Written Answers of 17 December 1992

TRANSPORT

  River Services, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with private sector operators about commercial passenger river services in London; and if he will make a statement on the future of such services.

  Mr. Norris
  I have today announced the establishent of a River Thames working group which I will chair to undertake a thorough study of the use of the river for transport. The terms of reference for the study are:

  1. Establish what present use is made of the tidal part of the River Thames upstream of Southend and Sheerness for transport purposes and by whom.

  2. Establish what constraints presently deter or inhibit transport operators from developing those uses.

  3. Establish the likely potential for the development of transport use of the river, taking into consideration the interests of other river users, the views of riparian boroughs, its linkage to the existing transport network and all relevant safety issues raised in the Hayes report on river safety.

  4. Consider how far it is in the overall interest to develop the transport usage of the river taking into account the environmental, leisure, amenity and planning aspects of any such development.

  5. Identify the scope for private sector development which would assist the achievement of the river's transport potential for freight and passenger traffic.

  I have invited the Port of London Authority, London First, the London Docklands development corporation, the London planning advisory committee and London Transport to be members.

  I will also be consulting a broad range of bodies with responsibility for or interests in the river. I would also like to hear from other people who have proposals for increased use of the river.

  Kent Coast Line
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects orders to be placed for the construction of new trains to serve travellers on the Kent coast line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chancellor's autumn statement enables BR to order on lease an additional£150 million of new rolling stock over the next three years. Only the lease payments—as opposed to the full cost of the rolling stock—will count against BR's external financing limit. BR is currently considering which rolling stock orders would be suitable for leasing. It is for it to decide priorities. However, the options include new rolling stock for Kent coast.

  While the Government's preference is that the orders should be placed over the next three years, they are prepared to consider flexibility on this timing.

  As part of their plans for the privatisation of British Rail, the Government wish to see the private sector
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  becoming involved in the procurement of rolling stock as quickly as possible. A consultation document on this will be issued in the new year.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions, and for how long, the royal train has been used by members of the royal family in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The royal train has been used by members of the royal family as follows, in the last three years:

  1990

  6 journeys — daytime

  27 journeys — single overnight stay

  2 journeys — two overnight plus one day

  1 journey — single overnight plus 1 day

  36 occasions

  1991

  2 journeys — daytime

  39 journeys — single overnight stay

  2 journeys — two overnight plus one day

  7 journeys — single overnight plus one day

  50 occasions

  1992

  2 journeys — daytime

  33 journeys — single overnight stay

  2 journeys — single overnight plus one day

  37 occasions

  Airlines
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the criteria on which take off or landing slots are awarded between airlines; and whether he will seek an agreement on slots which will ensure that the allocation of take off and landing rights at airports is such as to promote fair opportunities for smaller and newer airlines as well as larger and older ones.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 9 December 1992]: Slots are allocated between airlines by airport co-ordinators, according to guidelines laid down by the International Air Transport Association and used world wide. With regard to the regulation on slot allocation recently agreed by the Council of Ministers, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on Thursday 10 December, at column 784. The regulation strikes a balance between protecting the legitimate interests of established carriers and providing opportunities for new entrants.

  Marine Salvage
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds a load time exemption certificate was issued to the Golden Eye salvage vessel.

  Mr. Norris
  The Golden Eye was issued with a United Kingdom load line exemption certificate after being satisfactorily surveyed in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules 1968.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. MacGregor
  We are already promoting private sector investment in transport through:

  —privatisation in several transport areas:

  —turning over complete projects to the private sector (as in the case of the channel tunnel and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge at Dartford);

  —developer contributions (such as I am negotiating for the Jubilee line extension).

  I very much welcome the changes relating to the use of private finance announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement. I have recently been developing plans to encourage more private sector involvement in joint ventures and other initiatives, particularly in relation to major road and rail schemes. I am also keen to encourage the private sector to come forward with its own proposals.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Green Issues
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who in his Department has been appointed to oversee and develop green issues; how many civil servants have been allocated new or additional responsibilities to deal with the management and development of green issues; and what additional allocation of resources has been made to support programmes related to green issues in his Department.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend the Minister is the Department's green Minister and has overall responsibility for environmental aspects of all the Department's policies. All staff are expected to have regard to environmental considerations in discharging their duties. Forecasts of the numbers of staff and resources allocated to the programmes comprising the Ministry's aim"To enhance the rural and marine environment"
  are set out in the "Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Intervention Board Departmental Report on the Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–95" Cm 1903, February 1992. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the restrictions on agricultural land ownership, farm size maximum restrictions, agricultural land sales and inheritance, in each of the member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Curry
  None.

  Winston Grange
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which companies sponsored the agriculture and environment exhibition held at Winston Grange on 28 September.
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  Mr. Gummer
  More than 70 companies and other organisations assisted with or sponsored exhibits at the show which demonstrated the best of the British agricultural and food industries.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date instructions were given to the Agricultural Development Advisory Service to carry out an assessment of works to be carried out on land at Winston Grange.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Agricultural Development Advisory Service was asked on 15 May 1992 to carry out the assessment and supervision of a conservation area exhibit.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution was made to the cost of the assessment of works carried out at Winston Grange in September by the owner of those premises; and on what date.

  Mr. Gummer
  None. The assessment and supervision work contributed to creating a conservation area exhibit which demonstrated the central theme of the informal Council.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment work, and at what value, was carried out on land at Winston Grange in the period prior to 28 September at public expense.

  Mr. Gummer
  The assessment work related to a conservation area exhibit. The cost in staff time was covered by existing arrangements under which the Agricultural Development Advisory Service provides services in support of the Ministry's policies on the environment and conservation.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution was made by Hillsdown Holdings plc to the cost of works on land at the Winston show organised by his Department in September.

  Mr. Gummer
  Hillsdown Holdings plc sponsored the conservation area exhibit at the show. Their contribution amounted to £2,615.91 which included the cost of hiring a marquee.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what purposes the agriculture and environment exhibition sponsored by independent companies was arranged at Winston Grange in September.

  Mr. Gummer
  The theme of the informal Council of Agriculture Ministers was the importance of integrating conservation and environmental protection into agricultural policy. It contributed to a constructive discussion at Cambridge of ways of moving to a fuller integration of environmental protection into the common agricultural policy.

  Bee-keeping
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bee officers there were in(a) 1986, (b) 1988, (c) 1990 and (d) at the latest available date.
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  Mr. Curry
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  1986

  64

  1988

  30

  1990

  34

  1992

  37

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the reasons for the closure of the bee-keeping department at Sparsholt agricultural college.

  Mr. Boswell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The decision to close the bee-keeping unit at Sparsholt agricultural college with effect from 31 December 1992 was taken in June 1992 by the governors of the college because the courses had ceased to be financially viable. The decision was reached following consultation with bee-keeping associations, which failed to identify any other sources of financial support.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much funding has been allocated to action in relation to bee-keeping problems in the current year and each of the next three years; and if he will give a breakdown of the applications to which the amount injected into bee-keeping problems has put in the current year.

  Mr. Curry
  The expenditure necessary depends on the incidence of bee disease and may vary considerably from budget. We had the first recorded incident of Varroa in the United Kingdom in April 1992 and its effect has been as follows:

  Budget 1992–93 £

  Estimated Expenditure 1992–93 £

  Central Science Laboratory

  350,000

  565,000

  Regions (including bees officers)

  510,000

  610,000

  HQ (including medicines and printing)

  50,000

  155,000

  Research and Development

  136,000

  186,000

  Expenditure in future years will depend on the level of bee disease and decisions on how directive 92/65/EEC legislating on animals not covered by specific requirements under directive 90/425/EEC will be implemented in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what expert advice is available to him on the spread of the parasitic mite Varroa Jacobsoni.

  Mr. Curry
  Our principal source of expert advice is the Central Science Laboratory and in particular the national bee unit at Luddington.

  Bacteria Collections
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on transitional funding for the National Collections of Marine and Industrial Bacteria.

  Mr. Curry
  The Ministry has agreed to provide a further £140,000 in support of the work of the National 342
  Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Ltd for 1993–94. This will provide the opportunity for an assessment to be made of the wider long-term value of the collections as a national scientific resource.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Curry
  Following the announcement of the private finance initiative by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the autumn statement, the Department is considering how the initiative could be applied within its area of responsibility, on the basis of the guidance which has been published by HM Treasury.

  Net Limitation Order
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has taken a decision on the National Rivers Authority's north-east coast net limitation order; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  After careful consideration, I have decided that the new order restricting the number of licences which may be issued for netting for salmon off the Northumbrian and Yorkshire coasts should be confirmed with minor drafting amendments. It will take effect from 22 January 1993.

  In reaching this decision, I took into account the representations made about the future of the north-east coast drift net fishery and the formal objections to the order that had been sent to me. Many of these argued that the fishery should be phased out over a much shorter time scale than that which would result from natural wastage. However, the order proposed by the NRA was consistent with the conclusions of the report on salmon net fisheries presented to Parliament in October 1991. In that report, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I noted that the review on which it was based had not produced any evidence that the drift net fishery posed an immediate threat to salmon stocks and thus any justification for depriving existing licence holders of their licences at a stroke. We concluded, however, that it would aid and improve the management of individual east coast salmon stocks if the fishery were to come to an end. And we recommended that, in order to avoid hardship, this should be done gradually by reducing the number of drift net licences as the licence holders left the fishery. The NRA's order provides for this.

  The Government remain firmly committed to the phasing out of the drift net fishery. The effect of the new order will be monitored and the levels of drift net catches kept under close review.

  Single Market
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in completing the single market in the areas for which his Department has responsibility.

  Mr. Curry
  Considerable progress has been made to complete the single market within the agriculture, fisheries
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  and food sectors. Most internal frontier controls will be removed from 1 January 1993 and there will be some substantial changes in the way trade between member states is carried out.

  For trade in live animals, regulations will be made implementing in Great Britain the live animals veterinary checks directives—90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC—from 1 January 1993. Under these arrangements, veterinary checks on intra-Community trade will be eliminated at internal EC frontiers on certain live animals and genetic material. A system of intensified checks at points of origin and spot checks at points of destination will be substituted for the present border controls. All consignments, when entering intra-EC trade, should be accompanied by health certificates or other documentation as required under the EC rules. Live animals entering the Community from third countries may only enter through an approved border inspection post and must be subject to documentary, identity and physical checks before entering free circulation within the Community.

  In order to protect the health of the United Kingdom bee population, imports of bees are limited to countries of high bee health status free from varroasis. Ministers will be reviewing these controls in the light of agreement on EC bee health controls under directive 92/65/EEC, legislation on animals not covered by specific requirements under directive 90/425/EEC, due to come into operation on 1 January 1994. Until alternative measures are approved by the Commission under this directive, existing United Kingdom health measures will remain in force.

  On the protection of animals in transport, further Community rules remain to be adopted to supplement those in directive 91/628/EEC which applies from 1 January 1993. As announced in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 10 December at columns 762–63, existing national measures will be maintained in the areas concerned pending further decisions in the Community. Our controls on trade in horses will remain in place.

  Our existing measures of protection against the introduction of rabies will continue unchanged, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made clear in a written answer to a parliamentary question on 16 June at columns 455–56.

  Border checks for animal health and public health purposes on meat and animal products will cease at the internal borders of the Community on 1 January 1993. Under directive 89/662/EEC, as amended, they will be replaced by a system of checks on the products at their origin, backed up with non-discriminatory checks when the products reach their destination. Under directive 90/675/EEC, as amended, imports of meat and animal products from outside the Community will be checked at the first point of entry into the Community. Where animal health and public health rules are still unharmonised, member states will retain their own trade rules. The United Kingdom will continue to retain its high standards of protection against the introduction of exotic animal diseases pending full harmonisation. New regulations to implement two directives on the hygiene conditions for production and placing on the market of fishery—directive 91/493/EEC—and shellfish—directive 91/492/EEC—products come into effect on 1 January 1993. The directives set common standards of handling and quality, eliminating trade barriers and providing assurance to the consumer.
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  Regulations to implement directive 91/67/EEC on the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of farmed fish and shellfish will be laid before Parliament shortly. These will contain measures designed to prevent the introduction and spread of serious diseases and will provide important safeguards for the future health and well-being of our fish and shellfish stocks.

  All major decisions necessary for the introduction of the single market on plant health, including a plant passport, have now been taken and published. Implementation is planned from 1 June 1993. This gives growers a short breathing-space to prepare a smooth introduction of the new regime, which represents a significant reduction in the burdens of intra-Community trade.

  The introduction of the single market will not, however, fundamentally affect the veterinary medicines sector. Under Community law, a United Kingdom product licence will still be required before any veterinary medicinal product can be imported and marketed in the United Kingdom, whether from an EC member state or not. Detailed arrangements will shortly be published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

  The Community's food law harmonisation programme removes barriers to trade, sets high standards of food safety and improves food labelling, thus offering important benefits to industry and consumers. The foundations of the single market in foodstuffs are firmly in place. The main framework directives on labelling, additives, flavourings, contact materials, special dietary foods and food inspection have already been adopted. The Council agreed a common position on contaminants in September and is expected to do the same with the food hygiene directive, the key United Kingdom priority in this area, on 17 and 18 December. A common position is also expected on additional enforcement measures which I regard as particularly important for the achievement of a level playing field. Although some issues remain to be resolved, the harmonisation programme is well established and the single market in foodstuffs will operate effectively from the start of 1993.

  Interim measures for the banana market will be necessary from 1 January 1993 to ensure that the United Kingdom can continue to fulfil its obligations under the Lomé convention to our traditional suppliers in the Commonweath Caribbean. These measures will in due course be superseded by Community-wide arrangements for the banana market.

  Under our interim measures, a DTI import licence will still be required for dollar bananas, including those in free circulation in another member state, after 1 January 1993. It will continue to be an offence to import dollar fruit into the United Kingdom without a licence. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise will enhance its intelligence-led, anti-smuggling actions on bananas. In addition, there will be a new regulatory framework for banana ripeners. They will be required to register their ripening rooms by 14 January 1993, and keep records of all consignments of dollar bananas handled. They will have to allow authorised officers access to inspect their ripening rooms and records. This new regulatory framework will be operated by my officials and those from the other Agriculture Departments. I shall soon be laying before the House the necessary regulations to bring this new framework into force.
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  Other single market issues, including agrimonetary arrangements, are on the agenda of this week's Agriculture Council which is continuing in Brussels this morning.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held on 14 to 17 December.

  Mr. Soames
  Discussions were continuing at the Agriculture Council in Brussels this morning.

  Meat Products
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from small firms in the retail food industry about the EC directive on meat products.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department consulted widely during the negotiations on the EC directive and consultation has also taken place on our proposals for regulations to implement it in Great Britain.

  Although the directive and our proposed regulations do not apply to retail outlets, I am aware that small producers of meat products supplying their own retail shops are concerned about the effect of these regulations on their businesses. We do not intend to impose any unnecessary burdens on these small businesses, and I will consider very carefully the comments made during consultation before the regulations are finalised.

EDUCATION

  Sensory Impairments
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the number of teachers of the hearing impaired who have to be trained annually in order to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of such teachers.

  Mr. Forth
  Identification of the numbers and the training needs of teachers of the hearing impaired is best done locally. It is for this Department to make support funds available. Those funds have been increased from £7.2 million in 1992–93 to £10 million in 1993–94, and the previous restrictions on what the grant could cover have been relaxed. Special educational needs teacher training is now very generously funded.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he intends to undertake any action to ensure that there is sufficient funding allocated for the training of teachers of hearing-impaired and visually-impaired children when their funding ceases to be ring fenced in April 1993.

  Mr. Forth
  Sufficient training funds are being made available by the Department through its grants for education support and training—GEST—programme. Decisions on the distribution of teacher training funds between the various special educational needs specialisms are best taken locally.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to base the 346
  indicative allocation system for the training of specialist teachers on the number of children with sensory impairment and severe learning difficulties in a local education authority area rather than the total number of pupils in that area.

  Mr. Forth
  The indicative allocation system is used in the majority of grants in the grants for education support and training programme. It is a neutral formula based upon the number of pupils in full-time education in each local education authority. The effects of the application of this formula are being monitored.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what further measures he intends to take in concert with the changes he plans in school education to ensure adequate funding for the training of a sufficient supply of teachers for children with(a) hearing impairment and (b) visual impairment.

  Mr. Forth
  For 1993–94, the Department is making available to local education authorities £10 million of supported expenditure for training teachers in special educational needs specialisms through the GEST programme. Funding for the in-service training of teachers in grant-maintained schools is available through special purpose grants. The responsibility for special educational needs and for training teachers in appropriate specialisms will thus remain a local one.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that money allocated to local education authorities for the training of specialist teachers for children with sensory impairment is used for this purpose.

  Mr. Forth
  Grant allocated to a local education authority for this purpose through the grants for education support and training programme is paid only on receipt from the LEA of a claim indicating the amount of expenditure it incurred or expected to incur on the purpose during a specified period. Claims must be certified by a responsible financial officer of the LEA. The claim covering expenditure incurred during the whole year is additionally subject to audit verification.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he will make it his policy to extend the mandatory training requirement for full-time teachers of hearing-impaired children to peripatetic teachers of deaf children.

