Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 14 March 1989

Defence

Nuclear Submarines (Liverpool)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what detailed information is available to the population of Merseyside on the consequences of an accident involving a nuclear reactor on the nuclear-powered submarines using the port of Liverpool.

The Liverpool special safety scheme contains information on the possible consequences of accidents involving reactors on nuclear-powered submarines. Copies of the scheme are held by local civil authorities, and it is being distributed to public libraries in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the disposal of nuclear material arising from an accident to a nuclear submarine in or around the port of Liverpool.

The possibility of an accident involving a release of nuclear material from a submarine is extremely remote. However, our accident response plans do allow for such an occurrence, and for the controlled monitoring and decontamination of affected areas. Disposal methods would vary depending on the type and amount of materials involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what incidents have been reported in the past 10 years involving nuclear submarines coming in to the port of Liverpool.

There has never been an incident involving a Royal Navy submarine which has led to a radiological hazard to service men or members of the public. No nuclear submarines of other navies have visited Liverpool during this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries by order of either national or local government to his Department's knowledge forbid the docking of nuclear submarines at ports near high population urban areas; and which countries forbid completely the entry of nuclear submarines into their waters.

The Ministry of Defence does not maintain a list of countries which make such prohibitions.

Prime Minister

Brunton

Q76.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

Mr Hugo Young (Book)

Q173.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will acquire for the Library of 10 Downing street, a copy of Mr. Hugo Young's book of the Thatcher premiership.

No.

Engagements

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 March.

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

Energy

Redundant Mineworkers

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the suspension of payments to redundant mineworkers under the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme arising from the tighter enforcement of the criterion of availability for work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 161, whether he will now make a statement on restart and the redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

I recognise that restart procedures in respect of availability-for-work have resulted in suspension of payments to former mineworkers who are beneficiaries under the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme. Following discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, work has been put in hand on the options for modifying the link between benefits under the RMPS and unemployment benefit availability procedures, having regard to cost and consequential effects. It is very possible that as a result of this work I will need to introduce an amending order to modify the RMPS. In the meantime, I understand that the employment service is taking into account this development in its application of its procedures.

Petrol Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of petrol sold is sold through outlets owned by integrated oil companies.

There are no figures available providing a breakdown of United Kingdom petrol sales by company type.

Nuclear Power

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy for what aspects of the application of Euratom safeguards to civil nuclear power plants and civil nuclear fuel cycle facilities he is responsible to Parliament to give details.

The detailed application of safeguards procedures by Euratom and the IAEA is a matter for them. The Government's obligations arise from the Euratom treaty and our safeguards agreements with the IAEA. I am satisfied that we are fulfilling these obligations.

Plutonium

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many kilogrammes of safeguarded plutonium have been exported; to which commercial operators in which countries on which dates, for each year since 1979; and which exports involved sales and which leasing arrangements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 January 1989 at column 157. Detailed information relating to the quantities of plutonium exported to individual operators and countries, and the frequency and nature of shipments, cannot be revealed for reasons of security and commercial sensitivity.

Piped Gas

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he has any information as to what proportion of piped gas is presently supplied to large consumers by any company other than British Gas;(2) if he has any information as to what proportion of piped gas in the United Kingdom is presently supplied by British Gas.

My Department does not have reliable information available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, column 210, if he has any information about how British Gas will determine in the future the actual level of prices of firm gas for large industrial consumers; and whether a competitive market for the supply of piped gas currently exists in the United Kingdom.

I have nothing precise to add to my answer of 1 March 1989 at column 210 about the actual level of prices of firm gas. However, the measures taken following the MMC report are intended to encourage the development of competition in gas supply to customers over 25,000 therms.

Gas Prices

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what policy considerations underlie his decision to subject to control prices for domestic gas consumers but not prices for large industrial consumers.

The distinction was established by the Gas Act 1986, which subjected prices for large industrial consumers to competition law. The recent MMC report has justified that approach.

Trade And Industry

Inflation

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the effects of the level of inflation on industry.

A number of those who make representations to my Department refer to the need to contain inflation. The great majority recognise that this must remain a top priority both for Government and for business itself.

Chlorofluorocarbons

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has made any study of opportunities existing for United Kingdom companies to provide dismantlement, storage and sealed-disposal services for refrigeration units containing chlorofluorocarbons in industrial developing Third world countries.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 7 March 1989 at column 461 to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North (Ms. Walley). The parties to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer have yet to approve procedures for the destruction of chlorofluorocarbons and other chemicals that are controlled under the protocol.

Radioactive Waste Disposal

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, during his recent meeting with Soviet Trade Minister Kamentsev in London the prospects for the sale of British radioactive waste disposal technology and expertise were discussed.

No.

European Regional Development Fund

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will be in a position to announce the areas in the United Kingdom which the Economic Community have decided will be eligible for support under the European regional development fund; and if he will make a statement.

Areas to be eligible for support from the European regional development fund will be those selected for assistance from the reformed European structural funds under their new objectives 1, 2 and 5(b).The objective 1 areas were listed in Council regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 of 24 June 1988. They include Northern Ireland.Objective 2 and 5(b) areas are to be determined by the European Commission. It announced a provisional list of objective 2 (industrial) areas on 8 March 1989. This contains nearly all the industrial assisted areas, including the hon. Member's constituency, and also a number of other areas. Following consultation of an advisory committee of national officials, this list is expected to be finalised during March 1989.The Commission is expected to decide within a few weeks on a first list of objective 5(b) (rural) areas. It assured us in May 1988 that the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, rural Wales and the assisted areas of Devon and Cornwall would be eligible under objective 5(b).

Regional Aid

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what limits he proposes to set upon the charities component of European regional development aid to the United Kingdom; if he will break down the figure by economic region; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The composition of future applications to the European regional development fund is under consideration.

Research And Development

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest figures on the regional distribution of his Department's budget for research and development.

This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Arms Sales (Iran And Iraq)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if United Kingdom arms manufacturers will be granted export licences for sales to Iran or Iraq in the near future.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 18 January 1989 at column 241, to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor).

Satellite Broadcasting

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department is taking, in conjunction with the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the European Space Agency, to resolve potential problems of signal interference between BSB and the Olympus satellite; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: We are currently negotiating with the European Space Agency and other interested parties an arrangement which will ensure that reception of the United Kingdom's fifth direct broadcasting satellite channel will not suffer unacceptable signal interference from the Olympus experimental satellite. This arrangement is based on internationally agreed criteria (as prescribed in the final acts of the world broadcasting satellite administrative radio conference, Geneva, 1977—the 77 plan—and incorporated in appendix 30 of the International Telecommunications Union radio regulations): It also takes account of the possibility that the operator of the fifth United Kingdom DBS channel may wish to operate at only one half of the satellite power prescribed in the 77 plan.

Radio Communications (Central London)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many operating licences have been issued by his Department's radio communications division in central London to users operating on base transmission of 442·97500 mHz and mobile transmission of 428·47500 mHz; and how many users have complained about overcrowding of the frequency.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: There are six licensed operators on these frequencies within the M25, and one licensed operator in the west midlands area.Three users, from within the M25 area, have complained about overcrowding of these frequencies. These complaints are being investigated.

Gas Prices

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects British Gas to publish its schedule of prices to large industrial consumers following the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in implementing the recommendation in the report.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: I hope that British Gas will be able to publish in the very near future its schedule of prices for large consumers, together with details of how it will be implemented. Many of the large customers of British Gas have asked for a delay in the implementation of the new schedule beyond 1 April to enable them to consider the implications for themselves.

Steel Industry (Gas)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, column 190, what information he has as to what proportion of production costs firm gas accounts for in (a) the steel forgings industry and (b) the steel castings industry.

According to the latest five-yearly inquiry, gas purchasing amounted to just under 2 per cent. of the production costs of the forging, pressing and stamping industry (including steel forging) and the ferrous metal foundries industry (including steel castings) in 1984. Data for firm gas alone, or for all gas to the specific industry sectors, are not available to me.

Imitation Food

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has reached a decision on whether imitation foods for dolls' houses and collectors of miniatures should be covered by the proposed Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations 1989; and whether he will make a statement.

In the course of consultation on the regulations to implement the European Community directive on dangerous imitations a large number of representations have been made for the regulations not to apply to imitation food supplied for use in dolls' houses or model scenes or settings. These items are exempt from the Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations 1985 but are subject to the general safety requirement under section 10 of the Consumer Protection, Act 1987 and where appropriate to the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1974. After careful consideration of these representations, I have concluded that these items should be excluded from the new regulations.

Computer Hacking

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, following the recent cases of unauthorised electronic penetration of computerised information, when he intends to bring forward a Bill to outlaw computer hacking.

I have been asked to reply. We are awaiting the final report of the Law Commission, which is looking at the matter as part of a review of the law on computer misuse.

Wales

Urban Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was the value of urban programme moneys for each year since 1979 (a) for Wales, and (b) for district councils in the valleys initiative area, at constant prices.

£ million
	Cash allocations			Real terms
Year	Main allocations	Special and supplementary allocations	Total	Main allocations	Special and supplementary allocations	Total
1979–80	5·5	0·6	7·1	12·1	1·1	13·2
1980–81	8·4	0·7	9·1	13·2	1·1	14·3
1981–82	10·0	0·9	10·9	14·3	1·3	15·6
1982–83	15·3	3·3	18·6	20·5	4·4	24·9
1983–84	17·7	—	17·7	22·7	—	22·7
1984–85	17·6	4·45	22·05	21·4	5·4	26·9
1985–86	15·7	3·5	19·2	18·1	4·1	22·2
1986–87	18·75	4·95	23·7	21·0	5·5	26·5
1987–88	20·05	3·0	23·05	21·3	3·2	24·5
1988–89	17·8	6·7	24·5	17·8	6·7	24·5
1989–90	27·6	—	27·6	26·3	—	26·3

(b) The total urban programme allocations in cash and real terms for the district councils which have all or part of their areas within the Programme for the Valleys area are as follow:

£ million
Year	Cash allocation	Real terms
1979–80	2·1	3·9
1980–81	3·3	5·2
1981–82	3·5	5·0
1982–83	7·1	9·5
1983–84	6·7	8·5
1984–85	8·5	10·4
1985–86	6·4	7·4
1986–87	10·0	11·1
1987–88	10·5	11·1
1988–89	13·3	13·3
1989–90	13·4	12·8

(a) Number of Renovation Grant applications¹
	1982–83²	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Alyn and Deeside	973	705	189	220	223	197
Colwyn	598	183	161	342	366	455
Delyn	785	390	82	123	187	172
Glyndwr	1,042	649	90	131	195	274
Rhuddlan	244	122	87	114	107	98
Wrexham Maelor	719	183	104	134	130	110
Carmarthen	2,766	765	480	546	614	460
Ceredigion	1,525	336	127	110	127	336
Dinefwr	2,552	611	103	107	134	121
Llanelli	2,441	131	128	683	680	654
Preseli	1,368	220	1,148	731	686	844
South Pembrokeshire	1,499	679	278	711	640	495
Blaenau Gwent	11,176	702	400	791	941	677
Islwyn	2,687	1,354	1,178	785	1,312	1,221
Monmouth	2,520	187	440	653	661	89
Newport	6,071	827	910	1,227	889	770
Torfaen	1,467	3,226	253	849	465	265
Aberconwy	664	199	204	199	199	245
Arfon	1,613	797	212	317	592	533
Dwyfor	1,816	600	77	128	183	153
Meirionnydd	1,559	575	68	67	56	120
Ynys Mon	1,652	942	101	119	115	131
Cynon Valley	5,206	408	560	1,119	2,029	1,989
Merthyr Tydfil	4,950	172	187	244	268	388
Ogwr	3,350	1,342	562	1,140	966	1,089
Rhondda	15,800	2,731	1,771	2,118	1,578	1,813
Rhymney Valley	5,641	1,165	496	778	974	1,103

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: (a) The main urban programme and special and supplementary allocations in cash and real terms for all Wales for each of the years since 1979–80 is shown in the following tables:

Notes:

1. The allocations in real terms have been derived by the application of the GDP deflator at market prices with 1988–89 as base year.

2. Boundaries for district councils do not correspond to boundary of Valleys Programme area and the figures in table b above do not include allocations for county councils.

Home Improvement Grants

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of applications for home improvement grants and the number accepted for each year since 1979, by district and at constant prices.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: The information available is shown in the following tables:

	1982–83²	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Taff-Ely	5,411	1,336	649	266	513	587
Brecknock	2,046	419	83	120	165	231
Montgomery	2,294	464	95	103	77	118
Radnor	530	222	92	97	123	104
Cardiff	11,521	5,364	2,060	3,608	4,053	4,296
Vale of Glamorgan	4,075	578	249	450	452	391
Port Talbot (Afan)	660	1,131	100	114	184	1,233
Lliw Valley	972	468	340	377	506	610
Neath	2,551	259	283	258	491	498
Swansea	8,357	2,331	1,617	1,909	1,594	1,767
Wales	121,101	32,773	15,964	21,788	23,475	24,637
¹ Number of renovation grant applications are not available prior to 9 March 1982.
² Total grant applications between 9 March 1982 and 31 December 1983.

(b) Number of renovation grant approvals
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Alyn and Deeside	109	125	153	397	428	154	86	242	226	243
Colwyn	156	135	76	182	328	60	213	274	278	341
Delyn	133	69	153	259	328	160	150	195	266	152
Glyndwr	78	68	78	330	500	230	95	106	206	180
Rhuddlan	32	16	22	54	94	68	52	84	83	63
Wrexham Maelor	72	88	25	170	140	94	85	115	71	96
Carmarthen	298	244	180	633	1,790	424	617	445	468	465
Ceredigion	176	165	130	365	999	68	337	316	108	291
Dinefwr	181	49	45	160	461	171	130	150	125	165
Llanelli	338	123	132	323	1,523	258	484	515	461	853
Preseli	187	177	188	373	902	196	423	397	427	443
South Pembrokeshire	131	95	162	483	682	605	286	555	440	447
Blaenau Gwent	275	220	169	928	2,325	319	225	776	907	345
Islwyn	286	176	214	528	997	978	1,447	1,186	1,419	1,582
Monmouth	115	116	100	364	912	196	335	237	413	89
Newport	240	160	288	1,147	1,108	413	1,021	55	517	874
Torfaen	98	47	87	414	773	404	286	370	433	444
Aberconwy	117	104	127	168	301	220	209	155	195	203
Arfon	279	275	269	412	698	465	562	553	468	437
Dwyfor	101	50	141	528	758	289	79	194	132	154
Meirionnydd	120	104	69	353	1,208	861	68	223	61	116
Ynys Mon	114	84	75	264	1,271	198	162	196	232	303
Cynon Valley	225	171	158	422	677	221	348	1,263	1,518	1,430
Merthyr Tydfil	202	81	225	705	2,068	377	420	547	606	1,036
Ogwr	493	329	455	700	1,418	1,125	574	1,120	904	1,267
Rhondda	514	415	782	1,723	3,570	5,068	579	2,329	1,332	1,642
Rhymney Valley	331	207	355	953	1,192	944	393	739	952	954
Taff-Ely	320	291	854	1,432	2,205	557	677	742	256	587
Brecknock	124	127	141	296	776	111	62	202	331	236
Montgomery	69	59	63	471	733	139	167	228	116	279
Radnor	72	58	31	204	372	82	181	127	101	92
Cardiff	497	457	698	1,425	4,031	1,821	2,866	3,122	3,051	3,107
Vale of Glamorgan	228	207	316	788	1,101	402	205	590	452	386
Port Talbot (Afan)	202	157	163	225	204	68	186	403	609	451
Lliw Valley	301	283	222	402	261	315	339	535	484	574
Neath	394	141	235	884	1,727	259	304	656	774	493
Swansea	977	937	444	1,501	1,987	1,546	2,046	1,219	1,276	1,279
Wales	8,585	6,610	8,025	20,966	40,848	19,866	16,699	21,661	20,698	22,099

(c) Value of Renovation Grant approvals (£000) at 1988 prices^{1 2}
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Alyn and Deeside	—	—	—	1,033	1,484	636	285	937	788	871
Colwyn	—	—	—	1,020	1,817	203	751	1,050	1,102	1,088
Delyn	—	—	—	999	1,108	660	422	487	695	391
Glyndwr	—	—	—	1,261	2,496	1,486	423	454	757	664
Rhuddlan	—	—	—	57	213	135	83	161	218	170
Wrexham Maelor	—	—	—	586	572	408	316	413	231	313
Carmarthen	—	—	—	3,250	8,623	2,052	2,728	2,144	2,028	1,772
Ceredigion	—	—	—	1,987	5,876	302	1,624	1,555	421	1,083
Dinefwr	—	—	—	805	2,159	580	378	439	381	519
Llanelli	—	—	—	1,136	4,371	797	1,819	1,323	1,252	2,235
Preseli	—	—	—	2,074	5,598	976	2,138	1,669	1,792	1,537
South Pembrokeshire	—	—	—	2,518	3,503	3,047	1,300	2,610	2,258	2,189
Blaenau Gwent	—	—	—	4,332	9,705	1,038	1,028	3,202	3,295	1,153
Islwyn	—	—	—	2,061	3,639	2,780	3,656	3,698	4,343	4,230
Monmouth	—	—	—	1,505	4,024	977	1,068	767	1,265	173
Newport	—	—	—	5,086	6,313	1,846	3,321	1,917	2,127	3,287

	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Torfaen	—	—	—	1,410	2,658	1,716	998	1,014	1,610	1,837
Aberconwy	—	—	—	752	1,159	707	679	473	579	654
Arfon	—	—	—	1,588	3,112	2,275	2,442	2,278	1,735	1,567
Dwyfor	—	—	—	2,305	3,327	1,252	333	877	523	648
Meirionnydd	—	—	—	1,407	5,152	3,893	236	881	211	402
Ynys Mon	—	—	—	1,336	6,581	833	627	750	890	1,078
Cynon Valley	—	—	—	2,443	3,837	843	1,363	4,098	5,562	2,979
Merthyr Tydfil	—	—	—	2,167	5,245	1,211	1,233	1,515	1,532	2,539
Ogwr	—	—	—	3,276	4,696	3,384	1,322	3,855	2,851	3,490
Rhondda	—	—	—	6,165	12,540	17,854	1,883	7,493	4,605	5,561
Rhymney Valley	—	—	—	2,769	4,848	3,900	1,298	2,704	3,639	3,396
Taff-Ely	—	—	—	4,576	8,202	2,273	2,601	3,377	641	1,508
Brecknock	—	—	—	1,155	3,165	479	235	499	753	599
Montgomery	—	—	—	2,032	3,290	547	619	758	369	877
Radnor	—	—	—	694	1,398	409	530	333	352	248
Cardiff	—	—	—	5,080	16,228	6,959	10,158	12,250	11,735	10,622
Vale of Glamorgan	—	—	—	3,027	4,553	1,769	859	2,321	1,554	1,351
Port Talbot (Afan)	—	—	—	534	636	250	392	965	590	1,268
Lliw Valley	—	—	—	1,806	1,096	1,413	1,299	2,093	1,520	1,612
Neath	—	—	—	2,093	4,884	604	841	1,236	1,824	962
Swansea	—	—	—	6,510	8,396	6,937	7,947	5,194	5,640	5,770
Wales	31,265	21,324	30,520	82,476	166,503	77,428	59,233	77,791	71,665	70,643
¹ Information by district is not readily available prior to 1982.
² Value of approvals has been expressed at 1988 prices using GDP deflators.

This does not include allocations for area based renovations for which the totals are as follows:

1986–87

1987–88

1988–89

£ million

£ million
	Capital allocations: UDG
Local authority	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Alyn and Deeside District Council	—	0·062	0·012	0·008	0·694	—
Colwyn Borough Council	—	—	0·092	0·229	0·114	—
Delyn District Council	—	—	—	—	0·060	0·042
Wrexham Maelor Borough Council	—	1·205	—	—	—	—
Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council	—	—	—	—	0·170	0·008
South Pembrokeshire District Council	—	—	—	—	0·213	0·068
Blaenau Gwent Borough Council	0·220	0·284	0·353	0·234	0·027	—
Islwyn Borough Council	—	—	—	0·262	0·058	0·376
Newport Borough Council	0·013	0·024	0·821	0·783	—	—
Torfaen Borough Council	—	—	—	—	—	0·090
Cynon Valley Borough Council	—	—	—	0·065	0·345	0·141
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council	—	—	0·101	0·010	0·106	0·201
Rhondda Borough Council	0·038	0·451	0·959	0·318	0·171	0·897
Rhymney Valley District Council	—	—	0·129	—	0·018	—
Cardiff City Council	0·640	1·473	1·289	0·210	0·244	0·636
Vale of Glamorgan District Council	—	—	—	0·744	0·594	0·022
Neath Borough Council	—	0·061	0·058	—	—	0·435
Port Talbot Borough Council	—	—	—	—	0·090	0·186
Swansea City Council	0·640	0·249	0·058	0·023	0·327	1·717

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received any representations concerning the payment under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme of money to landlords; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: In addition to the letter that I have received from the hon.

Urban Development Grants

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of urban development grants by district council for each year since 1979 at constant prices.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: Urban development grant was introduced in 1982. The following table represents the value of capital allocations made in each year are expressed in real terms and have been devised by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the latest GDP deflators. 1988–89 is the base year for the calculations.Gentleman the president of the Farmers Union of Wales has written to me about problems which his members are facing in reaching agreement with the Crown Estate and the water authority about the apportionment of grant that would be paid under the ESA scheme. I have arranged for my officials to meet the union to discuss the problem.

Press And Public Relations

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, in the press and the public relations office of the Welsh Office; and what is the proposed complement for 1989–90.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: There are 22½ staff in the information division which has a notional complement of 28½. Under delegated budgets staffing levels for 1989–90 will be determined by the resources made available to line managers and decisions on budget allocations for 1989–90 have yet to be finalised.

Bed And Breakfast

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the number of people for whom

Households placed in bed and breakfast accommodation, by type of household¹
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987
Single persons	n/a	n/a	83	74	44	54	113	56	74
Lone parents with children	n/a	n/a	165	160	108	148	268	211	248
Married couple with/without children	n/a	n/a	168	160	106	117	225	147	177
Other	n/a	n/a	—	1	3	—	2	4	6
Total	133	348	416	395	261	319	608	418	505
¹ During the year as a whole, under Part III of the Housing Act 1985.

Source: Welsh Office.

Neath-Port Talbot Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether in the consideration he is now giving to the proposals of the health authority for the building of a new hospital in the Neath-Port Talbot area he is still on target so far as the intended commencement of work is concerned.

I am at present examining the proposals from West Glamorgan Health Authority. The scheme is currently on target to start in 1991–92.

Northern Ireland

Plastic Bullets

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now make it his policy to answer detailed questions on the rules governing the use of plastic bullets.

I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) on 15 December 1988, at column 677.

Information Technology

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement of progress on the introduction of information technologies to facilitate internal communications in his Department and the provision of information to the public concerning those areas for which he is responsible; and if he has any further plans to apply the newest technologies in these fields.

bed-and-breakfast payments are being made; and whether they are single, single with children, a couple or a couple with children for each year since 1979.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The available information is set out in the following tables:

Households accommodated in bed and breakfast accommodation¹
	Numbers
1979	22
1980	67
1981	63
1982	21
1983	17
1984	31
1985	20
1986	35
1987	45
¹ On 31 December, under Part III of the Housing Act 1985.

Source: Welsh Office.

All Northern Ireland Departments have prepared, and are implementing, information technology strategies geared to their individual business objectives with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness while ensuring value for money in the purchases of systems. The Northern Ireland Office is in the process of preparing its own strategy. Each strategy includes provision for improving internal communications through the use of voice and data transmission facilities, office automation and management information systems. Fax and telex facilities are also available in Departments and local offices dealing with matters such as social security. In particular, the Northern Ireland Office has recently introduced a secure inter-communicating word processing system and a secure video conferencing system linking its Belfast and London offices. A telecommunications strategy has also been drawn up, and plans are being prepared to provide a modern, fully integrated, digital network.The departmental information technology strategies address the provision of information to the public where this is appropriate and a number of computer systems providing this facility are operational in areas such as social security benefits, economic development and agriculture. In addition a free telephone service, freeline DHSS, is provided to anyone in Northern Ireland linking inquirers directly to a centre where full-time staff provide information and advice on all social security benefits and related services.Departmental information technology strategies are continually reviewed to ensure that they match administrative and policy objectives. Departments also endeavour to keep abreast of the latest developments in technology and seek to apply these where they fit into their strategies.

Genealogists (Fees)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is he will list (a) the standard fees and (b) the discretionary fees charged for services provided by the public record office (i) to commercial genealogists and (ii) where YTP or ACE workers are working on behalf of commercial genealogists.

Fees charged for services provided by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland are set out in a schedule to the Public Record of the (Public Use Of The Records) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1953. The current schedule of fees is contained in a statutory rule, No. 180 of 1988 a copy of which is available in the Library.The deputy keeper of the records has discretion to waive such fees if the records are being inspected for the purposes of private, non-profit-making research. The rules are interpreted in the same way in respect of services provided for ACE and YTP workers as for other members of the public.

Consumers (Consultation)

To ask the Secreatary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements there are for consulting consumers on the work and decisions of his Department.

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tobacco Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total of grants in aid paid to the tobacco industry in Northern Ireland since 1979; if he will list these; what other financial assistance has been made to tobacco companies by the Government in the same period; if he will list these; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no grants in aid paid to the tobacco industry in Northern Ireland since 1979. In terms of financial assistance, the Department of Economic Development (including the Industrial Development Board) has paid a total of £33,909,246 to tobacco companies in Northern Ireland since 1979.

Scotland

Chlorofluorocarbons

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his best estimate of the amount of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants under the control of his Department;(2) what plans there are to minimise the risk of leaks of chlorofluorocarbons from refrigeration and air conditioning systems under his Department's control.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on Monday 6 March.

Telephone Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the questions that were asked in the recent Scottish Office telephone survey.

[holding answer 8 March 1989]: The interview schedule contained questions about respondents' experience of a number of crimes, including car theft, bicycle theft, theft from vehicles, vandalism to vehicles, housebreaking, robbery, sexual offences and assault. Questions were also asked about fear of crime and household security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether surveys similar to the recent telephone survey by the Scottish Office have been conducted under its auspices in the past.

[holding answer 8 March 1989]: The questions asked in this survey are very similar to those used in the British crime surveys of 1982 and 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how people who took part in the recent Scottish Office telephone survey were chosen.

[holding answer 8 March 1989]: A random sample was obtained by means of computer-generated telephone calls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the purpose of the recent telephone survey by his Department.

[holding answer 8 March 1989]: The survey in Scotland was part of an international exercise involving 15 countries mainly from the European Community but also including the United States of America, Canada and Australia. The survey used tightly standardised methods in order to obtain comparative information on the nature and scale of victimisation and other criminal justice information across the various participating countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the recent telephone survey conducted by his Department.

[holding answer 8 March 1989]: My Department's central research unit, which acted as co-ordinator for the survey in Scotland, received about 30 telephone calls and one letter from the public. For the most part the callers sought only to confirm the bona fide nature of the survey though a number voiced specific concerns and complaints mainly related to the household security questions. Two of the calls related to the question about sexual assault.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether the people who carried out the recent Scottish Office telephone survey had received any formal training in counselling techniques;(2) what qualifications the people who carried out the recent Scottish Office telephone survey had.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]:The staff of the survey firms which conducted the survey are experienced in the use of telephone interviews for research purposes. The interviewers were given introductory training for the special needs of this survey which paid particular attention to the sensitive nature of many of the topics included in the questionnaire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the findings of the recent Scottish Office telephone survey will be published in full.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: A report on the results of the survey is to be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps were taken to ensure that respondents to the recent Scottish Office telephone survey were made aware of the voluntary nature of the survey.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: The introduction to the questionnaire used by all survey interviewers offered the respondent a number of opportunities to decline to participate before commencing the interview. At this stage, also, respondents were given the opportunity to verify the authenticity of the survey. This could be done by telephoning the liaison contact in the Scottish Office or the free telephone number of the Market Survey Society. That this was effective was demonstrated by the fact that, to achieve a sample of 2,000, approximately 4,000 calls had to be made. One person in two approached declined to participate. Those who participated were, of course, free to put down the telephone at any point.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps were taken to protect the confidentiality of respondents to the recent Scottish Office telephone survey.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: Confidentiality was a principal factor in the decision to use computer-generated telephone interviewing. This technique offers greater confidentiality than the more usual doorstep interviews since neither the name nor address of the respondent is known to the interviewer. This was explained by the interviewers to potential respondents before seeking their agreement to participate.

Hospitals (Capital Evaluation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give for each hospital over 250 beds (a) the land and building capital evaluation and (a) equipment capital evaluation;(2) on what date he proposes that hospitals will start paying capital interest charges; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked each health board to compile a register of all capital assets held, their location and their value, but this information is not yet available. A Scottish working paper on capital charging, including a proposed timetable, will be published shortly.

Forestry Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the proportion of Forestry Commission sales since the introduction of the rationalisation plans sold (a) back to the previous owners, (b) privately and (c) by public sale.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Mr Manouchehn Tehrani

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now received a copy of the written decision of Lord Weir, in the Court of Session, concerning the dismissal of Mr. Manouchehn Tehrani, consultant surgeon, from his employment at the Inverclyde royal hospital; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has seen a copy of Lord Weir's opinion. It now falls to Argyll and Clyde health board to consider anew the courses of action open to it.

Fish Farms

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what quantities of Nuvan 500 EC have been released into the marine environment via salmon farms in each of the last five years.

Information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inspections of marine fish farms have been made in each of the last five years by (a) the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, (b) the river purification boards and (c) the Health and Safety Executive.

The numbers of marine fish farms by scientists from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland were as follows:

	Numbers
1984	68
1985	101
1986	110
1987	133
1988	176

Information is not held centrally on the number of inspections of marine fish farms by river purification authorities.Information as to inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Executive is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment.

Matrimonial Homes

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report of the research into the working of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981.

I am placing copies of the report in the Library, and the Scottish Home and Health Department is sending copies to interested organisations.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Plutonium

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has reviewed the report, "The Transport of Plutonium by Air and Sea", written by Jonathan Spink and Paul Helliwell for the European Proliferation Information Centre on behalf of the national steering committee of the nuclear free zone authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The honorary secretary of the nuclear free zone national steering committee wrote to the permanent under-secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 16 January enclosing a copy of the report. A reply to the honorary secretary's letter issued on 9 February. A copy of the reply is being placed in the Library of the House.

Condor 2

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek a meeting with his counterpart on the Federal Republic of Germany to discuss the assistance given by Federal Germany aerospace companies to Argentina for the production of the Condor 2 ballistic missile system.

No, but officials from the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany frequently discuss the effective implementation of the missile technology control regime.

Rain Forests

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any recent representations to the Brazilian ambassador over the chopping down of the Amazonian rain forest and its consequent implications for the depletion of the ozone layer.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and I both drew to the attention of the visiting Secretary-General of the Brazilian Ministry for Foreign Affairs last week the strong concern felt in this country on environmental issues, notably the future of the Amazon rain forests. We stressed that our overall approach was to work with the Brazilian Government on these matters.

Plo (Bombings)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at his recent meeting with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, he raised the question of compensation for victims of past Palestine Liberation Organisation bombings.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has not met PLO representatives. We have not discussed with the PLO possible compensation for victims of acts of violence. We oppose such acts from whatever quarter.

Israel (Nuclear Weapons)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent meeting with Israeli Government officials in Israel, the right hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) raised the issue of Israeli possession of nuclear weapons and the prospects of Israel signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State raised the question of Israeli accession to the non-proliferation treaty during his talks with Professor Arens on 15 February.

Albert Mukong

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make inquiries of the Government of Cameroon about the reasons for the trial of Albert Mukong, a civilian, by a military court.

We are aware of the case of Albert Mukong and have raised it with the Cameroon authorities. We shall continue to monitor the case.

Oil Spill (Antarctic)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what treaty obligations and resources are available for oil spill control in the Antarctic; and whether Vikoma skimmers and the Frogmat boom have been evaluated in these latitudes.

There are no specific treaty obligations which require the United Kingdom to clean up oil spills in Antarctica and there are no resources deployed in Antarctica by the United Kingdom for that purpose. The equipment referred to in the question has not, so far as I am aware, been evaluated in Antarctica although boom and skimmer devices were used in connection with the oil spill from the Bahia Paraiso which sank on 31 January.

Iraq

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on steps he has taken to advise the Government of Iraq of Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards human rights violations in Iraq.

We have repeatedly made clear to the Government of Iraq our concern at their failure to respect human rights in their country. On 9 March, we co-sponsored a draft resolution on human rights in Iraq in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and voted against Iraq's successful motion to take no action on that draft. Our representative at the Commission made clear our concerns in his statement.

China

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on human rights in China; and if he will make a statement.

In addition to publicly available sources, Her Majesty's embassy in Peking provides regular reports on human rights questions.We are concerned about human rights in China. Our general aim is to encourage the Chinese Government to continue their programme of economic, social and political reforms, in the belief that in the long run this will lead to the development of a stable and democratic society in China, which is essential for the respect of human rights.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Veterinary Practitioners

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many qualified veterinary practitioners completed their training in the United Kingdom in each year from 1985 to 1988; and how many veterinary practitioners, qualified abroad, were registered to practice in the United Kingdom in each year over that period.

The numbers of veterinary students who completed their training and obtained veterinary degrees in the United Kingdom in each year from 1985 to 1988 are:

	Number
1985–86	379
1986–87	366
1987–88	384
1988–89	314

The numbers of qualified veterinarians from abroad registering with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons entitling them to practise in the United Kingdom in each of these years was:

	Number
1985–86	122
1986–87	224
1987–88	263
1988–89	256

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what mandatory training veterinary practitioners undergo with respect to (a) the treatement of marine fish and (b) protection of the marine environment.

Undergraduate veterinary training courses include basic instruction on all animal species. Veterinary graduates may choose to specialise in any aspect of veterinary surgery including marine fish.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what central records are kept of products prescribed by veterinary practitioners.

None.

National Finance

Tax System

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he anticipates that the law relating to capital gains tax, capital allowances and the management of the tax system will be consolidated.

[holding answer 2 March 1989]: Consolidation of statute law is the responsibility of the Law Commission. One present plans, it is expected that a Bill consolidating the law on capital allowances will be ready for introduction early in the 1989/90 Session of Parliament. The Law Commission envisage that further work on consolidation of tax law will follow.

National Debt

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what components comprise the calculation of the national debt.

The national debt is conventionally defined as the nominal liabilities of the National Loans Fund. These consist mainly of short, medium and long-dated Government securities, national savings products and Treasury bills. As such, they take no account of the public sector's holdings of short-term assets (for example foreign exchange reserves held in the exchange equalisation account). At 31 March 1988 the national debt stood at £197·5 billion, of which market holdings were £177·9 billion.Full details of the national debt are published annually in the consolidated fund and national loans fund accounts: supplementary statements, and placed in the Library.However, net public sector debt is nowadays a more appropriate measure of public sector indebtedness than the traditional measure of "national debt" as it covers the whole of the public sector rather than just central Government and it also takes account of the public sector's short-term assets. At 31 March 1988 net public sector debt stood at £171·3 billion. Full details of the components of net public sector debt are published in the November 1988

Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the national debt at today's value in (a) 1973–74, (b) 1978–89 and (c) 1987–88.

In 1987–88 prices, the national debt at the end of each year was as follows:

	£ billion
1973–74	177·5
1978–79	178·3
1987–88	197·3

However the national debt is conventionally defined as the liabilities of the national loans fund. As such it is not the most useful or comprehensive measure of the total state of public sector indebtedness. It comprises debt held by official bodies within central Government, it does not cover the whole of central Government debt and it excludes entirely the debt of other parts of the public sector. In addition, it takes no account of the public sector's short-term assets including foreign exchange reserves. A better measure is public sector net debt, though figures for this are only available from end 1974–75. In 1987–88 prices, the public sector net debt at the end of each year was as follows:

	£ billion
1974–75	218·9
1978–79	180·3
1987–88	171·3

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the national debt was repaid between (a) 1974–75 and 1978–79 and (b) 1978–79 and 1987–88.

The national debt is conventionally defined as the liabilities of the national loans fund. As such it is not the most useful or comprehensive measure of the total state of public sector indebtedness. It includes debt held by official bodies within central Government, it does not cover the whole of central Government debt and it excludes entirely the debt of other parts of the public sector. In addition, it takes no account of the public sector's short-term assets. A better measure is public sector net debt, whose flow analogue is the PSBR-PSDR.In 1987–88 prices the cumulative PSBR was as follows:

(a) 1974–75 to 1978–79 £118·9 billion (or £22·4 billion a year on average).

(b) 1979–80 to 1987–88 £88·4 billion (or £9·8 billion a year on average).

Select Committees (Recommendations)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since June 1987.

The reports of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee and the Government's replies to them are available in the Library of the House of Commons.

Vat

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy concerning the provision to credit reference agencies of information concerning the non-payment of value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: Information held by Customs and Excise about the VAT affairs of registered traders is confidential and is not disclosed to credit agencies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of the past 10 years the number of new businesses which have registered for value added tax in Waveney.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: I regret that statistics are not maintained on a district basis. The local VAT office at Ipswich covers not only the Waveney constituency but the area which includes Ipswich itself, Felixstowe, Newmarket and Bury St. Edmunds. The number of VAT registrations processed by that office for each of the calendar years 1979 to 1988 was:

Year	New registrations
1979	1,612
1980	1,497
1981	1,726
1982	1,528
1983	1,557
1984	2,321
1985	2,094
1986	2,180
1987	2,324
1988	2,826

Advertising

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1988–89 by the Central Office of Information on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what is the 1989–90 budget for each of these categories of spending.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The estimated spending for 1988–89 by the Central Office of Information on behalf of other Government Departments for the above categories is:

	£ million
(a) TV advertising	49·5
(b) Radio advertising	1·5
(c) Newspaper advertising	35·0
(d) Other promotional material	23·5
	109·5

Detailed decisions on estimated expenditure by media through COI on behalf of other Government Departments for 1989–90 is a matter for departmental Ministers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Central Office of Information; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiate between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1989–90.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The Central Office of Information does not have statistical divisions or staff in statistical posts; nor are any proposed for in 1989–90.

Civil List

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total amount payable under the Civil List Acts to the royal family in the calendar years 1988 and 1989.

The information on amounts payable to the royal family in the present and previous year is as follows:

	1988	1989
	£	£
The Queen's Civil List	4,500,000	4,658,000
HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother	390,300	404,000
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh	217,700	225,300
HRH The Duke of York	86,500	155,400
HRH The Prince Edward	20,000	20,000
HRH The Princess Royal	135,600	140,400
HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon	132,100	136,700
HRH The Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester	53,500	55,400
HRH The Duke of Gloucester	106,300	110,000
HRH The Duke of Kent	143,500	148,500
HRH Princess Alexandra, Hon. Lady Angus Ogilvy	136,800	141,600
Total	5,922,300	6,195,300
Refunded by Her Majesty The Queen	386,600	400,100
	5,535,700	5,795,200

Home Department

Work Permits

183.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the position on the granting of work permits to husbands of Commonwealth exchange teachers working in schools in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Under the immigration rules, the husbands of women admitted to the United Kingdom as Commonwealth exchange teachers cannot themselves be admitted to take employment unless they qualify in their own right—for example, by obtaining work permits in accordance with the usual criteria. I am, however, considering whether husbands should be admissible, with freedom to take employment, on the basis that their wives are being admitted as Commonwealth exchange teachers.

Court Service (Clerks)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the number of justices' clerks, their deputies and court clerks in the magistrates courts service who have left the service to take up similar positions with the Crown prosecution service.

I understand that at the end of February there were 278 court clerk vacancies in England and Wales. The number of court clerks who have taken up appointments with the Crown prosecution service during the previous year is not available except at disproportionate cost, but is due to be collected shortly. Information about justices' clerks and their deputies has not so far been available separately, but we propose to collect it.

Women's National Alliance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the decision to refuse a grant to the National Alliance of Women's Organisations; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received 26 representations and, having considered the points that they have made, can see no reason to change his decision that the Home Office should not make a grant to the proposed national alliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications he has received for the funding of a women's national alliance; whether he has reached a decison on any such application; and whether he will be taking into account existing funding provided to bodies representing women's interests in reaching his decision.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has applied for a grant for a new National Alliance of Women's Organisations. My right hon. Friend has decided that funds should not be made available for the organisation. In reaching a decision he took account of existing funding provided to bodies representing women's interests.

Entry Applications

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each country (a) the number of applications to enter the United Kingdom for marriage under paragraphs 41 and 46 of the immigration rules and (b) the number of refusals of such applications in (i) 1987 and (ii) 1988.

The information requested on fiancé(e)s (paragraph 41 of the immigration rules) and spouses (paragraph 46) applying for entry clearance to the United Kingdom is available centrally only for those countries specified in the following table.

Fiance(e)s and spouses applying for entry clearance to the United Kingdom
Number of persons
	Applications
Country	Newly received¹	Granted^{2 3}	Refused initially³
Bangladesh
1987	1,720	1,180	250
1988⁴	1,270	1,000	280
India
1987	3,450	2,520	890
1988⁴	2,290	2,030	610
Pakistan
1987	5,370	3,060	940
1988⁴	4,040	2,530	730
Hong Kong
1987	320	250	10
1988⁴	230	210	⁵—
¹ Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
² Granted initially or on appeal.
³ These applications may have been received in an earlier period.
⁴ January to September.
⁵ 5 or fewer.

Telephone Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how people who took part in the recent Home Office telephone survey relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales were chosen.

Those interviewed in the recent Home Office telephone survey were chosen from listings of randomly generated England and Wales telephone numbers. This maintained the confidentiality of the name and address of the respondent. The sample in England and Wales—2,000 men and women—was chosen to be a representative cross-section of those aged 16 or over.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether surveys similar to the recent telephone survey by the Home Office relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales have been conducted under its auspices in the past.

Surveys similar to the recent telephone survey have been conducted in the past under Home Office auspices, though this is the first occasion on which telephone interviewing has been used. Other surveys have used face-to-face interviewing with similar questions asked. The British crime survey was conducted in England and Wales in 1982, 1984 and 1988 (and in Scotland in 1982 and 1988). The Home Office has also commissioned surveys to measure criminal victimisation at the more local level. Telephone interviewing was used in the current survey because it was less expensive than face-to-face interviewing, but mainly because it allowed greater standardisation of field work methods across the participating countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the questions that were asked in the recent telephone survey by the Home Office relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales.

The questionnaire contained questions about respondents' experience of eight crimes—vehicle theft from, bicycle theft, theft vehicles, vandalism to vehicles, burglary, thefts of personal property, robbery, and assault. Additionally, women were asked about sexual assault. Other questions asked included fear of crime, satisfaction with local policing, and crime prevention behaviour. Some social-demographic information was also collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the recent telephone survey by the Home Office relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales.

The Home Office research and planning unit (who acted as co-ordinator for the survey in England and Wales, and to whom respondents were referred if they had any queries) received about 50 calls from people who were either interested in confirming that the survey was bona fide, or wished to know why questions on household security had been asked. No one in England and Wales complained directly about the sexual assault question. One person wrote to the Home Office for confirmation that the interview she had given was part of a survey which the Home Office had commissioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the purpose of the recent telephone survey by the Home Office relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales.

The survey in England and Wales was conducted as part of an international exercise in which 15 countries have so far taken part. The countries are mainly those from the European Community, though the United States, Canada and Australia have also participated. Because of problems in comparing levels of crime across countries using information on recorded crime, the international survey used an identical questionnaire and highly standardised sample selection and field work methods to provide a comparable measure of levels of victimisation. Sexual harassment was one of nine forms of victimisation which women in the same were asked about. The survey also aims to compare attitudes to and responses to crime in the different countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps were taken to protect the confidentiality of respondents to the recent telephone survey by the Home Office relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales.

The names and addresses of those interviewed in the recent telephone survey on crime in England and Wales were not known to interviewers as they were contacted through randomly generated telephone numbers. The Home Office do not know (and will not know) which telephone numbers were called. The full confidentiality of the information obtained was explained by the interviewers to potential respondents before seeking their agreement to take part.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what qualifications the people who carried out the recent telephone survey by the Home Department relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales had.

Interviewers in the company which conducted the recent telephone survey in England and Wales (and Scotland) are experienced in interviewing for research purposes. They had undergone a full training programme for telephone interviewing and operate under the Market Research Society's code of conduct. There was also a full briefing for interviewers by a female Home Office survey expert in which the special features of this survey were emphasised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps were taken to ensure that respondents to the recent telephone survey by the Home Office relating to sexual harassment in England and Wales were made aware of the voluntary nature of the survey.

The interviews were carried out according to the Market Research Society's code of conduct which requires that respondents must be made aware of the voluntary nature of all surveys. Respondents were allowed the opportunity to decline to take part before the interview began. Respondents were also given the opportunity to check that the survey was bona fide. In England and Wales, one person in two declined to take part in the interview.

Police Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many police officers have (a) applied for a transfer from the Metropolitan police to provincial forces since 1 January and (b) had their applications approved; and what were the comparable figures for the year ended 31 December 1988.

I understand from the commissioner that of the 201 applications for transfer received since 1 January 1989, five had been accepted by 10 March. In 1988, 464 applications were received, of which 92 had been accepted by 31 December, and a further 82 have been accepted since.

Broadcasting Levy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce the revised broadcasting levy arrangements for the period 1990 to 1992.

Full details of the new levy arrangements will be published in the Finance Bill. A levy rate of 10 per cent. will be applied to net advertising revenue for each ITV company after their fourth channel subscription and a £15 million "free slice" have been deducted. A levy rate of 25 per cent. will then be applied to the net domestic profits for each company after the advertising revenue levy and a £2 million "free slice" have been deducted. There will be no levy on profits from overseas sales.

Health

Salmonella

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will give a member of the public suffering from salmonella poisoning the identity of the source of their infection when it is known to his Department.

My Department is not the source of such information. The local authority environmental health department has primary responsibility for investigating cases of food poisoning. Any requests for information relating to such cases should be directed to the medical officer for environmental health of the appropriate authority.

Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting times for the following operations at each of the hospitals in the Trent regional health authority (a) hip replacements, (b) knee replacements, (c) hernias, (d) cataracts, (e) ear, nose and throat, (f) varicose veins, and (g) gynaecological; if he will show in his answer comparative figures for five and 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

We do not collect waiting time information centrally for individual hospitals. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the Trent regional health authority, who may be able to provide this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the waiting list statistics for September 1988 are yet available; and if he will make a statement.

I have today published a statistical bulletin giving details of numbers of in-patients and day cases on the NHS hospital waiting lists for the six months which ended on 30 September 1988.On a comparable basis with earlier figures, there were 691,100 patients on the in-patient waiting lits for England at 30 September last year. This is a slight increase on the figure for March 1988, although it is still more than 8 per cent. lower than in March 1979.During the six months in question 941,400 in-patients and 359,200 day cases were treated from the waiting lists. For in-patients and day cases treated, the median waiting time was estimated to be around five weeks—a period which we have managed to sustain since March last year, in spite of the fact that the NHS is now treating more patients than ever before.

General Practitioners (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has made to the general medical services committee to safeguard the earnings of general practitioners in the transition of any new general practitioner contract.

The GMSC negotiators were sent proposals for transitional arrangements associated with changes in the GPs' remuneration system on 27 February. Those proposals formed part of confidential discussions with the GMSC negotiators and I have no plans to disclose the details at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new money is being made available to ease the transition to any new general practitioner contract.

I refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (paragraph 2·6) which states:

"the Government are prepared to invest substantial extra resources into those parts of the FPS where they are most needed, in order particularly to develop positive health promotion activities, raise standards and make the services more sensitive to the needs of the consumer."

Aids

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the allocation of special funds for AIDS to the North East Thames regional health authority in 1987–88 and 1988–89 and what it will be in 1989–90; what has been the North East Thames regional health authority programme of expenditure on AIDS, listed by each district, in 1987–88 and 1988–89; and for what specific capital and revenue schemes the North East Thames regional health authority has allocated funds from its AIDS budget in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

The table shows the funds allocated for AIDS to the North East Thames RHA.

	£ million
1987–88	6·163
1988–89	11·417
1989–90	16·655

We do not hold centrally details of the region's AIDS expenditure by district and on its specific capital and revenue schemes held. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the North East Thames RHA for this information.

Computerised Information (Confidentiality)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulatory guidelines are issued to general practitioners who store confidential patient data on general practitioner personal computers.

All general medical practitioners who control the contents and use of automated data (including data held on practice personal computers) are required to be registered under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. The general medical services committee of the British Medical Association has drawn up guidance, working in close consultation with the Data Protection Registrar's office and the Department of Health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protection from unauthorised internal and external access is afforded to computerised testing information on pharmaceuticals for approval.

Access to confidential information relating to medicinal products which is held on the licensing authority's computerised database is protected by the appropriate physical and logical security controls. The effectiveness of these controls is kept under active review.

Ambulance Journeys

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds regarding the number of ambulance journeys made in each of the last five years in (a) England and Wales and (b) each regional health authority area; in each case, what proportion of these

Ambulance services
Number of patients-journeys by regional health authority (Thousands)
Regional health authority and patient-journeys¹	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987–88
South East Thames Total	1,125·0	1,128·1	1,054·8	1,026·2	841·5
Journeys by private ambulance	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
South West Thames Total	3,649·1	3,624·4	3,528·2	3,136·4	3,063·6
Journeys by private ambulance	113·4	112·7	110·4	121·6	121·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	3·1	3·1	3·1	3·9	3·9
Wessex Total	1,359·9	1,408·0	1,454·5	1,412·5	1,106·9
Journeys by private ambulance	0·9	8·7	8·3	8·8	22·4
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·1	0·6	0·6	0·6	2·0
Oxford Total	947·3	914·9	934·9	863·1	826·4
Journeys by private ambulance	4·3	3·4	3·4	3·3	3·6
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·5	0·4	0·4	0·4	0·4
South Western Total	1,917·4	1,967·6	1,960·3	1,795·3	1,443·6
Journeys by private ambulance	0·3	0·4	0·3	0·1	0·4
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
West Midlands Total	2,012·9	2,000·3	2,009·3	1,976·1	2,041·7
Journeys by private ambulance	133·5	134·0	102·9	105·2	125·7
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	6·6	6·7	5·1	5·3	6·2
Mersey Total	1,126·8	1,103·8	1,147·5	1,235·8	1,267·4
Journeys by private ambulance	0·0	4·9	0·0	0·0	0·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·0	0·4	0·0	0·0	0·0
England Total	21,271·1	21,281·7	21,364·2	20,685·8	19,669·5
Journeys by private ambulance	351·0	345·1	296·8	307·4	312·4
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	1·7	1·6	1·4	1·5	1·6
Northern Total	1,610·4	1,567·9	1,600·6	1,622·3	1,568·5
Journeys by private ambulance	0·5	0·6	0·5	0·1	0·1
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
Yorkshire Total	1,847·5	1,840·5	1,873·6	1,888·4	1,837·2
Journeys by private ambulance	6·0	3·5	0·9	0·0	0·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·3	0·2	0·0	0·0	0·0
Trent Total	1,802·0	1,838·3	1,877·7	1,930·1	2,061·9
Journeys by private ambulance	2·3	3·3	2·2	2·2	1·9
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·1	0·2	0·1	0·1	0·1
East Anglia Total	953·8	997·4	1,016·7	944·2	877·8
Journeys by private ambulance	3·4	3·0	0·1	0·1	0·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·4	0·3	0·0	0·0	0·0
North West Thames Total	476·4	469·6	464·2	470·0	508·7
Journeys by private ambulance	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
North East Thames Total	548·0	547·7	559·3	575·0	557·8
Journeys by private ambulance	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0	0·0
North Western Total	1,894·7	1,864·1	1,882·7	1,801·0	1,666·5
Journeys by private ambulance	79·2	76·7	67·6	66·1	32·4
Journeys by private ambulance as a percentage of total	4·2	4·1	3·6	3·7	1·9
¹One patient-journey is defined as one patient carried in one direction. A patient taken to a hospital and later in the same day taken home again counts as two patient-journeys.

journeys were made in a private ambulance contracted to the health authority concerned; and if he will make a statement.

The available information for England is given in the table. Figures for the London ambulance authority are included with those for South-West Thames. The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Hearing Aids

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will extend the range of hearing aids available on the National Health Service.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mrs. Barnes) on 13 March.

Physical Measurement Technicians

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to address the high vacancy rates of physical measurement technicians (audiology) in the National Health Service.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 November to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) at column 197.

Prescription Costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the prescription cost per head for each family practitioner committee area, and for each health region for 1988–89 and as estimated for 1989–90, both on a current and standard price basis; and if he will provide exemplifications of per capita allocations to regions and districts on the same current and standard price bases and on the basis of the same resources assuming the same weights as for the weighted capitation system proposed for hospital services and disregarding the effects of temporary residence and cross-boundary dispensing.

We do not yet have available information about the net ingredient cost of drugs per head for FPCs or regions for 1988–89. Estimates of prescription costs for future years are not available below national level. The indicative prescribing budget scheme will not start to operate until 1991. It is too soon to say what the regional allocations will he at that time.

Prescription Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding prescription charges.

During the last month I have received 27 letters about prescription charges from hon. Members. I have also received a further 48 letters from members of the public and interested bodies on the same subject.

Old Red House, Whitby

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the care and well-being of the residents of the Old Red House private aged persons' home, Bagdale, Whitby are being properly safeguarded following its deregistration.

North Yorkshire county council, which is the local social services authority for Whitby, has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the care and well-being of the residents remaining in the home pending arrangements for their future care.

Elderly People

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been done on the proportion of elderly people admitted to hospital who are admitted as a direct result of the adverse effects of medication; and what were the finding of the research.

The Department has commissioned no research on this specific issue but doctors are responsible for considering the risks of known adverse reactions when they write prescriptions, and the published data sheets draw attention to such reactions.

Psychiatry (Old Age)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health districts have currently a specialised service for the psychiatry of old age and of those which do not; how many have plans to establish such a service within the next three years;(2) how many consultants are currently working within the National Health Service in the field of old age psychiatry; and how many more are needed to ensure that every district health authority has sufficient consultants specialising in old age psychiatry on the basis of consultant cover of one session for every 2,000 elderly people.

We do not hold this information centrally. In a joint report published in February this year the Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists and Physicians estimate that there are currently 243 consultants working in old age psychiatry and that 152 district health authorities have specialised services. These figures represent a considerable advance in recent years. Detailed planning and provision of services is a matter for individual health authorities. The appointment of at least one psychogeriatrician in each health district is a key priority in our policy to provide a comprehensive range of services for the elderly mentally ill.

Rail Accidents

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the times at which yellow and red alerts were received at St. George's hospital, Tooting, and the Mayday hospital, Thornton Heath, respectively, subsequent to the recent rail accidents; and if he will make a statement.

At the Clapham rail accident a yellow alert was given to St. George's hospital, Tooting at 08.23 and a major accident was declared at 08.48. In the incident at Purley a yellow alert was given at 13.50 and a major accident was declared at 14.20. The term red alert is not used by the London ambulance service.

London Ambulance Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings took place between Ministers in his Department and appointed members of the South West Thames regional health authority concerning the budget of the London ambulance service for the year 1988–89; and what meetings have taken place, or he expects to take place, concerning determination of the budget for the year 1989–90.

No such meetings have taken or will take place. The determination of the London ambulance service revenue budget is a matter for the South West Thames regional health authority in consultation with the other three Thames regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the general reason why between 50 and 160 out-patient appointments per week were cancelled in the north-east division of the London ambulance service in January and the first fortnight of February because no ambulance was available; and what steps he or the South West Thames regional health authority intends to take to eliminate such cancellations throughout the area of the London ambulance service.

The principal reason for these cancellations was a shortage of staff. I understand there are currently 43 vacancies—out of a whole time establishment of 248—in the north-east division of the London ambulance service. Every effort is being made to fill the vacancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply of Wednesday 1 March, Official Report, column 251 concerning the proportion of emergency calls for ambulances diverted to recorded message machines at the headquarters of the London ambulance service, he will publish what figures are available in respect of the use of this service during the month of February, including the proportion of time when calls were diverted to it and an indication of the range of wait for callers before being able to communicate details of emergencies.

This information is not collected routinely and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South concerning the 1989–90 budget of the London ambulance service, Official Report, 1 March, column 251, he will state when discussions with the non-managing Thames regional health authorities will be concluded; what information has been supplied to the other named consultants and by what date they were asked to give their observations; when the South West Thames regional hospital authority will decide on the budget; when he expects to receive its request to him for the sum required; and on what date its estimates will be made public.

This is a matter for the South West Thames regional health authority and the hon. Member may wish to contact the regional chairman, Mrs. Julia Cumberlege.

Hospital And Community Health Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what has been the level of expenditure in each year since 1978–79 on the hospital and community health services adjusted by the HCHS pay and prices deflator.

The information is as follows:

Gross Current Expenditure	Cash	£ million Adjusted using HCHS pay and prices deflator
1978–79	4,522	10,896
1979–80	5,395	10,790
1980–81	7,097	11,089
1981–82	7,835	11,322
1982–83	8,439	11,450

Gross Current Expenditure	Cash	£ million Adjusted using HCHS pay and prices deflator
1983–84	8,882	11,461
1984–85	9,386	11,446
1985–86	9,886	11,469
1986–87	10,623	11,522
1987–88	11,730	11,730

Nursing Homes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review his Department's policy for residents of nursing homes for the elderly presently not covered by the Registered Homes Act 1984.

I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind residential care homes rather than nursing homes. The report of the committee chaired by Lady Wagner "Residential Care—A Positive Choice" contained recommendations on the regulation of these homes. We are giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the report before deciding whether any change is desirable in the current arrangements.

Pay And Price Deflator

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's estimate of the hospital and community health service pay and price deflator for 1988–89.

[holding answer 22 February 1989]: The deflator is expected to rise by some 10·5 per cent. in 1988–89. A large part of this increase is attributable to review body pay awards, including the 17·9 per cent. award to nurses.

Official Secrets

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the advisory committees coming under his Department and concerned in some way with public health which are covered by the Official Secrets Act whose members are required to sign the Official Secrets Act.

[holding answer 24 February 1989]: Not all members of the following committees, which are concerned with various aspects of public health, will have signed the Official Secrets Act declaration, but the provisions of section 2 of that Act would apply in respect of sensitive official information entrusted to them on a confidential basis:

Academic Forum
Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee for Medical Manpower Planning
Advisory Committee on Assessment of Laboratory Standards
Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening
Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards
Advisory Committee on Ethics of Gene Modification Therapy in Humans
Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
AIDS Services Working Group
British Pharmacopeia Commission (BPC)
BPC—Committee A. Medicinal Chemicals
BPC—Committee B. Medicinal Chemicals

BPC—Committee C. General Chemicals
BPC—Committee D. Steroids
BPC—Committee E. Antibiotics
BPC—Committee F. Pharmacy
BPC—Committee G. Crude Drugs and Galenicals
BPC—Committee H. Biological Materials
BPC—Committee J. Immunologicals
BPC—Committee K. Blood Products
BPC—Committee L. Surgical Dressings
BPC—Committee M. Nomenclature
BPC—Sub Committee N. Medicines and Doses (Veterinary) Building and Engineering Research and Development Committee
Building Legislation Working Group
Building Notes Consultative Group
Cardiology Liaison Committee
Central Manpower Committee
Chief Scientists Organisation (CSO)—Childcare Research Liaison Group
CSO—Physical Disablement Research Liaison Group
CSO—Procurement Directorate Research Liaison Group
Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising
Committee on Carcinogenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment
Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials
Committee on Gynaecological Cytology
Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA)
COMA—Committee on Recommended Daily Amounts of Nutrients
COMA—Contamination of Air, Soil and Water
COMA—Panel on Child Nutrition
COMA—Panel on Sugar
COMA—Radiation in the Environment
COMA—Sub Committee on Nutritional Surveillance
Committee on Mutagenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment.
Committee on Research into Behavioural Aspects of Smoking and Health
Committee on the Review of Medicines
Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM)
CSM—Sub Committee on Adverse Reactions to Vaccines and Immunisations
CSM—Sub Committee on Biologicals
CSM—Sub Committee on Chemistry Pharmacy Standards
CSM—Sub Committee on Safety, Efficacy and Adverse Reactions
Committee on Toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment
Dental Advisory Committee
Dental Auxiliaries Committee
Dental Estimates Board
Dental Formulary Sub Committee
Dental Rates Study Group
Elderly Research Liaison Group
Expert Advisory Group on AIDS
Health Advisory Service
Hospital Engineering Technical Support Group
Hospital Infection Working Group
Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health
Information Advisory Group
Joint Monitoring Group for "Achieving a Balance"
Joint Planning Advisory Committee
Legionnaires Disease: Code of Practice Working Party
Maternal Mortality Committee
Medical Advisory Committee
Medical Practices Committee
Medicines Commission
Mental Handicap Research Liaison Group
Microbiology Advisory Committee
National Biological Standards Board UK
National Development Team for People with a Mental Handicap
National Fire Policy Advisory Group
Neurosciences Liaison Committee
Ongoing Review Panel on Diet and Cardiovascular Disease
Panel on Leprosy Opinion
Panel on Novel Foods
Physical Disablement Research Liaison Group
Prescription Pricing Authority

Radiological Advisory Committee
Rural Dispensing Committee
Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical Education
Standing Dental Advisory Committee
Standing Medical Advisory Committee
Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee
Standing Panel on Hazards from Microbial Contamination of Food
Standing Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee
Standing Sub-Committee on Cancer
Supra Regional Services Advisory Group
Training Allowance Advisory Committee
Transplant Advisory Panel
UK Transplant Management Committee
Working Party on Continuing Education of GPs

Listeria

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct clinical staff to ensure that perinatal deaths, still births and miscarriages are examined for the presence of listeria monocytogenes.

[holding answer 27 February 1989]: My Department has already drawn the attention of the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to possible under-reporting of maternofoetal listerial infection. Further advice to doctors was given by the Chief Medical Officer on 16 February 1989.

Abortions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of abortions performed in Basildon health authority area from April 1968 to the latest available date.

[holding answer 2 March 1989]: The total number of abortions performed in a particular area is not released for reasons of confidentiality. However, information on the number of abortions performed upon usual residents of Basildon and Thurrock district health authority (Basildon urban district (including Basildon new town) plus Thurrock urban district 1968–74; Basildon and Thurrock health district 1975–81; Basildon and Thurrock district health authority 1982–87.) from 28 April 1968 to 31 December 1987 was 12,179.

Eye Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage proportion of (a) a weekly income of £814·56, and (b) a single basic state weekly pension of £41·15 would have to be used in order to pay for an eye test from 1 April.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The question gives insufficient information about the personal circumstances of the individual concerned to allow me to answer. Furthermore, questions as to whether there will be or will not be an eye test charge will be determined by the retailer. It is possible no charge may be made at all.

Food Poisoning

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of food poisoning during 1988 were traced to (a) food eaten outside the home, (b) chilled prepared meals eaten in the home and (c) retail packs of food;

(2) how many outbreaks of food poisoning were reported in 1988; how many were caused by chilled prepared meals; and how many by food eaten in restaurants and so on.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: Provisional data show that there were 472 outbreaks of food poisoning reported to the public health laboratory service in 1988. Information on the number of reported outbreaks associated with the consumption of food in the home or elsewhere is not yet available. Reports to the public health laboratory service do not usually provide information on the way a suspect food was processed or sold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scientific evidence he has suggesting that listeria monocytogenes can be eliminated by cook-chill catering that operates within his Department's 1980 guidelines.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: Studies by the Camden Food and Drink Research Association and the agriculture and food research council, Institute of Food Research, Norwich have shown that the heating and reheating temperature recommended in the 1980 guidelines will destroy listeria monocytogenes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has studied the survey of the microbiological quality of airline meals carried out jointly with the food hygiene laboratory, Colindale and the health departments of the London borough of Hounslow and Spelthorne borough council; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: I have not yet received a copy of this survey.

Education And Science

Mathematics And Science

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient time will be available after the date of the first national curriculum orders being made for mathematics and science and before the start of the autumn term this year in order to permit (a) the preparation of in-service training courses for the teachers concerned and (b) the subsequent preparation by teachers of suitable schemes of work for their classes; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is today laying the final National Curriculum Orders for mathematics and science. The general nature of the requirements has been known for some time, and a number of LEAs have already prepared in-service training courses. To support such courses, the National Curriculum Council has commissioned subject-specific in-service training materials which will be sent to all schools during the summer term. It is for local education authorities and schools to ensure that the non-teaching time available before the autumn, which may include two extra closure days, is used to best effect in helping teachers to prepare for the introduction of the new requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assumptions have been made by his Department in relation to the availability of non-contact time for primary school teachers in order to prepare suitable schemes of work for the national curriculum in mathematics and science; if he will estimate the typical number of non-contact hours available to a primary school teacher for such work before the start of the autumn term this year; and if he will make a statement.

Results of the 1987 primary school staffing survey show that teachers in maintained primary schools in England have on average two hours of non-contact time within the average pupil's week of 22½ hours of taught lessons. There is further non-teaching time available within teachers' annual 1,265 hours of directed time for tasks such as preparing or revising schemes of work. In addition to the five annual days available for in-service training, schools may close for two days in 1989 specifically to prepare for the introduction of the national curriculum. There should be plenty of scope over the coming six months for primary teachers to prepare, or revise as necessary, schemes of work to incorporate the national curriculum requirements in mathematics and science.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number and proportion of primary school teachers expected to be concerned in the implementation of the national curriculum orders for mathematics and science this year have no formal training or qualification above O-level in either mathematics or science; what assessment he has made of particular training needs for such teachers in the preparation of suitable schemes of work for their classes; and if he will make a statement.

In March 1987 there were an estimated 115,400 full-time and 26,100 part-time teachers in maintained nursery and primary schools in England who had no qualification above O-level in mathematics or science and had not attended an in-service course of at least one term's full-time duration or equivalent in the previous five years. These represent 72 per cent. and 78 per cent. respectively of the total number of full-time and part-time teachers in primary schools. However, initial training for primary teachers is designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach across the full range of primary subjects. It is for LEAs to assess the training needs of their teachers, including the particular needs of those teaching five-year-olds in September 1989 who will have to implement the national curriculum programmes of study and attainment targets in mathematics and science from that date, and to meet these needs using funds available through the LEA training grants scheme. My right hon. Friend has allowed for two extra closure days for in-service training in 1989, and the National Curriculum Council is preparing subject-specific training materials for use in schools.

University Salaries

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that salaries for academic and academic-related university staffs are adequate to maintain excellence in teaching and research in British universities.

My right hon. Friend has recently informed the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals that limited additional funding will be available for pay increases for university staff after the staff's industrial action ceases. It is now for the vice-chancellors to reach a settlement with the Association of University Teachers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implications for the working of the formal salary negotiating machinery of the university authorities' unilateral withdrawal from the machinery.

The salary negotiating machinery for university non-clinical academic and academic-related staff is voluntary. Although the university authorities are not at present willing to operate it, I understand that they are in active, informal discussion with the staff representatives.

School Transport (Disabled)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what responsibilities a local education authority has for transport to school in cases where (a) the child is disabled, (b) both parents are or the sole parent is disabled and (c) one parent is disabled; and if he will make a statement.

In assessing a child with special educational needs under the provisions of the Education Act 1981, a local education authority is required to take into account any non-educational provision which may be necessary to enable the child to gain access to the curriculum. This includes the need for transport, which must be provided free to children whose needs require it.

Local education authority	Primary expenditure	Secondary expenditure	Primary cost per pupil	Secondary cost per pupil
	(£000)	(£000)	(£)	(£)
Barking	13,428	14,623	1,010	1,470
Barnet	22,111	27,691	1,060	1,510
Bexley	15,042	21,751	915	1,370
Brent	22,485	23,465	1,105	1,805
Bromley	17,531	24,971	925	1,420
Croydon	22,519	28,750	935	1,535
Ealing	27,336	20,702	1,135	1,650
Enfield	18,180	24,422	890	1,380
Haringey	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harrow	16,484	15,951	1,020	1,600
Havering	16,804	27,189	905	1,510
Hillingdon	17,248	21,811	1,000	1,520
Hounslow	17,837	20,181	1,065	1,505
Kingston- Upon-Thames	8,248	12,252	915	1,530
Merton	8,075	16,548	950	1,325
Newham	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Redbridge	14,847	20,485	935	1,465
Richmond-Upon-Thames	8,973	9,137	1,000	1,330
Sutton	9,049	14,723	855	1,300
Waltham Forest	18,390	25,719	1,095	1,915
ILEA	228,423	267,983	1,460	2,345
Birmingham	79,083	97,401	835	1,345
Coventry	23,725	33,032	910	1,485
Dudley	21,960	26,361	830	1,350
Sandwell	25,633	31,856	960	1,410
Solihull	14,528	21,290	845	1,280
Walsall	23,304	32,155	970	1,430
Wolverhampton	21,824	26,635	985	1,395
Knowsley	15,064	18,309	960	1,515
Liverpool	42,123	49,740	980	1,445
St. Helens	14,231	20,211	860	1,340
Sefton	19,223	27,700	800	1,275
Wirral	22,856	30,524	815	1,280
Bolton	18,668	25,003	780	1,230

The law governing home to school transport for other children is laid down by section 55 of the Education Act 1944, as amended by section 53 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986. Parents of children who do not qualify for free transport under section 55(1) may ask the LEA to exercise its discretion under section 55(2). Each case is considered on its merits in accordance with the policy of the authority. Section 55(2) applies as much to disabled parents as to other parents.

Veterinary Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the number of veterinary schools in England and Wales and the amount of Government funds given to each in the last financial year.

There are four veterinary schools in England and Wales. Funding for them is not earmarked within the block grant to their parent universities.

Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much money each education authority spent during the latest year for which figures are available;(2) how much money each education authority spent per pupil for the latest year for which figures are available.

The latest available information is for 1986–87 and is given in the table. The data for 1987–88 has been received from most authorities and is in the process of being analysed.

Local education authority	Primary expenditure	Secondary expenditure	Primary cost per pupil	Secondary cost per pupil
	(£000)	(£000)	(£)	(£)
Bury	11,242	16,852	795	1,340
Manchester	39,971	48,448	1,020	1,660
Oldham	18,396	20,869	870	1,255
Rochdale	15,439	24,643	850	1,460
Salford	17,080	23,034	840	1,385
Stockport	18,581	26,133	805	1,270
Tameside	17,542	21,190	910	1,325
Trafford	13,523	17,584	855	1,315
Wigan	23,111	37,513	860	1,460
Barnsley	16,827	23,015	925	1,325
Doncaster	24,698	30,734	980	1,325
Rotherham	19,806	25,649	890	1,230
Sheffield	42,999	49,878	1,060	1,490
Bradford	33,447	55,704	945	1,235
Calderdale	15,636	19,239	895	1,330
Kirklees	28,315	37,932	875	1,250
Leeds	43,042	72,881	905	1,230
Wakefield	23,300	31,551	955	1,290
Gateshead	16,580	18,724	980	1,360
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne	20,381	28,254	1,020	1,530
North Tyneside	14,348	22,966	995	1,455
South Tyneside	12,650	15,469	965	1,430
Sunderland	23,535	29,347	855	1,305
Isles of Scilly	198	280	1,330	2,205
Avon	61,396	78,703	850	1,310
Bedfordshire	32,068	57,332	875	1,250
Berkshire	47,560	63,167	845	1,280
Buckinghamshire	48,713	48,573	845	1,320
Cambridgeshire	42,736	51,556	815	1,205
Cheshire	64,458	88,656	810	1,235
Cleveland	47,632	60,934	890	1,355
Cornwall	27,981	37,487	795	1,175
Cumbria	35,560	46,706	915	1,315
Derbyshire	65,292	86,618	875	1,305
Devon	55,428	75,465	800	1,225
Dorset	32,151	50,312	870	1,190
Durham	46,919	52,441	920	1,225
East Sussex	34,858	46,952	825	1,235
Essex	97,210	137,617	820	1,255
Gloucestershire	32,901	44,985	835	1,260
Hampshire	98,524	115,162	825	1,220
Hereford and Worcester	36,013	62,091	815	1,180
Hertfordshire	66,576	97,646	870	1,350
Humberside	60,831	92,339	915	1,270
Isle of Wight	4,952	12,168	785	1,150
Kent	84,843	127,039	760	1,145
Lancashire	89,592	120,712	780	1,255
Leicestershire	63,054	91,834	885	1,390
Lincolnshire	35,044	47,236	795	1,185
Norfolk	49,465	55,767	850	1,230
North Yorkshire	42,998	60,308	850	1,240
Northamptonshire	37,617	58,560	815	1,250
Northumberland	16,132	35,690	840	1,230
Nottinghamshire	72,276	100,530	935	1,365
Oxfordshire	32,845	50,752	905	1,350
Shropshire	26,541	39,976	850	1,285
Somerset	25,232	36,771	780	1,195
Staffordshire	69,558	102,039	880	1,255
Suffolk	33,558	58,509	830	1,165
Surrey	59,913	63,151	820	1,260
Warwickshire	36,196	36,347	845	1,220
West Sussex	37,688	52,407	785	1,220
Wiltshire	35,330	46,162	850	1,230

Notes:—These figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE and pupil number returns to DES.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much the capital allocation was for each education authority for the latest year for which figures are available.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 21 December 1988 at columns 287–90.

Capital Allocation

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much the capital allocation was per head of school population for each education authority for the latest year for which figures are available.

Following is a list of figures showing how much the capital allocation was per head of school population for each education authority for the year 1989–90.Individual authorities' allocations are calculated not pro rata to population, but by assessing their capital expenditure plans, which they supply to the Department each year in a common form, against a consistent and well-publicised set of criteria.

1989–90 Notional schools capital allocation per head of maintained population
LEA	£
Barking	11
Barnet	25
Bexley	27
Brent	10
Bromley	19
Croydon	12
Ealing	8
Enfield	30
Haringey	68
Harrow	16
Havering	36
Hillingdon	21
Hounslow	16
Kingston	11
Merton	226
Newham	103
Redbridge	67
Richmond	30
Sutton	30
Waltham	275
ILEA	42
Birmingham	31
Coventry	55
Dudley	49
Sandwell	39
Solihull	21
Walsall	19
Wolverhampton	13
Knowsley	69
Liverpool	7
St. Helens	26
Sefton	39
Wirral	47
Bolton	29
Bury	24
Manchester	71
Oldham	38
Rochdale	62
Salford	107
Stockport	36
Tameside	21
Trafford	94
Wigan	26
Barnsley	7
Doncaster	15
Rotherham	15
Sheffield	26
Bradford	100
Calderdale	77
Kirklees	12
Leeds	61
Wakefield	60
Gateshead	33
Newcastle	38
North Tyneside	54
South Tyneside	134
Sunderland	44

LEA	£
Isles of Scilly	530
Avon	29
Bedfordshire	24
Berkshire	54
Bucks	84
Cambridge	58
Cheshire	22
Cleveland	53
Cornwall	90
Cumbria	71
Derbyshire	61
Devon	106
Dorset	36
Durham	24
East Sussex	99
Essex	65
Gloucester	78
Hampshire	35
Hereford and Worcester	26
Hertford	29
Humberside	53
Isle of Wight	96
Kent	39
Lancashire	65
Leicester	49
Lincoln	37
Norfolk	35
North Yorkshire	22
Northampton	40
Northumberland	19
Notts	21
Oxfordshire	44
Shropshire	79
Somerset	48
Staffs	31
Suffolk	66
Surrey	47
Warwick	21
West Sussex	21
Wiltshire	34

Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much money per pupil each education authority received from the Government for the latest year for which figures are available;(2) how much money each education authority received from the Government for the latest year for which figures are available.

The information requested is not available. Whereas specific grant payments for education activities made to each local education authority can be separately identified, the much larger block grant payment is not hypothecated to individual services, and it is not therefore possible in the case of multi-purpose authorities to separate the element of grant paid to support education from that paid to support other services.

Examinations

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school leavers in each education authority achieved two or more A-level passes in the latest year for which figures are available.

The information is given in the table. The figures are presented as a three year average over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87, to reduce the effects of sampling error in the data relating to a 10 per cent. sample of school leavers. Sampling error is a particular problem for local education authorities with relatively small numbers of school leavers.

Maintained secondary schools in England: aggregation of school leavers and the proportion gaining two or more A-levels over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87
Local education authorities	Numbers of school leavers (thousands)	Percentage of school leavers with two or more A-levels
Barking	6·68	4·6
Barnet	10·35	25·4
Bexley	10·40	11·5
Brent	8·68	9·9
Bromley	10·27	16·4
Croydon	12·88	11·5
Ealing	9·77	10·2
Enfield	10·40	14·2
Haringey	6·05	7·9
Harrow	6·01	18·3
Havering	11·03	11·7
Hillingdon	8·81	10·3
Hounslow	8·31	9·3
Kingston upon Thames	4·65	16·1
Merton	6·13	12·2
Newham	9·08	4·6
Redbridge	8·29	14·1
Richmond upon Thames	4·39	0·0
Sutton	6·22	21·2
Waltham Forest	7·19	5·0
Inner London	73·43	7·4
Birmingham	48·88	7·6
Coventry	14·27	8·5
Dudley	14·52	6·9
Sandwell	14·54	4·7
Solihull	10·82	15·8
Walsall	14·87	10·1
Wolverhampton	12·9	7·2
Knowsley	7·98	4·1
Liverpool	21·10	9·2
St. Helens	8·87	11·8
Sefton	13·77	15·1
Wirral	15·47	12·3
Bolton	12·93	12·5
Bury	8·09	14·3
Manchester	22·23	10·0
Oldham	9·78	6·6
Rochdale	9·38	8·4
Salford	11·03	10·9
Stockport	12·82	13·8
Tameside	11·56	9·3
Trafford	8·63	14·9
Wigan	17·29	9·4
Barnsley	11·28	7·0
Doncaster	13·50	10·0
Rotherham	13·54	9·7
Sheffield	25·64	9·5
Bradford	22·22	9·6
Calderdale	9·01	10·7
Kirklees	18·26	11·0
Leeds	30·57	10·5
Wakefield	16·09	4·4
Gateshead	9·35	8·1
Newcastle upon Tyne	10·32	7·8
North Tyneside	8·85	10·8
South Tyneside	7·14	7·6
Sunderland	14·82	6·8
Avon	37·28	11·9
Bedfordshire	22·42	12·3
Berkshire	29·00	14·4
Buckinghamshire	24·90	16·9
Cambridgeshire	24·31	10·8
Cheshire	44·91	13·3
Cleveland	29·60	12·0
Cornwall	20·70	10·4
Cumbria	21·55	12·2
Derbyshire	43·65	9·1
Devon	38·27	8·8

Local education authorities	Numbers of school leavers (thousands)	Percentage of school leavers with two or more A-levels
Dorset	25·27	11·1
Durham	27·86	8·1
East Sussex	22·63	13·8
Essex	66·24	10·9
Gloucestershire	21·82	13·0
Hampshire	66·78	10·3
Hereford and Worcester	27·54	12·7
Hertfordshire	43·45	14·3
Humberside	41·81	10·4
Isle of Wight	4·93	8·7
Kent	65·93	14·2
Lancashire	62·58	7·7
Leicestershire	38·28	13·3
Lincolnshire	24·93	12·1
Norfolk	31·34	8·3
North Yorkshire	29·25	15·7
Northamptonshire	26·16	10·0
Northumberland	12·90	14·6
Nottinghamshire	46·85	9·4
Oxfordshire	22·94	14·1
Shropshire	19·32	11·3
Somerset	17·79	6·3
Staffordshire	48·29	10·8
Suffolk	25·80	10·6
Surrey	37·43	18·0
Warwickshire	21·04	13·4
West Sussex	27·20	15·8
Wiltshire	21·43	8·2

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school leavers in each education authority achieved five or more GCSE passes or equivalent qualifications, in the latest year for which figures are available.

The information requested is not readily available but I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Attorney-General

Magistrates (Nottingham)

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the names of the members of the local advisory committee which offers advice on the appointment of magistrates in the Nottingham area.

No. Advisory committees have until the end of 1992 to make their membership known. The Nottinghamshire advisory committee has not yet decided to do so.

Social Security

Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retired people depend entirely on state benefits; and how many depend on state benefits for 80 per cent. of their income.

In 1986, just under 20 per cent. of all pensioner tax units received income only from state benefits; 53 per cent. of pensioner tax units were in receipt of state benefits greater than or equal to 80 per cent. of their gross income.

Source: Family expenditure survey 1986.

1. A pensioner tax unit is a single person of state pension age or over, or a married couple where the man is of state pension age or over.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the state retirement pension in April 1989 if it had been uprated in line with prices since 1979.

The value of the state retirement pension in April 1989, based on annual upratings in line with prices since 1979, would be £41·70 for a single pensioner and £66·80 for a pensioner couple.

Income Support

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much income support or supplementary benefit was paid to people looking after elderly persons in each year since 1974–75, in cash and constant 1988–89 prices, and how many people were paid the benefit in each year.

Index of the number of claimants receiving supplementary benefit or income support: 1979 to 1988 (using 1979 as the base year)
	Year
Social security region	¹1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	²1988
North Eastern	100	112	134	151	155	164	166	170	167	146
London North	100	112	135	152	158	167	170	174	172	141
London South	100	109	127	144	149	158	162	167	163	133
Wales and South Western	100	108	127	142	145	156	158	161	156	137
Midlands	100	114	142	164	170	179	181	186	181	152
North Western	100	110	132	150	155	163	165	170	167	149
Scotland	100	109	131	149	157	167	170	187	186	169
¹Figures for 1979 to 1981 are reworked data.
² Figures for 1988 are provisional and subject to amendment.

Sources: November/December quarterly count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where benefit payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Full figures set out in the reply on 6 March.

War Pensioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of war pensioners.

We calculate that there were 258,300 at the end of 1988. This number is made up of 197,800 war disablement pensioners, 57,500 war widows and 3,000 other dependants receiving a war pension.

Family Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to advise potential claimants of family credit that child-minding expenses may be deducted from earnings in assessing entitlements; whether existing claimants of family credit have been so advised; and whether his publications will be revised.

There is no provision in legislation for child-minding expenses to be deducted from earnings in assessing family credit.

Invalid Care Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to notify women who would be entitled to invalid care allowance on the basis of the settlement of case CG/15/1987; and whether he proposes to revise his Department's publications.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshaw (Mr.

I regret that the information requested is not available. The supplementary benefit annual statistical inquiry identified only carers under pension age who cared for severely disabled people aged 16 years or more and who would otherwise have been required to be available for employment. The figures therefore included carers of people under pension age, and excluded carers who were not subject to the condition of availability for employment. The cost and numbers requested, for identified supplementary benefit carers, could be obtained but only at disproportionate cost. Information for income support, which will be available later this year, will not identify carers separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, of 6 March, Official Report, column 446, he will express the number of supplementary benefit/income support claimants for each region as an index figure with 1979 as the base.

The information is as follows.Morris) on 21 December at column

306. Any follow-up action which may be necessary will need to await the outcome of related cases currently before the social security commissioner and the Court of Appeal, also affecting the entitlement of women over pension age.

Mobility Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to increase mobility allowance next month by an amount close to the current rate of inflation rather than that prevailing in September 1988.

No. Price increases from September 1988 to April 1989 will be taken into account at the next benefits uprating. Between November 1979 and April 1988 mobility allowance rose in real terms by 9·4 per cent. The estimated average number of people receiving mobility allowance has increased from 95,000 in 1978–79 to 530,000 in 1988–89.

Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis he calculates the levels of expenditure in table 15·8 of Cm. 615.

The levels of expenditure in table 15·8 were determined by a breakdown of the totals in table 15·1. The methodology is described in the footnotes. Forecasts throughout chapter 15 are consistent with the economic assumptions described in paragraphs 45–48.

Chief Adjudication Officer

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the fourth annual report of the chief adjudication officer; and if he will make a statement.

The report which is being published today provides an authoritative account of the standards of social security adjudication. We welcome the report and the recognition that the replacement of supplementary benefit with income support, as part of our reform of the social security system, has produced encouraging signs for further improvements in the standard of adjudication. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Rating Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by district the income level at which a single person over 25 years of age with no savings would lose entitlement to a rebate from the community charge.

[holding answer 8 March 1989]: These figures assume that the claimant is under pension age, is not disabled, is in full-time work and has no children. The tax and national insurance rates current at 9 March 1989 have been used in calculating gross income.

Gross weekly earnings
District council	£
Berwickshire	64·43
Ettrick and Lauderdale	66·04
Roxburgh	66·04
Tweeddale	66·19
Clackmannan	78·39
Falkirk	70·14
Stirling	79·90
Annandale and Eskdale	67·43
Nithsdale	66·26
Stewartry	65·97
Wightown	66·41
Dunfermline	76·88
Kirkclady	77·64
North East Fife	80·95
Aberdeen City	76·73
Banff and Buchan	70·39
Gordon	68·53
Kincardine and Deeside	66·77
Moray	68·24
Badenoch and Strathspey	65·89
Caithness	64·43
Inverness	64·58
Lochaber	66·19
Narin	64·87
Ross and Cromarty	66·48
Skye and Lochalsh	64·43
Sutherland	61·65
East Lothian	89·10
Edinburgh City	91·81
Midlothian	87·59
West Lothian	86·84
Argyll and Bute	72·20
Bearsden and Milngavie	77·49
Clydebank	77·34
Clydesdale	77·94
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	71·90
Cumnock and Doon Valley	72·05
Cunningham	72·34

District council	£
Dumbarton	77·49
East Kilbride	80·50
Eastwood	75·07
Glasgow City	78·69
Hamilton	76·43
Inverclyde	76·43
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	71·02
Kyle and Carrick	78·99
Monklands	76·73
Motherwell	78·54
Renfrew	77·03
Strathkelvin	77·64
Angus	76·43
Dundee City	81·11
Perth and Kinross	77·34
Islands Council
Orkney	52·27
Shetland	50·13
Western Isles	54·47

Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what future provisions his Department is making to pay full housing benefit to tenants in receipt of housing benefit in private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: The Government have given a firm commitment that housing benefit will continue to be available to help those on low incomes with their reasonable housing costs up to market rent levels.However, housing benefit is not intended to enable claimants to occupy, at public expense, accommodation which the majority of people could not afford. The Government have therefore announced that they intend to introduce formal limits on benefit for properties at the top of the market, once sufficient information is available about the level of market rents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department will be fully reimbursing all local authority resources paid out in housing benefit to private tenants under the Housing Act 1988.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: From April 1989, under the arrangements for subsidising local authorities' housing benefit expenditure, full subsidy at the rate of 97 per cent. will be payable, up to the level determined by the rent officer as representing a reasonable market rent, on housing benefit awarded to claimants with deregulated tenancies created under the Housing Act 1988. Benefit above that level will not attract subsidy unless the local authority has paid benefit, above the level of the rent officer's determination, to a person in a vulnerable group, when 50 per cent. subsidy will be paid. For housing benefit claims on deregulated tenancies created before April 1989, until such cases are referred to the rent officer, 97 per cent. subsidy will be payable on benefit awarded on rents up to the subsidy rent threshold for the area and 25 per cent. subsidy above that level. Housing benefit expenditure not met by direct subsidy is reflected in the rate support grant arrangements.

Employment

Wages

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the United Kingdom in the latest available year.

A total of 8·7 per cent. of the establishments on the wages inspectorate's register, covering 329,591 workers (an estimated 13·1 per cent.) were inspected in 1988. If the hon. Gentleman wishes I will arrange for divisional figures to be published in the Official Report.

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of the full-time work force earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in Wales.

There is no such thing as a Council of Europe decency threshold for a minimum acceptable level of earnings.

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of full-time male workers earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in the west midlands.

There is no such thing as a Council of Europe decency threshold for a minimum acceptable level of earnings.

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of full-time female workers earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in the Wales.

38.

44.

49.

67.

73.

110.

125.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what percentage, of full-time female workers earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in Yorkshire and Humberside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what percentage, of the full-time workforce earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in Great Britain.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) on 8 March 1989 at columns 569–70.

28.

53.

54.

71.

79.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of full-time male workers earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in Wales.

98.

104.

106.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of full-time male workers earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in Wales.

114.

131.

155.

163.

173.

176.

182.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what percentage, of full-time male workers earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in the northern region.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) on 8 March 1989 at columns 569–70.

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many work places were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the United Kingdom.

39.

70.

75.

92.

130.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Yorkshire and Humberside.

137.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Greater London.

158.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying, for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the northern region.

172.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Greater London.

174.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the east midlands.

175.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the north-west.

Wages inspectorate statistics for Great Britain are not compiled for areas smaller than the inspectorate's nine divisions. The number of workplaces visited in 1988 for the purpose of checking pay and the number where underpayments were found was included in a reply given in the Official Report of 1 March at columns 201–26. The number of workplaces visited in 1988 for advisory purposes was:

	Number
London	10
South East	9
Eastern	10
South West	69
Midlands	103
North West	33
Yorkshire and Humberside	25
Northern	5
Scotland	29

Northern Ireland has a separate wages council system which is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but it is understood that in 1988, 944 workplaces were visited and 112 were found to have underpaid one or more workers.

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of the full-time work force earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in the north west.

37.

57.

65.

102.

111.

136.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what percentage, of the full-time work force earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in the west midlands.

180.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what percentage, of the full-time work force earned less than the Council of Europe's decency threshold in the latest available year in the north-west.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) on 8 March 1989 at columns 569–70.

45.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine imposed on employers found to be illegally underpaying within the wages inspectorate divisions covering the northern region in the latest available year.

46.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine imposed in the most recent year for which figures are available on employers found to be illegally underpaying within the wages inspectorate divisions covering the north-west.

55.

78.

97.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine imposed on employers found to be illegally underpaying within the wages inspectorate divisions covering Scotland in the latest available year.

100.

101.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine imposed on employers found to be illegally underpaying within the wages inspectorate divisions covering Yorkshire and Humberside in the latest available year.

113.

1224.

128.

139.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine imposed on employers found to be illegally underpaying within the wages inspectorate divisions covering Wales in the latest available year.

161.

177.

Wages inspectorate statistics are not kept for areas smaller than the inspectorate's nine divisions. The average total fine on employers prosecuted for underpayment in 1988 is given for each of the divisions in the following table.Northern Ireland has a separate wages council system which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but I understand that in 1988 there were no prosecutions.

Division	Average fine
	£
London	No Prosecutions
South East	200
Eastern	750
South West	150
Midlands	150
North West	215
Yorkshire and Humberside	350
Northern	No Prosecutions
Scotland	No Prosecutions
Wales	¹100
Great Britain	328
¹ Wales figures are also included in the Inspectorate's North West and South West divisional statistics.

51.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentages of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions in the south-east in the most recent year for which figures are available.

81.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Scotland.

91.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the United Kingdom in the latest available year.

108.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering East Anglia in the latest available year.

109.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the north-west in the latest available year.

117.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Wales in the latest available year.

121.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the north-west in the latest available year.

126.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Scotland in the latest year for which figures are available.

153.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the northern region in the latest available year.

166.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the west midlands in the latest available year.

178.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces and workers were inspected by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Yorkshire and Humberside.

Wages inspectorate statistics are not compiled for areas smaller than the wages inspectorate's nine divisions. The percentage of workplaces known to the inspectorate which was checked in each division of Great Britain in 1988 was:

	Per cent.
London	6·6
South East	6·2
Eastern	15·1
South West	7·3
Midlands	8·6
North West	7·9
Yorkshire and Humberside	9·5
Northern	8·2
Scotland	9·6
Wales¹	7·7
¹ Wales figures are also included in the inspectorate's south west and north west divisional statistics.

Northern Ireland has a separate wages council system which is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but it is understood that in 1988, 13·6 per cent. of workplaces known to the inspectorate were checked.No information is available on the percentage of workers in each wages inspectorate division whose pay was checked because statistical returns of the number of workers employed in establishments covered by wages councils are not collected. However, in 1988 an estimated 2,472,400 workers aged 21 and over were employed in establishments covered by wages councils in Great Britain and checks covered 11 per cent. of that total. In 1987 an estimated 36,065 workers aged 21 and over were employed in establishments covered by wages councils in Northern Ireland and in 1988 checks covered 18 per cent. of that total.

62.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers were found to be illegally underpaying and how many of them were prosecuted in the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Wales.

68.

84.

122.

154.

179.

181.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers were found to be illegally underpaying; and how many of them were prosecuted in the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the north-west.

Wages inspectorate statistics on compliance with wages orders are compiled on the basis of establishments rather than employers and are not kept for areas smaller than a wages inspectorate division. With those provisos, the information requested is given in the following table.Northern Ireland has a separate wages council system which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but I understand that in 1988 112 establishments were found to be underpaying. There were no prosecutions.

	Establishments found to be underpaying in 1988	Prosecutions for underpayment in 1988
London	317	—
South-East	537	1
Eastern	462	2
South-West	1,156	2
Midlands	747	1
North-West	869	2
Yorkshire and Humberside	631	2
Northern	369	—
Scotland	509	—
Great Britain	5,597	10
Wales¹	446	1
¹ Wales figures are also included in the inspectorate's south-west and north-west divisional statistics.

140.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many West Midlands employers have been prosecuted by his Department's wages inspectorate in the past three years for underpaying wages; how many were found guilty; and what was the average level of fines imposed.

Wages inspectorate statistics are not kept for areas smaller than the inspectorate's nine divisions. In the three years from 1986 to 1988, two employers in the midlands were prosecuted for offences which included underpayment. Both prosecutions were successful. The average total fine imposed by the courts was £125.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) on 8 March 1989 at column 569–70.

Employment Training

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are undertaking training on employment training; and if he will make a statement.

The number of people on employment training at 24 February 1989 was 157,000. This is a tremendous achievement after only six months of the programme's operation and reflects the great interest shown by unemployed people in getting high-quality training to help them back into a job.

157.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the current percentage take-up rate under employment training; and if he will make a statement.

Information about the take-up rate under employment training is not available. It is not possible to estimate the total number of people in the employment training client group. There are currently over 157,000 on employment training. This is a heartening response by unemployed people who clearly acknowledge that the programme's provision of quality training will be a great help in their efforts to find work.

Labour Statistics

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has fallen since June 1987; and if he will make a statement.

In January 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 1,988,100 compared with 2,857,200 in June 1987 on the same basis, a fall of 869,100. Unemployment is now at its lowest level for eight years.

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of young people aged 18 to 24 years unemployed in (a) January 1983 and (b) January 1989.

In January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants aged 18 to 24 years in the United Kingdom was 595,743 compared with 1,004,212 in January 1983—a fall of 408,469. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording.

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people in employment aged 24 to 35 years in (a) January 1983 and (b) January 1989.

It is estimated from the 1983 labour force survey (LFS) that in spring 1983 there were 5,042,000 persons aged 25 to 34 in employment in Great Britain. An equivalent estimate for spring 1988, from the preliminary results of the 1988 LFS, is 5,980,000.

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate of the fall in unemployment in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

83.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the fall in unemployment during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

In the 12 months to January 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom fell by 531,300 on a consistent basis. At 1,988,100 unemployment is now at its lowest level for eight years.

36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of people aged 16 to 18 years in employment.

It is estimated from the preliminary results of the 1988 labour force survey (LFS) that in spring 1988 there were 1,475,000 persons aged 16 to 18 in employment in Great Britain.

41.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportions of those in employment in the United Kingdom are self-employed; what this figure was 10 years ago; and what is the comparable change for other OECD countries.

The table shows, for the United Kingdom and major OECD countries, the proportion of those in civilian employment who were self-employed in 1976 and 1986 and the change in the proportion over the 10-year period. 1986 is the latest year for which the information requested is available for the other OECD countries. In September 1988, the latest date for which United Kingdom figures are available 11·6 per cent. of the civilian work force in employment were self-employed.

Percentage of civilian employment self employed
	1976	1986	Change (percentage points)
United Kingdom	8·0	10·8	2·8
Canada	8·4	9·2	0·7
USA	8·4	8·5	0·1
Germany	9·6	9·6	0
Japan	17·7	15·6	-2·1
France	17·8	15·8	-2·0
Italy	29·2	24·5	-4·7

43.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has fallen in Bury, North since July 1986; and if he will make a statement.

In January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in Bury, North constituency was 2,474 compared with 4,607 in July 1986—a fall of 2,133, or 46·3 per cent. The comparison is affected by seasonal influences as well as by the change in the coverage of the count from September 1988 due to the new benefit regulations affecting those aged under 18.

47.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the percentage fall in unemployment in each of the Liverpool parliamentary constituencies since June 1987.

The following information is also available from the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in June 1987 and January 1989 for each of the Liverpool parliamentary constituencies, together with the percentage change over the period. The figures are affected by seasonal influences as well as by the change in the coverage of the count due to new benefit regulations from September 1988 for young people aged under 18.

Constituency	June 1987	January 1989	Percentage change
Liverpool Broadgreen	8,149	6,689	-17·9
Liverpool Garston	7,456	5,812	-22·0
Liverpool Mossley Hill	7,070	5,923	-16·2
Liverpool Riverside	10,764	8,960	-16·8
Liverpool Walton	10,303	8,300	-19·4
Liverpool West Derby	8,795	7,161	-18·6

48.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have become self-employed during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

In the year to September 1988 there was a net increase of 125,000 in the estimated number of self-employed people in Great Britain. It is estimated that nearly 3 million people are now self-employed and the number is still rising. The numbers of self-employed people have risen by over 60 per cent. since 1979 and they now represent almost one in nine of the work force in employment.

52.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of people in employment in Yorkshire and Humberside.

In September 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, the civilian work force in employment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region was 2,148,000. This represents an increase of 179,000 or 9 per cent. since September 1983. The civilian workforce in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

66.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has fallen over the past year in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.

85.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate of the fall in unemployment in the last 12 months in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.

In the 12 months to January 1989, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north-west fell by 61,100 or 17·5 per cent. on a consistent basis.

69.

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

Between March 1983 and September 1988 the work force in employment in Great Britain increased by 2,809,000 to 25,807,000, the highest level on record. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's Forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

76.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in full-time and part-time employment, where identifiable, in each standard planning region of the United Kingdom in June 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available.

For the dates specified, the only available information about full and part-time employment in the regions is for female employees in employment. The information is not available for Northern Ireland. The information is as follows:

Female employees in employment regions of Great Britain
Thousands
	Full-time		Part-time
	June 1979	September 1988	June 1979	September 1988
South-East	1,899	2,210	1,279	1,392
Greater London (included in South-East)	—	1,105	—	496
East Anglia	163	201	122	160
South-West	382	430	295	325
West Midlands	533	541	370	405
East Midlands	376	404	265	309
Yorkshire and Humberside	453	452	362	395
North-West	666	607	471	496
North	298	278	208	237
Wales	250	217	165	185
Scotland	565	529	332	382

82.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has fallen in the west midlands over the past year; and if he will make a statement.

In the 12 months to January 1989, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the west midlands fell by 65,900 or 25·6 per cent., on a consistent basis.

87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate of the fall in unemployment in the last 12 months in the east midlands; and if he will make a statement.

In the 12 months to January 1989, the level of unemployment seasonally adjusted, in the east midlands fell by 34,300 or 21·9 per cent. on a consistent basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people who were classified as long-term unemployed in January 1983 and January 1989.

In January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants who had been unemployed for more than 12 months in the United Kingdom, was 821,419 compared with 1,106,771 in January 1983. The comparison is affected by the 1983 Budget measures for certain older men, mostly aged 60 and over, who no longer need to sign on to get their benefits, the change in compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording, and the change in the coverage of the count from September 1988 due to new benefit regulations affecting those young people aged under 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the percentage fall in unemployment in the parliamentary constituencies in the city of Birmingham since June 1987.

The following information is also available from the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in June 1987 and January 1989 for each of the Birmingham parliamentary constituencies, together with the percentage change over the period. The figures affected by seasonal influences as well as by the change in the coverage of the count due to new benefit regulations from September 1988 for young people aged under 18.

Constituency	June 1987	January 1989	Percentage change
Birmingham Edgbaston	5,001	3,548	-29·0
Birmingham Erdington	7,359	5,196	-29·4
Birmingham Hall Green	5,314	3,700	-30·4

Constituency	June 1987	January 1989	Percentage change
Birmingham Hodge Hill	7,081	5,152	-27·2
Birmingham Ladywood	8,892	6,606	-25·7
Birmingham Northfield	7,663	5,630	-26·5
Birmingham Perry Barr	7,400	5,301	-28·4
Birmingham Small Heath	9,599	7,344	-23·5
Birmingham Sparkbrook	8,566	6,188	-27·8
Birmingham Yardley	4,721	3,185	-32·5
Birmingham Selly Oak	5,750	4,203	-26·9
Sutton Coldfield	3,243	2,156	-33·5

123.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of unemployment now; what was the level in June 1987; and if he will make a statement.

132.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people included in the unemployment count are early retired people or those in receipt of the carer's allowance not seeking work; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available in the form requested. However, according to preliminary results of the labour force survey for spring 1988, in Great Britain there were some 60,000 claimants in the unemployment count who were not unemployed on the ILO/OECD definition and who gave retirement as their main reason for not seeking work in the previous week.

133.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make an up-to-date statement on the employment situation in West Norfolk.

The latest available information from the September 1984 census of employment shows that there were 41,000 employees in employment in the West Norfolk local authority area compared with 39,400 in September 1981, an increase of 4·3 per cent. between the two census dates. Estimates from the 1987 census of employment will become available later this year.More recent information is available about unemployment. In January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in the West Norfolk local authority area was 3,148 compared with 4,876 in January 1988, a fall of 1,728 or 35·4 per cent.

134.

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

In January 1989 the number of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres in Kent was 6,937. Vacancies at jobcentres do not represent the total number of vacancies in the economy. Recent research shows, nationally, only about one third of vacancies are notified to jobcentres. This proportion will tend to vary between different areas.

135.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment, expressed as a percentage, according to the latest available figures for the Sheffield travel-to-work area; and what was the figure 10 years ago.

In January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in the Sheffield travel-to-work area was 31,687 or 11·2 per cent. of employees in employment plus the unemployed. The corresponding figure for the Sheffield 1978 travel-to-work area in January 1979 was 13,771 or 4·6 per cent. The figures are affected by the changes in the boundaries of travel-to-work areas as well as in the coverage of the unemployment count, and are therefore not comparable.

138.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment in Basildon; and what were the corresponding figures for the same period in each of the last four years.

The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in Basildon local authority area for each January from 1986 to 1989. The figures are affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in the coverage of the count from September 1988 due to the introduction of new benefit regulations for young people aged under 18.

Unemployment in Basildon local authority area
January	Number of unemployed claimants
1986	9,073
1987	8,695
1988	6,287
1989	4,145

144.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people in employment in London.

In September 1988, the latest date for which figures are available the civilian work force in employment in Greater London was 4,014,000. This represents an increase of 253,000 or 7 per cent. since September 1983. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

149.

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

In September 1988, the latest date for which figures are available the civilian work force in employment in the east midlands region was 1,836,000. This represents an increase of 219,000 or 14 per cent. since September 1983. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

150.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of unemployment in the north-west in January and February; and what was the rate recorded in January and February 1988.

In January 1989 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the north-west was 9·6 per cent., compared with 11·6 per cent. and 11·4 per cent. on the same basis, in January and February 1988 respectively.The February 1989 unemployment figures are not available until 16 March.

151.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in which regions of the United Kingdom the rate of unemployment has fallen fastest; and if he will make a statement.

In the 12 months to January 1989 the largest falls in the regional seasonally adjusted unemployment rates, were in the west midlands, 2·5 percentage points, and Wales 2·2 percentage points, compared with the United Kingdom average of 1·9 percentage points.

162.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of long-term unemployed aged 16 to 24 years in (a) January 1983 and (b) January 1989.

In January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants aged 16 to 24 years who had been unemployed for more than 12 months in the United Kingdom was 136,969 compared with 258,470 in January 1983. The comparison is affected by the change in compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and the change in the coverage of the count from September 1988 due to new benefit regulations for those young people aged under 18.

164.

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

168.

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

Between March 1983 and September 1988 the work force in employment in the United Kingdom increased by 2,813,000 to 26,374,000, the highest level on record. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, HM forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

169.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many women are now working; how many were working in 1986; and if he will make a statement.

In September 1988 the latest date for which figures are available the female work force in employment in Great Britain was 11,059,000. In September 1986 it was 10,276,000. This represents an increase of 8 per cent.

171.

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

In September 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, the civilian work force in employment in the south-west region was 1,982,000. This represents an increase of 224,000 or 13 per cent. since September 1983. Th civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

National Dock Labour Scheme

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered dock workers have been recruited in the last 12 months by the dock labour scheme port of Tees and Hartlepool.

In the port of Tees and Hartlepool 12 registered dock workers have been recruited in the last 12 months.

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers were employed by dock labour scheme ports in 1979; how many are currently employed in those ports; and if he will estimate similar figures for non-scheme ports.

Dock labour scheme ports employed 25,770 registered dock workers in 1979, in 1989 they currently employ 9,471. Comparable figures for non-scheme ports are not available.

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to seek to amend the dock labour scheme with a view to implementing the free movement of labour provisions of the Single European Act in 1992.

90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to review the operation of the national dock labour scheme.

The Government's position on the scheme remains unchanged as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister confirmed in the House on January 19 1989, at columns 481–82.

58.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the National Association of Port Employers to discuss the future of the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to meet the National Association of Port Employers to discuss the future of the dock labour scheme.

61.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the national average age of registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports.

In 1987 (the latest available date) the national average age for registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports was 46·7 years.

63.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the future of the dock labour scheme.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the future of the dock labour scheme.

74.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the 1988 average wage of registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports.

The average earnings of registered dock workers in the last quarter of 1988 was £341·83 per week.

77.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the dock labour scheme on the creation of real jobs in port areas.

Where the dock labour scheme has sustained inefficiency in dock work leading to loss of business, and has acted as a disincentive to investment in adjacent areas, there is no doubt that local job prospects have suffered.

89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many demarcation disputes exist at the present time in relation to registered dock workers claiming work that is currently undertaken by other workers.

Four cases arising from disputed definitions of dock work under the dock labour scheme are currently under litigation.

95.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what reports he received of the National Dock Labour Board's monthly meetings.

There is no requirement for the National Dock Labour Board to provide me with reports of its monthly meetings.

99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the fishing industry in Grimsby or Aberdeen on the future of the dock labour scheme.

I have received a number of representations about the operation of the dock labour scheme on the fishing industry in Grimsby and Aberdeen.

142.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to examine the operations of the dock labour scheme on the River Thames; and whether representations have been made to him about the effect on businesses along the Thames brought about by the operation of the dock labour scheme.

My right hon. Friend has received and noted several representations about the operation of the dock labour scheme on the Thames river.

165.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now covered by the national dock labour scheme.

The total number of registered dock workers in ports covered by the national dock labour scheme was 9,741 on 28 February 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average daily surplus of labour in dock labour scheme ports during 1988.

In 1988 the average daily surplus of labour in dock labour scheme ports was 932.

Drug Misuse

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of working hours lost each year from drug misuse.

It is not possible to estimate with any accuracy the effect of drug misuse on working hours lost. No one knows the full extent of drugs misuse in this country but it is clear that this serious problem affects a significant number of people who are or who otherwise could be in employment.

Wages Councils

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what evidence he has that the abolition of wages councils will result directly in employment growth; and if he will make a statement.

There is now a large body of research which establishes that there is a link between the level of pay and jobs and there are studies by academics and others which point to the adverse effects on jobs of statutory minimum rates. Employers also report that the levels at which wages council minima are set influence the amount of employment that they are prepared to offer.

Tourism

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to change the grant structure of the tourist boards for the United Kingdom.

A wide range of issues is being looked at as part of the tourism review announced last July. The review report is currently under consideration.

59.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of capital investment in the tourist industry.

The English tourist board's "Tourism Investment Report" shows that the total amount spent on tourism projects in England, with a value of £0·5 million or more, which were completed in 1988 was £605 million. Investment in such projects which were still under construction at 31 December 1988 totalled £2,114 million.

64.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the moratorium on section 4 grants has had any effect on the levels of capital investment in tourism and hospitality developments; and if he will make a statement.

The suspension of the section 4 scheme was announced some seven weeks ago and it is too early to assess what effect this has had on the level of capital investment. However, the £13·2 million spent on the section 4 scheme in the current financial year is minuscule compared with total new capital investment in tourism and leisure, estimated to be worth £2·5 billion in major projects in England during the last six months of 1988 and thus the moratorium is unlikely to have had any significant effect.

93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the prospects for the tourism industry in 1989.

Levels of investment and forward bookings show that prospects for the domestic tourism industry in 1989 are excellent. A recent survey carried out by the English tourist board indicates that there has been an upsurge in bookings for holidays in Britain. Operators are reporting increases of up to 50 per cent. on 1988 so far this year and coupled with approximately £2 billion worth of facilities due to come on stream make the prospects for 1989 very promising.

160.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the BTA to discuss the promotion of Britain in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I frequently meet the chairman of the British Tourist Authority. There are no plans for a separate meeting to discuss this specific issue.

167.

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

I frequently meet the chairman of the British Tourist Authority to discuss aspects of promotion of tourism from overseas and we are both aware of the great potential of the Japanese market. In June I hope to lead a delegation of senior figures in the tourism industry to Japan to explore ways of encouraging more Japanese visitors to Great Britain. This will build on the Government's wider "Opportunity Japan" campaign of which tourism is an integral part.

Lost Working Days

40.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average annual number of working days lost through stoppages for the period of the past nine years; and what was the figure for the preceding nine years.

The average annual number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes for the period 1980 to 1988 is provisionally estimated as 7,562,000; the figure for the period 1971 to 1979 was 13,081,000.

148.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the work clays lost in (a) January 1979 and (b) January 1989.

The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in January 1979 was 2,966,000. The most recently available figure relates to December 1988, for which it is provisionally estimated that 35,000 working days were lost; the January 1989 figures will be published on 16 March in the labour market statistics press notice.

Retirement Policy

42.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to encourage workers over 60 years to remain in their jobs and not retire; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 14 February 1989 at column 154.

Trades Union Congress

50.

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

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no present plans to do so.

103.

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

My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting in the immediate future.

Child Labour

105.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have been prosecuted as a result of investigations by Her Majesty's factory inspectorate and Her Majesty's agriculture inspectorate in each year since 1973 for alleged offences in connection with the employment of children; with what result; and what was (a) the highest, (b) the average and (c) the lowest penalty imposed following a conviction.

I refer the hon. Member to information in the reply to his question by the Secretary of State for Health on 16 February, Official Report column 327, in respect of industrial and agricultural undertakings. Prosecutions of industrial undertakings by the Health and Safety Executive were as a result of investigations by the factory inspectorate, and those of agricultural undertakings as a result of investigations by the agricultural inspectorate.

Benefit Fraud

107.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his campaign to reduce unemployment benefit fraud.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his reply to my hon. Friend's question of 14 February 1989 at column 145 on 15 February the drive against fraudulent benefit claims is being intensified. In the nine months from April 1988 325,000 cases were investigated compared with 286,000 in the same period in 1987. Increased resources have been devoted to fraud detection, particularly in the south-east, and a new inner London fraud team has been established to pursue investigations into the hidden economy.

116.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for savings for 1988 as a result of investigations of fraudulent claims; and if he will make a statement.

The net benefit saving from my Department's fraud investigation work during 1988 was £65 million.

Local Employer Networks

112.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the establishment of local employer networks.

At the end of February 1989, 118 local employer networks were operating throughout Great Britain. Some may form the nucleus of a training and enterprise council. The Government will be encouraging the new councils to make the best use of the expertise of these employer networks.

Yts

118.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for YTS trainees going into work, further education and training; and if he will make a statement.

The latest figures show that 86 per cent. of young people completing full YTS training and 78 per cent. of all leavers went into either employment, full-time education or further training.

129.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently benefiting from YTS.

At the end of January 1989, 413,300 young people were recorded in training on YTS.

146.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people went into employment, full-time education or further training on leaving YTS; and if he will make a statement.

The latest figures show that 86 per cent. of young people completing full YTS training and 78 per cent. of all leavers went into either employment, full-time education or further training.

"Employment For The 1990S"

120.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received following the publication of the White Paper, "Employment for the 1990s"; and if he will make a statement.

We have received several hundred representations following publication of the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", the majority of which have expressed interest in and support for the introduction of training and enterprise councils. The prospectus inviting local groups led by employers to submit proposals for forming training and enterprise councils in their areas was published on 10 March.

Voluntary Sector

143.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people he estimates are employed in the voluntary sector.

The information requested is not available.

Vacancies

145.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies were notified to jobcentres, and what proportion these constitute of the estimated number of vacancies in the economy in the last months for which figures are available.

In January 1989 the level of unfilled vacancies, seasonally adjusted, at jobcentres in the United Kingdom was 229,200. A survey in January 1989 showed that only about one third of all vacancies in the economy are notified to jobcentres.

Disabled People

147.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment from which sources he derives information about the number and proportion of disabled people of working age who are unemployed; and what is the latest information provided by these sources.

The only count made of unemployed people with disabilities is of those who choose to register for work at jobcentres and careers offices. The latest figures available show that on 6 January 1989 there were 50,219 unemployed people with disabilities registered for work at jobcentres and careers offices. There is no count made of the total number of people with disabilities of working age.

Job Clubs

152.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job clubs are currently in operation; and if he will make a statement.

At 31 January 1989 there were 1,220 job clubs in operation. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 27 January 1989, Official Report, column 810.

Enterprise Agencies

156.

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

We know of 437 local enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom. Of these, 396 are approved under provisions of the 1988 Income and Corporation Taxes Act (previously under provisions of the Finance Act 1982), which allows business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.

Workfare

170.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has made a study during the last 12 months of workfare schemes in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

I have not made a study of workfare schemes in the United States of America during the last 12 months. Some two years ago Professor John Addison of the university of South Carolina completed a study of such schemes as part of a wider research project commissioned by my Department. A summary of his findings were included in the Blaug report on workfare and a summary was published in "Economic Affairs" in May 1988.

Closed Shop

56.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has come to any conclusions on the future of the pre-entry closed shop; and if he will make a statement.

The examination of the operation of the pre-entry closed shop which was announced in our White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" is now nearing completion. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to make a further announcement shortly.

Enterprise Allowance Scheme

60.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have been helped to start a business during the last 12 months through the enterprise allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement.

In the year to March 1989, 99,070 unemployed people set up their own businesses with the help of the enterprise allowance scheme. Since the scheme began in 1982 over 421,000 unemployed people have been helped to create their own business.

Restart

72.

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

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

86.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed have been offered help under the restart programme since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1 July 1986, some 5·4 million interviews have taken place under the restart programme of which just under 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help being made. There is no record of the number of people who have been interviewed as some will have been interviewed more than once.

Business Starts

80.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses were started during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

In 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published, the estimated number of new registrations for value added tax was 205,000. The net increase in the number of VAT registered businesses in 1987 was 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average. The indications are that the rate of increase during 1988 has been faster.

Trade Union Representatives

88.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to ensure that time off rights for trade union representatives will be equal to those enjoyed by safety representatives under the Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

Time off rights for trade union representatives will be provided under the Employment Bill, amending the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, which will not affect the provisions for safety representatives in the Health and Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations.

Wages (Northern Region)

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited, and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying, for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering the northern region.

In 1988 the wages inspectorate visited 1,004 workplaces in the northern region for the purposes of checking workers' pay and found 369 were underpaying one or more worker. However, this cannot be taken as representing the general level of non-compliance with wages council orders because the wages inspectorate targets its checks by visit on those workplaces thought more likely to underpay workers. The wages inspectorate also visited five workplaces in the northern region for advisory purposes.

Dock Labour Boards

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed by the National Dock Labour Board and the 20 local dock labour boards.

The National Dock Labour Board and the 20 local boards employed a total of 234 staff on 31 December 1988.

Community Insulation Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of the employment training scheme on the operation of community insulation projects.

I am aware that some community insulation projects operating under employment training have had difficulty attracting trainees. Community insulation projects have an important role to play in employment training and on 10 February at column 868 my right hon. Friend announced a range of measures specifically aimed at supporting and maintaining the present community insulation project network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to funding directly the community insulation programme, along the lines of the funding arrangements of the action for community employment scheme in Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Member to the measures I announced on 10 February at column 868, which reinforce the generous support available for running community insulation projects in Great Britain through employment training. Different employment and training programmes operate in Northern Ireland so different funding arrangements are appropriate there.

Training And Enterprise Councils

96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals to create training and enterprise councils.

141.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received on his proposals to create training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

On 10 March I published a prospectus inviting local groups of employers to submit proposals for forming training and enterprise councils in their areas. The TECs will represent a fundamental change in the way training and enterprise activities are managed and developed. The idea has captured the imagination of employers throughout the country and we have already had many inquiries. I have invited the first formal applications for development funding by the end of April. I expect the first TECs to be in operation by early next year.

115.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what contributions training and enterprise councils will make to meeting skill shortages; and if he will make a statement.

127.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals to establish training and enterprise councils to deal with skill shortages.

159.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline his proposals for employers to direct training for jobs on a local basis through training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

Training and enterprise councils offer employers major opportunities to improve the supply of skills and to promote enterprise. They will be well placed to identify key skill needs in their localities. They will manage and develop the training and enterprise programmes previously run by the Employment Department so that they meet local needs more effectively. The TECs will also be able to take new initiatives, in partnership with others, to promote more effective training and small business support, using public and private funds. They will have a key role in helping to stimulate greater investment by employers in training their employees. The TECs will greatly increase employers' ability to mould the training system to meet their needs.

Transport

Ports (Statistics)

184.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of United Kingdom trade passes through (a) dock labour scheme ports and (b) non-scheme ports; and what was the comparable figure in 1965.

The percentage of trade tonnage (including oil) passing through dock labour scheme ports and non-scheme ports in Great Britain are given in the table for 1965 and 1987. Northern Ireland is not covered by the dock labour scheme legislation.

United Kingdom Foreign trade through ports in Great Britain
Percentage of tonnage
	Dock labour scheme ports	Non-scheme ports
1965	88	12
1987	62	38

Computerised Information (Confidentiality)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the air traffic control system is adequately protected from unauthorised entry by computer hackers; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defence acting through the management of the national air traffic services to ensure adequate protection.

Vehicles (North Yorkshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the numbers of vehicles seeking to travel from the home counties to north Yorkshire and the north in the coming 10 years.

The Department prepares forecasts of national traffic. Where specific trunk road improvements are being assessed, local traffic forecasts are prepared. Projections are not otherwise made for traffic between specific regions.

Motoring Mileage

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has of the total mileage driven by the average motorist per annum; and how this estimate is arrived at.

I am advised that the average motorist drives about 6,000 miles per annum, while the average household car travels 7,700 miles per annum. Mileage per car is higher than mileage per driver because there is more than one driver per car. These estimates are derived from the latest national travel survey carried out in 1985–86.

Drivers (Eyesight)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent random tests to determine whether drivers' eyesight is defective are carried out in England and Wales; with what results; and if he will make a statement.

Last month I placed in the Library two transport and road research laboratory reports on eyesight standards for driving—"A Re-analysis of Californian Driver Vision Data" and "A Survey of Visual Acuity of Drivers"—together with a paper entitled "Vision and Driving" prepared by the Department's medical adviser. These documents show clearly that defective eyesight is not a problem in the general driving population as a whole.We are not aware of any random testing of driver eyesight standards. We know that some police forces carry out occasional surveys of driver eyesight using binocular screening devices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to seek to amend the law so as to make it an offence for a person to drive a vehicle while having defective vision, whether known to that person or not; and if he will make a statement.

It is an offence under section 91 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 to drive with defective eyesight, whether known or not, to the extent that the driver is unable to meet the number plate test.

It is an offence to refuse to submit to any eyesight test required by a police constable. The maximum penalty is £400, as well as an obligatory two penalty points.

Around 300 people each year are prosecuted for these offences.

Fishermen (Pots)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require potting fishermen to mark their pots clearly.

The need for the efficient marking of lobster and crab pots will shortly be drawn to the attention of fishermen by the circulation of advice to the local sea fisheries committees, and attempts are also being made to stimulate interest in the subject in the fishing press. It remains the case however that progress can best be made through better communications locally between fishermen, yachtsmen and others concerned.

Channel Tunnel

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision is being made for the laying of submarine high voltage cable in the Channel tunnel.

The use of the Channel tunnel for purposes such as the passage of electricity cables is a matter in the first place for Eurotunnel's commercial judgment. I understand that it has considered the possibility of entering into arrangements with CEGB, and it seems that overall the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages. There would be considerable technical problems to be overcome, for example in making space available, coping with the heat generated, and avoiding interference with signalling equipment.

M11 Link

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in discussions between his Department's officials and Beazers Ltd. to achieve environmental improvements to the proposed M 11 link road through Leyton and Leytonstone; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions between officials of the Department of Transport and Beazers Ltd. have taken place against clearly set out criteria that there should be no delay to the road scheme nor any extra risk of cost falling upon my right hon. Friend.The costs and feasibility of Beazers' tunnelling proposals were agreed. Beazers has been unable to agree financial terms which would meet these criteria. Beazers has now been advised that its proposals could not be incorporated in the scheme without delay to its completion.

Refurbishment Costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide precise details of refurbishment/upgrading costs expended over the past five years on the following stations (a) Hartland MSRC-to 6 December 1988, (b) Ramsey MRSC-to 17 January 1989 and (c) Peterhead MRSC-to date.

[holding answer 13 March 1989] Over the five-year periods specified, expenditure on refurbishment/upgrading of the buildings concerned has totalled:

	£
Hartland MRSC	54,634
Ramsey MSRC	4,723
Peterhead MRSC	5,196

Roads (Hampshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish statistics indicating the increase of traffic in Hampshire (i) in the county as a whole and (ii) in the local authority districts of the county for each year since 1979.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: The Department carries out surveys designed to measure traffic growth only at the national level. For counties, estimates of traffic levels are made annually for major roads (class A and motorways). These levels estimates are subject to wide margins of error and do not provide a reliable basis for measuring year-to-year changes.For 1987 the level of traffic on major roads in Hampshire is estimated at 7·2 billion vehicle kilometres. No estimates are made of traffic levels for the local authority districts within a county.

London Underground (Security)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total extra amount spent by Her Majesty's Government on police and improved security on the London Underground since the publication of the 1986 report "Crime on the Underground".

[holding answer 10 March 1989]: The Government have made available to London Underground Ltd. £15 million specifically for additional passenger security measures recommended by the 1986 report. In addition the increase in complement of the London Underground division of the British Transport police from 350 to 400 officers will cost an extra £1·5 million in a full year.

Elveden Junction

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his request to Suffolk county council to investigate what action can be taken to improve the A 11/B1106 junction at Elveden, if he has received the council's recommendations; and what steps he is now taking to bring about an improvement in road safety at this junction.

[holding answer 10 March 1989]: Suffolk county council has recommended that a roundabout be built at this junction. At the Department's request it is now carrying out an economic evaluation of the proposal in relation to any possible longer-term major improvements to this section of the trunk road.We expect to have the evaluation in a few weeks and shall then be able to give further consideration to the possibilities for improving the junction.

Environment

Nature Reserves

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for the publication of the Nature Conservancy Council's report on the future of its reserves; when he intends to respond to this report; and if he will make a statement on Government policy on the future of Britain's state-owned nature reserves.

[holding answer 8 February 1989]: My right hon. Friend proposes to discuss this report with the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council as soon as we have completed our initial examination of it and before making any announcement of the Government's response. At that time I would expect to place a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.

Uk 2000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the Government funding for UK 2000 in 1987–88, 1988–89, with plans for 1989–90 and (b) the number of people employed on programmes under the UK 2000 initiative in each of these years.

The Department's grant to UK 2000 in England was £1·381 million in 1987–88 and £1·805 million in 1988–89. In each year UK 2000 matched this grant with private sponsorship. In 1987–88, 10,300 community programme (CP) trainees were employed on projects supported by UK 2000, with 12,500 volunteers also involved. In 1988–89 some 9,000 CP trainees were employed, reducing to under 6,000 trainees following the introduction of employment training, with an estimated 15,000 volunteers also involved.I have not yet formally offered grant or approved plans for 1989–90. I have however indicated to UK 2000 my intention to continue funding at the same level as in 1988–89, as a declining share of the overall budget for the initiative.UK 2000 also operates separately in Scotland and Wales, receiving grant from the Scottish and Welsh Offices respectively.

Lowermoor Treatment Works

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the water being supplied from the Lowermoor treatment works now meets European Community standards;(2) if he will publish the latest details of samples taken by the South West water authority in the Lowermoor treatment works distribution area; and if he will make a statement on the proposed programme of sampling intended in the area for the seven months period from 1 March 1989 to 30 September 1989.

I understand from the South West water authority that for the week commencing Monday 27 February, 23 samples of water issuing from the Lowermoor treatment works all complied with the standards of the EC drinking water directive. The 89 samples taken during the same week from the distribution system served by the Lowermoor treatment works complied with the EC standards except for one sample from an old property with lead plumbing which exceeded the standard for lead and four samples which exceeded the standard for iron. It is not unusual for the iron standard to be exceeded occasionally in distribution systems with iron mains. Those results which did not comply with a directive standard have been notified to the local environmental health officer.

I am informed that the authority's current sampling programme has a daily target of 10 routine samples. In addition, samples are taken in response to customer requests to investigate problems and to monitor the effects of mains cleaning operations. This level of sampling will be maintained until the authority, North Cornwall district council, and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly health authority are satisfied that it can be reduced.

Rural Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what consideration there has been of rural housing policy as part of his Ministry's annual review of alternative land use.

Evidence on land use change in the countryside is collected regularly by my Department and by the Ministry of Agriculture, and taken into account in policy formulation. It is too early to assess the implications for land use of the announcements about rural housing which my right hon. Friend made last month.

Bisf Houses, Bilborough

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the meetings which have taken place between his officials and (a) building societies and (b) Nottingham city council, on the question of mortgages for BISF houses in Bilborough, Nottingham, since he met a delegation of residents in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to the hon. Member.

Bnf (Nuclear Fuel Cycle Production Plants)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) Official Report, column 493, 20 February, he will set out the policy considerations underlying his decision not to conduct an environmental audit of British Nuclear Fuels plc's nuclear fuel cycle production plants.

We have no reason to believe that these plants release nationally significant amounts of carbon dioxide or chlorofluorocarbons.

Hazardous Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between EEC Environment Ministers and African Environment Ministers held in Dakar in January to discuss the international trade and regulation of hazardous waste.

The conference on hazardous wastes held in Dakar on 26 and 27 January this year issued a communiqué requesting the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity, in collaboration with, among others, the executive director of the United Nations environment programme, to assist African countries to establish appropriate mechanisms for monitoring and control of movement of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa and calling on all countries to participate in the diplomatic conference expected to be held in Basle later this month under the auspices of the United Nations environment programme to negotiate a global convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress in the United Nations on the development of an international convention to regulate hazardous and toxic waste disposal.

A diplomatic conference is expected to convene in Basle later this month for the purpose of adopting and signing the global convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.

Housing (Hampshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many units of accommodation have been started and completed by the private sector in each local government district in Hampshire in each year since 1979;(2) how many units of accommodation have been started and completed by the public sector in each local government district in Hampshire in each year since 1979.

[holding answer 9 March 1989]: The reported annual housebuilding figures for public and private sectors since 1980 appear in "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas: 1980 to 1987". Figures for 1979 were published in "Local Housing Statistics" issue 59 and figures for the first half of 1988 were published in "Local Housing Statistics" issue 87. Copies of these are in the Library.

Brundtland Report

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans Her Majesty's Government have to review progress at all levels in respect of their achieving the goals set by the Brundtland report; and when they expect to publish their first review.

The United Kingdom is one of the few countries around the world to have produced a detailed response setting out the steps being taken to follow up the Brundtland report. The Government believe that the most effective way to promote the call in the report for policies of sustainable development to be adopted on a global scale is through concerted action by the international community as a whole. Our recent conference on saving the ozone layer was one practical and highly successful demonstration of this.The United Kingdom is taking a leading role in international organisations such as the United Nations and OECD to ensure that sustainable development is integrated into all their activities. We have also recently commissioned Professor David Pearce of London university to review current work on the tools needed for measuring progress towards sustainable development.

Low Frequency Transmissions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the effects of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic radiation on plant, animal and human life.

The Department has no information regarding the effects of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic radiation on plant, animal and human life. The National Radiological Protection Board is under a statutory duty to inform and advise Government, and others, on any hazards which may arise.

Sewage Works Discharge Consents

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many relaxations in sewage works discharge consents are currently being allowed in each water authority or water company area; and, of this number, how many are temporary and how many permanent.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: Authorities may apply for time-limited variations to discharge consents in cases where they plan to complete improvement schemes by March 1992. In addition, some small works may also be eligible for longer-term variations in those limited number of cases where it can be demonstrated that investment to meet current consent requirements would produce negligible environmental benefits. In all cases, HMIP will consider applications on their merits before granting revised consent conditions. At this stage, I cannot say how many applications will be made or granted—either in total or for any water authority.

Capper Pass Works, North Humberside

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the reasons for the delay in the publication of the HMIP report on the subject of the emission of radiation from the Capper Pass works in north Humberside, which his Department stated it expected to receive in November 1988, Official Report, 1 November 1988, column 564.

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: The first part of the HMIP report on emissions from the Capper Pass works on north Humberside was completed in November. Completion of the second part, concerning non-radioactive emissions was unfortunately interrupted by an injury to the inspector who was dealing with it. This was overcome and the two parts of the report assembled into a single report. I have already indicated that I hope to place this single report in the Library of the House shortly.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his consideration of the consultations concerning the General Development Order 1988 in respect of clay pigeon shooting.

Within the next few weeks.

Green Belt

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy on major retail development in the green belt.

Major retail development proposals have no place in the green belt. The Government's commitment to upholding this policy is demonstrated by my right hon. Friend's dismissal in February of proposals for a major shopping and leisure complex at Bricket wood near St. Albans, and by his dismissal today of similar proposals at Hewitts farm near Orpington. Both sites are in the metropolitan green belt. In both these cases my right hon. Friend has ordered the prospective developer to pay the cost incurred by the local planning authority at the public inquiries held to consider these proposals.

Chlorofluorocarbons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the volume of chlorofluorocarbons which are at present in use in refrigeration units and other domestic and industrial equipment in the United Kingdom.

We have no estimate of the volume of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) at present in use. The Montreal protocol, and the European legislation which implements it, restrict the overall supply of CFCs. The European Community Environment Council, in response to a United Kingdom initiative, has called for the protocol to be strengthened so as to reduce supply by 85 per cent. as soon as possible and to eliminate it altogether by the end of the century. This will increasingly encourage the recycling of existing material wherever possible.

Power Boats

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents involving injury have been reported during the past five years involving powered boats travelling close inshore off bathing beaches.

I have been asked to reply.There have been about 700 incidents in total each year involving powered pleasure boats, but records are not kept of those occurring close to bathing beaches.

Carbon Dioxide

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made by the biogeochemical ocean flux study in assessing the use of coccolithophores to fix carbon dioxide.

I have been asked to reply.Studies have shown that the natural abundance of coccolithophores could increase under conditions of increasing carbon dioxide. Studies are under way on the suitability of these organisms as food for zooplankton and protozoa. Coccolithophores are only one component of ocean life taking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; the biogeochemical ocean flux study's 1989 cruises will measure these processes.

Climatic Change (Study)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom contribution to the joint global ocean flux study investigating the role of oceans in global climate change.

I have been asked to reply.The biogeochemical ocean flux study (BOFS) of the Natural Environment Research Council provides the United Kingdom component of the joint global ocean flux study (JGOFS). The BOFS involves 60 scientists and 14 laboratories, and expenditure of at least £3 million in 1989–90. The United Kingdom is also represented on the joint global ocean flux study international scientific committee.

Water Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the chairmen of the private water companies whom he has called in to see him as a result of their announcing increases in water charges of more than 10 per cent. for the year 1989–90; what response they gave to him; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply 23 February 1989, c. 733]: The Water Companies Association indicated in its statement of 5 February that statutory water companies were likely to raise their charges this year by 30 per cent. or more. In some quarters, increases of 50 per cent. or more were anticipated. I have now met almost all the chairmen of the companies to discuss their proposals. The Department's financial advisers, Deloitte Haskins and Sells, have also scrutinised the companies' proposals and the reasons for the increases.Some companies already had fixed their charges and were unable to reduce them. However, following the meetings that I have had with them, most companies proposed lower increases and the majority seen by Deloitte have agreed to reduce their proposals further. I now anticipate that the average increase in charges for the statutory water companies will be about 22 per cent. Since Deloittes began its scrutiny, consumers have, therefore, been saved at least £16 million in increased charges.The Government have always made it clear that water charges will have to rise to meet the higher quality standards which are being demanded of the water industry. The preparation of asset management plans, as part of the new regulatory framework being established by the Water Bill, has also identified in a number of cases serious backlogs of maintenance of underground assets, which mean that companies will have to spend substantially more to maintain existing levels of service. In reviewing the companies' charging proposals, Deloittes sought in particular to identify the increase which could be attributable to these factors; it also sought to avoid recommending any action which would be imprudent when set against the likely sustained higher levels of capital expenditure in future.The extent to which investment is needed to meet existing requirements and maintain standards indicates underinvestment in many of the statutory water companies which shows just how inadequate the existing system of regulation has been. Such sharp increases in one year should not have been necessary and some of the increases which companies have announced are higher than these considerations alone would justify. Under existing statutory controls, the Government have no power to reverse these decisions.We shall scrutinise this year's increases in charges very carefully in the light of the new system for controlling these charges which we are introducing in the Water Bill. Where price rises this year cannot be justified, appropriate adjustments will be made to the price ceilings which we set.

Aluminium

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of aluminium in water supplies taken at regular intervals by each of the local authorities in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Iancashire and Merseyside; and how often the samples taken are in excess of the recommended safety levels.

The available information is listed:It is not the practice of many local authorities to carry out extensive monitoring of public water supplies. Water undertakers monitor their water supplies regularly.Supplies taken by the North West water authority in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Iancashire and Merseyside have shown that the aluminium standard of the EC drinking water directive is regularly exceeded in parts of the following local authority areas:

Sefton (Southport).
Stockport (excluding Reddish, Heaton Mersey).
Bolton (excluding Westhoughton, Lostock, Heaton Moor).
Tameside (Ashton, Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Mossley) Oldham (excluding Royton and Chadderton).
Lancaster (Lancaster City and parishes of Slyne with Hest and Bolton-le-Sands).

The levels of aluminium detected in these supplies have not been judged to constitute a health risk.

Volume 160: debated on Tuesday 14 March 1989

Written Answers To Questions

Defence

Nuclear Submarines (Liverpool)

Prime Minister

Brunton

Mr Hugo Young (Book)

Engagements

Energy

Redundant Mineworkers

Petrol Sales

Nuclear Power

Plutonium

Piped Gas

Gas Prices

Trade And Industry

Inflation

Chlorofluorocarbons

Radioactive Waste Disposal

European Regional Development Fund

Regional Aid

Research And Development

Arms Sales (Iran And Iraq)

Satellite Broadcasting

Radio Communications (Central London)

Gas Prices

Steel Industry (Gas)

Imitation Food

Computer Hacking

Wales

Urban Programme

Home Improvement Grants

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

Urban Development Grants

Press And Public Relations

Bed And Breakfast

Neath-Port Talbot Hospital

Northern Ireland

Plastic Bullets

Information Technology

Genealogists (Fees)

Consumers (Consultation)

Tobacco Industry

Scotland

Chlorofluorocarbons

Telephone Survey

Hospitals (Capital Evaluation)

Forestry Commission

Mr Manouchehn Tehrani

Fish Farms

Matrimonial Homes

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Plutonium

Condor 2

Rain Forests

Plo (Bombings)

Israel (Nuclear Weapons)

Albert Mukong

Oil Spill (Antarctic)

Iraq

China

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Veterinary Practitioners

National Finance

Tax System

National Debt

Select Committees (Recommendations)

Vat

Advertising

Civil List

Home Department

Work Permits

Court Service (Clerks)

Women's National Alliance

Entry Applications

Telephone Survey

Police Officers

Broadcasting Levy

Health