asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the numbers of students in receipt of a maximum grant, part grant and

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils remained in education after (a) 16 years, and (b) 17 years, but under 19 years, in each local education authority in England at the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the amount granted in discretionary awards by each local education authority in that year.

The table provides expenditure figures on lesser value discretionary awards, but does not include expenditure in support of school pupils. Expenditure information is not collected by students' age, but practically all lesser value award holders will fall within the 16–18 age group. The student numbers are given for 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education at school and in non-advanced further education. Figures for 17 and 18-year-olds together are not readily available.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions have taken place between officials of his Department and the Manpower Services Commission on increasing provision of adult training courses at colleges of further education in 1987–88 and beyond; what account has been taken in such discussions of the fees charged by colleges of further education in relation to fees at Manpower Services Commission skillcentres; what information is available to his Department on the comparative value for money offered by colleges of further education in providing such courses; and if he will make a statement.

Officials from my Department and the Manpower Services Commission are currently engaged in discussions with the local authority associations for England and Wales about the level of fees to be charged for MSC funded adult training courses provided by colleges of further education in the 1987–88 academic year. The commissioning of provision by the MSC and the account it takes of the comparative costs of college courses and those provided by the commission's skills training agency are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 16 February, Official Report, column 443, concerning local education authorities' allocations of prescribed capital expenditure on schools for 1987–88, when the formula used in such allocations was last revised or updated; if he will place copies of the current formula in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

The formula has been in use in broadly the same form since the 1981–82 allocations. It involves the distribution of resources in part pro rata to those elements of LEAs' planned schools expenditure which are not allowed for elsewhere in the allocations methodology; and in part pro rata to the incidence of substandard school accommodation in each authority's area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 16 February, Official Report, column 443, concerning local education authorities' allocations of prescribed capital expenditure on further and higher education for 1987–88, if he will publish a table showing for each local education authority a breakdown of capital allocation into (a) committed expenditure, (b) expenditure on tertiary projects arising from statutory proposals to remove surplus places, (c) expenditure on provision of computers and technical equipment and (d) other expenditure; and if he will make a statement;(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 16 February,

No. Local authorities receive block allocations in respect of prescribed capital expenditure which they are free to use in accordance with their own priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the financial support given to British Nuclear Fuels plc for centrifuge collaboration.

My Department has been considering with BNFL the terms of the centrifuge agreement reached between the Department of Trade and Industry and BNFL which was announced to the House on 24 July 1973 at columns 385–6. Under the terms of the agreement, the Government provided £47·8 million in financial support to BNFL for the collaboration with the Netherlands and West Germany on exploitation of the gas centrifuge process for enriching uranium. The agreement provided for the grant to be repaid out of profits earned from subsequent commercial exploitation of the centrifuge process and for the Department to take a continuing share of the profits for a further period. Such payments would be made annually, once profits materialised, until 2002–03.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what analyses are available to his Department of expenditure on (a) education support grants, (b) technical and vocational education initiative, (c) in-service training (INSET); if he will publish an analysis of expenditure on each such programme in each of the last three years showing (i) the amount of grant given for new projects; (ii) the proportion of total expenditure on such projects calculated to be provided by the grant; (iii) the amount of grant given for continuation of existing projects; (iv) the proportion of total expenditure on existing projects in that year calculated to be provided by the grant; (v) the total outturn expenditure on all grant-related projects, including expenditure from other sources; (vi) the overall proportion of such outturn expenditure provided by the grant; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to her reply, 18 February 1987]: The available information is given in the table. All the figures are based on the amount of grant paid out in each financial year.It has now been agreed that these payments should be commuted into a single lump sum. The amount agreed is £47·5 million; it will be paid shortly and brought to account as a Consolidated Fund extra receipt on class VI, vote 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recent report of the International Maritime Organisation working group on removal of disused offshore platforms.

I have today arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what applications he has received from the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board for coal-fired power stations in the next five years, showing the sites and capacities. allocations of prescribed capital expenditure on further

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such applications.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many ten-minute rule Bills have been promoted over the last 20 years; and how many of these have reached the statute book; and if he will publish a table showing the relevant numbers in each year.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he last discussed the question of locating a helicopter on the west coast of Scotland for search and rescue work with the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Committee; and what was the result of these discussions;(2) what further progress he has made in setting a date for locating a helicopter on the west coast of Scotland for search and rescue work; and if he will make a statement.

We have not discussed Search and Rescue helicopter coverage for north-west Scotland with the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Committee as a body but receive regular reports from its chairman.Tendering action is in hand. The precise date on which a search and rescue helicopter will be provided for north-west Scotland will depend on consideration of the responses to invitations. It will, of course, be as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the locations of the five weighbridges in the west midlands; and how many days each has (a) been used and (b) not been available for use since 30 June 1986.

The five weighbridges provided in the west midland traffic area are located at A449 Warndon, M5 Quinton, A45 Dunchurch, A5 Wall and M6 Doxey. West midland traffic examiners have carried out 121 vehicle weight checks at these weighbridge sites since July 1986. A further 26 weigh checks have been held using other public or private weighbridges. All of the Department's weighbridges were in operation except for the A5 Wall site, which was out of operation for a total of 16 days in September and November, and the A45 Dunchurch site, which has been out of operation since mid-November and where remedial work is in hand.Local authority trading standards staff and the police also use the Department's weighbridge sites but figures for how often the west midland sites have been used by these other enforcement agencies are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to take action to require the fitting of speed governors to coaches.

Work on a British standard for speed limiters is almost complete. We expect to be able to consult interested parties on a regulation based on the standard within the next two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidelines to the Civil Aviation Authority following the privatisation of British Airways, with a view to ensuring free and fair competition in British civil aviation.

It remains one of the main objectives of the Government's airline policy to ensure adequate safeguards against anti-competitive or predatory behaviour. At my right hon. Friend's request the CAA is currently considering what information it needs to monitor airlines' activities. He has no power, however, to issue guidelines to the CAA and the authority must in any case be bound by its duties under the Civil Aviation Act 1982. But as the 1984 White Paper "Airline Competition Policy" (Cmnd. 9366) made clear, the Government are satisfied that the authority's existing powers are adequate in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total revenue received in respect of road fund licences in 1985–86 for both private and commercial vehicles.

Vehicle excise duty collected in the United Kingdom in 1985–86 on private and goods vehicles amounted to £2,384 million, of which £1,936 million related to private and light goods vehicles up to 1,525 kgs, and £448 million to goods vehicles above that weight.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of collection of road fund licences for private and commercial vehicles in 1985–86.

A separate figure for the cost of collection of vehicle excise duty is not available. The combined cost of collecting VED and registering vehicles in the United Kingdom in 1985–86 was £94 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the level of evasion of road fund licences in 1985–86 as a percentage of vehicles on the road.

The latest estimates of VED evasion in Great Britain are based on a survey undertaken in June 1984. Some 5 per cent, of the vehicles then in use on the roads were estimated to be unlicensed. The gross loss of revenue from evasion was assessed at about 4 per cent., equivalent to some £99 million in 1985–86 excluding recoveries from enforcement. No recent Northern Ireland estimates are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants have been allocated to Northern Ireland from the European regional development fund during each year since its inception; how many of these allocations have been decommitted each year; and for what reasons.

The number and value of commitments to Northern Ireland from the European regional development fund and of decommitments during each year since the Fund's inception are contained in the table below. Commitments on industry projects have been decommitted either in full or in part because of failure to achieve job creation targets, failure to complete an investment as envisaged when commitment was sought or total failure of the company. Decommitments on infrastructure projects generally arise through overestimates of expenditure and consequent over-commitment or failure to proceed with projects as originally envisaged.

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will list the fees charged for licences to store petroleum products; if he will indicate the proportion of those fees which relate to the time of the police or fire service; and if he will publish the work sheets upon which that portion of the fee has been calculated;(2) if he will list the fees charged under the Explosives Acts; if he will indicate the proportion of those fees which relate to police time; and if he will publish the work sheets which form the basis for the charge made in respect of the time of the police.

The tables set out the fees charged for licences under the Explosives Act and The Petroleum (Consolidation) Act. The fees are intended to cover the full economic costs of administering applications for, and issue of, licences. It is not possible to identify separately an element for police or fire service time.

asked the Paymaster General if he will place a copy of the report of the Manpower Services Commission inquiry into certain community programme projects in the west of Scotland in the Library.

The Manpower Services Commission's report of the inquiry is an internal document which includes information on the conduct of individual members of its staff.

asked the Paymaster General if the Strathclyde police were involved in the Manpower Services Commission inquiry into certain community programme projects in the west of Scotland.

The police have not been involved in the Manpower Services Commission inquiry.

asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 427, he will publish details of the numbers and position of those involved, their offences and the sentences of the nine convicted to date.

