Written Answers

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

Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 9 December 1986

Attorney-General

State Security

asked the Attorney-General whether the book "Their Trade is Treachery" was referred to the D Notice Committee for consideration by all its members.

The question whether a particular book was referred to the D Notice Committee is not one for which I have responsibility.

Public Record Office

asked the Attorney-General whether he will set out in tabular form for each of the last five years the annual Government funding in respect of the Public Record Office; and what has been the amount payable in each year to the Property Services Agency in respect of remedial works to the air-conditioning system at Kew.

The amounts voted by Parliament for the Public Record Office for the past five years are as follows:

	Gross £	Appropriations in aid £	Net £
1982–83	3,999,000	320,000	3,670,000
1983–84	8,939,000	443,000	8,496,000
1984–85	9,793,000	438,000	9,355,000
1985–86	10,940,000	453,000	10,487,000
1986–87	11,098,000	927,000	10,171,000

Since the introduction of the property repayment system in 1983–84, sums have been transferred to the Property Services Agency by the Public Record Office in respect of accommodation charges, works, and fuel and utilities for all its four sites. The payments are not otherwise attributed to specific purposes and it is not possible to identify separate elements relating to remedial works to the air-conditioning system at Kew. The total sums transferred are:

	£
1983–84	4,211,000
1984–85	4,055,000
1985–86	5,066,000
1986–87	5,119,000

These figures do not include £750,000 for the cost of the works to the Kew building arising from the 1984 review by Messrs. Donald Smith, Seymour and Rooley, which are to be borne on the Property Services Agency Votes.

Environment

Marine Nature Reserves

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the location of all the proposed or established marine nature reserves in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The first statutory marine nature reserve, at Lundy island, was announced on 21 November. The Nature Conservancy Council has identified six further potential reserves at Skomer, Menai, Bardsey, the Scilly isles, Loch Sween and St. Abbs head. Detailed consultations are continuing and it is hoped to designate more sites in 1987.

Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken within the last three years aimed at (a) encouraging industrialists to introduce environmentally sound technology on to existing production lines, (b) substitute more environmentally sound products in the place of ones found to be harmful and (c) ensure that new plant incorporates the best available technology to reduce the amount and toxicity of both the waste produced and the end product.

Over the past three years the Government have supported the Pollution Abatement Technology Award Scheme. We are supporting the United Kingdom international pollution abatement fair and conference next year, and are grant-aiding production of a directory of products, services and ideas emerging from the environmental industry. The development of pollution abatement technology attracts grant aid from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the support for innovation scheme.We have also co-operated with industry to develop environmentally-friendly products. Measures include the introduction of unleaded petrol, the progressive elimination of lead from decorative paint and a reduction in the organotin content of anti-fouling paint for boats.The pollution inspectorates continue to require a high standard of pollution abatement in new plant; and we recently announced that all new coal-fired power stations must be fitted with acid-free technology to standards set by the Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate.

International Year Of Shelter For The Homeless

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to mark the 1987 United Nations International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.

Since the focus of the year is on assistance to developing countries, action to mark it is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Urban Economic Development

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans any new initiatives in policy towards urban economic development in the light of the findings of the Economic and Social Research Council in its publication "Critical Issues in Urban Economic Development"; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has had extensive contacts with the ESRC in the course of their inner cities research programme. Its findings are taken into account in the development of policy, although none of the current urban initiatives is solely attributable to them.

Public Record Office, Kew

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the original cost to public funds of the construction of the Public Record Office at Kew; what part of that cost was represented by the expenditure on the air conditioning system; and what proportion of the original cost is the amount spent over the last five years on air conditioning.

The total cost to public funds was £10·4 million at 1977–78 outturn prices of which the amount falling on PSA's works vote was £8·3 million. The air conditioning plant cost £1·2 million. Over the last five years some £1·2 million (at cash prices), has been spent on the maintenance and operation of the system. This includes £800,000 normal routine maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form for each year since 1977 the amount of money spent on remedial works to the Public Record Office at Kew, indicating separately the amounts spent on air conditioning.

The costs of remedial works, over and above normal routine maintenance, carried out by PSA at the Public Records Office at Kew since 1977 are:

	Total cost £	Air conditioning costs only (assessed figures at cash prices £
1977–78	4,400	1,700
1978–79	6,200	3,400
1979–80	21,300	0
1980–81	3,100	700
1981–82	6,400	2,000
1982–83	65,500	34,000
1983–84	121,000	62,000
1984–85	132,500	72,000
1985–86	270,000	220,000
	630,400	395,800

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why £800,000 has been spent over five years on routine and regular maintenance to the air conditioning system of the Public Record Office at Kew; what proportion that represents of the original cost of its installation; and how it compares with the routine maintenance work on air conditioning in other Government offices over the same period.

The air conditioning is particularly sophisticated. The £800,000 spent over five years on the routine and regular maintenance of the air conditioning system represents 66 per cent. of the systems original 1976–77 installation cost of £1,200,000.Approximately £90,000 per annum (£450,000 over the five year period) is spent on a service contract to provide for the day-to-day operation of the plant and equipment, and for minor repairs and servicing of any items costing under £500. In addition, any repairs over that amount are paid for separately as are all specialist services including the regular inspection and sterilisation of the water distribution system and the deep cleaning of the humidification plant.The national statistics compiled by the Property Services Agency do not separate the costs of air conditioning plants from other engineering services. For the building as a whole, however, over the past five years, maintenance work has averaged £8·95 per square metre per annum (at 1985–86 prices) against a national model cost for buildings of this type, age and construction of £14·64.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the independent review of the Public Record Office at Kew and as to the reasons given in the review for the closure of the premises to the public for three months in 1984.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on this issue made by the Lord Chancellor in another place on 27 March 1985 at column 1138. The building was closed as a preventive measure whilst the air conditioning plant was thoroughly checked, cleaned and treated with disinfectants. Most of the work recommended by the review has been completed.

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

The following Committees of this nature (other than committees of officials) have been abolished in this period:

Advisory Committee on Local Government Audit
Committee of Inquiry into the Conduct of Local Authority Business
Committee of Recreational Management Training
Hydraulics Reseach Station Advisory Committee

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committes to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

The committee of inquiry into the Handling of Geographic Information is the only Committee (other than committees of officials) set up to advise me or my Department, which is not listed in "Public Bodies". It was set up in 1985 and will be submitting its report in March 1987.

"Paying For Local Government"

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, by 19 December, a list of those responding to Cmnd. 9714 "Paying for Local Government" along with a summary of their responses.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on November 1986 at column 392 and 27 November at column 317 to him and to his hon. Friend the Member for Mid Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle), respectively. The summary of responses I expect to publish will include a list of organisations which responded to the Green Paper.

Housing Corporation Development Programme

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now give details of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1987–88.

We have now approved a development programme for 1987–88 which will allow the Housing Corporation to give approval to some 22,000 new homes for rent and for sale—a 21 per cent. increase over 1986–87. This is based on the gross provision of £705 million, announced by my right hon. Friend on 7 November, which included a £20 million increase specifically for new schemes mixing 30 per cent. grant with private finance. Together with a further £10 million of

Housing Corporation—Approved development programme 1987–88
		£ million	£ million
Net allocation (cash limit)			637
Receipts			68
Gross allocation			705
Housing for rent
Fair rent and shared housing projects
1. Contracted expenditure (Block 1)			357
2. New tenders approved (Block 2)			139
3. New Fair rent and shared housing projects (Block 3)			56
Flexible HAG projects
4. (a) Homeless families
(b) Job movers	committed expenditure	3
(c) Other projects	New projects	30	33
5. Major Repairs:	committed expenditure	16
	New projects	8	24
6. Mini HAG:			3
Housing for sale
7. (a) Improvement for sale
(b) Leasehold schemes for the elderly
(c) Shared ownership	Committed expenditure	68
(d) Home-ownership for tenants of charitable housing associations	New projects	22	90
			702
8. Right to buy mortgages and other expenditure			3
			705

Note 1:

Included in Blocks 1, 2 and 3 (fair rent) and Housing for sale is £6·7 million to cover the cost of certain projects to be undertaken on Merseyside.

Note 2:

Within the provision for flexible HAG £3 million has been allocated to permit the transfer of some 700 units previously approved for fair rent to funding on a 30 per cent. HAG basis.

Note 3:

New Fair rent and shared housing projects. The allocation of funds under this head will initiate projects to a total cost of some £513 million to be completed over the next 3 to 4 years.

"challenge" funding we have now added from within the programme, we expect the mixed finance schemes alone to generate £100 million of new housing investment.

In 1986–87 the Housing Corporation was asked to concentrate new approvals on areas of greatest need. They identified 80 housing stress areas for which the 1985–86 allocations for new fair rent and shared housing projects were maintained in total in real terms in 1986–87. These allocations will be increased by a further 9 per cent. to £390 million in 1987–88 but there will also be increases for other areas.

Overall allocations for housing for rent will be 17 per cent. above 1985–86 levels of investment. The priorities for this programme will be to help homeless families, especially those in bed and breakfast accommodation, schemes to assist job mobility and provision for others with special housing needs including those in rural stress areas. The allocations for new major projects go up from £25 million to £40 million—60 per cent. increase. New starts on housing for sale will be kept at the same level as 1986–87. Provision made in this programme will be supplemented by wholly private financed schemes, both in the form of the index-linked shared ownership made possible by the Housing and Planning Act and also by the new initiatives recently announced by the Housing Corporation, which they have worked up in co-operation with Coventry Churches Housing Association.

The breakdown of the approved development programme for 1987–88 is as follows:

Portsmouth Councillor (Telephone Call)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what request as to the revelation of the contents of the telephone call to the Leader of Portsmouth city council on 4 March was made in the course of the telephone call.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: I do not recall asking Councillor Gibson to delay revealing the contents of the conversation to his council, and would have had no reason to do so. My recollection is that Councillor Gibson for his part did not ask that the conversation should be kept in confidence, but mentioned that he would wait until the letter giving details of the Secretary of State's decision arrived before informing the Council.

"Faith In The City"

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken in the light of the report "Faith in the City" on matters which are the responsibility of his Department.

[pursuant to the reply, 8 December 1986]: My Department continues to give priority to the regeneration of urban areas through existing programmes, including the urban programme and derelict land grant, which have greatly expanded since 1979. In addition new initiatives have been promoted, including proposals for new urban development corporations at Trafford Park in Greater Manchester, Teesside, the black country and Tyne and Wear, and the provision for urban regeneration grant contained in the Housing and Planning Act 1986. Also, my Department is giving specific assistance to the Archbishop's commission on urban priority areas with its work on identifying areas for assistance by the church urban fund. I shall be seeing the chairman and secretary of the follow-up group tomorrow.

Council Estates (Demolition)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to provide for his consent to be required for the demolition of a council housing estate, and sale of the land.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: The decision on whether to demolish property owned by it rightly rests with the local housing authority concerned. Sales of council housing land already require the consent of my right hon. Friend under section 32 of the Housing Act 1985.

Housing (Portsmouth)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the value of grants Portsmouth city council has received for (a) the original construction of the Portsdown park housing estate and (b) capitalised repairs since 1970.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: This information is not available in the form requested. Portsmouth city council does not currently require Exchequer housing subsidy to balance its housing account.

Council House Waiting Lists

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many people are currently on local authority housing waiting lists (a) in each of the London boroughs and (b) in each of the parliamentary constituencies in the London borough of Southwark.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: My right hon. Friend has received from the London boroughs the information given in the table. Neither the criteria for inclusion in the waiting list nor the checking of lists to remove the names of people no longer seeking local authority accommodation are uniform to the local authorities for which information is given.

Number of Households on the Housing Waiting List at 1 April 1986
	Number
City of London	553
Barking and Dagenham	3,880
Barnet	5,753
Bexley	3,751
Brent	18,496
Bromley	4,376
Camden	16,922
Croydon	5,226
Ealing	9,114
Enfield	7,825
Greenwich	15,015
Hackney	15,850
Hammersmith and Fulham	9,235
Haringey	12,147
Harrow	2,001
Havering	3,140
Hillingdon	3,722
Hounslow	8,637
Islington	9,500
Kensington and Chelsea	9,987
Kingston upon Thames	1,912
Lambeth	16,652
Lewisham	22,585
Merton	3,849
Newham	5,386
Redbridge	2,791
Richmond upon Thames	4,038
Southwark	14,583
Sutton	1,634
Tower Hamlets	10,000
Waltham Forest	7,578
Wandsworth	6,981
Westminster	9,152

Source: HIP returns 1986.

The Department does not hold this information on a constituency basis.

Trade And Industry

Arms Sales

53.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the end user certificates system for overseas arms sales.

Yes.

