asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report for each county in Scotland (a) the number of secure units for juveniles on remand, (b) the average length of stay in such units, (c) the number of juveniles aged 15 and 16 years who have been remanded to adult prisons during the last complete year that figures are available and (d) the average length of time that juveniles aged 15 and 16 years on remand spend in adult prisons.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend the rules on the service of indictments in criminal cases as set out in the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 as amended by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for the most recent year for which the information is available (a) the revenue from tolls, (b) the cost of collecting the tolls, (c) repayments of capital, (d) payments of interest and (e) the operating surplus or loss, after interest and capital payments. for the Erskine bridge.

For 1982–83 the information is (a) £1,194,705; (b) £330,258; (c) £677,013; (d) payments of interest £4,329,652; and (e) a loss of £5,584,398, which includes other operating costs and provision for the sinking fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the loss of revenue in the current year from rating relief for people with disabilities other than that provided through the housing benefit scheme.

The loss of revenue to local authorities is minimal, since 90 per cent. of the relief they give is reimbursed by my Department. The expenditure of my Department, which is charged to the Rate Rebate Grants to Local Revenues, Scotland, Vote (Class XVIII, Vote 8), is expected to be about £7,370,000 in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and which have been abolished, or whose abolition has been announced, since the publication of "Public Bodies 1983".

The information is as follows:

• Council for Tertiary Education in Scotland (wound up 31 December 1983).
• Scottish Advisory Committee to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (wound up 31 March 1984).
• Committee of Inquiry into the Functions and Powers of the Islands Councils in Scotland (wound up April 1984).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible that have been introduced or announced too late to be included in the list published in "Public Bodies 1983".

The information is as follows:

Local Review Committee for Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institutions Castle Huntly and Noranside (set up January 1984 following the change in status of borstals in November 1983).

Museums Advisory Board (set up May 1984).

Scottish Tertiary Education Advisory Council (set up July 1984).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland aged under five years are receiving free welfare milk in day care facilities; how many are cared for by registered childminders; and how many childminders are involved.

All children under five years of age attending approved day care facilities, including those in the care of registered childminders, are entitled to receive free welfare milk. The entitlement is one third of a pint each day, but it is not possible to say what proportion of the children take advantage of this daily. Examination of claims for the month of June 1984 shows that over 580,000 issues of one third of a pint of milk were paid for by my Department in respect of such children.There are currently 449 registered childminders approved for the care of 899 children under the terms of Welfare Food Order 1980 as amended, who have at various times made claims for reimbursement in respect of milk supplied free to children under five in their care. Of these, 201 childminders made such claims for the year ending 31 December 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to privatise MacBryne Haulage Ltd.

I am today directing the Scottish Transport Group, under section 27 of the Transport Act 1962, to dispose of its interest in MacBrayne Haulage Ltd.MacBrayne Haulage is the last road haulage operator in public ownership in Britain. It provides services to the major west coast islands of Scotland and its unduly close relationship with Caledonian MacBrayne, to the detriment of competition, was criticised last year by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Its disposal will stimulate competition and should be to the benefit of the island communities.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the petition signed by 25,000 persons in Liverpool against cuts in expenditure in the National Health Service and against privatisation which was delivered to 10 Downing street on 6 July.

The petition referred to by the hon. Gentleman has been received and a full reply will be made in due course by the DHSS.Liverpool's population is projected to decline by more than 10 per cent. over the next decade. In addition, the district health authority is currently overfunded by 7 per cent. according to the Resource Allocation Working Party formula. Moreover, the catchment area for which Liverpool's hospitals provide acute services will reduce because of new development in neighbouring health authorities. Inevitably, Liverpool's revenue allocation must be adjusted to reflect these changes. At the same time, additional resources will be required to improve local services for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped. The net effect of all these changes is that Liverpool health authority revenue is projected to decrease by 4·6 per cent. by 1994. In order to help with these major changes more than £30 million capital will be made available to Liverpool over the next six years. This sum will ensure that the diminished level of acute services will be provided in hospitals of better quality. Services for the elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped will be improved through the provision of new or refurbished inpatient facilities and day hospitals.We have no proposals for privatisation of the National Health Service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has asked health authorities to seek competitive tenders, including in-house tenders, for their cleaning, catering and laundry services. This will ensure that these services are provided to the required standards as cost effectively as possible by the lowest tenderer which may be either the in-house service or an outside contractor. Money that is saved will be used to improve patient care services still further in Liverpool.I am confident that the long-term strategy for health services in Liverpool will provide the right level of services for the city's needs.