The information requested is provided in the table:

asked the Paymaster General if appointees to Manpower Services Commission area manpower boards receive induction training when taking up their appointments; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Training for area manpower board members is an ongoing process and is arranged locally by the board secretary in order to tailor the training to meet particular needs. Training includes:

Provision of information documents (such as the AMB guide, which contains detailed guidance on the work of boards, briefing packs and booklets), presentations and briefing sessions; and visits to local MSC schemes.

asked the Paymaster General if he will give the total number of those on all kinds of community schemes and YTS in (a) the west midlands region (b) the black country area of the west midlands and (c) the Walsall travel-to-work area.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1987]: The most recent figures for December show that the total numbers of people on the community programme, community industry and the voluntary projects programme were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on (a) the average size of sheep flocks in Wales and (b) comparable sheep flocks in the rest of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

The information is as follows: (a) The average size of sheep flocks¹ in Wales in recent years was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total cost to public funds of each current job at Parrot factory in Cwmbran new town; and if he will make a statement.

Welsh Office financial assistance payable to the project and the accumulated value of the associated rent concession provided by the Welsh Development Agency amounts to about £6,900 per person currently employed by the company at Cwmbran. The Welsh Development Agency has also made a commercial investment in the company of £1·658 million, on which it expects to make a return.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer on Monday 16 February, Official Report, column 451, if he will specify in each of the three cases mentioned the improvements that would have to be made to the roads on the eastern side of the River Dee if, in each case, the crossing was carrying traffic at capacity.

In the case where additional capacity can be provided by widening the A494 trunk road where it crosses the River Dee, the trunk road on the eastern side would have to be improved by adding a third lane in each direction. With construction of a local link or an outer link, the trunk road on the eastern side of the River Dee would not need improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer on Monday 16 February, Official Report, column 451, if he will estimate the daily volume of traffic which he expects to cross the River Dee in the Queensferry area in (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years' time.

The forecast annual average daily volumes of traffic crossing the two River Dee bridges in the Queensferry area in 1992, 1997 and 2002 are:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 451, what are the reasons for the higher average figure of patients on general practitioners' lists in Rhyl compared with Clwyd; and whether he proposes to take any action to reduce the figure.

The size of general medical practitioners' lists relate directly to the number of doctors available in the practice area. Relative to population there are fewer doctors in Rhyl than in the rest of Clwyd. General medical practitioners are independent business men contracted to the National Health Service. The control of the distribution of general medical practitioners in England and Wales is the responsibility of the medical practices committee — a body independent of Government. This control is exercised negatively, i.e. the medical practices committee cannot direct doctors to any particular area but it can tell them where they may not practise. There is no mechanism available to Health Ministers to intervene. I am advised that, in respect of the Rhyl practice area, the medical practices committee would routinely approve applications for properly qualified doctors to be included in the medical list of Clwyd family practitioner committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total of job losses by category of worker since 1979 in the National Health Service by region and district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment at what locations in the United Kingdom low-level waste is currently being stored; and what are the tonnages in each case.

Quantities of low-level nuclear waste arising in the United Kingdom are set out by installation

[pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1987, c. 83–6]: I am afraid that, due to a clerical error, some figures given in my reply to the hon. Gentleman's recent question about job losses in the NHS in Wales since 1979 were incorrect. The figures concerned relate to nursing and midwifery staff in Dyfed (including Pembrokeshire), with consequential errors in the total figures for those authorities and for Wales. The correct figures are shown in the following table.in the UKAEA report to United Kingdom NIREX and the Department of the Environment—"The 1985 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory" (Reference DOE/RW/86/087). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report for 1986 should be available in about two months. Minor users of radioactive substances, such as hospitals, may hold very small quantities of low-level waste pending disposal by authorised means.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what tonnage of nuclear waste is currently held at Bradwell; and for what period it has been deposited.

Details of the stocks of nuclear waste held at Bradwell nuclear power station were published in the UKAEA report to UK NIREX and the Department of the Environment (DOE/RW/86/087) "The 1985 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory" a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Low-level waste is routinely disposed of at Drigg; other items in the inventory have accumulated at Bradwell during the life of the power station.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list every parliamentary constituency which includes areas which will continue to receive urban programme assistance and inner city initiative support in the next financial year.

The information requested follows. The urban programme authorities listed are those invited to submit inner area programmes for 1987–88. Constituencies with inner city initiative task forces are indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any recent discussions with local authorities in Hertfordshire regarding the preservation of the green belt; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no recent discussion with Hertfordshire authorities concerning the green belt. Our policy to protect the green belt is unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are living in bed and breakfast accommodation at local authority expense.

