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Written Answers

Volume 139: debated on Tuesday 25 October 1988

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 25 October 1988

Wales

Departmental Staff

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

Mr. Peter Walker

The comparatively small London office of my Department currently has two vacancies for typists and two vacancies for messengers. These posts are expected to be filled shortly.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

Mr. Peter Walker

The information is as follows:

  • (a) 3—2 Senior Personal Secretaries and 1 Personal Secretary
  • (b) Whitehall
  • (c) £1,200

    • Local Government Reform

    Mr. Rooker

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will construct a table in the same form as figure F3 on page 106 of Cmnd. 9714, "Paying for Local Government", showing the relationship in Wales of rateable values to net household income separately for (a) single pensioner households, (b) other single adult households, (c) two adult households and (d) three adult households.

    Mr. Grist

    Table F3 on page 106 of Cmnd. 9714 was constructed from data obtained from the family expenditure survey. The Welsh element of this data related to only 2,000 households. It is not possible to derive reliable estimates of the details requested, by household types, from a sample of this size.

    River Loughor (Bridge Crossing)

    Mr. Gareth Wardell

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the tender price accepted and (b) the final account price for the construction of the new bridge crossing of the River Loughor.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    No. The bridge has been constructed by Dyfed and West Glamorgan county councils; the cost is a matter for them.

    Nurses

    Mr. Nicholas Bennett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of places available to state enrolled nurses to convert to registered general nurses in 1987, 1988 and 1989; what is the total number of applications received for these courses; what is the average waiting time for successful applicants; and if there are any plans to increase the number of places available for state enrolled nurses wishing to undertake the conversion courses to registered general nurses.

    Mr. Grist

    The number of places available to second level nurses to convert to first level nurses in Wales is as follows:

    • 1987 — None; no courses were approved
    • 1988 — 47
    • 1989 — 98 (to date)
    Information about the number of applications received for the conversion courses, and the average waiting time for successful applicants, is not held centrally.The Government's response to Project 2000 stressed the need to increase the number of second level nurse conversion courses, and the UKCC is examining the provision for more flexible modes of conversion. Health authorities in Wales have been encouraged to increase opportunities for second level nurse conversion wherever possible.

    Therapeutic Provision

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, in accordance with those parts of the Education Reform Act 1988 which allow local education authorities in Wales to make therapeutic provisions, he will investigate with Her Majesty's inspector the shortfall in speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the county of Clwyd and other Welsh local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    Under the provisions of section 7 of the Education Act 1981, as amended by the Education Reform Act 1988, a local education authority may arrange for non-education provision such as speech therapy but it does not lay on them a duty to do so. The primary responsibility for that remains with the district health authority. Her Majesty's Inspectorate will continue to monitor the arrangements made within Wales for pupils with special educational needs including those who benefit from speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

    Pesticides

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps have been taken to ensure that the eating of fruit and vegetables treated with pesticides by growers and purchased by shoppers in Wales is safe; what steps his Department has taken to examine such fruit and vegetables to determine their freedom from injurious substances; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps he takes to monitor the use of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetable production in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Walker

    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Monitoring for pesticide residues is carried out throughout the United Kingdom by the working party on pesticide residues (WPPR). The WPPR programme includes total diet studies incorporating fruit and vegetables. In addition targeted surveys of residues in fruit and vegetables are carried out on a routine basis. Samples from Wales are included in this monitoring.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his findings concerning pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables in Wales and in fruit and vegetables entering Wales from other parts of the United Kingdom and from abroad; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Walker

    Findings of the working party on pesticide residues which monitors United Kingdom food supplies for pesticide residues are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Where appropriate the location of a particular residue problem is indicated but results are generally consistent throughout the United Kingdom. The WPPR monitors imported produce as well as home production.

    Partially Sighted Society

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what moneys he gives to the Partially Sighted Society; if he will give a special ad hoc grant to the Partially Sighted Society; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will meet the Partially Sighted Society to discuss their future plans; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Grist

    Welsh Office officials would be pleased to met representatives of the Partially Sighted Society if their plans relate to all-Wales activities. The society has already been advised to contact local statutory organisations for support for local initiatives. The society's national headquarters are in England and receive Government aid towards administration costs to which my Department does not contribute.

    Sandycroft School

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Sandycroft C P school to meet the staff and parents to discuss plans to rebuild the infants' department; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    No. This is a matter for the local education authority which is responsible for the provision and maintenance of its school buildings.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a special allocation of cash to Clwyd local education authority to enable the burnt down infants' department of Sandycroft C P school to be rebuilt in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    No. Capital allocations for 1988–89 have been made to Clwyd county council relating to all the services for which it is responsible, including educational building. It is for the local education authority to determine which school building project will proceed in the current financial year.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet members of the Clwyd county council, Alyn and Deeside council and Queensferry community council concerning the need to rebuild the burnt down infants' department of Sandycroft CP school; if he will also meet the parent teachers association and the school governors; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    No. This is a matter for the local education authority which is responsible for provision and maintenance of its school buildings.

    Capitation Allowances

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Federation of Primary School Headteachers in Clwyd to discuss capitation allowances.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    No. Capitation to schools is a matter for the local education authority.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a league table of capitation allowances for (i) primary schools, (ii) high schools in each of the local education authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    No. Capitation allowances for schools are a matter for local education authorities and information about them is not held centrally. Under the Education Reform Act local education authorities are required to prepare schemes to delegate budgets to individual schools. Local education authorities will also be required to publish information on their schemes and on planned and actually incurred expenditure in individual schools.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will allocate extra finance to Clwyd local education authority to enable the capitation of primary schools of Clwyd county to be increased by 75 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    Local education authority spending is funded from locally raised revenue supported by mainly unhypothecated Government grants and not from cash allocations by central Government. It is for local authorities to decide how much to spend on primary schools in the light of their resources and priorities.

    M4 Motorway

    Mr. Gareth Wardell

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the starting date and (b) the completion date for the construction of the section of the M4 motorway between Baglan and Neath; and whether the contracts for the four contracts in the scheme will be tendered for simultaneously.

    Mr. Wyn Roberts

    The estimated start date for the Baglan-Lonlas section of the M4 is within the "Roads in Wales 1985" timeband to the end of 1990. The duration of the individual contracts varies between two and three years and letting will be phased accordingly.

    National Finance

    Public Expenditure

    Mr. David Davis

    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for the latest years now available, identifiable public expenditure by function in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom expressed (a) in cash terms, (b) as an index (United Kingdom total identifiable public expenditure = 100), (c) as an amount per capita and (d) as an amount per capita expressed as an index (United Kingdom amount per capita = 100).

    Mr. Major

    The term "identifiable expenditure" refers to expenditure that can be identified from official records as having been incurred in a particular country. Total identifiable expenditure accounts for around 80 per cent. of total departmental public expenditure.The remainder, unidentifiable expenditure, includes expenditure on defence, overseas aid and other overseas services which are deemed to have been incurred on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole. Unidentifiable expenditure also includes Government net lending to, and the market and overseas borrowing of, the public corporations (including nationalised industries), due to the difficulty of allocating this finance to expenditure in a particular country. Privatisation proceeds are also included in unidentifiable expenditure.Tables 1 to 5 show figures of identifiable public expenditure according to main function in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are the only available figures comparing public expenditure by function in the four countries of the United Kingdom. The analysis covers 1983–84 to 1987–88, the only period for which data are available on a consistent basis.Table 6 compares, for the latest year, 1987–88, expenditure in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland programmes with the total identifiable expenditure in the

    Table 1a Identifiable public expenditure 1983–84
    £ millionIndex (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)
    EnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandUnited KingdomEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern Ireland
    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry711·2201·295·8149·71,157·961·417·48·312·9
    Trade, industry, energy and employment3,009·3723·7365·4374·94,473·367·316·28·28·4
    Arts and libraries515·963·827·8—607·584·910·54·6—
    Roads and transport4,457·3547·1376·2123·55,504·181·09·96·82·2
    Housing3,153·6716·7195·7192·64,258·674·116·84·64·5
    Other environmental services3,465·9530·3264·4176·54,437·178·112·06·04·0
    Law, order and protective services3,634·1458·5189·7400·44,682·777·69·84·18·6
    Education and science12,975·61,964·4816·3581·916,338·279·412·05·03·6
    Health and personal social services14,711·22,036·2916·2635·218,298·880·411·15·03·5
    Social security29,405·63,329·51,884·71,094·335,714·182·39·35·33·1
    Other public services1,049·7235·399·653·71,438·373·016·46·93·7
    Common services-145·2-13·6-0·81·9-157·7————
    Planning total76,944·210,793·15,231·03,784·696,752·979·511·25·43·9
    Table 1b Identifiable public per head 1983–84
    £ per headIndex (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)
    EnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandUnited KingdomEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern Ireland
    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry15·239·134·197·020·573·9190·1166·0472·1
    Trade, industry, energy and employment64·2140·5130·1242·979·480·9177·0163·9306·0
    Arts and libraries11·012·49·9—10·8102·1114·991·8—
    Roads and transport95·1106·2134·080·097·797·4108·7137·281·9
    Housing67·3139·269·7124·875·689·1184·192·2165·1
    Other environmental services74·0103·094·2114·478·794·0130·8119·6145·2
    Law, order and protective services77·689·067·6259·583·193·3107·181·3312·2
    Education and science277·0381·4290·7377·1290·095·5131·5100·3130·0
    Health and personal social services314·0395·3326·3411·6324·896·7121·7100·5126·7
    Social security627·7646·5671·2709·1633·899·0102·0105·9111·9
    Other public services22·445·735·534·825·587·8179·0139·0136·3

    respective countries by function. It shows that identifiable expenditure has a wider coverage than expenditure within the responsibilities of the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales; in the case of Northern Ireland it has a slightly wider coverage than the Northern Ireland programme in the public expenditure survey. This table also shows unidentifiable expenditure by function for 1987–88. It should be noted that the unidentifiable expenditure for housing is entirely made up of Government net lending to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive which is excluded from identifiable expenditure because it is classified as a public corporation.

    In some cases expenditure which cannot be separately identified for England, Scotland or Wales can be allocated to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom; for example, the majority of the financing of expenditure by the nationalised industries can be allocated to Great Britain. Tables 7a and 7b compare Northern Ireland allocated expenditure with that allocated to Great Britain over the five-year period.

    The extent to which expenditure can be identified may vary from year to year and between countries. The coverage of particular functions can also vary between countries; for example, in Northern Ireland, expenditure on arts and libraries is contained in the education category.

    The tables use the terms and definitions of the last public expenditure White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288) but they incorporate later information.

    £ per head

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Common services-3·1-2·6-0·31·2-2·8————
    Planning total1,642·52,095·61,863·02,452·41,717·195·7122·0108·5142·8

    Table 2a Identifiable public expenditure 1984–85

    £ million

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry682·9230·5100·6160·51,174·558·119·68·613·7
    Trade, industry, energy and employment3,218·6766·9382·5420·44,788·467·216·08·08·8
    Arts and libraries551·469·128·9649·484·910·64·5
    Roads and transport4,681·8563·5328·7121·95,695·982·29·95·82·1
    Housing3,266·6656·7136·9210·64,270·876·515·43·24·9
    Other environmental services3,677·0533·8272·3183·04,666·178·811·45·83·9
    Law, order and protective services4,121·2498·2209·9430·65·259·978·49·54·08·2
    Education and science13,475·22,013·0838·6610·916,937·779·611·95·03·6
    Health and personal social services15,757·92,182·2986·3666·919,593·380·411·15·03·4
    Social security31·870·93,603·22,049·31,186·138,709·582·39·35·33·1
    Other public services1,163·9247·4102·657·91,571·874·015·76·53·7
    Common services-79·2-8·24·52·4-80·5
    Planning total82,388·211,356·35,441·14,051·2103,236·879·811·05·33·9

    Table 2b Identifiable public expenditure per head 1984–85

    £ per head

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry14·544·835·8103·520·869·9215·3172·3497·6
    Trade, industry, energy and employment68·5149·0136·3271·284·880·8175·7160·7319·7
    Arts and libraries11·713·410·311·5102·1116·889·5
    Roads and transport99·7109·5117·178·6100·998·8108·5116·177·9
    Housing69·6127·648·8135·875·692·0168·764·5179·6
    Other environmental services78·3103·797·0118·082·694·8125·5117·4142·8
    Law, order and protective services87·896·874·8277·793·294·2103·980·3298·1
    Education and science287·0391·2298·7394·0300·095·7130·499·6131·3
    Health and personal social services335·6424·1351·3430·1347·096·7122·2101·2124·0
    Social security678·7700·2730·0765·0685·699·0102·1106·5111·6
    Other public services24·848·136·537·327·889·0172·7131·3134·1
    Common services-1·7-1·61·61·5-1·4
    Planning total1,754·62,206·91,938·32,613·01,828·596·0120·7106·0142·9

    Table 3a Identifiable public expenditure 1985–86

    £ million

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry676·0250·6106·7155·11,188·456·921·19·013·1
    Trade, industry, energy and employment3,373·4794·6397·5449·75,015·267·315·87·99·0
    Arts and libraries581·775·231·6—688·584·510·94·6—
    Roads and transport4,759·3582·3337·2122·65,801·482·010·05·82·1
    Housing2,962·0616·2128·1227·03,933·375·315·73·35·8
    Other environmental services3,660·3535·6285·1194·74,675·778·311·56·14·2
    Law, order and protective services4,199·9521·0219·5470·05,410·477·69·64·18·7
    Education and science13,927·22,058·5848·7637·517,471·979·711·84·93·6
    Health and personal social services16,613·82,317·11,052·0699·120,682·080·311·25·13·4
    Social security34,904·14,026·32,218·61,292·942,441·982·29·55·23·0
    Other public services1,284·6254·5106·563·81,709·475·114·96·23·7
    Common services-97·2-10·31·72·2-103·6————
    Planning total86,845·112,021·65,733·24,314·6108,914·579·711·05·34·0

    Table 3b Identifiable public per head 1985–86

    £ per head

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry14·348·837·999·621·068·4232·4180·8474·3
    Trade, industry, energy and employment71·6154·7141·4288·788·680·8174·6159·6325·9
    Arts and libraries12·314·611·2—12·2101·5120·492·4—
    Roads and transport101·0113·4119·978·7102·598·6110·6117·076·8
    Housing62·9120·045·6145·769·590·5172·765·6209·8
    Other environmental services77·7104·3101·4125·082·694·1126·3122·8151·3
    Law, order and protective services89·1101·478·1301·795·693·3106·181·7315·7
    Education and science295·6400·8301·8409·2308·695·8129·997·8132·6
    Health and personal social services352·6451·1374·1448·8365·396·5123·5102·4122·9
    Social security740·9783·9789·0830·0749·698·8104·6105·3110·7
    Other public services27·349·537·941·030·290·3164·1125·5135·6
    Common services-2·1-2·00·61·4-1·8————
    Planning total1,843·42,340·42,039·02,769·71,923·795·8121·7106·0144·0

    Table 4a Identifiable public expenditure 1986–87

    £ million

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry632·1227·3115·3160·21,134·955·720·010·214·1
    Trade, industry, energy and employment3,802·4938·7509·0395·85,645·967·316·69·07·0
    Arts and libraries623·681·733·1738·484·511·14·5
    Roads and transport4,666·5586·5362·9126·95,742·881·310·26·32·2
    Housing2,597·8635·9174·2238·03,645·971·317·44·86·5
    Other environmental services3,693·5581·9330·6208·44,814·476·712·16·94·3
    Law, order and protective services4,641·4567·1230·7517·25,956·477·99·53·98·7
    Education and science15,172·32,272·8934·8730·819,110·779·411·94·93·8
    Health and personal social services17,915·42,444·71,132·5750·622,243·280·511·05·13·4
    Social security37,307·84,272·72,395·41,400·145,376·082·29·45·33·1
    Other public services1,417·7283·5119·476·01,896·674·714·96·34·0
    Common services-84·6-6·30·2-0·2-90·9
    Planning total92,385·912,886·56,338·14,603·8116,214·379·511·15·54·0

    Table 4b Identifiable public expenditure per head 1986–87

    £ per head

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry13·444·440·9102·220·066·9222·0204·4511·4
    Trade, industry, energy and employment80·5183·3180·4252·699·580·9184·3181·4254·0
    Arts and libraries13·216·011·713·0101·4122·690·2
    Roads and transport98·8114·5128·681·0101·297·6113·2127·280·1
    Housing55·0124·261·8151·964·285·6193·396·1236·5
    Other environmental services78·2113·6117·2133·084·892·2134·0138·2156·8
    Law, order and protective services98·2110·781·8330·1104·993·6105·577·9314·6
    Education and science321·1443·8331·4466·4336·795·4131·898·4138·5
    Health and personal social services379·1477·4401·5479·1391·996·8121·8102·4122·3
    Social security789·5834·3849·1893·6799·498·8104·4106·2111·8
    Other public services30·055·442·348·533·489·8165·7126·7145·2
    Common services-1·8-1·20·1-0·1-1·6
    Planning total1,955·12,516·42,246·82,938·32,047·395·5122·9109·7143·5

    Table 5a Identifiable public expenditure 1987–88

    £ million

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry685·4226·889·6167·01,168·858·619·47·714·3
    Trade, industry, energy and employment3,698·0759·7466·0371·25,294·969·814·38·87·0
    Arts and libraries666·784·938·1789·784·410·84·8
    Roads and transport4,820·6628·5404·0131·25,984·380·610·56·82·2
    Housing2,536·5670·8210·9237·33,655·569·418·45·86·5
    Other environmental services3,676·2674·0321·9232·24,904·375·013·76·64·7
    Law, order and protective services5,218·5629·8263·2593·06,704·577·89·43·98·8
    Education and science16,601·42,442·41,040·7786·820,871·379·511·75·03·8
    Health and personal social services19,677·02,696·31,257·0812·424,442·780·511·05·13·3
    Social security38,660·74,561·92,500·81,465·447,188·881·99·75·33·1
    Other public services1,558·3301·0126·281·32,066·875·414·66·13·9
    Common services-16·41·73·90·6-10·2
    Planning total97,782·913,677·86,722·34,878·4123,061·479·511·15·54·0

    Table 5b Identifiable public expenditure per head 1987–88

    £ per head

    Index (United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100)

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry14·544·431·6106·020·570·4216·1153·9516·4
    Trade, industry, energy and employment78·0148·6164·3235·793·083·9159·8176·7253·4
    Arts and libraries14·116·613·413·9101·4119·796·8
    Roads and transport101·7122·9142·483·3105·196·7117·0135·579·2
    Housing53·5131·274·4150·764·283·3204·4115·8234·6
    Other environmental services77·5131·8113·5147·486·190·0153·0131·7171·1
    Law, order and protective services110·1123·292·8376·5117·893·5104·678·8319·7
    Education and science350·2477·8366·9499·5366·695·5130·3100·1136·3
    Health and personal social services415·1527·4443·2515·8429·396·7122·8103·2120·1
    Social security815·5892·4881·7930·4828·998·4107·7106·4112·2
    Other public services32·958·944·551·636·390·5162·2122·6142·2
    Common services-0·30·31·40·4-0·2
    Planning total2,062·62,675·62,370·23,097·22,161·695·4123·8109·6143·3

    Table 6 Planning total analysed by territorial area 1987–88

    £ million

    England

    Scotland (Total)

    Programme 15

    1

    Scotland other

    Wales (Total)

    Programme 16

    1

    Wales other

    Northern Ireland (Total)

    Programme 17

    1

    Northern Ireland other

    United Kingdom

    Non identified

    Total

    Defence18,662·418,662·4
    Overseas services3,611·13,611·1
    Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry685·4226·8175·151·789·670·918·7167·0166·80·21,168·81,239·02,407·8
    Trade, industry, energy and employment3,698·0759·7229·3530·4466·0160·5305·5371·2369·22·05,294·9782·96,077·8
    Arts and libraries666·784·984·938·138·1

    2

    2

    2

    		789·7220·21,009·9
    Roads and transport4,820·6628·5626·12·4404·0331·872·2131·2131·25,984·3-323·35,661·0
    Housing2,536·5670·8670·8210·9210·9237·3237·33,655·5

    3113·8

    		3,769·3
    Other environmental services3,676·2674·0662·611·4321·9315·66·3232·2232·24,904·3101·45,005·7
    Law, order and protective services5,218·5629·8613·816·0263·2263·2593·0569·823·26,704·51,056·07,760·5
    Education and science16,601·42,442·42,130·6311·81,040·7877·0163·7786·8785·01·820,871·3110·820,982·1
    Health and personal social services19,677·02,696·32,696·31,257·01,257·0812·4812·424,442·712·424,455·1
    Social security38,660·74,561·94,561·92,500·82,500·81,465·41,453·911·547,188·8510·647,699·4
    Other public services1,558·3301·0116·6184·4126·238·687·681·348·732·62,066·8551·02,617·8
    Common services-16·41·71·73·93·90·60·6-10·21,356·61,346·4
    Public expenditure on programmes97,782·913,677·88,006·15,671·76,722·33,300·43,421·94,878·44,806·571·9123,061·428,004·9151,066·3
    Privatisation proceeds-5,108·4-5,108·4
    Planning total97,782·913,677·88,006·15,671·76,722·33,300·43,421·94,878·44,806·571·9123,061·422,896·5145,957·9

    1Programmes 15, 16 and 17 relate to the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland programmes covered by the respective chapters of Volume II of the 1988 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 288).

    2Expenditure on arts and libraries in Northern Ireland is contained in the education and science category.

    3Unidentified expenditure for housing is entirely made up of Government net lending to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

    Table 7a Identifiable public expenditure 1983–84 to 1987–88

    1

    £ million

    Index

    2

    Great Britain

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom identified

    Great Britain

    Northern Ireland

    1983–8495,359·43,875·299,234·696·13·9
    1984–85102,383·44,180·7106,564·196·13·9
    1985–86106,489·04,430·3110,919·396·04·0
    1986–87113,542·04,662·2118,204·296·13·9
    1987–88119,228·84,998·8124,227·696·04·0

    1 Financing of nationalised industries' expenditure can be allocated between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and has therefore been included in this table.

    2 United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100.

    Table 7b Identifiable public expenditure per head 1983–84 to 1987–88

    1

    £ per head

    Index

    2

    Great Britain

    Northern Ireland

    United Kingdom identified

    Great Britain

    Northern Ireland

    1983–841,740·02,511·11,761·198·8142·6
    1984–851,864·62,696·51,887·498·8142·9
    1985–861,934·12,843·91,959·198·7145·2
    1986–872,057·12,975·62,082·498·8142·9
    1987–882,153·93,173·62,182·198·7145·4

    1 Financing of nationalised industries' expenditure can be allocated between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and has therefore been included in this table.

    2 United Kingdom identifiable expenditure = 100.

    Official Report (Price)

    Mr. Cran

    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the price of the Official Report.

    Mr. Lilley

    Following a review by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, I have authorised an increase of 65p in the price of the daily part and Standing Committee debates with a proportionate increase in the price of the weekly part. Bound volumes will increase by £3, the volume index by 30p and the fortnightly index by 20p. Subscription rates and the scale of charges for reprints of Members' speeches appearing in the Official Report will also be raised. These increases, coupled with a reduction of 7·5 per cent. in the production costs at Hansard Press during the current Session, will enable the level of central subsidy to be further reduced.

    Union Texas Petroleum Corporation V Critchley

    Mr. Quentin Davies

    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take in the light of the recent High Court decision in the case of Union Texas Petroleum Corporation v. Critchley.

    Mr. Norman Lamont

    The Government propose bringing forward legislation in the 1989 Finance Bill to make clear the amount of United Kingdom tax that is deductible from United Kingdom tax credits to which non-residents may be entitled under the terms of a double taxation convention. The legislation follows the recent decision in the case of Union Texas Petroleum Corporation v. Critchley and its purpose would be to do no more than restore the position to what it was intended to be. It will apply so as to prevent claims to payment of additional tax credit for past years, but will not affect the decision of any commissioners or court given before today.

    Fruit Machines

    Miss Lestor

    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue the Exchequer received in each of the last five years from licence fees from fruit machines.

    Mr. Lilley

    Revenue received from gaming machines licence duty is as follows:

    £ million
    1983–8462·9
    1984–8553·2
    1985–8686·0
    1986–8774·7
    1987–8894·2

    Ec (Spending Controls)

    Mr. Teddy Taylor

    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement explaining the differences between the controls on European Economic Community spending agreed at the Council meetings in 1985 and 1988, respectively.

    Mr. Brooke

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: The meeting of the European Council in February 1988 agreed to the following major improvements in the previous arrangements for controlling EC agriculture expenditure which had been set up after the European Councils in Fontainebleau and Dublin in 1984:

  • (i) the guideline limit on agricultural expenditure is now embodied in a legally binding Council decision which provides for expenditure to grow at no more than 74 per cent. of the rate of growth of the Community's gross national product (previously the guideline was set out in informal Council conclusions and expenditure was permitted to grow at the same rate as the Community's own resources revenues);
  • (ii) the provision in the 1984 conclusions which permitted the guideline limit to be exceeded in the event of "exceptional circumstances" has been deleted and replaced by a monetary reserve of 1 billion ecu designed to compensate solely for large fluctuations in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the ecu. The revenue to fund the reserve will only be called up if it is needed (there has been no such call in 1988) and the mechanism will work symmetrically (i.e. privision will be reduced if the US dollar appreciates);
  • (iii) the Council's decision on budget discipline provides not only that the Commission's price proposals shall be consistent with the limits laid down by the agricultural guideline but that expenditure will be managed on a sector by sector basis to ensure that the limit will not be breached;
  • (iv) automatic stabiliser mechanisms have been built into the regulations governing each of the major commodity regimes. For the most part these are designed to trigger price cuts whenever production exceeds maximum quantities set by the Council;
  • (v) a new regulation has been introduced to provide for systematic depreciation of new intervention stocks and specific sums have been set aside outside the guideline limit to provide for the costs of depreciation and disposal of existing stocks which have not been fully depreciated in the past.
    • As regards non-agricultural expenditure, the inter-institutional agreement (IIA) between the Council, the Commission and the Parliament provides a procedural and financial framework for implementing the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on budgetary discipline. The financial perspective attached to the IIA represent ceilings on Community expenditure between 1988 and 1992 which the signatories to the agreement have bound themselves to respect.

    Interest Rates

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has regarding the effect of (a) a 1 per cent. rise in interest rates and (b) a 1 per cent. drop in interest rates on income to the Treasury.

    Mr. Lilley

    [holding answer 21 October 1988]: Interest rates are set at the level necessary to maintain downward pressure on inflation. Lower inflation improves Government finances in the medium term.

    Attorney-General

    Major David Walker

    Mr. Foulkes

    To ask the Attorney-General if, in the light of new information on the blowing up of the Bularos hospital, Managua, on 6 March 1985, he will now consider prosecuting Major David Walker under the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870.

    The Attorney-General

    No evidence of the alleged offence to which the hon. Gentleman refers has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions or to the Metropolitan police. Any such evidence submitted to the Director or to the police of course will be considered carefully.

    Shops Act

    Mr. Spearing

    To ask the Attorney-General what is the number, nature and relevant category of United Kingdom courts which have referred cases brought to them in respect of section 47 of the Shops Act 1950 to the European Court for an opinion; and if he will make a statement.

    The Attorney-General

    The following courts in the United Kingdom have referred questions concerning section 47 of the Shops Act 1950 for preliminary rulings by the European Court of Justice in the course of criminal proceedings:

    • Woodbridge magistrates court
    • Mansfield magistrates court
    • Cwmbran magistrates court
    • Wakefield magistrates court
    • The Crown court at Shrewsbury
    • Londonderry magistrates court
    The Crown court at Bodmin has stayed proceedings before it in an appeal in a criminal matter in order to make such a reference to the European Court, but notice of registration of that reference has not been received from the court.

    The Government have decided to submit observations in the proceedings before the European Court in these cases. Written observations have so far been submitted in five cases.

    Defence

    Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests (Health Studies)

    Mr. Nicholas Bennett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, following the "Study of Health of United Kingdom Participants in the United Kingdom Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests", published on 28 January, further studies of the possible effects on the risks of developing multiple myeloma and leukaemia have been made; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Sainsbury

    The Government have accepted the recommendations made by the authors of the National Radiological Protection Board report to conduct a follow-up study covering a period of 10 years from the end of 1983 (the end point of the published study) to the end of 1993. This further study will again cover the incidence of leukaemia (excluding chronic lymphatic) and multiple myeloma. The NRPB is therefore continuing to accumulate data on mortality and cancer incidence in both the study and control populations. If it is justified by an examination of this data, the Government have agreed to consider embarking on a full validation and analysis of the extra data leading to an interim report at an earlier date. No such interim study is, however under way at this moment.

    Departmental Staff

    Sir Michael McNair-Wilson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are employed in his Ministry; what percentage of them are disabled; how many persons have been taken on in the past year; and how many of them suffer from a disability.

    Mr. Sainsbury

    On 1 June 1988, the number of full-time equivalent United Kingdom-based civilian staff employed by MOD was 142,675. Of this number, some 126,300 were covered in the annual survey of registered disabled personnel at that date and, of those covered, 1,191 (0·94 per cent.) were registered as disabled. No information is available on unregistered disabled personnel. Identified intake of United Kingdom-based civilian staff during the year to 1 June 1988 totalled some 13,600. The annual survey of registered disabled personnel recorded recruitment of 14 registered disabled personnel during the year.

    Energy

    Sizewell C

    Mr. David Porter

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for a public inquiry on Sizewell C proposals when they come forward formally; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Michael Spicer

    If the CEGB were to make an application for consent to construct a power station at Sizewell 'C' my right hon. Friend would be obliged to hold a public inquiry if the local planning authority objected. Even if the local planning authority did not object he could still order an inquiry if he thought it appropriate in the light of other objections received.

    British Nuclear Fuels Plc

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has had any meetings with British Nuclear Fuels plc senior executives following their complaints that British Nuclear Fuels plc efforts to assist the nuclear installations inspectorate investigation into alleged operator malpractice in radiological protection procedures had deflected key British Nuclear Fuels plc health staff away from genuine and important safety matters; and what implications this staff prioritisation has for safety at Sellafield.

    Mr. Michael Spicer

    I have noted both the report of the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate (NII) and the comments made by British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) in accepting the conclusions and recommendations of the report. I am confident that BNFL continues to give the highest priority to safety and that the NII will continue to provide the essential independent check on this.

    Nuclear Safety

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if any recent initiatives have been taken by the United Kingdom and Soviet Union to offer mutual assistance in international nuclear safety.

    Mr. Michael Spicer

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 April 1988 at column 434. The information exchange arrangement between the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and the USSR state commission on supervision of nuclear power safety, was signed on 21 September during the IAEA conference in Vienna.I understand that Her Majesty's chief inspectorate of nuclear installations will be visiting the USSR early next year to continue discussions with the USSR state commission.

    Piper Alpha

    Mr. Menzies Campbell

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his statement of 7 July, Official Report, columns 1191–98, whether the public inquiry he announced on the Piper Alpha platform disaster will review safety procedures for work in the North sea generally; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Parkinson

    [pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1988, c. 365–66]: I have appointed Mr. Malcolm Ford, CBE, lately managing director of Britoil plc and Professor Frank Lees, professor of plant engineering at Loughborough university of technology to be assessors to assist Lord Cullen at the public inquiry into the Piper Alpha accident.

    House Of Commons

    Upper Waiting Hall

    Mr. Hanley

    To ask Lord President of the Council how the partial closure of the Upper Waiting Hall will affect those Members' exhibitions usually staged there; and what alternative arrangements have been made.

    Mr. Wakeham

    In consultation with those authorities responsible for the control of Westminster Hall, it has been agreed that those exhibitions arranged for the period to Christmas this year should be held instead in the north east corner of Westminster Hall. Thereafter, no further exhibitions will be allowed until the Upper Waiting Hall has been repaired.

    Overseas Development

    Cyprus

    Mr. Butler

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much official aid given by the Government to Cyprus in each of the last four years has been devoted to projects in the Turkish-controlled sector; and how much has been devoted to projects in the remainder of Cyprus.

    Mr. Chris Patten

    Information for the period in question could be provided only at disproportionate cost. But as I informed the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 26 February, at column 34, arrangements have been made to ensure that in future the sums expended from aid funds on each community are recorded.

    Prime Minister

    Engagements

    Mr. Tony Lloyd

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Andrew Mitchell

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Couchman

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Wigley

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Dykes

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Harry Greenway

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Skinner

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Cran

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    Mr. Stern

    To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 October.

    The Prime Minister

    This morning I 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 Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia. This evening I hope to have an Audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

    Northern Ireland

    Barr Hall, Portaferry

    Mr. John D. Taylor

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a vehicular access to the new prisoner rehabilitation centre at Barr Hall, Portaferry, has been approved in accordance with roads legislation; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Needham

    No. Approval for such access has not been sought from the roads service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

    Housing Executive

    Mr. Peter Robinson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in rehabilitation in each of the housing regions in Northern Ireland in each year since 1973.

    Mr. Needham

    This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who has advised me that, prior to 1980–81, details of rehabilitation expenditure were not maintained on a regional basis. Rehabilitation expenditure (ie, expenditure on both acquired and purpose-built stock) since 1980–81 is as follows:

    YearBelfast £kSouth East £kSouth £kNorth East £kNorth West £kWest £k
    1980–8111,8791,0592,1421,3241,501436
    1981–8214,7981,6281,6711,8663,6761,466
    1982–8325,7779,7946,2856,1685,9004,474
    1983–8424,6666,8285,4167,8584,8624,148
    1984–8522,8966,7465,7249,6485,6302,889
    1985–8624,0807,0648,4639,6156,3422,695
    1986–8716,8905,9134,7254,3983,6552,271
    1987–8818,5744,7485,0165,3305,0914,080

    Mr. Peter Robinson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Housing Executive on the repair and rehabilitation of houses in the Ardoyne area of district 6 in Belfast in each of the last five years.

