To ask the Minister for the Arts how much money per capita is expended on the arts in (i) London and (ii) the northern region.

The per capita figures in 1987–88 were as follows:

	Per capita
	Greater London £	Northern region £
(a) Grants to Regional Arts Associations	1·25	1·17
(b) Grants to RAAs, direct Arts Council clients, and South Bank (BFI excluded)	7·95	1·70

Excluding Greater London, the northern region receives the second highest per capita grant of the English regions, and its figure of £1·70 is £0·45 above the average figure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rates of value added tax applicable in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the Republic of Ireland for anthelmentics for worming cattle in (i) dosing form and (ii) injection form.

In the United Kingdom, anthelmentics for worming cattle are chargeable with value added tax at the standard rate. Animal feeding stuffs are, however, liable at the zero rate and if anthelmentics are incorporated, provided they do not change the nature of the product, the entitlement to zero rating is unaffected. I understand that, in the Republic of Ireland, anthelmentics in oral form, or added to animal feeding stuffs, are zero rated. If injected into the animal they are chargeable at the rate of 25 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the percentage of gross domestic product accounted for by taxation (a) in the financial year 1987–88, (b) in the financial year 1988–89 and (c) in May 1979

[holding answer 24 March 1988]: Taxes and national insurance contributions are estimated to have accounted for 37·9 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1987–88. The same percentage is forecast for 1988–89, after taking account of the Budget changes. No figures are available for individual months; for the financial year 1979–80, taxes and national insurance contributions accounted for 35·1 per cent of GDP.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of total central Government revenue is currently attributable to income tax paid at each rate currently in force.

[holding answer 3 March 1988]: The available information is given in the table. The estimates are based on liability to income tax and not on income tax receipts which cannot be broken down into the different rates of tax.

Income tax liability in 1987–88
Rate per cent.	£ million
27	36,200
40	1,010
45	1,390
50	1,370
55	860
60	3,080
Total	43,900

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he is able to make, at constant prices, of the revenue from each region of value added tax in 1978–79 and in each subsequent year.

[holding answer 24 March 1988]: I regret that the information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings in manpower and money he hopes to make in the Inland Revenue as a result of the changes to the taxation system which he announced in his Budget.

[holding answer 21 March 1988]: Apart from the proposal for the independent taxation of husbands and wives, my Budget proposals (taken as a whole) would lead to significant reductions in Inland Revenue staff numbers. However, these are more than offset by the effects of independent taxation, which increases the number of taxpayers. The net result will be broadly neutral in 1988–89; an increase of around 100 staff in 1989–90; and larger increases in subsequent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in each month since October 1987 in each county of Wales.

The information is set out in the table:

Numbers of sheep monitored for radioactivity from November 1987 to March 1988 in the counties of Wales
	November 1987	December 1987	January 1988	February 1988	March 19881
Clywd	254	217	101	19	1
Dyfed	106	0	16	0	0
Gwent	0	0	1	0	0
Gwynedd	10,932	2,843	2,282	788	185
Mid Glamorgan	0	0	2	0	0
Powys	753	520	40	37	30
South Glamorgan	0	0	0	0	0
West Glamorgan	0	0	1	0	0
1 Up to 22 March 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the annual figures for the number of children received into care by reason of homelessness; if he will give this information for Wales as a whole and for each local authority area; what are the latest figures for the number of children in local authority care where the reason for their admission into care was homelessness; if he will give

Local authority	Number of children admitted into care on grounds of homelessness1in year to March			Number of children in care on grounds of homelessness at 31 March
	1984	1985	1986	1984	1985	1986
Clwyd	1	—	—	3	2	2
Dyfed	2	—	1	3	3	2
Gwent	2	3	3	13	14	15
Gwynedd	—	—	3	3	2	2
Mid Glamorgan	4	15	—	14	8	4
Powys	—	4	—	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	5	3	2	12	13	12
West Glamorgan	1	—	1	11	6	5
WALES	15	25	10	59	48	42
1 The above figures relate to the admissions principally on grounds of homelessness. Other grounds for admission may include homelessness as a contributory factor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations concerning instances where senior fire officers have been appointed on the basis of factors other than their professional competence; and if he will make a statement.

Some concern about this is expressed from time to time. My right hon. Friend does prescribe by regulation basic requirements for promotions and appointments in the fire service, but it is fire authorities themselves who have the responsibility for making appointments. In discharging this function, it is clearly most important that authorities appoint those who are professionally best qualified for the posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide the numbers of cases of people who have received custodial sentences for nonpayment of fines in the last five years.

The information requested is published annually in "Prison Statistics England and this information for Wales as a whole for each local authority area for the years ended 31 March 1985, 1986 and 1987 or the three most recent years; and if he will make a statement.

The latest available information is given in the table which shows the number of admissions and children in care where the reason recorded for admission into care was homelessness:Wales" (Table 7.3 of the latest issue, Cm. 210 for 1986) a copy of which is in the Library. Information for 1987 will be published later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who paid the total cost of the extradition proceedings concerning the defendants in the Heysel stadium case to be held in Belgium; what was the total cost; and what the costs of the Merseyside police were.

My reply to the hon. Member on 14 March gave the amounts so far identified as expenditure to be met by central Government. The £30,000 of police costs mentioned in that answer will be reimbursed by the Crown Prosecution Service. In addition, the Merseyside police have incurred expenditure of £182,000 which falls to be paid by the police authority, and is part of the expenditure in respect of which the authority receives grant under the Police Act 1964. The full cost of the case will be known only when legal aid costs borne by the Lord Chancellor's Department are settled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of arrests made of offenders under the age of 17 years for each of the last five years; and if he will list the figures as a percentage of the total number of arrests;(2) how many prosecutions were brought against persons under the age of 17 years for each of the last five years; and how many in each year resulted in convictions;(3) if he will list the number of offenders under the age of 17 years who were

The readily available information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", tables 6.1 and 7.7 and in more detail in supplementary tables S1.1(B) and S1.1(C) for proceedings at magistrates courts; and in tables S2.1(B) and S2.1(C) for proceedings at the Crown court; and in tables S3.3(B), S3.3(C), S3.5(B) and S3.5(C) for proceedings by police force area. Data on the age of persons arrested is not collected centrally. Copies of both these publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of persons (a) prosecuted, (b) convicted, and (c) imprisoned while under the age of 17 years who were subsequently (i) prosecuted, (ii) convicted and (MI imprisoned when older than 17 years.

The available information relates to a sample of offenders born in 1953 and followed up to the end of 1981. A total of 53 per cent. of males and 19 per cent. of females convicted before age 17 were subsequently convicted between ages 17 and 27. Further information on criminal careers is published in Home Office statistical bulletins: issue 7/85 "Criminal Careers Of Those Born in 1953, 1958 and 1963": and issue 35/87 "Criminal Careers Of Those Born in 1953: persistent offenders and desistance": copies of these publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the level of Sunday trading in Scotland and in other countries where trading restrictions have been liberalised.

A survey by MORI in 1985 found that in Scotland 16 per cent. of the shops in the sample opened on a Sunday. So far as other countries are concerned, I refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 243–248 of the report of the committee of inquiry into the Shops Act, (Cmnd. 9376), copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for a new passport, or to amend an existing passport, are currently waiting to be processed.

Applications for new or amended passports are being received at a rate of around 90,000 a week. It is estimated that some 365,000 such applications are at the various stages of processing within the six United Kingdom passport offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the escape of three men from Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell; whether they have yet been recaptured; and what steps are being taken to prevent a repetition of this incident.

In the early hours of 12 March, 3 prisoners escaped from Ashwell by climbing over the perimeter fence. I understand that none of them has yet been recaptured. Inquiries into the incident are continuing and the need for further steps to be taken will be considered in the light of the outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement concerning media ownership.

The legislative proposals which we shall bring before Parliament will include limitations on the participation of stations licensed by the radio authority in the publication of newspapers parallel to those regulating press investment in radio broadcasting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the statistics of crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1987 will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The statistics of notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1987 are published today in Home Office statistical bulletin 6/88. I have placed copies in the Library. The total number of crimes recorded in 1987 was 3·9 million, a rise of 1 per cent. over 1986. This compares with an average rise of about 6 per cent. per year since the mid-1950s.A total of 3·7 million of these crimes were against property. There was a welcome fall in the number of burglaries in dwellings (down 5 per cent. to 483,000), especially in some of the large cities; and in thefts of motor vehicles (down by 5 per cent. to 390,000). These falls show that rising crime is not inevitable and should spur us on to a greater effort in preventing crime.The Government view with concern the continuing rise in violent crime, which, by its nature, is less easily prevented. The more successful we are in preventing crimes against property, the more time is available for the police to devote to dealing with the most serious crimes. In 1987, the police clear-up rate for crimes of violence against the person rose from 71 per cent. to 75 per cent., and for more serious offences of violence against the person from 73 per cent. to 78 per cent. Overall, the clear-up rate rose from 32 to 33 per cent.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will accept the invitation of the Merksworth high school, Paisley, parents association to visit the school on Saturday 26 March, to view the school's educational facilities; and if she will make a statement.

