of the car and freight traffic projections to the port of Ramsgate and their implications for the A299 Thanet Way.

    Our present study of the possible need for more capacity on the section of the M2 between junctions 1 and 3 will take account of future traffic expected to use the motorway to and from Ramsgate. The A299 Thanet Way is the responsibility of the Kent county council, but I have undertaken to keep under review the possible need in the future to bring this road into the trunk road network.

    Rail Closures (Strathclyde)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail services closed within the Strathclyde regional council area since 1975, along with any future proposals to close rail services in that area.

    The only line to have been closed to rail passenger services in the Strathclyde region since 1975 is between Glasgow and Kilmacolm.British Rail is considering whether to propose closure of a 500-yard stretch of line between Balloch Pier and Balloch Central. Financial support for this service was withdrawn by the Strathclyde passenger transport executive last December.

    London Dockers (Pay)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the minimum weekly gross pay receivable by registered dockworkers in the Port of London Authority;(2) what is the minimum weekly gross pay receivable by registered dock workers in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

    At the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company £125·50; at the Port of London Authority £120·85.

    Port Employees (Output)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the output per person employed by (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in each of the last five years.

    Both the PLA and MDHC have reported significant productivity improvements in many of their operations. My Department does not, however, have detailed information, which is in any case commercially confidential.

    Ports (Lost Working Days)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many working days have been lost in each of the last five years due to industrial and other disputes in (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

    The detailed information requested is not retained by the two undertakings, but the number of working days lost in stoppages of work in the ports of London and Liverpool as a whole are set out in "Port Statistics" published annually by my Department and the British Ports Association, copies of which are in the Library.

    Non-Scheme Ports (Employees)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been employed in each of the last five years in non-scheme ports.

    According to a survey undertaken by the British Ports Association and the National Association of Port Employers, on 18 March 1983 9,514 people were employed in non-scheme ports. Figures for the other years are not available.

    Ports (Financial Assistance)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) to what extent the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company currently is in receipt of assistance by way of grant loan and guarantee provided under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981;(2) to what extent the Port of London Authority currently is in receipt of assistance by way of grant, loan and guarantee provided under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981.

    Loans and guarantees under this Act still outstanding are:

    Loans £ millionGuarantees £ million
    MDHC3·99·0
    PLA3·021·0
    In addition, we are prepared to continue to make grants to both undertakings for the severance of surplus manpower. In the case of registered dock workers, these benefit all scheme port employers by relieving them of a cost which they would otherwise have to meet collectively through the national voluntary severance schemes. Grants for the severance of other employees are to be phased out.

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much financial assistance has been given to (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981 in each of the years 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984; and what is the level of assistance projected for 1985.

    The information requested is as follows:

    Financial YearPLA £ millionMDHC £ million
    1981–8221·825·8
    1982–8339·870·7
    1983–8432·439·4
    1984–8523·28·5
    The assistance to be given in the financial year 1985–86 will depend principally on the number of staff severed by both undertakings.

    Ports (Manpower Statistics)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many registered dockworkers were employed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive;(2) how many people were in the employment of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive;(3) how many people were in the employment of the Port of London Authority on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive;(4) how many registered dockworkers were employed by the Port of London Authority on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive.

    The information requested is as follows:

    YearMDHCPLA
    RDWSTotalRDWSTotal
    19793,7747,8494,9339,271
    19803,2606,8064,5788,597
    19812,9896,3033,7006,504
    19822,2155,1252,8515,269
    19831,4063,2882,3154,405
    19841,4973,1141,9483,601
    19851,3492,8381,6913,245

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have left the employment of (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in each of the last four years; and, of these, how many were registered dockworkers.

    The information requested is as follows:

    PLA YearRDWSNon-RDWSTotal
    19811,0634351,498
    19828013861,187
    19835284741,002
    1984348124472
    MDHC
    19817094781,198
    19828231,0141,837
    198395287382
    1984147129276

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many new recruits were employed by (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in each of the last four years; and, of these, how many were employed as registered dockworkers.

    The information requested is as follows:

    PLA
    RDWsNon-RDWs
    RecruitsRe-allocation*Recruits†
    1981Nil21449
    1982Nil26558
    1983Nil12720
    1984Nil10625
    * The RDWs reallocated to the PLA are those surplus to other employers in the ports of London.
    † Of the 152 recruits, 43 were apprentices or specialist staff. The remaining 109 were temporary cleaners where there was a higher turnover of staff.
    MDHC
    RDWsNon-RDWs
    RecruitsRe-Allocations*Recruits†
    1981Nil9Nil
    1982NilNil3
    1983Nil2084
    1984NilNilNil

    Notes

    * RDWs reallocated to MDHC were surplus to other employers in the port of Liverpool, the employers being in 1981, Huskisson Transit Company, and in 1983, West Coast Stevedoring Company.

    † The only non-rdws recruited by MDHC were for specialist senior staff posts.

    The figures exclude recruitment of temporary employees by Neptune Security Ltd., a subsidiary of MDHC, hiring security wardens on short-term contracts.

    Ports (Financial Results)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what trading profit or loss the Port of London Authority has made in each of the last six years;(2) what trading profit or loss the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has made in each of the last six years.

    Trading profit/(loss) PLA £ million

    MDHC £ million

    19791·28(1·83)
    1980(1·65)5·02
    19813·661·25
    19826·87(2·34)
    19833·3*6·79
    1984Not yet published1·92

    * In 1983, in accordance with statutory requirements, the PLA changed its accounting policy to conform closely with the provisions of the Companies Act 1981. This figure is the profit before interest payable.

    Driving (Offences)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to seek to amend section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 so as to make it an offence to drive while under the influence of solvents or gases.

    Driving Tests

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the pass rate for each driving test centre in 1984; and how this compares with figures for each of the past five years;(2) what was the average waiting time in 1984 in each driving test centre prior to taking a car driving test; and how the figures compare with each of the past five years.

    I shall write to my hon. Friend. Much of this information is not available and the available statistics will take a few days to assemble.

    Mhari L (Loss Inquiry)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current stage of the inquiry into the loss of the Mhari L; when he expects to receive the report; whether the wreck is to be raised as part of the investigation; and if he will make appropriate arrangements for the burial of any bodies recovered.

    My Department's inspector has not yet completed his inquiry. It is not intended to raise the wreck as part of the investigation, but fortunately my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made available a vessel for a limited period to examine this wreck. No bodies were found.

    Singapore Airlines (Manchester)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what view British Airways has expressed during his Department's negotiations with the Singapore Government over flying rights to Manchester; and what reaction his Department has given to such views.

    I do not wish to establish the precedent of revealing the views particular airlines may express about inter-governmental air service negotiations.

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport why negotiations on an application by Singapore Airlines to open up flights to Manchester lasted for three days.

    Since the Singapore Government first applied to negotiate a new agreement with us on 18 March 1985, I consider it extremely speedy that a conclusion was reached on 3 May.

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport why Manchester airport authority was not invited to participate in the consultations between the aeronautical authorities of Singapore and the United Kingdom over Singapore Airlines' application to open a service to Manchester.

    These are discussions between Governments; airports are not represented at the discussions but are consulted.

    M40 (Otmoor Section)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he now anticipates being able to announce his Department's preferred route for the Otmoor section of the M40 extension.

    I am continuing the investigations announced last December into the possibility of finding an eastern route which would avoid Otmoor and the Bernwood Forest. I will make a further announcement as soon as possible.

    Equal Opportunities

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the sex and ethnic origin of the officer designated by his Department as equal opportunities officer.

    [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1985, c. 27]: My equal opportunities officer is a citizen of the United Kingdom. I do not see the relevance of the question as to sex.

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsiblity for giving such advice.

    [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1985, c. 27]: Yes. All staff have been advised of the Department's general policy on race and sex equality of opportunity through office circulars published in November 1984 and March 1985.

    National Finance

    Johnson Matthey Bankers

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what action the Bank of England took prior to the collapse of Johnson Matthey Bankers in pursuance of its duty to supervise the banking system;(2) whether the review of the arrangements for banking supervision will comment on the justification of the Bank of England's takeover of Johnson Matthey Bankers; and if he will make a statement;(3) whether the review of banking supervision will deal with the monitoring by the Bank of England's banking supervision department of Johnson Matthey prior to its collapse and the steps it took prior to the collapse to identify and seek to correct Johnson Matthey Bankers' difficulties.

    [pursuant to the replies, 2 May 1985, c. 245–46 and 7 May 1985, c. 657]: As the hon. Member is aware, the answers which appear in the official record were not authorised by Ministers and the House has received an apology for and explanation of the episode.The Governor of the Bank of England will include in the bank's annual report to the Chancellor under the Banking Act 1979 an account of events concerning Johnson Matthey Bankers and the subsequent rescue operation. This report will be published and a copy laid before the House in the usual way.I have nothing further to add to the replies given in my name on 2 and 3 May.

    Covenants

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, with a view to reducing the amount of paperwork involved and the work load of Inland Revenue staff, he will take steps to simplify the processes involved in the covenant procedure; and if he will make a statement.

    [pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1985, c. 95]: The repayment procedures must include checks that the claimant is in fact entitled to repayment and that tax has been deducted by the payer. In the case of covenants made by parents in favour of their adult student children, however, the Inland Revenue is intending to introduce, from the start of the academic year 1985–86, simplified procedures which meet these basic requirements. These will include forms to make it easier for parents to make out valid deeds, and a new repayment claim form introduced which is tailored to the needs of students. In addition, the Inland Revenue is preparing a package for students which will include leaflets explaining the effect of a deed of covenant on their tax, together with copies of all the necessary forms.

    Direct Selling (Vat)

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take in the light of the judgment of the European Court that United Kingdom powers to require value added tax on the open market value of goods in the direct selling field is of no legal effect.

    A formal submission has now been made to the European Commission seeking to restore the vires for the VAT valuation provisions of paragraph 3 of schedule 4 to the Value Added Tax Act 1983, by derogation under article 27 of the sixth VAT directive. Customs and Excise are in communication with those traders who may consider that they have overpaid tax under the provisions affected by the European Court judgment.

    Nationalised Industries

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the rates of return in each nationalised industry for the years 1982, 1983 and 1984.

    It is not possible to provide information for each nationalised industry on a comparable basis and no rates of return are yet available for 1984. Available information for earlier years is as follows:

    Rates of Return on Capital Employed—National Accounts Basis
    IndustryRates of Return
    19821983
    Including Subsidy per centExcluding Subsidy per centIncluding Subsidy per centExcluding Subsidy per cent
    Air Support Services (BAA; CAA)5·04·97·47·2
    Air Transport (BA)–3·0–3·06·96·;9
    Other Inland Transport (NBC; STG; LRT)–0·4–16·4–0·2–18·7
    Posts and Telecom (PO; BT)5·55·53·83·8
    Rail (British Railways Board)–2·8–9·6–1·5–8·5
    Shipbuilding (British Shipbuilders)–3·3–5·0–11·6–13·0
    Steel (BSC)–10·7–10·7–9·2–9·2
    Figures for 1982 have been revised, following publication of the 1983 edition of "National Income and Expenditure ' and may, therefore, differ from those given in answer to my hon. Friend's question on 9 April 1984 at column 81underlying the rates of return for industries in the standard industrial classification division 1 (the energy and water supply industries), in particular asset lives assumptions, are at present under review by the CSO. 1983 rates of return, and revised rates for earlier years, are consequently not yet available for these industries.The basis for the calculation of the figures, which relate to all the public corporations in particular standard industrial classifications, was set out in the Treasury evidence to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee in 1981 (published as appendix 12 of volume III of its report "Financing of the Nationalised Industries" HC 348-III). The rates of return given are based on national accounts statistics and, therefore, differ from figures based on nationalised industries published accounts.

    Home Department

    Prisons (Suicides)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted suicides there were in each penal establishment in 1984 and so far in 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the measures taken at Pentonville prison to prevent suicides.

    A recent suicide at Pentonville revealed that there had been a failure in the procedure for checking on inmates at the beginning of the day; the governor has taken action to remedy this and I am not aware of any other specific points of this kind that need attention at Pentonville. I naturally regret the two suicides that have taken place in the prison so far this year, but, taking the figures for the last five years, it is clear that suicide is no more frequent at Pentonville than at other comparable establishments.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the age, sex, prison and accommodation occupied by each of those who committed suicide in penal establishments in 1984.

    The available information is as follows. Details of the location of the prisoners concerned are not recorded centrally.

    AgeSexPrison
    1.44MaleBrixton
    2.31MaleBrixton
    3.33MaleParkhurst
    4.37MaleParkhurst
    5.27MaleNorwich
    6.53MaleWormwood Scrubs
    7.17MaleSwansea
    8.19MalePentonville
    9.23MaleBrixton
    10.47MaleDurham
    11.26MaleNorwich
    12.22MaleExeter
    13.37MaleLeeds
    14.24MalePreston
    15.44MalePortsmouth
    16.43MaleExeter
    17.27MaleBrixton
    18.37MaleShrewsbury
    19.26MaleLewes
    20.24MaleWandsworth
    21.34MaleWakefield
    22.37MaleBrixton

    Young Offenders

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offenders (a) under 17 and (b) under 16 years who have committed indictable offences in each of the last 10 years have been (i) sentenced by courts, (ii) cautioned by the police or (iii) otherwise dealt with respectively.

    Information on offenders sentenced and cautioned for indictable offences is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales" (Chapters 5 and 7 of the issue for 1983, Cmnd. 9349, and in the supplementary volumes). The proportions requested for those aged under 17 are given in the following table. Corresponding information for offenders aged under 16 for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information is not collected centrally on offenders who were dealt with other than by a police caution or court proceedings. Corresponding information for 1984 is not yet available.

    Persons sentenced at all courts or cautioned by police for indictable offences
    England and WalesPercentage of total
    Age and YearSentencedCautioned
    Aged 10 and under 17
    197450·449·6
    197550·749·3
    197652·147·9
    197748·751·3
    197851·049·0
    197949·850·2
    198051·348·7
    198149·650·4
    198246·753·3
    198343·756·3
    Aged 10 and under 16
    198344·255·8

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offenders (a) under 17 and (b) under 16 years who have been dealt with by courts for indictable offences in each of the last 10 years have received custodial sentences and care orders, respectively.

    The information requested for offenders aged under 17 is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1983" (Cmnd. 9349, tables 7A and 7.5–7.8) and also for the year ending 30 June 1984 in tables 2 and 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin 12/85.For offenders aged under 16, about 7 per cent, of those sentenced for indictable offences in 1983 received a custodial sentence (detention centre, borstal or youth custody) and about 4 per cent, were given a care order; corresponding information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Complete information for 1984 is not yet available.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any information is available from research or surveys indicating the percentage of young offenders in custody who had been expelled from school or received home tuition;(2) whether any information is available from research or surveys indicating the percentage of young offenders in custody who have no education qualifications;(3) whether any information is available from research or surveys indicating the percentage of offenders aged 16 to 18 years in custody who were unemployed at the time of their offence or reception;(4) whether any information is available from research or surveys indicating the percentage of young offenders who are from one-parent families.

    There is a body of general research on the factors associated with offending by young people, but we are not aware of any research or surveys which give the specific information requested by the hon. Member.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any information is available from research or surveys indicating the percentage of juvenile offenders in custody who have been in care.

    The reports "Offending by Young People" (DHSS, 1981) and "Tougher Regimes in Detention Centres" (HMSO, 1984) contain relevant information at paragraphs 79 ff and 2.21, respectively.

    Public Disorder (East London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred at Forest Gate, east London, on Saturday 27 April; what was the cause and nature of the disturbance; how many persons were involved; how many persons were arrested; whether there were any injuries; what was the ethnic background of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

    I understand from the Commissioner that these incidents of public disorder occurred in connection with a march organised by the Newham police monitoring group, principally in support of seven people of Asian origin—the Newham seven—who are currently awaiting trial. Following some initial disorder, and the arrest of one demonstrator, the march halted outside Forest Gate police station. Missiles were thrown at police, and there was a sit-down protest. Eventually, after some further incidents of abuse and attacks on police officers, the remaining demonstrators were dispersed by police. A total of 1,500 people, of various ethnic backgrounds, were present at the beginning of the march. During the afternoon 11 police officers and two demonstrators were slightly injured. Thirty-three people were arrested, of whom 10 were white, 11 black and 12 of Asian origin.

    Civil Defence

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities are not meeting the requirements of the 1983 civil defence regulations; and in which respects.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Morrison) on 20 December, in which I said many local authorities had much more to do. As a first step local authorities have been asked to complete the plans required by the 1983 regulations by the end of the year, and the civil defence adviser is currently engaged on a programme of visits to county councils in England and Wales to assess and discuss their progress.

    Prisoners (Police Cells)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost per night of detaining prisoners in police cells.

    The average cost per prisoner/night of prisoners held in Metropolitan police cells during the financial year 1984–85 is estimated at £200. Figures for other forces are not readily available.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the conditions for prisoners detained in police cells;(2) if he is satisfied that prisoners detained in police cells have adequate recourse to exercise;(3) if he is satisfied with the conditions under which prisoners detained in police cells receive visits.

    I am conscious that it is not always possible to ensure that prisoners held in police custody receive all the entitlements that would apply if they were in prison custody and I am aware that there have been particular difficulties in relation to visits and exercise. Nevertheless, the police are doing their best to provide whatever facilities they can under very difficult circumstances.

    Adult malesUnder 21 malesAdult femalesUnder 21 females
    Bedfordshire1
    Dorset2
    Essex20
    Hampshire6
    Hertfordshire421
    Kent281
    Leicestershire4
    Norfolk2
    Northamptonshire32
    Surrey21
    Sussex302
    Thames Valley12
    TOTAL1410342
    Further information is not available centrally.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest period of time prisoners were detained in police cells in 1984.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average period of time that prisoners were detained in police cells in 1984;(2) what is the average period of time that prisoners have been detained in police cells in 1985.

    This information is not available; however, the majority of prisoners held in police cells were there for no more than one or two nights.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is necessary to detain prisoners in police cells.

    The reasons include lack of vacancies in the right place, transport and other logistical problems, and industrial relations difficulties.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed in guarding the 227 prisoners detained in police cells in the Metropolitan area from 16 to 19 February.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the locations in London in which prisoners have been detained in police cells in 1985.

    The Metropolitan police support headquarters at Lambeth, the Highbury Corner, Camberwell Green, Horseferry road and South Western magistrates' courts and, occasionally, a number of police stations.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces outside of the Metropolitan area have detained prisoners in police cells in 1985; why and where they were detained; and what were the prisoners' ages and sex.

    Between 1 January and 30 April prisoners were held in police cells by provincial forces as follows:

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners by age, sex and location detained in police cells at the latest available date.

    On 1–2 May 1985 there were 29 male adults and 11 male young offenders held in police cells, all in the Metropolitan police district.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of time that a prisoner has been detained in police cells in 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost (a) in 1984 and (b) so far in 1985 of police officers guarding prisoners detained in police cells.

    Total expenditure on prisoners in police cells during the financial year 1984–85 was provisionally £2·99 million. A significant proportion of this is, however, attributable to prisoners held during the last months of the previous financial year.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categories of prisoner have been detained in police cells in 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the conditions in which prisoners are detained in police cells.

    In addition to the hon. Member's own letter we currently have one from the chief metropolitan magistrate and one from a member of the public via an hon. Member.

    Prisoners (Statistics)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects there to be a substantial reduction in the prison population.

    Seasonal fluctuations apart, I see no grounds for such an expectation at present.

    Prisoners (Temporary Release)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total expenditure on temporary release of prisoners in the most recent year for which figures are available;(2) what was the total expenditure on home leave of prisoners in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Separate information about expenditure on home leave and temporary release is not available. According to the latest available information, total expenditure on grants and allowances to adult prisoners granted home leave or temporary release in 1984–85 amounted to £232,092.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were granted (a) terminal home leave and (b) short home leave in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    In 1983, the latest year for which figures are yet available, terminal home leave was granted on 1,367 occasions and short home leave on 921.

    Flyposting

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there have been in each of the last three years for unauthorised flyposting.

    Information collected centrally does not distinguish illegal bill posting from other offences against the Town and Country Planning Acts 1968–71.

    Drug Offences (Leeds)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in Leeds in each of the last three years for drugs offences (i) involving cannabis and (ii) involving other drugs.

    The available information for the years 1981 to 1983 is given in the following table; corresponding information for 1984 is not yet available.Persons (1) proceeded against and sentenced at Leeds magistrates' court or at the Crown court after committal at Leeds magistrates' court for drugs offences by type of drug involved.

    Number of persons
    198119821983
    Persons proceeded against for offences involving:
    cannabis only132156165
    cannabis and other drugs71533
    other drugs52016

    1981

    1982

    1983

    Total144191214

    Persons sentenced for offences involving:

    cannabis only124150155
    cannabis and other drugs51432
    other drugs51914
    Total134183201

    (1) The figures are taken from central records and are approximate.

    Community Service Orders

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of attendance by people serving community service orders.

    The responsibility for arranging work for offenders ordered to perform community service rests with probation committees. Subject to the statutory requirement that the hours of work specified in a community service order should be completed within 12 months, the arrangements for attendance of individual offenders are matters for probation committees. In 1983, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the average time taken by offenders to complete their specified hours of work was 6·9 months.

    Departmental Facilities Agreement

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the departmental facilities agreement with the Civil Service trade unions in his Department.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the departmental facilities agreement with the Civil Service trade unions in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

    The official side and trade union side of the Home Office departmental Whitley council agreed last year to operate a new departmental facilities agreement for an experimental period of one year, beginning 1 September 1984. It is too early to say if this is working satisfactorily. The arrangements will be reviewed in the light of experience of the experimental period.

    Crime Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the regular publication of statistics of recorded crime for the different parts of the Metropolitan police district.

    A number of right hon. and hon. Members have indicated to me that they would find it helpful to have regular statistics of recorded crime for the different parts of the Metropolitan police district. I am sympathetic towards this request, and I have therefore been considering, in consultation with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, how such statistics could best be provided. With his agreement, I am making the following arrangements.I shall arrange for a table of notifiable offences recorded by the police in each borough and district in the Metropolitan police district to be placed in the Library each quarter. In addition, a table will be produced at the beginning of each year giving for each borough and district the numbers of offences recorded and the clear-up rate for the whole of the previous year. The first table, covering the first quarter of 1985, will be produced in June. As an interim measure, I am today arranging for tables to be placed in the Library showing the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in each police district within the Metropolitan police district in the third and fourth quarters of 1984 and the clear-up rate for 1984 in each police district. Similar figures for previous quarters back to the beginning of 1983 were contained in a reply given on 12 December 1984, at columns 479–84, to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson).I hope that the arrangements I have made will be helpful to right hon. and hon. Members. The statistics should also prove of interest to local police/community consultative groups since they will relate to the areas covered by the groups and will be available for discussion at group meetings.

    Education And Science

    Policy Statement

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to issue a policy statement, of the type referred to in paragraph 32 of "Better Schools", on education in schools in art, craft, design and technology.

    We propose to publish in due course, and after consultation, policy statements on a number of areas of the school curriculum. The timing and coverage of these statements will depend on the course of the consultations.

    "Curriculum Matters"

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the "Curriculum Matters" series published by Her Majesty's inspectorate will include documents on art, craft, design and technology; and if he will make a statement.

    Her Majesty's inspectorate intends that its "Curriculum Matters" series of discussion documents should cover all the main subjects and aspects of the curriculum for 5 to 16-year-olds, including art and craft, design and technology. The documents are at various stages of preparation and Her Majesty's inspectorate hope that most can be satisfactorily developed ready for publication during the coming year.

    Environment

    House Of Commons (Cleaning)

    15.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who were the private contractors who shared the contract for cleaning the House of Commons with Exclusive prior to Exclusive being given the sole contract in 1982.

    Prior to 1982, the following firms in addition to Exclusive Cleaning and Maintenance (London) held contracts for cleaning parts of the Palace of

    Westminster and the Parliamentary Estate, although the contract for cleaning the House of Commons was not shared;

    • Strand Cleaning Services Ltd., Dulwich
    • Vigiliant Cleaning Services Ltd., London EC1
    • Daily Office Cleaning Contractors Ltd., Staines
    • C. & P. Bygraves Ltd., Streatham

    Improvement Grant System

    16.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish his review of the improvement grant system.

    House Building

    17.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to stimulate house building in the public and private sectors.

    According to the House Builders Federation, four out of five private housebuilders are expecting to maintain or increase starts in the next 12 months.

    Housing Stock

    18.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new initiatives he intends to take in the next few months to improve the state of the housing stock.

    The Government will publish tomorrow a Green Paper outlining new proposals to improve the condition of private housing in England and Wales. My Department has asked English local authorities for a report on the condition of their housing stock. The results are expected in July.Gross housing provision in England in the current year is £3,051 million, of which a substantial part will be spent on improving public sector housing.

    "Decaying Britain"

    20.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Royal Institute of British Architects' publication "Decaying Britain", a copy of which has been sent to him.

    I have read the booklet with interest. I have no doubt that it will be discussed when my right hon. Friend and I meet the Group of Eight on 17 June to consider the NEDO report on the infrastructure.

    Air Pollution

    21.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further proposals he has to reduce levels of air pollution; and whether he will make a statement.

    The Government intend to achieve further reductions in national sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, aiming at a reduction of 30 per cent, from 1980 levels by the end of the 1990s, and it has played a prominent role in the Community negotiations which will lead to tighter vehicle emission controls.

    Northern Regional Industrial Executive

    22.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with members of the proposed northern regional industrial executive.

    The group which I and other Ministers met on 17 April represented a range of interests in the public and private sectors. It described its proposals for a new body to co-ordinate promotion and industrial development in the north of England. Welcoming this positive effort to overcome the region's industrial difficulties, we said that if all the key elements in the region—including the local authorities—think that this initiative is the best way forward, then the Government would be ready to recognise it.

    Development Policy

    23.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards (a) the encouragement of development where it is economically and socially desirable and (b) green belt development in the wealthier parts of Great Britain.

    I refer my hon. Friend to circulars 14/84, 15/84, 16/84 and 22/84 which set out the Government policies on the matters raised in his question.

    Mobile Homes Act 1983

    24.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983.

    No. I do not believe that the 1983 Act requires amendment. I met representatives of mobile home residents, together with my hon. Friend the Member for Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt), on 22 April to discuss how the Act is operating. As a result, my Department will consult further with residents and other interested groups about how the Act can be made to work more effectively.

    South London Boroughs

    25.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the south London boroughs he has visited during the last 12 months.

    I have visited Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Thamesmead which lies in Greenwich and Bexley. My colleagues have visited other south London boroughs.

    Comité Euro-International Du Béton

    26.

    asked the Secretary of State for Environment why the contribution of his Department to the Comité Euro-International du Béton has been reduced.