Motor Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the number of British jobs dependent on (a) motor vehicle manufacturing, (b) the motor component supply industry, (c) the motor trade and (d) the motor industry.

Our estimate of the number of British jobs directly dependent on these sectors is as follows:

	Number
(a) motor vehicle manufacturing	157,000
(b) motor component supply industry	200,000
(c) the motor trade	514,000
(d) the motor industry (vehicle manufacturing plus component supply)	357,000

Pirate Radio, London

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations concerning increases in pirate radio traffic in the Greater London area.

From time to time a number of organisations based in the Greater London Area whose legitimate activities have been affected by unlicensed broadcasting stations have made representations about the difficulties they have experienced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any reports of FM signal interference caused by pirate radio traffic in the Greater London area.

My Department's radio investigation service receives frequent complaints of radio interference caused by unauthorised use of radio including unlicensed broadcasting stations in the Greater London area. Unlicensed broadcasters have caused interference to authorised broadcasting services and to radio systems used by the police, fire and ambulance services, services essential to the safety of customers and employees of airlines, gas companies, and bus companies. With this in mind we are committed to stopping the interference from unlicensed broadcasters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions were brought under section 79 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 in Greater London last year; how many resulted in convictions; and how many resulted in the confiscation of broadcasting equipment.

No prosecutions have been brought under section 79 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. Last year (1985), 182 prosecutions were brought under sections 1, 5 and 13 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 in Greater London. Of these 93 related to unlicensed broadcasting of which 92 resulted in conviction. In 61 of the latter cases forfeiture of equipment was ordered by the court.

Radio Interference Service

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff the radio interference service has engaged in investigating complaints in the Greater London area.

My Department's radio investigation service employs 220 staff throughout the United Kingdom who are deployed to particular regions as work demands. There are 55 staff based in London.

Nightwear

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the terms of his Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 apply to garments other than nightwear; and if he will remake the regulations under a different title.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 2 December at column 548. As the hon. Member has also written to me on this subject, I shall reply to his letter as soon as possible.

Channel Tunnel

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the encouragement of small firms to bid for Channel tunnel contracts.

My Department is seeking to make all United Kingdom industry aware of the business opportunities to which the project will give rise. Small firms are encouraged to register with the tunnel contractors, Transmanche link joint venture.

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publications of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

There are no such committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

Advisory Committees to which the Secretary of State makes appointments which are not yet listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication are:

The National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies.
The Alvey programme Steering Committee.
The Industrial Consultative Committee on Biotechnology.
They will be listed in the next available edition.

Standard Chartered Bank

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will appoint inspectors to inquire into share dealing during the attempted bid by Lloyds for Standard Chartered Bank and related matters.

I shall appoint inspectors if and when am satisfied that there are grounds to do so.

Trade Descriptions Act 1972

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to consult interested parties about successor arrangements to the Trade Descriptions Act 1972.

My Department sent a consultation letter to a wide range of consumer and trade associations on 4 December seeking their views on possible successor arrangements. I have arranged for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

£ million
	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
(a) Sales in the United Kingdom	104·8	104·9	132·0	146·8	153·6
Sales of tiles produced in the United Kingdom	87·5	84·5	102·3	106·5	109·9
Imports of tiles	33·2	35·9	45·8	56·5	59·7
(b) Sales in the United Kingdom	13·8	17·7	23·4	25·7	27·0
Sales of tiles produced in the United Kingdom	14·1	17·9	23·4	25·8	26·7
Imports of tiles	0·1	0·2	0·4	0·5	0·8

Figures for Plastic, Rubber, Vinyl, Cork, Glass, Cement and Carpet tiles are not available.

Shipbuilders (International Comparisons)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the most recent information available to him of the support for shipbuilders in (a) Japan, (b) Taiwan, (c) Korea and (d) all individual countries of the European Economic Community.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 December 1986]: There is no direct support to shipbuilders in Japan or South Korea. I will write to the hon. Member about Taiwan about which I have no information to hand.The following is the current information on support for shipbuilders in the European Community:

United Kingdom

(a) Up to 20·5 per cent. of contract price from the Intervention Fund and 2 per cent. Shipbuilders Relief. The maximum may be increased by 5 per cent. for vessels over 70,000 dwt built in Northern Ireland.

(b) Loss compensation in public sector yards.

(c) Shipbuilding redundancy payments scheme.

(d) Regional development grants.

(e) Enterprise Companies.

Belgium

(a) No production subsidies.

(b) 10 year plan from 1982 to take over redundancy payments to workers 55 and over.

(c) The Economic Expansion Law, 1970, provides credit facilities for investment.

(d) The Economic Expansion Law, 1970, provides interest free credits for the development of prototypes, new products and new production processes.

Denmark

(a) No direct production subsidies.

(b) Loans from National Bank for new building at official discount rate 1·5–2 per cent.

(c) Guarantees covering mortgages for small ships.

France

(a) Production aids for:

(i) small yards 10 per cent.;

(ii) large and medium yards 20 per cent.

(b) Aid for closures and reconversion.

Tiles

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give figures for each of the last five years for (a) sales of tiles in the Unied Kingdom, (b) production of British tiles and (c) imports of tiles.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: The figures for (a) wall, floor and fireplace tiles and (b) clay roofing tiles and fittings are as follows:

Germany

(a) No direct production subsidies for shipbuilding.

(b) Rescue aid.

(c) Guarantees from one coastal Land.

(d) Grant aid for closures and reconversion.

(e) Grants of up 11·25 per cent. and guarantees for investment.

(f) Grants for research and development.

Ireland

Nil.

Italy

(a) Up to 25 per cent. of contract price. Additional 5·3 per cent. for large yards in the Mezzogiorno and 2 per cent. for others.

(b) Loss compensation.

(c) Stock holding of components.

(d) Up 30 per cent. grants for investments linked to rationalisation or re-organisation programmes which do not increase production capacity.

(e) Insurance or export credits.

(f) Aid for research and development.

Netherlands

(a) Up to 10 per cent. of contract price. Total aid is linked to turnover.

Portugal

(a) 25 per cent. of contract cost.

(b) Loss compensation.

Spain

(a) Up to 14·5 per cent. of value of the ship.

(b) Up to 2–5 per cent. of contract value for financial restructuring to be matched by beneficiary.

(c) Loss financing of public sector yards.

(d) Employment Promotion Fund 2 per cent. of value of ships built.

(e) Research and Development programmes financed by 0·5 per cent. of the value of ships built.

House Of Commons

Police Accommodation

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has any proposals to make additional accommodation for the police guarding the Palace of Westminster available in No. 1 Bridge street; and if he will make a statement.

At present, the BBC, IRN and Metropolitan police occupy parts of the building on a short-term basis. During the recess further accommodation was made available to the BBC. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Evironment has action in hand to provide the police with a new locker room. It is hoped that the new facility will be available early in the New Year.

Education And Science

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any committee of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

There is one such committee not yet listed in the Public Bodies publication, namely the recently established National Advisory Council for the Youth Service to which my right hon. Friend and the Secretary of State for Wales make appoinments jointly.

Listed Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has sought to find out how much of the University Grants Committee's recurrent grant is used for the upkeep of listed buildings; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not sought to find out how much of the University Grants Committee's recurrent grant is used for the upkeep of listed buildings and has no plans to do so.

Student Unions

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost to the taxpayer of student unions in each year since 1978–79.

The Department does not collect this information. Up to the academic year 1980–81, all student unions were financed by a per capita fee charged to the individual student. Since 1981–82, student unions in institutions of higher education have been financed by means of a block allocation from the resources of their parent institutions. The total amount of such allocations is not known. Arrangements for the funding of student unions in other further education institutions are locally determined.

Teachers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the current availability of teachers in science and related subjects.

Vacancies for teachers of science, mathematics and technology have risen recently though they still represent a low proportion of total posts. Many teachers have their main qualification in other subjects. The Government is backing a range of measures to improve supply including the introduction of a £1,200 tax free bursary scheme for entrants to initial teacher training courses in the shortage subjects, the allocation of £16·5 million in 1987–88 to support related in-service training and the formation of a national unit to publicise teaching as a career.

Home Department

Mentally Ill Prisoners

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the number of inmates in Her Majesty's prisons who are suffering from mental illness.

On 30 September there were 339 inmates in prison custody in England and Wales who had a disorder which, in the opinion of the Medical Officer, was of a nature or degree which would make it appropriate for them to be detained in hospital under the terms of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Detained Persons (Food)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he is now having on possible changes in the procedures which allow food to be taken into prisons for people held on remand in custody; and if he will make a statement.

We are reviewing the need in present day circumstances for the longstanding privilege of unconvicted prisoners to have food and drink sent into prison. Prison service catering offers an adequate and varied diet which prisoners may supplement by purchases from the prison canteen. The remand food privilege provides a means of smuggling unauthorised articles, including drugs, into prisons and requires staff time to be spent in searching that could be put into other use. The views of prison service trade unions have been sought and officials are considering the practical implications of abolishing the privilege.

Salmon Act 1976

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure that police forces in England and Wales are fully briefed on the relevant sections of the Salmon Act 1976.

The enforcement of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 falls primarily to water authorities rather than the police, who may provide assistance on request. We are not aware of any difficulties encountered by the police which required advice from this Department.

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publications of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

There is no central record of unlisted committees which have ceased to exist. Only committees with a life of less than 12 months would not normally be listed.The most recent regular survey of Home Office bodies identified three committees in existence on 1 April 1986 which had not been listed in the 1985 edition of "Public Bodies":

(i) The Special Panel of Advisers on Security Cases (paragraph 150 of the Immigration Rules HC 169), which had not at the time of the review convened since 1976;

(ii) The New Town Licensed Premises Committee (Milton Keynes) and the Advisory Committee on Service Candidates had appeared in earlier editions but were omitted due to an oversight.

Asylum Seekers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom are presently being detained by the Immigration Service (a) at Harmondsworth, (b) at Latchmere house, Richmond and (c) elsewhere in the United Kingdom;(2) how many persons seeking asylum in the United Kingdom and detained by the immigration service have been held in custody for more than two weeks;(3) if it remains his policy to allow temporary admission to persons seeking asylum in the United Kingdom whilst their cases are being considered; and if he will make a statement.

The criteria for deciding whether to grant temporary admission are applied by the immigration service locally and are the same for asylum applicants as for others. These are an assessment of the likelihood of the person complying with the terms of temporary admission

Establishment	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)	(h)
Acklington	164	159	147	151	189	2·89	3·07	2·34
Albany	311	324	332	257	383	1·10	1·12	0·61
Aldington	36	36	37	40	44	2·69	2·89	1·58
Ashford	199	198	198	196	234	2·12	2·22	2·34
Ashwell	66	65	61	68	75	5·32	5·07	4·99
Askham Grange	48	42	42	41	46	2·52	1·76	2·41
Aylesbury	135	138	140	121	167	2·08	1·93	2·02
Bedford	172	172	181	169	204	1·78	1·65	1·93
Birmingham	417	399	403	406	443	2·37	2·16	2·30
Blantyre House	45	45	42	43	48	1·18	1·24	1·44
Blundeston	143	146	144	144	158	2·75	2·82	2·81
Bristol	244	240	249	252	260	2·51	2·07	2·19
Brixton	666	654	606	601	993	1·50	1·33	1·27
Brockhill	97	95	95	97	108	2·44	2·38	2·08
Buckley Hall	42	42	39	44	47½	2·00	1·97	1·36
Bullwood Hall	89	84	65	77	95	1·74	1·68	1·21
Camp Hill	180	177	174	195	203	2·64	2·34	2·33
Campsfield House	37	37	38	37	40	1·38	0·82	0·86
Canterbury	192	187	179	162	230	1·50	1·63	1·75
Cardiff	221	211	206	219	223½	2·04	1·79	1·81
Castington	104	106	108	100	116	1·65	2·56	1·66

and of any compassionate features. On the information readily available, on 5 December 41 persons claiming asylum were detained at Harmondsworth, 29 at Latchmere house and 25 elsewhere; 64 of these had been detained for longer than two weeks on that date.