Thorne asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

Atkinson asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

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Atkins asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 July.

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asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

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asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

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asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister is she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

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asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagments for 12 July.

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.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received about the concern of Civil Service unions regarding proposals to relocate the Manchester offices of four Government Departments outside the city; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement.

The right hon. Gentleman has sent me a copy of representations made by Civil Service

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to the Women's hospital, Liverpool, and to the Oxford street maternity hospital.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what are the numbers of those employed in the public and private sector, respectively, in the service industries in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales, giving figures for each of the last 10 years.

[pursuant to her reply, 2 July 1984, c. 5]: The following table shows the numbers of service industry employees working in the public and private sectors in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole. Independently estimated information for England is not available.These estimates have been separately prepared by the Scottish Office, Welsh Office, Department of Economic Development (Northern Ireland) and the Central Statistical Office. There are some definitional inconsistencies between the figures for the various countries. Comparisons between them should therefore be treated with caution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the second rate support grant supplementary report for 1982–83 will be published.

I have today laid this report before Parliament, together with the Welsh rate support grant supplementary report for 1984–85.The Welsh rate support grant supplementary (No. 2) report 1982–83 adjusts grant holdback from a budget basis to an outturn basis, now that the necessary outturn date from local authorities is available.The 1982–83 outturn expenditure compared with revised budgets resulted in fewer authorities exceeding their target than budgets had shown. However, authorities' outturn overall exceeded target by more than their revised budgets. The effect is an increase of grant holdback from £4·2 million to £5 million.The Welsh rate support grant supplementary report 1984–85 implements the Government's proposal to withhold block grant from those authorities which have exceeded the Government's 1984–85 expenditure targets.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each county in Wales (a) in 1980 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available (i) the number of children in residential care, (ii) the number of children being fostered, (iii) the cost of residential care per child and (iv) the amount paid to each set of foster parents as a fostering allowance.

The available information is given in the following tables:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the loss of rate income to local authorities in Wales in the current financial year from the provisions of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

Local authorities in Wales estimate that the loss of rate revenue arising from the mandatory relief available under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 will be some £2·7 million in 1984–85. 90 per cent. of this will be refunded by specific Government grant. Thus the net loss of rate revenue accounts will be approximately £0·27 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when it is now proposed to complete the motorway or dual carriageway for each section of the road between Port Talbot and Carmarthen.

I shall reply to the right hon. and learned Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and which have been abolished or whose abolition has been announced, since the publication of "Public Bodies 1983".

Since the publication of "Public Bodies 1983", the Welsh Nurse Training Committee has been wound up and I have announced a target date of 31 March 1988 for the wind-up of the Cwmbran Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible that have been introduced or announced too late to be included in the list published in "Public Bodies 1983."

The following non-departmental public bodies for which I am responsible have been established since 1 April 1983:

• The All Wales Advisory Panel on Development of Services for Mentally Handicapped People.
• The Health Education Advisory Committee for Wales.
• The Perinatal Mortality Survey Group.
• No announcements about the establishment of further non-departmental public bodies have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales aged under five years are receiving free welfare milk in day care facilities; how many are cared for by registered childminders; and how many childminders are involved.

At 31 March 1983 there were 1,283 persons in Wales registered as childminders for full day care and another 59 registered for sessional care. The maximum number of children permitted at any one time in such groups was 3,294 and all children under five attending day care facilities are entitled to receive free welfare milk. It is, however, not possible to give a precise figure for the number of children receiving free milk, since children attend for differing numbers of days in a week and not all permitted day care places are taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the dates and the numbers of times he has met the south Wales National Union of Mineworkers since May 1979.

I met representatives of the South Wales area of the National Union of Mineworkers on 24 January this year in the context of discussions with the Wales TUC about issues affecting the coal industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount and value of gold produced in Wales annually.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount and value of whisky produced in Wales annually.

I am not aware of any whisky being produced in Wales at present within the definition of whisky contained in the Finance Act 1969, as amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the outcome of the recent European discussions on atmospheric pollution and acid rain in so far as they affect Wales.

International discussions on atmospheric pollution and acid rain are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope) on 11 July at column 1019.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the national mobility scheme for local authority tenants in Wales, and housing applicants in Wales.

The national mobility scheme is a voluntary scheme agreed by most public housing authorities in the United Kingdom. It has made a considerable contribution to improving mobility since it began in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales are now engaged in putting services out to private contract.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when next he expects to meet representatives on the Association of District Councils in Wales to discuss housing matters.

I expect to meet the Welsh Housing Consultative Committee in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has issued any guidance to Welsh local authorities over the use of special transport for disabled people during the day, in the evenings and at weekends.

No. This is the responsibility of each local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many (a) physically handicapped, (b) mentally handicapped, (c) mentally ill and (d) elderly people are on waiting lists for day care places at centres run by local authorities in Wales;(2) how many places are vacant at day centres for elderly and disabled people in Wales due to lack of transport for prospective clients.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any information on the number of days of attendance at Welsh local authority centres for elderly and disabled people that are lost due to (a) breakdown of special transport and (b) shortage of drivers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales have given development consent for land owned by the same authorities and now used as school playing fields.

This information is not held centrally. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman consults local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any intention of introducing a moratorium on local authority expenditure in Wales.

The Welsh Office is still considering the response to the material reported by authorities on their capital forecast returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons were on hospital waiting lists in Wales in September in each of the last four years.

The information is given in the following table and refers to 30 September each year:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists employed in the National Health Service in Wales had gross annual earnings in 1983 up to £20,000, between £20,000 and £30,000, between £30,000 and £40,000, £40,000 and £50,000 and over £50,000, respectively; and what were the lowest and highest individual gross earnings paid in that year.

This information will take some time to assemble. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available figures on the numbers of children attending pre-school play groups in Wales.

At 31 March 1983, the latest date for which information is available, the maximum number of children permitted to attend play groups at any one time was 19,051.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the real increase in the salary of each grade of nurse since April 1979, taking into account the increases in lodging charges in nurses' residential accommodation.

There are currently more than 100 pay grades for nurses employed in the NHS. The table shows, for the main nursing pay grades, the basic salary maxima for the years 1979 to 1984 and the movements in those salaries as measured against changes in the retail price index. The figures exclude the effect of the reduction in nurses' working hours in 1980–81, which was itself equivalent to a further increase of 6·5 per cent. on basic pay. We estimate that only some 10 to 15 per cent. of nurses live in NHS accommodation and lodging charges are related to the costs of providing that accommodation rather than to salaries. The following figures therefore take no account of lodging charges because there is no sensible basis upon which they can do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many primary and secondary schools were built in Wales in each of the last four years.

The following are the numbers of approvals to the building of primary and secondary schools given over the last four financial years:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish the consultation document on local choice in public transport which he has promised.

