asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the level of state aid from member countries of the European Economic Community to motor vehicle manufacturing companies over the last five years.

Comprehensive information is not available, as details of aids notified to and approved by the Commission under article 93 of the EEC treaty are not normally disclosed to all member states.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will name those countries, which are multi-fibre arrangement signatories, which are regarded by his Department as having open markets for multi-fibre arrangement purposes.

The Government have said that in our view favourable treatment should be given to those developing countries whose own barriers to British exporters are low. This is a matter of degree, but Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore would seem to meet such a definition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he supports the increased growth rates in the multi-fibre arrangement quota system proposed by the European Commission.

Some increases on existing growth rates may be justified, especially for the poorest countries and countries which themselves offer open markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will explain the administrative systems he envisages to control any liberalisation of children's clothing under the multi-fibre arrangement, having regard to equity as between the member states and the elimination of abuse.

The question whether and to what extent children's clothing should be liberalised under a renewed MFA is still under discussion in the Community, taking account among other things of administrative practicability and possible problems of fraud. The method of administrative control will depend on the decision reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will name those countries which are multi-fibre arrangement signatories, which are regarded by his Department as genuinely poor countries for multi-fibre arrangement purposes.

The present MFA does not provide for special treatment for the poorest countries, but the United Kingdom has argued that the renewed arrangements should do so. Whether to adopt the wider World Bank definition or the UN definition is still under discussion in the Community. The United Kingdom has argued for the wider one, which includes such countries as India, not covered by the narrower definition. The narrower the definition the more favourable the treatment that might be given to such countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of General Motors-manufactured motor cars imported into the United Kingdom and made in the United Kingdom, respectively, for each of the last five calendar years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the latest figures for the annual rate of exports of leather footwear to the United States of America and Canada.

In 1985 United Kingdom companies exported leather footwear to the value of £16 million (884 thousand pairs) to the USA, and £3 million (230 thousand pairs) to Canada. These are provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made in the last six months to the Government of Kenya regarding the repayment of commercial debts due to British creditors of Kenyan companies.

Since September 1985 representations have been made to the Government of Kenya about two cases involving commercial debts owed to British creditors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decisions have been taken on the award of licences to operate private mobile radio (PMR) systems in band III and on the licensing of further national wide-area radio-paging frequencies.

I have received, and am very grateful for, the advice of the Director General of Telecommunications on applications for licences to operate nationwide pmr systems, systems in London, and further radiopaging licences. The Department has also considered applications to operate local pmr systems in band III in the areas of greatest demand outside London.I have decided that the following applicants should be invited to participate in further discussions with the Department leading to the issue of those licences:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the tonnage of ware potatoes imported into the United Kingdom for the years 1983–84, 1984–85 and since 1 April 1985.

I have been asked to reply.For the crop years 1 June to 31 May, United Kingdom imports of ware potatoes were as follows:

	tonnes
1983–84	121,444
1984–85	63,909

During the period 1 June to 31 December 1985, the latest date for which figures are currently available, United Kingdom imports of ware potatoes totalled 53,613 tonnes.United Kingdom imports of ware potatoes during the months of April and May 1985 were:

	tonnes
April 1985	5,554
May 1985	6,606

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the tonnage of processed potatoes imported into the United Kingdom for the years 1983–84, 1984–85 and since 1 April 1985.

I have been asked to reply.For the crop years 1 June to 31 May, United Kingdom imports of processed potatoes were as follows:

	tonnes
1983–84	411,390
1984–85	368,528

During the period 1 June to 31 December 1985, the latest date for which figures are currently available, United Kingdom imports of processed potatoes totalled 195,439 tonnes.United Kingdom imports of processed potatoes during the months of April and May 1985 were:

	tonnes
April 1985	29,453
May 1985	32,452

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations have been issued about fees for students on courses of further and higher education in the academic year 1986–87.

For the academic year 1986–87 I have recommended the following fee levels for home students and for students from other European Community countries. Fees for 1985–86 are shown in brackets.

	£	£
Postgraduate courses	1,680	(1,632)
First degree and diploma courses	536	(520)

These recommended fees represent a 3 per cent. increase over those for 1985–86.Other fees for home and European Community students are the responsibility of the local education authorities. I understand that the Council of Local Education Authorities has recommended fees for 1986–87 as follows. Fees for 1985–86 are shown in brackets.

	*Advanced Further Education		Non-Advanced Further Education
Full-time	£536·00	(£520·00)	£342·00	(£321·00)
Sandwich/block release (weekly rate)	£14·90	(£14·50)	£9·50	(£9·00)
Part-time per course hour	50p	(50p)	32p	(30p)
Part-time annual fee for one session per week	£53·60	(£52·00)	£34·20	(£32·00)
* Other than first degree and diploma courses.

The Government's policy is that students from outside the European Community should pay fees that cover the cost of their education here. It is for institutions and local authorities to determine the fees to be charged to overseas students in the light of this policy and of their own circumstances.For the universities, the University Grants Committee has recommended minimum fee levels for undergraduate and postgraduate courses as follows. Recommended minima for 1985–86 are shown in brackets.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if Her Majesty's Government have considered the impact on children's education of any increase in the employment of young persons which could result from changes in legislation proposed in the Shops Bill.

The provisions of the law on the employment of schoolchildren, which are designed in part to safeguard their education, remain unchanged by the Shops Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the criteria by which he

Education capital expenditure 1986–87 Allocations for each local education authority
£000s
Local education authority	Allocations of prescribed expenditure*	Notional schools element†	Allocations for expenditure by governors of aided and special agreement schools‡
Avon	4,070	2,986	193
Barking	1,135	471	—
Barnet	1,621	472	400
Barnsley	577	572	—
Bedfordshire	1,934	1,696	—
Berkshire	5,399	4,918	265
Bexley	715	679	3
Birmingham	5,016	4,134	615
Bolton	576	392	575
Bradford	7,061	6,740	320
Brent	1,589	1,309	12
Bromley	1,747	1,679	—
Buckinghamshire	5,582	5,378	423
Bury	882	331	3
Calderdale	1,203	1,164	3
Cambridgeshire	2,591	2,441	127
Cheshire	3,837	3,332	836
Cleveland	4,933	3,160	135
Cornwall	3,592	3,401	252
Coventry	5,396	3,199	22
Croydon	2,784	2,691	48
Cumbria	2,254	2,174	401
Derbyshire	7,202	6,330	190
Devon	8,418	7,453	132
Doncaster	338	223	50
Dorset	3,377	2,352	216
Dudley	2,012	1,520	724
Durham	2,231	1,387	425
Ealing	2,154	1,520	331
East Sussex	3,786	2,836	380

The information requested on allocations is set out in the table. The allocations made for expenditure at voluntary aided schools represent 8·7 per cent. of the total of capital allocations for education.In allocating the resources available for capital expenditure by the governors of voluntary aided and special agreement schools on which he was prepared to pay grant in 1986–87, my right hon. Friend took into account governors' estimates of expenditure on projects already under way, the need for new or expanded aided schools in areas of population growth, the duty upon governors to implement statutory proposals which he had approved, and, to the extent that resources allowed, the need for work to make good the dilapidation of school buildings. The allocations which were set, including that for Devon education authority's area, reflect the extent to which governors' plans were in accord with my right hon. Friend's priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what units run by the Medical Research Council have been closed in each of the last three years; and which units are now threatened with closure.

The information is as follows:

Calendar year	Unit
1983	Lipid Metabolism
1984	Laboratory Studies of Tuberculosis Dental
1985	Pneumoconiosis Neurochemical Pharmacology

Table 1
Medical Research Council (MRC) expenditure—Cash terms
£ million
	Financial years
	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
MRC total expenditure	92,941	106,511	112,864	119,778	123,758
of which:
Grants awarded by MRC	29,303	32,394	33,991	37,167	39,581
Expenditure in MRC's own research establishments	51,795	60,777	64,325	66,800	67,057
Other MRC expenditure	11,843	12,340	14,548	15,811	17,120

Table 2
Medical Research Council expenditure—Cost terms 1984–85 prices
£ million
	Financial years
	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
MRC total expenditure	119,201	124,207	122,991	124,914	123,758
of which:
Grants awarded by MRC	37,582	37,776	37,041	38,761	39,581
Expenditure in MRC's own research establishments	66,429	70,874	70,097	69,665	67,057
Other MRC expenditure	15,189	15,556	15,853	16,489	17,120

Table 3
MRC projected expenditure
£ million
Financial years	Cash terms	Cost terms at 1984–85 prices
1986–87	135·4	123·4
1987–88	138·1	121·6
1988–89	142·1	121·5

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of (a) alpha rated and (b) other research projects by universities were funded by the Medical Research Council in each of the last five years;

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the Medical Research Council's expenditure for each of the last five years, broken down into the grants it gives and its own expenditure and the projected expenditure for the next three years, in cash and real terms.

