asked the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to take to stimulate employment opportunities in the Wrexham area in the light of the decision by Dunlop to close down its plant at Wrexham.

We will take this closure, with the loss of some 100 jobs, fully into account when considering the local authorities' detailed proposals for the allocation of planned resources, including those for the Clwyd area announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 27 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is currently taken by Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow in acknowledgement of the fact that Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the incorporation of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union de jure.

Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow avoids any contact with the authorities in the Baltic states which could be taken to imply de jure recognition. The Soviet Government has been made aware of our position on a number of occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has claimed compensation from the Soviet Union for the British lives lost when the Soviet military authorities shot down Korean Air Lines flight 007 on 1 September 1983.

Yes. Fourteen persons entitled to our protection were killed then and a national claim for compensation of £2 million was handed to the Soviet Embassy on 3 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table comparing the increase in the profitability of exports with the increase in relative export prices and relative unit labour costs, together with an explanation of the transmission mechanism from costs to prices and profits over the relevant period.

Figures on actual profitability are not available. An index of relative profitability, together with the other indices, is in the table. The actual profitability of exports will depend on the relationship between prices and costs, the largest element of which is the cost of labour.

United Kingdom Exports of Manufactures
Profitability and Labour Costs		1980 = 100
Year	Relative profitability of exports*	Relative export prices†	Relative unit labour costs‡
1970	103·4	80·9	70·8
1971	98·8	82·6	72·9
1972	98·4	82·7	71·1
1973	101·3	76·1	63·1
1974	101·3	74·6	63·1
1975	103·5	77·9	69·1
1976	104·7	75·5	63·3
1977	106·4	79·7	62·3
1978	106·5	84·5	68·0
1979	102·5	90·4	81·1
1980	100·0	100·0	100·0
1981	100·5	98·1	100·4
1982	102·4	92·7	94·5
1983	106·2	90·1	86·2
1984	108·7	88·3	85·1
* United Kingdom export unit value compared with index of United Kingdom producer output prices.
† United Kingdom export unit value compared with weighted average of competitor countries' unit value indices, all in a common currency.
‡ United Kingdom labour costs per unit of output compared with weighted average of competitor countries' labour costs, all in a common currency.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his discussions with the textured ceiling and wall coatings industry about the elimination of asbetos from their products; and when such elimination is expected.

In November last year my Department asked the trade to eliminate asbestos from their produtcts as soon as possible. The brand leader stated that they had already done so and most of the other manufacturers reported that they had done so or were about to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what publicity arrangements are being undertaken to warn of the hazard involved in stripping textured ceiling and wall coatings which contain asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

Commercially textured ceiling and wall coverings containing asbestos may only be removed by contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive: such contractors must know the precautions to be taken. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has published a comprehensive booklet "Asbestos Materials in Buildings" which states that textured paint containing asbestos should never be sanded down, and that if it must be removed it should be thoroughly wetted in order to soften it and damp down any dust, and then scraped off. In addition, he has published a leaflet "Asbestos in housing" for mass circulation which advises householders not to rub down textured paint containing asbestos and that asbestos materials in good condition can be painted to prevent dust from escaping, but that they should consult their environmental health department about removing large amounts of asbestos materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of company liquidations (a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) from 1980 until the latest available date.

The number of company liquidations England and Wales was:

1974 to 1979 inclusive	30,511
1980 to May 1985 inclusive	61,190

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from producers of water reed about the effects on the thatching industry of the growth of equivalent subsidised imports; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade has received one letter from the hon. Member for North Devon. We have received no evidence that the imported thatching reed is subsidised. Supplies of cheaper (and apparently good quality) reed appear to be in the interests of British thatchers and their customers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has concluded negotiations with the European Commission on a new intervention fund regime for shipbuilding.

Yes. The new arrangements, which apply to orders taken from July 1984 and last until December 1986, permit an increased rate of up to 20½ per cent. intervention fund plus 2 per cent. shipbuilders relief. For vessels over 70,000 dead weight tonnes built in Northern Ireland, the maximum may be increased to 25½ per cent. plus 2 per cent. shipbuilders relief. The Commission has indicated also that it will be prepared to consider payments above these levels on a case by case basis particularly for orders where there is no EC competition.I believe these new, more generous arrangements provide a satisfactory basis for the industry until the end of next year. The United Kingdom industry must use the opportunity offered by these measures to continue to improve its competitive position, so that in the future it may survive with steadily reducing levels of assistance.Intervention fund assistance is essentially intended as a temporary aid to merchant shipbuilding and it is provided only for contracts taken on a non-profit basis. Aid of this kind will thus not normally be appropriate for, nor provided to, yards which have been or are to be privatised by British shipbuilders. The Commission has, however, agreed to consider any case where exceptionally, for reasons related to the maintenance of defence capacity, intervention fund support might be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response has been provided to the European Commission in reply to its letter dated 10 September 1984 concerning the protection of Duich Moss (Islay), a site of international importance for wild birds; and if he will reproduce in the Official Report the letter from the European Commission dated 10 September 1984 on this subject.

The following is the text of the letter of 10 September 1984 received from the European Commission:

"The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has filed a complaint against the British Government alleging nonobservance of requirements of the directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC) with respect to the protection of an important bird area on the Scottish Island of Islay.

The area concerned is described on the information sheet enclosed. It is also listed in the report of the Commission entitled: `Apercu des zones de grant interet pour la conservation des oiseaux sauvages'.

Considering that the area is clearly of Community importance for bird preservation, may I ask your Government to take the necessary steps to protect the area in accordance with the provisions of article 4 paragraph 4 of the directive 79/409/EEC and to add this area to the UK list of special protection areas.

I would be most grateful for an early reply."

The reply of 1 July was as follows:"DIRECTIVE 79/409

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those items of expenditure for which a disregard has been requested under section 8(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 in respect of 1985–86 expenditure.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the meeting of European Community Environment Ministers on 27 June.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 July to the hon. Member for Renfrew West and Inverclyde (Mrs. McCurley).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present policy in relation to planning applications for large new retail developments; whether that policy has recently changed; and if he will make a statement.

After considering the representations that I have received on this subject, I have concluded that it is not necessary to add more detailed advice to that given in development control policy note 13 ("Large New Stores") and in the memorandum on structure and local plans published last year. It is important, however, to stress the point made explicitly in the existing guidance that it is not the function of the planning system to inhibit competition among retailers or among methods of retailing, nor to preserve existing commercial interests as such; it must take into account the benefits to the public which flow from new developments in the distributive and retailing fields. The public needs a wide range of shopping facilities and benefits from competition between them. Local planning authorities must take full account of these various needs, both in framing structure and local plans and in dealing with applications for new shopping developments of all types.Since commercial competition as such is not a land-use planning consideration, the possible effects of a proposed major retail development on existing retailers is not in this sense a relevant factor in deciding planning applications and appeals. It will be necessary, however, to take account in exceptional circumstances of the cumulative effects of other recent and proposed large scale retail developments in the locality, and to consider whether they are on such a scale and of a kind that they could seriously affect the vitality and viability of a nearby town centre as a whole—for example, whether they seem likely to result in a significant increase in vacant properties, or a marked reduction in the range of services the town centre provides, such as could lead to its general physical deterioration and to the detriment of its future place in the economic and social life of the community. Town centres need to maintain their diversity and activity if they are to retain their vitality, but the range and variety of shops and services will change, as they have always done, in response to changing conditions.I and my inspectors will decide planning appeals in the light of these general principles and of the extent to which they are adequately dealt with in development plans, and in relation to the land-use planning and traffic considerations raised by individual cases.As at 1 January 1985 there were 260 hypermarkets and superstores built and opened in England and Wales compared with 125 in January 1979 and only 26 in 1973. Planning permission has been given for 67 more. These figures show that the planning system can facilitate the development of these new types of retailing, for which there is a clear public demand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what inquiries have been made by the Minister for Housing and Construction following the undertaking which he gave to the House during the debate on 1 July, Official Report, c. 67, concerning Stockbridge Village Trust; and what is the result of those inquiries.

I have made inquiries into the circumstances of the industrial dispute referred to by the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) and of the company involved, JGM Building Services Ltd. I understand that the sequence of events was as follows:

—on 18 February 1985 all of those employed directly by JGM Building Services Ltd. at Stockbridge Village withdrew their labour. I understand that the reason for this action was that six men employed on a planned maintenance contract that was drawing to a close had been served with notices of redundancy by the same employer. Six men working on the same contract were retained for other work.

—Several meetings between management and UCATT tailed to resolve the dispute and Mr. Michael Carter, Chief Executive of Stockbridge Village, agreed to chair a meeting between the two sides, although the trust was not involved in the dispute.

—The meeting was held on 26 April 1985, and reached agreement on the basis for a settlement. The key elements were: that all those who were on strike would be taken back including those who had received redundancy notices; that four labour-only subcontractors employed by the company would be offered direct employment, and, that if they refused, they would be replaced by direct employees; and that there would be more flexible working arrangements between day-to-day maintenance and planned maintenance work.

—The men resumed work on 7 May.

—On 13 June the trust received a telephone call from JGM's bankers asking for urgent payment of monies owned to the company. The trust agreed to pay, on the basis of certified accounts available that day, for works completed satisfactorily on day-to-day maintenance. A payment of £19,000 was made on 14 June 1985. No money was paid at that time in respect of planned maintenance contracts, which are financed, in part, with the aid grant.

—On 18 June the trust was notified that JGM Building Services Ltd. would be going into voluntary liquidation.

I can make no comment on the allegations of intimidation and threats of violence. If these have validity they are a matter for the police. The four labour-only subcontractors are in possession of 714 certificates. Mr. Tom Baron, the chairman of the Stockbridge Village Trust, has no financial interest in the village and he was not involved in any way in this industrial dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of European Ministers responsible for sport to discuss football spectator violence.

I represented the United Kingdom at an informal meeting of Ministers responsible for sport convened on Thursday 27 June by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. We agreed on a European convention on violence and misbehaviour at sports events, and in particular at football matches, and invited the committee of Ministers to adopt and open for signature the convention at the earliest opportunity with a view to its coming in force in time for the next round of European football matches. We also requested all governments entitled to do so to become parties to the convention as soon as possible.I hope that the convention will be adopted and opened for signature by the committee of Ministers later this month. A copy of the authenticated version of the convention will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is available. When in force, contracting parties will be obliged to:

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 501, about the proceedings of the committee on international trade in endangered species regulations, whether the United Kingdom has questioned or made representations about the reasons for the rules of procedure of the committee requiring confidentiality; and if she will make a statement.

The proceedings of European Community committees of this nature are normally confidential (in the same way that proceedings of meetings of officials within the United Kingdom would be so regarded). There is no reason to make an exception for this committee.

asked the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to her statement of 2 July, of the proposals she submitted to the Milan summit would permit individual member states to use a veto to prevent the Council of Ministers from agreeing to exceed agricultural spending limits established in accordance with the budgetary controls agreed at the Fontainebleau summit:(2) pursuant to her statement of 2 July, of the proposals she submitted to the Milan summit would permit individual member states to use a veto to prevent the Council of Ministers from agreeing agricultural spending budgets which exceed increases in the own resources of the Community.

The text on institutional questions which I tabled at the Milan European Council did not propose any change to the council conclusions of 4 December on budgetary discipline nor did it alter the United Kingdom view that, when a member state considers its very important interests to be at stake, discussion should continue until unanimous agreement is reached.

asked the Prime Minister what is the latest figure for the proportion of the 1·2 million tons of EEC food aid allocated for the drought suffering countries of Northern Africa at the Dublin summit which has actually been delivered; and what amount has been delivered to each country.

The European Council on 28–29 June noted that two thirds of the 1·2 million tonnes of grain pledged at the Dublin Council had been delivered or was on its way. This includes deliveries to Mozambique and Angola. The latest available figures for deliveries by the Community to each of the worst affected countries of the Sahel and east Africa are those given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Overseas Development to my hon. Friend, the member for Hereford and Stortford (Mr. Wells) on 6 June at column 198–99. In addition, the following deliveries were reported by member states from their share of the Dublin plan between January and May:

Tonnes of cereals or cereals equivalent
	Tonnes
Ethiopia	68,500
Sudan	59,500
Chad	28,000
Mali	12,000
Mauritania	6,200
Niger	29,000
Burkina Faso	n/a

A further co-ordination meeting will be held on 8 July in Brussels, when we expect to receive more up-to-date figures.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to announce the names of those who will replace the Law Lords who are due to retire in 1986, namely: the right hon. Lord Scarman, the right hon. Lord Roskill and the right hon. Lord Brightman.

An announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many foreign nationals have applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979;(2) how many foreign nationals have been granted political asylum in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979.

The number of applications for asylum received (from all nationalities) and granted from 1979 to 1984 are as follows:

	Applied for	Granted
1979	1,563	525
1980	2,352	1,147
1981	2,425	1,473
1982	4,223	1,727
1983	4,296	1,185
1984	3,478	584

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate what plans the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has to seek to ensure the safety of women on the streets, especially in inner London areas.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis attaches great importance to reducing the incidence and fear of street crime. He has made it a priority to increase the number of officers on the beat; and he has also encouraged officers to use public transport, both on and off duty, to provide protection and reassurance for the travelling public. These measures are aimed at the protection of the community as a whole, but should be of particular benefit to women. At the local level, it is the

(1) ENGLAND AND WALES (EXCLUDING THE METROPOLITAN POLICE)
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
(a) Disciplinary offences other than criminal conduct
Reduction in rank	18	22	16	22	16	18
Reduction in pay	18	22	22	21	19	21
Fine	283	262	280	316	194	220
Reprimand	120	108	106	104	92	103
Caution	46	58	56	56	44	30

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why information concerning the embarkation of visitors from the United Kingdom is not available; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will take steps to ensure that information is kept on the embarkation of visitors from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will undertake a study of the application of new technology on the collation of statistics on embarkations of visitors from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Comprehensive statistical information on the embarkation of visitors is not available because the cost of its production would greatly outweigh its usefulness. We have no plans to produce such information. The present arrangement, which represents a more effective use of resources, is to record on entry on the current computer system those whose embarkation is likely to need to be checked.Possible further uses of new technology in the immigration control, including the production of statistics, are being examined as part of the computing strategy of the Immigration and Nationality Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each of the financial years from 1980–81 to 1987–88, the actual or projected figures for (a) total civil defence expenditure from his Department's budget and (b) expenditure on grants-in-aid to local authorities for civil defence purposes.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each year since 1979 what was the number of police officers in England and Wales who, respectively, were reduced in rank, had their rate of pay reduced, were fined, were reprimanded or were cautioned.

The following information is available from records in the Home Office. A separate table for the Metropolitan police has been prepared because the information for that force is notified in different form:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 June Official Report, column 289, if he will indicate the year by year expenditure to date on extra low frequency communications systems and the projected year to year future expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

It is not our practice to make available details of year by year expenditure on equipment projects. However, total expenditure to date is approximately £350K.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what manpower reductions his Department has achieved in 1984–85.

