Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Friday 20 January 1984

Home Department

Ranby Prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners now in Ranby prison, Retford, Notts are not category "C";(2) how many prisoners in Ranby prison currently have a record of sex offences or assaults against the person, use of drugs, and absconding from custody; and what were the equivalent figures for 1973;(3) what is the average length of sentence remaining to be served by the prisoners in Ranby prison; and what was the equivalent figures in 1973.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners in Ranby prison have been recategorised; and from what category;(2) how many prisoners were transferred from Ranby prison for disciplinary reasons in 1983; and what was the equivalent figure for 1973;(3) how many prisoners were transferred from Ranby prison in December 1983; and for what reason;(4) what is the estimated cost of the damage caused by the disturbances in Ranby prison in December 1983.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the new perimeter fence at Ranby prison is not under 24-hour surveillance; and why the extra post asked for by the Prison Officers Association has been refused.

Our arrangements provide for adequate surveillance of the perimeter fence on a 24-hour basis. We do not believe that an additional post is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Prison Officers Association at Ranby prison is not allowed to inspect the security reports.

There is a national facilities agreement, to which the Prison Officers Association is a signatory, that local accredited representatives may be given access to documents which set out the rules relating to pay, conditions and other matters affecting members of staff. There is no obligation to provide access to any other documents.

Category "C" Prisoner (Definition)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the official definition of a category "C" prisoner.

Category "C" prisoners are those who cannot be trusted in open conditions, but who do not have the ability or resources to make a determined escape attempt.

Nga Offices, Warrington

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to letters from the hon. Member for Sunderland, North and the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) sent to him on 1 December 1983 and 15 December 1983, concerning the police behaviour with regard to the mobile office of the National Graphical Association at Warrington.

I replied on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend in a letter of 18 January, explaining that the action by the police is the subject of a formal complaint by the National Graphical Association.

Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in each of the five years up to and including 1982, how many people seeking entry into the United Kingdom were given temporary admission; what categories they fell into under the Immigration Rules; and how many of those originally granted temporary admission were granted leave to remain permanently after consideration of their cases.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1983, c. 349]: The number of people seeking entry to the United Kingdom who were given temporary admission either pending further examination or following refusal of leave to enter was as follows:

	Numbers
1978	3,874
1979	4,742
1980	5,864
1981	5,776
1982	6,584

I regret that records are not maintained in a way that enables us to supply the other information requested.

Social Services

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (Recommendations)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take on the various recommendations that have been submitted to him by the industrial injuries advisory council but not yet implemented.

I am pleased to say that we can now make resources available to implement the recommendation of the council that the severer forms of vibration white finger should be prescribed as an industrial disease. We propose to lay regulations bringing this into effect early in 1985.Proposals for widening the terms of prescription for viral hepatitis to cover any employed earner who contracts the disease as a result of his or her occupation have also been accepted. Regulations to implement them will be laid later this year. Meanwhile we are arranging for the report to be published.We have also accepted the recommendation that epicondylitis of the humerus and rotator cuff syndrome should not be added to the schedule of prescribed diseases.The council has recently submitted further recommendations on asbestos-related diseases without asbestosis. These modify its earlier report, Cmnd. 8750, and recommend the prescription of bilateral diffuse pleural thickening and of lung cancer when accompanied by asbestosis or by bilateral diffuse pleural thickening. We are arranging for the publication of these revised conclusions, which we will be considering.We have carefully studied the council's recommendations for a limited system of individual proof to extend the industrial injuries scheme's coverage for occupational diseases. While the concept has obvious attractions there could be considerable practical difficulties of assessment and administration giving rise to disproportionately high costs in relation to the benefit gained; and the resources to launch such a scheme are not available. Neither can we accept the council's recommendation that extensions of benefit coverage should automatically have retrospective effect.

British Telecom

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under his control.

Payments to British Telecom in 1982–83 totalled £22·25 million including £3·1 million for the purchase of small exchanges.

Hip Replacement Operations

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a list on a district by district basis of the number of patients awaiting hip replacement operations in the West Midlands regional health authority for (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five or more years.

Waiting list information is available centrally by the specialty of treatment and not by operation. My hon. Friend may wish to write to the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority, who may be able to let him have the required information.

Pleural Asbestosis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received for the prescription for benefit as an industrial disease of pleural asbestosis and lung cancer in asbestos workers.

Since the industrial injuries advisory council submitted its report (Cmnd. 8750) a number of inquiries about the implementation of the council's recommendation have been received. My right hon. Friend has recently received revised recommendations from the council. Those recommend the prescription for asbestos workers of bilateral diffuse pleural thickening accompanied by a measurable degree of disability and of lung cancer accompanied by either asbestosis or bilaterial diffuse pleural thickening. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) today we are arranging for the publication of these revised conclusions, which will be considered.

Kidney Transplants

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can yet give the number of kidney transplants performed in 1983; and if he will make a statement.

The provisional total for the United Kingdom was 1,160, an increase of about 13 per cent. over the previous record figure achieved in 1982. This is a most encouraging advance, but with over 2,400 patients awaiting a transplant there remains an urgent need to increase the number still further. The limiting factor is still the supply of kidneys. We shall shortly be launching a new publicity campaign to increase public awareness of the need for transplantation and encourage the widest use of the organ donor card.

Sickness And Invalidity Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 16 December 1983, Official Report, c. 634, if he will publish in the Official Report any information available to him on the number of persons who fail to satisfy either the first or the second contribution condition for sickness and invalidity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

The information available is given in the table. The number of spells of incapacity for work for which sickness benefit was claimed and which terminated during the year ending 29 May 1982 was 6,836,089. Of these 306,000 resulted in no payment because of failure to satisfy one or both of the contribution conditions, and 99,060 resulted in payment of benefit at less than standard rate because the second contribution condition was only partially satisfied. The corresponding figures for spells which were current on 29 May 1982 were 469,173, 47,307 and 6,700. It should be noted that spells which ended on 29 May 1982 are included in both these sets of figures.Where there is no entitlement to sickness benefit, then no entitlement to invalidity benefit can arise either. Where sickness benefit is payable at less than standard rate, this does not affect entitlement to invalidity benefit, which is payable at the full rate after the normal qualifying period of entitlement to sickness benefit.It should be noted that these figures do not reflect the current situation where the sickness of most employees is covered by statutory sick pay and not by sickness benefit.

	Spells of incapacity terminating in the period 1 June 1981 to 29 May 1982		Spells of incapacity current on 29 May 1982
	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit
MEN
In class I employment
All ages	30,227	66,727	2,600	17,400
Age under 18	400	18,300	—	900
Age 18 to 19	1,700	11,013	200	1,600
Age 20 to 24	8,600	10,307	300	1,700
Age 25 to 29	4,507	5,907	700	700
Age 30 to 34	3,707	5,100	200	1,300
Age 35 to 39	3,807	3,800	400	2,000
Age 40 to 44	2,100	3,300	300	1,600
Age 45 to 49	1,900	1,900	—	1,300
Age 50 to 54	1,400	2,500	300	2,300

	Spells of incapacity terminating in the period 1 June 1981 to 29 May 1982		Spells of incapacity current on 29 May 1982
	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit
Age 55 to 59	1,400	2,500	100	2,200
Age 60 to 64	600	1,600	100	1,500
Age 65 to 69	107	500	—	300
Age 70	—	—	—	—
Self-employed
All ages	4,800	7,300	200	1,500
Age under 18	—	300	—	100
Age 18 to 19	—	200	—	—
Age 20 to 24	300	500	—	200
Age 25 to 29	—	700	—	100
Age 30 to 34	1,200	1,600	—	200
Age 35 to 39	200	800	—	—
Age 40 to 44	500	800	—	100
Age 45 to 49	800	800	100	200
Age 50 to 54	700	800	—	—
Age 55 to 59	400	500	—	400
Age 60 to 64	700	400	100	200
Age 65 to 69	—	100	—	—
Age 70	—	—	—	—
Unemployed
All ages	300	2,000	100	1,200
Age under 18	—	400	—	200
Age 18 to 19	—	300	—
Age 20 to 24	—	700	—	100
Age 25 to 29
Age 30 to 34	100	—	—	—
Age 35 to 39	100	—	100	100
Age 40 to 44	—	200	—	200
Age 45 to 49	100	—	—	100
Age 50 to 54	—	200	—	500
Age 55 to 59	—	200	—
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65 to 69	—	—	—	—
Age 70	—	—	—	—
Not known or other
All ages	—	700	—	600
Age under 18	—	400	—	100
Age 18 to 19	—	100	—
Age 20 to 24	—	100	—	200
Age 25 to 29	—	—	—
Age 30 to 34	—	100	—	—
Age 35 to 39	—	—	—	100
Age 40 to 44	—	—	—
Age 45 to 49	—	—	—	100
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	100
Age 55 to 59	—	—	—	—
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65 to 69	—	—	—	—
Age 70	—	—	—	—
MARRIED WOMEN
In class 1 employment
All ages	42,313	154,527	2,900	12,200
Age under 18	—	500	—	100
Age 18 to 19	100	500	—	—
Age 20 to 24	5,333	6,607	300	300
Ape 25 to 29	9 327	18 100	700	800
Age 30 to 34	10,013	26,727	800	1,100
Age 35 to 39	7,613	32,627	300	1,300
Age 40 to 44	4,020	22,547	300	2,400
Age 45 to 49	2,807	19,720	100	1,700
Age 50 to 54	1,800	16,400	200	2,700
Age 55 to 59	1,100	8,300	200	1,600
Age 60 to 64	—	2,500	—	200
Age 65	—	—	—	—
Self-employed
All ages	—	300	—	200

	Spells of incapacity terminating in the period 1 June 1981 to 29 May 1982		Spells of incapacity-current on 29 May 1982
	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit
Age under 18	—	—	—	—
Age 18 to 19	—	—	—	—
Age 20 to 24	—	100	—	—
Age 25 to 29	—	—	—	—
Age 30 to 34	—	100	—	—
Age 35 to 39	—	100	—	—
Age 40 to 44	—	—	—	—
Age 45 to 49	—	—	—	—
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	100
Age 55 to 59	—	—	—	100
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65	—	—	—	—
Unemployed
All ages	—	300	—	700
Age under 18	—	—	—	—
Age 18 to 19	—	—	—	—
Age 20 to 24	—	—	—	—
Age 25 to 29	—	100	—	—
Age 30 to 34	—	100	—	—
Age 35 to 39	—	—	—	300
Age 40 to 44	—	—	—	—
Age 45 to 49	—	100	—	300
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	—
Age 55 to 59	—	—	—	100
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65	—	—	—	—
Not known or other
All ages	—	800	—	200
Age under 18	—	—	—
Age 18 to 19	—	—	—	—
Age 20 to 24	—	100	—	—
Age 25 to 29	—	—	—	—
Age 30 to 34	—	—	—	—
Age 35 to 39	—	300	—	100
Age 40 to 44	—	100	—	—
Age 45 to 49	—	200	—	—
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	—
Age 55 to 59	—	100	—	—
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	100
Age 65	—	—	—	—
OTHER WOMEN
In class 1 employment
All ages	21,120	70,947	800	11,407
Age under 18	100	19,300	—	1,900
Age 18 to 19	3,200	18,107	100	1,100
Age 20 to 24	10,113	11,600	100	1,300
Age 25 to 29	3,800	5,100	—	900
Age 30 to 34	1,700	2,500	100	600
Age 35 to 39	500	2,913	200	1,107
Age 40 to 44	200	2,200	100	800
Age 45 to 49	607	3,007	100	1,400
Age 50 to 54	500	3,307	100	1,300
Age 55 to 59	400	2,413	—	1,000
Age 60 to 64	—	500	—	—
Age 65	—	—	—	—
Self-employed
All ages	100	200	—	300
Age under 18	—	—	—	—
Age 18 to 19	—	—	—	—
Age 20 to 24	100	—	—	100
Age 25 to 29	—	100	—	100
Age 30 to 34	—	—	—	—
Age 35 to 39	—	—	—	—
Age 40 to 44	—	—	—	—
Age 45 to 49	—	100	—	—
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	100
Age 55 to 59	—	—	—	—

	Spells of incapacity terminating in the period 1 June 1981 to 29 May 1982		Spells of incapacity current on 29 May 1982
	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit	Reduced benefit	Nil benefit
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65	—	—	—	—
Unemployed
All ages	200	1,500	100	700
Age under 18	—	500	—	100
Age 18 to 19	—	400	—	200
Age 20 to 24	100	200	100	200
Age 25 to 29	—	—	—	—
Age 30 to 34	—	100	—	—
Age 35 to 39	100	—	—	—
Age 40 to 44	—	200	—	100
Age 45 to 49	—	—	—	100
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	—
Age 55 to 59	—	100	—	—
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65	—	—	—	—
Not known or other
All ages	—	700	—	900
Age under 18	—	300	—	200
Age 18 to 19	—	200	—	100
Age 20 to 24	—	100	—	100
Age 25 to 29	—	100	—	—
Age 30 to 34	—	—	—	—
Age 35 to 39	—	—	—	100
Age 40 to 44	—	—	—	100
Age 45 to 49	—	—	—	100
Age 50 to 54	—	—	—	—
Age 55 to 59	—	—	—	200
Age 60 to 64	—	—	—	—
Age 65	—	—	—	—

Personal Social Services (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the report, dated December 1983, of the survey by the Association of Directors of Social Services entitled "Personal Social Services Expenditure, Staffing and Activities"; if there is any action he will be taking in consequence of its findings; and if he will make a statement.

This is another helpful report from the Association of Directors of Social Services giving indications of the state of the local authority personal social services. But they are only indications: the survey had only a 67 per cent. response, and more complete and recent information available to the Government shows, for example, that local authorities have budgeted to spend 2½ per cent. more this year—not 1¾ per cent. as reported by the association. Subject to that reservation, the survey provides evidence concerning authorities' wish to protect vulnerable people and of their positive response to the Government's community care policies, and will be a useful adjunct to other such evidence in the further development of these policies.

Supplementary Benefit And National Insurance Tribunals

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to implement section 25 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983, amalgamating the supplementary benefit and national insurance tribunals.

We expect to implement section 25 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act on 23 April 1984.

Family Practitioner Services

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to publish and make a statement on the Binder Hamlyn report on family practitioner services.

We are still studying this report.

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the instruction to local offices not to destroy files of former unemployed supplementary benefit claimants is still in force.

Yes.

Housing Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a breakdown of his estimate of the number of (a) recipients and (b) households who are eligible for housing benefit; and if he will clarify the data according to whether the recipient's income is less than 20 per cent. of average earnings, between 20 and 40 per cent., between 40 and 60 per cent., between 60 and 80 per cent. and between 80 and 100 per cent. of average earnings and those above average earnings.

We estimate that the number of housing benefit recipients is about 6,960,000. Information on the number of households eligible for housing benefits and on the gross earnings of recipients cannot be provided until more recent family expenditure survey data becomes available.

Kidney Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a regional analysis of new kidney patients accepted per million of population in 1980, 1981 and 1982, an estimate of the numbers for 1983 and a projection of the numbers for 1984, 1985 and 1986.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1984, c. 249]: Following are the figures supplied by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association for 1980 and 1981.

	New kidney patients per million total population
Region	1980	1981
Northern	32·3	29·4
Yorkshire	20·8	22·2
Trent	24·0	30·7
East Anglian	35·3	28·9
North West Thames	24·0	22·6
North East Thames	32·4	32·2
South East Thames^*	45·1	42·0
South West Thames^*	9·0	12·3
Wessex	17·0	27·4
Oxford	21·3	25·7

	New kidney patients per million total population
Region	1980	1981
South Western	19·7	22·0
West Midlands	21·9	22·5
Mersey	21·2	14·2
North Western	16·0	20·2
^* A combined service is provided for the South East and South West Thames regions.

Figures for 1982 are not yet available, and it is not possible at this stage to provide either estimates for 1983 or projections for later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a regional analysis of patients who received a kidney transplant in the years 1980, 1981 and 1982; and if he will provide an estimate of the numbers for 1983.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1984, c. 249]: Following are the figures supplied by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association for 1980 and 1981:

Region	Number of kidney transplants
	1980	1981
Northern	50	34
Yorkshire	41	37
Trent	72	69
East Anglian	35	40
North-West Thames	48	50
North-East Thames	74	73
South-East Thames	159	142
South-West Thames	14	14
Wessex	45	49
Oxford	51	39
South Western	30	33
West Midlands	101	69
Mersey	48	40
North Western	53	37

The 1982 United Kingdom total was 1,030 and the provisional 1983 total 1,160, but it is not yet possible to provide a regional breakdown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will break down (a) claims and (b) awards of invalidity benefit, non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension, respectively, in the last 12 months for which figures are available by each five year age band from 16 to 65 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1984, c. 250]: Information regarding claims is not available. The number of awards commencing in the period June 1981 to May 1982 analysed by age at May 1982 is as follows:

	Invalidity benefit	Non-contributory invalidity pension	Housewives non-contributory invalidity pension
Under 20	3,900	4,800	—
20–24	24,000	1,500	—
25–29	25,200	1,300	200
30–34	26,600	900	400
35–39	27,400	900	300
40–44	27,000	1,800	500
45–49	28,500	1,400	800
50–54	33,600	1,900	700
55–59	49,300	2,000	1,700
60–64	51,400	400	—
65+	6,000	—	—

Source: 1 per cent. sample of claimants.

Kidney Purchases (Usa)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidneys have been purchased by the National Health Service from the United States of America; how much on average each kidney has cost; and what information he has concerning the number of United States patients waiting for kidney transplant operations and the number of patients similarly placed in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1984, c. 128]: We are not aware that any kidneys have been imported from the United States up to now for transplantation into National Health Service patients. The United Kingdom Transplant Service is discussing with similar agencies in the United States possible reciprocal arrangements for transferring cadaver kidneys which cannot be used locally. It would be contrary to Government policy to purchase kidneys or other organs on commercial terms but payment might be made to cover transport costs and costs incurred at the donor hospital. There were 2,437 United Kingdom patients awaiting a kidney transplant on 30 November 1983. The corresponding figure for the United States is not readily available.

Overseas Development

Nicaragua

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what projects or schemes United Kingdom aid for Nicaragua in each of the last three years was intended; and what are the number of scholarships for Nicaraguans over the same period and their cost.

United Kingdom bilateral assistance to Nicaragua has included projects financed in co-operation with British Voluntary Agencies under the joint funding scheme. Details of that assistance are as follows:

1980–81

1. I training award.

2. 2 ambulances donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross, together with a grant of £10,000 to help Nicaraguan refugees in Honduras.

3. 2 projects co-financed with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and a third with Oxfam at a total cost of £23,000.

1981–82

1. A further 2 ambulances provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

2. A short consultancy visit on grain storage at a cost of £10,000.

3. £6,700 towards a bean production project in co-operation with OXFAM.

1982–83.

1. 3 training awards at a cost of £18,300.

2. A total of £19,600 for projects mounted by British voluntary agencies for the benefit of the poorest and most disadvantaged groups in Nicaraguan society.

3. £34,000 given through OXFAM from disaster relief funds for a water supply scheme plus £20,000 through the British Red Cross and League of Red Cross Societies for food aid.

1983–84

1. 3 training awards at an estimated cost of £19,600.

2. To date £13,337 has been made available to Christian Aid for a pig production project.

India (Ministerial Visit)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister for Overseas Development to India.

I had discussions with the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Gandhi, and with other Indian Ministers and officials. We discussed various possibilities for the use of future British aid, in particular large projects in the power and steel sectors. I also discussed the existing aid programme and visited a number of projects, from which I concluded that our aid is making a valuable contribution to India's economic growth as well as helping effectively to raise the living standards of poor people.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Sri Lanka (Military Assistance)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government have received a request for troops or military assistance from the Government of Sri Lanka.

No request for troops has been received. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 8 December—[Vol. 50, c. 220]—Sri Lanka has in the past received a small amount of military assistance in the form of various training courses in Britain for individual officers on the same basis as officers from other Commonwealth and friendly countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there has been any agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka to provide that country with military assistance or troops.

The only such agreement is the 1947 United Kingdom-Ceylon defence agreement which made provision for such military assistance to be given by the Government of either country for the security of their territories, for defence against external aggression and for the protection of essential communications as it may be in their mutual interest to provide.

Malta

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation has been received from the Maltese Government regarding contacts between Her Majesty's Government and the Maltese nationalist party.

On 10 January 1983 the Maltese Government circulated a note to all foreign missions in Valletta about contacts with members of the nationalist party. The British High Commission, in common with many other missions, informed the Maltese authorities that their activities would continue to be guided by the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. The matter was satisfactorily resolved at the time.

Zimbabwe (British Savings)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases his Department has handled concerning the blocking of savings owned by British nationals by the Government of Zimbabwe.

A total of 127 cases involving exchange control of the remittance of such funds were handled during 1983.

Employment

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of women between the ages of 18 and 60 years are currently in full-time employment.

The latest available information from the 1981 labour force survey indicated that 32 per cent. of women aged between 18 and 60 years were in full-time employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of unemployment in the Welwyn Garden City/Hatfield/St. Albans travel-to-work area; how this compares with the figures for the other areas in Hertfordshire; and how this compares nationally.

The following is the information for 8 December 1983.

Travel-to-work area	Percentage rate of unemployment
^*St. Albans†	6·5
^*Hertford	6·0
^*Hitchin	8·2
Stevenage	11·0
^*Watford	7·2
United Kingdom	12·9
^* Travel-to-work area comprising two or more jobcentre areas.
† Covers Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.

Sex Discrimination

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has now received a draft of the Equal Opportunities Commission's code of practice on sex discrimination in employment.

The Equal Opportunities Commission has not yet submitted its draft code to my right hon. Friend for approval.

Transport

British Rail (Supplies Committee)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the name and terms of appointment of the chairman of the supplies committee of British Rail.

The composition and terms of reference of its committees are management matters for the British Railways Board.

British Railways Board

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the members of the British Railways Board, including part-time members, and the date of their appointment, the length of time they are due to serve and the salary involved.

British Railways Board
Name	Date of original appointment	Date of expiry of current appointment	Salary £
Chairman (full time)
R. B. Reid, CBE^*	10 January 1977	9 January 1987	63,600
Deputy Chairman (part time)
Sir Richard Cave, MC	1 October 1983	30 September 1986	10,000
Vice Chairman (full time)
D. Fowler, CBE	14 April 1975	13 April 1985	38,550
Full time members
G. Myers	1 March 1980	28 February 1985	37,150
J. Urquhart, CVO	10 January 1977	9 January 1987	37,150
Part time members
M. Posner	1 January 1977	31 December 1984	13,328
I. M. Campbell, CVO	10 January 1977	10 January 1987	11,145
Lord Caldecote, DSC	1 March 1979	28 February 1985	4,160
S. Jenkins	1 December 1979	30 November 1984	4,160
H. R. Macleod	3 June 1980	2 June 1986	6,664
Miss P. Leith	1 October 1980	30 September 1984	6,664
^* Appointed Chairman on 12 September 1983.

Berkhamsted And Hemel Hempstead Bypasses

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the report of the inspector appointed to inquire into the routes of the Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead bypasses.

The inspector's report following the public inquiries into the A41 Berkhamsted and Kings Langley bypasses was received in November 1983. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment hope to announce their decision in the early spring.

Chesham Town Centre Relief Road

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates the inquiry into the Chesham town centre relief road took place; and when he expects to receive the inspector's report.

The inquiry took place between 12 October and 9 November 1982. The inspector's report was sent to my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in April last year. The proposals raise complex issues but my right hon. Friends hope to issue their decision shortly.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what contingency arrangements he proposes to make for dividing the protected expenditure level if any metropolitan district council opts to withdraw from the passenger transport joint board for its area in the event of the abolition of metropolitan county councils.

Decisions on the detailed arrangements for public transport in the metropolitan counties will be taken after consideration of all the responses to the Department's consultation paper.

The information is set out in the following table:

Al (Berwick Bypass)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will review the road layout and sign posts at the Al Berwick bypass junction with the Paxton road, following the two fatal accidents which have occurred at that point since the bypass was opened in November 1983.

I much regret the two recent fatal accidents on the A1 Berwick bypass. My Department, in consultation with the Northumbria Police, is examining the circumstances of the two incidents. Careful consideration is being given to a number of matters including road layout and traffic signs, as quickly as possible.

Wales

National Mobility Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the operation of the national mobility scheme in Wales; and how many people have used the scheme successfully.

I am satisfied that the scheme has made a considerable contribution to improving mobility. Between April 1981 and the end of October 1983 the scheme facilitated 236 moves into Wales, 277 moves out of Wales and 112 moves within Wales. Public sector tenants will be given additional help to move by the introduction of the proposed 'right to exchange".

National Museum (Attendance Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1983 reported by the National Museum of Wales, comprising its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1982.

718,653, an increase of 8.35 per cent. on the figure for 1982.

Education Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure on school books per pupil by each education authority in the latest available year.

Reliable estimates of expenditure on school books per pupil by individual education authorities are not available. The latest available information is as follows:

Expenditure on school books and equipment per full-time equivalent pupil, 1982–83^*
£ outturn prices
Local Education Authority	Maintained Primary Schools	Maintained Secondary Schools
Clwyd	18·6	33·4
Dyfed	19·7	33·6
Gwent	19·1	33·9
Gwynedd	14·9	30·7
Mid Glamorgan	16·1	30·9
Powys	22·2	36·7
South Glamorgan	17·1	32·3
West Glamorgan	23·4	39·2
^* Provisional

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure on education per pupil by each education authority in the latest available year; and what are the corresponding figures for primary and secondary education.

The latest available information is as follows:

Net recurrent institutional costs per full-time equivalent pupil, 1982–83^*
£ outturn prices
Local Education Authority	Maintained Primary Schools	Maintained Secondary Schools
Clwyd	683	904
Dyfed	740	911
Gwent	706	957
Gwynedd	722	883
Mid Glamorgan	715	891
Powys	816	959
South Glamorgan	646	903
West Glamorgan	763	1,060
^* Provisional

Urban Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects funded under the urban aid

Local Authority	Difference in entitlement between 1981–82 and 1982–83	Difference in entitlement between 1982–83 and 1983–84
Aberconwy	No subsidy entitlement	No subsidy entitlement
Afan	No subsidy entitlement	No subsidy entitlement
Alyn and Deeside	- 138,752	No subsidy entitlement
Arfon	- 205,126	No subsidy entitlement
Blaenau Gwent	- 1,219,835	+ 215,295
Brecknock	- 626,662	- 159,385
Cardiff	- 2,420,282	No subsidy entitlement

programme in Wales in 1982–83 and 1983–84, listing by project the number of persons employed directly, and the number of long-term employment opportunities created by such projects.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he expects there to be any under spending on the 1983–84 allocation of urban aid expenditure in Wales.

It is expected that the voluntary restraint on capital expenditure will have some effect on urban programme expenditure and this may result in 1983–84 urban programme capital allocations not being fully taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to announce his approval of urban aid applications for Wales for 1984–85; and what will be the percentage change between that allocation and the allocation for 1983–84.

My right hon. Friend will be announcing his decisions very shortly and his announcement will include a comparison with the total provision made in 1983–84.

Job Creation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is, in respect of the years 1981–82 and 1982–83, the total number of jobs created in Wales by means of selective financial assistance, together with his estimate of the minimum, maximum and average cost of such jobs created.

Projects in Wales for which offers of selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act were accepted in the financial year 1981–82 are expected to create 5,864 jobs and those for the year 1982–83, 6,452 jobs. The cost per job will depend upon the amount of grant actually paid and the number of jobs eventually created but on the basis of grant offered and jobs promised the average cost per job in the two years was £2,809.

Housing Subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate in respect of the years 1982–83 and 1983–84 the reduction, by local authority area, in housing subsidies paid to local authorities (a) in total and (b) as a result of the reduced number of local authority dwellings.

Based on returns made by local authorities to the Welsh Office, it is estimated that the changes in annual entitlement to central Government housing subsidies by individual Welsh local authorities in respect of 1982–83 and 1983–84 are as follows:

Local Authority	Difference in entitlement between 1981–82 and 1982–83	Difference in entitlement between 1982–83 and 1983–84
Carmarthen	- 288,937	+ 121,574
Ceridigion	- 454,224	+ 59,157
Colwyn	- 346,690	No subsidy entitlement
Cynon Valley	- 565,398	- 335,666
Delyn	- 407,123	No subsidy entitlement
Dinefwr	No subsidy entitlement	No subsidy entitlement
Dwyfor	- 3,042	No subsidy entitlement
Glyndwr	- 294,215	No subsidy entitlement
Islwyn	- 893,715	No subsidy entitlement
Llanelli	- 1,215,381	No subsidy entitlement
Lliw Valley	- 882,578	+ 222,601
Meirionydd	- 343,632	- 17,007
Merthyr Tydfil	- 891,708	- 23,176
Monmouth	- 473,423	+ 46,612
Montgomery	- 269,880	No subsidy entitlement
Neath	- 653,412	No subsidy entitlement
Newport	- 1,452,868	- 223,327
Ogwr	- 1,437,670	-141,561
Preseli	- 617,597	No subsidy entitlement
Radnor	- 196,791	- 26,323
Rhondda	- 543,973	+ 6,290
Rhuddlan	No subsidy entitlement	No subsidy entitlement
Rhymney Valley	- 1,462,285	- 94,631
South Pembs	- 519,977	- 88,370
Swansea	- 866,494	No subsidy entitlement
Taff Ely	- 936,939	No subsidy entitlement
Torfaen	- 986,120	+248,962
Vale of Glamorgan	- 710,529	- 149,693
Wrexham	No subsidy entitlement	No subsidy entitlement
Ynys Mon	- 854,623	No subsidy entitlement

The Department does not have information on the extent to which these sums have been influenced by reductions in the number of local authority dwellings.

Council House Sales

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average valuation of council houses sold in Wales during the period since the operation of the Housing Act 1980; and what was the average discounted price of such houses sold.

The following information relates to the period October 1980 to September 1983:

1. Average valuation	£13,811
2. Average discounted price	£7,642

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is, in respect of each employment area in South Glamorgan, his estimate of the total number of jobs lost and the number of jobs lost in the following categories (a) manufacturing, (b) local government, (c) Civil Service and (d) service industries, in respect of the following years: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983 to date.