  Mr. Forth
  No. It would not be appropriate to impose new mandatory training burdens upon local education authorities.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement outlining the extent to which local education authorities have been given extra resources to cover the 5 per cent. reduction in his support for the training of teachers of hearing-impaired children.

  Mr. Forth
  The amount of expenditure supported under the grants for education support and training programme for training for special educational needs will increase from £7.2 million in 1992–93 to £10 million in 1993–94. In increasing the amount supported by almost 40 per cent., the Government are seeking to expand the amount of supported training. Payment of grant in 1993–94 at 60 per cent. of expenditure incurred brings this grant into line with most other GEST grants.

  Capital Expenditure, Lancashire
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what response his Department has made to Lancashire county council's capital expenditure bid for 1993–94, in cash and percentage terms.

  Mr. Forth
  I announced yesterday that Lancashire county council has been allocated a total annual capital guideline for schools for 1993–94 of £11.129 million, representing 30 per cent. of its total bid. They will also be eligible for up to £1.152 million of additional resources, issued as supplementary credit approvals, subject to our decisions on undecided statutory proposals and on the progress made on two projects at voluntary-aided schools.

  They will receive an allocation in 1993–94 of £5.642 million for minor and major projects at voluntary-aided and special agreement schools.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Forth
  Private finance already plays an important part in many areas of education. Thus, the introduction of private finance into inner city education, in partnership with the Government, is integral to the programme of city technology colleges. Private sector sponsors commit an agreed proportion of the initial and continuing capital costs of CTCs, while the Department meets the balance of capital costs and makes grants to meet running costs.

  Building on the CTC programme, the Government have introduced legislation providing for voluntary-aided and grant-maintained schools to propose the appointment of representatives of private sector sponsors to their board of governors. Such sponsor governors will play a direct role in the school's management, in return for financial and other support. The involvement of sponsor governors may be particularly appropriate where the school is seeking to develop a special emphasis on teaching technology or some other area of the curriculum.

  In addition, the Department supports a range of school-business links organisations and projects, and in many cases does so jointly with private sector sponsors. Our practice is to secure such joint funding whenever appropriate, through discussion with the organisation seeking our support.

  Private finance has long been important in higher education. The Government believe that it is in the interests of higher education institutions to continue to look for increased levels of funding from private sources —in particular from industry and commerce, benefactors and alumni, and from present sources of fee income. We announced at the time of the autumn statement a relaxation of controls to enable higher education institutions to borrow on the security of Exchequer-funded assets as well as on the security of local authority-funded and private assets. It is for universities and colleges to approach commercial lenders for loans.

  The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 provides specifically that there should be no discouragement to higher education institutions or to further education colleges from developing their funding from sources other than the relevant funding council.

  Schools (Ballots)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have held ballots to decide whether to seek grant-maintained status; how many of these ballots have resulted in a yes vote; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  As at 15 December, a total of 788 schools had held ballots on grant-maintained status, according to the Electoral Reform Society. Of these, 607—almost 80 per cent.—resulted in a vote in favour. This shows that enthusiasm among parents for seeking grant-maintained status continues at the level it has been over the last two years.

ATTORNY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General what estimate has been made of the cost to the Crown prosecution service and his Department of work done in relation to the recent cases involving Plasser, British Rail and the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway).

  The Attorney-General
  Detailed costs are not yet available, but it is presently estimated that the cost to the Crown prosecution service of the proceedings to date is about £750,000.

  Staff within my legal secretariat have occasionally been engaged on work arising from this case as part of their general duties. The amount of time so involved cannot be separately identified and costed.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Race Relations
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) when the Lord Chancellor received a copy of the Commission for Racial Equality's research into discrimination and judicial sentencing in the midlands; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans the Lord Chancellor has to meet the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality;

  (3) what guidance the Lord Chancellor has issued to judges on race relations and sentencing policy.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality wrote to the Lord Chancellor on 9 December, enclosing a copy of the summary of the research study "Race and Sentencing in the Crown Court". The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice, in responding to the publication of the research, recognised the seriousness of the matters raised.

  The Lord Chancellor agreed, in principle, earlier this year that there should be a regular annual meeting between our Department and the Commission for Racial Equality. The first of these meetings, which both the Lord Chancellor and I will attend, is to be on 25 January 1993.

  The Lord Chancellor has issued no guidance to the judiciary on race relations and sentencing, nor is it his role to do so. A session on ethnic awareness is now a feature of every Judicial Studies Board course. Those present are given advice on how to handle issues which often arise when members of the ethnic minorities appear in court.
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  The board has also commission a consultant to produce an improved module for the board's existing criminal refresher seminars for judges and recorders. In addition, the Home Secretary published, in September, the booklet "Race and the Criminal Justice System", under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, to facilitate the performance by people engaged in the administration of criminal justice of their duty to avoid discriminating against any person on grounds of race or sex or any other improper ground. Copies have been sent to all judges and Crown court recorders.

  The sentence in any case is entirely a matter for the trial judge, within the statutory limits laid down by Parliament. General questions of sentencing policy are for the Court of Appeal, criminal division, which from time to time issues guidelines to the judiciary in particular types of case.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action the Lord Chancellor will take via the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct to prevent racial discrimination at the Council of Legal Education; how many complaints on this subject he or the committee has received; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct has a duty under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 to have regard to the desirability of equal opportunity when fulfilling its duty of advising the Lord Chancellor on legal education and training. The independence of the committee precludes the Lord Chancellor from directing how it should discharge this duty. The advisory committee has received l4 representations concerning the allegations of racial discrimination in this year's Bar vocational examination, and the Lord Chancellor has received two.

  As part of its statutory duties, the advisory committee on 25 November 1992 launched a major review of legal education and training, which will address this question among others. The Council for Legal Education intends to conduct its own review of its admission and assessment procedures, with the assistance of the Commission for Racial Equality, and hopes to publish the results early in the new year.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. George
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people in the west midlands received legal aid in the year to 31 March; and how many would pay increased contributions under the Government's proposed changes.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The figures for criminal legal aid are not available for the year ending March 1992. In the 1991 calendar year almost 62,000 applications for legal aid were granted by magistrates courts and juvenile courts in the west midlands. For civil legal aid, in the year ending 31 March 1992 the No. 6 legal aid area office issued just under 20,000 certificates. The No. 6 legal aid area covers the west midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and part of Staffordshire. It is not possible to estimate how many of those 20,000 would pay increased contributions under the proposed changes.

  Self-Incrimination
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether the Lord Chancellor has considered the responses to the consultation paper on the privilege against self-incrimination in civil proceedings.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has given careful consideration to the views expressed in the responses to the consultation paper. A large majority of respondents have supported the proposal that the privilege against self-incrimination should be abolished in civil proceedings provided that appropriate provision is made to protect the witness in any subsequent criminal proceedings. This proposal does not seek to affect those cases where the privilege against self-incrimination is already unavailable under the present law.

  The Government intend to introduce legislation on this matter when a suitable opportunity occurs, taking account of any related recommendations which may be made by the Royal Commission on criminal justice when it reports next year and the Government's response to them.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The private finance initiative is intended to apply to all services which are traditionally provided by Government Department. My Department is considering how to apply the initiative in its areas of responsibility on the basis of the guidance which has been published by the Treasury.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Research and Technological Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions the European Research Council has had during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council on the proposals set out in article 130f(2), proposed to be added to the treaty of Rome under the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  There has been no specific discussion in the Research Council during the United Kingdom presidency of article 130f(2) of the proposed treaty of European union, which is substantially the same as that in the treaty of Rome.

  The main matters under discussion have been the Commission's proposal for a supplement to the third framework programme and the Commission's working document on the fourth framework programme.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My Department is considering how and where to apply the private finance initiative effectively
  351
  in its areas of responsibility, on the basis of the guidance published by the Treasury. We will be consulting as appropriate.

  Bacteria Collections
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he is giving to the takeover of the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—MAFF—provides aid towards the costs of the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria—NCIMB). Following an approach from MAFF about the future of the NCIMB, the Office of Science and Technology has asked for an independent report from experts on the value of the collection as a national scientific resource.

  Citizens Charters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will amend citizens charters to allow citizens a general right of access to manual files about themselves; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am currently considering ways of providing greater access to personal records held by government. I shall publish the results of my review on openness in the early part of next year.

PRIME MINISTER

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Government first received the plans for pit closures from British Coal; and what consideration was given to publishing them immediately.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government had been aware for some time of British Coal's need to reduce capacity, because of the decline in the market for British coal. In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry and its advisers had made their own assessment of which pits might close, so that it could prepare measures to mitigate the impact, taking into account information from British Coal. British Coal informed my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 12 October of the final list of pits which it proposed to close. British Coal announced the names on 13 October.

  European Council, Edinburgh
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his current estimate of the total cost to the Exchequer of the holding of the Edinburgh summit of the European Council.

  The Prime Minister
  The cost of the organisation of the European Council is of the order of £6.9 million. The policing costs, 51 per cent. of which are funded by central Government, are expected to amount to a further £2.5 million approximately.

  China
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent visit by Lord Howe to discuss human rights in the People's Republic of China.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. noble and learned Friend Lord Howe led a delegation to China from 1 to 7 December. The delegation had detailed discussions with the Chinese authorities on human rights and related issues, including legal and religious issues, national minorities, and Chinese policies towards Tibet. They also met families of dissidents and visited foreign embassies, courts and places of detention. They were able to convey frankly to the Chinese the concerns of many in the west about China's human rights record. There was little meeting of minds with the Chinese authorities, but the basis has been laid for continuing exchanges on these issues.

  My right hon. noble and learned Friend Lord Howe will in due course submit a formal report on the visit to me. That report will be placed in the Library of this House.

  Constitutional Discussions
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1992,Official Report, column 580, what communications he has had with the heads of Government of other Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is sovereign on matters relating to the common constitutional link of the Crown and his statement to the House of 9 December, since 24 November.

  The Prime Minister
  I have had no such communications.

  Yalta Talks
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister how many documents relating to the Yalta talks have not yet been released under the 30-year rule.

  The Prime Minister
  Such an exercise could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

  Security Personnel
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy as to the cost of funding of security personnel who accompany former senior Government Ministers travelling for private purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Decisions on the personal protection provided for former Government Ministers making official or private journeys are operational matters for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The cost of providing such protection by police officers is met from the Metropolitan police fund.

  Development Aid
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received calling for increased United Kingdom and European Community development aid during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Council.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have received a number of representations about the future level of overseas aid provided by the United Kingdom and the European Community.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on whether animal welfare should be a proper subject for European competence; what decisions on this subject were taken at Edinburgh; what effect the European Council conclusions at Edinburgh will have on animal welfare directives currently in force or under consideration throughout the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Community acts on animal welfare matters that fall within the common agricultural policy or trade policy; it also has discretion to act in other areas. At the Edinburgh European Council, the Commission made clear its intention to review Community legislation on animal welfare during 1993 in the context of subsidiarity. The United Kingdom remains committed to work for improvements in animal welfare throughout the Community, but this does not necessarily include Community legislation.

  Homeless People
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit homeless people in(a) London and (b) Huntingdon during the Christmas period.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers and officials in the Department of the Environment make regular visits to homelessness projects in different parts of England and keep me fully informed of the situation.

  Security Risks
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in each year since 21 November 1979, and so far in 1992, the Director-General of the Security Service has reported to him information about a present or former Minister or senior public servant indicating that he or she may be or may have been a security risk; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: It is not the Government's practice to comment on security matters.

  President-elect Clinton
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President-elect Clinton about the inquiries made by the Home Office concerning a possible application at some stage for United Kingdom citizenship; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 11 December 1992]: None. I have told the President-elect of my regret at some of the press reports.

  Somalia
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that Britain's efforts to help Somalia, whether through development aid or immediate financial aid and advice, shall be concentrated on the north (Republic of Somaliland).

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Britain has pledged more than £31 million of
  354
  humanitarian aid to Somalia this year, including our share of EC aid. All our assistance is channelled through United Nations agencies and British and international non-governmental organisations. In addition to food, we have funded transport and logistical support to the relief effort, medical supplies, water and sanitation equipment and agricultural supplies—seeds and tools. The EC has responded well and committed 206,000 tonnes of food aid of which two thirds has been shipped and one half delivered.

  Aid is allocated where the need is greatest, where mechanisms and agencies are available to deliver it and where it reflects the requests for assistance which we receive from the United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organisations who are working on the ground.

  Slovenia
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to continue to promote good relations between the United Kingdom and Slovenia, following the general election which took place there in December.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Following President Kucan's victory in the Slovenian elections on 6 December, we wish him and his Government well as they continue their programme of political and economic reform.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment was made by the Council of Europe observer team of the fairness of the recent general election in Slovenia; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: We have yet to receive the Council of Europe's definitive report on the Slovenian presidential and parliamentary elections. Preliminary press reports suggest that the elections were fair and free.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Sri Lankan Government on the safety of Tamil refugees who have returned from India since January.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have regularly urged the Sri Lankans to ensure that all the refugees returning from India are well looked after until they can return to their homes.

  The center for returned refugees which I visited in October in northern Sri Lanka appeared to be well protected.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations his Department is undertaking for the nuclear nonproliferation treaty first preparatory committee meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our preparations so far, with our co-depositaries the United States and the Russian
  355
  Federation, have concentrated on helping to draft and encouraging support for a United Nations General Assembly resolution which formally calls into being the preparatory committee for the 1995 conference on the review and extension of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The resolution was approved by the General Assembly on 9 December by 168 votes to 0 with no abstentions. We have also had initial discussions with partners and allies, both bilaterally and in international fora, about the range of issues we expect to be raised at the first preparatory committee.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many discussions his Department has had in the last year with United States Senators Hatfield, Exon and Mitchell on the issue of nuclear testing; how many letters his Department has sent in the last year to these senators on the issue of nuclear testing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Over the last year the embassy in Washington has had regular discussions on nuclear testing with the staff of a number of congressmen. The embassy wrote to Senators Hatfield, Exon and Mitchell on the subject during the consideration of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill in August.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has held with representatives of the Clinton/Gore transition team; what discussions took place on the topic of nuclear testing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The embassy in Washington keeps in regular touch with members of President-elect Clinton's transition team. The President-elect has made it clear that the responsibility for foreign policy until 20 January remains with the present administration. Our position on nuclear testing is well known to senior members of the Democratic party.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when instructions were received at the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Mr. Syed Farhat Abbas—Ref. TH/16422/90 and B 020653—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the absence of any information about this case, we have asked the high commission in Islamabad for a full report. We shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when instructions were received at the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Mr. Mohd Asif Gill—Ref. Imm/v 94835 and Imm (APP 320)—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the absence of any information about this case, we have asked the high commission in 356
  Islamabad for a full report. We shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when instructions were received at the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Mr. Jahir Mahmood—Ref. TH/41452/91—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the absence of any information about this case, we have asked the High Commission in Islamabad for a full report. We shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our Department is considering how to apply the private finance initiative in its areas of responsibility on the basis of the guidance which has been published by the Treasury.

  International Law
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between the decision in respect of Denmark taken by the European Council in Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December, and article 2 of the Vienna convention on the law of international treaties 1969; and what is the depository state in respect of that decision.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The decision concerning certain problems raised by Denmark is an international agreement binding on the parties to the treaty on European union. The decision does not require ratification and there is therefore no depositary state. The authentic text is held by the Council secretariat.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what mechanism adherence by Her Majesty's Government to decisions taken by the European Council of the European Community are applicable in either international law or any treaty of the Community.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The decision concerning certain problems raised by Denmark on the treaty on European union was not taken by the Edinburgh European Council but by the Heads of State and Government meeting within the European Council. It is an agreement binding in international law between the parties to the treaty on European union. It constitutes an agreement, in the sense of article 31 of the Vienna convention on the law of treaties, for the purposes of interpretation of the treaty on European union.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the rules regulating the extent to which citizens of St. Helena paid partly or wholly out of Government of St. Helena funds may stand for election to the Legislative Council; and what discretion the Governor has in this respect.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Section 17 (2) of the St. Helena constitution provides that the Governor, acting in his discretion, may by notice published in the Government Gazette make provision for enabling any public officer or class of public officer to be qualified for election to the Legislative Council. This provision was given effect to by a Government Gazette notice dated 15 February 1989.

  Iran
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from members of the Baha'i community regarding the persecution of their communities in Iran.

  Mr. Douglas-Hogg
  The Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom informed us in October of the confiscation of the homes and property of Baha'is in Iran. Numerous local Baha'i assemblies subsequently made similar representations, and we were able to inform them of the strong representations which we, together with our EC partners, have in turn made to the Iranian authorities on this matter.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government plans to make to the Iranian Government regarding the persecution of the Baha'i communities in Iran.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The EC presidency made representations in May to the Iranian permanent representative in Geneva about the execution of Mr. Bahman Samandari. In October we made further representations on behalf of all EC member states to the Iranian authorities in both Geneva and Tehran over the death sentences passed on Mr. Kayvan Khalajabadi and Mr. Bihnam Mithaqi. The representations in Tehran also expressed our concern at the reports of the confiscation of homes and property of Baha'is in Iran. Together with EC partners, we have co-sponsored a resolution due to be adopted by the United Nations General Assembly this month on human rights in Iran, which expressed concern at the treatment of the Baha'i community.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visas have been issued to citizens from the former Yugoslavia since 6 November; how many have been refused; on what grounds; and how many appeals are pending.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  For the period 9 November to 4 December, the first month's operation of the visa requirement for nationals of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 663 visa applications for the United 358
  Kingdom, for both visits and settlement, were received at our posts in Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Rome, Milan, Düsseldorf, Paris and Sofia. One hundred and eighty-two applications were refused. This figure includes the 166 visa applicants in the convoy arranged by the ALERT group whose applications were refused by the Home Office.

  The method of recording statistics at posts world wide does not allow us to give the precise detail which the hon. Member has requested without disproportionate expense.

  Uganda
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Uganda.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since the present Government came to power in 1986, Uganda has taken commendable steps towards internal stability and economic rehabilitation after years of chaos. Progress with the economic recovery programme has been encouraging, but there are major structural weaknesses which still need to be overcome. We hope to see continued improvements including in the field of human rights, and a successful outcome to the constitutional reform process.

  Angola
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the British Government are making towards the peace process in Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  With our EC partners, we have been active in support of the efforts of the United Nations to consolidate the ceasefire negotiated by the United Nations Secretary General's special representative on 1 November, and to secure full implementation of the Bicesse peace agreement, including the holding of a second presidential election round.

  Under our presidency, the European Council in Edinburgh urged both sides, particularly UNITA, to respect the peace agreement and ceasefire and to continue demobilisation and formation of the new unified armed forces. It called upon UNITA to accept unequivocally the September election results and on the Government to continue the democratic process with a view to the reconciliation of the people of Angola.

  Mauritius
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last received representations from the Government of Mauritius relating to the sovereignty of the Chagos group of islands.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following discussions at official level, we reaffirmed to the Government of the Republic of Mauritius on 1 July that if the latter has proposals which it wishes to put to us concerning future arrangements for the British Indian Ocean Territory, we remain ready to give these close consideration.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the intermediate-level radioactive waste streams at Sellafield
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  arising from the reprocessing of foreign spent nuclear fuel have been specified in such a way to make them acceptable for return to country of origin under the framework agreements made by Her Majesty's Government with foreign Governments.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is not technically possible in the reprocessing operation to identify the precise wastes which arise from processing specific items of fuel. In such cases, it is necessary to apportion wastes among the customers concerned. Furthermore, there are some waste streams for which the precise form of conditioning for interim storage prior to disposal has not been finalised. It has not been possible to issue specifications for these streams, which amount to about 2 per cent. by radioactivity of the total.

  British Nuclear Fuels plc has advised me that the thermal oxide reprocessing plant contracts which provide for return of waste specify that unspecified intermediate level waste—ILW—will be replaced by a radiologically equivalent amount of specified ILW. This will apply to some 40 per cent. by activity of returnable ILW from THORP.

  The specifications which BNFL has issued to its overseas THORP customers are presently being approved by those customers and their relevant authorities. Approvals covering the majority of the overseas business have already been received.

  The Government are considering BNFL's proposals to implement return of low and intermediate-level waste by substituting a radiologically equivalent amount of high-level waste—HLW—in addition to the customer's normal HLW allocation.

DEFENCE

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December; what types of containers were involved in the accident; and what types of wastes were they storing.

  Mr. Aitken
  The incident involved a sealed metal storage container of plutonium metal, not waste material. A routine accounting audit of plutonium holdings was being undertaken at the time of the incident.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident that occurred at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December; how many persons were injured or contaminated; what was the extent of the injuries and contamination; what damage was caused to property; and what is the estimated cost of(a) repairing damage and (b) removing contamination following the accident at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December.

  Mr. Aitken
  The incident at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December involved the release of a small amount of radioactive material from a damaged container within a storage building. The cause is being investigated by an inquiry which is now under way. There was no release of radioactive material outside the building. A total of five 360
  individuals were involved with the incident, four of whom received minor contamination; subsequent monitoring has confirmed that none of them received a significant radiation dose. There were no injuries sustained in the incident. The interior of the building was contaminated in the vicinity of the incident, but is not otherwise damaged. Decontamination work has begun, but it is not possible to estimate at this stage what the effort involved in completing the work will be.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents of the type that occurred at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December have occurred in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Aitken
  A previous incident involving a release of material in a plutonium storage building occurred at AWE Aldermaston in 1984. That case involved a different building and a different method of packaging of material. The then Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave the details to the House on 12 April 1984,Official Report, column 357.

  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to alter the numbers employed in AWE Aldermaston(a) currently and (b) after contractorisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The numbers employed at AWE Aldermaston depend on the programme of work placed on the establishment. After contractorisation, the exact number will be a matter for the contractor, but this Government are fully committed to maintaining the nuclear programme which will continue to support jobs at the establishment.

  Reactor Cores
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the length of time that a used reactor core may safely be left in a decommissioned submarine.

  Mr. Aitken
  Government policy is to remove such cores to Sellafield for long-term storage at the earliest practicable opportunity. However, with the application of my Department's current care and maintenance procedures, there is no formal limit to the length of time that a used reactor core may safely be left in a decommissioned submarine.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when used core transportation package flasks were first licensed for use in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's used core transportation packages were first licensed for use in the United Kingdom in 1968.

  Waste Materials (Burning)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of oil, tyres or other materials were burned at RAF Leeming on 28 November; how long the fire lasted; and how many fire fighters received training during that period.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A total of 13 firefighters from RAF Leeming and the North Yorkshire fire brigade took
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  part in this training exercise. The fires were burning for less than 10 minutes and only uncontaminated waste aviation fuel was used for this exercise.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he or officials of his Department have held with the aerospace industry regional and local authority network in regard to diversification in production.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am not aware of any such meetings.

  Investment Cuts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the study recently released by the European Commission on the regional impact of cuts in defence investment.

  Mr. Aitken
  The report has not yet been received by Government Departments. The regional policy implications will be a matter for the President of the Board of Trade.

  Defence Research Agency
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the rationalisation of the Defence Research Agency.

  Mr. Aitken
  The consultation period for the DRA's rationalisation plan ended on 14 November. Following further representations from hon. Members and the trade unions, I hope that an announcement will be made shortly.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations his Department is undertaking for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty first preparatory committee meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on this subject, and will support the preparatory committee preparations as appropriate.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many discussions his Department has had in the last year with United States Senators Hatfield, Exon and Mitchell on the issue of nuclear testing; how many letters his Department has sent in the last year to these senators on the issue of nuclear testing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  None. Such contacts would normally be made through the British embassy in Washington.

  Cnewr Estate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, columns 892–93, what action was taken or discussions undertaken with outside bodies by his Ministry about the proposed access agreement between the trustees
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  of the Cnewr estate and the Brecon Beacons national park authority between May and July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry was informed in May of the proposed access agreement by the managing director of Cnewr Estate Ltd., but no action was taken. No discussions about this agreement took place with any other body between May and July.

  Vacant Properties
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses of his Department are currently vacant.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 30 September, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,321 MOD-owned houses and flats were vacant out of a total stock of 72,946. Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly and others were being considered for disposal. In addition, some 1,800 dwellings were in the process of being sold.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to return vacant housing of his Department into civilian use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The majority of my Department's vacant housing is undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, already allotted to service families due to move in shortly or in the process of sale. In addition, some vacant housing has been earmarked for service families returning from overseas as a result of "Options for Change". Wherever possible, surplus properties are sold to service personnel through the services discount scheme. Some 900 surplus properties which are not suitable for this scheme are currently in the process of being sold to housing associations at a discount in return for nomination rights on a proportion of the properties for personnel who will be leaving the services over the next few years.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The private finance initiative is intended to apply to all services which are traditionally provided by Government Departments. My Department will consider the introduction of private finance in cases where it represents value for money and the assumption of risk by the private sector, in accordance with the guidance which has been published by the Treasury. Some operating capital has been introduced into the royal dockyards under contractor operation and will be similarly used at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Expressions of interest have been sought on the possible offer for sale of one or both dockyards. A proposal is being studied that a new non-profit-making organisation should take over the ownership and management of the married quarter estate.

  Medical Discharges
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation or other payments are available to a service man or woman discharged from the armed services for medical reasons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Financial provision in respect of those who are medically discharged from service is made under the armed forces pension scheme. Under current rules, members of the scheme are eligible for benefits, in the form of pensions and/or lump sums, which are payable in all cases except where medical discharge is due to causes which are not attributable to service and less than two years' reckonable service has been given. The amount and form of benefit depend on the circumstances of each case, such as the rank of the service man or woman, length of service, whether the injury or condition leading to the discharge is attributable to service and, where appropriate, degree of disability.

  Where the condition or injury leading to medical discharge is attributable to service, provision is also made under the terms of the war pensions scheme administered by the Department of Social Security.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions, and for how long, the royal yacht has been used by members of the royal family in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In each of the last three years, the royal yacht Britannia has been used by members of the royal family for state and official visits, and other functions, as follows:

  Number of occasions

  Total number of days

  1990

  8

  42

  1991

  6

  31

  11992

  6

  27

  1To date.

  The royal yacht was undergoing maintenance from 12 November 1991 to 8 May 1992.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many kneel-down transporters are being purchased by his Department for transporting Trident missiles within Royal Navy armaments depot, Coulport.

  Mr. Aitken
  Three.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when preliminary design work on the warhead for the Trident missile first started at Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  In 1980.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Trident warhead was declared one-point safe.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Secretary of State was advised on 13 March 1992 that the United Kingdom Trident warhead was one-point safe. Results of experiments which became available after that date have reinforced the same conclusion.

  HMS Renown
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the recent refit of HMS Renown.

  Mr. Aitken
  The final cost certificates for the refit of HMS Renown have not yet been presented, but the current estimate of cost is in the region of £200 million.

  Amphibious Capability
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Regular Army amphibious engineer capability is to be available in the United Kingdom after 1995; when the current M2 equipment will be replaced by M3 equipment, and at what cost; whether the bridging and ferry equipment currently in service can operate for a fully loaded Challenger main battle tank; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We intend that the Regular Army's amphibious engineering capability will remain in Germany; a Territorial Army capability will be provided in the United Kingdom.

  We plan to replace the current M2 bridging equipment with M3 equipment from 1996. As we intend to hold a competition in the near future, the estimated cost is commercially confidential.

  The current M2 equipment can carry a fully loaded Challenger I main battle tank. M3 has been designed with this and future tank requirements in mind.

  Nuclear Warhead Containers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which designs the nuclear warhead containers and transporters which his Department is supplying to the Russian Federation are to be based; and whether those designs are already in use in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Aitken
  The nuclear warhead containers are being designed to meet the requirements of the Russian Federation. There is no similar container service in the United Kingdom.

  The design of the transport vehicles will be based on the truck cargo heavy duty Mk 2 presently in service in the United Kingdom. The design will be adapted to suit the Russian environment.

  Plymouth Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 536, if he will set out the purpose of his Department's funding for the proposed Plymouth urban development corporation; when it was agreed; and what plans he has to make funding available to other urban development corporations or local authorities.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The proposed contribution of £20 million was agreed in March 1992 and will assist in the regeneration of surplus land, including Royal William yard. There are no plans to make funding available to other development corporations or local authorities.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps will be taken to dispose of or recover to the United Kingdom those wheeled armoured and transport assets no longer required by British forces assigned to the United Nations force in Cyprus.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Consequent to planned reductions in the British contingent to UNFICYP, we will be withdrawing the ferret scout car squadron from UNFICYP, and the requirement for transport and logistic vehicles will also reduce. The long-term future of these vehicles is under consideration and final decisions have not yet been made.

  Franco-German Corps
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from the French and German Governments on the allocation in wartime of the proposed Franco-German Corps.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The document in question is classified.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether plutonium from military reactors has been exported by his Department to the United States of America since 1984.

  Mr. Aitken
  It would not be in the national interest to disclose details of nuclear materials transactions with the United States.

  Atomic Weapons Establishments
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many glove boxes for use with radioactive materials have been decommissioned in each year since records began at(a) AWE Aldermaston, (b) AWE Burghfield and (c) AWE Cardiff.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Croatia
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to replace the personnel currently serving in 24 Field Ambulance in Croatia as part of the United Nations protection force—UNPROFOR II; and how many patients have been treated by the unit in the course of its tour to date.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The 24 Field Ambulance will be replaced by 4 Armoured Field Ambulance, currently based in Munden, Germany. The handover started on 13 December and is expected to be complete today. To date 3,300 of the UN personnel who work in the UN protection areas in Croatia have been treated or transported by the unit.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Oral Questions
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce proposals to review the system for tabling oral questions.
  366
  Mr. Newton
  I have at present no plans to do so. This matter was recently considered by the Procedure Committee and changes were subsequently implemented. However, my hon. Friend may care to submit any proposals that he has direct to that Committee.

  Select Committees
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) if he will make it his policy to designate a minimum of eight days per Session to discuss Commons Select Committee reports;

  (2) what plans he has to grant further powers to Select Committees to call for papers and witnesses and receive information from civil servants;

  (3) what plans he has to enlarge Select Committees of the House and to grant them the power to establish sub-committees;

  (4) if he will make it his policy to establish a national office of policy analysis to back up the work of Select Committees of the House.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to amend the powers of Select Committees, to designate a minimum number of days for debate of their reports, or to establish a national office of policy analysis to back up their work. I refer the hon. Member to the conclusions of the Procedure Committee on these matters see the second report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Procedure, Session 1989–90 and the Government's response, Cm. 1532, and in particular recommendation x (Subcommittees) xi (orders of reference) xii (specialist advisers) xxvii (powers of Select Committees) and xxxvi (debates on Committees' reports)).

  Private Bill Procedure
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to prevent the use of the Private Bill procedure to bypass the planning channels in respect of developments which seriously affect designated sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Private Bills are an established part of our constitutional process and in some cases provide the only means of obtaining the necessary consent. The Parliamentary Committees considering these Bills perform a quasi-judicial function similar to that of an inspector at a public local inquiry. This ensures that the conservation aspects are thoroughly and properly scrutinised and a balanced decision reached.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants are currently waiting longer than two months for their application for disability living allowance to be processed; what is the average length of wait for a disability living allowance application to be processed; how many people had to resubmit their application because the disability living allowance office has lost their claim forms in the latest convenient period; and how many people are employed at the disability living allowance office to track down lost or mislaid claim forms.
  367
  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 the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. David Hanson, dated 16 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. You asked how many claimants are currently waiting longer than two months for their application for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to be processed; what is the average length of wait for a DLA application to be processed; how many people had to resubmit their application because the DLA office has lost their claim forms; and how many people are employed at the DLA office to track down lost or mislaid claim forms.
  Information about the number of people who have been waiting two months for their claim to DLA is not routinely gathered and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The same applies to the number of people who have submitted a duplicate DLA claim because the original had been mislaid. I explained in my letter of 19 October to all MPs the strenuous and successful efforts that have been made to clear the backlog of claims. Procedures are now running more smoothly and the number of occasions when papers cannot be found has been significantly reduced.
  On the question of the average length of time taken to process a DLA claim I should explain that the Benefits Agency introduced a standard performance measure across benefits some time ago. This is expressed in terms of clearance targets instead of average clearance times as was previously the case. For information on the Agency's performance in this area I refer you to my reply of 11 December to the honourable Member for Newham North East (Mr. Leighton) at column 73 (Official Report 14 December 1992).
  You also asked how many people are employed at the DLA Unit to track down lost or missing files. There are currently thirty staff at the office in Blackpool whose job it is to track down missing paperwork.
  A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. A copy is also being placed in the Library.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria are employed in the selection of medical practitioners to sit on disability appeals tribunals dealing with contested applications for disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  Responsibility for the administration of disability appeal tribunals lies with the president of the independent tribunal service, His Honour Judge Thorpe. The hon. Member may wish to contact his office direct to obtain this information.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown by age and gender of persons who have taken out personal pensions since 1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated number of people with personal pensions, by age and gender, as at 5 April 1991, the latest date for which figures are available

  Age

  Men

  Women

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  All ages

  2,808,800

  100.0

  1,575,900

  100.0

  16 to 19

  146,500

  5.2

  127,200

  8.1

  20 to 24

  625,000

  22.3

  494,800

  31.4

  368

  Age

  Men

  Women

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  25 to 29

  643,000

  22.9

  394,000

  25.0

  30 to 34

  483,200

  17.2

  236,200

  15.0

  35 to 39

  375,100

  13.4

  189,000

  12.0

  40 to 44

  354,300

  12.6

  113,300

  7.2

  45 to 49

  160,500

  0.7

  19,000

  1.2

  50+

  21,200

  6.5

  2,600

  0.1

  Source: Based on a 1 per cent. sample of national insurance records. Because of the small sample size, some of the figures shown are subject to a wide margin of error.