During the period 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985, civilian staff numbers in the Ministry of Defence reduced by 7,108 to a total of 174,075. This excludes 18,967 staff of the Royal ordnance factories who were transferred out of the Civil Service on 2 January 1985 with the formation of Royal Ordnance plc.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the list of key points to be defended as part of Exercise Brave Defender has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 28 June 1985 at columns 516–17.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what manpower reductions his Department has achieved in 1984–85.

Between 1 April 1984 and 1 April 1985 the number of staff in the Department increased by 48, well within the agreed manpower ceilings which rose from 2,402 at 1 April 1984 to 2,472 at 1 April 1985. The 1985 ceiling allowed for an expansion of Her Majesty's inspectorate to support the Government's policies to raise standards in education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the range of materials for drug misuse education which his Department proposes to fund for production through the Health Education Council and other bodies, indicating the reason for each item and the quantities in which each will be produced.

Work on this project has started but is, as yet, in its early stages. The materials planned are:

A manual for teachers and teaching materials—for use in drugs education;

A curriculum guide to help ensure that drugs education is correctly located in the curriculum;

A handbook for teacher trainers.

These materials were selected to provide a comprehensive and coherent range of support for work in schools and colleges. Arrangements for dissemination will be considered in more detail as the poject proceeds but the intention is to make the materials readily available through existing networks.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to assess the efficiency of activities against drug misuse undertaken by the new co-ordinators to be appointed by local education authorities in 1986.

An initial assessment will be based on the proposals contained in the bids submitted by local education authorities. Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools will be involved in this assessment process. Effectiveness will be judged subsequently on the basis of reports on the activities promoted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he will be providing to help local education authority co-ordinators to stimulate the most effective activities against drug misuse.

General guidelines are set out in the DES circular on the education support grants programme for 1986–87 to be issued shortly. Existing types of activity vary and so it is expected that a range of activities will be supported, in accordance with local needs. However, key activities are expected to be: providing advice and support for the local authority's schools and colleges and for other staff including youth workers; arranging for the training of staff, co-ordinating education service activity with that of other local agencies: and liaison with appropriate national bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the additional funding of £2 million for drug misuse education will be applied in 1985–86 as between paying for co-ordinators, expansion of the local education authority advisory service, preparation and production of educational programmes to tie in with current Home Office publicity campaigns, the preparation of staff education programmes and joint programmes with outside agencies and with parent groups.

The allocation of funding will depend on the precise activities proposed by local education authorities in their responses to the circular which will be issued shortly. My right hon. Friend would expect that in most cases the majority of the expenditure will be incurred in staffing costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how soon Her Majesty's inspectors' of schools discussion document "Health Education from 5 to 16 years" will be available; and in what quantities.

The discussion document about health education is one of a number that Her Majesty's inspectors' are currently working on. It is not possible at this stage to say precisely when it will be ready for publication. When it is completed and published, it will be available in sufficient quantity for copies to be sent free to every LEA, primary and secondary school, teacher training institution as well as to a wide number of other interested parties. Copies will also be available on request from the DES.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence is available to him as to the average reading ability of those leaving school at (a) 16 years and (b) 18 years.

Surveys conducted for the assessment of performance unit between 1979 and 1983 in schools other than special schools show that at age 15 virtually all pupils are able to read in the sense that they can decode written words. Decoding is only one aspect of reading, however, and although there are no national figures for reading ability among 16-year-old and 18-year-old school leavers, there are indications (including results from local surveys of statutory school age pupils) that there is scope for improvement in standards of literacy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from polytechnics following the Audit Commission report on obtaining better value in further education.

My right hon. Friend has not received any representations from polytechnics or their maintaining authorities; he has, however, received a letter on this subject from the association of polytechnic teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his general policy towards the teacher-to-pupil ratio in schools in the light of falling school rolls.

My right hon. Friend acknowledged in the White Paper "Better Schools" that some further limited improvement in the overall pupil-to-teacher ratio would be needed in order to give effect to the Government's policies for the curriculum and examinations. The extent to which the improvement can be achieved, and the pace of any change, must depend on future public expenditure plans. The benefits to be gained from any improvement will depend on local education authorities seeking to deploy teachers to maximum effect, taking account of changes m pupil numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the present numbers and classes of education committee co-optees compare with those prior to 1973.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of teachers of mathematics, physics and chemistry in secondary schools in the west midlands region in each single year since 1979, and the number of science teaching posts in schools, further education colleges, polytechnics and universities in the region which are unfilled.

Information on the subjects being taught by secondary school teachers in particular regions is not available centrally. In January 1985 local education authorities in the West Midlands region reported to the Department that they had 48 unfilled vacancies for full-time permanent posts in maintained secondary schools for which mathematics, physics or chemistry was the main teaching subject required. There were a further 19 vacancies in other sciences and computer studies. Corresponding figures are not available centrally of vacancies in further education colleges, polytechnics or universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to ensure that the future of the B.Sc. (AGR) at the university of Aberdeen is not affected by the proposed cuts in research and development and advisory services; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the real increase in the salary in each grade of nurse, since April 1979, including the current proposed increases to February 1986.

Increases in maxima of pay scales for the main nursing pay grades since 1 April 1979 are set out in the following table. The percentages shown should be seen against the movement of the Retail Price Index of 75 per cent. during the period to 14 May 1985.

Grades	1 April 1979	1 February 1986	Increase
	£	£	Percentage
Senior Nurse 6 (Senior Nursing Officer I	6,013	11,555	92·2
Senior Nurse 8 (Nursing Officer II)	5,380	10,460	94·4
Nursing Sister II (Ward Sister)	4,949	10,000	102·1
Staff Nurse	3,813	7,175	88·2
Enrolled Nurse	3,411	6,500	90·6
Nursing Auxiliary	2,915	5,120	75·6
Student—3rd Year	2,667	4,580	71·7
Director of Nurse Education I	8,601	17,470	103·1
Senior Tutor	6,150	11,870	93
Tutor	5,742	11,425	98·9
Clinical Teacher	5,380	10,675	98·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what were the average annual expenses paid to dentists in the National Health Service in Scotland in the two years 1983–84 and 1984–85;(2) what were the practice expenses paid in 1984 to each dentist in the National Health Service whose earnings were over £100,000.

Only estimated figures are yet available for average expenses—£26,051 for 1983–84 and £27,433 for 1984–85. Expenses are not directly reimbursed, but are allowed for in the general level of fees paid to dentists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many dentists employed in the National Health Service in Scotland are in receipt of gross annual earnings of over £100,000;(2) if he will publish in the

The information is as follows:

Number of general dental practitioners*
Gross earnings in 1984†	Number
Up to £20,000	133
£20,000 to £30,000	132

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of examinations which took place in 1983 and 1984 of the work done by those National Health Service dentists with gross earnings of £100,000 in the relevant year; and with what results;(2) how many examinations took place in 1984 of the work done by those National Health Service dentists with gross earnings of over £100,000; and what were the results.

The information is as follows:

	1983	1984
Number of dentists with gross earnings of £100,000 or more	12	11
Number of references to the regional dental service in respect of work by those dentists	77	50

In five cases reported on by the regional dental service in 1983 and three cases in 1984, the dental advisers of the Scottish Dental Estimates Board considered that the work had been unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed by the Scottish Dental Estimates Board for the purpose of monitoring dentists' activities in 1984; and what is the current total.

All staff of the Scottish Dental Estimates Board are engaged to some extent in monitoring dentists' activities. Staff numbers are as follows:

	1984	1985
Dental advisers	4·5	4·5
Clerical and administrative staff	172·5	172·5
TOTAL	177	177

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were on hospital waiting lists in March for each of the years 1980 to 1985.

The numbers on waiting lists at March of each year were as follows:

	Numbers
1980	69,904
1981	67,679
1982	66,692
1983	96,757
1984	85,364

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the capital expenditure needed to bring up to satisfactory standards the stock of psychiatric hospital buildings; and how soon he expects to achieve this target.

The survey of the hospital stock carried out in 1981 found that some £200 million required to be spent over about 10 years to bring the stock up to standard, of which £27 million was attributable to self-contained psychiatric hospitals.Over the past three years I have made special allocations of £55 million to health boards for upgrading work. It is for boards themselves to decide on the priorities for the use of this money, and the extent to which they wish to use their normal allocations for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by health board area all hospitals which (a) closed and (b) opened, indicating the numbers of beds involved in 1984.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 7 May to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) at columns 372–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of National Health Service beds is occupied by mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons; what percentage of consultants work with such patients; and if he will also provide the actual numbers involved.

For the National Health Service in Scotland, the information for 1984 is as follows:

Percentage of NHS hospital beds occupied by patients with		Percentage of NHS consultants working with patients with
(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Mental illness	Mental deficiency	Mental illness	Mental deficiency
30·3	12·5	11·3	0·6

The total average number of occupied beds (March 1984) for mental illness patients is 14,264 and for mental deficiency patients 5,882 beds. The number of consultants (September 1984) in psychiatry is 219·4 (whole-time equivalents) and in mental deficiency 11·6 (whole-time equivalents).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the weekly cost of food for patients in mental hospitals; and what is the comparable cost for other hospitals.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 December 1984 at columns 214–16. Information for 1984–85 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in the numbers of long-term unemployed in Scotland in each of the last four years, defining long-term unemployed as those out of work for longer than 52 weeks.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's letter of 22 October 1984. Information relating to the numbers of unemployed in Scotland for over 52 weeks is available in the Library. It is difficult to make comparisions between the figures over the last four years because of the change in the basis of the count in October 1982, and the effect of the 1983 Budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 and over, no longer have to sign on at unemployment benefit offices to receive benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of people unemployed in Scotland whose last known employment was in the construction industry at the most recent date for which figures are available.

The information requested is available in the Library. The industrial analysis of the unemployed registrants from which this information is obtained was discontinued in May 1982 which is therefore the latest date for which the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he has taken to satisfy himself of the ability of social work departments in regional local authorities to deal with children from list D schools who have multiple problems; and if he will make a statement.(2) what representations he has received against transferring list D schools to social work departments within regional local authorities;(3) which regional local authority departments will receive grants aid under his proposal to transfer the functions of list D schools to local authorities.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a question tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Corrie) on 6 June at column 257.The majority of the children in the list D schools are already in the statutory care of local authorities. I do not believe that the ability of authorities to discharge their responsibilities will be affected by the changes which I propose to introduce in arrangements for financial support of the schools. The additional rate support grant payable under these arrangements will go to authorities and will not be earmarked to particular departments. I have however suggested to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that it might wish to consider a new specific grant.Representations against my proposals have recently been made by the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic hierarchy and children's hearing interests. At an earlier stage the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the list D Schools' Assocation indicated that they would prefer the present arrangements to continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the rate of migration from Scotland in each year since 1979 for which records are available, expressed (a) as a percentage of total population, (b) as a percentage of labour force and (c) as a total number.

The information requested in (a) and (c), covering 1 July to 30 June in each case, is as follows:

	Estimated net emigrants	Percentage of population start of period
1979–80	16,300	0·3
1980–81	23,100	0·4
1981–82	14,900	0·3
1982–83	17,800	0·3
1983–84	9,100	0·2

Comparison of the number of migrants with the size of the labour force is not meaningful because not all migrants are members of the labour force.Estimates of net migration of members of the labour force are not available. A table comparable to the one above, but restricted to the age group 15–64, is given below.

	Estimated net emigrants aged 15–64	Percentage of population aged 15–64 at start of period
1979–80	11,100	0·3
1980–81	15,700	0·5
1981–82	10,200	0·3
1982–83	14,200	0·4
1983–84	7,100	0·2

Percentage Increases in Average Gross Weekly Earnings of Adult Employees
	April to April
	1979–80	1980–1981	1981–1982	1982–1983	1983–1984
Fire services—operational ranks below station officer: males	24·0	17·4	11·6	8·5	4·5
Local authorities' services—England and Wales: manual workers NJC
males	28·2	7·5	4·5	6·1	6·8
females	27·3	10·5	8·2	7·6	5·5
Scotland: manual workers NJC
males	19·9	10·4	5·0	9·7	3·2
females	32·1	15·8	0·7	4·8	6·2
Civil Service National Whitley Council: Administration group: middle and higher grade
males	36·5	7·6	3·6	8·0	6·8
females	39·3	2·4	8·7	8·6	6·2
Administration group: clerical grades
males	28·9	1·8	7·3	10·3	2·2
females	30·8	1·6	8·4	7·6	6·2
Teaching
England and Wales: Burnham Committee—primary, secondary and special schools
males	17·6	36·7	1·3	8·0	4·8
females	17·9	35·4	1·5	8·3	5·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether unemployment benefit offices keep a record of the names and addresses of the long-term unemployed.

The names and addresses of all unemployed people claiming benefits are recorded at an an unemployment benefit office to enable, where necessary, payments to be sent to them by post.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what manpower reductions his Department has achieved in 1984–85.

Between 1 April 1984 and 1 April 1985 the number of permanent staff in my Department has decreased by 1,637.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage increases in pay have been received by firemen, dustmen, local government officials, non-industrial civil servants and teachers in each of the past five years.

The available estimates of the percentage increases in average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees working a full week covered by the collective agreements identified in the new earnings survey corresponding as far as possible with the groups referred to are set out in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total expenditure in 1984–85 prices of the Manpower Services Commission in each year since 1974, together with the percentage change in real terms over each previous year.

The information requested is as follows:

Financial Year	Expenditure at 1984–85 prices £ million	Percentage increase over previous year
1974–75	357·9	—
1975–76	699·1	+95·3
1976–77	971·0	+38·9
1977–78	1,072·0	+ 10·4
1978–79	1,139·8	+ 6·3
1979–80	1,105·7	- 3·0
1980–81	1,114·9	+ 0·8
1981–82	1,296	+16·2
1982–83	1,461·4	+13·0
1983–84	1,848·5	+26·5
1984–85	2,051·5	+11·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report, the evidence on which he based his statement of 11 June Official Report, columns 816–87, about the factual accuracy of statements made by Youthaid; and if he will make a statement.

The evidence came from the hon. Member himself during the debate on 11 June, at column 816, when, quoting Youthaid as his source, he reported 50 per cent. of trainees from the youth training scheme as going into jobs. As the hon. Member is aware, the most comprehensive picture to date of the destinations of leavers from the scheme is provided by the survey of young people leaving between July and September 1984, when about half of all the 1984 leavers left the scheme. This clearly shows around 60 per cent. of trainees going into employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for 1983–84, 1984–85 and his latest estimate for 1985–86, the total sum expended on the youth training scheme; and if he will give the total sum expended on (a) grants paid to mode A managing agents, broken down into the administration fee, the training allowance, the trainee allowance and capital grants, (b) mode B1, and (c) mode B2.

The information requested is shown in the table:

£ million
	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
	Outturn	¶Outturn	Estimate
Administration fee	32·4	32·5	33·6
Other Grants*	204·1	437·0	495·4
Total Mode A	236·5	469·5	529·0
Mode B1	111·6	239·0	204·8
Mode B2	20·5	39·5	28·1
Capital Grants†	1·2	4·6	3·0
Other Expenditure‡	10·7	12·2	16·2
Total YTS Expenditure║	380·5	764·8	781·1
* Separate information is not available for the contribution towards the cost of training and the trainee allowance. Other grants also include expenditure on excess travel and lodging allowances and vacated places.
† Capital grants expenditure cannot be separately identified by Mode.
║ Excludes MSC administration costs.
‡ Other expenditure includes research and development, accredited centres and miscellaneous minor items.
¶ Outturn for 1984–85 is provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the housing conditions survey for Northern Ireland 1984 will be published.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that it is hoped to publish the report in September 1985.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each month since the European monetary system was established the divergence of the pound sterling from the central rate of the European currency unit compared with that of the Norwegian krone, together with the relative volume and terms of trade each year for imports and exports of manufactures.

Norway is not a member of the EMS and the krone does not therefore have a notional central rate against the ecu. The table shows the market rates of sterling and the hone against the ecu, for the period requested.

	Sterling	Krone
1979
March	0·65411	6·90350
April	0·64327	6·87592
May	0·63685	6·84455
June	0·62835	6·95702
July	0·61156	6·97606
August	0·61425	6·96874
September	0·64036	6·96931
October	0·66069	6·89130
November	0·64971	7·09852
December	0·64647	7·08766
1980
January	0·63236	6·97705
February	0·62076	6·93487
March	0·60208	6·74511
April	0·61698	6·86666
May	0·60112	6·84939
June	0·60675	6·92268
July	0·60467	6·92588
August	0·58933	6·83279
September	0·58617	6·81351
October	0·55271	6·68702
November	0·56240	6·69571
December	0·54750	6·76424
1981
January	0·51767	6·70448
February	0·54187	6·52140
March	0·53954	6·49587
April	0·53523	6·34882
May	0·52829	6·27852
June	0·54401	6·33807
July	0·55358	6·26855
August	0·55396	6·21065
September	0·58923	6·30745
October	0·58651	6·45109
November	0·56545	6·34156
December	0·56770	6·84550
1982
January	0·56199	6·23209
February	0·55941	6·10454
March	0·55832	6·08254
April	0·57026	6·10329
May	0·56817	6·13934
June	0·55210	5·99409
July	0·55320	6·19521
August	0·54948	6·34056
September	0·54977	6·48297
October	0·54778	6·65459
November	0·57827	6·60368
December	0·60029	6·83657
1983
January	0·61244	6·70392
February	0·62003	6·76296
March	0·62473	6·65129
April	0·58985	6·54636
May	0·56325	6·47783
June	0·58343	6·50323
July	0·56684	6·37136
August	0·56459	6·32835
September	0·57483	6·31258
October	0·57472	6·34401
November	0·57284	6·27638
December	0·57060	6·34593
1984
January	0·57096	6·31010

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing what effect on a recent date a pronounced movement in the pound sterling had on the central rate of the European currency unit and the divergence indicators for each member of the exchange rate mechanism.

Since 17 September 1984, sterling's notional central rate against the European currency unit has been £0·585992. The table shows sterling's market ecu rate and its divergence indicator in a recent week.

	£/ECU	£ divergence indicator*
17 June 1985	0·574080	- 106
18 June 1985	0·571922	- 126
19 June 1985	0·569682	- 146
20 June 1985	0·570452	- 139
21 June 1985	0·571337	- 131
* The divergence indicator is calculated by expressing the ecu's premium or discount against sterling (ie the percentage deviation of sterling's market ecu rate from its notional central rate) as a percentage of sterling's maximum divergence spread (ie 1·91 per cent.).

The effect of movements in sterling on other countries' divergence indicators cannot readily be calculated. For purposes of calculating the divergence indicators of currencies that participate in the exchange rate mechanism an adjustment is made to eliminate that element of the change in the ecu's value due to movements of sterling, lira and the drachma outside notional 2¼ percent. bilateralmargins.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue has decided that leasing companies may not claim decreciation allowance against leased central heating systems in council housing; and for how long previously such allowances have been able to be claimed.

There are restrictions on the capital allowances that may be given where machinery or plant is let for use in a dwelling house. These have applied for many years. How exactly the restrictions might apply to leased central heating in council housing depends on the facts of each case. If the hon. Member has a particular set of circumstances in mind and would care to send me the details I should he happy to look at the matter further.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements are to be made to provide hon. Members with information about the amendments contained in the resolution tabled on 4 July updating schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.

A detailed explanatory note is available from the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the relationship between the fees and allowances paid to doctors for dispensing National Health Service drugs and the costs incurred in providing that service; and what evidence has been given by his Department to the dispensing doctors review body on this matter.

General medical practitioners as a body are reimbursed all costs incurred providing general medical services including dispensing drugs. Certain of these costs are directly reimbursed which means that each individual doctor receives reimbursement for the costs he personally incurred. Some of these directly reimbursed costs, such as the costs (less discount) of drugs and appliances, relate directly to the cost of dispensing. Others, such as the reimbursement of 70 per cent. of the costs of employing certain ancillary staff and the cost of renting or purchasing practice premises, cover costs incurred providing general medical services and dispensing.All other costs are reimbursed indirectly on an average basis through fees and allowances. These are set by the review body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration. They cannot build in to each fee and allowance the amount for expenses appropriate to that fee or allowance as this information is not available. It is therefore not possible to say what the relationship is between the payments to doctors for dispensing, which include a dispensing fee and an on-cost addition of 10·5 per cent. of the cost of the item dispensed, and the dispensing costs which they incur.Our evidence to the review body has in the last two years concentrated on the steps which have been taken to establish the level of discounts obtained by doctors on their drug purchases to ensure that the direct reimbursement of the cost of drugs and appliances as nearly as possible matches the costs incurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue guidance in relation to the testing of an abortion pill at Edinburgh university about the circumstances in which such a pill may be offered to pregnant women; and if he will make a statement.

We do not consider that any guidance is needed. The doctor responsible for this clinical trial has confirmed that it will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Abortion Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing for each of the last three years the gross annual earnings of National Health Service dentists in brackets of £10.000 up to £200,000 and over £200,000; and what was the highest gross earnings figure.

The information we have readily available relates to the gross earnings, from which dentists have to meet their expenses, of dentists in Great Britain included in the calculations of the dental rates study group. This excludes assistants (whose earnings are included in those of their employers) and certain other dentists, for example those who have been on NHS lists for less than a year. The information is as follows:

£	1982	1983	1984
1 to 9,999	1,016	989	933
10,000 to 19,999	1,086	1,025	1,007
20,000 to 29,999	1,860	1,631	1,420
30,000 to 39,999	2,790	2,607	2,337
40,000 to 49,999	2,574	2,722	2,943
50,000 to 59,999	1,681	1,941	2,216
60,000 to 69,999	887	1,092	1,374
70,000 to 79,999	451	596	784
80.000 to 89,999	228	291	393
90,000 to 99,999	120	171	214
100,000 to 109,999	63	76	121
110,000 to 119,999	37	56	67
120,000 to 129,999	26	33	40
130,000 to 139,999	23	19	18
140,000 to 149,999	9	14	11
150,000 to 159,999	8	7	11
160,000 to 169,999	4	3	5
170,000 to 179,999	3	5	2
180,000 to 189,999	0	0	3
190,000 to 199,999	1	0	1
200,000 and more	3	3	2
Total	12,870	13,281	13,902
Highest individual gross earnings	£239,611	£225,669	£241,590

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish the names and addresses of all family practitioner committee members.

Family practitioner committee chairmen have been asked to publish locally the names of their committee members together with brief biographical details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make composite dental fillings (non mercury amalgam) available on the National Health Service.

I am quite unable to understand the point of this question. Composite dental fillings are already available under the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the decision of East Cumbria area health authority that the 10 per cent. bonus payable at the Cumberland infirmary must be withdrawn in any tender that staff submit for domestic services in the hospital; and if he will make a statement.

It is for local management to decide the basis upon which the in-house tender is submitted. The in-house tender will then be compared with that of other tenderers, and we would expect the lowest bidder to be awarded the contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to public funds in postage and other distribution costs of sending departmental letter CMO(85)8 regarding food additives to all doctors in England, and other recipients, by first class post on 27 June; and why this was done so far in advance of the regulations taking effect on 1 July 1986.

All doctors and pharmacists in England were provided with this information. 104,763 letters were distributed at a total cost of £32,542·62. The exercise was designed to assist health care professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of the small number of individuals who have adverse reactions to food additives. Some food additives have had to be specifically identified in ingredient lists since 1 January 1983. The Food Labelling Regulations 1984 which came into operation on 19 September 1984 require all additives (except flavourings which present special problems) to be identified fully in ingredient lists. Many manufacturers are already complying with these new requirements although they may, if they so desire, continue to comply with earlier regulations until 1 July 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessments have been made by his Department during the last five years of the relative buying power of the state earnings-related pension scheme.

We make regular assessments of the value of the average amount of the additional component to the state earnings-related pension scheme and its value against the rise in prices. The latest assessment is as follows:

	Average value of additional component	Value against prices (1979 = 100)
	£
November 1979	0·70	100
November 1980	1·08	134
November 1981	1·54	169
September 1982	1·88	197
September 1983	2·50	249

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what factors he based his decision to reduce the amounts of money which old people can claim from his Department when seeking places in homes; and what assessments he made of the effects which this policy would have on such claimants.

The new limits for residential care and nursing homes were set with reference to the information available to us on existing limits and charges, together with our determination on the amount we consider it reasonable for supplementary benefit to meet. We are monitoring the effects of the regulations closely.