Written Answers

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

Written Answers To Questions

Monday 22 May 1989

Wales

National Museum Of Wales

51.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of the National Museum of Wales to discuss its maintenance budget and acquisition budget.

52.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the director of the National Museum of Wales to discuss its staffing costs and acquisition budget.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales last met the president of the National Museum of Wales on 14 November 1988, when a range of issues including budgetary and financial matters was discussed. The director of the National Museum of Wales also attended this meeting.

Cottage Hospital (Caernarfon)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each of 1986, 1987 and 1988 (a) the percentage occupancy of beds and (b) the total number of casualty cases treated at the Cottage hospital, Caernarfon.

The information is given in the following table:

	1986	1987	1988
Percentage occupancy of beds in all specialties	67	66	79
New minor casualty patients	1,262	1,047	1,526
Total attendances by minor casualty patients	1,869	1,824	2,738

Naval Nuclear Weapons (Accidents)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contingency plans his Department has for dealing with an accident involving any naval nuclear weapon in the course of non-operational activities including courtesy calls; and what specific arrangements apply to the port of Cardiff.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 10 May, at column 476.

Schools (Shotton)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Shotton county infants school to meet the parents and staff to receive a petition concerning the need for additional capitation allowances to enable the school to purchase essential materials for classroom activities.

My right hon. Friend has no present intention of visiting Shotton county infants school. It would be more appropriate for the parents and staff of that school to express their views to the local education authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Venerable Edward Morgan VP School, Shotton, to meet the parents and staff to discuss the impact of local management of schools; and if he will make a statement.

No. Our officials have received copies of the local education authority's draft scheme for local management of schools and have discussed it with the authority's officials. I expect the authority's formal scheme to be submitted for my right hon. Friend's consideration in the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit St. Ethelwolds VP School, Shotton, to meet the parents and staff concerning the need for St. Ethelwolds to have a school hall and other extensions; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit St. Ethelwold's Church in Wales school, Shotton in the near future. A proposal for an extension of the schools, including a hall, is included in Clwyd education authority's bids for expenditure on building works at voluntary-aided schools in 1989–90. A decision on the voluntary-aided schools' building programme for 1989–90 will be made shortly.

Clwyd Local Education Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make additional moneys available to Clwyd local education authority to enable the local eduation authority to increase its capitation allowances in its primary and infants schools; and if he will make a statement.

The setting of capitation allowances for Clwyd schools is a matter for the education authority within its perceived assessment of the requirements of the different elements of the education service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new moneys he will allocate to the Clwyd local education authority to enable the local education authority to increase the number of its full-time staff in high schools; and if he will make a statement.

The responsibility for the number of staff employed in secondary schools in Clwyd lies entirely with the education authority which sets staffing levels in line with its assessment of priorities within the education service.

Health Authorities (Building Programmes)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he proposes to meet the chairman of the health authorities of Wales to discuss their authorities need for more cash to meet their building programme deadlines; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make additional allocations to the health authorities of Wales to enable them to begin their hospital building programmes on schedule;

(3) if he proposes to make additional payments to health authorities to enable them to meet the increased costs in building projects as a result of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met chairmen of district health authorities on 15 May when a range of matters concerning the White Paper "Working for Patients" was discussed. A date for the next meeting has yet to be agreed. My right hon. Friend has no plans to increase DHAs' capital allocations, other than for specific purposes to be announced in the course of the year. Welsh health authorities' discretionary capital allocations this year total £39 million, an increase of nearly 32 per cent. over last year; and we expect them to plan flexibly within the resources available for contingencies such as fluctuations in construction costs.

Hospital building projects to be started in financial year 1989–90
District Health Authority	Project	Projected start date	Estimated total costs (£ million)
Clwyd	Deeside Community Hospital	September 1989	4·1
	Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam—Phase 2A	November 1989	16·3
	Ysbyty Glan Clwyd—Adaptations to pharmacy	August 1989	0·12
East Dyfed	Amman Valley Hospital—Development	May 1989	0·86
Gwent	Torfaen Hospital—Mental illness unit	January 1990	3·2
	Blaina Rehabilitation Unit	July 1989	0·464
	Islwyn Mental Illness Unit	January 1990	0·9
Gwynedd	Druid/Cefni Hospital—Amalgamation	January 1990	1·5
Mid Glamorgan	Ystrad Fechan Community Hospital	October 1989	8·0
	Aberdare Hospital—Elderly unit	July 1989	1·6
	East Glamorgan Hospital—Geriatric unit	January 1990	1·2
	East Glamorgan Hospital—Obstetrics theatre	May 1989	0·42
	Tonteg Hospital—Elderly mentally infirm ward	July 1989	0·45
	Tyntyla Hospital—Elderly mentally infirm ward and day unit	April 1989	0·2
Pembrokeshire	Nil
Powys	Machynlleth Hospital—Phase 1	July 1989	1·6
South Glamorgan	Llandough Hospital—Extension to children's centre	January 1990	0·068
West Glamorgan	Tonna Hospital—Development	May 1989	4·0

Woodland Grant Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 501, whether the woodland grant scheme applications at Maesllymystyn and Gesail Ddu are in respect of adjoining land.

The proposed planting schemes at Maesllymystyn and Gesail Ddu are on the same hillside but, following the withdrawal of part of one of the schemes, are now approximately three quarters of a mile apart.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide as much information as possible about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising, without breaching commercial confidentiality, over each of the past five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the hospital building projects to be started in this financial year in Wales in each of the health authority areas, with likely starting dates and estimated costs; and if he will make a statement.

The details requested, which are drawn from capital programmes produced by health authorities, are set out in the following table. They demonstrate a continuing commitment on the part of health authorities in Wales to enhancing and improving health care provision within their respective districts. They do not take into account capital investments on maintenance and upgrading work. Therefore, they represent only a small proportion of the overall capital developments planned by authorities in the coming 10 years.

The Department's spending on television advertising during the past five financial years is £20,000. This spending was in the financial year 1988–89 on the Welsh element of the misuse of drugs campaign.

Bathing Water

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the terms of reference of the current review of the bathing water compliance programme of the Welsh water authority, together with its timetable.

Water authorities have been asked to assess the feasibility and implications for investment and operating costs of bringing all identified waters up to standard.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Czechoslovakia (Human Rights)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the human rights record of Czechoslovakia.

We regularly receive letters from hon. Members and from members of the public on Czechoslovakia's human rights record, which gives considerable grounds for concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the imprisonment by the Czechoslovakian authorities of Mr. Ivan Jirous.

We have received a series of letters from hon. Members and from members of the public on the imprisonment by the Czechoslovak authorities of Mr. Ivan Jirous.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made by his Department to the Czechoslovakian authorities concerning the imprisonment of Mr. Ivan Jirous.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State stressed our deep concern at the imprisonment of Mr. Ivan Jirous to a member of the Czechoslovak leadership, Mr. Miroslav Stepan, when he called on 15 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining his Department's assessment of human rights in Czechoslovakia.

We would like to see a substantial improvement in Czechoslovakia's unsatisfactory record on human rights. The Czechoslovak authorities have said they propose to bring their domestic legislation into line with their CSCE commitments. We urge them to do this without delay, and in the meantime to act in the spirit of those commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take to encourage the Government of Czechoslovakia to improve its record on human rights.

We shall continue to raise abuses of human rights in Czechoslovakia with their authorities whenever necessary, and urge the Czechoslovak Government to fulfil their commitments and improve its record in this sphere.

European Community

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many proposals from the European Commission since the signing of the Single European Act have been as a result of requests from member states for action; how many proposals came from within the Commission itself; and if he will make a statement.

Since the Single European Act, the Commission has brought forward 1,255 legislative proposals. There has been no major change in the number of annual proposals made since the SEA. The Commission does not, however, produce statistics distinguishing between those originating in the Commission and those on which proposals have been requested by member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress made towards achieving the objectives set out in the solemn declaration on European union made by Heads of Government at the Stuttgart summit.

The Community has agreed the Single European Act which, in accordance with the solemn declaration of Stuttgart, contains measures to complete the internal market, improve decision-making and make foreign policy co-operation more effective.

Philippines (Military Aid)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total military aid to the Philippines in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

It is not our practive to disclose the cost of assistance to individual countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total cost of military training provided for the Philippine Government; and in what form it is provided.

Filipino students have attended a small number of British military training courses subsidised by Her Majesty's Government, including vehicle maintenance and security courses. It is not our practice to disclose the cost of assistance to individual countries.

Employment

Labour Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the age group 16 to 24 inclusive, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, and 55 and over were (a) full-time employees in employment, (b) part-time employees in employment, (c) self employed, (d) not included above and on YOP, YTS, CP, STEP, CEP or JTS or (e) not included in the above and undertaking full-time education or training, from spring 1979 for each year to spring 1988.

Available estimates from labour force surveys are as shown in the following table:

Persons either in employment or undertaking full-time education or training, by age
Great Britain—Spring estimate
Thousands
	1979	1981	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	⁵ 1988
16 to 24
Full-time² employees	4,535	4,149	3,826	3,801	3,875	3,822	3,855	3,884
Part-time² employees	249	455	461	580	634	652	688	773
Self-employed	96	136	159	212	210	216	246	271
On Government employment and training programmes³	n/a	n/a	243	261	332	323	382	390
Not in employment and undertaking full-time education or training⁴	n/a	n/a	1,279	1,259	1,146	1,118	1,128	1,040
25 to 34
Full-time² employees	4,283	4,056	3,807	3,818	3,876	3,967	4,020	4,246
Part-time² employees	811	800	685	754	782	829	891	948
Self-employed	438	515	514	561	595	586	665	725
On Government employment and training programmes³	n/a	n/a	36	22	27	31	47	61
Not in employment and undertaking full-time education or training⁴	n/a	n/a	66	79	66	70	64	70
35 to 44
Full-time² employees	3,472	3,360	3,507	3,484	3,564	3,612	3,640	3,745
Part-time² employees	1,080	1,098	1,115	1,216	1,274	1,318	1,346	1,358
Self-employed	519	617	676	804	826	836	892	963
On Government employment and training programmes³	n/a	n/a	37	15	12	20	26	36
Not in employment and undertaking full-time education or training⁴	n/a	n/a	20	17	27	25	25	24
45 to 54
Full-time² employees	3,466	3,312	3,057	2,984	2,940	2,914	2,824	2,904
Part-time² employees	956	962	941	995	976	972	985	1,020
Self-employed	407	495	502	558	583	605	641	668
On Government employment and training programmes³	n/a	n/a	21	11	15		21	20
Not in employment and undertaking full-time education or training⁴	n/a	n/a	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
55 and over
Full-time² employees	2,658	2,353	2,097	1,990	1,897	1,798	1,710	1,770
Part-time² employees	922	963	792	833	811	823	802	791
Self-employed	357	436	449	483	500	483	553	530
On Government employment and training programmes³	n/a	n/a	17	¹	11	13	12	11
Not in employment and undertaking full-time education or training⁴	n/a	n/a	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
¹ Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.
² Based on respondent's own assessment.
³Includes all on YTS, CI, CP, VPP and their predecessors, together with those on training courses under JTS, Training for Enterprise and Wider Opportunities Training Programme (successors of Training Opportunities Programme or TOPS) who said they did some paid work in the survey reference week.
⁴ Includes all still in continuous full-time education or (i) on a sandwich course, (ii) studying at university, polytechnic or college full-time, or (iii) training for a qualification in nursing, physiotherapy, or a similar medical subject.
⁵ Preliminary estimates (1988 only).

n/a =Not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were unemployment rates by ethnic origin and sex for each standard region and Wales, for each of the years 1983 to 1988.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]:Unemployment rates by ethnic origin are available from the labour force survey for single years from 1983 to 1988 for Great Britain as shown in table 1. They are available for standard regions, Wales and Scotland averaged over.three years as shown in tables 2–5; these averages produce more reliable estimates for ethnic groups than do data for a single year. Further, estimates are not shown in the tables where they are based on small samples.

Table 1: Trends in unemployment rates2 by ethnic origin; spring 1983 to 1988
Persons of working age (16 to 59/64)	Great Britain per cent·
	GB labour force definition of unemployment		ILO/OECD definition of unemployment
	1983	1984	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988 (preliminary results)
All persons
All origins³	11·2	11·3	11·8	11·2	11·2	10·7	8·7
White	10·9	10·8	11·4	10·9	10·8	10·5	8·3
Ethnic minority groups of whom:	20·9	20·5	21·4	20·7	20·0	17·1	13·5
West Indian-Guyanese	23	25	24	22	23	18	15
Indian	18	15	16	18	17	13	12
Pakistan-Bangladeshi	32	35	34	30	28	29	21
All other origins³	16	19	19	18	17	15	10
Males
All origins³	11·9	11·6	11·9	11·5	11·5	11·0	8·9
White	11·5	11·1	11·4	11·0	11·1	10·7	8·6
Ethnic minority groups of whom:	21·7	21·1	22·1	21·6	20·5	17·4	14·3
West Indian-Guyanese	28	29	30	21	26	21	18
Indian	17	13	13	19	16	10	11
Pakistan-Bangladeshi	31	34	33	28	27	30	25
All other origins³	17	18	19	18	17	15	9
Females
All origins³	10·3	10·8	11·7	10·9	10·8	10·3	8·5
White	9·9	10·4	11·3	10·6	10·4	10·1	8·3
Ethnic minority groups of whom:	18·8	19·3	20·2	19·2	19·4	16·5	12·4
West Indian-guyanese	19	17	18	20	19	16	11
Indian	20	19	20	17	19	17	13
Pakistan-Bangladeshi	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
All other origins³	15	20	19	17	17	15	10
Source: LFS time series estimates·
¹ Less than 10,000 in cell: estimate not shown·
² Unemployed people expresses as a percentage of all economically active persons in the relevant group· Based on ILO/OECD definition of unemployment (except as indicated in the first two columns of table 1, and in table 5)·
³ Includes those who did not state origin·

Table 2
Unemployment rates² by ethnic origin and region.average, spring 1986–88
Persons of working age (16 to 59–64)	Per cent.
	All ethnic origins ³	White	Ethnic minority	West Indian/Guyanese	Indian	Pakistani/Bangladeshi	All other origins ³
All persons
Great Britain	10	10	17	19	14	27	14
England	10	9	17	19	14	27	14
North	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	12	11	22	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	10	9	19	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	7	7	13	16	10	24	12
Greater London	9	8	15	17	10	28	13
Rest of South East	6	6	9	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	9	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	11	11	26	24	25	¹	¹
North West	13	13	23	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	13	13	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Males
Great Britain	10	10	17	22	12	27	13
England	10	9	17	22	12	27	13
North	15	15	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	7	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	7	7	14	19	¹	¹	12
Greater London	10	9	15	20	¹	¹	14
Rest of South East	6	6	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	8	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	12	11	26	¹	¹	¹	¹
North West	14	13	23	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	15	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹

	All ethnic origins ³	White	Ethnic minority	West Indian/Guyanese	Indian	Pakistani/ Bangladeshi	All other origins ³
Females
Great Britain	10	10	16	16	16	¹	14
England	9	9	16	16	16	¹	14
North	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	11	10	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	10	10	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	7	13	13	13	¹	¹
Greater London	8	7	14	14	¹	¹	¹
Rest of South East	7	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	12	9¹	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	11	10	25	¹	¹	¹	¹
North West	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	13	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹

See footnote to table 1.

Source: LFS estimates.

Table 3
Unemployment Rates2 By Ethnic Origin and Region: Average Spring 1985–1987
Persons of working age (16 to 59/64)	Per cent.
	All ethnic origins ³	White	Ethnic minority groups	West Indian/Guyanese	Indian	Pakistani/Bangaladeshi	All other Origins ³
All persons
Great Britain	11	11	19	21	16	29	17
England	11	10	19	21	16	29	16
North	15	15	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	12	12	26	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	10	10	23	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	8	15	17	10	25	11
Greater London	10	9	16	18	10	¹	15
Rest of South East	7	7	11	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	13	12	31	31	27	12	¹
North West	14	13	26	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Males
Great Britain	11	11	20	24	15	28	17
England	11	10	20	21	15	29	17
North	16	16	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	13	13	25	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	10	10	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	8	15	19	¹	¹	15
Greater London	10	9	17	21	¹	¹	17
Rest of South East	7	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	14	13	32	¹	¹	¹	¹
North West	14	14	26	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	15	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	15	15	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Females
Great Britain	11	10	18	18	18	¹	16
England	10	10	18	18	18	¹	16
North	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	11	11	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	11	10	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	10	10	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	8	14	14	¹	¹	¹
Greater London	9	8	14	15	¹	¹	¹
Rest of South East	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	12	11	31	¹	¹	¹	¹
North West	13	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	13	13	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	13	13	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹

See footnote to table 1

Source: LFS estimates.

Table 4
Unemployment Rates ² By Ethnic Origin and Region: Average Spring 1984–1986
Persons of working age (16 to 59/64)	Per cent.
	All ethnic origins ³	White	Ethnic minority groups	West Indian/Guyanese	Indian	Pakistani/Bangladeshi	All other Origins ³
All persons
Great Britain	11	10	20	22	16	31	18
England	10	10	20	22	16	31	17
North	15	15	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	12	11	28	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	10	9	20	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	8	16	18	11	26	16
Greater London	9	8	16	19	11	¹	17
Rest of South East	7	7	14	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	13	12	29	30	26	40	¹
North West	13	13	29	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Males
Great Britain	11	11	21	25	15	30	17
England	11	10	21	25	16	30	17
North	16	16	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	13	12	29	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	10	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	7	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	7	16	21	9	¹	15
Greater London	9	8	17	22	¹	¹	15
Rest of South East	7	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	14	12	31	¹	¹	¹	¹
North West	15	14	31	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	15	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	15	5	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Females
Great Britain	10	10	19	18	18	¹	18
England	10	9	19	18	18	¹	18
North	13	13	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	11	11	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	9	9	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	8	16	16	14	¹	17
Greater London	9	8	16	16	¹	¹	19
Rest of South East	8	7	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South West	9	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	12	11	27	¹	¹	¹	¹
North West	12	11	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	12	12	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
¹ See footnote to table 1.

Source: LFS estimates.

