Written Answers

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

Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 8 December 1988

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Sea Defences

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the annual cost of sea defences in the United Kingdom from 1979 to the present year.

Annual capital costs of sea defence works from 1979 to the present year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which attracted Government funding are as follows:

£ million
	England (estimated)	Northern Ireland	Wales
1979–80	18·3	n/a	0·427
1980–81	15·8	n/a	0·274
1981–82	16·7	0·078	0·225
1982–83	18·4	0·128	0·289
1983–84	23·0	0·214	0·757
1984–85	20·0	0·311	0·798
1985–86	17·9	0·304	0·121
1986–87	23·6	0·149	0·175
1987–88	27·6	0·122	0·058

Coastal works in Scotland are carried out primarily to prevent erosion rather than to defend land against flooding from the sea, and, hence, expenditure has not been included.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of expenditure required to bring United Kingdom sea defences up to present day satisfactory levels.

As a result of a comprehensive review of flood defence requiremens in England which was carried out recently, the need for an increased long-term programme of work was identified. The Government recently agreed to increase provision for the programme and this will facilitate additional capital funding of about £50 million over the next three years for local and water authority schemes both inland and on the coast; approximately half of this expenditure will be spent on sea defence works.From 1989 to 1992 it is estimated that capital funding for sea defence works in Wales and Northern Ireland will be £335,000 and £331,000 respectively. In Scotland work is necessary primarily for inland fluvial and coastal erosion works; no significant sea defence works are anticipated.

Greenhouse Effect

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to establish the long term effects of the greenhouse effect on British coastlines; and if he will make a statement.

A rise in the mean sea level is the main possible consequence of the greenhouse effect on British coastlines. A national research programme, led by the Department of the Environment and co-ordinated with European Community and world-wide research, is investigating the implications for the United Kingdom of the greenhouse effect. The results will be monitored carefully, particularly with regard to predictions of changes in mean sea level and the implications for the design of sea defences. The existing tide gauge network already provides useful information on actual changes in sea level.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual budget devoted by his Department to the investigation of the effects of the greenhouse effect and freak weather conditions on Britain's coastline.

Responsibility for research into the greenhouse effect and its consequences rests primarily with the Department of the Environment, although my Department maintains close liaison on these matters. Some £2 million is spent annually by my Department on river and coastal research generally, of which about 60 per cent. is directed to research which will assist with the future planning and design of coastal defences.

Sea Level

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the projected sea level rises for the mid 21st century; and what would be the corresponding effects to the British coastline.

There is, at the moment, a wide range of predictions about the possible rise in sea levels. Because of the many uncertainties, however, it is not realistic to make firm assessments of the likely effects on the coastline.

Bristol Channel (Sludge Dumping)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the dumping of sludge in the Bristol channel south of Pwlldu Head; and if his Department will publish the studies that have been carried out in this area.

Scientists from my Department's directorate of fisheries research undertake a regular monitoring programme at the sewage sludge disposal ground in the Bristol channel. Results of this work have been published in Fisheries Research Technical Report number 59.Further information on the quality of fish and shellfish in the Bristol channel have been published in Aquatic Environment Monitoring reports numbers 10 and 16. All these publications are available in the Library of the House.

Salmonella

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether funds will continue to be provided for Dr. Geoff Mead at the Institute of Food Research in Bristol and his work on the introduction of benign bacteria to chickens to kill salmonella organisms; and if he will make a statement;(2) how much grant has been paid to Dr. Geoff Mead at the Institute of Food Research for research into the suppression of salmonella organisms; what results have been obtained; whether further grant aid has been requested; and if he will make a statement.

The research conducted by Dr. Geoff Mead and his team of scientists over more than 10 years into the manipulation of microbial flora of the gut of young chickens has been supported by my Department and the Agricultural and Food Research Council at a current cost of about £100,000 annually. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham), this work was reviewed as part of an extensive review of MAFF-commissioned research in microbiology and it was decided that funding should cease from April 1989. Since my reply to the hon. Member I understand that a commercial company has expressed interest in taking that work further. Funding is to be diverted to other important microbiological work.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the proportion of eggs produced in England which are infected with salmonella.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Fod what proportion of British egg production is now infected with salmonella.

I regret that it is not possible to make a precise estimate, but I agree with what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health told the House on 5 December at column 19—that the risk of infection to any individual is small and the risk to the healthy adult is small indeed. The industry and the Government are working together urgently to reduce that risk to a minimum.

Food Additives

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the safety, or otherwise, of the use of "E" numbered substances in processed foods; if he will examine latest reports on such substances from other countries, including the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

All available world-wide information on the safety of food additives is assessed by the committees of independent experts who advise me on these matters. Any information which might subsequently affect the approval of any food additive is carefully reviewed. The prefix "E" indicates those food additives whose use has been approved throughout the European Community.

Badgers

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for the area of some farms where a breakdown or breakdowns involving bovine tuberculosis has occurred to be exempt from badger control to enable an assessment of the control programme to be made.

An experimental area already exists where badgers are not removed when TB breakdowns in cattle occur. This area, which is in Gloucestershire, contains 18 farms which are not subject to badger control.The creation of additional areas comparable with the Gloucestershire study area was considered by Professor Dunnet in his review of the badger control strategy in 1986. He concluded that the cost of maintaining such areas made the proposal impractical.The current badger control strategy is that recommended by Professor Dunnet. It is kept under review, but in accordance with Professor Dunnet's recommendation it needs to operate for at least three years before a reliable review of its effects on the extent of herd breakdowns can be carried out.

Shellfish

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of the recent survey into shellfish stocks in the English channel; and whether he intends to take any action to conserve stocks.

My Department is currently investigating the state of crab stocks in the English channel for which a major sampling programme has just been completed. The scallop fishery is also being investigated. Both investigations are due to be completed in 1990 and the results will be published.

Disabled Persons (Staff)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of his Ministry's staff are classed as disabled.

1·3 per cent. of the Ministry's permanent staff are registered disabled—as at 1 November 1988.

Common Agricultural Policy

To ask the Minister of Agricuture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of expenditure in 1987–88 and 1988–89 by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and the agricultural departments on market regulation under the common agricultural policy.

Details are given of the outturn for 1987–88 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1988–89.

£ million
	1987–88 (Actual outturn)	1988–89 (Forecast outturn)
(i) Expenditure by the intervention board for agricultural produce
Cereals	229·4	163·8
Beef and Veal	201·4	160·9
Pigmeat	-1·9	0·6
Sugar	151·1	135·2
Processed goods	47·6	78·8
Milk products	251·1	79·3
Oilseeds	208·3	167·3
Sheepmeat	119·4	104·2
Others	16·6	33·8
Total	1,222·9	923·9
(ii) Expenditure by the agricultural departments
Payments to producers giving up milk production	51·0	74·1
Suckler cow premium scheme	36·7	37·8
Annual premium on ewes	80·6	202·0
Small cereals producers	1·7	1·9
Total	170·0	315·8
Grand total	1,392·9	1,239·7

Some of the expenditure shown benefits consumers and trade interests rather than United Kingdom producers.

The figures for the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce are made up of several elements and include refunds on intra-Community trade, import and export refunds on third country trade, the beef and sheep variable premium schemes (net of clawback for sheepmeat and charges on beef exported and sold into intervention), aid for private storage and animal feed, certain other marketing and production subsidies and the cost of purchasing commodities into intervention less proceeds from sales. The figures are also net of other receipts treated as negative expenditure, namely monetary compensatory amounts levied on intra-Community trade (in the case of pigmeat these exceeded expenditure prior to 1988–89), the co-responsibility and supplementary levies on milk producers and the co-responsibility levy on cereals. Receipts from levies on the production and storage of sugar and isoglucose and on third country exports, which are regarded as Community own resources, are excluded. The figures include the United Kingdom share of the EC school milk subsidy scheme.

For the annual premium on ewes from the 1985 marketing year, late publication of the final rate of payment has delayed the making of some payments into the following year. The forecast for 1988–89 provides for slippage from the 1987 marketing year and payment for the 1988 marketing year in full.

Of the estimated outturn for 1988–89 £1,507·4 million is expected to be financed from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF); in 1987–88 £1,086·7 million was thus financed. However, because the United Kingdom is a net contributor to the European Community budget, the whole of this expenditure is attributable to the Exchequer. Receipts from the European Community do not always relate to expenditure in the period. For market support there was prior to 1987 little delay in reimbursement of expenditure but in that year a delay of two months was introduced as an economy measure and this was lengthened to two and a half months from 1988. Receipts for 1988–89 reflect new arrangements for the depreciation of stocks agreed at the February 1988 European Council.

The individual totals may not add up due to rounding.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of expenditure in 1987–88 and 1988–89 by the agricultural department on agricultural grants and subsidies excluding regulation under the common agricultural policy.

Details are given of the outturn for 1987–88 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1988–90.

	1987–88 (Actual outturn)	1988–89 (Forecast outturn)
	£ million	£ million
Price guarantees
Wool	0·7	0·1
Potatoes	—	—
Total	0·7	0·1
Support for capital and other improvements
Environmentally sensitive areas	2·9	9·1
Agriculture and horticulture development scheme	32·3	25·9

	1987–88 (Actual outturn)	1988–89 (Forecast outturn)
	£ million	£ million
Guidance premiums	2·3	0·8
Farm accounts	0·7	0·5
Farm structures	0·4	0·4
Northern Ireland agricultural development programme	2·0	1·6
Agriculture and horticulture grant scheme	3·6	1·8
Agriculture improvement scheme (EC)	18·9	28·4
Agriculture improvement scheme (National)	9·0	9·0
Others	0·3	0·3
Total	72·4	77·8
Support for agriculture in special areas
Hill livestock compensatory allowances	121·0	116·7
Additional benefit under AHDS, NIADP, AHGS, AIS (EC) and AIS (National)	20·9	25·9
Others	4·1	8·4
Total	145·9	151·0
Other payments
Milk outgoers scheme	11·1	11·6
Crofting building grants and loans/net	3·3	4·1
Sheep compensation scheme 1986	1·0	1·1
Storm damage 1987	—	1·7
Co-operation grants	1·7	2·1
Farm diversification:—
Capital grants	—	2·0
Marketing feasibility grants	—	0·8
Others	1·0	1·0
Total	18·1	24·5
Grand Total	237·1	253·4

Some of this expenditure attracts contributions from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. These are mainly received in the following year. In 1988–89 £44·1 million is expected to be received from the fund compared with £41 million in 1987–88.The individual figures may not add up to the totals shown due to roundings.

Transport

Train Times

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many trains arrived at exactly the scheduled time in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The punctuality objective for Network South East (NSE) is that 90 per cent. of trains should arrive on time or within five minutes; for the provincial sector, that 85-97 per cent. of trains should arrive on time or within five minutes depending on the service; and for InterCity that 90 per cent. of trains should arrive on time or within 10 minutes. In 1987–88, NSE exceeded the agreed punctuality objective with 92 per cent. of services arriving on time or within five minutes. 97 per cent. of provincial services achieved the objective, and InterCity performance fell some way short of its target at 87 per cent.

Vat

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessments he has made as to the likely effect on (a) his Department's capital building programme and (b) the rent the Department will pay under occupational leases of implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax on non-domestic buildings.

Implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on VAT will have no effect on the Department's capital building programme since compensating adjustments have been made to the relevant expenditure provisions. At this stage, before landlords have decided whether to exercise their option to tax rents, it is not possible to offer estimates of the effects of the judgment on rental costs.

Road Renewal

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many miles of motorway it is intended to renew in 1988–89;(2) how many miles of trunk road it is intended to renew in 1988–89;(3) how many miles of motorway it is intended to renew in each of the three years 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1991–92;(4) how many miles of trunk road it is intended to renew in each of the three years 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1991–92.

The mileages of motorways and trunk roads renewed this year are likely to be about 52 and 106, respectively. These are lower than planned as a result of the rescheduling of capital maintenance announced on 20 June at column 455.I am looking to competition between contractors to contain future price increases, so far as possible.Subject to that, we shall aim to increase the mileages to be renewed each year over the next three years to averages of 84 miles of motorway and 233 miles of trunk road. The maintenance programme for 1989–90 has not been finalised. It will be announced in March as usual.

London Assessment Study

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the options listed in the east London assessment study stage 2a report he has instructed Ove Arup and partners to develop during the east London assessment study stage 2b.

We have not yet taken any view on the preliminary options produced by the study consultants. This must await the submission of the consultant's report in the summer 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many representations he has received opposing options presented in the stage 2a reports of the London assessment study;(2) how many representations he has received supporting the general principle of the London assessment study since the publication of the stage 2a reports in August; and from what types of organisations these have been received.

We have received about 600 representations expressing concern about some of the study options. Organisations supported some options and opposed others.

M1 (Accidents)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported accidents have occurred on the M1 between London and Derby, junction 25, for the last period of 12 months for which figures are available; and what were the figures for (a) 12 months earlier, (b) five years earlier and (c) 10 years earlier.

The numbers of injury accidents on the M1 between London, junction 1, and Derby, junction 25, for the requested years are shown in the table.

Injury Accidents on M1: between Junctions 1 and 25: 1977, 1982, 1986, 1987
Year	Accidents
1977	590
1982	616
1986	685
1987	721

Note: Personal injury accidents only

Channel Tunnel

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role he expects the Kent county council to play in specifying the physical and acoustic characteristics of the associated environmental works that would form part of the capital cost of British Rail's proposed high-speed line between London and the Channel tunnel.

I expect British Rail's proposals to be the subject of consultation with Kent county council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, if British Rail's proposed high-speed line between London and the Channel tunnel is financed in the public sector, the costs of all forms of compensation to the owner of properties affected, both that already paid or to be paid under British Rail's ex-gratia scheme and that to be paid statutorily, will form part of the capital cost of the project for the purpose of calculating the rate of return.

It is normal practice for all the costs associated with British Rail investment proposals to be taken into account for the purposes of assessing the viability of those proposals. The same is true of road schemes.

Traffic Congestion

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the causes of the severe traffic congestion in the east end of London on Friday 2 December.

A number of incidents contributed to the evening traffic congestion in east London on 2 December.In particular an accident on the westbound carriageway of A13 Canning Town flyover meant that westbound traffic was restricted to one lane for one and three quarter hours from 3.34 pm.

Manchester Airport

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made in the negotiations on the construction of a rail link to Manchester airport; and if he will make a statement.

I am awaiting a jointly agreed statement on the financing of this link from Greater Manchester PTE, British Rail, and Manchester international airport.

Atomic Weapons Establishment (Explosion)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what road closures followed the explosion at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield on Friday 2 December.

There were no road closures.

Level Crossings

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the recommended period of time before the arrival of a train for the closing of fully manned level crossing gates.

There is no standard recommended time for the closure of fully manned level crossing gates before the arrival of a train. The signalman should, however, close the gates in time to clear the railway signals interlocked with them so that the train approaching the crossing can do so without reducing its speed.

London Regional Transport

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of London Regional Transport, he will discuss the practice of making the cheap price capital visitors' card available exclusively to British Rail passengers.

Ticketing is a commercial matter for London Regional Transport.

Education And Science

School Places

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many appeals to local authorities have been lodged so far during 1988 against the allocation of school places; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available. An informal survey of local education authorities carried out by the Department in the late autumn of 1987 indicated that there had been in that year 8,253 appeals against school admission decisions to committees set up by local education authorities under section 7 of the Education Act 1980. 3,177 of these appeals were in respect of primary schools and 5,076 for secondaries. In addition, a total of at least 2,245 appeals against admission decisions were made to committees set up by governors of voluntary-aided and special agreement schools during 1987, 469 in respect of primary schools and 1,776 for secondaries.

Assisted Places Scheme

To ask the Secretry of State for Education and Science if he will list all the schools which receive pupils paid for in whole or part under the assisted places scheme and the number of assisted place pupils each school had in 1987–88.

The information requested is as follows:

	Number of Assisted Place Holders 1987–88
Abbey School	69
Abingdon School	90
Aldenham School	24
Alice Ottley School	70
Alleyn's School	198
Arnold School	76
Ashford School	43
Bancroft's School	76
Bath High School	90
Batley Grammar School	249
Bedales School	9
Bedford High School	92
Bedford Modern School	136
Bedford School	76
Dame Alice Harpur School	145
Belvedere School	163
Berkhamsted School	29
Berkhamsted School for Girls	28
Birkenhead High School	258
Birkenhead School	245
Bishop's Stortford College	30
Blackheath High School	101
Bolton School (Boys)	262
Bolton School (Girls)	251
Bradford College	0
Bradford Girls' Grammar School	58
Bradford Grammar School	201
Brentwood School	101
Brighton and Hove High School	152
Brighton College	99
Bristol Cathedral School	150
Bristol Grammar School	263
Bromley High School	120
Bruton School for Girls	127
Bury Grammar School (Boys)	198
Bury Grammar School (Girls)	229
Canford School	35
Carmel College	91
Casterton School	43
Caterham School	109
Central Newcastle High School	112
Charterhouse	14
Cheadle Hulme School	129
Chigwell School	70
Churcher's College	112
City of London School	124
City of London School for Girls	104
Clifton College	67
Clifton High School	52
Colfe's School	183
Colston's School	89
Colston's Girls' School	145
Coventry Schools	245
Cranleigh School	38
Croydon High School	119
Culford School	46
Dame Allan's Boys' School	142

	Number of Assisted Place Holders 1987–88
Dame Allan's Girls School	127
Dauntsey's School	54
Denstone College	114
Dulwish College	273
Edgehill College	123
Eltham College	104
Emanuel School	289
Epsom College	30
Exeter School	164
Farnborough Hill School	181
Felsted School	47
Forest School	138
Friends 'School	79
Godolphin and Latymer School	182
Gresham's School	10
Haberdashers' Aske's School, Borehamwood	229
Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls Elstree	137
Hampton School	197
Harrogate College	18
Hereford Cathedral School	233
Highgate School	33
Hulme Grammar (Boys)	203
Hulme Grammar (Girls)	178
Hymers College	152
Ipswich High School	136
Ipswich School	79
James Allen's Girls School	157
John Lyon School	94
Kent College	80
King Edward's School at Bath	128
King Edward's School, Birmingham	281
King Edward VI High School, Birmingham	173
King Edward VII School, Lytham	214
King Edward VI School, Norwich	101
King Edward VI School, Southampton	222
King Edward's School, Witley	76
King's College School	93
King's High School for Girls, Warwick	170
King's School, Chester	94
King's School, Macclesfield	177
King's School, Rochester	57
King's School, Worcester	136
Kingston Grammar School	129
Kingswood School	36
Kirkham Grammar School	63
Lady Eleanor Holles School	74
La Sagesse Convent School	143
Latymer Upper School	291
Leeds Girls' High School	127
Leeds Grammer School	194
Leys School	29
Liverpool College	174
Lord Wandsworth College	78

	Number of Assisted Place Holders 1987–88
Loreto Convent Grammer School	71
Loughborough Grammar School	120
Loughborough High School	94
Magdalen College School	117
Malvern College	57
Manchester Grammar School	271
Manchester High School	165
Maynard School	158
Merchant Taylors' School, Liverpool	186
Merchant Taylors' School for Girls Liverpool	171
Merchant Taylors' School Northwood	85
Mill Hill School	78
Monkton Coombe School	38
Mount St. Mary's College	59
Newcastle-Under-Lyme School	459
Northampton High School	178
North London Collegite School	73
Norwich High School	171
Nottingham Girls' High School	188
Northampton High School	89
Notting Hill and Ealing High School	116
Old Palace School	195
Oxford High School	97
Perse School for Boys	57
Perse School for Girls	79
Plymouth College	182
Pocklington School	131
Portsmouth Grammar School	188
Portsmouth High School	149
Putney High School	105
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Beckenham	246
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield	153
Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School, Bristol	168
Queen Mary School, Lytham	237
Queen's College, Taunton	63
Queen's School, Chester	84
Ratcliffe College	52
Redland High School	79
Red Maid's School	157
Reigate Grammar School	109
Repton School	45
Rossall School	43
Royal Grammar School, Guildford	116
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle	308
Royal Grammar School, Worcester	185
St. Albans School	124

	Number of Assisted Place Holders 1987–88
St. Albans High School for Girls	59
St. Ambrose College	87
St. Anselm's College	175
St. Bede's College	213
St. Bees School	82
St. Benedict's School	71
St. Catherines's School	36
St. Dunstan's College	160
St. Edmund's College, Ware	65
St. Edward's College, Liverpool	385
St. George's College	28
St. Helen's School	28
St. John's College, Southsea	181
St. John's School, Leatherhead	15
St. Joseph's College, Ipswich	76
St. Joseph's Convent, Reading	121
St. Mary's College, Crosby	246
St. Mary's Convent, Cambridge	95
St. Mary's Hall, Brighton	49
St. Maur's Convent, Weybridge	62
St. Paul's School, Barnes	72
St. Paul's Girls' School, Hammersmith	63
St. Peter's School, York	124
St. Swithin's School, Winchester	3
Salesian College	86
School of St. Helen and St. Katherine	103
Sedbergh School	27
Sheffield high School	99
Shrewsbury High School	85
Sir William Perkins' School	85
South Hampstead High School	64
Stamford School	71
Stamford High School	64
Stockport Grammar School	269
Stonyhurst College	24
Stowe School	5
Streatham Hill and Clapham High School	154
Sutton High School	66
Sutton Valence School	50
Sydenham High School	109
Talbot Heath School	139
Taunton School	50
Tonbridge School	2
Trent College	116
Trinity School of John Whitgift	136
Truro School	110
Truro High School	55
University College School	69
Upton Hall Convent School	153
Ursuline High School	133
Wakefield High School	143
Walthamstow Hall	77
Warwick School	137

	Number of Assisted Place Holders 1987–88
Wellingborough School	55
Wellington College	44
Wellington School	199
Wells Cathedral School	66
West Buckland School	52
Westminster School	26
Whitgift School	101
William Hulme Grammar School	207
Wimbledon High School	63
Winchester College	25
Wisbech Grammar School	236
Withington Girls' School	89
Wolverhampton Grammar School	260
Woodbridge School	101
Woodhouse Grove School	113
Wycliffe College	42
Total	26,900

Independent Schools (Costs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities which pay for places for pupils residing in their areas to attend independent schools, excluding special schools; and what are the numbers of pupils each supported in whole or in part during 1987–88.

On the basis of returns made to the Department by local education authorities in January 1988 the numbers of pupils being funded by local education authorities to attend independent schools, excluding pupils either at special schools or receiving special educational treatment, were as follows:

Local education authorities
	Number of pupils
Barking	0
Barnet	4
Bexley	0
Brent	0
Bromley	0
Croydon	8
Ealing	0
Enfield	9
Haringey	0
Harrow	0
Havering	7
Hillingdon	4
Hounslow	0
Kingston-upon-Thames	2
Merton	0
Newham	9
Redbridge	82
Richmond-upon-Thames	1
Sutton	0
Waltham Forest	0
ILEA	78
Birmingham	9
Coventry	0
Dudley	4
Sandwell	2
Solihull	0
Walsall	4
Wolverhampton	4
Knowsley	6

	Number of pupils
Liverpool	5
St. Helens	5
Sefton	0
Wirral	630
Bolton	5
Bury	1
Manchester	0
Oldham	9
Rochdale	3
Salford	4
Stockport	5
Tameside	1
Trafford	1,524
Wigan	9
Barnsley	0
Doncaster	0
Rotherham	0
Sheffield	0
Bradford	0
Calderdale	180
Kirklees	3
Leeds	0
Wakefield	0
Gateshead	0
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	4
North Tyneside	0
South Tyneside	0
Sunderland	0
Isles of Scilly	0
Avon	16
Bedfordshire	0
Berkshire	0
Buckinghamshire	7
Cambridgeshire	26
Cheshire	956
Cleveland	8
Cornwall	0
Cumbria	8
Derbyshire	2
Devon	13
Dorset	3
Durham	4
East Sussex	32
Essex	5
Gloucestershire	31
Hampshire	11
Hereford and Worcester	257
Hertfordshire	13
Humberside	3
Isle of Wight	3
Kent	11
Lancashire	56
Leicestershire	12
Lincolnshire	624
Norfolk	7
North Yorkshire	8
Northamptonshire	0
Northumberland	0
Nottinghamshire	20
Oxfordshire	0
Shropshire	8
Somerset	11
Staffordshire	0
Suffolk	0
Surrey	28
Warwickshire	25
West Sussex	26
Wiltshire	97
Clwyd	15
Dyfed	1
Gwent	1
Gwynedd	20
Mid Glamorgan	0
Powys	0

	Number of pupils
South Glamorgan	1
West Glamorgan	1

Schools (Status)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report, specifying in each case the local authorities concerned, the voluntary body concerned and the name, composition and status of the schools, those schools which from 1980 to the latest date for which information is available, have changed from (a) independent to voluntary status and (b) voluntary to independent.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Children (Special Needs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to publish a consultative document on the educational needs of children with a dual sensory impairment.

My right hon. Friend intends to publish a policy statement shortly.

Defence

Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total of United Kingdom defence spending since 1958 up to and including 1988–89 (a) in cash and (b) at today's prices.

Total defence expenditure since 1958, including Supply Estimates provision for 1988–89, has been £219 billion in cash and £600 billion at 1988–89 prices, using defence-specific price deflators.

Plutonium

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has made for the production of military plutonium following the decommissioning of Chapelcross and Calder Hall nuclear power stations.

The long-term future of these reactors and any defence requirement for their replacement will be kept under review as appropriate.

Atomic Weapons Establishment, Burghfield

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what caused the explosion at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield in Berkshire on Friday 2 December; at what time the explosion occurred; if there were any casualties; and what damage was caused to property at Burghfield and in the surrounding area;(2) if it is normal practice to burn surplus high explosives at Burghfield; and if he will make a statement;(3) what information was given to the media following the explosion at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield on Friday 2 December.

A minor unplanned explosion occurred at AWE Burghfield at 0606 on the morning of 2 December. It took place during the routine burning of surplus conventional explosive waste on a special open site, within the main boundary fence, which is normally used for this purpose. There was no personal injury and no danger to the work force or public at any time. Such burning is controlled remotely and is carried out when the work force is not present as an additional safety precaution. The slight damage sustained on site was localised to a few broken windows and, to the best of our knowledge, no damage was caused outside the establishment. No radioactive material was involved or in any way at risk in this incident.The handling and disposal of the explosives are governed by strict controls laid down by the Defence Safety Services Organisation (DSSO). These regulations and checks cover such matters as safety distances, warnings, demarcation, access, emergency services, procedures and records. The DSSO had licensed AWE Burghfield to carry out explosive disposal in recognition of their compliance with these standards but such work has now been suspended while a detailed enquiry is conducted into the cause of the explosion. Security considerations preclude publication of the enquiry report though the local trades unions will be fully involved.The site's own emergency services were on hand but were not required to take any immediate action as there was no fire and no continuing emergency. Likewise, the local fire brigade and police were alerted automatically but took no action on arrival. The essential facts were made available to the media promptly.

Hong Kong (Explosion)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cause of the explosion in Hong Kong on Monday 5 December which killed two service men.

There was an explosion at Cassino Lines, in the New Territories, Hong Kong, on Sunday 4 December at 11.22 hours local time, in which one officer was killed and another seriously injured. Initial investigations suggested that the explosion was caused by a hand grenade. The Royal Military Police and Royal Hong Kong Police are conducting a joint investigation, and have announced that the case is being treated as murder. There is thought to be little likelihood of terrorist involvement.

Overseas Development

Holiday Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the approximate cost of holiday visit passages paid in respect of (a) children of the Ministry of Overseas Development personnel and (b) children of technical co-operation officers in receipt of education allowances for the latest available year.

The latest year for which figures are available is 1987–88. In that year, the cost of holiday visit passages for children of staff of the Overseas Development Administration (formerly the Ministry of Overseas Development) was £22,200. For children of all personnel financed from technical co-operation funds, including technical co-operation officers and supplementees, the cost was £990,000.

The Arts

Vishnu (Statues)

To ask the Minister for the Arts what steps he has taken to establish the legal provenance of the two statues of Vishnu which were sold at Sotheby's on 14 November.

It would be inappropriate for me to interfere in commercial matters. It is for the parties involved to satisfy themselves on the legal position.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will consider the contents of the United, Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation convention of 14 November 1970 on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import and export, and transfer of ownership, of cultural property, in relation to the sale of two statues of Vishnu at Sotheby's on 14 November.

Her Majesty's Government are not a party to this convention.

British Library

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many seats the public auditorium in the new British Library building at St. Pancras will have.

The auditorium of the new British Library, currently under construction at St. Pancras, will contain 255 seats. Additionally, there will be spaces for five wheelchairs for the disabled.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the reason for the cost escalation in the first phase of the Corn Merchant's Stores conversion at the British Library, Boston Spa, from £600,000 in November 1986 to a final cost of £2·309 million in 1988.

The figure of £600,000 to which I referred in answer to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 17 November 1986 at column 30 was not an estimate of the cost of the conversion of the Corn Merchant's Stores but was the Government's earmarked funding for the project for 1987–88. This was part of a total Government commitment of £1·6 million over three years, the balance of the cost being contributed by the British Library. There was no material change in the estimated cost of the project between 1986 and 1988.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the total area of office accommodation for British Library staff in phase I of the new St. Pancras building.

It is planned to build 1,839 sq m of office space in stage 1A of the new British Library building. This area includes all associated circulation space.Stage 1A is currently under construction and will be completed in 1993. The amount of office accommodation space to be included in the completion phase is not yet known.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when the British Library's strategic plan for business information will be published.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 4 July 1988 at column 469.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the open access shelving provisions and reader seats for science and technology readers in the phase I St. Pancras building will be less or more than the present provisions in the Holborn reading rooms.

There are in total 144 reader desks in the two science reference and information services (SRIS) building at Holborn; this provision compares with 178 standard reader desks which will be available at St. Pancras by 1993, with some 60 additional desks planned to be available by 1996. In addition, stools are provided at Holborn, but are not yet a formal part of the St. Pancras brief.The length of open access shelving at Holborn is approximately 11·7 km. This compares with 12·6 km which will be available at St. Pancras in 1993, with some 6 km of additional shelving by 1996.

Reviewing Committee On The Export Of Works Of Art

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he is able to announce the publication date of the report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art for the year ended 30 June.

I have today presented the 34th report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art for 1987–88. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of Parliament.

Arts Support

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements for the support of the arts through the Arts Council and the regional arts associations in England are adequate to meet changing needs.

I believe that the time has come to review the existing structure in the light of recent changes and present developments. After consultation with the chairman of the Arts Council, Lord Rees-Mogg, and his successor designate, Mr. Peter Palumbo, I have invited Mr. Richard Wilding, the present head of the Office of Arts and Libraries who retires from the public service at the end of this month, to conduct a review in consultation with the parties concerned and to report to me by 31 October 1989.The review will be primarily concerned with the structure of support, and the way in which the various parts of the system fit together. It will be conducted on the basis that the arm's-length principle will continue to

Minister and other paid office holders
	Current official salary	January 1989 official salary	Percentage increase	Current total salary (including reduced Parliamentary salary of £ 16,911)	Total January 1989 salary (including reduced Parliamentary salary of £18,148)	Percentage increase
	£	£		£	£
Prime Minister¹	45,787	46,109	0·70	62,698	64,257	2·49
Mr. Speaker	35,887	36,209	0·90	52,798	54,357	2·95
Cabinet Minister (C)	34,157	34,479	0·94	51,068	52,627	3·05
Cabinet Minister (L)	40,438	41,997	3·86
Minister of State (C)	23,887	24,209	1·35	40,798	42,357	3·82
Minister of State (L)	34,688	37,047	6·80
Parliamentary Secretary (C)	17,897	18,219	1·80	34,808	36,367	4·48
Parliamentary Secretary (L)	28,688	30,647	6·83
Attorney General	36,357	36,679	0·89	53,268	54,827	2·93
Solicitor General	29,637	29,959	1·09	46,548	48,107	3·35
Lord Advocate	40,508	42,067	3·85
Solicitor-General for Scotland	34,956	36,515	4·46

govern the allocation of money within a given total and the making of artistic judgments, and that a substantial amount of decision-making should continue to take place at the regional level. Existing arrangements in Scotland and Wales will not be affected by the review.

The thinking that underlies the commissioning of the review and the scope that I wish it to cover are set out at greater length in a letter which I have today sent to Lord Rees-Mogg. I am placing a copy of the letter in the Library.

Mr. Wilding will carry out wide consultations in the course of the review. Any person or body wishing to contribute views or comments is invited to write to him, care of the Office of Arts and Libraries, Horse Guards Road, London SW1P 3AL.

The Arts

Public Libraries

To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) when he intends to publish his response to the submissions he has received on his Green Paper on the future financing of public libraries;(2) whether it is his intention to introduce legislation in this current session of Parliament implementing his proposals on the future financing of public libraries.

[holding answer 7 December 1988]: I expect to make a statement shortly after the Christmas recess.

House Of Commons

Ministers' Pay

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about Ministers' pay.

The salaries of Ministers and other paid office holders were last increased from 1 January 1988 under the terms of the Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1987, and will remain at these levels until they are changed by a new order. The Government have considered possible changes to ministerial salaries in the light of the increase in the salaries of Members of Parliament that will take place on 1 January 1989 according to the terms of the resolution of 21 July 1987. The Government propose a package of increases averaging 4½ per cent. This is set out in the following table. I have today laid the draft Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1988 to implement these changes.

	Current official salary	January 1989 official salary	Percentage increase	Current total salary (including reduced Parliamentary salary of £16,911)	Total January 1989 salary (including reduced Parliamentary salary of £18,148)	Percentage increase
	£	£		£	£
House of Commons
Leader of the Opposition	31,237	31,559	1·03	48,148	49,707	3·24
Chief Whip	28,267	28,589	1·14	45,178	46,737	3·45
Deputy Chief Whip	23,887	24,209	1·35	40,798	42,357	3·82
Opposition Chief Whip	23,887	24,209	1·35	40,798	42,357	3·82
Government Whips and Assistant Government Whips	14,827	15,349	3·52	31,738	33,497	5·54
Assistant Opposition Whips	14,827	15,349	3·52	31,738	33,497	5·54
Chairman of Ways and Means	23,887	24,209	1·35	40,798	42,357	3·82
Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means	20,877	21,199	1·54	37,788	39,347	4·13
House of Lords
Chief Whip	34,688	37,047	6·80
Deputy Chief Whip	28,688	30,647	6·83
Government Whips	25,618	27,377	6·87
Opposition Leader	28,688	30,647	6·83
Opposition Chief Whip	25,618	27,377	6·87
Chairman of Committees	34,688	37,047	6·80
Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees	31,578	33,537	6·20
¹ The Prime Minister has elected to receive the same salary as a Cabinet Minister in the House of Commons.

Note: The Lord Chancellor's salary is governed by the Lord Chancellor's Salary Order 1988 and is not affected by this Order. (He receives £87,250 effective from 1 October 1988).

Theft

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many articles have been reported stolen from the Palace of Westminster during the last 12 months; and if he will list them.

There have been 40 cases of theft within the Palace of Westminster reported to the police in the last 12 months.Of these 40 reported, three cases were subsequently classified as "no crime" in that the property mentioned had either been recovered by the losers or found by members of staff. The details of the 37 remaining cases are:

After shave
Wallet and contents
Wine
Chocolates
Cash
Wrist watch
Cheque books
Food
Cap
File and contents
Cigarette lighter
Cordless telephone
Shopping bag
Print
Radio/Recorder
Gents jacket
Twenty (20) 13 amp plugs
Cap
3 half-cases of champagne
Footwear
Wallpaper
Whisky
Personal Radio
Playback machine
Credit and cheque cards
Briefcase
Cleaning fluid
Umbrella
Cigarettes
Briefcase and contents
Kettle

Items of shopping
Camera
Ladies jacket
Books
Correspondence
Umbrella

Trade And Industry

Professional Liability

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to announce the conclusions of his Department's study to establish the nature, scope, extent and implications of professional liability problems.

I expect the report of the studies of professional liability problems to be submitted to me in the spring.

Restrictive Trade Practices

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to announce his conclusions of the review into restrictive trade practices policy.

In the first part of next year.

British Overseas Trade Board

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what reductions in staff of the British Overseas Trade Board there have been in the past two years.

The staff allocations in the Department's overseas trade divisions will have increased from 770 on 1 April to 775 on 1 April 1989.

Fuzzy Logic

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the implications for the computer software industry of developments in fuzzy logic.

Fuzzy logic is potentially valuable in areas of computation which call for "human-like" reasoning based on qualitative or imprecise information, for example speech and vision systems, expert systems technology and database interrogation. Many of the developments are still in their infancy, though a few are now maturing in the expert system and database field. Such concepts can complement other advanced tools and methods to enable the computer software industry to develop novel and powerful applications. I am sure that the industry will take advantage of these opportunities as they present themselves.

Financial Services Industry

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what specialist training is given to those officers of his Department who are responsible for the monitoring of the financial services industry.

The effect of the Financial Services Act is that monitoring of the financial services industry is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the bodies recognised by it. Questions as to the training of officers of those bodies are for the bodies themselves.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concerning the training and qualifications of the officers and personnel of FIMBRA and other self-regulatory organisations responsible for vetting membership applications for FIMBRA and those other organisations.

This is a matter for FIMBRA and the Securities and Investments Board.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what information he has concerning the proportion of the income of FIMBRA that is allocated to the investigation of the background of those companies seeking membership;(2) if he will list all those companies or individuals who have been suspended by FIMBRA or any other self-regulatory organisation and indicate in each case the reason for that suspension.

This is a matter for FIMBRA.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how regularly he and the officers of his Department meet with FIMBRA and other self-regulatory organisations.

Frequently.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations his Department has received concerning the work of FIMBRA since its establishment.

The information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to require self-regulatory organisations automatically to inform his Department of applications which they receive for membership.

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to review the self-regulatory aspects of the financial services legislation.

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date his Department first adopted the policy of automatically contacting NASDIM about applicants for licensing by his Department under past financial services legislation; and on what date NASDIM was first recognised as an acceptable alternative to licensing by his Department.

The Department maintained a list of bodies which it automatically consulted when it received an application for a licence to deal in securities under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958. NASDIM was added to this list at the beginning of 1985. The order declaring NASDIM a recognised association of dealers in securities under section 15 of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act was made on 28 November 1983 and came into effect on 31 December 1983.

National Engineering Laboratory

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the main planning authority for development of the national engineering laboratory site at East Kilbride.

The East Kilbride district council is the statutory planning authority for the area in which the national engineering laboratory is situated.

North Peckham Task Force

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will specify the feasibility studies undertaken by the north Peckham task force; how much each cost; and what was the outcome of each study.

Since 30 November 1988, out of a total of 95 projects approved at a cost to the task force of £2,570,113, the following were undertaken as feasibility studies:

Technobus

£6,250 was paid to South Bank polytechnic for research into the cost of setting up a bus which would deliver new technology training on local estates. The report was completed, and circulated to interested parties, but in view of the setting up and running costs (£120,000 in the first year) the task force decided not to proceed with the scheme.

Peckham Industrial Association

£3,500 was paid to this organisation to look into the viability of converting disused shipping containers into low cost portable units for community use. In the light of the feasibility study the task force took no further action.

Sojourner Truth Youth Association (STYA)

The task force has paid for two studies on behalf of this local black organisation. Community Land and Workspace Ltd. (CLAWS) were given £1,500 to prepare a study into the use of St. Luke's school as a multifunctional base. The results were passed to STYA to use as a basis to support their bid to Southwark council for funds to convert the school. In addition £9,941 went to First Step Associates to look at the viability of a number of training proposals that STYA intend to run. Discussions with STYA are continuing with a view to developing the training aspects of the project.

City Technology Centre

£13,000 was given to Science City to look into the feasibility of setting up high tech workspace units in the task force area. The report was completed and passed to the task force, and the key proposal of seedcorn investment funding was adopted by the Peckham Enterprise centre, funded by the task force.

URBED

£27,370 was provided to this consultancy to develop a strategy to help reverse the decline of Rye lane as a shopping centre. The report was recently completed and the task force has provided funding to the Peckham Traders Association, one of whose key aims is to implement the URBED recommendations, working closely with the council and other bodies. In addition the task force is talking to URBED about further work.

Southwark Architects

£3,000 was paid to Southwark council to prepare a report into the development of a community training facility in the Gloucester grove estate on behalf of the Gloucester Grove Tenants Association. The report has been prepared, but detailed cosings are still being awaited, before exploring possible funding avenues.

Forest of London

£4,500 has been approved to this group to look into the feasibility of running a training project in arboriculture and landscaping. The task force awaits the final report.

Southwark Chamber of Commerce

£1,000 was paid to this group for research into the costs and possible funding sources of setting up a tourist information centre in Southwark. Subsequently, with help from the City action team, a tourist information centre was established in north Southwark.

LENTA

£27,000 was paid to LENTA to carry out a study into four sites in the Peckham area (The Spike, Melon road, the LEB sub-station, the Lomond grove business centre) with potential for use as managed workspace. Of these sites, the task force is still pursuing Melon road and the Spike in consultation with the council and other bodies; the Lomond grove centre became the Camberwell business centre under the direct control of LENTA; the task force decided not to take any further action on the LEB building.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for how long the north Peckham task force will be continuing with its work.

The task force continues to make good progress. In common with all Government task forces it is not intended to be permanent. There are however no plans at present for its closure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the budget of expenditure on local projects by the north Peckham task force in (a) 1988–89, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1990–91 and (d) 1991–92.

The north Peckham task force in common with the other Government task forces does not have an individual budget. It does, however, have access to a common budget for all task forces which is £16 million for 1988–89 and has been set at £18·5 million for 1989–90. Figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 will remain at similar levels.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list in respect of the north Peckham task force (a) the local projects supported, (b) the amount of money committed to each project and (c) the amount of committed money spent on each project;(2) if he will state in respect of each project supported by the north Peckham task force the amount of money

(a) committed and (b) spent by (i) the task force, (ii) other government sources, (iii) the London borough of Southwark, (iv) the Inner London Education Authority, (v) the Housing Corporation, (vi) English Heritage, (vii) any other public sources and (viii) any other private sources.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the objectives of the north Peckham task force when it was first set up; and whether those objectives have been changed during the course of its work.

The main objectives, which the north Peckham task force shares with the other 16 task forces, are to:

—provide more jobs for local people by identifying and removing impediments to their recruitment by local employers, and by encouraging local enterprise development.

—encourage and facilitate enterprise by local people through the provision of enterprise training, financial and managerial assistance.

—improve the employability of local people, including those about to enter the labour market, by training programmes aimed at specific employment opportunities or identified gaps in the labour market.

—support initiatives designed to improve the environment, the provision of community services and to reduce the level of crime where these can be linked to the reintegration of local people into local economic activity.

The objectives have not been changed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the names and biographical details of each member of (a) the north Peckham task force community forum and (b) the north Peckham task force community forum working party.

These organisations are independent bodies which are not related to the north Peckham task force. The information requested is a matter for the organisations themselves.

Wool

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he plans to continue the levy upon the wool textile industry for export promotion administered by the Wool Textile Export Corporation; how much has been raised by the levy in each of the last five years; what representations he has received about any proposal to abolish the levy; and if he will make a statement.

It was announced in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm. 512) on 2 November that there would be consultation on the future of the wool textile industry (export promotion) levy. A consultation period lasting three months, ending on 31 January 1989, has now begun. Thereafter, Ministers will reach a decision on whether the levy should continue in its current statutory form and, if appropriate, lay proposals before Parliament. Representations have been received by officials from the National Wool Textile Export Corporation. The following amounts have been raised by the levy in the last five financial years:

Year ending 31 March	£
1984	331,136
1985	346,406
1986	380,103
1987	405,045
1988	424,811

British Steel

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why certain households were excluded from the direct mailing shot giving details of the British Steel share offer.

The direct mail shot for the British Steel offer was sent to existing shareholders in major United Kingdom companies. All members of the public were able to receive information by registering with the Share Information Office.

Landfill

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government are taking to promote and encourage landfill projects; and if he will make a statement.

	Navan Fort	Armagh Planetrium	Armagh County Museum	St. Patrick's Cathedral	St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral
Armagh Christian Brothers	—	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Armstrong	—	Yes	Yes	Yes	—
Drelincourt Infants	—	—	Yes	—	—
Mount St. Catherine's Convent	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
St. Malachy's Boys'	Yes	—	Yes	—	—
St. Patrick's	Yes	—	Yes	Yes	Yes

No schools visited the sites of the battles of Benburb or the Diamond or the Regimental museum.

Police

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the level of community policing in the West Winds estate, Newtownards; what are the proposals for the future of policing in this estate; and if he will make a statement.

Deployment of the RUC is a matter for the Chief Constable, but I understand that a neighbourhood constable is assigned to this estate who will continue to give attention to it, and that attention is also given by divisional mobile patrols.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the period each day that Comber Royal Ulster Constabulary station is operational; what proposals there are for the future of this Royal Ulster Constabulary station; and if he will make a statement on policing in Comber district.

The future of Comber RUC station is a matter for the Chief Constable. I understand that the

I have been asked to reply because my Department is responsible for policy on the reclamation and reuse of derelict and vacant land in England.Urban development corporations have been established to take concerted action in some of the areas worst affected by vacancy and dereliction. City grant can support private sector reclamation in the inner cities. Derelict land grant is available to the private sector outside the inner cities and to local authorities throughout England. Local authorities' inner area programmes, supported by urban programme grants, also make a contribution to reclamation in the inner cities. Together, these four regimes are expected to spend some £200 million on reclamation projects in the current financial year.

Northern Ireland

School Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the primary schools in the city of Armagh organised visits to the following locations during the past academic year (a) site of the battle of Benburb, (b) site of the battle of the Diamond, (c) Navan fort, (d) Armagh planetarium, (e) county museum, The Mall, Armagh, (f) Regimental museum, College hill, Armagh, (g) St. Patrick's cathedral, Armagh and (h) St. Patrick's Roman Catholic cathedral, Armagh.

The information is as follows:station is open to the public from 9 am to 11 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm each day, and that attention is also given to the Comber area by divisional mobile patrols.

Short Brothers Plc

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the likely effects of the proposed privatisation of Shorts on the company's FJX short-haul jet project; and if he will make a statement.

The decision on whether or not to proceed with the development of the FJX will be a matter for the purchaser of the company. There is not yet enough information available from the company on the FJX project for decisions to be made. The future of the project will be decided within the context of privatisation.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Department of Health and Social Services intends to issue guidance to doctors in Northern Ireland on the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement.

No. It is not the Department's practice to issue directions on clinical practice to doctors.

Floods

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums of public money were expended on repairs to Housing Executive dwellings which were needed as a result of damage caused by the floods of October 1987.

This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that approximately £315,000 was spent on repairs to Executive dwellings, largely in Strabane and Omagh.

Rathlin Island

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether consideration has been given to the possibility of a joint electricity and telephone cable link between Rathlin island and the mainland; and what conclusions have been reached.

[holding answer 7 December 1988]: No. I understand that such a link would not be practicable; amongst other reasons, the electricity cable would be likely to cause interference to any telephone cable laid in close proximity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received a report of the results of Northern Ireland Electricity's survey regarding the possible supply of mains electricity to Rathlin island; and what further discussions he has had with Northern Ireland Electricity regarding the implications of the results.

[holding answer 7 December 1988]: No. This is a matter in the first instance for consideration by the board of Northern Ireland Electricity. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to a question by the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 7 December 1988, at column 195.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on what consideration is being given to funding a scheme to provide Rathlin island with mains electricity; and whether such consideration includes the possibility of European regional fund assistance.

[holding answer 7 December 1988]: Various methods of providing Rathlin island with a mains supply are currently being examined by Northern Ireland Electricity. Consideration of the economic viability of these will take account of the possibility of European regional development fund assistance.

Prime Minister

Security Services

Q16.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to bring forward legislation to put MI6, military intelligence and other security services other than MI5, on a statutory footing.

The Government have no plans to introduce further legislation covering the security and intelligence services.

Vice-President (European Commission)

Q53.

To ask the Prime Minister why and in what particular respects considerable experience of Cabinet Office forms has been a factor in the nomination for vice-president of the European Commission.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 1 December 1988 at column 345.

Sunday Trading

Q88.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications for parliamentary sovereignty of the decision of the European Court of Justice to hear cases on the legality of the United Kingdom's Sunday trading laws; and if she will make a statement.

No.

"The Green Gauntlet"

To ask the Prime Minister what response she plans to make to the 30 point plan for environmental improvement in the United Kingdom set out in "The Green Gauntlet" document launched collectively by the Worldwide Fund for Nature, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace on 20 November.

We shall consider the views expressed in "The Green Gauntlet" alongside those of other interests as we take forward our policies of safeguarding the environment for those who come after us.

Engagements

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 December.

The Soviet ambassador called on me to deliver a message from President Gorbachev this morning. Later I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, and will be addressing the annual meeting of the Per Cent Club.

Advisers

To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply of 1 December, Official Report, columns 345-48, she will state the current salary or, where appropriate, expenses of each of the full and part-time advisers attached to her office.

I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 1 December 1988 at column 347.

Foreign Visits

To ask the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to her reply of 1 December, Official Report, column 347, which of her visits abroad in the current year still have open accounts because payments are awaited from media organisations for the cost of their representatives travelling with her on official transport;(2) pursuant to her reply of 1 December,

Official Report, column 347, which of her visits abroad still await the closure of accounts.

For practical reasons, accounts relating to my visits overseas remain open for a reasonable length of time. This is because delays in receiving bills or claims or minor queries about the details of transactions, make it impractical to close these accounts too soon.

Downing Street (Furnishings And Decoration)

To ask the Prime Minister, what, pursuant to her answer of 1 December, Official Report, column 347, would be the cost of providing an answer to the question asking her to provide an analysis of the £213,318 spent from public funds in 1988–89 to date on furnishings and decoration in No. 10 Downing street.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 1 December 1988 at column 347.

Official Gifts

To ask the Prime Minister how much has been expended from public funds for the provision of official gifts by her office in each year since 1979–80.

Information before 1 April 1983 is not available except at disproportionate cost. Since 1 April 1983 the following amounts have been spent on official gifts.

Financial year	Amount £
1983–84	14,450
1984–85	16,678
1985–86	21,524
1986–87	10,176
1987–88	18,496
¹1988–89	11,192
¹ Actual to date.

Policy Unit

To ask the Prime Minister how many staff are employed in her policy unit; and how many were employed in 1979–80.

There are at present nine members of staff employed in my policy unit. In 1979–80 there were two members of staff.

Questions (Costs)

To ask the Prime Minister what is the current expenditure limit for replying to parliamentary written questions beyond which she maintains cost as being disproportionate.

Any parliamentary question likely to cost more than £250 is referred to the responsible Minister before significant resources are committed.

Travel Restrictions

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what restrictions on travel to (a) the Soviet Union and (b) Comecon Eastern bloc countries apply to retired Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, staff;(2) what restrictions on emigration to

(a) the Soviet Union and (b) other Comecon Eastern bloc countries apply to former government civil servants who worked at (i) the Ministry of Defence, (ii) the Atomic Weapons Research Establishments, (iii) MI5 and (iv) Government communications headquarters at Cheltenham.

Certain retired staff from the Ministry of Defence, the Atomic Weapons Establishment and Government Communications Headquarters, and all retired members of the security service, are asked to seek the permission of their former employers before visiting these countries.

Security Screening

To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in implementing the recommendation contained in the Security Commission's report on the case of Geoffrey Prime, Cmnd 8876, that there should be a pilot study to test the feasibility of polygraph security screening in the intelligence and security agencies; and if she will make a statement.

The first phase of the pilot study included the examination of staff of the security service and of senior staff of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Following completion of that phase and before deciding on a starting date for the second phase, which was intended to cover the testing of a random sample of the staff of GCHQ, the Government commissioned a review of the scientific literature relating to the validity of the polygraph. This was conducted by Dr. A. B. Levey, a senior psychologist in the Medical Research Council. Dr. Levey delivered his report, which was based on an examination of 372 professional and scientific papers from which 100 were selected for a more detailed analysis earlier this year. I am placing a copy in the Library.Dr. Levey's conclusion from the literature is that the polygraph is probably incapable of achieving a high level of accuracy and reliability when used for screening purposes and, moreover, that individuals trained in the use of counter-measures would have a good chance of escaping detection. Against this background the Government concluded that there would be no advantage in implementing the second phase of the pilot study, but before reaching a final decision, the Government felt it right to consult the Security Commission again.The Security Commission has considered Dr. Levey's report and has taken further evidence from the director general of the security service and the director of GCHQ. In the light of their evidence the Security Commission accept that there would, in present circumstances, be no point in continuing the study. The commission believes, however, that the possibility of introducing the polygraph should not be ruled out for all time. In the light of the Security Commission's comments, the Government have decided that, while scientific research on the validity of the polygraph should continue to be monitored, the pilot study should not proceed further.

Environment

Owner-Occupation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes in Derbyshire are privately owned; and by how many this figure has increased since 1983.

There were 282,202 homes in private ownership as at 1 April 1988 according to housing investment programme returns submitted by Derbyshire district councils. This figure is about 24,000 more than that for 1983.

Manchester Council For Voluntary Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations his Department has received from the Manchester Council for Voluntary Service; what reply is being sent; if any action is to be taken; and if he will make a statement.

A series of representations about rate reform has been received in recent months from the Manchester Council for Voluntary Service both direct and via the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman), the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) and the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris). The latest letter from the council asks a number of detailed questions about the community charge and will be answered shortly.I have recently agreed to a request by the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) for a meeting with representatives of Greater Manchester voluntary groups.

Building Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation process on building regulations parts F (ventilation) and L (conservation of fuel and power), including the timetable for publishing approved documents and bringing into force of any new regulations.

A consultation paper setting out proposals for amending the requirements and guidance relating to parts F (ventilation) and L (conservation of fuel and power) of the building regulations was issued in July of this year. Comments have been received from over 100 organisations and individuals, and these are still being considered. The Building Regulations Advisory Committee will be consulted on the outcome early next year, but it is too early to say when a revised approved document is likely to be published or when any amendments to the regulations themselves are likely to be brought into operation.

Polycarboxylates

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the use of polycarboxylates in detergents; and what studies have been carried out into the envionmental implications of their use.

Polycarboxylates are used at very low levels, generally less than 2 per cent., in detergents. Studies on the environmental implications of their use have been carried out by the detergent industry. These studies compare the results of toxicological and environmental test data with potential or predicted environmental concentration. In addition, a review of their behaviour and use has been published by Imperial college.

Fauna, Flora And Habitats

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why Her Majesty's Government expressed objections on 24 November to the proposal to introduce a new European Community directive to protect threatened fauna, flora and habitats.

At the Environment Council in Brussels on 24 November, all member states unanimously rejected the rigid and bureaucratic directive that the Commission had proposed. There was general support for the United Kingdom's view that the Community could most usefully assist member states, where appropriate, to implement the relevant existing international conventions, particularly the Bern convention.

East Thames-Side Study

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the comments invited from the London borough of Newham were excluded from the east Thames-side study published on 23 November.

As not all of the boroughs concerned had submitted comments when the consultants' report was due to be printed, it was decided not to include an incomplete set in that report. However, we will take careful account of submissions from Newham and other boroughs, along with the consultants' report, as we consider the findings of the study.

Rented Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage the independent rented sector, other than registered housing associations, to make adequate provision for a continuation of the principles of mobility as embraced in the national mobility scheme.

The Housing Act 1988 should increase the supply of private rented accommodation, and this will improve job mobility. The principles of the tenants' guarantee as they relate to mobility will apply to all landlords approved under tenants' choice and for large-scale voluntary transfers of public sector housing.

Defective Dwellings

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has of the number of households with properties affected by mundic-type concrete block;(2) what estimate his Department has of the value of properties affected by being built of mundic-type concrete block;(3) what estimate he has, by county, of the number of properties suffering from deterioration or potential deterioration as a result of being built from mundic-type concrete block.

Virtually all mundic block properties appear to have been built within the private sector, and there are therefore no reliable statistics on the numbers and values involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research his Department is carrying out into the numerical extent of the problem of properties built with mundic-type concrete block;(2) what research his Department is carrying out into geographical extent of the problem of properties built with mundic-type concrete block;(3) what research his Department is carrying out into possible cures to the problem of properties afflicted with decaying mundic-type concrete block; and what is the status of that research.

The Building Research Establishment has carried out research into the caues of mundic block failure within its continuing overall work on the behaviour of concrete aggregates. We have no plans to commission specific research on numbers and location, but I understand that private lending institutions are considering commissioning research into appropriate tests; this could lead to the development of remedial treatments for affected properties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance is available to the owners of properties with problems caused by mundic-type concrete blocks; and what changes he is proposing.

At present, some owners of mundic block houses may be eligible for discretionary improvement grants. However, we intend to bring forward proposals in the next housing Bill to streamline the grants system; this may bring more owners within the scope of grant aid for repairs, subject to their particular circumstances.

Rates

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount in cash terms, by which he estimates Leeds city council will have to spend below the Government's grant-related expenditure allocation level in 1989–90 in order to produce a rate increase in line with inflation, based on the information contained in the rate support grant consultation paper for 1989–90 issued on 11 November.

It is estimated that if Leeds city council uses the same amount of balances as in 1988–89, a 5 per cent. increase would finance expenditure about £13 million below its GRE.

Rating Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the papers produced for the following groups of officials and local authority association representatives (a) the new systems working group, (b) the rates working party, (c) the community charge working group, (d) the community charge implementation sub-group and (e) the capital programmes working party.

I am placing in the Library copies of the papers circulated for the most recent meetings of these working groups and working parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to meet the loss of £10 million income from the introduction of the uniform business rate in Nottingham.

If the uniform business rate had been introduced in 1988–89, business in Nottingham would have benefited from a 15 per cent. reduction in rates, and some £10 million less would have been raised locally from business rates. This does not necessarily mean that the local authorities would have been any worse off. Broadly speaking, provided that a local authority is spending sensibly, its total income from business rates and grant combined should be no less under the uniform business rate than under the present system.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a summary of the responses to "Capital Expenditure and Finance: A Consultation Paper."

No. A list of those responses which respondents have agreed can be released is being placed in the Library of the House. Copies of those responses can be obtained through the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he received to "Capital Expenditure and Finance: A Consultation Paper", from financial institutions; what points they made; and whether he responded to them.

Certain brokers, banks, and market makers asked that local authorities should be permitted to place surplus funds in a wider range of investments than was proposed in the consultation paper. Receipt of their representations has been acknowledged.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total stock of dwellings for England and Wales by tenure expressed by local authority area.

Local authorities in England report the number of dwellings by sector of ownership in their annual Housing Investment Programme returns. The latest information, for 1 April 1988, is contained in column A11 (local authority), Al2 (housing association), A13 (other public sector) and Al4 (private sector) of the "1988 HIP1 All Items Print", which is in the Library. For corresponding information about Welsh authorities I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.The 1981 census provides the most recent information, by local authority areas, of the split of households in private sector dwellings between owner-occupiers and renters. This information is shown in table 17 of "Census 1981, Key Statistics for local authorities, Great Britain", also in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total number of local authority dwellings in England and Wales expressed by house type; (2) what has been the average weekly unrebated local authority rent in England and Wales for the financial years 1979–80 to 1989–90, expressed by local authority area.

Average weekly unrebated local authority rents at 1 April and of local authority dwellings by type are published in an annual survey by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Copies of the latest edition "Housing Rent Statistics at April 1988" and those for earlier years are in the Library.

Crown Suppliers

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

As a step towards privatisation, I have authorised Crown Suppliers to commence selling to the private sector. This activity will be controlled in accordance with a business plan which will provide for sales and costs to be monitored by Ministers with the aim of ensuring that there is no cross-subsidisation of the sales to the private sector. The arrangement will enable Crown Suppliers to test its ability to trade with the private sector, which will be a feature of privatisation.In addition, I have received a report by Coopers and Lybrand on the organisation of Crown Suppliers during its move towards privatisation. The report recommends that there should be three divisions operating as discrete businesses: product supply and services, a transport division and a buying agency. I am considering these recommendations which are aimed at putting the Crown Suppliers' operations on to a more commercial footing in preparation for its move into the private sector.

Housing Investment Programmes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make the allocations to local authorities in England for their housing investment programmes in 1989–90.

My right hon. Friend announced on 1 November 1988 that gross provision for capital expenditure by local authorities on housing in 1989–90 will be £3,303–£395 million (13·5 per cent.) higher than previous plans. This is the fourth successive year in which it has been possible to increase provision, thanks to the continuing success of the right to buy policy. Through the receipts which this provides, local authorities have a growing source of spending power to supplement their capital borrowing.The gross expenditure provision allows for a total housing investment programme (HIP) allocation of £920 million. This represents new borrowing consents for local authorities. Each housing authority is today being informed of its initial HIP allocation for 1989–90. Copies of the letters to local authorities and the schedule of initial allocations have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.The local authority associations have been consulted about the distribution of HIP allocations. After considering their comments, and bearing in mind his obligation to make allocations in relation to need, my right hon. Friend has decided to make the distribution on the following basis:

£873·5 million is available for main HIP allocations. Every authority will receive at least 75 per cent. of its corresponding allocation for the current year.

£11·5 million is available for the homes insulation scheme, of which £8 million is being distributed with the main HIP allocations; £2·5 million will be reserved for further allocations under the scheme in accordance with demand, and the remaining £1 million will be used to defray local authorities' administrative costs.

£20 million is available for the private sector area renewal initiative. The 29 authorities receiving allocations are being informed today of the details.

£15 million is being reserved for additional allocations at a later date to authorities which face particular difficulties in meeting their obligations under the housing defects legislation.

Only the initial allocations are being made today. The letters being sent to local housing authorities describe the procedure under which they can apply for additional allocations.

Tenants' Choice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations are proposed with interested parties as part of the implementation work on tenants' choice.

When the Housing Act was in Parliament the Government undertook to invite views on how tenants should be consulted and vote on a tenants' choice application, and on the terms on which flats should be leased back to a public sector body after any transfer. The Department has now issued two consultation papers, which set out our proposals on these matters. They are being circulated to interested parties with a request for comments by 20 January 1989. Copies are available in the Library.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has of the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from energy used in domestic buildings, from (a) coal, gas, electricity and oil sources, and (b) space heating, lighting, water heating, fridges/ freezers, washing machines and other electrical appliances;(2) what research he has commissioned or he intends to commission on the potential of energy efficiency measures in the housing stock for reducing carbon dioxide emissions contributing to the greenhouse effect; and if he will make it his policy to summarise the results of such research and make copies available in the Library.

The Warren Spring laboratory and the Building Research Establishment have made preliminary estimates of the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from energy use in domestic buildings in 1987 as follows:

	Millions of tonnes CO₂
(a) by fuel delivered to households: (WSL)
Coaland other solid fuels	25
Natural gas	55
Electricity (including all forms of generation)	88
Oil	6
Total	174
(b) Percentage break down by end use: (BRE)	Per cent.
Space heating	45
Lighting	4
Water heating	21
Fridges/freezers	9
Washing machines	2
All other appliances (including cookers)	19
Total	100

The Department is currently considering how further studies of domestic efficiency and its carbon dioxide emission reduction potential can best be carried out. Where appropriate, results of such work will be made available in the Library of the House.

Water Companies (Foreign Interests)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will be seeking emergency legislation to stop foreign companies mounting take-over bids for British water companies; and if he will make a statement.

No, European Community law does not allow discrimination against investment by nationals of other community members. Competition and merger law applies to all takeovers where there is a threat to the public interest.

River Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instigate legislation similar to the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1951 in respect of the River Don and similar rivers affected by pollution caused by poisonous effluents coming from abandoned mines; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the difficulties caused by discharges from abandoned mines, particularly from long abandoned workings. The costs of dealing with discharges can be considerable and in many cases it would be unreasonable to make the present landowners liable. Making such discharges an offence along the lines of the 1951 Act would not solve the problem of liability.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of Yorkshire's prime game and coarse fishing rivers have become unsuitable for fishing since 1979 due to river pollution; and if he will make a statement on the report by Yorkshire Water's scientific services department which show a sharp decline in catches due to heavily polluted water.

Yorkshire water authority reported that about 12 miles of river length providing satisfactory fisheries in 1979 are now considered as unsatisfactory because of the effects of pollution. Over the same period 14 miles of river length have improved. However, I understand that the recently reported declines in catches on the Wharfe, Nidd and Ouse are considered to be normal variations brought about by rainfall, river flow, temperature and disease cycles rather than the results of river pollution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times since the Control of Pollution Act 1974 has been implemented it has been tested in the courts in respect of breaches of river pollution; and if he will list such occasions in date order.

