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Column 634
Royal College of PsychiatristsScotland's Campaign Against Irresponsible Drivers
Scottish Accident Prevention Council
Scottish Council on Alcohol
Scottish Police Federation
We have considered carefully these and other responses received and we intend shortly to announce our conclusions.
Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve drivers' perception of the actual risk of being detected for excess alcohol.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Regular surveys carried out on behalf of the Department of Transport indicate a marked change in public attitudes towards drinking and driving in recent years. This included an increased awareness of the risk of being caught. This is borne out by the publication on 7 February of statistics of roadside breath tests for the 12 months to September 1989. They show that while the overall level of breath testing continues to rise, there is a continuing downward trend in the proportion of positive tests. A copy of the relevant Home Office statistical bulletin (4/90) is in the Library. The Government encourage chief constables to make full use of police powers to require roadside breath tests. The efforts of the police will be further reinforced by the Government's drinking and driving campaigns to be launched again this year during the summer and at Christmas.
Internal Audit
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost ; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989 ; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department ; and what internal audit work is sub-contracted to private firms and at what cost.
Mr. Waddington : Twenty-one internal auditors, including three support staff, were employed as at 1 October 1989. The annual cost is estimated at £524,000.
In the current financial year 31 reports have been issued. One assignment was partly contracted out to a private firm at a cost of £30,000. One internal audit report was specifically drawn to the attention of a Minister. More generally, internal audit findings and recommendations which are relevant to issues that Ministers are considering are reported to them in the context of submissions on those issues, but information on the number of reports thus drawn to the attention of Ministers is not readily available.
Ministerial Visits (Security)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the police and security operation for the visit to Bradford and west Yorkshire by the Prime Minister on 28 February.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the chief constable of west Yorkshire that the additional police costs for the visit were £7,132.
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Political Asylum (Chinese Citizens)
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chinese diplomats applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom since June 1989 ; and what action was taken in each case.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Four Chinese diplomats applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom in 1989. All were granted refugee status.
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum have been received within the last 12 months from Chinese citizens residing in the United Kingdom ; and how many have been granted.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The available information is given in the following table :
Applications<1> received for refugee status by Chinese
nationals
subsequent to their entry to the United Kingdom, and
decisions<1> on
such applications, 1989.
|Number
------------------------------------------------------------
Applications |52
Decisions |15
Granted refugee status |10
Granted exceptional leave |5
Refused refugee status or exceptional leave |-
<1> Provisional figures which may be underestimates.
These figures do not include Chinese nationals who apply to remain here on an exceptional basis, and are being allow to stay under the terms of the announcement to the House on 20 December 1989, at column 274.
Suspects' Rights
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a statement as to the Government's proposals on the right of silence.
Mr. John Patten : We are still considering the comments we have received on the report of the departmental working group on the right of silence. I cannot yet say when we shall be ready to announce proposals.
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HEALTH
General Practitioners
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of general practitioners per 1,000 population for (a) England and Wales and (b) the Greater Manchester area.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The number of general practitioners per 1,000 population for England and Wales at 1 October 1988 (the latest data for which figures are available) was 0.54. The figure at 1979 was 0.46.
The information requested is collected from family practitioner committees (FPCs), which are not necessarily coterminous with metropolitan boundaries. The number of GPs per 1,000 population in the areas covered by the FPCs which cover the Greater Manchester metropolitan area was 0.51 at 1 October 1988 and 0.44 at 1 October 1979.
Hospital Laundering
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table of the numbers of laundry, cleaning, catering and security contracts awarded in-house and externally each year since 1983 in each health authority in England and Wales.
Mr. Freeman : Information held centrally is readily available in the form requested only on a regional health authority basis and is shown in the tables. It represents the results of the initial tendering exercises undertaken following the launch in late 1983 of the Government's competitive tendering initiative for domestic, catering and laundry services.
Similar information is not held centrally for other services. The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
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Laundry Services
Table of Contracts Awarded In-House and Externally by Region
since 1983
Year ending 31 December
|1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |Total
------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern
In |1 |3 |4 |5 |- |- |13
Out |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |2
Yorkshire
In |- |5 |2 |1 |1 |- |9
Out |1 |- |- |1 |1 |- |3
Trent
In |1 |3 |6 |- |1 |- |11
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
East Anglia
In |1 |- |- |2 |- |- |3
Out |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1
North West Thames
In |3 |4 |- |- |- |1 |8
Out |- |- |2 |- |- |1 |3
North East Thames
In |3 |3 |4 |- |1 |1 |12
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
South West Thames
In |1 |4 |1 |1 |2 |- |9
Out |6 |1 |- |2 |- |- |9
South East Thames
In |- |2 |2 |3 |2 |- |9
Out |2 |- |- |- |- |- |2
Wessex
In |- |6 |1 |3 |- |- |10
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
Oxford
In |- |- |1 |1 |- |1 |3
Out |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1
South West
In |6 |3 |2 |1 |- |- |12
Out |2 |- |1 |- |- |- |3
West Midlands
In |- |1 |5 |9 |2 |- |17
Out |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1
Mersey
In |- |1 |4 |- |- |1 |6
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
North West
In |- |4 |3 |8 |1 |- |16
Out |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |2
SHAs
In |- |2 |1 |1 |- |- |4
Out |- |3 |- |- |- |- |3
Totals
In |16 |41 |36 |35 |10 |4 |142
Out |13 |6 |4 |4 |2 |1 |30
Domestic Services
Table of contracts awarded in-house and externally by region since 1983
Year ending 31 December
|1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |Totals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern
In |- |16 |27 |17 |1 |- |61
Out |1 |1 |1 |2 |- |- |5
Yorkshire
In |- |16 |21 |5 |1 |- |43
Out |1 |5 |5 |2 |1 |- |14
Trent
In |- |34 |47 |18 |- |- |99
Out |- |5 |2 |- |- |- |7
East Anglia
In |- |12 |5 |3 |- |- |20
Out |4 |2 |2 |1 |- |- |9
North West Thames
In |- |6 |16 |4 |- |3 |29
Out |1 |8 |9 |1 |1 |- |20
North East Thames
In |- |12 |24 |11 |3 |1 |51
Out |2 |7 |9 |1 |- |- |19
South West Thames
In |3 |12 |10 |4 |1 |- |30
Out |7 |10 |3 |1 |1 |- |22
South East Thames
In |- |12 |19 |14 |4 |1 |50
Out |9 |1 |1 |- |1 |2 |14
Wessex
In |- |12 |36 |11 |- |- |59
Out |- |2 |5 |1 |- |- |8
Oxford
In |- |12 |8 |5 |2 |- |27
Out |6 |1 |4 |1 |- |- |12
South West
In |1 |12 |17 |9 |- |- |39
Out |- |2 |2 |4 |1 |- |9
West Midlands
In |- |30 |52 |32 |6 |- |120
Out |- |12 |1 |2 |- |- |15
Mersey
In |- |13 |5 |5 |- |- |23
Out |- |7 |4 |1 |- |- |12
North West
In |- |16 |47 |17 |1 |- |81
Out |- |1 |8 |5 |- |1 |15
SHAs
In |- |2 |- |1 |- |1 |4
Out |2 |- |2 |2 |- |- |6
Totals
In |4 |217 |334 |156 |19 |6 |736
Out |33 |64 |58 |24 |5 |3 |187
Catering
Table of contracts awarded in-house and externally by region
since 1983
Year ending 31 December
|1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |Total
------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern
In |- |9 |12 |8 |- |- |29
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
Yorkshire
In |1 |7 |14 |7 |- |- |29
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
Trent
In |- |10 |28 |13 |1 |3 |55
Out |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1
East Anglia
In |- |1 |3 |1 |- |- |5
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
North West Thames
In |- |7 |4 |- |- |- |11
Out |- |1 |3 |- |- |- |4
North East Thames
In |- |5 |4 |4 |1 |1 |15
Out |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1
South West Thames
In |1 |8 |13 |3 |4 |- |29
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
South East Thames
In |1 |10 |8 |6 |2 |1 |28
Out |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |2
Wessex
In |- |6 |20 |9 |- |- |35
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
Oxford
In |- |3 |2 |- |- |- |25
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
South West
In |- |10 |9 |5 |- |- |24
Out |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1
West Midlands
In |- |19 |29 |21 |3 |- |72
Out |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Mersey
In |1 |4 |9 |3 |- |- |17
Out |- |- |- |- |- |- |0
North West
In |- |16 |15 |17 |1 |- |49
Out |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1
SHAs
In |- |- |1 |- |2 |- |3
Out |1 |- |- |1 |- |1 |3
Totals
In |4 |115 |171 |97 |14 |5 |406
Out |2 |3 |4 |2 |1 |2 |14
Rates
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in what manner under the current rating system (a) National Health Service property and (b) private hospitals are assessed ; (2) in what manner, for the purposes of the uniform business rate (a) National Health Service property and (b) independent hospitals, will be assessed.
Mr. Freeman : NHS property is occupied by the Crown and is thus exempt from rates. However, contributions in lieu of rates are paid on the same basis as though the property were rateable. The Treasury valuer determines the values of NHS property for rating purposes, applying the principles laid down in rating legislation and agrees these with the representative of the rating authority ; the contribution is then calculated by applying the local rate poundage to the value. Similar principles will apply to the determination of contributions in lieu of rates after 1 April 1990 ; the Treasury valuer has revalued all non- domestic NHS property for this purpose. Private and independent hospitals are rateable and are assessed by the valuation office in accordance with the relevant legislation. This will continue after 1 April 1990.
Cervical Cancer
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of deaths from cervical cancer in 1988 ; and how many of these deaths were of women aged 65 years and over.
Mr. Freeman : The information is shown in the table :
Number of deaths from cervical
cancer<1> by age-groups in
England
and Wales, 1988
Age-group |Number of
|deaths
--------------------------------
All ages |1,942
65 and over |967
<1> Assigned to 9th revision
International Classification of
Diseases (ICD) code 180.
When invasive cervical cancer
develops from initial
pre-cancerous change in cells
of the cervix this generally
takes, on average, over 10
years. Therefore, we would
expect some time to elapse
before the call
and recall programme reduces
the mortality in the 65 years
and over age group. Our
guidance to health authorities
states that women aged 65 years
and over who have not had two
consecutive negative smears in
the last 10 years should be
screened. The new GPs' contract,
which places a much greater
emphasis on health promotion
and ill health prevention,
should provide additional
opportunities for GPs to offer
a cervical smear test to women
in this age group when
appropriate.
AIDS
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the prevalence of encephalopathy amongst patients identified as suffering from AIDS.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not recorded as part of the reporting system for AIDS cases. I am advised that there are a number of reports about encephalopathy in people with AIDS in the scientific literature. These show varying prevalence rates which may reflect different patient populations and diagnostic criteria.
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will set up a national fund to finance the provision of drugs and treatment for illnesses requiring long-term treatment such as AIDS ; what representations he has received on this subject ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The costs of treatment and drugs for HIV disease and for other long-term illnesses will continue to be financed as now, by means of allocations to health authorities or through the family practitioner services, as appropriate. Pressures on services, such as those caused by HIV disease will continue to be taken into account in assessing the overall funding requirements of the NHS. There are no plans to set up a separate national fund for any specific group of illnesses ; we have received no representations suggesting this course of action.
Leukaemia
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each nuclear plant in the United Kingdom, the number of children who have been treated for
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leukaemia ; and if he will show in his answer the percentage whose parents were or have been employees at a nuclear plant.Mr. Freeman : This information is not available. However, following a recommendation from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment last year, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is proposing to link the data on the national register of radiation workers with information on the geographical distribution of childhood cancer held by the childhood cancer research group at Oxford. We are urgently considering this and other related research proposals. A large amount of parallel research has already been commissioned by Government, which has either been completed, or is under way or planned.
Milk Tokens
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department is giving to people who claim free milk tokens, but where milk distributors in their area refuse to accept them.
Mr. Freeman : Any beneficiary whose usual supplier refuses to accept milk tokens can seek information from the local social security office about alternative suppliers in the locality prepared to accept tokens. Where, exceptionally, the local office is satisfied that a token cannot be exchanged for milk a beneficiary can, as previously, be given a payment in lieu.
General Household Survey
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) further to table 3.20 of the general household survey 1986, whether he will publish in the Official Report, for 1986 and the latest year for which figures are available, the population in each country corresponding to the percentages given for the total of (i) two-adult households together with a subdivision by family size and (ii) three or more adults together with a subdivision showing the
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families by number of adults, distinguishing those where the adults are children aged less than 18 years and the proportion of such children in full-time education ;(2) whether he will publish in the Official Report, for 1986 and the latest year for which figures are available, the population in each country corresponding to the percentages given for the totals in table 3.20 of the general household survey 1986 together with (i) a subdivision of single- adult households between males and females and (ii) the number of parents with children in each case under (i).
Mr. Freeman : Not all the requested information is available, but the following tables give such data as can be provided.
1. Table 1 gives an analysis by country of the total column of Table 3.20 in the 1986 GHS annual report updated to 1987. These are the latest figures available.
2. Table 3.20 in the 1986 report shows the proportion of adults (aged 16 or over) living in households of various types. The category "2 adults aged 16 -59" consists of two-person households in which both members are in the specified age-group and consequently, by definition, excludes households with children. All households containing children are subsumed in this table under the classes, "Youngest person aged 0-4" and "Youngest person aged 5-15". Such households will contain varying numbers of adults.
3. Table 2 shows, in column (a), the percentage of all households in Great Britain consisting of one adult and one child, one adult and two children, etc. Households containing two adults are distinguished by whether they are of different sexes or the same sex. Column (b) gives the same information but with the percentages based on all households containing children under 16 rather than on all households of any kind. These figures are not available for the three countries separately.
4. Table 3(a) shows the proportions of families in Great Britain headed by married couples (or married mothers whose husbands are temporarily absent), by lone fathers, or by lone mothers, with one, two, and three or more dependent children. Table 3(b) repercentages the data to show the proportions of families with one, two, and three or more dependent children headed by a married couple, a lone father, or a lone mother. These data are not available by country.
In the GHS, a "family" is defined as (a) a married or cohabiting couple on their own or (b) a married or cohabiting couple/lone parent and their never -married children, provided that these children have no children of their own.
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Table 1: Equivalent of Table 3.20 GHS 1987 Report
Household members aged 16 and over: household type by sex and country
Persons aged 16 and over Great Britain: 1987 per cent.
Household type |England |Wales |Scotland |Great Britain
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Men
1 adult aged 16-59 |5 |5 |4 |5
2 adults aged 16-59 |15 |13 |13 |15
Youngest person aged 0-4 |34 |32 |35 |34
Youngest person aged 5-15
3 or more adults |25 |24 |31 |26
2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over |17 |20 |14 |17
1 adult aged 60 or over |4 |5 |4 |4
Base=100 per cent. |8,542 |449 |896 |9,887
Women
1 adult aged 16-59 |3 |3 |4 |3
2 adults aged 16-59 |14 |11 |12 |14
Youngest person aged 0-4 |33 |32 |34 |33
Youngest person aged 5-15
3 or more adults |21 |19 |23 |21
2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over |17 |19 |14 |17
1 adult aged 60 or over |12 |15 |13 |12
Base=100 per cent. |9,310 |549 |1,017 |10,876
Total
1 adult aged 16-59 |4 |4 |4 |4
2 adults aged 16-59 |15 |12 |12 |14
Youngest person aged 0-4 |33 |32 |34 |33
Youngest person aged 5-15
3 or more adults |23 |22 |27 |23
2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over |17 |19 |14 |17
1 adult aged 60 or over |8 |11 |9 |8
Base=100 per cent. |17,852 |998 |1,913 |20,763
Table 2
Households with children by type of household
Households with children Great Britain: 1987
Household type As percentage of total
households
|(a) in the|(b) with
|sample |children
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 adult + 1 child |1
1 adult + 2 children |1
1 adult + 3+ children |1
2 adults (different sex) + 1 child |7 8 |23 25
2 adults (same sex) + 1 child |<1> |1
2 adults (different sex) + 2 children |10 10 |33 34
2 adults (same sex) + 2 children |<1> |<1>
2 adults (different sex) + 3+
children |4 4 |12 12
2 adults (same sex) + 3+ children |<1> |<1>
3 adults, 1 child |3 |9
3 adults, 2 children |1 |4
3 adults, 3+ children |<1> |1
4+ adults, at least 1 child |2 |6
Base =100 per cent. |10,367 |3,161
<1>Less than 0.5 per cent.
Table 3
Families by type and number of dependent children
Families with dependent children Great Britain:1987
per cent.
(a) Number of depenFamily typeen
|Married |Lone mother |Lone father |All families
|couple<2> |with dependent
|children
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 |40 |57 |<3>63 |42
2 |44 |28 |<3>35 |42
3 or more |16 |16 |<3>3 |16
Base=100 per cent |2,909 |412 |40 |3,361
-------
(b) Base=100 per cent.
1 |82 |16 |2 |1,418
2 |91 |8 |1 |1,399
3 or more |88 |12 |<4> |544
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |87 |12 |1 |3,361
<1> Dependent children are persons under 16 or aged 16-18 and in full-time education, in the
family unit, and living in the household.
<2> Including married women whose husbands were not defined as resident in the
<3> These percentages should be treated with caution because of the small base.
<4> Less than 0.5 per cent.
Internal Audit
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many internal auditors are employed in those departments for which he is responsible and at what cost ; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989 ; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department ; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.
Mr. Freeman : An average of 22 internal auditors were engaged in the internal audit of the Department of Health and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in 1989. The estimated cost was £498, 000 including superannuation and training. Thirty-five audit reports were produced in 1989. No audit reports were drawn to the attention of Ministers, but the results of internal audit's work are considered by the audit committees of both Departments and the accounting officers receive an annual summary of the principal audit findings and recommendations. No internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms.
Column 646
Disability
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of section 8(2) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act.
Mr. Freeman : Officials have recently opened consultations with the local authority associations on the cost and other implications of the remaining sections of the Act, including section 8(2). Decisions on implementation will be made in the light of the outcome of these consultations and the availability of the necessary resources.
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment services are available to local authorities to assist them in carrying out their duty under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act to assess the needs of deaf-blind people.
Mr. Freeman : Section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, which was implemented on 1 April 1987, requires local
Column 647
authorities to assess the needs of a disabled person for services under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, if asked to do so by a disabled person or their carer. The Government White Paper "Caring for People" contains provision for the publication in late 1990 of a detailed code of guidance for local authorities which will offer advice on the working of the new assessment system. The code of guidance will be developed following discussions with professional and representative bodies.Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring has been carried out by his Department into the implementation by local authorities of sections 4, 8, and 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act.
Mr. Freeman : The Department's social services inspectorate has carried out a number of exercises to monitor the implementation of the Act. The results of an inspection of the operation of all sections of the Act in force, including sections 4, 8 and 9, were published on 6 February under the title "Developing Services for Disabled People", copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specialist resources are available for the rehabilitation, care and training of deaf-blind people.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is not held centrally. Local authority social services departments allocate resources for the rehabilitation, care and training of deaf-blind people on the basis of their own, local assessment of need. A number of voluntary organisations also provide excellent services for deaf-blind people. Over the last three financial years, the Department has provided funding of £960,000 to voluntary organisations concerned with the needs of deaf-blind people.
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to encourage local authorities to respond to the report, "Breaking Through--Developing Services for Deaf-Blind People".
Mr. Freeman : In October 1989, the Department and the deaf-blind services liaison group jointly funded and co-hosted with the Association of Directors of Social Services a national seminar to promote the recommendations in the report "Breaking Through". The seminar, which was aimed at senior managers of social services departments, was well attended and a report of the discussions will shortly be published and distributed to local authorities.
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, in the light of the Beverley Lewis case, he has any proposals relating to the training given to professionals on assessing and meeting the needs of deaf-blind people ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The death of Beverley Lewis is a very tragic case. We have received reports from the health and social services authorities concerned. When we have received the report from the coroner, we shall consider what, if any, action the Department should take in relation to the needs of deaf-blind people who are also mentally handicapped.
Column 648
Community Care
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the implications of the Beverley Lewis case for community care services, with particular regard to monitoring the quality of care provided and the setting of national guidelines on community care.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We are awaiting the coroner's report on the Beverley Lewis case. Any implications for community care services will be fully considered when it is published.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of the National Health Service trust non-executive helpers provided by regional health authority chairmen.
Abortion
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the figures by year and in total for the number of hospital posts notified to his Department in which the job description included a duty to advise, undertake or participate in abortions from 31 December 1983 to the latest date for which figures are available ; and what was the total number of such posts vacant in each year and in total for (a) psychiatry, (b) anaesthetics and (c) obstetrics and gynaecology.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [pursuant to her reply, 20 February 1990, column 719] : I regret the answer given was incorrect
The number of hospital posts notified to the Department of Health in which the job description included a duty to advise, undertake or participate in abortions from 31 December 1983 to the latest date for which figures are available are given in the table. These figures refer only to consultant posts, as information on other hospital grades is not held centrally. Also, the data requested on vacant posts are not held centrally.
Year |Total |Psychiatry |Anaesthetics |Obstetrics and
|gynaecology
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984 |11 |0 |2 |9
1985 |2 |0 |2 |0
1986 |1 |0 |0 |1
1987 |2 |0 |1 |1
1988 |3 |0 |1 |2
1989 |5 |0 |0 |5
NATIONAL FINANCE
Banks (Bad Debts)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue to be lost in respect of write-offs for bad debts incurred in 1990-91 by the main banks in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Lilley : The revenue cost of write-offs of bad debts incurred in 1990-91 by the main banks in the United Kingdom has not been estimated.
Column 649
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to collect information on the total tax write-off for bank lending to the Third world.Mr. Lilley : Banks' published accounts contain information about the commercial provisions they make. Information about the amounts allowable for tax can be obtained only after the banks have submitted their accounts to the Inland Revenue and the tax allowable provisions have been discussed and agreed between the taxpayer and the Revenue. This can be a lengthy process. The Inland Revenue collects information on amounts eventually allowed for tax.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to banks regarding future Government tax subsidies or write-offs to banks which fail to recoup loans to the Third world or other debtor nations.
Mr. Lilley : The amount of tax relief available to banks in respect of bad or doubtful debts, including debts owed by sovereign debtors, is determined by the tax laws enacted by Parliament.
Taxation
Dr. Godman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross earnings the couple with an earner on average earnings, with two children, paid in tax, treating child benefit as negative income tax, in 1978-79 and in 1989-90.
Mr. Lilley : Figures for 1978-79 have been placed in the Library of the House, as noted in Official Report, 13 April 1989, column 624, and estimates for 1989-90 were given in reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 8 January 1990, Official Report, column 559.
Bank of England
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England.
Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets the Governor from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.
Privatisation Revenue
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates privatisation revenue will be in 1989-90.
Mr. Lilley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) on 15 February, column 381-82.
Consumer Spending
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 19 February, Official Report, column 524, concerning consumers' expenditure on rent, rates and water charges, if he will publish an estimate for 1989 and a forecast for 1990 together with (a) a table showing the current price figures for each year deflated by the increase in the retail prices index and (b) a table listing and quantifying the factors accounting for the changes in volume between 1979 and 1988.
Column 650
Mr. Norman Lamont : Estimates for 1989 will not be available until the latter part of March following the publication on 16 March of the CSO press notice on gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of 1989. Forecasts for 1990 are not available. With regard to (a) , my earlier reply gave figures in constant prices ; the use of the retail prices index for deflation is not appropriate here. With regard to (b), a description of the method of compilation of these constant price estimates is given in pages 77-78 of "United Kingdom National Accounts : Sources and Methods", a copy of which is available in the Library.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table, further to table 15.1 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1989, showing for the latest available year the number of households in each country corresponding to the 13 listed categories together with the numbers of adults and children in each category in each country ; and if he will provide a further breakdown of the other category.
Mr. Lilley : Information on the actual number of households for each category in each country is not available : in 1986 there were some 21.5 million households in the United Kingdom. However, an approximate guide to the relative numbers of households can be obtained from the family expenditure survey. This is given in the table for 1986, the latest available year. A further breakdown of the "other" category could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
Number of households, adults and children from the 1986 Family
Expenditure Survey<1>, by household type and country
England
Number of:
Household type |H<2> |A |C
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 adult-non-pensioner |914 |914 |0
1 adult-pensioner |532 |532 |0
2 adults-non-pensioner |1,683 |3,366 |0
2 adults-pensioner |286 |572 |0
2 adults, 1 child |462 |924 |462
2 adults, 2 children |611 |1,222 |1,222
2 adults, 3 children |199 |398 |597
3 adults |444 |1,332 |0
3 adults, 1 child |167 |501 |167
4 adults |174 |696 |0
1 adult with child(ren) |228 |228 |392
Other households |304 |1,056 |672
|------- |------- |-------
All households in sample |6,004 |11,741 |3,512
Wales
Number of:
Household type |H |A |C
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 adult-non-pensioner |56 |56 |0
1 adult-pensioner |38 |38 |0
2 adults-non-pensioner |94 |188 |0
2 adults-pensioner |22 |44 |0
2 adults, 1 child |36 |72 |36
2 adults, 2 children |32 |64 |64
2 adults, 3 children |21 |42 |63
3 adults |31 |93 |0
3 adults, 1 child |15 |45 |15
4 adults |13 |52 |0
1 adult with child(ren) |10 |10 |17
Other households |21 |72 |47
|------- |------- |-------
All households in sample |389 |776 |242
Column 651
Scotland
Number of:
Household type |H |A |C
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 adult-non-pensioner |101 |101 |0
1 adult-pensioner |69 |69 |0
2 adults-non-pensioner |154 |308 |0
2 adults-pensioner |29 |58 |0
2 adults, 1 child |47 |94 |47
2 adults, 2 children |82 |164 |164
2 adults, 3 children |19 |38 |57
3 adults |49 |147 |0
3 adults, 1 child |19 |57 |19
4 adults |23 |92 |0
1 adult with child(ren) |26 |26 |40
Other households |34 |119 |77
|------- |------- |-------
All households in sample |652 |1,273 |404
Northern Ireland
Number of:
Household type |H |A |C
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 adult-non-pensioner |18 |18 |0
1 adult-pensioner |14 |14 |0
2 adults-non-pensioner |32 |64 |0
2 adults-pensioner |1 |2 |0
2 adults, 1 child |10 |20 |10
2 adults, 2 children |19 |38 |38
2 adults, 3 children |7 |14 |21
3 adults |10 |30 |0
3 adults, 1 child |1 |3 |1
4 adults |2 |8 |0
1 adult with child(ren) |4 |4 |5
Other households |15 |53 |39
|------- |------- |-------
All households in sample |133 |268 |114
United Kingdom
Number of:
Household type |H |A |C
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 adult-non-pensioner |1,089 |1,089 |0
1 adult-pensioner |653 |653 |0
2 adults-non-pensioner |1,963 |3,926 |0
2 adults-pensioner |338 |676 |0
2 adults, 1 child |555 |1,110 |555
2 adults, 2 children |744 |1,488 |1,488
2 adults, 3 children |246 |492 |738
3 adults |534 |1,602 |0
3 adults, 1 child |202 |606 |202
4 adults |212 |848 |0
1 adult with child(ren) |268 |268 |454
Other households |374 |1,300 |835
|------- |------- |-------
All households in sample |7,178 |14,058 |4,272
<1> The response to the survey differs as between regions and households and the
results cannot be accurately grossed to give national figures.
<2> H=Households, A=Adults, C=Children.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table further to table 15.3 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1989, showing for each year and a forecast for 1987, 1988 and 1989 the amount and percentage share of imputed income from owner rent-free occupancy together with (i) the weekly equivalent of the rateable value, (ii) the percentage uplift for the general increase in rents, (iii) the corresponding increase in council rents and (iv) the rate and rent factors included in the retail prices index.
Mr. Lilley : The information requested is given in the table. Figures for 1989 are not available for all items.
Column 651
United Kingdom
Year Imputed income<1> from owner/ Weekly <1><3> Rents price<4> Index of Components of the retail pri-
rent free occupancy equivalent of index local<5> ces index annual averages
|rateable value|1985=100 |authorities
|£/week |Percentage of |£/household |rents |Rent |Rates
|average per |average |1985=100 |1985=100 |1985=100
|household |household
|income<2>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1975 |2.44 |3.4 |3.19 |32.0 |26.6 |27.3 |26.9
1976 |3.46 |4.2 |3.20 |37.1 |30.6 |31.4 |31.0
1977 |3.93 |4.2 |3.32 |41.2 |35.4 |35.9 |34.5
1978 |4.93 |4.6 |3.54 |46.3 |37.7 |39.7 |38.1
1979 |5.65 |4.7 |3.62 |53.7 |41.3 |43.6 |44.2
1980 |6.75 |4.6 |3.68 |62.6 |49.7 |52.0 |55.4
1981 |7.79 |4.6 |3.70 |74.8 |72.7 |70.5 |70.1
1982 |8.57 |4.8 |3.64 |84.5 |85.7 |82.7 |80.3
1983 |9.70 |5.2 |3.71 |90.8 |89.3 |88.0 |87.1
1984 |10.23 |5.2 |3.74 |94.3 |93.9 |93.2 |92.4
1985 |11.86 |5.5 |4.30 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0
1986 |12.57 |5.4 |4.45 |105.1 |106.1 |106.5 |113.0
1987 |12.95 |5.1 |4.48 |110.3 |112.4 |112.8 |123.2
1988 |15.83 |5.6 |4.60 |116.9 |123.4 |121.1 |133.4
1989 |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |136.6 |132.2 |145.8
<1> Estimates based on Family Expenditure Survey.
<2> Household income figures for 1982 and earlier are not comparable with 1983, or with 1984, or with 1985 and following years.
<3> In 1985 rateable values for Scotland were reassessed.
<4> Consumers Expenditure rent deflator.
<5> Estimates for local authorities Great Britain only based on returns by local authorities to the Department of the Environment,
Scottish
Development Department and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Manufacturing Investment
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing, for each region, total investment by companies in research and development.
Column 652
Mr. Norman Lamont : I regret that the information is not available.
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