    The Government's contribution to the British National Committee (BNC) of the Comité Euro-International du Beton (CEB) via the Property Services Agency increased from £2,000 in 1980 to £3,600 in 1984. As the BNC has now opted for a less expensive membership classification in the CEB, a reduced contribution will be appropriate in 1985.

    Asbestos

    27.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional financial support he is giving to local authorities for the removal of asbestos from buildings.

    Funds are not made available specifically for the removal of asbestos, but rate support grant is paid in support of local authority revenue expenditure generally, including expenditure on asbestos. In the case of housing capital expenditure, it is open to any authority to raise the question of expenditure on asbestos in its housing investment programme bid, if it is in receipt of subsidy.

    Borough Council Employees

    28.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many borough council employees there are per thousand head of population in (a) Manchester and (b) Stockport.

    The answer is 78·7 staff per 1,000 population in Manchester and 38·5 in Stockport.

    Canal Improvement

    29.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allocate additional funds to the British Waterways Board to improve canals; and if he will make a statement.

    No. The board already receives adequate support to maintain its canals and to undertake a programme of improvements.

    Public Footpaths

    30.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in the last 12 months about the obstruction of public footpaths.

    Building Land Reclamation

    31.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the speed of building land reclamation in the inner cities.

    In general, yes. This year we will make available £76 million which we estimate will fund the reclamation of between 1,300 and 1,700 hectares. Since 1979 we have reclaimed 7,700 hectares. Much still needs to be done.

    Precast Concrete Houses

    32.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many precast concrete local authority houses there are in (i) Basildon, (ii) Essex and (iii) the United Kingdom; and how many have been sold under the legislation governing local authority house sales.

    Information is not available in the form sought. However, my Department understands that the number of prefabricated concrete dwellings built before 1960 by local authorities and other public sector bodies in the Basildon district council area is 80, the number in Essex approximately 4,500, and the number in the United Kingdom as a whole some 170,000, of which 16,500 are now in private ownership.

    System-Built Housing

    33.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide additional resources to local authorities for the repair and renovation of system-built housing; and if he will make a statement.

    We will be considering what resources should be made available to local authorities for housing investment next year as part of the usual public expenditure planning process. We will take account of the information from the Department's inquiry into the repair and improvement needs of the local authority housing stock, individual authorities' housing investment programme submissions, and all other relevant information.

    Government Purchasing

    34.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes following the conclusions of the recent report by the Management and Personnel Office on Government purchasing.

    My right hon. Friend has welcomed this report. The purchasing organisations for which he has responsibility are submitting action documents describing how the conclusions are to be implemented to the Management and Personnel Office.

    Water Authorities

    35.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in denationalising the water authorities.

    I announced in answer to my hon. Friend on 3 April in column 668–69 that a discussion paper had been sent to water authority chairmen and to the chairman of the Water Companies Association. I hope that they will be able to reply by the end of this month. Meanwhile, I have set up an official working group which is examining the issues involved.

    Air Pollution (Coal-Fired Power Stations)

    36.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor air pollution arising from harmful emissions from coal-fired power stations.

    Her Majesty's industrial air pollution inspectorate requires power station emissions of smoke and fine particulates and, where practicable, grit and dust to be monitored continuously. The CEGB also operates air quality monitoring stations around its power stations, within the framework of the United Kingdom smoke and sulphur dioxide monitoring network. In response to several recent reports, the Government are extending the network of sites monitoring atmospheric levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and ozone and acid deposition.

    City Action Team Policy

    37.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he used in selecting certain inner city areas for designation and help by the city action team; and whether he will consider including the city of Leicester under this scheme.

    The five city action teams have been set up in the inner city partnership areas where they complement existing machinery for joint action. Ministers will keep the work of the teams under review, and consider, in the light of experience, whether other areas would benefit from similar arrangements. Meanwhile, the Government will continue to recognise the needs of the inner city areas of Leicester and other authorities through the urban programme and other programmes.

    Rating

    38.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce the outcome of the Government's consideration of rating reform.

    I refer the hon. member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Evans), my hon. Friends the Members for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) and for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) and the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright).

    Traditional Urban Programme

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the projects submitted to his Department by the London borough of Southwark under circular 25 of the traditional urban programme have been visited by his officials.

    The London borough of Southwark submitted 15 projects under circular 25. An official from my Department visited five and met representatives of the other 10. Those visited were:

    • East Dulwich Community Project
    • Sojourner House
    • Peckham Black Women's Group
    • Community Development for Mentally Handicapped
    • St. Judes Community Centre.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake to make available before the end of May to the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, for its comments, the draft circular for the traditional urban programme; and if he will further undertake not to publish the circular in its final form until he has received the comments of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

    It is normal practice to consult the local authority associations in this way, but I cannot yet give a firm timetable for this year.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations advocating the disbanding of the traditional urban programme; and if he will make a statement.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the traditional urban programme.

    My right hon. Friend will consider the future of the traditional urban programme in the light of the resources available for the urban programme as a whole, and his wish to concentrate them in the most needy areas.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the total financial allocation for the traditional urban programme for each of the years 1979–80 to 1985–86, inclusive.

    Total financial allocations for the traditional urban programme for each of the years 1979–80 to 1985–86 are as follows:

    Allocation £ million
    1979–8030
    1980–8133
    1981–8242
    1982–8347
    1983–8452
    1984–8544
    1985–8640
    The allocation for 1983–84 includes resources for approvals under circular 23 to the eight authorities promoted to programme status in February 1983. From 1984–85 these areas are no longer a call on the traditional urban programme, as continuing projects approved under earlier circulars are included in their inner area programmes.

    Smith Houses

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 5 July 1984, Official Report, column 258, if he will provide an updated list of the constituencies in which Smith houses have been reported to have defects.

    My reply of 5 July 1984 to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Sir R. Eyre), column 258, listed those constituencies in which Smith houses were known to be located. The list is not exhaustive and the hon. lady has recently written to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment pointing out that there are Smith houses in the West Bromwich, West constituency.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available to his Department on the number of Smith system houses in the United Kingdom and the number of such houses in which defects have been reported.

    The information available to the Department shows that some 4,500 Smith houses were built in England and Wales between 1945 and 1955. The Building Research Establishment report on the structural condition of Smith houses found that they are liable to exhibit thermal or moisture movement; but we have no evidence that this has led to any substantial reduction in value. Some Smith houses in Birmingham are defective because of the use of shale fill in their construction but this is not inherent in the Smith system of construction.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will designate Smith houses as a class under section 1 of the Housing Defects Act 1984; and whether he will make a statement.

    I refer the hon. Lady to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) on 31 July 1984, at column 253, and the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 11 March 1985, at column 9, on this subject.

    House Building

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the rate of house building in the public sector.

    The Government's plan for the housing programme set out in the public expenditure White Paper, show provision of over £3 billion this year and for the next two years. Most of this is allocated to local authorities and it is for them to decide how much to spend on new building.

    Ordnance Survey

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the commercial activities of Ordnance Survey.

    The commercial activities of the Ordnance Survey will continue under the conditions clearly set out in the "Guidelines for OS Commercial Activities" published on 26 July 1984.

    Urban Programme

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report allocations approved for each local authority in England under the urban programme phase 25.

    [pursuant to his reply, 17 April 1985, c. 179]: The allocations approved for each local authority in England under the traditional urban programme circular 25 are as follows. A full list of the projects approved under circular 25 will be deposited in the Library.

    £
    London Boroughs
    Barking and Dagenham17,901
    Barnet21,350
    Camden90,000
    Croydon20,777
    Ealing138,417
    Greenwich140,864
    Haringey247,180
    Hounslow50,000
    Kensington and Chelsea79,256
    Lewisham158,000
    Newham399,645
    Southwark165,543
    Waltham Forest183,480
    Westminster85,000
    GLC40,000
    ILEA92,499
    District Councils
    Allerdale100,000
    Barnsley24,760
    Brighton83,700

    £

    Burnley68,620
    Bristol197,969
    Bury5,000
    Calderdale70,533
    Copeland14,670
    Corby72,500
    Darlington21,630
    Derby103,000
    Derwentside64,500
    Doncaster76,427
    Dudley139,800
    Durham30,000
    Easington34,883
    Ellesmere Port and Neston36,000
    Gillingham4,000
    Gravesham1,000
    Grimsby70,000
    Halton24,000
    Hartlepool145,000
    Hastings18,085
    Hyndburn50,000
    Ipswich12,000
    Kirklees174,764
    Lancaster33,000
    Langbaurgh189,370
    Lincoln30,000
    Luton6,480
    Milton Keynes38,774
    Nuneaton and Bedworth59,900
    Oxford20,900
    Pendle38,530
    Peterborough84,810
    Plymouth16,170
    Portsmouth66,700
    Preston90,021
    Rossendale12,000
    Rotherham84,777
    St Helens118,670
    Scunthorpe77,773
    Sedgefield121,652
    Sefton87,902
    Slough8,558
    Solihull36,000
    Southampton30,300
    Stockport71,976
    Stockton-on-Tees114,090
    Stoke-on-Trent92,486
    Tameside110,623
    Trafford183,115
    Wakefield82,100
    Walsall117,167
    Warrington25,000
    Warwick5,000
    Wear Valley93,200
    Wellingborough12,000
    Wigan127,356
    Wrekin80,710

    County Councils

    Avon93,043
    Bedfordshire60,555
    Berkshire13,600
    Buckinghamshire9,800
    Cheshire105,127
    Cornwall47,000
    Cleveland44,500
    Derbyshire165,350
    Devon30,000
    Durham52,671
    East Sussex28,332
    Essex20,000
    Hampshire60,610
    Hereford and Worcester21,820
    Humberside58,603
    Kent30,650
    Lancashire53,548
    Leicestershire66,500

    £

    Merseyside7,600
    Northamptonshire36,079
    North Yorkshire17,500
    Shropshire37,750
    Somerset9,934
    South Yorkshire50,372
    Staffordshire14,040
    Warwickshire2,750
    West Midlands32,736
    West Yorkshire70,000
    Wiltshire17,000

    Rates

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present average rateable value in each local authority in England of (a) domestic ratepayers, (b) commercial ratepayers and (c) industrial ratepayers; and if he will publish a table.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 303–4]: Latest available information relates to April 1984. I have today placed this in the Library.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the average rates payments for (a) domestic ratepayers, (b) commercial ratepayers and (c) industrial ratepayers for each local authority in England.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 303–4]: Latest available estimates of average rate payments relate to 1984–85. I have today placed these in the Library.

    Quarry Hills Lane, Lichfield

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his decision will be announced in respect of the public inquiry held in January into the section 212 proposals for the possible closure of Quarry Hills lane, Lichfield.

    I have been asked to reply. I expect to announce my decision shortly.

    Birds (Public Health)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the apparent danger to public health and the location, caused by feral pigeons, house sparrows, herring gulls and starlings for which licences to kill the birds were granted in 1984 and 1985.

    I have been asked to reply.Feral pigeons, house sparrows, starlings and herring gulls can carry bacterial diseases transmissible to humans.Licences to kill these species were issued in the areas set out in my reply to the hon. Member of 25 April at column 544. In view of the large numbers of licences involved, it is not practicable to list every location.

    Bullfinches

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the reasons for the granting of a licence to kill bullfinches in 1984 and 1985; if he will list the sites where they were killed; and if he will estimate the number of birds killed.

    The general licence to kill or take bullfinches in 1984 and 1985, issued by my Department in consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council, permits fruit growers in certain specified areas to control bullfinches to prevent serious damage to the buds of fruit trees or fruit bushes.

    The areas where fruit growers are permitted to take action are set out in the following table.

    As agreed with the NCC, statistics on the numbers of bullfinches killed or taken are not required. It is not therefore possible to estimate the number of birds killed.

    WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981 AREAS IN WHICH BULLFINCHES MAY BE KILLED OR TAKEN

    In the county of Bedfordshire, the parish of Cockayne Hatley.

    In the county of Berkshire, the parishes of Bucklebury, Hungerford and Cookham.

    In the county of Buckinghamshire, the district of Chiltern, and the parishes of Cheddington, Drayton Parslow, Iver, Chepping Wycombe and Wooburn.

    In the county of Cambridgeshire, the districts of East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdon and South Cambridgeshire.

    The county of Essex.

    In the county of Gloucestershire, the districts of Cotswold, Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury, and the parish of Wotton-under-Edge. In the county of Hampshire, the districts of Fareham, Havant and Winchester (City), and the parishes of Bramshott and Liphook, Selboume, West End, South Warnborough, Hordle, Lymington and Pennington, Braishfield and Leckford.

    In the county of Hertfordshire, the parishes of Cottered, Hertingfordbury, Bygrave, Colney Heath and Harpenden Rural.

    The county of Hereford and Worcester.

    The county of Kent.

    In the county of Lincolnshire, the district of South Holland, and the parishes of Wyberton, North Scarle and Dowsby.

    In the county of Greater London (SE), the London Borough of Bromley.

    The county of Norfolk.

    In the county of Northamptonshire, the parish of Nether Heyford.

    In the county of Oxfordshire, the districts of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

    In the county of Shropshire, the district of South Shropshire, and the parishes of Prees and Lilleshall.

    The county of Suffolk.

    In the county of Surrey, the districts of Elmbridge, Runnymede, Tandridge, Waverley and Woking, and the parish of Charlwood. In the county of East Sussex, the districts of Rother and Wealden, and the parish of Newick.

    In the county of West Sussex, the districts of Arun, Chichester, Horsham and Mid-Sussex.

