Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Monday 29 April 1985

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Nephrops Fishery

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking to ensure that any European Community measures affecting the British nephrops fishery take full account of the wide variations in biological and conservation factors in different parts of the waters around the British Isles.

I do not know what particular measures the right hon. Member has in mind, but I can assure him that in considering any measures which may be proposed I will take into account all the relevant factors which affect the United Kingdom fishing industry, including those which he has cited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking, in connection with the accession of Spain and Portugal to the EEC, to safeguard British interests in the nephrops fishery in the Irish sea.

The agreement reached between the European Community and Spain and Portugal on their fishing rights in the waters of the existing member states specifically excludes their vessels from fishing in the area known as "The Irish Box", which includes the whole of the Irish sea, until the end of 1995.Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas will be set for nephrops in areas VI, VII (which includes the Irish sea) and VIII for the first time in 1986 in order to prevent unrestricted fishing on this species by Spanish or other vessels. Spain will receive a small share, roughly corresponding to the amount she is currently allowed to catch under the by-catch provisions of the EC-Spain fisheries agreement. Until the end of 1995 she will of course be able to fish her area VII quota only outside the Irish box. Portuguese vessels will not be allowed to fish for nephrops at all in the waters of the existing member states.Proposals have yet to be made for the allocation of the nephrops TACs between existing member states. It will be the Government's aim to ensure that the United Kingdom nephrops quote in area VII adequately meets the needs of our fleet in this important and developing fishery.

Food Surpluses (Destruction)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the total sum spent by the European Economic Community on the destruction of food surpluses in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will list the quantities of food items destroyed during this period;(2) what progress has been made by the Common Market Commission in taking action on the report of the European Economic Communiy audit commission about the fraudulent payment of European Economic Community funds for the destruction of non-existent food surpluses; and if he will make a statement.

In certain circumstances, produce withdrawn from the market under the Community schemes for fish and fruit and vegetables finds no end use and has to be destroyed. The expenditure involved cannot be identified from the Community statistics, which relate to all withdrawals. For fish Community expenditure on withdrawals was 17·5 mecu in 1983 and 14·8 mecu in 1984; the quantity withdrawn in 1983 was 87,216 tonnes. For fruit and vegetables 2·05 million tonnes were withdrawn in the 1983–84 marketing year, involving Community expendure of 446 mecu.The Court of Auditors has not published any report dealing specifically with allegations of fraud under these schemes. No other Community schemes provide for destruction of food.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes, on the basis of the information now available. To ensure equality of opportunity as far as possible, we will be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff (under the Government's phased programme) to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out, and the implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service announced on 9 February 1984 is being carefully monitored. My equal opportunities officer has advised all members of my staff of their rights and responsibilities in respect of equal opportunities legislation and departmental codes of practice concerning sexual and racial discrimination.

Wool

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is able to announce the guaranteed price for wool for the 1985–86 marketing year.

I have been glad to note that the prices of British wool have been much stronger over the last year or so, partly due to the British Wool Marketing Board's successful efforts in developing new markets for British Wool both at home and abroad.In all the circumstances, I consider that it would be reasonable to make a further increase of 9 pence in the guaranteed price for wool and it will accordingly be set at 129p/kg for the 1985 clip. This will allow producers to benefit significantly from the improved trading position whilst enabling the Board to make further repayments to the Exchequer under the stabilisation arrangements.

Education And Science

Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to the implications for staff and students of the ending of specific educational support grants.

One of the aims of the education support grant programme is to secure a limited redeployment of resources within the education service. It will be for local education authorities to decide whether to continue funding particular activities once grant support has ceased and, if so, in what form, taking into account as appropriate the effects on staff and students of their decisions.

Teacher Training

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated expenditure on in-service teacher training by local authorities in England for 1984–85.

Expenditure by local education authorities in England on in-service training for schoolteachers in 1984–85 is estimated at something approaching £100 million. This figure covers the costs to authorities of realeasing teachers to undertake training and the costs of provision made by them through their advisory services and in teachers' centres.

Market Research

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what use is made of market research by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has funded market research from time to time where this is relevant to policy needs. A recent example was a study on knowledge of drug misuse undertaken by Andrew Irving Associates and jointly funded with the Department of Health and Social Security.

Postgraduate Awards

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nationals of each member state of the European Communities have applied for, and how many have received, awards from public funds for the purposes of postgraduate study in the United Kingdom by virtue of article 7 of Council regulation (EEC) No. 1612/68, by year and award-making body.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons granted asylum in the United Kingdom, with or without refugee status, have received awards from public funds for the purpose of postgraduate study in the United Kingdom, by year and award-making body.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the bodies in the United Kingdom which make awards from public funds to postgraduate students pay no older students' allowance.

This allowance is not paid to students under the state studentships scheme administered on my behalf by the British Academy. Nor, I understand, is it paid by the Scottish Education Department nor by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland under their studentship schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the bodies in the United Kingdom which make awards from public funds to postgraduate students pay no postgraduate experience allowance.

This allowance is not paid by the Department, nor by the Scottish Education Department nor the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

Teacher Recruitment

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to seek to extend his Department's promotion and recruitment procedures, operating on the basis of merit and without reference to the ethnic origin of candidates, to the recruitment of all teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Appointments to teaching posts in maintained schools and establishments of further education are the responsibility of the local authorities and the institutions concerned. My right hon. Friend has recorded, and maintains, his view that the successful applicant for any post should be the one who in the appointing body's opinion is the most suitable for that post. This does not mean that actual patterns of recruitment cannot be improved. Hence my right hon. Friend's acceptance in his statement to the House on 14 March at column 452, that ways might be sought to increase the proportion of the teacher force recruited from ethnic minority groups.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the ethnic origin of the officer designated by his Department as equal opportunities officer.

The ethnic origin of the Department's equal opportunities officer is classified as "white".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunites in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

I am satisfied with equality of opportunities within the Department on the basis of information now available. The Department's personnel procedures are kept constantly under review and improvements are made from time to time. In pursuance of this policy, the Department will be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff (under the Government's phased programme) to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out, and the implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service announced on 9 February 1984 is being carefully monitored. The equal opportunities officer gives advice to members of staff and management on an individual basis as and when necessary.

Class Sizes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the number of classes and of pupils in classes in each local education authority with 30 and under, 31 to 35, 36 to 40 and over 40 pupils per class for primary and secondary schools in 1979, 1981 and 1984, respectively.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Embryos (Research)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the centres currently undertaking research under the auspices of the Medical Research Council on human embryos.

I understand that the Medical Research Council is currently supporting three projects involving early human embryos resulting from in vitro fertilisation. Details are as follows:

Direct support at MRC establishments:

MRC experimental embryology and teratology unit.
MRC reproductive biology unit.

Indirect support through grants to individual researchers:

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, university of Cambridge.

Attorney-General

Family Courts (Review)

asked the Attorney-General when the report of the review of family courts will be published.

I refer the hon. Lady to my answer to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 4 April at column 716.

Prime Minister

Civil Service

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 10 April 1984, Official Report, column 154, if she will compare the amount and percentage by which the Civil Service has been reduced, with manpower changes throughout the United Kingdom in (a) local government, (b) the National Health Service, (c) nationalised industries and (d) all other persons in receipt of payment of any kind including allowances, engaged in the public sector, including those listed in "Public Bodies 1984" for each year since 1979.

The available information is as follows:

Wages, salaries, etc. of public sector
	1979 £ million	1980 £ million	1981 £ million	1982 £ million	1983 £ million
Local authorities	12,440	15,544	17,888	19,200	21,199
National Health Service	4,677	6,312	7,344	7,513	8,618

Thousands headcount^*
	'000	Change '000	per cent.
Civil Service
1979	739
1980	714	–24	–3·3
1981	698	–17	–2·3
1982	671	–27	–3·8
1983	654	–18	–2·6
1984	630	–24	–3·6
Local authorities
1979	2,997
1980	2,956	–41	–1·4
1981	2,899	–57	–1·9
1982	2,865	–34	–1·2
1983	2,879	+14	+0·5
1984	2,884	+5	+0·2
National Health Service
1979	1,152
1980	1,174	+22	–1·9
1981	1,207	+33	+2·8
1982	1,227	+20	+1·7
1983	1,227	—	+0·0
1984	1,223	–4	–0·3
Nationalised industries^†
1979	1,726
1980	1,697	–29	–1·7
1981	1,618	–79	–4·7
1982	1,540	–78	–4·8
1983	1,465	–75	–4·9
1984	1,416	–49	–3·3
Other public sector^†
1979	678
1980	694	+16	+2·4
1981	691	–3	–0·4
1982	675	–16	–2·3
1983	679	+4	+0·6
1984	677	–2	–0·3
^* The figures shown relate to the mid-points of the years shown. Reductions and percentage changes are based on unrounded figures.
† To provide figures on a comparable basis, the public corporations figures exclude employees of corporations which were privatised bCore June 1984.

Sources: March 1985 Economic Trends pages 91 to 99 and Her Majesty's Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister what was the estimated total expenditure in 1984–85 and for each year since 1979 for each of (a) local government, (b) the National Health Service, (c) nationalised industries and (d) all other persons in receipt of payment of any kind, including allowances, engaged in the public sector, including those listed in "Public Bodies 1984", separately, and in total, including all pay, allowances, payments of all kinds, national insurance, superannuation, and all costs related to the employment or appointment of staff within them.

The information is as follows:

	1979 £ million	1980 £ million	1981 £ million	1982 £ million	1983 £ million
Public corporations	12,753	15,143	16,205	17,211	17,755
Her Majesty's Forces	2,548	3,047	3,387	3,692	4,022
Other central Government	4,659	5,934	6,581	7,192	7,566

Source: United Kingdom National Accounts 1984 edition.

The figures shown above include wages, salaries, employers' contributions to national insurance and superannuation payments.

asked the Prime Minister how many staff in percentage and absolute terms have been removed from each of the following categories in each year since 1979 as a result of privatisation measures: (a) local government, (b) the National Health Service, (c) nationalised industries and (d) all other persons in receipt of payment of any kind, including allowances, engaged in the public sector, including those listed in "Public Bodies 1984".

Data on staff savings from contracting out in local government and the National Health Service are not collected centrally. From 1979 to mid-1984 privatisation of public corporations reduced public sector employment by some 115,000. Details are given on page 94 of the March 1985 issue of Economic

	Weekly rate at November 1984 £	Weekly level of earnings at which basic benefit is extinguished £
1. Retirement Pension (RP)
^* Category A	35·80	107·80
^* Category B (wife)	21·50	93·50
^† Category B (window)	35·80
^† Age Addition (over 80)	0·25
^† Non-contributory over 80's
pension
Higher rate	21·50
Lower rate
Adult Dependant	12·85
Age Addition (over 80)	0·25
2. Widows' Benefits (WB)
^† Widows' Allowance	50·10
^† Widowed Mothers' Allowance	35·80
^† Widows' Pension	35·80
3. Invalidity Pension (IVP)
single	34·25	Any earnings	Small exception for permitted work with medical approval, earnings £23·50
Invalidity allowance
Higher rate	7·50
Middle rate	4·80
Lower rate	2·40
4. Unemployment Benefit (UB)
Under pension age single	28·45	2·00	On a daily basis
Over pension age single	35·80	2·00	On a daily basis
5. Sickness Benefit (SB)
Under pension age single	27·25	Any earnings	Small exception for permitted work with medical approval, earnings £23·50
Over pension age single	35·25	Any earnings
6. Maternity Allowance (MA)	27·25	Any earnings
7. Attendance Allowance
^† Higher rate	28·60
^† Lower rate	19·10
8. Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
^† single	21·50
9. Invalid Care Allowance(ICA)

Trends. Privatisation of British Telecom plc in November 1984 reduced public sector employment by a further 240,000.

Between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1984 the reduction in civil service numbers as a result of privatisation (including contracting out) was 17,000.

Benefits And Allowances

asked the Prime Minister if she will list all social benefits and allowances operated by central and local government showing the level of income at which payment ceases where applicable.

The table shows social security benefits paid by the central Government and housing benefits paid by local authorities.

	Weekly rate at November 1984 £	Weekly level of earnings at which basic benefit is extinguished £
single	21·50	12·00
10. ^† Mobility Allowance	20·00
11. ^† Child Benefit	6·85
12. ^† One Parent Benefit	4·25
13. Family Income Supplement
Prescribed amount—one child family	90·00
Increase for each additional child	10·00		Payment ceases once gross weekly earnings equal the prescribed amount
Maximum payment—one child family	23·00
Increase for each additional child	2·00
14. ^‡ Supplementary Benefit
Supplementary pension single	35·70
couple	57·10
non-householder	28·55
Long-term scale rate single	35·70
couple	57·10
non-householder 18+	28·55
non-householder 16–17	21·90
Ordinary rate single	28·05
couple	45·55
non-householder 18+	22·45
non-householder 16–17	17·30
Dependent children 18+	22·45
16–17	17·30
11–15	14·35
under 11	9·60
Blind addition	1·25
Heating additions
Higher rate	5·20
Lower rate	2·10
Central heating additions
Higher rate	4·20
Lower rate	2·10
Estate rate heating additions
Higher rate	8·40
Lower rate	4·20
Dietary additions
Lower rate	1·55
Higher rate	3·60
Kidney dialysis	10·35
Notional laundry charge	0·50
Extra bath	0·25
Board and Lodging personal expenses
Over pension age single	10·30
couple	20·60
Long term rate single	10·30
couple	20·60
Ordinary rate single	9·25
couple	18·50
Dependants 18+	9·25
16–17	5·55
11–15	4·75
under 11	3·10

	Weekly rate at November 1984 £	Weekly level of earnings at which basic benefit is extinguished £
Meals allowance (per meal)
breakfast	1·10
main meal	1·55
Increase in maximum amounts
for board and lodging single	16·15
couple	32·20
Maintenance and insurance allowance	1·80
15. Industrial Disablement Pension
^† over 18	58·40
^† under 18	35·80
^† Reduced rates—10 per cent. to 90 per cent. of basic rate	—
^† Maximum disablement gratuity (lump sum)	3,880·00
Unemployment supplement	34·25		Over £1,200 per annum
^† Increases for early onset of incapacity
Higher rate	7·50
Middle rate	4·80
Lower rate	2·40
^† Maximum special hardship allowance	23·36
^† Exceptionally severe disablement allowance	23·40
^† Industrial Death Benefit
Initial rate	50·10
Higher permanent rate	36·35
Lower permanent rate	10·74
^† Constant Attendance Allowance
Normal maximum rate	23·40
Part-time rate	11·70
Intermediate rate	35·10
Exceptional rate	46·80
16. Workmen's compensation, pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and other schemes
^† Maximum major incapacity	58·40
^† Partial disablement allowance	21·50
17. Housing Benefit
Needs allowance
single	45·10		Amounts of housing benefit are worked out by comparing income with the needs allowances. As the needs allowances vary according to individual circumstances there is no one level at which payment of benefit is extinguished
Couple/single parent	66·50
Single handicapped	50·30
Couple-one handicapped	71·70
Couple both handicapped	74·15
Pensioner addition	0·80
Dependent child addition	12·85
18. Dependency additions
For child—with IVP, RP, WB, SDA, ICA, and if claimant over pension age, with SB and UB	7·65	80·00	Earnings by spouse (or partner). Each extra £10 extinguishes further addition for child residing with beneficiary
For spouse
with SDA and ICA	12·85	59·85	for wife (or female partner)
with SDA and ICA	12·85	12·85	for husband
with MA and SB under pension age	16·80	16·80
with MA and SB over pension age	20·55	20·55
with UB under pension age	17·55	17·55
with UB over pension age	21·50	21·50

	Weekly rate at November 1984 £	Weekly level of earnings at which basic benefit is extinguished £
with IVP and unemploy-ability supplement	20·55	67·55	for wife
		20·55	for husband
with RP	21·50	68·50	for wife
		21·50	for husband
^* After retirement age (65 for women, 70 for men) earnings do not affect pension payable.
^† Not subject to any earnings rule.
^‡ People in full-time work (over 30 hours a week) are automatically excluded from receiving supplementary benefit whatever their level of income. In all other cases supplementary benefit is paid to those whose weekly income is less than their overall requirements. As these requirements are calculated according to the individual's circumstances, there is no one level of income at which payment of benefit is extinguished.

Rates

asked the Prime Minister, if she is satisfied with the operation of the consultation arrangements between industry, commerce and local authorities prior to the fixing of a new rate.

This is the first year that statutory consultations have taken place. A small number of local authorities have not co-operated as fully as we would have liked, but I am encouraged by reports of the useful consultations which have been achieved in many areas. We shall be keeping the process under review.

City Action Teams

asked the Prime Minister why city action teams do not include representatives from the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of Education and Science and the Home Office.

The Government decided that the initial priority for the city action teams should be to improve the contribution in the inner city partnership areas of those programmes of the Department of the Environment, the Department of Employment and Manpower Services Commission and the Department of Trade and Industry which directly help to foster enterprise and promote employment. Other Departments' policies and programmes are also important in these areas and they will be consulted as the work of the teams proceeds.

Standing Committee Of Chief Scientists

asked the Prime Minister whether she will instruct the Standing Committee of Chief Scientists to hold proper consultations with the director and staff of the British Geological Survey before formulating its

1. Overseas Visits
Date	Days or Part Days^*	Country	Purpose
1983
17–19 June	3	Federal Republic of Germany	European Council
19–21 September	3	Netherlands	Talks with Netherlands Government
		Federal Republic of Germany	Visit to British Forces Germany
25–30 September	6	Canada	Talks with Canadian Government and speech to Canadian Parliament
		United States of America	Talks with President Reagan
8–9 November	2	Federal Republic of Germany	Anglo/German summit
21–30 November	10	India	Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting
4–6 December	3	Greece	European Council

comments on the corporate plan of the Natural Environment Research Council; and whether she will make a statement.

No. The proper forum for discussion of the internal matters relating to the Natural Environment Research Council including its corporate plan is the council itself and the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. Departmental chief scientists are represented on both the NERC and the ABRC.

Civil Service (Secondment)

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to announce new regulations for the secondment of business men to the Civil Service.

As I told the hon. Member on 4 April at col. 713, the Civil Service Commissioners are considering with their legal advisers new procedures to ensure that future appointments on secondment are made in compliance with the Civil Service Order in Council 1982. These procedures will be introduced as soon as it is possible to do so. Until then, it is important that departments are still able to arrange new secondments. All such proposals are being referred to the commissioners and are being considered on an individual basis against the background of the provisions and discretionary powers contained in the Order in Council.

Overseas Visits

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report tables showing (a) the purpose, dates, duration and country of all overseas visits made by her since June 1983 and (b) the purpose, dates, duration, and place, including county, of all visits made by her within the United Kingdom, since June 1983.

The information is as follows.

Date	Days or Part Days^*	Country	Purpose
1984
23 January	1	France	Talks with President Mitterrand
26–27 January	2	Italy	Anglo/Italian summit
2–4 February	3	Hungary	Talks with Hungarian Government
13–14 February	2	Soviet Union	President Andropov's funeral
19–20 March	2	Belgium	European Council
17–19 April	3	Portugal	Talks with Portuguese Government
4 May	1	France	Talks with President Mitterrand
25–26 June	2	France	European Council
2–4 November	3	India	Mrs. Gandhi's funeral
29 November—1	3	France	Talks with French Government and Franco/British Council
December
3–4 December	2	Republic of Ireland	European Council
17–22 December	6	China/Hong Kong/United States of	Signing of Hong Kong agreement/local engagements/talks with
		America	President Reagan
1985
18 January	1	Federal Republic of Germany	Anglo/German summit
19–21 February	3	United States of America	Talks with President Reagan/speech to Congress
12–13 March	2	Soviet Union	President Chemenko's funeral
29–30 March	2	Belgium	European Council
4–14 April	11	Malaysia/Brunei Indonesia/Singapore/Sri Lanka/India/Saudi Arabia	Talks with Heads of Government and promotion of British political and trade interests
^* Including time spent travelling.

2. Visits within the United Kingdom^†
Date	Days or Part Days^*	Place/County	Purpose
1983
29 July	1	Cranwell/Lincolnshire	RAF Cranwell
31 August-1 September	2	Dumfries/Dumfries & Galloway Edinburgh/Lothian Beith/Strathclyde Cunninghame/Strathclyde Largs/Strathclyde Kilbarchan/Strathclyde Bridge of Weir/Strathclyde	Local engagements
18 November	1	York/North Yorkshire	Enthronement of Archbishop of York
23 December	1	Newtownards/County Down Drumadd Barracks/Armagh Aughnacloy Army Base/County Tyrone	Local engagements
1984
6 January	1	Maidstone/Kent	Local engagements
24 February	1	Coventry/Warwickshire	Local engagements
7 April	1	Penzance/Cornwall	Local engagements
13 April	1	London Docklands/Greater London	Local engagements
3 August	1	Dartford/Kent Redhill/Surrey	Local engagements
5 September	2	Farnborough/Hampshire	Air show
5–6 September	2	Edinburgh/Lothian Ratho/Lothian Livingston New Town/Lothian Dunblane/Central Kinross/Central Aviemore/Highland	Local engagements
21 September	1	Chester/Clwyd Wrexham/Clwyd	Local engagements
26 September	1	York/North Yorkshire	Local engagements
2 October	1	Liverpool/Merseyside	Local engagements
1985
11 January	1	Milton Keynes/Buckinghamshire Towcester/Northants Leicester/Leicestershire Lutterworth/Leicestershire	Local engagements
15 March	1	Henley on Thames/Oxfordshire Witney/Oxfordshire Abingdon/Oxfordshire Newbury/Berkshire Stoke Poges/Buckinghamshire	Local engagements
26 April	1	Deeside Industrial Park/Clwyd Mostyn Dock/Clwyd 'Plas Newydd'/Clwyd St. Asaph/Clwyd Abergele/Clwyd	Local engagements
^* Including time spent travelling.
† Visits where I have been a guest of Her Majesty the Queen are excluded as are political or private visits.

Wales

Government Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the equivalent for Wales of all tables referring to England that have not been previously published in the Official Report, in the Government's expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9428).

This information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

Rhymney Valley (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, column 605, 22 April, whether he will send to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney a copy of the report on Rhymney valley, and make a copy available in the Library.

As the report was not intended for publication only a few copies were printed. However, I have today placed one copy in the Library of the House.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in-so-far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes, on the basis of the information now available. To ensure equality of opportunities as far as possible, we will be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff (under the Government's phased programme) to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out, and the implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service announced on 9 February 1984 is being carefully monitored.

Home Department

Local Government (Grant Applications)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the applications for grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 which are currently awaiting decision from his Department, together with the authority which submitted the application, the date it was submitted, and an indication of when his Department's decision is expected.

Applications on which decisions had not been taken on 26 April 1985 are identified in the following table. Applications have frequently to be referred back to the local authorities for further information before decisions can be taken. It is not therefore possible to indicate when a decision can be expected in particular cases.

Applications for grant under s.11 of the Local Government Act 1966
Date of application	Authority	Number of posts
4 April 1983	ILEA	2
7 April 1983	GLC	2
3 May 1983	Tower Hamlets	2
19 May 1983	Lambeth	1
13 June 1983	South Glamorgan	2
18 October 1983	Barking	5
21 December 1983	Sheffield (part-time hours)	3,640
7 February 1984	Hackney	2
2 March 1984	West Midlands	1
2 March 1984	ILEA	3
9 March 1984	Wolverhampton	12
9 March 1984	Waltham Forest	5
15 March 1984	Hillingdon	5
16 March 1984	Redbridge	52
16 March 1984	Dudley	3
16 March 1984	Leeds (plus 400 part-time hours)	1
20 March 1984	Kensington and Chelsea	17
22 March 1984	Bedfordshire	33
26 March 1984	Calderdale	3

Date of application	Authority	Number of posts
27 March 1984	ILEA (plus 2,360 part-time hours)	1
28 March 1984	Tower Hamlets	93
28 March 1984	Newham	69
29 March 1984	Islington	163
30 March 1984	Hackney	703
30 March 1984	Hertfordshire	43
30 March 1984	Birmingham	133
9 April 1984	Bradford	1
10 April 1984	Bedfordshire	5
10 April 1984	ILEA	1
10 April 1984	Manchester	11
21 April 1984	West Midlands	5
2 April 1984	Lambeth	8
9 May 1984	ILEA	1
22 May 1984	Dudley	2
24 May 1984	ILEA	1
25 May 1984	Birmingham	4
31 May 1984	ILEA	3
5 June 1984	Birmingham	3
11 June 1984	Redbridge	1
12 June 1984	Tower Hamlets	4
18 June 1984	Bradford	2
26 June 1984	Redbridge	1
28 June 1984	Kent	1
29 June 1984	ILEA	174
2 July 1984	Kirklees	1
11 July 1984	Barking	8
13 July 1984	Birmingham	41
13 July 1984	ILEA (part-time hours)	1,450
23 July 1984	Barking	8
25 July 1984	Coventry	19
26 July 1984	Wandsworth	4
30 July 1984	Birmingham	13
31 July 1984	Hertfordshire	3
31 July 1984	Hampshire	3
6 August 1984	Avon	15
14 August 1984	Derbyshire (plus 263 hours)	29
15 August 1984	Gravesham	3
15 August 1984	Bradford	31
16 August 1984	Bradford	1
16 August 1984	Barnet	20
21 August 1984	South Glamorgan	3
28 August 1984	ILEA	1
11 September 1984	Westminster	2
11 September 1984	ILEA	1
11 September 1984	Middlesex Polytechnic	1
13 September 1984	West Midlands	10
17 September 1984	Sheffield	15
20 September 1984	Wandsworth	2
21 September 1984	Brent	2
24 September 1984	Northamptonshire	5
26 September 1984	Leicestershire	1
2 October 1984	Leeds	1
3 October 1984	Cleveland	6
9 October 1984	Lambeth	9
18 October 1984	Bedfordshire	5
22 October 1984	Nottinghamshire	2
23 October 1984	Harrow	3
23 October 1984	Bradford	42
25 October 1984	Birmingham	1
26 October 1984	Camden	2
30 October 1984	Bradford	2
30 October 1984	Trafford	6
1 November 1984	Hounslow	5
5 November 1984	Haringey	1
5 November 1984	Hackney	135
6 November 1984	Newham	4
7 November 1984	Tameside	4
8 November 1984	Waltham Forest	2
9 November 1984	Kirklees	10
19 November 1984	ILEA	9
20 November 1984	Ipswich	2
27 November 1984	Leeds	1
28 November 1984	Kent	1
28 November 1984	Bradford	1
4 December 1984	Calderdale (plus 2,207 part-time hours)	2

Date of application	Authority	Number of posts
10 December 1984	Birmingham	40
10 December 1984	Avon	5
10 December 1984	Camden	1
14 December 1984	Bradford	9
18 December 1984	Kirklees	2
20 December 1984	Northamptonshire	3
21 December 1984	Brent	1
21 December 1984	Merseyside	2
31 December 1984	Ealing	1
8 January 1985	Newham	1
8 January 1985	Cleveland	1
10 January 1985	Leeds	3
14 January 1985	Coventry	3
14 January 1985	Kirklees	3
14 January 1985	Oldham	2
16 January 1985	Bradford	1
17 January 1985	Kirklees	1
17 January 1985	Hammersmith	2
18 January 1985	Avon	1
21 January 1985	Nottingham City	2
24 January 1985	Birmingham	1
25 January 1985	Leeds	4
28 January 1985	Hampshire	7
30 January 1985	Richmond	3
30 January 1985	Coventry	24
31 January 1985	Devon	2
8 February 1985	Birmingham	9
11 February 1985	Birmingham	3
14 February 1985	Camden	1
15 February 1985	St. Albans	2
15 February 1985	Ealing	166
19 February 1985	Manchester	3
20 February 1985	Lambeth	2
21 February 1985	Westminster	2
22 February 1985	Brent	4
22 February 1985	Redditch	1
25 February 1985	Bradford	10
25 February 1985	South Glamorgan	2
27 February 1985	Oxford City	1
28 February 1985	Middlesbrough	1
4 March 1985	Surrey	4
4 March 1985	Waltham Forest	2
6 March 1985	Bradford	11
7 March 1985	ILEA	1
8 March 1985	Northamptonshire	1
8 March 1985	Kent (adjustment of approved pan-time hours)
8 March 1985	Trafford	14
8 March 1985	Lancashire	4
11 March 1985	Wandsworth	2
12 March 1985	Lambeth	38
12 March 1985	ILEA	2
13 March 1985	Southwark	8
13 March 1985	Derby City	1
14 March 1985	Lancashire	8
15 March 1985	Ipswich	3
19 March 1985	Bolton	2
21 March 1985	ILEA	3
25 March 1985	Barking	1
27 March 1985	Rotherham	1
27 March 1985	Leicester City	1
27 March 1985	Oxfordshire	14
29 March 1985	Coventry	10
29 March 1985	Cleveland	1
29 March 1985	Croydon	1
2 April 1985	Sheffield (plus 1,010 part-time hours)	6
2 April 1985	Bradford	3
3 April 1985	ILEA	1
4 April 1985	Reading	1
4 April 1985	Ealing	3
10 April 1985	Nottinghamshire	1
10 April 1985	Cleveland	1
12 April 1985	Birmingham	11
12 April 1985	Bradford	1
15 April 1985	City of Cardiff	2
Totals: 169. Applications for 2,577 posts plus 11,330 part-time hours

Note: Part-time hours are annual totals.

National Freight Corporation, Sheffield (Fire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services has investigated the fire-fighting procedures adopted by the South Yorkshire fire service during the fire at the Sheffield warehouse of the National Freight Corporation on 14 to 16 December 1984.

The South Yorkshire fire service has sent a full report on this fire to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services which is being studied to see whether there are any general points which should be brought to the attention of other fire authorities. The Fire Service Inspectorate is also co-operating with the investigating team led by the Health and Safety Executive which is examining the causes of the fire and precautions taken against exposure. It is understood that the executive intends to publish the team's report.

Magistrates' Courts (Children And Young Persons) Rules

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to undertake the full review of the Magistrates' Courts (Children and Young Persons) Rules referred to in the Government reply to the Second Report of the Social Services Committee, Session 1983–84, Cmnd. 9298.

The review of the rules will go ahead when the outcome of the review of the substantive child care law which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services put in hand following the committee's report is sufficiently clear. As was indicated in the Government's response to the report, new rules will need to reflect any changes which may be made in the substantive law, and the current review is addressing a number of issues that are relevant to court procedure.

Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for each year since 1973, how many applications were received for settlement in the United Kingdom, by nationality of applicant; and, for each nationality, what were the reasons for application, the numbers admitted or refused admission and the reasons for refusal of admission, and the average waiting time between application and interview and between interview and admission;(2) for each year since 1973, how many applications for settlement in the United Kingdom were received from husbands or fiancés of women settled in the United Kingdom; what were the nationalities of the men concerned; and, for each nationality, what were the numbers admitted or refused admission and the reasons for the refusal of admission.

The readily available information is as follows.Information on applications for entry clearance leading to settlement in the United Kingdom is available only for the Indian sub-continent from 1977 and is given up to 1983 in tables 5 to 9 of the latest annual Command Paper "Control of Immigration Statistics: United Kingdom 1983" (Cmnd 9246). Corresponding information for 1984 is given in tables 8 to 10 of Statistical Bulletin 5/85 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1984" and in tables 1 and 2 following. The waiting times given are to the first interview; applications are decided at the first interview unless further enquiries need to be made or a refusal is followed by an appeal, in which case the time taken depends on the particular circumstances of the application.Reasons for refusals of applications are available only for husbands and male fiancés from 1983 and are given in table 3. Information for all countries on the numbers of persons admitted to and granted settlement in the United Kingdom is published annually by nationality and category in the Command paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics" (Tables 1 to 4 of the latest issue), the 1984 issue is due to be published in June.

Table 3
Reasons for refusal of entry clearance for leave to enter the United Kingdom for husbands and male fiancés in the Indian sub-continent
Number of persons^*
	Husbands		Male fiancés		Total
	1983	1984	1983	1984	1983	1984
Primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom
(a) Solely for this reason	80	220	420	660	500	890
(b) In combination with one or more other reasons	10	10	210	80	220	90
Solely because couple did not intend to live together	10	+	10	+	10	+
Solely because couple had not met	+	−	100	10	100	10
Solely because wife/fiancé was not a British citizen	30	20	30	10	60	30
Other reasons and combinations	20	20	40	70	60	90
Total†	150	280	810	840	970	1,120
^* Rounded to the nearest 10; + indicates 5 or fewer; −indicates nil.
† The total includes a small number of cases for which the reason for refusal was not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of passengers detained overnight under Immigration Act powers during 1984, by nationality; and whether he will give, for each nationality the proportion of total passengers so detained.

The information requested, excluding the numbers of those detained in Queen's building, Heathrow for which similar information is not available, is as follows:

Nationality	Number detained overnight	Number of persons detained per 1,000 arrivals of that nationality
Afghanistan	3	^*
Algeria	50	2·25
Antigua	3	^*
Argentina	8	0·60
Australia	13	0·04
Austria	11	0·10
Bahamas	1	^*

Table 1
Applications for entry clearances for immediate settlement made by wives, children and others in the Indian sub-continent by category of applicant, 1984
				Number of persons
	Newly received	Granted	Refused	Outstanding at the end of 1984
Wives	5,370	3,710	1,160	5,100
Children	9,620	5,300	3,830	13,100
Other dependant relatives	1,150	450	360	1,100
Others for settlement	110	80	10	60

Table 2
Applications for entry clearances for leave to enter the United Kingdom made by husbands and male fiancés in the Indian sub-continent by country 1984
	Newly received	Granted	Refused	Outstanding at the end of 1984
Bangladesh	100	20	20	230
India	1,400	640	660	1,400
Pakistan	1,300	680	440	1,700

Nationality	Number detained overnight	Number of persons detained per 1,000 arrivals of that nationality
Bangladesh	157	6·40
Barbados	1	0·12
Benin	1	^*
Bermuda	2	^*
Bolivia	2	^*
Brazil	12	0·23
British Overseas citizens	3	0·18
Bulgaria	1	0·29
Cameroon	3	^*
Canada	6	0·01
Cape Verde	1	^*
Central African Republic	1	^*
Chile	6	0·48
China	10	1·15
Colombia	57	2·70
Cuba	10	10·09
Cyprus	18	0·51
Denmark	1	^*
Dominica	2	^*
Ecuador	2	^*

Nationality	Number detained overnight	Number of persons detained per 1,000 arrivals of that nationality
Egypt	7	0·12
Ethiopia	8	1·17
Finland	5	0·06
France	3	^*
Gambia	41	^*
Germany (FRG)	8	^*
Ghana	716	20·12
Greece	16	^*
Grenada	1	^*
Guyana	4	0·67
Holland	4	^*
Hong Kong (BDTC)	42	0·75
Iceland	3	^*
India	454	2·33
Indonesia	3	0·20
Iran	138	2·32
Iraq	60	2·98
Israel	96	0·66
Italy	5	^*
Ivory Coast	6	^*
Jamaica	11	0·38
Japan	3	0·01
Jordan	12	0·45
Kenya	16	0·62
Korea (South)	22	^*
Kuwait	1	0·03
Lebanon	20	0·48
Liberia	5	^*
Libya	58	7·39
Malawi	1	^*
Malaysia	25	0·33
Mali	2	^*
Malta	15	0·41
Mauritius	7	0·38
Mexico	10	0·26
Morocco	49	2·73
Mozambique	5	^*
Nepal	3	^*
New Zealand	5	0·06
Nicaragua	1	^*
Nigeria	741	4·31
Norway	4	0·02
Oman	1	^*
Palistan	506	4·73
Peru	5	0·57
Philippines	64	2·41
Poland	20	0·52
Portugal	83	1·06
Romania	6	1·90
St. Lucia	1	^*
Saudi Arabia	10	0·18
Senegal	2	^*
Seychelles	1	^*
Sierra Leone	17	2·33
Singapore	5	0·14
Somalia	4	2·39
South Africa	6	0·05
Spain	113	0·38
Sri Lanka	156	5·09
Sudan	18	0·91
Surinam	2	^*
Sweden	11	0·03
Switzerland	10	0·04
Syria	22	1·30
Tanzania	12	1·00
Thailand	9	0·44
Togo	1	^*
Tunisia	50	4·58
Turkey	143	2·82
Trinidad and Tobago	2	0·90
Uganda	27	3·34
Uruguay	2	0·56
USA	113	0·04
USSR	2	0·21

Nationality	Number detained overnight	Number of persons detained per 1,000 arrivals of that nationality
Venezuela	6	0·60
Yemen	6	^*
Yugoslavia	20	0·55
Zaire	2	^*
Zambia	8	0·71
Zimbabwe	14	0·94
Nationality doubtful	47	0·64
Total	4,548	0·59
^* Separate totals are not kept of arriving passengers of these nationalities; in aggregate the proportion of these nationals detained was 0·74 per 1,000 arivals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the review of the instructions for the staff of the immigration and nationality department to be completed; and whether he will publish the results.

We are pressing ahead with the review but my right hon. and learned Friend cannot set a date for its completion. The possibility of publication of some of the instructions will be considered as part of the review.

Victim Support Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent of direct funding by his Department of locally-run victim support schemes and on the appointment of regional liaison officers for the National Association of Victim Support Schemes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the recent Government reply (Cmnd. 9457) to the report of the Home Affairs Committee on compensation and support for victims of crime (HC 43).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total cost of the victim support scheme nationally; and whether his Department collects information on the number of references made each year by local schemes.

We have made no estimate of the total cost of victims support schemes. We rely on the National Association of Victims Support Schemes for information about the number of cases dealt with by local schemes. I understand that the number in 1983 was 65,254 and in 1984 about 100,000.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department of what sex and ethnic origins are the officers designated by his Department as equal opportunities officers.

Both male and white.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes, on the basis of the information now available. To ensure equality of opportunity as far as possible, my Department will be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff (under the Government's phased programme) to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out, and the implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service, announced on 9 February 1984, is being carefully monitored. The equal opportunities officers have encouraged the provision of advice to staff generally on the Civil Service's policy as an equal opportunity employer, on the scope for part-time working, job-sharing and re-instatement, and on sexual harassment, and to all line managers on their responsibilities for ensuring racial and sexual equality. They are also concerned with guidance to staff involved in recruitment, selection, promotion, career management and training.

Mrs Anne Francis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prison, and under what conditions, Mrs. Anne Francis, of Abergavenny, is serving her sentence of one year's imprisonment.

Mrs. Francis is on normal location at Cookham Wood, a closed women's prison in Kent.

Civil Defence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the amount of money spent per annum on civil defence in each member country of the European Economic Community, including the United Kingdom; and what information he has as to the respective figures for (a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 30 years ago.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 11 March at column 28.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to produce a film on planning for peacetime emergencies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 8 March at column 627.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to make funds available to local authorities for the maintenance of emergency centres.

Not at present: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 8 March at column 627.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria by which grant applications for funds to build or improve emergency centres under the Civil Defence Regulations 1983 are assessed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 8 March at column 627.

Transport

Metropolitan Districts (Transport Policies)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to issue any guidance to passenger transport joint boards in metropolitan county areas, in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils, concerning the interpretation of public passenger transport policies and highway, traffic and land use policies of metropolitan districts in their areas.

It will be necessary for the new passenger transport authorities to liaise closely with metropolitan district councils in matters relating to highways, traffic and land use policies, and their effect on public transport, but at this stage we see no need for further guidance. If the need arises, guidance can be given.

Welsh Highland Light Railway Company

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many offers of purchase have been made to him in respect of his stock-holdings in the Welsh Highland Light Railway Company.

Five offers were made to purchase my right hon. Friend's holdings of debenture stock. It has now been sold to the highest bidder.

Severn Bridge

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the amount collected in tolls on the Severn bridge in the last full financial year for which figures are available; what was the cost of collection; and what percentage this is of the overall amount collected.

The information requested is as follows.

Financial year 1983–84
	£
Tolls levied	2,843,710
Cost of collection	607,220
Percentage	21 per cent.

Tolls received have been less than in 1982–83 due to traffic management restrictions on the bridge. For 17 days all east-bound traffic travelled toll free in order that there was no back up on the bridge itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the original total cost of constructing the Severn bridge; and what percentage of the accumulated interest charges remains outstanding.

£14·4 million, and 72 per cent. at 31 March 1984. The components of the £14·4 million construction cost are detailed in the published account 1966–67.

Singapore International Airlines (Manchester)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 19 April, Official Report, column 281, if he will give the reasons why the Manchester services for which Singapore International Airlines has applied do not fall within the terms of the existing air services arrangements; and if he will place a copy of these arrangements in the Library.

Air services between the United Kingdom and Singapore are governed by the air services agreement of 12 January 1971 as amended by exchanges of notes in 1976, 1978 and 1980. The agreement and subsequent exchanges have been published in the treaty series as Cmnd. 4619, 6622, 7431 and 7988. Copies are in the Library.The agreement as amended provides for SIA as a designated airline of Singapore to be entitled to operate scheduled services from Singapore over certain named intermediate points to London. There is no provision in the agreement for services to Manchester. As I told my hon. Friend on 19 April, however, consultations between the aeronautical authorities will take place early next month to consider the Singaporean request for permission to operate such services.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the sex and ethnic origin of the officer designated by his Department as equal opportunities officer;(2) whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

I will answer these questions shortly.

Rail Closures (Yorkshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reject the proposed closure of link lines between Halifax and Huddersfield until such time as British Rail has provided a new service from Sheffield to Huddersfield to Bradford.

I am now considering the report which has been submitted by the transport users' consultative

	^ Holdback Penalty*				Rate Limitation 1985–86
Authority	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	Expenditure level	Rate limit
Authority	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million	Pence
Birmingham	—	—	—	—	N/A	N/A
Hackney	—	1·359	1·097	1·930	82·315	147·18
Islington	—	1·194	0·060	17·514	85·564	112·07
Lambeth	—	—	2·175	14·183	113·558	107·57
Liverpool	5·479	6·517	0·800	3·193	N/A	N/A
Manchester	—	5·261	0·611	—	N/A	N/A
Salford	—	—	1·085	—	N/A	N/A
Newcastle	—	5·046	5·549	5·239	N/A	N/A
Gateshead	—	—	2·666	0·392	N/A	N/A
^* Figures from the latest supplementary report for each year.

Rateable Values

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to prevent local authorities increasing the rateable value of properties when these have been improved by the provision of energy-saving measures or appliances.

committee for Yorkshire and in due course I will decide whether to give consent to the closure having taken into account all the relevant factors.

Environment

Somerset Levels And Moors

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the strategy for the Somerset levels and moors, published by Somerset county council, a copy of which has been sent to him.

I welcome the publication of Somerset county council's recent strategy document for the Somerset levels and moors, which represents the culmination of several years painstaking research and consultation. Somerset county council hopes that it will provide a framework for harmonizing the various interests of agriculture, land drainage, nature conservation, landscape, peat extraction, archeology and recreation and tourism. I wish the council success in its implementation.

Merseyside

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Merseyside.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on Thursday 25 April 1985 at column 549.

Inner City Partnership Areas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the inner city partnership areas which fall within local authorities which have been subject to rate capping or rate support grant penalties; and if he will give details of the relevant penalty or rate limitation and the year in which it occurred.

The information is in the table.

No. Nearly all the common energy saving measures such as loft insulation, double glazing and cavity wall insulation already have little or no effect on rateable values. Moreover, section 21 of the Local Government Act 1974 provides that central heating systems installed after 1 April 1974 and any minor improvements, including energy saving improvements, carried out from that date which would have had the effect of raising the gross value by £30 or less, will not normally result in an increase in the rateable value of a dwelling until the next revaluation.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Broadly speaking, yes. My Department is reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure equality of opportunity on the grounds of both race and sex. It is also participating in the service-wide development of policy and the creation of an adequate data-base on which the success of such policies can be evaluated. The Department's equal opportunities officers play a leading role in such work and promulgate appropriate guidance and instruction. All staff have been advised of the Department's general policy on race and sex equality through office circulars published in November 1984 and March 1985.

Single Women (Accommodation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many single women between the ages of 16 and 18 years were refused accommodation by councils and housing associations in the last five years for which records are available; and, of these, how many and what percentage were subsequently offered accommodation as a result of becoming single mothers.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of people living in council or housing association accommodation in the last five years for which records are available were single mothers between the ages of 16 and 18 years at the time when the accommodation was originally allocated to them.

This information is not available.

Pield Heath Nurseries (Appeal)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the outcome of the appeal by Costain Homes Ltd. and Milton Hardings Ltd. against the decision of the London borough of Hillingdon in respect of Pield Heath Nurseries has still not been determined.

The proposals raise matters of some complexity requiring careful consideration. Once these are clarified, a decision will be issued.

Ascension Island (Airport)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest cost estimate for the new airport apron, hangars and accommodation for service men at Ascension Island.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 March at column 149.

Falkland Islands (Airport)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown of the £119 million spent at Mount Pleasant for new Army facilities.

As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member of 22 October at column 490 there are two phases to the provision of the Army facilities at Mount Pleasant. The current estimates for phase I and II at September 1984 prices stand at £25 million arid £94 million respectively.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanism will be employed to ensure that London boroughs adhere to the Greater London development plan in the transitional period between the proposed abolition of the Greater London council and the commencement of the unitary development plan system.

The GLDP will have the full weight of statute behind it until superseded by adopted unitary development plans. Planning applications constituting departures from the GLDP which boroughs propose to allow will be referred to my right hon. Friend for him to decide whether they should be called in for determination.

Crown Court, Reading

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made over discussions on the siting of the new Crown court for Reading; and if he will make a statement.

Officials of the Property Services Agency and the Lord Chancellor's Department had preliminary and without prejudice discussions about this matter with officers of the Berkshire county council on 27 March 1985. Further such discussions are expected to take place shortly.

South-East (Planning Co-Ordination)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has held with the London Boroughs Association and the London and southeast regional planning conference regarding amendments to the arrangements for strategic planning co-ordination in the south-east;(2) what discussions he has had with the London Boroughs Association and the London and south-east regional planning conference about amendments to his proposals for a London planning commission.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government met representatives of the London and south-east regional planning conference (known as SERPLAN) on 11 December and my noble Friend, the Minister of State, met representatives of that body on 22 April. My right hon. Friend is arranging to meet the LBA shortly.

Local Government Bill

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply on 7 March, OfficialReport, column 544, why his Department took until 23 January before replying to the Association of London Borough planning officers' letter of 16 November 1984.

The letter from the Association of London Borough Planning Officers dated 16 November followed a discussion between my Department and representatives of the association on 5 October 1984 and it was assumed that the letter was to record the association's views. Following the discussion in Standing Committee G on 17 and 22 January, a further meeting was suggested by my Department to pursue the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply on 7 March, Official Report, column 544, what was the result of his Department's offer to meet the Association of London Borough Planning Officers to discuss the planning proposals in the Local Government Bill.

There has been no reply from the association to my Department's letter of 23 January 1985, to which I referred in the answer to the hon. Member on 7 March, but my officials have been in touch with the association to arrange a meeting.

London Docklands Development Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what programme for infrastructure works and reclamation the London Docklands Development Corporation has for land within the London Docklands (East Docklands) Compulsory Purchase Order 1985; how the programme is phased and over what period; which sites are included in each phase; and what is the cost of each phase;(2) in respect of how much land within the London Docklands (East Docklands) Compulsory Purchase Order 1985 the London Docklands Development Corporation has specific proposals.

The LDDC published its draft development framework for the royal docks in January 1985. This presents a strategic framework for infrastructure and reclamation works which will provide the context for future development. Public consultation is now in progress. The corporation is discussing a number of individual development initiatives for the docks within this framework and, once their viability has been assessed, details will be provided to the local authorities and other interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how much land within the London Docklands Development Corporation area, not acquired by the London Docklands Development Corporation, was either newly developed or in the process of development by 31 December 1984.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in respect of how much of the land acquired by the London Docklands Development Corporation within the Royal Victoria dock the London Docklands Development Corporation has specific proposals; and what are these specific proposals;(2) what programme for infrastructure or reclamation works the London Docklands Development Corporation has for land acquired by it within the Royal Victoria dock; how this programme is phased; and what is the cost of each phase.

The details of the Royal Victoria dock infrastructure programme and its phasing, will be confirmed once the consultation programme on the royal docks development framework is complete. The LDDC's recently published Operational Plan makes the following provision for the royal docks area, which chiefly covers work within the Royal Victoria dock and its immediate area:

	£ million
1985–86	4·0
1986–87	7·2
1987–88	9·4

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the land acquired by the London Docklands Development Corporation on which new development had taken place, or had started by 31 December 1984, was subject to works by the London Docklands Development Corporation before development could take place; and at what cost.

This information is not available in the form requested. However, 77 per cent. of the land disposed by the corporation up to 31 March required infrastructure works before disposal. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave him on 15 April 1985 at column 122 and 20 February 1985 at column 488 about costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total value of contracts and the number of consultants retained by the London Docklands Development Corporation in each year since its creation.

I will answer this question shortly.

Local Government Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list all the applications under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act which were outstanding on 25 April and the date on which the applications had been received;(2) if he will list each consent applied for under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act by the Greater London council and each of the metropolitan county councils and give the date the application was made, together, where appropriate, with the date on which consent was granted;(3) how many staff are employed, and what are their grades, by his Department to process consent applications under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act.

I shall reply shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received relating to section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act.

Numerous representations have been received, not all of which were relevant to the determination of particular applications for consent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about delays in granting consent for applications received under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

All applications are considered carefully and expeditiously on their individual merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from prospective purchasers of properties requiring consent under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Numerous representations have been received. Many involved transactions for which no application for consent had been received from the authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to ensure that all consent applications under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 are processed within one month of submission.

Sufficient to ensure that all applications are considered expeditiously on their individual merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consent applications under

Number of applications by value (£)
Authority	Not specified	Under £100	£100 to £999	£1,000 to £9,999	£10,000 to £99,999	£100,000 to £1 million	Over £1 million
Greater London council	365	190	213	648	450	60	5
Greater Manchester county council	38	97	103	181	123	8	—
Inner London education authority	180	527	—	—	—	—	—
Merseyside county council	57	34	30	51	7	4	—
South Yorkshire county council	105	109	68	116	36	2	—
Tyne and Wear county council	3	20	17	64	22	1	—
West Midlands county council	36	114	51	180	121	7	1
West Yorkshire county council	64	32	26	59	34	3	—
All Authorities	848	1,123	508	1,299	793	85	6

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consent applications under each of section 7, section 8 and section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act have been refused for each of the metropolitan county councils, the Greater London council and the Inner London education authority.

None, but consent has been withheld in some cases pending receipt of further information or assurances from the applicant authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the longest period for which a case submitted under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act remained with his Department before consent was given.

137 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many consent applications citing clause 89 of the Local Government Bill have been received from each of the metropolitan county councils, the Greater London council and the Inner London education authority;

sections 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 submitted by the Greater London council before 1 February 1984 are still awaiting written consent.

Three. In each case the delay is due to the GLC's failure to supply further information requested to enable proper consideration to be given to the application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consent applications under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act are still being considered by his Department.

1,065.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consent applications for the Greater London council and each of the metropolitan county councils under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act were for a value of less than (a) £100, (b) between £100 and £1,000, (c) between £1,000 and £10,000, (d) between £10,000 and £100,000, (e) between £100,000 and £1 million and (f) over £1 million, respectively.

Financial considerations are riot always a material factor in determining applications under the Act and such details have not been supplied or sought in every case. The information requested is as follows:(2) how many consent applications have been received under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act from each of the metropolitan county councils, the Greater London council and the Inner London education authority;(3) how many consent applications have been received under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act from each of the metropolitan county councils, the Greater London council and the Inner London education authority;(4) how many consent applications have been received under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim. Provisions) Act from each of the metropolitan county councils and the Greater London council;(5) how many consent applications citing clause 90 of the Local Government Bill have been received from each of the metropolitan county councils, the Greater London council and the Inner London education authority.

Details are set out in the table.

Number of Applications received up to 25 April 1985
Authority	Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984			Local Government Bill		Total
Authority	Section 7	Section 8	Section 9	Clause 89	Clause 90	Total
GLC	140	1,931	195	10	21	2,297
Greater Manchester	16	550	94	5	11	676
ILEA	24	707	13	—	—	744
Merseyside	10	183	29	—	2	224
South Yorkshire	13	436	105	—	44	598
Tyne and Wear	364	127	45	1	—	537
West Midlands	46	510	107	—	5	668
West Yorkshire	12	218	45	—	—	275
Total	625	4,662	633	16	83	6,019

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to reach a decision on the application for consent under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act in respect of the women's peace bus;(2) when he exects to reach a decision on the application for consent under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act in respect of the London lesbian and gay centre;(3) when he expects to reach a decision on the application for consent under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act in respect of Interights;(4) when he expects to reach a decision on the application for consent in respect of Spare Rib under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act;(5) when he expects to reach a decision on the application for consent under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act in respect of Searchlight.

As soon as possible.

Turtle Products

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the take-up of import permits for turtle products in each complete year since 1979; and what were the products and their values.

For each complete year since 1979 import permits granted for turtle products have been taken up as follows:

Year	Number of permits used
1979	10
1980	5
1981	18
1982	39
1983	11
1984	32

These permits related to various products, including meat, bones, handbags, shells and tortoiseshell items. The statistics kept by my Department do not include the value of these products.

Whale Products

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the take-up of import permits for whale products in each complete year since 1979, the products imported, and their value.

For each complete year since 1979 import permits granted for whale products have been taken up as follows:

Year	Number of permits used
1979	6
1980	15
1981	11
1982	12
1983	5
1984	9

These permits related to various products, including teeth, bone, tusk, blood, blubber, powder, sperm, sperm oil and spermaceti wax. The statistics kept by my Department do not include the value of these products.

Merseyside

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his visit to Merseyside on 22 and 23 April; and what practical and financial assistance to Liverpool will result from it.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1985, c. 549.]: I visited Merseyside on 22 and 23 April 1985 to review progress on some of the intiatives launched in the area in recent years.I arrived on the evening of 22 April to attend one of the regular meetings that Halton borough council hold with members of the local business community at the invitation of the leader of the council. I offered to consider urban programme help with premises for a proposed new development agency for the borough. On the morning of 23 April I held a press conference in Liverpool where I made a statement and answered questions about the Liverpool city action team.I then visited the site of the former Courtaulds factory at Aintree which is now in the hands of private developers who, with the help of derelict land grant, are reclaiming the site for industrial use. I was pleased to learn that jobs with the firms on the industrial estate now nearly equals the jobs lost when Courtaulds closed.I later visited Cammell Laird (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Birkenhead and met the managing director and the shop stewards' committee. I was also able to see work in progress on the Type 42 destroyer, HMS Edinburgh, which they are constructing in their yard.After lunch, I toured the Liverpool freeport where I met the freeport manager and representatives of the two companies established within the freeport area. One, a textile firm already employs about forty people most of whom were unemployed before the freeport was established.The visit enabled me to satisfy myself at first hand that the substantial public funds made available to these projects are being used to best effect.The matter of Liverpool city council's budget was not discussed during the visit. I have made it quite clear on numerous occasions that I am not prepared to re-open discussions on this year's rate support grant. The responsibility for setting a legal budget rests fairly and squarely with the city council.

Energy

Coal Industry Dispute

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if when he next meets the chairman of the National Coal Board, he will discuss the numbers of miners dismissed by the board during the 1984–85 strike.

No.

Renewable Resources

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's policy on renewable energy resources; and if he will make a statement.

I refer to the answer given earlier today to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman).

Oil-Fired Generating Capacity (Conversion)

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, he proposes to discuss the conversion of oil-fired generating capacity to coal.

It is for the CEGB to consider whether, in the light of all the relevant factors, it should invest in the conversion of any of its oil-fired stations to coal. I will discuss with the chairman any specific proposals made by the board.

Energy Efficiency Project

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress in energy efficiency projects within Government Departments including his own.

As a result of my initiatives there is increased pressure on Government Departments to improve energy efficiency in the activities they influence.

Coal Industry (Conciliation And Consultation)

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied that the normal processes of conciliation and consultation are being carried out in the coal industry.

The operation of consultation and conciliation procedures within the coal industry are matters for the National Coal Board.

Colliery Closure Review Procedure

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss implementation of the revised colliery closure review procedure.

I understand from the National Coal Board that a sub-committee of the Coal Industry National Consultative Committee, set up to discuss the implementation of a modified colliery review procedure, has now had its first meeting. The committee consists of representatives of the three main coal industry unions—NUM, NACODS and BACM—and the National Coal Board. I hope their discussions will lead to early agreement.

Miners (Working Conditions)

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of the National Coal Board since the ending of the miners' strike concerning the working conditions of miners.

The National Coal Board has made clear that, as work resumes following the strike, safety must be the prime consideration.

Electricity Prices

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the present mode of fixing electricity prices to the consumer.

I have received no representations recently on this matter.

Mining Industry Manpower

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate his Department has made of the total manpower in the mining industry by the end of 1985.

The board is undertaking a thorough review of the damage done by the strike and its options for the future. No estimate is yet possible of the total manpower of the industry by the end of the year.

National Coal Board (Redundancies)

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has had discussions with the chairman of the National Coal Board on the number of redundancies likely in the year 1985–86.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Orme).

North Sea Oil

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of United Kingdom North sea oil is refined within the United Kingdom; how many jobs there are in United Kingdom refineries; what is the regional breakdown of this figure; and how these figures compare with the figures in May 1979.

I refer to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands). A regional breakdown is not readily available.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the sex and ethnic origin of the officer designated by his Department as equal opportunities officer.

The equal opportunities officer designated by my Department is male and is of white European ethnic origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes on the basis of the information now available. To ensure equality of opportunities so far as possible, we will be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff under the Government's phased programme to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out. The implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service, announced on 9 February 1984, is being carefully monitored. An equal opportunities officer has been designated to co-ordinate non-discrimination policy in my Department and a joint management/trade union committee has been formed to review progress on this issue.

Scotland

Crofter Housing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now abandon the policy of refusing grant and loan for crofter housing to single men resident with their parents.

Each application for housing assistance is considered on its merits but assistance is not generally given if the applicant is already satisfactorily housed within working distances of the croft. Assistance will be given, regardless of marital status, if there is a demonstrated need for the provision of a house to enable the croft to be worked.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if will now increase the amount of grant and loan for crofting houses.

No.

Local Authority Spending

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reach a decision on selective action against certain overspending councils.

I am still examining the budget returns of authorities and hope to reach decisions soon.

Forestry Reserves

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the area covered by afforestation in the United Kingdom in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980 and his estimate of expected life of reserves of current rates of extraction.

The area of woodland in each of these years was as follows:

Year	Area (hectares)
1950	1,525,000
1960	1,700,000
1970	1,880,000
1980	2,180,000

These figures include unproductive woodland.

Woodlands are a renewable resource and, given their effective management, the life of timber reserves should be infinite.

Norway Pout

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Her Majesty's Government will make it its policy at the European Economic Community Council of Fisheries Ministers, to support the reversion to a 10 per cent. level of the Norway pout by-catch.

Yes.

Herons

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for licences to kill herons were received in 1983, 1984 and so far in 1985; how many licences were granted; what were the locations; how many birds were allowed to be killed in each case; how many were actually killed; what deterrent advice was given; and what were the reasons for granting and refusing licences.

The details are as follows:

a. Applications received, 1983: 5, 1984: 6, 1985: 4

b. Licences granted, 1983: 5, 1984: 6, 1985: Nil so far

c. Locations (by admibernistrative region)

1983
Dumfries and Galloway	1
Highland	1
Tayside	2
Fife	1
TOTAL	5
1984:
Dumfries and Galloway	2
Highland	1
Tayside	3
TOTAL	6

d. No limits were placed on the numbers of birds to be killed.

e. Numbers killed under licence:

	Location	Number
1983
	Dumfries and Galloway	16
	Highland	3
	Tayside	13
	Fife	2
	TOTAL	34
	1984:	34
	Dumfries and Galloway	28
	Highland	2
	Tayside	14
	TOTAL	44

f. The advice of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was made generally available to all applicants for licences.

g. Licences were issued in 1983 and 1984 to prevent damage to framed trout stocks. The applications for licences for 1985 are under consideration.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes. The implementation of the programme of action on equal opportunities for women in the Civil Service is being progressed in my Department by a joint management and trade union group and advice is being given to staff as matters are agreed by the group. No new advice on race discrimination has lately been given to staff.

Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the approximate cost of granting relief to proprietor managed businesses in Scotland in order to restrict the increase in their commercial rates bill for 1985–86 to an amount not exceeding (a) 125 per cent., (b) 133⅓ per cent. and (c) 150 per cent. of their corresponding 1984–85 rates bill.

Entries on the valuation roll do not permit identification of properties which might be in use by owner-managed businesses, so the information on which to base the estimates requested is not available.

Morbidity

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in accordance with the Croham directive, he will publish all background papers originating in his Department on the subject of the methodology of the Lenihan investigation into morbidity in the Denny, Bonnybridge and Larbert area; and if he will make a statement.

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the Crohan directive on the publication of official papers containing factual and analytical material used as the background to major policy studies. The Lenihan review group was an independent body and its members were free to determine what methodology should be used for conducting their review. No Departmental guidance was given to them on this matter.

Fishermen (Fuel Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will estimate the cost of cutting the present price of marine gas oil charged to fishing vessel owners in order to reduce that cost by 25 pence per gallon;(2) if he has any information on the weekly fuel bill cost of a fishing vessel of 80 feet in length;(3) what information he has as to the cost of one gallon of marine fuel oil for fishing vessels in the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and the lastest available figures for 1985;(4) what is the amount of rebate granted to fishing vessels when purchasing marine gas oil; and whether value added tax on the purchase of this commodity is recoverable by the vessel owner.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 April 1985, c. 736]: I estimate that, for the Scottish fleet, the cost of cutting the price of gas oil by 25 pence per gallon for a year would be between £6 million and £8 million.The amount of fuel used by individual vessels varies with engine size, fishing method and distance of the grounds from the home post, but a typical 80 foot seiner would use at least 1,000 gallons of gas oil per week at a current cost of about £1,000.Fuel oil prices vary from port to port and from supplier to supplier. The following are typical prices for gas oil in Peterhead—

April of Year	Pence per gallon (including duty)
1980	65
1981	73
1982	83
1983	83
1984	87
1985	103

These prices would generally attract discounts, the levels of which have fluctuated over the years. I understand that currently a discount of about 8 pence per gallon is common.Full relief from excise duty (normally 3½ pence per gallon) is allowed on marine gas oil used on board British registered fishing boats. This fuel is normally zero-rated for value added tax purposes.

Employment

Equal Opportunities

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what methods are used by the Manpower Services Commission in its pursuit of an equal opportunities policy and in encouraging the participation of all eligible youngsters in mode A schemes.

The commission encourages all young people, irrespective of sex, race, or disability, to consider the full range of opportunities available under the youth training scheme. It is the responsibility of the referral agencies, such as careers offices, to identify the training programme which will be of greatest benefit to the young person concerned, and the commission provides guidance to this end. The commission also pursues its equal opportunity policy through a variety of methods including publicity material, regular monitoring of trainee participation, and the identification of particular groups of young people who have special needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment of what sex and ethnic origins are the officers designated by his Department as equal opportunities officers.

Of the 24 officers currently designated as equal opportunity officers in the Department of Employment group, five are female. Their ethnic origin is not at present recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

The Department of Employment group's policy is that there must be no unfair discrimination against staff on grounds of sex or race, and this has been made clear to all staff. Implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service is underway and arrangements are in hand to monitor the various aspects. In common with other Departments we will be conducting surveys of the ethnic origin of all staff to enable equality of opportunity for ethnic minorities to be monitored. The equal opportunity officers throughout the Department of Employment group give constructive day to day advice to staff and managers on the implementation of the whole range of equal opportunity policies.

Msc Training (Merseyside)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time Manpower Services Commission training places are available at each training centre on Merseyside.

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

Youth Training

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 2 April, Official Report, columns 534–536, if he will publish the sources

Earnings and Unit Wage Costs Manufacturing, seasonally adjusted, from March 1983 to latest available date
	National currency	Converted to Sterling	(latest available date)
Great Britain
(a) per cent. change in average gross weekly earnings	+18·5	+18·5	(Feb 1985)
(b) per cent. change in unit wage costs	+7·9	+7·9
(c) (a) as a percentage of (b)	234	234
United States
(a) per cent. change in hourly earnings (production workers)^*	+8·3	+42·1	(Jan 1985)
−3·4	+26·7
(c) (a) as percentage of (b)	NA	158
Japan
(a) per cent. change in monthly earnings (regular workers)	+6·7	+27·9	(Nov 1984)
(b) per cent. change in unit wage costs	−7·9	+10·4
(c) (a) as a percentage of (b)	NA	268
Germany (Federal Republic)‡
(a) per cent. change in hourly earnings^*	+3·5	+0·8	(Oct 1984)
(b) per cent. change in unit wage costs\|\|	−3·6	−6·2
(c) (a) as percentage of (b)	NA	NA
^* Not seasonally adjusted.
† Includes non-wage labour costs (per unit of output).
‡ 1983 date relate to April.
\|\| Mining and Manufacturing.

NA Not available, as it is not meaningful to divide a positive by a negative number.

Source: OECD 'Main Economic Indicators' except Great Britain.

Noise

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the EC noise directive document is to be finalised.

of the information given in table 2 (Destination of youth opportunity programme and youth training scheme trainees); if he well list as a percentage of the total number of people who have been on youth training schemes or youth opportunity programmes for each of the last five years the numbers of people who found work on completion of training schemes; if he will provide information on a regional basis about post youth training scheme employment rates; if the statistics of post youth training scheme employment are based on the response of ex-trainees; what steps he takes to satisfy himself of the accuracy of the information provided; and whether he will make a statement.

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

Wages

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan and Germany the percentage increase in wages in industry as a percentage of the increase in unit costs since March 1983 before and after conversion to the pound sterling at the relevant rates of exchange.

The available information for manufacturing industries is given in the following table. Fully comparable international data on earnings and unit wage costs (wages and salaries per unit of output) are not available, and so comparisons should be treated with caution.

This will depend upon the progress made in discussions between officials of the member states, which are continuing, and upon consideration of the outcome of the those discussions by the Council of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers in June.

Unemployment Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what co-ordination is undertaken to ensure that information relating to those (a) entitled to and (b) actually claiming unemployment benefit, validates comparisons on unemployment and employment statistics within the European Economic Community and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Unemployment figures for EC or OECD member states obtained directly from administrative sources are not generally comparable, although they can be useful for comparing the latest trends. The labour force survey, a sample survey of households which is conducted at least every two years in EC countries, provides a consistent basis for comparison of unemployed people seeking work in those countries. The OECD use various sources, usually household survey information supplemented by the latest figures from administrative sources, to estimate standardised unemployment rates for major OECD countries, according to guidelines of the International Labour Organisation.

Earnings

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the real increase in earnings in the private sector in each of the past three years.

Estimates of the percentage increase in real average gross earnings of full-time employees in the private sector are shown in the table.

Changes in real average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult employees in the private sector who worked a full week
April	Percentage
1981–82	^* +1·3
1982–83	^* +4·5
1983–84	^† +4·3
^* Estimates are based on earnings for men aged 21 and over and women aged 18 and over.
† Estimates are based on earnings for men and women on adult rates.

These estimates are derived from the new earnings survey figures delated to constant prices using the retail price index.

Industrial Accidents

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many workers sustained serious burns in the United Kingdom during 1984 as a result of industrial accidents;(2) how many workers in the United Kingdom died from burns in 1984 following industrial accidents.

Information for 1984 is not yet available.In 1983, 647 major injuries and 25 fatalities associated with burns suffered by employees and the self-employed at work in Great Britain were reported to the Health and Safety Executive and Railway Inspectorate under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980.

Market Research

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what use is made of market research by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

My Department makes use of market research infrequently where it is felt to be an appropriate way of obtaining information for the Department's needs.

Trade Unions (Ballots)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to extend the requirement for secret ballots to be held in the case of the election of general secretaries of trade unions so that it applies whether or not they have voting rights in union executive committees.

The provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984 concerning union elections come into force on 1 October 1985. It would be premature to consider amending legislation which is not yet in force.

Machine Tools

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total number of people employed in the machine tool manufacturing industry in each quarter in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

In September 1981, the earliest date for which analyses by Activity Heading of the 1980 standard industrial classification are available, there were an estimated 40,500 employees in employment in Great Britain in the metal-working machine tools industry (activity heading 3221). In December 1984, the latest available date, the corresponding figure was 30,000. Figures for each quarter between these dates were published in table 1.4 of the Historical Supplement to the April 1985 issue of Employment Gazette, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a breakdown by region of the numbers of people employed in the machine tool manufacturing industry.

The latest available figures for the industry in question are from the September 1981 census of employment and are as follows.

Employees in employment: by region: September 1981: metal-working machine tools (activity heading 3221 of the standing industrial classification 1980)
	Thousands
South East	9·5
East Anglia	0·8
South West	2·3
West Midlands	11·8
East Midlands	4·8
Yorkshire and Humberside	5·4
North West	2·7
North	1·4
Wales	0·5
Scotland	1·4

Results of the 1981 census of employment, giving regional estimates of employees in each industry, were

published in a supplement to the December 1984 issue of

Employment Gazette. Estimates from the following (September 1984) census of employment are scheduled to become available in the latter part of this year.

Community Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if there have been any recent changes in the eligibility criteria for placement in the community programme.

No. The last change was announced by my right hon. Friend on 30 July, at columns 121–122, and took effect on 1 October.

Youth Training Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of unemployed young people of eligible age for youth training schemes, mode A, in the years from September 1983 to March 1984 and from April 1984 to February 1985 were of (a) West Indian and (b) Asian origin respectively.

The information is not available in the form requested. According to the 1983 labour force survey, in the second quarter of 1983 some 3 per cent. of unemployed people seeking work aged 16 and 17 years were of West Indian or Asian origin. The sample size of the survey is not sufficient to provide reliable figures for these two groups separately.

Acas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

I have received the ACAS report for 1984, which will be laid before both Houses of Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday 30 April. The report is also to be published tomorrow and copies will then be available from the Vote Office.

Michelin Company (Stoke)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he will take to ensure that those employees of the Michelin company in Stoke-on-Trent who are to be made redundant will receive their entitlements to benefit without delay.

Special arrangements have been made for redundant employees at the Michelin company. An appointment system has been arranged for attendance at unemployment benefit offices and, although claims must be assessed on an individual basis, payment will be made as promptly as possible.

Social Services

Abortion

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the findings of the Women's National Commission working group's report on "Women and the Health Service" regarding the availability of National Health Service abortion services; and what action he proposes to take as a consequence of the report.

We have noted the Commissions findings. It is for health authorities to decide the level and scope of their provision for abortion, in the light of local needs and circumstances. We are discussing with them how delays in abortion operations might be reduced.

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the number of local authorities which make use of the 10 per cent. local discretion in respect of the housing benefit scheme.

Information from authorities' initial subsidy claims for 1985–86 indicates that for the 467 authorities out of 489 who have made their claims, 199 intend to run local schemes in 1985–86.

Nhs (Racial Discrimination)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases of racial discrimination concerned with National Health Service appointments damages have been awarded; what is the total now thus awarded; what guidance is given on appointments to health authorities at regional and district level; and if he will make a statement.

We do not hold centrally the information requested. On the guidance issued to health authorities I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 2 April to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) at column 581.

Social Services

Heating Additions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many estates have been proposed to his Department as qualifying for estate rate heating additions; how many have so far been approved; and what is the estimated number of claimants involved in each case.

This information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Over 650 submissions concerning estate rate heating additions have so far been received at the Department's headquarters. Each may cover all or part of one or several estates. 469 certificates have so far been issued designating estate heating systems as disproportionately expensive to run: again, each certificate may cover heating systems in all or part of one of several estates. Information is not available on the total number of claimants living in estates for which submissions have been received. The latest available estimate for the numbers of claimants entitled to estate rate heating additions (as at March 1984) is of the order of 50,000.

Drug Abuse

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional and district health authorities have responded to the Department of Health and Social Security circular on drug abuse issued in June 1984; and if he will publish a summary of these responses.

All 14 regional health authorities and two special health authorities have submitted reports to the Department as required by the circular. The reports by regional health authorities contain information obtained from their districts. We propose to publish information derived from these reports shortly.

Medical Negligence (Compensation And Litigation)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of (a) litigation and (b) compensation paid out by health authorities in cases involving alleged medical negligence for the last three years; and in how many such cases the health authorities won their case.

We do not hold this information centrally.

Cervical Cancer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes any changes to the Government's policy on cervical cancer screening.

Screening for cervical cancer can save the lives of many women. The Government recognise the importance of an efficient screening programme as a vital preventive health measure. We are satisfied with the present advice on age and frequency of screening and we intend to continue to improve its effective implementation.The biggest single problem is that the service is still not reaching sufficient numbers of older women. Many women who are no longer sexually active may believe they are no longer at risk. The vast majority of deaths, many avoidable, take place among these older women. All women of whatever age, who have at any time been sexually active should seek cervical smear tests at regular intervals.All district health authorities (DHAs) should already have systems for recalling women patients for tests at five-yearly intervals. These systems do not, however, contact women who have never been tested at all. We now wish to see greater use of computers to contact women who have never been screened. The Government have financed the development of standard computer software and the hardware needed to operate this system is not costly. We are therefore telling all DHAs to arrange with their corresponding family practitioner committees (FPCs) to implement such a system on their behalf. Already over one-third of FPCs are using computers for call or recall, or have firm plans to do so. We are now saying that all should do so. We shall want to know the date by which each authority proposes to implement full computerised call and recall.In addition, we want other available methods of reaching women most at risk to be used more extensively. Older women make considerable use of the primary care and hospital services. Their visits to doctors for any purpose provide opportunities for them to be offered a test. We shall be discussing with the profession and health authorities how GPs and hospitals should take advantage of these visits so that women who have not had a test during the past 5 years can be offered one. In this way, a steady increase in the number of women reached will be achieved.We also intend to improve the effectiveness of laboratory facilities for processing smears. We must ensure that in the longer term the right number of suitably trained and qualified staff such as histopathologists become available. In the shorter term, improvements may be possible if priority can be given to smears from women most at risk. We shall be discussing with the professions involved and with health authorities how we can best achieve these objectives.Finally, health authorities must ensure that there is effective follow-up of abnormal results. We believe that the possibility of error leading to tragic events can be considerably reduced by a simple administrative reform. We therefore want all authorities to move to a system where all women are notified that their test has been done and told who to contact for the result. We shall be discussing the details of this with the professions and authorities concerned.The recent adverse publicity has obscured the fact that many health authorities and individual doctors are, by implementing our policy, providing a good service to women of all ages and preventing unnecessary deaths. We want all authorities to match the best. In addition to the measures outlined above, we are therefore telling all authorities to review again the effectiveness of their programme and to inform us of the outcome. We will insist that any authority which is not adequately protecting women in its area takes immediate steps to do so.

Community Health Councils

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends that community health councils should continue in existence to the end of the present Parliament.

Yes.

Single Payments

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the number of single payments made for (a) beds, (b) cookers, (c) furniture and (d) heating appliances; and what is the average value of each payment.

Information on the number and average amount of single payments made for specific items is not available. Information from the annual statistical inquiry carried out in December 1982, the latest date for which it is available, is that 419,000 single payments were made in respect of essential furniture and household equipment and that the average payment was £74·62. Figures from the annual statistical inquiry relate to single payments made during the 12 months preceding the date of the inquiry to persons still in receipt of supplementary benefit at the time of the inquiry and do not, therefore, record all the single payments made during the year.

Nhs (Waiting Lists)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of the current survey into National Health Service waiting lists.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, as a result of the survey of National Health Service waiting lists, any patient's status on the waiting list is being changed by any staff other than qualified consultants.

Authorities were asked to decide on the most effective way of carrying out the review according to local arrangements for maintaining waiting lists. They were expected to consult clinicians in both hospitals and general practice.

Nhs (Regional Strategies)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what power he has to intervene in negotiations between district health authorities and their regions in the implementation of agreed regional strategies.

The Secretary of State has wide powers of direction under the National Health Service Act 1977. However, we expect all health authorities to act reasonably and responsibly in implementing strategic plans within the resources available in line with normal management practice.

Child Care

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the responses received to the discussion papers prepared by the child care law working party.

The discussion papers were issued by the working party. The responses will be sent to them. We will consider what material to make available publicly when the working party's report has been submitted to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the terms of reference of the working party review of child care law have been extended beyond codification of the present laws.

The terms of reference of the working party on child care law are as follows:

"In the light of the Report of the Social Services Committee on Children in Care and of evidence given to the Committee and other relevant material to make proposals and set out options for codification and amendment of child care law."

Dental Anaesthesia

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department is taking to implement the report of the inter-faculty committee of the Royal College of Surgeons on training in dental anaesthesia.

The principal recommendation of the report from the inter-faculty committee of the Royal College of Surgeons on "Postgraduate Education and Training in Dental Anaesthesia, Analgesia and Sedation" is for the establishment of additional senior house officer training posts in dental anaesthesia. I am pleased to announce that we will be making funds available for the initial creation of a number of such posts. We shall be discussing the number and location of the posts with the Royal College of Surgeons and subsequently with regional health authorities.

Dental Charges

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was collected in 1984–85 in National Health Service dental charges for crowns, for dentures and for other treatment, listed separately, for England; and how much is expected to be collected under the same headings in 1985–86.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 April 1985, c. 498]: Precise figures for the breakdown of the yield from charges into the three categories requested are not readily available but the estimated yield from charges in England in the financial year 1984–85 and the projected yield for 1985–86 (assuming their application to all chargeable courses of treatment completed in the year) for certain groups of dental treatments is as follows:

	1984–85 £ million	1985–86 £ million
Crowns, inlays, pinlays	39·56	46·41
Dentures, bridges	37·84	41·99
Routine treatment	94·6	132·6

Trade And Industry

Beds (Fire Resistant Materials)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all beds sold in the United Kingdom are manufactured from fire-resistant materials as used for hospital and prison beds; and if he will make a statement.

No, but the report by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission mentioned in the Daily Star on 19 April is being carefully studied, and I shall be consulting British bedding manufacturers on the possibility of increasing the fire resistance of beds and mattresses. Inevitably it will be many years before more fire resistant beds in the shops can be expected to lead to fewer deaths and injuries in bed fires in people's homes.It is not practicable to produce a completely fire proof bed. Smoking is the biggest single cause of bed fires, and until people follow the simple rule that one must never smoke in bed there will he tragic deaths from this cause.Prison mattresses can be made to achieve a high degree of fire resistance, but they are less comfortable than most people would like. Similarly, it is doubtful whether many people would be willing to adopt the restricted choice of materials for blankets, sheets and similar items which some hospitals have introduced in conjunction with treatment of mattresses in order to give the whole bed a certain degree of fire resistance.Nevertheless there is scope for improvement and I shall keep the House informed.

Aerospace Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support he is giving to the British aerospace industry in foreign sales campaigns.

A range of export related services are provided by the British Overseas Trade Board and the Export Credits Guarantee Department which are available to all private sector companies, including those in the aerospace sector. These services are extensively used by the industry in pursuing export opportunities for its products both within and outside the European Community.

Ec (Japanese Investment)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 4 April, Official Report, column 752, why he was unable to provide information on the percentage of Japanese direct investment in the European Economic Community which came to the United Kingdom in 1983; and if he will make a statement.

The figures given in the reply were drawn from overseas publications, namely the United States survey of current business and the Japanese Balance of Payments Monthly. These were the latest figures available to my Department.

Footwear Imports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on tariff negotiations with Spain and Portugal with reference to footwear products.

Portugal is a member of EFTA and so trade in most manufactured goods, including footwear, is duty free in both directions, and will remain so after Portugal joins the Community on 1 January 1986. Spain, however, imposes high import duties on EC manufactures (up to 20·8 per cent. on footwear) in contrast to the much lower EC duties on Spanish manufactures (4·8 per cent. on footwear). It has been agreed in the accession negotiations that import duties on industrial products (including footwear) traded in both directions will be eliminated over a seven year period following Spanish entry, with over half the cuts coming in the first three years. In addition, Spain has to introduce VAT by 1 January 1986, and this will eliminate as from accession existing Spanish tax discrimination against imports. The settlement will as a result open up the Spanish market to United Kingdom exporters, whereas the phased reduction of already low EC duties against Spain should have relatively little impact on Spanish penetration of the United Kingdom market.

Cocom (Export Control Order)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in respect of the export control order he proposes to make to implement the new COCOM agreement, he will make it his policy (a) to provide for blanket exemptions for software exports wherever possible, and (b) to allow at least six weeks after publication for discussion and consultation with the industries affected.

Under the provisions of the new Export of Goods (Control) Order, all exports of embargoed software to the proscribed countries will be controlled according to the COCOM agreement. These controls will also apply to a few other destinations so as to minimise the risk of onward diversion to the proscribed countries. However, most software on the COCOM embargo list will be freely exportable to other countries under the provisions of an open general export licence which will be granted when the new order comes into operation: there will be no need for traders to obtain any individual licence for export of such software to such countries.Only a few categories of embargoed software will require individual licensing for all destinations, for example, software specially written for computers manufactured in the proscribed areas, software for the design of very large scale integrated circuits and software with sensitive military purposes. Full details will be available when the new Export of Goods (Control) Order is published in mid-June.Given the size and complexity of the new Order my right hon. Friend intends to allow a period of six weeks between publication and entry into force.

Market Research

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what use is made of market research by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Department commissions market research from time to time on a range of issues, including both industrial and export marketing topics. The export marketing research scheme, which assists exporters in undertaking market research, is a service provided by the Department through the British Overseas Trade Board.

Asean (Trade Development)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to improve trade with the countries in membership of the Association of South East Asian Nations; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Ec (Regional Development Programmes)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has a copy of the European Economic Community document the "Regional Development Programmes of the Second Generation for the Period 1981 to 1985" dated June 1984; and if he will publish in the Official Report table 1 in the document which gives the percentage of the populations of European Economic Community countries living in assisted areas.

I can confirm that the Department of Trade and Industry has a copy of this document. The table to which the right hon. Member has referred is, however, misleading as it shows the position in 1983 and this is well out of date. With regard to the United Kingdom, for example, it shows that EC 'regional aids' are available for 30 per cent. of the population, whereas the current figure is 44·7 per cent.; and there have also been changes in the composition of the assisted areas of other member states.

Ec (Assisted Areas)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of European Economic Community grants to areas designated as assisted areas in Great Britain in 1984–85; and what was the value per head of the working population.

European regional development fund grants allocated in 1984–85 to aided areas in Great Britain totalled over £425 million. The value per head of the working population in those areas was approximately £47.Grants from the European social fund and the European agricultual guidance and guarantee fund are the responsibilities of my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Employment and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it was the British Government or the Europan Economic Community which first suggested the figure of 35 per cent. for the maximum percentage of the British population to live in assisted areas.

The percentage of the working population covered by assisted areas was only one aspect of various matters considered with the European Commission during the review of regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will request the European Economic Community to agree that designated assisted areas should cover more than 35 per cent. of the working population of the United Kingdom

The recent review of the Great Britain assisted areas took account of areas' relative needs for current and future employment opportunities. We have no plans for a further review of those areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many hours were spent in negotiation with the European Economic Community about the maximum proportion of the British working population to live in areas designated as assisted areas.

There was no fixed target for the proportion of the working population included within the assisted areas. It would not be practicable to separate this aspect from the various matters considered with the European Commission, many of which would themselves have a bearing on the assisted areas coverage as finally decided.

Stoke-On-Trent (Assisted Area Status)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost of designating the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area as an assisted area in total and per capita.

It is not practicable to provide reliable estimates of this kind for individual travel-to-work areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now reconsider the application of Stoke-on-Trent for designation of the travel-to-work area as an assisted area.

Decisions on the new assisted areas map were on the basis not only of the current need for further employment opportunities but also of areas' relative vulnerability to future job losses and their relative abilities to respond to an upturn in the economy. The new map is therefore expected to remain valid for some time, though I will naturally keep the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will hold further discussions with representatives of Stoke-on-Trent regarding their application for the travel-to-work area to be designated.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to hold further discussions with the representatives of Stoke-on-Trent regarding their application for the travel-to-work area to be designated as an assisted area.

Machine Tools

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the net balance of trade value in machine tools between the United Kingdom and the following in each of the last three years for which figures are available; other member countries of the European Economic Community, Japan, the United States of America, all Commonwealth countries, and the Soviet Union.

The information is as follows.

UK Crude Trade Balance in Metal Working Machine-Tools Value £m
	1982	1983	1984 (provisional)
European Community	−65	−56	−80
Japan	−28	−29	−45
USA	+11	+11	+31
Commonwealth	+57	+34	+39
Soviet Union	+5	+11	+12

Source: Data corresponding to SITC/R2 Group 736, less sub-group 736·8 (part) in the UK Overseas Trade Statistics.

Note: Crude balance is calculated as UK exports (fob) less UK imports (cif).

English Tourist-Board

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revoke the present regulation requiring hoteliers given an English tourist board grant to improve facilities having to pay up to 6 per cent. of the actual grant to an architect or surveyor to certify that work has actually been carried out.

The board is currently considering ways in which its payment procedures can be modified to reduce the documentation required for smaller grant claims where this is compatible with the board's responsibilities for the proper administration of public funds.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the sex and ethnic origin of the officer designated by his Department as equal opportunities officer.

The Department's equal opportunities officer is male and white.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

British Telecom (Shares)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has about the number of persons who bought shares in British Telecom who have now sold them.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) why some British Telecommunications shares applied for by British Telecommunications employees and pensioners were not allotted;(2) whether employees and pensioners were given undertakings prior to the sale of British Telecommunications shares that they would be allocated all the shares for which they applied.

[pursuant to the reply, 25 April 1985, c. 523]: The Government gave no undertaking that British Telecom employees and pensioners would be allocated all the shares for which they applied. The priority offer made to employees and pensioners was subject to the terms and conditions of the overall offer which included the normal discretion for the issuers to scale down any application. We decided that it would be inappropriate to allocate more than 20,000 shares to individual employees and pensioners against a background where members of the public were restricted to a maximum of 800 shares each.

Companies Act (Offences)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will provide statistics for the number of (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions on an annual basis for each category of offence under the Companies Act, specifying the nature of each category.

Statistics of prosecutions and convictions are published each year in the annual report on the Companies Acts 1948–83, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

Ivory

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the reasons for not keeping statistics on the import of raw ivory.

In order to be separately identified in the overseas trade statistics, the volume or value of trade in a commodity must be of sufficient size to warrant the cost of collection and publication of the information. This has not been the case with raw ivory.

The Arts

Local Government Reform

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts, pursuant to his reply of 23 January 1984, Official Report, column 419, if he is now in a position to make a statement on the future funding of the Riverside studios, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

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

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Middle East

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received from Her Majesty's ambassadors in Tunis or Algiers about the public statement on 7 April by the Revolutionary Council of Al-Fatah, as broadcast at 17.02 hours GMT on Voice of Palestine, Algiers, which called for an increase in violence against Israel and absolute rejection of any participation in an American peace initiative; and if he will assess the effect this policy statement will have on implementation of the Venice declaration, as endorsed by Her Majesty's Government;(2) whether, during the Minister of State's recent visit to middle eastern states, he discussed with his hosts the statement by Yasir Arafat in Baghdad on 3 January, as broadcast in Voice of Palestine at 16·15 hours GMT, that emphasis must be placed on increasing armed struggle by all available means, and also by Khalid Al-Wazir on the same occasion that armed struggle would remain the first strategy of Palestinian action; and whether his hosts indicated any steps that they could take to achieve acceptance by Mr. Arafat and his supporters of resolution 242.

We have noted statements by some Palestinian spokesmen in favour of armed struggle, but also wide Palestinian support for the Jordanian-Palestinian agreement of 11 February, with its commitment to peaceful negotiations. In our view, all parties to the Arab-Israel dispute should make constructive moves towards negotiations at which the voice of the Palestinians would be heard.

Philippines

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current relations with the Philippines.

We enjoy good relations with the Philippines. The United Kingdom is, for example, the third largest investor in that country and British visible exports are currently worth £92 million a year. The United Kingdom is the fifth largest market for exports from the Philippines.

European Community

Integration Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Signor Spinelli concerning the draft treaty on European Economic Community integration and the response he gave to Sigor Spinelli on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.

My right hon. and learned Friend met a delegation from the European Parliament, including Signor Spinelli. He made clear that the best chance of making progress towards greater European unity lay in practical reforms which could be implemented without delay within the framework of the existing treaties.

Western European Union

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the meeting of Foreign and Defence Ministers of the Western European Union planned to take place in Bonn on 22 and 23 April was held on these dates; and if he will make a statement on the current policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the objectives and role of that organisation.

Yes; the Bonn Ministerial meeting took place as planed. Copies of the communique are in the Library. We regard the Western European Union as a valuable forum for joint political debate between Foreign and Defence Ministers of member countries on defence and security matters of importance to Europe. We aim through WEU to strengthen European security cooperation, and the European contribution to the alliance.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of what sex and ethnic origins are the officers designated by his Department as equal opportunities officers.

My equal opportunities officers are male and white. Their appointments were agreed with the respective trade union sides.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes. Although we are continuing to look for further improvements. To this end we shall be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff (under the Government's phased programme) to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out and shall continue carefully to monitor the implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service announced on 9 February 1985.

Northern Ireland

Strip Searches

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what were the total numbers of strip searches of women prisoners in Northern Ireland in each of the months of February and March;(2) how many female inmates were subjected to strip searches during each of the months of February and March; and how many times each prisoner was searched.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 19 March at column 434–36 and 19 April 1985 at column 282.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the practice of strip searching in Northern Ireland prisons in the first three months of 1985.

Strip searches are a necessary part of the maintenance of prison security. The procedures used in Northern Ireland are the same as those which have been used for many years in comparable prisons in Great Britain and elsewhere. The need for and frequency of searches are kept under close review and I am satisfied that the level in the first three months of 1985 was the necessary minimum.

Women Prisoners

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many female prisoners were in Northern Ireland prisons in each of the months February and March;(2) how many female remand prisoners were held in Northern Ireland prisons in each of the months of February and March; how many of these prisoners were subjected to strip searching in each month; and how many times each female remand prisoner was strip-searched.

The information requested is as follows:

	Remand	Sentenced	Total Female Population
February 1985	12	27	39
March 1985	12	31	43

The figures include those detained in the young offender's centre, in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.During February 1985, nine remand prisoners were strip-searched; six were searched twice and three were searched once. During March 1985, five remand prisoners were strip-searched; four were searched twice and one was searched once.

Departmental Achievements

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list his Department's principal achievements since 1979.

The suppression of terrorism and public disorder in Northern Ireland remains one of the Government's principal objectives. We have made substantial progress in recent years in deterring violence and bringing criminals to justice. The overall level of violence in 1984 was less than in any year since 1970. In pursuit of this policy, the Government have provided for significant increases in the strength and resources of the Royal Ulster constablulary, the size of the regular force and its full time reserve increasing from approximately 7,300 in 1970 to 10,600 today.The Northern Ireland Assembly established by the Northern Ireland Act 1982 and elected in October of that year has enabled the people of Northern Ireland through their elected representatives carefully to monitor the work of Northern Ireland Departments. It continues to provide a framework for the constitutional parties to divide arrangements for return of devolved powers which would command widespread acceptance throughout the community. The Government have also taken steps to minimise the scope for electoral malpractise, especially personation, in elections.The Government continue to pursue a dialogue with the Republic of Ireland within the framework set out in the communique issued after the meeting in November between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.The aim of the Government's economic strategy has been to encourage output and employment in a realistic and cost effective way. Invesment incentives remain among the best in Western Europe; since its inception in 1982 the Industrial Development Board has promoted 11,748 new jobs, and since 1979 the local enterprise development unit has trebled its support to small firms, promoting a record 4,000 jobs in 1984.Although the economic climate remains difficult, restructuring continues and welcome developments include new contracts for Shorts and Harland and Wolff. A freeport has been established at Aldegrove airport, and enterprise zones have been created in Belfast and Londonderry as part of the continuing regeneration of those cities; special measures have been agreed by the European Community for urban renewal in Belfast. Significat improvements have been made in the housing stock, with 43,500 new houses started since 1979, nearly 200,000 grants paid for improvements and repairs, and 26,000 Housing Executives homes sold to tenants. A youth training programme was introduced a year ahead of the rest of the United Kindgom and is now providing training for some 11,000 young people.

Historic Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many properties have been listed by the Historic Buildings Department in each of the past six years.

The number of buildings listed in each of the last 6 years is as follows:

Year	Buildings
1984–85	174
1983–84	168
1982–83	199
1981–82	936
1980–81	839
1079–80	768

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the owners of properties which are proposed to be listed by the Historic buildings Department are informed of the department's proposal.

No. Owners are informed at the conclusion of the listing process.

United States Government

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next plans to meet representatives of the United States Government to discuss matters relating to Northern Ireland.

I meet representatives of the United States Government from time to time and I next expect to meet the US ambassador to this country in June.

National Finance

Exchange Rates

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the European monetary system currencies, the dollar, the yen and the European currency unit the highest and lowest rates of exchange against the pound sterling in the current year and in 1983, and 1984, respectively, together with the current rate.

Monthly highs and lows for the pound sterling can be derived from tables 13.1 and 13.3 in the March edition of the CSO publication Financial Statistics. Recent sterling exchanges rates are as follows:

Rates against sterling	March 1985 (monthly averages)	24 April 1985 (closing rates)
Deutschemark	3·7013	3·8198
French franc	11·31	11·66
Italian lira	2336·0	2437·2
Netherlands guilder	4·1836	4·3190
Danish hone	13·23	13·57
Belgian franc	74·39	76·95
Irish punt	1·1877	1·2192
US dollar	1·1226	1·2235
Japenese yen	289·75	307·28
European Currency Unit	1·6596	1·7094

Investigation of highs and lows using daily data could not be undertaken except at excessive cost.

Home Improvement (Tax Relief)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total estimated amount of tax relief granted in respect of loans for the improvement of a person's main residence for each of the last 10 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 April 1985, c. 155]: It is not possible to provide precise figures, but it is estimated that between 5 and 10 per cent. of the total cost of mortgage interest relief is currently in respect of further loans for the improvement of a person's main residence.

Mortgage Interest Tax Relief

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will produce a table showing the annual total amount of mortgage interest tax relief for (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland, (c) England and (d) Wales from 1982–83 to 1984–85 and also the average mortgage tax relief per mortgagor in: (i) Great Britain, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England and (iv) Wales for the same period.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 April 1985, c. 298]: The latest estimates are given in the table. Figures for 1983–84 and 1984–85 are provisional.

Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
	Total cost £ million	Per Mortgagor receiving tax relief £
1982–83
Great Britain	2,120	350
Scotland	140	380
England	1,900	350
Wales	80	290
Northern Ireland	30	310
United Kingdom	2,150	350
1983–84^*
Great Britain	2,715	400
Scotland	160	430
England	2,460	400
Wales	95	330
Northern Ireland	35	350
United Kingdom	2,750	400
1984–85^*
Great Britain	3,455	500
Scotland	200	550
England	3,130	500
Wales	125	425
Northern Ireland	45	440
United Kingdom	3,500	500
^* Includes the cost of relief in respect of mortgages previously under the option mortgage scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total annual cost of mortgage interest tax relief paid to mortgagors who are taxed above the standard rate for each financial year from 1982–83 to 1984–85 in Scotland.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 April 1985, c. 298]: The latest estimates are as follows, together with the costs of relief given in excess of the basic rate.

Mortgage interest tax relief in Scotland
	Relief for higher rate taxpayers £ million	Relief in excess of the basic rate £ million
1982–83	25	12
1983–84	25	12
1984–85	30	15

Working Wives

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working wives opt for separate income tax assessment; and what proportion this is of those eligible to do so.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1985, c. 529]: About 170,000 married couples are expected to elect for separate taxation of wife's earnings in 1985–86. Although this is only about 1½ per cent. of the total of taxpaying married couples, in 1985–86 an election can only be beneficial if the couple's income is over £25,360 (with the wife's earnings at least £6,956). About 20,000, less than one fifth of 1 per cent. of married couples, elect for separate assessment, but this does not affect the total tax liability of the couple.

Johnson Matthey Bankers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a copy of the report commissioned by the Bank of England from Price, Waterhouse, into the dealings of Johnson Matthey Bankers prior to its collapse.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the Price, Waterhouse investigation and that an interim report has been made. He has asked that the committee which has been established to review banking supervisory arrangements in the light of the collapse of JMB should take full account of the results of the investigation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the enquiries by the Bank of England into Johnson Matthey Bankers have revealed unsecured lending.

Yes. Unsecured lending is not in itself imprudent and is not uncommon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the funds paid by the Bank of England in connection with the collapse of Johnson Matthey Bankers are shown in the Government's public spending figures.

No. The resources involved are those of the Bank of England's banking department which, in line with national accounts practice, is regarded as being in the monetary sector for accounting purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the banking supervision department of the Bank of England first learnt that Johnson Matthey Bankers was insolvent.

I understand that the Bank of England first learned of the seriousness of the difficulties which threatened JMB's insolvency shortly before the rescue operation was mounted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Bank of England took prior to the collapse of Johnson Matthey Bankers in pursuance of its duty to supervise the banking system.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was informed, prior to the takeover of Johnson Matthey Bankers by the Bank of England on 1 October 1984, that the bank intended to take such a course.

As my right hon. Friend said in his statement to the House on 17 December, he was notified shortly before the rescue was announced of the action the Governor intended to take.

Banking Supervision

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects his review of the arrangements for banking supervision to be complete.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 April at column 974.

Defence

Royal Ordnance Factories

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning progress with privatisation of the royal ordnance factories.

It remains the Government's policy to achieve privatisation of Royal Ordnance plc as soon as commercially practicable. However, no decision has yet

Numbers and values of headquarters contracts and amendments
Type of contract/amendment	1981–82		1982–83		1983–84
	Number	Value £ million	Number	Value £ million	Number	Value £ million
1. Contracts priced by Competition	9,059	1,065	9,402	1,439	9,504	1,890
2. Contracts priced otherwise by reference to market forces (See note below)	36,462	639	55,326	1,065	53,051	1,403
3. Contracts priced on estimates at outset or as soon as possible thereafter	11,382	1,839	11,409	3,049	10,239	3,145
4. Contracts priced on actual costs with incentives to minimise costs	504	76	695	145	746	859
5. Contracts priced on actual costs plus a percentage fee	8,770	987	8,884	1,132	8,554	1,283
6. Total contracts and amendments placed	66,177	4,606	85,716	6,830	82,094	8,580

Note: Line 2 includes some contracts placed using informal competitive tendering procedures.

Ast 403

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the delay in funding AST 403 since its publication in 1979, and if he will make a statement.

AST 403 (first revise) was cancelled last year. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be meeting his fellow Defence Ministers in Rome next month to review the results of a feasibility study by industry of the viability of a collaborative programme for a European figher aircraft programme, and to consider the way ahead.

been taken on the precise method or timing of the injection of private capital, although our preferred option remains to float the company as a whole.

Single Sourced Defence Contracts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will break down the figures for single sourced defence contracts given in the answer to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) of 31 October 1984, Official Report, column 1123, to indicate how many of the contracts concerned were let on a cost-plus basis and how many on a semi-incentive basis; what was the total value of the contracts concerned in each case; and whether he now has equivalent figures for 1984–85.

The information requested is set out in the table, which for completeness includes contracts placed as a result of effective competition. Contracts placed noncompetitively and which are subject to positive incentives to keep costs to a minimum, are shown at lines 2, 3 and 4. Contracts subject to pricing on the basis of cost plus percentage free profit are shown at line 5, and represent a declining proportion of the total. Equivalent figures are not yet available for 1984–85.

Management Consultants

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts, with the subject of assignment. awarded to management consultancy firms by his Department in 1984, with the name of the consultants concerned.

The Ministry of Defence awarded 19 contracts to management consultancy firms during 1984. The list is as follows:

Name of Firm and Assignment

Theta Analysis & Systems Ltd.

Review of Management Functions within Directorate of Projects (Fighting Vehicles and Engineer Equipment) 2—Phase 2

Cranfield Education Technology Unit

Study of Computer Based Training for the Royal Navy.

Leslie Hays & Associates Ltd.

Review of Director General Stores and Transport (Navy) operating accounts.

PA Computers and Telecommunications Ltd (PACTEL)

Handover of work from PACTEL to MOD Staf for the implementation of the Study into Defence Fixed Telecommunications.

OD (Management Consultancy) Ltd

Feasibility Study into Contractorising Administrative functions at the Central Ordnance Depot, Bicester.

Coopers & Lybrand Associates

Survey of the Director General Defence Accounts Organisation.

Ken Snooks International

Management Audit of Director General of Defence Contracts assistance with the investigation into Purchasing.

Arthur Young McClelland Moore & Co.

Management Audit of Director General of Defence Contracts assistance with the Accountancy Services phase.

Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.

Management Audit of Director General of Defence Contracts assistance with the Technical costs phase.

Healey & Baker

Survey of Defence Lands.

Touche Ross & Co.

Definitive Study of the Maintenance and Repair Systems of Aircraft Engines and Components at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard Fleetlands.

Atkins Planning

Planning into feasibility of Contractorising the Engineering

Depot Long Marston.

Leslie Hayes & Associates Ltd

Assistance with the Management Audit of the Directorate of Marine Services (Naval).

HAY MSL

Assistance with a Manpower Control Study.

New Business Developments

Selection and Development of Dockyard Managers.

Linklater & Paines

Study of MOD Legal Services.

HAY MSL

Communications Strategy for Chief Executive Royal Dockyards.

HAY MSL

Communications Assistance Consultancy—Chief Executive Royal Dockyards.

Arren Management Services

Consultancy Assistance on Industrial Relations for Chief Executive Royal Dockyards.

Ships (Adoption)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the total number of programmes in existence for the adoption of a Royal Navy ship by a town or local authority.

There is a fleet programme to encourage the affiliation of every commissioned vessel in the Royal Navy with a community or district.

Non-British Citizens

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-British citizens are employed in the services or in his Department.

This information is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost and effort.

Contracts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has concerning the number and total value of defence contracts which are allocated largely on the basis of the hourly rate of contractors.

This information could not be provided without disproportionate time and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken by his Department to verify the number of hours spent by contractors on work allocated solely or largely on the basis of the hourly rate of the contractor or contractors.

Verification of the hours spent is normally undertaken by the appropriate Ministry technical authority in conjunction with the relevant contracts branch.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the allocation of defence contracts to suppliers based solely, or largely, upon the hourly rate of the contractor or contractors.

The practice of pricing on an all-up hourly rate covering both labour and other expenses is not a practice applied extensively in MoD contracting. It is normally adopted only for contracts covering primarily the provision of manpower effort. Many of these contracts are of relatively low value. The work could, for example, involve research, minor development work, repairs and servicing, and ADP effort. Hourly rates are usually agreed in advance, where possible, following competitive tendering.

Equal Opportunities

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination: and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsibility for giving such advice.

Yes, on the basis of the information now available. The implementation of the programme of action on women in the Civil Service, announced on 9 February 1984, is being carefully monitored within my Department. As part of the process of ensuring equality of opportunity, as far as possible, we will be conducting ethnic surveys of all staff (under the Government's phased programme) to enable ethnic monitoring to be carried out.The Departmental equal opportunities officer has issued a number of instructions to all staff. They have set the Civil Service policy on equal opportunities for men and women, guidance on the procedures to be followed in cases of sexual harassment, the responsibilities of equal opportunities officers and the Civil Service race relations policy statement. In addition, the equal opportunities officer has circulated the report on race relations policies and procedures in the Civil Service to our civilian personnel management authorities drawing attention to the need to ensure that Departmental practice follows the recommendations of the report.

Falkland Islands (Airlink)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much the new direct airlink to the Falklands will save public funds.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 22 April at column 386

Volume 78: debated on Monday 29 April 1985

Written Answers To Questions

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Nephrops Fishery

Food Surpluses (Destruction)

Equal Opportunities

Wool

Education And Science

Grants

Teacher Training

Market Research

Postgraduate Awards

Teacher Recruitment

Equal Opportunities

Class Sizes

Embryos (Research)

Attorney-General

Family Courts (Review)

Prime Minister

Civil Service

Benefits And Allowances

Rates

City Action Teams

Standing Committee Of Chief Scientists

Civil Service (Secondment)

Overseas Visits

Wales

Government Expenditure

Rhymney Valley (Report)

Equal Opportunities

Home Department

Local Government (Grant Applications)

National Freight Corporation, Sheffield (Fire)

Magistrates' Courts (Children And Young Persons) Rules

Immigration

Victim Support Schemes

Equal Opportunities

Mrs Anne Francis

Civil Defence

Transport

Metropolitan Districts (Transport Policies)

Welsh Highland Light Railway Company

Severn Bridge

Singapore International Airlines (Manchester)

Equal Opportunities

Rail Closures (Yorkshire)

Rateable Values

Environment

Somerset Levels And Moors

Merseyside

Inner City Partnership Areas

Equal Opportunities

Single Women (Accommodation)

Pield Heath Nurseries (Appeal)

Ascension Island (Airport)

Falkland Islands (Airport)

Local Government Reform

Crown Court, Reading

South-East (Planning Co-Ordination)

Local Government Bill

London Docklands Development Corporation

Local Government Expenditure

Turtle Products

Whale Products

Merseyside

Energy

Coal Industry Dispute

Renewable Resources

Oil-Fired Generating Capacity (Conversion)

Energy Efficiency Project

Coal Industry (Conciliation And Consultation)

Colliery Closure Review Procedure

Miners (Working Conditions)

Electricity Prices

Mining Industry Manpower

National Coal Board (Redundancies)

North Sea Oil

Equal Opportunities

Scotland