The details are as follows:and how much uncommitted money the Medical Research Council currently has available to finance new projects and programmes or existing ones which may merit renewal.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the amount of the science budget for each of the last five years in cash and real terms; what is the projected amount for each of the next three

Science Budget 1981–82 to 1988–89
Table 1
Cash Terms £ million	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
AFRC	42·1	43·6	46·0	46·7	50·3	52·7	49·6	50·8
ESRC	20·7	20·9	*22·4	*22·0	*†23·6	23·6	23·9	24·5
MRC	101·7	107·5	113·7	117·2	122·3	128·3	130·8	134·0
NERC	54·3	58·0	62·5	65·9	67·3	70·3	70·8	72·5
SERC	216·8	234·4	254·5	278·8	298·0	315·5	317·0	324·9
‡BM (NH)	10·9	12·7	12·2	14·1	16·2	17·2	17·4	17·8
RS	4·2	4·5	5·0	5·3	5·9	6·4	6·7	6·8
FOE	—	—	—	0·15	0·25	0·45	0·6	0·7
ABRC secretariat, science policy studies and flexibility margin	—	—	—	—	—	0·2	12·7	13·0
Total science budget	450·7	481·6	516·3	550·2	583·9	614·6	629·5	645·0
* Includes £0·050 million in respect of science policy studies
† Includes £0·075 million in respect of ABRC secretariat
‡ Includes expenditure by the Property Services Agency on behalf of the Museum

Science Budget 1981–82 to 1988–89
Table 2
Real Terms £ million at 1984–85 Prices	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
AFRC	49·1	47·5	48·0	46·7	47·9	48·0	43·7	43·4
ESRC	24·1	22·8	23·3	22·0	22·5	21·5	21·0	20·9
MRC	118·6	117·2	118·6	117·2	116·5	116·9	115·2	114·6
NERC	63·3	63·2	65·2	65·9	64·1	64·1	62·3	62·0
SERC	252·8	255·4	265·4	278·8	283·8	287·5	279·1	277·8
BM (NH)	12·7	13·8	12·7	14·1	15·4	15·7	15·3	15·2
RS	4·9	4·9	5·2	5·3	5·6	5·8	5·9	5·8
FOE	—	—	—	0·15	0·2	0·4	0·5	0·6
ABRC secretariat science policy studies and flexibility margin	—	—	—	—	—	0·2	11·2	11·1
Total science budget	525·5	524·8	538·4	550·2	556·0	560·1	554·2	551·4

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the achievements of her Government since 1979 as they relate to Scotland.

In the area of industry and economic development, we established in 1981 Locate in

