To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what is his policy for co-ordinating processing arrangements in connection with printed matter and material held in the various museums, archives and libraries which are the responsibility of his Department;(2) what study he has made of the processing arrangements for printed matter and material under development in the United States of America, Canada and Austria; if any useful lessons have been learned from the techniques employed in these and other countries; and if he intends to introduce changes in British practice.

It is for the institutions themselves to ensure that their processing arrangements are efficient and up to date and to keep in touch with developments. The British Library, for example, is among the leaders in the development of bibliographic standards and techniques and works closely with libraries and other institutions both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the use made of the educational opportunities afforded to schools by arts bodies.

I believe that arts bodies, museums and galleries and public libraries all offer valuable ways of supplementing and supporting the teaching in schools. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I are commissioning work on a package of material, illustrating good practice, which will be distributed to all maintained schools early next year. The booklet will provide examples of the range of learning opportunities available in the contemporary arts and in museums and will show how these and similar initiatives in related fields can have wider educational applications.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the index of manufacturing output for each of the standard regions and Wales for each 12-month period from June 1979 to June 1988, inclusive.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: Information on the standard regions of England is not available; using latest published data, the indices of manufacturing output for Wales are as follows:

Year1	Wales
1979–80	99·1
1980–81	90·6
1981–82	94·9

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the index of production industries in each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales for each 12-month period from June 1979 to June 1988.

[holding answer 19 May 1989]: Information on the standard regions of England is not available; using latest published data, the indices of production for Scotland and for Wales are as given below:

Year1	Scotland	Wales
1979–80	99·6	105·9
1980–81	92·4	95·2
1981–82	93·6	97·7
1982–83	93·0	98·5
1983–84	95·4	98·1
1984–85	98·2	95·5
1985–86	99·2	102·5
1986–87	97·9	108·2
1987–88	102·9	119·2
1985 = 100, seasonally adjusted.
1 Averages for the periods 3rd quarter to 2nd quarter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the revised proposals by the European Economic Community for the revision of value added tax arrangements in the United Kingdom, and, in particular, what items, at present zero-rated, would require to be taxed; and if there are any other proposals linked to the arrangements proposed by the European Economic Community for changes in excise duty.

[holding answer 22 May 1989]: The Commission announced its revised thinking on indirect taxation in the single market on 17 May. It now accepts that some zero rates may be retained, but still seeks a measure of tax approximation in the shape of an unspecified minimum standard rate for VAT; a reduced VAT rate band as previously proposed; and, as yet unspecified, minimum rates or rate bands for excise duties. It also suggests quadrupling the tax-paid travellers' allowances and doubling the duty paid allowances on alcohol and tobacco in stages by 1992. Announcement of its technical proposals for fiscal control of exciseable goods has been deferred until August.The Commission's admission that zero rates are acceptable in principle is clearly a step forward and a vindication of our firm stance, and we welcome it; but we shall obviously need to clarify a number of elements, given our very clear commitments in this area. We also welcome the proposals on travellers' allowances, for which we have been pressing. Other parts of the Commission's revised thinking, such as its continued desire for tax approximation, are less welcome; our position on that issue is unchanged.These proposals would require the unanimous assent of all member states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of taxation on tobacco products.

Since 1979, the combined burden of duty and VAT on cigarettes has risen by nearly 50 per cent. in real terms. The level of duty in the United Kingdom remains the highest in the Economic Community, with the exception of Denmark.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the annual revenue from alcohol taxation.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr. Gardiner) on 14 April 1989 at columns 739–40.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) of 27 February, Official Report, column 27, how many people earn less than the respective point at which the tax benefit withdrawal level falls to 34 per cent.

[holding answer 24 April 1989]: I have been asked to reply.Reliable estimates are not available on the basis requested. Estimates of the number of full-time workers in receipt of income-related benefits and facing combined income tax and benefit withdrawal rates in excess of 40 per cent. were given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 8 May at column

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last reviewed his Department's policy in respect of the funding of capital projects for Church-aided schools.

The COGE (control of grant aided expenditure) working group was set up in 1986 to examine methods of improving the control of grant-aided expenditure for voluntary aided and special agreement schools. My right hon. Friend accepted its recommendations for improved procedures designed to secure more reliable predictions of capital expenditure needs at voluntary aided schools. The group concluded that the Department's priorities for the funding of voluntary school building projects were fair and just. Each year bids for work are carefully scrutinised to ensure that resources are targeted to those projects where needs are greatest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of nursery places per 1,000 children in the shire counties; what is the average figure for the metropolitan districts; and what factors account for the difference between the figures.

Information on nursery places is not collected centrally. The number of pupils under five attending maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools in England in January 1988 per 1,000 of estimated population aged three and four in each non-metropolitan county and the overall average for metropolitan districts is given in the following table. A variety of factors may account for the differences between the figures including local policies on the education and care of the under-fives and the priority given by successive Governments to the most disadvantaged areas.

Number of pupils under five in maintained nursery schools and classes per 1,000 children in the population1January 1988
	Pupils
Avon	151
Bedfordshire	300
Berkshire	244
Buckinghamshire	121
Cambridgeshire	118
Cheshire	208
Cleveland	536
Cornwall2	141
Cumbria	212
Derbyshire	284
Devon	99
Dorset	60
Durham	387
East Sussex	70
Essex	59
Gloucestershire	0
Hampshire	49
Hereford and Worcester	61
Hertfordshire	297
Humberside	329
Isle of Wight	56
Kent	51
Lancashire	170
Leicestershire	216
Lincolnshire	75
Norfolk	52
North Yorkshire	179
Northamptonshire	176
Northumberland	262
Nottinghamshire	472
Oxfordshire	127
Shropshire	115
Somerset	8
Staffordshire	224
Suffolk	142
Surrey	114
Warwickshire	177
West Sussex	34
Wiltshire	21
Total non-metropolitan counties	167
Total metropolitan districts	374
England	239
1 The estimated population aged three and four.
2 Includes Isles of Scilly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will take to ensure that students aged 18 years will not pay the full community charge during the period between leaving school and entering higher or further education later in the year; and what effect this will have on student loans or grants.

School leavers aged 18 will, after leaving school, remain exempt from community charge for as long as they are the subject of continuing entitlement to child benefit. Once that entitlement has expired, a person aged 18, and between school and higher or further education, will be liable to the full community charge, but will be able to claim rebate on the charge, provided that his income or resources (or, in the case of a couple, their joint income or resources) do not disqualify him from the rebate. Once enrolled full-time in further or higher education, that person will become eligible to a rebate of 80 per cent. of the full charge, and his previous status will be irrelevant to eligibility for grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of the Association of University Teachers; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. Friend has not recently met the AUT, but we are in touch with it from time to time in the same way as we are in touch with a wide variety of bodies in order to keep abreast of developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in response to the Elton report on school discipline.

My right hon. Friend has to date received three letters commenting on the report of the committee of inquiry on discipline in schools, chaired by Lord Elton, which was published on 13 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of teachers in (a) Surrey and (b) England leave the profession within five years.

Information is not available in respect of Surrey, nor nationally in the precise form requested. However it is estimated that amongst teachers trained in England and Wales who enter full-time service in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector in England and Wales, 35 per cent. leave again within five years of qualification. About a fifth of these leavers re-enter service within the same five-year period, and many more do so subsequently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance he gives to local education authorities and schools for the secure storage of public examination papers; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the examining bodies themselves to establish procedures governing the security of question papers and for individual schools and colleges acting as examination centres to ensure compliance with them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made to distribute the video cassettes of the film entitled "Jean Monnet, Father of Europe" made available by the European Commission, among schools in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of these have been distributed to Hampshire and Havant, respectively.

The European Commission has not supplied copies of the video cassette to my Department for general distribution. A limited number of copies is available from

• The London Office of the Commission of the European Communities
• Jean Monnet House
• London
• SW1P 3AT

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he can give an estimate of the current value of research into the causes, prevention and treatment of all forms of cancer; and how much is attributable to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from this Department, is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. I understand that, in 1987–88, the last financial year for which figures are available, the council's expenditure for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of all forms of cancer was £9·9 million. The corresponding figure for the Department of Health was £2·3 million.In addition, university departments and medical schools support a range of basic research from public funds, some of which will be relevant to cancer research.Information is not collected centrally on the whole range of organisations funding research into the causes,prevention and treatment of all forms of cancer. I understand from the latest edition of the handbook of the Association of Medical Research Charities that the research expenditure of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund for the year to 30 September 1987 was £41·8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in considering local management schemes, he will ensure that local education authorities retain as an exception from delegation, sufficient funds to meet the overhead costs of teacher exchange schemes.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 December 1988, at column 389.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the provision in British Coal accounts for 1988–89 for coal mining subsidence damage costs;

Administration of the subsidence compensation and repair system, including making the necessary provisions in the accounts, is a matter for British Coal. Details on the level of provisions are given each year in the annual report and accounts, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. Details of the number and cost of claims settled, broken down by coalfield areas, are provided in British Coal's annual report to the Secretary of State for Energy, the first of which was placed in the House of Commons Library towards the end of last year. I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member if any additional information is readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to relax the statutory regulation of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to enable it to exploit market opportunities more fully.

I have no plans to do so at present, although the matter is under discussion with the AEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has considered the British Coal Corporation's initial response to the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the corporation's investment programme.

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the MMC published its report on the investment programme of British Coal on 25 January. The corporation has now provided its initial response, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.The MMC rightly draws attention to British Coal's impressive achievement over the last five years in reducing costs and restructuring the industry, but identifies a need for a more cohesive and systematic approach towards its business planning, including fuller and more regular analysis of risk scenarios and contingency responses, greater use of modelling, and more local input on business prospects as the market evolves. I share the commission's view that these are priority areas for attention.The United Kingdom market for coal is becoming increasingly open, with greater price differentials both regionally and as between market sectors. This makes it particularly important to identify, and base business decisions upon, the true profitability of individual coal flows, so that management at all levels can respond promptly and concertedly to the impact of market developments on profitability. Exposure to loss-making business must be reduced if the corporation is to achieve its objective of maximising profitability. I accordingly welcome the corporation's intention to continue to adapt its business planning systems and organisation to meet changing circumstances, and I expect the detailed steps taken under each of the commission's recommendations to be fully set out in the corporation's further responses to the MMC report. My recent appointment of a second deputy chairman should help to strengthen the corporation's efforts in this direction over the coming year.The commission concluded that British Coal's controls over capital investment are generally good, and expressed confidence that the corporation's investment programme is achieving a rate of return of at least 5 per cent. Since its report was published, the Government have increased the required rate of return to 8 per cent, and I will be considering with British Coal over the next 12 months the implications of this for the test discount rates for individual categories of expenditure.I do not share the commission's view that the Asfordby project was never viable; as British Coal points out, an independent review in July 1983 suggested that at that stage an acceptable rate of return could be achieved. But I agree that such large projects, particularly where lead times and payback periods are long, tend to be financially more risky than many other types of expenditure, and that this requires to be fully recognised in the criteria for initial investment appraisal. This should minimise the risk of future projects being 'piece-mealed through time'; as regards Asfordby itself, it is important that the substantial balance of the expenditure still uncommitted should show a robust financial return. I also share the commission's view that, in general, conditional approval should not be given in advance of a sound financial prospectus.I welcome British Coal's acceptance of the need to assess the system effect of large projects involving new capacity; as the commission recognises, however, even relatively small amounts of new capacity can have a significant effect in localised or special quality markets. I also welcome the importance attached by both the commission and British Coal to the spread of six-day operations and other more flexible working patterns.I share the commission's view that new medium-term financial objectives need to be agreed between the corporation and Government, but I recognise that these cannot be sensibly finalised ahead of the coming negotiations with National Power and Power Gen on the terms of coal supply beyond January 1990. In the meantime the external financing path to 1991–92 which I announced to the House on 6 February provides a provisional basis for forward planning.I am anxious that early progress should be made on this agenda. Under the normal arrangements for the follow-up to M MC recommendations arising from section 11 inquiries, British Coal will be reporting to me after one and three years on progress achieved in implementing the recommendations. I shall lay its report before the House next spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community's Council of Energy Ministers on 11 May.

I represented my right hon. Friend at the Council.The Council decided on a programme for improving the efficiency of electricity use and approved recommendations aimed at reducing any distortions of competition between oil refineries resulting from differences in environmental protection standards. It agreed conclusions setting a framework for detailed discussions of Thermie, a proposed new scheme for demonstrating and disseminating new technology in the energy sector, including efficient use of energy; the existing schemes are due to finish at the end of this year. Eleven member states, including the United Kingdom, similarly agreed a framework for discussing improvements in energy price transparency. No conclusions were reached in a discussion on trade between integrated electricity systems, during which I stressed the importance of consumer choice and competition.Arrangements will be made for the Energy Council to convey its opinion to the Internal Market Council before any decisions are taken on the energy aspects of the Commission's proposals on procurement in the energy, water and transport sectors.In an inconclusive discussion of the 1975 directive controlling the use of gas for generating electricity, the United Kingdom strongly urged its repeal, particularly on environmental grounds, but also in the interests of competition, exploration and efficiency. The Commission was unwilling to propose repeal before the next review of the Community's energy objectives, but would do so if it were shown that the directive restricted the development of the gas industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the population have taken out personal pensions since the reform of pension arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Since July 1988, around 3 million people have taken out a personal pension: this is equivalent to about 11 per cent. of the working population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the take up of family credit as a percentage of total family credit budgets for each of the DSS offices in Glasgow.

Family credit is dealt with centrally, and expenditure estimates are made for Great Britain as a whole. Similarly, information about percentage take up rates can be obtained only for Great Britain, and only retrospectively, from family expenditure survey data.At the beginning of April 1989, the number of families receiving family credit who were living in the areas covered by each of the local social security offices in Glasgow at the time the award was made was as follows:

	Number
Glasgow (Anniesland)	646
Glasgow (Bridgeton)	143
Glasgow (City)	341
Glasgow (Craigton)	403
Glasgow (Cumbernauld)	600
Glasgow (Laurieston)	367
Glasgow (Maryhill)	336
Glasgow (Parkhead)	575
Glasgow (Partick)	20
Glasgow (Provan)	875
Glasgow (Rutherglen)	658
Glasgow (South Side)	516
Glasgow (Springburn)	275

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants' claims for transitional protection failed, in total and as a percentage of the whole.

At 18 May 1989, a total of 474,974 applications for housing benefit transitional payments had been received. Of these 446,035 had been assessed and in 247,623 cases (52 per cent. of all applications) no benefit was payable. Of the cases outstanding the majority are awaiting the return of inquiry forms about housing benefit details from local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much money is being allocated for the national advertising campaign in respect of social fund community care grants;(2) if he will place in the Library the national consultancy report on which the forthcoming advertising campaign in respect of social fund community care grants has been based;(3) how its forthcoming national advertising campaign in respect of social fund community care grants is being conducted; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will place in the Library the draft formats of any posters, leaflets, and so on relating to the forthcoming advertising campaign in respect of social fund community care grants;(5) if he will be making available additional funds to advice agencies during the forthcoming advertising campaign in respect of social fund community care grants;(6) when the national advertising campaign on social fund community care grants is starting;

We have no plans to mount a national advertising campaign in respect of social fund community care grants and we are not aware of any national consultancy report on this subject.We are, however, intending to produce additional information material on the social fund, including community care grants, which will be aimed at potential applicants. Leaflet SB16 "A guide to the Social Fund" is also being revised to take account of forthcoming changes to the social fund manual guidance on community care grants. This new information material should be available to the public this summer. The costs will be met from within the Department's budget for leaflets. We do not think that it would be helpful to lay draft copies in the Library, but we shall ensure that copies of the final versions are made available.Our intention is to provide both potential applicants and advice agencies with better information about the scheme than they have at present. There is therefore no need for additional funds to be made available to advice agencies as a result of this initiative, nor do we intend to increase the community care grants budget allocation for the current year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to establish the resettlement units executive agency; and if he will make a statement.

The resettlement units executive agency will tomorrow become the first part of the Department of Social Security to achieve agency status. Its main aim is to provide help and assistance to a group of people who are among the most disadvantaged. There are two key tasks: first, to manage the existing DSS units efficiently and effectively, examining how to get the best out of the resources available; secondly, to implement the policy set out by the Government in 1985 that the needs of these people, and in particular their prospects for a more settled way of life, could more appropriately be met in accommodation that is locally run and administered by local authorities and by voluntary organisations rather than in large centrally run institutions.The units provide 1,836 beds, 670 of which are in London, for single homeless people. In addition to providing food and shelter, the units seek to encourage users to adopt a more settled way of life and to help them to find accommodation of their own.The agency will be a more effective way of carrying out that work. Efficiency targets have been set, but in accordance with the promises made by the Government in 1985 all efficiency savings will be retained by the agency. A more clearly defined timetable for taking forward the replacement programme will be developed. The new concept of a single agency budget, and the flexibilities given within that, will facilitate the work of the chief executive in deploying all the resources available in the best interests of the users of resettlement accommodation.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she plans to make an official visit to the Vale of Glamorgan.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if she proposes to make an official visit to Romania.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to minimise the risk of collisions between fishing vessels and submarines.

The Royal Navy already takes the greatest care to ensure that the risk of collisions between submarines and fishing vessels or their gear is very low. I understand that the hon. Member recently visited the Clyde with a group of Members from this House and that some suggestions were made for technical improvements to fishing vessels to reduce the risk further. These suggestions will, of course, be considered on their merits.

To ask the Prime Minister what information she has received concerning the rate of destruction of the world's forests for each of the past 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Data on the rate of destruction of the world's forests are not available on an annual basis. The latest internationally comparable figures were published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1982 and relate to tropical forests during the period 1976–1980. Annual deforestation rates for all tropical closed forests by region and worldwide were:

	Tropical closed forest
	Area lost(Millions of hectares/year)	Per cent. of total area
Africa	1·33	0·61
Asia, Pacific	1·82	0·59
Latin America	4·12	0·61
Total	7·27	0·61

Comparable data for earlier periods are not available. The FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme will make a second forest resources assessment in 1990.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the circumstances in which Her Majesty's Government would order the firing of nuclear weapons.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister why thre is no system of felling licences to protect Northern Ireland's broadleaved woodlands; if she will extend the United Kingdom system of felling licences to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

The 1970 White Paper "Forestry in Northern Ireland" stated that the Government felt that there was no longer the need for restrictive legislation on the felling of trees and proposed that the relevant legislation be repealed. This was done in 1982. There are no proposals to reintroduce felling licences in Northern Ireland. The Department of Environment for Northern Ireland has powers to make an order (known as a tree preservation order) to prohibit the cutting down of trees.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.

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

To ask the Prime Minister whether an award is to be made to members of the armed forces and civilians who were engaged in recent operations in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

In recognition of service and with special regard to the dangers and hardships which accompanied duty there, for personnel who served in vessels of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, her Majesty the Queen has graciously approved the award of the General Service Medal 1962 with "Gulf-clasp. The award covers operations in the Gulf of Oman between 17 November 1986 and 31 October 1988 and continuing mine counter-measures operations in the Gulf from 1 November 1988 until 28 February 1989. A Command Paper (Cm. 699) which, inter alia, sets out the criteria of eligibility, is being laid before the House today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Milk Marketing Board about the use of bovine somatotropin on dairy herds in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has assessed the implications of his agricultural policies on employment in the countryside in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The level of employment on agricultural holdings in Wales in 1988 was marginally higher than in 1983. Grants and subsidies paid to Welsh farmers in 1988 are provisionally estimated to have amounted to £106 million, significantly contributing both directly and indirectly to rural employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (I) if he will make a statement concerning nurses' regrading in Wales;(2) how many nurses are involved in regrading in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Livsey) on 20 March 1989 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Welsh Office at column 435. Some 24,787 posts were involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to release empty property belonging to his Department for use by homeless people; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Office currently holds some 150 dwellings. Where practical, they are used for letting or sale to those in need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on homelessness in Wales.

1 am concerned as long as there are any families in Wales without permanent homes. That is why the Government have made such a substantial investment in recent years in measures to increase the supply of housing available. We have also encouraged local authorities to make better use of their stock and reduce the number of families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to complete the review of the first year's work of the Singleton casualty unit since it restored a 24-hour service; and when would be an appropriate date to meet a further deputation led by the right hon. Member for Swansea, West to discuss the future development of the unit.