A reply has been sent to the invitation from the Merksworth parents' action group explaining that I would not be able to accept their invitation to the open day.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what proposals he has to promote awareness in Northern Ireland of the proposed single European market in 1992;(2) whether he has included Northern Ireland in his proposed programmes of breakfast meetings in major cities of the United Kingdom to promote awareness of the single European market in 1992.

Our campaign aims to ensure that business in every part of the country understands the importance of completing the single market by 1992. Our initial booklet has been sent to more than 2,000 firms in Northern Ireland. The programme of regional conferences includes one in Belfast this autumn. Further local initiatives are planned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any proposals to reduce the burdens on public companies imposed under the accounting provisions of the Companies Act.

I have decided that the next Companies Bill should allow all listed public companies to supply shareholders with an abbreviated version of their annual report and accounts. The Bill will contain an enabling provision for regulations to be made subject to the negative resolution procedure, prescribing the minimum contents of these accounts and dealing with how they would be made available. Copies of the companies' full accounts would still have to be filed at the appropriate Companies Registration Office and be made available, as at present, free of charge to all shareholders who wanted to receive them. My Department will in due course issue a consultative document on the details of the regulations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the 1975 European 2nd directive on freedom of service in insurance to be implemented.

The second directive on freedom of services in non-life insurance must be fully implemented within 24 months of its adoption being notified to member states. We hope that adoption of the directive will take place by the end of the German presidency in June, in which event the directive will come into force in mid-1990.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make an announcement on European Community harmonisation of life assurance and compulsory motor vehicle insurance.

I expect that in the latter half of this year the Commission will submit to the Council of Ministers proposals for directives to facilitate the freedom to provide services in the fields of life assurance and motor liability insurance. Also later this year I expect that the Commission will submit a proposal for a further Council directive harmonising the laws of member states relating to motor liability insurance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on attempts by the Government of the Irish Republic to induce British-based companies to locate their activities in Southern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Government of the Irish Republic, in common with others, offer a range of incentives to inward investment by foreign companies including United Kingdom-based companies. This covers both the industrial and internationally traded services sectors and is administered by a number of state-sponsored organisations including the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), the Shannon Free Airport Development Company (SHADCO) and the Udaras na Gaeltachta. The IDA operate in the United Kingdom through its office in London.The Government in the United Kingdom are fully committed to open markets in trade and investment and the Department of Trade and Industry is itself actively engaged in attracting investment into Britain through its Invest in Britain bureau.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will refer the matter of supermarket price-fixing agreements to the Director General of Fair Trading;(2) what evidence he has of the operation of price-fixing agreements by supermarket stores; and if he will make a statement.

The Office of Fair Trading is aware of allegations of possible collusion in the level and timing of price increases for goods sold in supermarket stores. The office is currently investigating these allegations to ascertain whether action may be justified under the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will introduce legislation to require voluntary organisations which give advice to individuals concerning personal debts and loans to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will introduce legislation to require commercial organisations which give advice to individuals concerning personal debts and loans to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will introduce legislation to require any organisation which gives advice to individuals concerning personal loans from the social fund to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

Under sections 21 and 147 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, any voluntary or commercial organisations which carry on a business of debt counselling must be licensed by the Director General of Fair Trading.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for assisting the local management in schools initiative; and if he will make a statement.

I fully support this important and constructive initiative. My Department will provide £135,000 of assistance towards its costs for the production of a manual and training materials. These will provide a valuable source of practical advice for local authorities and schools in preparing schemes of financial delegation within the framework of the Education Reform Bill. The initiative deserves the attention and support of all those with an interest in this field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the dates and details of all reviews of the Inner London education authority carried out since 1964 (a) by Government and (b) by other bodies and individuals; and if he will place copies of reports of such reviews in the Library.

[holding answer 21 March 1988]: The report on this subject by the Royal Commission on Local Government in England was published in 1968. My Department published a review by Her Majesty's inspectorate of educational provision in inner London in 1980. This was followed by an internal review, the conclusions of which were reported to the House by the then Secretary of State on 4 February 1981 at column 296. My predecessor made a further announcement on the subject on 5 April 1984 at column 1124, in the context of the White Paper, "Streamlining the Cities". I am arranging that copies of the two centrally published reports are available in the Library of the House.There have been many surveys carried out by outside bodies and individuals. Amongst the major ones are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to the answer of 9 March, Official Report, columns 213–4, he will list by Civil Service grade the number of officials employed by his Department located outside London.

The Ministry of Defence employs officials in more than 430 different non-industrial grades and 530 different industrial grades. The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many domestic properties owned by his Department in the parishes of Ambrosden, Arncott and Blackthorn in Oxfordshire have been empty for (a) up to six months, (b) up to one year and (c) over one year.

The Ministry of Defence does not own any domestic properties in either Arncott or Blackthorn parishes. However, of the 533 properties in Ambrosden, details of the 39 vacant at 20 March 1988 are as follows:

	Number
(a) Vacant for up to six months	23
(b) Vacant for up to one year	8
(c) Vacant for over one year	8
	39

The 39 vacancies can be further categorised as follows:

	Number
(a) Allotted to incoming families	2
(b) Undergoing modernisation due to be completed in May	11
(c) Undergoing repair or maintenance	10
(d) Undergoing refurnishing	6
(e) Vacant and available for immediate allotment	10
	39

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department uses the services of Rechem International, Pontypool.

Yes. We have contracts with Rechem International for the disposal of toxic wastes at both the Pontypool and Southampton sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect his statement of 9 March last, concerning leasing by councils, will have on any arrangements made by councils with the London Docklands development corporation for the provision of rented accommodation within the statutory area of that corporation.

It is for individual local authorities to determine whether they will incur prescribed expenditure in any arrangements into which they enter with the London Docklands development corporation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific legislative powers currently exist for the provision of grant-aid to voluntary organisations providing emergency accommodation for the single homeless; and if he will make a statement indicating Government intentions regarding these powers.

Section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 empowers my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and local housing authorities to give grants to voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness. My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend it.In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has powers under schedule 5 to the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 to give grants to voluntary organisations for providing temporary temporary board and lodging to people without a settled way of life. The provision of emergency accommodation by voluntary organisations may also be assisted, directly or indirectly, under more general powers such as the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969, the Housing Associations Act 1985, and the Local Government Act 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask for an estimate of the cost of the Property Services Agency providing a valuation of the Crown premises at Richmond yard; and if he will make a statement.

No. It would serve no useful purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has any proposals to provide relief from the payment of non-domestic rates to parish halls or similar public buildings;(2) whether parish halls will be liable for the uniform business rate as proposed in the Local Government Finance Bill.

Parish or village halls are presently liable to be rated and will continue to be liable after 1990. Registered charities presently receive 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief, which may be increased to up to 100 per cent. at the local authority's discretion. Local authorities may also give up to 100 per cent. rate relief to other non-profit-making social and recreational clubs and organisations. Some parish halls are run by charitable organisations, but others fall to be dealt with as non-profit

	October 1987	November 1987	December 1987	January 1988	February 1988	March 19881
Antrim	1,180	299	25	154	130	Nil
Armagh	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Down	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Fermanagh	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Londonderry	3,234	863	336	48	117	36
Tyrone	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
1 To 20 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any sites of special scientific interest that have been ploughed up for cereal growing in the last 12 months showing their habitat type; and if he will make a statement.

The Nature Conservancy Council is compiling the information requested in respect of cereal growing. I shall write to the hon. Member with the details shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress has been made on the privatisation of the Crown Suppliers.

I have decided to appoint Samuel Montagu and Co., merchant bankers, to advise the Government on the best method of effecting the sale of the Crown Suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits.

The non-voted cash limit for urban aid expenditure (DOE/UA1) for 1987–88 has been increased by £0·75 million from £437·483 million to £438·233 million in respect of capital spending by local authorities on the inner cities initiative. This increase reflects a switch of provision within the inner cities initiative which was presented to Parliament in the Winter Supplementary Estimate for Class V, Vote 2 relating to expenditure by the Department of Trade and Industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in each month since October 1987 in each county of Northern Ireland.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opportunities for training and retraining for employment are now offered in west Belfast and other areas of high unemployment in the Province.

The following is a list of opportunities for training and retraining for employment currently offered in West Belfast:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what appropriate emergency accommodation for the single homeless is currently available to accept references from each of the health and social service boards in Northern Ireland.

[holding answer 24 March 1988]: The information requested is:

	Number of places
	Board run	Voluntary
Eastern Health and Social Services Board	74	20
Northern Health and Social Services Board	—	—
Southern Health and Social Services Board	—	16
Western Health and Social Services Board	—	66
TOTAL	74	102

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the grants made in 1986–87 by Government Departments and the area boards to voluntary organisations providing accommodation for (a) the single homeless, (b) battered women and their families, (c) homeless families, and (d) ex-offenders.

