Written Answers To Questions
Thursday 15 March 1984
Attorney-General
Advisory Committee On The Appointment Of Magistrates
asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will now require the advisory committee on the appointments of magistrates for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne to give its reasons for refusing to disclose its membership following the committee's refusal to provide any reason for its refusal in a letter dated 27 February to the hon. Member for Newcasle upon Tyne, East, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 30 January, at column 19.
Departmental Expenditure
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a)administration, (b)payments to organisations and individuals and (c)provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the proportion of expenditure for which he is responsible that is spent on (a) administration, (b) payments to organisations and individuals and (c) provision of services.
I have been asked to reply.The categories of expenditure specified are not mutually exclusive and it is therefore difficult to reply in a consistent or useful manner. From information held centrally, it has been possible to provide figures for administration costs financed directly from votes. It is impossible, however, similarly to provide data for the other categories for which information was sought. Administration costs comprise expenditure on pay of staff employed in, and the general administrative expenses of, central Government Departments. The percentages given are for the latest outturn year, 1982–83.Differences between Departments in the percentage of voted expenditure incurred on administration costs require very careful interpretation. The percentages vary considerably as the functions of some Departments are labour-intensive—for example, Home Office, Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise—whilst for other functions, such as education, administration is mainly carried out at local government level. The percentage depends on the size and nature of spending programmes handled by the Departments in question.
The figures* are Departments answerable to the Secretary of State or Minister for:
| Percentage of Departments' total voted expenditure incurred on administration costs†
|
| Agriculture Fisheries and Food‡ | 21 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer║ | 55 |
| DefenceƂ | 16 |
| Education and Science | 2 |
| Employment● | 34 |
| Energy | 1 |
| Environment | 28 |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | 15 |
| Home Department■ | 68 |
| Northern Ireland⋆ | 64 |
| Social Services# | 5 |
| Trade and Industry** | 6 |
| Transport | 9 |
| Wales | 2 |
* Figures used to calculate the percentages do not correspond with those for departmental running costs published in the Official Report, Volume 47, Columns 76–78, dated 25 October 1983, as notional costs—such as superannuation contributions and accommodation costs—are excluded and the coverage of the tables is different. | |
| † Total voted expenditure excludes expenditure transferred between central Government and local government and so on—for example, specific grants to police authorities. | |
| ‡ Excludes the Forestry Commission which is the joint responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales. | |
| ║ Includes the following Departments: | |
| Central Office of Information | |
| Customs and Excise | |
| Department for National Savings | |
| Government Actuary | |
| Her Majesty's Treasury | |
| Inland Revenue | |
| National Investment and Loans Office | |
| Registry of Friendly Societies and | |
| Paymaster General's Office, other than civil superannuation costs borne on Class XIV, Vote 4, which cannot practicably be attributed to individual former employing Departments. | |
| Ƃ Includes armed forces pensions borne on Class I, Vote 3. | |
| ● Includes administration of programmes borne on DHSS Votes. | |
| ■ Includes non-industrial prison staff and the immigration service. | |
| ⋆ Figures provided by the Northern Ireland Office covering the administration costs of home civil servants and Northern Ireland civil servants employed by the Northern Ireland Office, including the prison service but excluding Northern Ireland Departments whose estimates are considered by Parliament under the Order in Council procedure. | |
| # Expenditure by the Department of Health and Social Security. It includes administration costs which are charged to the national insurance fund but which does not take account of benefit expenditure from the fund, which is not voted. | |
** Excludes the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Office of Fair Trading. | |
Programme 16.1 Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Forestry
| |||||||||
£ million cash
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
| Market Regulation and production support | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 22 | 37 | ||
| Other agricultural support | 20 | 43 | 53 | 41 | 52 | 57 | 52 | ||
| Animal Health | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Other agricultural and food services | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Support for the fishing industry | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | ||
| Total programme | 24 | 48 | 60 | 55 | 63 | 81 | 93 | 100 | 100 |
Wales
Housing Improvement Grants
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give borrowing sanction to local housing authorities in Wales to enable them to offer loans to those persons in their area who have made valid applications for housing improvement grants, but who are not in a position to undertake the work without a bridging loan to cover them until such time as the council are in a position to pay the grant to them.
Local authorities already have the borrowing sanction necessary to advance loans to persons wishing to undertake housing improvements. The finance required would need to be found from within the authorities' capital allocation.
Disabled Students
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money his Department spent or provided in the last financial year on improving access to educational buildings in Wales for disabled students.
None. Educational building work is financed for the most part by the education authorities.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to seek to ensure that all the technical, polytechnic and further education colleges in Wales are fully accessible for students in wheelchairs.
It is for education authorities and others providing educational buildings to make provision for disabled students. My right hon. Friend proposes to take steps which will require access to be provided in accordance with standards which will be laid down in the building regulations.
Public Expenditure
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for Wales the directly equivalent information on Government expenditure plans to that which is included in table 2.3,2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8,2.10 and 2.11 of the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1984–85 to 1986–87", Cmnd. 9143/2.
The information is as follows:
Programme 16.2 and 3 Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment
| |||||||||
£ million cash
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
| Regional and general industrial support Provision of land and buildings | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Selective assistance to industry in assisted areas | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 17 | ||
| Development Board for Rural Wales (excluding subsidies) | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Development Board for Rural Wales (subsidies only) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Residual expenditure under repealed sections of the Local Employment Act 1972 | -1 | -1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Welsh Development Agency (including ECSC and EIB borrowing) | 39 | 48 | 65 | 77 | 57 | 43 | 47 | ||
| Promotion of tourism | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | ||
| Other support services | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Employment | |||||||||
| Careers Service—local authorities | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Careers Service—strengthening scheme | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total programmes 16.2 and 3 | 51 | 66 | 87 | 100 | 86 | 79 | 84 | 90 | 90 |
Programme 16.4: Roads and transport
| |||||||||
£ million cash
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
National Roads System
| |||||||||
| Capital | 57 | 69 | 88 | 95 | 110 | 137 | 115 | ||
| Current | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 10 | ||
| Freight facilities and other grants | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| Central Government total | 62 | 77 | 94 | 108 | 119 | 149 | 126 | ||
Local Transport Capital
| |||||||||
| Roads | 35 | 44 | 50 | 50 | 67 | 60 | 57 | ||
| Car parks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Public transport investment | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Sub total | 39 | 49 | 54 | 53 | 72 | 65 | 62 | ||
Local Transport Current
| |||||||||
| Roads | 44 | 48 | 52 | 72 | 70 | 75 | 78 | ||
| Car parks (net of receipts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Reveune support to public transport | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Concessionary fares | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Road safety | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Unallocated technical support | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 10 | ||
| Total current | 60 | 68 | 76 | 97 | 90 | 97 | 100 | ||
| Local transport total | 99 | 117 | 130 | 150 | 162 | 162 | 162 | ||
| Programme 16.4 total | 161 | 194 | 224 | 258 | 281 | 311 | 287 | 290 | 310 |
| Nationalised industries external finance limit (Nationalised Bus Company) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 |
Programme 16.5—Housing
| |||||||||
£ million cash
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
| Current expenditure | |||||||||
| General subsidies | |||||||||
| Central government subsidies to local authority housing | 49 | 56 | 68 | 39 | 13 | 5 | 7 | ||
| Rate fund contributions to local authority housing | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Subsidies to new towns | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Subsidies to housing associations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total general subsidies | 57 | 69 | 82 | 53 | 24 | 10 | 13 | ||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
| Administration | |||||||||
| Local authorities | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Housing corporation: grant in aid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Other | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total current expenditure | 61 | 75 | 88 | 59 | 30 | 18 | 21 | ||
| Capital expenditure | |||||||||
| Local authority gross expenditure | |||||||||
| Land | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| New dwellings | 48 | 57 | 59 | 45 | 39 | 49 | |||
| Acquisitions | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||
| HRA improvement investment | 15 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 46 | 37 | |||
| Non-HRA improvements and low cost home ownership | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |||
| Other | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Improvement and thermal insulation grants | 11 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 43 | 102 | |||
| Gross lending to private persons for house purchase and improvements | 25 | 25 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | |||
| Loans and grants to housing associations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total local authority gross expenditure | 106 | 125 | 112 | 96 | 140 | 207 | 152 | ||
| Local authority receipts Sales | -3 | -6 | -8 | -44 | -59 | -56 | |||
| Repayment of sums outstanding on sales of dwellings | -2 | -2 | -2 | -3 | -7 | -12 | |||
| Repayment of loans to private persons for house purchase and improvements | -16 | -13 | -13 | -18 | -20 | -20 | |||
| Repayment of loans to housing associations | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | |||
| Total local authority receipts | -23 | -21 | -23 | -65 | -86 | -89 | -98 | ||
| Total net local authority expenditure | 83 | 104 | 89 | 31 | 54 | 118 | 54 | ||
| New towns gross investment | |||||||||
| Land | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| New dwellings | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Improvements | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total new towns gross investment | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | ||
| New town receipts | |||||||||
| Sales | 0 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -9 | -3 | |||
| Repayment of sums outstanding on sales of dwellings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | |||
| Total new town receipts | 0 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -10 | -4 | -1 | ||
| Total net new town investment | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | -5 | -1 | 4 | ||
| Housing Corporation (net) | 22 | 24 | 29 | 32 | 45 | 41 | 39 | ||
| Other capital | |||||||||
| Home loan scheme for first-time purchasers (net) and other lending (net) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total capital expenditure | 107 | 131 | 120 | 63 | 94 | 158 | 97 | ||
| Total programme | 168 | 206 | 208 | 122 | 124 | 176 | 118 | 130 | 130 |
Programme 16·7—Education
| |||||||||
£ million
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
Schools:
| |||||||||
| Under 5's capital | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Under 5's current | 16 | 18 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 32 | 36 | ||
| Primary secondary and other capital | 18 | 17 | 32 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 19 | ||
| Primary current | 100 | 112 | 137 | 150 | 158 | 157 | 157 | ||
| Secondary current | 128 | 146 | 183 | 205 | 216 | 229 | 235 | ||
| Other current | 14 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | ||
| Transport | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 23 | ||
| Meals and milk | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 18 | ||
| 314 | 351 | 438 | 471 | 500 | 520 | 514 | |||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
Further Education:
| |||||||||
| FE capital | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | ||
| FE current | 46 | 54 | 64 | 71 | 82 | 91 | 90 | ||
| Student awards | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | ||
| 55 | 65 | 78 | 85 | 97 | 107 | 105 | |||
Other:
| |||||||||
| Youth services capital | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | ||
| Youth services current | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Other educational services capital | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Other educational services current | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | ||
| Administration and inspection | 18 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | ||
| 26 | 30 | 35 | 39 | 41 | 46 | 46 | |||
| Total | 395 | 446 | 551 | 595 | 638 | 674 | 665 | 690 | 710 |
Programme 16.9 Health and personal social services
| |||||||||
£ million cash
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| |
| Health Services | |||||||||
| Hospital and community health services | |||||||||
| Current | 275 | 327 | 426 | 479 | 517 | 554 | 589 | — | — |
| Capital | 23 | 24 | 31 | 41 | 46 | 40 | 42 | — | — |
| Family practitioner services | |||||||||
| Current | 90 | 104 | 128 | 146 | 170 | 176 | 190 | — | — |
| Central health and miscellaneous services | |||||||||
| Current | 10 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 23 | — | — |
| Capital | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — |
| Total health services | |||||||||
| Current | 375 | 442 | 567 | 641 | 705 | 750 | 799 | — | — |
| Capital | 23 | 24 | 32 | 41 | 46 | 41 | 44 | — | — |
| Personal Social Services | |||||||||
| Local authority services | |||||||||
| Current | 60 | 71 | 87 | 96 | 104 | 112 | 116 | — | — |
| Capital | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Central government services | |||||||||
| Current | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — |
| Total personal social services | |||||||||
| Current | 60 | 71 | 87 | 96 | 104 | 112 | 120 | — | — |
| Capital | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | — | — |
| Total health and personal social services | |||||||||
| Current | 435 | 513 | 654 | 737 | 809 | 862 | 919 | — | — |
| Capital | 27 | 30 | 38 | 46 | 51 | 48 | 49 | — | — |
| Total programme | 462 | 543 | 692 | 783 | 860 | 910 | 968 | 1,030 | 1,070 |
| Total NHS current, capital gross of income and charges | 405 | 474 | 611 | 697 | 767 | 809 | 861 | 910 | 950 |
Programme 16.6 Other environmental services
| |||||||||
£ million cash
| |||||||||
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986
| |
| Local Environmental Services | |||||||||
| Capital | 34 | 49 | 62 | 56 | 50 | 53 | 57 | — | — |
| Current | 106 | 123 | 139 | 150 | 162 | 174 | 177 | — | — |
| Local Authority Rate collection | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| Records and Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Derelict Land Reclamation | — | — | — | — | 12 | 13 | 7 | — | — |
| Urban Programme | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 28 | — | — |
| Community ownership of development land | 2 | 1 | -1 | 1 | -2 | — | — | — | — |
| Water: Other Water Services including research | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Historic Building and ancient Monuments (including Ancient Monuments Commission) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — |
| Central and Miscellaneous services including environmental Research and | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Other Environmental Services (including grant in aid) | |||||||||
| Total | 160 | 192 | 219 | 228 | 256 | 270 | 284 | 270 | 280 |
1978–79
| 1979–80
| 1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986
| |
| Nationalised Industries External Finance Limit (Welsh Water Authority) | 32 | 33 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Prime Minister
Engagements
Q3.
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 March.
Q6.
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Q7.
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Q8.
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Q9.
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Q10.
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Q11.
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Q12.
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Q13.
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Q14.
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Q15.
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Q16.
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Q17.
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Q18.
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Q19.
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Q20.
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Q21.
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Q22.
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Q23.
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Q24.
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Q25.
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Q26.
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Q27.
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Q28.
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Q29.
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Q30.
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Q32.
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Q33.
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Q34.
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Q35.
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Q36.
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Q37.
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Q38.
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Q39.
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Q40.
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Q41.
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Q42.
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Q43.
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Q44.
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Q45.
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Q46.
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Q47.
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Q48.
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Q49.
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Q50.
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Q51.
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Q52.
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Q53.
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Q54.
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Q55.
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Q56.
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Q57.
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Q58.
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Q59.
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Q60.
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Q61.
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Q62.
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Q63.
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Q64.
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Q65.
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Q67.
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Q68.
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Q69.
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Q70.
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Q71.
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Q73.
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Q74.
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Q75.
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Q76.
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Q77.
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Q78.
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Q79.
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Q80.
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Q81.
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Q82.
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Q83.
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Q84.
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Q85.
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 March.
This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be holding a reception for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Trades Union Congress
Q31.
asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects will be discussed.
I have at present no plans to do so.
Mutual And Balanced Force Reductions
Q66.
asked the Prime Minister whether she will pay an official visit in the current month to the reconvened negotiations in Vienna on mutual and balanced force reductions.
I have no plans to visit the mutual and balanced force reduction negotiations this month. My hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) visited the talks on 30 November-1 December last year.
1662 Prayer Book Services
Q72.
asked the Prime Minister if she will propose legislation to ensure that some 1662 prayer book services are available in all Church of England churches where a specified demand exists; and if she will make a statement.
No. It would be inappropriate for the Government to seek to change the arrangements approved by Parliament in the Church of England (Worship and Doctrine) Measure 1974 under which the forms of service to be used are agreed jointly by the incumbent and the parochial church council elected by the parishioners and regular worshippers.
Ec Budget
asked the Prime Minister what account the Government have taken of the impact of food prices in the negotiations on the European Economic Community budget.
The Government consider that in future the rate of growth of expenditure on the common agricultural policy should be markedly lower than the rate of growth of the Community's own resources. The impact of food prices on consumers is an important factor in the Government's consideration of proposals affecting the common agricultural policy.
Official Foreign Visits (Staff)
asked the Prime Minister if she will list the occasions in the last 20 years on which the Prime Minister has taken a non-Civil Service member of the Prime Minister's family to act as personal assistant on an official foreign visit; what range of duties the acting personal assistant was expected to fulfil; and what security provisions were made to enable the acting personal assistant to deal with commercially confidential or classified material or messages.
The visit to India and the middle east was the only occasion on which I took a member of my family as my personal assistant. I cannot answer for previous Administrations. My daughter was not paid from public funds and I paid air fares for her. She helped me with all personal arrangements. She took no part in dealing with official materials of the sort referred to by the right hon. Gentleman.
Mr Jamil Amyuni
asked the Prime Minister whether she has had any official meetings with Mr. Jamil Amyuni.
No.
Defence
Information Officers
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will describe the range of duties carried out by those information officers in his Department who are not engaged on public relations work.
A small number of information officers are employed in the production and editing of technical manuals and publications and the making of service training films.
Acid Rain
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what measurements are taken by the Meteorological Office at weather stations of the acidity of rainfall collected in their rain gauges; and if, and where, such information is published.
Ordinary rain gauges, being susceptible to contamination are unsuitable for measurement of the chemical composition of rainwater. However, as a contribution to the United Kingdom network, the Meteorological Office operates specially designed gauges at Bracknell, Eskdalemuir and Lerwick and samples from them are sent monthly for analysis by the Government Chemist.Results from these sites for the period 1978 to 1980, earlier data for Eskdalemuir, and data from elsewhere in the United Kingdom network, were published last December by the Warren Spring laboratory of the Department of Trade and Industry in a report entitled "Acid Rain Deposition in the United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the Library. Data from Eskdalemuir are also regularly contributed to the World Meteorological Organisation's background atmospheric pollution network and published in its annual data reports.
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the established strength of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps; and how much the corps is underestablished at this time.
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps will have an authorised establishment of 7,721 officers and other ranks as at 31 March this year, and is expected to be fully manned.
Gas Warfare
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ban the export of anti-nerve gas kits, gas masks and protective suits to Iran and Iraq whilst a state of war exists between those countries.
The export of these items is kept under close scrutiny. I can confirm that we do not intend to authorise the supply of any item which might assist Iran or Iraq to wage chemical warfare during the current conflict.
Professor Lawrence Freedman
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any officials of his Department have had meetings with Professor Lawrence Freedman during the past two weeks.
I shall answer shortly.
Falkland Islands
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost for the current financial year of the Royal Air Force establishment on the Falklands, including air defence.
I shall answer shortly.
Belize
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the; strategic role of the British forces based in Belize.
The role of the British garrison is to assist in the defence of Belize against external aggression and with the training of the Belize defence force.
British Army Of The Rhine
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the strategic role of the British Army of the Rhine.
The British Army of the Rhine forms part of the United Kingdom's contribution to NATO's ready and in-place forces in Europe which support the Alliance's deterrent strategy of flexible response and forward defence and has been assigned the defence of a vital 65 km sector of the inner German border.
Foreign Nationals (Training)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign nationals are under training in his Department's establishments in the United Kingdom; and from which countries they come.
Approximately 1,200 students from 72 countries are receiving training in the United Kingdom at present. The 72 countries are as follows:
- Algeria
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Denmark
- Eire
- Egypt
- Ecuador
- Finland
- Fiji
- France
- Gambia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guyana
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Korea
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Phillipines
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Trinidad
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Uganda
- United States of America
- Yemen Arab Republic
- Zaire
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
British Troops (Secondment Overseas)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence to which foreign powers British troops are attached; and what, by country, are their duties.
I shall answer shortly.
Skynet 4A And 4B
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States shuttle will carry a British team member when it launches the two defence satellites Skynet 4A and 4B.
Yes. At the invitation of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a United Kingdom pay load specialist will travel on the missions to launch the two defence satellites, Skynet 4A and 4B. The two men concerned will be selected in the summer of next year from among four candidates already identified.
National Finance
Inland Revenue Computer
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are, in relation to the computer system of the Inland Revenue dealing with PAYE (a) the purpose or purposes for which personal data are held, (b) the source or sources from which data are obtained, (c) the descriptions of any person or organisation to whom personal data have been disclosed, including the number of such disclosures over the last convenient period of time, (d) the Departments that have, or intend to have, terminal access to the computer system and (e) the lists of the indices held on the computer system, and the number of entries in each index.
(a) The Inland Revenue's computer systems dealing with PAYE hold personal data for the purpose of the assessment and collection of income tax and the collection of class 1 national insurance contributions.
(b) The sources of the personal data held are as follows:
(c) Personal data are disclosed:
Statistics of the number of disclosures are not available.
(d) Terminal access is restricted to Inland Revenue staff engaged in the operation of PAYE and the collection of class 1 national insurance contributions.
(e) The centre 1 computer system, which deals with the tax affairs of employees of Scottish employers, holds an index of approximately 80,000 employers and an index of approximately 3,700,000 taxpayers. The accounts offices at Cumbernauld and Shipley each hold an index of employers with approximately 600,000 and 500,000 entries, respectively. No index is held at present on the proposed national computer system for PAYE.
Ec (Grants And Loans)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total figure for grants and loans made to the United Kingdom from the European Community since 1 January 1973 in pounds sterling.
The figures requested are as follows:
| £ million | |
| 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1983 | |
| Total receipts from EC Budget | 9,861·0 |
| Total lending by the European Investment Bank (including the new Community instrument) | 3,022·8 |
| Total grants and loans from Euratom* | 69·6 |
| Total grants and loans from ECSC*† | 2,121·6 |
| Total | 15,075·0 |
| * Grants and loans not separately identifiable. | |
| † Only partial figures yet available for 1983. | |
Paye (Computerisation)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how Inland Revenue staff working on the new computerised pay-as-you-earn system will trace the national insurance number of a taxpayer in the case that the control card for that person does not show the national insurance number.
Inland Revenue staff wishing to trace a taxpayer's national insurance number send an inquiry form to the taxpayer asking for the national insurance number. If the taxpayer does not know it, the Department of Health and Social Security is asked to provide it.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the circumstances in which a taxpayer within the scope of the new computerised pay-as-you-earn system may either become entitled to the age allowance for the first time or start to receive a taxable national insurance pension other than after pension entitlement details for that person have been received by the Inland Revenue from Department of Health and Social Security records, giving the number of such cases occurring in a year.
Men who do not retire when they reach the age of 65 and married men who are younger than their wives may become entitled to the age allowance before they become entitled to a retirement pension. Some men and women may reach the age of 65 and become entitled to the age allowance without satisfying the contribution conditions for a retirement pension. Statistics on the number of such cases are not available.The Inland Revenue receives centrally pension entitlement details for all new awards 50p a week or more, but the pensioner's tax district is sometimes not located.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Inland Revenue staff working in the new computerised pay-as-you-earn system are authorised to trace national insurance numbers by means of inquiry of information held by the Department of Health and Social Security.
Yes.
European Monetary System
Taylor asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government are reconsidering their refusal to join the European monetary system; and if he will make a statement.
I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley), the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on 27 June 1983, at column 31.
Finance Council
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community Finance Council in Brussels on 12 March.
I was represented by officials at this Council.The Council reviewed the economic situation in the Community and the first five years of the operation of the European monetary system. There was also discussion of insurance services and of proposals for fiscal measures intended to encourage company co-operation across national boundaries. Progress on these two subjects will be reviewed at the June Council.
Agricultural Surpluses
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the saving which could be made in the EEC budget if the return to the farmers were to be reduced to the level required to prevent any further increase in agricultural surpluses.
I have been asked to reply.The relationships between support prices, producer returns, the level of production and budgetary cost are complex and are influenced by many factors which vary between the member states of the European Community. There could be major savings to the EC budget compared with what would otherwise be the case if farmers' returns for the commodities affected were reduced in the way outlined; but the precise saving would depend critically on the assumptions employed.
Civil Service
Prime Minister (Personal Assistant)
asked the Minister for the Civil Service on what Civil Service grade the personal assistant to the Prime Minister was in April 1981.
None. The Prime Minister's personal assistant was not a member of the Civil Service.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Waste Disposal
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount, for the latest available year, of radioactive waste disposed of under the terms of the London dumping convention, expressed as a percentage of limits set by that convention.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, as adviser to the London dumping convention on radiological matters, has recommended that the annual activity released rate limits in waste dumped shall be 105 curies for alpha emitters, 107 curies for beta/gamma emitters and 1011 curies for tritium. For 1982, the most recent year in which such dumping took place, the numbers of curies in the waste dumped by all countries were 1,428 from alpha emitters, 49,539 from beta/gamma emitters and 77,449 from tritium, amounting to 1·4 per cent., 0·5 per cent, and 0·00008 per cent, of the recommended released rate limits respectively.
Pigmeat
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of pigmeat have been imported from Holland during the past year; and what were the corresponding figures for the last five years.
Annual imports of pigmeat from Holland for each of the last six year are as follows:
| '000 tonnes carcase wt equivalent | |
| 1978 | 48·9 |
| 1979 | 60·2 |
| 1980 | 59·7 |
| 1981 | 67·9 |
| 1982 | 60·1 |
| 1983 | 64·6 |
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to restrict the entry of pig products from Holland where these products have come from areas which are affected by swine fever.
Fresh pigmeat imports are not permitted from the Netherlands. Pigmeat products may be imported provided they originate from animals or holdings at a safe distance from an outbreak of the disease, or if they do not come from an infected holding and have undergone specified heat or other acceptable treatment.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the total value of pig products which have been imported into the United Kingdom from Dutch sources in the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and the latest available figures for 1984.
The information requested is as follows:
| Pig products—Value of Imports from Holland | |
| £'000 | |
| 1980 | 102,349 |
| 1981 | 111,016 |
£'000
| |
| 1982 | 106,421 |
| 1983 | 114,152 |
| 1984* | 9,477 |
* January | |
Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Overseas Trade Statistics
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise in the Council of Ministers of the European Communities the fund set up by the French Government to the value of £8·3 million to aid the pig producers in France; and if he will make a statement.
No. I understand that the French Government have not, so far, introduced new aid for pig producers. They are, however, in contact with the European Commission over the details of proposals and the Commission is currently studying these. I have already made it clear that I will not hesitate to pursue the matter further if there is any indication that the French Government intend to introduce an illegal state aid.
Torry Research Station
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has taken a decision on the future of the Torry research station; and if he will make a statement.
I am still considering the role of the Torry research station, and the basis for the funding of its work, including the extent to which that work could have more direct commercial application. We hope to be able to arrive at detailed decisions shortly.In the meantime, we accept the need, particularly in the interests of the staff concerned, to remove some of the present uncertainties surrounding the future of the station. I can confirm, therefore, that Tory will remain within the Ministry, and that is not our intention to transfer responsibility for it to the Sea Fish Industry authority or elsewhere.
Producer Prices
asked the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage increase in the producer prices overall and by category, as shown in table 2 of the annual review White Paper, Cmnd. 9137, since (i) 1967–69 and (ii) 1970–72 compared to the percentage increase in the retail price index and in retail food prices.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 88]: The information requested is given in the following table. Movements in the retail price indices reflect changes in the prices of both home-produced and imported supplies.
| 1983 compared with an average of the years 1967–1969 | 1983 compared with an average of the years 1970–1972 | |
| Percentage increases* | ||
| Producer prices of agricultural products | 336 | 278 |
| Farm crops and horticultural products | 368 | 320 |
| Cereals | 414 | 355 |
| Root crops | 562 | 512 |
1983 compared with an average of the years 1967–1969
| 1983 compared with an average of the years 1970–1972
| |
Percentage increases*
| ||
| Fresh vegetables | 305 | 270 |
| Fresh fruit | 211 | 200 |
| Seeds | n.a. | 282 |
| Flowers and plants | n.a. | 187 |
| Other vegetable products | 412 | 341 |
| Animal and animal products | 322 | 262 |
| animals for slaughter | 368 | 284 |
| milk | 316 | 263 |
| eggs | 127 | 132 |
| Other animals and animal products | 99 | 98 |
| Retail price index | ||
| —All items | 412 | 321 |
| —Food | 439 | 331 |
* Percentage changes in producer prices have been calculated from linked indices based on the years 1964–65–1966–67, 1970 and 1975. Percentage changes in retail prices have been calculated from linked indices based on 16 January 1962 and 15 January 1974. | ||
Transport
North Cyprus (Air Services)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether British airline operators are permitted to fly directly to the Republic of North Cyprus.
As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told the House on 15 November 1983, at column 725, we do not recognise the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. British airlines that wish to land in Cyprus require permission from the Cyprus Air Transport Licensing Authority. It is contrary to the laws of the Republic of Cyprus for airlines to serve or to make technical landings at points in northern Cyprus.
Drivers (Medical Standards)
asked the Secretary of State for Trasnport how many representations he received during the consultation on the working party report on medical standards for heavy goods and public service vehicle drivers; and how many of these organisations were (a) in favour of the proposals and (b) against the proposals.
Twenty-eight replies to the consultation letter were received. Of the bodies that replied five were generally in favour; five made no comment; and two queried the need for higher standards than those required for ordinary driving licences. The rest offered a variety of comments on points of detail—both on procedural matters and in relation to particular medical conditions—but did not express an overall view of the report's recommendations.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government propose to make any changes in the law on health checks for heavy goods vehicle and public service vehicle vocational drivers following the report of the working party on medical standards for heavy goods and public service vehicles drivers; and if will make a statement.
The report of the working party on medical standards for heavy goods and public service vehicle drivers, and the comments received in response to the consultation letter, are under consideration. No change in the law would be required to vary the scope or frequency of health checks for these drivers.
Airlines (Competition)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government between 1979 and 1982 to encourage greater competition within the airline industry.
The Civil Aviation Act 1980 required the Civil Aviation Authority when licensing services to give greater emphasis to competition between United Kingdom airlines on domestic and international routes. The scope for encouraging competition on international routes has in practice been very limited, usually because of the attitude of overseas Governments. In 1980, however, four carriers were licensed on the London-Hong Kong route though one ceased business before it could start operations. Throughout the period we pressed the European Commission and other member states to take a more liberal attitude towards scheduled services within the Community. The main domestic development was the licensing in 1982 of services from Heathrow to Glasgow and Edinburgh in competition with what had previously been a British Airways monopoly.
Lorry Ban (London)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to use his reserve powers to ensure that the Greater London council does not introduce a lorry ban damaging to the economy of London.
The GLC has not yet made out a proper case for introducing a London-wide night and weekend lorry ban. It still has a lot more work to do if it is to produce, as is its stated intention, proposals which will bring worthwhile benefits to Londoners without damaging London's businesses and putting jobs at risk.It is right that there should be concern about the many people badly affected by lorry noise at night and in the early morning. That is a serious problem, not confined to London, which the Government are already tackling constructively. The M25 will provide a high quality route away from densely populated areas for lorry traffic which would otherwise pass through London. Over half of it is already open; we are pressing ahead to complete it in 1986. We cut the permitted noise level for new lorries last April and we will introduce stricter test procedures which will bring a further reduction next year. Our objective is to cut the perceived noise level from new lorries over this decade by nearly a half.These measures will benefit not just Londoners, but people all over the country, without causing damage to firms and thus to jobs in the capital. By contrast, the GLC has produced no evidence to show that its lorry ban proposals will significantly reduce disturbance from lorry noise. But the risks are considerable. Any benefits could be seriously diminished by the exemptions for some routes and operators which the GLC have accepted will be needed. For some people living in areas on the outskirts of London and along exempted routes in London, the ban could actually make matters worse. Added to that, it will be both difficult and costly to enforce. And it could inflict serious damage on London's economy. That is something which neither I nor anyone with London's best interests at heart could allow to happen.Lorry bans can be valuable in some situations, but they can create serious problems, and careful, sensitive planning is vital. So many interests are affected by the GLC's ideas, inside and outside London, that serious consultation to identify the effects of alternative measures must precede any firm proposals. Thereafter, if the GLC is still determined to come forward with a specific plan, a public inquiry should be held so that all the implications can be fully explored. I have asked the GLC whether it intends doing so.
Education And Science
Medical Genetics
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to encourage the setting up of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in medical genetics to ensure that in each region there are adequate facilities to diagnose and counsel patients with genetic problems; and if he will make a statement.
Medical genetics is already a normal part of the medical undergraduate curriculum and some medical schools also offer postgraduate courses, but Health Ministers are responsible for ensuring that there are adequate facilities for patient care.
Heriot-Watt University
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice was given by the University Grants Committee to Heriot-Watt university about the size of the intake in 1983 into the pharmacy department.
In July 1981 the University Grants Committee proposed a reduction in full-time science students at Heriot-Watt university by 1983–84. The committee recommended a substantial reduction in the number of pharmacy students at the university and said that it wished to discuss with the university the possibility of discontinuing pharmacy entirely.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to the answers of 12 March regarding the pharmacy department of Heriot-Watt university, and in view of the anticipated decision on 22 March by the University Grants Committee on its future, he will ensure that he replies to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West and publishes his reply in the Official Report by 16 March.
The information requested by my hon. Friend is not under the control of my right hon. Friend and may take some time to obtain. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Home Department
Crime Prevention
20.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he believes the Government's measures to prevent and deter crime will show results.
The Government's measures, and those of the police and other agencies, should be seen as part of the response to a problem which the whole community must help to tackle. There have been encouraging signs recently but the results can be judged properly only in the long term.
Television Licence Fee
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received any formal representations from the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding a new television licence fee.
No.
Harrods (Bombing Incident)
22.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress has been made in the inquiries by the Metropolitan police into the Harrods store bombing atrocity last December.
The Metropolitan police are continuing with inquiries along the lines which my right hon. and learned Friend described on 19 January, at columns 435–36, in answer to a question from my hon. Friend.
Metropolitan Police
23.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the allocation of manpower and use of support systems within the Metropolitan police.
We are satisfied that the Commissioner is making every effort to get full value for the money spent on the Metropolitan police. His recent report to my right hon. and learned Friend shows the more purposeful use of manpower and other resources which he is achieving for example by redeploying officers to priority tasks and continuing the process of civilianisation.
Crime And Violence
24.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about current levels of crime and violence.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood).
Hare Coursing (Demonstrations)
25.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much police time has been spent in policing demonstrations against hare coursing in the last 12 months.
It would cost a disproportionate amount to ask every chief officer of police in England and Wales to provide an answer. The chief constable of Lancashire tells me that officers of his force worked 1,132 hours overtime in policing the Waterloo Cup hare coursing trials at Altcar on 20 to 23 February inclusive, during which there were demonstrations.
Immigration
26.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of people waiting for a visa to enter the United Kingdom to join either a husband or wife.
The information requested is available only for the Indian subcontinent. Eight hundred and sixty husbands and 4,600 wives in the Indian subcontinent were awaiting a decision on their application for entry clearance to the United Kingdom at the end of 1983. These figures include those who have been interviewed but whose application remains undetermined. Combined figures for husbands and male fiances are published quarterly in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics (table 7 of issue 4/84) and figures for wives are published in the annual Command Paper of the same title (table 7 of the latest issue Cmnd. 8944).
Model Emergency Plan
27.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a model emergency plan for the guidance of communities.
We have no present plans to do so but will keep the matter under review.
Violent Crime
28.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had about the level of violent crime.
Since taking office my right hon. and learned Friend has received many representations from hon. Members and the public at large, expressing concern in this subject.
Remanded Persons
29.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, at the latest convenient date, was the number of persons remanded in custody in police cells.
On the night of 13–14 March there were 197 prisoners held in police and court cells.
Parole Board (Membership)
30.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to ensure that there is no conflict of interest for chief probation officers and deputy chief probation officers who are members of the Parole Board for England and Wales.
I am not aware of any conflict of interest for chief probation officers and deputy chief probation officers who are members of the parole board.
Civil Defence
31.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research work has been carried out by his Department over the past five years to determine the most cost-effective means of using the civil defence budget.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker).
Animals (Experiments)
32.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that any legislation on scientific procedures on living animals will take into account the draft convention of the Council of Europe on this subject, notwithstanding that this convention may not be agreed by Council of Europe Ministers and available for signature before such legislation is introduced.
Yes. The legislation which is being prepared to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 will incorporate the principles embodied in the proposed European convention. A Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in agreeing the Council of Europe convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes; and what are the arrangements for ratification and implementation by the signatory nations.
The draft Council of Europe convention on the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes is due to be considered by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe. If the Committee recommends adoption of the convention, it will be opened for signature by member countries and ratification.The legislation which is being prepared to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 will incorporate the principles embodied in the proposed European convention. The United Kingdom would however take advantage of article 4 of the convention to enable us to impose, in our own national legislation, stricter requirements than those contained in the convention.
Cable Television (Pilot Licences)
33.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the issue of the first pilot cable television licences will be completed.
Discussions of the particular points arising from their applications with the 11 applicants for pilot licences are well advanced. In most cases it should be possible to bring these discussions to an early and satisfactory conclusion and to begin the detailed preparation of the licences. We intend to issue licences as soon as possible.
Entry Permits
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish the number of people who visited the high commission in Islamabad to seek advice on entry permits; and how many were subsequently interviewed and granted permission in 1983;(2) if he will publish the number of people who visited the high commission in New Delhi to seek advice on entry permits; and how many were subsequently interviewed and granted permission in 1983;(3) if he will publish the number of people who visited the high commission in Dhaka to seek advice on entry permits; and how many were subsequently interviewed and granted permission in 1983.
The available information is given in the following table:
| Applications for entry clearance* to the United Kingdom in 1983 | |||
| Number of persons | |||
| Applications newly received | Applications decided† | Applications granted | |
| Islamabad (Pakistan) | 7,320 | 7,190 | 4,980 |
| New Delhi (India) | 3,370 | 2,940 | 2,000 |
| Dhaka (Bangladesh) | 11,700 | 11,700 | 5,880 |
| * For immediate settlement or temporary admission. | |||
| † Granted or refused. | |||
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of people who visited the high commission in Colombo to seek advice on entry permits; and how many were subsequently interviewed and granted permission in 1983;
The information requested is not available centrally.
Long-Term Prison Unit (Holloway)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when D unit, the long-term prisoner wing in Her Majesty's prison Holloway will be opened; and whether the women now housed in Her Majesty's prison Durham H wing will be transferred to the Holloway unit.
Part of D wing is already in operation. More of it will be opened as staff become available, this will release accommodation elsewhere in the prison and enable us in due course to set up a unit for life sentence and other long-term prisoners. No decision has yet been taken on Holloway's ability to take category A sentenced prisoners. The use of H wing Durham for female prisoners will be kept under review as further developments take place at Holloway.
Football Hooliganism (Staff Costs)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the working time of (a) Ministers and officials of his Department and (b) the police was diverted to and spent on matters connected with the disorders before and after and associated with the international football match in Paris; and whether he will give an estimate of the related costs incurred (i) within his Department and (ii) to local police authorities.
Matters relating to the France versus England football match are primarily for my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment with responsibility for sport. The best estimate I can give of time spent in my Department on this by Ministers and officials is 16 man-hours; staff costs are estimated at about £153. I understand from the chief constable of Kent constabulary that his officers spent approximately 770 hours normal duty time and 190 hours overtime at a cost of about £3,850 and £1,500 respectively. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that 72 hours of normal duty time were spent by his officers at a cost of about £1,000.
Police Recruitment (Wales)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he gives any guidance to police forces in Wales about their recruitment patterns in order to ensure that recruits will be capable of undertaking their responsibilities in mixed language communities.
No. All chief officers of police are expected to take account of the special needs of their own forces when they appoint constables.
Police (Establishment)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he takes into account when considering proposals for alterations to the police establishment in police authority areas.
My right hon. and learned Friend considers applications for additional police officer posts in the light of the resources available nationally for increases in police manpower, and advice from Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary. The main factors which he takes into account are set out in paragraph 3 to 5 of Home Office circular No. 114/83, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Leicester Prison
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated annual cost of the staff at the special high security wing at Leicester prison in each of the past four years; and what was the actual population of the wing in each of the past four years.
The annual cost of staff serving in individual prison department establishments, or operational areas within those establishments, is not available. During the past four years the average inmate population of the special high security wing at Leicester prison was seven.
Burglar Alarm Calls
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglar alarm calls were attended to by the Metropolitan police in each police district in each year since 1979–80; and how many such calls turned out to be false alarms.
I understand that figures are not available separately for each Metropolitan police district, nor for alarms signalled by bells only. Figures that are available relate to alarms whose signals go to the police direct, or via central stations maintained by alarm companies. The total number of calls from these alarms attended to by the Metropolitan police, and the number that turned out to be false, are as follows:
| Total calls | False calls | |
| 1979 | 177,370 | 174,636 |
| 1980 | 177,919 | 175,610 |
| 1981 | 182,941 | 179,698 |
| 1982 | 186,123 | 182,870 |
| 1983 | 196,190 | 193,470 |
Russian Nationals (Visas)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas for Russian nationals were issued in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 to date; how many of these were eligible to take up employment in the United Kingdom in those years; and if he will make a statement.
The available information on admission to the United Kingdom of nationals of the USSR, all of whom require visas, is published annually in "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom" (table 1(b) of the issues for 1980 (Cmnd. 8199), 1981 (Cmnd. 8533) and 1982 (Cmnd. 8944)). In 1983, the number of nationals of the USSR admitted to the United Kingdom was 7,560, of which 40 were work permit holders.
Nationality Fees
Ms. Richardson asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the White Paper on nationality fees, Cmnd. 9183, income and expenditure account, how many certificates are estimated to be issued for 1983–84 and 1984–85.
It is estimated that in the financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85 59,000 and 66,500 certificates respectively will be issued. These forecasts have been based on management assessment and output in the first nine months of 1983–84 and are subject to the provisos expressed in annex B of Cmnd. 9183.
Lunar House
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the amount for staff and accommodation costs at Lunar house, and the cost of external inquiries on naturalisation and discretionary registration applications.
During 1983 the nationality division moved from Apollo house to Lunar house. In the financial year 1983–84 the cost of the staff, and their accommodation, employed on nationality operations is forecast to be £3·157 million. The cost in the same financial year of external enquiries into naturalisation and discretionary registration applications is forecast to be £1·451 million.
Crown Court Proceedings
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable a judge trying a criminal case on indictment in the Crown court to adjourn the proceedings upon the application of any party to the proceedings who is dissatisfied with the trial judge's ruling on any material point of law in order that the point might be decided forthwith by the Court of Appeal.
We have no plans to introduce such legislation.
Detention Centre (Send)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons into the new regime at Send detention centre.
The report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector on Her Majesty's detention centre Send was published on 20 February together with a statement by my right hon. and learned Friend. Copies of all inspection reports, and of the accompanying statements, are placed in the Library of the House.
Metropolitan Police
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he proposes to issue to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning arrangements for obtaining the views of the community on policing in the Metropolitan police district; and if he will make a statement.
I am placing in the Library a draft of the guidance I would propose to issue to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis under clause 96 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, and the guidance I would propose to issue, on a non-statutory basis, to police authorities outside London. Copies of these drafts are being sent to interested organisations for comment.
Prisons
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any changes to make in the cash limit for 1983–84 for the Prisons Vote, Class IX, Vote 8.
Yes. The cash limit on the Prisons Vote (Class IX vote 8) has been raised by £4,000,000 from £530,333,000 to £534,333,000. The cash limit on the Home Office Central and Administrative Services Vote (Class IX Vote 11) has been reduced by the same amount from £163,230,000 to £159,230,000. There will, therefore, be no addition to planned spending totals. The increase can be accommodated within existing voted provision.
Trade And Industry
Illegal Offshore Radio Stations
34.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many letters he has received in his official capacity over the past 12 months on the operation of illegal offshore radio stations.
Over 70 such letters have been received by me and my Department.
World Communications Year
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide details in the Official Report on those events in which his Department will be directly involved during World Communications Year 1984.
A full report on those events and activities undertaken by the United Kingdom during World Communications Year 1983 is now available for inspection in the Library of the House.
Independent Businesses (Exclusive Arrangements)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received about exclusive arrangements between sellers and big buyers and their effect on small and independent businesses; and if he will make a statement.
Since the beginning of the year I have received a number of letters from hon. Members and independent retailers on the subject of discounts to retailers. I have also discussed the subject with food manufacturers, and shall be discussing it in the near future with grocery distributors.
Manufacturing Statistics
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the deficit on trade with the European Economic Community in manufactures less precious stones for 1983 at an annual rate; and if he will estimate the number of United Kingdom jobs lost on this account.
There was a deficit on this trade of £7·4 billion in 1983. It is not possible to quantify the effects on employment of any particular trading pattern.
Co-Operatives
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many co-operatives have been dissolved in each year from 1978; and what was the size of each in terms of (a) capital and (b) manpower;(2) how many co-operatives have been started in each year from 1978; and what was the size of each in terms of
(a) capital and (b) manpower.
I regret that most of the information is either unavailable or can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, for the years 1980, 1982 and 1983 there were in existence, respectively, 305, 498 and 890 worker co-operatives employing, respectively, 5,342, 6,355 and 9,500 people. Between 1980 and 1982 there were 288 worker co-operatives formed and, between 1982 and 1983, 482. Between 1980 and 1982 and between 1982 and 1983 there were, respectively, 95 and 90 worker co-operatives that were dissolved, or had become traditional companies.
Trading Statistics
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to the answer on 22 February, Official Report, column 534, whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing what effect trade in oil has had on the overall trading position together with an estimate of the reduction in imports and increase in exports which resulted from the slowing down of economic activity.
Such information as is available is given in table A1 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics".
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to the answer on 22 February, Official Report, column 534, whether he expects a large surplus on overall trading in the current year; and what are the prospects for imports and, in particular, imported manufactures.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his "Financial Statement and Budget Report" projected a surplus on current account of £2 billion for 1984. Imports of goods and services are projected to rise by 7 per cent. between 1983 and 1984 in volume terms.
Manufactures
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing imports of manufactures by industrial group as a percentage of home demand in December 1983 compared with December 1974 where a comparison can be made.
Monthly import penetration statistics are not available. In addition, following the adoption of the standard industrial classification (1980) in 1983, figures have not been compiled on this new basis for 1974 and earlier years. As a result, directly comparable statistics for 1983 and 1974 are not available.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much grant has been paid by his Department to each local authority for the purpose of part-funding local citizens advice bureaux in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.
None. But £1·533 million of our grant-in-aid to the CAB national associations was spent on cash support for individual bureaux in 1982–83.
Warren Spring Laboratory
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his plans for the Warren Spring laboratory.
Following an internal review which concluded that the laboratory could be maintained in either the public or private sector, I would be prepared to hear from private sector organisations potentially interested in its purchase and future operation.
House Of Fraser (Inquiry)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Griffiths inquiry into alleged illicit dealing in House of Fraser shares began its investigations; and whether an interim report has been made.
Mr. John Griffiths, CMG, QC, was appointed as inspector under section 172 of the Companies Act 1948 to investigate and report on the membership of House of Fraser plc on 23 August 1983 and began his inquiries upon appointment.No interim report has been received.
British Steel Corporation
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will refer the projected sale of the British Steel Corporation's refractory's division to Hepworths to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
I am not aware of any such proposals.
Merseyside
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms which had received regional financial aid in the county of Merseyside and in each of the districts of Merseyside declared redundancies during each year between 1974 and 1983, inclusive; how much they had received in total; and how much was reclaimed by central Government.
I regret that the information requested is not available and to provide even a partial answer would involve a disproportionate cost.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms in the county of Merseyside and in each of the districts of Merseyside went into liquidation within each year from 1974 to 1983 inclusive; and how many jobs were lost as a consequence.
I regret that figures of company liquidations are not analysed by area. The number of bankruptices, which relate to all individuals and partnerships, handled by the county courts in Merseyside since 1977 are as follows; earlier figures are not included because of a break in continuity at the end of 1976. No information is available on job losses following liquidations or bankruptcies.
| Bankruptcies: cases administered by Courts in Merseyside County | |||
| Liverpool | Birkenhead | Total Merseyside | |
| 1977 | 66 | 35 | 101 |
| 1978 | 64 | 33 | 97 |
| 1979 | 67 | 18 | 85 |
| 1980 | 86 | 22 | 108 |
| 1981 | 106 | 29 | 135 |
| 1982 | 113 | 40 | 153 |
| *1983 | 150 | 43 | 193 |
| * Provisional; will be overstated because the number of consolidations and rescissions to be deducted is not yet known. In 1982 there were 21–18 at Liverpool and three at Birkenhead. | |||
Excavators
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the number of excavators imported into the United Kingdom; what percentage this number represents of the United Kingdom market; and in which countries and by which companies they are manufactured.
The latest estimate of the number of excavators imported into the United Kingdom in 1983 is 3,766. This number represents about 60 per cent. of the United Kingdom market. Of these imports some 40 per cent. were consigned from France and 34 per cent. from Japan. No information is available on the manufacturing companies concerned.
Hitachi Company
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the value of the goods manufactured by the Hitachi Company, Japan, and imported into the United Kingdom; and what the estimated value is of Hitachi's sale of excavators in the United Kingdom market.
| Total numbers unemployed February each year | |||||||||||
| Registered unemployed | Unemployed claimants | ||||||||||
| Area | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 |
| Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County | 27,371 | 33,074 | 42,650 | 49,299 | 55,345 | 54,739 | 56,412 | 77,916 | 89,395 | 96,036 | 97,599 |
| East Sussex | 4,941 | 7,540 | 12,022 | 14,063 | 15,387 | 12,937 | 12,277 | 20,259 | 25,753 | 27,794 | 26,848 |
| Essex | 10,186 | 14,210 | 25,396 | 29,198 | 28,154 | 25,416 | 25,130 | 44,520 | 58,439 | 62,419 | 61,487 |
| Berkshire | 3,072 | 4,862 | 10,066 | 10,721 | 10,840 | 8,506 | 8,323 | 18,723 | 23,424 | 24,212 | 23,852 |
No reliable estimates are available of the value of imported goods manufactured by individual companies.
Small Engineering Firms Investment Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet reached a decision on extending the small engineering firms investment scheme to the textile and clothing industries based on the number of employees working in a particular mill, or factory unit.
My right hon. Friend hopes to announce a decision shortly.
Nissan Motor Company
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Nissan Motor Company has yet decided on a location for its United Kingdom plant.
Executives from Nissan have reviewed all eight sites on their original short list. I understand that the company has now proposed further discussions with local authorities on three of these sites, those at Shotton (Clywd), Immingham (Humberside) and Sunderland airport (Tyne and Wear). A final decision is still expected by the end of March.
Employment
Labour Statistics
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the level of unemployment for Tyne and Wear and the counties of (a) East Sussex, (b) Essex, (c) Berkshire and (d) Buckinghamshire for each year since 1974;(2) what was the level of unemployment, at a suitable date, in the metropolitan counties and the Greater London council area for each year since 1974;(3) what was the level of unemployment at a suitable date, for the boroughs of
(a) Sunderland, (b) Watford, (c) Southend and (d) Chelmsford in each year since 1974.
The following table gives the total numbers unemployed in the areas specified in February each year from 1974. The figures from 1974 to 1982 relate to registered unemployed and those for 1983 and 1984 are for unemployed claimants. The comparisons are affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October1982 and the 1983 Budget provisions which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.
Registered unemployed
| Unemployed claimants
| ||||||||||
Area
| 1974
| 1975
| 1976
| 1977
| 1978
| 1979
| 1980
| 1981
| 1982
| 1983
| 1984
|
| Buckinghamshire | 1,435 | 2,453 | 5,184 | 5,788 | 6,241 | 6,136 | 6,393 | 13,284 | 17,685 | 18,392 | 18,216 |
| West Midlands Metropolitan County | 32,966 | 41,299 | 87,665 | 82,323 | 79,564 | 79,318 | 85,497 | 174,951 | 224,313 | 234,378 | 222,016 |
| South Yorkshire Metropolitan County | 17,809 | 17,552 | 30,269 | 30,989 | 34,333 | 36,883 | 38,742 | 67,572 | 85,656 | 95,211 | 93,399 |
| West Yorkshire Metropolitan County | 19,485 | 25,153 | 46,821 | 47,967 | 51,465 | 50,086 | 53,421 | 96,947 | 115,901 | 124,044 | 118,900 |
| Greater Manchester Metropolitan County | 30,952 | 38,068 | 62,551 | 68,572 | 74,238 | 69,994 | 73,558 | 136,415 | 169,696 | 176,019 | 177,518 |
| Merseyside Metropolitan County | 42,675 | 52,202 | 73,849 | 77,130 | 82,185 | 83,209 | 87,422 | 113,138 | 132,999 | 136,987 | 139,708 |
| Greater London Council Area | 60,096 | 73,910 | 144,871 | 162,641 | 160,807 | 146,902 | 144,586 | 248,941 | 339,785 | 357,432 | 375,519 |
| Sunderland, Southwick, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring jobcentre areas* | 7,311 | 9,666 | 12,335 | 14,277 | 16,475 | 15,972 | 16,282 | 22,378 | 24,674 | 26,384 | 27,703 |
| Watford jobcentre area* | 690 | 1,008 | 1,886 | 2,020 | 1,742 | 1,390 | 1,272 | 2,984 | 4,159 | 4,302 | 4,654 |
| Southend jobcentre area* | 2,260 | 3,180 | 4,568 | 4,999 | 4,710 | 4,350 | 4,537 | 6,755 | 8,460 | 8,951 | 9,039 |
| Chelmsford jobcentre area* | 886 | 1,133 | 1,855 | 2,006 | 1,993 | 1,824 | 1,755 | 2,806 | 3,830 | 3,587 | 3,658 |
* Corresponds closely to the borough specified. | |||||||||||
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the latest figures for unemployed claimants in the jobcentre areas covering the Tatton constituency and break down the figures according to age, sex and duration of unemployment.
The following is the information for the Knutsford, Middlewich, Northwich and Wilmslow
| Knutsford Males | |||||||||||||||
| Duration of unemployment in weeks | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20–24 | 25–29 | 30–34 | 35–39 | 40–44 | 45–49 | 50–54 | 55–59 | 60–64 | 65 and over | Total |
| One or less | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 35 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 62 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 43 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 43 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Males | 7 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 68 | 34 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 38 | 58 | 17 | 0 | 365 |
| Females | ||||||||||||||
| Duration of unemployment in weeks | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20–24 | 25–29 | 30–34 | 35–39 | 40–44 | 45–49 | 50–54 | 55–59 | 60 and over | Total |
| One or less | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Over 14 and up to 26 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 29 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Total Females | 1 | 4 | 18 | 9 | 37 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 146 |
jobcentre areas on 12 January, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available. The figures for males aged 60 and over are affected by the provsions announced in the 1983 Budget, which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.
Middlewich Males
| |||||||||||||||
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29 | 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60–64
| 65 and over
| Total
|
| One or less | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 34 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 63 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 37 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 32 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Total Males | 8 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 62 | 29 | 32 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 57 | 21 | 0 | 343 |
Females
| ||||||||||||||
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29
| 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60 and over
| Total
|
| One or less | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total Females | 4 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 43 | 47 | 28 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 195 |
Northwich Males
| |||||||||||||||
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29
| 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60–64
| 65 and over
| Total
|
| One or less | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 53 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 92 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 68 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 66 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 77 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 39 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 181 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 10 | 27 | 38 | 33 | 67 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 23 | 58 | 31 | 0 | 361 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 1 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 37 | 11 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 37 | 17 | 0 | 216 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 114 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 95 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 90 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 143 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 123 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 124 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 28 |
| Total Males | 22 | 85 | 112 | 129 | 322 | 168 | 119 | 108 | 74 | 87 | 135 | 356 | 122 | 0 | 1,839 |
Females
| ||||||||||||||
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29
| 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60 and over
| Total
|
| One or less | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 33 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 104 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 8 | 18 | 28 | 19 | 56 | 48 | 22 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 254 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 40 | 27 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 136 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 92 |
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29
| 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60 and over
| Total
|
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 64 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 34 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 46 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 39 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 39 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 12 |
| Total Females | 22 | 56 | 84 | 64 | 227 | 181 | 100 | 65 | 34 | 39 | 60 | 76 | 0 | 1,008 |
Wilmslow Males
| |||||||||||||||
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29
| 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60–64
| 65 and over
| Total
|
| One or less | l | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 37 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 33 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 34 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 50 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 87 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 41 | 24 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 0 | 194 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 107 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 64 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 42 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 51 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 74 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Total Males | 10 | 37 | 54 | 53 | 193 | 101 | 60 | 53 | 49 | 33 | 73 | 150 | 52 | 0 | 918 |
Females
| ||||||||||||||
Duration of unemployment in weeks
| 16
| 17
| 18
| 19
| 20–24
| 25–29 | 30–34
| 35–39
| 40–44
| 45–49
| 50–54
| 55–59
| 60 and over
| Total
|
| One or less | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Over 1 and up to 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Over 2 and up to 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Over 4 and up to 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Over 6 and up to 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 29 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 39 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 31 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 119 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 59 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 32 |
| Over 52 and up to 65 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Over 65 and up to 78 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 25 |
| Over 78 and up to 104 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
| Over 104 and up to 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 29 |
| Over 156 and up to 208 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| Over 208 and up to 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Over 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Females | 5 | 28 | 42 | 30 | 123 | 58 | 33 | 22 | 17 | 22 | 37 | 60 | 0 | 477 |
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the number of unemployed young people in the Coventry travel-to-work area at the latest date; and what were the comparable figures for 1 June 1979;(2) what is the number of young people on Government training schemes in the Coventry travel-to-work area; and what were the comparable figures for 1 June 1979.
I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Youth Training Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what cuts have been made in the numbers of entrants to mode B1 of youth training schemes; and how many youthline places will be affected.
Nationally there will be provision for up to 70,000 entrants to mode B1 of the youth training scheme in 1984–85. A decision on the number of places to be made available on the youthline scheme in Redbridge and Waltham Forest has yet to be taken.
National Dock Labour Board
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will have discussions with trade unions about the future of the National Dock Labour Board;(2) if he has any plans to abolish the National Dock Labour Board;(3) if he is satisfied with the working of the National Dock Labour Board; and if he will make a statement.
There is no doubt that the operation of the dock labour scheme which the National Dock Labour Board runs is increasingly being questioned by those concerned in the industry and I shall continue to remind the unions, employers and board officers that the scheme must be seen to work effectively and to serve the wider interests of the port industry. There are no plans to abolish it at present.
Job Creation
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what jobs are being provided through retraining schemes, young workers' schemes, and other Manpower Services Commission schemes in the county of Merseyside and the Liverpool travel-to-work area in the current year; and at what cost.
I regret that the information is not available separately for the Liverpool travel-to-work area, other than for the young workers scheme, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information, where available, is set out in the table.
| Merseyside* | |
| Number | |
| Training Opportunities Scheme | 968* |
| Youth Training Scheme | 9,369* |
| Young Workers Scheme | 10,145†‡ |
| Community Industry | 798║ |
| * Figures relate to the Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St. Helens and Wirral local authority districts. | |
| † Figures relate to the Liverpool travel-to-work area, Birkenhead travel-to-work area, St. Helens and Southport employment office areas. | |
| ‡ Including 5,330 in the Liverpool travel-to-work area. | |
| ║ Figures relate to the Knowsley and Sefton local authority districts, and the city of Liverpool. | |
Note: Expenditure information is not available below area office level.
Scotland
School Closures
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names and addresses of all the primary and secondary schools in Strathclyde region which have been closed in each of the years from 1979 to date.
My Department does not collect information on school closures but is considering whether arrangements should be made to do so. The following table shows closure proposals in Strathclyde region for which my right hon. Friend gave his approval from 3 May 1979 to date. Since 1 December 1981 it has not been necessary, except in a few prescribed circumstances, for education authorities to obtain my right hon. Friend's consent to school closures.
School Closure Proposals in Strathclyde Approved Between 3 May 1979 and 31 December 1979
- St Alphonsus RC P—69 Charlotte Street, Glasgow G1 5DG
- Strathclyde P—120 Carstairs Street, Glasgow G40 4JD
- St Luke's RC P—250 Ballater Street, Glasgow G5
- Hayfield P—164 Moffat Street, Glasgow G5
- Annick Lodge P—Irvine
- Scotland Street P—225 Scotland Street, Glasgow G5
- Bentinck P—Bentinck Street, Kilmarnock
- St Columbia RC P—64 Hinshaw Street, Glasgow G20
- Rowallan P—Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock
- Hareshaw P—Main Road, Waterside, By Kilmarnock
- Russell Street P—Russell Drive, Ayr
- Redburn P—Dickson Drive, Irvine
- Cumbrae S—Bute Terrace, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae
- Maxwellton P—Maxwellton Road, Paisley PA1 2RJ
- Holy Cross RCI—Daisy Street, Glasgow G42
School Closure Proposals in Strathclyde Approved Between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1980
- Cadder P—Cadder Road, Bishopbriggs
- St Peter's Boys RC P—13 Stewartville Street, Glasgow G11 5RS
- Napiershall P—39 Napiershall Street, Glasgow G20 6EZ
- Gairbraid P—71 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow G20 8DE
- William Quarriers P, S and SP—Bridge of Weir
- Bank Street P—Bank Street, Irvine
- Newtonhead P—Viewfield Road, Ayr
- Old Dailly P—Old Dailly, Girvan KA26 9RD
- Strathlachlan P—Strathlachlan, Strachur, Argyll
- Carsemeadow SP—Bridge of Weir
School Closure Proposals in Strathclyde Approved Between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 1981
- Mossknowe P—Kildrum Road, Cumbernauld
- Muirfield P—Brown Road, Cumbernauld
- Kingsford P—Old Glasgow Road, Kingsford, Stewarton
- St Stanislaus RC P—35 Muirsheil Crescent, Glasgow
- Townhead P—Donaldson Street, Kirkintilloch
- Arnprior P—39 Arnprior Road, Glasgow G45 9EX
- Keppochhill P—Scone Street, Glasgow G21 1JF
- Newlands P—871 Springfield Road, Glasgow
- St Aidan's RC P—Floors Street, Johnstone PA5 8QS
- Kingarth P—Kingarth, Isle of Bute
- Ballater N—57 Florence Street, Glasgow G5 OSP
- Dalmarnock N—Albany Street, Bridgeton G40 3EE
- Hayfield N—Moffat Street, Glasgow G5 OND
- St Serfs P—Martha Crescent, Paisley PA2 7EL
School Closure Proposals in Strathclyde Approved Between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1982
- Courthill SP—Courthill Street, Dalry
- Ladyloan SP—57 Ladyloan Avenue, Glasgow G15
- St Gabriels RC SP—14 Hallrule Drive, Glasgow G52
- Lintwhite SP—Bridge of Weir
School Closure Proposals in Strathclyde Approved Between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1983
- Glencroe P—Glencroe, By Arrochar, Argyll
- Pennyghael P—Isle of Mull, Argyll
School Closure Proposals in Strathclyde Approved Between 1 January 1984 and 9 March 1984
- Nil
Code:
- N—Nursery
- RCI—Roman Catholic Infant
- P—Primary
- RCP—Roman Catholic Primary
- S—Secondary
- SP—Special
Computer Programming (Training)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he accepts the recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission study, "Computer Manpower in Scotland", that there should be a small expansion in current training opportunities schemes' training provision in computer programming.
Future training provision in computing in Scotland is being reviewed by the Manpower Services Commission in the light of the White Paper "Training for Jobs" (Cmnd. 9135) of January 1984. Current plans for 1984–85 include provision for 190 places compared with 120 places in each of the past two years.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he accepts the recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission study, "Computer Manpower in Scotland", that the Manpower Services Commission should consider the possibility of providing financial support for approved short courses in computing.
The Manpower Services Commission in Scotland already supports courses in computing with grants available from non-statutory training organisations and industrial training boards and through the training opportunities scheme. The commission will continue to review the pattern of provision so that MSC courses are tailored to meet industry's requirements, as emphasised in the White Paper "Training for Jobs" (Cmnd. 9135) of January 1984.
Consultant Clinical Geneticists
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultant clinical geneticists are in post; where they are in post; and what proposals he has to extend this specialty.
At 30 September 1983, four consultant clinical geneticists were employed by the Lothian health board and two by the Greater Glasgow health board. No additional consultant posts are envisaged in the near future, but the Scottish senior registrar establishment provides for one training post in this specialty.
Dental Therapists
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what developments there have been regarding the provision of a course for dental therapists at the Glasgow dental hospital.
Greater Glasgow health board has now indicated that it does not wish to proceed with the provision of such a course. I am considering the views expressed by the board about dental auxiliary training as a whole.
Strokes
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the incidence of strokes in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.
Comprehensive information about the incidence of strokes in Scotland is not available. The following table shows the number of patients admitted to hospital in an emergency as a result of a stroke:
| Numbers | |
| 1973 | 8,969 |
| 1974 | 9,079 |
| 1975 | 8,573 |
| 1976 | 8,641 |
| 1977 | 8,683 |
| 1978 | 9,023 |
| 1979 | 8,914 |
| 1980 | 9,160 |
| 1981 | 9,308 |
| 1982 | 9,149 |
Cash Limits
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans any changes to the cash limits in 1983–84 which are within his responsibility.
Cash block SO/LA2, which covers capital expenditure on the Scottish housing programme, is being increased by £23·0 million, from £444·3 million to £467·3 million. This increase is made up of two elements:
Overseas Development
International Organisations
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions for 1983–84 will be made to the following international organisations (a) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, (b) the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, (c) the World Fertility Survey and (d) the World Health Organisation's special programme on human reproduction.
Contributions for the financial year 1983–84 are as follows:
| £ million | |
| International Planned Parenthood Federation | 2·70 |
| United Nations Fund for Population Activities | 2·70 |
| World Fertility Survey | 0·20 |
| WHO Special Programme on Human Reproduction | 1·45 |
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Removal Contracts
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether contracts for the removal of household effects of Foreign and Commonwealth Office personnel in Europe are offered to the removal industry for competitive quotation; and if British firms are given an opportunity to tender.
The answer to both parts of the question is yes. Tenders for a new worldwide contract are being sought.
Diego Garcia
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present location of the former inhabitants of Diego Garcia.
A fluctuating number of contract workers were recruited in Mauritius and Seychelles to work on the copra plantations of the Chagos archipelago, including Diego Garcia. Following the closure of these plantations, the workers and their families were all resettled in either Seychelles or Mauritius.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial return has accrued to the United Kingdom from the use by the United States of America of Diego Garcia as a military base.
In accordance with article (4) of the 1966 exchange of notes concerning the availability for defence purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory—Cmnd. 3231 — no charge is made to the United States Government for the use of sites on Diego Garcia. There has therefore been no accrued financial return to the United Kingdom from the use by the United States of America of Diego Garcia as a naval support facility.
Professor Lawrence Freedman
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any officials of his Department have had meetings with Professor Lawrence Freedman during the past two weeks.
Yes. The meetings concerned East-West relations and arms control.
Walter Rauff
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action it is now proposed to take to secure the extradition or expulsion from Chile of the Nazi war criminal, Rauff, now that the Federal Republic of Germany has asked for the support of the United Kingdom in this matter; and if he will make a statement.
I refer the hon. Member to answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself to his questions on 14 March.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the request recently received from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for assistance in securing the extradition or expulsion of the Nazi war criminal, Rauff, from Chile, any indication was given of the details of the charges likely to be brought against him; and if he will make a statement.
No.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are now prepared alone or in concert with the United States and West German Governments to press the Chilean Government to extradite Walter Rauff.
I refer the hon. Member to answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 14 March.
Northern Ireland
Gas (Advertising)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much has been spent by Northern Ireland Gas since it was set up on advertising on hoardings;(2) how much has been spent by Northern Ireland Gas since it was set up on newspaper advertising;(3) how much has been spent by Northern Ireland Gas since it was set up on television advertising;(4) how much has been spent by the Northern Ireland Gas company on advertising since the company was set up.
I am informed by the company that, since its formation in October 1983, the estimated cost of advertising in the current advertising phase is £124,000, including expenditure to date of £20,160 on advertising in newspapers, £46,271 on television advertising and estimated expenditure of £26,800 to date on advertising on hoardings.
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid to the advertising consultants employed by Northern Ireland Gas for the advertisements so far designed.
Details of the commercial relationship between the Northern Ireland Gas Company Ltd. and its contractors, suppliers and customers are a matter of commercial confidentiality.
Gas Pipeline
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the consultant engineers for the new natural gas pipeline for Northern Ireland Gas are from Northern Ireland.
The international consultancy service of the British Gas Corporation has been appointed as consultant engineers for the first phase of the natural gas pipeline project following keen competition between highly experienced firms. It has given an undertaking to make the maximum use of the services of local firms provided these can be supplied competitively and on schedule.
European Assembly (Report)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received a copy of the report drawn up by Mr. Neils Haagerup, MEP, prepared for the Political Affairs Committee of the European Assembly, about the situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Yes. I understand that the draft resolution has been considered by the Political Affairs Committee and will shortly be debated by the European Parliament. The United Kingdom Government have made clear their position on the report.
Housing Executive
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) in the forthcoming year 1984–85, how many units of accommodation the Northern Ireland Housing Executive hopes to start and complete; what is the total anticipated cost of the 1984–85 Northern Ireland new build programme; what contribution money from the sale of Northern Ireland Housing Executive stock to sitting tenants will make to this programme; and what contribution money released by European Economic Community funding for urban renewal in Belfast will make to the 1984–85 Northern Ireland Housing Executive new build programme;(2) how many units of accommodation the Northern Ireland Housing Executive started and completed in each of the years 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, and to date in 1983–84; how much money was spent on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive new build programme during each of these financial years; and how much of the cost of the new build programme has been met with money which the executive obtained from the sale of its properties to sitting tenants.
I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Tenant Purchasers
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the reasons for tenant purchasers being kept in ignorance of impending changes in methods of assessing prices of Housing Executive dwellings in Ballyduff, New Mossley and Monkstown.
I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Environment
Junior Motor Cycle Clubs
35.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about junior motor cycle clubs; and if he will make a statement.
Two questions from my hon. Friend and one from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Proctor).
Football Hooliganism
36.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has new proposals to prevent further outbreaks of hooliganism by British football supporters.
Since 1979 the Government have introduced a number of measures, with the football authorities, to counter violence associated with football both at home and abroad. These measures include the strengthening of magistrates' powers through the Criminal Justice Act 1981; the introduction of new custodial powers to deal with young offenders; an increase, to 120, in the number of attendance centres to which young offenders can be sent; and the liaison group which I set up for the 1982 World Cup and subsequently reconvened and which comprises representatives of my Department, the Home Office, the Football Association, the British Transport Police, the Association of Chief Police Officers, and British Rail. The liaison group meets regularly to discuss overall policy and pre-match planning for particular matches; it issued a "blue-print" to all clubs in August 1983, setting out mandatory measures to be taken to prevent incidents of hooliganism and prior to that, in February 1983, I wrote to all 92 league clubs urging them to reassess their procedures and precautions. In November 1983 a recommendation, which I initiated, setting out measures for preventing and containing hooliganism at football matches was agreed by European Ministers with responsibility for sport — amongst other things this recommendation requires the tight control of ticket sales, to ensure effective segregation of both teams' supporters, and extensive liaison between all concerned to cover such issues as the travel arrangements of the supporters and adequate provision of police in and around the stadia.All these measures require the fullest possible co-operation between the many organisations concerned. If that is achieved the scope for disruptive behaviour should be severely curtailed.Nevertheless, I shall continue to monitor the effectiveness of the measures we have introduced so far and to consider the introduction of further practical precautions which are not incompatible with the rights and freedoms traditionally enjoyed by the British people.
Airey Houses
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant he is making per house to local authorities towards the rehousing of families residing in Airey houses (a) as an average nationally and (b) to the East Staffordshire district council.
Meaningful figures on the lines sought are not available. Under the scheme of assistance for private owners of Airey houses, which is voluntary, the Secretary of State normally meets 100 per cent. of the local authority's grant or, in the case of repurchase, of expenditure in excess of the defective value of the dwelling. The maximum limit for expenditure eligible for grant is, outside London, £10,500. Expenditure on repairing or replacing Airey houses owned by the local authority is admissible for the purpose of calculating the authority's entitlement to housing subsidy. The housing investment programme allocations of authorities are decided in the light, inter alia, of the need for expenditure on the repair and maintenance of Airey houses.
Rates
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of people aged 18 years and over live in domestic hereditaments where the householder receives no assistance with rate bills from supplementary or housing benefits.
The information is not collected directly. However, the White Paper "Rates" (Cmnd. 9008) said that about 35 per cent. of electors were householders paying full rates. The evidence is that there are on average slighlty over two adults in such households. This suggests that between 70 per cent. and 75 per cent. of those over 18 live in households where there is a ratepayer paying full rates. It remains the case, of course, that domestic ratepayers contribute only around one pound in five of local authorities' current spending.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, further to his reply of 26 January, Official Report, columns 663–64, he will update the table of responses to the White Paper on rates to include all those received by 29 February.
The consultation period on the White Paper "Rates" (Cmnd. 9008) formally closed on 3 October 1983. Responses received up to 30 November were however analysed in detail and taken into account in preparing the proposals now contained in the Rates Bill. Responses received since that date have not been analysed in equivalent detail and it is not, therefore, possible completely to update the table given in my earlier answer.However, between 30 November 1983 and 29 February 1984 I have received 205 letters in support of and 588 letters opposed to our rate limitation proposals. In addition I have received a large number of standard form communications both in favour of and opposed to the proposals. In the same period I also received some 250 letters dealing with matters contained in part III of the Bill.
St Helens, Isle Of Wight
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to approve the order establishing the creation of the parish of St. Helens, Isle of Wight.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question on 6 December 1983, at columns 113–14.
Local Authorities (Employers)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will define employers in respect of local government in the context of the Royal Commission on Local Government 1929; if he will state which office holders amongst elected representatives on local councils have access to all details regarding pay and allowances of local government staff in their respective authorities.
Local government staff are employed by individual local authorities. In general, their pay and conditions are governed by national agreements. Access to information about the pay and allowances of individuals is a matter for each local authority to determine; but any councillor has a right to information which he reasonably requires to carry out his duties as a councillor.
Housing Expenditure
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated expenditure for 1983–84 on housing services to (a) those in public sector housing, (b) those in the private sector and (c) other expenditure on housing which cannot be allocated to one of the above categories, excluding any money paid out under the housing benefit scheme.
Details of estimated public expenditure on housing in 1983–84 are given in the latest public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9143). It includes £810 million of capital expenditure on home improvement grants to private owners and mortgage lending to private persons. Some £1,360 million will be spent on repairs and improvements to houses in the public sector. The remaining £1,390 million cannot be fully attributed to either sector but the largest part of it will be for expenditure on the provision of new dwellings for renting in the public sector, including housing associations. Total Government subsidies to public sector housing are some £440 million.
Local Authority Staff
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount paid in wages and salaries to all persons employed in local government in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983; if he will show the 1982 figure and the 1983 figure as percentages of the 1979 figure; and what information he has as to how much was paid in each case to (a) chief and senior officers, (b) all other personnel, excluding (a) and manual workers and (c) manual workers, showing in each case 1982 and 1983 figures as a percentage of 1979 figures.
Following is the available information on local authority employee costs in England:
| £ million | Percentage of 1978–79 | |
| 1978–79 | 9,240 | 100 |
| 1979–80 | 10,950 | — |
| 1980–81 | 13,510 | — |
| 1981–82 | 15,050 | 163 |
| 1982–83 | 16,160 | 175 |
Note:
The figures cover employee costs in rate fund services, trading services, and the housing revenue account, and include wages and salaries, national insurance, employers superannuation contributions, and so on.
Outturn data held by the Department do not provide information on wages and salaries alone nor a break-down of employee costs into (i) chief and senior officers (ii) manual workers, (iii) others.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the numbers employed by all the local authorities in England in each of the years 1974 to 1983, inclusive.
The information requested is as follows:
| Local government manpower—England* | |||
| June | Full-time | Part-time | Full-time equivalents |
| 1974†‡ | 1,492,968 | 806,356 | — |
| 1975 | 1,607,928 | 861,585 | 1,946,499 |
| 1976 | 1,624,678 | 857,160 | 1,963,968 |
| 1977 | 1,605,587 | 853,164 | 1,944,167 |
| 1978 | 1,600,133 | 868,716 | 1,943,191 |
| 1979 | 1,626,372 | 886,232 | 1,975,156 |
| 1980 | 1,609,073 | 865,828 | 1,951,008 |
| 1981 | 1,577,866 | 843,090 | 1,914,370 |
| 1982 | 1,551,960 | 840,891 | 1,887,175 |
| 1983 | 1,553,573 | 851,784 | 1,892,484 |
| * Figures for 1974 are taken from the Employment Gazette and for 1975–83 from the "Local Authority Joint Manpower Watch" (which started in 1975). For consistency all figures relate to June of the year concerned. | |||
| † Figures for 1974 include police officers but exclude police civilians, cadets, traffic wardens and agency, magistrates' courts and probation service staff, who are included in figures for later years. | |||
| ‡ Full-time equivalent figures are not available for 1974. | |||
Rugby Football Union (South African Tour)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has taken any recent steps to persuade the Rugby Football Union to reconsider its decision to tour South Africa.
The Rugby Football Union will not decide whether to tour South Africa until 30 March. I have made clear to the RFU, and the House, the Government's opposition to the scheduled tour in the light of our support for the Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport and our fears for its implications for sport generally, on 7 March, at columns 837–39, on 13 February, at columns 100–108, and on 8 February, at columns 873–75. I shall again be meeting the RFU president shortly.
Help The Aged (Property Relief)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much rate relief has been given in respect of properties owned by Help the Aged.
As a registered charity, Help the Aged would be entitled to mandatory rate relief of 50 per cent. of properties that the organisation occupies itself and uses for charitable purposes. In addition local authorities have powers to grant further relief on such properties of up to 100 per cent., at their discretion. Information on the provision of such relief to individual organisations is not available centrally.
Single Homeless Persons
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are made in each of the London boroughs for the single homeless; and if he will make a statement.
Local authorities have a duty under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 to house people in priority need, including certain categories of single people, and to give advice and assistance to others. There are hostels for the single homeless in nearly all the London boroughs, although the available bedspaces are mainly concentrated in the inner areas.Under its hostels initiative, the Government have sponsored a major expansion in the provision of modern hostels for special needs groups including the single homeless.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received from voluntary organisations working with the single homeless in London; and how many have informed him that they consider the voluntary arrangements between the London boroughs advocated by the Government an adequate replacement for the co-ordinating work undertaken by the Greater London council;(2) how many voluntary organisations concerned with single homelessness in London have commented on the Government's plans to abolish the Greater London council; and how many of the organisations responding indicated support for the Government's proposals.
I must ask the hon. Member to await the summary analysis of the main points arising from consultation.
Rowton Hotels
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Rowton hotels for the single homeless exist in London; who owns them; and what their future will be in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council.
There are three former Rowton hotels for the single homeless in London. Two of these are owned by the London boroughs concerned, namely, Camden and Lambeth. The other former hotel is at present owned by the Greater London council but in July 1985 ownership will pass to the London borough of Tower Hamlets.
Inter-Borough Housing Nomination Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for improving the current voluntary arrangements between London boroughs operating the inter-borough housing nomination scheme.
The operation of the inter-borough nomination scheme is a matter for its constituent authorities. I welcome current proposals for a combined scheme incorporating both the inter-borough nomination scheme and the Greater London mobility scheme.
Local Government Reform
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the number of submissions received on the proposals in Cmnd. 9063 since the closing date of the consultation period is not readily available; and if he will now take steps to have them counted.
We have not distinguished between submissions received before and after 31 January because we have agreed to take into account, so far as possible, any views put to us after the end of the consultation period.
Merseyside (Task Force)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the size and establishment of the task force on Merseyside; and what have been its costs to central Government in each year since it was appointed.
The Merseyside task force was set up in October 1981. Between then and January 1984 the Department of the Environment assigned 10 of its existing permanent staff to the task force, supported by locally recruited temporary clerical staff. The costs to my Department of salaries and accommodation including telephone expenses, are as follows:
| Financial Year | £000s |
| 1981–82 (part) | 82·5 |
| 1982–83 | 181·9 |
| 1983–84 | * 238·1 |
| * Projected outturn | |
Enveloping Schemes
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are presently used by his Department when considering applications by local authorities for approval of enveloping schemes.
Enveloping is carried out in housing action areas. It is intended to secure the external fabric and curtilage of terraces or blocks of dwellings which have deteriorated beyond the scope of routine maintenance. It is expected to have an impact on the HAA as a whole and is appropriate in areas where the owners could not afford to carry out the works with grant-in-aid alone. Schemes are judged on their merits. My Department takes into account for each scheme whether total costs are reasonable and value for money will be achieved. More detailed guidelines for the consideration of schemes are set out in the draft circular on which the local government associations and others are now being consulted.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which organisations have been invited to comment on his Department's draft circular on enveloping.
The following organisations have been invited to comment on the draft circular on enveloping:
- The National Federation of Building Trades Employers.
- The Royal Town Planning Institute.
- The Institute of Housing.
- The Institution of Environmental Health Officers.
- The Association of Metropolitan Authorities.
- The Association of District Councils.
- The London Boroughs Association.
- The Greater London Council.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the enveloping schemes being undertaken by local authorities for which his Department has approved Exchequer contribution.
The following enveloping schemes have been approved for Exchequer contribution:
| Local Authority | Name of Scheme |
| Trafford District Council | Trafford Grove/Rayleigh Street |
| Leicester City Council | Garfield Street |
| Gotham Street | |
| St. Saviours Road Phase II | |
| Prospect Hill | |
| Medway Street | |
| Bardolph Street/Burfield Street | |
| Mere Road | |
| Moorgate Street/Westbourne Street | |
| Rochdale Borough Council | Colley Street |
| Molyneux Street | |
| Milkstone Street | |
| Wolverhampton Borough Council | Bilston Road |
| Leeds City Council | Gaythorne Terrace Phase III |
| London Borough of Lambeth | Mayall Road |
| Kingston-upon-Hull City Council | Mayfield Street East |
| Middlesborough Borough Council | Oliver Street |
| Peterborough City Council | Crawthorne Street |
| Sefton Borough Council | Cedar Street |
Recycled Paper
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the use of recycled paper in his Department.
I am keen to encourage the greater use of recycled paper in my Department wherever it makes economic sense. Significant use is already made of recycled paper, and I have now decided that, once existing supplies of stationery are exhausted, all letter-headed paper and matching envelopes used both by Ministers and officials in DOE and PSA should be made of 100 per cent. recycled paper. This will be cheaper than the stationery used at present, will conserve natural resources and will encourage the greater use of waste material. My decision should be a welcome boost to the recycling sector of the British paper industry, and I hope that other Government Departments and public bodies will now consider whether it makes sense for them to use more recycled paper as well.
Boxing (Regulations)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consult the medical profession and the British Boxing Board of Control with a view to amending the regulations permitting the blows to the head in boxing, in view of concern about damage sustained by boxers.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 94]: The regulations governing amateur and professional boxing in this country are entirely matters for the sport's governing bodies — the Amateur Boxing Association and the British Boxing Board of Control. The Government have no direct locus to effect changes to those regulations.
Northumbrian Water Authority
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial targets he has set for the Northumbrian water authority; on what basis he requires it to account for the depreciation of assets; and how these compare with the targets and requirements set for other English water authorities.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 94–95]: The following table gives details of the financial targets which have been set for Northumbrian and the other English water authorities as a rate of return on the current cost value of their net assets for the years 1981–82 to 1983–84.
| Per cent. 1981–82 | Per cent. 1982–83 | Per cent. 1983–84 | |
| Anglian | 1·38 | 2·06 | 2·06 |
| Northumbrian | 2·52 | 1·87 | 1·87 |
| North West | 0·80 | 1·26 | 1·26 |
| Severn-Trent | 1·02 | 1·17 | 1·25 |
| Southern | 1·09 | 1·18 | 1·25 |
| South West | 2·17 | 1·47 | 1·47 |
| Thames | 1·24 | 1·09 | 1·25 |
| Wessex | 1·65 | 1·50 | 1·50 |
| Yorkshire | 0·85 | 1·14 | 1·25 |
(a) of the Water Act 1973, all authorities are required to break even taking one year with another by virtue of section 29(1) of that same Act. In the case of Northumbrian water authority, the level of interest charges is such that recently the authority has needed to overachieve its financial target in order to break even in its main historic cost accounts, so that the revenue requirement has been determined by this consideration rather than the financial target.
The basis for depreciation of the authorities' assets is explained in the notes to their accounts, copies of which are available from the Library.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the Northumbrian water authority's forecast for the demand for water at the public inquiry over the Kielder water project and the actual demand from domestic and industrial users over the past five years.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 94–95]: The following forecast of the demand for water in the region was put forward by the predecessors of the Northumbrian water authority at the public inquiry into the Kielder water project in 1972.
| Thousand cubic metres/day | |
| Year | |
| 1971 | 922·2 |
| 1981 | 1,416·2 |
| 1991 | 1,627·7 |
| 2001 | 1,756·0 |
| Thousand cubic metres/day | |||
| Year | Domestic (unmetered) | Industrial (metered) | Total |
| 1979 | 513·2 | 611·4 | 1,124·6 |
| 1980 | 501·4 | 547·3 | 1,048·7 |
| 1981 | 508·8 | 544·3 | 1,053·1 |
| 1982 | 541·9 | 535·8 | 1,077·7 |
| 1983 | * | * | 1,039·2 |
| Source of Assistance: Financial years | ||||||||||
| £000 | ||||||||||
| 1974–75 £ | 1975–76 £ | 1976–77 £ | 1977–78 £ | 1978–79 £ | 1979–80 £ | 1980–81 £ | 1981–82 £ | 1982–83 £ | 1983–84 £ | |
| Land Drainage Acts | 3·5 | 16·4 | 26·0 | 22·5 | 10·7 | — | (1·9) | 24·3 | 13·9 | — |
| Local Employment Act 1972 | 497·4 | 3,472·3 | 5,867·3 | 4,842·9 | 5,663·0 | 3,634·2 | 4,122·0 | 3,936·9 | 2,681·9 | 1,395·3 |
| Rural water and sewerage services acts | 99·6 | 107·8 | 88·4 | 93·2 | 91·7 | 91·4 | 93·7 | 106·7 | 93·2 | 99·8 |
| Repayable Grant | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5,000·0 |
| Total aid | 600·5 | 3,596·5 | 5,981·7 | 4,958·6 | 5,765·4 | 3,725·6 | 4,213·8 | 4,067·9 | 2,789·0 | 6,495·1 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the domestic rate charged by the Northumbrian water authority and by what percentage it has increased in each of the past 10 years and for 1984–85.
[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1984, c. 95]: The following table gives details of the charges (not rates) made by the Northumbrian water authority for water, sewerage and environmental services to unmeasured households during the last 10 years. The standing charges for water and sewerage services levied during this period have been converted to rate poundages.
| Equated Charge Per £RV pence | Percentage increase over previous year £ | |
| 1974–75 | 10·22 | — |
| 1975–76 | 15·49 | 51·6 |
| 1976–77 | 19·94 | 28·7 |
| 1977–78 | 22·3 | 11·8 |
| 1978–79 | 23·4 | 4·9 |
| 1979–80 | 23·4 | Nil |
| 1980–81 | 29·1 | 24·4 |
| 1981–82 | 34·3 | 17·9 |
| 1982–83 | 38·5 | 12·2 |
| 1983–84 | 43·0 | 11·7 |
| Table A | ||||||
| Actual Year on Year Percentage Increase in level of charges for unmeasured water services charges. | ||||||
| Estimated Increase in Household Charges | ||||||
| Water Authority | 1979–80 per cent. | 1980–81 per cent. | 1981–82 per cent. | 1982–83 per cent. | 1983–84 per cent. | 1984–85 per cent. |
| North West | 7·5 | 21·3 | 18·5 | 8·9 | 5·6 | 5·5 |
| Northumbrian | Nil | 24·4 | 17·9 | 12·2 | 11·7 | 18·0 |
| Severn-Trent | 14·0 | 18·3 | 14·5 | 7·8 | 5·1 | 4·7 |
* Not yet available.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance has been given to the Northumbrian water authority by the Government in each of the past 10 years.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 95]: The following table gives details of the financial assistance given in the last 10 years.The same information for 1984–85 is not yet available although the authority's charges for unmeasured water services will be:
| Water supply £ | Sewerage services £ | Environmental services £ | |
| Standing charges | 8 | 8 | Nil |
| Charge per £ Rateable Value | 21·93p | 18·22p | 0·6p |
Water Rates
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the increase in domestic water rates in real and percentage terms for each water authority in England in each of the past five years and for 1984–85.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 96]: The following tables give details of the increase in unmeasured water services charges to households in percentage and real terms for the period 1979–80 to 1983–84. The charges refer to the cost of water, sewerage and environmental services. Where standing charges are levied these have been converted to a rate poundage. Detailed information in the same format for 1984–85 is not yet available but the last column of table A shows the estimated increase in the level for average household bills for that year.
Water Authority
| 1979–80 per cent.
| 1980–81 per cent.
| 1981–82 per cent.
| 1982–83 per cent.
| 1983–84 per cent.
| 1984–85 per cent.
|
| Yorkshire | 7·2 | 23·6 | 16·7 | 14·3 | 4·5 | 4·8 |
| Anglian | 8·4 | 26·1 | 18·3 | 12·4 | 5·3 | 7·0 |
| Thames | 10·0 | 23·3 | 11·6 | 13·7 | 9·8 | 7·6 |
| Southern | 3·8 | 29·2 | 18·4 | 11·0 | 1·8 | 5·0 |
| Wessex | 10·8 | 14·5 | 12·3 | 7·3 | 3·4 | 4·2 |
| South West | 11·6 | 17·6 | 12·1 | 7·6 | 5·4 | 5·8 |
Table B
| |||||
Percentage increase in Real terms (ie. Annual Charges deflated by RPI)
| |||||
per cent.
| per cent.
| per cent.
| per cent.
| per cent.
| |
| North West | (2·3) | (0·4) | 5·7 | (0·5) | 1·5 |
| Northumbrian | (9·1) | 2·1 | 5·2 | 2·6 | 7·4 |
| Severn-Trent | 3·6 | (2·8) | 2·2 | (1·5) | 1·1 |
| Yorkshire | (2·6) | 1·6 | 4·1 | 4·4 | 0·5 |
| Anglian | (1·5) | 3·6 | 5·6 | 2·7 | 1·3 |
| Thames | (0·1) | 1·3 | (0·4) | 3·9 | 5·5 |
| Southern | (5·7) | 6·1 | 5·6 | 1·5 | (2·1) |
| Wessex | 0·6 | (6·0) | 0·2 | (1·9) | (0·6) |
| South West | 1·4 | (3·4) | Nil | (1·6) | 1·3 |
Sources: Water Authorities Charging Returns
Social Services
Hyperactive Children
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had concerning the problems of hyperactive children; what evidence is available to him about the relationship between this condition and the use of food colourings and other artificial additives in food and drink; and if he will make a statement.
We have received 14 letters recently from hon. Members who have apparently had representations made from supporters of the Hyperactive Children's Support Group. The group seeks support from the Government and DHSS for its objectives.I am advised that, despite a number of studies, mainly in the United States, there is at present no conclusive evidence about the suggested relationship between hyperactivity and the use of additives in food and drink. It is important to recognise that hyperactivity is a symptom which occurs in many conditions. The diagnosis of hyperkinetic—hyperactive—syndrome—where there is no associated possible causative condition—is a rare one in the United Kingdom, where many of the children would be regarded as having a conduct disorder.The hypothesis that in some of these children food additives may be a causative factor is as yet unproven. At present the Medical Research Council, which receives its funds as a grant-in-aid under the science budget of the Department of Education and Science, is specifically supporting one trial in this area on oligo-antigenic diet in 3 to 12-year-old hyperactive children; an epidemiological inquiry into hyperactivity in children is also in progress. The results of both studies when available may clarify these problems.I should point out that the indiscriminate use of dietary restrictions in all children exhibiting hyperactive behaviour carries both physical and psychological risks to the child, and may lead to neglect of other more appropriate treatment, including educational, behavioural and psychological approaches.
Handicapped Children
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of children is born handicapped; and what is the regional distribution of handicapped births.
As many handicaps are not identifiable at birth and are diagnosed only at a later stage in the child's growth and development, it is not possible to give information on handicapped births in the form requested.
Cystic Fibrosis
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of exempting all those not currently exempt from prescription charges for medicines necessary for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
I understand the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust believes there to be around 1,000 sufferers from cystic fibrosis aged 16 and over. The cost of exempting them from prescription charges would be small.However, it would be unfair to single out one group for exemption, and to accept all the claims we have received would cost more than we can ask the NHS to take on.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cystic fibrosis sufferers or parents of children who are sufferers are currently in receipt of social security benefit.
I regret that there is no information available on which an estimate could be made.
Health Forms (Wording)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what purpose his Department on occasion prints in bold print "Illegitimate" on certain health forms.
I regret that we have been unable to identify the forms in question. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me.
Benefits
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff were employed on supplementary benefit work in his Department's local offices in 1979 and in each subsequent year.
Returns of local office staff which distinguish those actually working on supplementary benefit from those on contributory benefit work—and this distinction is in some cases difficult, for example in relation to the local office manager—have been kept only since May 1983. However, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs) on 22 November 1983, at columns 383–86, which sets out the local office staff allocated to supplementary benefit work in 1979 and each subsequent year.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the savings in public expenditure would have been if the increase in all social security benefits had been (a) indexed with the retail price index and (b) indexed with the retail price index less 1 per cent., at November for each year since and including 1979.
I refer my hon. Friend to my replies to him on 20 February, at column 425, and 9 March, at column 747.
Nhs (Fuel Bills)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the expenditure of the National Health Service on fuel bills in the last five years for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to implement energy efficiency measures.
The annual accounts submitted to our Department by health authoirities in England show total expenditure on fuel, light and power as follows:
| £ million | |
| 1978–79 | 143·6 |
| 1979–80 | 180·4 |
| 1980–81 | 224·4 |
| 1981–82 | 262·2 |
| 1982–83 | 268·8 |
Benefits (Fuel)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the proportion of social security benefits spent on fuel; and if he will make a statement.
Social security benefits form a different proportion of different people's incomes ranging from quite a small element to the person's entire income. So although data is available from the family expenditure survey about the proportion of income spent on fuel at different income levels, it is not possible to say what proportion of social security benefits in themselves are actually spent on fuel.
Doctors (Unemployment)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department does not collect information on unemployment amongst doctors; and if, in view of the costs involved in training doctors, he will now do so.
We already collect a large range of statistics relevant to the planning and control of medical manpower. We see no need at the moment to collect information specifically on medical unemployment, since there is no evidence that any significant number of doctors are unemployed. There are still some medical posts in certain specialties in certain parts of the country that we are unable to fill.
Housing Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time that claimants have to wait to receive their housing benefit first payment from the date of their claim for (a) certificated housing benefit, (b) standard housing benefit and (c) housing benefit supplement.
The Department does not have any information on the average time that claimants have to wait to receive housing benefit or housing benefit supplement.
Deputising Services
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether consultations are now complete on the consultative document on deputising services; and what action he now intends to take.
The consultation period has now ended on the proposals which I published on 19 December, and I am considering in detail the comments received. There has been widespread support for the great majority of my proposals, the object of which is to improve standards of service to the public.The major change in the existing arrangements is the replacement of the professional advisory committees, which at present monitor standards of deputising services, by sub-committees of family practitioner committees. These sub-committees will contain lay representation in the form of lay members of FPCs. This reform has been widely welcomed by those who have commented on my proposals. If the legislation now before Parliament is passed, FPCs will be directly accountable to the Secretary of State for the discharge of their function. This means that in future they will be accountable to Ministers for the maintenance of standards of deputising services.There has been general agreement also to our plans for annual reviews of consents to use services and for regular reporting to FPCs by the new sub-committees on standards of service. There has been wide support for the changes which I propose to the code of practice designed to ensure that deputising services are adequately staffed, efficiently run with sound operational policies, and subject to satisfactory and continuing local control. An important point here is that minimum qualifications and experience in general practice will be laid down more firmly for doctors newly employed by deputising services.The general medical services committee of the British Medical Association has from the outset made it clear that it shares the aim of improving the standard of deputising services. It is among the bodies which have agreed with and offered constructive comment on the majority of my proposals which are concerned with standards. They raised basic objections only to my proposals for limiting the use made of deputising services, and for monitoring that use by random telephone checks.The response to these two particular proposals has varied. Few respondents, except for some parts of the medical profession and the proprietors of the deputising services themselves, favoured unlimited use of deputising services. The two proposals, as drafted, received support from some groups representing patients' interests, but others considered that they were too severe. Many respondents, including the Royal College of General Practitioners, were anxious that there should be sufficient flexibility to cater for the differing needs of patients and doctors in, for example, the disadvantaged parts of inner cities and in country areas. Most FPCs and the two FPC societies considered that the proposed limitations on use were too severe and opposed random telephone checks.In the light of these comments, I propose some changes to the two parts of the proposals that have caused controversy. There will be no change in the basic position that a doctor wishing to use a deputising service must obtain the consent of his FPC, and that that consent may be subject to conditions, including conditions on the extent of use. We will try to make clearer what was always my intention—that it would be for the FPC to determine the conditions in the light of local and individual circumstances, subject to the long-standing proviso that it should not normally consent to any standing arrangements involving use of deputising services every night and weekend. FPCs will be asked, in consultation with local medical committees, to formulate and set out a general policy taking into account local variables, such as environmental and social factors and the level of out-of-hours demand from patients. The policy could vary for different parts of an FPC's area and it would be applied practice by practice, depending on the nature and circumstances of the practice.The original draft circular sought to guide FPCs by giving a model form of consent, specifying the number of nights and weekends on which deputising services might be used. Although the draft said the model was to be "modified as necessary to take account of particular local circumstances and the problems of individual doctors and practices", it was interpreted by many people as too rigid and inflexible. I will therefore expand on this and give wider guidance on the kinds of control which FPCs might consider. These will include limiting the periods during which deputising services may be used, or setting different limits for different times of the day or week, or setting a maximum number of visits per month which the doctor could pass to a deputising service.I have decided that, in view of the substantial variations in out-of-hours demand from patients, it would be better not to suggest to FPCs the levels at which their consents should be set, or to suggest rigid distinctions between practices of different sizes. The circular will, however, indicate, on the basis of information which we have assembled, the number of out-of-hours visits per month which might be needed in an average practice. This will serve as a starting point for FPCs, which would have to consider what local variations were to be expected and what proportion of calls and what demands could reasonably be met without calling on a deputising service in the circumstances of each individual practice. They would then decide what a reasonable level of usage would be for each individual practice.I am withdrawing the proposals for random telephone checks. We would achieve monitoring of use by obtaining information from the deputising service, with the doctor's agreement, or by signed information from the doctor himself.I therefore believe that we are well on the way to achieving all that we set out to do to improve control over the quality of deputising services and to enable FPCs to secure a fair balance between the interests of doctor and patient in the matter of use.We are still considering the detailed responses from all those who gave their views. I am awaiting the GMSC's response to the new proposals that I have put to it. A good deal of further work and discussion will be needed to revise the detail of the draft in the light of all the comments which we have received. I do not expect the final circular to be ready for issue for several weeks.
Self-Employed Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will identify the parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom that has the highest percentage of self-employed according to the most recent census.
This information is available only at disproportionate cost.
Dental Charges
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he had with the British Dental Association on the operation of the new dental charges after 1 April; and if he will make a statement.
Representatives of the British Dental Association gave me their views on the future level of dental charges when I met them on 26 October 1983.
Industrial Diseases
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for the industrial diseases (a) occupational deafness (PD A10 formerly PD48) as prescribed in 1974, (b) occupational deafness as extended in 1979, (c) occupational vitiligo (PD C25 formerly PD 52) and (d) occupational asthma (PD D7 formerly PD53), what is the number of claims officially predicted for the first year after prescription and for each subsequent year up to the present, the consequent benefit cost expected, the actual number of claims received over the same period and the actual benefit cost.
The information is as follows:
| Occupational Deafness: 1974 prescription* | |
| Year | Actual number of successful claims |
| 1975 | 1,217 |
| 1976 | 1,208 |
| 1977 | 567 |
| 1978 | 570 |
| 1979 | 432 |
| * Estimates made prior to 1979 are not available. | |
| Occupational Deafness 1979 extension | ||||
| 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | |
| Estimated number of successful claims | 4,000 | 4,200 | 1,200 | 500 |
| Estimated total benefit costs (at November 1977 benefit rates) | *2 | *4½ | *5 | *5½ |
| Actual number of successful claims | 1,064 | 842 | 624 | 438 |
| * £ million. | ||||
| Occupational Asthma | |||
| 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | |
| Estimated number of successful claims | 4,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Estimated total benefit costs (at November 1980 benefit rates) | *3 | *4 | *5 |
| Actual number of successful claims | 95 | 183 | † |
| * £million. | |||
| † Not available. | |||
Occupational Vitiligo
It was estimated that there would be no more than 30 successful claims each year at an annual benefit cost not exceeding £15,000 (based on November 1980 benefit rates). Since the disease was prescribed on 15 December 1980 there have been approximately 12 successful claims.
Information about the actual benefit costs of claims in respect of these diseases is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The lack of comprehensive statistics for workers suffering from these diseases and the impossibility of knowing how many of those eligible will actually claim benefit means that predictions are liable to a large degree of error.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the numbers and costs in the first year of extending further the terms of prescription of occupational deafness, as implemented in 1983, and of prescribing vibration white finger.
It is estimated that, in the financial year 1983–84, at most some 2,000 additional successful claims at a cost of about £1 million will result from the 1983 extension of the terms of prescription of occupational deafness. The number of successful claims in the first year following the prescription of vibration white finger is estimated to be about 300 and the cost approximately £175,000.
Drug Action Programme
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the Government's policy towards the implementation of the World Health Organisation's drug action programme relating to the Third world.
I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) on 17 January, at column 202.
Thorpe Maternity Hospital (Deaths)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of deaths of mothers and babies, respectively, in each of the years to the latest available date at Thorpe maternity hospital.
The information requested concerning deaths of babies is not routinely analysed centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There were no deaths assigned to maternal causes in Thorpe maternity hospital in the period 1979 to 1983.
Genetic Problems (Diagnosis And Counselling)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that National Health Service professionals in the field of perinatal and neonatal mortality at present have both the clinical and genetic training to diagnose and to counsel patients with genetic problems and to interpret the results of complex genetic tests; what steps he is taking to provide training for those health workers seeking it; where the regional centres are at present and where such training can be obtained.
The responsibility for postgraduate medical education and training rests with the relevant royal colleges and professional bodies, and for pre-registration training with the General Medical Council. Doctors working in the field of perinatal medicine need to be able to counsel patients and their families on the risks of transmission of inherited or partly inherited conditions and to diagnose these where possible. We are reasonably satisfied that this need is taken into account in the professional training programmes arranged for them. Referral of complicated cases to a specialist centre may be necessary at times, and for such cases the regional advisory centres and clinics listed have been established. Opportunities for additional training may be provided in these centres.
Genetic advisory centres — Regional Health Authorities — England
Northern
- Regional Genetics Advisory Service
- University Department of Human Genetics
- 19 Claremont Place Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4AA
- Genetic Clinic
- North Tees General Hospital Children's Outpatients Department
- Hardwick Stockton-on-Tees Cleveland
- Genetic Clinic
- Children's Department Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle
- Genetic Clinic
- Child Assessment Unit West Cumberland Hospital
- Kensingham Whitehaven Cumbria
Yorkshire
- Genetic Clinic
- The General Infirmary of Leeds Great George Street Leeds
- LS1 3EX
Trent
- Centre of Human Genetics
- (Sub-Department of Medical Genetics) Longhill 117
- Manchester Road Sheffield S10 5ND
- Regional Genetics Service
- City Hospital Hucknall Road Nottingham NG5 1PD
East Anglian
- Regional Genetics Advisory Service
- Addenbrooke's Hospital Hills Road Cambridge CB2 2QQ
North West Thames
- Kennedy Calton Centre Harperbury Hospital Harper Lane
- Radlett Herts. WD7 9HQ
- Northwick Park Hospital
- Watford Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 3UJ
- Middlesex Hospital
- Mortimer Street London W1N 8AA
- Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital
- Goldhawk Road London W6 OXG
- Genetic Clinic for Skin Disorders
- Institute of Dermatology St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin
- Lisle Street Leicester Square London WC2H 7BJ
- Genetic Counselling
- St Mary's Hospital Praed Street London W2
- Bedford General Hospital 1 session/6 weeks
- South Wing Kempson Road Bedford
- Luton and Dunstable Hospital 1 session/month
- Children's Annexe
- London Road Luton Beds.
North East Thames
- Genetic Clinic
- Institute of Child Health
- The Hospital for Sick Children Great Ormond Street London
- WC1N 3JH
- Genetic Clinic
- The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases
- Queen Square London WC1N 3DG
- Genetic Clinic
- Paediatric Department North Middlesex Hospital Sterling
- Way Edmonton N18
- Galton Laboratory
- Department of Human Genetics University College
- London Wolfson House 4 Stephenson Way London
- NW1 2HE
- Genetic Clinic Paediatric Department
- University College Hospital Huntley Street London WC1E 9AU
- Genetic Clinic
- Moorfields Eye Hospital City Road London EC1V 2PD
- Genetic Clinic
- Pathology Department
- Turner Village Hospital Mile End Colchester CO4 5JP
South East Thames
- Paediatric Research Unit
- The Prince Phillip Research Laboratories
- Guy's Hospital Medical School Guy's Tower London Bridge
- London SE1 9RT
- The Maudsley Hospital
- Denmark Hill London SE5 8AZ
South West Thames
- Genetic Counselling
- St. George's Hospital Blackshaw Road London SW17 0QT
- Queen Mary's Hospital for Children
- Queen's Drive Beeches Carshalton Surrey SM5 4NR
- St. Lawrence's Hospital
- Caterham Surrey CR3 5YA
- The Forest Hospital
- Crawley Road Horsham Sussex
Cyto-Genetics
- Regional Cyto-Geneticist
- Wandle Valley Hospital Mitcham Junction Surrey CR4 4XL
- Note: Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. R. G. Chitham
- Royal West Sussex Hospital
- St. Richard's Spitafield Lane Chichester West Sussex PO19 4SE
Wessex
- Genetic Clinic
- Department of Child Health
- Southampton General Hospital Tremona Road Shirley
- Southampton SO9 4XY
- Department of Cytogenetics
- Salisbury General Infirmary
- Fisherton Street Salisbury SP2 7SX
Oxford
- Oxfordshire Area Health Authority (T)
- Department of Medical Genetics Old Road Headington
- Oxford OX3 7LE
South Western
- Department of Child Health
- Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children St. Michael's Hill
- Bristol BS2 8BJ
- Paediatric Research Unit
- Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Gladstone Road Exeter
- EX1 2ED
- Genetic Counselling
- Quarterly Clinic
- Musgrove Park Hospital
- Somerset
- Note: Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Webb
- Monthly Clinic
- Scott Hospital
- Plymouth Devon
- Note: Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. M. Vowles
West Midlands
- Infant Development Unit (two per week)
- Birmingham Maternity Hospital Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TG
- Birmingham and Midland Eye Hosptial (two per month)
- Church Street Birmingham B3 2NS
Two Monthly Clinics at:
- Staffordshire General Infirmary
- Foregate Street Stafford ST16 2PA
- Central Out-Patients Department
- North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Princess Road
- Hartshill Stoke-on-Trent Staffs ST4 7LN
Quarterly Clinics at:
- The General Hospital
- New Street Burton-on-Trent Staffs
- Sherbourne Fields School
- Rowington Close Coventry Warwicks
- The County Hospital
- Hereford HR1 2ER
- George Eliot Hospital
- Nuneaton Warwicks CD1D 7BL
- Hospital of St. Cross
- Barby Road Rugby Warwicks CV22 5PX
- Warwick General Hospital
- Lakin Road Warwick CV34 5GW
- The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
- Mytton Oak Road Shrewsbury SY1 1DY
- Worcester Royal Infirmary
- Castle Street Branch Castle Street Worcester WR1 3AS
Four Monthly Clinics:
- Lea Castle Hosptial
- Wolverley Kidderminster DY11 6XN
- Exhall Grange School for the Partially Sighted
- Wheelwright Lane Coventry CV7 94P
Mersey
- Genetic Advisory Clinic
- Maternity Wing West Cheshire Hospital Liverpool Road
- Chester CH1 2BA
- Genetic Advisory Clinic
- Assessment Centre Alder Hey Children's Hospital Eaton
- Road West Derby Liverpool L12 2AP
- Department of Cytogenetics
- Nuffield Wing
- School of Medicine PO Box. 147 Liverpool L60 2BX (it is expected that from 1 August 1981 the address of this unit will be:
- Cytogenetic Unit
- Royal Liverpool Hospital PO Box. 147 Liverpool L69 3BX
- Genetic Advisory Clinic
- Cerebral Palsy Unit
- Clatterbridge Hospital Beblington Wirral Merseyside
- L63 4JY
North Western
- University Department of Medical Genetics
- St. Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester
- M13 OJH
- University Department of Medical Genetics
- Manchester Royal Infirmary Oxford Road Manchester
- M13 9WL
- Assessment Unit
- Booth Hall Children's Hospital Charlestown Road
- Blackley Manchester M9 2AA
- Department of Clinical Genetics
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Pendlebury
- Manchester M27 1HA
- Willink Biochemical Genetics Laboratory
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Pendlebury
- Manchester M27 1HA
Dna Technology
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what National Health Service provision there is for the evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology; and if he will extend these facilities.
The Department has been keeping in close touch with recent rapid advances in deoxyribonucleic acid technology, which hold the promise of improved and earlier diagnosis of many genetically determined disorders through the use of gene probes. Much of this work is still at the research stage, but the Department is actively considering how the new techniques might be used in the NHS once they have been validated, and how that use might be evaluated to ensure they are made available cost-effectively.
Consultant Clinical Geneticists
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which regions at present have a consultant clinical geneticist in post.
The number and whole-time equivalent of consultants in clinicial genetics in post in each English regional health authority at 30 September 1983 is given in the following table:
| Consultants in the Specialty Clinical Genetics Analysis by Region showing Number and Whole-time Equivalent at 30 September 1983 | ||
| Region | Number | Whole-time Equivalents |
| Total English Regions | 26 | 16·9 |
| Trent | 3 | 2·4 |
| East Anglian | 1 | 0·5 |
| North West Thames | 2 | 1·1 |
| North East Thames | 4 | 1·9 |
| South East Thames | 2 | 1·4 |
| South West Thames | 1 | 0·1 |
| Wessex | 4 | 3·5 |
| Oxford | 1 | 0·6 |
| West Midlands | 1 | 1·0 |
| North Western | 3 | 2·5 |
| London Postgraduate Teaching Hospitals | 4 | 1·9 |
| Northern | — | — |
| Mersey | — | — |
| Yorkshire | — | — |
| South Western | — | — |
Oglesby Report
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the consultation period on the Oglesby report on mobility allowance and attendance allowance schemes has finished; how many representations he has received; of these representations which were (a) in favour of the proposals in the report and (b) against the proposals; and what action the Government propose to take on the report.
The consultation period, which we extended twice, ended on 29 February. Representations have been received from 36 organisations, and I appreciate the care that has been given to producing constructive and detailed comments on the report's wide range of recommendations. Very few have been either wholly in favour of or wholly against the proposals. Nearly all have welcomed the report. As I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) on 26 January, at column 648, we have already acted on two recommendations to speed up action on claims to these benefits. We are considering what action to take on the remainder in the light of the comments we have received.
Hearing Aids
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf about the length of time people applying for hearing aids have to wait to see a consultant; how the north-west compares with other regions in this regard; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.
I understand that the Royal National Institute for the Deaf is sending the right hon. Member a copy of its survey of NHS hearing aid services, together with my written response. Regional statistics, including the north-western region, are given in table 3 of the report.
Disabled Persons (Discrimination)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of discrimination against disabled people have been raised with his Department in the past year.
Since the reply I gave the right hon. Member on 24 November 1983, at column 286, four further cases of alleged discrimination have been referred, bringing the total since February 1983 to 22.
Charities (Donations)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to establish fuller rights of redress for those who make donations, including property, to charities in good faith and then later find that their donations have been used, contrary to their expectations and intentions, for commercial rather than charitable purposes; and if he will consider means by which they can subsequently regain possession of such assets.
The Charity Commissioners have powers to investigate and check abuse in the affairs of charities; those powers do not extend to commercial enterprises even when linked to a charity. In so far as the charitable organisation is concerned, the Charity Commissioners are now investigating the allegations which I assume gave rise to the hon. Member's question.
Overseas Visitors (Health Charges)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the gross income raised by charges to overseas visitors in the first year of operation; and what was the income net of costs incurred in each district health authority.
I have already provided the hon. Member with the latest information which is available centrally on the income from NHS charges to overseas visitors, relating to 1982–83 on 16 November 1983, at columns 499–504, and 16 January 1984, at column 137. These figures represent gross income. The charges are set at a level to cover the average costs of treatment. Further information on income in 1983–84 will not be available centrally until the autumn. For the reasons that I gave in my previous answer, it will never be possible to produce an exact figure of income from the recent policy change. Any income produced for the NHS by a fair and legitimate system of the kind we have introduced will be welcome.
National Insurance Contributions
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the extra revenue generated if the earnings ceiling on class one national insurance contributions were abolished; and what extra costs would fall on (a) employees, (b) private sector employers and (c) public sector employers.
On the assumption for 1984–85 used in Cmnd. 9092—"Report by Government Actuary on the draft of the Social Security (Contributions, Re-rating) Order 1983"—additional contributions due in respect of that tax year would cost employees £590 million. The cost to employers, excluding national insurance surcharge, would be £680 million. These estimates assume there would be no change to the band of earnings on which contracted out contributions would be payable. A split of the latter figure between public and private sector employers is not available, though it is estimated that roughly 30 per cent. of revenue from national insurance contributions is paid by the public sector.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital For Women
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital for women to re-open for inpatients.
I am glad to say that the first inpatients were admitted to the reopened hospital on 13 March 1984.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynacologists assessed the suitability of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital for teaching purposes.
I understand that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists carried out its review of accreditation for medical training at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson in May 1983, when the hospital's inpatient facilities were in temporary accommodation at the National Temperance hospital.
Hospital Waiting Lists
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of urgent and non-urgent patients on hospital waiting lists in each health district on 30 September 1983; how many urgent cases had been on each list for more than a month; and how many non-urgent cases had been on each list for more than a year.
Detailed health district waiting list figures for 30 September 1983 are not yet available. A provisional estimated total for England was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 9 March, at column 744.I shall let the hon. Member have a full reply as soon as possible.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the total numbers on National Health Service waiting lists on 31 March and 30 September in each year since September 1979.
The information requested is given in the table. The high figures for September 1982 and March 1983 are attributable to the industrial action in the Health Service. The provisional estimated figure for September 1983 shows that the National Health Service is starting to regain the ground which was lost.
England
| ||
Number of persons on inpatient waiting lists
| ||
Year
| 31 March
| 30 September
|
| 1979 | — | 698,450 |
| 1980 | 664,919 | 635,881 |
| 1981 | 628,333 | 619,393 |
| 1982 | 622,480 | 725,865 |
| 1983 | 726,186 | *704,500 |
*Provisional estimate. | ||
Harefield Hospital
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what part he proposes that Harefield hospital should play in the supra-regional strategy for paediatric cardiac surgery; and if he will make a statement.
We have accepted the recommendations of the supra-regional services advisory group that neonatal and infant cardiac surgery—that is cardiac surgery performed on children aged under one year—should be designated as a supra-regional service, and that nine units should be designated as supra-regional centres for its provision. We are now working on the implementation of this decision to set up a national service. The present list of designation centres does not include Harefield hospital. No special provision for funding the designated centres be made before 1985–86, and the phasing of any withdrawal of infant cardiac surgery from other hospitals will depend on the ability of the designated units to expand their activity in this field.
| Region | Finance | Administrative and Clerical | Medical | Dental | Nursing | Work | Other |
| Northern | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Yorkshire | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Trent | — | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — |
| East Anglian | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | 1 | — |
| North West Thames | 2 | 3 | 5 | — | 9 | — | ½ |
| North East Thames | — | 3 | 5 | — | 1 | — | — |
| South East Thames | 2 | 12 | 4 | — | 8 | — | 1 |
| South West Thames | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | — | 1½ |
| Wessex | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | 3 |
| Oxford | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| South Western | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | — |
| West Midlands | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | — | — |
| Mersey | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| North Western | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
| ENGLAND | 11 | 32 | 36 | 8 | 42 | — | 6 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer of 7 March, Official
Supplementary Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many payments of supplementary benefit have been made in each local office of his Department in Greater London, excluding the Euston, Finsbury park and Highgate offices, to people who suffered wrongful voluntary employment deductions; and what was the total amount paid by each office.
I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Nhs (Staff Retirements)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the average total payment to National Health Service staff permitted to retire early in each staff group;(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on 7 March,
Official Report, column 625, if he will list for each staff group the numbers in that group who retired between the ages of 50 and 55, 55 and 60 and over 60 years of age.
I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by staff groups and regions the prematurely retired National Health Service staff who have since been re-employed.
135 officers who had been prematurely retired following the 1982 restructuring were recorded as being re-employed in the NHS at 31 October 1983. The breakdown by staff groups and regions is as follows:
Report, column 625, to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, how many of each staff group who retired prematurely were involved in community care.
While some of those who have been granted premature retirement had as part of their duties the management of community care services, it is not possible to identify these from the information held centrally. The information could be obtained by specific and detailed inquiries from the former employing health authorities only at disproportionate cost.
Mobility Allowance
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of the housewife's noncontributory invalidity pension are in receipt of mobility allowance; and how many are not.
Precise figures are not readily available, but it is estimated that around 40 per cent. of the 50,000 women receiving the housewife's non-contributory invalidity pension also receive mobility allowance.
Hospital Beds
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of beds in each hospital within the area of the Mersey health authority; and what proportion is currently in use in each case.
I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Tobacco Industry (Agreement)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to extend his existing agreement with the tobacco industry to cover the use of cigarette brand names, colours and logos in the marketing of sportswear and holidays; and if he will make a statement.
The present agreement with the tobacco industry on cigarette advertising and promotion runs at least until 31 March 1986. We are keeping the situation regarding the use of cigarette brand names and logos in the promotion of non-tobacco goods and services under review.
Specialist Claims Control
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to extend the operation of his specialist claims control unit to the Wirral; and if he will make a statement.
As part of the cycle of visits specialist claims control team will visit Birkenhead, North local office from the 2 April to 29 June 1984 and Birkenhead, South local office from 9 April to 6 July 1984.
Nurses (Training)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans for changing existing training arrangements in respect of (a) state registered nurses and (b) state enrolled nurses.
We have at present no such plans. The statutory bodies responsible for nurse education and training, which were established under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979, are currently examining the present arrangements for nurse education and training and will be considering various options for the future. There will be full consultation with the professions and with the health service in these deliberations.
Take-Up Campaign (Merseyside)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide detailed statistics from the Norris Green and West Derby, Liverpool, local offices of his Department on the results of the 1983 Merseyside county council take-up campaign.
[pursuant to his reply, 28 February 1984, c. 166]: The following information is available.
| Total number of postcards received | |
| Norris Green | West Derby |
| 2,643 | 3,054 |
| Claims for weekly payments* | ||||
| Norris Green | West Derby | |||
| Awarded | No Entitlement | Awarded | No Entitlement | |
| Pensioners | 20 | 125 | 19 | 213 |
| Unemployed claimants | 1 | 24 | 2 | 64 |
| Others | 4 | 151 | 8 | 245 |
| Total | 25 | 300 | 29 | 522 |
| Claims for single payments | ||||
| Norris Green | West Derby | |||
| Awarded† | Amount (£) | Awarded† | Amount (£) | |
| Pensioners | 69 | 2,345 | 74 | 3,889 |
| Unemployed claimants | 208 | 14,361 | 201 | 23,642 |
| Others | 136 | 9,300 | 141 | 12,443 |
| Total | 413 | 26,006 | 416 | 39,974 |
Notes:
* Either claims for increases of benefit already in payment, or new claims.
† Records are not kept of refusals of single payments.
Pensioners' Organisations (Aid)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to obtain and publish in the Official Report the provision made by the European Community countries towards the costs incurred by retirement pensioners' organisations in lobbying regarding pensions; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1984, c. 582]: I understand that no state provision is made in Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy or the Netherlands towards the costs incurred by retirement pensioners' organisations in lobbying regarding pensions. In Denmark, several pensioners' organisations which include lobbying among their activities receive state funding. In France, no aid is given to associations of old people which exist purely for the purpose of lobbying. Some associations, however, arid some trade unions receiving state aid include lobbying in the interests of pensioners among their activities; and the Government finance consultative bodies in which old people's associations and trade unions representing retired workers participate.We have no information concerning Luxembourg.
Family Income Supplement
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Wales are entitled to claim family income supplement.
[pursuant to his reply, 12 March 1984, c. 66]: The number of families receiving family income supplement in Wales at October 1983, the latest date for which information is available, is set as follows:
| Great Britain | Wales | |
| One-Parent Families | 82,000 | 4,000 |
| Two-Parent Families | 122,000 | 8,000 |
| Total | 204,000 | 12,000 |