Written Answers

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

Written Answers To Questions

Friday 9 May 1986

Northern Ireland

Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total value of scientific and medical equipment which disappeared from the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

The total value of losses of clinical equipment is as follows:

	£
1980–81	120
1981–82	363
1982–83	2,010
1983–84	1,301
1984–85	79

The safeguarding of equipment is a matter for local management.

Armagh Prison

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why workmen are working overtime during weekends at the former Armagh prison; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possibe.

Soviet Union (Nuclear Accident)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to make a statement about (a) the implications of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster for the people of Northern Ireland, (b) precautions to be taken and (c) the existing monitoring systems in Ulster.

Radiation levels, well below those which might give cause for concern, were detected in the eastern part of the Province on Saturday evening 3 May. The levels were only slightly above those found naturally in Northern Ireland as normal background radiation. The levels have been decreasing since that date and are well below recommended levels for precautionary action.Press statements were issued by the Northern Ireland Office on Tuesday 6 May and Thursday 8 May giving details of radiation levels and telephone numbers for further public inquiries.Monitoring of radiation levels in Northern Ireland is carried out regularly by a number of Government Departments. Milk and water supplies in the Province are being monitored and radiation measurements are being taken in the atmosphere. In addition, ships from the Baltic arriving in Northern Ireland are being checked for signs of radioactivity.

Maze Prison

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why there has been a recent change in policy to combine the compound and cellular sections of Her Majesty's prison, the Maze; and if he will make a statement.

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

Education And Science

Leavers (Qualifications)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will set out in tabular form the number of graduates or qualified leavers from other institutions of higher education in Great Britain for every year from 1970 to the latest available date, together with such information as he has as to the comparable figures for France, West Germany, Italy Japan and the United States of America;(2) if he will set out in tabular form the number of qualified leavers, the age participation index and the qualified participation index for higher education in Great Britain for every year from 1970 to the latest available date, together with such information, as he has as to the comparable figures for France, West Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States of America.

Data in the form requested are not available for all years. The table shows such data as are readily available and can be provided without disproportionate cost.

New entrants to higher education per relevant population⁽¹⁾

Numbers qualifying for higher education per relevant population⁽¹⁾

Higher education output⁽⁹⁾

Number

Rate⁽¹⁰⁾

Number

Rate⁽¹⁰⁾

Number

Rate⁽¹⁰⁾

1970

1975

1982

1970

1982

1970

1978

1982

per cent.

000s

per cent.

000s

per cent.

000s

per cent.

France

n.a.

27·5

34·1

⁽⁶⁾25

not available on a consistent basis

⁽¹¹⁾213

⁽¹¹⁾25

Germany

15·3

19·5

27·8

⁽¹¹⁾191

⁽¹¹⁾21

Italy

⁽²⁾25·6

⁽²⁾31·1

^{(2) (3)}27·6

⁽⁷⁾39

Japan

⁽⁴⁾24·3

⁽⁴⁾39·0

⁽⁴⁾34·2

366

⁽¹²⁾558

⁽¹²⁾35

⁽¹²⁾551

⁽¹²⁾34

USA

⁽⁴⁾55·l

⁽⁴⁾60·0

⁽⁴⁾61·2

⁽⁷⁾72

1,066

^{(13) (14)}1,488

^{(13) (14)}37

^{(11) (14)}1,388

^{(11) (14)}32

⁽⁵⁾28·2

⁽⁵⁾30·0

^{(3) (5)}30·1

⁽⁸⁾20

⁽⁸22

⁽¹⁵⁾182

⁽¹⁵⁾20

⁽¹⁵⁾235

⁽¹⁵⁾30

^{(3) (15)}227

^{(3) (15)}25

n.a. Not available.

⁽¹⁾ As a percentage of the average population in the most relevant age group.

⁽²⁾ First year students.

⁽³⁾ 1983.

⁽⁴⁾ Includes private sector and possibly some re-entrants.

⁽⁵⁾ Overseas students and those already with a higher education qualification excluded. Excludes students studying for higher education qualifications outside public education other than nursing and paramedical at DHSS establishments. If all correspondence courses and private sector higher education were included then UK figure would be around 40 per cent, in 1982.

⁽⁶⁾1979.

⁽⁷⁾ 1980.

⁽⁸⁾ Percentage gaining 1 or more A-levels or Scottish equivalent. Rates for 2 or more A-levels are 14 per cent, and 16 per cent, respectively. Other non-advanced qualifications are accepted for entry to higher education.

⁽⁹⁾ Excluding postgraduates.

⁽¹⁰⁾ Related to single young age group relating to the likely qualification ages.

⁽¹¹⁾1981.

⁽¹²⁾ Includes private sector and correspondence courses.

⁽¹³⁾ 1976.

⁽¹⁴⁾ Includes private sector.

⁽¹⁵⁾ Includes estimates for professional qualifications, and nursing and paramedical courses under the auspices of the DHSS. Excludes private sector.

School And College Sports Facilities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is currently given to local education authorities on policies towards making school and college sports facilities more widely available for community use, and on seeking dual-use of existing non-educational sports facilities for the schools and colleges under their control.

Extensive guidance has been given by the Department both on the "dual use" of educational premises and facilities, and on the joint provision of facilities designed from the outset to serve educational as well as non-educational users. Policy guidance is set out in circular 11/64 "Provision of Facilities for Sport" and circular 2/70 "The Chance to Share". Design guidance is available in a number of publications, copies of which are available in the Library, and which include building bulletins 49 "Abraham Moss Centre, Manchester" (1973), 59 "The Victoria Centre, Crewe" (1981), 28 "Playing fields and hard surface areas" (1982), and design notes 14 "School and Community" (1976), 36 "Secondary school playing fields" (1983) and 42 "The Dukeries Complex—a place for the family" (1985).

Southern Examining Group (Syllabuses)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he remains satisfied that all syllabuses issued by the Southern Examining Group will be available in schools for the heads of department by the end of May.

I understand that the Southern Examining Group expects to have distributed 47 syllabuses to schools by the end of the month. A further 29 syllabuses will be distributed shortly afterwards.

Attorney-General

Crown Prosecution Service

asked the Attorney-General how many vacancies in the Crown Prosecutors Department have now been filled in London and in the areas in which there was hitherto no prosecuting solicitor's department.

The total authorised establishment (legal arid non-legal grades) for each of the Crown prosecution service areas to which the right hon. and

ICD Numbers	Cause of death	Number of deaths
		1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
	Malignant neoplasm of:
174	Female breast	713	745	740	748	806	768
180	Cervix uteri	125	133	118	136	114	139

Radiation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures he has taken to inform and provide about a contaminated atmosphere and rainfall consequential upon the nuclear power station disaster in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;(2) if he will set up a telephone information office in Cardiff to handle requests for information and to provide

learned Member's question refers is shown in the table, together with the number of staff currently employed by the Director and assigned to that area.

Area	Authorised establishment	Staff in post in service of Director
Inner London	369	71
Outer London North	223	35
Outer London South (including Surrey)	181	32
Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire	89	18
Leicesterhire/Northamptonshire	78	14
Staffordshire/Warwickshire	79	14
Cleveland/North Yorkshire	82	17

The numbers of staff in post do not include the staff currently employed by the prosecuting solicitors' departments in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Cleveland who will transfer to the Crown prosecution service on 1 October 1986, nor do they include any staff who have been appointed but not yet taken up their posts.

Mr Derry Mainwaring Knight

asked the Attorney-General if he wilt provide a breakdown of the costs of the recent trial of Mr. Derry Mainwaring Knight; and if he will make a statement.

The total cost to public funds of an individual trial comprises numerous elements, some of which may be part of the general running costs of the several Government Departments concerned and therefore cannot be ascertained as separate component except as a somewhat arbitrary estimate. So far as regards fees to the legal profession (prosecuting or defending), it is not the practice to publish individual fees, and in any event these cannot be ascertained until after taxation of bills of costs, which has not yet taken place.

Wales

Cancer

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many women in Wales died of (a) breast cancer and (b) cervical cancer in each of the years 1980 to 1985, inclusive.

The information is given in the following table:advice to inquirers about the consequences of the Chernobyl reactor disaster; and if he will make a statement.

information and advice was provided on 5 May by the National Radiological Protection Board, in conjunction with the Welsh Office and other Government Departments. A statement was made to the House on 6 May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment about the arrangements for monitoring the effects in the United Kingdom of the accident at Chernobyl and a special telephone inquiry point was established that day within the Welsh Office. On 7 May, the Welsh Office issued a press notice updating advice given previously, and further advice will be issued as necessary.

Employment

Labour Statistics

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table showing the most recent rates of unemployment in (a) all travel-to-work areas receiving regional development grants, (b) all travel-to-work areas receiving only regional selective assistance, (c) travel-towork areas which receive no assistance but have rates higher than any in (a) and (b) and (d) travel-to-work areas which receive no assistance but have rates within 2 per cent. of any in (a) and (b).

Following are tables giving the requested information for travel-to-work areas as at 6 March 1986. Table A shows the 42 travel-to-work areas that receive regional development grants; table B the 57 travel-to-work areas that receive only regional selective assistance; table C the 68 travel-to-work areas that receive no assistance but have rates higher than any in tables A or B; and table D shows the 118 travel-to-work areas that receive no assistance but have rates within 2 per cent. of any in tables A and B.

Table A
Unemployed claimants
Rate calculation year= 1984 (defaulted)
Discontinuity—Change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics (March 1986). See Employment Gazette, March/April 1986, pages 107–108, or, Appendix G (April 1986 edition of the manual).
	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
1	Newquay	2,779	28·4
2	Cardigan	1,707	27·2
3	Cumnock and Sanquhar	4,553	26·8
4	South Tyneside	15,732	25·9
5	Irvine	11,906	25·7
6	Lampeter and Aberaeron	1,150	25·1
7	Helston	1,563	24·9
8	South Pembrokeshire	3,344	24·9
9	Holyhead	4,192	24·7
10	Hartlepool	10,111	23·7
11	Penzance and St. Ives	3,881	23·1
12	Middlesbrough	30,188	23·0
13	Redruth and Camborne	4,728	23·0
14	Rotherham and Mexborough	23,857	22·8
15	Bishop Auckland	9,480	22·6
16	Falmouth	2,237	22·2
17	Corby	5,118	22·0
18	Sunderland	38,004	22·0
19	Whitby	1,376	21·6
20	Aberdare	4,010	21·6
21	Greenock	10,245	21·6
22	Bathgate	10,082	21·5
23	Lanarkshire	33,035	21·1
24	Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny	7,413	20·9
25	Merthyr and Rhymney	11,011	20·9
26	Liverpool	105,578	20·9
27	Dumbarton	5,999	20·5
28	Stockton-on-Tees	15,527	20·1
29	Shotton, Flint and Rhyl	13,513	19·9
30	Wigan and St. Helens	35,097	19·2
31	Widnes and Runcorn	11,482	19·2
32	Arbroath	1,751	19·0

	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
33	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	67,301	18·8
34	Workington	4,717	18·7
35	Scunthorpe	9,530	18·5
36	Kilmarnock	5,682	18·4
37	Wirral and Chester	39,044	18·3
38	Pontypridd and Rhondda	11,342	17·6
39	Glasgow	113,565	17·7
40	Wrexham	7,958	17·5
41	Dundee	16,236	16·7
42	Neath and Port Talbot	8,114	16·1
	Totals	724,138	20·0

Table B
Unemployed claimants
Rate calculation year=1984 (defaulted)
Discontinuity—Change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics (March 1986). See Employment Gazette, March/April 1986, pages 107–108, or. Appendix G (April 1986 edition of the manual).
	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
1	Forres	800	27·9
2	Skye and Wester Ross	1,138	24·1
3	Fishguard	743	23·7
4	Newton Stewart	767	23·3
5	Sutherland	895	22·9
6	Lochaber	1,803	22·7
7	Girvan	822	22·2
8	Telford and Bridgnorth	12,976	21·6
9	Invergordon and Dingwall	3,091	21·6
10	Pwllheli	1,143	21·4
11	Doncaster	21,446	20·6
12	Barnsley	16,163	20·4
13	Alloa	3,527	20·1
14	Haverfordwest	4,019	19·3
15	Western Isles	1,881	19·3
16	Bangor and Caernarfon	5,167	19·2
17	Bodmin and Liskeard	3,655	19·0
18	Dunoon and Bute	1,474	19·0
19	Bude	1,043	19·0
20	Campbeltown	805	18·7
21	Llanelli	6,071	18·6
22	Wolverhampton	25,410	18·5
23	Badenoch	673	18·4
24	Falkirk	11,259	18·4
25	Kirkcaldy	11,933	18·3
26	Porthmadoc and Ffestiniog	1,092	18·0
27	Wick	835	17·9
28	Morpeth and Ashington	8,596	17·8
29	Bridgend	9,571	17·8
30	Rochdale	10,827	17·7
31	Walsall	26,406	17·7
32	Gainsborough	2,150	17·6
33	Hull	30,948	17·4
34	Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye	4,471	17·4
35	Pontypool and Cwmbran	6,531	17·3
36	Dudley and Sandwell	45,966	17·0
37	Stranraer	1,383	16·7
38	Bolton and Bury	28,541	16·5
39	Birmingham	122,386	16–4
40	Dunfermline	8,197	16·3
41	Newport	13,033	16·2
42	Swansea	18,027	16·1
43	Kidderminster	5,826	16·1
44	Sheffield	45,758	16·0
45	Grimsby	12,238	15·8
46	Bradford	31,142	15·4
47	Darlington	7,371	15·3
48	Coventry and Hinckley	36,696	15·3
49	Plymouth	18,295	15·1
50	Blackburn	9,659	15·1
51	Cardiff	29,362	14·8
52	Ayr	7,055	14·5
53	Accrington and Rossendale	6,529	14·5
54	Durham	9,325	14·5
55	Stewartry	1,089	14·5

	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
56	Manchester	109,844	14·4
57	Oldham	11,755	14·2
	Totals	819,554	16·4