[holding answer 24 March 1988]: In 1986–87 the Department of Health and Social Services and the four health and social services boards paid grants as follows to voluntary organisations providing accommodation for homeless people:

	Mainly single persons	Mainly battered women and their families
	£	£
DHSS
Simon Community Northern Ireland	17,463	—
Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation	—	33,350
Open Door Resettlement Project	21,510	—
Northern board
Coleraine Women's Aid	—	14,169
Southern board
Craigavon Women's Refuge	—	4,000
Edward Street Hostel	6,000	—
Eastern board
Belfast Women's Aid	—	59,777
Extern	24,000	—
Simon Community Northern Ireland	37,250	—
Sydenham House Committee	—	7,000
Western board
Clarendon Night Shelter	—	33,284
Derry Women's Aid	—	27,905
Omagh Women's Aid	—	2,860
The House, St. Columb's Well	8,500	—

It is normal practice for homeless families to be accommodated temporarily in facilities managed by health and social services boards, where accommodation is available, or in boarding houses, with whom standing arrangements have been made in advance.In addition, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland paid the following grants in 1986–87 to voluntary organisations providing accommodation for ex-offenders:

	£
Extern:
"109" Hostel	57,000
Settle Scheme	18,000
Ormeau Centre	8,000
Castlereagh St. Hostel	3,000
Thompson House	56,000
Dismas House	22,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment is made, when planning permission is sought for any dump in Northern Ireland, of the possibility of leakage, leaching or run off from such a dump to any lake, river, stream or reservoir; by whom and under what legislative authority such assessments are made; whether the maintenance of water quality is taken into account in deciding whether planning permission is granted; and whether the term discharge is treated as encompassing any such leakage, leaching or run off.

[holding answer 15 March 1988]: Where planning permission is sought for any waste disposal site, the environmental protection division of the Department of the Environment (NI) is consulted. That division is concerned with the maintenance of water quality and the need for a consent under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 and its views are taken into account by the planning service before any such planning application is determined.In considering the possible effect of such sites on water quality, the environmental protection division considers a number of factors to determine whether the proposed site is suitable or can be made suitable for the disposal of refuse. A hydrogeological report is now required by the Department of the Environment (NI) as empowered by section 9(1) of the Water Act to accompany any application for consent. Planning permission for a waste disposal site would not issue unless a consent under the Water Act had issued or was likely to issue. The term discharge is regarded as encompassing any leachate or surface run off water.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on whose authority a bug was placed in the hayshed at Ballymeeny Road North in November 1982, prior to the death of Michael Tighe.

[holding answer 17 March 1988]: It is not the practice to comment on such matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any representations from any middle east states seeking United Kingdom assistance in forming a nuclear weapon free zone in the middle east.

No. However, we regularly join consensus at the first committee of the United Nations on a resolution sponsored by Egypt proposing such a zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Israeli Government to encourage them to sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

Average number of recipients of rate rebate2 in the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 Thousands
Year	Elderly	Sick and disabled	Unemployed	People in work	Others	Total
1985–86	4,120	550	1,340	340	670	7,020
1986–87	4,030	670	1,350	260	740	7,050
1987–88	4,040	670	1,260	260	800	7,030
1 Separate figures were not collected for lone parents.
2 The figures given are based on recipients of rent rebate, as all types of tenure—local authority and private tenancies, and owner occupation-are included. Most tenants receiving rent rebates or rent allowances also receive rate rebates.

We take every opportunity to urge the Israeli Government to sign the non-proliferation treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he possesses on Israeli nuclear weapons capability.

We have no evidence either to confirm or deny that Israel possesses nuclear weapons. Although she has refused to sign the non-proliferation treaty she has consistently declared that she will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom ambassador to Israel has made any representations to the Israeli Government over the trial of Mordecai Vanunu.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to invite a representative from (a) the verification technology information centre (VERTIC) and (b) the European proliferation information centre (EPIC) to participate in the next meeting of his ad hoc advisory panel on arms control and disarmament.

Non-governmental organisations, including VERTIC and EPIC, have been periodically invited to discussions on arms control issues with Ministers and senior officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This dialogue with NGOs will continue. I cannot at this stage anticipate whether these two bodies will be invited to participate in the next meeting of the ad hoc advisory panel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing how many of the people in receipt of housing benefit in each year since 1979–80 were currently in employment, including self-employment; and how many were sick, unemployed, lone parents or retirement pensioners.

I regret that we do not have full data in the form requested. The information available is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to afford to married woman independent entitlement to housing benefit.

No. Housing benefit is calculated on the basis of the eligible housing costs of the household and in the case of a married couple the needs and resources of both spouses are taken into account. Housing benefit may be claimed by whichever spouse is liable to pay for the housing costs of the household.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to amend the housing benefit regulations to allow those who participate in the adult training scheme to continue to receive housing benefit at the same level as they received before entering the scheme.

Yes. In accordance with the assurance in paragraph 5.30 of the White Paper "Training for Employment" (Cm 316), we propose to take the necessary steps to ensure that all trainees' entitlement to housing benefit is unaffected by joining the new adult training programme. We arc consulting the local authority associations at the moment over a suitable amendment to the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any evidence that the low-calorie sweetener aspartame is the cause of blindness, dizziness, severe headaches or confusion.

