Written Answers

Written Answers Toquestions

Friday 6 February 1987

Wales

Historic Buildings And Ancient Monuments

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure of his Department in relation to its responsibilities for historic buildings and ancient monuments in each year since 1979, differentiating between (a) administrative expenditure, (b) expenditure administered in relation to historic buildings and (c) expenditure associated with ancient monuments.

The administrative costs relating to historic buildings and ancient monuments for which we are responsible are not readily identifiable for the years prior to 1985–86. However, for 1985–86 and 1986–87 the Welsh Office Departmental running costs relating to Cadw are £2·061 million and £2·2 million respectively.For

(b) and (c) taking these two aspects together the information requested is as follows:

	Historic buildings £000's	Ancient monuments £000's	RCAHM(W) £000's	Total £000's
1979–80	546	861	n/a	1,407
1980–81	875	1,071	n/a	1,946
1981–82	1,224	1,090	n/a	2,314
1982–83	892	1,334	n/a	2,226
1983–84	824	1,546	462	2,832
1984–85	1,424	1,786	401	3,611
1985–86	2,087	1,507	550	4,144
¹ 1986–87	2,144	1,846	500	4,490
¹ Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff were employed by his Department in relation to its responsibilities for historic buildings and ancient monuments in Wales in each year since 1979.

Until 1982, work on historic buildings and ancient monuments fell to a number of divisions in the Department and the staff engaged on these functions cannot now be accurately determined. The work was brought together in one division in 1982 and since late 1984 has been the responsibility of Cadw. The number of staff in post as at 1 January each year from 1983 (the earliest date for which figures are available) was as follows:

	Number
1983	209
1984	194
1985	191
1986	198
1987	194

Industrial Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Wales w hat financial support to industry in Wales has been allocated through (a) his Department, (b) the Welsh Development Agency and (c) the Development Board for Rural Wales, during each financial year from 1976–77 to 1985–86.

Details of regional assistance funds allocated through the Welsh Office can be found in the annual Appropriation Accounts covering expenditure in Wales. Details of financial support to industry allocated through the Welsh Development Agency and Development Board for Rural Wales are given in their respective annual reports and accounts. Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

Regional Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total sum of regional development grants paid to industry in Wales during each year since 1979.

Payments of regional development grant in Wales since 1979–80 (in £m) were as follows:—

	million
1979–80	50·7
1980–81	103·5
1981–82	122·2
1982–83	121·5
1983–84	72·1
1984–85	92·7
1985–86	84·4
1986–87	71·8

The 1986–87 figure is the latest available and provisional.

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Cash Limits And Running Costs

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland, what changes he proposes to make to the 1986–87 cash limit and running costs limit for class XX, vote 20 Law Charges, Scotland.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XX, Vote 20 will be increased by £180,000 from £15,799,000 to £15,979,000 and the Crown Office's running costs limit by £402,000 from £14,757,000 to £15,159,000. The increase is required to take account of the running costs arising from certain staff regrading and restructuring exercises and increases in the remuneration of Advocate's Depute, net of some non-running costs savings. The cash limit increase will be a charge on the 1986–87 reserve.

Attorney-General

Land Registry, Gloucester

asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning delays at Her Majesty's Land Registry at Gloucester; and if he will make a statement.

In the course of the last 12 months, the Lord Chancellor has received four complaints from Members of Parliament on behalf of constituents relating to delays at the Gloucester district land registry. These delays result from substantial increases both in the number of pre-contract and pre-completion searches and the number of substantive applications for registrations. Staff have been diverted from final registration work to provide prompt replies on pre-completion matters and the new land registry office opened last month at Coventry will assist the Gloucester office in all areas of its work.

State Security

asked the Attorney-General what assessment he made, in deciding to initiate police inquiries into possible breaches of the Official Secrets Act in connection with a secret defence project, of the extent to which the transcripts of the proposed British Broadcasting Corporation programmes might contain classified information not published in the New Statesman article by Mr. Duncan Campbell.

Police inquiries are currently being conducted. It would therefore not be proper for me to comment on the nature of the evidence that the Attorney-General considered, save to say that he was satisfied upon that evidence that there were reasonable grounds for inviting the Director of Public Prosecutions to request a police investigation.

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute the distributors in the United Kingdom of the Irish Independent newspaper for breaches of the Official Secrets Act in relation to material contained in articles in the issues dated 20 and 21 January, entitled "M15 in Ireland"; and if he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member produces evidence of a possible breach of the Official Secrets Act I will consider the matter.

asked the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 2 February, if he will specify the precise steps he took and the precise grounds he used to satisfy himself that he should invite the Director of Public Prosecutions to request an investigation by the police into possible breaches of the Official Secrets Act in relation to project Zircon; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General took into account evidence indicating that breaches of the Official Secrets Act may have occurred. It would not be proper for me to disclose what that evidence was.

Cash Limits

asked the Attorney-General what changes he proposes to make to the 1986–87 cash limit for class XX, 24 law changes, England and Wales (Treasury Solicitors Department) and to the Treasury solicitors running costs limit.

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for the Treasury Solicitor's Department will be increased by £495,000 from £8,947,000 to £9,442,000. The increase is mainly due to increased accommodation costs but also reflects the exceptional volume of work partially offset by a higher level of receipts and is being charged to the Reserve. There has been a related increase in the gross running costs limit of £861,000 from £9,937,000 to £10,798,000.

Bail Applications

asked the Attorney-General what was the number of bail applications which have been refused for those charged with scheduled offences during the years 1983, 1984 and 1985; how many bail applications for scheduled offences have been granted for the same years; and how many of those granted bail do not comply with its conditions during the same years.

[pursuant to the reply, 19 January 1987, c. 401]: The numbers of bail applications which were refused and granted for those charged with scheduled offences in Northern Ireland during the years 1983, 1984 and 1985 are:

Year	Refused	Granted
1983	676	721
1984	599	781
1985	476	801

In each year a number of persons had their bail revoked for failure to comply with its conditions. Details are set out below.

Year	Revocations
1983	6
1984	15
1985	15

Employment

Technical And Vocational Education Initiative

asked the Paymaster General which authorities in England have not taken up money available for technical and vocational education initiative; and if he will make a statement.

There are seven local education authorities in England which are either not participating already or have not put in proposals to participate from 1987 in the technical and vocational education initiative. All seven have the opportunity to bid to participate from 1988. It is known that some intend to do so; others are still considering their intentions. Only Kirklees metropolitan council has said that it will not be submitting a proposal to participate.

Wages

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the proportion of young peoples' average wages to adult average wages in 1979 at the latest date for which figures are available.

The information available is shown below:

Average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees working a full week
	April 1979	April 1986
Males aged under 18 as a percentage of adult males¹	39·7	34·5
Females aged under 18 as a percentage of adult females²	58·1	52·9
¹ Aged 21 and over.
² Aged 18 and over.

Source: New Earning Survey.

Wages Councils

asked the Paymaster General how many people were covered by wages councils in 1979 and in 1986, or the latest date for which figures are available.

Statistical returns of the numbers of workers in Great Britain employed in establishments within scope of wages councils are not collected, but in 1979 an analysis of the administrative records of inspections kept by the wages inspectorate indicated that the total number of workers covered was about 2¾ million.A similar exercise in 1982—the last year in which one was undertaken—revealed a similar number. Work is in hand to estimate the numbers currently covered.

Labour Statistics

34.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide for (a) each English region, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales, his estimate of the numbers employed in June 1979 and in June 1986 in the following industries or sectors, and if he will estimate the percentage fall or rise since June 1979 in (a) shipbuilding and ship repair, (b) steel, (c) coal, (d) textiles, (e) electrical, instrument and electronic engineering (f) construction, (g) vehicles and (h) information technology, telecommunications and data processing.

With the exception of the construction industry, estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in the industries specified in the English regions, Scotland and Wales are available only from

Table 2
Employees in employment: percentage changes between September 1981 and September 1984
	South East			East Anglia			South West
	1981	1984	Net change Per cent.	1981	1984	Net change Per cent.	1981	1984	Net change Per cent.
Shipbuilding and repairing [3610]	23,700	14,600	-38	3,100	2,800	-10	18,700	20,200	+8
Steel¹ [2210, 2220, 223]	11,200	8,600	-23	1,200	700	-42	1,500	1,500	—
Coal extraction [1113, 1114]	4,000	3,600	-10	—	—	—	—	—	—
Textiles [43]	13,100	10,200	-22	1,400	1,900	+36	5,700	5,200	-9
Electrical and electronic engineering instrument engineering [34, 37]	326,300	291,400	-11	22,600	23,500	+4	50,800	54,400	+7
Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts thereof [35]	102,200	85,900	-16	5,100	4,400	-14	9,400	6,300	- 33
Telecommunications and computer services². [7902, 8394]	148,500	159,600	+7	9,200	13,200	+43	19,900	22,000	+ 11
Note—The figures in brackets denote the class or activity heading of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification.
¹ Iron and steel industry, Steel tubes and Drawing, cold rolling and cold forming of steel.
² Information technology is not separately identified.

Table 2—continued
Employees in employment percentage changes between September 1981 and September 1984
	West Midlands			East Midlands			Yorkshire and Humberside
	1981	1984	Net change Per cent.	1981	1984	Net change Per cent.	1981	1984	Net change Per cent.
Shipbuilding and repairing [3610]	500	500	—	600	500	-17	2,700	2,600	-4
Steel¹ [2210, 2220, 223]	30,900	22,500	-27	11,300	7,400	-35	49,100	34,000	-31
Coal extraction [1113, 1114]	22,100	19,200	-13	66,500	56,200	-15	78,800	64,600	-18
Textiles [43]	13,000	12,200	-6	80,500	72,400	-10	57,400	47.600	-17

censuses of employment. For other dates the survey sample is not large enough to provide reliable estimates other than for Great Britain.

Table 1 gives, for the areas specified, estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in the construction industry at June 1979 and June 1986, and the net percentage changes between the two dates.

Table 2 gives, for the same areas, the numbers of employees in employment in the other industries specified at September 1984 (the most recent date for which a census of employment was held) and September 1981 (the date of the previous census of employment, and the earliest date for which comparable figures are available).

It also gives the net percentage changes between the two dates. The estimates are subject to considerable potential error due to the relatively small number of employees in the industries in each region, Scotland and Wales.

Table 1
Employees in Employment: Percentage Change in the Construction Industry Between June 1979 and June 1986
	June 1979	June 1986	Percentage Change
South East	361,000	287,000	-20
East Anglia	41,000	37,000	-10
South West	85,000	64,000	-25
West Midlands	100,000	88,000	-12
East Midlands	69,000	60,000	-13
Yorkshire and Humberside	110,000	88,000	-20
North West	134,000	110,000	-18
North	83,000	56,000	-33
Wales	62,000	42,000	-32
Scotland	155,000	134,000	-14

	West Midlands			East Midlands			Yorkshire and Humberside
	1981	1984	Net change Per cent	1981	1984	Net change Per cent	1981	1984	Net change Per cent
Electrical and electronic engineering instrument engineering [34, 37]	100,600	84,900	-16	40,700	36,300	- 11	29,600	25,000	-16
Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts thereof [35]	114,800	84,400	-26	10,200	8,800	-14	12,300	15,000	+22
Telecommunication and computer service² [7902, 8394]	25,400	26,600	+5	10,200	12,400	+22	15,300	17,000	+11
Note—The figures in brackets denote the class or activity heading of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification.
¹ Iron and steel industry, Steel tubes and Drawing, cold rolling and cold forming of steel.
² Information technology is not separately identified.

Employees in employment: Percentage changes between September 1981 and September 1984
	North West			North			Wales			Scotland
	1981	1984	Net change per cent.	1981	1984	Net change per cent.	1981	1984	Net change per cent.	1981	1984	Net change per cent.
Shipbuilding + repairing [3610]	5,300	2,900	-45	33,900	20,900	-38	900	700	-22	31,200	22,200	-29
Steel¹ [2210, 2220, 223]	9,700	6,500	-33	23,500	13,800	-41	29,800	25,500	-14	19,800	12,500	-37
Coal extraction [1113, 1114]	10,600	8,600	-19	38,600	31,300	-19	34,600	28,500	-18	23,700	16,900	-29
Textiles [43]	52,700	40,700	-23	8,600	8,300	-3	4,000	3,600	-10	38,600	32,900	-15
Electrical and electronic engineering instrument engineering [34, 37]	80,200	73,500	-8	40,300	35,100	-13	31,700	28,300	-11	52,600	51,400	-2
Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts thereof [35]	53,300	41,700	-22	7,100	6,000	-15	19,400	14,000	-28	11,300	6,800	-40
Telecommunications and computer services² [7902, 8394]	23,300	23,400	—	8,400	8,800	+ 5	8,400	10,100	+ 20	20,500	18,400	-10
Note:
The figures in brackets denote the class or activity heading of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification.
¹ Iron and Steel Industry, Steel tubes and Drawing, cold rolling and cold forming of steel.
² Information technology is not separately identified.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table showing the most recent rates of unemployment in (a) all travel-to-work areas receiving regional development grants, (b) all travel-to-work areas receiving only regional selective no assistance, (c) travel-to-work areas which receive no assistance but have rates higher than any in (a) and (b), and (d) travel-to-work areas which receive no assistance but have rates within 2 per cent. of any in (a) and (b).

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1987, c. 245–48]: I regret that in my previous reply there were four areas omitted from the tables requested.The information omitted was from table A and is as follows:

Unemployed claimants in travel-to-work areas having development area status—11 December 1986
	Number	Rate
Irvine	11,819	24·9
Greenock	9,955	20·5
Kilmarnock	5,579	17·6
Glasgow	113,135	17·2

Job Training Scheme

asked the Paymaster General what plans he has to seek the views and advice of area manpower boards on his proposed extension of the job training scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 February 1987]: In accordance with the arrangements proposed by the Manpower Services Commission, area manpower boards will receive full information on the scheme as it develops in their areas so that they can monitor, assess and evaluate progress, and advise on likely demand. Boards will be consulted on the development of approved training organisation (adult) status, and will, in due course, be asked to advise on whether managing agents should be given such status.

House Of Commons

Westminster Hall

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise with the Services Committee the possible use of Westminster Hall in the summer for public concerts, exhibitions and other arts-related events; and if he will make a statement.

The control of Westminster Hall is vested jointly in the Lord Great Chamberlain and in the two Speakers on behalf of the two Houses.The principles governing the exercise of their discretion to grant the use of the Hall for non-parliamentary functions are that such events should be either a royal occasion, a ceremony in honour of a Head of State or one having clear historical connections with Parliament or the Hall itself. I believe that these principles are in accordance with the wishes of the House.

Prime Minister

Marine Environment

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 30 January, Official Report, c. 403, if she will give a precise breakdown of the responsibilities of each of the Departments listed in relation to various specific aspects of the marine environment.

Responsibility for controlling or dealing with the marine environment is shared between a number of Government Departments. The Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food is responsible for safeguarding fisheries and for controlling disposal at sea in England and Wales; the Department of Transport is responsible for the control and prevention of pollution at sea from ships, particularly in relation to oil and noxious liquid substances, and for any necessary remedial action at sea; the Department of Energy is responsible for the control of offshore oil and gas development operations, including the control of pollution from such operations. The Warren Spring laboratory, Department of Trade and Industry, undertakes research sponsored by the marine pollution control unit, Department of Transport, and offers technical advice on beach cleaning and oil and chemical spills at sea, dispersants and spraying. The Department of the Environment is responsible for controls over discharges of trade and sewage effluents to the aquatic environment, including coastal waters, and is also responsible for co-ordinating central Government policy on the control of pollution generally. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and Northern Ireland Office have similar responsibilities in respect of environmental protection.

Regional Aid

asked the Prime Minister what was the Government's expenditure in each year between 1979–80 and 1982–83 on regional aid to industry in each of the English regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and through which agencies this expenditure was incurred.

The information requested is as follows:

Expenditure¹ at current prices
£ million
Region	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Northern	147·8	146·3	176·3	159·3
North West	86·7	131·3	157·9	122·4
Yorkshire and Humberside	32·1	52·2	61·8	52·9
East Midlands²	4·2	4·5	8·6	13·6
South West	10·7	11·5	14·8	16·2
Scotland	117·9	182·8	220·1	370·9
Wales	104·3	170·8	198·2	181·7
Great Britain³	519·0	705·9	853·6	917·0
Northern Ireland	103·5	138·2	110·8	146·1
United Kingdom	622·5	844·1	964·4	1,063·1
¹ All figures are gross and include payments to nationalised industries.

² Includes West Midlands.

³ The Great Britain total does not always equal the sum of the component parts due to rounding.

The items included in the expenditure are regional development grants and regional selective assistance, expenditure on land and factories by the English Industrial Estates Corporation, the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies, the Development Board for Rural Wales, and the Highlands and Islands Development Board. Northern Ireland has a different range of financial incentives available and the items included in the expenditure have been restricted to aids similar to the main forms of regional preferential assistance in Great Britain.

The agencies through which this expenditure was incurred are as follows:

English Regions:	The Department of Trade and Industry and the English Industrial Estates Corporation.
Scotland:	The Scottish Office (Industry Department for Scotland), The Scottish Development Agency, the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Wales:	The Welsh Office (Industry Department), The Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Northern Ireland:	The Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development and the Industrial Development Board (formerly the Northern Ireland Development Agency).

Energy

Homes Insulation

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Fulham on I December 1986, Official Report, column 456, whether Her Majesty's Government will introduce measures in the next nine months to reduce the number of inadequately-insulated homes and so reduce the potential problems facing lower income householders in a cold weather spell next winter.

As well as promoting the cost-effective energy efficiency measures which all householders should take, my right hon. Friend will continue to support the expansion of the community insulation projects, which are expected to have insulated some 450,000 low-income households by the end of this year. In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has announced his intention to extend the 90 per cent. grant under the homes insulation scheme to all low-income householders.

Severn Barrage

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends, in the course of the studies by his Department into the proposed Severn barrage, to examine whether there exists within the United Kingdom the capability to tender successfully for all major aspects of the contract, especially the construction of lock gates for ships up to 150,000 dwt.

The size of lock gates for the proposed Severn barrage is a matter for further study and consultation with the relevant bodies.

The commercial aspects of the supply of all items of a Severn barrage will be closely examined in the course of the forthcoming studies.

Ncb Homes

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will instigate a public inquiry into the selling of National Coal Board houses since 1979.

No.

Trade And Industry

Rover Group

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans Rover group has for its South African operation.

I understand that Rover Group is announcing today that a proposal has been received from a number of executives from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Leyland South Africa, to acquire the share capital and activities of that company. This proposal has come forward in the course of a commercial review of the business.Discussions to explore the feasibility of the proposal are being held between Rover Group, and its advisers and local managers in South Africa.

Timeshare Properties

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to make his consumer advice leaflet about timeshare properties available to Britons travelling abroad.

The leaflet is freely available to anyone who requests it. My Department is operating a 24-hour telephone service for such requests on 01–215 3344. Copies are also available at Citizens Advice Bureaux, some airport information centres, through many travel agents and at selected consular offices abroad.

Licensed Security Trading

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken to terminate trading by the licensed security dealer, the name of which was privately communicated to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for consumer affairs, the hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard).

I am not, for the moment, in a position to add to what I said in the House on 28 January in response to the hon. Member.

Bankruptcies (Wales)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total number of bankruptcies in Wales from 1979 to 1986.

The provisional estimate of the number of bankruptcies in Wales from 1979 to 1986 inclusive is 2,943.

Textile Workers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the establishment of a severance pay scheme for redundant textile workers; what information he has on schemes operated by other European Economic Community countries for redundant textile workers and how such schemes are funded; and if he will make a statement.

The national secretary of the textile group of TGWU wrote to my right hon. Friend recently concerning proposals for a special severance pay scheme for redundant textile and clothing workers and he has subsequently received further representations on the subject from the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw). So far as I am aware no other EC member state operates any special redundancy scheme for textile and clothing workers and this Government have no plans for introducing such a scheme.

Regional Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest best estimate of the number of jobs created or sustained as a result of regional development grants or regional selective assistance in (a) 1960 to 1979 and (b) since 1979; and what is his estimate of the cost per job.

Estimates of the number of net jobs created or sustained as a result of regional development grants or regional selective assistance have not been made for the periods requested. However, it has been estimated that over the period 1960 to 1981, development controls, regional grants and subsidies, regional selective assistance and regional employment premium created some 600,000 additional manufacturing jobs in the main assisted areas, of which 450,000 jobs were estimated to be surviving in 1981.The average Exchequer cost per job created by these policies between 1960 and 1981 has been estimated to be £40,000 in 1981 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how many jobs have been created or sustained by regional policy, regional development grants and regional selective assistance grants since November 1984; and at what cost per job.

It is too early for a proper economic evaluation to be made of the net effect on employment of regional incentives paid since November 1984. The following statistics on assistance paid or offered in Great Britain from December 1984 to December 1986 inclusive are available:

	£ million	Employment	Cost per ment job (£000)
Payments of old RDGs	789·3	¹	¹
Payment of new RDGs	107·4	³ 36,973	2·9
Offers of RSA²	457·4	⁴ 139,336	3·3
¹ Payments of old RDGs are not linked to employment.
² Industrial and training grants only.
³ Jobs created.
⁴ Jobs estimated to be created or safeguarded.

Note: The employment and cost per job figures take no account of displacement or multiplier effects; the fact that some jobs would have been created without assistance; or the extent to which jobs created or safeguarded may subsequently have been lost.

Industrial Moves

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what information he has as to the number of factory moves into the United Kingdom from abroad for each year since 1978 and as to the region in which they re-located;(2) what information he has as to the number of industrial moves out of London, Birmingham and Manchester for each year between 1979 and 1986 and as to the region of their re-location;(3) what information he has about the total number of factory moves within the United Kingdom for each year since 1978, and the annual number of moves which entailed re-location into Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North of England.

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Financial Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance has been provided by his Department directly to industry in Wales since 1979; and if he will outline the categories of support provided.

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

Brewing And Distilling

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial assistance was given to brewing and distilling companies under the various industry Acts in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively, in each of the past five years.

[pursitant to his reply, 5 February 1987]: The only readily available figures relate to selective assistance for the five years to April 1986 and to regional development grants since the scheme was revised in November 1984. For projects under SIC headings 4240 and 4270 payments are as follows:

Selective assistance	England	Scotland	Wales
1981–82	47,370	424,083	84,450
1982–83	134,039	355,187	424,083
1983–84	121,200	86,250	16,500
1984–85	312,057	39,000	16,500
¹ 1985–86	214,220	12,136	6,000
¹ 1985–86 includes payments under the new RDG scheme. It is not possible to break down RDG payments by SIC headings for previous years, and these are not included.

The Arts

Cash Limit

asked the Minister for the Arts whether he is proposing any change in the cash limit for the Arts Vote (class XIII, vote 10).

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XIII, Vote 10 will be increased by £2,565,000 from £171,312,000 to £173,877,000. £1,400,000 of the increase is for expenditure towards the completion of the Merseyside museum main contract, and is covered by a cash limit transfer from the Department of the Environment. The sum of £1,165,000 is a provision to enable additional items to be accepted in lieu of tax, and will be charged upon the Contingency Reserve. There will be no addition to the planning total of public expenditure.

National Finance

Ec Budget

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report, in relation to the operation of the financial guidelines for European Economic Community budgetary discipline, the ceilings for 1986 and 1987, the figures used in arriving at these ceilings, the estimated outturn for 1986 and the forecast for 1987.

The Council's conclusions of 4 December 1984 on budgetary discipline, which were deposited in the Library of the House on 10 December 1984, provide that net expenditure on agricultural market support should increase by not more than the rate of growth of the own resources base. The method of calculation of the financial guideline on agricultural expenditure is set out in articles 2 to 4 of the conclusions. The base period for the comparison is the average of 1984 and 1985.

Calculation of financial guideline
	1986 mecu	1987 mecu
(a) Average expenditure in 1984–85¹	17,306·7	17,215·4
(b) Rate of growth in OR base (per cent.)	8·5	13·4
(c)(a) x (1+(b))	18,778·0	19,526·0
(d) Expenditure excluded from guideline formula in respect of sugar and food aid²	1,841·0	2,123·0
(e) Financial guideline (EC 10)	20,619·0	21,649·0
(f) Plus expenditure on Spain³ and Portugal	567·0	1,312·0
(g) Financial guideline (EC 12)	21,186·0	22,961·0
¹ The difference in figures reflects end of year adjustment.
² This expenditure is excluded from calculations of the formula but added back for calculating expenditure consistent with the guideline in the appropriate year.
³ Following the accession of Spain and Portugal, the Council agreed to these additions.

The Ecofin Council on 7 July 1986 agreed that agricultural expenditure in 1986 could exceed the financial guideline by the

"amounts which can be justified mainly by the exceptional circumstances of the abnormally large depreciation of the dollar."

The budget as finally adopted for 1986 increased expenditure from 21,012 mecu to 22,122 mecu. Final outturn figures for 1986 are not yet available.

A budget for 1987 has not yet been adopted.

Land And Buildings Sales

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to the answer of 27 January, Official Report, column 230, listing sales of' land and buildings 1979–80 to 1989–90, he will give a breakdown of the major categories of sales in respect of the following Departments for 1985–86 (a) Department of the Environment—other environmental services, (b) Home Office, (c) Education, (d) Department of Health and Social Services—Health and Personal Social Services, (e) Scotland, (f) Wales and (g) Northern Ireland.