    In the county of Warwickshire, the district of Stratford-on-Avon, and the parishes of Brandon and Bretford, Monks Kirby and Sherbourne.

    In the county of Wiltshire, the parishes of Wilcot, Box and Bowerchalke.

    Trade And Industry

    Package Holidays

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's investigation into the supply of package holidays by tour operators through travel agents.

    Telecommunications Development

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government have completed their initial consideration of the report of the Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development; and if he will make a statement.

    Yes. The Government have, in consultation with other interested parties, completed their initial review of the commission's report and I have written to the secretary-general of the International Telecommunications Union with our comments. Points included in my letter are:

  • —we endorse the Commission's general approach and support many of its recommendations;
  • —we already provide substantial financial and technical development assistance for telecommunications under bilateral and multilateral aid programmes;
  • —individual developing countries will wish to consider the weight to be given to telecommunications development in the light of their particular priorities; we are ready to review with recipient countries the relative priority for telecommunications under our aid programmes;
  • —we support the concept, outlined in the report, for a Centre for Telecommunications Development but this proposal must be further developed before finance is sought from the private sector.
  • I have arranged for a copy of the commission's report and of my letter to the secretary-general to be placed in the Library of the House.

    Ceramic Sanitaryware

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give full details of the representations made to him by the ceramic industry regarding the state aid given by the Belgian Government to Boch S.A.; and what action his Department is taking to protect the interests of British ceramic sanitaryware manufacturers.

    The Council of British Ceramic Sanitaryware Manufacturers and others have made representations to my Department on a number of occasions about the damaging effects of imports of subsidised ceramic sanitaryware produced by Boch S.A.We have repeatedly made clear to the Commission, whose responsibility it is to enforce the state aid provisions of the treaty, our concern about the deleterious effects of these subsidised imports on British manufacturers. Indeed I discussed this personally with Commissioner Sutherland in February and continue to press him for a satisfactory conclusion to this matter.

    Regional Aid (Jobs)

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs have been created directly as a result of regional development grants and regional selective financial assistance in each region of the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; and if he will estimate the number of jobs resulting indirectly.

    There are no estimates available for the number of jobs created as a result of regional development grants alone over the last 12 months. Estimates are, however, available of the employment expected to be created or safeguarded by projects receiving offers of assistance under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 (Regional Selective Assistance) in the regions and counties of Great Britain and projects receiving offers of selective assistance in Northern Ireland. These estimates are shown in the table below. We have no evidence about the number of jobs resulting indirectly, but our normal assumption is that for every 100 jobs created in manufacturing in a region, there will be another 40 jobs created in other industries within the region.

    Employment Expected to be Created or Safeguarded by Projects in Receipt of Offers of Section 7 Assistance (Great Britain) or Selective Financial Assistance (Northern Ireland) During 1984–85 by Standard Region and County

    Number

    North12,889
    North West5,204
    Yorkshire and Humberside2,655
    East Midlands1,700
    West Midlands259
    South West2,195
    Scotland24,213
    Wales17,080
    Northern Ireland15,862

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the cost-per-job limit set on projects financed by regional development grants and regional selective financial assistance.

    Under the new regional development grant scheme the grant payable in respect of the carrying out of an approved project is the higher of 15 per cent. of RDG eligible capital expenditure, subject to a grant-per-job limit of £10,000 for each net new job created or £3,000 for each such job. The grant-per-job limit does not apply to the first £500,000 of RDG eligible expenditure on a project which is carried out by an undertaking which, together with any associated undertaking, employs 200 or fewer people. In the case of manufacturing projects, grant calculated on the basis of jobs created may not, because of a requirement of the European Community, exceed 40 per cent. of the total capital expenditure involved in the project.Regional selective assistance is negotiated on the basis of the minimum grant necessary to enable a project to go ahead. Internal negotiating guidance is not revealed publicly.

    Honduras

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the volume and value of trade with Honduras for each year since 1975.

    [pursuant to the reply, 7 May 1985, c. 316]: Information relating to volume is not available for individual countries. The available information is as follows:

    Value £ million
    United Kingdom importsUnited Kingdom exports
    19750·74·2
    19760·54·6
    19771·17·0
    19782·28·4
    19794·09·0
    19808·711·8
    19814·18·6
    19824·74·7
    19837·19·6
    1984*12·47·4

    Source: Data corresponding to United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics Table IB.

    Notes:

    (i) all data is on a SITC/R2 basis.

    (ii) United Kingdom imports are valued cif, United Kingdom exports are valued fob.

    (iii) * 1984 figures are provisional.

    Telecommunications Equipment

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that British manufacturers of telecommunications equipment enjoy the same access to the Swedish market as Swedish manufacturers of telecommunications equipment have to the British market.

    [pursuant to the reply, 3 May 1985, c. 276]: Access to other markets by British manufacturers of telecommunications equipment can be impeded by technical requirements and by procurement policies in the markets concerned. The position is unsatisfactory and, where this is so, I shall continue to bring to the attention of other administrations the advantages, both to users and to suppliers, of greater liberalisation.

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of telecommunications equipment which is assembled in the United Kingdom is manufactured locally, by ex-factory percentage of value; and what proportion of this value is accounted for by labour and what by component.

    [pursuant to the reply, 3 May 1985, c. 276]: This information is not available from official statistics.

    Energy

    Renewable Energy (R And D)

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the recent review of the renewable energy research and development programme and the Advisory Council on Research and Development recommendations on that review before making a decision on the future of the programme.

    My colleagues and I are now considering how renewable energy research and development can best be carried forward during the next few years. We have the benefit of analyses by our Energy Technology Support Unit and the Department's Renewable Energy Advisory Committee as well as recent advice from my chief scientific adviser and the Advisory Council on R and D (ACORD). I expect to make an announcement to the House during the next few weeks and to make available supporting documents including details of ACORD's role in the current review of renewables.

    British Petroleum

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many copies of the most recent annual report of British Petroleum have been received by his Department; how many were received of the previous such report; and if he will make a statement.

    North Sea Gas

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the quantity of gas flared off in the North sea in 1984, 1983, 1982 and 1981.

    The quantity of gas flared in the North sea during the last four years is as follows:

    (million cubic metres/day)
    YearGas flared
    198111·54
    198211·09
    19839·67
    19848·65
    Over the same period, production of oil has increased by over 40 per cent. from 89·4 million tonnes to 125·9 million tonnes.

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give renewed consideration to a gas-gathering project for the North sea to collect some of the gas currently flared.

    Substantial progress is already being made within the offshore industry in reducing levels of gas flaring, through reinjection, piping gas to shore in solution with oil, improvements in the design and efficiency of plant and through construction of gas gathering schemes. All these contribute significantly to the Government's objective of securing maximum economic recovery of reserves. We shall continue to pursue vigorously that objective.

    Nuclear Installations Inspectors

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the implications of dispersal of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectors, for the dates for commissioning the Heysham 2 and Torness power stations.

    I am advised by the Health and Safety Commission that dispersal of HM NII will not have any implications for the anticipated commissioning dates of the Heysham 2 and Torness power stations.

    Nuclear Power Stations

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those Magnox nuclear power stations which will reach 20 years' operation within the next two years.

    The information is as follows:

    • Hinkley Point 'A'—(1985)
    • Trawsfynydd—(1985)
    • Dungeness 'A'—(1985)
    • Sizewell 'A'—(1986)

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list those Magnox nuclear power stations which have been operating for over 20 years; whether Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has re-endorsed the safety cases for those stations listed; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received from Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate concerning safety reviews of the older Magnox nuclear power stations operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board in order for their operation to continue beyond their original nominal design life of 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

    I have received no representations from Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate concerning safety reviews of the older Magnox nuclear power stations operated by the CEGB and SSEB.The following Magnox nuclear power stations have been operating for over 20 years:

    • Calder Hall
    • Chapel Cross
    • Bradwell
    • Berkeley
    • Hunterston 'A'

    The safety of nuclear power reactors in the United Kingdom is the subject of continuous assessment. Each nuclear power reactor is required by a condition of its nuclear site licence to be shut down every two years for examination, inspection, maintenance and testing. The reactor cannot be started up after its shut-down until Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is satisfied that it is safe to operate and consent has been given by the Health and Safety Executive.

    In addition, the NII and the licensees of these nuclear power stations agreed some years ago that a review would be undertaken by the licensee of each station's safety features and performance after some 20 years of operation. Such a review is either completed or under way for each station.

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will instruct Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to carry out a fully-detailed assessment of the safety cases for Heysham 2 and Torness nuclear power stations to the standard of assessment of the Sizewell B pressurised water reactor before these stations are allowed to operate.

    Heysham 2 and Torness are the latest of a line of advanced gas cooled reactors of a design familiar to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and for which there have been many years of operational experience in the United Kingdom. They were licensed in 1980 by the Health and Safety Executive after a comprehensive assessment of the pre-construction safety reports by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.The assessment of the safety case for Heysham 2 and Torness is being made to similar standards as those for Sizewell 'B'.

    Overseas Development

    Ethiopia And Sudan (Food Aid)

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much food aid has been promised by the European Communities and the United Kingdom to Ethiopia and Sudan for 1985; and how much has been delivered so far in the current year.

    The figures are as follows:

    Tonnes of wheat or wheat equivalent
    EthiopiaSudan
    1. European Community
    Commitments200,00094,000
    Deliveries*70,00029,400
    2. United Kingdom
    Commitments15,00045,000
    Deliveries15,000†10,000

    Notes:

    * Includes deliveries from commitments made in 1984 and 1985.

    †The remaining 35,000 tonnes will reach Sudan during May.

    International Fund For Agricultural Development

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government intend to make an additional contribution to the international fund for agricultural development.

    The Government intend to make a contribution to the second replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, if and when the replenishment is approved by the donors. The question of additional contributions, outside the replenishment, cannot arise until after the replenishment itself has been set in place.

    CommitteeChairmanDate appointedDate of report
    Committee on the Status of The Welsh LanguageSir David Hughes Parry, QC*30 July 1963October 1965
    Committee of Inquiry into Allegations of ill treatment of patients and other irregularities at the Ely Hospital, CardiffMr. Geoffrey Howe, QC27 August 196727 March 1969
    Committee of Inquiry into water charges in the area of the Welsh National Water Development AuthoritySir Goronwy Daniel4 September 19745 March 1975
    Council for the Welsh languageMr. Ben G. JonesOctober 19761978
    * Established by the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, but reported to the Secretary of State for Wales.

    Rhymney Valley (Deprivation)

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer on 22 April, Official Report, column 605, about deprivation in the Rhymney Valley, how many reports were sent to the Rhymney Valley council; to whom and under what terms; when he received the report; what action he took upon the report; and whether he will now send a copy to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.

    One copy of the area improvement renewal policy report was sent to the director of environmental services of Rhymney Valley district council. As the report had not been commissioned for publication, the copy was sent to him on a personal basis; but the Department accepted that he would take account of its contents in advising his council. The report was received in April 1984 and it has been taken into account in formulating the Welsh Office input to the inter-departmental review of private sector improvement policy, resulting in a Green Paper which will be issued this month. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him on 29 April 1985, in columns 16–17.

    Job Creation

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the cost per job created as a result of the European Coal and Steel Community funds to projects in Wales over the past 12 months for which figures are available; and how this compares with equivalent figures for all European Economic Community funds and the Government's own regional industrial policy, respectively.

    As many projects benefit simultaneously from aid from more than one of these sources, it would be misleading to relate the value of European Coal and Steel funds provided in any year to an expected number of jobs in the form of a cost per job ratio. For the same reason, it is not possible to draw a valid

    Wales

    Departmental Committees Of Inquiry

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many departmental committees of inquiry he and his predecessors have established since 1964; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

    The information requested is set out below. It does not include either departmental working parties chaired by permanent officials or inquiries undertaken by one individual.comparison in cost per job terms between ECSC aid, European Community aid as a whole and assistance provided under the Government's regional industrial policy.

    Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

    Drugs

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other Foreign Ministers regarding concerted action to prevent raw drugs entering Europe from other parts of the world; and if any initiatives are planned in conjunction with Third world Governments.

    My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend had discussions with other Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers at the economic summit on 3 May about the misuse of drugs. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House yesterday, it was clear that almost every country was deeply concerned about the effects of drugs and anxious to ensure that we could do more to combat drug trafficking. It was agreed to set up an expert committee to see what further could be done. These discussions were part of our continuing co-operative efforts, both bilateral and multilateral, in this field. These efforts are described more fully in the recent published summary of our strategy "Tackling Drug Abuse".

    Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations accredited with observer status at the non-proliferation treaty conference to be held in Geneva through September.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 31 January, in column 274. Non-governmental organisations may attend meetings of the plenary and of the main committees as observers. Those wishing to do so should inform the provisional secretary general of the review conference, who may be found at the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs in New York.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the conclusion of the preparatory committee meeting on 3 May of the non-proliferation treaty review conference.

    The conclusion of the recent meeting of the preparatory committee for the non-proliferation treaty review conference was that the conference should now start on 27 August 1985 and that there should be three, instead of two, main committees for the performance of its functions.

    Nuclear Tests

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the announcement by the Soviet ambassador to the United States of America, that his Government are prepared to implement a moratorium on Soviet nuclear tests on 6 August; and if he will make a statement.

    The Soviet proposal calls for a moratorium on nuclear weapons testing by all states. Declaratory statements of this nature do nothing to resolve the outstanding problems of verification which continue to surround any agreement on nuclear testing constraints. These problems we believe to be as great in the case of a moratorium as in a comprehensive test ban. The Soviet announcement also appears to overlook the problem of peaceful nuclear explosions which must be covered by a comprehensive test ban. We continue to seek progress towards the latter at the Geneva conference on disarmament.

    Pakistan

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have had any recent discussions with Pakistan concerning that country rejoining the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.

    The Pakistan Government have referred to this issue on a number of occasions. It is of course a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole to decide.

    Embassies And High Commissions

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give a breakdown year by year since 1979 of manpower levels in British embassies or high commissions in eastern Europe, western Europe, north America, south America and central America.

    The information requested is not readily available but is being compiled. I will write to the hon. Member.

    Consulate-General (Stuttgart)

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he decided to close the British consulate-general in Stuttgart.

    Only modest use was being made by British exporters of the general export promotion services provided by the consulate-general and it was decided in 1983 that, following the pattern established in France and Switzerland, documentary consular work in the Federal Republic of Germany should be centralised in Dusseldorf. A marketing office has, however, been established in Stuttgart to assist in identifying opportunities for British exporters in the high technology field. An honorary consul-general has also been appointed.

    Northern Ireland

    Less Favoured Areas Boundaries

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of appeals against the proposed less favoured areas boundaries received by 1 April.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 346]: A total of 4,520 representations have been received by the Northern Ireland less favoured areas independent panel against exclusion from the 28 February 1984 redefinition of the less favoured areas.

    Castlereagh (Grant Aid)

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has approved the submission to the European Economic Community of an application by Castlereagh borough council for a loan towards the cost of the Robinson leisure centre.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 347]: No such application has been received.

    Medical Cards

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for new medical cards were received by the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for Health and Social Services in the current year during January, February, March, April and including those received at the Belfast office on Friday 3 May.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 348]: The Central Services Agency does not normally maintain records of the number of applications for new medical cards. However, approximately 25,000 such applications were received between 29 April and 6 May 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new medical cards have been issued during 1985 altogether to date to Northern Ireland applicants.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 348]: Information on the number of medical cards issued is not normally maintained. The number of cards issued up to 7 May by the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the Health and Social Services, since detailed figures began to be kept on 29 April, was 23,500.

    House Of Commons

    Departmental Committees Of Inquiry

    asked the Lord Privy Seal how many departmental committees of inquiry the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and his predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

    asked the Lord Privy Seal how many departmental committees of inquiry the Lord President of the Council and his predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

    One departmental committee of inquiry was set up by Lord Hailsham of St. Marylebone during his time as Lord President of the Council. It was commissioned on 20 December 1961 to consider and advise on the extent of the participation of Her Majesty's Government in research and radio astronomy under the chairmanship of Lord Fleck and reported in April 1965.

    Written Answers

    asked the Lord Privy Seal why, pursuant to the answer by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth on 26 April, Official Report, columns 571–2, about the percentage of gross domestic product disbursed by the public sector since 1970, the information was not published in the Official Report in the form of a graph.

    The Hansard Press does not have the facilities to reproduce graphs. There are a number of technical difficulties which it would be costly to surmount.

    Employment

    Youth Training Scheme

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment the Manpower Services Commission has made of the extra cost of having a trainee allowance of £55 per week on the youth training scheme and the impact such cost would have on the money available for training.

    No such assessment has been made by the Manpower Services Commission, but, if the number of entrants and their duration on the youth training scheme remained at their planned levels, the cost of increasing the trainee allowance to £55 per week would be around £430 million in 1985–86. This would result in more than the whole of the £780 million set aside for the scheme in 1985–86 being required for the allowance, with no funds at all being available to meet other training costs. Clearly, the scheme could not possibly be operated on such a basis. Were the allowance to be increased to £55, the only way that the scheme could continue to provide training of the present kind and quality within existing funding would be by greatly reducing the number of youngsters on the scheme.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme providers reported to the last meeting of the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board, the number and proportion of trainees on mode A, mode B1 and mode B2 schemes, respectively, who will spend fewer than 13 weeks off-the-job training.

    [pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1985, c. 144]: The survey of youth training scheme providers, which covered 49,764 trainees (38,756 on mode A, 7,599 on mode B1 and 3,409 on mode B2) shows the minimum length of off-the-job training offered by schemes in the 1983–84 year. In modes A and B2 the proportion of trainees on schemes offering a minimum of less than 13 weeks off-the-job training was 2 per cent., which is not considered statistically significant. The survey shows that mode A schemes were offering on average a minimum of 15 weeks off-the-job training and 19 weeks on average for mode B2 schemes. For mode B1 the survey indicated that 7 per cent. of the trainees covered were on schemes which offered a minimum of less than 13 weeks off-the-job training though, on average, mode B1 schemes were offering a minimum of 15 weeks off-the-job training.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme leavers reported to the last meeting of the youth training board, the number and proportion of mode A, mode B1 and mode B2 work experience placements provided in each of the industrial categories used in the survey, and in each of the occupational training families.

    [pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1985, c. 144]: Information is not available in the precise form requested. The youth training scheme providers survey did not collect information on the number and proportion of work experience places by occupational training families, nor did it cover work placements provided in mode B1.The survey covered 28,586 mode A and 2,032 mode B2 work placements and the table shows the industrial distribution of these placements by standard industrial classification.

    Industrial distribution of work experience placements 1983–84
    Industry (SIC 1980)Mode A per cent.Mode B2 per cent.
    0 Agriculture, forestry, fishing2*0
    1 Energy and water*0
    2 Extractions; manufacture of metals, minerals, chemicals41
    3 Metal goods, engineering, vehicles1217
    4 Other manufacturing613
    5 Construction49
    6 Distribution, hotel and catering, repairs4137
    7 Transport and communication13
    8 Banking, finance, insurance, business services62
    9 Other services2217
    Not stated3*0
    * Less than 0·5 per cent. but more than 0·0 per cent.
    The column totals do not add up to exactly 100 per cent. due to rounding.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme providers reported to the last meeting of the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board (a) the number and proportion of mode A managing agents who require prospective trainees to have one or more O-levels and (b) the number and proportion of mode B1 and mode B2 sponsors, respectively, who require prospective trainees to have one or more O-levels.

    [pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1985, c. 144]: The youth training scheme providers survey covered a sample of 464 managing agents and sponsors (236 mode A schemes, 148 mode B1 schemes and 80 mode B2 schemes). The proportions of these schemes requiring some or all of their trainees to have one or more O-levels are:

    Percentage
    Mode A15
    Mode B12
    Mode B23

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme providers reported to the last meeting of the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board, the number and proportion of mode A managing agents who deploy, per 100 trainees (a) fewer than three (b) from three to five, (c) from six to eight, (d) from nine to 11, (e) from 12 to 14 and (f) more than 14 full-time equivalent staff in managing, administering, and providing off-the-job training for their scheme.

    [pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1985, c. 144]: The information requested from the youth training scheme providers survey, which covered a representative sample of 236 mode A managing agents, is as follows. The ratio of staff to trainees is very largely dependent on the extent to which a managing agent subcontracts off-the-job training to other providers.

    Number of full-time equivalent staff per 100 trainees*Percentage of managing agents
    Fewer then 39
    3–519
    6–820
    9–1111
    12–1410
    More then 1430
    Not answered1
    * Refers to filled places in March 1984.

    Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the cost of dispersal of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to Bootle; and if he will make a statement.

    It is not possible to estimate the total costs of the dispersal of Health and Safety Executive staff to Merseyside, nor to separate the dispersal costs of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate from those for the other parts of the Health and Safety Executive which are being dispersed.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the reasons for the dispersal of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to Bootle; and if he will make a statement.

    The Government decided in 1979 that as part of a broader dispersal programme the majority of the Health and Safety Executive's London based headquarters staff should disperse to Merseyside. A policy branch is being established in the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and this will remain in London when the rest of the inspectorate goes to Merseyside.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current establishment of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and how this compares with the number of staff currently in post.

    The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's current manpower plan provides for 102 inspectors and 51 support staff at 1 April 1985. There were then 102 inspectors and 54 support staff in post.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the current level of staff of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is adequate to enable it to discharge its functions.

    The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is currently staffed to its planned level.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will assess the likely effects of dispersal of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to Bootle on the assessment of the safety of power stations.

    The Health and Safely Commission attach the utmost importance to maintaining safety standards for nuclear power stations. The inspectorate's move to Bootle should not result in a fall in standards. The Health and Safety Executive is making every effort to minimise temporary disruption of work for those, including the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, who are being dispersed.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the number of visits by members of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to nuclear licensed sites in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

    The number of separately identifiable visits is:

    YearNumber of visits
    1980467
    1981509
    1982449
    1983491
    1984436

    Labour Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the lastest available figures for the number of persons engaged in full-time employment and the number of persons who are unemployed or engaged in full-time job creation activity.

    The following information is in the Library. In December 1984, the lastest date for which information is available, there were an estimated 23,655,000 persons in the employed labour force in Great Britain. Included in this total were 4,282,000 female employees in employment who worked part-time. The number of part-time workers in the other components of the employed labour force—that is, male employees in employment the self-employed and HM forces—is not available.On 6 December 1984 the number of unemployed claimants in Great Britain was 3,100,005. The total number of people engaged full-time in job creation activity is estimated to have been about 319,000 at the end of December.

    EC NumberTitleAction
    79/622/EECCouncil Directive of 25 June 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the roll-over protection structures of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (static testing).The Agricultural or Forestry Tractors and Tractor Components (Type Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981 No. 669) (made by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Secretary of State for Scotland) and the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) (Amendment) Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 605).
    79/831/EECCouncil Directive of 18 September 1979 amending for the sixth time Directive No. 67/548/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.The Notification of New Substances Regulations 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1496) and The Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1244)
    80/720/EECCouncil Directive of 24 June 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the operating space, access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors.The Agricultural or Forestry Tractors and Tractor Components (Type Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981 No. 669) (made by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Secretary of State for Scotland).
    80/781/EECCouncil Directive of 22 July 1980 amending Directive 73/173/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (solvents).The Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1244).
    80/836/EuratomCouncil Directive of 15 July 1980 amending the Directives laying down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.Proposals for ionising radiation regulations and approved code of practice set out in HSC consultative document in November 1982 will be completed shortly.
    80/876/EECCouncil Directive of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to straight ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content.The Fertilizers (Amendment) Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1592).
    80/987/EECCouncil Directive of 20 October 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employers.Sections 121–127 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 as extended by the Insolvency of Employers (Excluded Classes) Regulations 1983 (SI 1983 No. 624).
    80/1107/EECCouncil Directive of 27 November 1980 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work.Implemented by various provisions of
    (i) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
    (ii) Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
    (iii) Employment (Consolidation) Act 1978
    (iv) Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980
    (v) Asbestos (Licensing Regulations 1983
    80/1189/EECCouncil Directive of 4 December 1980 providing for the technical adaptation, consequent upon the accession of the Hellenic Republic to the European Communities, of Directive 67/548/EEC on dangerous substances.The Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1244).
    80/1271/EECCouncil Directive of 22 December 1980 providing for the adaptation, consequent upon the accession of the Hellenic Republic to the European Communities, of Council Directive 73/173/EEC on the approximation of Member States' laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (solvents).The Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1244).
    81/187/EECCouncil Directive of 26 March 1981 amending Directive 78/631/EEC on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (pesticides).No action necessary. The Directive postpones the implementation date of Directive 78/631/EEC.

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the details of each directive relevant to his Department from the EEC since 1979; and what action he has taken in each case.

    [pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1985, c. 190]: The information requested is set out in the table. It relates to directives adopted by the EC Council of Ministers since May 1979 and for the implementation of which my right hon. Friend has overall responsibility in Great Britain.

    EC Number

    Title

    Action

    81/1051/EECCouncil Directive of 7 December 1981 amending Directive 79/113/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the determination of the noise emission of construction plant and equipment.No action necessary. This Directive amends Directive (79/113/EEC) which lays down the means by which noise from construction plant and equipment is to be measured.
    82/130/EECCouncil Directive of 15 February 1982 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning electrical equipment for the use in potentially explosive atmospheres in mines susceptible to firedamp.The Mines (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1983 (SI 1983 N0. 1130).
    82/501/EECCouncil Directive of 24 June 1982 on the major-accident hazards of certain industrial activities.The Control of Industrial Accident Hazards Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1902).
    82/605/EECCouncil Directive of 28 July 1982 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to metallic lead and its ionic compounds at work (First individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC).The amendment of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 and the revision of the HSC Approved Code of Practice and Guidance Note will be completed shortly.
    83/265/EECCouncil Directive of 16 May 1983 amending Directive 77/729/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of paints, varnishes, printing inks, adhesives and similar products.The Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984 (SI 1984 No. 1244)
    83/477/EECCouncil Directive of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC).HSC Consultative Document proposing regulations on the Control of Asbestos at Work published on 12 December 1984.
    83/478/EECCouncil Directive of 19 September 1983 amending for the fifth time (asbestos) Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations.The draft Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations and the labelling requirements in the draft Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations will implement this Directive.
    84/467/EuratomCouncil Directive of 3 September 1984 amending Directive 80/836/Euratom as regards the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.Proposals for ionising regulations and approved code of practice set out in HSC Consultative Document of November 1982 will be completed shortly.
    84/525/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to seamless, steel gas cylinders.HSC Consultative Document on draft Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations published on 12 July 1984.
    84/526/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to seamless, unalloyed aluminium and aluminium alloy gas cylinders.HSC Consultative Document on draft Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations published on 12 July 1984.
    84/527/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to welded unalloyed steel gas cylinders.HSC Consultative Document on draft Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations published on 12 July 1984.
    84/528/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for lifting and mechanical handling appliances.All necessary action undertaken in relation to Directive 84/529/EEC.
    84/529/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrically-operated lifts.Following consultation, the Department of Trade and Industry is arranging for test facilities and inspection body.
    84/530/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for appliances using gaseous fuels, safety and control devices for these appliances and methods of surveillance of them.Will be implemented by Safety Orders under The Energy Conservation Act 1981.
    84/531/EECCouncil Directive of 17 September 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to appliances using gaseous fuels for instantaneous production of hot water for sanitary purposes.Will be implemented by Safety Orders under The Energy Conservation Act 1981.

    Scotland

    Broadleaved Woodland

    39.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about policies for the conservation of broadleaved woodland.

    The Forestry Commission is conducting a review of policies for broadleaved woodland. My right hon. Friend expects to make a statement to the House before the summer recess.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to ensure that agreement is reached between the Forestry Commission, the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission over management guidelines for broadleaved woodlands before any statement is made to the House regarding changes in policies for broadleaved woodland.

    My right hon. Friend intends to make a statement on a policy for broadleaved woodlands by the summer recess. The Forestry Commission's aim is to agree the main terms of management guidelines for such woodlands with the Nature Conservancy Council and the two countryside commissions before that statement is made.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 25 April 1985, Official

    SubjectDate establishedChairmanDate reported
    Departmental Committees of Inquiry: Established by Secretary of State for Scotland acting alone
    Employment of Children in the Potato Harvest23 September 1955Sir Hugh Rose, Bt, TDApril 1956
    Qualifications of Teachers in Schools holding the Teacher's Technical Certificate29 March 1956H. H. Donnelly1956
    DiligenceJuly 1956Sheriff Hector McKechnie, QC, LLDJune 1958
    Civil Jury Trial in Scotland21 November 1957The Hon. Lord StrachanNovember 1959
    Legal Aid in Civil Proceedings19 December 1957The Hon. Lord GuthrieMay 1960
    Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act 194916 January 1958I. H. Shearer, QCJuly 1958
    Local Contributions to the Scottish Universities8 August 1958The Hon. Lord Sorn, MC, LLDJanuary 1959
    Scottish Licensing Law (First Report)13 August 1959The Hon. Lord GuestNovember 1960
    Scottish Licensing Law (Second Report)13 August 1959The Hon. Lord GuestJune 1963
    Registration of Title to Land in Scotland25 September 1959The Rt. Hon. Lord ReidJuly 1963
    Children and Young Persons in Scotland29 May 1961The Hon. Lord KilbrandonApril 1964
    Arrangements for the Award and Withdrawal of Certificates of Competency to Teach9 November 1961Rt. Hon. Lord WheatleyJune 1963
    Scottish Salmon and Trout Fisheries (First Report)12 March 1962The Hon. Lord HunterJuly 1963
    Scottish Salmon and Trout Fisheries (Second Report)12 March 1962The Hon. Lord HunterAugust 1965
    Generation and Distribution of Electricity in Scotland7 September 1962C. H. MacKenzieNovember 1962
    The Sheriff Court8 August 1963Rt. Hon. Lord Grant, TDJuly 1967
    Crime Recording, Scottish Criminal Statistics5 November 1963Lord Thomson, QCAugust 1968
    Aberdeen Typhoid Outbreak29 June 1964Sir David Milne, GCBDecember 1984
    Conveyancing Legislation and Practice16 June 1964Professor J. M. Halliday, MA, LLBDecember 1966
    General Medical Services in the Highlands and Islands1964The Hon. Lord Birsay, CBE, DL, LLD, FEISJune 1967
    Measures to Secure of More Equitable Distribution of Teachers in Scotland11 February 1965Dame Jean Roberts, DBE1966
    Regulation of Scottish Inshore Fisheries8 December 1967The Lord Cameron, DSC, DL, LDD, FRSE, HRSA, QCDecember 1970
    Marriage Law of Scotland9 May 1967The Hon. Lord Kilbrandon, LLDMay 1969
    Moral and Religious Education in Scottish Schools1968Professor W. Malcolm Millar, CBE1972
    Commercial RatingAugust 1968Professor D. S. Anderson, MA, CAJuly 1970
    Training of Staff for Centres for the Mentally Handicapped1969Charles Melville, MA, MEd1973
    Adult EducationMay 1970Professor K. J. W. Alexander1975
    Secondary Education of Physically Handicapped Children in ScotlandOctober 1970Councillor P. T. McCann, JP, BL1975
    Scottish Licensing Law2 April 1971Dr. Christopher ClaysonAugust 1973
    Future of the Dundee Institute of Art and TechnologyAugust 1972Sir Charles H. Wilson, MA, LLD, DLitt, DCL1973
    Truancy and Indiscipline in SchoolsJuly 1974Professor D. C. Park30 May 1977

    Report, column 532, concerning broadleaved woodland licensed for clearfelling for conversion of the land to agriculture, if he will give the exact location of those woodlands so felled on Cwm Mosydd Farm, Gwent.

    [pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 247]: The grid reference is 203886 on Ordnance Survey sheet No. 171. The felling licence does not expire until 19 October 1986 and it is not known whether any felling has yet taken place.

    Departmental Committees Of Inquiry

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many departmental committees of inquiry he and his predecessors have established since 1955; and what were the subjects the committee investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

    It would not be possible without disproportionate cost to produce a definitive list of all the committees which beyond argument should be described as departmental committees of inquiry. The following lists are drawn from central records and show, first, committees of inquiry set up by myself and my predecessors acting alone and, second, those set up in conjunction with the Lord Advocate. Committees established jointly with other Secretaries of State are not shown.

    Subject

    Date established

    Chairman

    Date reported

    Consideration given and Steps taken towards securing the welfare of Richard Clark by Perth Town Council and other Bodies or Persons concerned16 August 1974C. E. Jauncey, QC1975
    Assessment in the Third and Fourth Years of Secondary Education in ScotlandNovember 1974J. Dunning1973
    A Heritage for ScotlandFebruary 1979Dr. Alwyn Williams, DSc, FRS, FRSE1981
    Local Government in ScotlandDecember 1979Rt. Hon. A. StodartJanuary 1981
    Arrangement for the Administration of SheriffdomsMay 1981The Hon. Lord Grieve, VRDJune 1982
    Functions and Powers of the Islands Councils of ScotlandSpring 1982Sir David Montgomery, BtApril 1984
    Bonnybridge/Denny Morbidity ReviewJune 1984Professor J. H. M. LenihanFebruary 1985

    Departmental Committees of Inquiry: Established by Secretary of State for Scotland and Lord Advocate acting jointly

    Criminal Appeals in Scotland (First Report)22 January 1970The Hon. Lord ThomsonAugust 1972
    Criminal Procedure in Scotland (Second Report)22 January 1970The Hon. Lord ThomsonOctober 1975
    Criminal Appeals in Scotland (Third Report)22 January 1970The Hon. Lord ThomsonDecember 1977
    Penalties for Homicide18 November 1970Rt. Hon. Lord EmslieNovember 1972
    Reparation by the Offender to the Victim in Scotland8 February 1974The Hon. Lord DunparkJuly 1977
    Motorist and Fixed Penalties (First Report by Committee on Alternatives to Prosecution)5 July 1977The Hon. Lord Stewart, MCDecember 1980
    Keeping Offenders out of Court (Second Report by Committee on Alternatives to Prosecution)5 July 1977The Hon. Lord Stewart, MC6 July 1983

    Forestry

    asked the Secretary of Scotland what were the tree species used and proportions of those species planted by the Forestry Commission in its restocking programme in the periods 1961 to 1970, 1971 to 1980 and 1981 to 1985.

    The main species used in the Commission's restocking programmes in these periods in these periods were Sitka spruce, larches, Douglas fir and Corsican pine on coniferous sites, and oak, beech, birch, ash and sycamore on broadleaved woodland. A further breakdown is not available in the form requested as detailed records on restocking were not kept prior to 1974–75, and information for the year ended 31 March 1985 is not yet to hand. Details of the species used in the years ended 31 March 1975 to 31 March 1984 were provided in my reply of 16 April, in column 97, to a question from the hon. Member of East Lothian, (Mr. Home Robertson).

    asked the Secretary of Scotland what was the Foresty Commission's forestry enterprise expenditure for each of the last five years on (a) recreation and amenity, (b) wildlife conservation and (c) landscape conservation.

    The Forestry Commission's gross expenditure on these items, including oncost and overheads, was as follows:

    Year ended 31 MarchRecreation and Amenity £Wildlife Conservation £Landscape Conservation £
    19803,013,000459,000581,000
    19812,805,000423,000775,000
    19823,022,000550,000627,000
    19833,122,000605,000731,000
    19843,614,000559,000867,000

    asked the Secretary of Scotland if he will list the Official Report the number of sites, their names and their sizes, which comprise the 444 hectares of land estimated to be planted without grant-aid in 1983–84 given in the Forestry Commission's 64th annual report.

    This figure is made up from a large number of local estimates of small areas of plantings, and I regret that it is not possible to produce a comprehensive list.

    asked the Secretary of Scotland what action he will take to ensure that there is no repetition of the recent case at Crichness Farm in East Lothian where private afforestation was carried out despite refusal of grant-aid on landscape and agricultural grounds.

    The planting at Crichness took place while a grant application was still under consideration by the Forestry Commission in consultation with other authorities. Although it is possible that the planting of the area concerned would eventually have been approved for grant aid, the Forestry Commission takes a serious view, which my right hon. Friend shares of the applicant's failure to await the outcome of the consultation exercise. Nevertheless, this is the first significant case of its type since the present procedures were introduced in October 1974, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action at this stage. The Forestry Commission has had discussions with Timber Growers UK aimed at ensuring that the consultation procedures continue to operate effectively.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the cases in the last 10 years when afforestation has taken place on sites where forestry grants have been refused by the Forestry Commission.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask the Forestry Commission to publish guidelines to assist the private sector in introducing good management practice for new afforestation schemes, taking into account wildlife and landscape conservation; and if he will make a statement.

    The Forestry Commission has published a number of guides to good forestry practice. A complete list of these is available to private woodland owners from Her Majesty's Stationery Office (Sectional List No. 31).Timber Growers UK is preparing a code of practice for private growers in consultation with the Forestry Commission, the two Countryside Commissions, the Nature Conservancy Council and a number of other interested Government and non-Government bodies.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations there are between the Forestry Commission and the regional water authorities in England and Wales and the river purification boards in Scotland, over proposals for new upland afforestation either by the Forestry Commission or by private forestry operations.

    As far as its own operations are concerned, the Forestry Commission has informal arrangements for consulting water authorities over proposed afforestation schemes within the immediate catchments of reservoirs.In considering applications by private owners for grant aid for planting, the commission consults the Welsh water authority on all schemes in areas in which the authority has asked that this be done. In other parts of Wales and in

    YearRegionForestBlockArea (hectares)
    1978HighlandNaverRimsdale640
    Strathy240
    Achruggan590
    Truderscaig770
    Rossal680
    Syre420
    Creag Dhu Chicken Dhu and Barren Ridge140
    HelmsdaleAuchentoul150
    Badenloch100
    Suisgill410
    ShinFiag140
    RumsterWatten30
    Private WoodlandsBorrobol140
    Auchentoul250
    1979HighlandNaverStrathy236
    ShinNorth Dalchork552
    Caplich107
    Inveroykel371
    TorrachiltyGarbat and Strathrannoch996
    GrampianCraigellachieElchies770
    Dumfries and GallowayBareagleAnnabaglish220
    1980HighlandNaverTruderscaig166
    Rossal125
    Syre420
    Chicken Dhu and Barren Ridge78
    Mudale20
    Poles102
    Garvel20
    Grumbeg20
    Cnoc Dubh13
    Dumfries and GallowayBareagleAnnabaglish220
    North Annabaglish37
    1981HighlandHelmsdaleBadenloch66
    1982No Spraying took place
    1983BordersPrivate WoodlandMyredykes340
    GrampianCraigellachieElchies142
    1984GrampianCraigellachieElchies142
    For experimental purposes only
    The areas of Strathy, Truderscaig, Rossal, Syre Chicken Dhu and Barren Ridge in Naver Forest, England, the commission looks to the local authorities to take account of the water interest when considering private planting proposals, as part of their general planning overview.The river purification boards in Scotland are not consulted directly by the commission either in respect of its own or private planting proposals.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names, locations and areas of forest sprayed with the insecticide fenitrothion in each of the years 1978 to 1984, indicating which areas were sprayed more than once in this period, and indicating whether any of these areas are within the Forestry Commission's recently announced proposals for fenitrothion spraying in 1985.

    The forest areas sprayed with the insecticide fenitrothion in the years 1978 to 1984 are as follows:Annabaglish in Bareagle Forest, Badenloch in Helmsdale Forest and Elchies in Craigellachie Forest were sprayed in more than one year.

    The 1985 programme of spraying will not be finally drawn up until assessments of the numbers of eggs of pine beauty moth are carried out in May, but it is likely to include the previously sprayed areas of Truderscaig, Rossal and Cnoc Dubh in Naver Forest, Watten in Rumster Forest, North Dalchork and Inveroykel in Shin Forest and Garbat and Strathrannoch in Torrachilty Forest.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total staff complement of the Forestry Commission in the years 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1984, respectively.

    The figures were as follows:

    YearNumber of Staff in Post
    196114,581
    19719,515
    19817,952
    19846,836

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Forestry Commission has for the revision of the native pinewood grant scheme in the light of the changes proposed for broadleaved woodland grants under the "Broadleaves in Britain Review".

