asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the percentage of empty dwellings in (a) the public sector, (b) the voluntary sector, (c) the private sector and (d) those owned and controlled by Her Majesty's Government.

The available estimates for April 1984, derived from English local authorities' housing investment programme returns, are as follows:

	per cent.
Local authorities	2·3
Housing associations	3·6
Other public sector	6·8
Total public sector	2·7
Private Sector	4·2

"Other public sector" includes housing owned by new towns, Government Departments, county councils and other public agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of the Housing Corporation's gross expenditure in 1983–84 was accounted for by value added tax.

£20 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the £30 million value added tax paid from the Housing Corporation's 1984–85 gross expenditure was accounted for by the Budget changes incorporated into the Finance Act 1984; and if resources to the corporation were increased to take account of the changes.

It is estimated that the extension of VAT to building alterations will account for £15 million of the Housing Corporation's gross expenditure in 1984–85. The Government have given approval for an equivalent amount of index-linked private finance to be used for shared ownership projects in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs created in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since July 1981 have moved into existing building or buildings commenced prior to July 1981.

Of the 3,619 new jobs created in the LDDC area since July 1981—excluding 574 Inner Urban Areas Act related jobs created over the same period — 2,374 are in existing buildings or buildings commenced prior to July 1981, a substantial proportion of which have been renovated since this date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 24 January, Official Report, column 484, if he will give the date of the meeting of the London Docklands Development Corporation at which the application for a grant or contract to Inter-Action was approved; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that that decision was in accordance with the recommendation of the House of Lords Select Committee on the London Docklands Development Corporation Order, Paragraph 8.7 (HL 198 of 1980) and with his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South of 9 January, Official Report, column 473.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the outturn of gross revenue expenditure and income was for each London borough and the city of London by service and for all services in 1982–83.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the level of outturn capital expenditure, loan charges and net outstanding debt was in the city of London and each London borough in 1982–83.

This information requested is as follows:

City of London and London boroughs: Gross capital expenditure loan charges and outstanding debt 1982–83
£ million
	Gross capital expenditure*	Loan charges†	Total debt at 31 March 1983‡
Inner London Boroughs
City of London	14·3	32·4	236·1
Camden	37·3	66·8	505·8
Greenwich	24·7	41·5	254·1
Hackney	57·8	47·5	355·2
Hammersmith and Fulham	36·8	27·3	199·8
Islington	71·7	73·0	524·0
Kensington and Chelsea	30·7	19·3	299·2
Lambeth	50·1	70·8	548·5
Lewisham	31·9	44·9	295·1
Southwark	60·1	83·1	492·1
Tower Hamlets	17·6	20·4	166·7
Wandsworth	33·2	45·7	303·2
Westminster	28·7	31·3	220·6
Outer London Boroughs
Barking and Dagenham	7·9	13·7	89·5
Barnet	13·5	21·4	168·1
Bexley	14·6	11·0	100·7
Brent	38·2	40·5	312·0
Bromley	15·8	15·5	133·8
Croydon	15·8	16·6	139·5
Ealing	26·6	29·6	229·2
Enfield	13·6	23·9	187·1
Haringey	50·4	42·2	340·6
Harrow	12·6	12·6	97·8
Havering	9·7	13·8	111·5
Hillingdon	22·8	30·5	220·7
Hounslow	20·4	24·2	210·8
Kingston-upon-Thames	8·9	8·1	62·3
Merton	13·2	18·0	134·6
Newham	27·5	41·2	353·1

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in making his decision to replace the structure/local plan system in London with unitary plans, what information he had before him concerning (a) the anticipated duration of the new planning processes compared with the existing system, (b) the number of staff required in the London boroughs and his own department and (c) the costs of preparing, consulting on and publicising and inquiring into 33 unitary development plans; and if he will place this information on costs and organisation in the Library.

In considering the new planning arrangements for London, the Government took into account the time taken to process the Greater London development plan. The introduction of unitary development plans will build on the extensive experience of London boroughs and will provide a simpler process for them than separate procedures for structure and local plans. Although some additional departmental staff may be needed, these will be met from within the overall planned allocations of the Department. Staffing for the London boroughs themselves are matters for them to decide. As the scale of work for the introduction of unitary development plans will vary from area to area, it would have been inappropriate to undertake the detailed calculations referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many respondents to the consultation paper, "Streamlining the Cities: Housing", proposed that the nomination rights to dwellings in a Londonwide mobility scheme and in the Greater London council's seaside and country homes be vested in the Secretary of State.

Authority	Grounds	Outcome
London boroughs of Brent, Camden, Hackney, Hounslow, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest	Decisions to reduce 1980–81 rate support grant unlawful	Decision quashed on ground that Secretary of State had failed to hear late representations

The consultation paper proposed that voluntary arrangements should be established to maintain opportunities for mobility and for access to the seaside and country homes. In response to comments made by consultees, we have announced our intention that both should instead be the subject of statutory schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the review of air pollution control legislation will be completed.

The timing of completion of the review will depend on the response to a consultation paper on air pollution control legislation which we intend to publish later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to implement the findings of the review of air pollution control legislation.

The findings of the review, including the outcome of the proposed consultation exercise, will themselves determine the timing and manner of implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been employed in construction work at Stornoway airport during phase 1 of the redevelopment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base; how many of the construction force were local; and what types of employment the local workers participated in.

Numbers varied as works progressed. When construction was in full swing between April and June 1984, the labour force totalled 131, of whom 91 were engaged locally. These included carpenters and bricklayers, plant operators, electricians, asphalt gang labourers and site staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which have commenced, or have given notice of their intention to commence, legal proceedings against him in respect of the administration of block grant, expenditure guidance and grant holdback whether by way of an action for judicial review, for a declaration or otherwise since 1 April 1981; and in each instance if he will summarise the grounds upon which the actions were stated to have been brought and, where appropriate, the outcome.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the projected totals of inner city partnership funds to be allocated for 1985–86, by authority, listing separately the public and voluntary sectors.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South-East (Mr. Lightbown) on 14 January at columns 1–2. Until detailed inner area programmes have been agreed for the partnerships, I cannot estimate the proportions going to the different authorities or the public and voluntary sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the value of salaries for local government employees for 1983 and 1984.

£ million*
	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
	outturn			forecast outturn
LDDC
Public expenditure provision	32	41	62	55	51
Estimated receipts (net of corporation tax)	—	—	0·2	6·8	8·9
TOTAL RESOURCES	32	41	62	62	60
MDC
Public expenditure provision	6	21	32	30	29
Estimated receipts (net of corporation tax)	—	—	0·1	0·2	0·7
TOTAL RESOURCES	6	21	32	30	29
* Totals may not sum due to roundings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the 1985–86 housing investment programme allocation for Leeds metropolitan district council is intended to cover the cost of repair and improvement of prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings.

My right hon. Friend takes account of many factors in determining individual authorities' HIP

The aggregate pay bill for local government white collar and manual employees in 1982–83 was £6,310 million. In 1983–84, it was £6,697 million. These figures exclude teachers, lecturers, police and firemen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will provide an analysis of the figures given in table 3.8.7, of Cmnd. 9428 between the two urban development corporations;(2) if he will extend table 3.8.8 of Cmnd. 9428 to 1986–87 and 1987–88.

An analysis of the figures published in table 3.8.7 of Cmnd. 9428 — "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1985–86 to 1987–88"— is attached for the years up to 1985–86. Details of the allocations for 1986–87 and 1987–88 are not yet available.allocations. It is not possible to identify a precise amount which relates to the need for expenditure on prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the 1985–86 housing investment programmes allocation is intended to meet the costs of repairs and improvement of prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings.

It is not possible to say how much of the total housing investment programme resources were allocated to meet the costs of repairs and improvements to PRC dwellings since HIP allocations to individual authorities are determined partly by the generalised needs index (GNI) and partly by the local discretionary element, which enables my right hon. Friend to take into account a whole range of local factors, including, where appropriate, the need for expenditure on prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings. The defective dwellings indicator, which was introduced for the 1985–86 allocations to reflect the need for expenditure on prefabricated reinforced concrete houses, takes up 3 par cent. of total GNI.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from the leader of Manchester city council about his recent public statement in which he questioned the rationale of the continued connection between Manchester city council and the Manchester Ship Canal Company; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from Councillor Stringer, and in reply have reiterated my view that, whatever the long-standing relationship between his council and the Ship Canal Company, it needs to be reviewed from time to time in the light of new circumstances. I look for such a review to take place in the context of the local study on the future of the upper reaches of the ship canal which is in hand at the moment. The city council and the canal company are both taking part in that study, and I understand that a report is due later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time now taken by his Department (a) between the lodging and the hearing of planning appeals and (b) between the hearing and the decision.

Statistics of the average times taken for planning appeals are not kept; instead, median times are used. The median times for Secretary of State inquiries during October 1984 were 27 weeks from receipt to inquiry and approximately 18 weeks from inquiry to decision. For inspectors inquiries, the median was 22 weeks from receipt to Inquiry and five weeks from Inquiry to decision; and for inspectors informal hearings, 20 weeks from start to hearing and four weeks from hearing to decision. Only 16 per cent. of appeals are now dealt with by inquiries; the remainder are dealt with by written representations, which on the whole is a faster procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications have been submitted to local planning authorities relating to cellular radio base stations; how many of these have been approved and refused, respectively; and how many are pending.

Local planning authorities' quarterly returns to us on planning applications made to them do not provide information at this level of detail on the nature of the development concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require communications systems companies to obtain planning permission before erecting radio transmission masts with ancillary buildings and fenced compounds.

Most such developments aleady require specific planning permission. I have no plans to relax this requirement in the case of ancillary buildings or compounds, but I propose certain relaxations in respect of some types of minor telecommunications apparatus. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) on 25 October 1984, at columns 689–90, which outlined our intentions in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the environmental safeguards relating to the erection of radio transmission masts and ancillary buildings, particularly in green belt areas.

Yes. Radio masts installations generally require specific planning permission, and the local planning authority dealing with an application will have regard to the normal considerations, including green belt policies. Our policy for the protection of the green belt was reaffirmed in circular 14/84, and remains unchanged. Under our current proposals to amend the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977, some small masts will not require specific planning applications, but telecommunications operators will be required to abide by conditions in their telecommunications licences designed to safeguard the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, Official Report, 25 January, column 555, on what date the letter was sent to the chairman of the English water authorities; and on what date the order he referred to was laid before the House.

The dates on the letters were 7 January—all except Thames—and 23 January—Thames. The order was laid on 24 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve the professional quality of public sector housing management.

My right hon. Friend intends to provide funding, starting with the next academic year, for up to 15 post-graduate studentships a year in housing management. The studentships will be available in England and Wales for approved full-time post-graduate courses of two years' duration, which meet the professional standards of the Institute of Housing.The new diploma of housing course at the London School of Economics meets these criteria and will be approved by my right hon. Friend for the studentships. It has been developed in consultation with the Institute of Housing and will, in our view, contribute to raising standards in public housing management. The first year will be largely academic in content; most of the second year will be spent working with selected housing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statment on the proposal for an experimental scheme to support livestock grazing in the Broads area.

Yes. I am pleased to announce that approval in principle has now been given for a three-year experimental scheme in the Broads to be operated by the Countryside Commission, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under which payments will be made to farmers and landowners who agree to keep their land in grazing use. The scheme will be introduced in time for the 1985 grazing season. I have already announced, on 27 November 1984, at column 793, an addition of £2 million to the Countryside Commission's grant-in-aid for 1985–86, part of which will be available to finance half the costs of the scheme. The remaining half will he met by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.I believe that this proposal presents an excellent opportunity to integrate the interests of agriculture and conservation in the Broads area and should prove a flexible and effective means towards safeguarding this nationally important and unique landscape.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a list giving the names of those local authorities known by his Department as having suspended discretionary home improvement grants during 1984; and what representations he has received so far concerning the likelihood of these authorities lifting their moratoriums for the financial year 1985–86.

Local authorities are responsible for administering the home improvement grant system and the Department does not collate or publish information on the grant approval practices of individual authorities. My right hon. Friend has received no representations about the specific policies of individual local authorities in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will conclude its discussions with the National House Building Council to establish agreed standards of repairs to the various types of prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings designated under the Housing Defects Act 1984.

The National House Building Council—NHBC — has agreed that it will set up arrangements under which

(1) methods of repairing prefabricated reinforced concrete (PRC) houses of types designated under the Housing Defects Act will be assessed;

(2) works of repair by an approved method will be inspected while they are in progress; and

(3) a warranty for two years in respect of the repairs will be given by the designer or repairer and guaranteed by the NHBC, which will then provide insurance in respect of the repairs for a further eight years.

The details of the arrangements are being finalised in consultation with the relevant Departments.From discussions with representatives of building societies, I am confident that houses repaired under these arrangements will generally be acceptable to building societies as security for lending, subject to the usual requirements when a society considers lending on mortgage in any particular case.As soon as the arrangements are finalised, the Department intends to consult the local authority associations urgently and following that to write to local authorities to inform them of the arrangements and of how they will affect the administration of the scheme of assistance under the Act. The Scottish and Welsh Offices will be taking similar action. But I expect that it will be possible for methods of repair to be received for appraisal shortly, leading to approval for warranty as soon thereafter as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with building societies about the operation of the Housing Defects Act; and if he will make a statement;(2) what undertakings he has received from building societies about the mortgageability of houses in categories named in the Housing Defects Act;(3) what information he has as to those categories of housing which, prior to the passing of the Housing Defects Act, were difficult to mortgage on account of structural defects, real or potential, and which have become mortgageable since the passing of the Act.

[pursuant to his answer, 20 December 1984, c. 263]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions between his Department and the Building Societies Association relating to the future mortgageability of prefabricated reinforced concrete homes designated under the Housing Defects Act 1984.

[pursuant to his answer, 9 January 1985, c. 474]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if Her Majesty's Government kill take steps to underwrite a warranty scheme for homes covered by the Housing Defects Act;(2) if any progress has been made on an approved warranty scheme for homes covered by the Housing Defects Act.

[pursuant to his answer, 9 January 1985, c. 480]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest expected date of completion of the Falkland Islands airport including the ancillary Army provision; and how this compares with the original date.

[pursuant to his answer, 28 January 1985, c. 4]: I expect the main runway to be ready for use in April 1985 and the remaining airfield facilities by about February 1986. These dates are the same as those announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 27 June 1983 at column 345. The further construction work at Mount Pleasant, which consists largely of facilities for the Army and which was announced on 21 September 1984, should be complete in early 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Falkland Islands airport and ancillary provision; and how this compares with the original estimate.

[pursuant to his answer, 28 January 1985, c. 4]: As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 21 September 1984, the original, June 1983 cost of the airfield works at £215 million was increased to £250 million mainly to provide for joint service facilities in the interests of overall economy. At the same time, he announced the award of new contracts to the value of £119 million to enable the garrison to be concentrated at the Mount Pleasant site. The latest costs of these two elements are respectively £260 million and £116 million. All the estimates for the airfield works include £10 million for MOD supplied navigation aids and communication equipment.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list his powers to authorise the vetting of juries in criminal cases.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 28 January 1985.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the criteria that are applied in the vetting of juries in criminal cases when such vetting is authorised by him.

I issued guidelines on this matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions on 31 July 1980. A copy is in the Library of the House. The guidelines are strictly observed.

asked the Attorney-General on what grounds a member of a jury panel would not be permitted to serve on a jury following vetting authorised by him in a criminal case.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 9 of the guidelines that I issued to the Director of Public Prosecutions on 31 July 1980. A copy of those guidelines is in the Library of the House.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor will now take steps to implement those aspects of the report of the Wilson committee relating to public records designed to reduce obstacles to research in some areas of contemporary history.

In a White Paper (Cmnd. 8204, March 1982) the Government listed those recommendations of the Wilson committee that were acceptable. Most have already been or are now being implemented; others will be when resources permit or a suitable legislative opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will be responding to comments about rear seat belts for cars in the Transport Committee's recently published report on road safety; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the report and will respond as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated loss of revenue caused to British Rail up to 15 January as a direct consequence of the miners' dispute; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 28 January at column 11.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the train crash at Popham tunnel, Micheldever, near Winchester, on the morning of Sunday 27 January.

Shortly before 5 am on Saturday 26 January a Bournemouth to Woking electric multiple-unit train conveying railway staff ran into a minor chalk slip near Micheldever. The train's collector shoes, which collect traction current from the third rail, were damaged and the train immobilised. A diesel-electric locomotive was sent from Worting junction, near Basingstoke, to assist the train, but collided heavily with it. The driver of the locomotive and his assistant were trapped in the cab and suffered leg injuries. Four BR employees and a Post Office sorter, all passengers on the train, were treated in hospital for minor injuries. An inquiry will be held by the Railway Inspectorate. Evidence will be heard in public and there will be a published report.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given to the metropolitan county councils under the provisions of the Transport Act 1983 about protected levels of revenue support to public transport in the next financial year.

I have given these authorities guidance under the provisions of section 4(5) of the Transport Act 1983 that the maximum amounts of revenue grants which it would in my opinion be appropriate for them to make in the year beginning 1 April 1985 are as follows:

Authority	Protected Expenditure Level (PEL)
	£ million
Greater Manchester	45
Merseyside	39
South Yorkshire	32
Tyne and Wear	21
West Midlands	27
West Yorkshire	41

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how long applicants for the enterprise allowance scheme in (a) the Huddersfield area, (b) the Kirklees area, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) the Yorkshire and Humberside region currently have to wait on average before being granted an appointment at the initial information seminar; and if he will make a statement.

The frequency of information seminars is determined by the level of demand, and in Huddersfield and Kirklees, West Yorkshire and the Yorkshire and Humberside region potential applicants for the enterprise allowance scheme have on average to wait no more than one week to attend a seminar.I am pleased that as a result of the increase in the rate of take-on from 1 May 1984 we have been able to eliminate the delays that were facing potential applicants earlier in the year. This successful and worthwhile scheme will be further extended on 1 April 1985 to assist up to another 62,500 unemployed people in 1985–86 to create their own jobs and start up in business.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in (a) the Yorkshire and Humberside region, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) the employment division area covering Huddersfield are currently in receipt of the enterprise allowance; and how many people in each area have now completed one year on the scheme.

On 22 January 1985 the number of people in receipt of the enterprise allowance in Yorkshire and Humberside and West Yorkshire was as follows:

	Number
Yorkshire and Humberside	3,662
West Yorkshire	1,920

No separate figures are available for the Huddersfield area, but these are included in the Manpower Services Commission's employment division area centred on Dewsbury which covers Bradford, Halifax, Dewsbury and Huddersfield. The number of people currently receiving the enterprise allowance in that areas is 877.On the same date the number of people who had completed 12 months on the scheme in these areas was as follows:

	Number
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,825
West Yorkshire	976
Dewsbury	460

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how long applicants for the enterprise allowance scheme in (a) Burnley, (b) Lancashire and (c) England as a whole have to wait on an average before being given an interview at the initial information seminar.

Potential applicants for the enterprise allowance scheme in Burnley, Lancashire and England as a whole have to wait on average no more than one week to attend an information seminar.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the overseas visits undertaken by the 14 Select Committees since 1979; for what purpose they were undertaken; how many officers and advisers accompanied each delegation; and what have been the total costs incurred by each Committee on these visits.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy farmers in Wales with less than 40 cows have left the industry in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

In the year ending 31 December 1984 the number of registrations relating to herds of less than 40 cows decreased by 241 in Wales. This figure reflects a number of acceptances under the outgoers scheme. In the same period there were 97 new registrations associated with herds of less than 40 cows.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to achieve a target of 40 new patients per annum per million of the population in Wales who are suffering from end-stage renal failure; if he can give any indication of a speed-up in the process; if he will indicate what his target figure is for 1990; and if he will make a statement.

The resources capable of accepting a referral level of 45 to 50 new patients per million population per annum in Wales will be available as from next month. Subsidiary renal units to be made available this year should increase referral rates to take up the capacity provided. Our aim is to ensure as soon as possible that no patient who can benefit from dialysis will be denied it through lack of facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider the establishment in Wales of an independent inquiry into the treatment of end-stage renal failure; if he will indicate what policies his Department recommends in circumstances where there is insufficient provision for patients in need; and if he will make a statement.

Our strategy for Wales was set out in our replies to the hon. Gentleman on 5 December 1983, at columns 22–23, 26 January 1984, at column 706, and 21 February 1984, at column 504. Our programme for achieving this strategy is ahead of schedule. An independent inquiry is unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that all patients in Wales needing treatment for end-stage renal failure receive such treatment; if he is satisfied with the referral rate by general practitioners and other consultants to renal consultants; and if he will make a statement.

I am not satisfied that all such patients have been referred for treatment; that is why we are making resources available to ensure that referral rates are not constrained by a shortage of facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider setting up in Wales a limited number of renal units to cater for the problems created by difficult kidney patients; and if he will make a statement.

Difficult patients can dialyse at the two existing units in Cardiff and Bodelwyddan, and will be able to at the Morriston unit which will open next month. Patients who experience difficulty will also be able to dialyse under supervision in the two subsidiary renal units to be opened this year in Bangor and Carmarthen.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how the figures of £107 million in housing capital expenditure in 1985–86, (Cmnd. 9428–11, paragraph 28) compares with 1984–85; what estimate has been made of capital receipts for 1985–86; how that compares with

Capital Allocations to Welsh District Authorities for All Services 1981–82 to 1984–85
Constant 1984–85 prices	£000
	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85*
Alyn and Deeside	4,115	4,395	3,968	3,206
Colwyn	3,021	4,224	3,276	2,642
Delyn	2,643	3,875	4,400	4,311
Glyndwr	1,625	2,140	2,782	1,770
Rhuddlan	2,171	2,695	2,720	2,077
Wrexham Maelor	6,727	7,087	5,611	5,689
Carmarthen	3,429	4,715	9,348	4,125
Ceredigion	3,182	4,792	5,379	3,316
Dinefwr	1,177	1,878	2,873	1,694
Llanelli	4,543	6,245	5,651	4,204
Preseli	2,341	2,952	4,884	4,054
South Pembroke	1,666	3,090	4,654	3,304
Blaenau Gwent	6,142	13,246	12,754	8,260
Islwyn	4,052	6,226	6,179	5,036
Monmouth	2,461	3,897	5,422	4,026
Newport	9,748	15,039	11,562	7,986
Torfaen	4,014	5,829	5,516	4,624
Aberconwy	2,422	2,431	2,697	1,942
Arfon	4,180	4,167	4,407	3,356
Dwyfor	1,267	1,649	3,624	2,114
Merionnydd	1,896	1,851	5,421	2,475
Ynys Mon	2,279	3,458	6,871	2,945
Cynon Valley	3,228	3,850	5,274	4,186
Merthyr Tydfil	4,597	6,569	5,883	3,743

The figure of £107 million, quoted in paragraph 28 of Cmnd. 9428–11, represents the provision made for 1985–86 in respect of net housing capital expenditure in Wales by local authorities and the Housing Corporation. The comparable provision made for 1984–85 was £92·5 million.Local authority capital receipts for 1985–86 are estimated to total £78·5 million compared with the estimate of £98 million for 1984–85, quoted in paragraph 20 of Cmnd. 9143–11.Housing is one of the services which are treated as a block for public expenditure purposes, within which my right hon. Friend has discretion to apportion the total provision as he chooses. Following each annual public expenditure review, my right hon. Friend reaches firm and detailed decisions for the forthcoming financial year. The allocation of resources for the succeeding years is indicative only at that stage and reflects the apportionment made for the first year. The assumption made about housing capital expenditure for both 1986–87 and 1987–88 is, therefore, that it will remain at roughly the same level as in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest figures estimated for 1984–85 for each district council in Wales of (a) the total capital allocation, (b) the total capital allocation specifically for housing, (c) the total probable capital expenditure outturn and (d) the total probable capital outturn for housing; and if he will publish similar figures for each of the five preceding years adjusted to 1984–85 prices.

The information requested is as follows: