To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the performance indicators for the Health Service in Wales.

The Welsh Office has since 1982 published a booklet of key statistical indicators for NHS management in Wales which shows comparative information on the district health authorities in Wales over a wide range of services. The latest edition of the booklet (No. 6 1987) was published on 21 January and a copy is available in the House of Commons Library.The Department has also produced its own version of the DHSS computerised performance indicator package, which enables comparisons to be made between England and Wales at regional, district and unit level. A copy of the first edition of this package relating to 1985–86 data is available in the Library of the House and a 1986–87 edition will be issued during the summer.Performance indicators are intended for use as a management tool for planning services and reviewing achievement. They help identify variations in the way services and resources are used both between authorities and over time. The indicators are intended to raise questions and provide a means of helping to diagnose problems. They do not, indeed cannot, offer any kind of judgment about the relative quality of the services provided, since it must be recognised that a wide and complex range of factors affect this.As part of the 1988–89 planning process, district health authorities have been asked to set themselves performance targets, by reference, as appropriate, to published performance indicators. These targets will be reviewed as part of the 1988 annual review process and their achievement will be monitored in subsequent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to obtain European Community acceptance of a principle whereby the ewe premium is paid on existing flocks and on the number of ewes in the flock on a specified reference date.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the amount of financial assistance given to small firms in Wales in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Information on the aid given to small firms in Wales by agencies and Departments other than the Welsh Office is not held centrally. Under the grant schemes directly administered by my Department the following amounts have been offered to small firms¹ in 1987:

	£ thousands
Regional selective assistance	6,404
Regional development grant	36,818
Business improvement services	2,158
1 Employers of 200 or less (including associated and group companies).

In addition, substantial support is provided to the small firms sector by a number of other Departments and agencies, including the Welsh Development Agency, Mid Wales Development, the Wales Tourist Board, British Coal Enterprise, BSC (Industry) and the Department of Trade and Industry. The recently-launched enterprise Wales intitiative places a special emphasis on support for small firms by way of consultancy, investment and innovation grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the level that the Welsh non-domestic rate would be in the current financial year.

The Welsh average non-domestic rate poundage for 1988–89 is 257·6p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in descending order the percentage increase in (a) the domestic rate, and (b) the commercial rate together with the poundages of each Welsh district in 1988–89.

The information requested on domestic and non-domestic rate increase between 1987–88 and 1988–89 for Welsh districts is shown in the following table:

Data for PQ1422 1987–88
(a) The Domestic Rate
Local authority	1987–88 Domestic poundage (p)	1988–891 Domestic poundage (p)	Percentage change 1987–88 to 1988–89
Neath	235·68	287·87	22·14
Swansea	251·04	295·43	17·68
Lliw Valley	243·89	285·83	17·20
Port Talbot	245·84	283·82	15·45
Meirionydd	200·65	228·77	14·01
Aberconwy	210·16	238·32	13·40
Arfon	205·30	231·38	12·70
Dwyfor	209·81	234·79	11·91
Monmouth	211·60	235·86	11·47
Ynys Mon	204·52	227·82	11·39
Torfaen	218·78	241·58	10·42
Glyndwr	210·96	232·20	10·07
Islywn	212·00	233·00	9·91
Newport	212·04	232·01	9·42
Radnor	195·25	213·42	9·31
Blaenau Gwent	219·78	239·89	9·15
Brecknock	207·01	225·45	8·91
Rhymney Valley	239·34	258·85	8·15
Wrexham Maelor	216·49	233·69	7·94
Alyn and Deeside	209·97	226·58	7·91
Ogwr	241·64	260·55	7·83
Cardiff	192·15	207·05	7·75
Llanelli	235·13	252·44	7·36
Carmarthen	221·04	236·67	7·07
Montgomeryshire	192·23	205·82	7·07
Vale of Glamorgan	199·42	213·48	7·05

Local authority	1987–88 Domestic poundage (p)	1988–911 Domestic poundage (p)	Percentage change 1987–88 to 1988–89
Delyn	214·70	228·45	6·40
Merthyr Tydfil	239·46	254·76	6·39
Taff Ely	240·91	255·83	6·19
Rhondda	243·50	258·50	6·16
Cynon Valley	232·45	246·73	6·14
South Pembroke	220·22	233·08	5·84
Rhuddlan	215·18	227·42	5·69
Ceredigion	217·70	229·55	5·44
Colwyn	227·59	239·60	5·28
Dinefwr	216·91	227·66	4·96
Preseli	216·70	226·84	4·68
Total Wales	218·07	238·76	9·49
1 1988–89 figures are provisional.

Data for PQ1422 1987–88
(b) The non-domestic rate
Local authority	1987–88 Non-domestic poundage (p)	1988–891 Non-domestic poundage (p)	Percentage change 1987–88 to 1988–89
Neath	254·18	306·37	20·53
Swansea	269·54	313·93	16·47
Lliw Valley	262·39	304·33	15·98
Port Talbot	264·34	302·32	14·37
Meirionnydd	219·15	247·27	12·83
Aberconwy	228·66	256·82	12·32
Arfon	223·80	249·88	11·65
Dwyfor	228·31	253·29	10·94
Monmouth	230·10	254·36	10·54
Ynys Mon	223·02	246·32	10·45
Torfaen	237·28	260·08	9·61
Glyndwr	229·46	250·70	9·26
Islwyn	230·50	251·50	9·11
Newport	230·54	250·51	8·66
Radnor	213·75	231·92	8·50
Blaenau Gwent	238·28	258·39	8·44
Brecknock	225·51	243·95	8·18
Rhymney Valley	257·84	277·35	7·57
Wrexham Maelor	234·99	252·19	7·32
Alyn and Deeside	228·47	245·08	7·27
Ogwr	260·14	279·05	7·27
Cardiff	210·65	225·55	7·07
Llanelli	253·63	270·94	6·82
Carmarthen	239·54	255·17	6·53
Vale of Glamorgan	217·92	231·98	6·45
Montgomeryshire	210·73	224·32	6·45
Merthyr Tydfil	257·96	273·26	5·93
Delyn	233·20	246·95	5·90
Taff Ely	259·41	274·33	5·75
Rhondda	262·00	277·00	5·73
Cynon Valley	250·95	265·23	5·69
South Pembrokeshire	238·72	251·58	5·39
Rhuddlan	233·68	245·92	5·24
Ceredigion	236·20	248·05	5·02
Colwyn	246·09	258·10	4·88
Dinefwr	235·41	246·16	4·57
Preseli	235·20	245·34	4·31
Total Wales	236·47	257·60	8·93
1 1988–89 figures are provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in rank order the budgeted spending per head over grant-related expenditure allocation at ratepayer level for Welsh local authorities on the same basis as the criteria announced on 17 November in respect of the phasing out of domestic rates.