Table 5
Unemployment Rates ² By Ethnic Origin and Region: Average Spring 1983–1985
Persons of working age (16 to 59/64)	Per cent.
	All ethnic origins ³	White	Ethnic minority groups	West Indian/Guyanese	Indian	Pakistani/Bangladeshi	All other Origins ³
All persons
Great Britain	11	11	20	22	17	32	17
North	15	15	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Yorkshire and Humberside	12	12	27	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Midlands	9	9	20	¹	¹	¹	¹
East Anglia	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
South East	8	8	16	19	12	25	15
South West	8	8	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
West Midlands	14	12	30	32	26	43	¹
North West	14	13	29	¹	¹	¹	¹
Wales	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Scotland	14	14	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Males
Great Britain	11	11	21	26	16	31	17

All ethnic origins

White

Ethnic minority groups

West Indian/Guyanese

Indian

Pakistani/Bangladeshi

All other Origins

North

Yorkshire and Humberside

East Midlands

East Anglia

South East

South West

West Midlands

North West

Wales

Scotland

Females

Great Britain

North

Yorkshire and Humberside

East Midlands

East Anglia

South East

South West

West Midlands

North West

Wales

Scotland

See footnote to table 1. Results are based on Great Britain labour force definition of unemployment. Results for England, Greater London and rest of South East are not readily available.

Source: LFS estimates.

Unemployment Insurance

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of "Insurance for Unemployment" by Michael Beenstock and Valerie Brasse of the City university.

A copy of "Insurance for Unemployment" by Michael Beenstock and Valerie Brasse is held in the Employment Department library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the London School of Economics discussion paper, "The Mirage of Private Unemployment Insurance" by Nicholas Barr; and if he will make a statement.

A copy of "The Mirage of Private Unemployment Insurance" by Nicholas Barr is held in the Employment Department library. It has always been a policy of the library to obtain any material relevant to my Department's areas of interest.

Part-Time Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 28 April, Official Report, column 690, what countries in the Council of Ministers favoured deferring implementation of the European Economic Community directive giving part-time workers the same legal rights as full-time workers.

The Council of Ministers last considered the draft directive on voluntary part-time work in 1987. The draft directive was not adopted. Proceedings in the Council of Ministers are confidential.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet received any advice from the Health and Safety Executive concerning safety measures for workers in the slaughtering and butchery trade who may come into contact with bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected products.

The Health and Safety Executive's field staff is available to give advice to employers and employees when necessary on any health risks associated with cattle, their carcases and their products which may be infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). I understand that, in the light of the report of the Southwood working party on BSE, the executive has established a task force on occupational zoonoses (ie diseases which may be transmissable from animals to man). As part of its remit, the task force is considering what further action may be necessary in respect of occupational health and safety aspects of BSE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance currently exists to occupational groups involved with handling of cattle or cattle products in the light of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Advice on safety precautions to be taken has been issued to the Health and Safety Executive's inspectors for dissemination either on request or during the course of their visits to those dealing with cattle and animal products. It covers basic hygiene principles which are considered appropriate for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide as much information as possible about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising, without breaching commercial confidentiality, over each of the past five years.

The total amount spent by my Department on commercial television advertising for each of the past five financial years is as follows:

	£million
1988–89	¹13·7
1987–88	3·0
1986–87	9·3
1985–86	nil
1984–85	nil
¹ Estimated out–turn. Includes employment service expenditure.

Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total amount of money spent on work-related Government training schemes in each of the years 1983–88 inclusive.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: The expenditure by the Government on work-related training programmes in Great Britain in the relevant financial years is as follows:

Year to 31 March	£ million
1983–84	837
1984–85	999
1985–86	1,042
1986–87	1,135
1987–88	1,300

Northern Ireland

Housing Executive (Grants)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show for each of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's grants offices the date of which approval for a grant would be issued for (a) an improvements grant and (b) a repair grant on an application received on 2 May.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I am advised by the chief executive of the executive that the information requested is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. To prepare such detail would require a major exercise in each of the grants offices.

	Nurses and Midwives			Ancillary			Administration and Clerical			Professional and Technical Staff
	Full-time	Part-time	Whole time equivalents	Full-time	Part-time	Whole time equivalents	Full-time	Part-time	Whole time equivalents	Number	Whole time equivalents
Eastern Board
1979	6,775	2,979	8,566·84	3,652	2,619	5,184·37	2,228	525	2,515·53	1,987	1,781·38
1980	7,142	3,298	9,074·09	3,708	2,685	5,284·19	2,287	554	2,590·83	2,103	1,879·93
1981	7,612	3,367	9,581·60	3,768	2,811	5,406·25	2,324	570	2,636·42	2,189	1,968·24
1982	7,861	3,347	9,854·68	3,754	2,899	5,433·79	2,381	590	2,706·43	2,243	2,026·44
1983	7,898	3,270	9,841·90	3,740	2,969	5,463·41	2,401	688	2,734·63	2,287	2,072·66
1984	7,940	3,223	9,856·19	3,572	2,975	5,302·10	2,412	630	2,760·06	2,295	2,086·22
1985	7,647	3,167	9,520·20	3,420	2,914	5,116·01	2,397	654	2,758·60	2,256	2,043·71
1986	7,517	3,128	9,378·77	3,191	3,012	4,939·57	2,467	704	2,857·28	2,268	2,058·94
1987	7,308	3,131	9,175·02	3,046	3,045	4,820·75	2,457	737	2,864·63	2,165	1,962·41
1988	7,396	3,400	9,409·54	2,868	3,068	4,656·56	2,529	772	2,955·00	2,113	1·917·35
Northern Board
1979	1,861	760	2,339·47	1,165	513	1,433·32	718	175	809·47	549	472·38
1980	1,932	863	2,477·27	1,176	553	1,464·63	762	185	859·47	575	496·65

Taxi Service (Castlereagh)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the new taxi service operating from the vicinity of 231 Saintfields road, Castlereagh, has planning permission; how many taxis are based at this location; and whether there are adequate parking places for these taxis.

The taxi service is operating without planning approval. Enforcement action has commenced to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. Should this result in the receipt of a planning application, an assessment will then be made of the scale of operations intended.

Wild Birds (Conservation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to meet his obligations with respect to the designation of special protection areas under article 4 of the EC Directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds; and if he intends to include sites at Upper Lough Erne and Lough Neagh.

The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is giving priority to the designation of Areas of Special Scientific Interest under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Where ASSIs are also potential special protection areas under EC directive 79/409, the Department will proceed towards SPA declarations as soon as is practicable after ASSI confirmations.It is expected that a small number of SPAs will be declared during the next two years, and Lough Neagh and parts of Upper and Lower Lough Erne will be among the areas considered for early designation.

Health Board Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by each health board for each year since 1979 the numbers of staff expressed as a whole-time equivalent and as actual full-time and part-time members in the categories (a) ancillary, (b) administration and clerical, (c) nurses and midwives and (d) professional and technical.

The information is set out in the table.

	Nurses and Midwives			Ancillary			Administration and Clerical			Professional and Technical Staff
	Full-time	Part-time	Whole time equivalents	Full-time	Part-time	Whole time equivalents	Full-time	Part-time	Whole time equivalents	Number	Whole time equivalents
1981	2,103	925	2,719·24	1,200	577	1,502·67	817	202	922·80	599	511·70
1982	2,113	890	2,706·90	1,183	604	1,500·95	824	207	935·50	562	494·50
1983	2,207	885	2,808·16	1,144	663	1,493·79	837	208	949·45	596	516·96
1984	2,281	891	2,882·15	1,046	734	1,436·45	857	223	891·32	606	528·36
1985	2,248	938	2,884·87	1,008	767	1,421·97	886	233	1,005·80	591	510·89
1986	2,204	971	2,861·13	941	778	1,336·58	868	245	1,005·38	580	503·84
1987	2,192	1,033	2,888·08	898	796	1,340·00	839	266	991·06	564	486·27
1988	2,081	1,075	2,803·20	800	841	1,271·29	855	291	1,018·37	557	480·51
Southern Board
1979	2,043	873	2,578·35	1,171	582	1,500·42	634	84	679·80	467	409·69
1980	2,006	992	2,639·30	1,177	598	1,514·86	634	79	676·63	475	420·54
1981	2,140	1,059	2,819·42	1,199	695	1,588·51	648	100	702·09	478	422·80
1982	2,187	1,067	2,871·39	1,168	758	1,589·24	676	104	731·96	508	449·43
1983	2,254	1,054	2,930·56	1,164	771	1,594·21	695	100	749·51	492	427·13
1984	2,242	1,043	2,913·46	1,083	785	1,525·11	709	104	765·19	503	438·30
1985	2,206	1,030	2,865·12	1,043	805	1,491·77	725	112	785·56	522	453·24
1986	2,162	1,044	2,802·46	985	855	1,457·49	704	133	775·83	490	418·08
1987	2,125	1,059	2,791·32	913	836	1,377·74	700	148	779·56	426	371·05
1988	2,146	1,086	2,831·26	862	811	1,313·79	701	186	803·13	449	396·38
Western Board
1979	2,439	325	2,637·44	1,325	450	1,585·00	554	59	585·16	410	375·19
1980	2,479	333	2,684·82	1,295	484	1,574·28	583	58	613·87	415	380·90
1981	2,688	352	2,908·54	1,317	497	1,605·44	605	53	633·16	424	378·33
1982	2,683	347	2,901·12	1,312	555	1,636·78	612	64	645·78	426	388·87
1983	2,717	342	2,932·25	1,298	556	1,621·27	608	83	652·96	431	397·74
1984	2,650	332	2,860·00	1,224	576	1,564·59	633	85	677·97	446	410·13
1985	2,688	312	2,885·74	1,191	577	1,533·18	659	95	709·29	449	413·80
1986	2,636	318	2,833·52	1,176	587	1,528·06	664	118	727·23	424	390·66
1987	2,663	301	2,856·73	1,132	591	1,487·66	653	105	708·05	392	359·30
1988	2,629	305	2,821·10	1,065	609	1,426·14	719	124	787·24	416	380·42

Hospital Closures

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each year since 1979 (a)

Year	Eastern	Northern	Southern	Western
1979	—	—	—	—
1980	—	—	—	—
1981	Malone Place	—	Newry General	—
1982	—	Mary Ranken	—	—
	—	Ratheane	—	—
1983	—	Hopefield	—	—
1984	—	—	—	—
1985	Quoile	—	—	—
1986	Claremont St	Sir Thomas and	Bannvale	Strabane GP
	Samaritan	Lady Dixon	Drumarg House	Maternity Unit
	Templemore Ave			Roe Valley GP
	Haypark	—	—	Maternity Unit
1987	—	—	Moira	—
1988	Cultra House	Carrickfergus	Tower Hill GP	St. Columbs Co
	—	Smiley	Maternity Unit	Hospital
	—	Cushendall	Banbridge GP	—
	—	—	Maternity Unit	—
1989	Lissue	—	—	Anderson House GP Maternity Unit

(b) There are no records of partial closures in Northern Ireland until last year, when a partial closure of Dalriada hospital in the northern board area was affected.

Capital Projects (Health Boards)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of each capital project costing more than £1 million (a) actually under construction and (b) at the proposal or planning stage; if

each hospital closed completely and (b) each hospital closed partially; and if he will break that list down by each health board.

(a) The information is set out in the table:he will give the estimated date of completion for each project; and if he will break this list down by each health board.

The answer is as follows:

(a) Schemes under construction
	Planned Completion date
Northern Board
Holywell Hospital, Antrim—refurbishment of fire safety systems	November 1990
New 313-bed Acute Hospital, Antrim	January 1993
Southern Board
Provision of a new 72-bed Geriatric Unit and 30-place Day Centre, Armagh	June 1989
Eastern Board
Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast—new block	October 1989
Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children— refurbishment of wards	June 1989
Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast—provision of a new 72-bed Geriatric Unit	January 1990
Western Board
Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, Omagh— upgrading of mechanical and engineering services	December 1990

(b) Schemes in planning:

Southern Board

St. Lukes Hospital, Armagh—provision of new Psychogeriatric Unit
105 place Adult Training Centre for the mentally handicapped, Armagh
105 place Adult Training Centre for the mentally handicapped, Newry

Eastern Board

Area Store
Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast—extension of cardiac surgery facilities
Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast—Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Ulster Hospital, Dundonald—extension of out-patients department; provision of laboratory facilities; X-ray facilities
Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast—upgrading of engineering services
Belfast City Hospital—external works
Edgcumbe Adult Training Centre, Belfast

Western Board

Gransha Hospital, Londonderry—provision of 120-bed Geriatric unit

(c) Other schemes proposed and being considered:

Northern Board

Whiteabbey Hospital—72-bed ward unit
New Antrim Hospital—Laboratory facilities

Southern Board

Area Store

Eastern Board

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service—replacement accommodation
Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast—new laboratories accommodation
Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

—replacement theatres and intensive care unit
—refurbishment of Out-Patients and A and E Department

The priority of all major schemes not under construction is currently under review and it is not possible at this stage to give planned completion dates for these schemes.

Health And Social Services (Expenditure)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each year since 1979 the total health and personal social sevices (a) current expenditure (gross) and (b) capital expenditure (net); and if he will give those totals adjusted by the HCHS pay and price deflator.

The table sets out gross current and net capital expenditure on health and personal social services in cash terms for the period from 1978–79 to 1988–89. The HCHS pay and prices deflator is an index of inflationary pressures on current expenditure in the hospital and community health services alone. It would be inappropriate, therefore, to apply the index to the total health and personal social services expenditure.

Year	Current¹Expenditure (Gross) million	Capital¹Expenditure (Net) million
1978–79	304	22
1979–80	369	26
1980–81	477	25
1981–82	540	26
1982–83	588	25
1983–84	634	26
1984–85	667	26
1985–86	701	24
1986–87	750	28
1987–88	810	30
1988–89¹	892	32
¹ Estimated Outturn.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much advertising air time his office purchased with each commercial television company in each of the last five years.

(holding answer 15 May 1989): Information on television advertisements in the form requested is commercially confidential.

Education And Science

Student Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many higher education students are in (a) full-time and (b) part-time study at (i) universities; (ii) polytechnics and (iii) other higher education institutions; what were the comparable numbers five, 10, 15 and 20 years ago; what is his estimate of parallel future numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Information is shown on the following table. Long-term projections were published in November 1986 in "Projections of Demand for Higher Education in Great Britain 1986–2000". The projections are regularly updated and the most recently published ones are given in the public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 612.

Students in higher education in Great Britain
Thousands
Academic year beginning	Universities excluding the OU		Open University	Higher education in Polytechnics and colleges
	Full-time	Part-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Actual
1967	200	18	n/a	179	125
1972	239	23	41	234	116
1977	281	27	66	229	¹134
1982	295	34	75	258	189
1987	305	41	86	303	233
¹ Relates to 1975.

n/a = Not applicable. The OU first admitted students in 1970.

National Curriculum

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has plans to increase the numbers of schools inspectors in connection with the establishment and operation of the national curriculum.

There are no plans to increase the number of Her Majesty's inspectors, but education support grant, made available by the Department, will support an increase in local education authority inspectors. Grant will support the appointment of one additional inspector by each LEA, except ILEA, in 1989–90. It is intended to make further support available up to 1993–94, resulting in a 10 per cent. increase on present numbers.

Higher Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were in higher education in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the comparative figure in 1978–79.

There were 968,000 students in higher education in Great Britain in 1987–88, compared with 766,000 in 1978–79.

Higher Education (Principals' Salaries)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the gross salaries of the principals of each of the public sector higher education institutions (i) on 1 January and (ii) on 1 May.

By public sector higher education institutions I assume that the hon. Member is referring to institutions funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.The Department collects information each autumn on the salaries of individual directors and principals of PCFC institutions as part of the administration of the teachers superannuation scheme and for statistical purposes. However, publication of the information, which is collected purely for pensions and statistical purposes, would be incompatible with the terms on which it is registered under the Data Protection Act 1984.

Teachers' Pay Award

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects local education authorities to begin paying the 1989–90 teachers' pay award to teachers.

Many teachers are likely to receive their salary increases by the end of May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to sign the necessary orders to bring the 1989–90 teachers' pay award into operation.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make the order by the end of May.

Geological Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to reduce or withdraw direct funding to the British geological survey in relation to its core programme of long-term projects; and if he will make a statement.

Funding of the British geological survey is the responsibility of the Natural Environment Research Council from the council's allocation from the science budget. In my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 7 November 1988 at columns 2–3, he announced that he had made available in 1989–90 an additional £3 million for the NERC for the BGS core programme, with planning additions of £4 million and £5 million for the following two years. He also said that further work was needed to define the survey's core programme, having regard to the priority needs of users and to examine the financial funding arrangements, including the charges for goods and services. This further work will be taken into account in this year's public expenditure survey.

Animal Encephalopathies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of any research, past or current into the transmissibility of animal encephalopathies to man; and if he will make a statement.

Research relevant to the possible transmissibility of animal encephalopathies to man has been reviewed in the report of the working party on bovine spongiform encephalopathy, chaired by Sir Richard Southwood, and published in February 1989. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Bushloe High School

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the staff and governors of Bushloe high school, Wigston Magna, Leicester, on the key issues in the Education Reform Act 1988; and if he will ensure that there is no delay in the publication dates of certain key information packs, particularly those related to the science curriculum.

On 19 May, I received a letter forwarded by my hon. Friend from the head teacher of Bushloe high school, supporting the 1988 Act and seeking early delivery of certain National Curriculum Council publications. I will be replying to him shortly. Our aim is to equip schools with the necessary material as far as possible in advance of implementation of the national curriculum requirements. The statutory documents for science were laid before Parliament in March and then distributed to schools. The council's complementary non-statutory guidance for teachers is being printed and should be sent direct to all schools around the end of May.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Common Agricultural Policy

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a provisional esimate of common agricultural policy market support expenditure in 1988–89.

Provisional outturn for class IV, vote 1, is £180 million, which is a saving of £379 million against the supply estimate provision. Excess appropriations in aid of £507 million are being surrendered to the Consolidated Fund. The total expenditure provision, which is-expressed net of receipts for intervention sales and levies etc. in the supply estimate was £1,552 million, while estimated outturn was £1,173 million. The outturn figures on a commodity basis are:

£ million
	Supply-estimate	Outturn	Difference
Cereals	350	195	-15
Milk	295	124	-171
Beef	244	190	-54
Oilseeds	176	178	+2
Sheep	228	265	+37
Sugar	148	117	-31
Others	112	105	-7
Total	¹1,552	¹1,173	-379
¹ Total figures do not equate because of roundings.

A number of external factors, such as market prices, levels of production, exchange rates and trade volumes affect expenditure on this vote. The more significant factors affecting expenditure in 1988–89 were the drought in the United States, the increasing strength of sterling and lower than expected cereals yields in the United Kingdom in 1987 and 1988.The largest savings were on purchases into intervention of cereals (£147 million), following two successive relatively low United Kingdom cereals harvests, and butter (£107 million). The reduction in butter purchases can be attributed to additional savings to those forecast as a result of the policy changes made to the milk regime in December 1986, which had a greater impact on intervention than had been anticipated. The other major saving in total expenditure arose from £98 million additional receipts for sales out of intervention of cereals, butter and beef. The excess appropriations in aid largely consisted of receipts from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund for depreciation of new stocks on entry to intervention and for depreciation of old intervention stocks which took effect from 1 October 1988.

