Written Answers To Questions
Wednesday 30 April 1980
Social Services
Restricted Patients
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the Tower hospital, Trent, Warley hospital, North-East Thames, Thatchbury Mount and Knowle hospitals, Wessex, Borocourt hospital, Oxford, and Greaves Hall hospital, Mersey, are still refusing to accept patients transferred from the special hospitals; if so, for what reason; and if he will take appropriate action.
All of the hospitals named are currently prepared to consider the transfer of patients from the special hospitals.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those regional health authorities and hospitals that have refused to accept the 135 men and 48 women awaiting transfer from the special hospitals on 31 January, with the reasons for the refusal.
No. The information is not readily available and an attempt to provide it would be unjustified in terms of time and cost, and would not in any event produce a clear-cut result because of the difficulty of defining refusal to admit patients from the special hospitals.
Invalidity Insurance Schemes
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the comparison of invalidity insurance schemes in member countries of the Council of Europe prepared by La Federation Internationale des Mutiles et Invalides du Travail et des Invalides Civils a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.
I am studying the report with interest.
Maternity Allowance
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the amount and the proportion of the money to be saved by abating maternity allowance which will come to those women whose income does not exceed their personal tax allowances in (a) 1980–81 and (b) 1981–82.
About 15 per cent. each year amounting to about £¼ million in 1980–81 and £1 million in 1981–82.
General Practitioners (Complaints)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many complaints are known to have been made against general practitioners during the previous 12 months; and if he is satisfied with the method of inquiries made with these.
750 complaints were investigated under the statutory procedure in 1979. This figure does not include any complaints which were withdrawn or resolved informally; records of such cases are not kept centrally. I am not at present convinced that changes in the method of inquiries are necessary.
Foster Children (Boarding-Out Allowances)
36.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the levels of boarding-out allowances for foster children and publish in the Official Report the most recent information he has about boarding-out allowances paid by each local authority in England and Wales, for children of varying ages.
The local authority associations issued guidance to local social services authorities in 1978 designed at achieving greater uniformity in boarding out scales by encouraging authorities to work towards common age bands and age relativities. They followed this up with a survey last year of the boarding out scales paid by each authority in England and Wales. The results are as follows:
| TABLE 1—PART ONE | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COUNCILS | |||||||||||||||||||||
Rate paid for age under
| |||||||||||||||||||||
County Name
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 5
| 6
| 7
| 8
| 9
| 10
| 11
| 12
| 13
| 14
| 15
| 16
| 17
| 18
| Comment. | ||
| Avon | … | … | 28 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 38 | 46 | (1) | ||||||||||||
| Bedfordshire | … | … | 12·76 | 14·88 | 16·31 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | |||||||||||||
| Berkshire | … | … | 11·69 | 14·28 | 16·24 | 17·50 | 20·86 | ||||||||||||||
| Buckinghamshire | … | … | 11·97 | 13·58 | 15·61 | 17·43 | 19·67 | ||||||||||||||
| Cambridgeshire | … | … | 8·73 | 9·54 | 10·34 | 10·99 | 11·93 | 12·85 | 14·65 | 17·02 | 17·95 | 18·91 | (2) | ||||||||
| Cheshire | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·50 | (3) | ||||||||||||
| Cleveland | … | … | 13·58 | 17·01 | 19·25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Clwyd | … | … | 12·46 | 13·79 | 15·82 | 17·29 | 19·67 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| Cornwall | … | … | 10·50 | 12·81 | 14·56 | 16·66 | 18·45 | ||||||||||||||
| Cumbria | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | |||||||||||||
| Derbyshire | … | … | 11·80 | 13·30 | 14·32 | 15·43 | 17·48 | 18·79 | 20·16 | 21·65 | |||||||||||
| Devon | … | … | 9·31 | 12·18 | 15·33 | 19·04 | |||||||||||||||
| Dorset | … | … | 11·62 | 13·72 | 15·54 | 18·27 | 19·88 | ||||||||||||||
| Durham | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | (5) | |||||||||||||||
| Dyfed | … | … | 13·37 | 14·70 | 16·73 | 18·20 | 20·58 | (7) | |||||||||||||
| East Sussex | … | … | 11·55 | 13·51 | 14·84 | 16·03 | 17·36 | 20·58 | (6) | ||||||||||||
| Essex | … | … | 12·18 | 14·14 | 15·54 | 16·80 | 18·20 | 18·55 | 21·63 | 22·19 | |||||||||||
| Gloucestershire | … | … | 10·36 | 12·04 | 12·39 | 12·81 | 14·00 | 15·54 | 16·17 | 16·59 | 17·29 | 17·50 | (8) | ||||||||
| Gwent | … | … | 12·51 | 13·78 | 15·83 | 17·32 | 19·69 | (9) | |||||||||||||
| Gwynedd | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hampshire | … | … | 10·99 | 12·81 | 14·00 | 15·26 | 17·08 | 20·16 | |||||||||||||
| Hereford and Worcester | … | 11·48 | 12·81 | 14·14 | 16·17 | 17·71 | 18·83 | 19·88 | 21·00 | ||||||||||||
| Hertfortshire | … | … | 10·47 | 11·91 | 12·91 | 14·42 | 15·96 | 18·06 | |||||||||||||
| Humberside | … | … | 9·60 | 10·90 | 14·50 | 16·90 | 19·60 | ||||||||||||||
| Isle of Wight | … | … | 10·15 | 10·36 | 11·69 | 11·90 | 12·60 | 13·86 | 14·56 | 15·82 | 16·45 | 17·01 | 17·99 | ||||||||
| Kent | … | … | 13·00 | 14·00 | 15·50 | 17·50 | 19·00 | 20·00 | 22·50 | 23·50 | |||||||||||
| Lancashire | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | (11) | ||||||||||||
| Leicester | … | … | 10·90 | 12·70 | 13·95 | 15·19 | 17·15 | 19·40 | |||||||||||||
| ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COUNCILS (Continued) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Rate paid for age under
| |||||||||||||||||||||
County Name
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 5
| 6
| 7
| 8
| 9
| 10
| 11
| 12
| 13
| 14
| 15
| 16
| 17
| 18
| Comment. | ||
| Lincolnshire | … | … | 13·14 | 13·41 | 15·50 | 16·33 | 19·10 | 19·52 | 23·71 | 25·51 | |||||||||||
| Mid Glamorgan | … | … | 13·37 | 14·70 | 16·73 | 18·20 | 20·58 | (12) | |||||||||||||
| Norfolk | … | … | 11·83 | 13·78 | 15·11 | 16·41 | 17·06 | 17·72 | 18·37 | 20·99 | (13) | ||||||||||
| Northamptonshire | … | 12·76 | 14·88 | 16·31 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | ||||||||||||||
| Northumberland | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | ||||||||||||||||
| North Yorkshire | … | … | 9·55 | 10·90 | 12·75 | 14·85 | 17·25 | (14) | |||||||||||||
| Nottinghamshire | … | … | 11·50 | 13·90 | 16·20 | 18·90 | 21·30 | ||||||||||||||
| Oxfordshire | … | … | 11·20 | 13·20 | 14·55 | 15·90 | 17·25 | 20·55 | (15) | ||||||||||||
| Powys | … | … | 13·37 | 14·70 | 16·73 | 18·20 | 20·58 | (16) | |||||||||||||
| Salop | … | … | 10·08 | 12·32 | 14·00 | 15·12 | 17·92 | (17) | |||||||||||||
| Somerset | … | … | 12·76 | 14·88 | 16·31 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | (18) | ||||||||||||
| South Glamorgan | … | 13·37 | 14·70 | 16·73 | 18·20 | 20·58 | (19) | ||||||||||||||
| Staffordshire | … | … | 10·78 | 13·16 | 14·98 | 16·80 | 19·18 | (20) | |||||||||||||
| Suffolk | … | … | 11·08 | 13·71 | 16·28 | 18·01 | 21·48 | ||||||||||||||
| Surrey | … | … | 12·15 | 15·30 | 17·30 | 18·70 | 22·20 | ||||||||||||||
| Warwickshire | … | … | 12·76 | 15·60 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | ||||||||||||||
| West Glamorgan | … | … | 13·37 | 14·70 | 16·73 | 18·20 | 20·58 | ||||||||||||||
| West Sussex | … | … | 12·46 | 14·49 | 15·89 | 17·15 | 18·62 | 22·05 | |||||||||||||
| Wiltshire | … | … | 10·90 | 12·75 | 13·95 | 15·15 | 16·40 | 19·60 | |||||||||||||
Comments
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Fortnightly payments. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) Basic rate excludes clothing allowance. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) Following recommendation of CRPC (November)-phased. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) Follows recommendation of CRCP (Wales). | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) Agebands and relatives under review in CRO. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) Policy to work towards NFCA rates and relativity. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (7) NFCA rates. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (8) Policy to work towards ACC relativities. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (9) Follows recommendation of CRCP (Wales). | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (11) Policy move to ACC relativities over 3 years. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (12) Follows recommendations CRPC (Wales) move to ACC relativities 1980–81. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (13) Rates and relativities based on local survey. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (14) Wef 12.11.79 new rates 11.10/12.70/14.85 17.35/20.20. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (15) Special adolescents scheme. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (16) Follows recommendations of CRPC (Wales). | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (17) Rates are at 1978 levels. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (18) Rates supplied are for 1980. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (19) Follows recommendations of CRPC (Wales). | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (20) ACC relativities within financial limits. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| TABLE 1—PART TWO | |||||||||
| ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COUNCILS | |||||||||
County name
| Additional payments made in respect of
| ACC agebands
| ACC relativities
| Additional elements included in allowances
| Frequency of review
| Last review
| |||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
| Avon | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | — | — | — | Annually | … | 23 October 1979 |
| Bedfordshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, retaining fees, extraneous expenses | — | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Berkshire | … | … | 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 | √ | √ | a, b | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Buckinghamshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, travelling | √ | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Cambridgeshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, retaining fees | — | — | — | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Cheshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, day care fostering, family placement | — | — | — | Annually | … | 29 March 1979 |
| Cleveland | … | … | 3, 5, 6 | — | — | a, b, c, d | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Clwyd | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 | √ | — | — | Six monthly | … | 7 October 1979 |
| Cornwall | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | √ | √ | — | Six monthly | … | 11 October 1979 |
| Cumbria | … | … | 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, tools and protective clothing, gift on discharge. | — | — | a, b | Annually | … | 26 March 1979 |
| Derbyshire | … | … | 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, special experimental scheme for boarding | — | — | — | Six monthly | … | 28 September 1979 |
| Devon | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ssecial placements | — | — | — | Six monthly | … | 23 September 1979 |
| Dorset | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, special fostering project | √ | √ | — | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Durham | … | … | 6 | — | — | a, b, c, d | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Dyfed | … | … | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 | √ | √ from 1980–81 | a, b | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| East Sussex | … | … | 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, secure placements, retaining fees | — | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Essex | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, London fringe allowance, initial placement. | — | — | — | Annually | … | 27 September 1979 |
| Gloucestershire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, old age pensioners and widows | — | — | — | Six monthly | … | 8 April 1979 |
| Gwent | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 | √ | — | — | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Gwynedd | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | … | — |
| Hampshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 | — | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Hereford and Worcester | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, exceptional circumstances | — | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Hertfordshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | — | √ | — | Annually | … | October 1978 |
| Humberside | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, promotion of independence | √ | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Isle of Wight | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, special circumstances | — | — | — | Annually | … | 4 October 1979 |
| Kent | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 | — | — | — | Annually | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Lancashire | … | … | 3, 4, 6, 7, specialised fostering | — | — | a, b | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Leicestershire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | — | √ | — | Six monthly | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Lincolnshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 | — | — | — | Six monthly | … | 7 October 1979 |
| Mid Glamorgan | … | … | 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, special fostering | √ | √ from 1980–81 | a, b, holiday allowances | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Norfolk | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 | — | — | — | Annually | … | 14 January 1979 |
| Northamptonshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, exceptional circumstances | — | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
County name
| Additional payments made in respect of
| ACC agebands
| ACC relativities
| Additional elements included in allowances
| Frequency of review
| Last review
| |||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
| Northumberland | … | … | 3, 4, 5, 6, pocket money working child | — | — | a, b | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| North Yorkshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 | √ | √ | — | Annually | … | 13 November 1978 |
| Nottinghamshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 | — | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Oxfordshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, retaining fees | — | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Powys | … | … | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 | √ | — | a, b | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Salop | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 | √ | √ | — | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1978 |
| Somerset | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | — | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 January 1980 |
| South Glamorgan | … | … | 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, special equipment | √ | — | a, b | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| Staffordshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | √ | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Suffolk | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 | √ | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Surrey | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, exceptional costs, limited enhanced payments scheme. | — | √ | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| Warwickshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, changing school allowance | — | — | — | Annually | … | 1 April 1979 |
| West Glamorgan | … | … | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, speci a foster parents scheme | √ | — | a, b, annual holiday | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
| West Sussex | … | … | 1, 2, 6 – | — | — | — | Six monthly | … | 1 July 1979 |
