Skip to main content

Written Answers

Volume 87: debated on Tuesday 19 November 1985

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

Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 19 November 1985

Wales

Toxic Refuse (Dumping)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which locations in Wales are licensed for the dumping of toxic refuse.

Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 responsibility for licensing waste disposal sites in Wales rests with district councils as waste disposal authorities. District councils are required to maintain a register for inspection by the public of all sites in their areas licensed to receive controlled waste which includes special or toxic waste. Up to date records are not held centrally, but some information about waste disposal sites licensed to receive controlled waste is included in the hazardous waste inspectorate's 1984 register of facilities for the disposal of controlled wastes in England and Wales, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Departmental Files

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements operate for the logging of those who have access to (a) computer and (b) manual files kept by his Department on individuals; and if he will describe the procedures in operation for both categories.

Specific guidelines on security of automatically processed data in Government Departments are observed. They are contained in "Protection of Information in Computer Systems" and "Central Government Code of Practice No. 21", issued by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, which give recommended procedures to safeguard data in computer installations. Copies of these guidelines have been placed in the House Library.Access to manual files on individuals is strictly limited to those who need to see them in the course of their duties.

Trawsfynydd And Wylfa Power Stations

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had in the current year with the Central Electricity Generating Board concerning the future of the Trawsfynydd and Wylfa nuclear power stations and the possible implications on employment in Gwynedd.

Following discussions with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board last year, I am keeping in close touch with the studies into potential sites at Trawsfynydd and Wylfa which the board announced in March.

Welsh Language (Newspapers)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has now received any approaches for assistance from his Department towards helping to maintain the present level of Welsh language weekly newspapers; and if he will make a statement.

I have received several letters about the particular problems facing two Welsh language weekly newspapers, and have informed the correspondents that I cannot hold out any prospect of financial assistance from this Department.

Sheep Farmers

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to safeguard the interest of sheep farmers in Wales during the next year; and if he will make a statement.

Support arrangements for the sheepmeat sector in the next year will be considered as part of the 1986 common agricultural policy price-fixing negotiations. The sheepmeat regime has brought substantial benefits to Wales and in the last marketing year 1984–85 payments of £39·8 million were made to Welsh sheep producers. In addition in 1984 payments to producers in Wales for sheep under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme totalled £17·9 million.

Farm Workers (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many farm workers have left the agriculture industry in Wales during the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

During the period 1982–85, the number of full and part-time hired workers on holdings in Wales fell by 736. the number of family workers, however is provisionally estimated to have risen by 142 and that of farmers, partners, directors and managers by 1,875. The total labour force (excluding farmers wives but including casual and seasonal workers) is provisionally estimated to have risen by 2,026 in this period.

Scab

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of scab have been notified in Wales during the last 12 months; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The table gives the number of outbreaks of sheep scab in Wales in each of the past 10 years, each year beginning on 1 July.

YearOutbreaks
1976–773
1977–780
1978–790
1979–800
1980–8111
1981–821
1982–8312
1983–8411
1984–8516
1985–86*10
*to 15 November.

Agriculture And Development And Advisory Service

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the principals of Wales' agriculture college, Aberystwyth, to discuss the implications of the proposed changes in the advisory services; and if he will make a statement.

I have not recently met the principal of the Welsh agricultural college. The Agriculture and Development and Advisory Service is, however, in close liaison with the college over the preparation of advisory packages which the college propose offering to farmers in Wales.

Severe Weather Conditions (Production Loss)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the estimated loss of agricultural production in Wales due to the bad weather conditions during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Figures are not yet available on which to make an accurate assessment of the effect of the poor weather experienced during the summer months. It is clear however that both output and costs will have been adversely affected.

1983 (July-December)1984Total
To ReporterTo HearingTo ReporterTo HearingTo ReporterTo Hearing
RegionMFMFMFMFMFMF
Borders414384
Central41319111542312184
Dumfries & Galloway42224222
Fife623219572257104
Grampian1552221571361093
Highland84616561249121
Lothian2442462373702793
Strathclyde12525359992376137110423966
Tayside933341242415
Totals82212295211542967460317531883

Sunday Trading

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for how long Sunday trading has operated in Scotland; and what assessment he makes of the current social impact.

There has been no general statutory prohibition on Sunday trading in Scotland in any post-Union legislation. Such patterns of Sunday trading as have developed have done so in response to local demand and local opinion. My right hon. Friend accepts the assessment of the social impact of Sunday trading in Scotland made by the National Consumer Council and by the Auld committee of inquiry into proposals to amend the Shops Act, set out in paragraphs 238 and 243 of the Auld report (Cmnd. 9376).

Multiple Occupation Houses

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities in Scotland to license houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

Powers are already available to local authorities, under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966, to introduce a registration scheme for houses in multiple

Scotland

Solvent Abuse

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report on a local government area basis, and by sex (a) the numbers of young people detected abusing solvents since the Solvent Abuse (Scotland) Act 1983 came into effect and (b) the numbers of those detected that were referred to children's panels.

The numbers of cases of solvent abuse brought to the attention of the police have been as follows:

Number
1983 (July-December)1,933
19841,192
The numbers of referrals to reporters and children's hearings are as follows. Figures for 1985 will not be available until mid-1986.occupation. In addition, they have powers of control under the Housing (Management of Houses and Buildings in Multiple Occupation) (Scotland) Regulations 1964 and the power to make byelaws under the Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897.

Sexual Assaults

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when revised guidance will be issued to the police on the investigation of complaints of sexual assault; and if he will make a statement.

Revised guidance on the investigation of complaints of sexual assault was issued to the police service on 14 November 1985 in the light of the recent Scottish Office social research study, "Investigating Sexual Assault", and of consultations with the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland), the Rape Crisis Centres, and Scottish Women's Aid.The new guidance emphasises the need for victims to be treated tactfully and sympathetically and covers a number of important areas including medical examinations, questioning about previous sexual history, and follow-up action.

I am arranging for a copy of the guidance to be placed in the Library of the House.

Energy

Departmental Files

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements operate for the logging of those who have access to (a) computer and (b) manual files kept by his Department on individuals; and if he will describe the procedures in operation for both categories.

All information about individuals held by my Department is protected by the "need to know" principle. The guidelines issued by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, "Protection of Information in Computer Systems" and "Central Government Code of Practice No. 21", are observed. There are copies of these guidelines in the House Library. Privacy markings restrict access to written information about individuals, manual files are registered and their movements are logged.

Miners' Pensions

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the numbers of mineworkers who have not paid their national insurance contributions for 12 months and may have their redundant mineworkers' pension affected; whether he has now considered what legislative changes are necessary to safeguard their benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The number of mineworkers to be made redundant next year will depend on the National Coal Board's plans for the continued reorganisation of the industry. My right hon. Friend and I are considering carefully what might need to be done in relation to those whose benefits under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme would be affected by failure to pay national insurance contributions during the strike.

Sizewell Inquiry

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the date when the report of the Sizewell inquiry will be submitted to him.

The timing of the report is a matter for the inspector. However, the inspector has informed me that, following a recent review of progress, he does not now expect to be able to deliver his main recommendations until the spring of 1986.

Prime Minister

Middle East

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to hold further discussions with King Hussein and Mr. Shimon Peres regarding the peace process in the middle east.

I keep in regular contact with King Hussein, but have no plans for an early meeting. I look forward to welcoming Mr. Peres to London early next year.

Regional Economic Policy (Wales)

Q59.

asked the Prime Minister if she will now give further consideration to the effectiveness of regional economic policy as it is working in Wales.

The current arrangements are being kept under regular review following the measures announced last November which resulted from a thorough and wide ranging examination of regional economic policy and its impact throughout the country.

Engagements

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Tuesday 19 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Tuesday 19 November.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be giving a reception for Fellows of the Royal Society.

National Finance

National Health Service

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the current level of funding of the National Health Service.

I have received a number of representations on the current level of funding of the NHS.

Paye (Computerisation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the progress being made in the computerisation of the pay-as-you-earn (COP) project; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The COP project is proceeding as planned, both as regards cost and as regards timing.As at the end of October, 6,000 visual display units had been installed in 122 tax offices. Thirty-eight of the offices had completed the transfer of their paper records to the computer. The remainder were in course of making the transfer. Further tax offices are being connected to the COP system at around 20 each month. Taxpayer records are being transferred to the computer at a rate of over 1 million each month.

Tsb (Scotland) Sale (Judgment)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the consequences of the ruling by a Scottish judge yesterday that the assets of TSB (Scotland) belong to the depositors and what course of action the Treasury intends to take on the matter.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 564]: This morning the Treasury lodged formal notice of appeal to the Inner House.

Transport

Departmental Files

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements operate for the logging of those who have access to (a) computer and (b) manual files kept by his Department on individuals; and if he will describe the procedures in operation for both categories.

In the case of computer files containing information on individuals, specific guidelines on security of automatically processed data in Government Departments are observed. They are contained in "Protection of Information in Computer Systems" and Central Government Code of Practice No. 21", issued by

RouteCountyStart YearCompletion YearCosts £m
M11 Cambridge Western bypassCambs1977198021·3
M11 Quendon-Stump CrossEssex1977197913·7
M11 A120-QuendonEssex1977197911·1
M25 A13-A12Essex1979198119·4
M25 A10-M11Herts/Essex1980198455·9
M25 A13-A12GLC/Essex1980198371·3
M25 M11-A12Essex1980198360·9
A10 Southery-South RunctonNorfolk197719805·3
A10 Ely-Littleport bypassCambs1984Not Yet Open7·0
A11 Attleborough bypassNorfolk198319855·5
A11 Barton Mills bypassSuffolk1985Not Yet Open3·1
A12 Copdock-Washbrook bypassSuffolk1982198411·9
A12/45 Ipswich Southern bypass (including Orwell bridge)Suffolk1979198257·4
A12 Ipswich Eastern bypassSuffolk198219843·5
A12 Great Yarmouth Western bypass (northern section including Breydon bridge)Norfolk1983Not Yet Open17·4
A12 Chelmsford bypassEssex1984Not Yet Open32·2
A12 4 Sisters junction improvementSuffolk198219841·1
A13 Mar Dyke-East of GraysEssex1979198127·3
A17 West of Kings Lynn county boundaryNorfolk198119826·2
A45 Cambridge Northern bypassCambs1976197923·3
A45 Levington heath improvementSuffolk198219822·3
A45 Ipswich Western bypassSuffolk1984198518·2
A45 St. Neots bypassBeds/Cambs1984Not Yet Open2·1
A45 Trimley Grade SeparationSuffolk1985Not Yet Open2·1
A45 Rougham-Woolpit improvementSuffolk197719795·9
A47 Blofield bypassNorfolk198119834·0
A47 Wisbech-West Walton bypassCambs198219845·0
A47 Swaffham bypassNorfolk197919814·9
A120 Colchester Eastern bypassEssex1980198224·0
A604 Bar Hill-GodmanchesterCambs1979198113·2
*A120 Dovercourt bypass (trunked mid-1983)Essex19792·3
*A282 Dartford Tunnel approach roadEssex198119822·3
* Local authority schemes receiving 100 per cent. grant.

Concessionary Fares

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to issue guidelines to local authorities about concessionary fare subsidy payments arising from the Transport Act.

Regulations on the reimbursement of operators will be laid early in 1986, and we shall at that stage be issuing a circular and further explanatory notes on all aspects of concessionary fares schemes.

the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, which give recommended procedures to safeguard data in computer installations. Copies of these guidelines have been placed in the House library.

Manual files on individual members of staff are open only to the personnel officers responsible for those staff and to other officers with a "specific need to know".

Trunk Road Improvements

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the trunk road improvements completed and started in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire during the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive, indicating the cost of each.

Trunk road improvements including motorway construction costing £1 million or more and either completed or started between 1979 and 1985 are as follows:

A127

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents on the A127 in 1985.

Only data for the January to June period are available for 1985. There was one fatal accident and 107 serious or slight injury accidents.

London Airports (Traffic Distribution)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the Government requested the Civil Aviation Authority to review the present rules for traffic distribution between the London airports; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 11.9 and 11.10 of the White Paper "Airports Policy" (Cmnd. 9542) published in June. These explain why the Government consider that the roles played by each of London's airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton) should be examined in detail in consultation with the civil aviation industry and its users. The White Paper announced the Government's intention to invite the Civil Aviation Authority to review the existing traffic distribution rules for London and to advise him on the need for any changes. The authority has just published a consultation document, "Air traffic distribution in the London area", a copy of which is in the Library.

Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the review of the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950.

The report of Professor Michael Horne's review of the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950 is being published this afternoon. Copies are being placed in the Library. I should like to thank Professor Horne and his two colleagues, Mr. Norman Ellis and Mr. Derek Ford, for the very considerable effort they have clearly put into preparing this report, which applies to England, Wales and Scotland. They have made a thorough and fundamental examination of the problems associated with utility roadworks and have made wide-ranging recommendations. I am now inviting comments on the report, which is available from HMSO, to be submitted not later than 28 February 1986.

East London Road Assessment Study

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the East London road assessment study.

M25 Ockendon Traffic Flow Data
1985 Month†8 to 9 am Weekday†5 to 6 pm Weekday
Highest (vph)Lowest (vph)Highest (vph)Lowest (vph)10 pm to 6 am 8-hour Monthly Average
February5,1094,2165,1703,5972,896
March5,1674,4365,6244,2023,119
April5,3194,5765,5454,2274,452
May5,1054,6695,7034,3474,009
June5,1484,6735,5784,1494,143
July5,3644,2306,1324,2964,592
August5,0914,5185,5194,1394,746
September5,2794,3645,8794,2884,135
October*5,3584,8475,9104,3903,896
* First half only.
† Excluding Bank Holidays.

Lack of co-operation from the GLC is delaying the first stage report on identification of problems, which will not now be published until 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people, in each borough, have put views forward to the consultants undertaking the East London road assessment study; and how many invitations were issued.

