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Written Answers

Volume 84: debated on Monday 21 October 1985

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Written Answers Toquestions

Monday 21 October 1985

The Arts

Public Funding

29.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he has any proposals to increase the level of public funding for the arts.

The Government are committed to keeping up the level of support for the arts. My hon. Friend will be announcing next year's arts budget in the normal way in due course.

London (Arts Provision)

30.

asked the Minister for the Arts what recent representations have been received by the Government concerning provision for the arts in London following the abolition of the Greater London council.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

European Community (Exports)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of food and wine sent from the EEC to the Soviet Union, and eastern Europe, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.

The information requested for the period 1976–1983 and 1984 is contained in replies given by my predecessor on 25 March 1985 at column 1–2 and 13 June 1985 at column 526–27 respectively. Figures are now available for the exports of wine in 1984; these record 72 thousand tonnes exported to the Soviet Union and 14 thousand tonnes to the rest of eastern Europe. Provisional information for the first half of 1985 is contained in the table.

European community exports of the main agricultural commodities to the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, January-June 1985 (provisional)*
Soviet Union '000 tonnesEastern Europe (excluding USSR) '000 tonnes
Wheat2,975547
Barley2,058210
Wheat Flouroooo
Riceoooo
Malt940
Wholemilk powder1oo
Skimmed milk powder0oo
Condensed milkoooo
Butter and butteroil155oo
Beef and veal06

Soviet Union '000 tonnes

Eastern Europe (excluding USSR) '000 tonnes

Pigmeat0oo
Poultrymeatoo2
Sugar, total (white equivalent) of which refinedoo1
sugar(oo)(1)
Winen.a.n.a.

Source: Eurostat

* relates to EC10 but excludes exports from Italy in June and from Greece in May and June.

GDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania.

including raw sugar, converted to white sugar: 1 tonne raw sugar = ·92 tonnes white sugar.

oo—less than 500 tonnes.

n.a.—not available.

European Community (Export Rebates)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount paid to British exporters by way of export rebates financed by or through the EEC for the export of food in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

Refunds totalling £395 million. were paid on exports of agricultural products (including some non-food items such as live animals and feed grains) from the United Kingdom to non-European community countries in 1984–85. The expenditure, which takes account of monetary compensatory' amounts, was fully funded by the EC so that British agricultural exports can compete on world markets.

Salmon

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the action he now proposes to take to promote the conservation of salmon stocks.

Wine

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the results so far of his Department's investigations into the sale of contaminated wine in the United Kingdom; from which countries such wines have come; and if he will make a statement.

A surveillance exercise on the incidence of contamination of wine in the United Kingdom with diethylene glycol has been carried out by my Department. We tested samples drawn by us from retail outlets, sent to us by the trade and submitted for confirmatory analysis by public analysts. Seven hundred and seventeen samples of wine from 16 countries were tested. Seventy-six samples were found to contain diethylene glycol, some of which were Austrian wines, some German wines, some Italian wines and one a Hungarian wine which had been bottled in Germany and may well have been contaminated at that stage.In addition local enforcement authorities carried out testing in the normal course of their duties and retailers and wine traders also carried out their own testing. The results of these tests are not available centrally.

The conclusion that we have drawn from the exercise was that this was a problem confined to some producers in Austria and certain bottlers in Europe; no contamination of other wines was detected.

Animals (Ritual Slaughter)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to seek to amend the legislation governing the ritual slaughter of poultry, sheep, pigs and cattle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on ritual slaughter, he will make a statement on his intentions with regard to legislation to implement its recommendations.

The Farm Animal Welfare Council published its report in July and we immediately sought comments from interested organisations. This consultation period is not yet concluded. We will wish to consider the report's recommendations carefully in the light of all representations made before taking decisions.

Food And Environment Protection Act 1985

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the European Community Commission or other European agencies concerning the operation of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, and the extent to which fungicides meet criteria for the protection of the environment with particular regard to insecticidal action against beneficial insects and in the context of progress towards common European standards.

None.

1984
TrappedSnaredShat in the openNettedTotal
Avon76177
Cornwall36541370
Cumbria18220
Devon17278187
Dorset1061107
Dyfed2323
Gloucester35313357
East Sussex4747
Stafford101525
Wiltshire501152
Total1,22031681,265
*1985 (January to September)
TrappedSnaredShot in the openNettedTotal
Avon87188
Cornwall2007207
Cumbria
Devon2727
Dorset1392141
Dyfed441146
Gloucester1742176
East Sussex

Badgers

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the review of the policy of destroying badgers in areas where they are thought to pose a threat to cattle has now been completed.

The review of policy is still in progress. I now expect that the review team will be in a position to report to us early in 1986.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any of the cattle near Eastbourne that were monitored following the discovery of bovine tuberculosis in some badgers have also manifested the disease; how many cattle were studied; for how long; when the monitoring will cease; and what have been the conclusions.

Three cattle in the Eastbourne area of east Sussex reacted to the tuberculin test in 1984 and 28 during the period January to September 1985. These animals were from an area occupied by some 1,600 cattle which, from the beginning of this year, have been subject to six-monthly tuberculin tests because of the known presence of high levels of infection in badgers in the area. Other cattle in east Sussex are tuberculin tested at frequencies varying from one to three years. No date has been fixed for the ending of more frequent testing of the animals in the area near Eastbourne but the situation is being kept under review. The disclosure of reactors in the last two years has confirmed the risk posed to cattle by infected badgers. It is too early to draw conclusions from the results of the intensified cattle testing regime now in place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of badgers killed in 1984 and so far in 1985 in order to deal with bovine tuberculosis; and in each case what was the location, the method of killing, and the method of capture.

The normal method of killing is by shooting with a pistol after capture. A full analysis, including methods of capture. is set out in the table.

*1985 (January to September)

Trapped

Snared

Shot in the open

Netted

Total

Stafford
Wiltshire51152
Total7221041737

*Provisional figures.

Note: The above figures exclude badgers found dead in areas in which official investigations were taking place.

Bovine Tuberculosis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of cases of bovine tuberculosis among cattle in controlled areas in 1984 and so far in 1985.

Forty-two new herds with visible lesion reactors were disclosed in 1984 in the control areas scheduled in the Badger (Control Areas) Order 1977. The corresponding provisional figure for the period January to June 1985 was 26.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of cases of bovine tuberculosis among cattle in 1983, 1984 and so far in 1985 attributed to the illegal movement of diseased cattle; where they occurred; and what was the number of cattle involved.

In 1983, 1984 and so far in 1985 no outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in cattle have been attributed to the illegal movement of diseased cattle. However, nine confirmed outbreaks in 1983 were attributed to the legal movement of cattle that subsequently proved to have been diseased. The corresponding provisional figures for 1984 and for the first half of 1985 are 15 and ten outbreaks respectively.

Nuclear Waste

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take following representations he has received from the North Marianas on the dumping of nuclear waste in the Pacific.

Moorland

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks or other screening exists to prevent damage to moorland by reseeding or regeneration through grant aided agricultural improvements (a) within sites of special scientific interest and national parks and (b) in the wider countryside.

[pursuant to her reply, 22 July 1985, c. 624]: I wish to make it clear that the statutory instruments introducing the new capital grant arrangements on 1 October specifically exclude heathland and moorland from the definition of grassland for which improvement grants are available.

National Finance

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the 18th EEC directive relating to value added tax.

Customs and Excise has consulted a wide range of representative trade and professional bodies about the draft 18th EC Directive on VAT and the associated draft 19th Directive. I have received their report, and I am considering our policy towards those proposals which will affect the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the early payment of non-value added tax own resources to the European Communities in August and subsequent months.

In accordance with article 10(2) of Council regulation 2891/77, the Commission invited member states to pay on 20 August instead of 20 September non-VAT own resources collected in July. It also invited payment on 20 September instead of 21 October, and on 21 October instead of 20 November, of such own resources collected in August and September respectively. These own resources consist of agricultural, sugar and isoglucose levies and customs duties. The Government have complied with these requests.A sum of £120 million was paid on 20 August and sums of £120 million and £118 million were paid on 20 September and 21 October respectively. The payments of levies and duties on the usual dates made under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, were or will be reduced by appropriate amounts; there will therefore be no net addition to public expenditure.

Trustee Savings Bank (Scotland)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Treasury counsel who gave advice prior to the introduction of the Trustee Savings Banks Bill on the ownership of the Trustee Savings Bank Scotland was qualified in Scottish law.

Those who advise the Government on Scots law are naturally qualified to do so.

Premium Bonds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the regulations governing the purchase of premium bonds in such a way as to enable godparents to buy bonds for their godchildren.

There are no plans for this, but the Department of National Savings is about to put on sale a new range of gift tokens, including three designs for premium bonds, which will help godparents to give presents to their godchildren which can be exchanged for premium bonds at post offices.

Gross Domestic Product

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual changes have taken place in gross domestic product in real terms since 1979.

This information is available in the 1985 edition of United Kingdom National Accounts (published in September) which shows both the level of, and year to year changes in, the average measure of gross domestic product at constant factor cost.

Treaty Shopping

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to seek to amend tax treaties to prevent treaty shopping; and if he will make a statement.

The Inland Revenue keeps the United Kingdom network of tax treaties under continual review and look for evidence of abuse. If the hon. Lady writes to me about any particular cases she has in mind I shall look into them.

Departmental Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on office furniture, carpets and curtains and office decorating in each of the last five years.

Prior to 1 April 1983 when the Property Repayment Service was introduced, this expenditure was borne centrally by the Property Services Agency. Expenditure since 1 April 1983 is as follows:

(£ thousand)
1983–841984–85*1985–86
Office furniture and curtains4120860
Carpets14689
* Up to 30 September 1985.
Office decorating is carried out by the Property Services Agency as part of the maintenance service; separate figures are not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Business Expansion Scheme

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rating under the business expansion scheme for £1 invested for a person paying tax at a marginal rate of (a) 60 per cent. and (b) 30 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government have any plans to offer individuals paying tax at a marginal rate of 30 per cent. the equivalent relief under the business expansion scheme for each £1 invested to that now available to an individual taxed at a marginal rate of 60 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether business expansion schemes relief is made available to companies which purchase other businesses as going concerns where no new investment is promised.

BES relief is given to the investor, not the company he invests in, and is available only if there is new investment in a qualifying company. Subject to certain conditions, the BES company may then use the proceeds of that investment, or any other resources available to it. to acquire the trade of another business which it intends to carry on.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide a breakdown between business expansion scheme relief allocated to individuals and to qualifying business expansion scheme funds, respectively;(2) what is the average amount of relief claimed by individuals making qualifying business expansion scheme investments; and what is the average rate of taxation so relieved.

Venture Capital

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what information he has as to whether the Treasury's definition of the term venture capital is comparable with definition adopted by other European Economic Community countries;(2) what is the Treasury's definition of the term venture capital; and whether this includes

(a) capital made available to any persons by banks or licensed deposit takers, (b) loan capital, preference share capital or ordinary equity share capital and (c) capital available to persons carrying on trades which are excluded from the scope of the business expansion scheme;

(3) what information he has about any published or unpublished records of the provision and sources of venture capital in the United Kingdom since 1979.

Cable And Wireless

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's residual shareholding in Cable and Wireless.

The Government announced on 5 September that, subject to market conditions, they intended to sell their remaining ordinary shares in Cable and Wireless during the current financial year. The sale of part of the Government's continuing programme of privatisation and is in line with the policy announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 March 1984 (Hansard col. 420) of selling Government minority holdings in privatised companies as and when circumstances permit.Pending parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, urgent payments in connection with Government sale expenses are being met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

Prime Ministers (Pensions)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what pensions are currently paid to each former Prime Minister; and how annual changes in such pensions are calculated.

Under section 26 of the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1972, former Prime Ministers on leaving office are awarded pensions of 15/40ths of their full salary, irrespective of length of service. Increases are paid each year from the same date and by the same amount as the increase in the additional component of the state pension, which is linked to the retail prices index. This is subject to the pension in payment not exceeding the amount of pension that would be paid to the current Prime Minister on leaving office.It is not normal practice to publish details of individual pensions. The basic pension entitlements of former Prime Ministers are set out in the supplementary statements on the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts (section 1. annuities and pensions). With the addition of pension increases the majority of pensions in payment to former Prime Ministers are at the maximum current entitlement of £15,709 per annum.

Budget Council

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the Budget Council on 17–18 September.

I represented the United Kingdom at this Council in Luxembourg.After meeting a delegation from the European Parliament the Council considered the proposals contained in the Commission's 1986 preliminary draft budget. The Council then established a draft budget for 1986 by qualified majority.The draft budget respects the 1986 reference framework set by the ECOFIN Council in July, with limited additions for enlargement, and is consistent with the budget discipline conclusions agreed by the Council in December 1984.Provision is made on the revenue side for the United Kingdom to receive a VAT abatement of 1·4 billion ecu, in accordance with the conclusions of the Fontainebleau European Council.The expenditure agreed by the council totals 32,056 million ecu of payment appropriations and 34,218 million ecu of commitment appropriations. These figures include a 1,652 million ecu rebate of own resources to Spain and Portugal under the agreed transitional arrangements. The Council agreed 21,012 million ecu of payment and commitment appropriations for agricultural guarantee expenditure; this is consistent with the 1986 agricultural guideline. It also provided 6,537 million ecu of payment appropriations and 8,782 million ecu of commitment appropriations for non-obligatory expenditure. These increases are within the 1986 maximum rate of 7·1 per cent.The Council set the same levels of food aid provision, 508 million ecu of payment appropriations and 636 million ecu of commitment appropriations, as in the 1985 adopted budget whose levels were higher than those generally agreed in previous years. The Council stated that it would continue to monitor developments in the countries concerned and declared itself ready to review the arrangements made in the light of requirements.The draft budget has now been forwarded to the European Parliament.

Education And Science

Appeals

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give a breakdown as between successful and unsuccessful appeals in each of the last three years in cases where parents were dissatisfied with the initial choice of secondary school to which their child was allocated in (a) England, (b) Essex and (c) Basildon; and if he will indicate the total number of appeals in each category.

Microelectronics Education Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the future level of spending on the microelectronics education programme planned for each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) on 23 July 1985 at column 515.

Prime Minister

Middle East Visit

asked the Prime Minister which Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers accompanied her on her recent visit to the middle east.

I have been asked to reply.None. My right hon. Friend was, however, accompanied by a senior Foreign Office official, in addition to members of her own staff.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent visit to the middle east.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend visited Egypt from 16–18 September and Jordan from 18–20 September. This was the first visit by a British Prime Minister in office to Cairo since Mr. Churchill in 1943, and the first ever to Jordan. My right hon. Friend reviewed our excellent bilateral relations with both countries and had valuable talks on international issues, particularly the middle east. My right hon. Friend reaffirmed our full support for King Hussein and President Mubarak in the search for a peaceful solution of the Arab-Israel dispute. My right hon. Friend also visited projects in both countries in which British industry is closely involved.

Northern Ireland

asked the Prime Minister if she will now make a statement on the talks which have taken place between the British and Irish Governments regarding Northern Ireland.

No. It would be premature to make a statement at this stage. A full statement will be made' at the appropriate moment, and Parliament will have the opportunity to debate any proposals that may emerge.

Broadcasting (Programme Content)

asked the Prime Minister on how many occasions since May 1979 Her Majesty's Government have tendered advice to the British Broadcasting Corporation or the Independent Broadcasting Authority about its programme content (a) in advance of transmission of a particular item or programme and (b) after the transmission of a particular item or programme, and if she will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.No central record is kept of contacts between Governmental Departments and the broadcasting authorities on programmes planned by or transmitted by them. The Home Secretary of the day and the Prime Minister have made representations on various occasions since 1979 about the coverage of Irish terrorism, the reporting of the Falklands conflict and the reporting of the views of Sikh extremists in this country. In 1980, the then Foreign Secretary made public his views about the programme "Death of a Princess". When expressing their view, the Government have consistently made it clear that final decisions on the content of programmes are entirely a matter for the broadcasting authorities.

Departmental Expenditure

asked the Prime Minister (1) what has been the total cost of Chequers in each of the past six years;(2) how much has been spent by her office on foreign travel in each of the past six years;(3) how much has been spent on No. 10 Downing street in each of the past six years in respect of

(a) total running costs, (b) staffing, (c) repairs and maintenance, (d) decoration, (e) furniture and (f) rates.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend will reply to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

Commonwealth Conference

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent visit to the Bahamas.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend will reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

Attorney-General

Parliamentary Pensions Acts

asked the Attorney-General if he will institute preparatory steps necessary to facilitate consolidation of the Parliamentary Pensions Acts during the next Session of Parliament.

The programme for the consolidation of statutes is the responsibility of the Law Commission. It does not include this legislation at present but it is always open to hon. Members to suggest topics for consolidation to the commission.

Pahoomal Family

asked the Attorney-General what representations the Director of Public Prosecutions has received for the extradition of members of the Pahoomal family; and, of these, which were received in 1982 and 1983.

The City of London police submitted a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions in June 1983. He has received no other representations.

asked the Attorney-General if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to reopen his consideration of the case of the Pahoomal family.

Police inquiries are continuing and the case remains under active consideration by the director.

Hms Conqueror

asked the Attorney-General if the investigation of possible offences in respect of the disappearance of the control room log of HMS Conqueror has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

I refer to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Sir R. Gower) on 30 November 1984. The Metropolitan police have now submitted their report on this matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has concluded that the evidence available fails to show that any person committed a criminal offence in connection with the disappearance of the logs. He has also concluded that there is no reasonable prospect of further investigations producing any evidence of the commission of a criminal offence. I agree with both of these conclusions, and the police investigation has therefore been discontinued.

Civil Service

Politicisation

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what recent representations he has received from Sir Douglas Wass on the desirability of having an independent body to investigate complaints by serving civil servants about alleged politicisation of the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations from Sir Douglas Wass, but I have read his article in The Political Quarterly for July-September 1985.

Trade And Industry

Bbc And Iba (Competition)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to seek to ensure that the arrangements made by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Broadcasting Authority or its contractors for the acquisition of film or other programme material are consistent with the Government's policy on competition; if he will refer these arrangements, with particular reference to the circumstances surrounding the purchase by Thames Television of the Dallas programme, to the Director General of Fair Trading for examination; and whether he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to satisfy himself that there are no arrangements made by the British Broadcasting Corporation or Independent Television for the purchase of programme material that are in contravention of the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act.

The Director General of Fair Trading has statutory powers to initiate appropriate action under the competition legislation in respect of any arrangements that may exist between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Broadcasting Authority or independent television companies concerning the acquisition of film or other programme material.The Director General has written to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the Independent Television Companies Association making inquiries in connection with the purchase of overseas television programmes. In reply, all three bodies have denied the existence of arrangements concerning the purchase of film or other programme material which might require registration under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.The Office of Fair Trading is now considering whether, in the light of these replies and other information available to it, further action is justified under the competition legislation.

Shipbuilding (Intervention Fund)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate the level of intervention fund allowable on each vessel built in the United Kingdom following the European Economic Community 5th directive on shipbuilding.

Shipbuilding Intervention Fund is a form of selective financial assistance and is paid at the minimum level necessary to secure individual contracts. As regards the general levels allowable, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont) on 5 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Malone).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money will be made available from the shipbuilding intervention fund to United Kingdom shipbuilders in the coming financial year.

On present estimates £43 million will be made available in 1985–86 for grants under the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund in Great Britain, but the actual amount paid will depend on contracts secured.

Shipbuilding (Restructuring)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry has complied with previous European Economic Community directives in respect of restructuring proposals; and what information he has regarding the extent to which other European Economic Community member states have also complied.

The European Commission has been and continues to be satisfied that United Kingdom support for shipbuilding complies with the relevant EC directives. We have no access to the confidential information provided to the Commission by other member states in order to satisfy the Commission of their own compliance with these directives.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what commitments Her Majesty's Government have given to other European Community states with shipbuilding interests in relation to the further restructuring of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry, with reference to the European Economic Community shipbuilding 5th directive.

None. Discussions on restructuring are conducted with the Commission and not with other member states. We have explained to the Commission British Shipbuilders' current plans for privatisation of the warship yards and for regional reorganisation.

Soft Loans

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government in considering and introducing soft loans as an incentive to British exports since his statement in the House on 18 July.

We are considering ways in which the aid and trade provision might be used to support long-term low-interest loans, similar to those which many of our competitors offer to developing countries. We hope to reach our decisions soon.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those companies in the United Kingdom manufacturing flue gas desulphurisation equipment and the value of any export orders achieved over the last five years.

Manufacturers of flue gas desulphurisation equipment are not specifically identified in statistical inquiries and statistics on export orders for such equipment are not available. Among the firms who are known to have the capability of manufacturing such equipment are Babcock Power Ltd, Davy McKee, Foster Wheeler Power Products Ltd, Lodge Cottrell Ltd and NEI International Combustion Ltd. It is believed that a small number of overseas orders have been secured, the details of which would be confidential.

Safety Of Goods

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be in a position to implement the proposals contained in the White Paper on the safety of goods, concerning the free importation, distribution, and sale of goods that do not meet statutory safety regulations.

The Government are firmly committed to the proposals in the 'Safety of Goods' White Paper. We shall implement the proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Consumer Protection

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received advocating a change in consumer protection legislation to safeguard retailers in regard to the quality of the products supplied to them by manufacturers as well as wholesalers, particularly for the licensed trade; and if he will make a statement.

A retailer's rights in dealing with manufacturers or wholesalers will be governed by the terms of his contract with them. In the absence of any specific terms in the contract to the contrary (and these terms would be subject to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977) the provisions of the sale of goods legislation apply to these contracts as well as to contracts between a retailer and his customers.

