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Written Answers

Volume 135: debated on Monday 13 June 1988

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

Written Answers To Questions

Monday 13 June 1988

Home Department

Health And Safety Legislation (Prosecutions)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to raise the maximum penalty in the magistrates' court for prosecutions under the health and safety legislation.

Terrorism

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts 1974, 1976 and 1984 were subsequently convicted on the basis of confession evidence only; and how many of those convictions were contested by the defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many times access to a solicitor has been delayed under section 58(13) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to individuals being held in police custody under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 since I January 1986; and for how long;(2) how many times section 56(11) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 has been invoked since 1 January 1986 to delay action to inform a relative, friend or person interested in the welfare of an individual being held in police custody under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, and for how long.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Sunday Trading

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will list the occasions on which he has met Sir Basil Feldman since 1 January and discussed Sunday trading deregulation;(2) on what occasions his departmental officials have met Sir Basil Feldman since 1 January; and which officials were in attendance at these meetings;(3) what information was available to his Department before it agreed to meet Sir Basil Feldman, concerning the nature of his fiancial involvement in the campaign for Sunday trading deregulation; and whether he will make a statement;(4) whether he will make it his policy to refuse to meet persons involved in the campaign for the deregulation of Sunday trading who are contracted to receive success fees in relation to that campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Basil Feldman called on me on 25 January and on my right hon. Friend on 25 May to discuss Sunday trading. Private secretaries and officials concerned with this issue were present on each occasion. Officials have not otherwise met Sir Basil Feldman except at a conference organised by him on 17 February, which I also attended. Sir Basil Feldman has informed my right hon. Friend that his involvement in the Sunday trading campaign is voluntary and that he is under no contract to receive either a fee or a success-related fee in connection with the campaign.

Mr Stuart Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the South Yorkshire constabulary as to when the Sheffield police will return to Mr. Stuart Holmes his extendable banner, seized outside the Crucible theatre during the world professional snooker championships; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the chief constable of South Yorkshire police that the banner is being retained for evidential purposes and will be returned to Mr. Holmes when the legal proceedings are complete.

Police Complaints Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to grant the Police Complaints Authority powers to carry out itself the investigation of serious allegations against police officers.

No. My right hon. Friend is not persuaded of the need to extend the powers already possessed by the Police Complaints Authority, to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 18 May, at column 462.

Sex Discrimination Act

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will bring forward legislation to amend the Sex Discrimination Act to bring private clubs with both male and female members within the scope of the Act.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) on 14 March, at columns 422–23.

Endangered Species

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions involving wildlife trade have been taken under (a) the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1985, (b) the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and (c) the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979; and in each case what penalties were imposed.

Records available to me for 1986, which may be incomplete, show no prosecutions under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1985 and one prosecution under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 which resulted in a conviction and a fine of £600. The number of prosecutions under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 which involved wildlife is not available separately.

Neighbourhood Watch Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes there were in the Chelmsford local authority area in each year from 1982 to the latest available year.

I understand from the chief constable of Essex police that at the end of 1987 there were 160 neighbourhood watch schemes in the Chelmsford police sub-division, the boundary of which is roughly conterminous with that of Chelmsford borough council. The first scheme in Chelmsford was established in October 1984. There were seven schemes at the end of 1984, 49 at the end of 1985 and 108 at the end of 1986.

Member's Representations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects that the private office of the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton), will respond to the telephone query of the hon. Member for Stretford of 6 June and the subsequent telephone calls of the hon. Member concerning the case of the passports of Mr. S. A. H. (Home Office Ref. Nos. H209976 and H 392426) and of his relation Mrs. A. B.

My Private Office supplied the information requested by the hon. Member on 10 June.

Police Interviews (Tape Recording)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue a code of practice on the tape recording of police interviews with suspects, in accordance with section 60(1)(a) and section 67 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

In accordance with sections 60(1)(a) and 67(3) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, I have today laid before Parliament a draft code of practice on the tape recording of police interviews with suspects at police stations.The draft code published today has been produced after extensive consultations, but publication affords an opportunity for me to consider any further representations about the draft, which should reach my Department by 11 July.The Act provides for the code to be brought into operation by an order made by statutory instrument and approved by both Houses of Parliament. I propose to lay such an order before each House as soon as possible after 11 July.After the code has come into operation it will need to be applied in separate orders to particular police force areas. It is my intention to make the necessary orders, under section 60(1)(b) of the 1984 Act, in relation to individual police force areas, or parts thereof, when chief officers, in consultation with other agencies in the criminal justice system, have made satisfactory arrangements for the tape recording of interviews in the areas to be covered by the order. The effect of such an order will be to require the tape recording of interviews with persons suspected of specified offences in accordance with the provisions of the code. But police forces may proceed with arrangements for tape recording in advance of an order applying to their area, and most forces are already doing so.

Education And Science

Departmental Staff(Education)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the proportion of senior civil servants in his Department who were educated in (a) private schools and (b) state schools.

One third of the Department's staff at grade 3 and above attended state schools and two thirds attended private schools.

Gcse

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to review the current standards and administration of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement.

The Secondary Examinations Council (SEC) and the GCSE examining groups are collaborating to review experience of the first GCSE examinations this summer and to make any necessary improvements quickly. My right hon. Friend looks to the SEC and its intended successor body, the School Examinations and Assessment Council, to report on the outcome of the review by the end of this year, and to recommend changes as necessary.

Higgingson Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the Higgingson report; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 7 June, at column 436, to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey), in which he announced the publication of the report.

School Leavers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of 16-year-olds leave school at the first legal opportunity.

The proportion of pupils aged 16 at the end of August 1986 in England that had left school by January 1987 was 70·5 per cent.

Derbyshire (Expenditure)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will meet a deputation from Derbyshire county council to discuss its education capital expenditure for 1988–89 to 1990–91;(2) how many requests he has received from Derbyshire county council to discuss its education capital expenditure for 1988–89 to 1990–91.

My right hon. Friend has received one substantive request. A meeting has been arranged for 27 June.

Head Teachers (Early Retirement)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates have been made of the cost of early retirement of head teachers during 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's expenditure plans for 1988–89, set out in Cm. 288, provide for spending of £80 million on the costs of premature retirement compensation in the schools sector. The costs of early retirement of head teachers cannot be separately identified within this sum. Detailed plans for 1989–90 have yet to be settled.

Irish Citizens

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland are attending United Kingdom universities and colleges of higher education.

In 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 1,042 students from the Irish Republic on higher education courses in the United Kingdom.

Teacher Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evaluation studies will be carried out on the bursary schemes for initial teacher training in shortage subjects; what are his targets for the proportion of persons in receipt of such bursaries to take up a first appointment in the maintained sector; and if he will make a statement.

An evaluation of the bursary scheme is being carried out by Bath university school of education as part of a review of the major Government initiatives introduced to combat teacher shortage. A summary of phase 1 of the review, which was completed this spring, will be published this month and a copy will be placed in the Library.The evaluation confirmed that the bursary has made an important contribution to the increased numbers of students entering initial teacher training in the shortage subjects.All those in receipt of the bursary have to sign an undertaking that they intend to teach in the maintained sector on qualification and we expect all those who satisfactorily complete their training to do so.

Mr Paul Gray (Letters)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is undertaking a leak inquiry into the leaking of the briefing given to him by civil servants about leak inquiries relating to the unauthorised disclosure of a letter from Mr. Paul Gray to Mr. Tom Jeffrey, regarding educational testing, in relation to questions for answer on 17 May from the hon. Members for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) and for Linlithgow.

All unauthorised disclosures of information are investigated by whatever means seem appropriate.

Education Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from schools in the north-west in response to his proposal that state schools should be permitted to opt out of local authority control.

All individual schools which have approached the Department have done so on the basis that their interest will be treated in confidence.

Senior School Population

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his latest estimates of numbers of 19-year-olds still at school.

In January 1987 the number of pupils aged 19 and over in school was 2,707.

"The Bangladeshis In Britain"

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for the document published by his Department "The Bangladeshis in Britain" to be made available in Bengali; and if he will make a statement.

"Bangladeshis in Britain" was not published by my Department. It was a report of the Home Affairs Committee in the 1986–87 Session.

Technological Studies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his assessment of the effect which the proposed technological studies course will have, if implemented, on the standard of technical drawing and on the number of students qualified in technical drawing.

With the introduction of technology as a foundation subject in the national curriculum, all pupils will be introduced to the principles and practice of good design, the application of theoretical knowledge to practical problems and, within that context, the practical craft, design and communication skills needed for realising their designs in a range of materials. My right hon. Friend believes this will increase the opportunities for students to obtain qualifications in all aspects of design and technology and provide a sounder foundation for the development of specialised skills such as technical drawing.

City Technology Colleges

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of any proposals or plans for a city technology college in Sunderland.

My right hon. Friend has as yet received no proposals to establish a city technology college in Sunderland. If there is support in industry and in the local community for doing so he would be pleased to consider any proposals which are put forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount of public funds payable to the City Technology Colleges Trust for each year since its establishment; what grant is planned for future years; for what purpose this grant is payable; and what proportion the grant represents of the total income of the City Technology College Trust for each year.

Grant is being paid to the City Technology College Trust to support work in obtaining premises for CTCs and in briefing prospective sponsors. It is envisaged that the trust will also provide support for individual CTC bodies, for example, in curriculum and staff development. If so, the Department is prepared to make a temporary contribution to the cost of these activities.I envisage that grants to the trust for these purposes will not exceed £200,000 over the next three years, including the current financial year, and that the amount of grant will be limited to a maximum of two thirds of the trust's total relevant expenditure. The trust has secured money from private sources to meet the balance. The trust has submitted claims totalling £20,140 in respect of the financial year 1987–88 and is expected to submit claims totalling £90,000 in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list respectively, how many officials at what grade, and at what estimated cost (a) comprise his Department's city technology college unit, (b) work outside this unit but in respect of city technology colleges, (c) work on the abolition of the Inner London education authority and (d) work on grant maintained schools.

(a) The city technology colleges unit comprises:

  • 1 Grade 5
  • 1 Grade 5 HMI for approximately ⅔ of his time
  • 2 Grade 7s
  • 1 Higher Executive Officer
  • 1 Executive Officer
  • 2 Personal Secretaries
  • 1 Administrative Officer
The unit's salary cost is currently about £14,000 per month.

(b) Staff in the architects and building branch are working on design and refurbishment of buildings for CTCs. Currently this involves:

  • 0·75 Grade 6
  • 1 Grade 7
  • 4 Senior Professional and Technology Officers
  • 1 Administrative Officer

This level of commitment is recent and is likely to decline after the summer: the salary cost is currently about £11,000 per month.

(c) The team working on the abolition of ILEA currently comprises:

  • 0·75 Grade 5
  • 1·5 Grade 7
  • 1 Senior Executive Officer
  • 1 Higher Executive Officer (Development)
  • 2 Higher Executive Officers
  • 2 Executive Officers
  • 1·5 Administrative Officers
  • 1 Personal Secretary
  • 1 Typist
  • 1·5 Casual clerical support staff

I expect there to be a modest increase in the staffing of the team if and when the Education Reform Bill is enacted, but the staff salary costs are at present running at about £16,000 per month.

A considerable amount of the time of many other senior officials and their staffs within the Department is also devoted to matters arising from the abolition of the ILEA.

(d) The team currently working on grant-maintained schools comprises:

  • 0·33 Grade 5
  • 0·75 Grade 7
  • 1 Higher Executive Officer (Development)
  • 1 Executive Officer
  • 1 Administrative Assistant

The staff salary costs are about £6,000 per month.

Grant-Maintained Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science of what plans he is aware for the establishment of any trust or other body to support or encourage the development of grant-maintained schools; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards such trusts or bodies receiving finanical assistance from public funds.

I am aware that there are plans to establish an independent trust with the aim of supporting the development of grant-maintained schools. I welcome this initiative. If such a body were in due course to make an application to my Department for financial assistance towards specific activities intended to provide support or advice for schools which had acquired grant-maintained status, the Department would be prepared to consider it.

Student Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on the conclusion of the review of student finance and on when it will be published.

The student support review has not yet completed its work. The Government's proposals for the future of student support will be published in due course.

Universities (Expenditure)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give central Government spending on universities per head of university population since 1979 at constant prices, including planned expenditure per head for 1988–89 to 1990–91, together with the intake to universities of undergraduate students for each of these years.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: In the following table Government expenditure has been taken as University Grants Committee recurrent grant to universities in Great Britain plus home student fee income. Per capita figures for each financial year have been derived by dividing by full-time equivalent home student numbers. The figures are at constant 1986–87 prices as measured by the gross domestic product deflator. The full-time home undergraduate student intake shown relates to the corresponding academic year.

Government expenditure per studentNew Undergraduate entrants
£ (constant prices)000's
1979–805,42174·7
1980–815,77376·4
1981–825,58974·0
1982–835,79671·6
1983–845,83069·2

Government expenditure per student

New Undergraduate entrants

£ (constant prices)

000's

1984–855,79070·5
1985–865,60670·3
1986–875,55270·7
1987–8815,75372·0
1988–8915,82973·6
1989–9015,74175·7
1990–9115,62174·2

1 Based on estimated figures.

Average expenditure (£) per pupil

1

(Maintained, Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Schools—England)

Year

Teacher salaries

2

Seconded teacher salaries

Repair and maintained buildings

Text and library books

Educational equipment

3

School meals and milk

Cash terms

Real terms

Cash terms

Real terms

Cash terms

Real terms

Cash terms

Real terms

Cash terms

Real terms

Cash terms

Real terms

1979–8036561023n/an/a61014235084
1980–8147366623n/an/a71016234969
1981–825396912329377918235064
1982–8358670134344181021255363
1983–8462771645394591023265765
1984–8566572867414591025275965
1985–867167397741429926276062
1986–8780080011114848111132326464

1 Based on returns of expenditure to the Department of the Environment and of pupil numbers to the Department of Education and Science.

2 Excluding seconded teacher salaries.

3 Expenditure levels for different types of equipment are not available. The figures in the table show the overall expenditure on educational equipment.

Note: The case figures for the earlier years have been repriced to 1986–87 real terms using the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices) Deflator.

Village Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of (a) village schools closed since 1979 and (b) the capital spending on local authority schools falling within metropolitan areas, in each year since 1979 at constant prices.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: In the period from 1979 to 1987, 590 primary and 27 secondary schools in rural areas were approved for closure as a result of proposals published by local education authorities under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 which were either approved by my right hon. Friend or his predecessors or determined by the local education authorities. Local education authorities have a statutory duty to implement all such proposals which have been approved or determined.The gross capital expenditure on schools by metropolitan district councils (excluding Greater London) in England is as follows:

YearExpenditure at 1986–87
Prices (£000s)
11986–8782,350
1985–8696,242
1984–8597,639
1983–8499,278
1982–83107,628
1981–8286,268
1980–81129,475
1979–80124,297

Schools (Expenditure)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the average expenditure per pupil in local authority schools on (a) books, (b) scientific equipment, (c) computers, (d) sports facilities, (e) school meals and milk, (f) teachers, (g) in-service teachers training and (h) school buildings, at constant and current prices, for each year since 1979.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: The available information is set out in the following table:

1 Provisional.

Notes:

1 Figures for 1985–86 converted from outturn prices to 1986–87 prices using gross domestic product market prices deflator.

2 Source of information—Department of Environment capital outturn forms CO1.

Prime Minister

Scotland (Ministerial Visits)

To ask the Prime Minister to which Department is allocated the responsibility for publicity relating to (a) prime ministerial and (b) other ministerial visits to Scotland.

The prime responsibility for publicity in connection with prime ministerial and other ministerial visits to Scotland rests with the office or Department of the Minister concerned. Scottish information office provides valuable support.

Graffiti

To ask the Prime Minister what is her estimate of the cost of removing graffiti from all statues, vehicles, buildings, and other structures; and if she will make a statement.

Psychological Operations (Ministerial Responsibility)

To ask the Prime Minister which Minister in Her Majesty's Government is currently responsible for psychological operations activities in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain.

"Psychological operations" is a military term. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has primary responsibility for military questions.

President Reagan (Visit)

To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the visit to London by President Reagan on June 2; and what official gifts were given to the President.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: Since President Reagan came on 2 June as a special visitor rather than as a guest of Her Majesty's Government, the Americans were responsible for most of the costs. Her Majesty's Government's expenditure amounted to about £14,600.

Overseas Development

Ethiopia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about United Kingdom contributions of aid to Ethiopia during the last five years.

United Kingdom public expenditure on aid to Ethiopia through bilateral and multilateral channels, over the calendar years 1983 to 1987, has been as follows:

£ thousands
BilateralMultilateral1
19833,43311,920
19847,00414,150
198528,05823,200
19869,627n/a
19878,554n/a
1 United Kingdom share.
n/a—not available.
The bulk of this aid has been in the form of assistance for famine relief and rehabilitation. Information on the United Kingdom share of multilateral expenditure in Ethiopia in 1986 and 1987 is not yet available. Since January 1987 the United Kingdom has committed over £45 million for famine relief in Ethiopia, including our share of European Community assistance.