The following tables show the information requested. The cash terms figures (table 1) represent actual expenditures for the years up to 1984–85, the planned cash provisions for 1985–86 and 1986–87 (subject in the case of 1986–87, to parliamentary approval of the Supply Estimates in due course), and the amounts provisionally recommended by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils for 1987–88 and 1988–89.Scotland, which has been highly successful in attracting inward investment. Through the Scottish Development Agency there has been a substantial programme of economic and environmental recovery in older urban and industrial areas, much increased unlocking of private sector investment, including £94·2 million through the LEG-UP (Local Enterprise Grants for Urban Projects) scheme and an extended range of programmes to promote technological change and industrial efficiency. Our support for the Highlands and Islands Development Board was reaffirmed following the report of the Scottish Affairs Committee. Enterprise zones have been established at Invergordon and Clydebank and in Tayside. We have created a national network of area tourist boards and extended the Scottish Tourist Board's powers to include promotional activity overseas.Over 1,350 offers of regional selective assistance worth £362 million have been made for projects estimated to cost £4,100 million and promising to create or safeguard over 138,000 jobs. In 1984 responsibility for the payment of regional development grants in Scotland was transferred from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Since the transfer, over 1,200 applications for new regional development grants worth over £50 million and associated with project costs of around £420 million and 14,600 new jobs, have been approved. We have seen the introduction of the very successful better business and better technical services schemes which between them have attracted over 10,000 applications. Areas eligible for European Coal and Steel Community loans have been extended and a continuing and successful programme of case surgeries for businesses has been established.Benefiting from the Government's policies on taxation and licensing, 1984 was a record year for oil and gas exploration and development in the North sea and 1985 a record for approval of new developments. Oil-related employment increased from nearly 42,000 in June 1979 to almost 64,000 by December 1985. With Government support, the electricity boards maintained supplies to consumers during the coal dispute while containing operating costs.Over 124,000 young people have entered into the youth training scheme in Scotland since its inception in 1983. The expansion to a two-year programme from April 1986 will emphasise improved training leading to vocational qualifications. The community programme will train 21,000 adults in Scotland in 1985–86 and is expected to train up to 25,000 in 1986–87.In education, major reforms to the structure of the curriculum and examinations for pupils aged 14 to 16 have begun with the introduction of new standard grade courses and examinations. In addition, Scotland is playing a full part in the technical and vocational education initiative with six projects under way and more in preparation. The level of educational attainment in Scotland has improved; the percentage of school leavers with at least one Scottish certificate of education qualification increasing from 68 per cent. in 1978–79 to 74 per cent. in 1983–84. The percentage of school leavers who held at least one SCE higher grade has also increased in the same period from 26 to 33 per cent.Through the Scottish 16+ action plan, the Government have introduced an innovative approach to the provision of non-advanced further education in the form of modular courses leading to the award of a new national certificate by the Scottish Vocational Education Council. The new system provides increased flexibility for students and makes available new opportunities for adults with retraining needs. It has won widespread praise as a major advance in educational thinking and the speed with which it has been implemented provides a clear indication of the Government's commitment to improving the quality of vocational education. In the first year of operation 35,000 students from nearly 500 presenting centres throughout Scotland successfully undertook courses leading to the award of the SCOTVEC national certificate.Other developments have been the introduction of a new right to parents to choóse their children's school; the introduction of a requirement on education authorities to make widely available information about schools under their management; the publication of HMI reports of inspections of schools and colleges of further education; a scheme of assisted places at the fee paying schools; and the introduction of an improved approach to the education of handicapped pupils and other pupils with special educational needs.We have also funded a new building for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, a new National Science Reference Library, and additional teaching accommodation at Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, Aberdeen. We have supported the establishment of the Scottish Community Education Council, International Youth Year 1985, the Burrell Gallery in Glasgow and the new Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh.£14 million has been allocated to create additional places in engineering and technology in the Scottish central institutions and over 200 new student places have been created at Scottish universities participating in the engineering and technology programme. Computers have been introduced into schools and colleges.On the social work front, new legislation has made substantial improvements in the adoption and fostering of children. There has been an improvement in the use of secure accommodation for children. The arrangements for financial support of list D schools have been rationalised.We have made several major legislative changes in Scottish criminal law and procedure including the introduction of new police powers of detention and search, compensation orders for the victims of crime, restrictions on alcohol at football grounds and the introduction of fines enforcement officers in the sheriff court. We have maintained support for a strong and effective police service by increasing police numbers and awarding substantial improvements in pay and conditions. We have approved a major computerisation project for the Scottish Criminal Record Office serving all forces. The Scottish crime squad is being expanded to supplement the force's increased efforts in countering trafficking in drugs. The rate of police grant will be increased in 1986–87.In family and civil law, a range of useful reforms have been effected, including the extension to the sheriff court of concurrent jurisdiction in divorce, and protection of the occupancy rights of spouses in the matrimonial home.In health, additional resources have facilitated an 11 per cent. increase in the numbers of hospital medical and dental staff and nurses and midwives. The proportion of resources devoted to the administration of the service has been progressively reduced. 42 major new hospital developments have provided a total of over 4,200 beds and over 440 day places. We have reformed the mental health legislation. We have provided grant support for facilities for drug misusers and have promoted a health education campaign to counter drug misuse.£40 million has been spent on prison improvements. A new prison is nearing completion at Shotts and major redevelopment work to Greenock prison and Polmont young offenders institute is virtually complete. The substantial refurbishment of Peterhead prison and a wide range of other projects have improved the accommodation and facilities for both inmates and staff.In civil defence, the functions of local authorities have been strengthened and extended and the range of activities attracting 100 per cent. grant has been increased.Over £500 million has been invested in the motorway and trunk road network, and about 200 miles of motorways and major trunk road improvements have been completed. The reconstruction of the A9 from Perth to Easter Ross is nearing completion; substantial progress has been made on the upgrading to dual carriageway standard of the Perth-Dundee-Aberdeen route; and 21 bypasses have been opened, relieving communities of through traffic. A further 43 miles of motorway and major trunk road improvements, including five bypasses, are under construction. Over the same period, annual expenditure on structural maintenance of existing trunk roads has increased by about 50 per cent. in real terms.In transport, financial support to island shipping services has been increased and a major new investment programme in ships and terminals initiated.Work has started on electrification of the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh, at a cost of £360 million. The Glasgow-Ayr railway line is being electrified and Glasgow commuter rolling stock modernised, with substantial financial assistance from the Government. Relaxation of licensing on Anglo-Scottish air routes has produced significant benefits for travellers.In physical planning, measures have been taken to simplify and speed up the planning system. Guidance has been issued specifically with a view to meeting the planning requirements of high technology industries, small businesses and private housebuilders. In the environment, following the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act and the 1981 Countryside (Scotland) Act, there has been an increase in resources provided to improve facilities and to conserve the countryside and wildlife habitats. Many sites of special scientific interest have been notified, national nature reserves and national scenic areas designated and regional parks being introduced. Government machinery for the protection, support and care of historic buildings and monuments in Scotland has been reorganised to develop the cultural, economic, recreational, tourist and educational potential of this area of the national heritage.In housing we have introduced a statutory charter of rights for public sector tenants, including the right to buy. Over 130,000 tenants have applied to purchase their homes and more than 78,000 sales have been completed. Since 1979, 122,000 new homes have been built and the proportion of owner-occupiers has increased from 35 to 40 per cent., with a reduction in the proportion of householders in public housing to below 50 per cent. for the first time for many years. Over 160,000 home improvement grants have been approved and the number of houses below the tolerable standard reduced from 113,000 in March 1980 to 63,000 in 1985. The housing association movement's investment programme has exceeded £100 million in each of the last five years; and the number of bed spaces in sheltered houses for elderly persons has increased from 19·5 per 1,000 in 1980 to 41.·5 now. Improvements to the building control system are being made. These will enable projects to start earlier without sacrificing standards or safeguards.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will resist any proposals in the various Councils of Ministers which would breach the strict budgetary controls on spending agreed at the Dublin summit.

A key objective of Her Majesty's Government when examining new expenditure proposals is that they should be compatible with the budgetary discipline conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 December 1984.

asked the Prime Minister when an up-to-date issue of the Cabinet Office document called "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", embodying all the Ministerial changes since October 1985, will be available.

A new edition of the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities" will be available at the end of this month.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make representations to the Israeli Prime Minister to deport Mr. Harvey Michael Ross of Leeds to Britain for questioning by the fraud squad.

Our arrangements for securing the surrender from Israel of a fugitive criminal charged with or convicted of certain serious offences in this country are governed by the extradition treaty of 1960. I understand that the West Yorkshire police are looking into certain allegations made against Mr. Ross, but that they are not yet in a position to submit a report on the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions for the purpose of obtaining his instructions in the matter.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ask the Israeli Prime Minister to refuse to provide a haven for those suspected of being involved in bullion frauds or gold smuggling in Britain.

No. Where a person who is suspected of committing an offence in this country which is extraditable under the terms of the United Kingdom-Israeli extradition treaty of 1960 later flees to Israel, a request for extradition would be made in the usual way under the terms of the treaty.

asked the Prime Minister if she will appoint a science Minister to administer the total Government research and development budget.

No. I am satisfied with present arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister how many oral questions were tabled to the Prime Minister on average for each question time in every February from 1978 till the present date.

Records in my office show the following estimates:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many allegations of cruelty or abuse to patients in special hospitals have been made during the last seven years; and what disciplinary procedures have been taken as a result.

At Rampton hospital, a special police inquiry team was set up in May 1979, following allegations of widespread ill-treatment of patients. The police team, which completed its work in May 1983, investigated more than 1,000 allegations, some of which related to incidents alleged to have occurred several years previously. As a consequence of that investigation, 24 members of the staff of the hospital were charged with one or more offences. Of those, 10 were convicted of one or more offences, three subsequently had their convictions quashed by the Appeal Court and a further five are at present awaiting the hearing of appeals to the House of Lords. Disciplinary procedures have been initiated in all cases of staff still employed at the hospital who were convicted, but that action is in suspense in those cases where the outcome of the appeal is still awaited. Between May 1983 and December 1985, 51 allegations of physical cruelty or abuse were made to the hospital managers. None of those resulted in disciplinary procedures. It is understood that the police also continued to receive allegations during that period, some of which repeated earlier allegations, but none of them resulted in prosecutions.The position in the other three special hospitals in the seven years 1979 to 1985 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what evidence he has of additional health hazards to the general public, including the incidence of cancers, in areas near to nuclear power installations; and if he will make a statement;(2) what assessment he makes of the health hazards to the neighbouring population arising from the existence of nuclear power installations in the United Kingdom on the neighbouring population on the basis of the evidence available to him from statistical returns or other such information on the health of the population.

On the basis of current evidence I am advised that there is no established causal link between nuclear power installations and the incidence of disease in populations near to them. However, there are a number of studies currently in progress into the incidence of cancers in the United Kingdom. These include studies of areas both around and remote from nuclear establishments. The results of these will be considered by the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment as they become available.The establishment of COMARE was announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 25 July 1985, at column

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which areas of the United Kingdom have the highest incidences of those forms of cancer which have been correlated with atomic radiation; and whether any of these areas are in the immediate vicinity of nuclear power installations.

The information is not immediately available in the form requested, but will be extracted for local authority district areas for 1984. I shall let my hon. Friend have the results as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to the answer of 20 December, Official Report, column 420, he will give the average amount of dental charges remitted on form FID, in money terms and the percentage that fell within the following or other

Benefit Rates—Comparisons 1979 to 1985
	A November 1979 £	B November 1985 £	Percentage increase (B over A) per cent.
1. Retirement Pension (RP)
—single	23·30	38·30	64·4
—couple	37·30	61·30	64·3
Non-contributory over 80's pension
—single	14·00	23·00	64·3
—couple	22·40	36·75	64·1

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the operation of the rules concerning the backdating of claims to war pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the commencement date for the war pension award of Mr. Bertram Stevens who was contaminated by mustard gas at Bari harbour, Italy in 1943; and if he will make a statement.

In general, yes. However, following representations from the hon. Lady about the case of her constituent, Mr. Bertram Stevens, and also from my hon. Friend, I have undertaken a thorough review of Mr. Stevens' case.Mr. Stevens was awarded a war pension from 24 November 1983, the date he made his claim. He has contended that he would have claimed sooner if he had been aware of the precise nature of the substance with which he had been contaminated. As a result of my review I have decided, in view of the exceptional circumstances, to backdate his pension to the date after discharge that his symptoms due to the Bari incident first manifested themselves. Full details of the revised award will be notified to Mr. Stevens as soon as possible.I also propose that the cases of the 600 or so other casualties who were contaminated by mustard gas in the incident should be investigated to see whether similar action is appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare retirement and other state pensions and all other welfare and national insurance benefits and allowances paid in November 1979 with those paid in November 1985; and also show the 1985 payments as a percentage of those of 1979.

The information requested is set out in the following table. May I also take this opportunity to correct a figure in my predecessor's reply to my hon. Friend on 6 February 1985, at columns 595–600. Under item 14 (supplementary benefit) the November 1979 scale rate for a dependent child aged 18 or over was given as £18·95. It should have read £14·65.

asked the Secretary of Social Services what is the maximum loss at current benefit rates that will be sustained under the changes proposed in the Social Security Bill by a young person aged under 25 years without children who is (a) not in work and claiming supplementary benefit and (b) in work and claiming housing benefit; under what circumstances these losses will be sustained; and how many people he estimates will be affected to this extent.

The variations in claimants' circumstances are such that it is not possible to give a figure of the maximum loss or gain which an individual claimant might experience, or the precise circumstances which might give rise to it. The technical annex published with Cmnd. 9691, however, includes tables which illustrate, on the basis of the assumptions explained in pages 9 to 14 of the annex, the effect of the move to income support on the benefit entitlement of young childless people under 25. The tables show the range of increases and decreases in benefit entitlement, including those whose underlying entitlement would decrease by £5 or more. In the main, these are likely to be the minority of young people in this age group who are householders. Those on benefit at the time of change would receive transitional protection.The tables in the annex also show the range of increases and decreases in entitlement to housing benefit. Of those young people without children whose underlying entitlement to housing benefit is shown as decreasing, it is estimated that just over half are in work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the funding of rape crisis centres; and if he will draw up guidelines for the provision of such centres where they do not exist in cities with a population of 50,000 or more persons.

The London rape counselling and research project is the only centre receiving financial support from this Department. This was the first centre of its kind in this country, and it was recognised when our support commenced that some proportion of its work would be given over to national publicity and promotional work in the field of counselling and to the provision of a consultative and advice service to others setting up similar services elsewhere. The grant has been made to support these activities.Financial support for the local work carried out by this and other centres is a matter to be considered by local authorities, some of whom we understand have already made grants.The provision of centres in cities where they do not already exist is a matter for local decision and we have no plans to draw up guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has regarding the quality of work carried out by private contractors who have secured cleaning contracts for National Health Service buildings.

It is the responsibility of health authorities to monitor the quality of work performed by private contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will institute an inquiry into the employment of children by parents running small family businesses;(2) whether he is satisfied that increased Sunday trading will not lead to an increase in the breaches of section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Employment of Children Act 1973; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will list

The Government have no plans to change the existing restrictions in the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and byelaws made under that Act on the employment of children below statutory school leaving age. The Employment of Children Act 1973 has not yet been implemented. We are, however, satisfied that the existing legislation dealing with the employment, education, care and protection of children provides adequate powers to local authorities to safeguard children including those employed by their parents. We do not therefore propose to institute an inquiry. Comprehensive information on the numbers of prosecutions and convictions under section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is not available centrally in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what will be the housing benefit paid to (a) a single person aged under 18 years, (b) a single person aged under 25 years, (c) a single person aged 25 to 59 years, (d) a couple without children where rates and rent are (i) 25 per cent. below average, (ii) average and (iii) 25 per cent. above average and gross weekly income is (1) at the level of unemployment benefit, (2) earnings of £45, (3) £55, (4) £65, (5) £75, (6) £85, (7) £95, (8) £110 and (9) £125 a week under current provisions and under the assumptions set out in the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691; and in each case at what level of income the entitlement to housing benefit would disappear;(2) what is his estimate of the number of

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances, under the assumptions set out in the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691, a single person under the age of 25 years will be better off (a) if they receive income support and (b) if they receive housing benefit but not income support (i) at the point of change and (ii) under the effects of the structural reform, showing separately those circumstances which will result in gains of over £5 a week.

The variations in claimants' circumstances are such that it is not possible to give an exhaustive answer, but the main circumstance under which the benefit entitlement of single people under 25 would increase, for both income support and housing benefit, would be if they were entitled to the proposed disability premium. Equally, the entitlement to housing benefit of those with unavoidably high rents might increase. The range of gains, and the numbers involved, are given in the tables contained in the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to fulfil his undertaking in Cmnd. 9296 that the issues of studying on the dole would receive particular attention; what has been the outcome; and in what form the House will have an opportunity to debate the matter.

The Government's wide-ranging review of social security took account of this subject. In our Green and White Papers we put forward proposals for major structural reforms to the social security scheme: matters of detail will require further consideration. The relevant regulations, under the Social Security Bill presently before the House, will be subject to debate in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much housing addition will be paid to non-householders in income support.

None. As we have made clear, the proposals for income support would end the present distinction between householders and non-householders.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rate of income support will be due to a couple where (a) one member and (b) both members are aged under 18 years; and what the amounts will be if they have a child or children or if they have responsibilities as a householder.

The illustrative rates of benefit set out in the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691 assume a personal allowance of £36·40 for couples where both are aged under 18. If one member is aged 18 or over then the personal allowance would be the same as that for a couple over 18—£48. In both cases, a family premium would be payable to those with children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been concentrated on older people by the proposed introduction of a 25 age point in the Social Security Bill; and in what proposed changes this concentration manifests itself.