Table C
Rate calculation year=1984 (defaulted)
Discontuity—Change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics (March 1986). See Employment Gazette, March-April 1986, pages 107–108. or. Appendix G (April 1986 edition of the manual).
	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
1	Skegness	2,805	25·6
2	Thanet	8,492	21·5
3	Machynlleth	623	20·9
4	Torbay	8,813	20·3
5	Bideford	1,815	20·2
6	Clacton	3,878	20·0
7	Louth and Mablethorpe	2,230	18·5
8	Wisbech	3,037	18·3
9	Alnwick and Amble	1,916	18·2
10	Oban	1,296	18·2
11	Bridlington and Driffield	3,224	18·0
12	Torrington	644	17·6
13	Great Yarmouth	7,236	17·6
14	Buckie	687	17·5
15	Worksop	4,159	17·4
16	Pontypool and Cwnbran	6,531	17·3
17	Dolgellau and Barmouth	751	17·2
18	Dartmouth and Kingsbridge	1,195	17·2
19	Dudley and Sandwell	45,966	17·0
20	Lockerbie	671	16·9
21	Isle of Wight	7,372	16·9
22	Blairgowrie and Pitlochry	1,646	16·7
23	Cromer and North Walsham	2,803	16·6
24	Annan	1,353	16·6
25	Blackpool	19,078	16·5
26	Goole and Selby	4,415	16·4
27	Scarborough and Filey	4,892	16·3
28	Conwy and Colwyn	4,987	16·3
29	Berwickshire	782	16·3
30	Folkestone	4,866	16·2
31	Neath and Port Talbot	8,114	16·1
32	Horncastle and Market Rasen	1,701	15·7
33	Barnstaple and Ilfracombe	3,716	15·7
34	Minehead	1,403	15·7
35	Lowestoft	4,840	15·6
36	Hastings	7,227	15·6
37	Wakefield and Dewsbury	17,670	15·5
38	Pendle	4,735	15·4
39	Lancaster and Morecambe	7,324	15·4
40	Castleford and Pontefract	8,875	15·3
41	Llandeilo	498	15·3
42	Boston	3,596	15·2
43	Weston-super-Mare	5,473	15·2
44	Islay-Mid Argyll	693	15·2
45	Ludlow	1,661	15·2
46	Llandrindod Wells	1,110	15·1
47	Mansfield	9,078	15·0
48	Sittingbourne and Sheerness	5,729	15·0
49	Fakenham	1,598	14·9
50	Totnes	912	14·9
51	Chesterfield	10,856	14·8
52	Newton Abbot	3,365	14·7
53	Oswestry	1,823	14·7
54	Bridgwater	4,211	14·7
55	St. Austell	3,207	14·6
56	Newark	3,314	14·5
57	Thirsk	633	14·5
58	Keswick	459	14·5
59	King's Lynn and Hunstanton	5,857	14·4
60	Southend	34,424	14·4
61	Lincoln	8,689	14·4
62	Whitchurch and Market Drayton	1,901	14·3
63	Denbigh	1,231	14·2
64	Launceston	894	14·2

	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
65	Welshpool	935	14·2
66	Retford	2,818	14·2
	Totals	341,431	16·1

Table D
Rate calculation year=1984 (Defaulted)
Discontinuity—Change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics (March 1986).
See Employment Gazette, March/April 1986, pages 107–108. or Appendix G (April 1986 edition of the manual).
	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
1	Skegness	2,805	25·6
2	Sutherland	895	22·9
3	Lochaber	1,803	22·7
4	Thanet	8,492	21·5
5	Machynlleth	623	20·9
6	Torbay	8,813	20·3
7	Bideford	1,815	20·2
8	Clacton	3,878	20·0
9	Louth and Mablethorpe	2,230	18·5
10	Wisbech	3,037	18·3
11	Alnwick and Amble	1,916	18·2
12	Oban	1,296	18·2
13	Bridlington and Driffield	3,224	18·0
14	Torrington	644	17·6
15	Great Yarmouth	7,236	17·6
16	Buckie	687	17·5
17	Worksop	4,159	17·4
18	Pontypool and Cwmbran	6,531	17·3
19	Dolgellau and Barmouth	751	17·2
20	Dartmouth and Kingsbridge	1,195	17·2
21	Dudley and Sandwell	45,966	17·0
22	Lockerbie	671	16·9
23	Isle of Wight	7,372	16·9
24	Blairgowrie and Pitlochry	1,646	16·7
25	Cromer and North Walsham	2,803	16·6
26	Annan	1,353	16·6
27	Blackpool	19,078	16·5
28	Goole and Selby	4,415	16·4
29	Scarborough and Filey-	4,892	16·3
30	Conwy and Colwyn	4,987	16·3
31	Berwickshire	782	16·3
32	Folkestone	4,866	16·2
33	Neath and Port Talbot	8,114	16·1
34	Horncastle and Market Rasen	1,701	15·7
35	Barnstaple and Ilfracombe	3,716	15·7
36	Minehead	1,403	15·7
37	Lowestoft	4,840	15·6
38	Hastings	7,227	15·6
39	Wakefield and Dewsbury	17,670	15·5
40	Pendle	4,735	15·4
41	Lancaster and Morecambe	7,324	15·4
42	Castleford and Pontefract	8,875	15·3
43	Llandeilo	498	15·3
44	Boston	3,596	15·2
45	Weston-super-Mare	5,473	15·2
46	Islay/Mid Argyll	693	15·2
47	Ludlow	1,661	15·2
48	Llandrindod Wells	1,110	15·1
49	Mansfield	9,078	15·0
50	Sittingbourne and Sheerness	5,729	15·0
51	Fakenham	1,598	l4·9
52	Totnes	912	14·9
53	Chesterfield	10,856	14·8
54	Newton Abbot	3,365	14·7
55	Oswestry	1,823	14·7
56	Bridgwater	4,211	14·7
57	St. Austell	3,207	14·6
58	Newark	3,314	14·5
59	Thirsk	633	14·5
60	Keswick	459	14·5
61	King's Lynn and Hunstanton	5,857	14·4
62	Southend	34,424	14·4
63	Lincoln	8,689	14·4

	1984 TTWA Name	All	Rate
64	Whitchurch and Market Drayton	1,901	14·3
65	Denbigh	1,231	14·2
66	Launceston	894	14·2
67	Welshpool	935	14·2
68	Retford	2,818	14·2
69	Crieff	486	14·1
70	Peterborough	12,313	14·0
71	Richmondshire	1,672	14·0
72	Thetford	2,741	13·9
73	Sleaford	1,462	13·9
74	Harwich	1,136	13·8
75	Nottingham	44,756	13·7
76	Northwich	6,257	13·7
77	Huddersfield	11,337	13·7
78	Burnley	5,979	13·7
79	Monmouth	663	13·7
80	Dover and Deal	5,158	13·6
81	Inverness	5,009	13·6
82	Milton Keynes	9,526	13·6
83	Canterbury	5,815	13·5
84	Okehampton	589	13·5
85	Bournemouth	12,790	13·5
86	Fraserburg	813	13·4
87	Whitehaven	4,000	13·3
88	Warrington	10,116	13·2
89	Keighley	3,974	13·2
90	Berwick-upon-Tweed	1,219	13·2
91	Hereford and Leominster	5,684	13·2
92	Malvern and Ledbury	2,482	13·1
93	Newtown	1,084	13·1
94	Gosport and Fareham	6,562	13·0
95	Alfreton and Ashfield	7,286	12·9
96	Calderdale	10,119	12·9
97	Keith	673	12·9
98	Grantham	2,760	12·9
99	Brechin and Montrose	1,639	12·8
100	Leeds	41,904	12·8
101	Medway and Maidstone	27,186	12·8
102	Portsmouth	20,081	12·8
103	Orkney Islands	845	12·7
104	Elgin	1,916	12·7
105	Beccles and Halesworth	1,684	12·6
106	Stoke	24,000	12·6
107	Bridport	892	12·4
108	Truro	2,612	12·4
109	Burton-on-Trent	7,362	12·4
110	Ashford	3,811	12·4
111	Derby	17,889	12·3
112	Stamford	2,014	12·3
113	Aberystwyth	1,408	12·3
114	South Molton	495	12·2
115	Thurso	749	12·2
116	Peebles	574	12·2
117	Brighton	19,337	12·2
118	Carlisle	6,133	12·2

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table of employees in employment at June 1979, June 1983 and December 1985 which shows (a) all employees, (b) part-time employees and (c) employees who are engaged in Government special employment schemes.

The available estimates are:

Employees in Employment in Great Britain
Seasonally adjusted: thousands
	All industries	of which:
		Part-time females	Engaged on^ employment measures*
June 1979	22,619	3,842	159
June 1983	20,514	3,939	277
December 1985	21,079	4,413	288
^* Not including training schemes, not seasonally adjusted.

Trade And Industry

Investment Companies

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent his Department is able to exercise its regulatory role in respect of the activities in the United Kingdom of companies based in foreign countries which offer investments to citizens in the United Kingdom but which transact their business entirely by post and which do not have any establishment or outlet in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

My Department can exercise its regulatory powers only upon persons within United Kingdom jurisdiction. However, I presume that my hon. Friend's concern was prompted mainly by the activities of certain firms in Amsterdam; and I am glad to be able to tell him that the Netherlands authorities— who have been well aware of our concern about these activities—have now taken appropriate measures. The relevant legislation came into effect on 1 May.Since a number of hon. Members have written to me on this subject, I am having a copy of the English language briefing, prepared by the Netherlands Ministry of Finance, placed in the Library.

Gas Consumer Council

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what salary he expects to pay to regional representatives on the Gas Consumer Council if the Gas Bill is enacted;(2) what salary is currently paid to chairmen of regional gas consumer councils.

The chairmen of regional gas consumer councils currently receive a salary of £7,272 in respect of a commitment of two days per week. Regional representatives on the new Gas Consumer Council will receive £3,500 for a commitment of one day per week. The duties of regional representatives will be less onerous than those of chairmen of the current gas councils, since they will not involve chairing regional council meetings nor supervision of staff in regional offices, who will be managed by the director of the new Gas Consumer Council assisted by a field director.

Food Imports (East Europe)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that any Community prohibition on the import of food and produce from eastern European states applies equally to East Germany; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State told my hon. Friend on 8 May, at column

255, the proposed ban, if agreed, is limited to countries substantially within 1,000 km radius of Chernobyl. The application of the ban will be reviewed by the Community to take account of the latest scientific evidence.

Manufacturing Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the relative export price of United Kingdom manufactures each year compared with German export prices for manufactures based on 1976=100 together with the change in the nominal exchange rate since the last year for which relative export prices are available.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1986, c. 523]: In March 1986 the nominal sterling/deutschmark exchange rate was 14 per cent. higher than the average rate for 1984. The relative export prices are in the following table.

Exports of manufactures—Relative export prices^ 1976=100*
Year	Relative export prices
1976	100
1977	105
1978	107
1979	117
1980	133
1981	145
1982	134
1983	131
1984	138

Note:

^* Ratio of United Kingdom to Federal Republic of Germany unit value of exports of manufactures in common currency.

Sources: United Nations.

Department of Trade and Industry

Home Department

Airports

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is Her Majesty's Government's normal commitment of funds and personnel in establishing immigration controls at an airport newly designated a port of entry; and how many airports have received this status in each of the past 15 years.

The staffing of any port by the immigration service is related to the level of passenger traffic scheduled to arrive at that port. Airports are not normally designated as ports of entry until it has been demonstrated over a period that they meet the criteria for designation. These are that scheduled services carrying substantial numbers of passengers subject to immigration control arrive at the port. Airports were first designated as ports of entry under the Immigration (Ports of Entry) Order 1972 which came into effect on 1 January 1973. The airports designated under that order were:

Ashford,
Belfast,
Birmingham Bournemouth (Hurn)
Bristol
East Midlands
Edinburgh (Turnhouse)
London—Gatwick
Glamorgan
Glasgow
London—Heathrow
Liverpool
Luton
Lydd
Manchester
Manston
Newcastle
Prestwick
Southampton

Southend
London—Stansted
Tees-side

The Immigration (Ports of Entry) Amendment Order 1975 deleted Ashford and Manston from the list and added Aberdeen and Norwich.The Immigration (Ports of Entry) Amendment Order 1979 registered a change of name from Glamorgan to Cardiff (Wales).

Immigration Service

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations he is currently making for an extension of detention facilities for use by the immigration service at Harmondsworth; whether he intends to make any improvements in the conditions of such facilities within the Heathrow terminals; and what contingency plans he has made for the effect on the detention facilities available for the immigration service of industrial action by officers in the prison service.

We are reviewing arrangements for persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 including the possible provision of additional detention accommodation at Harmondsworth and the improvement of the facilities at Heathrow in the light of the Government's response to the sixth report from the Home Affairs Committee (Session 1984–85). A variety of contingency plans have been made in case access to prisons was restricted or prison places became unavailable as the result of industrial action by officers of the prison service. These could be applied to detainees under the Immigration Act as to other prisoners.

West Midlands Police

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to what further plans there are for replacing uniformed officers with civilians on paperwork in the West Midlands police force; and if he will make a statement.

The West Midlands police authority is continuing to implement a phased programme of civilianisation in the force. The civilian strength on 31 March 1986 was 1,661. I understand that its plans for the current financial year are intended to release up to 100 police officers from administrative and other work which does not require the powers and training of a police officer. Further plans are being formulated for implementation in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many hours of police overtime the West Midlands force spent Oil paperwork in each of the years since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the chief constable that this information is not available.

Electoral Rolls

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what precautions are taken, and checks made, to prevent persons who are not Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Irish Republic from being registered as voters.

The electoral registration form states that only the names of Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Irish Republic may be entered and electoral registration officers have powers to insist on the production of documentary evidence on nationality. The new form to be introduced this year will also make it clear that giving false information is an offence. Lists of the people whom it is proposed to include on the electoral register have to be publicly displayed, and any elector who thinks that somebody who is not eligible has been included can object to the registration officer during the period set aside for such objections—28 November to 16 December.

Joint Boards

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the manpower schemes for the first three financial years of the joint boards set up following abolition of the Greater London council and for which his Department is responsible.

The following manpower levels were included in the establishment scheme for the London fire and civil defence authority for the financial year 1986–87 and laid before Parliament on 27 March under the provisions os section 85 of the Local Government Act 1985:

	Number
Fire Service Staff
Whole-time uniform staff	6,849
Civilian staff	1,181
Control room staff	196
Emergency Planning Staff	41
Central Services Staff	131

The authority is required to submit its proposed schemes for the 1987–88 and 1988–89 financial years by 1 January 1987 and 1 January 1988 respectively, and they will be considered at that time.

News International Plant, Wapping

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ambulances were called by the Metropolitan police to Wapping on 3 May.

I understand that as a result of police telephone calls nine ambulances attended during the evening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers from Newham were on duty in Wapping on the night of 3 May.

Seventy-nine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold an inquiry into the events outside the News International plant in Wapping on 3 May.

No. Any complaints against the police will be dealt with according to the procedures approved by Parliament. I understand that 65 people have been charged with offences in connection with the disorders. The courts will deal with those cases in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were injured outside the News International plant in Wapping on 3 May; and how many needed hospital treatment.

One hundred and seventy five officers were injured, 43 of whom required hospital treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has of the number of members of the public injured outside the News International plant in Wapping on 3 May; and how many required hospital treatment.

The Commissioner understands that 29 members of the public received hospital treatment. Information about other injuries is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were on duty in connection with the dispute in Wapping on Saturday 3 May; and what was the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were on duty at Wapping on Saturday 3 May; what was the cost; what has been the total cost of policing this dispute so far; what are the names and ranks of the police officers injured at Wapping on 3 May; what were their injuries; what were the names of the hospitals they were treated in; and what is the date of their return to duty.

I understand from the Commissioner that 1,744 police officers were deployed on the evening of 3 May. One hundred and seventy five officers between and including the ranks of constable and superintendent were injured, the injuries ranging from concussion, cuts and bruises to burns to the head. Those officers whose injuries required hospital treatment were all taken to the London hospital. Information about their return to duty and the cost of police operations on that night and since the dispute began is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average number of police per day stationed outside the News International works, Wapping, since the industrial dispute began;(2) what is the total amount of police time spent at the News International works, Wapping, since the industrial dispute started.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1986, c. 302]: The number of police officers held available for deployment at the News International plant varies from day to day and hour to hour, from a minimum of about 25 to a maximum of about 1,800, depending on the current or likely public order situation. Up to and including 25 April it is estimated that approximately 350,000 police man hours have been spent at or near the plant in connection with the dispute.

Prime Minister

Conservation

asked the Prime Minister what measures her Government have taken to promote or protect the environment: and if she will make a statement.

The Government have taken many important measures to protect and enhance the environment. The principal ones are as follows.The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 has proved to be the most important piece of legislation in its field for many years. It has strengthened measures for the protection of native flora and fauna, and provided powers for the conservation of the countryside including natural habitats which are essential for the survival of wildlife.Since 1979 we have increased funding for the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council in real terms by 49 and 142 per cent. respectively.A number of initiatives have recently been taken to integrate environmental objectives into agricultural policies. These include changes to the farm capital grants system to provide clear incentives for environmentally beneficial projects, and statutory powers under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to control pesticide use and supply.We have taken an active part in the European Community, including the initiative in measures to eliminate lead from petrol, the agreement on vehicle emissions, the prohibition of trade in endangered species, and the protection of whales and seals from slaughter. We will play our part in the European Year of the Environment 1987.We have negotiated a European directive requiring environmental assessment of certain major types of project and have recently published a consultation document outlining proposals for implementing it within the context of the town and country planning system.In 1982 we launched the Mersey basin campaign, a major long-term project involving combined effort by the public, private and voluntary sectors. Its aim is to remedy severe pollution in the water courses of the Mersey basin and to promote matching improvements in the appearance, use and jobs prospects of the water front.We have supported the development of the groundwork initiative which is dedicated to the regeneration of rundown land at the urban fringe through community effort. Starting in the north-west, groundwork trusts have been established in nine areas; more are in the pipeline.Regulations have been introduced to control the use of organotin compounds in anti-fouling paints for boats, so as to protect sensitive marine organisms in coastal waters.We have implemented part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, extending the effluent discharge consent procedure to coastal and estuarial waters.A hazardous wastes inspectorate has been established within the Department of the Environment.By the end of 1985 the permitted level of lead in petrol was reduced by over 60 per cent., and important steps have been taken to reduce exposure to lead from other sources including food, water paint and industrial emissions.We have secured a progressive reduction in radioactive discharges from the BNFL reprocessing plant at Sellafield to less than one sixth of their 1979 levels. On 30 April we announced our intention to impose still tighter controls on discharges and, for the first time, to set specific limits on a wide range of individual radioactive substances.The Housing and Planning Bill now before Parliament contains a number of proposals designed to improve the protection of the environment. In the circular accompanying the White Paper "Lifting the Burden," published cn 16 July 1985, we accepted that quality of the environment was a planning consideration.The policy of the Government is to achieve the highest environmental standards that are cost-effective and do not place unnecessary burdens on industry. We shall continue to play a full role in Europe and on the wider international stage. We place a high priority on preserving and improving the quality of the environment.

Nuclear Fallout (Emergency Plans)

asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards creating and uprating emergency plans and procedures for implementation in the event of threat from nuclear fallout.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question of 8 May at column 216. Plans and procedures are kept under review, and will be examined in the light of the Chernobyl accident.

Radioactive Contamination

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination of the activities of the Department of Health and Social Security, the Foreign Office and the Department of the Environment in advising United Kingdom citizens returning from Russia and neighbouring countries at the present time and in the future on radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl disaster.

Yes. However, these arrangements are continuously reviewed and can be changed if necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if she w ill take steps to set up a scientific committee charged with the responsibility of collecting data on all British citizens in contact with radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster including the institution of long-term monitoring of the individuals concerned.

I am aware of the suggestion that has been made, but we are content with the arrangements made to monitor British citizens affected. In the light of the contamination levels detected, there is no good medical reason to monitor these people further. Should there be any change in circumstances affecting returning British citizens, the arrangements will be adjusted as necessary.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Milk (Radioactivity)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will compare the normal levels of radioactivity in milk with those measured on Wednesday 30 April, Thursday 1 May, Friday 2 May, Saturday 3 May, Sunday 4 May, Monday 5 May and Tuesday 6 May, respectively; if he will also compare these with the derived emergency reference level for radionuclides in milk; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what was (i) the maximum level of radioactivity in the United Kingdom measured in milk in the period 30 April to the latest available date and the date and site of this measurement, (ii) the derived emergency reference level for radioactivity in milk used in the United Kingdom and (iii) the emergency reference level of radioactivity in milk recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will make a statement advising on contingency action in the event of radioactivity above safe levels in milk supplies.

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

Frozen Food

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 6 May to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, whether he has any proposals to compensate British frozen food manufacturers for the loss of markets in Spain resulting from the increased tariff on frozen vegetables in the Treaty of Accession of Spain.

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

National Finance

Civil Servants (Briefcases)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of providing civil servants with briefcases in each of the last five years.

HMSO estimates the cost at approximately:

	£
1981–82	69,000
1982–83	98,000
1983–84	111,000
1984–85	118,000
1985–86	141,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current cost of each briefcase provided to civil servants.

The standard PVC briefcase at present costs £7.36. The standard leathercloth case costs £25.19.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has reviewed the policy of providing briefcases to civil servants.

I see no reason to do so. Departments are individually responsible for controlling their own expenditure on briefcases and stationery items.

Nhs (Capital Expenditure)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received recently about the level of capital expenditure in the National Health Service during the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Various representations have been received about the level of capital expenditure in the NHS. The Government have increased provision for NHS capital expenditure by over 20 per cent. in real terms since 1979. Our public expenditure plans set out in Cmnd. 9702 allow for this level to be maintained over the next few years. Forty-three major new hospital schemes, each costing over £5 million, are planned to start over the next three years.

Civil List

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of Civil List expenditure; and who are the beneficiaries.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 March 1986, at columns 97–98, to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood).

Personal Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population does not pay income tax in 1986–87 who did pay tax in 1978–79.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1986, c. 38]: About 1·4 million fewer individuals will pay income tax in 1986–87 than under an indexed 1978–79 regime. This represents about 3 per cent. of the adult population.

Everyman Theatre

asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the implications of the abolition of Merseyside council for the funding of the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

The Arts Council has already offered half the sum required to replace the Merseyside county council's funding of the Everyman theatre in 1985–86. It is negotiating with the successor authorities, which are being asked to match the Arts Council contribution, and thus secure the theatre's future.

Ncb (Employees)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people were employed by the National Coal Board at the latest available date.

I am advised that as at 29 March 1986 some 173,838 persons were employed by the National Coal Board.

Nuclear Waste

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tonnes of spent oxide fuel from Italy have been imported into the United Kingdom.

At 31 December 1985, approximately 85 to U of oxide spent fuel had been imported from Italy.

Electricity Generation Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of the current comparative cost of producing electricity from coal, oil, gas, hydroelectric and nuclear power; and if he will give similar figures for 1 January.

I shall arrange for the CEGB to write to my hon. Friend.

Nuclear Installations

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what contingency arrangements there are for alerting, informing and if necessary evacuating residents in the country in the event of a major radiation leak at a United Kingdom nuclear installation.

The arrangements are set out in the Health and Safety Executive's booklet "Emergency plans for cavil nuclear installations" published by HM Stationery Office in 1982, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Radiation

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made as to which European countries are safe for British citizens to visit without risk of radiation sickness arising from the Chernobyl disaster; and if he will make a statement.

Our current advice is that British citizens should avoid visiting Kiev and west Ukraine and Minsk and Byelorussia and Lithuania and north-east Poland unless absolutely necessary. There are no reasons to advise against visiting other areas in western or eastern Europe. Additionally we advise precautions on food and drink in Warsaw, north-east Poland, Lithuania, west Ukraine, Byelorussia and Romania.We continue to consider our advice on a very regular basis.

Mr Rory Mckenna

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the official title, departmental role and authority to speak on behalf of the European Economic Community of Mr. Rory McKenna, in relation to policy on regional aid from Europe.

Mr. McKenna is an official of the regional policy directorate of the EC Commission. He is not a Commission spokesman.

Soviet Union (Nuclear Accident)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom is giving to the Soviet Union with regard to the Chernobyl disaster; and what help has been offered but not yet accepted.

The United Kingdom is providing up to 80 heat-resistant suits and up to 110 breathing sets together with a compressor and decontamination unit. These are expected to reach Moscow on 9 May. All other possible assistance has also been offered, but the Soviet authorities have not indicated that they require any assistance.

Uganda

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the provision of military assistance to Uganda.

At the request of the new Government of Uganda, the British military advisory and training team in Uganda is to be expanded to a strength of about 30 in order to start a programme of training military instructors of Ugands's national resistance army. The training programme will begin in June.

Defence

North-West England (Jobs)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the possible relocation of defence jobs to north-west England.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 11 March 1986 at column 802.

Comprehensive Test Ban

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what military impediments there are to the achievement of a comprehensive test ban.

There would be serious risks to our security interests were we to agree to a comprehensive test ban that was not adequately verifiable. For example, other countries might try to continue a military nuclear weapon testing programme covertly whilst we would not.

Cruise Missiles

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has any system which would enable other countries to distinguish cruise missiles carrying nuclear warheads from those carrying conventional warheads.

No.

Rainfall Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish the rainfall in millimetres for the months of October, November, December, January, February and March for each year since 1976 for each of the following meteorological stations in the county of Cumbria: Keswick Stable Hills, Buttermere water works, Millbeck, How Farm, Hause Gill water works, Fleetwith Pike, Bleaberry Tarn, Stonethwaite, Thirimere, Honister, Seathwaite, Styhead and Birkside.

The information requested is voluminous but I have written to the hon. Member.

Uss Nathaniel Green

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he was informed by the United States authorities of the incident in March when USS Nathaniel Green ran aground in the Irish Sea; whether there was any damage to the nuclear propulsion unit; if the Poseidon missiles aboard were armed; what action he took as a result; and if he will make a statement.

The United States authorities informed my Department on 13 March that the USS Nathaniel Green had been damaged. Approval was given for the boat to berth at the Holy Loch facilities for repairs. I understand that the nuclear propulsion system was not damaged. It has been the policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Submarines (Waste Disposal)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received representations from or held consultations with the fishing industry about the siting of dumps to contain the waste from nuclear submarines.

No. However, any views which the fishing industry has to offer would naturally be given careful consideration.

Chemical Weapons

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the levels of nerve gas and chemical weapons held by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The Soviet Union has a major chemical warfare capability. Its chemical weapons stockpile is assessed to include some 300,000 tonnes of nerve agent alone. It has specialist troops responsible for aspects of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. Soviet forces are also comprehensively equipped and trained to operate in a chemically contaminated environment. There are no chemical weapons declared to NATO, although the United States possesses a limited and aging retaliatory capability.

Advertising Agencies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which advertising agencies have been engaged by his Department for each of the past five years; and what sums each have been paid.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1986, c. 101] The advertising agencies engaged by the Ministry of Defence during the last five years and the sums paid in each year are as follows:

	£ million
1981–82
Collect Dickinson Pearce
Butler Dennis Garland
A. V. Browne
J. Walter Thompson
McCann Erickson
Young and Rubicam
Charles Barker
Rex Stewart & Associates
Royds
National Advertising Corporation
Grand Total	3·513
1982–83
Collett Dickinson Pearce
Butler Dennis Garland
A. V. Browne
J. Walter Thompson
McCann Erickson
Young and Rubicam
Charles Barker
Rex Stewart & Associates
National Advertising Corporation
Grand Total	2.708
1983–84
Collett Dickinson Pearce
Butler Dennis Garland
A. V. Browne

	£ million
J. Walter Thompson
Dorland & Leo Burnett
Young and Rubicam
Charles Barker
Rex Stewart & Associates
Grand Total	4·464
1984–85
Collett Dickinson Pearce
Butler Dennis Garland
A. V. Browne
George Hynes & Partners
J. Walter Thompson
Young & Rubicam
Charles Barker
Rex Stewart & Associates
Grand Total	5·838
1985–86
J. Walter Thompson
Collett Dickinson Pearce
Butler Dennis Garland
George Hynes & Partners
Young & Rubicam
Charles Barker
Rex Stewart & Associates
Hobsons Ltd
P. A. Advertising
Grand Total	6·865
It is not my Department's practice to publish the sums paid to individual contractors.

Transport

Drink-Driving

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Yyns Môn of 28 April, Official Report, column 310, what extra £ million resources have been notified to him that the police will be allocating during the drink-driving enforcement campaign in May and June.

The current focus on drinking and driving was planned in close consultation with the police. We have not assumed that individual chief officers will be increasing the level of enforcement during the publicity period. The focus is designed to increase awareness that drinking and driving is dangerous and a problem throughout the year. The police, through the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers, have welcomed this approach as an aid to their own year-round enforcement effort against drinking and driving.

Departmental Staff

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

The responsibilities of the deputy secretaries in my Department are as follows:

Deputy Secretary, Highways and Traffic

Highways and traffic policy, the highways programme and maintenance, contracts, and highways and traffic questions in Greater London. The Chief Highway Engineer's Department. Management of the highways and traffic work of the Department in the regions.

Deputy Secretary, Civil Aviation and Principal Finance Officer

Civil aviation, including international aviation negotiations; and other international transport matters. Public expenditure on transport and financial management and control.

Deputy Secretary, Economics, Statistics and Research and Chief Economic Adviser

Economic advice to the Department; responsibility for the Department's economics Divisions, statistical services and for the planning, formulation and management of the Department's research and scientific programme.

Deputy Secretary, Surface Transport Industries

Matters relating to the rail, road haulage and bus industries and the related nationalised industry boards.

Deputy Secretary, Shipping, Marine, Road and Vehicle Safety and Licensing

Matters relating to shipping policy, marine safety and pollution prevention, ports, driver and vehicle licensing, road and vehicle safety, vehicle and component approval, vehicle testing, driver testing and training, motor vehicle insurance and vehicle excise duty.

Chief Scientific Adviser

Evaluations of scientific issues relevant to the policies of the Department.

Director General of Organisation and Establishments

The Director General of Organisations and Establishments is the Departments' Principal Establishments Officer whose staff provide a common service to both the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment (Central).

At 1 April 1986 the numbers and ranks of staff in the deputy secretary commands (other than common servants with the Department of the Environment) were as shown in the following table. A further 178 Department of Transport staff were not attached to the five commands indicated.

	Highways and Traffic	Aviation, International and Principal Finance Officer
GRADE
Grade 1	—	—
Grade 2	1·0	1·0
Grade 3	4·0	4·0
Grade 4	7·0	2·0
Grade 5	27·0	19·0
Grade 6	50·0	6·0
Grade 7	191·0	43·0
TOTAL OPEN STRUCTURE	280·0	75·0
SEO	45·0	10·0
HEOD	2·0	3·0
HEO	138·0	59·5
AT	—	2·0
EO	273·5	68·0
CO	299·5	360
CA	60·0	27·0
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP	818·0	205·5
Economic Adviser	5·0	—
Senior Economic Assistant	—	—
Economic Assistant	1·0	—
TOTAL ECONOMIST GROUP	0·0	0·0
Senior Assistant Statistician	—	—
Assistant Statistician	—	—
TOTAL STATISTICIAN GROUP	0·0	0·0

	Highways and Traffic	Aviation, International and Principal Finance Officer
Senior Information Officer	—	1·0
Information Officer	1·0	—
Assistant Information Officer	—	—
TOTAL INFORMATION GROUP	1·0	1·0
Senior Librarian	—	—
Librarian	—	—
TOTAL LIBRARIAN GROUP	0·0	0·0
Senior Data Processor	3·0	—
Data Processor	2·0	—
Trainee Data Processor	—	—
TOTAL DATA PROCESSING GROUP	5·0	0·0
SPTO	297·5	1·0
HPTO	125·0	—
PTO	54·0	—
Technical Grade 2	—	—
Total P & T Group	476·5	1·0
Graphics Officer 2	10	—
Graphics Officer 3	—	—
Graphics Officer 4	2·0	—
TOTAL GRAPHICS GROUP	3·0	0·0
Chief Superintendent	—	—
Senior Superintendent	1·0	—
Superintendent	3·0	—
Senior Personal Secretary	5·0	2·0
Personal Secretary	43·0	22·0
Personal Secretary (Trainee)	1·0	—
Specialist Typist	13·0	1·5
Typist	6·0	—
Trainee Typist	—	—
TOTAL SECRETARIAL GROUP	72·0	25·5
Security Officer Grade 2	—	—
Security Officer Grade 4	—	—
Security Officer Grade 5	—	—
TOTAL SECURITY GROUP	0·0	0·0
SSO	7·0	—
HSO	1·0	—
SO	—	—
ASO	1·0	—
TOTAL SCIENTIFIC GROUP	9·0	0·0
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE GRADES	1,390·5	233·0
Senior Grade Draughtsman	1·0	—
Higher Grade Draughtsman	2·0	—
Draughtsman	9·0	—
Drawing Office Assistant	9·0	—
Typographer	—	—
TOTAL CARTOGRAPHIC GROUP	21·0	0·0
TOTAL CLEANING GROUP	—	—
Senior Medical Officer	—	—
Medical Officer	—	—
TOTAL MEDICAL CLASS	0·0	0·0
Senior Messenger	—	—
Messenger	10·0	—
TOTAL MESSENGER GROUP	10·0	0·0
Office Keeper Grade 1	—	—
Office Keeper Grade 2	—	—
Office Keeper Grade 3	—	—
TOTAL OFFICE KEEPER GROUP	0·0	0·0
Senior Paperkeeper	—	—
Paperkeeper	4·0	—
TOTAL PAPERKEEPER GROUP	4·0	0·0

	Highways and Traffic	Aviation, International and Principal Finance Officer
Chief Photographer	—	—
Principal Photographer	—	—
Senior Photographer	—	—
TOTAL PHOTOGRAPHER GROUP	0·0	0·0
Chief Photoprinter	—	—
Assistant Chief Photoprinter	—	—
Photoprinter Grade 1	—	—
Photographer Grade 2	1·0	—
TOTAL PHOTOPRINTER GROUP	1·0	0·0
Grade E	—	—
TOTAL PROCESS AND GENERAL SUPERVISORY GROUP	0·0	0·0
Grade B	—	—
Grade C	—	—
Grade D	1·0	—
TOTAL STORES OFFICER GROUP	1·0	0·0
Telephonist	1·5	—
TOTAL GOVERNMENT TELEPHONIST GROUP	1·5	0·0
Teleprinter Operator	—	—
TOTAL TELEPRINTER GROUP	0·0	0·0
TOTAL GENERAL SERVICE GROUPS	38·5	0·0
CHAIRMAN OF TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS	—	—
Chief Driving Examiner	—	—
Deputy Chief Driving Examiner	—	—
Assistant Chief Driving Examiner	—	—
Supervising Driving Examiner	—	—
Senior Driving Examiner	—	—
Driving Examiner	—	—
TOTAL DRIVING EXAMINER GROUP	0·0	0·0
Senior Traffic Examiner	—	—
Traffic Examiner	—	—
Supervising Traffic Examiner	—	—
TOTAL TRAFFIC EXAMINER GROUP	0·0	0·0
SENIOR PORT PLANNING OFFICER	—	—
EMERGENCY TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER	—	—
Senior Inspector of Accidents	—	16·0
Inspector of Accidents	—	3·0
TOTAL INSPECTOR OF ACCIDENTS GROUP	0·0	19·0
PRINCIPAL RADAR ADVISER	—	—
AVIATION SECURITY ADVISER	—	2·0
Inspector of Coastguard	—	—
District Officer (CG)	—	—
Station Officer (CG)	—	—
Coastguard Officers	—	—
TOTAL COASTGUARD GROUP	0·0	0·0
Chief Inspector of Ships Provisions	—	—
Senior Inspector of Ships Provisions	—	—
TOTAL INSPECTOR OF SHIPS PROVISIONS GROUP	0·0	o·o
Engineer and Ship Surveyor	—	—
Nautical Surveyor	—	—
TOTAL SURVEYOR GROUP	0·0	0·0

	Highways and Traffic	Aviation, International and Principal Finance Officer
PACKER	—	—
STOREKEEPER	—	—
ASSISTANT STOREKEEPER	—	—
PORTER/MESSENGER	—	1·0
TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL GRADES	0·0	22·0
TOTAL NON-INDUSTRIALS	1,709·0	330·0
INDUSTRIALS	4·0	—
TOTAL	1,713·0	330·0

	Economics, Statistics and Research	Surface Transport Industries
GRADE
Grade 1	—	—
Grade 2	1·0	1·0
Grade 3	1·0	4·0
Grade 4	2·0	1·0
Grade 5	14·0	11·0
Grade 6	23·0	8·0
Grade 7	101·5	43·5
TOTAL OPEN STRUCTURE	142·5	68·5
SEO	3·0	10·0
HEOD	—	—
HEO	17·0	55·0
AT	—	3·0
EO	47·0	105·0
CO	67·0	420·5
CA	15·0	474·0
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP	149·0	1,067·5
Economic Adviser	110	—
Senior Economic Assistant	5·0	—
Economic Assistant	2·0	—
TOTAL ECONOMIST GROUP	18·0	0·0
Senior Assistant Statistician	4·0	—
Assistant Statistician	2·0	—
TOTAL STATISTICIAN GROUP	6·0	0·0
Senior Information Officer	—	—
Information Officer	1·0	—
Assistant Information Officer	—	—
TOTAL INFORMATION GROUP	1·0	0·0
Senior Librarian	1·0	—
Librarian	1·0	—
TOTAL LIBRARIAN GROUP	2·0	0·0
Senior Data Processor	—	—
Data Processor	3·5	—
Trainee Data Processor	—	—
TOTAL DATA PROCESSING GROUP	3·5	0·0
SPTO	2·0	15·0
HPTO	6·0	—
PTO	18·0	—
Technical Grade 2	—	—
Total P & T Group	26·0	15·0
Graphics Officer 2	1·0	—
Graphics Officer 3	2·0	—
Graphics Officer 4	1·0	—
TOTAL GRAPHICS GROUP	4·0	0·0

	Economics, Statistics and Research	Surface Transport Industries
Chief Superintendent	—	—
Senior Superintendent	2·0	—
Superintendent	—	12·0
Senior Personal Secretary	3·0	1·0
Personal Secretary	25·0	27·0
Personal Secretary (Trainee)	—	—
Specialist Typist	4·5	22·5
Typist	5·0	16·5
Trainee Typist	2·0	—
TOTAL SECRETARIAL GROUP	41·5	79·0
Security Officer Grade 2	—	—
Security Officer Grade 4	—	—
Security Officer Grade 5	—	—
TOTAL SECURITY GROUP	41·5	0·0
SSO	78·0	—
HSO	98·5	—
SO	55·5	—
ASO	17·0	—
TOTAL SCIENTIFIC GROUP	249·0	0·0
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE GRADES	500·0	1,161·5
Senior Grade Draughtsman	—	—
Higher Grade Draughtsman	—	—
Draughtsman	—	—
Drawing Office Assistant	1·0	—
Typographer	1·0	—
TOTAL CARTOGRAPHIC GROUP	2·0	0·0
TOTAL CLEANING GROUP	0·0	11·0
Senior Medical Officer	—	—
Medical Officer	—	—
TOTAL MEDICAL CLASS	0·0	0·0
Senior Messenger	—	5·0
Messenger	—	34·5
TOTAL MESSENGER GROUP	0·0	39·5
Office Keeper Grade 1	—	1·0
Office Keeper Grade 2	—	1·0
Office Keeper Grade 3	—	1·0
TOTAL OFFICE KEEPER GROUP	0·0	3·0
Senior Paperkeeper	—	3·0
Paperkeeper	—	28·5
TOTAL PAPERKEEPER GROUP	0·0	31·5
Chief Photographer	1·0	—
Principal Photographer	4·0	—
Senior Photographer	10·0	—
TOTAL PHOTOGRAPHER GROUP	15·0	0·0
Chief Photoprinter	—	—
Assistant Chief Photoprinter	1·0	—
Photoprinter Grade 1	0·5	2·5
Photoprinter Grade 2	1·5	2·0
TOTAL PHOTOPRINTER GROUP	3·0	4·5
Grade E	1·0	—
TOTAL PROCESS AND GENERAL SUPERVISORY GROUP	1·0	0·0
Grade B	—	—
Grade C	—	—
Grade D	1·0	—
TOTAL STORES OFFICER GROUP	1·0	0·0
Telephonist	3·0	6·0
TOTAL GOVERNMENT TELEPHONIST GROUP	3·0	6·0
Teleprinter Operator	—	—

	Economics, Statistics and Research	Surface Transport Industries
TOTAL TELEPRINTER GROUP	0·0	0·0
TOTAL GENERAL SERVICE GROUPS	25·0	95·5
CHAIRMAN OF TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS	—	8·0
Chief Driving Examiner	—	—
Deputy Chief Driving Examiner	—	—
Assistant Chief Driving Examiner	—	—
Supervising Driving Examiner	—	—
Senior Driving Examiner	—	—
Driving Examiner	—	—
TOTAL DRIVING EXAMINER GROUP	0·0	0·0
Senior Traffic Examiner	—	45·0
Traffic Examiner	—	168·0
Supervising Traffic Examiner	—	12·0
TOTAL TRAFFIC EXAMINER GROUP	0·0	225·0
SENIOR PORT PLANNING OFFICER	—	—
EMERGENCY TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER	—	—
Senior Inspector of Accidents	—	—
Inspector of Accidents	—	—
TOTAL INSPECTOR OF ACCIDENTS GROUP	0·0	0·0
PRINCIPAL RADAR ADVISER	—	—
AVIATION SECURITY ADVISER	—	—
Inspector of Coastguard	—	—
District Officer (CG)	—	—
Station Officer (CG)	—	—
Coastguard Officers	—	—
TOTAL COASTGUARD GROUP	0·0	0·0
Chief Inspector of Ships Provisions	—	—
Senior Inspector of Ships Provisions	—	—
TOTAL INSPECTOR OF SHIPS PROVISION GROUPS	0·0	0·0
Engineer and Ship Surveyor	—	—
Nautical Surveyor	—	—
TOTAL SURVEYOR GROUP	0·0	0·0
PACKER	—	—
STOREKEEPER	—	—
ASSISTANT STOREKEEPER	—	—
PORTER/MESSENGER	—	7·5
TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL GRADES	0·0	240·5
TOTAL NON-INDUSTRIALS	667·5	1,566·0
INDUSTRIALS	—	116·0
TOTAL	667·5	1,682·0

	Shipping, Marine, Road and Vehicle Safety and Licensing
GRADE
Grade 1	1·0
Grade 2	3·0
Grade 3	4·0

	Shipping, Marine, Road and Vehicle Safety and Licensing
Grade 4	17·0
Grade 5	44·0
Grade 6	197·0
Grade 7	266·0
TOTAL OPEN STRUCTURE
SEO	84·0
HEOD	—
HEO	311·0
AT	—
EO	778·5
CO	1,875·0
CA	2,309·5
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP	5,358·0
Economic Adviser	—
Senior Economic Assistant	—
Economic Assistant	—
TOTAL ECONOMIST GROUP	0·0
Senior Assistant Statistician	—
Assistant Statistician	—
TOTAL STATISTICIAN GROUP	0·0
Senior Information Officer	1·0
Information Officer	—
Assistant Information Officer	—
TOTAL INFORMATION GROUP	1·0
Senior Librarian	—
Librarian	—
TOTAL LIBRARIAN GROUP	0·0
Senior Data Processor	133·0
Data Processor	566·5
Trainee Data Processor	3·0
TOTAL DATA PROCESSING GROUP	702·5
SPTO	79·0
HPTO	120·0
PTO	450·0
Technical Grade 2	1·0
TOTAL P & T GROUP	650·0
Graphics Officer 2	—
Graphics Officer 3	—
Graphics Officer 4	—
TOTAL GRAPHICS GROUP	0·0
Chief Superintendent	1·0
Senior Superintendent	4·0
Superintendent	4·0
Senior Personal Secretary	4·0
Personal Secretary	37·0
Personal Secretary (Trainee)	—
Specialist Typist	58·5
Typist	92·0
Trainee Typist	2·5
TOTAL SECRETARIAL GROUP	203·0
Security Officer Grade 2	2·0
Security Officer Grade 4	9·0
Security Officer Grade 5	38·0
TOTAL SECURITY GROUP	49·0
SSO	2·0
HSO	1·0
SO	—
ASO	—
TOTAL SCIENTIFIC GROUP	3·0
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE GRADES	6,966·5
Senior Grade Draughtsman

	Shipping, Marine, Road and Vehicle Safety and Licensing
Higher Grade Draughtsman
Draughtsman
Drawing Office Assistant
Typographer
TOTAL CARTOGRAPHIC GROUP	0·0
TOTAL CLEANNG GROUP	4·0
Senior Medical Officer	1·0
Medical Officer	5·5
TOTAL MEDICAL CLASS	6·5
Senior Messenger	20·0
Messenger	143·0
TOTAL MESSENGER GROUP	163·0
Office Keeper Grade 1
Office Keeper Grade 2	2·0
Office Keeper Grade 3	4·0
TOTAL OFFICE KEEPER GROUP	6·0
Senior Paperkeeper	1·0
Paperkeeper	11·0
TOTAL PAPERKEEPER GROUP	12·0
Chief Photographer
Principal Photographer
Senior Photographer
TOTAL PHOTOGRAPHER GROUP	0·0
Chief Photoprinter	1·0
Assistant Chief Photoprinter	2·0
Photoprinter Grade 1	11·0
Photoprinter Grade 2	6·0
TOTAL PHOTOPRINTER GROUP	20·0
Grade E
TOTAL PROCESS AND GENERAL SUPERVISORY GROUP	0·0
Grade B	1·0
Grade C	1·0
Grade D	3·0
TOTAL STORES OFFICER GROUP	5·0
Telephonist	2·0
TOTAL GOVERNMENT TELEPRINIST GROUP	2·0
Teleprinter Operator	1·0
TOTAL TELEPRINTER GROUP	1·0
TOTAL GENERAL SERVICE GROUPS	219·5
CHAIRMAN OF TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS
Chief Driving Examiner	1·0
Deputy Chief Driving Examiner	2·0
Assistant Chief Driving Examiner	9·0
Supervising Driving Examiner	87·0
Senior Driving Examiner	395·0
Driving Examiner	1,136·0
TOTAL DRIVING EXAMINER GROUP	1,630·0
Senior Traffic Examiner
Traffic Examiner
Supervising Traffic Examiner
TOTAL TRAFFIC EXAMINER GROUP	0·0
SENIOR PORT PLANNING OFFICER
EMERGENCY TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER
Senior Inspector of Accidents
Inspector of Accidents
TOTAL INSPECTOR OF ACCIDENTS GROUP	00
PRINCIPAL RADAR ADVISER	1·0

	Shipping, Marine, Road and Vehicle Safety and Licensing
AVIATION SECURITY ADVISER	0·0
Inspector of Coastguard	8·0
District Officer (CG)	27·0
Station Officer (CG)	59·0
Coastguard Officers	422·0
TOTAL COASTGUARD GROUP	516·0
Chief Inspector of Ships Provisions	1·0
Senior Inspector of Ships Provisions	2·0
TOTAL INSPECTOR OF SHIPS PROVISIONS GROUP	3·0
Engineer and Ship Surveyor	79·0
Nautical Surveyor	34·0
TOTAL SURVEYOR GROUP	113·0
PACKER	15·0
STOREKEEPER	5·0
ASSISTANT STOREKEEPER	8·0
PORTER/MESSENGER	12·n
TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL GRADES	2,303·d
TOTAL NON-INDUSTRIALS	9,755·0
INDUSTRIALS	394·0
TOTAL	10,149·0

Vehicle Registration Prefix

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is giving consideration to abandoning the present annual changing of vehicle registration prefixes.

We have no plans to do so. The retention of the vehicle age identification system is strongly supported by the Police because it is often an important element in tracing a vehicle where a witness cannot recall the complete number, and in the enforcement of vehicle testing requirements. The age identifier is also supported by consumer protection organisations and by large sections of the motor trade who consider that it helps to sell more new vehicles.

Coaches (Speed Governors)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects that the mandatory fitting of coach speed governors will come into force; if their use will be extended to heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions with vehicle and equipment manufacturers and vehicle user groups are underway at the British Standards Institution. I expect a British Standard to be agreed by the end of the year. I will be consulting the coach industry on a timetable to phase in the fitting of the equipment as rapidly as possible and I expect the first vehicles to be fitted during 1987.Some heavy goods vehicles are voluntarily fitted with speed limiters. We have no plans at present to introduce any legal requirements.

Car Rallying (Safety)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will discuss with the Royal Automobile Club the safety and conduct of off road car rallying; and if he will make a statement.

Stringent rules governing safety and conduct are imposed by the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Ltd. when authorising rallies under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1972. The safety record for such events in the United Kingdom is good. There are no plans at present to open discussions.

Motorways (Signs)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the inclusion on motorway road signs alongside the miles to destination the kilometre equivalent.

No decision has been taken about a change to the metric measurement of distances in this country although in accordance with EEC directive 80/181 this is to be reviewed by 31 December 1989. Parliament will be consulted before any decision is taken. Meanwhile my right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce dual signing of distances.

Manpower Schemes, London

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the manpower schemes for the first three financial years of the joint boards set up following abolition of the Greater London Council and for which his Department is responsible.

There are no such boards.

Lrt (Bus Routes)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus routes have been entirely withdrawn by London Regional Transport since June 1984.

This is a matter for LRT.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed on bus services operated under tender to London Regional Transport, excluding those contracted to London Buses Ltd.

This is a matter for London Regional Transport and those companies which supply tendered services.

London Transport Services (Staff)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people were employed by London Underground in 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively; and what financial savings have been made from the reduction in staffing levels;(2) how many people were employed by London Buses in 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively; and what financial savings have been made from the reduction in staffing levels;(3) how many people were employed by London Regional Transport and its subsidiaries in 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively; and what financial savings have been made from the reduction in staffing levels.

Employment statistics for LRT, London Buses and London Underground may be found in LRT's annual business plans. More efficient use of manpower contributes to the more cost effective services which the plans also report.

Mr Kenneth Joyner (Salary)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the salary of London Regional Transport board member Mr. Kenneth Joyner on 7 March 1985 and on 31 March 1985, respectively.

£4,500 per annum on both dates.

Lrt (Board Salaries)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the salaries of the board members of London Regional Transport; and if he has any plans to increase them.

Current annual salaries of the board members of the LRT are as follows:

Member	Salary	Time commitment
	£
Chairman
Dr. Keith Bright	55,000	Full time
Deputy Chairman
Mr. David Hardy	14,000	1½ days per week
Full time members
Dr. Tony Ridley	44,000	Full time
Mr. John Telford Beasley
Mr. Barry Dale
Part time members
Sir Neil Shields	17,000	2 days per week
Mr. Keith Brown	5,000	½ day per week
Miss Eileen Cole
Dr. Stephen Glaister
Mr. Kenneth Joyner
Mrs. Helen Robinson
Miss Patricia Steel

These salaries are subject to annual review.

Lrt (Revenue Subsidy)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Regional Transport on further reductions in its revenue subsidy; if he plans to issue directives requiring it to operate with zero revenue subsidy; and if he will make a statement.

London Regional Transport's performance in bringing public transport services under efficient management means that the industry will need less revenue subsidy than was assumed in 1984 when Government objectives were set. I welcome the indications from LRT that if current performance is maintained there are prospects of relieving ratepayers and taxpayers of the burden of revenue subsidy.

Public Transport Employees (Assaults)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the study of assaults on bus staff in London was first announced; what submissions have been received; and when a report will be published.

The study of assaults on bus staff is a national study and is not confined to London. Nominations for working group members were first invited in June 1984. All sides of the bus industry have been involved in regular meetings throughout 1984 and 1985. I have received no other submissions. A report and summary of the findings are due to be published on 19 May.

Br (Station Staff)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed as station staff by British Rail in Greater London in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 respectively.

This is a management matter for the British Railways Board. We do not have the information requested.

London Buses (Deregulation)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Regional Transport and its subsidiary London Buses on the deregulation of bus services in London.

We have made clear that it is our firm intention to extend deregulation. The timetable for this is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to deregulate bus services in London.

Yes.

Bus Mileage, London

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the level of bus mileage secured by London Transport and London Regional Transport in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively.

The annual bus mileage operated by London Regional Transport— formerly the London Transport Executive—between 1983 and 1985 was as follows:

	Million Miles
1983	164
1984	167
1985	164

The 1985 figure is provisional, and excludes services operated for LRT by operators other than London Buses Ltd. (less than 1 million bus miles). LRT plans to maintain mileage broadly at its present level during the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the recorded level of passenger mileage on bus services secured by London Transport and London Regional Transport in January 1983, June 1983, January 1984, June 1984, January 1985, June 1985, and January 1986, respectively.

My Department does not collect information at this level of detail. I suggest that the hon. Member asks LRT.

Glc Lorry Ban

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received for and against the Greater London Council lorry ban from (a) individuals, (b) local authorities and (c) other organisations.

The GLC lorry ban is now a matter for the London boroughs. I do not know what representations they may have received. At May 1985, the latest date for which figures are available, we had received 2,575 representations against and four in favour of the ban, 501 were from individuals, seven from local authorities and 2,071 from other organisations.

Roads (London)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the four London road assessment studies are to be published.

Traffic surveys are now going ahead to complete the collection of data on transport-related problems in these corridors. This data will he shared with the boroughs concerned. We hope to publish reports on this phase of the work in the autumn.

Traffic Staffs, London

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed by the Greater London council in December 1985 and are currently employed by the London Residuary Body working on (a) bus priority measures, (b) pedestrian measures, (c) cycling measures and (d) traffic signals.

Under the terms of the contract with the London Residuary Body in respect of functions that fall to us, it is agreed that the LRB traffic control systems unit should have 89 posts to handle the matters quoted. GLC staffing was the responsibility of the GLC.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed by the Greater London road and traffic division of his Department in December 1983, December 1984, December 1985 and April 1986, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

	Number
1 December 1983	94·5
1 December 1984	101·5
1 December 1985	135·5
1 April 1986	147·5

Brel, Springburn

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to visit the British Rail Engineering Ltd. workshops at Springburn.

I visited the BREL, Springburn, works in 1984; I have currently no plans for a further visit.

London Transport Passenger Group

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was discussed at the meeting of the London Transport Passenger Group on 22 April; and if he w ill make a statement.

The meeting discussed progress towards the longer term objectives set out in my right hon. Friend's letter of 24 July 1984 to the chairmen of BR and LRT.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the London Transport Passenger Group has met; who has attended the meetings; what subjects have been discussed; and what measures have been adopted to co-ordinate London Regional Transport and British Rail services.

Since its inception in July 1984, there have been six meetings of the London Passenger Transport Group which comprises my right hon. Friend, myself, and the chairmen of BR and LRT, with appropriate officials in attendance. The group discusses the issues set out in my right hon. Friends's letter of 24, July 1984 to the two chairmen. Achievements so far include the introduction of several joint marketing initiatives, including Capitalcard; the development of a programme of interchange improvements; and improved co-operation in provision for disabled people, including publication of the leaflet "'A Helping Hand Across London".

Single-Manned Buses (London)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings have taken place between the London Regional Passengers Committee and London Buses and London Regional Transport to discuss the issue of one-person operated buses.

The LRPC, London Buses and LRT are entirely free to meet each other whenever they wish. I would not expect to be informed of such meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been received by the London Regional Passengers Committee for and against the conversion of bus routes in London to one-person operated buses.

This is entirely a matter for the LRPC.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received for and against the use of one-person operation in London by bus services secured by London Regional Transport.

My right hon. Friend receives representations from time to time. The use of one-person operated buses in London is, however, an operational matter for London Regional Transport and its subsidiary London Buses Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any communication from the London Regional Passengers Committee on the conversion of bus routes in London to one-person operated buses; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a letter from the chairman of the London Regional Passengers Committee on this topic.

London Underground

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the stations on the London Underground currently equipped with close circuit television systems for the detection of crime.

There are forty-one stations equipped with closed circuit television for surveillance purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the stations on the London Underground which are shortly to be equipped with close-circuit television systems for the detection of crime.

Recently authorisation for a further 37 stations to be equipped with CCTV was given. The detection of crime will form part of the equipment's role.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes were detected on the London Underground by closed circuit television in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

No separate record is kept of crimes detected by CCTV. It is used on a day-to-day basis by the British Transport police for monitoring parts of the Underground particularly prone to pick-pocketing and crimes of violence. A dual benefit is gained from the improved deployment of resources and more discreet surveillance. In this role the use of this facility has been important in the chain of events leading to the arrest and prosecution of offenders. There is also reason to believe that the use of CCTV has a marked deterrent effect on potential offenders on stations where it is in use.

Underground Trains (Single-Manning)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has had from the Railway Inspectorate on the one-person operation of deep level underground trains and what advice has been given by the Railway Inspectorate to London Regional Transport and London Underground on the matter.

Following the successful introduction of one-person operation of trains on the Victoria and sub-surface lines, London Underground Ltd. is proposing to extend this method of working to other deep-level tube lines. Although London Underground Ltd. is responsible for the safe operation of its railways—and any decision on the manning of trains must be its—it consulted the railways inspectorate when establishing the arrangements for one-person operation of the Victoria and sub-surface lines, and is currently discussing with the inspectorate its proposals for the deep-level tubes. The inspectorate advises my right hon. Friend as necessary on developments affecting safety on the railways.

Rail Mileage (London)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the annual level of passenger train mileage run on British Rail's London inner suburban services in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986;

(2) what, using February 1980 as a base level of 100, was the average level of fares charged on British Rail's London inner surburban services in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986;

(3) what, measured against the retail price index, was the average level of fares charged on British Rail's London inner suburban services in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986.

The information sent to me by British Rail does not distinguish between inner and outer suburban services.

Lrt (Fares)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what, measured against the retail price index, was the average level of fares charged on London Regional Transport services in December 1984, February 1985 and February 1986;(2) what, using February 1984 as a base level of 100, was the average level of fares charged on London Regional Transport services in December 1984, February 1985 and February 1986.

The appropriate base for a comparison of average fares is the last set of fare changes approved by the GLC in May 1983. The following table shows the information the hon. Member seeks, in these terms:

	Cash Fares	Fares, Adjusted in relation to RPI
June 1983	100	100
February 1984	100	97·3
December 1984	100	93·7
February 1985	108·3	100
February 1986	115·1	101·1

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what using February 1984 as a base level of 100, was the cost of an adult off-peak bus fare on London Regional Transport services in December 1984, February 1985 and February 1986;(2) what, using February 1984 as a base level of 100, was the cost of a child bus fare on London Regional Transport services in December 1984, February 1985 and February 1986.

Particular levels of fare are matters for London Regional Transport.

London Underground (Crime Study)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the study on crime on the London Underground was first announced; what submissions have been received; and when a report will be published.

The study of crime on the Underground was announced on 8 January this year at the Prime Minister's seminar on crime prevention. So far seven submissions have been received from bodies and individuals not directly involved in the study. I expect to receive a report by the end of July.

Heathrow Airport (Security)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the new procedures requiring passengers for Israel to queue in the public area of terminal 1, Heathrow airport, commenced; what assessment he has made of the security implications of such passengers being visible in such a public area for a prolonged period of time; and if he will make a statement.

Since the El Al operation was moved to terminal 1 in January, the check-in and security procedures for passengers to Israel have been carried out within a separate area screened off from the public concourse. In recent weeks the security procedures have been stepped up, and I am informed that on occasions the resulting delays have caused the queue to tail back beyond the entrance to the dedicated area. My security advisers will be discussing possible ways of preventing this with the British Airports Authority. In the meantime, the area continues to be kept under careful police surveillance.

North Devon Link Road

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to begin on stage 2B of the North Devon link road from South Molton to Barnstaple.

We hope the construction can start next year, subject to satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures.

Social Services

Benefits (Coventry)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many tenants in no-fines dwellings in the Coventry North-East constituency are in receipt of additional heating allowances.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

District Health Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the boundaries of district health authorities shall be conterminous with the local authorities' services; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make it his policy not to sanction the amalgamation of any two district authorities where the boundaries of the resulting authority would not be conterminous with the local authorities' services; and if he will make a statement.

It is clearly sensible that, wherever possible, health authority boundaries should be conterminous with those of local authorities. I do not think that it would be right to attempt to be prescriptive, however, as there may be good reasons why this might not be feasible or desirable in individual cases.

Statutory Sick Pay Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans his Department has to review the operation of the statutory sick pay scheme since April 1983 in the light of the criticisms contained in the new report published by the Disability Alliance ERA, Leicester Rights Centre and the Leicester city council low pay campaign, copies of which were sent to him; and whether he will make a statement.

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

Health Authorities (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the spending per capita in the Leicester health authority area at the latest available date; and what is the comparable figure for the other health authorities within the Trent region;(2) what is the spending per capita in the Trent region at the latest available date; and what is the comparable level of spending in the other regions of England and Wales.

I shall let my hon. Friend have replies as soon as possible.

Primary Care (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it cost to prepare the Binder Hamlyn report on controlling the costs of primary care.

£87,400.

Perinatal Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest information available within his Department on perinatal mortality in 1985.

The latest information is given in the table.

Perinatal mortality: number and rate, England and Wales 1985 (provisional)
Perinatal deaths^*	Rate per 1,000 total live and stillbirths
6,498	9·84
^* Perinatal deaths: stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life.

Radiation Levels

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been made of the amount of radiation recorded in Britain arising from the Chernobyl incident; what assessment has been made, or is to he made, of the implications of that amount of radiation recorded for (i) the future incidence of radiation-induced congenital abnormalities and (ii) the incidence of radiation-induced cancers over the next 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

We are advised that the levels of radiation arising from the Chernobyl incident in air, water and milk have been monitored continuously, are very low, and would result in doses to the public well below internationally accepted limits.For any individual the additional risk of developing radiation-induced cancer is so small as to be negligible and no increase in cases of radiation-induced congenital abnormalities would be expected.

Limited List Prescribing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the extent and pattern of consumption of drugs no longer prescribable on the National Health Service following his introduction of the limited list.

I regret that this information is not available.

Hospitals (Thefts)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to combat the lack of reporting of thefts in hospitals; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will issue a circular to hospital authorities urging action to make staff aware of the possibility of theft and encouraging them to report all incidents; and if he will make a statement.

Steps have already been taken to ensure that all health authorities are aware of the need for effective action to minimise losses through theft, and for staff to play a full part in minimising opportunities for theft and reporting all incidents which do occur. All health authorities have drawn up security strategies, as they were asked to do in health circular HC(82)19. In December 1984 they were sent copies of the NHS security manual prepared by the National Association of Health Authorities. This gives very full practical advice and was commended by the Department in Health notice HN(84)26. Authorities have subsequently been reminded of the importance of preventing theft in their premises and of the need for losses to be recorded accurately. The effectiveness of authorities' security strategies and the application of more rigorous accounting procedures for losses introduced for 1984–85 financial year will be monitored, and further action to secure improvements will be taken where necessary.

Nurses

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of nurses failed to complete their training in the latest year for which statistics are available.

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

Judicial Reviews

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of judicial reviews in which his Department has been involved since 1 March 1974; and on how many occasions the court of final recourse has found against him.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1986, c. 276]: From 1 March 1974 to the end of 1978 there were 54 applications for leave to seek a judicial review and the corresponding proceedings prior to 1977 when judicial review was introduced. From 1979 to date there have been a further 38 applications, but since 1979 the litigation brought against the Department has been dealt with by the solictors' office to the Department and the Treasury Solicitor and the 38 cases are those in which the Department's solicitors' office has been involved. Information about the outcome of proceedings brought between 1974 and 1983 and the number of applications dealt with by the Treasury Solicitor since 1979 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information about the outcome of judicial proceedings against the Secretary of State for Social Services since the beginning of 1984 is as follows:

		Decisions^*
	Heard by court of first instance	in favour of	against
		the Secretary of State
1984	4	3	1
1985	8	4	4
1986	1	1	—
^* Decisions given either by the court of first instance or on appeal.

Maternity Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the responses to the consultation on statutory maternity allowance supported the proposals for payment of maternity allowance by employers; and how many opposed it.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1986, c 514]: Of 90 responses received, 10 were broadly favourable; these included the Social Security Advisory Committee and, with some reservations, the Equal Opportunities Commission. Twenty five expressed no overall view. Fifty five were broadly opposed; these included the CBI and the TUC. The revised proposals for the statutory maternity pay scheme sought to take account to the comments received, including in particular the concern expressed that the original proposals would have led to firms having to operate two separate schemes for income-replacement during maternity absence.

Disabled People (Motor Cars)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the expert individuals and organisations in the field of road transport and disability whom he consulted regarding the issue of automatic gear boxes for right leg amputees; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1986, c. 76]: The British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association, Motability and Banstead Place Mobility Centre have been consulted about the issue of automatic gear boxes to right leg amputees.When a war pensioner receiving war pensioner's mobility supplement obtains a car through Motability, the Department can make a grant for adaptations, including the provision of an automaic gear box, provided they are medically essential to enable him to drive. We appreciate the view of the organisations we have consulted that right leg amputees would find an automatic gear box helpful, but the possibility of hand-operated controls means that it cannot be said to be medically essential in all cases. We do, however, give each individual application careful and sympathetic consideration.

Iodine Tablets

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) who holds stocks of iodine tablets;(2) how many iodine tablets are in stock per head of population and per head of population under the age of 18 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1986, c. 233]: Stocks of potassium iodate tablets are held at all nuclear installations and at some nearby police stations and hospitals. These are specifically for issue to staff and to people living in the vicinity should an accident occur in which radioactive iodine is released.Small stocks of potassium iodide tablets are held by the manufacturer and some pharmacists and hospitals for medical purposes unrelated to an accidental release of radioactive materials.In excess of 2 million potassium iodate tablets are held to issue to people in the vicinity of a serious nuclear accident which releases radioactive iodine while they are being evacuated.

Scotland

Road Traffic Offences

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing (a) for Scotland and (b) for the sheriffdom of Linlithgow (i) the number of convictions for road traffic offences resulting in death or serious injury and (ii) a breakdown on sentences of conviction for such offences by fine, community services order and custodial sentences.

Information on causing death by reckless driving is given in the table. Offences where serious injury results cannot be separately identified.

Causing death by reckless driving 1985 (Provisional)
	Scotland	Sheriffdom of Linlithgow
Persons against whom a charge was proved Sectence:	29	1
Fine	11	—
Community Service Order	4	1
Imprisonment	12	—
Young Offenders Institution	1	—
Admonished	1	—

Psa Development, Coatbridge

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Monklands, West of 22 April relating to the Property Services Agency development at South Circular Road/Exchange Place, Coatbridge.

My right hon. and learned Friend replied to the hon. Member on Thursday 8 May 1986.

Derelict Land

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 3 February, Official Report,

Location	3 May	4 May	5 May	6 May	7 May	8 May
Torness
East Lothian	0·10^*	0·11	0·11	0·10	0·10	—
DOUNREAY
Caithness	0·15	0·25	—	0·25	0·20	—
HUNTERSTON
Cunninghame	0·16	0·27	0·25	0·25	—	—

column 54, if the joint exercise between his Department and local authorities on cataloguing derelict land in Scotland will include a separate calculation of the amount of derelict land attributable to coal mining activities; when the exercise will be completed; and when he expects to publish figures.

As I explained in answer to the previous question to which the hon. Member has referred, the purpose of the joint exercise which the Scottish Development Department has been conducting with local authorities is to assess what information is available on vacant, derelict and underused land. It is now clear that the information held by local authorities is not comprehensive nor consistently calculated, and accordingly the Scottish Development Agency, in conjunction with the Scottish Development Department, has recently commissioned consultants to consider preparing, and testing, a methodology for use by local authorities generally, in conjunction with the agency, for the collection, analysis and updating of data on the extent of vacant, derelict and underused land in their areas. The consultancy will be completed later this year, but at this stage it is not possible to indicate when any revised system of recording vacant, derelict and underused land might be implemented or what detailed information such a system might provide.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what total acreage of reclaimed derelict land in Scotland in 1975, and for each subsequent year to 1985, has been attributable to coal mining activities;(2) how much derelict land has been reclaimed by regional area in Scotland for each year from 1975 to 1985; how much funding was available for each year; and if arty year was underspent.

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

Radiation Levels

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the levels of background radiation for each region of Scotland have been on a daily basis; and what are normal radiation levels, from the period when the fallout from Chernobyl first reached Scotland to the latest available date.

Information is not available in the form requested. In normal circumstances environmental dose rates vary significantly from one part of Scotland to another according to several factors, including the local geology. Typical values are in the range 0·05 to 0·15 micro-Sievert/hour. The levels at four locations where regular measurements have been made as part of the surveillance of the fallout from the Chernobyl accident are as set out:

Location	3 May	4 May	5.May	6 May	7 May	8 May
CHAPELCROSS
Dumfries & Galloway	0·10	0·25	—	—	—	0·25
^*Figures are in micro-Sieverts per hour.

The results show the increase due to the activity deposited on the ground. This increase is attributable mainly to short-lived radioactivity and is of little significance in terms of doses to people and animals.

Opencast Mining

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by site and county all opencast coalmining applications received since 1 January 1984, stating in each

Area	Site	Tonnage and period*	Status
Motherwell District	Fernieshaw	67,000 tonnes to be worked for a period of three years	Authorised
Falkirk District	Roughcastle	190,000 tonnes to be worked for a period of four years	Authorised
Dumfries and Galloway District	Libry Moor	1·7 million tonnes to be worked for a period of nine years	Authorised
Dunfermline District	Thornyhill	450,000 tonnes to be worked for a period of three years	Pending
^* The tonnages authorised are for the whole period of authorisation. Tonnages per year have not been stipulated.

Environment

Nuclear Waste

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with the water and district authorities in those areas where the four proposed nuclear waste sites are located;(2) what recent consultations he has had with representatives of local bodies in the areas currently being investigated as potential nuclear waste disposal sites;(3) whether he has now held consultations with the local government authorities covering the four disposal sites suggested by NIREX.

All county and district authorities, and the water authority, within whose areas a site falls, have been consulted on the draft of the special development order intended to authorise site investigations. Other bodies were also consulted. My right hon. and hon. Friends and I have also met affected local authorities and protest groups. Further meetings are planned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the cost is to Her Majesty's Government of carrying out exploratory work on the potential nuclear waste sites.

The direct cost of carrying out exploratory work will be met by NIREX. My Department will be commissioning independent analysis of the results of the explorations. This is likely to cost approximately £1 million over the next year. It is too soon to estimate the cost of assessments beyond that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to provide for the creation of local liaison committee including county council representatives at some stage during the selection of nuclear waste disposal sites; and if he will make a statement.

case whether authorisation has been granted, refused or is still pending; and if he will list separately for each approved case, and for each refused or as yet unauthorised case, the tonnage per year to be mined and the time period requested or authorised.

The information requested is as follows:

We have no proposals for such legislation. As we have said in our first stage response to the Environment Committee's report on radioactive waste, the Government would encourage NIREX, local authorities and other representative groups concerned to discuss the form and role of such a committee once a particular site has been chosen for development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to which local or water authorities monitor the effects of low-level radioactive waste in their areas.

In England, monitoring of the environmental effects of authorised disposals of low level radioactive waste is undertaken by the Department of the Environment and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Water authorities take samples of drinking water from their own sources and these samples are sent for analysis on behalf of my Department's radiochemical inspectorate. Further environmental monitoring in the vicinity of authorised disposal sites is carried out as appropriate, either by or on behalf of the inspectorate.Local and water authorities are, of course, free to undertake their own monitoring programmes and to retain the results.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what volume of radioactive nuclear waste, differentiating between low level waste and intermediate level waste, arising prior to the year 2030 will arise from the decommissioning of power stations.

The amount of radioactive waste produced to 2030 from the decommissioning of nuclear power plants is expected to be about 101,000 tonnes, practically all of which will be low level waste. Figures in terms of volume are not yet available. Further details are given in research report number DOE/RW/85–124.

Ministerial Visits

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which countries were visited by Ministers in his Department during 1984–85 and 1985–86; and what was the total cost of each visit.

The table shows the countries visited by DOE Ministers in 1984–85 and 1985–86 and the total cost of each visit.

Countries Visited	Cost £
1984–85
Germany (3 visits)	1,824
Luxembourg and Germany	604
Italy (2 visits)	2,349
France (2 visits)	400
Norway	777
Belgium	331
Bahrain and Gulf States	3,069
Malta	1,087
United States of America	5,009
Malaysia, Hong Kong and United States of America	8,991
17 Visits	24,441
1985–86
	903
Germany (3 visits)	964
	946
Luxembourg	1,275
Holland(2 visits)	734
	1,056
France(2 visits)	536
	695
Norway	1,022
	343
Belgium (3 visits)	499
	274
United States of America	10,708
Finland	1,000
Switzerland	857
Spain	247
16 Visits	22,059

Notes:

1. The costs cover both Ministers' costs and those of private secretaries accompanying them.

2. They include all travel expenses and where relevant hotel subsistence and official entertainment.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total staffing in his Department as at 1 April 1985 and 1 April 1986.

Staff numbers in my Department were as follows:

	1 April 1985	1 April 1986
DOE(C)	6,561	6,521
PSA	26,230	25,401
Total	32,791	31,922

Departmental Officials (Travel And Subsistence)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on travel and subsistence by officials in his Department in 1984–85 and 1985–86.

The information is as follows:

	£
1984–85	9,075,496
1985–86	10,788,918

Departmental Telephone Calls

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent by his Department on telephone calls in 1984–85 and 1985–86.

The cost to my Department of telephone calls on the BT networks, excluding rental and telex charges, was:

	1984–85	^ 1985–86*
	£	£
DOE(C)	917,000	1,017,000
PSA	2,542,000	2,225,000
Total	3,459,000	3,242,000
^* Provisional.

Departmental Postage

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of postage in his Department in 1984–85 and 1985–86.

The total cost of postage to my Department was:

	1984–85	^*1985–86
	£	£
DOE(C)	558,000	447,000
PSA	887,000	979,000
Total	1,445,000	1,426,000
^* Provisional.

The reduction for DOE(C) reflects a change in the rules used to apportion the joint Department of Environment/Department of Transport postal bill between the two Departments.

London Boroughs (Sheltered Dwellings)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sheltered dwellings are maintained by each of the London boroughs; and what percentage that represents of total local authority stock.

I shall answer this question shortly.

London (Expenditure And Debt)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of outturn capital expenditure, loan charges and net outstanding debt in the City of London and each London borough in 1983–84.

The answer is as follows:The table shows outturn gross capital expenditure, loan charges and outstanding loan debt in the City of London and each London borough in 1983–84.The figures are taken from outturn returns supplied by local authorities.

	Gross capital expenditure	Loan charges	Outstanding loan debt
			£ million
City of London	8·9	31·6	246·6
Camden	51·3	61·5	523·7
Greenwich	25·7	32·7	337·8
Hackney	42·8	39·7	363·7
Hammersmith	42·6	22·8	212·7
Islington	52·6	60·4	560·5
Kensington & Chelsea	29·7	15·1	247·8
Lambeth	59·5	60·2	^*
Lewisham	39·6	38·5	315·2
Southwark	54·5	62·6	530·3
Tower Hamlets	15·8	22·3	179·2
Wandsworth	42·2	37·1	322·6
Westminster	30·2	23·8	231·9
Barking	8·2	12·5	90·8
Barnet	16·5	20·3	168·7
Bexley	14·8	10·4	105·8
Brent	41·4	39·4	329·6
Bromley	22·9	13·4	120·0
Croydon	19·8	15·1	142·4
Ealing	30·2	24·4	263·2
Enfield	15·1	21·7	192·8
Haringey	59·1	40·3	391·5
Harrow	13·8	11·4	107·5
Havering	10·8	11·8	114·8
Hillingdon	27·5	24·7	221·4
Hounslow	23·9	23·6	221·9
Kingston Upon Thames	11·4	7·8	68·1
Merton	21·9	13·7	^*
Newham	47·0	38·5	376·8
Redbridge	13·4	9·7	115·5
Richmond Upon Thames	9·4	7·9	76·7
Sutton	9·4	7·0	86·1
Waltham Forest	18·2	22·9	175·0
^* Not available

London Residuary Body (Redundancy And Compensation Claims)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the claims for redundancy payments or compensation arising from abolition of the Greater London council have been validated by the London Residuary Body; and if he will make a statement.

As of 2 May, I understand that the London Residuary Body had made some 1,700 compensation payments.

Departmental Hospitality

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of ministerial hospitality in his Department in 1984–85 and 1985–86.

The total cost of Environment Ministers' hospitality during 1984–85 was £12,200 and in 1985–86 £14,740.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of official hospitality by Ministers of his Department in London restaurants in 1985–86.

The total cost of Environment Ministers' hospitality in London restaurants during 1985–86 was £3,730.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on official hospitality by civil servants in his Department in 1984–85 and 1985–86.

Expenditure on official hospitality by civil servants in my Department was:

		£
	1984–85	^1985–86*
DOE(c)	16,400	16,000
PSA	11,300	10,200
Total	27,700	26,200

Ministerial Offices (Furnishing Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of furnishing Minister's offices in his Department in 1985–86.

The cost was £12,482.

Departmental Officials (Overseas Travel)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent on overseas travel by officials in his Department in each year since 1979–80.

The information is not readily available for the years 1979–80 to 1983–84, but I will send it to the hon. Member.The figures for overseas travel and subsistence in 1984–85 and in 1985–86 are as follows:

	£
1984–85	559,490
1985–86	551,211

Voluntary Organisations (Funding)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is keeping any information on voluntary organisations which have lost their funding following abolition of the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Parking Fines (Departmental Funds)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fixed penalty parking fines were paid out of Departmental funds in 1985.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Consultants

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consultants were retained by his Department in 1985–86; and what was the cost.

One hundred and thirty-six consultancy contracts were let by DOE(C) in 1985–86 at a total estimated cost of £2,227,000. The equivalent sum for PSA was £153,400,000 covering all works consultancy commissions and management consultancies, but the number of consultancies let is not readily available.

Departmental Newspaper Purchases

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of The Sun, The Mirror, Financial Times, Morning Star and The Times are purchased daily by his Department.

The Department of the Environment buys 13 copies of The Sun, 12 The Mirror, 49 Financial Times, Seven Morning Star and 35 The Times.

London Docklands Development Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the consultants used and consultancy fees paid by the London Docklands Development Corporation in the financial year 1985–86.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current acreage of the London Docklands Development Corporation owned land by borough location.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Local Government (Consents)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for consent under section 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government Interim Provisions Act 1984 were still outstanding on 31 March; and if he will provide a breakdown by section, description and date submitted to his Department.

One hundred and sixty-nine applications were outstanding on 31 March 1986, of which 134 were awaiting further information from the authorities concerned. A breakdown is given in the list. A more detailed description of the applications in question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Description	Date application received
Section 7—Greater London Council
Brent Federation of Tenants and Residents Association	7 June 1985
London Advice and Counselling for Youth (LACSY)	24 September 1985
Haringey Women's Training and Education Centre	25 November 1985
Central London Youth Project	12 February 1986
Jagonari	12 February 1986
Mukti	17 February 1986
London New Technology Network	12 February 1986
Section 7—Greater Manchester Council
New Barrack Tenants Management Group	29 January 1986
Church Action on Poverty	29 January 1986
Parallax Pictures Limited	6 September 1985
North West Council for Sport/Recreation	27 November 1985
Nuclear Free Zone Movement	3 February 1986
Section 7—Merseyside County Council
Black Lynx	21 January 1986
Merseyside Media Project	16 February 1986
Liverpool Children's Holiday	12 February 1986
Section 7—Tyne and Wear County Council

Description	Date application received
Microbial Technology	25 March 1986
Section 7—West Midlands County Council
Muhammed Ali Community Service	5 February 1986
Asian Resource Centre, Coventry	16 July 1985
Anti-Racism Year	17 October 1985
Sandwell Women's Refuge	7 January 1986
O.S.C.A.R.	11 February 1986
Castle Vale Teenage Coffee Bar	11 February 1986
West Midlands Co-Op Finance	7 January 1986
Smethwick Canal Heritage Area	29 January 1986
Old Ascot Community Association	11 February 1986
Section 7—West Yorkshire County Council
Mini-Enterprise Boards	29 January 1986
Section 8—Greater London Council
Goswell Road/St John Street	9 August 1984
403–405 Hackney Road, E2	5 December 1984
GLC Staff Sports Ground Sutton	17 April 1985
GLC Sports Ground Sutton	17 April 1985
Mile End Park	2 October 1985
63 Hampstead High Street NW3	18 December 1985
71 Endell Street WC2	18 December 1985
Heal's Building	23 December 1985
Porters Park Golf Club, Radlett	20 January 1986
R/O 10 Fortress Road, NWS	28 January 1986
Kingsway Hall, 70 Great Queen Street	30 January 1986
Parliament Hill: Clubhouse	30 January 1986
Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath	13 February 1986
36–60 South Lambeth Road, SW18	27 February 1986
17A New North Road, N1	10 March 1986
London Ecology Centre Premises	12 March 1986
27 Shaftesbury Avenue	21 March 1986
184 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2	25 March 1986
10/10a Theed Street, SE1	26 March 1986
25 Romulas Court, Brentford	26 March 1986
69 Romulas Court, Brentford	26 March 1986
34 Romulas Court, Brentford	26 March 1986
68 Romulas Court, Brentford	26 March 1986
7 Romulas Court, Brentford	26 March 1986
Section 8—Greater Manchester Council
Coral Street, Ardwick	5 June 1985
Gypsy Caravan Site, Tameside	22 July 1985
Unit B Orlando Street, Bolton	26 July 1985
Midland Railway Didsbury Line	11 September 1985
2 Clough Street, Rochdale	12 November 1985
Offices, George Lane, Bredbury	25 November 1985
4 Chapel Street, Salford	16 December 1985
Marshall House, Salford	22 January 1986
Slack House, 297/299 Chapel Street	10 February 1986
29 Hopkins Street, Manchester	24 February 1986
3 Hopkins Street, Manchester	24 February 1986
St Annes Road/Guide Lane, Auden	11 March 1986
East Lancashire Railway	6 March 1986
Section 8—Merseyside County Council	Gardners Row Centre
10 February1986
T&GW Union HQ Liverpool	4 March 1986
Section 8—South Yorkshire County Council
Land Fronting Gawber Rd, Barnsley	14 March 1985
Malty Brickworks Quarry	2 April 1985
Barkwood Rd, Rossington	2 April 1985
Common Lane and Bromley Lane	10 May 1985
Part site of 106–116 Ecclesall	12 July 1985
Racecommon Road-York Garage	18 October 1985
54 Cemetery Road, Barnsley	15 January 1986
7 Yardborough Terrace, Bentley	30 January 1986
Newsagents Kiosk Castle St.	3 February 1986
96 Cemetery Road, Barnsley	7 February 1986
169 Penistone Road, Sheffield	14 February 1986
171 Penistone Road, Sheffield	19 February 1986
128 Cemetery Road, Barnsley	6 March 1986
5 Foulstone Row, Wombwell	14 March 1986

Description	Date application received
15 Dudworth Road, Barnsley	17 March 1986
86 Holme Lane, Sheffield	20 March 1986
Section 8—Tyne and Wear County Council
East House Farm, Killingworth	7 February 1986
West View Terrace, Dunston	4 March 1986
70–78 Blenheim Street, Newcastle	18 March 1986
Section 8—West Midlands County Council
Former Stratford Road Gasworks	12 December 1985
Former Stratford Road Gasworks	12 December 1985
Springvale Training Ltd	16 December 1985
Birchcroft Farm Technology Development	13 January 1986
11–13 Littleton Street East	3 February 1986
Land Adjacent Waverley Trading Estate	27 February 1986
Kwik Save Store, Blackheath	12 March 1986
Kwik Save Store, Blackheath	12 March 1986
23 Warwick Road, Birmingham	17 March 1986
17 Warwick Road, Birmingham	17 March 1986
19 Lockwood Road, Birmingham	18 March 1986
1 Market Street, Great Bridge	19 March 1986
Section 8—West Yorkshire County Council
Manface Quarry South Kirkby	21 Jan 1986
0·51 Acres at Churwell Lane	6 February 1986
1·65 Acres at Churwell Lane	6 February 1986
Don Pedro, Normanton	18 February 1986
95 Westgate Hill Street, Bradford	27 February 1986
Staithgate Lane, Bradford	5 March 1986
Section 9—Greater London Council
Trinity College	15 July 1985
Burgess Park	15 July 1985
Burgess Park	15 July 1985
Burgess Park	15 July 1985
Burgess Park	15 July 1985
Battersea Park	15 July 1985
Finsbury Park	15 July 1985
Mile End	15 July 1985
Mile End Park	15 July 1985
Mile End Park	15 July 1985
Mile End Park	15 July 1985
Mile End Park	15 July 1985
Parliament Hill	15 July 1985
Yarnton Way, Thamesmead	18 July 1985
LFB Trianing Centre	1 August 1985
LFB Training Centre	1 August 1985
Jubilee Gardens, Lambeth	12 December 1985
Sidworth Street, Hackney	23 December 1985
Herringham Road/Hardens Manor	24 January 1986
Flexmere Estates/Tower Gardens/Lord Lane	24 January 1986
Ferrier Estate, Greenwich	30 January 1986
97 Prestons Road, E14	18 February 1986
Carlisle House, WC1	27 February 1986
South Bank Memorial Statue	14 March 1986
Civil Defence Video Films	27 March 1985
Dial-A-Ride	1 August 1985
Agricultural Restoration	6 June 1985
Anti-Racist Awareness	14 June 1985
Victoria Park and Burden Gardens	30 September 1985
GLC Arts and Recreation Department	23 October 1985
South Bank Car Parks	26 March 1986
Londoners' Action Kit	17 July 1985
Section 9—Greater Manchester Council
Hulme Lock, Bridgewater Canal	24 June 1985
Gatley Hill House, Gatley	9 August 1985
Hindley Fire Station	26 September 1985
Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale	28 January 1986
Round House, Every Street, Manchester	28 January 1986
4 Refuse Tips	27 February 1986
Fibre Pulping Process—Trials	5 December 1985
Consumer Advice Centre/Trafford	7 May 1985

Description	Date application received
Section 9—Merseyside County Council
Huyton Link Road/Woolfall Heath	13 February 1986
Childwell Valley/Hedgefield Road	13 February 1986
Houghton Road Pelican Crossing	13 February 1986
Market Street/Sankey Street/Earle Street	4 February 1986
Section 9—South Yorkshire County Council
Highways Capital Programme	29 April 1985
Penistone Road (Stage 1) Improvement	15 May 1985
Rushymoor Street, Askern	17 May 1985
Penistone Road Stage 1	17 May 1985
Visitors Design Centre, Howell Wood	17 July 1985
Highstone Lane, Barnsley	19 July 1985
Whitehall Road/Whitehall Lane	19 July 1985
Kiveton Lane/Station Road	19 July 1985
B6388 Richards Road, Sheffield	19 July 1985
Dog Kennels Land, Kiveton Park	19 July 1985
A629 Barnsley Road, Brierley	9 July 1985
Section 9—Tyne and Wear County Council
Hadrian Park Landscaping Phase 2	17 June 1985
Ryton/Greenside Phases 3 and 4	12 July 1985
Hebburn Riverside Landscaping	23 July 1985
Armstrong Bridge, Newcastle	3 December 1985
Section 9—West Midlands County Council
Hotel Development B	14 October 1985
Dudley Road/Perkfield Road Junction	16 December 1985
Operation Green Up Schemes	23 December 1985
Park Lime Pits Country Park	19 December 1985
Old Pleck Road Improvement	8 January 1986
Holmes—Major Incident System	6 February 1986
Design—Waste Disposal Site	5 November 1985

Radiation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the dosage limits for radiation beyond which it is considered harmful for human beings to suffer exposure.

On the grounds of prudence it is generally assumed there is no threshold level for the effects of exposure to radiation. However, international recommendations permit exposures up to 1 milli-Sievert per year on average throughout life with a possibility of 5 milli-Sievert per year for a short period. The risk to any individual from exposures at these levels is considered to be negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is considered to be the normal level tai background radiation in the atmosphere so far as the United Kingdom is concerned.

Normal background radiation in the United Kingdom varies between 0·1 and 0·3 Sieverts per hour depending on the geological in the area. About one third of this radiation associated with radioactivity in air; primarily thoron and their decay products from natural in the earth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the highest level of background radiation recorded in the United Kingdom since the Chernobyl accident.

The highest level of radiation reported by the NRPB was 1 micro-Sievert per hour for a brief period at two places in Cumbria and one in north Wales on Saturday 3 May 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the amount of total potential fallout from Chernobyl.

It is not possible to estimate the total potential fallout until the Russian authorities release further technical details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will compare the normal levels of background radiation with those levels of radiation recorded on Friday 2 May, Saturday 3 May, Sunday 4 May, Monday 5 May and Tuesday 6 May at Dounreay, Darlington, Didcot and Dulwich; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will provide the specific daily readings taken at each monitoring location identified by name throughout the United Kingdom for separate levels of iodine 131, tellurium 132, iodine 132, ruthenium 103 and caesium 137, from 25 April to the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the level of radioactive traces in rainwater for each area of the United Kingdom for each day from Friday 2 May to Wednesday 7 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask the National Radiological Protection Board to publish all the detailed readings of radiation levels available to it over the past two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to monitor regularly radioactivity levels in the north of England and Scotland in the light of the Chernobyl incident; what steps he has taken to inform and protect the public in the present situation; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the replies, 8 May 1986]: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in the House on 6 May 1986 at column 21. Samples have been taken daily, and since last Friday 2 May daily bulletins have been issued by the NRPB after consultation with Government Departments. Extensive monitoring will continue and its results will be made available to the public and the House. Because the information requested is so bulky it is being made available through the press offices in my Department. Department of Health and Social Security and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

London Skyline

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment with whom responsibility now lies for decisions regarding photogrametric records of London's skylines and sensitivity to high buildings maps; and if he will make a statement.

The records are in the care of the London Residuary Body until arrangements can be made for their transfer to the London Planning Advisory Committee.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has anything to add to the answer of 30 November 1984, Official Report, columns 611–12 concerning the net reduction of 8,000 posts in local government as a whole following abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to that statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 1 May, Official Report, column 485, if he will state the total projected amount likely to be made available by the London Residuary Body for redundancy payments following abolition of the Greater London Council.

The London Residuary Body's budget for 1986–87 provides for £35 million to cover all compensation payments. It is still too early to estimate the amount for redundancy payments.

London Marathon Board

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 1 May, Official Report, column 487, what has been the total estimated cost of support given by Her Majesty's Government in each year to the London Marathor Board.

The Department of the Environment has charged no facility fee for the use of the Royal Parks for part of the London marathon, although it requires the London Marathon Board to reimburse the net costs of additional works and facilities provided in the parks specifically for the marathon.

London Residuary Body

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 2 May, Official Report, column 506, if he will give details of the matters relevant to the London Residuary Body's functions under the Local Government Act 1985 which were discussed at the meeting on 23 April between his officials and the London Residuary Body.

The matters discussed are amongst those set out in my answers to the hon. Member of 21 April at columns 66–67.

Soviet Nuclear Accident

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what scientific evidence is available to him to account for the absence of traces of plutonium in the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Soviet Union.

No direct scientific evidence is available to account for the absence of plutonium in the fallout observed in western Europe. However, significant emission of plutonium would be expected only if very high temperatures were reached during such an accident and it may be that high enough temperatures have not been attained.

Protected Planning Zones

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Housing and Planning Bill to establish protected planning zones in which central Government have ultimate planning control; and if he will make a statement.

We are satisfied with the basic structure of responsibility for planning control under the planning Acts and do not consider that in most cases development control needs to be in the hands of my right hon. Friend rather than of the local planning authority. In so far as they are material to the particular case, the local planning authority must have regard in reaching its decisions to the planning policies of my right hon. Friend as expressed in circulars and other published statements, and to the provisions of the structure plan approved by him.

Nuclear Dumps

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has had consultations with the Food Manufacturers' Association about the siting of nuclear dumps;(2) whether he has received representations from or held consultations with any section of the fishing industry about the siting of nuclear waste dumps.

I have had no such consultations. If the Food Manufacturers' Association or the fishing industry has views to offer, I shall be pleased to give them careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has taken on extra staff to deal with correspondence arising from the NIREX nuclear dump proposals.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to the answer of 28 April, Official Report, column 321, what effect his decision to limit the disposal of nuclear waste at NIREX sites to low level waste will have on the future disposal of reprocessing wastes at NIREX sites;(2)pursuant to the answer of 28 April,

Official Report, column 321,whether the reprocessing wastes referred to include materials contaminated in the course of reprocessing but which do not originate as waste for reprocessing;

(3) how many letters and petition signatures for and against the siting of a nuclear waste dump he has received in the month of April from each of the four areas short-listed by NIREX;

(4)if he will reply to the letter to him from Councillor S. J. Norton of 38 Melrose Way, Grimsby, South Humberside, about the South Killingholme potential nuclear waste disposal site in sufficient time for the councillor to have a reasonable opportunity to reply before the special development order is laid; and if he will make a statement;

(5) if he will make it his policy to reply to the letter to him from Councillor A. M. Webster of 66 Caistor Drive, Grimsby, South Humberside, about the South Killingholme proposed nuclear waste disposal site in sufficient time for the councillor to have a reasonable opportunity to reply before the special develpment order is laid; and if he will make a statement;

(6) if he will make it his policy to reply to Councillor J. F. Orchard of 8 Worsley Close, Immingham, South Humberside, about the South Killingholme potential nuclear waste disposal site in sufficient time for the recipient to have a reasonable opportunity to reply before the special development order is laid; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

Radiation Levels

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the levels of background radiation for each county have been on a daily basis; and what are normal background radiation levels, from the period when the fallout from Chernobyl first reached England and Wales to the latest available date.

Normal background radiation in the United Kingdom varies between 0·1 and 0·3 micro-Sieverts per hour. Radionuclides such as the isotopes of iodine and caesium would not normally be present. Since Friday 2 May samples have been taken regularly at monitoring stations throughout the United Kingdom and daily bulletins have been issued by the NRPB after consultation with Government Departments. Because this information is so bulky it is being made available through the press offices in my Department, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Volume 97: debated on Friday 9 May 1986

Written Answers To Questions

Northern Ireland

Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

Armagh Prison

Soviet Union (Nuclear Accident)

Maze Prison

Education And Science

Leavers (Qualifications)

School And College Sports Facilities

Southern Examining Group (Syllabuses)

Attorney-General

Crown Prosecution Service

Radiation

Mr Derry Mainwaring Knight

Wales

Cancer

Employment

Labour Statistics

Trade And Industry

Investment Companies

Gas Consumer Council

Food Imports (East Europe)

Manufacturing Industry

Home Department

Airports

Immigration Service

West Midlands Police

Electoral Rolls

Joint Boards

News International Plant, Wapping

Prime Minister

Conservation

Nuclear Fallout (Emergency Plans)

Radioactive Contamination

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Milk (Radioactivity)

Frozen Food

National Finance

Civil Servants (Briefcases)

Nhs (Capital Expenditure)

Civil List

Personal Taxation

Everyman Theatre

Ncb (Employees)

Nuclear Waste

Electricity Generation Costs

Nuclear Installations

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Radiation

Mr Rory Mckenna

Soviet Union (Nuclear Accident)

Uganda

Defence

North-West England (Jobs)

Comprehensive Test Ban

Cruise Missiles

Rainfall Statistics

Uss Nathaniel Green

Nuclear Submarines (Waste Disposal)

Chemical Weapons

Advertising Agencies

Transport

Drink-Driving

Departmental Staff

Vehicle Registration Prefix

Coaches (Speed Governors)

Car Rallying (Safety)

Motorways (Signs)

Manpower Schemes, London

Lrt (Bus Routes)

London Transport Services (Staff)

Mr Kenneth Joyner (Salary)

Lrt (Board Salaries)

Lrt (Revenue Subsidy)

Public Transport Employees (Assaults)

Br (Station Staff)

London Buses (Deregulation)

Bus Mileage, London