The difference between budgeted expenditure and grant-related expenditure for1987–88, per head and at ratepayer level, is as follows:

	Difference
Port Talbot	56
Swansea	46
Lliw Valley	39
Rhondda	26
Llanelli	24
Merthyr Tydfil	24
Neath	23
Rhymney Valley	23
Taff Ely	22
Blaenau Gwent	21
Colwyn	19
Ogwr	17
Torfaen	17
Wrexham Maelor	14
Glyndwr	12
Delyn	12
Islwyn	11
Carmarthen	11
Cynon Valley	10
Rhuddlan	9
Alyn and Deeside	7
Newport	7
Monmouth	6
Dwyfor	3
Ceredigion	3
Meirionnydd	1
Preseli Pembrokeshire	1
Aberconwy	1
Dinefwr	0
South Pembrokeshire	-1
Arfon	-1
Ynys Môn	-2
Brecknock	-4
Vale of Glamorgan	-8
Radnor	-13
Montgomeryshire	-18
Cardiff	-22

My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, announced on 25 April that the threshold in England for inclusion within the residual rating arrangements will be increased so that only those areas where combined budgeted expenditure for 1987–88 of the authorities operating in that area exceeded the combined needs assessments for the area by more than £200 per head will be affected. In any case, part IV of the Local Government Finance Bill is not applicable to Wales.

To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Flecknote, near Rugby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to a publicly owned site of vacant land.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister what interdepartmental consultation she has established to assess the financial and commercial consequences of British time being one hour behind the rest of Europe.

As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained in a reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 31 March, at column 683, all Departments are being asked to consult interested groups as to the likely effect of harmonising summer time, and time in general, with other members of the Community.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

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

To ask the Prime Minister if she will provide for better co-ordination of benefits for those on the community programme, by ensuring that social security benefits are as payable by the Department of Health and Social Security to participants for the first week as unemployment benefit is payable in similar circumstances.

Unemployment benefit ceases to be payable as soon as a person joins the community programme. Similarly, title to income support ceases immediately where the work is for more than 24 hours a week. Because both benefits are normally paid fortnightly in arrears, a person joining the community programme will receive his last benefit payment either immediately before joining the programme or during the first week.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy at the next meeting of the European Council to call for an inquiry into the level of unemployment in the EEC by comparison with the European Free Trade Association group of European countries; and if she will make a statement.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is yet in a position to publish the outcome of his review of the case for extending to the voluntary sector the arrangements for disclosure of information about those seeking to work with children; and if he will make a statement;

The Department is currently discussing with representatives of the voluntary sector detailed plans for the setting up of a national unit on a pilot basis which would act as a contact point between the police and selected voluntary organisations on the disclosure of information from police records on those seeking to work with children. These discussions will cover arrangements for ensuring that the confidentiality of information disclosed will be respected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the proposals invited for the construction of private urban remand centres and open prisons emanate from non-United Kingdom companies; and if he will make a statement;(2) what proportion of submitted proposals for the construction of private urban remand centres and open prisons involves the conversion of existing property; and if he will make a statement.

All but one of some 40 invitations to submit proposals for the construction of urban remand centres and open prisons were sent to companies registered in the United Kingdom. An advertisement was also placed in the EC journal, and a press release was sent to national newspapers and trade journals, It is not possible to say what proportion of the proposals may involve the conversion of existing property until the responses have been received and analysed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations now operate the procedure for tape-recording interviews with suspects; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested.The rate at which tape-recording is implemented in individual force areas is for chief officers to decide having regard to the available resources and after consulting other agencies in the criminal justice system.I understand that, as at 31 March 1988, most forces in England and Wales had begun phased implementation programmes, and that two forces were tape-recording interviews at stations throughout their force areas. I further understand that the small number of forces, which have not yet started pilot tape-recording schemes, plan to do so over the next few months. It remains the intention to secure full implementation of tape-recording arrangements throughout England and Wales by 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regions sentenced no 14-year-olds to penal custody in the last year for which information is available.

The central records available to me for 1986, which may be incomplete, show no custodial sentences imposed on males aged 14 by the courts in four of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales: City of London, Gloucestershire, Suffolk and Warwickshire. Custodial penalties are not available for female offenders aged 14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the subsequent criminal behaviour of 14-year-olds who have been sentenced to penal custody over the past 10 years.

The readily available information relates to detention centre trainees aged 14 to 16 reconvicted within two years of discharge from a prison department establishment and is published in table 8.8 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1986" (Cm. 210), copies of which are in the Library. Information specific to 14-year-olds could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many hours of television are produced for regional consumption by BBC Wales—Cymru and HTV Wales in 1988; and what are his estimates for each year to 1992.

The most recent available information is as follows. In 1987 HTV Wales produced for broadcast by the IBA 391 hours of regional interest material, and in the year ending 31 March 1988 410 hours of Welsh regional service material were broadcast on BBC1 and BBC2. In addition HTV produced 455 hours and the BBC 520 hours for broadcast by S4C. The additional information sought is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what categories of programmes are excluded from contributing to the independent producers 25 per cent. target announced in November 1986;(2) what categories of programmes are excluded when calculating the total hours of new programmes produced by broadcasters for the purpose of assessing the proportion to be produced by independent broadcasters announced in November 1986.

Both the BBC and the IBA have accepted, subject to satisfaction on the cost and quality of programmes provided by independent producers, the target of commissioning from them by the end of 1992 25 per cent. of original television output, drawn from a wide range of programmes but excluding, in the case of programmes broadcast by the BBC, news and news-related daily current affairs programmes, continuity and Open University output. In the case of programmes broadcast on ITV, material provided by ITN, continuity, the news-related studio output of TV-am and regional service material provided out of regional newsrooms will be outside the 25 per cent. target, but the IBA does not rule out the possibility that independent producers may contribute material in these categories.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the total number of new programmes produced by the BBC and ITV companies in 1988; and what are his forecasts for each year to 1992, showing in each case the total number of hours.

The most recent available information relating to programmes originated for network broadcast on BBC and ITV is as follows. In the year ending 31 March 1988 6,065 hours of such programmes were broadcast on BBC] and BBC2, and in 1987 3,165 hours were broadcast on ITV (including programmes provided by ITN but not by TV-am). Present BBC plans envisage an increase to 6,241 hours by 1992. Comparable forecasts for ITV are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that Mrs. Margaret Cynthia Moss of 9 Dungannon Drive, Thorpe Bay, Essex, who submitted her passport for renewal on 6 February receives her passport as soon as possible; and if he will consider establishing a procedure for cases of urgency so long as the current delays in passport applications and renewals continue.

The passport was returned by registered post on 25 April. As Mrs. Moss had not indicated a date of travel on the application form, her application was not accorded the priority it would otherwise have received under existing procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate will receive a definitive answer in respect of Mr. S. Taggert, Home Office reference number T160429, about whom a letter was sent on 25 March.

A reply will be sent shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reply to the letter dated 7 December 1987 from the hon. Member for East Lothian concerning an application for naturalisation by Miss Anne-Margarethe Stroobants.

The application was approved in January, and a certificate sent to the applicant in March after she had taken the oath of allegiance. The certificate has, however, recently been returned, because the applicant had left her last known address.I shall be replying shortly to the hon. Member's letter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from experts in the running of state lotteries for charitable purposes; and what consideration he is giving to any such representations;(2) what recent consideration he has given to the running of a national state lottery to raise and distribute funds for good causes.

As far as I am aware, none of the representations about state lotteries for charitable purposes which we have received in the past year has been from people expert in running such lotteries. We keep the question of running a national state lottery under review but have no current plans to introduce one.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of individuals and organisations to whom Mr. F. J. Warn, an official in his office, wrote on 7 March, concerning offensive weapons and the Criminal Justice Bill [Lords].

The list for the letter of 7 March is as follows:

• The Retail Consortium
• British Sports and Allied Industries Federation
• British Toy and Hobby Manufacturers Association Ltd.
• Gun Trade Association Ltd.
• British Importers Confederation
• British Wholesale Traders Association
• Federation of Wholesale and Industrial Distributors
• Mail Order Traders Association
• Co-operative Union Ltd.
• Association of Toy, Stationery and Fancy Goods Wholesalers
• British Cutlery and Silverware Association
• Whitby and Co.
• Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards
• Association of Metropolitan Authorities
• Association of County Councils
• British Hardware and Homeware Association
• Martial Arts Commission
• British Veterinary Association
• British Antique Dealers Association Ltd.
• Association of Chief Police Officers
• A number of Government Departments

Officials subsequently wrote to a number of other organisations in the same terms including the Angling Foundation, the National Anglers Council and the London and Provincial Antique Dealers' Association Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a further announcement about sections of the A629–A650 Airedale route to the east of Crossflatts, Bingley.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement in the summer. It should be followed shortly thereafter with the publication of draft orders for Airedale stage 3 (Crossflatts to Cottingley Bar).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles are currently licensed for public highway use in Britain, and if he will express the figures by class of vehicle.

At 31 December 1987 there were 22,151,831 vehicles licensed for use on the road in Great Britain. The main classes are as follows:

	Number
Private/Light Goods:	19,249,459
Motorcycle	977,728
Heavy Goods:	608,857
Hackney (includes buses and coaches)	129,012
Other vehicles subject to duty:	442,447
Vehicles exempt from duty (includes emergency service vehicles and exemptions for the disabled):	744,328

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if speed limiters are to be fitted on all coaches regardless of age.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway) on 18 April, at columns 364–65.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the light transmission requirements embodied in BS4110 will be applied to all roadgoing vehicles; and when the noise limits embodied in BSAU193T2 will be applied to all roadgoing vehicles.

These British standards are being applied where they are relevant. In the case of BS4110, this is motor cyclists' eye protectors. Other standards apply to light transmission requirements for motor vehicles. BSAU 193 sets standards for replacement exhaust systems and silencers for motor cycles which are not appropriate to other vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether life-jackets carried on helicopters and aircraft operating over the North sea are required to meet the criteria described in specification No. 5, issue 2, dated 23 November 1979 issued by the airworthiness division of the Civil Aviation Authority; if he will define the use of the term "choppy sea" and the term "disturbed water" contained in paragraph 7.1 of the specification document, according to wave height; and whether this specification has been superseded;(2) if he will be reconsidering the specifications relating to life-jackets in the near future; and if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that legislation requires life-jackets to keep the wearer's head clear of the water even if the wearer is unconscious and the water is rough or choppy.

The Department of Transport is responsible for the approval of life-jackets carried in United Kingdom registered ships and the Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the approval of life-jackets carried in aircraft.The specifications for Department of Transport or CAA approved life-jackets have both for many years required the support of an unconscious person in a seaway in an effective manner. Experience to date has not suggested that their performance was in question. However, the findings of a recent research project commissioned by the Department of Energy suggest that in certain rough sea conditions these life-jackets may not be as effective as previously thought.My Department therefore intends to give very serious consideration to the findings of this particular research. project to determine whether changes to the specifications for ship life-jackets are now necessary.The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that aircraft life-jackets are required to meet the criteria described in CAA specification No. 5, issue 2, which has not been superseded. The terms "choppy sea" and "disturbed water" in the specification are intended to mean sea state 3, which is consistent with wave heights of 3 to 5 ft and a mean wind speed of 18 knots.The authority believes that the specification No. 5 requirements are adequate and life-jackets approved to this standard are satisfactory. The need to ensure compatibility with intended immersion suits is catered for in working draft CAA specification No. 19, issue 1 (dated March 1988) para. 31. Any immersion suit approved by the CAA must be fully evaluated for its compatibility with the intended life-jacket; righting tests being performed by live but limp subjects. Such tests may be more representative of an unconscious person than those achieved using authometric dummies, but the CAA has initiated a review of the various test methods currently used to establish which of these is the most realistic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement as to the current position and progress on the Dalton-in-Furness bypass on the A590; whether there has been a delay in determining the route; and what are the estimated dates for laying of the order and public inquiry for commencement and completion of the bypass.

Progress of the scheme has been slightly delayed by the need to investigate further the ground conditions along the proposed route of the bypass. We expect to publish statutory orders towards the year end. If required a public inquiry will be held in mid 1989. Construction could start in 1991 and the road open to traffic in 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position and progress on the Swarthmoor bypass on the A590.

We expect to receive our consultant's report on route investigations in June. I shall make a further announcement when we have considered it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position and progress on the Melton Brow road improvement on the A590 near Lindal-in-Furness.

Following a report by Cumbria county council acting as the Department's agent, an improvement scheme has been accepted into the regional trunk road programme. The next stage will be the publication of orders under the Highways Acts towards the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of comments made in response to his consultation on motor cycle leg protectors, he is satisfied that there has been no misrepresentation of results in the research carried out by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory.

I am completely satisfied that the laboratory's work has been carried out in a totally unbiased manner and to the highest professional standards, including the publication of methodology and results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made by his Department in preparing the specification for motor cycle leg protectors; and if he will make a statement.

Further tests have been carried out at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory using a wider variety of vehicles and different angles of collision. The results have continued to confirm the potential benefits of well-designed leg protection. Results of independent testing have also been brought to our attention. More testing will be carried out and will include collisions at higher speeds. We are looking at our technical specification in the light of the expert views we have received and of the continuing research. It is our long-established policy and practice to be thoroughly assured of the safety benefits of any specification before steps are taken to propose it in draft regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy in what form Her Majesty's Government have received assurances from the United States Government that none of the United Kingdom plutonium exported to the United States of America since 1958 under the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement, and arising from civil reactors in the United Kingdom, has been put to any form of defence research in the United States of America.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 2 July 1984 at column 36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), 12 April, Official Report, column 49, from which thermal reactors plutonium originated before being used at Sellafield to supplement the fuel for Dounreay fast reactor fuel; and how much thermal reactor plutonium in each year since 1979 has been put to fast reactor fuel fabrication use.

On 31 March 1987 some 6½ tonnes of safeguarded plutonium originating from thermal reactors had been made available for fuel for the Dounreay prototype fast reactor. Some 5½ tonnes of this originated from electricity board reactors and the remainder from reactors operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc. Quantities for individual years can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the amount of coal imported from Holland for each year since 1979.

Coal imports from the Netherlands were as follows:

	Thousand tonnes
1979	22
1980	23
1981	8
1982	43
1983	86
1984	304
1985	306
1986	218
1987	664

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the proposed statutory obligation on the distribution companies to contract for a specified minimum proportion of non-fossil-fuelled generating capacity will include generators using as fuel municipal refuse and other waste as non-fossil-fuelled generators.

The details of the obligation are still under consideration, but I recognise the potential value of waste as a source of fuel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of full-time employees in the coal industry; and what proportion of the numbers so employed in 1979 this represents.

The number of full-time employees in the coal industry at the end of February 1988 was 123,822, which is 43 per cent. of the corresponding number at the end of February 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by the Robert Gordon institute of technology on lifejackets and immersion suits for the oil industry advisory committee of the Health and Safety Executive.

I have today instructed that copies of the report entitled "Lifejacket/Immersion Suit Combinations—In-water Performance Assessment" be placed in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the various forms of assistance available from his Department for the assistance of small firms; and what is the respective expenditure involved.

We operate a number of schemes which are specifically directed at small firms. Details are set out as follows.(i) The consultancy initiatives which are available under the enterprise initiative offer financial support to independent companies or groups with fewer than 500 employees for between five and 15 days specialist consultancy in the following key management functions: quality, design, marketing, manufacturing systems, business planning, financial and information systems. DTI pays two thirds of the cost in the assisted areas and urban programme areas and 50 per cent. of the cost outside these areas. Total provision is £274 million over the next three years.(ii) Regional enterprise grants, which were introduced on 1 April 1988, provide assistance to small firms with fewer than 25 employees for investment and innovation projects in the development areas. Grants of 15 per cent. of the cost of fixed assets in an investment project are available up to a maximum of £15,000. Grants of 50 per cent. of eligible costs in an innovation project are available up to a maximum of £25,000. DTI expenditure on these grants is expected to rise to over £50 million per year by 1990–91.(iii) The business improvement services (BIS) scheme, which is jointly funded by the DTI and the European regional development fund, comprises a package of measures designed to assist firms with fewer than 200 employees. It includes an element which enables firms to claim grants of up to 70 per cent. of the cost of consultancy advice. The scheme is available to firms located in specified areas of England affected by the decline in the steel, shipbuilding, textiles and fishing industries. More recently BIS has been introduced in west Cornwall following the closure of the Geevor tin mine and in the Thanet travel-to-work area. Total expenditure on BIS will amount to £56·5 million over the period 1984–90, when the scheme will come to an end.(iv) The competition for small firms merit awards for research and technology (SMART) is open to firms employing fewer than 200. The 100 best ideas put forward will each receive a 75 per cent. grant towards total costs of £50,000 (a maximum grant of £37,500) to develop a new product or process over the course of a year. The closing date for entries is 30 June 1988; the winners will be announced in November 1988. It is expected that after one year about half the winners will go on to a second stage in which the maximum award per firm will be £50,000.In addition to these specific schemes, small firms may also take advantage of other forms of DTI assistance which is available to firms of all sizes:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress evaluated on the EC fusion and Eureka programmes arising from the Research Council of the European Council of Ministers meeting on 11 April.

I represented Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Community's Council of Ministers (Research) in Luxembourg on 11 April. I should like to take the opportunity to give a brief account of the progress achieved on each of the main agenda items as well as the two specifically raised in the question.On fusion, there was a general exchange of views on the Community's programme of research but no decisions were taken. The general hope was, however, that there would be further progress at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers (Research) at the end of June.The Council discussed the relationship between the Community's research programmes and Eureka. There was agreement that the relationship needed to be clearly defined so as to ensure the two complemented each other and to avoid duplication of effort wherever possible. The Commission will prepare further ideas on this for the Council to consider at its next meeting.The Council adopted a common position on DRIVE, a Community programme of research in the fields of IT and telecommunications applied to road transport. The programme, which will provide Community funding of 60 mecu (£40 million) over a period of three years, should help improve road transport efficiency and safety, and reduce its environmental impact.On the Community Bureau of Reference, BCR, the Council adopted a common position on an R and D programme costing some 59 mecu (£39 million) over five years in the fields of applied metrology and chemical analysis. This will be important in the context of the completion of the single market, and will assist in the elimination of certain technical barriers to trade.The Council also took a major step forward in unanimously adopting ESPRIT II, the largest single programme in the Community's 1987–1991 framework programme for R and D. It will over five years provide 1600 mecu (£1,056 million) of Community funding, with matching contributions from industrial partners and other contractors, for projects in micro electronics and peripheral technologies, information processing systems and some "applied" fields, namely, computer-integrated manufacture and integrated information systems. British companies and research institutes will undoubtedly make a major contribution to this programme and will benefit substantially from it. It is important to note that this major programme has a management structure modelled on that already successfully used in the earlier programme, ESPRIT I.A common position was also adopted on DELTA, an exploratory programme of research extending over a maximum period of two years to apply new technologies including IT to open and distance learning. Community funding will amount to 20 mecu (£13 million).The science programme, on which the Council adopted a common position, will promote co-operation and exchanges between scientists and laboratories in the Community: the funds will amount to 167 mecu (£110 million) over five years. The programme offers grants for travel, to fund research projects involving laboratories in more than one country and larger grants for specific projects of scientific promise, usually bringing together many laboratories in different Community countries.In the field of biotechnology, the Council adopted a common position on the revision of the current multiannual research programme (1985–1989) which will increase Community funding from 55 mecu (£36 million) to 75 mecu (£50 million). More generally, it was agreed that the Community should develop a strategy in the area of biological research, taking account of wider international developments in this field. There was also an informal exchange of views on bioethical issues.The Council had a further useful exchange of views on the joint research centre (JRC). Agreement was reached on the overall financial framework for the JRC's work and the Council gave further directions for the reforms which are needed to make the JRC successful and viable. We hope that it will be possible for the Council to reach agreement in June on improvements which will give scientific and technological value for money for the considerable Community investment there.The Commission was also invited to prepare ideas for the Council on the relationship of technical norms and standards to technological developments in Europe, an issue which also has a bearing on the development of the single market.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the Crown Prosecution Service will now begin prosecution of the Economic League for failure to file accounts and failure to complete an annual return; and if he will make a statement.

As the latest accounts and annual return for the Economic League have now been received and are on the public record, it is not intended to bring proceedings in this matter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions have taken place within or at the time of meetings of the Council of Ministers, on interindustry voluntary restraint agreements, and within or at the time of which meetings.

Inter-industry voluntary restraint agreements are negotiated by the industries concerned. I am not aware of any recent discussion within or at the time of meetings of the Council of Ministers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 30 March, Official Report, column 478, by what means the Government informed the industries concerned with certain voluntary restraint arrangements that they saw no case for continuation; and whether they will place copies of such communications in the Library.

The industries concerned were informed in writing through their trade associations. I have placed copies of these letters in the House Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will place in the Library a copy of the arrangements on footwear concluded between the industry concerned and the Republic of Korea, and a copy of the proposals for their renewal.

This is a matter for the United Kingdom footwear industry and its counterpart in the Republic of Korea between whom the voluntary agreement is negotiated.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what form restraint agreements negotiated by the European Commission on behalf of the United Kingdom are notified to (a) the House and (b) the Select Committee on European Legislation.

The contents of the informal voluntary restraint arrangements negotiated by the Commission on behalf of the United Kingdom are confidential and are not published.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list those restraint agreements negotiated by the European Commission in addition to the multi-fibre arrangement in certain limited textiles and clothing, giving the date of commencement and extent of each such agreement.

The European Community has negotiated the following informal restraint arrangements on textile and clothing products. Apart from the arrangement with China, these arrangements cover trade in multifibre arrangement (MFA) products with the Community's preferential trading partners (with whom there is no separate bilateral MFA agreement). The restraint arrangement with China is linked to the EC/China bilateral textiles agreement, but relates to a product which is not classified in Customs terms as a textile product. Details of these arrangements are not published.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the United Kingdom asked the Commission of the European Communities to negotiate restraints on leather footwear from certain Eastern European countries; and on what date such restraints came into effect.

In 1975 the United Kingdom footwear industry negotiated bilateral arrangements with its counterparts in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania to restrain imports of men's leather footwear during 1976. Further restraint arrangements were made covering women's and children's leather footwear during 1977. From 1977 the European Commission has annually renegotiated a continuation of these arrangements on behalf of the United Kingdom industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate how many (a) car and (b) portable telephones were purchased in Britain for the first three months of the current year; and if he will express the figures as a percentage change for the same period for each of the last three years.

There are no official statistics but the information I have is as follows:

	Number of units 1988 First quarter
Mobile telephones	33,000
Portable telephones	17,000

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of investment by insurance companies and pension funds, as a percentage of total investment for each year since 1970; and what information he has as to comparable figures for (a) the European Economic Community, (b) the United States of America,(c) Japan, (d) India, (e) South Korea, (f) Taiwan, (g) Bangladesh, (h) Pakistan and (i) South America.

The table shows net investment by insurance companies and pension funds as a percentage of total gross domestic fixed capital formation (excluding that by general government) for the United Kingdom.Comparable figures for the other countries and areas listed in the question are not easily available. Some figures on financial accounts are published by the OECD for member countries but separate figures for insurance companies and pension funds are not given for all members. Data on fixed capital formation are published by the IMF for its members although a few are unable to supply these statistics. The relevant publications are "Financial Accounts of OECD Countries" and "International Financial Statistics", copies of which may be obtained from the Library of the House.

Net investment by insurance companies and pension funds, 1970–87 as a percentage of GDPCF (other than by general government)
	Percentage
1970	25
1971	26
1972	30
1973	27
1974	27
1975	32
1976	34
1977	35
1978	35
1979	36
1980	35
1981	41
1982	40
1983	40
1984	37

	Percentage
1985	36
1986	40
1987	37

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if a decision has been reached on whether to give leave for the recognistion of the Life Assurance and Unit Trusts Regulatory Association.

In accordance with the procedure laid down in the Financial Services Act, the Director-General of Fair Trading has reported on the rules and guidance submitted by LAUTRO to the SIB in support of its application for recognition as a self-regulating organisation. The director-general has reported that, as amended, LAUTRO's rules do not and are not likely or intended to have significant anti-competitive effects. Having had regard to the director-general's report, the Secretary of State has concluded that on the basis of the information presently available, LAUTRO's rules and guidance do not have, and are not intended or likely to have, to any significant extent, the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition. The Secretary of State also has had regard to European Community considerations. Her Majesty's Government and the Commission have a common objective in promoting full competition and transparency in the marketing of life assurance. In order to comply with Community law LAUTRO will be notifying shortly its rules formally to the Commission in order to seek an exemption under article 85 EEC. The Commission will examine them, having regard to Community competition law and practice and the particular circumstances of the EEC insurance market as a whole. Against this background the Secretary of State has therefore today given leave to the SIB for the recognition of LAUTRO as a self-regulating organisation.The director-general has also made a separate report on the rules and guidance submitted by LAUTRO in support of its application for recognition as a self-regulating organisation for friendly societies. Having had regard to this report, the Secretary of State has concluded that on the basis of the information presently available LAUTRO's rules and guidance do not have, to any significant extent, the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition. The Secretary of State has also therefore today given consent to the SIB for the recognition of LAUTRO as a self-regulating organisation for friendly societies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make a decision as to whether to institute proceedings against Unichem plc for alleged breach of the Prevention of Fraud (Investment) Act 1958.

[holding answer 26 April 1988]: My Department has obtained strict undertakings from Unichem to comply with the relevant statutory provisions in future. In the light of these assurances and having regard to all the circumstances, I have decided not to institute proceedings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether leave has yet been given under section 120(2) of the Financial Services Act for the Securities and Investments Board to make recognition orders in respect of any investment exchanges or clearing houses.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1988, c. 47]: My right hon. and noble Friend has now considered, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, reports made by the Director General of Fair Trading on the rules, regulations, guidance and arrangements submitted by the international stock exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Ltd. and the Baltic Futures Exchange Ltd. and has concluded that on the basis of the information presently available to him he does not consider there is anything in the material submitted which has, or is intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition. He has therefore given his leave to the SIB to make recognition orders in respect of both these investment exchanges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the West German Ministry of Construction to broaden the specifications required to allow British manufacturers to compete on equal terms when tendering for BAOR contracts; and what the result of such representations has been.

My Department has made representations both directly to the West German Ministry of Construction and, in common with other NATO partners, to the Federal German Government for the greater use of harmonised standards in respect of electrical and lighting products.All electrical products which have a European (EC) standard and some with international (IEC) standards, are given the status of a German national (DIN) standard without alteration. However, only the DIN standard can be referred to in documentation because German construction regulations are based on them.Discussions are continuing. Currently I am seeking to establish a list of those British products which have an EC/ IEC standard which is referred to in the German DIN standard.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the value of the electrical and lighting contracts awarded for BAOR premises in 1987; and what proportion of these contracts were placed with (a) British and (b) German companies.

In 1987, of the £1¼million worth of contracts for specialised electrical and lighting equipment placed directly by the PSA on behalf of the British forces in Germany, approximately £¾ million (60 per cent.) had been placed with British firms. The bulk of major electrical installation work carried out in Germany is, however, performed through contracts with the Federal Government's construction agencies as required under the status of forces agreement. The total value of work placed by these German authorities with electrical contractors was approximately £11½ million in 1987, but it is not possible to obtain a breakdown of this figure.

Rate support grant in real1 terms: 1978–79 to 1988–89
London borough of Newham
	Rate support grant (1987–88 prices) £ million	Year on year percentage difference in RSG Percentage	Rate support ant per capita (1987–88 prices) £	Year on year percentage difference in RSG per capita Percentage
1978–79	96·549		425
1979–80	90·261	-6·5	388	-8·7
1980–81	89·200	-1·2	401	3·4
1981–822	79·243	-11·2	370	-7·7
1982–83	89·738	13·2	423	14·3
1983–84	71·768	-20·0	341	-19·4
1984–85	86·051	19·9	411	20·5
1985–86	84·844	-1·4	407	-1·0
1986–873	75·875	-10·6	370	-9·1
1987–88	82·445	8·7	402	8·6
1988–89	94·171	14·2	459	14·2
1 Cash values expressed in constant (1987–88) prices using the GDP deflator.
2 The system of paying grant changed in 1981–82 when the needs resources and domestic elements of grant were replaced by block grant and domestic rate relief grant.
3 Grant entitlements changed in 1986–87 following the abolition of the GLC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the successfully completed environmental programme schemes funded under the urban programme in 1985–86 and 1986–87 between £10,000 and £30,000 in value in the programme authorities.

The number and total value of approved environmental schemes between £10,000 and £30,000 in urban programme authorities in 1985–86 and 1986–87 was:

1985–86		1986–87
Number	Value	Number	Value
511	£9·29	527	£9·35

These figures may exclude some late approvals, including some projects approved within larger environmental blocks and pools. Information about successfully completed schemes is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers under which a local authority can offer financial assistance to the owner of a small shop to make it accessible to disabled people.

It is for local authorities to consider which powers might authorise the giving of financial assistance for access to the disabled to non-local authority premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for the London borough of Newham (a) the rate support grant for 1978–79, expressed in 1987 prices, (b) that figure expressed per capita of the population of the borough, (c) the same figures, expressed in 1987 prices, for each year since and (d) the percentage differences between the figures for each year.

The information is as follows:I wrote to the hon. Member on 21 March setting out a number of discretionary powers which might be appropriate for this purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many chauffeurs are employed in the Civil Service.

There are no central records held for this grade. The Government car service, which provides a chauffeur driven service to Ministers and heads of Department, employs 153 staff in this capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received seeking exemption of buildings used in connection with horse and pony breeding from rates.

The campaign by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and other bodies interested in this matter has been carried on for some years now. Since January this year, however, we have received approximately 100 representations on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any request from British Coal's Opencast Executive for the relaxation of planning regulations for opencast coal mining.

No. British Coal did comment on my Department's draft planning guidance on opencast coal mining. A copy of its letter of 17 June has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent buying stone for walls and paved areas, trees, shrubs, tubs and compost for the Richmond house office of the Department of Health and Social Security; and what is the latest estimate for the total cost of the building.

The cost of buying stone for paved areas and associated walls and steps around Richmond house was £450,000. The cost of buying trees, shrubs, turf and associated materials was £38,000. The current estimate of the total cost of the project is £41·4 million. This includes some additional work and acceleration costs to ensure DHSS occupation by the end of 1987. As I said in my answer on 8 December 1987 to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman), at column 97, the final cost will depend on settlement of the final account, including claims still being negotiated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to recover as promptly as possible the debt of £31 million owing by the United States armed forces to the Property Services Agency from building works on military bases.

The steps outlined in paragraph 22 of the Public Accounts Committee's report on "Repayment Arrangements for Works Expenditure for US Forces", published on 20 April, have already yielded a substantial improvement. The estimated deficit at the end of the 1987–88 financial year is between £20 million and £22 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the calculations made by Mr. H. B. Lloyd in his paper entitled "The Financial Effects of Increasing Employment by One Million," a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), the Minister for Housing and Planning, in November 1987.

No. I am writing to the hon. Member enclosing a comment on Mr. Lloyd's paper which I sent to him in December 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the total indebtedness of each of the London boroughs; and if he will express this information also in per capita terms per resident in each case.

I refer my hon. Friend to the information placed in the Library of the House on 14 March 1988 in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) at column 459.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take in the light of responses to his consultation paper which proposed an amendment to the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to restrict the rights of the public to inspect at the time of audit, information which a local authority holds about its employees; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have decided in the light of responses to their consultation paper to seek at the next convenient opportunity an amendment to the Local Government Finance Act 1982 so that, as proposed, all information which an authority holds about its employees would be excluded from public inspection, except information about gross pay, allowances, bonuses and overtime payments, which would continue to be open to inspection at the time of audit. My right hon. Friends consider that such an amendment would strike the right balance between safeguarding personal privacy and providing adequate public inspection for proper accountability.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he will prosecute Magnisite Ltd., operating as Magnivision, for offering for sale ready-made reading spectacles without a prescription from a suitable registered practitioner, under section 21 of the Opticians Act 1958.

If the hon. Member has any evidence tending to disclose the commission of a criminal offence, he should give that evidence to the police.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a copy of that part of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Los Angeles court in connection with the extradition proceedings against Mr. Anthony Parnes which was made publicly available in the United States of America.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next hopes to pay an official visit to the People's Republic of China.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to visit the People's Republic of China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his counterparts from the other European Community countries; and what matters were discussed.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 27 April at column 156.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average time taken for the British consulate in Tel Aviv to process an application from a British citizen for the renewal of a passport; and if any measures are being taken to reduce this time.

Routine applications for renewal or replacement of passports are at present processed within an average period of two and a half weeks. More urgent applications are handled within one or two days and emergency cases are dealt with immediately. Staffing improvements are expected soon to reduce the routine waiting period to around one week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place within the Geneva negotiations on chemical and biological weapons about the problems posed by the compound fentanyl; and if he will make a statement.

The chemical weapons convention will apply to all chemical warfare agents whether or not they are explicitly named. It will also include a verification regime for certain chemicals produced in industry which are assessed to pose a risk to the objectives of the convention. Many detailed aspects of this verification regime remain to be resolved including the implication of chemicals such as fentanyl which are capable of modification. These issues are under consideration in Geneva.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has been given by the United States Administration on their plans for broadening the scope of their role in the Gulf.

We remain in close contact with the United States and other western countries with naval forces deployed in the Gulf. Our common objective remains to ensure the freedom of navigation in international waters. The practicalities of so doing are regularly reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any evidence of the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in its recent offensive in the Fao peninsula; and if he will make a statement.

We continue to examine reports of the recent battle in the Fao peninsula. To date we have no conclusive evidence of the use of chemical weapons in that offensive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any representations have been made regarding the use by the Ethiopian Army of chemical weapons, nerve gas, cluster bombs and napalm against people in Eritrea and Tigré.

No. We have no evidence that the Ethiopian Army intends to use such weapons. The United Kingdom unreservedly condemns the use of chemical weapons anywhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the involvement of any Israeli Government organisation in the murder of the PLO official Mr. Abu Jihad in Tunisia; and what are the implications for his policy towards access to the United Kingdom of certain categories of Israeli citizens.

Suspicions of Israeli involvement in the murder of Abu Jihad fall short of absolute proof. There are no implications for Israeli visitors to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any additions have been made to the staffing of Her Majesty's embassy in Panama in the past six months; and if he will make a statement.

No additions have been made to the staff accredited to Her Majesty's embassy in Panama.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the current trading situation of British banks in Panama.

We understand that the one British bank in Panama is operating within the same constraints, applied by the Panamanian authorities, as all other banks in Panama.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information is currently being offered to British commercial interests in Panama.

Her Majesty's embassy regularly exchanges information with British commercial interests in Panama in the course of its normal contacts, as do other posts overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider providing additional resources to the Commonwealth Institute to enable urgent repairs to the copper roof to be undertaken.

The nature and urgency of work which may be required on the roof of the main galleries of the Commonwealth Institute, Kensington, is still being studied by the institute, and the implications for the institute's resources are not yet clear.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the amount of grant paid to the Commonwealth Institute in each of the past five years.

The total grants-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Vote for the last five years for the London and Edinburgh operations of the Commonwealth Institute, including occasional ad hoc elements for special events, redecoration, maintenance and so on were as follows:

	£ million
1987–88	2·665
1986–87	2·673
1985–86	2·515
1984–85	2·350
1983–84	2·518

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people form the Docklands liaison group; what are their names; and what has been their previous experience.

Currently nine people constitute the Docklands liaison group. With one exception, they had all worked for the Manpower Services Commission or the employment service in east London before joining the group.The names and grades of the officials concerned are as follows:

	Grade
Mr. R. Mann	Grade 7
Mr. P. Kendrick	SEO
Mr. T. Goepfort	HEO
Ms. C. Hughes	HEO
Ms. J. Crosweller	EO
Mr. N. Reeve	EO
Mr. K. Crossman	EO
Ms. R. Sammons	AO
Mr. G. Rihal	AA

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of employment in (a) the north-east and (b) Houghton and Washington in numerical and percentage terms; and what are the comparable figures for each year since 1979.

Full working population figures are not available for areas of this size. Employee figures can be given, but only for dates when censuses of employment are taken. At September 1984, the latest date for which census estimates are available, there were 882,700 employees in employment in the north-east; the figure for the Houghton and Washington constituency was 28,400. The figures exclude the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.The earliest estimates on a comparable basis are for September 1981 when the previous census of employment was taken. There were then 940,600 employees employed in the north-east and 28,600 in the Houghton and Washington constituency.

Employees in employment in the textile1 industry in Great Britain
Thousands
		Males			Females
		Full-time	Part-time	All	Full-time	Part-time	All
	June 1971	—	—	255·4	201·3	42·8	244·1
	June 1972	—	—	248·1	192·8	39·7	232·5

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current unemployment and unfilled vacancies figures on his Department's register for the Castleford travel-to-work area.

The following information is in the Library. On 10 March 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the Castleford and Pontefract travel-to-work area was 7,947. On 4 March 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies of the community programme, registered at jobcentres which closely correspond to the Castleford and Pontefract travel-to-work area was 385.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage fall in unemployment in each of the parliamentary constituencies in Cheshire since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants at 8 March 1984 and 10 March 1988, together with the percentage change for each parliamentary constituency in the county of Cheshire. The figures are affected by the change in the coverage of the count in March 1986.

Unemployed claimants
Constituency	March 1984	March 1988	Percentage change
City of Chester	5,495	4,565	-16·9
Congleton	3,211	2,124	-33·9
Crewe and Nantwich	4,674	3,636	-22·2
Eddisbury	5,131	3,444	-32·9
Ellesmere Port and Neston	6,711	4,992	-25·6
Halton	8,245	6,184	-25·0
Macclesfield	3,326	2,344	-29·5
Tatton	3,569	2,699	-29·4
Warrington North	6,641	4,965	-25·2
Warrington South	6,172	4,862	-21·2

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of full-time and part-time workers employed in the textile industry for each year from 1970.

The Department's employment statistics are analysed according to the standard industrial classification (SIC), and the series is broken by the introduction of the 1980 SIC, which reclassified certain activities, including the textile industry. The table gives the available information on the industry on a consistent 1980 SIC basis from June 1971.Part-time male figures on this basis are available only from the censuses of employment carried out in September 1981 and September 1984, and quarterly thereafter. Comparable figures are not available for dates prior to June 1971.