Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 25 November 1985

Attorney-General

Justices Of The Peace

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the organisations of which membership is a disqualification for appointment as a justice of the peace.

Disqualifications for appointment as a justice of the peace are listed in paragraph 4.14 of the directions for advisory committees on justices of the peace, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Fraud Investigation Group

asked the Attorney-General what resources have been allocated to the newly created fraud investigation group within the prosecution service; and on what basis these resources were allocated.

The fraud investigation group was set up in January 1985. Staff allocated to the group was as follows: a principal assistant director (grade 3) as controller and two assistant directors (grade 5) each heading a division of four senior legal assistants, dealing with the largest cases arising in, respectively, the Metropolitan and City police force areas and in the provinces. There is also a third, general fraud division, headed by an assistant director (grade 5) and having four senior legal assistants assigned to it.The fraud investigation group divisions share with the general fraud division the services of a non-professional support team consisting of a senior executive officer in charge of about twenty five other staff.From 1 February the fraud division were allocated the services of three accountants on secondment from the Department of Trade and Industry, one from accountancy services division and two from the Government insolvency service. As from January 1986 the fraud divisions are also to have the services of an examiner on secondment from the Government insolvency service to assist the accountants, and two further examiners will join them in February.These resources have been allocated to the group in order to facilitate effective investigation—and if necessary prosecution—of major fraud cases. The lawyers and accountants concerned have been chosen with their experience in or aptitude for fraud cases in mind, but the number of lawyers and of non-professional support staff, available has been governed by the calls made on the director's staff by the setting up and staffing of the Crown prosecution service as a whole.

Peter Cameron Webb Syndicate

asked the Attorney-General (1) when the Director of Public Prosecutions first received representations concerning the affairs of the Peter Cameron Webb syndicate at Lloyds;

(2) if he will make a statement on progress in pursuing the case of the Peter Cameron Webb syndicate;

(3) whether any steps have been taken to seek to extradite Peter Cameron Webb; and if he will make a statement;

(4) whether any steps have been taken to seek to extradite T. Dixon, late of Peter Cameron Webb, and if he will make a statement;

(5) if the Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended that any charges should be brought against any person or any action should be taken against any person in respect of the Lloyds and Peter Cameron Webb papers before him; and if he will make a statement.

I take references in the questions to the Lloyds case to refer to investigations concerning the affairs of the PCW syndicate and Alexander Howden. These matters were first referred to the director in 1982. Two separate but related investigations are being conducted under the auspices of a fraud investigation group formed for that purpose. It comprises police officers, members of the director's professional staff, accountants and very experienced specialist members of the bar. Despite the considerable financial and manpower resources devoted to the case serious delay has been imposed upon the progress of these investigations by the necessity of securing, in a form admissible in any criminal proceedings in England, evidence which hitherto has only been available from witnesses located within the jurisdiction of a foreign state. The availability of such evidence has resulted in insufficient evidence being available to justify certain criminal proceedings or an application for extradition of any person on certain grounds. No power exists whereby investigators in this country may compel the productiin of such evidence here. Investigators accordingly depend in such cases upon the assistance of the relevant foreign authorities, who themselves—however much they may wish to assist—are bound by their municipal rules relating to the granting of immunity from civil suits brought within their own jurisdiction, for example for breach of confidentiality. Nevertheless, in the present cases a way is vigorously being sought to overcome the problems I have mentioned connected with securing evidence within a foreign jurisdiction. The fraud investigation group is hopeful that such a way will be found, and it shares my own strong desire that it shall be. I plan next to discuss these investigations with the fraud investigation group on 27 November. Criminal proceedings will certainly be instituted if and so soon as evidence justifying them becomes available.

Pahoomal Family

asked the Attorney-General if the Director of Public Prosecutions has begun extradition proceedings against any member of the Pahoomal family; and if he will make a statement.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has concluded that there is no witness from whom evidence is available sufficient to support the commencement of extradition proceedings in respect of any member of the Pahoomal family.

Non-Solicitor Conveyancers

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will appoint representatives of non-solicitor conveyancers to the Council of Licensed Conveyancers in the initial period in accordance with schedule 3, paragraph 2(2) of the Administration of Justice Act 1985.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to schedule 3, paragraph 3(2) of the Act which defines "the initial period". The Lord Chancellor hopes to announce the membership of the council in the near future.

Cyprus Secrets Trial

asked the Attorney-General what was the daily cost of keeping each of the seven acquitted defendants in the Cyprus Official Secrets Act trial in custody.

I have been asked to reply.The defendants in the Cyprus Offical Secrets Act trial were held in custody for varying periods in either Wormwood Scrubs prison, Brixton prison or, very briefly, Ashford remand centre. Six of the defendants were released on bail following a period in custody. It is not possible to calculate the costs of keeping individual persons in custody, but, based on figures which are available for the financial year 1984–85, it is estimated that the average daily cost of maintaining a person in one of these establishments was about £50.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Polluted Wine

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what further reports of possible incidents of polluted wine his Department has received in the last months;(2) what new procedures his Department has introduced to seek to guard against the possible importation of polluted wine;(3) whether he is satisfied with the efficacy of present arrangements to guard against the importation of polluted wine.

Under the Food Act 1984, enforcement authorities have power to sample and analyse all food and drink intended for sale for human consumption. These powers extend to port health authorities in respect of imported foods and drink. I have already passed all the relevent information I have on contaminated wines to the port health authorities and I am satisfied that they will carry out the necessary checks in the course of their normal duties.I have recently received some reports from abroad of incidents concerning contaminated wines but no similar discoveries have been made in the United Kingdom. I am nevertheless making further inquiries where necessary.

Ethiopian Tinned Meat

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to suspend the import of Ethiopian tinned meat into the United Kingdom and other European Community countries until such time as the Ethiopian Government can show that no grain fit for human consumption is being used to fatten cattle for export from that country.

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

Wildlife (Poisons)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reports of incidents involving the misuse of poisons or stupefying substances on wildlife have been made to his Department in the following years: 1983, 1984 and 1985 to the most recent date for which figures are available; and in how many cases the details were passed to the police for investigation.

The number of incidents involving the misuse of poisons or stupefying substances on wildlife reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Welsh Office Agricultural Department in the years 1983, 1984 and 1985 to date and the number of those cases reported to the police in those years are as follows:

	1983	1984	*1985
Number of incidents in which the suspected misuse of poisons or stupefying substances on wildlife were reported to MAFF:
England	73	53	55
Wales	14	14	4
	87	67	59
Number of cases passed to the police for investigation:
England	41	39	43
Wales	5	13	3
	46	52	46
^* To 22 November 1985.

Battery Hens

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the space which battery hens would require to have to ruffle their feathers, to stretch their bodies, to stretch their wings and to turn around, respectively.

I have made no estimates and I am not aware that conclusive scientific advice is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current minimum space provided under current regulations for hens in battery cages.

There are no United Kingdom statutory minimum space allowances for hens in battery cages. However, the current welfare code for domestic fowls recommends allowances based on birds' body weight.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what progress was made in the discussions in the Council of Ministers on 18 and 19 November on Common Market regulations on the minimum space for hens in battery cages; what proposal for such minimum space was presented by the European Economic Community Commission; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will take steps to increase the minimum space available to hens in battery cages; and if he will make a statement.

No decisions were taken at the last Council meeting and this topic will be re-examined at the December Council. We shall continue to press for the early adoption of a directive laying down minimum welfare standards for laying hens in battery cages. The proposed directive would deal with space allowances, cage height and floor slope, feed trough lengths, enforcement measures and husbandry provisions. (The present focus of discussions is a minimum space allowance of 450 sq cm per bird, based on earlier assessments made by the Commission.) We believe that a Community-wide approach is the right one.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of hens in battery cages in the United Kingdom.

We estimate that there are 47 to 48 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ban the import of eggs from European Economic Community nations which have lower spaces for the containment of hens in battery cages than the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I have no such plans and am seeking a Community agreement. Such import restrictions would be incompatible with the treaty.

Untreated Milk

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many deaths in Scotland from 1979 to August 1983 were caused by, or contributed to by, untreated milk; and what has been the number of deaths since August 1983 through untreated milk.

Between 1979 and 1983, nine deaths in Scotland were attributed to untreated milk. Since 1983 there have been no such deaths, though there have been outbreaks of milk-borne disease as a result of the consumption of untreated milk by farm workers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many deaths occurred in England and Wales in 1984 as a result of untreated milk or where untreated milk was a contributory factor.

There were seven deaths associated with consumption of untreated milk in 1984, all in west Yorkshire.

Eggs Authority

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to make a statement about the future of the Eggs Authority.

Yes. When I announced publication of the report of the review committee under the chairmanship of the right hon. Lord Peyton of Yeovil, I said that I would be giving the egg industry an opportunity to consider and comment on the committee's recommendation that the authority should be dissolved.My agricultural colleagues and I have taken careful note of the many representations we have received, which revealed differences of view within the egg industry. We do not consider that we should be justified in retaining a statutory body which does not command the widespread support of the industry concerned. We have accordingly decided to bring the authority to an end and propose to introduce a clause into the Agriculture Bill for this purpose.The review committee was impressed by the potential of the British Egg Industry Council which already brings together, on a voluntary basis, all the major associations in the egg industry. My colleagues and I agree that the council provides scope for the industry to consider collectively its needs for the future and how these can best be met. This will include the means by which the egg industry would raise any funds it wished to devote to research and development in the light of the Government's recently announced policy of looking to the agricultural sector to shoulder some part of this cost. We shall be ready to hold discussions with the industry and BEIC about these matters. We shall consider sympathetically whatever arrangements the egg industry work out. One possiblity would be to use the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947 to set up a development council. On the other hand, the industry might prefer voluntary arrangements.

Sugar

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects the Council of Agriculture Ministers to discuss proposals for a new EEC sugar regime; if he will specify the considerations which prevented decisions being reached at the Council Meeting on 18 and 19 November; and if he will make a statement.

The next Agriculture Council discussion on the sugar regime proposals will take place on 9–10 December. No agreement was reached at the November Council because of the need for further work to be done on the Commission's proposals on production levies and related issues including the proposal on sugar for the chemical industry. It remains the Government's objective to secure satisfactory agreements on these proposals which take account of the interests of both producers and users.

Environment

Planning Decisions

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning decisions made by local authorities have been overturned by his Department in the past two years; and if he will break this figure down authority by authority.

Planning appeal statistics are published annually in the Chief Planning Inspector's reports. In 1983 and 1984 the number of appeals decided and allowed, and the proportion allowed, under section 36 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, in England were:

	Decided	Allowed	Percentage Allowed
1983	11,221	3,633	32·4
1984	11,643	3,773	32·4

The Table gives details of appeals decided and allowed by each local planning authority in the periods, October 1983—September 1984 and October 1984—September 1985. Conclusions should be drawn with care from these

Planning appeals: by local authority
	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Avon	0	0	—	2	0	0
Bath	23	7	30	18	6	33
Bristol	64	21	33	87	49	56
Kingswood	20	5	25	16	6	38
Northavon	64	20	31	64	15	23
Wansdyke	45	15	33	42	15	36
Woodspring	69	28	41	79	31	39
Bedfordshire	0	0	—	0	0	—
North Bedfordshire	28	14	50	70	18	26
Luton	21	7	33	57	26	46
Mid Bedfordshire	34	14	41	67	21	31
South Bedfordshire	36	10	28	40	8	20
Berkshire	0	0	—	3	0	0
Bracknell	30	15	50	36	20	56
Newbury	58	15	26	79	29	37
Reading	60	22	37	73	33	45
Slough	13	6	46	10	6	60
Windsor and Maidenhead	87	22	25	99	36	36
Wokingham	76	21	28	69	21	30
Buckinghamshire	1	0	0	0	0	—
Aylesbury Vale	45	14	31	49	23	47
South Buckinghamshire	49	7	14	62	27	44
Chiltern	46	18	39	73	29	40
Milton Keynes	24	6	25	18	9	50
Wycombe	46	17	37	68	21	31
Cambridgeshire	2	0	0	0	0	—
Cambridge	26	7	27	36	17	47
East Cambridgeshire	32	9	28	27	9	33
Fenland	10	3	30	10	3	30
Huntingdon	41	15	37	36	11	31
Peterborough	11	3	27	22	10	45
South Cambridgeshire	79	20	25	106	31	29
Cheshire	0	0	—	1	1	100
Chester	47	23	49	36	10	28
Congleton	27	8	30	23	7	30
Crewe and Nantwich	13	4	31	14	4	29
Ellesmere Port and Neston	17	9	53	23	11	48
Halton	12	8	67	8	1	13
Macclesfield	64	21	33	69	28	41
Vale Royal	15	6	40	33	14	42
Warrington	41	15	37	37	18	49
Cleveland	0	0	—	1	1	100
Hartlepool	8	3	38	16	13	81
Langbaurgh	20	6	30	19	8	42
Middlesbrough	14	5	36	13	4	31
Stockton-on-Tees	19	8	42	20	6	30
Cornwall	0	0	—	0	0	—
Caradon	29	9	31	37	5	14
Carrick	45	15	33	64	23	36
Kerrier	58	14	24	53	15	28
North Cornwall	25	3	12	29	7	24
Penwith	10	2	20	13	4	31
Restormel	55	10	18	58	23	40
Isles of Scilly	1	1	100	6	2	33
Cumbria	0	0	—	2	1	50
Allerdale	12	3	25	25	6	24
Barrow-in-Furness	11	5	45	12	5	42
Carlisle	9	0	0	11	4	36
Copeland	3	2	67	16	6	38
Eden	13	6	46	7	2	29
South Lakeland	39	10	26	50	22	44

figures because of the small number of appeals made annually against the decisions of most local planning authorities.

	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Derbyshire	0	0	—	1	1	100
Amber Valley	22	5	23	26	8	31
Bolsover	6	3	50	17	5	29
Chesterfield	7	1	14	12	5	42
Derby	15	5	33	14	3	21
Erewash	20	8	40	27	16	59
High Peak	19	8	42	25	6	24
North East Derbyshire	32	8	25	32	12	38
South Derbyshire	16	5	31	19	4	21
West Derbyshire	14	4	29	22	9	41
Devon	2	1	50	0	0	—
East Devon	58	8	14	63	17	27
Exeter	33	11	33	54	17	31
North Devon	43	19	44	49	15	31
Plymouth	30	7	23	29	10	34
South Hams	74	25	34	63	18	29
Teignbridge	43	12	28	50	15	30
Mid Devon	16	4	25	20	8	40
Torbay	74	24	32	87	29	33
Torridge	18	5	28	22	14	64
West Devon	16	4	25	14	2	14
Dorset	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bournemouth	64	19	30	67	24	36
Christchurch	23	8	35	34	11	32
North Dorset	26	11	42	38	9	34
Poole	56	21	38	42	12	29
Purbeck	22	3	14	16	3	19
West Dorset	51	25	49	55	10	18
Weymouth and Portland	10	3	30	21	4	19
Wimborne	58	20	34	65	21	32
County Durham	2	0	0	3	1	33
Chester-le-Street	5	1	20	5	4	80
Darlington	17	3	18	19	7	37
Derwentside	12	1	8	9	3	33
Durham	7	0	0	4	1	25
Easington	5	1	20	9	3	33
Sedgefield	11	5	45	9	5	56
Teesdale	9	2	22	6	0	0
Wear Valley	7	3	43	9	2	22
East Sussex	0	0	0	0	0	0
Brighton	26	15	58	31	15	48
Eastbourne	22	8	36	26	11	42
Hastings	29	14	48	22	8	36
Hove	11	3	27	27	8	30
Lewes	51	19	37	28	9	32
Rother	35	9	26	46	11	24
Wealden	79	22	28	77	30	39
Essex	3	1	33	2	0	0
Basildon	81	43	53	94	50	53
Braintree	38	10	26	50	15	30
Brentwood	46	20	43	51	18	35
Castle Point	42	12	29	47	15	32
Chelmsford	100	31	31	118	47	40
Colchester	30	9	30	48	16	33
Epping Forest	62	12	19	104	33	32
Harlow	1	1	100	8	4	50
Maldon	39	13	33	58	24	41
Rochford	21	8	38	34	10	29
Southend-on-Sea	7	3	43	12	3	25
Tendring	39	14	36	69	20	29
Thurrock	31	8	26	57	13	23
Uttesford	35	9	26	46	15	33
Gloucestershire	0	0	—	2	1	50
Cheltenham	23	7	30	20	7	35
Cotswold	35	11	31	49	14	29
Forest of Dean	57	11	19	73	30	41
Gloucester	3	0	0	15	9	60
Stroud	62	26	42	62	20	32

	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Tewkesbury	35	13	37	50	15	30
Hampshire	1	0	0	2	1	50
Basingstoke and Deane	64	17	27	90	31	34
East Hampshire	56	19	34	57	17	30
Eastleigh	24	5	21	23	9	39
Fareham	18	3	17	47	16	34
Gosport	2	0	0	6	1	17
Hart	57	29	51	51	23	45
Havant	18	4	22	40	10	25
New Forest	78	22	28	132	47	36
Portsmouth	27	10	37	27	8	30
Rushmoor	20	4	20	29	13	45
Southampton	29	8	28	39	10	26
Test Valley	45	18	40	58	19	33
Winchester	57	19	33	66	19	29
Hereford and Worcester	0	0	—	4	2	50
Bromsgrove	32	5	16	39	12	31
Hereford	8	1	13	16	3	19
Leominster	15	2	13	15	3	20
Malvern Hills	39	11	28	46	12	26
Redditch	7	2	29	13	2	15
South Herefordshire	17	4	24	26	5	19
Worcester	9	4	44	23	6	26
Wychavon	56	21	38	64	19	30
Wyre Forest	25	5	20	17	6	35
Hertfordshire	0	0	—	3	0	0
Broxbourne	22	4	18	23	8	35
Dacorum	61	20	33	46	18	39
East Hertfordshire	45	10	22	64	29	45
Hertsmere	36	14	39	29	13	45
North Hertfordshire	31	12	39	52	25	48
St. Albans	48	18	38	75	36	48
Stevenage	9	1	11	11	8	73
Three Rivers	45	15	33	51	20	39
Watford	18	5	28	17	7	41
Welwyn Hatfield	37	13	35	33	13	39
Humberside	0	0	—	0	0	—
East Yorks borough of Beverley	42	19	45	33	13	39
Boothferry	11	4	36	20	6	30
Cleethorpes	12	4	33	15	4	27
Glanford	10	5	50	9	5	56
Great Grimsby	5	3	60	7	5	71
Holderness	11	2	18	14	4	29
Kingston upon Hull	15	7	47	15	7	47
East Yorkshire	12	5	42	23	9	39
Scunthorpe	1	0	0	3	0	0
Isle of Wight	0	0	—	0	0	—
Medina	17	3	18	26	8	31
South Wight	31	6	19	27	5	19
Kent	2	0	0	0	0	—
Ashford	27	3	11	62	17	27
Canterbury	22	8	36	61	18	30
Dartford	21	3	14	28	8	29
Dover	26	6	23	41	14	34
Gillingham	9	2	22	23	7	30
Gravesham	11	2	18	22	6	27
Maidstone	47	11	23	72	27	38
Rochester upon Medway	15	4	27	28	16	38
Sevenoaks	50	16	32	84	26	31
Shepway	29	10	34	42	16	38
Swale	26	5	19	45	12	27
Thanet	13	9	69	26	10	38
Tonbridge and Malling	14	6	43	42	10	24
Tunbridge Wells	44	19	43	71	23	32
Lancashire	2	1	50	1	0	0
Blackburn	22	8	36	31	12	39
Blackpool	28	10	36	32	10	31
Burnley	13	3	23	10	5	50

	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Chorley	24	5	21	21	8	38
Fylde	8	1	13	29	8	28
Hyndburn	12	2	17	18	8	44
Lancaster	28	8	29	26	7	27
Pendle	18	4	22	12	5	42
Preston	23	10	43	25	9	36
Ribble Valley	27	4	15	29	8	28
Rossendale	7	4	57	10	3	30
South Ribble	25	6	24	31	16	52
West Lancashire	25	4	16	32	10	31
Wyre	43	21	49	51	19	37
Leicestershire	4	2	50	0	0	—
Blaby	17	7	41	23	10	43
Charnwood	31	5	16	31	9	29
Harborough	15	3	20	24	7	29
Hinckley and Bosworth	17	5	29	24	7	29
Leicester	33	10	30	29	11	38
Melton	16	7	44	22	9	41
North West Leicestershire	26	7	27	26	6	23
Oadby and Wigston	13	7	54	16	6	38
Rutland	12	3	25	12	5	42
Lincolnshire	0	0	—	0	0	—
Boston	6	1	17	8	1	13
East Lindsey	71	22	31	69	27	39
Lincoln	20	12	60	8	3	38
North Kesteven	28	7	25	29	7	24
South Holland	6	3	50	19	5	26
South Kesteven	25	4	16	43	16	37
West Lindsey	28	7	25	26	9	35
Norfolk	1	1	100	1	0	0
Breckland	32	7	22	55	14	25
Broadland	37	9	24	37	16	43
Great Yarmouth	26	4	15	39	15	38
North Norfolk	52	11	21	63	24	38
Norwich	15	4	27	22	6	27
South Norfolk	45	11	24	60	16	27
King's Lynn and West Norfolk	38	14	37	55	25	45
North Yorkshire	0	0	—	1	0	0
Craven	25	4	16	28	10	36
Hambleton	29	7	24	26	5	19
Harrogate	46	14	30	70	31	44
Richmondshire	8	3	38	11	5	45
Ryedale	19	4	21	39	10	26
Scarborough	22	6	27	25	8	32
Selby	18	5	28	25	12	48
York	18	11	61	14	7	50
Northamptonshire	0	0	—	0	0	—
Corby	1	0	0	3	0	0
Daventry	37	13	35	40	13	32
East Northamptonshire	9	1	11	6	1	17
Kettering	19	7	37	19	8	42
Northampton	15	3	20	15	11	73
South Northamptonshire	27	7	26	30	7	23
Wellingborough	10	2	20	20	7	35
Northumberland	0	0	—	2	2	100
Alnwick	4	1	25	8	2	25
Berwick-upon-Tweed	3	0	0	3	0	0
Blyth Valley	6	4	67	2	1	50
Castle Morpeth	27	15	56	24	10	42
Tynedale	11	3	27	13	1	08
Wansbeck	3	1	33	3	1	33
Nottinghamshire	1	0	0	0	0	—
Ashfield	22	1	05	17	8	47
Bassetlaw	37	21	57	39	10	26
Broxtowe	13	3	23	16	5	31
Gedling	14	1	07	19	7	37
Mansfield	12	6	50	11	4	36
Newark	24	6	25	38	14	37

	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Nottingham	22	9	41	21	7	33
Rushcliffe	27	4	15	31	7	23
Oxfordshire	0	0	—	2	1	50
Cherwell	39	16	41	47	15	32
Oxford	19	6	32	24	5	21
South Oxfordshire	58	9	16	96	27	28
Vale of White Horse	48	19	40	52	15	29
West Oxfordshire	38	15	39	63	18	29
Shropshire	0	0	—	0	0	—
Bridgnorth	29	4	14	28	13	46
North Shropshire	15	6	40	17	4	24
Oswestry	6	1	17	10	2	20
Shrewsbury and Atcham	22	12	55	38	12	32
South Shropshire	7	1	14	9	2	22
The Wrekin	19	6	32	16	4	25
Somerset	0	0	—	2	1	50
Mendip	33	6	18	40	12	30
Sedgemoor	33	11	33	39	11	28
Taunton Deane	25	2	08	24	12	50
West Somerset	10	4	40	15	2	13
Yeovil	56	15	27	60	17	28
Staffordshire	2	0	0	3	2	67
Cannock Chase	14	5	36	18	9	50
East Staffordshire	13	6	46	24	6	25
Lichfield	31	14	45	31	8	26
Newcastle-under-Lyme	26	9	35	37	17	46
Stafford	47	14	30	43	17	40
South Staffordshire	41	11	27	31	14	45
Staffordshire Moorlands	26	7	27	31	11	35
Stoke-on-Trent	24	6	25	30	7	23
Tamworth	3	1	33	6	2	33
Suffolk	0	0	—	0	0	—
Babergh	33	6	18	54	16	30
Forest Heath	10	6	60	20	9	45
Ipswich	23	8	35	22	9	41
Mid Suffolk	20	5	25	18	4	22
St. Edmundsbury	22	6	27	20	5	25
Suffolk Coastal	24	10	42	40	10	25
Waveney	19	5	26	21	9	43
Surrey	0	0	—	2	1	50
Elmbridge	53	26	49	45	21	47
Epsom and Ewell	22	12	55	19	7	37
Guildford	79	21	27	88	23	26
Mole Valley	42	4	10	63	12	19
Reigate and Banstead	73	31	42	79	35	44
Runnymede	49	7	14	58	22	38
Spelthorne	20	8	40	27	7	26
Surrey Heath	37	8	22	46	16	35
Tandridge	83	19	23	85	19	22
Waverley	66	13	20	87	27	31
Woking	31	10	32	52	18	35
Warwickshire	1	0	0	1	1	100
North Warwickshire	23	4	17	17	7	41
Nuneaton and Bedworth	14	4	29	21	8	38
Rugby	24	10	42	19	8	42
Stratford-on-Avon	65	28	43	53	16	30
Warwick	23	7	30	41	14	34
West Sussex	0	0	—	1	1	100
Adur	21	6	29	25	9	36
Arun	39	15	38	41	13	32
Chichester	66	13	20	73	26	36
Crawley	33	15	45	29	17	59
Horsham	65	22	34	93	31	33
Mid Sussex	77	21	27	56	17	30
Worthing	18	6	33	30	8	27
Wiltshire	0	0	—	1	1	100

	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Kennet	28	5	18	35	10	29
North Wiltshire	50	16	32	61	18	30
Salisbury	33	7	21	51	19	37
Thamesdown	24	5	21	36	15	42
West Wiltshire	34	14	41	43	16	37
Greater Manchester	4	2	50	5	1	20
Bolton	43	12	28	52	27	52
Bury	15	7	47	18	5	28
Manchester	19	9	47	20	7	35
Oldham	23	10	43	29	11	38
Rochdale	24	12	50	19	5	26
Salford	23	9	39	27	9	33
Stockport	43	14	33	39	13	33
Tameside	21	6	29	24	8	33
Trafford	32	14	44	35	11	31
Wigan	28	8	29	24	10	42
Merseyside	2	1	50	0	0	—
Knowsley	9	1	11	10	3	30
Liverpool	32	19	59	30	17	57
St. Helens	19	6	32	30	14	47
Sefton	33	14	42	33	14	42
Wirral	58	17	29	38	14	37
South Yorkshire	1	0	0	1	0	0
Barnsley	30	8	27	40	15	38
Doncaster	46	21	46	51	17	33
Rotherham	27	4	15	23	8	35
Sheffield	75	25	33	67	24	36
Tyne and Wear	0	0	—	0	0	—
Gateshead	20	9	45	20	6	30
Newcastle upon Tyne	10	2	20	14	5	36
North Tyneside	20	10	50	27	10	37
South Tyneside	7	3	43	13	5	38
Sunderland	7	2	29	19	3	16
West Midlands	0	0	—	0	0	—
Birmingham	89	39	44	109	51	47
Coventry	31	13	42	35	8	23
Dudley	21	8	38	25	5	20
Sandwell	13	5	38	22	4	18
Solihull	50	17	34	55	25	45
Walsall	29	12	41	24	14	58
Wolverhampton	31	11	35	29	10	34
West Yorkshire	0	0	—	4	1	25
Bradford	59	12	20	66	20	30
Calderdale	29	6	21	26	11	42
Kirklees	67	19	28	69	25	36
Leeds	91	39	43	107	30	28
Wakefield	49	13	27	49	10	20
Greater London Council	0	0	—	0	0	—
City of London	5	2	40	4	0	0
Barking and Dagenham	6	2	33	10	4	40
Barnet	55	17	31	62	26	42
Bexley	39	10	26	35	13	37
Brent	23	15	65	44	19	43
Bromley	119	35	29	200	72	36
Camden	83	44	53	78	45	58
Croydon	57	20	35	78	26	33
Ealing	45	14	31	58	28	48
Enfield	64	26	41	82	30	37
Greenwich	22	13	59	62	40	65
Hackney	16	9	56	23	6	26
Hammersmith and Fulham	32	19	59	65	33	51
Haringey	25	8	32	34	13	38
Harrow	31	13	42	48	27	56
Havering	36	16	44	52	17	33
Hillingdon	39	14	36	61	26	43
Hounslow	39	15	38	81	36	44
Islington	30	16	53	32	14	44
Kensington and Chelsea	45	15	33	59	23	39

	October 1983 to September 1984			October 1984 to September 1985
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Per cent. allowed
Kingston upon Thames	50	27	54	66	32	48
Lambeth	19	8	42	27	16	59
Lewisham	8	4	50	16	6	38
Merton	19	6	32	35	12	34
Newham	12	5	42	36	18	50
Redbridge	75	32	43	69	37	54
Richmond upon Thames	46	15	33	59	23	39
Southwark	31	15	48	37	23	62
Sutton	31	14	45	40	21	52
Tower Hamlets	9	3	33	15	10	67
Waltham Forest	23	10	43	26	7	27
Wandsworth	13	6	46	45	19	42
City of Westminster	64	28	44	83	35	42
Dartmoor National Park	34	9	26	35	8	23
Exmoor National Park	8	3	38	4	3	75
Lake District National Park	35	10	29	60	22	37
Northumberland National Park	1	1	100	2	0	0
North Yorks Moors National Park	27	8	30	24	3	13
Peak National Park	28	8	29	28	8	29
Yorkshire Dales National Park	22	6	27	29	8	28
London Docklands Development Corporation	2	0	0	3	0	0
Merseyside Development Corporation	0	0	—	0	0	—
ENGLAND TOTAL*	11,391	3,707	33	14,032	5,005	36
* Estimates revised slightly from previously published figures.

Walker House

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations are preventing him from agreeing to the wish of Newcastle city council to demolish Walker house in Walker.

The demolition by a local authority of its own housing does not need my right hon. Friend's permission, but a special determination is necessary before housing subsidy can continue to be paid in relation to such housing. One relevant factor in considering applications for such determinations is whether the local authority's intention to demolish takes full account of the possibilities for sale to the private sector. If Newcastle upon Tyne city council submit a formal application for a special determination for Walker House, it will be considered on its merits.

Council House Sales (Wandsworth)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the number of council houses or flats sold in each of the last five years in the London borough of Wandsworth and the number of new council properties built there in each of the last five years.

The numbers of sales of council dwellings reported by Wandsworth for the financial years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83 appear in issues 62, 63 and 67 respectively of "Local Housing Statistics" and for 1983–84 and 1984–85 in issue 75: copies are available in the Library.Wandsworth reported the following numbers of council dwellings completed in those financial years:

	Numbers
1980–81	507
1981–82	375

	Numbers
1982–83	316
1983–84	391
1984–85	117

In addition, 53 dwellings were completed for the GLC within Wandsworth during 1980–81 and 86 during 1981–82.

Communal Heating

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has concluded his consultations with the local authority associations and other interested bodies concerning his proposals to make regulations giving secure tenants who are supplied heat from a communal system a right to information about the costs of their heating; and when he now proposes to bring such regulations into effect.

The Government have not yet consulted local authorities and other interested bodies but hope to do so soon. It is therefore too early to say when the regulations will come into effect.

Child Sex Abuse Unit

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to confirm the grant of £323,000 made by the Greater Manchester council to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for a specialist child sex abuse unit.

The Council's application is being considered carefully.

Housing Co-Operative Developments

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to introduce extended grants for housing co-operative developments to allow preliminary work to be done under section 121 of the Housing Act 1980.

Under section 121 of the Housing Act 1980 the Housing Corporation makes grants to registered housing associations and other voluntary agencies for the purposes of encouraging, and advising on, the formation of new associations and providing services for, and advice to, existing associations. I consider that the present arrangements are satisfactory: the total provision for such grants in 1985–86 is £342,700 of which £94,700 has been set aside for co-operatives; decisions for 1986–87 have still to be taken. In addition to grants under section 121, Co-operatives can benefit from the co-operative promotion allowance which meets the extra costs incurred by co-operatives in seeking professional advice on specific development projects. It has recently been decided that this allowance, first introduced in 1984 for an initial period of one year, should be continued.

Industrial Land

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total area of industrial land which is now unused or redundant in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and in the county of South Yorkshire.

The information requested is not available and could not readily be produced at an economic cost within a reasonable time-scale.

New Homes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new homes were completed during 1979 and 1984 in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

The number of housing completions is published in "Local Housing Statistics", copies of which have been placed in the Library. The number of new dwellings completed during 1979 and 1984 in Yorkshire and Humberside is as follows:

	Number
1979	20,567
1984	13,879

Water Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision is contained in the guidelines issued by him under section 7 of the Water Act 1983 as to what further recourse is available in cases where representations made to water authorities by consumer consultative committees on behalf of complainants are not resolved to the satisfaction of both parties; and if he will make a statement.

The guidelines advised that where a complaint of maladministration causing injustice had not been satisfactorily resolved, a complainant should be reminded of the ultimate right to complain to the local ombudsman.The guidelines do not affect a complainant's statutory rights of appeal or his right to seek redress through the Courts in appropriate cases.

Nuclear Waste

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will outline his Department's current preferred method of disposal or storage of high level radioactive waste; and what basic requirements the method would entail;(2) if he will publish a list of sites presently under consideration for the storage or disposal of high level radioactive waste.

Present policy is to store for at least 50 years, initially in liquid and then in vitrified form. This will secure a significant reduction in radiation and heat generation, which will make ultimate disposal easier and allows work to continue on establishing the best method of disposal.

Waste Disposal

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached any conclusions on the performance of his duty under section 10 of the Local Government Act 1985 with regard to waste regulation and disposal in the metropolitan counties and Greater London.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg) on Thursday 21 November at column 255.

Public Sector Housing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the reply of 18 November, Official Report, column 59–60, he will list the organisations to which he sent his letter of 17 July.

The letter of 17 July regarding "Disposal of Public Sector Housing for Renovation: Proposals for legislation" was sent to the following bodies:

Association of County Councils
Associations of District Councils
Association of London Authorities
Association of Metropolitan Authorities
Greater London Council
Housing Corporation
London Boroughs' Association
National Federation of Housing Associations
New Towns Association
Institute of Housing
National Consumer Council
SHAC
Shelter

In addition, copies were later sent on request to the following bodies:

Community Rights Project Limited
Coventry Trades Council Housing Sub-Committee
Elmbridge Federation of Tenants' Associations
Local Government Information Unit
London Tenants Organisation
Southwark Law Project
Sunderland Borough Council
Tower Hamlets Federation of Tenants' Associations
Wandsworth Tenants' Association
Waterlow Estate Tenants' Association
Welsh Counties Committee
Wimbledon Park Estate Tenants' Association

Housing Co-Operatives

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the tenant management housing co-operatives referred to in the Prime Minister's answer of 18 November, Official Report, column 2; how much money is involved; and when he expects to announce the outcome of the review of earlier decisions.

Applications for grant under section 93 of the Finance Act 1965 have been received from three tenant management co-operatives which are registered housing associations and are operating under approved agreements with local authorities.Ewart Road Housing Co-operative Ltd. applied for grant of £4,456 in respect of the financial year 1982–83. That application was correctly rejected because the cooperative was not a registered housing association throughout the period covered by the claim, but the co-operative was incorrectly told in correspondence that its management activities would have made it ineligible for grant in any event. My Department has now written to the co-operative's chartered accountants to clarify the position and invite them to consider applying for grant in respect of later years.Islington Green Tenants Co-operative Ltd. applied for grant of £654 in respect of the financial years 1981–82 and 1982–83. These applications were rejected since the cooperative did not become a registered housing association until 26 April 1982. Subsequent applications for grants totalling £838 have been accepted.Wellington Mills Housing Co-operative Ltd. applied for grant of £6,222 in respect of the financial year 1982–83. That application was rejected since the cooperative did not become a registered housing association until 26 April 1982. Subsequent applications, for £1,509 in respect of 1983–84 and £2,373 in respect of 1984–85, were rejected because it was not appreciated that the cooperative's tax liability arose from its operation of an agreement approved by the Secretary of State. My Department has written to the co-operative and the 1983–84 and 1984–85 applications will be settled shortly.

Liverpool

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what contingency plans he has for action in the event of Liverpool city council becoming unable to meet its financial obligations; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the city council is now considering urgent steps to put its finances in order.

Road Works (London)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to give his decision on the consent to the cleaning and repainting of the Highgate Archway bridge, for which the Greater London council applied on 29 August;(2) when he intends to give his consent to the widening of the southbound approach to the Kent Gate Way/Gravel Hill/Selsdon Park roundabout junction in Croydon, for which the Greater London council applied on 24 September;(3) when he intends to give his decision on the consent to the cleaning and repainting of Lambeth bridge, for which the Greater London council applied on 13 August.

Consent has already been given to these applications.

Local Authorities (Capital Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to report the outcome of the current consultations between his officials and officers of the local authority associations on alternatives to the present system for controlling local authority capital spending.

I hope to publish proposals early in the new year.

Local Authority Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the answer of 20 November, Official Report, column 246, he will express the figures contained or implied in that answer, relating to (a) estimated local authority capital receipts and (b) net capital expenditure allocations on housing for 1986–87, using the same price base as that employed in drawing up the figures for his statement of 18 December 1984 for the same subject.

The information is as follows.Local authority housing capital receipts are forecast to be £1,435 million in 1986–87. The details are as follows:

	£ million cash
Receipts from sale of land	100
Initial receipts from council house sales	780
Discount repayments	20
Repayment of sums left outstanding on sales	375
Repayments of loans to private persons	130
Repayments of loans to housing associations	30
	1,435

The assumptions about council house sales on which these forecasts are based are:

	Assumption
Number of completed sales	75,000
Average selling price net of discount	£13,900
Average level of discount	45 per cent.
Average level of private finance	75 per cent.

The housing investment programme allocations total for 1986–87 is £1,465 million. These figures, like all figures of receipts and allocations, are expressed in cash.

Home Department

Fraud

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by year since 1979, how many cases of alleged major fraud were reported in the United Kingdom; and how many, by year, were prosecuted.

It is not possible to separate major frauds as the available statistics are not analysed according to the amount involved in the fraud. Numbers of offences of fraud recorded in England and Wales in each year from 1974 to 1984 are published in table 2.14 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1984" (Cmnd. 9621). For those offences dealt with by the courts, the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offence. The number of persons prosecuted for fraud, and the sentences imposed on those found guilty, are published annually in tables S1.1(A), S2.1(A) and S2.4 of "Criminal Statistics 1984", Supplementary Volumes 1 and 2.

Prison Populations

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average population of Liverpool prison in the week ended 2 November, or any other recent typical week;(2) what was the average population of Manchester prison in the week ended 2 November, or any other recent typical week.

On 31 October 1985 the population of Liverpool prison was about 1,290 and of Manchester remand centre and prison about 1,650. Average weekly populations are not collected centrally.

Liverpool Prison

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

Liverpool prison currently has available to inmates a total of 18 baths, 66 showers, 131 WCs and 136 urinals. Each prisoner is normally allowed one bath or shower per week and an additional shower when they make use of the gymnasium. In addition, prisoners employed on jobs that are of a physically dirty nature have a shower each day.Prisoners at Liverpool have one change of clothes per week consisting of one shirt, one pair of socks, one pair of underpants and one vest. Overclothing is changed as necessary. In addition, one towel, one sheet and one pillow-case are changed weekly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many square feet of exercise space are available to prisoners in Liverpool prison.

Forty thousand, eight hundred and eighty eight sq ft in exercise yards, 109,620 sq ft in the grassed area, and 8,964 sq ft in the gymnasia.

Manchester Prison

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

Manchester prison currently has available to inmates a total of nine baths, 72 showers, 130 WCs and 105 urinals. Each prisoner is normally allowed one bath or shower per week, and those who are employed on jobs that are of a physically dirty nature have a shower each day, as do prisoners returning from court appearances.Prisoners at Manchester have one change of clothes per week, consisting of two shirts, two pairs of socks, two pairs of underpants and two vests. Overclothing is changed as necessary, but on return from court, prisoners receive a full kit of clean clothes. In addition, one towel, one sheet and one pillow-case are changed weekly and a full set of bedding is available to prisoners on return from court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many square feet of exercise space are available to prisoners in Manchester prison.

Fifty thousand, two hundred and ninety five sq ft in exercise yards, 60,534 sq ft in hard surface games areas, and 14,957 sq ft in the gymnasia.

Police (Helicopters And Light Aircraft)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many helicopters the Metropolitan police currently possess; what orders are currently outstanding; what further orders are planned; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police own three helicopters and that there are no orders outstanding or planned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Optica light aircraft are currently on order by the Metropolitan police.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police have not ordered any Optica aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from each chief constable as to the number of Optica light aircraft which are on order for each force in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No.

Race Relations

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Race Relations Acts so that a requirement to speak Welsh for certain jobs in Wales is outwith the scope of racial discrimination.

I am not persuaded that any such amendment is necessary.

Commission For Racial Equality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has issued any guidelines for the procedure to be followed by the Commission for Racial Equality for the selection of commissioners who have special responsibilities.

No. As I explained in the reply given to a question from the hon. Member on 11 November at columns 35–36, the allocation of particular responsibilities to individual commissioners is entirely a matter for the commission.

Data Protection Act (Telephone Numbers)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from British Telecom about the effect of the Data Protection Act on those who control the telephone numbers stored under press-buttons attached to certain telephones which are used for business purposes.

None.

Parkhurst Prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total estimated cost of converting C wing at Parkhurst prison into a therapeutic unit.

The conversion work currently being undertaken in C wing will provide both a therapeutic unit and a rule 43 unit. A contract for the overall scheme has been let in the sum of £254,000.

Fruit Machines (Public Houses)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to increase to £20 the maximum prize permitted on fruit machines installed in public houses.

We have no present plans to do so.

Deportation

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons served with deportation orders in each of the last five years have disappeared prior to deportation being effected.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in respect of defects in the roadworthiness of heavy goods vehicles during each of the past five years for which figures are available; how many have succeeded; and what has been the average fine imposed.

No reliable information is available for specific types of vehicle. The available information is for all types of vehicle and relates to proceedings and findings of guilt at magistrates' courts for offences where a vehicle or part was in dangerous or defective condition, and is published annually in "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (offence group 14 of table 1). Information on the average fines imposed for these offences is shown in tables 6 and 12 of the latest issues.

Jashim Uddin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Jashim Uddin, a Bangladeshi who came for a visit on 13 October has been kept in detention for five weeks.

Jashim Uddin was refused leave to enter the United Kingdom on 13 October and, having no right of appeal against that decision in this country, would have been returned to Bangladesh very quickly had the hon. Member not made representations against refusal. He was detained pending receipt and consideration of hon. Member's representations because the immigration service inspector who reviewed the case agreed with the chief immigration officer that it was not a proper case in which to grant temporary admission. I replied to the hon. Member's representations on 21 November.

Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been taken in 1983, 1984 and 1985, to the most recent date for which figures are available, for offences involving the misuse of poisonous baits or stupefying substances contrary to sections 5 and 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The information available to me, which may be incomplete is shown in the table below. It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to distinguish those offences relating to the use of poisonous baits or stupefying substances. Information for 1985 is not yet available.

Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts in England and Wales for offences under section 5 or 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Number of defendants
	Proceedings taken under
Year	Section 5	Section 11
1983	12	—
1984	19	5

Parole

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining the current guidelines issued to parole boards considering the release of those convicted of violent crimes.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Dickens) on 21 November at column 274.

Scarman Report (Recommendations)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the application of the Scarman recommendations following the Brixton riots; what have been the nature of the representations; if he will consider a review of the recommendations and their application; and if he will make a statement.

During public discussion of the recent riots a number of references have been made to Lord Scarman's report in this House and elsewhere. The day after the Handsworth riot my right hon. Friend re-read the report and commissioned a study about how far it had been implemented. He has since placed a paper in the Library which shows that both the police and the Government have responded positively and vigorously to the report.

Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the applicants queuing for entry clearance for settlement at each post in the Indian sub-continent are children.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Children awaiting a decision on their application for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom at the end of June 1985 Indian sub-continent
Post	Number of children	Children as percentage of all applicants for settlement awaiting a decision*
Dhaka	8,700	70
New Delhi	200	15
Bombay	220	18
Calcutta	10	19
Islamabad	3,400	50
Karachi	40	17
Total Indian sub-continent	12,500	57

* Wives, children, other dependent relatives and others for immediate settlement, and husbands and male fiances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in 1984 how many women in the Indian subcontinent were granted entry clearance to join husbands in the United Kingdom in families where another wife had already been granted entry clearance.

The information requested is not available centrally.

Plastic Bullets

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any plans to allow chief constables to use plastic bullets without his prior notification or approval, and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report the chief constables who have applied for permission to use plastic bullets.

The Government made plastic baton rounds available to police forces in Great Britain following the riots in 1981. In reply to a question by the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 19 November at columns 140–41, I listed those forces in England and Wales understood to hold baton rounds.As was made clear by the then Home Secretary on 19 October 1981 at columns 29–30, plastic baton rounds are to be used only as a last resort where conventional methods of policing have been tried and failed, or must from the nature of the circumstances obtaining be unlikely to succeed if tried, and where the chief officer judges such action to be necessary because of the risk of loss of life or serious injury or widespread destruction of property. They may be used only with the express authority of the chief officer of police (or, in his absence, his deputy). This is an operational matter for the chief officer of police, and my right hon. Friend's prior notification or approval is not required.

Prime Minister

President Reagan

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with President Reagan.

President Reagan and General-Secretary Gorbachev met in Geneva on 19–21 November. A copy of the joint statement issued by the two leaders on 21 November has been placed in the Library of the House. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I attended a briefing by President Reagan for the Alliance in Brussels also on 21 November. The President received the full support of the Alliance for the achievements of the meeting.The Geneva meeting was a success. It has helped to establish a measure of confidence and greater understanding between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union, given an impetus to the arms control negotiations in Geneva, and made clear that existing arms control agreements will continue to be honoured on a reciprocal basis.

There were a number of specific results: the institution of regular summit meetings, the commitment to make progress on a wide range of arms control issues including chemical weapons, the institution of regular exchanges on regional issues, steps to improve contacts and exchanges and other agreed measures set out in the joint statement.

As President Reagan himself said, the results of the summit will be judged over the months and years ahead by deeds not words. Fundamental differences remain both on matters of ideology, on some of the most difficult arms control issues, on regional problems and on human rights. But there is now a clear framework and timetable for discussion of these differences. The outcome of the summit justifies greater hope for their resolution and for peace and stability.

Employment

Community Programme

asked the Paymaster General what is the percentage of participants in the community programme which are from ethnic minorities both nationally and in west Yorkshire, and the percentage of long-term unemployed from ethnic minorities.

The latest sample survey (autumn) 1984 of community programme participants estimate that 9 per cent. were from ethnic minority groups. Reliable results are not available below national level. The 1984 labour force survey indicated that of those people without jobs, and seeking work for one year or more, 9 per cent. were of non-white ethnic origins.

Radiation

asked the Paymaster General what is his Department's estimate of the number of workers exposed to some level of radiation in Britain at the latest available date; and how many of them are required to be monitored for radiation exposure.

Background radiation exists. The best estimate is that there are 364,000 workers occupationally exposed to ionising radiations above normal background levels.About 135,000 people have their radiation exposure monitored either voluntarily or by law.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will now take steps to reduce the maximum permissible dose of radiation a worker is allowed to be given from 5 rems to 0·5 rems a year; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 were subjected to long and wide-ranging consultation by the Health and Safety Commission.

Job Creation

asked the Paymaster General how many additional jobs have been created in the United Kingdom economy in the last 12 months.

Estimates of the numbers of jobs created are not available. Net changes in the number of jobs may be calculated by comparing estimates of employment levels for different dates. The net increases in the employed labour force (which includes employees in employment, the self employed and members of Her Majesty's Forces) in the United Kingdom between June 1984 and June 1985 was 255,000.

Self-Employed Persons

asked the Paymaster General what has been the trend in self-employment since 1979.

Since June 1979, the numbers of self-employed people in Great Britain are estimated to have changed as shown in the following table:

June of each year	Self-employed (with or without employees)	Change since preceding year
1979	1,842,000	-1,000
1980	1,950,000	108,000
1981	2,057,000	107,000
1982	2,109,000	52,000
1983	2,160,000	51,000
1984	2,433,000	273,000
1985	2,559,000	126,000

The estimate for 1985 is provisional.

Youth Training Scheme

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of youth training scheme leavers in (a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands, who left the scheme in each of the months from June 1984 to June 1985, were in (i) full-time employment and (ii) part-time employment three months later.

Information is not available in the form requested. The Manpower Services Commission's regular surveys of young people leaving youth training scheme programmes do, however, show that of leavers between 1 June 1984 and 31 March 1985, 54 per cent. in the Coventry area of the commission's training division, and 55 per cent. in the commission's Midlands region, were in full-time work at the time of the survey.Figures for leavers since 1 April 1985 are available on a more comprehensive basis. These show that, of leavers between 1 April 1985 and 31 May 1985, 50 per cent. were in full-time work and 5 per cent. in part-time work in the Coventry local authority district at the time of the survey. In the county of West Midlands, 53 per cent. were in full-time work and 4 per cent. in part-time work.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the standard of employment status and protection afforded to those on youth training scheme schemes.

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

Labour Statistics

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will give the numbers of those who have been unemployed for 12 months and more in May 1979 and the percentage increase since then; and what estimate he has of the number of people currently out of work who are not claiming benefit;(2) if he will give the numbers of those who had been unemployed for 12 months or more in May 1979 within

(a) the west midlands region and (b) the black country

area; what is the percentage increase since then; and what estimates he has of the number of people currently out of work who are not claiming benefit in each of these areas.

The following information is in the Library. The table gives the numbers of registrants in the United Kingdom and the west midlands who had been unemployed for over 12 months in April 1979 (not available for May).Comparisons of unemployment over the period specified are difficult to make because of the change in the basis of the count in October 1982, the 1983 Budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 or over, no longer need to sign on at unemployment benefit offices to receive benefit, and, for local areas, the change to a ward-based system for allocating claimants to localities. The table also shows the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, the west midlands and the black country as at 10 October 1985.

Unemployed over 12 months
	Number
Unemployed registrants—April 1979
United Kingdom	366,711
West midlands	34,154
Unemployed claimants—October 1985
United Kingdom	1,351,857
West midlands	164,848
Black country*	50,266
* Figures relate to the Dudley and Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall travel-to-work areas, as defined in 1984.

According to the labour force survey in Great Britain in the spring of 1984, there were about 870,000 people without jobs seeking work but not claiming unemployment benefits. There were about 90,000 in the west midlands. The sample size of the survey is insufficient to provide those figures for the black country.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table showing the registered number of vacancies by standard industrial classification in the Coventry area at the latest available date and at May 1979.

The following information is in the Library. Table 1 shows the numbers of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres which cover an area closely corresponding to the Coventry and Hinckley travel-to-work area as at May 1979 according to the 1968 standard industrial classification. Table 2 shows the numbers of unfilled vacancies, excluding self-employed vacancies at job-centres which cover the same area at 2 August 1985, the latest date for which an analysis according to the 1980 standard industrial classification is available.

Table 1—Unfilled vacancies—Jobcentres in the Coventry and Hinckley travel-to-work area May 1979
Standard Industrial Classification 1968	Unfilled Vacancies
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	11
Mining and quarrying	5
Food, drink and tobacco	11
Coal and petroleum products	9
Chemicals and allied industries	5
Metal manufacture	62
Mechanical engineering	271
Instrument engineering	3

Standard Industrial Classification 1968	Unfilled Vacancies
Electrical engineering	108
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	5
Vehicles	230
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	104
Textiles	76
Leather, leather goods and fur	2
Clothing and footwear	66
Bricks, pottery, glass and cement	15
Timber and furniture, etc	20
Paper, printing and publishing	16
Other manufacturing	23
Construction	154
Gas, electricity and water	54
Transport and communication	86
Distributive trades	262
Insurance and banking etc	85
Professional and scientific services	100
Miscellaneous services	277
Public administration and defence	155
Total	2,215

Table 2—Unfilled vacancies—Jobcentres in the Coventry and Hinckley travel-to-work area August 1985
Standard Industrial Classification 1980	Unfilled Vacancies
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	4
Energy and water supply industries	9
Extraction and manufacture of minerals and metals	30
Metal goods and vehicle industries, etc	280
Other manufacturing industries	133
Construction	118
Distribution, hotels and catering; repairs	354
Transport and communication	50
Banking, finance, insurance and leasing, etc	133
Other services	266
Total	1,377

Misleading Advertisements

asked the Paymaster General if he will introduce legislation to strengthen the legal provisions governing misleading advertisements offering employment; and if he will make a statement.

Regulations govern the conduct of employment agencies and employment businesses cover advertisements for jobs. Agents must make clear in their advertisements that they are employment agents. If they offer an information service about jobs and have no authority from employers to find workers for such jobs, they must state this in the advertisement. Employment businesses must state rates of pay, the minimum qualifications required to earn them, the nature of the job and its location. They must also state when workers are to be supplied on a self-employed basis only. There are no plans to strengthen or alter this legislation.

Visual Display Units

asked the Paymaster General what studies have been made to assess the possible effects of visual display units on their operators.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1985]: Many studies have been undertaken over the last ten years. They have mainly looked at possible effects on vision, musculo skeletal problems, skin and alleged reproductive problems. "Health effects of VDUs: a bibliography by Rosemary Thomas" has been published by the Health and Safety Executive. I have placed a copy in the Library.More recent published studies include "Work and pregnancy in Montreal—preliminary findings on work with visual display terminals", "Birth defects and video display terminals" and "Video display work and pregnancy—research in the Nordic countries". I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

Education And Science

Textbooks

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of schools in each local authority in which children are sharing textbooks and as to what proportion of all school children this represents.

The Department does not collect information in this form. Her Majesty's Inspectors judged, in their report on the effects of local expenditure policies on education provision in England, 1984, itself based on information collected in the autumn term of 1984, that in primary schools the level of book provision was satisfactory or better in over four-fifths of local education authorities, and that for the 11–16 and 16–19 age groups the provision was satisfactory or better in nearly two-thirds and just over three-quarters of LEAs respectively. HMI noted in the report that for all age groups book provision in 1984–85 was better than it has been in 1983–84.

Youth Service

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has so far received in response to circular 1/85 on the youth service.

Circular 1/85 on the youth service requested responses from local authorities by 31 December 1985. So far nine responses have been received and some voluntary and other organisations have submitted general views on the issues raised in the circular.

Geophysics

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on research into geophysics in the light of the report of a Royal Society working party on "The Support of Geophysics in the United Kingdom", a copy of which has been sent to him.

My right hon. Friend awaits the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on this matter.

School Meals

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the numbers and percentage of local education authorities which provide free school meals to families above the entitlement levels for family income supplement; and how many families are affected.

In October 1984, 65 authorities, that is 68 per cent. of the local education authorities in England, granted free meals above the level of entitlement for family income supplement and supplementary benefit. Information on the number of families is not available. The report of the school meals census for autumn 1984 "Provision of School Meals, England October 1984" is available in the Library.

Institute Of Psychiatry

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give for each year since 1979 the total income and expenditure of the Institute of Psychiatry breaking down the figures by source of income and item of expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the institute's deficit of £250,000.

Details of the income and expenditure of the Institute of Psychiatry are given in its accounts. Copies of the accounts for 1980 to 1984 have been placed in the Library. The accounts for the year to 31 July 1985 are still being audited but I understand that arrangements are in hand to fund the deficit.

Disabled Students

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice his Department has given to education authorities on the provision of interpreters for deaf students in primary and secondary schools, further education colleges and adult education institutes.

The Department has given no advice to local education authorities on this matter. The provision of interpreters for deaf students in primary and secondary schools, colleges of further education and adult education institutes is a matter for individual authorities to decide upon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children have moved into mainstream schools from special schools for (a) deaf children, (b) blind children, (c) physically handicapped children, (d) children with mild learning difficulties and (e) children with severe learning difficulties in each of the years since 1981.

This information is not collected.

Medical Research Council

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list those establishments which currently receive funding through the Medical Research Council for investigations of the treatment of trauma caused by accident or injury; and, in the case of each establishment, what is the broad nature of the research being undertaken;(2) what level of funding is currently available through the Medical Research Council for investigations of the treatment of trauma caused by accident or injury for each establishment that is currently in receipt of such funding.

I understand that the Medical Research Council is funding 38 projects on research into trauma, including projects which could prove relevant to an understanding of trauma. The projects span work carried out at MRC's own establishments and through grant support to universities. In the financial year 1984–85 the council's expenditure on this research amounted to £1·2 million. I will write to my hon. Friend with further details.Details of the council's activities are listed in the Medical Research Council Handbook for 1984–85, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether funding through the Medical Research Council of the trauma unit at the University of Manchester is to be continued.

It is for the Medical Research Council to decide how to apportion the grant-in-aid it receives from the Department's science budget between the various areas of science which it supports under the provisions of its charter. I understand that the council has not yet reached a decision about the future of its trauma unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many people are currently employed in Medical Research Council units in England and Wales, and how many of these employees are in the north-west region;(2) if he will state the total number of Medical Research Council units in England and Wales; and how many of these units are located in the north-west region.

I understand that the Medical Research Council has 48 units in England and Wales which employ 2,812 people. Of these, two units employing 36 people are located in the north-west region.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will review the operation of the Medical Research Council; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Advisory Board for the Research Councils advises my right hon. Friend on a continuing basis on the operation of all the research councils, including the Medical Research Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the geographic location of Medical Research Council units.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will examine and report on the geographical distribution of grants by the Medical Research Council.

The geographical location of the work which the Medical Research Council funds is a matter for the scientific judgment of the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the distribution, nature and purposes of grants by the Medical Research Council; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1 January 1985 the Department has received 23 representations from hon. Members and other interested parties about the distribution, nature and purposes of grants funded by the Medical Research Council.

Schools Of Architecture (Closures)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what criteria the proposed closures of schools of architecture in Belfast, north-east London and Huddersfield polytechnics are based.

The recommendations to the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education (NAB) and to the University Grants Committee (UGC) that the schools of architecture at Huddersfield and North East London polytechnics and Queen's university Belfast cease intakes to part 1 courses in 1986 and to part 2 courses as soon as possible thereafter and no later than 1989, and the criteria on which these recommendations are based, are contained within the architecture intakes working party report (August 1985), a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Spina Bifida

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he has received the report of the Medical Research Council on the efficacy of multivitamin treatments in the prevention of spina bifida;(2) whether he now has sufficient evidence to determine if the addition of multivitamin supplements in early pregnancy can affect the development of spina bifida in children.

No. The relevant trial, which the Medical Research Council is conducting, started in the summer of 1983. I understand that the council expects that up to five years may be needed, from the time the trial started, before results are obtained.

Students (Financial Assistance)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the policy of his Department in respect of the financial support of students during vacations.

The maintenance grant provides for the financial support of students during the Christmas and Easter vacations. No provision is made for the summer vacation.

Deaf Teachers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make an announcement on the replacement for circular 11/78 in respect of the medical regulations affecting deaf teachers; and whether he will make a statement.

	Salary scales for clinical academic staff				NHS equivalent
	1 April 1982 (£)	1 April 1983 (£)	1 April 1984 (£)	1 November 1984 (£)
Lecturers (Not holding honourary contracts)	8,730	9,260	9,770	10,130	Registrars Scale
	9,170	9,730	10,270	10,640
	9,610	10,200	10,760	11,150
	10,050	10,670	11,260	11,660
	10,570	11,220	11,850	12,270
	11,100	11,780	12,430	12,880	Top 4 points of Senior Registrars scale
	11,620	12,330	13,020	13,490
	12,150	12,890	13,610	14,100
	12,670	13,440	14,190	14,710

Following consultation on a replacement to circular 11/78 the Department invited comments by 31 October 1985 on revised paragraphs dealing with defective eyesight and hearing in relation to initial teacher training. Urgent consideration is being given to the comments received.

Universities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he expects to be the additional cost to universities' national insurance contributions in the forthcoming academic year as a result of the 1985 budget.

It is estimated that the net additional cost to the universities of employers' national insurance contributions will be between £7 million and £8 million for the 1986–87 academic year, which is the first full academic year to which the new contribution rates will apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information is available to his Department in respect of the length of time taken to fill fixed-term appointments in universities; and if he will make a statement;(2) what information he has as to the number of university posts without tenure which remain unfilled for

(a) one month, (b) three months and (c) more than six months after the first notification of the vacancy; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not collected centrally.

Academic Clinical Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost of implementing the 1985 salary increase awarded to National Health Service staff to university clinical staff.

The estimated cost of implementing the 1985 salary increase awarded to NHS staff to university clinical academic staff is about £4 million in a full year. This includes the cost of employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions.

Academic Clinical Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish a table in the Official Report setting out the salaries of clinical academic staff and National Health Service staff at comparable levels of seniority and specialism for each of the last three years.

The information requested is as follows.

	Salary scales for clinical academic staff					NHS equivalent
	1 April 1982 (£)	1 April 1983 (£)	1 April 1984 (£)	1 November 1984 (£)
	13,980	14,840	15,670	16,240		4th and 5th points of Associate Specialists Scale
	15,110	16,040	16,930	17,560
Senior Lecturers Readers (not holding honorary contracts)	13,980	14,840	15,670	16,240
	15,110	16,040	16,930	17,560
	16,020	17,010	17,960	18,640		Interpolation of 2nd and 6th points of this 2nd point of scale consultants scale +4·4 per cent.
	17,200	18,260	19,280	20,020
	18,360	19,490	20,580	21,370
	19,410	20,610	21,770	22,620	—
Lecturers Senior Lecturers and Readers (holding honorary contracts)	17,370	18,440	19,470	20,200		Consultants scale
	18,590	19,740	20,850	21,670
	19,820	21,050	22,230	23,140
	21,050	22,360	23,610	24,610
	22,270	23,660	24,990	26,080
Professors maximum	22,270	23,660	24,990	26,080	—	Maximum of consultants scale

Salaries scales of clinical staff at universities are derived from NHS scales as shown in the table and parity has been maintained until 1984–85. NHS doctors and dentists have received pay increases averaging 6·3 per cent. from 1 June which would add 5·3 per cent. to the pay bill for the year ending 31 March 1986. The university employers have said that they are unable to apply that increase to clinical academic staff without compensation for the costs in excess of whatever settlement might be agreed for non-clinical academic staff. In the meantime a "without prejudice" interim payment of 4 per cent. has been made with effect from 1 June.

Higher Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the proportion of pupils with only one A-level entering higher education in 1985–86 compared with 1979–80.

The proportions of English school leavers in 1978–79 and 1983–84 (the latest year for which information is available) who obtained one A-level pass and who intended directly to pursue a full-time degree or equivalent teacher training course were 5·2 per cent and 1·4 per cent. respectively.

Trade And Industry

Information Technology Centres

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards financial self-sufficiency for information technology centres.

£ million
	1979		1980		1981		1982		1983		1984
Crude Trade Balance	-75		+28		-18		-289		-284		-121
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Hides, skins and furskins (21)	22	+19	22	0	27	+20	23	-15	30	+32	35	+18
Cork and Wood (24)	103	+7	106	+3	72	-32	84	+17	105	+25	119	+13
Textile fibres (26)	19	+19	11	-42	11	-2	11	-3	4	-65	2	-59
Petroleum and petroleum products (33)	238	-10	180	-24	226	+25	422	+87	456	+8	562	+23
Cork and wood manufactures (63)	12	+16	11	-7	7	-34	11	+55	12	+6	15	+23

The funding provided by my Department to information technology centres is intended to be used in part to create revenue generating activities. I am pleased to announce that in addition to this support my Department, in conjunction with the Manpower Services Commission, is currently setting up a national marketing organisation which it is considered will be of great help to centres in moving towards self-sufficiency. This facility should be available for the use of all ITeCs early in the new year.

Imports (Soviet Union)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a breakdown of the products which have been imported into the United Kingdom from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the last six years and the extent to which these imports rose or decreased from year to year during the same period; and if he will list the trade balance between the two countries from year to year during the same period.

Information relating to the crude balance, and imports under six of the main product groups is given in the table. A fuller breakdown of imports by SITC/R2 division may be obtained from table II of the relevant issue of "UK Overseas Trade Statistics".

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

Crude Trade Balance

-75

+28

-18

-289

-284

-121

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

Road vehicles (78)

+46

-46

+17

+31

+16

-40

Other

—

105

—

(a) United Kingdom imports £ million (cif).

(b) Percentage change from previous year.

Source: Table II of "Overseas Trade Statistics".

Notes:

(i) crude trade balance is calculated as United Kingdom exports (fob) less imports (cif).

(ii) figures in parenthesis after commodity descriptions refer to divisions of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2).

(iii) owing to rounding percentages may not correspond exactly to values given.

West Midlands County Council (Trade Mission)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice and assistance his Department gave to the West Midlands county council trade mission to Hong Kong from 19 October to 10 November 1984; and if he will make a statement.

My Department provided advice to the Birmingham city council and the West Midlands county council on the export promotion aspects of a Birmingham and West Midlands festival held in Hong Kong in October and November 1984. The British Overseas Trade Board provided financial support under its usual conditions to participants in a parallel trade mission organised by the West Midlands regional group of chambers of commerce. It also gave financial and organisational support to a wider British trade promotion sponsored by the Birmingham chamber of commerce and industry.

Private Manufacturing (Investment)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average level of investment per employee in the private manufacturing sector in (a) the east midlands and (b) for England as a whole in 1981 and 1984.

Regional investment data relating to the private sector of manufacturing industry are not readily available and would be costly to compile. Estimates for 1983 and 1984 are not yet available. Available information is given in the following table:

Net capital expenditure per head in manufacturing industry at current prices*
Year	East Midlands £	England £
1981	804	883
1982	924	985
* Divisions 2–4, Standard Industrial Classification; Revised 1980.

Source: Annual Census of Production Business Monitor PA 1002.

Life Insurance Policies

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, before reaching a final decision as to whether to seek to compel salesmen in the United Kingdom to disclose their commissions when marketing life insurance policies, he will have regard to the practice in the rest of the European Economic Community, the United States of America and the major countries of the Commonwealth; and what such information is presently available to him.

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

Export Credits Guarantee Department

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has estimated the probable loss to the Export Credits Guarantee Department of guarantees given in respect of trade with Nigeria since 1981; and if he will make a statement.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department has made substantial claims payments relating to trade with Nigeria since 1981. The majority of the claims results from delays in the transfer of foreign exchange which the Nigerian authorities intend to clear by 1989.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the total cumulative losses under the Export Credits Guarantee Department's comprehensive basic guarantee schemes; and if he will list under each facility the percentage of total claims payments for that facility attributable to the 10 biggest loss-making individual guarantees.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 November 1985, c. 188]: The information is not available in the precise form requested because final losses do not become known until some years after the guarantees are given. Details of the outturn of ECGD's activities are published annually in the audited trading accounts and provisional figures for 1984–85 are in "ECGD Trading Results 1984–85", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he or his officials have held any discussions since 1981 with the Nigerian authorities over trade in relation to export credit guarantees or other trade involving alleged fraud; and if he will make a statement.

United Kingdom policy on export credit support for Nigeria has been regularly discussed in the course of normal bilateral exchanges between trade and other officials. Questions of alleged fraud have not arisen during these meetings.

Johnson Matthey Bankers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he first became aware of possible losses to the Export Credits Guarantee Department arising out of alleged fraudulent trading by customers of Johnson Matthey Bankers and other banks;

(2) when he first became aware of possible irregularities concerning guarantees given by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in relation to trade since 1981 carried on by customers of Johnson Matthey Bankers and other banks; and if he will make a statement.

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

Small Insurance Intermediaries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to maintain opportunities for small insurance intermediaries engaged in general business to expand without unnecessary restrictions in terms of extended registration procedure or the payment of fees to registration bodies.

It is not the Government's policy to reduce opportunities by placing unnecessary restrictions upon any kind of business.

Sumrie Plc

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his reply of 19 November to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central in relation to Sumrie plc, when he expects to be in a position to say what action will be taken in relation to the information obtained.

As soon as possible.

Tin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the light of the continuing crisis in the London Metal Exchange and its implications for the financial sector generally and the tin industry in particular, he will make urgent inquiries into the affairs which led to the sudden suspension of the activities of the buffer stock manager and of trading on the Metals Exchange and into the implications for Her Majesty's Government's position as host country to the International Tin Council; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are naturally concerned to obtain the fullest possible information which will assist in their aim of securing an orderly return to trading in tin. The Government, and as appropriate the Bank of England, are holding talks with the various parties concerned, and the International Tin Council has met the banks and the London Metal Exchange to discuss possible solutions to the crisis.The International Tin Council is to resume its meeting on 2 December and will remain in session until it reaches a definitive solution to the current crisis. Her Majesty's Government will continue their efforts to persuade other member countries to state their willingness to meet their obligations in order that a satisfactory solution to the crisis may be found.

Scales And Weighing Machines

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Offical Report the planned timetable for implementation of the Eden working party's recommendations on revised pattern approval procedures and self verification, as outlined to the recent conference of the Federation of Scale and Weighing Machine Manufacturers.

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

Financial Services Bill

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Her Majesty's Government expects to introduce the Financial Services Bill.

Next month.

General Agreement On Tariffs And Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward to the general agreement on tariffs and trade for the forthcoming trade negotiations.

The Government have proposed an early launch for the proposed new round of multilateral trade negotiations, with a preparatory committee set up at this week's meeting of the contracting parties to GATT. We shall be negotiating for better access for British exports of goods and services. We want a genuine opening-up of the markets of Japan and the newly-industrialised countries. We want agreed rules for liberalising trade in services, reductions in remaining high tariffs, and more effective GATT dispute—settlement procedures.

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report his Department's estimates, for the years 1978 to 1984, for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions, of the numbers of jobs created by (i) regional policy and (ii) other employment assistance measures, and of the costs per job.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1985]: The table below shows the number of jobs expected to be created or safeguarded in the assisted areas by projects receiving offers of regional selective assistance in the years 1978–84 by region and country within Great Britain, and the estimated offer value per job. Estimates on a similar basis are not available for other regional policy measures.The figures in the table are not comparable with estimates of the number and associated cost of providing net additional jobs in the assisted areas. Such estimates are not available on an annual basis or for a recent period.The numbers of jobs created by regional policy and employment assistance measures in Northern Ireland, and by employment assistance measures in Great Britain, are matters for, respectively, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Paymaster General.

Employment Expected to be Created or Safeguarded and Offer Value per Job (at current prices) Associated with Projects in Receipt of Offers of Section 7 Assistance in the Years 1978–84 by Region and Country
	1978		1979		1980		1981		1982		1983		1984
Region/Country	No. of jobs	offer value per job (£)	No. of jobs	Offer value per job (£)	No. of jobs	Offer value per job (£)	No. of jobs	Offer value per job (£)	No. of jobs	Offer value per job (£)	No. of jobs	Offer value per job (£)	No. of jobs	Offer value per job (£)
Scotland	15,359	1,388	22,009	1,572	22,255	1,734	15,614	2,837	16,797	2,602	19,854	2,322	21,842	2,774
Wales	12,854	4,279	14,232	1,538	13,739	2,133	10,080	1,796	10,722	2,285	20,038	2,241	18,295	2,870
North East	10,381	1,926	14,461	1,756	14,567	2,183	5,184	2,218	7,089	2,031	11,616	1,911	14,565	3,838
North West	50,078	1,431	31,213	1,471	20,261	1,486	8,681	1,728	8,179	1,736	8,277	1,655	5,788	2,315
Yorkshire/Humberside	7,543	778	16,133	849	8,151	883	8,298	1,687	11,089	1,073	9,450	1,693	2,241	2,142
East Midlands	1,521	681	1,500	466	2,267	1,191	2,189	1,873	5,727	2,218	2,812	3,058	3,038	2,930
West Midlands	59	608	31	1,290	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	*0	*0
South West	4,299	959	4,323	1,249	1,046	1,816	683	1,757	1,604	3,117	1,607	2,054	2,068	2,950

Notes:

N/A=not applicable.

* Regional selective assistance only became available at the end of the year.

Pirate Radio Stations

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total cost to public funds during the last 12 months of the surveillance and other activities carried out against off-shore pirate radio stations.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1985]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) on 19 November at column 129.

Bankers' Guarantee Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown for each of the last three financial years of the percentages of comprehensive bankers guarantee scheme policyholders with facility values of (a) up to £500,000, (b) £500,000 to £1 million and (c) over £1 million and the percentages of total claims paid under the scheme for each of these categories.

[pursuant to the reply, 21 November 1985, c. 250]: The comprehensive bankers guarantee scheme embraces two facilities—one for open account transactions and one for bills or notes. The breakdown requested of numbers of policies for each facility is:

Per cent.
Limit of facility	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Open account
Below £500,000	91·0	93·0	91·0
£500,000 to £1 million	5·0	4·0	4·5
Above £1 million	4·0	3·0	4·5
Bills/notes
Below £500,000	84·0	83·0	86·0
£500,000 to £1 million	7·0	9·0	7·0
Above £1 million	9·0	8·0	7·0

A number of policyholders use both facilities. Information about the percentage of total claims relating to each category is not available in the form requested.

Church Commissioners

Asset Holdings

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will publish in the Official Report the shareholdings of the Church Commissioners in excess of £10,000 in any shopping or trading company, detailing the amount held by the Church Commissioners asset committee and the company or trading name, such shareholding relating to United Kingdom based companies only.

As at 31 October 1985 the commissioners held shares in United Kingdom retailing companies as follows:

Company	Shares
Argyll Group	600,000
Associated Dairies Group	1,000,000
Bejam Group	817,916
Boots	875,000
Burton Group	1,522,016
Dee Corporation	2,425,000
Dixons Group	710,000
Great Universal Stores	350,000
Habitat/Mothercare	685,000
Hepworth, J.	1,705,000
Marks & Spencer	6,600,000
Sainsbury, J.	758,000
Samuel, H.	715,500
Sears	5,034,319
Smith, W. H.	300,000
Superdrug	195,000
Tesco	400,000

Energy

Alternative Energy Sources

13.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to have discussions with the European Commission about alternative sources of energy.

I am pleased to say that in recent months the Council of Ministers has agreed substantial new Community programmes on non-nuclear energy research, development and demonstration. These should be of real benefit to British companies and university groups actively pursuing alternative sources of energy.

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the proportion of the total United Kingdom energy needs which can be met by alternative forms of energy in 1985 and in 10 years time.

The alternative sources contribute less than 1 per cent. to the United Kingdom's total primary energy supply at present. By the end of the century this contribution could rise to 2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to hold meetings with representatives of alternative energy interest groups on a regular basis.

My Department meets with representatives of a wide range of groups with interests in alternative energy sources.

Coal Industry

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he intends to meet the leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers; and if he will make a statement.

I am always willing to meet the leaders of any recognised trade union.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has discussed with the chairman of the National Coal Board the implications for the coal industry of recognition by the National Coal Board of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers.

The recognition of trade unions within the coal industry is a matter for the NCB. I am sure that it is desirable that mineworkers should be represented by the union of their choice.

Pensioners (Free Fuel)

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will introduce legislation to provide a Christmas allocation of free fuel for retirement pensioners.

All domestic consumers will have benefited from the falls in the real prices of fuels that have occurred the last two years. The social security system helps the least well-off with day-to-day expenses, including fuel, and extra help is available for those with special needs.

Gas Industry

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what provision will be made for employee share ownership upon the privatisation of British Gas.

All who work in the gas industry will be given positive opportunity to acquire shares.

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his proposals for the privatisation of British Gas.

The details of our proposals will be brought before the House shortly.

British Gas Corporation And Electricity Council

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the British Gas Corporation and the chairman of the Electricity Council.

My right hon. Friend and I frequently meet the chairmen of each industry.

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the British Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council, he will raise with them the future level of gas and electricity prices; and if he will make a statement.

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the Electricity Council, he will raise the subject of the industrial price of electricity.

I refer to the answer which I gave today to the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Wrigglesworth). Prices are a matter for the industry concerned.

France (Electricity Exports)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about exports from France of cheap electricity generated by nuclear power stations.

I have received no recent representations from members of the public or interested groups.

Ncb Chairman

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to make the chairmanship of the National Coal Board a part-time position.

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he proposes any change in the functions and role of the chairman of the National Coal Board; and if he will make a statement.

No.

Trent Valley (Power Stations)

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if when he next meets the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, he will raise with him the building of further coal-fired power stations in the Trent valley.

The board has stated that it does not intend to make any application for new power stations until the outcome of the Sizewell inquiry is known.

Manufacturing Industry

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the contributions made by the gas, coal and electricity industries towards the drive for greater productivity in the manufacturing industry.

I refer to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 28 October 1985 at column 650, in which I indicated that labour productivity generally in the public sector energy industries had improved since 1980. This will have contributed towards cost control and overall productivity in the manufacturing sector.

Leicester (Combined Heat And Power)

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on current progress of the feasibility study on combined heat and power in Leicester; and how this progress compares with the feasibility studies in respect of other cities.

Agreements between Belfast, Edinburgh and Leicester consortia and the Secretary of State for Energy for grant aid towards the preparation of prospectuses have been signed. The consortia's work programmes, which differ in some respects, began in April and are on schedule. The consortia expects to complete its programmes over the next 12 months.

Electricity Industry

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to announce plans for privatising the electricity industry.

There are no present plans to privatise the electricity supply industry.

Redundant Mineworkers' Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to bring forward proposals under section 3 of the Coal Industry Act 1975 to enable the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme to continue into the 1986–87 financial year.

My right hon. Friend has made it clear that no decisions have yet been made on the details of any new scheme to succeed the current redundant mineworkers' payments scheme.

Energy Efficiency Year

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress on his plans for Energy Efficiency Year in 1986.

During the year the Department will be launching a new version of its breakfast briefings for chief executives; its monergy roadshow will cover towns across the country. The events already organised by outside firms and organisations—again covering every corner of the country—will play a vital role in converting the awareness aroused by our national campaign into action at the level of the firm, the local authority, hospitals and other institutional consumers, and the householder.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the progress to date of Energy Efficiency Year plans.

During the year the Department will be launching a new version of its breakfast briefings for chief executives; its monergy roadshow will cover towns across the country. The events already organised by outside firms and organsations—again covering every corner of the country—will play a vital role in converting the awareness aroused by our national campaign into action at the level of the firm, the local authority, hospitals and other institutional consumers, and the householder.

Energy Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his energy policy in the light of the conclusions contained in the evidence submitted by the Council for the Protection of Rural England to the Energy Committee (H.C., 1984–85, No. 87), a copy of which has been sent to him, regarding the relative cost-effectiveness of investment in a national programme of energy conservation, on the one hand, and a series of orders for pressurised water nuclear reactors, on the other.

The Government's energy policy aims to ensure that all economic forms of energy are produced, supplied and used as efficiently as possible. The aim of our energy efficiency campaign is to make consumers aware of the enormous potential for economic conservation in all sectors of the energy market. Decisions on Sizewell B must await consideration of the inspector's report, which has not yet been submitted.

Windscale

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list for each year since 1973 (a) the amount of plutonium passing through the material balance area at Windscale not open to safeguards inspectors and (b) the reactors of origin of the plutonium.

The material balance area processed by civil and defence plutonium during this period; it would not be in the national interest to disclose the amount of plutonium processed. Most of the re-processed fuel came from magnox reactors. A small amount came from a pilot oxide fuel head-end plant which ceased operation during 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which of the nuclear material balance areas at Windscale is prohibited to entry by nuclear safeguard inspectors.

The Euratom inspectors are at present excluded from the civil-military nuclear material balance area at BNFL Sellafield.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the issues that remain unresolved by Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission with regard to the implementation of a full safeguard inspection régime by the Euratom inspectorate of all nuclear materials processed at Windscale arising from the electricity boards' reactors.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 4 April 1985 at column 694.

Electricity Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the Electricity Council, he will raise with him the increases in electricity prices proposed for the coming year; and if he will make a statement.

I frequently meet the chairman of the electricity Council. Prices are a matter for the industry to decide.

Transport

M1 (Signpost 13)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what date junction signpost 13 on the southbound section of the M1 motorway between Wakefield and London was reported damaged; and on what date it will be repaired.

The sign was first reported damaged by the right hon. Gentleman's question. The damage is slight. The sign is due to be replaced in early January as part of the general sign replacement programme on this section of the M1.

Disabled Persons (Station Facilities)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he is making for continuation of the funding of the joint BR/GLC scheme to provide improved access facilities for the disabled at stations in Greater London following the abolition of the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.

I am confident that funding schemes of this kind will, after abolition of the GLC, be better handled by the London boroughs concerned. They already have powers to do this under section 59 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984.

M23/M25

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the reason why, six weeks after the Reigate/Wisley sections of the M25 were opened to traffic, the signposts on the M23 northbound at the junction with the M25 only indicates Sutton as the destination to the west and does not give the direct route to the North.

New signs directing traffic west to Sutton and Heathrow and east to Dartford and Sevenoaks will be erected shortly. The delay arose because it was thought desirable to provide more signs than was originally planned.

Road Accidents (Compensation)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to establish a Government funded no-fault system of compensation for road accidents; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have no proposals to change the law of liability in this way. Such a system would have considerable public expenditure implications and invidiously discriminate among accident victims depending on whether they were injured on the roads or elsewhere.

British Transport (Advertising)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had any representations concerning possible private sector involvement in British Transport advertising.

We have received several representations from private sector companies seeking involvement in British Transport Advertising Limited and from members of staff about possible purchase of BTA and the implications for them if BTA is sold to the private sector. British Rail and the National Bus Company are in the lead in considering the future of BTA. I understand that they intend to invite competitive bids for the whole of the current business.

Mr Bernard Christopher Kennedy (Driving Licence)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how long the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre has held Bernard Christopher Kennedy's driving licence; and why this has not been returned to Mr. Kennedy suitably corrected.

Mr. Kennedy's licence has been held at the centre since January 1985. Mr. Kennedy notified a correction to his date of birth which meant that his licence had to be regarded as expiring on his seventieth birthday in December 1984. He was invited to apply for its renewal and did so in March. Due to a clerical oversight incorrect action was taken on the application.I apologise for the inconvenience caused to Mr. Kennedy and am glad to report that his licence was sent to him on 22 November. Those concerned will be reminded of the serious consequences and inconvenience which can be caused when correct procedures are not followed.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to check on the roadworthiness of heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

All heavy goods vehicles over 30 cwt unladen weight, except for a few special exemptions, are subject to an annual roadworthiness inspection conducted in one of the Department's 91 heavy goods vehicle testing stations.This test includes all major safety components on both motor vehicles and trailers and comprises 66 areas of inspection. Details are set out in the goods vehicle tester's manual, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.Goods vehicles are subject to a roadside spot check by examiners from the Vehicle Inspectorate. A defective vehicle may be prohibited from use immediately or with delayed effect depending upon the severity of the defect. Each prohibition must be cleared by a further inspection which usually takes place at a heavy goods vehicle testing station. Over 42,000 vehicles were spot checked last year, of which about 6 per cent. were issued with an immediate prohibition and a further 13 per cent. with delayed prohibitions.Other goods vehicle inspections are carried out by vehicle examiners on private premises or at HGV testing stations usually in connection with operator's licensing. Vehicles found to be defective may be prohibited. In addition the whole fleet may be subjected to an inspection, and a review may also be undertaken of the operator's maintenance arrangements. The results of such checks are provided to the Licensing Authority for his use in decisions regarding the grant or revocation of the operator's licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of all recorded motor vehicle accidents in the United Kingdom in the last five years involved heavy lorries.

Data are held centrally for Great Britain only. For the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 the figure was 5 per cent. Further years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of recorded motor vehicle accidents on motorways in the last five years involved heavy lorries.

For the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 the percentages are 20, 20 and 19 respectively. Further years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of recorded motor vehicle accidents on trunk roads in the last five years involved heavy lorries.

Data on accidents on trunk roads are readily available for England only, for 1983 and 1984.The figure for both 1983 and 1984 was 12 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of all recorded motor vehicle accidents in the United Kingdom in the last five years involved lorries registered outside the United Kingdom.

Data are only held centrally for Great Britain. For the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 the figures are 0·08, 0·08, 0·09 per cent. respectively. Further years' data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Road Safety Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions are made for road safety committees to continue, following the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

It is for successor authorities to determine the arrangements they will need to fulfill their statutory obligations for road safety, including whatever they consider appropriate in respect of road safety committees. The Department has issued advice for metropolitan district councils on road safety issues to help them in their formulation of the necessary local framework to deal with their new responsibilities. Regional offices of the Department stand ready to provide further advice on particular local matters.

Speed Limit

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has carried out any estimate of the effect on the number of road accidents from lowering the speed limit to 60 mph on all roads in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Only 5 per cent. of accidents occur on roads with a speed limit of more than 60 mph. If the limit on these roads were reduced to 60 mph and all drivers observed the limit, one might expect a reduction in the number of accidents. No estimate of the extent of the reductions is possible because it is not clear how far, without a massive enforcement effort, drivers would voluntarily comply with the limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has carried out any estimate of the savings in fuel costs which could result from a lowering of the speed limit to 60 mph on all roads in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

We estimate that the lowering of the speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways from 70 mph to 60 mph—if reflected in a reduction in actual speeds of cars—would result in a reduction of about 2 per cent. in total petrol consumed by cars using all roads.

Roads (Langbaurgh)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to designate any road in Langbaurgh as a trunk road; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals at present to designate any road in Langbaurgh as a trunk road.

Marylebone/Northolt Park Line

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the inspector's report on the proposal to close the Marylebone-Northolt Park line and to make a decision thereon; and if he will make a statement.

Under the statutory closure procedures it will be for the London regional passengers committee to submit a report to my right hon. Friend. The committee will hold a public hearing before submitting its report but a date has not yet been fixed.

Trunk Roads (Safety Fencing)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 303, when he expects the review of safety fencing on trunk roads to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

The review relates to the criteria for the provision of central reserve safety fences and will be completed in about six months' time.

Pneumatic Tyres

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if Her Majesty's Government are satisfied with the safety of imported pneumatic tyres; and if he will make a statement.

Both imported and United Kingdom manufactured car tyres must meet the same international Standard prescribed in ECE regulation 30. We made regulations last year to prohibit the sale of substandard tyres, whether new or second-hand; enforcement of these regulations is the responsibility of trading standards officers. I have recently advised motorists to check the condition and markings on second-hand tyres before purchase.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Argentina

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commowealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to remove any restrictions concerning British companies wishing to tender for oil exploration contracts in Argentina.

We impose no restrictions on British companies wishing to tender for oil exploration contracts in Argentina. We have taken a number of measures aimed at a mutual lifting of restrictions affecting financial and commercial relations between the United Kingdom and Argentina. The Argentine Government have however reciprocated only partially.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 is as follows:DIPLOMATIC WING:

Deputy under-secretary:

Relations with all countries in Europe; European Community (political co-operation); labour matters and co-ordination of planning: two assistant under-secretaries and 69 other staff.

Deputy under-secretary

Trade and economic relations; United Nations; energy, science, space, maritime, aviation and environment matters: two assistant under-secretaries and 142 other staff.

Deputy under-secretary

Personnel, finance, communications, office services, overseas estate, protocol, news and information matters; cultural relations; consular, migration and nationality questions; relations with Parliament: five assistant under-secretaries and 2,574 other staff.

Deputy under-secretary:

Relations with all countries in the Americas, the Caribbean, Australasia and Asia: two assistant under-secretaries and 148 other staff.

Deputy under-secretary:

Relations with all countries in Africa and the near and middle east; Commonwealth co-ordination: two assistant under-secretaries and 107 other staff.

Deputy under-secretary:

Relations with the Republic of Ireland; arms control, disarmament and defence matters; service advisers and attaches; security co-ordination: two assistant under-secretaries and 109 other staff.

AID WING

Deputy secretary

Bilateral, multilateral and functional aid; overseas manpower services; overseas service pensions: five under-secretaries and 880 other staff.

Arms Control

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the arms control agreements and treaties to which Her Majesty's Government are a signatory.

We are a signatory to the following arms control agreements and treaties:

The protocol for the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare of 1925 (the Geneva protocol);

the Antarctic Treaty of 1959;

the treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water of 1963 (the partial test ban treaty);

the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space including the moon and other celestial bodies of 1967 (the outer space treaty);

the additional protocols of the treaty for the prohibition of nuclear weapons in Latin America of 1967 (the treaty of Tlatelolco);

the agreement concerning the establishment of a direct communication link between the residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in London and the Kremlin of 1967 (the Soviet Union-United Kingdom hotline agreement);

the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons of 1968;

the treaty on the prohibition of the emplacement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof of 1971 (the seabed treaty);

the convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on their destruction of 1972 (the biological weapons convention);

the convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques of 1977 (the ENMOD convention);

the (Soviet-United Kingdom) agreement on the prevention of accidental nuclear war of 1977;

the convention on prohibition or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects of 1981 (the UN weaponry convention).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to secure a new comprehensive test ban treaty.

In July we tabled a paper at the conference on disarmament in Geneva as a contribution to discussion of the outstanding problems of verification. In our view, solutions to these problems must be available before any comprehensive test ban treaty can be negotiated. The United Kingdom also joined western partners at the CD in proposing a mandate for an ad hoc committee at the CD to examine verification and other aspects of a comprehensive test ban with a view to negotiation. Unfortunately others have not so far agreed to this.

Nicaragua

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent co-operation with Nicaragua in relation to United Kingdom assistance to Colombia following the recent disaster.

Nicaragua, like other countries in the region, co-operated promptly in providing landing and refuelling facilities for two Puma helicopters from Belize that transited through Nicaragua on their way to Colombia to provide assistance in the recent disaster. The short delay in obtaining Nicaraguan authorisation was due to communications difficulties associated with a revision of the helicopters' flight plan.

Nigeria

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he or his officials have had any discussions since 1981 with the Nigerian authorities over trade in relation to export credit guarantees or other trade involving alleged frauds; and if he will make a statement.

Neither my right hon. and learned Friend nor our officials have discussed alleged trade frauds with the Nigerian authorities. The Nigerian high commission asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in September 1983 to put Nigerian police officers visiting the United Kingdom into contact with the United Kingdom police authorities to investigate alleged frauds involving forged export documents. The Nigerians were given the name of the appropriate police officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department's assistance was sought to help members of the fraud squad to go to Nigeria to investigate alleged fraud in relation to trade; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, in July 1985 by the City of London police. The Nigerian authorities were approached accordingly but a visit has not yet taken place.

Hong Kong

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any discussions have taken place with the Chinese Government concerning the 1,300 families of boat people living in Hong Kong waters; and if he will make a statement.

There have been discussions with the Chinese Government about the 14 boat wives from the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter who returned to China on 8 August and 24 October 1985. No other discussions with the Chinese Government on the boat-dwelling families in Hong Kong have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of human rights and civil liberties in Hong Kong.

Both the international covenant on civil and political rights and the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights apply to Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the age groups of children born in Hong Kong waters whose parents have been notified that they are liable to deportation.

In the families of the 14 boat wives who were asked to leave Hong Kong, none of the children were born in Hong Kong waters. Of the total of 29 children born to these 14 wives, 21 were born on land in Hong Kong. Their ages range from a few months to four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the case of how many children born in Hong Kong territorial waters their parents have been notified that they are liable to deportation; and what is their current citizenship status.

All of the 21 children born in Hong Kong are Hong Kong British dependent territories citizens with right to land in Hong Kong, because they were born in Hong Kong to a parent (father) who had achieved settled status in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Hong Kong Government towards immigration by boat people.

Vietnamese boat people who seek asylum in Hong Kong are allowed to remain temporarily in the territory, pending overseas resettlement. The Hong Kong Government only admit immigrants from China if they have been issued with one-way Chinese exit permits by the Chinese authorities. All illegal immigrants are liable to be repatriated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to whether the boat people's families currently in Hong Kong were allowed to leave China and as to whether their Chinese citizenship status has been cancelled by the Chinese Government.

Fourteen boat wives who had been living in the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter and were found to be illegal immigrants in Hong Kong returned to China in August and October 1985. Their families remaining in Hong Kong are legal residents of Hong Kong. The wives who returned to China did not possess Chinese one-way exit permits. We understand that their Chinese nationality status and household registrations have not been cancelled by the Chinese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis it has been decided by the Hong Kong Government that wives of boatmen in Hong Kong waters are not allowed on land except in case of serious illness.

Boat-dwelling wives who are legal residents of Hong Kong may come ashore any time. Boat-dwelling wives who are in Hong Kong without the permission of the director of immigration are illegal immigrants. They are allowed ashore only in exceptional circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to how many boat people have drowned in Hong Kong waters in each of the past five years.

Information on the number of boat people drowned in Hong Kong waters is not available, but the Hong Kong Government believe the figure to be very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Hong Kong Government have received from the boat brides support committee concerning the proposed deportation of certain boat women; and if he will make a statement.