Draught Beer

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received advocating an end to the practice of draught beer being supplied in containers as opposed to barrels with a minimum content mark on each; and if he will make a statement.

Licensees' representatives have, from time to time, asked for legislation to require a statement of the measure of beer to accompany deliveries from breweries.I believe that this is very much a practical problem to be resolved within the trade and I understand that brewers are continuing their efforts to reach an acceptable solution.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to satisfy himself of the adequacy of the current level of staffing in his Department for technical experts dealing with applications under COCOM regulations.

I am concerned that applications under the COCOM arrangements should be dealt with as quickly as possible, and I am keeping this matter under close review. The staff devoted to this work have recently been increased, and a further increase is in prospect.

Telecommunications Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the maintenance of the competitive position of the United Kingdom domestic telecommunications industry through the use of import restraints and exports promotion; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom industry is fully competitive in terms of price, performance and delivery. Protective measures will not improve the long-term position. However, some overseas markets are not open and we are giving full support to international efforts to reduce the barriers to free trade in telecommunications. Support for exports may also be given, according to the circumstances of each individual case.

Telephone Sales

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from members of the public regarding telephone selling techniques towards potential customers; and if he will make a statement.

During the last three months my predecessor and I have received 10 complaints from the public about telephone selling, mainly from people who object in principle to being approached in this way.The Director General of Fair Trading published a report on this subject in October 1984 and has been encouraging the trade to adopt a set of new guidelines for its promotional activities. British Telecom is including these guidelines in telephone directories. The trade associations with whom this has been discussed so far have agreed to follow these guidelines. I agree with the Director General that self regulation by the trade remains the appropriate course.

Companies (Research And Development)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to require companies to state in their balance sheets the amount of money that is spent by them on research and development.

I have no plans to do so at this stage. I will consider the position again following the review, by the Accounting Standards Committee of SSAP13, the accounting standard on research and development.

Overseas Contracts

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when, and in what manner, he published the revised arrangements for Government assistance to firms bidding for overseas contracts with a development content; what are the changes in procedure described as streamlining and in what manner they differ from the current practice; what financial estimates are, or will be, made from his Department in respect of the revised scheme; and what part officials from his Department will play in the determination of the distribution of the public expenditure concerned.

The guidance for applicants for support under the aid and trade provision will be revised to take into account modifications already agreed, such as the eligibility of China, and those under discussion, including the possibility of a soft loan facility. Procedures have been streamlined through changes in arrangements for interdepartmental scrutiny.Funds for the aid and trade provision, which forms part of the aid programme, will be settled in the current public expenditure round. My Department will continue to handle applications from companies, preparing them for discussion with the Overseas Development Administration.

Tape Imports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of a tape levy for the level of counterfeit tape imports, both of stamped or unstamped tapes.

The decision whether or not to introduce a copyright levy on blank recording tape will take account of all relevant factors, including the question of counterfeit blank tape imports. We hope soon to publish our conclusions on the levy, and other matters of copyright reform, in a White Paper.

Johnson Matthey Bankers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an inquiry into applications for export credit guarantees from customers of Johnson Matthey Bankers from 1981 to the present day.

No. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the House on 17 July, Johnson Matthey Bankers has requested the Commissioner of the City of London police to conduct a preliminary inquiry into certain accounts with the bank which are the subject of large losses. The Export Credits Guarantee Department will co-operate fully with the police in their inquiries.

Trade Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average error when monthly balance of trade figures are compared with the final outturn; and if there has been any statistical improvement in the accuracy of monthly balance of trade figures in the past decade.

The information is given in the table. The revisions result from changes in definition as well as the incorporation of later information. There has been no statistical improvement in the accuracy of the monthly figures over the last decade.Revisions of UK visible trade balance:

Monthly average* £ million
197572
197650
197780
197888
197997
198066
1981114
1982106
1983151
198470
* Average revision, without regard to sign, in the monthly estimates of the UK visible trade balance, seasonally adjusted on a balance of payments basis, since first published.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by model, make and other identifying marks all the products currently manufactured in the United Kingdom which contain polychlorinated biphenyls and similar compounds; and if he will place a copy of this list in the Library.

Polychlorinated biphenyls have not been manufactured in the United Kingdom since 1977, and I have no knowledge of any current manufacture in this country of any products containing either polychlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated terphenyls.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by model, make and other identifying marks all the products currently being imported into the United Kingdom which contain polychlorinated biphenyls and similar compounds; and if he will place a copy of this list in the Library.

Available statistical information does not identify products which contain polychlorinated terphenyls or polychlorinated biphenyls. Like the United Kingdom, many other countries have ceased production of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls, or are in the process of doing so. Imports of products containing these substances are thought to be neglible.

Alvey Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the Alvey programme software engineering work has gone to the Ministry of Defence or defence-related projects.

The Alvey Programme is expected to provide £40 million Government funds for about 85 projects in software engineering. In these Ministry of Defence participation is currently limited to the unfunded supervision of RSRE Malvern of one academic study costing £10,000. Discussions are also in progress on a possible small RSRE participation in one major project, the £5·5 million-ICL-STC-BGC-PRAXIS-University of Manchester IPSE 2·5 project to develop advanced software tools. No Alvey software project is specifically defence related: projects set out to tackle generic issues critically important to all software producers and users, defence or civil.

European Space Agency

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what agreements exist with the United States of America concerning military use of European Space Agency facilities and equipment;(2) what uses have been made of European Space Agency facilities by military agencies in the United States of America;(3) what uses are likely to be made of European Space Agency facilities by military agencies in the United States of America in the next two years.

No such agreements exist. In any event ESA's convention limits the use of its facilities to peaceful purposes.

Private Sector Employers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the top 50 United Kingdom private sector employers, showing in each case the number of employees employed in the United Kingdom.

Information on employment by individual United Kingdom private sector companies is collected by the Department under the Statistics for Trade Act 1947. The provisions of this Act prevent the Department from disclosing information on individual undertakings. Figures for employment in United Kingdom companies are published in The Times 1000 and in Key British Enterprises by Dunn and Bradstreet, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

Capital Investment

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the annual rate of capital investment in (i) manufacturing and (ii) distribution and services for each year since 1970 at constant 1975 prices.

Available information is given in the following table:

Industry's Capital Expenditure
£ million at 1980 prices*
Manufacturing IndustryDistribution and Services Industries
19707,99010,399
19717,29211,012
19726,34511,336
19736,78612,548
19747,43112,045
19757,13510,170
19766,83810,208
19777,25310,993
19787,90411,744
19798,23012,991
19807,31412,964
19815,69812,238
19825,51612,998
19835,55713,395
19846,37315,359
* As constant price series are currently expressed in terms of 1980 prices, information at 1975 prices is not readily available for recent years.
Divisions 2–4 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980), including assets leased to manufacturers.
Divisions 6–9 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980), excluding assets leased from the financial industries.

Overseas Development

Aid And Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the changes in the administrative arrangements to be made in the aid and trade provision in respect of expenditure in current Estimates; what changes he expects to be made in respect of the disbursement of these funds; what are the criteria for accepting any application on the basis of its developmental desirability; and in what form these criteria are publicly available.

Steps have been taken to streamline interdepartmental scrutiny of aid and trade provision proposals.Consideration of a proposed new soft loan mechanism, including discussions with the financial community, is almost complete. Criteria for the use of aid and trade provision in support of particular projects are the same as those applicable to other aid-funded activities. This is set out in the "Guidance rules for British exporters applying for support from the Aid and Trade Provision", which will shortly be revised, and placed in the Library of the House.

Grenada

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the amount of aid given to the Government of Grenada since October 1983 and about pledges of future aid and conditions attached.

Figures for part-years are not available but disbursements of British bilateral aid to Grenada for 1983 and 1984 were £85,000 and £693,000 respectively. An interest-free loan of £5 million agreed in August 1985 has a 5-year grace period and is repayable over 15 years. It is tied 50 per cent. to British procurement. Grenada will also receive part of a regional grant of £4·5 million towards the cost of a coastguard shore facility at St Georges.

Energy

Wave Power

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will summarise the evidence on which he based his decision to cease to fund research into power production using ocean waves; and if he will make a statement.

It is unlikely that wave energy for large scale use in the United Kingdom will be cost effective since a detailed cost analysis by our consultants has concluded that there is only a low probability of any design achieving an energy cost below 9p/kwhr (1984 money values). It is therefore appropriate to round off our research in this field, although we will be receptive to any realistic new ideas which could lead to major cost reductions. The evidence is summarised in "Wave Energy" ETSU R26, which is in the Library of the House.

Experimental Boreholes

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why Her Majesty's Government are ending funding for experimental boreholes for drilling for hot water at Southampton, Cleethorpes, Marchwood and Lame; and what conveniently available figures he has for the cost of capping and making safe the boreholes.

The research programme to which my Department has committed some £10 million over the past 9 years has shown that the United Kingdom geothermal aquifer resource is very limited in size and the prospects for its commercialisation are poor. I have therefore decided to discontinue work in this field. No decisions have yet been made on the existing boreholes at Southampton, Cleethorpes, Marchwood and Lame. Current estimates are that the cost of permanent capping and permanently making safe these boreholes would be £100,000 each.

Uranium

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the intended uses of depleted uranium exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. in each of the last three years.

I am informed by BNFL that, in the last three years, it has exported depleted uranium for the following uses:

  • (a) development work on nuclear fuel production;
  • (b) as samples to demonstrate the capabilities of BNFL technologies to potential customers;
  • (c) as radiation shielding;
  • (d) as colouring for ceramics and glazes;
  • (e) as an additive in the production of special steels;
  • (f) for use in research and development work;
  • (g) as isotopic reference standards.
  • asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has as to the organisation and outcome of the monitoring and control by international organisations of which the United Kingdom is a member of the subsequent movements of consignments of depleted uranium exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. in each of the last three years;(2) what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the International Atomic Energy Agency about the subsequent destination of depleted uranium exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. to International Metals SA of Luxembourg and the implications of this incident for the operation of the nonproliferation treaty.

    The United Kingdom supplies information about depleted uranium movements to the safeguards authorities of Euratom and the IAEA. No representations have been made by either body to Her Majesty's Government about diverted material. In 1984 the safeguards system detected a shipment of depleted uranium from Luxembourg to Israel which was made without due notification. BNFL had previously exported depleted uranium to International Metals SA of Luxembourg under safeguards. The annual safeguards statements contained in the IAEA's Annual Reports up to 1984 show that with the one exception noted above, there were no anomalies in the shipments of depleted uranium monitored by the agency.

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will issue a general direction to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to prohibit the sale by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. of depleted uranium for export; and if he will make a statement;(2) if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to permit the export of depleted uranium only if conditions are imposed requiring any subsequent disposal to be in accordance with the provisions of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the purposes for which they authorise the export of depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement.

    Exports of nuclear materials are only authorised in accordance with the policy laid down by the then Foreign Secretary in 1976 [Vol. 980, c. 514–516]. All applications for licences to export depleted uranium are examined on a case by case basis in the light of this policy.

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy what have been the levels of exports of depleted uranium in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Export licences were approved in respect of applications to export depleted uranium from the United Kingdom in the years 1980 to 1984 as follows:

    YearTonnes
    198050
    198160
    198270
    198330
    1984130

    Energy Managers

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 35, what success he has had with his proposals to encourage the appointment of energy managers in both public and private sectors.

    Membership of energy management groups has increased by 70 per cent. over the last 2 years, and is still growing.Many private companies have appointed energy managers after attending ministerial briefings; we are at present conducting a survey to establish the facts. Most local authorities have now designated energy officers. In central Government, the Prime Minister has instructed every Department to appoint an energy manager.

    Coal (Cost)

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline by area the sulphur content, thermal content and cost per tonne of coal delivered to power stations operated by the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board.

    The CEGB advises that, on the basis of its latest evaluation, the sulphur content and thermal content per tonne of coal delivered to CEGB power stations from the various NCB sales areas and other suppliers is as follows:-

    CV (net giga joules per tonne)Sulphur (percentage b) weight)
    Scotland23·01·0
    North Eastern24·71·6
    Yorkshire23·21·7
    North Midlands22·91·5
    South Midlands22·01·7
    Western23·91·6
    South Wales25·21·2
    CEGB Average23·41·6
    Information concerning power stations operated by the SSEB is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. However, I understand that the SSEB's advice to him is that the position in relation 'so their power stations is as follows:

    CV (net giga joules per tonne)Sulphur (percentage by weight)
    SSEB21·60·76
    Delivered costs of coal are the subject of confidential agreements with CEGB and SSEB suppliers.

    Flue Gas Desulphurisation

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement regarding the existing operation or introduction of flue gas desulphurisarion techniques at each of Britain's oil refineries.

    This is a matter for the Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate. I understand that flue gas desulphurisation is not appropriate to oil refineries because of the wide variability of fuels refined, including those from low sulphur crudes and gases. Desulphurisation does, however, take place as part of the refining process in the form of suphur recovery from refinery gas streams.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much his Department has spent on office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decorating in each of the last five years.

    The figures are not available in the form requested. I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

    Defence

    Hercules Aircraft

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the total cost and the amount of (a) fuel allocation in the current year for Hercules aircraft training and (b) fuel used and projected to be used by Hercules aircraft in Ethiopia until their withdrawal.

    During the current financial year the fuel allocation for Hercules training is 35,400,000 litres. By the end of 1985 our aircraft in Ethiopia will have used some 13,000,000 litres of fuel. As to costs, it is not the practice to release such information, which is commercially confidential.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on Hercules aircraft training for military purposes of the use of Hercules aircraft in Ethiopia.

    The deployment of the Hercules aircraft to Ethiopia has had some effect on the number if airframes and the total number of air transport flying hours available for other tasks. The effect on training in the circumstances has been considered acceptable.

    Military Service

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an estimate of the proportion of the population that has done any form of military service or training; and if he will make a statement.

    The information requested is not available. Details of current strengths of regular, reserve and cadet forces are given in volume 2 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985, tables 4.2 to 4.6.

    Salisbury Plain

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has any plans to extend its use of land on Salisbury plain; and if he will make a statement.

    There is a shortage of training land and our policy is to extend existing training areas when suitable land is offered for sale. We have recently acquired some 339 acres of land on Salisbury plain and are considering the acquisition of a further 114 acres.

    Land Acquisition (Stainmore)

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has any plans to acquire land in the Stainmore area of north Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

    The Ministry of Defence wishes to acquire 802 acres for dry training, ie without live firing. Eden district council has objected formally to the notice of proposed change of use, and we therefore expect to refer the matter to the Department of the Environment under the provisions of DOE circular 18/84, which covers development by Government Departments.

    Royal Dockyards

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state the specific criteria he intends to apply in deciding whether applicants, companies or consortia seeking to manage a dockyard are British companies;(2) if he will make it his policy when seeking competitive tenders to manage the royal dockyards at Devonport and Rosyth to consider only companies where 90 per cent. or more of the shares are held by United Kingdom based individuals and institutions, or consortia where the constituent parties' shareholdings are so held; and if he will make a statement.

    In his statement on 17 April at col. 261 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said that the dockyards would remain under British control after the introduction of commercial management. The land and fixed assets will remain in the ownership of the Crown. Any particular safeguards in connection with the dockyard undertaking, which might be included in the contract, are the subject of continuing study within my Department.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the numbers who will be made redundant at (a) Rosyth and (b) Plymouth in advance of a transfer of responsibility to a private operation, beyond those already announced in April.

    There has been no change to the plans announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 April at col. 261 for a range of efficiency measures involving job reductions of about 2,000 at Devonport dockyard and 400 at Rosyth dockyard.It remains the Government's hope that the reductions will be achieved to the greatest extent possible through natural wastage and voluntary methods. At Rosyth dockyard it is anticipated that all the job reductions will be achieved through natural wastage.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average redundancy payment to dockyard workers paid in 1984–85 and 1985–86 to date.

    These figures are not held centrally and could only be calculated at disproportionate cost. As an example, however, a dockyard craftsman aged 50 with 32 years service would be entitled to between £12,600 and £16,700 in redundancy payments. A non-craft worker (Pay Band 8) of similar age and with similar service would be entitled to between £10,500 and £14,000. These sums would obviously be less for younger employees or for those with fewer years of service.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy for voluntary redundancies at Rosyth dockyard and in the light of the dismissal notices recently sent to 36 engineering apprentices.

    It remains the Government's hope that the job reductions at Rosyth dockyard will be achieved through natural wastage and voluntary redundancy. Following an agreement between management and trades unions on a flexible approach to the deployment of the apprentices in skilled jobs throughout Rosyth dockyard, the 36 mechanical fitters referred to in the question who completed their training this summer were offered permanent employment in the Dockyard.

    Defence Industries

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to maintain employment in the defence industries.

    Employment levels in the defence industries depend on the success of individual firms in winning orders for the MOD and overseas customers.

    Multi-Launch Rocket System

    asked the Secretary of State for the Defence what is the latest position regarding production of the multi-launch rocket system project; and if he will make a statement.

    The situation remains broadly as described in the reply of my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Butler) on 22 May at columns 424–5. We expect that the intergovernmental memorandum of understanding for European production of MLRS phase I will be signed in November. Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing, with the aim of Germany, the pilot nation, awarding a production contract on behalf of the European partners by the end of the year.

    Land-Air Operations

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the relationship between recent changes in British and Allied operational style initiated by the Commander in Chief, Northern Army Group, General Bagnell, and the United States Army airland battle doctrine;(2) what is the relationship between the changes in style of operations of British and Allied forces recently initiated by the Commander in Chief, Northern Army Group, General Bagnell and the follow on force attack strategy.

    I refer the hon. Lady to the replies I gave her on 30 November 1984 at columns 595–6.

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent to which the changes in style of operations of British and Allied forces initiated by the Commander in Chief, Northern Army Group, General Bagnell, have been implemented along the lines indicated in General Bagnell's article in the September 1984 edition of the Royal United Services Institute Journal, relating to concepts of land-air operations in the central region.

    British Forces Germany are deployed in support of the agreed NATO strategy of flexible response and forward defence. Within that overall strategy, a revised concept of operations for NATO's northern army group has now been agreed, which places increased emphasis on the selection and defence of vital areas, tactical flexibility, the employment of reserve formations and co-operation between ground and air forces.

    Strategic Defence Initiative

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the use of nuclear weapons in space as a component of the strategic defence initiative.

    The United Kingdom is a party to the partial test ban treaty, which prohibits nuclear explosions in space, and the outer space treaty of 1967, which prohibits the stationing in space of nuclear weapons; so is the United States. The United States has stated that the strategic defence initiative research programme is being conducted in a manner fully consistent with existing United States treaty commitments.

    Hms Antrim

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the price and terms of the deal for which the Admiralante Cochrane, formerly HMS Antrim, was sold to Chile.

    It has not been the practice of this Government or previous Administrations to reveal details of individual sales.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decorating in each of the last five years.

    Until the introduction of the property repayment services arrangements on 1 April 1983 all Civil Estate expenditure of this kind was funded by the Property Services Agency. In the case of Ministry of Defence headquarters buildings expenditure on furniture and furnishings which has been met from Defence Votes in the last two financial years is as follows:

    £
    1983–842,619,000
    1984–853,411,000
    The Property Services Agency does not differentiate in its charges between internal decoration and other forms of maintenance.

    Transport

    Road Safety

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will summarise his response to the Transport Committee's road safety report and if he will make a statement.

    The Government believe that the Committee's report provides a valuable analysis and range of suggestions for improving road safety. They agree that, despite a significant drop in the number and severity of casualties in recent years, there is still scope for further reductions. They share the Committee's view that the wider application of low cost engineering measures; an effective programme of education, training and publicity; and the further development of vehicle safety measures can all make a major contribution to the prevention of accidents or reduction in their severity. Continued research, particularly into road user behaviour, is also needed to highlight the behavioural aspects of accident causation.The Government's response considers each of the 43 detailed recommendations in turn. It is in general agreement with a large number of them, while others will be carefully studied in the context of the Government's own current review of road safety policy. The Government have, however, rejected the Committee's recommendations that the length of the driving test should be increased, that the motorway speed limit should be increased to 80 mph for a trial period, and that the scope of the MOT test should be extended.The Government's full response is available in the Library.

    Manchester-Blackpool Rail Link

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met representatives from Lancashire county council and Greater Manchester council to consider their proposals for electrification of the Manchester to Blackpool line; and if he will make a statement.

    On 28 June I agreed to a meeting with representatives of Lancashire and Greater Manchester councils but suggested that my Department should first receive a written statement about the wider benefits of the scheme. A meeting with officials took place on 18 July, at which the county councils agreed to supply further information. This information was received by my Department on 14 October, and I now expect to meet representatives of the two councils shortly.

    Wellan Green Railway Station

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise with him the proposal to build a new railway station at Wellan green; and if he will make a statement.

    I am not aware of any reason to raise this issue with the chairman at the moment; I understand that British Rail (Eastern Region) has applied to Hertfordshire county council for planning permission to build a new station at Wellan Green.

    Transport Spending

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of total transport spending by local authorities was allocated to (a) public transport and (b) roads in 1964, 1970 and each of the last 12 years.

    This information is only available for 1973–74 onwards. The proportions of gross expenditure are:

    Public transportRoads
    1973–742971
    1974–754456
    1975–764654
    1976–774852
    1977–785149
    1978–794951
    1979–804852
    1980–814852

    Public transport

    Roads

    1981–824951
    1982–834951
    1983–844951
    1984–854852

    These include all expenditure by local authority owned public transport undertakings and car-parks, a large proportion of which is financed by revenue from fares and charges. The proportions of expenditure net of fare-box revenue and parking charges are:

    Public transport

    Roads

    1973–742080
    1974–753169
    1975–763565
    1976–773664
    1977–783664
    1978–793664
    1979–803664
    1980–813664
    1981–823862
    1982–834060
    1983–844060
    1984–853961

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of transport spending was used on (a) public transport and (b) roads in each local authority area for the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Figures for total spending on transport, which include that by the central Government and British Rail (and consumer spending), are not available for each local authority area.

    British Rail (Wales)

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are currently employed by British Rail in Wales and what has been the figure for each of the past five years.

    I understand that British Rail does not maintain a separate record of the number of staff employed in Wales.

    Road Planning

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for extending the dual cariageway for the M3–A303 from Thruxton to Exeter and on what dates these plans are to be finalised.

    Our report "National Roads England 1985", published last June, gives details of the proposed improvements on the A303-A30 between Thruxton and Exeter, together with their approximate start dates. The details are as follows:

    Approximate Start Date
    A303 Thruxton-AmesburySpring 1986
    A303 Furze hedge improvementSpring 1986
    A303 Mere-WincantonApril 1987–March 1989
    A303 Sparkford bypassApril 1987–March 1989
    A303 Ilchester-South PethertonApril 1987–March 1989
    A303 South Petherton-Broadway (Ilminster bypass)Summer 1986

    Approximate Start Date

    A303-A30 Marsh-Honiton improvementApril 1989 onwards
    A30 Honiton-Exeter improvementApril 1989 onwards

    Dual carriageways will be provided wherever this is justified by present and predicted traffic usage.

    Studies are in hand to determine what needs to be done to the remaining sections of the route between these planned improvements.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decorating in each of the last five years.

    Prior to 1983–84 Departments were not charged separately for office furniture, curtains and carpets, nor for maintenance work undertaken by PSA on their estates.For 1983–84 and 1984–85 the information for my Department is as follows:

    Supplies items £Office decoration £
    1983–84*718,529
    1984–85* 1,499,675

    Notes:

    * Expenditure on supplies, which includes office furniture, curtains and carpets, is not separately itemised.

    It is not possible to separate the cost of office decoration from other maintenance work.

    Docklands Light Railway

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what implications does the development proposal for the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone have for the docklands light railway.

    I understand that the consortium which has expressed interest in the development of the Canary wharf site has proposed an extension of the Docklands light railway to the Bank which would be financed by private capital. It is too early to know whether this proposition will proceed or to make an assessment of its implications for the Docklands light railway.

    Isle Of Dogs

    asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations his Department has held in relation to the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone.

    House Of Commons

    Telephones

    asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the number of new telephones installed throughout the Houses of Parliament and adjoining parliamentary office buildings.

    Employment

    Community Programme

    asked the Paymaster General if he has now determined the role of community programme work on football league grounds following the publication of the interim report from Mr. Justice Popplewell, and if he will make a statement.

    Discussions are currently taking place between officials of my Department and those of the Department of the Environment and the Manpower Services Commission to identify areas where the community programme might usefully have a role. Any proposal would need to be discussed with the appropriate football bodies.

    Gas Safety

    asked the Paymaster General how many prosecutions for contraventions of the gas safety regulations have been undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive at the latest available date.

    Five prosecutions for contraventions of the gas safety regulations had been taken by the Health and Safety Executive up to 10 October 1985.

    Employment Statistics

    asked the Paymaster General what was the number of men and women aged under 25 years registered as unemployed in Stalybridge and Hyde at the latest available date.

    The following information is in the Library. On 11 July 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, there were 1,389 male and 774 female unemployed claimants under 25 years of age in the parliamentary constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde.

    asked the Paymaster General if the definition of productivity in use in his Department makes any distinction between a firm achieving higher output with an unchanged labour force and a firm maintaining output with a reduced labour force and if he will make a statement.

    The national estimates of productivity are made using the most suitable information available on output and employment. The data for each component is to a large extent collected separately and estimates are prepared independently. It is therefore riot possible to provide national estimates of productivity which distinguish between those improvements for firms which arise entirely from increases in output and those which have come about solely because of reductions in labour.The employed labour force is estimated to have increased by nearly 3 per cent. between the first quarter of 1983 and the second quarter of 1985; at the same time output rose by 8 per cent. and hence productivity for the whole economy increased by 5 per cent.

    asked the Paymaster General which industrial sectors have lost (a) more than 30 per cent. and (b) more than 20 per cent., respectively, of total numbers employed in May 1979.

    The following tables list those industries in Great Britain which have shown the specified net decreases in numbers of employees in employment between June 1979 (figures are not available for May) and June 1985, the latest date for which figures are available.Table 1

    Industries in which there has been a net decrease in employees in employment of more than 30 per cent. between June 1979 and June 1985 (1980 Standard Industrial Classification)

    • Metal manufacturing (class 22)
    • Production of man-made fibres (class 26)
    • Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts thereof (class 35)
    • Textile industry (class 43)
    • Manufacture of leather and leather goods (class 44)
    • Footwear and clothing industries (class 45)
    • Other manufacturing industries (class 49)
    • Sea transport (class 74)

    Table 2

    Industries* in which there has been a net decrease in employees in employment of more than 20 per cent. between June 1979 and June 1985 (1980 Standard Industrial Classification)

    • Coal extraction and manufacture of solid fuels (class 11)
    • Mineral oil processing (class 14)
    • Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products (class 24)
    • Manufacture of metal goods not elsewhere specified (class 31)
    • Mechanical engineering (class 32)
    • Manufacture of other transport equipment (class 36)
    • Processing of rubber and plastics (class 48)
    • Construction (class 50)
    • Air transport (class 75)
    • Supporting services to transport (class 76)

    * Additional to those in table 1.

    asked the Paymaster General how many persons were registered as unemployed, or in receipt of unemployment benefit, in each of his Department's offices in Greater London in May 1979 and the most recent convenient date for which figures are available.

    This information is available in the library. I am sending a copy of a computer print showing the requested information for registered unemployed at jobcentres at May 1979, for unemployed claimants in each jobcentre area at August 1985, and for October 1982 on both bases. Comparisons are affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982, and by the 1983 Budget provisions which meant that some men, mainly aged 60 years and over, no longer needed to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.Unemployment statistics are no longer produced for jobcentre areas, and from September 1985 are only available for areas defined in terms of local authority electoral wards.

    Unemployment Benefit

    asked the Paymaster General (1) how many claimants of unemployment benefit who were offered work which they declined and were then refused benefits for six weeks thereafter recommenced receiving benefit during 1984; and what was the average length of time for which they remained in receipt of unemployment benefit;(2) what information he has as to how many claimants of unemployment and/or supplementary benefit who were offered work which they refused continued to receive benefit for the last year for which figures are available.

    Information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    In 1983, the last year for which figures are available, the independent adjudicating authorities considered 5,021 cases of unemployment benefit claimants refusing offers of apparently suitable employment (Social Security Act 1975, section 20(1)). 1,450 were disqualified and 3,571 not disqualified from receiving benefit.

    asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the number of people currently claiming unemployment or supplementary benefit, or both, within the following occupational categories: farm labourers, forestry workers, artists and sculptors, performing visual and audio arts, literary occupations, construction labourers, painting and decorating and merchant seamen as deckworkers and as engineers.

    The information about the occupations of unemployed benefit claimants is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

    asked the Paymaster General how many current claimants of unemployment or supplementary benefit, or both, are not registered at a jobcentre.

    This information is not available. While statistics of those registered at jobcentres are available, it is not known how many are claimants of unemployment or supplementary benefit. Those registered at jobcentres also include people seeking a change of employment, and unemployed people not claiming benefit. Also many jobseekers make use of the self service facilities at jobcentres but do not register.

    New Businesses

    asked the Paymaster General (1) what has been the net increase in the numbers of self-employed in both Amber Valley and Derbyshire since (a) 1979 and (b) 1981;(2) what has been the total change in the number of self-employed in both Amber Valley and Derbyshire since

    (a) 1979 and (b) 1981.

    Information at the level of detail requested is only available from the census of population. Between census years, information on the number of self employed comes from sample surveys which do not provide estimates for geographical areas smaller than regions or metropolitan counties.

    asked the Paymaster General (1) what has been the total increase in the number of new businesses in Amber Valley and Derbyshire since (a) 1979 and (b) 1981;(2) what has been the net change in the number of new businesses in both Amber Valley and Derbyshire since

    (a) 1979 and (b) 1981.

    The number of new businesses registered in Derbyshire between the end of 1979 and the end of 1983 was 8,764. The net increase in businesses was 1,819.Information for other dates is not readily available and nor is information in respect of Amber Valley. Information relating to business starts and stops by county was published in British Business on 18 January 1985 and a copy has been placed in the Library.

    asked the Paymaster General what has been the change in the number of self-employed since 1979.

    It is estimated that there was an increase of 717,000 in the number of self-employed between June 1979 and June 1985, the latest date for which figures are available. The estimate for June 1985 is provisional.

    Sex Discrimination

    asked the Paymaster General what policy he is adopting in response to the sex discrimination tribunal ruling against the eligibility requirements for entrants to community programme schemes.

    An appeal against the industrial tribunal decision in this case has been lodged with the employment appeal tribunal.The Government will continue to direct provision at those most in need of the opportunities that the community programme provides.

    asked the Paymaster General what policy he is adopting in response to the European Economic Community sex discrimination ruling against United Kingdom retirement ages for women and men.

    The European Court of Justice has not yet ruled out the question of different retirement ages for men and women. The Advocate General's opinion delivered on 18 September in the case of Marshall v S W Hampshire Area Health Authority is not the final judgment of the court. We will study the implications of the judgment when we receive it.

    asked the Paymaster General how many workers have ceased to fall within the scope of the wages councils and the Wages Inspectorate as a result of the exclusion of those between the ages of 16 and 21 years, how many of these are women, and what proportion women represent of the total number.

    None. It is estimated that half a million people under 21 now subject to wages council regulation will cease to be so under the Government's proposed reforms. Approximately 350,000 of these are female, representing about two-thirds of the total workforce under 21 within scope of wages councils.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Paymaster General how much the Department of Employment has spent on (a) office furniture, (b) carpets and curtains and (c) office decorating in each of the last five years.

    No information is available to the Department prior to April 1983. For 1983–84 and 1984–85 expenditure with the Crown Suppliers in respect of all furniture and office supplies was £5·1 million and £4·6 million respectively. The bulk of the expenditure on office decorating is met by the Property Services Agency and details of the amount spent on Department of Employment accommodation is not available except at disproportionate cost.

    Youth Training Scheme

    asked the Paymaster General when, and to what level, he intends to raise the allowance paid to trainees on the youth training scheme.

    The allowance for trainees on the youth training scheme was increased on 1 September this year to £27·30 per week, and this will be the rate for first year trainees after the introduction of our new two-year scheme in April next year; the allowance for trainees in their second year will be £35 per week.

    Wages Councils

    asked the Paymaster General how many prosecutions there have been over the last six years against employers in the west midlands who have broken wages councils' agreements.

    One employer in the west midlands division of the wages inspectorate has been successfully prosecuted for an offence under wages council legislation since 1979.

    asked the Paymaster General how many inspectors are employed to enforce wages councils' agreements in the west midlands.

    Eleven wages inspectors are employed in the west midlands division of the wages inspectorate.

    Employment (Discrimination)

    asked the Paymaster General what steps the Government is taking to combat discrimination against lesbians and homosexual men in employment.

    Home Department

    Violent Crime

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest figures available for the incidence of violent crime, giving the percentage increase in each of the last five years.

    Information relating to crime and criminal proceedings is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". Table 2.1 in the latest volume, Cmnd. 9621, gives the percentage annual increase in the number of violent and other offences recorded in the period 1974 to 1984. The figures show that in the last five years violent crime has continued to increase, though the increase has been less marked than in the preceding five years.

    Rape Victims

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of the Metropolitan police with regard to the practice of ensuring that alleged rape victims obtain priority appointments with venereal disease clinics; and if he will make a statement.

    The Metropolitan police have made arrangements with the agreement of the appropriate health authorities, with a number of hospitals with specialist clinics to enable victims of rape and other serious sexual assaults to receive priority appointments if they so wish. It is the police's policy to offer such appointments to all victims of serious sexual assaults.

    Prevention Of Terrorism

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is given to individuals held at ports of entry for examination under article 4(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1984, about their rights to (a) see a lawyer, (b) have a reasonable named person informed of their whereabouts and (c) silence.

    Article 4(1) relates to those examined, as they pass through ports. In the vast majority of such cases, the examination takes no more than a minute or two and no special notice on the matters referred to is given. Those few for whom the initial process of examination takes longer than one hour are given a notice of rights under section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977. Persons formally detained under article 9 for further examination under article 4(2) are given the same notice of rights as a person held in police custody under any other legislation. The form of information given in either case will be reviewed to comply with the provision of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training and instructions have been given to immigration and customs personnel concerning the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1984 in relation to international terrorism.

    The enforcement of the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 is principally for the police. As part of their training Immigration Officers (and customs officers employed as immigration officers under the Immigration Act 1971) are made aware of their powers of examination under the 1984 Act have have instructions to bring to the attention of the police any matter which might involve international terrorism.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been successfully contacted since 1974 in connection with the three yearly reviews of exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; in how many cases personal interviews have been carried out; what is the criteria for deciding whether a personal interview should be offered; and whether the information taken into account by the Secretary of State in connection with a review is always related to the three years immediately before the review.

    Ninety-five persons against whom exclusion orders were made before the passing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1984 have responded to invitations to have their cases reviewed under the 3-year procedure, which has been in operation since 1979. It is for the police, who provide me with up-to-date reports on each case, to decide whether or not they wish to interview a review applicant. Fifty-five persons have been invited to attend such an interview and 45 have in fact attended. My decision in any case is based on all the relevant information available to me, although particular attention is paid to information, or lack of it, about involvement in terrorism within the last three years. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has his own procedures for reviewing exclusion orders that he or his predecessors have made.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the recommended text of the notice of prisoners' rights given to individuals in police custody and a copy of the recommended text given to individuals held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

    A copy of the notice to prisoners has been placed in the Library. Persons detained under the prevention of terrorism legislation are given the same notice as persons detained under other legislation.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the report of the Home Office working group on port units, issued in February 1985 by the Inspectorate of Constabularies, in the Library; and what measures are being considered in the light of the report with regard to passenger control and examination or detention of travellers under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

    The report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary on the work of the police in operating port controls under the prevention of terrorism legislation deals with security arrangements and is not suitable for publication. In the light of its conclusions on the use made of landing and embarkation cards my right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary has decided that a selective use of the cards is to be preferred. Other recommendations are still being considered.

    Alcoholic Liquor Licences

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received advocating a relaxation in the standards required of persons applying for a licence to retail alcoholic liquor, particularly with regard to off-licence holders; and if he will make a statement.

    My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. The licensing justices must be satisfied that an applicant for a liquor licence is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, and we have no plans to relax that requirement.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department issues guidelines to licensing magistrates regarding the criteria for the granting of on and off licences for the sale of alcoholic beverages; and if he will make a statement.

    No such guidelines are issued, nor would they be appropriate; subject to the matters on which the law requires the justices to be satisfied, the grant of an on or off licence is wholly within their discretion.

    Alcohol (Retail Sales)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received advocating legislation to impose stricter controls over the supply of alcohol by large chain stores and supermarkets and the methods and means by which alcoholic beverages are displayed and marketed by such outlets; and if he will make a statement.

    My right hon. Friend has received no such representations in recent months and has no present plans to amend the licensing law on the lines described.

    Council Of Europe Convention On Pet Animals

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Council of Europe convention on pet animals.

    The Government welcome the continuing work in the Council of Europe on issues of animal welfare in general; they are maintaining a close interest in the current preparation of a draft convention for the protection of pet animals.

    Litter

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were brought in each of the last five years for the offence of dropping litter in (a) England and Wales, and (b)Basildon.

    The information available to me on proceedings in magistrates' courts in England and Wales for offences under the Litter Acts, which may be incomplete, is published annually in Table S.1.1(a)(iii) of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Vol. 1." Data are not collected centrally for Basildon alone, but for the whole of the Billericay petty sessional division where 5 prosecutions were recorded in 1981, 3 in 1982, 2 in 1983 and 5 in 1984.

    Animals (Illegal Imports)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people smuggling animals into the United Kingdom were stopped at ports of entry and charged in each of the past five years and in the current year to date;(2) in respect of people stopped whilst illegally bringing animals into the United Kingdom, how many animals in each of the past five years were found to be suffering from diseases.

    The information available to me, which may be incomplete, relates to the results of court proceedings in England and Wales for offences against the

    Offences currently* recorded as homicide and outcome of proceedings for suspects of victims aged under 15
    England and Wales
    YearNumber of victimsTotal suspectsOutcome of proceedings for suspectsNot indictedAwaiting trial
    TotalConvicted of homicideInfanticideNot convicted of homicide
    MurderSection 2 mans- laughterOther mans- laughter
    198277645081917614
    19836864571210251016
    198482693861218221415
    *As at 1 June 1985.
    Unfit to plead, not guilty by reason of insanity, acquitted.
    Suicide, no proceedings, eg on advice of DPP.

    Animal Health Act 1981 (which replaced the Diseases of Animals Act 1950 in July 1981) and against the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. The former is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Volume 1" (Table A1·1(A) under offence classification 110); the latter is shown in the table below.

    However, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who has responsibility for the health aspect of the importation of animals (including birds) into the United Kingdom under the Animal Health Act 1981, that the number of prosecutions taken under this Act for offences of illegal landings at ports of entry during each of the years 1980 to 1984 were, respectively, 96, 90, 96, 132 and 82 and that none of the animals landed illegally under the Animal Health Act 1981 (which may be directed to quarantine, reexported or destroyed) and directed to quarantine were found to be infected with diseases for which his Department would invoke powers of destruction.

    Following is the information:

    Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court in England and Wales for offences against the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals)

    Year

    Number of defendants

    19806
    19814
    19829
    19838
    198410

    Murder Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the number of convictions for murder of persons under the age of 15 years in each year since 1979.

    The numbers of offences of homicide of those aged under 16 years is published for the last 11 years in table 4.6 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1984" (Cmnd. 9621). For victims aged under 15, the number of such offences is related to the number of convictions for murder in the table below which gives figures from 1982; provision of corresponding details for earlier years would involve disproportionate cost.

    Offences Against Young Persons

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the number of convictions for sexual and other violent offences by adults against persons under the age of 15 years in each year since 1979.

    The available information is brought together in the following table. For other types of offences

    Offenders aged 17 and over found guilty at all courts in England and Wales of certain violence against the person or sexual offences where the victim is known to be or could be aged 16 or under
    Number of persons
    Offence197919801981198219831984
    Indictable offences
    Murder of infants under 1 year of age11
    Infanticide779386
    Cruelty to or neglect of children13814710110187102
    Abandoning child under 2 years*121121
    Child stealing*1310871910
    Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal119140143123142113
    Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal1714951221
    Indecent assault on a male person under 16 years485498458460482460
    Indecent assault on a female person under 16 years of age1,3471,3451,1461,1671,0861,068
    Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13*779469599272
    Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16*620525454388393393
    Incest with a girl under 13495032443848
    Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse86367
    Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16657736
    Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution, etc.334343
    Abduction of unmarried girl under 1619118968
    Gross indecency with children*239238209205205226
    Summary offence
    Cruelty to or neglect of children*4451011

    Fighting Dogs

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ban the importation of fighting dogs; and if he will make a statement.

    No. We do not consider that such a ban would be effective in preventing illegal fighting, given the number of dogs already in the United Kingdom which are susceptible to such abuse, and the difficulty of distinguishing between dogs bred for fighting and those intended as pets.

    Police Officers (Code Of Conduct)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has advised chief constables to adopt the code of conduct for police officers as advocated and published by Sir Kenneth Newman, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

    The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis sent copies of the handbook of "The Principles of Policing and Guidance for Professional Behaviour" to all other forces when it was published on 2 April. It is for chief constables to decide whether or not to use it in their own forces. The then Home Secretary made clear his high regard for the handbook, during the debate on the policing of the metropolis on 28 June; that view is shared by his successor.

    of violence and sexual offences the information collected centrally does not distinguish the age of the victim. Information on those offences marked with an asterisk is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Volume 4" (Tables S 4.1(A) and S 4.1(B) for 1984) which also includes information on cautions for these offences. (Tables S 4.1(C) and S 4·1(D)).

    Following is the table:

    Metropolitan Police (Ethnic Membership)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Metropolitan police stationed in J district are from the ethnic minorities; and what are their ranks.

    On 11 October there were nine officers from ethnic minorities serving in `J' District: two sergeants and seven constables.

    Dog Fights

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the incidence of dog fights; and if he will make a statement.

    The organised fighting of animals is illegal under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. The investigation of these offences is not the direct responsibility of the Department, but my right hon. Friend is aware of a number recent cases in which successful prosecutions have been brought. We have no present plans for an inquiry, but we are keeping the matter under review.

    Racial Attacks

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations were made to him on 26 September by the high commissioner of Bangladesh and the ambassador of Pakistan regarding racial attacks; what reply he gave; and if he will make a statement.