Budget

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current Overseas Development Administration budget expressed as a percentage of gross national product.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of overseas development spending.

The Overseas Development Administration budget for overseas aid for the current financial year is £1,337 million. What proportion of gross national product this will represent depends on developments in the economy during the year.

Project Evaluation (Women)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will institute the practice of evaluating the development projects it supports for the impact they have on women.

Since 1986 it has been the practice when evaluating projects to consider their impact on women. The terms of reference for all projects evaluations include this issue.

Wales

Public Library Service

46.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on his Green Paper entitled "Financing our Public Library Service" from individuals or organisations in Wales.

At 1 June comments had been submitted by six individuals and organisations in Wales.

Enterprise Allowance Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many unemployed people have started businesses in Wales in 1987 under the enterprise allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement.

In 1987, 6,438 unemployed people started businesses in Wales under the enterprise allowance scheme. Since the scheme began in August 1983, over 21,000 unemployed people have joined in Wales.

Long-Term Unemployment (Clwyd)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to eliminate long-term unemployment in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

The number of long-term unemployed people in Clwyd has fallen in each quarter since January 1986. At April 1988 there were 6,358 long-term unemployed people in Clwyd, 3,770 less than in January 1986.The reduction reflects the Government's comprehensive range of measures to help long-term unemployed people find jobs. In particular, employment training, which begins in September 1988, will offer a flexible training programme designed to meet individual needs, and is specifically aimed to give longer-term unemployed people the skills they need to get and keep jobs.

Channel Tunnel (Job Creation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of jobs that might accrue to Wales-based companies in the building of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

There are no available estimates of the total number of jobs directly resulting from construction of the Channel fixed link. I am keen that industry in Wales should be involved whenever possible and the Welsh Office is actively informing companies of construction opportunities that arise.

Labour Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many manufacturing jobs have been lost in (i) Clywd and (ii) Wales since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

While comprehensive information regarding jobs lost is not available, Department of Employment estimates show that there were 109,000 fewer employees in employment in manufacturing industry (SIC 1980 divisions 2–4) in Wales in June 1987 than in June 1979.Equivalent information is not available for Clwyd, but my Department's regional data system (which is restricted to companies of over 10 employees and uses a slightly different definition of manufacturing industry) indicates there to have been a fall of 7,800 in the numbers employed in manufacturing in Clwyd between 1979 and the latest available results.

Youth Training Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people who are in employment in (i) Clwyd and (ii) the Shotton travel-to-work area are participating in YTS.

Information is available only at Training Commission area office level. The most recent information relates to the end of April 1988 when 6,688 trainees were participating in YTS in the Clwyd, Gwynedd and Powys area.

Restart

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales in the restart scheme are disabled and mentally handicapped; and if he will make a statement.

Skills Shortages

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans to tackle skills shortages in Wales.

The strength of the economy is leading to increasing demand for skills. The Government have made a massive increase in investment in training since 1979, when the Training Commission's expenditure in Wales was £31 million. Estimated expenditure in the next two years will be over £200 million.The Training Commission is continuing to develop its programmes, and employment training, which begins in September 1988, will provide unemployed adults with the skills employers need.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Singapore

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the use by the Singaporean Government of the internal radio transmitter formerly controlled by the British Forces Broadcasting Service.

We are aware of no internal radio transmitter, formerly controlled by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, and now used by the Singapore Government. The former BFBS transmitter at Tanglin was handed over to the BBC in the early 1970s and replaced in 1987 by a new FM transmitter which is used exclusively to relay the BBC world service to Singapore listeners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Singapore concerning the statements made by the Prime Minister of Singapore concerning possible legal action against a former President of Singapore.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the instructions given to British diplomatic staff at the Office of the United Kingdom high commission in Singapore following the recent expulsion of the first secretary of the United States embassy in Singapore for alleged political interference.

Mr. Hendrickson's expulsion is a matter for the Governments of the United States and of Singapore. The British high commissioner and his staff will continue to discharge their duties in the normal manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make representations to the Government of Singapore concerning the arrest, detention arid re-arrest of Singaporeans involved in political activities in the run-up to the 1988 Singapore general election;(2) if he will make representations to the Government of Singapore concerning the use of the Internal Security Act during the 1988 Singapore general election.

We are not aware that any date has yet been set for the next general election in Singapore. Singapore's record on human rights has in the past generally been good. However, the recent detentions have caused concern to friends of Singapore. In the margins of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the countries of the European Community and the Association of South East Asian Nations in Dusseldorf on 2 and 3 May, the 12 EC countries made their concerns known to the Singapore authorities. We have since heard that three detainees were released on 18 May, although the others of course remain in detention.

Nicaragua (Arms Exports)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all approaches made to Her Majesty's Government since 1984 by the United States administration for help in securing the export of arms directly or indirectly to rebel forces in Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is our well established policy not to comment on matters of this kind. We have made it clear that we have never supplied arms to the Contras directly or indirectly, nor have we ever had any intention of doing so.

Hong Kong

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the import of worked ivory into Hong Kong in each of the last five years, by weight and value, and what were the countries of origin.

The Hong Kong Government's records of the importation of worked ivory are currently collated on the basis of value and of the previous country of export. Imports, by value, in the last five years are:

Hong Kong dollars million£ million
1983221·6
1984261·9
1985392·8
1986553·9
1987614·4
The bulk of this ivory was imported into Hong Kong from China, Macau, Japan and Singapore, all of which are party to the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that Hong Kong complies with the provisions of conf. 6·16 of the CITES regulation agreed in Ottawa in 1987.

CITES resolution conf. 6·16 adopted in Ottawa in 1987 made a number of recommendations for the tighter control of worked ivory. The Hong Kong Government plan to introduce subsidiary legislation to implement these recommendations during July.We are in close and regular touch with the Hong Kong Government about this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Hong Kong authorities intend to ban the sale of all medicinal products containing rhino horn as from July; and if he will make a statement.

The Hong Kong Government will ban the internal sale of rhino horn in July. They intend to implement a ban on the internal sale of medicinal products claiming to contain rhino horn as soon as possible. They have concluded that such a ban cannot be achieved administratively, as they had earlier intended, but will require new legislation, which they plan to introduce later this year.

Elephants

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to east African countries to combat the poaching of elephants; and what information he has about the current levels of the elephant population in Africa.

Our aid includes the provision of Land Rovers for anti-poaching patrols in Tanzania, and three technical co-operation officers in the Kenyan Wildlife Department. We understand that wildlife experts put the current level of the elephant population in Africa at some 750,000.

Environment

Dangerous Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution has as to the number of sites in England and Wales that have dangerous emissions of carbon dioxide and methane.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution has received replies to its letters on landfill gas of 18 December from the majority of English and Welsh waste disposal authorities, and is processing the responses. I await its report.

Hedgerows

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the interests of the preservation of the habitats of many species of wildlife, he plans to introduce measures to reduce the destruction of hedgerows.

We believe the preservation of hedgerows depends on the voluntary co-operation of farmers and others. Agricultural advisers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food encourage farmers to retain hedgerows wherever possible and to manage them effectively. MAFF gives grants for the planting of new hedgerows and for hedgerow laying. Where appropriate, the Countryside Commission and Nature Conservancy Council can also offer assistance.

Local Authorities (Spending)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities whose budgeted total expenditure for 1988–89 exceeds their total expenditure for 1987–88 by more than 6 per cent. and those authorities whose budgeted total expenditure for 1988–89 exceeds their grant-related expenditure assessment by more than 5 per cent., ranking the authorities according to the amount by which their budgeted expenditure exceeds their grant-related expenditure assessment, and showing for each authority (a) the authority's grant-related expenditure assessment, (b) its budgeted total expenditure for 1988–89, (c) its total expenditure for 1987–88, (d) the percentage by which its budgeted total expenditure exceeds or falls below its grant-related expenditure assessment and (e) the percentage by which its budget total expenditure for 1988–89 exceeds or falls below its total expenditure for 1987–88.

I have today placed the information in the Library of the House. The total expenditure information for 1987–88 (revised budget) and for 1988–89 (budget) has been taken from the 1988–89 returns of expenditure and rates (RER89). Where these returns have not been received, the latest information available has been used and the figures are provisional.

Urban Development Corporations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department conducted any analysis of the achievements and difficulties of the London Docklands Development Corporation and the Merseyside Development Corporation, before deciding to establish more urban development corporations.

My Department continuously monitors both London Docklands Development Corporation and Merseyside Development Corporation. I took account of their experience when I decided to establish more urban development corporations.

Right-To-Buy Forms

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons why his Department has told Lichfield district council that it is out of stock of right-to-buy forms; how many other local authorities who are pursuing right-to-buy policies have been similarly informed; how long these forms have been out of stock; and what steps he is taking to have fresh supplies printed forthwith and to ensure that this situation does not recur.

Supplies were unavailable between 6 May and 7 June, and local authorities which ordered forms during this period were so informed. The difficulty arose from a defect in the reordering system, which is being remedied, coupled with a greater than expected demand for the form earlier this year.

House Sales (Corby)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the sum raised by sales made by the New Towns Commission in Corby for each year since 1980.

The sums raised from the sale of property in Corby by the Commission for the New Towns have been as follows:

Year ending 31 March£'000
1980615
1981952
1982580
19835,840
19842,517
19851,506
19861,826
19874,464
198810,564

Clinical Waste (Disposal)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations govern the disposal by hospitals of clinical waste; what measures exist to prevent accidental infection being caused to waste disposal operatives by hypodermic syringes and similar articles; and if he has any proposals for establishing clinical waste incinerators as an alternative to the use of the normal public waste disposal arrangements.

Arrangements for the disposal of clinical waste from hospitals are a matter for health authorities. The Health and Safety Commission guidance document of 1982, and waste management paper No. 25, give guidance on disposal of clinical waste.

Member's Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to provide a substantive reply to the letters dated 7 March and 9 May from the hon. Member for Slough to the Minister for Housing and Planning about a right-to-buy case.

Civil Servants (Outside Activities)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pontypridd of 23 May, Official Report, column 77, he will list the names and Civil Service grades of the 16 civil servants appointed as directors of public liability companies, building societies or other outside bodies specified therein; and of which such companies or other outside bodies they have been appointed;(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pontypridd,

Official Report,23 May, column 77, by what means and for what departmental purposes the 16 civil servants were appointed as directors of the outside bodies specified in the question.

Following is the answer:

GradeCompany
Mr. P. C. McQuail2Generation Securities Ltd.
Mr. F. A. Osborn2Trafalgar House Oil and Gas Ltd.
Mr. J. P. G. Rowcliffe2Bradford and Bingley Building Society
Mr. C. J. S. Brearley3John McLean and Sons Ltd.
Dr. D. J. Fisk3Hydraulics Research Ltd.
Mr. P. J. Fletcher3John Mowlem Homes Ltd.
Mr. R. J. Green3Butterley Brick Ltd.
Miss D. A. Nichols3John Laing ETE Ltd.
Mr. B. D. Ponsford3Smiths Industries Medical Systems Group
Mr. R. J. A. Sharp3ARC Concrete Ltd.
Mr. K. E. C. Sorensen3Balfour Beatty Construction International Ltd.
Mr. N. W. Summerton3Redland Bricks Ltd.
Miss E. C. Turton3Woolwich Equitable Building Society
Mr. A. G. Watson3Denco Ltd.
Mr. R. Johnson6Salveson Homes Ltd.
Mr. M. Tucker7Thamesmead Town
Dr. Fisk's appointment as a non-executive director of Hydraulics Research Ltd. arises directly from his official duties. The appointment of Mr. Tucker as a non-executive director of Thamesmead Town followed an approach to him by the directors of the company; he currently serves on secondment to the company. The other appointments as non-excecutive directors listed in the table were arranged by senior departmental officers with a view to providing opportunities for civil servants to obtain direct experience of the operation of the private sector.

Planning Appeals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the number of planning appeals made to his Department in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, (b) the number of such appeals that were allowed and (c) the percentage that (b) represents of (a).

The table shows the number of planning appeals received, withdrawn prior to decision, decided and allowed. The success rate given is the number of appeals allowed as a percentage of the total number decided in each year.

Year

Appeals received

Appeals withdrawn

Appeals decided

Appeals allowed

Percentage allowed of those decided

197811,6092,6718,9522,50428·0
197912,9902,4858,9332,60229·1
198016,2082,92113,1304,04430·8
198116,6373,30514,4514,72132·7
198213,9002,59112,9154,00331·0
198313,6991,61111,2218,63332·4
198416,1922,47511,6433,77332·4
198517,0532,11014,6395,47737·4
1985–8617,8392,14314,1305,58139·5
1986–8719,8562,53315,6136,20839·8
1987–8822,4823,17318,4746,95537·6

Rating Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether 19-year-olds still at school will receive any assistance with poll tax by way of rebates, student discount or total exemption; and from what resources he expects any residual liability to be met.

Individuals aged over 18 who are still at school and in respect of whom child benefit is payable will be exempt from the community charge. Child benefit is not payable in respect of 19-year-olds still at school. They will be eligible for rebates of up to 80 per cent. of the community charge according to their incomes. The residual liability will be met from the same sources as their other living expenses.

Companies (Local Authority Involvement)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals for regulating local authorities' involvement in Companies Act companies; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has today published a consultation paper setting out proposals for a statutory framework for local authorities' involvement in companies. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library.The report of the committee of inquiry into the conduct of local authority business (the Widdicombe committee) highlighted a number of concerns about companies used by local authorities, under their control or influence, to conduct various activities. In the light of these concerns, the Government have examined the policy issues involved, with the help of specialist assistance from Coopers and Lybrand. As background to this work, my Department conducted a survey of local authorities about their involvement with companies, the results of which are set out in the paper. The survey found that companies are being used by authorities for a very wide range of activities and that their number and the scale of operation is tending to increase.The Government do not wish to prevent local authorities from becoming involved in companies where there are operational advantages in doing so. Local authorities' use of companies has proved useful in a variety of cases, particularly in joint ventures with the private sector.The Government have, however, concluded that it is anomalous that local authorities' interests in companies, and the control of influence that these can give, are outside various rules governing the conduct of local authority business, which are intended to ensure that local authorities demonstrably conduct their affairs in accordance with the principles which should govern all public authorities. The proposals set out in the consultation paper are designed to remove this anomaly.The essence of the proposals is that where a local authority or authorities control a company or have a dominant influence on it, there should be, and should be seen to be, accountability and propriety in the conduct of its affairs; and that such companies should not be capable of being used as a means of avoiding the controls imposed by Parliament on local authorities. These objectives are more difficult to achieve in cases where local authorities do not control a company. It is therefore proposed that local authorities will be able to hold a minority interest in a company only in circumstances where an important policy end is served. The paper sets out the circumstances proposed by the Government.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is consulting separately on these proposals.

Plumbers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that unvented hot water storage systems are installed by registered plumbers under the terms of the scheme operated by the British Board of Agrèment.

The installation of an unvented hot water system is covered by the safety requirements set out in part G3 of the Building Regulations 1984. Guidance has been given that such a system should be installed by an approved installer, but there is no legal requirement to this effect, although there are requirements that the building control authority must be told whether or not the installer of a system has been approved. We have taken steps to make building control authorities aware of the dangers arising from improper installation, and we have actively encouraged plumbers to seek registration as approved installers. Nevertheless, I am aware that the British Board of Agrèment remains concerned about this issue and my officials will be meeting it shortly to consider whether the present arrangements need to be reviewed.

American Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the danger of importing vermin with American domestic waste proposed to be dumped in the north-west and south-west of England.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 June, at column 654.

Merseyside Task Force

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Merseyside task force.

The task force has played a major role in the regeneration of Merseyside. My right hon. Friend has no plans to change this role.

Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those landfill sites identified by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution officials as emitting methane and/or carbon dioxide; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will estimate how many homes have been evacuated because of concern at the level of methane and carbon dioxide gas given off at sites

(a) where new housing has been built on landfill sites and (b) where housing is built close to landfill sites; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution has received replies to its letter on landfill gas of 18 December from the majority of English and Welsh waste disposal authorities, and is processing the responses. I await its report.

Rating Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) Official Report, 1 March,

Tax unit typeNumber paying chargeTotal gross community charge billsNumber entitled to community charge rebateTotal value of rebates
(millions)(£ millions)(millions)(£ millions)
Primary tax units
Single pensioner3·06111·8263
One parent family0·71470·356
Other single adult2·45140·577
Couple—no children6·52,5921·5348
Couple—one child2·28630·381
Couple—two children2·61,0080·387
Couple—three or more children1·04040·268
All18·46,1405·2980
Secondary tax units
Single pensioner0·4850·340
One parent family0·1180·19
Other single adult3·87721·0145
Couple—no children0·1350·07
Couple—one child0·0150·04
Couple—two children0·090·03
Couple—three or more children0·050·01
All4·49391·3208

Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding.

National Engineering Laboratory

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the asset value of the land, buildings and capital equipment for each of those categories at the National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride;

columns 560–62, he will retabulate those tables taking into consideration the 15 per cent. rebate taper and any other relevant modifications to the rebate scheme.

[holding answer 9 June 1988]: The tables give the requested update of the figures provided by my right hon. Friend on 1 March 1988. As before, the figures should be treated as indicative only. They show that, as a result of reducing the community charge rebate taper from 20p to 15p in the pound, around 400,000 extra households are expected to contain individuals entitled to a rebate. Households where someone is presently projected to be entitled to less than the maximum rebate will also benefit from the reduced taper, with a total of 5 million adults gaining. As before, the estimated value of rebates does not include the benefit of uprating of income support in respect of the 20 per cent. minimum contribution to rates in 1988–89. The net cost of community charges to tax unit types is not therefore simply the difference between gross community charges and the value of rates. These figures relate to England only and are in 1986–87 prices, like the earlier table.

Household typeNumber1 millions
Single pensioner1·5
Other single adult0·7
Two adults2·7
Three plus adults1·2
All6·2

Note: Numners may not add due to rounding.

1 Households where individuals are expected to be entitled to a community charge rebate.

(2) if he will list the Government Departments and non-Government agencies permanently on site at the National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, listing the work undertaken by each of the organisations on site.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has today placed in the Library an information pack which contains the requested information which is currently available.

Employment

Labour Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the male and female rate of unemployment in each (a) development area and (b) intermediate area in April for Great Britain.

The following information is in the Library. The tables show the number of unemployed male and female claimants, expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed for each development area and intermediate area in Great Britain on 8 April 1988.

Unemployment rate April 1988
Region and development areasMaleFemale
South West
Falmouth18·6013·10
Helston22·0013·20
Newquay23·1017·30
Penzance and St. Ives21·3012·00
Redruth and Camborne20·1013·00
East Midlands
Corby11·709·30
Yorkshire and Humberside
Rotherham and Mexborough24·2012·20
Scunthorpe15·609·70
Whitby21·1010·30
North West
Liverpool24·5010·90
Widnes and Runcorn19·3011·70
Wigan and St. Helens20·0010·50
Wirral and Chester20·709·80
Workington13·7012·10
North
Bishop Auckland20·3011·20
Hartlepool26·1012·10
Middlesbrough24·6010·70
Newcastle upon Tyne18·308·60
South Tyneside27·5013·40
Stockton on Tees18·6010·70
Sunderland22·9011·20
Wales
Aberdare28·2012·80
Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenney21·509·60
Cardigan22·5020·90
Holyhead22·1016·70
Lampeter and Aberaeron18·8011·80
Merthyr and Rhymney21·6011·70
Neath and Port Talbot15·3011·20
Pontypridd and Rhondda20·009·20
Shotton, Flint and Rhyl16·1010·10
South Pembrokeshire24·7016·90
Wrexham14·609·80
Scotland
Arbroath21·5014·50
Bathgate19·5010·80
Cumnock and Sanquhar33·6016·70
Dumbarton21·4014·50
Dundee17·209·30
Glasgow20·309·60
Greenock25·1011·70
Irvine25·9013·80
Kilmarnock20·1010·00
Lanarkshire22·2011·30

Region and intermediate areas

Male

Female

South West

Bodmin and Liskeard15·009·90
Bude13·7012·60
Cinderford and Ross on Wye10·7010·40
Plymouth14·609·20

West Midlands

Birmingham14·608·60
Coventry and Hinkley12·809·20
Dudley and Sandwell14·209·60
Kidderminster10·308·40
Telford and Bridgenorth15·2010·80
Walsall14·409·00
Wolverhampton

East Midlands

Gainsborough15·3010·70

Yorkshire and Humberside

Barnsley22·3010·00
Bradford14·207·20
Doncaster20·7012·40
Grimsby16·408·20
Hull16·308·80
Sheffield17·109·20

North West

Accrington and Rossendale12·708·20
Blackburn14·607·30
Bolton and Bury16·508·80
Manchester15·007·40
Oldham14·809·10
Rochdale15·009·00

North

Darlington14·709·00
Durham14·307·60
Morpeth and Ashington19·408·70

Wales

Bangor and Caernarfon19·7010·80
Bridgend17·408·90
Cardiff15·206·70
Fishguard18·7019·30
Haverfordwest19·9011·60
Llanelli17·9012·00
Newport15·408·70
Pontypool and Cwmbran15·8010·00
Porthmadoc and Ffestiniog13·408·80
Pwhelli21·0015·70
Swansea18·708·60

Scotland

Alloa22·5012·50
Ayr16·1010·30
Badenoch15·609·80
Campbeltown22·9013·70
Dunfermline15·5011·10
Dunoon and Bute19·1013·20
Falkirk16·0011·70
Forres24·2018·00
Girvan29·9016·50
Invergordon and Dingwall29·9012·70
Kirkcaldy21·4010·90
Lochaber17·6010·60
Newton Stewart20·0016·40
Skye and Wester Ross20·9014·90
Stewartry11·409·60
Stranraer19·5014·10
Western Isles28·0011·40
Sutherland22·0013·10
Wick24·507·10

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of job vacancies advertised in each (a) assisted development area and (b) intermediate area in April.

The table shows the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, registered at jobcentres approximately corresponding to each of the development areas and intermediate areas in Great Britain on 8 April 1988. Nationally only about a third of all vacancies are reported to jobcentres; this proportion is likely to vary between areas.

Unfilled Vacancies—April 1988
Region and Development AreasNumber
South West
Falmouth222
Helston129
Newquay522
Penzance and St. Ives541
Redruth and Camborne318
East Midlands
Corby566
Yorkshire and Humberside
Rotherham and Mexborough539
Scunthorpe452
Whitby87
North West
Liverpool2,907
Widnes and Runcorn380
Wigan and St. Helens1,077
Wirral and Chester1,696
North
Workington167
Bishop Auckland612
Hartlepool199
Middlesbrough982
Newcastle upon Tyne3,642
South Tyneside222
Stockton on Tees648
Sunderland1,331
Wales
Aberdare138
Blanau Gwent and Abergavenny432
Cardigan177
Holyhead156
Lampeter and Aberaeron61
Merthyr and Rhymney488
Neath and Port Talbot642
Pontypridd and Rhondda618
Shotton, Flint and Rhyl993
South Pembrokeshire221
Wrexham467
Scotland
Arbroath71
Bathgate585
Cumnock and Sanquhar178
Dundee462
Glasgow4,525
Greenock262
Irvine1,421
Kilmarnock536
Lanarkshire1,175
Unfilled vacancies—April 1988
Region and intermediate areasNumber
South West
Bodmin and Liskeard336
Bude74
Cinderford and Ross on Wye412
Plymouth1,250
West Midlands
Birmingham8,284

Region and intermediate areas

Number

Coventry and Hinkley1,577
Dudley and Sandwell2,705
Kidderminster660
Telford and Bridgenorth1,044
Walsall853
Wolverhampton675

East Midlands

Gainsborough135

Yorkshire and Humberside

Barnsley289
Bradford1,875
Doncaster382
Grimsby335
Hull1,431
Sheffield772

North West

Accrington and Rossendale556
Blackburn716
Bolton and Bury6,194
Oldham605
Rochdale477

North

Darlington475
Durham545
Morpeth and Ashington553

Wales

Bangor and Caernarfon373
Bridgend483
Cardiff1,457
Fishguard0
Haverfordwest284
Llanelli499
Newport536
Pontypool and Cwmbrian353
Porthmadoc and Ffestiniog119
Pwhelli171
Swansea1,163

Scotland

Alloa148
Ayr562
Badenoch530
Campletown25
Dunfermline226
Dunoon and Bute109
Falkirk559
Forres39
Girvan101
Invergordon and Dingwall70
Kirkcaldy426
Lochaber183
Newton Stewart46
Skye and Wester Ross154
Stewartry48
Stranraer67
Western Isles69
Sutherland; Wick163

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies were registered at jobcentres in Tameside at the most recent available date.

On 8 April 1988 there were 548 unfilled vacancies, excluding community programme vacancies, at jobcentres covering an area closely corresponding to the Tameside local authority district.

Engineering Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his assessment of the effect of the removal of the Manpower Services Commission grant for industrial placement training on the engineering industry.

There need be no significant effect. This grant, which amounted to £850,000 in 1987–88, represented a small proportion of the total support the Training Commission gives to the engineering industry. Research indicates that many employers would have made a sandwich placement available without it. Moreover, I understand that the Engineering Industry Training Board has now introduced a modified scheme of grants for sandwich grant placement training for engineering undergraduates.

Energy

Oil And Gas (Field Development Approvals)

10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many field development approvals there have been for (a) oil and (b) gas in each month since January 1987.

In 1987, 11 oil and two gas projects were approved. So far this year 11 projects have been approved; two oil projects in March, two oil and two gas in April, two oil and one gas in May and two gas in June.

Electricity Privatisation

11.

To ask the Scretary of State for Energy when he expects to complete his consultations about statutory obligations and supply regulations in the electricity supply industry following privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

A large number of responses to the supply code consultation document have been received, and these are being considered.

40.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what effect he expects the privatisation of electricity will have on the numbers of people employed in the supply industry.

Manning levels after privatisation will be a matter for the industry, as is the case now.

41.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will have further planning discussions with representatives of the area electricity boards prior to presenting future legislation on privatisation, in respect of the forthcoming operational framework for the boards' respective retail outlets.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairmen of the area boards from time to time to dicuss a number of privatisation matters. The operational framework for the boards' retail outlets is still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further representations he has received about the proposals for privatisation of the electricity supply industry; and if he will make a statement.

I continue to receive many representations on electricity privatisation.

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report column 3, he will itemise all additional costs arising from his proposals in relation to the operational control of the national grid; what estimates of each of these costs he has received from Lord Marshall; and if he will make a statement.

The Government believe that any additional costs arising from the transfer of ownership of the national grid to the distribution companies will be outweighed by the benefits from increased competition.

Power Stations (Gas Burn)

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what applications for permission to burn gas in power stations he has approved; and if he will make a statement.

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received an application from Thames Power and the Central Electricity Generating Board to establish a 1000 MW gas-fired power station at Barking Reach in east London.

Proposals to establish gas-fired power stations have been made by Thames Power Limited and Leicester Energy Limited.I am pleased to say that I have approved both the 990 MW combined cycle plant at Barking and the 290 MW combined heat and power plant at Leicester, in accordance with section 14 of the Energy Act 1976 and the relevant European Community directive.

Hinkley Point C Pwr

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received the outline statement of the case, published by the Central Electricity Generating Board, in advance of the public inquiry into the proposed Hinkley Point C pressurised water reactor to commence this October, and if he will make a statement.

I received the Central Electricity Generating Board's outline statement of case on 13 May. I also received an outline statement of case, on the same day, from Somerset county council on behalf of itself, West Somerset district council and a consortium of opposing local authorities.

Oil And Gas Production (North Sea)

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what the current level of oil and gas production is in the British sector of the North sea; and for how long he expects the United Kingdom to maintain self-sufficiency.

Oil production from the United Kingdom continental shelf averaged 2·5 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 1988, while, according to provisional figures, gas production averaged 181·2 million cu m per day in the same period.On current estimates, the United Kingdom is likely to remain self-sufficient in oil and gas well into the 1990s.

Coal Industry Privatisation

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has had meetings with the chairman of British Coal to discuss future investment in the light of his policy towards future privatisation of the coal industry.

My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet the chairman to discuss the corporation's capital programme.

Fawley B Power Station

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has fixed the date for the public inquiry into the proposals by the Central Electricity Generating Board to construct the Fawley B power station and coal jetty.

In making arrangements for the inquiry my right hon. Friend is statutorily obliged to make a statement of matters which he considers likely to be relevant to his consideration of the application. It is therefore clear that he must study the objections he has received very carefully before announcing the inquiry.

Offshore Petroleum Licences

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he will announce a further round of offshore petroleum licences.

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is now ready to launch the eleventh round of offshore petroleum licensing.

My Department is still consulting interested parties about our proposals for an eleventh round of offshore petroleum licensing. My right hon. Friend hopes to launch the round formally before the summer recess.

Power Stations (Coal Burn)

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has recently met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to discuss future coal burn in power stations.

My right hon. Friend and I have regular meetings with the chairman of the CEGB to discuss all aspects of the electricity supply industry.

Coal Industry Dispute

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will now make it his policy to enter into discussions with the chairman of British Coal regarding the reinstatement of the miners sacked during the 1984–85 strike; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 15 February 1988, at column 695.

Paper Manufacturing Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had recently with representatives of the paper industry concerning, and what steps his Department has taken to achieve, greater energy efficiency within Britain's paper manufacturing industry.

My Departmemt, through the Energy Efficiency Office, continues to work closely with the paper industry to improve energy efficiency in paper manufacturing.

Offshore Supply Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps his Department is taking to encourage the United Kingdom offshore supply industry to increase its share of overseas markets.

My right hon. Friend and I are actively promoting the industry by visiting selected markets accompanied, where appropriate, by an industrial mission. In addition, my Offshore Supplies Office has substantially increased the resources it devotes to identifying export market opportunities and is encouraging and supporting the industry's efforts to increase its share of these markets.

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken in the last year to provide work opportunities for the United Kingdom offshore supply industry.

Last year my Department approved development plans for a total of 13 projects including seven new offshore oil and gas projects. So far this year 11 offshore, onshore and incremental projects have been approved. These developments will provide our supplies and fabrication industries with considerable work opportunities over the next few years.

Fast Breeder Reactors

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his policy towards investment in fast breeder reactors and fusion; and if he will make a statement.

My Department funds a large programme of research and development on the fast reactor. This programme is currently under review. No decisions have yet been taken.The United Kingdom is making a major contribution to the Community fusion programme, including the Joint European Torus (JET) project at Culham.

Energy Efficiency

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in improving energy efficiency in cities.

A large proportion of the £700 million gross annual savings attributable to the Energy Efficiency Office's programmes arises in cities. The EEO has also helped to launch 11 energy action cities, which harness a variety of resources to a broad campaign aimed at improving energy efficiency throughout the local economy.

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further efforts are being made to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

Our research development and demonstration programmes in domestic buildings will continue to sustain the momentum which has contributed to savings worth £1·1 billion per year. I have also recently asked the building societies to encourage investment in energy efficiency. In non-domestic buildings our programmes will continue to promote increased market awareness by developing energy targets and by supporting professionals in this field.

Sullom Voe (Oil Throughput)

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the volume of oil throughput at Sullom Voe in the first four months of 1988 and the first four months of 1987.

In the first four months of this year, Sullom Voe handled 18·2 million tonnes of crude oil, compared with 17·3 million tonnes over the same period in 1987.

Dounreay Fast Breeder Reactor

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to take a decision in relation to future funding of the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay.

The fast reactor programme funded by my Department is currently under review. No decisions have yet been taken.

36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the expected life of the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay; and what plans there are for constructing a commercial fast reactor on that site or elsewhere.

The design life of the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay, when commissioned in 1974, was about 30 years. The Government have received no application to construct a commercial fast reactor.

Fuel Disconnection

37.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received on the operations of the code of practice on fuel disconnection.

The code of practice is monitored by the electricity and gas consumers' councils, and by the Office of Gas Supply. In responding to the paper on a "Proposed Supply Code for the Electricity Supply Industry", a number of bodies have made general comments about the code of practice. These are being considered together with all other comments received on the paper.

Hinkley Point A Power Station

38.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the Hinkley A power station is likely to reach the end of its useful life.

This is a matter for the CEGB, and I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

British Gas

39.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many British Gas shareholders have now paid the third instalment; and what is the total sum collected.

Of nearly 3 million payments due in the British Gas third instalment, 99·5 per cent. have been received. The total sum collected amounts to £1,589 million.

Continental Shelf (Gas Shares)

13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the prospects for further sales of gas from the United Kingdom continental shelf; and if he will make a statement.

A number of gas sale contracts on the United Kingdom continental shelf have recently been agreed and others are under negotiation. There is a good prospect of gas from the United Kingdom continental shelf meeting our needs well into the second half of the 1990s.

Research And Development Projects

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many research and development projects were approved for support by the Offshore Energy Technology Board in the last financial year; what was their total value; and how much the Government will contribute to them.

In 1987–88, 41 new projects were approved for support. Their total cost was £17 million, and the Government contribution was £4·4 million.

Natural Gas Imports

42.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy on imports of natural gas from Norway.

Gas imports can have a major effect on the rate and pattern of the development of the United Kingdom continental shelf. In recognition of this, and of the importance the Government attach to maintaining the rate of activity on the United Kingdom continental shelf, British Gas has undertaken to consult the Government on any import plans as these develop. Any imports from Norway would be subject to the normal consent requirements for laying pipelines on the United Kingdom continental shelf and, where appropriate, the conclusion of intergovernmental treaties.

Association Of Independent Electricity Producers

43.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the Association of Independent Electricity Producers.

My right hon. Friend last met the association on 28 October 1987. Our officials are in regular contact with the association.

Electricity Industry (Regulatory Framework)

44.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy, when drawing up the regulatory framework for the electricity industry, to require distributors to show that they have investigated all possibilities, including energy efficiency schemes, in order to meet their customers' requirements at the least cost.

The future regulatory framework for the electricity supply industry is still under consideration.

Dumping At Sea

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what efforts are being made by his Department to show that there are no practical land-based alternatives to dumping flyash at sea and that flyash does not cause harm to the marine environment.

This is a matter for the CEGB. I understand that it has already embarked upon studies into alternative disposal methods for its wastes. If sea disposal is to continue beyond 1989, the CEGB will need to satisfy

000 tonnes
Country of origin19831984198519861987
German Democratic Republic110711710986
Belgium9102291772
United States of America6244324
Federal Republic of Germany2094310122
Netherlands111917
Republic of South Africa1362012
Norway33512
France216234104
Japan6586391
Other countries132429
Total7031,998375213249

Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

Plutonium (Japan)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what provision there is for review of the permission for the export of plutonium to Japan during the period of the proposed contract, should Japan decide that its proposed fast breeder reactor programme has no commercial future;(2) if he has made an independent assessment of the quantity of plutonium required by Japan for its fast breeder reactor and MOx fuel programmes to ensure that the conditions for the export of fissile material to a non-nuclear weapons state are adhered to.

My Department has not made such an assessment. The return of plutonium from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel at THORP to its country of origin or to any other destination will not take place for several years and will be made only on receipt of assurances covering peaceful use, application of safeguards, physical protection and controls on retransfer in line with the statement by the then Foreign Secretary, now Lord Callaghan, on 31 March 1976, at columns 514–16.

Nuclear Safety

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to meet the chairman of the advisory committee on the safety of nuclear installations.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of ACSNI from time to time.

Fluidised Bed Project (Grimethorpe)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much money was spent (a) from 1976 to 1984 and (b) from 1985 to date by British Coal and the Central Electricity Generating Board on the fluidised bed project at Grimethorpe; what proportion of this money was foreign investment; and from which country it came.

the licensing authority (MAFF) that there is no practical land-based alternative and that the waste will not cause harm to the marine environment.

Coke

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the total imports of coke for each of the last five years; and what were the amounts from each country of origin.

Imports of hard coke for each of the last five years by total and by country of origin are as follows:

Between 1976 and 1984, under the auspices of the International Energy Agency, the United States of America, Federal Republic of Germany and United Kingdom each contributed £20 million to the fluidised bed combustion project at Grimethorpe. Of the United Kingdom share, British Coal contributed £3 million, and the Department of Energy £17 million. British Coal also made contributions in kind. From 1985 to date the project has been the responsibility of British Coal together with the Central Electricity Generating Board. I understand from British Coal that during this period the United States of America contributed £10 million, in addition to expenditure by British Coal and CEGB of £28 million.

Scotland

Acute Beds

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the numbers of acute beds in Scotland.

The information is set out in the table.

Average available staffed beds in acute specialties in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland, year ending 30 September 1987 (provisional figures)
Number
Scotland17,108
Argyll and Clyde1,214
Ayrshire and Arran1,065
Borders347
Dumfries and Galloway444
Fife814
Forth Valley672
Grampian1,692
Greater Glasgow3,958
Highland695

Number

Lanarkshire1,564
Lothian2,817
Orkney60
Shetland60
Tayside1,622
Western Isles86

Rating Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has received on the usefulness of including dates of birth in helping assessors establish the community charge liability of individuals.

The requirement in section 13(1)(d) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 that dates of birth are to be included in the community charges register was added to the Bill as a result of representations made by local authority practitioners on the desirability of the provision being included and the information is being included in local authority systems as an aid to identification.

Power Stations (Coal Burn)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the level of coal burned from pits in the Scottish coalfield in South of Scotland Electricity Board power stations.

I am advised by the South of Scotland Electricity Board that coal burn in the fiscal year 1987–88 was about 5·6 million tonnes, all from indigenous sources, both British Coal and private workings. For the fiscal year 1988–89, the board estimates that the total coal burn could be at a similar level, but the quantity and sources will be dependent on a number of factors, including the competitiveness of coal prices and the level of electricity trading.

Social Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has undertaken with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work about the funding of social workers from voluntary organisations who wish to undertake professional training leading to the certificate in social services or the certificate of qualification in social work; and what is his policy towards provision for such students for the academic year 1988–89.

Since 1987 support of social workers from voluntary organisations undertaking professional training for the certificate in social services has been administered by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The level of resources allocated for this support is under review by my Department following representations by CCETSW. I cannot predict the outcome. Support is not available for social workers in voluntary organisations wishing to undertake the certificate of qualification in social work.

Radioactivity (Monitoring)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment in respect of (a) a series of detailed studies of leukaemia cases, (b) increased monitoring of diet, air, sea spray sediment and dust and (c) whole body monitoring and the measurement of radioactivity in placentae; and whether such action will relate to the areas around Chapelcross, Hunterston and Torness and those affected by the Sellafield drift, as well as Dounreay.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 8 June. This set out the responses of the Government to the report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) on the possible increased incidence of leukaemia in young people near the Dounreay nuclear establishment. So far as action relating to other areas containing nuclear establishments is concerned, we will continue to be guided by the advice of COMARE.

Hospital Beds

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of beds per hospital for (a) each hospital completed since 1979 and (b) each hospital approved in principle since 1979.

The information is as follows:

All projects completed since 1979
Number of beds
Argyll and Clyde
Johnstone Hospital30
Dunoon and District General Hospital30
Merchiston Hospital Phase I120
Merchiston Hospital30
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley720
Ayrshire and Arran
Crosshouse Hospital710
Biggart Hospital30
Borders
Hay Lodge, Peebles50
Borders General404
Dumfries and Galloway
Annan Hospital (geriatric)30
Fife
Glenrothes Hospital72
Whyteman's Brae, Kirkcaldy180
West Fife District General Hospital240
Forth Valley
Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert120
Sauchie Hospital60
Falkirk Royal Infirmary176
Grampian
Woodend Geriatric Hospital30
Inverurie Hospital30
Spynie Hospital, Elgin30
Ugie Hospital, Peterhead30
Woodend Hospital—Glenburn Wing24
Woodlands Hospital120
Greater Glasgow
Blawarthill Hospital30
Canniesburn Hospital30
Gartloch Hospital30
Gartnavel Hospital60
Mearnskirk Hospital30
Stobhill Hospital60

Number of beds

Belvidere Hospital Phase I30
Woodilee Hospital Phase I60
Glasgow Royal Infirmary Phase I214
Stobhill Hospital90
Gartloch Hospital120
Leverndale Phase I(a)240
Lennox Castle120
Lennox Castle (two intensive care units)24

Highland

Lochaber Hospital30
Raigmore Hospital, Inverness680
Caithness Hospital Phase II121

Lanarkshire

Kirklands Hospital Phase I120
Kirklands Hospital Phase I(a)120

Lothian

Royal Edinburgh Phase I120
Astley Ainslie Hospital90
Herdmanflat Hospital72
Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh180

Shetland

Montfield Hospital60

Tayside

Irvine Memorial Hospital, Pitlochry12
Murray Royal Hospital, Perth60
Perth Royal Infirmary60
Royal Liff Hospital, Dundee60
Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital30
Aberfeldy Cottage Hospital12

All projects approved since 1979

Number of beds

Argyll and Clyde

Ravenscraig Phase III(a) (Alcohol and Rehabilitation Unit)22
Oban Hospital138
Campbeltown Hospital62
Dunoon and District General Hospital30
Merchiston Hospital30

Ayrshire and Arran

Dunlop House60
Seafield Hospital60
Acute Hospital, Ayr288
Biggart Hospital30

Dumfries and Galloway

Services for the Mentally Handicapped114
Annan Hospital (geriatric)30

Forth Valley

Bonnybridge (psychogeriatric)90
Royal Scottish National Hospital Larbert120
Sauchie Hospital60
Falkirk Royal Infirmary176

Grampian

Royal Cornhill564
Woodend Geriatric Hospital30
Inverurie Hospital30
Woodend Hospital—Glenburn Wing24

Greater Glasgow

Parkhead Psychiatric Development Phase II120
Rutherglen (geriatric)240
Lennox Castle (two intensive care units)24
Woodilee three by 30 bed units90
Leverndale Phase I(a)240
Lennox Castle120

Lanarkshire

Geriatric, Psychogeriatric and Psychiatric Project:

(a) Hairmyres

120

(b) Udston (including 30 place day hospital)

120
Kirklands Hospital Phase I120

Number of beds

Kirklands Hospital Phase I(a)120

Lothian

Princess Margaret Rose Spinal Paralysis and Rehabilitation Unit70

Orkney

Balfour Hospital30

Tayside

Perth Royal Infirmary236

Western Isles

Stornoway Lewis Hospital212

Lothian Regional Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many organisations have made representations to him regarding his decision to enforce a reduction in Lothian regional council's 1988–89 budget, showing how many (a) supported and (b) opposed his decision; and if he will list them.

The table lists 11 organisations that have written to my right hon. and learned Friend on his proposed rate reduction in Lothian region. Some opposed the proposal and some supported it. Others have written on points of detail and on what the consequences might be for them.

  • Lothian Region Joint Trade Union Committee
  • Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (and individual Bureaux)
  • Lothian Marriage Counselling Service
  • Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce and Manufacturers
  • Lothian RAGE
  • Wester Hailes Representative Council
  • Lothian Rights Group
  • Edinburgh and Lothian 'Women's Aid
  • Sneddi Merchandising Ltd.
  • Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

National Engineering Laboratory

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the implications for the Scottish economy of proposals to privatise the National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride; and if he will make a statement.

Following the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's announcement on 7 June, interested parties now have until 22 July to submit proposals for taking the National Engineering Laboratory into the private sector. Each proposal received will be carefully assessed by my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in consultation with my right hon. And learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the expenditure of public funds through the Scottish Development Agency or any other Government supported agency in support of a management buyout of the National Engineering Laboratory.

Any approach to the Scottish Development Agency by the management of the National Engineering Laboratory for assistance in support of a management buyout will be dealt with by the agency in accordance with its industrial investment guidelines. A copy of these guidelines was placed in the Library of the House when they were issued in 1980.

The Arts

Public Library Service

53.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on his Green Paper "Financing our Public Library Service."

55.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from public librarians on his Green Paper "Financing our Public Library Service."

66.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from local authorities on his Green Paper "Financing our Public Library Service".

I have received about 200 letters, including a large proportion from public libraries commenting on the Green Paper and I expect to receive many more by 30 June, the closing date for representations.

57.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many complaints he has received in the last 12 months from library users that public libraries are not sufficiently client-orientated.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes) on Tuesday 7 June, at columns 512–13.

59.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what external economic expertise was available to him in the preparation of the Green Paper on the financing of public libraries.

The financial and statistical data contained in the library Green Paper were obtained from sources published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The economic expertise available within Government was adequate for my purposes in relation to the Green Paper.

67.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what evidence he has on the extent of demand for competitive tendering for renting videos in public libraries.

Competitive tendering is, I suggest in my library Green Paper, one way of enabling library authorities to use their resources more effectively. No library authority in England has, I understand, put out to competitive tendering any direct service to its library users. I wish them to consider doing so.

69.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has met the Library Association to discuss the Green Paper "Financing our Public Library Service".

Yes. I met a delegation from the Library Association on 25 May and had a useful discussion with the association about the Green Paper.

70.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he consulted with the Library Association on the contents of his Green Paper on financing the public library service prior to publication.

No, but I met a delegation from the Library Association on 25 May to discuss, among other matters, my Green Paper on financing the public library service. The association intends, I understand, to make a substantive submission to me shortly on the Green Paper.

Public Libraries (Cost-Effectiveness)

71.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what evidence he has on the cost-effectiveness of public libraries.

There are at present limited means for assessing the cost effectiveness of public libraries. However, my office has recently published a costing model, "A Costing System for Public Libraries". I am also currently funding, through the British Library, production of a manual of performance indicators for public libraries.

72.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the premium book subscription scheme, proposed in the Green Paper "Financing our Public Library Service", will apply to new children's books.

Haymarket Theatre, Leicester

54.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he next intends to visit the Haymarket theatre, Leicester.

I hope to visit the Haymarket theatre, and other arts bodies, when I visit the region this autumn.

Arts-History Link

56.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what initiatives are planned by his Department to promote greater appreciation of the links between the arts and British economic history.

The collections in our museums and galleries and the work of artists, both living and dead, are influenced by the social and historical contexts in which they were created, and may be used to illustrate many aspects of British history. Their contemporary interpretation is a matter for individual institutions or artists.

58.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether his Office has any plans for an arts festival to celebrate the year 2000.

I am sure that the nation will want to celebrate the year in some special way, but I have not yet embarked on detailed discussions with the arts world.

South Bank Board

60.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the effects of the recently completed independence of the South Bank Board Ltd.

It is too soon to be clear about the effects of independence, but first indications are encouraging. I am confident that the South Bank Board Ltd., under the chairmanship of Mr. Ronald Grierson, will continue to manage its affairs efficiently and economically and to present arts events of the highest standard.

Public Lending Right Scheme

61.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how much public funding has been allotted to the public lending right scheme in 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

Funding for the public lending right scheme is as follows:

£ million
1986–872·75
1987–882·75
1988–893·5
The 27 per cent. increase in 1988–89 brings the fund to its highest level in real terms since its inception.

63.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many authors are presently registered under the public lending right scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The number of authors currently registered for public lending right is 14,635.

Acceptances-In-Lieu

62.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the outcome to date of the acceptance-in-lieu-of-tax scheme since its inception in July 1985.

In July 1985 the Government announced new arrangements which permit an annual call on the Reserve of around £10 million a year, taking one year with the next. This has greatly facilitated such offers. The table sets out the financial position and highlights those items whose acceptance was made possible by these arrangements. Additionally, the scheme has benefited from two further changes introduced in 1987. It is now possible to have interest charges on an offer waived while negotiations are proceeding towards acceptance of an item at the original agreed valuation, and it is also possible to offer an item whose "special price" is greater than the tax liability on the estate, if the institution for which the item is intended is prepared to make up the difference. Both the Picasso and the Gainsborough paintings were accepted in this way. There is no shortage of items in the pipeline—an indication that the scheme is proving an attractive one, and one which plays a vital role in preserving important items and land for future public benefit.

YearAmount of tax satisfied1Call on the ReserveItem
££
1985–862,366,707520,000The Portland Archive
1986–872,947,842440,000Matthew Boulton Clock
725,000Bellini "Madonna and Child"
1987–888,627,4641,200,000Picasso's "Weeping Woman"
5,500,000Constable's "Stratford Mill"
638,444Gainsborough's "Captain Wade"
1 Although the total agreed call on the Reserve since July 1985 was £9,023,444, because of underspends in each financial year on the annual Vote of £2 million the amount actually spent from the Reserve was £7,942,013.

Museums And Galleries Commission

64.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how much extra funding the Museums and Galleries Commission will receive in the next three years specifically for the purpose of promoting improvements in the management of non-national museums and galleries; and if he will make a statement.

Over the next three years I have provided £270,000 within the Museums and Galleries Commission's grant-in-aid to be used to encourage improved management and marketing in non-national museums and galleries. The commission recently announced an exciting programme of seminars, courses and studies for the coming year.Good management and effective marketing skills are vital if museums and galleries are to make the best use of resources. In addition to my allocations to the Museums and Galleries Commission to encourage improvements in the management and marketing of museums, I have provided some £600,000 for this purpose this year in the grants-in-aid of the National Museums and Galleries In March I announced also a major initiative on the training of museums staff, and a research study into the resource implications of collections management.

Industrial Archaeology

65.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what recent discussions he has had on those aspects of industrial archaeology and the heritage related thereto which engage his ministerial responsibilities.

A number of the national museums and galleries which I sponsor have an interest in aspects of the industrial heritage and these feature, accordingly, in my discussions with the institutions.

Arts Bodies

68.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what guidance he has given arts bodies on the benefits of participation in the community programme and job-splitting scheme.

74.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what guidance he has given to arts bodies on the benefits of participation in the business expansion scheme and youth training scheme.

I am encouraged by the amount of support given to arts bodies by my colleagues in other Departments. The directors of regional arts associations and their officers are always ready to advise arts bodies and individual artists on the details of the various schemes.

National Heritage Memorial Fund

73.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how much public funding has so far been awarded to the National Heritage Memorial Fund since its inception in 1980; and what assessment he has made of the outcome of the scheme to date.

The amount of public funding since the inception of the National Heritage Memorial Fund is £105,621,576. This is set out on an annual basis in the table. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I are jointly responsible for the operation of the fund. Lord Charteris and the trustees are to be congratulated on an outstanding record of achievement to date. The trustees have chosen carefully among the hundreds of applications for assistance, and I commend their annual reports to my hon. Friend for descriptions of the wide range of land, buildings, artefacts and works of art saved for the nation with contributions from the fund. I have every confidence in their continuing success.

Public funding of NHMF

£

£

1980–81

DOE7,047,773
OAL7,047,77314,095,546

1981–82

DOE1,244,404
OAL1,244,4042,488,808

1982–83

DOE5,500,000
OAL5,500,00011,000,000

1983–841

DOE1,896,327
OAL593,327
Inland Revenue1,4682,491,122

1984–85

DOE29,000,000
OAL4,000,00033,000,000

1985–86

DOE12,000,000
OAL1,500,00013,500,000

1986–87

DOE1,500,000
OAL1,500,0003,000,000

1987–882

DOE21,546,100
OAL1,500,00023,046,100

1988–89

DOE1,500,000
OAL1,500,0003,000,000
Total105,621,576

1 The 1983–84 figure represents a grant of £1,304 million from DOE, the unspent AIL allocations of DOE and OAL (£593,327 each) and £1,468 rebate from the Land Fund.

2The 1987–88 DOE figure comprises of £20 million cash injection, 1·5 million annual grant and £46,100 from the proceeds of Heveningham Hall.

Museums And Galleries

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give the percentage charge in non-Exchequer receipts of the national museums and galleries between 1979–80 and latest available year.

Using the figures I gave in my written answer to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 26 May, at columns 259–62, the percentage increase between 1979–80 and 1988–89 is expected to be some 800 per cent. in cash terms (393 per cent. in real terms).

Northern Ireland

Protestant Task Force

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to his Department as to the nature and activities of the Protestant Task Force.

National Finance

Interest Rates

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the interest rates of the countries in the European monetary system, both nominal and real; and what equivalent information he has for the other countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Various short and long-term interest rates are given for all the countries in question in "IMF International Financial Statistics", monthly. The same publication gives indices of consumer or wholesale prices which are often used to convert nominal interest rates into "real" terms.

Balance Of Trade

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made an estimate of the effect on the United Kingdom's balance of trade with European Economic Community countries if it remains outside the European monetary system in 1992.

No. Britain is a member of the European monetary system. I imagine my hon. Friend is referring to the exchange rate mechanism of the system. There is no reason to suppose remaining outside the exchange rate mechanism will significantly affect the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the European Community.

Government Expenditure

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a figure for general Government expenditure in 1988–89 equivalent to that in table 1·4 of Cm. 288–1, recalculated on the assumption that there is a sustained (a) 10 per cent. rise and (b) 10 per cent. fall in the trade-weighted exchange rate over a period of one year from the level used in the formulation of the above table.

The impact of exchange rate changes on the economy would depend on assumptions made about the financial policies being followed at the time. The impact of the subsequent economic effects on public expenditure cannot be determined uniquely either as this depends on the control regime being operated. A large part of the planning total is subject to cash limits where the presumption is that no adjustments are made for variations in prices or costs. Furthermore, the rates of social security benefits are determined in relation to price levels known before the start of the financial year. There is no unique relationship between changes in the exchange rate and debt interest.

Housing Benefit

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households receiving housing benefit pay income tax.

[holding answer 4 May 1988]: I have been asked to reply.Information drawn from the family expenditure survey suggests that some 1·7 million housing benefit recipients may also have paid income tax in 1985.

Tax Forms

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many more tax forms have been sent to pensioners in this financial year than last;(2) if he plans to apologise to pensioners wrongly sent income tax forms;

(3) what is his estimate of the cost of sending 1 million tax forms.

[holding answer 7 June 1988]: I regret that due to a computer programming fault tax returns were issued to some pensioners who would not normally have been called upon to make a return. The Inland Revenue has taken steps to ensure that this will not recur.No separate figures are kept of returns issued to pensioners, but the Inland Revenue estimates that the number of returns issued to them in April 1988 is approximately 500,000 higher than last year.The estimated cost of sending 1 million tax returns is £137,250. This includes the cost of the returns, notes, envelopes and postage. The cost of issuing the 500,000 returns to pensioners is therefore £68,625.

Nationalised Industries (Fixed Assets)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage increase in fares, prices and tariffs required for the British Railways Board, Electricity England and Wales, London Regional Transport, North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity board, Post Office, South of Scotland Electricity Board and Water England and Wales to meet the expenditure on fixed assets given for 1990–91 in table 4.4 of Cm. 288-I, assuming these industries financed all this investment internally from commercially generated funds.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: Hypothetical projections on the lines requested would not justify the costs involved in preparing them. Assumptions would need to be made concerning general market conditions, the responsiveness of revenues to price changes and a wide range of factors affecting cost performance such as wage settlements, fuel costs and productivity growth. For reasons of commercial confidentiallity, the Government do not publish estimates of internal resources for the later years covered by the public expenditure plans, the assumptions on which they are based, or the effects of varying those assumptions.

Local Authority Expenditure

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for 1978–79 and 1988–89 to 1990–91 at constant 1988–89 and cash prices local authority capital expenditure in Great Britain broken down as in table 3.6 of Cm. 288-I.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: The presentation used in table 3.6 of Cm. 288-I was introduced in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56 table 4.5). That table provides information back to 1981–82 and figures are not available in this form for earlier years. For 1988–89 to 1990–91 the cash figures are published in table 3.6 of Cm. 288-I; corresponding figures in real terms (base year 1988–89) are in the table.

Local Authority Capital Expenditure in Great Britain in real terms1 2
£ million
(base year 1988–89)
1988–891989–901990–91
PlansPlansPlans
DOE/LA1 Gross Spending
Housing2,9342,7102,550

1988–89

1989–90

1990–91

Plans

Plans

Plans

Transport800770750
Education494490480
Personal Social Services111100100
Other services:
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food313030
Environment627610590
Home Office403030
Other Departments222020
Total other services721690680
Housing Association Grant11410090
Total gross spending in DOE/LA15,1734,8604,650
Receipts
Housing-1,876-1,850-1,800
Transport-62-50-50
Education-105-100-100
Personal Social Services-28-30-30
Other services:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food-10-10-10
Environment-542-520-510
Home Office
Other Departments
Total other services-552-530-520
Total receipts-2,623-2,570-2,500
Total net local authority capital in DOE/LA12,4372,1902,070
Total DOE/LA12,5512,2902,150
HO/LA1132140140
DOE/UA1
Other environmental services272260260
Other Departments242020
Other: Urban Development Corporations etc.222230230
Total DOE/UA1519510510
Memo item: Land drainage71010
England-Total2,8642,6302,490
WO/LA1 Wales
Transport
Employment1
Home Office1
Welsh Office285270270
Other738080
Total local authority capital in WO/LA1287270270
Total WO/LA1360350350
Memo item: not in cash limit1
Wales-Total295280280
SO/LA1—non housing438470470
SO/LA2—housing
Local authority343390390
Other182190200
Total SO/LA2525580590

1988–89

1989–90

1990–91

Plans

Plans

Plans

Memo item: not in cash limit1
Scotland-Total783870860
Total local authority capital expenditure in Great Britain
Net3,9423,7703,620
Gross6,9576,6706,430

1 Real terms figures are the cash plans adjusted to 1988–89 price levels by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP deflator.

2 See also footnotes to Table 3.6 in Cm. 288-I.

Civil Service

Agencies

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement about current proposals for the creation of agencies within his Department.

I announced on 9 May that the Civil Service College and the occupational health service are promising candidates for agency status. We are now closely examining each of them to assess their suitability. Like other Ministers, I shall continue to review the functions of my Department to identify any other areas which might be suitable.

Funding

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if any extra funding will be made available to the Civil Service, in the light of recent policy announcements on (a) race relations and (b) the employment of women.

Civil Service equal opportunity policies on the employment of women and ethnic minorities form part of the normal personnel management work of Departments. Actions to implement these policies are taken within Departmental running costs. My Department is giving priority to increasing the effectiveness of Civil Service equal opportunity policies.

Polygraphs

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will place a copy in the Library of the independent scientific study about the validity of polygraphic techniques.

I understand that the study is currently being assessed. No decisions have yet been taken about its handling, but, as indicated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24 May, at column 192, there will be an announcement to the House in due course.

Agriculture

Hedgerows

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to discourage the destruction of hedgerows and to encourage the planting of new hedgerows.

The Government's voluntary approach to countryside conservation seeks to ensure that farmers are fully aware of the landscape and wildlife value of their hedgerows. This Department's Agricultural Development and Advisory Service encourages farmers to retain hedgerows where possible and provides advice both on their management and the planting of new hedgerows.Grants are available to farmers under the agriculture improvement scheme at the rate of 30 per cent. (60 per cent. in the less-favoured areas) towards the cost of planting new hedgerows and hedgerow laying. In addition, as a special measure, grants are available to farmers at 60 per cent. for the replacement of hedgerows damaged in the storm of 15–16 October last year.

Set-Aside Scheme

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to announce his proposals on the set-aside of agricultural land; and if he will make a statement.

Sheep (Radioactivity)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for further sample monitoring of radioactivity levels in sheep in Devon and Somerset.

My Department has undertaken an extensive monitoring programme—the results of which have been placed in the Library of the House—that gives complete reassurance as to the safety of all produce entering the food chain. Monitoring continues outside the restricted area where necessary, but I see no need to carry out sample monitoring of sheep in Devon or Somerset.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for further sample monitoring of radioactivity levels in sheep in non-restricted areas which had high levels of precipitation on 2 and 3 May 1986.

Live monitoring of sheep is continuing wherever it is necessary, but the significance of rainfall data has been superseded by the results of surveys of actual deposition and of monitoring.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take, in the light of the research findings of Dr. Kenton Morgan, of the University of Bristol, on radiation contamination among sheep in Somerset and Devon following the Chernobyl disaster, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given today and on 1 December 1987 to the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), at column 542. No further action is required and I understand that Dr. Morgan has now made it clear that his work implies no risk to the food chain and no long-term contamination.

Dumping At Sea

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest available figures for the amount of flyash dumped at sea at sites off the north-east coast of England.

In 1987 just under 375,000 tonnes of flyash were deposited at approved sea dump sites off the north-east coast of England.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest available figures for the amounts of colliery spoil dumped at sea off the north-east coast of England.

In 1987 a total of 2,014,000 tonnes of minestone were deposited under licence on the beaches at Seaham, Easington and Lynemouth; a further 1,572,000 tonnes were disposed of at the approved sea dump site off the north-east coast.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the latest available figures of the amounts and types of chemicals in industrial waste dumped at sea at each of the various sites around the United Kingdom.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the investigations being carried out to demonstrate that dumping liquid industrial waste at sea does not harm the marine environment; and whether these investigations are carried out in their laboratory or in the field.

All liquid industrial wastes for which application for sea disposal is made are examined in the Ministry's laboratory. Toxicity testing and chemical analysis are undertaken to ensure that potentially toxic or persistent bioaccumulatable substances are within internationally agreed limits and pose no likelihood of causing damage to the marine environment in the short or longer term. The probable initial dilution of the waste, its degradeability and its longer term fate are assessed. The minimum initial dilution required to avoid toxic effects is determined and imposed if necessary as a condition of any licence granted.Investigations at the disposal site are made by Ministry scientists to establish the nature of the marine species, water movements which may affect dilution and dispersion of the waste, and water quality. Once disposal commences, monitoring is conducted to confirm the absence of harm to the marine environment; this will usually include assessments of actual dilution, field bioassays, analysis of water and sediments and examination of fish and other species, including those living on the seabed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the efforts being made to find environmentally acceptable alternatives to dumping colliery spoil in the North sea and adjacent beaches.

Each application for a licence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to dispose of colliery spoil at sea or on beaches is thoroughly examined by my Ministry. I make a careful assessment of all potential alternative means of disposal, drawing on comments obtained from consultations held by my officials with local environmental interests and local authorities. The Government also have available the results of research into disposal options commissioned by the Department of the Environment in 1986.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of any investigations which have concluded that there are no practical land-based alternatives to dumping at sea.

All applicants for licences to dump waste at sea are required to demonstrate that land-based alternatives to dumping have been carefully considered. The practicability of land-based disposal options is thoroughly assessed in every case by this Ministry,drawing, where appropriate, on the advice of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.The composition and volume of most liquid industrial wastes hitherto accepted for disposal at sea has generally rendered them technically unsuitable for other disposal methods. As regards colliery spoil, the Department of the Environment commissioned research by Ove Arup and Partners Ltd. into the availability and cost of means of disposal other than beach tipping at Seaham; the Government concluded from that work in 1986 that there was currently no practical land-based alternative to dumping.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list any details of any investigations demonstrating the level of risk to the marine environment posed by sewage sludge dumped at sea.

Investigations in the laboratory and at sea are carried out for sewage sludge in a similar way to those undertaken for liquid industrial wastes described in my reply today to another question by the hon. Member. Sewage sludge is a dispersion of organic rich solids and other particulates in water. The water content is usually more than 95 per cent. The organic matter is largely readily degraded in the sea and limits are set to the trace levels of any persistent organic chemicals and metals to ensure that no harm to the marine environment can be caused by their presence.Results of monitoring investigations at dump sites by this Ministry are published from time to time in the fisheries research technical report series. They show that disposal of sewage sludge at sea under controlled conditions has a minimal effect on the marine environment.

Pâtè De Foie Gras

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce a ban on the import of pâtè de foie grass,; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has no plans to impose a ban on the import of pâtè de foie gras as I am advised that such a step would contravene the treaty of Rome. In any case, it is for individuals to decide whether or not to buy or consume foie gras.

Civil Servants (Outside Activities)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pontypridd of 24 May, Official Report, column 139, he will list the names and Civil Service grades of the two civil servants appointed as directors of commercial companies; and of which companies they have been appointed directors.

At present the following two officials hold appointments in commercial companies:

  • Mr. C. J. A. Barnes, Grade 5, as a non-executive director with Booker Food Services (Booker plc) and
  • Mr. G. M. Trevelyan, Grade 5, as an observer with Brooke Bond Oxo (Unilever).

Surplus Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether tenders for either (a) the packaging or (b) the transportation of surplus European Economic Community food have yet been issued; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements for the provision of beef and butter stocks for distribution to the most needy require designated organisations to invite tenders for processing or packaging and to make the necessary arrangements for transportation. A number have already done so. Others are grouping together in order to minimise costs. Group tenders for the packaging of butter and butter oil have been invited and are awaited. An invitation to tender for beef will be issued shortly. I understand that the first distributions to eligible beneficiaries are likely to take place towards the end of this month.

Lambs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many lambs were marked blue and relased for further fattening in the United Kingdom between 28 September 1987 and 10 January 1988.

A total of 6,497 lambs of not more than one year old were marked blue under the "mark and release" arrangements in the United Kingdom between 28 September 1987 and 10 January 1988.

Marked blue and released for further fattening from 28 September 1987 to 10 January 1988
LambsSheepTotal
Cumbria248135383
Wales1,5462091,755
Scotland4,6898,90313,592
Northern Ireland14110 9,357124
6,4979,35715,854

Food Costs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the additional cost in food per average family in consequence of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 31 March, at column 638.

Rhizomania Infection

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has made for the inspection of beet fields for rhizomania infection during the current season.

We will carry out a very extensive inspection programme throughout the country while the 1988 crop is growing. This will concentrate on sugar beet fields likely to be susceptible to rhizomania risk because of, for example, soil structure, poor irrigation or a history of low sugar yields. The fields will be identified by the local knowledge of inspectors, by British Sugar's records and by the results of aerial photography. Inspections will also be carried out on other fields of sugar beet and on fields of red and fodder beet.To ensure that infection had not been spread from the farm in Suffolk where rhizomania was found last season, prior to the discovery, we will inspect all fields growing beet this year within 5 km of the site and also crops on the farms visited by the sugar beet contractor who worked on the farm between 1981 and 1987.All these inspections will be carried out, under a joint programme, by the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, Ministry field staff and British Sugar staff. Sample beets will be taken from each field inspected. These will be tested by the Ministry's Harpenden laboratory.We expect this inspection programme to cover about 2,000 fields. It is a formidable task, but I am sure that it is justified in order to maintain our protection against rhizomania disease. It follows widespread surveys last year and programmes of inspection in the three previous seasons, which found no sign of rhizomania infection.I am grateful to British Sugar for its co-operation in the inspections carried out in previous years and for the help it will again be providing in the coming season.

Argentine Ant

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the dangers to native flora and fauna from the accidental import of the Argentine Ant.

I have been asked to reply.Incidents of accidental infestations of the Argentine Ant in the United Kingdom are very rare and have been confined to permanently heated buildings. All currently available evidence suggests that the species cannot survive in the wild in the United Kingdom.

Social Services

Severely Mentally Handicapped People

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement concerning the benefit entitlement of the severely mentally handicapped who have undertaken a community programme placement for therapeutic purposes.

Anyone receiving an incapacity benefit who performs work for which an employer might reasonably pay shows that he is capable of work and his benefit may be affected. This may apply to severely mentally handicapped people who have undertaken a community programme placement. The decision whether in practice a person is capable of work is for determination by the independent adjudicating authority.However, a person receiving any incapacity benefit may nevertheless earn up to £27 a week without loss of benefit provided he satisfies the adjudicating authorities that the work is therapeutic, by furnishing medical evidence to that effect.A severely mentally handicapped person is not entitled to income support if he is working 24 hours or more a week on a community programme. But benefit may be payable if the work averages less than 24 hours a week. The first £5 or £15, as appropriate, of his earnings are disregarded in deciding entitlement.

Departmental Offices (St Helens)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current total social fund allocation for his Department's offices in St. Helens; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current total social fund allocation for his Department's offices in the Manchester area; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November 1987, at columns 774–81.

Twenty-Four Hours Rule

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the application of the 24-hours-per-week working rule in respect of a family's eligibility for benefit.

Representations have been received in certain individual cases where supplementary benefit was previously in payment but where there is no entitlement to income support under the new rules because 24 hours a week, or more, are being worked. Families with children can claim the new family credit, and families facing substantial losses may also be eligible for help under the transitional arangements announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and the Disabled on 28 April, at columns 253–54.

European Cancer Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what contribution the Government have made towards the European cancer initiative.

We have made £100,000 available to provide full or part funding of United Kingdom cancer charities' activities in support of the Europe against cancer initiative. In addition, we have taken the lead in cancer prevention by implementing the European Community's first comprehensive cervical cancer screening service based on computerised call and recall, the world's first nationwide breast cancer screening sevice, and by setting up the DHSS cancer screening evaluation unit at the Institute of Cancer Research to monitor existing cancer screening programmes and to assess the possibility of screening for other cancers. The Health Education Authority has also published an updated guide for the general public on how to reduce the risk of cancer by a healthy lifestyle.

Meningitis

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the death rate from meningococcal meningitis.

The table gives the number of deaths registered where meningococcal meningitis was the underlying cause of death and the crude mortality rate per million usually resident population for the latest five years.

Deaths with underlying cause as meningococcal meningitis (ICD(9)1 036·0): numbers and rates per million population England and Wales 1983–87
YearNumberRate per million
1983200·40
1984260·52
1985360·72
1986440·88
21987370·74
1International Classification or" Diseases 9th revision.
2Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the incidence of haemophilus or pneumococcal meningitis.

The table gives the numbers of notifications of haemophilus and pneumococcal meningitis for the latest six years available. In addition, the numbers of notifications where the organism was not specified on the notification forms are shown.

Number of notifications of (a) haemophilus (influenzal), (b) pneumococcal and (c) unspecified meningitis England and Wales 1982 to 1987
Type of meningitis
YearHaemophilusPneumococcalUnspecified
198217787145
198317374137
198421778149
198520682186
1986268143232
11987250109171
1Provisional, January to September only.

Aspirin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what conclusions have been reached by his Department on the use of aspirin as preventive medicine for those who have suffered a heart attack and for those in the age categories where they are most vulnerable to such an attack; and if he will make a statement.

The use of aspirin in the prevention of heart attack is an area in which there have recently been some interesting research studies. Research is continuing,The best preventive measures against heart disease continue to be lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking and changes in diet.

Household Income

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a set of figures for 1979 on the same basis as contained in "Households Below Average Income 1981–1985".

I have no plans to publish a full set of "Households Below Average Income" figures for 1979. However, "Low Income Statistics—Report of a Technical Review" proposes that data for an earlier year (perhaps 1971) might be included in a future edition. Copies of this report are available in the Library.

Social Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figures allocated for the social fund to be claimed from the Seaham and Peterlee office of his Department for the financial year 1988–89 and the proportions of these which were (a) loans and (b) grants; and whether these figures will be revised if the demand for amounts from the fund exceeds the allocated amounts.

Social fund allocations were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and the Disabled in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November 1987, at columns 774–81. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 4 March, at column 746, for details of the contingency arrangements.

Community Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial arrangements are made in each health region when patients are transferred out of long-stay hospitals into community care; and how many patients were transferred out under these arrangements in each health region since 1984.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients formerly resident in long-stay mental hospitals have so far been discharged into the community as part of the community care policy in each regional health authority; and what has been the total amount of cost savings accrued as a result.

In response to local circumstances and needs, regions have a variety of financial arrangements for funding the transfer of mentally ill or handicapped patients from long-stay hospitals to more community orientated patterns of care. In some cases funds are transferred with individual patients ("dowries") according to regional guidelines or are directly negotiated by district health authorities; in others development monies are earmarked by the regional health authority to fund specific projects. General development funds are, of course, also used to meet the costs of community care. Dowries are often permanent revenue payments uprated for inflation each year. A number of regions have set aside specific sums to bridge the cost of continuing to run old long-stay institutions while developing new services, but such funds are not the only ways of meeting such costs. The broad details of regions' financing arrangements are as follows. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the regional health authority concerned for more detailed information.

Northern RHA. Health Service developments funded from regional priority service fund. Arrangements for patients transferred from NHS to local authority or voluntary care individually negotiated. Bridging arrangements but no specific fund.

Yorkshire RHA. Direct care costs transferred to patients "home" DHA. The balance of resources required to provide community care provided from general development funds. Arrangements for transfers to local authority and voluntary agencies separately negotiated at district level. Bridging fund.

Trent RHA. Regional guideline for dowries of £13,800 for patients transferred between health authorities and of £6,900 for transfer to local authority or voluntary care. Bridging fund. (Policy under review.)

North Western RHA. Dowry of £21,400 per patient for all patients transferred as part of district package of which £4,300 is non-recurrent. Dowry of f 13,400 for transfers agreed on an individual basis. Bridging fund.

Mersey RHA. Financial arrangements negotiatied by DHAs according to dependency level of individual patient. Bridging fund.

West Midlands RHA. Dowry of 50 per cent. of average cost of mentally handicapped patients and 100 per cent. of average cost of mentally ill patients. Targeted bridging fund.

East Anglian RHA. Funding arrangements negotiated individually by district health authorities. Bridging fund.

North West Thames RHA. Dowries ranging from £13,000 to £20,000 according to type of patient. Additionally, there are development fund moneys available from natural decline. Bridging fund.

North East Thames RHA. For health authorities, each DHA allocated funds either to pay for care in the existing long stay hospital or to provide its own service. Transfers to local authorities and voluntary agencies separately negotiated. Strategic reserve to top up costs of care in the community where necessary with ad hoc bridging finance provided by RHA to existing providing districts.

South East Thames RHA. Dowry of £13,000 (plus London weighting if necessary) for mental handicap patients. For mental illness patients costs of hospital care apportioned to districts on the basis of numbers to be transferred. Bridging fund.

South West Thames RHA. For health authorities dowries of £13,477 for mental illness and £11,334 for mental handicap patients admitted before December 1982. Separate negotiations for patients admitted after that date and for transfers to local authorities, voluntary agencies and across regional boundaries. Bridging fund.

Oxford RHA. Development funds earmarked for specific projects.

Wessex RHA. Dowry of £14,000 per patient for all agencies. Mental handicap bridging fund.

South Western RHA. Dowry of £13,700 for mental handicap patients available for community provision by health authorities. Separate negotiation for mental illness patients and for all transfers to other agencies.

Information is not available centrally on the numbers of patients discharged from long-stay care specifically under these arrangements. The tables show the number of discharges from NHS mental illness hospitals and units and mental handicap hospitals and units in England where the depth of stay was five or more years. Tranfers to other hospitals and special hospitals are excluded. 1986 is the latest year for which this information is available centrally.

Information on cost savings is not available centrally.

Discharges from Mental Illness hospitals and units where there was a stay of five or more years1

Regional health authority

1984

1985

1986

England29819871,082
Northern484854
Yorkshire746785
Trent102105113
East Anglian322938
North West Thames966583
North East Thames767677
South East Thames757083
South West Thames655981
Wessex536799
Oxford343946
South Western97110101
West Midlands117114111
Mersey658150
North Western465661
Special health authority hospitals110

Source: MHE.

1 Excludes deaths, transfers to a special hospital, transfers to a

hospital psychiatric bed and transfer to a hospital non-psychiatric bed.

2 Excludes special hospitals.

Discharges from Mental Handicap hospitals and units where there was a stay of five or more years1

Year

Regional Health Authority

1984

1985

1986

England21,3751,5231,951
Northern635881
Yorkshire71148175
Trent129150300
East Anglian586660
North West Thames506558
North East Thames728353
South East Thames148201275
South West Thames119171277
Wessex8275143
Oxford385774
South Western304155133
West Midlands70100104
Mersey9872102
North Western73122116
Special Health Authority hospitals000

Source: MHE.

1 Excludes deaths, transfers to a special hospital, transfers to a hospital psychiatric bed and transfer to a hospital non-psychiatric bed.

2 Excludes Special Hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if his Department currently issues any guidance to health authorities on the consultations which should be undertaken with patients, their parents and their relatives before individuals are discharged into the community from long-stay mental hospitals;(2) if his Department currently issues any guidance to health authorities on the consultations which should he undertaken with patients, their parents and relatives, and local residents before long-stay mental hospitals are run down as part of the implementation of the policy of care in the community.

The Government's response to the report of the House of Commons Social Services Committee on "Community Care with Special Reference to Adult Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped People", circulated to all health authorities, reminded them of the need to consult patients and their families about discharge from long-stay hospitals. We will be considering the question of consultation with local residents as we review reports from the Health Service Commissioner which bear on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what mechanisms his Department has established to oversee the transfer of residents of long-stay mental institutions to the community.

The development of mental illness and mental handicap services, including the shift to community-based services, is a regular feature of the annual review meetings which Ministers and the NHS Management Board hold with each regional health authority. The Department's Social Services Inspectorate maintains liaison with local social services departments and monitors the development of personal social services, including those for patients discharged from mental institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards health authorities being required to consult neighbours before mentally handicapped people are moved into the community; what representations he has received in this respect for the Health Service Ombudsman, Mr. Anthony Barrowclough; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 10 June, at column 727.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the cases of former long-stay hospital residents who are ineligible for community care grants on discharge because they do not qualify for income support; what was the nature of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Long-Stay Hospitals

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what minimum standards exist for long-stay hospitals; when these standards were laid down; whether they are under review; and what steps he has undertaken to enforce these standards.

Minimum standards for long-stay hospitals were first laid down in 1969, and other guidance bearing on various aspects of physical standards of provision for long-stay patients was issued between 1979 and 1982. The minimum standards were used by the national development team for people with a mental handicap and by the health advisory service, but there has always been a danger that these standards would be regarded as norms rather than minima. They fall well below current expectations in terms of services for long-stay patients and for this reason are now little used. Local managers are expected to look critically at the operation of services using quantified information, such as Health Service indicators, and using check lists of questions designed to expose poor quality of services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many wards in long-stay hospitals do not meet the 1971 minimum standards of 8ft between bed centres and 70 sq ft of bedroom space per resident; and in which health districts these wards are located;(2) what proportion of wards of long-stay hospitals in each health region fail to meet the standards of 8ft between bed centres and 70 sq ft of bedroom space per resident.

Disabled Child Premium

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial provision he has made to assist single parents, unable to work because of the needs of their handicapped children, to supplement their income support, other than the £6·15 additional disabled child premium; and if he will make a statement.

The income support of a single parent with a disabled child would normally include, in addition to the disabled child premium, an age-related personal allowance for the claimant and each child, the lone parent premium (of £3·70) and the family premium (of £6·15). In addition, attendance allowance, mobility allowance as well as invalid care allowance might be payable. A person on income support would receive maximum housing benefit, free prescriptions, dental treatment, free school meals and other benefits in kind.

Cranage Hall Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received any recent representations concerning the proposed closure of the Cranage Hall hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to meet residents of the Cranage Hall hospital or their parents and relatives.

We have received no requests to meet them and therefore we have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority and Crewe district health authority into the handling of the proposed run-down of Cranage Hall hospital.

Proposals for Cranage Hall hospital are being formulated by the Crewe health authority in collaboration with the Cheshire social services department. These proposals are still at an early stage, but we will be monitoring progress through the review and planning processes.

Crewe Health Authority (General Manager)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority into the resignation of the former general manager of the Crewe health authority, the ex-gratia payment and the subsequent re-employment of the ex-general manager by the Mersey regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Employment and contractual matters are entirely the responsibility of individual health authorities.

Post-Abortion Stress Disorder

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to publish the results of the investigation currently being conducted at his request by the Manchester branch of the Royal College of General Practitioners into post-abortion stress disorder.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on 30 March, at column 540.

Physiotherapy (Data)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the arrangements which health authorities have made for the calculation of data for physiotherapy services under the revised arrangements recommended by the fourth and sixth Körner reports; what he estimates the cost of this to be; and if he will make a statement.

We are satisfied that those health authorities which are not already doing so, will begin the collection of the full Körner data requirements on physiotherapy services during 1988–89. Authorities currently without computer systems have made interim arrangements to collect basic statistics. The cost of collecting the Körner data will vary between health authorities, depending upon the particular system in operation, the size and number of departments and existing data collection arrangements. This costing information is not available centrally.

Child Guidance Units

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the continuance of multi-professional, multi-agency work for children with emotional difficulties, through child guidance; what proposals he has to secure the future of child guidance units in inner London; and if he will make a statement.

Our current policy is that children with emotional difficulties should be able to look for help from professional staff, including psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, who spend most of their time working in the child and adolescent fields. The organisation of these services in London after the proposed abolition of the Inner London education authority is a matter for consideration by the health and local authority services concerned.

Wakefield Dha (Inquiry)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to prevent the Yorkshire regional health authority from proceeding with its inquiry into the management of Wakefield district health authority; and if he will establish an independent public inquiry in its stead.

No. Where problems occur within a district health authority our expectation is that matters will be settled locally by the authority putting its own house in order. If the DHA concerned proves to be unable to resolve its problems internally the regional health authority, as the next management tier, and the one to which the district is accountable, has a duty to act. I therefore support the decison of the RHA to establish its own inquiry.

Nurses (Prescribing)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy towards the prescribing of medicines by nurses.

As we made clear in "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249), we see merit in giving nurses more freedom to prescribe some items and use their professional judgment in other related matters. A joint working group (mainly members of the Standing Medical, Nursing and Midwifery and Pharmaceutical Advisory Committees) has recently been appointed to help us take this forward.

Nurses (Grading Structure)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in respect of the implementation of the clinical grading structure for nurses.

Management guidance on the implementation of the new clinical grading structure has been issued to all health authorities and they have been asked to complete the regrading exercise by 31 October.

Social Security Management Board

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many meetings of the Social Security Management Board he has attended in the last year.

The Social Security Management Board is a body chaired by the permanent secretary which reports to Ministers as required. We would not therefore expect to attend meetings of the board.

Project 2000

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the ratio of qualified nurses to nursing auxiliaries being sought under the recently announced Project 2000 proposals; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his assessment of the likely funding requirements for the implementation of Project 2000.

The implementation of Project 2000 will be phased over a number of years. The final cost will depend upon the final shape of the whole package of proposals, in which much detail remains to be settled.The number of qualified nurses and support workers will be decided by district health authorities, which must determine their own requirements for staff.

Social Services (Private Companies)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authority social services departments currently allow private companies to undertake their statutory services.

Information about contractual arrangements between local authorities and private companies for the provision of social services is not collected centrally.

Social Work Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authority social service departments offer additional incentives over and above basic grade salaries in order to assist their recruitment of social work staff.

Conductive Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take, in the light of Warwick university applied social studies department's report entitled "Come Wind, Come Weather," about conductive education, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the recommendations contained in the report to assist British families at the Peto Institute in Budapest. The Peto method of conductive education is one of a wide range of services for disabled children and adults. Proposals for its introduction in Britain would have to take into account existing health and education provision as well as the evaluation being undertaken by Birmingham university of the research project of the foundation for conductive education. I have arranged to visit a number of organisations to look at the range of services available in these fields. A team of officials from DES and DHSS recently visited Budapest to obtain more information about the difficulties faced by the British families at the Peto Institute and the part that conductive education plays in the provision of services in Hungary.

Inquest (Carlisle)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the Registrar General has yet determined whether the requirements of the legislation governing the registration of births and deaths should be applied to the case which was the subject of a recent request to the Secretary of State for the Home Department by the coroner in Carlisle for the holding of an inquest; and if he will make a statement.

Following the decision made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department not to direct that an inquest should be held, the Registrar General has made her own inquiries and these indicate that the requirements of the legislation governing the registration of births and deaths do apply in this case.

Hospital And Community Health Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a table showing (a) current spending and (b) capital spending per tax unit on the hospital and community health service in England and the United Kingdom in 1988–89.

The information is as follows:

Current (gross)Capital (gross)
££
United Kingdom75060
England70060
These figures are based on the estimated number of tax units who pay income tax.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his future plans for financial support to the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association; and why financial assistance has not yet been given.

[holding answer 7 June 1988]: In recognition of the valuable work of the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association we have decided to make a grant for the first time of £5,000 for the current financial year.

House Of Commons

Upper Waiting Hall (Exhibitions)

To ask the Lord President of the Council why it is necessary for an hon. Member to obtain the agreement of the appropriate Government Department before applying to the Serjeant at Arms to arrange an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall.

This measure has been approved by the Services Committee to ensure that exhibitions mounted by right hon. and hon. Members do not contain items of advertising or commercial interest nor material explicitly intended to further the aims of any political party or group. It was considered that by using their background knowledge of the subjects of exhibitions the Government Departments could help meet the wishes of the House.In addition, the Services Committee recently resolved that Members' applications for exhibitions should be submitted to the Chairman of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee as well as to the relevant Government Department.

Sittings Of The House

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the Official Report a consolidated list of the occasions on which the House has sat later than 1.30 am since 1958.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 June 1988, c. 714]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his previous written question on 13 April 1988, Official Report, columns 166–68. It would be inappropriate to republish this information in a consolidated form.The following tables set out the revised figures for the current Session (1987–88) to date and also the total number of occasions in each Session since 1958 when the House sat after 1.30 am.

Table I
House sits after 1.30 am
SessionNumber of occasionsTime at which adjourned (am unless stated)Date
1987–88 (to date)241.3414 July 1987
1.4017 February 1988
1.4527 April 1988
1·509 February 1988
1.536 July 1987
1.537 July 1987
1.5315 December 1987
1.5713 April 1988
2.1110 May 1988
2.208 February 1988
2.2330 March 1988
2.2923 May 1988
2.312 December 1987
2.472 March 1988
2.5529 March 1988
2.563 February 1988
3.2720 July 1987
4.0121 October 1987
4.079 March 1988
5.5825 May 1988
8.3010 March 1988
9.248 December 1987
9.2713 July 1987
18.5510 November 1987

1 pm.

Table II

Occasions when the House sat after 1.30 am

Session

Number

1959–608
1960–6116
1961–6210
1962–639
1963–644
1964–6527
1965–667
1966–6740
1967–6821
1968–6924
1969–709
1970–7133
1971–7230
1972–7324
1973–744
197410
1974–7535
1975–7639
1976–7723
1977–7821
1978–798
1979–8041
1980–8128
1981–8222
1982–8313
1983–8434
1984–8535
1985–8618
1986–876
1987–88124

1 To date.

Defence

Southampton University (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts for research and development that have been awarded to Southampton university by his Department for each of the last five years, together with the purpose and cost for each contract.

The Ministry of Defence has currently 805 research agreements and 76 contracts with a wide range of United Kingdom universities, polytechnics and other institutions of higher education.It is not our policy to give details of these arrangements. It is for the universities themselves to confirm their involvement.

Departmental Costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to make any changes to the 1988–89 running costs limit for his Department.

The running costs limit for the Ministry of Defence will be reduced by £50,000 from £5,407,883,000 to £5,407,833,000. The reduction falls on class 1, vote 1 and reflects an agreement by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) to take over responsibility for producing some analytical work required by the MOD. This reduction will be matched by a corresponding increase in the OPCS's running cost limit to be shown on class 20, vote 16. The transfer of this work will not affect the MOD block cash limit, nor the cash limit on class 1, vote 1, as the MOD will be charged on the non-running cost part of the Vote for the work undertaken by OPCS.

Woolwich Arsenal

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals he is presently considering for major housing development on land at Woolwich Arsenal;(2) what consultations he has undertaken with the London borough of Greenwich concerning redevelopment of land at Woolwich Arsenal.

The royal arsenal west and royal arsenal east sites are principally occupied by the directorate general defence quality assurance. The future location of the directorate general is under study and, until this has been concluded, we cannot determine what land disposal may be possible on these sites. I can, however, confirm that we would expect to discuss plans for the development of any land to be released with the planning authority at an

SessionReport NumberDescription of PAC ReportRelated C&AG Reports
1979–8016thMatters Relating to the Ministry of Defence:
Paras 17–30 Class 1 Vote 8 Defence Procurement: Sea SystemsAppropriation Account 1978–79 Volume 1 Class 1 Vote 8
1980–813rdMatters Relating to the Ministry of Defence:
Paras 18–54 Class I Vote 2 Defence ProcurementAppropriation Account 1979–80 Volume 1 Class 1 Vote 2
1981–829thChevaline improvement to the Polaris missile systemNo C&AG report
1981–8216thMinistry of Defence:
Provision of Army Vehicles; Estimating, monitoring and control of Expenditure; Pricing and post costing of non—competitive contracts. Paras 17–29Appropriation Account 1980–81 Volume 1 Class 1 Votes 1, 2, 4 and 5
1982–835thMatters relating to the Ministry of Defence:
Paras 42–53 Class 1 Vote 2 Defence ProcurementAppropriation Account 1981–82 Class 1 Vote 2
1983–8419thThe United Kingdom Trident ProgrammeHC 287
1983–8433rdEconomy of Stores SupportHC 359
1984–851stMaintenance of major RAF equipmentsHC 481
1984–8516thMajor Projects Statement 1983–84No published C&AG report
1984–8525thProfit Formula for non—competitive Government contracts, etcHC 243 1984–85
1984–8528thThe Torpedo programmeHc 291
1984–8535thDesign and Procurement of WarshipsHC 423 1984–85
1985–8618thSupplies for the Armed ForcesHC 465 1984–85
1985–8623rdProduction Costs of Defence EquipmentHC 505 1984–85
1985–8635thInternational Collaborative Projects for Defence Equipment; Major Projects StatementNo published C&AG report
1986–876thControl and Management of the Development of Major EquipmentHC 568 1985–86

Note:

In addition to the reports referred to above:

(1) The PAC have taken evidence in their current session on the following procurement subjects although the reports have yet to be published: The Torpedo Programme and Design and Procurement of Warships; Control and Management of the Trident Programme Annual Statement on Major Defence Projects; Control and Management of the Development of Major Equipment Procurement Irregularities; Demountable Rack Offloading and Pick-up System (DROPS)

The Profit Formula

EH 101

(2) The Appropriation Accounts (Volume 1 Class 1) for the period 1983–84 to 1986–87 also contain reports on defence matters by the C&AG.

Rally Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much income has been derived in each of the last five years by the use of his Department's land in Epynt, Otterburn and Salisbury Plain for all forms of rally sport.

Income derived from all forms of rally sport on defence land at Epynt in Brecon, Otterburn and Salisbury Plain over each of the last five years is as follows:

EpyntOtterburnSalisbury Plain
£££
1983–843,3429674,121
1984–854,2021,4857,092
1985–865,7291,5189,815
1986–877,2681,3797,253
1987–884,3602,0665,259

early date. Any such plans would need to take account of the nature of the area and, in particular, of the historic buildings on the royal arsenal west site.

Procurement (Overspending)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all overspending by his Department on defence procurement as identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee since 1979.

Information in the form requested is not held by my Department. However, the following is a list of reports by the Committee of Public Accounts since 1979, most of which have been based on reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and which have addressed aspects of defence procurements:

Service Personnel (Taxation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in any country in which they are stationed, members of the armed forces pay any form of local taxation; and if he will make a statement.

Members of the armed forces who are operating abroad under the provisions of the NATO status of forces agreement are exempt, under article X of the agreement, from any local taxes that result from residence or domicile in the receiving state, or on the salaries and emoluments paid to them in respect of their employment as members of the armed forces. Outside NATO, we always seek to ensure that similar arrangements apply. The armed forces do not, however, enjoy any exemption from taxes or duties relating to purchases and services chargeable under the fiscal regulations of the receiving state.

Low-Flying Areas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed (a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low-flying area 4.

Low-flying area 4 covers (a) the county of Hereford and parts of the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the west midlands and (b) the parliamentary constituencies of Cheltenham, Worcester, Mid-Worcestershire, Worcestershire South. Wyre Forest, Leominster, Gloucester and Hereford and parts of the parliamentary constituencies of Ludlow, Staffordshire South, Bromsgrove, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick and Leamington, Banbury, Witney, Cirencester and Tewkesbury, Stroud and Gloucestershire, West.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed (a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low-flying area 6.

Low-flying area 6 covers (a) the county of Northamptonshire and parts of the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire and (b) the parliamentary constituencies of Rutland and Melton, Leicester, East, Leicestershire, South, Leicester, West, Harborough, Peterborough, Corby, Mid-Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire, North, Huntingdon, Wellingborough, Kettering, Northampton, North, Northampton, South, Blaby, Milton Keynes, and Luton, North, and parts of the parliamentary constituencies of Loughborough, Rushcliffe, Gedling, Sherwood, Newark, Grantham, Stamford and Spalding, Holland with Boston, Norfolk, North-West, Norfolk, South-West, Cambridgeshire, North-East, Cambridgeshire, South-East, Cambridgeshire, South-West, Saffron Walden, Stevenage, Hertford and Stortford, Hertfordshire, North, Hertfordshire, West, Bedfordshire, South-West, Buckingham, Daventry, Banbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Rugby and Kenilworth, Nuneaton and Bosworth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the restrictions on use of afterburners by military jet aircraft flying at low level (a) in the United Kingdom low-flying system as a whole and (b) in the central Wales, Borders and northern Scotland tactical training areas.

Aircrew are instructed to use engine reheat (or afterburners) as little as possible when flying overland at low level, particularly over inhabited areas. Where use is necessary, for example, during take-offs and properly authorised display and trials flying, and emergencies and related training, it is discouraged at levels below 1,000 ft minimum separation distance (msd) or 500 ft msd for Jaguar aircraft. These instructions apply to the United Kingdom low-flying system as a whole, including tactical training areas.

Ex-Service Personnel (Rejoining)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning Army ex-service men and women rejoining the Army when they have a criminal record.

Whether or not an ex-service man or woman with a criminal record is allowed to re-enlist into the Army would depend on the individual nature of the offence. However, a person who has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment is normally ineligible for re-enlistment.

Raf Feltwell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unit of the United States Air Force space command at Falcon air force station, Colorado, will control the proposed deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell.

The 18th space surveillance group from Falcon air force base, Colorado, will have operational control of the deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell.

Maritime Concepts

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation concept of maritime operations his Department is producing for the Eurogroup maritime concepts subgroup; what the timetable is for the review of maritime operations by the Eurogroup; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence contributes fully to the work of the Euro long-term working group. Details of this are classified.

B-52 Bombers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose and function of exercises of B-52s at (i) RAF Fairford, April to May, (ii) RAF Fairford, June and (iii) RAF Marham, June.

Five United States Air Force B-52 aircraft deployed to RAF Fairford for the second of this year's Busy Brewer exercises, between 3 and 13 June. Such exercises, which involve deployments within the United Kingdom and continental Europe, are designed to rehearse the aircraft's wartime role in conventional support of NATO. The previous Busy Brewer exercise was held at Fairford between 29 April and 16 May. Two B-52 aircraft will deploy to RAF Marham between 15 and 24 June to participate in joint training exercises with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

Exercise Tristar

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many ground troops and vehicles will be taking part in Exercise Tristar; what is the role in their exercise; and in what areas they will be exercising;(2) what is the purpose of Exercise Tristar; how many and what types of aircraft will be participating; and if he will make a statement.

Exercise Tristar 88 is a routine training exercise which is being held in southern Scotland and northern England from 10 to 26 June and involves a small number of troops, vehicles and aircraft. It is not our general practice to give details of such exercises in advance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place with the National Farmers Union and local authorities concerning Exercise Tristar.

The usual consultations for an exercise of this size have taken place with the various authorities concerned. No consultations have taken place with the National Farmers Union, although, in the usual way, there have been consultations with individual landowners as necessary.

Search And Rescue Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet made a decision about the future deployment of search and rescue helicopters at RAF Leuchars; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will announce his decision over the future deployment of A flight, 22 Squadron, RAF Chivenor.

My hon. Friends will be aware that the Ministry of Defence has been conducting a detailed study, in consultation with the Department of Transport and other interested Government Departments, into the deployment of military search and rescue helicopters in the United Kingdom. Certain aspects of that study, as they affect deployment on the east and south coasts of England, have been completed and announced.I am well aware of the concern felt by my hon. Friends and other hon. Members about the future of search and rescue helicopter services as they affect the remaining areas of the country. To enable all these concerns to be further considered by the Government, no decisions will be taken until later this year.

Transport

Lrt (Chairman)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to appoint a new chairman of London Regional Transport.

Channel Tunnel

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what route trains from the north of England will be directed through London to the Channel tunnel; what infrastructure work will be required for this; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the British Railways Board. I understand it intends initially at least to use the existing west London line, which will be upgraded and electrified for this purpose.

East London River Crossing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what additional evidence about the east London river crossing he has received from the London borough of Greenwich in the light of his Department's decision to alter the criteria for assessing the economic performances of new road schemes; and what response he has made;(2) if he will make it his policy to take into account his Department's revised criteria for assessing the economic performance of new road schemes when reaching a decision on the proposed east London river crossing;(3) when he now expects to be able to announce his decision on the proposed east. London river crossing.

The London borough of Greenwich has submitted its consultants' assessment of the effect of the revised values of travel time and accident prevention on the east London river crossing scheme. I have confirmed that my Department's reassessment, together with that of the London borough of Greenwich, will be taken into account by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and me in reaching our decision on the statutory orders for this scheme. We hope to announce our joint decision soon.

Driving Test Fees

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to assess the value for money of the service provided by the Driving Test Organisation in the light of the proposed increase in the driving test fee to £16·50.

The 10% increase proposed represents a total increase of 15% since 1984. This is below the increase in the retail prices index. The new driving test fee of £16·50 is required to cover increased costs and the move to a reduced examiner work schedule later in the year. Significant efficiency improvements are being made following the review of driver testing to improve the service provided to the public, improve productivity and reduce unit costs.

Drivers (Minimum Age)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the effect on the number of serious injuries and deaths of raising the minimum age requirement for the driving of (a) motor cars and (b) all motor vehicles to 18 years.

In 1986 a total of 266 deaths and 5,697 serious injuries occurred in accidents where the driver or rider of a motor vehicle was under 18 years old. It is impossible to predict how many of these casualties might be saved by raising the minimum age to 18, because a significant factor in accidents to this group is lack of driving experience rather than simply a question of age. We have no plans to raise the current minimum age requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the effect on the volume of traffic of raising the minimum age requirement for the driving of (a) motor cars and (b) all motor vehicles to 18 years.

The effect on the volume of traffic of raising to 18 years the minimum age requirement for the driving of both (a) motor cars, and (b) all motor vehicles, would probably be a reduction of about one quarter of 1 per cent. There is no intention at present of altering the age requirements for driving licences.

Toxic Waste (Switzerland)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what special measures his Department is taking to monitor the transportation in the next few weeks of toxic waste from Switzerland to the ReChem plant at Pontypool.

The transport of the waste will, I understand, take place under the terms of the European agreement covering the international carriage of dangerous goods by road (ADR). Special monitoring is unnecessary. In addition to the requirements of the agreement, a consignment note must be raised at the port of entry in Great Britain when imported waste is special waste under the terms of the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980.

Manor Drive, Kirkham

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department proposes to take in order to determine the ownership of Manor drive, Kirkham, Iancashire.

Lancashire county council has agreed with us that the land off Manor drive in which the Department once had an interest now vests in the council.

Trade And Industry

Japan (Imports)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what he estimates to be the annual cost to the consumer of the car industry's voluntary agreement to limit car imports from Japan.

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answers I gave on 26 April, Official Report, columns 92–93, to my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) and on 7 June, Official Report, column 429, to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what items from Japan are subject to import quotas or voluntary restraint agreements by the European Community or the United Kingdom.