The Hong Kong Government have received representations from various groups supporting the request made by the 14 wives from the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter for permission to remain in Hong Kong. These groups include the Society for Community Organisation, the Hong Kong federation of Catholic students, the husbands of the wives, various Catholic priests and the Catholic bishop of Hong Kong. In response to these representations the Hong Kong Government have pointed out that a legal channel, the one-way permit system, exists for residents of China to enter Hong Kong to join relatives; that in 1983 and 1984 30 per cent. of the one-way permits each year were issued to wives joining husbands; and that the position of the 14 wives from the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter was essentially no different from that of other illegal immigrants from China residing in Hong Kong without the permission of the director of immigration, whether dwelling on boats or on land.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the 14 boatwomen who petitioned the Hong Kong Government about its immigration policy in respect of boat people have now been deported.

The 14 wives who petitioned the Hong Kong Government for permission to remain in Hong Kong have not been deported. They left voluntarily on 8 August and 24 October 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the 14 women living on boats in Hong Kong waters, who have now been deported, had been there prior to their deportation.

Prior to their departure, the 14 wives had lived in Hong Kong waters from various periods ranging from, two and half years to four and a half years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any entry visas have been granted to members of the Nigerian police or Nigerian Security Organisation to investigate alleged fraud in relation to trade in any of the years 1983, 1984 and 1985 to the present day.

We are not aware of any cases of such visits where prior entry clearance has been sought.It is not mandatory for Nigerian citizens visiting the United Kingdom to obtain prior entry clearances.

British Crown Colonies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will continue to provide reports and official information about British Crown colonies to the United Nations Organisation; on what basis such information is presently given; and if he will make a statement.

We shall continue to provide the United Nations with information on conditions in the United Kingdom dependent territories, in fulfilment of our obligations under article 73(e) of the United Nations Charter.

International Year Of Peace

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government intends to set up a national committee to coordinate the programme of the 1986 International Year of Peace declared by the United General Assembly on 24 October.

No.

Western European Union

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Western European Union.

The Western European Union provides a unique forum for political consultation between the Foreign and Defence Ministers of member countries on a wide range of defence and security issues of importance to Europe. We aim through the WEU to improve European security co-operation, thus strengthening the European pillar of the North Atlantic Alliance, which remains the cornerstone of our security.

Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many applications for entry clearance in Bangladesh from the reapplicants' queue are interviewed on average each week;(2) how many interviews are conducted in one day by an entry clearance officer at each post in the Indian subcontinent;(3) how many applicants for entry clearance for settlement are interviewed on average each week at each post in the Indian sub-continent;(4) what proportion of applications for entry clearance for settlement in the Indian sub-continent is in the reapplications queue;(5) how many applicants in Bangladesh for entry clearance for settlement have been allocated to the reapplicants' queue.

The information is not readily available. We are consulting the posts concerned. I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many entry clearance officers are currently employed at each post in the Indian subcontinent.

The information is as follows:

	Number
Dhaka	*15
New Delhi	†4
Bombay	5
Calcutta	1
Islamabad	14
Karachi	1
* Plus six on temporary attachment.
† Plus one on temporary attachment.

Civil Service

Outside Appointments

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many candidates from outside the Civil Service have been recruited at grade 6 level and each grade above in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 to date.

The information requested for the years 1979–84 is given in the table. No data is, at present, available centrally for 1985. Some of the data for 1984 may be subject to correction because of late departmental returns.

Level	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Grade 1	1	3	0	1	2	0
Grade 2	2	1	1	3	2	1
Grade 3	7	4	9	9	12	6
Grade 4	5	1	1	6	10	8
Grade 5	22	25	13	15	31	29

Level

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

Grade 6

125

131

156

162

112

101

188

200

Scotland

Nhs Services (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1979 the percentage of the expenditure on (a) medical and surgical equipment maintenance, (b) X-ray equipment maintenance, (c) laboratory equipment maintenance, (d) catering, (e) laundry, (f) cleaning, (g) engineering maintenance, (h) building maintenance, (i) grounds and so on, maintenance, (j) vehicle maintenance and (k) computers, which has been paid to private contractors for services provided to the National Health Service in Scotland.

Information on total expenditure in these areas is not readily available. Nor do health board accounts distinguish expenditure on services provided by private companies.

Tendering Exercises

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each tendering exercise for hospital ancillary services of which his Department is aware (a) the health board concerned, (b) the hospital concerned, (c) the service concerned (laundry, catering or cleaning), (d) the successful tenderer and (e) the saving achieved over the cost in the previous year.

Health boards are presently engaged in seeking and assessing competitive tenders for support services in a range of premises, including hospitals.

Health Boards (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give, for each health board in 1984–85, the total expenditure on cleaning, the total expenditure on services provided by private cleaning companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former, and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year;(2) if he will give for each health board in 1984–85 the total expenditure on catering, the total expenditure on services provided by private cleaning companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year;(3) if he will give for each health board in 1984–85 the total expenditure on laundry, the total expenditure on services provided by private laundry companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage on the previous year.

Health board accounts do not distinguish expenditure on services provided by private companies. The following was the total expenditure by health boards on cleaning, catering and laundry services in 1984–85.

Board	Cleaning £	Catering £	Laundry £
Argyll and Clyde	3,937,397	4,423,165	1,318,806
Ayrshire and Arran	2,707,511	3,739,506	867,955
Borders	807,901	1,016,268	249,964
Dumfries and Galloway	1,403,081	1,905,085	381,957
Fife	2,630,955	3,270,266	876,203
Forth Valley	2,491,424	3,546,594	869,094
Grampian	5,127,530	5,707,548	1,305,265
Greater Glasgow	12,344,260	16,042,772	4,112,044
Highland	1,885,899	1,877,033	520,203
Lanarkshire	4,456,230	5,333,478	1,276,334
Lothian	7,974,467	9,382,453	2,172,182
Orkney	191,106	177,379	78,934
Shetland	171,704	215,775	89,687
Tayside	5,261,993	6,534,031	1,743,311
Western Isles	239,646	394,435	149,514

Ambulance Service

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1979 the number of ambulance service journeys in Scotland carrying non-National Health Service patients and the total mileage involved.

The information is not available in precisely the form requested. The following table shows the mileage for all journeys by ambulances on non-NHS business, including journeys for ambulances hired for attendance at occasions such as sporting events.

Year	Non-NHS patients carried	Total Mileage
1979	323	9,571
1980	367	12,050
1981	325	12,467
1982	333	12,655
1983	332	12,727
1984	410	14,290

In 1984 the Scottish ambulance service carried more than two million patients and ambulances travelled over 15 million miles.

Private Hospitals And Nursing Homes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the private hospitals and nursing homes in Scotland which treat National Health Service patients under contractual arrangements with health boards.

The latest available information, which relates to 31 March 1984, is as follows:Argyll and Clyde

Princess Louise hospital, Bishopton
St. Mary's Private hospital, Barrhead

Borders

St. Aidan's private hospital, Melrose
St. Mary's hospital, Galashiels

Greater Glasgow

Jewish Old Age, Newark Drive
St. Margaret's hospital, Clydebank
Marie Curie Memorial, Glasgow

Highland

St. Vincents home, Kingussie

Lanarkshire

Assumption house, Airdrie
St. Mary's convalescent home, Lanark
St. Charles private hospital, Carstairs

Lothian

St. Columba's hospice, Edinburgh
St. Joseph's hospital, Rosewell
Queensberry house, Edinburgh
Fairmile nursing home, Edinburgh

Health Board Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1979, for each health board and for Scotland as whole, the number of deaths and discharges among, and the number of beds occupied on a

A. Deaths and discharges: year ending 30 September
Health Board Specialty	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	*1984
Borders
Mental deficiency	8	4	3	9	7	—
Total	8	4	3	9	7	—
Argyll and Clyde
Mental deficiency	9	9	6	4	5	2
General unclassified	39	56	64	24	29	—
Geriatric long stay	—	—	—	—	15	26
Total	48	65	70	28	49	28
Greater Glasgow
Geriatric long stay	48	51	85	97	11	10
General medicine	157	195	—	—	—	—
Others	—	—	263	247	353	379
Total	205	246	348	344	364	389
Highland
Convalescent	175	201	216	245	130	—
Geriatric long stay	11	11	11	14	13	12
Total	186	212	227	259	143	12
Lanarkshire
Convalescent	581	543	555	509	530	531
Geriatric long stay	11	11	20	37	21	26
Mental deficiency	4	8	7	4	56	52
Total	596	562	582	550	607	609
Lothian
Mental deficiency	142	12	98	103	84	13
Geriatric long stay	46	136	4	7	14	51
Others	151	149	129	342	602	572
Total	339	297	231	452	700	636
Scotland
General medicine	157	195	—	—	—	—
Convalescent	756	744	771	754	660	531
Geriatric long stay	212	209	214	155	74	125
Mental deficiency	67	33	20	120	152	67
General unclassified	39	56	64	24	29	—
Others	151	149	392	589	955	951
Total	1,382	1,386	1,461	1,642	1,870	1,674
* Data refers to 31 March.

B. Average bed occupancy: year ending 30 September
Health Board Specialty	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	*1984
Borders
Mental deficiency	101	100	94	86	78	76
Total	101	100	94	86	78	76
Argyll and Clyde
Mental deficiency	76	76	75	72	68	68
General unclassified	51	58	59	40	24	—
Geriatric long-stay	—	—	—	—	20	40
Total	127	134	134	112	112	108
Greater Glasgow
Geriatric long-stay	65	64	73	71	18	21
General medicine	29	29	—	—	—	—
Others	—	—	29	29	83	72
Total	94	93	102	100	101	93
Highland
Convalescent	7	8	8	9	4	—
Geriatric long-stay	18	18	18	17	18	18

given date by, patients receiving treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service, breaking the figures down by category of patient treated.

The information requested is as follows:

Health Board Specialty	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	*1984
Total	25	26	26	26	22	18
Lanarkshire
Convalescent	40	38	36	35	36	35
Geriatric long-stay	56	55	52	53	52	52
Mental deficiency	51	53	55	49	38	14
Total	147	146	143	137	126	101
Lothian
Mental deficiency	165	214	170	168	170	186
Geriatric long-stay	214	166	204	200	192	85
Others	37	38	34	42	58	39
Total	416	418	408	410	420	310
Scotland
General medicine	29	29	—	—	—	—
Convalescent	47	46	45	44	40	35
Geriatric long-stay	303	304	312	341	300	216
Mental deficiency	442	443	427	375	354	344
General unclassified	51	58	59	40	24	—
Others	37	38	63	71	141	111
Total	909	918	906	871	859	706
* Data refer to 31 March.

Patient Care (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board and for Scotland as a whole the expenditure on contractual arrangements for patient care in each year since 1979.

£'000s
Health board	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Argyll and Clyde	722	759	737	971	795	984
Ayrshire and Arran	—	—	—	6	—	—
Borders	—	345	386	415	442	436
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fife	—	—	—	—	20	20
Forth Valley	—	—	60	68	—	97
Grampian	—	—	—	—	—	—
Greater Glasgow	658	928	970	1,071	1,421	1,480
Highland	120	154	173	186	203	199
Lanarkshire	514	747	719	728	693	664
Lothian	2,248	2,826	3,498	3,438	3,774	4,032
Orkney	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shetland	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tayside	12	11	243	15	56	43
Western Isles	—	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	4,274	5,770	6,786	6,898	7,404	7,955

Private Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each year since 1979, the health boards for which statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient income.

No accounts of health boards have been qualified by the statutory auditor in respect of control over private patient income in the period in question.

		Average daily occupancy			Average daily occupancy
Health Board	Authorised pay beds at 31 March 1985	Numbers	Percentage	Authorised pay beds at 31 March 1984	Numbers	Percentage
Argyll and Clyde	13	0·8	5·9	13	2·6	19·7
Ayrshire and Arran	11	3·3	29·9	11	4·5	41·0
Borders	—	—	—	—	—	—

The costs of maintaining patients in hospitals not vested in the Secretary of State are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for 1984–85 and for each health board, the number of authorized pay beds at the end of the year and their average daily occupancy by private patients, expressed both as a number of beds and as a percentage; and if he will give the 1983–84 figures for comparison.

The information is set out in the table.

		Average daily occupancy			Average daily occupancy
Health Board	Authorised pay beds at 31 March 1985	Numbers	Percentage	Authorised pay beds at 31 March 1984	Numbers	Percentage
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fife	1	—	—	—	—	—
Forth Valley	5	1·1	22·4	5	1·2	24·9
Grampian	17	3·7	21·8	17	3·0	17·6
Greater Glasgow	30	1·6	5·3	30	0·4	12·8
Highland	4	0·5	11·6	4	0·7	16·5
Lanarkshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
Lothian	19	5·0	26·4	19	6·7	35·4
Orkney	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shetland	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tayside	9	1·7	19·0	9	1·2	13·1
Western Isles	—	—	—	—	—	—
All Scotland	109	19·4	17·8	108	23·5	21·8

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1970 and for each health board, the number of attendances by (a) private outpatients, (b) private day cases and (c) private regular day cases.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1979 and for each health

Income from private patients in NHS hospitals in Scotland
	1979–80			1980–81			1981–82
	Income		Amounts	Income		Amounts	Income		Amounts
Health board	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £
Argyll and Clyde	77,052	—	—	96,677	—	247	102,596	—	—
Ayrshire and Arran	63,464	—	128	89,870	—	3	98,700	—	64
Borders	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fife	1,440	—	9	1,259	—	421	1,605	42	—
Forth Valley	14,494	—	—	39,323	—	—	36,033	—	—
Grampian	120,882	8,637	120	129,356	13,160	473	151,584	16,998	1,920
Greater Glasgow	92,836	1,205	619	129,977	245	2,054	203,192	775	3,388
Highland	11,616	—	—	8,098	—	—	12,387	—	113
Lanarkshire	—	—	—	465	—	—	1,717	—	382
Lothian	132,906	1,363	3,667	177,936	1,103	955	206,654	3,523	1,246
Orkney	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shetland	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	11	—
Tayside	11,001	—	254	15,466	7	221	30,029	—	727
Western Isles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
All Scotland	525,691	11,210	4,797	688,427	14,515	4,374	844,507	21,349	7,840

	1982–83			1983–84			1984–85
	Income		Amounts	Income		Amounts	Income		Amounts
Health board	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £
Argyll and Clyde	83,266	—	—	143,169	133	109	113,574	142	90
Ayrshire and Arran	91,984	—	447	141,236	7,242	184	99,483	10,757	1,504
Borders	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	—	419	62	—	883	—
Fife	1,038	31	70	—	—	—	—	—	—
Forth Valley	32,078	46	—	41,469	4,847	313	41,579	7,252	—
Grampian	135,417	11,658	273	138,123	20,518	856	177,911	27,602	92
Greater Glasgow	80,329	23	5,015	156,257	18	1,269	78,418	163	2,284
Highland	8,241	27	—	20,010	27	—	18,242	223	—
Lanarkshire	—	—	—	—	314	—	—	981	—
Lothian	204,872	4,100	1,913	242,232	13,725	11	172,551	18,545	28,774

board (a) the income from private resident patients, (b) the amount written off as bad debts from private resident patients, (c) the income from private non-resident patients and (d) the amount written off as bad debts from private non-resident patients.

The information available is set out in the table. Central information on amounts written off as bad debts does not distinguish between resident and non-resident patients.

	1982–83			1983–84			1984–85
	Income		Amounts	Income		Amounts	Income		Amounts
Health board	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £	Resident £	Non resident £	Written off £
Orkney	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shetland	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tayside	12,980	—	1,173	67,784	2,552	434	60,761	7,666	185
Western Isles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
All Scotland	650,205	15,839	8,891	950,280	49,795	3,238	762,519	73,888	32,929

Amenity Beds

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the number of (a) amenity beds, (b) discharges and deaths from amenity beds, (c) the amenity beds occupied on average, (d) the percentage occupancy and (e) the income from amenity patients in 1983 and 1984.

Records are not available centrally of the number of beds which can be used as amenity beds or of the number of patients using such facilities. The number of such beds is however small compared to the overall provision by health boards.The income derived from the use of amenity beds in 1983 and 1984 is as follows:

Health Board	1983–84	1984–85
		£
Argyll and Clyde	—	55
Ayrshire and Arran	1,584	1,250
Borders	345	995
Dumfries and Galloway	7,195	6,102
Fife	8,570	6,700
Forth Valley	845	1,295
Grampian	92,987	36,747
Greater Glasgow	—	—
Highland	1,613	3,057
Lanarkshire	—	—
Lothian	63,629	63,260
Orkney	—	—
Shetland	—	—
Tayside	10,324	6,718
Western Isles	—	—

Consultants

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1970 and for each health board, the total number of consultants holding (a) full-time, (b) maximum part-time, (c) other part-time and (d) honorary contracts.

For years before 1976 the information is not available by health board and is shown

TABLE 2 Consultants in Scotland Number by nature of contract and health board at 30 September 1976 to 1980
	Scotland	CSA	Argyll and Clyde	Ayrshire and Arran	Borders	Dumfries and Galloway	Fife	Forth Valley	Grampian	Greater Glasgow	Highland	Lanarkshire	Lothian	Orkney	Shetland	Tayside	Western Isles
1976
TOTAL	1,827	12	96	24	17	49	67	62	154	615	63	90	357	2	1	175	6
Whole-time	1,253	10	78	21	17	37	62	56	85	394	59	86	196	1	1	112	5
Part-time	287	2	18	3	—	12	5	6	29	120	4	4	60	1	—	18	1
Honorary	287	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	40	101	—	—	101	—	—	45	—
1977
TOTAL	1,853	12	94	66	16	48	69	63	156	619	63	105	353	2	1	180	6
Whole-time	1,280	9	74	53	16	36	64	55	87	408	59	99	195	1	1	118	5
Part-time	285	3	20	13	—	12	5	8	28	110	4	6	58	1	—	16	1

on an all Scotland basis in table 1. The information available for the years 1976 to 1980 is in table 2. The information in the form requested is available only for the years 1981 to 1984 and is in table 3.

Table 1 Consultants in Scotland Number by Nature of Contract at 30 September 1970–75
	Scotland
1970
Total	1,559
Whole-time	910
Part-time	413
Honorary	236
1971
Total	1,619
Whole-time	988
Part-time	384
Honorary	247
1972
Total	1,659
Whole-time	1,034
Part-time	364
Honorary	261
1973
Total	1,710
Whole-time	1,080
Part-time	359
Honorary	271
1974
Total	1,743
Whole-time	1,126
Part-time	343
Honorary	274
1975
Total	1,773
Whole-time	1,197
Part-time	307
Honorary	269

Note: Consultants with maximum part-time contracts are included under 'Part-time'.

	Scotland	CSA	Argyll and Clyde	Ayrshire and Arran	Borders	Dumfries and Galloway	Fife	Forth Valley	Grampian	Greater Glasgow	Highland	Lanarkshire	Lothian	Orkney	Shetland	Tayside	Western Isles
Honorary	288	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	41	101	—	—	100	—	—	46	—
1978
TOTAL	1,909	11	96	76	17	47	71	63	165	625	65	120	366	2	1	182	6
Whole-time	1,345	10	76	63	17	36	67	55	90	418	62	115	205	1	1	122	5
Part-time	271	1	20	13	—	11	4	8	30	104	3	5	63	1	—	13	1
Honorary	293	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45	103	—	—	98	—	—	47	—
1979
TOTAL	1,940	11	94	76	19	48	71	66	169	630	63	128	374	2	1	182	6
Whole-lime	1,353	10	73	64	19	36	66	56	92	419	59	122	210	1	1	120	5
Part-time	281	1	21	12	—	12	5	10	31	102	4	6	61	1	—	14	1
Honorary	306	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	46	109	—	—	103	—	—	48	—
1980
TOTAL	1,961	13	95	78	19	48	71	68	168	630	63	126	388	1	2	185	6
Whole-time	1,375	12	79	66	19	35	65	59	96	417	60	121	217	1	2	121	5
Part-time	269	1	16	12	—	13	6	9	27	102	3	5	60	—	—	14	1
Honorary	317	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45	111	—	—	111	—	—	50	—

Note: Consultants with maximum part-time contracts are included under 'Part-time'.

TABLE 3 Consultants in Scotland Number by Nature of contract and health board at 30 September 1980 to 1984
	Scotland	CSA	Argyll and Clyde	Ayrshire and Arran	Borders	Dumfries and Galloway	Fife	Forth Valley	Grampian	Greater Glasgow	Highland	Lanarkshire	Lothian	Orkney	Shetland	Tayside	Western Isles
1981
TOTAL	1,981	13	98	80	18	47	76	69	168	632	67	126	383	1	2	195	6
Whole-time	1,400	12	79	69	18	36	70	59	96	418	64	120	221	1	2	130	5
Maximum part-time	206	—	14	9	—	2	4	9	21	84	1	6	43	—	—	13	—
Part-time	53	1	5	2	—	9	2	1	5	11	2	—	12	—	—	2	1
Honorary	322	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	46	119	—	—	107	—	—	50	—
1982
TOTAL	2,026	14	103	84	19	49	75	74	172	636	66	134	385	1	2	186	6
Whole-time	1,437	13	84	72	19	38	69	63	102	424	64	127	225	1	2	129	5
Maximum part-time	205	—	14	9	—	2	4	10	20	83	1	6	45	—	—	11	—
Part-time	50	1	5	3	—	9	2	1	5	9	1	1	10	—	—	2	1
Honorary	314	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45	120	—	—	105	—	—	44	—
1983
TOTAL	2,026	14	103	82	18	52	78	77	166	643	68	142	391	1	2	183	6
Whole-time	1,457	14	85	71	18	41	75	66	101	428	66	134	221	1	2	129	5
Maximum part-time	204	—	14	9	—	2	2	10	21	81	1	6	46	—	—	12	—
Part-time	49	—	4	2	—	9	1	1	5	12	1	2	9	—	—	2	1
Honorary	316	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	39	122	—	—	115	—	—	40	—
1984
TOTAL	2,073	13	107	85	20	53	81	75	171	641	70	146	406	1	2	196	6
Whole-time	1,490	13	88	74	20	43	78	64	101	428	69	138	225	1	2	141	5
Maximum part-time	213	—	14	9	—	2	2	10	23	85	—	6	51	—	—	11	—
Part-time	50	—	5	2	—	8	1	1	5	10	1	2	12	—	—	2	1
Honorary	320	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	42	118	—	—	118	—	—	42	—

Private Hospitals

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals for private hospital developments have been notified to or authorised by him under the Health Services Act 1976 as amended by the Health Services Act 1980 since 1 May.

None.

Scottish Examination Board

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report a statistical breakdown of the total number of official markers for the 1984 Scottish Examination Board certificate examinations which details (a) the number of markers who were otherwise employed as college lecturers, (b) the number of markers who were otherwise employed as full-time teachers, (c) the number of markers who were retired college lecturers, and (d) the number of markers who were retired school teachers.

To prepare a breakdown in the categories requested, the Scottish Examination Board will require to scrutinise the records of their current and former markers individually, some 12,000 in all. I have asked it to do so, and will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the current industrial dispute in Scottish teaching has led to a dilution of the qualifications normally required for engagement as an official marker with the Scottish Examination Board.

As I indicated in my answer of 17 June 1985 to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) at column 31, the Scottish Examination Board has not relaxed the qualifications required for appointment as markers of Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) examination scripts. These are at least three years' experience of presenting pupils for the SCE or three years' examining experience in tertiary education in Scotland.

School Closures

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish a table giving figures region by region of the schools that have been closed since 1979, as a result of the drop in the school rolls.

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

Legionnaire's Disease

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report current and

Project	Research Body	Grant £	Date commenced	Date completed
1. To obtain further information about the incidence of Legionnaire's disease in Scotland	University of Glasgow Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow	5,933	1979	1980
2. Investigation into Legionnaire's disease and other infections among package tourists and other travellers (extension of No. 1)	As above	5,746	1980	1982

Note: The disease was not recognised as a specific entity until 1977.

The Scottish Home and Health Department is willing to receive applications for funds to support soundly based research proposals through its research grants scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the guidelines sent by his Department (a) to health boards and (b) to local authorities about keeping cooling towers clean.

A copy of the guidance relating to Legionnaire's disease and hospital water systems issued to health boards in 1980, and re-issued earlier this year, has been placed in the Library. No guidance on this matter has been issued to local authorities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any doctors from the communicable disease surveillance centre at Colindale have been asked to help the Greater Glasgow health board with its investigation into the causes of the current outbreak of Legionnaire's disease at Glasgow royal infirmary and elsewhere in Glasgow.

Deaths in Scotland of persons resident on Greater Glasgow health board area
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	*1985
January	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
February	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
March	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
April	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
May	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
June	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
July	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
August	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
September	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
October	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
November	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
December	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Deaths in Scotland
January	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
February	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
March	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
April	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
May	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
June	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
July	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—
August	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
September	—	—	1	—	1	—	1	—

past research projects since 1955 into the causes, means of transmission and treatment of Legionnaire's disease in Scotland.

Information about projects funded by the Scottish Home and Health Department is set out in the table.

No; but I am satisfied that Greater Glasgow health board is well able to conduct these investigations and that it will seek such outside advice as it considers necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of deaths from Legionnaire's disease in (a) the Greater Glasgow health board area and (b) Scotland in each of the past 10 years and if he will detail in each year the months in which those deaths occurred.

The term Legionnaire's disease was not used before 1978. The numbers of deaths reported to the Registrar General from 1978 to 1985, in which the underlying cause of death was recorded as Legionnaire's disease, are given in the tables. As is the usual practice in the recording of deaths by the Registrar General the figures relate to the area of residence of the deceased and not to the area where they died. The figures for 1985 are provisional.

	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	*1985
October	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	—
November	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	3
December	—	1	—	1	—	2	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will fund a research project into the role played by building design in the spread of Legionnaire's disease in Scotland.

The public health laboratory service was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Security in 1981 to undertake an extensive environmental study into Legionnaire's disease. The Health Departments will consider the need for further research in the light of the report on the study and the results of the public inquiry into the outbreak at Stafford district general hospital.Health Departments will also take into account the findings of the investigation being undertaken by Greater Glasgow health board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from residents of the constituency of Glasgow central about deaths resulting from Legionnaire's disease (a) at Glasgow royal infirmary and (b) in housing blocks adjacent to the infirmary.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence his Department has compiled about the relative incidence of Legionnaire's disease among people living (a) in modern buildings with air conditioning and showers and (b) in other buildings.

Data are not collected centrally about the type of accommodation in which patients live.

Specialists in community medicine at 30 September 1984
Health board	NHS full-time	NHS part-time	Honorary part-time	Total numbers	Whole-time equivalent	Whole-time equivalent per 100,000 population
Greater Glasgow	20	—	6	26	23·8	2·4
Argyll and Clyde	10	—	—	10	10·0	2·2
Ayrshire and Arran	8	—	—	8	8·0	2·1
Borders	3	—	—	3	3·0	3·0
Dumfries and Galloway	2	—	—	2	2·0	1·4
Fife	8	—	—	8	8·0	2·3
Forth Valley	6	—	—	6	6·0	2·2
Grampian	11	—	3	14	12·9	2·6
Highland	5	—	—	5	5·0	2·5
Lanarkshire	11	—	—	11	11·0	1·9
Lothian	17	1	7	25	21·6	2·9
Orkney	1	—	—	1	1·0	5·2
Shetland	1	—	—	1	1·0	4·3
Tayside	13	—	4	17	15·5	3·9
Western Isles	1	—	—	1	1·0	3·2
Scotland	117	1	20	138	129·8	2·7

In addition the Common Services Agency employ 10 full-time specialists in community medicine one of whom is employed in the communicable diseases unit based at Ruchill hospital, Glasgow.

Infection Control Officers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of infection control officers designated within the Greater Glasgow health board area along with the number of hospitals for which they are responsible; and if he will list any hospitals within the area which do not have a designated infection control officer.

This is a matter for the Greater Glasgow health board and the information is not available centrally.

Community Medicine (Glasgow)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of doctors working full-time and part-time in community medicine within the Greater Glasgow health board area, the number of such doctors involved in the epidemiology of infectious diseases, the equivalent number of such doctors deployed in other health board areas and the number of community medical officers per head of population in each health board area.

Information is not held centrally which would identify the number of specialists in community medicine who are involved in the epidemiology of infectious diseases.The latest available information requested about staff numbers is as follows:

Voluntary Organisations (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list in the Official Report those voluntary bodies and organisations assisted by his Department with grant aid in the last financial year for which figures are available and the size of the grant so given.

The information in respect of grants paid in 1984–85 is as follows:

Grants Under Section 73 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Further Education (Scotland) Regulations 1959–79
	Grant Paid 1984–85 £
National Voluntary Organisations
Abernethy Trust Centre (formerly Abernethy Outdoor Centre)	1,979
Boys' Brigade	26,364
Boys' Club of Scotland	23,000
British Red Cross Society	2,103
British Youth Council (Scotland)	18,504
Church of Scotland Youth Education Committee (formerly Church of Scotland Committee on Parish Education)	15,296
Community Service Volunteers	25,100
Co-operative Union	5,608
Crusaders Union	512
Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme	12,670
Endeavour Training Scotland	11,563
Episcopal Church Youth Committee	1,660
Fair Play for Children	8,550
Girls' Brigade	6,500
Girl Guide Association	10,173
Iona Community	1,196
Loch Eil Outward Bound	14,297
Salvation Army	9,421
Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs	70,960
Scottish Association of Youth Clubs	81,700
Scottish Centre for Tuition of Disabled	17,868
Scottish Council of Community and Voluntary Organisations (formerly Scottish Council of Social Service)	1,709
Scottish Chess Association	8,500
Scottish Conservation Projects Trust (formerly Conservation Volunteers)	12,353
Scottish Girls Venture Corps	1,550
Scottish National Council of YMCA's	38,701
Scottish School Boys Clubs	4,676
Scottish Standing Conference of VYO's	20,719
Scottish Woman's Rural Institutes	28,795
Scottish Youth Hostels Association	4,496
Scripture Union	6,160
Scout Association	21,630
YWCA of Great Britain	34,324
YWCA of Scotland	719
Adult Education Organisations
Aberdeen University	17,276
Age Concern Scotland	16,377
Dundee University	11,517
Edinburgh University	21,422
Glasgow University	3,108
Scottish Adult Basic Education Unit	160,650
Scottish Institute of Adult Education	26,020
Scottish Trade Union Congress	38,955
Trade Union Congress	6,945
WEA North of Scotland	53,125
WEA South East of Scotland	38,028
WEA West of Scotland	62,683
Arts' Organisations
An Comunn Gaidhealach	69,300
Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association	8,400
Sabhal Mor Ostaig	11,750
Scottish Amateur Music Association	2,500
Scottish Community Drama Association	23,200
Scottish Youth Theatre	40,084
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland	21,155
Capital Grants

Grant Paid 1984–85 £

To Local Voluntary Youth and Community Organisations for the Provision of Community Halls

729,945

Grants under Appropriation Act
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Scottish Museums Council	333,500
Royal Society of Edinburgh	239,000
Royal Scottish Geographical Society	2,200
Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund	550,000

Grants under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Aberlour Child Care Trust	4,157
Age Concern (Scotland)	29,273
Albyn House Association	305
Ark Housing Association	55
Ayrshire Council on Alcoholism	286
Ayr Volunteer Exchange	101
Barony Housing Association	116
Barra and Vatersay Council of Social Service	167
Caledonian Certificate in Social Service Scheme	56,583
Church of Scotland	52,644
Cornerstone Society for the Mentally Handicapped	325
Crossroads Youth and Community Association	51,884
Dr. Barnardo's	36,617
Douglas Association	285
Dumbarton District Council on Alcoholism	334
Dumfries Action Centre	194
Edinburgh and District Council on Alcoholism	270
Edinburgh Council of Social Service	24,300
Edinburgh Family Service Unit	15,448
Edinburgh Volunteer Exchange	143
Edinburgh Walk-In Numeracy Centre	197
Epilepsy Association of Scotland	5,255
Family Care	30,083
Fern Tower—Notre Dame Adolescent Unit	164
Fife Council on Alcoholism	150
Forth Certificate in Social Service Scheme	45,046
Garvald Training Centre	382
Glasgow Council on Alcoholism	287
Inverness Council on Alcoholism	155
Islay Council of Social Service	108
Key Housing Association	309
Leonard Cheshire Home	66
Lochaber Voluntary Organisations Group	187
National Catholic Social Care	18,574
National Children's Home	3,592
Open University/Childminding Project	4,000
Orkney Council of Social Service	156
Quarrier's Homes	39,507
Red Cross Society (Scotland)	403
Renfrew District Council on Alcoholism	152
Robert Douglas Memorial Home	65
Rossie List 'D' Schools	104
Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children	17,723
Salvation Army	16,965
Scottish Adoption Association	216
Scottish Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders	180
Scottish Association for Mental Health	125
Scottish Child and Family Alliance	11,485
Scottish Council on Alcoholism	21,000
Scottish Council for Single Parents	15,164
Scottish Council for Community and Voluntary Organisations	15,810
Scottish Council for Spastics	875
Scottish Family Conciliation Service (Lothian)	248

	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Scottish Institute of Human Relations	4,694
Scottish Marriage Guidance Council	10,327
Scottish Pre-school Play Groups Association (SCOPE)	11,336
Scottish Women's Aid	20,592
St. Euphrasia's Centre	274
St. Margaret of Scotland Adoption Society	104
Stirling District Council of Social Service	174
Sunnybrae Centre	172
Tayside Area Council on Alcoholism	185
The Talbot Association	908
Voluntary Association of Nairn Groups	217
Voluntary Service Aberdeen	36,834
Volunteer Centre, Glasgow	148
Wayside Club	149
West of Scotland Certificate in Social Service Scheme	45,519

List of grants paid under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 in 1984–85
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Aberdeen and North East Association for Mental Health	15,617
Aberlour Child Care Trust	5,352
Aberdeen Cyrenians	651
Age Concern Scotland	35,384
Albyn House Association Ltd.	109,026
Alzheimers Disease Society	265
Ark Housing Association	2,568
Barony Housing Association	3,729
Blantyre Volunteer Group Co-ordination Service	20,142
Bo'ness Small Grants Scheme	10,100
British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering	28,000
British Association for Service to the Elderly	450
British Red Cross Society (Scottish Branch)	3,436
Brittle Bone Society	4,500
Brook Advisory Centre	3,635
Burnfoot Project	11,612
Canongate Youth Project	11,578
Children's Hearing Forum	1,000
Church of Scotland	17,368
Community Service Volunteers (Headquarters)	15,590
Community Service Volunteers (Independent Living Scheme)	18,386
Cornerstone Society for the Mentally Handicapped	1,807
Crossroads (Scotland)	20,198
Cruse	6,535
Dean Orphanage Trust	2,229
Dr. Barnardo's	47,185
Dumfries Action Centre	200
Dundee Children's Trust (Mars Project)	56,760
Edinburgh Council for Single Homeless	9,598
Edinburgh Council for Social Service	7,262
Edinburgh and East of Scotland Society for the Deaf	16,877
Edinburgh University Settlement	4,995
Epilepsy Association of Scotland	4,500
Family Fund	506,665
Fife Befriending Scheme	2,850
Galashiels Youth Project	22,000
Gingerbread	24,801
Glasgow Volunteer Centre	5,807
Grampian Volunteer Scheme	1,000
Help Levenmouth (Aberhill Youth Project)	11,161
IT Resources Centre (Quarriers)	113,354
Iona Community	5,000
Key Housing Association	1,845
L'Arche	2,800
Leonard Cheshire Foundation	1,532
Levenmouth Small Grants Scheme	10,100
Local Councils of Social Service	274,297
Lochaber Handicapped Association	376
Lothian Allelon	11,203
Machars Action (East Wigtown)	24,358
Moray Firth Community Radio	7,322

	Grant paid 1984–85 £
National Association of Victim Support Schemes	600
National Childminders Association	2,276
National Children's Home	2,904
National Cyrenians	377
National Foster Care Association	12,350
National Playbus Association	10,040
National Schizophrenia Fellowship	5,942
Parents Programme for Adult Skills	4,144
Perth Volunteer Befriending Scheme	12,146
Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied Clubs	10,070
Pilton Youth Programme	44,546
Play Matters	2,200
Primrosehill Centre for Parents & Children	2,328
Quarriers Homes	29,966
Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children	71,717
Rural and Urban Training Scheme	467
Salvation Army	3,484
Samaritans	6,900
Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders	146,418
Scottish Association for Counselling	456
Scottish Association for the Deaf	17,684
Scottish Association for the Interpreters for the Deaf	2,604
Scottish Association for Mental Health	32,700
Scottish Catholic Marriage Advisory Council	6,544
Scottish Child and Family Alliance	31,397
Scottish Council for Community and Voluntary Organisations	320,205
Scottish Council on Disability	190,983
Scottish Council for Opportunity in Play Experience	83,457
Scottish Council for Single Homeless	7,537
Scottish Council for Single Parents	29,274
Scottish Council for Spastics	2,750
Scottish Family Conciliation Service	21,252
Scottish Marriage Guidance Council	40,580
Scottish Paraplegic (Spinal Injury) Association	5,400
Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped	6,546
Scottish Spina Bifida Association	14,400
Scottish Women's Aid	38,274
SEAL Association	2,986
SENSE (National Deaf Blind and Rubella Handicapped Association)	1,536
Six Circle Group	5,000
Slessor Youth Project	25,853
Special Equipment and Aids for Living (Sequal)	2,000
Strathkelvin Project	49,806
St. Aidans Project	1,451
St. Euphrasia's Centre	179,461
St. Vincent's Centre for the Deaf	10,162
Stop over Group-Edinburgh	1,844
Talbot Association	1,384
Thistle Foundation	1,542
Voluntary Service Aberdeen	30,071
Voluntary Service Aberdeen (Tulloch House)	2,556

Grants under the Educational Development, Research and Services (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1946
	Grant Paid 1984–85 £
Centre for Information on Language Teaching	23,763
Royal Zoological Society	13,014
Saltire Society	200
Scottish Parent Teacher Council	10,000
National Association for Gifted Children	800
British Association for Early Childhood Education	200
Scottish Computer Education Group	3,500
Scottish Field Studies Association	4,500
National Bureau for Handicapped Students	500
National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare	500
Scottish Film Council	388,000
Council for Education in World Citizenship	6,289

Grants to List D Schools under Section 107 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937
	Grant Paid 1984–85 £
Kibble	319,809
Rossie	728,362
Wellington	365,991
Geilsland	271,866
Loaningdale	242,581
Springboig	224,527
St. Andrews	91,829
Oakbank	265,643
Kenmure	799,308
St. Josephs	338,522
St. Philips	312,365
Ballikinrain	182,305
Dr. Guthrie's Boys	349,329
Dr. Guthrie's Girls	151,686
Langlands Park	153,864
Balgay	315,787
Balacraig	95,965
Snowdon	147,249

Grants under the Residential Special Schools and Orphanages (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1948
	Grant Paid 1984–85 £
Corseford School	405,151
Stanmore School	460,650
Royal Blind School	530,551
Craigerne School	181,910
Thorntoun School	240,336
Harmeny School	161,055
Lendrick Muir School	302,724
Donaldson's School	286,710
East Park School	747,597
Struan House (Scottish Society for Austic Children)	11,625

Grants paid under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (formerly section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968)
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Scottish Catholic Marriage Advisory Council	99
Scottish Council on Alcoholism	69,300
Family Planning Association	12,500
Community Service Volunteers	12,150
Chest, Heart and Stroke Association	2,750
Action on Smoking and Health	22,990
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Association	3,600
Scottish Council on Disability	18,266
British Association of Immediate Care Schemes (BASICS)	1,450
NSSPCC Overnewton Centre	20,122
Arthritis and Rheumatism Council	9,950
Scottish Association for Mental Health	8,500
Age Concern Scotland	6,273
Toy Libraries Association	2,000
SCOPE in Scotland	12,490
National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital	2,254
Motability	37,579
Overseas Doctors' Association—Scottish Branch	365
Brook Advisory Centre	3,780
National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)	1,554
Mastectomy Association	310
National Childbirth Trust	1,500
Scottish Epilepsy Association	4,775
National Association for the Childless	2,350
Special Equipment and Aids for Living	2,000
Scottish Paraplegic (spinal injury) association	3,600

	Grant paid 1984–85 £
SHADA	24,230
Natural Family Planning Group	420
Miscellaneous	70,000
British Red Cross Society Scottish Branch	242
The Leith Group	20,086
Wester Hailes "Hotline" project	22,380

Grants under section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1972
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	109,450
Schools Traffic Education Programme	15,481

Grants under section 5 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1978
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Scottish Council for Community and Voluntary Organisations	42,616
Institute of Housing	48,241
Age Concern	21,583
Shelter	26,038
Scottish Women's Aid	750

Grants under section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Scottish Council for Single Homeless	24,063
Scottish Women's Aid	3,883
Shelter	14,644

Grants under section 10 of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972

Grant paid 1984–85 £

The New Lanark Conservation Trust

19,029

Grants under section 158(2) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966

Grant paid 1984–85 £

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

2,000

Grants to 102 Housing Societies and Associations
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Under Part VII of the Housing (Scotland) Acts 1950 and 1966	21,275
Under Part VI of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972	285,725
Under Part III of the Housing Act 1974	127,714,786
Under Section 93 of the Finance Act 1965	405,297

Other Grants
	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Planning Exchange	50,000
Scottish Civic Trust	31,500
Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland	3,500
Saltire Society	2,500

Formation Grants to Fish Producers' Organisation (SI 498/1982)
Organisation	Grant paid 1984–85 £
Fife Fish Producers' Organisation	1,139
North East of Scotland Fishermen's Organisation	742
Shetland Fish Producers	33,460

Wildlife (Poisons)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reports of incidents involving the misuse of poisons or stupefying substances on wildlife have been reported to his Department in 1983, 1984 and 1985, to the most recent date for which figures are available; and in how many cases the details were passed to the police for investigation.

In the years 1983, 1984 and 1985 to date, 44, 24 and 30 reports have been received by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland of incidents where poisons or stupefying substances were misused with the intention of killing wildlife, including cats and dogs. Details of 11, 1 and 4 cases have been reported in the respective years to the police by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Information on incidents reported to the police by other persons or bodies is not available.

Housing Associations

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of properties owned by housing associations in Scotland; how many of these properties have been sold to tenants in the last five years for which records are available; and what percentage of the total number the number sold represents.

It is estimated that, at 31 March 1985, registered housing associations in Scotland owned some 36,900 properties, of which approximately 28,500 were general needs houses. The number of houses sold to sitting tenants in the five years to that date is shown in the table.The total sales represent 0·23 per cent. of the total housing stock.

Year	No. of Sales
1980–81	nil
1981–82	nil
1982–83	25
1983–84	45
1984–85	13
Total	83

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total Government contribution to the budgets of Scottish housing associations in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Finance for housing association capital projects is provided initially through short-term lending by the Housing Corporation and through a smaller programme of lending by local authorities. Total capital expenditure by the housing association movement in Scotland in each financial year since 1980–81 is shown in table A.

Table A
Financial Year	£ million
1980–81	72·48
1981–82	96·04
1982–83	117·76
1983–84	118·22
1984–85	108·35

The estimated expenditure for 1985–86 is £110·55 million.As each project reaches completion, the short-term loan is replaced by housing association grant (HAG) and a long-term loan from the Housing Corporation or the local authority. HAG normally meets some 85 per cent. to 90 per cent. of the cost of the project. Total expenditure on housing association grants and payments under the earlier subsidy arrangements by the Government to the housing association movement in Scotland in each financial year since 1980–81 is shown in table B.

Table B
Financial Year	£ million
1980–81	50·61
1981–82	82·80
1982–83	104·17
1983–84	115·75
1984–85	127·68

The estimated expenditure for 1985–86 is £114·23 million.Finally, there is a number of revenue-related grants paid by the Scottish Development Department for which associations may qualify according to their circumstances.

Aids

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what cash specifically earmarked to each of the haemophiliac reference centres to deal with acquired immunine deficiency syndrome; how much cash is set aside for personal counselling; and if he will make a statement on the contribution of social work services to the reference centres.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1985]: Both the haemophiliac reference centres in Scotland are closely involved in work relating to AIDS, but they are not separately funded for any of their functions. Although social work departments are not directly concerned with the work of the centres they are able to contribute their special skills in supporting the families of haemophiliacs.

Wales

Housing Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the current expenditure in constant terms on repair and renovation of (a) private sector and (b) public sector housing in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) the last year for which figures are available expressed (x) in financial terms and (y) as a percentage of local authority current expenditure on housing.

In 1978–79 local authorities' current expenditure on repairs and maintenance of their own stock of housing charged to their housing revenue accounts was £60·8 million at 1984–85 prices, 22·6 per cent. of their total HRA expenditure. In 1984–85, local authorities budgeted to spend £74·0 million, 28·5 per cent. of their total budgeted HRA expenditure.There was no local authority current expenditure directly on repair and renovation of private sector housing in either year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the capital expenditure in constant terms on repair and renovation of (a) private sector and (b) public sector housing in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) the last year for which figures are available expressed (x) in financial terms and (y) as a percentage of local authority capital expenditure on housing.

Local authorities' capital expenditure on the repair and renovation of private sector dwellings in 1978–79 was £19·5 million at 1984–85 prices. This was 10·3 per cent. of their total gross capital expenditure on housing in that year. In 1984–85 the equivalent figures were £85·3 million and 50·1 per cent.Capital expenditure by local authorities on repair and renovation of their own dwellings was £27·3 million. In 1978–79 at 1984–85 prices, 14·4 per cent. of their total gross capital expenditure on housing. In 1984–85 the equivalent figures were £45·2 million and 26·6 per cent.

Mentally Handicapped Children

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will seek to ensure that a statutory responsibility is placed on local social services departments to ensure that mentally handicapped young people are found homes in the community rather than in long-stay institutions, whether these are in the public or private sector.

There is a need for a range of provision for mentally handicapped young people in the community and county council social services departments, in close co-operation with district health authorities, district councils, voluntary organisations, parents and other representatives of mentally handicapped people are currently developing such provisions through the medium comprehensive county plans to be funded under the all-Wales mental handicap strategy. I am satisfied that this is the most appropriate way forward and that new statutory powers are unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what applications he has received for funds, and for what purposes, under the All Wales Strategy for Mentally Handicapped Adults and Children from (a) Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and (b) the Pre-School Playgroups Association; what his reponse has been to these applications; and if he will make a statement elaborating on his decisions.

Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin submitted two unsuccessful applications in respect of the appointment of development and liaison officers to assess needs. The Pre-School Playgroups association submitted two successful applications for a playgroup referral scheme in Clwyd and a special liaison officer to coordinate activities in counties. Funding of projects under the strategy is approved largely in accordance with comprehensive county plans coordinated by social services departments. Voluntary organisations are encouraged to join local planning teams. In a few cases, including the PPA referral scheme, funding under the strategy was provided directly by the Department through a programme to launch the strategy in its first year. Central funding has also applied in cases where there has been an all-Wales element in the proposals. Each application is considered on its merits and we reached the view that, unlike the PPA projects, the MYM proposals were not based on proven groundwork previously undertaken in the counties.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if separate figures are yet available for the numbers of children in long-stay mental handicap hospitals in each district health authority and in each regional health authority in Wales; and for each authority, what are the numbers living in units of (a) 25 or more beds, and (b) under 25 beds.

The following table shows, for each district health authority, the numbers of persons aged under 16 years who were resident in mental handicap hospitals and units with fewer than 25 beds on 5 April 1985, the latest date for which information is available. There were no persons aged under 16 years resident in mental handicap hospitals and units with 25 or more beds.

Number of residents aged under 16 years in mental handicap hospitals and units of fewer than 25 staffed available beds
District health authority	Number
Clwyd	7
East Dyfed	9
Pembrokeshire	5
Gwent	5
Gwynedd	7
Mid Glamorgan	6
Powys	1
South Glamorgan	3
West Glamorgan	—

Welsh Language

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will renew for a further three years the grant to maintain the current project for the preparation of books, teaching materials and resources for Welsh language secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals are being considered but no decision has yet been taken about commissioning further work in preparing Welsh medium materials for schools.

Commission For Racial Equality

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Welsh Office have a permanent representative on the Welsh consultative committee of the Commission for Racial Equality.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 24 October 1985 at column 200.

National Trust (Coastal Heritage)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the National Trust coastal heritage project and his Department's involvement in it.

I welcome the efforts of the National Trust to preserve our coastal heritage. The administration of its operation is a matter for the trust and our Department has no direct involvement.

	Number of amenity beds*		Discharges and deaths		Average daily occupied beds		Percentage occupancy		Income from amenity patients £000
	1983	1984	1983	1984	1983	1984	1983	1984	1983/4	1984/5
Clwyd	15	15	95	61	1·82	1·87	12·1	12·4	224	251
East Dyfed	17	17	32	31	0·68	0·48	4·0	2·8	85	130
Gwent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Gwynedd	15	13	19	7	0·32	0·22	2·1	1·7	103	92
Mid Glamorgan	10	10	18	13	0·26	0·14	2·6	1·5	25	11
Powys	10	10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	19	22
West Glamorgan	11	11	20	14	0·18	0·18	1·6	1·7	32	33
Pembrokeshire	6	6	18	9	0·14	0·03	2·3	0·5	38	47
* At 31 December.

Nhs (Services)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each year since 1979 the percentage of the expenditure on (a) medical and surgical equipment maintenance, (b) X-ray equipment maintenance, (c) laboratory equipment maintenance, (d) catering, (e)

Payment to private contractors as a percentage of relevant expenditure
Per cent.
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Medical and surgical equipment maintenance	5·14	5·57	5·76	6·25	5·77	4·69
X-ray equipment maintenance	35·98	41·27	44·97	51·40	52·14	55·19
Laboratory equipment maintenance	4·85	8·40	9·60	11·06	8·78	9·98
Catering	0·013	0·011	0·047	0·013	0·013	0·014
Laundry	3·79	5·45	2·64	6·81	*8·25	5·69
Cleaning	0·64	0·68	0·72	0·69	0·64	0·68
Engineering maintenance	14·86	13·22	14·04	14·56	12·98	11·44
Building maintenance	24·06	19·99	29·19	37·59	24·51	22·97
Grounds (etc.) maintenance	2·13	2·21	3·16	4·89	4·72	5·22
Vehicle maintenance	18·93	16·77	13·39	13·42	19·59	14·91
Computers	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	18·80	21·16

Source: The annual accounts of health authorities.

Notes:

1. All figures are for current expenditure: capital is excluded.

2. Information in the table has been prepared on as consistent a basis as practicable but comparisons of percentages between services may in some cases be misleading as the basis of the total relevant expenditure figures for different services are not completely uniform.

3. There is no centrally available information on the expenditure on external contracts for computers prior to 1983–84.

* A fire in the central laundry in E. Dyfed led to some additional external contracts in 1983–84. This central laundry has since been repaired and re-opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each health district in 1984–85 the total expenditure on cleaning, the expenditure on services

Amenity Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each health district the numbers of amenity beds, discharges and deaths, average daily occupied beds and percentage occupancy in 1983 and 1984 and the income from amenity patients.

The information is given in the following table:—laundry,

(f) cleaning, (g) engineering maintenance, (h) building maintenance, (i) grounds etc. maintenance, (j) vehicle maintenance and (k) computers, which has been paid to private contractors for services provided to the National Health Service in Wales.

The information requested is as follows:provided by private cleaning companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former, and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

The information requested is as follows:

Domestic and cleaning services	Total expenditure 1984–85 £000	External contracts 1984–85 £000	External contracts as a percentage of total expenditure	Difference between percentage for 1984–85 and percentage for 1983–84
Clwyd	3,106	15	0·49	-0·04
East Dyfed	2,074	14	0·68	-0·19
Gwent	4,360	26	0·60	+0·13
Gwynedd	1,990	9	0·42	-0·03
Mid Glamorgan	4,993	23	0·46	—
Pembrokeshire	657	2	0·30	-0·48
Powys	973	3	0·30	+0·06
South Glamorgan	4,823	59	1·22	+0·04
West Glamorgan	3,318	11	0·33	-0·01
WHTSO	33	17	51·32	+35·62
Wales	26,327	179	0·68	+0·04

Source: The annual accounts of health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each tendering exercise for hospital ancillary services of which his Department, is aware (a) the health authority concerned, (b) the hospital concerned,

Health Authority	Hospital or other premises	Service	Successful tenderer
Welsh health common services authority	Offices	Domestic	Central cleaning services
Pembrokeshire	Whole district	Domestic	In-house
	Whole district	Catering	In-house
	Whole district	Laundry	ICS initial
Powys	Machynlleth Chest hospital	Domestic	In-house
	Machynlleth district health centre
	Builth Wells cottage hospital	Domestic	In-house
	Builth Wells health centre
	Llanwrtyd Wells health centre
	Llandrindod Wells hospital
	"Hazels" clinic
	Rhayader health clinic
	Knighton hospital
	Knighton health clinic
	Presteigne health clinic
	Ystradgynlais Community hospital	Catering	In-house
West Glamorgan	Whole district	Laundry	In-house

The resultant savings should amount to some £550,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each health district in 1984–85 the total expenditure on laundry, the expenditure on services

Laundry Expenditure	Total Expenditure 1984–85 £000	External contracts 1984–85 £000	External contracts as percentage of total laundry	Difference between percentage for 1984–85 and percentage for 1983–84
Clwyd	400	12	3·11	-1·29
East Dyfed	370	3	0·68	*-12·15
Gwent	497	12	2·36	-0·62
Gwynedd	235	3	1·12	-0·25
Mid Glamorgan	737	13	1·81	+0·97
Pembrokeshire	138	138	100·00	+0·87
Powys	145	6	4·00	+1·03
South Glamorgan	564	6	1·10	+0·99
West Glamorgan	590	16	2·78	+1·36
WHTSO	—	—	—	—
Wales	3,676	209	5·69	*-2·56

(c)the service concerned (laundry, catering or cleaning), (d)the successful tenderer and (e) the saving achieved over the past in the previous year.

The information is as follows:provided by private laundry companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

The information requested is as follows:

Source: The annual accounts of health authorities.

* A fire in the central laundry in East Dyfed led to some additional external contracts in 1983–84. This central laundry has since been repaired and re-opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each health district in 1984–85 the total expenditure on catering, the expenditure on services

Catering expenditure	Total expenditure 1984–85 £000	External contracts 1984–85 £000	External contracts at per centage of total catering	Difference between per centage for 1984–85 and percentage for 1983–84
Clwyd	3,127	1	0·017	+0·002
E Dyfed	1,965	Nil	Nil	Nil
Gwent	3,997	Nil	Nil	Nil
Gwynedd	1,936	Nil	Nil	Nil
Mid Glamorgan	4,794	0	0·001	-0·006
Pembrokeshire	458	Nil	Nil	Nil
Powys	1,080	Nil	Nil	Nil
South Glamorgan	4,524	3	0·063	+0·011
West Glamorgan	2,554	Nil	Nil	Nil
WHTSO	23	Nil	Nil	Nil
Wales	24,458	4	0·014	+0·001

Source: The annual accounts of health authorities.

Note: Minimal expenditure (ie. less than £500) is indicated by the use of 0.

Private Practice

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each year since 1979 the number of ambulance service journeys in Wales carrying non-National Health Service patients and the total mileage involved.

The information is not available in terms of ambulance service journeys. The following table gives the numbers of non-NHS patient journeys and the total mileage involved.

Year	Number of non-NHS patient journeys*	Total mileage for non-NHS patient journeys
1979	3,094	34,024
1980	2,500	33,367
1981	1,337	25,576
1982	1,278	23,265
1983	947	17,522
1984	211	†
* One patient carried once in one direction is defined as one patient journey. A patient taken to a hospital and later in the same day taken home again counts as 2 patient journeys. If 2 or more patients are carried in one ambulance then they are defined as 2 or more patient journeys.
† Data no longer collected.

provided by private catering companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former, and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the private hospitals and nursing homes in Wales which treat National Health Service patients under contractual arrangements with health authorities.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, the private hospitals and nursing homes in Wales which treated NHS patients under contractual arrangements with Welsh district health authorities in 1984 are given below:

Maes Mynnan nursing home, Nr. Mold, Clwyd
Convent of Mercy, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd
Ty Gwyn residential home, Nr. Abergavenny, Gwent
Plymouth nursing home, Penarth, South Glamorgan
Ty Gwyn nursing home, Penarth, South Glamorgan
New Ravensworth, Neath, West Glamorgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each year since 1979 for each health authority and for Wales as a whole the number of deaths and discharges among, and the number of beds occupied on a given date by, patients receiving treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service, breaking the figures down by category of patient treated.

The available information is set out in the following table:

Patients receiving treatment under contractual arrangements
Columns (a) = Discharges and deaths. Columns (b) Occupied beds at 31 December.
	1979		1980		1981		1982		1983		1984
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Clwyd:
Convalescent	213	7	224	10	240	8	212	7	170	5	136	4
East Dyfed:	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Pembrokeshire:	Part of Dyfed health authority
Gwent:
Medical	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—
Mental illness	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—
Rehabilitation	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1
Others	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	2	1
Gwynedd:
Rehabilitation	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	—	1	—
Terminal care	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	2	—
Total	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	1	3	—
Mid Glamorgan:
Mental illness	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Mental handicap	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
Total	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	—
Powys:
Medical	35	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Convalescent	—	—	36	1	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	35	—	36	1	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Glamorgan:
Convalescent	—	—	—	—	—	—	13	—	—	—	—	—
Geriatrics	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	19	—	5	—
Terminal care	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	1	1	—
Others	5	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	5	—	—	—	2	—	14	1	19	1	6	—
West Glamorgan:	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Wales:
Medical	35	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—
Convalescent	213	7	260	11	260	8	225	7	170	5	136	4
Geriatrics	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	19	—	5	—
Mental illness	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	1	—
Mental handicap	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
Rehabilitation	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	1	1	1
Terminal care	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	2	3	—
Others	5	—	1	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	253	7	261	11	262	8	226	8	200	11	147	5

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each health authority and for 1983 and 1984 (a) the number of pay beds, (b) the number

Pay beds and private patients 1983 and 1984
	Clwyd	East Dyfed	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan	Pembrokeshire
1983
Number of pay beds*	12	7	1	8	3	—	13	2	3
Discharges and deaths of private patients	554	213	—	203	46	—	47	108	100
Average number of pay beds occupied daily	6·37	2·77	—	2·61	0·89	—	0·07	0·86	0·30
Percentage occupancy	53·10	39·60	—	32·60	29·70	—	0·50	43·00	10·00
1984
Number of pay beds*	12	7	1	8	3	—	13	5	3
Discharges and deaths of private patients	602	246	—	186	46	—	56	104	75

of discharges and deaths of private patients, (c) the average number of pay beds occupied by private patients and (d) the percentage occupancy.

The information is given in the following table:

	Clwyd	East Dyfed	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan	Pembrokeshire
Average number of pay beds occupied daily	6·76	3·73	—	1·03	0·33	—	0·68	0·76	0·24
Percentage occupancy	56·30	53·30	—	12·90	11·00	—	5·20	15·20	8·00
* At 31 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each year since 1970 and for each health authority the number of attendances by (a) private out-patients, (b) private day cases and (c) private regular day cases.

Private patients 1973–84
	Clwyd	Dyfed-East Dyfed*	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan	Pembs.*
1973
Out-patients	—	393	—	23	117	—	—	—	n/a
Day cases	11	145	4	61	175	—	—	—	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1974
Out-patients	—	327	—	19	78	—	—	—	n/a
Day cases	39	126	—	68	146	—	—	—	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1975
Out-patients	1	383	—	18	125	9	—	—	n/a
Day cases	13	201	2	48	171	—	—	—	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1976
Out-patients	—	559	—	26	135	6	—	—	n/a
Day cases	22	162	—	17	113	—	—	124	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1977
Out-patients	—	656	—	20	20	2	—	—	n/a
Day cases	29	142	—	61	73	—	—	151	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1978
Out-patients	33	456	—	2	1	—	—	5	n/a
Day cases	73	131	—	68	31	—	—	160	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1979
Out-patients	15	499	—	1	6	—	—	7	n/a
Day cases	86	150	—	101	39	—	—	252	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1980
Out-patients	14	796	—	14	12	—	—	14	n/a
Day cases	67	285	—	101	35	—	—	204	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1981
Out-patients	36	847	—	8	—	—	—	117	n/a
Day cases	89	347	—	84	44	—	—	304	n/a
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	n/a
1982
Out-patients	66	795	—	10	16	—	76	142	87
Day cases	84	327	—	97	25	—	5	361	34
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983
Out-patients	99	1,131	—	15	63	—	290	133	249
Day cases	135	274	—	95	21	—	1	323	55
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

The information is given in the following table. Comparable figures are not available for the years prior to 1973.

	Clwyd	Dyfed-East Dyfed*	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan	Pembs.*
1984
Out-patients	1,405	1,329	—	16	269	—	484	221	368
Day cases	244	268	—	70	62	—	6	355	44
Regular day patients	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
* Pembrokeshire figures are included with Dyfed prior to 1982.

Health Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for each year since 1970 and for each health authority, the total number of consultants holding (a) full-time, (b) maximum part-time, (c) other part-time and (d) honorary contracts.

*Numbers of consultants
	Clwyd	Dyfed/East dyfed	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan	†Pembs
1980:
Full-time	64	57	50	34	73	10	76	57	..
Maximum part-time	27	14	41	15	28	3	46	37	..
Other part-time	3	—	1	1	—	3	1	1	..
Honorary	2	1	—	—	1	1	75	2	..
1981:
Full-time	67	61	55	35	74	7	83	58	..
Maximum part-time	25	12	40	15	26	5	44	37	..
Other part-time	4	—	2	1	—	3	1	—	..
Honorary	2	—	—	—	1	1	82	1	..
1982:
Full-time	67	51	60	36	82	8	90	62	16
Maximum part-time	26	9	38	15	25	4	43	37	2
Other part-time	5	1	2	1	—	2	1	1	—
Honorary	2	—	—	—	1	1	83	—	—
1983:
Full-time	77	57	70	36	88	8	91	64	14
Maximum part-time	26	6	38	16	24	6	42	38	2
Other part-time	6	1	2	1	—	1	2	—	—
Honorary	2	—	—	—	1	1	82	—	—
1984:
Full-time	75	59	69	37	93	8	97	66	19
Maximum part-time	16	8	37	23	25	7	38	35	2
Other part-time	9	1	4	1	—	1	2	—	—
Honorary	1	—	—	—	2	1	84	1	—
* Including all medical and dental consultants in the hospital and community service. Consultants who work for more than one authority are included only in the figures for the authority in which the majority of their sessions are worked.
† Pembrokeshire figures are included with Dyfed prior to 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for each year since 1979 and for each health authority, the income from (a) private resident patients and (b) private non-resident patients.