| Wiltshire | … | … | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, day fostering scheme | — | √ | — | Six monthly | … | 1 October 1979 |
Notes:
| |||||||||
| All payments are weekly unless otherwise specified. | |||||||||
| The rates are those paid on 1 October 1979 although some counties have supplied rates for a different date. | |||||||||
Column 4:
| |||||||||
| 1. Christmas allowance. | |||||||||
| 2. Birthday allowance. | |||||||||
| 3. School uniform. | |||||||||
| 4. Initial clothing. | |||||||||
| 5. Starting work allowance. | |||||||||
| 6. Special difficulty allowances of various types. | |||||||||
| 7. Holiday allowance. | |||||||||
| 8. Multiple placements allowance. | |||||||||
| 9. Short term placements allowance. | |||||||||
| 10. Professional fostering allowances. | |||||||||
| 11. Allowances for child's special interest, aptitude or tuition. | |||||||||
Column 7:
| |||||||||
| a. Christmas allowance. | |||||||||
| b. Birthday allowance. | |||||||||
| c. School uniform. | |||||||||
| d. Initial clothing. | |||||||||
| The allowances referred to in columns 4 and 7 are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of what counties pay by way of additional allowances, but only to give a general indication. Its accuracy should not therefore be relied upon. | |||||||||
| TABLE 2 | ||||||||||||
| ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN AUTHORITIES | ||||||||||||
| BOARDING OUT—WEEKLY PAYMENTS | ||||||||||||
Type "A" Authorities
| 1 2 3 4
| 5 6 7 8 9 10
| Age [in years] 11 12 | 13 14 15
| 16 17
| Relativities
| Other additional payments
| LA code number
| ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||||
| Barking | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 1 |
| Barnet | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 2 |
| Barnsley | … | … | … | … | 9·60 | 10·90 | 14·50 | 16·90 | 19·60 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 3 |
| Bexley | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W S, O | 4 |
| Bradford | … | … | … | … | 9·60 | 10·90 | 14·50 | 16·90 | 19·60 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 7 |
| Brent | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 8 |
| Bromley | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 9 |
| Calderdale | … | … | … | … | 9·59 | 10·92 | 12·74 | 14·84 | 17·29 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 11 |
| Camden | … | … | … | … | 16·30 | 19·90 | 22·60 | 24·40 | 29·20 | Yes | X, B, C, U, S, O | 12 |
| Croydon | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 14 |
| Doncaster | … | … | … | … | 9·60 | 10·90 | 14·50 | 16·90 | 19·60 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 15 |
| Ealing | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 17 |
| Enfield | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 18 |
| Greenwich | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U, S, O | 20 |
| Hackney | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 21 |
| Hammersmith | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 22 | |
| Haringey | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 23 |
| Harrow | … | … | … | … | 11·20 | 13·65 | 15·20 | 16·00 | 19·10 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 24 |
| Havering | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 25 |
| Hillingdon | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 26 |
| Hounslow | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 27 |
| Islington | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 28 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | … | … | 16·87 | 19·46 | 22·12 | 24·64 | 27·86 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 29 | ||
| Kingston-upon-Thames | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 30 | ||
| Kirklees | … | … | … | … | 10·80 | 12·35 | 14·50 | 16·90 | 19·60 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 31 |
| Lambeth | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 33 |
| Leeds | … | … | … | … | 11·75 | 14·25 | 16·25 | 17·50 | 20·75 | Yes | X, B, C, U, O | 34 |
| Lewisham | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 35 |
| City of London | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 37 | |
| Merton | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 39 |
Type "A" Authorities
| 1 2 3 4
| 5 6 7 8 9 10
| Age [in years] 11 12 | 13 14 (15) | 16 (17) | Relativities
| Other additional payments
| LA code number
| ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||||
| Newham | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 41 |
| Redbridge | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 44 |
| Richmond-on-Thames | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 45 | ||
| Rotherham | … | … | … | … | 11·30/11·50 | 13·25/14·10 | 16·05/16·55 | 18·85/19·95 | 23·50 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S | 47 |
| Sandwell | … | … | … | … | 11·08 | 13·44 | 15·26 | 16·52 | 19·51 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 50 |
| Southwark | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 55 |
| Sutton | … | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, U/W, S, O | 58 |
| Tower Hamlets | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 60 | |
| Wakefield | … | … | … | … | 11·65 | 13·30 | 15·50 | 17·95 | 20·90 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 62 |
| Waltham Forest | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 64 | |
| (24·70) | (27·50) | |||||||||||
| Wandsworth | … | … | … | 14·70 | 18·00 | 20·40 | 22·00 | 26·10 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S O | 65 | |
Age [in years] | |||||||||||
Type" B" Authorities | 1 2 3 4
| 5 6 7
| 8 9 10
| 11 12
| 13 14 (15) | 16 17
| Relativities
| Other additional payments
| LA code number
| ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Birmingham | … | 12·76 | 14·88 | 16·31 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | Yes | X, B, C, U, S, O | 5 | |
| Bolton | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 6 |
| Bury | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 10 |
| Coventry | … | … | 12·76 | 14·88 | 16·31 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 13 |
| Dudley | … | … | 11·62 | 13·51 | 14·84 | 16·10 | 17·36 | 20·51 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 16 |
| (19·11) | |||||||||||
| Knowsley | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·46 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 32 |
| Liverpool | … | … | 10·80 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 36 |
| Manchester | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | Yes | C, U/W, S, O | 38 | |
| Oldham | … | … | 11·36 | 13·25 | 13·66 | 16·25 | 19·13 | 22·69 | Yes | C, U/W, S, O | 43 |
| Rochdale | … | … | 11·36 | 13·25 | 13·66 | 16·25 | 19·13 | 22·69 | No | C, U/W, S | 46 |
| St. Helens | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·50 | No | C, U/W, S | 48 |
| Salford | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 49 |
| Sefton | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 51 |
| Sheffield | … | … | 12·76 | 14·88 | 16·31 | 17·72 | 19·14 | 22·68 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 52 |
| Stockport | … | … | 10·75 | 12·60 | 12·98 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·58 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 56 |
| Trafford | … | … | 11·36 | 13·25 | 13·66 | 16·25 | 19·13 | 22·69 | No | C, U. S, O | 61 |
| Walsall | … | … | 12·74 | 14·84 | 16·31 | 17·71 | 19·18 | 22·68 | Yes | X, B, C, U/W, S | 63 |
| Wigan | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | B, C, U/W, S | 67 |
| Wirral | … | … | 10·78 | 12·60 | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | Yes | C, U/W, S, O | 68 |
| Wolverhampton | … | 9·38 | 9·66 | 9·87 | 10·36 | 10·85 | 13·65 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 69 | |
| (13·09) | |||||||||||
Type "C" Authorities | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
| Age [in years] 11 12 13 14 15 | 16 17
| Relativities
| Other additional payments
| LA code number
| |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||||||
| Gateshead | … | … | … | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | No | C, U/W, S | 19 |
| Newcastle | … | … | … | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | No | C, U/W, S | 40 |
| North Tyneside | … | … | … | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | No | C | 42 |
| South Tyneside | … | … | … | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | No | C, U/W, S, O | 54 |
| Sunderland | … | … | … | … | … | 16·03 | 19·46 | 21·70 | No | C, U/W, S | |
Age [in years] | |||||||||||
Type "D" Authorities | 1 2 3 (4) | (5) 6 7 | 8 9 10
| (11) 12 (13) | 14 15
| 16 17
| Relativities
| Other additional payments
| LA code number
| ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Solihull | … | … | 11·41 | 13·02 | 15·19 | 17·29 | 19·53 | 21·70 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S | 5 |
| Tameside | … | … | (12·60) | — | 12·95 | 15·47 | 18·20 | 21·56 | No | B C, U/W, S, O | 5 |
| Westminster | … | — | (21·50) | — | (27·00) | — | 32·50 | No | X, B, C, U/W, S, O | 6 | |
Key:
| |||||||||||
| X=Christmas. | |||||||||||
| B=Birthday. | |||||||||||
| C=Initial Clothing. | |||||||||||
| U/W=School Uniform/Starting Work. | |||||||||||
| S=Special Difficulty. | |||||||||||
| O=Other (including holiday payments). | |||||||||||
| A=Additional payments included. | |||||||||||
Note: The table does not take into account the numbers or proportion of their children in care which local authorities board out.
| BOARDING OUT ALLOWANCES FOR CHILDREN IN THE CARE OF FOSTER PARENTS—SURVEY |
| On 9 August 1979 the Association of Metropolitan Authorities sent a questionnaire seeking information on foster parent payments to all (69) social services authorities in metropolitan areas. There was 100 per cent. response rate. |
| (i)Age Bands |
| The attached analysis shows that there is a much closer similarity in age bands now being used than was the case in previous years. For example, information collected by DHSS in 1978 showed that there were then some 60 differing age bands in use. Now, according to the AMA survey there are only 11 age bands and some authorities are still reviewing their rates. Indeed, authorities can broadly be defined in four types, as follows:— |
Type A Authorities
|
| 41 authorities (59 per cent. of metropolitan social services authorities) are using the age bands recommended by AMA and subsequently by LBA i.e. 0–4; 5–10; 11–12; 13–15; 16–17. These five age bands have been taken up by post London Boroughs. |
Type B Authorities
|
| A further 20 authorities (30 per cent.) have used the same age bands as recommended by AMA/LBA, but make the further split in the 5–10 age band at 7 as recommended by the National Foster Care Association (NFCA). These authorities thus have two further age bands 5–7 and 8–10. Most of these authorities have arrangements for foster parent payments agreed within their respective Children's Regional Planning Committee. |
Type C Authorities
|
| Five authorities (7 per cent.) in one region have used two broad age bands to cover children up to the age of 15—these are 0–10 and 10–15. In this region (Regional Planning Committee No. 1) review is under way, and the AMA guidance is subject to consideration. |
Type D Authorities
|
| A further three authorities (4 per cent.) have sdditional age bands with variations on the Type B group of authorities—these include an age band for 0–7 year olds in the one case; and 15–17 age band in a second case, and one with similar to (but not the same as) NFCA. |
| Authorities seem to be moving towards more uniform age bands. Taking either AMA age bands or NFCA, which has slightly more detail, a majority (61 authorities) use one or the other scale (i.e. just under 90 per cent.). Payments obviously vary, although in the exercise of producing more uniform scales, rates do seem to have increased across the country. |
| (ii)Relativities |
| The relativities which were suggested were similar to those recommended by the National Foster Care Association (excluding the 5–7 and 7–10 split). They were as follows:— |
0–4
| 5–10
| 11–12
| 13–15
| 16–17
|
| 18 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 32 |
| 40 authorities (58 per cent.) say that they use (or are shortly to adopt) these relativities either as part of the National Foster Care Association recommendation or as an AMA/LBA recommendation. Of those saying " no ", those with very dissimilar age bands could not be included. |
| (iii)Other Additional Payments |
| The survey shows that all authorities make some or all of the following additional special payments: |
| Christmas allowance; |
| Birthdays; |
| Initial clothing allowances; |
| School uniform and/or starting work allowance; |
| Special difficulty allowance; |
| Other enhanced rate(s) (including holiday payments). |
| (iv)Further Review |
| Some authorities are still reviewing methods of payment and have indicated that they are likely to be adopting a method of payment uniform with other parts of the country. |
Hospitals (Complaints)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many complaints are known to have been made against hospital staff during the previous 12 months; and if he is satisfied with the independence of the inquiry made into these allegations;
(2) if he will bring forward proposals to establish an independent hospital complaints board.
The latest available figures are for 1978, when health authorities in England received 14,725 complaints about hospital services, representing 2.7 complaints per 1,000 patients. The number of complaints concerned with staff is not recorded centrally.
I am not wholly satisfied with the present arrangements for investigating complaints, but a prerequisite for any revision is to establish the principles for dealing with those which involve clinical judgment. The Joint Consultants Committee recently put proposals to me on this matter. I have suggested to the chairman of the committee that these proposals should be discussed between members of the committee and officials of the Department, and have emphasised to him my wish that we should press ahead quickly towards a full and satisfactory solution to the problem. Meanwhile, I do not intend to make any changes in existing arrangements.
Mental Health (Legislation)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects legislation reviewing the Mental Health Act 1959 to be brought forward.
My right hon. Friend cannot introduce legislation during this parliamentary Session. He is now considering how best to proceed in the light of comments on the last Administration's White Paper and of resource and other constraints.
War Disabled Pensioners
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give an assurance that the value of the pensions and the standards of care and treatment of war disabled pensioners will be fully maintained during the period of office of the present Administration.
The Government are committed to an annual review of the principal war pensions and allowances and, as a minimum, to maintaining their purchasing power. We have affirmed our intention of maintaining the traditional preferences afforded to the war disabled.
National Insurance Benefits
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings if all national insurance, excluding means-tested benefits, were increased by 11 per cent. next November; and if he will publish figures tabulating those savings according to main benefit categories and also by comparison with the savings proposed in the Social Security (No. 2) Bill.
Column 1 of the table below gives the savings to the national insurance fund in a full year if the current rates of the benefits listed were to be increased by 11 per cent. instead of 16½ per cent. The net reduction in public expenditure would depend on the amount by which means-tested benefits were increased. Column 2 gives the savings to the fund in a full year from uprating the current rates of the benefits specified in clause 1 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill 1980 by 11½ per cent., instead of 16½ per cent., under the powers contained in that clause.
| Column 1 Full year difference between 11 and 16½ per cent. increase in current rates | Column 2 Full year savings to National Insurance Fund under clause 1 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill 1980; difference between 11½ per cent. and 16½ per cent. increase | |
| £million | £million | |
| Retirement pension | 545 | |
| Widows benefit | 32 | |
| Invalidity benefit | 62 | 55 |
Anti-Smoking Campaigns
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce his plans for the funding of campaigns against smoking for 1980–81.