There are no quantitative restrictions on imports into the United Kingdom from Japan. There are, however, some informal inter-industry voluntary arrangements with Japanese producers, details of which were given in the written answer of 30 March, Official Report, columns 478–79, to a question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what imports from Japan are subject to European Community tariffs.

I refer my hon. Friend to the common customs tariff of the European Communities. There are no preferential arrangements with Japan.

Net Book Agreement

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what he estimates to be the annual cost to the consumer of the net book agreement.

Although there have been several studies of the effect of the net book agreement, I have not been able to establish that any estimates have ever been made. Any attempt to quantify the cost would be dependent upon so many uncertainties that its usefulness would be limited. I therefore have no such estimate.

Hearing Aid Council

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the chairman and members of the Hearing Aid Council, together with the dates upon which their appointments expire.

The information requested is as follows:

Date appointment ends
Chairman
Mr. N. GrantDecember 1990
Members
Mr. R. S. EldridgeDecember 1988
Mrs. M. B. NobbsDecember 1988
Mr. A B. DayDecember 1988
Mrs. I. GilbertDecember 1988
Mr. D. P. OrmerodDecember 1989
Mr. A. J. DouglasDecember 1989
Miss A. SpokesDecember 1989
Dr. D. N. BrooksDecember 1989
Dr. S. BellmanDecember 1990
Mr. N. J. KingDecember 1990
Mr. I. E. MunroDecember 1990

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the bodies he consulted before appointing two members of the Hearing Aid Council capable of representing the interests of registered dispensers until December 1990.

There are only two trade bodies which represent the interests of hearing aid dispensers, the Hearing Aid Industry Association and the Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists. Both were consulted before the appointments referred to by the hon. Member were made.

Manufacturing Output

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the percentage change in manufacturing output in each of the European Economic Community countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and Japan, taking the 1979 level as 100.

The information is in the following tables:

Changes in manufacturing output between 1979 and 1987
Per cent.
Belgium4·4
Denmark..
France1-1·6
Federal Republic of Germany7·8
Greece-0·8
Ireland46·2

Per cent.

Italy8·8
Luxembourg21·5
Netherlands13·1
Portugal

136·9

Spain11·3
United Kingdom0·2
United States20·9
Canada19·3
Japan28·4
.. = not readily available

1 estimate

Sources: Central Statistical Office. OECD.

Polyurethane Foam

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what ignition tests on polyurethane foam were carried out or arranged by his Department in preparation for the proposed Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations.

Manufacterers of polyurethane foam, independently and in co-ordination under the British Rubber Manufacturers Association, have been involved in more or less continuous fire testing of their products. As a result, claims were made during 1987 about new combustion-modified types of foams and their resistance to BS 5852 ignition source 5.One of these manufacturers also undertook work in 1987 on a possible weight loss test in connection with envisaged regulations.Following a statement by my hon. Friend the then Minister for Consumer Affairs on 11 January 1988, at column 23–24, my Department requested that the industry should concentrate on a test to distinguish "combustion modified" foam from the standard foam and high resilience foam, which we proposed to ban. This work was then drawn together by a BSI technical committee which first met on 5 February. Agreement on the requirements for an ignition test to indentify combustion-modified foam was announced in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills) on 10 May, at column

69. In parallel with this, some confirmatory testing was incorporated into a study of the fire behaviour of the various foams arranged at the fire research station of the Department of the Environment. The results of this study are not yet available.

Fire Safety

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the programmes currently being pursued by the Department of Trade and Industry to promote consumer awareness of the need for greater domestic fire safety;(2) if he will list the sums allocated in 1986, 1987 and 1988 by the Department of Trade and Industry to promote consumer education in domestic fire safety.

Publicity on fire safety in the home other than fire safety of consumer goods is the responsibility of the Home Office. But my Department does promote home safety awareness campaigns which include some safety messages on how to avoid the dangers from fire in the home, for example, Electricity Can Kill, Electric Blankets, Nightwear and Fire, Fireworks, Furniture and Fire.It is not possible to separate the element of expenditure on fire safety from the total costs of these campaigns.

Contracts (Cancellation Forms)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the light of the changes in the law after 1 July relating to contracts signed away from business premises and in particular to that part of the contract that deals with cancellation forms, he will state how this law will be enforced, with particular regard to those firms which are not members of trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

The new regulations (SI 1987/2117) provide that if the consumer does not receive a written notice informing him of his right of cancellation the contract will not be enforceable against him. My Department has taken steps to alert traders to the new legal requirements by publishing a guidance booklet which has been distributed to trading standards departments throughout the United Kingdom as well as to interested trade associations. The Office of Fair Trading will also be alerting consumers to their new rights in a revised version of its leaflet "How to cope with doorstep salesmen" to be published shortly.

Companies

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was (a) the total cost of administration of companies registration offices in Great Britain in the year 1987–88, (b) the total revenue from fees charged by companies registration offices in Great Britain in the year 1987–88, and (c) the sum of profit or loss resulting from the difference between (a) and (b).

Provisional figures for 1987–88 show that expenditure on a memorandum trading account basis at the companies registration offices amounted to £21 million. Fees and charges to cover these costs, together with a contribution towards the costs of running a system of registered companies, amounted to £28 million in the same period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total number of company searches carried out at each of the public search rooms in Great Britain, and by the postal search services at each office, during the year 1987–88.

The number of searches carried out during the period at the London, Cardiff and Edinburgh search rooms was 3,021,000, 872,000 and 206,000 respectively. In addition, the Cardiff and Edinburgh offices handled 58,000 and 8,000 postal searches respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total of inspection fees collected for inspections carried out at each of the public search rooms of companies registration offices and at each of the postal sales units.

The total of inspection fees collected in 1987–88 was £3·8 million of which £0.8 million was collected at Cardiff, £2·9 million at London and £0·2 million at Edinburgh. Income from postal searches amounted to £130,000 at Cardiff and £20,000 at Edinburgh.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the postal sales service of company information which was introduced by companies registration offices in December 1983 is accommodated within the existing buildings of companies registration offices.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what additional recurring costs, apart from staff costs, have been incurred by companies registration offices as a result of the introduction of the postal sales service for company information in 1983.

The introduction of the postal search service has resulted in recurring non-staff costs to cover postage, stationery, printing, micrographics equipment, office machinery and departmental overheads.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the total cost of maintaining the Companies House facility in London during the year 1987–88.

Provisional figures for 1987–88 show that the cost of maintaining the Companies House facility in London on a memorandum trading account basis was £4·4 million. These costs exclude those services at Cardiff which support this facility.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the number of company searches carried out at each of the companies registration offices in Great Britain on behalf of Departments of Her Majesty's Government during the year 1987–88; if such services are charged to the requesting Department; and if he will make a statement.

In 1987–88 some 176,000 searches were carried out for the CROs' own working purposes and those of other parts of the Department of Trade and Industry. Searches for other Government Departments attract the normal search feee and are, therefore, not always separately identified, but total at least 68,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the number of staff employed in directly meeting the requests for company information, as opposed to collecting and collating company records, at (a) each of the public search rooms and (b) each of the units handling the postal sales services.

The number of staff (full-time equivalents) employed in the CROs, as at March 1988, in meeting requests made for company information at London, Cardiff and Edinburgh were 282, 68 and 12 respectively. For postal sales services from Cardiff and Edinburgh the numbers were 18·5 and 2 respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total number of live limited companies registered at each companies registration office in Great Britain at the end of the year 1987–88.

The number of companies registered in England and Wales and in Scotland at the end of the financial year 1987–88 was 1,063,811 and 53,706 respectively. A number of these were either in liquidation or in course of removal from the register, leaving the number regarded as "active" as 880,000 and 47,000 respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total number of new companies registered at each companies registration office in Great Britain in the year 1987–88, and the total number registered in each case with a total paid-up capital of £100 or less during the same period.

The number of new companies registered at the Cardiff and Edinburgh offices in 1987–88 was 120,000 and 6,300 respectively. An analysis of paid-up capital is not yet available, but the number of new companies with a nominal capital of £100 or less is estimated to have been 47,600 and 3,200 respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the number of microfiches required to carry the average company records at companies registration offices in Great Britain; and what is the material cost of reproducing a single microfiche at companies registration offices.

An average of five microfiches carry each company record. The cost of film and processing materials for each microfiche is about 3p.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the significant elements in his calculation that an increase in company search fees is necessary at companies registration offices; and how each proposed new charge for the company search services was arrived at.

The main elements of search service costs include staff, equipment, accommodation and overheads. The new fees have been set at a level to ensure that the income received will cover the full costs of providing the services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why, in relation to the company registration offices, an increase in search charges is proposed.

Search fees have remained unaltered since 1981. For some time the income from these services has fallen short of the costs of delivering them. The new fees have been set at a level designed to ensure that, taking one year with another, the income received will cover the costs of the services involved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of the statutory search fee at each of the companies registration offices' public search rooms in 1978 and 1983; and what is the proposed figure for 1989.

The statutory inspection fees were 5p (formerly one shilling) in 1978 (as it had been since 1844) and £1 in 1983. The proposed £2·50 fee from 1 July 1988 will be subject to annual review.

Aerospace (Launch-Aid)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the total amount of support from his Department to aerospace companies for launch aid since 1979, project by project and year by year.

Since 1979 lauch aid has been provided by the Department of Trade and Industry to aerospace companies as follows:

£ million
Project1979–801980–811981–821982–831983–841984–851985–861986–871987–8811988–89Total
British Aerospace
A32046·573·086·044·52-0·3249·3
Rolls-Royce
RB211–22B3·43·4
RB211–524B0·30·3
RB211–52429·534·732·315·0111·5
Growth programme
RB211–53545·932·460·338·614·6191·8
RB211–535E460·010·070·0
V250010·022·727·360·0
Total Rolls—Royce78·867·192·953·674·620·022·727·3437·0
Westland
W3010·010·714·04·639·3
EH1013·73·95·78·10·3421·7
Total Westland10·010·717·78·55·78·10·361·0
Total payments78·867·192·963·685·384·2104·2119·052·6-0·4747·3
Receipts55·29·68·612·98·010·214·618·825·260·1113·2
Net Total73·657·584·350·777·374·089·6100·227·4-0·5634·1
1To date.
2 Relates to the repayment by British Aerospace to DTI of an overpayment of aid.
3Up to £450 million is also expected to be made available to British Aerospace between 1988 and 1992 in connection with its participation in the Airbus A330/A340 programme.
4Total launch aid for this project will be £60 million.
5Levies received so far relate only to Rolls-Royce, including contracts where launch aid was paid prior to 1979–80.
6 Yet to be notified.

British Shipbuilders (Cuba Order)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to respond to the request by British Shipbuilders for intervention fund support for the potential order from Cuba.

I have not yet received a formal application for support for this order, but I have told British Shipbuilders in response to inquiries that I would consider any application from it with great care in view of the considerable losses over and above agreed support that the corporation has made on other orders.

Shipbuilding

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what occasions and for what purposes his Department has made formal complaints to the European Community Commissioner concerning breaches of the fifth or sixth directives on support for shipbuilding by other member states of the Community.

We have asked the European Commission to investigate the use of state aid in the following bids: from the Netherlands for a floating crane in April 1985 and two trawlers in October 1985; from France for a cross-channel ferry in January 1987; from Portugal for a fishing boat in May 1987; and from Spain for a stern trawler in March 1988. We have been concerned to ensure fairness of competition for United Kingdom yards with others within the Community.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has about the accrued losses of (a) the Italian, (b) the West German and (c) the French merchant shipbuilding industries since 1979.

This information is not available to us. The losses owners are prepared to bear is a matter for them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has about the accrued losses of the South Korean shipbuilding industry since 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been, year by year since 1979, the amount of money provided by his Department to British Shipbuilders as intervention fund under the fifth and sixth directives of the European Community.

Payments of intervention fund to British Shipbuilders since 1979 have amounted to £259 million. Year by year totals from 1979–80 have been £31 million, £40 million, £46 million, £44 million, £34 million, £18 million, £22 million, £14 million and £10 million, respectively. The figures include payments made under the fourth directive, which was effective until 27 April 1981. No payments have yet been made in 1988–89.

British Shipbuilders (Losses)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give his estimate for the accrued losses of British Shipbuilders since 1979, excluding those mixed and naval yards that are now in the private sector.

The total cost to the taxpayer of keeping British Shipbuilders merchant shipbuilding business alive since 1979 has been over £1,850 million. The accrued losses on a profit and loss basis, excluding the warship yards and Scott Lithgow, have been approximately £1,050 million.

United Kingdom Balance of Trade in Manufactures 1
£ billion
Balance of payments basisOverseas trade statistics basis
European CommunityRest of worldEuropean CommunityRest of world
Twelve months to:
March 1988210½22-11·6+0·7
April 1988....-11·9+0·2
1 Standard International Trade Classification (Rev. 3) Sections 5 to 8
2 Estimate
.. Not available

Note: Figures on a balance of payments basis are available only quarterly. On the overseas trade statistics basis imports, but not exports, include the cost of insurance and freight charges.

Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.

Department of Trade and Industry.

Departmental Research Establishments

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the review study undertaken into his Department's research establishments.

No. The review was part of my Department's advice on the policy that my right hon. and noble Friend should adopt towards by Deprtment's research establishments. His conclusions were explained to the House in the answer I gave on 7 June.

Furniture Safety

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the Draft Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, issued by his Department on 1 March; and if he will consider implementing these regulations sooner than 1 March 1989.

I have received approximately 260 seperate representations on the draft Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Relugations. A number of these contain suggestions about the dates for them to come into operation both for manufacture and for retail sale. I am considering proposals for an earlier date of implementation for one of the requirements.

Civil Servants (Outside Activities)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pontyridd of 24 May, Official Report, column 114, are the names and Civil Service grades of the seven civil servants appointed as directors of public liability companies; of which companies they have been appointed directors; and how much expenses they received in the last full year of such directorships.

The following is the information on the seven civil servants referred to in the earlier answer:

Manufacturing Trade

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent 12-month surplus or deficit in manufacturing trade with the EEC and the rest of the world, respectively.

The latest information is in the following table:

GradeCompany
Mr. J. V. Hagestadt5British Aerospace Flying College Limited, a subsidiary of British Aerospace plc.
Mr. R. A. C. Hewes3Comforto-Vickers, a Division of Vickers plc.
Miss M. T. Neville-Rolfe3Rolls Royce Motors Limited, a subsidiary of Vickers plc.
Mr. R. Priddle3Film and Television Division of Rank Organisation plc
Mr. P. Salvidge5Marine Engineering Division of Vickers plc
Mr. N. R. Thornton5Medical and Scientific Equipment Division of Vickers plc
Dr. A. J. Wallard5Rank Cintel, a subsidiary of the Rank Organisation plc.
Since that time Mr. Thornton has resigned from that appointment and Mr. J. P. Spencer, a grade 5, has been appointed to the board of GEC Avery, a division of GEC plc. The only expenses received are the expenses which the individuals incur in attending board meetings and otherwise visiting the companies.

National Engineering Laboratory

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the actual or estimated staffing levels for each category of staff employed at the National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, for the period 1979 to 1990 inclusive.

The staffing levels of industrial and non-industrial staff at the National Engineering Laboratory on 1 April for the years 1979 to 1988 were:

IndustrialsNon-industrialsTotal
1979294531825
1980267523790
1981246495741
1982237½468½706
1983226½456½683
1984193458½651½
1985185461646
1986186448634
1987168463631
1988156472628

The projected level for 1989 and 1990 is a total of 620 staff.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from which firm his Department commissioned a study into the future of the Government-run research establishments, including the National Engineering Laboratory; and on what date it was submitted to his Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under what authority he proposes to effect the sale of the National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride; and if he will make a statement.

The National Engineering Laboratory is a division of the Department of Trade and Industry. Its transfer will be effected under the prerogative power to determine the organisation of the Department which is exercised as Secretary of State by my right hon. and noble Friend.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will give details and dates in the last 12 months of discussions his Department has had with representatives of (a) the British Hydromechanics Research Association and (b) the Production Engineering Research Association on the future of the National Engineering Laboratory;

(2) on what date the British Hydromechanics Research Association lodged an interest with his Department in an optics paper drawn up by the firm of Cooper and Lybrand on the future of the National Engineering Laboratory; and if he will make a statement.

The British Hydromechanics Research Association and the Production Engineering Research Association independently approached the Department to express an interest in the National Engineering Laboratory during the course of the review of the research establishments. Following normal practice, details are commercially confidential. The BHRA subsequently sent the Department a paper giving its views on the future development of NEL.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the British Hydromechanics Research Association was notified of the Government's intention to sell off the National Engineering Laboratory in advance of the public announcement in the answer of 7 June, Official Report, columns 431–32.

No. However, the British Hydromechanics Research Association was informed of the likely timing of an announcement because it had expressed a close interest in the future of NEL. It was given no advance information about the content of the announcement and the results of our review of research establishments.