Information on the net change in employment is obtained from the census of employment conducted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. Since 1978 the census has been conducted triennially and information about year-on-year changes at employment office area level is no longer available. When the local figures for 1981 are announced later this year, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

Selective Financial Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were, for the years 1981–82 and 1982–83, the number of applications for selective financial assistance approved by the Welsh Office.

The number of offers of selective financial assistance made under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act was 165 in the financial year 1981–82 and 219 in 1982–83.

National Finance

Pension Funds (Taxation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the increase in revenue if income received by pension funds was subject to tax.

On the assumption of a flat-rate tax charge at 30 per cent. on all investment income of pension funds, £2,250 million in 1983–84.

Form P11d

asked the Chancellor of the Exchquer how many forms P11D have been completed for each tax year since 1979–80.

Estimates are as follows:

	Numbers
1979–80	550,000
1980–81	850,000
1981–82	1,100,000
1982–83	1,350,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to raise the P11D threshold in the near future.

There are no plans to raise the PHD threshold at present but the future of the existing limit is kept under review and is one of many matters that will be borne in mind by my right hon. Friend in formulating his Budget.

British Telecom

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under his control, including the Inland Revenue.

The total cost in the financial year 1982–83 ending 31 March 1983 was £25,695,737.

New Cross Building Society

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps are being taken in the interest of investors in the New Cross building society.

My right hon. Friend laid before Parliament on Thursday 12 January a White Paper entitled "New Cross Building Society" (Cmnd. 9033). This set out the background to, and reasons for, the orders made by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies under section 1 of the House Purchase and Housing Act 1959 and section 48 of the Building Societies Act 1962 in respect of that society. After the White Paper had gone to press, the Court of Appeal brought forward the operative date for the orders from 17 January, (as quoted in the White Paper), to 13 January, because confidentiality could no longer be assured.As reported in the White Paper, the Woolwich Equitable building society agreed in principle to accept a transfer of engagements in order to help investors in the New Cross, and in the interests of the good repute of building societies generally. Preparations for carrying through the statutory procedures for this transfer, including a meeting at which the proposals will be put to members of the New Cross, are being pressed ahead as quickly as possible. The draft instrument of transfer provides that all investors will be able to withdraw their money, if they wish, as soon as the transfer takes effect. It is now hoped that, if members approve, it will be possible to complete the merger by early March. In the meantime, the Court of Appeal has directed that the funds which had been paid into court at its instance since December 12 should be used to enable investors who had paid money into the society on or after that date to be repaid if they so wish. The society has been ordered to write quickly to investors to tell them of this. I understand that the society is dealing rapidly and sympathetically with other applications to withdraw on grounds of hardship. Investors who wish to make a withdrawal on such grounds should write, giving their reasons and enclosing their pass books, to Mr. M. E. Tuke—a general manager of the Woolwich who now has overall responsibility for the running of the New Cross — at 56–58 Deptford high street, London, SE8 4RT.Together these measures should minimise the effect of the orders on existing investors. Any remaining difficulty for investors as a result of delay in access to their funds is unfortunate but unavoidable. Responsibility for it lies entirely with the existing board of the society.As the White Paper explained, the previous and present Chief Registrars had been concerned for some years that the society's management might not be paying sufficient attention to safeguarding the interests of members. By last summer the Chief Registrar had come to the view that the facts available to him, including breaches of statutory requirements and repeated instances of unsatisfactory management in other respects, left him no option but to intervene to protect present and future investors from the possibility of future loss. By acting now, he has ensured that any problems are a matter of delay rather than actual losses and the arrangements made through the good offices of the Building Societies Association for the Woolwich to accept a transfer of engagements provide the quickest way in the circumstances for investors to obtain repayment in full if they want it.

Income Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now set out the 1984–85 levels of income tax allowances, thresholds and bands assuming the indexation provisions of the Finance Act 1980 are followed, and give an estimate of the numbers who will be removed from income tax.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the income tax liability of unemployed, unmarried childless couples living together as man and wife and where income in 1983–84 consists soley of supplementary benefit.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1984, c. 15]: If the man remains the claimant throughout the tax year 1983–84, his tax liability will be £112.80. This is based on the assumptions that he has to be available for work in order to get supplementary benefit, that he is paid the ordinary scale rate of benefit and that the only tax relief available is his single personal tax allowance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of income tax (a) due and (b) collected from unemployed persons in 1983–84.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1984, c. 15]: The yield due in a full year at 1983–84 levels from taxing benefits paid to the unemployed is estimated at about £675 million. It is not possible to distinguish such revenue in the figures of receipts and repayments flowing through the PAYE system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing revenue obtained from income tax in each year since 1978–79, at current and constant 1978–79 prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1984, c. 195]: The figures are:

Receipts of Income Tax
£million
(a) at current prices (b) at constant (1978–79) prices^*
1978–79	18,748	18,748
1979–80	20,599	17,785
1980–81†	24,295	18,033
1981–82†	28,725	19,125
1982–83	30,474	18,950
^* Calculated by reference to movements in the general index of retail prices.

† The breakdown of income tax receipts between the years 1980–81 and 1981–82 is estimated. Receipts for both years were affected by industrial action between March 1981 and July 1981.

Excise Duties

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give details of specific changes in price in 1984–85 due to revalorisation of excise duties.

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

Local Government Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total local government expenditure in real terms for each year from 1975 onwards, taking 1975 as the base year at 100.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1984, c. 7]: Using figures on the basis that appears in the public expenditure White Paper taking 1974–75 as the base year and deflating by the GDP cost deflator, the figures are as follows:

	Total (excluding debt interest and other adjustments)	Current expenditure	Capital expenditure
1974–75	100	100	100
1975–76	96	104·8	80·4
1976–77	90	103·7	65·7
1977–78	81	98·9	50·2
1978–79	81	101·4	45·6
1979–80	83	102·8	48·5
1980–81	82	105·5	39·9
1981–82	79	108·4	27·8
1982–83	81	112·2	26·4

The capital figures overstate the reduction in new capital investment, particularly in recent years, because they are net of local authorities' sales of council houses and surplus assets.

Corporation Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have been assessed by the Inland Revenue since 1980; and how many have paid corporation tax.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1984, c. 195]: Since 1980 approximately 550,000 assessments to corporation tax have been raised each year. There are about 250,000 companies which pay corporation tax in any one year.

Benefit In Kind

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated increase in revenue if the earnings limit of £8,500 in respect of benefits in kind was abolished.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1984, c. 195]: A precise estimate is not possible, but the additional yield might be in the range £75 million to £100 million in a full year at 1983–84 levels.

Education And Science

Technical And Vocational Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to enable schools wishing to organise initiatives in technical and vocational education to do so wholly or partly with funds not arising from the education authority.

Funds are to be made available by the Manpower Services Commission to support pilot projects under the technical and vocational education initiative in the majority of local education authorities. and I have no present plans to make further additional resources available for this purpose. It is therefore For those local authorities and schools not involved in the pilot schemes to organise initiatives, if they so wish, using whatever sources of finance may be open to them.

School Meals Service

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations there have been between his Department and Hertfordshire county council regarding the proposed discontinuance of the school meals service; and if he will make a statement.

None. Section 22 of the Education Act 1980 enables local education authorities to decide whether or not to provide school meals subject to their making available free of charge what they consider requisite for pupils whose parents receive supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

Education Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the expenditure on school books per pupil by each local education authority in the latest available year;(2) what has been the expenditure on education per pupil by each local education authority in the latest available year; and what are the corresponding figures for primary and secondary education.

Details of budgeted expenditure per primary and secondary pupil by local education authorities in England in 1983–84 is provided in "Education Statistics 1983–84: estimates", published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Copies are available in the Library.

Arts

Museums And Galleries

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1983 reported by the national museums and galleries in England, broken down to the individual institutions but comprising their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1982.

The information requested is as follows:

	Estimated attendance in 1983	Percentage change from 1982
British Museum	3,078,575	+ 3·8
Natural History Museum	2,662,253	+ 9·0
Geological Museum	531,041	+24·6
Imperial War Museum	1,255,916	+ 6·5
National Gallery	2,896,676	+10·0
National Maritime Museum	600,000	-39·8
National Portrait Gallery	468,000	-10·8
Science Museum	4,783,858	+ 5·1
Tate Gallery	1,270,025	+ 4·2
Victoria and Albert Museum	2,221,207	+ 7·9
Wallace Collection	177,214	+23·1

The estimated figure for attendance at the national maritime museum shows a substantial reduction because of a change in the method of recording visitors to the old royal observatory. Visitors to the two buildings are not now counted separately. The science museum figures include attendances at the national museum of photography, film and television in Bradford which was opened to the public in June 1983.

Environment

Caravans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to regulate agreements between site owners and caravan owners in so far as they relate to restrictions upon the rights of caravan owners to dispose of their caravans;(2) if he will take steps to investigate and regulate the amount of rent charged by site owners to the owners of caravans for use of the site facilities;(3) if he will take steps to regulate the restrictions that exist in certain rental agreements prohibiting caravan owners from moving their caravans from one site to another without payment of moneys.

The Mobile Homes Act 1983, which came into force on 20 May 1983, provided substantial new protection for the owners of residential mobile homes and caravans. The Act gives mobile home residents the right to sell their homes on site, subject only to the rights of the site owner to a commission on the sale—up to a maximum of 10 per cent.—and to approve the purchaser of the home, that approval not to be unreasonably withheld.The Act also requires site owners to provide residents with written statements setting out the terms of their agreements. If residents are unhappy with the terms concerning pitch rents or restrictions on the siting of their mobile homes, they can challenge those terms before a court or arbitrator. The court, or arbitrator, must then make such provision as they consider just and equitable.A free booklet explaining the 1983 Act and other legislation affecting mobile homes, "Mobile Homes", No. 16 in the housing booklet series is available from my Department, council offices and housing aid centres.

Repairs (Tenants' Rights)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish his proposed regulations in connection with tenants' rights to carry out repairs under clause 24 of the Housing and Building Control Bill.