I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) on 25 April—[Vol. 984, c. 307–8.]
National Insurance Beneficiaries (Child Support Uprating)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money will be saved in 1980–81 as a result of the decision to uprate only the £1.70 national insurance component of child support for national insurance beneficiaries in line with inflation instead of the whole £5.70 as was done in the previous year.
The extra cost of short-term dependency benefit increases of national insurance benefit, if calculated on the basis of increasing £5·70 in line with inflation, would be £7 million in the financial year 1980–81.The extra cost in a full year of increasing the £5.70 short-term child support and the £11.10 long-term child support by 16.5 per cent. would be about £37 million.
National Insurance Fund
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has happened to the surplus in the national insurance fund at the end of each financial year since 1969–70.
The surplus at the end of one year becomes part of the opening balances for the following year. The balance in the fund above day-to-day requirements is invested and the interest earned forms part of the income of the fund.
Communicable Diseases Report
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 28 February to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East, if he is now ready to make a statement on the feasibility of making the communicable diseases report more widely available.
[pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1980, c. 50]: As I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member on 6 December last—[Vol. 975, c. 311]—we have been considering, in consultation with the Public Health Laboratory Service, the feasibility of making the communicable disease report, or some of the information contained in it, available on a wider basis. As a result of this consultation I have reached the conclusion that any change in the present form of the report would reduce its usefulness to those for whose operational use it is prepared, that is those who have a professional involvement in the diagnosis and prevention of communicable disease. In its present form it is a technical bulletin based on information which may be preliminary and subject to confirmation, and is supplied in professional confidence. Those concerned could not be expected to make such information, which is invaluable for operational purposes, available for a document intended for general publication. Publication might therefore diminish the operational value of the CDR.
I have considered the possibility of the introduction of a separate document for wider circulation. This might serve a useful purpose, but its production would make demands on resources which cannot be met in present circumstances.
A great deal of information about outbreaks of infectious diseases is already published weekly in an official publication, the OPGS Monitor. The possibility of including more extensive information in this publication will be considered as occasion arises for any changes, but there is no immediate prospect of this. Retrospective accounts and analyses of outbreaks appear in appropriate medical journals.
Information of immediate general concern about outbreaks of infectious diseases is disseminated by medical officers for environmental health. In appropriate cases the chief medical officer writes direct to all practitioners; and in some circumstances the Department issues press notices. The possible need for such publicity is borne in mind by all concerned in dealing with reports of outbreaks.
Debendox
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to his reply of 15 April to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, if the studies of Debendox by the Committee on Safety of Medicines were on a sufficient scale to have provided a reliable indication of whether or not Debendox could be a teratogenic agent carrying the following degrees of danger to the foetus (a) one in five (b) one in 10 and (c) one in 50;(2) pursuant to his reply of 15 April to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, which of the studies considered by the Committee on Safety of Medicines contained the largest number of women who had taken Debendox; and to what level of risk of danger to the foetus he estimates that a sample of this size would be statistically meaningful.
[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1980, c. 119–20]: I can add little to my earlier replies to the right hon. Member's questions on this subject. The studies containing the largest number of women who had been prescribed Debendox were those by Smithells and Sheppard and Shapiro et al. Taken together the studies contained sufficient patients to reveal any clinically significant increase in malformations in the children born to mothers who had been prescribed Debendox over the background incidence of such events.
Drugs (Safety In Use)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services up to what level of degree of risk of danger to the foetus the Committee on Safety of Medicines requires a drug to be exonerated before it gives approval; and if the committee considers that the acceptable level of risk should vary according to the extent of the use of the drug.
[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1980, c. 119–20]. It is not possible to consider the acceptable level of risk to the mother and the foetus associated with any drug separately from its benefits. A very large number of factors have to be weighed in assessing the risk/ benefit ratio and each drug therefore has to be assessed individually.
Energy
Colliery Waste (Vale Of Belvoir)
asked the Secretary of state for Energy what would be the estimated cost per ton of coal involved in delivering all colliery waste from the projected sites in the Vale of Belvoir to the brickfields in Bedforshire.
This is a matter for the National Coal Board and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.
National Coal Board
asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the total provision provided by section 1 of the Coal Industry Act 1977, what is the amount borrowed by the National Coal Board to date.
On 24 April 1980 the total amount outstanding was £1,893 million.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what sums have been paid to the National Coal Board for regional grants during the past decade.
The following sums have been paid to the NCB as regional grant under section 9 of the Coal Industry Act 1973 and section 8 of the Coal Industry Act 1977:
| £million | |
| 1973–74 | 75.0 |
| 1974–75 | 37.8 |
| 1978–79 | 50.0 |
National Oil Account
asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the statement on page 38 of the 1979 report and accounts of the British National Oil Corporation relating to the change in operation of the national oil account, whether he has abandoned until after the repayment of the Britoil loan any attempt to terminate the corporation's obligation to pay receipts into the national oil account and obtain access to the account for funds.
My right, hon. Friend announced on 25 March that the Government will intoduce legislation as soon as possible after the current Session to implement their policies for the future of BNOC. While we will bear in mind the Britoil arrangements in preparing the legislation, their future is a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned.
Coal Industry Working Party
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is in a position to add to his answer of 10 March concerning the programme of work of the reconvened coal industry tripartite research and development working party and the possibility that it will publish a report of its findings.
The working party has now met twice under my chairmanship, and we plan to meet about once a month until the end of the year. These meetings will consider a wide range of coal R & D topics, including oil-from-coal, gasification for synthesis gas and for low Btu gas, pyrolysis, fluidised bed combustion and unconventional methods of extracting coal or coal energy, and we shall also be taking into account environmental aspects. Where appropriate, other interested organisations, such as the CEGB, will be invited to participate in the meetings. I also hope it will be possible for the working party to visit installations where coal conversion or utilisation R & D is being carried out.The working party expects to publish a report on its findings and I hope that this will be available early next year.
Quangos
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Severn Barrage Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
As I stated in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) on March 5, I received an interim progress report from the Severn Barrage Committee earlier this year. I will consider what action is appropriate when I receive a further report which the committee expects to prepare later this year.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The Offshore Industry Liaison Committee is not an advisory committee. The Minister of State for Energy is chairman and the members are the leaders of oil company and contractors associations and trade unions involved in the offshore supplies industry. The committee normally meets twice a year to review the progress of the industry and identify problems being encountered. It last met in November 1978, but is due to meet in June this year.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Offshore Energy Technology Board; and what action he has taken since as a result.
My predecessor received a detailed paper setting out the Offshore Energy Technology Board's advice on the strategy to be pursued in supporting research and development in the field of offshore oil and gas technology. This was accepted as Government policy and the document was published as Energy Paper No. 8 in 1976. Since then the chief scientist, who chairs the board, has defined the Department's programme in line with this strategy and with the continuing advice of the board.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power; and what action he has taken since as a result.
I last received written advice from the Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power (ACORD) in July 1979, in respect of my Department's annual review of the Electricity Council's R & D programme. The action I took on receiving ACORD's advice was to write to the chairman of the Electricity Council, on aspects of its proposed programme.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The third report of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation was published on 2 October 1979 as Energy Paper No. 40. This wide-ranging review provided useful guidance and its many recommendations are being carefully considered by the Department responsible for implementing energy conservation policy. I intend to reply formally to the report in due course.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when last he received written advice from the Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations last met in April 1979. Following this meeting I received two written communications on the constitution of the Burgoyne committee. The chairman of the committee resigned during June 1979, since when there has been no further activity. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 21 March regarding the future of this committee.—[Vol. 981, c. 341.]
Employment
Wales (Redundancies)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies in Wales were notified to his Department in March; how many have been notified in the 12 months 31 March 1979 to 31 March in the current year; and how this compares with the figures for the years 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79.
The number of proposed redundancies in Wales, which have been notified to my Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975, for the periods requested is as follows:
| Employees | Establishments | |
| March 1980 | 6,948 | 102 |
| Employees | Establishments | |
| 1 April 1979 to 31 | ||
| March 1980 | 60,601 | 723 |
| Employees | Establishments | |
| 1 April 1976 to 31 | ||
| March 1977 | 36,838 | 668 |
| Employees | Establishments | |
| 1 April 1977 to 31 | ||
| March 1978 | 38,135 | 756 |
| Employees | Establishments | |
| 1 April 1978 to 31 | ||
| March 1979 | 28,606 | 548 |
| Employees | |
| March 1980 | 1,502* |
| 1 April 1979 to 31 March 1980 | 12,667* |
| 1 April 1976 to 31 March 1977 | 9,561 |
| 1 April 1977 to 31 March 1978 | 10,687 |
| 1 April 1978 to 31 March 1979 | 19, 870 |
| * Figures are provisional to take account of late notification. | |
Homeworking
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the terms of reference, and the method to be used, of the inquiry into homeworking to be undertaken by his Department.
The aims of the research on homeworking are to obtain more solid information on the number, characteristics and employment of home-workers than has so far been available. The research being carried out consists of a number of separate but linked studies, some of which will analyse information already collected through standard surveys. The terms of reference and methods used thus differ between studies. One relied on qualitative research to assess the factors which affect homeworkers' response to surveys. Another consists of statistical analyses of information on homeworkers' earnings in certain industries.
Construction Industry
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total unemployed in the construction industry on Merseyside to the latest available date; what is the percentage of unemployed; and how these figures compare with other special development areas.
At 14 February, the latest date for which an industrial analysis of the unemployed is available, the number of people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area who last worked in the construction industry was 12,129, an unemployment rate of 26·3 per cent. The corresponding figures for the special development areas excluding Merseyside were 42,248 and 21·1 per cent.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to help reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside, in view of the recently announced figures.
The prosperity of the building industry is largely dependent upon the strength of the country's economy as a whole and I am confident that the measures which we are taking to regenerate the economy will provide the sound base which the construction industry needs if it is to expand.In the meantime, the construction industry on Merseyside should continue to benefit from the measures we are taking to help inner city areas, and should be further assisted by plans to establish an Urban Development Corporation in the disused land of the Merseyside docks.
Merseyside
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures on Merseyside.
On 10 April there were 92,464 people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area—an unemployment rate of 12·2 per cent.I am naturally concerned about the upward trend in the level of unemployment on Merseyside. We have always recognised, however, that our efforts to conquer inflation, and create the economic conditions in which firms can expand, involved some risk of increasing unemployment in the short term. Ultimately, the prospects for reducing unemployment on Merseyside and elsewhere depend on industry and commerce responding to our initiatives and working together to improve their competitiveness—by bargaining responsibly over pay and conditions and by improvements in productivity, quality and reliability.
Health And Safety
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has considered the twenty-third report of the Select Committee on statutory instruments, which states that articles in certain statutory instruments appear to be ultra vires the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; what instructions he has issued to the Commission regarding the warrants to inspectors; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1980, c. 322]: I have considered the report on my right hon. Friend's behalf.I am advised, and am satisfied, that instruments appointing inspectors are drawn in such a manner as to confer upon them power under the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to grant exemptions pursuant to the relevant articles. My right hon. Friend has not issued any instructions to the Health and Safety Commission on this matter.
Disabled Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what alternative employment schemes to the special temporary employment programme are now available to assist disabled people; how many registered disabled people have found employment through these schemes and how many disabled school leavers have found employment through these schemes.
[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 422]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in addition to the special temporary employment programme and the youth opportunities programmes in which unemployed disabled people may participate, the Commission operates the job introduction scheme, which is specifically designed to assist disabled people to obtain permanent employment; 3,271 disabled people were placed in employment under this scheme between July 1977 and March 1980.Statistical information about the number of disabled school leavers included in this figure is not available.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled people have found employment through the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service.
[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 422]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that separate statistics are not maintained on the number of registered disabled people who have found work through PER.The number, however, is likely to be small as the total number of registered disabled people enrolled with PER comprises less than 0.5 per cent. of the total register.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the disappointing take-up by employers of grants for adaptations and aids for disabled workers, what incentives he will give to encourage employers to install electronic aids, as happens in the United States of America, so that disabled workers can benefit from advances in technology through more jobs and greater opportunities for promotion.
[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 422]: I share my hon. Friend's disappointment that employers have not made more use of the adaptations to premises and equipment scheme. However, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of aids loaned free of charge to disabled people under its special aids to employment scheme has increased significantly in recent years. Last year 830 aids, including electronic aids, were loaned to disabled people to assist them in their employment. It is intended to continue the development of this scheme, and the Manpower Services Commission is always ready to learn from the experience of other countries and will be studying the USA pattern.
Unemployed Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons had been unemployed for three months or less at the latest available date.
[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 424]: There are at present no later figures available than those given to the hon. Member in my reply to his question on 25 April 1980.—[Vol. 984, c. 292]. Figures for April 1980 will become available next month and I will send them to the hon. Member.
Northern Ireland
Microelectronics
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effect on employment of the microchip, particularly with regard to potential job loss, working conditions and flexible working hours.
There have been numerous studies at national level on the employment effect of microelectronics. They contain a wide range of predictions, and there are similar uncertainties attached to any such exercise at the regional level. A study has been made of the impact of microelectronics and computerisation in the Province's clothing industry, which suggested that microelectronics would not have a major effect on employment in this sector in Northern Ireland. The study formed part of a wider investigation by the Department of Employment into the manpower implications of microelectronics technology, a report of which has been placed in the Library.
A working group of officials has been set up to monitor all aspects of microelectronics in Northern Ireland.
Electricity Service
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the expenditure of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service is subject to examination by the Exchequer and Audit Department; and if the service's estimates are approved by any Government Department.
The accounts of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service are not subject to examination by the Exchequer and Audit Department but are examined by auditors appointed by the service, subject to the approval of the Department of Commerce, under article 24 of the Electricity Supply (NI) Order 1972.The principal statutory controls on the finances of the electricity service are found in article 7 of the 1972 order, which requires the approval of the Department of Commerce to be given to the service's programme of major capital works, article 18, which requires the service to obtain the consent of the Department of Commerce and the approval of the Department of Finance before undertaking any borrowings, and article 26, which requires the service to consult the Department of Commerce and the Department of Finance before fixing its tariffs. In addition to these statutory controls, the service regularly discusses its financial forecasts with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Finance.
Economic Council
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Northern Ireland Economic Council is being continued; and to what extent its functions in Northern Ireland are comparable to those of the former regional economic planning councils in Great Britain.
In the context of the general review of non-departmental public bodies carried out by Sir Leo Pliatzky, I considered the Northern Ireland Economic Council and was fully satisfied that it had a continuing role in giving advice on the development of economic policy and in monitoring economic performance in Northern Ireland.The council has independent status and can decide which aspects of the Northern Ireland economy to study and on which to offer me advice. Because of this freedom of operation, the Northern Ireland Economic Council is not directly comparable to the former regional economic planning councils in Great Britain.
Child Minders
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many child minders are currently registered in Northern Ireland in each area board.
The number of registered child minders in each health and social services board area at 30 June 1979 (the latest figures available) was as follows:
| Year (ended 31 March) | Improvement (including conversion) | Intermediate | Repairs | Total | |||
| 1977–78 | … | … | … | 5,695 | 213 | 3,375 | 9,283 |
| 1978–79 | … | … | … | 12,979 | 269 | 2,614 | 15,862 |
| 1979–80 | … | … | … | 20,095 | 447 | 3,684 | 24,226 |
| 3 year totals | … | … | 38,769 | 929 | 9,673 | 49,371 | |
Medical Scanners
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number and type of scanners now used in hospitals, the diseases for which they are used to assist diagnosis and the hospitals in which they are located.
There are three different types of scanners used in hospitals in Northern Ireland. Ultrasound scanners, which are used for maternity patients and now increasingly for other patients, are in fairly general use in the main hospitals. Radioisotope scanners which are used for a whole range of diagnostic functions, are provided in the following hospitals:
Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast
Belfast City hospital
Belvoir Park hospital, Belfast
Altnagelvin hospital, Londonderry
Waveney hospital, Ballymena
There is only one whole-body scanner, which utilises X-rays, and this is located in the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast. It is used particularly in the case of headCraigavon area hospital
| Northern board | 453 |
| Southern board | 202 |
| Eastern board | 302 |
| Western board | 112 |
Housing Executive (Grants)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ascertain from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive the total amount of money paid out for each of the following in the past three years: repair grants, intermediate grants and improvement grants; and whether or not he intends to increase the present level of grant in the categories.
The payment of grants by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has been as follows (All amounts in £,000):injuries, diseases of the brain, and in the diagnosis and control of treatment in malignant disease.It is also possible, using the scanner, to obtain information about a number of internal organs which were previously difficult to examine with conventional X-ray equipment. The RVH scanner provides a regional service and is available to consultants from all parts of Northern Ireland.
Mr Frederick Victor Wilson
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the shooting of Frederick Victor Wilson of I Lothian Avenue, Belfast; and if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as to the progress it has made in detecting his killers.
At approximately 0840 hours on Friday 11 April, Mr. Frederick Wilson, a part-time member of the RUC Reserve, was standing outside his place of employment in Franklin Street, Belfast, talking to two men, when a motorcycle stopped behind them. The pillion passenger alighted from the motorcycle and shot Mr. Wilson in the head, fatally injuring him.After abandoning the motorcycle on which they had initially made their escape, the killers fled on foot.The police are continuing their inquiries and it would not be appropriate for me to call for a progress report.
Housing Action Areas
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive a full list of each housing action area in each region.
The following housing action areas have been formally declared by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Belfast region
Iveagh
Major Street
Lord Street
St. Matthews
Connswater
Dundela
Cavendish Street I
New Lodge I
Upper Duncairn
Grove Area
Lawn Brook I
Tudor Place I
Rosebank Street/Ohio Street
Glenbank
Edinburgh Street
Lower Ormeau
Cherryville
Ravenhill Triangle
Ethel Street/Meadowbank
South region
Stream Street, Newry
Vehicle Taxation
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicles are now registered in each category; how many in each category are now taxed up to date; what is his estimate of the loss of revenue per year on untaxed vehicles; what steps are being taken to reduce this loss of revenue; and how many prosecutions there have been in each of the past five years.
It is estimated that on 31 December 1979 there were 358,010 private cars, 14,860 cycles, 2,110 hackneys, 41,680 goods vehicles and 11,170 tractors registered and licensed in Northern Ireland. There were also 11,119 other vehicles which although registered are exempt from excise duty. Information on the current number of licensed vehicles is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.A survey conducted in Great Britain in 1977–78 revealed that between 7 per cent. and 9 per cent. of private cars were evading vehicle excise duty. This would indicate an annual revenue loss in Northern Ireland of between £1·25 and £1·75 million from private motorists. No reliable estimate is available for other categories of vehicles.Vehicle excise offenders are normally offered the opportunity to pay a mitigated penalty but, failing the payment of this, the following number of prosecutions were initiated in each of the past five years:
| 1975 | 2,773 |
| 1976 | 2,962 |
| 1977 | 4,202 |
| 1978 | 3,743 |
| 1979 | 3,316 |
Doctors
97.
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many doctors are on the medical lists of each of the four boards in Northern Ireland; and what is the doctor to patient ratio in each area.
The information for 1 January 1980 is as follows:
| Board | Number of General Practitioners | Ratio Doctor: Patients |
| Eastern | 332 | 1:2,072 |
| Northern | 171 | 1:2,133 |
| Southern | 135 | 1:2,132 |
| Western | 124 | 1:2,104 |
Planning Appeals
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning appeals were considered by the Planning Appeals Commission during 1979; and how many were successful.
The Planning Appeals Commission decided 280 planning appeals during 1979, of which 77 were allowed.
Mentally Disordered Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of persons in Northern Ireland being treated for mental disorder; how many were compulsorily admitted in the past recent 12-month period; and how many were discharged.
This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the following figures are available for 1978:
| Number of admissions and re-admissions to psychiatric hospitals and units | 10,598 |
| Number of attendances at psychiatric out-patient clinics | 44,039 |
| Number of attendances at psychiatric day hospitals | 23,911 |
| Compulsory admissions to hospital | 1,653 |
| Discharges of compulsorily detained patients | 1,684 |
Housing Expenditure
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure in Northern Ireland on housing for each of the past five years, expressing the figures as a percentage of total Northern Ireland expenditure, and in each case in 1980 values.
Figures for public expenditure on housing over the last five years in Northern Ireland are only available at 1979 survey prices and are contained in table 2.15 of the Government's Expenditure Plans 1980–81 to 1983–84 (Cmnd. 7841).Expressed in percentage terms, the proportion of housing expenditure to total public expenditure is as follows:
| per cent. | |
| 1975–76 | 7·93 |
| 1976–77 | 10·47 |
| 1977–78 | 9·30 |
| 1978–79 | 8·46 |
| 1979–80 | 9·32 |
Housing Stock (Belfast)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the housing stock in (a) East Belfast, comprising Belfast district 2 and (b) Castlereagh, is publicly owned; and if he will give the figure for West Belfast, South Belfast and North Belfast.
I regret that this information is not readily available in the form requested. However, the Belfast household survey undertaken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in 1978 indi- cated that the percentage of publicly owned dwellings in Belfast was as follows:
| East Belfast | 15 per cent. |
| West Belfast | 50 " " |
| South Belfast | 19 " " |
| North Belfast | 29 " " |
Matthew Stopline (Castlereagh Borough)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is considering modifying the Matthew Stopline as it affects Castlereagh borough council; and, if so, to what extent.
There are at present no proposals to amend the Matthew Stopline as it affects the Castlereagh borough council area.
Property Valuations (Appeals)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals against property net annual values were received by the Commissioner for Valuation in 1979; and how many were successful in achieving a reduction in valuation.
In 1979, first appeals for revision were made in 1,632 cases. In the same period 633 appeals resulted in reductions of rateable value.
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals against property net annual valuations were heard by the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland in 1979; and how many were successful in achieving a reduction of valuation.
In 1979 there were 24 appeals, 20 of which were successful.
Social Security Benefits
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a combined application form for a number of related social security benefits to enable applicants to be assessed for a number of benefits at the one time.
A comprehensive pilot scheme was recently carried out over a period of one year in the Down district council area to test the effectiveness of providing a single claim form for a wide range of means-tested benefits administered by various Government Departments and agencies in Northern Ireland. The results of the experiment are at present being evaluated and a report will be prepared in due course.
Industrial Undertakings (Outside Companies)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firms from outside Northern Ireland have indicated their intention to take over factories in Northern Ireland in the years 1980, 1981 and 1982; and how many jobs are expected in the undertakings.
Between 1 January 1979 and 31 March 1980, 13 firms from outside Northern Ireland concluded agreements with the Department of Commerce for the setting up of industrial projects in the Province. These are all expected to be in operation by 1982 and should together provide some 4,200 jobs at full production.
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new industrial firms from outside Northern Ireland have established factories in Northern Ireland in the years 1975 to the present time; and how many jobs have been created thereby.
Between 1 January 1975 and 31 March 1980, 26 industrial firms from outside Northern Ireland concluded agreements with the Department of Commerce for the setting up of new industrial projects in the Province. Four of these firms have since ceased trading. It is expected that at full production the remaining 22, not all of which have yet established factories, will provide some 8,400 jobs.
Prisoners (Special Category Status)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the response of the prisoners protesting against the refusal of special category status to the further humanitarian measures which he announced on 26 March.
The prisoners taking part in the "dirty" protest at Maze prison have refused to accept the addi- tional visits or letters, or to take exercise in PT gear. The few prisoners who are protesting only by refusing to wear prison uniform or to work are taking the additional visits and letters, but so far have not taken exercise.I believe that some of the parents of the prisoners concerned have been misled by some of the reports which have appeared in the press about the new arrangements. My hon. Friend the Minister of State is accordingly writing to the next-of-kin of all the prisoners explaining the additional humanitarian measures.
Government Policies
asked the Prime Minister if she has received the letter commenting on Government policies from Mrs. Chaplin, a constituent of the right hon. Member for Deptford; and if she will make a statement.
The right hon. Gentleman's letter was received at 10 Downing Street on 26 April. I have asked the Department of Health and Social Security to look into the particular circumstances of the right hon. Gentleman's constituent and will reply to him when I have that information, but the general reasons for the changes proposed in benefit arrangements were set out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services in his statement on 27 March.
Option Mortgage Scheme (Elderly Persons)
asked the Prime Minister which Department is responsible for policy on the extension of option mortgage schemes to elderly home-owners on low incomes who wish to purchase home income plan life annuities.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has the lead responsibility for the option mortgage scheme, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is responsible for social security policy; but any question of extending the option mortgage scheme in the way my hon. Friend suggests would involve the interests of a number of different Departments and would be for consideration jointly by the Ministers concerned.
Environment
Water And Sewerage Charges
9.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake a study of possible new systems of charging for water supply and sewerage.
I have already asked the National Water Council to set up a study group with the water authorities to examine the problems of optional metering for domestic supplies.
Council House Sales
15.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inquiries he has received from council tenants wanting to buy their own homes whose councils are refusing to sell.
Since last May the Department has received approaching 1,000 letters from council tenants who wish to buy but who are being prevented from doing so by their local councils.
Olympic Games
19.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any recent discussions with the British Olympic Association concerning British participation in the Moscow Olympics.
I last met Sir Denis Follows, chairman of the British Olympic Association, with my right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 21 March.
27.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his call to the British Olympic Committee to withdraw from the Moscow Olympics, in the light of the decision of the American athletics organisations to boycott the Games.
Following its decision on 25 March the British Olympic Association announced that it would,
I believe these are changing daily. Other national Olympic committees, apart from the Americans, have decided—or are likely to decide, to boycott Moscow, and I am confident that some major sporting nations will be amongst them. Their absence is bound to diminish the quality of the Summer games. I therefore hope that this changing scene will convince the British Olympic Association that it should re-consider its commitment to Moscow." re-examine the situation if circumstances changed ".
Enterprise Zones
23.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking in connection with the setting up of enterprise zones.
Local authorities within which are located possible areas for enterprise zones have been invited to give their reactions to the proposals by the end of May. Other organisations concerned have also been asked for their views.
Local Government Manpower
25.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the totals of local government employees, excluding teachers, in March 1976, March 1979 and March 1980, estimated in England and Wales.
The joint manpower watch surveys for England and Wales show that the full-time equivalent total of employees, excluding teachers and also lecturers, was 1,528,331 in March 1976, and 1,523,769 in March 1979. I am unable to estimate the March 1980 figures, which are only now being compiled for the return due to be published in June.
New Towns (Sales Of Assets)
28.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with new town authorities regarding the selling of assets.
