Written Answers of 8 December 1992

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Market Testing
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of the number of civil service jobs likely to be lost as a consequence of market testing.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Market testing is not about abolishing jobs but about testing whether services performed in-house or by the private sector offer better value for money.

  Until the outcome of individual market testing exercises is known, it is not possible to say whether the question of job losses will arise.

  Where, in the past, contracting out has offered best value for money, in most cases staff have been taken on by the contractor, or they have been redeployed by their Department or absorbed through natural wastage.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many civil servants are currently employed by his Department(a) in London and (b) elsewhere.

  Mr. Brooke
  The total number of permanent staff in the Department of National Heritage is 862. This figure includes 352 in the Historic Royal Palaces Agency—HRPA. All are based in London.

  The total number of casual staff in the Department is 73. This figure includes 69 in the HRPA. All are based in London.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact of a national lottery on employment in the pools industry.

  Mr. Brooke
  Employment levels in the pools industry are dependent on many factors and are a matter for the pools companies. Estimates of the effects of the national lottery on the level of pools turnover are subject to a series of hypotheses.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed national lottery on employment in Scotland.

  Mr. Brooke
  It is too early to say precisely what jobs will be created by the introduction of the national lottery and where they will be located.

  Longford Hall
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 16 November,Official Report, column 43, what actions were taken by his Department or its predecessors following receipt of letters dated 7 December 1991,20 May 1992 and 17 August 1992 regarding disrepair of Longford hall, from the hon. Member for Stretford; what consideration was given to an inspection by English Heritage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer to the answers I gave on 16 November 1992,Official Report, column 43. Longford hall is in the first instance the responsibility of its owners, Trafford metropolitan borough council: I understand that consideration is still being given to possible new uses for the building.

  St. Anne's Hotel, Buxton
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he is taking to ensure that the necessary structural repairs are carried out to the former St. Anne's hotel, the Crescent, Buxton.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend has today authorised the service on the owners, Capitalrise Ltd, of a notice under section 48 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 specifying the works which he considers reasonably necessary for the proper preservation of the building and notifying them that, if these are not carried out within three months, he may begin proceedings for the compulsory purchase of the building under section 47.

  Royal Palaces
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the publicly owned works of art in royal palaces which have not been on public exhibition.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: A list of works of art in the royal collection held in trust for the nation which have not been on public exhibition is not available. However, a large proportion of works of art from the royal collection are on permanent public display at Hampton Court palace, Kensington palace, the state apartments at Windsor castle, Osborne house, the palace of Holyroodhouse, Kew palace, the banqueting hall and the national gallery. Other paintings are on periodic display at the Queen's gallery in Buckingham palace and the Queen's private residence at Balmoral and Sandringham. In addition, about 500 paintings have been loaned to exhibitions in the United Kingdom and abroad over the last five years.

  Theatres Restoration Fund
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the guidelines for the theatres restoration fund and for application eligibility; and what conditions are imposed as to the age of the building on behalf of which an application is to be made.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 4 December]: The purpose, scope and eligibility criteria of the theatres restoration fund are set out in "Notes for Applicants", copies of which

  549
  I am sending to my hon. Friend and placing in the Library of the House. In essence, the criteria are that only purpose-built theatres are eligible; that they must be constituted as charitable trusts; and that they should be of architectural merit and/or that the work produced in the theatre is of artistic significance. There are no specific conditions relating to the age of a building.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what delay experienced by the county fire brigade in reaching the fire at Windsor castle was due to the presence of soldiers carrying out band and other ceremonial duties.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 3 December 1992]: I understand that the Royal Berkshire fire and rescue service encountered no such delay.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to police forces regarding identification of dog types in relation to prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office issued guidance to the police about the identification of specially controlled dogs shortly before the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 came into force in August 1991. Chief officers of police were also sent posters giving further indication of typical size and range of colouring of pit bull terriers.

  In a Home Office circular containing further advice on the 1991 Act, issued this year, the attention of the police was drawn to a list, provided by the Stafforshire Bull Terrier Breed Council, of clubs which are willing to offer advice where there is any doubt about whether a particular dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier. This is the type with which the pit bull terrier is most commonly confused.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding problems arising from the operation of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We regularly receive representations from hon. Members, animal welfare bodies and other organisations and individuals about the 1991 Act. There is also regular contact with the enforcement authorities on various aspects of the operation of the Act. We shall continue to listen carefully to those who wish to offer constructive comments.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimate of the cost of keeping dogs in kennels during the course of appeals in relation to prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information relating to the total cost of keeping dogs in kennels pending the outcome of appeals under the 1991 Act is not collected centrally. Kennelling costs may vary around the country. However I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the cost of kennelling one dog for one day in the London area is about £8.
  550
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost to date of prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; how much has been paid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and what other organisations have received payment.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on the costs to the police, local authorities, the Crown prosecution service and the courts of prosecutions under the 1991 Act is not available centrally.

  The Home Office has not made any payments to the RSPCA or the SSPCA. At the time the exemption scheme was coming into effect, payments were made to the Index of Exempted Dogs, which administers the exemption scheme established under the Act, in respect of reminder letters issued by the index to the owners of specially controlled dogs who had registered with the police but who had not at that time completed the exemption process. The index also received revenue from fees collected in respect of applications made for certificates of exemption.

  Betting
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation is taking place or is planned with betting shop employees about proposals to introduce evening off-course betting.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We issued a consultation document in October 1991 inviting the views of all interested parties, including betting office employees, on whether licensed betting offices should be open in the evening and, if so, at what times. We are giving careful consideration to views received in response to that document, including those from betting office employees, and will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

  Drugs
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what part of Wales has the highest per capita conviction rate for drug offences in Wales;

  (2) what percentage of convictions in Wales (a) involving under-18s and (b) in total, are for drug-elated offences.

  Mr. Jack
  Information for 1991, which is provisional, is given in the tables.

  Table A

  Number of persons per 100,000 population convicted of indictable drug offences in Welsh police force areas 19911

  Police force area

  rate

  Dyfed-Powys

  43

  Gwent

  25

  North Wales

  44

  South Wales

  77

  Wales

  56

  England and Wales

  53

  1 Provisional.

  551

  Table B

  Persons convicted of indictable drug offences as a percentage of all indictable offences by age 19911—Wales

  All ages

  Aged 10 to under 18 years

  Total indictable offences

  Indictable drug offences

  Total indictable offences

  Indictable drug offences

  100

  6·1

  100

  2·1

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase in the amount of cocaine seized in the United Kingdom over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is contained in table 1.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1991", a copy of which is in the Library. The table shows that in 1981, 21 kg of cocaine was seized; in 1991 the corresponding amount was 1,078 kg, representing a proportional increase of 5,133 per cent.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much crack cocaine was seized in the United Kingdom in 1991–92.

  Mr. Jack
  There were 583 recorded seizures of the type of cocaine known as "crack" in the United Kingdom during 1991. These weighed 1.9 kg. Data for 1992 are not yet available.

  Immigration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of individuals who at any one time will be detained under Immigration Act powers at Her Majesty's prison Kidlington; and when the proposed use of Her Majesty's prison Kidlington for the detention of individuals under Immigration Act powers will commence.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The use of the vacant Prison Service establishment at Campsfield house, Kidlington is one of the options being considered for additional accommodation for Immigration Act detainees. No final decision has yet been taken as to when or whether Campsfielcl house will be brought into use for this purpose.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants from his Department have been relocated from London to other parts of the United Kingdom(a) in the last five years and (b) in the last 10 years; and to where they were relocated.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The numbers of Home Office posts relocated during the periods specified are as follows:

  Number

  (a) in the last five years to Birmingham

  80

  Derby

  5

  Glasgow

  200

  Liverpool

  275

  Nottingham

  120

  552

  Number

  Total

  680

  (b) in the last 10 years the total above, plus to Bootle

  300

  Grand total

  980

  Figures on the proportion of these posts filled by relocating civil servants, as opposed to local recruitment, cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to grant the police further powers to help them deal with the threat of terrorism.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  It is essential that the police have the necessary powers to deal with terrorism and it is for this reason that the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 remains in force. This and other measures are kept under review.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) 16-year-olds, (b) 15-year-olds and (c) 14-year-olds have been held in an adult prison for more than 24 hours after being convicted of (i) a section 53 offence under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 any (ii) and other offence in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not recorded centrally. The readily available data are given in the table.

  Juveniles initially received under sentence into adult prisons and remand centres in England and Wales: by age, type of sentence and type of initial reception establishment, 1989–91

  Number of persons

  Type of initial reception establishment, type of sentence and age

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Remand centre:

  S.53, C&YP Act 1933:

  14

  7

  5

  5

  15

  41

  30

  26

  16

  75

  78

  55

  Detention in a Young Offender Institution:

  14

  1

  11

  13

  15

  28

  30

  67

  16

  77

  81

  152

  Adult prison:

  S.53, C&YP Act 1933:

  14

  —

  —

  —

  15

  —

  —

  —

  16

  6

  1

  —

  Detention in a Young Offender Institution:

  14

  1

  2

  —

  15

  24

  17

  12

  16

  113

  85

  50

  Underground Emergency Facilities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) further to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, columns 849–50, how Her Majesty's Government will be able to dispose of the underground facilities for which he has no plans to permit use for purposes not related to wartime or other emergencies;

  (2) further to his answer of 27 November, Official Report, columns 849–50, if he will give fresh consideration to the uses to which the underground facilities might be put; and if he will provide a list of uses which Her Majesty's Government are willing to (a) permit or (b) encourage in the event of the facilities being disposed of.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We do not propose to use or to develop these sites for alternative purposes. The normal rules for disposal will be followed including, where necessary, first offering sites back to the current or previous owner. Other sites will he placed for sale on the open market. The use to which they are put after disposal will be a matter for whoever acquires them.

  Prison Education Service
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his future plans for the prison education service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Prison Service has invited competitive tenders for the provision of education to inmates in prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales, for which it is responsible, with effect from 1 April 1993. The present arrangements have to be changed because local education authorities, who currently provide education in prisons, lose most of their responsibilities for further education from that date. They will no longer be primarily responsible for a range of courses, including those leading to vocational training, GCSE and A-level courses, basic literacy courses in English, basic mathematics, English as a second language, and courses to teach independent living and communication skills. These make up the core of most education programmes in prisons.

  The Government have made clear in the White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice", Cm. 1647, that education is an essential part of the opportunities which must be provided in a prison. Through more detailed specification of prisoners' requirements, establishment by establishment, by competition between the public and private sector and by rigorous monitoring, the Prison Service should be better able to ensure the future education provision offers value for money and is of a consistently high quality.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application of the acquired rights directive on his plans to privatise the prison education service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government are not privatising the provision of education services to prison establishments in England and Wales. The purpose of competitive tendering is to stimulate new and better ways of carrying out existing tasks by inviting tenders from both the public and the private sector. The contracts will be placed with those who offer the best combination of quality and price.
  554
  On the application of the EEC acquired rights directive 77/187, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his question on 1 December, at column 98, and to the reply that my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Department of Employment, gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 19 November, at columns 338–39. I am also placing in the Library of the House copies of guidance which, following legal advice, the Prison Service has sent to those tendering for the provision of educational services in prisons and of guidance which the Department for Education has issued on the application of the directive to staff transferring from the employment of a local education authority to a further education corporation under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many scientific procedures on living animals have been undertaken without anaesthesia since 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is published in table 21 of the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 1991", a copy of which is in the Library. Information for 1986 relates to animal experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many scientific procedures were carried out on living animals in the first half of 1992 and for the first half of each year since 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on the number of scientific procedures is collected only for whole years and is published in table 23 of the Command Paper "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 1991", Cm 2023, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Information for 1986 relates to animal experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, which was replaced on 1 January 1987 by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The 1986 Act not only encompasses work covered by the 1876 Act, but extends to some work not previously controlled.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many scientific procedures on living animals in the United Kingdom have bred animals with harmful genetic defects or transgenic animals since 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is contained in table 15 of the Command Paper "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain" for each year since 1987, and table 6 or 7 of the HMSO publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Northern Ireland", copies of which are in the Library.

  Information with respect to transgenic animals is not available before 1990. Also, from 1990 inclusive the method of counting the production of animals with harmful genetic defects changed, so it is not possible to make a direct comparison of data from before and after that date.

  Information for the year 1986 is not available since the procedures described were not regulated by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, which was then in force.
  555
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A number of revisions to the 1986 Act will be made during 1993.

  The Government announced on 3 December, at column 336, in response to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler), that we have accepted the majority view of the Animal Procedures Committee that the common octopus or Octopus vulgaris should be brought within the controls of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  As reported in the annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1991, schedule 1 to the Act, which sets out those methods of humane killing which do not require project or personal licence authority, is currently being revised.

  We shall also be adding quail—coturnix coturnix—to schedule 2 to the Act, which lists those animals for use in scientific procedures which may be obtained only from designated breeding or supplying establishments. This is in order to ensure that the United Kingdom complies fully with the requirements of EC directive 86/609.

  Motor Cycle Noise
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have taken place in each year since 1983 for breaches of noise limits by motor cycles;

  (2) how many prosecutions have taken place of suppliers of open exhaust systems for motor cycles in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  New Prison
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a list of all of the sites which have been considered for the site of a new prison in the north-west region of England since 1984.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is not readily available in the form requested, but, where there would be no breach of commercial confidentiality in doing so, I will write to the hon. Member with details of Merseyside sites considered prior to the purchase of land at Fazakerley.

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning clause 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill on the right of visitors, short-term and prospective students and their dependants.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Between 22 October and 7 December the Home Office has received representations about clause 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill from approximately 25 organisations and individuals.

  Terrorist Attacks
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take urgent steps to facilitate the setting up of a fund to insure victims of terrorist attacks; and if he will make a statement.
  556
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The criminal injuries compensation scheme provides compensation for personal injuries suffered by the innocent victims of violent crime. So far as commercial property is concerned, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is considering representations from the insurance industry and other interested parties.

  Racial Violence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation whereby racial violence would be a specific criminal offence, along the lines recommended by the Commission for Racial Equality.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The recommendations in the Commission for Racial Equality's second review of the Race Relations Act have wide-ranging implications for a number of Government Departments. A response to the idea of a new offence of racial violence will be made as part of the Government's response to the CRE review as a whole.

  Young Offenders (Self-harm)
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many acts of deliberate self-harm by young offenders were recorded in each year since 1986; and how many young offenders died as a result in each of those years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 26 November 1992]: Information about the incidence of deliberate self-harm prior to 1991 is not available. The numbers of prisoners aged under 21 who deliberately harmed themselves in 1991 was 1,156. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.

  The number of prisoners under the age of 21 who died as the result of an act of deliberate self-harm in each year since 1986 is shown in the table.

  Deaths by prisoners aged under 21 years resulting from an act of deliberate self-harm 1986–1992 (to 19 November)

  Year

  Deaths

  1986

  5

  1987

  7

  1988

  9

  1989

  11

  1990

  9

  1991

  5

  1992

  7

  Directive 89/816/EURATOM
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what steps have been taken by his Department to implement the European Community directive 89/816/EURATOM.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  Regulations which implement European Community directive 89/618/EURATOM were laid before the House on 8 December 1992. These regulations entitled "Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1993" are expected to come into force on 1 January 1993.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Morbidity and Mortality Levels
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Overseas Development Administration collects on the levels of morbidity and mortality in countries to which Her Majesty's Government send aid moneys or provide support technology and assistance.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration uses data produced and analysed by developing country Governments, the UN and its agencies, other international organisations and academic bodies. The ODA itself does not collect morbidity and mortality data but has provided technical and financial assistance to both countries and UN agencies to support the collection and dissemination of such data.

  Tanzania
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 November,Official Report, columns 553–54, when the Tanga Port rehabilitation project in Tanzania began; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Six contractors have been prequalified for the civil works at Tanga Port. Tender documents are now being finalised. A contract for the rehabilitation of four quayside cranes will be negotiated with the original manufacturer. It is planned that project implementation will start in the earlier part of 1993.

  Gabon
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from Friends of the Earth over the World bank-funded forestry and environment project for Gabon; and what reply has been sent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A representative of Friends of the Earth raised concerns about the forestry and environment project in Gabon with senior officials of the ODA in September. Through a subsequent exchange of correspondence, Friends of the Earth has been advised that World bank staff have been asked to respond to the issues raised in a memorandum prepared by some nongovernmental organisations.

  Malawi
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Friends of the Earth to the United Kingdom's executive director at the World bank on the subject of the recently approved Malawi Power loan V; and what reply has been sent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are not aware of any representations made by Friends of the Earth in connection with the Malawi Power V project which was approved by the World bank's executive board in June 1992.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the visit to Bosnia by the permanent secretary of the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Copies of the visit report by Mr. Tim Lankester, Permanent Secretary of the ODA, have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  World Bank
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to publish, on a monthly basis, details of those structural adjustment loans which are being considered by the World bank and which are listed in the World bank's operational review.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have made arrangements for a copy of the World bank's operational summary of proposed projects to be made available in the Libraries of the House. This document contains information on all loans, including those related to structural adjustment, which are being considered by the bank.

EDUCATION

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children in the United Kingdom remain in full-time education beyond the age of 16 years; and if he will tabulate the United Kingdom figures alongside those for other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

  Mr. Forman
  The available information is given in the table.

  Participation rates in full-time education and training1 of 16 and 16 to 18 year olds. 19882

  Percentages

  Country

  16 year olds

  16–18 year olds

  Australia4

  76

  52

  Belgium2

  92

  82

  Canada5

  100

  77

  Denmark

  90

  79

  France

  82

  73

  Germany (Federal Republic)6

  71

  49

  Italy2

  65

  55

  Japan7

  93

  84

  Netherlands6

  93

  77

  Spain8

  68

  58

  Sweden

  84

  73

  United Kingdom9

  1988

  50

  35

  1989

  53

  36

  USA2

  95

  75

  1 Includes apprenticeships, YTS and similar schemes.

  2 1987 for Belgium and Italy (provisional), 1989 for USA.

  3 Includes higher education for some 18 year olds.

  4 Includes an estimate for those students studying subsidised courses at non-governmental business colleges.

  5 Excludes certain part-time students, 16 per cent, at 16–18.

  6 Includes compulsory part-time education for 16 and 17 year olds in Germany and Netherlands.

  7 Includes private sector higher education and an estimate for special training and miscellaneous schools providing vocational

  559
  training

  8 Includes estimates for 18 year olds in universities.

  9 Includes estimates for those studying only in the evening and for private sector further and higher education, including training courses with employers.

  Sources: Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1992, Table BB (1992 edition draft).

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will indicate the comparable levels of literacy and numeracy for 16 to 18-year-olds in the United Kingdom and other OECD countries.

  Mr. Forman
  Information on levels of literacy and numeracy among 16 to 18-year-olds in the United Kingdom is not available centrally. However, the adult literacy and basic skills unit estimates that 5·5 million adults in England and Wales have some difficulty with reading, writing, spelling and basic mathematics. It does not, however, have a basis for making comparisons with other countries.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of gross domestic product was spent on education in the current fiscal year for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

  Mr. Forman
  The readily available information is as follows:

  Total Public Expenditure1 on education as a Percentage of Gross National Product (Calender Year)

  1988

  United Kingdom

  24·6

  Australia

  35·0

  Austria

  5·7

  Belgium

  44·9

  Canada

  7·1

  Denmark

  7·8

  Finland

  7·4

  France

  5·3

  Germany (Federal Republic)

  4·2

  Greece

  32·7

  Iceland

  5·4

  Ireland

  37·0

  Italy

  34·8

  Japan

  54·3

  Luxembourg

  4·6

  New Zealand

  n/a

  Netherlands

  6·8

  Norway

  7·4

  Portugal

  4·8

  Spain

  4·3

  Sweden

  6·7

  Switzerland

  4·9

  Turkey

  n/a

  United States of America

  55·3

  Sources: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook 1991.

  Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1991.

  1 Public subsides to the private sector are included.

  2 Excludes expenditure on students at DH establishments on nursing and paramedical courses.

  3 1987 data.

  4 Ministry of Education only.

  5 Estimated. Includes some private funds, but excludes fees.

  n/a = not available.

  School Transport
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provision is being made for transport for children attending grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Local education authorities have a statutory duty to provide free transport for pupils who attend grant-maintained schools for whom they consider it necessary, and the power to assist other pupils. Information on LEAs' schools transport arrangements is not collected centrally, but they must treat GM pupils no less favourably as regards transport than pupils who attend schools maintained by an LEA.

  School Catering
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what independent assessment has been made of the standards of school catering since the introduction of local authority competitive tendering.

  Mr. Forth
  We are aware of no study on the effects of compulsory competitive tendering on the standards of school catering. CCT should represent an opportunity for improving the quality of school meals as it places greater emphasis on specifying the standards which services are expected to meet. This was recognised in the report "Nutritional Guidelines for Schools" published by the Caroline Walker Trust on 24 November.

  Popular Schools
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provision is being made to meet an increase in demand for places at schools which have demonstrated the best results in recently published league tables.

  Mr. Forth
  In distributing capital resources we already give a high priority to providing new places where demand is rising, though in doing so we also take account of any surplus places in the area.

  In addition, the powers my right hon. Friend proposes in the Education Bill will also facilitate imaginative rationalisation schemes, which will create further opportunity recognising the needs of popular schools.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what selection criteria will be set for the selection of pupils at more popular schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Admission arrangements in maintained schools are the responsibility of the governing body or local education authority, depending on the nature of the school. Admission arrangements for grant-maintained schools must be approved by the Secretary of State. The criteria established for deciding between pupils if the school is oversubscribed must be clear, reasonable and objective; and consistent with the established character of the school.

  The Department plans to consult shortly on updated guidance to schools and LEAs on admission arrangements.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the rate for the numbers of higher education in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
  561
  Mr. Forman
  The readily available figures are shown in the table.

  New entrants1 to higher education, 1988

  Country

  Participation rate2

  (percentage)

  United Kingdom3

  37

  United Kingdom3 1989

  41

  Australia4

  57

  Belgium5

  49

  Canada5'6

  59

  Denmark

  48

  France

  44

  Germany (Federal Republic)

  32

  Italy5

  27

  Japan7 (a)

  37

  (b)

  52

  Netherlands5'8

  36

  Spain5

  35

  Sweden9

  47

  United States of America10 (a)

  65

  (b)

  33

  Sources: Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, Table CC (1992 edition draft).

  1Includes full-time and part-time students entering higher education for the first time i.e. excluding postgraduate students and others already having a qualification in higher education. Not all other countries may adhere to this general definition.

  2To aid comparison and overcome the problem of the varying lengths of courses in different countries the participation rate is the percentage of all new entrants (defined above) to a derived relevant single year group. The latter is calculated by taking the total populations for the ages providing at least 70 per cent. of the new entrants and dividing by the number of ages involved. For the United Kingdom this is the population of ages 18 to 21 divided by 4. OECD recommend this procedure.

  3Excludes the private sector and students from abroad. Includes nursing and paramedical students at Health Department establishments.

  4Excludes Technical and Further Education (TAFE).

  51986 data for Canada, 1987 for Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

  6Provisional.

  7The (b) rate shown includes data for advanced special training schools (SENSHU's) which may be equivalent to sub-degree higher education.

  8Full-time only and excludes Open University.

  9Excluding one-year courses, which may be below level 5.

  10The (b) rate excludes students on two-year courses, some of which may not be equivalent to sub-degree higher education.

  Examination Results, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from schools in Liverpool about the recent publication of exam results.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Further Education
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out by local education authority(a) the actual spending on further education and sixth-form colleges for the financial year 1991–92, (b) the planned spending on further education and sixth-form colleges for the financial year 1992–93, (c) the standard spending assessment—SSA—for further education and sixth-form colleges for the financial year 1992–93 and (d) the amount deducted from the standard spending assessment for further education and sixth-form colleges for the financial year 1993–94.
  562
  Mr. Forman
  Information about(a) is not yet available. In respect of (b), the Government have calculated for each local education authority a further education adjustment for the purposes of proposing a relevant notional amount. These proposed adjustments are set out in the table. So far as (c) is concerned, authorities' SSAs for 1992–93 do not identify an element for further education and sixth-form colleges. As for (d), there has been no deduction from 1993–94 SSAs for further education and sixth-form colleges. The 1993–94 education standard spending total from which the education component of SSAs is derived covers only those functions for which LEAs will be responsible from 1 April 1993.

  4 December 1992

  Page 1

  The further education adjustment used in calculation of provisional relevant notional amounts

  Local authority

  Provisional further education adjustment

  (£ million)

  Greater London

  City of London

  4·151

  Camden

  11·056

  Greenwich

  9·355

  Hackney

  13·172

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  8·250

  Islington

  9·668

  Kensington and Chelsea

  9·167

  Lambeth

  16·146

  Lewisham

  14·894

  Southwark

  11·976

  Tower Hamlets

  12·197

  Wandsworth

  19·490

  Westminster

  10·385

  Barking and Dagenham

  6·404

  Barnet

  13·040

  Bexley

  6·330

  Brent

  22·839

  Bromley

  7·841

  Croydon

  18·535

  Ealing

  11·495

  Enfield

  13·341

  Haringey

  11·439

  Harrow

  13·652

  Havering

  10·139

  Hillingdon

  7·916

  Hounslow

  5·320

  Kingston upon Thames

  5·420

  Merton

  8·924

  Newham

  21·298

  Redbridge

  6·304

  Richmond upon Thames

  8·383

  Sutton

  4·485

  Waltham Forest

  12·858

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  11·266

  Bury

  11·460

  Manchester

  26·563

  Oldham

  15·585

  Rochdale

  10·408

  Salford

  10·872

  Stockport

  16·799

  Tameside

  3·767

  Trafford

  9·432

  Wigan

  20·491

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  4·669

  Liverpool

  19·450

  Sefton

  10·284

  St. Helens

  12·362

  Wirral

  12·989

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  9·738

  Doncaster

  11·712

  563

  Local authority

  Provisional further education adjustment

  (£ million)

  Rotherham

  12·146

  Sheffield

  23·306

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  6·067

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  6·854

  North Tyneside

  7·273

  South Tyneside

  8·894

  Sunderland

  14·436

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  57·798

  Coventry

  14·501

  Dudley

  14·905

  Sandwell

  16·748

  Solihull

  9·482

  Walsall

  10·092

  Wolverhampton

  14·094

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  20·815

  Calderdale

  10·460

  Kirklees

  21·005

  Leeds

  31·971

  Wakefield

  18·657

  Shire counties

  Avon

  33·404

  Bedfordshire

  20·719

  Berkshire

  29·402

  Buckinghamshire

  23·327

  Cambridgeshire

  32·716

  Cheshire

  52·790

  Cleveland

  37·034

  Cornwall

  21·790

  Cumbria

  17·671

  Derbyshire

  41·562

  Devon

  41·651

  Dorset

  22·698

  Durham

  24·633

  East Sussex

  33·034

  Essex

  63·777

  Gloucestershire

  24·388

  Hampshire

  97·094

  Hereford and Worcester

  33·482

  Hertfordshire

  40·943

  Humberside

  41·290

  Isle of Wight

  5·003

  Kent

  54·536

  Lancashire

  78·502

  Leicestershire

  37·585

  Lincolnshire

  27·457

  Norfolk

  27·622

  Northamptonshire

  24·714

  Northumberland

  7·929

  North Yorkshire

  31·097

  Nottinghamshire

  50·874

  Oxfordshire

  22·216

  Shropshire

  25·451

  Somerset

  25·847

  Staffordshire

  51·848

  Suffolk

  24·655

  Surrey

  52·294

  Warwickshire

  25·815

  West Sussex

  31·117

  Wiltshire

  23·432

  Isles of Scilly

  0·274

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what spending per student in further education colleges was in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, in cash terms and in a real-terms index with 1979–80 as the base year.
  564
  Mr. Forman
  Expenditure per student in further education colleges for financial years 1979–80, 1989–90 and 1990–91, the latest year available, are shown in the table.

  Financial years

  1979–80

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Expenditure per student (fte)

  Cash terms (£)

  1,540

  2,780

  2,920

  Real terms index1

  100

  90

  88

  1 The real terms index has been calculated using the current Gross Domestic Product Deflators.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what part of the provision to be made available to the Further Education Funding Council is directly related to student numbers in both cash terms and as a percentage in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96; and on what assumptions this figure is calculated.

  Mr. Forman
  In order to encourage efficiency in the achievement of increased student numbers, part of the provision to be made available to the Further Education Funding Council will be directly related to actual student numbers and will be paid from a non cash-limited vote. This element of funding will be introduced in the academic year 1993–94 and will be limited initially to full-time students. The total amount to be made available in this element will be the product of the actual number of full-time students and a rate per student of £750 a year. The rate per student and the scope of funding in later years will be subject to review.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what part of the proposed expenditure total for further education in 1993–94 is assumed to be spending per student in both cash terms and in a real terms index with 1979–80 as the base year; and what are the figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Forman
  The total funding made available to the Further Education Funding Council—FEFC—in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 for recurrent expenditure is planned to be £2,550 million, £2,734 million and £2,944 million respectively. The FEFC has announced that from the 1993–94 total it intends to make available to colleges £2,507 million. On the basis of the Government's projection of 970,000 full-time equivalent students for whom provision will be made by the FEFC in 1993–94, the level of support per student would be some £2,600

  Figures for 1979–80 are not available on a comparable basis.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his answer of 16 November,Official Report, column 42, what assumptions and information about the current level of fundings by local education authorities of courses for which the Further Education Funding Council will be responsible from 1993 were made on deciding the level of funds to be made available to the Further Education Funding Council in 1993–94.

  Mr. Forman
  In reaching a notional apportionment of local education authorities' spending on education in 1992–93, the Government assumed that their recurrent spending in that year on activities which from 1993–94 would be the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council would appropriately be £2,341 million. This assumption took account of the latest available
  565
  expenditure data and student, pupil, lecturer and teacher numbers. It also took account of the findings of a special survey of LEA spending on further education.

  Health Education
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will reconsider his decision to withdraw the 60 per cent. funding for health education co-ordinators from local education authorities from March 1993; and if he will provide information about the numbers of school children who smoke.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend's decision, which is now final, to discontinue the grant for education support and training programme for preventive health education at the end of the current financial year, was relayed to local education authorities through the Department's circular 10/92 which issued on 13 August.

  A Health Education Authority/MORI survey undertaken in 1989 of nine to 15-year-olds in England, suggested that about 200,000 young people had become regular smokers by the age of 15.

  Rudolf Steiner Schools
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to(a) the resolution of the European Parliament on freedom of education, dated 14 March 1984, (b) the right to education in Article 1 (b) of the declaration of fundamental rights and freedoms of 12 April 1989, and (c) article 63 of the concluding document of the Vienna meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, dated 15 January 1989, in drawing up his policy on the funding of Rudolf Steiner education in Rudolf Steiner schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  My right hon. Friend is aware of the various provisions referred to, but he does not consider that they require the Government to fund any particular form of independent education, including Steiner schools.

  Unemployed Students
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what specific financial incentives have been given to the Further Education Funding Council to increase participation by unemployed students in education courses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  The Government's expenditure plans for further education will allow for a 25 per cent. increase in student numbers, and hence a significant increase in participation, over the period 1993–94 to 1995–96. The funding for the Further Education Funding Council will allow colleges to continue the arrangements for fee remission for students such as those who are unemployed, which are currently operated by local education authorities. The council will shortly be issuing a consultative document on options for a funding method for 1994–95 onwards which will address funding issues related to widening access and meeting the needs of different client groups.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Union
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria were used in deciding which aspects of the treaty on European union to omit from the summary pamphlet "Britain in Europe".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The pamphlet "Britain in Europe" provides a straightforward but accurate picture of the European Community and the Maastricht treaty.

  Mohammed Afzal
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 428, what reports the high commission in Islamabad has received from the Pakistan authorities concerning the progress of the investigation into the murder of Mohammed Afzal in Jaurah village, Pakistan, on 4 October.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British high commission in Islamabad have not yet received a report from the Pakistan authorities. They are in close touch with the Pakistan police, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as we have a report.

  Iraq
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining the links which have been established to date between his Department and the Iraqi Kurdish National Assembly; and if he has any plans to place a diplomatic representative in Iraqi Kurdistan.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A delegation from the Iraqi Kurdish National Assembly is at present visiting London. They will meet my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development and officials.

  We have no plans to place a diplomatic representative in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to maintain the air umbrella over northern Iraq.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The air umbrella over northern Iraq plays an important role in preserving the safety and well-being of the people of northern Iraq. The decision on its renewal rests with the Turkish National Assembly. We have been in close touch with the Turkish Government about this. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed this issue with the Turkish Prime Minister during his visit to London last month.

  Sudan
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sudan Government about persecutions of non-Muslims in that country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have made clear to the Sudanese Government our abhorrence of the systematic abuses of human rights throughout Sudan, and the importance we
  567
  attach to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of religion. We co-sponsored the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in Sudan, adopted on 4 December.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to date during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community to the Government of Greece concerning the official recognition of Macedonia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Robin O'Neill, as personal representative of the Foreign Secretary, has regularly visited Athens and Skopje. He has held talks in both capitals in an effort to find a formula which will permit recognition for Macedonia in accordance with the Lisbon declaration.

  Albania
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will inform the Albanian Government that British aid is conditional on the ending of public executions in that country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In deciding aid policy for individual countries, we take into account a number of factors relating to good Government, including human rights. Where improvements are needed we make our views clear to the country concerned. Our aim is to influence the government in whatever ways are most appropriate. The suspension of United Kingdom and EC aid, designed to relieve extreme hardship, would not necessarily be an effective way of improving human rights in Albania.

  Western Sahara
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the current developments in western Sahara following the visit of President Abdelaziz of Sadr.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz called on a senior official at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 27 November. We took this opportunity to reiterate our support for the United Nations settlement plan and the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his special representative to overcome the problems which have delayed the holding of a referendum.

  Angola
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the United Nations on the post-election situation in Angola; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 December 1992]: We have been actively involved in United Nations Security Council discussions on the situation in Angola. On 30 November, the council adopted Security Council resolution 793 which extended until 31 January 1993 the role of the United Nations Angolan verification mission,
  568
  and called on the parties in Angola to observe the ceasefire and create all the conditions necessary for the completion of the peace process.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the procedure used by Argentina and Brazil in negotiating and signing agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  We welcome the safeguards agreement between the IAEA, Argentina, Brazil and the Brazilian—Argentine agency for accounting and control of nuclear materials. It has no particular implications for my Department.

  Japan
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 November,Official Report, column 171, on Japan, what discussions he has had with his Japanese counterparts relating to (a) the funding of the International Atomic Energy Agency and (b) the reduction of International Atomic Energy Agency inspections in Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have not discussed the funding of the International Atomic Energy Agency with the Japanese. The second subject is a matter for the IAEA and the Japanese Government.

  Zangger Committee
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 November,Official Report, column 170, on the Zangger committee, what recent work has been produced by the Zangger committee; when it is next due to meet; whether it has discussed the establishment of a reporting system on the export and import of nuclear material and relevant equipment and certain non-nuclear material; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Discussions in the Zangger committee are confidential to the parties involved. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in May 1993.

  In an effort to strengthen the international safeguards system, the United Kingdom, along with European Community partners, has recently notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that EC member states intend to provide information on transfers of ore concentrates imported or exported from the European Community and information on the items listed in annex B to IAEA INFCIRC/254/Revl/Part 1, when a licence for whose export to a country outside the European Community has been approved. These new arrangements are expected to commence in the new year.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Chancellor's Legal Expenses
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps were taken by the Treasury to satisfy themselves as to the propriety of the amount which they paid to Carter-Ruck solicitors; how the proportion to be paid by the Treasury was arrived at; what assessment was made as to whether this was the most economical way of doing the work; and whether a remuneration certificate was requested from the Law Society as to the reasonableness of the charges carried and paid for by the Treasury.

  Mr. Nelson
  The decision that the Treasury should meet that part of the Chancellor's legal costs which related to the release of a press statement on the evening of 13 April 1991 and to the subsequent handling of extensive press inquiries was taken by the then accounting officer. He was satisfied that the actions taken by the Chancellor and his solicitors were justified in order to retain full confidence in the office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and its holder and to forestall or correct misleading and inaccurate press stories which would have been damaging to the Chancellor's reputation and would therefore have had a bearing on his performance of his public duties. The Treasury did not meet any of the costs incurred in evicting the Chancellor's tenant.

  Given the extensive interest generated by the press story and the high volume of inquiries which followed, the bill presented by Peter Carter-Ruck and Partners did not appear to the accounting officer to be either disproportionate or unjustified. No approach was made to the Law Society.

  VAT
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy that the agreement reached at the Council of Finance Ministers on 27 July does not in any way jeopardise the right of the United Kingdom Government to maintain a zero rate of value-added tax on children's clothes and shoes;

  (2) if he will make it his policy that the current zero rate of value-added tax on children's shoes and clothes will remain a derogation which is not time-limited;

  (3) if he will make it his policy to ensure that the current right to maintain a zero rate of value-added tax on children's clothes and shoes remains in force indefinitely; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The United Kingdom's current zero rates, including those on children's clothes and shoes, are protected by the EC sixth VAT directive which can only be amended by the unanimous agreement of all member states. The Government remain committed to the retention of the right to maintain existing zero rates.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the contribution the Central Statistical Office is making towards achieving the aim of the Earth summit relating to integration of environmental factors and costs into the national accounts; and if he will make a statement.
  570
  Mr. Nelson
  In June this year, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development proposed that member states should establish integrated economic and environmental accounts, in parallel to existing national accounts, at the earliest possible date. The Central Statistical Office published an article examining the theory behind such integration, with illustrative statistics, in the November 1992 issue of "Economic Trends". Developing such integrated accounts will be a difficult task, not least because of the difficulty of putting monetary values on environmental factors.

  Housing (Capital Receipts)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to use all their capital receipts for the provision of affordable housing.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. It is important that local authorities in England and Wales use accumulated receipts to repay debt. They may, however, spend virtually all the capital receipts they acquire between 13 November 1992 and 31 December 1993 on new capital investments. This is in addition to spending financed by any usable receipts local authorities acquired before 13 November. Local authorities in Scotland are free to use capital receipts within the overall arrangements for the control of local authority capital spending in Scotland.

  Public Sector Deficit
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing the extent to which the public sector deficit was either overfunded or underfunded over the period since 1975.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 30 November 1992]: The extent to which the public sector deficit was overfunded or underfunded in each year over the period since 1975 is shown in the table:

  In-year over( + )/under ( - ) funding

  Financial year

  £ billion

  1975–76

  -4·1

  1976–77

  -0·1

  1977–78

  -3·1

  1978–79

  -0·1

  1979–80

  -1·1

  1980–81

  -1·5

  1981–82

  +3·6

  1982–83

  +1·8

  1983–84

  +4·3

  1984–85

  +4·7

  1985–86

  -0·3

  1986–87

  -0·4

  1987–88

  0·0

  1988–89

  +2·7

  1989–90

  -0·7

  1990–91

  +0·3

  1991–92

  +0·3

  Notes:

  1. From 1988–89, the funding sector consists of the overseas sector and the domestic private sector excluding banks and building societies. In earlier years, the building societies were also included in the funding sector.

  2. Figures take account of purchases of Treasury Bills by funding sector up to and including 1988–89. In subsequent years, Treasury Bills no longer count as funding.

  3. No data is available for the funding sector's holding of tax

  571
  instruments prior to 1976–77. However, the holdings were probably not material.

  4. National Savings Bank Investment Account became part of National Savings on 31 December 1980, and moved from private sector to public sector.

  5. The Trustee Savings Bank became part of the non-funding sector as from 31 December 1981, when the "banking sector" became the "monetary sector".

  6. Public Sector Borrowing Rate was redefined in March 1984 to treat public sector bank deposits as a financing item rather than as one of the determinants of the PSBR, but the effect is minimal.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cold Weather Credits
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will be replying to the letter of 21 October from the Campaign for Cold Weather Credits.

  The Prime Minister
  A reply was sent on my behalf by the Department of Social Security on 2 December 1992.

  World Summit for Children
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the progress made towards the goals established at the World summit for children in 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government published a "Report on United Kingdom Implementation of the Goals agreed by the World Summit for Children" as a Command Paper on 24 June 1992.

ENVIRONMENT

  Tenants Charter
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make the council tenants charter available to ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  The council tenants charter has been available in five ethnic languages since 24 November. They are Bengali, Greek, Hindi, Urdu and Vietnamese. Copies of the new translations are being sent to all local authorities in England, community groups, advice organisations and individual tenants who used the reply slip on the English language introductory leaflet to obtain an ethnic language version. For those who understand only spoken English, the council tenants charter is also available on audio-cassette.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to safeguard the future of the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board in the event that regulations detailing the introduction of certificates of technical competence in respect of waste management are not laid before 15 December.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board is an independent body whose future the Government do not control. My Department's involvement with the board is that of a client. The board was commissioned by the Department to 572
  prepare a system of certificates of technical competence for the waste industry. That work is largely complete and the Government have proposed to prescribe those certificates as evidence of technical competence for the purposes of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Final regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible, with a view to bringing the system into force on 1 April 1993. The board has represented to Government the importance of early issue of the final regulations if the technical competence system is to be introduced on that date. My officials keep in close contact with the board about the timetable for implementation. Transitional arrangements will he included in the regulations to ensure the orderly introduction of the assessment of technical competence.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the draft waste management guidance note No. 26A on the surrender of licences for landfill sites; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the time taken to publish this draft guidance on the target date for implementing the new licensing scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  Draft guidance on the surrender of site licences will be published as soon as possible. The target date for the implementation of waste management licensing remains 1 April 1993.

  Housing Associations (Empty Properties)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties owned by housing associations were empty at the latest convenient date; arid if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest available statistics, for 31 March 1992, show that there were 16,200 empty housing association owned properties in England.

  Housing associations in England have been seeking to maximise the occupation of their stock, and have reduced the proportion of empty properties from 4·2 per cent. in 1989 to 2·5 per cent. in 1992.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect on the United Kingdom's commitment to meet the targets of the 1988 large combustion plant directive of the refusal by PowerGen to retrofit flue gas desulphurisation—FGD—technology to 4,000 MW of capacity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Planning consent has been granted for PowerGen to retrofit 2,000 MW of capacity at Ratcliffe and work is well underway. PowerGen's application for consent to retrofit another 2,000 MW of capacity, at Ferrybridge, is still being considered by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  The United Kingdom intends to meet the reductions required by the large combustion plants directive by a range of measures, including the retrofitting of FGD, the use of alternative fuels and the construction of new, cleaner plant. My right hon. and learned Friend has the power to direct Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to require the fitting of FGD in a particular case if he considers it appropriate.

  Rough Sleeping
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the schemes and initiatives that have received or are currently receiving Government funding under the rough sleeping initiative.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have today placed in the Library a list of all the voluntary organisations and housing associations funded under the Government's rough sleepers initiative in central London, showing the schemes they have provided or are currently providing.

  Household Heating
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the number of households with solid fuel heating where the residents are too infirm to heat their homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Figures for the number of households with residents too infirm to heat their homes are not available. However, the 1986 English house condition survey estimated that solid fuel was the main heating fuel for 730,000 pensioner households, of which nearly a third were headed by residents aged 75 years and over.

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue specific guidance for waste holders and waste regulation authorities relating to the status of ozone-depleting substances as controlled waste under section 33 (1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. Guidance on the circumstances in which ozone-depleting substances may become controlled wastes for the purposes of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, will be included in the circular to be issued by my Department before the whole of section 33 is brought into force, which is intended to be on 1 April 1993.

  Thorne and Hatfield Moors
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the timetable for English Nature to take possession of the freehold of Thorne and Hatfield moors site of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Maclean
  English Nature has been managing the vegetated areas since February this year, with assistance from Fisons. The transfer of ownership will be completed as soon as possible.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect he expects the sale of Fisons horticultural division to have on the negotiation of an agreement between the company and English Nature on the purchase of Thorne and Hatfield moors.

  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment English Nature has made of the extent to which damage to Thorne and Hatfield moors site of special scientific interest as a result of peat extraction has been reduced during negotiations for the purchase of the site.
  574
  Mr. Maclean
  I am advised by English Nature that the vegetated areas previously planned for peat extraction are still intact and will remain so. Water levels on the moors have been successfully raised and the prime area of the site is now in better condition than before the negotiations.

  Derelict Land Grant
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land grant has been made available for each local authority area in the last two financial years; and what level is expected to be paid for the current financial year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows derelict land grant expenditure—grants and supplementary credits—incurred by local authorities over the last two years and the forecast for the current year.

