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Column 854

War Widows' Pensions

Mr. Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he expects his Department's maximum possible expenditure, at 1979 prices, to be on war widows' pensions in the year 1989-90.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The latest estimate is that 1989-90 expenditure on war widows' pensions will be £193,729,000 (£82,331,204 at 1979 prices). This does not, of course, include any payments made by the Ministry of Defence or the recently announced special payments.

Cold Weather Payments

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will place in the Library each week the temperature information he receives from the Meteorological Office for the purposes of regulation 2 of the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Regulations 1988.


Column 855

Mr. Scott : Yes.

Local Government Finance

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether officers of his Department are authorised to pass information about individual claimants or members of their households to local authorities for the purpose of poll tax registration.

Mr. Scott : Yes, under the terms of the Community Charge (Information Concerning Social Security) Regulations 1989 and the Community Charges (Information Concerning Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 1988.

Family Incomes

Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing child benefit expenditure broken down into (a) gross income bands, (b) gross equivalent income bands and (c) net equivalent income bands, showing the number of children falling into each band.

Mr. Scott [holding answer 24 November 1989] : Information about the income of families receiving child benefit is not routinely collected. The following figures relating to the distribution of gross and net income are made on the basis of sample survey data which are subject to normal sampling and response variations. The equivalised income bands shown in the tables do not necessarily reflect the actual incomes of couples with children ; they represent their incomes equivalised to the incomes of couples without children. Tables (b) and (c) do not therefore show the number of children falling within actual income bands for couples with children since their actual incomes will generally be higher than the equivalised amounts shown. Thus, for a married couple with two children aged nine and 11, the actual income is likely to be 150 per cent. of the equivalised amount and for a married couple with three children aged nine, 11 and 13, 175 per cent. of the equivalised amount.


(c) Equivalised net income                                                  

Income bands       |Number of children|Child benefit                        

£                  |(000s)            |expenditure                          

                                      |(£ million)                          

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

Under 5,000        |2,145             |810                                  

5-10,000           |5,950             |2,245                                

10-15,000          |2,600             |980                                  

15-20,000          |860               |325                                  

20,000 and above   |450               |165                                  

                   |-------           |-------                              

Total              |12,005            |4,525                                

Notes:                                                                      

1. Estimates do not sum due to rounding.                                    

2. Estimates are based on the 1985 and 1986 FES uprated to 1989-90 earnings 

and benefit levels.                                                         

3. Gross income is the family's total income from all sources including     

benefits.                                                                   

4. Equivalence scales are calculated giving a married couple a value of     

1.00.                                                                       


(c) Equivalised net income                                                  

Income bands       |Number of children|Child benefit                        

£                  |(000s)            |expenditure                          

                                      |(£ million)                          

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

Under 5,000        |2,145             |810                                  

5-10,000           |5,950             |2,245                                

10-15,000          |2,600             |980                                  

15-20,000          |860               |325                                  

20,000 and above   |450               |165                                  

                   |-------           |-------                              

Total              |12,005            |4,525                                

Notes:                                                                      

1. Estimates do not sum due to rounding.                                    

2. Estimates are based on the 1985 and 1986 FES uprated to 1989-90 earnings 

and benefit levels.                                                         

3. Gross income is the family's total income from all sources including     

benefits.                                                                   

4. Equivalence scales are calculated giving a married couple a value of     

1.00.                                                                       


(c) Equivalised net income                                                  

Income bands       |Number of children|Child benefit                        

£                  |(000s)            |expenditure                          

                                      |(£ million)                          

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

Under 5,000        |2,145             |810                                  

5-10,000           |5,950             |2,245                                

10-15,000          |2,600             |980                                  

15-20,000          |860               |325                                  

20,000 and above   |450               |165                                  

                   |-------           |-------                              

Total              |12,005            |4,525                                

Notes:                                                                      

1. Estimates do not sum due to rounding.                                    

2. Estimates are based on the 1985 and 1986 FES uprated to 1989-90 earnings 

and benefit levels.                                                         

3. Gross income is the family's total income from all sources including     

benefits.                                                                   

4. Equivalence scales are calculated giving a married couple a value of     

1.00.                                                                       

Electricity and Gas Payments

Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households, from data taken for the Annual Statistical Enquiry in 1987, 1988 amd 1989, are having weekly deductions made from their supplementary benefit or income support, as appropriate, for electricity and how many for gas (a) under £2 per week and (b) in each £1 band above £2 per week up to £30 per week.

Mr. Scott [holding answer 4 December 1989] : The information is in the table.


Amount of       Gas                         Electricity                              

deductions<1>                                                                        

               |1987         |<2>1988      |1987         |<2>1988                    

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

 0.01- 2.00    |2,500        |2,000        |4,500        |4,500                      

 2.01- 3.00    |2,000        |4,000        |7,000        |5,500                      

 3.01- 4.00    |6,500        |7,500        |10,000       |9,000                      

 4.01- 5.00    |7,500        |9,000        |13,500       |12,500                     

 5.01- 6.00    |13,000       |12,500       |14,000       |13,500                     

 6.01- 7.00    |15,000       |16,000       |16,500       |15,500                     

 7.01- 8.00    |15,500       |16,500       |17,000       |13,500                     

 8.01- 9.00    |17,000       |19,500       |14,000       |11,500                     

 9.01-10.00    |17,500       |18,000       |11,500       |11,500                     

10.01-11.00    |12,000       |13,500       |10,000       |9,500                      

11.01-12.00    |10,000       |12,500       |9,000        |8,500                      

12.01-13.00    |7,000        |6,000        |7,000        |6,500                      

13.01-14.00    |5,000        |6,500        |7,000        |7,000                      

14.01-15.00    |2,500        |2,500        |4,000        |4,500                      

15.01-16.00    |2,500        |2,000        |5,500        |3,500                      

16.01-17.00    |1,000        |500          |2,500        |3,000                      

17.01-18.00    |500          |1,000        |2,500        |3,500                      

18.01-19.00    |500          |500          |1,500        |1,500                      

19.01-20.00    |500          |500          |2,000        |1,500                      

20.01-24.00<3> |500          |1,000        |3,000        |4,000                      

24.01-30.00    |500          |Nil          |1,000        |1,000                      

30.01 & over   |Nil          |Nil          |Nil          |500                        

                                                                                     

Total          |138,000      |152,000      |163,000      |<4>152,000                 

<1>Deductions cover the cost of current consumption and, where necessary, a specific 

amount to clear an outstanding bill. Numbers of cases have been rounded to the       

nearest 500.                                                                         

<2>Data for 1989 are not yet available.                                              

<3>For figures over £20 per week the bands have been amalgamated as shown, since in  

single pound bands most would contain no cases or less than 500. The method by which 

these estimates are obtained does not imply a high level of precision for such       

numbers.                                                                             

<4>Columns may not total to sum due to rounding.                                     

Source:                                                                              

Annual Statistical Enquiries May 1987, May 1988.                                     


Column 857

EMPLOYMENT

Social Fund

Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the United Kingdom share of European social fund allocation for each year from 1979 to 1990 by percentage and total.

Mr. Eggar : The European social fund allocation to the United Kingdom for each year from 1979 to 1989 (the latest year available) is listed in the table by total and percentage.


European social fund                    

||CAllocations to the United Kingdom (  

figures have been rounded)              

Year      |Amount   |per cent.          

          |(£)      |of fund            

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

1979      |105      |25.4               

1980      |135      |23.3               

1981      |141      |24.8               

1982      |257      |29                 

1983      |321      |29.5               

1984      |353      |31.6               

1985      |308      |23.7               

1986      |280.5    |16.4               

1987      |435.5    |18.8               

1988      |405.3    |19.1               

1989      |418      |18.1               

Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any transitional period has been allowed for running down European social fund training schemes experiencing a reduction of grant as a result of the introduction of new criteria in 1990.

Mr. Eggar : Historically all schemes have had to make fresh applications each year for European social fund support with no guarantee of subsequent funding. This remains the situation for at least the first year of the new European social fund arrangements. As yet, the amounts for the United Kingdom in future years is not known and, therefore, the effect on individual schemes cannot be gauged.

Contracts

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many contracts over £92,500 have been let by his Department in the 1988-89 financial year and in the current financial year to date ; and how many of these were (a) automatically renewed and (b) open to competition through advertisement throughout the European Community.

Mr. Eggar : The number of contracts awarded by the Department of Employment group and covered by the provisions of the European Economic Community supplies directive, for which the current threshold is £92,00, was 12 in the 1988-89 financial year and 14 in the current financial year to date. Of these, seven were awarded following advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Communities and 19 were considered to be exempt from advertising and may have been awarded to the previous supplier.

Accountancy Firms

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many outside accountancy firms are employed by his Department ; whether such employment is


Column 858

subject to any guidelines ; and whether he takes steps before employing an accountancy firm to discover whether that firm has been censured by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors in their inquiries under the Companies Act.

Mr. Eggar : The Training Agency has two accountancy firms under contract at present ; no other accountancy firms are currently employed by my Department. Accountancy firms are invited to tender for the provision of advisory services to Departments on the basis of their suitability to provide the relevant advice. In making such appointments consultations are carried out as necessary, and where appropriate in the light of advice given by Treasury on consultancy appointments.

Durham Jobcentre

Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the highest and lowest rates of pay for jobs advertised at the Durham jobcentre.

Mr. Eggar : On 12 December the highest rate of pay for a job advertised at the Durham jobcentre was £175 per week and the lowest £86 per week.

Benefit Offices

Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each of his Department's benefit offices based in (a) each local authority and (b) each constituency.

Mr. Eggar : This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

Executive Agencies

Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress his Department has made towards establishing executive agencies ; and what is the timetable for completion.

Mr. Eggar : On 1 December the Secretary of State announced his intention that the employment service should become a next steps agency from 2 April 1990. The ES is the largest and most important area of Government work to be created as an agency so far, employing over 35,000 staff and with a budget approaching £1 billion. In line with all other Government Departments, the Employment Department is committed to a rolling review of other areas of work to identify possible agency candidates.

Labour Statistics

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a revised and updated table providing the information published in the Official Report on 28 February, columns 171-176.

Mr. Nicholls : The tables show the work force in employment, male and female, full-time and part-time, for each quarter since 1980 with actual and percentage changes by quarter and year.


Column 859


Table 5 workforce in employment in Great Britain                                                          

Seasonally adjusted                                                                                       

Percentage charge over previous year   Thousands                                                          

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

                Males                                  Females                                            

               |Full time   |Part time<1>|All         |Full time   |Part time   |All                      

December 1979  |..          |..          |0.3         |1.1         |3.0         |1.9                      

March 1980     |..          |..          |0.0         |0.7         |2.3         |1.3                      

June 1980      |..          |..          |-0.6        |-0.9        |2.0         |0.2                      

September 1980 |..          |..          |-1.8        |-1.8        |0.2         |-1.0                     

December 1980  |..          |..          |-3.0        |-3.1        |-1.2        |-2.4                     

March 1981     |..          |..          |-3.8        |-3.3        |-2.4        |-2.9                     

June 1981      |-4.6        |-1.5        |-4.4        |-3.1        |-3.0        |-3.0                     

September 1981 |..          |..          |-4.2        |-2.8        |-1.6        |-2.3                     

December 1981  |..          |..          |-3.8        |-2.3        |-0.9        |-1.8                     

March 1982     |..          |..          |-3.0        |-1.1        |-1.0        |-1.1                     

June 1982      |-2.8        |3.1         |-2.4        |-0.9        |-0.7        |-0.8                     

September 1982 |..          |..          |-2.2        |-1.4        |-1.1        |-1.3                     

December 1982  |..          |..          |-2.1        |-0.8        |-2.3        |-1.4                     

March 1983     |..          |..          |-2.1        |-6.0        |5.3         |-1.5                     

June 1983      |-2.1        |3.0         |-1.8        |-5.2        |7.0         |-0.3                     

September 1983 |..          |..          |-0.5        |-3.8        |10.1        |1.8                      

December 1983  |..          |..          |0.6         |-3.0        |13.5        |3.5                      

March 1984     |0.0         |18.7        |1.2         |2.6         |6.6         |4.3                      

June 1984      |0.7         |16.7        |1.8         |2.7         |5.7         |4.0                      

September 1984 |0.9         |6.7         |1.3         |2.6         |3.7         |3.1                      

December 1984  |1.0         |3.7         |1.2         |2.1         |2.9         |2.4                      

March 1985     |0.8         |3.1         |1.0         |2.0         |2.4         |2.2                      

June 1985      |0.4         |3.9         |0.6         |1.9         |2.4         |2.1                      

September 1985 |-0.1        |4.5         |0.3         |1.5         |2.9         |2.1                      

December 1985  |-0.5        |3.2         |-0.2        |1.4         |1.8         |1.6                      

March 1986     |-1.0        |2.3         |-0.7        |0.9         |2.0         |1.4                      

June 1986      |-1.3        |4.8         |-0.9        |0.6         |2.7         |1.5                      

September 1986 |-1.2        |6.5         |-0.6        |0.8         |2.8         |1.7                      

December 1986  |-1.2        |7.8         |-0.5        |1.2         |3.6         |2.3                      

March 1987     |-0.9        |10.5        |0.0         |1.5         |3.9         |2.5                      

June 1987      |0.3         |11.0        |1.2         |3.1         |3.9         |3.4                      

September 1987 |1.1         |11.2        |2.0         |4.1         |3.2         |3.7                      

December1987   |2.1         |11.0        |2.8         |5.2         |3.0         |4.2                      

March 1988     |2.9         |9.0         |3.4         |6.4         |2.1         |4.5                      

June 1988      |2.7         |4.3         |2.9         |5.7         |1.2         |3.7                      

September 1988 |2.4         |0.6         |2.2         |5.2         |1.4         |3.5                      

December 1988  |1.5         |1.9         |1.6         |3.9         |1.5         |2.8                      

March 1989     |0.9         |6.2         |1.4         |2.9         |3.0         |3.0                      

June 1989      |0.4         |8.3         |1.1         |2.5         |3.4         |2.9                      

<1>Prior to September 1984 figures for part-time male employees are only available from the Census of     

Employment. For dates prior to 1984 census, the approximate estimates have been derived by the            

intepolation of the proportion of male employees who were part-time on the census dates. The estimates    

have only been made for June of each year from June 1979 to June 1982, but are quarterly from March 1983  

to June 1984.                                                                                             

..=Not Available.                                                                                         

Note:                                                                                                     

Male part-time figures are not seasonally adjusted.                                                       


Table 5 workforce in employment in Great Britain                                                          

Seasonally adjusted                                                                                       

Percentage charge over previous year   Thousands                                                          

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

                Males                                  Females                                            

               |Full time   |Part time<1>|All         |Full time   |Part time   |All                      

December 1979  |..          |..          |0.3         |1.1         |3.0         |1.9                      

March 1980     |..          |..          |0.0         |0.7         |2.3         |1.3                      

June 1980      |..          |..          |-0.6        |-0.9        |2.0         |0.2                      

September 1980 |..          |..          |-1.8        |-1.8        |0.2         |-1.0                     

December 1980  |..          |..          |-3.0        |-3.1        |-1.2        |-2.4                     

March 1981     |..          |..          |-3.8        |-3.3        |-2.4        |-2.9                     

June 1981      |-4.6        |-1.5        |-4.4        |-3.1        |-3.0        |-3.0                     

September 1981 |..          |..          |-4.2        |-2.8        |-1.6        |-2.3                     

December 1981  |..          |..          |-3.8        |-2.3        |-0.9        |-1.8                     

March 1982     |..          |..          |-3.0        |-1.1        |-1.0        |-1.1                     

June 1982      |-2.8        |3.1         |-2.4        |-0.9        |-0.7        |-0.8                     

September 1982 |..          |..          |-2.2        |-1.4        |-1.1        |-1.3                     

December 1982  |..          |..          |-2.1        |-0.8        |-2.3        |-1.4                     

March 1983     |..          |..          |-2.1        |-6.0        |5.3         |-1.5                     

June 1983      |-2.1        |3.0         |-1.8        |-5.2        |7.0         |-0.3                     

September 1983 |..          |..          |-0.5        |-3.8        |10.1        |1.8                      

December 1983  |..          |..          |0.6         |-3.0        |13.5        |3.5                      

March 1984     |0.0         |18.7        |1.2         |2.6         |6.6         |4.3                      

June 1984      |0.7         |16.7        |1.8         |2.7         |5.7         |4.0                      

September 1984 |0.9         |6.7         |1.3         |2.6         |3.7         |3.1                      

December 1984  |1.0         |3.7         |1.2         |2.1         |2.9         |2.4                      

March 1985     |0.8         |3.1         |1.0         |2.0         |2.4         |2.2                      

June 1985      |0.4         |3.9         |0.6         |1.9         |2.4         |2.1                      

September 1985 |-0.1        |4.5         |0.3         |1.5         |2.9         |2.1                      

December 1985  |-0.5        |3.2         |-0.2        |1.4         |1.8         |1.6                      

March 1986     |-1.0        |2.3         |-0.7        |0.9         |2.0         |1.4                      

June 1986      |-1.3        |4.8         |-0.9        |0.6         |2.7         |1.5                      

September 1986 |-1.2        |6.5         |-0.6        |0.8         |2.8         |1.7                      

December 1986  |-1.2        |7.8         |-0.5        |1.2         |3.6         |2.3                      

March 1987     |-0.9        |10.5        |0.0         |1.5         |3.9         |2.5                      

June 1987      |0.3         |11.0        |1.2         |3.1         |3.9         |3.4                      

September 1987 |1.1         |11.2        |2.0         |4.1         |3.2         |3.7                      

December1987   |2.1         |11.0        |2.8         |5.2         |3.0         |4.2                      

March 1988     |2.9         |9.0         |3.4         |6.4         |2.1         |4.5                      

June 1988      |2.7         |4.3         |2.9         |5.7         |1.2         |3.7                      

September 1988 |2.4         |0.6         |2.2         |5.2         |1.4         |3.5                      

December 1988  |1.5         |1.9         |1.6         |3.9         |1.5         |2.8                      

March 1989     |0.9         |6.2         |1.4         |2.9         |3.0         |3.0                      

June 1989      |0.4         |8.3         |1.1         |2.5         |3.4         |2.9                      

<1>Prior to September 1984 figures for part-time male employees are only available from the Census of     

Employment. For dates prior to 1984 census, the approximate estimates have been derived by the            

intepolation of the proportion of male employees who were part-time on the census dates. The estimates    

have only been made for June of each year from June 1979 to June 1982, but are quarterly from March 1983  

to June 1984.                                                                                             

..=Not Available.                                                                                         

Note:                                                                                                     

Male part-time figures are not seasonally adjusted.                                                       


Table 5 workforce in employment in Great Britain                                                          

Seasonally adjusted                                                                                       

Percentage charge over previous year   Thousands                                                          

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

                Males                                  Females                                            

               |Full time   |Part time<1>|All         |Full time   |Part time   |All                      

December 1979  |..          |..          |0.3         |1.1         |3.0         |1.9                      

March 1980     |..          |..          |0.0         |0.7         |2.3         |1.3                      

June 1980      |..          |..          |-0.6        |-0.9        |2.0         |0.2                      

September 1980 |..          |..          |-1.8        |-1.8        |0.2         |-1.0                     

December 1980  |..          |..          |-3.0        |-3.1        |-1.2        |-2.4                     

March 1981     |..          |..          |-3.8        |-3.3        |-2.4        |-2.9                     

June 1981      |-4.6        |-1.5        |-4.4        |-3.1        |-3.0        |-3.0                     

September 1981 |..          |..          |-4.2        |-2.8        |-1.6        |-2.3                     

December 1981  |..          |..          |-3.8        |-2.3        |-0.9        |-1.8                     

March 1982     |..          |..          |-3.0        |-1.1        |-1.0        |-1.1                     

June 1982      |-2.8        |3.1         |-2.4        |-0.9        |-0.7        |-0.8                     

September 1982 |..          |..          |-2.2        |-1.4        |-1.1        |-1.3                     

December 1982  |..          |..          |-2.1        |-0.8        |-2.3        |-1.4                     

March 1983     |..          |..          |-2.1        |-6.0        |5.3         |-1.5                     

June 1983      |-2.1        |3.0         |-1.8        |-5.2        |7.0         |-0.3                     

September 1983 |..          |..          |-0.5        |-3.8        |10.1        |1.8                      

December 1983  |..          |..          |0.6         |-3.0        |13.5        |3.5                      

March 1984     |0.0         |18.7        |1.2         |2.6         |6.6         |4.3                      

June 1984      |0.7         |16.7        |1.8         |2.7         |5.7         |4.0                      

September 1984 |0.9         |6.7         |1.3         |2.6         |3.7         |3.1                      

December 1984  |1.0         |3.7         |1.2         |2.1         |2.9         |2.4                      

March 1985     |0.8         |3.1         |1.0         |2.0         |2.4         |2.2                      

June 1985      |0.4         |3.9         |0.6         |1.9         |2.4         |2.1                      

September 1985 |-0.1        |4.5         |0.3         |1.5         |2.9         |2.1                      

December 1985  |-0.5        |3.2         |-0.2        |1.4         |1.8         |1.6                      

March 1986     |-1.0        |2.3         |-0.7        |0.9         |2.0         |1.4                      

June 1986      |-1.3        |4.8         |-0.9        |0.6         |2.7         |1.5                      

September 1986 |-1.2        |6.5         |-0.6        |0.8         |2.8         |1.7                      

December 1986  |-1.2        |7.8         |-0.5        |1.2         |3.6         |2.3                      

March 1987     |-0.9        |10.5        |0.0         |1.5         |3.9         |2.5                      

June 1987      |0.3         |11.0        |1.2         |3.1         |3.9         |3.4                      

September 1987 |1.1         |11.2        |2.0         |4.1         |3.2         |3.7                      

December1987   |2.1         |11.0        |2.8         |5.2         |3.0         |4.2                      

March 1988     |2.9         |9.0         |3.4         |6.4         |2.1         |4.5                      

June 1988      |2.7         |4.3         |2.9         |5.7         |1.2         |3.7                      

September 1988 |2.4         |0.6         |2.2         |5.2         |1.4         |3.5                      

December 1988  |1.5         |1.9         |1.6         |3.9         |1.5         |2.8                      

March 1989     |0.9         |6.2         |1.4         |2.9         |3.0         |3.0                      

June 1989      |0.4         |8.3         |1.1         |2.5         |3.4         |2.9                      

<1>Prior to September 1984 figures for part-time male employees are only available from the Census of     

Employment. For dates prior to 1984 census, the approximate estimates have been derived by the            

intepolation of the proportion of male employees who were part-time on the census dates. The estimates    

have only been made for June of each year from June 1979 to June 1982, but are quarterly from March 1983  

to June 1984.                                                                                             

..=Not Available.                                                                                         

Note:                                                                                                     

Male part-time figures are not seasonally adjusted.                                                       


Table 5 workforce in employment in Great Britain                                                          

Seasonally adjusted                                                                                       

Percentage charge over previous year   Thousands                                                          

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

                Males                                  Females                                            

               |Full time   |Part time<1>|All         |Full time   |Part time   |All                      

December 1979  |..          |..          |0.3         |1.1         |3.0         |1.9                      

March 1980     |..          |..          |0.0         |0.7         |2.3         |1.3                      

June 1980      |..          |..          |-0.6        |-0.9        |2.0         |0.2                      

September 1980 |..          |..          |-1.8        |-1.8        |0.2         |-1.0                     

December 1980  |..          |..          |-3.0        |-3.1        |-1.2        |-2.4                     

March 1981     |..          |..          |-3.8        |-3.3        |-2.4        |-2.9                     

June 1981      |-4.6        |-1.5        |-4.4        |-3.1        |-3.0        |-3.0                     

September 1981 |..          |..          |-4.2        |-2.8        |-1.6        |-2.3                     

December 1981  |..          |..          |-3.8        |-2.3        |-0.9        |-1.8                     

March 1982     |..          |..          |-3.0        |-1.1        |-1.0        |-1.1                     

June 1982      |-2.8        |3.1         |-2.4        |-0.9        |-0.7        |-0.8                     

September 1982 |..          |..          |-2.2        |-1.4        |-1.1        |-1.3                     

December 1982  |..          |..          |-2.1        |-0.8        |-2.3        |-1.4                     

March 1983     |..          |..          |-2.1        |-6.0        |5.3         |-1.5                     

June 1983      |-2.1        |3.0         |-1.8        |-5.2        |7.0         |-0.3                     

September 1983 |..          |..          |-0.5        |-3.8        |10.1        |1.8                      

December 1983  |..          |..          |0.6         |-3.0        |13.5        |3.5                      

March 1984     |0.0         |18.7        |1.2         |2.6         |6.6         |4.3                      

June 1984      |0.7         |16.7        |1.8         |2.7         |5.7         |4.0                      

September 1984 |0.9         |6.7         |1.3         |2.6         |3.7         |3.1                      

December 1984  |1.0         |3.7         |1.2         |2.1         |2.9         |2.4                      

March 1985     |0.8         |3.1         |1.0         |2.0         |2.4         |2.2                      

June 1985      |0.4         |3.9         |0.6         |1.9         |2.4         |2.1                      

September 1985 |-0.1        |4.5         |0.3         |1.5         |2.9         |2.1                      

December 1985  |-0.5        |3.2         |-0.2        |1.4         |1.8         |1.6                      

March 1986     |-1.0        |2.3         |-0.7        |0.9         |2.0         |1.4                      

June 1986      |-1.3        |4.8         |-0.9        |0.6         |2.7         |1.5                      

September 1986 |-1.2        |6.5         |-0.6        |0.8         |2.8         |1.7                      

December 1986  |-1.2        |7.8         |-0.5        |1.2         |3.6         |2.3                      

March 1987     |-0.9        |10.5        |0.0         |1.5         |3.9         |2.5                      

June 1987      |0.3         |11.0        |1.2         |3.1         |3.9         |3.4                      

September 1987 |1.1         |11.2        |2.0         |4.1         |3.2         |3.7                      

December1987   |2.1         |11.0        |2.8         |5.2         |3.0         |4.2                      

March 1988     |2.9         |9.0         |3.4         |6.4         |2.1         |4.5                      

June 1988      |2.7         |4.3         |2.9         |5.7         |1.2         |3.7                      

September 1988 |2.4         |0.6         |2.2         |5.2         |1.4         |3.5                      

December 1988  |1.5         |1.9         |1.6         |3.9         |1.5         |2.8                      

March 1989     |0.9         |6.2         |1.4         |2.9         |3.0         |3.0                      

June 1989      |0.4         |8.3         |1.1         |2.5         |3.4         |2.9                      

<1>Prior to September 1984 figures for part-time male employees are only available from the Census of     

Employment. For dates prior to 1984 census, the approximate estimates have been derived by the            

intepolation of the proportion of male employees who were part-time on the census dates. The estimates    

have only been made for June of each year from June 1979 to June 1982, but are quarterly from March 1983  

to June 1984.                                                                                             

..=Not Available.                                                                                         

Note:                                                                                                     

Male part-time figures are not seasonally adjusted.                                                       


Table 5 workforce in employment in Great Britain                                                          

Seasonally adjusted                                                                                       

Percentage charge over previous year   Thousands                                                          

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

                Males                                  Females                                            

               |Full time   |Part time<1>|All         |Full time   |Part time   |All                      

December 1979  |..          |..          |0.3         |1.1         |3.0         |1.9                      

March 1980     |..          |..          |0.0         |0.7         |2.3         |1.3                      

June 1980      |..          |..          |-0.6        |-0.9        |2.0         |0.2                      

September 1980 |..          |..          |-1.8        |-1.8        |0.2         |-1.0                     

December 1980  |..          |..          |-3.0        |-3.1        |-1.2        |-2.4                     

March 1981     |..          |..          |-3.8        |-3.3        |-2.4        |-2.9                     

June 1981      |-4.6        |-1.5        |-4.4        |-3.1        |-3.0        |-3.0                     

September 1981 |..          |..          |-4.2        |-2.8        |-1.6        |-2.3                     

December 1981  |..          |..          |-3.8        |-2.3        |-0.9        |-1.8                     

March 1982     |..          |..          |-3.0        |-1.1        |-1.0        |-1.1                     

June 1982      |-2.8        |3.1         |-2.4        |-0.9        |-0.7        |-0.8                     

September 1982 |..          |..          |-2.2        |-1.4        |-1.1        |-1.3                     

