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Column 252

from 1 January 1989. I appointed Prof. C. M. Chapman to the Welsh national board for nursing, midwifery and health visiting in September 1988. The members subsequently elected her as their chairman.

I also concurred with the proposal of my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to re-appoint Rhiannon Bevan as chairman of the Welsh Consumer Council in April 1988.

Skill Shortages

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to publish his asessment of skill shortages in Wales and the impact of the single market ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker : As part of my Valleys programme, a skills survey is being undertaken by the Training Agency, and my Department will be in close touch with the agency and with the Welsh Development Agency to ensure that appropriate action is taken to meet any training requirements which are revealed. This is part of a continuing review of the situation throughout Wales under which my Department maintains close liaison with the Training Agency on the range of Government training measures designed to provide young people, the unemployed and existing employers with the skills which employers need, taking account of the move towards the single European market. The greater involvement of employers, through the establishment of training and enterprise councils, will ensure that training is even more responsive to the needs of local labour markets.

House Renovation Grants

Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to inform local authorities about their capital allocation in respect of house renovation grants for 1990-91.

Mr. Peter Walker : Subject to the enactment of the Local Government and Housing Bill, capital allocations for 1990-91 will be replaced by credit approvals and capital grant. On present plans, I expect to notify individual local authorities of their share of resources shortly after the publication of the 1989 autumn statement. Resources are not generally hypothecated. It is for individual authorities to decide the balance between home improvement grant and their other spending.

NCC Advisory Committee

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names of members of the Nature Conservancy Council's advisory committee for Wales, giving in each case their occupation, employer and nominator, and the date upon which their term of office is due to expire.

Mr. Wyn Roberts : The information is as follows :


Column 251


Name                                                        |Employer                                                   |Occupation                                                 |Expiry date of                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                    |appointment                                                                                                            

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Professor G. Owen (Chairman)                                |Retired                                                    |Former Principal, University College, Aberystwyth          |31 March 1991                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Mrs. E. Colwyn Foulkes                                      |Self Employed                                              |Architect                                                  |31 March 1990                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Mr. J. Elias                                                |Self Employed                                              |Environmental Consultant                                   |31 March 1992                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Dr. W. A. Evans                                             |Dyfed County                                               |Headmaster, Comprehensive School                           |31 March 1992                                                                                                          

                                                            | Council                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Dr. B. A. Haines                                            |Self Employed                                              |Freelance writer, Editorial Consultant Partner in          |31 April 1991                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                        | agricultural consultancy                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Mr. J. M. Harrop                                            |Self Employed                                              |Farmer                                                     |31 May 1990                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Dr. W. R. Howells                                           |Self Employed                                              |Consultant in pollution control, fisheries and conservation|31 March 1991                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Dr. B. S. John                                              |Self Employed                                              |Geographer, Author, Publisher                              |30 April 1991                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Professor G. R. Sagar                                       |University of Wales                                        |Vice Principal and Professor of Agricultural Botany,       |31 March 1990                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                        | University College, Bangor                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Professor D. Taylor Smith                                   |University of Wales                                        |Head of School of Ocean Sciences, University College,      |31 March 1992                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                        | Bangor                                                                                                                                                                            

Members are appointed by the Nature Conservancy Council following the approval of my right hon. Friend and are not nominated to represent particular organisations.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

Remote Sensing

Mr. Michael Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much public funding was provided for research and development work related to the processing and application of remote sensing data in 1988-89 ; how much will be provided during 1989-90 ; and through which agencies such funds are distributed.

Mr. Jackson : Funds from the science budget amounted to about £5 million in each of the years 1988-89 and 1989-90. These are distributed through the Natural Environment and the Science and Engineering Research Councils.

Mr. Michael Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans the National Economic


Column 254

Research Council has to expand its work in the field of satellite remote sensing ; and what would be the financial implication of any such expansion.