  Derelict land grant expenditure 1990–91 to 1992–93

  Local Authority

  1990–91

  1991–92

  11992–93

  Allerdale

  1,571,074

  312,648

  0

  Alnwick

  0

  350

  0

  Amber Valley

  71,415

  0

  235,000

  Ashfield

  54,773

  65,944

  24,000

  Barking

  74,166

  0

  0

  Barnsley

  1,685,189

  877,713

  1,646,964

  Barrow in Furness

  0

  3,000,000

  2,000,000

  Bath

  0

  139,755

  530,000

  Bedfordshire

  0

  29,583

  0

  Birmingham

  281,537

  893,446

  1,224,000

  Blackburn

  370,811

  374,415

  200,000

  Blackpool

  23,992

  0

  18,000

  Blyth Valley

  0

  36,100

  100,000

  Bolsover

  68,967

  33,549

  80,000

  Bolton

  493,239

  221,066

  660,000

  Boothferry

  773,560

  838,673

  140,000

  Bradford

  780,617

  494,522

  396,000

  Braintree

  7,753

  0

  0

  Breckland DC

  0

  3,156

  0

  Bristol

  84,161

  138,741

  0

  Broadland

  45,837

  0

  0

  Burnley

  47,573

  81,182

  200,000

  Bury

  156,165

  697,395

  660,000

  Calderdale

  51,104

  2,970,946

  2,000,000

  Camden

  15,000

  15,000

  0

  Cannock Chase

  280,030

  152,138

  511,000

  Caradon

  0

  0

  100,000

  Carlisle

  0

  216,043

  900,000

  Carrick

  670,113

  0

  250,000

  Cheshire

  744,142

  101,794

  500,000

  Cheshire CC

  1,070,145

  1,434,597

  1,500,000

  Chester

  0

  0

  60,000

  Chesterfield

  2,497

  864,493

  122,000

  Chichester

  43,315

  941

  0

  Chorley

  160,956

  228,034

  200,000

  Cleethorpes

  10,900

  949

  0

  Cleveland CC

  35,401

  15,463

  120,000

  Congleton

  231,624

  47,564

  100,000

  Copeland

  0

  163,190

  900,000

  Corby

  1,374,391

  1,914,953

  1,927,000

  Cornwall CC

  25,289

  288,851

  400,000

  Coventry

  0

  0

  25,000

  Darlington

  668,018

  370,164

  700,000

  Daventry

  0

  0

  50,000

  Derby

  0

  180,000

  25,000

  Derbyshire CC

  2,958,839

  2,672,151

  2,597,000

  Derbyshire Dales

  0

  16,737

  260,000

  Derwentside

  475,920

  15,000

  135,000

  Devon CC

  57,387

  94,053

  0

  Doncaster

  1,371,837

  702,420

  2,150,783

  Dudley

  3,997,461

  4,887,623

  2,780,000

  Durham CC

  980,666

  553,286

  1,500,000

  Durham City

  2,035

  10,145

  10,000

  Easington

  125,113

  149,290

  325,000

  Eden

  0

  0

  130,000

  575

  Local Authority

  1990–91

  1991–92

  11992–93

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  2,185,766

  1,503,996

  1,650,000

  Enfield

  6,358

  38,843

  0

  Erewash

  308,066

  555,234

  1,000,000

  Forest of Dean

  3,204

  142,417

  0

  Gateshead

  1,303,606

  1,558,246

  1,700,000

  Gedling

  0

  124,982

  27,000

  Glanford

  2,494,436

  3,612,119

  3,000,000

  Gloucester

  3,684

  3,684

  0

  Gravesham

  0

  1,800

  0

  Greenwich

  182,044

  81,884

  0

  Grimsby

  99

  37,200

  106,383

  Halton

  1,312,617

  914,466

  1,275,000

  Hartlepool

  256,776

  11,575

  500,000

  Havering

  17,640

  0

  0

  Herts CC

  0

  15,000

  0

  Holderness

  115,612

  0

  0

  Hyndburn

  174,072

  115,890

  200,000

  Ipswich

  0

  11,812

  0

  Isle of Wight

  49,704

  0

  0

  Kent CC

  11,747

  120,728

  0

  Kerrier

  93,286

  1,728,293

  1,420,000

  Kettering

  0

  6,875

  0

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  38,856

  139,811

  62,386

  Kingswood

  1,286

  0

  0

  Kirklees

  957,389

  1,054,334

  980,000

  Knowsley

  378,728

  634,424

  650,000

  Lancashire CC

  740,240

  528,947

  300,000

  Lancaster

  203,071

  421,906

  500,000

  Langbaurgh

  251,102

  27,809

  250,000

  Leicester CC

  697,283

  367,717

  873,000

  Lichfield

  215,464

  1,000

  103,000

  Lincoln City

  1,425,107

  694,932

  334,000

  Liverpool

  1,746,514

  3,047,190

  1,450,000

  Luton

  0

  77,257

  0

  Macclesfield

  101,358

  74,661

  150,000

  Manchester

  0

  372,930

  1,200,000

  Mansfield

  249,176

  823,915

  1,168,000

  Merton

  0

  20,521

  0

  Mid Suffolk

  0

  593

  0

  Middlesbrough

  50,284

  296,874

  550,000

  North Tyneside

  773,567

  508,513

  750,000

  North West Leicester

  899,602

  5,618

  5,000

  Newark and Sherwood

  0

  0

  77,000

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  104,810

  538,561

  450,000

  Newcastle-Under-Lyme

  1,239,612

  691,486

  1,614,000

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  10,000

  Northumberland CC

  1,429,134

  800,706

  1,700,000

  Norwich

  126,408

  152,074

  0

  Nottingham

  12,820

  176,280

  600,000

  Nottinghamshire CC

  1,631,835

  2,638,540

  2,631,000

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  170,744

  50,554

  0

  North Cornwall

  16,596

  18,345

  20,000

  North East Derbyshire

  2,727

  43,669

  204,000

  Oldham

  724,291

  676,265

  1,250,000

  Oswestry

  0

  33,250

  33,000

  Pendle

  219,486

  0

  200,000

  Penwith

  0

  0

  60,000

  Plymouth

  55,823

  82,000

  100,000

  Portland

  30,882

  0

  0

  Portsmouth

  0

  16,814

  0

  Preston

  19,240

  436,405

  300,000

  Reading

  0

  10,279

  0

  Reigate and Banstead

  3,777

  0

  0

  Restormel

  0

  31,298

  250,000

  Ribble Valley

  575,532

  249,009

  200,000

  Richmond Upon Thames

  8,400

  0

  0

  Richmondshire

  0

  21,621

  40,000

  Rochdale

  34,444

  0

  310,000

  Rochester

  0

  39,857

  0

  Rossendale

  149,385

  120,095

  200,000

  Rotherham

  3,876,401

  4,585,974

  5,149,396

  South Lakeland

  10,350

  0

  100,000

  South Staffordshire

  6,074

  2,945

  1,000

  South Tyneside

  341,907

  297,004

  200,000

  Salford

  563,947

  820,103

  2,680,000

  Sandwell

  1,865,409

  1,023,621

  1,425,000

  Scarborough

  45,157

  0

  0

  Sedgefield

  10,169

  124,360

  160,000

  576

  Local Authority

  1990–91

  1991–92

  11992–93

  Sefton

  605,741

  408,728

  1,200,000

  Segemoor

  10,590

  0

  0

  Selby

  21,729

  2,581

  0

  Sheffield

  133,873

  635,888

  559,929

  Shrophire CC

  1,458,615

  615,850

  1,257,000

  South Cambs

  335,229

  142,039

  0

  South Ribble

  0

  41,876

  0

  St Helens

  416,148

  1,368,914

  975,000

  Staffordshire CC

  275,262

  1,387,127

  601,000

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  0

  6,000

  51,000

  Stockport

  72,448

  13,931

  500,000

  Stockton on Tees

  34,885

  155,178

  500,000

  Stoke-on-Trent

  256,706

  763,752

  695,000

  Sunderland

  1,403,637

  1,593,509

  1,700,000

  Swale

  138,405

  0

  0

  South Derbyshire

  467,923

  297,485

  7,000

  Tameside

  64,487

  1,263,999

  1,200,000

  Tamworth

  0

  0

  6,000

  Teesdale

  0

  6,418

  0

  Teignbridge

  5,154

  5,354

  800

  Test Valley

  0

  8,760

  0

  Thamesdown

  455,680

  33,659

  20,000

  Thanet

  0

  12,807

  0

  Thurrock

  0

  8,177

  0

  Torbay

  7,695

  0

  8,000

  Tower Hamlets

  364,026

  1,963,775

  0

  Trafford

  7,200

  19,688

  150,000

  Vale Royal

  59,045

  134,157

  200,000

  West Lancashire

  0

  59,709

  200,000

  Wakefield

  944,341

  1,160,250

  1,498,000

  Walsall

  3,738,123

  4,222,623

  3,838,000

  Warrington

  313,164

  90,022

  200,000

  Warwickshire

  157,345

  36,760

  29,000

  Wealden

  0

  2,500

  0

  Wear Valley

  39,896

  429,818

  350,000

  Wolverhampton

  447,375

  1,676,043

  1,981,000

  Woodspring

  1,919

  1,000

  1,200

  Wrekin

  336,154

  672,755

  773,030

  West Derbyshire

  42,550

  0

  0

  West Devon

  0

  47,666

  0

  York

  0

  0

  10,000

  TOTAL

  69,127,962

  84,860,641

  89,401,841

  1 Forecast expenditure.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds he will allow derelict land grant reclamation contracts to be awarded to contractors on a negotiated basis.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Normally reclamation works supported by derelict land grant must be subject to competitive tendering. However, a negotiated contract may be accepted where site constraints make it reasonable to employ a contractor reclaiming adjacent land; or where the future occupant of the site wishes to reclaim the land himself. In either case the Department must be satisfied that the estimated costs represent value for money.

  Empty Government Properties
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress the Government have made on establishing a task force on empty Government residential properties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I am pleased to announce the establishment of the task force on Government Departments' empty houses. Its first meeting will be on Wednesday 9 December. The task force has been established to help bring empty Government residential properties back into use, essentially to be sold, or let on
  577
  short-term leases to people in housing need. The role of the task force will be to oversee Departments' achievements of their respective targets for disposals.

  Mr. John Baker, chief executive of National Power, has been appointed as its chairman. The task force will also comprise an independent deputy chairman, Mr. Anthony Fletcher, two independent experts, Major-General Patrick Stone and Mr. David Yorke, and representatives from Government Departments with an interest in disposal of empty residential property.

  The task force will be overseen by a ministerial steering group under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning. The ministerial steering group will monitor progress and give added impetus to the task force's work.

  Methyl Bromide
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the United States of America's proposal at the Montreal protocol to phase out by 2000 the use of methyl bromide; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 3 December 1992]: In the recent Montreal protocol negotiations the United States of America proposed that the production and supply of methyl bromide be phased out by the year 2000. Methyl bromide is a wide spectrum biocide used in soil fumigation and in vital quarantine applications. The United Kingdom proposed to its EC partners that its production and consumption should be frozen at 1991 levels by 1995, and cut by 25 per cent. by the year 2000. In the event, only a

  Number of council house sales and value by region (£000)

  1989

  1990

  1991 (Provisional)

  DOE Regions

  Number of sales

  Undiscounted Value of Sales

  Value 1989 prices

  Number of sales

  Undiscounted Value of Sales

  Value 1989 Prices

  Number of Sales

  Undiscounted Value of Sales

  Value 1989 Prices

  Northern (excluding Cumbria)

  11,298

  216,495

  216,495

  9,913

  225,064

  209,073

  5,581

  147,342

  127,744

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19,217

  412,554

  412,554

  13,425

  377,114

  350,320

  5,879

  180,504

  156,495

  East Midlands

  12,758

  375,860

  375,860

  5,467

  191,881

  178,248

  3,186

  115,086

  99,778

  Eastern

  12,875

  700,572

  700,572

  7,388

  402,114

  373,544

  5,264

  274,210

  237,737

  London Boroughs

  29,525

  1,687,263

  1,687,263

  22,758

  1,434,148

  1,332,252

  12,754

  788,502

  683,623

  South East

  20,760

  775,947

  775,947

  7,043

  398,161

  369,872

  5,211

  290,333

  251,716

  South West

  11,555

  511,789

  511,789

  5,026

  226,213

  210,141

  3,248

  145,850

  126,450

  West Midlands

  19,082

  543,366

  543,366

  12,228

  415,888

  386,339

  6,014

  219,991

  190,730

  North West (including Cumbria)

  17,924

  391,293

  391,293

  16,361

  400,305

  371,863

  8,032

  227,309

  197,075

  England

  154,994

  5,615,139

  5,615,139

  99,609

  4,070,888

  3,781,651

  55,169

  2,389,127

  2,071,349

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the distributable amount of non-domestic rates for 1993–94 and if he will explain the basis of his calculations.

  Mr. Redwood
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1992,c. 836]: My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 12 November that the non-domestic rate multiplier for 1993–94 will rise by 3·5 per cent. from its 1992–93 level to 0·416. The distributable amount of non-domestic rates based on this poundage will be £11,559 million. This includes an Exchequer payment of £922 million into the
  578
  freeze proved acceptable to all member states. We will continue to press for a reduction in the forthcoming discussions on a new EC regulation.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those nations known by Her Majesty's Government to have ratified agreements made at the Earth summit, stating for each which agreements have been ratified; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: The Seychelles, Mauritius and China have ratified both the framework convention on climate change and the convention on biological diversity. The USA, the Marshall Islands, Zimbabwe, the Maldives and Monaco have ratified the climate change convention.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number and value of council house sales by region in each year since 1989(a) at current prices and (b) at 1989 prices.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 30 November 1992]: The information requested is given in the table. The figures exclude dwellings transferred to housing associations and other registered bodies in large-scale voluntary transfers. Such transfers accounted for some 71,000 dwellings valued at about £600 million in the period January 1989 to December 1991.

  non-domestic rates pool to compensate local authorities for the shortfall in 1992–93 and 1993–94 which would otherwise occur as a result of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 1992. The basis of the calculation is set out in the table.

  Calculation of distributable amount 1993–94

  £ million

  1. Income from Local Lists in 1993–94

  (a) Total Local List RV x Multiplier (£31,500 million x 0·416)

  13,104

  (b) Less Transitional decrease

  (499)

  (c) Less Reliefs on empty and partially empty properties

  (1,213)

  (d) Less Reliefs to charities

  (330)

  (e) Less Discretionary Reliefs

  (19)

  (f) Less Losses on collection

  (200)

  579

  £ million

  (g) Less Appeals in respect of previous years and other rating adjustments

  (541)

  Sub Total

  10,302

  2. Income from Central List in 1993–94

  Total Central List RV x Multiplier—and after transition—(£2,714 million x 0·416)

  1,126

  3. Income from Crown Contributions in Aid in 1993–94

  Net Crown yield (after transition)

  455

  Net Yield for 1993–94 (Items 1, 2 and 3)

  11,883

  4. Reductions to Contributions

  (a) Offset for City of London

  (25)

  (b) Allowance for local authorities' collection costs

  (66)

  Net Contributions for 1993–94 (1, 2 and 3 less 4)

  11,792

  5. Outturn Adjustments for previous years

  (a) Less adjustments for empty property relief in respect of 1992–93 and previous years

  (606)

  (b) Less other outturn adjustments in respect of 1992–93 and previous years

  (549)

  Sub total of net contributions for 1993–94 less outturn

  10,637

  6. Exchequer Contributions to compensate for reductions in revenue resulting from the provisions of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 1992 (the 1992 Act)

  (a) Add income foregone in 1992–93 due to revised transitional arrangements

  400

  (b) Add income foregone in 1993–94

  520

  (c) Add addition to cost of collection allowance in 1992–93 and 1993–94

  2

  Sub-total

  922

  Total NNDR Distributable Amount for 1993–94

  11,559

  Notes:

  1. Item 1(a): the estimated rateable value total represents the values of non-domestic hereditaments on local rating lists.

  2. Item 1(b): the adjustment includes the estimated amount of rates that will not be recouped locally due to the revised transitional arrangements under the provisions of the 1992 Act.

  3. Item 1(e): discretionary relief granted to charities, non-profit making organisations and for other reasons.

  4. Item 1(g): net adjustments in respect of appeals and other amendments to the rating list affecting liability for previous years' rates settled in 1993–94.

  5. Item 2: the rateable value of non-domestic hereditaments on the central rating list after adjustments for appeals.

  6. Item 4(a): a preliminary estimate of the reduction in the amount which the City of London will not be required to pay into the non-domestic rating pool on account of the local rate in the City. It is the amount which will be retained by the authority to meet its expenditure.

  7. Item 4(b): the allowance for the costs incurred by local authorities in collecting the non-domestic rates from ratepayers.

  8. Item 5(a): adjustments based on estimated mandatory reliefs for empty property in 1992–93 and earlier years not taken into account in the calculation of the Distributable Amount for 1992–93.

  9. Item 6(a) and (b): the contribution from central government to offset the amount of the Secretary of State's estimate of income foregone arising from the provisions of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 1992.

  10. Item 6(c): estimated additional sum for local authorities' costs of collection in 1992–93 and 1993–94 resulting from the provisions of the 1992 Act.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Fraud
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is being undertaken to deal with social security fraud in England.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government are determined to crack down on fraud and abuse of the benefits system. All staff are encouraged to be aware of possible fraudulent claims to benefit and of the need to safeguard public funds. Allegations of attempted fraud which appear to be well founded are investigated, and further action, including possible legal proceedings, is taken as considered appropriate.

  We are building on the excellent performance of recent years when savings made by fraud investigators in the Benefits Agency throughout Great Britain have risen strongly. In 1990–91 they saved £341 million, last year the figure rose to £427 million, and in 1992–93 the final savings are expected to top £500 million.

  In his statement to the House on 12 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that a further £10 million would be invested to help step up the fight. He also announced plans to encourage local authorities to prevent housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud. The combined efforts of the Benefits Agency and the local authorities are expected to save nearly £1 billion in each of the next three financial years.

  Order Books
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of social security order books reported lost were subsequently cashed in the latest period for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The payment of benefits by order book is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Michael Richard to Mr. David Willets, dated 7 December 1992:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking what proportion of social security order books reported lost were subsequently cashed in the latest period for which figures are available.In the quarter ending 30 June 1992, just over 62,000 Social Security order books were recorded as lost, stolen or destroyed, which represents approximately half of one per cent. of all order books issued. Information on the number of those order books which are subsequently cashed is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Mr. Robin Archer of 51 Ranscombe road, Brixham, will know the status of his application for disability living allowance submitted in March; and what is the reason for the time taken in reaching a decision.
  581
  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 7 December 1992:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security concerning the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim by your constituent Mr. Robin Archer of 51 Ranscombe Road, Brixham.I should explain that action on Mr. Archer's claim was completed in August 1992 and notification sent to him. A duplicate notification was sent to him on 1 December 1992.I offer my apologies to Mr. Archer for the delay in handling his claim, I have written to you separately, and in greater detail, about the case. You will be aware from my letter of 19 October 1992 to all MPs of the problems we have encountered since the successful launch of the new benefits and the positive steps taken to improve the situation.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.

  Mortgage Interest Allowance
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends to review the transaction charge payable by mortgage lenders as a contribution to the costs incurred by the Benefits Agency in providing direct payment to lenders of the mortgage interest allowance in income support.

  Mr. Burt
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has today laid amendment regulations which will reduce the transaction charge levied under the mortgage interest direct payment scheme from £2·50 to £1 for each payment. The change takes effect from 1 April 1993. This reduction reflects the reduced costs of running the scheme, particularly the absence of the setting-up costs incurred in 1992–93, the first year of operation.

  The scheme will continue to provide protection against repossession to many people in receipt of benefit.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the costs of the research study into invalidity benefit launched in August 1991; who has been appointed to conduct the study; and on what criteria the research is based;

  Number of Operating Colleries

  Scotland

  North East

  Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Midlands and West

  Total

  1962

  117

  153

  105

  49

  245

  669

  1963

  97

  132

  102

  48

  232

  611

  1964

  87

  122

  102

  47

  218

  576

  1965

  77

  112

  100

  45

  200

  534

  1966

  67

  96

  100

  43

  177

  483

  1967

  58

  84

  92

  33

  171

  438

  1968

  47

  69

  83

  30

  147

  376

  1969

  37

  56

  76

  26

  122

  317

  1970

  32

  50

  75

  26

  116

  299

  1971

  32

  50

  72

  27

  111

  292

  1972

  32

  48

  72

  27

  110

  289

  1973

  29

  45

  70

  27

  110

  281

  1974

  24

  38

  66

  27

  104

  259

  1975

  22

  34

  65

  27

  98

  246

  1976

  21

  32

  65

  27

  96

  241

  582
  (2) on what date he expects completion of the research study into invalidity benefit which commenced in August 1991; and when he intents to publish the results already received.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 19 October at column 171 and the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 27 October at column 632.

  Pensions
  Ms. Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce legislation to provide that persons who have opted out of employers' pension schemes should be entitled to receive financial compensation in lieu of pension enhancements offered to fellow employees to have not opted out, as part of a redundancy package.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have no plans to do so.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the coalfields producing coal in 1962; and if he will list for each year since 1962 and the current year to date, for each area, the number of mines, the tonnage of coal produced and the number of miners together with(a) the number of mines closed, (b) the number of miners who lost their jobs, (c) the number made compulsorily redundant and (d) the percentage level of unemployment among adult male workers for the relevant employment districts.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Coal has reorganised its group structure several times since 1962. The tables show the number of operating collieries, the tonnage of saleable output of coal, and the number of men on colliery books for each year since 1962 for British Coal's current operating groups.

  There have been no compulsory redundancies since 1962. Information on unemployment rates is available from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. I regret that the other information requested cannot readily be provided.
  583

  Scotland

  North East

  Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Midlands and West

  Total

  1977

  20

  31

  66

  27

  94

  238

  1978

  19

  30

  66

  27

  89

  231

  1979

  16

  28

  64

  27

  88

  223

  1980

  16

  27

  63

  27

  86

  219

  1981

  15

  24

  62

  26

  84

  211

  1982

  14

  22

  57

  25

  82

  200

  1983

  13

  18

  56

  25

  79

  191

  1984

  9

  16

  53

  25

  67

  170

  1985

  9

  15

  53

  25

  67

  169

  1986

  9

  10

  40

  22

  52

  133

  1987

  6

  8

  36

  20

  40

  110

  1988

  4

  7

  33

  17

  33

  94

  1989

  2

  7

  32

  16

  29

  86

  1990

  1

  7

  29

  15

  21

  73

  1991

  1

  7

  26

  15

  16

  65

  1992

  1

  5

  20

  12

  12

  50

  Saleable Output (m. tons/tonnes)

  Scotland

  North East

  Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Midlands and West

  Total

  Tons

  1962

  17·5

  34·7

  42·2

  31·0

  62·2

  187·6

  1963

  17·1

  34·0

  42·6

  31·2

  63·6

  188·5

  1964

  16·5

  32·5

  43·1

  31·3

  63·8

  187·2

  1965

  15·5

  31·2

  43·5

  31·1

  62·4

  183·7

  1966

  14·9

  29·7

  41·2

  29·6

  58·7

  174·1

  1967

  14·4

  27·2

  38·9

  23·2

  60·9

  164·6

  1968

  13·7

  26·1

  40·2

  22·8

  59·9

  162·7

  1969

  12·6

  23·2

  40·1

  22·8

  54·3

  153·0

  1970

  11·1

  20·5

  35·9

  22·9

  49·4

  139·8

  1971

  11·2

  18·9

  34·8

  22·7

  45·7

  133·3

  1972

  10·4

  15·5

  29·6

  18·0

  35·7

  109·2

  1973

  11·1

  17·6

  36·1

  21·7

  40·5

  127·0

  1974

  8·8

  13·5

  27·4

  16·9

  30·5

  97·1

  1975

  10·0

  14·6

  32·3

  20·5

  37·6

  115·0

  1976

  9·7

  14·4

  31·4

  20·2

  36·9

  112·6

  1977

  9·0

  12·9

  30·7

  19·4

  34·7

  106·7

  1978

  8·3

  12·6

  30·4

  19·7

  33·6

  104·6

  Tonnes

  1979

  8·1

  12·9

  30·1

  19·6

  34·7

  105·4

  1980

  8·1

  14·1

  31·4

  20·6

  35·1

  109·3

  1981

  7·8

  14·2

  31·6

  20·9

  35·8

  110·3

  1982

  7·3

  13·5

  31·3

  20·9

  35·9

  108·9

  1983

  6·7

  12·5

  31·0

  20·7

  34·0

  104·9

  1984

  5·3

  11·0

  26·4

  18·6

  28·8

  90·1

  1985

  0·3

  0·4

  0·6

  14·8

  11·6

  27·7

  1986

  4·3

  9·6

  26·8

  18·7

  29·0

  88·4

  1987

  3·4

  10·2

  27·3

  18·1

  29·0

  88·0

  1988

  2·6

  10·3

  26·2

  17·6

  25·7

  82·4

  1989

  1·9

  10·3

  29·4

  17·2

  26·2

  85·0

  1990

  2·0

  10·3

  25·0

  16·8

  21·5

  75·6

  1991

  2·2

  9·0

  25·0

  16·9

  19·2

  72·3

  1992

  2·2

  7·5

  28·0

  17·3

  16·0

  71·0

  Men on Books (at year end)

  (Thousands)

  Year

  Scotland

  North East

  Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Midlands and West

  Total

  1962

  58·8

  112·4

  113·9

  58·5

  192·6

  536·2

  1963

  57·4

  107·3

  113·9

  58·6

  195·3

  532·5

  1964

  52·9

  99·7

  110·5

  56·7

  185·5

  505·3

  1965

  49·6

  93·5

  106·0

  54·5

  173·7

  477·3

  1966

  44·9

  83·7

  100·2

  51·2

  156·2

  436·2

  1967

  41·9

  75·5

  96·1

  40·4

  155·8

  409·7

  1968

  36·0

  64·7

  88·3

  38·4

  137·4

  364·8

  1969

  31·5

  54·5

  79·6

  35·6

  117·5

  318·7

  1970

  30·1

  48·6

  75·3

  34·8

  106·9

  295·7

  1971

  30·1

  48·1

  72·6

  35·4

  100·2

  286·4

  1972

  28·4

  46·4

  70·0

  34·4

  94·8

  274·0

  1973

  26·7

  42·7

  68·6

  34·0

  91·6

  263·6

  584 585

  Year

  Scotland

  North East

  Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Midlands and West

  Total

  1974

  24·3

  38·2

  64·4

  32·0

  83·6

  242·5

  1975

  24·8

  37·2

  67·3

  33·3

  86·2

  248·8

  1976

  23·6

  35·8

  66·6

  33·3

  84·4

  243·7

  1977

  22·9

  34·9

  67·5

  33·6

  83·2

  242·1

  1978

  21·9

  35·0

  66·5

  33·9

  82·0

  239·3

  1979

  21·0

  33·8

  64·8

  33·6

  79·2

  232·4

  1980

  21·0

  33·4

  65·6

  34·5

  78·7

  233·2

  1981

  19·8

  32·0

  63·3

  33·6

  76·1

  224·8

  1982

  17·4

  29·0

  60·7

  33·0

  72·7

  212·8

  1983

  16·5

  26·4

  59·3

  32·0

  68·5

  202·7

  1984

  13·1

  22·9

  53·9

  29·2

  62·0

  181·1

  1985

  11·3

  21·9

  52·0

  27·5

  58·7

  171·4

  1986

  7·7

  17·9

  38·1

  26·2

  48·6

  138·5

  1987

  4·5

  14·4

  33·2

  20·6

  37·2

  109·9

  1988

  3·5

  11·8

  27·2

  16·6

  29·9

  89·0

  1989

  2·4

  10·8

  25·6

  15·0

  26·4

  80·2

  1990

  1·5

  9·5

  21·2

  13·5

  19·7

  65·4

  1991

  1·4

  8·6

  19·3

  13·8

  14·2

  57·3

  1992

  1·3

  6·1

  15·3

  11·2

  9·8

  43·7

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the cost and expenses were for the work which his Department commissioned into the future of the coal industry by Rothschilds and by Boyds.

  Mr. Eggar
  Fees paid to Government advisers are commercially confidential. Total expenditure on coal privatisation is reported to Parliament in the usual way through the publication of departmental estimates and the annual appropriation accounts.

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about progress in the coal review.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I sent the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee a progress report on 7 December listing the main areas and options for consideration identified by evidence submitted to the coal review. Copies of the progress report have been placed in the Library.

  Exports and Imports (Information)
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the voluntary provision by the United Kingdom of information on the export and import of(a) nuclear material, (b) relevant equipment and (c) certain non-nuclear material to the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Discussions in the Zangger committee are confidential to the parties involved. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in May 1993.

  In an effort to strengthen the international safeguards system, the United Kingdom, along with European Community partners, has recently notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that EC member states intend to provide information on transfers of ore concentrates imported or exported from the European Community and information on the items listed in annex B to IAEA IN FCI RC/254/RevI/Part I, when a licence for whose export to a country outside the European Community has been approved. These new arrangements are expected to commence in the new year.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether there is an agreed amount of notice given to the state that is to be inspected when the International Atomic Energy Agency undertakes special inspections; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  There is no fixed period of notice for special inspections in the relevant safeguards agreements; these provide for prior consultation between the state and the IAEA in circumstances which may lead to a special inspection. In case action by the state is essential and urgent the IAEA board of governors may call upon the state to take the required action without delay.

  Marine Protection
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures are being taken to ensure that test drillings for oil and gas will not damage marine life off the north Wales coast.

  Mr. Eggar
  As described in my answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 7 December,Official Report, col 497, licences for oil and gas exploration drilling may be subject to special conditions designed to take account of the sensitivities of specific licensed blocks. In the block off the north Wales coast where drilling is currently in progress, environmental and local seabed surveys were carried out before drilling started. Water-based muds are being used, and cuttings may be discharged to the sea since tidal conditions in the area ensure their rapid dispersal. No other rig discharges are permitted, nor any fuel transfers while the rig is on site.

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been expended in export credit guarantees in each of the last 10 years; and how much has been paid out in each of those years as a result of non-payment for exports.

  Mr. Needham
  Details of the volume of export credit business guaranteed over the previous 10 years, along with the related expenditure on interest rate support and the amount paid out under such guarantees by way of claims, are published each year in the annual report of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
  587
  Copies of the annual report are placed in the Library.

  East Sussex
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the problems and needs of(a) Brighton and Hove and (b) the county of East Sussex while conducting the review of the assisted areas map.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are currently considering points made by two deputations from the areas mentioned—one from Hastings and one from Brighton and Hove. We are also considering the written submissions that have been received from these and other areas.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what current studies are being undertaken by the Harwell research laboratories into the risks of inhalation and ingestion of alpha radiation emitted from plutonium.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department and the Department of Health contribute towards a range of research projects involving the inhalation and ingestion of various radionuclides. Details of these research studies are contained in AEA Technology's radiological protection research 1992 annual report. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, pursuant to his answer of 22 October,Official Report, columns 362–63, he will make a further statement on the outcome of the analysis of the radioactive source.

  Mr. Eggar
  The sealed radioactive source contained an extremely small quantity—a few thousandths of a gram—of plutonium.

  Export Companies (Wales)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to assist Wales-based exporter companies.

  Mr. Needham
  All the excellent services to exporters provided by my Department, jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are available to exporters in Wales through the Welsh Office in Cardiff.

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account was taken of articles 90 and 92 of the treaty of Rome in drawing up the non-fossil fuel obligation.

  Mr. Eggar
  The non-fossil fuel obligation was notified at the appropriate time to the European Commission for the necessary clearances.

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the export earnings of sales of motor cycles over 100 bhp for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  Details of the export earnings of sales of motor cycles by brake horsepower are not available.

  Nuclear Review
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to bring forward the 1994 nuclear review.

  Mr. Eggar
  It remains the Government's policy that the future prospects for nuclear power in the United Kingdom will he reviewed in 1994. However, the coal review currently being undertaken by my Department is looking at the implications of the non-fossil fuel obligation to purchase power from non-fossil sources including that from nuclear sources. It would be premature to decide detailed terms of reference for the 1994 review before the results of the coal review are known.

  Energy Council
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the European Community's Council of Energy Ministers on 30 November.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions on differing levels of coal subsidy in the EC took place at the EC Energy Council on 30 November; what other matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The meeting was held under the United Kingdom presidency with my hon. Friend, the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) in the chair.

  Progress was made on the technical details of the draft directive for the harmonisaion of hydrocarbon licensing regimes, which the United Kingdom also supports. The Council agreed that the draft directive should go forward for decision under Denmark's presidency.

  Political agreement was reached on the proposed directive on oil crisis measures. The related issue of the negotiating mandate for Community accession to the International Atomic Energy Agency was also discussed and remitted for further discussion by officials.

  The Council considered the progress which was being made in the negotiations for a European energy charter, reaffirmed the importance which it attached to that process, and invited the charter conference to set a deadline for concluding negotiations on the basic agreement intended to put the political commitments of the charter into legally obligatory form.

  The Council reached political agreement on the Commission's proposed programme for the promotion of renewable energies—ALTENER. ALTENER is one of four measures in the Commission's proposed CO2 stabilization package. The Council discussed progress on the other three measures. In relation to the SAVE directive, it was agreed that officials should continue with their discussions.

  The Council had a useful discussion on the European coal industry during which the Commission introduced its proposals for a new coal state aids regime to replace the existing one which expires at the end of 1993.

  One of the main agenda items was the Commission's proposal for directives on the liberalisation of the electricity and gas markets. While the United Kingdom supports these measures, other member states continue to have concerns about them. The Council invited the

  589
  Commission to consider modifying its proposals in the light of member states' comments and the opinion of the European Parliament.

  European Economic Area
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what effect the Swiss referendum result will have on implementation of the European economic area.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Swiss people voted on membership of the European economic area on 6 December. A majority of both the populace and of the cantons was required to enable Switzerland to ratify the EEA agreement. The results announced on 6 December were as follows: 50·3 per cent. of the populace voted against ratification, 49·7 per cent. in favour. Sixteen of the cantons voted against, with seven in favour. The proportion of the electorate that voted was 78·3 per cent.

  The Government regret the Swiss decision not to join the EEA. The Foreign Affairs Council on 7 December took note of the result of the Swiss referendum. It also noted that the agreement provides arrangements to consider the situation in the event that a signatory of the agreement fails to ratify. It commented that, without Switzerland, the agreement will require modifications, which will have to be satisfactorily agreed. It expressed the hope that the agreement should be rapidly pursued. It therefore invited the Commission to have early contacts with the EFTA countries on the timing of the next steps, and to report back to the Council on 21 December.

  It is the clear hope of the Community that the agreement should go ahead. It is too early to determine precisely when the agreement may now come into force. If the agreement is to be amended, a diplomatic conference will agree the necessary changes. The Government believe that every effort should be made to ensure that the agreement can be implemented as soon as possible, and we shall, in the remaining weeks of our presidency be working towards this objective.

  The European Economic Area Bill was introduced in this House on 25 November, having passed through all its stages in another place. The Government will announce in due course how it proposes to proceed with the Bill when the impact of the Swiss vote on the Community and EFTA has been fully assessed.

  Department of Energy Staff
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many former Department of Energy personnel(a) have been placed on paid leave and (b) are currently on paid leave as a consequence of the incorporation of the former Department of Energy into his Department; what was the duration of paid leave which has been incurred in each case; and what is the total cost of the paid leave.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 November 1992]: Three members of staff from the former Department of Energy were temporarily placed on paid leave as a consequence of the merger of the Department with DTI. One remains on leave pending retirement in January. As at 30 November the duration of the paid leave was 70 working days at a total cost of £6,149·15.

  Energy Supplies
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost to the balance of payments over each of the past five years for which figures are available in respect of imported energy supplies of(a) oil, (b) gas, (c) coal, (d) electricity via the channel connector and (e) overall.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: Figures on a balance of payments basis are not available in the detail requested.

  Data in the "Overseas Trade Statistics" value imports on a "cif" basis, that is, including the cost of freight and insurance to a United Kingdom port, and exports on an "fob" basis, that is, free on board at a United Kingdom port. A comparison on these bases gives the following levels of net exports:

  £ million

  Oil1

  Gas

  Coal2

  Electricity

  Total

  1987

  4,073

  -878

  -281

  -242

  2,673

  1988

  2,571

  -692

  -376

  -268

  1,235

  1989

  1,095

  -615

  -404

  -305

  -228

  1990

  1,167

  -519

  -511

  -200

  -86

  1991

  1,102

  -472

  -637

  -343

  -351

  1 Crude oil and petroleum products.

  2 Includes other solid fuels.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (CSO).

  Deep-mining Equipment
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the net balance of trade in deep-mining equipment in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: The standard international trade classification, which governs the recording of trade data, does not provide for differentiation between machinery for deep mining and that for other types of coal mining, rock cutting or tunnelling. However, based on the various categories within the classification relating to this type of equipment, of which a major part will have been for coal mining, the trade surpluses in the last four years were as follows:

  £ million

  1988

  24·5

  1989

  38·5

  1990

  34·2

  1991

  47·2

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  It is not possible to provide compatible data for 1987, as the classification in operation at that time was less detailed than the current one.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 2 December,Official Report, column 253, what is the specific number of jobs that he intends to cut in the Export Credits Guarantee Department in Cardiff.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: Following the privatisation of ECGD's insurance services

  591
  business the number of posts remaining in Cardiff was projected in the 1992 public expenditure survey to fall from 196 to 165 over three years. The recent review of the distribution of ECGD's functions will lead to a further net reduction of 10 posts over that period. Efficiency improvements are likely to lead to further reductions in both London and Cardiff, but these have yet to be determined and will depend on the level of business.

  Brazilian Mahogany
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much Brazilian mahogany, by volume and by value, was imported into Britain in 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The only information that relates to mahogany imported from Brazil is that which has been sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, of a thickness exceeding 6mm, defined as code 440723901 of the standard international trade classification, revision 3. Under this heading there were 45,762 cu m of mahogany, valued at £22 million, imported into the United Kingdom from Brazil in 1991.

  Single Market
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of each of the five editions of "The single market: A Guide to Public Purchasing"; how many copies were produced for each edition; and what guidance on public purchasing has been produced by every other EC member state in accordance with community guidelines.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The costs of the five editions of DTI's 'The Single Market: Guide to Public Purchasing' are as follows:

  £

  Copies

  1st edition, September 1989

  20,850

  25,000

  2nd edition, June 1990

  25,520

  23,000

  3rd edition, February 1991

  13,740

  15,000

  4th edition, September 1991

  18,446

  20,000

  5th edition, March 1992

  17,970

  26,000

  There are no Community guidelines regarding the guidance on public purchasing to be produced by other member states. We are aware of written guidance published by France, Ireland, Italy and Portugal. Information from every member state could not be obtained in the time available and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the report by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the recognition of bronchitis and emphysema as an industrial injury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 10 November 1992]: The report by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on bronchitis and emphysema is a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Security.

LORD CHANCELLORS DEPARTMENT

  Northern Ireland Legal System
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many qualified lawyers are employed on a full-time basis in the Northern Ireland court service.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The staff of the Northern Ireland court service presently includes four qualified lawyers. It is expected that an additional lawyer will take up employment early next year, bringing the total to five

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many qualified lawyers are employed in the Northern Ireland legal aid department.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I understand that the legal aid department of the Law Society of Northern Ireland currently employs five professional lawyers.

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what has been the cost of the Windsor house branch of the Northern Ireland court service in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The costs of the Northern Ireland court service branches located in Windsor house were £2·4 million in 1989–90, £2·2 million in 1990–91 and £2·4 million in 1991–92.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Questions
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many(a) oral and (b) written questions were asked in the last Session of Parliament; and what was the estimated total cost to Her Majesty's Government of answering them.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of questions appearing on the Order Paper in Session 1991–92 for oral answer was 2,383 and for written answer was 16,050. The estimated cost to Departments of preparing answers was £481,366 for oral questions and £1,396,350 for written questions.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will now introduce legislation to remove Crown immunity in the Houses of Parliament in respect of staff working conditions and public health provision.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to do so.

  Philippines Delegation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on his meeting with a parliamentary delegation from the Philippines on 2 December.

  Mr. Newton
  I received a delegation of parliamentarians from the Philippines at the request of the British group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The meeting, which lasted 40 minutes, focused almost exclusively on
  593
  comparisons between our different parliamentary traditions. Speaker de Venecia, who led the delegation, thanked the United Kingdom Government for their assistance in the current discussions on debt rescheduling.

  Ministerial Statements
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many ministerial statements have been made by each Department of State since Session 1989–90.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 27 November 1992]: From the beginning of Session 1989–90 to 4 December 1992, the following number of statements have been made in the House by each Department of State.

  Number

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  10

  Office of Arts and Libraries

  2

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers (Attorney General)

  1

  Ministry of Defence

  19

  Department of Education and Science

  6

  Department of Employment

  7

  Department of Energy

  4

  Department of the Environment

  14

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  24

  Department of Health

  9

  Home Office

  22

  Lord President's Office

  2

  Office of Public Services and Science

  1

  Department of National Heritage

  1

  Northern Ireland Office

  10

  Scottish Office

  15

  Department of Social Security

  10

  Department of Trade and Industry

  18

  Department of Transport

  13

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  11

  Welsh Office

  11

  In addition, the Prime Minister has made 22 statements to the House in the same period.

TRANSPORT

  Red Star Parcels
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the completion of the privatisation of Red Star.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Secretary of State for Transport gave the British Railways Board approval in principle on 7 October to proceed to the sale of Red Star. The timing of the sale itself is the responsibility of the Board.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on employment of the privatisation of Red Star Parcels.

  Mr. Freeman
  The manner of the disposal of Red Star Parcels is a commercial matter for the British Railways Board. Red Star has been loss-making for a number of years. Action will be necessary to return the business to profitability, whether in public or private ownership.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bids or expressions of interest for Red Star Parcels have been received since his announcement in October that it was to be sold off.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board is handling the sale of Red Star Parcels, and will be issuing invitations 594
  to tender in due course. All expressions of interest in Red Star directed to the Department of Transport have been referred to the British Railways Board.

  Blackburn-Burnley Railway Line
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment over the last three financial years has been made on improvements to stations and ticketing arrangements on the line between Blackburn and Burnley; and what investment is planned for the financial year 1993–94.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department does not hold the information requested. Investment at this level is a matter for the British Railways Board. Over £1 billion will be available for investment in the channel tunnel and the existing railway in 1993–94.

  British Rail
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which British Rail services do not face competition from other transport modes.

  Mr. Freeman
  All British Rail services face competition to some degree from other modes of transport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each major part of British Rail the levels of capital spending for each year from 1984; and if he will list British Rail income, separating assets, sales and grants for each year from 1984.

  Mr. Freeman
  (i) The information for 1991–92 is as follows:

  British Rail capital spending

  £ million

  Network SouthEast

  355

  Intercity

  94

  Regional Railways

  147

  Trainload Freight

  86

  Railfreight Distribution

  75

  Parcels

  2

  European Passenger Services

  205

  Corporate/Subsidiary

  41

  Total

  1,005

  Figures for earlier years are not available.

  (ii) The information for asset sales, grants and new income is in the table:

  British Rail income 1984–85–1991–92

  £ million 1991–92 prices

  Asset sales

  Grants

  Other income

  Total income

  1984–85

  176

  1,142

  2,892

  4,210

  1985–86

  105

  1,302

  3,232

  4,639

  1986–87

  141

  1,074

  3,338

  4,553

  1987–88

  232

  1,122

  3,405

  4,759

  1988–89

  326

  770

  3,431

  4,527

  1989–90

  382

  704

  3,346

  4,432

  1990–91

  130

  780

  3,290

  4,200

  1991–92

  54

  1,035

  3,151

  4,240

  Notes:

  1984–85 was a 15-month year; 12-month equivalent given.

  Grants comprise public service obligation (PSO) grant, level crossing grant and passenger transport executive (PTE) grant.

  Wyre Piddle Bypass
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the proposed Wyre Piddle bypass on the B4084 and its possible extension to include the village of Upper Moor and transport supplementary grant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department has received a number of representations about this proposal. However, the extent of the bypass and the priority given to its construction are matters for Hereford and Worcester county council, which is responsible for the B4084. We shall consider the case for transport supplementary grant when a detailed proposal is put to us by the county council.

  Motor cycle accidents statistics 1981 to 1991

  Year

  Accidents

  Accidents involving motor cycles

  Casualties

  Casualties in accidents involving motor cyclists

  Motor cyclist

  Other

  All

  1991

  235,798

  31,206

  311,269

  30,736

  5,153

  35,889

  1990

  258,441

  39,704

  341,141

  39,048

  6,303

  45,351

  1989

  260,759

  43,280

  341,592

  42,630

  6,970

  49,600

  1988

  246,994

  43,583

  322,305

  42,836

  6,807

  49,643

  1987

  239,063

  46,257

  311,473

  45,801

  7,375

  53,176

  1986

  247,854

  52,623

  321,451

  52,280

  8,471

  60,751

  1985

  245,645

  56,754

  317,524

  56,591

  9,251

  65,842

  1984

  253,183

  63,958

  324,314

  63,821

  n/a

  n/a

  1983

  242,876

  64,552

  308,584

  64,494

  11,407

  75,901

  1982

  255,980

  71,267

  334,296

  71,920

  13,338

  85,258

  1981

  248,276

  68,859

  324,840

  69,129

  n/a

  n/a

  Note: Data on other casualties involved in motor cycle accidents are not available for the years 1984 and 1981.

  EC Rail Networks
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to lay regulations to implement EC directive 91/440 on the development of the Community's railways.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have today laid regulations to implement EC directive 91/440 which provides for a right of access to EC rail networks for certain international rail services.

  Speed Limit, Rutland
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will authorise Rutland council to paint large white roundels on its village roads drawing attention to the existence of a 30 mph limit on the lines of the current experiment in the Bovingdon area of Hertfordshire.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The experiments to determine the effectiveness of painting speed limit roundels on the road surface, as a way of influencing driver choice of speed, are not yet complete. If they are shown to improve road safety, we will authorise local highway authorities to instal them where appropriate.

  Railways White Paper
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of those who have responded to his White Paper on new opportunities for the railways, distinguishing those who responded favourably.

  Mr. Freeman
  Many individuals and organisations have responded to the White Paper. A wide variety of views have been expressed.

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of accidents involving motor cycles were not caused by the riders themselves in each year from 1981.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department's injury accident statistics do not include an allocation of responsibility for the accident. The table shows motor cycle accidents and casualties in relation to total accidents and casualties.

  Nuclear Material (Transport)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will obtain a copy of the report prepared by the Japanese Government's Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industries on the sea transport of plutonium.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The Department has no information about this report.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of the vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg in November based on documents B3–0868/92, 0–163/92 and B3–0869/92, 0–164/ 92 on the international transport of plutonium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The international transport of plutonium by all modes is governed by the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which are kept under continuous review.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what kinds of vessels or other kinds of transport are used for the maritime transport of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive waste to and from, or by, the United Kingdom; and what monitoring his Department carries out of the transport patterns for the movement of such materials.
  597
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: Ships complying fully with international convention standards for safety and pollution prevention are used for the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel. No plutonium or high-level radioactive wastes have been transported to or from the United Kingdom except for small quantities of plutonium used for life-support systems such as energy sources for heart pacemakers. Transport patterns are not monitored by the Department.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the full text of the governmental studies of analyses of the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level radioactive waste produced since December 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: No such studies have been carried out.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the submissions made by the United Kingdom to the joint International Atomic Energy Agency—International Maritime Organisation—United Nations Environment Programme working group have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: There were no United Kingdom Government submissions.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the standard operations of maritime transport carrying irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level radioactive waste to and from, or by, the United Kingdom; and what accident rate for such operations has been recorded in each year since 1982.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: Of the United Kingdom-registered ships known to carry such cargo there was one incident recorded in 1991 which directly concerned handling operations and which falls within the scope of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations 1989. Records of incidents prior to the establishment of the marine accident investigation branch in July 1989 are not fully comprehensive. However, there are no known cases of serious incidents involving such cargo and operations between 1982 and mid-1989.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Scotch Street, Armagh
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the distance between Nos. 1 and 74 Scotch street, Armagh city; how many street lights there are along this length of public street; what proposals he has to improve street lighting at Scotch street; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Atkins
  The distance between Nos. 1 and 74 Scotch street, Armagh is approximately 265 m. There are currently six street lights along this length of public road and the provision of a further light is being pursued.

  Bomb Damage
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many owner occupiers in the Antrim road area, Glengormley, agreed to the Northern 598
  Ireland Housing Executive's offer to carry out repairs arising from bomb damage on 30 October; and how many such owner-occupiers have agreed to compensation for such damage being a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 3 December, 17 owner-occupiers in the Glengormley area had taken up the executive's offer to carry out repairs on the basis that they will assign their compensation rights to the executive.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many owner occupiers in Newtownbreda/Belvoir estate have agreed to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive offer to carry out repairs arising from bomb damage on 23 September; how many owner-occupiers have agreed to compensation for such damage being a matter for the Housing Executive; and how many privately owned homes were damaged as a result of the IRA bomb at the Forensic Science Laboratory.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am advised by the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 3 December no owner-occupiers in the Newtownbreda/Belvoir estate had taken up the executive's offer to carry out repairs and consequently no householders had assigned their compensation rights.

  A total of 428 privately owned homes were damaged.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 12 November.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  In his autumn statement on 12 November, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme. I have now decided on the allocations to individual programmes as shown in the table. Copies of a more detailed statement have been placed in the Library. These allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals in response to local needs and circumstances.

  £ Million

  Programme

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Northern Ireland Office:

  Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services

  902

  910

  930

  Northern Ireland Departments:

  Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Service and Support

  124

  130

  130

  Industry, Trade and Employment

  466

  450

  440

  Energy

  6

  10

  10

  Roads and Transport

  174

  170

  170

  Housing

  244

  250

  260

  Environmental and Miscellaneous Services

  238

  250

  250

  Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service)

  39

  40

  40

  Education, Arts and Libraries

  1,234

  1,300

  1,360

  Health and Personal Social Services

  1,318

  1,410

  1,500

  599

  £ Million

  Programme

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Social Security Administration

  146

  140

  140

  Other Public Services

  93

  100

  100

  Total NI Block (excluding Social Security Benefits)

  4,984

  5,160

  5,320

  Social Security Benefits

  2,353

  2,390

  2,470

  Total NI Block

  7,338

  7,550

  7,790

  National Agricultural and Fishery Support

  122

  140

  150

  Total Northern Ireland Programme

  7,460

  7,690

  7,940

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million for 1993–94 and to the nearest £10 million for 1994–95 and 1995–96. Figures may not sum to totals due to roundings.

  2. The health and personal social services programme includes a transfer of £25 million, £65 million and £100 milllion from social security benefits for community care.

  3. The 1993–94 figures will form the basis for preparation of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments' main estimates. These will be presented to Parliament in due course.

  EC Funding
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been received by Northern Ireland under each of the European Community initiatives to date; and how much of the money received in each financial year up to 31 December 1991 from EC sources has been paid into the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.

  Mr. Mates
  Under the current structural funds allocation, Northern Ireland has nine approved Community initiatives. Of these initiatives, four were not approved until December 1991 and three until February 1992. The amounts received in Northern Ireland up to 31 December 1991 under the two remaining initiatives, Interreg and Envireg, were £4·67 million and £1·51 million respectively. The total forecast amounts received under each initiative up to 31 December 1992 are:

  Forecast receipts to 31 December 1992

  Initiative

  £ million

  Interreg (assistance to border areas)

  13·10

  Stride (research and technological development)

  3·75

  Envireg (environmental improvement)

  1·94

  Prisma (assistance to firms)

  0·80

  Telematique (promotion of telecommunications service)

  1·65

  Euroform (qualifications for women)

  0·32

  NOW (employment opportunities for women)

  0·35

  Horizon (handicapped and certain disadvantaged groups)

  0·18

  Leader (rural development)

  0·26

  All money received from EC sources is paid into the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the receipts which Northern Ireland has received from the European regional development fund since 1973 has been earned by(a) infrastructure projects undertaken by non-central government bodies, (b) infrastructure projects undertaken by central Government and (c) industrial projects.
  600
  Mr. Mates
  The following amounts have been received from the European regional development fund to 31 December 1991:

  Infrastructure

  £ million

  Non-central Government

  120·5

  Central Government

  78·3

  Industry

  91·8

  Programmes1

  97·3

  Total2

  387·9

  1 These programmes combine elements of both industry and infrastructure.

  2 Includes estimated receipts for the first nine months of the 1991–92 financial year.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the receipts which Northern Ireland has received from the European regional development fund since 1973 has been earned by(a) the private sector, (b) non-central government public sector bodies and (c) central Government.

  Mr. Mates
  The following amounts have been received from the European regional development fund to 31 December 1991:

  £ million

  Private Sector

  30·9

  Non-central Government Public Sector Bodies

  174·6

  Central Government

  182·4

  Total

  387·9

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments into the European Economic Community from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1991; how much was Northern Ireland's share of the receipts for the same period; and how much of those receipts was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  It is not possible to determine Northern Ireland's actual share of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Community because payments are made on a national and not a regional basis. Similarly it is not possible to identify the full extent of receipts from the Community. However, a Northern Ireland attributed share of the contribution to the EC is calculated as an accounting mechanism necessary because of the operation of a separate Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund. This notional attributed share does not count as an item of expenditure within the Northern Ireland public expenditure programme and has therefore no bearing on the level of public expenditure in the Province.

  Figures for the notional attribution of part of Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments and for those areas where the receipts from the European Community's structural funds can be separately identified are as follows:
  601

  Financial Year

  Attributed Share (part)

  Identified Receipts2

  1973–74

  1

  0

  1974–75

  6

  4

  1975–76

  8

  4

  1976–77

  13

  16

  1977–78

  16

  14

  1978–79

  24

  19

  1979–80

  28

  31

  1980–81

  28

  44

  1981–82

  50

  41

  1982–83

  66

  53

  1983–84

  66

  51

  1984–85

  68

  58

  1985–86

  74

  44

  1986–87

  62

  77

  1987–88

  91

  111

  1988–89

  85

  96

  1989–90

  104

  95

  1990–91

  1126

  110

  1991–92

  1100

  132

  Total

  1,016

  1,000

  1 Attributed share figures for the last two years are provisional estimates which will be revised when final details of tax revenues are determined.

  2 This comprises total identified EC structural funds receipts in Northern Ireland.

  All receipts represent cash additions to the recipients and are subject to normal European Community audit arrangements.

  The overall level of receipts is taken into account in the Government's decisions on public expenditure allocations and their availability enables public expenditure to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each financial year up to 31 December 1991 from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, guidance section; how much of those receipts were paid to the private sector and how much to the public sector; how much of these receipts represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used each year to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  The following amounts were received from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, guidance section:

  £ million

  Individual capital projects

  Other guidance schemes

  Financial year

  Private sector

  Public sector1

  Private sector2

  Public sector

  Total

  1974–75

  —

  —

  0·25

  —

  0·25

  1975–76

  0·45

  —

  0·21

  —

  0·66

  1976–77

  1·87

  0·31

  0·27

  —

  2·45

  1977–78

  1·28

  0·31

  1·28

  —

  2·87

  1978–79

  0·70

  0·24

  2·46

  —

  3·40

  1979–80

  1·27

  0·20

  3·21

  —

  4·68

  1980–81

  1·91

  1·05

  3·35

  —

  6·31

  1981–82

  1·43

  0·13

  4·69

  —

  6·25

  1982–83

  2·47

  0·99

  3·30

  —

  6·76

  1983–84

  1·59

  0·38

  14·65

  —

  16·61

  1984–85

  0·95

  0·28

  13·29

  —

  14·52

  1985–86

  3·56

  0·03

  11·83

  —

  15·42

  1986–87

  2·58

  0·11

  5·96

  —

  8·65

  1987–88

  3·29

  —

  5·99

  —

  9·28

  1988–89

  2·31

  0·51

  10·05

  —

  12·87

  602

  Individual capital projects

  Other guidance schemes

  Financial year

  Private sector

  Public sector1

  Private sector2

  Public sector

  Total

  1989–90

  2·84

  —

  6·60

  —

  9·44

  1990–91

  3·35

  —

  6·25

  —

  9·60

  41991–92

  0·43

  —

  13·62

  3·06

  317·11

  Total

  32·28

  4·54

  107·26

  3·06

  147·13

  1 Includes the Milk Marketing Board, which is not financed from public funds although it is a statutory body.

  2 Includes reference to the approximate share in Northern Ireland on various structural schemes which were applied throughout the United Kingdom.

  3 Provisional outturn to December 1991.

  4 To December 1991.

  All these receipts present cash additions to the recipients and are subject to normal European Community audit arrangements. The overall level of receipts is taken into account in the Government's decision on public expenditure allocations and their availability enables public expenditure to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible.

  New Opportunities for Women
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland what moneys have been deployed by way of the European Community's new opportunities for women initiative under article 11 of Council Regulation (EEC)No. 4253/88 in(a) 1991 and (b) so far this year; what kind of employment and training programmes were funded in this way; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 7 December 1992:

  You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monies have been deployed by way of the European Community's NOW initiative under Article 11 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4253/88 in:

  (a) 1991; and

  (b) so far this year;

  what kind of employment and training programmes were funded in this way; and if he will make a statement.

  The Training and Employment Agency (T&EA) has responsibility for the administration of the NOW initiative in Northern Ireland. As Chief Executive of the T&EA, I have been asked by the Secretary of State to reply on his behalf.

  To date no money has been paid to promoters of projects under the NOW initiative in Northern Ireland apart from preliminary technical assistance to help promoters establish links with their transnational partners and jointly develop their projects. Technical assistance amounting to £20,000 has been committed and £14,500 paid.

  Letters offering assistance totalling £226,000 have issued; and the first tranche of payments, amounting to £43,000 should be made shortly. Further Letters of Offer in respect of assistance totalling some £600,000 are in the process of being prepared.

  Projects for assistance under the NOW initiative have been put forward by a wide range of bodies including rural and inner-city women's groups, training organisations and institutions of further and higher education. These projects all seek to enhance the skill levels and employment prospects of women and include pre-vocational training, training in new technologies and training in relation to business creation.

  In administering the NOW initiative in Northern Ireland, the T&EA has sought to enable as many groups as possible to

  603
  benefit despite the relatively small amount of EC assistance available (our original allocation was some £700,000). This has involved encouraging promoters of similar projects to establish networks within Northern Ireland enabling them to share resources, expertise and transnational contacts.

WALES

  Students
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of Clwyd schoolchildren of GCSE age have taken the exams; and what proportion of Clwyd students carry on from GCSE to A-level.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the proportion of pupils who carry on to A level from GCSE is not collected. In 1991–92, 93 per cent. of Clwyd schoolchildren aged 15 sat GCSE examinations. In 1991–92, 1,476 students were following A level courses in Clwyd (in year 12 at school, or at college aged 16). This represents 39 per cent. of pupils aged 15 who sat GCSE the previous year.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of students in Wales carry on from GCSE to A level.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the proportion of pupils who carry on from GCSE to A level is not collected. In 1991–92, 29,660 students were following A level courses in Wales (in year 12 at school, or at college aged 16). This represents 39 per cent. of pupils aged 15 who sat GCSE the previous year.

  Drug Addiction (Pregnancy)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children were born in Wales suffering from drug addiction in 1991–92 as a result of the mother's usage during pregnancy.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None in 1990–91, the latest year for which information is available.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to help small businesses in Wales develop closer ties with Europe.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  A wide range of measures are available. Among the more significant are:

  Overseas trade services

  The Welsh Office is part of a United Kingdom-wide network established to encourage businesses to take advantage of opportunities abroad. Advice is given to businesses on both how to enter new export markets and provide overseas trade services. Assistance is available particularly for small and medium enterprises (SM Es) which are entering overseas markets for the first time.

  The Welsh Office also promotes awareness of the availability of assistance for exporting at trade fairs and through sales missions to overseas markets. Over the last five years missions have visited Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Italy. Next year missions are planned to Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.
  604
  EC relay centre network

  A Welsh centre is planned for January 1993 as part of a network being established throughout the European Community, to encourage SMEs to participate in and exploit the results of the Community's research and development programmes.

  The development agencies

  The Welsh Development Agency (WDA) participates in various initiatives designed to help Welsh companies seek new business opportunities in Europe. These initiatives include the Wales European centre, Eurolink, Europartenariat, Wales Euro Info centres and Fit for Europe reviews.

  The Development Board for Rural Wales (DBRW) provides core funding for mid-Wales Export Association Ltd based at Welshpool. All of the board's export activities are channelled through this specialist organisation which in turn provides a full range of export advice and services to businesses in rural mid-Wales. In recent years the Export Association has given particular emphasis to the opportunities that might be presented to companies in mid-Wales through the advent of the single European market.

  Links with the Four Motors

  Links have been established between Wales and four of the most economically advanced regions of Europe—Baden-Wurttemberg, Lombardy, Catalonia and Rhone-Alpes, known together as the Four Motors. Through these links SMEs are offered various opportunities in these regions including technology transfer, joint ventures and for trade.

  Local enterprise agencies

  With the advent of the single European market several of Wales's enterprise agencies, including those which have received core-funding from the WDA, have developed a service for businesses wishing to obtain adsvice and counselling about Europe.

  Urban programme

  Urbane programme support has been made available for projects which encourage the development of links between Welsh businesses and Europe.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the inward investment projects in Wales since 1979 and the jobs created or safeguarded by each project.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information is not available for projects recorded before 1 April 1983. Since that time over 1,000 projects have been recorded and a list of the companies concerned, other than those who have requested confidentiality, has been placed in the Library of the House. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, individual details of jobs are not disclosed.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales in 1991–92 died(a) as an indirect result and (b) as a direct result of drug abuse.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In the calendar year 1991, the latest year for which data is available, there were six deaths directly attributable to drug misuse in Wales.
  605
  Data on deaths as an indirect result of drug misuse are not collected centrally.

  European Community Grants
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much Wales has received in European Community grants in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The European regional development fund is the only one of the main stream structural funds for which expenditure can be identified on an annual basis. The total commitments to eligible Welsh bodies from the fund in each of the past 10 years are shown in the following table:

  £ million

  1982

  46·7

  1983

  48·9

  1984

  63·0

  1985

  54·9

  1986

  49·7

  1987

  57·8

  1988

  63·3

  1989

  38·8

  1990

  27·4

  1991

  89·0

  The European social fund (ESF) element of objectives 2 and 5(b) of the structural funds was administered directly by the European Commission prior to 1990 and figures for Wales are not readily available. However commitment figures for subsequent years are as follows:

  £ million

  1990

  11·38

  1991

  11·96

  Objectives 3 and 4 of the structural fund which are also supported by ESF monies are administered on a GB basis and figures for Wales are not separately identifiable.

  Figures for FEOGA grant are not available on a comparable basis to the ERDF.

  Welsh Museum School Service
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision will be made to fund the Welsh museum's school service centrally.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 5 November at col.388.

  Radiation
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the most recently recorded levels of radiation off the north coast of Wales; and by what amount they differ from background levels.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Details of the latest recorded levels of radiation off the north Wales coast can be found in the "Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report" (No. 29) 1990, published by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.

  The major radionuclide in the Irish sea is Caesium 137, and levels of this have decreased markedly in recent years.
  606
  The extent of this decrease can be seen in figure 4.4 of the "Environmental Digest for Wales" No. 6 1991, copies of which are also kept in the Library of the House.

  Adult Training
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy initiatives he is taking to enhance the retraining of unemployed men and women over the age of 21 years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on 12 November 1992 at column 903.

  Education White Paper
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the consultations on the White Paper, "Choice and Diversity and the Education Bill", supported the proposals and how many were opposed.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 13 November to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) at column 993.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to publish his proposals for the reform of local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I will announce my decisions as soon as possible.

  Hearing Impairment
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what resources he has provided to each county council in Wales in each of the past five years(a) in respect of children statemented for hearing impairment as having special educational needs and (b) in respect of children with hearing impairment who have not been statemented.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is for local authorities to determine what resources should be directed to education services, including those for children with hearing impairments.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what salaries are being paid to chairmen and ordinary members of NHS trusts; how many hours per week members of the trusts are contractually required to work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Chairmen receive a remuneration of between £15,125 and £19,285 per annum dpending on the turnover of the trust. Members receive £5,000 per annum for an expected time commitment of at least the equivalent of two days per month.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of the chairmen and members of the national health service trusts in Wales, together with their known political affiliations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The chairman of the NHS trusts in Wales are as follows:
  607

  Mr. Anthony J.G. Bowen, Pembrokeshire NHS Trust.

  Mr. John H. Button, Swansea NHS Trust.

  Mr. John Curteis, South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust.

  Mr. Colin Hughes Davies, Glan Hafren NHS Trust.

  Mr. Edmund Francis Lloyd Fitzhugh, Gofal Cymuned Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust.

  Mr. E. Michael W. Griffith, Glan Clwyd District General Hospital NHS Trust.

  Brigadier Ronald Edward Lewis Jenkins, Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust.

  Mr. Derek W. C. Morgan, Bridgend and District NHS Trust.

  Mrs. Fiona Natalie Peel, Gwent Community Health NHS Trust.

  The Hon. Mrs.Rosalind (Lindy) Helen Penrose Price, Powys Health Care NHS Trust.

  Mr. Aldham Roberts, Wrexham Maelor Hospital NHS Trust.

  Mr. Brian Thompson, Carmarthen and District NHS Trust.

  Sir Donald Walters, Llandough Hospital NHS Trust.

  Mrs. Sally Williams, Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust.

  The non-executive directors of the Pembrokeshire NHS Trust are as follows:

  Mr. Richard A.Collins

  Mr. David L. Hughes

  Mr. Glyn T. Noakes

  Mr. Thomas S.Smedley

  Mrs. Margaret Thomas

  Appointments are made irrespective of political affiliation and such information is not held centrally.

  Training Providers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy that training and enterprise councils in Wales shall pass on to training providers the cash to pay allowances to trainees in advance of the relevant pay day or within seven days of those costs falling on the training providers.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) are responsible for the funding arrangements which they have with their providers. It is for these two parties to agree such arrangements.

  Students (Accommodation)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will amend the regulations to enable housing associations to let accommodation to students more easily; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government have already taken steps to maintain and encourage turnover in student lettings through the Assured and Protected Tenancies (Lettings to Students) Regulations 1988, as amended, which added all registered housing associations to the list of bodies able to offer non-assured tenancies to students in Wales and England.

  Land Liming
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to increase subsidies to encourage liming the land near rivers and streams in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans to extend grant aid for routine applications of lime. Farmers with improvement plans under the Farm and Conservation Grant 608
  Regulations can obtain grant assistance towards the cost of liming land where this is part of a programme of reseeding and regeneration. In the less favoured areas, lime treatment alone is eligible for grant where it can be demonstrated to be genuine restoration and not routine treatment.

  Broadleaf Trees
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to increase subsidies to encourage the growing of broadleaf trees in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Government have no plans to increase the subsidies which are already available to encourage the planting of broadleaved trees. Higher rates of grant are paid under the woodland grant scheme for the establishment and management of broadleaved woodlands, and these have been successful in encouraging an increased amount of broadleaved planting in Wales.

  River Acidification
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to combat river acidification in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office is currently considering river acidification as part of its wider work and research on acid deposition in Wales.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in which circumstances a senior officer of a health authority in Wales might fulfil both purchaser and provider roles at the same time.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 7 December at column 509.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy that the purchaser and provider funding shall be clearly defined and separated within a health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  District health authorities in Wales are funded to purchase health care for their resident populations. They are expected to plan and monitor this expenditure and at the same time take into account—both in their overall financial plans and their in-year financial management—the provider income and expenditure of their directly-managed units. The outturn income and expenditure of both the purchaser and provider functions are recorded in the health authority's annual accounts.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for every district health authority in Wales(a) the number of acute beds and (b) the total number of hospital beds at 31 March 1991.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The requested information is given in the table.

  Staffed beds allocated as at 31 March 1991

  Acute1

  Total

  Clwyd

  1,276

  2,335

  East Dyfed

  680

  1,568

  Gwent

  1,400

  3,044

  609

  Acute1

  Total

  Gwynedd

  656

  1,534

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,840

  4,081

  Pembrokeshire

  258

  461

  Powys

  196

  900

  South Glamorgan

  1,665

  3,234

  West Glamorgan

  1,310

  2,377

  1 Excluding geriatrics, obstetrics, GP maternityand psychiatric specialties.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he intends to collate and publish the examination results of(a) grant-maintained and (b) independent schools in Wales;

  (2) when he will publish the examination results and league tables for schools in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  School performance data relating to examination achievements of secondary schools will be published very soon.

  The data will include all LEA and grant-maintained schools and those independent schools which have agreed to participate.

  Tourism
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount of revenue from tourism to Wales in 1980, 1990 and 1991; what proposals he has to facilitate increased tourism in 1992–93: and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  [pursuant to his answer, 11 November 1992, c. 820]: Unfortunately an incorrect figure was given, the correct answer is as follows:

  Estimates of expenditure by overnight visitors to Wales are given in the following table. Since 1989, information on United Kingdom visitors to Wales has been obtained from the United Kingdom tourism survey. It is not possible to make a direct comparison between the results of this and earlier surveys. Information on overseas visitors is not available prior to 1981.

  Estimates of expenditure by day visitors are available only for the financial year ending on 31 March 1989 when an estimated £229 million was spent in Wales.

  Expenditure by overnight visitors to Wales1

  £ million

  Year

  United Kingdom visitors

  Overseas visitors

  1980

  2—

  3—

  1981

  2—

  50

  1990

  900

  130

  1991

  900

  130

  Sources: United Kingdom Travel Survey, International Passenger Survey.

  1 These estimates, derived from sample surveys and thus subject to potential random sampling errors, have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  2 Not available on a comparable basis.

  3 Not available prior to 1981.

  In order further to promote tourism in Wales, the Government uplifted support for the Wales tourist board by 20 per cent. in 1992–93 to a record £13·529 million.

DEFENCE

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants from his Department have been relocated from London to other parts of the United Kingdom(a) in the last five years and (b) in the last 10 years; and to where they were relocated.

  Mr. Aitken
  Over the last five years the MOD, under the Government's relocation initiative, has relocated 836 posts from London to other parts of the United Kingdom. Details are as follows:

  Location

  Posts

  Bath

  196

  Yeovilton

  54

  Swindon

  210

  Sutton Coldfield

  250

  Cranwell

  9

  Harrogate

  65

  Llangennech

  32

  Andover

  10

  Portsmouth

  10

  Total

  836

  In the preceding five years, 743 posts were moved from London to Glasgow under the central dispersal programme, with a final tranche of 23 posts moving to Glasgow in 1989.

  The MOD is already a well-dispersed Department, with 60 per cent. of its civilian staff already based outside London and the south east. As a result of moves already planned and reductions in staff numbers, only about 30 per cent. of Ministry of Defence civilians will be left in London by the mid-1990s.

  Weir Group plc
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 November to the hon. Member for Gloucester (Mr. French),Official Report, column 700, if he will identify the principal equipment projects concerned in the payments of over £250 million to the Weir Group plc in the financial year 1990–91, as recorded in table 1.17 of "1992 Defence Statistics".

  Mr. Aitken
  Payments shown against the Weir Group in table 1.17 of the "1992 Defence Statistics" include those to Devonport Management Ltd. by virtue of the fact that Weir Group was by a narrow margin the largest shareholder in the DML consortium. Some 97 per cent. of payments relate to DML's activity as the term contract holder for managing the Devonport dockyard licensed area and associated refitting and defect rectification of ships, submarines and other vessels, and other work required by the authority. Contracts placed with companies in the Weir Group, mainly for pumps, compressors and ancillary equipment, account for the remaining 3 per cent. of payments.

  For clarity of presentation, DML will be shown separately in the "1993 Defence Statistics".

  Royal Ordnance, Radway Green
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet workers' representatives from British Aerospace Defence—Royal Ordnance, Radway Green to discuss procurement policy.

  Mr. Aitken
  If the hon. Member would like to lead such a delegation, I would be willing to meet it.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to negotiate a successor agreement to the explosives, propellants and related products agreement with Royal Ordnance, Radway Green; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We do not intend to negotiate a successor agreement to the explosives, propellants and related products agreement which expires in March 1993. This was always intended to be an interim arrangement. Our defence procurement policy is to seek the best long-term value for money through the use of competition wherever possible.

  Channel Islands (War Records)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents his Department holds relating to the wartime Nazi crimes in the camps on Alderney In the Channel islands; and which such records have been given to the former Soviet authorities.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence does not hold any relevant papers. Detailed records of the British investigations into world war 2 war crimes in the Channel islands are available for public examination at the Public Record Office.

  Copies of records relating to the investigations into the incidents on Alderney and Jersey were passed to the former Soviet authorities in October 1945.

  Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 166, what consultations there are between Bosnian military commanders and (a) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (b) Bosnia-Herzegovina command and (c) the national contingents of the United Nations protection force prior to the departure of each convoy; and if he will make a statements.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Consultation between Bosnian military commanders and United Nations agencies to ensure that humanitarian aid convoys are able to proceed to their destination takes place in a workingg group, chaired by Major General Morillon, Commander Bosnia-Herzegovina Command. Additionally, negotiations between the United Nations convoy commanders and local Bosnian military commanders, to take account of specific local conditions, take place if required as the convoy proceeds towards its destination.

  Boards of Inquiry
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to release military board of inquiry reports to next of kin.
  612
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Service board of inquiry reports are internal documents relating to inquiries held in private. Their content is often technical and complex, and is likely to include specific description of the conduct of named service personnel in the incident under investigation including that of the deceased where the board of inquiry investigates a fatal accident.

  In view of our obligations to the deceased and to their families, it would not be appropriate to make such documents widely available. We do, however, recognise the special position of next of kin and in future there will be a general presumption that, subject to the essential minimum of security requirements, such reports will be made available to them wherever possible, should they so request. This change of practice is in line with the Government's general policy towards greater openness. It also reflects our genuine concern to ensure that next of kin are treated in as sympathetic and helpful a manner as possible.

EMPLOYMENT

  Deaths (Building Sites)
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average fine imposed on negligent employers in respect of deaths occurring on building sites over the last five years for which records have been maintained.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaths have occurred on building and construction sites over the last five years; and how many custodial sentences have been given to negligent employers in respect of these deaths.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The available information for Great Britain is provided in the table. Data for the latest year commencing 1 April 1991 is not yet available.

  Table: Fatal injuries in the construction industry reported to enforcement authorities 1986–87–1990–911

  Year

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Members of public

  Total

  1986–87

  99

  26

  14

  139

  1987–88

  103

  40

  15

  158

  1988–89

  101

  36

  14

  151

  1989–90

  100

  54

  11

  165

  1990–91

  96

  28

  9

  133

  Total

  499

  184

  63

  746

  1 Years commencing 1 April.

  The courts can impose a custodial sentence for a range of offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. The offence need not have resulted in a fatality or injury; the penalty of imprisonment is available regardless of the outcome. However, only one custodial sentence has been given within the last five years. It was not connected with the construction industry.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of(a) factory inspectors, (b) agricultural inspectors, (c) doctors and (d) nurses in the Health and Safety Executive area offices in (i) the Wales and south-west region and (ii) the home counties region in each year since 1978.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  (a) The number of Health and Safety (HSE) factory inspectors employed in Wales and the south-west region and home counties region in each year since 1978 was as follows:

  (i)Wales and South-West

  (ii) Home Counties

  1978

  61

  70·0

  1979

  67

  79·0

  1980

  65

  80·5

  1981

  61

  74·5

  1982

  57

  74·0

  1983

  50

  72·0

  1984

  49

  73·0

  1985

  49

  72·5

  1986

  50

  75·5

  1987

  53

  73·5

  1988

  50

  66·5

  1989

  50

  67·0

  1990

  57

  69·5

  1991

  58

  70·5

  1992

  65

  83·5

  (b) The information available for the number of agricultural inspectors employed by HSE is as follows:

  (i) Wales and South-West region

  (ii) Home Counties region

  1985

  33

  31·0

  1986

  30

  34·0

  1987

  30

  29·0

  1988

  28

  27·0

  1989

  28

  27·0

  1990

  28

  27·0

  1991

  28

  28·5

  1992

  29

  33·0

  Note: Comparable figures are not available by these regions for earlier years because of changes in the basis of compiling staffing statistics for the occupational group.

  (c) The information available for the number of doctors employed by HSE is as follows:

  (i) Wales and South-West region

  (ii) Home Counties region

  1985

  8·5

  5·0

  1986

  10·0

  4·5

  1987

  9·5

  5·5

  1988

  8·5

  5·0

  1989

  7·0

  6·0

  1990

  7·0

  6·5

  1991

  6·0

  8·0

  1992

  6·0

  6·5

  Note: Comparable figures are not available for earlier years by these regions because of changes in the basis of compiling staffing statistics for the occupational group.

  (d) The information available for the number of nurses employed by HSE is as follows:
  614

  (i) Wales and South-west region

  (ii) Home Counties region

  1985

  5·5

  4·0

  1986

  6·0

  4·0

  1987

  5·0

  2·0

  1988

  6·0

  4·0

  1989

  6·0

  4·0

  1990

  8·0

  2·5

  1991

  7·0

  3·5

  1992

  7·0

  4·0

  Notes:

  Comparable figures are not available for earlier years by these regions because of changes in the basis of compiling staffing statistics for the occupational group.

  Figures are for I April each year and show full-time equivalent staff.

  Radiological Emergencies
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she will provide regular updated information using non-technical language to the general public on the hazards of a potential radiological emergency in the United Kingdom;

  (2) if she will target information on the hazards of a potential radiological emergency to (a) pregnant women and (b) emergency service personnel.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The "Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations", which transpose the requirements of EC directive 89/618/Euratom into national legislation, was laid before the House on 8 December 1992. These regulations will require employers who conduct undertakings from which a radiation emergency is reasonably forseeable to provide prescribed items of information to members of the public likely to be affected by any such emergency. This information needs to cover the likely emergencies that could arise, their consequencies and the planned health protection measures for members of the public. The information also needs to be made publicly available and regularly updated.

  The Health and Safety Executive is producing guidance on the regulations, particularly aimed at assisting those with duties under them. In additon to this, the Health and Safety Executive produced guidance in 1991 which gave advice to emergency services personnel on the control of radiation exposure in the event of a radiation emergency.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to promote a standard national warning system to be operated during peacetime radiological emergencies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. In the event of an accident at a civil licenced nuclear site having potential radiological effects off-site, the emergency plan prepared by the site's operator and approved by the Health and Safety Executive requires the operator to alert and inform the police. They will inform people in the vicinity of the site. Others at a greater distance from the site will be kept informed by special announcements on local radio and television.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to extend the detailed planning arrangements for reference accidents for the different stages of the nuclear fuel cycle to cover larger accidents.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.
  615
  No. I consider that the present arrangements are adequate. At each major installation, detailed emergency planning is based on the worst nuclear accident that is reasonably foreseeable, known as the reference accident. These plans form the basis for an extended response in the very unlikely event that a more severe accident should occur.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the textile industry, the clothing industry and the mining industry in the east midlands in each year since 1980.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The available information on regional employment for the industries requested is from the censuses of employment taken in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. Data for the east midlands can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library, subject to the confidentiality restrictions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the highest level of unemployment recorded in each of the three travel-to-work areas covered by the Selby district for each year since 1986.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 173, how many people aged 16 and 17 years in the Carlisle travel-to-work area are not in employment, not on a youth training scheme and not in full-time education.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In October 1992, there were 18 unemployed claimants aged 16 and 17 years in Carlisle travel-to-work area.

  Changes to the benefit regulations in September 1988 coincided with the extension of a guaranteed youth training scheme (now youth training) place to all those aged under 18 not in full-time education or employment, which meant that those who declined an offer of a YTS place were no longer entitled to benefit. However, there are still a small number of under 18-year-olds entitled to benefit due to special circumstances, such as severe hardship or by virtue of their being orphans.

  Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest information she has about the operating surplus which has been accumulated for each training and enterprise council for each region and for Great Britain as a whole on(a) youth training including training credits, (b) employment training, (c) employment action, and (d) business support and business start up; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is unable to respond on behalf of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales who now have responsibility for the delivery of programmes through local enterprise councils in Scotland and training and enterprise councils in Wales.
  616
  Training and enterprise councils in England are required, under the terms of the training and enterprise council operating agreement, to produce audited accounts within four months of the end of the financial year.

  These accounts reveal the total operating surplus as at the end of the financial year and on a cumulative basis; however, this information is not published by programme block.

  The accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 1992 are now in the public domain and available from individual training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is her policy that training and enterprise councils shall pass on to training providers the cash to pay allowances to trainees in advance of the relevant pay day or within seven days of those costs falling on the training providers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) are responsible for the funding arrangements which they have with their providers. It is for these two parties to agree such arrangements.

  Disabled Trainees
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to allow training and enterprise councils to utilise a wider range of performance indicators for disabled trainees than those currently suggested within the output-relating funding arrangements.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Training and enterprise councils already have the flexibility to recognise in their contracts with providers outputs additional to those for which they receive funding from the Department.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 1 December to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short),Official Report, column 172, if she will list those organisations or individuals whose representations she has received supporting abolition of the wages councils, and those who oppose the proposal.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No. Representations are treated on the basis that they have been offered "in confidence".

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates her Department has made of changes in wage levels in industries covered by wages councils as a result of their abolition.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The abolition of the wages councils will allow wages to reflect labour market conditions and the ability of companies to pay. Since 1986, when young people were removed from the minimum rates set by wages councils, their average earnings have continued to rise in real terms.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 54, if she will list the wages councils in whose areas of competence a prosecution was brought for each of the lowest levels of payment in each region in each year since 1986.
  617
  Mr Michael Forsyth
  The information is listed in the table.

  Divisions

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·48 RF

  —

  South East

  0·88 NF

  1·60 RF

  1·29 HU

  1·50 RF

  1·42 HU

  —

  —

  Eastern

  1·15 HU

  —

  1·23 RF

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South West

  —

  —

  1·55 RF

  1·60 UPR

  1·74 RF

  2·18 HU

  1·87 RF

  Midlands

  —

  1·375 NF

  1·20 RF

  2·04 RF

  —

  —

  2·30 LR

  North West

  —

  1·60 RF

  1·75 RF

  —

  —

  1·50 RF

  —

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  —

  1·92 RF

  2·19 RF

  2·00 RF not

  1·50 RF

  1·70 RF

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  1·91 NF

  available RF

  1·25 RF

  2·00 RF

  Scotland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·48 RF

  1·60 LR

  Key to Wages Council names.

  HU = Hairdressing Undertaking.

  LR = Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurants.

  NF = Retail Trades (Non-food).

  RF = Retail Food and Allied Trades.

  UPR = Unlicensed Place of Refreshement.

  New Opportunities for Women Initiative
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what moneys have been deployed by way of the European Community's new opportunities for women initiative under article 11 of Council regulation (EEC) No. 4253/88(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole in (i) 1991 and (ii) so far this year; what kind of employment and training programmes were funded in this way; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of £6,369,996 has been made available to Great Britain under the European Community initiative NOW for the period 1991 to 1993. The amount committed to successful Scottish projects was £999,411, with one project in Strathclyde of £142,336. The allocation of funds has been made over the life of the programme, rather than on a calendar-year basis.

  All the projects aim to help women to take full advantage on equal terms of economic growth and technological development through the funding of transnational partnerships between organisations in two or more member states.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what moneys have been deployed by way of the European Community's NOW initiative under article 11 of Council regulation (EEC) No. 4253/88 in England and Wales in(a) 1991 and (b) so far this year; what kind of employment and training programmes were funded in this way; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of £6,369,996 has been made available to Great Britain under the European Community initiative NOW for the period 1991 to 1993. The amount committed to successful projects in England and Wales was £5,260,435. The allocation of funds has been made over the life of the programme, rather than on a calendar-year basis.

  All the projects aim to help women to take full advantage on equal terms of economic growth and technological development through the funding of transnational partnerships between organisations in two or more member states.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Duncan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outcome of the meeting on 3 December of the Social Affairs Council in Brussels; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Social Affairs Council had a useful meeting on 3 December, adapting a number of instruments and making good progress on others.

  The Council adopted a wide-ranging resolution concerned with the serious and deteriorating problem of unemployment throughout the Community. The resolution emphasised the importance of achieving sound economic growth and the conditions necessary for the creation and growth of businesses. The resolution underlined the importance of effective labour market measures—in particular, quality employment services for those looking for a job and training which is geared to the needs of the labour market. The resolution identified various ways in which the Council and European Commission would continue to give high priority to the issue of unemployment, including in the forthcoming review of the European social fund. This resolution flows from the employment initiative launched by the United Kingdom presidency and was warmly welcomed by the Council.

  Other useful measures agreed at the Council include a health and safety directive concerned with extractive industries, a resolution to promote the acceptance of vocational qualifications across the Community, and conclusions on the importance of ensuring timely and fully effective implementation and enforcement of EC social directives throughout the Community.

  In discussion, progress was made on a range of further proposals in the social area including the HELIOS programme for disabled people, the directive on subcontracted workers, and instruments concerned with the free movement of labour and with health and safety at work.

  The working time directive was also discussed. However, the directive continues to pose significant difficulties for a number of member states and it was not possible for progress to be made on this instrument.

  This meeting of the Council formed an important part of the aim of the United Kingdom presidency to make

  619
  sensible progress on the EC social dimension, in ways which directly affect for the better the lives of individual citizens in the Community.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Social Affairs Council on 3 December; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chingford (Mr. Duncan-Smith) today.

SCOTLAND

  Health Spending
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the planned spending on health for 1993–94 will come from savings not yet specified.

  Mr. Stewart
  The expenditure plans for health announced recently by my right hon. Friend represents the cash resources he has made available to the NHS in Scotland. However, we encourage health boards to seek to finance further improvements to patient services from efficiency savings.

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within his Department's buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement;

  (2) what measures have been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances in use by his Department identified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 do not reach the atmosphere:

  (3) how many chlorofluorocarbon domestic fridges are contained within his Department's buildings;

  (4) what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within his Department's buildings;

  (5) what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within his Department and returned to the manufacturer;

  (6) by what date his Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals;

  (7) how much funding has been allocated or spent to deal specifically with measures to reduce his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances;

  (8) what action has been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances consumed by his Department are identified as controlled wastes when they are no longer in use;

  (9) if he will provide details from the maintenance and servicing record of the quantity and type of ozone-destroying chemicals used annually in his Department's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for servicing and in leakages; and what proportion is removed for recycling;

  (10) how many chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochloro-fluorocarbon installations are contained within his Department's buildings;
  620
  (11) how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in his Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems;

  (12) what proportion of his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances becomes controlled waste in terms of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990;

  (13) what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by his Department;

  (14) which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by his Department are considered essential.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 19 November]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the necessary information has been collated.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for his Department's total purchase of CFCs and HCFCs.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 19 November]: The information required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants are employed by his Department(a) in London, (b) in Edinburgh and (c) elsewhere.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: At 30 November 1992 the number of civil servants employed by the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish prison service, was 6,427 of whom 39 were located in London, 4,850 in the Edinburgh area and 1,538 elsewhere.

  Schools (Disciplinary Proceedings)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what role his Department has in any disciplinary proceedings in locally or directly managed schools.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: Responsibility for teacher discipline in Scotland lies with education authorities, the managers of grant-aided and independent schools and, in respect of professional misconduct, the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

  Prisons
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenditure has been incurred to date by the Scottish Office in undertaking the review of the prison estate announced in 1990; and when he expects a report to be published.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The review of the prisons estate in Scotland, which was completed earlier this year, was undertaken by officials from the Scottish Office and the Scottish prison service. It would be impractical to separate and quantify this part of their duties in expenditure terms. The results of this work are not intended to be published, but they will be of assistance in developing a strategy for the prisons estate which will make the most effective use of the increased level of funding for the Scottish prison service announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 2 December.
  621
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified prison staff were employed at each Scottish prison at the latest available date; and if he will show this as a percentage of the recommended complement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The complements and staff in post on 1 December 1992 for each establishment in the Scottish prison service are given in the table.

  Establishment

  Complement 1992–93

  Staff in post

  Percentage

  Aberdeen

  130

  137

  105·4

  Barlinnie

  532

  543

  102·1

  Barlinnie Special Unit

  19

  19

  100·0

  Castle Huntly

  76

  74

  97·4

  Cornton Vale

  190

  193

  101·6

  Dumfries

  144

  147

  102·1

  Dungavel

  73

  70

  95·9

  Edinburgh

  415

  407

  98·1

  Friarton

  53

  53

  100·0

  Glenochil

  439

  429

  97·7

  Greenock

  162

  160

  98·8

  Inverness

  84

  89

  106·0

  Longriggend

  159

  162

  101·9

  Low Moss

  147

  142

  96·6

  Noranside

  73

  72

  98·6

  Penninghame

  38

  37

  97·4

  Perth

  392

  384

  98·0

  Peterhead

  255

  250

  98·0

  Polmont

  309

  307

  99·4

  Shotts

  402

  396

  98·5

  Shotts Unit

  26

  26

  100·0

  TOTAL

  4,118

  4,097

  99·5

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenditure has been incurred to date by the Scottish Office in connection with proposals for privatisation, market testing and contracting-out in the Scottish prison service.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December]: The best estimate of cost to date, including staff time and consultancy fees, in connection with the market-testing programme for 1992–93 in the Scottish prison service is approximately £50,000.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what impact the securing of objective 1 status for the highlands and islands to EC structural funding would have upon the funding package of the bridge to Skye; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 December]: The level and scope of future structural fund support for the highlands and islands will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations on the future of the Community and the reform of the structural funds dues to be implemented on 1 January 1994. I cannot anticipate what view might be taken under the revised regulations of an application for assistance towards the cost of constructing the bridge to Skye.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the application to other potential commercial operators of a prohibition 622
  similar to that imposed upon Caledonian MacBrayne in running a vehicle-carrying ferry in competition with the Skye bridge once complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December]: My right hon. Friend has no power to prevent a private operator from providing such a service. Any private operator would, of course, require to satisfy the appropriate certification requirements for ferry operators.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations or advice he has received from the European Commission concerning sanctuaries in the vicinity of Kyle of Lochalsh, in the light of the construction of the bridge to Skye; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December]: There have been no representations or advice received by my right hon. Friend from the European Commission concerning sanctuaries in the vicinity of Kyle of Lochalsh.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers are now involved in detective work relating to Lockerbie and Pan AM 103.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: There are currently five officers of the Dumfries and Galloway constabulary engaged in work relating to the Lockerbie investigation.

  Defence Initiative
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Scottish defence initiative with specific regard to the funds available for this purpose to Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 December 1992]: Scottish Enterprise announced on 3 September this year details of a three-year strategy to help companies adjust to falling defence orders, diversify into other markets and compete more effectively with other European contractors for remaining defence work. Based on an in-depth analysis of the Scottish defence sector, the strategy represents a significant step forward in helping companies respond to rapidly changing defence markets.

  It is for Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies to determine the priority and resources to be allocated to measures arising out of the initiative. Scottish Enterprise, however, attaches high priority to the initiative and measures associated with it; and it is likely, therefore, that proposals arising out of the initiative included in local enterprise companies' business plans will be given favourable consideration by Scottish Enterprise in reaching its decisions about funding support.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Scrapie
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in considering the application by Dr. Narang and Professor Oxford to
  623
  investigate the single-stranded DNA of scrapie, he will make it his policy that persons involved in doing similar research within his own Department do not form part of the application evaluation team.

  Mr. Soames
  No, but the normal requirements of confidentiality and impartiality will be followed in this case as in all other proposals for ministry support.

  Canthaxanthin
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive reports from departmental advisory committees relating to canthaxanthin; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  This matter is not under consideration by departmental committees. The position is that the latest scientific data are currently being evaluated by the EC Scientific Committee for Food. I have instructed officials to keep in touch with developments.

  Orchards
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will state, in tabular form, the amount granted for the grubbing-up of apple orchards in each of the last five years under the apple orchard grubbing-up scheme; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what proportion of the orchards grubbed-up, aided by his Department's apple orchard grubbing-up scheme, were (a) culinary and dessert apples and (b) cider apples; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what assessment of landscape and wildlife is made before the granting of aid under his Department's apple orchard grubbing-up scheme; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what mechanisms are in place to avoid conflicts of interest between his Department's apple orchard grubbing-up scheme and the Countryside Commission funded scheme providing incentives for replanting of traditional orchards in Somerset; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if he will conduct a departmental inquiry into the provision of grant aid for the grubbing-up of apple orchards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The apple orchard grubbing-up grant scheme opened to growers in February 1991. The final date for submission of applications was, 1 December 1992. To the end of September 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, grant of £1·6 million had been paid. All orchards grubbed-up under the scheme were of culinary and dessert apples. Cider apple orchards are not eligible for grant. The EC rules for the scheme do not permit member states to make eligibility for grant conditional upon an assessment of landscape and wildlife but applicants whose orchards are in a site of special scientific interest must consult the Nature Conservancy Council before grubbing-up. Applicants with orchards in nitrate sensitive areas or environmentally sensitive areas are

  North sea: quotas for the United Kingdom

  Stock

  Area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Herring

  IIa,IVa,IVb

  75,989

  67,150

  65,930

  61,090

  Herring

  IVc,VIId

  2,000

  2,050

  4,230

  3,980

  Sprat1

  IIa,IV

  n/a

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  Cod

  IIa,IV

  55,800

  45,857

  43,570

  43,220

  624
  recommended to seek the advice of the NSA or ESA project officer before making an application for grant. It is standard MAFF practice for policies such as this to be evaluated.

  There is no conflict between this scheme and the Countryside Commission's scheme which have quite different objectives. The apple orchard grubbing-up scheme is aimed at reducing over production of culinary and dessert apples in the Community. Grant is therefore limited to young, productive, commercial orchards with a 15-year restriction on replanting. The Countryside Commission's scheme is concerned with encouraging the conservation of old, traditional orchards and apple varieties.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants from his Department have been relocated from London to other parts of the United Kingdom(a) in the last five years and (b) in the last 10 years; and to where they were relocated.

  Mr. Curry
  Apart from staff movements that occur routinely within any Department with a large regional organisation, over the past five years some 202 departmental posts have been relocated from London, of which 44 went to Guildford, 42 to Exeter, 19 to Norwich, 14 to Gloucester, 14 to Alnwick and 69 to Oxford. In the preceding five years, four London posts were moved to Alnwick.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the protection and designation of environmentally sensitive areas to less favoured areas.

  Mr. Curry
  Environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) have already been designated in four parts of the English less favoured areas: the north Peak, Pennine dales, Shropshire borders (Clun) and west Penwith. In January of next year we plan to launch new ESAs in the less favoured areas of Exmoor, the Lake district and south west Peak. We also plan to hold consultations on further new ESAs for Dartmoor and the Shropshire hills, which we hope to introduce in the following winter.

  Fish
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the quota for each species of fish in each of the British fishing grounds for each of the last four years.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested, reflecting all quota exchanges made during each year, is set out in the following tables.
  625

  Stock

  Area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Cod

  IIb

  1,480

  670

  910

  1,270

  Haddock

  IIa,IV

  55,541

  36,480

  37,115

  42,640

  Saithe

  IIa,III,IV

  14,910

  12,136

  11,836

  9,820

  Whiting

  IIa,IV

  44,040

  29,260

  34,452

  31,370

  Hake

  IIa,IV

  380

  420

  420

  430

  Mackerel

  IIa,III,IV

  710

  1,000

  1,530

  1,750

  Plaice

  IIa,IV

  26,479

  31,597

  31,430

  48,030

  Sole

  IIa,IV

  825

  1,670

  1,830

  1,070

  1No allocation between Member States of EC availability in 1989. In 1990–92 United Kingdom fishermen had access to quota and also to EC availability not allocated specifically to Member States.

  West of Scotland: Quotas for the United Kingdom

  Stock

  Area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Herring

  Vb, VIa(N), VI

  40,430

  40,430

  33,320

  33,320

  Herring

  VIa (Clyde)

  3,200

  2,600

  2,900

  2,300

  Cod

  Vb, VI

  9,700

  8,375

  8,330

  6,915

  Haddock

  Vb, VI

  28,210

  19,385

  12,250

  9,985

  Saithe

  Vb, VI

  5,310

  5,130

  4,405

  3,965

  Pollack

  Vb, VI

  340

  400

  400

  400

  Whiting

  Vb, VI

  9,400

  6,775

  5,550

  4,835

  Mackerel

  II, Vb, VI, VII

  189,581

  191,030

  197,630

  234,950

  Plaice

  Vb, VI

  1,210

  1,210

  1,460

  1,460

  Sole

  Vb, VI

  20

  25

  30

  30

  Megrim

  Vb, VI

  1,678

  1,618

  1,520

  1,520

  Anglerfish

  Vb, VI

  3,370

  3,335

  3,230

  2,650

  Nephrops

  Vb, VI

  15,620

  15,620

  13,185

  12,000

  Area VII (Channel and Irish Sea): quotas for the United Kingdom

  Stock

  Area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Herring

  VIIa

  4,440

  5,180

  4,440

  5,180

  Herring

  VIIef

  250

  250

  250

  500

  Herring

  VIIg-k

  20

  20

  0

  30

  Sprat

  VIIde

  7,140

  7,140

  7,140

  6,300

  Cod

  VII (ex VIIa)

  2,250

  2,290

  1,960

  1,660

  Cod

  VIIa

  6,500

  7,330

  3,765

  3,355

  Haddock

  VII

  600

  730

  600

  600

  Saithe

  VII

  2,150

  2,150

  2,150

  2,150

  Pollack

  VII

  2,390

  2,440

  2,440

  2,440

  Whiting

  VII (ex VIIa)

  2,160

  2,700

  2,700

  2,360

  Whiting

  VIIa

  9,330

  7,395

  4,183

  3,865

  Hake

  Vb, VI, VII

  6,260

  6,671

  7,150

  6,960

  Plaice

  VIIa

  3,050

  2,613

  2,370

  1,840

  Plaice

  VIIde

  3,400

  3,110

  3,110

  2,790

  Plaice

  VIIfg

  590

  450

  450

  350

  Plaice

  VIIhjk

  435

  435

  435

  170

  Sole

  VIIa

  625

  589

  612

  295

  Sole

  VIId

  780

  740

  820

  675

  Sole

  VIIe

  590

  530

  473

  470

  Sole

  VIIfg

  590

  450

  450

  350

  Sole

  VIIhjk

  240

  215

  235

  120

  Megrim

  VII

  2,240

  2,280

  2,280

  2,280

  Anglerfish

  VII

  6,340

  6,340

  6,280

  5,950

  Nephrops

  VII

  8,530

  8,530

  6,785

  6,565

  Area =zones used by the International Council of the Exploration of the Seas. A map of these is attached to the Explanatory Memorandum dated 10 December 1991 setting out the TACs and Quota proposals for 1992.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what forms of grant aiding of abattoirs are permitted under EC regulatory requirements.

  Mr. Soames
  The long-standing system of EC grants for projects for the marketing and processing of agricultural 626
  produce, which did not apply to slaughterhouses, closed on 30 September 1992. There is currently no replacement EC scheme.

  Compliance with EC slaughterhouse standards has never brought with it any guarantee of help to defray the costs involved. Nor, though it is quite common for new statutory standards to be introduced, is it usual for grant aid to be provided to enable them to be achieved. The provision of such aid would be quite unfair on those who have already made the commitment of there own funds to come up to standard or those who have maintained their premises to comply with existing GB legislation and will have to do little to comply with the new rules.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of(a) the capacity of slaughtering facilities in the United Kingdom, (b) the extent to which the capacity of slaughtering facilities in the United Kingdom meets the demand for such activities and (c) the extent to which the capacity for slaughtering in the United Kingdom meets the requirements of small butchers to select livestock for slaughter.

  Mr. Soames
  The Meat and Livestock Commission estimates the theoretical Great Britain slaughter capacity after 1992 will be nearly 300,000 livestock units a week, compared with average weekly slaughterings in 1990–91 of fewer than 200,000 livestock units.

  Where demand exists for particular types of slaughtering facilities, the market will no doubt ensure that this is met.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what EC mechanisms exist to ensure that all EC countries apply the regulations relating to abattoirs consistently; and what differences he has identified between the United Kingdom's approach to the use of veterinary personnel for inspection in abattoirs and that adopted by other EC countries.

  Mr. Soames
  All member states have to notify the Commission when and how they have implemented EC directives. In the red meat sector the Commission has a veterinary inspectorate which visits each member state regularly to ensure that the EC legislation is being properly applied.

  The United Kingdom has traditionally made less use of veterinary personnel for food hygiene work than most other member states. The Government consider that veterinary surgeons have an important role at abattoirs in the protection of human and animal health, and therefore accepted the requirements in the EC Fresh Meat Directive 91/497 for all abattoirs to be supervised by a veterinary surgeon and for all animals to undergo veterinary ante-mortem inspection. This is already the position in

  627
  most other member states, many of which also use qualified veterinary surgeons for post-mortem inspection which will normally continue to be done by meat inspectors in this country.

  The United Kingdom has successfully resisted EC proposals for compulsory veterinary supervision of meat products plants.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) to what extent the welfare of casualty livestock being transported is taken into account in the implementation of EC regulations on abattoir standards;

  (2) to what extent animal welfare considerations have been taken into account in determining implementation of EC regulations relating to abattoir standards.

  Mr. Soames
  The structural and handling requirements of the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992 take account of the need to protect the welfare of animals. The requirement for veterinary ante-mortem inspection of all animals post-1992 will provide further safeguards.

  Casualty animals must receive speedy and compassionate treatment. No sick or injured animal should be transported at all if to do so would cause it unnecessary pain or suffering. Under the Fresh Meat Regulations all slaughterhouses have to have facilities to isolate animals which are diseased or injured or suspected of being diseased or injured. I am aware, however, that some large slaughterhouses may be reluctant to take in casualties and I will monitor the situation closely next year.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission on derogation for small abattoirs to be permitted to slaughter increased numbers of livestock.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister gave regarding safeguarding small traditional slaughterhouses on Wednesday, 3 December,Official Report, columns 223–24.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the need for the increased movement of animals for slaughter arising out of EC requirements on slaughterhouse specifications.

  Mr. Soames
  None. There is no evidence that farmers always send animals to the nearest slaughterhouse and, of course, many animals go for slaughter via livestock markets.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the action he is taking to avoid damage to health through the use of certain organo-phosphorus sheep dips.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH) apply to sheep dipping operations. They are enforced on farms by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors. During visits to farms, HSE inspectors
  628
  draw attention to specific legal requirements and give advice and guidance on the precautions to be taken to prevent risks to health. Enforcement action is taken where necessary.

  HSE has published a leaflet entitled "Sheep dipping: Protect your health". The leaflet provides guidance to farmers on compliance with COSHH when engaged in sheep dipping operations. It warns of the hazards of sheep dips and sets out the precautions to be taken before, during and after dipping.

HEALTH

  Local Community Hospitals
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what encouragement she can give to purchasers and providers within the health service to promote and sustain local community hospitals in rural areas.

  Mr. Sackville
  Both purchasers and providers now have an unprecedented opportunity to tailor health services to meet local needs. National health service trusts, in particular, have a greater freedom over day-to-day operational matters and can be more responsive to patients. Health authorities are in a better position to focus on assessing the health needs and preferences of the local population and securing services to meet those needs and preferences.

  Smoking
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many death certificates mentioned smoking in 1979 and in the most recent year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Reliable information on this has not been available but, from next year, we hope that new procedures on death certification may produce more usable information.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on patients' waiting times between referral and initial out-patient consultations.

  Mr. Sackville
  Under the patients charter, health authorities are required to publish information on the local standards for first out-patient appointments and on performance against standards. Regional health authorities have been asked to set targets to build on this progress for 1993–94.

  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she expects to make in reducing waiting times under the patients charter.

  Mr. Sackville
  From April 1993, there will be a new and additional patients charter guarantee of a maximum wait of 18 months for a hip or knee replacement or a cataract operation. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced that regions would be asked to set targets for waiting time for first out-patient appointments.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the latest figure for waiting lists.
  629
  Mr. Sackville
  On 11 November, I announced provisional waiting time figures for September which showed that the number of patients waiting over a year fell by 3·6 per cent. over the previous quarter.

  NHS Trusts
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes she is considering to the consultation procedure relating to the creation of NHS trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The procedure for consulting community health councils and other appropriate bodies about establishing a national health service trust is laid down in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. I am not considering any changes to that procedure.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of interest she has received in the fourth wave of NHS trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have given permission to 121 units to prepare national health service trust applications in the fourth wave. If they are succesful, then 95 per cent. of the hospital and community health services budget will be spent through national health service trusts from April 1994. A list of 121 units has been placed in the Library.

  Addiction and Alcoholism
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her policy on addiction and alcoholism.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Our policies for preventing and reducing the damage which the misuse of alcohol and drugs can inflict are carried through in a series of co-ordinated programmes which include those being developed under "The Health of the Nation" and "Caring for People", and initiatives such as the highly successful European drug prevention week.

  "The Health of the Nation"
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what nutritional recommendations her Department will make in order to meet the targets set out in "The Health of the Nation".

  Dr. Mawhinney
  As promised in the Government's White Paper, we have set up a nutrition task force, under the chairmanship of Dame Barbara Clayton, to recommend a co-ordinated action programme for meeting the nutrition targets.

  The task force will meet for the first time on 16 December.

  Fund-holding Practices
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of complementary therapists employed in(a) fund-holding general practitioner practices and (b) non-fund-holding general practitioner practices.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally. However, my hon. Friend will wish to know that it is open to all general practitioners to employ a wide range of staff, including complemenatary therapists, where appropriate, to assist them in the provision of general medical services.
  630
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress being made by fund-holding practices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is clear that fund-holding practices are delivering real benefits to patients. This is reflected in the growing number of practices joining the scheme, which we expect will cover one in four of the population from April 1993.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase prescription charges; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Judgments are made each year about how finite health resources can be best targeted for maximum health gain. Prescription charges are one aspect of these considerations. Any announcements will be made at the appropriate time.

  Elderly Population
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give her best estimates of the impact of the increase in the elderly population on health expenditure; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) earlier today.

  London's Health Services
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made in her consideration of the Tomlinson proposals of the effects on the waiting lists in south London if either St. Thomas's or Guy's hospital is closed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Tomlinson report notes that significant progress has been made in reducing waiting times in London. We shall ensure that the proposals arising from the report continue this trend.

  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give an undertaking that no beds will be closed in London as a result of the Tomlinson inquiry before steps have been taken to improve community health services.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms. Jackson) on 26 November, at column 811.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the current situation in Greenwich and Bexley regarding the processing of formal complaints regarding NHS dental treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Greenwich and Bexley local dental committee has decided to withdraw its co-operation from dental service committees which are the statutory local bodies set up to investigate complaints alleging that a dentist has breached his or her terms of service. The National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations require that dental service
  631
  committees include dental practitioners nominated by the local dental committee. Therefore, for the present, dental service committee investigations cannot be conducted for this family health services authority and three complaints are awaiting investigation. I very much regret that some dentists have decided to take action which disrupts this service to patients. I hope they will agree to resume co-operation.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that the service of salaried dentists will be made available throughout the family health services authority covering the Chorley constituency.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  An application for approval to appoint a salaried dentist to provide treatment in the Chorley and South Ribble area was received on 1 December. We are dealing with the application as a matter of priority.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the pay review body for dentists is due to commence and complete its investigations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 9 July 1992 that Sir Kenneth Bloomfield had been appointed to carry out a fundamental review of the dental remuneration system. Sir Kenneth has been asked to report before the end of the year.

  Patient Statistics
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of patients being treated as out-patients and in-patients in(a) England and (b) the north-west in 1975 and 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is given in the table.

  In-patients1

  Out-patients

  England

  1975

  4,975,750

  30,947,482

  1990–91

  7,524,192

  36,130,499

  North western region

  1975

  453,481

  2,737,230

  1990–91

  733,809

  3,482,235

  1 For 1975, the information refers to finished hospital stays (discharges and deaths). For 1990–91, the information refers to finished consultant episodes.

  A finished hospital stay is a discharge from a hospital—or a death in a hospital—or transfer to another hospital.A finished consultant episode is a completed period of care of a patient using a bed under the care of one consultant in a particular health authority, and will therefore tend to record a higher count. Finished consultant episodes includes a count of healthy live-born babies who were not counted as finished hospital stays.

  Osteopathy
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent consideration she has given to the regulation of osteopathy; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if she will make it her policy that patients who consult an osteopath should have a guarantee that their practitioner is trained to minimum standards of competence and is regulated by a governing body capable off enforcing an appropriate code of practice.
  632
  Mr. Sackville
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Wolfson) on 3 December at column 320.

  Natural Medicines
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that the cost-effectiveness and value of natural medicines are known to health authorities, hospitals, doctors and community health organisations.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department sponsors work on cost-effectiveness of interventions in various universities and is currently funding a team of researchers from York and Leeds universities to produce a series of "effectiveness bulletins" to provide information for the national health service. Information bulletins are also produced by the medicines resources centre which provide data on the clinical impact of various pharmaceuticals and their costs of administration. This work is of recent origin and currently covers only a small proportion of interventions. So far, there has been no work on natural medicines, but it is not ruled out in the future.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how natural medicines will be incorporated into the strategy behind the Government White Paper, "The Health of the Nation".

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service, in partnership with voluntary and other organisations, may adopt a variety of approaches in meeting the targets set in the five key areas selected initially for development of "The Health of the Nation" strategy. Natural therapies may be incorporated in local programmes where they are considered appropriate and cost-effective.

  Unlicensed Medicines
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to strengthen laws relating to those who supply products that are not licensed as medicines but are advertised or labelled as such.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The enforcement unit of the Medicines Control Agency investigates all reports of an unlicensed product being supplied or promoted as a medicinal product, and appropriate action is taken to prevent the supply of such products.

  Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hospitals in the west midlands region, indicating in respect of each(a) whether they provide neurosurgery and neurology and (b) whether they have the provision of magnetic resonance imaging.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir James Ackers, the chairman of West Midlands regional health authority, for details.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the revenue and capital allocations for regional health authorities in 1993–94.
  633
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Main revenue allocations for resident population are set out in table 1. These are provisional until Parliament has approved the relevant Supply estimate.

  Regions are to receive an average cash increase of 2·7 per cent., and I have decided that all regions should get a minimum increase of 0·4 per cent. above forecast inflation for the hospital and community health services of 1·9 per cent.

  This is mainly to enable all regions to make further progress towards resource equalisation between districts.

  I will announce capital cash limits for regional health authorities and the external financing limits of national health service trusts at a later date. Table 2 sets out the planning totals for each region. Regional health authorities and NHS Management Executive outposts will be giving me agreed proposals for the deployment of these planning totals between the regional capital programme and NHS trusts within each region.

  Table 1

  Regional Health Authority Allocations: 1993–94 Revenue Allocations for Resident Populations

  Allocation for Resident Populations (£000s)

  Percentage Increase Over Inflation

  Northern

  1,159,723

  1·03

  Yorkshire

  1,334,886

  0·67

  Trent

  1,672,751

  1·16

  East Anglia

  704,794

  1·18

  North West Thames

  1,320,749

  0·40

  North East Thames

  1,490,187

  0·40

  South East Thames

  1,439,276

  0·40

  South West Thames

  1,116,107

  0·40

  Wessex

  1,033,656

  1·48

  Oxford

  794,779

  0·86

  South Western

  1,185,708

  1·16

  West Midlands

  1,855,142

  1·00

  Mersey

  890,032

  0·58

  North Western

  1,505,427

  0·70

  England

  17,503,217

  0·80

  Table 2

  NHS regional main capital planning totals for 1993–94

  Region (both NHS trusts' and health authorities' main capital expenditure)

  Regional capital planning total (£ millions)

  Northern

  105

  Yorkshire

  122

  Trent

  154

  East Anglian

  67

  North West Thames

  102

  North East Thames

  115

  South East Thames

  119

  South West Thames

  91

  Wessex

  97

  Oxford

  75

  South Western

  111

  West Midlands

  170

  Mersey

  80

  North Western

  135

  Total

  1,543

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the financial allocation for each regional health authority for 1992–93 and 1993–94.
  634
  Mr. Sackville
  The table shows the 1992–93 revenue allocation for resident population of each regional health authority as announced on 5 December 1991 by the then Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), at columns 262–63.

  In addition to initial allocations for resident population, regions are given cash limit additions for specific purposes throughout the year.

  For details of the regional allocation for 1993–94, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) today.

  1992–93 Allocation for resident population

  Region

  £ million

  Northern

  1,106·7

  Yorkshire

  1,276·4

  Trent

  1,593·6

  East Anglian

  669·2

  North West Thames

  1,260·0

  North East Thames

  1,448·2

  South East Thames

  1,383·1

  South West Thames

  1,078·2

  Wessex

  980·9

  Oxford

  758·2

  South Western

  1,28·0

  West Midlands

  1,766·6

  Mersey

  856·7

  North Western

  1,439·6

  All regions

  16,745·4

  Low Birth Weight
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the factors which result in low birth weight of children born to mothers resident in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in receipt of income support.

  Mr. Sackville
  Studies have shown that there are many factors associated with low birth weight. It is difficult to identify individual risk factors which may be significant in particular circumstances, for instance, women living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. However, the importance of a balanced diet for the general health and well-being of pregnant women and their children has long been recognised and for that reason, pregnant women receiving income support are entitled to free milk and supplementary vitamins. Other important considerations are timely access to antenatal care and advice from relevant health professionals and reducing smoking in pregnancy, the latter being a significant factor in weight differences between babies. As a priority for 1992–93, the chief executive of the National Health Service Management Executive has asked all health authorities to focus on measures to reduce smoking in pregnancy and to improve women's access to maternity services. A number of innovative schemes have been introduced by health authorities across the country to improve access to maternity care for women living in the inner city. A scheme in Mersey region, based at the Princes Park health centre in Toxteth, is directing services specifically at women living in bed-and-breakfast and hostel accommodation.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the work of the Audit Commission in respect of the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 extended the remit of the Audit Commission to include the external audit of health bodies. This encompasses the audit of financial regularity and studies aimed at improving the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which services are provided. The work of the commission is described more fully in its annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Chairmen
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria she uses in selecting and appointing chairmen of national health service trusts and health authorities.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Chairmen and members are appointed to national health service trusts and health authorities for the personal qualities, knowledge and skills they can bring to the post.

  NHS Pay
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance will be issued to enforce the 1·5 per cent. pay rise ceiling she has set for NHS staff; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 23 November at column 505.

  Medical Complaints
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take measures to speed up medical complaints procedures and make them more patient-friendly.

  Mr. Sackville
  The patients charter has given people the right to have any complaint about national health service services—whoever provides them—investigated and to receive a full and prompt written reply from the chief executive or the general manager.

  In addition, the recent extension of the patients charter into primary health care has set targets for family health services authorities to improve their performance in dealing with complaints about general medical services.

  Hib Vaccine
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the arrangements for general practitioners to call in children aged seven to 11 months in order for them to be vaccinated with haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine.

  Mr. Sackville
  Haemophilus influenzae B (Hib) immunisation was launched on 1 October this year as a major addition to the Government's programme for the prevention of childhood diseases. General practitioners were sent an information pack at the end of July, which explained the need for a phased schedule of immunisation to ensure that those children most at risk from invasive haemophilus disease—aged up to 12 months—were 636
  immunised first. In accordance with the schedule children aged between seven and 11 months are being called in for immunisation between October 1992 and March 1993. The objective is to immunise all children aged under four years by September 1993.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been inoculated with haemophilus influenzae type B since it was introudced between the ages of seven and 11 months; and how many such children have been refused such inoculation in the current year.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the numbers of children immunised with Hib vaccine between the ages of seven and 11 months is not available. Arrangements have been made for all these children to be offered Hib vaccine in accordance with the call-up schedule provided for general practitioners and clinics. Two million doses of Hib vaccine had been made available nationally by the end of November.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent publicising the dangers of haemophilus influenzae to children between the ages of seven and 11 months.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health and the Health Education Authority have worked together in preparing publicity about haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) immunisation. Publicity is being directed at parents with children aged under four years with special emphasis on children aged under one year because these children are more vulnerable to the disease. Expenditure on television advertising, local radio campaigns, display advertisements in the mother and baby press, leaflets and posters will amount to £1·4 million in the current financial year.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine has been made available to general practitioners in Devon; and if she will make a statement on the rationing arrangements for haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine to doctors in Devon for inoculation of children aged seven to 11 months.

  Mr. Sackville
  The distribution of the two brands of haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine to the health districts in Devon for delivery to both general practitioners and clinics up to 30 November is set out. The number of doses of Act Hib required in each district were calculated according to a formula based on the local birth rate.

  Health district

  Act Hib (mainly for children below 12 months of age. These children receive 3 doses each.)

  Hib TITER (for children between 1 and 4 years of age. These children receive 1 dose each.)

  Doses

  Doses

  Exeter

  4,240

  1,350

  North Devon

  3,150

  2,270

  Plymouth

  10,460

  3,700

  Torbay

  3,860

  2,870

  A further delivery of the Act Hib vaccine, 3,000 doses for Exeter and 500 doses for Plymouth, was due to be made on 7 December.

  The orders that have been fulfilled and the amount planned for delivery over the coming months will be enough to enable all children in Devon under the age of

  637
  four to be immunised by September 1993. It is the responsibility of local health authorities to arrange equitable distribution of the vaccine they receive, according to the requirements of clinics and general practitioners, and to make any adjustments to the supply arrangements considered necessary.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the availability of haemophilus influenza type B vaccine; from where it is purchased; how much has been spent on it; and what problems have arisen in relation to distribution.

  Mr. Sackville
  The vaccine is supplied by two manufacturers, Merieux under the name "Act Hib", and Lederle/Praxis under the name "Hib TITER". In the first two months of the programme, 2 million doses were distributed. By March 1993, the number of doses distributed will have increased to 5 million—more than enough to cover all children aged under one year and to allow for the immunisation of many older children who would otherwise be called in at a later stage in the programme. The objective is to immunise all children under four years of age by September 1993. Expenditure so far has totalled £9 million, with further substantial payments to be made in this and future financial years. If there are any local problems on distribution, it is for the responsible health authority to take the necessary action to put matters right.

  Wellbury House
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice has been given to Hertfordshire social services department in relation to future steps to regulate activities at Wellbury house;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the suitability of conditions at Wellbury house for people under the age of 18 years to reside in the premises; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what steps have been taken to register Wellbury house in Hertfordshire as a voluntary children's home; when application forms were received; what action she has taken; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is the responsibility of Hertfordshire county council to judge whether conditions at Wellbury house are suitable for children accommodated there. General guidance on the protection of the welfare of children has been issued to all local authorities.

  Ashworth Special Hospital
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans to review conditions at Ashworth special hospital.

  Mr. Yeo
  The report of the committee of inquiry into complaints about Ashworth hospital, chaired by Sir Louis Blom-Cooper QC, was published on 5 August. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that we and the Special Hospitals Service Authority (SHSA) accepted the great majority of the report's recommendations, and set out the action being taken on the issues it raised.

  The finding of improper conduct and ill-treatment of patients by a number of staff were to be dealt with in accordance with the SHSA's disciplinary procedures. As a
  638
  result of these two of the staff concerned have now been dismissed, one has been demoted, two given final written warnings and one a first written warning. In five cases no action was taken following the disciplinary hearing and one case was not proceeded with.

  My right hon. Friend also stated that the SHSA were drawing up an action plan for implementing the agreed recommendations and that a task force was being formed at the hospital—with reinforcement from outside—to take immediate responsibility for carrying it out. We have approved the action plan which the SHSA submitted, as it was required to, at the end of August. The work of the task force is supervised by a steering committee comprising the chairman, vice-chairman and chief executive of the SHSA, which is submitting regular progress reports to me. We will be arranging an independent audit of the action taken on the Inquiry report during the course of next year.

  The inquiry reported on unacceptable literature being circulated at the hospital and two former senior police officers have been appointed to investigate this. To date, two members of staff have been suspended as a result of these investigations.

  My right hon.Friend also announced that we were forming a working group to consider the most effective provision of services for patients requiring psychiatric treatment in conditions of high security, and the relationship between such services and those provided within national health service regions and the prison service. This group, which is chaired by Dr. John Reed of the Department of Health, started work in October and is due to report by April next year.

  My right hon. Friend's statement made clear our concern about the findings of the Inquiry report about a number of aspects of the care and treatment provided at Ashworth hospital. It also recognised the excellent work which is done at Ashworth by many dedicated staff. The action we have taken, and which is continuing, demonstrates our commitment to support and develop this work while tackling the deficiencies revealed by the report and their underlying causes.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for every health authority in England(a) the total number and (b) the percentage of operating theatre sessions cancelled in 1991–92.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information at district health authority level for 1991–92 is not yet available. A summary booklet containing the information will be published early in the new year and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Hospital Consultations
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of introducing job evaluation schemes for hospital consultations in the west midlands; and whether the work was awarded as a result of competitive tender.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for West Midlands regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir James Ackers, the chairman of West Midlands RHA, for details.

  Codex Alimentarius Commission
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission; and what discussions her Department has had with the commission.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is a subsidiary body of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation. Membership is open to all member nations and associate members of the two organisations. The CAC aims to facilitate world food trade through agreed, harmonised standards with adequate protection for consumer health. CAC work is done through subsidiary committees which deal with particular commodities and general food issues, and through regional groupings for geographical areas.

  This Department plays a full and active part in the Committee on Food Hygiene and is currently drafting a revised text on general principles of food hygiene for that committee.

  The document "Introducing Codex Alimentarius" contains full details on the work of the CAC and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  NHS Supplies Authority
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the financial turnover for the National Health Service Supplies Authority in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on its future operation.

  Nursing and midwifery staff by geographical area England—September 1987 to 1991 (wte) Excluding agency staff1

  September

  Regional health authorities

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  27,540

  27,770

  27,800

  27,310

  27,270

  Yorkshire

  30,300

  30,150

  30,120

  30,020

  29,460

  Trent

  37,970

  38,250

  38,100

  38,210

  37,950

  East Anglia

  15,750

  15,950

  16,150

  16,140

  15,730

  North West Thames

  26,800

  26,670

  26,810

  26,480

  26,480

  North East Thames

  32,410

  32,730

  32,890

  32,980

  32,750

  South East Thames

  29,650

  29,280

  29,350

  29,110

  28,280

  South West Thames

  23,250

  23,030

  22,940

  22,120

  21,590

  Wessex

  23,160

  23,620

  23,360

  23,690

  23,570

  Oxford

  17,090

  16,930

  16,950

  17,080

  16,820

  South Western

  27,360

  27,220

  27,150

  27,340

  27,030

  West Midlands

  42,910

  41,870

  42,130

  42,070

  41,300

  Mersey

  21,950

  22,110

  21,960

  21,090

  20,100

  North Western

  37,190

  37,490

  37,510

  36,990

  36,480

  London post graduate special health authorities

  4,570

  4,570

  4,820

  4,650

  5,270

  England total

  397,910

  397,650

  398,050

  395,360

  1392,200

  Source: Department of health HAP(STATS)B annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  Note: All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.

  1 The total for 1991 includes about 2,100 WTEs which are not included in the figures above. The corresponding shortfall for 1987–90 inclusive is much smaller.

  Agency nursing and midwifery staff working in the NHS by geographical area 1987–91 England at 30 September each year(wte)

  Regional health authorities

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  —2

  —3

  —3

  —2

  —3

  Yorkshire

  90

  180

  160

  120

  110

  Trent

  —3

  30

  150

  10

  130

  East Anglia

  220

  190

  190

  280

  240

  North West Thames

  990

  1,160

  1,540

  1,080

  710

  North East Thames

  1,900

  1,750

  1,530

  1,190

  910

  South East Thames

  1,130

  1,200

  1,250

  1,000

  430

  640
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The National Health Service Supplies Authority was established in October 1991 but has only assumed full operational responsibility for all supply matters with effect from 1 October 1992. Its annualised turnover for the current financial year is expected to be £510 million, plus an additional £3,000 million for goods and services procured on behalf of customers which are delivered and invoiced directly to them.

  NHS Supplies was set up:
  to provide a professional and responsive supplies service that meets both the present and future needs of its customers;
  to ensure the best value for money for every pound the NHS spends on goods and services; and
  to save its customers money that could be better spent on health care.
  The performance of NHS Supplies against targets agreed with the authority will be subject to continuing scrutiny by the NHS Management Executive.

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for each of the last five years for England and for each national health service region(a) the total number of whole-time equivalent nurses and midwives employed in the hospital and community health services on 30 September and (b) the total number of agency nurses and midwives working in the hospital and community health services on 30 September.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is given in the tables.

  Regional health authorities

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  South West Thames

  670

  740

  1,000

  950

  520

  Wessex1

  —2

  60

  40

  —3

  10

  Oxford

  90

  90

  100

  230

  180

  South Western

  60

  80

  190

  150

  70

  West Midlands

  280

  290

  410

  1,150

  370

  Mersey

  60

  80

  70

  90

  70

  North Western1

  60

  50

  110

  140

  90

  London Post Graduate Special Health Authorities

  560

  330

  500

  320

  90

  England Total

  6,130

  6,240

  7,230

  6,710

  3,930

  641
  Source: Department of Health HAP(STATS)B annual census of NHS non-medical manpower

  Note: All figures independently rounded to nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.

  1 Figures are unreliable.

  2 Less than 5.

  3 Nil or negligible.

  Limited List Prescribing
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the savings which might accrue from the extensions to the limited list prescribing system which have been announced; and when it was made.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Savings will depend on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information the advisory committee which is to consider the new categories on the limited list has been given about the savings which it is hoped might be made by the Department through the extension of the limited list prescribing system.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the advisory committee which is to consider the new categories relating to the limited list prescribing system is able to recommend a nil entry under one or more category heading.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Yes.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whom she consulted about the definitions of the new categories which are to be considered in connection with the limited list prescribing system; and when that consultation took place.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The new categories reflect those used in the British National Formulary which are generally recognised by doctors and dentists and pharmacists.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she conducted, and what criteria she used in assessing the results, in coming to an assessment on the impact on patients and other users of her decision to extend the limited list prescribing arrangements.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such studies were necessary. Extending the scope of the selected list scheme to ten new therapeutic categories will not affect patients' or other users' ability to receive the medicines they need when they need them and for as long as they need them. As now, decisions on individual drugs will be taken on the basis of advice from the independent Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs comprising doctors, dentists and pharmacists appointed after consultation with relevant professional organisations. The drugs necessary to meet all clinical needs will remain available on NHS prescription.

  Community Care
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that education opportunities paid for by her Department for people 642
  returning to the community from long-stay institutions are not reduced when responsibility for funding further and continuing education is transferred from local authority control in April 1993; what plans she has in place to monitor such provision; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The establishment of the further education funding councils, from April 1993, and the transfer to them of some of the local education authorities' statutory duties to secure the provision of further education, has not changed local authorities duties towards disabled people under section 2(1)(c) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. Local authorities have a clear duty under this Act to make arrangments for assisting a disabled person, who is ordinarily resident in their area, in taking advantage of educational opportunities available to him or her, if they are satisfied that it is necessary in order to meet that person's needs. Such assistance might, in appropriate cases, include the funding by the local authority of the personal care required to enable the student in question to pursue his or her studies. It is, of course, for the authority to decide in each case, what the individual's needs are, and how they are to be met.

  Prime responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the Act rests with local authorities themselves, to ensure that their policies are compatible with their legal obligations. The Department receives regular returns on certain services provided by local authorities under the Act, as well as information from other sources including the social services inspectorate. We follow up specific cases, referred to the Department, where it is alleged that a local authority is in breech of its statutory duties.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received concerning her requirement for local authorities to spend a fixed percentage of community care funding on independent sector provision after April.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have consulted widely on our proposals for funding community care. I received a number of representations on this particular point, all of which were carefully considered before the final decision was reached.

  Nutrition Task Force
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on(a) the establishment of her Department's nutritution task force, (b) its terms of reference, (c) its timetable for reporting and (d) the names of the members of the task force and their professional qualifications.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the membership of the nutrition task force on 7 December 1992. The terms of reference are to be agreed at its first meeting on 16 December 1992. We anticipate receiving the nutrition task force's report on the proposed action programme by late spring 1993, details will then be published. Further details are available in the Library (Department of Health press notice H92/438).

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to implement the catering guidelines of "The Health of the Nation" White Paper; and if she will make a statement.
  643
  Mr. Sackville
  The nutrition task force will consider the opportunities for the promotion of healthy eating. This will include issuing voluntary nutritional guidelines for catering establishments.

  NHS Surgery Costs
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated average cost of NHS procedures for(a) total hip replacement, (b) total knee replacement, (c) coronary artery bypass grafting, (d) mitral/aortic valve replacement, (e) hernia repair, (f) stripping of varicose veins, (g) hysterectomy, (h) tonsillectomy, (i) cataract extraction/lens implant, (j) kidney transplant, (k) heart transplant and (l) heart/lung transplant.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is shown in the table. All estimates of average cost are at 1991–92 prices and inclusive of an allowance for capital charges. Estimates are not available for total knee replacement, stripping of varicose veins, and heart/lung transplant procedures.

  NHS procedure

  Estimated average cost

  (£-1991–92 prices)

  Hip Replacement

  3,810

  Coronary Artery by-pass graph

  5,870

  Heart Valve Replacement

  8,800

  Inguinal Hernia

  1,140

  Hysterectomy

  2,050

  Tonsillectomy

  590

  Cataract Extraction

  1,230

  Kidney Transplant

  13,050

  Heart Transplant

  26,400

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra patients are expected to be treated as a result of the financial settlement for the NHS in 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  We expect an increase of at least 2·5 per cent. in hospital and community health service activity in the national health service in 1993–94. This corresponds to about 190,000 acute in-patients and day cases and an extra 1 million community nursing contacts with equivalent increases in other areas.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government plans to spend on the NHS in 1993–94; and what was spent in 1978–79.

  Mr. Sackville
  Government spending on the NHS in England is planned to be £29 billion in 1993–94, compared with £6·3 billion in 1978–79. This represents a real terms increase of over 59 per cent.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of current spending on the hospital and community health services for each NHS region and for the special health authorities, in each year since 1974–75(a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator and (c) adjusted using the NHS pay and prices index.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 11 November 1992]: The information requested for the financial years 1974–75 to 1990–91 is shown in the table. Information for 1991–92 will be available shortly.
  644

  Total revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services (HCHS) 1974–75

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  146,761

  854,296

  714,204

  Yorkshire

  166,145

  967,130

  808,535

  Trent

  182,485

  1,062,245

  888,052

  East Anglian

  77,289

  449,899

  376,122

  North West Thames

  212,895

  1,239,262

  1,036,041

  North East Thames

  231,944

  1,350,146

  1,128,742

  South East Thames

  208,755

  1,215,163

  1,015,894

  South West Thames

  171,278

  997,009

  833,514

  Wessex

  117,059

  681,400

  569,661

  Oxford

  98,613

  574,026

  479,894

  South Western

  143,467

  835,121

  698,174

  West Midlands

  224,244

  1,305,324

  1,091,270

  Mersey

  130,351

  758,773

  634,345

  North Western

  196,021

  1,141,038

  953,924

  SHAs

  43,821

  255,082

  213,252

  Total

  2,351,128

  13,685,916

  11,441,623

  1975–76

  £000

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Regions

  Northern

  192,196

  868,534

  745,088

  Yorkshire

  216,894

  980,144

  840,835

  Trent

  244,361

  1,104,267

  947,317

  East Anglian

  103,253

  466,600

  400,282

  North West Thames

  276,796

  1,250,841

  1,073,058

  North East Thames

  298,422

  1,348,569

  1,156,896

  South East Thames

  279,572

  1,263,386

  1,083,820

  South West Thames

  220,010

  994,225

  852,915

  Wessex

  152,292

  688,208

  590,392

  Oxford

  129,757

  586,372

  503,030

  South Western

  188,419

  851,465

  730,446

  West Midlands

  297,457

  1,344,208

  1,153,155

  Mersey

  169,250

  764,841

  656,133

  North Western

  255,945

  1,156,615

  992,225

  SHAs

  56,548

  255,540

  219,220

  Total

  3,081,172

  13,923,816

  11,944,810

  1976–77

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  215,974

  857,633

  737,486

  Yorkshire

  249,753

  991,769

  852,832

  Trent

  283,301

  1,124,988

  967,388

  East Anglian

  119,672

  475,218

  408,644

  North West Thames

  308,533

  1,225,185

  1,053,548

  North East Thames

  338,128

  1,342,706

  1,154,606

  South East Thames

  321,373

  1,276,172

  1,097,392

  South West Thames

  247,062

  981,083

  843,643

  Wessex

  175,498

  696,903

  599,273

  Oxford

  148,581

  590,015

  507,360

  South Western

  215,618

  856,219

  736,271

  West Midlands

  339,911

  1,349,787

  1,160,694

  Mersey

  189,657

  753,128

  647,622

  North Western

  294,868

  1,170,921

  1,006,886

  SHAs

  64,423

  255,824

  219,985

  645

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Total

  3,512,352

  13,947,550

  11,993,628

  1977–78

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  242,429

  886,563

  728,140

  Yorkshire

  279,253

  1,021,228

  838,742

  Trent

  321,868

  1,177,071

  966,737

  East Anglian

  136,202

  498,091

  409,085

  North West Thames

  345,017

  1,261,727

  1,036,265

  North East Thames

  372,460

  1,362,086

  1,118,691

  South East Thames

  356,258

  1,302,836

  1,070,028

  South West Thames

  271,952

  994,528

  816,813

  Wessex

  198,111

  724,492

  595,030

  Oxford

  163,895

  599,364

  492,262

  South Western

  241,844

  884,424

  726,383

  West Midlands

  380,897

  1,392,940

  1,144,032

  Mersey

  213,117

  779,369

  640,101

  North Western

  335,239

  1,225,969

  1,006,897

  SHAs

  72,560

  265,352

  217,935

  Total

  3,931,102

  14,376,040

  11,807,143

  1978–79

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  277,406

  925,426

  751,437

  Yorkshire

  313,533

  1,045,946

  849,298

  Trent

  369,227

  1,231,741

  1,000,162

  East Anglian

  154,459

  515,275

  418,399

  North West Thames

  380,010

  1,267,713

  1,029,371

  North East Thames

  413,284

  1,378,715

  1,119,504

  South East Thames

  395,880

  1,320,656

  1,072,360

  South West Thames

  303,176

  1,011,395

  821,243

  Wessex

  223,569

  745,826

  605,604

  Oxford

  184,427

  615,248

  499,576

  South Western

  272,319

  908,456

  737,658

  West Midlands

  432,881

  1,444,091

  1,172,588

  Mersey

  238,074

  794,215

  644,895

  North Western

  382,627

  1,276,444

  1,036,460

  SHAs

  80,619

  268,945

  218,381

  Total

  4,421,491

  14,750,094

  11,976,935

  1979–80

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  337,997

  935,914

  784,684

  Yorkshire

  380,746

  1,054,286

  883,928

  Trent

  449,348

  1,244,245

  1,043,193

  East Anglian

  188,939

  523,172

  438,635

  North West Thames

  450,636

  1,247,811

  1,046,183

  North East Thames

  488,198

  1,351,820

  1,133,386

  South East Thames

  471,151

  1,304,617

  1,093,810

  South West Thames

  361,292

  1,000,418

  838,765

  Wessex

  271,164

  750,853

  629,526

  Oxford

  223,651

  619,290

  519,221

  South Western

  332,138

  919,690

  771,082

  West Midlands

  532,172

  1,473,584

  1,235,475

  Mersey

  287,489

  796,057

  667,426

  646

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  North Western

  463,250

  1,282,739

  1,075,467

  SHAs

  94,751

  262,366

  219,971

  Total

  5,332,922

  14,766,861

  12,380,752

  1980–81

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input Volume Terms

  Real Terms

  Northern

  437,025

  945,285

  857,417

  Yorkshire

  494,198

  1,068,950

  969,587

  Trent

  585,409

  1,266,240

  1,148,537

  East Anglian

  244,605

  529,081

  479,900

  North West Thames

  580,117

  1,254,793

  1,138,155

  North East Thames

  636,251

  1,376,211

  1,248,286

  South East Thames

  603,001

  1,304,291

  1,183,052

  South West Thames

  465,365

  1,006,584

  913,018

  Wessex

  349,377

  755,702

  685,457

  Oxford

  285,343

  617,197

  559,826

  South Western

  426,839

  923,253

  837,433

  West Midlands

  681,869

  1,474,883

  1,337,786

  Mersey

  368,928

  797,991

  723,815

  North Western

  603,630

  1,305,652

  1,184,286

  SHAs

  123,474

  267,074

  242,249

  Total

  6,885,431

  14,893,187

  13,508,802

  1981–82

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  482,670

  964,857

  863,632

  Yorkshire

  547,802

  1,095,056

  980,171

  Trent

  646,945

  1,293,243

  1,157,566

  East Anglian

  269,169

  538,069

  481,619

  North West Thames

  649,984

  1,299,318

  1,163,003

  North East Thames

  700,172

  1,399,644

  1,252,804

  South East Thames

  662,702

  1,324,741

  1,185,759

  South West Thames

  515,008

  1,029,501

  921,494

  Wessex

  389,027

  777,665

  696,078

  Oxford

  313,135

  625,957

  560,286

  South Western

  474,291

  948,108

  848,639

  West Midlands

  751,667

  1,502,582

  1,344,943

  Mersey

  407,417

  814,427

  728,983

  North Western

  679,828

  1,358,976

  1,216,403

  SHAs

  140,168

  280,196

  250,800

  Total

  7,629,985

  15,252,340

  13,652,180

  1982–83

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  520,838

  977,613

  869,982

  Yorkshire

  583,406

  1,095,053

  974,492

  Trent

  696,746

  1,307,792

  1,163,810

  East Anglian

  288,951

  542,361

  482,649

  North West Thames

  633,215

  1,188,545

  1,057,691

  North East Thames

  800,677

  1,502,871

  1,337,411

  South East Thames

  700,421

  1,314,690

  1,169,948

  South West Thames

  530,393

  995,548

  885,942

  Wessex

  418,407

  785,350

  698,886

  647

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Oxford

  334,669

  628,174

  559,014

  South Western

  507,281

  952,166

  847,337

  West Midlands

  809,722

  1,519,848

  1,352,519

  Mersey

  436,241

  818,824

  728,675

  North Western

  729,550

  1,369,365

  1,218,604

  SHAs

  150,712

  282,886

  251,742

  Total

  8,141,229

  15,281,087

  13,598,702

  1983–84

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  553,996

  989,437

  884,416

  Yorkshire

  619,586

  1,106,581

  989,126

  Trent

  742,437

  1,325,992

  1,185,249

  East Anglian

  312,485

  558,098

  498,860

  North West Thames

  665,435

  1,188,467

  1,062,320

  North East Thames

  841,130

  1,502,258

  1,342,805

  South East Thames

  739,438

  1,320,636

  1,180,461

  South West Thames

  559,102

  998,556

  892,567

  Wessex

  449,145

  802,173

  717,029

  Oxford

  352,838

  630,169

  563,281

  South Western

  540,430

  965,208

  862,759

  West Midlands

  861,251

  1,538,194

  1,374,927

  Mersey

  456,590

  815,470

  728,914

  North Western

  769,183

  1,373,761

  1,227,947

  SHAs

  162,311

  289,887

  259,118

  Total

  8,625,357

  15,404,888

  13,769,779

  1984–85

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  586,852

  990,606

  892,256

  Yorkshire

  657,579

  1,109,993

  999,790

  Trent

  795,285

  1,342,441

  1,209,159

  East Anglian

  335,302

  565,990

  509,797

  North West Thames

  701,170

  1,183,575

  1,066,066

  North East Thames

  881,327

  1,487,680

  1,339,978

  South East Thames

  772,108

  1,303,318

  1,173,921

  South West Thames

  586,260

  989,607

  891,356

  Wessex

  482,636

  814,690

  733,805

  Oxford

  381,948

  644,728

  580,718

  South Western

  571,018

  963,878

  868,181

  West Midlands

  919,255

  1,551,702

  1,397,644

  Mersey

  483,314

  815,834

  734,835

  North Western

  814,490

  1,374,859

  1,238,359

  SHAs

  166,310

  280,731

  252,859

  Total

  9,134,854

  15,419,634

  13,888,723

  1985–86

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  620,085

  995,236

  893,468

  Yorkshire

  699,526

  1,122,739

  1,007,933

  Trent

  843,156

  1,353,265

  1,214,887

  East Anglian

  358,247

  574,986

  516,191

  648

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  North West Thames

  728,848

  1,169,801

  1,050,183

  North East Thames

  914,188

  1,467,272

  1,317,235

  South East Thames

  807,525

  1,296,078

  1,163,547

  South West Thames

  608,276

  976,283

  876,453

  Wessex

  506,941

  813,640

  730,441

  Oxford

  402,374

  645,810

  579,773

  South Western

  603,266

  968,242

  869,234

  West Midlands

  973,915

  1,563,134

  1,403,295

  Mersey

  507,924

  815,218

  731,858

  North Western

  860,336

  1,380,839

  1,239,641

  SHAs

  174,792

  280,541

  251,854

  Total

  9,609,399

  15,423,085

  13,845,991

  1986–87

  £000s

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  664,666

  997,664

  927,196

  Yorkshire

  748,109

  1,122,912

  1,043,597

  Trent

  914,488

  1,372,646

  1,275,692

  East Anglian

  389,423

  584,524

  543,237

  North West Thames

  777,781

  1,167,449

  1,084,989

  North East Thames

  976,100

  1,465,126

  1,361,640

  South East Thames

  857,088

  1,286,489

  1,195,621

  South West Thames

  650,071

  975,757

  906,836

  Wessex

  549,152

  824,277

  766,056

  Oxford

  433,809

  651,147

  605,155

  South Western

  650,026

  975,689

  906,773

  West Midlands

  1,049,734

  1,575,651

  1,464,358

  Mersey

  542,821

  814,774

  757,224

  North Western

  922,352

  1,384,450

  1,286,663

  SHAs

  191,546

  287,511

  267,203

  Total

  10,317,166

  15,486,066

  14,392,240

  1987–88

  £000

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Regions

  Northern

  726,424

  1,005,371

  961,066

  Yorkshire

  817,426

  1,131,318

  1,081,463

  Trent

  1,009,393

  1,397,000

  1,335,437

  East Anglian

  431,278

  596,889

  570,585

  North West Thames

  832,775

  1,152,561

  1,101,770

  North East Thames

  1,048,946

  1,451,741

  1,387,766

  South East Thames

  928,872

  1,285,559

  1,228,907

  South West Thames

  744,435

  1,030,298

  984,895

  Wessex

  599,818

  830,148

  793,565

  Oxford

  478,889

  662,782

  633,575

  South Western

  710,039

  982,694

  939,389

  West Midlands

  1,149,328

  1,590,670

  1,520,572

  Mersey

  589,166

  815,406

  779,473

  North Western

  1,002,641

  1,387,655

  1,326,504

  SHAs

  207,281

  286,877

  274,235

  Total

  11,276,711

  15,606,968

  14,919,201

  649

  1988–89

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Real terms

  Northern

  802,662

  1,004,933

  990,332

  Yorkshire

  901,280

  1,128,403

  1,112,008

  Trent

  1,121,344

  1,403,923

  1,383,525

  East Anglian

  487,095

  609,843

  600,983

  North West Thames

  945,712

  1,184,031

  1,166,829

  North East Thames

  1,178,457

  1,475,428

  1,453,992

  South East Thames

  1,039,270

  1,301,166

  1,282,262

  South West Thames

  829,204

  1,038,163

  1,023,080

  Wessex

  671,018

  840,115

  827,909

  Oxford

  537,279

  672,673

  662,900

  South Western

  788,652

  987,392

  973,047

  West Midlands

  1,266,424

  1,585,563

  1,562,527

  Mersey

  647,160

  810,244

  798,472

  North Western

  1,104,796

  1,383,205

  1,363,108

  SHAs

  234,692

  293,834

  289,565

  Total

  12,555,045

  15,718,916

  15,490,540

  1989–90

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input Volume Terms

  Real Terms

  Northern

  862,403

  1,008,149

  998,344

  Yorkshire

  971,646

  1,135,854

  1,124,807

  Trent

  1,211,905

  1,416,717

  1,402,938

  East Anglian

  528,194

  617,459

  611,453

  North West Thames

  1,024,712

  1,197,888

  1,186,237

  North East Thames

  1,276,820

  1,492,603

  1,478,085

  South East Thames

  1,115,590

  1,304,125

  1,291,440

  South West Thames

  903,224

  1,055,869

  1,045,599

  Wessex

  724,776

  847,263

  839,022

  Oxford

  587,380

  686,647

  679,969

  South Western

  852,097

  996,101

  986,413

  West Midlands

  1,381,172

  1,614,590

  1,598,886

  Mersey

  699,483

  817,696

  809,743

  North Western

  1,174,578

  1,373,082

  1,359,727

  SHAs

  259,397

  303,235

  300,286

  Total

  13,573,377

  15,867,278

  15,712,948

  650

  1990–91

  £000

  Regions

  Cash

  Input volume terms

  Northern

  931,401

  1,014,296

  996,599

  Yorkshire

  1,057,999

  1,152,161

  1,132,059

  Trent

  1,303,099

  1,419,075

  1,394,316

  East Anglian

  580,241

  631,882

  620,858

  North West Thames

  1,102,738

  1,200,882

  1,179,930

  North East Thames

  1,373,232

  1,495,450

  1,469,358

  South East Thames

  1,216,480

  1,324,747

  1,301,634

  South West Thames

  960,135

  1,045,587

  1,027,344

  Wessex

  796,069

  866,919

  851,794

  Oxford

  635,679

  692,254

  680,177

  South Western

  934,319

  1,017,473

  999,721

  West Midlands

  1,510,106

  1,644,505

  1,615,813

  Mersey

  753,635

  820,709

  806,389

  North Western

  1,267,169

  1,379,947

  1,355,871

  SHAs

  287,586

  313,181

  307,717

  Total

  14,709,888

  16,019,068

  15,739,580

  Source: Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. (Predecessor authorities prior to 1982–83)

  Notes:

  1. HCHS—covers all the services managed and/or accounted for by the authorities during the relevant financial years. It includes hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. The figures have been expressed in input volume terms at 1991–92 prices by the use of the HCHS revenue pay and prices index—currently available to 1991–92, only—and in real terms at 1991–92 prices by the use of gross domestic product deflators. Some columns may not add up precisely because of roundings.

  3. The figures for all regions prior to 1985–86 include an element for the administrative expenses of family practitioner committees, which prior to 1 April 1985 were associated with district health authorities, and such costs were not separately identified.

  4. During the period a number of boundary changes occurred—most significantly between North East and North West Thames regions between 1981–82 and 1982–83.

  5. Capital expenditure and all expenditure incurred by special health authorities providing central services to the NHS is excluded.

  ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS: INVESTIGATION COSTS
  ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS: INVESTIGATION COSTS
  SERVICE BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORTS
  SERVICE BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORTS
  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA: SWISS REFERENDUM RESULT
  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA: SWISS REFERENDUM RESULT
  WINE: TESTING FOR IMPURITIES
  WINE: TESTING FOR IMPURITIES