December 1982  |..          |..          |-2.1        |-0.8        |-2.3        |-1.4                     

March 1983     |..          |..          |-2.1        |-6.0        |5.3         |-1.5                     

June 1983      |-2.1        |3.0         |-1.8        |-5.2        |7.0         |-0.3                     

September 1983 |..          |..          |-0.5        |-3.8        |10.1        |1.8                      

December 1983  |..          |..          |0.6         |-3.0        |13.5        |3.5                      

March 1984     |0.0         |18.7        |1.2         |2.6         |6.6         |4.3                      

June 1984      |0.7         |16.7        |1.8         |2.7         |5.7         |4.0                      

September 1984 |0.9         |6.7         |1.3         |2.6         |3.7         |3.1                      

December 1984  |1.0         |3.7         |1.2         |2.1         |2.9         |2.4                      

March 1985     |0.8         |3.1         |1.0         |2.0         |2.4         |2.2                      

June 1985      |0.4         |3.9         |0.6         |1.9         |2.4         |2.1                      

September 1985 |-0.1        |4.5         |0.3         |1.5         |2.9         |2.1                      

December 1985  |-0.5        |3.2         |-0.2        |1.4         |1.8         |1.6                      

March 1986     |-1.0        |2.3         |-0.7        |0.9         |2.0         |1.4                      

June 1986      |-1.3        |4.8         |-0.9        |0.6         |2.7         |1.5                      

September 1986 |-1.2        |6.5         |-0.6        |0.8         |2.8         |1.7                      

December 1986  |-1.2        |7.8         |-0.5        |1.2         |3.6         |2.3                      

March 1987     |-0.9        |10.5        |0.0         |1.5         |3.9         |2.5                      

June 1987      |0.3         |11.0        |1.2         |3.1         |3.9         |3.4                      

September 1987 |1.1         |11.2        |2.0         |4.1         |3.2         |3.7                      

December1987   |2.1         |11.0        |2.8         |5.2         |3.0         |4.2                      

March 1988     |2.9         |9.0         |3.4         |6.4         |2.1         |4.5                      

June 1988      |2.7         |4.3         |2.9         |5.7         |1.2         |3.7                      

September 1988 |2.4         |0.6         |2.2         |5.2         |1.4         |3.5                      

December 1988  |1.5         |1.9         |1.6         |3.9         |1.5         |2.8                      

March 1989     |0.9         |6.2         |1.4         |2.9         |3.0         |3.0                      

June 1989      |0.4         |8.3         |1.1         |2.5         |3.4         |2.9                      

<1>Prior to September 1984 figures for part-time male employees are only available from the Census of     

Employment. For dates prior to 1984 census, the approximate estimates have been derived by the            

intepolation of the proportion of male employees who were part-time on the census dates. The estimates    

have only been made for June of each year from June 1979 to June 1982, but are quarterly from March 1983  

to June 1984.                                                                                             

..=Not Available.                                                                                         

Note:                                                                                                     

Male part-time figures are not seasonally adjusted.                                                       

Mr Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the proportion of all part- time employees who are (a) manual and (b) non-manual earning less than (I) £4.16, (ii) £4.32, (iii) £3.12 and (iv)) £2.80 per hour for (1) men, (2) women and (39 all part-time employees, excluding overtime, shift and payment by results premiums, for Great Britain and in each county and standard economic region in England, and in each London borough.

Mr. Nicholls : The information requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.


Column 866

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update the table published in the Official Report on 20 July, columns 321- 326, showing the number of male and female full-time and part-time workers on adult rates and the estimated average earnings in each case, and the number of full-time and part-time workers who were temporarily employed in each case ; and what estimate he is able to make of similar data for the self-employed and for workers on non-adult rates.

Mr. Nicholls : Such estimates as are possible for 1989 are provided in the following table :


Column 865


Great Britain                                                                                                                                             

                      |Numbers employed     |Numbers on adult     |Average Gross        |Numbers not on       |Average Gross                              

                                            |rates                |earnings of those on |adult rates          |earnings of those not                      

                                                                  |adult rates                                |adult rates                                

                      |millions             |millions             |£ per week           |millions             |£ per week                                 

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

1989                                                                                                                                                      

Males                                                                                                                                                     

Full-time employees   |10.8                 |10.4                 |269.5                |0.3                  |109.5                                      

Part-time employees   |0.9                  |0.8                  |81.1                 |0.1                  |-                                          

Self-employed         |2.3                  |-                    |-                    |-                    |-                                          

Full-time             |2.1                  |-                    |-                    |-                    |-                                          

Part-time             |0.2                  |-                    |-                    |-                    |-                                          

                                                                                                                                                          

Females                                                                                                                                                   

Full-time employees   |5.9                  |5.7                  |182.3                |0.2                  |95.9                                       

Part-time employees   |4.3                  |4.2                  |69.2                 |0.1                  |29.7                                       

Self-employed         |0.8                  |-                    |-                    |-                    |-                                          

Full-time             |0.4                  |-                    |-                    |-                    |-                                          

Part-time             |0.4                  |-                    |-                    |-                    |-                                          

<1> Apart from the numbers employed, which relate to June 1989, the figures relate to April 1989.                                                         

<2> Denotes data either not available or no reliable estimate possible.                                                                                   

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the proportion of wages council employees throughout the wages council sectors, broken down by (a) collective agreement and (b) industry, earning below (i) £4.16, (ii) £4.32, (iii) £3.12 and (iv) £2.80 per hour, excluding overtime, payment by results and shift premiums.


Column 866

Mr. Nicholls : The information is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Earnings

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of (a) part-time and (b) full-time employees earning below (i)


Column 867

the PAYE threshold and (ii) the national insurance contributions lower earnings limit in 1989 and for each year since 1979.

Mr. Nicholls : I shall write to the hon. Member.

Action for Jobs

Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Action for Jobs campaign began and ended.

Mr. Eggar : The Action for Jobs campaign was launched on April 8, 1986. The campaign ended on July 16, 1988, with the conclusion of the Action for Jobs south-west regional campaign.


Column 868

Deaths and Injuries (Coal Industry)

Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of miners employed by British Coal or by contractors engaged by British Coal who were killed or seriously injured in accidents in the mine in each of the last 10 years ; and what is the number of such accidents per 100,000 shifts worked in each of those years.

Mr. Nicholls : The information for the 10-year period 1979 to 1988- 89 is provided in the table.


Column 867


Year            |Fatal<6>       |Rate per                       |Major injury<6>                

                                |100,000                        |100,000                        

                |manshifts<7>   |manshifts<7>                                                   

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

1979            |46             |0.09           |473            |1.03                           

1980            |42             |0.08           |512            |0.09                           

1981            |35             |0.07           |<1>815         |1.75                           

1982            |38             |0.08           |865            |1.96                           

1983            |30             |0.07           |824            |2.01                           

1984-85<3>      |22             |n.a.           |378            |n.a.                           

1985-86<5>      |28             |0.08           |715            |2.23                           

1986-87<5>      |15             |0.05           |<2>952         |3.50                           

1987-88<5>      |9              |0.04           |729            |3.28                           

1988-89<4><5>   |18             |0.08           |684            |3.35                           

<1> Introduction of NADO Regulations 1980 on 1 January 1981 widened the accident categories.    

<2> Introduction of RIDDOR Regulations 1985 on 1 April 1986 further widened the accident        

categories.                                                                                     

<3> Figures for 1984-85 cover a 15-month period which included a period of industrial dispute   

and as such are not comparable with any other year.                                             

<4> Provisional figures.                                                                        

<5> Excludes licensed coal mines.                                                               

<6> Figures include accidents both to British Coal employees and to contractors.                

<7> Manshifts counted are only for British Coal employees and do not include manshifts worked   

by contractors. The rate per 100,000 manshifts is, therefore, higher than the true rate.        

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Petrol Supply

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry into the supply of petrol by wholesale ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood : The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has been investigating the supply of petrol and is due to report by 20 December. While that inquiry is in progress it would not be appropriate for Ministers to take account of any representations. Representations should be made to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission direct and this advice is given to anyone who approaches the Department.

Monopolies and Mergers Commission

Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many qualified scientists and engineers are employed on the staff of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

Mr. Redwood : Five staff of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are qualified scientists or engineers.

Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many qualified scientists and engineers are members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.


Column 868

Mr. Redwood : Two regular members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are qualified engineers. In addition, one member of the telecommunications panel has both scientific and engineering qualifications.

Portugal

Mr. Sims : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps Her Majesty's Government have taken, or proposes to take, following the removal of excise tax discrimination in the spirits sector in Portugal, to press for the removal of the remaining value added tax discrimination.

Mr. Redwood : Following representations by the Government, the European Commission examined the compatibility of Portugal's VAT structure with EC law. The Commission has not found the system to be discriminatory, but it remains a matter of concern to the United Kingdom and my Department is preparing further observations on Portuguese VAT for the Commission to consider.

Development Assistance

Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what sources of grants from public funds are available for the development of safe harbours, fishing quay facilities, tourist development and rural infrastructure in the south-west ;

(2) what sources exist for grant aid from the European Community for the development of safe harbours, fishing


Column 869

quay facilities, tourist development and rural infrastructure ; and whether north Devon would be eligible for such grants.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The following sources of grants from national public funds and from the European Comumunity are available for the named sectors :

(i) Developments are eligible for support from the European regional development fund if they are located in an area designated for objective 1, 2 or 5(b) of the Community structural funds, provided the Community support framework for the area so provides. The assisted areas of Devon and Cornwall are designated for objective 5(b), the development of rural areas. The North Devon constituency is, however, not in the assisted areas.

(ii) The European social fund (ESF) provides grants throughout the Community for employment and training measures for the long-term unemployed, and those aged under 25 who have left full-time education (objectives 3 and 4 of the funds). If measures connected with the sectors listed are aimed at people within these groups, they are eligible for ESF support subject to the European Commission's decision on funding priorities.

(iii) The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food gives grants to farmers in all areas of England for the development of tourist accommodation and other on-farm tourist developments. Grant of up to 50 per cent. is available under section 2 of the Fisheries Act, 1955 for the development of fishing facilities by non-profit making organisations. Support for certain fishing quay facilities is available from the European Commission throughout the Community under regulations 355/77 and 2321/88 ; the Commission pays up to 25 per cent. and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food up to 8 per cent. of the total cost.

(iv) Consultancy grant under the DTI Enterprise Initiative is available to eligible businesses which meet the appropriate scheme criteria in respect of the development of safe harbours, fishing quay facilities and tourist development in the south-west. In addition regional selective assistance is available for such developments in the assisted areas of Devon and Cornwall and regional enterprise grant in the development areas of Cornwall.

(v) The Rural Development Commission offers grants and loans to economic and tourism projects and grants to environmental improvement schemes in rural development areas. Urban programme funding is available for suitable tourism projects of benefit to inner areas in the two urban programme authorities of Plymouth and Bristol. Derelict land grant is available for the reclamation of derelict land to provide sites for development and infrastructure.

(vi) Transport supplementary grant is available to all local highway authorities to assist with capital expenditure on roads and traffic management projects. In assisted areas, grants under the Industrial Development Act 1982 are available to both private developers and local highway authorities for new roads to developments which will lead to a real increase in employment.


Column 870

Textiles and Clothing

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries in which Britain was in deficit as regards textiles and clothing and the value of the deficit in pounds sterling for 1988, 1987, 1986 and 1985.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : A list of countries and deficits for 1987 and 1988 is given in the attached table. Extraction and provision of data for 1986 and 1985 could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.


Overseas trade in textiles and clothing<1>        

1987                                              

Country                     |Deficit<2>           

                            |£ million            

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

Afghanistan                 |1.5                  

Argentina                   |0.2                  

Austria                     |62.2                 

Bangladesh                  |13.9                 

Belgium/Luxembourg          |286.5                

Belize                      |0.3                  

Botswana                    |0.7                  

Brazil                      |14.0                 

Bulgaria                    |0.6                  

China                       |100.7                

Colombia                    |2.0                  

Costa Rica                  |0.3                  

Cuba                        |0.1                  

Cyprus                      |13.6                 

Czechoslovakia              |8.3                  

Egypt                       |8.6                  

El Salvador                 |0.2                  

Federal Republic of Germany |294.9                

France                      |31.3                 

German Democratic Republic  |0.3                  

Greece                      |73.6                 

Hong Kong                   |583.6                

Hungary                     |5.6                  

India                       |213.4                

Indonesia                   |25.3                 

Iran                        |13.6                 

Israel                      |90.1                 

Italy                       |499.8                

Kampuchea                   |0.1                  

Lesotho                     |0.2                  

Macao                       |29.9                 

Madagascar                  |2.6                  

Malawi                      |3.9                  

Malaysia                    |22.5                 

Malta                       |3.6                  

Mauritius                   |26.1                 

Mexico                      |9.2                  

Nepal                       |7.3                  

Netherlands                 |125.0                

Niue and Tokelau            |0.1                  

North Korea                 |0.1                  

Pakistan                    |108.5                

Peru                        |2.3                  

Philippines                 |32.5                 

Pitcairn                    |0.1                  

Poland                      |15.0                 

Portugal                    |291.6                

Puerto Rico                 |3.6                  

Romania                     |15.8                 

Sao Tome and Principe       |0.1                  

Singapore                   |24.4                 

South Africa                |5.0                  

South Korea                 |238.3                

Spain                       |22.2                 

Sri Lanka                   |17.8                 

Swaziland                   |0.6                  

Switzerland                 |64.0                 

Taiwan                      |104.3                

Tanzania                    |1.9                  

Thailand                    |57.6                 

Tunisia                     |0.1                  

Turkey                      |120.3                

Uruguay                     |4.1                  

Yugoslavia                  |15.9                 

Zimbabwe                    |6.8                  


Overseas trade in textiles and clothing<1>        

1987                                              

Country                     |Deficit<2>           

                            |£ million            

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

Afghanistan                 |1.5                  

Argentina                   |0.2                  

Austria                     |62.2                 

Bangladesh                  |13.9                 

Belgium/Luxembourg          |286.5                

Belize                      |0.3                  

Botswana                    |0.7                  

Brazil                      |14.0                 

Bulgaria                    |0.6                  

China                       |100.7                

Colombia                    |2.0                  

Costa Rica                  |0.3                  

Cuba                        |0.1                  

Cyprus                      |13.6                 

Czechoslovakia              |8.3                  

Egypt                       |8.6                  

El Salvador                 |0.2                  

Federal Republic of Germany |294.9                

France                      |31.3                 

German Democratic Republic  |0.3                  

Greece                      |73.6                 

Hong Kong                   |583.6                

Hungary                     |5.6                  

India                       |213.4                

Indonesia                   |25.3                 

Iran                        |13.6                 

Israel                      |90.1                 

Italy                       |499.8                

Kampuchea                   |0.1                  

Lesotho                     |0.2                  

Macao                       |29.9                 

Madagascar                  |2.6                  

Malawi                      |3.9                  

Malaysia                    |22.5                 

Malta                       |3.6                  

Mauritius                   |26.1                 

Mexico                      |9.2                  

Nepal                       |7.3                  

Netherlands                 |125.0                

Niue and Tokelau            |0.1                  

North Korea                 |0.1                  

Pakistan                    |108.5                

Peru                        |2.3                  

Philippines                 |32.5                 

Pitcairn                    |0.1                  

Poland                      |15.0                 

Portugal                    |291.6                

Puerto Rico                 |3.6                  

Romania                     |15.8                 

Sao Tome and Principe       |0.1                  

Singapore                   |24.4                 

South Africa                |5.0                  

South Korea                 |238.3                

Spain                       |22.2                 

Sri Lanka                   |17.8                 

Swaziland                   |0.6                  

Switzerland                 |64.0                 

Taiwan                      |104.3                

Tanzania                    |1.9                  

Thailand                    |57.6                 

Tunisia                     |0.1                  

Turkey                      |120.3                

Uruguay                     |4.1                  

Yugoslavia                  |15.9                 

Zimbabwe                    |6.8                  


Column 872

Footwear

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries with which Britain was in deficit as regards footwear and the value of the deficit in pound sterling for 1988, 1987, 1986 and 1985.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : A list of countries and deficits for 1987 and 1988 is given in the attached table. Extraction and provision of data for 1986 and 1985 could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.


Overseas trade in footwear<1>                                                                                                                                                                            

Country                                                            |<2>Deficit                                                                                                                           

                                                                   |£ million                                                                                                                            

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

1987                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Austria                                                            |3.7                                                                                                                                  

Brazil                                                             |39.2                                                                                                                                 

Bulgaria                                                           |0.6                                                                                                                                  

China                                                              |3.7                                                                                                                                  

Cyprus                                                             |0.6                                                                                                                                  

Czechoslovakia                                                     |8.9                                                                                                                                  

Denmark                                                            |4.8                                                                                                                                  

Federal Republic of Germany                                        |9.7                                                                                                                                  

France                                                             |22.7                                                                                                                                 

Greece                                                             |2.6                                                                                                                                  

Hong Kong                                                          |27.5                                                                                                                                 

Hungary                                                            |2.4                                                                                                                                  

India                                                              |6.7                                                                                                                                  

Indonesia                                                          |7.4                                                                                                                                  

Israel                                                             |1.3                                                                                                                                  

Italy                                                              |261.8                                                                                                                                

Macao                                                              |2.2                                                                                                                                  

Malaysia                                                           |0.2                                                                                                                                  

Mexico                                                             |0.4                                                                                                                                  

Pakistan                                                           |2.2                                                                                                                                  

Philippines                                                        |5.2                                                                                                                                  

Poland                                                             |16.2                                                                                                                                 

Portugal                                                           |65.1                                                                                                                                 

Romania                                                            |0.9                                                                                                                                  

South Africa                                                       |0.4                                                                                                                                  

South Korea                                                        |50.9                                                                                                                                 

Spain                                                              |72.0                                                                                                                                 

Sri Lanka                                                          |0.2                                                                                                                                  

Switzerland                                                        |3.7                                                                                                                                  

Taiwan                                                             |69.5                                                                                                                                 

Thailand                                                           |9.4                                                                                                                                  

Yugoslavia                                                         |2.4                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

1988                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Argentina                                                          |0.2                                                                                                                                  

Austria                                                            |2.3                                                                                                                                  

Belgium/Luxembourg                                                 |1.1                                                                                                                                  

Brazil                                                             |54.7                                                                                                                                 

Bulgaria                                                           |0.5                                                                                                                                  

China                                                              |3.5                                                                                                                                  

Cyprus                                                             |0.5                                                                                                                                  

Czechoslovakia                                                     |7.9                                                                                                                                  

Denmark                                                            |4.1                                                                                                                                  

Federal Republic of Germany                                        |14.7                                                                                                                                 

France                                                             |22.3                                                                                                                                 

Greece                                                             |1.3                                                                                                                                  

Hong Kong                                                          |25.9                                                                                                                                 

Hungary                                                            |2.0                                                                                                                                  

India                                                              |19.7                                                                                                                                 

Indonesia                                                          |14.3                                                                                                                                 

Israel                                                             |0.8                                                                                                                                  

Italy                                                              |244.1                                                                                                                                

Lesotho                                                            |0.1                                                                                                                                  

Macao                                                              |2.9                                                                                                                                  

Malaysia                                                           |0.6                                                                                                                                  

Mexico                                                             |0.6                                                                                                                                  

Morocco                                                            |0.7                                                                                                                                  

Netherlands                                                        |0.1                                                                                                                                  

Pakistan                                                           |3.5                                                                                                                                  

Philippines                                                        |4.3                                                                                                                                  

Poland                                                             |16.6                                                                                                                                 

Portugal                                                           |76.1                                                                                                                                 

Romania                                                            |0.4                                                                                                                                  

South Africa                                                       |0.5                                                                                                                                  

South Korea                                                        |75.9                                                                                                                                 

Spain                                                              |87.5                                                                                                                                 

Sri Lanka                                                          |0.1                                                                                                                                  

Switzerland                                                        |4.0                                                                                                                                  

Taiwan                                                             |73.5                                                                                                                                 

Thailand                                                           |18.0                                                                                                                                 

Tunisia                                                            |0.1                                                                                                                                  

Turkey                                                             |0.2                                                                                                                                  

Uruguay                                                            |0.1                                                                                                                                  

Yugoslavia                                                         |3.5                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Excludes deficits of less than £50,000.

Research and Development

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his evaluation of the European Commission proposed framework programme in research and technological development-- 1990 to 1994 [Com(89) 397 Final] ; and what benefits will accrue to the United Kingdom from this programme in the fields of (a) information and communication technologies, (b) industrial and materials technologies, (c) environmental sciences, (d) life sciences and technologies, (e) energy and (f) human capital and mobility.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has asked me to reply as I represent Her Majesty's Government on matters of science and technology policy in Europe. I refer the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy to the recent statement I made to the House in opening the debate on Europe Community research and development. ( Hansard, volume 163, No. 16, Monday 11 December 1989--column 814. )

Bananas

Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the annual tonnage of dollar banana import quotas allocated to United Kingdom independent companies in each of the past five years.

Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 December 1989] : The following tonnages of dollar banana import quotas have been allocated to United Kingdom independent companies during the past five years :


        |Tonnes       

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

1989    |30,000       

1988    |25,000       

1987    |27,299       

1986    |21,075       

<1>1985 |24,475       

<1> The quota period  

was from 1 October    

1984 to 31 December   

1985.                 

Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the dollar banana import quota has been allocated to Scottish-based importers in each of the last five years.

Mr. Redwood [holding answer 13 December 1989] : Allocations are based on past trade, not on geographical location.


Column 874

During 1988 and 1989, Scottish-based importers were allocated 6.5 per cent. of the independents' dollar banana quota.

Figures for earlier years could be obtained only at

disproportionate cost.

General Dynamics

Mr. Clelland : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support or assistance his Department has given to the American company General Dynamics in connection with its current tour of Britain.

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 14 December 1989] : In co- operation with the Ministry of Defence, Defence Export Sales Organisation and the Defence Manufacturers Association, my Department assisted General Dynamics Corporation in organising a seminar in London on 5 December 1989.

The objective of the seminar, which was well attended by more than 100 representatives of British companies, was to advise on the best methods of securing business from all General Dynamics' operating divisions, and exploiting the "offset banking" (industrial participation) agreement negotiated by the Ministry of Defence with the company.

Mr. Clelland : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the American company General Dynamics ; and what was discussed.

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 14 December 1989] : Neither the Secretary of State nor I have met representatives of General Dynamics since we were appointed to the DTI.

RECHAR

Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if contributions to mining areas from the European Community RECHAR plan will be to cover further proposed job losses in mining areas ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) if he has information on the distribution of funds by the European Community under the RECHAR scheme ; whether areas other than those who qualify for regional aid will receive assistance ; and if he will make a statement ;

(3) if the European Community RECHAR plan will help to improve environmental problems in the derelict mining areas ; and if he will make a statement ;

(4) what assistance the European Community RECHAR fund will provide to help attract new investment into the area of Molefield district council ; and if he will make a statement ;

(5) what information he has about the special European Community plan called RECHAR which is designed to help rundown coal mining areas ; how it will apply to the Normanton constituency ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 14 December 1989] : The European Commission announced on 2 August 1989 its decision in favour of RECHAR, an initiative for Community structural fund grants for areas affected by job losses in coalmining. The Government have welcomed this decision.

The Commission has subsequently decided on an indicative financial allocation for RECHAR of 300 million


Column 875

ecu for the five years 1990 to 1994. Details of which areas will be eligible for RECHAR, the measures eligible for grant and the criteria for financial allocations, have not yet been settled. A further Commission decision is expected soon.

The hon. Member's interests will be borne in mind in my Department's discussions with the Commission about its forthcoming decision.

SCOTLAND

Health Service Expenditure

Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for Scotland for each year since 1974-75 (i) total National Health Service expenditure, (ii) current expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (iii) capital expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (iv) expenditure on the family practitioner services, (v) expenditure on centrally funded National Health Service services, and (vi) expenditure on personal social services, giving each in (a) cash terms, (b) adjusted using the relevant pay and prices index and (c) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator ; and if he will place in the Library details of the methods used to make these adjustments.

Mr. Rifkind : The information in the format requested is not fully available. As I indicated to the hon. Member in my letter of 30 March 1988, there is no index which relates to the movement of pay and prices within the Health Service in Scotland. The Department of Health maintains indices for pay and price movements in England, but the composition of expenditure on hospital and community health services in Scotland--particularly the proportions accounted for by the various categories of staff costs--differs from that in England. Details of gross expenditure, broken down by service, in both cash terms and adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator, are given in the tables.


(vi) Social Work Services At 1988-89 prices                     

                |£ million cash |Adjusted by the                

                                |GDP deflator                   

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

1974-75         |77             |304                            

1975-76         |93             |292                            

1976-77         |118            |327                            

1977-78         |123            |299                            

1978-79         |149            |328                            

1979-80         |189            |356                            

1980-81         |239            |380                            

1981-82         |263            |381                            

1982-83         |285            |385                            

1983-84         |302            |390                            

1984-85         |323            |397                            

1985-86         |348            |406                            

1986-87         |356            |402                            

1987-88         |417            |447                            

1988-89<1>      |466            |466                            

<1> provisional outturn                                         


(vi) Social Work Services At 1988-89 prices                     

                |£ million cash |Adjusted by the                

                                |GDP deflator                   

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

1974-75         |77             |304                            

1975-76         |93             |292                            

1976-77         |118            |327                            

1977-78         |123            |299                            

1978-79         |149            |328                            

1979-80         |189            |356                            

1980-81         |239            |380                            

1981-82         |263            |381                            

1982-83         |285            |385                            

1983-84         |302            |390                            

1984-85         |323            |397                            

1985-86         |348            |406                            

1986-87         |356            |402                            

1987-88         |417            |447                            

1988-89<1>      |466            |466                            

<1> provisional outturn                                         


(vi) Social Work Services At 1988-89 prices                     

                |£ million cash |Adjusted by the                

                                |GDP deflator                   

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

1974-75         |77             |304                            

1975-76         |93             |292                            

1976-77         |118            |327                            

1977-78         |123            |299                            

1978-79         |149            |328                            

1979-80         |189            |356                            

1980-81         |239            |380                            

1981-82         |263            |381                            

1982-83         |285            |385                            

1983-84         |302            |390                            

1984-85         |323            |397                            

1985-86         |348            |406                            

1986-87         |356            |402                            

1987-88         |417            |447                            

1988-89<1>      |466            |466                            

<1> provisional outturn                                         


(vi) Social Work Services At 1988-89 prices                     

                |£ million cash |Adjusted by the                

                                |GDP deflator                   

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

1974-75         |77             |304                            

1975-76         |93             |292                            

1976-77         |118            |327                            

1977-78         |123            |299                            

1978-79         |149            |328                            

1979-80         |189            |356                            

1980-81         |239            |380                            

1981-82         |263            |381                            

1982-83         |285            |385                            

1983-84         |302            |390                            

1984-85         |323            |397                            

1985-86         |348            |406                            

1986-87         |356            |402                            

1987-88         |417            |447                            

1988-89<1>      |466            |466                            

<1> provisional outturn                                         


(vi) Social Work Services At 1988-89 prices                     

                |£ million cash |Adjusted by the                

                                |GDP deflator                   

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

1974-75         |77             |304                            

1975-76         |93             |292                            

1976-77         |118            |327                            

1977-78         |123            |299                            

1978-79         |149            |328                            

1979-80         |189            |356                            

1980-81         |239            |380                            

1981-82         |263            |381                            

1982-83         |285            |385                            

1983-84         |302            |390                            

1984-85         |323            |397                            

1985-86         |348            |406                            

1986-87         |356            |402                            

1987-88         |417            |447                            

1988-89<1>      |466            |466                            

<1> provisional outturn                                         


(vi) Social Work Services At 1988-89 prices                     

                |£ million cash |Adjusted by the                

                                |GDP deflator                   

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

1974-75         |77             |304                            

1975-76         |93             |292                            

1976-77         |118            |327                            

1977-78         |123            |299                            

1978-79         |149            |328                            

1979-80         |189            |356                            

1980-81         |239            |380                            

1981-82         |263            |381                            

1982-83         |285            |385                            

1983-84         |302            |390                            

1984-85         |323            |397                            

1985-86         |348            |406                            

1986-87         |356            |402                            

1987-88         |417            |447                            

1988-89<1>      |466            |466                            

<1> provisional outturn                                         

NHS Patients

Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were treated in the Scottish Health Service in 1978-79 ; and how many were treated last year.


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