When consideration of representations on preliminary proposals issued in October 1983 is completed, my right hon. Friend intends to publish draft regulations introducing a right-to-repair scheme for further comment.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy in the Library of the detailed basis for his estimate of savings of 9,000 jobs to be achieved by abolishing the metropolitan county councils and their replacement by various arrangements set out in Cmnd. 9063 and accompanying consulation papers.

The figure of 9,000 is only a broad estimate, and it would be premature to go further until the districts have taken detailed decisions on how they will staff the services to be transferred to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he expects to have established and to have published a firm estimate of the financial costs and benefits of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils and of the establishment of the joint boards, joint committees and joint working arrangements set out in Cmnd. 9063 and its accompanying consultation papers before he publishes any proposed legislation based on that White Paper.

Firm estimates of costs and benefits resulting from the abolition of the metropolitan county councils will depend on decisions taken by successor bodies. Preliminary estimates from some districts indicate that substantial savings could be achieved in the services transferred to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement explaining what are the four difficulties referred to in the White Paper Cmnd. 9063, "Planning Consultation Paper", paragraph 2, in relation to the complete transfer of structure planning functions to metropolitan districts.

Paragraph 2 of the consultation paper on the re-allocation of planning functions of the GLC and the metropolitan county councils refers to "few" difficulties in relation to the preparation and implementation of local plans and development control functions for which London boroughs and metropolitan districts are already mainly responsible. The issues for consideration are dealt with in more detail in paragraphs 19 to 23 of the same paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consult the regional aggregate working parties for their views on the effects upon the supply of aggregate materials of the proposed abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

Bodies represented on the regional aggregate working parties will have seen the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" (Cmnd. 9063) and the planning consultation paper. They are able to discuss it in working party meetings if they so wish and to let us have their comments by 31 January. Any representations received from the working parties will be given careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from the private sector of the waste disposal industry in favour of the proposals to abolish the metropolitan county councils and to seek to establish the provision of waste disposal services on a metropolitan district basis.

None, as yet. However, the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" and the consultation document on our proposals for waste disposal invited comments by 31 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he envisages that metropolitan district councils will need to establish a joint structure plan body to consider and establish policies on planning issues of wider significance than individual district areas, in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

Our proposals for structure planning in the metropolitan county areas after abolition are set out in the consultation paper "The Re-allocation of Planning Functions in the Greater London Council and Metropolitan County Council Areas", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific arrangements he intends to establish in order to consider the local needs and priorities when he determines the rate precept level of the proposed joint boards for public transport, fire and police, in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

The arrangements needed for each joint board will be considered in the light of the existing mechanisms for determining local needs and priorities for these services and of the responses to the proposals in Cmnd. 9063.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the chief executive of the metropolitan district councils will receive additional remuneration for any extra duties and responsibilities which they may undertake as a result of functions being transferred from the existing metropolitan county councils in the event of those county councils being abolished in line with the proposals in the White Paper, Cmnd. 9063, and its accompanying documents.

This will be a matter for the metropolitan district councils concerned to consider in the light of nationally negotiated agreements on chief executives' remuneration.

Housing Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what is the amount of expenditure on housing for 1982–83 per head of persons in council accommodation, per household in council accommodation, per head of the working population, and the proportion of total expenditure taken up in administration costs.

Total public expenditure on housing in England in 1982–83 was £2,641 million, equal to £212 per person living in council accommodation, £567 per household living in council accommodation, and £121 per head of the working population. Expenditure on administration was 5·3 per cent. of the total.

Rents

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what comparisons have been made by his Department of the rental charges for (a) industrial and (b) commercial property in the United Kingdom against other industrial nations particularly in the area of small units of 5,000 sq ft and under; and if he will publish any details.

No such comparisons are made by the Government, although details of rent and other occupation costs are published from time to time by private sector bodies.

Gratuity Regulations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to introduce gratuity regulations under the Local Government Superannuation Act.

Local authorities already have powers to pay gratuities to non-pensionable employees under section 18, Local Government Superannuation Act 1953. My officials have had discussions with the local government employers and unions about the provisions to be included in new regulations to replace section 18, and these will be made when agreement has been reached.

Land Reclamation (Metropolitan Councils)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those metropolitan county councils which have established expert teams to work on the reclamation of derelict land.

All six metropolitan county councils have done so. The Greater Manchester county council's team is a joint one with the Lancashire county council.

Local Government (Rate Limitation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Audit Commission for Local Authorities in England and Wales on the possibility of requiring value for money audits to be undertaken in those authorities designated for rate limitation.

None.

Local Authority Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those authorities whose total expenditure in 1983–84 is less than or equal to their grant-related expenditure for 1983–84 or £10 million whichever is the greater; and if he will give for each authority their total expenditure per head of population.

The information requested is given in the table. The information on total expenditure and population is derived from budget returns from local authorities.

1983–84—Local authorities with budgeted total expenditure less than or equal to supplementary report GRE or less than or equal to £10 million
	Total expenditure per head (£)
Cambridgeshire	318
Cornwall	310
Devon	306
Dorset	297
East Sussex	290
Essex	310
Gloucestershire	313
Hampshire	316
Hereford and Worcester	318
Kent	309
Leicestershire	337
Lincolnshire	324
Norfolk	300
Northamptonshire	338
Salop	326
Suffolk	307
Surrey	283
West Sussex	276
Wiltshire	316
Isles of Scilly	657
Greater Manchester
Bolton	338
Oldham	366
Stockport	303
Trafford	318
Merseyside
Sefton	299
West Midlands
Birmingham	358
Dudley	277
Sandwell	356
Solihull	311
Wolverhampton	389
Kensington and Chelsea	260
Wandsworth	234
Bromley	308
Croydon	324
Redbridge	322
Avon
Bath	45
Kingswood	39
Northavon	34
Wamsdyke	29
Woodspring	44
Bedfordshire
North Bedfordshire	43
Luton	52
Mid Bedfordshire	28
South Bedfordshire	44
Berkshire
Bracknell	39
Newbury	40
Slough	42
Windsor and Maidenhead	41
Wokingham	37
Buckinghamshire
Aylesbury Vale	28
Beaconsfield	33
Chiltern	33
Milton Keynes	50
Wycombe	33
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge	51

	Total expenditure per head (£)
East Cambridgeshire	24
Fenland	41
Huntingdon	34
Peterborough	62
South Cambridgeshire	23
Cheshire
Chester	55
Congleton	42
Crewe and Nantwich	59
Ellesmere and Neston	54
Halton	53
Macclesfield	41
Vale Royal	45
Warrington	54
Cleveland
Hartlepool	69
Cornwall
Caradon	38
Carrick	46
Kerrier	37
North Cornwall	41
Penwith	49
Restormel	39
Cumbria
Allerdale	52
Barrow in Furness	56
Carlisle	61
Copeland	59
Eden	36
South Lakeland	49
Derbyshire
Amber Valley	43
Bolsover	48
Chesterfield	65
Derby	56
Erewash	50
High Peak	48
North East Derbyshire	47
South Derbyshire	32
West Derbyshire	46
Devon
East Devon	40
Exeter	44
North Devon	44
Plymouth	44
South Hams	45
Teignbridge	47
Mid Devon	42
Torbay	57
Torridge	49
West Devon	35
Dorset
Bournemouth	66
Christchurch	46
North Dorset	246
Poole	49
Purbeck	30
West Dorset	31
Weymouth and Portland	53
Wimborne	36
Durham
Chester le Street	62
Darlington	83
Derwentside	71
Durham	58
Easington	61
Sedgefield	84
Teesdale	39

	Total expenditure per head (£)
Wear Valley	78
East Sussex
Eastbourne	71
Hastings	61
Hove	56
Lewes	50
Rother	51
Wealden	33
Essex
Braintree	36
Brentwood	35
Castle Point	43
Chelmsford	28
Colchester	33
Epping Forest	40
Harlow	95
Maldon	33
Rochford	40
Southend on Sea	66
Tendring	52
Thurrock	62
Uttlesford	31
Gloucestershire
Cheltenham	49
Cotswold	38
Forest of Dean	36
Gloucester	35
Stroud	33
Tewkesbury	27
Hampshire
Basingstoke and Deane	44
East Hampshire	43
Eastleigh	37
Fareham	46
Gosport	46
Hart	35
Havant	40
New Forest	42
Rushmoor	59
Southampton	64
Test Valley	37
Winchester	40
Hereford and Worcester
Bromsgrove	29
Hereford	49
Leominster	38
Malvern Hills	40
Redditch	49
South Herefordshire	33
Worcester	52
Wychavon	47
Wyre Forest	69
Hertfordshire
Broxbourne	47
Dacorum	48
East Hertfordshire	47
Hertsmere	58
North Hertfordshire	46
St. Albans	41
Stevenage	80
Three Rivers	49
Watford	74
Welwyn Hatfield	58
Humberside
Beverley	36
Boothferry	58
Cleethorpes	64
Glanford	53
Great Grimsby	62

	Total expenditure per head (£)
Holderness	38
North Wolds	54
Scunthorpe	97
Isle of Wight
Medina	46
South Wight	53
Kent
Ashford	47
Canterbury	54
Dartford	69
Dover	53
Gillingham	26
Gravesham	50
Maidstone	45
Medway	48
Sevenoaks	45
Shepway	60
Swale	48
Thanet	71
Tonbridge and Mailing	51
Tunbridge Wells	44
Lancashire
Burnely	88
Chorley	44
Fylde	49
Hyndburn	68
Lancaster	58
Pendle	66
Preston	67
Ribble Valley	46
Rossendale	71
South Ribble	37
West Lancashire	45
Wyre	52
Leicestershire
Blaby	29
Charnwood	36
Harborough	35
Hinckley and Bosworth	31
Melton	38
North West Leicester	43
Oadby and Wigston	31
Rutland	34
Lincolnshire
Boston	47
East Lindsey	43
Lincoln	59
North Kesteven	35
South Holland	51
South Kesteven	38
West Lindsey	40
Norfolk
Breckland	32
Broadland	29
Great Yarmouth	63
North Norfolk	42
South Norfolk	29
West Norfolk	47
Northamptonshire
Corby	63
Daventry	34
East Northampton	26
Kettering	48
South Northampton	31
Wellingborough	46
Northumberland
Alnwick	49
Benvick-upon-Tweed	41

	Total expenditure per head (£)
Blyth Valley	65
Castle Morpeth	39
Tynedale	45
Wansbeck	78
North Yorkshire
Craven	46
Hambleton	34
Harrogate	59
Richmondshire	49
Rye dale	33
Scarborough	59
Selby	39
York	48
Nottinghamshire
Ashfield	48
Bassetlaw	55
Broxtowe	45
Gedling	44
Mansfield	59
Newark	43
Nottingham	67
Rushcliffe	43
Oxfordshire
Cherwell	31
Oxford	56
South Oxfordshire	35
Vale of White Horse	29
West Oxfordshire	35
Salop
Bridgnorth	31
North Shropshire	37
Oswestry	38
Shrewsbury and Atcham	41
South Shropshire	42
The Wrekin	57
Somerset
Mendip	30
Sedgemoore	41
Taunton Deane	40
West Somerset	40
Yeovil	30
Staffordshire
Cannock Chase	47
East Staffordshire	42
Lichfield	32
Newcastle under Lyme	46
South Staffordshire	29
Stafford	37
Staffs. Moorlands	36
Stoke-on-Trent	53
Tamworth	43
Suffolk
Babergh	38
Forest Heath	43
Ipswich	67
Mid Suffolk	39
St. Edmundsbury	34
Suffolk Coastal	38
Waveney	48
Surrey
Elmbridge	49
Epsom and Ewell	49
Guildford	40
Mole Valley	37
Reigate and Banstead	37
Runnymede	38
Spelthorne	38
Surrey Heath	41

	Total expenditure per head (£)
Tandridge	27
Waverley	39
Woking	45
Warwickshire
North Warwickshire	45
Nuneaton	63
Rugby	44
Stratford-on- Avon	42
Warwick	43
West Sussex
Adur	61
Arun	51
Chichester	46
Crawley	79
Horsham	38
Mid Sussex	38
Worthing	67
Wiltshire
Kennet	35
North Wiltshire	36
Salisbury	34
West Wiltshire	31

Local Government (Auditors)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those authorities which have failed to reach agreement with the Audit Commission for Local Authorities in England and Wales on the choice of auditor for the authority; and if he will give the reason if, in any case, the authority's request to retain the district auditor was rejected by the Audit Commission.

No. Under the Local Government Finance Act 1982 the appointment of auditors to particular bodies is entirely a matter for the Audit Commission itself.

Private Housing (London)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of private housing estates that are being developed in the inner London area on sites that were previously either industrial or commercial sites.

My Department does not maintain the relevant statistics on which such an estimate could be based but it is Government policy to encourage the maximum development of disused or underused sites in inner urban areas.

Private Unoccupied Property (Rates)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake a study among private landlords to ascertain the reasons for their properties remaining unoccupied for long periods; and if he will introduce legislation to provide that such properties are rated as occupied after a given period of unoccupancy.

I shall answer this question shortly.

19 To 21 Fleet Street, Holbeach

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the reasons for the delay in making his decision as to whether Nos. 19 to 21 Fleet street, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, shall be demolished, the departmental reference number of the application being EMP/5313/270/44.

Nos. 19 to 21 Fleet street, Holbeach are listed as buildings of special architectural or historic interest grade II, and consent to demolish listed buildings is not given lightly. In order to enable my right hon. Friend to consider whether or not to intervene and decide the application himself following a public local inquiry, it has been necessary to seek professional architectural advice, and a surveyor's report on the structural condition of the buildings. My right hon. Friend will, of course, notify the local planning authority of his decision as soon as possible.

Trade And Industry

London Brick Company

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give his estimate of the market share of the leading non-fietton brick manufacturers both prior to and following the possible acquisition of the assets of the London Brick company by the Hanson Trust; and whether the closer association of these two groups is to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

The latest published market share figures are in table 2.5 of last year's Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the proposed merger between London Brick plc and Ibstock Johnsen plc (Cmnd. 9015). These showed London Brick to have only a very small market share in non-fletton bricks. The future effect on that market share of London Brick's announced plans for expansion in the non-fletton sector remains to be seen.My right hon. Friend, in accordance with advice of the Director General of Fair Trading, has decided not to refer the proposed merger between Hanson Trust plc and London Brick plc to the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he and the Office of Fair Trading have received as to the need to refer the bid by Hanson Trust plc for the London Brick company plc to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

A number of hon. Members and organisations have written to me and to the Director General of Fair Trading calling for this proposed merger to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

European Community (Exports And Imports)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his answer on 14 December 1983, Official Report, c. 490 concerning the deficit in trade in manufactured goods for the period August to October 1983 was on an overseas trade statistics basis or a balance of payments basis.

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

Balance Of Payments Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his practice in giving balance of trade figures is to use overseas trade statistics figures or balance of payment figures; and in cases where it is the latter, whether he will publish in his Department's "Monthly Statistics on Trade" the monthly balance of payments figures for manufactured goods.

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

Scented Products (Dangers To Children)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, in view of the danger of children swallowing scented products such as rubbers and pens, he will ban the sale of these pending full investigation;(2) whether he will institute an inquiry into the dangers of the sale to children of scented rubbers, pens and other products.

I am urgently considering what action might be needed to deal with any likely suffocation risk, particularly to young children. from scented articles such as erasers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, in view of the dangers of the sniffing of glue and other toxic substances, he will carry out research into the effects of the availability on the market of deliberately scented rubbers, pens and other products;(2) whether he will introduce controls over deliberately scented rubbers, pens and other products intended to introduce school children to sniffing for pleasure.

I have no evidence that the availability of these products leads to glue sniffing. But, as stated in my earlier answer to the hon. and learned Member, I am urgently considering whether any action needs to be taken.

Austria

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what special arrangements exist for trade between Austria and individual Community countries.

Trade between Austria and individual Community member states is governed by the 1972 agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Austria (Cmnd. 5159), a copy of which is in the Library. The Community also has separate agreements with Austria covering trade in certain agricultural products.Some member states are authorised by the Commission to retain in force bilateral agreements with Austria which do not conflict with the Community's agreement with Austria or the Community's common commercial policy.

Pirate Radio Broadcasters

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent on tracing and taking action against pirate radio broadcasters within the United Kingdom during each of the past five years; how much is being spent during the current year: arid whether he has any plans to increase expenditure during the forthcoming year.

It is not possible to identify separately the amount spent on tracing and taking action against pirate radio stations from the total spent on monitoring the frequency spectrum and dealing with illicit use of radio. However, in 1983, 97 raids were carried out on pirate radio stations and 40 persons convicted, compared with 60 raids and 10 persons convicted in 1982. We intend to continue to give action against pirate radio stations a high degree of priority.

Engineering Council

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has recently made any appointments to the Engineering Council.

I have reappointed the following 11 members whose initial appointments expired on 31 December 1983, 10 until 31 December 1985 and one until 31 December 1984 at his own request.

Professor G. Beveridge
Viscount Caldecote
Professor D. Embrey
Mr. J. Fairclough
Mr. G. Hall
Mr. M. Harrison
Mr. R. Hooker
Mr. J. Lyons
Mr. P. Martin
Baroness Platt of Writtle
Mr. D. Roberts

I have also appointed the following new members:

Mr. C. Farrow
Mr. E. Hammond
Dr. J. Illston
Mrs. J. Kennedy
Mr. H. Lang
Mr. H. Orr-Ewing

I am very grateful to all those who served on the council during its formative years and I am encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by those I have reappointed and by the new members who I have asked to serve in confronting the important tasks which lie ahead.

London Brick

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the importance of competition in the non-fletton brick industry, he will refer the bid by Hanson Trust for London Brick to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will refer the bid by Hanson Trust for London Brick to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

[pursuant to the reply, 22 December 1983, c. 364]: My right hon. Friend has now decided, in accordance with the Director General's advice, against a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. His decision is being announced today.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Hill And Upland Compensatory Allowances

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if, in view of the substantial increase in farmers' borrowings in 1983 and the financial position of many farmers, he will take steps to ensure that the hill and upland compensatory allowances are paid without further delay;(2) if, in view of the failure by the Council of Ministers in Brussels to agree the payments for the hill cow, hill ewe and upland ewe compensatory allowances, he will now take steps to make payment to the farmers of that portion of the compensatory allowance which is funded by the Government pending agreement at any future meeting in Brussels.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1984]: I fully appreciate the concern of hill farmers throughout the United Kingdom to have their hill livestock compensatory allowances paid promptly. That is why at the Council of Ministers meeting on 9 and 10 January we pressed for the continuation of the Community's less-favoured areas directive in 1984, which would have enabled us to do this, but other Member States could not agree to the terms at that stage. This means that we are not for the present in a position to begin paying the 1984 allowances; the legal difficulties surrounding this have still to be resolved. We are pressing for an urgent decision in Brussels and meanwhile claims are being processed so that payments can begin as soon as they way is clear.

Energy

British Telecom

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under his control.

The total cost to the Department of Energy, in the financial year 1982–83, was £510,000.

North Sea Oil And Gas Fields (Civil Jurisdiction)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to implement those parts of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 which extend civil jurisdiction to the North sea oil and gas fields.

It is hoped that the relevant orders will be made this summer.

Prime Minister

Energy Conservation

asked the Prime Minister what measures she is taking to ensure that the Government's energy conservation programme is being fully co-ordinated between Government Departments; and if she is satisfied with the results being achieved.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has responsibility for the Government's overall strategy for energy efficiency.The energy efficiency office was established on 31 October 1983 to spearhead a new drive for energy efficiency. The office will secure a sharper focus for the Government's work in this area. It will monitor, develop and co-ordinate policies as well as administering a programme of assistance, information and advice for all sectors of the economy. I am satisfied with progress to date.

Unemployment (Merseyside)

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers concerning unemployment on Merseyside; what reply she has sent; and if she will make a statement.

I have received two letters from the deputy divisional officer of the north-west division of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, and my private secretary replied on my behalf on 22 December 1983 and 9 January 1984.

"Science And Government" (Reviews)

asked the Prime Minister whether the first of the annual reviews of research and development announced in Cmnd. 8591 has yet been completed and if it will be published.

The first review has been completed. It has concentrated on the assembly of consistent information on Government R and D expenditures, thus laying a foundation for more detailed analyses in future reviews. Cmnd. 8591 contained no commitment to publish the annual reviews, but the Government have decided that it would be helpful to do so. The 1983 review is therefore being published today, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Scotland

Agricultural Land

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average price of prime agricultural land in each region of Scotland at the latest available date and at the same date in each of the last five years.

The table shows the average prices of all agricultural land and of cropping land in Scotland for the last five years for vacant and non-vacant possession. Figures broken down by region or land quality are not available. Cropping land, however, is likely to contain a fair proportion of prime agricultural land.

Vacant Possession			Non-vacant Possession
£ per hectare	All land	Cropping	All land	Cropping
1978	1,085	3,078	669	1,398
1979	2,055	3,566	1,148	2,105
1980	1,845	3,139	1,534	2,609
1981	1,840	2,341	1,204	2,431
1982	1,798	2,798	1,265	2,170

Note: The figures for the latest two years are subject to revision as further information becomes available.

Highlands And Islands Development Board

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for the past five years the return on capital achieved by the Highlands and Islands Development Board on its commercial activities.

The only activity of the Highlands and Islands Development Board which could be regarded as commercial in character is the provision of factories. The board estimates that the rate of return on capital expenditure on factories has been as follows:

	Per cent.
1978–79	1·96
1979–80	1·80
1980–81	1·72
1981–82	2·02
1982–83	2·08

These rates of return are based on rents received and the value of rent-free periods expressed as a percentage of cumulative capital expenditure on factories completed. The figures do not take into account repairs, maintenance, administration or depreciation.These statistics reflect the fact that the board. as an incentive to development, generally constructs factories only where the private sector has shown no interest in doing so, normally because the high cost of building in most areas of the highlands and islands and the relatively low rents achievable depress potential rates of return well below commercially acceptable levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each year since its formation the profit or loss made by the Highlands and Islands Development Board on its commercial property revenue account.

Until 1980–81 income from and expenditure on the board's property letting activities were accounted for, but not separately shown, within the board's former income and expenditure account. Information on the commercial property revenue account as requested, for 1981–82 and 1982–83 only, is however contained in the board's annual accounts for these years, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for the Highlands and Islands Development Board (a) the net surplus or loss on the disposal of assets and investments within the general revenue account and (b) the net surplus or loss on the disposal of assets and investments within the commercial property revenue account for each year since the board's formation.

The information requested on the general revenue account — formerly the income and expenditure account—is contained in the Highlands and Islands Development Board's annual accounts, copies of which are in the Library of the House. A commercial property revenue account was included for the first tine in the board's 1981–82 annual accounts, activities to which this account relates having been previously included but not separately shown within the board's income and expenditure account. The information requested on the commercial property revenue account for the years 1981–82 and 1982–83, is also contained in the board's annual accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the ex gratia payments referred to in the Highlands and Islands Development Board's statement of source and application of funds for the year ending 31 March 1983.

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has been asked to assemble this information and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Scottish Development Agency

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for the past five years the return on capital achieved by the Scottish Development Agency on its commercial activities.

Measurement of the Agency's financial performance raises a number of technical complexities which require explanation. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

State Hospital, Carstairs

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients at the State hospital, Carstairs are eligible for parole under the Mental Health Act 1983; how many applications have been received; how long the procedures are taking; whether other mental hospitals are raising objections to transfers; how many patients have been released to the community under parole so far; and how many have been transferred to low-risk mental hospitals.

There are no provisions relating to parole in the legislation under which patients may be detained at the State hospital, Carstairs. The arrangements for the transfer of patients to other mental hospitals, or their discharge to the community, are generally satisfactory, though particular problems occasionally arise which lead to delay in the transfer to another hospital of a patient who would otherwise be fit to leave the State hospital. The total number of patients moved out of the hospital in each of the years 1969 to 1983; the number transferred to other mental hospitals; the number discharged to the community; and the total hospital population at 31 December in each year were as follows:

Year	Total movements out during year	Number transferred to other mental hospitals	Number discharged to the community	Number of patients at 31 December
1969	42	31	8	367
1970	53	41	11	366
1971	47	35	9	380
1972	60	33	21	361
1973	69	41	24	335
1974	44	31	9	329
1975	45	33	5	334
1976	37	26	2	338
1977	46	35	5	321
1978	43	27	10	316
1979	39	25	9	305
1980	31	18	6	328
1981	59	34	15	310
1982	55	28	17	291
1983	74	37	19	268

In addition to the transfers and discharges listed a number of patients were returned to prison and there were a few deaths in each year.

British Telecom

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under his control.

In 1982–83 financial year the total was £2,472,591. That excludes the telephone costs of the Scottish prison service.

Forestry Sales

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what areas of Forestry Commission forest have been sold and which are currently on offer for sale in south-west Scotland; to whom each sale has been made and at what price; how many offers to purchase were made in each case; and what percentage of forests owned by the Forestry Commission in south-west Scotland these figures represent.

The areas of forest land in south-west Scotland that were sold between the start of the disposals programme on 27 July 1981 and 21 December 1983, together with the areas that are in the process of being sold, are as follows. South-west Scotland has been taken to cover the Dumfries and Galloway region and the southern part of Strathclyde region.The total area of the land in these lists represents 4·7 per cent. of the forest land managed by the Forestry Commission in south-west Scotland.It is not possible to disclose the identity of the puchaser, the price paid or the number of offers received for individual properties as this would amount to a breach of the normal confidentiality expected between a purchaser and a seller.

Plantations\plantable land sold from 27 July 1981 to 21 December 1983
Forest and name of property	Area hectares
Glentrool
Shallock Wall	1·6
Kyle
Burnfoot Moor	323·0
Barnhill	2·9
Carrick
Blackwoodhead	23·5
Whitelee
Mosslingal	807·3
Penninghame
Barraer Fell	20·5
Meikle Eldrig	1·9
Land at Keeper's Cottage	1·0
Land at Dirnow Old School House	1·8
Bareagle
Lochview	0·4
North Balfern (boundary adjustment)	0·3
Corsemalzie (part)	10·0
Moffat
Folmoodie (roadside strips)	0·5
Dalmacallan
Fraserford	7·5
Leight and Airds Woods	42·5
Clatteringshaws
Glenlee Hill (part)	25·0
Upper Nithsdale
Clenries	345·0
	1,614·7

Plantations\plantable land in process of being sold at 21 December 1983
Forest and name of property	Area hectares
Glentrool
Wood of Cree	116·1
Kyle
Gilminscroft	41·0
Common Farm	135·0
Whitelee
Dungavel	1,134·7

Forest and name of property	Area hectares
Allanton	41·0
Areoleoch
Laggish and Doch Royal	42·7
Penninghame
Kilquhockdale (part)	1·5
Crungie Wood	3·0
Fleet
Boreland	19·0
Baneagle
Locknaw	4·8
Glenling	4·0
Mqffat
Troloss	17·0
Ruttonside	4·9
Auchencastle (part)	4·5
Annandale	178·0
Dalmacallan
Townhead of Glengabber	64·0
Crossford	16·0
Auchengibbert	32·0
Strathmilligan	28·0
Caitloch	23·0
Upper Nithsdale
Penbreck	750·0
Ae
Kirkland (part)	0·8
Solway
Heathery Brae	5·0
Auchenlosh	4·5
School Wood	4·5
Clonyard	12·0
Consock Access Wood	3·0
Barend Wood	15·0
Roundfell (part)	9·5
Dalskairth (East)	8·0
(West)	14·5
Blawearie and Moss Woods	13·0
Lochar Moss	999·5
Castle O'er
Barhill, Whitehill and Mainhill	17·5
Shaw Rig	21·5
Fairyrow Wood	29·0
Cove Wood	13·0
Kimroughtree
Bargaly	2·6
Bannan
Upper Dullarg	90·0
Glenlaggan	49·0
	3,972·1

Museums And Galleries (Attendance Figures)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1983 reported by the national museums and galleries in Scotland, broken down to the individual institutions but comprising their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1982.

Net School expenditure per fulltime equivalent pupil on text and library books

£ out-turn prices

Region/Islands council

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Borders

3·50

4·06

3·66

3·98

7·27

5·26

4·36

8·37

6·05

7·32

8·22

7·68

9·10

10·67

9·96

Central

2·90

5·46

3·87

3·91

7·30

5·22

4·43

8·51

6·06

5·36

9·86

7·17

†0·62

†2·19

†1·33

Dumfries and Galloway

4·12

7·83

5·64

4·69

8·27

6·25

5·58

7·53

6·50

5·72

7·35

6·48

6·17

9·15

7·62

Fife

4·24

5·82

4·78

4·76

6·95

5·51

4·81

7·09

5·60

7·00

8·01

7·18

5·12

8·55

6·7S

Grampian

3·36

6·38

4·50

12·40

26·54

18·16

13·5

28·79

19·58

7·96

7·98

7·93

8·37

9·06

8·76

Highland

n/a

11·73

n/a

5·23

5·99

7·06

6·75

14·49

29·47

21·16

19·52

30·77

24·80

Lothian

4·03

6·80

5·15

4·62

6·47

5·41

5·81

9·57

7·40

5·66

7·78

6·56

5·06

7·50

6·34

Strathclyde

5·63

8·44

6·73

5·52

8·85

6·89

5·20

7·48

6·15

6·50

8·90

7·51

7·50

10·30

8·91

This information is as follows:

	1983	Percentage Change Since 1982
National Galleries of Scotland (NGS)	343,359	-0·8
National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS)	192,639	+47·7
Royal Scottish Museum (RSM)	579,498	-7·3

The national galleries of Scotland are the National Gallery of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.Since the SNPG shares a building and entrance with the NMAS the attendances are included in the NMAS figure and not in that of NGS.

Education Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the expenditure per pupil on education by Tayside region in each year since 1975; and what are the corresponding figures for primary and secondary education.

The available information is shown in the table:

Net School Expenditure in Tayside per primary, secondary and full-time equivalent pupil
Year	Primary	Secondary	Total full-time equivalent^*
1975–76†	258	454	334
1976–77	302	558	417
1977–78	326	671	456
1978–79	374	680	520
1979–80	450	814	627
1980–81	586	1,023	801
1981–82	702	1,188	952
1982–83	772	1,285	1,062
£ out-turn prices
^* These figures relate to nursery, primary, secondary and special pupils.
† 10½ month year because of local authority reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the amount spent on school books per pupil by each education authority in each of the past five years; how the figures compare with the Scottish average; and if he will disaggregate the figures for primary and secondary education, respectively.

The available information is shown in the table. Figures for individual authorities are not entirely comparable because of variations in items included in local authority expenditure returns under the category of text and library books.

Region/Islands council

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Primary

Secondary

All pupils^*

Tayside

2·47

3·85

3·00

2·81

4·05

3·28

3·01

4·46

3·70

3·73

4·78

4·13

4·03

5·20

4·57

Orkney

19·60

31·48

24·45

19·93

25·45

22·05

15·6

22·71

18·58

13·26

19·72

15·99

7·85

14·04

10·53

Shetland

4·01

9·45

6·16

5·94

10·75

7·64

6·65

11·04

8·64

8·21

15·28

11·93

7·02

25·66

15·36

Western Isles

13·82

33·55

22·21

8·15

8·63

9·30

12·47

9·17

11·93

22·70

49·69

35·27

16·44

46·15

29·67

Scotland

4·94

7·76

6·04

5·47

9·61

7·20

5·84

9·29

7·30

6·77

9·77

8·03

7·03

10·03

8·51

^* These figures relate to fulltime equivalent nursery, primary, secondary and special pupils.

† Only library book figures available.

n/a=Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by the Dundee education authorities on education per pupil in 1974–75 and 1983–84; and what were the corresponding figures for primary and secondary education.

Figures for Dundee corporation in the "Rating Review" indicate a 1974–75 per pupil expenditure of £322 at out-turn prices; separate figures for primary and secondary pupils are not available centrally. Figures for Tayside regional council's educational expenditure in 1983–84 are not yet available.

Birth Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what projections he has made of the effect of birth rates upon the school population in (a) primary education, and (b) secondary education over the next 10 years.

The effect of historic and projected variations in births are subsumed in the following projections of primary and secondary pupil numbers:

Projected Pupil Numbers in Education Authority Primary and Secondary Schools
Session	Primary schools	Secondary schools
1984–85	434,000	380,000
1985–86	428,000	362,000
1986–87	424,000	343,000
1987–88	423,000	324,000
1988–89	425,000	305,000
1989–90	433,000	289,000
1990–91	440,000	280,000
1991–92	447,000	278,000
1992–93	454,000	279,000
1993–94	462,000	282,000

The figures exclude pupils attending education authority special schools and nursery schools.More detailed figures, including projections based on variant birth assumptions, will be given in a Scottish Education Department statistical bulletin which will be published shortly.

Fertility Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates his Department has made of trends in fertility rates for the next 10 years.

The 1981 based population projections, prepared by the Registrar General for Scotland in conjunction with the Government Actuary, incorporate assumptions on fertility rates which are summarised in table B of "Projected Population of Scotland by Area (1981 based)", a copy of which is in the Library. Full details will be published later this year.

Birth Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the birth rate in Dundee, Tayside and Scotland in each of the past five years.

Numbers of births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 for 1978 to 1982 are contained in the annual reports of the Registrar General for Scotland (Table S2.1), copies of which are in the Library. Information for 1983 is not yet available.

School Closures

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what actions (a) he may undertake and (b) aggrieved parties may undertake when the consultation process for school closures under the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc) (Scotland) Regulations 1981 have been shown to have been conducted (i) on the basis of incorrect financial information and (ii) on the basis of information provided on the wrong school; and if he will make a statement.

The consultation process itself offers any aggrieved party the opportunity to take up with the education authority any alleged mis-information provided in the course of that process. If satisfaction cannot be obtained in this way it is open to the aggrieved party to consider lodging a complaint, in terms of section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, of failure by the education authority to discharge properly a duty imposed under the Act. Such a complaint could only be considered in the light of the facts of the particular case and I cannot say, on a hypothetical basis, what would be the outcome of this consideration.

Peterhead Prison (Riot)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether any prison officers were held as hostages by the prisoners who were involved in the riot at Peterhead prison on 10 January; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet established the costs in the use of police and fire brigade officers, and equipment, during the prisoners' riot at Peterhead prison on 10 January; and whether he will ensure that these costs are reimbursed to the Grampian regional council.

The police and fire service involvement in this matter stemmed from their statutory responsibilities. Reimbursement of costs would not therefore be appropriate and these have not been separately assessed.

Defence

Air Training Corps

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of Air Training Corps units which admit girls and list those located in Scotland.

The number of Air Training Corps squadrons authorised to admit girls is 171.The list of Air Training Corps units which admit girls in Scotland is as follows:

Squadron	Detached Flight	Location	ATC Wing
38F		Perth	Dundee
102		Dyce	Aberdeen
107		Aberdeen	Aberdeen
137		Prestwick	Glasgow
470		Falkirk	Edinburgh
498		Wishaw	Glasgow
867		Denny	Edinburgh
	867	Bonnybridge	Edinburgh
869		Penicuik	Edinburgh
875		Westhill	Aberdeen
1001		Coatbridge	Glasgow
1019		Stirling	Edinburgh
	1019	Alloa	Edinburgh
	1019	Dunblane	Edinburgh
1068		Nairn	Highland
1141		Edinburgh (6th)	Edinburgh
1145		Dunfermline	Dundee
1153		Dumfries (2nd)	Edinburgh
	1153	Lockerbie	Edinburgh
1232		Dundee	Dundee
1333		Grangemouth	Edinburgh
1716		Roxburgh	Edinburgh
	1716	Selkirk	Edinburgh
	1716	Kelso	Edinburgh
	1716	Galashiels	Edinburgh
	1716	Duns	Edinburgh
1739		Midlothian (2nd)	Edinburgh
2166		Hamilton	Glasgow
2255		Gordonstoun School	Highland
2311		Glenrothes	Dundee
	2311	Leslie	Dundee
2526		Lossiemouth	Highland

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of complaints he has received about girls unable to obtain a place in an Air Training Corps unit.

Since August 1980 there have been 11 letters from right hon. and hon. Members on this subject, and a further 15 complaints in respect of some 34 girls have been received directly from the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the guidance given by his Department to Air Training Corps units on the admission of girls.

Guidelines agreed by the Air Cadet Council and issued to Air Training Corps units by headquarters air cadets covered the following points:

a. Squadron premises must have the capacity to accept up to 15 or 33⅓ per cent. of enrolled cadets as girl members and be able to set aside adequate separate toilet facilities for female use.

b. An adult female supervisor is to be available "on call" during lectures, and so on but must be present when more strenuous activities, where injury might require first aid care, are undertaken by girl cadets.

c. The number of female adult staff appointed is not to exceed 50 per cent. of the unit establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the amount of money and other resources his Department provides towards the operation of Air Training Corps units (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) within Scotland.

The total cost to the defence budget of all the services provided for the Air Training Corps in the current year is £13.5 million. I regret that data are riot available by regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, within the resources available, girls have an equal opportunity of joining an Air Training Corps unit.

Girls have been in the ATC, including the trial period, for three years. There are difficulties over finding the extra resources needed for additional accommodation and female supervision. Consequently, girl membership of individual Air Training Corps squadrons is restricted to 15 or 33⅓ per cent. of enrolled cadet strength whichever is the greater. Squadrons authorised to take girls amount to 171 out of a total of 920, and, as resources allow, more squadrons will be authorised to admit girls.

British Telecom

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under his control.

The total payment to British Telecom in 1983 for the rental of telecommunications equipment and services was £64·7 million plus £9·3 million VAT.

Porton Down (Flying Restrictions)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the crash of the Jaguar aircraft close to Porton Down chemical defence establishment and the public health laboratory buildings, he will consider ordering immediate restrictions on overflying of these installations in order to eliminate avoidable risk; and if he will make a statement.

The flying restrictions which exist in the area will be considered in the light of the report of the board of inquiry.

Lynx Helicopter (Loss)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the loss of the Lynx helicopter piloted by Captain John Belt and Sergeant Roger Jones.

On 5 January 1984 a Lynx helicopter engaged in a training mission in West Falkland was reported missing. After an extensive search the wreckage of the helicopter was located on 12 January on the sea bed just off the coast by Byron Heights. The bodies of the crew, Captain John Belt and Sergeant Roger Jones, were still inside. The cause of the accident is not yet known but a board of inquiry has been convened.

Volume 52: debated on Friday 20 January 1984

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

Ranby Prison

Category "C" Prisoner (Definition)

Nga Offices, Warrington

Immigration

Social Services

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (Recommendations)

British Telecom

Hip Replacement Operations

Pleural Asbestosis

Kidney Transplants

Sickness And Invalidity Benefit

Personal Social Services (Report)

Supplementary Benefit And National Insurance Tribunals

Family Practitioner Services

Supplementary Benefit

Housing Benefit

Kidney Patients

Kidney Purchases (Usa)

Overseas Development

Nicaragua

India (Ministerial Visit)

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Sri Lanka (Military Assistance)

Malta

Zimbabwe (British Savings)

Employment

Labour Statistics

Sex Discrimination

Transport

British Rail (Supplies Committee)

British Railways Board

Berkhamsted And Hemel Hempstead Bypasses

Chesham Town Centre Relief Road

Local Government Reform

Al (Berwick Bypass)

Wales

National Mobility Scheme

National Museum (Attendance Statistics)

Education Expenditure

Urban Aid

Job Creation

Housing Subsidies

Council House Sales

Labour Statistics

Selective Financial Assistance

National Finance

Pension Funds (Taxation)

Form P11d

British Telecom

New Cross Building Society

Income Tax

Excise Duties

Local Government Expenditure

Corporation Tax

Benefit In Kind

Education And Science

Technical And Vocational Education

School Meals Service

Education Expenditure

Arts

Museums And Galleries

Environment

Caravans

Repairs (Tenants' Rights)

Local Government Reform

Housing Expenditure

Rents

Gratuity Regulations

Land Reclamation (Metropolitan Councils)

Local Government (Rate Limitation)

Local Authority Expenditure

Local Government (Auditors)

Private Housing (London)

Private Unoccupied Property (Rates)

19 To 21 Fleet Street, Holbeach

Trade And Industry