I am aware of recent claims that aspartame can cause these effects. I have therefore requested the scientific evidence on which these claims are based. Any such evidence will be considered and the advice of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) which advises the Government on the safety of food additives, will be obtained as necessary.We keep under review the safety in use of food additives. The COT has reviewed the scientific data on

Combined marginal income tax and benefit withdrawal rates 1988–89
Working heads of tax units (000s) Great Britain
Numbers facing combined rates of over 50 per cent—in bands
Per cent.	Families with children	Pre-Budget Couples and single people	Total	Families with children	Post-Budget Couples and single people	Total
100	0	0	0	0	0	0
90 to 99	55	5	60	45	0	45
80 to 89	370	10	380	285	15	300
70 to 79	85	20	100	150	20	170
60 to 69	0	0	0	1	0	1
50 to 59	0	0	0	0	0	0

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many awards have been granted as a result of the whooping cough vaccine either alone or incorporated with other vaccines, in each year from 1979 to 1987; and in each case in which year the child was immunised originally and whether brain damage was part of the award.

I regret that the requested information is not available. The information which is available is set out in the table.

Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme
Number of awards made in the United Kingdom 1979–87 where pertussis vaccine containing a pertussis element was the claimed cause of severe physical or mental disablement
Year	Number of awards
11979–80	460
1981	62
1982	30
1983	31
1984	24
1985	25
1986	14
1987	8
1 This figure cannot be apportioned between 1979 and 1980 calendar years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the numbers of working single people and of earners with dependent families who will have marginal rates of tax and benefit withdrawal in excess of 70 per cent. in 1988–89; and what will he the combined total number of people in that situation, including earners and their dependants.

The latest readily available estimates, both including and excluding the Budget changes announced on 15 March, are shown in the tables:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department is engaging in discussions regarding health warnings on Skoal Bandits in the light of his proposal to ban the product.

In accordance with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 my right hon. Friend is consulting interested parties about the Government's proposal. Some months will elapse before representations have been received and considered. Should we decide to proceed, we propose that a further period will elapse before the safety regulations become effective. While these procedures are being carried out, we think it right for the public to be warned of the health risks they run if they purchase Skoal Bandits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the effect of clause 13 of the Health and Medicines Bill on the implementation of the recommendations of paragraph 13.7 of the Acheson report on primary health care in London, relating to improvement of practice premises and employment of ancillary staff.

Since the publication of the Acheson report in 1981, progress has been made towards the implementation of the recommendations of paragraph 13.7. The effect of clause 13 when enacted will be to reinforce the important role of family practitioner committees (FPCs) in securing continuing substantial improvements in family doctors' premises and in developing practice teams. In particular clause 13 will enable FPCs to target resources at areas of greatest need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caernarfon, 18 March, Official Report, column 711, how many (a) direct and (b) indirect maternal deaths in England and Wales in 1982, 1983 and 1984 occurred in National Health Service hospitals without consultant obstetric units; and how many were associated with anasthaesia.

The information requested will be available on the publication of the report on confidential inquiries into maternal deaths in England and Wales towards the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking upon receipt of a letter from Mrs. Scarisbrick about the activities of Mr. Arnold Finks in relation to illegal abortions.

A thorough investigation into this case is being carried out by the Department and is almost complete. A reply will be sent to Mrs. Scarisbrick when it is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the fourth report of the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) on 23 March at columns 158–59.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to take any action with regard to the failure of Manhattan 100s cigarettes to carry information on their tar band.

I believe the right hon. Member is referring to a brand called United. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State informed him in his letter of 10 March, the matter is currently being investigated by the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship and the chairman, Sir Peter Lazarus, will write to him as soon as investigations are completed. Manhattan 100s do carry tar band information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of National Health Service hospital beds closed during the past 12 months in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands area; and how many have been closed where the reason given by the hospital was financial difficulties.

I regret that information on hospitals approved for closure in 1987 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount of time a person in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands will now have to wait before being able to see a consultant in the National Health Service regarding ears and eyes difficulties.

Information about out-patient waiting times in not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount of time a person in: (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands will now have to wait for a National Health Service operation for eyes or ears.

The information for England for the latest available year is given in the table. Information for the rest of the United Kingdom is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently estimated to be addicted to the benzodiazepine group of drugs; and what estimate of the incidence of dependence was made by the Committee on the Review of Medicines in its 1980 review of the benzodiazepines.

