To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities in whose area more than 5 per cent, of the private housing stock are without basic amenities.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities by areas in which 4·5 per cent, or more of the dwellings are considered unfit.

The following 56 English housing authorities have reported, in their 1988 housing investment programme returns, that 4·5 per cent, or more of the total stock in their areas at 1 April 1988 was unfit:—

Allerdale, Barnsley, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bolsover, Bolton, Bradford, Brent, Brighton, Bristol, Bury, Camden, Caradon, Cleethorpes, Ealing, Gedling, Great Grimsby, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hastings, Hyndburn, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Hull, Lambeth, Leeds, Leicester, Malvern Hills, Manchester, Mendip, Mid Suffolk, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newham, Oswestry, Penwith, Preston, Reading, Richmond upon Thames, Rochdale, Rossendale, Rugby, Salford, Sandwell, South Herefordshire, Southwark, St. Helens, Stoke on Trent, Sutton, Tameside, Thurrock, Tower Hamlets, Walsall, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Wolverhampton.

Five authorities have not yet made a return and a further 21 have not provided estimates of the numbers of unfit dwellings covering their private sector stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report his Department has now received from Glasgow university's centre for housing research on public sector housing; and if he will make a statement.

The report will be published by HMSO in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to his Department of the report he has now received from Glasgow university's centre for housing research; and if he will make a statement.

The contract is estimated to cost about £180,000 excluding VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the Rural Development Commission in encouraging and diversifying rural enterprise.

The Rural Development Commission came into being on 1 April 1988 through the merger of the Development Commission with its main agency, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas. The annual report of the two constituents bodies for 1987–88 has been published today, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House.I am grateful to the Lord Vinson and his fellow commissioners for the efforts which they have devoted to fostering the economic and social development of rural areas and which have led to the achievements described in the report. There is now a general recognition of the important part that small-scale industry must play in maintaining economic activity in rural areas and there has been a considerable increase in prosperity in many rural development areas. I welcome the commission's intention to review its objectives in the light of changed conditions in order to maximise the stimulus it provides for rural enterprise. I shall also take full account of advice given by the commission about other problems of rural areas and possible approaches to resolving them.

To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Hillmorton, Rugby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister what advice she has received from the Medical Research Council, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the Cancer Research Campaign, the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research, the Advisory Council on Science and Technology or any other body regarding the £6 million grant to a London hospital for a cyclotron for neutron and proton therapy; and if she will make a statement.

The Minister for Health announced on 7 June the award of a grant to the Cyclotron Trust as a contribution towards the charitable funds it is raising to provide a cyclotron at St. Thomas's hospital to improve the care of cancer patients. I have received a letter from Sir Raymond Hoffenberg, chairman of the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research, and a reply has been sent today.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Premier of the state of South Australia.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to seek to exempt Wales from the provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill concerning charges for dental and optical examinations; and if she will make a statement.

On enactment the provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill will apply throughout Great Britain. The Government see no reason to vary that.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects to be able to publish the report of the internal inquiry into the role of his Department in the collapse of the Barlow Clowes companies.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the terms of the successor regime to replace the Trade Descriptions Act 1972, will be laid before Parliament.

I laid before Parliament yesterday the Trade Descriptions (Place of Production) (Marking) Order 1988. This will require goods to be marked with or accompanied by a statement of the place of production, if the goods are presented in a way which is likely to give consumers the impression that the goods were manufactured or produced in a different place. Subject to the parliamentary procedures, the order will come into force on 31 December, at the same time as the repeal of the 1972 Act. The order bringing into force the repeal of the 1972 Act was laid before Parliament in draft on 29 July.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement about payment of regional development grant.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have decided that the current two-month waiting period for interim payments under the revised regional development grant scheme will be lifted tomorrow. Payments which are at present held up by the waiting periond will be made as soon as practicable. This will be of immediate benefit to companies operating in the development areas, particularly in the light of the increased case processing times which have resulted from the surge in applications before the scheme closed last March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is yet in a position to announce the outcome of the Government's review of audit requirements for small companies.

On 22 May 1986, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) announced that the Government had decided to retain the statutory requirement for small companies to have their accounts audited. Since that announcement, the Government have considered again the arguments for and against the compulsory audit of small companies. We still believe that the involvement of an independent professional accountant such as the audit requirement entails is likely to improve the reliability of accounts and provide a continuing protection against fraud. We have looked at possible alternative ways of achieving these objectives without requiring a full-scale audit, but have concluded that none of the alternatives offers sufficient advantages over the audit. We do not, therefore, propose to remove the statutory requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking together with British Coal to reduce the 130 per cent, increase in underground fires between 1979 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

The number of underground fires in mines owned by the British Coal Corporation increased from 68 in 1979 to 77 in 1985–86, an increase of about 13 per cent. The increasingly intensive use of plant during this period meant that the reduction in the number of mines had no significant effect on the potential of fire.Reducing the number of underground fires is a primary objective of the Health and Safety Executive which is actively monitoring measures taken by British Coal. These include the application of more sophisticated inspection and detection techniques, the raising of standards in the specification, design, installation and maintenance of machinery and equipment and the continuing development of fire-resistant materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider decentralising the statistical function in his Department dealing with Scottish jobless totals to a separate unit located in Scotland.

The unemployment statistics are a by-product of the Great Britain wide system for paying unemployment-related benefits. Dissemination and briefing on the figures for Scotland are already the responsibility of a unit located in the ofice of the Training Agency's director for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to make an official visit to China to discuss overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.

I visited China from 17–23 September during which time I signed on behalf of the United Kingdom a new memorandum of understanding providing aid and trade provision support for development projects up to a total value of £300 million. Soft loans and mixed credits will be available for projects to be agreed by the British and Chinese Governments. I also visited a number of British aid activities—particularly English language teaching and science and technology consultancies—which are providing excellent value for money and are strengthening Britain's growing political and commercial links with China.

To ask the Attorney-General what remuneration is paid to county court judges in Northern Ireland.

The salary of a county court judge in Northern Ireland is currently £45,800. County court judges are presently in group 6 of the judicial salary structure. The Government have decided that they should be paid at the higher group 5 rate for as long as they are required to carry out significantly different work from their counterparts elsewhere in the United Kingdom, as is currently the case. They will therefore be paid £50,180 with effect from 1 April 1988, increasing to £50,900 with effect from October, in line with the Government's implementation of the recommendations on judicial salaries in the 1988 report of the Top Salaries Review Body.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to propose amendments of the law concerning the right of silence in England and Wales.

I told the House on 18 May at columns 465–66 that I saw a strong case for changing the law in relation to the inferences which may be drawn from a failure to answer questions put to a suspect by the police. I considered that more careful work needed to be done before I could bring forward with confidence a specific proposal for legislation, and I set up a working group (comprising officials, members of the legal profession and a senior police officer) to carry out that further work and submit an early report with a view to legislation.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has similarly reached the conclusion that the law of the province needs to be changed. He has laid before the House a draft Order in Council containing provisions to this effect.I will seek the earliest opportunity after receiving the working group's report to bring forward legislation on this subject for England and Wales. Although the timing of change will inevitably be different in the two jurisdictions, the Government see a clear need for substantial changes to be made in both if the law is to be effectively enforced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Lincolnshire links with Australia to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall, in the week beginning 31 October.

I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 31 October to 4 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest available figures for his Department in the London pay area of the number of vacancies by grade and the proportion this is of the grade complement in London.

In the diplomatic wing, there are currently 145·5 vacancies in all grades amounting to 2·6 per cent, of total complement. The majority are in clerical and technical support grades though the number in any grade fluctuates from month to month with changes in operational requirements and the recruitment cycle.In the aid wing, there are 58 vacancies in all grades amounting to 10·9 per cent, of total complement. The majority are in clerical, secretarial and other support grades.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide the latest available figures for his Department for (a) numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade, (b) location of those offices awarding local pay additions and (c) annual cost.

In the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local pay addition is being paid to a total of 927 members of staff, in the following grades:

Number
Administrative Assistants	82
Administrative Officers	261
Diplomatic Service Grade 10 Officers	272
Secretarial Staff	307
Teleprinter Operators	5

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Palestine.

The continuing violence in the occupied territories underlines the urgent need for a just and durable solution to the Arab-Israel dispute. This would be best achieved by the holding of an international conference, as the framework for negotiations between the parties concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest assessment of the effect upon Anglo-Soviet relations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' policies of glasnost and perestroika; and if he will make a statement.

Bilateral relations have greatly improved since Mr. Gorbachev assumed power in the Soviet Union. A more pragmatic Soviet approach to contentious issues such as Afghanistan and human rights, and greater Soviet willingness to facilitate exchanges of people and ideas, have contributed to this improvement. We have combined readiness to make use of these new opportunities with a realistic view of what has not changed, including Soviet military capabilities and the need for secure defence. This consistent approach has earned respect and brought results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the annual amount of cash raised by the Welsh Development Agency from the sale of assets for each of the years 1980 to 1988; if he will list for each of those years the details of the assets sold, including buildings and support services; if he will indicate the current target for such sales; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the annual accounts of the Welsh Development Agency for the years up to and including 1987–88. The target for property and investment disposals for the current financial year is just over £15 million. Details of the assets sold to date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pharmacy technicians are employed in each of the health authorities in Wales.

The information which relates to whole-time equivalents as at 30 September 1988 is given in the following table:

District health authority	Pharmacy technicians
Clwyd	24·4
East Dyfed	5·8
Gwent	38·1
Gwynedd	10·0
Mid Glamorgan	21·8
Pembrokeshire	1·0
Powys	2·0
South Glamorgan	34·2
West Glamorgan	21·9

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he will take to enhance the status of pharmacy technicians with the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he proposes to improve the salaries of pharmacy technicians; and if he will make a statement.

The salaries of pharmacy technicians are negotiated within committee "C" of the professional and technical staffs "B" Whitley council. The staff side has rejected an offer of a 5·5 per cent, increase in pay with effect from 1 April 1988, but further discussions are being arranged for later this month.In recognition of the difficulties which are being experienced in some parts of the country in the recruitment of staff for hospital pharmacies, the management side of the Whitley council is undertaking a review of the duties and grading structure of pharmacy technicians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement concerning the supply of blood to north Wales hospitals during the recent industrial dispute involving donor staff; and if he will list the numbers of staff employed in the blood donor service as it affects north Wales;(2) what is the requirement of individual blood units for

The collection of blood from donors and the supply of blood products to hospitals in Clwyd and Gwynedd is undertaken by the Mersey regional blood transfusion service. The information requested is not held by the Welsh Office although the Department maintains contact with the north Wales health authorities on the adequacy of blood supplies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase his grant aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Wales); how much he has given annually in real terms since 1979; what are his plans for funding levels for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

In order to secure best value for money, the amount of grant in aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents up to 1992 is being reviewed and negotiations are still in progress. The annual grant paid since 1979 in real terms is as follows:

	£
1979–80	68,892
1980–81	52,099
1981–82	46,815
1982–83	51,584
1983–84	54,742
1984–85	52,424
1985–86	49,469
1986–87	47,851
1987–88	45,558

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received concerning the funding of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Wales); and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I have received 15 representations from 12 different sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Road Accident Prevention Federation for North and South Wales to discuss grant aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Wales) up to 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

The amount of grant in aid given is a matter for discussion between the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Welsh Office. The Road Accident Prevention Federation for North and South Wales has conveyed its views in writing to my right hon. Friend and these will be taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many fatal road accidents in Wales there were in each of the years 1979–88; and if he will make a statement.

The number of fatal road accidents is as follows:

Year	Number
1979	295
1980	252
1981	243
1982	260
1983	228
1984	227
1985	224
1986	214
1987	196
1988 to June	193
1 provisional.

The downward trend is most encouraging.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those health authorities and social service departments that make provision for carers in Wales; what initiatives he will take to ensure that the needs of carers in the community are recognised; and if he will make a statement.

It is necessary for all health and social services authorities to take into account the needs of carers in providing suitable care for their patients and clients. We have made this clear in our published strategies and initiatives for those with mental handicaps, the elderly and our proposals in respect of the development of mental illness services. Income support for carers is available in certain circumstances unde;r arrangements which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has on the number of people who would enter long-term hospitals or institutional care if carers were not available; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available on the form requested. There can be no doubt, however, that without the care and support which families and friends often provide, many more people would require additional support from caring agencies. We would not accept, however, that this would necessarily lead to admission to long-term hospital or institutional care. Our policies and programmes are designed to ensure that care is provided in people's own homes and communities rather than in institutions, wherever possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Clwyd South community health council to discuss the implications of charging for dental and optical examinations in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

I do not believe that a meeting with Clwyd CHC on this matter would serve any useful purpose, since it has been debated so thoroughly both inside and outside Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of pensioners in (a) Clwyd, (b) Wales, (c) the United Kingdom and (d) Alyn and Deeside district council area who will be (i) obliged to pay for dental and optical examinations and (ii) exempt; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the latest available figures for Her Majesty's Stationery Office for (a) numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade, (b) location of those offices awarding local pay additions and (c) annual cost.

The following is the information:

	Number
AO	89
AA	17
Senior Personal Secretary	1

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross income was represented by the amount of income tax and employees' national insurance contributions payable on incomes (a) half average earnings, (b) average earnings and (c) 1½ times average earnings in the financial years 1963–64, 1973–74, 1983–84 and 1988–89, using the latest data on average earnings for 1988–89.

The information is in the tables.

Income tax and income tax and NIC as percentages of Gross Earnings
		Multiples of average earnings1
		0·5	1	1·5
Single person
1963–64	Tax	7·3	17·3	21·6
	Tax & NIC	13·6	22·4	25·0
1973–74	Tax	14·2	22·1	24·7
	Tax & NIC	21·0	27·9	29·2
1983–84	Tax	18·0	24·0	26·0
	Tax & NIC	27·0	33·0	34·2
1988–892	Tax	14·8	19·9	21·6
	Tax & NIC	23·8	28·9	29·1
Married3 couple
1963–64	Tax	1·3	12·5	18·4
	Tax & NIC	7·6	17·6	21·8
1973–74	Tax	9·4	19·7	23·1
	Tax & NIC	16·2	25·6	27·6
1983–84	Tax	11·1	20·6	23·7
	Tax & NIC	20·1	29·6	32·0
1988–892	Tax	8·9	17·0	19·6
	Tax & NIC	17·9	26·0	27·1
1 Earnings are average earnings of full-time adult males working a full week on adult rates in all occupations
2 Provisional
3 Assumes wife not in paid employment

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the balance of payments in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be making a new forecast in his autumn statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the outcome of the pilot study of joint pay-as-you-earn and value added tax visits which the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise undertook in the Nottingham area.

The pilot study, which took place in the last quarter of 1986, was designed to test the Keith committee's suggestion that joint visits, rather than separate visits for PAYE and VAT purposes, could be mutually beneficial to traders and to the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.The findings are that, while joint visits are feasible and acceptable to most of the traders who received them, in only 2 per cent, of cases would a joint visit replace two separate visits. So, in most instances, a joint visit would add to, rather than reduce, the inspections of a business's records. Furthermore, a system of joint visits would add substantially to the departments' costs.In the light of these results, it is not proposed to implement a programme of joint visits at this stage. But both departments will continue to improve the information and other services they provide, especially to small businesses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when notes on clauses for the European Communities (Finance) Bill will be made available to the House.

Copies have been placed in the Vote Office today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the advance payments and overdraft facilities granted by the United Kingdom to the European Commission in August, September and October.

In each of the three months August, September and October the Commission had cash flow problems because its spending obligations exceeded the revenue available under the 1988 budget. The Commission therefore requested member states, by reference to article 10(2) of regulation 2891/77, to advance by one month the payment of own resources other than VAT. The United Kingdom accordingly made advance payments from the Consolidated Fund on 22 August, 20 September and 20 October, under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972.In August and September the Commission also overdrew its accounts with member states, by reference to article 12(2) of Council regulation 2891/77. The overdraft with the United Kingdom currently totals £159·8 million. The Government have met this obligation from the Consolidated Fund, again in accordance with section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972. Overdrafts are unwound by corresponding reductions in subsequent own resources payments.The table shows the level of advance payments made under article 10(2) in August, September and October; and the extent of the outstanding overdraft under article 12(2) at the end of each month.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects of the tax cuts announced in the Budget, on the rate of inflation.

[holding answer 19 October 1988]: The budget gave no fiscal stimulus to inflation. It left the overall burden of taxation as a percentage of GDP unchanged. In the longer run, the tax reforms and reductions in tax rates, by improving supply, will help the Government to achieve their aim of reducing inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual salaries and allowances payable to each of the part-time Crown Estate Commissioners.

[holding answer 19 October 1988]: The combined salaries and allowances payable to the part-time Crown Estate Commissioners are as follows:

• First Commissioner and Chairman of the Board—£25,524 a year.
• Two part-time Commissioners—£9,940 a year each.
• Four part-time Commissioners—£7,940 a year each

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives he will take to enhance the status and salary of occupational therapists; how many occupational therapists there are in (a) the United Kingdom (b) England and (c) Wales; how many have qualified in each of the years 1979 to 1988; what plans he has to increase occupational therapist trainee places; and if he will make a statement.

The remuneration of occupational therapists is determined following recommendations of the pay review body covering nurses, midwives, health visitors and the professions allied to medicine which was set up by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in 1983. Since that date the average rates of pay of occupational therapists, in common with those of the other professions allied to medicine, have increased by 24·1 per cent, in real terms. This reflects the importance that the Government place on the work done by these groups of staff.At 10 October 1988 there were 10,540 occupational therapists in the United Kingdom on the state register maintained by the occupational therapists board of the Council for the Professions Supplementary to Medicine. Separate figures for England and Wales are not available.Numbers of students qualifying in the years 1979 to 1987 (figures for 1988 are not yet available) are as follows:

Number
1979	463
1980	508
1981	538
1982	557
1983	593
1984	592
1985	673
1986	667
1987	660

On 15 May 1987 the Government announced detailed plans to increase the number of occupational therapy training places. The number of funded training places is expected to have risen by 100 a year by 1990–91. In addition, health authorities are funding a number of conversion courses for occupational therapy helpers and the Department is partly funding a shortened course for graduates at the London hospital.The joint DH-NHS manpower planning advisory group has commissioned a study of staffing and skill mix in occupational therapy. Preliminary results will be available in late 1989 and this will enable us to review the need for training places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health What is the approximate number of nursing sisters who under the current proposals will be designated (a) as being in charge of a ward or being a senior sister in an assignment and (b) those designated as having equal responsibility at the same proposed grade, together with the respective figures which reflect the current distribution of responsibilities; and what representations he has received from persons with extensive nursing qualifications and experience which favours the change to sole responsibility, giving their names and the terms of such representation.

On the information currently available, a clear majority of hospital sisters and about two out of three of all sisters and charge nurses in England will be graded at the higher level on the basis that they carry continuing responsibility for the management of a ward or that they are responsible for the provision of specialist clinical advice. Returns from regional health authorities indicate that there are, in addition, some 3,500 wards where two or more sisters currently share responsibility for the management of the ward and where authorities plan to create one post which will carry continuing responsibility and attract the higher grading. Once that process is complete, some three out of four sisters and charge nurses will be on the higher grade and about two out of three of those working in hospitals.I understand from regional chairmen and general managers that a large majority of nurse managers and senior nurses have expressed support for the principle of one post carrying continuing responsibility for a ward as set out in the new grading definitions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on industrial disablement benefit in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to (a) increase in real value of the basic pension, (b) increase in number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

Expenditure on industrial disablement benefit (including special hardship allowance and its successor, reduced earnings allowance), at 1987–88 prices, is estimated to have been £448 million in 1978–79 and £449 million in 1987–88. Available information is that an increase of £22 million due to the real increase in average awards of benefit was offset by a decrease of £21 million due to a fall in the number of beneficiaries over the period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on invalidity benefit in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure which was due to (a) an increase in real value of the basic pension, (b) increased payments of additional component, (c) and increase in number of beneficiaries and (d) other factors.

Expenditure on invalidity benefit at 1987–88 prices grew from £1,705 million in 1978–79 to £2,985 million in 1987–88. Of this increase, £1,120 million (87 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries; and £160 million (13 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. This latter increase was the net result of £260 million growth in additional pension offset by £100 million attributable to the following changes in the other elements of invalidity benefit, including basic pension: adjustment of child dependancy increases to take account of child benefit; the 5 per cent, abatement of invalidity pension from November 1980 to September 1985; and the reduction of invalidity allowance in respect of any entitlement to additional pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on attendance allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to (a) an increase in real value of the allowance, (b) an increase in number of beneficiaries, (c) any change in the proportion of beneficiaries receiving the higher rate and (d) other factors.

At 1987–88 prices, expenditure on attendance allowance rose from £340 million in 1978–79 to £850 million in 1987–88. Of this increase, £475 million (93 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries and £35 million (7 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. This latter figure subsumes the expenditure consequences of a change in the proportion of higher rate allowances from 43 per cent, of total awards in December 1979 to 40 per cent, in March 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on mobility allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to (a) the difference between the increase in the retail price index and the index of motoring costs, (b) and increase in the number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

Expenditure on mobility allowance, at 1987–88 prices, rose from £95 million in 1978–79 to £595 million in 1987–88. Of this increase, £400 million (80 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries; and £100 million (20 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. Any difference between the rise in the retail price index and motoring costs did not contribute directly to the increased expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on NCIP/severe disablement allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to (a) an increase in real value of the allowance, (b) an increase in the number of beneficiaries, (c) the change in the qualifying conditions and (d) other factors.

The expenditure on non-contributory invalidity pension, at 1987–88 prices, was £140 million in 1978–79. This benefit was replaced by severe disablement allowance and expenditure on the latter in 1987–88 was £305 million. Of this increase, £105 million (64 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries; and £60 million (36 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. I regret that detailed information is not readily available on which to base a reliable analysis of how far changes in the qualifying conditions or other factors contributed to these increases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on invalid care allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to (a) an increase in real value of the allowance, (b) an increase in the number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

At 1987–88 prices, expenditure on invalid care allowance rose from £8 million in 1978–79 to £165 million in 1987–88. Of this, £22 million (14 per cent.) was attributable to a real increase in the average amount payable whilst £135 million (86 per cent.), attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries, was largely the result of the extension of the allowance to married women in 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on war disablement pension in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the change in expenditure that was due to (a) an increase in real value of the basic pension, (b) a change in number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

Estimated expenditure on war disablement pensions and allowances, including gratuities for disablement of less than 20 per cent, at 1987–88 prices, was £452 million in 1978–79 and £399 million in 1987–88. It is estimated that there was a reduction in expenditure of about £132 million, or 29 per cent., due to a reduction in the number receiving war pensions and allowances from 287,000 at December 1978 to 203,000 at December 1987. This was offset by an estimated increase in expenditure of about £79 million, or 17 per cent., due to an increase in the real value of the average war pension and allowances, mainly because of the introduction of a new allowance, mobility supplement, in 1983 and a 12 per cent, increase in the proportion of war pensioners receiving an age allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on supplementary benefit (housing) paid to long-term sick and disabled people in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to (a) an increase in real value of the benefits, (b) an increase in number of beneficiaries and (c)other factors.

We do not keep records specifically of long-term sick and disabled people in receipt of supplementary benefit, only of people whose reason for claiming supplementary benefit was sickness. Information for 1978 and 1987 is not in any case comparable because of the introduction of the housing benefit scheme in 1982–83 which now provides help with rent and rates. The term "housing costs" in 1978 therefore includes rent and rates as well as mortgage interest, ground rent, and so on, whereas the term "housing costs" in 1987 excludes rent and rates.The information available, based on the annual statistical inquiries, shows that the amount of housing costs included in the assessments of people claiming supplementary benefit because they were sick was £42 million in 1978 and £39 million in 1987. These figures do not reflect the amount actually paid in supplementary benefit for housing costs—this would have been less if the claimant had other income or had any dependent adults living in his household.In 1987–88 housing benefit expenditure for people in receipt of supplementary benefit because of sickness amounted to some £200 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the reply of 22 July, Official Report, column 563, what information he has about the policy of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association on the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

I understand that the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association follows the national policy of the association and therefore does not have a separate policy on the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Regent House school, Newtownards, live in the constituencies of (a) Strangford, (b) South Down, (c) North Down, (d) Belfast, East and (e) elsewhere.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals for the reform of the general criminal law in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1988, c. 641.]: I have today laid before Parliament a draft Order in Council which proposes amending the general criminal law of Northern Ireland relating to evidence both before and during trial.The provisions of this draft order would allow the courts to attach whatever weight they think proper to the fact that someone remained! silent when questioned—for example, where circumstances were such that an innocent person might reasonably have been expected to protest his innocence and draw attention to facts which served to establish it.The draft order proposes amending the criminal law to permit the courts in Northern Ireland to draw whatever inferences would be proper from the fact that an accused remained silent in four situations. Two are dealt with by provisions that have the same effect as provisions recommended by the Criminal Law Revision Committee in 1972. The first is the "ambush" where, having remained silent during police questioning, the accused offers an explanation of his conduct for the first time at his trial when he might reasonably have been expected to offer it when being questioned. The second provides that once the prosecution has established that there is a case to answer, the accused should be warned that he will be called to give evidence and that if he should refuse to do so the court may draw such inferences as would appear proper.The other two situations are covered in provisions which have the same effect as provisions in the Criminal Justice Act enacted by the Irish Parliament in 1984. One allows a court to draw such inferences as would appear proper from an accused's failure or refusal to explain to the police certain specified facts such as substances or marks on his clothing. The other makes similar provision where an accused fails or refused to account to the police for his presence at a particular place.My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also announced today his intention to bring forward legislation on this subject for England and Wales at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the remainder of the £4·5 million promised for the upgrading of the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children to be made available; what sums have been spent so far and on what; when he expects work to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 October 1988]: The present position regarding the programme of seven improvement schemes for the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children is as follows:

	Cost (£000)	Spent to date (£000)	Completion date
Extension to X-Ray Department	441	441	August 1983
Barbour Ward	200	200	November 1984
Day Care Unit	578	578	January 1987
Engineering Services	340	340	October 1987
Musgrave & Paul Ward	1,347	638	March 1989
Total	2,906	2,197

The two remaining schemes, the operating theatres/ intensive care unit and the out-patients department/A&E department have now been presented by the Eastern health and social services board as a composite scheme which is currently being considered. I cannot state at this time when this scheme will be completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what basis tests are carried out to establish the level of pollution in the sea off the Northern Irish coast; whether he seeks the opinion of independent monitoring organisations; and if he will make a statement about the level of pollution in the water around the coast of Northern Ireland.

[holding answer 19 October 1988]: Tests to assess the level of pollution in the sea off the Northern Irish coast are carried out on the basis of requirements set out in the relevant national legislation, EC directives and international conventions and for the purpose of public reassurance. The opinion of independent monitoring organisations is not sought. The tests have shown that the water around the coast of Northern Ireland is generally of good quality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest available figures for his Department in the London pay area of the number of vacancies by grade and the proportion this is of the grade complement in London.

On 1 October 1988 there were the following vacancies against the formal complement for administrative and support staff in the Department's London divisions. The proportions of the grade complement that this represents are shown in brackets.

	Numbers	(per cent.)
Grade 5	1	(2)
Grade 7	4	(3)
Senior Executive Officer	3	(6)
Senior Professional and Technical Officer	4	(25)
Higher Executive Officer	8	(4·5)
Information Officer	1	(8)
Executive Officer	16	(7)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide the latest available figures for his Department for (a) numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade, (b) location of those offices awarding local pay additions and (c) annual cost.

The number of staff by grade awarded local pay additions in my Department is as follows:

	Number
Administrative Officer	200
Administrative Assistant	105
Senior Personal Secretaries	9
Personal Secretaries	104
Typing Managers	9
Typists	79
	506

The awards are made to those in the above grades working in central London, Croydon and Isleworth. Of the above, one administrative assistant, one personal secretary and four typists are at the Croydon local office and one personal secretary and three typists are at the Isleworth local office. The full-year cost is estimated to be £186,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has any plans to introduce arrangements so as to approve proposals from the Universities Funding Council by which home students or their families would be required to pay the whole or a part of their tuition fees for final degree and other advanced further education courses at universities, polytechnics and other colleges;(2) whether he has any plans to permit certain universities to charge higher fees, payable by the student, for tuition.

There is a developing debate on the method of funding higher education. The Government have no proposal to require students in receipt of mandatory awards to meet part of their tuition fees. Institutions do not need permission to charge tuition fees higher than those met under the mandatory awards arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to encourage local education authorities to reduce surplus school places; and what financial mechanics are in force to support this.

Circular 3/87, issued in May 1987, emphasised the high cost of underused capacity at schools with a substantial proportion of surplus places, urged LEAs to consider rationalising provision by closing and amalgamating schools where appropriate, and set new national targets, since revised, for the removal of surplus places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he makes of the number of surplus school places; and what savings would be achieved if these were removed.

It is estimated that in January 1988 there were approximately 620,000 surplus primary school places and 800,000 surplus secondary school places in England. Savings in premises-related costs of approximately £240 million a year would be achieved if these places were removed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what allocation or planning figure has been made, for capital expenditure for grant maintained schools, for the current and any subsequent financial year;(2) by what criteria he proposes to judge applications by grant-maintained schools for capital expenditure; and in what way these criteria will differ from those he applies in respect of approvals for capital expenditure by local education authorities on their schools.

There will be no grant-maintained schools in the current financial year. Allocation will be made for future financial years; the total will depend upon the number of schools. The needs of the first grant-maintained schools will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As numbers build up, schools within the grant-maintained sector will participate in a bidding system similar to that now operated for voluntary-aided schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the number of officials, including Her Majesty's inspectors, their grades and duties, who work for the whole or part of their time on grant-maintained schools; and if he will estimate their cost.

The Department has established a division to deal with policy on grant-maintained schools. The division currently consists of nine staff (one grade 5, one grade 7, one senior executive officer, one higher executive officer, two executive officers, one personal secretary and two administrative officers) working full time on all matters relating to grant-maintained schools. Their estimated annual salary cost at 1988–89 prices is about £150,000. Other members of the Department, including HM inspectorate, will in the course of their wider territorial, specialist or other policy functions devote some time to grant-maintained schools matters. It is not possible separately to quantify or cost this element of their work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grant from public funds has been made to the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust.

The Grant-Maintained Schools Trust is not at present in receipt of any grant from public funds. If the trust were in due course to make an application to my Department for financial assistance towards specific activities intended to provide support or advice for schools which had acquired grant-maintained status, the Department would be prepared to consider it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report details of all applications made to him since June 1986 for the closure or reorganisation of any school in England, with the name place and type of school, the local authority area, the number of pupils of the school, the decision which he made and whether it was for closure or reorganisation, the dates when the application was first submitted to his Department, and when his final decision was made, and including any applications still pending.

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will summarise the results of his Department's review of funding for agricultural research and development.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will summarise the results of his Department's review of funding for agricultural research and development.

The Barnes review of the agriculture departments' R and D programmes is part of a wider review of priorities for all Government-funded R and D against our belief that industry should bear the responsibility for funding work which is close to commercial application and thus of direct benetit to it. Consultations are proceeding on the funding of near market R and D with all sectors of industry involved. My noble Friend has asked for considered responses from each sector by the end of this month. Further discussions will then take place.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual financial commitment by the agriculture industry to agricultural research and development.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual financial commitment by the agriculture industry to agricultural research and development.

The agricultural and horticultural industries fund about £20 million of R and D annually, about half of which is raised directly from producers through levies and similar arrangements and the remainder through contributions or contracts from producer organisations. The industries supplying agriculture also undertake substantial investment in R and D, estimated to be in the order of £200 million a year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he expects the financial commitment of the industry towards agricultural research and development to rise over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he expects the financial commitment of the industry towards agricultural research and development to rise over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot yet say. We have asked industry to provide considered first responses by the end of October to our proposals for withdrawal of Government funding for near market R and D.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for modifying research and development programmes in agriculture and fisheries; and if he will make a statement.

Advice from the Priorities Board for R and D in agriculture and food, together with the regular review cycle of all the agriculture and fisheries research programmes, provides a strategic view of the national research needs of these industries. In addition, we have recently undertaken an internal review of expenditure by the agricultural departments on R and D to identify near market work. It remains our policy that the Government should be responsible for funding basic and strategic research as well as work in support of policy and statute; but we believe that near market work which offers the prospect of commercial application within a short enough time scale to justify investment by industry should be funded by industry. Detailed information about our near market programmes has been made available to industry and meetings have been held with the sectors concerned but final decisions have not yet been taken.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimated total level of spending by his Department on agricultural research and development in 1988–89.

The latest available estimate of spending by my Department on agricultural research and development in 1988–89 is £87·3 million on a full economic cost basis out of an estimated total Government spend on R and D on agriculture, fisheries and food for 1988–89 somewhat in excess of £225 million. Further information on R and D funded by my Department is given in the "Annual Review of Government Funded R and D 1988".

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average total amount of public spending on agricultural research and development in each of the last five years.

Public spending on agricultural research and development in the last five years, on a full economic cost basis, was as follows:

	£ million
1983–84	166·1
1984–85	170·0
1985–86	165·0
1986–87	165·7
11987–88	162·3
Average	165·8

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. Friend and I maintain regular contacts with the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss matters of mutual interest.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the pig industry on progress towards the abolition of the dry sow stall.

My Department has consulted the industry and other interests on the Farm Animal Welfare Council's assessment of pig production systems.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what topics were discussed at the last Council of European Community Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the last European Community Council of Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions were taken on olive oil consumption aid which will produce a saving of 102 million ecu. Other matters were discussed but no decision taken.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Small Farmers Association; and what subjects they discussed.

My right hon. Friend has not met the chairman recently. But he is kept regularly in touch with the Small Farmers Association's views.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last attended a meeting of the European Community's Council of Fisheries Ministers; and which subjects were discussed.

Together with my noble Friend, the Minister of State, Scottish Office, I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 19 and 20 October 1988 in Luxembourg. The Council dealt with many issues. In particular, we welcome the agreement reached on improvements to the control regulation to facilitate better enforcement. The Commission is committed to produce proposals to increase the precautionary TAC for Channel cod. For reasons of conservation the Council agreed to the extension of the mackerel box off our south-west coast and to a reduction in cod quotas off Svalbord and north Norway. We also raised again the importance of having flexibility for fishing for Western mackerel across the 4° W line.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to attend a meeting of the European Community's Council of Fisheries Ministers; what matters he expects to discuss; and if he will make a statement.

The next EC Council of Fisheries Ministers is to be held on 28 November 1988. Present plans are that fish product guide prices for 1989 are to be discussed. Other items have yet to be tabled.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the current level of sales of non-alcoholic beer and wine.

There are no official statistics, but these sales have clearly increased substantially over the last few years. Technical developments in the industry have contributed to improvements in quality of the products. The recently announced reductions in excise duties chargeable on lower strength drinks should encourage the development of this sector.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can give an estimate of the likely size of the current United Kingdom harvest.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest forecast for the 1988 cereal harvest.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the 1988 harvest.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of the size of the 1988 harvest.

My Department currently estimates the 1988 cereals harvest in the United Kingdom to be 21 million tonnes.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the current trials of the milk production hormone BST to end.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to announce the final results of the trials of the milk production hormone BST.

These trials are being conducted by the companies concerned. Their purpose is primarily to produce evidence as to the efficacy of the products. This evidence will be presented to the Veterinary Products Committee which advises Ministers on applications for product licences. It is up to the companies to decide when to submit their evidence to the Veterinary Products Committee.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the Veterinary Products Committee concerning the milk production hormone BST; and if he will make a statement.

The Veterinary Products Committee was consulted, as is required under the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968, concerning applications for animal test certificates for BST. It advised that it was completely satisfied with all aspects of the safety of BST. So the present trials are designed to assess not the safety of the product, but its efficacy under field conditions.Two applications for product licences for BST have been received and these are being considered in accordance with the provisions of the Medicines Act and EC legislation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association; and what subjects they discussed.

Although I have not yet met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association, I am glad to say that I shall be addressing the association's annual conference next February. In the meantime, the Department is in regular touch with the association on a wide range of issues.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects they discussed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects were discussed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects were discussed.

I meet the president of the National Farmers Union frequently to discuss a wide range of agricultural matters. I last met him on 11 October.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when next he is due to meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy sector.

I have no present plans to do so.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total volume and value in pound sterling of surplus food and drink in the EEC.