I understand that the consultants distributed nearly 200,000 leaflets inviting views, placed nine general advertisements in the local and London-wide press, and sent at least 535 letters to local groups. In addition invitations to contribute were sent to all London Boroughs, the city of London, and the GLC and various national bodies and organisations.I expect information on the responses received by the consultants to be contained in the report of the first stage of the study which will be published in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many submissions have been received from London borough councils on the subject of the East London road assessment study.

Regrettably, the four London boroughs covered by the study area decided not to co-operate with the consultants or take part in the studies. I understand that so far the consultants have received submissions from three other London boroughs.

M25

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the monthly peak hour and night time traffic flows on the M25 between South Mimms and the Dartford tunnel for each month since February.

The only location on the M25 between South Mimms and the Dartford tunnel where figures are available from continuous monitoring for the whole period is at Ockendon. The figures are contained in the table.

A1, Holloway Road

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the peak and night time traffic flow figures for the A1, Holloway road, since the opening of the north-east section of the M25.

I have no current figures for traffic flows on this stretch of road, which is currently the responsibility of the GLC, but I have asked for this information to be contained in the report on the first stage of the East London assessment study next year.

Metropolitan Roads Trunking Order 1985

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to have fully considered the views of London boroughs on the Metropolitan Roads Trunking Order 1985.

I am not able at this stage to say how long it will take to give full and proper consideration to the views of the London boroughs.

British Airways

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any report from the Civil Aviation Authority about the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the starboard undercarriage of a British Airways aircraft at Copenhagen on 12 November 1985.

[pursuant to the reply, 18 November 1985]: At the Danish authorities' request, the investigation will be conducted by my Department's chief inspector of accidents. The chief inspector will produce a report in due course. Any safety recommendations arising from the investigation will be passed as they arise to the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for ensuring the safety of British registered aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has had any recent consultations with the CAA about the servicing and maintenance procedures of British Airways aircraft, and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 18 November 1985]: The Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for ensuring the safety of aircraft, inform me that it is satisfied with British Airways' methods and procedures for servicing and maintenance of aircraft.

Australasia (Ministerial Visit)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the purpose of the recent visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer) to Australasia; what progress was made towards greater liberalisation of the London to Australia route via Singapore; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 14 November 1985, c. 268]: The purpose of my visit to Australasia was to explore the scope for greater liberalisation of air services, especially on fares. I made various proposals to this effect to the Australian Government. Agreement has since been reached on the introduction of additional capacity of both BA and Qantas; the remaining proposals are also being pursued at official level.

House Of Commons

Parliamentary Travel (Cost)

asked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the cost of parliamentary travel within the United Kingdom, excluding journeys between Westminster, the constituency and hon. Members' homes, for each year since the scheme began; and what is the estimated cost of administering these arrangements.

The cost of travel on parliamentary business by hon. Members within the United Kingdom under the extended travel arrangements authorised by resolution of the House on 4 March 1980 for each year since the scheme began is as follows:

£
1980–815,775
1981–8214,079
1982–8327,202
1983–8421,650
1984–8549,375
*1985–8639,935
* To 31 October 1985.
These figures do not include the cost of journeys undertaken by Select Committees collectively or by hon. Members between Westminster, their constituencies, their registered homes and within their constituency.The increase in costs from 1983–84 to 1984–85 is due to the fact that hon. Members have been making greater use of the extended travel arrangements and partly also to the enhanced motor mileage allowance.The administration of these arrangements is subsumed within the duties of the staff responsible for all travelling facilities available to hon. Members, their spouses and supporting staff, and as such is not separately costed.

Staff

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will detail the results of his monitoring of the ethnic composition of staff employed at the Palace of Westminster.

There has not so far been a survey of the ethnic composition of staff employed by the House of Commons Commission. However, in July this year the commission agreed that the Board of Management should enter into consultation with the trade union side of the House of Commons Whitley Committee with a view to introducing a system of ethnic monitoring in the House Departments covering existing staff, new entrants and future applicants for employment in non-industrial grades. The question of including industrial staff will be considered when details are received of the arrangements for such staff in the Civil Service.The commission also agreed that the consultations should proceed on the basis of the questionnaire used for the purpose of ethnic monitoring in the Civil Service. I understand that the head of the Administration Department has subsequently written to the secretary of the trade union side inviting discussions between management and unions on this matter.

Employment

Youth Training Scheme

asked the Paymaster General how many black and white trainees there were on each youth training scheme in the Birmingham and Solihull area at the latest available date.

The Manpower Services Commission. is urgently considering the extent to which information provided by managing agents and sponsors on the ethnic background of trainees on the youth training scheme can be made available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide the best available information on the academic qualifications of (a) black and (b) white trainees on entry to the youth training schemes.

Reliable, comprehensive information is not available. I shall, however, write to the hon. Member with the details of some information we have.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any information that would lead him to revise his estimate of nine deaths on the youth training scheme from 1 April 1983 to 30 June 1985, as given to the hon. Member for Bolsover on 23rd October, Official Report, columns 168–170; and if he will make a statement.

No. The nine fatalities referred to in my reply of 23 October included a fatality which occured in Scotland on 26 February this year and which was the subject of a fatal accident inquiry held on 14 November. If the inquiry finds that the death did not arise out of or in connection with a training or work activity, the fatality will not be included in the Manpower Services Commission's future accident figures for the youth training scheme. I will write to the hon. Member when I know the outcome of the inquiry.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the number of cases in which the families of youth training scheme trainees who died on youth training schemes were sent cheques for £78 by the Manpower Services Commission in lieu of industrial death benefit payments from the Department of Health and Social Security.

Since the youth training scheme was introduced on 1 April 1983, the parents of six young people have been paid the equivalent of industrial death benefit by the Manpower Services Commission. In five cases the maximum payment of £78 was made and in one case a payment of £52 (the maximum for a single parent) was made.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide the date of death of each youth training scheme trainee since 1 April 1983 and the cause of death in each case.

The following is a list of fatalities on the youth training scheme since 1 April 1983:

Date of Fatality

Cause of Fatality

27 June 1983Road traffic accident
7 September 1983Accident on residential outdoor activity
12 October 1983Forklift truck accident
1 February 1984Tractor accident
27 July 1984Road traffic accident
22 August 1984Road traffic accident
24 September 1984Dumper truck overturned
12 February 1985Severe burns
26 February 1985The outcome of a fatal accident inquiry into this death is awaited to establish the exact cause
29 July 1985Electrocution
20 August 1985Road traffic accident

asked the Paymaster-General (1) what is, by each Manpower Services Commission area, the size of the budget and the allocation of premium places for youth training scheme mode B for the year from April 1986; and how this compares with the provision for each year since the scheme was introduced;(2) what is the total Manpower Services Commission budget for 1986–87 for the provision of mode B youth training scheme places; how many places this is expected to provide; and what were the figures for each of the last two financial years.

It is not possible to break down expenditure by area, but the tables show the allocation by area of approved places in mode B1 community projects and training workshops for 1984–85 and 1985–86 Under the two-year youth training scheme from April 1986 the distinction between modes will disappear, but existing mode 131 providers will generally be eligible for the premium rate of funding. The national planning total of approved first-year premium places for 1986–87 is 51,000 (excluding information technology centres). In addition there will be approved second year places, but their number, and the allocations to areas, have yet to be determined. Planned spending on premium places in 1986–87 is also therefore undecided, but in 1983–84, 84,637 places were approved in community projects and training workshops, and expenditure was some £105 milliom; in 1984–85, 65,195 approved places were planned, and some £217 million spent.

1984–85
AreaTotal Number of Planned Approved Places
Community ProjectsTraining WorkshopsTotal
Glasgow9883451,333
Lanarkshire5784741,052
Renfrew, Dunfermline and Argyll8506901,540
Ayrshire, Dumbarton and Galloway6074431,050
Lothian and Borders575270845
Central and Fife270380650
Grampian and Tayside364152516
Highlands and Islands19498292
Durham5359401,475
Cleveland8946961,590
Newcastle1,0803901,470
South Tyne1,3704651,835

Area

Total Number of Planned Approved Places

Community Projects

Training Workshops

Total

Humberside7455001,245
Leeds1,0603201,380
Bradford6554951,150
Wakefield9303951,325
Sheffield1,0303101,340
Cheshire1,4284421,870
Cumbria19595290
Lancashire1,0751001,175
Manchester Central1,1604901,650
Manchester East280210490
Manchester North7303301,060
Merseyside Inner1,7304952,225
Merseyside Outer1,3079032,210
Birmingham1,9453352,280
Coventry1,0556631,718
Derby7702301,000
Dudley7603851,145
Leicester1,1137001,813
Lincoln363202565
Nottingham9145981,512
Staffordshire1,1323001,432
Telford8421581,000
Wolverhampton1,6003301,930
Gwent600105705
Swansea8302201,050
Cardiff1,2906051,895
Wrexham635345980
Avon1,000801,080
Gloucester8991111,010
Plymouth8532021,055
Taunton600170770
Chatham1,0752501,325
Chelmsford5507501,300
Fareham8072851,092
High Wycombe65040690
Horsham88090970
Ipswich9381921,130
Luton470170640
Reading415115530
London North East6604401,100
London North440250690
London South East6403801,020
London South West260450710
Total45,61619,57965,195

1985–86

Area

Total Number of Planned Approved Places

Community Projects

Training Workshops

Total

Glasgow5824651.047
Lanarkshire5804401,020
Renfrew, Dunfermline and Argyll6456201,265
Ayrshire, Dumbarton and Galloway443472915
Lothian and Borders590275865
Central and Fife320380700
Grampian and Tayside335185520
Highlands and Islands19499293
Durham4709001,370
Cleveland7776731,450
Newcastle8563791,235
South Tyne1,1854501,635
Humberside6905301,220
Leeds9953201,315

Area

Total Number of Planned Approved Places

Community Projects

Training Workshops

Total

Bradford6304701,100
Wakefield8654501,315
Sheffield1,0053301,335
Cheshire1,3384821,820
Cumbria170130300
Lancashire1,0861151,201
Manchester Central1,0615391,600
Manchester East310210520
Manchester North7303201,050
Merseyside Inner1,7654442,209
Merseyside Outer1,1529282,080
Birmingham1,8703952,265
Coventry9165541,470
Derby575320895
Dudley645335980
Leicester9005701,470
Lincoln595595
Nottingham9145581,472
Staffordshire1,3101901,500
Telford8271731,000
Wolverhampton1,1033301,433
Gwent600105705
Swansea8002201,020
Cardiff1,1657251,890
Wrexham630305935
Avon90065965
Gloucester829111940
Plymouth695205900
Taunton610165775
Chatham9152301,145
Chelmsford3707001,070
Fareham7223391,061
High Wycombe52580605
Horsham579165744
Ipswich9222241,146
Luton466138604
Reading415120535
London North East414302716
London North6164001,016
London South East6105501,160
London South West285425710
Total41,49719,60561,102

asked the paymaster-General if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of the regional variations which exist of the percentage of youth training scheme places assessed for performance.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985, c. 38]: The percentage of approved 1984–85 places covered by programmes assessed in each region by the end of July 1985 was as follows:

RegionPlaces assessed per cent.
Scotland97
Northern99
North West97
Yorks and Humberside97
Midlands97
Wales99
South West92
South East96
London95
Great Britain96
One hundred per cent. coverage is not required because some approved places remain unfilled.

British Conference And Exhibition Centres

asked the Paymaster General if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the British Conference and Exhibition Centres export council to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall. My right hon. and noble Friend will be opening the exhibition at 6.30 pm on Monday 25 November.

Information Technology

asked the Paymaster General what Manpower Services Commission funds have been hitherto specifically earmarked for training in information technology; whether there are any plans to increase the sums made available for such training; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have asked the Manpower Services Commission to give priority to training in the new technologies including information technology. The commission has specifically allocated some £37 million in 1985–86 for training in information technology. This includes training through information technology centres, the threshold computer scheme,

Age and Duration Analysis of the Unemployed for Statistical Date 10 October 1985 Parliamentary Constituencies AD
Northern Copeland CC
Males
Duration of Unemployment in weeksUnder 1717181920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960 and overTotal
One or less1364131010137340377
Over 1 and up to 251127207734322376
Over 2 and up to 431097329111338433115
Over 4 and up to 638179920157464740140
Over 6 and up to 8185572210767343198
Over 8 and up to 134141312533113171912181614236
Over 13 and up to 26122624251144629142221141312372
Over 26 and up to 390615195120231120815207215
Over 39 and up to 5206911473820219910178205
Over 52 and up to 65013101036322530222870413320
Over 65 and up to 780084271888555240112
Over 78 and up to 1040066252416139128250144
Over 104 and up to 1560041544332421151718451237
Over 156 and up to 208000240352917191312260193
Over 208 and up to 26000001820111271110181108
Over 260000020282224181421340181
Grand totals Males81111120138582376262227192171222291562,825
Females
Duration of Unemployment in weeksUnder 1717181920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960 and overTotal
One or less2031149222300038
Over 1 and up to 25443166522311052
Over 2 and up to 451764258331223079
Over 4 and up to 691421620158634560117
Over 6 and up to 8671251612212221068
Over 8 and up to 13269123724115112650130
Over 13 and up to 2621781080462161191060226
Over 26 and up to 391710543451811471071169
Over 39 and up to 52035735341941021070136
Over 52 and up to 650314928186482390104
Over 65 and up to 780254138700525051
Over 78 and up to 104001415162545510067
Over 104 and up to 156001419103473512068
Over 156 and up to 2080002194611465048
Over 208 and up to 2600000841133610036

priority skills training and access to information technology. In addition the youth training scheme includes an introduction to information technology in all its programmes and priority is given in adult training schemes to the new technologies.

Enterprise Agencies

asked the Paymaster General how he intends to disburse the extra £2·5 million support for enterprise agencies announced on 12 November.

The detailed arrangements for the new financial support to be available to local enterprise agencies in 1986–87 will be announced shortly.

Labour Statistics

asked the Paymaster General if he will give a detailed breakdown of the number of unemployed claimants in the Copeland parliamentary constituency using the most recent available figures, analysed by sex and by the age of the unemployed and duration of unemployment.

The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the Copeland parliamentary constituency as at 10 October 1985, analysed by sex, age and duration of unemployment.

Duration of Unemployment in weeks

Under 17

17

18

19

20–24

25–29

30–34

35–39

40–44

45–49

50–54

55–59

60 and over

Total

Over 2600000410401679041
Grand totals Females32809976392269118557062809611,430

asked the Paymaster General how many people are unemployed in Great Grimsby; what was the equivalent figure in May 1979; and what is the percentage increase.

On 10 October 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the Great Grimsby parliamentary constituency was 6,697. Statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies are derived from the new ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.

asked the Paymaster General how many school leavers are registered as job-seekers in Great Grimsby at present; and how many school leavers were registered as job-seekers for the same months in 1979 and 1982.

On 10 October 1985 the number of school leavers registered as job-seekers at Grimsby careers office was 525. The corresponding figure for October 1982 was also 525. Figures for 1979 have not been retained.

asked the Paymaster General how many people are currently estimated to be self-employed in Great Grimsby.

Estimates of the number of self-employed persons in local areas are available only from the censuses of population. The 1981 census identified 2,495 self-employed persons resident in Great Grimsby.

asked the Paymaster General how many people have found places on Manpower Services Commission training courses in Great Grimsby in each year since 1979.

The information requested is not available for the constituency of Great Grimsby. However, the following table shows the number of entrants to adult and youth training schemes run by the Manpower Services Commission in the Grimsby local authority district, from 1979 to date.

Numbers of entrants to adult and youth training schemes in the Grimsby Local Authority District by financial year
Financial yearAdult entrantsYouth entrants
Training Opportunities Scheme
1979–80380
1980–81331
1981–82287
1982–83322
Youth Training Scheme
1983–843661,386
1984–852501,515
Adult Training Programmes*
1985–86†‡200‡1,532
* Made up of job training scheme, training for enterprise, and wider opportunities training programme.
† Figures for the local grant to employers and access to information technology schemes are not available for the Grimsby local authority district. Grimsby will however benefit from the 1,350 people it is planned to train through these schemes on Humberside in 1985–86.
‡ These figures relate to the planned number of entrants.

Community Programme

asked the Paymaster General how many industrial or commercial sponsors there are of community programme schemes in Bradford.

None, at present. However, we are seeking to encourage industrial and commercial employers in all areas to become more involved with the community programme. In Bradford, some employers have already provided financial assistance for specific projects, which has been of much benefit.

Mines And Quarries Act 1954

asked the Paymaster General whether he proposes to seek to amend the Mines and Quarries Act 1954.

Yes. The Health and Safety Commission is reviewing the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 and associated legislation. It is intended to replace them with a series of new regulations and supporting codes of practice. The commission has so far issued consultative documents on three subjects. It will be putting forward proposals in due course.

Mogul Foods Ltd, Portsmouth

asked the Paymaster General if he will institute an investigation into the case of a loan, given under the small firms loan guarantee scheme, to Mogul Foods Limited, Portsmouth, on 5 August 1982; and if he will make a statement.

No. The lender in this case made a claim on the Government guarantee, which was paid in April 1983. My Department has no reason to doubt that the guarantee and the subsequent claim were valid under the terms of the scheme.

Work Permits

asked the Paymaster General whether a decision has yet been made to continue after 1985 the special annual quota of work permits for workers from the dependent territories whose level of skill is below that required by the general work permit scheme.

Yes. It has been decided that the quota for 1986 will be 200—the same as this year. Within the figure of 200 no more than 150 permits will be allowed for any one territory.

Businesses (Statistics)

asked the Paymaster General if he will list, for each standard region, the latest available figures for the number of new business starts and business stops since 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985, c. 40]: The latest available figures were published in British Business on 2 November 1984. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland

Terrorism

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of persons wanted in connection with terrorist offences committed since and including 1969 who have been extradited from the Irish Republic to Northern Ireland and vice versa.

Since the first warrants involving terrorist-type offences were forwarded in 1971, three persons have been extradited from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland and 31 persons have been extradited from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.

Housing Executive Estate Roads

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of Housing Executive estate roads completed prior to 1 November 1984 in accordance with Department of Environment standards which have not yet been adopted.

Equal Pay

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the increase in the number of complaints under equal pay legislation in Northern Ireland following the recent implementation of the amendment regulations in 1984; and what extra financial provision has been made to enable the Commission to fulfil its extra statutory obligations.

Before the introduction of the Equal Pay (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984 the number of inquiries/complaints to the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland under the equal pay legislation averaged 26 a year. It increased in 1984–85 by 16 to 42. During the seven-month period to 31 October 1985 there were 48 inquiries/complaints.In 1984–85 the commission received £250,000, an increase of 9·6 per cent. over its 1983–84 provision of £228,000. The provision for 1985–86 is £272,500, a 19·5 per cent. increase over 1983–84. The detailed allocation of the commission's budget (including any annual increase) across its various activities, is primarily a matter for the commission.

Voluntary Schools (Vested Land)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much land has been vested on behalf of voluntary schools under article 10 of the Northern Ireland Education Order 1978; and whether any such scheme is presently under consideration.

No land has been vested and no proposals are at present under consideration.

Republic Of Ireland

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (i) questions and (ii) other points about administration in the Province have been raised with him by the Government of the Republic of Ireland in (a) 1984 and (b) 1985; on which of them he has taken action as a result of the representations received, stating the grounds in each case; and why he took no action on each of those on which action was not taken.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985]: Exchanges between Governments are generally conducted on a confidential basis and it is not, therefore, our normal practice to report on such contacts to the House.

Education And Science

Open University

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are now registered with the Open university as part of the associate programme; and how the figure compares with previous years.

In 1985 about 9,800 students were registered as associate students taking single courses from the university's undergraduate programme. In addition about 49,500 were registered on continuing education courses or purchased continuing education packs of self-study materials. In both cases the number of students is higher than in previous years.

Teachers' Dispute

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many days of education have been lost by schoolchildren as a result of strike action.

Precise information is not available. However, I am aware that a very large number of pupil days have been lot or interrupted by industrial action taken by the three largest school teacher unions. Strike action has not in fact been the union's major weapon. Striking results in loss of pay and the unions have sought to minimise such a direct penalty by engaging in selective strikes of short duration and by taking other forms of action specifically designed to cause maximum disruption of the schools with minimum cost to those doing the disruption.

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the current teachers' pay dispute.

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the prospects for a settlement of the teachers' dispute.

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the current teachers' dispute.

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' pay dispute.

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current teachers' dispute.

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' dispute.

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' dispute.

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' pay dispute.

47.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to seek to end the teachers' industrial dispute.

48.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the latest position in the teachers' pay dispute.

50.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' pay dispute.

53.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' dispute.

57.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in resolving the teachers' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the current position in the teachers' dispute.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand) and my hon. Friends the Members for Cannock and Burntwood (Mr. Howarth), Erith and Cray ford (Mr. Evennett), Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls), South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) and Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham).

49.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, by local education authority, the number of teachers who have been disciplined as a result of absenting themselves during the current teachers' dispute; and if he will list the number of pupils excluded or expelled from school for demonstrating or indicating dissent with the actions of their teachers.

I understand that all local education authorities withhold pay in respect of absences due to strikes. Detailed information about disciplinary action against either teachers or pupils is not available centrally; but it does appear that teachers are able to achieve their objective of maximum disruption of education at minimum cost to themselves.

56.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of the teaching unions to discuss the present pay dispute.

I met representatives of the National Union of Teachers on 7 November, at their request, to discuss the pay dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect he expects the dispute involving the teaching profession to have on his plans to reform the secondary school examination structure.

We have no reports of significant disruption to the preparations for the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education. The majority of teachers will not become involved in the training programme for the GCSE until next year.

Cern

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to reduce Britain's contribution to the CERN project.

The Kendrew report recommended that the United Kingdom should reduce the size of its subscription to CERN by 25 per cent. by 1991. My right hon. Friend is considering that recommendation, and the report's other recommendations.

Student Support

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will review the system of student support.

My right hon. Friend announced on 12 November at column 113 that, since the possibility of replacing maintenance grants wholly or partly with loans had been ruled out at the present time by the Government, he did not consider that any useful purpose would be served by the publication of a consultative paper on student support.

Higher Education (Grants)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will undertake a survey to establish the number of school leavers who attained adequate educational standards for acceptance for further and higher educational courses in 1985, but who would not take up their places on such courses because of their inability to secure a grant sufficient to enable them to pursue these courses; and if he will make a statement.

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys has been commissioned by the Department to carry out a survey of young people's intentions to enter higher education; and the Department has also commissioned, jointly with the Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission, a youth cohort study which will focus on the various routes taken by 16 to 18-year-olds through education, training, and the labour market. An important part of both surveys concerns the decisions made by those who, despite being suitably qualified, did not enter further or higher education.

Higher Education (Green Paper)

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the Green Paper on higher education.

As I said in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 14 November at column 269, my right hon. Friend has no plans to make a statement about responses to the Green Paper on higher education until the Government make the further statement of policy on higher education promised in the Green Paper itself.

Gcse

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give a progress report on the proposed introduction of the GCSE examination system.

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with progress towards the introduction of GCSE examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Our plans for the introduction of the GCSE are at present on course. The GCSE examining groups and the LEAs are well advanced in their preparations for the national programme of in-service training. In readiness for these training seminars, teachers' guides and videos will be made available to schools and colleges early in January next year. Teachers are already in a position separately to begin their own preparations for the new examination courses.

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the proposed new examination for 16-year-olds is at a satisfactory stage of development; and if schools will be adequately funded to allow the relevant courses to be pursued.

Preparations for the introduction of the GCSE, including the development of syllabuses for the new examinations are on course. The Government's expenditure plans for 1986–87 give some scope for authorities to redeploy their resources towards policies to which they wish to give priority, including the GCSE, provided they contain costs and take advantage of opportunities for efficiency savings.

Assisted Places Scheme

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils have benefited from the assisted places scheme since it was introduced; and what has been the cost to his Department.

Up to the end of the last school year, 18,724 pupils had benefited from the assisted places scheme. The total cost of the scheme to the Department up to the end of the last financial year was £48·9 million.

Colleges Of Higher Education (Status)

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the issues he is taking into consideration when assessing whether a college of higher education should receive polytechnic status.

My right hon. Friend has indicated that he would welcome advice from the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education on the addition of further institutions to the original list designated as polytechnics following publication of the 1966 White Paper "A Plan for Polytechnics and Other Colleges", including the criteria which might govern any such addition.

Agricultural Research Council

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had about cuts in the Agricultural Research Council budget; and if he will make a statement.

Since the announcement made on 22 January 1985 by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of a proposed reduction in the public expenditure provision for research, development and advisory services funded by the Agriculture Departments in 1986–87 and 1987–88, my right hon. Friend has received representations from the chairman of the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) concerning the possible consequences for the AFRC and particularly for the research it conducts using funds from the Department's science budget. The Department has also received 37 letters from hon. Members and other interested parties directly or via the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.The grant-in-aid from the Department's science budget to the AFRC in 1985–86 is £50·3 million. This includes £4·8 million to help meet the cost of AFRC's restructuring programme. Final advice on the 1986–87 allocation will be given by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils later this year and for 1987–88 a year later.

Burnham Committee

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the changes he has made in the constitution of the Burnham committee.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 7 November at column 2.

Teachers (Appraisal)

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his plans to promote the professional effectiveness of teachers.

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for the assessment of teachers; and if he will make a statement.

The Government intend to introduce legislation with this aim during the current session. The new Education Bill will provide for the extension of my right hon. Friend power to grant-aid in-service training for teachers. Provision will also be made to enable my right hon. Friend to require local education authorities regularly to appraise the performance of their teachers. Whether, and if so when and how, this enabling power will be used will depend on circumstances, including the extent to which progress can be made towards introducing appraisal by agreement between teachers and their employers.

University Funding

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals on university funding.

51.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has recently had with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals about the funding of universities.

My right hon. Friend met the full committee of vice-chancellors and principals on 26 September to discuss a wide range of issues arising from the Green Paper on "The Development of Higher Education into the 1990s"; on 16 October he met representatives of the committee to discuss university funding and the pay of university staff.

Schoolchildren (Transport)

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now introduce free transport for all schoolchildren travelling to and from school; and if he will make a statement.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the current pupil-teacher ratios in primary and secondary schools, respectively; and if he expects these to change in the next three years.

Average pupil to teacher ratios within primary and secondary schools respectively were 22·2:1 and 16·1:1 in England in January 1985. The overall ratio of pupils to teachers nationally was at its best ever level of 17·8:1. The Government recognise that their policies for better schools imply some further limited improvement in the overall pupil to teacher ratio but the extent and pace of this improvement will depend on future public expenditure plans, changes in the cost of employing staff, and the staffing decisions of individual local authorities.

Teaching Profession (Morale)

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet local education authorities to discuss morale in the teaching profession.

Both my right hon. Friend and I hold frequent meetings with representatives of the local authority associations and of individual local authorities and we are well aware of their views on the morale of the teaching profession. My right hon. Friend is aware that they would like to lift morale and thinks that can best be done through a bargain which would simultaneously raise pay levels, improve promotion prospects, introduce a new career structure, and clarify teachers' duties.

School Inspections

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how often inspections of schools are carried out in England and Wales; how the frequency of inspections in Leicestershire compares with the national average; and if he will make a statement.

The table shows, for Leicestershire and England overall, the percentage of schools and of further and higher education institutions visited by Her Majesty's inspectors in the 1984–85 academic year:

Percentage of institutions visited
LeicestershireEngland
Schools
Autumn 198469
Spring 198558
Summer 198558
Further and Higher Education
Autumn 19849240
Spring 19858337
Summer 19857542
Her Majesty's inspectors visits take a variety of forms and have a number of different purposes. They do not all lead to formal published reports.

University Research Funding

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future funding of research at universities.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) on 12 November at columns 104–108.

Natural Environment Research Council

45.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the work of the Natural Environment Research Council.

Overviews of the past and likely future work of the Natural Environment Research Council are given respectively in the council's reports, which are published annually, and in its corporate plan. A copy of the council's 1983–84 report was laid before the House on 29 November 1984; a copy of its report for 1984–85 will be laid before the House on 21 November. A copy of the council's corporate plan 1985–90 (published in February 1985) is available in the Library.

Inner London Education Authority

46.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the leader of the Inner London education authority; and what subjects were discussed.

My last formal meeting with the leader of the Inner London education authority took place on 19 November 1984. Subjects discussed included legislation relating to the abolition of the GLC and reconstitution of the ILEA, the new authority's tenure in county hall, the statutory procedure to be followed in opening new nursery classes, and the authority's 1985–86 budget.

Student Grants

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the level of student grants for 1986–87.

Teachers (Civic Affairs)

54.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take in the near future to improve the supply of teachers of civic affairs.

Civic affairs is not identified separately as a main subject for the purposes of initial teacher training allocations, although it is possible that some training courses with the main subject in history or social studies will include some specific reference to this area. My right hon. Friend has no evidence to suggest that the demand for teachers in these latter subjects is not being met. More generally, it is now a requirement of initial training courses of all kinds that they should give students a basic understanding of the society in which their pupils are growing up.

School Hours

55.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to introduce continental hours for schools.

Local education authorities already have, and in some cases exercise, a considerable degree of flexibility in their arrangements, while complying, as they must, with the relevant provisions of the Education (Schools and Further Education) Regulations 1981.

Schools (Toilet Facilities)

58.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to seek to ensure that all state schools are provided with modern toilet facilities.

It is for local education authorities to decide their own priorities for capital expenditure in their schools in the light of local needs and the resources available to them.

School Playgrounds (Paint)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to require that only lead-free or low-lead paint is used for apparatus in school playgrounds; and if he will make a statement.

No. DOE circular 22/82 "Lead in the Environment" stated that it was undesirable and unnecessary to use high lead paint on surfaces accessible to children, and advised local authorities to specify low-lead paint for schools, parks and recreation grounds. Last year the local authorities management services and computer committee (LAMSAC) made more detailed recommendations to local authorities to specify paint with a lead content no higher than the maximum permitted

Total numbers of 1st degrees awarded Great Britain
Thousands
ActualProjected
1979198019811982198319841985198619871988
All Subjects86·693·195·897·8102·2108·7107·3107·5106·0105·9
Education4·14·64·84·75·26·16·76·76·86·9
Medicine5·96·05·96·26·46·56·56·16·06·1
Engineering and Technology13·013·814·214·414·615·215·215·415·715·9
Agriculture1·21·31·31·31·41·31·31·31·21·2
Maths and Science17·017·519·019·720·422·221·821·721·922·1
Social Sciences24·024·125·125·927·128·427·327·727·126·8
Architecture and Professional Studies1·93·02·82·73·13·43·63·73·73·8
Languages8·99·49·910·010·210·49·99·89·59·5
Other and Creative Arts10·713·412·712·813·715·215·115·014·113·6

Notes:

1. DES estimates based on data from the Universities Statistical Record and the CNAA.

2. Degrees awarded in public sector institutions but validated by Universities are excluded.

National Youth Advisory Council

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will be in a position to announce the composition of the National Youth Advisory Council.

under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1974, when purchasing new playground equipment or treating old apparatus.

Civil Engineering Graduates

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of students graduating in each of the last 10 years in civil engineering in (a) universities and (b) public sector higher education.

The information is as follows:

Civil engineering graduates
GB universitiesUnited Kingdom CNAA*
First degreeHigher degreeFirst degreeHigher degree
19741,583447596
19751,678553657
19761,704517623
19771,780516793
19781,8165247761
19791,943468733
19801,989545995
19811,94556493211
19821,79059964016
19831,7566596626
* Degrees processed during the year, not those awarded.
Information for 1984 is not yet available.

Graduates (First Degrees)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will break down by subjects the number of graduates gaining first degrees in British universities and in public sector institutions for each of the last five years; and what forward projections have been made for the next five years.

Professor Walter James has been appointed chairman of the National Advisory Council for the Youth Service. Invitations to others to serve have been issued and my right hon. Friend will announce the composition of the council shortly.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Kent)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the pupil-teacher ratio in Kent today, compared to the figures in 1979 and 1981.

The overall pupil-teacher ratio in maintained schools in Kent in the years 1979, 1981 and 1985 was 20·0, 20·0 and 19·0 respectively.

University Teachers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the salaries of university teachers have kept pace with the retail price index and with average earnings since 1979.

Between April 1979 and April 1984 (the date of the last pay increase) pay settlements for university non-clinical academic and related staff have out-stripped the retail prices index by 9·8 per cent. and fallen behind the Average Earnings Index by 1·6 per cent.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Hampshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the pupil-teacher ratio in Hampshire and in Portsmouth today compares with 1975, 1979 and 1981.

The overall pupil-teacher ratio in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Hampshire in 1975, 1979, 1981 and 1985 was 20·7, 20·2, 20·0 and 19·6 respectively. Equivalent figures for Portsmouth are not available.

Overseas Development

Tanzania

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether the main contractor for the Songea to Makambako road, Tanzania, has been given a deadline for the completion of the contract;(2) when is the estimated completion date of the Songea to Makambako road, Tanzania.

The estimated completion date set in the contract was 30 November 1985, but the certificate of substantial completion was issued on 23 September 1985 and the road is to be formally opened by President Mwinyi in the presence of HRH Princess Anne on 20 November 1985.

Agricultural Development (Africa)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his intention to increase Britain's contribution to the special fund for agricultural development in Africa as set up by the United Nations.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the special programme for African countries suffering from drought and desertification, which is being established by the international fund for agricultural development. This is a new, voluntary programme, and we have not yet made any commitment to contribute to it. My Department will consider the possibility of a United Kingdom contribution as and when the more fundamental question of the second replenishment of IFAD's basic resources has been settled.

Traditional Crops (Africa)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government are doing to increase aid to research in African countries in order to increase the yield of traditional African crops.

Effective research is vital to increasing crop yields and we are seeking to improve our aid in this sector in several ways. We have already restructured the Tropical Development and Research Institute so that it can be more responsive to ODA's priority needs. We intend to maintain and if possible increase the funds allocated for agricultural research contracts. We have recently increased the contributions we make to the International Agricultural Research Centres working in Africa, particularly the International Centre for Research in the Semi-arid Tropics, which works mainly on sorghum and millets, two important traditional African crops. We also attach priority to the provision of manpower assistance and training in this field and are looking for ways of encouraging requests from African countries.

Food Production (Africa)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of British aid to the African countries is used to promote increased local food production.

Since food and other forms of agricultural production are not readily distinguishable even at farm level, no separate figures for British aid to promote local food production alone are available. Our aid to agricultural and related activities in sub-Saharan Africa in 1984 totalled £66 million.

Africa (Aid)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how much he intends increasing the amount of British aid to African countries in order to increase their local food production.

I cannot quantify this, but we shall continue to aim to increase the aid we provide to agricultural and food production wherever we can do so to reinforce sensible recipient country policies.

Trade And Industry

Laser 558 Radio Station

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the circumstances surrounding the actions taken with regard to the Laser 558 radio station, and the statutory basis for such actions.

The Department of Trade and Industry chartered a survey vessel on 8 August to observe supply traffic to the two marine broadcasting stations operating off the Essex coast. Evidence of a considerable number of possible offences has already been passed to the police both in the United Kingdom and in continental countries. Decisions on the prosecutions of United Kingdom nationals and residents for offences against the Marine Etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions.On 6 November, the vessel Communicator, from which Laser 558 broadcasts had been made, sailed to Harwich harbour following a generator breakdown. The Communicator requested and received escort assistance from the DTI's chartered vessel. I understand that the Communicator is at present under the control of the Admiralty marshal following action by an individual and a private company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the costs of any action taken regarding the commercial radio station Laser 558.

The costs of the Department's surveillance operation in the North sea are around £25,000 per month, including the costs of charter and staff costs. The operation has been directed against both Radio Caroline and Radio Laser 558.

Radio Stations (International Waters)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will explain Her Majesty's Government's attitude and policy towards independent commercial radio stations operating in international waters.

The Government are seriously concerned at the activities of unlicensed marine broadcasters who use radio frequencies allocated for other, legitimate purposes, and whose powerful unregulated transmissions can and do cause interference to other radio users, including safety of life services. For example, helicopter navigational beacons in the North sea have been permanently disrupted by pirate transmissions on frequencies close to the beacons, and marine radio services and navigational beacons have been disrupted by faulty transmitters on individual occasions. The arrival of Radio Caroline interfered with transmissions on certain university and hospital radios, which had to change frequencies at considerable expense. The frequency 558 kHz used by Radio Laser and now in use by Radio Caroline has been allocated to BBC Radio Essex by international agreement, and existing broadcasts from Irish and German stations have suffered interference.Frequency assignment is a complex process. The spectrum space available is allocated by international agreement and by the DTI as the nationals regulatory body. Pirate broadcasters cut across this and steal scarce spectrum to the detriment of lawful users.The Government also have international obligations, as International Radio Regulation 2665 prohibits broadcasting from ships outside national territories. The United Kingdom is a signatory to a 1965 European convention in which signatories undertook to take steps to prevent broadcasts through legislative means.It is open to those who wish to broadcast from within the United Kingdom to apply for Independent Broadcasting Authority franchises when these are advertised from time to time. It was also open to unlicensed broadcasters to apply for experimental community radio licences before the deadline of 31 October 1985.

Alvey Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what form he expects the exploitation of software engineering work under the Alvey programme within the next year or so to take.

We expect to see a number of items of prototype software emerging from the Alvey software engineering programme and being placed in the hands of evaluators during the next two years. These should include prototypes of the two first generation integrated project support environments (IPSES) being developed under Alvey's aspect and eclipse projects, which will become available in a number of increments, each more powerful than the previous one. There should also be a wide range of prototypes covering, for example, test specification and quality measurement, design including design with intelligent Knowledge based system support, prototyping tools, tools to support formal methods of specification, tools for documentation. Specific products relating to these will be expected to enter the market in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has about approaches for the purchase of intellectual property rights arising from Alvey-funded projects, by the United States Government or United States based companies, to any of the companies or academic institutions funded under the Alvey programme.

Industrial Development

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes there have been in the financial incentives for industrial development available to firms in Great Grimsby since May 1979.

Great Grimsby is part of the Grimsby travel-to-work area which was a development area until November 1984, when it was regraded as an intermediate area following the review of regional policy. The effect of this is that firms in Great Grimsby are no longer eligible for regional development grants but remain eligible for regional selective assistance and the full range of nationally-available incentives to industry.

Sumrie Plc

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Companies Act inquiry into Sumrie plc is still proceeding; and if he will make a statement.

Inquiries are concluded and information obtained is under consideration.

Motor Vehicles (Departmental Purchases)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cars, vans and trucks are purchased by Government Departments each year; and what is the breakdown of these statistics by make of vehicle and by Department.

This information is not held centrally and would only be obtainable at disproportionate cost. Each Department is responsible for purchasing its own vehicles and in the year to 30 October 1985 my Department purchased 75 vehicles comprising 28 cars (18 Austin Rover, 10 Ford), 44 vans (40 Ford, two Freight Rover, two Bedford) and three Land Rovers.

European Ferries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government assistance was sought by European Ferries to seek to place its order for two new ferries with British shipyards; and if he will make a statement.

No request for assistance has been made to my Department by European Ferries in respect of its requirement for two new ferries. My Department does assist British shipyards by way of the shipbuilding intervention fund to enable yards to offer owners attractive contract prices.

Multi-Fibre Arrangement

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he expects to negotiate a new multi-fibre arrangement no worse than the present arrangement in order to help the British textile industry.

I made clear the Government's position on the MFA during the debate in the House on 9 May. Discussions in the European Community on a negotiating position for both the multilateral and bilateral negotiations

Section 7 Assistance—Number and Value of Applications
£ million
Financial Years1979–801980–811981–821982·831983·841984·85Total
RegionNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.Value
Scotland323102·610432·419966·029169·4289111·3281172·31,487554·0
Wales21435·412935·223431·931137·938384·231069·81,581294·3
Northern17634·36525·28621·920430·825270·616729·8950212·6
North West42265·718126·919529·429437·121230·620324·41,507214·1
Yorkshire/Humberside18320·3616·627131·718523·220818·618839·81,096140·2
East Midlands346·2293·212122·110711·79112·6546·643662·4
West Midlands30·1NilNilNilNilNilNilNilNil4011·04311·1
South West514·4145·1393·3431·85911·45713·126339·1
RDG—Number of Applications and Related Capital Expenditure
£ million
Financial Years1979–801980–811981–821982–831983–841984–85Total
No.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.ValueNo.Value
Great Britain39,9842,40039,8583,90027,7352,60024,2462,50025,1472,20028,1892,500185,15916,100

Trade Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of total United Kingdom manufacturing industrial output is represented by (a) automobiles and (b) electronics in 1979 and each of the subsequent years for which statistics are available.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985, c. 21]: In 1980, the latest year for which firm figures are available, automobile output (cars, commercial vehicles and components) accounted for 5½ per cent. of all manufacturing activity while, on a broad definition, 'electronics' accounted for 6 per cent. Estimates suggest

are likely to start in the next few weeks and we are in close touch with interested parties in the United Kingdom in preparation for these.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement regarding progress on renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement.

Discussions in the European Community on a negotiating position for both the multilateral and bilateral negotiations are likely to start in the next few weeks and we are in close touch with interested parties in the United Kingdom in preparation for these.

Financial Aid Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the applications for (a) regional development grants and (b) selective financial assistance in each year since 1979, and by each standard region.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985, c. 23]: I regret that the information requested is not available for section 8 grants or on a regional basis for regional development grants (RDG). However, the tables show the number and value of applications for regional selective assistance (section 7) by region and the number of applications and related capital expenditure for RDG for GB only.that in 1984 the contribution of the automobile industry to the manufacturing total has fallen, while that of electronics may have risen.

Home Department

Criminal Trials (Juries)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to change the procedural rule in criminal trials whereby a jury must stay together from the moment it begins to consider its verdict until it has arrived at a conclusion.

Sikender Hyat

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were given to the governor of Ashford remand centre regarding the delivery of Sikender Hyat to Heathrow on Saturday 26 October to be sent back to Pakistan; what information was given to his relatives; why he was not so delivered on that date; and if he will make a statement.

Following the withdrawal of the hon. Member's representations, directions for Mr. Hyat's removal to Pakistan on 26 October were given by the immigration officer on 22 October. Immigration service records indicate that a request was passed on 22 October to the prison service at Ashford remand centre to take Mr. Hyat to Harmondsworth on the morning of 26 October. Relatives of Mr. Hyat were advised on 22 and 24 October of the removal directions and came to the airport to see him before his departure. There is no record at Ashford remand centre of the receipt of the request from the immigration service; no arrangements were made to convey Mr. Hyat and it was therefore not possible to remove him as directed. New directions were given for removal on 29 October, his relatives were advised and were able to see Mr. Hyat before his departure. Apologies were offered on 26 October by the immigration service to the relatives.We very much regret this failure in communication between the staff at Ashford remand centre and those in the immigration service. Arrangements were in hand, before this incident occurred, to discuss ways to overcome the problems of communications which had already been identified. This work will now be taken forward to try to ensure that such a mistake does not occur again.

Sunday Trading

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of west European countries which operate extensive Sunday trading.

At least one West European country operates extensive Sunday trading, and all West European countries do so to some degree.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the number and categories of people engaged in Sunday trading in the United Kingdom.

The Department keeps no record of the number and categories of people engaged in Sunday trading in the United Kingdom.

Brixton Prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available in Brixton prison; how many baths or showers each prisoner is allowed each week; and how many changes of clothes each prisoner is allowed each week.

Sixteen baths, 56 showers, 91 WCs and 54 urinals are available in Brixton prison. In general, all prisoners have access to a bath or shower daily. This routine may be varied for medical cases or for prisoners appearing at court. Prison clothing is exchanged at least once a week but more frequently if considered necessary —for example, for prisoners on kitchen parties and some other work parties. Unconvicted prisoners may wear private clothing, and this may be exchanged on visits.

Commission For Racial Equality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference of the Welsh consultative committee of the Commission for Racial Equality.

I am informed that the terms of reference of the Welsh consultative committee are as follows:

  • A. To provide a forum for consultation on policy issues referred to them by the Commission;
  • B. to raise, discuss and refer to the Commission for determination, policy issues which they feel the Commission should be considering;
  • C. in particular, to provide through discussion an insight into the effectiveness of the Commission's service delivery in the region as perceived by the consumers; and
  • D. to meet no more than three times a year for the purposes set out above.
  • asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the members of the Commission for Racial Equality are designated as having special responsibilities, either on a geographical or functional basis; and if he will list these in the Official Report.

    I understand from the chairman of the commission that the allocation of special geographical responsibilities is as follows:

    • Mr. Lincoln Crawford: the south of England
    • Mrs. Shreela Flather: Wales
    • Mr. Alan Gayton: the east midlands
    • Dr. Farrukh Hashmi: the west midlands
    • Miss Ethel Houston: Scotland
    • Mr. Gursharan Singh Sarang: the north-west
    • Mr. Gerald Tyler: the north-east
    The commission has four functional sub-committees whose membership is as follows:

    Field Services Committee

    • Miss Ethel Houston
    • Mrs. Lily Khan
    • Mr. William Morris
    • Mr. Clifton Robinson (Chairman)
    • Mr. Gursharan Singh Sarang

    Complaints Committee

    • Mr. Lincoln Crawford
    • Mr. E. Gilmour Jones
    • Mrs. Lily Khan
    • Mr. William Morris (Chairman)
    • Mr. Clifton Robinson
    • Mr. Gerald Tyler

    Employment Committee

    • Mr. Alan Gayton (Chairman)
    • Mr. Kenneth Gill
    • Professor Bhiku Parekh
    • Mr. Clifton Robinson
    • Mr. Gursharan Singh Sarang
    • Mr. Keith Whitesides

    Education, Housing and Services Committee

    • Mr. Lincoln Crawford
    • Mrs. Shreela Flather (Chairman)
    • Dr. Farrukh Hashmi
    • Professor Bhiku Parekh
    • Mr. Clifton Robinson
    • Mr. Gerald Tyler

    Individual commissioners may also take responsibility for the conduct of particular formal investigations undertaken by the commission.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the members of the Welsh consultative committee of the Commission for Racial Equality together with the dates on which they were appointed and the duration of their period on this committee.

    I understand that members of the commission's Welsh consultative committee are initially appointed for periods of two years, but that they may then be reappointed at the discretion of the commission. I am informed that the current membership of the committee is as follows:

    NameFirst appointed
    Councillor Mrs. S. Flather (Chairman)June 1981
    Mr. J. CarlileJune 1981
    Mr. S. ClarkeJune 1981
    Dr. H. CohenJune 1981
    Mr. J. DaviesJune 1981
    Councillor Mrs. J. LysaghtJune 1981
    Mr. A. MatthewsSummer 1982
    Mr. R. MooneeranJune 1981
    Mr. N. RamanadanJune 1981
    Mr. D. SeligmanJune 1981
    Mr. V. White MBEJune 1981
    *Mr. D. M. RolphJune 1981
    Mr. P. JonesNovember 1984
    Mr. B. AshleyApril 1984
    Insp. C. FrancisNovember 1984
    * Mr. D. M. Rolph represents the Welsh Office.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many instances during the past 12 months he has met community leaders from Wales to discuss the working of the Commission for Racial Equality in Wales.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Commission for Racial Equality set up its Welsh consultative committee.

    I understand that the Welsh consultative committee of the Commission for Racial Equality first met on 16 June 1981.

    Security Co-Operation

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any changes are planned in security co-operation between the police and Ministry of Defence personnel following the discovery of bombs outside Chelsea barracks.

    No; there is close and well-established co-operation which is kept under constant review.

    Deputy Secretaries (Responsibilities)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the responsibilities of each of the deputy secretaries in his Department and the numbers and ranks of staff reporting to each.

    The information at 1 November 1985 is as follows:

    Deputy Secretary:Criminal, general and statistical departments: and research and planning unit:
    Three under-secretaries, one chief research officer and 528 other staff

    Deputy Secretary:Police department:
    Three under-secretaries, controller, forensic science service and 2,645 other staff
    Deputy Secretary:Broadcasting, community programmes and equal opportunities, immigration and nationality, and passport departments:
    Three under-secretaries and 3,933 other staff
    Deputy Secretary:Establishments, fire and emergency planning, finance and manpower departments:
    Three under-secretaries, one director of information services and 1,982 other staff
    Deputy Secretary:Legal adviser's branch:
    Two principal assistant legal advisers and 26 other staff
    Deputy Secretary:Director-general of the prison service:
    One deputy director-general, three undersecretaries, one director, prison medical services and 27,580 other staff.

    Tottenham (Police Action)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the numbers according to age, sex and ethnic origin of Tottenham people arrested and taken to the police station; for how long they were held incommunicable; how many have subsequently been charged since Sunday 6 October; and how many remain in custody;(2) how many house searches have been recorded in the Tottenham and St. Anns police station areas; how many followed the arrest of a household member; how many entrances were made forcibly; how many charges have been made and how many convictions have been recorded since 6 October compared with the average for each of the past 12 months; and if he will set out the information according to ethnic and sex classification;(3) if he will list the number of stop and search incidents recorded in the Tottenham and St. Anns police station areas of London during each of the past 12 months; how many arrests and convictions have been recorded as a result; and if he will set out the information according to age, ethnic classification and sex.

    Portsmouth And Southampton (Broadcasting Franchise)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about representations received by the Independent Broadcasting Authority concerning the broadcasting franchise for the Portsmouth and Southampton area.

    I understand that the Independent Broadcasting Authority, which is responsible for the award of contracts under the Broadcasting Act 1981, has received approximately 70 representations about its recent decision on the award of the local radio contract for Portsmouth and Southampton.

    Fire Casualties

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the deaths by fire for each year since 1979 where there was evidence that the possibility of escape was prevented by domestic double-glazed windows.

    The information requested is not collected centrally on a regular basis. A special exercise over July 1983 to June 1984 revealed no cases where the presence of double-glazing was a material factor in causing fire fatalities. This and the examination of specific cases in England and Wales drawn to our attention suggests that there are very few such incidents.

    Prevention Of Terrorism

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) questioned and (b) charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for each month since January 1984; and, of those questioned but not charged, what records of the questioning are retained by the police.

    Under article 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1984 there is a power to examine persons arriving in or leaving Great Britain. Such examinations often last for only a few minutes, but article 9 gives authority for the detention of persons pending the conclusion of his examination or pending consideration of the question whether to make an exclusion order against him. There are also powers to arrest and detain under section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.The number of people detained under article 9 and section 12, and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1984 for each month since January 1984, is:

    1984DetainedCharged
    January11
    February162
    March29
    April191
    May191
    June10
    July292
    August9
    September82
    October15
    November203
    December182
    Total20313
    1985
    January20
    February6
    March71
    April191
    May131
    June568
    July18
    August171
    September21
    Total17712
    Records are not available for persons examined for less than one hour under article 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1984. Figures for the number of people examined for more than one hour under article 4 are available only since 22 March 1984, when the 1984 Act came into force. They are:
    1984Number
    March
    April7
    May9
    June2

    1984

    Number

    July3
    August3
    September2
    October8
    November6
    December3
    Total43

    1985

    January2
    February5
    March3
    April4
    May5
    June9
    July3
    August5
    September4
    Total40

    Records of all persons examined for more than one hour under article 4 or detained under article 9 or section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act are kept by the police.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people questioned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Scotland were subsequently transferred to England for further questioning during the past two years.

    Police (Firearms)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last year authority has been given for the use of firearms by police in each police authority.

    The table shows the number of operations involving criminals or other persons known or believed to be armed in which firearms were issued to the police, and the number of occasions on which they were fired, in 1984.

    Police forceNumber of operations in respect of which firearms were issuedNumber of operations in which firearms were fired
    Avon and Somerset17
    Bedfordshire10
    Cambridgeshire8
    Cheshire13
    Cleveland8
    City of London4
    Cumbria5
    Derbyshire8
    Devon and Cornwall28
    Dorset27
    Durham101
    Essex441
    Gloucestershire7
    Greater Manchester52
    Hampshire231
    Hertfordshire27
    Humberside56
    Kent37
    Lancashire35
    Leicestershire8
    Lincolnshire2
    Merseyside61
    Metropolitan1,8383
    Norfolk13

    Police force

    Number of operations in respect of which firearms were issued

    Number of operations in which firearms were fired

    Northamptonshire6
    Northumbria15
    North Yorkshire14
    Nottinghamshire10
    South Yorkshire13
    Staffordshire5
    Suffolk17
    Surrey32
    Sussex51
    Thames Valley17
    Warwickshire8
    West Mercia12
    West Midlands17
    West Yorkshire78
    Wiltshire12
    Dyfed Powys3
    Gwent2
    North Wales10
    South Wales4
    TOTAL2,6676

    Note: These figures relate only to police operations involving criminals or other persons known or believed to be armed. They do not include the issue of firearms for protection purposes or the issue and use of firearms to destroy injured or dangerous animals.

    Police (Establishment)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Deaprtment if he will list, for each police authority, the total establishment and the number of post holders for each year since 1979.

    On 30 September 1985 the authorised establishment and strength of police forces in England and Wales was as follows. Similar information for 31 December of each year since 1979 is shown in appendix 7 to the annual published reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

    Police ForceAuthorised EstablishmentPolice Strength
    Avon and Somerset3,0202,988
    Bedfordshire1,000977
    Cambridgeshire1,1401,136
    Cheshire1,8451,804
    Cleveland1,4741,458
    Cumbria1,1281,110
    Derbyshire1,7671,762
    Devon and Cornwall2,7392,738
    Dorset1,2031,186
    Durham1,3571,297
    Dyfed Powys934919
    Essex2,6732,661
    Gloucestershire1,1641,146
    Greater Manchester6,9436,782
    Gwent978970
    Hampshire3,0843,076
    Hertfordshire1,5781,577
    Humberside1,9721,917
    Kent2,8752,848
    Lancashire3,1583,019
    Leicestershire1,7331,738
    Lincolnshire1,1831,144
    Merseyside4,6074,567
    Norfolk1,2781,248
    Northamptonshire1,0311,023
    Northumbria3,3783,358
    North Wales1,3161,257
    North Yorkshire1,3681,362
    Nottinghamshire2,2592,191

    Police Force

    Authorised Establishment

    Police Strength

    South Wales3,1093,065
    South Yorkshire2,8722,821
    Staffordshire2,1042,096
    Suffolk1,1361,130
    Surrey1,6261,609
    Sussex2,8302,806
    Thames Valley3,3173,295
    Warwickshire925927
    West Mercia1,9531,926
    West Midlands6,6846,549
    West Yorkshire5,1545,015
    Wiltshire1,0451,030
    City of London798777
    Metropolitan27,16526,681
    Total120,903118,986

    Metropolitan Police

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which the Metropolitan police armoured cars have been used in the past year.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions over the past 12 months the Metropolitan police air support unit has used Hele-Tele surveillance cameras; what were the occasions and who authorised their use; and on what occasion Hele-Tele was first used operationally by the air support unit.