    Mr. Needham

    This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who has advised me that information on the repair of dwellings in the Ardoyne area is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost. The total amount spent on rehabilitation and planned maintenance in the area in each of the last five years is as follows:

    Rehabilitation £

    Planned maintenance £

    1983–84NilNil
    1984–85493,657182,672
    1985–86257,975212,700
    1986–87756,00043,469
    1987–88915,861302,203

    Mr. Peter Robinson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on the Poleglass estate new build and maintenance in each year since 1973.

    Mr. Needham

    This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who has advised me that expenditure on new build and planned maintenance in the Poleglass estate is as follows:

    New build £Planning maintenance £
    1972–73 to 1978–79NilNil
    1979–80427,060Nil
    1980–815,312,641Nil
    1981–824,535,700Nil
    1982–835,459,442Nil
    1983–845,824,55161,547
    1984–853,897,349450
    1985–863,960,62577,400
    1986–872,926,7803,600
    1987–882,006,92352,032

    Carriageways And Footways (Repair Costs)

    Mr. Peter Robinson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the Department of the Environment on the repair of carriageways and footways in north Belfast, east Belfast, and west Belfast, in each of the last five years.

    Mr. Needham

    Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Belfast Urban Area Plan

    Mr. Peter Robinson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the time scale for the publication of the report of the commissioners on the Belfast urban area plan has been the subject of slippage; and whether separate interim reports will be published covering the separate headings such as commercial, housing, recreation and transportation.

    Mr. Needham

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: The time scale for submission of the Commission's report and the manner of its presentation to the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) are matters for the Commission to decide after consultation with the Department. However, I am not aware of any slippage.

    Debt Payments (Deductions)

    Ms. Mowlam

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the total deductions made from (a) invalidity benefit, (b) child benefit, (c) widows benefit, (d) supplementary benefit, (e) unemployment benefit, (f) sickness benefit and (g) retirement pensions in each year from 1979 to 1988 under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.

    Amount in £s
    Financial YearSupplementary BenefitChild BenefitUnemployment BenefitSickness BenefitInvalidity BenefitRetirement BenefitWidow's Benefit
    1978–79764,280·4511,801·49122,419·3412,715·25132,306·4439,759·8960,279·09
    1979–801,015,276·9562,124·02105,634·9713,261·44182,840·6750,894·6271,729·47
    1980–811,477,225·1470,435·71211,779·0915,740·65256,734·0683,339·53105,914·09
    1981–82263,668·4862,794·57265,196·959,524·73436,747·48149,433·14155,967·05
    1982–83474,264·8986,299·35367,573·9816,694·64872,123·58379,438·35322,442·86
    1983–84646,155·5992,449·35256,869·1013,246·891,073,954·86535,781·87407,457·58
    1984–85724,889·6173,860·16121,855·5012,935·621,015,112·09442,253·64352,402·35
    1985–86824,101.1377,374·67134,636·9214,159.111,104,443·51541,369·58368,682.17
    1986–87991,135·6569,529·60157,726·3717,815·431,288,668·52664,586.12427,617·80
    1987–881,044,693·9771,168·79139,249·9416,134·691,422,780.18678,406·70431,945·61
    1988–891328,953·6518,836·7430,638·853,088·67404,581.18185,306·65117,627·04
    1 To 14 October 1988.

    Ms. Mowlam

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from how many people deductions were made under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 in each of the years from 1979 to 1988.

    Mr. Ian Stewart

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: The numbers of people from whom deductions have been made is not available. The total number of debt cases recorded by the four main creditor bodies was as follows:

    YearNumbers
    1979–80175,300
    1980–81176,300
    1981–82165,000
    1982–83158,000
    1983–84169,100
    1984–85141,400
    1985–86137,000
    1986–87127,000
    1987–88122,494

    Downpatrick Race Club

    Mr. McGrady

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends introducing legislation to the Horse Racing and Betting Order 1976 in order that Downpatrick race club may be eligible for funding; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Viggers

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: It will be necessary to repeal the Horse Racing and Betting Order 1976 and seek Parliament's agreement to a new Order in Council. The Department of Agriculture has initiated the necessary legislative procedures. These could take at least two years to complete.

    Mr. McGrady

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of funding will be offered to Downpatrick race club under an amended Horse Racing and Betting Order 1976.

    Mr. Viggers

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: No decisions have been taken on the level of funding, which will only be determined following discussions with the bookmaker organisations.

    Mr. McGrady

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether funding to Downpatrick race club will he paid retrospectively to 1976 in the event of amendment of the Horse Race and Betting Order 1976.

    Mr. Needham

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: The information requested is as follows:

    Trade And Industry

    Tourism

    Mr. Leighton

    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the United Kingdom's balance of payments in tourism since 1979.

    Mr. Alan Clark

    The information is available in table 1 of the 1987 Business Monitor MA6 "Overseas travel and tourism" a copy of which can be found in the Library.

    Regional Development Grants

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of total regional development grants has been paid to firms in the north-west region in (a) 1986–87 and (b) 1987–88.

    Mr. Forth

    The north-west region's share of regional development grants expenditure in England was 45 per cent. in 1986–87 and 36 per cent. in 1987–88.

    Sub-Post Offices (Wales)

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what initiatives he will take to retain sub-post office facilities in Wales under their current opening hours regulations; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many sub-post offices have closed in Wales in the years 1979–1988 and in 1986–1988; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Forth

    This is a matter for the Post Office Board. Figures are not readily available for the period before 1986. However, I understand that, according to Post Office estimates, in 1979 there were 1,752 sub-post offices in Wales and the Marches. Between 1979 and October 1986 it is estimated that 119 offices were closed; and since October 1986, 28 sub-post offices in the region have been closed. A total of 1,612 sub-post offices remain, including seven offices previously closed but now reopened as community offices operating on a part time basis. Since the Post Office introduced the community office arrangements, the number of closures has reduced from an average of some 15 per year to five during the last 12 months.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many sub-post offices in the counties of Clwyd and Gwynedd are to be reclassified for the purposes of opening hours; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Forth

    This is an operational matter for the Post Office. However, I understand that in Gwynedd there are 226 sub-post offices of which 14 have been reclassified as community offices which open part-time. A further 96 full-time offices may be considered for conversion to community offices when they become vacant. In Clwyd there are 209 sub-post offices of which 17 are community offices. A further 50 full-time offices may be considered for conversion to community offices when they become vacant.

    Citizens Advice Bureau (Bradford)

    Mr. Madden

    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will arrange for extra funding to be made available to the Bradford citizens advice bureau, to enable it to cope with any additional demands arising from the closure of Bradford benefits shops.

    Mr. Forth

    No. My Department does not fund individual citizens advice bureaux direct. The Government grant to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which this financial year amounted to £8·386 million, is intended principally to meet the costs of providing the central support services for local bureaux, such as the information service and the training of bureau workers. The running costs of local bureaux are a matter for local funding and the majority of bureaux are funded entirely by local authorities, although part of the Government grant to NACAB is made available for use in short-term partnership arrangements between NACAB and individual local authorities. The allocation of this partnership money is at the discretion of NACAB.

    Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

    Departmental Staff

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures for his Ministry in the London pay area of the number of vacancies by grade and the proportion this is of the grade complement in London.

    Mr. Donald Thompson

    The information requested for the London weighting area is as follows:

    Grade levelNumber of vacanciesPercentage of vacancies against grade complement
    100
    200
    300
    400
    511
    6913
    7 and equivalent53½15
    SEO and equivalent00

    Grade level

    Number of vacancies

    Percentage of vacancies against grade complement

    HEO and equivalent53½11
    EO and equivalent8715
    AO and equivalent111½14
    AA and equivalent101½14
    Total non-Industrials41712
    Industrials3933

    Notes:

    1. The numbers of vacancies by grade equivalents are measured by comparing the figures for staff in post at 1 October 1988 with the authorised complement for the Department at the same date.

    2. The figures include some specially complemented posts which may be filled at one of several grade levels. Complement information for these posts has been provided on a proportional basis.

    3. Normal retirement, resignation and recruitment patterns mean that a proportion of the authorised complement is inevitably unfilled at any one time. Additionally cash limits on running costs restrict the number of posts the Department can fill.

    Pesticides

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which pesticides his Department has examined as potentially injurious to health when used in the production of fruit and vegetables; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Ryder

    All pesticides must be approved before they can be sold or used. Pesticides are by their very nature active against some living organisms and hence their use offers a potential risk to both human health and the environment. This is precisely why we take great care to ensure that only those products which have met stringent criteria on safety may be used.Under part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 Ministers in six Government Departments must first be satisfied that a product can be used safely before any approval is given. In order to obtain approval pesticide manufacturers are require to provide a range of scientific data, which are then subjected to rigorous scrutiny by the independent experts of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. This will include, where appropriate, assessment of studies on the short and long-term toxicity of the product, on its cumulative effects and on any delayed effects which might emerge after a latent period.Only when Ministers are convinced, on the basis of expert advice, that the product can be used without risk to people—whether operators, consumers or those in the vicinity of spraying operations—livestock or domestic animals and with minimal risk to the environment, will authority to put it on the market be given.As part of the approvals process all products may be subject to review at any time if new evidence arises suggesting the existence of a previously unevaluated risk. On this basis Ministers have sought the views of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides on a number of pesticides used on fruit and vegetables since the legislation took effect and products based on the active ingredients dinoseb and related products, and cyhexatin have been withdrawn from use. Other substances are either under review or the subject of consultation.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the size of the section within his Department which monitors the pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables in the United Kingdom; if he will list the names and positions of those civil servants with such responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Ryder

    Pesticides safety division has over 80 scientific and administrative staff, and carries out the greater part of the work relating to pesticides safety which falls to my Department. However for monitoring fruit and vegetables for pesticide residues the division's resource are supplemented by the working party on pesticide residues, which is chaired by the Director of the ADAS central science laboratory and benefits from a technical secretariat provided by food science division.The working party has expert members drawn from other MAFF divisions, other Government Departments, from a number of laboratories in the Government service and from local authorities. A range of laboratories contribute to the monitoring programme including ADAS central science laboratory, ADAS central veterinary laboratory, MAFF food science laboratory, MAFF fisheries laboratory, laboratories at DAFS and DANI, the laboratory of the Government chemist and certain public analysts' laboratories. The working party reports both to the Standing Committee on Food Surveillance and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. It is on the recommendation of the latter that any necessary changes are made to the conditions of approval of pesticides to ensure that residues remain within acceptable limits.As can be seen, a large number of individuals are involved. The membership of the committees mentioned above is listed in their reports.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the likely consequences to consumers who consume fruit and vegetables containing pesticides residues which are over the recommended safety limit; and if he will make a statement;(2) what assessment he has made of the safety of customers consuming apples and pears and vegetables containing pesticides residues for sale in outlets in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Ryder

    Maximum residue levels for pesticides are primarily designed to act as a check that good agricultural practice in the use of pesticides is being followed by farmers and growers. However, the approval process for pesticides ensures that the levels incorporate adequate margins of safety for consumers as well.It is misleading to describe MRLs as "safety limits" as the hon. Member does, as that term suggests that if an MRL is exceeded the consumer's health is put at risk: in fact the safety margins which MRLs incorporate are designed to ensure that even if a person consumes extreme quantities of a particular food over a long period of time, and all that food contains residues at the MRL (which is unlikely) the overall intake of residue should cause that person no harm. It follows that the occasional consumption of food containing residues which do not greatly exceed the MRL should present no risk to health.

    Sea Levels

    Mr. McCrindle

    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what contingency plans exist for combating the effects of rising sea levels; and if he will make a statement;

    (2) what estimates his Department is using in considering the consequences of rising sea levels in the British Isles over the next 50 years; and if he will make a statement;

    (3) if he will estimate the cost of improving existing sea defences and building new defences; and if he will make a statement;

    (4) if he will assess the need for new defences inland to combat a rise in sea level and where such defences should be located; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Donald Thompson

    Possible rises in sea level by the middle of the next century are being studied as part of a national research programme, linked with similar programmes throughout the European Community and worldwide; particular attention is being given to monitoring and prediction of sea level change and options for design of flood defences. At present, precise predictions cannot be made due to uncertainty regarding future temperature patterns. Nevertheless, the implications for coastal defences of a broad range of possible changes are being carefully studied.The present design of defences allows for a rise in sea levels of 0·3 metres per century. This compares with a global increase over the last century of the order of 0.15 metres. An international programme of studies is investigating climate change; meanwhile research is exploring the implications for the United Kingdom in advance of firm predictions. Based on international reports, a range of temperature predictions was selected for these studies; these predictions suggest the possibility of sea level rise in the range 0·2 million to 1·65 million by the middle of the next century. With such an increase, it is estimated that the current annual expenditure of £50 million on coastal defences might need to more than double over this period.The need for flood defences is kept under continual review by the Department. A team of engineers report regularly on flood defence needs in their area and maintain close contact with the responsible authorities.

    Agricultural Land Classification

    Mr. Boswell

    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his review of the Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales.

    Mr. Ryder

    I am pleased to announce that the revised guidelines and criteria for grading the quality of agricultural land are being published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.New data and technology have allowed us to develop a revised ALC system. This builds on the strengths of the existing system, but we have been able to take advantage of modern methods to make it more objective and definitive. The revised system reflects comments received during the consultation exercise earlier this year. It will come into operation on 1 January 1989.

    Cereals

    Mr. Paice

    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider changing the rules for calculating cereals co-responsibility levy in cereals sold with a high moisture content.

    Mr. MacGregor

    I am glad to say that we have been able to modify the rules for calculating the rate of co-responsibility levy paid on cereals sold with a high moisture content. Up until now, levy has been payable on the delivered weight of the grain, regardless of the moisture level. This has meant that where grain has been delivered with a high moisture content the tonnage used to calculate the amount of levy due has sometimes been higher than the tonnage on which the grower has been paid. I was concerned when evidence came to light that as a result of a different interpretation of the Community rules different arrangements were in force in some other member states, we took steps straightaway to get Commission agreement to change our rules which has now been achieved.In future, therefore if a grower is paid on a lower tonnage of grain than the delivered tonnage, levy will be payable only on that lower tonnage. These new rules come into effect immediately, and will apply to all transactions that have taken place since the beginning of the marketing year. The intervention board will issue details of the changes as soon as possible. Anyone who has paid too much levy under the previous system will be eligible for a refund; details of how to apply will be announced shortly.These changes will ensure that our growers are not treated less favourably than any growers anywhere elsewhere in the Community; and as such will I hope be welcomed.

    Environment

    Departmental Staff

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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.

    Mr. Ridley

    This information is not kept in the form requested and it would be disproportionately costly to collect it. There are no fixed complements for particular grades.

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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.

    Mr. Ridley

    Local pay additions have been introduced in my Department, excluding the PSA, as follows:

    Location: Inner London weighting pay area
    GradeNumberAnnual cost £
    Secretarial380114,000
    Administrative Assistant8339,600
    Administrative Officer505288,600

    Property Services Agency (Staff)

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest available figures for the Property Services Agency in the London pay area of the number of vacancies by grade and the proportion this is of the grade complement in London.

    Mr. Ridley

    This information is not kept in the form requested and it would be disproportionately costly to collect it. The Property Services Agency operates under a financial running costs regime and there are no fixed complements for particular grades.

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide the latest available figures for the Property Services Agency 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.

    Mr. Ridley

    The information requested is:

    (a)Administrative Assistant (AA)222
    Administrative Officer (AO)628
    Executive Officer (EO)38
    Typist257
    Personal Secretary87
    Senior Personal Secretary20
    Typing Manager11
    All typing grades—375

    (b) Local Pay Additions (LPAs) are paid to AOs, AAs, and typing grades in the inner zone of the London Weighting Area, to typing grades in the intermediate and outer zones and to most AOs and AAs in the outer zone. EOs, AOs, AAs and typing grades are paid LPAs in District Works Offices throughout PSA's London Region. LPAS are also paid to EOs, AOs, AAs and typing grades at Reading, to AOs, AAs and typists at Daws Hill, Watford, High Wycombe, Aldershot and Farnborough and to AAs at Cambridge.

    (c) The cost in a full year is £576,000.

    Homelessness

    Mr. Spearing

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he possesses, and what action he intends to take in order to obtain further such information, showing the actual numbers of families becoming homeless consequent on default in mortgage payments and the changes in the proportion of homeless persons in this category over the last five years.

    Mr. Trippier

    English local authorities provide quarterly information about the number of households accepted under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985; this includes the number of households accepted where the main reason for homelessness was mortgage arrears or default.In the 12 months to June 1988 it is estimated that 9,800 households became homeless as a result of mortgage arrears; this is some 8 per cent. of all acceptances. For corresponding information in each of the last five years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) on 27 June at column

    146.

    Freehold Disposals (Westminster)

    Mr. Darling

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the direction of a special audit of Westminster city council in respect of the disposal by that council of the freeholds of 32 Smith Square and 67 Tufton Street, London SW1.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    None, other than parliamentary questions from the hon. Members for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) and for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours).

    Private Cemeteries

    Mr. Leighton

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on private cemeteries.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    Since 1 April, besides five questions from hon. Members, we have received 46 letters from Members and 45 direct from members of the public most of which related to the three former Westminster cemeteries sold into private ownership. These included the following matters: calls for a full public inquiry, for the Secretary of State to order an extraordinary audit of the council's accounts, for him to implement a compulsory purchase order for the cemeteries, and for a licensing system for private cemetery operators, complaints about maintenance, and concern about development of unused land in the cemeteries. In addition, the Department handled 48 applications for the closure of churchyards to further burials.

    Ec Environment Ministers

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of European Community Environment Ministers at Delphi, on 1 October.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    My noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside represented the United Kingdom at this informal meeting at which views were exchanged on the future of the Community's environmental policy, with particular reference to the question of financial resources. There was also a discussion on the implications of the Single European Act and the completion of the single European market in 1992.Ministers underlined the importance of current environmental issues which cross national borders and require collaboration both at Community and at the wider international level, such as the ozone layer, the "greenhouse effect", the need to promote sustainable development and the safe disposal of waste.The meeting was an opportunity for a frank and open exchange of views without the need for formal conclusions.

    British Nuclear Fuels Plc

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the statement of the nuclear installations inspectorate on operator practices at British Nuclear Fuels plc Sellafield that some workers are avoiding proper radiological monitoring procedures at Sellafield.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    The issues referred to in the nuclear installations inspectorate's report, concern worker safety and are a matter for that inspectorate. Since these working practices have no waste management implications, my Department has no regulatory responsibility.

    Radioactive Waste

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the departmental representation and what papers by departmental officials or departmental consultants were presented at (a) the 1988 European summer school on radioactive waste management held at Christ's college, Cambridge, on 11 to 14 July, (b) the international conference on disposal of radioactive waste in seabed sediments held at St. Catherine's college, Oxford, on 20 and 21 September and (c) the international conference on decommissioning of major radioactive facilities held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London, on 11 and 12 October; and if he will place copies of all departmental papers From such conferences in the Library.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    Departmental representation and papers presented by departmental officials or consultants were;

  • (a) One official and two papers:
  • (i) Monitoring Radioactivity in the Environment. Dr. F. Feates, HMIP/DOE.
  • (ii) The National Research Programme. Dr. F. Feates, HMIP/DOE.
  • (b) Three officials and eight papers:
  • (i) Modelling Emplacement and the Physical Changes to the Sediment Barrier. T. Freeman, BRE/DOE.
  • (ii) Migratory Pathways in Sub-seabed Sediments. Dr. Janet Gronow, HMIP/DOE.
  • (iii) The HOCUS Hole Closure Experiments. T. Freeman et al, BRE/DOE.
  • (iv) The Geology and Geochemistry of Madiera Abyssal Plain Sediments. Dr. P. Weaver, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences.
  • (v) Studies Relating to Faulting in the Abyssal Plain Sediments. Dr. Stone and Dr. D. Muir-Wood, Cambridge University.
  • (vi) Modelling of the Coupled Heat Flow and Consolidation Around Hot Cylinders Buried in Clay. Dr. Savvidou, Cambridge University.
  • (vii) Centrifuge Modelling of a Free-fall Penetrator. Drs. Poorooshasb and James, Cambridge University.
  • (viii) Review of Initial HGW Deep Ocean Emplacement Disposal Studies. Milloy et al, Ove Arup and Partners.
  • (c) One official and no papers.
    • Copies of these papers will he placed in the Library when the respective conference proceedings are published.

    Community Liaison

    Mr. Corbett

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list for each urban development corporation by name the (a) establishment and (b) number currently in post by title of staff responsible for community liaison work, giving for each urban development corporation the allocated budget in the current financial year for such purposes.

    Mr. Trippier

    The information available for English first and second generation urban development corporations (UDCs) is given in the table. The UDCs vary in their staffing arrangements and in the size, resident population and other characteristics of their areas. Therefore, direct comparisons are misleading. No equivalent information is available for the third generation UDCs set up this year. They are still recruiting staff and developing their policies.

    UDC

    Establishment

    Number currently in post

    Titles of posts

    Work/project budget

    Staff costs

    London Docklands7 plus support7 plus supportHead of Community Development
    Director of Community Division
    4 Community Liaison Officers
    Schools Liaison Teacher
    3 Support Staff
    (plus other staff in Employment Division
    with some involvement)    		£7·9 million1£208,000 for 7 plus support
    MerseysideNone full time—Corporation consults community groups as necessary.
    Black Country11Community Liaison Officer£350,000£27,000
    Teesside0·20·2Assistant to Chief Executive (part of duties)£50,000£5,000
    Trafford ParkNone full time—Chief Executive or assistant liaise at regular meetings.
    Tyne & Wear11Community Development Advisor (Consultant)£100,000£30,000

    1 NB: £7·9 million is LDDC's budget for its total community support programme, including grants and awards.

    Home Improvement Grants

    Mr. Gareth Wardell

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates the implementation date for the means testing of home improvement grants; and if he will publish in the Official Report the sliding scale that he will use.

    Mr. Trippier

    We hope to reform the home improvement grant system at the earliest legislative opportunity and we expect to issue a consultation paper on the proposed test of resources later this year.

    Montreal Protocol

    Mr. McCrindle

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to press for the strengthening of the Montreal protocol on the reduction of chlorofluorocarbons in the environment; and if he will make a statement.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    The Government has decided that worldwide emission of chlorofluorocarbons must be reduced by at least 85 per cent. and we are pressing the European Community as a whole to adopt this policy with a view to greatly strengthening the Montreal protocol. This was announced on 3 October by my noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside on publication of the second report of the Department's stratospheric ozone review group, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Our first priority remains the protocol's entry into force, as planned, on 1 January 1989. This will in turn trigger implementation in the Community by means of a regulation formally adopted on 22 September.

    Conservative Party Conference

    Mr. Tony Banks

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those publications or documents produced by his Department which were distributed at the 1988 Conservative party conference.

    Mr. Ridley

    Copies of the following documents were available on request at the local government stand at the 1988 Conservative party conference.

    • Government Proposals for Housing: Housing Action Trusts
    • Government Proposals for Housing: Private Renting
    • Government Proposals for Housing: Tenants' Choice
    • Paying for Local Government: The Need for Change
    • Protecting your Environment: A Guide
    • Towards a Cleaner North Sea: Restoring Estuaries
    All these documents are available free of charge to members of the public.

    No 1 Cannon Row

    Mr. Andrew Mitchell

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about progress on work to convert No. 1 Cannon Row.

    Mr. Chope

    I am pleased to report that the contract to convert the former Cannon Row police station to temporary office accommodation has been let and work started last month. Completion is forecast for summer 1989. The Parliamentary Works Office is discussing with the Serjeant at Arms the arrangements for taking over and furnishing the building.

    English House Condition Survey

    Mr. Simon Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish the results of the English house condition survey 1986.

    Mr. Trippier

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: I hope to publish the results of the 1986 English house condition survey next month.

    Rent Arrears

    Mrs. Mahon

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to help local authorities cope with the increase in rent arrears since the changes made in the housing benefit scheme.

    Mr. Trippier

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: As my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) told the hon. Member on 14 July, Official Report, columns 301–2, it is for individual authorities to take timely and appropriate steps to control and reduce rent arrears. The assistance available from auditors and from officials of my Department was set out in circular 18/87.

    Young People (Homelessness)

    Mrs. Mahon

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for assisting in the housing of young people in Halifax who are facing homelessness as a result of the changes in the law in April relating to housing benefits.

    Mr. Trippier

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: The Government do not accept that the changes in housing benefit announced in April have resulted in homelessness among young people either in Halifax or elsewhere. The statutory responsibility for assisting or advising young homeless people in Halifax rests entirely with the local authority, under the provisions of part III of the Housing Act 1985.

    Mrs. Mahon

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received relating to the decision of the Stoneham housing association and the local authority in Halifax to abandon a scheme providing furnished flats because changes in housing benefits would prevent young people, for whom the scheme was designed, from meeting the rents.

    London Borough Of Westminster And Conservative Central Office (Transactions)

    Mr. Winnick

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exercise his powers under section 22(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to require the Audit Commission to order an extraordinary audit into the property transaction undertaken between the London borough of Westminster and Conservative Central Office.

    Storm Damage Claims

    Mr. Tony Banks

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority the claims from the storm damage of October 1987 he has received and the relevant grant allocations.

    Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 14 June 1988, Official Report columns 138–42. The information in that reply for certain authorities requires updating in the light of more recent information as follows.

    Total eligible expenditure net of receipts £Threshold £Eligible expenditure attracting grant £
    Non Metropolitan Counties
    Essex2,723,0002,458,000265,000
    Isle of Wight187,073146,25040,823
    London Boroughs
    Hammersmith and Fulham241,000199,00042,000
    Waltham Forest696,200312,000384,200
    Non Metropolitan Districts
    Harlow113,00021,00092,000
    Welwyn Hatfield49,00029,00020,000
    The Isle of Wight figures are now based on a final audited claim.

    Disabled Persons (Adapted Dwellings)

    Mr. Tony Banks

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has regarding the current average cost to a local authority for (a) installing a ramp, (b) a stair lift and (c) widening doorways to provide for wheelchair access to council homes;

    (2) what information he has regarding the average waiting time for households containing a disabled person seeking adaptations to their council property;

    (3) what information he has regarding the number of households containing a disabled person and awaiting adaptations for ramps, stairlifts and widening of doorways.

    Mr. Trippier

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: Information about households awaiting adaptations, and about the average cost to local authorities of adaptations, is not held centrally. The Department's new guidance manual "Home Adaptations for People with Physical Disabilities", a copy of which is in the Library, gives details of the cost of specific adaptations in 22 case studies in England and Wales.

    Health

    Departmental Staff

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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.

    Mrs. Currie

    We do not yet have accurate statistics for the Department of Health alone, following the split of the Department of Health and Social Security on 5 July. The information given is for DHSS headquarters and covers staff in the Department of Health and the Department of Social Security.The following is the table:

    (a) Numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions by grade as at 1 July 1988 (DHSS HQ):

    Grade

    Number of staff in receipt

    Administrative Assistant106
    Administrative Officer577
    Personal Secretary271
    Senior Personal Secretary21
    Executive Officer30
    Higher Executive Officer14
    Others8

    (b) Location of DHSS HQ offices awarding local pay additions:

    • Alexander Fleming House
    • Avon House
    • Brittania House
    • Eileen House
    • Friars House
    • Hannibal House
    • St. Christophers House
    • Almack House
    • Great Titchfield Street
    • Hepburn House
    • New Court
    • Richmond House
    • Euston Tower
    • Russell Square
    • State House
    • Canons Park
    • Hinchley Wood
    • Thames Ditton
    • Market Towers
    • Ray House

    (c) The scheme has not been operating long enough for accurate annual cost projections to be made. The cost for the first month, July, was £42,001·77.

    Dentists

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the following sanctions were applied to general dental practitioners in the calendar years 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987: (a) withholding of money and (b) compliance warnings.

    Mrs. Currie

    Information on the number of warnings issued is not readily available but a warning is generally issued when a practitioner has been found in breach of the terms of service. Details of the number of general dental practitioners found in breach and those where my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State directed a withholding are shown below:

    General dental practitioners1984198519861987
    Found in breach196343298209
    Withholding directed145255220136
    The figures for 1985 and 1986 are artificially high because a backlog of cases was being cleared in those years.

    Tranquillisers

    Mr. Speller

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost of tranquillisers supplied under the National Health Service in each of the past four years for which records are available.

    Mr. Mellor

    Tranquillisers form part of the therapeutic group sedatives and tranquillisers and the cost of individual drugs cannot be identified within the group. For the years 1984 to 1987 the net ingredient cost of drugs in this group dispensed by pharmacists in England was:

    £ million
    198422·3
    198516·9
    198614·4
    198714·3
    Information is not collected by therapautic group as to the cost of drugs supplied in hospitals or by dispensing doctors.

    Hospital Beds

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the number of beds for each regional health authority in (a) 1986 and (b) 1987.

    Mrs. Currie

    I regret that the data for 1987–88 are not yet available. I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

    Walsgrave Hospital

    Mr. Terry Davis

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much will be provided by the West Midlands regional health authority or Coventry health authority in the form of a capital grant or capital loan towards the cost of day surgery, endoscopy and in-patient facilities being established at Walsgrave hospital by Bioplan Holdings plc.

    Mr. Mellor

    The capital cost of the total scheme, currently estimated at £1.1 million, is to be met 60 per cent. by Coventry health authority and 40 per cent. by Bioplan, in accordance with the proposed percentage use of the facilities.The contribution to the scheme by Coventry health authority is to be met by an annual rental contribution from Bioplan; this will effectively service the capital contribution which Coventry health authority will make.The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of Coventry health authority if he would like any further information.

    Children's Homes

    Mr. Key

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has completed revision of the regulations governing the conduct of private children's homes and local authority community homes; and whether corporal punishment has now been prohibited in these establishments and in homes registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984.

    Mrs. Currie

    The Residential Care Homes (Amendment) Regulations 1988 prohibited corporal punishment in homes registered under part 1 of the Registered Homes Act, 1984. A wider revision of regulations governing the conduct of local authority community homes and voluntary homes provided under the Child Care Act, 1980 and the prohibition of corporal punishment in them has not been completed. Private children's homes are the subject of the Children's Homes Act, 1982, which is unimplemented.We are committed to introduce legislation on the law on child care and family services as soon as Parliamentary time can be found. We intend to seek through that legislation a common regulation making power covering local authority community homes and voluntary and private children's homes. Full revision of regulations will be made when that power is available.Action to produce revised control and discipline regulations to apply to local authority community homes and voluntary homes, which will specifically prohibit the use of corporal punishment, is in hand and we plan to issue draft regulations for consultation very shortly. It remains the Department's policy that corporal punishment has no place in the management of children's homes. The authorised use of corporal punishment in children's homes is thought to be virtually extinct.

    Abortion

    Mr. Corbyn

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of abortions performed in 1987 at (a) under 12, (b) 12 to 18, (c) 18 to 24 and (d) over 24 weeks' gestation by health authority area in England and Wales; and if he will give the numbers performed by National Health Service and private facilities by the same time limit categories.

    Mrs. Currie

    [pursuant to the reply, 1 July 1988, c. 395–96]: I regret that there were errors in the statistics provided.The correct information is shown in the following table.

    Number of notifications of abortions to residents of England and Wales—1987

    2

    Regional Health Authority of usual residence by gestation weeks and category of premises

    Gestation weeks

    Total

    1

    Under 12

    12–17

    18–26

    25 and over

    Area of usual residence

    NHS

    Non-NHS

    NHS

    Non-NHS

    NHS

    Non-NHS

    NHS

    Non-NHS

    NHS

    Non-NHS

    England and Wales69,44286,74951,96969,61416,23913,0981,2124,024222
    England65,35484,03249,20767,52314,99412,6281,1323,868212
    Wales4,0882,7172,7622,0911,2454708015610

    Regional Health Authority

    Northern5,4869544,424659972204899110
    Yorkshire3,3275,8012,5114,7167208219526410
    Trent6,3674,8924,5034,0851,7645619824521
    East Anglian3,7829892,7167461,010170557310
    North West Thames5,95310,5564,4938,9611,3281,21913237500
    North East Thames8,87310,0306,7038,3512,0181,28214839740
    South East Thames5,7409,0814,2577,1461,3821,5449938921
    South West Thames3,4117,0502,7265,8046379914725410
    Wessex2,8794,2802,1322,8266841,2076224110
    Oxford3,3823,9032,7043,1686015247621110
    South Western5,4151,9024,1131,3231,2344256615220
    West Midlands2,82713,9202,09811,0546772,0595180710
    Mersey3,1773,8872,3953,0927436583713720
    North Western4,7356,7873,4325,5921,2249637723220

    1 Including not stated.

    2 Provisional.

    Social Security

    Benefits

    137.

    Mr. Bill Michie

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of the work force are ineligible for national insurance benefits.

    138.

    Mrs. Gordon

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of the work force are ineligible for national insurance benefits.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    This information is not available. Entitlement to National Insurance benefits depends on meeting certain conditions applicable to the benefit involved, and these are tested only when a claim is made.

    Departmental Staff

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures available 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.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    The number of vacancies by grade, and the proportion this is of the grade complement, is set out in the table for local and regional offices in the social security regional organisation. The figures give the overall position as at 1 October 1988. Individual offices are provided with a manpower budget and flexibilities in operating this budget mean that there can be surpluses in other grades and management may not be seeking to fill all these vacancies.

    SEOHEOEOTypistSecurity guard
    Number of vacancies422·54214·56
    Proportion of complement (Per cent.)5·98·91·57·25·3
    The headquarters organisation of the Department controls manpower by running costs budgets. The following table gives the number of staff headquarters

    divisions are seeking to recruit externally and the proportion this is of the staff in post and recruitment vacancies for that grade. The figures give the position as at 1 October 1988 and, because the process of splitting the Department of Health and Social Security is not yet complete, are an estimate of those staff who will form the headquarters of the Department of Social Security.

    Number of vacancies

    Proportion of staff-in-post/vacancies (per cent.)

    Principal21·8
    EO82·8
    AO124·6
    AA109·9
    PES1518·3
    Typist43·8
    Economic Adviser250
    Legal Officer215
    Senior Research Officer150
    Information Officer323
    Assistant Statistician250
    Senior Scientific Officer (OR)233

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    We do not yet have accurate statistics for the Department of Social Security alone, following the split of the Department of Health and Social Security on 25 July. The information given is for the Department's local offices. Information for DHSS Headquarters which covers staff in the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health are being provided today in reply to the hon. Member's similar question to the Secretary of State for Health.

    (a) Numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions by grade as at 1 July 1988 (DSS local offices)

    Grade

    Number of staff in receipt

    Administrative Assistant46
    Administrative Officer279
    Personal Secretary9
    Local Officer I2,642
    Local Officer II3,666
    Executive Officer243
    Typing Manager8
    Higher Executive Officer592
    Others8

    (b) Location of DSS offices awarding local pay additions

    ActonLeytonstone
    BalhamMitcham
    BarkingNeasden
    BatterseaNotting Hill
    BloomsburyOval
    BracknellPaddington
    BrixtonPeckham
    CamberwellPlaistow
    Canning TownPoplar
    ChelseaReading
    CityRichmond
    CricklewoodShoreditch
    CroydonSlough
    Crystal PalaceSouthall
    EalingSouthwark
    EdgwareStepney
    EdmontonStoke Newington
    ElthamStreatham
    EpsomSurbiton
    EustonSutton
    Finsbury ParkThames North
    GraysThames South
    Greenwich ParkTottenham
    GuildfordWalthamstow
    HackneyWandsworth
    HarlesdenWestminster
    HarrowWimbledon
    HendonWoking
    HighgateWoodgrange Park
    Hither GreenWood Green
    HoxtonWoolwich
    IlfordOPSSAT
    Kennington ParkLondon North Regional
    KensingtonOffice
    Kingston upon ThamesLondon South Regional
    LewishamOffice

    (c) The scheme has not been operating long enough for accurate annual cost projections to be made. The cost for the first month, July, was £294,534.

    Mr. Leighton

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the complement of staff at his Department's Stanmore office.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    The Department does not have a Stanmore office. The area is covered by the office at Harrow. Its present complement is 142.

    Grants And Loans

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of applications for (a) community care grants, (b) budget loans and (c) crisis loans have been turned down in (i) the Burnley constituency, (ii) the Rossendale and Darwen constituency and (iii) the Hyndburn constituency.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    Burnley constituency is covered by Burnley local office, Rossendale and Darwen constituency is covered by Rossendale local office and Hyndburn constituency is covered by Blackburn local office but their boundaries and not conterminous.Information on social fund grants and loans processed and awarded, listed by local office, is available in the Library.

    Mobility Allowance

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state for each of the last five years for which figures are available for mobility allowance applications (a) the number of applications, (b) the number of approvals, (c) the number of appeals and (d) the number of successful appeals.

    Mr. Scott

    The available information is as follows. It relates to decisions given in the relevant years, not to the results of claims made in those years.

    1. Claims
    Number of claims decidedDecided in claimant's favour
    1983126,30086,300
    *(19,500)*(16,450)
    1984132,00093,500
    *(23,950)*(19,900)
    1985157,250101,890
    *(27,520)*(22,500)
    1986175,010109,220
    *(29,530*(24,420)
    1987177,250110,460
    *(31,790)*(26,220)

    Note: Figures for renewal claims are shown separately in brackets marked * but included in the total.

    2. Appeals

    Appeals and references decided by medical boards

    Appeals decided by medical appeal tribunals

    Number decided

    Decisions in favour of claimant

    Number decided

    Decisions in favour of claimant

    198312,9703,8903,0701,000
    198414,7504,8003,9331,107
    198516,8005,4104,316850
    198620,3706,9305,3821,235
    198721,2086,3695,7531,545

    Note: Figures include renewal claims.

    Rents And Rates

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what payments were made by his Department for (a) rate rebates, (b) rent rebates and (c) rent allowances in 1986–87, and what are his latest estimates for those figures in 1987–88, for (i) Burnley borough council, (ii) Pendle borough council, (iii) Hyndburn borough council and (iv) Rossendale borough council.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    The information requested is given in the table.

    Housing Benefit Expenditure
    1986–87 £ 0001987–88 £ 000
    Burnley
    Rate Rebates1,6281,763
    Rent Rebates3,3533,436
    Rent Allowances1,3981,426

    1986–87 £ 000

    1987–88 £ 000

    Pendle

    Rate Rebates1,3481,597
    Rent Rebates2,9143,106
    Rent Allowances799653

    Hyndburn

    Rate Rebates1,3261,407
    Rent Rebates2,6002,773
    Rent Allowances1,022887

    Rossendale

    Rate Rebates1,1421,192
    Rent Rebates2,8903,039
    Rent Allowances564487

    Source: Housing benefit subsidy final claims 1986/87.

    Housing benefit subsidy latest estimates 1987–88.

    Housing Rental Purchase

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department has plans to bring forward any measures with regard to housing rental purchase.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    My predecessor announced on 28 January at columns 382–3 that the benefit arrangements for providing help with payments under rental purchase agreements were under review. That review is not yet completed.

    Family Credit

    Sir Ian Gilmour

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide an estimate of the latest figure of the number of people claiming family credit.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    At the end of September, about 242,000 families were receiving family credit, and a further 62,000 claims were awaiting determination.

    Benefit Shops (Bradford)

    Mr. Madden

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the closure of Bradford council's benefits shops; and what assessment he has made of the impact of such closures on his Department's local offices in Bradford.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    Representations have been made by two hon. Members to the managers of the social security offices in Bradford about the closures. Local management have said they expect to be able to absorb any increase in traffic in inquiries without affecting standards of service.

    Income Support

    Mr. Mullin

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what statutory powers his Department acts in seeking to recover from fuel boards overpayments of income support made under schedule 9, paragraph 6, of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, in cases where responsibility for the overpayment lies with his Department as a result of an office error.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd

    These over-payments are not income support. They occur as a result of a mistake of fact when, for example, a claimant has ceased to be entitled to benefit although payment has continued to be made to the fuel board. In these cases, the Department's right of recovery rests in common law.

    Social Fund

    Mr. Gregory

    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to review the social fund budget for the Liverpool Edgehill local office.

    Mr. Scott

    I regret there was an error in my reply of 15 April at column 267. The social fund loans budget for Liverpool (Edgehill) local office should be £614,013 rather than £714,113. As some six months had passed before this error was discovered, this year's budget has been reduced by £50,000. The revised letter of allocation sets the revised loans budget at £664,113.

    Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

    Malaysia

    Mrs. Dunwoody

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Malaysia on violations of human rights in that country; and if he has specifically taken up the cases of Lim Kit Siang and other leading members of the opposition.

    Mr. Eggar

    My right hon. and learned Friend raised the issue of detentions during a visit to Malaysia in April this year. The Twelve have also made known to the Malaysian authorities our collective concern.

    Corporal Punishment

    Mr. Lawrence

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any agreement has yet been achieved between Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission of Human Rights on the complaint lodged by the parents of 15 children caned at state schools prior to the implementation of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Eggar

    There were 16 applications to the European Commission of Human Rights concerning corporal punishment in state schools prior to the implementation of the 1986 Act. These were discontinued in May 1988 following the Government's offer to make ex gratia payments to the applicants. Settlements had earlier been reached in three other cases.

    Foreign Affairs Council

    Mrs. Chalker

    [pursuant to her oral reply, 19 October 1988, column 876]: The Foreign Affairs Council met on 26 September. I represented the United Kingdom, accompanied by my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development.The Council discussed the Community's negotiating mandate for the renegotiation of the ACP/EEC convention—Lomé IV. The mandate was subsequently finalised, and negotiations with the ACP countries formally opened on 12 October. My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development represented the United Kingdom.The Presidency gave a progress report on the negotiations on the implementing regulations for the structural funds. There was no discussion.The French Minister made a statement on audiovisual co-operation among member states, arguing for adoption of a directive on broadcasting; progress in developing high definition television; and an industry-led programme jointly funded by Governments, similar to the present EUREKA arrangements for joint projects in industrial development.A conference of the representatives of the member states considered the order of rotation of the 13th judge of the European Court of Justice, and concluded that Spain should take the next place followed by Italy and the United Kingdom. Other ECJ appointments, including those of Sir Gordon Slynn as judge and Professor Francis Jacobs as advocate-general, were approved, and took effect from 6 October.

    Scotland

    Local Government Finance

    Mr. Rooker

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will construct a table in the same form as figure F3 on page 106 of Cmnd. 9714, "Paying for Local Government", showing the relationship in Scotland of rateable values to net household income separately for (a) single pensioner households, (b) other single adult households, (c) two adult households and (d) three adult households.

    Mr. Lang

    Because of the sample size an analysis in this form for Scotland is not available.

    Vacancies (London)

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

    Mr. Rifkind

    My Department has only a small number of posts in London. There is a vacancy for an administrative officer representing rather more than 10 per cent. of the posts in that grade in the Scottish Office in London.

    Local Pay Additions

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide the latest 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.

    Rating Reform

    Mr. Kirkwood

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of complaints made against community charge registration officers in Scotland by persons who consider that the enforcement of registration officers' powers have been carried out in a manner which has caused offence or distress:(2) if he will publish figures for the current cost of pursuing persons who are refusing or delaying to supply information required by registration officers drawing up the community charge register, showing the costs for Scotland broken down by local authority area.

    Personal Accident Insurance

    Mr. Norman Hogg

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in regard to the policy of education departments encouraging parents to take out extra personal accident insurance for their children; and what assessment has been made of the effects on those school pupils whose parents are unable to pay.

    Mr. Michael Forsyth

    All education authorities have public liability insurance cover for the extent of their own legal liability. It is for authorities to decide whether to advise parents to take out personal accident insurance to cover instances where no such liability arises; and it is entirely for parents to decide whether to take such advice. I understand that the premiums for an individual pupil are of the order of £1·50 to £2 per school term.

    Labour Statistics

    Mr. Wray

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the unemployed people in Scotland who found new jobs in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1988 are again unemployed.

    Regional Selective Assistance

    Mr. McLeish

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide figures on regional selective assistance for (a) the total number of applications received since 1 April, (b) the number of the above applications that have been processed and (c) the total amount of money paid out since 1 April.

    Mr. Lang

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: In the period 1 April to 30 September, 118 applications for regional selective assistance were received in Scotland. Of these, 88 have been fully processed. The remaining 30 are being processed. Total payments of regional selective assistance in Scotland in the same period have amounted to £14·4 million.

    Regional Development Grant

    Mr. McLeish

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide figures on regional development grants for (a) the number of applications outstanding on 31 March, (b) the number of those outstanding applications that have subsequently been processed, (c) the number of those applications that are still outstanding and (d) the total amount of money paid out since 31 March in regional development grants to those applications.

    Mr. Lang

    [holding answer 24 October 1988]: The figures requested for applications in Scotland under the revised regional development grant scheme are as follows:

    Number
    Number of applications outstanding at 31 March5,117
    Number of these processed by 19 October2,499
    Number still outstanding at 19 October2,618
    Payment £ million
    Payment authorisations made by 19 October on these applications5.1

    Home Department

    Data Protection Act

    Mr. Menzies Campbell

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to extend the Data Protection Act to cover the handling of personal information by local authorities for the purpose of the collection of poll tax.

    Mr. Renton

    No. We do not consider that the community charge proposals raise issues which require amendment of the Data Protection Act.

    Mr. Menzies Campbell

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend the Data Protection Act to prevent the disclosure by banks of confidential information about customers without the customers' knowledge.

    Mr. Renton

    None. Banking confidentiality is a matter of banking law and the question of disclosure is one that is currently being examined by the review of banking services law under the chairmanship of Professor Robert Jack. The Government expect the review committee to complete its report by the end of the year and will issue its response shortly thereafter.

    Naturalisation And Registration

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time now being taken in dealing with an application for (a) naturalisation and (b) registration.

    Mr. Renton

    The average time taken to complete applications for naturalisation and registration in September 1988 was 21 months and 13 months respectively.

    Untried Prisoners

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of days spent in custody by untried prisoners in 1987.

    Mr. Douglas Hogg

    The estimated average number of days spent in prison service custody by untried prisoners in 1987 was 56 for males and 45 for females. These figures will be published in table 2.1 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1987".

    Senior command course
    1979198019811982198319841985198619871988
    1. Avon and Somerset111————2——
    2. Bedfordshire Police———————1——
    3. Cambridgeshire——————————
    4. Cheshire———11——1—1
    5. City of London Police1—————————
    6. Cleveland———————1——
    7. Cumbria————1—————
    8. Derbyshire——1———————
    9. Devon and Cornwall1—1—1———1—
    10. Dorset Police—————11———
    11. Durham—1——1—————
    12. Dyfed Powys Police——————————
    13. Essex Police—111——1—1—
    14. Gloucestershire——————————
    15. Greater Manchester Police—3231—3411

    Women Police Officers

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of women police officers in the Lancashire constabulary area and the ranks held, showing the appropriate percentage in each case.

    Mr. Douglas Hogg

    The information based on force strength at 31 July is as follows:

    RankNumberPercentage of strength in rank
    Superintendent12·4
    Chief Inspector11·4
    Inspector21·2
    Sergeant163.1
    Constable27111·4
    Total291

    Fresh Start

    Mr. David Porter

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the middle-management grades 6 and 7 are staffed below the Fresh Start 87 levels at Blundeston prison, Suffolk.

    Mr. Douglas Hogg

    On 21 October, HMP Blundeston was staffed to complement in grade VI officers. There is a general shortage of grade VII officers, but one is shortly to be posted to the prison. More officers will become available for posting in spring 1989, after the next promotion board. Meanwhile, in common with all establishments, Blundeston is working to ensure that the best use is made of its staff resources under Fresh Start.

    Bramshill Police College

    Mr. Hardy

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers from each force have attended command courses at Bramshill police college in each of the last 10 years.

    Mr. Douglas Hogg

    The police staff college at Bramshill runs four command courses—the senior command course, the intermediate command course, the junior command course and the overseas command course. The tables below give the figures requested.

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    16. Gwent——————————
    17. Hampshire——1—————1—
    18. Hertfordshire—1——————1—
    19. Humberside Police——————————
    20. Kent County—11————1—1
    21. Lancashire—1—12—————
    22. Leicester——————————
    23. Lincolnshire Police———————1——
    24. Merseyside Police111—————1—
    25. Metropolitan Police5585495458
    26. Norfolk——————————
    27. Northamptonshire Police——————————
    28. Northumbria21——————1—
    29. North Wales Police————————21
    30. North Yorkshire Police—1————————
    31. Nottinghamshire1————————2
    32. South Wales——————————
    33. South Yorkshire Police1—1————1——
    34. Staffordshire Police—————————1
    35. Suffolk———11—————
    36. Surrey—112—1—11—
    37. Sussex Police—1——1—11—4
    38. Thames Valley Police—1—11———11
    39. Warwickshire1————————1
    40. West Mercia1——1——————
    41. West Midlands Police2213—211——
    42. West Yorkshire Police211—1—1—1—
    43. Wiltshire—————1———1
    44. Central Scotland——————————
    45. Dumfries and Galloway——————————
    46. Fife————1—————
    47. Grampian——————————
    48. Lothian and Borders——1———————
    49. Northern——————————
    50. Strathclyde211————111
    51. Tayside——————————
    52. Royal Ulster Constabulary1112———11—

    Intermediate command course

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1. Avon and Somerset5654443324
    2. Bedfordshire Police1331—12122
    3. Cambridgeshire1331212221
    4. Cheshire2211——1211
    5. City of London Police4221—11—12
    6. Cleveland1331211232
    7. Cumbria122—112111
    8. Derbyshire4431223322
    9. Devon and Cornwall1322323142
    10. Dorset Police342—112211
    11. Durham3323113122
    12. Dyfed Powys Police—111111111
    13. Essex Police3431152433
    14. Gloucestershire1121122211
    15. Greater Manchester Police111095553576
    16. Gwent1211122111
    17. Hampshire453332—332
    18. Hertfordshire4322233543
    19. Humberside Police2121222213
    20. Kent County7411323233
    21. Lancashire7233233322
    22. Leicester2421111112
    23. Lincolnshire Police12—12—1—12
    24. Merseyside Police6974443342
    25. Metropolitan Police48334329353132293324
    26. Norfolk12211—1111
    27. Northamptonshire Police—11—111211
    28. Northumbria7431333244
    29. North Wales Police—142122223
    30. North Yorkshire Police1321122211
    31. Nottinghamshire2232122222
    32. South Wales1352233332
    33. South Yorkshire Police3344232223
    34. Staffordshire Police43211—1212
    35. Suffolk1221111211

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    36. Surrey2222112111
    37. Sussex Police5322334334
    38. Thames Valley Police6633376636
    39. Warwickshire133—1—1121
    40. West Mercia5743112232
    41. West Midlands Police9872223359
    42. West Yorkshire Police9652643433
    43. Wiltshire—222132212
    44. RUC4442432334
    45. MOD211—111312
    46. British Transport212—222121
    47. Guernsey———1——————
    48. Jersey—————————1
    49. UKAEAC——————1—1—
    50. RAF—————1—111
    51. Royal Hong Kong Police2—12—11388
    52. ICAC———————112
    53. Singapore1—2—111111
    54. Gibraltar———————1—2
    55. Fiji—————1—1——
    56. India121———————

    Junior command course

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1. Avon and Somerset7886555552
    2. Bedfordshire Police2332224314
    3. Cambridgeshire3231222444
    4. Cheshire52322121—5
    5. City of London Police443—112222
    6. Cleveland4145231344
    7. Cumbria3222322434
    8. Derbyshire5443332424
    9. Devon and Cornwall5554434477
    10. Dorset Police3441444435
    11. Durham4643225242
    12. Dyfed Powys Police1222121113
    13. Essex Police54544634514
    14. Gloucestershire3221222221
    15. Greater Manchester Police15121613121288914
    16. Gwent2443332114
    17. Hampshire8964422533
    18. Hertfordshire4544344447
    19. Humberside Police4353256333
    20. Kent County7975134677
    21. Lancashire1311106448779
    22. Leicester4344344446
    23. Lincolnshire Police2144531336
    24. Merseyside Police87995312767
    25. Metropolitan Police646657515247394849105
    26. Norfolk1344442224
    27. Northamptonshire Police1—22222214
    28. Northumbria9963766599
    29. North Wales Police3322222233
    30. North Yorkshire Police2233342322
    31. Nottinghamshire5364665427
    32. South Wales7563344469
    33. South Yorkshire Police4782334166
    34. Staffordshire Police444—211226
    35. Suffolk2122221123
    36. Surrey3474323323
    37. Sussex Police6573444457
    38. Thames Valley Police61044798101012
    39. Warwickshire2211112111
    40. West Mercia5387433332
    41. West Midlands Police171714869991110
    42. West Yorkshire Police129634444511
    43. Wiltshire1234563125
    44. RUC5542332229
    45. MOD3212232223
    46. British Transport1—12122122
    47. Guernsey1——11—111—
    48. Jersey———————111
    49. Royal Parks——————1———
    50. UKAEAL———————11—
    51. Royal Hong Kong Police——————11310
    52. ICAC————————1—

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    53. Fiji—1————————
    54. Isle of Man————1—————

    Overseas command courses

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1. Anguilla——1———————
    2. Antigua/Barbuda—12—11————
    3. Bahamas—1—3—————2
    4. Bahrain1—————————
    5. Bangladesh—131132151
    6. Barbados—21———2—21
    7. Belize—1—4————2—
    8. Bermuda1———1—————
    9. Botswana22——114——1
    10. Brunei46633—11——
    11. Cameroon————————2—
    12. Cayman Island—1————————
    13. Cook Island———————1——
    14. Cyprus4—2—1—1———
    15. Dominica11————————
    16. Egypt———————2——
    17. Fiji2—2111——1—
    18. Gambia—1—1——————
    19. Chana——12—1————
    20. Gibraltar——1———————
    21. Grenada—————121—1
    22. Guyana——1——————2
    23. Hong Kong411111————
    24. India——111—————
    25. Indonesia2——142211—
    26. Jamaica5—322212——
    27. Jordan———1————1—
    28. Kenya———2—1———1
    29. Kiribati—————2——1—
    30. Lesotho12—3—1———2
    31. Malawi22———2—253
    32. Maldives————————1—
    33. Monserrat—1————————
    34. Mauritius11————————
    35. Nigeria———11—1———
    36. Oman—212254553
    37. Pakistan111——1———1
    38. Papua New Guinea1———————11
    39. Philippines———————1—3
    40. St Helena1—11——1———
    41. St Kitts & Nevis———1——————
    42. St Lucia——————1—1—
    43. St Vincent/Grenadines———11———11
    44. Seychelles1————————1
    45. Sierra Leone———1————11
    46. Singapore11————————
    47. Solomon Island——2———1———
    48. Sri Lanka———1—212——
    49. Swaziland————3—253—
    50. Tanzania—1——222——1
    51. Thailand—————————3
    52. Tonga———1——11—3
    53. Turks & Caicos Islands————————11
    54. Uganda————————23
    55. United Arab Emirates—1————————
    56. Vanuatu—————111——
    57. Western Samoa—————————1
    58. Zambia21——221———
    59. Zimbabwe—722222464
    60. Malaysia——21———2——

    Mr. Hardy

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been selected to attend the command courses at Bramshill police college in each of the last 10 years.

    Mr. Douglas Hogg

    Police officers attending the junior command course, the intermediate command course and the overseas command course at the police staff college are nominated by the chief officers of the forces in which they are serving. The numbers of officers selected to attend the senior command course are as follows:

    Number
    197823
    197925
    198023

    Number

    198123
    198215
    198314
    198414
    198520
    198620
    198722

    The selection for the senior command course normally takes place in November, and the courses themselves run from April to September. Officers selected in one year do not invariably take their place on the following year's course, but may attend one in a later year. The figures given relate to the year of selection, not the year of eventual attendance.

    Mr. Hardy

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the positions of those serving senior police officers and the forces from which they came who were involved in each of the last 10 years in the selection of officers chosen to attend command courses at the police college, Bramshill.

    Mr. Douglas Hogg

    The senior police officers involved in the selection of officers to attend the senior command centre at the police staff college were:

    1978

    • Chief Constable, Avon and Somerset.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, North Wales.
    • Chief Constable, North Yorkshire.
    • Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Nottinghamshire.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Chief Constable, Kent.
    • Chief Constable, Staffordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Commissioner, City of London.

    1979

    • Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Kent.
    • Chief Constable, Lincolnshire.
    • Chief Constable, North Wales.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.
    • Chief Constable, South Wales.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Staffordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Nottinghamshire.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Chief Constable, Avon and Somerset.
    • Chief Constable, Lancashire.
    • Chief Constable, Thames Valley.

    1980

    • Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Lancashire.
    • Chief Constable, Kent
    • Chief Constable, Lincolnshire.
    • HMIC
    • Chief Constable, North Wales.
    • Chief Constable, South Wales.
    • Chief Constable, Staffordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Bedfordshire.

    1981

    • Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, South Yorkshire.
    • Chief Constable, Lancashire.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Chief Constable, Bedfordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Chief Constable, Gloucestershire.
    • Chief Constable, North Wales.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Chief Constable, Staffordshire.
    • HMIC
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Avon and Somerset.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.

    1982

    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Gwent.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Devon and Cornwall.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Chief Constable, Avon and Somerset.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Northamptonshire.
    • Chief Constable, South Wales.
    • Chief Constable, Bedfordshire.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Chief Constable, Thames Valley.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.

    1983

    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Greater Manchester.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Hertfordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Gwent.
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Chief Constable, Surrey.
    • Chief Constable, Northamptonshire.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.
    • Chief Constable, West Mercia.
    • Chief Constable, Thames Valley.

    1984

    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Devon and Cornwall.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Greater Manchester.
    • Chief Constable, West Mercia.
    • Chief Constable, Surrey.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Northamptonshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.
    • Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Gwent.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Chief Constable, South Yorkshire.
    • Chief Constable, Hertfordshire.
    • Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.

    1985

    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Hampshire.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Chief Constable, Thames Valley.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Gwent.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Merseyside.
    • Chief Constable, Hertfordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Northamptonshire.
    • Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.

    1986

    • Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Hampshire.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.
    • Chief Constable, Bedfordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Chief Constable, Thames Valley.
    • Chief Constable, Gwent.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Surrey.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Merseyside.
    • Chief Constable, Gloucestershire.
    • Chief Constable, South Wales.
    • Chief Constable, Cumbria.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.

    1987

    • Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Chief Constable, Northamptonshire.
    • Chief Constable, Cheshire.
    • Assistant Commissioner, City of London.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Humberside.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Hampshire.
    • Chief Constable, Thames Valley.
    • Chief Constable, Dyfed-Powys.
    • Chief Constable, West Midlands.
    • Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Warwickshire.
    • Chief Constable, Bedfordshire.
    • Chief Constable, Gloucestershire.
    • Chief Constable, Gwent.
    • Deputy Chief Constable, Cleveland.
    • Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police.
    • Chief Constable, Essex.

    Officers attending the junior command course, the intermediate command course and the overseas command course are nominated by the chief officer of the force in which they are serving.

    Education And Science

    Chiropody Students

    Mr. Beggs

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the cost to public funds of students from (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Irish Republic attending courses at the school of chiropody, New College, Durham.

    Mr. Jackson

    The cost to public funds of providing a place at New college, Durham, for a student from Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the United Kingdom to study ancillary health in the current academic year is approximately £2,600. The cost will be the same for a student from the Irish Republic or any other European Community country, provided he or she qualifies for reimbursement of tuition fees.

    College Mergers

    Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his policy on increasing the unit of resource for a public sector college to match that of the university with which it is merging as a result of the Education Reform Bill;(2) what is his policy, in the wake of the Education Reform Bill, on mergers between universities and public sector colleges;(3) what is his policy on mergers between universities and small public sector colleges.

    Mr. Jackson

    There is no new policy on inter-sectoral mergers. Any case proposed by the institutions concerned would be considered on its merits. The Government would not apply any additional public funds in respect of such a merged institution which should, in any case, yield efficiency gains.

    Teachers' Pay

    Mr. Pawsey

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing teachers' salaries in 1978–79 and those in 1988–89 in real terms.

    Mrs. Rumbold

    The table gives the information requested for selected points on the teachers' pay scales:

    Category1April 1988 salary, cash prices £April 1978 salary at constant (April 1988) prices2£Real terms increase per cent.
    Good Honours

    Graduate

    entrant    		8,8597,86213
    Scale 3—Incentive

    "B" Teacher    		15,06312,77718
    Scale 4—Incentive

    "D" Teacher    		17,06414,19920
    Senior—Incentive

    "E" Teacher    		18,26415,18920
    Deputy Head

    School Group

    4    		15,63611,87632
    Head School

    Group 4    		17,72113,96127
    Deputy Head

    School Group

    11    		20,58616,77923
    Head School

    Group 11    		27,10221,39127
    1 All teachers, with the exception of good honours graduate entrants, are assumed to be at their salary maximum.
    2 Constant price figures are derived using the retail price index.

    Mr. Pawsey

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of teachers' salaries in 1978–79; what it is now; and what is the increase in real terms.

    Mrs. Rumbold

    In 1978–79, the total cost of salaries 1of teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England was £2,710 million. The estimate of expenditure on teachers' salaries in the same sectors for 1988–89 is approximately £6,950 million. This represents an increase in real terms 2of nearly 20 per cent.1. The cost of salaries includes allowances and employers' contributions towards national insurance and superannuation.2. The 1978–79 cash terms have been converted into 1988–89 real terms using the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator.

    Teachers

    Mr. Pawsey

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers were employed in England and Wales in 1978–79 and in 1988–89.

    Mr. Butcher

    There were 440,800 teachers employed for service in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England at January 1979. The corresponding figure for January 1988 (the latest date for which data are available) is 401,500. Comparable figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

    Pupil Numbers

    Mr. Pawsey

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children were being taught in England and Wales in 1978–79 and 1988–89.

    Mr. Butcher

    Information for the academic year 1988–89 is not yet available. The total number of pupils on roll in all maintained and non-maintained schools in England in January 1979 and January 1988 were 9·094 million and 7·610 million respectively. Information for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

    Teacher Training

    Mr. Nicholas Bennett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, by each initial training institute, the number and percentage of students on initial teacher training courses who had discontinued their training by the end of (a) the first year, and (b) the second year, in 1978 and 1987, together with the number and percentage at each institute in these years who completed the course but failed their final examinations.

    Mrs. Rumbold

    Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. The patterns of wastage and other movements within initial teacher training are complex; some students repeat years of their course while others may join courses part way through. The Department calculates that on average about 25 per cent. of those who enter an undergraduate course of initial teacher training do not complete that course successfully, for whatever reason.

    Ecology Research

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, during his recent visit to the Soviet Union, he concluded any agreement with the Soviet Academy of Sciences to develop joint ecology research programmes.

    Mr. Jackson

    During my right hon. Friend's visit to the Academy of Sciences in Moscow, he discussed possible collaboration in ecology research with the deputy director, Dr. Frolov. The Government believe it may be possible to intensify working relationships between USSR and United Kingdom institutions in this area, and Dr. Frolov undertook to provide a list of institutions with whom links could be developed. We would be happy to continue, and enhance, scientific collaboration with the USSR provided it is practical, effective, well directed and with clear objectives.

    Greenhouse Effect

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the research study conducted by the Natural Environment Research Council Plymouth marine laboratory into the use of the phytoplankton coccolithophores to mitigate the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.

    Mr. Jackson

    Progress has been made on determining from satellite images the distribution and abundance of coccolithophores. Further studies are planned on their importance in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Research at the Plymouth marine laboratory is not specifically directed at using coccolithophores to influence the global climate.

    Grant-Maintained Schools

    Mr. Madel

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to give schools which are subject to reorganisation proposals under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 an opportunity to apply for grant-maintained status.

    Mr. Kenneth Baker

    On 4 August this year, I determined under section 73 of the Education Act 1988 that all section 12 and 13 proposals in respect of schools eligible for grant-maintained status which were undecided at that date were suspended until 30 November. On 12 October I made a similar determination in respect of section 12 and 13 proposals published in the period 4 August to 30 September 1988. These determinations apply both to proposals which fall to me to decide and those determinable by local education authorities.

    Youth Service

    Mr. Harry Greenway

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the National Advisory Council for the Youth Service has achieved over its last three-year term; what arrangements he intends to make for future consultation with the youth service; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Kenneth Baker

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I appointed the National Advisory Council for the Youth Service in 1985 to serve for three years. The council's term comes to an end in December this year, having completed a body of useful work, up-dating and taking forward that of the previous national committee. Building on this work, new arrangements will be introduced next year for periodic consultations between Ministers and the youth service in England about selected major issues of common concern. These will take the form of national conferences to which representatives from local authorities and from national voluntary youth organisations will be invited. The detailed arrangements will be announced early next year.The existing arrangements in Wales whereby representatives of the statutory and voluntary sectors have regular meetings with the Welsh Office will continue and will build on the work of the council.

    Employment

    Employment Training Scheme

    13.

    Mr. Stern

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from Bristol city council on the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    We have received no representations from Bristol city council. Its decision not to move forward into employment training is regrettable, but employment training is nevertheless operating fully in Bristol, so the job prospects of unemployed people in Bristol will not be harmed by the city council's negative attitude.

    19.

    Mr. Key

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on implementation of the employment training scheme.

    Mr. Nicholls

    Employment training got off to a good start on 5 September. More than 1,000 training managers and over 150 training agents are now in operation, and there has already been tremendous interest amongst unemployed people. So far more than 133,000 people have been referred to training agents and 60,000 people have started their training with training managers.

    43.

    Mr. Turner

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in employment training.

    86.

    Mr. Morgan

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in employment training.

    134.

    Mr. Allen McKay

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in employment training.

    Mr. Fowler

    I refer to the hon. Members to my reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Worsley (Mr. Lewis).

    51.

    Mr. Greg Knight

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Transport and General Workers Union, National Union of Public Employees and National Association of Local Government Officers concerning the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls

    None. It is very regrettable that unions like the TGWU, NUPE and NALGO have decided to oppose employment training, and thereby to attempt to deny long-term unemployed people the opportunity of high-quality training which will help them back into jobs.

    54.

    Mr. Patnick

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Sheffield city council on the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    110.

    Mr. Simon Coombs

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Training Commission to discuss employment training; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls

    No. On 15 September my right hon. Friend took back from the commission its responsibilities for running the Government's training programmes, including employment training. These functions are now being carried out by a new training agency within the Department of Employment group.

    31.

    Mr. Thornton

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Liverpool city council on the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls

    My right hon. Friend has received no representations from Liverpool city council. My right hon. Friend has been granted leave to bring proceedings for judicial review in the High Court against Liverpool city council. In addition he is seeking a declaration that the decisions of the council to take action against organisations which participate in employment training are unlawful and an injunction restraining the council from implementing those decisions.

    127.

    Mr. Janman

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Employment

    Labour Statistics

    14.

    Miss Widdecombe

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people classed as long-term unemployed have found jobs since January 1986; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    Between January 1986 and July 1988 over 2 million people who had been claiming benefits for a year or more ceased to be unemployed in the United Kingdom. Information on the destination of those leaving the count is not available.

    15.

    Mr. Oppenheim

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of unemployment; and what was the rate in June 1983.

    21.

    Mr. Tracey

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Fowler

    In September 1988, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was 8 per cent. The comparable rate for June 1983 was 10·8 per cent. By the June 1987 general election the rate had already fallen to 10·4 per cent. The fall since then has been larger than in any other industrial country.

    27.

    Mr. Holt

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide unemployment figures for the 12 months ending September 1987 and the 12 months ended September 1988.

    Mr. Lee

    The table shows seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers in the United Kingdom for the 12 months ending September 1987 and for the 12 months ending September 1988. The September figure includes some temporary over recording.

    Seasonally adjusted unemployment, excluding school leavers.
    thousands
    NumberChange over previous 12 months
    September 19863,185·7+63·0
    September 19872,772·2-413·5
    September 19882,266·9-505·3

    30.

    Mr. Amess

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for the constituency of Basildon and for the same period in each of the last five years.

    Mr. Lee

    The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Basildon in September of each year since 1983. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over recording.

    Number of unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Basildon
    MonthYearNumber
    September19836,532
    September19847,050
    September19856,634
    September19866,157

    Month

    Year

    Number

    September19875,032
    September19883,495

    50.

    Mr. Hayward

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the levels of unemployment in the south-west of England.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers in the south-west was 131,000 compared with 167,700 in September 1987, a fall of 36,000 or 21·8 per cent. over the last 12 months. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over-recording due to the postal strike.

    53.

    Mr. Sumberg

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of unemployment among school leavers in Lancashire in 1987; and what was the figure for the preceding five years.

    Mr. Lee

    Following is the available information. The table shows the annual average number of unemployed claimants in Lancashire aged under 18 who had not entered employment since leaving full-time education for each year from 1983 to 1987.

    Unemployment rates for school-leavers are not available
    Unemployed claimants
    19832,548
    19842,159
    19852,251
    19862,004
    19871,282

    57.

    Mr. Devlin

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the levels of unemployment in the northern region of England.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers was 171,000 in the north region, compared with 200,900 in September of 1987, a fall of 29,000 or 14·9 per cent. over the last 12 months. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over-recording due to the postal strike.

    60.

    Mr. Andy Stewart

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed in the east midlands region; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    In June 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1·782,000 people in the civilian work force in employment in the east midlands region. This represents a net increase of 198,000, or 13 per cent. over the last five years. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

    62.

    Mr. Roger King

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for unemployment in the west midlands and what were the figures 12 months ago.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers in the west midlands region was 224,700, compared with 284,200 in September 1987, a fall of 59,500 over the last 12 months and the lowest since January 1981. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over-recording due to the postal strike.

    69.

    Sir Marcus Fox

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on unemployment in Yorkshire.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the counties of South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire was 189,503, a fall of 40,127 compared with a year ago. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over-recording due to the postal strike.

    73.

    Mr. Anthony Coombs

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people unemployed in the United Kingdom.

    104.

    Mr. Brandon-Bravo

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

    136.

    Mr. Latham

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 the level of seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers in the United Kingdom was 2,267,000, the lowest level on a consistent basis since May 1981. The September figure includes some temporary over-recording but even so unemployment has now fallen for 26 consecutive months, by over 940,000 in total since July 1986, the longest and largest continuous fall on record since 1945.

    80.

    Mr. Haselhurst

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in East Anglia.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers in the East Anglia region was 49,200, compared with 68,100 in September 1987, a fall of 18,900 over the last twelve months and the lowest since January 1981. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over-recording due to the postal strike.

    87.

    Mr. David Evans

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which three counties in England and Wales have the lowest levels of unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    The table shows the three counties with the lowest number of unemployed claimants in England and Wales in September 1988. The September figure includes some temporary over-recording.

    Counties in England and Wales with the lowest unemployment levels
    CountyUnemployed claimants
    Powys3,112
    Isle of Wight4,101
    Oxfordshire8,412

    103.

    Mr. Galbraith

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the work force were part-time (a) in 1979 and (b) at the latest available date.

    123.

    Mr. Fatchett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of (a) male and (b) female workers were part-time in (a) 1979 and (b) at the latest available date.

    126.

    Mr. Steinberg

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the work force were part-time (a) in 1979 and (b) at the latest available date.

    Mr. Lee

    In June 1979 a total of 19 per cent. of the work force in employment in Great Britain (6 per cent. of males and 41 per cent. of females) were working part time. In June 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, 25 per cent. (9 per cent. of males and 45 per cent. of females) were working part time.The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, members of Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes. In classifying the workforce between full and part-time all programme participants are counted as in part-time employment.

    105.

    Mr. Hinchliffe

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of 16 to 19-year-olds were working part-time in 1979 and at the latest available date.

    Mr. Nicholls

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Newcastle-Under-Lyme (Mrs. Golding).

    108.

    Mr. Michael Brown

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the reduction of long-term unemployment since January 1986.

    Mr. Lee

    On 14 July 1988 the number of unemployed claimants who had been unemployed for one year or more was 948,232 a fall of 423,426 or 44·7 per cent. since January 1986. The change will be affected by seasonal factors, and slightly by the change in the compilation in March 1986.

    111.

    Ms. Ruddock

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of (a) men and (b) women were unemployed in Lewisham in 1979 and at the latest available date.

    Mr. Lee

    The information requested is not available. Unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

    122.

    Mr. Gale

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the current levels of employment in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Lee

    Between March 1983 and June 1988 the work force in employment in the United Kingdom increased by 2,178,000 to 25,739,000, the highest level on record. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces, and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

    129.

    Mrs. Wise

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of women workers were working less than 16 hours per week in 1976 and at the latest available date.

    Mr. Lee

    It is estimated from the labour force survey that 14·2 per cent. of women in employment in Great Britain usually worked 16 hours or less per week in spring 1979 (the earliest year for which data is available). An equivalent figure for the spring of 1987 was 19·2 per cent.

    135.

    Mr. Duffy

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in South Yorkshire in 1987; and how this compares with 1978.

    Mr. Lee

    In 1987 the annual average number of unemployed claimants in South Yorkshire was 97,530. Consistent figures are not available for 1978, but there were 36,325 people registered unemployed at jobcentres in that year.

    Tourism

    16.

    Mr. Carrington

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the English Tourist Board to discuss the development of tourism; and if he will make a statement.

    83.

    Mr. Amos

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made as to whether the tourist potential of Northumberland is being adequately marketed and co-ordinated.

    Mr. Lee

    I understand that Northumberland tourist board is planning to produce by the end of this year a comprehensive tourism marketing and development strategy for Northumberland, Durham, and Cleveland. I look forward with interest to seeing it.

    133.

    Miss Emma Nicholson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the amount of funds from the European regional development fund invested to date in tourism projects in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Lee

    The total assistance committed by the European regional development fund to projects in England which will benefit tourism, up to 7 October 1988, is £177·6 million. Data are not available on a compatible basis for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

    41.

    Mrs. Gorman

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in tourism in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    It is estimated that in June 1988 there were 1·4 million employees in employment in tourism-related industries in Great Britain. There is no directly comparable estimate for the number of self-employed, but the latest available information from the labour force survey shows that in the spring of 1987 there were an estimated 0·2 million self-employed workers in the hotel and catering industry.

    47.

    Mr. Conway

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many United States tourists visited the United Kingdom between April and September 1988; how much they spent; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    The most up-to-date estimates available show that between April and July of 1988, residents of north America (which includes Canada as well as the United States) made 1,320,000 visits to the United Kingdom. An estimate of their spending is not yet available.

    63.

    Mr. Jacques Arnold

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Tourist Authority to discuss promotion of British tourism; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the chairman and board of the British Tourist Authority on 12 July. He has no plans to meet them again in the immediate future.

    72.

    Mr. Kirkhope

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of section 4 tourist grants awarded to date by the English tourist board in 1988.

    Mr. Lee

    Between January and September 1988 the English Tourist Board offered section 4 assistance totalling £8·5 million to 359 projects.

    76.

    Mr. Harris

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many tourism and leisure building developments are under construction; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    The English Tourist Board's "Tourism Investment Monitor" identifies the following tourism and leisure developments valued at over £0·5 million, under construction during June 1988:

    Number
    Hotels58
    Hotel Extensions50
    Hotel Refurbishments45
    Timeshare Developments9
    Self-Catering/Holiday Village Developments7
    Marinas10
    Themed Attractions5
    Leisure/Sport Facilities35
    Heritage/Museums35
    Visitor Facilities8
    Conference/Theatre9
    Major Mixed Developments24
    Total295

    Part-Time Workers

    17.

    Dr. Reid

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the protection of part-time workers against unfair dismissal.

    22.

    Mr. Meacher

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the pay, pensions, holiday entitlement and protection against unfair dismissal of part-time workers.

    Mr. Nicholls

    No. Terms and conditions of employment are a matter for employers and employees or their representatives to determine. Pension rights are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

    26.

    Mr. Jim Marshall

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of part-time workers receive wages below the national insurance threshold.

    106.

    Mr. Ernie Ross

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of part-time workers receive wages below the national insurance threshold.

    128.

    Mr. Grocott

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of part-time workers receive wages below the national insurance threshold.

    Mr. Lee

    The available information from the new earnings survey for April 1988 can only provide an indication of the maximum proportion of part-time employees whose gross weekly earnings, not affected by absence, were below the threshold. It is estimated that the proportion was less than 45 per cent. of all part-time employees in employment at the time of the survey.

    33.

    Ms. Armstrong

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to improve the maternity rights of part-time workers.

    45.

    Mr. Wilson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to improve the rights of part-time workers to paid holidays and pensions.

    Mr. Nicholls

    No. Terms and conditions of employment are a matter for employers and employees or their representatives to determine. Pension rights are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

    64.

    Mr. Snape

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number and proportion of part-time workers without paid holiday entitlement.

    Mr. Lee

    Data on holiday entitlements are not regularly collected. However, information reported for the sample in the 1987 new earnings survey showed about 22 per cent. of part-time employees as having no paid annual holiday entitlement during the calendar year, excluding public holidays or days in lieu.

    65.

    Dr. Marek

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the protection of part-time workers against unfair dismissal.

    131.

    Miss Lestor

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the protection of part-time workers against unfair dismissal.

    67.

    Ms. Richardson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of part-time workers earn less than £3·30 per hour.

    125.

    Mrs. Beckett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of part-time workers earn less than £3·30 per hour.

    Mr. Lee

    It is estimated from the new earnings survey that about 70 per cent. of part-time workers earn less than £3·30 per hour in April 1988.

    81.

    Mr. Heffer

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force work part-time.

    113.

    Mr. Nellist

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force works part-time.

    Mr. Lee

    In June 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, 25 per cent. of the work force in employment in Great Britain were working part-time.The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, members of Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes. In classifying the work force between full and part time, all programme participants are counted as in part-time employment.

    93.

    Mr. Battle

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made as to the proportion of (a) men and (b) unmarried women currently in part-time work who have expressed preference for full-time employment.

    101.

    Mr. McAllion

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made as to the proportion of (a) men, and (b) unmarried women in part-time work who have expressed a preference for full-time employment.

    Mr. Lee

    It is not possible to make a full assessment of the preference for full-time work. However, some information is available from the labour force survey.It is estimated that in spring 1987 a total of 27·7 per cent. of the 736,000 men in Great Britain who regarded their jobs as part time, said they had taken a part-time job because they could not find a full-time job.Similarly, 14·9 per cent. of the 822,000 unmarried women in Great Britain who regarded their job as part time, said they had taken a part-time job because they could not find a full-time job.

    Job Training

    18.

    Mr. Nicholas Brown

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of (a) part-time and (b) full-time workers receive job training provided by their employers excluding YTS trainees.

    96.

    Mr. John Garrett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of (a) part-time and (b) full-time workers receive job training provided by their employers excluding YTS trainees.

    Mr. Cope

    The funding study carried out by the then MSC showed that in the full year 1986–87, nearly half of employees working over 10 hours a week had received some job-related training provided by their employers. The labour force survey carried out in the spring of 1987, showed that 13 per cent. of full-time employees and 8 per cent. of part-time employees had received job-related training in the four weeks before their interview.

    Skill Shortages (London)

    20.

    Mr. Simon Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to tackle skill shortages in south and east London; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    The continuing strength of the economy is leading to increasing demand for skills. It is primarily the responsibility of employers to meet their needs. The Government have increased its investment in training massively since 1979 both generally and in areas like the south and east of London. For example the London Docklands development corporation has supported 3,000 training places and this Department is supporting two school industry compacts.

    Loan Guarantee Scheme

    23.

    Mr. Watts

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of the loan guarantee scheme.

    Mr. Cope

    Since 1981 a total of 20,300 guarantees have been issued for loans to a value of £674 million under the loan guarantee scheme. In January this year simplified administrative procedures for loans up to £15,000 were introduced. As part of the Action for Cities initiative an increase in the guarantee from 70 to 85 per cent. was introduced in June 1988 for businesses based in, or moving into, inner cities task force areas. Partly as a result of these measures, the rate of applications has doubled to nearly 200 a month by comparison with the same period in 1987.

    Trades Union Congress

    24.

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to meet the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

    48.

    Mr. Winnick

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects he proposes to discuss.

    82.

    Mr. Flannery

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

    49.

    Mr. Strang

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the Trades Union Congress; and what matters were discussed.

    55.

    Mr. George Howarth

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects were discussed.

    90.

    Mr. John Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects were discussed.

    97.

    Mr. O'Brien

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the Trades Union Congress; and what subjects were discussed.

    Mr. Nicholls

    My right hon. Friend last met representatives of the Trades Union Congress on 18 May when he discussed the new programme, employment training. Following that meeting, the TUC general council decided to give employment training its support, a decision which very regrettably was overturned by the TUC last month.

    66.

    Mr. Riddick

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last discussed the Government's training proposals with the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the general secretary and other representatives of the Trades Union Congress on 18 May, when he discussed the new programme, employment training. Following that meeting, the TUC general council decided to give employment training its support, a decision which very regrettably was overturned by the TUC last month.

    95.

    Mr. David Davis

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the current levels of unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Robert G. Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations; and if he will make a statement.

    Jobcentres

    25.

    Mr. Stevens

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of jobcentres in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Cope

    As with any other Government activity the jobcentre network is kept under continuous review.

    Jobcentres (Advice)

    28.

    Mr. Andrew MacKay

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people who sought the advice of jobcentres in 1987.

    Mr. Lee

    We do not have precise information for 1987. However, I would expect the total to be broadly similar to the 29 million enquiries recorded in 1985–86, the last year for which comprehensive information is available.

    Job Vacancies

    29.

    Mr. Boswell

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of job vacancies in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 the number of unfilled vacancies registered at jobcentres in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding community programme vacancies was 242,200 compared with 246,600 in September 1987, a decrease of 1·8 per cent. over the last 12 months. It is estimated that about a third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.

    Small Firms Database

    32.

    Mr. Allan Stewart

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the development of the small firms database.

    Mr. Cope

    The small firms service's database of national information was made available for purchase from 5 July this year, and over 100 copies have now been sold. The database contains information and contacts useful to businesses under a wide range of subject headings. The majority of orders have been placed by other small business advisory organisations.

    Small Firms Service

    34.

    Mr. Batiste

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inquiries were dealt with by the small firms service during the last 12 months.

    40.

    Mr. Bellingham

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the small firms service.

    124.

    Mr. David Shaw

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many small firms in 1987–88 consulted the small firms service; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    In 1987–88 the small firms service answered 266,000 inquiries, helped over 27,000 small businesses by counxelling, and held over 39,000 counselling sessions.The service continues to increase its links with, and support for, other agencies in the small firms support network. Its database of national information is now available to agencies and others for their own use in advising clients.The service has opened six new inner city offices and is appointing inner city business advisers, to promote self-employment and small business development in inner city areas. In December 1987, as part of a European Commission initiative, the service opened a centre for European business information.Further details of the service's achievements are contained in the small firms service 1987–88 annual report, which was circulated to all hon. Members and placed in the House of Commons Library.

    118.

    Mr. John Greenway

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received following the publication of the 1987–88 small firms service report; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    The 1987–88 annual report of the small firms service was published on 5 July, and was circulated widely to Members of Parliament, major banks, accountants, solicitors, local enterprise agencies and other business organisations and individuals. Many of them have and commented favourably on its content and the work of the small firms service.

    Weekly Earnings (National Insurance)

    35.

    Mr. McTaggart

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect on the labour market of the current level of weekly earnings at which workers are exempt from national insurance liability.

    Mr. Lee

    My right hon. Friend has made no specific assessment of the effects on the labour market of the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

    Channel Tunnel

    36.

    Mr. Ward

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the impact on tourism of the opening of the Channel tunnel in 1993.

    Mr. Lee

    The completion of the Channel tunnel in 1993 represents a major opportunity for the tourism industry in Great Britain. Estimates suggest that about 15 million people will use the tunnel in its first year of operation. It is important that the United Kingdom tourism industry now considers what needs to be done to ensure that the full potential of the tunnel to bring visitors to Britain is realised.

    Hourly Rates

    37.

    Mr. Corbyn

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average hourly rate of (a) part-time and (b) full-time workers.

    85.

    Mr. Harry Ewing

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average hourly rate of (a) part-time and (b) full-time workers.

    Mr. Lee

    Average gross hourly earnings excluding overtime in April 1988 were £3·25 for part-time employees and £5·26 for full-time employees. These data relate to employees on adult rates whose pay was not affected by absence.

    Business Women (Cornwall)

    38.

    Mr. Matthew Taylor

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the study funded by the Training Commission on problems facing women in business in Cornwall.

    Small Businesses (Loans)

    39.

    Mr. William Powell

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to discuss with the European Investment Bank global loans to small business; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    European Investment Bank loans are generally available to small and medium-sized enterprises only through financial intermediaries such as the clearing banks. It is for the banks to decide whether there is advantage in borrowing global loans from the EIB to lend on to small firms.

    Industrial Tourism

    42.

    Mr. Waller

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he has to promote industrial tourism; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    I am pleased to say that the CBI-Department of Employment-English tourist board conference on industrial tourism which I attended on 15 September aroused considerable interest. I hope that, as a result, many more companies will seriously consider opening their doors to more visitors; and I shall continue to take every opportunity to highlight the benefits that this can bring.

    84.

    Sir John Farr

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the CBI-ETB industrial tourism conference.

    Mr. Lee

    The conference held on 15 September attracted almost 200 delegates, representing some 140 public and private sector organisations. It received considerable publicity and has, I am certain, resulted in raising the awareness of the advantages to companies of opening their doors to visitors. The English tourist board is compiling a database of firms involved in industrial tourism as part of future marketing initiatives.

    Hotel And Catering (Training)

    44.

    Mr. Bevan

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he has to promote training opportunities in the hotel and catering trade; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls

    The hotel and catering training board has the leading role in promoting training provision in the industry, particularly through its 8,000-place YTS managing agency and the development of Caterbase, a modular testing and certification system for all occupations in the sector. I also welcome the board's recent involvment in employment training, which has a significant contribution to make to the supply of skilled workers in a growing industry.

    West Midlands

    46.

    Mr. Pawsey

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the west midlands.

    Mr. Lee

    In September 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment excluding school leavers in the west midlands was 224,700, compared with 284,200 in September 1987, a fall of 59,000 or 20·9 per cent. over the last 12 months. The September 1988 figure includes some temporary over recording due to the postal strike.

    Earnings

    52.

    Mr. Hood

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in earnings since 1979 of the highest paid and lowest paid 10 per cent. of the work force.

    119.

    Mr. Fisher

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in earnings since 1979 of the highest paid and lowest paid 10 per cent. of the work force.

    132.

    Mr. Haynes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in earnings since 1979 of the highest paid and lowest paid 10 per cent. of the work force.

    Mr. Lee

    Between April 1979 and April 1988 the highest decile of the gross weekly earnings distribution for full-time adult employees increased by 164 per cent. for males and by 178 per cent. for females. Over the same period the lowest decile increased by 113 per cent. for males and 125 per cent. for females.

    88.

    Mr. Lofthouse

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the adult work force earn less than £3·30 per hour.

    130.

    Mr. Bernie Grant

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the adult work force earn less than £3·30 per hour.

    Mr. Lee

    It is estimated from the new earnings survey that about 30 per cent. of the adult work force, including both full-time and part-time employees, earned less than £3·30 per hour in April 1988.

    British Venture Capital Association

    56.

    Mr. Bright

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Venture Capital Association to discuss the expansion of small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    I have accepted an invitation from Mr. John Nash, chairman of the British Venture Capital Association to open the British Venture Capital Association financial forum on 1 December.

    Enterprise Allowance

    58.

    Dr. Twinn

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the enterprise allowance scheme.

    Mr. Cope

    Since the enterprise allowance scheme began in 1982 a total of 384,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own businesses. These businesses have also created jobs for others: for every 100 businesses operating after three years, an additional 114 jobs have been created.

    Equal Pay

    59.

    Mr. Win Griffiths

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce further changes in the field of equal pay legislation.

    Mr. Nicholls

    Certain changes to this legislation will be necessary to implement our obligations under the EC directive on equal treatment in occupational social security schemes. The proposed changes were set out in a consultation document issued by the Department of Social Security on 22 July 1988.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will continue to keep the working of the Equal Pay Act under review.

    European Single Market

    61.

    Mr. Wilshire

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he has to promote the completion of the European single market in 1992 to small firms; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    The Government's "Europe Open For Business" campaign, is aimed at small and large firms. This Department, with the Department of Trade and Industry which is responsible for the overall campaign, is in contact with organisations representing small firms about ways of bringing the importance of the single market to their attention. We are also considering ways of extending the training available to cover this issue. Ministers and officials from both Departments have addressed many conferences about the importance for small and larger firms of the completion of the single market.I have recently agreed that the contract with the European Commission for the London Centre for European Business Information should be renewed. The centre provides information and advice to small firms on developments and opportunities in the European Community particularly in relation to the completion of the single market.

    78.

    Mr. Quentin Davies

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of the number of new jobs likely to be created on completion of the single European market in 1992.

    Mr. Cope

    The freeing of trade and the increased competitiveness that will result from the single European market will generate economic growth which will benefit the economy of the Community including that of the United Kingdom. It is extremely difficult to translate this into numbers of new jobs.The Cecchini report on the likely impact of the single market suggested that 1·25 to 2·25 million jobs might be created in the Community as a whole after 1992.The numbers of extra jobs in the United Kingdom will depend on the response of our industry and commerce to the opportunities that the single market will provide for business in the community and in the rest of the world.

    School Leavers

    79.

    Mr. Mans

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers seeking jobs there will be in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    Projected numbers of school leavers in Great Britain available for employment for academic years from 1989–90 to 1994–95 are as follows:

    Academic year of leaving school (ending August 31)Projected number

    of school leavers

    in Great Britain

    available for

    employment    1

    (thousands)
    1989–90480
    1990–91460
    1991–92440
    1992–93420
    1993–94440
    1994–95450
    1 Rounded to the nearest 10,000.

    Mental Health Services

    68.

    Mr. Barry Jones

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will meet the national officer of MIND to discuss the impact of the new employment training scheme upon community-based mental health services.

    Mr. Nicholls

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no present plans to meet representatives of MIND, but would be happy to consider doing so if asked.

    Tourism (Inner Cities)

    70.

    Mr. Redwood

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what his Department has done to promote tourism in the inner cities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    The network of city action teams (CATS) have supported a significant number of initiatives and projects designed to develop inner city tourism potential. In addition my Department's regional enterprise units, working with the English tourist board and the regional tourist boards, have continued to give priority to inner city areas in promoting and developing tourism in this country.

    Unemployment Benefit Offices

    71.

    Mr. Ian Bruce

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people consulted the unemployment benefit offices in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lee

    No records are kept for the number of people who consult unempoloyment benefit offices; however during 1987 there were a total of 4,777,575 claims made to unemployment benefit.

    Restart

    74.

    Mr. Neale

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the restart interview programme.

    Mr. Lee

    Since July 1986 almost 4·5 million interviews have been carried out under the restart programme, of which just under 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help being made.The restart programme now offers interviews at six-monthly intervals to everyone who has been out of work for six months or more. In addition, certain clients are now offered follow-up interviews to discuss the outcome of their main interviews in order to provide further guidance and support.From September 1988, the programme is delivering the Government's guarantee to people aged between 18–24 who have been unemployed for between six and 12 months, of the offer of a place on employment training, in a jobclub or on the enterprise allowance scheme.

    77.

    Mr. Burt

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed have been offered help under the restart programme to date.

    Mr. Lee

    Since 1 July 1986, almost 4·5 million interviews have taken place under the restart programme, of which just under 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of postive help being made. There is no record of the actual number of individuals interviewed.

    Youth Training Scheme

    75.

    Mr. Evennett

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 to 18-year-olds are undertaking training on the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    At the end of September 435,500 young people were in training on the youth training scheme, of whom only a small number (about 1·4 per cent.) were aged 19 or over. I am delighted that so many young people are taking the opportunity to acquire through YTS the skills they will need for their future working lives.

    91.

    Mrs. Peacock

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently training on the two-year YTS.

    Mr. Cope

    At the end of September 1988, YTS records show 435,500 young people in training on YTS. Of these 411,900 were on a two-year training programme and 23,600 were on a one-year training programme.

    117.

    Mr. Brazier

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of two-year YTS.

    Mr. Cope

    Since the launch of two-year YTS in 1986, the programme has become firmly established as the normal route from school to work for 16-year-olds and some 17-year-olds in much of the country. The attractiveness of the programme to young people is demonstrated by the fact that the two millionth trainee will enter YTS by the end of October 1988. The demographic drop in the numbers of young people and employer's growing demands for higher level skills underline the vital role which YTS should play in securing a well-trained and flexible work force.

    Women Workers

    89.

    Ms. Primarolo

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of part-time workers are women; and what proportion have statutory maternity rights, at the latest available date.

    Mr. Nicholls

    Estimates from the 1987 labour force survey show that in spring 1987, a total of 86·3 per cent. of part-time workers were women, of whom 48·4 per cent. met the qualifying conditions for the right to return to work after maternity absence and protection against dismissal because of pregnancy. The right not to be unreasonably refused time off work for ante-natal care is available equally to part-time and full-time employees, irrespective of length of service and hours worked.

    Temporary Work

    92.

    Mr. Cryer

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force were in temporary, seasonal or casual work (a) in 1979 and (b) at the latest available date.

    Mr. Lee

    It is estimated from the Labour Force Survey that 3·6 per cent. of the economically active in Great Britain were in seasonal, temporary or casual jobs in spring 1983 (the earliest year for which data is available). An equivalent figure for the spring of 1987 was 4 per cent.

    Lost Days

    94.

    Mr. Knox

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost in industrial disputes (a) in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available and (b) in 1978.

    Mr. Lee

    The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes is provisionally estimated at 2,591,000 for the 12-month period ending August 1988. In 1978, 9,405,000 working days were lost.

    Job Creation

    98.

    Mr. French

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of new jobs created in the service industries in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

    Mr. Lee

    There are no figures for job gains and job losses. Between June 1987 and June 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a net increase of 446,000 in the numbers of employees in employment and self-employed people in the service industries of Great Britain. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations.

    100.

    Mr. Eastham

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the new jobs created since 1980 has been (a) part-time, and (b) full-time.

    114.

    Mr. Vaz

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the new jobs created since 1980 have been (a) part-time and (b) full-time.

    116.

    Mr. Cousins

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the new jobs created since 1980 has been (a) part-time and (b) full-time.

    Mr. Lee

    There are no figures for job gains and job losses. Between June 1980 and June 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a net increase of 469,000 in the size of the workforce in employment in Great Britain. This was attributable to a net increase of 1,239,000 in part-time employment (of which 337,000 were participants on work-related Government training programmes), offset by a net decrease of 824,000 in full-time employment.The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, members of HM forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

    Enterprise Agencies

    99.

    Mr. Charles Wardle

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the number of enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Cope

    There are currently 425 local enterprise agencies operating throughout the United Kingdom. Of these, 385 are approved under the terms of the Finance Act 1982, which allows business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.

    Skill Shortages

    102.

    Dr. Goodson-Wickes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to deal with skill shortages in the south-east of England; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    The continuing strength of the economy is leading to increasing demand for skills. But it is primarily the responsibility of employers to meet their skill needs. The Government has increased their investment in training massively since 1979, particularly for young people with YTS and for the unemployed with employment training.

    National Dock Labour Scheme

    107.

    Mr. Atkinson

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet representatives of the National Association of Port Employers to discuss the future of the national dock labour scheme.

    Part-Time Work

    109.

    Ms. Short

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to implement the 1982 European Economic Community draft directive on part-time work.

    School Compacts

    112.

    Mr. Hayes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on school compacts.

    Mr. Cope

    The number and quality of applications for development funding from potential compact partners in the urban programme areas has exceeded initial expectations. The Government therefore announced on 17 August that 30 partnerships, double the number originally planned, would receive up to £50,000 each to develop their compact proposals. Bids for full operational funding of up to £100,000 a year for four years will be submitted by these partnerships in early 1989.

    Inner Cities

    115.

    Mr. Parry

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the policies of Her Majesty's Government to reduce the level of unemployment in the inner cities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    The Government's Action for Cities programme aims to develop a climate in which businesses can flourish and new jobs can be created. It includes a wide range of employment, training and enterprise measures provided by this Department. The new employment training programme helps unemployed people obtain the skills they need to get jobs; the employment service, through its network of over 500 inner city offices and nearly 500 inner city jobclubs, helps unemployed people find jobs; the enterprise allowance scheme, helps unemployed people start a business. The small firms service is opening new offices and engaging new counsellors to serve the inner cities. The measures we are taking to achieve these aims are constantly under review to ensure that they bring maximum benefit to inner city residents.

    Single Union Agreements

    120.

    Mr. Soames

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about single union agreements; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Nicholls

    My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. The Government's view is that single union agreements can have a valuable part to play in improving future industrial relations. It is for the parties directly concerned to decide what arrangements best suit their own circumstances.

    European Community Employment Ministers

    121.

    Mr. Bill Walker

    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next meet the European Community Employment Ministers; what he expects to be discussed; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Cope

    The next formal meeting of the Council of Employment Ministers will be on 16 December. The agenda has not yet been decided; but we will be continuing our efforts to ensure that job creation and training remain the key issues.

    Transport

    Vacancies (London)

    Mr. Sean Hughes

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley

    This information is not kept in the form requested and it would be disproportionately costly to collect it.

    Vale Of Rheidd Railway

    Dr. Marek

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the price that Brecon Mountain Railway Ltd. proposes to pay British Rail upon its acquisition of the Vale of Rheidd railway.

    Merchant Shipping

    Mr. Leighton

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the United Kingdom's balance of payments in merchant shipping since 1979.

    Mr. Portillo

    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the publication "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1988 Edition—the CSO Pink Book" published by HMSO for the Government Statistical Service, a copy of which is in the Library.Table 3·3 is the sea transport account.

    Motorways

    Mr. Pike

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent in constant 1983–84 prices on motorway construction in (a) 1985–86, (b) 1986–87 and (c) 1987–88; and what will be provisional spending for 1988–89.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley

    Expenditure this year on national roads as a whole is more than £1 billion for the first time. The balance of the road programme has changed in recent years.The amount spent on new motorway construction and capital maintenance in each of the last three years, adjusted to 1983–84 prices, is as follows:

    £ million
    1985–86338
    1986–87267
    1987–88254
    Provisional spending for 1988–89, also at 1983–84 prices, is £244 million.The change in spend on motorways reflects the completion of the M25 and the priority given to other types of trunk road improvements, in particular to the bypass programme which brings environmental relief, reduces delay to travellers and freight, and cuts casualties.

    Motor-Cycle Couriers (Accidents)

    Miss Lestor

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give figures for each year for the last five years, of how many accidents have been reported involving motor-cycle couriers who have not passed their driving test.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley

    The information collected by the Department on road injury accidents does not record whether the rider of a motor cycle was a courier or whether the rider had passed the driving test.

    The number of accidents involving motor cycles in 1987 was 46,059. In 3 per cent. of these, the motor cycle was recorded as having L plates. Similar figures for 1983 were 64,175 accidents, in 7 per cent. of which the presence of L plates was recorded.

    The fact that a vehicle has L plates attached does not always necessarily mean the rider is a learner. Also, the non-recording of L plates does not mean the rider has passed the test.

    East London River Crossing

    Mr. Cartwright

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects work to start on the construction of the east London river crossing; and when the road is expected to be open for use.

    Mr. Channon

    I hope it will be possible to start construction in 1991 and open the road in 1994.

    Mr. Cartwright

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the most recent estimate of the cost of the east London river crossing, broken down between (a) property acquisition, (b) road construction, (c) bridge building and (d) other structures.

    Mr. Channon

    The estimated costs at average 1984 prices, as presented at the inquiries, are:

    £ million
    1. Land and property acquisition25·2
    2. Road construction38·4
    3. Thames bridge56·0
    4. Other structures48·7
    The figures exclude site preparation and supervision, estimated at £14·7 million.

    Mr. Cartwright

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the additional cost of building the east London river crossing in cut and cover through Oxleas Wood as recommended by the inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the scheme.

    Mr. Channon

    I am satisfied that the additional cost would be at least the £10 million estimated by the inspector.

    Mr. Cartwright

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of families needing alternative rented housing as a result of the construction of the east London river crossing; and who will be responsible for providing the necessary accommodation.

    Mr. Channon

    At present it is estimated that some 70 households will have to be rehoused. The responsibility for rehousing the majority will lie with the London borough of Greenwich.

    Plutonium (Air Transport)

    Dr. Thomas

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to obtain (a) a transcript and (b) a video cassette for his departmental library of the Thames Television "This Week" programme on the dangers of air transport of plutonium, broadcast on 29 September.

    Airport Property (Transfer)

    Mr. Haselhurst

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that property at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted proposed to be transferred by British Airports Authority plc to Lynton plc for development on a commercial basis will not be developed in such a way as to limit his options for increasing passenger capacity at these airports.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley

    No. Development of land surplus to operational requirements is primarily a matter for the airport operator.

    European Clearway (Fire)

    Mr. Prescott

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he ordered an investigation into the fire on the ferry European Clearway; under what regulation it is being conducted; when he expects to receive the report; and if he will make it publicly available.

    Mr. Portillo

    We ordered an investigation into this accident on 18 July 1988. One of the Department's marine surveyors was appointed under section 728 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 to conduct the investigation, which is now complete. We are now considering the findings. But since there may be a question of prosecution, it would not be proper to comment on the content of the report at this stage.

    Drink-Driving Offences

    Mr. Frank Field

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the number of drink-driving offences committed in each of the areas of the United Kingdom for each of the past 36 months.

    Mr. John Patten

    [holding answer 25 July 1988]: I have been asked to reply.The available information relates to convictions for drink-driving offences, which for England and Wales is published annually, by police force area, in "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables", at table 16 of the issue for 1986, copies of which are in the Library. Information is not collected centrally on the date on which the offences occurred and a breakdown of these figures by month of court appearance would involve disproportionate cost. Information for 1987 will be published later this year.I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the corresponding information on convictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland is as shown in the following table.

    Numbers
    Scotland1Northern Ireland2
    198413,600n/a
    198513,6003,100
    198613,1003,000
    1987312,4003,000
    n/a—Not available.
    1 Number of offences where the charge was proved.
    2 Number found guilty where this was the principal offence.
    3 Provisional figure.