Prison Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the minimum recommended number of officers working in each of Her Majesty's prisons; what was the actual number on duty on the latest date for which figures are available; how these figures compare with the authorised establishment at each prison; what is the number of prisoners in each prison and how this figure compares with the recommended maximum; what is the recommended ratio of prison officers to prisoners at each prison and what is the actual figure; and if he will give these figures for each of the last three years, where appropriate.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986, c. 45]: Minimum recommended staffing levels are not set for prison establishments in England and Wales. The actual number of officers on duty at any one time varies according to such factors as the time of day, the day of the week, leave and training. This information is not held centrally. The number of prison officer class staff in post at each establishment on 31 October 1986 according to centrally held records is listed in column (a) of the table together with comparable figures for 31 December 1985 (b) 31 December 1984 (c) and 31 December 1983 (d). The authorised staffing level as at 1 November 1986 is set out in column (e); figures for past years are not available. There is no agreed recommended maximum number of inmates per prison; information recording the average and the highest population in each establishment is provided in the annual reports on the work of the prison department, which are available in the Library. The concept of a recommended officer to inmate ratio does not exist at present; actual ratios showing the number of inmates per member of the prison officer class for 31 December 1985, 31 December 1984 and 31 December 1983, are set out in the table at columns (f), (g) and (h) respectively.

Establishment	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)	(h)
Channings Wood	147	149	139	150	153	2·85	2·60	2·65
Chelmsford	162	159	164	170	179	2·18	2·11	2·29
Coldingley	153	151	157	145	188	1·91	1·90	2·01
Cookham Wood	56	56	51	55	64	2·14	2·16	2·11
Dartmoor	253	235	225	216	239	3·15	2·27	2·50
Deerbolt	151	145	106	113	168½	1·81	2·53	2·46
Dorchester	94	90	98	91	106	1·81	1·96	1·93
Dover	109	104	95	108	113½	2·11	2·41	1·85
Drake Hall	77	75	75	72	78	2·95	2·80	2·46
Durham	404	384	364	371	401	2·52	2·65	2·52
East Sutton Park	29	28	23	24	27	2·50	2·22	2·04
Eastwood Park	53	51	53	50	55½	1·61	1·21	1·64
Erlestoke	95	97	91	92	107½	1·80	2·22	1·36
Everthorpe	111	115	113	104	115	3·13	3·03	3·36
Exeter	209	206	221	224	226	2·01	1·89	1·89
Featherstone	138	138	138	132	164	3·71	3·62	3·68
Feltham/Finnamore Wood	174	176	185	178	194½	1·66	1·57	1·77
Ford	96	97	102	98	103	5·07	4·26	5·39
Fosten Hall	36	38	39	37	39½	1·05	0·85	1·08
Frankland	381	364	349	333	337	1·19	0·89	0·93
Gartree	247	262	273	253	312	1·18	1·11	1·10
Glen Parva	261	246	253	240	295½	2·63	2·49	2·31
Gloucester	128	132	131	135	145	2·05	1·69	2·07
Grendon/Springhill	153	149	159	154	187	1·62	1·52	1·69
Guys Marsh	78	78	74	68	86½	1·88	2·61	1·87
Haslar	46	44	46	45	46	1·64	1·35	1·29
Hatfield/Gringley	97	98	97	86	100	1·86	2·22	2·24
Haverigg	99	103	104	102	127	4·86	4·89	5·01
Hewell Grange	55	54	55	50	62	2·70	2·27	2·42
Highpoint	196	200	178	148	241	3·06	2·98	3·57
Hindley	119	112	114	110	132½	2·59	2·82	2·73
Hollesley Bay	204	207	221	221	247	2·07	1·93	1·88
Holloway	336	345	384	292	370	0·88	0·81	1·05
Hull	250	250	249	246	290	0·99	1·17	1·20
Huntercombe	68	58	59	61	78½	3·14	2·90	3·07
Kingston	63	62	62	58	68	2·21	2·24
Kirkham	80	79	80	77	86	6·08	6·21	7·45
Kirklevington	47	45	49	49	51	1·38	1·69	2·20
Lancaster	94	95	95	90	99	2·40	2·29	2·53
Latchmere House	76	79	80	76	86	1·73	1·60	2·01
Leeds	396	387	373	352	509	3·16	3·07	3·23
Leicester	221	215	232	218	256	1·56	1·52	1·70
Lewes	194	191	203	196	227	2·76	2·42	2·40
Leyhill	66	63	65	61	79	4·97	4·80	5·18
Lincoln	227	224	224	223	259	2·71	2·39	2·24
Lindholm	206	—	—	—	235	—	—	—
Liverpool	414	418	404	394	480	2·93	3·06	2·88
Long Lartin	312	312	314	319	364	1·28	1·25	1·21
Lowdham Grange	79	82	86	84	92½	2·89	2·92	2·80
Low Newton	119	116	123	116	127	2·09	2·33	2·01
Maidstone	193	186	184	197	225	2·81	2·76	2·56
Manchester	526	536	513	457	616	2·89	2·32	3·01
Medomsley	44	44	45	41	50	1·23	1·38	1·56
Morton Hall	35	27	—	—	44	3·59	—	—
New Hall	39	41	43	42	45	1·37	1·77	1·14
Northallerton	85	87	82	81	95	2·39	2·61	2·60
Northeye	89	89	98	94	116	4·91	4·16	4·55
Noth Sea Camp	64	60	63	62	71	1·62	2·02	1·42
Norwich	237	231	242	236	252	2·58	2·46	2·25
Nottingham	138	136	136	133	139	2·16	2·05	2·23
Onley	145	146	155	153	168½	2·84	2·54	2·55
Oxford	106	104	103	106	115½	2·08	2·22	2·19
Parkhurst	297	295	306	305	364	0·75	0·83	0·89
Pentonville	306	328	335	320	352	2·90	2·67	3·05
Portland	170	168	166	164	184	2·91	2·69	2·71
Preston	146	137	132	146	145	4·17	4·21	3·95
Pucklechurch	113	110	115	110	118	1·32	1·36	1·38
Ranby	117	114	120	122	128	3·11	3·03	2·76
Reading	144	136	108	144	160	2·20	2·80	1·93
Risley	530	516	463	443	514	1·82	1·97	1·95
Rochester	126	125	134	144	143	2·53	2·60	2·30
Rudgate	55	57	60	60	68	5·91	4·45	5·17
Send	42	44	46	44	49½	1·16	0·96	1·55
Shepton Mallet	82	79	83	84	83½	3·10	2·67	3·11
Shrewsbury	101	94	93	103	114½	1·88	2·22	1·73
Stafford	218	203	210	213	245	3·21	2·78	3·17
Standford Hill	95	104	106	114	132	3·13	4·38	4·22

Establishment	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)	(h)
Stocken	114	107	—	—	127	2·68	—	—
Stoke Heath	140	139	138	132	149½	2·83	3·07	3·14
Styal	154	141	149	132	145	1·85	1·68	1·98
Sudbury	68	66	65	70	75	5·71	5·18	4·94
Swansea	148	146	160	144	153½	1·92	1·54	1·89
Swinfen Hall	96	99	103	100	113	1·83	1·64	1·80
Thorn Cross	82	69	—	—	94½	3·22	—	—
Thorp Arch	84	91	98	97	111	2·69	2·40	2·43
Usk	80	79	85	81	86	1·81	1·85	1·84
The Verne	133	133	132	132	140	3·83	3·83	3·82
Wakefield	445	424	424	406	464	1·75	1·66	1·75
Wandsworth	406	409	412	372	470	3·64	3·48	3·65
Wayland	130	128	—	—	157	3·64	—	—
Wellingborough	135	131	136	121	146	2·71	2·41	2·66
Werrington	50	46	45	43	50	1·93	0·87	1·00
Wetherby	74	75	79	78	75	2·35	2·71	2·38
Whatton	76	73	75	78	86	1·58	1·60	1·71
Winchester	269	259	281	275	298	2·47	2·15	2·27
Wormwood Scrubs	507	500	522	464	534	2·61	2·24	2·20
Wymott	209	213	216	210	230	3·76	3·61	3·84

Northern Ireland

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publications of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982;(2) if he will list in the

There are no bodies to which my right hon. Friend makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication. I am not aware of any bodies in this category which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

Wales

Small Farm Businesses

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the survey of small farm businesses which is being collated in Wales by the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and in which his Department is participating will be completed; when he expects the results to be known; if they will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The survey of small farm businesses is to be carried out during 1987 and 1988. Some results are expected to become available towards the end of 1987 and reports will be published in 1988 and 1989.

Pharmacists

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his policy towards the provision by pharmacists of explicit information as to the method whereby medication urgently prescribed can he obtained at times other than when the premises are open for business and rota duty dispensing;

(2) What representations he has received from individuals and organisations on the non-availability of urgently prescribed medications in areas which do not have a 24-hour, seven-day a week pharmacy service.

FPCs are encouraged to ensure that community pharmacists display clearly information as to whether the pharmacist may be contacted for urgent dispensing outside normal and extended pharmacy hours. We have received no representations about the availability of urgently prescribed medication.

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

Committees which we have set up to advise us and which are not listed in Public Bodies are the health policy board and the urban development grant appraisal panel. We also make appointments jointly with our right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the recently established National Advisory Council for the Youth Service and with our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Security to the intermediate treatment trust fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publications of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

There are none such.

Birth Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list for each of the years 1982 to 1985 the estimated percentages of women delivering in Wales (a) whose labours were induced, (b) whose labours were of spontaneous onset and (c) who had elective caesarean sections;

(2) if he will list for each of the years 1982 to 1985 the estimated percentages of women delivering in Wales whose deliveries were (a) spontaneous, including abnormal presentation of head and breach spontaneous, (b) instrumental (forceps, vacuumns), (c) by caesarean section and (d) other and unspecified means.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Overseas Development

Structural Adjustment

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he makes his own appraisal of structural adjustment policies in countries where the United Kingdom has a bilateral aid programme.

Yes. Structural adjustment programmes usually involve the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and we participate in board discussions. In addition, for countries where British bilateral programme aid is likely to be involved in significant financial support for structural adjustment programmes, ODA officials participate in relevant World Bank missions or otherwise consult World Bank staff closely. Our country aid programmes also finance studies of policies relevant to structural adjustment programmes which influence the nature of the reforms adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to ensure that adequate funds are available to debtor countries in the Third World which undertake structural adjustment programmes.

We support a substantial eighth replenishment for the International Development Association and a general capital increase for the World Bank when required. We encourage increased use of World Bank funds for structural adjustment lending in appropriate cases. The resources of the International Monetary Fund are reviewed at about five-yearly intervals

	Outturn 1985–86 £ million	Latest forecast of outturn 1986–87 £ million
Price guarantees
Wool	1·5	9·7
Potatoes	7·5	—
	9·0	9·7
Support for capital and other improvements
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Scheme	65·6	50·7
Guidance Premiums	3·8	3·6
Farm Accounts	0·8	0·8
Farm Structure	0·3	0·3
Northern Ireland Agricultural Development Programme	4·9	2·3
Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Scheme	65·4	24·0
Agriculture Improvement Scheme (EC)	—	18·3
Agriculture Improvement Scheme (National)	0·2	11·4
Co-operation Grants	4·3	3·4
Others	1·8	1·8
	146·9	116·6

and constantly monitored to ensure sufficient funds are available for the programmes planned. We supported the establishment of the fund's structural adjustment facility.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Nitrates

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to discourage the use of nitrates on agricultural land in England and Wales.

My Department encourages farmers to assess the requirements of each crop for nitrogen fertiliser in accordance with good husbandry practice and to restrict application to those times when the crops can utilise the nitrogen.

Advisory Committee On Salmon Stocks

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce his appointments to the Advisory Committee on Salmon Stocks.

Representative bodies concerned with all aspects of salmon were approached early in November seeking nominations for membership of the new Salmon Advisory Committee. We are now considering their responses. It remains our aim to have the committee meet before the opening of the new salmon fishing season.

Common Agricultural Policy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the expenditure in 1985–86 and 1986–87 by Her Majesty's Government on agricultural grants and subsidies excluding market regulation under the common agricultural policy.

Details of the outturn for 1985–86 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1986–87 are as follows:

	Outturn 1985–86 £ million	Latest forecast of outturn 1986–87 £ million
Support for agriculture in special areas
Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances	104·9	116·5
Additional benefit to farmers in special areas under	26·8	19·7
AHDS, NIADP, AHGS, AIS(EC) and AIS(nat) Others	6·2	4·7
	137·9	140·9
Other payments
Milk Outgoers Scheme	9·6	9·5
Emergency relief 1985	16·7	—
Sheep Compensation Scheme 1986	—	4·9
	26·3	14·4
GRAND TOTAL	320·1	281·6

Some of this expenditure attracts contributions from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. These are mainly received in the following year. In 1986–87 £42·4 million is expected to be received from the fund compared with £52·4 million in 1985–86.

The individual figures may not add up to the totals shown due to roundings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the expenditure in 1985–86 and 1986–87 by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and Her Majesty's Government on market regulation under the common agricultural policy.

Details of the outturn for 1985–86 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1986–87 are as follows:

	Outturn 1985–86 £ million	Latest forecast of outturn 1986–87 £ million
(i) Expenditure by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce
Cereals	654·0	136·2
Beef and veal	328·3	274·3
Pigmeat	-1·2	-1·7
Sugar	83·9	127·9
Processed goods	40·9	40·9
Milk products	353·7	302·2
Oil seeds	88·6	105·9
Sheepmeat	110·0	101·8
Others	24·3	17·1
	1,682·5	1,104·7
(ii) Expenditure by the agricultural departments
Milk non-marketing premiums	2·6	0·1
Suckler cow premium scheme	26·9	27·7
Annual premium on ewes	128·2	163·3
	157·7	191·1
Grand total	1,840·2	1,295·8

Expenditure includes the beef and sheepmeat variable premium schemes (net of clawback for sheepmeat and charges on beef exported and sold into intervention), the premium schemes for the non-marketing of milk and the conversion of dairy herds, suckler cow premium scheme, annual premium on ewes, refunds on imports and exports (net of levies), the school milk subsidies, and the net cost of buying commodities into intervention less proceeds from sales. It also takes account of certain receipts treated as negative expenditure, namely, monetary compensatory amounts levied on intra-Community trade and the co-responsibility levies on cereals and milk producers and supplementary levy on milk producers. Of the estimated outturn for 1986–87, £1,288·8 million is expected to be financed from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF), the balance being financed from Exchequer funds. In 1985–86, £1,230·0 million was financed from EAGGF. Some of the expenditure benefits consumers and trade interests rather than United Kingdom producers.

Energym

Nuclear Fuel (Reprocessing)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if British Nuclear Fuels have reprocessed spent fuel for (a) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or (b) any Soviet bloc country.

No.

Sellafield

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he made an agreement with the European Commission regarding inspection and safety at Sellafield civilian nuclear reprocessing plant; and if he will made the details available in the Library.

I refer to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 4 June, at columns 594–95, and to my reply to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 12 June at columns 268–69.

North Sea Gas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1979 to ensure that any technical equipment used to explore and exploit petroleum natural gas in the North sea within the state's jurisdiction operates using only the best available technology.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 28 November 1986 at column 385.

Prime Minister

Westland Plc

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy when answering questions on her role in the matter of the Solicitor-General's letter on Westlands by reference to an earlier reply, to detail the precise column in the Official Report where the specific information requested can be found in her ealier reply.

I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the hon. Gentleman on 17 November, full accounts of the Westland issue have already been given by her and other Ministers in statements in Parliament, speeches in debates and answers to parliamentary questions, and by the head of the home Civil Service in his evidence to the Defence Committee. The Government stand by those accounts, and see no reason to qualify or add to them; and that will continue to be our policy.

asked the Prime Minister what specific evidence was available to the Cabinet Secretary which led him to believe that officials did not understand what they were being asked to do in relation to giving information on the Solicitor-General's letter of 6 January to the Press Association.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave him on 17 November at columns

49–50.

Merchant Fleet

Q90.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the implications of the decline in the United Kingdom merchant fleet for national defence capability and the United Kingdom's ability to fulfil treaty obligations.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to the right hon. Member for Taunton (Sir E. du Cann) on 25 November at columns

158–59.

Iran (Arms Supplies)

asked the Prime Minister if any flights from the United States of America, containing arms shipments destined for Iran have used United Kingdom airports for refuelling.

I have been asked to reply.Neither the Civil Aviation Authority nor the Ministry of Defence has received any request for permission for such flights to use a United Kingdom airport for refuelling.

State Security

asked the Prime Minister if she will refer to the Security Commission allegations that the security services carried out illegal activities against the then Prime Minister, Lord Wilson of Rievaulx.

I have been asked to reply.No.

Engagements

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend is today reporting to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Employment

Labour Statistics

asked the Paymaster General how many people in Walthamstow have left the employment register since the beginning of the restart programme.

I do not have information in the precise form requested. Between 13 June 1986, the closest date available to the start of the restart scheme in the Walthamstow area, and 9 October 1986 some 2,246 people in the Walthamstow parliamentary constituency ceased to be unemployed claimants. I have no means of calculating exactly how many of these people ceased to be unemployed as a result of help under the restart programme because people are continually ceasing to be unemployed for a whole variety of reasons.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report the number of unemployed claimants in each parliamentary constituency of the United Kingdom in October and the proportion of the work force they represent, listing the various constituencies in decending order with the highest at the head of the list and the lowest at the bottom.

The information is not available in the form requested because unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas. The numbers of unemployed claimants in each parliamentary constituency of the United Kingdom on 9 October 1986 are available in table 2.10 of the December 1986 edition of Employment Gazette.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will estimate the number of (a) European Economic Community nationals and (b) foreign nationals working in London and the south-east.

Estimates from the 1985 Labour Force Survey of the number of EC and other foreign nationals in employment, resident in Greater London and the south-east region are as shown in the following table:

EC¹ and other foreign nationals in employment Thousands: Spring 1985
Area of Residence	EC² Nationals	³Other Foreign Nationals
South East Region⁴	223	379
Greater London	135	243

¹ EC 12, including Spain and Portugal.

² Excluding United Kingdom nationals.

³ Including British Overseas and Dependent Territories Citizens.

⁴ Including Greater London.

Job Training Scheme

asked the Paymaster General how the allowances are to be administered for those enrolling on the job training scheme; and if any legislation is envisaged to allow for continuity of receipt of housing benefit.

Training allowance is paid at an amount equal to unemployment/supplementary benefit in payment immediately before the start of training. It will be increased if benefit would have increased had the person remained unemployed; it will not decrease during training. Participants previously entitled to certificated housing benefit are entitled to standard housing benefit, topped up as appropriate by housing benefit supplement.Because of the links with benefit rates, training allowance is assessed and paid by unemployment benefit office staff who have the necessary expertise. Payment is normally made fortnightly by Girocheque posted to the participant's home address. The training allowance and housing benefit arrangements are being monitored in pilot areas and will be reviewed in the light of experience.

Earnings

asked the Paymaster General what was the average earnings of wage and salary earners at 1 September.

The latest available information on average weekly earnings is that for April 1986 from the 1986 New Earnings Survey. This is published in table 5.6 of the Employment Gazette for December 1986, a copy of which is in the Library.Estimates for months since April 1986, including September, are contained in a note on average gross weekly earnings produced by the Department of Employment, a copy of which may also be found in the Library.

Special Employment Measures

asked the Paymaster General, if he will place in the Library a constituency breakdown of those taking part in special employment measures.

We do not collect figures for all the employment measures on a constituency basis. For those measures where it is possible to provide constituency-based figures, this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Community Programme

asked the Paymaster General what assessment he has made of the number of people currently on the community programme who would otherwise be registered as unemployed; and what was the comparable figure 12 months ago.

People entering the community programme have to satisfy certain eligibility criteria, which includes being unemployed, depending on age, for varying periods of time.During the 12 months ending 31 October 1986, the latest date for which statistics are available, the number of entrants on to the programme was 301,791. Of these 96·3 per cent. were directly in receipt of unemployment, supplementary or other appropriate benefit. The corresponding figure for the period ending 31 October 1985, was 196,551 of whom 95·4 per cent. were directly in receipt of benefit.

Civil Servants (Regions)

asked the Paymaster General how many civil servants employed by his Department and engaged primarily on regional matters are based in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) the north-east and (c) the north-west.

The following information is provided:

	Permanent	Casual	Grand Total
Yorkshire and Humberside
Department of Employment	2,549	98	2,647
A.C.A.S.	49	—	49
M.S.C	1,850·5	114·5	1,965
H.S.E	413·5	—	413·5
	4,862	212·5	5,074·5
North East
Department of Employment	1,918·5	99·5	2,018
A.C.A.S.	35	—	35
M.S.C.	1446·5	107·5	1,554
H.S.E.	92·5	—	92·5
	3,492·5	207	3,699·5
North West
Department of Employment	3,605·5	180·5	3,786
A.C.A.S.	71	—	71
M.S.C.	3,178·5	137·5	3,316
H.S.E.	230·5	—	230·5
	7,085·5	318	7,403·5

Health And Safety

asked the Paymaster General how many (a) fatal and (b) other accidents at work have been reported (i) in Leyton and (ii) in respect of residents of Leyton in each of the last five years.

There is no record of any fatal injury to persons at work in Leyton reported either to the Health and Safety Executive from 1981 to date, or to the London borough of Waltham Forest during 1982–85. I regret that the other information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Disabled People

asked the Paymaster General if he will place in the Library a list of those employers, by county, who employ 20 or more staff, but do not employ 3 per cent. registered disabled people.

Information about the application of the quota scheme provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act to individual employers has been treated by successive Governments as confidential and is not disclosed without their agreement.

Advisory Committees

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication of the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

There are no advisory committees to which I or my right hon. and noble Friend make appointments which are not listed in "Public Bodies" and there have been no advisory committees to which we make appointments which have not been listed and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

Departmental Office, Hornchurch

asked the Paymaster General if he is satisfied with the conditions of work for his Department staff in the two buildings in North street, Hornchurch.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]; We would prefer the staff in the two buildings in North street, Hornchurch to be housed in one office. The timing of the rehousing depends upon appropriate premises becoming available, and the nature of competing claims on the funds set aside for premises improvements at the time.

asked the Paymaster General when he expects the building currently shared between his Department and the Department of Health and Social Security in North street, Hornchurch, to be made available for the exclusive use of his Department.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: I understand that the Department of Health and Social Security is unable to foresee when it might vacate the building. I am therefore unable to comment on when it might become available for the exclusive use of my Department.

Departmental Offices

asked the Paymaster General how many of his Department's offices require staff or files to cross a main road in order to deal with their clients.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: Precise figures are not available. However, such offices are few in number, the aim of my Department being to house unemployment benefit offices in one building where possible.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Intermediate Nuclear Forces

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to pursue the zero option in so far as intermediate nuclear forces are concerned.

We remain in close touch with our allies about intermediate nuclear forces, and support the continued United States efforts at the Geneva nuclear and space talks to achieve an INF agreement. At their recent meeting at Camp David, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Reagan identified such an INF agreement, with restraints on shorter-range systems, as one of three priorities for arms control negotiations. There will be a further opportunity for full discussion of these issues at the North Atlantic Council meeting on 11–12 December.

Gulf Shipping

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures Her Majesty's Government intend to pursue in order to protect British lives and cargoes in the Arabian Gulf.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said during his recent visit to Oman, the Royal Navy has increased its profile in the Gulf to provide reassurance to those who operate and sail in merchant ships there, and to give assistance should this be needed. We keep in regular contact with the shipowners' and the seamens' unions and continually review what more could reasonably be done to ensure safe passage for merchant sailors and vessels in the Gulf.

Iran (Arms Supplies)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of British companies losing business to competitors in Europe as a result of the embargo by the United Kingdom on the supply of lethal arms to Iran; what specific discussions he has had with the Federal German Government on this matter in relation to the supply of engines for Chieftain tanks; if he will raise the question of a co-ordinated European approval to arms sales to Iran at the next Council of Foreign Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

Specific evidence of European competitors having taken business which might have come to Britain is hard to come by. However, we have refused licences for the export to Iran of significant amounts of defence equipment.We have had recent assurances that any application to export tank engines to Iran from the Federal Republic of Germany would be automatially rejected. Such a sale would contravene the FRG's policy of neutrality in the conflict and of not permitting the export of goods for military use to areas of tension.Defence sales are a matter for national Governments and are not covered by the treaty of Rome. We would like to see all other European countries adopt a policy as stringent as our own, but it would not be constructive to press for a co-ordinated defence sales policy within political co-operation while little possibility of agreement appears to exist. There is, however, an exchange of information on defence sales policy within the machinery of political co-operation.

Extraterritoriality

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken or proposes to take to curb recent interference in the United Kingdom computer industry by personnel stationed at the United States Embassy in London; and if he will make a statement.

None. I have no reason to believe that any such action is necessary.

Sri Lanka

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to assist any initiative by India to find a peaceful and just solution to the problems facing the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

We have consistently urged all parties in the Sri Lankan conflict towards a negotiated political solution. The Government of India have played a vital role in recent moves towards this goal and we fully support their efforts.

Notifiable Military Activities

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the annual calendars of notifiable military activities of other participating states which are required to be communicated to him under the provisions of the final document of the Stockholm conference on confidence and security-building measures in Europe.

No. It is for each CSCE participating state to decide whether or not to publish its annual calendar; we have published our calendar today in a response to a question from the hon. Member. We hope other participating states will take similar action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the annual calendar of notifiable United Kingdom military activities which is required by the final document of the Stockholm conference on confidence and security-building measures in Europe.

The United Kingdom calendar of notifiable military activities is as follows:

Annual Calendar of Military Activities for 1987

1. Designation: Exercise Cold Winter.

Type of Military Activity: Field Training Exercise.
General Characteristics and Purpose: To exercise in winter conditions and to practice cooperation between Norwegian and Allied forces.
States Involved; United Kingdom, Norway, Netherland, United States.
Area of Activity: Norway (North Norway including Ofoten Peninsula, Tjeldoya and Hinnoya).
Date and Duration: From 20 March for 6 days.
Planned Total Number of Troops: United Kingdom element 4,000.
Types of Armed Forces: Amphibious forces.
Level of Command: Brigade.
Number and Type of Divisions: Amphibious brigade.
Other Relevant Information: Involves landing craft and support helicopters.

2. Designation: Exercise Plain Sailing.

Type of Military Activity: Logistic Exercise.
General Characteristics and Purpose: To practice setting up of communication.
States Involved; United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany.
Area of Activity: Federal Republic of Germany (Northern Area).
Date and Duration: From 4 September for 14 days.

Planned Total Number of Troops: United Kingdom element 13,500.
Types of Armed Forces: Logistic and movement control units plus non-mechanised infantry.
Level of Command: Division.
Number and Type of Divisions: One infantry division.
Other Relevant Information: Being carried out in agreement with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

3. Designation: Exercise Keystone.

Type of Military Activity: Infantry Field Training Exercise.
General Characteristics and Purpose: To exercise reinforcement and field operations.
States Involved; United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany.
Area of Activity: Federal Republic of Germany (South-East Neidersachsen).
Date and Duration: From 7 October for 20 days.
Planned Total Number of Troops: United Kingdom element 24,000.
Types of Armed Forces: Non-mechanised infantry.
Level of Command: Division.
Number and Type of Divisions: Two infantry divisions.
Other Relevant Information: Being carried out in agreement with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

4. Designation: Exercise Purple Warrior.

Type of Military Activity: Amphibious and Field Training Exercise.
General Characteristics and Purpose: To exercise joint services operations in amphibious and land operations.
States Involved; United Kingdom.
Area of Activity: Scotland (Galloway, Arran, Kintyre).
Date and Duration: From 4 November for 18 days.
Planned Total Number of Troops: 10,000 (of which 7,000 will participate in amphibious operations).
Types of Armed Forces: Amphibious and airborne forces.
Level of Command: Division.
Number and Type of Divisions: One reduced division based on two brigades.
Other Relevant Information: Will include an airborne assault by up to 1,000 troops.

Addendum to Annual Calendar of
Military Activities for 1987
Activities Within Excess of 40,000 Troops in 1988

1. Designation: United Kingdom Home Defence Exercises.

Type of Military Activity: Home Defence.
General Characteristics and Purpose: To exercise military home defence plans.
States Involved; United Kingdom.
Area of Activity: Throughout United Kingdom.
Date and Duration: 7 September to 2 November.
Planned Total Number of Troops: May exceed 40,000 at certain times during the period.
Types of Armed Forces: Non-mechanised army district units.
Level of Command: Military district.
Number and Type of Divisions: Not applicable.
Other Relevant Information: Troops will not exercise in divisions or equivalent formations but as a series of military district exercises which may overlap.

Stockholm Conference

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the dissemination and publication of the text of the final document of the Stockholm conference on confidence and security-building measures in Europe, as required by paragraph 103 of that document.

The Stockholm document was published as a Command Paper on 28 November and is available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops. Our intention to publish the document as a Command Paper was announced in the autumn "Arms Control and Disarmament Quarterly Review", which was distributed to 3,500 individuals and organisations. Copies of the Stockholm document have been placed in the Library of the House and has been distributed to the press and to all of Her Majesty's embassies and high commissions.

Foreign Military Vessels

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if all foreign military vessels require prior diplomatic clearance before entering British territorial waters.

All foreign vessels enjoy under international law the right of innocent passage through territorial waters. Prior diplomatic clearance is required for visits of foreign warships to British ports.

Poseidon Ballistic Missile Submarines

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on the withdrawal of Holy Loch-based Poseidon ballistic missile submarines as a means of bringing the United States back within the SALT 2 treaty limits.

None.

Binary Chemical Weapons

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government on the deployment plan for United States binary chemical weapons.

None.

Chemical Weapons

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of

	New Delhi	Bombay	Dhaka	Islamabad	Karachi
Q1: (Right of Abode/dependent relatives over 70/special compassionate cases)	2	3	3	3	3
Q2: (All spouses and all children under 18)	4	6	8	7	6
Q3: (Fiances/Fiancees and other applicants for settlement)	8	9	8	13	11
Q4:(Reapplicants)	12	10	22	15	13

Waiting times from interview to decision necessarily vary from case to case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has taken to ensure that in countries from which visitors to the United Kingdom require visas an emergency visa can be issued in urgent family, medical or other compassionate circumtances to a person who has already applied for settlement in the United Kingdom.

In such cases all entry clearance posts have a duty officer who can be contacted by telephone via the

the implications for current arms control negotiations of the French Government's decision to resume production of chemical weapons.

We and all our NATO allies remain committed to a comprehensive and verifiable global ban on chemical weapons.

Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications have been turned down by entry clearance officers since the introduction of the visa requirement for persons travelling to the United Kingdom from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria.

From 15 October up to the end of November, of the 25,092 short-term entry clearances applied for in the four countries, 1,063 have been refused. The breakdown by country is as follows:

	Applications received	Applications refused
India	12,719	100
Pakistan	6,558	336
Bangladesh	1,583	353
Nigeria	4,232	274

Since the visa requirement for Nigeria has not yet been introduced, in the case of Nigeria the above figures relate to applications for optional entry clearance between 15 October and the end of November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current waiting time from the first application to the final decision for persons seeking settlement in the United Kingdom, at the relevant posts overseas in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Waiting time in months from application to first interview as at 31 October were as follows:mission concerned. Any outstanding settlement application will not necessarily prove an impediment to the granting to a visit visa in a genuine emergency.

Social Services

Aids

51.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of its resources to screen for AIDS students coming to the United Kingdom from Africa, America and the middle east; and what estimate he has made of the cost of providing that screening.

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

Family Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were in families where the head of household was unemployed in 1979 and, on the latest date available, broken down into those who had been unemployed for less than one year, one year or more, two years or more and three years or more.

I regret that figures for 1979 are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest available information is based on the 1984 family expenditure survey. It is not always possible to establish from this survey whether a person is required to be and is actually available for work, nor is it always possible to determine the duration of the unemployment. The information, subject to these provisos, is given in the table.

Number of children in families where head of household is unemployed
	Thousands
Total	1,400
Less than one year	600
One year or more	750
Two years or more	500
Three years or more	350

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000 and totals do not therefore always agree.

Hospital Staff (Assaults)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many physical assaults on staff were recorded at the Bradford royal infirmary and St. Luke's hospital in 1985, and to date.

I regret that this information is not available centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to write to the chairman of Bradford health authority who may be able to provide the information requested.

Statutory Sick Pay

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many references have been made by employees and employers to the adjudication officer on statutory sick pay;(2) what is the average length of time taken by adjudication officers to adjudicate on statutory sick pay references.

I regret that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the number of references to adjudication officers on statutory sick pay is known to be very small. In the 12 months ending 31 December 1985 there were only 69 appeals against adjudication officers' decisions on SSP. The length of time taken by adjudication officers will be affected by the need to obtain details from the employer. Only employees and the Secretary of State can refer SSP cases to the adjudicating officer.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many civil servants employed by his Department and engaged primarily on regional matters are based in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) the north-east and (c) the north-west.

The number of civil servants employed in the Department and engaged primarily on regional matters in the north-east and north-west regions is approximately 10,600 and 10,000, respectively. Yorkshire and Humberside is within the north-east region and accounts for some 6,500 of that region's total.

Mobility Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will extend the eligibility rules for mobility allowance to enable those over 75 years of age to qualify on the grounds that payment would enable them to continue living in their own home.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 25 November at column 288.

"Handicapped And Impaired In Great Britain"

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has any plans to update the 1968–69 survey carried out by Amelia Harris, "Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain".

My right hon. Friend announced on 2 April 1984 that there was to be a new survey of the extent of disablement in the population of Great Britain. As in 1968–69, this is being carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The survey forms part of the Government's strategy on the reform of social security benefits as illustrated by the references to benefits for disabled people, in volumes 1 to 3 of the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 5917–9).Interviews in relation to a nationally representative sample of children and adults with significant disabilities living in private households were completed last year. Interviews in relation to a representative sample of adults in communal establishments are almost complete and the possibility of extending this to disabled children permanently resident in institutions is under consideration. Publication of the full results of the survey is expected in 1988.

Blood (Safety)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to reassure haemophiliacs and other patients requiring blood of the safety of such transfusions; if he will use publicity to reassure such patients; and if he will make a statement.

The doctors who prescribe blood products for haemophiliacs are best able to give them any necessary reassurance about safety. Reassurance to patients who need blood transfusions can also best be given by the patient's doctor. The leaflet to be delivered to every household next month will refer to the action which has been taken to safeguard the blood for transfusion.

Blood Products

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the fractionating of blood from the various regional hospital blood banks at Elstree to secure maximum potential use of donated blood; and if he will make a detailed statement.

Whole blood can be separated by the regional transfusion centres into plasma and cellular components. The plasma is sent to the blood products laboratory at Elstree for fractionation whilst the cellular components are sent to hospital blood banks for direct use. The yield of plasma has been increased by the application of new technology such as the development of additive solutions.This system allows best use to be made of all the valuable components of donated blood.

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" and publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

The advisory committees to which the Secretary of State makes appointments which have not been named in the annual publication "Public Bodies" of the Management and Personnel Office are listed in table 1. Those committees not named in "Public Bodies" which have been abolished since 1 January 1982 are listed in table 2. These lists represent committees (other than committees of officials) set up to advise my right hon. Friend or the Department which have a life span of less than one year, or which meet only very infrequently.

Table 1. Advisory committees not listed in "Public Bodies"

1. Advisory Committee on Gene Modification Therapy

2. Advisory Group on Boarding Out Regulations and Guidance

3. Advisory Group on Personal Pensions

4. Community Medicine Inquiry

5. Dental Advisory Committee

6. Intermediate Treatment Fund

7. Leprosy Opinion Panel

8. Manpower Advisory Committee (Community Medicine)

9. Maternal Mortality Committee

10. Microbiology Advisory Committee

11. Regional Secure Units Working Group

12. Technical Development Team for Demountable Storage

13. Transplant Advisory Panel

14. Working Groups for Pathology Laboratory Equipment

15. Working Group on the Safety of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging

16. Working Party on Containers and Closures for Sterile Fluids

Table 2. Advisory committees not listed in "Public Bodies" and abolished since 1 January 1982

1. Advisory Committee on Medical Manpower Planning

2. Community Nursing Review

3. Dental Equipment and Materials Advisory Group

4. DHSS Medical Working Group on Drug Dependence

5. Ethylene Oxide Working Group

6. Fire and Safety of New Residential Accommodation for the Elderly: Planning and Design Group

7. Medical Supplies Working Party Microbiology Panel: Sub-committee on Disinfection and Sterilisation by Low Temperature Steam and Formaldehyde

8. National Voluntary Organisation on Alcohol Misuse: Steering Group

9. National Health Service Management Inquiry

10. Pre-registration House Officers Working Group

11. Project Control Study Group

12. Review of Audit in the National Health Service

13. Social Security Inquiries 1984

14. Steering Group on the Training of Contact Tracers

15. Study Group on Medical Manpower Information

16. Working Group on Services for Epilepsy

17. Working Group on Acceptance Testing of Electrical Equipment in the National Health Service.

Birth Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list for the years 1982 to 1985 the estimated percentage of women delivering in (a) England and (b) England and Wales, whose deliveries were (i) spontaneous, including abnormal presentation of head and breach spontaneous and (ii) instrumental (forceps, vacuum and breach extraction), (iii) by caesarean section and (iv) other and unspecified means;(2) if he will list for the years 1982 to 1985 the estimated percentages of women delivering in

(a) England and (b) England and Wales (i) whose labours were induced (ii) whose labours were of spontaneous onset and (iii) who had elective caesarean sections.

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

Stillbirth-Abortion Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give available figures, for the Coventry health authority for 1984, 1985 and the first six months of 1986 for (a) foetus mortality and (b) spontaneous abortion rates.

Exact figures for foetal loss are not available. However, the figures in the table may be of some help to the hon. Member.

Number of stillbirths registered, and number of notifications of legal abortions, to women usually resident in Coventry district health authority, for 1984, 1985 and first six months of 1986
Year	Number of stillbirths	Number of abortions
1984	27	980
1985	24	983
1986 (1st 6 months)¹	13	532
¹ Figures for 1986 are provisional.

Hip Replacement

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for a hip replacement operation for the elderly in each National Health Service region; and what were the corresponding figures in 1979.

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

Residential Care Homes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual aggregate figure for the amount of benefit being paid to those in residential care homes; and how many people are living in homes run by (a) private organisations, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) local authorities.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 November 1986, c. 331]: I regret that the information is not available in the form required.In 1984, the latest year for which figures are available, supplementary benefit was paid to 42,000 residents of private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes at a total cost of £200 million. In addition, £45 million was paid to 35,000 claimants in residential care accommodation provided by local authorities either in their own residential care homes or in private and voluntary homes. These figures relate to Great Britain. Information on the amount of other social security benefits paid to people in residential care homes is not available.Information on the number of supplementary benefit claimants in each of the three categories specified is not available. However, the following table shows the number of residents in the different categories of homes in England at 31 March 1985.

	Number
All residents in homes for the elderly and disabled
(1) Private	69,000
(2) Voluntary	31,423
(3) Local authority	105,864
(4) Lodgings	¹211

Number of persons in supplementary benefit assessment units below pensionable age by types and economic status—Great Britain 1983—thousands
Economic Status	Married Couples	Married Couples with Children	Single Persons	One Parent Families
1. Where the head is in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement.
Over pension age	540	—	1,340	—
Under pension age
Full-time employment	—	—	—	—
Sick/disabled	50	53	131	8
Unemployed	223	1,552	792	24
Others	107	36	73	1,198
2. Where the head is not in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement but with net resources below the supplementary benefit scale rates.
Over pension age	430	—	660	—
Under pension age
Full-time employment	90	433	134	29
Sick/disabled	24	9	37	0
Unemployed	79	170	284	0
Others	43	77	245	53
3. Where the head is not in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement but with net resources up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit scale rates (includes supplementary benefit assessment units shown at 2 above)
Over pension age	2,000	—	1,820	—
Under pension age
Full-time employment	224	3,363	434	93
Sick/disabled	134	134	114	0
Unemployed	152	230	507	0
Others	110	196	509	223

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his latest estimate of the cost of the housing benefit scheme; how many people received housing benefit in 1985; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is the latest estimate of the cost of the housing benefit scheme currently met by

(a) central Government and (b) local government; and if he will make a statement;

	Number
Supported residents in homes for the mentally handicapped¹
(1) Private	1,019
(2) Voluntary	3,620
(3) Local authority	12,281
(4) Lodgings	603
Supported residents for the mentally ill¹
(1) Private	285
(2) Voluntary	952
(3) Local authority	2,682
(4) Lodgings	419
¹ No information is available on residents not supported by local authorities in these homes.

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table using his department's low incomes families 1983 tables showing how many people fell below supplementary benefit level, were on supplementary benefit or 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit level, analysed according to both economic and family status together at the latest available date.

[pursuant to the reply, 2 December 1986, c. 615]: The information requested is shown in the tables. The assumptions used are the same as those published in the 1983 low income tables:(3) if he proposes to increase the proportion of the cost of the housing benefit scheme met by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1986, c. 731]: An estimated 7·15 million householders were receiving housing benefit in autumn 1985. The latest estimates of the cost of benefit payments and the scheme's administration are £5 billion and £168 million, respectively, for the current financial year.Local authorities are reimbursed in full for their expenditure on certificated benefit and for 90 per cent. of their expenditure on payments of standard benefit by direct Exchequer subsidy and for a fixed proportion (set at 60 per cent., 65 per cent. and 70 per cent. for authorities in England, Scotland and Wales respectively) of their administration costs through specific grant within the rate support grant arrangements. Residual expenditure on benefits and administration is taken into account when authorities' entitlement to block grant is calculated.The Government propose to change the arrangements for subsidising local authorities' expenditure under the reformed housing benefits scheme from April 1988 to provide more incentives for authorities to control costs as well as a fair level of support for expenditure which they may properly incur. The detailed arrangements are currently under discussion with the local authority associations.

Transport

Merchant Shipping

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has made for each $100 million of investment in merchant shipping of the question of aids to such investment available in each member country of the EEC, distinguishing between investment in new and secondhand ships.

I have made no evaluation of this kind.

Marine Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in accordance with United Kingdom obligations under Article 4, paragraph 4, MARPOL 73/78.

Article 4, paragraph 4 of MARPOL 73/78, which refers to penalties, applies only to the annexes of the convention that are in force. Annex 1, being the regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil is the only Annex currently in force internationally. The United Kingdom, in accordance with its obligations, made regulations during 1983 giving effect to Annex 1 of MARPOL 73/78. The penalties for failing to comply with the regulations include fines not exceeding £1,000 or £50,000 depending upon the nature of the offence.

Arms And Explosives (Air Transport)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what notification procedures are required if an airline wishes to transport armaments and explosives and use a United Kingdom airport for refuelling.

An airline wishing to carry munitions of war or dangerous goods to or from the United Kingdom (including one wishing to make a transit stop at a United Kingdom airport) is required to obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority. Applications for permission must be made in writing at least 10 working days before the proposed date of the flight and give full details of the proposed cargo and flight.

Evergreen International Airways

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if Evergreen International airways has notified any United Kingdom airport of an intention to carry armaments from the United States of America to a third country.

The airline has not sought the permission of the Civil Aviation Authority which would be necessary for any such flight.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many flights by Evergreen International Airways used Stansted airport in October.

Five.

Disabled People

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to issue guidelines to all transport operators and local authorities on levels of access to vehicles and facilities which they ought to be expected to provide for disabled people.

The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee (established under the Transport Act 1985) is working closely with the Department in drawing up guidelines for transport operators on various aspects of provision for elderly and disabled people. These include vehicle design and adaptation, staff training and the size and nature of the potential passenger market amongst disabled people.

Bicycles (Child Injuries)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department is currently undertaking or financing any research work into the injuries of children resulting from inappropriate design of bicycle parts; and if he will make a statement.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is conducting a study of cycling accidents involving adults and children. Information is being collected about the contributory factors and the severity and location of injuries sustained. This will enable us to assess the relationship between bicycle part design and children's accidents and injuries.

Road Safety

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is aware of any research that has been undertaken in the United Kingdom to assess the effectiveness of medical tests for the renewal of driving licences in promoting road safety in general and that of elderly road users in particular; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of a study of London Transport bus drivers carried out in the 1970's. This indicated that notification of ill-health led to substantially more retirements of drivers on medical grounds than did routine age-related medical examinations.All applicants for driving licences (first-time and renewal) are required to answer health questions. Current licence holders must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre of any medical condition which may affect their ability to drive safely. Where appropriate the DVLC can investigate the medical condition of any licence holder or applicant. Given the evidence that medical condition does not constitute a significant factor in accidents, there seems no case for changing these arrangements.

Lorries (Speed Limits)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the non-compliance rates of heavy goods vehicles with statutory speed limits.

No data have been collected on heavy goods vehicle speeds since the limits were raised in March 1984. Earlier information was published on page 21 of Road Accidents Great Britain 1983. A copy is in the Library.

Buses (Children)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department is currently undertaking or funding any research into the problem of bus transport of children; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has a comprehensive programme of research into all aspects of the deregulation of local bus services, and this will cover any problems which arise with the transport of children.

Bicycle Riders (Helmets)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to issue any advice to bicycle users on the availability of an effectively protective helmet for both children and adults; and if he will make a statement.

I am keen that cyclists should be able to identify helmets that offer a defined standard of protection. The British Standards Institution is preparing an appropriate standard for pedal cycle helmets suitable for both children and adults and we expect this to be published next year.

Public Service Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to amend the construction and use regulations governing public service vehicles to specify features to improve access for disabled people with particular reference to step height, position of handholds and lighting levels; and if he will make a statement.

We are well aware of the difficulties encountered by elderly and disabled people when they use public transport, especially buses. We have carried out research in order to find ways to improve access to buses and have to put to the bus industry detailed proposals on steps and hand rails derived from this research as a basis for an amendment to the Construction and Use Regulations.We are still consulting the bus industry on which of the research findings are appropriate for incorporation in regulations and which are more appropriate to a voluntary code of practice.

Settle-Carlisle Railway Line

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct British Rail to consult fully with all relevant bodies to produce an agreed plan to promote use of the Settle to Carlisle railway line.

I shall of course want to see that all realistic options for the future of this line have been properly considered before I reach a decision; and I am sure that British Rail would be ready to discuss any such proposals the local authorities might put forward. But it would be inappropriate for me, in advance of reaching my decision, to give any directions to the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide additional funding for relevant local authorities to promote the leisure use of the Settle to Carlisle railway line; and if he will make a statement.

This is normally a matter for local authorities to determine in the light of their priorities and the resources available to them.

Motorways

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the procedures for alerting and forewarning drivers on motorways by the broadcasting authorities following accidents; and what is the cost to his Department of this service.

We cannot compel radio stations or other media to broadcast traffic news. We do seek to persuade them that regular traffic bulletins and up-to-date traffic reports are of great value to their listeners. We also encourage them to liaise closely with the police who are usually the first source of information about accidents and their effects on traffic.The Department of Transport presently contributes towards the operating costs of the BBC's motoring and travel unit which co-ordinates travel information broadcast on national networks and local programmes. The cost to the Department in the current year is £78,000.We are constantly seeking to encourage an improved flow of traffic information to BBC and ILR radio stations, much of which is provided by the AA. Recent improvements in the AA's roadwatch unit should help to improve the quality and immediacy of that information.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates of hourly traffic flow at peak periods were made by his Department when preparing for the direct link between the M1 and M25 motorways; what has been the actual outturn; and to what extent his traffic forecasts assume uninterrupted traffic flow at normal motorway speeds during peak periods.

[pursuant to the reply, 4 December 1986, c. 724]: The traffic predictions were based on 16-hour annual average weekday flows; from which peak hour flows were derived. The forecasts, made in 1979 for the design year 1998, were:

	Peak-hourly flow in both directions (vehicles)
M25 (west of M1) to and from M1	2,700 to 3,900
M25 (east of M1) to and from M1	1,900 to 2,800

Traffic counters on the connecting roads between the M1 and M25 will be fully in operation early in 1987. The connecting roads were designed to provide the capacity for the predicted peak hourly traffic flows assuming a design speed of 80 kph (50 mph) and normal motorway operating conditions.

M5 (Roadworks)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the emergency services and his Department took to forewarn drivers using the M5 in Somerset of roadworks on 25 October; and if he will list the radio stations that were notified.

A press notice was issued on 20 October 1986 to local radio and television stations, motoring organisations, the BBC motoring unit and newspapers circulating between Bristol and Exeter, warning of the contraflow starting in late October on the M5 in Somerset between junctions 24 and 25.Press notices are not normally issued for smaller works of shorter duration such as those scheduled to take place between junctions 21 and 23.The police sent out a telex at 11.45 am on 25 October warning of a three-mile tailback due to roadworks between junctions 21 and 22, advising drivers to take alternative routes to avoid the delays. This was sent to the following radio stations:

BBC motoring unit
Radio Bristol
GWR (independent radio)

Motorways (Traffic Flows)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will define the factors his Department takes into account when assessing peak hours on all motorways in England.

The Department, when estimating the benefits of road improvement schemes, calculates them separately for the traffic flows at peak times and other periods of the day. The peak time calculations are based on the predicted traffic flows during the 380 hours of the year when experience generally indicates the highest traffic levels are experienced: this represents the worst weekday morning and evening peaks of approximately 45 minutes duration. For urban roads the peak calculation covers 500 hours because the peak period is generally longer.

M25 (Contractors)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the performance of all the contractors used during the construction of the M25.

We are satisfied in general that high standards have been achieved by the many contractors involved in this massive project. The condition of the motorway will be regularly monitored. Where problems arise, these are investigated.

M25 (Safety)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the safety of the dual carriageway sections of the M25 and whether any accidents have occurred in that stretch on the northern orbital.

The M25 is two lanes in each direction through junction 5 (with A21) in the south and junctions 25 (A10) and 27 (M11) in the north. Traffic flows now and in the foreseeable future do not justify three lanes.Between July 1983 and June 1986 there were one fatal and two serious accidents at junction 27. Between January 1980 and August 1986 there was one slight injury accident at junction 25.Motorways are our safest roads. The M25 compares well with other motorways.

Scotland

Chapelcross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the calculations of radiation doses affecting the critical group of members of the public near the British Nuclear Fuels Limited Chapelcross site were last reviewed or revised; and if he will make a statement.

The most recent assessment of annual dose levels affecting the critical group was made on the basis of monitoring results for 1985, which showed that radiation exposure of the public arising from operations at Chapelcross has remained well within internationally recommended dose limits. Information so far available for 1986 does not suggest any change in that position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list showing for each of the last four years the (a) calculated critical group exposures associated with radioactive discharges from British Nuclear Fuels Limited, Chapelcross and (b) proportion that such discharges bear to the maximum authorised limit in each year; and if he will make a statement.

The information is published by the Scottish Development Department in statistical bulletins which are placed in the Library. The most recent information, which is being prepared for publication, confirms that disposals of waste from Chapelcross have been within the authorised limits and that any radiation exposure of the public arising from the disposal has continued to be well within the internationally recommended dose limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will describe the certificates of authorisation for radioactive discharges from British Nuclear Fuels Limited, Chapelcross, identifying the date of authorisation of each certificate; whether each such certificate specifies numerical limits for each type of discharge; and when each such certificate is next due to be reviewed.

The nature and content of authorisation certificates is described in Scottish Development Department statistical bulletin No. 1/1986 which is available in the Library. Revised certificates for Chapelcross were issued in April 1986: they impose numerical limits on both liquid and gaseous discharges. Authorisations for all nuclear installations in the United Kingdom are currently subject to a programme of review which is due to be completed by 1989.

Bus Deregulation

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 570, if he will now make it his policy to collect directly from regional councils in general and the Central regional council in particular, information about savings made and additional routes established since bus deregulation.

I do not consider that it would be productive, or merit the interruption to ongoing work which would be involved, to remove the responsibility for collecting compatible information on the financial effects of deregulation from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. As regards changes in the route network, it would not be practicable at this stage to add new areas to those already selected for comparative pre- and post-deregulation study.

Advisory Committees

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments which are not listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication issued by the Management and Personnel Office of the Cabinet Office.

Committees (other than committees of officials) set up to advise me or my Department and having a life of more than 12 months are listed in "Public Bodies". Records are not maintained centrally of committees set up to consider specific topics and which have a life of less than 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all advisory committees to which he makes appointments and which have not been listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publications of the Management and Personnel Office; and which have been abolished since the beginning of 1982.

Advisory committees with a life of more than 12 months to which I make appointments are listed in "Public Bodies". No central record is maintained of committees with a life of less than 12 months, but among those not listed in "Public Bodies" which have been wound up since 1982 are as follows:

Museums Advisory Board
Denny and Bonnybridge Morbidity Review
Committee of Inquiry into the Pay and Conditions of Teachers in Scotland
Working Group on Suicide Precautions at Glenochil
Committee for Clinical Nursing Studies

The Committee for Clinical Nursing Studies did not appear in "Public Bodies" because it was wound up before NHS bodies were first included in that publication (1983 edition).

Capital Projects

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the operation of section 94, controls on expenditure on capital projects undertaken by councils where long leaseback arrangements are made with (a) private sector organisations, (b) public sector bodies and (c) limited companies in which the local authority has a majority interest.

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

Aberdeen And Dundee Colleges Of Education

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland under what statutory regulations, and under what Scottish Joint National Council (Further Education), procedures it is proposed that the two Boards of Governors of Aberdeen and Dundee Colleges of Education should appoint Mr. D. Adams as principal designate of the college proposed in the final report on the proposed merger of Aberdeen and Dundee colleges of education.

The identification of a principal designate of the proposed merged college would be entirely a matter for the governing bodies of the two existing colleges.

Nuclear Installations

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sections of the Torness emergency plan were approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate before fuelling of the reactor was started; and if he will arrange for a copy of these sections to be placed in the Library.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 November 1986, c. 411–12]: The fuel load stage of commissioning at Torness nuclear power station has not started. A limited number of channels have been loaded with fuel for the purpose of gas flow tests and interim emergency arrangements specific to this phase were approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate beforehand. These comprise section B of the "Interim Emergency Manual, Issue 1." The South of Scotland Electricity Board has undertaken to place a copy of that section in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sections of the Torness emergency plan are required to be approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate before commissioning procedures beyond the fuelling of the reactor; when these sections were or are likely to be approved; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 November 1986, c. 411–12]: Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate requires that the South of Scotland Electricity Board has an emergency plan commensurate with the requirements of each particular stage of commissioning. At each stage the board has had and will have suitable emergency arrangements as required by HMNII.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the full emergency plan for Torness nuclear power station to be approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 November 1986, c. 411–12]: The full emergency plan for Torness nuclear power station will be approved when Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate is fully satisfied with the plan and the demonstration of its application. I cannot say at present when that will be.

National Finance

Investment Depreciation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on revenue which would follow from replacing the present 25 per cent. reducing balance method of depreciating investment for tax purposes by a 25 per cent. straight line system as urged on him by the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday to my right hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Sir E. du Cann).

Departmental Manpower

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 October.

At 1 October 1986 there were 598,782 staff in post in central Government Departments. Of these 504,521 were non-industrials and 94,261 industrials.

West Midlands Freeport

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investment there has been of public money in the west midlands freeport either (a) by the West Midlands county council or (b) by any other public body; how that investment is supervised by public representatives on the board; and if he will name these representatives indicating the size and sources of their emoluments.

West Midlands county council and Solihull borough council have invested £1,000 and £500 respectively in purchasing shares in West Midlands Freeport Ltd. (total share capital £10,000) which is the designated freeport authority. Presently Councillor G. W. R. Boakes of Solihull metropolitan borough council is a director of the company and Councillors J. A. W. Bird and C. J. Kirk (West Midlands joint committee) have been designated to replace Councillors B. Smith and C. Beardwood (West Midlands county council) as directors. Members of the board of West Midlands Freeport Ltd. receive no emoluments or expenses.No public funds have been used to develop the freeport site.

Local Authorities (Capital Projects)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the financial effects of local authorities undertaking capital projects and arranging leaseback deals with other public sector organisations or companies in which they have a majority interest.

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

Public Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he makes of (a) the share of public spending going to the north-west region, (b) the per capita share of public spending going to the north-west region, and (c) the per capita share of public spending for the nation as a whole.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: Apart from expenditure which is the responsibility of the territorial departments, most public expenditure is planned on a national basis and it is not possible to identify separately expenditure in the English regions. Per capita public spending for the United Kingdom in 1985–86 was £2,359.

Money Transactions

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances a financial institution is obliged by regulation to inform the police of international money transactions.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: There is no obligation on financial institutions to take the initiative to inform the police in legislation for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible, although the Bank of England, the director of savings and the Building Societies Commission have powers to disclose information to the police in certain circumstances.

Friendly Societies

sked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the report from the steering group of friendly societies: and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986]: A copy of the Report entitled "The Friendly Societies in the Welfare State", prepared by Professor E. V. Morgan for the Steering Committee of the National Conference of Friendly Societies was received on 27 November. Professor Morgan's report makes a number of recommendations for change which will be considered carefully.

Defence

Nato

asked the Secretary of State for Defenee when he last met the secretary general of the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he discussed the role of United States bases in the United Kingdom.

I met the NATO Secretary General at the meeting of the defence planning committee last Thursday and Friday. A copy of the communiqué issued after that meeting has been placed in the Library. There was no discussion specifically of the role of US bases in the United Kingdom.

Polaris

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has commissioned studies on the safety of Polaris nuclear warhead convoys in the event of accident.

As I have started previously, the arrangements for the safe transport of nuclear weapons remain constantly under review.

Strategic Defence Initiative

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of strategic defence initiative contracts won by United Kingdom departments and companies to date.

I am pleased to announce that the overall value of SDI research awards to the United Kingdom has now risen to $34 million. It is a year ago almost to the day since the US/UK SDI memorandum of understanding was signed and I believe that this figure represents a solid beginning to the United Kingdom's involvement in this important research programme.

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now publish in full the memorandum of understanding on the agreement reached between Britain and the United States of America on participation in the strategic defence initiative.

No. The United States/United Kingdom memorandum of understanding on United Kingdom participation in the United States SDI research programme is classified.

Trident

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of jobs which will be created during the construction and operation of the Trident programme; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated that the Trident programme will create an average of 8,000 direct and 7,000 indirect jobs in United Kingdom industry throughout its procurement period. The number of jobs needed to operate the Trident programme is not readily available.

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the radar under construction at Krasnoyarsk for the effectiveness of the Trident system.

No developments in Soviet defences are currently foreseen which are likely to negate the deterrent effect of the Trident force within the lifetime of the system.

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest progress of the Trident programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton).

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will estimate the number of jobs directly and indirectly dependent in the northern region on the Trident programme.

Estimates of the total number of United Kingdom jobs dependent on the Trident programme are not made on a regional basis. However the building of the first-of-class Trident submarine, HMS Vanguard, is expected to provide direct employment for about 4,000 people in Barrow.

47.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the use of the Holy Loch by Trident 1(C-4) armed United States nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

A number of questions have been asked on this matter by hon. Members. I am not aware of any representations in recent public correspondence that is readily available.

Royal Navy

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many frigates, corvettes and minesweepers are currently in service with the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy currently has 52 frigates and destroyers in service and 42 mine counter-measures vessels. The Royal Navy has had no corvettes for some years.

Military Installations (Cumbria)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to close down any military installations in Cumbria; and if he will make a statement.

No. We have no plans to close any installations in Cumbria.

Warship Procurement

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement outlining his plans for the future of warship procurement for the next 10 years.

We intend to maintain a substantial warship procurement programme as we have done over the last seven years.

Bigeye Bomb

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if equipment for use in storing the Bigeye nerve gas bomb is now stationed at Royal Air Force, Welford.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 4 December.

Falkland Islands

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the deployment and role of Her Majesty's forces in the south Atlantic.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 6 November at columns 576–7.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value and amount and type of Government equipment sold recently in the Falkland Islands.

[pursuant to his reply 3 December 1986, c. 664]: Details of Ministry of Defence surplus equipments sold locally in the Falkland Islands between 1 April and 30 November 1986 are as follows:

Items	Amount received
2 Naval Fleet Tenders	£45,399·00
2 Naval Ammunition Barges
1 HMP Falkland Sound Vessel
1,000 metres Cable
2 Water Tanks
Cast vehicles (various)
Miscellaneous items:
Fenders
Tool kits
Girders
Inner tubes
Cotton rags
Batteries
Light unit
Boots

Note: Details of individual prices are commercial in confidence.

Defence Requirements

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the implications for British defence requirements of the Reykjavik summit.

My Department has received 15 letters calling for the abandonment of the Trident programme and other nuclear weapons since the Reykjavik summit. At Camp David on 15 November the President of the United States reaffirmed the United States' intention to proceed with its strategic modernisation programme, including Trident. He also confirmed his full support for the arrangements made to modernise Britain's independent nuclear deterrent with Trident.

Frigates

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the frigate ordering programme.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

Chemical Weapons

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of chemical weapons.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Llanelli (Mr. Davies) on 28 April at column 665.

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government have made provision at Royal Air Force, Welford for the storage of chemical weapons in times of crisis.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 4 December.

European Fighter Aircraft

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with progress on the European fighter aircraft project; and if he will make a statement.

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress so far achieved in construction of the European aircraft project.

The European fighter aircraft project is making satisfactory progress. In October my right hon. Friend signed the general memorandum of understanding for the programme with his fellow Defence Ministers from Germany, Italy and Spain. The international project definition phase ended in September and the nations are currently evaluating the outcome, with a view to deciding whether to proceed to full development, which is currently planned to begin in the latter half of next year. In the meantime industry is continuing to work on risk-reducing activities with the aim of refining the design of the aircraft and engines.

Bramley Camp, Basingstoke

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will cease to have any further use for Bramley camp, near Basingstoke; and if he will make a statement about the future of the camp and his Department's housing in the area.

The final review of possible further defence use of Bramley camp is nearly complete, out I regret that none seems likely. I expect a final decision to be made early in the New Year, when I will write to my hon. Friend. Because of increased requirements for accommodation in the area, no MOD housing will be declared surplus on the closure of the depot.

Arms Sales

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria Her Majesty's Government use to make decisions on arms sales.

All arms sales require an export licence. Before this is granted a wide variety of considerations is taken into account. These considerations will vary depending on individual circumstances but they will always include the need to safeguard the United Kingdom's political, strategic and security interests, the possible effect a sale might have on the stability of a region and the likelihood of the equipment being used to violate human rights.

Territorial Army

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the most recent position on his proposals to increase the strength of the Territorial Army.

The Government's proposals for the phase II expansion of the TA were set out in defence open government document 84/02 entitled "Territorial Army Expansion 1986–90". Phase II formally commenced on 1 April 1986 and has begun well, with many of the new units already formed and recruiting.

Petty Officer John Black

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the departmental review into the death of Petty Officer John Black, unlawfully killed by person or persons unknown in Spain over the Christmas holiday period in 1983.

The Departmental review of the documents in our posession relating to the death of Petty Officer Black is nearing completion. I will inform my hon. Friend of its outcome as soon as I am in a position to do so.

Crown Proceedings Act 1947

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has received representations regarding section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 from each of (a) hon. Members, (b) members of the public, (c) members of the armed forces and (d) the organisation The Section Ten Abolition Group; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding this matter.

For practical reasons I shall confine my answer to written representations received this year. Representations from hon. Members total 141 and those from other sources total approximately 325. It is not possible to allocate the 325 to the categories requested since it is frequently unclear whether an approach is from a member of the Section Ten Abolition Group or simply someone sympathetic to its demands. In addition two petitions have been received—one each from the Section Ten Abolition Group and the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association. The hon. Member will be aware from the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Brinton) yesterday that the Government have decided that section 10 should be repealed.

Single Role Mine Hunter

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce the next round of orders for the single role mine hunter.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 28 October at column 76.

Defence Vote

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are estimated to be employed under the Defence Vote; in what categories; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to section 4 of volume II of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986" (Cmnd. 9763-II) and in particular to tables 4.4, 4.7, and 4.9 for details of MOD manpower.

Exports

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the level of defence exports in 1985.

Exports of British defence equipment have risen strongly in recent years, at a rate of about 12 per cent. per annum in real terms. Orders reached £2·9 billion in 1985, representing over 5 per cent. of British manufacturing exports and accounting for some 120,000 jobs in many of the most advanced technologies. Action by the Government has helped to improve the competitiveness of the industry and performance is continuing to improve; including the sale of aircraft to Saudi Arabia, the value of contracts signed in 1986 is currently expected to be in the region of £5 billion.

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of defence exports in the current year.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) earlier today.

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the future of the defence export sales organisation.

The future of the Defence Export Services organisation is as bright as its past. Since it was set up in 1966 by the then Labour Government it has provided invaluable support to defence exports which sustain some 120,000 direct and indirect jobs in this country and which achieved overseas contracts worth some £3 billion last year. This figure does not include the massive Tornado contract in Saudi Arabia in which the DESO played and continue to play a crucial role. It would in the view of this Government be economic madness to do other than to continue with this organisation and its good work.

Excercise Monkfish

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the recent army exercise known as Monkfish.

A routine training exercise, known as Monkfish, to test emergency planning was held in October at RAF Machrihanish and involved military units from all three services.

Hong Kong (Gurkha Troops)

45.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to increase the number of Gurkha troops in Hong Kong.

There are no plans to increase the number of Gurkhas stationed in Hong Kong above the present number of about 5,000 including trainees.

Submarines

46.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines are under design or construction in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy by (a) type and (b) shipyard.

Submarines under construction for the Royal Navy are as follows:

Number	Type	Shipyard
1	Trident class SSBN (05)	VSEL Barrow
4	Trafalgar class SSNs (16–19)	VSEL Barrow
1	Upholder class SSK (01)	VSEL Barrow
1	Upholder class SSK (02)	VSEL/CL Birkenhead

In addition, two further Upholder class SSKs are on order from the VSEL/CL Group but construction has not yet started. Also, VSEL have been invited to tender for the second Trident class SSBN and have a number of contracts covering preliminary design work for future submarines.

Amphibious Capability

48.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received to improve the amphibious capability of the British forces; and if he will make a statement.

50.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make a statement on amphibious shipping and the future of Her Majesty's Ships Fearless and Intrepid.

I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) earlier today.

Defence Contracts

49.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will review the arrangements for post costing defence contracts.

There is no need for a further review. As explained in the answer given on 11 February 1986, the arrangements for post costing are already subject to review by the independent review board for Government contracts and by the Committee of Public Accounts.

Cleveland

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state (a) on how many occasions since 1980 there has been a period of seven consecutive days, commencing on a Monday and ending of a Sunday, when the average temperature in Cleveland, or at the nearest meteorological office, recorded over such a seven-day period was minus 1·5 degC or less and (b) on how many occasions during the last 50 years such an average temperature for such a period has been recorded either for Cleveland or by the nearest meteorological office.

The only location within Cleveland for which the Meteorological Office receives temperature data is the voluntary climatological station at Hartburn Grange, near Stockton-on-Tees. At this location there has been a total of five weeks since 1980 during which the average temperatures were below—1·5 degC. The only nearby station with records going back 50 years is the voluntary climatological station at Durham University. Here there has been a total of 26 weeks with average temperatures—1·5 degC or lower since 1936.

Chemical Agents And Munitions

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to which chemical agents and munitions the Warsaw pact could deploy against United Kingdom targets.

An unclassified description of the Soviet Union's chemical warfare capability, including the chemical agents known to have been developed by the Soviets is to be found on pages 72–76 of "Soviet Military Power 1986" published by the United States Department of Defence, a copy of which is in the Library. We cannot rule out the possibility that the Soviet Union might use its longer range chemical weapons capability against targets in the United Kingdom.

Married Quarters

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) houses and (b) flats and maisonettes are available for use as married quarters for service men and their families in the Woolwich area; and how many of these were occupied at the most recent convenient date.

There are currently 783 married quarters in the Woolwich area provided by the Ministry of Defence, of which 462 are houses and 321 are flats. As at 31 July 1986, 59 houses and 59 flats were vacant, but of these, 37 houses and 20 flats were allocated to incoming families. A further 22 houses and 22 flats were empty while undergoing repairs, and the balance of 17 flats were being held against future requirements. The hon. Gentleman will wish to know that 21 flats were let to the local council in June 1986 on a short term renewable lease.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) houses and (b) flats and maisonettes are currently owned or leased by his Department for use as married quarters; and how many of these were occupied at the most recent convenient date.

As at 31 July 1986, the stock of married quarters owned by the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom totalled 82,777 and a further 144 were leased as hirings; of this total, 14,381 were vacant. Of the vacant married quarters, 5,030 were undergoing or awaiting repair, 2,617 were allocated to incoming families, 1,999 were held against future requirements and 842 were being processed for disposal. The remaining 3,893 houses are surplus to requirements and will be passed in due course to the Property Services Agency for disposal.The Ministry of Defence also has a stock of 47,359 married quarters overseas, of which 5,264 are owned and the balance are either leased as hirings or are made available by the host nation.I regret that to break the figures down into the categories requested by the hon. Gentleman would require a disproportionate amount of effort.

Naval, General And Air Staff Target 1236

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if naval, general and air staff target 1236 in relation to the long-range stand-off missile includes a requirement to carry a nuclear warhead; and if he will make a statement.

The NATO staff target to which studies are being directed is for a conventional weapon and does not include a nuclear option.

Raf Tornado Squadrons

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those Royal Air Force Tornado squadrons which have been strike-declared to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 404 and Annex E of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986" (Cmnd. 9763–1). These Tornado squadrons, together with a number of aircraft on the Tornado weapons conversion unit, are strike-capable and assigned to SACEUR. Since the statement was published, one of the United Kingdom squadrons (9 Squadron) has deployed—as planned—to RAF Germany.

Sp-70 Howitzer

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) the SP-70 howitzer and (b) its possible replacement will have a nuclear capability in British Army service; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

Harrier Gr5

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the Harrier GR5 will have a nuclear as well as a conventional role in Royal Air Force service; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to give Harrier GR5 a nuclear strike role.

Nuclear Tests

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear weapon tests by (a) the United States of America, (b) France and (c) China have been recorded by his Department so far in 1986.

One of Her Majesty's Government's principal objections to a comprehensive test ban treaty is the lack of an effective procedure to discriminate between small natural seismic events, chemical explosions and nuclear explosions. It is consequently not possible to say how many of the seismograms recorded by MOD are produced as a consequence of nuclear weapons tests.

Tomahawk Sea-Launched Cruise Missile

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government treat the United States Navy Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missile as a new class of nuclear weapon for the purpose of prior consultation regarding its deployment in United Kingdom-based facilities; and if he will make a statement.

As I replied to the hon. Member on 19 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence would expect to be consulted by the United States authorities should they wish to base a new class of nuclear weapon in Britain. In this context, the United States navy Tomahawk sea-launched Cruise missile would be considered a new class of nuclear weapon.

Warsaw Pact (Nuclear Weapons)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has that Warsaw treaty organisation air forces are constructing underground storage vaults for air-delivered nuclear weapons beneath hardened aircraft shelters on airfields in Eastern Europe.

It is not our normal practice to comment on our intelligence assessments.

Nato Infrastructure Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military construction projects undertaken in the United Kingdom since 1979 which have been partially or wholly funded by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation infrastructure programme.

The United Kingdom has, since 1979, undertaken approximately 170 military construction projects which have been partially or wholly funded by the NATO infrastructure programme. It is not the practice to publish details of operational facilities provided at individual locations. However, listed below, against the appropriate NATO Infrastructure category, are the main types of infrastructure funded military construction projects, which have been implemented in the United Kingdom in the period in question.

NATO Category	Projects
1. Airfields	Airfield Survival Measures Conversion Works for various Aircraft. Provision of Essential Operating Facilities. Provision of Physical Protection Facilities. Fuel Storage Facilities. Restoration/Construction of Taxitracks/Roads. Construction of Avionics Workshops
2. Communications	Erection of control buildings and aerial masts. Cabling works. Construction of Ground Terminals.
3. War Headquarters	Restoration/New Construction at Allied War Headquarters
4. POL (Petrol Oil Lubricants)	Provision/restoration of fuel pipelines
5. Naval Bases	Restoration/New Construction at Naval Bases to provide storage of POL/ Ammunition/Weapons Processing Facilities. Jetty improvements/ restriction
6. Training Installations	Provision of facilities in support of training for NATO forces.
7. Radar Warning Installations	Provision of radar installations.
8. Surface to surface Missile Installation	Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM).

asked the Secretary of State for defence whether any civilian facility is eligible for funding under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation infrastructure programme; and if he will make a statement.

No. The NATO infrastructure programme is established to provide military facilities to fulfil the defined minimum operational requirements of the NATO military authorities.

Binary Chemical Weapons

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received any request from the United States authorities for the basing of handling or storage equipment for binary chemical weapons or their components at RAF Welford, Berkshire.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government's policy towards the deployment of United States binary chemical weapons in Britain applies to storage and handling equipment for these weapons as well as to the weapons themselves.

Yes.

Raf Welford

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purpose of construction work carried out at RAF Welford since 1982.

The purpose of construction work carried out at RAF Welford since 1982 has been to enhance the station's effectiveness as an ammunition storage facility made available for use by the United States forces in the United Kingdom.

Us Weapons (Deployment)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any formal agreements or provisions between the United States Government and Her Majesty's Government which set out the definitions of new classes of United States weapons whose deployment on British territory or in British territorial waters requires prior consultation with Her Majesty's Government.

The basing of United States weapons in this country is covered by a wide range of agreements and understandings between the United Kingdom and United States Governments, the details of which are confidential.

Volume 107: debated on Tuesday 9 December 1986

Written Answers To Questions

Attorney-General

State Security

Public Record Office

Environment

Marine Nature Reserves

Pollution

International Year Of Shelter For The Homeless

Urban Economic Development

Public Record Office, Kew

Advisory Committees

"Paying For Local Government"

Housing Corporation Development Programme

Portsmouth Councillor (Telephone Call)

"Faith In The City"

Council Estates (Demolition)

Housing (Portsmouth)

Council House Waiting Lists

Trade And Industry

Arms Sales

Motor Industry

Pirate Radio, London

Radio Interference Service

Nightwear

Channel Tunnel

Advisory Committees

Standard Chartered Bank

Trade Descriptions Act 1972

Shipbuilders (International Comparisons)

Tiles

House Of Commons

Police Accommodation

Education And Science

Advisory Committees

Listed Buildings

Student Unions

Teachers

Home Department

Mentally Ill Prisoners

Detained Persons (Food)

Salmon Act 1976

Advisory Committees

Asylum Seekers

Prison Statistics

Northern Ireland

Advisory Committees

Wales

Small Farm Businesses

Pharmacists

Advisory Committees

Birth Statistics

Overseas Development

Structural Adjustment

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Nitrates

Advisory Committee On Salmon Stocks

Common Agricultural Policy

Energym

Nuclear Fuel (Reprocessing)

Sellafield

North Sea Gas

Prime Minister

Westland Plc

Merchant Fleet

Iran (Arms Supplies)

State Security

Engagements

Employment

Labour Statistics

Job Training Scheme

Earnings

Special Employment Measures

Community Programme

Civil Servants (Regions)

Health And Safety

Disabled People

Advisory Committees

Departmental Office, Hornchurch