    We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that over the past 12 months the Hele-Tele surveillance camera was used by his air support unit on about 30 occasions for the following purposes:

  • (i) to assist security operations at such events as state visits, Trooping the Colour and the moving of high-risk prisoners from prison to court;
  • (ii) to assist with traffic control at major sporting events such as the Cup Final;
  • (iii) to assist with the command and control of police officers deployed at demonstrations and marches; and
  • (iv) to assist in the preparation of training exercises.
  • The Commissioner assures us that on each occasion the use of the Hele-Tele was fully within the guidelines for the use of equipment in police surveillance operations, a copy of which is in the Library. Authority was given in each case by the commander in charge of the operation.Hele-Tele was first use at the Notting Hill Gate carnival in 1977.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan police first acquired stocks of CS gas.

    The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the Metropolitan police first acquired CS in the early 1960s, for criminal siege purposes.

    Crowd Control Equipment

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police authorities which currently hold stocks of (a) CS gas, (b) plastic bullets, (c) riot shields and (d) water cannon; and if he will indicate any additions to the list which have occurred during the last year.

    The following police forces in England and Wales are understood to hold plastic baton rounds and/or CS gas:

    ForceBaton roundsCS gas
    Metropolitan policeYesYes
    Avon and SomersetYesYes
    BedfordshireNoYes
    CambridgeshireNo*Yes
    CheshireNoYes
    City of LondonNoYes
    ClevelandNo*Yes
    DerbyshireNoYes
    DurhamNo*Yes
    EssexYesYes
    GloucestershireNo*Yes
    Greater Manchester*YesYes
    HampshireNoYes
    HertfordshireNoYes
    HumbersideYesYes
    Kent*YesYes
    LancashireYesYes
    LeicestershireYesYes
    LincolnshireNoYes
    MerseysideYesYes
    NorfolkNoYes
    NorthumbriaNoYes
    North WalesYesNo
    North YorkshireYesYes
    NottinghamshireNoYes
    South YorkshireNoYes
    StaffordshireNo*Yes
    SuffolkNoYes
    SussexYesYes
    WarwickshireYesYes
    West MerciaNoYes
    West MidlandsNoYes
    WiltshireNoYes

    Notes:

    Stocks of CS gas indicated are intended primarily for public order purposes.

    * Indicates additions to the list during the last year.

    All police forces in England and Wales have stocks of riot shields.

    No police force in England and Wales holds operational water cannon, but the Metropolitan police are working with the Home Office in evaluating two prototype water cannon.

    Cenotaph (Wreath)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom facilities for laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday currently afforded to the Greater London council, will be granted after 1 April 1986.

    No decision has been made about the wreath hitherto laid by the chairman of the Greater London council. I shall inform the hon. Member as soon as a decision has been made.

    Drug Trafficking

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to give details of the Government's proposals for legislation to provide for the confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

    A statement of the Government's proposals has been placed in the Library and in the Vote Office. It is intended to bring forward legislation shortly to give effect to these proposals. Copies of the statement are also available on request from the Home Office, C4 division, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AT (telephone 01–213 3747).

    Handsworth Riots

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report of the chief constable of the west midlands on the rioting in the Lozells road area of Handsworth in September to be published.

    The chief constable is publishing his report today. I am placing copies in the Library. The report provides a clear account of the disorders and more generally is a most important and valuable contribution to consideration of the lessons to be learnt from the recent disorders in Birmingham and elsewhere.

    Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make available the draft guidance on the operation of the controls proposed in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill.

    Yes. A draft note of guidance on the introduction of new controls on scientific procedures performed on living animals has been prepared. Copies have been placed in the Library and are available in the Vote Office.Interested organisations have been sent copies of the draft and asked for their comments on it. Copies of subsequent drafts of the note will also be made available to the House in the same way.

    Crown Courts (Acquittals)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage and how many in number, of defendants who have pleaded not guilty to offences tried in the Crown courts have been acquitted in each of the past five years.

    I have been asked to reply.The percentage and number of defendants dealt with in the Crown court in each of the years 1980 and 1984 who pleaded not guilty to all counts and who were acquitted on all counts is shown in the following table.

    Committals for Trial in the Crown Court in England and Wales
    Defendants pleading not guilty to all counts
    Number acquitted on all countsPercentage acquitted on all counts
    198014,23850
    198114,80550
    198214,19549
    198314,60350
    198414,55451

    Immigration

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Bangladesh have (a) been given temporary admission to the United Kingdom and (b) absconded in each month since January 1984.

    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 181]: I regret that the information requested in the first part of the question is not available. Information about the number of people from Bangladesh who have absconded and cannot be traced is available only from terminal 3 at Heathrow. It is as follows:

    Number
    1985
    January-March16
    April-June5
    July-September30
    October12
    Total63
    1984
    January-December7
    Total7
    The figures relate to the date on which the individual on temporary admission should have reported to an immigration officer or the police.A person is not, however, counted as an absconder until efforts over a period of time have failed to trace him, and the figures for recent months are therefore subject to revision as inquiries are completed in further cases. The figures are therefore higher than those given in answer to a question from the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) on 29 October.

    Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

    Afghanistan

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current relations with Afghanistan.

    I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 11 November 1985 to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry). We have no substantive relations with Afghanistan. Following the Soviet invasion in December 1979, we withdrew Her Majesty's ambassador in Kabul and suspended our aid programme to Afghanistan.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has requested the United States Government at the forthcoming summit meeting between President Reagan and Mr. Gorbachev to raise the continuing Soviet occupation of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

    In President Reagan's speech to the United Nations General Assembly on 24 October he named Afghanistan as one of the five regional conflicts which he intended to raise with Mr. Gorbachev at the Geneva summit talks.

    Hong Kong

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many illegal immigrants entered Hong Kong in each of the past six months; and if he will give comparable figures for the previous year.

    It is not possible to give exact figures. The most reliable indicators are the numbers arrested at the Hong Kong-China border while trying to enter Hong Kong illegally, and the numbers arrested after entry, having evaded the security forces at the border. The figures for the past six months and the comparable figures for the same period last year are:

    Number of border arrests
    19841985
    May7501,033
    June7341,059
    July6021,065
    August838993
    September1,3421,364
    October1,1391,935
    Number of evaders arrested
    19841985
    May239289
    June237245
    July214256
    August253299
    September275258
    October261296

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Hong Kong Government intend to issue a new identity card; and if he will make a statement.

    The Hong Kong Government intend to issue two new types of identity cards with effect from 1 July 1987. These are "Permanent Hong Kong Identity Cards", which state that a holder has right of abode in Hong Kong, and "Hong Kong Identity Cards", for those who do not have right of abode.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to grant an amnesty to illegal immigrants now resident in Hong Kong.

    No. The Hong Kong Government have made it clear that all illegal immigrants arrested either on or after entry into Hong Kong from China will be repatriated.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of persons who have emigrated from Hong Kong in each of the past six years to the latest available date.

    The number of Hong Kong residents (Hong Kong British passport holders and Hong Kong Certificate of Identity holders) who have emigrated from Hong Kong in each of the past six years and in the first half of this year are:

    Number
    197912,774
    198018,602
    198118,195
    198221,143
    198322,209
    198421,522
    1985*2,535
    * Up to end of June. The corresponding figure for 1984 was 5,947.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the current border security between Hong Kong and China; and if he will make a statement.

    Yes. I believe that deployment of the British garrison and the Royal Hong Kong police force at the Hong Kong-China border is adequate to control the influx of would-be illegal immigrants, an increasing proportion of whom are now being arrested at the border rather than in the urban area of Hong Kong.On 13 November the Hong Kong Government held useful talks in Hong Kong, covering this and other border liaison matters, with the relevant Guangdong provincial authorities of the People's Republic of China.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of illegal immigrants from China in Hong Kong in each of the past six years to the latest available date.

    Prior to the ending of the "Touch base" policy on 24 October 1980, illegal immigrants from China who had managed to evade capture at the border and to reach the urban area were allowed to remain in Hong Kong. Those whose stay was regularised in this manner totalled 102,826 in 1979 and 61,094 in 1980 (up to 24 October). Since then, all illegal immigrants, both those arrested on entry and those who have evaded the security forces at the border but have been subsequently arrested, have been repatriated to China. The arrest and repatriation figures for the period after the ending of the "Touch base" policy are:

    Border ArrestEvaders Arrested
    19817,5301,690
    19828,6762,484
    19834,6712,933
    19849,6533,090
    1985 (January to October)9,7762,627

    Environment

    Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Samaritans of Tyneside v. the Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council on 17 July, he will undertake a review of section 2 subsections 1 and 2 (d) of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

    There does not appear to be any justification in this Court of Appeal decision for departing from the general principles of the 1978 Act and extending disabled rate relief beyond institutions caring predominantly for the disabled. I understand that the Samaritans of Tyneside already receive the minimum 50 per cent. rating relief on properties used for charitable purposes.

    Land Registers

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire dated 9 August on the subject of land registers.

    In my reply of 12 September to my hon. Friend I undertook to let him know the decisions reached in respect of certain parcels of land where my right hon. Friend had given notice of his proposal to direct the disposal of the land. I am now able to do so.

    On 25 June 1985, notices were given under section 99 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to the owners of 50 land register sites giving them notice of the Secretary of State's proposals to direct them to take steps to dispose of their land. The owners had 42 days to make representations as to why they should not be so directed or as to the proposed contents of the directions. The 42-day period ended on 6 August 1985. Representations were received from owners of all 50 sites.

    After carefully considering the representations made to him, my right hon. Friend has today made directions under section 98 of the 1980 Act requiring the owners of 21 of the original 50 sites to take steps to dispose of their interest in the land. A list of the 21 sites, which amount to about 56·3 hectares of land, has been placed in the Library of the house.

    In the case of a further 21 sites, totalling some 85 hectares, he has decided not to make directions at the moment because he is satisfied that the owners have either disposed of the site, brought it back into use or are about to do so, in many cases as a result of the section 99 notice. In the cases of the remaining eight sites, totalling some 15·7 hectares, he has decided not to direct the disposal of the land in accordance with the original proposed directions but is considering fresh directions. He has today given notice under section 99 of the 1980 Act of his revised proposed directions in respect of three of these totalling 12·5 hectares. These sites are at Wythenshawe road in Manchester, Newmarket road, Ashton-under-Lyne and Hawthorne road, Denton.

    The present exercise has proved successful. Of the 157 hectares subject to the 50 section 99 notices, 54 per cent. has already been or is being sold or brought into use; 36 per cent. is now the subject of directions under section 98 of the act; and my right hon. Friend is today giving notice of his intention to direct disposal of almost all the remainder.

    In those cases where my right hon. Friend has decided not to make a direction for the moment, my Department will monitor progress and take action as appropriate. We are determined to maintain the momentum we have built up in bringing surplus land back into use and will be considering similar action on other sites, shortly.

    English Industrial Estates

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the current programme of development at present being undertaken by English Industrial Estates on the Isle of Wight will be completed in full.

    Yes. The programme concerned is funded by the Development Commission and is being pushed forward vigorously.

    Dog Licensing

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of dog licences.

    This matter remains under consideration following consultation on possible changes to the licensing system. We will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

    Housing Investment Programme

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to announce the 1985–86 housing investment programme allocations.

    The housing investment programme allocations for 1985–86 were announced on 20 December 1984. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement very shortly about the total available for allocations in 1986–87, and intends to notify individual local authorities of their allocations in December.

    Defective Housing

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the allocation to local authorities of resources for the repair of defective properties in the light of the decision of the Divisional Court on 23 July in the case of Birmingham district council v. Wendy Kelly, Beryl Robinson and Travella Edmonds concerning health risks in council properties which have condensation.

    We are discussing with the local authority associations how best to distribute the resources available for allocation to local authorities for capital expenditure on housing in 1986–87. The allocations themselves, together with the principles followed in making them, will be announced in due course: they will take proper account of all relevant considerations.

    Housing Expenditure

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the extra cash allocated to housing in 1986–87 following the autumn statement will be available, taking inflation into account, to increase the actual numbers of dwellings in serious disrepair which can be worked upon, compared with 1985–86.

    I shall be announcing very shortly the apportionment of the total public expenditure provision for housing in 1986–87 between local authorities, new towns and the Housing Corporation. It is for local authorities to determine how best to spend the resources available to them, but I expect greater priority to be given to renovation of local authority dwellings next year, in the light of the report of the Department's inquiry into the condition of local authority housing stock.

    Housing Repairs (London)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has any plans to help local authorities deal with repairs to housing stock transferred from the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.

    On abolition, the housing capital allocation which would have been given to the GLC for renovating transferred stock in 1986–87 will be distributed to transferee authorities according to need. Housing capital receipts accruing to the London Residuary Body will be distributed to the boroughs pro rata to HIP allocations. The boroughs will be able to secure the services of GLC specialist staff, using, if they wish, the good offices of the London Residuary Body.

    Docklands Light Railway

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what existing developments will be displaced in relation to the construction of the Docklands light railway; and with what employment consequences.

    Greater London Council (Abolition)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the responses received in support of his Department's proposals for future arrangements for the Greater London council's seaside and country homes.

    Thirty-seven district councils, three London boroughs and the ADC have responded in support of the Department's proposals.

    Hammersmith Community Trust

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to give his decision on a section 93 grant to the Hammersmith Community Trust to carry out repairs to premises at 153 Hammond road and for the removal of asbestos, for which the Greater London council applied on 24th June.

    My right hon. Friend has received no application for consent from the Greater London council to the carrying out of work at 153 Hammond road by the Hammersmith Community Trust or by any other party.

    Voluntary Organisations

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he will be able to give local authorities towards the funding of voluntary organisations affected by abolition; and if he will make a statement.

    In order to stimulate local authority funding of voluntary bodies, the Government are making transitional grant available on £20 million a year worth of voluntary projects taken on by boroughs and districts from the GLC/MCCs.There has been an encouraging response from local authorities, which justifies the Government's confidence that its measures to safeguard voluntary bodies after abolition will be effective. Provisional bids have been made by all but one of the authorities concerned. This demonstrates their willingness to take on these increased responsibilities, aided by the substantial support which the transitional grant scheme will provide.We are writing today to the authorities in response to the initial bids setting out in more detail how the allocations of transitional grant will be made. We wish to direct the grants towards those local projects which make the most effective contribution towards tackling the social needs of the areas concerned. Political campaigning groups, police monitoring groups, and groups which do not benefit local people will not get support.I am placing a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Double Glazing (Fire Safety)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department issues concerning safety in domestic properties in the case of fire where double glazing is involved.