There are no precise figures to show the level or trend in benzodiazepine dependence but it was estimated in a report published in the Adverse Reaction Bulletin of June 1986 that perhaps half a million people in the United Kingdom were dependent on benzodiazepines. I have placed a copy in the Library. A report "Systematic Review of Benzodiazepines" by the Committee on Review of Medicines published in the British Medical Journal on the 29 March 1980, stated:

"the number dependent on benzodiazepines in the United Kingdom from 1960 to 1977 has been estimated to be 28 persons. This is equivalent to a dependence rate of 5–10 cases per million patient months".

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the perinatal rates for (a) the Airedale health district, (b) the Bradford health district, (c) the Yorkshire health region and (d) England, for (i) 1979 and (ii) 1986.

The information is shown in the table.

Total Applicant Households
District	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	11984–85	11985–86	11986–87
SCOTLAND	16,037	15,466	14,868	15,955	16,539	15,516	20,359	23,465	24,196
BORDERS	105	93	64	80	58	37	46	33	49
Berwickshire	20	12	8	11	10	8	8	5	8
Ettrick and Lauderdale	30	26	15	23	23	16	11	11	7
Roxburgh	25	25	12	15	25	13	27	17	34
Tweeddale	30	30	29	31	0	0	0	0	0

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will provide financial assistance to Cleveland county council and to the health authorities concerned in respect of their costs arising from the Cleveland child abuse inquiry.

Yes. In view of the exceptional nature and length of this inquiry I have decided to make available sums of £300,000 both to the county council and to the Northern regional health authority as a contribution towards the costs of the authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of negligence or breach of statutory duty have been brought against (a) his Department and (b) health authorities in the last three years; whether such claims were covered by insurance; how much money was paid on settlement; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to her reply, 1 February 1988. c. 483]: I regret that the table setting out the total compensation payments by health authorities for the last three years was incorrect. The following table gives the correct figures:

	£	Cases
1984–85	5,058,590	3,393
1985–86	7,434,817	3,697
1986–87	9,231,044	4,234

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of households which applied to be classed as homeless, by local authority, in each year from 1978–79.

The information requested is set out in the table:

District	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	11984–85	11985–86	11986–87
CENTRAL	760	522	461	541	798	880	2,175	2,090	2,063
Clackmannan	202	270	235	278	294	247	262	490	652
Falkirk	207	117	94	133	152	176	1,553	1,600	1,401
Stirling1	351	135	132	130	352	457	360	—	10
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY	415	369	331	378	313	337	355	348	369
Annandale and Eskdale	41	79	56	93	58	77	58	55	38
Nithsdale	267	172	158	187	167	166	174	171	185
Stewartry	38	51	54	54	68	64	95	73	76
Wigtown	69	67	63	36	20	30	28	49	70
FIFE	958	768	652	710	718	774	865	1,455	1,431
Dunfermline	435	258	268	290	301	261	321	551	461
Kirkcaldy	340	320	180	237	220	255	265	505	546
North East Fife	183	190	204	183	197	258	259	399	424
GRAMPIAN	944	1,057	1,095	957	945	855	983	1,599	2,311
Aberdeen	730	844	874	746	715	657	708	1,236	1,853
Banff and Buchan	60	25	19	27	13	7	23	46	69
Gordon	56	28	30	22	21	24	57	57	55
Kincardine and Deeside	20	20	13	16	18	21	22	18	37
Moray	78	140	159	146	178	146	173	242	297
HIGHLAND	334	428	409	439	434	465	439	394	476
Badenoch and Strathspey	19	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Caithness	28	8	8	13	8	2	1	2	0
Inverness	158	288	265	274	275	346	305	273	297
Lochaber	38	33	35	91	79	50	58	42	93
Nairn	36	35	31	21	44	45	18	24	27
Ross and Cromarty	29	23	34	12	0	0	21	14	19
Skye and Lochalsh	23	39	32	28	28	22	36	39	40
Sutherland	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
LOTHIAN	1,506	1,402	1,402	1,842	1,650	1,467	1,928	2,765	3,226
East Lothian	222	221	169	263	272	257	338	566	586
Edinburgh	685	771	880	945	996	896	1,151	1,609	2,127
Midlothian	204	172	146	332	218	211	223	342	270
West Lothian	395	238	207	302	172	103	216	248	243
STRATHCLYDE	10,020	9,964	9,761	10,243	10,780	9,832	12,324	13,306	12,678
Argyll and Bute	327	242	141	142	148	180	246	386	294
Bearsden and Milngavie	10	7	0	0	0	23	60	65	59
Clydebank1	188	127	105	180	124	170	365	281	109
Clydesdale	115	78	32	29	23	20	26	46	95
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth1	231	114	170	195	312	37	392	375	318
Cumnock and Doon Valley	55	39	29	26	33	35	59	46	47
Cunninghame	347	296	242	276	291	275	327	320	314
Dumbarton	303	289	273	312	348	362	486	839	906
East Kilbride	312	211	304	236	257	255	306	431	440
Eastwood	5	8	5	9	8	9	12	7	7
Glasgow1	4,391	4,926	5,171	5,049	5,686	5,082	5,806	6,834	5,630
Hamilton	399	417	350	500	362	481	538	425	359
Inverclyde	307	300	360	370	329	329	334	358	415
Kilmarnock and Loudoun1	70	72	113	162	83	71	296	278	151
Kyle and Carrick	256	184	130	265	260	260	713	518	591
Monklands	491	430	424	500	471	267	305	403	521
Motherwell	882	1,127	990	962	994	1,007	1,082	1,105	992
Renfrew1	1,135	805	703	736	826	695	699	1,245	1,129
Strathkelvin	196	292	219	294	225	268	272	224	301
TAYSIDE	828	705	587	652	728	735	1,120	1,337	1,463
Angus	205	167	100	120	189	153	212	224	309
Dundee	322	275	195	188	189	210	432	662	682
Perth and Kinross	301	263	292	344	358	372	476	451	472
ORKNEY ISLANDS	8	12	4	11	6	11	12	11	6
SHETLAND ISLANDS	79	62	53	68	69	85	80	98	77
WESTERN ISLES	80	84	49	42	40	38	32	29	47
1 Based on incomplete returns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available to indicate the levels of public expenditure in Scotland in meeting responsibilities to the homeless.