The consultation paper has been published today. Copies are being sent to all right hon. and hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies, local authorities in Wales and other interested organisations. Further copies are available in the Library of the House.Comments are invited by 31 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken by his Department since May 1979 to improve its efficiency; what has been the result; what further steps are currently being taken to improve efficiency; what the results are expected to be; and what output criteria have been developed by his Department to help measure its efficiency.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1984, c. 383]: I constantly encourage the staff of my Department to seek ways of improving efficiency. Since 1979, eight efficiency scrutinies have been carried out in the Welsh Office, the most recent being a study of the generation and handling of paper in the Department.In addition, a critical review of the organisation, functions, tasks and priorities of the whole Department was carried out during the period June 1981 to July 1983.These reviews complemented the ongoing activities of the staff inspectors and management services officers, whose prime objective is to improve efficiency. The introduction of new office technology has also led to efficiency gains, and this programme is proceeding at a constantly increasing pace; the annual spend on new technology has increased from £127,000 in 1980–81 to £415,000 in the current financial year.As a result of these measures the permanent staff of my Department has been reduced by 15·6 per cent., from 2,613 whole-time equivalents to 2,206½ during the period 1 May 1979 to 1 June 1984. But staff numbers are not the only measure of efficiency, and during that period my Department has taken a number of important initiatives, for example, with the development of an all-Wales strategy for the care of mentally handicapped people, while at the same time striving to give a quicker and better service to public bodies, business firms and all others with whom it comes into contact.The departmental running costs (excluding accommodation costs, where the basis of charging has altered in period in question) have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the second 1982–83 rate support grant supplementary report will be published.

I have laid this report before Parliament today, together with the "Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report 1984–85" and the "Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report (No. 4) 1981–82".The 1984–85 report demonstrates the consequences for ratepayers in those areas where local authorities have exceeded the targets for spending approved by Parliament last January.Authorities were informed last December of their spending targets and of the grant holdback if they exceeded these targets. Despite this notice, overspending authorities have chosen to spend up and so forgo the benefits of central Government grant to the tune of £452 million. This is because budgets received from authorities for 1984–85 are set to overrun the plans approved by Parliament by £841 million. £452 million is only 5 per cent. of the total of block grant of £8,631 million; but for the ratepayers in the high-spending areas the consequences are severe. If certain London councils, including the GLC and ILEA, had spent on target there would have been £255 million more grant for Londoners, and total rates in Islington, Camden and Lambeth would have been 48 per cent., 24 per cent. and 36 per cent. lower respectively. Such are the penalties which high-spending authorities have deliberately and knowingly imposed on their ratepayers in 1984–85.The 1984–85 report also implements three disregards, excluding from the calculation of grant holdback certain expenditure under the urban programme, on civil defence, and on schemes jointly financed with health authorities. The report announces that a fourth disregard agreed for 1984–85, for additional spending on policing the miners' industrial dispute, will be implemented in a subsequent supplementary report when sufficient information is available.The 1984–85 report adopts an estimate of £216 million for Liverpool city council's expenditure in 1984–85. This estimate was adopted before the council made its rate for 1984–85 yesterday. I shall reconsider that estimate when I receive full details of its budgeted expenditure for 1984–85. Liverpool city council will, of course, receive no more block grant in 1984–85 than it is entitled to.The 1981–82 fourth supplementary report "closes the books" in the light of audited outturn expenditure information for all local authorities in 1981–82. There is no change to the total of grant and holdback for 1981–82, but there are small changes within the total for all authorities.The 1982–83 second supplementary report deals with the consequences of the Greater London council's dramatic over-budgeting in that year, which involved that council taking from ratepayers £277 million more than it needed: £177 million of over-budgeting, and £100 million block grant forfeited as a result. The report returns the £100 million forgone grant, necessarily involving grant adjustments to other authorities. Authorities were informed of this prospective change to their grant entitlements last February, so it will come as no surprise. I have frequently made it clear that the whole of that £277 million wrongly taken from the ratepayers by the GLC in 1982–83 should be returned directly to them. This would be equal to a 14p cut in the GLC precept. Instead, the GLC has chosen to keep most of it to spend on a variety of extravagent schemes, including its £6 million advertising campaign. Londoners cannnot any longer afford to pay for the GLC.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases district medical officers of health have agreed to water authorities working to nitrate levels in public water supplies above the level of 50mg per litre in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

The agreement of district medical officers of health is not required should nitrate levels in public water supplies be greater than 50mg/litre. However, in these cases they are normally notified so that any appropriate monitoring for, and precautions against, methaemoglobinaemia can be taken. This procedure is in accordance with independent medical advice given to Government in the following terms:

"The concentration of nitrate in the public water supply should not exceed 100 milligrams of nitrate ion per litre (22·6mg nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) per litre), other than in exceptional and transient circumstances.

At the same time water undertakings should continue to aim to keep the concentrations below 50 milligrames of nitrate (11.3mg NO₃-N) per litre.

However, where the concentration in the water supply exceeds:

50 milligrams of nitrate (11·3mg NO₃ -N) per litre, but is below 100 milligrams of nitrate (22·6mg NO₃ -N) per litre, the health authorities and professions in the affected area should be informed so as to encourage monitoring for infantile methaemoglobinaemia.

100 milligrams of nitrate (22·6mg NO₃-N) per litre, at any time, suitable low-nitrate water should be provided for infant feeding."

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the loss of rate income to local authorities in England in the current financial year from the provisions of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

Local authorities in England estimate that the loss of rate revenue arising from the mandatory relief given under the provisions of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 will amount to some £56·2 million in 1984–85. Ninety per cent. will be refunded by specific Government grant, leaving a net loss of some £5·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will give financial assistance towards keeping St. George's hall, Liverpool, in use.

My Department has already contributed through the urban programme to the cost of a feasibility study by consultants on possible future uses of the hall.I have recently been asked by Liverpool city council for a meeting to discuss the hall and I have agreed to this. It is too early at this stage to say whether we can provide any further assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible and which have been abolished, or whose abolition has been announced, since the publication of "Public Bodies 1983."

The following non-departmental public bodies have been abolished since the publication of "Public Bodies 1983":

• (i) Ancient Monuments Board for England;
• (ii) Building Research Establishment Advisory Committee;
• (iii) Historic Buildings Council for England;
• (iv) National Water Council; and
• (v) Water Space Amenity Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible that have been introduced or announced too late to be included in the list published in "Public Bodies 1983."

The non-departmental public bodies for which I am responsible which were introduced too late to be included in "Public Bodies 1983" are:

• (i) Black Country Limestone Advisory Panel;
• (ii) Board of Trustees of the Armouries;
• (iii) Committee on the Management of Privately-owned Blocks of Flats;
• (iv) Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England; and
• (v) Independent Review of disposal of Radioactive Waste at Sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what will be the eventual tenure split for new housing built on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land in Southwark; what proportion wil be for sale; and what the prices are likely to be;(2) what proportion of the houses and flats that the London Docklands Corporation expects to see developed in Greenland dock will be for sale; and what will be the prices of these houses and flats.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 29 February 1984, at column 233, in which I pointed out that the eventual percentage of the different tenures cannot be estimated at this stage. The proportions will depend partly upon the attitude of Southwark council and partly upon the resources which the Housing Corporation is able to devote to the area.A start has been made on LDDC owned sites containing 770 dwellings, in Southwark; 18·2 per cent. are for rent, 0·6 per cent. for shared ownership and 81·2 per cent. for sale. Selling prices currently range from £25,000 to £75,000, with 66 per cent. of dwellings priced at less than £40,000.The LDDC has yet to sign agreements to release land in Greenland dock for housebuilding. The corporation expects that the first agreement will be for a development of 152 dwellings for sale and that these will be priced in the range of £29,750 to £72,500, with 38 per cent. at or below £35,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the London Docklands Development Corporation has decided that the existing jobs at Greenland dock are incompatible with its plans for the dock.

A high proportion of the existing jobs are or were in waste transfer, road haulage and other yard and open storage businesses with a low density of jobs per acre. Relocation of the firms from land owned by LDDC is nearing completion. It seems unlikely to cause any loss of jobs and will release land for development. LDDC's proposals for the site, including land in other ownerships, are intended to generate employment in industrial and commercial developments and about 1,250 dwellings will also be built on the site. LDDC believes that the operation of the existing businesses would be incompatible with housing on environmental grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the houses identified by the 1981 English house condition survey as needing over £7,000 spent on them at 1981 prices, have since been put into good repair; how many additional houses now need over £7,000, at 1981 prices, spent on them; and by what date he expects local authorities to have ensured that all dwellings in serious disrepair have been brought up to standard.