A breakdown of the major categories of sales of land and buildings for 1985–86 by function, as recorded centrally, is given below for the Departments requested:

	Number
(a) DOE—Other environmental services
Town and country planning	259
New towns	128
Other	120
Total	506
(b) Home Office (including Lord Chancellor's Department)
Police	57
Other	2
Total	59
(c) Education
Schools	78
Other	20
Total	98
(d) DHSS—Health and personal social services
Hospital and community services	78
Other	26
Total	104
(e) Scotland
Housing	148
Local environmental services	40
Other	27
Total	215
(f) Wales
Housing	53
Other environmental services	21
Other	11
Total	84
(g) Northern Ireland
Housing	37
Other	4
Total	40

More detailed information is not held centrally.

Vat

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Batley and Spen have (a) registered for value added tax purposes and (b) de-registered for value added tax purposes in each of the last five years.

For reasons of cost, separate statistics are not maintained for individual constituencies, but nearly all of my hon. Friend's constituency is covered by the value added tax office at Halifax. The number of VAT registrations and deregistrations dealt with by that office in each of the calendar years 1982–1986 was:

	Registrations	Deregistrations
1982	2,011	1,762
1983	2,143	1,739
1984	2,003	1,787
1985	2,228	2,257
1986	2,254	2,329

Customs and Excise estimates that about 25 per cent. of these businesses are located in the Batley and Spen constituency area.

Stamp Duty

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in tabular form (i) the estimated cost to public funds and (ii) the estimated number of properties exempted if stamp duty on house purchase were to become payable only on houses costing (a) £35,000, (b) £40,000, (c) £50,000 and (d) up to £100,000 in steps of £10,000 at a time after £50,000.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Tax Cuts

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of the report on the incentive of tax cuts commissioned by his Department from Professor C. V. Brown.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Premium Bonds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current total of unclaimed prize money from premium bond draws; and if he will give a breakdown by prize category.

There are currently 67,054 outstanding premium bond prizes total value £3.973,375. The breakdown is:—

		£
7	x	5,000
158	x	1,000
533	x	500
16	x	250
10,248	x	100
43,311	x	50
12,781	x	25
67,054

Television Sets

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his holding reply of 26 January, Official Report, column 86, when he expects to give a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Walsall, North on the number of television sets at his official residence; and who is responsible for paying the licence fee.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 February 1987 at column 671.

United Nations International Years

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list Her Majesty's Government's contributions to United Kingdom organisations set up in each of the past eight years in respect of designated United Nations international years.

United Nations designated year	United Kingdom organisation	Government Department	Contribution (£)
International Year of the Child—1979	"Whose Child" publication	Department of Health and Social Security	3,900
	Northern Ireland Regional Committee for International Year of the Child	Northern Ireland Office	2,890
International Year of Disabled Persons—1981	Voluntary Organisations Committee and other organisations	Department of Health and Social Security	280,000
	Third World Group of the English Committee of the International Year	Overseas Development Administration	8,000
International Youth Year (IYY)—1985	Northern Ireland Co-ordinating Committee for IYY	Northern Ireland Office	160,000
	IYY National Co-ordinating Committee for England	Department of Education and Science	248,850
International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (IYSH) 1987	United Kingdom Trust for IYSH	Overseas Development Administration	64,000
		Department of the Environment	40,000

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Pollution

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to advise farmers on methods of preventing urban pollution; and if he will make a statement

My Department has a long-established poicy of encouraging the farming industry to adopt practices which minimise the risk of all forms of pollution. This is achieved through farm visits, on-farm events, appropriate publicity and a wide range of literature which is continuously updated in the light of new knowledge and experience. My officials will continue to offer assistance and free advice to farmers so as to enable them to aim for high standards of environmental protection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total numbers of serious farm pollution incidents reported in each of the years 1985 and 1986; and how many of these were caused by silage, cows, pigs and other causes respectively.

Information is not collected by my Department on all forms of pollution. The most recent details available of water pollution incidents are set out in the report on water pollution from farm waste 1985 issued jointly by my Department and the Water Authorities Association in July 1986. That report showed that of 3,510 farm pollution incidents in 1985, 572 were classified as serious. These figures need to be considered in the context of the grand total of over 18,000 water pollution incidents from all sources recorded for the financial year 1984/85.A breakdown of these 572 incidents is given at table 8 of the report, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987, c. 92]: The Treasury has made no such contributions and does not keep records in a form that readily identifies such payments by other Departments. The following list (which may not therefore be complete) shows the payments, including those for the current year, identified by our enquiries.

Milk Powder Exports

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise at the next meeting of the Agriculture Council the approval by the authorities in Bavaria to export to the Third world 5,000 tons of milk powder with radioactivity levels 10 times as high as permitted for consumption with the European Economic Community; and if, in particular, he will seek to clarify whether export rebates funded from European Economic Community finances will be repayable in respect of this export.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Wine

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the surplus of wine produced by the EEC in the most recent year for which figures are available; what were the comparable totals for each of the previous six years; and what is the current level of wine stocks held in private and public stores.

In 1985–86 production of wine in member states of the Community (excluding Spain and Portugal) exceeded Community utilisation by 17·2 million hectolitres.The comparable figures for the previous six years were:

	Million hectolitres
1984–85	14·4
1983–84	39·2
1982–83	37·6
1981–82	4·1
1980–81	22·0
1979–80	38·0

At 31 August 1986, stocks of wine held in private storage with the benefit of Community aid stood at 14·6 mhl. There are no publicly held stocks of wine as such. Community surpluses are distilled and stored as alcohol.

Libya

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of export rebate paid by the EEC in respect of exports of food to the Republic of Libya in the year 1985.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Food And Wine Expenditure

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount expended by the EEC per week, expressed in terms of pounds sterling, on the storage, export and disposal, respectively, of food and wine during the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what estimate has been made of the comparable expenditure per week in the current year.

Community expenditure on public storage, export refunds and internal disposal of food and wine averaged £156 million per week in 1985 (the latest year for which final figures are available). The provision in the 1987 draft budget for this expenditure is £203 million per week (£187 million at the 1985 exchange rate).

Agriculture And Surplus Management

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the percentage of EEC funding devoted to agriculture and surplus management, respectively, on the same basis as the table set out in the Official Report, column 259, 21 June 1985; and if he will include in the table the estimate for 1987.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

Year	CAP expenditure as percentage of total EC expenditure	Food storage and disposal costs¹ as percentage of total EC expenditure
1973	82·4	57·7
1974	75·4	40·4
1975	78·1	40·0
1976	76·6	49·9
1977	74·3	48·1
1978	79·2	55·3
1979	75·7	56·9
1980	73·3	55·8
1981	65·1	48·5
1982	64·0	45·8
1983	68·4	47·4
1984	69·4	50·5
1985	73·1	52·4
1986	65·7	47·7
1987	67·2	48·4
¹ Expenditure from the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund on export refunds, internal sale subsidies, public intervention and private storage aids for all commodities, whether or not in surplus.

Sources:

1973–1985 EAGGF Financial Reports and EC Court of Auditors' reports.

1986 budget.

1987 draft budget.

For 1973–78 the sources are not fully compatible and the figures for these years are only aproximate.

Horses (Botulism)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what reports he has received of horses contracting botulism in Devon and Cornwall; how many horses have contracted the disease; when and how many have been destroyed; and if he will make a statement;(2) what investigations and inquiries are taking place into an outbreak of botulism amongst horses in Devon and Cornwall; what steps he is taking to identify the causes and prevent the spread of the disease; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry is aware of a case of suspected botulism in two horses stabled in a single premises near Bovey Tracy in south Devon. One horse has died and the other has been destroyed. Specimens from the horses have been sent to the Ministry's veterinary investigation centre at Starcross for diagnosis as have samples of fodder, which can be the source of this disease in livestock. Botulism, which is not notifiable, is not contagious and this case presents no risk to animal or public health.

Food Aid

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors he considered in deciding which charities to ask to co-operate in the distribution of EEC food aid.

The main factors were the extent of which an organisation already dealt with the most needy in its day-to-day work; the breadth of its geographical coverage; and its likely capacity to deal with the organisational arrangements in co-operation with my Department.

Education And Science

Museums (Entrance Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the proposed implementation of entrance charges to the natural history museum, the geological museum and the zoological museum at Tring.

My right hon. Friend has received 14 letters from right hon. and hon. Members and a further 12 letters from members of the public.

Higher Education Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the publication of his Department's projections of student demand 1986 to 2000, he will reconsider and increase his higher education expenditure plan in the years 1987–88 and beyond.

The plans for spending on higher education included in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90" (Cmnd. 56), published last month, represent significant increases on previous provision. We are continuing to consider the implications of the new projections of student demand for higher education and have sought the comments of interested bodies.

O-Level Passes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the percentage of school leavers who secured three or more O-level passes in each of the education authorities in England and Wales.

Data on leavers from maintained schools in England are given below. figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Percentage of leavers from Maintained Schools with three or more GCE 0 level passes at Grades A, B or C
	Average of academic years 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85
Barking	12·1
Barnet	45·9
Bexley	34·1
Brent	24·4
Bromley	37·4
Croydon	32·0
Ealing	26·4
Enfield	29·6
Haringey	17·8
Harrow	43·9
Havering	31·3
Hillingdon	27·5
Hounslow	26·1
Kingston-upon-Thames	40·3
Merton	36·0
Newham	11·9
Redbridge	30·5
Richmond-upon-Thames	34·3
Sutton	40·1
Waltham Forest	18·2
ILEA	18·8
Birmingham	21·2
Coventry	23·5
Dudley	25·0
Sandwell	15·1
Solihull	31·1
Walsall	22·5
Wolverhampton	19·7
Knowsley	15·6
Liverpool	22·2
St. Helens	28·1
Sefton	34·3
Wirral	29·0
Bolton	28·6
Bury	30·6
Manchester	21·8
Oldham	22·8
Rochdale	25·0
Salford	21·3
Stockport	33·7
Tameside	27·0
Trafford	31·2
Wigan	28·8
Barnsley	18·5
Doncaster	22·3
Rotherham	23·2

	Average of academic years 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85
Sheffield	25·1
Bradford	23·4
Calderdale	26·7
Kirklees	28·7
Leeds	26·8
Wakefield	15·9
Gateshead	21·7
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	22·2
North Tyneside	25·6
South Tyneside	23·7
Sunderland	21·0
Avon	28·4
Bedfordshire	27·2
Berkshire	32·1
Buckinghamshire	36·7
Cambridgeshire	31·5
Cheshire	30·4
Cleveland	26·4
Cornwall	28·8
Cumbria	25·1
Derbyshire	25·8
Devon	27·5
Dorset	32·8
Durham	23·6
East Sussex	34·2
Essex	29·9
Gloucestershire	31·7
Hampshire	30·3
Hereford and Worcester	27·6
Hertfordshire	35·8
Humberside	26·3
Isle of Wight	24·7
Kent	31·9
Lancashire	28·2
Leicestershire	27·2
Lincolnshire	26·3
Norfolk	25·1
North Yorkshire	36·2
Northamptonshire	25·2
Northumberland	30·3
Nottinghamshire	22·7
Oxfordshire	33·6
Shropshire	29·9
Somerset	26·1
Staffordshire	24·1
Suffolk	26·1
Surrey	40·2
Warwickshire	30·9
West Sussex	38·2
Wiltshire	29·4
Total England	27·7

Source: School Leavers Survey Data subject to sampling error.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school leavers in England and Wales secured three or more O-level passes in the most recent year.

In 1984–85, 31·4 per cent. of school leavers in England had gained three or more higher grade GCE O level passes. Information for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Assisted Places Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated average annual cost to his Department of an assisted places secondary school place for the academic year 1986–87; how this compares with the annual capitation for a maintained sector secondary school place; and what are the equivalent figures for each year since the inception of the assisted places scheme.

The information requested is as follows:

	Average cost of an assisted place (school year) £	Average cost of a maintained secondary school place (financial year) £
1981–82	1,098	1,010
1982–83	1,267	1,100
1983–84	1,303	1,190
1984–85	1,482	1,270
1985–86	1,603	n.a.
1986–87	¹ 1,751	n.a.
¹ Estimated.
n.a.—not available.

Mature Students

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that mature students who wish to take advantage of further education at a college of adult education are not prevented from doing so by lack of qualifications on grounds of non-employment over the previous three years or their earnings being less than £12,000 in the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.

The conditions referred to by the hon. Member are those determining the eligibility of mandatory award holders for the older students' allowance. They are being reviewed as part of the annual review of the grant regulations. Mature students at long term residential colleges of adult education are eligible for bursaries which are calculated on the same basis as mandatory awards and any change in the conditions for allowance for mandatory award-holders will apply equally to students at these colleges of adult education.

Sacred Heart School, Battersea

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Battersea on 15 January, Official Report, column 261, when he now plans to reply to the letter of 8 December concerning Sacred Heart school, Trott street, Battersea, London.

I replied to the hon. Member on 4 February.

Scotland

Children (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has from the 1987 census as to the number and percentage of children in Scotland living in a household where the head of the household was unemployed.

This information is not available.

Woodlands

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Forestry Commission proposes to make any changes in the nature of the conditions attached to the granting of felling licences and plans of operation for private woodland owners; and if he will make a statement.

The Forestry Commission does not envisage making any such changes at present. The operation and effectiveness of the Government's broad-leaves policy will, however, be reviewed towards the end of 1988, which might lead to changes being made to the conditions of the broadleaved woodland grant scheme and the Forestry Commission's other grant schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that both oak and beech trees are included in the Forestry Commission's main forest health survey for 1987.

The Forestry Commission intends to expand the 1987 forest health survey to include oak. Beech has already been included in the surveys and will continue to be covered.

Food Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the arrangements for distributing food from European Economic Community stores to needy people in East Lothian, including the type and quantity of food, its value, the organisations involved in distribution, provisions for handling and transport, the categories and numbers of people eligible to receive the food and arrangements for advising people of their entitlement.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. and learned Friend on 30 January to the Member for Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) and would add that the food is to be given to needy people whose resources have been further stretched by the recent extremely cold weather; lists of such people, and publicity about the distribution, are being organised by the charitable organisations throughout Scotland at local level.

Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the difference, in both percentage and cash terms, between the rate poundage multiplied by the rateable value of domestic property in Scotland after allowing for relevant relief from rates, and the actual amount of domestic rates collected by local authorities; and if he will give a comparable estimate of the efficiency of the proposed system of community charges.

The information requested about the actual amount collected as domestic rates is not available. Estimates of the effect of the proposed community charge have used the working assumption that the yield of the community charge will be broadly equivalent to the yield of the domestic rate.

Health Service

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of staff employed by the National Health Service in Scotland expressed as whole-time equivalents as well as actual full-time and part-time numbers.

The information requested as at 31 March 1986 is shown in the table below:

NHS Staff and Practitioners—Scotland All Staff March 1986
	Numbers
Whole-time	97,185
Part-time	53,588
Whole-time equivalent	128,786

Notes:

1. The table includes the number of general practitioners (see also note 3) and excludes agency nurses.

2. Figures quoted for 31 March 1986 include medical and dental staff and general practitioners as at September 1985.

3. Hospital Medical and Dental Staff: the grades limited specialist,

Average available staffed beds by specialty—September 1979 to 1986¹
Specialty	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
ALL SPECIALTIES	58,501	58,205	58,030	57,442	57,294	57,216	56,334	55,976
ACUTE SPECIALTIES	18,908	18,851	18,121	18,354	18,164	17,927	17,589	17,408
General surgery	3,873	3,901	3,859	3,780	3,789	3,797	3,715	3,669
Orthopaedic surgery	2,749	2,758	2,756	2,673	2,775	2,780	2,750	2,747
ENT surgery	703	720	725	706	651	674	660	633
Ophthalmology	531	529	535	505	522	536	540	527
Urology	461	456	456	463	463	469	474	485
Orthodontics and paediatric dentistry	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Oral surgery and oral medicine	67	70	70	66	71	81	85	83
Restorative dentistry	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
General medicine²	4,824	4,844	4,840	4,839	4,912	4,869	4,897	4,920
Dermatology	326	329	319	311	292	292	283	274
Rehabilitation medicine	93	97	99	123	112	98	98	98
Convalescent	518	466	434	427	379	202	75	75
Respiratory medicine	1,034	1,031	1,009	959	760	706	609	581
Paediatric surgery	332	325	318	311	313	312	303	284
Paediatric medicine	649	627	625	623	614	624	617	606
Gynaecology	1,306	1,318	1,294	1,204	1,201	1,250	1,203	1,181
GP acute	992	987	1,003	996	996	988	1,002	1,003
Acute mixed	306	278	262	253	196	172	188	178
Other³	144	115	117	115	118	77	91	65
SUPRA AREA SPECIALTIES	1,278	1,316	1,313	1,229	1,251	1,319	1,341	1,332
Neurosurgcry	235	241	244	239	231	245	263	265
Cardiothoracic surgery	270	277	281	211	227	240	244	241
Plastic surgery	306	314	308	295	299	293	293	289
Neurology	140	160	162	163	162	165	164	160
Radiotherapy	327	324	318	321	320	324	325	325
Spinal paralysis	—	—	—	—	12	52	52	52
OSTETRIC SPECIALTIES	2,750	2,689	2,679	2,644	2,665	2,633	2,563	2,506
Specialist obstetrics	2,226	2,218	2,246	2,210	2,214	2,212	2,192	2,139
GP Obstetrics	524	471	433	434	451	421	371	367
LONG-STAY SPECIALTIES	9,901	10,136	10,360	10,518	10,777	11,094	11,076	11,120
Geriatric assessment	2,395	2,392	2,332	2,272	2,282	2,300	2,403	2,456
Geriatric long-stay	7,147	7,371	7,663	7,874	8,119	8,400	8,287	8,287
Young chronic sick	359	373	365	372	376	394	386	377
PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTIES	17,358	17,040	16,836	16,646	16,466	16,500	16,307	16,177
Mental illness	14,941	14,127	13,799	13,518	13,232	12,790	12,372	12,186
Psychogeriatrics	2,231	2,742	2,871	2,961	3,061	3,527	3,765	3,830
Child psychiatry	122	107	102	103	102	104	94	85
Adolescent psychiatry	64	64	64	64	71	79	76	76
MENTAL HANDICAP	6,697	6,617	6,612	6,551	6,479	6,255	6,016	5,999
SPECIAL CATEGORIES	1,610	1,556	1,509	1,500	1,494	1,488	1,443	1,433
Communicable diseases	696	630	594	573	554	539	510	505
Special care baby unit	628	626	621	619	608	597	580	575
Intensive therapy unit	132	137	138	151	161	171	166	166
Accident and emergency	154	163	156	157	171	181	187	188
Clinical genetics	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

hospital practitioners, para 94 appointment and para 107 appointment are included. Many staff in these grades hold general practice contracts and are therefore double counted (see note 1). The table excludes locums in hospital or general practice.

4. Data include all honorary medical and dental appointments. These are given a standard weighting. Honorary consultants and community grades have a national commitment of 7 sessions or 7/11 WTE. Junior grades are included as 6/10 WTE.

5. Maximum part-time contracts (ie 10 sessions) are counted as 1·0 WTE.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of available beds in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland for each year since 1979, expressed as totals and by speciality.

The information is set out below:

¹ Data refers to March for 1986.

² General medicine includes: Cardiology, Metabolic diseases, Gastroenterology, Poisons, Nephrology, Rheumatology, STD, Medical oncology, Haematology, Homeopathy, TB non-respiratory.

³ Other includes: Staff wards and unallocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many National Health Service hospitals have been closed in Scotland; and what is the total bed loss as a result of these closures for each year since 1979.

The information for complete hospital closures is set out below. It excludes partial hospital closures and hospitals where there has been a change of use, records for which are not held centrally.

Year	Number of hospitals	Number of beds
1979	7	315
1980	3	103
1981	3	101
1982	3	222
1983	4	173
1984	4	103
1985	3	188
1986	8	828

Safety Glass

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with regard to the inclusion in building regulations of the increased use of safety glass in doors and windows; and if he will make a statement.

Requirements for safety glass in doors and low level glazing were included in proposals which were the subject of public consultation last year. They received a general welcome and are being developed in more detail for further consultation this spring as part of the reformed Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations.

Forestry Commission

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 351, if he will account for the difference between his estimates of the number employed in Scotland by the Forestry Commission on private estates and in forestry management companies, with those provided by the Forestry Commission in its publication, "Forestry Facts and Figures 1985–86".

The estimated figures quoted in "Forestry Facts and Figures 1985–86" have been substantially revised, following a major survey of employment in forestry and the wood-processing industries undertaken by the Forestry Commission in conjunction with the private sector. This is the first comprehensive survey of this nature to be carried out for a number of years.

Dinoseb

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the National Farmers' Union of Scotland concerning the ban on the use of Dinoseb, and the implications for the Scottish raspberry crop; and if he will make a statement.

The National Farmers' Union of Scotland has made strong representations to my right hon. and learned Friend about the potentially serious commercial consequences for Scottish raspberry production of the suspension of approval for the use of Dinoseb.The matter will be considered by the advisory committee on pesticides at its meeting on 12 February 1987.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

South Africa

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the South African Government concerning detained trades unionists in the Media Workers Association of South Africa and the Paper, Wood and Allied Workers Union; and if he will make a statement.

We have made representations about all detentions without charge under the state of emergency. This was done most recently on 19 December 1986 when, on behalf of the Twelve, Her Majesty's ambassador expressed our grave concern at growing evidence of serious abuses of human rights in South Africa including detentions.

Diplomatic Immunity

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 January, on how many occasions in each of the last five years Her Majesty's Government have acceded to a request that a person outside the normal categories should be regarded as having diplomatic status; if he will list the persons and countries involved; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 January, if he will now provide a breakdown by country of the 77 traffic offences by drivers of cars with diplomatic registration; in how many of these cases casualties were involved; what is Her Majesty's Government's policy toward making it a condition of the continued stay in the United Kingdom of diplomats who commit drinking and driving offences, that they should undertake to refrain from driving for the remainder of their period of accreditation; and if he will make a statement.

Injury was involved in nine of the cases referred to in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 27 January.We require the removal of any diplomat who commits a second alleged drunken driving offence, or after the first if it is aggravated by violence or injury to a third party.If a diplomat is allowed to remain in this country after a reported first offence we do not require him to undertake to refrain from driving. Any such undertaking could not be enforced.

Environment

Local Authority Contracts (Conditions)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to introduce legislation to prevent local authorities from imposing political conditions on contracts with businesses.

As soon as possible this Session.

Homeless Persons

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless people were housed by local authorities under the provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 in each of the past three years.

The following table gives the totals of secure and non-secure tenancies in local authority dwellings, lettings under the national mobility scheme, and nominations to housing association and new town tenancies for homeless households in the priority need categories:

	Numbers
1983–84	52,200
1984–85	56,800
1985–86	66,200

The remaining households accepted by local authorities as homeless in these years were of course, also found some kind of accommodation.

Docklands

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate for the total yearly spending of public money in (a) London docklands and (b) Liverpool docklands.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Urban Development Corporations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of total spending until 1990, by each financial year, on urban development corporations; and how much of that money is attributable to reductions in rate support grant settlement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Homes (Radon Levels)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the highest known level of radon in any dwelling in the Truro constituency; what is the calculated annual effective dose equivalent associated with such a level; what number of dwellings in the Truro constituency have been found to have radon levels above the 20 millisievert action level; what funds are available for remedial building work on such dwellings; and if he will make a statement;(2) further to his statement on 27 January,

Official Report, columns 189–90, concerning radon levels in houses, what estimates are available to his Department of the likely total costs of remedial building relating to the 20

millisievert action level for (a) owner-occupiers in Cornwall and (b) local authorities in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement;

(3) further to his statement on 27 January, Official Report, columns 189–90, concerning radon levels in houses, what are the terms under which the Government intend to offer financial assistance to owner-occupiers; what are the proposed limits of such financial assistance; when such assistance will first be available; and if he will make a statement;

(4) further to his statement on 27 January, Official Report, columns 189–90, concerning radon levels in houses, if he has any plans to offer further guidance on the advisability of a pregnant woman residing in a house where the annual dose from radon exceeds the 20 millisievert action level; what is the level of risk to a foetus or unborn child associated with such a level of exposure; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what information is available to his Department concerning any dwellings in Cornwall where advice has been given that a dwelling is unsafe for a pregnant woman due to naturally occurring radioactivity, either from radon gas or from other sources; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

Gypsies

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his conclusions on the review of gipsy sites policy carried out at the request of the Select Committee on the Environment.

The review has now been completed. A consultation process has been carried out and I have been assisted in analysing the responses by Professor Gerald Wibberley CBE, to whom I am most grateful, and whose report will he published. The Government have decided that there should be no amendment of the legislation at this stage, although we shall continue to keep the position under review. We have noted the wide acceptance that the duty on local authorities to provide caravan sites for gypsies should continue. No practical alternative solution to the problem has been proposed, although there is some scope for private sector provision, which will be encouraged. In all cases it is essential to do everything possible to allay local anxieties. Well-run gypsy sites, once established, seldom give cause for serious complaints.The total number of local authority sites had reached 236 at the beginning of 1986, affording a total of some 3,850 pitches. Further local authority sites have recently opened or are expected to open. In addition to these, the available information suggests that privately owned sites are capable of accommodating 2,000 or more gypsy caravans. This shows that much progress in site provision has already been made, nationally. But there remain perhaps as many as 3,000 gypsy families for whom authorised sites are not available: so more sites are still needed. A total of £5 million has been reserved in the current financial year to provide grants to authorities developing sites.There has been criticism of the controls available in designated areas. The Government see the powers stemming from designation as an essential adjunct to the duty to provide sites but recognise their serious consequences for gypsies. It is important that the criteria for designation should be strictly applied. In particular, I require convincing reasons for designation where an authority has made less than adequate provision. The machinery for considering applications for designation is being updated to ensure that representations are fully taken into account.Authorities with early aspirations to designation are also asked to recognise the desirability of keeping more frequent records of gypsy numbers and movements than the national returns can provide.Proper identification of the number of gypsies who reside in or resort to an area is vital. I am arranging for the gypsy sites policy branch in the Department to be strenghthened. An early priority will be to examine how information on gypsy numbers could be improved to provide better targets for site provision and better measures of progress in meeting them. The Department will continue to help undesignated authorities to clarify the number of sites needed and within what time scale.Interpretation of the statutory definition of gypsies is also crucial. The local authorities have generally been able to decide who meets the statutory definition but there is increasing concern that it may extend to members of other groups. Each case has to be looked at separately on its merits. In order to qualify it must be shown that there is a nomadic habit of life, that a pattern of residing in or resorting to a particular area has been established, and that the requirement is for a pitch for a caravan. A sensible approach would be to look for evidence of regular and repeated patterns of gypsy movements, bearing in mind also their characteristic types of occupation and their need to travel to carry on their work. We shall examine the scope for further clarification of this issue in advice to local authorities.The scope for improvements in the grant regime is limited since it already meets 100 per cent. of the cost of site provision. It has been suggested that grant should be freed from capital expenditure control but the Government cannot agree to this since it weakens control over spending priorities. I accept, however, that the Department's cost guidelines should be published and I will arrange for this to be done. They will continue to be revised annually.It has proved difficult to find satisfactory solutions to the problem of long-distance and regional travellers. Progress continues to depend on the willingness of local authorities to find suitable locations for stopping places which can be designed to simpler standards than the settled sites needed by more locally based gypsies.There are possibilities for accommodating gypsies in conventional housing. Information from a departmental study of the opportunities for housing suggests that, allowing for the numbers who return to a travelling life style, there are some gypsies (perhaps 75 families a year) who adapt successfully to conventional housing. The Government believe that conventional housing, on a selective and voluntary basis, can contribute usefully to meeting the needs of gypsy families and I am arranging for the departmental research to be published as a guide to local authorities.Private sites for gypsies already make a substantial contribution: probably more than 2,000 caravans are on private sites at present. The need for gypsy sites will continue to be a material consideration when local authorities or the Secretary of State arc considering planning applications or appeals. I urge gypsies to recognise the importance of getting planning permission before purchasing land and to co-operate with district councils to identify sites which might be suitable. In turn I hope that district councils will recognise, as some have already done, that their development control policies need to take account of the serious need for gypsy sites. It is not intended to widen the Exchequer grant scheme to include private sites, but there are already experiments on sale or leasing of Exchequer grant-aided sites to private ownership or management. Such initiatives will be encouraged.Much progress has been made, but the main task remains the provision of properly serviced sites as quickly as possible. The Government believe that this is the most important contribution that can be made to resolving the difficulties that can arise between gypsies and other sections of the population.

London Boroughs (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has of the total spending by London borough councils in each of the past five years on (a) police monitoring units (b) women's support units, (c) ethnic minority policies and (d) gay and lesbian policy initiatives.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 February 1987]: I regret that published local authority accounts are not kept in such a way that precise totals under these headings can be identified.

Forests (Damage)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will require the Forestry Commission to expend its annual forest health survey as a result of the adoption, on 17 November 1986, of EEC regulation 3528/86, in order to provide a periodic inventory of damage caused to forests by atmospheric pollution.

I have been asked to reply.The aim of the Community scheme introduced by EEC regulation 3528/86 is to establish, on the basis of common methods, a periodic inventory of damage caused to forests, in particular by atmospheric pollution.The EEC forest protection committee set up under this regulation will shortly discuss the gathering, the nature and the comparability of the inventory data. Any changes to the Foresty Commission's forest health surveys will await the outcome of these Community-level discussions.

Home Department

Police (Road Traffic Duties)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for reports from chief constables into what proportion of police effort in terms of hours worked was devoted to road traffic duties in the last 12 months;(2) if he will call for reports from chief constables as to what proportion of police establishment was devoted to road traffic duties in the last 12 months.

I gave the information that is available about the proportion of police resources devoted to road traffic duties in the reply which I gave to the hon.

Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 5 February. Information on the hours worked on road traffic duties is not available.

Racial Attacks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why statistics on racial attacks are not published or made available to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

These statistics are not collated centrally. I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 4 of the Government reply to the third report from the Home Affairs Committee, Session 1985–86 (Cm. 45).

Police (Manchester)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester; and what was discussed.

On Thursday 29 January, with other senior officers of the Association of Chief Police Officers. Matters of mutual concern to the Home Department and the police service were discussed.

Pre-Trial Detention

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time spent on remand or custody awaiting trial during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The available information is published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 2(a) of the latest issue, for 1985, Cmnd. 9903). Corresponding figures for 1986 are not yet available.

Anti-Smoking Protest (Seizure)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the seizure of a briefcase and bag containing personal articles, food, correspondence and his bed from Stuart Holmes outside the Mirror Group offices in Holborn at about 8 pm on Wednesday 28 January, during the course of his antismoking protest.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police for the City of London that Mr. Holmes' possessions were not seized. Mr. Holmes refused to take them with him and so they were taken to Snow Hill police station for safe keeping where they are now awaiting his collection.

Teenage Gambling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an investigation into the extent of teenage gambling in amusement arcades and its implications.

We keep the law on amusement arcades under review. We are considering at present whether, as part of this process of review, we should initiate a study of the extent to which young people use amusement arcades and the implications of this for the young people concerned.

Life Sentences

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently serving life sentences in Her Majesty's prisons for a conviction of two or more murders.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 January 1987, c. 342]: Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. According to the records held centrally on 31 December 1985, the latest date for which figures are available, about 120 persons serving sentences for murder in prison department establishments in England and Wales were convicted for the murder, or were recorded as suspected of the homocide, of two or more persons.

Rape

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the number and location of rape crisis centres assisted from central funds in England and Wales;(2) whether he will list the amount and type of support his Department gives to rape crisis centres; and what change there has been in support for these centres since 1985.

I have been asked to reply.The Government recognise the need of rape victims for support and counselling. At local level various centres are funded by local authorities, as my predecessor explained in his replies to the hon. Member on 13 February 1986 at column

518 and 5 March 1986 at column 156. and nationally we continue to fund the London rape counselling and research project. Our support to the London centre is in recognition of the national promotional and publicity work it carries out in this field and the provision of advice and support to others setting up similar services elsewhere in the country. We do not hold centrally details of the other centres that exist, nor do we know the extent to which they receive financial support from public funds. Further information on centres in England and Wales can be obtained from the London centre at PO Box 69, London WC1X 9NJ.

Transport

Vehicle Testing

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in the volume of testing of heavy goods vehicles by the vehicle inspectorate between the current fiscal year and 1985–86.

The volumes for the current fiscal year to date and 1985–86 are as follows:

	1986–87 (April-December 1986)	1985–86 (Fiscal Year)
Motor vehicles
1st and Annual Tests	405,720	536,619
Re-tests	105,607	134,367
Trailers
1st and Annual Tests	161,808	214,815

1986–87 (April-December 1986)

1985–86 (Fiscal Year)

Re-tests

29,696

38,236

Total

702,831

924,037

Compared to the same period in 1985–86 there has been a slight overall reduction of 0·3 per cent. in the volumes of HGV tests conducted.

M1 (Lighting)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the completion of Stockbridge bypass, he will now have lighting installed at junctions 36 and 37 on the M1.

The Stockbridge to M1 route is not due for completion until spring 1988. Junction 37 on the M1 near Dodworth is already lit. Junction 36 is not lit but the matter will be kept under regular review to take account of any change in conditions. The roundabout serving the new junction between junctions 35 and 36 will be lit.

St Christopher Motorists' Security Association Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the St. Christopher Motorists' Security Association Ltd; and what assessment he has made of the implication of the activities of this company for the aims of his Department's campaigns to persuade people not to drink and drive.

A number of hon. Members and others have expressed concern about insurance schemes which provide alternative transport for those disqualified from driving following conviction for road traffic offences. I view such schemes with distaste. I do not believe that their existence undermines the law or our efforts to persuade people not to drink and drive. However readily an offender may have access to alternative transport, nothing can adequately compensate for the loss of ability to drive.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (Spray)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that equipment fitted to heavy goods vehicles to reduce spray meets the current British Standard Institute's standard and that these standards are monitored.

Regulations require spray suppression equipment to meet the British Standard BS AU200. Starting later this year spray equipment will be examined as part of the annual inspection of heavy goods vehicles.

A34 (Underpasses)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the most recent estimate of the cost of providing underpasses or a combination of underpasses and overhead structures to separate local from through traffic on the A34 at Newbury.

The estimate of £30 million for a continuous underpass given in reply to my hon. Friend on 22 January 1987 was prepared in 1979. The cost of a combination of an underpass and overhead structures was estimated at about £18 million in 1982. For the purpose of comparison with the proposed western bypass some £8 million at 1982 prices would have to be added to both estimates for the improvement of the A34 south of Newbury.No more recent estimates are available. Current costs are likely to be substantially higher.

Newbury (Western Bypass)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis compensation for those whose properties will be affected by the western bypass around Newbury will be settled.

Compensation for property acquired under compulsory powers would be assessed in accordance with the statutory compensation code. Compensation would be broadly on the basis of open market value at the date of entry disregarding any depreciation caused as a result of the new road. Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 provides for compensation for depreciation in value of property where no land is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the latest estimates for building a western bypass round Newbury; and how long he expects such a construction to take.

The current estimate of the cost of the western bypass is about £29 million. Timing of construction would depend on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures. It is unlikely to start before 1990 at the earliest. The work would take about two years to complete.

Road Construction Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of constructing a length of single carriageway 1 mile long.

Information in the form requested was last published in March 1985 when the average cost of constructing a length of single carriageway road 1 mile long was calculated to be about £1 million.Construction costs of roads vary substantially depending on factors such as location and the need for structures. In view of this, the Department no longer prepares information in the form of average construction cost per mile.

Nuclear Fuel Flasks

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the specific types of accident in relation to which the regulations governing fuel flasks in transit outside nuclear sites provide for emergency plans; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with the guidance in the IAEA Advisory Material for the Application of the IAEA Transport Regulations (Safety Series 37), (a copy is held in the Library) emergency plans are designed to cover a broad range of accidents, rather than specific scenarios.

Since irradiated fuel transport flasks are designed to withstand severe accidents, the risks arising from such accidents are likely to be low.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what records are made of any accidents, incidents or untoward occurrences involving a flask containing spent nuclear fuel outside nuclear sites; what arrangements are in force for Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate to be notified of any such accidents; what arc the reporting criteria for such notifications; and if he will make a statement.

Accidents and incidents occurring outside nuclear sites are not matters for Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate. The Department keeps records of accidents and incidents that are statutorily reportable under the criteria laid down in the following regulations.

Road—The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974 and Amendment Regulations 1985 (SI 1974 No. 1735 and 1985 No.1729).

The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Northern Ireland) 1983 and Amendment Regulations 1986 (SR 1983 No. 344 and 1986 No. 61).

Rail—Notice of Accidents Order 1986 (SI 1986 No. 2187) and Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 2223).

Sea—Merchant Shipping (Safety Officials and Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982 No. 876).

Kingston Bagpuize Bypass

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the draft line orders and side route orders in respect of the bypass at Kingston Bagpuize in Oxfordshire.

I hope that it will be possible to publish the draft orders this summer.

M6 (Drainage)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is considering any improvements to the drainage system of the M6 elevated section at Birmingham.

No. The drainage system is cleaned and repaired as a matter of routine maintenance.

M3-M27 Link

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the state of progress of the motorway link between the M3 and M27.

My right hon. Friends are considering the inspector's report following the 1985 inquiry and representations received subsequently. I hope that it will be possible to make an announcement in the spring.

Social Services

Drugs

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent on research programmes on drug-taking in the last calendar year for which figures are available.

During 1985, £234,000 was spent in England and Wales on centrally-funded research into the health and social services aspects of drug misuse. This includes £141,000 spent on researching and evaluating a national campaign of education and information.I understand that the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science, is also funding research on addictions.

Nhs (Hospitals)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service hospitals have been opened in England; and what has been the bed gain as a result of these openings, for each year since 1979.

Information held centrally relates to specific building schemes rather than to whole hospitals. The beds provided in schemes costing over £1 million completed in each year since 1979 are as follows:

Year	Schemes	Beds
1979	3	1,521
1980	8	2,198
1981	10	2,146
1982	16	2,553
1983	47	4,334
1984	45	2,712
1985	49	1,696
1986	39	3,310

The numbers of beds replaced by these new facilities is not readily available, but insomuch as they provide a better care environment for patients and more productive and effective working conditions for staff there is a net gain to the National Health Service.

Health Education Authority

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 12 January, Official Report, column 105 when he plans to make his announcement on the appointment of members of the proposed Health Education Authority.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

Diabetics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is able to announce his conclusions into the review of present policy on the availability of free disposable needles and syringes in the National Health Service to diabetics.

This is still under review.

Perinatal Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the perinatal mortality rate for each Thames region and for East Anglia for each year from 1983 to the latest available figure.

The information is given in the table.

Number of perinatal deaths (stillbirths and deaths in first week of life) and rale per 1,000 total live and stillbirths for East Anglian and Thames Regional Health Authorities (RHA), 1983 to 1985
	1983		1984		1985
Area of usual residence	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
East Anglian RHA	215	9·3	213	8·9	241	9·8
North West Thames RHA	395	8·6	420	9·0	435	9·1
North East Thames RHA	496	9·9	499	9·7	488	9·3
South East Thames RHA	451	10·2	473	10·5	450	9·5
South West Thames RHA	327	9·4	302	8·6	340	9·3

Neonatal Care

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which regional health authorities have instituted share-care to provide intensive care for neonates; and how many schemes exist in each region.

Information is not held centrally showing which regions have instituted "share-care" to provide intensive care for neonates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to provide financial incentives for nurses willing to train and to acquire the skills needed to care for the distressed new unborn.

I have asked regional health authorities what steps they are taking to overcome the problem of staff shortages in the specialty of neonatal care.

Obstetric Care

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which regions are unable to provide full emergency obstetric cover outside hospital; and which districts are unable to provide such cover;(2) which regions are able to provide for all commitments to delivery suites in their hospitals when an obstetrician is required;(3) which regions can provide in all their districts emergency anaesthetic and paediatric care;(4) which regions have now set up neonatal intensive care units in line with the recommendations of the Social Services Committee in 1980 and 1984.

The following information was provided by Regional Health Authorities in reply to a questionnaire issued by the Department in October 1985.

(a) Regions and districts which were unable to provide full emergency obstetric care outside hospital—

Region	District
Yorkshire	Scarborough
East Anglian	Peterborough
North East Thames	City and Hackney North East Sussex Basildon and Thurrock
South West Thames	North West Surrey
South Western	North Devon Somerset Torbay
West Midlands	Bromsgrove and Redditch
Mersey	Southport and Formby

(b) Regions able to provide for all commitments to delivery suites in their hospitals when an obstetrician was requested—

Trent

(c) Regions able to provide in all their districts emergency anaesthetic and paediatric care—

Trent, East Anglian, Oxford and Mersey

(d) Regions which have set up neonatal intensive care units in line with the recommendations of the Select Committee in 1980 and 1984—

This information is not readily available. Regional Health Authorities are currently developing strategies for the provision of neonatal intensive care in line with the principles enunciated by the Maternity Service Advisory Committee.

Progress in implementing the recommendations of the Maternity Services Advisory Committee will continue to be monitored.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many neonatal nurses have left the National Health Service for work in the private sector since 1979.

I regret that information of this nature is not collected centrally.

Perinatal Pathology Departments

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which regions perinatal pathology departments have been set up, distinct from paediatric pathology.

Volume 109: debated on Friday 6 February 1987

Written Answers Toquestions

Wales

Historic Buildings And Ancient Monuments

Industrial Assistance

Regional Aid

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Cash Limits And Running Costs

Attorney-General

Land Registry, Gloucester

State Security

Cash Limits

Bail Applications

Employment

Technical And Vocational Education Initiative

Wages

Wages Councils

Labour Statistics

Job Training Scheme

House Of Commons

Westminster Hall

Prime Minister

Marine Environment

Regional Aid

Energy

Homes Insulation

Severn Barrage

Ncb Homes

Trade And Industry

Rover Group

Timeshare Properties

Licensed Security Trading

Bankruptcies (Wales)

Textile Workers

Regional Aid

Industrial Moves

Financial Aid

Brewing And Distilling

The Arts

Cash Limit

National Finance

Ec Budget

Land And Buildings Sales

Vat

Stamp Duty

Tax Cuts

Premium Bonds

Television Sets

United Nations International Years

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Pollution

Milk Powder Exports

Wine

Libya

Food And Wine Expenditure

Agriculture And Surplus Management

Horses (Botulism)

Food Aid

Education And Science

Museums (Entrance Charges)

Higher Education Expenditure

O-Level Passes

Assisted Places Scheme

Mature Students

Sacred Heart School, Battersea

Scotland

Children (Statistics)

Woodlands

Food Aid

Rates

Health Service

Safety Glass

Forestry Commission

Dinoseb

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

South Africa

Diplomatic Immunity

Environment

Local Authority Contracts (Conditions)