This information is not held by the Department. However, the new National Rivers Authority will in future enforce water pollution controls on a national and more consistent basis and information of this nature should then be more readily available.

Water Authorities

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the recommendations in the Environment Select Committee Report concerning the introduction of new prohibitive powers enabling water authorities or other independent bodies to stop dischargers releasing effluent and to revise effluent permits without financial penalty.

The Water Bill will empower my right hon. Friend to direct the National Rivers Authority to revoke or modify particular discharge consents with immediate effect, where this is necessary for the protection of public health or of flora or fauna dependent on the aquatic environment. Compensation would arise in those circumstances only where the authority in granting the consent could reasonably have been expected to foresee the threat to public health or the aquatic environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will (a) list all the local authorities which, under present legislation, have lost lands given to the present water authorities, (b) indicate the location and size of such land and (c) list the cases in which local authorities received proper and direct compensation for that loss of land.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: Information is not available in the form requested on land transferred from local authorities to water authorities in the 1974 reorganisation. The local authorities concerned, or their successors, were relieved of the debt liabilities associated with the land transferred.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of income in cash terms each water authority in England and Wales raised from land drainage precepts, direct charges for abstraction and impoundment licences, fishing rod licences and navigation licences in 1987–88, broken down by region.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: information on land drainage precepts and charges for abstractions is shown in the annual reports and accounts of the water authorities laid before Parliament each year and available in the Library. This information is brought together in Waterfacts, published annually by the Water Authorities Association and also available in the Library. The remaining information requested by the hon. Member is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he possesses concerning the asset value of all property, plant, including sewers, and machinery relating to disposal of used water currently owned by regional water authorities; and what is the basis of valuation.

[holding answer 7 December 1988]: Analyses by service of the net asset value of water authorities' tangible fixed assets are set out in the historic cost and current cost sections of the authorities' published annual accounts. The basis of the figures is explained in notes to the accounts.

Business Property (Revaluation)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's assessment of the impact of the revaluation of business property in 1990 (a) upon business in Nottingham and (b) upon the uniform business rate.

We do not yet have sufficiently detailed forecasts of the likely effects of the revaluation on business property to be able to predict the effect in Nottingham. We would expect businesses in Nottingham to share in the benefit of reduced rate bills which businesses in the North and midlands generally will enjoy as a result of revaluation and the introduction of a uniform business rate.The uniform business rate will be set at the level necessary to raise nationally broadly the same amount in rates in 1990–91, in real terms, as is raised in 1989–90. So whatever the overall increase in rateable values on revaluation, the uniform business rate will be reduced proportionately.

Disabled Persons (Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of his Department's staff are classed as disabled.

As at 1 December 1988, the percentage of staff classed as disabled was 1·50 per cent., including 1·27 per cent. registered disabled persons.

Death In Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current maximum death-inservice benefit under local government superannuation schemes; if he has any plans to increase the maximum benefit payable; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he has any plans to remove the 20 years pensionable service qualification for the maximum death-in-service benefit under local government super-annuation schemes; and if he will make a statement.

The grant payable to the personal representatives of an employee who dies in service is one year's salary or three-eightieths of his pensionable remuneration multiplied by the length of his pensionable service, whichever is the greater. We have no plans to increase these benefits without an increase in the contributions payable by employees.

Planning Decisions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he collects statistics on the length of time taken by London borough local authorities to reach planning decisions; and if he will make a statement.

The Department collects and publishes quarterly statistics on development control performance of local planning authorities in England. The table shows the number of planning decisions issued by London borough councils in the first quarter of 1988 (the latest priod for which figures are available), and the percentage of those decisions issued within eight weeks and within 13 weeks of the application being received. Five authorities failed to provide the relevant information. The Government believes that local planning authorities should be able to decide 80 per cent. of all planning applications within eight weeks.

London boroughs: Planning decisions in the 1st quarter of 1988
Planning authority	Total decisions	Percentage within eight weeks	Percentage within thirteen weeks
Barking and Dagenham	196	74	90
Barnet	947	39	72
Bexley	568	26	78
Brent	641	36	62
Bromley	768	75	92
Camden	562	17	37
City of London	152	35	58
City of Westminster	1,458	19	35
Croydon	760	28	60
Ealing	648	4	9
Enfield	—	—	—
Greenwich	254	57	81
Hackney	224	36	58
Hammersmith and Fulham	1,083	33	55
Haringey	—	—	—
Harrow	533	46	77
Havering	605	33	59
Hillingdon	599	27	50
Hounslow	462	56	82
Islington	322	25	39
Kensington and Chelsea	593	51	78
Kingston upon Thames	455	33	62
Lambeth	357	30	47
Lewisham	—	—	—
Merton	328	54	86
Newham	449	39	59
Redbridge	606	31	57

Planning authority	Total decisions	Percentage within eight weeks	Percentage within thirteen weeks
Richmond upon Thames	855	67	78
Southwark	369	46	69
Sutton	—	—	—
Tower Hamlets	331	18	53
Waltham Forest	—	—	—
Wandsworth	542	20	62

Conferences (Ec)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the European Economic Community environment conferences held at ministerial level since the date on which he became Secretary of State; and if he will list those Ministers who have attended each one to represent Her Majesty's Government.

Since I became Secretary of State for the Environment, the United Kingdom has been represented at European Community meetings of Environment Ministers as follows:

1986

12 June
Environment Council
The Hon. William Waldegrave
24 November
Environment Council
The Hon. William Waldegrave (United Kingdom Presidency)
Lord Skelmersdale (United Kingdom delegation)

1987

19-20 March
Environment Council
The Hon. William Waldegrave
21 May
Environment Council
The Hon. William Waldegrave
21 July
Environment Council
Lord Belstead
3 December
Environment Council
Lord Belstead

1988

26-27 February
Informal Council
The Earl of Caithness
21 March
Environment Council
The Earl of Caithness
16 June
Environment Council
The Earl of Caithness
28 June
Environment Council
Mr. Colin Moynihan
1-2 October
Informal Council
The Earl of Caithness
24 November
Environment Council
The Earl of Caithness

The United Kingdom is among a small minority of member states to have been represented at Ministerial level at all these meetings.

Water Privatisation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his proposals for water privatisation will (a) reinforce, (b) amend or (c) suppress present controls for the protection of water authority lands (i) of outstanding natural beauty, (ii) serving urban or rural communities as spaces of recreation or environmental value and (iii) declared national parks.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: Clause 7 of the Bill would carry forward the present conservation and recreation duties of the water authorities and apply them with certain amendments and extensions to water and sewerage undertakers, the National Rivers Authority and internal drainage boards. The principle change is to impose on the authority a wider duty than currently applies to water authorities, to promote conservation and the recreational use of all inland waters and associated lands.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial compensation will be given to local authorities under his proposals for water privatisation in the case that the future water companies sell land which was originally owned by such local authorities which subsequent legislation gave to water authorities without any compensation.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: None, because none is due. The regional water authorities took on the debt liabilities associated with the local authority assets transferred to them in 1974.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific (a) local authorities, (b) rural and urban community organisations, (c) consumer associations and (d) industry and business organisations he consulted prior to deciding that water privatisation should be carried out.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: The White Paper proposals and consultation paper on the National Rivers Authority have been widely publicised. The opportunity to comment has not been confined to a specific list of organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of financial assistance which will be lost to regions from the European regional development fund following the privatisation of the water industry.

[holding answer 6 December 1988]: The EC Commission agreed last year to continue to consider applications for aid from the European regional development fund in respect of investments in infrastructure by privatised bodies in the United Kingdom.

National Rivers Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what cash amount it is assumed that the National Rivers Authority would generate itself through its income generation powers for each of the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in anticipating grant in aid payments to the National Rivers Authority of £40 million, £71 million and £65 million for each of those years, respectively.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: The assumptions about grant-in-aid for these years are based on financial projections which anticipate that the National Rivers Authority's income from direct charges will be £32·0 million in 1989–90, £58·0 million in 1990–91 and £73·0 million in 1991–92. It is assumed that the increased income in 1991–92 will be generated from the provision in the Water Bill to enable the NRA to charge dischargers the costs of administering water pollution control and enforcement. The projections do not take into account income or expenditure relating to the NRA's land drainage work, which is funded by a combination of capital grants, for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food takes public expenditure provision, and precepts on local authorities.

Cumbria (Coastline)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards the full implementation of the European Economic Community directive on the quality of bathing water along the coastline of Cumbria.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: There are 16 identified bathing waters in Cumbria, many of which already meet the directive's standards. The North West water authority plans to bring the remaining waters up to the EEC standard by 1995. Work on this task is in hand.

Water Meters

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Government funding will be made available to meet the costs of the installation and provision of water meters in domestic property in full or in part.

[holding answer 6 December 1988]: Whether to adopt metering for domestic water customers after privatisation will be a matter for each water undertaker to decide. Apart from the limited contributions to the present programme of metering trials, there will be no Government funding of the costs of metering.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether customers will be expected to pay the costs of the provision and installation of water meters in domestic households following water industry privatisation.

[holding answer 6 December 1988]: The Public Utility Transfers and Water Charges Act requires the cost of installing meters compulsorily to be met by the water undertaker. The cost is therefore recovered from customers as a whole, with two exceptions. Customers who opt under the present voluntary scheme to pay by measure will be expected to pay for a meter and its installation. After 1 April 1989, water undertakers will be able to require the developers of newly built or converted domestic properties to pay for, or install, a meter as a condition of connecting a supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the position with regard to the inspection provisions of water metering and weights and measures legislation following the installation of water meters in domestic property.

[holding answer 6 December 1988]: Regulations made under the Public Utility Transfers and Water Charges Act 1988 enable householders, on the payment of a fee, to ask their water undertaker to test the accuracy of the meter. The fee will be returned if the meter is found to be inaccurate. The test would be carried out in accordance with weights and measures regulations. Alternatively, householders can ask for a test by a local authority weights and measures inspector.

Land Development

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions he has received during 1988 about the drawing up of covenants restricting development on open land; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 6 December 1988]: Section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 permits the making of agreements between the local planning authority and any person with an interest in the land for the purpose of restricting or regulating the development or use of land. My right hon. Friend has received representations that such agreements are sometimes required where they are not necessary for the development to proceed, and the Government are considering issuing further policy guidance to curtail abuse of these powers.

Sewers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has made of areas where urban sewers and drains are the property of private companies; and what conclusions he reached in respect of each such study.

[holding answer 7 December 1988]: None.

Home Department

Rape (Sentencing)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals against the length of sentencing in rape cases have been made since July 1988.

Information for 1988 is not yet available, but 96 persons appealed in 1987 against the sentence given to them for a rape offence.

Prisons (Psychiatric Patients)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) at the latest date for which statistics are available, what proportion of persons detained in Her Majesty's prisons had previously been patients in either psychiatric hospitals or pyschiatric wards; and what were the corresponding figures for the same date in each of the past 10 years;(2) at the latest date for which statistics are available, what proportion of persons detained in Her Majesty's prisons had previously received psychiatric treatment; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the past 10 years;(3) at the latest date for which statistics are available, what proportion of persons detained in Her Majesty's prisons were either undergoing psychiatric treatment or had undergone such treatment in the course of their sentences.

The number of inmates who have received or are undergoing psychiatric treatment is not recorded centrally.

Mortgage Fraud

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will make it his policy to publish separate figures for mortgage fraud in the annual criminal statistics;(2) what statistics are currently available for the incidence of mortgage fraud in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have no plans to collect and publish more detailed figures on offences of fraud in "Criminal Statistics".

Inter-City Trains (Radio Telephones)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make central funds available to British Rail to assist in resourcing the provision of radio telephones on inter-city trains as a means of crime prevention.

I understand that British Rail is already installing telephones on inter-city trains as an extra service for passengers.

Music (Drugs)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to obtain regular reports from the chief officers of police as to whether all public places of entertainment and night clubs in particular are being surveyed to ensure that the music played does not offend the Obscene Publications Act or other legislation aimed at reducing both the supply of and the demand for drugs.

We have no plans to do so.

Animals (Experiments)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the current project licences permiting cosmetic and toiletry experiments upon animals were granted prior to the implementation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

None. Project licences were introduced by the 1986 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences have been granted for regulated procedures which involve the testing of cosmetic and toiletry preparations since the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 came into force; and how many of these applications were placed before the Animal Procedures Committee for consideration before being granted.

Six project licences have been granted, all of which received prior consideration by the APC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for project licences for cosmetic experiments have been refused on the advice of the Animal Procedures Committee since 1 January 1987.

None; but following consideration by the APC, modifications have been made to some project licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personal licences are subsisting under those project licences granted for cosmetic experiments since 1 January 1987.

This information is not available centrally since personal licence holders are not generally restricted to working on a particular project.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider requiring the labelling of products to state whether or not they are tested on animals.

No. The Home Secretary is responsible for the licensing of scientific procedures on living animals, but not for any requirements for substances to be tested on animals or for the labelling of substances which have been tested.

Child Care

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make police records available to voluntary organisations dealing with children who wish to check on potential employees.

We intend to establish before next summer pilot schemes for the disclosure of police information about those seeking to work with children in the voluntary sector.

Metropolitan Police

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost, for each year since 1987, of the public relations branch of the Metropolitan police.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that staffing and accommodation costs and spending on publicity and recruitment advertising by the directorate of public affairs was £4,555,000 for 1987–88. The estimate for 1988–89 is £5,321,000.

Satellites (Crashes)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any emergency plans are being prepared for the possibility of the Solar Maximum satellite crashing on (a) London or (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

I understand that current assessments indicate that there is no risk of Solar Maximum, which is not nuclear powered, crashing on the United Kingdom and specific plans are not therefore being prepared.

Road Vehicles (Construction And Use) Regulations 1986

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under regulation 61 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and how many convictions obtained; and what steps he is taking to ensure the enforcement of this legislation.

Separate information is not collected centrally on court proceedings for offences under regulation 61, but is combined with a variety of other offences relating to vehicles in dangerous or defective condition. The available information is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables" (table 5 of the issue for 1987, which will be published soon). Since 1 October 1986, the police have been able to issue fixed penalty notices for these offences as an alternative to prosecution. All forces now also operate vehicle defect rectification schemes by which drivers.can avoid prosecution for certain offences if they produce evidence that defective vehicles have been repaired or scrapped.Further information is given in Home Office statistical bulletin 32/88, table 13 of which suggests that in 1987 there was a large rise in the enforcement of vehicle defect offences generally, as a result of these new methods of enforcement.

Lenient Sentences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to issue a commencement order for section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to give the Attorney-General the power to refer lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement.

We plan to bring section 36 into effect on 1 February.

Royal Ordnance Factory, Burghfield

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what emergency services attended the Royal Ordnance factory, Burghfield, following the explosion on Friday 2 December; if any casualties were sustained amongst emergency personnel; and at what time outside emergency services arrived at Burghfield.

I understand that the police and the fire brigade attended. No casualties were reported among emergency personnel. The police arrived at the incident at 06.20 hours and the fire brigade at 06.24 hours.

Armley Prison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average prisoners remanded to Armley remain in prison before being brought to trial.

Information is not available centrally on the average time spent on remand in individual establishments. The information available relates to the average time spent on remand in all prison service establishments by untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners and is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (tables 2(c) and 2(d) of the latest issue for 1986, Cm. 210, a copy of which is in the Library). The 1987 issue will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in Armley prison as a result of not paying bills or fines.

On 31 October 1988, the latest date for which information is readily available, there were 18 fine defaulters and no prisoners held for non-payment of debts in Leeds prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there were in Armley prison on 1 December; how many were (a) in cells of their own and (b) in the hospital wing; and how many were on remand.

On 1 December 1,291 prisoners were held in Her Majesty's prison, Leeds. Of these, 613 were untried and 107 had been convicted and awaited sentence. 33 prisoners were located in the hospital wing. On 13 November, the most recent date for which cell-occupancy figures are available, 62 prisoners were accommodated in cells of their own.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Armley prison go to education classes (a) every day or (b) every week.

The readily available information is as follows. It is planned that for 5-9 December there will be an average of 182 education places available for prisoners per day, and 498 individual prisoners will attend education classes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have died in Armley prison since January; and how many of those deaths have been classified as suicides by coroners' inquests.

Six inmates have died in Armley prison, Leeds, since January. Of these deaths, three have been confirmed as suicide by coroners' inquests, and two as deaths by natural causes. One inquest has yet to take place.

Justices' Clerks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the reponsibilities of a clerk to the justices for a petty sessional area; and if he will make a statement.

The principal reponsibilities are as set out in sections 28 and 29 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the scale of salaries for a clerk to the justices for a petty sessional area (a) in London, (b) in the shire counties, and (c) in the metropolitan counties; and if he will make a statement.

The salary payable to a clerk to the justices outside inner London ranges from £16,005 (rising to £17,598 by increments) to £30,978 (rising to £34,638 by increments) according to the population of the petty sessions area concerned. In inner London the principal chief clerk has a salary of £35,370 and the chief clerks have an incremental salary scale of £27,819-£30,747. The above figures all exclude London weighting where payable. Increases in pay are now subject to arbitration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the level of London weighting allowance awarded to a clerk to the justices for a petty sessional area; if he has any plans to review present arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

The London weighting allowance payable to a clerk to the Justices is as follows:

	£
(1) Magistrates courts service (excluding inner London)
(i) Greater London	792
(ii) Inner Fringe	357
(iii) Outer Fringe	243
(2) Inner London Magistrates courts service	1,500

London weighting is under review as part of the current pay negotiations.

Magistrates' Courts (Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals for the recruitment of additional staff in the magistrates' courts in order to deal with the growing backlog of cases; and if he will make a statement.

There is provision for 200 additional court posts in the next financial year, and we shall obviously have local operational difficulties in mind in considering applications for increases in complement. We shall keep the position under review in the light of the outcome of the arbitration on the current pay negotiations. We also hope to increase, through the provision of training, the number of staff from within the courts service qualified to act as court clerks.

Terrorism

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (a) the tonnage of explosives and (b) the number of firearms found as a ration of houses searched under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974, 1976 and 1984 for each year from 1974 to the latest available date.

The information is not available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the total number of people (a) detained, (b) charged and (c) convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in each year since 1974; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures between men and women;(2) if he will provide a breakdown of the people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act for each year since 1974

(a) at ports; (b) at airports; (c) in their homes and (d) in other places; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures between men and women detainees.

The readily available information on those detained under the prevention of terrorism legislation in Great Britain is published quarterly in Home Office statistical bulletins which are placed in the Library; the latest, Issue 29/88, gives information on those detained up to the third quarter of 1988. Information on the outcome of charges following detention under this legislation is published in the end of year bulletins in this series; tables 6 and 7 of Issue 11/88 give the figures for those detained over the period of the current legislation. Figures relating to earlier legislation can be obtained from corresponding earlier bulletins in this series.

Extradition

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of extradition requests made to the Republic of Ireland in each year since 1967, indicating how many of those requests were for crimes of a terrorist nature and how many requests were for other types of crime, and show for each year the number of those extradition requests which were granted for (a) crimes of a terrorist nature and (b) other types of crimes and how many were refused for each class of crime; if he will indicate for each of those years, and each class of crime, how many extradition requests and warrants were found by the Irish authorities and the Irish courts to be unacceptable; if he will also publish in the Official Report the same information for extradition requests made to the United Kingdom by the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

The readily available information on extradition requests between England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland is given in the following tables. This is based mainly on information provided by police forces. Requests involving terrorist offences are specified where known.

Requests made by England and Wales for return of persons from the Republic of Ireland
	Requests made	Requests granted	Requests refused	Requests not acted on for other reasons³
1982	41	17	1	23
1983	31	11	—	20
1984	29	15	—	14
1985	23	5	—	18
1986	¹12	1	¹1	10
1987	5	1	2	2
1988	²7	1	—	²⁴6

Requests received in England and Wales for the return of persons to the Republic of Ireland
	Requests received	Requests granted	Requests refused	Requests not acted on for other reasons³
1982	9	7	—	2
1983	15	11	—	4
1984	31	24	—	7
1985	29	18	—	11
1986	15	5	3	7
1987	20	14	—	6
1988	Not yet available
¹ includes 1 case involving terrorist offences
² includes 2 cases involving terrorist offences
³ e.g. because the fugitive could not be traced
⁴ some cases pending

Parliamentary Constituencies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Boundary Commission for England intends to conduct any further interim reviews of parliamentary constituencies.

The commission has told me of its intention to conduct a review of the Buckingham and Milton Keynes county constituencies.

Police And Criminal Evidence Act

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people (a) detained, (b) charged and (c) convicted under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in each year since 1984 to the latest available date; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into men and women.

Most of the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 were implemented on 1 January 1986. Home Office statistical bulletins have been published regularly since then, the latest, Issue 14/88, giving figures for 1987. These bulletins cover the operation of those sections of the Act on which chief constables are required to publish statistics, ie stops and searches, road checks, detentions beyond 24 hours without charge and intimate searches.The only criminal offence created by the Act relates to the improper disclosure of information by a member, officer or servant of the Police Complaints Authority (section 98). There have been no convictions under this section.Information on all persons convicted, including separate figures for men and women, is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1987" (Cm. 498) and in a companion set of five supplementary volumes. All the publications referred to are in the Library.

Data Protection Act

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the terms of reference of the interdepartmental group reviewing the workings of the Data Protection Act; to what extent the group is initially concentrating its efforts on reporting on registration requirements; and whether it is intended that the group shall recommend changes to strengthen data subjects rights or the registrar's powers under the Act.

The terms of reference of the interdepartmental review committee on the Data Protection Act 1984 are:

"To review the Data Protection Act 1984 in the light of experience gained during its implementation, with particular reference to the impact on data users of the registration requirements; and to make recommendations."

The committee will review the Act as a whole and will recommend such changes as it considers necessary on any aspect of the Act.

Scotland

Radioactivity

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to date of analysing water, vegetation, soil and food samples for radioactivity levels and of administering measures to control contaminated food and to compensate affected farming businesses, since the Chernobyl accident.

The total costs incurred by the Scottish Office are estimated to be in the region of £3·2 million comprising about £1 million for staff and associated administration costs, about £0·5 million in relation to analysis and monitoring and about £1·7 million for compensation to farmers in the restricted areas.

National Council For Vocational Qualifications

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the responses to the consultative paper on whether the remit of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications should extend to Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have decided that the advantages to be gained by individuals and employers in Scotland from the development of nationally recognised vocational standards can be achieved without extension of the remit of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications to Scotland at present. The Scottish Vocational Education Council (SCOTVEC) will continue to work closely with employers, examining bodies, and the training agency in the United Kingdom to ensure that its qualifications meet the needs of British as well as Scottish employers. I look forward to SCOTVEC continuing to maintain and develop its constructive relationship with the NCVQ, which I will keep under review.

Teachers (Premature Retirement)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of school-teachers, by age and by sex, who were granted premature retirement during the academic session 1987–88.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on Thursday 3 November which set out the available information.

School Rolls

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of school-pupils at the most recent available date in attendance at nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in each local education authority, giving the breakdown by region and by division.

The numbers of pupils in education authority schools in September 1987 are given in the table.

	Nursery	Primary	Secondary	Special
Borders	400	8,160	6,330	180
Central	2,510	23,520	18,380	380
Dumfries and Galloway	440	12,300	9,800	160
Fife	4,280	30,550	22,450	630
Grampian	2,700	43,040	31,910	1,000
Highland	620	19,280	14,350	400
Lothian	8,020	54,360	41,190	1,550
Strathclyde	17,730	201,510	153,290	4,200
Tayside	2,400	31,110	24,000	480

	Nursery	Primary	Secondary	Special
Orkney	90	1,790	1,340	10
Shetland	110	2,370	1,660	10
Western Isles	—	2,930	2,480	30
ALL SCOTLAND	39,290	430,920	327,170	9,020
Argyll and Bute	—	5,720	4,420	90
Ayr	2,540	33,440	26,180	490
Dunbarton	2,020	30,320	22,920	450
Glasgow (City)	8,360	54,760	37,910	1,790
Lanark	2,310	46,360	37,070	840
Renfrew	2,510	30,910	24,790	550

Pieda Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of producing the Planning, Industrial and Economic Development Advisers' report.

The cost of the PIEDA report was £20,597.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the Planning, Industrial and Economic Development Advisers' report.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend will not publish the PIEDA report. It is a confidential report prepared for Government.

Generation Type as Percentage of Total Output (Based on Net Units sent out)
North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board Area
Per cent.
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88
Hydro	79	88	82	82	53	42	24	72	57	48
Pumped Storage	-3	-3	-1	0	-1	-1	-1	-1	1	1
Fossil	7	3	7	4	42	54	68	2	24	32
Diesel	9	9	8	8	4	3	2	6	4	4
Gas Turbine and Wind	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dounreay	7	2	4	5	1	2	6	20	14	14
Sundry	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	1
Total	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100

South of Scotland Electricity Board Area
Per cent.
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88
Coal and Slurry	65·2	69·2	65·7	66·6	50·7	48·2	22·0	53·1	42·8	52·0
Heavy Fuel Oil	11·9	6·1	1·1	1·0	—	-0·1	27·9	0·1	5·3	—
Nuclear¹	21·9	23·4	31·7	31·2	47·7	50·5	49·2	45·5	50·5	46·4
Hydro and Sundries	1·0	1·3	1·5	1·2	1·6	1·4	0·9	1·3	1·4	1·6
Total	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
¹Nuclear output includes Chapelcross Power Station owned and operated by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Local Authority Rents

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average weekly local authority rent in Scotland for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1989–90, expressed as a percentage of average male manual earnings.

The information requested is set out in the table:

Glasgow Western Infirmary

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are for the future of the accident and emergency service at the Glasgow Western Infirmary; and if he will make a statement.

Greater Glasgow health board is currently conducting a strategic review of all accident and emergency services in Glasgow and has no plans to alter the level of accident and emergency services provided at Glasgow Western Infirmary. However, as a result of an earlier staffing review the senior medical staffing level has been strengthened. A full-time consultant in accident and emergency has taken up post and an appointment for a second full-time consultant has recently been made.

Electricity

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the types of plants at each of the South of Scotland Electricity Board areas and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board areas and their respective output capacity each year since 1979, showing these figures in percentage terms of the overall output.

The information, provided by the Scottish electricity boards on the same basis as their annual reports and accounts for the years in question, is as follows:

Finance Year	Rent¹ as a percentage of earnings²
1979–80	5·7
1980–81	5·8
1981–82	6·7
1982–83	7·3
1983–84	7·3
1984–85	7·3
1985–86	7·4
1986–87	7·8
1987–88	8·4

¹ Average unrebated local authority rent per dwelling per week as at 30 September, based on local authorities' statistical returns to the

Scottish Development Department.

² Average weekly earnings of full-time (male and female) adult employees in major production and transport industries, based on Department of Employment surveys. Separate figures for earnings of male adult employees are not available.

Note:

Average earnings figures are not available for 1988–89 or 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average weekly unrebated

Average weekly unrebated local authority rent in Scotland at 30 September
	1979–80 £	1980–81 £	1981–82 £	1982–83 £	1983–84 £	1984–85 £	1985–86 £	1986–87 £	1987–88 £	1988–89 £¹
Scotland	4·92	5·66	7·69	9·02	9·86	10·46	11·55	12·99	14·58	16·23
Berwickshire	5·87	6·94	8·91	11·01	11·55	12·75	13·77	14·40	15·34	16·81
Ettrick and Lauderdale	5·25	5·89	6·44	10·15	11·00	13·22	13·14	13·14	13·88	14·47
Roxburgh	5·79	6·83	9·46	11·38	12·42	13·43	14·72	16·38	16·87	18·23
Tweeddale	4·31	6·07	8·33	10·51	11·33	11·28	11·34	12·69	13·14	14·10
Clackmannan	4·62	5·33	7·19	9·33	10·25	11·21	11·66	12·86	14·34	16·32
Falkirk	3·95	5·31	6·68	8·96	10·17	10·68	11·61	12·54	13·89	15·38
Stirling	4·39	5·71	6·88	7·82	9·28	9·29	11·55	13·62	15·07	16·04
Annandale and Eskdale	5·30	6·38	8·55	10·21	11·68	12·91	13·85	15·22	16·49	18·29
Nithsdale	3·83	4·80	7·11	8·76	9·60	10·50	11·48	13·13	13·86	15·45
Stewartry	5·20	6·57	9·57	11·92	12·65	13·96	14·09	15·45	16·45	18·08
Wigtown	4·88	6·13	8·53	10·68	11·99	14·17	15·79	16·69	16·70	17·51
Dunfermline	4·79	5·74	8·47	10·63	11·66	12·16	12·15	13·46	14·70	16·67
Kirkcaldy	4·64	5·63	8·08	9·61	10·45	11·60	12·60	13·85	15·32	17·02
North East Fife	4·94	6·93	9·56	11·26	12·73	12·69	13·82	15·87	17·07	17·02
Aberdeen	4·73	5·62	5·97	6·96	7·92	8·89	11·21	12·55	14·69	16·02
Banff and Buchan	5·14	5·46	7·72	9·96	11·25	12·43	13·80	14·98	15·61	17·13
Gordon	6·16	6·68	8·23	10·17	11·41	11·91	13·63	14·91	15·11	16·41
Kincardine and Deeside	4·41	5·35	7·54	9·46	10·52	11·80	13·01	13·85	14·34	14·70
Moray	5·34	6·79	7·76	8·02	10·35	11·64	13·58	14·03	15·66	17·35
Badenoch and Strathspey	4·95	6·54	8·44	9·88	11·52	12·56	13·50	15·35	15·32	16·90
Caithness	4·19	5·02	6·89	8·41	9·67	11·75	12·65	13·69	14·84	16·48
Inverness	5·69	6·37	9·60	9·80	10·54	11·28	13·19	14·02	15·96	18·01
Lochaber	4·43	4·74	8·23	10·65	11·36	12·28	12·98	14·29	16·03	16·96
Nairn	4·84	5·22	7·50	9·97	11·23	12·15	13·53	14·68	15·79	17·28
Ross and Cromarty	5·12	6·27	8·25	9·75	10·75	11·99	12·73	14·73	15·85	17·46
Skye and Lochalsh	4·96	7·02	8·07	10·41	11·08	13·02	14·91	17·13	14·97	17·45
Sutherland	5·56	6·31	8·72	9·79	10·76	11·83	12·80	14·17	14·43	15·56
East Lothian	4·88	5·70	7·30	8·55	10·23	11·10	12·39	13·36	14·71	16·16
Edinburgh	6·52	7·63	9·54	11·04	12·28	13·53	13·35	13·39	15·23	17·10
Midlothian	4·76	5·72	7·19	9·03	9·90	10·77	11·83	12·76	13·71	14·71
West Lothian	4·36	5·29	8·18	9·76	10·48	10·98	11·78	12·63	13·53	14·85
Argyll and Bute	5·44	6·87	9·73	11·84	13·43	14·61	15·32	15·31	15·80	18·14
Bearsden and Milngavie	5·49	5·85	8·85	10·25	10·87	11·45	12·17	14·23	16·58	18·15
Clydebank	4·03	5·43	7·04	8·52	9·04	10·04	12·19	15·04	17·06	19·29
Clydesdale²	4·59	6·07	7·51	9·22	9·69	10·70	12·15	13·02	13·85	15·66
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	4·90	6·32	8·93	10·13	10·12	10·61	12·74	14·75	16·42	18·11
Cumnock and Doon Valley	4·02	5·10	7·46	8·85	9·89	10·39	11·11	12·15	13·61	14·97
Cunninghame	5·17	5·17	7·14	8·01	8·84	8·85	8·85	10·50	13·01	14·80
Dumbarton	4·02	4·70	7·49	8·51	8·56	9·38	9·38	11·68	14·60	18·08
East Kilbride	4·63	6·49	8·34	10·56	11·43	12·44	13·49	15·55	16·53	17·48
Eastwood	5·14	6·06	8·50	9·96	10·52	11·02	11·50	11·94	12·45	13·74
Glasgow	5·33	6·45	8·39	9·10	9·61	9·63	10·65	12·61	14·63	16·95
Hamilton	4·17	4·86	6·26	8·28	9·33	10·03	10·95	12·80	14·86	15·93
Inverclyde	5·29	5·93	7·30	7·81	8·31	9·08	11·30	12·40	13·33	14·36
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	4·39	5·71	7·96	8·58	9·08	9·59	10·59	12·42	13·85	14·84
Kyle and Carrick	5·27	5·30	6·25	8·59	9·61	10·42	12·18	13·37	14·38	15·57
Monklands	4·39	5·23	6·57	8·34	9·30	9·30	11·32	13·68	15·50	16·93
Motherwell	4·36	5·20	7·40	7·91	8·91	9·91	11·27	12·46	14·10	15·09
Renfrew	4·43	5·34	7·19	8·10	8·33	8·81	9·81	11·50	12·99	14·11
Strathkelvin	4·34	5·68	8·54	9·22	9·69	10·57	11·62	14·18	15·31	17·15
Angus	4·73	5·12	8·03	9·05	10·74	11·70	12·66	13·77	14·58	14·73
Dundee	5·08	5·91	5·91	7·26	8·07	8·80	9·82	11·63	13·61	16·18
Perth and Kinross	4·01	5·19	7·66	10·54	10·78	10·77	11·93	12·93	13·88	14·67
Orkney Islands	5·65	6·75	7·93	9·33	10·12	11·00	13·16	14·49	15·99	17·49
Shetland Islands	4·75	5·60	8·00	10·43	10·57	10·52	13·43	14·97	15·93	17·40
Western Isles	5·32	7·19	9·48	12·12	13·04	14·88	15·47	16·50	17·52	18·63
¹ 1988–89 figures taken from Rating Review Estimates of Income and Expenditure published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
² Prior to 1980 this was Lanark District.

local authority rent in Scotland for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1989–90, expressed by local authority area.

The information requested is set out in the table. Local authorities have yet to set their rent levels for 1989–90.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will produce figures for the total stock of dwellings for Scotland by tenure; and if he will express those figures by local authority area.

Estimates of the dwelling stock in Scotland by tenure are published quarterly in "Housing and Construction Statistics". The numbers of domestic subjects on the valuation roll by tenure for each local authority area in Scotland are published annually in "Rating Review: Estimates of Income and Expenditure Summary Volume" by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of local authority dwellings in Scotland, expressed by house type.

The available information is set out in the table.

Estimated local authority dwelling stock by house type, Scotland 1988
Dwelling type	Number of dwellings (thousand)
House	332
Highrise flat	54
Tenement flat	94
Other flat/maisonette	315
Type not known	32
Total	827

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much subsidy in terms of housing support grant and rate fund contribution has been paid and is estimated to be paid in respect of local authorities for each of the financial years 1979–80 to 1989–90, both in total, and expressed as a subsidy per dwelling for the total number of dwellings in local authority control and in respect of those authorities in receipt of subsidy.

The information requested is set out in the table:

Financial year	Total Subsidies £ million	Subsidies per dwelling ¹ £	Subsidies per dwelling ² £
1979–80	286·324	320·50	320·50
1980–81	307·603	343·68	343·68
1981–82	268·175	300·21	300·21
1982–83	229·341	259·28	264·02
1983–84	195·331	223·80	228·24
1984–85	206·230	239·07	243·79
1985–86	162·572	180·08	200·28
1986–87	120·777	135·42	151·29
1987–88	82·966	102·96	104·79
1988–89	76·588	94·75	99·13
1989–90³	63·854	82·45	243·00

Notes:

¹ Calculated on the basis of the total number of dwellings held on local authority housing revenue accounts.

² Calculated on the basis of the numbers of dwellings held on local authority housing revenue accounts to which subsidy credited during that year.

³ As estimated by the Scottish Development Department.

Extradition

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of extradition requests made to the Republic of Ireland in each year since 1967, indicating how many of those requests were for crimes of a terrorist nature and how many requests were for other types of crimes, and show for each year the number of those extradition requests which were (a) granted (b) refused for (i) crimes of a terrorist nature and (ii) other types of crimes and how many were refused for each class of crime; if he will also indicate for each of these years, and each class of crime, how many extradition requests and warrants were found by the Irish authorities and the Irish courts to be unacceptable; if he will also publish in the Official Report the same information for extradition requests made to the United Kingdom by the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Information in respect of requests made to the Republic of Ireland prior to 1987 is not available centrally and cannot be ascertained. However, it is known that between 1967 and 1987 two requests were made in respect of a person accused of crimes of a terrorist nature. In 1973 a request was refused following an appeal to the High Court in Dublin. A request made in 1984 is still outstanding after the failure of the accused person to appear at an appeal hearing.In 1987, requests were sent to the Republic of Ireland in three cases. None of these was in respect of crimes of a terrorist nature. In the current year, no requests have fallen to be made. In the period since the beginning of 1987, no requests have been refused.Information as to requests for the extradition of persons resident in Scotland from the Republic of Ireland is not available centrally and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost, but I understand that such requests are likely to have averaged two or three per annum and, so far as can be ascertained, they have been granted.

Ec (Regional Assistance)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total amount of European social fund moneys allocated to Scotland in each of the years 1983 to 1987, inclusive, and for each assisted area and function so designated to receive such funds.

[holding answer 1 December 1988]: I have been asked to reply. We do not have information on what amounts were allocated specifically to Scotland for 1983 to 1984 under the European social fund.For each of the years since 1985, the European Commission allocated to Scotland the following:

Year	ESF allocations in £ millions
1985	17·21
1986	14·05
1987	17·28

The allocation to the Scottish areas of high and long term unemployment and/or the industrial and sectoral restructuring (i.e. priority regions as defined by the European Commission) per year was:

Priority ESF regions and allocations in £'s
Regions	1985	1986	1987
Borders	210,257	—	—
Central	239,299	834,116	881,123
Dumfries and Galloway	52,103	136,661	134,416
Fife	1,074,297	238,155	844,738
Grampian	238,461	—	—
Highlands	223,960	334,008	370,022
Lothian	3,052,829	2,420,722	—
Strathclyde	10,893,009	8,737,971	9,338,236
Tayside	436,220	689,854	1,740,136
Western Isles	151,131	—	—

Because of the way the ESF Guidelines, which are the perogative of the European Commission, are drawn up, certain areas of Scotland will have had priority in one year but not in another.

National Finance

Press Briefings

13.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to hold a briefing meeting with journalists; and what subjects he intends to discuss.

I have nothing to add to the answer that the hon. Member received from my right hon. Friend on 11 November at columns 358-59.

17.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that his future interviews with the press are recorded by two or more tape-recorders.

I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) earlier today.

Imf

14.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet M. Michel Camdessus, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund; and what matters will be discussed.

73.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet M. Michel Camdessus, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund; and what matters will be discussed.

I expect to see M. Camdessus at the Interim Committee meeting in Washington in April, when a wide range of matters will be discussed.

Inflation

15.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current rate of inflation.

The retail price index rose by 6·4 per cent. in the year to October 1988.

31.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current rate of inflation.

The retail price index rose by 6·4 per cent. in the year to October 1988.

68.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the principal factors increasing the inflation rate during the last year.

Inflation has risen as a consequence of the very strong growth in demand this year. Recent tightening of monetary policy will ensure that inflation falls in 1989.

75.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take to make up the shortfall on spending experienced by Departments committed to projects whose costs have risen through increased inflation.

New plans were announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement on 1 November. Although the expected level of inflation was a factor that was considered when setting these plans, public expenditure is planned in cash terms and in general there is no automatic adjustment for higher prices. The planning total for 1989–90 remains £167·1 billion, the same level published in the last public expenditure White Paper. Within that unchanged total there is provision for substantial increases in spending on priority programmes.

84.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he plans to take to reduce inflation.

The progressive tightening of monetary conditions since the summer will exert downward pressure on inflation.

Balance Of Payments

18.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the balance of payments deficits of (a) the United State of America and (b) the United Kingdom, expressed as a proportion of the gross national product.

33.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the balance of payments deficits of (a) the United States of America and (b) the United Kingdom, expressed as a proportion of the gross national product.

48.

53.

In the latest 12 months for which figures are available, the current account deficit as a proportion of the gross national product was 2·0 per cent. in the United Kingdom compared with 3·1 per cent. in the United States of America.

29.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments position.

36.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments position.

39.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments position.

72.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments position.

Recent import figures and other indicators have shown that domestic demand has been growing rather too fast. Appropriate action has been taken.

Treasury Income

19.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total income to the Treasury since May 1979 from (a) North sea oil revenue and (b) the sale of publicly owned assets.

For the period from 1979–80 to 1987–88, North sea oil revenues amounted to some £62 billion. For the period from 1979–80 to the end of 1988–89, net privatisation proceeds are estimated to amount to some £23·5 billion.

Interest Rates

21.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the level of interest rates to fall; and if he will make a statement.

49.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of future movement in interest rates over the next year.

85.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of future movement in interest rates over the next year.

Base rates are currently 13 per cent. I never comment on future movements in interest rates.

38.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

47.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

69.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

Bank base rates are 13 per cent.

43.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of continuing high interest rates on the international competitiveness of the pound sterling.

74.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of continuing high interest rates on the international competitiveness of the pound sterling.

The sterling exchange rate is one of the factors taken into account in the continual and comprehensive assessment of monetary conditions.

61.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the impact of current levels of interest rates on the economy.

Higher interest rates will increase downward pressure on inflation and thereby provide the basis for our continued economic success.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of continuing high interest rates in the international competitiveness of the pound sterling.

The sterling exchange rate is one of the factors taken into account in the continual and comprehensive assessment of monetary conditions.

Unleaded Petrol

20.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding increases in the tax concession on unleaded petrol; and if he will make a statement.

In his last Budget, my right hon. Friend increased the tax differential in favour of unleaded petrol to nearly 11p per gallon so that at the pump it now sells at 5 or 6p cheaper than four-star.

22.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to increase the tax concession on unleaded petrol; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend's Budget.

Growth

23.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth between 1981 and 1987 of (a) consumer expenditure, (b) exports and (c) investment in the British economy.

64.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth between 1981 and 1987 of (a) consumer expenditure, (b) exports and (c) investment in the British economy.

Between 1981 and 1987 consumers' expenditure grew by 23 per cent. compared with growth of 28 per cent. for exports of goods and services and 33 per cent. for investment.

45.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the growth of output in the economy.

The output measure of gross domestic product is estimated to have grown by 5 per cent. in the year to 1988, third quarter.

46.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual growth of productivity in the United Kingdom economy since 1980.

Whole economy productivity has grown by an average of 2¾ per cent. a year since 1980, a rate similar to that of Japan and faster than all other major industrial countries.

"Residence In The United Kingdom"

24.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses he has received to the consultative document entitled "Residence in the United Kingdom".

At 30 November, the date by which comments were requested, 168 responses had been received expressing a wide range of views.

Pensioners

25.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of national pensioners' organisations to discuss the fiscal regime for pensioners.

65.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of national pensioners' organisations to discuss the fiscal regime for pensioners.

67.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of national pensioners' organisations to discuss the fiscal regime for pensioners.

My right hon. Friend has not met representatives of national pensioners' organisations, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security meets representatives from time to time and passes on their concerns.

Privatisation

26.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many major businesses have been privatised since 1979; and how many of their employees have bought shares as a consequence.

80.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many major businesses have been privatised since 1979; and how many of their employees have bought shares as a consequence.

Nineteen major businesses have been privatised since 1979; 90 per cent. of eligible employees have participated in Government share sales.

58.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total estimated yield to the Exchequer in corporation tax of those companies which have been privatised since 1979.

The companies privatised since 1979 paid a total of £1½ billion in corporation tax in the financial year 1987–88.

Environment

27.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will institute a review of the impact of the taxation system on the environment.

We have no plans for a separate review, but environmental issues are, of course, taken into account where appropriate in considering changes to the tax system.

Profitability

28.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of profitability in the British economy.

Chart 2.9 of the forecast presented in the Autumn Statement indicates that in 1988 the net rate of return of non-North sea industrial and commercial companies should rise for the seventh successive year, to its highest level since the early 1960s.

Personal Taxation

30.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's plans for the reform of personal taxation.

The new system of independent taxation for husband and wife will be introduced in April 1990. The Inland Revenue already has preparations well in hand.

Investment

32.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of investment in the economy.

Total real fixed investment in the first half of 1988 was at its highest level ever, having grown by 9·6 per cent. on the same period a year earlier.

Group Of Seven

34.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the current inflation rates of the member states of the Group of Seven industrialised countries.

35.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the current inflation rates of the member states of the Group of Seven leading industrialised countries.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) earlier today.

Cbi

37.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters will be discussed.

57.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when does he next expect to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters will be discussed.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. Turner).

Contingency Fund

40. Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he expects to allocate any resources from the contingency fund in 1989–90 to (a) pensions and (b) education.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he expects to allocate resources from the contingency fund in 1989–90 to (a) pensions and (b) education.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Blyth Valley (Mr. Campbell).

Child Tax Allowances

41.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reintroduce child tax allowances.

42.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reintroduce child tax allowances.

50.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reintroduce child tax allowances.

52.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reintroduce child tax allowances.

No.

Taxation (Incentives)

44.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish any information his Department possesses on the incentive effects of the reduction in tax rates from 60 per cent. to 40 per cent. in his last Budget.

Estimates of the direct revenue costs of the reductions in income tax rates were published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report on Budget day. Notwithstanding those reductions, provisional figures suggest that income tax receipts in the first seven months of 1988–89 are 5 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period in 1987–88 as a result of the growth in employment and earnings. It is not possible to isolate the effects of the Budget measures on these factors.

Tax Thresholds

51.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been taken out of paying income tax as a result of the raising of tax thresholds over the past five years.

Over 820,000 fewer single people and married couples are liable to income tax in 1988–89 compared with those who would be liable under the tax regime in 1983–84 with allowances and thresholds indexed for inflation to 1988–89.

Charitable Giving

54.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the figures for the level of charitable giving.

66.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the level of charitable giving.

I regret that comprehensive information on charitable giving is not available from official sources. Available information is as follows. Covenanted giving to charities amounted to some £450 million in 1985–86, £500 million in 1986–87 and is estimated at about £650 million in 1987–88. The available information on gifts to charities on death relates only to estates above the value at which capital transfer tax or inheritance tax would be payable in the absence of exemptions. For these estates the amounts are provisionally estimated at £300 million in both 1985–86 and 1986–87.

Public Sector Debt

55.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total public sector debt repayment for the year 1987–88; what was the equivalent figure for 1979; and if he will make a statement.

The public sector debt repayment was £3·6 billion in 1987–88, ¾ per cent. of GDP. In 1978–79 there was a public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) of £9·2 billion, 5¼ per cent. of GDP, equivalent to a PSBR of £22·3 billion at 1987–88 levels of GDP.

European Monetary System

56.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met his fellow European Community Ministers to discuss the European monetary systems.

I meet my fellow European Finance Ministers regularly to discuss a wide range of economic matters.

Adult Unemployment

59.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effect upon the economy of the fall in adult unemployment since 1981.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has decreased from 9.0 per cent. at the end of 1981 to 7·7 per cent. in October this year. This has been accompanied by an increase in the workforce in employment of more than 1·6 million, which together with an exceptionally strong increase in productivity, has been reflected in a rate of growth of output since 1980 faster than that in any other major EC country.

Take-Home Pay

60.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the real take-home pay of a married man on average earnings with two children since 1978–79.

A married man with two children on average male earnings will have received a real increase in take-home pay of more than 29 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1988–89.

Expenditure

62.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross domestic product represented by general Government expenditure; and what was the comparable figure in 1982–83.

The Autumn Statement gave a forecast of 39¾ per cent. for the ratio of general Government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) to gross domestic product in 1988–89. The corresponding figure for 1982–83 was 46¾ per cent.

70.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the outlook for public expenditure in 1989–90.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House in his Autumn Statement on 1 November, the public expenditure planning total for 1989–90 will remain at £167·1 billion, the level published in the last public expenditure White Paper. Further details of the public expenditure plans will be given in the 1989 public expenditure White Paper, to be published in the new year.

76.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the level of the price index or gross domestic product deflator for 1989–90 assumed in the autumn statement 1988 in table 1.1 on trends in public expenditure exceeds that assumed for 1989–90 in the autumn statement for 1987 in table 2.2.

In the 1988 Autumn Statement the GDP deflator is assumed to rise by 5 per cent. in 1989–90. This is 1½ per cent. higher than the corresponding figure assumed in 1987.

Ec (Contributions)

63.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Economic Community in 1987–88; and if this figure includes a proportion of the payment made to the European Economic Community in respect of its overspending in 1988.

The United Kingdom's net payment to European Economic Community institutions in 1987–88 was £1,664 million. This figure does not include any amount in respect of our contribution to the 1988 IGA (assuming that is what my hon. Friend is referring to).

National Debt

71.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost to public funds in servicing the national debt in 1988–89; and what have been the comparable figures for the amount and percentage of total public expenditure over the past 10 years.

The table below shows general Government gross debt interest payments for the year 1978–79 to 1991–92.

General Government Gross Debt Interest Payments
	£ billion	Percentage of General Government Expenditure
1978–79	7·4	9·9
1979–80	9·4	10·5
1980–81	11·4	10·5
1981–82	13·3	11·0
1982–83	13·9	10·5
1983–84	14·5	10·4
1984–85	16·1	10·7
1985–86	17·7	11·2
1986–87	17·6	10·7
1987–88	17·5	10·2
1988–89¹	17·7	9·75
1989–90¹	17·0	8·75

	£ billion	Percentage of General Government Expenditure
1990–91¹	16·0	8
1991–92¹	15·5	7·75
¹ Autumn Statement 1988 projections.

Negative Income Tax

77.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current estimate of the cost of introducing a system of negative income tax.

It is not possible to estimate the cost since my hon. Friend has not provided sufficient information about the tax system that he has in mind.

Disposable Income

78.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for real personal disposable income in the British economy.

In the first half of 1988 real personal disposable income was 3 per cent. higher than in the first half of 1987.

Business Start-Ups

79.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of business start-ups on the basis of value added tax registrations.

The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations processed by Customs and Excise in the period April to October 1988 is:

	Number
New registrations	139,494
De-registrations	99,519
Net increase	39,975

This represents a record average increase in the size of the VAT register of well over 1,000 a week.

Capital Investment

81.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what proportion he expects fixed capital investment to rise in 1988 over 1987.

Total fixed capital investment was forecast in the Autumn Statement to grow in real terms by 12 per cent. in 1988.

Vehicle Excise Duty

82.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions as to future rates of car tax.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's next Budget Statement.

Private Rented Housing

83.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implementation of the extension of the BES to private rented housing.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 30 November 1988 to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) at column 273.

Roads (Taxation)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was received by the Treasury from road user taxes, broken down into (a) fuel duty, (b) vehicle excise duty, (c) car tax, (d) value added tax on vehicles and (e) value added tax on fuel in each year since 1974–75.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: The following information is available:

£ million
	Fuel duty¹	Vehicle excise Duty²	Car tax	VAT on vechicles³	VAT on road fuel⁴
1974–75	1,430	520	120	..	240
1975–76	1,430	770	180	..	460
1976–77	1,960	810	220	..	280
1977–78	2,210	1,050	290	..	300
1978–79	2,210	1,090	380	480	290
1979–80	2,670	1,160	520	1,030	490
1980–81	3,340	1,360	480	970	620
1981–82	4,430	1,620	510	1,060	760
1982–83	5,030	1,840	600	1,260	840
1983–84	5,410	2,000	700	1,390	920
1984–85	5,870	2,260	740	1,450	980
1985–86	6,250	2,430	860	1,650	1,040
1986–87	7,300	2,520	960	1,900	950
1987–88	7,670	2,600	1,130	2,300	1,020

Youth Cohort Study (England and Wales)
Percentage of School Leavers on YTS or Out of Work at the time of the survey.
	1985¹		1986²		1987³
Region	On YTS	Out of Work	On YTS	Out of Work	On YTS	Out of Work
North	31	30	57	13	56	15
Yorkshire and Humberside	31	26	47	18	50	16
North West	28	28	51	17	51	16
East Midlands	27	24	47	15	47	12
West Midlands	32	26	57	15	55	14
East Anglia	24	22	44	12	41	11
Greater London	18	20	25	21	23	16
South East	20	19	34	14	34	10
South West	27	17	50	11	42	12
Wales	37	28	55	16	55	15
Percentage Total	27	24	46	16	45	14
¹ 12,500 1984 summer school leavers surveyed in summer 1985.
² 20,000 1985 summer school leavers surveyed in spring 1986.
³ 20,000 1986 summer school leavers surveyed in spring 1987.

Employment Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline the overall budget for funding the underpinning agreements given to ET training managers broken down by region; how much has so far been claimed; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the underpinning arrangements.

The underpinning arrangements are funded from the overall resources available for employment training and there are no separate regional

Notes:

¹ Excise duty receipts from petrol and DERV.

² Vehicle excise duty on all types of road vehicle.

³ VAT on vehicles has been estimated from consumers' purchases of cars and motor cycles, and businesses' purchases of cars (on which tax is not deductible). Information is not available before 1978–79.

⁴ VAT on fuel has been estimated from consumers' expenditure on fuel (including oil).

Child Benefit

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of those families with children who receive more in child benefit than they pay in income tax are out of work.

[holding answer 29 November 1988]: In 1988–89, it is estimated that some 2 million families with children will receive more in child benefit than they pay out in income tax. About one quarter of heads of these families are unemployed. These estimates are based on projections of the results of the 1986 Family Expenditure Survey and are subject to revision.

Employment

Yts

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of school leavers in each local education authority area (a) entering YTS and (b) remaining unemployed since the YTS began.

The information is not available in the form requested. Figures from the youth cohort study (England and Wales) for the regions of England and Wales for the years 1985 to 1987 are provided in the table:budgets for this purpose. So far some £836,000 has been claimed by training managers and these arrangements will continue to operate in a cost-effective way.

Disabled Persons (Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of his Department's staff are classed as disabled.

At 1 June 1988, 2·23 per cent. of the Employment Department group's staff were registered as disabled. In addition, the group employs staff with disabilities who chose not to register.

Data Protection Act

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why members of his Department are on the interdepartmental group looking at the workings of the Data Protection Act; and whether he will define the concerns of his Department in respect of the Data Protection Act.

Many of the views expressed to the Data Protection Registrar in his informal consultation review on the workings of the Data Protection Act have been put by small firms and by organisations representing their interests. I have responsibility for representing the views of the small firms sector within Government.

Teachers (Pay)

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will set out a table showing current figures for pay in real terms of teachers and the top quartile of non-manual average earnings over the same dates and for the same categories of teachers.

The latest available information, for April 1988 is published in table 1 of part A of the report on the new earnings survey 1988 for all non-manual employees, and in tables 50 and 51 of part B for male and female teachers. A copy of the report is in the Library.

Restart

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, Official Report, 1 December, columns 370-71, in what form the information relating to restart interviews is held; if he will provide an approximate breakdown of the costs involved in obtaining it; and if he will make a statement.

Information on restart interviews is collected on individual record cards which are completed for every person contacted by the programme. These records are summarised on monthly returns for employment service offices, areas, regions and Great Britain. They contain information on the number of people contacted, the number interviewed and the outcome.It is not possible to isolate from other administrative work the costs of collecting the information.

Coal Industry (Accidents)

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any intention to postpone the proposed amendments to the Mines and Quarries Act 1984 in view of the poor accident rates of contractors to British Coal.

No. The proposed new legislation to replace the 1954 Act is intended to improve or maintain safety standards for all persons employed at mines including contractors.

Businesses

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the actions taken by the Government since the beginning of this Parliament to encourage small and medium-sized businesses.

[holding answer 5 December 1988]: Since June 1987, the Government have continued in their efforts to promote a more vigorous enterprise culture and stimulate the development of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

Information and Advice

The small firms service (SFS) has increases its links with other agencies in the small firms support network. Its database of national information is now available to other organisations advising small businesses.

In 1987–88 the SFS answered over 266,000 inquiries, helped over 27,000 small businesses by counselling, and held over 39,000 counselling sessions.

The service has opened six 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 the service opened a centre for European business information in London.

The recent pilot for Government business shops will be expanded in 1989 with plans for four more in England, two of which will be sited in small firms centres. They will provide information on tax, national insurance and VAT, to help tackle Government rules and regulations at a single point.

Further details of the service's achievements are contained in the small firms service 1987–88 annual report, a copy of which is in the Library.

The local enterprise agency grant scheme was introduced on 1 April 1986 to encourage greater private sector support for the agencies. £2,713,856 was paid to 186 agencies in 1987–88. A local enterprise agency project scheme (LEAPS) commenced on 1 July 1988 to support projects providing special help to inner city businesses. To encourage private sector support for LEAs, the Government made provision in the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (section 79) for tax relief on contributions to approved agencies by a company or unincorporated business.

The Rural Development Commission provides rural small businesses with advice through 33 business service offices. On 13 January the Department of Trade and Industry introduced the "enterprise initiative", a national programme which aims to raise the performance of management by promoting the use of best practice. The key element in the enterprise initiative is the six consultancy initiatives, covering marketing (including export marketing), design, quality, manufacturing systems, business planning, and financial and information systems. The other initiatives cover research and technology, enterprise and education, regional assistance and export.

Single European Market

The DTI has run a campaign to persuade firms of all sizes to prepare for the completion of the single European market in 1992.

Finance

Use of the loan guarantee scheme has increased following the introduction of simplified administrative procedures for loans up to £15,000. On 22 June 1988, as part of the action for cities initiative, an increase in the guarantee to 85 per cent. was introduced for businesses based in, or working to be based in, inner city task force areas.

The Business Expansion Scheme

In his Budget statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a ceiling of £500,000 on investments under the business expansion scheme in any one company in any period of 12 months.

By the end of October 1988, over 390,000 people had taken part in the enterprise allowance scheme. Greater emphasis is now being placed on counselling and training applicants.

Taxation

The basic rate of income tax has been reduced from 27 per cent. to 25 per cent. and the small companies' rate of corporation tax has been reduced from 27 per cent. to 25 per cent. Capital gains tax has been rebased to 1982 so that only gains on losses accrued since 31 March 1982 are brought forward into account. Retirement relief has been extended to include 50 per cent. of the gains between £125,000 and £5,000. The inheritance tax threshold has been raised from £90,000 to £110,000 and the previous four rates reduced to a single rate of 40 per cent. The VAT registration threshold has been increased to £22,100. The rules for registration of voluntary and intending traders have been relaxed. Following a review of the Finance Act 1985 VAT penalties, a number of changes have been made to the regulations including the introduction of a more flexible penalty system for late registration.

Training

Since the introduction of employment training (ET) in September this year, the provision of training for enterprise programmes has been split between ET, for those wishing to start up in business, and programmes dealing with growth and development of existing small firms.

Employment training provides training for people who want to become self-employed and they can enter the programme without having to satisfy the usual ET eligibility criteria. A full range of enterprise training is available throughout the country on ET including enterprise assignments, counselling, skills training, enterprise rehearsal and formal start-up training through business enterprise programme (BEP) courses.

The Department of Employment Training Agency also runs a number of programmes aimed at equipping existing entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge required to manage and develop a small business succesfully.

Purchasing

The Government have improved small firms' access to information about purchasing departments, their procedures, requirements and points of contact. A Department of Employment booklet, "Tendering for Government Contracts," has been supplemented by some individual Departments' own publications and information published on Prestel. Tendering and approval procedures have been simplified by exempting suppliers to most Government Departments from normal approval procedures for contracts under £10,000, by allowing non-approved firms to tender for non-urgent contracts subject to subsequent approval and by encouraging Departments to make regular reviews of tender lists to encourage new suppliers.

MOD Initiatives

MOD has continued to pursue the small firms initiative launched in November 1986. On 30 November 1988 the small firms advice division was expanded into the newly established MOD new suppliers service but the new service still retains within it a small firms group. A new and expanded edition of the booklet, "Selling to the MOD," has been published. These latest initiatives will encourage more companies of all sizes to compete for MOD business.

Innovation

The small firms merit award for research and technology—SMART—was run for the first time in 1986 to encourage small firms and potential entrepreneurs to put forward innovative ideas that cannot attract existing sources of funding. The Department of Trade and Industry, which runs this scheme, is evaluating the second competition which was run this year. It was extended to 140 awards in a broad range of technologies.

The support for innovation schemes was introduced in 1981 by the Department of Industry to offer firms assistance with research and development projects. Small firms have a simplified appraisal process and so far 50 per cent. of participants in the scheme have been small firms.

The teaching company scheme was set up by the Science and Engineering Research Council and the Department of Trade and Industry in the mid-1970s. In 1977–78 total funding for the scheme was around £15 million split between DTI, the research councils and industry. The scheme has led to the recruitment of high quality graduates into small companies, especially those with no previous graduate employees. The Department of Trade and Industry announced earlier this year that the scheme is being substantially increased with a target of 500 projects by 1992–93. The DTI will also put greater emphasis on the projects of small and medium sized firms, which should comprise 60 per cent. of all projects by 1992–93.

Inner Cities

As part of the Government's action for cities programme announced on 7 March, new initiatives have been introduced to extend the wide range of help available to new and existing small businesses in inner city areas and to make services to small firms more accessible.

Marketing

In 1987, my Department, together with the then Manpower Services Commission and Lloyds Bank, sponsored a series of workshops designed to show managers of small firms how to improve their competitiveness by the implementation of practical marketing techniques. COSIRA (now merged with the Development Commission), with funds provided by my Department offered grant to assist small rural businesses to improve their marketing and sales to trade buyers.

Wales

The Secretary of State for Wales instigated the gateway network initiative for small businesses in October 1987. It provides a high quality advice service to businesses in Wales through co-operation between member organisations. In July 1988 the local investment initiative ("local link") was launched. This scheme fosters contact between local businesses and investors.

In October 1988 a one-stop shop (Government Business Shop) was launched with the purpose of enabling businesses to get advice on tax and other Government regulations under one roof.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland initiatives have included:

—introduction of new arrangements for enterprise training, covering those setting up new small businesses;

—upgrading of support to SMEs to help them improve their marketing and export activities;

—a programme to increase the awareness of local businesses of the opportunity to supply public sector purchasing requirement.

Scotland

The Government continue to provide substantial assistance to small firms in Scotland through the wide range of services delivered on an integrated basis by the Scottish Development Agency, including the consultancy initiative and the small firms information service and business counselling service; through the Highlands and Isles Development Board; and through the Industry Department for Scotland.

The year 1987 saw a net increase of 2,500 registered companies in Scotland. Many of these received Government assistance. Scotland was the first area in the United Kingdom to open a Government business shop to provide small companies with advice on Government regulations.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

School Fees

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the number of allowances and the total amount paid by the Government for day school fees in both the United Kingdom and overseas for the education of the children of (a) members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) members of the Diplomatic Service communications division and (c) the Overseas Development Administration including children of technical co-operation officers, for the latest year for which figures are available.

There is no provision to pay day school fees in the United Kingdom.Total costs of day school education overseas for the financial year 1987–88 was £1,540,000 made up as follows:

(a) FCO £1,114,000.

(b) Diplomatic Service Communications Division £51,000.

(c) ODA £375,000.

A record of the number of children involved is not maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the schools from which receipted bills were submitted in the last convenient year to facilitate the payment of allowances for the education of the children of diplomatic staff; and if he will state the number of children attending each school.

The allowance paid to children of Diplomatic Service officers who attend boarding schools in the United Kingdom is based on an average of the fees of all boarding schools on the headmasters' conference list.

Only limited information is kept on schools used overseas. Each mission maintains its own list of authorised schools which offer education of a kind available without cost under the state system in Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the number of allowances and the total amount paid by the Government for boarding school fees in both the United Kingdom and overseas for the education of the children of (a) members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) members of the Diplomatic Service communications division and (c) the Overseas Development Administration including children of technical co-operation officers for the latest year for which figures are available.

Fees are not paid for children to attend overseas boarding schools.Expenditure on allowances paid to enable children to attend boarding schools in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1987–88 was as follows:

(a) FCO £7,031,000

(b) Diplomatic Service (DS) communications division £753,000

(c) ODA £1,500,000

The number of children at boarding school will vary during the course of the year. The numbers currently attending are:

(a) FCO 989 children

(b) DS communications division 111 children

(c) ODA 447 children

Diplomatic Service officers retain their right to boarding school allowance while serving in the United Kingdom in recognition of their liability to further overseas postings. In these circumstances the allowance is taxable and is grossed up to take account of the tax liability. The cost figures above take account of this.

Holiday Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the approximate cost of holiday visit passages paid in respect of (a) children of Foreign Office personnel being educated in the United Kingdom and in receipt of education allowances and (b) members of the Diplomatic Service communications division being educated in the United Kingdom and in receipt of education allowances and of any further travelling expenses paid for the latest available year.

The cost of fares paid to enable children to rejoin their parents overseas during the three school holidays was £977,000, made up as follows:

(a) FCO £920,000

(b) Diplomatic Service Communications Division £57,000

In addition, the sum of £51,000 (£48,000 plus £3,000) was spent as a contribution towards the cost of travel between school and airports in the United Kingdom.These figures include costs of journeys made by children aged 18 to 21 who are in full-time further education and not, therefore, in receipt of education allowances.

Tjeluvyo Mgedezi

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make immediate representations to the South African Government to appeal for clemency for Tjeluvyo Mgedezi, the miners' leader who has been sentenced to be hanged.

It is not our normal practice to intervene in such cases. We do so only exceptionally, when all other avenues have been exhausted. Our criteria are that the case must be clearly political, and there must also be strong extenuating circumstances or grounds to doubt the fairness of the judicial process. Our embassy in Pretoria has spoken with Mr. Mgedezi's lawyers and understands that he intends to petition President Botha for clemency.

Mrs Molly Maher

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why officials from his Department advised Mrs. Molly Maher of 28 Singleton road, Brighton, that they had no power to obtain or provide local assistance in interpretation facilities or provide advice and assistance to British citizens contemplating civil actions abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Formal interpretation/translation services overseas are not provided by consular officials, although at times they are able to assist informally. Consular officials cannot give legal advice to British citizens in general or specific terms on civil actions abroad. It is for the individual's own lawyers to recommend whether a case should be instituted and how it should be carried through.In this instance Mrs. Maher's lawyer elected to serve papers through legal rather than diplomatic channels. However, Mrs. Maher has been in regular contact both with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British embassy, Madrid, which has been checking and advising her of progress.

Disarmament

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy decisions have been taken by Her Majesty's Government on the definition of the phrase "at an early date" in article 6 of the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty, with regard to the process of negotiated nuclear disarmament.

Article VI of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons requires the parties to it to pursue negotiations on effective measures connected with nuclear disarmament. Since the United States and the Soviet Union possess between them the overwhelming preponderance of nuclear weapons it is universally recognised that the primary responsibility for negotiations falls to them. The United States and Soviet Union are currently engaged in such negotiations which aim at 50 per cent. reductions in their strategic nuclear weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department was represented, in terms of papers presented or observers sent, at (a) the workshop on the verification of nuclear and conventional arms reductions at St. Bartholomew's hospital medical college from 30 November to 2 December and (b) the international scientists symposium, "Ways out of the Arms Race," at Imperial college of science and technology, in London from 2 to 4 December.

A member of the arms control and disarmament research unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attended both the workshop on the verification of nuclear and conventional arms reductions at St. Bartholomew's hospital medical college and the international scientists' symposium at Imperial college as an observer. He was joined by another member of the unit for the symposium.

Nuclear Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take to fulfil their undertakings under the partial nuclear test ban treaty 1963, to set a date for the ending of all nuclear testing.

The 1963 partial test ban treaty does not require the parties to it to set a date for the ending of all nuclear tests. The parties to the treaty state as their principal aim the speediest possible achievement of an agreement on general and complete disarmament. The cessation of nuclear testing is clearly linked with this. For as long as we rely for our security on deterrence based in part on the possession of nuclear weapons we will need to test them at a minimum level. The cessation of nuclear testing, therefore, remains a long-term goal.

Wales

Water Rate

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the average equated water rate poundage for each water authority in Wales.

The information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the table:

Average equated water rate 1988–89
Water authority	Water supply	Sewerage services	Environ-mental services	Pence total
Severn Trent¹	22·6	27·6	0·75	50·95
Welsh Water	52·11	49·02	1·87	108·00

Source: Water authority returns.

¹ The geographical area which Severn Trent serves extends into mid-Wales. However, it is not possible to break the figure down on a purely Welsh basis.

Elderly Patients

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of patients visit general practitioners for treatment according to the number of appointments made for treatment within the following age bands (a) under 65 years, (b) between 65 and 74 years and (c) over 75 years.

Information on the numbers of appointments with GPs is not available centrally.

Disabled Persons (Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of his Department's staff are classed as disabled.

1·4 per cent.

Value Added Tax

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessments he has made as to the likely effect on (a) his Department's capital building programme and (b) the rent the Department will pay under occupational leases, of implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax on non-domestic buildings.

Implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax will have no effect on my Department's capital building programme, since compensating adjustments have been made to the relevant expenditure provisions. At this stage, before landlords have decided whether to exercise their option to tax rents, it is not possible to offer meaningful estimates of the effects of the judgment on rental costs.

Pesticides

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement detailing the funding of research into the effect of pesticides used in the Welsh agricultural industry.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 1 December 1988, at column 328, by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Industry (Ownership)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the likely pattern of ownership of industry in Wales over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

I have made no such estimate.

Special Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report figures for each of the last five years of the volume of special waste imported into, and exported out of, Wales.

This information is not maintained centrally.

Skill Shortages

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of skill shortages in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales.

Information on skill shortages is not held centrally. Area offices of the Training Agency collect local information on the CALLMI system (computer assisted local labour market intelligence).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on how many manufacturing companies are having difficulties recruiting skilled manual labour in (a)Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales.

Information is not available centrally on the number of manufacturing companies having difficulties recruiting skilled labour. Any problems are dealt with locally by the area office of the Training Agency.

Employment Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales are participating in training and retraining programmes.

The number of people participating in training and retraining programmes is as follows:

	YTS	Employment training	Residual community programe job training scheme
Newport	1,295	586	12
Gwent	4,317	1,894	25
Wales	26,083	12,225	4,760

Figures are not available for miscellaneous smaller training programmes such as training for enterprise; local grants to employers and the wider opportunities training programme.

Council House Tenants

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council house tenants in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales receive benefit of some kind.

The numbers of council tenants in receipt of housing benefit in 1987–88 were as follows:

	Cases of eviction
	Cases accepted as homeless	Action by local authority	Action by other landlord	Total evictions	Cases of repossession action by mortgagee
1987
Newport	625	7	150	157	94
Gwent	1,503	47	269	316	160
Wales	5,683	158	1,030	1,188	859

Social Security

Family Credit And Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people he expects to be eligible for family credit and housing benefit in 1989–90, with a breakdown of their tenure;(2) how much he expects to spend on family credit in 1989–90; and how much of this is attributable

(a) to the notional compensation for free school meals and milk and (b) to the freezing of child benefit.

Estimates of the average number of people likely to receive family credit and housing benefit in 1989–90 along with the estimate of expenditure on family credit will be published in the public expenditure White Paper early in the new year.

Pensioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of pensioners overseas currently in receipt of United Kingdom pensions; and what are (a) the numbers in each country, (b) the

	Tenants
Newport	10,700
Gwent	37,508
Wales	189,745

Source: Department of Social Security.

Information on the number of council tenants in receipt of other benefits could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many repossession orders there have been in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales since the housing benefit changes last April; and how many there were in 1987;(2) how many cases of homelessness there have been in

(a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales since the housing benefit changes last April; and how many there were in 1987;

(3) how many cases of eviction there have been in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales since the housing benefit changes last April; and how many there were in 1987.

Information on homelessness resulting from eviction and repossession in 1987 is given in the following table. Statistics for the period following the housing benefit changes are not yet available.number in countries where annual increments apply and

(c) the number in countries where annual increments do not apply.

I refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's reply to him on 19 May 1988 at columns 551-54. More up to date figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average income of those 75 years of age and over; and what is the real term increase in the incomes of those aged 75 years and over since 1979.

In 1986 the average net income of those aged 75 and over was £78·08. This represents a 26·9 per cent. real increase since 1979.

Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) at what level of income the earnings rule has operated in respect of retirement pensions in each year from 1984–85 to the present date;(2) if he will list the value of the earnings rule for retirement pensions as a percentage of (i) gross and (ii) net average earning for each year since 1984.

The information requested is as follows:

		Average weekly earnings of all male manual workers ¹				Earnings rule as a percentage of gross and net earnings
Uprating dates	Earnings rule	Single person		Married couple		Single person		Married couple
		gross	net	gross	net	gross	net	gross	net
	£	£	£	£	£	percent.	percent.	percent.	percent.
November 1984	70·00	159·60	108·90	159·60	115·50	43·9	64·3	43·9	60·6
November 1985	75·00	168·70	115·60	168·70	122·80	44·5	64·9	44·5	61·1
July 1986	75·00	176·70	122·60	176·70	129·90	42·4	61·2	42·4	57·7
April 1987	75·00	185·50	131·30	185·50	138·40	40·4	57·1	40·4	54·2
April 1988	75·00	200·60	144·90	200·60	152·10	37·4	51·8	37·4	49·3
¹Estimates of average weekly earnings for full-time employees, seasonally adjusted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to improve the arrangements for payment to pensioners on income support of assistance for fuel costs during the winter months.

General help with fuel costs is provided within income support allowances. The income support premiums target extra help to vulnerable groups including pensioners.In addition, the social fund cold weather payments scheme provides help with extra heating costs incurred when the weather is particularly cold. A number of improvements to this scheme have already been announced which will increase the number of payments which can be made.

Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 November, how the estimated 1988–89 annual expenditure on housing benefit in Nottingham was calculated.

It is largely a matter for the local authority to determine the basis for calculating the annual housing benefit expenditure estimate. In making an estimate the authority should take account of the effect of changes to the scheme and local factors such as increases in rate and rent levels. Actual expenditure for the financial year is, of course, subject to audit by the district auditor.

Vat

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessments he has made as to the likely effect on (a) his Department's capital building programme and (b) the rent the Department will pay under occupational leases of implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax on non-domestic buildings.

Implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on VAT will have no effect on the Department's capital building programme since compensating adjustments have been made to the relevant expenditure provisions. At this stage, before landlords have decided whether to exercise their option to tax rents, it is not possible to offer meaningful estimates of the effects of the judgment on rental costs.

Disabled Persons (Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of his Department's staff are classed as disabled.

Separate figures for the Department of Social Security are not available, but the June 1988 percentage for the Department of Health and Social Security was 1·42.

Languages

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of his Department's publications are produced in languages other than English; and which are the additional languages used.

The following list details all of the forms currently available, or which will be available by the end of January, in Welsh.

Family Credit

FCI and FC2.

Social Fund

SF100, SF200, SF101, SF102, SF103 and SF113.

General

BF134.

National Insurance

NI255 and RD3A.

An up-to-date version of leaflet FB2 entitled "Which Benefit", which gives details of the Social Security benefits available, is currently in preparation in Urdu, Bengali, Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi, Chinese and Turkish. A revision of the previous leaflet has been necessary following the Social Security changes in April 1988. It is hoped to publish the amended version by the end of the year.

Benefit Forms

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the forms which have to be filled in for each benefit administered by his Department; and how many pages and how many questions are found in each.

A list of the principal claim forms for benefits administered by the Department is as follows. The other information requested is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Main Benefit	Form No.	Details
Income support	B1	Income support for people who are unemployed
	B1(Student)	Income Support for Students who are unemployed (during long vacations)
	B71D	Income Support for people involved in Trade Disputes
	SP1	Income Support for people who are over retirement age
	A1	Income Support—for people who are sick or looking after children or sick or elderly relatives
Social Fund	SF100	Maternity Payment—postal claim form

Main Benefit	Form No.	Details
	SF200	Funeral Payment—postal claim form
	SF300	Application for Budgeting Loan or Community Care Grant
	SF400	Crisis Loan application form
Widows Benefit	BW1	Application for Widows Pension, Widows Payment and/or Widowed Mothers Allowance
Retirement Pensions	BR1	Application for Retirement Pension
Child Benefits	CH2	Initial Claim for Child Benefit including One Parent Benefit if appropriate
	CH12	Claim for Child Benefit for additional children
	BG1	Claim for Guardians Allowance if a person takes an orphaned child into the family
Incapacity Benefits	SC1	Claim for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Sickness Benefit self certificated sickness
	SSP1(E)	Claim for Sickness or Invalidity Benefit for people who do not qualify for SSP from work
	SP1(T)	Claim for Sickness or Invalidity Benefit when SSP from work runs out
	SDA1 part of leaflet NI252	Claim for Severe Disablement Allowance (for people below retirement age who cannot work because of illness or disablement)
Maternity pay	MA1	Claim for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from work or Maternity Allowance
Family Credit	FC1	Family Credit—postal claim form
Agency Benefits	AG1	Claim for help with National Health Service charges and travelling expenses
Attendance Allowance	NI251	Attendance Allowance
	NI212	Invalid Care Allowance—for people looking after someone who has Attendance Allowance
Injury and Disability	BI104	Constant Attendance Allowance for people who need constant attention because of the effects of an industrial accident or disease
	BI103	Reduced Earnings Allowance for people who cannot return to their former occupation because of the effects of an industrial accident or disease
	BI100A	IIDB for Industrial Accidents
	BI100(OA)	IIDB for Occupational Asthma
	BI100B	IIDB for a Prescribed Industrial Disease
	BI100C	Claim for further award of Unemployability Supplement—the initial award does not need a separate claim form
	BI100(OD)	IIDB for Occupational Deafness
	BI100P	IIDB for Pneumoconiosis (certain cases only)
	BI100Pn	IIDB for Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis, Silicosis and Asbestosis

Main Benefit	Form No.	Details
	WS1	Claim for Workmens
		Compensation Supplement—for people who contracted industrial diseases before 5 July 1948
	PNIA	Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Disease Benefit for people who contracted the relevant diseases as a result of employment before 5 July 1948
	NI225	Claim for Mobility Allowance

Centrepoint, Soho

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will increase his grant to Centrepoint, Soho to enable them to accommodate 16 to 17-year-olds;(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure continuity of funding for Centrepoint, Soho's work with homeless 16 to 17-year-olds in the west end of London.

The Department makes an annual contribution towards the costs of the Centrepoint hostel under paragraph 4 of schedule 5 of the Social Security Act 1980.An application for increased funding is currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will instruct his officials to meet representatives of Centrepoint, Soho urgently following the withdrawal of benefit entitlement fronm 16 to 17-year-olds.

Discussions have taken place at local level about operational arrangements. Officials in headquarters will, however, arrange to meet representatives of Centrepoint to discuss more widely issues arising from the general withdrawal of entitlement to income support from 16 and 17-year-olds.

Family Income Supplement

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will indicate the average cost of providing family income supplement prior to April 1988 and family credit since that date.

In 1985–86, the latest date for which information on administrative costs is available, it is estimated that the average weekly cost per family income supplement beneficiary was approximately 45p. Figures for 1986–87 will be published in the public expenditure White Paper early in the new year. Comparable figures for family credit are not available. In June 1987, the average award of family income supplement was approximately £15 per week. Indications are that current awards of family credit average over £25 per week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide additional information for the most recent comparable period before April stating the average delay between receipt of a claim for family income supplement and the determination of the claim; and if he will indicate how many claims were then awaiting determination.

The average clearance time for claims cleared during the four weeks ending 11 March 1988 was just over 16 working days. On 11 March, there were 29,044 claims awaiting determination.

Family Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details of the current budget for publicising and promoting family credit and provide information in a comparable form for the previous budget for publicising family income supplement; and what plans he has to raise awareness of family credit.

The advertising budget for family credit is over £3 million in the current financial year. Family income supplement was last advertised in 1983–84 when some £½ million was spent. Both figures exclude expenditure on leaflets and posters where direct comparisons are not possible. For details of current and future publicity I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 4 November at column 810.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will indicate the current level of average delay between receipt of a claim for family credit and the determination of a claim; and how many claims are awaiting determination at present.

For clearance time, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) on 6 December. At the end of November there were 46,773 family credit claims outstanding. Of these, about 32,000 were awaiting replies to inquiries, mainly to employers or the claimant.

Yts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefits are available to Terry Flowers of Coventry aged 17 years, who is registered for YTS but unable to obtain a placing and whose bridging allowance has expired; and if he will entertain a claim from Mr. Flowers for payment of benefit on the grounds of hardship.

Claims for income support under the severe hardship provision will be entertained from any 16 or 17-year-old. However, we can consider making payments only to young people who are actively pursuing a YTS place.

Multi-Occupied Properties

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that his Department's local office inform local authorities and fire authorities of hostels and other multi-occupied properties which claimants give as addresses for benefit.

Information supplied by benefit claimants is held in strict confidence. The staff in local offices may, however, consult local authority social services and/or fire prevention officers in confidence when in their view there are serious risks to the life or health of an individual claimant arising from the condition of a home or hostel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his local office staff recommended to claimants the 24 bed hostel in Hay Mills, Birmingham.

No. Local office staff do not recommend addresses to claimants.

Unemployment Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East on 1 December, Official Report, col. 389, concerning unemployment benefit, what information is available and over what range he will answer questions; and if he will make a statement.

Information relating to age, sex, benefit status and duration of unemployment is collected in respect of a 5 per cent. sample of claimants for unemployment benefit on a particular day at six-monthly intervals. It is not collected in respect of all claimants making claims at a particular unemployment benefit office (UBO).The only information collected on the basis of individual UBOs is the number of claims made each month. Information is not collected on how many of those claims satisfy the necessary conditions of entitlement yet result in disqualification for benefit.To collect the kind of detailed information requested by the hon. Member would entail mounting a special exercise. This would be disproportionately costly.

Invalidity Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what percentage the addition to invalidity benefit for a dependent child, including child benefit, is to be increased in April 1989; and what was the percentage increase in prices over the 12 months to September 1988.

The child dependency increase payable with invalidity benefit is to be uprated by the best of both worlds approach which my right hon. Friend explained to the House on 27 October. The child dependency increase will rise by slightly more than 6·5 per cent. from April 1989. The addition to invalidity benefit for a dependent child, including child benefit, will be increased by 3·5 per cent. The percentage increase in the published RPI over the 12 months to September 1988 was 5·9 per cent.

Energy

Wind Turbine Generators

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of three-bladed steel wind turbine generators that have been given planning permission and their locations; how many are awaiting planning permission and what are their locations; and if he will make a statement about the relative merits of this source of energy.

The Department of Energy does not keep records on applications for, or awards of, planning permission for wind turbines.However, large three-bladed wind turbines have been or are being constructed in the following locations:

Shetland	Caithness
Orkney	Aberdeen

Ayrshire	Cornwall
Northumberland	Devon
Yorkshire	Kent
Dyfed

Conservation Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what funding he has made available for (a) domestic and (b) industrial energy conservation measures;(2) what has been the total of Government expenditure on energy conservation measures in industry, public sector housing and private sector housing for the years 1979 to 1988; and what are the projected expenditure levels for energy-saving initiatives for the years 1988 to 1991.

Many of the energy efficiency programmes operated by my Department have been cross-sectoral, so information on total expenditure by sector is not readily available. The programmes of a number of other Government Departments contribute to the improvement of energy eficiency, but it is normally not possible to attribute expenditure between the energy efficiency and the other objectives of the programmes. The table gives expenditure by my Department on energy efficiency programmes, expenditure by the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office on the homes insulation scheme, and an estimate of expenditure by the Departments of Employment and Social Security on the community insulation programme (these payments also contribute towards employment and social policy objectives).

£ millions
	Energy efficiency programmes¹	Homes insulation scheme²	Community insulation programme³
1979–80	2·4	15·9	—
1980–81	4·5	16·5	—
1981–82	6·9	24·3	—
1982–83	9·4	30·0	—
1983–84	11·4	25·5	5·4
1984–85	17·5	25·3	8·3
1985–86	22·5	28·0	18·5
1986–87	24·5	25·6	35·5
1987–88	18·6	⁴21·6	44·1
1988–89	⁵20·8	—	—
¹ Expenditure by the Department of the Environment and the Department of Energy.
² Expenditure by the Scottish and Welsh Offices.
³ Estimated expenditure by the Departments of Employment and Social Security. The community insulation programme began in 1981–82, but figures for employment and social security payments which were taken up by community insulation projects in 1981–82 and 1982–83 are not available.
⁴ Provisional.
⁵ Provision.

Electricity Industry (Privatisation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further proposals for the electricity industry he has to ensure the continuing existence of the national grid.

The benefits of the national grid will be maintained. It will be established as a separate company owned by the distribution companies who will have the statutory obligation to supply. As the holder of the transmission licence it will have a clear statutory duty to develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity transmission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy who will pay for the costs and major risks of the nuclear programme, after the privatisation of electricity.

The Government will be taking powers in the Electricity Bill to enable them to contribute towards certain unforeseen nuclear back end costs. All other nuclear costs and risks will be shared, as they are now, between the company and the customer.

Plutonium

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantities of plutonium originated at the Hunterston Magnox reactors have been exported to the United States under the 1958 mutual defence agreement on atomic energy, as amended in 1959.

Plutonium produced in the generating boards' Magnox reactors was consigned to the United States before 1971 under the United States/United Kingdom defence agreement and, as stated by the then Prime Minister on 21 April 1964 at columns 1097-98, has been used by the United States for civil purposes. Because of the barter arrangements under which plutonium was consigned, it would not be in the national interest to publish the figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportions of the plutonium created in the Magnox reactors at Hunterston since they were commissioned are now (a) still at the reactor site in spent fuel, (b) at Sellafield in unreprocessed spent fuel, (c) in separate form in store at Sellafield, (d) re-used in the United Kingdom civil or research nuclear fuel, (e) exported under safeguards and (f) exported without safeguards.

I refer the hon. Member to the annual plutonium figures published by my Department on 13 October 1988, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to ensure that provision for the privatisation of present Electricity Board Magnox reactors includes assurances that no plutonium owned by or created in reactors operated by private companies can be used for military purposes under any circumstances, including those encompassed by national security requirements.

Following privatisation, plutonium will continue to be handled as securely as it is at present. All existing controls on the export and transport of nuclear material will continue to apply. In addition, all civil nuclear material will continue to remain subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement. The Government have no plans to transfer any of this material to defence use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how often the Central Electricity Generating Board provides information on the isotopic quality of its plutonium to Euratom.

Information on the isotopic composition of plutonium contained in CEGB irradiated fuel is reported to Euratom at the beginning of the month following its dispatch from the power station concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what physical verification of plutonium is conducted by Euratom safeguards inspectors at the material balance area 3 at British Nuclear Fuels Limited, Sellafield.

The main elements of the safeguards inspection arrangements for Sellafield agreed with Euratom were given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and the Border (Mr. Maclean) on 4 June 1986 at columns 594-95.

Spent Magnox Fuel

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of spent Magnox fuel from Hunterston reprocessed at Sellafield was co-processed with spent fuel from the military reactors at Calder Hall and Chapelcross.

The co-processing of civil and non-civil material at Sellafield has been phased out. Since 1986, separate civil arid non-civil reprocessing operations have been carried out sequentially, rather than simultaneously.

Vat

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessments he has made as to the likely effect on (a) his Department's capital building programme and (b) the rent the Department will pay under occupational leases, of implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax on non domestic buildings.

The Department does not have a capital building programme. It is not possible to estimate the effect of the judgment before landlords have decided whether to exercise their option of charging VAT on rents.

Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and if they reviewed the board's plans to overcome its current operating problems with advanced gas-cooled reactors.

My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board and discuss a wide range of issues. The board has work in hand which is aimed at overcoming the operating problems of the AGR's.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what estimates he has of (a) the costs incurred by the Central Electricity Generating Board directly because of the necessity to close down each of the Heysham and Hartlepool reactors for a period of several days before refuelling is undertaken, (b) the nett loss of efficiency of these reactors because of this requirement, (c) the total losses of generation and (d) the costs associated therewith to date; and if he will make a statement;(2) what was the original design intent as to whether the advanced gas cooled reactors at Heysham A and Hartlepool are to be capable of refuelling whilst in a full operational condition; what is the current operational intent; and if he will make a statement.

This is an operational matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Energy Saving

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a guide to energy-saving schemes proposed by individual electricity boards.

This is a matter for the area boards.

Nuclear Power

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what volumes of carbon dioxide gas (a) in pure form and (b) radioactively contaminated have been discharged from each of the Central Electricity Generating Board magnox advanced gas-cooled reactor and nuclear plants, respectively, in each year since 1979; and if he will list in the Official Report the volumes and dates of the gas releases;(2) what estimate he has made of the contribution to the greenhouse effect of gas build-up from carbon dioxide released from the coolant circuits of nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom.

These are matters for the CEGB. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the cost to public funds of decommissioning the nuclear plants at Calderhall and Chapelcross.

The decommissioning of the nuclear power plants at Calderhall and Chapelcross is the responsibility of the operator, British Nuclear Fuels plc. To the extent that Government programmes have benefited from the operation of these plants Government will contribute an appropriate share towards the costs of decommissioning.

Argon 41

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the half-life of argon 41; what types of radiation argon 41 emits; and what are their energy levels.

I am advised by the National Radiological Protection Board that the radioisotope Argon 41 has a half-life of 1·83 hours. The energies of its principal emissions are:

beta particles:

1·198 mega electronvolts

gamma rays:

1·294 mega electronvolts

Electricity Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish figures in the Official Report showing the domestic charge for a unit of electricity as a percentage of the price charged to large industrial users in the United Kingdom and West Germany for the latest period for which figures are available.

From the Electricity Council "Survey of International Prices", a copy of which is available in the Library, the latest information comparing prices in England and Wales with West Germany is as follows:

Pence/KWh	Domestic price	Industrial price	Domestic as percentage of industrial
England and Wales	6·81	3·37	202
West Germany	9·41	4·43	212

Notes:

1. The domestic price is for a consumer with an annual requirement of 3,300 KWhrs.

2. The industrial price is for a large consumer with an annual maximum demand of 10 MW at a load of 80 per cent.

3. The comparison is of prices as at 1 July 1988.

Disabled Persons (Stall)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of his Department's staff are classed as disabled.

At 1 December 1988 1.15 per cent. of the staff of my Department were registered disabled persons.

Magnox Plant, Sellafield

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the past or currently, the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Magnox fuel reprocessing plant at Sellafield has been utilised for the production of the reprocessing or irradiated fuels to yield fissile plutonium for the atomic weapons programme; and if he will make a statement.

The facility referred to handles materials for civil and defence purposes as required. Any defence work would be conducted separately from the civil programme.

Power Stations

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those redundant Central Electricity Generating Board power stations thought to be capable of being recommissioned.

This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Gas And Electricity Prices

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average price paid (a) per therm of gas and (b) per kilowatt hour of electricity by domestic consumers in Britain in 1979, 1987 and 1988 at constant prices deflated by the retail prices index.

The average prices paid by domestic consumers in Great Britain, deflated to 1987 constant prices using the retail prices index, are shown in the following table. Data for this year is not yet available.

Electricity pence per kilowatt hour		Gas¹ pence per therm
1979	5·35	1979–80	33·6
1987	5·50	1987–88	41·7

¹ Prices for gas are available only for years ended 31 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the annual cost of heating a small semi-detached standardised house in England, Scotland and Wales by (a) gas, (b) electricity, (c) coal and (d) oil in 1979 and 1987; and what are the projected costs for 1988.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Holt) on Monday 7 November 1988 at columns 22-24; this provided the costs of heating a standardised two bedroom house in four regions of the United Kingdom as at April 1988. The four regions were, the West Country, the South-East, the North-East and Scotland. Comparative figures for Wales as of the same date are as follows:

Calculated costs of heating a two bedroom house by fuel in Wales
Gas £	Electricity £	Coal £	Oil £
115-200	133-245	123-230	95-165
(190-280)	(205-320)	(265-370)	(156-225)

Figures in brackets include water heating.

Indices showing the change in the average United Kingdom costs of heating a house with different fuels (taking April 1988 as 100) measured in real terms are as follows:

Indices of real energy costs domestic sector (April 1988=100)
	Gas	Electricity	Coal	Oil
1979	84	97	92	115
1987	105	100	105	114
1988 (April)	100	100	100	100

Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether (a) all buildings and (b) all nuclear materials stored or processed at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell have been under full safeguards by (i) the International Atomic Energy Agency and (ii) Euratom since 1979.

All civil nuclear material in the United Kingdom is subject to Euratom safeguards and the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement. Harwell carries out contract R and D work for MOD which involves the presence of unsafeguarded material. This is entirely consistent with the United Kingdom's international safeguards obligations. The details cannot be disclosed for national security reasons.

Molten Salt Fast Burner Reactor

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research has been conducted on the molten salt fast burner reactor.

There has been no significant research on this subject in the United Kingdom.

Inertial Confinement Fusion Technology

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what evaluation has been made of the problems of safeguarding inertial confinement fusion technology against diversion to military use.

My Department does not fund research into inertial confinement fusion technology.

Fiddler's Ferry Power Station

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about current proposals for the erection of the desulphurisation plant at Fiddler's Ferry power station; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Piper Alpha

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has reached a final decision on the abandonment programme for Piper Alpha.

As I told the House on 30 November at column 757, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had, that morning decided that subject to conditions, he was prepared to approve, under section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987, the abandonment programme for Piper Alpha submitted by Occidental and its co-venturers. This proposed the use of explosive charges to topple the remains of the installation outwards on to the sea bed, away from the existing pile of debris, leaving at least 75m of clear water above all remains.I also explained that the co-venturers had the right under the Petroleum Act to make written representations about the proposed conditions. They have now informed my right hon. Friend that they do not wish to make representations and he has approved their programme.The conditions attached to my right hon. Friend's approval include requirements for surveys of the toppled remains and surrounding sea bed to establish the position of debris and to monitor for leakage of oil or gas. They also require sediment samples to be obtained and examined for the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radioactivity. The conditions provide for repetition of these surveys and of sediment sampling at such times as the Secretary of State may subsequently direct. They also provide for debris to be moved or removed as he may direct, for any leakage of oil or gas to be sealed to his satisfaction and for steps to be taken to deal with any unacceptable levels of pollution.The installation was so badly damaged by the fire and explosions of 6 July as to be beyond preservation. If it is not toppled in a controlled way its collapse is inevitable, and could occur soon but probably during the coming winter. If it does collapse under natural forces, it is likely to fall inwards upon existing debris rendering any further removal or recovery operations impossibly difficult and dangerous and creating a serious hazard to shipping, as it would lie just below the surface.To take the platform down piece by piece would mean first removing the remaining module. Because of the precarious condition of the module itself, and of the structure supporting it, Occidental and its co-venturers submitted, and the Department's safety directorate accepts, that such an attempt would involve unacceptable hazard to the personnel involved.The possibility that a toppling operation might destroy evidence which would otherwise assist the technical investigation or the public inquiry has been carefully considered also. However, the visible remains have been inspected and it seems unlikely that any useful evidence would be lost. The toppled structure in its final position should not make access to the central debris pile, and such evidence as it may contain, any more difficult than is already the case. Toppling the jacket would however eliminate a hazard which could otherwise hamper diving and other work on the existing debris. Both Lord Cullen and the Procurator Fiscal, have been advised of Occidental's proposal, and neither has any objection in principle.

Attorney-General

Magistrates

To ask the Attorney-General how many full-time stipendiary magistrates were assigned to the courts on 1 January of each year from 1985 to 1988, inclusive, and if he will make a statement.

The number of full-time stipendiary magistrates on 1 January in each of the following years was:

Year	Number
1985	60
1986	62
1987	60
1988	61

To ask the Attorney-General how many acting stipendiary magistrates were assigned to the courts on 1 January of each year from 1985 to 1988, inclusive; and if he will make a statement.

The number of persons approved to sit as acting stipendiary magistrates on 1 January in each of the following years was:

Year	Number
1985	91
1986	69
1987	71
1988	68

Crown Prosecution Service

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the responsibilities of a branch Crown prosecutor; and if he will make a statement.

The responsibilities of a branch Crown prosecutor will vary depending on the characteristics of the branch for which he is responsible and the duties delegated to him by the chief Crown prosecutor for the area. They will include responsibility for the management of staff and other resources within the branch, and responsibility for all casework allocated to the branch.A branch Crown prosecutor may have responsibility for some 10 to 35 lawyers and a similar number of support staff. The additional responsibility involved in running a large branch is recognised by a higher Civil Service grading and by support from assistant branch Crown prosecutor posts.The numbers of staff managed by branch Crown prosecutors and the grading of their duties are currently the subject of internal review.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will set out the scale of salaries for a branch Crown prosecutor (a) in London, (b) in the shire counties, and (c) in the metropolitan counties; and if he will make a statement.

In London and most metropolitan areas branch Crown prosecutors posts are held by officers at grade 5 level; elsewhere they are held by officers at grade 6 level. The relevant salary scales for all areas except the shire counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire are as follows:

Grade 5
effective from
1 October 1988	1 April 1989
27,087	28,170
28,154	29,280
29,255	30,425
30,387¹	31,602¹
31,536²	32,826²
32,784²	34,095²
23,053²	35,415²
35,371²	36,786²
Grade 6
19,905	21,633
20,801	22,606
22,715	23,624
24,805	25,797
27,087¹	28,170¹
28,154²	29,280²
29,255²	30,425²
30,387²	31,602²
31,563²	32,826²

Grade 6 branch Crown prosecutors in the shire areas of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire are paid at the following rate:

effective from
1 October 1988	1 April 1989
22,226	23,624
23,226	24,686
24,805	25,797
27,087	28,170
28,154¹	29,280¹
29,255²	30,425²
30,387²	31,602²
31,563²	32,826²
32,784²	34,095²

London weighting allowance is payable where appropriate.

¹ Scale maximum.

² Performance points.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the level of London weighting allowance given to a branch of Crown prosecutor; if there are any plans to review the present position; and if he will make a statement.

The relevant scales of London weighting allowance payable to branch Crown prosecutors are as follows:

	£per annum
Inner London	1,750
Intermediate London	1,000
Outer London	725

Levels of London weighting are determined centrally for the Civil Service as a whole and are subject to regular review.

Health

Midwives

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the midwives' regrading exercise.

The grading outcomes which I published on 28 November show that midwives have benefited even more than nurses from the new structure. Nine out of ten staff midwives have received increases of around 25 per cent. more. Three out of four midwifery sisters have received increases of at least 16 per cent., or £1,925. The average value to midwives of this year's award following the regrading is over 20 per cent. Midwives have now been told their new grades and the vast majority received the new rates of pay in their November pay packets. Back pay from April should be paid before Christmas.At my meeting with the Royal College of Midwives on 7 December I agreed to repeat to health authorities previous guidance on particular issues affecting grading in order to help inform some appeals.

Incontinence Pads

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given to district health authorities concerning the supply of incontinence pads to very dependent elderly people in both local authority and private residential nursing homes.

Health authorities have discretion to supply incontinence pads to people living in residential care homes. They were advised in 1974 that they might provide pads free of charge for the residents of such homes but not for patients in private nursing homes.

Cervical Smear Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the current average waiting times for women in North Staffordshire district health authority waiting for the results of cervical smear tests.

The current backlog of cervical smears in north Staffordshire is equivalent to 4-5 weeks' work. This is a substantial improvement in the backlog which peaked at three months in January. Two additional part-time screening staff were recruited last summer, and the DHA will continue to send some smears to a private laboratory in Birmingham until waiting times have been further reduced.

Pre-School Playgroups

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the percentage of under five-year-olds in pre-school playgroups in each local authority; and if he will make a statement.

We do not have information in exactly the form requested. The available information relates to the number of places in playgroups and the table gives the percentage of the population aged under five years for each local authority in England.

Places in playgroups as a percentage of the population aged under five in each local authority in England at 31 March 1987
Local Authority	Places in playgroups as a percentage of the population aged under five
England	13·8
Cleveland	8·0
Cumbria	16·3
Durham	11·2
Northumberland	18·4
Gateshead	8·8
Newcastle upon Tyne	10·4
North Tyneside	6·1
South Tyneside	2·7
Sunderland	6·7
Humberside	10·8
North Yorkshire	21·5
Barnsley	10·0
Doncaster	4·4
Rotherham	8·8
Sheffield	11·9
Bradford	8·4
Calderdale	15·0
Kirklees	9·2
Leeds	11·6
Wakefield	6·4
Cheshire	12·8
Lancashire	11·8
Bolton	5·7
Bury	16·0
Manchester	6·1
Oldham	10·1
Rochdale	9·0
Salford	6·6
Stockport	11·8
Tameside	7·8
Trafford	15·3
Wigan	13·1
Knowsley	6·3
Liverpool	8·2
St. Helens	17·5
Sefton	6·8
Wirral	15·1
Hereford and Worcester	20·4
Shropshire	17·4
Staffordshire	12·6
Warwickshire	13·5
Birmingham	11·4
Coventry	12·2
Dudley	10·3
Sandwell	6·2
Solihull	11·6
Walsall	13·6
Wolverhampton	9·2
Derbyshire	12·0
Leicestershire	15·5
Lincolnshire	19·0
Northamptonshire	15·9
Nottinghamshire	9·5
Bedfordshire	14·0
Berkshire	13·4
Buckinghamshire	19·7
Cambridgeshire	14·5
Essex	18·2
Hertfordshire	14·2
Norfolk	20·2
Oxfordshire	19·6
Suffolk	16·8
Camden	10·9
Greenwich	9·7
Hackney	6·8
Hammersmith and Fulham	7·8
Islington	9·8

Local Authority	Places in playgroups as a percentage of the population aged under five
Kensington and Chelsea	6·0
Lambeth	6·2
Lewisham	9·0
Southwark	7·5
Tower Hamlets	4·9
Wandsworth	8·2
Westminster	9·7
City of London	11·0
Barking and Dagenham	9·3
Barnet	14·3
Bexley	16·6
Brent	6·8
Bromley	24·1
Croydon	15·0
Ealing	8·4
Enfield	7·6
Haringey	6·7
Harrow	15·3
Havering	14·5
Hillingdon	15·4
Hounslow	9·4
Kingston upon Thames	10·1
Merton	10·8
Newham	3·2
Redbridge	18·8
Richmond upon Thames	23·1
Sutton	14·7
Waltham Forest	7·2
Dorset	19·7
Hampshire	17·7
Isle of Wight	22·7
Kent	18·2
Surrey	20·7
East Sussex	17·7
West Sussex	22·7
Wiltshire	19·8
Avon	13·5
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	21·0
Devon	17·4
Gloucestershire	22·4
Somerset	21·0

Note:¹Some figures have been estimated.

Disabled Persons (Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of his Department's staff are classed as disabled.

We do not have separate figures for the Department of Health but the June 1988 percentage for the Department of Health and Social Security was 1·42 per cent.

Dentistry (Surgical Gloves)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to general dental practitioners on the wearing of surgical gloves by dentists and their staff.

The chief dental officer of the Department issued guidance to dentists in April 1986 which stressed the importance of following high standards of cross-infection control when treating all patients, including wearing operating gloves when treating patients.

He wrote to dentists again in May 1988 reminding them of the importance of wearing gloves to ensure an effective barrier against infection for themselves, their staff and their patients.

Maternity Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a statement on the provision of maternity care in Southport, Lancashire, under the National Health Service.

Maternity care in the Southport and Formby health authority is provided at the Christina Hartley maternity hospital which has 35 obstetric beds and 11 special care baby cots. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of the district health authority for further information about local maternity services.

Packaged Food

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action Her Majesty's Government have taken on the World Health Organisation recommendation in February that cooked food in sealed packages found to contain listeria monocytogenes should be withdrawn.

No action is necessary. Well established procedures already exist to effect the withdrawal of such foods.

Leeds Western District Health Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the appointment of a new chairman for Leeds western district health authority.

Very soon.

Radiotherapy Machines

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to establish a national system for checking and monitoring within each health authority the correct calibration and performance of radiotherapy machines in addition to the monitoring by the Health and Safety Executive to be implemented by all departments of physics and radiation;(2) if there is a national system for setting up and monitoring the performance of cancer radioactive treatment machines which includes the initial calibration calculation;(3) if he will issue guidance to district health authorities as to their obligations to take full responsibility for the standards of work carried out by their various departments including physics and radiotherapy and as to the different responsibilities in this area and of the Health and Safety Executive.

It is a prime responsibility of health authorities to ensure the safe and effective operation of all departments. This is over and above any specific statutory responsibilities under regulations enforced by inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive. In the light of the recent report by Sir Bryan Thwaites on the regrettable lapses at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, we will be issuing further guidance on the calibration of radiotherapy machines which we will expect all health authorities to implement.

Health Authorities (Women General Managers)

To ask the Secretary of State for Heath if he will list (a) the regional health authorities and (b) the district health authorities that have women general managers.

South Western regional health authority has a woman general manager. The following district health authorities also have women general managers:

Central Nottinghamshire
North Bedfordshire
Parkside
Islington
Waltham Forest
Haringey
Wandsworth
Rochdale

Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average number of years worked part-time in the National Health Service by nurses after qualification.

The answer that I gave to the hon. Member's question on 25 November at column 60 included both whole-time and part-time working because individual nurses and midwives move between whole-time and part-time working during their careers. The information cannot be provided separately for whole-time and part-time service.

Medical Care, Bolton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set up an inquiry into the alleged failure of medical care in Bolton that resulted in the death of Craig Jackson and jeopardised the life of Matthew Catton.

[holding answer 2 December 1988]: I am aware of the local concern generated by these two cases and I regret the distress they have caused to the families of Craig Jackson and Matthew Catton. But at this stage there are no obvious national implications in the approach to their treatment which would justify my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State holding an inquiry.Bolton health authority and the Bolton family practitioner committee will be considering what investigations into the cases are appropriate. The parents of both boys can also make use of the complaints procedure of the health authority and family practitioner committee if they feel it appropriate.

Premium Smokeless Fuels

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about the high costs of premium smokeless fuels; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The particular prices of domestic coals are a matter for the coal merchants concerned. But in general smokeless fuels are more expensive than bituminous house coals, partly because of their greater calorific value and, in the case of manufactured fuels, partly because considerable processing costs are incurred.

Volume 143: debated on Thursday 8 December 1988

Written Answers To Questions

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Sea Defences

Greenhouse Effect

Sea Level

Bristol Channel (Sludge Dumping)

Salmonella

Food Additives

Badgers

Shellfish

Disabled Persons (Staff)

Common Agricultural Policy

Transport

Train Times

Vat

Road Renewal

London Assessment Study

M1 (Accidents)

Channel Tunnel

Traffic Congestion

Manchester Airport

Atomic Weapons Establishment (Explosion)

Level Crossings

London Regional Transport

Education And Science

School Places

Assisted Places Scheme

Independent Schools (Costs)

Schools (Status)

Children (Special Needs)

Defence

Expenditure

Plutonium

Atomic Weapons Establishment, Burghfield

Hong Kong (Explosion)

Overseas Development

Holiday Visits

The Arts

Vishnu (Statues)

British Library

Reviewing Committee On The Export Of Works Of Art

Arts Support

The Arts

Public Libraries

House Of Commons

Ministers' Pay

Theft

Trade And Industry

Professional Liability

Restrictive Trade Practices

British Overseas Trade Board

Fuzzy Logic

Financial Services Industry

National Engineering Laboratory

North Peckham Task Force

Wool

British Steel

Landfill

Police

Northern Ireland

School Visits

Short Brothers Plc

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Floods

Rathlin Island

Prime Minister

Security Services

Vice-President (European Commission)

Sunday Trading

"The Green Gauntlet"

Engagements

Advisers

Foreign Visits

Downing Street (Furnishings And Decoration)

Official Gifts

Policy Unit

Questions (Costs)

Travel Restrictions