I met the chairmen of the new town development corporations and the Commission for the New Towns on 16 July 1979. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State met representatives of the Association of District Councils on 17 December 1979. For the rest, discussions have taken place within the framework of the Department's normal contacts with the new towns.
Effluent Disposal
26.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the machinery for granting permits for disposal of effluent.
Yes, in general, though we are currently considering the costs involved were we to extend and improve controls over discharges to water by implementing part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
Local Authority Associations
29.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to meet leaders of the local authority associations.
The next formal meeting is on 3 June, when I chair the next meeting of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.
Building Societies Association
30.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects next to meet the chairman of the Building Societies Association.
I have no immediate plans to meet the chairman of the Building Societies Association. We last met on 18 January, and will meet again as appropriate. My Department has close and frequent contacts with BSA representatives.
Rent And Rate Rebates
34.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the current value of rent and rate rebates.
The rent and rate rebate schemes offer substantial assistance to about 1 million council tenants. The needs allowance used in calculating the rebates is up-rated annually. Its value has been effectively restored to its 1972 level, from which it had fallen through inadequate uprating, by the £5 earnings disregard introduced last November. I announced on 18 March—[Vol. 981, c. 161]—that the maximum limits for rent rebates and rent allowances were to be increased to £25 in London and to £23 elsewhere and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services announced on 23 April—[Vol. 984, c. 185–6]—new maximum rate rebates of £6·75 and £4·80 respectively.
House Building
31.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is proposed to increase the building of houses in the public, private and co-operative sectors, respectively.
Housing capital allocations totalling £2,775 million have been made available for 1980–81 to local authorities, new towns, and the Housing Corporation.In addition, the Government have been taking a series of steps in the private sector to speed up land release and planning decisions, and in the public sector to encourage starter homes schemes, improvement for sale and shared ownership.
Development Commission (Review Group Report)
32.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his consideration of the report of the review group on the Development Commission and its associated organisation, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas.
We hope to complete our consideration very shortly.
National Ice Skating Centre
33.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce what Government resources will be made available for funding the building of the National Ice Skating Centre in Manchester.
It is unlikely that the city council could be informed before this autumn of its approved capital expenditure allocations for 1981–82 under the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill. We are also unlikely to be able to tell the council before then what, if any, specific allocation could be made for the National Ice Skating Centre. The Sports Council has offered a £3·5 million contribution towards the scheme.
Town And Country Planning Act 1971 (Compensation Claims)
35.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had about claims for compensation under section 169 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
Two councils and the Association of District Councils have made representations about amending the provision.
Central Berkshire Structure Plan
36.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the list of modifications he has made to the structure plan for Central Berkshire.
No. I cannot add to the statement my right hon. Friend made in the notice of approval constituting his decision on the plan, a copy of which I have sent to my hon Friend. I have also placed a copy in the Library of the House.
Inner Urban Areas (Assistance To Voluntary Bodies)
37.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give assistance to voluntary bodies which are undertaking schemes to clean up inner urban areas.
Assistance is already available under the urban programme for these schemes.
Departmental Manpower
38.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown by grade of the posts which have ceased to exist in his Department since May 1979.
The Department's staff fell by 3,842 between 1 May 1979 and 1 April this year, or by 7·4 per cent., consisting of 1,496 non-industrial staff and 2,346 industrial staff. The overall balance between the Civil Service grades and departmental posts which remain vacant or which cease to exist and those which are created or filled is, however, constantly changing. A full breakdown of the situation at present would therefore be disproportionately expensive to provide and would rapidly become outdated, although I do not expect the net saving achieved so far to be eroded in any way.
Water Charges
39.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the capital cost, and the ongoing current cost, of changing the method of charging domestic consumers of water from that based on the rating system to one based on direct metering.
In 1976, the National Water Council estimated that it would cost between £650 million and £950 million at 1975 prices depending upon where the meters were installed. My Department's very approximate estimate is that it would now cost in the region of £1,000 million. Regarding the ongoing current cost, this will clearly be crucially affected by the method adopted for meter reading, on which the potential of new technologies is being actively considered.
Sheltered Housing
40.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities charge for the services of wardens in sheltered housing units.
I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire.
National Finance
International Monetary Fund (Loan)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the sum outstanding on the International Monetary Fund loan.
Of the SDR 1,640 million drawn by the previous Government under the January 1977 standby arrangement with the IMF. SDR 300 million remains outstanding.
Value Added Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of value added tax was raised by the 12½ per cent. rate of value added tax and by the 8 per cent. rate of value added tax prior to the standardisation of value added tax at 15 per cent. in the 1979 Budget.
It is estimated that about 13 per cent. of VAT revenue was raised at the 12½ per cent. rate and 87 per cent. at the 8 per cent. rate.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the rise to 15 per cent., what percentage of revenue was raised by 8 per cent. and what was raised by 12½ per cent. value added tax.
It is estimated that in the financial year 1978–79, about 7½ per cent. of Government revenue was raised by the 8 per cent. rate of VAT and a little over 1 per cent. at the 12½ per cent. rate.
Benefits (Taxation Treatment)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if it is his intention, when he brings the maternity allowance within the tax system, to treat it as earned income in respect of a married woman's earned income allowance; and if he will make a statement;(2) if it is his intention, when he brings the sickness benefit within the tax system, to treat it as earned income in respect of a married woman's earned income
| £million | ||||||||
| 31 March 1979 | 31 March 1980 | |||||||
| Sterling national debt | … | … | … | … | … | 82,597 | 91,245* | |
| Interest paid in 1979–80 | … | … | … | … | … | 7,981† | ||
| External currencies national debt | … | … | … | … | 4,288 | 4,173* | ||
| Interest paid in 1979–80 | … | … | … | … | … | 309† | ||
| * Provisional. | ||||||||
| † The forecast of interest on the national debt in 1980–81 published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC 500 of 26 March 1980) is £9,885 million. | ||||||||
Objects In Lieu Of Estate Duty
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, pursuant to his written answer, Official Report, 3 April 1980, c. 325, any further objects were accepted in satisfaction of estate duty or capital tax before the national land fund was abolished.
Yes. The following objects have been accepted in lieu of capital transfer tax or estate duty on four separate estates:1. A collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century silver, silver-gilt and gold plate;2. Seven illuminated manuscripts of the eleventh to fifteenth centuries;
allowance; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if it is his intention, when he brings the unemployment benefit within the tax system, to treat it as earned income in respect of a married woman's earned income allowance; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if it is his intention, when he brings the invalidity benefit within the tax system, to treat it as earned income in respect of a married woman's earned income allowance; and if he will make a statement.
I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
National Debt
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of the United Kingdom's (a) internal and (b) external debt on 3 May 1979; what annual interest each attracted, respectively; and what are the equivalent figures at the latest available date.
[pursuant to his reply29 April 1980, c. 454]: Details of the size of the national debt on 3 May 1979 were not compiled. The most convenient date to take is 31 March. At that date, following is the information:3. A drawing by Luca Signorelli entitled " Study of a Young Man ";4. A collection of Hebrew manuscripts and other objects of the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries.The net cost borne by the national land fund was £133,430 for the plate, £248.680 for the illuminated manuscripts, £52,250 for the drawing and £331,597 for the Hebrew manuscripts.Announcements about the allocation of these objects will be made in due course by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister with special responsibility for the arts, after taking advice from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries or the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts as appropriate.In accordance with the provisions of section 15 of the National Heritage Act 1980 the national land fund has now been abolished.
Trade
Air Traffic Control Systems
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the proposed replacement programme of the Civil Aviation Authority for its long range air traffic control surveillance radars in the United Kingdom; and what is its cost.
The Civil Aviation Authority is planning to replace some of the radar equipment used for air traffic services in the area covering London, South-East and North-East England. The total cost is likely to be about £27 million, including a proportion attributable to the Ministry of Defence.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last met the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority; if he then discussed the purchase of the new air traffic control system; and if he will make a statement.
On 14 April 1980. The purchase of the radar replacement equipment was discussed then. The selection of the equipment is a matter for the CAA as the body responsible for operating the system.
Purchasing Policy
asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to buy British as far as technical equipment is concerned; and if he will make a statement.
" Best value for money " is the principle applied in all public purchasing. With many types of technical equipment this includes the need to strengthen and promote the competitiveness of British industry. Technical equipment, however, is of such a variety that it would not be reasonable to expect British industry to supply every item competitively, in respect of price, performance and delivery.
Export Services
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government export services.
I have considered a report on the Department of Trade's services to exporters prepared under the guidance of Sir Derek Rayner. Changes will be introduced which are intended to maintain the thrust of the Government's support for exporters and which will make significant savings in expenditure and staff. These changes, which have been made on the advice of the British Overseas Trade Board after consultation with industry, are outlined in an " Action Document " on Sir Derek Rayner's report, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House. The report also raised the question of the organisation of the export promotion work of the Department. I am giving further consideration to this question.
Overseas Development
Fisheries Projects
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the fisheries projects, and amounts given to them, as direct overseas aid, in each of the last five years.
The information requested will take a little time to assemble and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Education And Science
Educational Responsibilities (London)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received, other than from Wandsworth, about the transfer of educational responsibility from the Inner London Education Authority to the London boroughs; who made these representations; and how many have been for and against the proposal.
[pursuant to his reply, 21 March 1980]: The Greater London area Conservative education committee should be omitted from the list of bodies or organisations that had by 12 March represented to me in favour of the transfer of educational responsibilities from the Inner London Education Authority to London boroughs. The total of representations received and of those in favour of change should correspondingly be reduced to 23 and 8 respectively.
School Meals
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the prices currently being charged for school meals by each local education authority.
My Department does not have comprehensive and up-to-date information about the prices authorities are charging for school meals. The desirability of obtaining the information later this year is under consideration.
Scotland
Royal Commission On Legal Services
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Royal Commission on legal services in Scotland to report.
The Commission has completed its report, and it will be published within the next two weeks.
Tertiary Education (Dundee)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report on the future of the tertiary (non-university) sector in education in Dundee.
I understand that the working party is in process of completing its report and I hope to receive it in the near future.
Local Authorities (Decisions Of Sub-Committees)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to take powers to require local authorities in Scotland to reverse any actions taken by their employees as a result of decisions taken by sub-committees of the full council in circumstances where such decisions should have received approval from the full council before having effect, but did not do so.
No. Under part V of the Local Government (Scotland) Act of 1973 it is for each local authority to regulate its own internal procedure on matters such as this and I have no evidence that further powers are necessary.
Cardiac Surgery Units (Funding)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what recent discussions his Department had with Grampian area health board before transferring or allocating £300,000 to Glasgow and Edinburgh cardiac surgery units as Grampian area health board's share of funding these units;(2) what criteria was used by his Department in transferring £300,000 from Grampian area health board to Glasgow and Edinburgh for cardiac surgery; and when this was done;(3) if the decision to allocate £300,000 as Grampian area health board's contribution to Edinburgh and Glasgow towards the cost of cardiac surgery is irrevocable or if he will receive representations from Grampian area health board.
Following the recommendations of the cardiac surgery programme planning group in 1977 the previous Government decided that the development of cardiac surgery should be treated as a national speciality and funded centrally. The working party on revenue resource allocation advised that a national service provided in only one or two centres should be financed outwith the main distribution system; and £5 million has therefore been set aside in 1980–81 to support the development of cardiac surgery in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The amount available for general distribution to health boards under the Scottish health authorities revenue equalisation formula has been reduced accordingly. Had there not been such a reduction, Grampian health board's share would have been about £300,000 greater in the current financial year. Health boards were notified about their current allocations on 31 March. The implications of the decision to develop cardiac surgery as a national speciality have been the subject of consultations over several years with the Grampian health board. There is no prospect that this decision will be reversed.
Open-Heart Surgery
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the statement of the Under Secretary of State in the Adjournment debate on Forrester-hill hospital on 15 February that the debate on open-heart surgery was concerned with the medical question, whether, if Grampian area health board concludes that it is clinically possible to re-start open-heart surgery at Forrester-hill hospital, he will make available the required finance.
On the basis of expert medical advice received in 1977, the Government's view is that the highest possible standards of open-heart surgery can best be developed and maintained in Scotland if this specialised surgical work is concentrated at centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Recently published medical evidence has confirmed that the death rate from open-heart surgery decreases markedly with increasing number of operations performed, and that the average death rates in hospitals carrying out only a small number of such operations annually are significantly higher than the rate which would be expected having regard to the type of case being treated. In view of this clear medical evidence, the Government would regret any decision which would enable a small number of open-heart operations to be undertaken in Forresterhill hospital, and would not encourage it by the special allocation of funds.
Island Fanners
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount paid to island farmers under the EEC special assistance to islands which was given owing to the severe seasons of 1978 and 1979.
The payments totalled £322,500.
Children's Hearings System
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the children's hearings system.
A consultative document on the powers and procedures of the children's hearings has today been issued to interested bodies and individuals; copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Housing Co-Operatives
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the development of housing co-operatives by local authorities and housing associations in Scotland since ) June 1979.
I understand that Glasgow district council has set up a steering committee to consider the establishment of six new co-operatives and hopes to have agency agreements ready by the end of this year. The Scottish Special Housing Association has set up the Fairbridge tenants' management co-operative in the East End of Glasgow, and are consdering setting up another one in the area.
Divorce Procedure
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the committee chaired by Lord Cowie looking into divorce procedure in Scotland to report; and whether he will enter into discussions with the Lord President of the Court of Session to ensure the report is published and that there is time for public consultation with interested bodies before any action is taken.
I have been asked to reply.I understand that Lord Cowie's working party hopes shortly to submit its report to the Lord President. I will draw to the Lord President's attention the hon. Member's comments regarding publication of the report and public consultation.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Gibraltar
61.
asked the the Lord Privy Seal what further progress has been made in the discussions with the Spanish Foreign Minister on the lifting of the restrictions which have been imposed on the territory of Gibraltar for the last 11 years.
As envisaged in my statement to the House on 14 April—[Vol. 982, c. 800–807.]—about the agreement reached between my right hon. and noble Friend and the Spanish Foreign Minister, practical preparations have been put in hand and contacts are continuing between officials. Technical discussions will be held in Madrid next week.
Jonas Savimbi (Meetings)
asked the Lord Privy Seal if, during the last 12 months, Ministers or officials of his Department have had meetings with UNITA guerilla leader Jonas Savimbi; if he will publish in the Official Report the dates of any such meetings; what subjects were discussed; and which Ministers or officials were present.
During the last 12 months Dr. Savimbi paid only one visit to Britain, from 15 to 19 February. The visit was private and he was not seen by Ministers or officials.
Saudi Arabia (British Subjects)
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement regarding the arrest of British subjects in Saudi Arabia, especially the arrest of Mr. William Sims, a constitutent of the hon. Member for Bothwell.
There are 31 British subjects in detention in Saudi Arabia, 15 for alcohol offences. Mr. Sims was arrested on 16 April along with a companion after a party in Al-Khobar.At a hearing on 28 April he was sentenced to 80 strokes of the cane for an offence against the law on alcohol. He is expected to return to this country in a few days. He and other detainees have been receiving normal consular assistance.
Defence
Exercise " Elder Forest 80 "
asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he will be receiving a report on the recent NATO exercise " Elder Forest 80 ";(2) what types of aircraft were used by the United Kingdom in the recent " Elder Forest 80 " exercise;(3) how many aircraft were used by the United Kingdom in the recent NATO " Elder Forest 80 " exercise.
The RAF aircraft participating in Exercise Elder Forest were primarily the air defence forces, comprising the interceptor, airborne early warning and tanker squadrons listed in annex C of volume I of the " Statement on the Defence Estimates 1980 " (Cmnd 7826–1), supplemented by Hunter and Hawk aircraft in the local air defence role. In addition some RAF Jaguars, Canberras and Vulcans were included in the attacking forces. The results of the exercise are still being evaluated and I expect to receive a report as soon as this has been done. I shall then consider how much information it would be in the public interest to release.
Ulster Defence Regiment
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present membership level of the Ulster Defence Regiment, both full-time and part-time; what it was at the corresponding date in each of the past 10 years; and if he will state what change of role the Ulster Defence Regiment has had over the past decade and any changes envisaged over the next 12 months.
The numbers of part-time members of the UDR on 31 March for each year since 1970 are as follows:
| Part-time | Full-time | Total | |
| 1970* | 2,243 | 49 | 2,292 |
| 1971 | 3,818 | 226 | 4,044 |
| 1972 | 7,881 | 595 | 8,476 |
| 1973 | 7,577 | 866 | 8,443 |
| 1974 | 6,951 | 864 | 7,815 |
| 1975 | 6,286 | 1,406 | 7,692 |
| 1976 | 6,117 | 1,528 | 7,645 |
| 1977 | 5,999 | 1,669 | 7,668 |
| 1978 | 5,702 | 2,192 | 7,894 |
| 1979 | 5,140 | 2,469 | 7,609 |
| 1980 | 4,816 | 2,554 | 7,370 |
| * The figure for 1970 is taken at 30 April; the UDR was formed on 1 April 1970. | |||
Air Traffic Control Radar Systems
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the LW08 air traffic control radar system currently being considered by the Civil Aviation Authority, is already successfully in use with the Royal Navy.
The Dutch LW08 radar transmitter and receiver forms part of the Royal Navy's Type 1022/AZV surveillance radar system which, assembled by Marconi Radar Systems Limited, is at present being brought into service to equip the anti-submarine carriers and the later Type 42 guided missile destroyers.
Northern Ireland (Troop Levels)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present troop level in Northern Ireland; what it was at the corresponding period for each of the past six years; and what plans he has to increase or decrease the number over the next 12 months.
There are at present 12 major units of the combat arms in Northern Ireland. The following table shows the force level for each of the previous six years:
| at 1 March | |
| 1974 | 18 |
| 1975 | 15 |
| 1976 | 16 |
| 1977 | 14 |
| 1978 | 13 |
| 1979 | 13 |
593].
Nato Exercise
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he was satisfied with the latest North Atlantic Treaty Organisation exercise, in particular with the air defence of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford on 22 April.—[Vol. 983 c. 122].
Volunteer Services
asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people joined the Territorial Army in May 1979 and every month up to the latest for which figures are available.
During 1979–80 the numbers joining the Territorial Army in each quarter were as follows:
| First quarter | 5,187 |
| Second quarter | 4,742 |
| Third quarter | 6,021 |
| Fourth quarter | 6,198 |
Defence Establishments (Redundancies)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of changing conditions, he will consider the formation of a special co-ordinating committee to deal with and co-ordinate redundancies arising from overmanning in defence establishments.
No. Satisfactory arrangements already exist for consultation and agreed procedures for handling redundancies are laid down in MOD civilian staff manuals.
Trafalgar Cemetery, Gibraltar
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the upkeep of the Trafalgar cemetery in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
Yes. The Public Works Department of the Gibraltar Government, which is responsible for the upkeep of the cemetery, has been carrying out work during recent weeks in preparation for the summer season. This has included the pruning of trees and shrubs. There is a general litter problem in the area and every effort is being made to combat it.
Royal Dockyard Policy Board
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will enlarge the Royal Dockyard Policy Board by inviting trade union representation in addition to the three existing employer representatives from the private and public sector of industry.
There is no present intention to extend membership of the Royal Dockyard Policy Board to include trade union representation.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Herbicide 2,4,5-T
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the permitted levels of tetrachloro-dibenzodioxins, TCDD, per million allowed in 2,4,5-T; whether this allows for the fact that several other dioxins and dibenzo furans may also be present; and what are the permitted levels of the latter products.
The WHO/FAO standard of 0·1 mg of TCDD per kg of active ingredient applies in the United Kingdom. 2,4,5-T does not contain other dioxins or dibenzofurans.
Green Pound
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect on the weekly food bill of (a) a two-child family on average earnings and (b) a two-child family on below average earnings of (i) the devaluations in the green pound since May 1979 and (ii) the recent introduction of a 2·1 per cent. monetary compensatory amount.
It is estimated that the green pound devaluations since May 1979, on present consumption patterns and when their effects have worked through to the retail stage, will increase the food bill of a two-child family on average earnings by nearly 70p per week and that of a two-child family on below average earnings—taken as half the average—by about 60p per week. The recent introduction of a 2·1 per cent. positive MCA, which was removed after two weeks, would have had no calculable effect on the weekly food bill, since the effect of MCAs is to stabilise food prices.
Common Fisheries Policy
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he or his officials have had with the French authorities, as an EEC partner in the common fisheries policy, over the new 50 million franc additional aid to the French fishing industry; whether he is satisfied that this aid is permissible under the common fisheries policy; and how exactly the aid is to be divided between different aspects of the French fishing industry.
The Minister responsible for fisheries matters in France has described the new French measures to my right hon. Friend. I understand that provision has been made for additional expenditure of FF45 million for the construction, modernisation and adaptation of vessels in the French fleet and to encourage exploitation of new fishing grounds. The question of the conformity of the provisions with Community law is a matter for the Commission of the European Communities.
White Fish Authority And Herring Industry Board
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to produce a public discussion document on the possible body to succeed the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board.
My right hon. Friend hopes to circulate a document shortly.
Forestry Policy
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for consultations with interested bodies on the Government's forestry policy.
Detailed proposals have yet to be formulated. When they are ready we shall consider what form of consultation will be appropriate.
Battery Hens
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Economic Community countries permit the retaining of hens in battery conditions; in which countries the conditions are more stringent than in the United Kingdom; and which countries are contemplating changes in their regulations.
All Community countries currently permit the use of battery systems for laying hens. We believe that Denmark has more stringent requirements than those which apply in this country, and that the Federal German Republic may be contemplating changes in its regulations.
Home Department
World Administrative Radio Conference (Frequency Changes)
62.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expected cost, and effect on rate levels, would be of implementing the frequency changes proposed by the World Administrative Radio Conference to (a) United Kingdom police forces, (b) Devon and Cornwall constabulary, (c) United Kingdom fire services, (d) United Kingdom ambulance services, (e) other radio-controlled local government services and (f) water authorities; whether Her Majesty's Government intend to implement those recommendations; and whether he will make a statement.
The results of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference are binding on all member States of the International Telecommunication Union, including the United Kingdom. The conference results necessitate frequency changes to some radio systems, and the land mobile radio systems of the United Kingdom's police and fire services are among those that will be affected. Consideration is being given to the phasing of these changes, which will have to be completed by the end of 1989, with a view to minimising the cost and disruption of the services. It is, therefore, too early to assess the cost accurately.The mobile radio systems used by the ambulance services, by other local government services and by the water authorities operate in different frequency bands, and should not be directly affected by the results of the conference.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy on the World Administrative Radio Conference's proposals to reallocate frequencies used by the police forces and fire services; and whether these would necessitate the replacement of the forces' VHF equipment.
The results of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference are binding on all member states of the International Telecommunication Union including the United Kingdom. The conference results necessitate frequency changes to a number of radio systems and the VHF land mobile radio systems of the United Kingdom's police and fire services are among those that will be affected. It will be necessary to move them from their existing frequencies by the end of 1989.These changes will almost certainly require a substantial but phased programme of re-equipment.
Marches
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to seek powers to ban all marches likely to incite racialism and, in particular, marches by self-proclaimed racialist organisations, such as the National Front.
These matters are discussed in the Green Paper on the law relating to public order which I published on 24 April. I should prefer to await the response before reaching conclusions.
St Paul's Area, Bristol (Riots)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his meeting on 17 April with Mr. David Lane to discuss the riots in the St. Paul's area of Bristol on 3 April.
My hon. Friend the Minister of State had a discussion with Mr. Lane and his deputy which was useful to us in coming to the view on the Bristol disturbances which I gave to the House in my statement on 28 April.
Winchester Prison (Detained Boy)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a 16-year-old boy was put into a cell with five men at Winchester prison; why the boy was sent to Winchester; if he will make a full statement on what happened to the boy while in Winchester; what disciplinary or other action is being taken against his assailants; and where the boy is now.
The 16-year-old boy in question was convicted at Newport, Isle of Wight, magistrates' court and was committed in custody to Winchester remand centre to await sentence at Newport, Isle of Wight, Crown court. He shared a dormitory cell with five others, all under the age of 21. Following a complaint about his treatment at the hands of his cell mates, the police were called in to investigate and a report has gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions. When the boy appeared at the Crown court, sentence was deferred for five months.
Riding Establishments Acts
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation in Devon of the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970; and if he will make a statement.
Local authorities are responsible for administering the licensing and inspection provisions of the Acts. I understand that there have been difficulties in the Barnstaple area but that steps have been taken to improve the position with the result that 20 establishments are now licensed compared with only three in 1978; 18 of these have been inspected in the last 12 months.
National Front March (Lewisham)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of the extra police present at Lewisham on 20 April.
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis estimates the cost of policing arrangements on this occasion at £300,000.
Drake Hall (Departmental Investigation)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the results of his Department's investigation into the use of sedation at Drake Hall.
We are not aware of any unusual features in the use of sedatives at Drake Hall prison.
Commission For Racial Equality (Membership)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in whether he will give the reasons why he will not, when making fresh appointments to the Commission for Racial Equality, ensure that all of the ethnic groups have a representative thereon including one from the Greeks, Cypriots, Italians, Polish and those with known large populations of immigrants settled in the United Kingdom from countries overseas.
I am writing to the hon. Member.
Senior Police Officers (Public Statements)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the growing practice of senior police officers using the media to declare their personal views on politically controversial matters which fall within the purview of Ministers, whether he will take steps to require such statements to be cleared by Ministers in the same way as applies to statements made by civil servants.
No.
Immigrants (Admission Of Relatives)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on the admission of large numbers of relatives as visitors; and to what extent this applies to the visit by King Khaled of Saudi Arabia.
The requirements relating to the admission of visitors are contained in paragraphs 17 to 20 of the Immigration Rules (HC 394). If King Khaled were to pay an official visit to this country he would be exempt from immigration control.
Custodial Remands
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take urgent steps to reduce the periods spent by defendants on remand in custody.
The Government are aware that some criminal cases, particularly in the South-East of England, are taking a long time to come to trial in the Crown court. The length of time before committal is mainly determined by how soon the prosecution and the defence are ready to proceed. We hope that current studies of waiting times in magistrates' courts will suggest ways of avoiding unnecessary delays at that stage. To help reduce the backlog of cases and delays in the Crown court my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has announced a number of steps including the opening of 71 new court rooms in the next three years and the appointment of more judges.
Mentally Iii Prisoners
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those hospitals that have refused to accept the 20 prisoners awaiting transfer under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 to a National Health Service hospital on 26 February, with the reasons for the refusal.
The 20 prisoners mentioned in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 3 March were waiting for a hospital place to be allocated by a regional health authority. It would not be appropriate therefore to describe them as having been refused places by particular hospitals. The present position in relation to 13 of these 20 prisoners is as follows:
| Admitted to local psychiatric hospitals since 26 February 1980 | 7 |
| On waiting lists for local psychiatric hospitals | 2 |
| Shortly to be admitted to special hospital | 1 |
| Recommendation for transfer to hospital withdrawn | 1 |
| Decisions by Regional Health Authorities awaited | 2 |
Quangos
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Working Party on Magistrates' Courts; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The Working Party on Magistrates' Courts is a group in which officials and people who work in the magistrates' courts can exchange views on practical questions about the administration of and procedure in magistrates' courts. The eleventh report of the working party was issued to justices' clerks on 7 January 1980.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Television Advisory Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The Television Advisory Committee was asked in January 1971 by the then Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to consider the technical developments which might affect broadcasting in the period after 1976. Its report submitted in November 1972 was not of a kind requiring specific action. The committee has not since been reconvened.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Standing Committee on Probation Manpower Needs; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The Committee, which tenders advice by discussion with my officials, last met on 28 November 1979. On its advice, I have made provision in the Government's expenditure plans for expansion of the probation and after-care service.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last received advice from the Standing Committee on Crime Prevention; and what action he has taken since as a result.
At its last meeting in November 1979 the committee recommended the publication of advice to the customers of cash-carrying companies on how to protect themselves against armed robbery. The Home Office will be publishing a guide on this subject shortly.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Race Relations Research Advisory Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
We have not so far had occasion to seek the advice of this committee.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences; and what action he has taken since as a result.
This committee published a working paper last June on the age of consent in relation to sexual offences on which it has sought comments. We are awaiting its final views on this aspect of the law.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Police Advisory Board; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The board, which meets under my chairmanship, provides oral rather than written advice. It last met on 28 November 1979.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Mobile Radio Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The advice I receive from the Mobile Radio Committee is recorded in the minutes of its meetings, the most recent of which was held on 19 February. Among the matters discussed then were the outcome of the World Administrative Radio Conference as it affected users of land mobile radio. Also discussed were the licensing of common base stations and the remote control of base stations, where action is being taken on the basis of the committee's advice.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received advice from the Home Office Committee on Training for Justices' Clerks' Assistants; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The Committee on Training for Justices' Clerks' Assistants considered in April 1979 a report on aspects of the future organisation of training, which the Home Office subsequently sent to interested bodies for comment. A working party of the committee will meet shortly to resume consideration of the matter.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Criminal Law Revision Committee; and what action he has taken since as a result.
We recently received the committee's report on offences against the person, which was published in March (Cmnd. 7844). We are studying its advice.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The council meets in May and November each year to consider a wide range of fire service matters; it last met in November 1979. Its recommendations are conveyed to us by its chairman—my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State. Following the November meeting my right hon. Friend received the written views of the constituent members of the council concerning his power to appoint chief fire officers. Those views are still being considered.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Central Committee on Common Police Services; and what action he has taken since as a result.
This is a working committee which enables the annual expenditure on common police services to be jointly examined and agreed by the Home Office and local authorities. This is usually done without any special difficulty and it is not necessary for the committee to give formal written advice.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs; and what action he has taken since as a result.
The last written advice which we received from the council was in a report " Drug Dependants within the Prison System in England and Wales" which was submitted last December. Arrangements are in hand for the report to be made available to the public and its recommendations are being studied.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last be received written advice from the Advisory Council on Race Relations; and what action he has taken since as a result.
I take the chair of the Advisory Council on Race Relations which includes ministers from other departments in its membership. The council's advice is tendered in the course of the discussions at its meetings and not in written form. The last meeting of the advisory council was held on 12 December 1979. The main items on the agenda concerned relations between ethnic minorities and the police and communications with ethnic minorities and activity in these fields will take account of those discussions.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Advisory Committee on Suspension and Revocation of Authorities for Wireless Personnel; and what action he has taken since as a result.
A radio operator whose authority to operate has been suspended under section 7(2) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 has the right to require me to refer his case to this committee for advice. The last occasion on which advice was given was in November 1975 when the committee recommended in two cases that the suspension of the authority to operate should be terminated. This advice was accepted.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Advisory Committee on Service Candidates; and what action he has taken since as a result.
This committee was established by resolution of the House of Commons in 1963 to advise Service Ministers on the bona fides of Service personnel wishing to stand for Parliament. It last met before the May 1979 general elec- tion to interview three prospective candidates. I understand that on the recommendation of the committee two were released to contest the election.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Advisory Committee on Animal Experiments; and what action he has taken since as a result.
This advisory committee, whose constitution I announced on 28 March, met for the first time on that day. I have already accepted its advice, conveyed orally to my officials, on a number of applications for authority to carry out experiments.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when last he received written advice from the Advisory Board on Restricted Patients; and what action he has taken since as a result.
On 12 March 1980. The board regularly sends written advice about proposals for the discharge or transfer of individual patients detained in hospital who are subject to the restrictions provided in section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959. A summary of the advice received and action taken for the latest period for which figures are readily available was provided on 16 January 1980 in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price).—[Vol. 976, c. 731–2.]
Alternative Research
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money the Government spend on alternative research compared to research on animals.
This information is not available.
Immigration
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Minister of State's answer, Official Report, 22 April, c. 97, how many of those refused leave to enter the United Kingdom were refused because they were suspected of terrorism; how many of these were detained; and of those detained, how many were prosecuted.
The statistics referred to relate to those refused entry under immigration control and the information requested is not separately available from that source. Information on those detained at a port or airport under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts is published quarterly in Home Office statistical bulletins (table 1 of Issue 7/80 published on 29 April) copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Wales
Welsh Development Agency (Investments And Loans)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish a comprehensive list of all the investments made by the Welsh Development Agency to and loans made by the agency to companies and firms that have since been taken into receivership or gone into liquidation, since the agency's inception, stating, in each case, the amount of the respective investment or loan and the portion thereof, if any, which the agency has reasonable hopes of recovering.
I have asked the agency to write to my hon. and learned Friend.
Roads (Expenditure)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average expenditure per mile of road in Wales taking in total central Government and local government spending, for each of the past five years.
Figures for the financial years 1974–75 to 1978–79 are as follows:Expenditure per mile of road at outturn prices (£).
| 1974–75 | 4,270 |
| 1975–76 | 6,000 |
| 1976–77 | 7,000 |
| 1977–78 | 6,550 |
| 1978–79 | 7,690 |
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the total central Government ex- penditure on roads in Wales for each of the past 15 years, showing the expenditure both at current values and adjusted £ sterling to the value of £ sterling in terms of 1970 purchasing power.
For details of expenditure, at outturn prices, on trunk roads in Wales during the period 1964–65 to 1977–78 I refer the hon. Member to the 1975 and 1979 editions of the Digest of Welsh Statistics, tables 6.03 and 6.06 respectively. The comparable figure for 1978–79, the latest year for which outturn data are available, is £61·1 million. Over the same period trunk road expenditures, expressed in terms of 1970 prices, are as given below.
| £ million (1970 prices)* | |
| 1964–65 | 13·1 |
| 1965–66 | 13·9 |
| 1966–67 | 15·7 |
| 1967–68 | 10·9 |
| 1968–69 | 11·3 |
| 1969–70 | 12·0 |
| 1970–71 | 16·8 |
| 1971–72 | 23·1 |
| 1972–73 | 22·6 |
| 1973–74 | 19·1 |
| 1974–75 | 15·4 |
| 1975–76 | 25·7 |
| 1976–77 | 29·4 |
| 1977–78 | 21·3 |
| 1978–79 | 22·3 |
| * adjusted to 1970 prices using the GDP deflator. | |
Mountain Area Framing
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward proposals to provide special support for farmers of severely disadvantaged mountain areas, where standards of living will drop unless special aid is forthcoming.
The Government are fully committed to helping farmers in the less-favoured areas. Since we came to office we have signicantly increased the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances, which will result in a total payment this year of some £20 million to farmers in the less-favoured areas in Wales. The higher rates of capital grants available in hill areas have also been maintained. I have no proposals for providing additional support.
Welsh Agriculture
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will sponsor a permanent office at Brussels to speak on behalf of all organisations interested in promoting the well-being of Welsh agriculture.
No. Welsh agricultural interests are already adequately covered by the office of the United Kingdom permanent representative.
Transport
Licensed Motor Vehicles
asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a table showing the number of licensed motor vehicles per 1,000 population for each of the counties of England and Wales, together with the average for England and for Wales, respectively.
The following are the figures for 1979:
| LICENSED MOTOR VEHICLES PER 1,000 POPULATION | |
| England | 350 |
| Cleveland | 294 |
| Cumbria | 362 |
| Durham | 259 |
| Northumberland | 282 |
| Tyne & Wear | 233 |
| Humberside | 337 |
| North Yorks | 378 |
| South Yorks | 292 |
| West Yorks | 282 |
| Derbyshire | 278 |
| Leicestershire | 354 |
| Lincolnshire | 438 |
| Northamptonshire | 358 |
| Nottinghamshire | 342 |
| Cambridgeshire | 420 |
| Norfolk | 429 |
| Suffolk | 411 |
| Bedfordshire | 401 |
| Berkshire | 458 |
| Buckinghamshire | 387 |
| East Sussex | 367 |
| Essex | 379 |
| Greater London | 337 |
| Hampshire | 384 |
| Hertfordshire | 467 |
| Isle of Wight | 393 |
| Kent | 370 |
| Oxfordshire | 393 |
| Surrey | 428 |
| West Sussex | 406 |
| Avon | 391 |
| Cornwall | 414 |
| Devon | 385 |
| Dorset | 432 |
| Gloucestershire | 428 |
| Somerset | 438 |
| Wiltshire | 408 |
| Hereford & Worces | 405 |
| Salop | 403 |
| Staffordshire | 332 |
| Warwickshire | 327 |
| West Midlands | 340 |
| Cheshire | 326 |
| Greater Manchester | 281 |
| Lancashire | 356 |
| Merseyside | 269 |
| Wales | 325 |
| Clwyd | 346 |
| Dyfed | 392 |
| Gwent | 322 |
| Gwynedd | 370 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 243 |
| Powys | 437 |
| South Glamorgan | 328 |
| West Glamorgan | 304 |
Motorways
asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of motorway are due to be (a) started and (b) completed in 1980.
I hope that work will start on nearly 25 miles of new motorway, including local authority schemes financed with 100 per cent. grants from my Department, and on the widening of 6½ miles of the M1.About 40 miles of motorway should be opened in 1980, and the widening of 5½ miles of the M5 should be completed.
Roads (Expenditure)
asked the Minister of Transport what was the average expenditure per mile of road in England, taking in both central and local government spending, for each of the past five years.
Following is the information:
| EXPENDITURE PER MILE OF ROAD (ENGLAND) | |
| £, current prices | |
| 1974–75 | 6,360 |
| 1975–76 | 7,780 |
| 1976–77 | 7,850 |
| 1977–78 | 7,260 |
| 1978–79 | 7,940 |
Reflector Discs
asked the Minister of Transport whether he will declare 27 October National Disc Day, and recommend to all local education authorities that they should advise schools to encourage children to wear reflector discs on the day when the clocks go back.
I support the efforts of RoSPA and the Sunday Mirror to encourage the use of reflective discs and I hope that the proposed " Glowworm Day" on 27 October will be a success. Children and indeed anyone walking at night are well advised to wear or carry something reflective.
Heavy Lorries (Traffic Management)
asked the Minister of Transport if he has completed the compilation of the list of local authority heavy lorry traffic management control schemes issued under the provisions of the Heavy Commercial Vehicles Act 1973; and when he now expects to publish this list.
Yes. Copies of the list are now available and I have sent one to my hon. Friend.
Environment
Water Charges
41.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the present system for making water charges.
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton. North (Mr. Marlow).
Merseyside (Urban Aid Programme)
42.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with Merseyside council concerning the urban aid programme.
We discussed this in the Liverpool inner city partnership committee, most recently on 28 March.
Enterprise Zones
43.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking in connection with the setting up of enterprise zones.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the member for Sowerby (Mr. Thompson).
52.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being introduced to relax planning controls in proposed enterprise zones.
New powers have been provided for in recently laid amendments to the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill. These will enable my right hon. Friend to bring into effect by an order designating an enterprise zone a relaxed planning regime drawn up by the local authority or development corporation.
Sellindge (Electricity Converter Station)
44.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be in a position to announce a decision, following the public inquiry in respect of the siting of the Central Electricity Generating Board proposed converter station adjoining the village of Sellindge.
I received the inspector's report of the public inquiry on 12 March. The decision in this case is one for both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. The issues involved are complex and important and I cannot yet say when a decision will be made. I shall, however, ensure, that the time spent on processing this appeal is kept down to a minimum.
Council House Sales
47.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for sales of council houses and flats in England and Wales.
The latest figures are those for 1979 which are estimated as follows:
| Houses | Flats | |
| 1st quarter | 11,920 | 150 |
| 2nd quarter | 7,105 | 140 |
| 3rd quarter | 6,075 | 180 |
| 4th quarter | 15,615 | 410* |
| * provisional. | ||
Liverpool Inner City Area Partnership Committee
45.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to meet the Liverpool inner city area partnership committee.
We met on 28 March and will meet again when there is sufficient business.
Land Registers
46.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the authorities which he will require to publish registers of publicly-held land.
I hope to make an announcement very shortly.
Improvement Grants
48.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes he expects to be improved in 1980–81 with the use of improvement grants; and how many were improved with the use of these grants in each of the past five years.
The number of improvement grants given in 1980–81 will depend primarily on decisions by individual householders to improve their homes and I cannot, therefore, predict what the outcome will be. Figures for the number of house renovation grants paid in England and Wales for each of the last five years are as follows:
| Improvement grants (000s) | Other renovation grants (000s) | Total (000s) | |
| 1975 | 79·7 | 13·1 | 92·8 |
| 1976 | 63·8 | 11·5 | 75·3 |
| 1977 | 54·3 | 9·7 | 64·0 |
| 1978 | 55·0 | 8·6 | 63·6 |
| 1979* | 63·2 | 8·8 | 72·0 |
| * Proivisional. | |||
Water Rates (Rebate Scheme)
49.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the need for a water rates rebate scheme; and if he will make a statement.
I refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden).
Building Control Consent (Fees)
51.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why local authorities have been given the right to charge for building control consent.
Provisions to authorise charges for building control services were included in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and are being implemented now as part of the Government's policy to recover the cost of services being provided at public expense where this is appropriate. Fee systems have been in force in Scotland since 1964 and in Inner London since 1939.
Domestic Rates (Reform)
50.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce his proposals to reform the domestic rating system; and if he will make a statement.
We are reviewing all the main alternatives to domestic rates, but it is too early to say when we will be in a position to make firm proposals.
Local Authority Associations
53.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he expects to meet representatives of the local authority associations.
54.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to meet the chairman of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.
I refer the hon. Members to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Flint, East (Mr. Jones).
Rate Support Grant (Representations)
55.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from associations of local authorities concerning his rate support grant proposals.
I have received a number of representations about our block grant proposals from the local authority associations and the matter has of course also been discussed at meetings of the Consultative Council of Local Government Finance.My right hon. Friend and I recognise that the associations still have some anxieties about the theoretical ways in which block grant might be operated, and we are certainly prepared to consider further constructive amendments which could incorporate any additional safeguards which are consistent with the basic principles of block grant, and which could be incorporated in the primary legislation.
Council House Building
56.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to increase council house building.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Monday 11 February 1980.—[Vol. 978, c. 495.]
Home Improvements Council
57.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when last he met the president of the Home Improvements Council.
I have not yet had the opportunity of meeting the president of the National Home Improvement Council. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction last met the president (who was then the chairman of the council) on 25 October 1979 at the presentation of the council's awards for their 1979 National Home Improvement Month competition.
Local Government, Planning And Land (No 2) Bill (Compulsory Purchase Powers)
58.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the compulsory purchase powers which will obtain when the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill becomes law, with particular reference as to how these will compare with those which operated prior to the Community Land Act 1975.
Local authorities have a number of powers to acquire land com-pulsorily for the purposes of their various functions, and many of these overlap. Under section 112 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, authorities have powers to compulsorily acquire land in connection with development or for other planning purposes. This section is being amended by clause 67 of the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill, so as to replace its opaque wording with something simpler and easier to understand.But it is not our intention to widen the powers as compared with those which operated before the Community Land Act. I am reconsidering the precise word- ing of clause 67 in the light of the Debate in Standing Committee D on 22 April.
Local Authority Finance
59.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the replies of local authority associations to his proposals in regard to the present levels of central support for local government and in regard to his proposals for local authority finance.
I have had no representations about the current level, 61 per cent., of grant support for local authority expenditure. As for representations on the block grant proposals, I refer the hen. member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mr. Douglas-Mann).
Single Homeless People (Brent Report)
60.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to implement the recommendations of the report by the town clerk and chief executive of the London borough of Brent, relevant to the fatal fire which occurred at a Kilburn hostel for single homeless people on 18 March, a copy of which has been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Brent, East, with particular regard to improved fire precautions legislation, better management and regulation of such premises, and increased provision of modern hostel accommodation for single homeless people, especially in older city areas.
I am studying the report and will be discussing it with my right hon. Friends.
Council House Sales
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate which housing authorities in Bedfordshire and adjoining counties have sold dwellings to sitting tenants; and how many have been sold by each of these housing authorities up to the latest convenient date.
Information is not collected on sales to sitting tenants only, but on all sales and leases of dwellings by housing authorities whether to sitting tenants or others. In 1979 sales or leases of existing dwellings by housing authorities in Bedfordshire and adjoining counties were reported as follows:
| Number of reported sales in 1979 | |
| Bedfordshire | 540 |
| Luton | 256 |
| Mid Bedfordshire | 48 |
| North Bedfordshire | 165 |
| South Bedfordshire | 71 |
| Northamptonshire | 576 |
| Corby | 165 |
| Daventry | 54 |
| East Northamptonshire | 17 |
| Kettering | 8 |
| Northampton | 145 |
| South Northamptonshire | 54 |
| Wellingborough | 71 |
| Corby New Town* | |
| Northampton New Town | 63 |
| Buckinghamshire | 1,250 |
| Aylesbury Vale | 271 |
| Beaconsfield | 121 |
| Chiltern | 102 |
| Milton Keynes | 326 |
| Wycombe | 357 |
| Milton Keynes New Town | 73 |
| Hertfordshire | 1,520 |
| Broxbourne | 38 |
| Dacorum | 312 |
| East Hertfordshire | 47† |
| Hertsmere | 152 |
| North Hertfordshire | 62 |
| St. Albans | 127 |
| Stevenage | 392 |
| Three Rivers | 51 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 339 |
| Hatfield New Town* | |
| Hemel Hempstead New Tow* | |
| Stevenage New Town* | |
| Welwyn Garden City New Town* | |
| Cambridgeshire | 1,519 |
| Cambridge | 68 |
| Fenland | 452 |
| Huntingdon | 290 |
| Peterborough | 291 |
| South Cambridgeshire | 46 |
| Peterborough New Town | 372 |
| Watford and East Cambridgeshire did not report any sales in 1979. | |
| * These new towns have transferred most or all of their dwelling stock to the appropriate local authorities. | |
| †Reported sales between April and December 1979. | |
| Figures of sales for earlier years can be obtained from previous May issues of Local Housing Statistics. | |
Urban Programme And Housing Cost Yardstick
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is prepared to delay formulating any recommendations with regard to the traditional urban programme and housing cost yardstick until such time as full consultation has taken place with the voluntary sector and, in particular, those organisations involved in children's play.
Preliminary views about the objectives and effectiveness of the traditional urban programme were invited from a number of national organisations last autumn. In the light of the comments received, and the results of the Department's survey of a sample of local authorities, a further consultation document was widely circulated in March. Many responses to this document have been received, including some from organisations involved in children's play. I see no need to delay the formulation of recommendations arising out of this review, since a decision is needed soon on whether, and if so in what form, to invite fresh bids from local authorities (including those for voluntary schemes) for next year's projects. My right hon. Friend announced on 22 January proposals to replace the present controls on local authority housebuilding, including abolition of the housing cost yardstick, with effect from April 1981. A consultation document setting out the proposals in detail is being prepared, and interested parties will have the opportunity to comment when it is published.
Rate Rebates
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to raise the maximum rate rebate currently payable.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Thompson) on 23 April.—[Vol. 984, c. 185–6.]
Departmental Staff
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total numbers of staff employed in his Department for each year from 31 December 1973 to 1979, and the numbers for the same periods in each grade within the administration group, excluding those who, during the period in question, became part of the staff of the Ministry of Transport.
Following are the total numbers of staff employed in my Department on 1 January in each of the years 1974–80, and the total number of administrative, executive and clerical (AEQ employees, including those in posts which are open to both the administrative and professional/specialist grades:
| Total staff (all grades) | Total AEC grades | |
| 1 January 1974 | 60,527 | 13,870 |
| 1 January 1975 | 56,505 | 12,152 |
| 1 January 1976 | 58,624 | 12,510 |
| 1 January 1977 | 56,800 | 11,803 |
| 1 January 1978 | 54,618 | 11,569 |
| 1 January 1979 | 52,550 | 11,2841 |
| 1 January 1980 | 49,200 | 10,632 |
| 1 January 1980 | |
| Permanent Secretary | 2 |
| Second Permanent Secretary | 1 |
| Deputy Secretary | 11 |
| Under-Secretary | 59 |
| Sub Total | 73 |
| Director Middle Band | 2 |
| Director Lower Band | 10 |
| Assistant Secretary | 98 |
| Senior Principal | 43 |
| Principal | 326 |
| Senior Executive Officer | 428 |
| Higher Executive Officer (HEO) | 1249 |
| Executive Officer | 2465 |
| HEO(A) | 55 |
| Administration Trainee | 45 |
| Sub Total | 4721 |
| Clerical Officer | 4402 |
| Clerical Assistant | 1436 |
| Sub Total | 5838 |
| Total | 10632 |
Rate Rebate Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to extend the current rate rebate scheme to include water rates, in view of the significant increase in the level of such water rates for the domestic consumer.
We have no plan to do so.
Local Taxation (Reform)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he is having with representatives of the district and county councils, respectively, about the reform of local taxation.
We have not yet reached a stage in our review at which it would be appropriate to consult either local government or other interested bodies.
Planning Applications (Charges)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on local authorities which are making charges for planning applications and inspections; when he expects the replacement order to come into force; and whether refunds will be made should the new order have a differing method or basis of charging.
Local authorities have been authorised to charge for building control since 1 April 1980. The present regulations will be replaced as soon as practicable after consultation by others more clearly expressing in one particular instance the same intention with regard to the basis of charging.
House Building
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing starts in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector he estimates will be made in 1980; and how these figures compare with the years since 1970.
On estimates of public sector housing starts in 1980, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 30 January 1980.—[Vol. 977, c. 684]—In the private sector returns by builders in March published today suggest that they were expecting to start about 130,000 private sector houses and flats in Great Britain in 1980. Starts in Great Britain in the years since 1970 are as follows:
| (thousands of dwellings) | ||
| Public sector | Private sector | |
| 1970 | 154 | 165 |
| 1971 | 137 | 207 |
| 1972 | 123 | 228 |
| 1973 | 113 | 216 |
| 1974 | 146 | 106 |
| 1975 | 174 | 149 |
| 1976 | 171 | 155 |
| 1977 | 132 | 135 |
| 1978 | 107 | 157 |
| 1979 | 80 | 140 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing completions in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector he estimates will be made in 1980; and how these figures compare with the years since 1970.
Completions in 1980 will depend largely on the rate of progress with dwellings now under construction.Completions for the first two months of 1980 in Great Britain were public sector 16,800 and private sector 21,000.Completions in Great Britain in the years since 1970 are:
| (thousands of dwellings) | ||
| Public sector | Private sector | |
| 1970 | 180 | 170 |
| 1971 | 159 | 192 |
| 1972 | 123 | 196 |
| 1973 | 107 | 187 |
| 1974 | 129 | 141 |
| 1975 | 162 | 151 |
| 1976 | 163 | 152 |
| 1977 | 162 | 140 |
| 1978 | 131 | 149 |
| 1979 | 102 | 133 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses he estimates will be needed in 1980 to be built in order to meet demand in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector.
The last time an exercise to quantify the demand for housing was attempted was in the housing Green Paper of 1977. There is no reason to suppose that housing circumstances have changed so materially since then that the information flowing from an undated version of the paper published then would lead individual authorities to change materially the judgments which they will in any case make. As the authors of the Green Paper acknowledged that the quantifying of housing demand is highly speculative, we do not in the circumstances propose to repeat the exercise.
Unsold Public Sector Houses
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes in the public sector remained unsold at the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the figures for the years since 1970.
Following are the available estimates.
| Dwellings owned by local authorities, new towns and housing associations | |
| England: 1970 to 1979 | |
| (at end of December each year) | |
| 1970 | 4,620,000 |
| 1971 | 4,720,000 |
| 1972 | 4,760,000 |
| 1973 | 4,810,000 |
| 1974 | 4,930,000 |
| 1975 | 5,090,000 |
| 1976 | 5,230,000 |
| 1977 | 5,380,000 |
| 1978 | 5,490,000 |
| 1979 | 5,560,000 |
Home Insulation Grants
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes have been made in cash limits for 1980–81 to accommodate the extension of the homes insulation grants scheme announced by his hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction, Official Report, 27 March, column 681.
With the agreement of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales I will include cash limits for Scotland and for Wales in this answer. The cash limits for local authority capital expenditure on housing in England, Scotland and Wales have been increased by £4·5 million, £0·5 million, and £0·3 million respectively, compared with the cash limits announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 26 March.—[Vol. 148, c. 600.] The revised cash limits are as follows:
| Department | Block number | £million |
| Department of the Environment | DOE/LA2 | 2,357·5 |
| Scottish Office | SO/LA2 | 476·1 |
| Welsh Office | WO/LA1 | 159·3 |
Rent Officer Service
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make public the working party report on output in the rent officer service; and if he will make a statement.
Yes. I have placed a copy in the Library today. The report, which was prepared by a working party consisting of rent officers and officials of the Department, examines ways in which applications for the registration of fair rents might be dealt with more speedily. It is concerned essentially with procedures and has no implications for the basis on which fair rents are assessed independently by individual rent officers.Subject to the views of the Institute of Rent Officers, which is currently being consulted, the Government propose to accept the working party's recommendations and to amend the Housing Bill accordingly.