Fishing Vessels

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to re-introduce a scheme of de-commissioning of fishing vessels under EEC regulation No. 4028/86; and if he will make a statement.

The reintroduction of a decommissioning grants scheme is one of a number of options which could contribute towards a reduction in the size of our fishing fleet, but before we would be prepared to consider such a step we would need to be satisfied that it would provide value for taxpayers' money and that there were no better alternatives.

Hedgerows

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how may farmers have sought his Department's advice on hedgerow management in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The information requested is not available.

Business Initiatives

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what future initiatives he is planning to implement the policies outlined in, "Lifting the Burden" and "Building Businesses … not Barriers"; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's current work programme on these policies is set out in paragraphs 6.11.1 to 6.11.7 of the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise". In addition, MAFF is actively participating in the wider initiatives described in "Releasing Enterprise", notably the programme for improving understanding between Government and business and the deregulation rolling review programmes, the first of which was announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs in his written reply of 31 January. More generally, my Department aims to promote efficient and competitive agriculture, sea fisheries and food and drink manufacturing and distribution industries by encouraging enterprise and better regulation, better relationships and better service.

Deregulation

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the initiatives he has taken to implement the policies outlined in "Lifting the Burden" and "Building Businesses … not Barriers"; and if he will make a statement.

The contribution of my Department to the Government's deregulation policy since the publication of "Lifting the Burden" and "Building Businesses … not Barriers" is set out in the progress report on deregulation "Encouraging Enterprise" published in May 1987 and in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" published in November 1988.

Tobacco (Ec)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the amount spent by the EEC in subsidising the production of tobacco and in storing and disposing of surplus production; what were the comparable totals in each of the

Year	Total Cost	Premia		Export Refunds		Intervention
	(mecu)	(mecu)	per cent.	(mecu)	per cent.	(mecu)	per cent
1984	776	712	92	36	4	28	4
1985	863	819	95	32	4	12	1
1986	782	734	94	32	4	16	2
1987	804	734	91	43	6	27	3
1988	966	895	93	43	4	28	3
¹1989	1,033	911	88	49	5	73	7
¹ estimate

The Council of Ministers has approved the Commission's proposal for an agricultural stabiliser system for tobacco, which will reduce prices and premiums for the 1989 and 1990 harvests by up to 15 per cent. If prescribed levels of production are exceeded. We have keenly supported this development, which is in line with our policy of seeking to reduce expenditure on this regime through reorientation of production away from the less-marketable and higher tar varieties.

Scrapie

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department was first notified of the existence of a scrapie-like disease occurring in cattle.

Through the animal health surveillance activities and the vigilance and expertise of veterinary scientists at MAFF veterinary investigation centres and the Central Veterinary Laboratory, bovine spongiform encephalopathy was first identified as an entity in November 1986 Research carried out between CVL and the neuropathogenesis unit in Edinburgh has confirmed that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is similar to a group of spongiform encephalopathies, including scrapie in sheep.

Tyrrell Committee

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the work currently being undertaken under the auspices of the Tyrrell committee.

The Committee was set up to advise on the research work now in progress and on the future priorities for research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The Government will be considering the committee's conclusions in due course.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence to suggest that spongiform encephalopathies in animals can be identified by post-mortem histological examination prior to the onset of clinical signs in the live animal.

The research consultative committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. David Tyrrell, is currently considering various research projects including

past five years; and if he has received any proposal from the EEC Commission designed to reduce the expenditure in the tobacco industry.

Expenditure on the CAP tobacco regime as requested is as follows:a proposal to investigate the relationship between the onset of clinical symptoms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the occurrence of lesions in the brain.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the incidence of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in each county of England and Wales for the four week period ended 19 May.

The information is given in the table.

County	Confirmed cases
Avon	13
Bedfordshire	4
Berkshire	8
Buckinghamshire	6
Cambridgeshire	1
Cheshire	14
Cleveland	1
Clwyd	6
Cornwall	35
Cumbria	6
Derbyshire	5
Devonshire	41
Dorset	49
Dyfed	24
Essex	3
Glamorgan South	3
Gloustershire	18
Gwent	6
Gwynedd	3
Hampshire	13
Herefordshire and Worcestershire	9
Hertfordshire	2
Humberside	3
Ise of Wight	5
Kent	12
Lancashire	5
Leicestershire	8
Lincolnshire	5
Norfolk	5
Northmptonshire	5
Nottinghamshire	3
Oxfordshire	10
Powys	4
Shropshire	10
Somerset	38
Surrey	8
Staffordshire	10
Suffolk	4
Sussex East	9
Sussex West	7
Warwickshire	3
Wiltshire	34
Yorkshire North	12
Yorkshire West	1

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the existence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United States of America.

I am not aware that any cases of BSE have been recorded in the United States of America.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations or procedures are currently in force in the United Kingdom to ensure that meat and bone meal contaminated with the agent responsible for the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom is not exported to other countries for inclusion in cattle rations.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 8 March, at column 533.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received concerning the level of infectiousness of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle prior to the onset of clinical symptoms of the disease.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21 March, at column 513–4.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he, or any of his Ministers, were advised prior to the publication of the Southwood report, by any member of the Southwood committee that 75 per cent. was the appropriate level of compensation in respect of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

No.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tests his Department has conducted during the last 12 months on samples of animal protein for use in cattle rations.

The Ministry conducts a wide range of analyses on animal protein to assess nutritional values or levels of contamination. Those carried out on protein for use in cattle feeds cannot be separately identified.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring or testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy is now being conducted on the progeny of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle; and whether he has any intention of introducing controls on the movement of such progeny.

The Ministry has taken powers to control the movement of progeny, though I have no plans to use these powers at present. The identities of the progeny of affected animals are being recorded, which will enable further investigations to be made if any of these are subsequently notified as suspect cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The Ministry has also accepted the recommendation of the Southwood working party that a study be carried out to determine whether maternal transmission can take place.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cases confirmed to date in each of his Departments veterinary investigation centres.

Before bovine spongiform encephalopathy became a notifiable disease on 21 June last year, histopathological examinations of brains from suspected animals were carried out at the Ministry's central veterinary laboratory, Weybridge, and at other Ministry establishments. Since 21 June last year, diagnoses have been carried out at nine veterinary investigation centres. The number of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy confirmed by each centre is as follows:

	Number
Cambridge	466
Carmarthen	487
Newcastle	132
Polwhele	663
Reading	491
Shrewsbury	654
Starcross	497
Thirsk	552
Wye	66

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether bovine spongiform encephalopathy has yet been reported in any European Economic Community member state other than the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

No.

Animal Products

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all those products sold to the general public during the past 20 years derived from animals being treated with pharmaceutical products under an animal test certificate granted under the Medicines Act but prior to the granting of a product licence.

Since animal test certificates were introduced in 1971, trials have been authorised in all major animal species. Products from such animals will have been marketed except when it was a condition of the ATC that they should not be.

Slaughterhouses

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the recommendations of the Preston report on conditions in slaughterhouses and the action taken by his Department in respect of each.

Copies of the report and of the Government's response, which was announced on 15 October 1987, have been placed in the Library of the House.Of the recommendations which the Government accepted, meat inspection procedures in non-exporting and exporting plants were broadly aligned by the Meat Inspection Regulations 1987 and the Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1987. We have already announced that ante-mortem inspection of animals in non-exporting premises is to be introduced from 1 January 1991. The system of regional liaison meetings envisaged in the report has been established and is proving to be of value.In accordance with Community measures which have been adopted since the publication of the Government's response to the report, new arrangements for meat inspection charges are to be introduced from 1 January 1991. The Community has also agreed on arrangements for collecting information on diseases found at slaughterhouses which should be passed back to those resonsible for production. Detailed rules for the implementation of these arrangements throughout the EC have yet to be determined. The Commission is developing proposals on the duties and qualifications of inspection personnel in slaughterhouses. Further measures to align standards in all plants will be developed, having regard to decisions in Brussels on the arrangements to be adoped for the completion of the single market.

Ruminant Feedstuffs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to enforce his ban on the inclusion of ruminant derived protein in cattle rations.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9 March, column 620.

Icelandic Fish

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to monitor the quality of containered and fresh Icelandic fish imported into the United Kingdom; and to what European Community standards of grading it is subject.

Fresh and chilled fish imported into the United Kingdom is required to be graded in accordance with Council regulation (EEC) No. 103/76 as amended, which lays down common standards covering size and freshness grades for the main species marketed in the Community.Our sea fisheries inspectorate checks that fresh and chilled Icelandic fish displayed for sale by auction at ports is in accordance with the Community's grading requirements. Also, the local port health authorities separately monitor the quality of fish for public health purposes.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of fish landed and sold at Lowestoft, Hull, Grimsby, Peterhead and Aberdeen for February, March and April has come from Icelandic container vessels.

While sales of Icelandic container fresh and chilled fish are recorded at Hull and Grimsby, where the bulk of such fish is marketed, the percentage figure requested cannot be derived from available information.

Porcine Somatotropin

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he authorised the sale for public consumption of animal products produced with the aid of porcine somatotropin under an experimental licence.

[holding reply 18 May 1989]: No. It was a condition of the animal test certificate that no treated animals were to be offered for slaughter for human consumption.

Veterinary Staff

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vacancies there have been at the veterinary officer grade in each service in each of the last 10 years.

[holding answer 18 May 1989]: The number of vacancies at veterinary officer grade in the Ministry's state veterinary service in each of the last 10 years is:

	Number
1980	50	(9)
1981	40	(7)
1982	37	(2)
1983	42	(—)
1984	47	(1)
1985	61	(1)
1986	58	(3)
¹1987	21	(5)
1988	21½	(3)
1989	27½	(7)

Notes:

(a) Figures in brackets relate to the veterinary investigation service, which is part of the state veterinary service.

¹ Agricultural Development and Advisory Service economies and improvements in efficiency announced in 1986 included a reduction of posts in the state veterinary service.

Environment

Sea Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has issued any guidelines to local authorities in England which border onto the Irish sea concerning the reduction of pollution levels in that sea.

No. The control of most land-based discharges of pollutants entering the sea is the primary responsibility of water authorities in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to ban all dumping at sea of raw sewage and dangerous chemical wastes; and if he will make a statement.

The disposal of waste at sea from ships, other than operational discharges, is licensed by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to take place only where he is satisfied that disposal will not put at risk the marine environment. Similar responsibilities are exercised by the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.In the case of industrial waste, following the second North sea conference in London in November 1987, hosted by my right hon. Friend. the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Government's guidance note on implementation of the declaration announced a review of all outstanding licences. Ths review is being carried out jointly by the Fisheries Departments and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to examine whether there are practicable disposal options for the waste on land. So far, 20 approvals for dumping of liquid industrial waste have been reviewed in detail and either withdrawn or the company has indicated a firm intention to terminate. In the case of the remaining 10 approvals, further discussions are now under way into the practicability of disposal on land without causing harm.

In the case of sewage, licences are granted only for the dumping of sewage sludge, and only in cases where, having considered land-based alternatives, it has been assessed as representing the best practicable environmental option. In line with the ministerial declaration of the second North sea conference, the United Kingdom is implementing restrictions on the loads of persistent toxic substances in sludge to ensure that their total quantities do not exceed the levels discharged in 1987.

Child Abuse

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing, for each local authority in England functioning as a social services authority, the amount by which its rate support grant for the year 1989–90 was increased to take account of its need for resources to cope with the increase in child abuse referrals.

Rate support grant is unhypothecated and provides support for local authority spending on all services. It is not possible to show how much RSG is paid in support of a particular aspect of social services provision. RSG is, however, distributed in accordance with the Government's assessment of individual local authorities' need to spend, including their need to spend on all aspects of social services. Provision for local authority current expenditure on social services for children aged 0 to 17 for 1989–90 is £1,201 million, an increase of £120 million, 11·1 per cent., over provision for 1988–89. In addition, this year the aggregate of Exchequer grant paid to local authorities includes a specific grant of £7 million to support the costs of training social services staff working with children and their families.

Playing Fields

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to safeguard playing fields: and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities are generally best placed to make judgments on land use and are primarily responsible for making such decisions in their own area. In exceptional circumstances the Secretary of State for the Environment may choose to intervene but only where issues of more than local importance are involved. Nevertheless, the Government have urged local authorities to take into account the needs of the wider community and to consult local sport and recreation interests before allowing recreational land to be developed.

Community Charge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the notional community charge for the London borough of Ealing; what was the notional community charge for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Illustrative community charges have been published for 1985–86 to 1988–89. The figures for Ealing (disregarding the transitional safety net) are

	£
1985–86	172
1986–87	164
1987–88	278
1988–89	234

The figure for 1988–89 is, of course, affected by rate capping.

Un Environment Convention

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to implement in his Department the United Nations environment programme global convention.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 10 May at columns 433–4.

Air Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the resources requirement of local authorities for the new controls over air pollution.

The consultation paper issued in December 1986 estimated that the new local authority system would add £0·5 million to current expenditure. This recognised that the system would involve a reallocation of resources within environmental health departments. These departments are already responsible for control of air pollution from most of the processes involved, but have to use the less satisfactory combination of clear air and statutory nuisance controls. In April this year the Department issued a consultation paper on cost revovery charging for integrated polluton control (IPC). This paper proposed introducing a charging system for local authority control of air pollution compatible with the charges to be made by HMIP for exercising IPC. The volume of local authority resouces needed will be reviewed further in the light of responses received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what preparations are in hand to ensure effective implementation of the new controls over air pollution.

The national air pollution inspectorates are already well equipped to implement their part of the proposed new system. As for the local authority part, a committee representing local authority associations and national pollution inspectorates (IPLA) has been set up to provide guidance to local authorities on the proposed new air pollution controls and to ensure consistency of enforcement both among local authorities and between them and the national inspectorates. It will also advise on related matters, such as training. A local authority unit has been set up within HMIP to service IPLA and to prepare authoritative guidance on the control of particular processes.

Pollution Inspectorate

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the resource needs of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution for integrated pollution control.

Preliminary assessment of the resources necessary for integrated pollution control suggested that the net increase solely attributable to integration would be in the order of three additional inspectors and two support staff. We expect there to be a temporary increase in the workload on the inspectorate whilst the new system is introduced. We will continue to keep under review the objectives of the inspectorate and the level of resources required to fulfil its functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an up to date list of the present offices of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, together with the addresses and telephone numbers of the new regional offices and outstations.

The present offices of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are as follows:

Addresses of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution Offices

Headquarters
Romney House
43 Marsham Street
LONDON SW1P 3PY

276 3000

Radioactive Substances Regional Offices

Mitre House
Church Street
LANCASTER LA1 1BG
0524 382100
Berkeley House
Croydon Street
BRISTOL BS5 ODA
0271 350412/3
New Crown Buildings
Cathays Park
CARDIFF CF1 3NQ
0222 825111 Ext 3175

Air District Offices

Vincent House
1st Floor
2 Woodland Road
Darlington
0325 380635
(Includes sampling laboratory)
Woodside House
261 Low Lane
Horsforth
Leeds LS18 5TW
0532 581099
Sovereign House
40 Silver Street
Sheffield S1 2ES
0742 700459
1st Floor
Viking House
98 Newland Road
Lincoln LN1 1YY
0522 512566
Ansaphone (0522 20968)
14 Cardiff Road
Luton
Bedfordshire LU1 1PP
0582 424240
39 Baddow Road
Chelmsford CM2 0HL
0245 490473
Victoria House
Ormskirk Road
Preston PR1 1HH
0772 202322
Gateway House
86 Northgate Street

Chester
0244 40939
McLaren Buildings
2 Masshouse Circus
Queensway
Birmingham
021 236 7674
3 East Grinstead House
London Road
East Grinstead
West Sussex RH19 1RR
Brunel House
2 Fitzalen Road
Cardiff CF2 ITT
0222 497702
Inter City House
Mitchell Lane
Victoria Street
Bristol BS1 6AN
0272 277732

Sampling Laboratories

Sampling and analysis of emissions to air

Luton
14 Cardiff Road
Luton
Beds LU1 1PP
0582 34121
Cardiff
Spur 'L'
Government Buildings
Ty Glas
Llanishen
Cardiff CF4 5XW
0222 766996 Ext 2208
Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Marches House
Midway
Newcastle-under-Lyne
Staffs ST5 1DT
0782 711113

We are currently reorganising the fieldforce of HMIP on an integrated basis to produce a much more effective deployment of resources. A three region structure is being developed covering the north, south west and south east, in each of which there will be a regional headquarters' office. The existing air district offices will initially be retained as outstations of the regional offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an update of the current staffing list of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution including administrative support.

On 31 March 1989, 194 staff were in post in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. Their grades are as follows:

	Number
Grade 3 director	1
Grade 4 deputy director	1
Chief inspector (air)¹	1
Deputy chief inspector (air)¹	2
Grade 6	7
District inspector (air)¹	13
Grade 7 professional	30

	Number
Grade 7 administration	6
Inspector (air)¹	24
Senior scientific officer-Senior professional and technical officer	16
Senior executive officer	6
Higher executive officer	12
Higher scientific officer	5
Executive officer	16
Scientific officer	4
Administrative officer	22
Administrative assistant	8
Senior personal secretary	1
Personal secretary	²16½
Typist	²2½
Total	194
¹ Denotes departmental grade inherited from the Health and Safety Executive.
² Includes part-time staff.

Water Privatisation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are for informing local authorities of their responsibilities for monitoring water quality after privatisation.

We propose to issue a circular to local authorities in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from manufacturing industries regarding possible effects of privatisation of the water industry on manufacturing industry; what matters of concern they have expressed; and if he will make a statement.

Organisations representing manufacturing industry, including the Confederation of British Industry, have commented on a wide range of water privatisation matters, which are being considered in the context of the Water Bill currently before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the subject of water charges following privatisation of the water industry.

Most of the letters that the Department has received about charges after privatisation have sought clarification about the arrangements that will apply.

Standing Charges (Water)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when he next meets the chairmen of the water authorities, he will urge them to abolish standing charges on water bills for pensioner customers.

No. It is for the water authorities themselves to determine how they structure their charges.Pensioners on low incomes are more appropriately assisted through income support.

Toxic Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received following (a) the publication of the Select Committee on the Environment report on toxic waste and (b) the publication of the Government's response to that report; and if he will make a statement.

None, apart from requests as to the publication date of the response.

Football Spectators (Identity Cards)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters or other communications he has now received from the general public about the football spectators identity card scheme proposal; arid if he will make a statement.

By 16 May I had received 1,522 letters from hon. and right hon. Members, most of which included letters from their constituents, and 4,020 representations directly from members of the general public, about the national membership scheme.

Methyl Chloroform And Carbon Tetrachloride

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals his Department has for controls on the production and use of the compounds methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride; and if he will make a statement.

Although methyl chloroform is significantly less damaging to ozone than the chorofluorocarbons (CFCs), its world-wide production is greater than for any single CFC. Production of carbon tetrachloride is lower, but its potential to deplete ozone is greater than that of the CFCs. Review panels on the science and effects of ozone depletion and on the technical and economic implications of controls are due to report later this year to the parties to the Montreal protocol, who will decide at their meeting in London next year on measures to strengthen the protocol, including the possible inclusion of additional substances.

Methanes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has commissioned any studies on the effects of methane on humans.

The Department plans to commence a two-year study this year on health risks associated with landfill practices, which will include the effects of methane.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will visit the Barky Thorpe road site in Leicester to discuss proposals to excavate methane generating rubbish.

There are no plans to visit this site. Such matters are the responsibility of the local planning and waste disposal authorities.

Bridge Street (Subway)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's responsibilities for the subway under Bridge street.

The subway is leased by the Department to Westminster city council, which is responsible for its care and maintenance. I understand that the council is considering what works may be needed to stop water seeping into the subway. I will ensure that the h on. Member's concerns about the lack of cleanliness are drawn to the city council's attention.

Water Authorities (Land)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what area and proportion of the land owned by regional water authorities was compulsorily purchased.

This information is not available centrally.

Sea Mammals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has assessed the risk of the bottle-nosed dolphin and the harbour porpoise disappearing as breeding species in British coastal waters; and whether the level of harmful chemicals existing in the bodies of those remaining is the major cause of this decline.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: Available evidence based on sightings and strandings of these species, including that compiled by the United Kingdom cetacean group, indicates that there has been a decline in these species in United Kingdom coastal waters. It is not possible to say how far pollutants or other factors such as changes in fish stocks may have contributed to this. The Department of the Environment, together with other interested Departments and agencies, is considering further research to improve our knowledge of the questions.

National Finance

Recruiting Policies

78.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has made into the effectiveness of the recruiting policies adopted by (a) national savings and (b) other similar agencies.

My right hon. Friend keeps Civil Service recruitment policy under continuous review.

Privatisation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state in current prices the total proceeds to the Exchequer from privatisation since 1979; and if he will estimate the likely proceeds from the privatisation of the water and electricity industries.

The net proceeds for privatisation since May 1979 amount to some £24½ billion. This is £25·7 billion in 1987–88 prices (using the GDP deflator, which is not yet available for 1988–89 prices).The proceeds and costs relating to the privatisation of the water and electricity industries will be announced in due course in the usual way.

Passenger Ferries (Safety)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what balancing charges he expects to recover from the seven passenger ferries which do not comply with the enhanced safety standards, and which their owners have declared to be uneconomic to repair.

I cannot comment on the tax affairs of particular individuals or companies.

Balancing charges are made to recover tax relief given for depreciation of a business asset which turns out to be greater than the depreciation actually experienced. The need to make such a charge depends on the precise circumstances of each case and, in particular, on whether the disposal value exceeds any expenditure on the ship which remains unrelieved for tax purposes.

Lloyd's Underwriters

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of indexed securities which fall within the provision of schedule 11 of the Finance Bill was purchased by Lloyd's Underwriters in 1986 and 1987 respectively.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: Schedule 11 of the Finance Bill does not apply to securities disposed of or redeemed before 14 March 1989 or to gilts issued before that date. On the information and advice currently available, the Inland Revenue are not aware of any indexed securities purchased by Lloyd's underwriters in 1986 and 1987 which are chargeable to income tax under the provisions of schedule 11.

Energy

Fluid Burning

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what investigations or studies have been carried out by his Department into the Swedish fluid burning systems.

My Department is aware of the main technical features of the Swedish fluidised bed combustion systems. It keeps in touch with the retrofit projects at small older power stations in Spain and the United States of America, and with progress with the Vartan plant in Stockholm, which combines power generation and district heating.

Amazonian Rain Forest

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his replies, Official Report, 10 April, columns 563–64, if he will make a statement on the results of his meetings with the President of Electrobras on positive British co-operation with Brazil on problems of power station transmission, construction of nuclear power stations between Sao Paolo and Rio, and measures to protect the ecology of the Brazilian Amazonian rain forest.

At my meeting with the President of Electrobras, I explained the United Kingdom's plans for electricity privatisation and experiences in energy efficiency and offered further discussions with officials in my Department. Electrobras has not yet had an opportunity to take up this offer.

Potassium Iodate Stocks

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the total cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of its current replacement programme of potassium iodate stocks at power stations; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the CEGB and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Gentleman direct.

Bold Power Station

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent cannisters containing radioactive waste are stored at Bold power station; and if he will make a statement.

I have been advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that no canisters containing radioactive waste are stored at Bold coal-fired power station. However, on occasions new uncontaminated transport flasks are stored on the site prior to their transportation to nuclear power stations sites.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide as much information as possible about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising, without breaching commercal confidentiality, over each of the past five years.

Expenditure by my Department on television advertising over the last five years has been as follows:

	£ million
1988–89	nil
1987–88	nil
1986–87	¹16·3
1985–86	2·2
1984–85	1·3
¹ This includes expenditure of £13·5 million on the flotation of British Gas. All other expenditure in this and prior years is in connection with the energy efficiency campaign.

Director General Of Electricity Supply

To ask the Secretary of State for Department of Energy if he will make a statement about the appointment of the Director General of Electricity Supply.

Subject to Parliament approving the Electricity Bill, I and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland intend to appoint Professor Stephen Littlechild, currently head of the department of industrial economics and business studies at the University of Birmingham, to be the Director General of Electricity Supply. His formal appointment will be made as soon as possible after Royal Assent and will run initially for a period of five years.The Director General will have a key role in making the privatised industry function in a competitive, customer sensitive way. He will be responsible for the price control formulae which will govern the supply and transmission of electricity. He will have a particular duty to promote the efficient use of electricity, reflected in a specific condition in the public electricity supply companies' licences. He will have a duty to foster competition and prevent discrimination. He must ensure that the relevant provisions of the Electricity Bill and various licences are observed and, if necessary, modified. He will be responsible for the consumer protection and representation arrangements, and for the electricity meter examining service which will be transferred to the Office of Electricity Regulation from my Department. He will also monitor the non-fossil fuel obligation and the operation of the fossil fuel levy in England and Wales.

Professor Littlechild has extensive experience of regulatory issues both in the United Kingdom and abroad. He has worked on the regulatory regime for British Telecom, has been a member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for six years, and has a wide knowledge of regulatory systems both here and in the United States of America. He is admirably qualified for the post and my right hon. and learned Friend and I are very happy that he has accepted the job.

Overseas Development

Cyprus

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds), Official Report, 9 May 1989, column 361, he will take steps to ensure that in future information is collected as to the destination and purpose of assistance given by the United Nations and its agencies to the different communities in Cyprus.

United Nations agencies generally work through the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. It would not be realistic to seek a breakdown of the benefit of United Nations programmes to the Turkish Cypriot community. However, some programmes specifically directed toward this community are listed on page 121 of the "Register of Development Activities of the United Nations System, 1987," a copy of which is in the Library.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to respond positively to calls for Her Majesty's Government to increase financial support for the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

The Government regard the Commonwealth Development Corporation's operations as an important part of Britain's overall development effort overseas, particularly in relation to the private sector. I propose to increase the level of aid loan support for the CDC by £21 million from £49 million in 1988–89 to £70 million this financial year; £20 million of this will be additional to the existing agreed aid provision.

Prime Minister

General Practitioners

To ask the Prime Minister if the Jarman index is to be applied to Wales in the proposed general practitioners' contract.

This is currently being discussed between the Welsh Office and representatives of the medical profession.

Government Information Officers (Code Of Ethics)

To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons she will not publish in the Official Report the text of Mr. Ingham's letter to Ms. Elizabeth Jenkins on a code of ethics for Government information officers.

It is not my usual practice to publish the official correspondence of members of my staff.

Trade And Industry

Footwear Imports

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what representations he has received from the British footwear manufacturers on proposals for action by the EEC Commission on imports from the far east; and if he will make a statement;(2) what information he has on the conclusions of the European Commission on the effects on Britain's footwear industry of the imports from the far east;(3) what steps he has taken through the Common Market to reduce imports from the far east into Britain.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list in the Official Report the steps he has taken in the last 12 months to reduce imports from far eastern sources that are causing damage to the United Kingdom footwear industry;

United Kingdom imports of footwear
£ million
						January	February	March
	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1989	1989
South Korea	28·3	28·0	33·0	50·9	76·2	6·8	6·8	6·8
Taiwan	51·2	49·2	47·1	69·9	74·6	7·7	7·2	6·5

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

Notes:

Footwear defined as Division 85 of Standard Internation Trade Classification Revisions 2 and 3.

1988 and 1989 data provisional.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list as a percentage, for each of the last 10 available years, imports of footwear into the United Kingdom as a proportion of all supplies to the home market.

Imports of footwear into the United Kingdom as a percentage of all supplies to the home market over the last 10 available years were as follows:

	Percentage
1978	30
1979	34
1980	35
1981	39
1982	42
1983	44
1984	47
1985	46
1986	45
1987	47

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the total level of imports of footwear from Taiwan (a) five years ago and (b) at the latest available date;(2) what was the total imports of footwear from Korea

(a) five years ago and (b) at the latest available date.

Imports of footwear from South Korea in 1984 were valued at £28·3 million; in the period January to March 1989, the latest information available, imports of footwear were valued at £20·4 million. For the

(2) what steps he is proposing to take to encourage EEC officials to come to a conclusion and take action in relation to cheap imports of footwear to the United Kingdom, particularly from the far east, which were investigated in 1988.

The European Commission has conducted a Community-wide investigation into imports of footwear from Taiwan and South Korea. I have pressed the Commission to report its findings at the earliest possible date and we will consider what action to take immediately the Commission's recommendations are known.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the level of imports of shoes from Korea to Britain for each year from 1984 to 1988 and for each month in 1989;(2) what was the level of imports of shoes from Taiwan to Britain for each year from 1984 to 1988 and for each month in 1989.

The information is given in the following table:same periods, imports of footwear from Taiwan were valued at: 1984, £51·2 million; January to March 1989, £21·4 million.

Brewing Industry

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, as part of his consideration of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer, he will make it his policy to consider the introduction of a discount on the market price to encourage licensees and tenants to purchase their pubs.

We are currently considering a wide range of representations being made on this report and will announce as soon as possible the action we propose to take.

Balance Of Payments

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the balance of payments; current, visible and in manufactures, between the United Kingdom and (a) the whole world and (b) the total European Community, for the year 1988; and what was the balance of trade in manufactured goods between the United Kingdom and (i) the whole world, (ii) the total European Community, (iii) each member country of the European Community, and (iv) Japan, for the year 1988.

Estimates on a balance of payments basis for the United Kingdom current account, visible trade, and trade in manufactures, for 1988 are as follows:

Balance of Payments £ billion
	Balances
	Current account	Visible trade	Manufactures
World	-14·7	-20·6	-14·4
European	Not yet
Community	available	-13·5	-12·6

The balances of trade in manufactured goods for 1988 were:

Table 2
Overseas trade statistics basis ¹, £ billion (provisional)
	£ billion
World	-17·3
European Community	-13·4
France	-1·1
Belgium and Luxembourg	-0·6
Netherlands	-1·9
Federal Republic of Germany	-8·7
Italy	-1·8
Irish Republic	+0·5
Denmark	-0·1
Greece	+0·2
Portugal	—
Spain	+;0·3
Japan	-4·9
¹ Exports fob less imports cif·

European Mortgage Services

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any complaints from the public concerning the collapse of European mortgage services; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: The Department did not itself receive any complaints from the public concerning European mortgage services before the company was wound up in the public interest on 10 May. Since the winding-up order was made, some 80 claims for the repayment of deposits required by the company have been received by the Official Receiver.

Building Societies

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he remains satisfied that building societies should remain outside the ambit of the Financial Services Act's investor protection provisions; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: Any building society which carries on investment business in the United Kingdom must be either an authorised person or an exempted person under the Financial Services Act. In this respect their position under the Act is identical to that of any other person carrying on investment business. Certain requirements imposed by the SIB and the self-regulating organisations recognised under the Act do not apply to building societies—for instance, those relating to financial supervision and the coverage of the compensation scheme. The application of such provisions is a matter for the board or the organisation concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to extend the Financial Services Act's investor protection provisions to cover building societies which become plcs under the Building Societies Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: A building society which becomes a plce and which carries on investment business is subject to the requirement to be authorised or exempted under the Financial Services Act in the same way as any other person carrying on investment business. The application to such societies of particular requirements of the SIB or a relevant self-regulating organisation recognised under the Act is a matter for the SIB or the organisation concerned.

Home Department

Human Rights

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to incorporate into British law article 10 of the European convention on human rights, which guarantees freedom of expression and information.

No. I am satisfied that compliance with the provisions of article 10 of the European convention on human rights presents no difficulty under existing British law.

Prisoners

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total (a) design capacity and (b) occupancy of all prisons in England and Wales; and if he will estimate to what length of sentence it would be necessary to go in order to reduce the number at (b) to that at (a) assuming that prisoners were released starting at those serving the shortest sentence and working towards those serving longer sentences.

ON 12 May, the total population of all prison service establishments in England and Wales was 49,100 and the total certified normal accommodation was 44,700—a difference of 4,400. On 31 March 1989, 3,900 sentenced inmates (10 per cent. of the total sentenced population) were serving sentences of six months or less.

Entry Visas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the Indian sub-continent have been refused entry to the United Kingdom because they did not have an entry visa since the change in the rules regarding visas in 1986.

Between November 1986 and March 1989 (the latest month for which figures are available) about 2,400 citizens of countries within the Indian sub-continent were refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom where the main or only reason for refusal was the absence of a visa.

Private Prisons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received on the possible effect that private prisons might have on the speed of new prison construction, efficiency, humane conditions and hygiene; and if he will make a statement.

A number of the submissions made in response to the Green Paper "Private Sector Involvement in the Remand System" (Cm. 434) contained evidence about claimed benefits from such involvement. In the course of their study, which led to their report to the Home Office, made public on 1 March, the management consultants Deloitte, Haskins and Sells carried out extensive research to determine whether private sector involvement on the lines envisaged would be viable and beneficial. They concluded that, on certain assumptions and subject to further examination of certain issues, private sector involvement in the operation of new remand centres would be feasible and could provide scope for the cost-effective provision of a better standard of service than that now obtained. As my right hon. Friend announced on 1 March at columns 277–8, further work is now in hand to test those findings.

Magistrates' Clerks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to alter the pay scales of magistrates' clerks.

The national pay scales for court clerks are a matter for the joint negotiating committee for magistrates courts staff.

Drug Trafficking

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.

The information available centrally, which may be incomplete, indicates that one person was convicted in 1987 under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986. In addition, in 1987 3,160 persons were convicted of drug trafficking offences under section 4(3) and 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Information for 1988 is not yet available.

Cosmetics (Tests On Animals)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the total number of (a) guinea pigs, (b) mice, (c) rabbits, (d) hamsters and (e) dogs used in cosmetic testing in each of the past five years.

The information requested is contained in table 2 (cosmetics and toiletries) of the annual "Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals, Great Britain" for the years 1983–86 inclusive (Cm. 9311, 9574, 9839 and Cm. 187), and in table 3 (cosmetics and toiletries) of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1987" (Cm. 515). Before 1987, hamsters were included in the classification "other rodents". Copies of all these publications are in the Library.

Passports

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will provide extra staff for the Liverpool passport office to clear the current backlog of applications;(2) if he will provide extra staff to ensure that people telephoning the Liverpool passport office have their calls answered.

Yes. Additional staff have been employed to help deal with the backlog, and the telephone system has been improved to increase the number of incoming calls that can be handled. A system of free two-year extensions to the life of expired passports is being introduced to help relieve the immediate problem.

Police Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police there were per 1,000 members of the population in 1959 and 1988.

The information, based on establishments of forces in England and Wales on 31 December 1988, is as follows:

Year	Police officers per 1,000 of population
1959	1·73
1988	2·46

Albany Prison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long Mr. Dean Miles (2672) has been held in the segregation unit at Albany prison; whether there is any intention of charging him with any criminal offence; and for what reason he is held there.

Mr. Miles was removed from the segregation unit at Albany prison on 3 May, when he was transferred to Wandsworth prison. It is for the prosecuting authorities to decide whether Mr. Miles will be charged with any criminal offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been held in the segregation unit at Albany prison for (a) three months or more, (b) four months or more, (c) five months or more and (d) six months or more.

During the past 12 months, the following numbers of prisoners at Albany have been removed from association with other prisoners in their own interests or in the interests of good order and discipline:

Period	Number
(a) for three to four months	8
(b) for four to five months	2
(c) for five to six months	2
(d) for six months or more	Nil

Of these, one prisoner at present in the segregation unit has been held there for just over three months.

Police (Exchange Of Information)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what general guidance has been given to chief officers of police by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, on the subject of the exchange of information on criminal cases on a police-to-police basis.

Home Office circular 17/1989, issued in February, provides guidance to the police on communication with police forces abroad. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Inform

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy, when reviewing grant-aid for INFORM, to refuse further funds if there is evidence of material supporting cults and material produced by cults being supplied to inquiriers without the source being disclosed;(2) if he will make it his policy, when reviewing grant-aid to INFORM, to refuse further funds if there is evidence of active support of cults by its members;(3) if he will make it his policy, when reviewing grant-aid for INFORM, to refuse further funds if there is evidence of its members accepting hospitality from cults;(4) what restrictions regarding involvement with cults were placed on its members when agreeing to grant-aid INFORM.

The grant paid to INFORM (Information Network Focus on Religious Movements) is to assist it in its work of providing impartial information about cults. No formal conditions relating to INFORM's operational methods have been attached to the payment of the grant. INFORM tells me that it has such contact with cults as is necessary to enable it to carry out its functions as a research and information network; such contacts may include accepting hospitality, but INFORM will accept no money from the cults and no members of the Governors or staff may be members of a cult. I do not therefore propose to introduce any formal conditions at this stage, but I shall continue to keep INFORM's performance under review.

Computers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the functions of the Home Office large major enquiry system.

The Home Office large major enquiry system is a computer system which was developed to assist the police service in the investigation of major crimes. A typical system consists of three modules: an index of names, addresses, telephones, vehicles categories and sequences of events; a document and action management system; a free text retrieval and typing system.Information can be exchanged between systems in different forces by means of tape transfer. The Home Office has set up a central facility which forces can use if an investigation outgrows the capacity of a force system.

Defence

Defence Export Services Organisation

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the staff of the Defence Export Services Organisation are seconded from industry; and what their functions in the organisation are.

There are four members of staff within the Defence Export Services Organisation who have been seconded from industry.

(a) The Head of Defence Export Services is responsible for undertaking all necessary actions within Whitehall and in our relations with other governments to encourage and promote the sale of British defence equipment overseas where these offer the prospect of benefits commensurate with the risks involved.

(b) The strategic planning officer is directly responsible to the Head of Defence Export Services for developing, co-ordinating and monitoring the Defence Export Services Organisation's planning activity and for providing aid, advice and assistance to British industry on strategic planning and on the long-term geographic opportunities in the world defence market.

(c) The post of international finance adviser exists to enhance the expertise of the Defence Export Services Organisation in the field of international credit arrangements for defence exports and thus contributes to the range of support provided by the Defence Export Services Organisation to overseas sales by the British defence industry.

(d) The business development adviser's central task is to advise the Defence Export Services Organisation on the methods of identifying and exploiting new opportunities for defence export business.

Women Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the two women in grades 1 to 4 are in grades 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

There is one woman in the Ministry of Defence at grade 3.

Teachers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to introduce formal union recognition arrangements for locally entered teachers employed on British bases in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Any claim that a union or staff association might make for formal recognition would be considered in the light of the Ministry of Defence's normal policy and criteria.

Junior Leaders

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on junior leaders who seek a discharge from the armed forces (a) during their period of service and (b) upon attaining their 18th birthday; and if he has any plans to review this policy.

Junior leaders have the right to claim their discharge free of cost at any time after 28 days and before the end of six months after joining for duty at their training units. If discharge is not claimed during this period, junior leaders are required to serve for a minimum of six years after their 18th birthdays. However, on reaching the age of 18, they are given the option to reduce their engagements to three years.Former junior leaders can apply for premature voluntary release on payment after completing three years service with their adult units. However, those who reduce their commitment to three years will not normally be released until they have honoured their reduced commitment in full.There are no plans at present to review this policy, which reflects both the requirement for stability in manning the Army and the need to ensure a return on the high costs of initial training.

Hms Cardiff

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the weapons carried on HMS Cardiff on her forthcoming courtesy visit to Cardiff.

It is not our practice to disclose the weapons carried on individual HM ships at specific times and locations.

Naval Accidents

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has for dealing with an accident involving any naval nuclear weapons in the course of non-operational activities including courtesy calls; and what specific arrangements apply to the port of Cardiff.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon) on 10 May at column 476.

	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Royal Navy/Royal Marines	Nil	0·044	0·005	0·0005	0·0005
Army	0·100	0·500	0·450	0·5330	2·8000
Royal Air Force	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total £ Million	0·100	0·544	0·455	0·5335	2·8005

Attorney-General

Divorce Notifications

To ask the Attorney-General if he intends to take any action to prevent divorce notifications in newspapers containing the reasons for a divorce; and if he will make a statement.

To provide protection against divorces being granted where the facts required by law do not exist, Parliament provided in section 9 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 that any person may show why a decree nisi of divorce should not be made absolute. To that end, the evidence and facts pleaded in support of a divorce petition are available to the public either through a hearing in open court or by allowing them to examine the certificate of the decree nisi and the filed evidence. Although the press are restricted in what they may report by the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Act 1926, they may among other things, report the names and addresses of the parties and the statutory facts on which the petition relies. Given the policy underlying section 9, it would not be appropriate to impose any greater restriction upon what the press may publish. The Law Commission is, however, reviewing the law relating to the grant of divorce and the Lord Chancellor has made arrangements for this matter to be drawn to its attention.

Crown Prosecution Service

To ask the Attorney-General how many staff have joined the Crown prosecution service in the last six months who were formerly magistrates' clerks.

University Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many students at UMIST and University college London are on courses sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.

The MOD does not sponsor courses at either university, although it does fund the chair of naval architecture at University college, London, and provides the professor and his supporting academic staff.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide as much information as possible about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising, without breaching commercial confidentiality, over each of the past five years.

Annual expenditure on television advertising over the past five years is as follows:

During the latest available six month period, from 1 November 1988 to 30 April 1989, 38 staff commenced employment with the Crown prosecution service having previously been magistrates' clerks.

The Arts

National Museums And Galleries

60.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the state of repair of the buildings of the national museums and galleries.

The national museums and galleries which I sponsor provide information on the state of their buildings in their corporate plans which are updated each year and which I and my officials discuss with them.

61.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on staffing costs as a percentage of total running costs in the national galleries and museums.

As an average, staffing costs for national museums and galleries represented 73 per cent. of total running costs for the year 1988–89.

65.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the education budgets of the national galleries and museums.

Education is very much a part of the function of the national museums and galleries and one to which they attach great importance. Details of their activities are contained in their trustees' reports, which are publicly available.

69.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission to discuss the acquisition, maintenance and staffing budgets of the national museums and galleries.

I meet the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission quite frequently and on a wide range of subjects which have included matters raised in the commission's May 1988 report on the national museums.

70.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to ensure that museums and galleries have adequate resources for structural maintenance to ensure adequate safeguarding of their collections.

I recognise this as a priority area and have made substantial increases in the provision for building and maintenance work at the national museums and galleries which I sponsor. The current year's provision of £48 million represents a 50 per cent. increase in real terms since 1979–80. Further increases will bring the figure to £55 million by 1991–92.

British Theatre Association Library

59.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a further statement on the rehousing of the British Theatre Association library.

I am pleased to say that the British Theatre Association has accepted the generous offer of Mr. Robert Holmes a'Court to provide both premises for the association in central London and financial backing to enable it to continue its operation on a firm basis. I was pleased to have been able to provide the association, through the British Library, with professional advice on its library operations, and I have contributed £25,000 towards its transitional costs.

Museums (Building And Maintenance Costs)

62.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what increase in provision has been made in the last four years for the building and maintenance costs of museums.

A number of changes have been made in the method of funding the building and maintenance programmes of the national museums and galleries in the last four years but, comparing like with like, there has been a 23 per cent. increase in cash terms in provision over this period.

Government Contribution

63.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the Government contribution to the arts in 1989, and what it was in 1979, in real terms.

In the financial year 1989–90, the central Government programme for the arts will be £439 million. The corresponding figure for 1979–80, at 1989–90 prices, is £316 million.

Tate Gallery

64.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Chairman of the Tate gallery to discuss its staffing cost and maintenance budget.

I meet the chairman from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest. I look forward to meeting the chairman and director shortly to discuss the Tate gallery's future plans.

Museums (Private Income)

66.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will estimate the private income generated by museums in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The national museums and galleries estimate that they will generate over £26 million in private income in 1989–90.

Tate Gallery Of The North

67.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on staffing and on the acquisition budget available to the Tate gallery of the north in Liverpool.

There are 55 staff at the Tate gallery, Liverpool, 33 of whom are warders. The gallery does not operate a separate acquisition budget from that of the main Tate collection.

Northern Ballet

68.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the latest information he has on the funding of the Northern Ballet; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend for Stockport (Mr. Favell) earlier today.

Incentive Funding

To ask the Minister for the Arts what return from the private sector has been achieved as a result of his incentive funding scheme.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) earlier today.

Civil Service

Ministers' Private Secretaries

75.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 April to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, Official Report, column 654, what representations he has received from the First Division Association concerning pressures on Ministers' private secretaries (a) to sanction the release of official information other than by conventional means and (b) to seek means to avoid parliamentary scrutiny of ministerial actions.

None, Sir.

Morale

76.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will meet the general secretary of the NUCPS to discuss Civil Service morale.

I have no plans at present to meet the NUCPS.

Agency Employees

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are employed in the Civil Service agencies announced so far.

There are just over 6,000 staff working in the five agencies which we have already established. A further 36 activities, including three in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, have been announced as candidates. These cover nearly 200,000 civil servants or about a third of the Civil Service.

Scotland

"Assessment Of Achievement-Twists In The Numbers Game"

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department's library has a copy of "Assessment of Achievement-Twists in the Numbers Game" published in the Times Educational Supplement Scotland on 21 April; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: Yes.The assessment of achievement programme's central support unit at the Scottish Council for Research in Education, which is responsible for the sampling design and analysis of results for the 1988 assessment of achievement programme methematics project, responded in a letter to the

Times Educational Supplement Scotland of 28 April 1989 rejecting the claims of bias made in the article on 21 April and emphasising, contrary to what the article suggests, that the definition of the population tested was identical for 1983 and 1988. Moreover, in The Scotsman of 25 April 1989, the director of the Scottish Council for Research in Education stated:

"It would be nonsense in our view to say that there has been no drop in performance".

The article to which the hon. Member refers is an unwarranted attack on the independence and integrity of reputable research organisations with proven expertise in

Scottish Central Institutions: Recurrent grants (£ million) ^{1 1}
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	¹ 1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Dundee Institute of Technology	4·235	4·184	4·903	4·378	5·476	5·607	5·742	²5·813	²6·235	²6·462	6·733
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art	3·019	2·846	3·214	3·032	3·517	3·606	3·558	3·525	3·582	3·625	3·671
Edinburgh College of Art	3·002	3·098	3·551	3·532	3·796	4·053	4·018	4·008	4·076	4·055	4·100
Glasgow College of Technology³	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	²5·496	²11·147	²11·477	11·959
Glasgow School of Art	2·742	2·746	3·201	3·200	3·571	3·624	3·666	3·632	3·751	23·847	3·686
Leith Nautical College⁴	1·860	1·916	2·230	2·111	2·163	2·204	1·999	1·877	1·897	0·554	—
Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh³	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	²6·920	²15·830	³16·166	16·856
Paisley College of Technology⁵	6·745	6·543	7·628	7·583	9·026	9·400	9·559	²9·778	²10·223	²10·500	10·751
Queen's College Glasgow	2·087	2·053	2·317	2·216	2·646	2·771	2·822	2·499	2·957	2·991	3·123
Queen Margaret College	2·879	2·840	3·420	3·376	3·948	4·030	3·989	4·082	4·125	4·142	4·259
Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology	7·211	7·069	8·039	7·908	9·743	10·463	10·355	²10·678	²11·262	²12·097	12·312
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama	1·439	1·356	1·574	1·662	1·703	1·798	1·820	1·809	1·884	2·289	2·479
Scottish College of Textiles	1·497	1·336	1·540	1·718	1·983	2·202	2·470	2·192	2·481	22·287	2·375

Colleges of Education: Recurrent grants (£ million) ^{1 1}
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83 ¹	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Aberdeen College of Education⁹	4·168	3·721	3·770	3·742	3·812	3·673	3·558	3·489	3·344	—	—
Callendar Park College of Education⁶	1·744	1·693	1·490	·667	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Craigie College of Education	1·735	1·524	1·505	1·411	1·443	1·332	1·346	1·351	1·421	1·469	1·628
Craiglockhart College of Education⁷	1·196	1·076	1·187	·507	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dundee College of Education⁹	4·047	3·470	3·561	3·338	3·477	3·362	3·274	3·305	3·153	—	—
Dunfermline College of Physical Education¹⁰	1·917	1·845	2·025	1·997	2·105	2·121	2·045	2·053	2·053	—	—
Hamilton College of Education⁶	2·783	2·420	2·488	1·175	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jordanhill College of Education⁸	10·283	9·598	10·368	11·421	13·002	12·040	11·832	11·610	11·749	10·475	10·271
Moray House College of Education	6·186	5·469	5·928	6·123	6·641	6·247	6·269	5·984	6·071	7·647	5·456
Northern College of Education	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	6·360	6·339

assessment and testing. The author appears to misunderstand entirely the objectives and functions of the assessment of achievement programme.

The hon. Member, as reported in The Scotsman and the Times Educational Supplement Scotland casts aspersions on the work, reputation and uprightness of The Northern college of education and The Scottish Council for Research in Education. The facts of the situation are that the whole of the research process in the assessment of achievement programme—the design and conduct of the survey, the sampling of pupils, the administration of the tests, the marking of the tests and the analysis of the results contained in the published report—was carried out by the Northern college and the Scottish Council for Research in Education. The published report is the work of these independent institutions; it was right to alert both parents and the education community to the interim findings and to make them publicly available as soon as was practicable.

Central Institutions And Colleges Of Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give at constant prices the Department's grant towards recurrent expenditure paid to each central institution and college of education for each of the years 1978–79 to 1988–89, inclusive.

The information for the central institutions and colleges of education funded by the Scottish Education Department is set out in the tables:

	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83 ¹	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Notre Dame College of Education⁷	3·822	3·162	3·180	1·617	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
St· Andrew's College of Education	—	—	—	2·146	4·394	4·266	4·186	4·077	3·990	3·844	3·828
¹ The change between 1981–82 and 1982–83 reflects the reduction in the standard tuition fees paid by home students.
² Figures include grant allocated under the Switch to Technology Programme.
³ Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh and Glasgow College of Technology joined the Central Institution Sector on 1 September 1985.
⁴ Leith Nautical College transferred to the local authority sector with effect from 1 August 1987.
⁵ Excludes funding for Micro Electronics Educational Development Centre.
⁶ College dissolved on 15 September 1981.
⁷ Merged to form St. Andrew's College of Education on 15 September 1981.
⁸ Includes funding for Jordanhill College School to 31 March 1987.
⁹ Merged to form Northern College of Education on 1 April 1987.
¹⁰ Merged with Moray House College of Education on 1 April 1987.
¹¹ The figures have been expressed at 1988–89 prices using the GDP deflator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of academic staff in each central institution and college of education for each of the years 1978–79 to 1988–89, inclusive.

Academic Staff Numbers
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89⁸
Central Institutions:
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art	100	100	100	100	98	98	98	98	98	98	98
Dundee Institute of Technology	140	148	153	156	157	160·5	162·5	168·5	171·5	174·5	174·5
Edinburgh College of Art	107	107	109	106	106	106	104	104	102	100	100
Glasgow College of Technology	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	343·5	347·5	350·5	350·5
Glasgow School of Art	95	98	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	102	102
Leith Nautical College³	62	63	63	63	63	63	63	53·5	—	—	—
Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	441	451	462	462
Paisley College of Technology ¹	209	223	229	231·5	235·5	239·5	239·5	246·5	250·5	255·5	255·5
Queen Margaret College	115	128	127	125	124	121	125	122	122	122	122
Queen's College, Glasgow	77·5	78·5	78·5	76·5	76·5	76·5	81	81	74	81	81
Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology²	265	267	272	275	277	280	283	292	301	311	311
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama	64	64	65·5	62·5	59·5	59·5	60·5	60·5	60·5	60·5	60·5
Scottish College of Textiles	46	49	50	51	52	53	53	53	54	55	55
Colleges of Education:
Aberdeen⁶	126·5	112	118	117	106	103	92	87	—	—	—
Callendar Park⁴	42	41·5	40·5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Craigie	45·4	37·5	39	41	36	37	38·5	40	39	39	39
Craiglockhart⁵	38	33·1	35·1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dundee⁶	127	110·5	102	92	84	82	77	73	—	—	—
Dunfermline⁷	72	72	67	68	56	51	47	45	—	—	—
Hamilton⁴	78	73	59	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jordanhill	315	277	287	342	301	306	278	271	268	244	244
Moray House	221	200	186	213	184	175	169·5	170	207	208	208
Northern	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	158	151	151
Notre Dame⁵	124	106	104	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
St. Andrew's	—	—	—	122	111	109	102	97	96	91	91

Notes:

a. The figures for the Central Institutions and from 1982–83 for the Colleges of Education represent the approved complements. The figures for 1978–79 to 1981–82 are the staff in post as reported to the SED by the Colleges of Education.

¹ Excludes staff from the Non-Destructive Testing Centre.

² Excludes staff from the Off-Shore Survival Centre and from the Off-Shore Health Centre.

³ Leith Nautical College transferred to the local authority sector with effect from 1 August 1987.

⁴ College dissolved on 15 September 1981.

⁵ Merged to form St. Andrew's College of Education on 15 September 1981.

⁶ Merged to form Northern College of Education on 1 April 1987.

⁷ Merged with Moray House College of Education on 1 April 1987.

⁸ Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of full-time students enrolled at each central institution and college of education for each of the years 1978–79 to 1988–89, inclusive.

The information in respect of the central institutions funded by the Scottish Education Department and the colleges of education is set out in the table:

The information available is set out in the table. Consistent information for the years 1978–79 and 1979–80 is not available.

Central Institutions	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art	832	843	896	938	983	1,006	1,026	1,059	n/a
Dundee Institute of Technology	1,435	1,686	1,773	1,846	1,998	2,022	2,041	2,009	n/a
Edinburgh College of Art	807	843	894	950	973	976	979	975	n/a
Glasgow College of Technology	—	—	—	—	—	3,370	3,376	3,352	n/a
Glasgow School of Art	788	992	998	983	1,021	1,019	865	776	n/a
Leith Nautical College	504	441	507	445	415	262	137	—	n/a
Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh	—	—	—	—	—	4,316	4,586	4,753	n/a
Paisley College of Technology	2,316	2,568	2,739	2,886	2,797	2,872	2,869	2,870	n/a
Queen Margaret College	942	1,001	1,021	1,029	1,140	1,225	1,263	1,294	n/a
Queen's College, Glasgow	664	678	713	752	815	837	851	884	n/a
Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology	2,420	2,602	2,828	3,025	3,061	3,197	3,261	3,284	n/a
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama	292	356	371	374	362	360	347	388	n/a
Scottish College of Textiles	439	422	413	497	607	598	625	643	n/a

Figures for central institutions cover vocational and non-vocational courses, and include sandwich course students.

Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh and Glasgow College of Technology entered the central institution sector in 1985–86, and Leith Nautical College left the sector in 1986–87.

Colleges of Education	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Craigie	200	198	202	201	208	215	237	283	267
Jordanhill	1,366	1,300	1,233	1,116	932	972	1,020	1,304	1,220
Hamilton	252	135	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Moray House	800	739	705	583	508	512	536	1,383	1,354
Calendar Park	184	127	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dunfermline	390	341	298	246	202	178	163	—	—
St. Andrews	—	659	596	552	510	526	551	573	527
Craiglockhart	202	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Notre Dame	556	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Northern	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	878	814
Aberdeen	624	563	488	437	385	401	433	—	—
Dundee	321	297	269	235	218	230	266	—	—

Figures for colleges of education for 1980–81 to 1986–87 include overseas students, but exclude students enrolled for non-teacher training courses as this is not available on a consistent basis (there were 788 students on these courses in 1988–89).

Hamilton College amalgamated with Jordanhill, Calendar Park and Dunfermline with Moray House, Craiglockhart and Notre Dame to become St. Andrews and Aberdeen and Dundee to become Northern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of part-time students enrolled at each central institution and college of education for each of the years 1978–79 to 1988–89 inclusive, excluding those on in-service courses at colleges of education.

Central institutions	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art	275	793	615	682	702	776	735	647	n/a
Dundee Institute of Technology	918	946	874	792	499	458	448	198	n/a
Edinburgh College of Art	88	95	202	941	134	766	730	726	n/a
Glasgow College of Technology	—	—	—	—	—	3,642	3,555	3,052	n/a
Glasgow School of Art	320	1,165	1,164	1,146	919	1,163	1,527	1,531	n/a
Leith Nautical College	1,839	1,995	2,052	2,083	2,115	1,763	1,233	—	n/a
Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh	—	—	—	—	—	3,845	4,059	4,254	n/a
Paisley College of Technology	2,038	3,942	4,501	5,786	3,768	2,568	4,055	5,110	n/a
Queen Margaret College	587	729	650	748	647	501	925	1,144	n/a
Queen's College, Glasgow	71	73	137	219	319	313	200	265	n/a
Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology	7,887	10,772	12,674	12,883	14,559	13,756	12,155	13,285	n/a
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama	—	221	399	382	320	388	347	306	n/a
Scottish College of Textiles	99	71	127	204	160	191	81	149	n/a

The figures cover vocational and non-vocational courses. Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh and Glasgow College of Technology entered the central institution sector in 1985–86, and Leith Nautical College left the sector in 1986–87.

Employment Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of staff involved in monitoring fraud by employment training scheme management agencies and employers in Scotland.

The information requested is set out in the table. Consistent information is not available for colleges of education, or for the years 1978–79 and 1979–80 for central institutions.

[holding answer 17 May 1989]: Employment training is delivered through Training Agency area offices each of which has a team, backed up by a professional adviser in the office for Scotland, responsible for the monitoring of monies paid out against contracts. Adequate staff resources are deployed to investigate irregularities and allegations of fraud as necessary.

Radioactivity (Venison)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list results for the radioactive monitoring of (a) deer, and (b) goats for each year since April 1986; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: There is regular monitoring of venison in dealers' stores on an all-Scotland basis. Goatmeat is not consumed in significant quantities and we have accordingly not thought it necessary to institute a programme of monitoring of this meat.The results of the monitoring of samples of venison are set out in the table:

Venison (Becquerels per Kilo Cs 134 + Cs 137)
	0–500	500–1,000	1,000–2,000	Over 2,000
1986	50	9	5	1
1987	113	28	13	2
1988	100	4	1	—

These results do not give cause for concern since a person would require to eat more than 40 kg of venison at a level of radiation of 2,000 Bq/kg to come near to the levels at which, under international recommendation, action to restrict consumption should be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he is issuing concerning the safety of eating venison contaminated with radioactivity; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: The levels of radioactivity in venison, coupled with the relatively low consumption of this meat by the general public, do not warrant advice against eating venison being given to the public at large.It is conceivable that a small number of forestry, estate and other workers, might eat large amounts of venison at the top end of the radiation levels identified. Even at that level the risk would be very small indeed. An individual would have to eat about 40 kg of venison a year at a level of 2,000 Bq/kg to come near to the levels of dose at which, under international recommendation, action to restrict consumption should be considered.Advice was issued in 1987 and 1988 to forestry, estate workers and others eating venison in quantities considerably higher than average on a regular basis that they might wish to consider eating less venison as a precautionary measure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what measures he is taking to ensure that radioactive (a) goatmeat, and (b) venison are not entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: Not much goatmeat is eaten in Scotland, the goat population mainly being kept to supply milk and fibre. Most goats are kept on low ground and inbye land where radioactive caesium from Chernobyl fallout is not readily available for ingestion by grazing animals. Accordingly no specific measures relating to the consumption of goatmeat are considered necassary.Regular samples are taken of venison in dealers' stores on an all-Scotland basis so that the levels of radioactivity in venison destined for human consumption may be monitored. No unacceptably high levels of radioactivity have been detected in this continuing monitoring programme.

House Of Commons

Short Money

To ask the Lord President of the Council how much Short money has been paid to the Opposition parties in the last five years.

The total amount of Short money paid to Opposition parties in the past five years is £3,518,503·75p. A breakdown for each year is as follows:

	£
1984	454,749·76
1985	631,091·00
1986	631,598·75
1987	597,741·27
1988	1,203,322·97

Health

Homeless People

77.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to hold any discussions with the Salvation Army and other similar organisations on social service aids for homeless people in Greater London and other major cities who are not temporarily resident in officially designated homeless accommodation.

We have no plans at present for discussions, but if the Salvation Army's recent survey has produced information which would help to direct social services more effectively to homeless people in the category described I—and the authorities immediately responsible —would be pleased to have it.

Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department keeps regarding patient waiting time to see a hospital consultant on referral by a general practitioner.

None. Information on waiting times of out-patient referrals is not available centrally.

Hospital Treatment (Bolton)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received in-patient treatment at Bolton hospitals in 1988; and what were the comparable figures during each of the last five years.

The information is given in the table.

In-patient cases treated, Bolton District Health Authority, 1982 to 1987–88
Year	In-patient cases treated
1982	32,598
1983	33,471
1984	33,837
1985	35,289

Year

In-patient cases treated

1986

35,385

1987–88

37,205

Source: SH3 1982–86.

SH3a Financial year 1987–88.

West Lancashire District Health Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in 1988–89 and 1978–79 by the West Lancashire district health authority as in-patients, out-patients and day patients; and if he will make a statement.

The latest year for which data are currently available is the financial year 1987–88. The available information is given in the table.

Patients treated in NHS hospitals, West Lancashire District Health Authority 1978 and 1987–88
	1978	1987–88	Percentage change 1978–1987–88
In-patient cases treated	13,812	17,540	27·0
Day cases	1,411	2,776	96·7
New out-patients	13,181	19,543	48·3
Total out-patient attendances	56,398	88,960	57·7

Source: SH3 1978

SH3a Financial year 1987–88.

Aids

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he is making for the early provision of soluble CD4 for patients with HIV once the outcome of trials taking place in the United States is known.

No medicinal produce may be marketed in the United Kingdom until licensed. Where this is justified on public health grounds a licence application may be fast tracked to ensure that the product can be marketed with minimum delay if it meets licensing requirements.

Drug Prices

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Acupan Tabs, 90 and 30, (ii) Adalat 5mg Caps, 100 and 40, (iii) Adalat 10mg Caps, 100 and 50, (iv) Adalate 10mg Caps, 90, (v) Adalat AR 20mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (vi) Adalat LP 20mg Tabs, 30, (vii) Adalat Retard, 50, (viii) Aldactone 100mg Tabs, 100 and 20, (ix) Aldomet 250mg Tabs, 100, (x) Aldomet 500mg Tabs, 100, (xi) Allegron 10mg Tabs, 100 and (xii) Allegron 25mg Tabs, 100; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(2) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Alrhumat 50 mg Caps, 100, (ii) Amoxil 500 mg, 100, (iii) Androcur 50 mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (iv) Artiflam 200 mg Tabs, 60, (v) Avlocardyl Ret Caps, 28, (vi) Azantac 150 mg Tabs, 60 and 30, (vii) Becotide, 1, (viii) Benortan Suspension, 300 ml, (ix) Blocadfren 10 mg Tabs, 100, (x) Brufen 400 mg Tabs, 100, (xi) Canestan Cream (Blue Pack), 30 g and (xii) Canestan Cream (Red Pack), 20 g; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(3) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Capoten 25 mg Tabs, 90 and 45, (ii) Capoten 50 mg Tabs, 90 and 45, (iii) Cinobac 500 mg Caps, 14 and 20, (iv) Cinopal 300 mg Caps, 20 and 24, (v ) Clamoxyl 250 mg Caps, 500 and 12, (vi) Clamoxyl 500 mg Caps, 100 and 12, (vii) Clinoril 100 mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (viii) Clinoril 200 mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (ix) Clomid Tabs, 30 and 10, (x) Cordarone 200 mg Tabs, 30 and 60, (xi) Corgard 80 mg Tabs, 28 and 30 and (xii) Corlan Pellets 2·5 mg; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(4) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Danatrol 200 mg Caps, 100, (ii) Dolobis 250 mg Tabs, 100 and 30, (iii) Eusaprim Forte Tabs, 100 and 200, (iv) Eusaprim 480 mg Tabs, 100 and 250, (v) Feldene 10 mg Caps, 60 and 20, (vi) Feldene 20 mg Caps, 30 and 10, (vii) Fepron 600 mg Tabs, 100 and 75, (viii) Fluanxol 0·5 mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (ix) Fluanxol 1 mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (x) Froben 50 mg Tabs, 100 (xi) Froben 100 mg Tabs, 100 and 60 and (xii) Gaviscon Liquid 500 ml and 250 ml; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(5) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Gyno-Canesten Pess, 12, (ii) 11aycion 0.25mg Tabs, 30 and 20, (iii) Hirudoid Gel, 40g, (iv) Hydergine 1·5 mg Tabs, 100 (v) Imodium 2mg Caps, 30 and 20, (vi) lmuran Tabs, 100 and 50, (vii) Indera L.A. 160mg Tabs, 28 and 56, (viii) Inderetic Caps, 100 and 42, (ix) Indocid 25mg Caps, 100 and 30, (x) Indocid 50mg, 100, (xi) Indocid Suppositories, 10 and (xii) Kemadrin 5mg, 500 and 25; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(6) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Kemadrine 5mg Tabs, 500 and 40, (ii) Kinidrin Durettes 250mg, 100, (iii) Lioresal Tabs, 100 and 50, (iv) Locoid Cream, 30g, (v) Locoid Ointment, 30g, (vi) Lomotil Tabs, 100 and 12, (vii) Loniten 5mg, 100 (viii) Modamide 5mg Tabs, 30 (ix) Modapar 125mg Caps, 100 and 60, (x) Modapar 250mg Caps, 100 and 60, (xi) Moducren Tabs, 28 and 30 and (xii) Motilium 10mg Tabs, 30 and 100; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(7) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Natrilex 2·5mg Tabs, 30, (ii) Negram 500mg Tabs, 56 and 40, (iii) Nerisone Pommade, 30g, (iv) Orap 4mg Tabs, 100 and 20, (v) Otosporin Drops, 5m1 and 10m1, (vi) Panoxyl 5 per cent. Gel, 40g, (vii) Panoxyl 10 per cent. Gel, 40g, (viii) Parlodel 2·5 mg Tabs, 100 and 30, (ix) Parlodel 10mg Tabs, 100 and 30, (x) Pevaryl Cream, 30g, (xi) Prothiaden 75mg Tabs, 28 and (xii) Prothiaden 25mg Tabs, 100; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(8) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Proviron 25mg Tabs, 50, (ii) Rivotril 2mg Tabs, 100, (iii) Salazopyrin 0.5mg Tabs, 100, (iv) Salazopyrin E.N. Tabs, 300, (v) Septrin Tabs 400/80mg, 500 and 10, (vi) Septrin Forte Tabs, 100, (vii) Septrin Paed Susp, 100ml, (viii) Septrin Adult Susp, 100ml, (ix) Serc Tablets, 120 and 100, (x) Sinemet 100 Tabs, 100, (xi) Stromba 5mg Tabs, 56 and 10 and (xii) Stugeron Forte, 100 and 20; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(9) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Tagamet 200mg Tabs, 120 and 50, (ii) Tagamet 400mg Tabs, 60 and 25, (iii) Tegretol 200mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (iv) Tegretol 400mg Tabs, 100, (v) Tildiem 60mg Tabs, 100 and 30, (vi) Timoptel 0·25 per cent., 5ml, (vii) Timoptol 0·5 per cent., 5ml, (viii) Tinset 30mg Tabs, 25, (ix) Tofranil 10mg Tabs, 100 and 60, (x) Tofranil 25mg Tabs, 100, (xi) Trandate 100mg Tabs, 56 and 75, and (xii) Trandate 200mg Tabs, 56 and 75; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(10) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Trasicor 80mg Tabs, 100 and 40, (ii) Trasicor Ret 160mg Tabs, 28, (iii) Triludan Suspension, 200ml, 120ml, (iv) Ventolin Inhaler (boxed), 1, (v) Ventolin Pouch, 1, (vi) Vermox 100mg Tabs, 6 and 10, (vii) Vermox Suspension, 30ml, (viii) Viskaldix Tabs, 28, (ix) Voltarene 25mg Tabs, 100 and 30, (x) Voltarene 50mg Tabs, 100 and 30, (xi) Voltarene LP 100mg Tabs, 28 and 15, and (xii) Voltren Ret 100mg Tabs, 28 and 10; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available;(11) what is the purchase price paid by the National Health Service for (i) Zaditen 1mg Caps, 60, (ii) Zantac Tablets 150mg 60 and 20, (iii) Zarontin 250mg Caps, 50, (iv) Zovirax 200mg Tabs, 25, (v) Zyloric 100mg Tabs, 100 and 50, (vi) Zyloric 300mg Tabs, 30 and 28 and (vii) Zyloric 100mg Tabs, 25; and how much in cash terms of each drug was dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors in the last year for which figures are available.

The price paid for medicines prescribed by their proprietary name and dispensed by pharmacy contractors is the manufacturer's list price. These prices are published from time to time in the British National Formulary, a copy of which is in the Library. Where no list price is available the price paid is the price which the pharmacist has had to pay.The net ingredient cost of prescriptions written using the names of the products in respect of which information is requested and dispensed by pharmacy contractors in 1987 is contained in a list which has been placed in the Library.

Speech Therapy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions have been taken as to whether speech therapy services will be classed as core services; and whether such decisions will be made centrally.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply on 7 February to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) at column 640.

Gps (Home Visits)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many home visits he estimates are made by the average general practitioner; to what extent he expects that number to increase as a result of revision of the general practitioners' contract; and what was the figure in 1979.

The information requested, based on the small sample used for the general household survey, is estimated as follows:

England
	Average list size	Number of Home Visits
1979	2,286	1,320
1987	2,020	1,290

Although under the new contract for GPs we expect patients aged 75 and over to be visited annually as part of their general health assessment, this requirement need not be carried out by the GP personally.

Prescribing Budgets

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds he intends to make available in 1990–91 to the regional health authorities to cover the administrative and computer technology costs of introducing indicative prescribing budgets.

We have made quite clear that we will meet the necessary additional costs of implementing the indicative prescribing budget scheme.It is premature to state what funding will be made available to regional health authorities since we are engaged in discussions with various interested parties about how the scheme should be implemented.

Snapethorpe Hospital, Wakefield

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department instructed the Wakefield district health authority to draw up plans for the building of houses on the site of Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield.

I know of no such plans. If permanent closure of Snapethorpe is agreed by Ministers it will be for the district health authority in consultation with the regional health authority, to decide upon its disposal or future use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's estimate of the site value of Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield.

The district and regional health authorities, in consultation with the district valuer, and taking account of future use potential, are responsible for assessing the site value.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations and individuals have objected to the proposed closure of Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield.

Details are given in the document "Responses to the Consultation Document, Officer Comments and Recommendations" put to the 30 September meeting of Wakefield health authority. This is available from the health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of patients treated in Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield, in each year since 1979.

The information requested is given in the table.

Snapethorpe Hospital—Deaths and Discharges
	Chest Diseases	Geriatrics	Mental Illness	General Medicine	Pre-Convales-cent	Total
1979	288	—	22	13	26	349
1980	245	33	16	—	—	294
1981	187	46	25	—	—	258
1982	190	—	35	—	—	225
1983	182	33	—	—	—	215
1984¹	31	—	—	—	—	31
¹ to 31 March 1984

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department instructed the Wakefield district health authority to withdraw from discussions with the Wakefield metropolitan district council regarding the possibility of a scheme of joint use of Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to discuss with Wakefield district council its proposals for the future use of Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield, before any decision is made by his Department regarding its closure.

I am aware that the district health authority has had meetings with the district council and will have taken the council's views into account in putting forward closure proposals. I have however, already agreed to meet the hon. Member to discuss the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to visit Snapethorpe hospital, Wakefield, before any decision is made by his Department regarding its closure.

The hon. Member's suggestion is noted. I shall consider it on its merits before any final decision is taken.

National Health Service Capital Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide figures for National Health Service capital expenditure in each year since 1975 in 1988 prices, excluding the effect of asset disposal and realisation.

The information requested is shown in the table:

NHS capital expenditure (England)—Net of Capital Receipts at 1988 prices
	£ million
Year	Net of capital receipts at 1988–89 prices¹
1974–75	967
1975–76	1,039
1976–77	998
1977–78	778
1978–79	800
1979–80	765
1980–81	875
1981–82	972
1982–83	944
1983–84	927
1984–85	974
1985–86	980

Year	Net of capital receipts at 1988–89 prices ¹
1986–87	966
1987–88	899
1988–89	874
1989–90 (plan)	910
¹ As measured by GDP deflator.

Infant Care Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to district and regional health authorities about the provision of breathing monitors and scales for mothers involved in the care of the next infant programme.

The Department has not issued specific guidance to regional and district health authorities about the provision of breathing monitors and weighing scales for mothers involved in the care of the next infant (CONI) programme, which is run by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. However, the third report of the maternity services advisory committee on the care of the mother and baby, which we have commended to health authorities, advises that, in regard to babies considered to be at risk of unexpected death, detailed attention should be paid to weight gain and to early symptoms of illness or signs that something may be amiss.

North Devon District Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration has been given to the impact on continuity of patient care of the proposed closure of 25 acute psychiatric beds at weekends within the North Devon district hospital; and if he will make a statement;(2) what are the projected savings resulting from the proposed closure of 25 acute psychiatric beds at weekends with the North Devon district hospital; and if he will make a statement.

No decision on this management option has been taken by the North Devon health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to introduce five-day-aweek wards similar to those proposed at the North Devon district hospital in other parts of the country; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the possibility of converting one or two wards in the North Devon district hospital to a five-day week is an option that is being examined, but on which no management view has yet been taken. Local bed management is a matter for individual health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received concerning the legality of charges imposed on patients since 1 May 1989 by North Devoon health authority for hospital transportation to take patients to hospital for treatment; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received concerning the legality of car parking charges to be imposed at the North Devon district hospital; and if he will make a statement.

None. It is for health authorities to take appropriate legal and other professional advice on local management decisions. However, no charge is made for the transportation of patients to hospital if it has been prescribed by a doctor as clinically necessary.

Bexley Health Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Bexley health authority worked with Bexley London borough in ensuring that the contract to provide accountancy services to Social Policy Management Services Limited, awarded to Auckland Goddard Hampson and Swain (Chartered Accountants), was put out to tender.

Decision on accountancy services is entirely a matter for Social Policy Management Services Ltd.

Cervical Cancer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths have been recorded annually in recent years of women under the age of 20 years from cervical cancer.

The information is shown in the table.

Number of deaths from cervical cancer¹of women under the age of 20 years in England and Wales, 1978–87
Year	Number of deaths
1978	—
1979	—
1980	—
1981	—
1982	1
1983	—
1984	—
1985	—
1986	1
1987	—
¹ Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 8th and 9th revision code 180.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stretford on 4 May, Official Report, column 230, what estimates he makes of the reduction of deaths from cervical cancer if the frequency of cervical smears was reduced from five years to (a) three years and (b) two years; what are the cost implications of this; and if he will make a statement.

Estimates made by the Department of Health cancer screening evaluation unit would suggest that, in comparison with screening every five years, cervical smears taken every three years between the ages of 20 and 64 could reduce by some further 7 per cent. the number of deaths which would otherwise occur from cancer of the cervix at an additional cost of somewhat over £22 million per annum. Screening every two years would reduce the number of deaths by an additional 1 or 2 per cent. at a further additional cost of some £28 million. These estimates are based on a hypothetical 100 per cent. acceptance of screening. Since we know that the majority of women who die from cervical cancer have never been screened, we have recommended to health authorities that increasing the proportion of women being screened regularly should take precedence over increasing the frequency of screening.

Blood Supplies

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies are being undertaken to monitor the incidence of the retrovirus human T cell lymphotropic virus-1 in blood supplies; and if he will make a statement.

This is a rare infection in this country. The national blood transfusion service is preparing for a study to monitor the prevalence of this infection in blood donations. As part of these preparations, an investigation of the methods available for identifying the infection is underway.

Drug Supplies

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the total number of complaints registered against representatives of pharmaceutical companies in each of the last five years in relation to financial and other incentives offered to general practitioners for the prescribing of specific products; and if he will make a statement.

None. Pharmaceutical industry sales promotion conduct is regulated by the industry's code of practice. Complaints alleging unacceptable conduct are considered by the code of practice committee of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). The Royal College of Physicians has issued advice on "The Relationship between Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry".

"Working For Patients"

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he is yet in a position to announce the composition of the NHS policy board and the NHS management executive proposed on the White Paper, "Working for Patients."

I am announcing today that the members of the board, which I shall chair, will be:

Sir Roy Griffiths (Deputy Chairman).
The Minister of State for Health.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health.
Sir Donald Acheson Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health.
Sir James Ackers, Chairman of West Midlands Health Regional Authority.
Professor Cyril Chantler, Professor of Paediatric Nephrology at Guys Hospital.
Mrs. Julia Cumberlege, CBE, Chairman of South West Thames Regional Health Authority.

Sir Graham Day, Chairman of the Rover Group and Cadbury Schweppes.
Sir Kenneth Durham, Chairman of Woolworth holdings and Deputy Chairman of British Aerospace.
Sir Christopher France, CB, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health.
Mr. Duncan Nichol, CBE, Chief Executive of the NHS Management Executive.
Sir Robert Scholey, CBE, Chairman of British Steel.

The policy board will determine the strategy, objectives and finances of the NHS in the light of Government policy, and will set objectives for the management executive and monitor whether they are achieved.The NHS management executive members will be:

Mr. Duncan Nichol, CBE. Chief Executive
Mr. Graham Hart, CB, Director of Operations
Mr. Michael Fairey, Director of Information and Review
Ms. Sheila Masters, Director of Finance
Mr. Peter Wormald, Director of Personnel
Dr. Ron Oliver, CB, Medical Director
Miss Patsy Wright-Warren, Nursing Director
Mr. Bryan Rayner, CB, Director, Family Practitioner Services
Mr. Idris Pearce, CBE, Estates Adviser

The executive will deal with all operational matters relating to both the hospital and community health service and the family practitioner service, within the strategy and objectives set by the policy board.

"Working for Patients" emphasised the need to distinguish in our central management of the NHS between strategy—making clear the direction the Government want the service to follow—and the operational tasks involved in putting that strategy into practice. In other words, it is Ministers' job to set a framework of policies, priorities and resources and, within that, to leave managers to manage and to answer for their performance.

This is reflected in the different roles of the policy board and the management executive. I am delighted that, as chairman of the policy board, I shall be able to draw on such a wide range of experience and achievement and that the chief executive of the management executive will lead an equally strong team.

Syringe Exchange Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications of the final report of the evaluation of 14 experimental syringe-exchange schemes.

The evaluation points to some encouraging features of schemes, in particular the ability of some to attract significant numbers of injectors—many of whom have not been in contact with services before—and to help regular attenders make or sustain changes in risky behaviour. However, the research also shows that schemes have a high turnover of clients and are less good at attracting women, younger injectors and those with a short history of injecting drug misuse. They tend to attract those injectors who have already made, or are motivated to make changes in their behaviour.We have concluded that exchange schemes and other measures to make sterile injecting equipment more readily available—such as, where appropriate, sales by pharmacists and provision by general practitioners in the context of treatment of drug misusers—can be potentially valuable components of the wider-ranging strategy we need to prevent the spread of HIV-infection amount and from drug misusers. This strategy must also include the development of readily accessible advice and treatment services where drug misusers can get help with drug problems, and with reducing their risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV-infection through drug using or sexual behaviour. At the same time, we continue to attach the utmost importance to tackling the misuse of drugs itself, both by the interdiction of supplies and through effective education and information to discourage young people from starting to take drugs.We have increased to over £14 million the funds available to health authorities from 1989–90 for services for drug misusers, including measures to prevent the spread of HIV-infection, in order that such a strategy may be implemented. In Scotland and in Wales £2 million and £1·6 million respectively are being provided for this purpose. We will circulate the key findings of this recent research in order that they may be taken into account in planning and developing services.

Health Education Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the budget of the Health Education Council for each year from 1978–79 to 1986–87, expressed as actual expenditure and as a percentage of total National Health Service spending for England.

[holding answer 26 April 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

Health Education Council budget
Financial Year	Actual expenditure	¹As percentage of total NHS spending for England
	£ million	Per cent.
1978–79	3·7	0·06
1979–80	4·5	0·06
1980–81	5·0	0·05
1981–82	6·6	0·06
1982–83	8·6	0·08
1983–84	9·3	0·08
1984–85	9·6	0·07
1985–86	10·1	0·07
1986–87	10·15	0·07
¹ Total NHS spending for England has been taken as the total revenue and capital expenditure of regional and district health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals plus the expenses of the Dental Estimates board and the Prescription Pricing authority. The administrative expenses of family practitioner committees and their total expenditure on family practitioner services (net of patients' charges) have also been included. Figures used represent annual outturn figures, not adjusted for inflation.

Desiccated Liver Powder

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether desiccated liver powder is categorised as a food supplement or a pharmaceutical product; and whether he will make a statement about the importing of desiccated liver powder in relation to the Imported Food Regulations 1984.

[holding answer 2 May 1989]: The decision whether desiccated liver powder is regarded as a food supplement or a pharmaceutical product for purposes of the imported food regulations rests with the port health authority responsible for the application of the regulations at the port of entry. It is for the authority to make this decision on the basis of the facts which are available to it at the time of import, relating to the end use of the powder.

Assistance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state by rate of population per 1,000 by age group, for years 1980 to 1989, the number of cases of assistance to persons during the year provided by (i) Calderdale, (ii) Bradford, (iii) Kirklees, (iv) Leeds, (v) Wakefield, (vi) Oldham and (vii) Rochdale for (a) installation of telephone and attachments, (b) payment of telephone rentals, (c)installation of other communications equipment, (d) installation of television, (e) payment of television licence or rental, (f) supply of radio, (g) supply of personal aids, (h) adaptation to non-local authority property and (i) holidays.

[holding answer 11 May 1989]: Tables showing available information in respect of year ended 31 March 1980 to 31 March 1987 have been placed in the Library. Information in respect of subsequent years has not been collected centrally.

Gynaecologists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Trent regional health authority on the wording used in the advertisement for two consultant gynaecologists placed by the authority in the Lancet of 8 April.

[holding answer 16 May 1989]: No. but officials have drawn to the attention of the regional health authority the guidance issued in 1975 and 1979 by the then Chief Medical Officer concerning advertisements for consultant posts in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Nhs Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to the chairman of the Wakefield family practitioner committee on requests made to the chairman of the family practitioner committee to discuss the White Paper, "Working for Patients;" and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 16 May 1989]: None, although the chairman did send me copies of a recent exchange of correspondence with the hon. Member. I note that the chairman offered to arrange a meeting between representatives of the committee and hon. Members representing local constituencies to discuss the future implementation of the White Paper, which is the task assigned to the committee. I hope that hon. Members will take up that offer and I am writing to the chairman to encourage him to pursue it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department received a request for copies of the White Paper, "Working for Patients," to be supplied to members of the Wakefield family practitioner committee; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 16 May 1989]; Copies of the White Paper were sent to all family practitioner committees at the time of publication. It was for each committee to arrange its own internal distribution and to obtain any additional copies it might need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received from the Wakefield family practitioner committee any proposals for a health profile giving details of demands on services; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 16 May 1989]: No. We have recommended that all family practitioner committees should prepare a health profile of the area in collaboration with the district health authority as part of their own planning process. I understand that such a document in respect of Wakefield is in the course of preparation. We do not ask that the document should be sent to the Department except at the time of a performance review.

Ivf Treatment

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that treatment for IVF in the South West regional health authority area is available free of charge for patients living in north Devon as it is for patients living in Bristol.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 May 1989 c. 80–81]: I now understand that the infertility treatment available for a limited number of patients in north Devon is gamete intra fallopian transfer (GIFT) and not in vitro fertilisation (IVF) as previously stated. I am sorry we did not get this right.

Transport

Sir Keith Bright

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the terms on which Sir Keith Bright resigned from London Transport.

The terms are still under discussion.

Roads Provision

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now publish his plans to involve the private sector in roads provision; and if he will make a statement.

I have today published, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, a consultation paper entitled "New Roads by New Means—Bringing in Private Finance". It covers England, Scotland and Wales. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The Government are committed to providing a transport infrastructure suited to the needs of a modern economy. We showed that commitment in the plans contained in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity", published on 18 May, which dealt with roads in England. The White Paper was largely concerned with publicly-financed road schemes, but the private sector is playing an important and growing role in providing transport infrastructure. I see great potential opportunities for the private sector to finance and build more of our roads and bridges, complementing our greatly expanded road programme. My aim is to make full use of the innovation, enterprise and management efficiency of the private sector in improving the road network and in providing better value for money for taxpayers and road users. Our consultation paper proposes a way forward.

We have already started. From the international partnership on the Channel tunnel to local partnerships with councils on road schemes, the initiative and flair of the private sector have been making their impact. We already have an example of the successful involvement of private finance in a major national road scheme. The Dartford-Thurrock bridge, the first privately financed road scheme this century, is our starting point. The private sector is also tendering for the second Severn bridge.

This is a new field. There have been uncertainties for potential promoters. The consultation paper addresses these issues. For example, it describes a new approach by the Government to the question of additionality—the possible effect of private financing on the Government's total roads expenditure, which has been of considerable concern to the private sector. We give the assurance that we will not subtract the cost of privately financed roads from public sector provision on a scheme-by-scheme basis. This decision on additionality reinforces our belief that private sector schemes will provide the opportunity for more roads than would otherwise have been built.

The Government are concerned to achieve the most cost-effective provision of roads. Where appropriate, this will involve comparing privately financed schemes with their public sector alternatives. In future, however, no such comparison will be required unless the road scheme concerned is already in the programme or enjoys a high degree of monopoly.

The consultation paper proposes measures to make it easier for roads financed by contributions from developers to be built. It also concludes that new procedures are needed to authorise privately financed tolled roads. It makes detailed proposals for those new procedures, which would require primary legislation.

Privately-financed tolled roads will take the form of concessions, broadly similar to those for the Channel tunnel and the Dartford-Thurrock bridge. I would usually grant a concession after a competition. Competitions will help to ensure the best value for road users. In addition, EC law will require that concessions should be the subject of competitions. For these reasons, exclusive rights will not usually be conferred on promoters; but commercially confidential innovations will be protected, and originators of ideas will be given a place on the short list for the competition.

There will he an order-making procedure to authorise the roads and the tolls to be charged. The promoter would ask me to make the necessary orders. Where there are objections, there would be public inquiries to ensure that full regard is paid to the environment, and to protect the rights of affected individuals. The promoter would consult widely before applying for the required orders. All relevant orders would be considered at the same inquiry.

The Government will keep up the momentum of the private finance initiative. "New Roads by New Means" announces our intention to establish an early competition for a privately financed scheme to increase road capacity in the Birmingham-Manchester corridor.

I can also announce today that I intend to hold a competition for the Birmingham northern relief road.

"New Roads by new Means" is a consultation document. We are asking for comments by 14 July. I want to encourage people with ideas to come forward and help me to take this exciting initiative forward, and so to improve the road network still more for industry and motorists.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide as much information as possible about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising, without breaching commercial confidentiality, over each of the past five years.

The Department of Transport's planned expenditure on commercial television advertising airtime in 1989–90 is £1·7 million. This relates to our campaign against drinking arid driving.Our objective in buying airtime is to obtain equivalent "reach" in respect of our target audience in each of the television areas. Expenditure is proportionately higher in the south (the areas covered by Television South, London Weekend Television, Thames Television and Television South West) because the cost of airtime is higher.I have already provided information on the Department's expenditure over the past five years, during which time the same principle of equivalent "reach" has applied.

Tankers (Kilbrannan Sound)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions his officials have made for allowing stricken tankers into Kilbrannan sound: what consultations were conducted concerning this matter with locally based commercial fishermen who fish the sound, before his officials took their decision; which other interested parties were consulted; and if he will make a statement.

In answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, no particular areas around United Kingdom are designated by the Department to be safe havens for stricken tankers and if a tanker is seriously damaged and needs shelter it will seek the nearest available. The Department holds general navigation details of the United Kingdom coast and such environmental details as is available. In the event of an incident it will advise and consult to the extent that time will allow all relevant local authorities before agreeing to or taking action to prevent, the tanker's intended movements.

Street Works (Horne Report)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to introduce legislation regarding street works arising from the Home report and related initiatives.

As soon as there is suitable opportunity. Detailed proposals have been prepared and an opportunity is currently being given to interested parties to comment on them.

Social Security

Transitional Payments

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will consider giving the full uprating to those still receiving transitional additions to their benefits.

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will consider giving the full uprating to those still receiving transitional additions to their benefits.

44.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will consider giving the full uprating to those still receiving transitional additions to their benefits.

I have no plans to do so. However, the House will know that when the additional help that we are giving to pensioners is introduced this autumn it will not affect the amount of transitional protection they are receiving.

40.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in (a) Leeds and (b) Wakefield lost transitional payment benefit from April 1989 for the current year; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 6 March at column 445.

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people last month experienced the termination of transitional payment which they had previously received.

Information will not be available for housing benefit transitional payments until the final closing date of 30 June 1989 has been reached and all applications have been received, assessed and payments made which are backdated to April 1988. To date, 184 people are no longer receiving transitional payments because their capital has increased to over £8,000 and payments have ceased for 72,234 people whose transitional payments were £2·00 per week or less, although their overall benefit income will have increased at April 1989.An estimated 610,000 income support claimants ceased to need transitional protection following this year's benefit uprating. These people now receive more benefit income by way of income support than they got through supplementary benefit.

Benefits

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans for introducing new technology wall-mounted cash dispensers for benefit claimants.

We have no such plans but the Department will continue to examine whether such methods offer advantages over existing methods of payment.

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will meet benefit claimants in Nottingham, North to discuss the operation of the benefits system.

We have no plans to do so.

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what resources have been committed by his Department over the past year to ensuring that those eligible for benefits are aware of their entitlement.

In financial year 1988–89, a total of £12·7 million was spent in promoting awareness of the Department's benefits. This sum includes advertising and publicity leaflets. In addition freeline social security offers a free general advice and information service on social security matters and is now receiving more than 900,000 calls yearly. The Department is currently running an advertising campaign, including television, to make people aware of their entitlement to family credit and to encourage them to claim. This campaign is costing £4·8 million.

Pensioners

13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Fylde will benefit from the new benefits package announced last November.

The new package will benefit some 2·6 million pensioners across the country. I regret that I am unable to provide separate figures for my hon. Friend's constituency.

36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to improve the financial position of the retired and others dependent upon fixed incomes no longer entitled to benefit entitlements following the recent changes in the arrangements for social security payments and housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

We undertook to monitor the effects of the reforms and as a result have already acted to improve the benefit position of certain vulnerable groups. Last April we acted quickly to raise the capital limit for housing benefit to £8,000 bringing 100,000 people (nearly all pensioners) back into benefit. Recently we announced further help for two particular groups. From October there will be improvements in income support and housing benefit for older and disabled pensioners; including husbands and wives some 2·6 million people will be better off as a result. From July certain 16 and 17-year-olds will benefit from changes to the income support rules and all 16 and 17-year-olds receiving housing benefit only will see an improvement in their benefit position.

46.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average level of Government financial support for pensioners in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community.

49.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average level of Government support for pensioners (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the European Community.

Social security spending in the United Kingdom on the elderly is currently approximately 5 per cent. of gross domestic product. Comparable figures for the other member states of the European Community are not available.

50.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many men and women who will reach retirement age on or after 1 October will benefit from the abolition of the retirement pensions earnings rule.

There are three main catetgories of people who will benefit from the abolition of the retirement pension earnings rule. Individuals who reach pension age on or after 1 October will be able to choose to receive their retirement pension and earn as much as they can, with no reduction in their state retirement pension. There are 200,000 individuals currently deferring receipt of their retirement pension and a further 2,500 individuals whose retirement pension is currently reduced because of earnings over £75 a week who will benefit. In addition, there are about 200,000 individuals who currently earn less than £75 a week who may choose from 1 October to earn more, plus a large number of people who are not earning at present who may now choose to start earning.

Claimants (Medical Examination)

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the circumstances under which long-term invalidity benefit claimants are referred for independent medical examination by his Department's divisional medical officers.

We are satisfied that the present arrangements, using independent doctors employed by the Department of Health, strike the right balance between the interests of the claimant and the need to ensure that benefit rules are fulfilled. In 1988, 55 per cent. of claimants referred to the regional medical service were found incapable of work without the need for them to undergo a further medical examination. I have no plans for a review.

Leaflets

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests for social security leaflets have. been met in the 48-hour turnabout period; and how many requests are still outstanding.

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests for social security leaflets have been met in the 48-hour turnabout period; and how many requests are still waiting.

Since the introduction this month of the additional distribution arrangements for leaflets and forms there have been seven items requested making a total order of 5,615 pieces sent within the 48-hour turnabout. There is one part of one order outstanding awaiting the supply of re-printed leaflets. The remainder of this order is expected to be fulfilled this week.

Disabled People

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his Department has done to help disabled sportsmen and women.

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he is doing to help disabled sportsmen and women.

On 26 April, I announced that the Government had awarded £500,000 to set up a fund to help sportsmen and women with disabilities to practice their chosen sport. The fund will be administered by the British Paralympic Association, and will help disabled people and voluntary organisations with the costs of equipment, training or organising events. It will be of considerable assistance to disabled people wishing to lake part in sport at any level.Although of course the responsibility for sporting issues lies with the Department of the Environment, officials in both Departments work closely together on matters affecting sportsmen and women with disabilities. For example, the Department has participated in the major review of sporting needs and opportunities for people with disabilities, which has been led by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Minister for Sport. [The review group's report is due to be published in July.]

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the financing of local services for disabled people for which his Department has responsibility.

The Department of Social Security does not finance any services for disabled people through local authorities but, through its network of local offices, provides benefits to disabled people at nationally determined rates.

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he proposes formally to consult disabled people, and their organisations. on the review of disability benefits.

Organisations representing disabled people are already commenting on the published findings of the surveys of disability carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. We welcome those comments, which contribute to the process of reviewing disability benefits in the light of the OPCS data. As I said in my reply to the right hon. Member on 17 April at column 10, I hope to announce a timetable for further action after all the survey results have been published in July.

38.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the United Kingdom has been involved in any European programmes for the disabled.

43.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the United Kingdom has participated in any European programmes for the disabled.

The United Kingdom participated in the European Commission's first action programme for the disabled (1983–1987), and is currently participating in the second follow on action programme called Handicapped people in Europe Living Independently in an Open Society (HELIOS). This programme involves setting up local model activities to represent good practice in vocational and economic integration, social integration and independent living, and educational integration.In addition in 1988 the United Kingdom allocated £27·8 million from the European social fund towards vocational training projects for the disabled re-entering the open labour market. This represents the largest allocation to any EC member state for 1988 and accounts for just under 8 per cent. of the allocation to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the increase in real terms in spending on social security benefits for the sick and disabled since 1978–79; and what proportion of this increase has been due to (a) the increase in the number of people receiving benefit, (b) increases in the actual benefit rates and (c) increases in the total real value of payments for reasons other than (b).

Spending on the long-term sick and disabled increased by £3·5 billion in real terms between 1978–79 and 1988–89, a real increase of 90 per cent. Increases in the numbers of beneficiaries account for about 90 per cent. of the real increase and the balance of 10 per cent. represents a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the increase in the amount of benefit paid as requested in (b) and (c). A full comparison of benefit rates in 1978–79 and 1988–89 cannot be made because of the changes to the income-related benefits over this period.

Expectant Mothers

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make a statement on benefit allowances for expectant mothers.

A pregnant woman who has worked during her pregnancy will generally get 18 weeks statutory maternity pay (SMP) from her employer. The rate payable depends on her length of service and earnings, but if she has worked for the same employer for at least two years she will get 90 per cent. of her earnings for the first six weeks of payment. A pregnant woman with a recent employment record who does not qualify for SMP will get 18 weeks maternity allowance (MA) from the Department of Social Security. Pregnant women on low incomes also qualify for income support under the normal rules for that payment. Where they are in receipt of income support or family credit they can, in addition, claim an £85 social fund maternity payment.

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings will be made in 1989–90 by not uprating the social fund payment to pregnant women on income support in line with other benefits.

Since there is no statutory duty to uprate social fund maternity payments, no saving arises in 1989–90. However, to have increased such payments in line with other benefits would have cost about £650,000.

Family Credit

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if statistical information is available on the number of claimants and subsequent recipients of family credit in each area of the United Kingdom; and what arrangements are being made to monitor the take-up rate during the current campaign.

Information is now available on the number of people actually receiving family credit in each local social security office area in Great Britain immediately before the start of the current take-up campaign, and this information will be updated from time to time as part of the monitoring of the campaign. A similar breakdown of the number of claims for family credit is not available. Information about take-up rates can only be obtained retrospectively, from family expenditure survey data, and only on a national basis.

Community Charge

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the arrangements for paying the community charge rebate.

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the arrangements for paying the community charge rebate.

39.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the arrangements for paying the community charge rebate.

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Members for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes) and for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hughes) earlier today.

Efficiency

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has as to whether the social security reforms have increased efficiency in the social security system.

There is considerable evidence that the social security reforms have resulted in benefits being directed more accurately and promptly. For example, income support (formerly supplementary benefit) error rates are down from 12 to 8 per cent. claims clearance times have fallen from six to five days and, for family credit (formerly family income supplement), claims clearance times have fallen from 18 to 16·5 working days.

Invalid Care Allowance

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the outturn for 1988–89 in invalid care allowance; and what has been the increase in real terms over the past five years.

The estimated outturn for invalid care allowance in 1988–89 is £160 million. This represents an increase in real terms of 1,043 per cent since 1984–85.

Residential Homes

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last reviewed the payment limits for residential homes.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham) earlier today.

37.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last reviewed the payment limits for residential homes.

I refer the hon. Members to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham) earlier today.

45.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has had from Oxfordshire social services on benefit levels for private residential nursing and rest homes.

We have received a letter from the director of social services for Oxfordshire about the levels of benefit available to people in homes. A reply has been sent.

Family Expenditure

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much he estimates expenditure on the family has increased under this Government.

Excluding the extra help needed because unemployment was rising, support for families fell between 1974–75 and 1978–79 by 7 per cent. in real terms —or £500 million in 1988–89 values. Under this Government, the real increase up to 1988–89 was £1.8 billion (£1,840 million)—a rise of 27·3 per cent.

Disaster Fund Payments

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether payments made from any disaster fund raised by public donations affect the housing allowances or other social security benefit entitlement of the recipient; and if he will make a statement.

Payments from disaster funds do not affect the majority of social security benefits.The income-related benefits—income support, family credit and housing benefit—may be affected by payments from disaster funds but this will depend on the size and nature of the payments. The first £5 per week of any regular payment may be disregarded and a lump sum payment will not affect benefit unless it takes the claimant's capital over £3,000. An income of £1 per week is assumed for every £250, or part thereof, of capital between £3,000 and £6,000 in income support and family credit, and between £3,000 and £8,000 in housing benefit. No income support or family credit is payable if the capital held is over £6,000, and no housing benefit is available if it is over £8,000. However, capital held on trust, may be disregarded. For example, any payment made from a disaster fund because of a personal injury, which is placed on trust, is fully disregarded for at least two years and, in the case of a child, for as long as the child is a dependant. Any actual payments from the trust will be taken into account as income or capital in the normal way. In addition, any payment made to a third party will be completely disregarded if it is used to provide goods or services which are not already met by benefit. Officials continue to liaise with the administrators of the Hillsborough disaster fund and they have advised them of the social security rules.The 1989 Social Security Bill will not result in any social security benefit being recovered from payments made from any disaster fund.

Family Support

41.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the level of Government financial support for the family in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) earlier today.

"The Business Of Service"

42.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is acting on any of the recommendations made in "The Business of Service" report.

The Department is taking action on all the recommendations of "The Business of Service" report. When we published the report in June 1988 my right hon. Friend anounced to the House that we had not rejected any of the report's 54 recommendations, although some needed further work. A copy of the action plan giving details of our response to all the report's recommendations was placed in the Library in January this year. A full implementation report will be prepared by the autumn.Substantial progress is being made on the recommendations which need further work and we are in the process of implementing the recommendations we have accepted. In particular, my hon. Friend will be aware that we have already announced plans for relocation of some work from some London social security offices. My right hon. Friend also announced on 17 May the publication of a national definition of service, the setting of new performance targets and plans to turn social security operations work into "Next Steps" agencies.

Reforms (Monitoring)

48.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he is doing to monitor the social security reforms.

We have given an undertaking to monitor all aspects of the social security reforms. This is a continuing process and is showing that the reforms are meeting their main objectives in producing a benefit system that is easier to understand and administer, that is better targeted on priority groups and that enhances rather than obstructs individual responsibility and choice.The monitoring process has also enabled us to make improvements where these have been shown to be necessary. For example, since April 1988:

—the capital limit for housing benefit has been increased from £6,000 to £8,000, at a cost of £30 million;

—transitional payments of housing benefit have been introduced for pensioners, working families with children, sick and disabled people and widows, at a cost of £70 million;

—£70 million extra help has been given to poorer families with children on top of a normal uprating;

—nearly £200 million extra will be available to older and disabled pensioners from October this year, on top of their uprated benefits;

—the independent living fund has been established to enable severely disabled people to live independently in the community;

—extra help will be given, from July this year, to 16 and 17-year-olds who are forced to live away from home;

—women widowed before the introduction of the reforms have had their benefit restored in line with the expectations that they formed then;

—premiums within income support are being extended to all claimants receiving urgent cases payments, notably asylum seekers.

I believe that these measures demonstrate the Government's readiness to respond quickly in those areas where fine tuning is shown to be necessary and that they add to the success and underlying coherence of the reforms.

Dorothy Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department will pay Dorothy Moran her claim for the higher rate of attendance allowance as upheld by the social security commissioners, under their issued decision CA/139/1988; and if he will make a statement.

The tribunal of social security commissioners decision CA/139/1988 did not award Mrs. Moran the higher rate of attendance allowance, but it found that the independent attendance allowance board had made errors in law in its decision that she satisfied only the medical criteria for the lower rate of the allowance. The board is in the process of reviewing its decision in the light of the commissioners' findings.

National Insurance Contributions

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each year since 1979 the total number of prosecutions initiated by the Department of Social Security against employers for failure to pay over national insurance contributions.

The Department uses both civil and criminal proceedings to recover national insurance contributions that have not been paid over by employers. The information requested is not available prior to 1983–84. The available information is as follows:

	Civil proceedings	Criminal proceedings
1983–84	2,080	1,971
1984–85	1,570	1,326
1985–86	1,259	13
1986–87	1,508	15
1987–88	1,254	10
1988–89	1,522	6

The reduction in criminal proceedings after 1984–85 resulted partly from the repeal of section 152(4) of the Social Security Act 1975.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each year since 1979 the total amount of unpaid national insurance contributions.

The information is as follows:

Year	Amount £
1979–80	8,659,576
1980–81	69,687,552
1981–82	30,402,682
1982–83	73,073,351
1983–84	83,505,000
1984–85	77,606,000
1985–86	94,325,000
1986–87	99,794,000
1987–88	94,952,000

Notes:

1. Prior to 1980–81, amounts of unpaid national insurance contributions transferred from Inland Revenue were recorded only when the Department had abandoned hopes of recovery. As a result, a significant total debt accumulated, much of which was eventually abandoned. From 1980–81, it was decided to record as unpaid amounts transferred from Inland Revenue in the year the transfer took place. Outstanding sums transferred in earlier years amounting to £40,764,693 were therefore included in the figure shown for 1980–81.

2. The amount shown for 1981–82 was affected by industrial action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each year since 1979 (a) the total number of inquiries from local Department of Social Security offices to the contributions office in Newcastle and (b) the number of inquiries returned because they cannot be linked to any record of contributions.

Records show that the number of inquiries to DSS Newcastle central office from all sources, including local offices of the Department, is as follows:

	Number
1981–82	10,846,742
1982–83	24,542,960
1983–84	19,706,292
1984–85	18,384,182
1985–86	30,451,984
1986–87	37,465,803
1987–88	22,887,640
1988–89	23,254,859

No information is available for years before 1981–82.Records are kept of the number of items which are rejected during computer processing, but records of the number of items rejected because no account has been traced are not maintained separately. For 1988–89 the overall total of rejected items was 721,960.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each year since 1979 (a) the total number of claimants requesting that contributions are deemed paid under regulation 39 of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1979 and (b) the number of such requests granted; and if he will also give these figures broken down according to type of benefit claimed.

No record is kept of the number of claimants who request deeming of contributions under regulation 39 of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1979. Regulation 39 is applied only where the secondary contributor is unable to pay arrears of contributions due. This usually happens when an employer is bankrupt or goes into liquidation. Where claimants to benefit find that their contribution record is deficient and report the fact that they have paid contributions to DSS, investigations are commenced to recover the moneys due. As benefit rights in respect of all such employees are protected records, the number of these reports is not maintained.

Martin Smale

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now prepare a statement of case with regard to Martin William John Smale of Grosvenor house, lvybridge; and why no action has taken place since completed forms in respect of an appeal were acknowledged as having been received by the DHSS on 28 June 1988.

A statement of case has been prepared in respect of the war pension entitlement appeal lodged by Martin William John Smale of Grosvenor house, Ivybridge. Medical branch is currently preparing the opinion of medical division which accompanies the statement of case. Both documents will be despatched to Mr. Smale's representative within the month.At the time of lodging the appeal, Mr. Smale's representative made representations about the terms of Mr. Smale's discharge from the Navy. War pensions branch made inquiries to the Ministry of Defence and wrote to Mr. Smale's representative about the findings on 20 April. This was in addition to preparing the statement of case and seeking medical advice.

Widows

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has and from what sources, on the proportion of widows, under 45 years, who remarry.

Latest available information indicates that about 90 per cent. of widows aged 44 and under remarry within 10 years. This information was published in Population Trends No. 30 (January 1983), in table 3 of the article by John Haskey of OPCS, entitled "Widowhood, Widowerhood and Remarriage".

Maternity Benefits

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what comparative assessment he has made of the United Kingdom system of maternity benefits as against those of European Community countries.

Social fund budgeting loans, crisis loans and community care grants for year 1988–89
Estimated percentages of numbers of awards by client group
Client group	Budgeting loans	Crisis loans	Community care grants
Not known or unallocated	0·5	0·2	0·4
Applicant or partner aged 60 or over
80 and over, with IS higher pensioner premium	0·3	0·1	4·5
Aged 60–79, disabled with higher pensioner premium	0·6	0·1	3·7
Aged 60–79	3·9	0·9	14·3
Applicant and partner aged under 60
Lone parents with IS disability premium	0·4	0·2	0·9
Family with IS disability premium	3·6	1·3	3·4
Others with IS disability premium	3·6	1·5	10·0
Lone parents	43·9	19·8	25·2
Unemployed, signing quarterly at UBO, with IS family premium	0·7	0·1	0·7
Unemployed, signing quarterly at UBO, without IS family premium	2·1	0·5	1·5
Unemployed or with training allowance, with IS family premium	16·7	13·8	9·5
Unemployed or with training allowance, without IS family premium	18·8	42·8	16·4
Others, with IS family premium	1·0	1·1	2·0
Others, without IS family premium	3·8	5·9	6·3
Involved in a trade dispute	0·0	0·0	0·0
Not on IS	n/a	11·8	1·1
Total	100·0	100·0	100·0

n/a = Not applicable.

Note: Percentages are based on data from June 1988 to March 1989.

I refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard) earlier today.

Appeal Procedures

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further steps he proposes to take to speed up the social security appeals procedures.

Delays in hearing social security appeals are steadily decreasing due to a reduction in their volume caused largely by the introduction of the social fund and the replacement of supplementary benefit by the simpler scheme of income support.The administrative procedures involved are undertaken partly by the president of social security and medical appeal tribunals, and partly by the Department of Social Security. However, overall responsibility for appeals processing lies with the president, and the hon. Member may wish to take up the matter directly with him.

Grants And Loans

To ask the Secretary of State For Social Security what percentage of (a) budgeting loans, (b) crisis loans and (c) community care grants were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department since the introduction of the social fund.

[holding answer 9 May 1989]: The latest provisional estimates based on data from June 1988 to March 1989 are given in the table.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide as much information as possible about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising, without breaching commercial confidentiality, over each of the past five years.

The Department has spent £1,978,831 on commercial television air time since being formed in August 1988. Prior to that expenditure on TV advertising was incurred by the Department of Health and Social Security. Between May 1984 and July 1988 that figure was £1,752,745.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much advertising air time his Department purchased with each commercial television company in each of the last five years.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: I regret that this information is commercially confidential.

Volume 153: debated on Monday 22 May 1989

Written Answers To Questions

Wales

National Museum Of Wales

Cottage Hospital (Caernarfon)

Naval Nuclear Weapons (Accidents)

Schools (Shotton)

Clwyd Local Education Authority

Health Authorities (Building Programmes)

Woodland Grant Scheme

Advertising

Bathing Water

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Czechoslovakia (Human Rights)

European Community

Philippines (Military Aid)

Employment

Labour Statistics

Unemployment Insurance

Part-Time Workers

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Advertising

Training

Northern Ireland

Housing Executive (Grants)

Taxi Service (Castlereagh)

Wild Birds (Conservation)

Health Board Staff

Hospital Closures

Capital Projects (Health Boards)

Health And Social Services (Expenditure)

Advertising

Education And Science

Student Numbers

National Curriculum

Higher Education

Higher Education (Principals' Salaries)

Teachers' Pay Award

Geological Survey

Animal Encephalopathies

Bushloe High School

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Common Agricultural Policy

Fishing Vessels

Hedgerows

Business Initiatives

Deregulation

Tobacco (Ec)

Scrapie

Tyrrell Committee

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Animal Products

Slaughterhouses

Ruminant Feedstuffs

Icelandic Fish

Porcine Somatotropin

Veterinary Staff

Environment

Sea Pollution

Child Abuse

Playing Fields

Community Charge

Un Environment Convention

Air Pollution

Pollution Inspectorate

Water Privatisation

Standing Charges (Water)

Toxic Waste

Football Spectators (Identity Cards)

Methyl Chloroform And Carbon Tetrachloride

Methanes

Bridge Street (Subway)

Water Authorities (Land)

Sea Mammals

National Finance

Recruiting Policies

Privatisation

Passenger Ferries (Safety)

Lloyd's Underwriters