At 30 September 1986, 6,480 households were in bed and breakfast accommodation, having been placed there by local authorities in fulfilment of their duties under part III of the Housing Act 1985. No information is available on how many of these households were having their accommodation charges met in the whole or part by the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless people there are in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Information on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State concerned. In England, in the 12 months ending 30 September 1986, local authorities accepted responsibility for 101,280 formerly homeless households under part III of the Housing Act 1985, and found them accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects currently supported by his Department under the inner city programme; which are sponsored by the Council for Community Relations in Lambeth; and if he will give details of the monitoring which has taken place in these projects over the last two years.

The projects approved by this Department for funding in the 1986–87 Lambeth inner area programme are listed below.This list includes the following projects which are sponsored by the Council for Community Relations in Lambeth:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many black civil servants are employed by his Department at principal level or above in work involving black ethnic minorities.

My Department does not keep records in a form which allows this type of information to be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of any construction work undertaken either by the Ministry of Defence or the Property Services Agency on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in Scotland in 1984, 1985 and 1986; and what is the projected expenditure for 1987.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Property Services Agency will be able to tender for (a) maintenance work and (b) new work for museums and galleries, after the new arrangements for it come into force after April 1988.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1987]: No, because the Property Services Agency is not a trading organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the additional cost of upgrading 500 currently employed senior registrars to consultant grade, assuming no accompanying increase in junior staff and no overtime payments for the new consultants.

The average salary cost of a whole-time equivalent senior registrar is estimated to be some £21,000 at 1984–85 prices, and of a consultant some £32,000. The long-run net salary cost of replacing a senior registrar post by a consultant will therefore be about £11,000 (in the short term it will be rather smaller because newly appointed consultants will start at or near the bottom of the incremental scale). These costs include the employer's contribution to superannuation and national insurance, but exclude wider effects such as the possible effect of increased throughput.The Government do not envisage that the changes in the hospital medical staffing proposed in "Achieving a Balance" will require as many as 500 senior registrar posts to be converted to consultant."Achieving a Balance" includes a number of other proposals for stimulating the rate of consultant expansion, including a pump priming scheme for 100 new consultant posts in general medicine and related specialties and in general surgery/traumatic and orthopaedic surgery. As my right hon. Friend announced on 5 February, funds have already been set aside for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received since his most recent authorisation of the level of capital allowance for personal social services; and if he will make a statement.

Four local authorities have made representations about the level of 1987–88 capital expenditure allocations for the personal social services which were notified to authorities on 22 January 1987. The Government believe that restraint in public spending is essential in the national economic interest. The objective is to make and keep to plans for available expenditure. There has to be a limit, therefore, on the total available for local authority spending. It is for local authorities themselves to determine their actual levels of capital spending on particular service blocks, including personal social services, within their overall expenditure limit based on allocations, capital receipts and other sources of spending power.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to collect centrally the figures for delays between a general practitioner recommending a patient to see a specialist for cancer diagnosis and the date on which the patient is actually seen by a consultant; at what level of the National Health Service these figures are currently kept; and if he will make a statement.

We are implementing the recommendation of the Körner steering group that there should be research to identify the most relevant and easily administered measure of the time patients in all specialties wait between referral by a general practitioner and an outpatient appointment. Data on outpatient waiting times are collected by individual district and regional health authorities but the form of the information varies. We would expect consultants and Health Service managers to regard referrals for the diagnosis of cancer as high priorities and to monitor them closely to prevent unacceptable delays.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Bury St. Edmunds constituency claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Bury St. Edmunds constituency are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Bury St. Edmunds constituency is covered by the Department's office at Bury St. Edmunds although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in Bury St. Edmunds local office during the calendar year 1986 was 2,260.It is not possible to predict how many women in Bury St. Edmunds constituency will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Birmingham, Ladywood claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Birmingham, Ladywood are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Birmingham, Ladywood constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Edgbaston, Handsworth and Ladywood, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the three local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in (a) Islington South and Finsbury and (b) Cambridge claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in (a) Islington South and Finsbury and (b) Cambridge are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. But in the 12 months ending 31 December 1986 the following numbers of claims to maternity grant were made at the Department's offices which cover the above constituencies, although the boundaries are not conterminous:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Leyton received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Leyton are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,321 claims to maternity allowance were made at Walthamstow and 1,048 claims at Leytonstone, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Leyton will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Middlesbrough received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Middlesbrough are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested. But in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,299 claims to maternity allowance were made at Middlesbrough, the Department's office which covers the constituency, although the boundaries arc not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Middlesbrough will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the constituency of Brent, East received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Brent East are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 489 claims to maternity allowance were made at Cricklewood, 1,363 claims at Neasden and 967 claims at Harlesden, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Brent, East will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the constituency of Brent, East claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Brent, East are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Brent, East constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Cricklewood, Harlesden and Neasden although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the three local offices during the calender year 1986 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Glasgow, Central claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Glasgow, Central are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information is not available in the precise form requested, but in the 12 months ending 31 December 1986 the following number of claims to maternity grant were made at the Department's local offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Glasgow, Central received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Glasgow, Central are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the precise form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the following numbers of claims to maternity allowance were made at the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North constituency claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North constituency are expected to qualify for a maternity payment form the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise from requested.The Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North constituency is covered by the Department's office at Newcastle St. James, although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in that local office during the calendar year 1986 was 691.It is not possible to predict how many women in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North constituency will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North constituency received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North constituency are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 992 claims to maternity allowance were made at Newcastle St. James, the Department's office which covers the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the City of Durham constituency received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in the City of Durham constituency are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 616 claims to maternity allowance were made at Durham, the Department's office which covers the Durham City constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Durham City will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the City of Durham constituency claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in the City of Durham constituency are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The City of Durham constituency is covered by the Department's office at Durham, although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in the Durham local office during the calendar year 1986 was 854.It is not possible to predict how many women in the City of Durham constituency will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Livingston constituency claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Livingston constituency are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Livingston constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Bathgate and Edinburgh, West, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Livingston constituency received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Livingston constituency are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,434 claims to maternity allowance were made at Edinburgh (West) and 2,109 claims at Bathgate, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Livingston will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Basildon claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Basildon are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Basildon constituency is covered by the Department's office at Basildon, although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims received for maternity grant in the Basildon local office during the calendar year 1986 was 3,702.It is not possible to predict how many women in Basildon will qualify for maternity payments from the social fund from April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Basildon received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Basildon are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 3,060 claims to maternity allowance were made at Basildon, the Department's office which covers the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Basildon will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Peckham claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Peckham are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Peckham constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Kennington Park and Peckham, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Dulwich claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Dulwich are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested. The Dulwich constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Brixton, Crystal Palace and Peckham, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the three local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Dulwich received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Dulwich are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested. But in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,431 claims to maternity allowance were made at Peckham, 1,030 claims at Brixton and 1,301 claims at Crystal Palace, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Dulwich will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Peckham received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Peckham are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,431 claims to maternity allowance were made at Peckham and 410 claims at Kennington Park, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Peckham will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Greenwich claimed the maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available: and how many women in Greenwich are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Greenwich constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Greenwich Park and Woolwich, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grant in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Greenwich received the maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are availalble: and how many women in Greenwich are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 855 claims to maternity allowance were made at Greenwich Park and 1,624 claims at Woolwich, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Greenwich will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Newcastle under Lyme received maternity allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Newcastle under Lyme are expected to receive statutory maternity pay or allowance after April 1987.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in the 12 months ending April 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,265 claims to maternity allowance were made at Newcastle and 1,640 claims at Stoke, North, the Department's offices which cover the constituency, although the boundaries are not conterminous.It is not possible to predict how many women in Newcastle-under-Lyme will qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance from April 1987. However, it is estimated that in total some 230,000 women will qualify for statutory maternity pay and 84,000 for maternity allowance in 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Newcastle under Lyme claimed maternity grant in the last year for which figures are available; and how many women in Newcastle under Lyme are expected to qualify for a maternity payment from the social fund after April 1987.

Information on the number of claimants to maternity grant is not available in the precise form requested.The Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency is covered by the Department's offices at Newcastle (Staffs) and Stoke, North, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims received for maternity grants in each of the two local offices during the calendar year 1986 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, when he intends to reply to outstanding parliamentary questions from the hon. Member for Norwood in relation to the conduct of the Oval social security office.

I have written to the hon. Member today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 25 September 1986 and subsequent reminders on behalf of Mr. A. T. L. Khurt, regarding student finance and housing benefit.

I wrote to my hon. Friend yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to investigate high charges to casualty officers by private agencies; and if he will make a statement.