To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what volume of radioactive wastes in the categories of (a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level, respectively, will be transferred to the ownership of Scottish Nuclear Limited under privatisation of the South of Scotland electricity board; and what volume of unreprocessed spent nuclear fuel and reprocessed plutonium will be transferred to Scottish Nuclear Limited on its creation.

The Government's intention is that Scottish Nuclear Limited should inherit all the SSEB's nuclear assets and liabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names of each of the advertising agencies used by his Department on the AIDS campaign, with the payments made to each.

The Scottish Home and Health Department does not employ advertising agencies for the AIDS campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the fleet size and market share of the individual local authority bus public limited companies in Scotland;(2) what are the numbers and types of public service vehicles which are in service with local authority public limited companies in Scotland.

[holding answer 2 May 1989]: The numbers and types of public service vehicles in service with local authority owned bus undertakings in Scotland are shown in the following table. Information on the market share of the individual companies is not available.

	Strathclyde Buses Ltd.	Lothian Region Transport plc	Tayside Public Transport Company Ltd.
Double deckers	757	524	141
Single deckers	10	29	4
Coaches	13	21	12
Midibuses	44	4	—
Minibuses	16	—	4
Open top buses	3	2	—
All buses	843	580	161

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms have set up new businesses in Scotland in the period May 1979 to April 1989; what type of businesses they were; how many jobs were created; and where those firms were located.

[holding answer 9 May 1989]: Between 1 January 1980 and 1 January 1989, the number of companies registered in Scotland rose by just under 20,000, or by more than one half.Information on jobs created from new openings is available only for the manufacturing sector. The definition used includes existing plants rising above the employment threshold of 11 and also includes in some cases existing businesses changing address or expansions to new sites.One thousand, three hundred and eighty-five manufacturing plants opened in Scotland between 1979 and 1987, and 994 were still open at the end of 1987 with a total employment of 44,001. Tables 1 and 2 show the industry breakdown and the local authority breakdown of these plants. Figures for the period after 1987 are not yet available.

Table 1
Local authority region	Number of manufacturing plants opened January 1979 to1December 1987	21987 Employment
Borders	37	1,115
Central	64	2,072
Dumfries and Galloway	27	972
Fife	106	3.578
Grampian	107	3.633
Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles	43	818
Lothian	171	7,084
Strathclyde	703	20,779
Tayside	127	3,950
Total Scotland	1,385	44,001
Source: Regional Data System.
Notes:
1 This figure includes plants closing prior to December 1987.
2 Employment relates to 1987 or latest known employment if 1987 not available; figures are given for plants open at December 1987.

Table 2
	(1)	(2)
1980 Standard Industrial Classification	Number of manufacturing plants opened in Scotland January 1979 to December 19871	1987 employment2
Metal Manufacture (Classes 21–22)	30	912
Other Minerals and Mineral Products (Classes 23–24)	70	1,637
Chemicals and Man-made Fibres (Classes 25–26)	40	1,439
Engineering and Allied Industries (Classes 31–37)	585	19,152
Food, Drink and Tobacco Industries (Classes 41–42)	180	6,558
Textiles, Footwear, Leather and Clothing (Classes 43–45)	191	7,137
Other Manufacturing (Classes 46–49)	289	7,166
Total Manufacturing	1,385	44,001

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why, during the recent bank holiday weekend, only one lane of the M6 northbound was open between junctions 16 and 17; how long it was closed prior to that weekend; when the present contraflow was set up increasing the number of lanes open in both directions to two; and whether he will ensure that where possible road works do not take place over bank holidays unless absolutely necessary and that, when such occasions arise, at least two lanes are open.

One-lane working on the northbound carriageway was necessary from 9 pm to midnight on Sunday 30 April to set up the amended contraflow. Otherwise, two lanes have been available in both directions except when the contraflow system on the southbound carriageway was installed at the start of the contract on 15 April. We shall whenever possible ensure that road works do not take place at bank holidays, particularly on major holiday routes. If work has to be done, we shall keep as much road space open as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to improve the safety of new motor cycle riders in the first six months of their riding career.

Sales of motor cycles below 125 cc in the first four months of this year were 15 per cent. higher than during the same period in 1988.We welcome this change in the fortunes of the motor cycle industry. Unfortunately, only about 30 per cent. of new riders at present undergo any form of training.Today, the motor cycle industry launched 'bike fax': a personal organiser to be given free to all new provisional motor cycle licence holders by motor cycle dealers. This will help to establish motor cycle dealers as new rider information centres.`Bike fax' seeks to influence the would-be biker to choose the right bike, to take proper training, to develop the skills to survive the high-risk early months and to dress suitably and conspicuously.Although the Department of Transport has assisted in its production, 'bike fax' is funded entirely by the industry.Manufacturers and dealers support fully our proposals to introduce compulsory basic training for new riders from mid-1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much is being spent in the parliamentary constituency of Don Valley under the urban programme; on what schemes it is being spent; and if he will list the percentage of the budget that is allocated for (a) publicity, (b) information and (c) public relations.

During 1988–89, schemes totalling £932,944 were approved in Don Valley under the urban programme. These were:

• Mexborough Industrial Improvement Area Schemes
• Mexborough Grammar School Conversion
• Mexborough Resource Centre
• Conisbrough Castle Interpretative Centre
• Mexborough Under-fives Resource Centre
• Mexborough Publicity

Schemes approved for start in 1989–90 in Don Valley currently total £245,070. These were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will appoint a new member to the advisory committee on works of art in the House of Commons following the appointment of the hon. Member Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) as an Assistant Whip.

I am pleased to announce that, with Mr. Speaker's agreement, I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes (Mr. Benyon) to the advisory committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make in the payment of compensation under management agreements in cases where afforestation grant is refused solely on nature conservation grounds.

Following consultations with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, I have agreed with the Nature Conservancy Council that it should not longer offer compensation for the refusal of afforestation grant where it is refused solely on nature conservation grounds.Compensation will still be available for the profit forgone, excluding any grant element, in any case where planting would otherwise proceed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he will put forward at next week's governing council meeting of the United Nation's Environment Programme.

My noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside, will represent the United Kingdom at the governing council and will set out the Government's views on the major global environmental issues on United Nations Environment Programme's agenda, including global warming.To ensure that these issues are given the priority they deserve we want to strengthen the United Nations Environment Programme both in regard to existing functions and in preparing for the major United Nations conference on the environment in 1992.In order to help to provide the United Nations Environment Programme with the resources it needs to carry out the task we require of it, the United Kingdom has more than doubled its financial contribution. We will be urging other countries to follow our lead.We will call for the urgent consideration of a framework convention on the subject of climate change. This would establish general principles or guidelines and allow more specific measures to be developed in the form of protocols as scientific and other information becomes clearer.We will also reiterate the Government's support for the intergovernmental panel on climate change set up by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter of 17 January from Councillor Martin Doughty, chairman of the planning and countryside committee of Derbyshire county council.

[holding answer 5 May 1989]: My hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning replied on 2 May to Councillor Doughty's letter concerning observations on the legal basis of discharge consent requirements for sewage treatment works. These issues have been under active consideration by my Department. That is why we were not able to give him an earlier substantive reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the European Community meetings on matters concerning his Department held in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

[holding answer 8 May 1989]: The European Council met on three occasions in 1985 and 1988 and twice in 1986 and 1987. The Environment Council met formally on four occasions in 1985, three in 1986, four in 1987 and four in 1988. There were also occasional informal meetings of Environment Ministers. In addition, there were numerous meetings of officials. Information on the number of such meetings could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the sewerage incinerator at Yelland, North Devon will be tested (a) to comply with EC directive 84/360, (b) under the Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) Regulations 1983 (SI, 1983, No. 943) and (c) under the Clean Air Acts before it is permitted to operate.

[holding answer 9 May 1989]: Because the sewage screening incinerator at Yelland has a capacity of less than 1 tonne an hour, it will be controlled for air pollution purposes by the North Devon district council; it is for the council to determine what atmospheric emission testing is required.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to representations about the application of the Local Government and Housing Bill to public airport companies; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 9 May 1989]: The Department has made it clear that the provisions of part V of the Local Government and Housing Bill—local authority interests in companies—do not need, in general, to be applied to public airport companies since the Airports Act 1986 covers most of the points at issue. There may, however, be some aspects where, after consultation with local airport companies, it will seem sensible to extend the provisions to cover them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what matters he proposes to discuss at the forthcoming meeting of the European Economic Community Consumer Ministers.

The Spanish presidency have indicated that they provisionally plan to include the following topics on the agenda for the Council of Consumer Ministers planned for 1 June.Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 87/102/EEC for the approximation of laws, regulations, and administrative provisions of Member States concerning Consumer Credit.Draft resolution on future priorities for consumer protection.Commission presentation of a further draft of the general product safety directive.Consideration of the Commission's report on the European home and leisure accident surveillance system.Consideration of a report by the Commission on consumer education in primary and secondary schools.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactured goods; and what was the level in 1979, 1969 and 1959.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactured goods; and what was the level in 1979, 1969 and 1959.

The information is as follows:

United Kingdom Share of MMCs1	Exports of Manufactures2
	Per cent.
1988	38·2
1979	9·1
1969	11·2
1959	17·9
1 Main manufacturing countries—Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
2 Standard international trade classification, sections 5–8.
3 Figures based on the first three quarters of 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the report on the review of Department of Trade and Industry statistics; and if he will make a statement.

Last July, an efficiency scrutiny was set up in the Department of Trade and Industry to examine the arrangements for the collection of economic statistics by DTI, and the methods by which statistical inquiries are undertaken. The scrutiny team, Alan Armstrong of Bristol university and David Rees of the DTI, was asked specifically to consider whether these arrangements struck a satisfactory balance between minimising the burdens placed on business in providing the information required, and meeting the needs for which the data are to be used by Government and other customers, and if not, to make recommendations accordingly. The report of this scrutiny is being published today, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The report recommends a number of changes which, by shifting resources in data collection to the areas where they are most needed, will improve the quality of information used in macro-economic statistics. At the same time, the form-filling burden on business will be substantially reduced. Changes being made include conducting surveys less often, approaching fewer people and making forms simpler to complete. The cost to business will be reduced by about a quarter, resulting in savings of about £1·7 million on Government form filling. Further savings of over £500,000 per annum could be expected if EC requirements for statistics can be reduced, and I will be seeking ways of achieving this.The report's recommendations will be implemented over the next three years, and this has begun. In the light of machinery of Government changes announced to the House by the Prime Minister on 5 April, responsibility for implementation of the recommendations still outstanding will transfer to the Central Statistical Office when these changes take effect. DTI Ministers, who have the lead responsibility for deregulation policy, will agree with the enlarged Central Statistical Office specific objectives to ensure that the burdens on industry are minimised.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many British companies have set up joint ventures in (a) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and (b) China.

[holding answer 8 May 1989]: (a) Joint ventures, USSR: My Department is aware of 33 joint ventures signed to date between British companies and Soviet organisations. In addition, we are aware of a number of British companies presently involved in negotiations to set up joint ventures in the USSR, so the figure is likely to continue to grow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on problems in the replacement of mental health provision in Clwyd as a result of the run down of North Wales hospital, Denbigh.

My right hon. Friend has not been informed of problems with alternative provision in Clwyd in the context of the future of the North Wales hospital, Denbigh. Welsh Office officials will be discussing with Clwyd district health authority and Clwyd county council the nature and range of services required for mentally ill people in developing the county plan to be produced under the mental illness strategy which is about to be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the recent changes in the staff of his Department responsible for mental health provision in Wales.

There have been two recent changes, one at grade 5 level and one at grade 7 level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received opposing plans for reducing the number of community health councils in Gwynedd; what further consultation he intends to undertake on this matter; when he proposes to make a final decision; and if he will make a statement.

Fifty-eight letters have been received by the Department up to 5 May. A consultation document will be issued later in the summer. A decision will be taken once the consultation exercise has been completed and the matter fully considered in the light of the comments received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, for each DHA, details of proposed capital development costing more than £1 million which have been cancelled for each year since 1979.

I regret that comprehensive information is not available centrally on the adjustments made by health authorities to their capital programmes over this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any proposals for an order under section 58AA of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, which provides for the restriction of the ecclesiastical exemption.

The Welsh Office has today issued a consultation paper to interested parties setting out our proposals. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by his Department in 1985–86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office for Information, together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989–90.

[holding answer 2 May 1989): For the years 1985–86 and 1986–87, the Welsh Office mounted no major publicity campaigns. Major campaigns undertaken/planned by the Welsh Office in the following years were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been allocated for 1989 for projects for refinement of technology and replacement of animals in research in the United Kingdom; and how much of the 1989 budget will be spent on projects initiated in 1988 and continuing into 1989.

One hundred and twenty thousand pounds; of which nearly £48,000 is committed to projects already being funded. More will be provided if this can be justified to support particular work of high merit and outstanding value.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) unsuccessful and (b) successful applicants there were in 1988 for funding for projects for refinement of technology and replacement of animals in research; how much of the 1988 grant was spent on advertising; and how much of the 1988 grant was spent on administration of the funds.

As I informed the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 6 March at column 383, there were 120 unsuccessful and four successful applicants. One thousand and fifty pounds was spent on assessor's fees; no advertising or other administrative costs fell on the research budget for 1988–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of project licences for animal experiments in 1988; and how many were in each severity banding.

This information will be contained in the report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1988, due to be published in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has done on extending the use of a postal vote to all electors who request it.

None specifically. A summary of our inquiries in this area is set out in a Home Office consultation paper, made available following the reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 2 March at column 274.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure on car travel for members of prison boards of visitors in each year from 1985 to date.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the working party on prison catering has made in relation to prisons on the Isle of Wight.

The working party is to visit the Isle of Wight this month. It will then consider and cost alternatives including central civilianised or contracted out kitchens as proposed by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons following his visit to Parkhurst last year. Because two of the three prisons house prisoners for whom the very highest conditions of security are necessary the working party is taking account of operational as well as catering considerations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has received from the Nottingham city technology college to end the traditional pattern of school hours and three term years.

The CTCs are expected to have a longer school year and a longer working week than is normal in maintained schools. It will be for each college to decide how best to fit this pattern to its own circumstances. We are aware that the Djanogly CTC in Nottingham is considering a move from a three-term to a five-term year, and a working day beginning rather earlier than is common.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list for the three counties of Yorkshire the number of preparatory schools to be included in the assisted places scheme in 1989–90 and the amount of fee remission grant to be allocated to them.

Preparatory schools are not eligible for admission to the assisted places scheme in their own right. However, in certain cases where a clear link with a participating independent secondary school is demonstrated, it may offer assisted places between the ages of 11 and 13 under the terms of the main school's participation agreement. St. Olave's preparatory school, York offers places which are subsequently tenable at St. Peters school, York under such an arrangement. It is not possible to identify separately the amount of fee remission paid annually to pupils at St. Olave's.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has not yet authorised Devon county council to pay the teachers employed by the council the 6 per cent. increase in their salaries from 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

The draft school teachers' pay and conditions document 1989 was issued for consultation on 27 April. Many teachers are likely to receive their salary increases by the end of May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent by his Department on advertisements on commercial television in each of the last five years, listed by each television company.

The Department has not advertised on commercial television during the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to set up a working group to recommend attainment targets and programmes of study for geography within the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 5 May 1989, c. 256]: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Roger Davies, chairman of Thomson Travel Group to complete the membership of the national curriculum geography working group,.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on progress of the programme to integrate jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices;(2) how many prime-site jobcentres it is intended to vacate under the jobcentre/unemployment benefit offices integration scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 21 April, Official Report, column 349. No decisions have been taken about the future of the employment service local office network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the financial contribution of his Department towards his implementation of the European Tourism Year 1990.

The Department is not directly funding the implementation of European Tourism Year 1990. The United Kingdom initiative is being led by the British Tourist Authority and it is not yet clear what its total spending on activities connected with the year will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for England and Wales (a) how many YTS trainees are on schemes run by local authorities in each region, (b) what is the total number of YTS trainees in each local authority region and (c) how many trainees are on transitional funded YTS run by local authorities for each region before 1 April.

Number of YTS schemes in England and Wales by type at 31 March 1989
Region	Voluntary and community organisation	Local Authority	Other	Total
Northern	62	75	505	642
North West	99	159	1,175	1,443
Yorkshire and Humberside	60	92	784	936
West Midlands	90	110	924	1,124
East Midlands and Eastern	68	140	923	1,131
South West	36	79	566	681
South East	55	128	997	1,180
London	68	70	676	814
Wales	51	85	424	560
Total England and Wales	589	938	6,974	8,501

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of YTS trainees, during the last 12 months, who obtained employment within six months of completing their training in (a) the Doncaster area and (b) the

The numbers of YTS trainees in training on schemes run by local authorities and in total are shown in the table.Trainees who are in schemes that attract transitional funding are not separately identified and, therefore, the information requested could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

Number of young people in training in England and Wales at 31 March 1989
Region	Local authority including local education	Total number of trainees in each region
Northern	7,147	30,298
North West	11,415	60,445
Yorkshire and Humberside	11,182	45,029
West Midlands	10,480	43,493
East Midlands and Eastern	9,861	46,446
South West	9,254	30,426
South East	7,876	39.988
London	3,565	21,131
Wales	6,096	23,666
Total England and Wales	76,876	340,922

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for England and Wales for each region (a) how many YTS schemes are run (1) by voluntary and community organization and (2) by the local authorities, (b) what is the total number of YTS schemes are run by voluntary and community organizations which received a transitional funding grant before 1 April, (d) how many YTS schemes are run by local authorities which received a transitional funding grant before 1 April and , (e) how many YTS schemes were paid a transitional funded grant in respect of training before 1 April.

The information that identifies types of schemes in each region of England and Wales is shown in the table. Schemes that attract a transitional funding grant are not separately identified and, therefore, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Mexborough area of South Yorkshire; and what percentage this represents of those who completed their training.

This information is not available in exactly the form requested. The latest results from the YTS follow-up survey shows that 396 trainees in the Doncaster area, including Mexborough who completed their training in the period December 1987 to November 1988 were in employment three months later. This represents 79 per cent. of all trainees in the area who completed their training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he plans to visit Nottingham, North to discuss employment training.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to visit Nottingham, North.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will reply to the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 6 April concerning the impending job losses at Ferranti's Wythenshawe factory.

A reply was sent to the right hon. Gentleman on 8 May 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the statement made by the hon. Member for

	European Community	Thames House South
	Maximum admissable concentration	Recorded Maximum	Recorded minimum
Sulphate	250mg/litre	482mg/litre	405mg/litre
Fluoride	2500ug/litre	2,120ug/litre	l,400ug/litre
Potassium	12mg/litre	13·6mg/litre	12·6mg/litre
Sodium	175mg/litre	204mg/litre	190mg/litre
Magnesium	50mg/litre	51·3mg/litre	46mg/litre
			less than
Iron	50ug/litre	3,120ug/litre	5ug/litre
			less than
Manganese	50ug/litre	84ug/litre	20ug/litre
Nickel	50ug/litre	94ug/litre	59ug/litre
Conductivity	l,500us/cm	l,729us/cm	1,660us/cm
Turbidity	4NTU	21 NTU	0·2 NTU

Since the introduction of the point of use filters the levels of iron and colour have been consistently below 5ug/litre and 4NTUs respectively. The other elements have remained between the recorded maximum and minimum. I am also advised by PSA that the presence of these elements, either singly or in combination, is not considered to be a health hazard. As I explained in my earlier answer the water for my Department's headquarters building is supplied from a borehole and from the public mains supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Siemens ND3 printers are used by his Department, either in-house or through a private contract; and what is the location of each.

Regular reports are submitted to Euratom. These reports are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, if he will set out in the Official Report a copy of the 1988 analysis of the drinking water supply in his Department's head office, Thames house, showing the amount by which this water supply failed to meet the European Economic Community drinking water quality criteria.

I am advised by the Property Services Agency that the results of analyses of drinking water supplied to my Department's headquarters building, Thames house south, in 1988, showing the comparisons with the European Community maximum admissible levels are:

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parades were notified to the Royal Ulster Constabulary under the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order in (a) 1986, (b) 1987 and (c) 1988.

This is a matter for the Chief Constable. However, I understand that the information is not available in the form requested. Statistics are compiled on the basis of parades notified to the RUC which actually took place. The Chief Constable's annual reports indicate that 1,950 parades were held in 1986, 2,112 in 1987 and 2,055 in 1988, but these figures do not include parades by youth organisations, churches and other similar bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants have been made by each of the area boards or Government Departments to branches of the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health in each of the past three years.

[holding answer 3 May 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
	£	£	£
Department of Health and Social Services	165,290	131,738	127,100
Eastern Health and Social Services Board	54,459	109,843	168,348
Northern Health and Social Services Board	771	495	69,740
Southern Health and Social Services Board	962	7,222	44,876
Western Health and Social Services Board	3,600	22,000	20,450
Department of Economic Development'	5,501	7,764	13,112
Total	230,583	279,062	443,626
1 Payments made whether directly or indirectly under the Action for Community Employment (ACE) Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in Northern Ireland depended on (a) SB/IS and (b) FIS/FC in each year since 1978–79, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of all children in Northern Ireland.

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The available information is as follows:

Dependants under 19 years of people on:
	Supplementary benefit/IS		FIS/FC
Year	Numbers1	Per cent.2	Numbers1	Per cent.2
1978	70,545	14·57	30,402	6·28
1979	64,790	13·28	27,493	5·63
1980	80,308	16·42	28,857	5·90
1981	93,595	19·55	36,378	7·60
1982	109,863	23·17	38,734	8·17
1983	117,083	24·88	39,557	8·41
1984	116,256	24·86	40,813	8·73
1985	—3	—	42,613	9·16
1986	135,254	29·20	42,233	9·12
1987	134,052	29·14	40,982	8·91
1988	—4	—	537,500	8·19
1 Supplementary benefit/IS 5 per cent. sample and FIS 30 per cent. sample.
2 Represents the percentage of all children entitled to child benefit.
3 There was no survey in 1985.
4 Figures not yet available.
5 Estimated figure—incomplete date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement indicating the nature of any cash limits on the total expenditure on general practitioner trainers' allowances and trainees' remuneration, and the respective votes from which such funding is derived.

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The funding of GP trainers' allowances and trainees' remuneration is contained in subhead BI of the Department's health and personal social services vote 1, which in turn forms part of the cash limit on Northern Ireland's departmental services (NID 1). However, the Secretary of State has flexibility to reallocate resources within the cash limit, for example, to cover unavoidable pressures in this sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what weight is given to what factors in determining the number of general practitioner trainees who are to be remunerated by the Department of Health and Social Security in Northern Ireland in a given year.

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The number of general practitioner trainees selected in Northern Ireland in a given year is determined by the estimated future demands of the Province for general practitioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the number of prospective general practitioner trainees who were recommended by the relevant selection body in the current year and the number which were approved by the Department; what factors determined the decision by the Department; and how selection of the numbers approved by the Department proceeds.

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: Ninety-seven prospective trainees were interviewed by the selection panel this year and placed in order of merit. The Department determined that 50 doctors should be trained for general practice this year, but in the event 52 were accepted because a number were considered of equal merit by the selection panel. The number approved by the Department was determined by the estimated future demands of the Province for general practitioners. The procedures for selection of trainees are contained in circular HSS (TM) 3/80 supplement No. 1, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the latest take-up figures based on the family expenditure survey.

We expect to publish take-up estimates for 1985 this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding the changes in method of payment for housing benefit for those in board and lodging accommodation.

Since 10 April we have received a small number of letters from organisations and individuals about the change in providing help with board and lodging charges which took place on that day. The change, which abolishes special rates of income support for boarders and allows people in board and lodging accommodation to receive housing benefit for their accommodation costs, was proposed in a consultation document issued in December 1986. Over 170 responses to that document were received. These expressed widespread acceptance of the principle that there should be parity both in the treatment of people in similar types of accommodation, whether or not board was provided, and between people in identical accommodation, whether or not they were working.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department is monitoring the implementation of the new method of housing benefit payment for those in board and lodging accommodation.

The Government are committed to monitoring the effects of the social security reforms on all groups. This monitoring is a continuous process which draws on a wide range of information sources, including local authorities, who administer housing benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide the most recent figures broken down by (i) year and (ii) section on (a) the number of overpayments recovered under section 53 of the Social Security Act 1986, section 119 of the Social Security Act 1975 and section 20 of the Supplementary Benefit Act 1976, (b) the number of standard letters sent indicating that recovery may be pursued through civil proceedings, (c) the number of cases actually pursued for recovery of overpayments through civil proceedings and (d) the number of cases pursued under (c) which are successful.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has regarding the average time over the last three years between the lodging and hearing of an appeal to the social security appeals tribunal in (a) Lerwick, (b) Shetland and (c) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

National administrative statistics for social security appeal tribunals are not disaggregated for areas smaller than a social security region.The table gives the information for Scotland from 1986 to the quarter ending September 1988 (the latest figures available).

Social security appeal tribunals Lodgement to hearing Scotland
Period	Average weekly clearance time
12 months ending December 1986	14·0
12 months ending December 1987	23·3
3 months ending March 1988	25·9
3 months ending June 1988	23·7
3 months ending September 1988	23·3

To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has concerning the consideration of European Community business by Parliament.

I am discussing these matters with the Chairman of the Select Committee on European Legislation.

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the response of hon. Members to the fire exercises listed in his answer of 24 April, Official Report, column 408; and if he is satisfied with their level of participation.

The records of fire exercises do not distinguish hon. Members from other participants. It is therefore not possible for me to comment on the level of Members' participation.

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the approximate or average cost of 128 staff on duty after 10 pm.

Non-industrial staff with a commitment to remain on duty as a direct consequence of sittings of the House receive either an annual allowance which in most cases is calculated from 6 pm according to an agreed formula; or night duty pay which varies according to the lateness of the hour. Industrial staff, in general, are paid at overtime rates for the actual number of hours worked. Details of these allowances are set out in the annual report of the House of Commons Commission.The varying times of adjournment of the House and difficulty in extracting the appropriate proportion of some of the costs involved make the provision of any meaningful figure possible only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Lord President of the Council, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North of 24 April, Official Report, column 408, when he expects to be able to state when he will bring forward proposals relating to ten-minute Bills.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 24 April at column 408.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each district health authority in England in 1987 (a) the total number of beds, and the number of beds per 100,000 population, in institutions registered under the Nursing Homes Act 1984, (b) the total number of beds for care of those over 65 years requiring long-stay nursing care in institutions registered under the Nursing Homes Act 1984 and (c) the number of beds for the care of the elderly per 100,000 population aged over 65 years in institutions registered under the Nursing Homes Act 1984.

Residential care homes, registered under part I of the Registered Homes Act 1984, are registered by local authority social services departments. Information on these is therefore available by local authority, not by district health authority.Tables placed in the Library show provisional information as at 31 March 1987, by local authority, on the total number of places, the number of places in homes for elderly people, and the respective rates per 100,000 population. The number of places in homes registered under part I of the Act is published annually in "Residential Accommodation for Elderly and Younger Physically Handicapped People: All Residents in Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes year ending 31 March England" and "Homes and Hostels for Mentally III and Mentally Handicapped People at 31 March England"; copies of which are available in the Library.Hospitals and nursing homes, registered under part II of the Registered Homes Act 1984, are registered by

Type of whole scanner in use	Location in Trent	Installation date	Main source of funding
CT	Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital	1984	Public appeal
CT	Derby Royal Infirmary	1985	Public appeal
CT	Doncaster Royal Infirmary	1986	Health authority allocation
CT	King's Mill Hospital	1987	Public appeal
CT	Leicester Royal Infirmary	1982	Public appeal
CT	Lincoln County Hospital	1985	Public appeal
CT	Nottingham City	1988	Public subscription
CT	Nottingham University Hospital	1984	Health authority allocation
CT	Sheffield Royal Hallamshire	1985	Health authority allocation
CT	Sheffield Royal Hallamshire	1985	Public appeal
Magnetic resonance	Queen's Medical Centre Nottingham	1985	Department of Health

In the next 12 months, new whole body CT scanners are planned at the Pilgrim hospital, south Lincolnshire and the children's hospital, Sheffield and two replacements at Leicester royal infirmary. Only the south Lincolnshire scanner is being funded by public appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of domestic services in Halton district health authority; and what is the national average.

For 1987–88 the annual accounts of the Halton health authority recorded current expenditure of £355,824 on domestic cleaning services representing 1.9 per cent. of the authority's total current expenditure. Average current expenditure on these services by all district health authorities in England was £1,798,723, representing 3·2 per cent. of their current expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to subsume Halton district health authority in other districts; and if he will make a statement.

We have no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the child immunisation target of 90 per

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which National Health Service hospitals in the Trent regional health authority at present have whole body scanner facilities; when the equipment was installed in each case; which hospitals it is planned to provide with such facilities as new or to replace obsolete facilities in the next 12 months; and which hospitals have paid for equipment in whole or part from voluntary and charitable sources.

The information requested is given in the table.cent. and the cervical cytology screening target of 80 per cent. are still figures open for negotiation as part of the general practitioners' contract.

We have no intention of changing our policy that coverage levels should be raised to 90 per cent. for childhood immunisation and 80 per cent. for cervical cancer screening. For childhood immunisation, this is the level recommended by the WHO, which this Government have adopted.We have agreed with the general medical services: committee's negotiators that we will make target payments to GPs who achieve those levels. We will also make target payments at one third of the value of the higher payments to GPs who achieve lower target coverage levels; the lower levels will be 70 per cent. coverage for childhood immunisation and 50 per cent. coverage for cervical cancer screening.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is yet in a position to implement the recommendations in the recent Select Committee on Social Services report, "Resourcing the National Health Service: Midwives Regrading 1988–89"; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Select Committee on Social Services' recommendations on the regrading of midwives.

The Government's response to the Committee's report will be laid before the House in the usual way as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply of 13 March, Official Report, column 64, if he plans to increase the frequency of such meetings; whether he will inform the representatives of the medical professions of the outcome of meetings with the tobacco industry; and whether he will invite the representatives of the medical professions to attend as observers at future meetings with the tobacco industry.

Meetings between Department of Health Ministers or officials and our expert advisory committees or other bodies with an interest in the health aspects of smoking are already frequent, and we do not consider an increase in frequency necessary. If pressing matters arise on which advice is needed, additional meetings are arranged. Meetings with representatives of the tobacco industry are confidential. This is the most effective way of carrying out negotiations or discussions on issues where there are strong commercial or trade interests involved. As a result, no reports can be issued to the medical profession, nor can representatives of the medical profession be invited to attend such meetings as observers. The Government have not, in any case, received any requests from members of the medical profession to be informed of the content of such meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Mersey regional health authority members' panel set up to consider the viability of the proposed phase III development of Halton district general hospital took any verbal representations from members of Halton district health authority before reaching their conclusions;(2) whether Mersey regional health authority members' panel set up to consider the viability of the proposed phase III development of Halton district general hospital contained a representative of Halton district health authority;(3) if he will state the names, occupations and addresses of the Mersey regional health authority members panels of

We do not hold this information centrally. My hon. Friend may therefore wish to contact the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 30 English non-metropolitan districts which have shown the greatest percentage growth in their electorate since 1977; and what has been the percentage growth and actual figures in each case.

The information requested is as follows:

Non-metropolitan districts in England	1977 electorate	1989 electorate	Percentage increase
Milton Keynes	65,821	123,394	87
Redditch	37,437	56,259	50
Wokingham	75,249	106,314	41

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 20 English non-metropolitan counties which have shown the greatest percentage growth in electorate since 1977; and what has been the percentage growth and actual figures in each case.

The information requested is as follows:

Non-metropolitan Counties in England	1977 electorate	1989 electorate	Percentage increase
Buckinghamshire	367,962	471,784	28
Cambridgeshire	397,410	487,942	23
Shropshire	256,612	310,173	21
Berkshire	460,726	554,177	20
Northamptonshire	364,561	435,831	20
Hereford and Worcester	436,878	521,824	19
Somerset	303,750	362,634	19
Wiltshire	360,645	427,764	19
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	310,500	366,452	18
Dorset	445,468	522,355	17
Lincolnshire	387,833	454,040	17
Hampshire	1,021,220	1,190,957	17
Norfolk	503,241	584,031	16
West Sussex	483,064	560,073	16
Suffolk	413,062	478,846	16
Bedfordshire	337,682	389,043	15
North Yorkshire	486,059	554,028	14
Isle of Wight	89,477	101,864	14
Gloucestershire	360,765	410,678	14
Oxfordshire	371,292	421,729	14

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be appointing new chairmen to district health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The term of office of 128 chairmen of district health authorities ends on 31 March 1990 and we are currently seeking nominations for new chairmen. If hon. Members wish to recommend any individuals as chairmen, I invite them to write to me over the next month or so. Reappointments and changes will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 25 largest parliamentary constituencies by electorate, with their electorates; and what is the average constituency electorate on the current register.

The information requested is as follows:

1989
Parliamentary constituency	Electorate
Milton Keynes	107,011
Isle of Wight	101,859
East Hampshire	91,737
Huntingdon	91,315
Eastleigh	90,119
Swindon	89,939
Devizes	88,792
The Wrekin	88,467
Westbury	88,234
Peterborough	87,573
East Berkshire	87,432
Wokingham	87,393
Cirencester and Tewksbury	87,111
Ryedale	86,907
South Colchester and Maldon	86,631
Dudley West	85,955
South Suffolk	85,888
North Colchester	85,241
Crosby	84,907
North Wiltshire	84,610
Horsham	84,501
Waveney	84,319
South West Cambridgeshire	83,964
Mid Bedfordshire	83,854
Chelmsford	83,799
Average constituency electorate:
United Kingdom	67,098
England	69,533
Wales	57,753
Scotland	54,624
Northern Ireland	65,912

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the pay gradings of each district health authority general manager in the Trent regional health authority.

The gradings of district general manager posts in the Trent region, and the salary grade rates from 1 September 1988, are set out in the table. In addition, district general managers are eligible for a discretionary addition of up to 10 per cent. of the grade rate (to reflect differences in job weight) and performance-related pay. Details of the performance-related pay awarded to individual general managers are confidential between them and their employer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the reasons for his decision to permit, or require, the chief nursing officer of the Department to send a standard letter to potential recruits to the nursing service asking them to enclose a fee of £6 for an application package; and if he will review this decision.

Applications for pre-registration nurse training are handled not by the Department but by the Nurses Central Clearing House (NCCH). The NCCH is managed by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting on behalf of health authorities. It is for the board to determine what, if any, administrative charge should be made to potential applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions of general practitioners for overprescribing have taken place in England since the National Health Service Committee's Tribunal Regulations (S.I. 1974 No. 455) came into effect.

[holding answer 8 May 1989]: In the period 1974–88 inclusive the Department's regional medical service made a total of 12,068 visits to discuss with practices their prescribing costs and patterns. These visits are made largely to practices whose total costs exceeded their FPC average by a significant amount. Some practices were visited more than once. None of these visits resulted in a reference for formal investigation of excessive prescribing under the terms of the National Health Service Committee and Tribunal Regulations. However, visits to such high prescribing-cost practices are very cost-effective. We estimate that on average each visit saves around £12,000 per practice in the first full year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each of the advertising agents used for any aspects of the Government AIDS campaign, with the payments made in each case.

The advertising agents used for the Government's AIDS campaign and the payments made exclusive of VAT were as follows: