Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 22 July 1985

Wales

Health Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those health authorities in Wales where the statutory National Health Service auditor has found systems weaknesses in relation to the payment of private patient charges in 1984; and if he will place the auditor's reports in the Library.

During the audit investigation into private medical practice and other matters undertaken between April 1984 and February 1985, the National Health Service Statutory auditor for Wales identified systems weaknesses in relation to the payment of charges for private patient treatment in all 9 health authorities in Wales.Several of the audit reports completed as part of this investigation have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Publication of these and other reports cannot be considered at present as it might be prejudicial to any subsequent investigations. Matters referred to in one of the audit reports are already the subject of police investigation. We would not in any event consider the question of publication of these audit reports until all the authorities' responses had been received and considered by the Department.

"Lifting The Burden"

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the White Paper "Lifting the Burden" and its potential impact upon Wales.

The White Paper "Lifting the Burden" (Cmnd. 9571) is the Government's response to the report "Burdens on Business" published earlier this year. That report showed that Government requirements impose real costs on business which can inhibit development and growth. While the White Paper recognises the important role that statutory requirements and regulations have in the protection of workers, consumers and the general public unnecessary constraints act as a brake on enterprise and the creation of jobs and wealth. The removal of such constraints will allow firms, and especially small firms, to release scarce resources to help the development and expansion of their business with consequent benefits to the economies of both Wales and the United Kingdom.

Welsh Language (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of expenditure by his Department on the Welsh language in the financial year 1984–85; and what percentage increase this represents on the 1983–84 figure.

The level of expenditure by our Department on the Welsh language in 1984–85 was £2,535,231 which represents a reduction of 4·9 per cent. over expenditure in 1983–84 due to decreasing costs associated with the Welsh element in bilingual roadsigns on motorways and trunk roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown of his Department's expenditure on the Welsh language in 1984–85.

The information is as follows:

Grams under section 26, Development of Rural Wales Act 1976
	1984–85
	£
Welsh Books Council—publicity	335,000
School Books Club (Exhibition officer)	5,000
Welsh National Centre for Children's Literature	14,000
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin	200,000
Royal National Eisteddfod	150,000
Bwrdd Ffilmiau Cymraeg	7,000
Papurau Bro (via RAA's)	21,350
Yr Academi Gymreig	30,000
Young Farmers Clubs	3,500
Place Names Advisory Committee (Honoraria)	600
Cwmni Theatr Cymru	25,000
Welsh National Opera	374
Merched y Wawr	10,000
Y Cymro	300
Sub Total Current	802,124
Urdd Gobaith Cymru—Glanllyn (Capital)	180,000
Sub Total Current and Capital	982,124
Grants for Welsh Language Education:
Education Act 1980: Section 21	1,004,701
Headquarters Grants
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin	114,350
Urdd Gobaith Cymru	60,296
Educational research related to the Welsh language	200,000
Welsh element in bilingual road signs on motorways and trunk roads	173,760
	2,535,231

Tan-Yr-Unts (Road Scheme)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken since the recent nearly fatal accidents on the Tan-Yr-Unts bend to implement one of the two road schemes being examined after the last fatal accident in 1983.

I expect to reach a conclusion very soon on what might be the most appropriate long-term solution to the problem posed by the bend. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have done so.

Nurses (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available extra cash to the Wales area health authorities in order that they might fund the nurses' pay award; and if he will make a statement.

No. The additional costs of the pay award to nurses this year, and to other staff subject to review bodies recommendations over and above the cash increases which we have made available to health authorities is less than £1 million or 0·1 per cent. of their revenue allocations. We have however recently provided them with additional capital funds which can be used for developing revenue saving schemes and which with further improvements in efficiency should help to relieve the pressures on their resources.

Inmos

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the employment prospects for the Inmos factory, Newport; what is the reason for not building stage II of the Inmos factory; how many current Inmos workers in Newport are on short-time; how many are drawing lower wages; and if he will make a statement.

The questions raised are essentially matters for the company which has issued a press release explaining that the 200 redundancies at Newport and the indefinite postponement of the new assembly operation planned to begin this year are part of a programme to cut costs in the currently depressed semi-conductor market. The company has also said that to exploit its design skills and advanced manufacturing facilities and to allow it to compete in world markets it will be giving priority to the

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
CLWYD:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	13	—	—	29,362
1975	—	11	—	14	27,627
1976	—	—	—	4	29,916
1977	—	3	—	2	30,276
1978	—	—	—	33	31,377
1979	—	13	—	—	32,126
1980	—	81	369	—	39,212
1981	—	30	—	52	45,017
1982	—	19	—	48	44,853
1983	—	41	—	18	47,709
1984	—	55	—	23	49,971
Long stay hospitals:
1974	—	95	—	25	2,396
1975	—	23	—	—	2,197
1976	—	10	—	3	2,153
1977	—	5	—	4	2,135
1978	—	—	—	—	2,085
1979	—	—	—	—	2,040
1980	—	149	—	—	1,884
1981	—	—	—	12	1,411
1982	—	—	—	—	1,058
1983	—	6	—	—	1,132
1984	—	1	—	—	1,137
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	13	2,302
1975	—	15	—	19	2,569
1976	—	2	—	—	2,679
1977	—	58	—	—	2,684
1978	—	8	—	—	2,436
1979	—	21	—	—	2,445
1980	—	—	—	—	2,650
1981	—	—	—	2	2,642
1982	—	3	—	—	2,868
1983	—	30	—	—	2,860
1984	—	10	—	—	2,820
Other hospitals:
1974	—	1	—	21	10,358

introduction of new high value products, such as the transputer, and gradually phasing out the direct manufacture of its dynamic RAM products.

Hospital Beds

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, for each of the years 1973 to 1984, he will provide such information as is available as to the number of hospital beds in each Welsh health authority region which were (a) closed as a result of complete hospital closure, (b) closed in hospitals which were not completely closed, (c) provided as a result of new hospital openings and (d) provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1985, c. 550]: The information requested is provided in the tables, together with the number of inpatients treated in each year. The tables demonstrate the Government's policy of transferring patients from long stay hospitals to more appropriate forms of care, and show its continuing commitment to providing more care in the acute sector, where bed numbers have increased by well over 1,000 since 1979 when the Government took office and where the number of patients treated has risen steadily.

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
1975	—	—	—	—	10,060
1976	—	3	—	1	10,299
1977	—	2	—	—	10,128
1978	25	18	—	—	10,907
1979	—	—	—	—	11,130
1980	31	20	—	—	5,632
1981	201	—	—	—	2,694
1982	—	4	—	—	2,733
1983	—	—	—	—	2,947
1984	—	—	—	—	3,179
DYFED:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	—	28,949
1975	—	—	—	18	27,667
1976	—	—	—	1	29,973
1977	—	—	—	8	31,317
1978	—	58	174	2	33,651
1979	109	—	—	184	36,214
1980	—	—	—	—	38,081
1981	—	12	—	—	37,711
Long star hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	—	556
1975	—	—	—	—	556
1976	—	8	—	—	547
1977	—	—	—	—	429
1978	68	—	—	—	407
1979	—	14	—	—	329
1980	—	12	—	—	389
1981	—	—	—	—	501
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	23	—	—	1,033
1975	—	—	—	—	1,086
1976	—	—	—	—	1,098
1977	—	—	—	—	1,128
1978	—	83	—	—	1,032
1979	—	30	—	—	963
1980	—	17	—	—	1,000
1981	—	2	—	—	959
Other hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	24	2,890
1975	12	—	—	8	2,203
1976	—	7	—	—	2,176
1977	—	12	—	6	2,469
1978	—	57	—	—	2,562
1979	45	—	—	—	1,104
1980	—	—	—	—	1,018
1981	—	—	—	—	949
EAST DYFED:
Acute hospitals:
1982	—	—	—	6	26,212
1983	—	14	—	—	26,174
1984	—	16	—	1	27,419
Long stay hospitals:
1982	—	6	—	—	696
1983	—	2	—	1	893
1984	—	—	—	31	949
Psychiatric hospitals:
1982	—	100	—	—	994
1983	—	19	—	—	869
1984	—	70	—	—	945
Other hospitals:
1982	—	—	—	—	208
1983	—	—	—	—	181
1984	32	—	—	—	47

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
PEMBROKESHIRE:
Acute hospitals:
1982	—	—	—	3	10,952
1983	—	—	—	—	10,863
1984	—	—	—	3	11,516
Long stay hospitals:
1982	—	—	—	—	—
1983	—	—	—	—	—
1984	—	—	—	—	—
Psychiatric hospitals:
1982	—	—	—	—	—
1983	—	—	—	—	—
1984	—	—	—	—	—
Other hospitals:
1982	—	—	—	—	561
1983	—	—	—	—	579
1984	—	—	—	—	472
GWENT:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	8	—	42	31,197
1975	—	69	—	8	31,898
1976	53	4	—	123	33,797
1977	—	70	—	33	33,916
1978	—	—	—	30	34,242
1979	—	2	—	91	33,381
1980	—	6	—	114	39,759
1981	—	—	—	—	42,909
1982	—	29	—	—	42,654
1983	—	8	—	—	44,576
1984	—	21	—	9	47,729
Long stay hospitals:
1974	—	1	—	—	1,333
1975	—	47	—	—	1,293
1976	—	1	—	27	1,559
1977	—	2	—	2	1,623
1978	—	—	—	—	1,291
1979	—	—	—	—	1,255
1980	25	76	—	—	1,405
1981	—	—	—	—	1,353
1982	—	—	—	—	1,184
1983	—	8	—	159	1,275
1984	—	—	—	—	1,256
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	136	—	—	2,836
1975	—	169	—	—	2,480
1976	—	55	—	—	2,637
1977	—	12	—	—	2,482
1978	—	8	—	—	2,416
1979	—	29	—	—	2,349
1980	—	5	—	—	2,492
1981	12	244	—	—	2,456
1982	—	38	—	—	2,425
1983	—	39	—	—	2,517
1984	—	24	—	—	2,601
Other hospitals:
1974	—	16	—	—	14,154
1975	—	87	—	—	12,838
1976	20	41	—	—	12,899
1977	26	6	—	36	13,142
1978	—	—	—	24	13,236
1979	—	31	—	—	12,858
1980	—	72	—	—	8,992
1981	—	—	—	—	8,953
1982	—	4	—	20	8,836
1983	76	8	—	—	9,990
1984	—	—	—	7	10,521

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
GWYNEDD:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	24	20,921
1975	—	—	—	38	19,895
1976	—	—	—	11	22,403
1977	—	—	—	10	23,736
1978	—	—	—	—	23,970
1979	—	—	—	—	23,068
1980	—	1	—	—	24,693
1981	—	3	—	—	25,703
1982	—	—	—	—	26,572
1983	—	3	—	—	26,576
1984	—	57	529	—	27,807
Long stay hospitals:
1974	43	29	—	30	986
1975	—	2	—	—	1,136
1976	—	15	—	1	1,056
1977	—	—	—	—	878
1978	—	—	—	—	803
1979	—	—	—	—	881
1980	—	2	—	—	858
1981	—	—	—	—	882
1982	—	—	—	—	955
1983	—	—	—	—	1,122
1984	—	39	—	—	1,038
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	—	169
1975	—	—	—	—	199
1976	—	31	—	—	239
1977	—	—	—	—	201
1978	—	—	—	—	273
1979	—	—	—	—	224
1980	—	—	—	—	256
1981	—	—	—	—	236
1982	—	—	—	—	212
1983	—	—	—	—	215
1984	—	—	—	—	197
Other hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	32	4,004
1975	6	—	—	—	3,247
1976	—	10	—	—	3,417
1977	—	—	—	—	3,290
1978	—	—	—	—	3,303
1979	—	—	—	—	3,525
1980	17	—	—	—	3,427
1981	—	—	—	—	3,225
1982	—	—	—	—	3,488
1983	—	—	—	—	3,470
1984	—	25	—	—	2,454
MID GLAMORGAN:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	5	—	25	45,953
1975	13	38	—	—	44,539
1976	—	21	—	41	46,842
1977	—	5	—	33	47,928
1978	^*138	3	362	—	53,915
1979	—	—	—	65	56,337
1980	—	2	—	5	59,875
1981	—	6	—	5	60,134
1982	—	18	—	—	56,772
1983	—	1	—	3	62,868
1984	—	—	—	31	67,515
Long stay hospitals:
1974	—	26	—	2	1,027
1975	—	5	—	42	943
1976	.—	—	—	—	1,208
1977	—	—	—	—	1,246
1978	25	—	—	—	1,351
1979	45	3	—	—	1,327

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
1980	—	—	^†98	—	2,208
1981	—	—	—	—	2,759
1982	—	—	—	—	2,379
1983	—	10	—	—	4,111
1984	—	1	—	10	4,815
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	86	—	—	2,600
1975	—	68	—	—	1,706
1976	47	15	—	—	1,741
1977	—	97	—	—	1,686
1978	—	72	—	—	2,147
1979	—	45	—	—	1,631
1980	—	58	—	—	1,846
1981	—	7	—	—	1,799
1982	—	89	—	—	1,641
1983	—	24	—	—	1,899
1984	—	—	—	—	1,939
Other hospitals:
1974	30	5	—	—	9,930
1975	16	16	—	30	10,089
1976	—	13	—	7	9,567
1977	—	3	—	—	9,737
1978	—	166	—	32	6,121
1979	—	13	—	—	4,587
1980	90	9	—	—	3,629
1981	—	5	—	—	2,760
1982	—	8	—	—	2,697
1983	—	—	—	—	2,818
1984	—	—	—	1	3,035
POWYS:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	1	—	—	3,469
1975	—	—	—	—	3,478
1976	—	—	—	—	3,563
1977	—	—	—	—	3,589
1978	—	—	—	30	3,661
1979	—	—	—	—	3,527
1980	—	—	—	20	3,853
1981	—	—	—	—	3,993
1982	—	—	—	—	3,860
1983	—	—	—	—	4,202
1984	—	—	—	—	4,438
Long stay hospitals
1974	—	—	—	—	326
1975	—	—	—	—	423
1976	—	—	—	—	322
1977	—	—	—	—	380
1978	—	—	—	—	316
1979	—	83	—	—	326
1980	—	1	—	—	374
1981	—	—	—	—	370
1982	—	—	—	—	400
1983	—	1	—	—	546
1984	—	—	—	—	534
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	—	319
1975	—	—	—	—	291
1976	—	—	—	—	277
1977	—	—	—	—	279
1978	—	—	—	—	307
1979	—	—	—	—	304
1980	—	16	—	—	331
1981	—	—	—	—	314
1982	—	25	—	—	350
1983	—	103	—	25	377
1984	—	—	—	30	378
Other hospitals:
1974	—	15	—	3	1,332

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
1975	—	—	—	—	1,194
1976	—	21	—	—	1,194
1977	—	—	—	—	1,167
1978	—	—	—	—	1,209
1979	—	—	—	—	1,254
1980	—	28	—	—	1,390
1981	—	12	—	—	1,266
1982	—	20	—	—	1,237
1983	—	—	—	—	1,222
1984	—	—	—	—	1,235
SOUTH GLAMORGAN:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	—	48,282
1975	—	10	—	19	48,235
1976	—	11	—	50	51,479
1977	—	31	—	—	51,321
1978	—	2	—	12	52,168
1979	—	—	—	6	52,931
1980	—	4	—	—	53,769
1981	—	1	—	86	57,080
1982	—	37	—	—	55,310
1983	—	4	—	—	60,688
1984	—	2	—	20	63,188
Long stay hospitals:
1974	—	10	—	—	1,984
1975	—	155	—	—	2,045
1976	—	—	—	45	2,020
1977	—	—	—	—	2,193
1978	—	100	—	—	1,990
1979	—	12	—	—	1,326
1980	—	8	—	—	1,646
1981	—	—	—	22	2,096
1982	—	—	—	—	2,120
1983	—	—	—	—	2,291
1984	—	—	—	—	2,315
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	6	—	—	1,549
1975	45	191	—	—	1,529
1976	—	8	—	1	1,450
1977	—	75	—	—	1,354
1978	—	7	,—	55	1,426
1979	—	2	—	—	1,526
1980	—	24	—	—	1,497
1981	—	2	—	22	1,413
1982	—	4	—	—	1,386
1983	—	—	—	—	1,573
1984	—	11	—	3	1,518
Other hospitals:
1974	—	87	—	15	13,628
1975	137	38	—	—	12,753
1976	—	10	—	—	14,164
1977	—	—	—	1	12,453
1978	—	—	—	—	11,885
1979	—	29	—	—	11,743
1980	—	139	—	2	12,521
1981	—	148	—	—	11,440
1982	—	—	—	46	11,036
1983	—	26	—	26	11,583
1984	—	—	—	—	11,962
WEST GLAMORGAN:
Acute hospitals:
1974	—	103	—	4	39,839
1975	—	—	—	16	39,300
1976	—	—	—	32	42,075
1977	—	22	—	33	43,050
1978	—	9	—	5	42,449
1979	—	—	—	—	43,995
1980	—	—	—	5	45,891
1981	—	31	—	31	45,729

	Number of beds closed as result of complete hospital closure	Number of beds closed in hospitals not completely closed	Number of beds provided as a result of new hospital openings	Number of beds provided as a result of additions to existing hospitals	Number of in-patient cases
1982	—	—	—	—	46,366
1983	—	9	—	—	48,379
1984	—	—	—	—	50,718
Long stay hospitals:
1974	—	121	—	—	3,222
1975	—	—	—	—	3,320
1976	—	—	—	2	3,498
1977	—	5	—	—	3,398
1978	—	8	—	30	3,813
1979	—	—	—	—	3,988
1980	—	—	—	—	4,085
1981	—	3	—	—	4,106
1982	—	—	—	—	4,018
1983	—	—	—	—	4,216
1984	—	—	—	—	4,537
Psychiatric hospitals:
1974	—	—	—	—	850
1975	—	—	—	24	888
1976	—	—	—	8	942
1977	—	2	—	—	1,071
1978	—	269	—	41	1,232
1979	—	—	—	—	1,350
1980	—	—	—	—	1,409
1981	—	40	—	—	1,492
1982	—	—	—	—	1,461
1983	—	—	—	—	1,705
1984	—	—	—	16	1,769
Other hospitals
1974	84	—	—	—	2,335
1975	—	13	—	—	1,957
1976	—	3	—	—	2,078
1977	—	7	—	—	2,011
1978	—	24	—	—	1,647
1979	21	—	—	—	1,351
1980	—	—	—	—	953
1981	—	42	—	—	821
1982	—	2	—	3	738
1983	—	—	—	2	846
1984	—	—	—	1	912
^* 126 beds were in a hospital temporarily closed.
^† Hospital re-opened.

Home Department

Street Collections (Prosecutions)

59.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the policy of prosecuting people for carrying out street collections in London during the period March 1984 to March 1985.

No. This is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Dr Mark Patterson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Dr. Mark Patterson, an inmate of Ford open prison, had a hernia operation in Chichester hospital.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 16 July at column 74.

Remanded Persons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of people held on remand in the period 1983 to the latest available date were not finally convicted of an offence;(2) what proportion of people held on remand over six months in the period 1983 to the latest available date, were found not guilty of an alleged offence.

The latest readily available information is given in the following table:

Persons received into Prison Department establishments in England and Wales on initial remand in custody in 1983: by length of time between initial remand in custody and outcome of proceedings and outcome
Percentage
Outcome of proceedings	Length of time between initial remand in custody and outcome of proceedings^*			Total
	Up to six months	Over six months	Not recorded
Found not guilty or not proceeded against	3	8	—	3
Sentenced	94	88	12	87
Not recorded	3	4	88	9
Total	100	100	100	100
^* Including any time which may have been spent on bail after the initial remand in custody.

Repatriation Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the number of applications (families), (b) the number of persons assisted (individuals) and (c) the expenditure incurred under Her Majesty's

	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Applications (families)	459	324	185	212
Persons assisted (individuals)	251	152	144	81
Expenditure	£169,206	£162,203	£169,259	^*£118,982
^* This is a provisional figure; the audited account is not yet available.

Coal Industry Dispute

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many miners are currently in prison after convictions for offences arising out of the recent strike; and how many are serving sentences of up to one year, one to three years and over three years, respectively.

The information requested is not available.

Terrorism

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Billericay on 12 July, if he will list in the Official Report those known terrorist groups about which information is made available to those who need to know it; and if he will make a statement.

It would not be in the interests of security to publish such a list.

Detained Persons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained overnight during 1984 in (a) Harmondsworth detention centre and (b) the Queen's building, Heathrow.

At Harmondsworth, 3,114. The same information for Queen's building is not available but in 1984 a total of 4,879 persons were detained there for some period, not necessarily overnight.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained overnight under Immigration Act powers upon entry to the United Kingdom during 1984 by nationality.

Government's repatriation scheme based on section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, for the years 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.

The information is as follows:

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) on 29 April 1985 at columns 21–24.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average daily population of those detained in prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1984.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 26 March at column 133.

Refugees And Asylum

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to publish their response to the Home Affairs Committee's report on refugees and asylum.

Progress has been made in preparing a response to the Committee's report but some of its recommendations, which raise important issues, require further consideration, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to give a date for publication.

Ms Boi Thi Minh

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the application for family re-unification from Ms. Boi Thi Minh.

The case will be further considered in the light of the Government's response to the Home Affairs Committee's report on refugees and asylum, which recommended the relaxation of family reunion criteria in respect of Vietnamese refugees in camps in countries of temporary asylum.

Illegal Entrants

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people treated as illegal entrants during 1984 were granted temporary admission; and how many of these absconded.

Figures relating to illegal entrants detected during 1984 and the way in which they were dealt with are given in table 19 of the "Control of Immigration: Statistics 1984" (Cmnd. 9544). Of the illegal entrants temporarily released during 1984 17 absconded.

Sexual Offences Act 1985

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to take steps to monitor the operation of the Sexual Offences Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Office is setting up arrangements to obtain the usual statistics of court proceedings (including the number of acquittals) in respect of offences under sections 1 and 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 1985. In addition, the Director of Public Prosecutions is making arrangements to record, in due course, the number of cases in which proceedings are instituted under section 1 of the Act but are not taken forward by the Crown prosecution service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to issue a departmental circular for the guidance of chief constables with regard to the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements are in hand to issue an explanatory circular before the Act comes into force on 16 September.

Pucklechurch Remand Centre

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors contributed to the delay between the inspection of Pucklechurch remand centre by Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons in August 1982 and the publication of the inspectorate's report in June 1985.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on 8 July at column 316. I regret that that answer gave the impression that only 5 reports were received in 1982 and 1983 together. In fact 5 reports were received in 1983 (14 having been received in 1982).

Prisoners (Wages)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the level of wages paid to prisoners was last reviewed; and when the next review will take place.

The rates of earnings paid to prisoners are reviewed annually and revised rates are brought into operation with effect from the first Monday in October of each year. The revised rates following the review undertaken in 1984 came into effect on 1 October 1984 and the revised rates resulting from the review currently being undertaken are expected to be operative from 7 October 1985.

Stonehenge (Incident)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables concerned as to whether property confiscated from people taken to police stations during the operation at Stonehenge on 1 June and not required for evidence has been returned.

The Chief Constable of Wiltshire informs me that all such property has been returned except that required in connection with criminal proceedings and certain items which have remained unclaimed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables concerned as to whether the police have disposed of photographs and fingerprints of those arrested and subsequently released without charge following the incident at Stonehenge on 1 June.

The Chief Constable of Wiltshire has informed me that when police inquiries have been completed the fingerprints and photographs of any person in respect of whom no charges are to be brought will be destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers, and from which police forces, were deployed during the operation at Stonehenge on 1 June.

I understand from the Chief Constable of Wiltshire that the number of police officers available to him on 1 June at Cholderton were as follows:

Police force	Number of officers
Hampshire	243
Avon and Somerset	214
Thames Valley	147
Wiltshire	81
Gloucestershire	49
Dorset	46
Total	780

An additional 250–300 Wiltshire officers were on duty elsewhere within the force area, including about 80 at Stonehenge monument itself and Ministry of Defence police were also on duty on Ministry of Defence land nearby.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables concerned about whether all police officers from all forces present during the operation at Stonehenge on 1 June were wearing visible identity numbers.

The Chief Constable of Wiltshire is aware of reports that some of the officers under his command on 1 June wearing flameproof overalls did not display identification numbers. Initial issues of this clothing did not provide for numbers to be shown but it is the chief constable's intention that officers in his force display numbers and to modify existing uniforms where necessary in line with the policy of the Association of Chief Police Officers, endorsed by the Department, to which I referred in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) on 30 October 1984 at column 890.

Prisoners' Medical Treatment

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department concerning allowing prisoners in prisons in England and Wales to go to outside private hospitals for medicinal treatment; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member.

Mrs Mabel Achuinihu

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will receive a small deputation headed by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside before he makes a decision on the proposed deportation of Mrs. Mabel Achuinihu;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report the organisations and individuals who have made representations to him opposing the proposed deportation of Mrs. Mabel Achuinihu; and if he will make a statement.

Representations on behalf of Mrs. Achinihu have been received from 11 hon. Members and one Member of the European Parliament. A number of individuals and organisations have also made representations, and a petition with 4,000–5,000 signatures has been presented to the immigration service office in Liverpool.Arrangements are being made for Mrs. Achinihu to be re-interviewed by the immigration service in Liverpool. Her case will then be carefully reviewed in the light of what is learnt during that interview, and representations on her behalf from hon. Members and others.I can assure the hon. Member that he will be given the opportunity of a meeting before any decision to remove Mrs. Achinihu is taken.

West Midlands Police

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many police officers there are on the West Midlands police constabulary and how many of them are formally allocated to patrol duties.

On 30 June 1985 there were 6,530 police officers in the West Midlands police; 3,281 were allocated to patrol duties on that day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands police as to how many policewomen have received a promotion in the West Midlands police constabulary in each year since 1979, and how many have been employed on administrative duties within the West Midlands police constabulary during the same period.

The number of policewomen who were promoted in the West Midlands police during the last six years is as follows:

	Number
1979	6
1980	1
1981	2
1982	5
1983	3
1984	5

Figures of the numbers of officers employed on administrative duties in the force during this period could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Drug Trafficking

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide additional resources to enable the plan submitted by the Association of Chief Police Officers for tackling the problem of drug trafficking to be implemented.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 18 July. Police authority expenditure on recruiting the additonal officers will attract police grant in the usual way; to mark the importance the Government attach to this initiative it is ready to disregard their share of this extra expenditure for grant penalty purposes.

Prison Population

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total prison population on 12 July.

Forty-eight thousand and thirty-seven (excluding 74 prisoners in police cells).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the certified normal accommodation and what was the population on 12 July at (a) Her Majesty's prison, Birmingham, (b) Her Majesty's prison, Bristol, (c) Her Majesty's prison and remand centre, Cardiff, (d) Her Majesty's prison, Hull., (e) Her Majesty's prison, Leeds, (f) Her Majesty's prison, Lincoln, and (g) Her Majesty's prison, Liverpool.(2) what is the certified normal accommodation and what was the population on 12 July at

(a) Her Majesty's prison, Manchester, (b) Her Majesty's prison, Wandsworth, (c) Her Majesty's prison, Winchester, (d) Her Majesty's prison, Wormwood Scrubs and (e) Her Majesty's prison, Durham.

The information requested is as follows:

Establishment	Certified normal accommodation	Population
Birmingham	570	1,114
Bristol	561	648
Cardiff^*	339	541
Hull	318	276
Leeds	624	1,337
Lincoln	359	633
Liverpool	838	1,468
Manchester^*	1,034	1,711
Wandsworth	1,258	1,540
Winchester^*	490	578
Wormwood Scrubs	1,011	1,360
Durham^†	708	1,283
^* Includes both prison and remand centre
^† Includes both males and females

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps, in addition to the prison building programme, he is taking to relieve the current level of prison overcrowding and to reduce the prison population.

We are keeping the situation under careful review and ensuring that every effort is being made to get the best use from available accommodation.

Prison Sentences

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prison sentences are exclusive or inclusive of periods spent in private clinics.

Where it is necessary for a prisoner to receive treatment in a clinic or hospital outside the prison, the period spent there counts towards his sentence.

Prisoners (Private Clinics)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions prisoners are permitted to undergo non-urgent operations in private clinics.

My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member.

Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, for each of the years 1970 to 1984 inclusive, the proportion of persons admitted for settlement in the United Kingdom who were so admitted as spouses, children or dependants of persons already settled in the United Kingdom.

The total numbers of spouses and children accepted for settlement on arrival, and on removal of time limit, together with totals for all persons so accepted in the years 1973–84 are given in "Control of Immigration: Statistics" (Tables 15 to 17 of the issues for 1983 (Cmnd. 9246) and 1984 (Cmnd. 9544)). The total number of children admitted for settlement in 1970–72 is given in table 12 of the issue for 1980 (Cmnd. 8199).The other information requested is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what authority he includes British citizens within the category of Commonwealth citizens for the purposes of section 1(5) of the Immigration Act 1971.

That of Parliament: I would refer the right hon. Member to section 1 of the British Nationality Act 1948 and section 37 of the British Nationality Act 1981.

Gloucester Place Fire

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take following representations he has received from the coroner who conducted the inquest into the deaths of Mrs. Karim and her two children at 46 Gloucester place, London W1.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a report from Her Majesty's coroner for Westminster following the inquest into the fire at 46 Gloucester place, Marylebone, in which a mother and two children died last November; what recommendations to him are contained in Her Majesty's coroner's report; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations, in the form of a letter from Her Majesty's coroner for inner West London, suggesting changes in the legislative arrangements for securing adequate fire precautions and means of escape in houses in multiple occupation. He is studying these in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who has received similar representations.

Mr Harold Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter of 21 March concerning Harold Roberts from the hon. Member for Stretford.

My noble Friend will be writing shortly.

Miss Hilda Murrell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken on the letter from the hon. Member for Linlithgow to the Minister of State of last week, making suggestions as to individuals who ought to be interviewed in relation to the murder of Hilda Murrell.

The information contained in the hon. Member's letter of 8 July was passed to West Mercia police on 15 July for such action as the chief constable considered appropriate in his continuing investigation into Miss Murrell's death. I understand that the individuals concerned have been interviewed but that no information has been forthcoming to assist West Mercia's inquiry.

Crime Statistics (West Midlands)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the estimates which have been made by the British crime survey during the past five years of offences in the west midlands region related to vandalism, theft from vehicles, burglaries in dwellings, theft of vehicles, bicycle thefts, thefts in dwellings, other housing thefts, assaults, theft from persons/robbery, sexual offences and other personal thefts.

The samples used for the survey are not large enough to allow estimates to be made of the number of offences committed in particular police areas.

Strip Searches (Ports Of Entry)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip searches there have been of men and women at ports of entry in each year since 1979.

No strip searches have been carried out at ports of entry by Home Office officials in this period.I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that HM Customs and Excise keeps no records centrally of strip searches.

Police (Complaints)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police authorities and the number of officers involved in complaints in each authority; and whether any officer has been involved in more than one complaint in connection with the mining dispute.

The table records, by police area, the number of members of the police force against whom complaints arising from the miners' strike were recorded under s.49 of the Police Act 1964 between 13 March 1984 and 5 March 1985. In addition 273 complaints were made against officers who have not been identified.The other information sought is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproprotionate cost.

	Number
Cheshire	10
Derbyshire	28
Devon and Cornwall	1
Dorset	4
Durham	13
Dyfed Powys	1
Essex	2
Gloucestershire	4
Greater Manchester	11
Gwent	15
Hertfordshire	4
Humberside	4
Kent	16
Lancashire	3
Lincolnshire	4
Merseyside	17
Metropolitan	4
Northumbria	22
North Wales	2
North Yorkshire	1
Nottinghamshire	49
South Wales	26
South Yorkshire	40
Staffordshire	10
Sussex	1
Thames Valley	2
Warwickshire	19
West Midlands	8
West Yorkshire	6

Sumrie Clothes Plc, Leeds

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Yorkshire as to the progress of police inquiries into allegations by Mr. Patrick Benson, former chief executive of Sumrie Clothes plc, Leeds, regarding the financial relationship between Sumrie Clothes and other companies in which Mr. Michael Hepker has a controlling or major financial interest; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police for the City of London, whose officers are handling this matter, that preliminary inquiries are continuing and that a report will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in due course.

Prisoners (Tranquillisers)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been prescribed powerful tranquillisers by prison doctors in each year since 1979; what proportion of such prescriptions were Largactil; in which prisons they were prescribed; and how many inmates suffered severe or irreversible illnesses as a result.

My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member.

Sports Grounds (Safety)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be in a position to designate under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 the stadia of clubs in divisions 3 and 4 of the Football League and clubs in divisions I and II of the Rugby League.

The necessary orders were laid before the House on Friday 19 July to designate 36 Football League stadia and 22 stadia used by Rugby League clubs with effect from 9 August. Their effect will be to require the clubs in all cases to apply for safety certificates from the appropriate local authorities. Until such time as certificates are issued the clubs will be free to use the grounds as they are. However, I imagine that the certificating authorities will wish on this occasion to move quickly to issue certificates, even if initially the certificates are of a provisional character, and to operate so as to limit spectator numbers where necessary in order to minimise the necessity for immediate or expensive building works.

Spain (Extradition Treaty)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the United Kingdom and Spain will sign an extradition treaty.

A new extradition treaty was signed in London earlier today. I and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed for the United Kingdom.The treaty represents a significant achievement for both Spain and the United Kingdom, and I welcome the cooperation which the Spanish authorities have shown throughout the negotiations. It is clearly wrong that those accused or convicted of serious offences should be able to evade justice merely because of the absence of an extradition arrangement. My officials and the Director of Public Prosecutions (who will represent the Government of Spain in extradition proceedings) will give the Spanish authorities every assistance in making the new treaty work.The treaty will be presented to Parliament in due course.

Energy

Petrol Price

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he had any discussions with the chairmen of oil companies about recent petrol price reductions; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no such discussions.

Wave Power

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current projected figure for generating electricity from wave power as generated by the Salter Duck.

My Department considers that there is a low probability of any design for large scale wave power generation, including the Salter Duck, achieving a cost of energy below 9p/kWh (1984 money values).

Details of the cost assessment are given in ETSU R26, Wave Energy, which is deposited in the Library of the House.

Prime Minister

Mr Ian Macgregor (Payments)

asked the Prime Minister what have been the total sums paid to Mr. Ian MacGregor since he took up appointments to manage publicly owned industries; and what is the Government's total financial obligation to him.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 30 November 1984 at col. 607.The amount of the two performance-related payments to be made to Lazard Freres in compensation for the release of Mr. MacGregor to serve as chairman of BSC will be determined and announced in the near future.

Terrorism

asked the Prime Minister if, following recent East-West co-operation on terrorism, she will remind the Soviet Government of the need to eradicate terrorism.

The Government have consistently made clear that widespread international cooperation is essential in combatting international terrorism. We believe the Soviet Union has a role to play in this and we will take every suitable opportunity to urge them to join with others in the common fight against terrorism.

Information Technology

asked the Prime Minister which Minister has been charged with responsibility for co-ordinating work on information technology policy matters throughout government; and whether there has been any recent change in this matter.

My hon. Friend the Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) is designated as Minister of State for Industry and Information Technology.

Sir Robert Armstrong (Speech)

asked the Prime Minister whether she saw in advance the text of the speech by Sir Robert Armstrong to the centenary conference of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on 18 June; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Robert Armstrong showed me in advance the text of what he proposed to say on that occasion. I indicated he was free to speak as he wished. I made no comments or suggestions for alterations.

European Community (Food Aid)

asked the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the failure of the European Economic Community to deliver the pledged total of food aid to the drought stricken nations of North and East Africa; and if she will call for a report from the Commission on this issue.

The European Council will not meet again until 2 December. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will continue to monitor closely the rate of deliveries of Community food aid for the rest of the year. He saw for himself last week at Port Assab in Ethiopia that the great bulk of the grain being unloaded was from the European Community. Community food aid will continue to play a very important role in the months to come. However, the ports serving famine affected countries in the Sahel and East Africa are congested with food at present. The priority now is to improve internal distribution; we and other member states of the Community, together with other donors, are making every effort to overcome this problem.

European Community (Cereal Prices)

asked the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government will not refer to the European Court the matter of the action of the European Economic Community Commission in overruling a national veto on cereal price reduction.

It would not be useful to add to the uncertainties over cereals prices.

Overseas Development

Ethiopia

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the famine situation in Ethiopia.

53.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current state of aid to Ethiopia.

I refer my hon. Friends to my statement earlier today.

Nicaragua

54.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current value of United Kingdom aid to Nicaragua.

British bilateral aid to Nicaragua in 1984–85 amounted to about £36,000. We also contribute to humanitarian relief for the region from which Nicaragua benefits.

India

55.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has made for the provision of aid to India during the years 1986 and 1987, respectively.

British aid is planned on a financial year basis. In 1985–86 we plan to spend £115 million of bilateral aid, provided that agreement is reached on certain projects which we have approved in principle. In addition, we expect to spend £14 million from the aid and trade provision. Figures are not available for subsequent years.

Unesco

56.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress to date in the reform of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Largely as a result of our pressure, advances have been made since early 1984 in planning better programmes, reducing politicisation, increasing financial control and finding ways of improving management and the working of the governing bodies. Progress has been quicker in some areas than others. By the end of the year, after the general conference, we should have a clearer picture of whether the organisation will really be healthy enough to reclaim our allegiance.

Caribbean

57.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for discussions about British aid policy in the Caribbean.

In response to a request from the member Governments of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, I have offered to meet the Ministers of these countries soon to discuss British bilateral aid to the region.

Overseas Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total figure for the United Kingdom overseas aid budget in 1984–85; and what were the respective disbursements in (a) the Asian sub-continent, (b) African Commonwealth countries and (c) the West Indies; and if he will make a statement.

The gross aid programme in 1984–85 was some £1,169 million, made up of the public expenditure allocation for overseas aid (£1,099 million) plus capital repayments (approximately £70 million).Outturn figures, for bilateral country programmes in the regions named, which are provisional pending finalisation of the Appropriation Account, are as follows:

	£ million
(a) Asian sub-continent	190
(b) African Commonwealth countries	113
(c) Caribbean (including Dependencies)	14

These amounts exclude aid programme funds made available via multilateral aid organisations and European Community institutions.

Falkland Islands Development Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the appointment of each of the individual members of the board of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation; and what are the qualifications and business interests of these members.

Members of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation are appointed in accordance with section 6 of the ordinance establishing the corporation. The provisions, together with the names and background of current members, are as follows:

(a) a representative of Her Majesty's Government (Mr.M. C:rosse, economist);

(b) an elected member of the Executive Council (Councillor R. Binnie);

(c) a person not being a member of the Executive Council who the Civil Commissioner in Council considers represents the interests of farmers in the Falkland Islands (Mt. N. Watson, owner-occupier of Long Island farm);

(d) two persons who the Civil Commissioner in Council considers have had experience in matters relating to trade or industry (Mr. S. Wallace., employee of Cable and Wireless, and Mr. T. Betts,. chairman of the General Employees Union and employee of the Falkland Islands Company);

(e) two persons holding public office in the Falkland Islands (Mr. M. Gaiger, Attorney-General and Mr. A. Cameron, Falkland Islands Government Representative in London).

The chief executive (Mr. D. Taylor), general manager (Mr. S. Armstrong) and financial secretary (Mr. H. Rowlands) are ex-officio members of the board. Members are required to disclose financial or business interests only if these affect matters being considered by the corporation, in which case they may not take part in any vote thereon at any meeting.

Education And Science

Foreign Language Report

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which schools in the west midlands region contributed to the compilation of information in the report, entitled Foreign Language Performance in Schools, issued recently by his Department.

The report was prepared by the National Foundation for Educational Research as the result of a sample survey conducted for the assessment of performance unit. As with similar surveys in other areas of the curriculum, schools were invited to participate on the understanding that no information would be passed to the Department or the other funding Departments nor made available for general publication which would allow results to be identified as those of a particular school or pupil.

Support Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he will make a statement on the ninth project of the education support grants programme for 1986–87 support for parents of the under-fives with special needs, stating the number of tenders for the materials involved, the successful company, and what alternative proposals to supply the projects were considered and costed; and whether he is satisfied there is no British organisation which could have met the demands of the project;(2) whether he will list in the

Official Report those projects forming the second round of education support grant programmes which involve one specific set of learning materials; together with the country of origin of those learning materials; and whether he will give details of the process by which the materials were selected.

None of the activities constituting the 1986–87 education support grant programme assumes the use of one specific set of learning materials. It is for LEAs, in formulating bids, due to be submitted on 30 September 1985 for expenditure to be supported under the programme, to decide, within the framework of guidelines given in the 1985 education support grant circular, what materials to use. In the case of activity IX, the provision of services to support parents in the teaching of children under five with special educational needs, the multi-professional teams, whose establishment and development it is envisaged grant will support, may wish to design their own materials.

Assisted Places Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the schools which have ceased to participate in the assisted places scheme, stating the duration of participation in each case.

The information is as follows:

	Duration
Eastbourne college	1 term
Hasmonean High school	2 years
Shrewsbury school	2 years

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he will list in the Official Report the percentage fee increase in each school participating in the assisted places scheme in each year since its introduction; and what are the increases for the next academic year;(2) whether he will list in the

Official Report for the latest year for which figures are available (a) the maximum paid in respect of one school, and (b) the average paid in respect of one school under the assisted places scheme represented by incidental expenses of (i) travel, (ii) uniform, (iii) meals and (iv) all three;

(3) whether he will list in the Official Report for the latest year for which figures are available (a) the maximum paid in respect of one pupil, and (b) the average paid per pupil under the assisted places scheme for the incidental expenses of (i) travel, (ii) uniforms and (iii) school meals and of (i), (ii) and (iii) together;

(4) whether he will list in the Official Report for the latest year for which figures are available the percentage of the average assistance with fees for a pupil under the assisted places scheme represented by the assistance with incidental expenses for travel, meals and uniform;

(5) whether he will list in the Official Report for the latest year for which figures are available the percentage of the average fee income to participating schools in respect of (a) assisted places pupils and (b) all pupils represented by the assistance with incidental expenses for travel, meals and uniform;

(6) whether he will list in the Official Report those organisations who were consulted about the 60 per cent. requirement in relation to children entering the assisted places scheme from the maintained sector; and whether he will give details of the form of the consultative process;

(7) whether he will list in the Official Report those organisations who selection for an assisted place, were choir boys; what proportion of the relevant age group entering the scheme this represents; and what proportion of all assisted places pupils entering the scheme from the private sector this represents;

(8) whether he will list in the Official Report a breakdown by age group of the pupils entering the assisted places scheme who attended a private school at the time of their selection for the scheme; and how many and what proportion of each group attended the same school before and after their entry to the scheme.

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

Temporary Admission Students

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for students, permitted to enter the United Kingdom on temporary admission, not to be subject to fees charged to overseas students; and if he will make a statement.

The Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1983 (SI 1983/973) as amended in 1984 (SI 1984/1201) already provide for refugees and those who have exceptionally been granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to pay fees as home students. My right hon. Friend has no plans to extend this concession to those who have been given temporary admission to the United Kingdom.

Ec (Scientific Studies)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the total number of scientific studies in British universities or polytechnics which have been funded by the European Economic Community in each academic year since 1979–80; if he will give a breakdown of the category of those studies; what proportion of them had previously requested grants from his Department; and what was the total contribution which the European Economic Community made towards the study being undertaken at the university of Birmingham on childhood cancers.

Figures on the total number of scientific studies funded by the European Economic Community are not held by the Department: I understand that it is not the policy of the European Communities Commission to disclose this information.The European Economic Community, through the radiation protection research programme, has contributed to £87,100 (£40,800 in 1983 and £46,300 in 1984) towards the continuing study of childhood cancers at the university of Birmingham.

Graham Report

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which specific recommendations in the Graham report on teacher training he intends to implement in the field of secondary school education.

The report of the Suffolk education department on teacher appraisal reaches various conclusions which need to be addressed by all the partners in the education service. The authors express the hope that the next stage will be wider practical field trials and, in welcoming the report as an important contribution to the current debate and activity on teacher appraisal, my right hon. Friend reminded the partners that resources remain available for education support grant project to take forward the necessary fieldwork identified in the researchers' report. He said that he very much hoped that the employers and teachers will now see their way to agreeing to get this project, which he hoped would have begun in April, off the ground.

Micro-Electronics

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what factors he is taking into account in his present consideration of proposals to centralise the micro-electronics education programme and to move its administrative headquarters from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to London; what financial support he intends to give the programme during the next two years; and how this compares with the financial backing which his Department has allocated to it during the past two years.

My right hon. Friend will make an announcement shortly.

Unemployment Videos

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to compile a series of videos featuring school pupils and firms in regions of high unemployment similar to the one produced by his Department, relating to the north-east of England.

No. Although the video programme "One Week in July" was made in the north-east of England, the principles of co-operation between education and industry which it illustrates apply nationally. The video, which will be widely available in the autumn, is part of the support which the Department is giving to Industry Year 1986.

Allowances

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report the proportion of the average secondary school budget represented by average allowances to pupils in respect of travel, meals and uniform.

In 1983–84 the net cost of providing secondary school pupils with transport between home and school represented 2·4 per cent. of the total net expenditure by local education authorities in England on secondary schools. Information on the cost of meals and uniforms for secondary pupils is not collected by the Department.

Further Education (Women)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the projected number of students entering further education for 1985–86 are women.

No separate projections are produced of the numbers entering further education by sex. In November 1984, 50·2 per cent. of all further education enrolments in England were women; a rise from 48·2 per cent. in November 1981.

Incidental Expenses

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has for each local education authority as to (a) the total amount allocated for the incidental expenses of (i) school uniforms, (ii) school travel and (iii) free school meals, (b) the average amount per pupil receiving such help for each of the above categories and (c) the average amount per school in respect of each category; and if he will express the last figure as a percentage of the average capitation income for a school.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson) on 14 May 1985 at columns 100–102 for the net cost to each local education authority of providing children with transport between home and school. Information on the other items is not collected by the Department.

Unemployed People

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will detail his proposals for providing education and training for the unemployed who do not qualify for the youth training scheme.

Particulars of the REPLAN programme, through which the Department and the Welsh Office are seeking to encourage the development of educational opportunities for unemployed adults, were given on 16 July in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) at columns 93–94.

Trade And Industry

Tropical Forests

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken following the statement by the United Nations conference on Trade and Industry in 1983 on the need to curb the demand for the goods and services that tropical forests supply.

The United Kingdom, together with the other members of the European Community, has joined the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) which entered into force on 1 April 1985 and intends to play an active part in its operations.One of the objectives of the ITTA is to encourage the development of policies aimed at sustainable utilisation and conservation of tropical forests.

Pharmaceuticals (Patent Law)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is his intention to seek to bring United Kingdom patent law for pharmaceuticals into line with the provisions of the European Patent Convention; and if he will make a statement.

In the few areas where the European Patent Convention and United Kingdom patent law make special provision for pharmaceuticals, they are in line. I do not consider that any action is required.

Overseas Ministerial Visits

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are adopted in inviting companies to participate in ministerial visits overseas; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of such opportunities.

Company representatives are invited to accompany Ministers on overseas visits whenever this will enhance United Kingdom export prospects. In issuing invitations we take into account such factors as the nature of the opportunities, the iterest and capability of companies and, in certain instances, the stage of contract: negotiations reached. There is usually a natural limit to the size of the team and we spread invitations as fairly as possible. Companies indicate that they find participation valuable.

Textile And Clothing (Imports)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list total United Kingdom textile and clothing imports from Taiwan in 1984 and compare it with Taiwan textile and clothing imports from the United Kingdom in the same year;(2) what was the toal of United Kingdom textile and clothing imports from Brazil in 1984; and how this compares with Brazilian textile and clothing imports from the United Kingdom in the same year;(3) if he will list total United Kingdom textile and clothing imports from Korea in 1984, and total Korean textile and clothing imports from the United Kingdom in the same year.

The information is as follows:

Value £ million
	United Kingdom imports (cif)	United Kingdom exports (fob)
Taiwan	68·3	3·5
Brazil	16·3	1·6
South Korea	152·5	6·2

Source:

Data corresponding to SITC/R2 Divisions 65 and 84 (less Group 848), Groups 266 and 267 and Sub-group 268·7 (part).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the United Kingdom tariff on garment imports from Brazil; and how this compares with the Brazilian tariff on garment imports from the United Kingdom;(2) what is the total United Kingdom tariff on fabric imports from Brazil; and how this compares with the Brazilian tariff on fabric imports from the United Kingdom;(3) what is the United Kingdom tariff on fabric imports from Taiwan; and how this compares with the Taiwan tariff on fabric imports from the United Kingdom;(4) what is the United Kingdom tariff on garment imports from Taiwan; and how this compares with the Taiwan tariff on garment imports from the United Kingdom;(5) if he will list the United Kingdom tariff on garment imports from Korea, and the current Korean tariff on garment imports from the United Kingdom;(6) what is the current United Kingdom tariff on fabric imports from Korea, and the similar Korean tariff on fabric imports from the United Kingdom.

The broad ranges of these tariffs are:

	United Kingdom	Brazil	Taiwan	Korea
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
Fabrics	3·5 to 17·3	20 to 105	1·25^* to 75	20 to 40
Garments	5·4 to 15·3	45 to 105	1·25^* to 75	20 to 40
^* Exceptional.

but these ranges conceal wide variations, and some United Kingdom tariffs on imports from Brazil and Korea are, within certain limits for sensitive products, waived under the European Communities' generalised scheme of preference.

Full information is available in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise tariff and extracts from the tariff schedules of Brazil, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea, all of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry to what extent exports from the United Kingdom to Brazil of garments, fabrics, textile and clothing are limited by Government ban; and how this compares with the importation of these products from Brazil.

Brazil has suspended the issue of import licences for garments, fabrics, textiles and clothing, under the following CCCN chapter headings:

50 (Silk and silk waste)
53 (Wool and other animal hair)
55 (Cotton)
58 (Carpets, mats, matting and tapestries, pile and chenille fabrics, trimmings, tulle and other net fabrics, lace and embroidery)
60 (Knitted and crocheted goods)
61 (Articles of apparel or clothing, accessories of textile fabric other than knitted and crocheted goods)
62 (Other made up textile materials)
63 (Old clothing and other textile articles and rags)

The United Kingdom does not operate any ban on Brazilian textile and clothing imports of these products, but the European Community, in respect of the United Kingdom market, restricts imports in 13 MFA categories under the provisions of the bilateral agreement between the European Community and Brazil, negotiated under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent exports from the United Kingdom to Taiwan of garments, fabrics, textiles, and clothing, are limited by import restrictions.

United Kingdom exports of garments, fabrics, textiles and clothing to Taiwan are subject to no quantitative restrictions, although import licences are required. Such licences are in general readily available.

Aerosol Containers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that every aerosol container bears the words "Do not inhale" in relatively large letters.

No. I am afraid that although it would alert parents to the potential hazard, it would also serve to draw the attention of young people to the fact that the contents could be sniffed for intoxication.

Information Technology

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what part of his Department is currently charged with responsibility for work on co-ordination of information technology policy matters throughout Government; and whether there has been any recent change in arrangements for that work.

I succeeded my right hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker) last year as Minister of State for Industry and Information Technology.

Chrysoidine Dye

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has now received advice from the Minister of Health relating to the link between chrysoidine dye and cancer in anglers; if he will now consider updating his warnings to all angling bodies on the dangers of the alleged carcinogenic qualities of chrysoidine dye; and if he will make a statement.

I am still awaiting the advice of the Minister of Health, and I shall write to the right hon. Member when I have it.

Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will introduce a regionally preferential system of high tech grants to encourage the development of high tech-manufacturing firms in the assisted regions;(2) what are the reasons for the difference in the level of grants under the support for innovation programme to the south-east region and the Yorkshire and Humberside region;(3) why Yorkshire and Humberside region has not received any payment of grant under the micro electronics industry support programme, the fibre optics, and the flexible manufacturing support for innovation schemes;(4) if he will substantially increase the level of assistance to Yorkshire and Humberside under the support for innovation schemes.

The Department's programme of support for innovation operates nationwide. The Department responds to applications submitted to it and grants are offered to projects that meet the Department's criteria. Firms in Yorkshire and Humberside are as eligible as firms in other regions to apply for the assistance available.Regional variations in the numbers of grants offered reflect variations in the numbers of suitable applications received. Between May 1982 and March 1985 the South East region accounted for 43 per cent. of the applications received and 43 per cent. of the offers made. The equivalent figures for Yorkshire and Humberside were 7 per cent. and 8 per cent. respectively.As at 31 March 1985 no applications had been received from Yorkshire and Humberside under the first microelectronics support programme and only one under the second stage, subsequently withdrawn. £1·1 million had been offered to firms in Yorkshire and Humberside to support fibre optics projects and payments of £727,000 had been made. £4·4 million had been offered to support flexible manufacturing systems and robotics projects in Yorkshire and Humberside and payments of £955,000 had been made.The long-term aim of the Department's support for innovation is that of wealth creation. To maximise this aspect it is important to support those projects which offer the best rate of return to the country. This can only be done on a national basis and accordingly I have no plans to introduce a regionally preferential system.

Citizens Band Radio

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the outcome of the recent investigation into citizens band radio abuse in Southampton.

My Department's radio investigation service has a routine and continuous programme of enforcement action against CB and other radio users who cause radio interference and evade licence requirements. However in May RIS staff carried out a concentrated campaign to counter CB licence evasion and abuse in the Southampton and Portsmouth areas. During the campaign they visited 307 households in these areas, some more than once. They issued warnings to 87 CB users in connection with licence evasion and licence abuse. Most of those warned took measures to conect their position. The RIS also interviewed 25 users and seized their CB equipment for the purpose of possible court proceedings. The full results of the campaign will emerge and be monitored over the next few months. This was one of a number of concentrated CB campaigns carried out by the RIS at this time.

Ec (Trade Barriers)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by member country and sector of trade and commerce the barriers to trade between Great Britain and other countries in the European Economic Community.

There are in all member states a wide range of legal and administrative requirements which could be viewed as impeding free trade in goods and services. Individual firms' perceptions of which of these constitute barriers to trade vary considerably. Heads of Government at the European Council last month identified' five categories where priority action should be taken to remove barriers to trade. These were:

—the removal of physical barriers to the free movement of goods within the Community.
—the removal of technical barriers to the free movement of goods within the Community (in particular the adoption of common or compatible standards for major new technologies in order to open up public purchasing and satisfy the needs of the economy).
—the creation of a free market in the financial services and transport sectors.
—the creation of full freedom of establishment for the professions.
—liberalisation of capital movement.

The European Commission also have identified some 300 measures where, in their view, action is necessary to remove barriers to trade. These are listed in the annex o their White Paper "Completing the Internal Market" published on 15 June, a copy of which is in the Library.

British Companies (Third World Income)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the income to British companies from the Third world over the last two years.

The available information relates to earnings on overseas direct investment by United Kingdom companies and their receipts from overseas Royalties and similar transactions from developing countries,^* for 1982 and 1983, the latest two years available, and is as follows:

	£ million
1982	1,225·7
1983	1,348·7
The information is published in Business Monitor MA4.
^* World excluding Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and Eastern European centrally planned economies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how much in interest payments Britain and British companies received from the Third world from June to December 1984.

The information is not available.

Sumrie Clothes Plc

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry under the Companies Acts into the activities of Sumrie Clothes plc, Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

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

Co-Operatives

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail the provision being made for providing help and advice for co-operatives and for people wishing to set up co-operatives in 1986–87; and what provision is being made for the future funding of cooperative development agencies in the Greater London area presently funded by the Greater London council.

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

Tourism And Leisure (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects that the group set up under the chairmanship of the Minister without Portfolio to review obstacles to the development of tourism and leisure will report; and if the report will be published.

The group's report was published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library. The report outlines the major and increasing contribution which tourism and leisure are making to the economy and describes action which the Government are taking to remove impediments to the industry's further growth.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Fishing Inspectors

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many European inspectors are at present operating in fishing; what is the establishment strength; what is the length of the annual holidays to which they are entitled; and what arrangements are made to cover such holidays absences.

The European Commission advise that:

(i) Ten inspectors are at present operating in the EC Fisheries Inspectorate following staff resignations. The Commission is taking steps to recruit replacements to bring the inspectorate up to its authorised establishment of 13; one of these is expected to take up his post in September 1985.

(ii) European inspectors receive the normal holiday entitlements of European civil servants, which depend upon several factors including grade and length of service;

(iii) Holiday absences are planned to ensure that an adequate team of inspectors is on duty to cope with the programme of visits and any emergencies which might arise.

Fishing Vessels

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to how many vessels have been taken out of fishing in (a) Grimsby, (b) Hull, (c) Fleetwood, (d) Aberdeen and (e) Peterhead since 1 January 1983.

The information requested is as follows:

Number of vessels taken out of fishing since 1 January 1983
	Number
Grimsby	24
Hull	25
Fleetwood	17
Aberdeen	30
Peterhead	14
Total	110

Whirling Disease

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fish farms are still affected by whirling disease, giving names and locations; what progress is being made towards eliminating this disease in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

There are at present 44 fish farms in Great Britain on which there are grounds for believing that the causative agent of whirling disease (Myxosoma cerebralis) may be found. However, there may be other sites where Myxosoma cerebralis is also present at sub-clinical levels and has not been identified.The known 44 sites are 40 of the 44 sites in Great Britain which I listed in my reply to the right hon. Member of 26 March 1984 at column 24, excluding Mill Leat trout farm in Devon, Alderley trout farm in Gloucestershire, Test Valley Trout (Itchen Abbas) Ltd in Hampshire and Dalhounzie in Perthshire, and four additional sites:

Yorkshire water authority hatchery, Costa Beck, Pickering, North Yorkshire, Itchen Valley trout farm, Ladycroft, Near Alresford, Hampshire, Crystal Springs trout hatchery, Southend, Damerham, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, Chirk Fishery Co. Ltd, Chirk, Wrexham, Clwyd.

This occurrence of the disease has continued to be monitored in accordance with the policies announced in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson) on 27 February 1984 at column 2.

Salmon

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many organisations have now been consulted regarding the introduction of a salmon tagging scheme to curb salmon poaching; what progress has been made; when he intends to introduce legislation on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

During the course of our examination of a possible salmon tagging scheme consultations have taken place with representatives of the water authorities, salmon farmers, processors, wholesalers, importers and retailers. Additionally I have met representatives of angling bodies, including the Salmon and Trout Association. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 16 May, examination has revealed a number of considerable difficulties and no decisions have yet been made. I shall make an announcement as soon as we have been able to reach a conclusion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received, and from which organisations, to ban drift netting for salmon off the Northumberland and North Yorkshire coastline; what message he has conveyed to them; and if he will make a statement.

Following the issue in 1981 of our consultation paper on the Review of Inland and Coastal Fisheries in England and Wales, in which we discussed the future of the English North East coast salmon fishery, representations were received from the Association of Scottish District Salmon Fishery Boards, the Salmon and Trout Association and the Scottish Salmon Angling Federation calling for the drift net fishery to be banned or phased out. Subsequently I have received further representations from some of these organisations and also from the Atlantic Salmon Trust Ltd., the River Tweed Commissioners and the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board.In the 1981 consultation paper we said that this fishery should neither be closed nor phased out and the organisations concerned have been told that no evidence has since been produced to cause us to modify that view. However, the management arrangements for the fishery are under review and I will announce our conclusions when the review is completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now consider banning the use of drift nets and the use of nylon mono-filament gill nets in salmon fishing within the estuaries of British salmon rivers and the eastern coastline; and if he will make a statement.

The use of drift nets and nylon monofilament gill nets for salmon fishing in English estuaries and coastal waters is strictly regulated by the water authorities. The management arrangements for the North East English drift net fishery are under review, as I have explained in reply to the right hon. Gentleman's question on that subject today. In addition the Ministry's directorate of fisheries research is keeping the effect of monofilament nets under review, but there has been no evidence so far that they cause more damage to fish escaping from them than multi-filament nets and I have no intention at present of introducing a general ban.

Pigs

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from pig farmers regarding financial assistance to the pig disease eradication fund; and if he will make a statement.

Representations continue to be received about the cost of the Aujeszky's disease control and eradication scheme. I gave a full reply last month to the points made by the Agriculture Committee. Subsequently, I confirmed at a meeting with representatives of PDEF that the Government could not agree to making a subvention from central funds towards the cost of the scheme.

Employment

Skillcentre Instructors

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skillcentre instructors are being made redundant or having to take early retirement because of skillcentre closures; and what financial arrangements are being made for such instructors.

No compulsory redundancies are expected amongst skillcentre instructors. Some instructors over the age of 60 will however be compulsorily retired. The number is not yet known and will depend upon how many instructors leave voluntarily.The financial arrangements which will apply to staff retiring at 60 or over are embodied in the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS) and a shortened version of this document is held in the Library.

Preferred Suppliers Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the development by public sector bodies of preferred suppliers schemes comparable with the priority suppliers scheme contained in Treasury guidelines to Exchequer Departments.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage local authorities and other public bodies to support and implement arrangements for giving preference towards purchasing goods and services from sheltered workshops and other priority suppliers along lines similar to those contained in the Treasury guidelines "Placing of Government Contracts with Non Profit Making Bodies" HQR 10.79.The elements of such arrangements are contained in the priority suppliers directory, published by the Manpower Services Commission. A copy is in the Library.

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in Norfolk are currently included in the unemployment statistics published on 4 July; and how many of these persons are currently registered for work at (a) jobcentres and (b) careers offices.

On 13 June 1985 the number of unemployed claimants in Norfolk was 33,238. On the same date 755 unemployed non claimant school leavers under 18 were counted at careers offices in Norfolk. On 7 June there were 8,980 people registered for employment at jobcentres in the county. However this total is likely to represent only a small proportion of all unemployed jobseekers in the area who are actively looking for work. Jobseekers over 18 are no longer required to register at the jobcentre as a condition of claiming unemployment benefit nor is it necessary to register for unemployment to use the jobcentre. Many unemployed jobseekers find work, without registering, through the jobcentre's self-service vacancy display.Jobseekers under 18 years of age are required to register at either a jobcentre or a careers office. According to administrative returns rendered by careers offices in Norfolk there were 2,611 unemployed young people registered at careers offices, on 13 June 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the persons who are currently registered for work at jobcentres are (a) unemployed persons and (b) persons already in employment.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any analysis is now available as a result of the limited analysis made from the 1983 labour force survey providing figures for unemployed construction workers.

Results from the labour force surveys for 1983 and 1984 are now available. These indicate that in the spring of 1983 there were about 257,000 persons in Great Britain who had had a job within the last three years and whose previous job had been in the construction

Changes in civilian employment
Thousand
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84^*
United Kingdom	-78	-994	-419	+296	+380
Germany (FR)	+264	-205	-466	-451	-54
France	+9	-158	+15	-117	-218
Italy	+285	+72	-81	+15	+104
Netherlands	+152	+32	-21	-55	+3
Belgium	-1	-79	-49	-36	+11
Luxembourg	+2	—	—	—	+1
Ireland	+12	-10	+2	-22	-15
Denmark	-41	-22	-1	+21	+58
Greece	+45	+173	^†-38	^†-17	^†-8
EC Total	+648	-1,191	-1,057	-924	+261

Notes:

^* Figures relate to total employment (ie including Armed Forces).

^† Estimated by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Source: "Employment Gazette" for UK; SOEC "Employment and Unemployment" for other EC countries.

Public Statutory Bodies (Worker Representatives)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will permit worker representatives on public statutory bodies to be nominated by independent trade unions and others as well as the Trades Union Congress.

Workers' representatives are already nominated to some of those public bodies to which this Department makes appointments by workers' organisations not affiliated to the Trades Union Congress, where this is justified by the number of appointments to be made.

Health And Safety At Work Etc Act 1974

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 relating to restrictions on disclosure of information.

We have asked the Health and Safety Commission to advise whether the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 present any obstacles to the disclosure of information the public may reasonably need. In March the Commission published a industry who were without a paid job and seeking work. The corresponding estimate from the 1984 survey was 233,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in each of the last five years; how this compares with other European Economic Community countries; and if he will make a statement as to the trend.

Information about numbers of new jobs created is not available from official statistics, but information on net changes in civilian employment is available. The following table gives these changes for the United Kingdom and other European Community countries for each of the last five years. It shows that the rise in employment in the Community between 1983 and 1984 was the first since 1980. This rise was more than accounted for by employment growth in the United Kingdom.discussion document "Access to health and safety information by members of the public" and will be giving its advice when it has studied the responses to the document. On the basis of that advice we shall consider the need for the Act to be amended.

Redundancy Payments

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is (a) the total of redundancy payments made to employees by their employers, or direct from the redundancy fund, under the terms of the Employment Protection Act and (b) the amounts paid from the redundancy fund in rebates to employers and direct payments to employees, in 1981 and the current year, to date.

The information for the past four years and the first quarter of 1985 is as follows:

	No. of statutory redundancy payments	Amount paid from Redundancy Fund £000
1981	809,639	415,671
1982	634,818	370,193

	No. of statutory redundancy payments	Amount paid from Redundancy Fund £000
1983	608,490	397,628
1984	425,178	300,059
^*1985	103,161	77,548
^* First quarter.

Enterprise Allowance Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will ask the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to issue a public statement as to the precise circumstances in which the enterprise allowance scheme can be offered to persons seeking to engage in franchises; and whether he will make a statement.

The eligibility criteria for the enterprise allowance scheme are set out in "Guide to the Enterprise Allowance Scheme" and further advice on any points of interpretation can be obtained from jobcentres, which administer the scheme. The scheme is designed to help unemployed people set up their own businesses and not to support the extension of an existing enterprise. Accordingly, amongst eligibility conditions are requirements that the businesses established under the scheme should be new and independent. In many franchise arrangements under which the franchisor retains control of important aspects of the business such as sources of supplies, prices, market area, these conditions are not fully satisfied, although arrangements described as franchises are not by definition excluded.

Youth Training Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the extra funds which he promised to make available for encouraging extended periods of training to school leavers under the youth training scheme will be used to promote further schemes in the west midlands region.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what criteria the Manpower Services Commission judge training centres and facilities and training officers provided by companies and organisations as being suitable for running youth training schemes; and if he will list the number of companies and organisations which the Manpower Services Commission have adjudged as inadequate for meeting the requirements of running these programmes.

All organisations intending to operate youth training scheme programmes are required to submit detailed proposals to the Manpower Services Commission showing how they will meet the requirements of the scheme. These proposals are then considered for approval by the Manpower Services Commission and the area manpower boards. Information on the number of schemes not approved is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what factors he based the sum of £1 billion as being a suitable figure for providing resources to extend the youth training scheme frorn one to two years; and what proportion of that figure he expects to be made up from receipts from the European Social Fund and from nonpayment of unemployment benefit.

In addition to the £800 million a year which it is spending on the present scheme, the Government is making an extra £300 million gross available for the two-year youth training scheme in 1987–88. Savings on benefit payments from the introduction of the new scheme are estimated at £130 million for that year. Receipts from the European Social Fund vary and cannot be predicted accurately.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his most recent estimate of the proportion of B 1 places on' youth training schemes taken up in 1984–85; and what target figure the Government proposes for similar courses in 1985–86.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985, c. 297]: It is estimated that at the end of the 1984–85 year, in March 1985, over 70 per cent. of approved mode B1 places were occupied nationally and we expect a similar level to be reached in 1985–86.

Wages Councils

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now list the advantages and disadvantages he took into account when reaching his decision to retain in existence the wages councils.

It is not possible to list comprehensively all the considerations taken into account. The decision was influenced by the weight of opinion in favour of reform expressed in employers' responses to the consultative paper on wages councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those organisations which responded to the consultative paper on the future of wages councils, indicating for each whether they favoured (i) retention, (ii) reform, or (iii) abolition of the councils.

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible, and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, by wages council (i) the minimum wage rates at each age under 21 years old. giving hourly and weekly figures and (ii) the minimum annual holiday for under 21-year-olds.

This information is given in the orders made by wages councils. Copies are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs he estimates will be created by the proposal to reform the wages councils.

We expect these reforms to create employment opportunities but there are obvious difficulties in forecasting the number which will eventually be created.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the costs to businesses of compliance with the provisions of wages councils for each area covered.

It is not possible to make such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, by wages council, the number of young workers to be affected by the changes proposed by him on 16 July.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for each year since 1979, at current and 1985 prices, the cost of administering the wages councils.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth) on 27 November 1984 at column 442. I shall write to the hon. Member concerning the other information requested and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for each year since 1974, the number of wages inspectors, and for each year the average length of time between inspections for establishments covered by wages councils.

The wages inspectorate's statistics are expressed in terms of the percentage of establishments checked each year. On that basis the following is the information requested.

	Number of wage inspectors in post	Per cent, of register checked
1974	135	10·0
1975	128	9·6
1976	125	8·8
1977	132	8·8
1978	143	10·1
1979	158	13·5
1980	155	12·7
1981	117·5	9·5
1982	116·0	10·1
1983	116·0	10·9
1984	115·0	10·8
July 1985	120·0	^*
^* N/A

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will specify those existing functions and duties of wages councils which it is his policy to abolish; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on 17 July about the Government's intentions on the future of wages councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the evidence upon which he based his statement of 17 July, Official Report, column 327, regarding the alleged burdens placed upon business by the powers of wages councils.

The evidence lies in the size and complexity of wages council orders and the comments of employers on the problems these present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the cases referred to him in the House, Official Report, 17 July, column 330, of dismissal of young people, that have been reported to his Department in each of the last 12 months, as a result of the operation of minimum wage levels determined by wages councils.

A number of such cases have been referred to in responses to the consultative paper, letters to Ministers and reports from wages inspectors.

Unemployed People

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he has any proposals for providing unemployed people with advice and information through centres for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many centres for the unemployed are currently funded by the Manpower Services Commission; and if he will make a statement on his proposals to provide further help and assistance to unemployed people.

The Manpower Services Commission currently funds 79 community programme projects providing advice and information through centres for the unemployed. The additional help to be provided for unemployed people was detailed by my right hon. Friend in the debate on the Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation on 21 March at columns 1024–1026 and in his statement on youth training on 1 July at column 24.

Ilo Convention No 26

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what precise date Her Majesty's Government intends to deratify International Labour Organisation convention no. 26.

Her Majesty's Government intends to communicate the instrument of denunciation to the Director General of the International Labour Office for registration on 25 July 1985. The denunciation will become effective one year after it is registered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those countries which are presently signatories to the International Labour Organisation convention no. 26; and if he will indicate which, other than the United Kingdom, is considering de-ratification.

I will write to the hon. Member with a list of the 97 countries out of a total of 151 member states of the International Labour Organisation who have ratified convention no. 26 and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.Since no advance notice of denunciation of international labour conventions has to be given it is not possible to say whether other member states are considering de-ratification of convention no. 26.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the minimum wage rates of those Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries who are also signatories to the International Labour Organisation convention no. 26.

Details on the level of minimum wage rates in the European countries are given in an article in European Industrial Relations Review, No. 119, December 1983, pages 16 to 21. The International Labour Office report "Minimum Wage Fixing" by Gerald Starr, provides details for all countries in appendix 1, and more recent information for some countries is given in "Policies against low pay, an international perspective", published by the Policy Studies Institute (1984). These publications are available in the Library.

Young People's Wages

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the evidence on which he bases his conclusion that a reduction in young people's wages, relative to adult wages, would create additional new jobs.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) on 21 February 1985 at column 516.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage young people's wages, for boys and for girls, have fallen relative to adult rates since May 1979.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 11 June 1985 at column 405, for the position to April 1984. Infonnation for April 1985 will be available later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has, by region, as to the average level of wages for 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20-yearolds; and what is the level of unemployment for these age groups, by region.

Information covering both average earnings and the number of unemployed claimants by region for the individual ages requested is not available.

House Of Commons

Select Committees

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many reports of Select Committees, excluding the Public Accounts Committee, have been issued since 1979; how many have been debated, naming the titles; and if he will make a statement.

The number of reports, other than special reports, of Select Committees, excluding the Public Accounts Committee, the Committee and Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Committee on European Legislation etc., published since 1979 is 359. In addition the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments has made 115 reports, the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments 194, and the Select Committee on European Legislation, and its predecessor, the Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation, 189.Select Committee reports debated on motion in the House and referred to on the Order Paper as being relevant to debate in the House from October 1979 to April 1985 are listed in the appendix to the first report of the Liaison Committee on The Select Committee System, HC No. 363.In addition, the following Select Committee reports, excluding those from the Public Accounts Committee, have been debated in the House or referred to on the Order Paper as being relevant to debate since April:

Debated on Motion:

Fifth Report from the Employment Committee on Wages Councils.

Referred to on the Order Paper as relevant to debate:

	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Agriculture	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0
Defence	4·0	4·5	4·5	4·5	4·5	4·5
Education, Science and Arts	4·0	4·0	4·0	5·0	5·0	4·0
Employment	2·5	2·5	2·5	2·5	2·5	2·5
Energy	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	4·0	4·0
Environment	3·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	5·0	5·0
European Legislation	8·0	8·0	8·0	8·0	8·0	8·0
Foreign Affairs	4·0	4·5	4·5	4·5	4·5	4·5
Home Affairs	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0
House of Commons (Services)	5·0	5·0	5·0	5·0	5·0	5·0
Members' Interests^*	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0
Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0
Privileges	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0
Procedure	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0
Public Accounts	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0
Scottish Affairs	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0	3·0
Social Services	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0
Sound Broadcasting	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0	2·0
Trade and Industry	5·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0
Transport	3·0	3·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·0
Treasury and Civil Service	5·0	7·0	7·0	7·0	7·0	6·0
Welsh Affairs	3·0	3·0	4·0	4·0	4·0	3·0
^* Of whom 2 are part-time.

In addition, in each of these years, there have been 10 members of staff (of whom one was part-time) the greater part of whose duties was to service Select Committees generally.

For the reason given in the answer to the right hon. Gentleman of 23 January 1985 ( Hansard, column 456),

First Report from the Defence Committee on The Use of Merchant Shipping for Defence Purposes.
Third Report from the Defence Committee on Defence Commitments and Resources and the Defence Estimates 1985–86.
Third Report from the Environment Committee on the Department of Environment's Main Estimates 1985–86.
Fourth Report from the Environment Committee on the Property Services Agency Main Estimates, 1985–86.
First Report from the House of Commons (Services) Committee on Information Technology: Members' Requirements.
Second Report from the House of Commons (Services) Committee on Members' staff: Pressure on Accommodation and Facilities.
Second Report from the Social Services Committee on Community Care.
Third Report from Trade and Industry Committee on Trade with China.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the Select Committee reports, excepting those of the Public Accounts Committee, whose recommendations have been accepted in full by Her Majesty's Government since 1979.

Select Committee reports usually contain a number of recommendations, though that is not their only purpose. Many such recommendations have been accepted in full, but to analyse all reports, the Government replies to them and subsequent actions in the way requested would occasion undue expense.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give the annual figures of staff, full-time and part-time, serving the Select Committees since 1979 and the annual cost of manning these committees.

The number of staff serving each Select Committee since 1979 is as follows, but in many cases Committee work comprises less than half the duties of the staff concerned:the cost attributable to manning these Committees in each of these years could not be estimated without undue expense.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the places visited,

the number of hon. Members travelling, and the cost of the air fare for each hon. Member for the latest visit by each Select Committee.

Committee	Places visited	Number of Members travelling	Cost per Member of air fare^*
			£
Agriculture	Paris and Bonn	5	148
Defence	Norway and Sweden	8	432
Employment	New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington) and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne)	7	1,805
Energy	Hague	7	121
Environment	Canada and United States (Toronto, Winnipeg, Richland, Seattle, Washington DC, Buffalo NY, Niagara)	7	1,611
European Legislation	Athens	10	420
Foreign Affairs	Moscow, Suzdal Vladimir	11	522
Home Affairs	United States of America	8	930
House of Commons (Services)	Washington, Ottawa, Montreal	5	1,153
Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration	Wellington, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne	5	1,874
Public Accounts	Washington	10	916
Scottish Affairs	Norway	7	450
Social Services	Washington, Boston, Chicago, Nebraska, and California	6	1,778
Trade and Industry	China	10	993
Transport	Esbjerg (Denmark) and Hamburg	7	102
Treasury and Civil Service Sub-Committee	Washington and New York	9	508
	Brussels	4	129
Welsh Affairs	Republic of Ireland	7	146
^*Estimated where necessary.

Statutory Instruments (Procedure)

asked the Lord Privy Seal how often and when the second part of Standing Order 3(1)(b) relating to the putting of the question on motions on statutory instruments has been applied since 1960.

Twice: on 20 December 1972 and 16 February 1983.

Environment

Urban Aid

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total resources available under the urban aid programme for 1984–85 and 1983–84; and if he will make a statement.

In each of the years 1983–84 and 1984–85 the cash resources made available for the urban programme in England were £348 million. The Government remain committed to tackling the special problems of the inner cities, and will continue to seek to apply the resources available for this purpose in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

Thamesmead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects consultations to begin on the future control of Thamesmead.

In the late summer.

River Mersey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the projects that are part of the campaign to clean up the Mersey river and estuary and

The information is as follows:land alongside the water courses of the Mersey basin, indicating their scale, when they are to be completed, and the organisation responsible and their cost.

The River Mersey Initiative, to which the hon. Member's question refers, is a long-term campaign which could take as much as 25 years because of the severe problems that have to be tackled. For lhe whole campaign, therefore, only broad estimates are possible. The North West water authority has estimated the total costs of the water quality side of the task at up to £2·5 billion. The work on the landward side will be carried out by the public, private and voluntary sectors between them; and its total value is estimated at around £1·5 billion. The detailed scheduling of projects, by the water authority and the local authorities, will be a continuous process related to successive stages of the campaign.

Housing Condition Survey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the next housing condition survey for England and Wales to be published.

The next housing condition surveys, to be carried out separately for England and Wales, will be. undertaken in 1986 and we intend to publish the results as soon as possible.

Green Belt

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the preservation of the green bell: in Hertfordshire and the other home counties in the light of motorway developments such as the M25 London orbital route.

The guidance in March 1984 to local authorities in the south-east on the M25 and land-use planning in the south-east made clear that the general presumption against development in the green belt is not affected by the M25 and that there should continue to be the strongest restraint on development there.

Gloucester Place Fire (Inquest Report)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take following representations he has received from the coroner who conducted the inquest into the deaths of Mrs. Karim and her two children at 46 Gloucester Place, London W1.

When the results of the Department's research on houses in multiple occupation are available, my right hon. Friend will consider whether further measures are necessary, including any for means of escape from fire. In doing so, my right hon. Friend will have the coroner's representations very much in mind. Following consolidation of the Housing Acts, my right hon. Friend proposes to issue guidance to local authorities on their wide-ranging powers for houses in multiple occupation. My right hon. Friend will consider whether, in the light of the tragic fire at 46 Gloucester Place, it is necessary to re-emphasise the advice in DOE circular 25/82 about the need for consultations between authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has received a report from Her Majesty's coroner for Westminister following the inquest into the fire at Gloucester Place, Marylebone, in which a mother and two children died last November; what recommendations to him are contained in Her Majesty's coroner's report; whether he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps he is taking in response to the representations he has received from the city of Westminister concerning the need for legislation to require fire safety precautions in houses in multiple occupation.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I have given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) today. I have received representations in the form of a letter from the coroner, which I am studying. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with the agreement of the coroner, will place a copy of the coroner's representations in the Library. As to the representations made by the city of Westminister, I refer my hon. Friend to the letters dated 23 April and 17 June which he has received from my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction.

Onshore Oil Exploration

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the places throughout the United Kingdom in relation to onshore oil exploration within the last two years where planning permission (a) has been sought, (b) has been obtained and (c) has been refused in instances where planning permission has been granted (1) work has commenced, (2) work has not commenced and (3) work has been completed; and if he will list those locations where oil has been found (i) in commercial quantities and (ii) in non-commercial quantities.

Details of planning applications relating to onshore oil exploration submitted to and determined by local planning authorities are not collected centrally. Within the last two years one planning appeal has been determined following refusal of permission on an application to drill an exploratory well. On 26 June 1985, Conoco (UK) Limited was given planning permission for this well at Normandy, Surrey. One condition of the permission is that work on this shall begin within five years. Details of company work programmes and results of exploration activity are not required by my Department.

Salford

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider making a special grant in 1985–86 to Salford district council from the surplus of £400 million which will accrue from the penalties imposed by his Department on local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Secretary of State has no power to redistribute grant holdback due to the overspending of targets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the effect of the change in the multiplier factor in the current year on payment by his Department to Salford city council; and if he will make a statement.

Had the multiplier remained at the 1984–85 level, Salford would have received £4,481,000 more grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report his conclusions following his discussions with elected representatives and officers of Salford city council regarding the current rate support grant; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, who met a delegation from Salford on 14 March, concluded that no change should be made in the city council's multiplier.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the findings and recommendations of the report on, A Case for a Special Grant of £6 million, for Salford district council, a copy of which has been sent to him by Mr. Keith Hirst; if he will publish in the Official Report his reply; if there is any action he will now be taking; and if he will make a statement.

I shall send the hon. Member a copy of my Department's reply in due course.

Block Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider the working of the multiplier factor as used in calculating the block grant for 1985–86; and if he will make a statement.

We are not persuaded there is a case for reworking the multiplier.

"Local Authority Housing Repairs And Maintenance Needs"

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Royal Institute of British Architects' publication "Local Authority Housing Repair and Maintenance Needs", a copy of which he has received, which relates to matters within his responsibility.

I read this report with great interest.My Department is now processing local authorities' responses to our own recent inquiry into the repair and improvement needs of local authority housing stock; we hope that first results will be available by the end of this month. It will be useful to compare RIBA's findings with our own.

Baby Seal Products

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the expiry on 30 September of the European ban on the import of baby seal products.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mrs. McCurley) on 9 July, at column 395. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had previously made clear our support for an extension of the ban on conservation grounds in her reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21 June, at column 230.I hope that agreement will be reached soon in the European Council on an extension of the ban.

Planning Permission

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make potential damage to neighbouring property a reason for refusing planning permission.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind physical damage resulting from building operations or other activities on neighbouring land. Any landowner whose property is damaged by another's actions has means of redress through the courts and it is unnecessary to make the matter one for planning control. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I would be glad to look at it.

System-Built Housing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department (a) has conducted and (b) is conducting, into the defects of postwar system-built housing.

The Building Research Establishment has a continuing role in identifying lessons to be learnt from problems found in housing, and other types of buildings.The BRE has carried out a major investigation of prefabricated reinforced concrete houses designed before 1960 and has published several reports. It has also reported on the Smith system.

Name	Profession/Occupation	Appointment Expires
Advisory Committee for England
Mr. P. G. Brackley	Industry	31 May 1986
Mr. P. Conder	Ornithologist	29 November 1986
Dr. B. Green	Ecologist	29 November 1986

The BRE is now engaged in a programme of research into large panel systems of construction and has published a report on Ronan Point and other Taylor Woodrow/ Anglian buildings. BRE has begun work aimed at producing advice on the inspection, maintenance and, where necessary, repair of steel framed houses.

Anglian Water Authority

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the external financing limits of the Anglian water authority are adequate to enable the water and sewage infrastructure necessary to support the projected growth in housing and commercial developments to be provided; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Anglian Water's 1985–86 external financing limit was set taking into account the authority's 1984 plan estimates of the investment needed to meet new demand, and later estimates are lower. The 1986–87 external financing limit will not be settled before late this autumn.

Water Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which water authorities have applied for derogations in respect of organochlorines under the European Commission directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC); in respect of each authority, what were the sources of the organochlorines which give rise to the application for these derogations; and whether he intends to permit these derogations.

I have received five applications from Anglian water authority, two from Thames water authority and one each from the Mid Kent and the Sunderland and South Shields water companies for derogations under the directive in respect of chlorine containing trihalomethanes, a group of organochlorine compounds covered by parameter 32 of the directive. These organochlorine compounds arise as a result of reaction between organic compounds naturally present in the source water and chlorine which is added to ensure that the water supplied is free from harmful bacteria. After taking medical advice, I have granted these derogation applications and I shall review them in three years.

Nature Conservancy Council

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the membership of the Nature Conservancy Council's advisory committees for England, Wales and Scotland; and if he will indicate the profession or occupation of the members and the date of their retirement from the committee.

The information is as follows:

Name	Profession/Occupation	Appointment Expires
Mr. E. D. Le Cren	Freshwater biologist	31 May 1986
Mr. W. E. Lane	Lawyer	31 March 1986
Professor T. O'Riordan	Professor of Environmental Studies	31 May 1987
Mr. K. Steele	Farmer	29 November 1986
Mr. J. M. Stratton	Farmer	31 May 1987
Mr. L. C. Troup	Forester	31 May 1987
Advisory Committee for Wales
Professor G. Owen	Marine scientist; Principal, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth	31 March 1988
Professor D. Q. Bowen	Geographer	31 May 1987
Mrs. E. M. Colwyn-Fuchs	Architect	28 February 1987
Mr. J. Elias	Director, Operational Planning, Welsh Development Agency	31 May 1986
Mr. J. M. Harrop	Farmer	31 May 1987
Dr. W. R. Howells	Director of Scientific Studies, Welsh Water Authority	31 May 1986
Advisory Committee for Scotland
Mr. R. Allison	Farmer	31 May 1986
Dr. J. Burnett	Botanist	31 May 1987
Mr. R. W. G. Cameron	Architect/planner	31 May 1989
Mr. W. J. Christie	Forester/hill farmer	31 May 1986
Mr. J. C. Compton	Landowner/farmer	31 May 1987
Professor R. I. Currie	Marine biologist	31 May 1989
Professor W. W. Fletcher	Biologist	31 May 1986
Mr. D. J. Mackay	Industry and crofting	31 May 1986
Professor A. W. G. Manning	Zoologist	31 May 1989
Professor I. Parsons	Geologist	31 May 1989
Professor W. Ritchie	Geographer	31 May 1986
Mr. J. Scott	Landowner/farmer	31 May 1987
Professor T. C. Smout	Historian	31 May 1989
Miss V. M. Thom	Author/ornithologist	31 May 1989

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the size of the Nature Conservancy Council budgets to cover (a) land purchase by voluntary bodies, (b) land management, education and promotion by voluntary bodies and (c) the small grants programme; and what limits upon maximum or minimum levels of grant or support have been set by him or his Department for each of the above categories.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: The figures are:

(a) £900,000

(b) £650,000

(c) £180,000

Neither I nor the Department have set maximum or minimum levels of grant, though in certain cases the Department's prior approval is required.

Housing (Manchester)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the housing investment programme allocation made to the city of Manchester for 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 at constant prices.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Leca Houses

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now ready to publish the results of the LECA plan prefrabricated houses investigation; and if he will make a statement.

The LECA plan system is one of a number under investigation by the Building Research Establishment as part of its programme of research into large panel systems of construction. Reports on different

aspects of this research will be published in due course, but there will not necessarily be a separate report on the LECA plan.

Local Authority Services

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of those who have submitted views on competition in the provision of local authority services; and if he will indicate in each case whether they are in favour or against such a proposal.

I shall arrange for the list of respondents to be published in the Official Report as soon as possible. The proposals do not, however, lend themselves to a simplistic response analysis of the sort requested. I shall consider how best to make the results of consultation available to the House.

Houses (Improvement For Sale Schemes)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the grant levels for improvement for sale schemes being undertaken by local authorities.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding grant levels for local authority improvement for sale schemes.

Two local authorities have requested an increase in the limit for Exchequer contributions towards local authority improvement for sale schemes. This issue was also raised by the Association of District Councils at the meeting of the Housing Consultative Council on 10 June.

London Docklands Development Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether Interaction or any of its subsidiaries is receiving either capital or revenue funding from the London Docklands Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps the London Docklands Development Corporation has taken to ensure that the design of houses on London Docklands Development-owned land contains provisions for the disabled;(3) what percentage of houses on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land

(a) represent transfers to households who were previously on other London Docklands Development Corporation-owned sites and (b) are owned by the second or subsequent purchasers of the house;

(4) what steps the London Docklands Development Corporation intends to take to ensure that the composition of private housing estates on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land reflects the multicultural nature of London;

(5) what training programmes are used within the London Docklands Development Corporation to create awareness of racism and sexism;

(6) whether the London Docklands Development Corporation requires clauses in its contracts of employment to specify that racial and sexual harassment at work is a disciplinary issue;

(7) what arrangements exist for advertising posts in the London Docklands Development Corporation; and which newspapers, including black and ethnic minority newspapers, are used to place advertisements;

(8) how many advisers the London Docklands Development Corporation employs with a specific knowledge of relevant employment and equal opportunity legislation;

(9) how many people with disabilities are employed by the London Docklands Development Corporation; and at what grades;

(10) how many women are employed by the London Docklands Development Corporation; and at what grades.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of permanent staff directly employed by the London Docklands Development Corporation as at 31 March 1982, 31 March 1983, 31 March 1984 and 31 March 1985.

The total number of permanent staff employed by the LDDC were:

	Number
At 31 March 1982	69
At 31 March 1983	74
At 31 March 1984	92
At 31 March 1985	90

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land have been transferred to households from the black or ethnic minority communities.

This information is not collected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there is provision for both maternity and paternity leave within the London Docklands Development Corporation.

It is the corporation's policy to provide maternity leave. Paternity leave is not generally available, but is considered under the broader definition of compassionate leave.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether personnel in the London Docklands Development Corporation are specifically employed to shortlist and appoint staff.

Yes.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for providing additional moneys under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 for the London borough councils in 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

No,

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future funding of organisations funded under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 by the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties which have received his approval for funding in 1985–86 under his powers in section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act.

Section 137 expenditure by the GLC is discretionary expenditure, and it is for borough councils, and other successor bodies where appropriate, to decide whether to give support to organisations which the GLC has grant-aided under this power. Where such bodies are voluntary organisations, the Government have provided powers for boroughs to support them under a collective scheme. In addition, there is a programme of central Government grant-aid for individual boroughs taking over grants to voluntary organisations.Approval of GLC section 137 expenditure in 1985–86 by the Secretary of State under the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 carries with it no implied view about the desirability or otherwise of such expenditure in that or subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the future of those organisations presently funded partly by the Greater London council and partly by the Government's urban programme;(2) whether the Government plan to provide the additional resources to those organisations which are currently funded under the urban programme and who receive part funding from the Greater London council.

Where an organisation receives urban programme funding through the GLC, and this funding is due to continue beyond 31 March 1986, the Secretary of State will make the urban programme grant available to the successor borough. The urban programme grant will then continue until its expiry date, after which it will, if necessary, be considered for possible renewal.Where, in addition to urban programme funding, either through the GLC or a borough, an organisation is receiving support from the GLC's main programmes, it will look to the appropriate borough council to replace that element of its funding. Inherited expenditure of this type which is not eligible for UP support will be eligible for support under the transitional grant arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for the funding of recording studios providing training for young black people in the inner city area, presently funded by the Greater London council.

Responsibility for funding voluntary organisations currently funded by the GLC will pass to the London boroughs, individually and collectively. The Government have taken a number of steps, including transitional grant support to boroughs, to help the boroughs take on this role. To the extent that recording studios providing training are voluntary organisations, they will fall within this arrangement. Commercial organisations providing training may also be able to obtain support from a borough council, or may be eligible for MSC support.

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many permanent local residents were employed in the construction of the Falkland Islands airport; and what was the total number employed in the construction of the airport.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Local Government Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the answer of 1 March 1984, Official Report, columns 330–31, concerning the Exchequer contribution to local government expenditure at settlement and outturn and if he will estimate the cost in the current financial year if the outturn reaches 65 per cent.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: Following is the available information:

Aggregate Exchequer Gram as a Percentage of Relevant Expenditure (England)
	At Settlement	At Outturn/Budget
1981–82	59·1	54·9
1982–83	56·1	51·7
1983–84	52·8	49·8
1984–85	51·9	48·3
1985–86	48·7	45·9

Source: latest Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report for each year.

Note: Outturn/Budget percentages are affected by Holdback of block grant.

Because block grant is cash limited, for AEG to reach 65 per cent. of outturn, local authority outturn relevant expenditure would have to be reduced by a massive amount. The effect of this upon grants paid by central Government would depend upon the resulting specific grants and holdback.

European Community

Foreign Policy Statements

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all joint EC foreign policy statements since June 1979; and whether copies of all such statements are placed in the Library.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend on 26 June to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Weetch) and my reply on 15 July to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke). Copies of statements made in recent years were placed in the Library when they were issued.

Foreign And Commonwealth

North Korea

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with North Korea.

We do not recognise North Korea as a state and have no diplomatic relations with the authorities there.

Ugandan Asians

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the state of progress in the various compensation and repossession claims outstanding since the expulsion of Ugandan Asians from Uganda in the early 1970s; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 22 May.

Antarctic (Conservation Areas)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the proposals for 26 new conservation areas in the Antarctic by the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, a copy of which has been sent to him.

We are aware of this initiative but have not yet received the Scientific Committee's detailed proposals. While we accept the general principle behind them, we shall need to study the proposed management plans for each conservation site before deciding whether to support them. Eight of the sites proposed by the committee lie outside the Antarctic treaty area and are the concern of the French authorities.

Gchq, Cheltenham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to take disciplinary action against staff at Government Communications Headquarters, Cheltenham, who have rejoined their unions until the conclusion of discussions on the subject between union leaders and the Cabinet Secretary; and if he will make a statement.

On 9 May the general secretaries of the Civil Service trade unions made representations to the Secretary of the Cabinet about members of staff at Government communications headquarters who notified management that they had joined or rejoined a union contrary to the undertaking they had previously given. The Secretary of the Cabinet agreed to consider their representations and that in the meantime no action would be taken against those concerned.

Plo (Jordan)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's ambassador in Amman has reported to him on the address in Jordan on 9 July by Khalil Al-Wazir to the armed men of the Palestine Liberation Organisation expelled to Jordan from Lebanon by Syria calling for armed confrontation with Israel; and whether any message has been conveyed to King Hussein about armed guerrillas being permitted to be based in Jordan.

No.

Chile

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have invited, or intend to invite, further Chilean Government officials to visit the United Kingdom.

We have normal diplomatic relations with Chile. It follows that we should have regular contacts with Chilean officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government intend to take regarding the case of Pedro Fernandez Lembach now that the Chilean authorities have said that they will not consider an application for his sentence to be commuted to one of exile.

As he is a Chilean national we have no formal standing to intervene on Sr. Lembach's behalf with the Chilean authorities, but Her Majesty's ambassador will continue to remind them of our willingness to grant Sr. Fernandez Lembach a visa to enter the United Kingdom in the event that they should decide to commute his sentence to one of exile.

Baby Seal Products

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Danish Government about the renewal of the European ban on the import of baby seal products.

The Community is currently considering proposals put forward by the Commission for an indefinite extension of the European Community ban on imports of baby seal products which expires on 30 September. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear our support for an extension of the ban on conservation grounds in her reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21 June. This position was placed on record by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, the hon. Member for Bristol West (Mr. Waldegrave) at the 28 June Environment Council, at which Denmark was of course represented.

Scotland

Legal Services

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the recommendations for change made by the last Royal Commission on legal services in Scotland have been implemented to date.

The report of the Royal Commission contained over 200 recommendations, many of which did not call for Government action. The Government have already taken and announced decisions on many of the recommendations addressed to them and will make any further announcement on matters covered by the report in due course.

Glasgow Housing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received from Glasgow district council a registration scheme under section 100 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966; and when he hopes to announce his decision.

No formal registration has been received. However, as I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on 1 July 1985, at column 24, my officials are currently considering proposals for a registration scheme submitted informally by Glasgow district council. It is hoped to send a response in the near future.

Salmon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now completed all his consultations in Scotland on a salmon tagging scheme to curb salmon poaching; what organisations have offered resistance; whether he is able to report progress; and if he will make a statement.

The consultations have been completed. Several difficulties have been identified in connection with the tagging of imports and farmed salmon, and the control and security of tags. The main opposition to tagging in Scotland has come from fish farmers who are concerned about the disruptive effect of tagging on their activities, and from organisations representative of anglers who regard tagging as an unnecessary imposition. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State is still considering this issue, along with other Fisheries Ministers.

Home Improvement Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the precise sums made available for house improvement grants by the Government for each of the last 20 years to date in (a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region, giving separate figures for each category and year.

Housing authorities are not given specific allocations for capital expenditure on house improvement grants. Since 1978–79, when the system of block capital allocations for housing was introduced, expenditure on house improvement grants has formed a major share of the non-HRA block, which also covers lending for house purchase (other than to council tenants), repairs grants, slum clearance and various minor items. Individual authorities are free to determine their own spending priorities within the total non-HRA block allocations made available to them.The following table gives total consent to incur capital expenditure on the non-HRA block for each year in

(a) Scotland and (b) the districts of Lothian region. Comparable information is not available for the years prior to 1978–79.

	Scotland	Lothian districts
	£ million	£ million
1978–79	50·0	13·5
1979–80	48·6	8·6
1980–81	59·4	12·3
1981–82	77·0	17·1
1982–83	106·6	21·5
1983–84^*	98·1	16·3
1984–85	171·4	20·6
1985–86^†	109·7	17·5
^* Expenditure on improvement grants in 1983–84, subject to certain conditions, was not limited to consent.
^†As issued at 29 March 1985.

Note: Figures for the years to 1984–85 include abatement, enhancement and any transfers to or from the HRA block.

Housing Associations

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the most up-to-date figures for all sales of housing association houses in (a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region to sitting tenants; what percentage this represents of housing association stock in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many housing association houses of general needs housing have been sold with a discount in

(a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region; what percentage this represents of housing association stock in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The total numbers of housing association houses sold to sitting tenants in Scotland and in Lothian region up to 30 June 1985 were, respectively, 76 and 21; all sales were of general needs houses. Fifty-three of the Scottish sales and 16 of those in Lothian region were made at a discount. Each of these totals represents less than 1 per cent. of the housing association stock in Scotland.I have been concerned for some time that the voluntary code governing sales to housing association tenants in Scotland has not been operating with sufficient effect. At my request the Housing Corporation wrote some months ago to all associations which had not already instituted a sales scheme with discounts, requesting them to reconsider their policies. Its letter was accompanied by an open letter from me in which I restated the Government's position on voluntary sales and stressed the importance of discounts to the success of any sales policy. I subsequently received a report from the Housing Corporation on the outcome of the exercise. I had hoped for a substantial movement in associations' policies but this has proved not to be the case. Although there has been some movement, a considerable number of associations have reaffirmed their opposition to sales and others who permit sales will not provide discounts.In view of this response, and the need to ensure that housing association tenants do not remain at a significant disadvantage in comparison with other public sector tenants, we propose to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to give housing association tenants the right to buy their homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing association houses of (a) general needs housing, (b) special needs housing and (c) co-ownership housing there are in Scotland and Lothian region today: giving separate figures for each category.

Estimated figures provided by the Housing Corporation are given in the following table for 31 March 1984, the latest date for which estimates can be made.

	Number of houses
Area	General needs	Special needs	Co-ownership
Scotland	25,000	6,800	900
Lothian	4,100	2,400	100

National Health Service

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on each person resident in (a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region in respect of National Health Service funding in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The information requested is given in the table to the latest available year. The figures are based on expenditure on hospital and community health services and on family practitioner services (net of charges retained by practitioners). Details of expenditure by the common services agency and on programmes managed centrally by the Department are not available for health board areas.

Expenditure per head of population
	Scotland	Lothian health board
	£	£
1979–80	191	208
1980–81	242	260
1981–82	275	307
1982–83	298	332
1983–84	317	350

Nursery Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of nursery school places in (a) Scotland and (b) the Lothian region for each year since 1973; and whether it is the policy of the Government to expand nursery education.

The following table shows the number of pupils receiving nursery education in education authority schools in Lothian region and in Scotland for the school years from 1973.

Pupils receiving nursery education
	Lothian	Scotland
1973	n/a	19,629
1974	4,293	20,462
1975	5,074	21,569
1976	5,778	25,927
1977	6,225	29,399
1978	6,749	31,326

	Lothian	Scotland
1979	6,569	31,770
1980	6,818	32,472
1981	6,843	33,178
1982	7,075	34,682
1983	7,517	36,650
1984^*	8,004	37,869
^* Provisional.

Education authorities are free to determine the priority to be accorded to nursery education in the light of other resource demands.

	Nurses^*	Doctors ^† (excluding general medical practitioners)	Doctors (including general medical practitioners)
1975	52,540·0	5,213·1	8,219·1
1976	53,405·0	5,313·9	8,354·9
1977	53,229·0	5,412·0	8,501·0
1978	54,419·0	5,447·8	8,608·8
1979	56,037·2	5,613·3	8,803·3
1980	58,602·5	5,628·8	8,884·8
1981	61,125·5	5,672·7	9,019·7
1982	61,979·2	5,764·3	9,156·3
1983	62,395·5	5,810·1	9,270·1
1984	62,027·4	5,854·0	9,383·0

Notes:

^* Includes unqualified auxiliaries, assistants, nursery nurses and nursing cadets.

^† Excludes general medical practitioners who are independent contractors.

Includes general medical practitioners who are independent contractors.

Assisted Place Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been allocated to the assisted places scheme in Scotland each year for the last five years (a) in total and (b) for each educational authority.

Total expenditure on the scheme in the four years it has been operating is as follows

	£ million
1981–82	0·512
1982–83	1·393
1983–84	2·225
1984–85	3·069

These figures, which relate to fiscal years, cannot readily be attributed to education authority areas. The grants are paid direct to the participating schools, and they submit their claims in relation to the academic year, not the financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils have benefited from the assisted places scheme in Scotland each year for the last five years (a) in total and (b) for each educational authority.

Pupils at participating schools may come from outwith the area of the education authority in which the schools are located but the number of places taken up in schools in each local authority area since the scheme began is as follows:

Area	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	^1984–85*
Borders	—	—	—	—
Central	22	30	35	41
Dumfries & Galloway	—	7	11	13
Fife	2	6	14	21
Grampian	23	38	68	97

Nhs

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors have been employed in Scotland by the National Health Service in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested by whole-time equivalent numbers is as follows:

Area	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	^1984–85*
Highland	9	14	27	33
Lothian	304	580	726	884
Orkney	—	—	—	—
Shetland	—	—	—	—
Strathclyde	312	542	696	785
Tayside	118	233	323	386
Western Isles	—	—	—	—
Scotland	790	1,450	1,900	2,260
^*Provisional.

Skoal Bandit

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department was consulted by the Scottish Development Agency before money was put into the production of the Skoal Bandit.

In accordance with practice, this inward investment project was handled by Locate in Scotland, which is a joint operation of the Industry Department for Scotland and the Scottish Development Agency.

Teachers (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average pay rise for teachers in Scotland; and what was the annual inflation rate in each year since 1955.

Comparable figures for teachers' average salaries over so extended a period are not available.

Gaelic Language

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount of direct expenditure by his Department on the Gaelic language in 1984–85; if he will provide a breakdown; and what the percentage increase in spending has been compared to the 1983–84 level.

The Scottish Education Department made the following direct payments to organisations and projects connected with the Gaelic language in 1984–85:

	£
An Comunn Gaidhealach	69,300
Sabhal Mor Ostaig	11,750
The Committee on Gaelic of the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum	3,320
Research grant for the Evaluation of the Western Isles Island Council Bilingual Project	30,803
	115,173

This is an increase of 25 per cent. over 1983–84. These figures exclude the amounts given to support the Gaelic language by the Scottish Arts Council and the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the secondary schools in Scotland which teach subjects using Gaelic as the teaching medium.

For September 1983 the following table shows:

(a) The number of secondary schools where subjects other than Gaelic were taught using Gaelic as the teaching medium;

(b) The number of secondary schools in Gaelic speaking areas where the scheme of instruction provided for teaching the Gaelic language and literature to Gaelic

	(a)	(b)
Central	0	1
Grampian	0	1
Highland	0	14
Strathclyde—Argyll & Bute Glasgow	0	6
	0	4
Tayside	0	2
Western Isles	10	16

Further details of the practices in individual schools can be obtained from the authorities concerned.

Standard Grade Examination

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on future arrangements for standard grade examinations in the light of the teachers associations' continuing boycott of curriculum development.

I announced on 2 April, at columns 543–44], that I had decided, following advice from the Scottish Examination Board and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that ordinary grade examinations in English, mathematics and arithmetic should be available as an option in 1986 for pupils who started standard grade courses in August 1984 and whom it was no longer realistic to expect to be assessed on the basis of standard grade. I made it clear that standard grade phase 1 assessments would take place in 1986 as planned and I confirm that again now.A number of parents and others have made representations to me about the importance of an early decision on examinations in 1987 to protect the interests of pupils entering S3 next month who will wish to know whether the target at the end of their two-year course is to be standard grade or ordinary grade. The Scottish Education Department has therefore written today to the Scottish Examination Board, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, to propose that the same arrangements should apply in 1987 as in 1986, that is, that ordinary grade examinations should be available as an alternative to standard grade phase 1 examinations in 1987.I have asked the three bodies for their urgent comments on this proposal so that a final decision may be taken as early as possible in the new term to relieve the uncertainty which parents are experiencing about the courses which their children will follow. I recognise that the holding of both standard grade and ordinary grade examinations for a further year will have implications for higher grade and post-higher examinations in English and mathematics and I have asked the SEB to take account of the need to run these examinations in both unrevised and revised forms in 1988.The Government remain in principle fully committed to the development and full implementation of standard grade courses, which will lead to more effective and relevant teaching for pupils of all abilities. The largest Scottish teachers union has however made clear its intention to continue the curricular boycott even after a satisfactory settlement of the current pay dispute is reached.

New Towns (Housing)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what, in respect of each of the Scottish new town development corporations in each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85, inclusive, and 1985–86 to date, were (i) the categories of applicants whose waiting time from acceptance of application to allocation of a dwelling was greatest and the average waiting time from such categories and the categories of applicants whose waiting time was shortest and the average waiting time for such categories and (ii) the numbers of and sizes of private sector houses and flats in each of the said years to 31 March which were (a) completed and (b) sold on a basis which included any element of subsidy or financial assistance by the development corporation and the total amount of such subsidy or financial assistance.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 July 1985, c. 156]: The replies are

(i) such information as is available about average waiting time for categories of applicant on the housing waiting lists maintained by new town development corporations is not compiled on a uniform basis and does not enable me to give a meaningful reply.

(ii) (a) Private sector houses and flats completed in each financial year (breakdown by size not available).

	East Kilbride	Cumbernauld	Glenrothes	Livingston	Irvine
1978–79	70	257	82	72	235
1979–80	158	139	130	144	104
1980–81	175	69	85	143	83
1981–82	144	53	85	54	48
1982–83	48	112	74	163	106
1983–84	77	111	152	221	102
1984–85	192	9	156	160	79
1985–86^*	30	31	23	49	15
^*Position at 31 May 1985 for East Kilbride and 30 June for other towns.

(b) Twenty-nine private sector houses and flats were sold during this period on a basis which included an element of subsidy or financial assistance from the development corporation. All 29 were in Cumbernauld, nine sold in 1984–85 and 20 sold in 1985–86 to date. The aggregate notional amount of the assistance was £9,796 and £21,366 respectively. This was in the context of a joint venture with private builders where the development corporation sold the land at historic cost, rather than on the basis of current market value.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what, in respect of each of the Scottish new town

(a) Total numbers (cumulative) of houses completed at 31 March
	1 APT	2 APT	3 APT	4 APT	5 APT	6+APT	Total
	1979
East Kilbride^*	64	3,121	7,702	8,980	1,767	86	21,720
Cumbernauld	137	872	3,626	6,329	1,630	531	13,125
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available						10,135
Livingston	0	751	2,432	5,538	1,069	477	10,267
Irvine	0	220	948	1,666	1,077	142	4,053
	1980
East Kilbride	64	3,121	7,702	8,980	1,767	86	21,720
Cumbernauld	137	919	3,726	6,529	1,630	545	13,486
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						10,601
Livingston	0	850	2,677	5,981	1,115	515	11,138
Irvine	0	298	1,027	1,782	1,144	142	4,393
	1981
East Kilbride	64	3,139	7,710	9,077	1,778	86	21,854
Cumbernauld	137	942	3,762	6,563	1,630	549	13,583
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						10,927
Livingston	0	891	2,769	6,264	1,115	570	11,609
Irvine	0	359	1,046	1,871	1,174	142	4,592
	1982
East Kilbride	64	3,139	7,732	9,130	1,802	86	21,953
Cumbernauld	137	989	3,868	6,745	1,648	549	13,936
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						11,385
Livingston	0	919	2,807	6,373	1,115	580	11,794
Irvine	0	409	1,106	2,027	1,285	142	4,969
	1983
East Kilbride	64	3,139	7,745	9,155	1,802	86	21,991
Cumbernauld	137	993	3,898	6,818	1,655	549	14,050
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						11,536
Livingston	0	967	2,866	6,525	1,125	602	12,085
Irvine	0	412	1,108	2,028	1,285	142	4,975
	1984
East Kilbride	64	3,182	7,843	9,332	1,854	86	22,361
Cumbernauld	137	993	3,898	6,818	1,655	549	14,050
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						11,796

development corporations in each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85, inclusive, and 1985–86 to date, were (i) the number of persons on waiting lists for houses to let at 1 April and 1 October and (ii) the numbers of and sizes of corporation houses at 31 March (a) completed and first let (b) vacated and re-let (c) sold to sitting tenants (d) sold with vacant possession and (e) sold on a shared equity basis.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 July 1985, c. 156]: The replies are: (i) I refer the hon. Member lo the reply I gave on 19 June 1985, at column 133.(ii) This information is not readily available in the form requested. The available information is set out in the following tables:

	1 APT	2 APT	3 APT	4 APT	5 APT	6+APT	Total
Livingston	0	973	2,875	6,555	1,125	608	12,136
Irvine	0	452	1,108	2,029	1,285	142	5,016
	1985
East Kilbride	64	3,182	7,843	9,332	1,854	86	22,361
Cumbernauld	137	1,005	3,925	6,851	1,659	550	14,127
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						11,850
Livingston	0	973	2,878	6,557	1,125	615	12,148
Irvine	10	473	1,114	2,031	1,295	142	5,065
	1985–86 (to 30 June)
East Kilbride^†	64	3,182	7,843	9,332	1,854	86	22,361
Cumbernauld	137	1,005	3,939	6,869	1,659	550	14,159
Glenrothes	(breakdown not available)						11,850
Livingston	0	0	0	0	0	0	12,148
Irvine	10	473	1,114	2,031	1,303	142	5,073
^* Inclusive of houses and flats
^*Position at 31 May 1985 in the case of East Kilbride

Homes first let during financial year
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	^1985–86 to 30 June*
East Kilbride	0	0	134	99	38	370	0	0
Cumbernauld	435	390	150	269	192	0	58	30
Glenrothes	306	466	326	458	151	260	54	0
Livingston	416	871	471	185	291	51	12	0
Irvine	266	438	160	392	52	41	28	13
Houses vacated during financial year
East Kilbride	645	567	487	504	604	448	404	73
Cumbernauld	479	526	543	494	493	444	405	99
Glenrothes	694	791	683	644	715	796	700	728
Livingston	1,005	1,007	1,055	1,085	1,160	1,115	928	317
Irvine	475	370	493	632	600	428	429	72
Houses relet during financial year
East Kilbride	614	604	435	501	606	432	433	77
Cumbernauld	983	888	1,014	1,032	1,059	787	782	200
Glenrothes	1,082	961	1,002	922	1,045	973	893	749
Livingston	1,147	740	1,176	904	1,004	925	1,469	426
Irvine	462	400	510	515	627	590	466	83
(d) Houses sold to sitting tenants during financial year
East Kilbride	78	589	647	767	598	765	627	92
Cumbernauld	311	707	367	528	353	388	429	101
Glenrothes	127	448	176	274	389	572	403	102
Livingston	45	63	154	170	185	336	260	46
Irvine	0	0	21	13	75	74	94	24
Houses sold with vacant possession during financial year
East Kilbride	44	23	9	16	21	16	9	2
Cumbernauld	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Glenrothes	15	83	17	27	33	53	100	16
Livingston	11	4	8	0	30	54	0	0
Irvine	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Houses sold on a shared equity basis during financial year
Nil
^* Position at 31 May 1985 in the case of East Kilbride

Electronics Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the components of change such as openings, expansions, contractions and closures in terms of male and female employment and number of units in the electronic sector since 1979 (a) for Scotland as a whole and (b) for each of the Scottish regions.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 July 1985, c. 256]: The only available source for components of change analysis is the regional data system (RDS) which relates to units with 11 or more employees and classifies units according to their latest current activity. Estimates from RDS are set out in the table, for the electronics sector; they relate to the 1980 standard industrial classification. Details by sex are not available.The reclassification of units under RDS into the electronics industry, as the balance of their production has moved in favour of electronics, has had the effect of boosting the 1979 figure shown in the table. By way of illustration estimated employment for the electronics sector from the 1978 census of employment was 37,000

Electronics in Scotland: Components of Change 1979–83
Region	1979 stock	Openings	Expansions	Static	Contractions	Closures	Net change	1983 stock
Units
Border	11	—	4	2	4	1	-1	10
Central	2	1	1	—	—	1	—	2
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fife	27	6	11	2	12	3	3	30
Grampian	9	5	4	1	3	1	4	13
Highland	9	—	1	5	3	—	—	9
Lothian	37	11	14	10	11	2	9	46
Strathclyde	82	13	32	16	28	7	6	88
Tayside	16	2	4	3	8	1	1	17
Islands	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	193	38	71	39	69	16	22	215
Employment
Borders	1,610	—	^*	—	-210	^*	-160	l,450
Central	^*	^*	^*	—	—	^*	^*	^*
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fife	8,430	^*	1,050	—	-790	^*	50	8,470
Grampian	300	120	140	—	^*	^*	180	480
Highland	^*	—	^*	—	^*	—	^*	^*
Lothian	9,290	^*	780	—	-790	^*	470	9,760
Strathclyde	19,910	770	3,070	—	-2,180	-4,440	-2,790	17,120
Tayside	9,190	^*	^*	—	-4,640	^*	-4,580	4,610
Islands	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	49,440	2,340	5,230	—	-8,680	-5,900	-7,020	42,420
^* Figures cannot be released due to confidentiality constraints imposed under the Statistics of Trade Act.

Notes

(1) The electronics sector is defined to be Activity Headings 3302, 3433, 3441, 3442, 3443, 3444, 3453, 3454, 3710 and 3732 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification.

(2) The industry classification of a unit may change over time. For the purpose of the tables above, a unit is classified on the bases of its latest known industry. This convention will tend to overstate electronics in 1979 in view of the tendency of units to be reclassified into the electronics sector.

(3) The above estimates are derived from the Regional Data System.

Social Services

Westminster Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future of Westminster hospital, London.

Planning services at the Westminster hospital is in the first instance the responsibility of the new Riverside health authority. We are not aware of any proposals by the authority to change its current role.

National Insurance Contributions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of people likely to be affected under the proposed new national insurance contribution arrangements, at £55 and £90, when overtime or bonus payments take their wages just over the new limits.

whereas the corresponding RDS figure for 1978 is 47,000—and the reclassification of units since 1978 is the major factor in the difference.

This means that I do not regard the movements in the overall employment figures in the table as at all representative of the trend in employment in the electronics sector for Scotland. Later this year I hope to have estimates based on units classified according to their activities at the relevant times.

The information is not available in the form requested.The latest figures for earnings on which national insurance contributions have been paid relate to the 1982–83 tax year. In that year 189,600 men and 271,900 women paid contributions on annual earnings in the range £2,700–£3,000 (weekly equivalent £51·92–£57·69) and 382,800 men and 279,500 women paid contributions on annual earnings in the range £4,500–£4,799 (weekly equivalent £86·54–£92·29). It is not known how many of these people received bonus or overtime payments.These 1982–83 figures should be used with caution to produce any current estimate on the lines sought by my hon. Friend. Current earnings will be different because of the general upward trend. Moreover, because the Department does not record actual earnings the figures quoted are national earnings calculated from the record of contributions paid. This calculation does not produce an accurate earnings figure for each person.The steps in liability at £55 and £90 per week under the proposed new arrangements are small—both in absolute terms and in relation to the existing "cliff edge" of liability at the lower earnings limit (£35·50): modest pay rises at these two steps will result in net increases in take home pay. All employees earning under £90 per week will be better off than at present—some 4· million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the forecast payment of contributions to national insurance in 1985 by employers, employees and the self-employed; and if he will provide separate figures for the manufacturing sector.

The Government Actuary's estimates for 1985–86 are in the table. No separate figures for the manufacturing sector are available.

	£ million
Class I (employed)
Primary (employees)	10,768
Secondary (employers)	12,158
Class II (self-employed)	680

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what revenue is brought in by the reduced rate contributions to national insurance.

The Government Actuary estimates that the class 1 primary (employees) receipts during 1985–86 from married women and widows who have opted to pay reduced rate contributions will be around £275 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what revenue is brought in by (a) the employee's national insurance contribution and (b) the employer's contribution in a full financial year.

The Government Actuary's estimates of class 1 receipts during 1985–86 are:—

	£ million
Class 1 primary (employees)	10,768
Class 1 secondary (employers)	^*12,158
^*This figure does not take account of recoveries of statutory sick pay by employers.

Single Payments

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the actual maximum single payment made to meet the costs of a newborn baby in 1983; and what was the actual minimum payment made.

Reliable figures cannot be given, since the annual statistical inquiry is based on a sample of cases and information about the individual maximum and minimum payments is unlikely to be representative.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if single payments for help with bus and rail fares for hospital visits are to be abolished under the proposals of the social security review.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2·98 of volume 2 of the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security".

Birth Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the estimate of the number of live births to mothers of New Commonwealth and Pakistani descent who themselves were born in the United Kingdom for 1983 or for the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.(2) if he will estimate for 1981, 1982 and 1983 the number of births to mothers of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin, excluding those of mixed descent who themselves were born in the United Kingdom.

This information is not available from the data collected at birth registration. However, preliminary estimates based on results derived from the 1983 labour force survey suggest that, during the period mid-1980 to mid-1983, between 4,000 and 5,000 children were born in the United Kingdom each year to mothers of New Commonwealth and Pakistani descent who themselves had been born in the United Kingdom.

Convalescent Facilities

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of places in specifically designated National Health Services convalescent facilities for each year from 1980.

The available information is given in the table.

NHS hospitals, England—Convalescent departments
Year	Average daily number of available beds
1980	534
1981	432
1982	302
1983	313

These figures exclude contractual arrangement facilities. The reason for the reduction in beds was given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 8 July at column

363.

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made to provide people whose claims for social security benefits are refused with the addresses of local agencies offering advice and information about social security benefits.

I refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 17 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total value per week to a disabled married claimant in 1985–86 (i) on the ordinary rate and (ii) on the long-term rate of (a) the disablement heating addition and (b) the laundry and special diet allowance, assuming additional resources to cover 20 per cent. of average rate bills were met on supplementary benefit.

On the same basis as my reply to the hon. Member on 3 July, at column 182, the implied amount for a disabled married claimant receiving the three additions named would be as follows:

Ordinary scale rate	Long-term scale rate
£	£
54·86	65·41

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the amount currently being spent on unemployment pay and on the various classes of benefit at an annual rate;(2) what is the current cost per week of benefits of all kinds paid to persons who are unemployed and their dependants.

The estimated cost of social security benefits paid in respect of unemployment in 1985–86 is £6·4 billion; equivalent to an average weekly expenditure of £123 million. The annual figure is made up of £1,645 million in unemployment benefit, about £3,850 million in supplementary benefit and about £950 million in housing benefit.

Limited List Prescribing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department is to hold a survey to find out what has been the effect on people of his policy of a limited National Health Service drugs list.

We can see no need for such a survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ask the review committee on the limited list to examine restoring Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) to the list.

The recently established Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs will be free to reconsider at any time the need for Rohypnol, either on its own initiative or in response to representations from doctors or the manufacturers. No formal representations have yet been made about this drug.

Earnings Limit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government will now raise the earnings limit for the long-term unemployed to £10.

One of the proposals in the recent Green Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9518) is that for supplementary benefit claimants the earnings disregard for couples who have been unemployed for two years should be raised to £15. We hope to introduce these proposals from April 1987 and have no plans to raise the earnings limit in the meantime.

Departmental Staff (Newcastle)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra staff were taken on by his Department during the strike at the computer centre at Newcastle; how many of the posts occupied by such staff have been retained; and what plans he has for the future of those retained posts.

Three thousand additional posts were allocated and filled to deal with the consequences of the Newcastle dispute. Some staff so employed have now been allocated to ordinary departmental work, but detailed information is not available. The Department's manpower targets remain at present as published in the latest expenditure report.

Computer Facilities (Data Privacy)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the data privacy implications of using national insurance numbers as indentifiers in existing and planned computerised data facilities at his Department; and if he will make a statement.

We are fully aware of the need to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of personal information. National insurance numbers are used as identifiers in a number of clerical or computer systems. We are reviewing the arrangements for preserving confidentiality in all computerised systems in the light of the Data Protection Act. In the development of new systems, full account is taken of the need to maintain confidentiality and to comply with the Act.

Local Offices (Computers)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what projections of anticipated staff savings from general implementation were made prior to the trial programme of microcomputers in local offices; what subsequent assessment was made of likely savings in staff from general implementation in the light of experience of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the implications of the outcome of the trial programme for other computerisation projects in his Department.

An original estimate of savings of 600 posts was made regarding the microcomputerisation of supplementary benefit assessment work. The trial programme carried out in 1984, which related to a broader range of work, suggested savings in the range 1,650 to 2,000 posts approximately. This estimate will be refined as the project is implemented.Experience of the trial programme for the local office microcomputer programme has reinforced our view that there are substantial benefits to be gained from the trial implementation in a small number of offices of major projects affecting the work of local offices.

Local Office Project

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, pursuant to the answer of 16 May, Official Report, columns 212–13, he will give details of the review of the overall planning of the local office project; if he will give reasons for each of the changes arising from the review; and if he will make a statement on the implications of the changes for the time scale of hardware procurement for the overall cost of the projects, and the anticipated savings to arise from its implementation;(2) what is his latest estimate of the total costs of (a) the whole local office computer project and (b) the first stage facilities of the project; what is the current value of orders for hardware for the first stage facilities; when the first hardware is now expected to be delivered; and how this compares with the original estimate for such deliveries;(3) what is his latest estimate of the financial and staff savings, respectively, expected to arise from the first stage of the local office computer project; how these compare with his original estimates; and if he will make a statement.

The review resulted in a change only to the sequence of implementation of the various phases of the project. It concluded that the introduction of facilities for the assessment, calculation and payment of supplementary benefit in the first phase would lead to a more efficient system, would reduce disruption in local offices and would give better value for money than the original plan. The change did not, in itself, have any significant implications for the time scale of the major hardware procurement, although first deliveries will be later than expected.It is estimated that the total cost of the project, up to April 1999, will be approximately £418 million, including capital, development and running costs. The costs of the first phase facilities have not been separately identified. No orders have yet been placed for hardware, the first of which will, it is expected, be delivered early in 1987. It is not possible, at this stage of project development, accurately to assess financial and staff savings. For the purposes of assessing the potential value of the project it has been estimated that staff savings will be of the order of 8,400 in a full year from the project as a whole. On that basis, over the costing period described above, it is estimated that gross financial savings will be of the order of £777 million. No valid comparison can be drawn with original estimates; they assumed a different approach to implementation.

Private Patients (Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether control weaknesses have been found in all health authorities for which reports were issued following investigations by his Department audit staff in relation to the payment of private patient charges; and if the accounts of all such authorities have been qualified;(2) whether control weaknesses have been found in all health authorities investigated by his Department's audit staff in relation to the payment of private patient charges; and if the accounts of all health authorities have been qualified;(3) if he will list the health authorities for which reports have been issued following investigation by his Department's audit staff in relation to the payment of private patient charges.

We asked the statutory auditors to carry out a special review in May 1984 of the handling of private patient charges at 37 health authorities. The auditors identified material control weaknesses in, and, accordingly, issued reports in respect of, the 21 health authorities listed. The auditors did not qualify their certificates to the 1983–84 accounts of all of these authorities:

Darlington DHA
South Tees DHA
Bradford DHA
Nottingham DHA
Sheffield DHA

Mid Downs DHA
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire DHA
Oxfordshire DHA
Torbay DHA
Coventry DHA

West Suffolk DHA
Islington DHA
North East Essex DHA

Waltham Forest DHA
Camberwell DHA

Lewisham and North Southwark DHA
Merton and Sutton DHA
North Birmingham DHA
North Staffordshire DHA
Shropshire DHA

The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases SHA

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the health authorities for which statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient income in their routine examination of accounts.

Following their routine examination of the accounts of health authorities for 1983–84 and for 1984–85 (which is not yet complete) statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient income at the following 13 health authorities:

1983–84

Durham DHA
Airedale DHA
Calderdale DHA
Dewsbury DHA
Southern Derbyshire DHA
Brighton DHA
Croydon DHA
West Berkshire DHA
Wycombe DHA
Kettering DHA
Crewe DHA

1984–85

South Manchester DHA
East Berkshire DHA

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the health authorities investigated by his Department's audit staff in relation to the payment of private patient charges.

The health authorities concerned are:

Newcastle HA
Darlington HA
South Tees HA
Bradford HA
Wakefield HA
Sheffield HA
Nottingham HA
Hammersmith SHA
Paddington and North Kensington HA
North West Hertfordshire HA
Islington HA
Waltham Forest HA
North East Essex HA
Bloomsbury HA
Lewisham and North Southwark HA
Camberwell HA
National Heart and Chest SHA
West Lambeth HA
Mid-Downs HA
Merton and Sutton HA
The Hospital for Sick Children SHA
The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases SHA
Oxfordshire HA
West Suffolk HA
Coventry HA
Torbay HA
Bristol and Weston HA
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA
North Birmingham HA
Herefordshire HA
Shropshire HA

North Staffordshire HA
Central Birmingham HA
Salford HA
South Manchester HA
Warrington HA
West Lancashire HA

Health Authorities (Uncollected Income)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the health authorities where estimates of annual income uncollected have been given by statutory auditors, giving the estimate for each health authority.

In their reports on the audit of the accounts of health authorities for 1983–84 statutory auditors gave estimates of income uncollected. However, these figures do not cover income in respect of private patients alone. They also include income from other unrelated non-NHS activities and due under the Road Traffic Acts. The estimates were as follows:

	£
Bradford DHA	5,500
Darlington DHA	20,000
Sheffield DHA	9,000
Nottingham DHA	24,377
Lewisham and North Southwark DHA	21,360
Camberwell DHA	55,650
Merton and Sutton DHA	1,450
National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases SHA	133,646
Oxfordshire DHA	7,918
Coventry DHA	45,000
Torbay DHA	1,000
North Birmingham DHA	11,154
Shropshire DHA	2,110
Durham DHA	3,600
Calderdale DHA	24,941
Airedale DHA	800

Harefield Hospital Heart Transplant Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether payments by foreign nationals into the Harefield hospital heart transplant fund are fixed so as to cover the costs of the operation in question.(2) what are the main sources of income and items of expenditure of the Harefield hospital heart transplant fund in the last year for which figures are available;(3) by whose authority Harefield hospital carries out operations on foreign nationals in exchange for payments, fixed by the hospital, into the Harefield hospital heart transplant fund;

	(England figures as at 31 December except where shown otherwise)
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Number of opticians on the GOC Register
Ophthalmic opticians	4,883	4,925	5,013	5,033	5,086	5,165	5,221
Dispensing opticians	1,972	2,121	2,322	2,487	2,594	2,674	2,814
Number of enrolled bodies corporate on the GOC Register (UK figures as at 1 April)
Ophthalmic opticians	591	596	597	576	563	557	537
Dispensing opticians	95	95	95	95	91	95	99
Independent establishments in the GOS
Ophthalmic opticians	3,064	3,088	2,957	2,994	2,847	2,898	^*
Dispensing opticians	354	378	326	373	398	426	^*

(4) whether the heart-lung transplant performed at Harefield hospital on Brooke Matthews was subject to the charges for services provided For overseas visitors set out in his Department's circular HC(85)14.

Overseas patients who receive heart transplant surgery at Harefield hospital are asked to make a deposit to cover the expected full cost of their treatment and aftercare. In addition to the statutory charges made under section 65(2) of the National Health Service Act 1977, a donation is also requested to bring the total deposit up to the sum which the hospital calculates should cover the full cost of treatment for each procedure.This additional donation reflects the very high cost of the treatment compared to the charge and includes a substantial element in lieu of professional fees. If after the event it is found that the deposit does not reflect the final cost, adjustments may be made.The donation is made to the Harefield hospital heart transplant fund which in turn reimburses the health authority. These arrangements would not apply to European Community nationals referred for treatment under the provisions of the European Community Social Services Regulations, the terms of which require that patients accepted for treatment must be regarded as ordinary National Health Service patients. The arrangements were followed in the case of Brooke Matthews.The Harefield hospital transplant fund is an independent charitable trust set up to support and further research and development of the heart transplant programme. Our Department has no responsibility to oversee the trust's finances. However, I understand that in the current financial year the trust will donate up to a further £100,000 towards the programme's general nursing and equipment costs, with the emphasis on research and development.

Opticians

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of (a) ophthalmic opticians and (b) dispensing opticians in independent practice in each year since 1978;(2) if he will list the number of enrolled bodies corporate practising as

(a) ophthalmic opticians and (b) dispensing opticians in each year since 1978.

We do not have information in the form requested. The following table shows the numbers of opticians and enrolled bodies corporate registered with the General Optical Council and the number of practices providing services under the NHS general ophthalmic services. We do not have information about the numbers in other forms of practice.

	(England figures as at 31 December except where shown otherwise)
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Establishments of enrolled bodies corporate in the GOS
Ophthalmic opticians	1,482	1,504	1,518	1,547	1,630	1,675	^*
Dispensing opticians	532	524	568	557	535	536	^*
^*Not yet available.

Chrysoidine Dye

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet received the medical advice concerning the relationship between chrysoidine dye and urothelial cancer that he called for upon receiving the special case control study by Birmingham researchers; and if he will make a statement.

A sub-group of the Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has considered this study. We are still awaiting its advice.

Nhs (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent on each person resident in England in respect of National Health Service funding to England in each of the last five years.

National Health Service spending per head of population in England for the years 1980–81 to 1984–85 is as follows:

	£
1980–81	213
1981–82	238
1982–83	260
1983–84	275
1984–85	^*295
^*(estimated)

Retirement Pensions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has as to how many people do not receive a proportionate pension for service on retirement, due to a change of employment during their career;(2) what information he has as to the percentage of the pensionable population who do not receive a proportionate pension for service on retirement owing to a change in employment during their career.

Details of the number of people who do not receive a proportionate pension for service on retirement due to a change of employment during their career are not available. In his 1979 survey of occupational pensions schemes, the Government Actuary estimated an annual turnover of some 1 million scheme members, which is equivalent to about 10 per cent.The effect on eventual pension of people who change employment depends on the rules of the individual pension scheme. However, we accept that people who change jobs often lose in terms of their pension. That is why we have taken steps in the Social Security Bill to require schemes to revalue preserved pensions for future early leavers in line with prices up to 5 per cent. a year compound. We are also giving future early leavers the right to take a transfer if they prefer that to a preserved pension.

Dietary Diseases

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has received the results of the studies into the incidence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia conducted at Leeds and Edinburgh universities; and what guidance his Department issues about encouraging better balanced dietary behaviour to avoid these conditions;(2) when he expects to make a substantive reply to the question of the hon. Member for Harrow, East about the results of studies into the incidence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia conducted at Leeds and Edinburgh universities and guidance by his Department about encouraging better-balanced dietary behaviour to avoid these conditions.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1985, c. 55]: I am not sure which of the various studies of these conditions my hon. Friend has in mind. He may wish to let me have details. We have taken steps to encourage sensible eating habits, through the Health Education Council and by other means, and we are happy to consider any proposals for steps to prevent anorexia nervosa and bulimia—morbid conditions in which sufferers find themselves unable to eat sensibly.

Ressetlement Units

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many residents of his Department's resettlement units have been discharged from a mental hospital in each year since 1979.

It is not possible to obtain this information for the period January 1979 to February 1982 as some of the relevant, papers have been destroyed as a matter of routine. The remaining information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial support has been given by his Department to each of his Department's resettlement units during the past two years.

The gross amount of financial support given by the Department to each of its resettlement units and combined resettlement unit/re-establishment centres for the past two years is given in the table.

Unit	1983/84	1984/85
	£	£
Alvaston near Derby	371,200	388,000
Brighton	203,500	161,000
Crown Quay Lodge, Sittingbourne	376,200	362,300
Fazakerley near Liverpool	404,700	434,600

Unit	1983/84	1984/85
	£	£
Glasgow	495,700	536,700
Leeds	436,000	479,700
Leicester	452,900	444,300
Newbury	359,600	430,800
Plawsworth	500,500	524,500
Southampton	458,800	433,400
South Wales (Bridgend)	334,200	339,600
Walkden near Manchester	489,200	508,500
West Midlands (Stourbridge)	481,800	470,800
Winterbourne near Bristol	325,400	333,000
Woodhouse near Sheffield	437,800	471,390
Bridge House (North Kensington)	538,400	568,500
Camberwell	2,549,400	2,328,100
Camden	300,700	332,300
Cedars Lodge (Clapham SW4)	515,000	512,200
Lancelot Andrewes House (Southwark)	389,600	484,500
Pound Lodge (Willesden)	398,700	444,100
Spur House (Lewisham)	837,800	826,200
West End House (Soho)	554,000	622,300

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will allocate additional resources to local authorities to enable suitable alternative provisions to be made for those citizens who reside in his Department's resettlement units after the proposed closure.

The regional reviews presently being undertaken involve consultation not only with voluntary organisations but with local authorities and will consider the replacement provision in the light of their findings in a particular area. The review teams will consider proposals coming forward from both the voluntary sector and local authorities before making their recommendations. Details of funding arrangements cannot be finalised until the reports by the regional review teams have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of citizens who have been accommodated in resettlement units administered by his Department since 1979.

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

Health Service Commissioner (Report)

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to ensure that the cases of complaints of ill-treatment to elderly and physically and mentally-handicapped patients mentioned in the annual report of the Health Service Commissioner are thoroughly investigated.

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

Pay Awards

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the contributions which have been made by his Department in each year since 1979 towards doctors' and nurses' annual pay awards.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what methods he is presently examining for linking pay awarded to general practitioners with the quality of their performance and their services.

We are examining the structure of general practitioners' remuneration, but are not yet ready to put forward proposals.

Family Doctors (Services)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to give assistance to the Royal College of General Practitioners in determining proposals to improve the quality of family doctors' services.

We welcome the Royal College's constructive contribution to public discussion about the future arrangements for general practice. I am meeting representatives of the Royal College to discuss their ideas tomorrow.

Hospital Services (Privatisation)

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to invite chairmen of district and regional health authorities to discuss with him the effects which privatisation and contracting-out of hospital services have had on National Health Service manpower levels.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 23 May, at columns 544–45.

Great Ormond Street Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras about the cardiac block at Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children, originally down for answer on 27 June.

I hope to reply to the hon. Member later this week.

Board And Lodging

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state the estimated savings he expects in the first full year of operation from changes in the board and lodging regulations as they affect mentally handicapped people (a) in total, (b) for Scotland arid (c) for Edinburgh;(2) if he will estimate how much money will be saved in the first full year of operation from changes in the board and lodging regulations as they affect mentally handicapped people, as a result of

(a) changes in the maximum rents that can be charged, (b) abolishing the disability allowance for private nursing homes and residential care homes, (c) deducting the attendance allowances from claimants in nursing homes arid residential care homes and (d) reducing the personal allowance from £10·30 to £8·50 a week for new claimants and freezing current personal allowances at £10·30 until the £8·50 is updated to match it.

Estimates of savings in respect of the changes in the board and lodging regulations as they affect mentally handicapped people are not available separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from those concerned about changes in the board and lodging regulations as they affect the mentally handicapped.

We have received a number of representations from individuals and organisations, including Mencap, Mind, United Response, Care and The Enterprise Foundation for People with Mental Handicap.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received to date expressing concern at the new board and lodging allowances.

Since 29 April we have received about 600 letters from hon. Members and about 800 letters direct from individuals and organisations on the board and lodging changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of people who, since the introduction of the revised board and lodging regulations, have been obliged to leave board and lodgings and have subsequently not been able to obtain any other form of shelter; and if he will make a statement.

We have no evidence that claimants affected by the expiry of time limits on payment as boarders have been unable to make alternative arrangements to receive supplementary benefit as householders or non-householders or to obtain payment as boarders in other areas.

Occupational Deafness Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if employees in any occupation other than those listed in Leaflet NI207, "Occupational Deafness," are eligible for occupational deafness benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Leaflet NI207 lists all occupations covered by prescribed disease A10 "occupational deafness". A person may also qualify for industrial disablement benefit if deafness is caused by an accident at work.

Civil Servants (Ministerial Briefings)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis he selects the officials to brief him on particular topics; whether there are any civil servants specifically and personally debarred from briefing him on any matter; and if he will make a statement.

Meetings, whether for briefing or any other purpose, are held with those officials most appropriate to the meeting's purpose. There are no other considerations.

Health Authorities (Property Sales)

Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list in the Official Report which mental hospitals have been sold during the last five years; and what was the total amount received by his Department;(2) how much of the hospital land sold by regional health authorities during the last five years was in the green belt.

The information requested is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he has issued to regional health authorities concerning the use of money received by them from the sale of buildings or land formerly used for the care of mentally ill or handicapped patients who have been discharged into the community.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 12 July, at columns 566–67.

Central Bridging Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount available in the central bridging fund.

I explained quite clearly in the debate on 11 July at columns 1374–75, why I see no clear case for a central bridging fund at the moment. Indeed, I am not sure that the Select Committee had thought through in detail its proposals for such a fund in its latest report. However, I accept that Government and regional health authorities must continue to ensure that bridging finance for capital and revenue is made available for well planned local proposals to replace outdated hospital-based care for mentally ill, mentally handicapped or the very elderly patients with better community-based services.I have undertaken on many occasions to consider very carefully any applications for bridging finance from central funds if any such application is ever put to me by a health authority.

Schizophrenic Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to regional health authorities about facilities to be provided for the treatment of schizophrenic patients after the closure of long-stay mental hospitals.

Health authorities are well aware that there is a continuing need for long-term inpatient care for some patients, including some schizophrenic patients. Our policy paper, "Mental Illness: Policies for Prevention, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Care", says on this:

"Plans will be needed for suitable accommodation such as a hospital hostel along the lines discussed in the 1975 White Paper (para 4.54). DHSS has information on current studies in this field."

But the majority of people with schizophrenia already live at home, often with support from the psychiatric services (including admissions when necessary). We are anxious to improve the network of support for such people, and one of the projects in our "Helping the Community to Care" initiative is directed specifically to the need of people with schizophrenia.We have made it clear to health authorities that we regard it as urgent, irrespective of closure plans, that all districts should develop a local service offering both "hospital" and "non-hospital" care. The closure of some large mental illness hospitals will follow the build-up of local services.

Drug (Research Guidelines)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he has made to the approach by the British Medical Association to his Department about its proposals to set up an independent national committee to provide ethical guidelines for research ranging from drug trials to tests of techniques and treatment.

Our officials have met the British Medical Association informally to discuss these proposals. We have asked to be informed of the progress of the association's wider consultations with interested bodies.

Social Work (Emergency Cover)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report those social services authorities which do not provide emergency social work cover at weekends.

This information is not collected centrally.

Gas Cookers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the practice of his Department in advising claimants concerning the purchase of secondhand gas cookers when providing single payments to them.

Claimants are advised in accordance with paragraphs 7214–7215 of the S manual, a copy of which is in the Library. They are normally told the level of expenditure considered reasonable and asked to produce a supplier's estimate of the cost of the item they have located. They are also advised to obtain an appliance that has been checked and to have it installed by a suitably qualified person (for example, the gas board or an installer registered with the Confederation for Registration of Gas Installers).

Social Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which single payments currently payable under the supplementary benefit scheme will be met by the social fund by means of (a) grant or (b) loans for; clothing and footwear, baby items/bedding, furniture and household equipment, hire purchase debt for furniture and household goods, removal expenses, house repairs, redecoration, returnable deposit for accommodation, rent in advance, legal fees for renewal of a lease, survey fees, irregular housing costs, gardening costs, costs associated with seeking and starting work, fares to visit a relative in hospital or a home or in a domestic crisis or to visit a child when custody has not been decided, fuel debts, heating appliances, draught-proofing, hot water cylinder jackets, slot meter and reconnection charges, and payments where a claimant has been underpaid or to replace money spent from weekly living expenses.

The proposals for the social fund, as outlined in chapter 2, volume 2 of the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security", imply a different approach to help with special needs from the present single payments system as categorised by the hon. Member. We shall be giving further consideration to the circumstances where payments might be made from the social fund in the light of consultations on the Green Paper.

Family Income Supplement

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many two-parent families he estimates would be eligible to claim family income supplement if the number of qualifying hours were reduced from 30 hours to 24 hours;(2) what he estimates would be the effect on the number of eligible claimants for family income supplement of reducing the number of qualifying hours from 30 to 24.

One-parent families may qualify for family income supplement at present on the basis of remunerative work involving at least 24 hours weekly. If the qualifying hours for two-parent families were to be reduced from 30 hours to 24 hours weekly, we estimate that the number of families eligible for FIS would be increased by less than 10,000.

Severe Weather Payments

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if exceptionally severe weather payments are to be abolished as a result of his social security reviews;(2) what new arrangements he proposes to make for the calculation of exceptionally severe weather and payments to assist with heating bills in such weather for 1985–86.

As I made clear to the House on 12 March, at columns 129–31, the present arrangements are under review and we shall announce our conclusions before next winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid out in exceptionally severe weather payments in 1984–85; and how many claimants benefited.

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

Support Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what level of income support benefit will be payable to the families of those involved in trade disputes following the abolition of the non-householder supplementary benefit scale rage; and if he will make a statement.

We shall be giving further consideration to the implications of the proposed income support structure for the benefit position of those involved in a trade dispute.

Housing Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many housing benefit recipients receive less than £11 per week for (a) rent and rates and (b) rent only; and what proportion these people are of the total number of housing benefit recipients;(2) what number and proportion of housing benefit recipients receive below £1, £1–2, £2–3, £3–4, £4–5, £5–6, £6–7, £7–8, £8–9 and £10–11 per week respectively and what are their average earnings.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 June 1985, c. 366]: The information requested is estimated in the table.

The estimates for standard cases have been based on family expenditure survey data which have been updated and then adjusted to reflect the current global case load and expenditure levels indicated by local authority subsidy

Housing Benefit: Estimates of numbers of recipients by amount of benefit received
Great Britain
		Standard Cases			Certificated Cases
		Number (thousands)	Proportion of recipients (per cent.)	Average weekly income	Number (thousands)	Proportion of recipients (per cent.)
	Amount of benefit
	Less than £1	260	7	£85	25	1
	£l–£2	500	13	£85	95	3
	£2–£3	470	12	£75	130	4
	£3–£4	390	10	£70	125	4
	£4–£5	290	8	£65	110	4
	£5–£6	220	6	£65	95	3
	£6–£7	160	4	£70	85	3
	£7–£8	130	3	£65	65	2
	£8–£9	140	4	£65	55	2
	£9–£10	110	3	£65	65	2
	£10–£11	120	3	£55	65	2
	Total under£11	2·8 million	75	—	0·9 million	30
	Total under £11 for rent rebates and allowances only	1·7 million	80	—	0·8 million	30

Notes:

1. The estimate for standard cases relates to November 1984 but is based on family expenditure survey data for earlier years: that for certificated cases to December 1984.

2. The figures for average weekly income cover income from all sources including state benefits and savings, as many standard cases are not earners.

3. In all cases the percentages relate to the total number of recipients in that particular category.

4. Individual items do not necessarily add up to totals because of rounding. All figures should be treated as indicative estimates only.

Chiropody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the estimated cost of offering free chiropody services to one-armed war pensioners;(2) if he will introduce free chiropody services for one-armed war pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1985, c. 56–57]: Chiropody is already available free under the National Health Service and all disabled people are given priority. We are considering the case for providing private chiropody for war pensioner arm amputees when their need for treatment cannot be met through the National Health Service. The cost of doing so is estimated to be in the region of £31,000.

Mentally Handicapped People

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) for each district health authority and for each regional health authority, what is the number of young people between the ages of 16 and 19 years living in long-stay mental handicap hospitals; and for each authority what is the number living in units of (a) 25 or more beds, (b) under 25 beds;(2) for each district health authority and for each regional health authority what is the number of children claims. All the estimates are subject to error, the individual breakdowns should therefore be treated as orders of magnitude only.in long-stay mental handicap hospitals; and for each authority what is the number living in units of

(a) 25 or more beds, (b) under 25 beds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for each district health authority and each regional health authority, what is the number of children on short-term placements in long-stay mental handicap hospitals; and for each authority what is the number in units of (a) 25 or more beds and (b) under 25 beds.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1985, c. 374]: The table shows numbers of children and young people in mental handicap hospitals and units at 31 December 1983. They include those in small National Health Service units in the community, and those in slightly larger specialist local units for children and young people. The figures also include children and young people admitted for a few weeks, or an even shorter period, for short-term care or assessment; and those who spend part of their time at home and part in National Health Service care. Separate figures are not available centrally for these separate categories.The table gives numbers of young people aged 16–18 which are the nearest available figures to the 16–19 age range requested. The Department's annual publication "Inpatient statistics from the mental health enquiry for England", copies of which are in the Library, does include national figures for residents by age and certain durations of stay.

Residents at 31 December 1983 in mental handicap hospitals and units in England
	Mental handicap hospitals and units
Regional and District Health Authority	All No. of residents		Less than 25 beds No. of residents		25 or more beds No. of residents
	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years
Northern Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	90	93	—	—	90	93
Hartlepool	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Tees	6	6	—	—	6	6
South Tees	—	—	—	—	—	—
East Cumbria	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Cumbria	—	—	—	—	—	—
West Cumbria	9	10	—	—	9	10
Darlington	12	16	—	—	12	16
Durham	37	22	—	—	37	22
North West Durham	—	—	—	—	—	—
South West Durham	—	—	—	—	—	—
Northumberland	26	39	—	—	26	39
Gateshead	—	—	—	—	—	—
Newcastle	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Tyneside	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Tyneside	—	—	—	—	—	—
Sunderland	—	—	—	—	—	—
Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	98	96	—	—	98	96
Hull	21	9	—	—	21	9
East Yorkshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
Grimsby	—	—	—	—	—	—
Scunthorpe	8	8	—	—	8	8
Northallerton	—	—	—	—	—	—
York	14	12	—	—	14	12
Scarborough	—	—	—	—	—	—
Harrogate	—	1	—	—	—	1
Bradford	11	18	—	—	11	18
Airedale	1	1	—	—	1	1
Calderdale	6	14	—	—	6	14
Huddersfield	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dewsbury	—	—	—	—	—	—
Leeds Western	—	—	—	—	—	—
Leeds Eastern	20	12	—	—	20	12
Wakefield	17	21	—	—	17	21
Pontefract	—	—	—	—	—	—
Trent Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	123	199	28	8	95	191
North Derbyshire	13	6	12	3	1	3
Southern Derbyshire	16	12	—	—	16	12
Leicestershire	20	14	—	—	20	14
North Lincolnshire	16	32	—	—	16	32
South Lincolnshire	2	3	—	—	2	3
Bassetlaw	6	2	6	2	—	—
Central Nottinghamshire	8	23	—	—	8	23
Nottingham	16	10	—	—	16	10
Barnsley	—	—	—	—	—	—
Doncaster	1	5	—	—	1	5
Rotherham	12	80	—	—	12	80
Sheffield	13	12	10	3	3	9
East Anglian Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	56	45	—	—	56	45
Cambridge	19	11	—	—	19	11
Peterborough	7	7	—	—	7	7
West Suffolk	—	3	—	—	—	3
East Suffolk	8	8	—	—	8	8
Norwich	16	15	—	—	16	15
Great Yarmouth	5	1	—	—	5	1
West Norfolk and Wisbech	1	—	—	—	1	—

Mental handicap hospitals and units
Regional and District Health Authority	All		Less than 25 beds		25 or more beds
	No. of residents		No. of residents		No. of residents
	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years
Huntingdon	—	—	—	—	—	—
North West Thames Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	61	89	6	14	55	75
North Bedfordshire	5	9	—	—	5	9
South Bedfordshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Hertfordshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
East Hertfordshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
North West Hertfordshire	37	33	—	—	37	33
South West Hertfordshire	8	25	—	—	8	25
Barnet	5	7	—	—	5	7
Harrow	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hillingdon	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hounslow and Spelthorne	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ealing	—	—	—	—	—	—
Brent	6	14	6	13	—	1
Paddington and North Kensington	—	1	—	1	—	—
Hammersmith and Fulham	—	—	—	—	—	—
Victoria	—	—	—	—	—	—
North East Thames Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	61	75	—	1	61	74
Basildon and Thurrock	8	17	—	—	8	17
Mid Essex	5	9	—	—	5	9
North East Essex	25	32	—	—	25	32
West Essex	—	—	—	—	—	—
Southend	—	—	—	—	—	—
Barking, Havering and Brentwood	7	6	—	—	7	6
Hampstead	—	—	—	—	—	—
Bloomsbury	—	—	—	—	—	—
Islington	—	—	—	—	—	—
City and Hackney	—	1	—	1	—	—
Newham	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tower Hamlets	—	—	—	—	—	—
Enfield	12	3	—	—	12	3
Haringey	—	—	—	—	—	—
Redbridge	—	—	—	—	—	—
Waltham Forest	4	7	—	—	4	7
South East Thames Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	108	79	16	—	92	79
Brighton	8	11	—	—	8	11
Eastbourne	—	2	—	—	—	2
Hastings	5	6	—	—	5	6
South East Kent	17	2	—	—	17	2
Canterbury and Thanet	9	16	—	—	9	16
Dartford and Gravesham	6	6	—	—	6	6
Maidstone	—	—	—	—	—	—
Medway	16	—	16	—	—	—
Tunbridge Wells	5	9	—	—	5	9
Bexley	—	—	—	—	—	—
Greenwich	24	14	—	—	24	14
Bromley	18	11	—	—	18	11
West Lambeth	—	—	—	—	—	—
Camberwell	—	—	—	—	—	—
Lewisham and North Southwark	—	2	—	—	—	2
South West Thames Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	80	119	14	18	66	101
North West Surrey	7	13	—	—	7	13
West Surrey and North East Hampshire	—	1	—	—	—	1
South West Surrey	—	—	—	—	—	—
Mid Surrey	5	11	—	—	5	11
East Surrey	11	16	—	—	11	16
Chichester	—	—	—	—	—	—

Mental handicap hospitals and units
Regional and District Health Authority	All		Less than 25 beds		25 or more beds
	No. of residents		No. of residents		No. of residents
	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years
Mid Downs	16	5	—	—	16	5
Worthing District	—	6	—	—	—	6
Croydon	6	5	—	—	6	5
Kingston and Esher	—	—	—	—	—	—
Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton	1	1	—	—	1	1
Wandsworth	—	9	—	—	—	9
Merton and Sutton	34	52	14	18	20	34
Wesse.x Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	180	93	34	15	146	78
East Dorset	38	6	—	2	38	4
West Dorset	24	7	—	—	24	7
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire	59	26	14	4	45	22
Southampton and South West Hampshire	20	24	1	5	19	19
Winchester	—	—	—	—	—	—
Basingstoke and North Hampshire	5	2	5	—	—	2
Salisbury	14	3	14	3	—	—
Swindon	9	16	—	—	9	16
Bath District	—	—	—	—	—	—
Isle of Wight	11	9	—	1	11	8
Oxford Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	92	63	7	3	85	60
East Berkshire	16	18	—	—	16	18
West Berkshire	20	8	—	—	20	8
Aylesbury Vale	10	12	—	—	10	12
Wycombe	—	—	—	—	—	—
Milton Keynes	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kettering	7	3	7	3	—	—
Northampton	29	18	—	—	29	18
Oxfordshire	10	4	—	—	10	4
South Western Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	116	112	72	38	44	74
Bristol and Weston	10	4	—	—	10	4
Frenchay	14	31	—	—	14	31
Southmead	6	8	—	—	6	8
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	37	12	37	12	—	—
Exeter	12	21	12	15	—	6
North Devon	—	1	—	1	—	—
Plymouth	13	10	—	—	13	10
Torbay	16	2	16	1	—	1
Cheltenham	—	1	—	1	—	—
Gloucester	7	8	7	8	—	—
Somerset	1	14	—	—	1	14
West Midland Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	122	119	26	10	96	109
Bromsgrove and Redditch	—	—	—	—	—	—
Herefordshire	8	4	8	3	—	1
Kidderminster and District	23	43	—	—	23	—
Worcester and District	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shropshire	—	2	—	2	—	—
Mid Staffordshire	3	—	3	—	—	—
North Staffordshire	14	12	—	—	14	12
South East Staffordshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
Rugby	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Warwickshire	12	11	5	2	7	9
South Warwickshire	8	1	—	—	8	1
Central Birmingham	—	—	—	—	—	—
East Birmingham	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Birmingham	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Birmingham	—	1	—	—	—	1
West Birmingham	—	—	—	—	—	—

Mental handicap hospitals and units
Regional and District Health Authority	All		Less than 25 beds		25 or more beds
	No. of residents		No. of residents		No. of residents
	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years	Under 16 years	16–18 years
Coventry	10	3	10	3	—	—
Dudley	15	7	—	—	15	7
Sandwell	—	—	—	—	—	—
Solihull	4	3	—	—	4	3
Walsall	25	32	—	—	25	32
Wolverhampton	—	—	—	—	—	—
Mersey Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	36	50	—	1	36	49
Chester	—	—	—	—	—	—
Crewe	9	15	—	1	9	14
Halton	7	15	—	—	7	15
Macclesfield	—	—	—	—	—	—
Warrington	4	6	—	—	4	6
Liverpool (Central and Southern)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Liverpool (Eastern)	11	9	—	—	11	9
St. Helens and Knowsley	—	—	—	—	—	—
Southport and Formby	4	3	—	—	4	3
South Sefton	—	—	—	—	—	—
Wirral	1	2	—	—	1	2
North Western Regional Health Authority
Regional Health Authority Total	51	75	23	6	28	69
Lancaster	8	16	—	—	8	16
Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde	—	—	—	—	—	—
Preston	—	—	—	—	—	—
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley	9	19	5	—	4	19
Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale	6	22	2	—	4	22
West Lancashire	8	4	—	—	8	4
Chorley and South Ribble	—	—	—	—	—	—
Bolton	3	1	3	1	—	—
Bury	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Manchester	—	—	—	—	—	—
Central Manchester	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Manchester	—	—	—	—	—	—
Oldham	—	—	—	—	—	—
Rochdale	8	4	8	4	—	—
Salford	4	8	—	—	4	8
Stockport	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tameside and Glossop	5	1	5	1	—	—
Trafford	—	—	—	—	—	—
Wigan	—	—	—	—	—	—

Social Security Review

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will expand on the description of claimants who have no recent links with the United Kingdom given in paragraph 2.87 of Cmnd. 9518;(2) whether the presence test mentioned in paragraph 2.87 of the Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security", Cmnd. 9518, will exclude claimants who have gone abroad for long periods to visit or care for relatives;(3) whether the presence test mentioned in paragraph 2.87 of the Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security", Cmnd. 9518, will include a reference to a claimant's immigration status.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 July 1985, c. 535]: We are considering the details of the proposed presence test. In doing so we shall have regard to the characteristics of the tests which operate already for benefits such as child benefit, attendance allowance and mobility allowance, and how these tests apply to particular groups of beneficiaries.

Kidney Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that no treatment to kidney patients on dialysis or for kidney transplants are denied medication on the ground of cost; if he will indicate the steps he has taken to reduce the cost of proprietary drugs; if he will give the names of the drugs concerned; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: It is for health authorities, on the advice of patients' clinicians, to decide which medication is to be made available. We do not control the initial pricing of drugs when launched, but subsequent price changes are governed by the extent of the manufacturer's allowed profitability on sales of medicines to the National Health Service under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. I understand that Sandoz Products Limited, the manufacturer of cyclosporin, a drug used extensively in the treatment of patients who have received an organ transplant, have stated that it does not intend to apply for departmental approval to increase the price of this product during 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of kidney patients awaiting transplants; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: The number of renal patients in the United Kingdom registered at the United Kingdom transplant service as awaiting a kidney transplant on 30 June 1985 was 3,043. Virtually all of these patients will already be receiving dialysis. Numbers continue to rise despite record numbers of kidney transplant operations performed in 1983 and 1984, since more renal patients have been accepted for treatment by dialysis, and as improvements in surgical and immunosuppressive techniques have meant that more renal patients can be referred as suitable for transplantation. There is a pressing need for more kidneys for transplantation, and the Government are grateful to all those who are helping to publicise this need at present.

Kidney Donors

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is considering additional action, apart from the current campaign, to increase the number of kidney donors; if he will indicate the current supply of kidney organs and the possible expansion of the supply of such organs; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: New initiatives to promote the organ donor card and to increase the number of donor organs becoming available for transplantation are being taken all the time; for example, several of the major clearing banks and building societies have recently agreed to display posters and dispense cards.I am advised that on certain occasions a constraining factor may be the reluctance of some doctors to initiate donation procedures, and the Chief Medical Officer has recently written to the directors of renal transplant units asking them to review their relationships with those hospital departments within their catchment areas which are most likely to have potential organ donors.The number of kidney transplant operations performed in the United Kingdom during the first six months of this year, according to provisional data supplied by the United Kingdom Transplant Service, was 643, and our efforts to increase the supply of donor kidneys are continuing.

The Arts

Exhibitions (Insurance)

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what progress has been made in the discussions between the Minister for the Arts and the chairman of the trustees of the Tate Gallery regarding the difference of interpretation over the indemnity insurance provisions for exhibitions on loan from national collections; and whether the Minister has received any assurances that the Tate Gallery will permit the Kessler collection to be exhibited in Leicester shortly.

My noble Friend the Minister for the Arts is consulting the chairman of the trustees of the Tate Gallery on this matter. He hopes that it will swiftly be resolved.

Civil Service

Private Security Companies (Contracts)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list all the current contracts between Government Departments and private security companies.

This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Business Appointments

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the practice of his Department in applying to admirals of the Fleet, field marshals and marshals of the Royal Air Force, who remain on the active list, the rule that Crown servants are free to accept certain business appointments without official permission two years after their retirement.

Admirals of the Fleet, field marshals and marshals of the Royal Air Force are subject to the rules governing the acceptance of outside appointments in the same way as other Crown servants to whom the rules apply. Whilst they remain on the active list and for two years after their names are removed from that list, they are required to seek the Government's approval before taking up any outside appointments.

Northern Ireland

Orange Marches

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from Mr. Tom Walsh of the Gaelic Athletic Association concerning Orangemen marches in Catholic areas in the Province; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I received a letter from Mr. Walsh on 10 July. I also received copies of it from two hon. Members, including the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry), My private secretary will be writing to Mr. Walsh shortly and I shall arrange for both hon. Members to receive a copy of the reply.

Down Royal Racecourse

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid from the horse racing fund to Down Royal racecourse in each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

	£
1980–81	28,490
1981–82	41,080
1982–83	24,875
1983–84	22,340
1984–85	70,000

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what has been the amount of grant aid paid to Down Royal racecourse by the Department of Agriculture in each of the last five years;(2) to what extent the Department of Agriculture has grant aided prize money for Down Royal racecourse in each of the last five years.

The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has paid grant aid to Down Royal racecourse as follows:

	£
1980–81	49,050
1981–82	50,410
1982–83	5,485
1983–84	1,925
1984–85	95,810

Of this, £39,945 in 1984–85 was towards prize money.

National Finance

Mortgage Interest Relief

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the current tax cost in mortgage interest relief of each 1 per cent. increase in interest rates.

The direct revenue cost of mortgage interest relief from a 1 percentage point increase in mortgage interest rates would be about £350 million at current levels of lending, if the increase were to apply for a full year.

Rates

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the figures showing domestic rate payments as a percentage of personal disposable income in (a) the latest year for which figures are available, (b) five years earlier and (c) 10 years earlier.

Estimates of domestic rate payments net of rate rebates in the United Kingdom as a proportion of total personal disposable income are as follows for the financial years 1974–75, 1979–80, 1984–85:

	Per cent.
1974–75	1·9
1979–80	2·0
1984–85	2·3

Sources: Department of the Environment Central Statistical Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the figures showing rates as a proportion of total taxation in (a) the latest year for which figures are available, (b) five years earlier and (c) 10 years earlier.

Local authority rates as a proportion of total general Government taxation (including national insurance, and so on, contributions) was as follows:

	Per cent.
1974–75	10·2
1979–80	9·6
1984–85^*	10·5

^* Provisional.

Source: Financial Statistics June 1985 edition and CSO Databank.

Capital Goods Exports

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he proposes to consult the financial community on mechanisms for providing soft loans for capital goods exports; and what time scale is envisaged.

Consultations between officials of various Departments and the Bank of England and representatives of the financial community, are now taking place.

Infrastructure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about increased spending on the infrastructure.

Several.

Tax Allowance

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of single transferable tax allowance which could be funded in 1985–86 on a revenue neutral basis, assuming separate taxation of investment as well as earned income, abolition of wife's earned income allowance, of the age allowance and of the additional person allowance, and that the category B wife's pension would be taxed as belonging to the wife.

The resulting fully transferable personal allowance would be about £2,260.

Personal Allowance

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost in the present financial year of the additional personal allowance.

The estimated direct revenue cost of the additional personal allowance is £150 million at 1985–86 levels of income.

Sterling Divergence

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his written reply dated 5 July concerning the exchange rate between the £ sterling and the ecu, whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each month since March 1983 the average movement of the sterling divergence indicators.

The information requested is in the table:

£ divergence indicator^—monthly averages since March 1983*
	1983	1984	1985
January		-147	321
February		-90	276
March	425	30	146
April	-236	61	-19
May	-218	-3	-76
June	-101	49	-121
July	-100	73
August	-174	31
September	-150	21

£ divergence indicator^—monthly averages since March 1983*
	1983	1984	1985
October	-78	97
November	-146	130
December	-124	178
^* The divergence indicator is calculated by expressing the ecu's premium or discount against sterling (that is 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.) if it were a normal member of the mechanism.

Building Societies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received in connection with the publication of the Green Paper, "Building Societies: A New Framework", concerning the practice of certain building societies of making advances out of their funds for purposes not connected with house purchase or home improvement; and if he will make it his policy to include in his proposed new legislation a code of practice to ensure fair competition for any extension of building society powers;(2) what representations he has received in connection with the publication of the Green Paper, "Building Societies: A New Framework", concerning the evidence that building societies obtain from borrowers that loans made by means of a second charge are for home improvement or purposes reasonably incidental to it; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that his proposed new legislation will include a requirement for societies to satisfy the Inland Revenue that loans qualifying for tax relief under MIRAS are for mortgages of freehold or leasehold estate and home improvement purposes only.

I have received a number of representations about building societies lending for purposes other than house purchase or improvement. The Government have announced that they intend to bring the treatment of lending institutions under the Consumer Credit Act into line, but a final decision on how best to achieve this has not yet been taken.There have also been some representations on the evidence societies obtain on the purpose of loans. Loans are eligible for tax relief under MIRAS only if made for purchase or improvement of the main residence of the borrower (or his divorced or separated spouse or dependent relative or if they are made to a person over 65 for the purchase of a life annuity secured on his main residence). The borrower is already required under existing law to certify that his loan meets the conditions for tax relief.

Retirement Pensions

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present pension of a person who retired from (a) local government and (b) other sectors of public service immediately after the index-linked pension system became operative whose salary at that time was £3,000, £4,000, £5,000, £6,000, £7,000 and £10,000 respectively.

Since the size of a pension depends not only on final salary but on length of service it is not possible to answer the question as put. However, the annual pension of a public servant who retired on 27 July 1971, the date of Royal Assent of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, would now be roughly 4½ times larger in cash terms than when it was first awarded.For example, a local government officer who retired in July 1971 on a salary of £3,000 after a full career of 40 years' service would have received an original pension of £1,500 and would now be receiving a pension of £6,860. If his pensionable service had been, say, 20 years, his original pension would have been £750 and would now be £3,430. The comparable figures where the final salary was £10,000 would, for an individual with 40 years' service, be £5,000 in 1971 and £22,860 now; and for the individual with 20 years' service, £2,500 in 1971 and £11,430 now.The position for civil servants, NHS staff, teachers and members of the armed forces would be broadly the same as for local government staff. The pension of police and firemen would also be broadly the same assuming that they exercised the option of commuting a quarter of their pension into a lump sum.

Deeds Of Covenant

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost in 1985–86 of the tax relief on (a) charitable deeds of covenant and (b) non-charitable deeds of covenant.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Nationalised Industries (Annual Reports)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which nationalised industries present their annual accounts on a current cost basis and which on an historic cost basis; and whether it is his policy to secure a greater degree of uniformity.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

European Monetary System

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change in circumstances triggers a change in the central rate of currencies forming the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

Exchange market pressures requiring an adjustment of central rates can stem from a number of sources. These include, in particular, the degree of convergence of economic performance and policies as regards inflation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the central rate of the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system (a) in September 1984 and (b) currently; and what change has taken place in the £ sterling's relationship to it in that period.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 July 1985, at column 174.

Early-Leavers Entitlements

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to introduce fiscal incentives to encourage pension organisations to preserve and revalue early-leaver entitlements.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue is lost by (a) wife's earnings election and (b) wife's earnings allowance;(2) what would be the estimated cost to the Exchequer of raising the married and single personal allowances to £4,500 and £2,250, respectively; and how much of this would represent a parallel increase in the wife's earnings allowance.(3) how much revenue is raised through income tax on the difference between the relevant personal allowance and

(a) £4,500 for a married person and (b) £2,250 for a single person.

(4) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the estimated cost of wife's earnings allowance by tax unit income bands in the current financial year.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue is brought in by value added tax and stamp duty on the various transactions involved in buying and selling houses and other living accommodation.

The stamp duty on residential property is estimated to have raised £290 million in 1984–85. I regret that a meaningful estimate of theVAT on such transactions cannot be given.

Average Earnings

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax payers there are who are on average or below average earnings.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Johnson Matthey Bankers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the role played by Mr. Michael Hepker, chairman of Sumrie Clothes, Leeds in the events leading to the collapse of the Johnson Matthey Bankers; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the role played by Mr. Michael Hepker, chairman of Sumrie Clothes plc, Leeds, in the events leading up to the collapse of Johnson Matthey Bankers; and if he will make a statement.

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

Tax Files

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the repository of files from Bradford tax districts is being moved from Bradford to Leeds; what type of accommodation is required for storing files; how many premises in Bradford were considered; when the repository in Leeds will open; whether it is intended that this facility will be used permanently; how long a repository for tax files has been located in Bradford; what manpower implications result from re-locating the repository in Leeds; and what is the cost of establishing the repository in Leeds.

The Bradford repository, used since 1970, has a number of unsatisfactory features, including asbestos problems. The files will be moved permanently to an ideally suitable and readily available light industrial Crown building in Leeds in March 1986. It is therefore unnecessary to consider alternative accommodation in Bradford. Six jobs will go to Leeds. The cost of establishing the Leeds repository will be around £575,000.

Public Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's latest policy on public expenditure on the social, welfare, housing services and the infrastructure.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1985, c. 150]: It remains the Government's policy to direct resources, within the overall spending totals, taking account of their priorities and commitments and the effectiveness with which they are used.

North Sea Oil Revenue

Short asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total contribution of yields from North sea oil to the United Kingdom's gross domestic product in each financial year since 1979–80.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1985, c. 150]: The information is set out in the table.

Contribution of North sea oil and gas to GDP
	£ billion 1980
1979–80	8·9
1980–81	9·1
1981–82	9·9
1982–83	11·5
1983–84	12·5
1984–85	13·1

Transport

Bus Services

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to increase central grants to local authority transport services, following the Government's response to the Transport Committee report on buses.

No.

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about his response to the Transport Committee's report on buses; and if he will make a statement.

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received about the response to the Transport Committee's report on buses.

To date I have received only one representation about the Government's response to the Transport Committee's report on the White Paper "Buses".

London Regional Transport

12.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received from London Regional Transport for reductions in the scale of the London underground network.

I have received no such proposals.

Rail Engineering Works (Swindon)

14.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the implications for his rail policy of the proposed closure of the British Rail engineering works at Swindon.

I have received 26 representations from those personally affected.

Severn Crossing

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the latest progress of the feasibility study into the building of a second Severn crossing.

Detailed work is in hand and consultations are being held on the options for the two corridors about which my right hon. Friend informed the House on 1 April 1985. We expect the study to be completed by the target date of August 1986.

St Pancras-Sheffield Line

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to discuss the timekeeping of trains on the St. Pancras-Sheffield line with the chairman of the British Railways Board.

Responsibility for the punctuality of services on individual lines lies with the British Rail. However, my right hon. Friend and the chairman have discussed train punctuality and the chairman has described the measures the board is taking to achieve the punctuality standards the board has set. If the hon. Member has a specific complaint about services on the line, I suggest he takes the matter up with the chairman in the first instance.

Roads (East Dorset)

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on road developments in east Dorset.

The only road in east Dorset for which I am responsible is the A31-A35 trunk road. In recent years we have provided bypasses along this road for Wimborne (1981) and Bere Regis (1982). Work is in progress on a bypass of Ferndown, and the recently published roads report lists four further schemes which are in preparation.

Transport Bill

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the Transport Bill; and of these, how many were in favour and how many against.

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received seeking changes in the provisions of the Transport Bill.

Since the Transport Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 11 June, I have received around 400 representations the majority of which seek assurance or express anxiety about various aspects of the Bill. In most cases I hope my replies will have reassured those concerned.

M1 Repairs

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further repairs to the M1 motorway are expected during the second six months of the current year.

Four major renewal schemes are programmed to be carried out on the M1 in the second half of this year. One, the junction 8 scheme, finished on 11 July, five days ahead of schedule. The other three will be in Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire. There will in addition be minor repairs taking place from time to time.

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of the effect on traffic flows at junction 8 of the M1 in the first two weeks of July of his Department's recent publicity campaign regarding the repair works being carried out there.

The two-way traffic flow through junction 8 was reduced by over 40,000 vehicles per 16-hour day during the critical period of the works, undoubtedly as a result of our publicity campaign and the other measures adopted.

National Bus Company

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of the National Bus Company to discuss the future of the National Bus Company pension fund.

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of the National Bus Company to discuss the future of the National Bus Company pension fund.

This was one of the matters I discussed with the chairman at our meeting on 11 June.

Basildon (Signposting)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further progress there has been in the placing of road signs to Basildon on major roads throughout Essex and on the M25.

Specifications for signs to Basildon on the M25, the A127 and the A1089 trunk roads are now being prepared prior to their manufacture. I hope they will all be erected within the next three months.

Bus Services (Thurrock)

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the possible deregulation of bus services in Thurrock; and if he will make a statement.

I have made no specific assessment of the effects of deregulation in Thurrock, but I have no reason to doubt that competition will benefit bus passengers in Thurrock as it will elsewhere in the country.

Roads (Maintenance)

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will withdraw the code of practice for the maintenance of trunk roads and motorways issued by his Department earlier this year.

No. The introduction of the code of practice is an important step towards obtaining consistent and safe maintenance standards and best value from the funds available for routine maintenance on the national road network. Improvements to the code will be made as experience is gained.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker), intends to reply to the letter to her from the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, dated 20 May, regarding the code of practice for routine maintenance of motorways and all purpose trunk roads.

I have written to my hon. Friend today.

Tyne And Wear Metro

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his officials have yet met representatives of the Tyne and Wear county council to discuss the metro, following his undertaking to that effect to the Transport Committee.

Discussions between officials of my Department and those of Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive are continuing.

Blackwater Valley Route

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to designate the Blackwater Valley route a trunk road.

I have no plans to intervene in the preparation of this scheme by Hampshire and Surrey county councils.

Channel Tunnel (Rail Links)

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with European Transport Ministers on high speed rail links through a possible Channel tunnel.

In discussions with the French Transport Minister, Monsieur Auroux, in connection with the Channel fixed link I have made it clear that, while through rail links are primarily a question for negotiation between the railway administrations concerned and the promoters of the fixed link,. I would welcome any commercially viable arrangement which could be reached.

British Rail (Purchasing Policy)

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise the subject of British Rail's purchasing policies.

I meet the chairman of British Rail regularly to discuss a wide range of matters of mutual interest, including the board's purchasing policy when appropriate.

British Airports Authority (Stansted Airport)

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has held any discussions with the British Airports Authority about extending its powers to purchase property severely affected by his decision to allow the expansion of Stansted airport; and if he will make a statement.

The BAA's powers of acquisition are limited to land which is or might be needed for airport purposes. But once the BAA is reconstituted as a Companies Act company in preparation for privatisation it will be able to acquire properties by agreement with the owners without such restrictions. Moreover, as the White Paper on airports policy (Cmnd. 9542) states, the Government are considering whether owners of properties blighted by aircraft noise should be able to require an airport authority to purchase them.

European Road Safety Year

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for European Road Safety Year.

We shall use the year to highlight road safety initiatives in the field of legislation and research. Our publicity programme, and the efforts of other bodies, will be designed to increase public awareness of road safety problems in this country and abroad. We are still considering detailed possibilities, but I hope to increase our publicity efforts and in particular to encourage closer liaison between all the agencies involved and to bring in private sector sponsorship of road safety activities. Plans are also being developed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Rail Engineering Industry

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from staff at the Glasgow works of British Rail Engineering Limited concerning the future of the United Kingdom rail engineering industry.

Since the beginning of the year we have received four letters about the future of BREL's Glasgow works, including one from an employee. Also, a group of BR and BREL trade unionists recently raised the matter with me. In each case I explained that this was a matter for management decision by BREL and the British Railways Board.

European Community (Cabotage)

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which European Economic Community countries, apart from the United Kingdom, allow competitive access to their coastal shipping, cabotage trades.

Apart from the United Kingdom only Belgium, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and, in practice, Denmark allow such access. This is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs which I am pursuing urgently in bilateral discussions with EC Ministers. Discussions are also taking place within the Community on a proposal from the Commission which would have the effect of ensuring mutual competitive access to all member states' cabotage trades.

Rail Electrification (North Wales)

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any proposal from British Rail to electrify the north Wales main line, or any other connecting service to the west coast main line.

No.

British Rail (Investment)

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total authorised level of investment for British Rail over the next five years; and how this compares with the period 1974 to 1979.

The British Railways Board's 1984 corporate plan includes a five-year investment programme from 1985–86 worth £2·2 billion (at 1984–85 prices). Individual schemes are authorised as they reach an appropriate stage. During the five years from 1974 to 1978 inclusive, BRB invested £903 million, which is equivalent to £2·08 billion at 1984–85 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss future investment.

I frequently meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (Operator's Licences)

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the rules for local residents raising objections to applications for heavy goods vehicles operator's licences.

Since the provisions allowing local residents to make representations about applications for

	Western Traffic Area			Great Britain
Calendar Year	Tests Conducted	Number Passed	Per cent.	Tests Conducted	Number Passed	Per cent.
1980	135,155	68,299	50·53	1,962,034	927,795	47·29
1981	105,877	51,131	48·29	2,031,225	966,845	47·60
1982	138,554	69,632	50·26	2,005,296	965,036	48·12
1983	138,975	70,494	50·72	1,892,315	921,008	48·67
1984	140,327	71,276	50·79	1,784,112	875,432	49·07

Trinity House (Overseas Work)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the amount of work on behalf of Trinity House placed with overseas shipyards in the last three years; what information he has as to the reasons for such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

On 15 July with the consent of my right hon. Friend, Trinity House signed a contract with Hyundai of Korea for the construction of a lighthouse tender at a total cost then estimated at £9·6 million. Hyundai's price was £5 million below the lowest UK bid, which far exceeded the support that could be offered from the shipbuilding intervention fund. The whole cost of the vessel falls on the general lighthouse fund, which is private goods vehicle operator licences came into effect in June 1984 we have received comments on various aspects of the system. As part of the review we are about to undertake of the way the provisions are working, we shall consider these comments and also seek the views of interested organisations.

Unlicensed Vehicles (Bromley)

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any assessment of the results of the campaign against unlicensed and abandoned vehicles in the London borough of Bromley, launched by his Department in collaboration with the Bromley borough council in April; how many cases of unlicensed vehicles were referred for prosecution during the period of the campaign; and how many vehicles were removed from the streets during the same period.

The campaign against unlicensed and abandoned vehicles in the London borough of Bromley resulted in the collection of more than £61,000 in additional voluntary relicensing. Reports on over 700 unlicensed or abandoned vehicles were received, 200 cases have so far been referred for prosecution, five cases are the subject of removal notices by the local authority and investigations into the remainder are continuing.

Driving Test

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate for the last five years the number taking the driving test at the Truro centre and the number passing; and what were the national average figures for the same period.

For Truro alone the only readily available information is that in the year 14 July 1984 to 6 July 1985, 4,114 tests were conducted and 2,143 candidates passed—a pass rate of 52 per cent. The following information relates to the western traffic area, in which Truro lies, and Great Britain.money for which my right hon. Friend is publicly accountable. We decided it would be incompatible with our responsibility for the fund to secure less than the best value for money obtainable. Fifty-six per cent. of the value of the content of the vessel will be procured in the United Kingdom. With the exception of the contract with Hyundai, Trinity House has placed no work with overseas shipyards in the last three years.

Motorways (Surfaces)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet decided whether concrete or tar surfaces are most cost beneficial for use on motorways; and what are the reasons for this choice.

It is not possible to make a general decision on which material is the more cost beneficial. Either of these materials can give equally good performance, although their relative merits may depend on the particular requirements of the scheme in question. For those reasons the Department usually allows for a choice of design and accepts the lowest tender, whether it be for concrete or bituminous materials or a combination of the two. Design standards are revised and updated in the light of information on performance and the results of research and development.

M3 (Extension)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the public inquiry into the extension of the M3 motorway from Bar End to the Chilworth roundabout to be completed and the inspector's report to be available to him.

I understand that the inspector hopes to complete the inquiry early next month. The timing of the submission of the report is a matter for the inspector, but, on the basis of experience of other inquiries, I would hope to receive it within about three to six months of the close of the inquiry.

Air Travel Reserve Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has received to the consultations on the future of the air travel reserve fund; and when he expects to announce his conclusions.

I have been very encouraged by the response. There is widespread support in favour of changes to the present arrangements for protecting air package holidaymakers. I hope to announce very shortly my conclusions on the consultations.

Vehicles (Roadworthiness)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what tests are done to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles leaving the United Kingdom;(2) what regulations govern the roadworthiness of coaches leaving the United Kingdom, the competence of the drivers and the safety of the passengers, over and above those required for driving in the United Kingdom.

We do not impose special regulations or tests on vehicles or drivers leaving the United Kingdom, and know of no other country which does so.

Marques

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the vessel the Marques was given a load-line certificate of exemption by his Department without his Department surveying the vessel.

Matters of this kind will be considered at the formal investigation into the loss of the Marques. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on them in advance.

Coach Drivers

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what precautions are taken to ensure that foreign coach drivers are properly qualified and experienced to drive in the United Kingdom.

The police and authorised officers of the Departmemt of Transport have powers to require production of drivers' licences. Drivers of coaches which temporarily enter the United Kingdom must hold the appropriate class of foreign licence or international driving permit.

Civil Actions

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of legal proceedings have been instituted by private citizens or by organisations against his Department in each single year since 1979; what was the nature of the cases which the plantiffs presented; and what proportion of them were ruled in favour of the plantiff by the appropriate judge.

Legal proceedings have been instituted against the Department on a wide variety of subject matters, including claims for damages, challenges to administrative decisions, appeals against licensing decisions and references on matters of compensation, as well as many other topics. I therefore regret that the information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

London (Traffic Control)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how, in the light his Department's press notice 211, he proposes that the number of cars entering central London and traffic levels in inner London, including those on orbital routes such as the south circular, should be controlled.

As my speech quoted therein made clear, there is no easy answer to London's complex traffic problems, but a sensible balance between public and private transport is the right approach. Seeking to control traffic by fostering bad conditions and congestion is certainly not the right way forward. The importance of proper studies of environment and traffic in specific areas such as the south circular corridor is all the more vital with the changing traffic patterns as the M25 approaches completion.

Coastguard

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the level of provision of coastguard services around the coasts.

Her Majesty's Coastguard's 10-year modernisation programme will be virtually complete with the opening in December this year of the new maritime rescue subcentre "Solent", at Lee-on-Solent. All 24 centres will then be fitted with the latest technology for the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue in close co-operation with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, aircraft of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and British Telecom's coast radio stations.This country now possesses the most comprehensive maritime and coastal search and rescue service anywhere outside the United States; and I would like to pay tribute to the skill and dedication of the Coastguard Service, which last year recorded 4,879 incidents, and co-ordinated assistance to 8,516 persons in danger at sea or on the coastline. In spite of their tremendous efforts, 257 lives were still lost.It remains the responsibility of those on our coastline and in yachts and fishing vessels to exercise due care for their own safety. In particular, all boats should be encouraged to carry marine band VHF radio, which enables mariners to call the Coastguard for assistance, allowing the latter in any part of the United Kingdom to fix swiftly the position of a casualty by radio direction finding.

Lorry Bans

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of lorry bans applied by local authorities and the total number of miles of roads affected by such bans in each of the past 10 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 16July 1985,c. 106]: Information is not available in the form requested.The most recent survey carried out by the Department identified some 2,250 lorry controls that had been introduced by local authorities on amenity grounds. A list of schemes entitled "List of Lorry Control Schemes Made on Amenity Grounds" is in the Library, and I am putting a supplementary list in the Library in respect of the 143 schemes in operation in 1983 in Greater London.

Volume 83: debated on Monday 22 July 1985

Written Answers To Questions

Wales

Health Authorities

"Lifting The Burden"

Welsh Language (Expenditure)

Tan-Yr-Unts (Road Scheme)

Nurses (Pay)

Inmos

Hospital Beds

Home Department

Street Collections (Prosecutions)

Dr Mark Patterson

Remanded Persons

Repatriation Scheme

Coal Industry Dispute

Terrorism

Detained Persons

Refugees And Asylum

Ms Boi Thi Minh

Illegal Entrants

Sexual Offences Act 1985

Pucklechurch Remand Centre

Prisoners (Wages)

Stonehenge (Incident)

Prisoners' Medical Treatment

Mrs Mabel Achuinihu

West Midlands Police

Drug Trafficking

Prison Population

Prison Sentences

Prisoners (Private Clinics)

Immigration

Gloucester Place Fire

Mr Harold Roberts

Miss Hilda Murrell

Crime Statistics (West Midlands)

Strip Searches (Ports Of Entry)

Police (Complaints)

Sumrie Clothes Plc, Leeds

Prisoners (Tranquillisers)

Sports Grounds (Safety)

Spain (Extradition Treaty)

Energy

Petrol Price

Wave Power

Prime Minister

Mr Ian Macgregor (Payments)

Terrorism

Information Technology

Sir Robert Armstrong (Speech)

European Community (Food Aid)

European Community (Cereal Prices)

Overseas Development

Ethiopia

Nicaragua

India

Unesco

Caribbean

Overseas Aid

Falkland Islands Development Corporation

Education And Science

Foreign Language Report

Support Grants

Assisted Places Scheme

Temporary Admission Students

Ec (Scientific Studies)

Graham Report

Micro-Electronics

Unemployment Videos

Allowances

Further Education (Women)

Incidental Expenses

Unemployed People

Trade And Industry

Tropical Forests

Pharmaceuticals (Patent Law)

Overseas Ministerial Visits

Textile And Clothing (Imports)