    The ambassador and the high commissioner expressed concern at recent incidents which had raised questions about the safety in this country of people of Asian origin. The persistence of apparently racially motivated attacks on Asians, and the loss of Asian life and property during the disturbances of Handsworth, were issues of particular anxiety. The deputation handed to my right hon. Friend a dossier on 70 racial attacks which had occurred since the beginning of 1984 about which he has sought advice from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the chief constables in whose areas the attacks took place.My right hon. Friend made it clear that he shared their concern; he expressed his abhorrence at the injury and distress which these incidents cause; and he explained that the problem of racial attacks was high on the agenda of the Association of Chief Police Officers and that the issue would be discussed at the meeting of the Advisory Council on Race Relations on I October. My right hon. Friend also emphasised the Government's determination to ensure that everyone for whom the United Kingdom was now their home should have the fundamental right to live peacefully free from attack or harassment.

    Scarman Report

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state which of the recommendations of the Scarman report which he did not accept or implement he is now re-considering in the light of recent events in inner-city areas.

    The police have re-examined almost every area of their activities in the light of Lord Scarman's report. All of his recommendations on policing have been implemented, half of them in full, and the rest in different degrees depending on resources, further consultation and action still being taken. The Government also continue to attach high priority to relieving the social needs of the inner cities.

    Commission For Racial Equality

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the addresses and telephone numbers of all the offices of the Commission for Racial Equality in Wales.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the Commission for Racial Equality, together with the date of their appointments and the duration of their period of office, indicating which were appointed as having a particular knowledge of circumstances in Wales.

    The present membership of the Commission for Racial Equality is as follows:

    Date of original appointmentDate of expiry of appointment
    Mr. Peter Newsam (Chairman)1 September 198231 August 1987
    Mr. Clifton Robinson, CBE JP (Deputy Chairman)28 April 197731 October 1985
    Mr. Lincoln Crawford1 May 198430 April 1986
    Mrs. Shreela Flather JP29 April 198030 April 86
    Mr. Alan Gayton JP1 May 198230 April 1986
    Mr. Kenneth Gill16 February 198130 April 1987
    Date of original appointmentDate of expiry of appointment
    Dr. Farrukh Hashmi, OBE, MP BS, DPM, FRC, Psych29 April 198030 April 1986
    Miss Ethel Houston, OBE, LLB, MA1 May 198430 April 1986
    Mr. E. Gilmour Jones1 May 198230 April 1986
    Mrs. Lily Khan1 May 198430 April 1986
    Mr. William Morris28 April 197730 April 1987
    Professor Bhiku Parekh1 May 198430 April 1986
    Mr. Gurcharan Singh Sarang1 May 198430 April 1986
    Mr. Gerald Tyler1 May 198230 April 1986
    Mr. Keith Whitesides, JP, M Phil, LLB1 June 198431 May 1986
    Commissioners are chosen for their personal qualities and for their general knowledge and experience of the areas covered by race relations legislation. Mrs. Flather is the commissioner with special responsibility for the commission's affairs in Wales.

    Metropolitan Police (Equipment)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy he is adopting towards requests to equip women and men serving in the Metropolitan police force with martial arts batons.

    I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a number of new truncheons have been evaluated by the force but that none as yet has been selected as suitable for operational use. The Home Secretary's agreement to the issue of a new truncheon has therefore not been sought.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the special equipment for riot control currently available to the Metropolitan police.

    The special equipment currently available to the Metropolitan police consists of long shields, round shields, NATO helmets, flame-proof overalls, protective grilles for vehicles, and CS smoke and baton rounds.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new equipment for riot control is currently being evaluated by the Metropolitan police force.

    The Metropolitan police are considering a radio communications link for helmets, tape-recorders in helmets (for evidence-gathering), personal kit bags for riot equipment, breastplates for women officers, shin protectors, protective boots, first aid packs and long batons.

    Women (Prosecutions)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been prosecuted for(a) social security fraud, (b) non-payment of debt and (c) non-payment of fines imposed on sentencing for these offences; of these how many in each category have received custodial sentences; what proportion women represent of the total number of prosecutions in each category; and what proportion custodial sentences on women represent in each of the above categories, in each case for each of the latest available three years.

    The available information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Volume 1", (in Table S1.1(A) under offence classification 151). To obtain information on persons received into prison for defaulting on a payment of a fine imposed for a social security offence would involve disproportionate cost.

    Drug Offences

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of those persons in Wales convicted of (a) all drug-related offences and (b) offences related to the use of heroin or its derivatives, how many were unemployed for each year from 1980 to 1985.

    Metropolitan Police (Cs Gas And Plastic Bullets)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training procedures are currently undertaken by the Metropolitan police in the use of CS gas and plastic bullets.

    The training is designed to ensure that officers are familiar with the guidelines on the use of CS and baton rounds and with the technical characteristics of the approved equipment. They regularly undertake refresher training.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many and which occasions in the last 12 months CS gas and plastic bullets have been drawn for use by the Metropolitan police.

    The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis gave authority for the operational use of plastic baton rounds in Tottenham on 6 October, but they were not used. This is the only occasion to date on which such authority has been given in Great Britain. Authority for the operational use of CS gas for public order purposes has never yet been given in the Metropolitan police district.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he was consulted before the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis placed Londoners on notice that he would not hesitate to use CS gas and plastic bullets.

    My right hon. Friend was informed that the commissioner had given authority for CS and baton rounds to be used in Tottenham on 6 October, in accordance with the guidelines issued in September 1981. He was consulted and gave his support to the Commissioner in making it clear the following day that CS or baton rounds may have to be used as a last resort, when conventional methods of policing have been tried and failed, or are unlikely to succeed if tried, and when such action is necessary because of the risk of loss of life or serious injury or widespread destruction of property.

    Metropolitan Police (Troop Support)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any plans exist for the deployment of troops in support of the Metropolitan police during civilian disorders.

    Water Cannon (Crowd Control)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any discussions have taken place with the London fire brigade on the use of water cannon for crowd control.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if consideration is being given to the use of water cannon for riot control.

    Yes, although the disadvantages are well known, and it is not thought that they would have been of any use in the Tottenham riot.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on (a) office furniture, (b) carpets and curtains and (c) office decorating in each of the last five years.

    Before 1 April 1983, the Department's office accommodation was provided as an allied service and the costs were borne by the Property Services Agency (PSA) of the Department of the Environment. Almost all decorating continues to be arranged by the PSA as part of its responsibility for maintaining the civil estate. Departments fund the PSA for this and other works services by the payment of an annual accommodation charge for each of its occupations; decorating costs are not separately identified.The amounts spent by the Department in 1983–84 and 1984–85 on office furniture, carpets and curtains (and other associated services such as porterage) were £699,341 and £1,509,815 respectively. A further breakdown of these figures could not be provided except at disproportionate cost. These figures do not include the offices element of expenditure at prisons and other specialised Home Office outstations, separate information about which is not readily available.

    Metropolitan Police (Firearms Injuries)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Office how many Metropolitan police officers have suffered injury from the use of firearms in each of the past six years.

    The information requested is as follows:

    InjuredKilled
    197920
    198050
    198150
    198200
    198350
    198461
    Total231
    Figures for 1985 are not yet available.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilians have received injuries from firearms used by the Metropolitan police in each of the last six years.

    The information required is as follows:

    Number
    19802
    19811
    19823
    19831
    19843
    1985—to date2
    Total12
    None of the injuries was fatal.

    Metropolitan Police (Firearms Training)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police officers are currently trained in the use of firearms; and what was the figure for each of the past six years.

    The number of officers whose training is maintained at a level allowing them to be armed varies during each year. The available information, recording the number of qualified officers at a particular date each year, is as follows:

    Number
    December 19804,133
    December 19814,181
    October 19824,476
    March 19834,667
    October 19844,631
    April 19854,631
    September 19853,973

    Liverpool

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if lie has any plans to visit Liverpool to meet ethnic community leaders; and if he will make a statement.

    Toxteth (Disturbances)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent civil disturbances in Toxteth, Liverpool.

    I understand from the chief constable of Merseyside that during the afternoon of 1 October four men appeared at Liverpool City magistrates' court charged with offences of affray following incidents at the Toxteth carnival on 10 August. They were remanded in custody at Risley remand centre. The public gallery was packed. After the proceedings had been completed, a hammer was thrown through the window of Hope street police station. The crowd dispersed in the direction of Toxteth and there followed sporadic outbreaks of disorder all confined within a triangle of 300 yards. A small number of vehicles were commandeered and set on fire and the police were stoned. Up to 400 youths were involved in the violence and the police deployed a substantial number of officers in riot gear. The Bishop and Archbishop of Liverpool called a meeting at the neighbourhood law centre in an attempt to ease the tension. Sporadic incidents of disorder continued to take place in the late evening and a small fire was started at premises in Granby street. This was quickly extinguished. By 2 am there remained a hard core of around 50–100 youths throwing stones but they were eventually dispersed. Four police officers sustained injuries (one was detained in hospital) and 10 injuries to members of the public were reported. A total of 17 people have been charged with offences arising out of these incidents.

    Social Services

    Board And Lodging

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish in the Official Report the result of his analysis of board and lodging in all local offices.

    Private Hospitals

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private hospitals are operating in the United Kingdom at the latest available date.

    Information is not collected centrally for the United Kingdom. On 31 December 1984 there were 195 private hospitals registered under section 3 of the Nursing Homes Act 1975 and equipped with operating theatres in England (provisional figure) and 5 in Wales.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any information on the numbers of persons who have died following operations in private hospitals in 1984.

    Records of deaths in 1984 occurring in non-NHS institutions have been examined and, excluding those occurring in military hospitals, there were 31 deaths where therapeutic misadventure had been coded and an operation recorded. In addition there were a further 178 deaths, where operation had been recorded on the certificate as well as other specified causes of death. It is not possible, from the information available, to determine whether the operation was carried out at the institute in which the patient died.

    Competitive Tendering

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct Coopers and Lybrand to undertake widespread consultation with interested bodies in the course of producing its report on competitive tendering.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the specific terms of reference applying to the report his Department has commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand on competitive tendering.

    The terms of reference for the report commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand were as follows:

  • (a) To identify different systems of catering which are available for feeding patients arid staff in National Health service hospitals;
  • (b) To give general advice on the circumstances in which the various systems might be applicable (but not to carry out a detailed technical study);
  • (c) To identify those systems which are likely to require capital expenditure for buildings or equipment;
  • (d) To set out the options available to be tested by competitive tendering taking into account the various systems;
  • (e) To advise on how those options should be set out in invitations to tender;
  • (f) To advise on which options might justify extension of the contract period beyond the normal three years.
  • asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total cost of the report his Department has commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand on competitive tendering.

    Health Authorities (Catering Services)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to issue guidelines to health authorities on the contracting out of catering services; and if he will make a statement.

    We are currently considering proposals which will form the basis of additional guidance for health authorities. This will 'include the report prepared by Coopers and Lybrand on catering services—competitive tendering.

    Nhs (Catering)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list all research studies available to him on National Health Service catering;(2) what study his Department has made, or has available to it, on the efficiency of National Health Service catering.

    There is a large amount of information available on various aspects of National Health Service catering, including efficiency, much of which is distributed to health authorities by the Department in Health Service catering bulletins. In addition the following studies have been separately identified:

    • Hospital Meal Survey—A joint DHSS/Leeds University study. 1979.
    • Energy Conservation in Kitchens — A joint DHSS/NHS investigation into energy losses in hospital service departments. July 1982.
    • Procurement of Breakfast Cereals—Health Service Supply Council Paper. October 1984.
    • Scrutiny Report into Cost of NHS Catering—Issued February 1985.
    • Hospital Building Note No. 10—DHSS publication providing guidance for designing and equipping Health Service Catering Departments. May 1985.
    • Report on Food Procurement — Health Service Supply Council. 1985.
    • Research Study: Meat and Meat Products in the NHS—Conducted by the Health Service Supply Council and issued in August 1985.

    Health Authorities (Private Laundries)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the numbers of health authorities which did not use private laundries in the years 1983 and 1984;(2) what information he has concerning health authorities which have taken back in-house laundry work previously carried out by private contractors, as referred to in the Sixth Report of the Social Services Committee on public expenditure and social services.

    The information is not collected centrally in the way requested. However, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Minister for Health to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 21 February at columns 590–98.

    Gas Poisoning

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children (a) under the age of 15 years and (b) between the ages of 15 and 21 years died from gas poisoning in 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively.

    The numbers of children under the age of 15 years and aged 15 to 21 years who died from the toxic effect of carbon monoxide and other gases, fumes or vapours in 1982, 1983 and 1984 are shown in the table.

    ICD (9)* 986·987 England and Wales
    YearAge in years
    0·1415·21
    19827973
    19837972
    19849081
    * International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision).

    Fire Deaths

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons over 65 years of age died in fires (a) at home and (b) in residential institutions in 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively.

    The table shows the numbers of deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames (a) at home and (b) in residential institutions, of persons aged 65 and over, which were registered in England and Wales in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

    ICD (9)* E890–E899
    YearPlace of accident
    At homeResidential institutions
    198234517
    19833109
    198431511
    * International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision).

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under 15 years of age died in fires at home in 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively.

    The table shows the numbers of deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames at home, of children under 15 years of age, which were registered in England and Wales in 1982, 1983 and 1984

    ICD (9)* E890·899
    YearAge in years 0–14
    198274
    198392
    198481
    * International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision).

    Drownings

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of deaths from drowning in the following age groups in 1984: (a) under five years, (b) five to 14 years, (c) 15 to 25 years, (d) 25 to 40 years, (e) 40 to 55 years, (f) 55 to 65 years, (g) 65 to 75 years and (h) over 75 years.

    The information is given in the table.

    Deaths from Drowning in England and Wales. 1984 (ICD (9)1* Code 994·1)
    Age groups (in years)MalesFemalesTotal
    All582389971
    0–430939
    5–1428533
    15–248914103
    25–3910038138
    40–5411861179
    55–649089179
    65–747597172
    75 and over5276128
    * International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision)

    Mccoll Committee Report

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he received the McColl committee report on artificial limbs and appliances; when he intends to make the report public; and if he will make a statement;(2) if it is his intention to implement immediately the recommendations of the McColl committee on artificial limbs and appliances; if he will be having discussions with relevant organisations about the implications of the report; and if he will make a statement.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the working party under the chairmanship of Professor Ian McColl into the artificial limbs and appliance centres was appointed; when its report is anticipated; and how long thereafter he anticipates responding to its representations.

    Invalidity Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number and percentage of cases won by appellants appealing against refusal or stoppage of invalidity benefit claims in the past year in England and Wales and the number and percentage of such cases which were supported by (a) the claimant's own general practitioner, (b) an independent medical consultant and (c) other evidence.

    I regret that information relating to appellants in invalidity benefit cases is not available in the form requested. The latest available information for Great Britain which relates to all types of appeal in invalidity benefit cases for the year ending 31 December 1983 is that 3,280 appeals were made to local tribunals of which 947 were successful. A further 164 appeals were made to the commissioner of which 46 were upheld. Of 3,280 appellants 993 (30 per cent) were therefore successful.I regret that no information is available regarding the number of appeal cases supported by

    (a) the claimant's own general practitioner, (b) an independent medical consultant and (c) other evidence.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of occasions in the past year on which payments of invalidity benefit to claimants have been stopped in England and Wales, respectively; and if he will give these figures as percentages of total invalidity benefit claimants.

    I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. In the 12 months ending 2 April 1983, the latest period for which figures are available, about 250,000 spells of invalidity benefit ended in Great Britain. Spells can terminate for various reasons but the great majority will be because the claimant submitted a final doctor's statement certifying he was no longer incapable of work. As claimants may have had more than one spell of incapacity in a year it is not possible to express this figure as a percentage of the total number of invalidity benefit claimants. But in the same period some 930,000 beneficiaries received invalidity pension.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of cases where the findings of the regional medical officer conflict with those of a claimant's own general practitioner and where the findings of the adjudication officer subsequently confirm the opinion of the regional medical officer in cases where claims for invalidity benefit have been refused or stopped in England and Wales for the past year; and if he will express both numbers as percentages of the total number of claims for invalidity benefit.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for each office of his Department in mid-Glamorgan, the number of occasions in the past year on which payments of invalidity benefit to claimants have been stopped.

    I regret that the information is not available. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of invalidity benefit claimants at each office of his Department in mid-Glamorgan at the latest available date.

    Information about claimants to invalidity benefit is obtained by periodical analysis of a small sample of cases. From this analysis we estimate that on 2 April 1983 (the latest date for which figures are available), there are approximately 28,700 people receiving invalidity benefit at the Department's eight offices in mid-Glamorgan. The sample is too small to permit reliable estimates to be made of the number of claimants at any particular office.

    Limited List Prescribing

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Review Committee on drugs prescribable on the National Health Service will complete its consideration of the inclusion of Lipotriad, Lipoflavanoid, and Mucodyne on the list of prescribed drugs.

    The Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs is giving priority to the position of Mucodyne and other oral mucolytics and is considering the many representations received and I hope to receive advice from it soon. I understand it has yet to consider in detail the position of Lipotriad and Lipoflavanoid.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now consider adding mucolytics to the drugs prescribable under the National Health Service.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs has reached a decision on the inclusion of mucolytic drugs on the selected list; and when such a decision might be announced.

    We are awaiting advice from the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs, which has not yet completed its consideration of oral mucolytic drugs.

    Supplementary Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library tables showing for each supplementary benefit office (a) the numbers of live cases in each of the three categories, pensioners, unemployed and others, for the most recent year for which information is available and (b) the number of single payments made to claimants in each of these categories by each office in the same year.

    Tables showing the latest available figures of claimants, in the categories of pensioners, unemployed and others, receiving supplementary benefit from each of the Department's offices were placed in the Library on 25 March in response to the hon. Member's earlier request of 5 March at column 504. Tables showing the number of single payments made in the year ending April 1985, broken down on the same basis, were placed in the Library on 7 October.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants there were in the London borough of Southwark in each of the years 1979 to 1985; and what was the number of children dependent on these claimants in each of those years.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her by my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney) on 1 May at columns 169–70. This reply gave the number of people claiming supplementary benefit at the nine local social security offices which serve the London borough of Southwark. The areas served by these offices are not coterminous with the borough so that some claimants living in surrounding boroughs were included in the figures given. Comparable figures for the number of dependent children are not available centrally.The following table shows the estimated number of people claiming supplementary benefit in 1981, 1982 and 1983, and the estimated number of children dependent on them. Comparable figures for 1979, 1980, 1984 and 1985 are not available centrally.

    London borough of Southwark
    Estimated number of Supplementary Benefit claimantsEstimated number of children dependent on these claimants
    198124,00011,000
    198229,00014,000
    198330,00014,000

    St Mark's Hospital, Maidenhead

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received, and from whom, with regard to the proposed closure of the accident and emergency unit at St. Mark's hospital, Maidenhead; what response he has made; how many persons are in the area currently served by the unit; what estimates have been made of the net savings arising from the closure; and if he will make a statement.

    The East Berkshire health authority is currently consulting the local community health council on its proposals for the future of St. Mark's hospital accident and emergency department. Ministers have received representations against the district health authority's proposals from eight members of the public, the Windsor and Maidenhead district association of local councils and the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead; and their comments have been passed to the health authority for consideration as part of the consultation exercise. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the proposal whilst local consultations are still under way.I have asked the chairman of the East Berkshire health authority to provide my hon. Friend with the detailed information he requested.

    Rhodesian Service Pensions

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the decline in the value of the Zimbabwe dollar against the pound sterling, he will bring forward proposals for increasing the value of pensions awarded to war widows of Rhodesian service men who are British citizens having re-settled in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

    The United Kingdom Government may supplement a war widow's pension payable to a British citizen resident in this country by the government of a former colony. The supplement is set at a level sufficient to raise the pension to the amount which would be payable under the United Kingdom war widows' pension scheme and is usually recalculated annually. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind which he would like me to look into, I should be happy to do so.

    War Pensions (Staff)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the medical branch of the war pensions department of his Department has an adequate number of doctors on its staff to undertake its work effectively; and if he will make a statement.

    Recent delays in processing war pensions claims and appeals have been caused partly by difficulties in recruiting medical officers. In the last few months a number have been recruited and by mid November we expect that all of the 15 posts at the war pensions branch will be filled. The number of claimants to war pensions awaiting medical decisions has already been reduced to less than half the number six months ago. Provided that successful medical recruitment continues, we are satisfied that the number of doctors will be sufficient to eliminate the delays.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much his Department has spent on office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decorating in each of the last five years.

    Information in the form requested is not available. Under the property repayment services arrangements introduced in 1983–84, decorations remain the responsibility of the Property Services Agency, which includes a levy for minor works, including decorations, in the accommodation charge to departments. Before 1983–84, supplies, which include furniture, furnishings, cleaning materials, removal costs and similar expenditure were provided by the Property Services Agency as a common service. Expenditure on supplies by the Department for its HQ, central offices and local offices since then was:

    £ million
    1983–847·349
    1984–858·448
    It is not possible to estimate separately the cost of office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decorating in these years.

    Christmas Bonus

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to uprate the Christmas bonus for senior citizens for payment in 1985.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 16 April at column 163 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the value of the Christmas bonus for senior citizens, had it been uprated by either the movement in average earnings or the retail price index, since its inception.

    If the Christmas bonus had been revalued in line with the movement in (a) average earnings (1) or (b) the retail price index (2) it would now have been worth £47·72 or £42·33 respectively.

    Notes

    (1) Based on the Index of Average Earnings (whole economy: seasonally adjusted) for May 1985.

    (2) May 1985.

    Mr Paul Escott

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be replying in full to the letter sent on 20 June from the hon. Member for Caerphilly concerning board and lodgings payments to one of his constituents, Mr. Paul Escott of Ystrad Mynach, Mid-Glamorgan.

    Supplementary Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the costs of meeting mortgage interest payments for claimants of supplementary benefit, other than the unemployed, breaking these down into one-parent families, the sick and disabled and pensioners, and showing how many persons in each category benefit.

    [pursuant to the reply, 13 May 1985,c. 32]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. The best figures available, obtained from the Annual Statistical Enquiry 1983 (a copy of which is in the Library) are given in the table. These show the amounts of mortgage interest included in the assessment of supplementary benefit. No account has been taken of adjustments made in respect of non-dependants or other deductions.

    Mortgage Interest Considered in Assessment
    NumberAnnual Amount (£ million)
    One Parent Families35,00021
    Sick and Disabled15,0009
    Pensioners39,00010
    Others (excluding unemployed)12,0005

    Feverfew

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the manufacture of the herb feverfew will not be restricted as part of his Department's review under schedule 4 of Statutory Instrument No. 41 of 1978.

    [pursuant to the reply, 12 July 1985, c. 563]: I regret that part of the information given in the reply was incorrect—a revision follows:If, under the Medicines Act 1968, we were to receive and grant an application for a new or reviewed product licence, the claims made in promotional literature would have to be consistent with the terms of the product licence. Any restrictions in a licence on advertising would depend on the claims made for the product and the data submitted in support of those claims.There are three product licences of right for existing medicinal products containing feverfew. These will be subject to review under the Medicines Act in due course.

    Northern Ireland

    Salmon

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will seek to ensure that: monofilament and nets of similar characteristics are made illegal before the start of the 1986 salmon drift netting season in the Foyle area.

    Yes. The use of monofilament nets has been illegal for many years; the provisions of the Foyle Area (Control of Netting) (Amendment) Regulations 1983 banning two further types of net in common use (multistrand monofilament and single throw monoply, also known as super nylon or Japanese netting), will come into effect on 1 June 1986.

    Deaths And Injuries (Statistics)

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the Official Report] a table to give for each year since 1 January 1969, the number of deaths of (a) Royal Ulster Constabulary, (b)

    Deaths*196919701971197219731974197519761977
    RUC12111410121138
    RUC (R)3334106
    Army431035828141415
    UDR5268761514
    Civilians122311532117116621624569
    Total1325174467250216247297112
    Injuries*
    RUC711191315465257211199236144
    RUC (R)203424646739
    Army54620381542525453151242172
    UDR9362330162215
    Civilians2431,8383,8131,8121,6802,0442,1621,027
    Total7651,0562,5434,8762,6512,3982,4742,7291,397
    Deaths*1978197919801981198219831984║1985Total
    RUC4931389112143
    RUC (R)6568492877
    Army143881021592382
    UDR710913710102149
    Civilians50515057574436211,704
    TOTAL8111376101977764452,455
    Injuries*
    RUC258129166276771122132684,228
    RUC (R)4436285622305468586
    Army12713253112806664173,791
    UDR821242818222211305
    Civilians54855753087832828051335918,614
    TOTAL9858758011,35052551086672327,524

    Notes:

    * The Ulster Special Constabulary was stood down on 30 April 1970. No members were killed in 1969 or in the first quarter of 1970, and records of injuries during this period were not maintained.

    One death occurred in the Republic of Ireland.

    From 1 July 1970 only.

    ║Up to 30 September 1985.

    It is believed that Republican terrorist organisations have been responsible for 1,466 deaths and Loyalist terrorist organisations for 662 deaths. These figures include terrorists killed by their own actions. 265 deaths occurred as a result of actions by the security forces. Records of religious affiliations are not maintained.

    Statistics relating to the security situation in Northern Ireland are updated on a regular basis and are presented to the House at six monthly intervals, normally in the form of a written reply. Relevant information is also given in the Chief Constable's annual reports, copies of which are placed in the Library.

    Ulster Special Constabulary, (c) Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, (d) Regular Army, (e) Ulster Defence Regiment and (f) civilians, and the number of injuries suffered by the same categories as a result of the civil unrest in Northern Ireland, and, so far as possible, indicate who was responsible for such deaths and the religion of the deceased by category; and if he will update such information at regular intervals.

    The number of deaths and injuries between 1 January 1969 and 30 September 1985 due to civil unrest in Northern Ireland, and the categories into which they fall are as follows:

    Demonstrations And Processions

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate whether any elected representative other than hon. Members made representations to him or to the Chief Constable that the demonstrations and processions which took place in the months of June and July to date in (a) Limavady, (b) Maghera, (c) Cookstown, (d) Castlewellan and (e) Portadown, should be (i) re-routed and (ii) banned.

    I understand my predecessor received several such representations from councillors and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. They all concerned processions in Portadown. I cannot, of course, speak for the Chief Constable.As the hon. Member will know, the police are responsible for re-routing processions while power to prohibit a demonstration or procession rests with the Secretary of State.

    Royal Prerogative

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the persons who have been released under the Royal Prerogative from prisons in Northern Ireland in each year from 1980 to the latest available date, and indicate the offences for which they were convicted, the periods to which they were sentenced and the normal release date with full remission in each case.

    The information requested is not readily available in the form requested and it is not our practice to give details of releases under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. However, the numbers of persons released under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy from Northern Ireland prisons each year since 1980 are:

    Number
    1980112
    198163
    198253
    198336
    198428
    *19854
    Total296
    * To 10 August 1985.

    Belfast City Hospital

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision has been made to ensure prompt evacuation of patients, staff and visitors at the tower block of Belfast city hospital in the event of fire or a terrorist bomb affecting lifts or stairs.

    Provision has been made for the evacuation of patients, staff and visitors to designated fire-safe zones within the building.

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff, medical, office and ancillaries, are expected to be employed in the tower block of Belfast city hospital when it is fully operational; and what is the maximum number of patients who can be accommodated in the tower block.

    The total number of staff will be around 1,950 whole time equivalents. The total bed complement is 583.

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the fire precautions which will be in force when the new tower block at Belfast city hospital is opened; how many lifts exist in the tower block, and whether separate emergency power will be provided to different groups of lifts.

    Yes. There are 13 lifts in the building and provision has been made for separate emergency power supplies to each lift.

    Maze Prison

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what sort of work has been done by persons convicted of scheduled offences and serving sentences in the Maze prison, where the prisoners are or are believed to be members of (a) the Provisional Irish Republican Army, (b) the Official Irish Republican Army, (c) the Irish Republican Socialist Party, (d) the Irish National Liberation Army, (e) the Ulster Defence Association, (f) the Ulster Volunteer Force and (g) other terrorist organisations in (i) 1981, (ii) 1982, (iii) 1983, (iv) 1984 and (v) 1985; and if there are any kinds of work which the prisoners refused to do;(2) why it was decided to terminate the employment of civilian instructors at the Maze prison; how long it has been since they actually gave instruction to prisoners there where the prisoners concerned were members of terrorist organisations; what savings he expects as a result of their dismissal; and what the cost of employing them has been in each year since they last gave regular instruction to prisoners who were members of terrorist organisations;(3) what sort of free association is presently enjoyed by prisoners convicted of scheduled offences at the Maze prison; when it was introduced; and what groups enjoy such free association;(4) whether any groups of terrorist prisoners in the Maze prison are allowed one letter, one visit and one parcel per week and can arrange their own recreational activities;(5) whether Her Majesty's Government plan to restore the remaining 50 per cent of remission lost by prisoners in the Maze prison during the hunger strike, or to provide conditions under which it would be restored; and if he will make a statement;(6) which aspects of the five demands made by terrorist prisoners in the Maze prison during the hunger strike have not as yet been incorporated in changes in prison regime and policies;

    Scheduled Offences

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether persons convicted of scheduled offences and imprisoned in Northern Ireland have the right to wear their own clothes and exercise that right.

    Regional Assistance

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will list each form of regional support payable from public funds to business, industry, and the professions in Ulster, and the names of agencies responsible for such payments;(2) if he will list the total cost of regional assistance payable in Ulster for each year since 1970 under each heading of support payable to business, industry and the professions, and for each county;(3) if he will list the total cost of assistance for employment and training measures payable in Ulster for each year since 1970 under each heading of support payable to business, industry and the professions, and for each county.

    A full listing of the various schemes of assistance to businesses in Northern Ireland is provided in "Support for Industry", published by the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The elements which equate

    YearStandard Capital Grants (Department of Economic Development)Selective Assistance by the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU)Selective Assistance by the Industrial Development Board (IDB) and the former Department of Commerce (DOC)Employment and Training Measures (Department of Economic Development)
    1970–7118,400,00029,200,6653,095,316
    1971–7217,600,000173,80333,365,2014,391,675
    1972–737,987,195605,28834,794,4927,040,145
    1973–748,500,0001,200,12247,358,7818,334,021
    1974–7515,000,0002,235,00041,116,30113,728,508
    1975–7630,872,5412,100,00049,631,72219,951,552
    1976–7727,704,8472,451,00063,410,73334,571,419
    1977–7831,831,1133,255,00054,246,23544,954,838
    1978–7927,217,9014,445,00097,556,12755,459,998
    1979–8018,369,4365,749,884100,164,40961,208,915
    1980–8139,806,4415,643,650115,806,71868,633,615
    1981–8241,705,1325,969,00079,280,97472,930,337
    1982–8352,834,8318,799,000104,525.40887,766,740
    1983–8440,675,00013,650,00083,575,00096,103,000
    1984–85*54,000,00015,100,00084,964,00085,260,000
    1985–86*35,000,00016,700,00079,216,00082,338,000
    * Estimated.

    Public Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total volume of expenditure allocated to local authorities, the health authorities, the Housing Executive and all other recipients of public expenditure in Ulster in 1984–85.

    The allocation of public funds in 1984–85 to bodies whose expenditure is not classified as central Government expenditure are shown below. Information about allocations to a wide range of other bodies funded directly by Northern Ireland Departments, whose expenditure is classified as central Government expenditure, can be found in the 1984–85 Estimates for Services under the Government of Northern Ireland.

    £000
    Education and library boards206,433
    Grants to district councils17,144
    Northern Ireland Housing Executive299,100
    Northern Ireland Electricity Service82,905
    Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company20,518
    Northern Ireland public trust ports637
    Police Authority for Northern Ireland254,452
    Fire Authority for Northern Ireland16,805

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the level of central Government expenditure in Ulster for each of the years 1970 to 1984.

    The following figures show the total outturn of public expenditure for the years 1976–77 to to regional support in Great Britain are the standard capital grants scheme, administered by the Department of Economic Development, and the selective financial assistance provided by the Industrial Development Board or— in the case of smaller companies—by the local enterprise development unit. Gross expenditure on these elements, and on employment and training measures, since 1970, are as follows. Records are not kept of expenditure by county.1983–84 for those services which are the direct responsibility either of the Northern Ireland Office or of Northern Ireland Departments. These figures are as far as possible on a consistent basis in terms of the services covered, and reflect the definitions of public expenditure contained in the 1984 Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9143). Figures for earlier years could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    £ million cash
    1976–771,300
    1977–781,429
    1978–791,713
    1979–802,021
    1980–812,342
    1981–822,638
    1982–832,832
    1983–843,043

    Rates

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the average rate per hereditament payable in each district authority in Ulster.

    District council area

    Average rates payable per heriditament £

    Antrim492·08
    Ards326·67
    Armagh263·55
    Ballymena363·11
    Ballymoney310·02
    Banbridge306·11
    Belfast497·87
    Carrickfergus453·43
    Castlereagh321·18
    Coleraine398·12
    Cookstown271·33
    Craigavon359·84
    Derry443·62
    Down319·85
    Dungannon261·49
    Fermanagh266·01
    Larne331·24
    Limavady321·50
    Lisburn412·39
    Magherafelt259·92
    Moyle306·31
    Newry and Mourne297·59
    Newtownabbey410·40
    North Down397·90
    Omagh301·85
    Strabane254·37

    asked the for Northern Ireland if he will make a total cost to ratepayers in Ulster of fun housing provision separately.

    In Northern Ireland in 1985–86, £81·1 million and £13·2 million respectively

    Recreational Facilities

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total cost to the Exchequer of all community recreational facilities in Ulster for each year since 1970.

    Government expenditure directly related to community recreational facilities in Northern Ireland was as follows:

    £
    1970–71683,482
    1971–721,048,469
    1972–731,324,908
    1973–742,530,435
    1974–754,469,550
    1975–766,205,267
    1976–777,242,340
    1977–787,460,346
    1978–798,270,274
    1979–809,534,630
    1980–819,858,927
    1981–827,662,269
    1982–8310,416,527
    1983–849,725,078
    1984–858,485,382
    In addition some £9·6 million has been provided towards the provision of tourist amenities, many of which have also made a useful contribution to community recreational facilities. Projects undertaken through the action for community employment scheme and by Enterprise Ulster have included community recreational schemes but details of such expenditure could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    Education (Funding)

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement as to the means by which educational services are funded in Ulster.

    Grants are paid to the education and library boards by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI) for the day to day operation of the services in their areas, including the running of controlled schools and the maintenance of most voluntary schools, provision of school meals and school transport services, awards to students in higher and further education, and library, further education and youth services. For this purpose, boards receive 100 per cent. grants from DENI on all approved recurrent and capital expenditure.The salaries of the majority of teachers are paid directly by DENI with the exception of part-time teachers in controlled schools and colleges of further education, who are paid by the boards, and teachers in voluntary grammar schools who are paid directly by their employing schools.Other grants paid by DENI include capital grants (normally at the rate of 85%) to all voluntary schools, grants to voluntary grammar schools in respect of their recurrent expenditure, recurrent and capital grants to the teacher training colleges, museums and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, grants to the Northern Ireland Sports Council and capital grants (at 75%) to district councils for the provision of recreational facilities. The Department also pays grants to the two Northern Ireland universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee, and to numerous other bodies concerned with various aspects of educational, recreational, youth service and community provision.

    Housing (Funding)

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement as to the means by which housing services are funded in Ulster.

    The sole public housing authority in Northern Ireland is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; the capital expenditure of which is financed by borrowing, mainly, from Government, and by capital receipts from the sale of dwellings and land and from mortgage redemptions. The Housing Executive's revenue expenditure on loan charges, management, maintenance and general administration is financed partly by rental income and partly by a "Housing Grant" from the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to meet the difference between rental income and approved revenue expenditure. House renovation grants paid by the Housing Executive are also financed directly by the Department. The housing grant, financing of renovation grants, assistance to registered housing associations and the private sector and expenditure on other miscellaneous housing services are met from monies voted by Parliament.

    Teachers

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of providing cover for absent teachers in Northern Ireland schools in the period April to June in each of the last three years.

    £ million
    April·June 19833·00
    April·June 19843·44
    April·June 19854·00

    Mr John De Lorean

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the investigation being carried out by the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the business affairs of Mr. John De Lorean.

    The Royal Ulster Constabulary is investigating the alleged misappropriation of funds from De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd. which has been in receivership and in liquidation since 1982.

    Youth Training

    asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when, and to what level, he intends to raise the allowance paid to trainees on the youth training programme.

    From 1 April 1986 the present single rate of allowance (£27·30 per week) will be replaced by a two-tier system in which trainees will receive either £27·30 per week or £35·00 per week, depending upon when they left school and the training subsequently undertaken. Northern Ireland will thus continue to maintain parity with the rest of the United Kingdom in relation to the level of allowance and the date of introduction of any increase.

    Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

    Treaty Of Rome

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EEC intergovernmental conference on amendments to the treaty of Rome.

    The first session of the conference was held on 9 September. A further ministerial meeting is taking place today. There have been regular meetings of senior officials in a preparatory group to discuss possible amendments to the treaty, covering in particular those measures necessary to complete the common market; the role of the European Parliament; and whether to update the treaty to include specific reference to the activities of the Research and Environment Councils.

    Constitution

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the proceedings and outcome of the meetings of the European Economic Community held in September relating to constitutional changes in the Community on the basis agreed at the Milan meeting.

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) earlier today.

    Non-Proliferation Treaty

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the non-proliferation treaty review conference.

    The Third Review Conference ended successfully on 21 September with the adoption by consensus of a final document. This included a solemn declaration by the parties of their conviction that the treaty is essential to international peace and security, their continued support for its objectives and their determination to enhance the implementation of the treaty and further to strengthen its authority.We warmly welcome this outcome which demonstrates renewed recognition of the importance of the treaty in preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons. It gives us confidence that the treaty will continue to play an essential role in international security and in facilitating the worldwide use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

    Royal Highland Show

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to public funds of the Peace Through NATO stall at the recent 1985 Royal Highland Show at Ingliston.

    I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Ministry of Defence NATO British Defence Policy Exhibition mounted at various locations throughout the United Kingdom during 1985. At each venue, including the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, a Peace Through NATO (PTN) representative was available to answer PTN questions and distribute PTN literature.PTN received a grant-in-aid of £74,500 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for 1985–86. Its representative at Ingliston was a volunteer. The proportion of the grant used on the show was therefore minimal and merely covered the cost of literature distributed.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on office furniture, carpets and curtains and office decorating in each of the last five years.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office including the Overseas Development Administration has office accommodation at home and overseas.The Department of the Environment was responsible for the supply of all these items and services overseas until 1 April 1983 when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office assumed responsibility. Expenditure on office furniture, carpets and curtains for use overseas was as follows:

    Financial yearTotal £
    1980–81286,870
    1981–82240,951
    1982–83277,786
    1983–84516,093
    1984–85496,874
    It is not possible to identify decoration costs separately from maintenance costs, of which they form a part.

    The Department of the Environment similarly supplied all these items and services without charge in respect of office accommodation in the United Kingdom until 1 April 1983. Thereafter major decorations remained the responsibility of the Department of the Environment whilst minor decorations became a departmental responsibility. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £34,348 (1983–84) and £49,185 (1984–85) on minor decorations. Expenditure on office furniture, carpets and curtains in the United Kingdom was £513,167 (1983–84) and £529,281 (1984–85).

    India

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Prime Minister of India.

    Mr. Rajiv Gandhi visited the United Kingdom on 14–15 October at the invitation of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. During his visit there were discussions with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. and learned Friend and a number of other Ministers. A wide range of international, regional and bilateral issues were covered, in an extremely cordial atmosphere.

    Wales

    Capital Grants Scheme

    7.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the reductions recently announced in the new capital grants scheme; and what estimate he has made of the effects of these reductions in lowland and upland farming areas of Wales, respectively.

    I have received five representations against the reductions in grant rates announced on 8 July. The changes made to the farm capital grant schemes have also been raised at my meetings with the farming unions in Wales.It is estimated that in a full year savings of up to £5·7 million could result from these changes. This would be approximately £4·6 million in the upland farming areas of Wales and £1·1 million in the lowland.The agriculture improvement scheme, introduced on 1 October, will continue to provide financial support for a wide range of farm improvements and will help farmers who wish to diversify into tourism or craft works.

    Labour Statistics

    12.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the current unemployment in Ogmore, Mid-Glamorgan and Wales; and what were the percentage increases since May 1979 and since October 1984.

    On 12 September 1985 the number of unemployed claimants were 4,951, 36,975 and 187,563 respectively. Comparable figures for May 1979 in respect of the Ogmore constituency and Mid-Glamorgan are not available because of the move to claimant based figures. The estimated increase in percentage terms for Wales is 143 per cent. Since October 1984 there have been increases of 8 per cent., 5·2 per cent. and 4·8 per cent. respectively.

    Rural Development, Powys

    13.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of assistance available for rural development projects in the county of Powys.

    The county benefits from a wide range of Government and European measures to assist rural development including the work of agencies such as the Development Board for Rural Wales. My aim is to see this support continue and where possible expand.

    Common Agricultural Policy

    14.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the farming unions and others in Wales during the past three months concerning the effects of the common agricultural policy of the European Economic Community on Wales.

    I closely monitor development in the industry and have frequent meetings with the farming unions and other industry representatives — in the course of which I receive many representations on the operation of the CAP. These are mainly concerned with the dairying and livestock sectors, particularly the problems of fodder supply caused by recent bad weather.

    Roadworks

    15.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current progress of work on the A55 dual carriageway and on the provision of bypasses around the five villages on Anglesey on the A5.

    We are continuing to make good progress with the upgrading of the A55. Eleven sections have been completed to date, including the Colwyn Bay bypass which was fully opened to traffic in June. Construction is presently underway on the Holywell and Bodelwyddan bypasses. Tenders for the Penmaenbach-Dwygyfylchi improvement have been invited and construction is expected to start early in the new year. Preparation of the remaining stages of the improvement programme is well in hand.On bypasses on the A5 in Anglesey the report of the consulting engineers is still expected by the end of the year.

    House Building

    17.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage change in net public. expenditure on house building in Wales between 1979–80 and 1984–85 in real and cash terms.

    Local authority and housing association receipts can be used to finance both new house-building and other capital expenditure such as major repairs. It is therefore not possible to give the figures requested.

    Bankruptcies And Company Liquidations

    18.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many personal bankruptcies and company liquidations, respectively, there were in Wales between 1975 and 1985.

    In the period from the beginning of 1975 to the second quarter of 1985 there were 3,549 bankruptcies dealt with by county courts in Wales. This figure includes both individuals and partnerships. Separate statistics relating to company liquidations in Wales are not available.

    Sunday Trading

    19.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about a possible change in legislation relating to Sunday trading in Wales.

    Eleven representations have been received at the Welsh Office since, and eight before, the report of the committee of inquiry into proposals to amend the Shops Act was published.

    Home-School Liaison

    20.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many courses during 1984 and 1985 in home-school liaison being run for parents at weekends and evenings were (a) initiated by Her Majesty's Inspectors; (b) attended by Her Majesty's Inspectors.

    None. The prime responsibility for facilitating home-school links rests with local education authorities and individual schools. Her Majesty's Inspectorate has different responsibilities, one of which is to seek to ensure the wide dissemination of examples of good practice. In the exercise of this responsibility Her Majesty's Inspectorate has published two occasional papers in recent years on home-school links; Home-School Links (Secondary Phase) in November 1983 and Links between Parents, Community and Primary Schools in June 1985. The good practice discussed in these papers was based on HMI visits to schools when home-school links are discussed and specific reference made to them in inspection reports. In addition HMI attends the meetings of school governing bodies, which include parent representative members when the inspection reports are considered and I understand some of Her Majesty's inspectors have addressed parents meetings at schools.

    Parrot Corporation

    21.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales why, as agent for the European Coal and Steel Community, he permitted £2½ million advanced by the European Coal and Steel Community and intended for working capital for the Parrot Corporation, Cwmbran, to be used as a guarantee against a loan; why he permitted this sum to be frozen in the American bank Northern Investments; why the guarantee was not disclosed by the Welsh Development Authority to the National Coal Board pension fund and other City institutions; and what steps he is now taking to protect the employees of and the public funds invested in the Parrot Corporation.

    My Department is not an agent for the ECSC. Its involvement in the original financing of the Parrot Corporation project was confined to making an offer of regional selective assistance and exchange risk cover on the ECSC loan. My consent for the Welsh Development Agency's original investment was not required. On 8 October the chairman of the Parrot Corporation announced that a refinancing package, including further investment both by the WDA, to which I had given my approval, and by the other original investors, had been agreed to secure the future of the company.The circumstances of the original investment are under investigation by the police.

    Public Housing (Sales)

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state up to the latest convenient date how many tenants have purchased their dwellings from local authorities and other public bodies in Wales during the previous 12 months and during the period since 1979 respectively, and how many such purchases await completion.

    During the 12 month period ending 30 June 1985, it is provisionally estimated that 5,889 public sector dwellings were sold to sitting tenants. Between 1 January 1979 and 30 June 1985, the corresponding figure was 47,689.The provisional estimate of the number of local authority purchases awaiting completion at 30 June 1985, is 4,562. Figures for outstanding housing association sales and new town sales are not held centrally.

    Defective Housing

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the amount of cash required to correct and repair defective housing in Wales, what action his Department has taken to assess the state of disrepair in Welsh housing, what extra cash he proposes to allocate to local authorities, and if he will make a statement.

    It is impossible to estimate with any accuracy the cost of bringing each house in Wales up to a satisfactory standard of repair. The Welsh house condition survey which our Department is undertaking next year will be by far the largest house condition survey ever carried out in Wales. The survey will provide the first detailed analysis of the state of repair of the stock and will provide data valid at district council level. The results will be taken into account in determining future allocations to local authorities for housing expenditure.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of correcting housing defects in Wales which fall within the scope of the Housing Defects Act 1984, and if he will make a statement.

    There are about 1,500 privately owned PRC dwellings in Wales which could benefit from either grant or repurchase under the Act. We estimate the cost at about £21 million.

    Mineral Resources

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the estimated reserves of sand and gravel within the area of each Welsh county, what estimates he has of the requirements for sand and gravel in the Principality up to the end of the century, what mineral reserves in Wales he expects to be worked out before the end of the century, and if he will make a statement.

    The most recent estimates of permitted reserves of land-won sand and gravel were made by the aggregates working parties for North Wales and South Wales following a survey of the position on 1 January 1982. The figures are:

    Permitted sand and gravel reserves at 1.1.82 Million Tonnes
    NORTH WALES
    Clwyd15·3
    Gwynedd4·6
    South Wales
    Dyfed1·2
    Powys
    Mid Glamorgan0·5
    West Glamorgan
    GwentNil
    South GlamorganNil
    Note: Figures for South Wales are bracketed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.Reserves of marine deposits and gravel were not quantifiable.Requirements for the production of sand and gravel for the period 1981–1991 as identified by the aggregates working parties are set out in Welsh Office circular 30/82, "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales". The requirements for both land-won and marine-dredged production for 1981–1991 are:

    RegionRequirement for sand and gravel Million Tonnes
    North Wales17·26
    South Wales14·25
    Further surveys of both permitted reserves and forecast demand will be carried out in 1986.Reserves of sand and gravel or other minerals likely to be worked out over a future period cannot be readily or accurately assessed.
    1979–80 Outturn £M1980–81 Outturn £M1981–82 Outturn £M1982–83 Outturn £M1983–84 Outturn £M1984–85 Estimated Outturn £M1985–86 Provision M
    Clwyd16·713·318·515·115·012·312·8
    Dyfed18·916·520·216·216·717·717·3
    Gwent13·614·517·514·214·014·824·5
    Gwynedd16·513·616·213·112·713·614·9
    Mid Glamorgan17·815·719·716·917·517·018·0
    Powys14·612·810·88·711·011·111·2
    South Glamorgan12·410·912·412·112·89·910·2
    West Glamorgan12·611·112·512·211·713·713·0
    Wales122·9108·4127·8108·5114·4110·1121·7
    (

    Note: Figures include certain expenditure by local authorities on road safety and lighting installation: together this amounted to only about 1% of the local authority total in 1981–82 (the last year for which separate figures are available).)

    The 1984 national road maintenance condition survey indicates that the overall condition of roads in England and

    Welsh Voluntary Trust

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to establish a Welsh voluntary trust, and if he will make a statement.

    We are aware that the establishment of a Welsh voluntary trust is currently the subject of debate within the voluntary sector. We are following developments with interest.

    Children (Eczema And Diabetes)

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department proposes any action in Wales in the light of the Medical Research Council's national survey of health and development for children with special regard to eczema and diabetes, and if he will make a statement.

    My hon. Friend the Minister for Health and I are awaiting the Medical Research Council's considerations of the latest results of this continuous survey and it would be inappropriate for me to comment in the meantime.

    Local Education Authorities

    asked the Secretary of Stale for Wales how many ancillary jobs there were in the local education authorities in Wales in 1980 and in 1984–85, and if he will make a statement.

    In June 1980, 22,983 whole-time equivalent non-teaching staff were employed in the local authority education sector in Wales: in June 1984, the corresponding figure was 22,347.

    Road Maintenance

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure on road maintenance in each Welsh county for each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86, if he will express the changes in real terms, and if he will make a statement.

    Using the gross domestic product deflator with the base year of 1984–85 the figures for maintenance expenditure on trunk and county roads are:Wales in 1984 was broadly comparable to that in 1977 though there have been variations in condition from year to year, and in respect of particular classes of road. Expenditure on trunk road maintenance has increased in recent years and I intend to maintain provision at about the present level in future years. The level of expenditure by local highway authorities is for them to determine in the light of their own priorities.

    Hotel And Catering Trade

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of those Welsh people engaged full time in the hotel and catering trade currently earn less than (a) £160 per week, (b) £120 per week, (c) £100 per week, (d) £80 per week and (e) £60 per week; what assessment he has made of the impact upon wages for under-21s in Wales consequent upon the abolition of wages councils; and if he will make a statement.

    Information in respect of earnings in the hotel and catering trade in Wales is not available in the form requested.As announced on 17 July wages councils are to be reformed not abolished and appropriate legislation will be brought before the House in due course.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are currently employed in the hotel and catering trade in Wales, and if he will specify how many are engaged in part-time or temporary work.

    At the time of the 1981 census of employment there were 43,570 persons employed in the hote: and catering industry of whom 25,911 were working part-time. These figures include any temporary workers who were in employment at the time of the census, but it is not possible to identify such workers separately. These figures will remain the most up to date estimates of the position until the results of the 1984 census of employment are available early in 1986.

    Dangerous Drugs (Advice And Counselling)

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the amount of money given by the Government to drugs advisory and counselling organisations in Wales for each of the years 1979–80 to 1985–86.

    Government funding for the provision of advisory, counselling and health education activities by district health authorities, local education authorities and voluntary groups to combat drug misuse in Wales has been allocated in each year as follows:

    £
    1979–806,075
    1980–817,050
    1981–827,590
    1982–837,993
    1983–848,472
    1984–8514,393
    1985–86270,654
    In addition, the Welsh Office has allocated £200,000in 1985–86 as a contribution to the Government's national publicity campaign on drug misuse.

    Housing

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take further steps to protect leasehold tenants in Wales, and if he will make a statement.

    No. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) at column 389 on 18 March 1985 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes have been provided by Welsh housing associations in each year from 1980 to 1984 and what is the estimate for the number of homes to be provided in the current year.

    The numbers of units provided by housing associations in Wales for each of the last five financial years are:

    Number
    1980–811,169
    1981–822,422
    1982–832,318
    1983–841,672
    1984–851,719
    The best estimate available for 1985–86 is 1,700.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total Government funding to Welsh housing associations for each year 1979–80 to 1985–86, exclusive of capital receipts, and if he will express the change in the local funding in real terms.

    Government funding to Welsh housing associations takes the form of housing association grant, hostel deficit grant, revenue deficit grant and grants under Section 93 of the Finance Act 1975 which have been paid, in total, as follows:

    £ million cash£ million at 1985–86 prices
    1979–8022·235·6
    1980–8120·527·7
    1981–8215·018·4
    1982–8330·535·0
    1983–8432·936·1
    1984–8547·950·3
    1985–86*40·540·5
    * Estimated.

    Education (Parental Contributions)

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total and proportional amount of money provided towards Welsh state sector secondary school capitation funding through parental voluntary contributions in each of the last five years, to the latest date for which figures are available.

    Information on money provided for schools through voluntary parental contributions is not collected by the Department.

    Council House Rents

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average rise in Welsh council house rents in each of the last five years.

    On the basis of returns made by local authorities to the Department, the information is estimated to be as follows:

    Average rise in council house rents in Wales*

    £ per week

    1981–82+3·34
    1982–83+2·54
    1983–84+0·66
    1984–85+1·01
    1985–86+0·82

    * The rent figures used are average unrebated rents (exclusive of rates) for each financial year.

    The increase shown for 1985–86 is provisional because only 27 local authority returns (out of a total of 37) have been submitted to date.

    Domestic poundage (p)

    Percentage

    Non-domestic poundage (p)

    Percentage

    1981–8221·420·420·114·2
    1982–83

    *22·3

    17·65·13·1
    1983–841·30·91·20·7
    1984–8513·99·313·68·1
    1985–8613·88·414·27·8

    *Domestic rate relief was reduced from 36p in the pound in 1981–82 to 18·5p in 1982–83.

    Over the five-year period from 1981–82 to 1985–86, following the introduction of a separate RSG system for Wales, domestic and non-domestic rate poundages increased by 40·6 per cent. and 21·0 per cent. respectively; average increases of 7·1 per cent. and 3·9 per cent. per annum respectively. This compares with aggregate increases over the last four years of the previous administration (1974–75, following the reorganisation of local government, to 1978–79) of 118·8 per cent. in domestic rates and 58·1 per cent. in non-domestic rates; annual average increases of 21·6 per cent. and 12·1 per cent. respectively. The reduction in the rate of increase under this Government clearly demonstrates the success in Wales of our policies for local government finance and has benefited the taxpayer, industry and commerce and the domestic ratepayer.

    Candidates in maintained secondary schools and tertiary colleges*

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    'O'Level:
    One modern language4,835
    Two modern languages868
    Computer studies1,5962,1682,9253,5824,4855,293
    Latin893853765688613582
    Economics2,0342,2762,1862,1331,9581,934
    Sociology5047778101,2591,1611,127
    'A' Level:
    One modem language690
    Two modem languages210
    Computer studies73103223276391476
    Latin788480837171
    Economics1,4291,5001,7161,7211,7251,794
    Sociology8564167304362321

    * Candidates taking WJEC summer examinations. Figures exclude external candidates.

    ‥Signifies that the information is not available in the form requested.

    Rates

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average rise in (a) domestic and (b) industrial rates in Wales for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    The average increase in domestic and non-domestic (including industrial) rate poundages in each of the last five years, together with percentage increases, is as follows:

    Hospital Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children aged under 16 years are currently on Welsh hospital outpatient waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

    Information about the age of persons on hospital outpatient waiting lists is not available.

    O And A-Level Examinations

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh students in state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges this year sat O or A-level examinations in (a) one modern language, (b) two modern languages, (c) computer-related subjects, (d) Latin, (e) economics and (f) sociology; what have been the relevant figures for each of the five previous years; and if he will make a statement.

    The information, as supplied by the Welsh Joint Education Committee, is as follows:

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh students in the current year took A or O-level examinations in specialist mathematics subjects.

    The information, as supplied by the Welsh Joint Education Committee, is as follows:

    *Candidates in maintained schools and further education establishments Number
    'O' Level:
    CS Mathematics32,724
    Additional Mathematics2,794
    Statistics1,219
    'A' Level:
    Mathematics2,703
    Pure mathematics274
    Applied Mathematics191
    * Candidates taking WJEC summer examinations. Figures include candidates from tertiary colleges, but exclude external candidates.
    Common syllabus and examination system for GCE 'O' level and CSE.
    Alternative Ordinary (AO) examinations comprising Further Pure Mathematics, Mechanics or Statistics options.

    Play Groups

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many places were available to children in Welsh district council-run play groups this summer, what has been the figure for each previous summer since 1978, and if he will make a statement.

    Playgroup facilities are provided by county council social services departments, and information collected relates to 31 March each year. Information for 1985 is not yet available, but details for 1978–84 are given in the following table:

    Places in play groups provided by local authorities in Wales Number
    1978312
    1979292
    1980292
    1981272
    1982292
    1983318
    1984308

    Alpha Steel

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount of grants and other financial assistance given to Alpha Steel since its location in Gwent; how much in EEC grants and other financial assistance Alpha Steel has received since its location in Gwent; and if he will make a statement.

    We have no record of financial assistance to Alpha Steel either from central Government or European Community funds.

    Community Programme

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many community programme places there are in Wales, how many extra community jobs will be provided in Wales as a result of the Government's economic measures, and if he will make a statement.

    At the end of August 1985 over 10,000 people were on community programme projects in Wales, and the June 1986 filled places target currently totals 20,540.

    Welsh Development Agency

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales why he approved of Mr. Neil Taylor leaving his employment in the Welsh Development Agency to become a financial consultant to the Parrot Corporation, and what steps he has taken to renegotiate contracts of service of executives of the Welsh Development Agency to ensure that a suitable interval of time elapses before an executive can be employed by companies who have obtained loans or grants from the Welsh Development Agency.

    The terms of employment of WDA employees are a matter for the board of the agency and my approval for any arrangements between former agency employees and other bodies is not required. I understand that since October 1983 the agency has included a clause in the contracts of certain senior staff on their appointment requiring the permission of the board to be obtained before accepting appointments within two years of leaving the agency.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he last visited the offices in Gwent of the Parrot Corporation and when he last met Parrot executives, when he proposes to have discussions with Parrot concerning the corporation's recent financial difficulties and its proposed board changes, how many employees of Parrot are at work in South Wales, how much in EEC loans and cash Parrot has received; how much cash and loans Parrot has received from Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement concerning the financial affairs of the Parrot Corporation.

    I have not visited the offices of the Parrot Corporation. I met a senior executive of the corporation on one occasion, in September 1983 and I met the chairman last month. The company employs 86 people at Cwmbran. It has received an ECSC loan of £2·5 million on which my Department has provided exchange risk cover. Apart from WDA funds and guarantee, the company has accepted an offer of regional selective assistance of £1 million of which £500,000 has been paid to date together with £274,000 in regional development grant.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh Development Agency advance factories were untenanted at the latest available date.

    The Welsh Development Agency had 510 untenanted advance factories at 30 September 1985. Of these, 125 units were already allocated to prospective tenants and the future use of six units was being decided. There were 379 advance factories vacant and available for letting.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement concerning the qualifications by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the accounts of the Welsh Development Agency, what discussions he has had with the Comptroller and Auditor General on this matter; and what talks he plans with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency;(2) if, in the light of the qualification of the accounts of the Welsh Development Agency by the Comptroller and Auditor General, he proposes to discuss the valuation of the property portfolio of the Welsh Development Agency with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency and the Comptroller and Auditor General, what action he proposes, and if he will make a statement.

    There is nothing I can usefully add to the two letters which have already been sent to the hon. Gentleman explaining the background to the Comptroller and Auditor General's comments. I have not discussed the matter with the Comptroller and Auditor General and I have no plans to do so with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency. My officials are currently in discussion with the WDA concerning a review of the useful life of its factories and consequential changes in depreciation policy in preparation for the publication of the WDA's 1985–86 annual accounts.

    Job Creation

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to take further steps to seek to reduce unemployment in Wales during the next two years, and if he will make a statement.

    My aim is to see the best use made of the Government's comprehensive range of policies for tackling the causes and effects of unemployment and generating new jobs in the economy as a whole.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any further plans to create new jobs in mid-Wales, and if he will make a statement.

    Mid Wales remains eligible for a wide range of Government schemes and initiatives designed to regenerate the economy and improve employment prospects. I am keeping the position under review and am always ready to consider ways of sustaining and expanding the rural economy in Wales.

    Derelict Land Reclamation

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect he expects the revised National Coal Board policy on pit closures to have on the level of derelict land reclamation in Wales over the next three years in terms of overall funding and priorities.

    I understand that the Welsh Development Agency is currently inviting bids from local authorities for inclusion in a new land reclamation programme. Priorities will be assessed in the light of local authorities' views as shown in these bids. The agency's budget for land reclamation in the next financial year will be published in the Supply Estimates next Spring.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total spending on derelict land reclamation in Wales in each of the last five years to date and what are the estimates for 1985–86 and 1986–87;

    (2) what was the total funding for derelict land reclamation and environmental improvement by the Welsh Development Agency in each of the last five years to date, and what are the estimates for 1985–86 and 1986–87.

    The bulk of public sector assistance for land reclamation over the last five years has been in the form of grant from the Welsh Development Agency. The agency's spending on derelict land reclamation and environmental improvement in each of the last five years was as follows:

    Land Reclamation£ millions Environmental ImprovementTotal
    1980–819·620·5710·19
    1981–829·900·5110·41
    1982–839·510·319·82
    1983–8411·230·9412·17
    1984–859·830·6710·50
    The WDA's estimated budget for land reclamation and environmental improvement in 1985–86 is £9 million and £0·5 million respectively. In addition it is anticipated that a total of some £1·5 million of urban development grant will be paid in support of land reclamation in south Cardiff in 1985–86 and 1986–87.I am not in a position to announce funding for land reclamation in 1986–87 in advance of the publication of the WDA's budget in the Supply Estimates next spring.

    Agriculture

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the present state of the agricultural industry in Wales, and if he will make a statement.

    The poor summer has posed many problems for the agriculture industry in Wales, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture has confirmed that help will be made available to those producers most seriously affected. The economic conditions and prospects for the industry will be examined in detail in the forthcoming review of hill livestock compensatory allowances and the annual review of agriculture.

    National Health Service (Pest Control)

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has studied the report of the British Pest Control Association concerning National Health Service buildings, a copy of which has been sent to him, and if he will make a statement.

    I have not yet received the report but a paper based on it and prepared by the association is being studied by the Department's environmental health adviser.

    Voluntary Work

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards the review of voluntary work in Wales by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, a copy of which has been sent to him, and if he will make a statement.

    The recommendations arising from the review are still the subject of discussion within the voluntary sector in Wales and we will monitor the outcome closely.

    Employment Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for January, July and September of each of the past 10 years the unemployment level for each employment office area in Gwynedd.