    I have been asked to reply.Home Office fire safety publicity includes general advice on the need to plan escape routes in case of fire in the home. Specific advice on the possible use of windows as a means of escape is contained in material issued by the glazing trade and this subject has also been publicised by other organisations.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from safety organisations concerning the dangers arising from fire in double-glazed properties.

    During the consultations over the new building regulations, representations were received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents that the regulations should require double-glazed windows to be openable to provide a means of escape in the event of fire.In 1983 Government Departments carried out a review of policies on glazing and fire safety. Little evidence emerged then, or has done since the Home Office followed up the review in 1984, that fixed glazing is a significant factor in causing or contributing to fatal casualties. In the light of the review, the Government decided that an extension of the building regulations would not be justified.However, the Government attach a high priority to fire safety in the home and we regularly review the requirements of the building regulations to ensure that essential fire safety standards are maintained.

    Thames Water Authority

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the London and Metropolitan Government Staff Commission's circular No. 9 issued on 11 October, he will issue a direction to the Thames water authority further to consider designating staff of the Greater London council working in areas for which the Thames water authority will become responsible; and if he will make a statement.

    Leeds And Liverpool Canal Corridor

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision on the joint application to his Department for a submission for grant aid under the European regional development fund for a study into the social and economic feasibility of a scheme to revitalise the Leeds and Liverpool canal corridor.

    The application for European regional development fund grant aid was received in my Department on 11 November. Internal consultations are already under way and officials expect to be in a position to discuss the proposals with Lancashire county council shortly.

    Local Government Reform (Retirement Arrangements)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the responses received to his Department's proposals in the consultation paper arising from the Local Government Act 1985, regarding early retirement arrangements for staff of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils.

    My Department received responses from the TUC, the London and Metropolitan Government Staff Commission, the AMA, the ACC, the ADC, and some 19 individual local authorities. A variety of responses were also received from other interested organisations and individuals.

    Social Services

    Dentists

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures for the amounts scheduled per dentist in the General Dental Services of the National Health Service for the months April to September 1985 inclusive; and what are the comparable figures for the equivalent months from 1981 to 1984 inclusive.

    The information requested is not available on a monthly basis. The average amounts scheduled per dentist* in England and Wales for the quarters April to June and June to September in each of the years 1981 to 1985 are as follows:

    April to June £July to September £
    19819,5278,998
    198210,6439,968
    198310,71410,537
    198411,32811,227
    198511,55611,941
    * Excluding dentists who did not work in the GDS for the whole year (ending in September), and a small number in other groups.

    Opticians

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in the light of the recent judgment in the High Court concerning the clawback of alleged excess profits by opticians, whether he will consider withdrawing the clawback of a similar nature imposed on dentists;(2) what are the figures for the amounts of money withheld from dentists, under the clawback arrangements, during the following years: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85; and whether he will express these figures both as total amounts and amounts per individual general dental practitioner.

    No adjustments of the kind imposed on opticians have been imposed on dentists. The system of remuneration of general dental practitioners includes an arrangement whereby the income paid in one year is adjusted in agreement with the profession, on the basis of data on actual income supplied by the Inland Revenue, to take account of any under or over payments in previous years. This arrangement has proved acceptable to the independent Doctors and Dentists Review Body.

    The adjustments made in the years 1979–80 to 1984–85 and agreed by the profession are as follows (a negative sign indicating an amount recovered from dentists).

    Total (England) £ million

    Amount per general dental practitioner*

    1979–8000
    1980–8100
    1981–82-5·4-440
    1982–83-2·5-197
    1983–84-1·2-88
    1984–8500
    * excluding dentists who did not work in the GDS for the whole year and a small number in other groups.

    Invalidity Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the total cost of (a) paying a 7 per cent. increase in invalidity benefit to all invalidity pensioners and (b) paying a 7 per cent. increase to all other social security beneficiaries, broken down by category.

    I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the cost of this month's uprating, when the great majority of benefits will increase by 7 per cent. Invalidity benefit will, however, increase by 11·8 per cent. because of the restoration of the 5 per cent. abatement introduced in 1980.The total net cost of this uprating of invalidity benefit is about £170 million in a full year. The figure takes account of the restoration of the abatement, the introduction by the Social Security Act 1985 of an offset between invalidity allowance and the additional component, and the effect on supplementary benefit entitlement.The full year net costs of uprating other main benefits are:

    BenefitCost £ million
    Retirement pension1,120
    Widows' benefits55
    Unemployment benefit115
    Sickness benefit20
    Invalid care allowance1
    Attendance allowance45
    Severe disablement allowance20
    Mobility allowance30
    Industrial injuries benefits30
    War pensions35
    Maternity allowance15
    Child benefit*100
    One parent benefit10
    Family income supplement*35
    Supplementary benefits*230
    Housing benefit*

    Notes:

    1. All figures are rounded

    2. Benefits marked * increase by an amount different from seven per cent.

    3. The cost of increasing supplementary benefit and housing benefit is reduced by the relatively higher uprating of other benefits.

    The total cost of the uprating is about £2,050 million.

    Health Visitors

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what national provisions exist for providing standardised information on a continuing basis to health visitors throughout the United Kingdom to ensure a consistent approach between health authorities and to disseminate models of good practice.

    A package of performance indicators has been sent to health authorities to help local management identify aspects of service performance which warrant investigation and to offer them pointers to appropriate action for improving services. Indicators particularly relevant to health visitors are:

    • —numbers of children seen in a year
    • —vaccination and immunisation rates
    • —number of health visitors visits per 1,000 population
    • —number of over 65s seen by health visitors
    This material is published annually and was last circulated to health authorities in July 1985.

    Severe Weather Payments

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to issue any guidance during the current winter on the interpretation of regulation 26 of the supplementary benefit regulations governing single payments due to exceptionally severe weather; and if he will make a statement.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to increase the effectiveness and fairness of the operation of the supplementary benefit single payment for exceptionally severe weather, particularly so far as claims by eligible elderly people in the coming winter are concerned.

    I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 11 November at columns 95–96.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the total numbers of people who claimed cold weather payments in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 to date.

    Information is not available on the total numbers of people who have claimed supplementary benefit single payments for extra fuel used as a result of periods of exceptionally severe weather. The number of payments made in recent years is as follows:

    YearApproximate number of payments (thousands)
    1981
    1982280
    1983
    1984
    1985 (to date)170
    Figures are not available for 1979 or 1980.

    Nhs (Expenditure)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of health service expenditure as an absolute figure and as a percentage of total National Health Service expenditure for each of the past 10 years was spent on (a) elderly and geriatric services, (b) community services, (c) the mentally handicapped, (d) the mentally ill, (e) obstetric services and (f) acute hospital services.

    The requested breakdown by patient group is available only for hospital and community health services expenditure which accounts for some 70 per cent. of total National Health Service expenditure. The table shows estimated gross current expenditure by health authorities, in cash and as a percentage of total hospital and community health services expenditure, on the main client groups each year between 1975–76 and 1983–84, the latest year for which these estimates are available. Comparable figures prior to 1975–76 are not available.These estimates of health authorities' spending are valid for monitoring broad trends, but not for making close

    Hospital and Community Health Services expenditure (£ million cash) England
    1975–761976–771977–781978–791979–801980–811981–821982–83║1983–84
    Geriatric services*269311356410489649714763804
    (percentage of total)(8·7)(8·9)(9·1)(9·3)(9·2)(9·5)(9·4)(9·4)(9·4)
    Community services260294329370449598665728780
    (percentage of total)(8·4)(8·4)(8·4)(8·4)(8·5)(8·7)(8·8)(9·0)(9·1)
    Services for mentally handicapped people162181205229275355389419437
    (percentage of total)(5·3)(5·2)(5·2)(5·2)(5·2)(5·2)(5·1)(5·2)(5·1)
    Services for mentally ill people†354389444490593775860916965
    (percentage of total)(11·5)(11·1)(11·3)(11·1)(11·2)(11·3)(11·3)(11·3)(11·3)
    Obstetric services167188207224273353392427435
    (percentage of total)(5·4)(5·3)(5·3)(5·1)(5·1)(5·2)(5·2)(5·3)(5·1)
    Acute hospital services1,4551,6531,8332,0522,4593,1633,5053,7453,958
    (percentage of total)(47·2)(47·1)(46·7)(46·6)(46·3)(46·2)(46·2)(46·3)(46·2)
    Other services4144955486317729581,0571,0871,182
    (percentage of total)(13·4)(14·1)(14·0)(14·3)(14·5)(14·0)(13·9)(13·4)(13·8)
    Total Hospital and community health services‡ (excluding joint finance)3,0813,5113,9234,4065,3106,8497,5828,0858,561
    * Including expenditure on non-psychiatric day patients.
    † Including expenditure on psychiatric day patients.
    ‡ As given in health authorities summarised accounts.
    ║ Provisional.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the joint policy statement on National Health Service expenditure sent to him by the British Medical Association, the Institute of Health Service Administrators and the Royal College of Nursing; what response he is making; and if he will make a statement.

    Computer Files

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which personal data files on (a) the unemployment benefit computer system at Reading and (b) his Department's computer system at Newcastle have reference to or are indexes to manual files; and whether he will describe the broad categories or details that can be found on those manual files.

    The unemployment benefit computer systems at Reading and Livingstone and the computer systems in Newcastle central office both have reference to supporting clerically held records containing, for example, evidence of entitlement to benefit. Where taxable benefits are concerned there may also be references to income tax records held by the Inland Revenue, some of which are clerical. The pensions, national insurance contributions and child benefit systems in Newcastle central office include references which could lead to other files held in DHSS central offices and local offices relating to entitlement to various social security benefits. Some

    comparisons between individual programmes. They are derived from the Department's programme budget analyses which have been provided to the Social Services Committee each year since 1980 and have been published in minutes of evidence associated with the Committee's reports. The latest analysis at constant prices, together with notes of caution on the limits of its accuracy, are given in the Committee's Sixth Report (HC 339) which was published in June of this year.

    personal data files in these systems may also include references to files held outside the Department, such as bank or building society accounts or occupational pensions schemes, but the details contained in those files are not available to the Department.

    Unemployment Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to amend the rule relating to those employed on seasonal work who are currently barred from drawing unemployment benefit after three consecutive years; and if he will make a statement.

    A seasonal worker may receive unemployment benefit during his off-season if he can show that he has had, or can reasonably expect to obtain, a substantial amount of employment during that off-season. This conditiion is designed to ensure that unemployment benefit is not paid to those seasonal workers who are not in the employment field during their off-seasons. As there is no practical way of distinguishing between the voluntary and involuntary seasonal worker, we have no plans to amend these rules.

    Operation Seagull

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the total number of non-premium time hours worked by, and the total cost of overtime payments to, North-western regional health authority ambulance personnel at, or travelling to and from Blackpool, during the period 7 to 11 October;

    (2) what was the total cost to the North-western regional health authority of Operation Seagull, mounted at Blackpool during the period 7 to 11 October;

    (3) how many vehicles belonging to A, B and C divisions, respectively, of the North-western regional health authority ambulance service were on deployment and based at Blackpool from 7 to 11 October; how many ambulances remained on station at Salford, Atherton, Wigan and Bolton during that period; how many ambulance service support vehicles were sent to Blackpool on a daily basis during that period; and what were the total numbers of hours paid, hours worked and rest days worked by ambulance personnel from the Greater Manchester ambulance service engaged in Operation Seagull during that period.

    We do not hold this information centrally. I understand the hon. Member may already have had answers to some of these questions from the chairman of the North Western regional health authority, who may also be able to answer the remaining points.

    Hospital Beds (Grimsby)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figures for the number of hospital beds in Great Grimsby at the latest available date and for May 1979.

    Information is not available centrally in precisely the form requested. During 1984, the latest year for which figures are available centrally, the average daily number of available beds in National Health Service hospitals in Grimsby District Health Authority was 800. The corresponding figure for 1979 was 797.

    Hypothermia (Grimsby)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths from hypothermia there have been in the last five years in Great Grimsby.

    There have been two deaths registered between 1 January 1981 and 1 November 1985 with a mention of hypothermia on the death certificate to residents of Great Grimsby, one female in 1982 and one male in 1983.

    Region1981–821982–831983–841984–85*
    Number of casesPayments £Number of casesPayments £Number of casesPayments £Number of casesPayments £
    Northern117119,431115184,38179188,609110141,399
    Yorkshire171103,893198143,624245184,038262322,560
    Trent183203,477226204,167254313,289288318,972
    East Anglian73133,32593105,464119182,596145222,633
    North West Thames125221,005106216,92297164,216113534,736
    North East Thames310308,545339621,980294501,903294766,875
    South East Thames234156,217240277,666245247,652227469,300
    South West Thames388842,094328216,962463708,190365320,771
    Wessex118124,796152122,498219692,553216181,534
    Oxford3850,7748032,3536570,42677133,937
    South Western132187,423186177,383129328,785115305,779
    West Midlands293312,521341661,127329242,007367371,489
    Mersey175128,885198125,638233392,275273266,350
    North Western424539,395372431,446487563,997518545,479
    Total2,7813,432,7812,9743,521,6113,2584,780,5363,3704,901,814

    Woolwich Office

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what computer facilities are available at his Department's Woolwich office.

    In accordance with the Department's operational strategy seven British Telecom microcomputer systems have been installed to deal with supplementary benefit work and will be in operation shortly. Datalink equipment allowing national insurance information to be obtained has been in use for several years.

    Child Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of each 1 per cent. increase in child benefit.

    The net cost of a 1 per cent. increase in child benefit would be about £35 million in a full year.