(a) Income from private resident patients
	1979–80 £000s	1980–81 £000s	1981–82 £000s	1982–83 £000s	1983–84 £000s	1984–85 £000s
Clwyd	114	162	184	132	224	251
East Dyfed*	60	107	112	103	85	130
Pembrokeshire*	60	107	112	36	38	47
Gwent	3	2	1	—	—	—
Gwynedd	68	96	96	93	103	92
Mid Glamorgan	11	12	20	9	25	11
Powys	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	41	26	17	26	19	22
West Glamorgan	7	11	21	19	32	33
Wales	304	416	451	418	526	586

The information for 1980–84 is given below. Comparable figures for earlier years can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

The information requested is as follows:—

(b) Income from private non-resident patients
	1979–80 £000s	1980–81 £000s	1981–82 £000s	1982–83 £000s	1983–84 £000s	1984–85 £000s
Clwyd	6	8	18	24	28	54
East Dyfed*	3	4	5	4	6	9
Pembrokeshire*	3	4	5	4	8	12
Gwent	—	—	—	—	—	7
Gwynedd	2	3	4	5	3	6
Mid Glamorgan	1	2	2	2	5	10
Powys	—	—	—	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	1	—	1	4	7	23
West Glamorgan	6	8	13	16	15	26
Wales	19	25	43	59	72	147

Source: The annual accounts of health authorities.

* Prior to 1982–83 the Dyfed area health authority covered the whole county.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each year since 1979, the health authorities in Wales for which statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient in-care.

The health authorities concerned are as follows:

1980	1981–83	1984	1985
—	—	Clwyd	Clwyd
—	—	East Dyfed	East Dyfed
—	—	Gwent	Gwent
—	—	Gwynedd	Gwynedd
—	—	Mid Glamorgan	Mid Glamorgan
—	—	Pembrokeshire	Pembrokeshire
—	—	Powys	—
South Glamorgan	—	South Glamorgan	South Glamorgan
—	—	West Glamorgan	—

Expenditure on contractual arrangements for patient care
£000s
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Clwyd	20	26	83	60	42	19
East Dyfed	—	—	—	—	—	—
Pembrokeshire	—	—	—	72	—	2
Gwent	5	3	—	—	28	26
Gwynedd	—	—	—	—	—	—
Mid Glamorgan	32	43	36	40	22	12
Powys	31	34	8	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	2	2	2	4	4	48
West Glamorgan	8	20	21	27	29	18
Wales	98	128	150	203	125	125

Source: The annual accounts of health authorities.

Note: Prior to 1982–83 the Dyfed area health authority covered the whole county.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) health visitors, (b) community nurses, and (c) physiotherapists have been employed in each Welsh health authority for each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive.

Information* for 1979–84 is given below; corresponding figures for 1985 are not yet available.

Year	Health visitors	Community nurses†	Physiotherapists
1979	517	1,882	354
1980	536	1,997	369
1981	553	2,014	357

Notes:

1. The NHS auditor for Wales was directed, in 1984, to conduct an all-Wales review of the management of private medical practice arising from concern regarding the management of private medical practice at Prince Charles hospital, Merthyr Tydfil (and at Good Hope hospital, Sutton Coldfield).

2. The 1985 auditors reports have not yet been circulated to health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for each health authority and for Wales as a whole, the expenditure on contractual arrangements for patient care in each year since 1979.

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Health visitors	Community nurses†	Physiotherapists
1982	575	2,075	356
1983	579	1,982	424
1984	587	2,106	441
* Whole-time equivalent at 30 September.
† Excluding health visitors and school health service.

Private Hospital Developments

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals for private hospital developments have been notified to or authorised by him under the Health Services Act 1976 as amended by the Health Service Act 1980 since 1 May.

Since 1 May 1985 we have received the following notification:—Clwyd county council—30 bedsThere have been no requests for authorisation of controlled private hospital works.

Welsh Language

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a unit within his Department with specific responsibility for all matters relating to the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

At ministerial level I assist my right hon. Friend in Welsh language matters. At official level a co-ordinating responsibility is exercised by the Welsh Office education department. I have no plans for changing these arrangements.

Retirement Homes (Staff)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of people working in retirement homes in Wales are qualified nursing staff; and what was the proportion in 1979.

The information requested is not available.

Community Nurses

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many community nurses there are per 1,000 people aged 75 years and over; and how many proportionately there have been in each year from 1979 to 1984.

The information is given in the following table:—

Year	Community nurses per 1,000 population aged 75 years and over*
1979	14·7
1980	15·1
1981	14·9
1982	15·1
1983	14·2
1984	14·6
* Whole-time equivalents at 30 September.

Sheltered Accommodation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the ratio of places available in sheltered accommodation in Wales per 1,000 people aged 65 years and over, for each year from 1979 to 1985.

The number of places available for the elderly in local authority and housing association sheltered accommodation, per 1,000 persons aged 65 and over in Wales is estimated as follows for the years 1983–85.

Number of places per 1,000 over 65
Year	Number
1983	34·9
1984	36·8
1985	38·6

Similar information is not available for the private sector or for years prior to 1983.

Home Helps

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of whole-time equivalent home helps in each Welsh county; and, in those counties where there is a shortfall under the recommended level of provision, if he will publish the actual number of home helps estimated to be required to offset the shortfall.

The numbers of whole-time equivalent home helps in each Welsh county at 30 September 1984, are given in the table below:

Number of home helps (whole-time equivalent) at 30 September 1984
Local authority	Number
Clwyd	348·0
Dyfed	335·0
Gwent	623·3
Gwynedd	270·0
Mid Glamorgan	849·0
Powys	113·8
South Glamorgan	421·0
West Glamorgan	503·2

Assessments of need and decisions on levels of service to be provided are both matters for determination locally.

Health Visitors

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many visits were carried out by health visitors in Wales in each year from 1978 to 1984, inclusive, to people aged 65 years and over.

The information is given in the following table:

Number of visits carried out by health visitors in Wales to people aged 65 years and over
Year	Number
1978	44,455
1979	43,174
1980	42,315
1981	38,726
1982	37,886
1983	32,725
1984	32,072

Surgeons

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average number of hours per week worked by a surgeon employed by the National Health Service in the fields of ear nose and throat, gynaecology, and general surgery, respectively.

The information for Wales is as follows—

Average hours per week worked by consultant surgeon*
Specialty	Hours
Ear, nose and throat	36·1
Gynaecology and obstetrics†	34·4
General surgery	35·1
* Based on contract hours at 30 September 1984.
† Gynaecology cannot be identified separately from obstetrics.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average work load, on a weekly basis, of surgeons now employed by the National Health Service in the specialties of ear nose and throat, gynaecology, and general surgery; and how many of these are day cases.

There is no single meaaure of surgeons' work load. The care of in-patients, out-patients and day cases each contributes to surgeons' activity. The latest available information for Wales for each of these is as follows:—

Average Weekly Number Per Consultant Surgeon*
	In-patient Cases‡	Day case attendances	Out-patient attendances
Ear, nose and throat	16·5	1·4	111·8
Gynaecology and obstetrics†	40·4	1·6	147·2
General Surgery	24·8	4·2	72·2
* Based on cases for year ending December 1984 and consultants employed at 30 September 1984.
† Gynaecology cannot be identified separately from obstetrics.
‡ Discharges and deaths.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any plans to employ more surgeons in the specialties of ear nose and throat, gynaecology, and general surgery within the National Health Service, and specifically in the Mid Glamorgan health authority.

There are no manpower restrictions on the appointment of more consultants in these specialties. District health authorities in Wales already have approval for three new posts in general surgery, two in ear, nose and throat, and four in obstetrics and gynaecology. In Mid Glamorgan, the appointment of an obtetrician and gynaecologist has recently been made, and an advertisement placed for a general surgeon.

Mid Glamorgan Health Authority

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to seek to reduce the waiting lists for surgery in the fields of ear nose and throat, gynaecology, and general surgery, in the Mid Glamorgan health district; and if he will make a statement.

The day-to-day management of the Health Service is primarily the responsibility of the district health authority. Nevertheless I am concerned to reduce waiting times, which are affected by a number of factors, and the Department is pursuing this matter with the NHS in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of surgeons employed in the specialities of ear nose and throat, gynaecology, and general surgery, respectively, in the Mid Glamorgan health authority.

The information is as follows:

Mid Glamorgan Health Authority
	Consultant surgeons*
Specialty	Number	Whole-time equivalents
Ear, nose and throat	4	3·91
Gynaecology and obstetrics†	9	8·55
General surgery	10	8·73
* At 30 September 1984.
† Gynaecology cannot be identified separately from obstetrics.

National Finance

Privatisation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the receipts to the Treasury from privatisation have been in each financial year since 1979–80; and what he anticipates the receipts will be in each of the next five financial years, in cash terms and at constant prices.

Proceeds treated as special sales of assets, including the planning figures for 1985–86 and subsequent years, are set out in cash terms:

(£ million)
1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
370	405	494	488	1,142

(£ million)
1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
2,091	2,500	4,750	4,750	4,750

No planning figure has been decided for years after 1988–89. Using the assumptions for the GDP deflator given in footnote 2 to table 2.1 of the Autumn Statement, the planning figures for special sales of assets expressed in 1984–85 price levels are as follows:

(£ million)
1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
2,381	4,329	4,183	4,061

Bank Of England

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in what circumstances the Bank of England comments on its financial relationships with individual banking institutions; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make it his policy to answer questions on commitments or guarantees of, or relating to, public money by the Bank of England in support of financial institutions; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the Bank of England to determine its policy on answering questions concerning its relationships with financial institutions where these relationships rely on the bank's own resources. The bank is constrained by considerations of customer confidentiality and by the confidentiality requirements of the Banking Act 1979.

Written Answers ("Official Report")

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that statistical information on public expenditure should be presented in written answers published in the Official Report in diagrammatic form, including graphs, bar graphs and pie charts in the same way as they are published in the public expenditure White Paper.

The form of reporting in Hansard is ultimately for the House to decide but, on grounds of cost and risk of delay to publication, I would not at present want to propose publishing written answers in diagrammatic form.

Johnson Matthey Bankers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he knew of allegations concerning fraud in relation to Johnson Matthey Bankers as regards members of the Pahoomal family when he made his statement to the House on Johnson Matthey Bankers on 20 June.

No.

Northern Ireland

Departmental Files

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

There are specific guidelines on security of automatically processed data in Government Departments. These are contained in "Protection of Information in Computer Systems" and "Central Government Code of Practice No 27" issued by the central computer and telecommunications agency and these guidelines have been accepted by Northern Ireland Departments.Manual files are retained in central and divisional registries within Departments. When a person who is

Health and social services board	Total expenditure in 1984–85 on hospital catering	Expenditure in 1984–85 on services provided by private catering companies		Difference between 1983–84 percentage and 1984–85 percentage
	£	£	per cent of Total
Northern	2,615,354	Nil	0	Nil
Southern	2,983,107	Nil	0	Nil
Eastern	11,735,830	Nil	0	Nil
Western	3,458,147	Nil	0	Nil
All boards	20,792,438	Nil	0	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board in 1984–85, the total expenditure on hospital laundry, the total expenditure on services provided to

authorised to do so examines or withdraws such a file his or her name is recorded in the appropriate registry index and on the file cover.

Tendering Exercises

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each tendering exercise for hospital ancillary services of which his Department is aware (a) the health and social service board concerned, (b) the hospital concerned, (c) the service concerned (laundry, catering or cleaning), (d) the successful tenderers and (e) the saving achieved over the cost in the previous year.

The health boards complement some in-house cleaning and laundry services by private contracting but the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The boards are now examining the feasibility of full services being provided commercially.

Health And Social Services Boards

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1970 and for each health and social services board, the number of attendances by (a) private outpatients, (b) private day cases and (c) private regular day cases.

This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board in 1984–85, the total expenditure on hospital catering, the total expenditure on services provided to hospitals by private catering companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

The information is as follows:hospitals by private laundry companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

The information is as follows:

Health and social services board	Total expenditure in 1984–85 on hospital laundry	Expenditure in 1984–85 on services provided by private laundry companies		Difference between 1983–84 percentage and 1984–85 percentage
	£	£	per cent of Total
Northern	1,096,330	242,869	22·15	-3·38
Southern	1,131,170	Nil	0	Nil
Eastern	3,301,521	54,296	1·64	+·55
Western	871,516	25,375	2·91	+1·13
All boards	6,400,537	322,540	5·04	+·18

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board in 1984–85, the total expenditure on hospital cleaning, the total expenditure on services provided to

Health and social services board	Total expenditure in 1984–85 on hospital cleaning	Expenditure in 1984–85 on services provided by private cleaning companies		Diference between 1983–84 percentage and 1984–85 percentage
	£	£	per cent of Total
Northern	2,164,328	12,089	·55	+·06
Southern	2,505,472	17,000	·68	-·02
Eastern	7,857,740	108,848	1·38	+·5
Western	2,501,986	27,927	1·1	+·6
All boards	15,029,526	165,864	1·1	+·37

Nhs (Private Contractors)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1979, the percentage of the expenditure on (a) medical and surgical equipment maintenance, (b) X-ray equipment maintenance, (c) laboratory equipment maintenance, (d) catering, (e) laundry, (f) cleaning, (g) engineering maintenance, (h) building maintenance, (i) grounds, and so on, maintenance, (j) vehicle maintenance and (k) computers, which has been paid to private contractors for services provided to the National Health Service in Northern Ireland.

The final accounts of health and social services boards do not currently distinguish expenditure on services provided by private contractors and the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Private Hospitals And Nursing Homes

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the private hospitals and nursing homes in Northern Ireland which treat National Health Service patients under contractual arrangements.

Expenditure on contractual arrangements for patient care
Financial year	Northern board £	Southern board £	Eastern board £	Western board £	Northern Ireland Total £
1979–80	2,889	91,236	844,127	3,817	942,069
1980–81	3,401	111,512	1,100,564	2,395	1,217,872
1981–82	1,581	102,231	1,065,314	4,695	1,173,821

hospitals by private cleaning companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

The information is as follows:

The information requested is as follows:

Alexian Brothers house, Warrenpoint.
Belfast charitable society, Clifton house.
Marie Curie foundation, Beaconfield.
St. John of God, Newry.
Ulster Volunteer Force hospital.

Ambulance Service Journeys

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1979, the number of ambulance service journeys in Northern Ireland carrying non-National Health Service patients and the total mileage involved.

This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Patient Care (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board and for Northern Ireland as a whole, the expenditure on contractual arrangements for patient care in each year since 1979.

The information requested is as follows:

Financial year	Northern board £	Southern board £	Eastern board £	Western board £	Northern Ireland Total £
1982–83	2,679	73,281	1,187,942	22,937	1,286,839
1983–84	2,580	110,000	1,509,529	Nil	1,622,109
1984–85	2,649	121,588	1,610,314	Nil	1,734,551

Private Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each year since 1979, the health and social services boards for which statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient income.

None.

Private In-patient Provision
	Total number of patients who may be accommodated*	Average daily number of paying patients occupying those beds	Average occupancy rate per cent.
Eastern health and social services board
1984	90	16·7	18·5
1983	90	15·7	17·4
Northern health and social services board
1984	22	3·2	14·5
1983	22	3·3	15·0
Southern health and social services board
1984	14	2·2	15·7
1983	14	1·6	11·4
Western health and social services board
1984	23	2·5	10·9
1983	23	5·5	23·9
* These beds when not occupied by private patients are used for health service patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1979 and for each health and social services board (a) the income from private resident patients, (b) the amount written off as bad debts from private resident patients, (c) the income from private non-resident patients and (d) the amount written off as bad debts from private non-resident patients.

The information requested is as follows:—

Financial year	Northern Board	Southern Board	Eastern Board	Western Board
(a) Income from private resident patients (£)
1979–80	39,115	31,567	435,542	35,746
1980–81	45,056	24,554	315,967	63,496
1981–82	68,534	41,666	386,380	83,353
1982–83	88,788	58,242	558,213	84,424
1983–84	112,220	84,854	704,978	112,336
1984–85	118,832	84,884	805,335	112,255
(b) Amount written off as bad debts from private resident patients (£)
1979–80	Nil	Nil	1,284	Nil
1980–81	Nil	134	56	Nil
1981–82	Nil	Nil	291	Nil
1982–83	Nil	Nil	2,398	Nil
1983–84	Nil	Nil	363	Nil
1984–85	Nil	Nil	3,038	Nil
(c) Income from private non-resident patients (£)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board for 1984 (a) the total number of private inpatients who may be accommodated, (b) the average daily occupancy of those beds by private patients and (c) the average occupancy rate percentage; and if he will give the 1983 figures for comparison.

The details are as follows:

Financial year	Northern Board	Southern Board	Eastern Board	Western Board
1979–80	623	92	5,223	39
1980–81	699	588	14,798	229
1981–82	4,092	455	10,349	1,168
1982–83	2,795	669	12,536	1,166
1983–84	1,624	2,050	16,871	1,403
1984–85	2,675	2,793	21,999	3,412
(d) Amount written off as bad debts from private non-resident patients (£)
1979–80	Nil	Nil	46	30
1980–81	Nil	305	30	49
1981–82	4	Nil	88	Nil
1982–83	Nil	92	Nil	Nil
1983–84	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
1984–85	Nil	Nil	1	Nil

Patient Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1979, for each health and social services board and for Northern Ireland as a whole, the number of deaths and discharges among, and the number of beds occupied on a given date by, patients receiving treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service, breaking the figures down by category of patient treated.

This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Nhs Consultants

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1970 and for each health and social services board, the total number of National Health Service consultants holding (a) full-time, (b) maximum part-time, (c) other part-time and (d) honorary contracts.

The information is given in the attached tables. It should be noted that:

(i) it is not possible to give an accurate breakdown between maximum and other part-time consultants;

(ii) only total figures for Northern Ireland as a whole are available for the years prior to the creation of the health and social services boards;

(iii) in Great Britain clinical teaching staff hold honorary Health Service appointments, in Nothern Ireland they are appointed jointly by the University and the health and social services board. The numbers of joint appointments are shown in the tables;

(iv) consultants whose sessions are split between different boards are shown under the one with which their major involvement lies;

(v) dental consultants and community physicians are included.

Health Services Consultants
Year and Board	Full time	Part time	Joint appointment	Totals
1970	178	219		397
1971	195	217		412
1972	227	206		433
1973	235	202		437
1974
Eastern	143	159		302
Northern	40	20		60
Southern	27	19		46
Western	36	9		45
Totals	246	207		453
1975
Eastern	150	160		310
Northern	46	17		63
Southern	32	19		51
Western	39	8		47
Totals	267	204		471
1976
Eastern	160	111	45	316
Northern	44	16		60
Southern	36	16		52
Western	40	9		49
Totals	280	152	45	477
1977
Eastern	159	109	47	315
Northern	42	14	1	57
Southern	38	14		52
Western	41	9		50
Totals	280	146	48	474
1975
Eastern	176	106	53	335
Northern	44	14	1	59
Southern	40	13		53
Western	44	10		54
Totals	304	143	54	501
1979
Eastern	179	100	60	339
Northern	48	13	1	62
Southern	40	14		54

Year and Board	Full time	Part time	Joint appointment	Totals
Western	48	6		54
Totals	315	133	61	509
1980
Eastern	184	103	65	352
Northern	50	10	1	61
Southern	45	7		52
Western	49	7		56
Totals	328	127	66	521
1981
Eastern	196	100	63	359
Northern	55	6	1	62
Southern	44	7		51
Western	51	6		57
Totals	346	119	64	529
1982
Eastern	201	99	68	368
Northern	61	4	1	66
Southern	46	6		52
Western	51	6		57
Totals	359	115	69	543
1983
Eastern	204	87	76	367
Northern	60	4	1	65
Southern	54	4		58
Western	55	8		63
Totals	373	103	77	553
1984
Eastern	200	101	72	373
Northern	60	4	1	65
Southern	53	6		59
Western	53	10		63
Totals	366	121	73	560
1985
Eastern	210	91	81	382
Northern	66	4	1	71
Southern	55	3		58
Western	54	10		64
Totals	385	108	82	575

Amenity Beds

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board (a) the number of amenity beds, (b) the number of deaths and discharges from amenity beds, (c) the number of amenity beds occupied on average, (d) the percentage occupancy rate and (e) the income from amenity patients in 1983 and 1984.

Beds are not specifically designated for amenity purposes and information in the form requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However the average daily number of amenity patients in 1984 was:

	Number
Eastern board	8·4
Northern board	7·3
Southern board	0·9
Western board	1·0

Income from amenity patients in the 1983–84 and 1984–85 financial years was:

	1983–84 £	1984–85 £
Eastern board	31,326	30,485
Northern board	12,647	24,815
Southern board	130	440
Western board	3,390	3,750
TOTAL	47,493	59,490

European Agriculture Guidance And Guarantee Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give an estimate of the reduction in estimated payment made in the current year by his Department and, where they apply, the consequent savings to the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund resulting from farmers' inability because of this summer's weather to carry out planned improvement work under each of the following schemes: (a) agriculture and horticulture development scheme, (b) agriculture and horticulture grant scheme, (c) Northern Ireland agriculture development programme and (d) grassland scheme; and if he will detail any other estimated savings being made by his Department or the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund as a result of the weather.

There is no information available on which to base reliable estimates.

Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where he expects to acquire premises for the secretariat of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council; and how much he expects to spend on (a) acquisition, (b) refurbishment and (c) providing the level of security which will be necessary to protect those working in or with the secretariat.

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

Social Services

Health Bodies (Funding)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all statutory health bodies indicating the funding available from his Department for each body for each of the past five years.

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

Hospital Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the ratio of (a) hospital beds and (b) qualified nurses per head of population and per patient for each of the past 10 years.

NHS hospitals in England
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Average daily numbers of available beds per 1,000 population	8·3	8·2	8·1	7·9	7·7	7·6	7·5	7·4	7·3	7·1
Percentage of available beds occupied*	80·7	81·1	81·4	81·1	81·1	81·3	81·3	80·4	80·6	80·5
Qualified hospital nurses and midwives at 30 September (whole time equivalents)†	139,200	145,500	150,500	155,600	158,300	164,100	175,100	181,600	184,700	188,500
Qualified hospital nurses and midwives per 1,000 population	3·0	3·1	3·2	3·4	3·4	3·5	3·7	3·9	3·9	4·0
Average daily number of occupied beds†*	312,700	310,800	306,200	299,500	293,300	289,500	285,900	279,800	276,400	269,300
* Occupancy figures are based on a midnight count and do not include patients who do not stay overnight in hospital.
† Rounded to the nearest hundred.

Kidney Transplants

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has of kidneys being purchased from India for use in transplant operations in Britain; and what steps he is taking to ensure that all donated kidneys used within the National Health Service have been procured without pressure on the donors.

We have no evidence that kidneys have been purchased from India, although there have been allegations that private patients from the Indian subcontinent given transplants in this country have paid donors from their own areas to accompany them and provide a kidney. Details of these allegations have been made available to the General Medical Council, which has issued interim advice to doctors that

"It is unethical and improper for a registered medical practitioner, wittingly or unwittingly, to encourage or take part in any way in the development of such trafficking in the sale of human organs; and that, accordingly, no surgeon should undertake the transplantation of a non-regenerative organ from a living donor without first making due inquiry to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the donor's consent has not been given as a result of any form of undue influence".

We have already condemned the abhorrent practice of selling organs for transplantation. We shall be considering the need for any further Government action when full advice has been issued by the council.

The ratios of hospital beds to population and of staff to population are given in the table. The relationship between available beds and patients occupying beds is normally expressed as the percentage of available beds occupied and this is also given in the table. Figures for the numbers of qualified nurses working in hospitals, and for occupied beds are shown in the table. Available overall manpower statistics identify staff working in hospitals at a particular point in time, but do not differentiate between types of activities within the hospital. Crude ratios of staff to the occupation of hospital beds not taking into account varying factors such as the age of patients and the type or complexity of treatment given are not therefore meaningful.Fewer than 10 per cent. of kidneys transplanted into National Health Service patients come from live donors and there is no evidence that such donors have ever been subject to pressure.

Hypothermia

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the United Kingdom and for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, separately, the number of deaths from hypothermia for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will state how many of each annual total were deaths of people aged (a) 65 years and over and (b) 80 years and over.

The table shows at (a) the numbers of deaths in the United Kingdom and its constituent parts where hypothermia was assigned as the underlying cause of death*. For England and Wales and for Scotland, but not for Northern Ireland, there are also statistics or the cases where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificates, whether it was assigned as the underlying cause or not. The available figures are given at (b). A change in the international classification of diseases in 1979 means that the figures for 1975–78 for underlying cause are not comparable with those of later years. This change is not thought to have affected the statistics for mentions of hypothermia.

Hypothermia deaths: (a) as underlying cause of death and (b) with mention of hypothermia on death certificate United Kingdom, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, all ages, aged 65 years and over and aged 80 years and over, 1975–1985.
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985*
(a) Underlying cause†
United Kingdom
All ages	40	54	41	42	518	319	377	411	287	329	415
65 and over	34	48	37	38	400	255	301	327	232	263	363
80 and over	20	27	16	17	220	116	160	178	126	134	195
England and Wales
All ages	25	21	14	21	435	261	276	326	221	266	364
65 and over	24	20	14	18	333	207	224	258	179	215	315
80 and over	14	14	5	11	188	93	126	141	95	112	171
Scotland
All ages	9	20	6	16	74	43	91	68	56	52	41
65 and over	5	15	5	15	60	36	69	54	44	39	39
80 and over	4	8	3	5	31	18	29	30	26	16	22
Northern Ireland
All ages	6	13	21	5	9	15	10	17	10	11	10
65 and over	5	13	18	5	7	12	8	15	9	9	9
80 and over	2	5	8	1	1	5	5	7	5	6	2
(b) Mentions
England and Wales
All ages	511	585	613	708	824	596	685	671	539	555	657
65 and over	435	491	509	597	687	498	574	541	450	462	571
80 and over	250	271	280	327	374	237	326	319	261	257	336
Scotland
All ages	150	228	158	205	259	199	254	196	179	176	153
65 and over	114	186	133	163	202	160	199	163	139	141	140
80 and over	65	83	72	74	95	68	87	72	78	66	74
* Figures for 1985 are for first half of year only ie January 1-June 30 (provisional)
† 1975–1978 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 8th Revision code 788·9 (pt) 1979–1985 ICD 9th Revision 991·6 and 778·3 England and Wales, Northern Ireland E901 and 778·3 Scotland

Board And Lodging

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take regarding the board and lodgings regulations in the light of the recent supplementary benefit appeal tribunal decision on financial limits.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the decision of the Acton social security appeal tribunal against which the Chief Adjudication Officer has appealed to the commissioner. I understand that the Chief Social Security Commissioner has requested that further submissions be made about the point of law involved after the hearing of the Appeal Court in the case of R v. Secretary of State for Social Services ex parte Cotton, which is to be heard on 25 and 26 November. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend has laid fresh regulations before the House, as he announced on 11 November at column 322. These have now been approved by both Houses and come into operation today.

Aids

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has, broken down by area health authority, about the extent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome in the United Kingdom.

Up until 31 October of this year 241 cases had been reported to the communicable diseases surveillance centre. These may be broken down into geographical areas as follows:

Authority	No.
Thames regions	189
Wessex and S. Western	18
Other regions: Midlands and the North	24
Wales	4
Scotland	5
N. Ireland	1

Private Practice

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those health authorities whose private practice is authorised in terms of an annual number of bed days.

The information is as follows:

Region	District Health Authority
Northern	Darlington
	South Tyneside
	Sunderland
Yorkshire	Airedale
	Huddersfield
	Scunthorpe
	York
	Harrogate
	Leeds Eastern
Trent	North Derbyshire
	South Lincolnshire
	Nottingham
East Anglian	Huntingdon

Region	District Health Authority
North West Thames	North West Hertfordshire
	Riverside
North East Thames	Barking, Havering and Brentwood
	Enfield
South East Thames	Eastbourne
	Bromley
South West Thames	North East Surrey
	West Surrey and North East Hampshire
	Chichester
	Kingston and Esher
Wessex	Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
	Southampton and South West Hampshire
	Winchester
	Basingstoke and North Hampshire
Oxford	Kettering
South Western	Bristol and Weston
	Frenchay
	Somerset (Yeovil Hospital only)
West Midlands	North Warwickshire
	Rugby
	Bromsgrove and Redditch
	Sandwell
	Solihull
	Coventry
	Shropshire
Mersey	Southport and Formby
North Western	Bury
	Tameside and Glossop
Special Health Authority	Hospitals for Sick Children

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give for each year since 1970 and for each region the number of attendances by (a) private out-patients, (b) private day cases and (c) private regular day patients;(2) if he will give, for each special health authority, district health authority, regional health authority and for England as a whole

(a) the number of authorised amenity beds on 31 December 1984, (b) the average daily number

Number of authorised pay beds on 31 December in NHS hospitals
Region*	1979	1980	1981	*1982	1983	1984
Northern	56	56	78	103	103	105
Yorkshire	140	140	154	182	199	199
Trent	130	130	150	143	143	143
East Anglian	90	90	94	106	106	108
North West Thames*	339	339	352	292	292	292
North East Thames*	278	278	286	398	404	410
South East Thames*	263	263	302	332	337	337
South West Thames*	156	156	168	180	182	194
Wessex	99	99	106	117	120	120
Oxford	164	164	180	180	180	180
South Western	78	78	82	102	104	104
West Midlands	181	181	217	258	267	276
Mersey	67	67	92	112	123	123
North Western	170	170	214	231	244	245
Special Health Authorities/Boards of Governors*	194	194	202	183	183	183
England	2,405	2,405	2,677	2,919	2,987	3,019

of beds occupied by amenity patients, (c) the discharges and deaths of amenity patients and (d) the income from amenity patients; and if he will give the 1983 figures for comparison;

(3) if he will explain the classification private regular day cases in Form SBH 211;

(4) if he will give, for each special health authority, district health authority, regional health authority and for England as a whole, the number of attendances during 1984 by (a) private out-patients, (b) private day cases and (c) private regular day patients; and if he will also give the 1983 figures for comparison;

(5) if he will give, for each special health authority, district health authority, regional health authority and for England as a whole (a) the number of authorised pay beds at 31 December 1984, (b) the average daily number of beds occupied by private patients during 1984 and (c) the number of discharges and deaths of private patients during 1984; and if he will give the 1983 figures for comparison;

(6) if he will list the private hospitals and nursing homes which treat National Health Service patients under contractual arrangements with health authorities.

I shall let the hon. member have replies as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those health authorities which have applied for limited authorisations for out-patient private practice to be replaced by general authorisations stating which applications were granted and which refused.

The information requested is not readily available in the form requested, but 191 district and special health authorities now have general authorisations for private out-patients. All requests for such authorisations received since March 1982 have been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year since 1979 and for each region, the total number of authorised pay beds, the total number of deaths and discharges of private patients occupying those beds and the average daily occupation of those beds by private patients.

The information requested is given in the tables.

Average daily number of beds occupied by private patients in NHS hospitals
Region*	1979	1980	1981	*1982	1983	1984
Northern	26	31	35	19	28	26
Yorkshire	85	87	89	68	76	77
Trent	69	68	62	54	52	37
East Anglian	57	58	64	47	55	40
North West Thames*	230	225	210	155	138	131
North East Thames*	165	158	154	198	186	172
South East Thames*	190	197	184	155	144	132
South West Thames*	88	90	87	75	81	64
Wessex	60	69	69	58	57	52
Oxford	103	103	85	84	81	85
South Western	46	46	49	43	53	42
West Midlands	109	109	108	80	82	80
Mersey	38	40	47	42	44	38
North western	105	106	111	74	84	75
Special Health Authorities/Boards of Governors*	136	126	117	107	103	104
England†	1,508	1,514	1,469	1,259	1,264	1,156

Discharges and deaths of private patients in NHS hospitals
Region*	1979	1980	1981	*1982	1983	1984
Northern	2,812	2,901	3,704	1,555	2,382	2,261
Yorkshire	5,606	6,229	6,049	4,008	4,462	4,877
Trent	4,795	5,065	4,584	3,834	3,976	2,979
East Anglian	3,401	3,923	4,425	3,136	3,617	2,715
North West Thames*	11,699	12,395	12,357	9,331	8,891	8,008
North East Thames*	9,229	9,787	9,441	11,412	11,170	10,531
South East Thames*	10,087	11,107	10,925	9,309	9,090	8,751
South West Thames*	5,545	5,819	6,156	5,103	5,638	5,144
Wessex	4,462	4,947	5,306	4,425	4,395	4,129
Oxford	6,110	6,587	5,412	5,607	5,927	5,927
South Western	2,962	3,352	3,492	3,333	3,038	2,914
West Midlands	7,356	8,011	7,876	5,597	6,015	5,716
Mersey	2,333	2,770	3,156	2,370	2,651	2,599
North western	8,313	9,293	9,203	5,878	5,946	5,499
Special Health Authorities/Boards of Governors*	6,418	6,379	5,653	5,788	5,740	5,439
England	91,128	98,565	97,739	80,686	82,938	77,489
* Because of NHS restructuring in 1982 the regional figures are not strictly comparable over the whole period.
† Regional figures may not sum exactly to the England total because of rounding.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he will give, for 1984–85 and for each region, district and special health authority, the total income received under (a) section 58, (b) section 65 and (c) section 66 of the National Health Service Act 1977; and if he will give the 1983–84 figures for comparison.

	1983–84			1984–85
	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £
Northern Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Hartlepool	—	27,211	8,682	11	21,371	11,334
North Tees	282	31,806	4,594	102	30,823	7,383
South Tees	—	105,448	38,330	975	114,684	42,192
East Cumbria	—	83,370	12,713	—	57,818	11,479
South Cumbria	—	96,425	13,447	—	135,388	16,374
West Cumbria	—	30,001	3,643	—	2,210	977
Darlington	—	53,125	7,146	—	48,703	16,626
Durham	—	19,802	4,855	—	14,838	13,037
North West Durham	—	22,277	2,288	—	33,085	4,987
South West Durham	95	20,573	4,386	472	10,112	4,002
Northumberland	—	29,103	4,762	—	43,761	6,961
Gateshead	—	6,529	7,050	—	6,890	7,148
Newcastle upon Tyne	425	257,962	42,621	—	278,701	56,268
North Tyneside	—	27,490	1,407	—	11,864	1,593

Following are the figures shown by the authorities' annual accounts for 1983–84 and 1984–85. All 1984–85 figures are, at this stage, provisional.

	1983–84			1984–85
	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £
South Tyneside	—	29,785	7,202	—	27,088	8,286
Sunderland	—	89,017	23,546	—	123,225	22,318
Total	802	929,926	186,674	1,560	960,561	231,420
Yorkshire Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	5,200	—	—	—
Districts:
Hull	4,675	66,702	24,901	8,452	67,458	18,212
East Yorks	—	59,038	10,216	—	77,036	16,262
Grimsby	—	76,473	37,534	—	95,780	41,748
Scunthorpe	2,297	84,061	13,071	1,020	109,621	15,650
Northallerton	—	39,706	4,452	—	31,905	6,271
York	—	88,096	35,112	—	87,644	39,654
Scarborough	—	23,112	24,422	—	7,518	28,050
Harrogate	—	144,084	8,317	—	114,993	10,683
Bradford	—	168,005	35,508	—	118,123	43,379
Airedale	—	230,612	15,158	—	306,132	16,420
Calderdale	—	412,497	38,006	—	409,780	42,630
Huddersfield	—	156,764	20,549	—	191,590	21,348
Dewesbury	—	61,650	7,957	—	56,624	11,760
Leeds Western	—	724,139	48,446	1,346	900,826	67,317
Leeds Eastern	—	175,857	20,564	—	188,328	26,069
Wakefield	—	159,808	26,146	—	107,267	29,647
Pontefract	—	59,392	12,435	—	38,173	11,970
Total	6,972	2,729,993	387,996	10,818	2,908,796	445,433
Trent Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
North Derbyshire	—	67,550	12,189	—	81,939	18,439
South Derbyshire	3,250	181,315	34,671	1,425	166,211	42,541
Leicestershire	—	339,204	40,823	—	365,973	51,661
North Lincolnshire	6,297	95,728	41,189	9,283	66,519	47,144
South Lincolnshire	—	196,359	24,623	14	205,954	34,572
Bassetlaw	—	42,151	9,441	—	38,872	10,144
Central Nottinghamshire	—	109,764	21,742	—	31,106	19,076
Nottingham	2,798	296,982	44,787	15,492	143,130	57,313
Barnsley	—	45,387	11,515	—	39,290	13,328
Doncaster	4,768	25,548	10,598	6,817	33,868	11,774
Rotherham	—	—	—	—	—	—
Sheffield	1,273	174,373	35,311	7,923	198,302	41,679
Total	18,386	1,574,360	286,889	40,955	1,371,163	347,671
East Anglian Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Cambridge	—	268,031	40,248	34,834	173,144	55,480
Peterborough	10,923	31,414	17,417	13,822	19,844	17,724
West Suffolk	5,145	156,399	12,488	5,028	168,954	18,292
East Suffolk	—	425,352	8,889	—	256,027	30,571
Norwich	—	634,809	38,420	—	528,310	40,524
Great Yarmouth	—	68,670	11,015	—	61,960	15,108
West Norfolk and Wisbech	—	125,540	15,192	—	144,181	25,476
Huntingdon	—	52,790	2,513	—	123,692	3,120
Total	16,068	1,763,004	146,183	53,685	1,476,111	206,295
North West Thames Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
North Bedfordshire	—	156,898	23,249	—	146,930	28,056
South Bedfordshire	1,203	49,886	20,250	2,038	36,853	19,111
North Hertfordshire	4,327	51,875	8,346	5,548	43,620	12,201
East Hertfordshire	—	108,911	19,463	—	107,359	25,074
North West Hertfordshire	18	223,761	22,435	106	196,835	32,424
South West Hertfordshire	2,431	67,440	9,049	8,570	69,724	8,624
Barnet	1,666	141,269	50,098	1,553	103,662	49,404
Harrow	2,250	94,489	11,999	9,720	114,816	15,955
Hillingdon	—	472,123	45,468	—	504,970	58,619
Hounslow and Spelthorne	—	100,514	32,141	—	118,632	57,243
Ealing	—	6,642	5,084	—	1,164	5,029
Brent	—	73,095	10,552	—	37,243	8,265

	1983–84			1984–85
	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £
Paddington	—	1,881,595	91,800	—	1,783,525	108,261
Hammersmith and Fulham	—	1,025,952	119,949	—	1,033,474	132,248
Victoria	—	1,454,800	125,957	—	1,434,557	120,536
Total	11,941	5,909,250	595,840	27,535	5,733,365	681,049
North East Thames Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Basildon and Thurrock	—	145,625	32,075	—	152,877	25,511
Mid Essex	—	380,860	49,189	—	452,077	88,934
North East Essex	—	143,205	25,739	—	140,206	29,672
West Essex	—	276,443	36,347	—	300,902	47,893
Southend	1,510	139,595	29,446	4,258	117,087	28,666
Barking, Havering and Brentwood	—	228,274	93,712	—	218,108	76,895
Hampstead	—	1,179,757	125,321	—	1,257,286	149,196
Bloomsbury	—	4,115,076	306,035	—	3,770,188	294,770
Islington	—	90,362	8,232	—	68,670	12,913
City and Hackney	—	365,813	19,360	—	341,095	22,848
Newham	—	12,239	875	—	14,973	3,827
Tower Hamlets	—	895,519	56,666	—	953,178	59,667
Enfield	—	55,519	12,704	—	58,265	10,741
Haringey	—	50,592	24,148	—	30,374	24,701
Redbridge	—	133,588	24,579	—	113,514	24,657
Waltham Forest	3,329	94,622	17,576	1,543	74,528	21,523
Total	4,839	8,307,089	862,005	5,801	8,063,327	922,413
South East Thames Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Brighton	5,240	345,878	42,393	—	396,575	54,965
Eastbourne	—	53,152	29,140	56	79,995	27,516
Hastings	10	102,134	15,703	—	86,129	20,539
South East Kent	—	52,644	12,077	127	73,397	10,402
Canterbury and Thanet	5,515	77,926	54,812	260	70,394	49,777
Dartford and Gravesham	60	54,634	23,219	—	41,854	25,346
Maidstone	2,046	44,774	23,029	11,175	45,207	24,561
Medway	—	42,319	40,925	—	27,430	29,994
Tunbridge Wells	—	712,129	69,613	26,270	648,672	80,186
Bexley	—	132,496	24,318	—	124,106	24,161
Greenwich	4,236	174,459	35,447	17,688	122,807	32,869
Bromley	—	206,008	44,131	—	102,663	32,653
West Lambeth	—	1,379,422	74,539	1,493	1,408,203	85,046
Camberwell	—	1,315,985	66,396	—	1,257,097	70,145
Lewisham and North Southwark	—	1,495,880	45,209	—	1,409,048	66,281
Total	17,107	6,189,838	600,952	57,069	5,893,576	634,441
South West Thames Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
North West Surrey	—	236,785	43,073	—	278,186	49,651
West Surrey and North East Hampshire	5,874	162,959	37,792	13,149	155,480	44,642
South West Surrey	—	93,984	60,470	—	206,028	77,382
Mid Surrey	—	371,122	32,438	2,277	243,843	25,979
East Surrey	—	368,219	16,586	8,700	128,547	15,750
Chichester	—	109,743	19,094	—	116,297	27,862
Mid Downs	—	408,446	49,956	30	401,058	51,832
Worthing	—	43,757	562	—	47,453	758
Croydon	—	81,728	12,493	—	103,698	13,982
Kingston and Esher	—	143,423	14,476	—	154,329	24,341
Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton	—	46,815	19,050	—	22,032	17,119
Wandsworth	14	302,086	35,150	810	376,473	42,239
Merton and Sutton	3,860	251,266	24,908	5,013	267,307	37,413
Total	9,748	2,620,333	366,048	29,979	2,500,730	428,949
Wessex Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
East Dorset	—	147,630	30,489	—	130,632	40,461
West Dorset	11,310	26,893	4,598	17,576	19,489	4,405
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire	—	398,471	62,790	—	379,452	76,936

	1983–84			1984–85
	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £
Southampton and South West Hampshire	—	339,742	49,523	—	247,886	67,499
Winchester	—	121,586	8,817	—	107,170	17,016
Basingstoke and North Hampshire	—	440,564	34,370	7,431	438,954	36,654
Salisbury	—	33,756	12,863	—	16,717	15,791
Swindon	—	308,719	51,640	—	220,664	29,554
Bath	—	50,039	15,247	—	39,624	14,445
Isle of Wight	—	160,089	14,854	3,679	159,524	15,231
Total	11,310	2,027,489	285,191	28,686	1,760,112	317,992
Oxford Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	1,588	—	—	1,775
Districts:
East Berkshire	—	100,507	25,635	—	94,078	50,703
West Berkshire	—	549,907	32,888	—	589,447	74,909
Aylesbury	—	533,152	37,056	—	534,280	40,753
Wycombe	3,209	310,821	40,356	17,575	279,420	26,718
Milton Keynes	—	—	2,335	—	—	5,161
Kettering	—	260,612	28,710	—	285,941	36,463
Northampton	12,656	235,716	62,722	18,670	256,082	52,190
Oxford	—	742,916	105,814	8,322	842,397	129,076
Total	15,865	2,733,629	337,105	44,567	2,881,646	417,748
South Western Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Bristol and Weston	—	105,618	39,719	—	108,385	50,865
Frenchay	—	103,369	1,568	—	120,737	14,656
Southmead	—	12,407	5,884	—	19,056	7,902
Cornwall	7,681	100,370	19,598	7,820	70,009	23,469
Exeter	14,330	72,419	27,262	12,180	70,784	29,184
North Devon	—	54,938	8,455	—	55,991	11,736
Plymouth	13,422	118,676	20,085	12,343	91,355	21,321
Torbay	—	115,569	34,005	4,266	58,008	24,148
Cheltenham	2,875	338,505	43,858	4,415	344,547	50,362
Gloucester	—	270,890	32,390	—	223,025	31,306
Somerset	19,122	292,116	23,733	19,830	264,315	30,190
Total	57,430	1,584,877	256,577	60,854	1,426,211	295,140
West Midlands Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Bromsgrove and Redditch	—	30,437	9,427	—	49,602	11,912
Hereford	5,800	44,670	5,255	6,201	51,156	9,821
Kidderminster	—	39,687	11,983	—	57,192	14,280
Worcester	—	235,304	36,343	—	269,959	57,318
Shropshire	8,985	187,319	16,536	12,297	192,712	25,405
Mid Staffordshire	—	173,400	18,328	—	168,433	17,179
North Staffordshire	10,427	161,212	47,644	42,591	172,523	51,940
South East Staffordshire	—	137,258	20,289	990	147,656	31,417
Rugby	—	115,676	11,921	—	139,261	7,069
North Warwickshire	—	43,976	6,239	—	52,260	8,284
South Warwickshire	—	181,070	8,599	275	188,935	11,329
Central Birmingham	—	607,275	33,097	—	441,235	54,361
East Birmingham	—	35,471	1,416	—	27,931	3,247
North Birmingham	3,043	191,846	73,015	1,788	173,218	28,348
South Birmingham	—	125,512	3,789	11,154	126,536	8,536
West Birmingham	1,508	52,853	12,327	—	40,425	15,889
Coventry	—	167,732	13,160	—	157,673	42,230
Dudley	—	62,617	18,476	495	80,634	23,822
Sandwell	—	80,782	8,279	—	71,480	18,661
Solihull	1,452	46,225	1,426	1,511	48,510	3,110
Walsall	—	192,313	14,107	—	198,330	15,629
Wolverhampton	—	25,283	11,558	—	34,603	15,416
Total	31,215	2,937,918	383,212	77,303	2,890,265	475,203
Mersey Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Chester	—	43,602	7,345	19,098	31,303	8,988
Crewe	—	197,137	42,138	—	255,546	68,530
Halton	—	—	996	—	—	764

	1983–84			1984–85
	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £	Section 58 £	Section 65 £	Section 66 £
Macclesfield	—	63,144	18,087	—	91,091	24,224
Warrington	—	327,347	11,949	—	284,053	14,013
Liverpool	—	316,585	28,941	—	305,863	38,521
St. Helens and Knowsley	15,505	106,658	36,886	15,665	102,721	34,764
Southport and Formby	—	116,039	12,301	—	123,817	22,641
South Sefton	7,355	59,615	15,315	7,290	77,130	19,635
Wirral	—	151,938	32,055	1,056	118,109	24,662
Total	22,860	1,382,065	206,012	43,109	1,389,633	256,743
North Western Region
Regional Health Authority	—	—	—	—	—	—
Districts:
Lancashire	—	278,849	23,089	—	247,640	20,283
Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde	17,158	66,073	8,724	19,947	60,494	8,242
Preston	300	98,358	37,965	—	166,932	56,690
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley	9,098	35,954	1,685	7,671	30,410	5,960
Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale	—	100,612	18,171	—	131,666	5,677
West Lancashire	—	199,179	15,099	—	212,178	23,726
Chorley and South Ribble	—	6,480	1,751	—	3,940	1,596
Bolton	—	99,089	6,267	—	11,329	171
Bury	—	238,386	17,321	—	209,407	23,027
North Manchester	—	40,666	14,525	—	27,191	16,542
Central Manchester	706	690,531	37,454	2,280	774,780	49,853
South Manchester	1,268	492,093	105,749	3,053	487,631	124,789
Oldham	—	71,872	12,760	—	75,244	17,621
Rochdale	—	6,047	6,495	—	10,895	5,596
Salford	—	38,254	8,565	5	69,482	18,694
Stockport	—	32,898	15,639	—	42,177	19,112
Tameside and Glossop	—	11,489	6,966	—	23,924	12,228
Trafford	—	58,908	7,821	—	48,230	9,471
Wigan	—	122,291	15,231	695	116,888	18,859
Total	28,530	2,688,028	361,278	33,651	2,750,437	438,137
Special Health Authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals
Hospitals for Sick Children	—	1,446,546	52,419	—	1,663,748	55,059
National Hospital for Nervous Diseases	43,458	622,421	40,992	58,206	537,618	91,556
Moorfields Eye Hospital	—	622,255	26,185	—	553,490	38,417
Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals	—	88,494	7,554	—	110,306	6,258
National Heart and Chest Hospitals	—	1,208,289	29,667	30,712	1,644,836	42,936
Royal Marsden Hospital	—	1,043,733	422,369	—	1,102,392	453,993
Hammersmith and Acton	—	504,343	87,462	—	1,068,329	127,519
Queen Charlotte's Hospitals	—	579,719	26,640	—	1,068,329	127,519
Eastman Dental Hospitals	—	—	5,821	—	—	6,569
Total	43,458	6,115,801	699,110	88,918	6,680,719	822,307
Total (England)	296,531	49,493,601	5,961,054	604,488	48,686,653	6,920,940

Note: All figures have been rounded and may not in all cases add up exactly to the totals shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for each year since 1979, the health authorities for which statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient income.

The information is as follows:

Financial year and name of authority

1979–80

Lincolnshire AHA
Camden and Islington AHA
East Sussex AHA

1980–81

Bedfordshire AHA
Hertfordshire AHA
Kent AHA
Greenwich and Bexley AHA
Bromley AHA
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham AHA(T)
Surrey AHA
West Sussex AHA
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth AHA(T)

Liverpool AHA(T)
National Heart and Chest Hospitals BG

1981–82

1982–83

Central Nottinghamshire DHA
Leicestershire DHA
Lambeth DHA
Bexley DHA
Canterbury and Thanet DHA
West Lambeth DHA
Lewisham and North Southwark DHA
Queen Charlotte's Hospital for Women BG

1983–84

Bradford DHA
South Tees DHA
Darlington DHA
Durham DHA
Southern Derbyshire DHA
Sheffield DHA

Nottingham DHA
Calderdale DHA
Dewsbury DHA
Airedale DHA
Islington DHA
Waltham Forest DHA
North East Essex DHA
West Suffolk DHA
Camberwell DHA
Brighton DHA
Lewisham and North Southwark DHA
Croydon DHA
Mid Downs DHA
Merton and Sutton DHA
National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases SHA
Wycombe DHA
Oxfordshire DHA
West Berkshire DHA

1983–84

Kettering DHA
Coventry DHA
Torbay DHA
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire DHA
Shropshire DHA
North Birmingham DHA
North Staffordshire DHA
Crewe DHA

1984–85 (Not completed)

Southmead DHA
Northampton DHA
East Berkshire DHA
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly DHA
Milton Keynes DHA
Great Yarmouth and Waveney DHA
Aylesbury Vale DHA
Central Birmingham DHA
Mid-Staffordshire DHA
Rugby DHA
Hammersmith and Fulham DHA
South Manchester DHA

asked the Secretary of State for Social Cambridge Services if he will give for each district the expenditure on contractual arrangements for patient care in 1983–84 and 1984–85.

Following are provisional figures shown by the annual accounts of district health authorities for 1984–85. The figures for 1983–84 were given in my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member on 21 January 1985 at columns 331–34.

Expenditure on contractual arrangements for patients care—1984–85
District health authorities	£
Northern Region
Hartlepool	—
North Tees	—
South Tees	6,170
East Cumbria	269,200
South Cumbria	19,375
West Cumbria	—
Darlington	604,215
Durham	6,863
North West Durham	—
South West Durham	—
Northumberland	407,606
Gateshead	—
Newcastle upon Tyne	92,000
North Tyneside	—
South Tyneside	—
Sunderland	—
TOTAL	1,405,429

District health authorities	£
Yorkshire Region
Hull	—
East Yorkshire	—
Grimsby	—
Scunthorpe	69,276
Northallerton	1,308,241
York	—
Scarborough	—
Harrogate	11,595
Bradford	—
Airedale	—
Calderdale	45,000
Huddersfield	145,796
Dewsbury	19,911
Leeds Western	105,881
Leeds Eastern	31,092
Wakefield	10,000
Pontefract	—
TOTAL	1,746,792
Trent Region
North Derbyshire	—
South Derbyshire	—
Leicestershire	49,778
North Lincolnshire	—
South Lincolnshire	—
Bassetlaw	—
Central Nottinghamshire	630
Nottingham	—
Barnsley	—
Doncaster	—
Rotherham	87,249
Sheffield	582,773
TOTAL	720,430
East Anglian Region
Cambridge	—
Peterborough	31,679
West Suffolk	192,181
East Suffolk	105,120
Norwich	95,568
Great Yarmouth	—
West Norfolk and Wisbech	—
Huntingdon	32,850
TOTAL	457,398
North West Thames Region
North Bedfordshire	—
South Bedfordshire	16,460
North Hertfordshire	96,622
East Hertfordshire	720,472
North West Hertfordshire	27,364
South West Hertfordshire	119,362
Barnet	58,756
Harrow	—
Hillingdon	1,701,571
Hounslow and Spelthorne	150,997
Ealing	6,803
Brent	—
Paddington	240,785
Hammersmith and Fulham	110,205
Victoria	239,984
TOTAL	3,489,381
North East Thames Region
Basildon and Thurrock	26,183
Mid Essex	288,314
North East Essex	452,028

District health authorities	£
West Essex	2,760
Southend	45,127
Barking, Havering and Brentwood	582,856
Hampstead	565,814
Bloomsbury	515,424
Islington	48,485
City and Hackney	1,349,350
Newham	66,211
Tower Hamlets	57,157
Enfield	747,549
Harringey	352,068
Redbridge	458,427
Waltham Forest	127,447
TOTAL	5,685,200
South East Thames Region
Brighton	318,712
Eastbourne	241,508
Hastings	19,031
South East Kent	46,278
Canterbury & Thanet	68,092
Dartford & Gravesham	—
Maidstone	11,794
Medway	34,573
Tunbridge Wells	59,263
Bexley	66,053
Greenwich	115,874
Bromley	442,402
West Lambeth	73,080
Camberwell	34,515
Lewisham & North Southwark	440,112
TOTAL	1,971,287
South West Thames Region
North West Surrey	211,452
West Surrey & North East Hampshire	306,752
South West Surrey	1,155,584
Mid Surrey	188,580
East Surrey	159,620
Chichester	1,009,808
Mid Downs	410,866
Worthing	693,498
Croydon	115,051
Kingston & Esher	159,587
Richmond, Twickenham & Roehampton	714,212
Wandsworth	554,135
Merton & Sutton	337,265
TOTAL	6,016,410
Wessex Region
East Dorset	450,744
West Dorset	—
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire	681,134
Southampton & South West Hampshire	102,262
Winchester	133,423
Basingstoke & North Hampshire	138,244
Salisbury	17,992
Swindon	16,449
Bath	401,655
Isle of Wight	—
TOTAL	1,941,903
Oxford Region
East Berkshire	166,614
West Berkshire	—
Aylesbury	35,228
Wycombe	41,724
Milton Keynes	156,736

District health authorities	£
Kettering	4,887
Northampton	445,914
Oxford	261,836
TOTAL	1,129,939
South Western Region
Bristol and Weston	88,012
Frenchay	61,691
Southmead	46,562
Cornwall	1,769,252
Exeter	—
North Devon	—
Plymouth	184,798
Torbay	157,061
Cheltenham	31,138
Gloucester	82,889
Somerset	—
TOTAL	2,421,403
West Midlands Region
Bromsgrove and Redditch	1,424
Hereford	—
Kidderminster	16,259
Worcester	32,451
Shropshire	85,877
Mid Staffordshire	100,100
North Staffordshire	218,490
South East Staffordshire	96,467
Rugby	23,053
North Warwickshire	737,469
South Warwickshire	507,118
Central Birmingham	4,028
East Birmingham	83,899
North Birmingham	13,771
South Birmingham	36,171
West Birmingham	5,475
Coventry	119,756
Dudley	110,069
Sandwell	53,967
Solihull	—
Walsall	61,485
Wolverhampton	117,689
TOTAL	2,425,018
Mersey Region
Chester	—
Crewe	9,730
Halton	—
Macclesfield	471
Warrington	—
Liverpool	1,674,903
St. Helens and Knowsley	—
Southport and Formby	646,698
South Sefton	6,770
Wirral	15,000
TOTAL	2,353,572
North Western Region
Lancaster	360,443
Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde	236,325
Preston	888,512
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley	—
Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale	34,868
West Lancashire	—
Chorley and South Ribble	739,647
Bolton	—
Bury	—
North Manchester	826,780
Central Manchester	—
South Manchester	690,402

District health authorities	£
Oldham	75,000
Rochdale	—
Salford	428,546
Stockport	—
Tameside and Glossop	94,823
Trafford	20,925
Wigan	102,000
TOTAL	4,498,271

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for 1984, for each region and for England as a whole, the number of deaths and discharges a month and the number of beds occupied on a given date by patients receiving treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service; and if he will break down these figures in the categories of (a) medical, (b) surgical, (c) pre-convalescent and post-operative, (d) convalescent, (e) geriatric, (f) disease of the chest, (g) maternity, (h) mental illness, (i) mental handicap, (j) rehabilitation, (k) terminal care and (l) others; and if he will give the 1983 figures for comparison.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for each year since 1979, the number of (a) in-patient discharges and deaths and (b) new out-patients treated among patients receiving acute treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service in England.

The information requested is given in the table.

Patients receiving acute treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service—England*
Year	In-patient deaths and discharges	New out-patients treated
1979	21,976	40,202
1980	21,011	12,435
1981	21,463	12,229
1982	22,150	14,785
1983	22,360	13,327
1984†	24,945	14,296
* Acute is defined as all specialties except geriatrics, mental handicap, mental illness and maternity.
† Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has issued any guidelines to health authorities as to the inclusion in consultants' contracts of any restriction on their participation in the medical committees of private hospitals or clinics; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any evidence of shortages of specialist staff in National Health Service hospitals arising from the alleged actions of private hospitals or clinics in attracting staff away from the National Health Service by offers of improved salaries or conditions; and if he will make a statement.

No.

Nhs (Services)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give, for each district in 1984–85, the total expenditure on cleaning, the expenditure on services provided by private cleaning companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former, and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year;(2) if he will give for each district in 1984–85 the total expenditure on catering, the expenditure on services provided by private catering companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former, and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year;(3) if he will give for 1984–85 for each region the figures for payments to outside contractors for support services and for contractual arrangements for patient care indicating the services provided; if he will also give each figure as a percentage of the total expenditure on the relevant service in each region; and if he will also give the 1983–84 figures for comparison.

I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year since 1979 the percentage of the expenditure on (a) laundry, (b) domestic-cleaning services and (c) catering which has been paid to private contractors in the National Health Service.

Following is the information requested, derived from the annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England together with those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

Percentages of the relevant current expenditure paid to private contractors
	Laundry	Domestic-cleaning services	Catering
1979–80	14·1	2·4	0·2
1980–81	12·0	2·5	0·3
1981–82	11·7	2·1	0·2
1982–83	11·5	2·0	0·2
1983–84	9·7	2·0	0·2
*1984–85	11·0	2·2	0·5
* Provisional figures.

Note:

The figures are not strictly comparable over the whole period as value added tax on contracted out services became reclaimable by health authorities on 1 September 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each district in 1984–85 the total expenditure on laundry, the expenditure on services provided by private laundry companies, the latter figure as a percentage of the former and the difference between that percentage and the percentage in the previous year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report details of the progress made by district health authorities in England in putting their services out to tender since 31 March in the manner of the answer to the hon. Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) on 12 June, Official Report, columns 489–493.

The position as at 30 September is shown in the tables. We are aware of 107 contracts which have been let to private contractors and these will realise an estimated £15·1 million in annual savings. Two hundred and fifty-eight tenders have been secured by in-house organisations and these will produce estimated annual savings of £13·9 million.

Districts	Percentage of Service put out to Tender			Estimated Annual Savings £
	Catering	Domestic	Laundry
Northern RHA
Hartlepool	12	15	nil	—
North Tees	nil	14	nil	—
South Tees	4	3	nil	45,000
East Cumbria	nil	nil	nil	—
South Cumbria	nil	100	100	—
West Cumbria	nil	3	nil	1,000
Darlington	nil	nil	nil	—
Durham	nil	nil	nil	—
North West Durham	nil	nil	100	18,000
South West Durham	nil	nil	nil	—
Newcastle	21	56	22	1,025,000
North Tyneside	nil	60	100	6,000
South Tyneside	38	80	nil	31,000
Sunderland	3	5	nil	15,000
Northumberland	11	15	29	108,000
Gateshead	51	43	nil	38,000
Yorkshire RHA
Hull	13	15	nil	158,000
East Yorkshire	nil	26	56	298,000
Grimsby	76	3	nil	83,000
Scunthorpe	61	nil	nil	75,000
Northallerton	100	nil	100	16,000
York	nil	21	nil	169,000
Scarborough	28	24	100	48,000
Harrogate	21	14	nil	8,000
Bradford	nil	11	nil	17,000
Airedale	nil	nil	nil	—
Calderdale	100	100	100	530,000
Huddersfleld	nil	2	nil	24,000
Dewsbury	nil	nil	100	64,000
Leeds Eastern	nil	nil	nil	—
Leeds Western	13	27	nil	197,000
Wakefield	11	nil	100	—
Pontefract	nil	nil	100	49,000
Trent RHA
North Derbyshire	34	29	nil	197,000
South Derbyshire	nil	13	nil	60,000
Leicestershire	nil	50	nil	—
North Lincolnshire	1	20	100	151,000
South Lincolnshire	31	35	nil	124,000
Bassetlaw	nil	21	nil	—
C Notts	nil	72	nil	—
Nottingham	5	8	9	260,000
Barnsley	23	23	nil	197,000
Doncaster	6	35	nil	55,000
Rotherham	nil	6	nil	—
Sheffield	9	16	66	206,000
East Anglian RHA
Cambridge	41	75	nil	455,000
Peterborough	nil	68	nil	115,000
Huntingdon	nil	100	100	490,000
Great Yarmouth/Waverley	nil	64	100	261,000
West Norfolk/Wisbech	100	100	100	399,000
Norwich	13	55	100	837,000
West Suffolk	nil	100	nil	160,000

Districts	Percentage of Service put out to Tender			Estimated Annual Savings £
	Catering	Domestic	Laundry
East Suffolk	19	27	100	421,000
North West Thames RHA
North Bedfordshire	100	nil	100	66,000
South Bedfordshire	nil	34	100	285,000
North Hertfordshire	nil	1	100	17,000
North West Hertfordshire	16	21	100	192,000
South West Hertfordshire	nil	46	nil	—
East Hertfordshire	nil	nil	100	—
Barnet	100	nil	100	8,000
Harrow	100	nil	100	15,000
Hillingdon	82	100	100	106,000
Ealing	nil	100	100	526,000
Hounslow/Spelthorne	nil	100	100	1,412,000
Riverside (Hammersmith/Fulham)	nil	42	100
(Victoria)	33	59	49	1,086,000
Paddington & North Kensington	49	81	100	345,000
North East Thames RHA
Brent	nil	nil	nil	—
Barking	100	26	nil	101,000
Basildon	nil	nil	100	74,000
Bloomsbury	nil	nil	100	—
City & Hackney	nil	nil	nil	—
Enfield	nil	nil	nil	—
Hampstead	nil	nil	nil	—
Haringey	nil	59	nil	334,000
Islington	2	nil	nil	7,000
Mid Essex	nil	80	100	494,000
Newham	nil	18	100	45,000
Redbridge	nil	19	nil	130,000
Tower Hamlets	nil	59	nil	271,000
Waltham Forest	10	7	40	100,000
West Essex	35	32	100	156,000
Southend	nil	8	100	209,000
North East Essex	35	12	nil	159,000
South East Thames RHA
Bexley	nil	97	100	9,000
Brighton	19	13	nil	15,000
Bromley	100	98	100	1,040,000
Camberwell	nil	nil	100	56,000
Canterbury Thanet	nil	100	—	403,000
Dartford Gravesham	nil	nil	nil	—
Eastbourne	57	18	nil	124,000
Greenwich	nil	nil	nil	—
Hastings	nil	29	—	8,000
Lewisham North Southwark	nil	nil	nil	—
Maidstone	45	70	100	496,000
Medway	56	83	nil	188,000
South East Kent	100	19	nil	154,000
Tunbridge Wells	13	nil	100	—
West Lambeth	nil	nil	100	100,000
South West Thames RHA
North West Surrey	nil	87	100	382,000
West Surrey North East Hants	10	30	94	32,000

Districts	Percentage of Service put out to Tender			Estimated Annual Savings £
	Catering	Domestic	Laundry
East Surrey	nil	66	36	620,000
Mid Surrey	30	nil	30	55,000
South West Surrey	15	17	nil	165,000
Mid Downs	25	70	100	220,000
Chichester	45	59	nil	344,000
Worthing	100	51	nil	228,000
Kingston Esher	8	44	79	532,000
Croydon	nil	18	62	180,000
Richmond Twickenham Roehampton	72	66	93	799,000
Wandsworth	nil	98	100	248,000
Merton Sutton	29	85	26	1,116,000
Wessex RHA
East Dorset	28	17	100	63,000
West Dorset	2	nil	nil	—
Portsmouth	nil	nil	nil	—
Southampton	nil	8	17	45,000
Winchester	8	6	100	75,000
Basingstoke	nil	nil	1	15,000
Salisbury	nil	nil	nil	—
Swindon	5	7	nil	30,000
Bath	nil	nil	nil	—
Isle of Wight	nil	nil	nil	—
Oxford RHA
East Berkshire	8	6	nil	61,000
West Berkshire	7	5	nil	88,000
Aylesbury Vale	52	100	nil	360,000
Milton Keynes	nil	100	nil	98,000
Wycombe	nil	100	nil	134,000
Kettering	nil	22	nil	77,000
Northampton	2	nil	100	6,000
Oxford	7	75	nil	510,000
South Western RHA
Cheltenham	100	nil	100	31,000
Gloucester	nil	nil	100	53,000
Frenchay	37	20	nil	76,000
Bristoil/Weston	nil	8	nil	63,000
Southmead	4	16	100	51,000
Somerset	53	57	100	887,000
Exeter	nil	nil	nil	—
North Devon	nil	100	100	131,000
Torbay	100	30	nil	29,000
Plymouth	nil	nil	100	60,000
Cornwall/Isles of Scilly	26	44	56	520,000
West Midlands RHA
Mid Staffordshire	12	nil	nil	15,000
South Warwickshire	nil	16	nil	84,000
Kidderminster	nil	nil	nil	—
Shropshire	nil	4	nil	43,000
North Staffordshire	19	7	nil	67,000
Coventry	nil	1	nil	3,000
Bromsgrove and Redditch	nil	33	nil	97,000
Herefordshire	nil	1	nil	3,000
Rugby	100	26	100	10,000
North Warwickshire	nil	3	100	73,000
Solihull	38	48	nil	366,000
Wolverhampton	nil	nil	nil	—
Walsall	26	nil	nil	11,000
North Birmingham	nil	9	nil	24,000
Dudley	nil	8	nil	57,000
Sandwell	nil	nil	nil	—
East Birmingham	nil	27	nil	154,000

Districts	Percentage of Service put out to Tender			Estimated Annual Savings £
	Catering	Domestic	Laundry
Central Birmingham	6	18	nil	104,000
South Birmingham	nil	nil	nil	—
South East Staffordshire	29	52	nil	162,000
Worcester	nil	12	nil	21,000
West Birmingham	nil	nil	nil	—
Mersey RHA
Southport/Formby	nil	28	nil	17,000
South Sefton	nil	2	nil	12,000
St Helens/Knowsley	100	nil	nil	—
Wirral	36	43	nil	59,000
Liverpool	nil	nil	nil	—
Macclesfield	nil	87	nil	156,000
Halton	18	19	100	46,000
Warrington	nil	96	nil	589,000
Chester	53	100	100	795,000
Crewe	42	89	nil	478,000
North Western RHA
North Manchester	nil	nil	nil	—
Central Manchester	56	nil	100	144,000
Wigan	33	25	nil	31,000
Stockport	70	nil	nil	163,000
Tameside/Glossop	28	nil	nil	2,000
Bolton	nil	3	nil	—
Bury	65	13	nil	37,000
Chorley/South Ribble	nil	14	nil	—
Preston	nil	nil	nil	—
Lancaster	4	nil	nil	35,000
Blackpool	nil	nil	nil	—
Burnley	9	6	nil	—
South Manchester	nil	2	nil	9,000
Trafford	nil	10	100	—
Oldham	36	nil	nil	—
Salford	nil	nil	nil	—
West Lancashire	nil	3	nil	4,000
Blackburn	nil	nil	nil	—
Rochdale	12	19	nil	4,000

Ambulance Service

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for 1983 and 1984 the number of ambulance service journeys carrying non-National Health Service patients and the total mileage involved.

Ambulance services in England provided 141,000 non-National Health Service patient journeys in 1983 and 127,000 in 1984. In 1983 the corresponding mileage was 1,157,000. Central collection of information on the ambulance services' mileage was discontinued in 1984. A "patient journey" is the carriage of one patient in one direction. "Non-NHS patients" are all those in respect of whose transport a charge is made. They include persons carried on behalf of local authorities and other organisations as well as those private patients not entitled to free transport.

Private Hospitals

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals for private hospital developments have been notified to him or authorised by him under the Health Services Act 1976 as amended by the Health Services Act 1980 since 21 January.

Since 21 January 1985, 33 notifications have been received as follows. No applications for authorisation have been made.

	Number of beds
Gisburne Park, Clitheroe, Lancashire	*10
Garden hospital, London NW4	*2
Junction of Beverley road and Lowfield road, Anlaby, Hull, Humberside	†25
New road, Impington, Cambridge	†25
Clementine Churchill hospital, Sudbury hill, Harrow, Middlesex	*26
Park hospital, Sherwood Lodge drive, Arnold, Nottingham (operating theatre only)	*—
St. John of God hospital, Scorton road, Richmond, North Yorkshire (operating theatre only)	*—
St. Edmunds nursing home, St, Mary's Square, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk	*2
Glenthorne avenue, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey	*32
Princess Grace hospital (endoscopy unit only)	*—
Site adjoining Princess Grace hospital (Heron House, Marylebone road) (x-ray department only)	*—
507–511 London road, Thornton Heath, Surrey	55
BUPA Murrayfield hospital, Holmwood Drive, Thingwall, Wirral, Merseyside	*9
The Grange Lawrence nursing home, Bottisham, Cambridge	15
Nanhurst, Elmbridge road, Cranleigh, Surrey	60
New Hall hospital, Bodenham, Salisbury	*13
Belvedere nursing home, Scarborough	*4
The Ipswich surgical home, Fonnereau road, Ipswich, Suffolk	*12
Weston Hall, Weston road, Stafford	23
Saxon way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes	24
Wessex Nuffield hospital, Winchester road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh	*12
Grosvenor Nuffield hospital, Wrexham road, Chester	*10
Purey Cust Nuffield hospital, Precentor's Court, York	*33
Wolverhampton Nuffield hospital, Wood road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton (x-ray theatre only)	*—
Woking Nuffield hospital, Shores road, Woking, Surrey	*15
Thames Valley Nuffield hospital, Wexham street, Slough	*6
Tunbridge Wells Nuffield hospital, Kingswood road, Tunbridge Wells	*29
Newcastle Nuffield hospital, Osborne avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	*40
Plymouth Nuffield hospital, Derriford road, Plymouth	*16
Lancaster and Lakeland Nuffield hospital, Meadowside, Lancaster	*32
Hull Nuffield hospital, Westbourne avenue, Hull	*6
Huddersfield Nuffield hospital, Birkby Hall road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire	*11
Duchy House hospital, Queens road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire (new operating theatre, x-ray suite etc. only)	*—
* Extension to existing hospital.
† Amendment to previous notification.

Health Authorities (Competitive Tendering)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will name for each tendering exercise of which his Department is aware and which was completed since the last named in his answer of 1 May, Official Report, columns 175–176, the health authority and the hospital concerned and the successful tenderer.

We are aware of the following additional cases:

Health Authority	Hospital	Contractor or In House
Domestic Services
Barnsley	Community	In-house
Barnsley	District General hospital	In-house
Barnsley	Kendray	In-house
Bexley	Community	In-house
Bradford	Leeds road	In-house
Brighton	Hove General	In-house
Brighton	Lady Chichester	In-house
Bristol	Central Residences	In-house
Bristol	North unit (community)	In-house
Bromsgrove	Barnsley hall	In-house
Bury	Community	In-house
Calderdale	District	Mediclean
Canterbury	C & T Unit	Exclusive
Canterbury	Mental illness unit	HHS
Canterbury	Thanet General	In-house
Central Birmingham	Birmingham Childrens	In-house
Central Birmingham	Chester Burns	In-house
Central Birmingham	Dental	In-house
Central Birmingham	Jaffray	Crothalls
Central Birmingham	Midland Nerve	In-house
Chester	Countess of Chester hospital	In-house
Chester	Chester city hospital	In-house
Chester	Ellesmere Port hospital	In-house
Chester	Clinics and health centres	In-house
Cornwall/Isles of Scilly	District general hospital	In-house
Coventry	HQ	In-house
Crewe	Leighton hospital	In-house
Crewe	Community, Arclid & Baroney	In-house
Croydon	Community	Crothalls
Croydon	Warlingham Park	In-house
Doncaster	Montagu	In-house
Dudley	Hayley Green	Initial
Dudley	Ridge Hill	In-house
Ealing	Acute Unit	Mediclean
Ealing	Community	Blue Arrow
East Surrey	Dorking	In-house
East Yorkshire	Castle Hill	Initial
Eastbourne	Uckfield	In-house
Eastbourne	All Saints	In-house
Gateshead	Dryden Road	In-house
Great Yarmouth	James Paget	In-house
Haringey	North Middlesex	In-house
Hastings	Buchanan	In-house
Herefordshire	Victoria house	In-house
Hillingdon	Harefield	In-house
Hounslow/Spelthorne	Ashford	ICC
Huddersfield	Community	Reckitts
Hull	HQ	In-house
Hull	Springfield (offices)	In-house
Hull	Kingston General	Mediclean
Kettering	St. Mary's	In-house
Kingston & Esher	Kingston	In-house
Leeds Western	Cookridge & Ida	In-house
Macclesfield	Parkside	Blue Arrow
Maidstone	Kent County	In-house
Maidstone	Lenham	In-house
Merton and Sutton	Sutton & Carshalton	In-house
Merton and Sutton	Henderson hospital	In-house
Merton and Sutton	Queen Mary's	In-house
Mid Downs	Cuckfields/Haywards Heath	In-house
Mid Essex	St. Peters	ICC
Milton Keynes	DGH & Community	Initial
Milton Keynes	Renny Lodge	In-house
Newcastle	RVI & Dental	In-house
Newcastle	Newcastle General	In-house
Newham	Plaistow	In-house
North Birmingham	Victoria	Initial
North Birmingham	Tamworth General	In-house
North Birmingham	Hamerwick	In-house
North Derbyshire	Scarsdale	ICC
North Derbyshire	Penmore	In-house

Health Authority	Hospital	Contractor or In House
Domestic Services
North Devon	District	In-house
North East Essex	Community	In-house
North Hertfordshire	Royston	In-house
		Berkeley
North Lincolnshire	Community	Taylorplan
		Berkeley
North Lincolnshire	Lincoln County	Taylorplan
North Lincolnshire	Lincoln County (Residence)	In-house
North Lincolnshire	St. Georges	In-house
North Lincolnshire	St. John's (non-clinical)	In-house
North Lincolnshire	Louth	In-house
North Lincolnshire	John Coupland	In-house
North Staffs	Biddulph	In-house
North Staffs	Haywood/Stanfield	In-house
North Staffs	Longton	In-house
North West Herts	Cell Barnes	In-house
North West Surrey	Botley's Park	Mediclean
North West Surrey	Ellesmere	H Cleaning & Ward Support Services
North West Surrey	Weybridge HC	In-house
North West Surrey	St. Peters	In-house
		Home
North Western RHA	Gateway House	Counties
Northumberland	Northgate	In-house
North Warwickshire	Bramcote hospital Pool Bank street	In-house
Nottingham	Basford	HHS
Nottingham	Community	In-house
Norwich	North Norfolk	In-house
Redbridge	Barking	Crothalls
Richmond, Twickenham Roehampton	Queen Mary	Sunlight
Richmond, Twickenham Roehampton	Barnes	In-house
Rochdale	Group 1 Clinics	In-house
Rochdale	Group 2 Clinics	In-house
Rugby	Community	In-house
Scarborough	Whitby	In-house
Scarborough	Malton	In-house
Sefton	Community	In-house
Sheffield	Childrens (residence)	In-house
Sheffield	Ryegate and Langhill	In-house
Sheffield	Charles Clifford	In-house
Sheffield	Jessop	In-house
Shropshire	Shrewsbury town centre	In-house
Solihull	Solihull hospital	Spinneys
Solihull	Morston Green hospital	Spinneys
Solihull	District HQ	In-house
Somerset	Cheddar	In-house
Somerset	Sandhill	In-house
Somerset	Minehead	In-house
Somerset	Mendip	In-house
Somerset	Norah Fry-Selwood	In-house
South Bedfordshire	St. Marys	Mediclean
South Derbyshire	Makeney	In-house
South Derbyshire	Women's	In-house
South Derbyshire	Ilkeston General	In-house
South Derbyshire	Queen Mary	In-house
South East Kent	Sheppway	In-house
South Manchester	Christie hospital	In-house
Southend	Westcliff	In-house
South Lincolnshire	Community	In-house
South Lincolnshire	Johnson & Holbeach	In-house
South Lincolnshire	Spilsby	In-house
Southport/Formby	Community	Ideal
		Cleaning
South Tyneside	Deans hospital	In-House
South Tyneside	Hebburn hospital	In-House
South Tyneside	Monkton hospital	In-House
South East Staffs	St. Matthews	In-House
Swindon	Victoria hospital	In-House

Health Authority	Hospital	Contractor or In House
Domestic Services
Sunderland	Community	ICC
Tower Hamlets	London hospital	In-House
Tower Hamlets	Community	In-House
Waltham Forest	Wanstead	In-House
Wandsworth	Springfield	ICC
Warrington	Warrington DGH	In-House
West Berkshire	Townlands	In-House
West Cumbria	Community	In-House
West Essex	Community	ISC
West Essex	Herts and Essex GH	In-House
West Lancashire	Community*	In-House
West Norfolk	District	In-House
West Suffolk	Newmarket	Sunlight
West Suffolk	Sudbury	In-House
West Suffolk	Resbridge hospital	In-House
Wigan	Astley	In-House
Winchester	Mount hospital	Mediclean
Worthing	Worthing	Crothalls
Wycombe	Wycombe General	In-House
Wycombe	Amersham General	In-House
York	Community	In-House
Yorkshire RHA	Blood transfusion	In-House
Catering Services
Barking	District	In-House
Barnet	Barnet hospital	In-House
Barnsley	Keresford	In-House
Barnsley	Mount Vernon	In-House
Central Birmingham	Women's	In-House
Central Manchester	Dental hospital	In-House
Chester	Chester Royal infirmary	In-House
Chichester	Graylingwell hospital	In-house
Eastbourne	Hellingley	In-house
Grimsby	Grimsby DGH	In-house
Harrogate	Royal Bath	In-house
Hillingdon	Mount Vernon	In-house
Hull	Princess Royal	In-house
Hull	Victoria House HQ	In-house
Islington	Community	In-house
Lancaster	District	In-house
Lancaster	District butchery	Altnams
Mid Staffordshire	Trent	In-house
Newcastle	Walkergate	In-house
Newcastle	Freemon	In-house
Northallerton	District	In-house
Northampton	Cripps PGMC	In-house
North Derbyshire	Whittington Hale	In-house
North Staffordshire	Biddulph Grange	In-house
North Staffordshire	Orthopaedic	In-house
North Staffordshire	Bagnall	In-house
North Staffordshire	Stallington	In-house
North West Hertfordshire	Hill End and Hick Wick	In-house
North Western RHA	Gateway House	In-house
Nottingham	HQ	In-house
Nottingham	St. Ann's	In-house
Paddington	St. Mary's	Compass
Richmond, Twickenham Roehampton	Barnes	In-house
Rugby	District	In-house
Sheffield	Ryegate	In-house
Sheffield	Lightwood/Greneside	In-house
Sheffield	Chapeltown	In-house
Somerset	Bridgwater
Somerset	Sandhill Park	In-house
Somerset	Mendip	In-house
Somerset	Wells	In-house
South East Kent	Dover	In-house
South East Staffordshire	St. Matthews	In-house
South Lincolnshire	Rauceley	In-house
South Tyneside	Mouleton	In-house
Stockport	Devonshire Royal	In-house
Stockport	St. Thomas's	In-house

Health Authority	Hospital	Contractor or In House
Domestic Services
Stockport	Stepping Hill	In-house
Swindon	Savernake	In-house
Tameside	Peripheral hospitals	In-house
Torbay	South and West Sector unit	In-house
Victoria	Westminster	In-house
Walsall	Bloxwich	In-house
Walsall	General hospital	In-house
Walsall	Goscote	In-house
West Berks	Newbury/Sandleford	In-house
West Essex	Princess Alexandra	In-house
Wigan	Whelley	In-house
Winchester	Mount hospital	In-house
Wirrall	Clatterbridge	In-house
Worthing	Southlands	In-house
Worthing	Swandean	In-house
Laundry Services
Barking	St. Georges	In-house
Basildon	Basildon	In-house
Basingstoke	District	In-house
Central Manchester	District	In-house
Chester	District	In-house
Cornwall	Falmouth	In-house
East Dorset	Falmouth	In-house
East Yorkshire	Falmouth	In-house
Hammersmith	Hammersmith and Acton hospitals	Nat Sunlight
Hammersmith	Queen Charlotte's	Westcotts
Hammersmith	Chelsea hospital	Westcotts
North Bedfordshire	District	In-house
North Herts	District	In-house
North West Durham	Shotley Bridge	In-house
Nottingham	Saxondale	In-house
Somerset	Sandhill	In-house
South Bedfordshire	District	In-house
Wandsworth	St. Georges	In-house
West Lambeth	District	In-house
		Southampton
Winchester	RHCP	HA

Nurses (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses earn less than £101 per week; and what percentage this is of total nurses.

I regret this information is not held centrally. However it is estimated from earnings data from 10 regional health authorities, that in the period April-September 1984, 30 per cent. of full-time nursing staff, virtually all either learners or unqualified nursing auxiliaries, earned on average less than £101 per week.

Junior Doctors (Training)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there are any plans for co-operation between the Royal Free hospital and the Charter medical clinic concerning training rotas for junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.

I know of no such plans but the hon. Member may wish to approach the district health authority direct.

Food Hazard Warnings

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has received regarding dissemination of information to local authorities about the food hazard warning system and related matters; if he will take steps to improve the flow of such information; and if he will a statement.

Representations are received from time to time, mainly about the speed and means of communicating food hazard warnings to Local Authorities. As to improving the system, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 29 October at column 447.

Mentally-Handicapped Young Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if the figures are yet available for each district health authority and for each regional health authority of the number of young people between the ages of 16 and 19 years living in long-stay mental handicap hospitals; and, for each authority, what is the number living in (a) units of 25 or more beds, and (b) units of under 25 beds at 31 December 1984;(2) what is the number of children on short-term placements in long-stay mental handicap hospitals for each district health authority and each regional health authority as at 31 December 1984; and for each authority, what is the number of units of:

(a) 25 or more beds, and (b) under 25 beds;

(3) what were the numbers of children in long-stay mental handicap hospitals at 31 December 1984 for each district health authority and each regional health authority; and, for each authority, what was the number living in units of (a) 25 or more beds and (b) under 25 beds.

Information is not collected centrally in precisely the form requested. I shall let my hon. Friend have the available information as soon as possible.

Legionnaire's Disease

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report current and past research projects since 1955 into the causes, means of transmission and treatment of Legionnaire's disease.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given, on 4 June, by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) at columns 145–146.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the public inquiry into the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in Stafford; and when the report is likely to be published.

I am advised that the committee of inquiry hopes to submit an interim report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the end of January 1986. This will concern itself with the cause of the outbreak in Stafford and the adequacy of measures taken to investigate and deal with it. The committee also hopes to submit a final report by the end of March 1986 which will make recommendations on any action necessary to reduce the danger of future outbreaks. It is too early to say when the reports will be published.

Substandard Housing (Tyne And Wear)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many properties have been reported as substandard in the Tyne and Wear area in accordance with DHSS circular S12/85.

During the six months ended 30 September 1985 four properties were reported to the local authority as substandard in the Tyne and Wear area in accordance with Department of Health and Social Security circular S12/85.

War Widows

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to award the second pension to pre-31 March 1973 war widows to bring them in line with service widows after that date.

No. Pensions under the war pensions scheme administered by the Department are payable on the same basis to all widows irrespective of the date of their husband's service. The pensions which are payable, in addition. under the occupational pension scheme for the Armed Forces to the widows of men who served since 31 March 1973 are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

Pregnavite Forte

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now include Pregnavite Forte in the list of drugs available on prescription to pregnant mothers.

All the ingredients of this preparation remain available on National Health Service prescription. In these circumstances, the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs saw no need for the combination proprietary product. I understand that further representations have been made to the advisory committee and these will be considered at its next meeting in January.

Christmas Bonus

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the 1985 Christmas bonus would be if it had been raised in line with (a) the rise in the retail price index and (b) the increase in average earnings.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 21 October at column 54.

Liverpool

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Catholic Social Services (Liverpool) concerning the current financial situation in the city; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from Catholic Social Services (Liverpool). In his reply he expressed concern for the many children and handicapped people who rely on it and other voluntary agencies in Liverpool and condemned the impact of the behaviour of the Liverpool city council on the partnership which should exist between such agencies and the local statutory services. He also referred to the meeting representatives of voluntary organisations in Liverpool had last week, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, at which they explained the effect on them of the city council's actions. We are watching the position closely.

Kidney Dialysis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether reciprocal arrangements exist within the EEC for kidney dialysis patients to obtain treatment in whatever country they visit.

There are provisions under the European Community's social security arrangements for visitors who are covered by those arrangements and who need dialysis treatment, when visiting another member state to receive such treatment, through the host country's state health scheme, on the same terms as insured residents of that country.Special procedures for advance booking of dialysis facilities have been agreed by the member states. Details of these procedures have been sent to all dialysis units in the United Kingdom, as well as to the British Kidney Patients Association and The National Federation of Kidney Patients Associations, together with a list compiled by the Commission, of units providing treatment in the member states. Visitors from the United Kingdom have to present form E111, except in Denmark and the Republic of Ireland.

Nurses (Leeds)

asked the Secreary of State for Social Services what increase in the number of nurses in the Leeds Eastern health authority is needed to ensure that no operations are cancelled or services reduced because of shortage of nurses.

Nurse staffing levels are a matter for local management. The hon. Member may wish to seek such information from the health authority chairman.

Human Tissue

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will place in the Library all documents and correspondence relating to the investigation in 1983 by officials of his Department into an alleged trade in dead human foetal material.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 November 1985, c. 94]: In accordance with normal practice I am seeking the agreement of the individuals concerned to the placing of the correspondence in the Library. I shall let the hon. Member have a further reply as soon as possible.

National Insurance Contributions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assumptions were used by the Government Actuary in preparing the "Autumn Statement 1985" about the numbers of class 1 national insurance contributors in each of the earnings bands proposed for 1986–87, their aggregate earnings and about the proportion that are contracted out of the state earnings related pension scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1985, c. 80]: The information is as follows:

Earnings bands £	Number paying standard rate national insurance contributions in Great Britain (millions)	Aggregated earnings (£ billions)	Proportion contracted out of the state earnings related pension scheme (percentage)
38–60	1·4	3·5	5
60–95	2·0	8·3	17
95–140	3·9	23·6	44
140–285	8·6	86·2	67
Over 285	1·7	34·4	68

Defence

Ship Refits

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the comparative cost of ships being refitted in Devonport and those being refitted in private yards.

It remains my intention to publish an indication of the comparison of costs between these ships. It is not possible at this stage to give a date.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the proportion of refitting work for naval vessels that can be classified as emergent work.

Emergent work varies considerably as between different refits. On average, emergent work can be expected to account for approximately 10–30 per cent. of a refit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the amount of unprogrammed work in the naval refitting programme.

An allowance of some 6 to 7 per cent. is currently included in estimates for unprogrammed naval refit work.

Daily rates of pay for male army officers (£)
	1 April 1979	1 April 1980	1 April 1981	1 April 1982	1 April 1983	1 April 1984*	1 November 1984†	1 April 1985
Second-Lieutenant
Maximum	11·89	14·25	16·30	17·12	17·76	18·34	19·14	20·52
Minimum	8·74	10·00	11·51	12·05	12·50	12·74	13·22	13·86
Lieutenant
Maximum	16·29	19·14	21·86	23·15	25·18	26·01	27·27	29·32
Minimum	14·73	17·30	19·78	20·95	22·78	23·53	24·67	26·52
Captain
Maximum	21·31	25·03	28·56	30·49	33·18	34·27	36·08	38·87
Minimum	18·31	21·55	24·60	26·23	28·56	29·50	31·04	33·47
* 3 per cent. staged award.
† Full award.

Note: Slightly lower rates apply to female officers to reflect the lower rate of X-factor recommended for them by the Armed Forces Pay Review body.

Government Contracts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the figures for the appropriate

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the proportion of naval refitting work that is now carried out in the private sector.

During 1985–86 it is expected that about 22 per cent. of naval refitting, including work on Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, will have been carried out in the private sector.

Military Aircraft (Refuelling)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements were made for refuelling of United Kingdom military aircraft flying from Belize to Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

The two Puma helicopters refuelled in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama (twice), in flying from Belize to Colombia. The Hercules flew direct. The Government are very grateful to all the countries concerned for the helpful response received to requests for diplomatic clearance for these flights and for assistance with refuelling the helicopters.

Service Officers (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the gross salaries and any additional allowances or deductions for second lieutenants, lieutenants and captains in the Army and the equivalent ranks in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy for each year since 1979.

The gross daily rates of pay for these Army ranks are set out in the table. They apply also to equivalent ranks in the other Services. A wide range of allowances and various forms of additional pay (such as parachute pay and diving pay) are available to individuals in particular circumstances. Apart from normal deductions of income tax and earnings-related national insurance contributions, service personnel are expected to pay a charge for food and accommodation where this is provided at public expense. These charges are fixed on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and details of current rates are given in its 14th Report (Cmnd. 9526).rates of profit as recommended by the review board for Government contracts with special reference to noncompetitive naval building and naval refitting work.

Non-competitive naval building and naval refitting work attract the same rates of profit as all other non-competitive work placed by my Department. Full details of these rates were set out by my right hon. Friend, the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Butler) on 16 May, at columns 207–8.

Royal Dockyards

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the value of the assets of (a) Rosyth dockyard and (b) Devonport dockyard.

Figures for the value of the fixed assets of Rosyth and Devonport dockyards were published in the 1984–85 Defence Appropriation Accounts, laid before Parliament on 23 October 1985.

Cyprus Secrets Trial

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the seniority payments due to the seven acquitted defendants in the Cyprus Official Secrets Act trial are at the same level as they would have been had proceedings not been taken against them; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1985, c. 354]: Soldiers and airmen are not paid seniority payments. I assume that the hon. Member is referring to length of service increments. Only one of the service men concerned had a length of service increment entitlement and the level of that payment has been unaffected by the legal proceedings that have taken place.

Volume 87: debated on Monday 25 November 1985

Written Answers To Questions

Attorney-General

Justices Of The Peace

Fraud Investigation Group

Peter Cameron Webb Syndicate

Pahoomal Family

Non-Solicitor Conveyancers

Cyprus Secrets Trial

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Polluted Wine

Ethiopian Tinned Meat

Wildlife (Poisons)

Battery Hens

Untreated Milk

Eggs Authority

Sugar

Environment

Planning Decisions

Walker House

Council House Sales (Wandsworth)

Communal Heating

Child Sex Abuse Unit

Housing Co-Operative Developments

Industrial Land

New Homes

Water Authorities

Nuclear Waste

Waste Disposal

Public Sector Housing

Housing Co-Operatives

Liverpool

Road Works (London)

Local Authorities (Capital Expenditure)

Local Authority Expenditure

Home Department

Fraud

Prison Populations

Liverpool Prison

Manchester Prison

Police (Helicopters And Light Aircraft)

Race Relations

Commission For Racial Equality

Data Protection Act (Telephone Numbers)

Parkhurst Prison

Fruit Machines (Public Houses)

Deportation

Heavy Goods Vehicles

Jashim Uddin

Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981

Parole

Scarman Report (Recommendations)

Immigration

Plastic Bullets

Prime Minister

President Reagan

Employment

Community Programme

Radiation

Job Creation

Self-Employed Persons

Youth Training Scheme

Labour Statistics

Misleading Advertisements

Visual Display Units

Education And Science

Textbooks

Youth Service

Geophysics

School Meals

Institute Of Psychiatry

Disabled Students

Medical Research Council

Schools Of Architecture (Closures)

Spina Bifida

Students (Financial Assistance)

Deaf Teachers

Universities

Academic Clinical Staff