Mr. Jackson : The Natural Environment Research Council's published corporate plan for the period 1990-91 to 1994-95 states that the council plans developments in the use of remote sensing techniques and will seek to promote applications development in preparation for satellite programmes in the 1990s. It will be for the council to decide its specific research priorities within the overall resources available.

Adult Education (Bolton)

Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students currently enrolled on adult education courses in the Bolton education authority area ; what was the comparable figure for each of the previous five years ; and what is the cost to the education authority for the current year and each of the previous five years.

Mr. Jackson : The number of students enrolled on evening-only further education courses, which will include most adult education courses, is shown in the following table. Corresponding cost data are not available centrally.


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Evening-only further education course enrolments: Bolton Education Authority       

                                          Position at 1 November                   

                                          of year shown                            

                                         |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987       

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leading to a qualification               |1,398|1,670|1,696|1,932|2,352|2,438      

Not leading to a specified qualification |5,808|5,956|5,149|5,839|5,790|4,541      

Source: Further Education Statistical Record.                                      

Ethnic Minorities

Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff from ethnic minorities are employed in his Department in grade 5.

Mrs. Rumbold : Three.

Osteoporosis

Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the Medical Research Council to report on the criteria and techniques of screening for osteoporosis.

Mr. Jackson : The Medical Research Council has set up an expert group on osteoporosis, under the chairmanship


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of Professor D. L. Hamblen, to consider methods for detecting women at particular risk of fracture associated with osteoporosis. Screening methods based on measurements of bone density are regarded by the group as promising, and a trial is currently being designed to evaluate such techniques. It is not possible to predict when the outcome of these studies will be known.

Social Work Courses

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why his Department proposes to place social work courses on the lowest funding band for higher education ; and what representations have been received regarding this matter.


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Mr. Jackson : The proposals in the consultation paper "Shifting the Balance of Public Funding of Higher Education to Fees" reflected available information on teaching costs. Before drawing up more detailed plans, we shall be considering the view of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work that social work degree courses should be in one of the higher bands. However, the majority of social work training is provided through courses which fall outside the scope of the fee proposals.

Secondary Education

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many young people aged 19 years are currently in secondary education ; and what is his estimate of the numbers of young people who will be in secondary education beyond the age of 19 years in 1990-91 and in each of the three years thereafter.

Mr. Butcher : In January 1989 there were some 1,260 pupils aged 19 or over in English maintained secondary schools. The Department projects that the corresponding numbers will be 1,200 in 1989-90 and 1990-91, 1,100 in 1991-92, and 1,000 in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

A-Level (Replacement)

Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to hold talks with relevant interested parties on a possible replacement for the existing A-level examination for school leavers.

Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend has no plans to consider the replacement of A-levels, and therefore no plans for holding talks on any such replacement. He hopes very shortly to reply to advice from the School Examinations and Assessment Council regarding the development and rationalisation of existing A-level provision and the promotion and further development of the associated AS examinations.

Midland Examining Board

Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will direct the School Examination and Assessment Council to call for a report as to who at the midland examining group was responsible for the appointment of a probationary teacher as a moderator for the GCSE in technology, and as to what safeguards are to be instituted to prevent a recurrence.

Mrs. Rumbold : We look to the independent examining groups to ensure fairness and consistency in examination assessment. Officials have been in contact with the midland examining group which stressed that all moderation work is checked. I have asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council to verify that the group's moderation arrangements are adequate and that candidates' interests are safeguarded.

Aluminium Toxicity

Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funding the Government are proposing to make for research into the toxicity of aluminium and the long-term consequences of ingestion of aluminium in (a) small and (b) large quantities.


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Mr. Jackson [holding reply 13 July 1989] : The Medical Research Council, which receives a grant-in-aid from this Department, is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. The council, which itself determines the allocation of the funds at its disposal, is supporting research on the possible link between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease at its environmental epidemiology unit at Southampton and at its neurochemical pathology unit in Newcastle. It is also supporting research on the absorption of aluminium from soya-based infant foods at its Dunn nutrition unit in Cambridge. The council is not currently supporting work on the effects of ingestion of large amounts of aluminium.

The council is always willing to consider soundly based proposals for new research programmes in competition with other proposals.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Interest Rates

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the current level of base, or equivalent, interest rates in all European Community countries.

Mr. Lilley : There are no direct equivalents to United Kingdom base rates in the other European Community countries. The table below shows short-term interest rates in the EC countries on 18 July.


Short-term interest rates  

in the European Community  

countries<1>               

               |Rates      

---------------------------

Germany        |7.1        

France         |9.1        

United Kingdom |13.9       

Italy          |12.6       

Spain          |15.7       

Netherlands    |7.2        

Belgium        |8.5        

Portugal       |12.5       

Greece         |20.5       

Denmark        |9.5        

Ireland        |9.6        

Luxembourg<2>  |8.5        

<1> 3 month interbank      

rates for all countries    

except Portugal (3 month   

Treasury bill rate).       

<2> No separate interest   

rate data is available for 

Luxembourg. Figure given   

is Belgian rate.           

Mr. Battle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list every change in the rate of interest since 1979 (a) by date of change and (b) by percentage change.

Mr. Lilley : The information requested is published in table 13.10 of Financial Statistics and table 200 of the Economic Trends annual supplement.

Mr. Battle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual rate of interest every year snce 1979.

Mr. Lilley : The information requested is published in table 13.15 of Financial Statistics.

Retail Price Index

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show, using 100 as the base, the increase in the retail price index in each European Community country from May 1979 to the most recent date for which figures are available.


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Mr. Lilley : The information is as follows :


Published Consumer Price Indices of  

the European Community               

Countries (May 1979=100)<1>          

EC Country     |Index                

-------------------------------------

Germany        |134                  

France         |205                  

United Kingdom |211                  

Italy          |293                  

Spain          |267                  

Netherlands    |133                  

Belgium        |161                  

Portugal       |496                  

Greece         |588                  

Denmark        |198                  

Ireland        |241                  

Luxembourg     |158                  

<1>Figures are for June 1989 for the 

United Kingdom, Germany, Italy,      

Spain and the Netherlands; May for   

France and Belgium; February for     

Ireland and April for the other      

European Community countries.        

Foreign Exchange

Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current figure for total foreign exchange reserves held by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Lilley : At the end of June, the United Kingdom official reserves stood at $43,665 million, which is equivalent to £28,167 million when converted at the closing market rate on 30 June of £1=$1.5502.

Chemical Fertilisers

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to impose a tax on chemical fertilisers equal to 100 per cent. of the nitrogenous content ; and what estimate he has made of the revenue yield from such a tax based on estimated sales to United Kingdom farmers in 1988.

Mr. Lilley : No, and none.

OECD Statistics

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he supplied the information for the figures for gross and net operating surplus published in tables 7.1 of OECD Historical Statistics 1960-86 ; and if he will provide comparable information for 1987, 1988 and a forecast for 1989.

Mr. Major : The percentages for the United Kingdom given in the OECD publication are based on data supplied to the organisation by the Central Statistical Office and are compatible with the 1987 edition of "United Kingdom National Accounts". Later estimates, which will extend only to 1987, are currently in preparation, based on data in the 1988 edition of the CSO publication.


Column 258

Bank of England (Staff)

Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by the Bank of England to undertake the bank's money market operations ; and if he will list their grades and salaries.

Mr. Lilley : The information requested is a matter for the Bank of England. Some information on Bank of England staff numbers and salary levels is published in the Bank of England report and accounts.

VAT

Mr. Cox : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total income raised by value added tax in 1988.

Mr. Lilley : The revenue yield from value added tax was £26.6 billion in 1988.

Capital (Rate of Returns)

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the net rate of return on capital employment in manufacturing industry each year since 1959 and his forecast for 1989 together with the return on trading assets.

Mr. Major : Official data for the current cost net rate of return on capital employed in manufacturing companies are published in "British Business", 30 September 1988. A copy is available in the Library. No official forecast is available.

Capital and Running Cost Underspends

Mr. Jeremy Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the entitlements for 1989-90 resulting from the carry forward of capital and running costs underspends allowed under the end-year flexibility schemes.

Mr. Major : A list of entitlements totalling £620,595,000 for capital expenditure and £19,217,000 for running costs is shown in the following table.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the individual cash limits and running costs limits will be increased when entitlement is taken up.

The total increase in cash limits resulting from the take-up of end-year flexibility will be charged to the reserve and will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure.


Column 257


Entitlement for 1989-90 cash limits resulting from the carryforward of capital underspends                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Class                                                                       |Vote                                                                       |Department                                                                 |Description                                                                |Amount (£'000s)                                                                                                                                        

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I                                                                           |2                                                                          |Ministry of Defence<1>                                                     |Defence procurement                                                        |435,690                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

II                                                                          |1                                                                          |Foreign and Commonwealth                                                   |Overseas representation                                                    |4,518                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  Office                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

II                                                                          |3                                                                          |Foreign and Commonwealth                                                   |External broadcasting and monitoring                                       |1,823                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        | Office                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

IV                                                                          |4                                                                          |Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries                                         |Other agricultural and food services and support for the fishing industry  |2,000                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  and Food                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

V                                                                           |3                                                                          |Department of Trade and                                                    |Administration, regulation of trade and industry and consumer protection   |813                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                        |  Industry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

VII                                                                         |2                                                                          |Department of Employment                                                   |Employment programmes and central services                                 |2,931                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

VIII                                                                        |1                                                                          |Department of Transport                                                    |National roads, England                                                    |22,832                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

VIII                                                                        |2                                                                          |Department of Transport                                                    |Administration and transport services                                      |2,000                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

VIII                                                                        |4                                                                          |Department of Transport                                                    |Driver and vehicle licensing                                               |1,913                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

X                                                                           |2                                                                          |Department of the Environment                                              |Central environmental services, etc.                                       |1,599                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

X                                                                           |4                                                                          |Department of the Environment                                              |Royal palaces, royal parks, historic buildings, ancient monuments and the  |927                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  national heritage                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

X                                                                           |5                                                                          |Department of the Environment                                              |Administration                                                             |864                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XI                                                                          |2                                                                          |Home Office                                                                |Prisons, England and Wales                                                 |905                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XI                                                                          |3                                                                          |Home Office                                                                |Administration, immigration and police support services, England and       |183                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  Wales                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XII                                                                         |1                                                                          |Department of Education and                                                |Schools, research and miscellaneous services                               |3,412                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  Science                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XII                                                                         |2                                                                          |Department of Education and                                                |Higher and further education                                               |391                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                        |  Science                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XII                                                                         |4                                                                          |Department of Education and                                                |Administration                                                             |177                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                        |  Science                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XII                                                                         |5                                                                          |Department of Education and                                                |Science                                                                    |1,607                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  Science                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XIV                                                                         |1                                                                          |Department of Health and Social                                            |Hospital and community health and other services, England                  |17,340                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                        |  Security                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XIV                                                                         |3                                                                          |Department of Health and Social                                            |Administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England |1,003                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  Security                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |2                                                                          |Department of Agriculture and                                              |Agricultural services and fisheries for Scotland                           |2,000                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  Fisheries for Scotland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |3                                                                          |Industry Department for Scotland                                           |Regional and general industrial support, Scotland                          |101                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |6                                                                          |Scottish Development Department                                            |Roads, transport and environmental services, Scotland                      |1,673                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |11                                                                         |Scottish Courts Administration                                             |Administration of justice, Scotland                                        |1,685                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |14                                                                         |Scottish Home and Health                                                   |Prisons, hospitals and community health services, etc. Scotland            |4,747                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                        |  Department                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |15                                                                         |Scottish Education Department                                              |Education, Arts, Libraries and Social work, Scotland                       |750                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVI                                                                         |19                                                                         |General Register Office                                                    |General Register Office, Scotland                                          |637                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVII                                                                        |5                                                                          |Welsh Office                                                               |Tourism, roads and transport, housing, other environmental services        |2,140                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  (including civil defence), education and science, arts and libraries, and                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  health and personal social services, Wales                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XVII                                                                        |9                                                                          |Welsh Office                                                               |Administration                                                             |317                                                                                                                                                    

XVIII                                                                       |1                                                                          |Northern Ireland Office                                                    |Law, order, protective and miscellaneous services, Northern Ireland        |420                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XIX                                                                         |2                                                                          |Customs and Excise                                                         |Administration                                                             |2,171                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XIX                                                                         |7                                                                          |Inland Revenue                                                             |Administration                                                             |3,985                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XIX                                                                         |11                                                                         |Her Majesty's Treasury                                                     |Administration                                                             |661                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XIX                                                                         |13                                                                         |Her Majesty's Treasury                                                     |Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency                             |2,000                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XX                                                                          |7                                                                          |Ordnance Survey                                                            |Ordnance Survey                                                            |1,788                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XX                                                                          |12                                                                         |Office of Fair Trading                                                     |Office of Fair Trading                                                     |125                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XX                                                                          |14                                                                         |Office of Telecommunications<2>                                            |Office of Telecommunications                                               |1                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

XX                                                                          |15                                                                         |Office of Population Censuses and                                          |Office of Population Censuses and Surveys                                  |323                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                        |  Surveys                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |----                                                                                                                                                   

Total voted                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      528,135                                                                                                                                                

<1>The five cash limited Defence votes are each separate cash limits but, by agreement with the Treasury are managed as a cash block. Underspend on expenditure eligible for the scheme in these cash limits has been carried forward to Class I, Vote 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                               

<2>This vote is a token one. Carryforward will be taken in the form of increased appropriations in aid of £88,000.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      


Entitlements for 1989-90 cash limits resulting from the carryforward of capital underspends.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Non voted cash limits                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Cash block                                                         |Department                                                        |Description                                                       |Amount (£000's)                                                                                                                      

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NID1                                                               |Northern Ireland                                                  |Services broadly analagous to Great Britain services covered by   |2,059                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                      |  cash limits including family practitioner services.                                                                                                                                                   

SO/LA1                                                             |Scottish Office                                                   |Capital expenditure in Scotland by local authorities on roads and |12,000                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                      |  transport, water and sewerage, general services, urban                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                      |  programmes, police and social work, schools further education,                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                      |  teacher training and arts and libraries.                                                                                                                                                              

SO/LA2                                                             |Scottish Office                                                   |Capital expenditure in Scotland by local authorities, new towns,  |24,900                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                      |  and the Scottish Special Housing Association, on schemes                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                      |  financed by the Housing Corporation and commercial                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                      |  investment by new towns.                                                                                                                                                                              

DOE/UA1                                                            |Department of the Environment                                     |External financing requirements of urban development corporations                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                      |  and capital expenditure by local authorities and other bodies on                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                      |  the urban programme, the derelict land reclamation programme                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                      |  and other expenditure (including some inner cities initiative).                                                                                                                                       

DOE/HC1                                                            |Department of the Environment                                     |Capital expenditure in England on housing financed through the    |3,250                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                      |  Housing Corporation.                                                                                                                                                                                  

DOE/NT1                                                            |Department of the Environment                                     |Capital expenditure in England by new towns on housing, roads,    |24,000                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                      |  commercial and industrial investment and certain water services.                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                         |----                                                                                                                                 

Total non voted                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                   |92,460                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                         |----                                                                                                                                 

Total carryfoward of capital underspends                                                                                                                                                                  620,595                                                                                                                              


Entitlements for 1989-90 running costs limits resulting from the                

carryforward of running cost underspends                                        

Department                                      |Amount (£'000s)                

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce     |89                             

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food     |1,182                          

Department for Trade and Industry               |1,251                          

Department of Employment                        |3,018                          

Department of Transport                         |1,288                          

Scottish Courts Administration                  |114                            

Scottish Office                                 |975                            

General Register Office (Scotland)              |50                             

Welsh Office                                    |205                            

Northern Ireland                                |2,547                          

Customs and Excise                              |2,320                          

Inland Revenue                                  |5,405                          

Her Majesty's Treasury                          |302                            

Ordnance Survey                                 |279                            

Office of Population Censuses and Surveys       |192                            

                                                |---                            

Total carryforward of running costs underspends |19,217                         

Pay and File System

Mr. Devlin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are planned to the rules for claiming reliefs when the new system of pay and file for companies comes into operation.


Column 262

Mr. Norman Lamont : The new arrangements for the assessment and payment of corporation tax by companies, known as corporation tax pay and file, are due to come into force in 1993 on present plans. The Inland Revenue has been discussing with a group of representatives of companies and professional practitioners details such as the design of the new corporation tax return and the way in which claims to relief would be made under pay and file. They will be reporting the outcome of these discussions to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his decisions.

Fixed Investments

Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in 1988 of fixed investments expressed as a percentage of total fixed investments.

Mr. Major : Total gross domestic fixed capital formation is estimated to have increased in volume by 12 per cent. between 1987 and 1988. In current prices, the increase was 18 per cent.


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Delors Report

Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the Delors committee report; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lilley : My right hon. Friend has regular discussions, on a wide range of subjects, with the Governor of the Bank of England.

Junk Bonds

Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effects upon the United Kingdom economy of the development of the junk bond market; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lilley [holding answer 19 July 1989] : There is at present no junk bond market in the United Kingdom in the usual sense of that term.

Hoylake (Bermuda) Ltd.

Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consequences he anticipates for (a) the gilts market, (b) the shares in privatised companies and (c) foreign exchange levels arising from the recent Hoylake bid for BAT; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lilley [holding answer 19 July 1989] : It is not my policy to comment on takeover bids.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Computerisation

Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what will be the minimum period needed for administrative purposes between the announcement of upratings and the beginning of the benefit year when the computerisation of his Department's records is complete ;

(2) what would be the minimum period needed for administrative purposes between the announcement of upratings and the beginning of the benefit year when the computerisation of his Department's records is complete if all social security benefits were paid by ACT.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The minimum period needed for administrative purposes between the uprating announcement and the beginning of the benefit year is 23 weeks. The 20 week renewal cycle for order books, and the three week period required for the selection of order books, will not be affected by the full computerisation of the Department's records. This renewal process is already fully computerised for pensions.

There are no plans to make payment by ACT compulsory. Therefore, while order books remain in use, the minimum period needed between the uprating announcement and the beginning of the benefit year will continue to be 23 weeks.

Nursing Homes

Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will assess the impact of the uprating of nurses' salaries on the costs of providing nursing home care ;


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(2) what evidence he has that the fees paid through income support are sufficient to allow voluntary nursing homes to meet the costs of providing appropriate care ;

(3) whether he will consider making more frequent upratings of income support levels for people in residential nursing homes.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The level of charges in a home is primarily a matter between the residents and the owners of the home to agree on based on the services being provided.

The Government receive evidence on the adequacy of income support, the level of fees and the factors governing costs in homes from a number of sources, including home owners and their representatives ; and review the limits annually.

More frequent upratings are not necessary. The Government take account of annual changes in reviewing the limits.

Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of voluntary nursing homes which have closed because of difficulties in meeting the costs of care through fees paid by income support.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Department does not collect figures on the closure of independent nursing homes.

Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has received from the Brendoncare Foundation of the financial difficulties in providing nursing care for elderly residents.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have received representations from a number of hon. Members who have forwarded correspondence from the Brendoncare Foundation about the levels of help available through income support for people in nursing homes. The foundation has also been in direct correspondence with us.

Incomes

Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of total average weekly household income in the northern region came from social security benefits in (a) 1975 and (b) 1988.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The available information, which is drawn from "Regional Trends", is as follows. In 1975-76, some 10.9 per cent of total household income in the north came from social security benefits. In 1986- 87, the corresponding figure was 16.2 per cent. These estimates exclude the contribution made by housing benefit to household incomes.

Employment Training

Mr. Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines are issued to his Department's staff reviewing the benefit eligibility of disabled people leaving the employment training programme ; whether these guidelines are available to the public ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : Disabled people who are not taking up full-time employment and who remain incapacitated may again receive sickness benefit, invalidity benefit, or severe disablement allowance provided that they produce medical evidence to substantiate their condition.


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Departmental staff are instructed to this effect. Disabled claimants who were receiving an incapacity benefit immediately before starting their employment training course are sent a letter advising them that if they are sick within a period of eight weeks after their training course ends they may be entitled again provided that they make a fresh claim.

The relevant guidelines for determining income support claims are set out in income support circular No. 15/88, and in the adjudication officers' guide paragraph 25495, both of which are published. Most disabled people receiving income support immediately before they start employment training continue to do so throughout their course. Although termination of training constitutes a change in status from employment trainee to unemployed


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or sick and/or disabled, payments of income support can normally continue provided the claimant re-registers as unemployed at the unemployment benefit office or submits suitable medical evidence.

Grants and Loans

Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentages of (a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants which were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) the Leeds, West area and (ii) nationally, for the financial year 1988-89.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The table provides the information available for the year 1988-89.


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Budgeting loans and community care grants for Leeds West ILO and nationally, percentage by client group 1988-89                                               

Per cent.                                                                                                                                                     

                      |(00)   |(01)   |(02)   |(03)   |(04)   |(05)   |(06)   |(07)   |(08)   |(09)   |(10)   |(11)   |(12)   |(13)   |(14)   |(15)<1>        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leeds West ILO                                                                                                                                                

Budgeting Loans       |0.5    |0.6    |0.6    |4.3    |0.2    |2.5    |2.9    |48.4   |0.8    |2.4    |14.9   |17.2   |1.0    |3.6    |0.0    |n/a            

Community Care Grants |0.5    |4.2    |0.9    |12.0   |0.5    |2.8    |4.2    |35.2   |0.0    |0.0    |8.3    |17.1   |4.6    |5.1    |0.0    |4.6            

                                                                                                                                                              

Great Britain                                                                                                                                                 

Budgeting Loans       |0.5    |0.3    |0.6    |3.9    |0.4    |3.6    |3.6    |43.9   |0.7    |2.1    |16.7   |18.8   |1.0    |3.8    |0.0    |n/a            

Community Care Grants |0.4    |4.5    |3.7    |14.3   |0.9    |3.4    |10.0   |25.2   |0.7    |1.5    |9.5    |16.4   |2.0    |6.3    |0.0    |1.1            

n/a=not available                                                                                                                                             

<1> Key to client groups                                                                                                                                      

Code    Meaning                                                                                                                                               

00      unallocated or unidentified                                                                                                                           

01      over 80-with Income Support higher pensioner premium                                                                                                  

02      aged 60-79-disabled with higher pensioner premium                                                                                                     

03      aged 60-79-with ordinary pensioner premium, or over 60 without pensioner premium                                                                      

04      lone parent with Income Support disability premium                                                                                                    

05      family with disability premium                                                                                                                        

06      other with disability premium                                                                                                                         

07      lone parent without disability premium                                                                                                                

08      signs at UBO quarterly with Income Support family premium                                                                                             

09      signs at UBO quarterly without family premium                                                                                                         

10      signing unemployed or with training allowance with family premium                                                                                     

11      signing unemployed or with training allowance without family premium                                                                                  

12      others with family premium                                                                                                                            

13      others without family premium                                                                                                                         

14      involved in trade dispute                                                                                                                             

15      applicant not in receipt of Income Support-not applicable for budgeting loans                                                                         

Benefits

Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West of 6 July, Official Report, column 247, on income support totals ; what is the imputed proportion of income support which his Department used in its calculation of the total amount payable to cover food costs under normal circumstances.


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