    The information is as follows:

    1976
    Employment office areaJanuaryJulySeptember
    Amlwch490453461
    Holyhead1,0431,0391.038
    Llangefni747652626
    Beaumaris289237253
    Pwllheli755354489
    Penygroes280218201
    Porthmadog480284283
    Caernarfon1,124877856
    Bangor1,160829805
    Bethesda246204180
    Conwy612511570
    Llanrwst*252233203
    Blaenau Ffestiniog370239283
    Barmouth331145162
    Machynlleth*153146152
    Llangollen*550385420
    Llandudno603364421
    * Part only in Gwynedd.
    Figures now included in Bangor.
    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.
    1977
    Employment office areaJanuaryJulySeptember
    Amlwch499354409
    Holyhead1,0029681,104
    Llangefni751626675
    Beaumaris271262285
    Pwllheli685428463
    Penygroes201179216
    Porthmadog451283327
    Caernarfon814743877
    Bangor721710968
    Bethesda181148187
    Conwy646483550
    Llanrwst*233205216
    Blaenau Ffestiniog310216272
    Barmouth315195210
    Machynlleth*181158162
    Llangollen*462424432
    Llandudno695405411
    * Part only in Gwynedd.
    Figures now included in Bangor.
    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors. ceased.
    1978
    Employment office areaJanuaryJulySeptember
    Amlwch445431432
    Holyhead1,0951,2011,229
    Llangefni722622600
    Beaumaris283272229
    Pwllheli736460456
    Penygroes252191200

    1978

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Porthmadog485282297
    Caernarfon879915854
    Bangor872989889
    Bethesda177161184
    Conwy574473438
    Llanrwst*255174151
    Blaenau Ffestiniog288261248
    Barmouth313147211
    Machynlleth*154126128
    Llangollen*444381406
    Llandudno738415373

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Figures now included in Bangor.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    1979

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Amlwch427381357
    Holyhead1,1181,1961,073
    Llangefni671595591
    Beaumaris263203218
    Pwllheli621372378
    Penygroes238196202
    Porthmadog417275309
    Caemarfon923756745
    Bangor879996908
    Bethesda212165161
    Conwy507532424
    Llanrwst*216127135
    Blaenau Ffestiniog300170159
    Barmouth259114135
    Machynlleth*156106115
    Llangollen*434307288
    Llandudno661331367

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Figures now included in Bangor.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area. which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    1980

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Amlwch394435497
    Holyhead1,1451,3681,330
    Llangefni666605700
    Beaumaris249218230
    Pwllheli589437520
    Penygroes225230256
    Porthmadog515293355
    Caemarfon7661,1761,216
    Bangor8711,1441,167
    Bethesda181207214
    Conwy510564562
    Llanrwst*218166190
    Blaenau Ffestiniog282216233
    Barmouth268188219
    Machynlleth*137122132
    Llangollen*368343396
    Llandudno665369465

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Figures now included in Bangor.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area. which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    1981

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Amlwch598634690
    Holyhead1,4311,6231,753
    Llangefni9181,0191,073
    Beaumaris331346386
    Pwllheli837547620
    Penygroes330374419
    Porthmadog614390464
    Caernarfon1,4731,4381,502
    Bangor1,2841,4521,625
    Bethesda282309319
    Conwy695694818
    Llanrwst*325284324
    Blaenau Ffestiniog359312348
    Barmouth398328327
    Machynlleth*193185215
    Llangollen*512572628
    Llandudno807582649

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    1982

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Amlwch683674695
    Holyhead1,8981,8471,921
    Llangefni1,2051,0561,136
    Beaumaris404338335
    Pwllheli1,011662744
    Penygroes436399468
    Porthmadog683418497
    Caernarfon1,7001,6421,679
    Bangor1,6071,5421,855
    Bethesda358368318
    Conwy882840815
    Llanrwst*439304304
    Blaenau Ffestiniog406330347
    Barmouth482387389
    Machynlleth*264245308
    Llangollen*708604651
    Llandudno1,049631739

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    1983

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Amlwch9958991,009
    Holyhead2,2431,9432,153
    Llangefni686605660
    Beaumaris623569590
    Pwllheli910612625
    Penygroes514468491
    Porthmadog760429495
    Caernarfon1,9661,6511,759
    Bangor1,2641,1831,233
    Bethesda368327316
    Conwy908762779
    Llanrwst*383252270
    Blaenau Ffestiniog407299319
    Barmouth524395410
    Machynlleth*307225237
    Llangollen*725655708
    Llandudno1,175752835

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    1984

    Employment office area

    January

    July

    September

    Amlwch738748835
    Holyhead2,0291,8832,116
    Llangefni1,0561,0041,126
    Beaumaris697651731
    Pwllheli928623861
    Penygroes489424476
    Porthmadog668437569
    Caernarfon1,8641,6881,835
    Bangor1,5691,6651,833
    Bethesda489

    Conwy954859949
    Llanrwst*371261290
    Blaenau Ffestiniog401338388
    Barmouth537473537
    Machynlleth*269252284
    Llangollen*749672750
    Llandudno1,177841964

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Figures now included in Bangor.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    Employment office area

    1985 January

    Amlwch818
    Holyhead2,114
    Llangefni1,203
    Beaumaris726
    Pwllheli1,079
    Penygroes578
    Porthmadog641
    Caernarfon2,044
    Bangor1,826
    Bethesda

    Conwy1,074
    Llanrwst*422
    Blaenau Ffestiniog445
    Barmouth726
    Machynlleth*316
    Llangollen*812
    Llandudno1,335

    * Part only in Gwynedd.

    Figures now included in Bangor.

    Up to October 1982 figures are registrant based, after that date they are claimant based.

    In June 1985 the production of figures aggregated by Jobcentre area, which were defined in terms of post code sectors, ceased.

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating for September the average unemployment rate for all development areas and assisted areas, respectively, in Wales, and if he will list those travel-to-work areas within ordinary assisted areas whose unemployment rate is higher than those of development areas.

    On 12 September 1985 the number of claimants unemployed in development areas and intermediate areas in Wales totalled 74,479 and 97,956 respectively, giving rates of 19·8 per cent. and 17·0 per cent.; there were two travel-to-work areas with intermediate area status whose rates were higher than the average rate for the development areas, Fishguard (21·9 per cent.) and Bangor and Caernarfon (19·9 per cent.).

    Scotland

    Drinking Water

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those water supply districts where aluminium levels in drinking water exceed 0·2 mg/litre on the basis of a three-monthly average and the maximum recorded levels in each case.

    The water supply districts in Scotland where aluminium levels currently exceed 0·2 mg/litre on a three-monthly average are as follows:-

    • Borders Region
    • Roxburgh, part of Ettrick and Lauderdale
    • Galashiels, Melrose, Earlston
    • West Berwickshire

    • Central Region
    • Bannockburn, Plean
    • Bonnybridge, Haggs, Camelon
    • West Stirlingshire
    • Alloa
    • Kirkintilloch (part), Lenzie

    • Dumfries and Galloway Region
    • Wigtown District
    • Castle Douglas (part), Dalbeattie, New Galloway
    • Corsock, Kirkpatrick Durham, Crocketford
    • Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse
    • New Abbey

    • Fife Region
    • Cupar

    • Grampian Region
    • Elgin, part of Moray
    • Keith
    • Buckie
    • Stonehaven, parts of Kincardine and Deeside

    • Highland Region
    • Black Isle, Easter Ross

    • Strathclyde Region
    • West Kilbride
    • Parts of Hamilton, East Kilbride, Clydesdale, Motherwell and Monklands Districts
    • Howwood, Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Elderslie, Paisley Dumbarton
    • Duntocher, Dalmuir
    • Port Glasgow, Langbank
    • Gourock
    • Greenock
    • Inverkip, Wemyss Bay
    • Skelmorlie
    • Ardrossan
    • Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, Stevenston
    • Giffnock, Newton Meares, Whitecraigs
    • Dunlop, Lugton
    • Girvan, Ballantrae, Barr, Pimwhar
    • Cumnock and Doon Valley District
    • Kyle and Carrick District
    • Ayr, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon
    • Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir, Kilmacolm
    • Kilmarnock
    • Kilbirnie
    • Fairlie, Hunterston, Cumbrae
    • Tarbert
    • Inveraray, Bridge of Douglas
    • Furnace, Minard
    • Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead
    • Tighnabruaich
    • Muasdale
    • Clachan
    • Carradale
    • Campbeltown
    • Rothesay, Port Bannatyne (Bute)
    • Tobermory (Mull)
    • Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte (Islay)
    • Bowmore, Port Ellen (Islay)

    • Tayside Region
    • Kirkmichael

    • Orkney Islands
    • Orkney Mainland South, South Ronaldsay
    • Kirkwall
    • Orkney Mainland North
    • Westray
    • Sanday

    • Shetland Islands
    • Cullivoe
    • Bressay
    • Aith
    • Walls
    • Reawick, Skeld
    • Sandness

    Detailed information on maximum recorded levels is not collected centrally. Action is being taken to reduce aluminium levels in most of the districts listed above.

    Generic Medicines

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the quality controls on imported generic medicines; if he will make a statement on the recent discussions between his Chief Pharmacist, Mr Graham Calder and representatives of the medical profession on quality controls for imported generic medicines; and whether, in his further consideration of the Greenfield report, he has examined proposals to extend the patent life of existing or future drugs, as a means to protecting research.

    Yes. Generic medicines, including imported ones, are required to meet the same standards of safety, quality and efficacy as branded products. There have been no discussions this year between the Chief Pharmacist and the medical profession on this topic. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry have submitted a paper to the Government proposing an extension of the patent life for pharmaceutical products and this is being considered.

    Forestry Commission (Regional Advisory Committees)

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the reply of 15 May 1985, Official Report, column 144, which organisations nominated the regional advisory committee members appointed primarily to cover the environmental interest; and on what date their nominations were received.

    The information is as follows:

    NameNominating Organisation(s)Nomination Received
    Dr. H. M. T. FranklandNature Conservancy Council26 August 1983
    Mr. H. W. MackworthPraedNature Conservancy Council26 August 1983
    Mr. I. MercerCountryside Commission29 July 1983
    Mr. J. M. HarropNature Conservancy Council26 August 1983
    Countryside Commission29 July 1983
    Mr. J. GrantCountryside Commission for Scotland27 July 1983
    Mr. B. S. BrookesCountryside Commission for Scotland27 July 1983
    Dr. R. AitkenCountryside Commission for Scotland27 July 1983

    Re-Chem Plants

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if in view of the destruction of the incinerator stack at the Re-Chem plant in Bonnybridge and the concern about possible emissions from the chimney stack on the health of residents in the Denny and Bonnybridge areas, he will publish information about measurements made for metal and chlorinated organic compound in the combustion products and gases of that chimney; and if he will provide the results of any investigation.

    I understand there is no immediate intention to dismantle the stack. Samples of the deposits in the stack have been taken by my inspectors for analyses; the results are not yet available but I shall publish them in due course.

    West Of Scotland Agricultural College

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of veterinary investigation facilities by the West of Scotland agricultural college.

    The veterinary investigation facilities provided by the West of Scotland Agricultural College are part of the college's advisory services to the agricultural industry in their area.My Department will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on the agricultural advisory services in Scotland. Careful consideration will be given to the responses to that document, including those relating to the veterinary investigation service. Meantime no proposals have been made for closure of facilities currently provided.

    Environment

    Housing Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the percentage reduction on net public expenditure on housing planned for 1985–86 compared to 1978–79 and 1979–80, respectively.

    Planned net expenditure on housing for 1985–86 is £2,290 million, a reduction of 36 per cent. since 1978–79 and 49 per cent. since 1979–80. This comparison does not, however, take into account the very large expenditure by the Department of Health and Social Security on housing benefit or the substantial volume of capital receipts on which local authorities have been able to draw since 1981 in order to increase their spending power.

    Housing Investment Programme (Walsall)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allocate additional resources to Walsall district council under the housing investment programme for house building and modernisation; and if he will make a statement.

    No decisions have yet been taken about the level of housing resources to be allocated to individual councils for 1986–87. However, once the allocations have been made, it will be for each council to determine its own investment priorities within the resources available.

    Birtenshaw Farm, Bolton

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what account was taken by him of objections on traffic grounds by local residents to the proposed development at Birtenshaw farm, Bolton, during the appeal procedure.

    Full account was taken of all the evidence reported by the inspector who held the local inquiry into this appeal, including that relating to objections on traffic grounds by local residents.

    Rate Support Grant

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the local authority associations on the rate support grant settlement for 1986–87.

    My right hon. Friend has been consulting the local authority associations on the rate support grant settlement for 1986–87 throughout 1985, both in the consultative council on local government finance and its official-level grants working group. The last meeting of the consultative council was on 21 October.

    Water Authorities (Privatisation)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the plans for privatisation of each of the water authorities; and when privatisation is likely to proceed.

    We have received 42 responses to the discussion paper issued in April. Apart from the responses of the ten water authorities and the Water Authorities Association, these include five others from the water industry, 13 from outside associations, and responses from one London borough council, five district councils, the Countryside Commission and four individuals.The Government are considering the possibilities and a statement will be made in due course.

    Lifts (Emergency Telephones)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 98, if he will give the reasons for his decision not to make it a general requirement that lifts in buildings should contain emergency telephones which can be used by people wearing hearing aids; and if he will make a statement.

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to make such a requirement because adequate arrangements already exist through licences granted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for the running of branch communications systems, to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 July at column 98.

    Homes Insulation Scheme

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities which have applied for an additional allocation from the homes insulation scheme reserve; and what proportion of the total funds has now been allocated.

    To date the following local authorities have applied for additional allocations from the homes insulation scheme.

    NORTHERN

    • Langbaurgh
    • Middlesbrough
    • Stockton-on-Tees
    • Tynedale

    YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE

    • Beverley
    • Cleethorpes
    • East Yorkshire
    • Glanford
    • Holdemess
    • Scunthorpe
    • Hambleton
    • Scarborough
    • Selby
    • Barnsley
    • Doncaster
    • Sheffield*
    • Bradford
    • Calderdale*
    • Kirklees*
    • Wakefield

    EAST MIDLANDS

    • Amber Valley
    • Erewash*
    • North-East Derbyshire
    • West Derbyshire
    • Blaby
    • Charnwood
    • Melton
    • North West Leicestershire
    • Oadby and Wigston
    • North Kesteven
    • West Lindsey
    • Corby
    • Kettering
    • Northampton
    • Wellingborough
    • Ashfield
    • Bassetlaw
    • Broxtowe
    • Gedling
    • Mansfield*
    • Newark
    • Nottingham
    • South Northamptonshire

    EASTERN

    • Luton
    • North Bedfordshire
    • South Bedfordshire
    • Mid Bedfordshire
    • Chiltern
    • South Bucks
    • Wycombe*
    • Fenland
    • Basildon
    • Brentwood
    • Castle Point
    • Colchester
    • Harlow
    • Maldon
    • Southend on Sea
    • Tendring
    • Uttlesford
    • Broxboume
    • Dacorum
    • St. Albans
    • Stevenage
    • Welwyn Hatfield
    • Breckland
    • Broadland
    • Great Yarmouth
    • Norwich
    • South Norfolk
    • Babergh*
    • Forest Heath
    • Ipswich*
    • Mid Suffolk
    • St. Edmundsbury
    • Suffolk Coastal
    • Waveney
    • North Hertfordshire

    GREATER LONDON

    • Bromley
    • Ealing
    • Havering*
    • Lambeth
    • Redbridge*

    SOUTH EASTERN

    • Bracknell
    • Windsor and Maidenhead
    • Wokingham*
    • Eastboume
    • Rother
    • Wealden
    • Basingstoke and Deane
    • East Hampshire*
    • Eastleigh
    • Fareham
    • Havant*
    • New Forest

    SOUTH EASTERN

    • Southampton
    • Test Valley
    • Winchester
    • Medina
    • Ashford
    • Canterbury
    • Dartford
    • Dover*
    • Gillingham*
    • Maidstone
    • Sevenoaks
    • Thanet
    • Tunbridge Wells
    • South Oxfordshire
    • Vale of White Horses
    • West Oxfordshire*
    • Elmbridge
    • Epsom and Ewell
    • Guildford
    • Mole Valley
    • Reigate and Banstead
    • Runnymede
    • Spelthorne
    • Surrey Heath
    • Waverley*
    • Woking
    • Adur
    • Arun
    • Chichester
    • Horsham
    • Mid-Sussex
    • Worthing

    SOUTH WEST

    • Woodspring*
    • Carrick*
    • Mid Devon
    • North Devon
    • Torridge
    • Christchurch
    • North Dorset*
    • Poole*
    • West Dorset*
    • Wimbome
    • Stroud*
    • Taunton Deane
    • Kennet

    WEST MIDLANDS

    • Bromsgrove
    • Hereford
    • Leominster
    • Malvern Hills
    • Redditch
    • Worcester

    WEST MIDLANDS

    • Wychavon
    • Wyre Forest
    • Bridgnorth
    • Shrewsbury and Atcham
    • South Shropshire
    • The Wrekin
    • Cannock Chase
    • Lichfield
    • Newcastle under Lyme*
    • South Staffordshire
    • Nuneaton and Bedworth*
    • Stratford on Avon*
    • Warwick
    • Coventry*
    • Dudley
    • Sandwell*

    NORTH WEST

    • Congleton
    • Crewe and Nantwich
    • Ellesmere Port and Neston
    • Halton
    • Warrington
    • South Lakeland
    • Fylde*
    • Hyndburn
    • Rossendale*
    • Wyre
    • Bolton
    • Rochdale
    • Bury*
    • Salford*
    • Wigan
    • Sefton

    * These authorities have not received any additional allocation as a result of applications they have made. They have however been invited to re-apply when it is clearer that their existing allocations will soon be exhausted.

    Some 53 per cent. of the reserve has been allocated.

    Sand And Gravel

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage the extraction of sand and gravel from the sea bed and estuaries; and if he will make a statement.

    It remains the Government's policy to encourage the use of marine dredged aggregates wherever this is possible without unacceptable damage to sea fisheries or risk of coastal erosion.

    Radioactivity

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those contracts undertaken or being undertaken by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, involving monitoring of radioactivity in the environment; in what areas such investigations are taking place; and when he intends to publish those results.

    The following contracts have been placed with the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in recent years:

    By the Department of the Environment

    • Radionuclides in Terrestrial Ecosystems.
    • Concentration and Spatial Distribution of Radionuclides in
    • Grazed and Ungrazed Saltmarshes.
    • Inland Transfer of Radionuclides by Birds feeding in the Estuaries and Saltmarshes at. Ravenglass.
    • Radionuclides in contrasting types of Coastal Pastures and taken up by individual plant species in West Cumbria.
    • Incorporation of Radionuclides by Sheep grazing on an Estuarine Saltmarsh.
    • Procedure developed and used for the measurement of Alpha and Gamma Emitters in Environmental Materials.
    • The Distribution and Dynamics of Radionuclides in the Terrestrial Environment.
    • Radionuclides in Bird Tissues, their Foods and Feeding Areas near Ravenglass.
    • Sheep Grazing Studies.
    • Radiochemical Technical Development Studies.
    • The results of the first six projects listed above have already been published: The results of the remaining projects will be published in the course of the next two years as soon as the work has been completed.

    By the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    • Radionuclides distribution within a grazed meadow.
    • Analysis of environmental data (1979–1981.
    • Statistical Analysis of West Cumbria milk data.
    • Cumbria sheep feeding studies.
    • The results of the first three projects listed above have already been published: The results of the remaining project will be published as soon as the work is completed in 1986.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which radioactive isotopes or elements have been detected in or around the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria in each year since 1979.

    I am informed that radionuclides of the following elements have been detected as a result of routine monitoring undertaken between 1980 and 1983 (complete information is not yet available for 1984):

    Americium, Antimony, Argon, Caesium, Carbon, Cerium, Cobalt, Curium, Europium, Hydrogen (as Tritium), Iodine, Krypton, Manganese, Niobium, Plutonium, Ruthenium, Silver, Strontium, Technetium, Zinc and Zirconium.

    St Barnabas Community Centre

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to St. Paul's community association in relation to a letter about the St. Barnabas community centre sent to him on 23 August.

    I wrote to the St. Paul's community association on 25 September. In view of the difficulties that have arisen over the St. Barnabas community centre, which was built by Avon county council with financial assistance from the Government's urban programme, I have offered a further attempt to mediate in this matter.

    Water Authorities (Official Communications)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 26 July, Official Report, column 889, what decision he has reached about publishing official communications with regional water authorities.

    Water information letters are not public documents and are therefore not usually published. They are private correspondence between the Department and chief executives of the regional water authorities.

    Water

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those water authorities which do not fulfil the requirements of the European Economic Community directive on drinking water in respect of (a) aluminium, (b) iron, (c) manganese, (d) lead, (e) nitrates and (f) fertilisers.

    The following water authorities have one or more water supply areas in which the relevant limit in the EC Drinking Water Directive is exceeded at present:

    Aluminium

    • Northumbrian
    • North West
    • Severn-Trent
    • South West
    • Yorkshire

    Manganese

    • Anglian
    • Northumbrian
    • North West
    • Severn-Trent
    • South West
    • Yorkshire

    Nitrate

    • Anglian
    • Severn-Trent
    • Yorkshire

    Iron

    • Anglian
    • North West
    • Severn-Trent
    • South West
    • Yorkshire

    Lead

    • Anglian
    • Northumbrian
    • North West
    • Severn-Trent
    • Yorkshire

    Fertilisers

    • There is no reference to fertilisers in the Directive.

    This answer does not cover the position in statutory water companies.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the date when each water authority is expected to comply fully with the European Economic Community directive on drinking water.

    The dates by which the last improvements are due to be completed to comply with the directive are as follows:

    Date
    Anglian1989
    Northumbrian1988
    North West1990
    Severn-Trent1990 (except for two supply areas 1995)
    SouthernAlready complying
    South West1991
    Thames1987
    WessexAlready complying
    YorkshireApplications still being considered
    This answer does not cover the position in statutory water companies.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the time limits he has imposed, and on which water authorities, in respect of the nitrate content of drinking water.

    Derogations granted to Anglian and Severn-Trent water authorities allowing them to exceed in some of their supplies the nitrate limit set in the EC drinking water directive will be reviewed in three years.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what respect he has asked the European Economic Community to review the pesticide parameters for drinking water.

    The pesticide parameter specifies the same limit for every pesticide, herbicide and fungicide, and a total figure for all such substances. This is scientifically unsound as these substances vary enormously in toxicity. The Government will therefore be requesting a review which takes account of these variations and the recent changes in pesticide composition. In addition, methods of analysis are not available to identify many pesticides at 0·1 parts per million, and in these cases the directive limit is not practical.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which water authorities supply drinking water with pesticides in them; what are the pesticides; what is their source; and what is the quantity involved.

    If sophisticated analytical methods now becoming available are used it is possible to detect traces of pesticides in most water supplies down to one tenth of a part per million or even less. There are several hundred pesticides authorised for use in agriculture and general weed control as well as more specialised activities such as wood treatment. Medical advisers have confirmed that traces of pesticides detected in routine sampling are well below any known acceptable daily intake.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those private water suppliers which do not fulfil the requirements of the European Economic Community directive on drinking water in respect of (a) aluminium, (b) iron, (c) managanese, (d) lead, (e) nitrates and (f) fertilisers.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why private water suppliers are to be allowed to supply drinking water of an inferior quality to that provided by public water authorities.

    This is not so. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility for deciding whether a private water supply is satisfactory.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which private water suppliers serve fewer than 500 people.

    About 1 per cent. of the population regularly drink water from private supplies. There are known to be about 80,000 such supplies in the United Kingdom mostly in rural areas serving single properties. About 200 private supplies regularly serve more than 500 people.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will detail the programme of remedial work that is to be undertaken by each water authority in order to improve the quality of drinking water; and if he will state the cost;(2) what are the further programmes of action that he has identified as being needed to improve the quality of drinking water.

    Programmes of action relate principally to the lead, aluminium, microbiological and iron parameters of EC drinking water directive. For lead the pH level is being raised or orthophosphate added to the water to reduce plumbosolvency (Anglian, Northumbrian North West, Severn-Trent, Yorkshire). When inefficient treatment causes the aluminium limit to be exceeded, treatment works are being improved or rebuilt (Northumbrian, North West, Severn-Trent, South West, Yorkshire). Marginal failures to meet microbiological standards are being met by more sophisticated disinfection, supplementary chlorination, or replacement or repair of service reservoirs (South West, Yorkshire). Where high iron concentrations are due to corroded cast iron mains, the pipes are being scraped, flushed and relined, or replaced (Severn-Trent).Many of these programmes of action are already under way. Further details and costs may be obtained from the water authorities.This answer does not cover programmes of remedial work being undertaken by statutory water companies.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which water supplies fall short of the European Economic Community directive in respect of microbiological standards; by how much each supply falls short of the European Economic Community standard; how many people are supplied by each supplier; and what action is being taken in each case to improve standards.

    Ninety water supply areas fall marginally short of the EC drinking water directive's microbiological standards at present.

    Number of supply areasPeople supplied
    South West water authority22290,000
    Yorkshire water authority68*750,000
    * Approximately.
    In the South West, supplementary chlorination is being provided and this will be complete in 1987. In Yorkshire more sophisticated chlorination equipment is being installed at some small spring sources and some service reservoirs are being replaced or repaired over the next few years.

    Private House Building (London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to stimulate private sector house building in London.

    Housebuilding starts in Greater London rose by more than 52 per cent. between 1979 and 1984 as compared with less than 11 per cent. for England. In two areas, docklands and Thamesmead, there has been substantial growth.Evidence from the London and South East regional planning conference is that there is a significant amount of housing land available in London. We have taken steps to maximise the release of this land for building. Land registers highlight the under-use of land held by public bodies, and we have urged public bodies to sell land on a profit-sharing basis to encourage development.Urban development grant is available for private house building schemes which address the problems of deprived urban areas and which would not go ahead without grant.

    Pollution

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those areas of Britain having the ten highest and the ten lowest background soil levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzodioxin.

    I am not aware of any comprehensive survey of soil levels of PCBs or of 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzodioxin in Britain. Hence there is no satisfactory basis on which to single out the ten highest and the ten lowest concentrations of these chemicals in soil.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which agencies are responsible for setting permitted levels for human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in milk, fat, soil and drinking water and with what frequency these levels are reviewed.

    The Agriculture and Health Departments are responsible for coordinating the monitoring of levels of contaminants in food, including milk and animal fat. There are no specified maximum permitted levels for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) or polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in foodstuffs.Permitted levels of these substances in soil are not set in the United Kingdom. The interdepartmental committee on the redevelopment of contaminated land advises on the problems of redeveloping contaminated sites generally.A maximum allowable concentration for PCBs in drinking water (0·1 microgram per litre) is set by the EEC Directive 80/778/EEC which came into force in July this year. The Department of the Environment is responsible for implementing this directive in the United Kingdom but any review of the levels set by the Directive is a matter for the European Commission. There are no specified maximum allowable levels for PCDDs or PCDFs in drinking water.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those districts in which domestic refuse incinerators have been tested for the polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxin and furan content of flue gases; what was the temperature of combustion in each case; on which dates or with what frequency the tests have been made; and what were the concentrations and isomers of any polychlorinated dibenzodioxins or polychlorinated dibenzofurans detected.

    A programme of investigation is currently under way, based on analysis of stack emissions, initially from municipal waste incinerators located in Gateshead, Bristol, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Sheffield. When the investigation has been completed and the results assessed, a report will be published. It is expected that this will be in the latter half of 1986. In addition, tests have been carried out on the Edmonton incinerator on behalf of the Greater London council.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recommendations he issues as to the technical detail of incinerators for the incineration of polychlorinated biphenyls and other toxic waste.

    General advice on the appropriate conditions for incineration of "PCB" wastes has been given in DOE Waste Management Paper No. 6. Technical advice is also available from Her Majesty's Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if flue gases from combustion plants and industrial premises other than municipal refuse incinerators have been tested for polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans content.

    Her Majesty's Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate has carried out a number of such tests at registered chemical incineration works. Tests have also been carried out at various other installations.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures exist for the regular or continuous monitoring of the polychlorinated biphenyl, polychlorinated dibenzodioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran content of flue gas emissions from combustion plants, industrial premises and municipal refuse incinerators; and if he plans any changes in these arrangements.

    Spot sampling is carried out by Her Majesty's Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate in addition to monitoring checks by the operators themselves. Research to establish continuous monitoring techniques for emissions from chemical incineration works has been commissioned from the Harwell laboratory. Research to develop sampling techniques for application to municipal waste incinerators has been commissioned from the Warren Spring laboratory.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for all those United Kingdom incinerators licensed to burn polychlorinated biphenyls, the maximum sustainable temperature for each incinerator.

    There are three commercially available high-temperature incinerators licensed to burn polychlorinated biphenyls in the United Kingdom. Only two are currently being operated for the combustion of PCBs. The temperature of each incinerator varies according to its construction materials and operating practices. The maximum refractory temperature is about 1200°C with flame temperature several hundred degrees higher. Information of the kind sought is not centrally available for the various "in-house" facilities licensed to burn waste of this type.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the maximum daily throughput of each United Kingdom incinerator licensed to burn polychlorinated biphenyls.

    None. It would be for waste disposal authorities in the first instance to consider whether there should be any such limit in the terms of the licence issued by them. However, control over gaseous emissions from such premises is a matter for Her Majesty's Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total tonnage of polychlorinated biphenyl materials imported into the United Kingdom for destruction during each of the past 10 years; and what proportion of the total was incinerated at each licensed site.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the total tonnage and likely sources of polychlorinated biphenyls likely to require destruction in the United Kingdom during each of the next 10 years.

    It is impossible to estimate reliably on an annual basis over the next 10 years the total tonnage of polychlorinated biphenyls likely to require destruction in the United Kingdom. However the sources of PCBs are likely in the main to be redundant electrical transformers and capacitors.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current position regarding the import into the United Kingdom of polychlorinated biphenyl materials for incineration; and if he will list the countries of origin and the quantities of such material.

    The Department are not aware of any imports of polychlorinated biphenyl materials for incineration in the United Kingdom within the last six months.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by tonnes of material per six month period, the quantity of hazardous wastes incinerated at registered plants in the United Kingdom between January 1980 and June 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the existing code of practice for polychlorinated biphenyl disposal, as outlined in section 8 of Waste Management Paper No. 6, provides for adequate furnace residence times and temperatures to guarantee the complete destruction of polychlorinated biphenyls.

    Trials supervised by Her Majesty's industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate have been carried out since the publication of Waste Management Paper No. 6 on all commercially available high-temperature incineration plants in the United Kingdom. These plants have demonstrated a destruction efficiency of more than 99·999 per cent., and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzon-furans (PCDFs) in the emissions have been consistently below the analytical limit of detection.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the progress of current research to assess background levels of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and groundwater; and what plans he has to extend the existing database.

    The accurate analysis of polychlorinated dibenzodioxin (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) levels in soil is a difficult and costly procedure. My Department is currently supporting research work to refine the analytical procedure for the extraction, separation and subsequent quantitative determination of these chemicals in soil. Once this has been achieved, soil samples will be analysed from various sites selected to establish the range of background levels in the United Kingdom. There are no plans to measure background levels of PCDDs or PCDFs in groundwater. In view of the extremely low solubility of these chemicals in water, significant contamination is unlikely and this is not considered an appropriate medium to monitor.

    Land Disposal (London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which land currently owned by the Greater London council will be disposed of in order to establish a trust fund for making grants to eligible charities.

    We expect that some of the property which passes to the London Residuary Body at abolition will be surplus and can be disposed of. It is from the proceeds of these disposals that the trust fund is intended to be established.

    Isle Of Dogs

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in relation to the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, what will be the effect of the proposed development scheme on the silhouette of the Tower of London as seen from London bridge;(2) in relation to the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, what studies have been carried out on its visual impact

    (a) when seen from the Royal Observatory and Green park and (b) upon the Royal Naval college and the Queen's house; and how will this vista be affected;

    (3) in relation to the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, what studies have been undertaken of the impact of the proposals on views along the River Thames; and what are the effects;

    (4) in relation to the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, what studies have been done to determine if the proposed structures will be visible from hill tops in north or south London;

    (5) if the proposed structures at the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone will be visible from Richmond park.

    London Docklands Development Corporation, which is the local planning and Enterprise Zone authority for the area, has commissioned further studies to supplement the work that the developers have already undertaken on these issues, as part of a wider assessment of the scheme. Final agreement to the development will not be given until the corporation is satisfied on these and other points.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone falls within a preferred office location in the Greater London development plan as approved by the Secretary of State in 1976.

    No. When the Greater London development plan was approved in 1976, the West India docks, of which Canary wharf forms a part, were still open for cargo handling.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the proposals for the Canary wharf site in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone will affect the outstanding office permissions or commitments in central London.

    Greater London Council

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to arrange for all the surplus accruing from the disposal of Greater London council properties to be distributed to the London boroughs.

    In general proceeds from the sale of surplus property will pass to London boroughs or other successor authorities. Some will, however, pass to a charitable trust to be established under section 49 of the Local Government Act 1985.

    London Residuary Body

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which functions of the London Residuary Body will be funded during its first year of operation by means of levies on successor bodies and which by means of direct charging.

    The main costs to be met by charges will be debt charges, except those in respect of certain mortgages, directly attributable superannuation costs and, subject to decisions by the body in consultation with successor authorities, the costs of any professional and technical services provided by the body. The levy on the boroughs will meet any costs not met from charges.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what Greater London council computers and fixed equipment have been identified for transfer to the London Residuary Body.

    The Government's proposals for the transfer of all tangible property at abolition were set out in property memorandum No. 2, issued on 3 September 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who are currently members of the London Residuary Body; and what remuneration or expenses will be received by each in the current financial year.

    Sir Godfrey Taylor, Mr. Alan Blakemore CBE, Mr. Jack Esling, Mr. Wallace Mackenzie OBE and Mr. Jack Wolkind CBE were appointed to the London Residuary Body on 12 August 1985, and Councillor Peter Bowness was appointed on 1 October 1985. Remuneration is being paid at the following rates — Sir Godfrey Taylor, £50,000 per annum, Mr. Esling, £18,927 per annum, Mr. Blakemore, Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Wolkind, £12,000 per annum, and Councillor Bowness £6,000 per annum.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for which categories of contracts the London Residuary Body will assume responsibility on the abolition of the Greater London council.

    All outstanding contractual rights and liabilities of the GLC will be assumed by the London Residuary Body unless transferred to successor authorities by order under section 100 of the Local Government Act 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what will be the role of the London Residuary Body in respect of the Greater London mobility scheme;(2) what arrangements will be made for the body running the Greater London mobility scheme to monitor and amend the way in which the scheme's computer records are kept in order to ensure that the equal opportunities provisions are maintained and implemented effectively;(3) what arrangements are being made to safeguard the control systems of the Greater London mobility scheme whilst its operation is managed by the London Residuary Body.

    Subject to negotiations with the local authority associations, the London Residuary Body may have a temporary role as employers of staff and providers of accommodation and equipment, until permanent arrangements are made. Records and control systems will be the responsibility of the body running the scheme.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total costs of establishing the London Residuary Body's offices in central London.

    The costs incurred before the London Residuary Body's appointed day are expected to amount to some £6,000. Costs incurred after that date are a matter for the residuary body.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which body will be responsible for the payment of housing benefit to Thamesmead residents while Thamesmead is in the ownership of the London Residuary Body.

    Bexley and Greenwich councils, the local authorities within whose boundaries Thamesmead falls.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the London Residuary Body will determine rent levels for the housing stock at Thamesmead currently owned by the Greater London council.

    We expect the London Residuary Body to have only temporary responsibility for Thamesmead during which time it will levy current rent levels.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total number of permanent staff directly employed by the London Residuary Body as at 30 September;(2) what information he has as to how many of the jobs in the London Residuary Body are held by residents of Greater London;(3) when consultations with the London boroughs will take place concerning the London Residuary Body review of the professional and technical services provided by the Greater London council, as required by paragraph 8(2)

    (b) of schedule 13 to the Local Government Act 1985;

    (4) when the London Residuary Body will commence the review of professional and technical services provided by the Greater London council under paragraph 8(2) (a) of schedule 13 to the Local Government Act 1985;

    (5) what information he has as to how many people from black or other ethnic minority communities are employed by the London Residuary Body and at what grades;

    (6) how many women are employed by the London Residuary Body, and at what grades;

    (7) in relation to the London Residuary Body's own employment practices, whether personnel are specifically employed to shortlist and appoint staff;

    (8) on what basis rents currently set by the Greater London council will be reviewed and varied by the London Residuary Body;

    (9) in relation to the London Residuary Body's employment practices, what arrangements there are for advertising posts in the London Residuary Body; and, in particular, in which black and ethnic minority newspapers advertisements are being placed;

    (10) whether the London Residuary Body's own employment practices, make provision for maternity and paternity leave;

    (11) in relation to the London Residuary Body's own employment practices whether there are clauses in contracts of employment specifying that racial and sexual harassment at work is a disciplinary issue;

    (12) whether the post of chief executive in the London Residuary Body was advertised nationally;

    (13) what meetings have taken place between the London Residuary Body and the co-ordinating committee, committees of London boroughs and other successor bodies;

    (14) what motor vehicles are at the disposal of the London Residuary Body; and what is the total estimated cost in the current financial year;

    (15) how many people with disabilities are employed by the London Residuary Body and at what grades;

    (16) what is the London Residuary Body's budget for the current financial year with a detailed breakdown of expenditure under different headings;

    (17) into what sectional and divisional structure the staff of the London Residuary Body are organised;

    (18) if he will list the consultants used by the London Residuary Body to date for staff recruitment and the consultancy fees incurred;

    (19) what is the total number of temporary staff directly employed by the London Residuary Body as at 30 September;

    (20) as at 30 September, how many Greater London council and former Greater London council employees are working for the London Residuary Body (a) on a full-time basis, (b) under a dual appointment arrangement, (c) under an agency agreement and (d) on a shared time basis between the Greater London council and the London Residuary Body;

    (21) how much has been spent by the London Residuary Body on hospitality, public relations and personal expenses since its establishment;

    (22) when he anticipates that the London Residuary Body will give a provisional estimate of its budget and levy;

    (23) whether there are any proposals to relocate the London Residuary Body after 31 March 1986;

    (24) if the London Residuary Body keeps a register which indicates the number of homosexual men and women employed;

    (25) how many applications were received for the secretarial posts advertised recently for the London Residuary Body.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he expects responsibility for Thamesmead to rest with the London Residuary Body.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to make an order to effect the transfer of property at Thamesmead currently owned by the Greater London council to the London Residuary Body.

    By virtue of section 62 of the Local Government Act 1985 all GLC properties will pass at abolition to the London Residuary Body unless they have been transferred elsewhere by order.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue a transfer order to effect the transfer of staff currently employed by the Greater London council in connection with Thamesmead to the employ of the London Residuary Body.

    We do not intend to decide the exact means for the transfer of the GLC's Thamesmead staff until the long-term arrangements for the area have been finalised.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy to seek the consent of individual mortgagors under the Greater London council's mortgage account before each loan is transferred from the London Residuary Body to any alternative body.

    Yes, so far as voluntary transfers during the life of the residuary body are concerned. Arrangements for the disposal of any assets remaining when the residuary body is wound up are still under consideration.

    Waste Disposal (London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many London boroughs have now submitted proposals for practical arrangements for transfer of waste disposal functions; and what proportion of London's population they represent.

    Six London boroughs and the City of London have submitted practicable proposals for two voluntary groupings for waste disposal operations. In addition, four London boroughs have invited the setting up of a statutory joint authority for their area. Thirteen other boroughs have made various proposals which either have not achieved sufficient support or which do not appear to be satisfactory. In all, authorities representing three quarters of the population of Greater London have made proposals.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial information relating to economy, efficiency and effectiveness he is considering or has considered on the different options for providing waste disposal services in London after 1 April 1986.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement further to his Department's note of guidance on arrangements for coordinating licensing control planning and research and development for waste disposal in the London area.

    No proposals commanding general acceptance have so far been received. Unless the situation changes, it will fall to the Secretary of State to consider the setting up of joint statutory arrangements in pursuance of section 10 of the Local Government Act 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the likely costs to the London borough of Newham of the waste disposal service after 1 April 1986 compared with that borough's present contribution to the service provided by the Greater London council.

    The costs of waste disposal in any London borough after the abolition of the Greater London council will depend on the policies and practices of the authorities which become responsible.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many London borough councils submitted proposals for the future of the waste disposal service in Greater London by his Department's deadline of 30 September; how many have submitted proposals since that date; and how many of the submissions made indicated unqualified support for his Department's proposals for seven voluntary groupings.

    Twenty three London boroughs and the City of London submitted proposals either before or shortly after 30 September. Most of the submissions did not address themselves to ale question whether there should be seven voluntary groupings in London.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to indicate what the arrangements for waste disposal in London will be after 1 April 1986.

    This would be premature as under the terms of section 10 of the Local Government Act 1985, the Secretary of State cannot take a final and complete view on the arrangements to be made until 15 November 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what savings will result from his proposals to split London's waste disposal service into seven groups.

    Savings resulting from the abolition of the Greater London council, on waste disposal as on other functions, will depend on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which successor authorities carry them out.

    Nuclear Waste

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish studies on the risks attendant in sea dumping and nuclear waste.

    I assume the hon. Member refers to the study of best practicable environmental options for the management of low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes which my Department is currently undertaking. I hope to publish the report of the study early next year.

    London Ecology Centre

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current situation regarding the future of the London Ecology Centre.

    Departmental Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has spent on office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decoration in each of the last five years.

    Prior to 1983–84 Departments were not charged separately for office furniture, curtains and carpets, nor for maintenance work undertaken by PSA on their estates.For 1983–84 and 1984–85 the information for DOE Central is as follows:

    Supplies Items £Office Decoration £
    1983–84*920,658
    1984–85*1,123,382

    Notes:

    * Expenditure on supplies, which includes office furniture curtains and carpets, is not separately itemised.

    It is not possible to separate the cost of office decoration from other maintenance work.

    The information for the rest of the Department is not readily available.

    London Co-Ordinating Committee

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what matters the London Co-ordinating Committee (a) has considered and advised him on and (b) has still to consider.

    The co-ordinating committee is under no obligation to offer my right hon. Friend advice, or to inform him of its discussions.

    Planning (London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional capacity is being created in his Department to handle his responsibilities under the Local Government Act 1985 for issuing strategic planning guidance to the London boroughs; what is the staffing complement of any new unit; and what is the annual cost.

    I am augmenting my Department's Greater London regional office with a new unit to prepare strategic planning guidance for Greater London. The unit is at present expected to comprise 7 people, with an annual staff and accommodation cost of about £160,000; it will be able to draw upon support from elsewhere in the Department; and consultants may be employed on particular tasks. The cost of these additional contributions cannot be estimated at this stage.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue his first strategic planning guidance to the London boroughs; whether it will be London-wide; and what issues it will cover.

    The timing and content of strategic guidance will be decided in the light of consultation with the joint planning committee for Greater London when that is established and with other bodies including the London and South East Regional Planning Conference.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to the Central Office of Information as to where, after 1 April 1986, overseas visitors wishing to explore and discuss current planning developments in Greater London will be directed.

    Rates (London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what options he has considered in order to phase out the proposed London rate equalisation scheme after 1986–87;(2) if he will ensure that the proposed extended London rate equalisation scheme will not be phased out in such a way that results in a greater rate burden being placed upon London's inner city partnership areas.

    My right hon. Friend has considered no proposal to phase out the London-wide rate equalisation scheme (LRES) after 1986–87. The London Boroughs Association has suggested that the overall level of the extended scheme should be reduced systematically over a run of years after 1986–87, to reflect potential savings compared to the present level of expenditure by the GLC. My right hon. Friend has accepted in principle that this might be appropriate, but any decisions about the LRES pool in future would be subject to the outcome of the statutory consultations on the scheme for each financial year.

    London Docklands Development Corporation

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the percentage of houses built on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land during 1984–85 which were priced at under £40,000;(2) what information he has as to the average price for a three-bedroom house in docklands in 1984–85.

    I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available.

    Unitary Development Plans

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the regulations governing the preparation of unitary development plans will be issued.

    Regulations will be made before the first order is made under section 4 of the Local Government Act 1985 bringing into force in any area schedule 1 of the Act which requires the preparation of unitary development plans.

    Radioactive Mud (Disposal)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment where the radioactive Windscale mud deposited by Greenpeace outside the Department of the Environment was disposed of; what route it took; what tests and precautions took place; and whether any consultations were made with the respective local authorities.

    Exhaustive tests indicated that the material deposited by Greenpeace outside the Department of the Environment on 26 February 1985 was not radioactive waste and that it presented no hazard to the public or to those handling it. It was therefore disposed of by a private waste disposal contractor who was responsible for arranging for its transport and burial at a commercial landfill site. There was no occasion for consultations with local authorities.

    County Hall

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what future uses of County hall have been considered by his Department.

    It will be for the London Residuary Body to consider the future use of County hall.