    The Forestry Commission has no plans to revise the grant arrangements for native pinewoods in the context of the present review of broadleaves policy. It does, however, intend to review the provisions for native pinewood grants, in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy Council, once the broadleaves review has been completed.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated number of people employed directly in forestry operations by the private sector forestry companies in the years 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1984.

    The information is not available in the form requested. Estimates of the numbers employed on forestry operations in private forests as a whole, including employees of the forestry companies, are as follows:

    Number
    19619,400
    19719,300
    19818,000
    19838,000
    Estimates for 1984 are not yet available.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwellings were owned by the Forestry Commission in 1981 and 1984; and how many of these were (a) occupied by Forestry Commission employees, (b) occupied by other tenants and (c) unoccupied in each year.

    The best available information is as follows:

    As at 31 March 1981As at 31 March 1984
    (i) Total number of houses managed by the Forestry Commission (categories (ii) and (iii) below3,9092,891
    As at 31 March 1981As at 31 March 1984
    (ii) Number of Foresters' and Forest Workers' houses2,3201,597
    (iii) Other houses1,5891,294
    (iv) Total number of unoccupied houses (mainly awaiting sale)279260
    Because of the turnover in tenancies and the large number of sales that have taken place, it is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to split the total number of unoccupied houses between categories (ii) and (iii) in order to obtain the precise numbers of houses occupied in each of these categories on 31 March in each year.

    Forestry Commission

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the membership of the Forestry Commission's new regional advisory committees adequately represents the degree of environmental interest in forestry matters.

    There is a place on each regional advisory committee allocated to a member representing the environmental interest. It is difficult, because of statutory constraints on numbers and membership, to extend the environmental representation at this stage. However, as announced on 31 January 1985 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, in his response to the Countryside Commission's report "A Better Future for the Uplands", in columns 282–90, the Forestry Commission is looking at ways of achieving greater public accountability for the regional advisory committees. This might go some way towards compensating for the present constraints on the committees' membership.

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Forestry Commission's examination into ways of achieving greater public accountability in its regional advisory committees as announced in the Government's response to the Countryside Commission's report on the uplands.

    The Forestry Commission's consideration of this matter is still at an early stage and my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

    Social Services

    Nhs (Surplus Land)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he issues to health authorities as to the extent to which in releasing land no longer required by the National Health Service they should give priority to other medically related uses for such land.

    The guiding principle of NHS land sales is that health authorities should seek to realise the full market price in order that this may be re-used to the maximum benefit of the service and its patients. We have recently terminated an arrangement whereby local authorities and certain other organisations providing services complementary to those of the National Health Service were given a prior opportunity to purchase at the district valuer's valuation. This tended to cause delay and in many cases led to health authorities receiving less than would have been obtained through the open market. The National Health Service should not forego capital receipts which can be used for extra capital investment in the service.Arrangements under which NHS property may be leased on concessionary terms to certain bodies providing complementary health oriented services remain in force.

    Liverpool Women's Hospital

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the waiting list at the women's hospital, Liverpool, at the latest available date.

    The latest information held centrally is contained in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 May at column 235.

    Diabetics (Syringes)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of supply per patient per annum of U100, or similar, glass syringes for (a) child diabetics and (b) adult diabetics.

    We only have figures of the total number of syringes dispensed on GPs' prescriptions. Some patients purchase their syringes privately and others have them supplied through the hospital service.

    198119821983
    Number of Syringes dispensed on GPs' prescriptions85,40085,10096,900
    Estimated number of insulin dependent diabetics*234,100233,970234,230
    * Based on the advice that 0·5 per cent. of the population are insulin dependent diabetics.

    Fraud (Investigation)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 23 April, Official Report, column 419, if he will estimate the approximate proportion of the 261,302 investigations by staff of his Department, in the period 9 May 1984 to 12 March 1985, into cases of actual or suspected fraud by social security claimants that have led to, or are likely to lead to, prosecutions for serious offences; and if he will make a statement.

    Figures relating to those particular investigations are not available but in the year ended 12 February 1985, prosecution was authorised by the Department in 6,945 cases. In addition, 4,038 prosecutions were brought by the police for social security offences — following initial investigations by the Department.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply of 23 April, Official Report, column 419, if he will publish a list showing the numbers and grades of staff of his Department working, in the period 9 May 1984 to 12 March 1985, on the 261,302 investigations into cases of actual or suspected fraud by social security claimants; and if he will name and describe the administrative units in which these staff were working.

    During the period in question, 1,813 man years were used on the investigation of benefit fraud. The staff are all located in local offices and are in grades ranging from clerical assistant to higher executive officer, inclusive, the majority being at executive officer level.

    Pharmacists

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to salaries paid to newly qualified pharmacists who have taken a three-year degree course followed by one year's practical training, in retail and industrial pharmacy.

    Our Department has no involvement in or responsibility for private contracts of employment. We therefore have no information on salaries paid to retail and industrial pharmacists.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacant posts there are for basic grade pharmacists in the North-East Thames regional health authority; what percentage this represents of the total of such authorised posts; and what is the percentage of such vacant posts in all other regional health authorities.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the salary in the National Health Services of a newly qualified pharmacist, who has taken a three-year degree course, followed by one year's practical training.

    The starting salary of a basic grade hospital pharmacist is £6,699 per annum exclusive of London weighting.

    Health Authorities (Resources)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the new cash available to the South-West regional health authority the North Devon health authority will obtain.

    Allocations to this district health authority are the responsibility of the South Western regional health authority. I suggest that my hon Friend contacts the chairman of the RHA for this information.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what extra health staff the North Devon health authority will have in 1985.

    We do not hold this information centrally. I suggest that my hon. Friend contacts the chairman of the authority for the details he requires.

    Kidney Patients (North Devon)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) of the extra funds available in the south-west region for kidney patients, how much is available for North Devon health authority;(2) in view of the extra money available for kidney patients, he will set up a kidney treatment centre for north Devon at Barnstaple hospital.

    Renal services in the south-western region are funded as a regional specialty, so it is for the regional health authority, in discussion with the relevant district health authorities, to decide where the facilities for the treatment of end stage renal failure should be provided. In 1984–85, £65,000 was allocated to the south-western region on a recurring basis for new initiatives in renal service provision. It is for the regional health authority to decide how and where these additional funds should be spent.

    Inherited Diseases (Research)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been conducted by his Department into the possible effects of the implementation of the Unborn Children (Protection) Bill on future methods of reducing the incidence of the following inherited diseases; muscular dystrophy, haemophilia, thaussaemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's chorea, fragile X mental retardation, phenylketonuria, and Down's syndrome.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science gave him on 3 April, at column 617.

    Board And Lodging

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the effect of the changes in board and lodging allowances on the work of social services departments.

    We do not expect the changes in board and lodging allowances to have a significant effect on the work of social services departments, whose statutory duties and responsibilities remain unchanged.

    Terminally Ill Persons

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which health authorities offer specialised care for the terminally ill (a) in hospices and (b) through community support teams; and if any action is being taken to increase the availability of such specialised care.

    This information is not collected centrally. We expect all district health authorities to ensure that appropriate care is provided for the terminally ill, whether directly or in collaboration with the voluntary sector.

    "Living Options"

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has considered the "Living Options" report from the Prince of Wales's advisory group on disability; if there is any action his Department will be taking in the light of the recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

    The report was in fact discussed with the Department before publication. The guidelines it contains should prove helpful to those planning services for people with severe physical disabilities and officials will continue to keep in touch with the group.

    Disabled People (Discrimination)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to introduce legislation to outlaw the kinds of unjustified discrimination documented in the paper by the Spastics Society on "Discrimination and Disabled People", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

    We have no plans for such legislation. The Spastics Society paper is, however, welcome as a constructive contribution to discussion. It recognises some of the difficulties of framing such legislation, for example, how to define discrimination and how to deal with the issue of positive discrimination in favour of disabled people.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of alleged discrimination against disabled people have been referred to his Department in the last year; which of these cases reveal evidence of unjustified discrimination; and if he will make a statement.

    Since the beginning of May 1984 four cases of alleged discrimination against disabled people have been referred to the Department for investigation. Two were concerned with employment, one with education, and one with an access matter. Two cases are still under consideration. A third, involving an access complaint in Wales, was referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. In the fourth my judgment is that the evidence available does not substantiate a charge of unjustified discrimination.

    Fluoridation

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why chemicals added to the public water supply for the purpose of enhancing the level of fluoride ion have not been regarded as medicinal products; what they are regarded as; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will refer to the Committee on Safety of Medicines the question as to whether an order should be made applying the provisions of the Medicines Act to chemicals added to the public water supply for the purpose of enhancing the level of fluoride ion; and if he will make a statement.

    Compounds of fluorine when added to the water supplies would be medicinal products within the meaning of the Medicines Act 1968 only if the water itself was administered to the consumer wholly or mainly for a medicinal purpose.The safety of fluoride as used in the fluoridation schemes operated in this country has been confirmed by a number of expert bodies and the schemes are monitored by water authorities in accordance with the guidelines of the standing technical advisory committee on water quality on fluoridation of water supplies. No useful purpose would therefore be served by seeking the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines as to whether to bring the compounds of fluorine concerned within the scope of the Medicines Act.

    Cyclosporin

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the costs per annum to the National Health Service of purchasing cyclosporin; if he will detail the current uses of this drug in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

    We do not usually give details of the sales of any drug as this information is regarded as confidential because of its commercial value. The current uses of cyclosporin include prevention of graft rejection following bone marrow, kidney, liver, pancreas, heart and heart-lung transplantation and prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease.

    Health Services Privatisation (Salford)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Salford district health authority about the effect of privatisation on the health authority's under-funding; and if he will make it his policy not to pressure one authority to privatise its support services.

    We expect all health authorities to carry out fully our policy of putting out to competitive tender their domestic, catering and laundry services. The work will then be done by whoever can provide the high standard of service required most economically, whether it is the in-house service or a contractor. In many authorities this is already achieving worthwhile savings which are retained by the health authorities to improve their services to patients. Salford health authority is not under-funded, but I have no doubt it could find worthwhile ways of spending savings from its support services on improvements in patient care.

    Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

    Tomatoes

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the scale of production aid for tomato products in 1973 and in each of the past five years under the Common Agricultural Policy, the amount of the surpluses produced, and the cost to the European Economic Community budget of the production and disposal of tomatoes and tomato products.

    There were no EEC production aids for tomato products in 1973. The varying rates of aid which apply from 1980–81 are complex. Details will be found in the following volumes of the Official Journal of the European Communities which are in the Library of the House: L135 of 31 May 1980 (Regulation 1345/80); L192 of 15 July 1981 (Regulation 1963/81); L178 of 22 June 1982 (Regulation 1585/82); L159 of 17 June 1983 (Regulation 1618/83) and L179 of 6 July 1984 (Regulation 1925 /84).There has been no surplus of tomato products stored at Community expense. The cost to the Community budget of the production aid for tomato products was 418·5 mecu in 1982, 469·2 mecu in 1983 and 556·0 mecu in 1984. Separate figures for 1980 and 1981 are not available and tomato products cannot be separately identified within the costs of export refunds for processed fruit and vegetables.The following two tables set out the information requested in respect of fresh tomatoes.

    Compensation for Withdrawals
    (MECU)
    1973–741·58
    1979–8013·46
    (MECU)
    1980–816·39
    1981–824·65
    1982–835·03
    1983–842·63
    Export Refunds
    1979–800·72
    1980–810·58
    1981–821·44
    1982–831·86
    1983–84*
    * Separate figure for tomatoes not available.

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the quotas for the production of tomato products for the three years starting in 1985–86; how these compare with production in 1973 and in each of the past five years; whether any compensation is being paid to producers for the cut in production; and what is the saving to the European Economic Community budget.

    The proposals for support for tomato products in 1985–86 are still under discussion in the Council. The Commission's proposals to the Council have been summarised and explained in a memorandum (No. 4582/85) deposited in the Library of the House.

    Surpluses

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the quantity of surpluses produced of each agricultural product under the common agricultural policy.

    The information requested is published in the markets section of the Commission's annual reports on the agricultural situation in the Community which are available in the Library of the House.

    Cereals

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what saving to the European Economic Community budget is represented by the proposed 3·6 per cent. reduction in cereal prices; and what will be the additional cost to the budget of the German proposals for cereals.

    The Commission estimates 151 mecu would be saved in the 1985–86 marketing year if its proposals on cereal prices were adopted. German counter proposals have not been defined in sufficient detail to enable them to be accurately costed.

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost per tonne of growing wheat on a large wheat-growing owner-occupied farm in East Anglia in 1984 or 1983, excluding any notional rent for the land; and what part of the cost represents a charge for interest on capital.

    The University of Cambridge has recently published its report on farming in the eastern counties of England 1983–84, to which the hon. Member may wish to refer.

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the basis for the proposed increase in the cereals threshold from 21·5 million to 26 million tonnes.

    The Commission's proposal is to add the durum wheat guarantee threshold (4·6 million tonnes) to that for other cereals (121·32 million tonnes) and form a single threshold target of 126 million tonnes for 1985–86.

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the original formula for reducing cereal prices in the event of a surplus was based on the previous year's price or that price increased by a notional margin.

    Price reductions under the guarantee threshold arrangement are applied to the prices set for the marketing year following the three year period used as the basis of the calculation.