It is not possible to separate out in the way requested public expenditure incurred in meeting the needs of the homeless.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available to indicate the number of homeless households in Scotland in a given week.

The information held centrally does not identify the number of homeless households in a given week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has of the proceeds of sales of mental hospitals in Scotland in each of the next seven years.

One former mental hospital is currently surplus to Health Service requirements and is expected to be sold during the next financial year. It will be sold on the open market and the proceeds cannot therefore be estimated in advance. I am not in a position to forecast disposals and their proceeds in future years. It is a matter for health boards in the first place to consider closure and, after consultation with local interests, to seek the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless persons in Scotland have previously been admitted to hospitals with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses.

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many residential places have been provided in the community for patients discharged from mental hospitals in Scotland with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses in each of the last 10 years;(2) how many residential places have been provided in the community for patients discharged from mental hospitals in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

Number of sheep monitored between 1 November 1987 and 18 March 1988
	1987				1988
Region	November		December		January		February		March		Scotland Total
	SA	LM	SM	LM	SM	LM	SM	LM	SM	LM	SM	LM
Borders	1	1162	2	118	—	1120	2	—	—	—	5	300
Central	—	1564	—	1776	—	13	—	—	—	—	—	—
	6	22,406	2	21,361	2	2685	4	21,366	—	2341	14	7,502
Dumfries and Galloway	—	1779	—	1788	—	1223	—	—	—	—	—	—
	2	2513	2	2625	—	1185	4	2369	—	292	8	3,574
Fife	6	180	4	1197	2	1306	3	—	—	—	15	583
Grampian	2	—	3	—	1	—	3	—	—	—	9	—
Highland	2	—	3	—	1	—	2	—	1	—	9	—
Lothian	—	166	—	144	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	110
Orkney	2	—	1	—	1	—	2	—	—	—	6	—
Shetland	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Strathclyde	—	11,125	—	1467	—	110	—	147	—	—	—	—
	2	21,190	2	1937	1	184	3	2165	1	241	9	4,066
Tayside	—	—	—	1147	—	1439	3	—	—	132	3	618
Western Isles	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	—
Scotland monthly total	26	6,885	19	5,360	8	2,055	26	1,947	2	506	81	16,753
Notes:
SM—Slaughterhouse monitoring.
LM—Live monitoring.
1 Marked sheep.
2 Sheep monitored on restricted farms in conjunction with the mark and release scheme.

Statistics of the type requested are not held centrally. Such figures as are available for residential accommodation in the community reflect the total provision made by local authorities and voluntary bodies for mentally handicapped and mentally ill people already in the community as well as for ex-patients of mental hospitals. Provision of places for people with specific mental illnesses is not identified separately. The numbers of residential places made available in each of the last 10 years by local authorities and voluntary bodies was as follows:

31 March	Mental handicap	Mental illness
1978	11,063
1979	1,087	168
1980	1,093	209
1981	1,155	218
1982	1,242	283
21983	1,491	485
1984	1,665	559
1985	1,773	608
1986	1,951	644
31987	2,129	674
1 1978 statistics covered the mentally handicapped and mentally ill together.
2 From 1983 onwards, statistics included details of provision in other establishments, such as group homes, of which local authorities were aware.
3 1987 figures are provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in each month since October 1987 in each region.

The information is as follows: