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COCOM Talks
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the COCOM talks on exports to eastern Europe.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 2 May 1991] : Subject to the satisfactory resolution of some outstanding issues on
telecommunications and computers during the next two weeks, discussions on a major revision of COCOM's industrial list, which commenced in autumn 1990, are scheduled to be concluded at a COCOM high-level meeting on 23 and 24 May 1991. The current industrial list, comprising 80 separate items, will then be reduced to a core list of 10 categories covering only the most strategic and sensitive goods and technologies.
SCOTLAND
Local Government Finance
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the total amounts paid by central Government as rates rebates, community charge rebates
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and transitional relief for every year since 1975, including an estimate for 1990-91 and 1991-92, in cash and real terms and as a proportion of total local government spending.Mr. Allan Stewart : Figures for transitional relief, community charge reduction and total local government spending since 1 April 1989 are provided in the table. Rates rebates and community charge rebates are a matter for the Department of Social Security.
Local government spending<1>
|Cash |Real Terms
|(1991-92 prices)
|£ million |£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |4,728 |5,451
1990-91 |5,179 |5,541
1991-92 |5,666 |5,666
<1> Figures are of total current expenditure financed by grants,
community charge, non-domestic rate income and balances. The
1989-90 figure is the final outturn. The 1990-91 figure is the
provisional outturn. The 1991-92 figure is the budget estimate.
Transitional relief/community charge reduction<1>
|Cash |Real Terms |Percentage of
|(1991-92 prices)|Local
|government
|spending
|£ million |£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |7.9 |9.1 |0.2
1990-91 |63.0 |63.0 |1.2
1991-92 |43.0 |43.0 |0.7
<1> In Scotland the transitional relief scheme has been replaced, with backdated
effect to 1 April 1990, by the personal community charge reduction scheme. The
1989-90 figure shows payments to date and may be subject to variation. The 1990-91
figure is an estimate of expenditure on the reduction scheme and updates expenditure
already made on transitional relief. The 1991-92 figure is an estimate which takes
account of the £140 general reduction in charges.
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in the light of local authorities' budgets for 1991-92 ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Lang : Local authorities in Scotland have budgeted to increase their expenditure this year by £420 million or 9.4 per cent. over the provisional outturn figures for last year. Overall authorities plan to spend £119 million or 2.5 per cent. in excess of the 1991-92 grant- aided expenditure--GAE--figures.
While this represents an improvement on the position last year when the average excess over GAE was 4.6 per cent., I remain concerned about the burden facing local taxpayers in certain areas as a result of the spending plans of the authorities concerned. Among the regional councils--which, of course, account for the bulk of local government expenditure in Scotland-- the authority planning by far the most substantial spending excess--12.18 per cent. above GAE--is Lothian. I have accordingly decided to initiate action in terms of schedule 3 to the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 in respect of that authority, on the grounds that its planned expenditure for 1991-92 is excessive and unreasonable. A letter has today been sent to the council proposing a reduction of £50--that is, from £310 to £260--in its personal community charge for this year --the equivalent of a reduction in its planned expenditure of £25 million. The letter invites the council to make representations.
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the proportion of total local government spending financed by (a) the rates/community charge, (b) non-domestic rates, (c) Government grants and (d) rents and local charges in Scotland in each year since 1974.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The percentages of total local government income from each source to finance rate fund services is shown in the table. Figures for 1989-90 and 1990-91 are not yet available. Figures exclude transactions on housing revenue accounts. Total local government income shows slight differences from total local government expenditure because of the use of balances in financing expenditure.
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Rate fund services: Revenue income<1>
|Domestic |Non-domestic |Government |Rents, local |Total income
|rates<2><3> |rates<2><3> |grants |charges and
|other income<4>
|per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |11 |14 |60 |15 |100
1975-76 |14 |19 |62 |5 |100
1976-77 |12 |18 |64 |6 |100
1977-78 |13 |19 |62 |7 |100
1978-79 |10 |21 |61 |8 |100
1979-80 |10 |21 |60 |8 |100
1980-81 |11 |23 |59 |7 |100
1981-82 |12 |26 |55 |7 |100
1982-83 |13 |27 |53 |7 |100
1984-84 |11 |26 |56 |8 |100
1984-85 |11 |26 |55 |8 |100
1985-86 |12 |27 |53 |8 |100
1986-87 |12 |28 |51 |8 |100
1987-88 |13 |29 |51 |7 |100
1988-89 |14 |27 |51 |8 |100
<1> Totals may not be exactly equal to the sum of their constituent parts due to rounding.
<2> Excluding rate rebates and domestic element of rate support grant. Includes net cost of collection of
rates.
<3> The breakdown of rate income into domestic and non-domestic rate income is estimated pro-rata to rateable
values.
<4> Includes rents, sales, fees and charges.
Source: Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics (various years).
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Local Tax Exemplification
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any information was available to his Department in his recent local tax exemplification on market values of residential property in each local authority area in Scotland.
Mr. Allan Stewart : Yes. Estimates of the distribution of the housing stock by capital value in each local authority area were provided to the Scottish Office by the Inland Revenue Valuation Office.
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he arrived in his recent local tax exemplifications for Scotland at (a) the total valuation of the Scottish housing stock, (b) the total valuation of the public sector stock, (c) the total valuation of the private sector stock and (d) the distribution of properties in each proposed band in each local authority area in Scotland.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The estimates were based on information provided by the Inland Revenue Valuation Office on the distribution by capital value of the housing stock in each local authority area. This information does not separately distinguish public and private sector stock.
Community Charge
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the estimated local income tax rates required to replace the gross income, including rebates, raised from the community charge in each region and district authority on the basis of planned expenditure in 1991-92 ; what those rates are net of rebates ; and what those rates are equalised and unequalised.
Mr. Allan Stewart : Approximate rates of local income tax required to replace the budgeted income from the community charge in 1991-92, including rebates and after receipt of community charge grant, are given in the table. The calculations assume resources
equalisation--that the yield of 1p in the pound is the same per adult in all areas. It is not possible to calculate equivalent figures net of rebates, nor on the basis of an unequalised local income tax base.
Note :
The local income tax rate for Scotland has been estimated for 1991-92 by dividing the total amount to be raised from the community charge, net of community charge grant, by an estimate of the yield of 1p in the pound on the basis rate of income tax for Scotland. Income from the community water charge is not included.
Local Income Tax Rate
|Pence in pound
--------------------------------------------------------
Borders |3.1
Berwickshire |0.2
Ettrick and Lauderdale |0.6
Roxburgh |0.5
Tweeddale |0.4
Central |4.5
Clackmannan |2.1
Falkirk |0.5
Stirling |2.0
Dumfries and Galloway |3.4
Annandale and Eskdale |1.0
Nithsdale |1.0
Stewartry |0.5
Wigtown |0.9
Fife |5.0
Dunfermline |1.2
Kirkcaldy |1.2
North East Fife |1.4
Grampian |3.3
Aberdeen city |2.1
Banff and Buchan |1.0
Gordon |0.6
Kincardine and Deeside |0.1
Moray |0.4
Highland |3.5
Badenoch and Strathspey |0.3
Caithness |0.1
Inverness |0.1
Lochaber |0.9
Nairn |0.2
Ross and Cromarty |0.8
Skye and Lochalsh |0.4
Sutherland |0.5
Lothian |7.2
East Lothian |1.5
Edinburgh City |2.5
Midlothian |1.3
West Lothian |0.8
Strathclyde |4.0
Argyll and Bute |1.8
Bearsden and Milngavie |1.4
Clydebank |2.3
Clydesdale |1.7
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |0.9
Cumnock and Doon Valley |1.0
Cunninghame |1.9
Dumbarton |2.8
East Kilbride |2.1
Eastwood |0.5
Glasgow City |2.0
Hamilton |1.8
Inverclyde |1.4
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |1.2
Kyle and Carrick |2.2
Monklands |1.8
Motherwell |1.3
Renfrew |2.1
Strathkelvin |1.9
Tayside |4.7
Angus |0.7
Dundee City |1.9
Perth and Kinross |0.9
Islands
Orkney |0.1
Shetland |-
Western Isles |0.7
Capital Valuation (Domestic Properties)
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department used any building society information in reaching its conclusions on the capital valuation of domestic properties in Scotland.
Community Charge Reduction Scheme
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money his Department has made available for the operation of the community charge reduction scheme in Scotland in 1991-92.
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Mr. Lang : A sum of £43 million has been made available to cover payments to charge payers under the community charge reduction scheme in respect of the 1991-92 financial year. The Government have also undertaken to meet reasonable costs incurred by local authorities in administering the scheme.Departmental Expenditure
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long on average it takes for each department of the Scottish Office to pay contractors and suppliers from receipt of invoices ; and what representations he has received on this matter during the last five years.
Mr. Lang : In making payments to contractors and suppliers, all my departments observe the guidance in "Government Accounting". This means that, once liability to pay has matured, payments are made in accordance with the terms and conditions of payment as specified in contracts or purchase orders or, in the absence of such contractual arrangements, within 30 days of receipt. Generally, it is our practice to make payments as early as possible in line with the Government's support of the "prompt payment" initiative.
In the last five years, three representations have been received on this issue. One arose from a dispute over the goods supplied ; the second was the result of incorrectly addressed correspondence ; and the third was directed to the department in error.
Strathclyde Fire Service
Mrs. Irene Adams : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the figures for call-outs to actual fires for Strathclyde fire service for the last available quarter for (a) the whole of Strathclyde fire service, (b) each division of Strathclyde fire service and (c) each station within Strathclyde fire service ;
(2) if he will publish a table showing the call-out figures for Strathclyde fire service for the last available quarter for (a) the whole of Strathclyde fire service, (b) each division of Strathclyde fire service and (c) each station within Strathclyde fire service ;
(3) if he will publish a table quantifying the mobilising time from all fire stations in Strathclyde fire service and the attendance time for all fire stations in Strathclyde fire service.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : This information is not held centrally.
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Press and Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff including vacant posts in the press and public relations office of the Forestry Commission.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The complement of staff in the public information division of the Forestry Commission is given in the table. Before 1982, the division was responsible for preparing exhibitions for shows, but this work was then delegated to local offices, leading to the reduction of four posts. No posts are recorded as being vacant on 1 April in any year.
Year |Complement --------------------------------- 1980 |12 1981 |12 1982 |8 1983 |9 1984 |9 1985 |10 1986 |13 1987 |12 1988 |11 1989 |13 1990 |13 1991 |14
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year from 1979-80, including 1991-92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff including vacant posts in the press and public relations office of the Scottish Development Agency.
Mr. Allan Stewart : This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Crime, Strathclyde
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage change in the number of recorded crimes in X division of Strathclyde police for each year since 1980 and for each category of crime.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is given in the following table :
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Number of crimes and offences recorded by the police and percentage change for each year since 1980
X division, Strathclyde region police authority
Number of recorded crimes and offences
|1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total crimes and offences |16,769|16,907|16,658|16,135|15,224|15,176|15,932|15,856|15,671|18,572|19,022
Total crimes |7,217 |8,007 |8,150 |7,579 |6,765 |7,201 |7,825 |7,897 |7,568 |7,993 |7,680
Group 1 Non-sexual crimes of violence 203 213 261 261 286 324 259 278 314 287 242
Group 2 Crimes of indecency |82 |89 |70 |47 |76 |77 |64 |72 |62 |50 |31
Group 3 Crimes of dishonesty |4,532 |5,460 |5,629 |5,157 |4,486 |4,866 |5,310 |5,476 |5,157 |5,469 |5,435
Group 4 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc. |2,185 |2,094 |1,937 |1,736 |1,548 |1,603 |1,908 |1,756 |1,690 |1,704 |1,513
Group 5 Other crimes |215 |151 |253 |378 |369 |331 |284 |315 |345 |483 |459
Total offences |9,552 |8,900 |8,508 |8,556 |8,459 |7,975 |8,107 |7,959 |8,103 |10,579|11,342
Group 6 Miscellaneous offences |4,516 |4,155 |4,067 |3,997 |3,980 |3,824 |3,285 |3,415 |3,073 |3,098 |3,049
Group 7 Motor vehicle offences |5,036 |4,745 |4,441 |4,559 |4,479 |4,151 |4,822 |4,544 |5,030 |7,481 |8,293
Annual percentage change
|1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990
Total crimes and offences |- |1 |-1 |-3 |-6 |0 |5 |0 |-1 |19 |2
Total crimes |- |11 |2 |-7 |-11 |6 |9 |1 |-4 |6 |-4
Group 1 Non-sexual crimes of violence - 5 23 0 10 13 -20 7 13 -9 -16
Group 2 Crimes of indecency |- |9 |-21 |-33 |62 |1 |-17 |13 |-14 |-19 |-38
Group 3 Crimes of dishonesty |- |20 |3 |-8 |-13 |8 |9 |3 |-6 |6 |-1
Group 4 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc. |- |-4 |-7 |-10 |-11 |4 |19 |-8 |-4 |1 |-11
Group 5 Other crimes |- |-30 |68 |49 |-2 |-10 |-14 |11 |10 |40 |-5
Total offences |- |-7 |-4 |1 |-1 |-6 |2 |-2 |2 |31 |7
Group 6 Miscellaneous offences |- |-8 |-2 |-2 |0 |-4 |-14 |4 |-10 |1 |-2
Group 7 Motor vehicle offences |- |-6 |-6 |3 |-2 |-7 |16 |-6 |11 |49 |11
Source: Reports to the chief constable of Strathclyde.
Annual percentage change
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Total crimes and offences -- 1 1 3 6 0 5 0 1 19 2
Total crimes -- 11 2 7 11 6 9 1 4 6 4
Group1 Non-sexual crimes of violence -- 5 23 0 10 13 20 7 13 9 16
Group2 Crimes of indecency -- 9 21 33 62 1 17 13 14 19 38 Group3 Crimes of dishonesty -- 20 3 8 13 8 9 3 6 6 1 Group4 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc. -- 4 7 10 11 4 19 8 4 1 11
Group5 Other crimes -- 30 68 49 2 10 14 11 10 40 5 Total offences -- 7 4 1 1 6 2 2 2 31 7
Group6 Miscellaneous offences -- 8 2 2 0 4 14 4 10 1 2 Group7 Motor vehicle offences -- 6 6 3 2 7 16 6 11 49 11 Source : Reports to the chief constable of Strathclyde.
Health Service
Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the appropriate figure for the annual uprating for inflation in relation to Scottish health service costs for each year since 1979.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : No such index is maintained. Detailed information of the costs of hospital and community health and family services is published annually in "Scottish Health Service Costs".
Ravenscraig and Clydesdale Steelworks
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has anything to add to his reply of 22 April, Official Report , column 338 , concerning the information he received from the European Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan, relating to the statements made by Sir Robert Scholey to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry concerning the attitude of the Commission to a possible sale of Ravenscraig and Clydesdale steelworks.
Mr. Allan Stewart : I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 22 April.
War Crimes
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what investigation the Lord Advocate has directed to attempt to identify persons resident in the United Kingdom who may have been involved in the murder of Germans in Berlin in 1945 by Russian soldiers ;
(2) what investigations the Lord Advocate has directed to attempt to identify persons resident in the United Kingdom who may have been involved in the murder of partisans in southern France in 1945 ; (3) what investigation the Lord Advocate has directed to attempt to identify persons resident in the United Kingdom who may have been involved in the massacre of the Russian officer corps or any of those murdered in Stalin's purges ;
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(4) what investigation the Lord Advocate has directed to attempt to identify persons resident in the United Kingdom who may have been involved in the massacre of Polish officers at Katyn ;(5) what investigation the Lord Advocate has directed to attempt to identify persons resident in the United Kingdom who may have been involved in the murder of Cossacks in Yugoslavia, Russia and Austria in 1945 ;
(6) what investigation the Lord Advocate has directed to attempt to identify persons resident in the United Kingdom who may have been involved in the murder of Poles in the Warsaw uprising in 1944.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : So far as the Government are aware, no allegations have been made that persons resident in this country participated in any of these murders.
Planning Procedures
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement of his consideration of the appeal by East Lothian district council against the decision of Lothian regional council to call in the planning consent for the restoration of Archerfield house and the development of the surrounding estate.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 1 May 1991] : I am considering this appeal case and will issue my decision shortly. I shall send the hon. Member a copy of the decision letter.
Management Consultants (Fees)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 1 May 1991] : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers that my predecessor gave him on 13 March 1990 at column 114 and 13 March 1989 at column 35. Additional information is as follows :
Column 423
|£
---------------------------
<1>1989-90 |374,620
<1>1990-91 |807,343
<2>1991-92 |664,139
<1> Outturn
<2> Estimated figure
HEALTH
Breast Care Nurses
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast care nurses appear on the national register of breast care nurses.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department does not hold a register of breast care nurses.
Health Systems (Employment)
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the total number of persons employed in (a) private health systems, (b) NHS or equivalent and (c) the overall total in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) Germany and (iii) France ; (2) if he will list the number of nurses employed in (a) private health systems, (b) the national health service or equivalent and (c) the overall totals in (i) the United Kingdom with those employed, (ii) Germany and (iii) France.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The available information for England is given in the table. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland. Information regarding Germany and France is not collected by this Department. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the embassies concerned for details.
Total staff and nursing and midwifery staff employed
in NHS and
private sector-England: 1989<1>
|Number |WTE
-----------------------------------------------------
Nursing and midwifery staff:
National health service<2> |486,700|405,300
Private health systems<3><4> |109,500|78,500
Total staff:
National health service<5> |970,900|796,600
Source: Department of Health (SMI3) Censuses of
medical and non-medical manpower and (SMI2) KO36
return.
<1>All figures are independently rounded to the
nearest hundred (100).
<2>Includes agency staff, qualified nurses and
midwives, learners and unqualified staff.
<3>The only data collected centrally on private
sector staff relates to private hospitals, homes and
clinics registered under section 23 of the
Registered Homes Act 1984.
<4>"Whole time equivalent" relates to the contracted
hours of employment in the individual establishments
and does not equate to the 37.5 hour standard week
worked by NHS nursing staff.
<5>Includes staff at the Dental Estimates Board,
Prescription Pricing Authority, London Post-Graduate
Special Health Authorities and Family Practitioner
Committees and other statutory authorities, agency
staff, permanent paid and honorary staff and locums.
Column 424
Chainsaw Accidents
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number and nature of non-work accidents through the use of chainsaws over each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Dorrell : This information is not collected centrally.
Prescription Charges
Mr. Lee : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people claiming exemption from prescription charges were (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted in the last 12 months of which figures are available.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : In 1989, a total of 52,968 claims for exemption from prescription charges were referred for investigation. The decision to prosecute in any individual case is the responsibility of the family health services authority and such information is not available centrally.
Hospital Trusts
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what general assurances on financial solvency he seeks when considering applications to establish hospital trusts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Financial viability is one of the criteria considered when deciding whether to establish a unit as a trust. The unit's management has to have a clear perception of the financial challenges facing it and the plans and ability to deal with them.
Louth County Hospital
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the capital expenditure on Louth county hospital in Lincolnshire since April 1979 and since April 1975.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Sir Michael Carlisle, the chairman of Trent regional health authority, for details.
Sign Language Interpreters
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health authorities that provide British sign language interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing patients ; and which make a charge for the service.
Mr. Dorrell : This information is not held centrally.
Walsall NHS Trust
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future funding of Walsall NHS trust.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Walsall hospitals' national health service trust, like all other trusts and directly managed units, obtains its income from contracts to provide health services to health authorities which purchase such services on behalf of their residents. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. M. Foden, the chairman of the trust, for details.
Column 425
Disaster Counselling
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the report of the working party on disaster follow-up and counselling ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have received a copy of the report of the independent working party on disaster follow-up and counselling, which was published today and which is entitled "Disasters : Planning for A Caring Response". Copies are available in the Library. The Government will be studying the report carefully and will welcome the views of interested organisations.
Air Pollution
Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any recommendations have been made by the advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes about the advice that should be given to the public during periods of high ozone concentrations.
Mr. Dorrell : The advisory group has recently completed a detailed report on ozone and its effects on health and this will be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as soon as possible. The executive summary of the report is published today and copies have been placed in the Library. Copies of the summary are available to the public from the Department.
The main conclusion of the group is that the ozone levels experienced in the United Kingdom during hot summer weather are unlikely to produce any permanent lung damage and general warnings to the public are not justified. However, during periods of high ozone concentration some individuals sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms while taking vigorous exercise out of doors, and these symptoms may be more troublesome in those with some impairment of lung function. The group has recommended that advice should be made available so that individuals who are particularly sensitive to ozone can take steps to reduce exposure.
The group's recommendations have been accepted by Government and will be implemented immediately. Information and advice about ozone levels and their effects and how to minimise exposure to ozone is available on the air quality help line set up by the Department of the Environment and the Meteorological Office. The Chief Medical Officer has written to all doctors setting out the report's main conclusions.
Pregnancy Services
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures for 1989-90 of the number of clinics in England offering (a) IVF, GIFT and other procedures and (b) GIFT and other procedures but excluding IVF.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The information requested is not available centrally. However, some information on these matters is expected to be published in the Interim Licensing Authority's 1991 annual report later this year.
Eye Hospitals
Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the regional health authorities that have a specialist eye hospital in their region.
Column 426
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The location of specialist eye services is a matter for the health authority concerned. The information requested is as follows :
Northern
Eye Infirmary, Sunderland
North Riding Infirmary (ENT and Eye)
North West Thames
Western Ophthalmic Hospital
South East Thames
Sussex Eye Hospital
Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital
Wessex
Southampton Eye Hospital
Oxford
Oxford Eye Hospital
South Western
Bristol Eye Hospital
West of England Eye Infirmary
Royal Eye Infirmary, Plymouth
West Midlands
Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, Shrewsbury
Wolverhampton and Midlands Counties Eye Infirmary
Paybody Hospital, Coventry
Worcester Eye Hospital
Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital
Mersey
St. Paul's Eye Hospital
North Western
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Special Health Authorities
Moorfield's Eye Hospital
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