    Ec (Spending)

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the fall in the value of the dollar against the European currency unit since the beginning of 1985 will have on forecast expenditure under the European Economic Community budget on agricultural products; and which items will be most affected.

    The rate of the dollar against the European currency unit remains higher than the assumption made by the Commission in preparing its revised budget estimate for 1985.

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the total amount spent under the European Economic Community budget on each agricultural product.

    Information on expenditure from the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund for each agricultural product for 1973

    YearNorm price* (ecu/Kg)Premium* (ecu/Kg)Intervention* price (ecu/Kg)Intervention quantity (tonnes)Cost of regime (mecu)
    1973†1·749†1·047†1·5751,049†118·3
    19803·2861·9732·9234,000309·3
    19813·4802·1203·07510,036361·8
    19823·8412·3523·22410,624622·6
    19834·1252·5303·461‡4,000671·3
    19844·1692·5383·544n.a.776·6

    Source: EC Commission financial reports.

    * These figures are averages for the 26 varieties of tobacco grown in the European Community.

    † These figures are in units of account/Kg.

    ‡ Provisional.

    The European Community is 48 per cent. self-sufficient in tobacco. This figure has remained fairly static over the last decade.

    Milk

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage and 1980–83 is set out in the EC Commission's EAGGF financial reports which have been deposited in the House of Commons Library under the following references:

    • 1979 EAGGF Report—R/263/75 of 29.1.75
    • 1980 EAGGF Report—(Guarantee)—10418/81 of 30.10.81
    • 1981 EAGGF Report—(Guarantee)—9895/82 of 5.10.82
    • 1982 EAGGF Report—(Guarantee)—9421/83 of 27.9.83
    • 1983 EAGGF Report—(Guarantee)—9372/84 of 26.9.84
    Provisional Commission figures for expenditure from the FEOGA guarantee section in 1984 are as follows:

    (mecu)
    Cereals and rice1698
    Sugar1631
    Olive oil1096
    Oilseeds and proteins871
    Textiles108
    Fresh fruit and vegetables619
    Processed fruit and vegetables835
    Wine1223
    Tobacco776
    Minor products51
    Milk and milk products5442
    Beef and veal2547
    Sheepmeat434
    Pigmeat196
    Eggs and poultry70
    Non-Annex II products382
    Fish16
    Accession compensatory amounts
    Monetary compensatory amounts376
    Clearance of 1978 and 1979 accounts–25
    18346

    Tobacco

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the norm, premium and intervention prices for tobacco, the amounts taken into intervention, the cost of the tobacco regime to the European Economic Community budget and the proportion of the market supplied from European Economic Community sources.

    The information requested is as follows:increase in the intervention price of skimmed milk under the common agricultural policy in European currency units and, after adjustment, in national currencies; what was the purpose of the increase; and by how much production is expected to increase and where it will be disposed of.

    In its 1985–86 price proposals, the Commission has proposed an increase of 6·77 per cent. in the intervention price for skimmed milk powder. After the adjustments in green rates proposed by the Commission the increase in national currency terms for all member states would be:

    Percent.
    Belgium+6·77
    Denmark+6·77
    Germany+5·65
    France+7·74
    Greece+10·12
    Ireland+6·77
    Italy+6·77
    Luxembourg+6·77
    Netherlands+5·64
    United Kingdom+6·77
    The purpose of this increase, when combined with the proposed reduction of 3·99 per cent. in the intervention price for butter, is to effect a 1·5 per cent. increase in the target price for milk and an adjustment in relationship between the butter and skim element of milk. Total milk production is expected to decline in line with the reduction in quota levels by about 1 per cent. in 1985–86. The level of production of skimmed milk powder will depend on the uptake of whole milk and skimmed milk for various purposes including the use of skimmed milk for animal feeding.

    Rice

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the target, intervention and threshold prices for rice, the amount of rice produced, imported and exported, and the cost to the European Economic Community of budget support to the production of rice;(2) whether he will published a table in the

    Official Report showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the target, reference and intervention prices for the different cereals, the amount of the surpluses produced, and the cost to the European Economic Community budget of the disposal of those surpluses.

    The information requested for the most recent years can be obtained from the Commission's publication "The Agricultural Situation in the Community" report 1984; similar information for the earlier years is contained in previous reports. Copies of these are available in the Library of the House.

    Alcohol

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much alcohol was distilled from wine, sugar-beet and other surplus agricultural products in the European Economic Community in 1973 and each of the past five years with the aid of subsidy; how this compares with the production of industrial alcohol; and what was the cost of the subsidies to the European Economic Community budget.

    The quantities of alcohol distilled from wine and from surplus fruit under Community financed agricultural support arrangements and the costs involved were as follows. No alcohol was produced from sugar beet at the Community's expense.

    Total alcohol distilled from wine with the aid of an EC subsidy

    Millions of hectolitres

    1973–74*1·1
    1979–802·7
    1980–813·2
    1981–822·1
    1982–833·2
    1983–84†‡3·4

    * Figures for 1972–73 not available.

    † Provisional.
    ‡ Until 1984 the Commodity year ran from December to December; it now runs from 1 September to 31 August.

    Cost to the EC of subsidising wine distillation (mecu)

    1973

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    Wine2·0194·5314·9390·5391·4

    *869

    By-products0·19·063·1†72
    ‡2·0194·6314·9399·5454·5941

    * Includes 179 mecu incurred in 1983 but paid in 1984.

    †Estimate.
    ‡Convened from old budgetary units of account (ua) into ecu using average conversion rate; figure is therefore approximate.

    Source: EEC Commission financial reports.

    Quantity of withdrawn fruit* distilled into alcohol ('000 tonnes)

    Cost of compensation (mecu)

    1973–74413‡21
    1978–7945613·7
    1979–8044522·5
    1980–8150424·5
    1981–8225219·4
    1982–8386387·6

    * Apples, pears and peaches.

    † Paid to growers for withdrawals less receipts from sale of alcohol.
    ‡ 1973–74: Cost of compensation only—no figure for receipts from sale(s) available.

    Source: Commission.

    Note: 1 tonne of apples produces about 40 litres of alcohol. There are no figures for peaches and pears.

    Production of synthetic alcohol in the same years was as follows.

    Production of industrial (synthetic) alcohol in the community

    Thousand hectolitres of pure alcohol

    1973*4,469
    19785,367
    19795,740
    1980†4,553
    19814,342
    1982‡4,712

    * Estimate.

    † 1973–80: Community of nine.
    ‡ 1981–82: Community of ten.

    Sources: 1973: Commission estimate—Report to the Council of 28 September 1978.

    1978–82: Commission documents.

    1973 statistics were provided for the Select Committee on the European Communities, Session 1979–80, 21 report "Ethyl Alcohol".

    1978–82 statistics were provided for the Select Committee on the European Communities, Session 1983–84, 16th report, "Ethyl Alcohol".

    Hill Farming

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the grants and subsidies to hill farming are mandatory; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the extent to which the different benefits are financed out of the European Economic Community budget.

    The special aid to farmers in the less favoured areas is provided at my discretion within the limits permitted by EC directive 75/268 in order to ensure the continued viability of our hill and upland farms.Details of aids paid in the less favoured areas in 1983 and of the European Community's contribution to them are as follows:

    Grant paid in 1983Reimbursement from FEOGA
    £ million£ million
    Hill livestock compensatory allowances85·34721·337
    Development plans32·9226·826
    Joint investment schemes0·0340·009
    Total118·30328·172

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the grants and subsidies covered by the figures given in his written reply dated 19 December, Official Report, colum 200, on support to hill farms; and if he will give the amounts spent under the various headings.

    The following grants and subsidies were included in the derivation of the percentage figures quoted in the written reply dated 19 December 1984, at column 200:

    ECU/tonne (Marketing year: November-October)
    1972–73*1980–811981–821982–831983–841984–85
    Basic Price825·001,587·211,761·801,946·802,053·872,033·30
    Sluice-gate price554·6631,143·701,364·401,271·901,412·901,534·60
    Basic import levy262·728411·30345·30508·40478·30398·20
    MECU
    Market support1973†19801981198219831984
    Export refunds96·791·6132·696·1120·2157·0
    Aids to private storage24·022·015·524·838·9
    Total96·7115·6154·6111·6145·0195·9
    * UA/tonne
    † MUA

    Source: European Commission.

    Public Companies (Agricultural Production)

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to how many public companies are engaged wholly or mainly in agricultural production; and whether his Department reviews their profitability in the course of its investigations into farm costs and incomes.

    Hill livestock compensatory allowances; annual premium on ewes; guidance premium; suckler cow premium; payments made under milk non-marketing schemes; other miscellaneous grants and subsidies.

    Details of public expenditure under the common agricultural policy and on national grants and subsidies appear at table 28 of the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1985" White Paper (Cmnd. 9423).

    Farm Prices

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the latest farm price proposals are forecast to have on expenditure under the European Economic Community budget in 1985 and 1986 compared with 1984; and if he will give a breakdown by commodities.

    Expenditure from the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund in 1984, 1985 and 1986 is expected to be as follows:

    • 1984—18,346 mecu (provisional commission outturn figure)
    • 1985—19,817 mecu (1985 Draft Budget excluding allowance made for price fixing)
    • 1986—19,500–20,000 mecu (Commission initial estimate)
    The effect on this expenditure of the Commission's price proposals broken down by commodities is given in volume II of the proposals, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

    Pigmeat

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the basic price for pigmeat, the sluice-gate price, and the basic import levy, together with the amount spent on market support for pigmeat, including restitution payments on exports.

    Information on public limited companies engaged wholly or mainly in agriculture production is not separately identified within the statistics collected by my Department.

    Silk

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1973 and each of the past five years the amount of aid per box of silkworm eggs under the common agricultural policy, the cost to the European Economic Community budget and the ratio of domestic production of silk to total usage in all forms in the European Economic Community, including imports.

    The information requested on usage and imports of silk is not readily available. The other information for the most recent years can be obtained from the Commission's publication "The Agricultural Situation in the Community" report 1984. Similar information for the earlier years is contained in previous reports. Copies of these are available in the Library of the House.

    Milk Quotas

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any fresh proposals to make to the European Economic Community concerning the transferability of milk quotas.

    I am actively pursuing the possiblity of both sale and leasing of milk quotas separately from the land in my discussions within the Community. Changes would be required to both Community and domestic legislation before either form of transfer could be implemented. It is clear, however, that there is very strong resistance from the Commission and some other member states to a sale and purchase scheme. There is also resistance, although on a lesser scale, to a leasing scheme. Thus, changes to the Community legislation will be very difficult to secure and I cannot predict the outcome of our negotiations at this stage.

    Liquid Skimmed Milk

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much liquid skimmed milk was subsidised for use as stockfeed in the past year in the United Kingdom; and what was the cost of the subsidies involved.

    Latest estimates of production* and consumption of selected agricultural commodities
    '000 tonnes
    CommodityPeriodEC-10United Kingdom
    ProductionConsumptionProductionConsumption
    Common wheat1984–8570,09846,56914,74610,350
    Barley1984–8544,14633,56111,0996,492
    Sugar (white equivalent)1984–85‡12,5029,5001,3252,285
    Butter19832,2971,565242316
    Skimmed milk powder19832,4951,870302132
    Eggs19833,9503,832738757
    Beef and veal19847,5006,8001,1071,217
    * Usable or gross indigenous production.
    † Domestic uses, excluding intervention stocks.
    ‡ On the basis of October/September period, except Italy and Greece where August/July period applies.

    Sources:

    EC Commission; EUROSTAT.

    Birds (Special Protection Areas)

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has made any objections to the

    [pursuant to her reply, 7 May 1985, c. 323]: In 1984, a total of 1,198,970,965 litres of liquid skimmed milk was subsidised for use as stockfeed at a cost of £75,548,829.

    Pesticides

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of butterflies killed by pesticides were reported to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides through the wildlife incident monitoring service, by species in each of the last five years.

    [pursuant to her reply, 7 May 1985, c. 322]: No incidents involving butterflies have been reported to the wildlife incident investigation scheme.

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those experiments or surveys which his Department has conducted, commissioned or is aware of, regarding the impact of pesticides on butterflies on or around farmland in the United Kingdom.

    [pursuant to her reply, 7 May 1985, c. 322]: Information on surveillance programmes and the effects of pesticides on butterflies is given in the paper "The Environmental Cost of Pesticide Usage in the United Kingdom", published in 1983, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. In addition, the game conservancy, cereal and game bird project is monitoring the effect on butterfly populations of applying pesticides to cereal field margins.

    Production And Consumption (Statistics)

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in the Official Report the latest available figures showing the comparison for the European Economic Community as a whole and for the United Kingdom separately between production and consumption, excluding intervention, quantities in the following items; common wheat, barley, sugar, butter, skimmed milk, eggs and beef.

    [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1985, c. 322]: The information requested is as follows:

    listing as a European Commission birds directive special protection area and Ramsar convention site the following estuaries: (a) Morecambe Bay, (b) River Orwell, Suffolk and (c) the Wash.

    [pursuant to her reply, 3 May 1985, c. 275]: My Department has not been approached about the listing of the first two of these sites. In relation to the Wash, we have expressed the view that any decision on listing should not be taken in advance of decisions on an overall strategy for the area.

    Expenditure

    asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the agreed increase in agricultural spending in 1985 and the actual spending in 1984 under the common agricultural policy meet the Government's wish that spending on agriculture should be subject to a strict financial guideline.

    The Council's conclusions on budget discipline, including the financial guideline for agriculture, first apply to the exercise of the Council's powers in 1985 concerning expenditure in 1986.