The first year of operation of the 24-hour service at the Singleton minor casualty unit will end at the beginning of June. I would therefore expect the review of its work to end by the autumn. If the right hon. Gentleman contacts my office, I shall be happy to arrange a meeting with a deputation led by him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which grant systems are available for a project to reopen the Mumbles railway in Swansea; what are their criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Welsh Office officials have not been informed of any firm proposal to reopen the Mumbles railway. Without precise details, we cannot make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for Wales the number of (a) acute beds and (b) non-acute beds available since 1979 for each health authority in Wales.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 15 May 1989 at column 38.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the Welsh water authority's attitude towards the proposals to afforest Bara Ceirch and Bwlch-y-Garreg in the Cambrian mountains; and what provisions have been made for the timing of this afforestation.

In the light of objections raised by the Welsh water authority to the afforestation proposals for these two sites, the applicants were informed by the Forestry Commission that grant approval would depend on a suitable liming regime being agreed with the water authority. Such an agreement has not so far proved possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVII, votes 5, 8 and 10 in 1989–90.

Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limit for class XVII, vote 5 will be increased by £100,000, from £273,611,000 to £273,711,000; the cash limit for class XVII, vote 8 will be increased by £6,800,000, from £823,710,000 to £830,510,000; and the cash limit for class XVII, vote 10 will be increased by £47,000, from £1,049,000,000 to £1,049,047,000.The increases for class XVII, votes 5 and 8 follow the decision to implement the recommendations of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine and on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16 February 1989. These increases will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.The increase for class XVII, vote 10 is in respect of an adjustment to a local authority's prior year entitlement to block grant. Expenditure on this vote is not classed as direct public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that adequate numbers of operatives and trainees are available to undertake community energy action work in draughtproofing and loft insulation in Wales.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: A package of measures was announced on 10 February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to help community insulation projects under employment training. Projects which are not suitable for ET might be suitable for providing voluntary work for people who have finished employment training as a means of practising their skills until they find work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the contribution made to the well-being of elderly people and other vulnerable people in Wales by programmes of community energy action work including draughtproofing and loft insulation in each of the last 10 years; and what targets he intends to set for each of the next five years.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: It is essentially a matter for the placement providers to consider the contribution their projects will make to the well-being of the elderly and other vulnerable people in their areas. The elderly will benefit from recent changes to the homes insulation scheme to improve loft insulation and the installation of thermal insulation under the new home improvement grant arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the number of trainees undertaking community energy action work in draughtproofing and loft insulation to equal the number so engaged under the community programme in April 1988.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: It is not possible to compare the numbers on community programme with employment training. Their aims are fundamentally different. Whilst CP provided the long-term unemployed with work experience on projects that benefited the community, ET aims to provide individuals with the skills to meet their own training needs and the needs of the local labour market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many trainees were employed on community energy action work such as draughtproofing and loft insulation in each district council area in Wales in April 1988 under the community programme; and how many were employed under employment training in April 1989.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: Figures for district council areas are not available. The following refer to Training Agency area office regions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representatives who attended the Council of Europe's European public campaign on north-south interdependence and solidarity colloquy, interdependence and cultural development, held in Lisbon, Portugal from 7 to 8 April 1988; and if he will show in his answer (a) what country and (b) what organisation these representatives were from.

From the information available to me, I understand that the colloquy was attended by more than 100 participants and observers from a number of countries. These included the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, the President of the Republic of Portugal, representatives from 17 developing countries and from a variety of international organisations, churches and non-governmental organisations. I have asked the Council of Europe secretariat for a full list which I shall forward to the hon. Member in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Russians about the continued failure to grant an exit visa to Edward Boris Zolofarevsky of Moscow.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State raised this case with Mr. Shevardnadze in April. We shall continue to press the Soviet authorities until Mr. Zolofarevsky is allowed to leave the USSR.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the present Parliament about the abduction and taking abroad by their foreign-born fathers of the children of United Kingdom citizen mothers; what information he has of the numbers of such children and the countries where they are now believed to reside; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's interest in cases involving the abduction and taking abroad of children stems from the child's British nationality, irrespective of the nationality or place of birth of its parents. Some of the information requested by my hon. Friend is not therefore available—for example, the place of birth of fathers or the nationality of mothers.The information which can be provided is not immediately available, and a further reply will be given to my hon. Friend in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any representations from any organisation about the denial of human rights in the Punjab, India; and if he will make a statement.

Representations received include a report forwarded by the hon. Member, and the matter was the subject of an Adjournment debate in the House on 11 November 1988.As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on that occasion, the Government have always made clear their views on the need for all Governments to respect human rights. We must, however, recognise that the democratic Government of India faces a violent challenge to the rule of law from ruthless terrorists. The Indian Government none the less announced measures in March aimed at improving the situation in the Punjab.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of public holidays which now exist in the member states of the Economic Community.

The list is as follows:

	Days
Belgium	10
Denmark	10
Federal Republic of Germany	10
France	11
Greece	11
Italy	111
Luxembourg	12
The Netherlands	8
Portugal	13
Republic of Ireland	8
Spain	212
1 plus 2 falling on Sundays.
2 plus I discretionary day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to obtain from the United States Senate for his departmental library the report from the United States judiciary subcommittee on Separation of Powers on Senate Bill 158 of the 97th Congress; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office library purchases United States Committee reports only if their subject is of interest to the FCO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the legislation passed by various American States in 1988 to deal with the so-called dial-a-porn problem.

No. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Library normally obtains only such copies of overseas legislation, other than that of the Commonwealth, as is necessary for day-to-day business.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to control the use of direct mailing advertisements for private health screening services.

Direct mail advertisements, including those for private health screening services, are covered by the British code of advertising practice, which is administered by the Advertising Standards Authority.False statements in advertisements are covered by the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. The Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988 enable the Director General of Fair Trading to seek a court injunction to prevent the publication of a misleading advertisement, where other means of control have failed. I have no plans to introduce any further controls.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many premium rate telephone message and one-on-one services were carried by each of the operators licensed under the Telecommunications Act 1984 for each of the last 12 months.

The telecommunications regime does not oblige individual service providers to register such services. These figures are not, therefore, available. The report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on chatline and message services does, however, provide some indications of the size of the premium rate services area. Its report indicated that some 120 service providers were in business, operating about 11,000 lines. A copy of this MMC report is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many monitoring staff are employed by the independent committee for the supervision of standards of telephone information services; and how many calls they have monitored in each of the past 12 months.

These are matters for the independent committee for the supervision of standards of telephone information services. I understand that the committee is taking an increasingly active role in the monitoring of premium services, but the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman, Louis Blom-Cooper QC, ICSTIS, 67–69 Whitfield Street, London W1P 5RL to request the details he seeks.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the documents in which he he has given directions to the Director General of Telecommunications under section 47 of the Telecommunications Act 1984; and if he will place them in the Library.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has given no directions under section 47 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many projects, and at what cost, have been supplied by regional assistance in the Corby development area in each year since 1979–80.

The information is as follows:

Original regional development grant (RDG I)1 2
Payments
	£ million
1979–80	—
1980–81	0·21
1981–82	2·68
1982–83	6·82
1983–84	6·50
1984–85	2·59
1985–86	1·81
1986–87	3·22
1987–88	2·11
1988–89	1·95
1 Scheme was not project based
2 Only payments of over £25,000 included up to 1983–84

Revised regional development grant (RDG II)1
£ million
	Approvals	Payments	Number of Projects
1985–86	10·03	1·5	191
1986–87	24·23	4·7	207
1987–88	23·13	6·4	224
1988–89	15·18	7·3	171
1Scheme introduced November 1984 and terminated March 1988

Regional selective assistance
£ million
	Offers	Payments	Number of Projects
1979–80	—	—	—
1980–81	1·05	0·03	6
1981–82	3·44	0·31	31
1982–83	6·49	1·43	57
1983–84	6·26	4·47	61
1984–85	2·09	3·45	26
1985–86	1·81	2·89	16
1986–87	1·10	1·58	11
1987–88	0·38	0·96	11
1988–89	0·75	0·37	5

Regional enterprise grants1
£ million
	Offers	Payments	Number of Projects
1988–89	0·36	0·01	32
1 Scheme introduced March 1988

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by year for the last 10 years the value in current prices of polyester silk plants made in the United Kingdom; and how many companies at the latest date for which he has figures are currently producing this product in the United Kingdom.

The figures are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, further to his reply of 27 April, Official Report, columns 614–15, concerning gross output of finished manufactures and imports of semi-manufactures, intermediate products and basic materials, whether he will provide comparable figures for motor cars; and if he will add figures for 1973 and for exports.

The available information is shown in the table:

Motor vehicles1
	Gross output	Exports
	£ billion	£ billion
1979	7·2	1·5
1 Activity Heading 3510 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised) 1980.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, further to his reply of 27 April, Official Report, columns 614–15, concerning gross output of finished manufactures and imports of semi-manufactures, intermediate products and basic materials, whether he will provide comparable figures for electrical and electronic engineering products; and if he will add figures for 1973 and for exports.

The available information is shown in the table:

Electrical and electronic engineering1
	Gross output	Exports
	£ billion	£ billion
1979	11·5	3·2
1 Class 34 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised) 1980.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, further to his reply of 27 April, Official Report, columns 614–15, concerning gross output of finished manufactures and imports of semi-manufactures, intermediate products and basic materials, whether he will provide comparable figures for mechanical engineering products; and if he will add figures for 1973 and for exports.

The available information is shown in the table:

Mechanical engineering1
	Gross output	Exports
	£ billion	£ billion
1979	18·0	6·1
1 Class 32 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised) 1980.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the total number of inward investment projects in each of the standard regions and Wales for each of the years 1979 to 1988, inclusive.

[holding answer 19 Mar 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 16 May, at columns 115–16.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the precise areas which will now benefit from the EEC regional fund; and if the decision on the boundaries and size of the individual allocations will be made by his Department or by the European Commission.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the precise areas which will now benefit from the EEC regional fund; and if the decision on the boundaries and size of the individual allocations will be made by his Department or by the European Commission.

[holding answer 22 May 1989]: The following areas of the United Kingdom have been designated for eligibility for the European regional development fund (ERDF) with effect from 1 January 1989. Northern Ireland was designated by the Council of the European Communities in its regulation (EEC) 2052/88 of 24 June 1988. The remainder were designated by the Commission, in pursuance of that regulation, on 22 March and 10 May 1989:

Northern Ireland;

The assisted areas of Great Britain, except: Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye, Corby, Kidderminster and Whitby travel-to-work areas, and parts of Birmingham, Bridgend, Cardiff, Coventry and Hinckley, Dudley and Sandwell and Sheffield TTWAs;

The remainder of the Highlands and Islands Development Board and Development Board for Rural Wales areas;

The remainder of Greater Manchester; Nottingham City (UPA); and the following TTWAs: Alnwick and Amble, Burnley, Castleford and Pontefract, Chesterfield, Goole and Selby (part), Mansfield, Pendle, Retford, Stirling (part), Wakefield and Dewsbury, Whitehaven and Worksop.

Both hon. Members' constituencies (Bassetlaw, and Pontefract and Castleford) are thus eligible in their entirety.The excluded parts of Bridgend, Cardiff and Sheffield TTWAs remain eligible under transitional provisions, at least for the period of ERDF programmes which relate to them. Camarthen and Llandeilo TTWAs are also now eligible in principle; but the terms of the previous ERDF regulation, which still apply transitionally in the case, provide for ERDF grants in non-nationally aided areas only exceptionally. Further areas may become eligible for limited grants under special programmes—Resider (steel areas), Renaval (shipbuilding areas) and others that may be adopted by the Commission.The allocation of grants is determined by the Commission upon application by the Government. Indicative financial plans for ERDF assistance in the three years 1989–91 are to be contained in Community support framework documents, to be established by the Commission in agreement with the Government by the autumn of 1989 and published in the

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all outside bodies, consultancies and firms who have received payments for work connected with the Europe: Open for Business campaign; and how they were appointed.

[holding answer 16 May 1989]: The following are the main contractors used on the Europe open for business campaign. The list includes all prime contractors (but not their subcontractors) employed by DTI and the Central Office of Information where the work involved had a value of at least £5,000. Firms and others contracted by DTI direct are denoted by an asterisk (*); those providing services via COI are marked thus(†).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue a complete list of projects using the mandatory computer programme language Ada; if he will give the Ada specific costs involved in those projects; and whether the use of Ada has helped to control software development and maintenance costs.

The adoption of Ada as MOD's preferred language for new operational software, together with improvements in the management of those projects which have a large and complex software content, is helping to control the costs of software development and maintenance.We do not insist inflexibly on the use of Ada. There will be particular circumstances where Ada cannot be used or where an alternative approach might offer better value for money. Information concerning those projects which do use Ada, and the Ada specific costs involved in these projects, is not held centrally. To obtain that information would require a special survey, and would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects agreement on the air staff requirement for the Buccaneer replacement.

Initial studies into possible replacement options are currently in hand. It is too early to say when a staff requirement is likely to be agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects agreement on the air staff requirement for the Nimrod MR2 replacement;(2) if he will make a statement on the effects of corrosion on the fatigue lives of the RAF Nimrod maritime reconnaissance fleet.

The fatigue life of an airframe is affected by a number of factors, of which corrosion is only one. In the case of the Nimrod MR2, it is too early to assess the effect of corrosion on the aircraft's fatigue life, but we expect the Nimrod to give many more years of useful service. It will be some time before a staff requirement for a replacement aircraft needs to be agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier GR5 squadrons will be based in the United Kingdom.

One.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Harrier GR/7 to enter service with the Royal Air Force.

In the early 1990s.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of hours flown by RAF fast jet pilots per month.

The information requested is classified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names, dates and locations of all low-flying exercises conducted since 6 November 1987, advance notice of which was given to hon. Members in affected constituencies.

Advance notice of the following exercises has been given to hon. Members whose constituencies were likely to experience unusual low-flying activity:

Exercise Name	Exercise Dates	Exercise Location
1988
Key Lift 88	5–13 March	North Yorkshire
Mallet Blow 88/1	14–18 March	Northern England/Borders
Red Lanyard	9–12 April	Many areas with centre on Salisbury Plain
Elder Forest 88	18–21 April	East Anglia/Lincolnshire/ Northern England/Eastern Scotland
Hammer 88/1	10 May	Northern England/Southern Scotland
OSEX 15	16–20 May	Wales
Roaring Lion	20–26 May	Many areas with centre on Northumberland
Central	6 June	East Anglia/Lincolnshire/
Enterprise		Northern England/Eastern Scotland
Fast Buzzard	13–24 July	Many areas with centre on Salisbury Plain
Mallet Blow 88/2	25–29 July	Northern England/Borders
Green Lanyard	1–8 October	Many areas with centre on South West Wales
Elder Joust 881	4–6 October	East Anglia/Lincolnshire/ North eastern England/ South eastern Scotland
Hammer 88/2	11 October	East Anglia/Northern England/ Southern Scotland
1989
Red Lanyard	17–23 February	Many areas with centre on Norfolk
Mallet Blow 89/1	3–7 April	Northern England/Borders
Salty Hammer 892	9 May	Northern England/Southern Scotland
Equipment Trial	25 April–19 May	Northern England/Borders
OSEX 163	10–19 May	Wales
Notes:
1 Formerly called Exercise Priory.
2 Formerly called Exercise Hammer.
3 Including Highland Cardinal work-up exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations and dates of covert surveys of low flying by the RAF police since 25 September 1987.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him in response to his similar question on 16 March 1989, at column 241. Since 22 February covert monitoring of low-flying activity has additionally been conducted at the following locations over the periods stated:

25–27 April	Liskeard
2–4 May	Gloucester
8–11 May	Blencarn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what maximum speed and minimum height will be permitted during mock interception manoeuvres and run-ups to simulated targets, for aircraft participating in the OSEX 16 exercise.

The normal height and speed regulations for low flying in the United Kingdom will apply to aircraft participating in OSEX 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use will be made of the 100 ft low-flying area in central Wales during (a) Exercise Highland Cardinal and (b) Exercise OSEX 16.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties will be carried out during exercises Highland Cardinal and OSEX 16.

A maximum of 40 low-level sorties daily are planned for Exercise Highland Cardinal and a maximum of 120 daily for Exercise OSEX 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South of 16 May, Official Report, column 140, he will outline in the Official Report the considerable differences in the situations pertaining to British and United States of America nuclear tests.

The temporal and special variations of the potential radiation hazards that may arise from nuclear tests depend, in a complex manner, on various factors, including device type and disposition, topography of the location, meteorological conditions and the test objectives. The doses of radiation received by individuals depend on the position and movement of individuals relative to the hazards, making due allowance for any protective measures taken. It is thus inevitable that the situations pertaining to United Kingdom and United States were considerably different.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to seek support of the Governments of the United States and France to introduce an amendment to the London dumping convention to allow the sea dumping of military radioactive waste arising, including submarine hulls.

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The London dumping convention allows the disposal at sea of low and intermediate-level radioactive waste, in accordance with internationally agreed guidelines and procedures, although a non-binding moratorium has been in place since 1983. The Government have decided not to resume sea-disposal of drummed radioactive waste, including waste of military origin. None the less, the Government intend to keep open this option for large items arising from decommissioning operations, although they have taken no decisions about how redundant nuclear submarines will be disposed of.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were in families on income support in 1988–89.

The appropriate analysis of the income support caseload has not yet been completed.I shall let the hon. Member have the information as soon as it is available

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each year since 1979 (a) the number of acute beds available and (b) the number of non-acute beds available in each health board; and if he will give the total for each year.

The information is set out in the table:

Year	Northern Ireland	Eastern Board	Northern Board	Southern Board	Western Board
Total acute beds available
1979	7,173	4,198	1,049	998	928
1980	7,167	4,222	1,056	974	915
1981	7,074	4,199	1,013	963	899
19821	—	—	—	—	—
1983	7,036	4,206	979	973	878
1984	6,973	4,140	1,000	977	856
1985	6,997	4,090	1,051	1,001	855
1986	6,506	3,652	1,023	984	847
1987	6,221	3,520	989	895	817
Total non-acute beds
1979	9,953	4,532	1,406	1,663	2,352
1980	9,894	4,547	1,417	1,632	2,298
1981	9,942	4,605	1,472	1,622	2,243
19821	—	—	—	—	—
1983	9,943	4,710	1,377	1,633	2,223
1984	9,744	4,485	1,444	1,630	2,185
1985	9,601	4,354	1,457	1,608	2,182
1986	9,457	4,345	1,434	1,572	2,106
1987	9,191	4,208	1,384	1,537	2,062
Total beds available
1979	17,126	8,730	2,433	2,661	3,280
1980	17,061	8,769	2,473	2,606	3,213
1981	17,016	8,804	2,485	2,585	3,142
19821	—	—	—	—	—
1983	16,979	8,916	2,356	2,606	3,101
1984	16,717	8,625	2,444	2,607	3,041
1985	16,598	8,444	2,508	2,609	3,037
1986	15,963	7,997	2,457	2,556	2,953
1987	15,412	7,728	2,373	2,432	2,879
1 Not available due to industrial action.

1988 figures are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his statement in the First Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, Official Report, 15 February, column 16, concerning the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, whether written consents

Single payments and supplementary benefit caseloads for the period 18 December 1986 to 28 July 1987
	Single payments		Supplementary benefit caseloads at1
Social Security office	Number	£	10 February 1987	8 May 1987	28 July 1987
Andersonstown	7,504	899,549·64	7,775	7,600	7,754
Antrim	9,163	419,947·62	5,597	5,448	5,487
Armagh	3,426	307,000·02	4,941	4,814	5,078
Ballymena	3,984	356,515·64	6,263	5,971	6,547
Ballymoney	3,635	255,552·61	4,363	4,552	4,358
Ballynahinch	476	34,043·00	1,418	1,463	1,502
Banbridge	1,961	145,245·38	3,378	3,268	3,358
Bangor	2,279	155,179·84	4,520	4,519	4,848
Carrickfergus	2,520	152,719·20	3,075	3,021	3,078
Coleraine	5,982	409,362·68	6,220	5,973	6,066

Written consents issued to owners or occupiers of land with within areas of special scientific interest under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 will specify the exact nature of the consented operations and, where relevant, any limits in time and area. Consents will also specify such other conditions as may be deemed appropriate.There will be no difference in the form of consents issued under this order from those issued under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his statement in the First Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, Official Report, 15 February, column 16, whether he has now considered further the matter of progress in designing special protection areas in Northern Ireland under EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds, and if he will make a statement on measures to speed up the process.

The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has re-examined the procedures for the designation of special protection areas under the terms of EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds. While priority is being given to the declaration of areas of special scientific interest under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, where ASSIs are also potential SPAs, the Department will proceed towards SPA designation as soon as is practicable after such ASSI declarations have been confirmed.It is expected that a small number of SPAs will be designated under the above arrangements during the next two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the distribution of single payments and caseloads at social security offices during the period 16 December 1986 to 28 July 1987.