    Family Income Supplement

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra families he expects will receive family income supplement as a result of the changes to the scheme, over and above indexation, that will be implemented this November.

    Regional Health Authorities (Court Settlements)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of out of court settlements, and the amounts paid, by each regional health authority for claims against each authority in each of the last four financial years for which figures are available.

    The information held centrally does not distinguish between out of court settlements and those resulting from court decisions. The table shows the number of cases in which compensation payments were made by the health authorities in each region as a result of court decisions, legal advice or out of court settlements, and the total of the payments, as recorded in authorities' annual accounts.

    Region

    1981–82

    1982–83

    1983–84

    1984–85*

    Number of cases

    Payments £

    Number of cases

    Payments £

    Number of cases

    Payments £

    Number of cases

    Payments £

    Boards of governors/SHAs104,5821647,408858,63923156,776
    Grand total2,7913,437,3632,9903,569,0193,2664,839,1753,3935,058,590
    * Provisional figures.

    Mccoll Report

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the report of the McColl working party on artificial limbs and appliances is expected to be published.

    I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 13 November at columns 207–8.

    Salmonella Deaths (Wakefield)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the salmonella deaths at Stanley Royd hospital, Wakefield.

    I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse) on 11 November at columns 95–6.

    Hospital Waiting Lists

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, on the latest available figures, if he will provide the waiting lists for (a) urgent and (b) non-urgent cases in (i) Leeds eastern district health authority and (ii) Leeds western district health authority; and if he will give the comparable figures for 1984.

    The requested information is given in the table.

    Number of cases on in-patient waiting lists for admission to NHS hospitals at 31 March
    District Health AuthorityUrgent casesNon-urgent cases
    1984198519841985
    Leeds Eastern6285314,6204,739
    Leeds Western4506673,9713,665

    Mrs Myra Mable Fairclough

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority's report and inquiry into the death of Mrs. Myra Mable Fairclough at St. Mary's hospital, Portsmouth, is made public.

    I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 12 November at columns 161–62.

    Surgical Operations (Resources)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what resources he proposes to allocate during the next three years towards increasing hip replacement operations, renal services and coronary artery surgery facilities; and what is the current level of demand from senior citizens for each of the above treatments.

    Spending in the hospital and community health services is planned to increase by £650 million in 1986–87. Further increases of £470 million and £440 million are planned for 1987–88 and 1988–89 respectively. Health authorities will also have available their growing cost improvement programmes. It is for authorities to decide upon the allocation of resources to individual services from within the totals available to them. But, the three procedures listed are identified as key priorities for further development and I expect authorities to plan accordingly. Information on the levels of demand for specific procedures or by age group is not available centrally.

    Ambulancemen

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the average weekly earnings of ambulancemen each year since 1979; and how many ambulancemen employed in the west midlands region have enrolled for the 12-month life-saving techniques courses arranged by the Government.

    Estimates, derived from various sources for each year except 1982, of average gross weekly earnings (excluding London allowance) of all ambulancemen are as follows:

    £
    June 197993.92
    June 1980129.95
    June 1981141.56
    June 1983153.55
    June 1984160.46
    June 1985*162.08
    * Excluding the 1985–86 settlement which is still the subject of negotiations.
    The courses are not arranged by the Government and the information relating to the west midlands region is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the west midlands regional health authority who may be able to provide the information requested.

    Food Additives

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy on the alleged health risks associated with diethylene glycol in sweets, meat pies, pasties, sausage rolls, cakes and puddings.

    I am advised that it is unlikely that adverse health effects have occurred as a result of exposure to diethylene glycol (DEG) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) in food, arising from the use over many years of regenerated cellulose film (RCF), though the possibility that untoward effects might have occurred in some individuals cannot be ruled out. I am satisfied that there is no need at the present time to take action to remove from retail sale food wrapped in RCF. However, it is necessary for steps to be taken to reduce levels of DEG and MEG migrating into food, and in his reply to the hon. Member on 21 November, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will indicate the action being taken. We shall continue to keep in close touch on this matter.

    Hospital And Community Health Services

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the real terms increase in revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services since 1982; what percentage of that increase has been used to meet the costs of the National Health Service drugs bill, the financing of pay awards and costs of repairs and maintenance; to what extent the increase takes into account demographic changes; and what investments he proposes to inject into the hospital and community health budget during the next three years.

    Revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services increased 2·4 per cent. in economic cost terms in the two years from 1982–83 to 1984–85. The cash allocations for each year included an amount over and above forecast general inflation in recognition of the costs of demographic change. Health authorities are expected to meet pay and price increases, to develop services and to invest as necessary in repairs and maintenance from within the total resources available to them, including both their cash allocations and resources released from efficiency savings and cost improvement programmes. It is not, therefore, possible to identify separately the proportion of the cash interest allocated each year which has been spent on specific items. As regards hospital and community health services funding over the next three years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) on 12 November at columns 162–63.

    Social Fund

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidelines he intends to issue in respect of availability of assistance with furniture, house repairs, fuel disconnection and reconnection charges, costs caused by sickness or visits to a child in care and home insulation within the framework of the social fund.

    I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 3 July at columns 177–78.

    Mental Patients

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; how many complaints were submitted to the Mental Health Act Commission about treatment of mental patients; and what findings arose from those complaints which were subsequently investigated.

    Information is not available in the precise form requested. Numbers of compulsory admissions are collected centrally by calendar year. In the course of the year 1984, there were a total of 16,019 compulsory admissions to mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units in England under the terms of the Mental Health Act 1983, and on 31 December 1984, 5,892 patients were detained under the Act. The yearly figure of 16,019 includes some patients admitted more than once.The Mental Health Act 1983 came into effect on 30 September 1983. Information about compulsory admissions between that date and the end of 1983 is not readily available but I will let the hon. Member have it as soon as it is available.On the question of complaints made to the Mental Health Act Commission, I refer the hon. Member to section 10 and appendix 2 of the commission's first biennial report (House of Commons paper 586) which was laid before the House on 22 October 1985.

    Finsbury Park And Archway (Claimants)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of claimants at the Finsbury Park and Archway offices of his Department in receipt of (a) supplementary benefit and (b) single payments for furniture in September of each year since 1979.

    The table shows the number of claimants receiving supplementary benefit from the Department's offices at Finsbury Park and Archway on 30 July 1985—the latest available figures—and at comparative dates in each of the preceding five years. Figures for 1979 are not now available.

    Finsbury ParkArchway (Highgate)
    198010,14311,775
    198112,85913,981
    198215,21516,679
    198315,92916,276
    198417,50717,072
    198518,02318,332
    Source 100 per cent. count of cases in action.Information is not available from which reliable estimates could be made of the number of single payments made for furniture by individual offices for any period. Statistics are collected monthly on the total number of all single payments made by each office and although later information for these offices is available, for comparison purposes details of awards of all single payments for the 4 week period ending 30 July 1985 and of the same periods in the preceding five years are given as follows:
    Finsbury ParkArchway (Highgate)
    1980245242
    1981175178
    1982224167
    1983342236
    1984324348
    1985723481
    Figures for 1979 are not now available.

    Note: Since April 1984 the basis of counting single payment awards has changed. Now unsuccessful claims and separate payments made simultaneously to the same beneficiary but under different single payment regulations are also included.

    Free Prescribing

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of free prescribing for patients suffering from specified medical conditions which call for continuous life-long medication.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to include Dariers disease, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis on the list of life-long illnesses which are eligible for free medication.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made any estimate of the cost of extending exemption from prescription charges to sufferers of Dariers disease; and if he will make a statement.

    No, but, since I understand the number of people suffering from this rare, hereditary disease is small, the cost would not be great. However, there are many other groups of people who believe that they should be exempt from prescription charges and any extension of the present arrangements to all these groups would be costly.

    Prepayment Certificates

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to reduce the cost of prepayment certificates for those people suffering from life-long illnesses not included on the exemption list.

    Doctors, Nurses And Midwives

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives in Hampshire for each of the years from 1979 to the present.

    Reliable, consistent data are not available in the form requested for hospital staff. These figures are recorded by health authority areas, whose boundaries are not in this instance wholly contiguous with those of the local authority.The figures for general medical practitioners are as follows:

    Number of Unrestricted Principals in Hampshire Family Practitioner Committee
    Number
    1979678
    1980694
    1981726
    1982747
    1983763
    1984786

    Anglers (Cancer)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the committee on carcinogenicity at its meeting on 29 October considered the relationship between the use of chrysoidine dye and bladder cancer in anglers; and if he will make a statement.

    Yes. The committee on carcinogenicity considered the report of a study on chrysoidine dye and urothelial cancer published in The Lancet on 29 June together with further information provided by the authors.The committee confirmed that the study demonstrated an association between coarse fishing and urothelial cancer, but the association was with coarse fishing overall rather than with any specific factor connected with coarse fishing, and the explanation for the association was not clear. A serious problem with interpreting the study arose from the lack of data on the quantity of tobacco smoked by patients in the study. Since cigarette smoking is known to be a risk-factor for bladder cancer it is possible that the increased risk for urothelial cancer noted in anglers and in certain subgroups of anglers may be a result of greater tobacco usage in these groups rather than due to the use of dyes. It was also noted that the increase in risk was relatively small, and only just reached the level of statistical significance.The committee reaffirmed its advice that it would be prudent for anglers who wanted to use chrysoidine to avoid contact through the skin (eg by using suitable protective gloves) or mouth with this dye, either when preparing dyed maggots or when using such maggots to bait hooks.

    Regional Health Authorities

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be making new appointments to regional health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

    The term of office of half the current members of regional health authorities ends on 30 September 1986, and in accordance with the National Health Service Act 1977 we are seeking nominations for new members. If hon. Members wish to recommend any individuals for membership I invite them to write to me by 19 December 1985. Re-appointments and changes will be announced in due course.

    Hospitals (Wartime Measures)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is given to his Department's civil defence planners about the consequences for managing hospitals in times of war of the requirements of the joint United Kingdom/United States logistic plan for hospitals to give priority to United States military casualties.

    [pursuant to his reply, 11 November 1985, c. 96]: Existing guidance on the management of hospitals in time of war is contained in Home Defence circular 77/1. This does not include reference to the United States/United Kingdom lines of communication arrangement.It is hoped to promulgate new guidance soon and NHS planners are amongst those recently consulted on a revised draft.The United States/United Kingdom lines of communication arrangement does not require priority to be given to US military casualties. The priority given to all casualties will be based on medical opinion at the time.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals will be required to discharge their patients in order to receive United States military casualties if the current United States/United Kingdom lines of communication agreement is implemented in wartime.

    [pursuant to his reply, 11 November 1985, c. 96]: In a period of transition to war health authorities, if so directed, will be required to curtail admission of all but emergency cases and will arrange for patients whose retention is not medically essential to be sent home. The purpose of this will be to free hospitals to deal with civilian and military casualties. The latter may include US Service personnel.

    Crown Immunity

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the additional cost likely to be incurred by the National Health Service if Crown immunity were abolished.

    [pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985]: No estimate has been made and I regret that detailed information on which to base an estimate is not available.

    Thames Regional Health Authorities (Treatment Facilities)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities have been developed in the four Thames regions to treat the following groups of patients; drug misusers, the elderly, those suffering from mental illness and the mentally handicapped since 1979.

    [pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985]: This information is not held centrally, since the development of local facilities for the client groups to which my hon. Friend refers are a matter for the four regional health authorities and 58 district health authorities concerned. My hon. Friend may, therefore, find it helpful to contact the regional chairmen about the current position. In relation to services for drug misusers, our report "Drug Misuse: Prevalence and Service Provision" a copy of which is held in the Library, may also prove a useful source.

    Water

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to issue advice to health authorities on the effects of acidification of waters on the aluminium content of potable supplies.

    [pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985]: No advice is necessary because the concentrations of aluminium in potable water are not known to present a public health problem. It is understood that water undertakers monitor the aluminium content of water.

    Liver Transplants

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people died because of liver failure in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the proportion who could have been saved had suitable liver and transplant facilities been available.

    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 202–4]: It is not possible to estimate with any degree of accuracy how many people die because of liver failure each year. A working party at the Royal College of Surgeons has provisionally estimated the need for liver transplantation in England at 120 operations annually, but it will be revising this figure in about a year's time.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what change there has been in the resources devoted to liver transplant work in the National Health Service over the last two years for which figures are available.

    [pursuant to his reply 13 November 1985 c. 202–4]: It is estimated that £1,452,000 was spent on liver transplantations in 1984–85. The funds allocated under the supra regional arrangements for 1985–86 total £2,336,000 and should enable about 95 operations to be performed. Both numbers are at 1985–86 cost levels.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are on the waiting list for liver transplants.

    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 202–4]: Waiting lists for liver transplants are maintained by the hospitals concerned and information is not collected centrally.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to encourage general practitioners to refer patients with serious liver complaints to transplant centres.

    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 202–4]: No. The referral of patients is a matter for the doctors concerned. I am, however, informed that a surgeon would be most unlikely to accept for liver transplantation a patient who had not been seen by a consultant hepatologist.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many liver transplant operations were carried out in (a) National Health Service hospitals and (b) private hospitals in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 202–4]: National figures for liver transplant operations were not collected before 1983. Twenty such operations were performed in National Health Service hospitals in 1983 and 49 in 1984. Information on operations performed in private hospitals is not collected centrally, but it is not thought that any were performed before 1 April 1985.

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the factors that limit the expansion of liver transplant facilities in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1985, c. 202–4]: Liver transplantation is an increasingly successful procedure, but even though the cost of each operation appears to be falling as the number of operations performed increases, it is still very expensive and additional funds for expansion can only be found at the expense of other aspects of health service provision. There is at present no indication that suitable donor livers for adult patients are in short supply, though finding suitable donor livers for paediatric patients can be a problem in some cases. Liver transplantation was designated as a supra regional service from 1 April 1984, and my right hon. Friend's intention is that the funds allocated under the supra regional arrangements should be increased as the availability of resources allows; he will be receiving advice on how this might best be managed from the supra regional services advisory group.