  One-parent Families
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parent families are in receipt of(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) disability working allowance; and for each benefit how many lone parent families are estimated to include a qualifying child for the purposes of the Child Support Act 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table:

  Number of lone parent families

  Number of lone parent families estimated to include a qualifying child

  Income support

  895,000

  879,000

  Family credit

  132,000

  130,000

  Disability working allowance

  169

  2

  Notes:

  1. The figures estimated for the number of lone parent families in receipt of the specified benefits who are estimated to include a qualifying child for the purposes of the Child Support Act 1991 are based on the best information available.

  2. The figures for the numbers of lone parent families in receipt of income support and family credit are taken from the Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry 1991.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand, with the exception of disability working allowance where actual figures are given as at September 1992.

  Maxwell Pensions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money has now been collected by the trust fund set up to reclaim the money lost from the Maxwell pensions scheme; and what action the Government have taken to ensure that all the lost money is collected.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Maxwell Pensioners Trust was set up to seek contributions from the private sector to help secure Maxwell pensions in the longer term. So far, the trust has collected almost £6 million.

  Responsibility for recovering the missing pension scheme assets lies with the liquidators, administrators and pension scheme trustees. The Department's Maxwell pensions unit is actively assisting in this work wherever possible.

  Income Support
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend the regulations so as to define the severe hardship which unemployed 16 to 17-year-olds need
  369
  to suffer in order to qualify for income support as being automatically met if they live in a household which is already in receipt of a means-tested benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  Any 16 or 17-year-old at risk of hardship can already receive help under the severe hardship provision if seeking work and youth training and living in a household which is in receipt of a means-tested benefit. The provision allows for a flexible response to particular circumstances. Legislation would reduce this flexibility.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what standardised testing procedures are employed in the process of assessing people applying for attendance allowance; and what percentage are referred to consultant clinicians.

  Mr. Scott
  There are no testing procedures employed in determining claims for attendance allowance. Entitlement rests on prescribed legislative conditions. Claims are decided by adjudication officers, normally on the basis of evidence provided by customers themselves. However, in some cases additional information is required which can be obtained from a variety of sources. Information is not available on the percentage of cases where information is requested from a consultant clinician.

  Family Credit
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the numbers engaged in agriculture in Wales in receipt of family credit, giving figures separately for the(a) self-employed and (b) employed.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We are considering what opportunities there may be within the Department and its agencies to use private finance, following the announcement of the private finance initiative by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 at column 996. The principle in each case will be to seek to transfer risk to the private sector and gain value for money.

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend child benefit entitlement for school leavers until they have been accepted on to youth training.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no plans to do so. Any person aged 16 or 17 who reaches the end of the child benefit extension period can claim income support if seeking a youth training place or work and at risk of severe hardship.

  War Pension Claims
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on claims of war pension in respect of noise-induced hearing loss.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 12 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced proposals to make two changes to the war pensions scheme. These were to remove rank differentials in war disablement pensions and to introduce a minimum level of disablement for awards in respect of noise-induced hearing loss.

  These proposals have been discussed with the central advisory committee on war pensions. After full and careful consideration of all the points, both for and against the proposals, we have concluded that the changes are in the best interests of war pensioners. The necessary legislative changes have therefore been made today. These will provide first, that for claims from 7 January 1993, no award will be made in respect of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss unless the degree of disablement from that loss is assessed as being at least 20 per cent. Secondly, savings from that this change will be used to remove, from April 1993, rank differentials in war disablement pensions. This will be of greatest benefit to the most severely disabled war pensioners, the majority of whom will gain up to £5 a week.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Brooke
  The private finance initiative is intended to apply to all services which are traditionally provided by Government Departments. My Department is considering how to apply the initiative in its areas of responsibility on the basis of the guidance which has been published by the Treasury.

  The Department of National Heritage operates largely through a network of public bodies and agencies which receive much of their support from public funds, but which are managed and operate at arm's length from the Government.

  Where appropriate, my Department seeks to encourage and maximise private sector contributions. In arts and sport, for example, business sponsorship schemes provide pound-for-pound matching of funds by the Government and the private sector for particular projects. The scheme for arts has been in place for some time; that for sport was launched by me in November 1992.

  English Heritage's forward strategy proposed new initiatives for private funding of the heritage, including private sponsorship of a major new visitor center at Stonehenge. Nearly all the marketing and development activities undertaken by the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board attract significant funding from the tourism industry.

  A further example is the museums and galleries improvement fund which is funded equally by the Government and the Wolfson Foundation and Family Charitable Trust.
  371
  At another level, private funding is achieved through admission charges to the many institutions supported by my Department.

  The national lottery and the millennium fund will be established through the Bill which I am publishing today. There will be a presumption that national lottery projects should seek partnership funding where possible, bringing in significant contributions from the private sector. It is, however, important to recognise that these initiatives are not intended to replace public expenditure; they will provide valuable additional funds for particular projects.

  Listed Building Control
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he has considered the responses to the consultation paper on ecclesiastical exemption from listed building control; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  In the light of the responses received, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I intend to introduce changes to the current provisions in broadly the form proposed in the consultation paper. In respect of England and Wales, the ecclesiastical exemption will be retained for those bodies that subscribe to a code of practice, and agree to bring their internal arrangements for control of works to listed ecclesiastical buildings into conformity with the code.

  The main change we are making to the consultation proposals is that where religious bodies choose not to subscribe to the code of practice, the exemption will be withdrawn in respect of works to the interior as well as to the exterior of their ecclesiastical buildings. Guidance will be issued to local planning authorities on the importance of giving due weight to liturgical requirements in considering applications for consent to internal alterations.

  We are satisfied in the light of the responses that it is right to pursue the consultation paper's proposals in respect of curtilage buildings. In future, therefore, the exemption will normally apply only to the principal place of worship on any site, and not to any other buildings within the curtilage. Special provision will, however, need to be made for cathedral complexes. The precise implications of the withdrawal of the exemption for curtilage buildings including such structures as tombstones and monuments will be discussed further with the churches, the local authority associations and the national amenity societies.

  The new arrangements have been the subject of consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of his responsibility for listed building control in England.

  Copies of the code of practice, incorporating these and other changes, and lists of those who responded to the consultation paper, have been placed in the Library.

  Our Departments will be writing to the local authority associations and the national amenity societies about the new arrangements.

  The Church of England occupies a special position in that it has its own system of control already embodied in legislation approved by the General Synod and by Parliament. There has been extensive consultation between the Church authorities and the relevant Departments over recent amendments to their legislation and its implementation. I am satisfied that, subject to the
  372
  resolution of a few outstanding points, the Church's system of control will effectively embody the principles set out in the code of practice.

  Our Departments will be writing to all other denominations to ask whether they wish to subscribe to the code of practice in its revised form, and discussions will be held with the Churches Main Committee on the various definitions involved and on arrangements for monitoring. When we have the churches' response we intend to make an order under section 60 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 defining the new scope of the exemption.

  We should also make it clear that we are prepared to take action under section 60 of the 1990 Act to bring within normal control any individual ecclesiastical building where a denomination subscribing to the code proposes to authorise potentially damaging alterations for which wider scrutiny seems appropriate.

  Experience of the new arrangements will be carefully monitored, and their continuance will, of course, depend on our being satisfied that they provide adequate protection for buildings which constitute so invaluable a part of our architectural and cultural heritage.

  Television Companies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to amend the system of award of licences for channel 3 by the Independent Television Commission.

  Mr. Brooke
  None.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Lamont
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Brussels under my chairmanship on 14 December. The Paymaster General represented the United Kingdom.

  Agreement was reached on the excise and value added tax simplification directives, which incorporate important provisions for the control of these taxes and amendments to the arrangements for operating indirect taxes in the single market after 1992. The simplification of the VAT requirements for so called "triangular" movements—involving traders in more than two member states—will be particularly welcomed by United Kingdom business.

  There was a short discussion on the seventh VAT directive. The United Kingdom made it clear that we could not accept the provision in the draft directive on VAT for imports of works of art. Spain and Germany also had reservations on parts of the proposal which will now go forward to the Danish presidency.

  Germany maintained its reservation on the increases in travellers' allowances for goods other than tobacco and alcohol. It is seeking progress in the discussions on the liberalisation of road transport before lifting its reserves. We shall be seeking to persuade Germany to lift this reservation.

  Guidelines for the future control of duty-free sales in the Community were also agreed.
  373
  The Council considered again a package of measures concerning road transport taxation. It reached broad agreement on the minimum rates of vehicle exercise duty for lorries, subject to agreement on the related issues that are being considered by the Transport Council.

  The Council also discussed a report on the Commission's proposal for a tax on carbon dioxide and energy. It agreed that before a decision could be taken on whether, and if so under what circumstances, such a tax should be introduced throughout the Community, further analysis would be required on the impact of the proposed tax, notably on energy consumption, economic activity and competitiveness.

  Further work will also be needed on a number of important features of the Commission's proposal, such as the balance between the carbon and energy elements of the proposed tax, and the treatment of electricity. This work will take due account of the conclusions of the Edinburgh Council on the principle of subsidiarity.

  The Council also agreed in principle that the derogation granted to Greece under the capital liberalisation directive should be extended for a further 18 months.

  The Council also discussed the need to implement rapidly the national and Community measures agreed at the European Council in Edinburgh in order to promote growth. In particular, I urged that the new loan facility to be established by the European investment bank and the new European investment fund should be set up without delay.

  NEDO (Redundancies)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about redundancy costs at the National Economic Development Office.

  Mr. Nelson
  It is proposed that the cost of redundancies at NEDO and other winding up costs should be met from the Treasury vote—class XVIII, vote 1. Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for this vote. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £2 million will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Inflation
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the rate of inflation in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for each year since March 1979.

  Mr. Nelson
  The table gives the annual average inflation rates for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland from 1979 to 1991.

  United Kingdom

  Republic of Ireland

  1979

  13.4

  13.3

  1980

  18.0

  18.2

  1981

  11.9

  20.4

  1982

  8.6

  17.1

  1983

  4.6

  10.5

  1984

  5.0

  8.7

  1985

  6.1

  5.4

  1986

  3.4

  3.8

  1987

  4.2

  3.2

  1988

  4.9

  2.1

  1989

  7.8

  4.1

  374

  United Kingdom

  Republic of Ireland

  1990

  95

  3.2

  1991

  5.9

  3.1

  West Bromwich Building Society
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refer the West Bromwich building society to the insurance ombudsman in relation to its role in home insurance plans.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Insurance Ombudsman Bureau provides a method of resolving disputes between insurers and individual policy holders. Some building societies have agreed to the voluntary extension of the building societies ombudsman's powers in resolving disputes over home income plans. Talks are continuing to try to agree an acceptable role for the ombudsman in cases concerning the West Bromwich building society.

  EC States (Debt)
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of Government borrowing as a percentage of gross domestic product; and what is the level of national debt as a percentage of gross domestic product for each EC member state from 1980 to the latest date.

  Mr. Lamont
  Data on EC member states' general government net borrowing and gross general government debt as a percentage of GDP are published in the European Commission's "European Economy".

  Taxes
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures on the same basis as table 4, appendix 1, of "Economic Trends", January 1992, on the total percentage of gross income accounted for by taxes of all kinds paid by(a) the bottom decile of households and (b) the top decile giving comparable figures for households ranked by equivalised disposable income for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Nelson
  Figures on the basis of table 4, appendix 1, of "Economic Trends", January 1992 are only published for the years 1987 onwards. The results for 1987 were published in the May 1990 edition of "Economic Trends" and the 1988 results appeared in the March 1991 edition. The required ratios can be derived from these results.

  Figures for earlier years are not published for decile groups of households ranked on an equivalised basis. In the March 1991 edition of "Economic Trends", table P shows estimates for direct taxes as a percentage of gross income and indirect taxes as a percentage of disposable income for alternative years back to 1977 for quintile groups ranked by equivalised disposable income. The required ratios for quintile groups can be derived from these figures.

  Relocation
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress Departments and agencies are making under the Government's relocation policy.
  375
  Mr. Dorrell
  Since March 1988, 14,300 civil service jobs have been located or relocated outside the south-east. A further 11,400 are to follow and a further 3,200 were under review at the end of June. This compares with a total of 6,000 posts which were moved or created outside the south-east under the centrally directed dispersal programme that operated between 1979 and 1988.

  Until 1988, the dispersal programme was centrally directed. Since 1988, Departments have been required to review the location of their work systematically against a value-for-money test. This decentralised approach has resulted in the establishment outside the south-east of over twice as many civil service jobs in the last four years as in the previous eight. Details are given in the table.

  Department

  Posts

  Posts already moved South West

  MOD

  460

  Charity Commission

  160

  Treasury Solicitor

  125

  Other departments

  230

  Total

  975

  Posts yet to move

  MOD

  3,770

  DSS

  495

  Other departments

  85

  Total

  4,350

  Posts already moved West Midlands?

  Land Registry

  790

  MOD

  250

  DTI

  135

  Transport

  105

  Other departments

  250

  Total

  1,530

  Posts yet to move

  DSS

  415

  Other departments

  110

  Total

  525

  Posts already moved East Midlands

  Inland Revenue

  770

  Land Registry

  180

  Transport

  120

  Other departments

  20

  Total

  1,090

  Posts yet to move

  Inland Revenue

  1,155

  Other departments

  80

  Total

  1,235

  Posts already moved North West

  DSS

  620

  Inland Revenue

  530

  Customs

  625

  Employment

  475

  Home Office

  250

  Land Registry

  240

  OPCS

  230

  Other departments

  95

  Total

  3,065

  376

  Department

  Posts

  Posts yet to move

  Customs

  1,005

  DSS

  495

  Inland Revenue

  110

  Total

  1,610

  Posts already moved Northern

  DSS

  845

  Inland Revenue

  420

  Intervention Board

  300

  Land Registry

  290

  Education

  100

  Other departments

  80

  Total

  2,035

  Posts yet to move

  Education

  45

  Total

  45

  Posts already moved Yorkshire and Humberside

  Employment

  850

  DSS

  585

  Health

  540

  Land Registry

  290

  Other departments

  120

  Total

  2,385

  Posts yet to move

  Health

  630

  MAFF

  1,000

  DSS

  50

  CPS

  50

  Inland Revenue

  15

  Total

  1,745

  Posts already moved East Anglia

  All departments

  65

  Total

  65

  Posts yet to move

  MOD

  390

  Cabinet Office

  200

  Total

  590

  Posts already moved Scotland

  Inland Revenue

  370

  DSS

  570

  Other departments

  200

  Total

  1,140

  Posts yet to move

  DSS

  490

  Inland Revenue

  125

  Total

  615

  Posts already moved Wales

  DTI

  1,010

  Inland Revenue

  320

  MOD

  50

  Other departments

  130

  Total

  1,510

  377

  Department

  Posts

  Posts yet to move

  MOD

  95

  Total

  95

  Posts already moved

  Northern Ireland

  DSS

  435

  Inland Revenue

  100

  Total

  535

  Posts yet to move

  DSS

  485

  Customs

  100

  Other departments

  50

  Total

  635

  More details of these moves and moves within the south-east are being placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Departments and agencies also consider moving to sites within the south-east. Over the year to June 1992, 1,500 posts were identified for cost-effective transfer within the south-east and at 30 June 10,500 posts were under review for possible relocation within the south-east, a substantial increase on past years.

  In addition, a number of Departments, notably the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Social Security, have moved or are moving civil servants between areas outside the south-east. The Ministry of Defence is also relocating service personnel throughout the country.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Lamont
  The Treasury does not undertake or sponsor large capital projects. It has, however, used leasing arrangements in the past. Decisions to lease or buy have been taken on value-for-money grounds. For the future, opportunities for further private finance will be considered in accordance with Treasury guidelines.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the total cost of the valuation of properties in (i) each local authority area in England and (ii) for all England, for the purposes of introducing the council tax and (b) the cost per property in (i) each local authority area in England and (ii) for all England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information in respect of each local authority in England is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total cost of the valuation banding of domestic properties for all England was £39,409,635 and the average valuation banding cost per property for all England was £1.97.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account will be taken of revenue from the national lottery when planning public expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
  378
  Mr. Portillo
  The Government do not intend that the proceeds should be brought within the public spending control total, and the Government will not make any case-by-case reduction in conventional expenditure programmes to take account of awards from the lottery proceeds.

  Alcohol
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the differences between the excise duty on Scotch whisky and on still wine.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The duty relativities between alcoholic drinks are reviewed each year, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget statement.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the retail prices index currently relates to the cost of alcoholic drinks; how much of this is attributable to the price of Scotch whisky; and on what specific assumptions of whisky consumption by different income groups this is based.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: The weight for alcoholic drinks in the retail prices index for use in 1992 is 80 parts per thousand. Of this, the price indicators for Scotch and other types of whisky together account for 8.1 parts per thousand as part of the selection of indicators taken to represent wines and spirits generally.

  The weights for the RPI are based mainly on the family expenditure survey. No specific assumptions are made concerning consumption by different income groups, although adjustments are made for known under-recording according to data on receipts of duty collected by HM Customs and Excise.

  Single Market Regulations
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the top 30,000 European Community traders in Britain have received(a) a directory of commodity codes and (b) a visit by customs officials in preparation for the introduction of new customs and value added tax regulations from 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Distribution of the Intrastat classification nomenclature commenced on 23 November and is scheduled for completion by 15 December. Visits to the top 30,000 European Community traders have been carried out by Intrastat liaison officers based at local VAT offices, and have been primarily concerned with explaining how the new system for the collection of intra-EC trade statistics will operate. Approximately 28,000 visits have already taken place; it is expected that very few of the balance will be outstanding at the end of 1992 but all should be completed by February 1993 when the first returns are due.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the full-year cost to the Revenue of the introduction of the business reliefs for inheritance tax which he has announced to take effect from March 1993; and what public benefits he expects from these changes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The estimated reduction in the yield of inheritance tax for

  379
  transfers in 1992–93 resulting from the changes to business and agricultural relief made in the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 is £45 million in a full year. The cost of the inheritance tax exchanges for the new London international financial futures and options exchange announced on 4 December 1992 is expected to be negligible. These changes, which took effect from March 1992, encourage the creation and development of small family businesses for the wider benefit of the national economy. There has been no announcement of changes to business reliefs for inheritance tax to take effect from March 1993.

  Sales Lists
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 November,Official Report, column 1003, whether the maximum penalty for misdeclaration for sales lists applies per incorrect form or per incorrect entry; if he will indicate the sections of the Finance Act 1992 which set out the penalty for failure to submit for sales lists; and, in respect of Intrastat, what is the maximum criminal penalty which will apply.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The maximum penalty for misdeclaration for sales lists applies to each EC sales statement.

  Authority to impose civil penalties for failure to submit EC sales statements is contained in section 82 of the Finance Act 1992.

  As the Paymaster General stated in his earlier written reply, on 13 November, at column 1003, the maximum criminal penalty in respect of Intrastat is £2,500.

  In consultation with HM Customs and Excise, however, the Paymaster General has agreed that a sympathetic view will be taken of errors which arise as a result of genuine misunderstandings of any of the new procedures which it is introducing for the single market, in the initial phase of their operation. This approach will, of course, not extend to cases of fraud or gross negligence.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in his Department; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

  Sir John Cope
  On 1 July 1992, the latest date for which this information is available, there were 26 Treasury staff who were registered disabled; of this total, seven are registered physically disabled and nine are registered sensorily disabled. The total number of staff in these two categories represents 0.7 per cent. of the Department's total work force; 1.1 per cent. of the Treasury work force are registered as disabled. The Department employs a number of people with disabilities who have chosen not to register as disabled.

  Drug Smugglers
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are taken by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to encourage and, where necessary, compensate members of the public who assist in the detection and capture of drug smugglers.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs encourages the public to assist if in its efforts against drug smuggling through publicity
  380
  campaigns such as that associated with the relaunch of their drugs hotline. Although inducements are not offered to the public, there is the facility to pay monetary, rewards for such assistance and it has been policy when appropriate to do so. When such public spiritedness has led to the success of a case at considerable commercial or financial disadvantage to the person or company responsible for the assistance, Customs seeks to ensure that no financial disadvantage is suffered and that there is suitable recompense or reward.

  European Monetary System (Loans)
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been provided to the Bank of England under the community loan mechanism of the EMS; what were the terms of such loans; and what funds remain to be repaid.

  Mr. Lamont
  The Community loan mechanism of the EMS was combined with the medium term financial assistance facility to create a single facility for medium-term financial support—MTFS—in June 1988.

  The United Kingdom has not made any applications for funds under the MTFS.

  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been provided to the Bank of England under the very short-term funding facility of the European monetary system, since the United Kingdom joined the exchange rate mechanism; what were the terms of such facilities; and what funds are still to be repaid.

  Mr. Lamont
  The United Kingdom made use of the very short-term facility—VSTF—of the European monetary system to finance intervention in September 1992. VSTF transactions finance intervention in the foreign exchange markets and it has been the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to reveal details of such intervention.

  The terms under which VSTF borrowing is undertaken are set out in the agreement of 13 March 1979 between the central banks of the member states of the European Economic Community which is published in the "Compendium of Community Monetary Texts 1989".

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax expenditure on mortgage interest tax relief in each year since 1982.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of mortgage interest relief is provisionally estimated to be £5.2 billion in 1992–93 based on the standard assumption that interest rates remain at their current levels for the rest of 1992–93.

  Estimates for the earlier years are published in table 5.2 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1992", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Exempt Objects
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will announce the outcome of the review of the register of conditionally exempt objects.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The review of the register of conditionally exempt objects, usually known as the "V and A list", announced on 7 July 1992,Official Report, columns 226–27

  381
  and 14 July 1992, Official Report, columns 524–25, has now been completed. It has concluded that there is a need to make improvements to accessibility to the V and A list, the quality of entries on the list, and to publicity given to the list.

  Improved accessibility will be achieved by computerising the V and A list. This is expected to be completed in the first half of 1993. Computerisation will allow inquirers to use database search and retrieval facilities to identify more easily objects of particular interest. This will meet the valid criticism that the V and A list is not properly indexed. Copies of the computerised V and A list will be given to the existing custodians of the V and A list. Further copies will also be available, at a reasonable cost, to any other institution or member of the public who requests a copy. This will meet the criticism that it is difficult to consult copies of the V and A list.

  Publicity for the V and A list will be increased by the issue of quarterly press releases about recent additions to the list. These will start after computerisation has been completed. In addition, feature articles about the V and A list for publication in expert journals will be encouraged.

  To improve the quality of entries, all individuals shown as contact points on the V and A list will be asked to confirm the information given in each entry on the list. At the same time, owners will be advised of the changes which will be made and given the opportunity to take new security precautions to guard against any increased risk of art theft arising from the greater publicity.

  A number of related improvements are also planned or have now been implemented. There will be a selective audit of objects on the V and A list each year to confirm that undertakings on public access and preservation of the objects in the United Kingdom are being observed. Any breaches which cannot he put right will lead to an inheritance tax charge. Guidelines on what Inland Revenue considers to be reasonable public access to objects on the V and A list are being issues. Guidelines on access to the existing V and A list have also been provided to existing custodians of the V and A list and steps have been taken to ensure that the contact point shown on V and A list entries is as up to date as possible.

  Owners of items on the V and A list have already agreed to provide public access and are not being asked to do more than they have already undertaken. The measures which I have described will make it easier for the public to enjoy the benefits which Parliament intended.

  Capital Allowances
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are being made to publish the draft legislation on enhanced capital allowances proposed in the autumn statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue will be making available on Monday 21 December 1992 the draft clauses which will implement the Chancellor's proposals on capital allowances announced in the autumn statement. These will introduce a new 40 per cent. first-time allowance for expenditure incurred on machinery and plant—excluding most cars—in the year ending 31 October 1993. They will also introduce a 20 per cent. initial allowance for the construction of new industrial and agricultural buildings which are contracted for in the 12 months ending 31 October 1993 and brought into use by the end of 1994.
  382
  In addition, the Chancellor proposes that, in one respect, the scope of the new relief for industrial and agricultural buildings will go further than previously announced. This is to be extended to include certain expenditure on existing and part-completed buildings which have not previously been used and which are bought from a person whose trade is the construction of buildings for sale. To qualify, such buildings must be purchased under a contract entered into the year ending 31 October 1993 and brought into use by the end of 1994.

  The legislation for these measures will be included in the 1993 Finance Bill. A copy of the draft clauses, and the Inland Revenue press release announcing their publication, will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Treasure Trove
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the procedures relating to treasure trove for England and Wales.

  Mr. Lamont
  The basis on which ex gratia rewards are paid to the finders of treasure trove were set out in a written answer on 26 April 1988,Official Report, columns 105–106. Where a museum wishes to retain an item of treasure trove, the finder is paid an ex gratia reward equivalent to the estimated market value of the object, providing he or she has acted promptly and properly in reporting the find. Valuation is determined by the Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee, which is appointed by the Treasury and whose members are independent of the museum service. In reaching its estimate of market value, the committee considers advice from the museums, information from recent auctions of similar objects, and any other advice or information they consider to be relevant.

  I believe that the present procedures work well and fairly, but I have concluded that the following changes are appropriate: finders will now be invited to submit any information about the possible valuation of their find which they wish the committee to consider; in cases where there is no recent evidence of market value from auctions of similar items, the committee will seek valuations from two independent sources to consider alongside the advice it receives from the museums; and a list of additional, named specialists will be drawn up on whose advice the committee may call when it thinks it appropriate, when it is considering particularly unusual items.

  With the approval of the Prime Minister, I have also agreed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage that responsibility for treasure trove will be transferred to his Department from 1 April 1993.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Irish Language
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of people who(a) speak Irish and (b) are learning Irish; what amount of Government funds were spent on (i) teaching the language and (ii) otherwise promoting it during the current financial year; how much this represents per capita in Northern Ireland; how much per Irish

  383
  speaker and student; what were the figures five and 10 years ago; and what are his projections for the next three years.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the 1991 census of population, 131,974 persons aged three or over were recorded as able to speak Irish. For estimates of the number of pupils learning Irish at school, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 17 November 1992,Official Report, columns 149–52, where it was estimated that, based on a 10 per cent. sample survey relating to those schools which offered Irish as a subject in the 1988–89 academic year, some 26,210 pupils were studying Irish. The numbers learning Irish in other educational institutions are not available centrally.

  The total costs of teaching Irish are not separately identified.

  The total of central Government expenditure—excluding the funding of Irish medium education and of teaching Irish in English medium mainstream education—in the current financial year is estimated at £668,000. Based on information available from the 1991 census of population, this equates to some £0.42 per head of population, or £5.06 per Irish speaker. Since information on the costs of teaching Irish is not available, a per student figure cannot be provided.

  The equivalent figure five years ago was approximately £210,000. A figure for 10 years ago is not available.

  Projections for expenditure on the promotion of the language for the next three years are also unavailable.

  Sinn Fein Councillors
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will published a table to show for each council in Northern Ireland the number of Sinn Fein councillors; and how many of those councillors in each of those council areas have(a) been charged with an offence scheduled in the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991, (b) been charged with membership of a terrorist organisation or (c) served a prison sentence for a scheduled offence.

  Mr. Mates
  The number of Sinn Fein councillors by council area is as follows:

  Number

  Antrim

  0

  Ards

  0

  Armagh

  1

  Ballymena

  0

  Ballymoney

  0

  Banbridge

  0

  Belfast

  9

  Carrickfergus

  0

  Castlereagh

  0

  Coleraine

  0

  Cookstown

  2

  Craigavon

  1

  Derry

  5

  Down

  0

  Campus

  Number of full time equivalent students

  Ratio of professorial staff1 to students

  Ratio of acaemic staff2 in post to students

  Ratio of non-academic staff3 in post to students

  Belfast

  677

  0.009

  0.087

  0.114

  Coleraine

  3,716

  0.008

  0.051

  0.156

  Jordanstown

  7,259

  0.005

  0.060

  0.124

  Magee

  1,541

  0.003

  0.057

  0.088

  384

  Number

  Dungannon

  3

  Fermanagh

  4

  Larne

  0

  Limavady

  1

  Lisburn

  2

  Magherafelt

  3

  Moyle

  1

  Newry and Mourne

  4

  Newtownabbey

  0

  North Down

  0

  Omagh

  6

  Strabane

  2

  TOTAL

  44

  It would not be appropriate to supply the other information requested.

  Transplants
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of organ or eye donations that could have been used for transplants and of the actual numbers of transplants in the latest period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information, which is based upon figures for 1991 supplied by the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority, is as follows:

  Organ

  Retrieved

  Used

  Unsuitable for use

  Suitable but unused

  Kidneys

  67

  66

  1

  —

  Pancreas

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Heart

  8

  8

  —

  —

  Heart/Lung

  4

  4

  —

  —

  Lungs

  5

  2

  3

  —

  Liver

  15

  14

  1

  —

  Cornea

  33

  24

  9

  —

  Notes:

  1. All figures are for cadaveric organs.

  2. Retrieved organs may prove unsuitable for use for a variety of reasons, for example anatomical defect, mismatch, or impaired function after transit.

  University of Ulster
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of the four campuses of the university of Ulster the current number of full-time equivalent students, the ratio of professorial staff to student numbers, the ratio of academic staff in post to student numbers and the ratio of non-academic staff in post to student numbers.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the 1992–93 academic year the figures for the university of Ulster are as follows:
  385
  1 Excludes Vice-Chancellor/Pro-Vice-Chancellor/Provosts.

  2 Excludes professorial and research staff.

  3 Includes administration, technical and research staff and Vice-Chancellor/Pro-Vice-Chancellor/Provosts—four of whom are professorss based at Coleraine and Magee campuses.

  Note: Comparison of staff:student ratios between the various campuses is not valid because of the unitary structures of the university and the differing subject mixes at each campus.

  Cardiac Services
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many coronary bypass operations were carried out in each year since 1988–89.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information available centrally is as follows:

  Coronary by-pass operations

  Number

  1988–89

  245

  1989–90

  318

  1990–91

  330

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are on the waiting list for coronary bypass operations in each of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information is not held centrally on the numbers waiting for specific operations. At September 1992, there were 874 people waiting for admission to the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast for cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery is not carried out in any other hospital in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps he will take to reduce the waiting list for coronary bypass operations in each of the health and social boards; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when the chief medical officer will complete his review of cardiac services; and if the report will be published;

  (3) if he will refer the report of the chief medical officer into the review of cardiac services in Northern Ireland for independent review by experts nominated by the European Society of Cardiology;

  (4) if he will take measures to ensure that an immediate assessment of present and future needs for cardiac surgery is undertaken, involving cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.

  Mr. Hanley
  In May this year, a fourth cardiac surgeon was appointed to the Royal Victoria hospital, thereby increasing the yearly number of health service cardiac operations at that hospital from 630 to 840. In November, a sum of £800,000 was allocated to boards to allow them to continue buying cardiac operations in England and elsewhere for patients who would otherwise have to continue waiting. Prior to November, more than 120 patients had already had cardiac surgery in Great Britain.

  On 8 December, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in his announcement on the allocation of resources for the year ahead, indicated that the funds available for expenditure on health and social services in 1993–94 will amount to £1,318 million. Within this figure I am pleased to say that additional funds have been made available to meet charter guarantees on waiting times for hospital treatment and, in particular, cardiac surgery.
  386
  The Department's chief medical officer has recently undertaken a review of cardiac surgery, with the aim of improving the cardiac surgery service and thereby reducing the waiting list and times still further. His report was issued for consultation on 30 October. The views of a wide range of interested groups and individuals have been invited, including cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. Responses are still being received and when these have been fully considered, the Department intends to announce its conclusions and publish an action plan early in the new year. There are no plans to refer the chief medical officer's report for independent review by experts nominated by the European Society of Cardiology.

  Orthopaedic Surgery
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources he will make available to ensure that the waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery are reduced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Through the Department of Health and Social Services' waiting list initiative, additional funding of £1.2 million was made available in 1991–92 to achieve reductions in long waiting lists, including that for orthopaedic surgery. Additional resources are being provided this year and next for the same purpose.

  In addition, over £600,000 has been invested specifically in the development and enhancement of the orthopaedic service since 1989–90.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are on the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery in each of the four health and social services boards.

  Mr. Hanley
  At 30 September 1992, 3,324 people were waiting for admission to hospital in the trauma and orthopaedic speciality in the Eastern board and 623 in the Western board.

  There are no consultants in trauma and orthopaedics in the Northern or Southern boards and hence no waiting lists.

  Maedi Visna
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last case of maedi visna was confirmed in sheep in Northern Ireland; what information he has on the equivalent information for neighbouring or other counties of the Republic of Ireland; and what plans he has to make Northern Ireland free of maedi visna.

  Mr. Hanley
  Maedi visna has never been detected in the indigenous Northern Ireland sheep flock. The disease was last confirmed in imported sheep in 1981 and the infected animals were slaughtered. I understand that maedi visna has not been detected in the Republic of Ireland sheep flock since 1982. A submission seeking recognition of Northern Ireland's claim to freedom from maedi visna was sent recently to the European Commission.

  Education and Library Boards
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total amount raised by each education and library board through the(a) sale and (b) rental of land, property or facilities, in each of the past two years; and what proportion of these amounts were (i) retained by each board for the provision of education and library services and (ii) retained by the Department;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that all proceeds of the sale or rental of land, property, or facilities by each education and library board will be retained by that board for the provision of education and library services; and if he will return to the boards any such sums currently retained by the Department of Education.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total amount raised by each education and library board through the sale of land and property for the past two years is as follows:

  Board

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  Belfast

  494,129

  21,744

  Western

  185,515

  201,673

  North-eastern

  22,804

  270,524

  South-eastern

  680,970

  44,000

  Southern

  40,432

  110,582

  Information on the amounts raised through the rental of land and property is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  All amounts in the past two years were reallocated to each board in addition to their capital baselines for the provision of education and library services. However, it must always remain open to the Secretary of State to decide how best to use receipts.

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount raised by each health and social services board through the(a) sale and (b) rental of land, property or facilities, in each of the past two years; and what proportion of these amounts were (i) retained by each board for the provision of health and social services and (ii) retained by the DHSS management executive.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total amount realised from the disposal of property in each of the last two financial years was as follows:

  Financial Year

  Eastern Board £

  Southern Board £

  Northern Board £

  Western Board £

  1990–91

  3,459,770

  508,750

  137,400

  6,900

  1991–92

  639,475

  70,600

  13,000

  221,550

  Details of income received by health and social services boards from rentals of land, property or facilities is not held centrally but all such income is retained by boards.

  In 1990–91, all moneys raised from the disposal of property were retained by boards, with the exception of some late receipts amounting to £180,000.

  In 1991–1992, moneys raised from disposals were reallocated by the Secretary of State to meet financial pressures on Northern Ireland Departments, including increased expenditure on the family health services.
  388
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that all proceeds of the sale or rental of land, property or facilities by each health and social services board will be retained by that board for the provision of health and social services; and if he will return to the boards any such sums currently retained by the DHSS management executive.

  Mr. Hanley
  No. It must always remain open to the Secretary of State to decide how receipts should be used. In planning the level of public expenditure, including expenditure on health and personal social services, the Secretary of State takes into account anticipated receipts from sales of land or property. The DHSS management executive has reallocated the receipts for the current financial year to meet a number of high priority pressures within the health and personal social services.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Mates
  The private finance initiative is intended to apply to all services which are traditionally provided by Government Departments. Northern Ireland Departments have been asked to consider how they may most effectively take forward the initiative in their areas of responsibility on the basis of recently published Treasury guidelines.

  Surplus Food
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of EC surplus food was distributed in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The quantities of EEC surplus food distributed in Northern Ireland were as follows:

  Butter (tonnes)

  Beef (tonnes)

  1989–90

  678

  439

  1990–91

  680

  536

  1991–92

  517

  367

  Chief Electoral Officer (Report)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for 1991–92 will be published.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have today laid the Chief Electoral Officer's report before Parliament—House of Commons No. 344. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the number of visits made to Northern Ireland by potential inward investors in the years ended on 31 March 1990, 1991 and
  389
  1992; and how many of the potential investors were brought by the Industrial Development Board to South Down in each of the three years.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The number of visits made to Northern Ireland by potential inward investors in the years ended 31 March 1990, 1991 and 1992 was 175, 231 and 240 respectively. Of these, a total of 15 included visits to South Down—four in 1989–90, five in 1990–91 and six in 1991–92.

EMPLOYMENT

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the departmental green Minister has promoted protection of the ozone layer with specific policy measures; which possible measures have been considered and rejected; and on what grounds.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the Department's environmental policy statements we have made a specific commitment to reducing or limiting the procurement of substances which are pollutants. The Employment Department is not a major user of ozone-depleting substances. No specific policy measures have been rejected.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within the Department and returned to the manufacturer.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The use by the Department of ozone-depleting chemicals is minimal, but we pay due regard to proper disposal methods and are taking steps to ensure that all staff are aware of them. No records of quantities are held centrally and this information would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much funding has been allocated or spent to specifically deal with measures to reduce her Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No specific funding has been allocated. The reduction in the use of ozone-depleting substances is being achieved by replacing equipment which uses such substances with alternatives which do not contain ozone-depleting chemicals, as and when they are due for replacement.

  The Employer Department is not a major user of ozone-depleting substances.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by her Department are considered essential.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Some fire extinguishers which use halons as a propellant are in place in departmental buildings. Fire-fighting equipment is essential for the protection of staff; however, these extinguishers are being phased out.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what date her Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals.
  390
  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is the Department's policy to comply with the United Kingdom health and safety legislation. This policy will be applied to any legislation arising out of EC regulations on ozone-depleting chemicals.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give an undertaking to purchase only ozone-friendly fridges that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons for her Department.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's purchasing policy includes a commitment to the buying of environmentally friendly goods wherever practical.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she will provide details from the maintenance servicing record of the quantity and type of ozone-destroying chemicals used annually in her Department's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for servicing and in leakages; and what proportion is removed for recycling;

  (2) how many CFC and HCFC installations are contained within her Department's buildings;

  (3) how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in her Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems;

  (4) how many CFC domestic fridges are contained within her Department's buildings.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No records are held centrally and this information would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by her Department.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department is not a major user of ozone-depleting chemicals. Where guidance is needed in specific circumstances, it is obtained in the first instance from the Department of the Environment.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within departmental buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No records of the number of halon fire extinguishers are held centrally. Halon fire extinguishers are being phased out as and when they are due for replacement.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within her Department's buildings in the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department has no information to suggest that there have been any catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances from Employment Department buildings in the last five years.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were dealt with by industrial tribunals in each of the past five years.
  391
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of cases dealt with by industrial tribunals—at a hearing, by a settlement or by withdrawal—in the period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1992 was as follows.

  Number

  1987–88

  34,233

  1988–89

  29,317

  1989–90

  31,913

  1990–91

  35,826

  1991–92

  41,977

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine for health and safety offences involving serious injury during 1991–92.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The average fine for all health and safety offences in 1991–92 was £1,134. The average fine for those convictions arising out of a serious injury is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will deposit in the Library the names of those attending and minutes of the recent meeting between insurance companies, other interested parties and the Health and Safety Executive regarding the possible tendering out of some of HSE's work.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  During the market-testing feasibility study referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) 25 November 1992,Official Report, columns 633–34, the team under the direction of the director general of the Health and Safety Executive met representatives from a wide range of industry, the trade unions and other interested parties. the Association of British Insurers was one of those parties and its advice is reflected in the report my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently received. That report is still being considered and it would be inappropriate to release further details.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of factories and other workplaces for which the Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974; how many of these have been inspected by the factory inspectorate; and how many have received no inspection in the last five, seven, nine and 11 years.
  392
  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are 650,999 workplaces registered with the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural, factory, quarries, mines, explosives and nuclear installations inspectorates and offshore safety division for which HSE is the enforcing authority for health and safety legislation.

  It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to identify how many of these premises have been inspected by HSE's factory inspectorate—FI—of how many have received no inspection in the last five, seven, nine and 11 years.

  However, on 31 March 1992, the latest date for which information is centrally available, 417,316 fixed premises were registered with FI.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been gaoled for offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 since 1974.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To date, no employees have been jailed for offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about the privatisation of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently received a report on the feasibility of market-testing those areas of the Health and Safety Executive's activities not covered by their existing programme. My right hon. Friend is considering the report and will issue a statement in due course.

  Sickness
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of a standard enforceable procedure for notifying an employer of sickness;

  (2) what plans she has to develop the use of a standard enforceable procedure for notifying an employer of sickness.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. Like most other terms and conditions of employment, this is a matter for discussion and agreement between employer and employee without Government intervention, subject to the requirements of the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations.

  Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give, in constant 1992–93 prices and cash terms, the total amount spent by her Department of the budget for training in each year since 1989–90, the expected outturn for 1992–93 and plans for 1993–94.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The latest available figures are provided in the table.

  Employment Department Expenditure

  Constant 1992–93 prices

  Cash terms

  1989–90 Outturn

  3,077

  2,557

  1990–91 Outturn

  2,667

  2,393

  1991–92 Outturn

  2,053

  1,969

  1992–93 Estimated Outturn

  1,794

  1,794

  1993–94 Plans

  1,654

  1,701

  The figures in the table include:

  The Department's training and vocational education programmes;

  1989–90 4Outturn

  1990–91 4Outturn

  1991–92 4Outturn

  1992–93 4Forecast Outturn

  Employment Training (ET)

  Number of participants (000s)

  210

  198

  149

  124

  Average length of stay (weeks)

  26

  23

  1—

  1—

  Cost per participant

  Cash (£)

  5,404

  5,384

  6,014

  6,234

  Constant (£)

  6,504

  6,001

  6,270

  6,234

  Employment Action (EA)

  Number of participants (000s)

  2—

  2—

  14

  24

  Average length of stay (weeks)

  2—

  2—

  1—

  1—

  Cost per participant

  Cash (£)

  2—

  2—

  32,833

  6,167

  Constant (£)

  2—

  2—

  32,953

  6,167

  Training for Work 1993–94 plans

  Number of participants (000s)

  150

  —

  —

  —

  Average length of stay (weeks)

  24

  —

  —

  —

  Cost per participant

  Cash (£)

  6,241

  —

  —

  —

  Constant (£)

  6,074

  —

  —

  —

  1 Actual information later than 1990–91 is not available because average length of stay calculations are based on entrants to Employment Training and Employment Action in a given period and it is necessary to wait until all entrants in a period have left the programme.

  2 Employment Action began on 1 October 1991.

  3 The 1992–93 unit cost is for Employment Action in the programmes first six months of operation when the programme was building up.

  4 All figures are for Great Britain. These programmes are delivered in Scotland and Wales by Scottish Office and Welsh Office respectively.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate she makes of the number of 16 and 17-year-olds eligible for the youth training quarantee who were not on a youth training scheme for each month since January; how many of these received no financial assistance; and how many she expects will be in this position for each month in 1993.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is not available in the form requested. The Government continue to be
  394

  for 1989–90 and 1990–91 Great Britain figures;

  for 1991–92 England and Wales figures;

  for 1992–93 and 1993–94 England only figures:

  The figures in the table exclude:

  the Department's enterprise programmes;

  administration and running costs associated with the programmes;

  Employment action.

  1992–93 figures exclude provision transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry with effect from 1 May 1992.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give for each of her Department's schemes for the unemployed, for each year since 1989–90 the expected outturn for 1992–93, and plans for 1993–94 of(a) the number of participants, (b) the average duration of the scheme and (c) the cost per participant in cash terms and in constant 1992–93.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table shows the outturn in Great Britain for each year since 1989–90, the expected outturn for 1992–93 and the plans for 1993–94 of(a) the number of participants, (b) the average length of stay and (c) the cost per participant in cash and constant prices.

  committed to the youth training guarantee and a range of financial support is available to young people while they are seeking suitable training.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of youth trainees have achieved national vocational qualifications, and how many at level 2, for each year since the qualification was available for youth training schemes; and what estimate she makes of the number and percentage for this year and the next.
  395
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is not yet available. While there is some data on achievement of national vocational qualifications and their equivalents, further work is needed to assess their reliability.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the average figures and percentage rates in each year since and including 1987 of those who have been out of work for more than a year for(a) Dundee, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom for (i) all unemployed and (ii) 18 to 25-year-olds;

  (2) what were the monthly unemployment figures and percentage rates in each month of 1992 for (a) Dundee, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom for (i) all unemployed and (ii) for 18 to 25-year-olds;

  (3) what were the average unemployment figures and percentage rates in each year since and including 1987 for (a) Dundee, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom for (i) all unemployed and (ii) 18 to 25-year-olds.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested for total claimant unemployment for Dundee travel-to-work area, Scotland and the United Kingdom is available from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Claimant unemployment rates by both age and duration are not available. However, United Kingdom unemployment rates by age, expressed as a percentage of the work force in that age band, are available on a quarterly basis, but for standard age bands only. Although these data are not available from NOMIS, they are published in Employment Gazette, table 2.15.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the numbers of men and women in employment, both full time and part time in each quarter since January 1973.

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

  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the change in unemployment in(a) Eastleigh and (b) the average in other Hampshire districts in (i) the past 12 months and (ii) the past five years.

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

  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest percentage rate of unemployment for(a) the borough of Eastleigh and (b) the constituency of Eastleigh.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on unemployment rates is not available below the level of travel-to-work areas. In October 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, the unadjusted claimant unemployment rate for Winchester and Eastleigh travel-to-work area was 4.8 per cent.

  Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual budget for the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Estimates provide for gross expenditure of £18,541,000 for 1992–93.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what areas of her Department's responsibilities she has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if she will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Important elements of the private finance initiative include capital projects or the provision of services where the greater part of the cost involves capital expenditure. Although the majority of the Department's spending is not in this area, we are considering how to apply the initiative on the basis of the guidance which has been published by the Treasury.

  National Training Task Force
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the national training task force are(a) women, (b) from an ethnic minority and (c) people with disabilities, in numbers and as a percentage of the group.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are two—10.9 per cent.—women members of the national training task force and one—5.3 per cent.—member from an ethnic minority group. There are no members who have registered or non-registered disabilities.

  Betting Shops
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she will introduce safeguards and protection for betting shop employees who do not wish to change contracts in the event of a relaxation of betting shop hours;

  (2) if she will introduce regulations to prevent exploitation of betting shop employees by employers who refuse to allow a choice between new contracts of employment and existing ones.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Terms and conditions of employment are in general a matter for employers and employees, and it is always open to either party to a contract of employment to seek to renegotiate its terms.

  All employees have protection against unilateral changes being made to their contracts of employment.

  Chlorine Storage
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what account is taken by the emergency off-site plan of each site, designated under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984 because of the quality of chlorine which they store, of the possibility of catastrophic failure of the site's chlorine storage facilities.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In preparing off-site emergency plans for all those sites subject to regulation 11 of the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984, as amended, the emergency planners have to take account of the full range of possible events, in accordance with the official guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive—HS(G) 25—"The Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations: Further Guidance on Emergency Plans" and HS(R) 21—revised—"A guide to the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984".

  Remploy
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government's 1.5 per cent. pay norm will apply to low-paid and disabled employees of Remploy; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Remploy, like other public sector employers, will need to ensure that the overall level of settlements for each of its negotiating groups is kept within the current zero to 1.5 per cent. pay limit.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate she has made of the effect on the number of people employed at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield of the delayed start-up; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by British Nuclear Fuels plc that nearly 2,900 contracted and agency staff currently work at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield. Delays to the start-up of the plant will result in premature reductions in this number, the timing of which will depend on the extent of such delays. BNFL has already announced that 100 jobs will be lost at the beginning of January 1993 and has written to contractor companies to remind them of their terms of employment and advise that further redundancies may be necessary. BNFL has estimated that some 3,000 permanent jobs in the company and its suppliers will be sustained by THORP.

WALES

  Ambulance Services, Clwyd
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the status of the planned merger between Gwynedd and Clwyd health authorities' ambulance services; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the merger on services for the region.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Arrangements for the statutory provision of ambulance services is a matter for health authorities locally, which have decided that, as from 1 April 1993, the existing ambulance services of Gwynedd and Clwyd will combine to form a north Wales ambulance service.

  The health authorities' decision followed a detailed examination by the NHS Wales value for money unit of the costs and benefits of amalgamating the two services which suggested that significant benefits could result.

  Welsh Office guidance to health authorities issued on 17 June 1992 gave the view that provision of ambulance services in Wales is likely to be made more efficient and cost effective and, therefore, the standard of patient care is likely to be improved through service amalgamations on a multi-district basis. I would expect the effect of the merger in Gwynedd and Clwyd to accord with this.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the accumulated debt for each Welsh local authority in the last financial year.
  398
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Outstanding loan debt as at 31 March 1992

  £000

  Alyn and Deeside

  36,188

  Colwyn

  27,398

  Delyn

  29,452

  Glyndwr

  19,569

  Rhuddlan

  23,406

  Wrexham Maelor

  64,371

  Carmarthen

  51,289

  Ceredigion

  33,617

  Dinefwr

  26,124

  Llanelli

  45,201

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  52,291

  South Pembrokeshire

  26,320

  Blaenau Gwent

  129,014

  Islwyn

  79,650

  Monmouth

  49,977

  Newport

  134,978

  Torfaen

  93,191

  Aberconwy

  13,628

  Arfon

  35,025

  Dwyfor

  12,435

  Meirionnydd

  16,156

  Ynys Mon

  59,678

  Cynon Valley

  63,909

  Merthyr Tydfil

  68,299

  Ogwr

  114,335

  Rhondda

  145,229

  Rhymney Valley

  90,599

  Taff Ely

  56,510

  Brecknock

  29,014

  Montgomeryshire

  24,370

  Radnorshire

  14,249

  Cardiff

  234,557

  Vale of Glamorgan

  62,243

  Port Talbot

  39,825

  Lliw Valley

  47,001

  Neath

  45,795

  Swansea

  159,989

  Clwyd

  112,133

  Dyfed

  103,198

  Gwent

  126,377

  Gwynedd

  64,897

  Mid Glamorgan

  76,475

  Powys

  48,329

  South Glamorgan

  143,525

  West Glamorgan

  143,307

  Dyfed Powys Joint Police Authority

  3,989

  North Wales Joint Police Authority

  2,714

  South Wales Joint Police Authority

  7,761

  Total Wales

  3,087,587

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to review the guidance issued to local authorities by his Department on the operation of section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans to review the guidance issued to authorities on the circumstances in which relief might be offered to ratepayers. Decisions are entirely at the discretion of authorities. They have the freedom to help ratepayers if they believe the needs of an area justify such help and after taking into account the fact that 25 per cent. of the cost of any relief is borne by local community chargepayers.

  Council Rents
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table of outstanding council rents by district council in Wales for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Local authorities' own estimates of both current and former tenants' rent arrears for the financial years 1989–90 to 1991–92 are shown in the following tables:

  Local Authority

  Rent arrears (£?s) 1989–90

  Rent arrears (£?s) 1990–91

  Rent arrears (£?s) 1991–92

  Aberconwy BC

  99,608

  110,000

  54,879

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  138,800

  135,000

  209,529

  Arfon BC

  139,678

  105,000

  106,471

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  147,876

  156,012

  101,265

  Brecknock BC

  58,444

  61,000

  65,428

  Cardiff CC

  911,439

  1,100,000

  955,970

  Carmarthen DC

  130,015

  156,000

  156,584

  Ceredigion DC

  110,718

  121,000

  114,000

  Colwyn BC

  156,968

  145,000

  99,468

  Cynon Valley BC

  159,430

  165,000

  90,500

  Delyn BC

  126,637

  115,000

  120,668

  Dinefwr BC

  140,665

  143,309

  117,366

  Dwyfor DC

  27,256

  30,000

  33,156

  Glyndwr DC

  189,304

  216,540

  231,081

  Islwyn BC

  92,683

  103,000

  105,991

  Llanelli BC

  120,520

  120,000

  249,977

  Lliw Valley BC

  262,727

  220,000

  167,436

  Meirionnydd DC

  60,780

  53,000

  42,393

  Merthyr Tydfil BC

  125,830

  115,000

  78,010

  Monmouth BC

  210,419

  210,418

  197,396

  Montgomeryshire DC

  129,713

  148,350

  89,152

  Neath BC

  246,004

  264,500

  273,439

  Newport BC

  530,000

  400,000

  591,000

  Ogwr BC

  1,009,779

  896,260

  636,770

  Port Talbot BC

  141,600

  143,000

  158,707

  Preseli Pembs DC

  239,992

  264,000

  250,000

  Radnorshire DC

  17,000

  18,500

  25,456

  Rhondda BC

  313,814

  240,000

  305,997

  Rhuddlan BC

  66,800

  54,470

  115,000

  Rhymney Valley DC

  381,000

  381,000

  488,877

  South Pembs DC

  99,975

  100,000

  78,027

  Swansea CC

  893,319

  821,800

  1,242,265

  Taff Ely BC

  359,325

  370,000

  398,611

  Torfaen BC

  466,200

  467,000

  530,258

  Vale of Glamorgan BC

  150,500

  170,000

  149,097

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  356,210

  365,000

  280,926

  Ynys Mon BC

  159,259

  178,000

  164,018

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 18 November,Official Report, column 219, what is the projected cost of generation for each individual renewable project and in total; and what contribution the generated energy will make towards the United Kingdom-wide energy supply.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The generation costs of individual projects are commercially confidential. Should all 22 renewable energy projects approved so far in Wales under the non fossil-fuel obligation proceed as planned, they will have a rated capacity totalling 102.42 MW.

  Education Bill
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet the Welsh Joint Education Committee to discuss the impact of the Education Bill on education in Wales.
  400
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I met the Welsh Joint Education Committee to discuss the Education Bill on 2 December 1992.

  Dentists
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists have given written notice to each family health services authority to remove their names from the dental list in each week since 8 July; and what is the total for this period.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested. Fortnightly returns from family health services authorities in Wales indicate that, as a direct result of the new fee scale introduced on 8 July, 21 general dental practitioners gave written notice to have their names removed from dental lists from 1 August 1992 to 4 December 1992, while 26 new dentists joined the dental lists during that period. The figures on a fortnightly basis are as follows:

  Fortnight ending

  Number of Dentists leaving Dental list

  Number of Dentists joining Dental list

  14 August 1992

  1

  5

  28 August

  0

  1

  11 September

  5

  3

  25 September

  7

  4

  9 October

  1

  1

  23 October

  2

  1

  6 November

  3

  4

  20 November

  1

  3

  4 December

  1

  4

  Totals

  21

  26

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients have reported to each family health services authority that they have been unable to arrange national health service dental treatment in each week since 8 July.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not held centrally. The family health service authorities are responsible for directing patients to the community dental service in its "safety net" capacity.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many family health services authorities have been unable to provide emergency dental services in each week since 8 July.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is the responsibility of general dental practitioners to ensure that emergency treatment is available for those patients registered with them. Fortnightly returns submitted by family health services authorities in Wales for the period from 1 August to date indicate that only Gwynedd FHSA has been unable to provide out-of-hours emergency dental services for unregistered patients in each fortnight since 1 August 1992. The community dental services act as a safety net for unregistered patients needing emergency dental treatment within normal hours. Discussions are now taking place between Gwynedd family health services authority and Gwynedd health authority with a view to providing a weekend emergency service in Bangor for those patients not registered with a general dental practitioner.
  401
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists who have not given notice to leave the dental list have given written notice to each family health services authority to terminate or deregister some or all of their capitation arrangements for child patients in each week since 8 July; how many dentists have deregistered patients; and how many patients have been deregistered.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. Fortnightly returns submitted by family health services authorities in Wales can be summarised as in the tables for the period 1 August 1992 to 4 December 1992.

  Fortnight ending

  Number of capitation patients de-registered

  Number of dentists

  14 August 1992

  3

  2

  28 August 1992

  3

  1

  11 September 1992

  —

  —

  25 September 1992

  —

  —

  9 October 1992

  —

  23 October 1992

  2

  1

  6 November 1992

  6

  2

  20 November 1992

  1

  1

  4 December 1992

  —

  —

  The information given in these fortnightly returns was intended for general managerial purposes and is not statistically validated.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many family health services authorities have referred patients who have been unable to obtain treatment from a general dental practitioner, to(a) the community dental service, (b) the hospital dental service and (c) a salaried dentist in each week since July.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. Fortnightly returns from family health services authorities indicate that all FHSAs in Wales have referred patients to either the community or hospital dental services at some stage between 1 August 1992 and 4 December 1992.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the family health services authorities which have(a) held no dental services committee meeting and (b) cancelled a meeting in each months since July.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Dental services committee meetings are only held when there are sufficient cases to be considered. Meetings may not therefore be required on a regular monthly basis. Information as to the frequency of FHSA service committee meetings is not held centrally.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients have contacted each family health services authority asking for help in finding a dentist in each week since 8 July.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Accordingly to the fortnightly returns submitted by family health services authorities in Wales the information requested is as follows:

  Fortnight ending

  Patients

  14 August 1992

  742

  28 August 1992

  754

  11 September 1992

  715

  402

  Fortnight ending

  Patients

  25 September 1992

  644

  9 October 1992

  681

  23 October 1992

  673

  6 November 1992

  714

  20 November 1992

  632

  4 December 1992

  569

  The information given in these fortnightly returns was intended for general managerial purposes and is not statistically validated.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists who have not given notice to leave the dental list have given written notice to each family health services authority to deregister some or all of their continuing care arrangements for adult patients in each week since 8 July; how many dentists have deregistered patients; and how many patients have been deregistered.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. Fortnightly returns submitted by family health services authorities can be summarised as in the following table for the period 1 August 1992 to 4 December 1992.

  Fortnight ending

  Number of continuing care patients de-registered

  Number of dentists de-registering continuing care patients

  14 August 1992

  3

  4

  28 August 1992

  4,003

  5

  11 September 1992

  1,781

  6

  25 September 1992

  238

  8

  9 October 1992

  212

  7

  23 October 1992

  1,112

  9

  6 November 1992

  183

  9

  20 November 1992

  42

  2

  4 December 1992

  438

  8

  The information given in these fortnightly returns was intended for general managerial purposes and is not statistically validated.

  Pre-school Playgroups
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Clwyd Pre-school Playgroups Association committee to discuss the assisted places scheme.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Secretary of State currently has no plans to meet with the Clwyd Pre-School Playgroups Association committee.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the Wales Pre-School Playgroups Association grant; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Grant awarded to Wales Pre-School Playgroups Association in 1992–93 to support the organisation's core costs was £158,023, compared with £143,657 in each of the previous three financial years.

  Wales Pre-School Playgroups Association has applied for grant in 1993–94. The application is under consideration. It is hoped to announce a decision by the end of January 1993.
  403
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the moneys given to each of the county social services departments which is earmarked for pre-school playgroup assisted places;

  (2) if he will make extra funds available to county authorities to enable them to expand their assisted places schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Earmarked special funds are allocated to counties under the all-Wales mental handicap strategy, to provide a comprehensive pattern of new services including developments for children with a mental handicap. The specific amount allocated to pre-school playgroup assisted places for such children is for decision each year by county joint planning teams who are best placed to decide on local needs and priorities.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of times and dates when he has met the Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I meet representatives of the Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association informally from time to time and attended the launch of Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association "Plymouth" in Newport on 5 June 1992.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people who will be homeless in Wales over the Christmas period; and what policies he has to provide homes to accommodate those without a fixed place to live.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Data are collected only with respect to the last day of each quarter. Figures for 31 December 1992 will be available in April 1993. Local housing authorities secure permanent accommodation and other support for all homeless people under part III of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homeless households are currently living in temporary accommodation in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of households accepted as homeless and accommodated temporarily by local authorities was 1,205 at the end of September 1992.

  Christmas Trees
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the effect of acid rain deposition on Christmas tree plantations in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I am not aware of any evidence that acid rain deposition has affected Christmas tree plantations in Wales.

  Housing Revenue Account
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make his housing revenue account subsidy determinations for 1993–94.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I expect to make the determinations very shortly and will place copies in the Library of the House.
  404
  I am proposing to confirm an average guideline rent increase of 4 per cent. in real terms with a minimum increase of £1.25 per week and a maximum of £2.75 per week. I estimate that the average guideline rent increase would be £1.84 per week and the resulting average weekly guideline rent £29.17.

  For management and maintenance allowances, I propose to confirm an average increase of 1 per cent. in real terms. I estimate that this would raise the average allowance to £794 per annum per dwelling, an increase of £28.

  I have placed estimates of the rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances for each authority in the Library of the House.

  The rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances are the assumptions to be made for subsidy purposes. It is for councils themselves to set their rents and decide how much to spend on management and maintenance within their legal obligations.

  Litigation (Health Authorities)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the source of the funds used to satisfy damages and costs awarded in litigation against district health authorities in Wales;

  (2) what is to be the source of the funds used to satisfy damages and costs awarded in litigation against NHS trusts in Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if NHS trusts in Wales will be required to carry insurance against claims for medical negligence and other forms of public liability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Health authorities and NHS trusts in Wales meet the first £30,000 of any claim made under legal obligation from their own resources. The exess costs above this level are met from a centrally managed pool to which contributions are made by participating health authorities and trusts. The pool also covers risks of loss above this threshold arising from incidents of fire/arson, theft, subsidence, flooding and storm damage. In the case of medical negligence, 80 per cent. of any excess above a further threshold of £300,000 is met by the Medical Defence Organisation reserves while these remain.

  Participation in these pooling arrangements is not compulsory. It is open to health authorities and trusts to take out commercial insurance for all risks other than medical negligence if they perceive this to be advantageous. Indeed, pool participants may choose to insure themselves against such risks where claims fall below the £30,000 threshold for access to the pool. However, in the case of medical negligence, any NHS bodies which decide to remain outside the pooling arrangements must bear their own risk for all costs other than the 80 per cent. above the £300,000 which may be claimed from the Medical Defence Organisation reserves. In such circumstances health authorities would be able to seek repayable temporary cash allocation increases from the Department, and NHS trusts would be able to seek increased loan finance from approved sources where necessary to meet large claims.

  NHS trusts will not be expected to bear the cost of meeting any claims which have arisen prior to the date at which the trust concerned became operational. However, if they choose to participate in the pooling arrangements, their contributions will be geared to anticipated claims on the pool irrespective of the date at which the incident

  405
  giving rise to the claim occurred. The pool is a system of mutual risk sharing, and participants must accept all of the shared costs as well as all of the shared benefits of pool membership.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the effect upon Welsh farming incomes of changes in hill livestock compensatory allowances.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1993 recently announced will in themselves mean reduced receipts of about £6.8 million for sheep producers in the severely disadvantaged area—SDA—of Wales. This, however, will be more than offset by increased receipts from the sheep annual premium consequent upon green pound devaluations already announced. The HLCA rate payable on ewes in the disadvantaged area has not yet been determined.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that hill livestock compensatory allowance payments are made by the end of February 1993.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Producers submit claims for hill livestock compensatory allowances throughout the period from January to the end of March, and some do so thereafter. My Department aims to pay 80 per cent. of claims received by the end of March.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table outlining the effect of the proposed reduction in hill livestock compensatory allowances in each Welsh county.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The effect on producer receipts of the proposed reduction in hill livestock compensatory allowances in each of the Welsh Counties is shown in the followng table. The figures are based on the number of hardy ewes and other ewes qualifying for SDA payments in 1991.

  County

  Loss of HLCA receipts £

  Gwynedd

  1,423,334

  South and West Glamorgan

  129,765

  Mid Glamorgan

  302,647

  Gwent

  160,123

  Dyfed

  1,144,185

  Powys

  2,780,774

  Clwyd

  868,182

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the value, at 1980 prices, of Welsh hill livestock compensatory allowances for each year since 1980.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Value in real terms £ million

  1980

  19.8

  1981

  20.4

  1982

  19.3

  406

  Year

  Value in real terms £ million

  1983

  18.7

  1984

  17.9

  1985

  17.9

  1986

  18.9

  1987

  18.8

  1988

  18.4

  1989

  17.6

  1990

  17.6

  1991

  19.1

  Sensory Impairments
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the number of teachers of the hearing impaired that have to be trained annually in order to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of such teachers;

  (2) whether he intends to undertake any action to ensure that there is sufficient funding allocated for the training of teachers of hearing impaired and visually impaired children when their funding ceases to be ring fenced in April 1993;

  (3) what steps he is taking to ensure that money allocated to local education authorities for the training of specialist teachers for children with sensory impairment is used for this purpose;

  (4) if he will make a statement outlining the extent to which local education authorities have been given extra resources to cover the reduction in his support for the training of teachers of hearing impaired children.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There has been no ring fencing of funding for the training of teachers of children with special educational needs in Wales since April 1992. Under the education support and training programme grants, local education authorities have been invited to draw up proposals for special needs training, including the training of teachers of children with sensory impairment, against a pool of resources. This gives local education authorities flexibility in their training programmes to allocate resources according to their assessment of local needs and priorities. The proposed special needs training programme for 1993–94 represents an increase of 17 per cent. compared with the level of expenditure supported in 1992–93, which is itself an increase over the previous year.

  In formulating their plans for training, local education authorities are asked to provide their assessment of needs. Their plans have also to meet the objectives and priorities of the overall programme and have to include measures for the monitoring and evaluation of authorities' performance.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to extend the mandatory training requirement for full-time teachers of hearing impaired children to peripatetic teachers of deaf children.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to real terms do so.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to base the indicative allocation system for the training of specialist teachers on
  407
  the number of children with sensory impairment and severe learning difficulties in a local education authority area rather than the total number of pupils in that area.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Following consultation with Welsh local education authorities, funds for the in-service training of teachers of special needs are allocated to authorities mainly on the basis of teacher numbers. However, my right hon. Friend will bear this request in mind when allocation arrangements are reviewed.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to take any further measures in concert with the changes he plans in school education to ensure adequate funding for the training of a sufficient supply of teachers for children with(a) hearing impairment and (b) visual impairment.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Under the grants for education support and training programme for 1993–94, we are making available to local education authorities more than £1 million of supported expenditure for the training of special needs specialist teachers. Funding for the training of such teachers in grant-maintained schools is available through special purpose grants. The responsibility for special educational needs and for the training of specialist teachers lies at local level.

  Operation Wizard
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the initiating, funding and accounting of the Operation Wizard exercise carried out by the Welsh Development Agency.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The rationale for, and functions of, all non-departmental public bodies, and where and by whom they are best carried out, are subject to regular review, both quinquenially as part of financial and management policy reviews and otherwise from time to time. Fees incurred on such studies in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 were included in the agency's audited accounts for those years.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency into the fees paid to Barclays de Zoete Wedd and 3i's for the Operation Wizard exercise.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake and publish a study of the number of beds and locations needed for acute operations in Wales over(a) the next five years and (b) the next 10 years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  We have no such plans.

  Hamilton Oil
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has yet received the inspector's recommendations as a result of the inquiry into proposals by Hamilton Oil at Point of Ayr; and when he now expects to announce his decision.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I hope to receive the inspector's report soon. A decision will be announced as soon as possible after the report has been considered.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has received from the chairman and members of the Welsh Language Board on the Welsh Language Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Secretary of State and I have had a number of meetings with the chairman and members of the Welsh Language Board and they have made a significant contribution to the Bill which we hope to introduce very soon.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will ensure that copies of the Welsh Language Bill are posted to everyone who made representations to the Welsh Office about the contents of such a Bill, as part of the Welsh Office's public consultation procedures as soon as the Bill is published;

  (2) if he will ensure that the Welsh Language Bill is printed and available to (a) hon. Members, (b) the press and (c) the general public prior to 17 December.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Language Bill will be published following its presentation to Parliament. I will be arranging for copies to be sent to all Welsh constituency Members of Parliament. Copies of the Bill will also be made available through HMSO in the normal way.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the Welsh Development Agency will acquire the derelict United Engineering Steels site at Brymbo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I understand that negotiations are proceeding.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to advertise the post of chairman of the Welsh Development Agency; and when he expects to make an announcement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am considering the matter.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I shall be considering the scope for private finance in Welsh Office programmes, in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.

  Job Search Seminars
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of job search seminars held in 1991 and at the latest date in 1992; how many job clubs exist in Wales; and if he will make a statement concerning the future of job clubs and job search seminars.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Job search seminars began in August 1991 and during the period to March 1992 a total of 264 were held in Wales. Between April and November this year, there have been a further 376 seminars. Job search seminars have been successful and will continue next year.
  409
  There are currently 75 job clubs in the Principality. The provision of job clubs will expand next year as a result of the Chancellor's autumn statement. However, the number of additional job clubs has not yet been decided.

  Transport Supplementary Allowance
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been made available to South Glamorgan county council through the transport supplementary grant since January.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In 1992–93 the council received more than £13 million. A further £14 million is to be provided in 1993–94.

  Farm holdings in Wales: at June

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Clwyd

  3,851

  3,887

  3,899

  3,786

  3,793

  3,866

  3,927

  3,975

  4,036

  3,837

  3,829

  Dyfed

  11,188

  11,338

  11,399

  11,268

  11,347

  11,398

  11,386

  11,441

  11,514

  11,095

  11,107

  Gwent

  2,129

  2,158

  2,176

  2,179

  2,178

  2,165

  2,163

  2,184

  2,199

  2,156

  2,143

  Gwynedd

  4,860

  4,844

  4,832

  4,864

  4,851

  4,851

  4,831

  4,848

  4,873

  4,792

  4,822

  Mid Glamorgan

  927

  937

  941

  935

  941

  939

  949

  960

  961

  930

  934

  Powys

  5,288

  5,309

  5,349

  5,348

  5,325

  5,327

  5,338

  5,405

  5,506

  5,454

  5,506

  South Glamorgan

  504

  511

  510

  510

  508

  501

  506

  515

  516

  504

  495

  West Glamorgan

  820

  838

  851

  862

  868

  877

  885

  903

  903

  878

  874

  Wales

  29,567

  29,822

  29,957

  129,752

  29,811

  29,924

  29,985

  30,231

  30,508

  129,646

  29,710

  Note: Figures exclude estimate for minor holdings.

  1 The decreases between 1983 and 1984, and 1989 and 1990 reflect the effect of reclassifying holdings in the light of the results of the 1983 and 1989 Minor Holdings Surveys.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects in(a) the Gwendraeth valley and (b) the Amman valley which have been funded through his Department's valleys initiative to date; and how much has been allocated to each project.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on the programme for the valleys is not collected in the form requested, as projects are funded through a wide range of departmental and agency programmes. I shall, however, write to the hon. Gentleman with more details on activity in the Amman and Gwendraeth valleys and place a copy of the reply in the Library of the House.

  North East Wales TEC
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 29, when he expects to place in the Library a copy of his letter to the hon. Member for Wrexham about operational surpluses accruing to North-East Wales training and enterprise council.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Hill Farming
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the conclusions of the autumn review of hill farming in respect of the current level of farming income for livestock farmers in the less favoured areas of Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 10 December 1992 at columns 757–58 which outlines the findings of the review.

  Farms
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the number of farm holdings in each Welsh county for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists (Psychologists)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration her Department and the national health service management executive have given to collecting and publishing figures on the waiting lists for NHS clinical psychologists; and what response she has made to the survey of the national health service clinical waiting lists by the British Psychological Society, a copy of which has been sent to her.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to collect and publish figures on waiting lists for conditions requiring treatment by national health service clinical psychologists. A copy of the survey was sent to the Department on 24 November and is being considered. Decisions about the clinical psychologist services provided locally are for local purchasers to determine, based on the assessed health needs of their resident population.

  Community Health Services, Camberwell
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new services have been provided in the community in Camberwell district health authority area since 1988.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for Camberwell health authority.
  411
  The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Derek Boorman, the chairman of Camberwell health authority, for details.

  Clinical Psychology
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the proposal of the northern consortium of regional health authorities to change the funding of postgraduate clinical psychology; and what plans she has to alter the funding of training arrangements for any other NHS profession.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is a matter for regional health authorities to determine the funding arrangements for those non-medical staff groups covered by regional purchasing of education and training.

  King's College Hospital
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what examination she has made of the reasons why implementation by Camberwell district health authority of the interim report of the inquiry panel into King's College hospital's accident and emergency procedures required the intervention of the regional general manager.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There was no such intervention.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action was taken by her Department in response to(a) Camberwell community health council's annual report of 1990 and (b) other representations by the community health council, in respect of accident and emergency procedures at King's College hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  These representations were made to the Camberwell health authority, which considered both the report and other representations and met the Camberwell community health council.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what conclusions she has drawn from the report of the inquiry set up at her Department's request into accident and emergency procedures at King's College hospital about the impact of bed closures and bed management policy on the operation of accident and emergency departments;

  (2) what consideration was given to the inclusion of bed cuts in the terms of reference of the inquiry set up at her Department's request into accident and emergency procedures at King's College hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The terms of reference of the inquiry were to review procedures within the accident and emergency department at King's College hospital in the light of the recent deaths of two patients and to make recommendations as necessary and to report to the Secretary of State through the chairman of the South East Thames regional health authority.

  The report has demonstrated that the main problem was not the number of beds but poor bed management.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the three hospitals at which beds are available in Camberwell indicated in the inquiry set up at the request of her Department into accident and emergency procedures at King's College hospital.
  412
  Dr. Mawhinney
  At the time of the commissioning of the inquiry, there were three hospital sites at which beds were available in Camberwell: King's College, Denmark Hill; King's College, Dulwich and Dulwich north.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the role of the chairman of Camberwell district health authority and the chief executive in the management of King's College hospital's accident and emergency procedures.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Leeds University
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual expenditure on servicing the medicines resource centre, the medical advisers support centre and the general practice research centre at Leeds university.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is in the table.

  1991–92 (£)

  Medicines Resource Centre

  275,000

  Medical Advisers Support Centre

  365,000

  Prescribing Research Unit at Leeds University

  377,984

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug information pharmacists are employed by regional, district and family health services authorities; and at what annual cost.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Two hundred and twenty-eight drug information pharmacists are employed by regional and district health authorities and by national health service trusts. This includes those working part time. Information on costs is not collected centrally. Pharmacists employed by family health service authorities generally hold the post of pharmaceutical adviser rather than drug information pharmacist.

  Source: "Directory of Hospital Pharmacists Engaged in Information Work"—1992 edition. Compiled by North West Thames regional drug information centre.

  Medical Advisers
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been spent on the appointment of medical advisers to family health service authorities resulting from the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1991; and how many medical advisers are currently employed by health authorities.

  Mr. Mawhinney
  The information is not held centrally. All family health services authorities are expected to have medical advisers.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual expenditure on establishing, and maintaining, the indicative prescribing scheme for NHS doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is held centrally only on the cost of issuing monthly expenditure statements to
  413
  general practitioners, family health services authorities and regional health authorities. The figures do not distinguish between the costs of issuing statements in relation to the indicative prescribing scheme and the prescribing element of fund holders' budgets. The total cost to the Prescription Pricing Agency of issuing these statements is as in the table:

  1990–91 £?000

  1991–92 £?000

  Capital

  6,905

  359

  Revenue

  2,499

  3,311

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the expenditure on the prescription analysis and cost scheme in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The prescription analysis and cost scheme—PACT—is an operational system of the Prescription Pricing Authority. The costs of PACT cannot be identified separately.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual expenditure on supporting the publication and distribution of(a) the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, (b) the "Prescribers' Journal", (c) the British National Formulary and (d) bulletins from the Medicines Resource Centre in each of the past five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin1

  Expenditure (£)

  1987–88

  608,625

  1988–89

  660,642

  1989–90

  723,482

  1990–91

  2750,863

  1991–92

  827,305

  1 Includes subscription and distribution on costs only.

  2 Figures for the years to 1990–91 include expenditure for the Adverse Drugs Reactions Bulletin which was issued quarterly with the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin. This was discontinued in June 1990.

  (b) The Prescribers' Journal1

  Expenditure (£)

  1990–912

  3146,977

  1991–92

  183,510

  1 Includes subscription and distribution costs only.

  2 October 1990 to March 1991.

  3 Information is not held centrally prior to October 1990.

  (c) The British National Formulary1

  Expenditure (£)

  1987–88

  958,996

  1988–89

  1,022,731

  1989–90

  1,058,204

  1990–91

  1,191,169

  1991–92

  1,296,320

  1 Includes subscription and distribution costs only.

  (d) Medicines Resource Centre (MeReC) Bulletin4
  414

  Expenditure (£)

  1990–91

  250,000

  1991–92

  275,000

  4 Includes total running costs.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the terms of reference and membership of the prescribing task force.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The prescribing task force is a multi-disciplinary group of officials within the Department charged with examining a range of issues relating to general practitioner prescribing. There are no formal terms of reference.

  Child Sex Abuse
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the definition of a psychiatric nursing establishment for the purpose of receiving regular inspections by a health authority; and how many clinics for the treatment of child sex abuse fall within it.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Registered Homes Act 1984 defines a mental nursing home as"any premises used, or intended to be used, for the reception of, and the provision of nursing or other medical treatment (including care, habilitation and rehabilitation under medical supervision) for, one or more mentally disordered patients (meaning persons suffering or appearing to be suffering from mental disorder), whether exclusively or in common with other persons."
  The Act specifically excludes premises operated by health authorities, local authorities and Government Departments from this definition. Information on the number of clinics for child sex abusers is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinics in England and Wales specialise in the treatment of offenders involved in child sex abuse and in which towns they are located; and how many other clinics there are which are prepared to treat offenders involved in child sex abuse.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not held centrally.

  Radiation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy towards the provision of potassium iodate tablets as prophylactics against radiation damage to populations threatened by civil nuclear emergencies.

  Mr. Sackville
  Stable iodine prophylaxis is a countermeasure intended to block the uptake of radio-iodine to the thyroid in certain radiological incident scenarios. The Government's policy in this area was principally determined by advice contained in a report from the ad hoc United Kingdom working group on Iodine Prophylaxis1, a copy of which is in the Library.

  1 Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 39: Nuclear Accident Countermeasures: Iodine Prophylaxis. HMSO.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who has responsibility for the funding of patients requiring terminal care in private or charitable nursing homes from April 1993.

  Mr. Yeo
  Support from public funds for hospice care is the responsibility of district health authorities. DHAs are also responsible for placements for equivalent care in nursing homes.

  Feeding Tubes
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she is giving to making naso-gastric feeding tubes and gastrostomy tubes available for general practitioner prescription on form EC 10.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The addition of naso-gastric feeding tubes and gastrostomy tubes to the prescribable list must, like other new additions to the list, be subject to the availability of resources.

  Hospital Admission Policies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance has been given to trust hospitals in relation to the treatment of heart disease patients over the age of 65 years; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if her Department has any plans to issue guidance to national health service trust hospitals regarding the imposition of age-related admissions policies; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Decisions concerning the assessment and treatment of national health service patients are matters for the professional judgment of the clinicians involved in the individual case.

  Freedom of Speech
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will meet the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union to discuss local procedures for handling freedom of speech issues within the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have already offered a meeting with departmental officials to discuss these matters.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the responses she has received to her Department's draft guidance on freedom of speech; and if she will place a copy of the responses in the Library.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Responses have been received from:

  Royal College of Psychiatrists

  Joint Consultants Committee

  British Medical Association

  National Association of Health Service Public Relations Officers

  Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union

  Royal College of Nursing

  Royal College of Midwives

  General Whitley Council

  COHSE/NALGO/NUPE

  Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

  Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

  Guild of Hospital Pharmacists

  National Health Service Consultants Association

  General Medical Council

  Mental Health Act Commission

  416

  National Consumer Council

  Public Concern at Work

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Office of the Health Service Commissioner

  MCB University Press

  University of Wales College of Medicine

  Association for Community Health Councils

  National Association of Health Authorities and NHS Trusts

  Regional Health Authority Chairmen and Regional General Managers Inter-Regional Secretariat

  Department of Employment

  Patients Association

  Institute of Health Service Management

  NHS Support Federation

  MENCAP

  Weston Park Hospital

  Prince Charles Hospital—Mid Glamorgan

  Cheshire FHSA

  Walsall FHSA

  Gloucestershire FHSA

  North Tyneside FHSA

  Tameside FHSA

  Cumbria FHSA

  Wiltshire FHSA

  Surrey FHSA

  Devon FHSA

  Cleveland FHSA

  Dyfed FHSA

  West Glamorgan FHSA

  Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital SHA

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's SHA

  Hospital for Sick Children: Great Ormond Street SHA

  North Western RHA

  West Midlands RHA

  East Birmingham HA

  Dorset HA

  South Warwickshire HA

  Cambridge HA

  West Glamorgan HA

  Glamorgan HA

  Mid Glamorgan HA

  Gwynedd HA

  Health Manpower Division—South Glamorgan HA

  Gwynedd Community Health Unit

  Gateshead Community Health NHS Trust

  Newham HA

  West Birmingham CHC

  Powys Health Authority

  Rhondda Health Unit

  Hounslow and Spelthorne CHC

  Kidderminster District Health Authority

  Middlesbrough General Hospital

  East Gloucestershire NHS Trust

  South Yorkshire Met. Ambulance and Paramedic Service

  North East Essex Mental Health Service NHS Trust

  West Dorset General Hospital NHS Trust

  New Possibilities: Services for People with Learning Disabilities NHS Trust

  South Downs Health NHS Trust

  Sheffield Children's Hospital

  United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital

  Frimley Park Hospital

  Mid Cheshire Hospital

  St. Helens and Knowsley Community Health NHS Trust

  Airedale General Hospital

  Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery

  Community Team for Mental Health in the Elderly

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

  Weston Park Hospital

  Guy's and Lewisham NHS Trust

  Airedale NHS Trust

  Croydon Community Health NHS Trust

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  St. Helier NHS Trust

  The North Middlesex Hospital

  Devon Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  Burnley Health Care NHS Trust

  North Tees Health NHS Trust

  Hastings and Rother NHS Trust

  417

  Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust

  Frenchay Healthcare NHS Trust

  Bath and West Community NHS Trust

  The Royal Oldham Hospital and Community Services NHS Trust

  Weston Area Health NHS Trust

  Wiltshire Health Care NHS Trust

  South Tees Health NHS Trust

  Lincolnshire Ambulance and Health Transport Service NHS Trust

  West Lambeth Community Care NHS Trust

  Exeter Community Health Service NHS Trust

  Lancaster Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  Horizons NHS Trust

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  Northern General Hospital NHS Trust

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  Broadgreen Hospital NHS Trust

  Parkside Health NHS Trust

  The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Royal London NHS Trust

  Ravensbourne NHS Trust

  First Community Health NHS Trust

  Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  South West Thames Renal Unit—St. Helier Hospital

  Epsom Health Care NHS Trust

  Staffordshire Neurosurgical Service

  Hither Green Hospital

  Beacon Medical Care (Private Family Doctor Service)

  Royal Bournemouth Hospital NHS Trust

  Doncaster Healthcare NHS Trust

  Comments have also been submitted by a number of individuals.

  It would not be appropriate to place copies of comments in the Library without the specific consent of the bodies or individuals concerned.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to issue revised guidelines on freedom of speech in the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The extensive comments received on the draft guidance merit full and careful consideration. Final guidance will be issued as soon as possible.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider inserting a reference to the duty of care of NHS staff in the draft guidance on freedom of speech.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This will be considered in conjunction with other comments received on the draft guidance.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what areas of her Department's responsibilities she has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if she will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Sackville
  The private finance initiative is intended to apply to all services which are traditionally provided by Government Departments. The measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will increase the scope for using private finance in the national health service to improve and extend both patient and support services. The Department is urgently considering how best to apply the initiative on the basis of the guidance which has been published by the Treasury. My officials will send out a letter to all NHS directors of finance inviting them to take full advantage of this initiative. I shall place a copy in the Library.

  Joint Consultative Committees
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will allow non-executive directors of health trusts to serve on joint collaborative committees set up under National Health Act 1973.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Joint consultative committees are constituted under section 22 of the National Health Service Act 1977. Members of such committees are appointed by health authorities, local authorities and voluntary organisations. A person who is a director of a national health service trust is not precluded from appointment as a member of a joint consultative committee. There is no provision for "joint collaborative committees" in national health service legislation.

  Mental Illness
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers there were in England and Wales in each financial year since 1981–82; and how many of these were employed wholly or mainly in caring for the severely mentally ill in the community.

  Mr. Yeo
  Data on the number of whole-time equivalent social services staff in local authorities in England at September in each year from 1978 are given in "Local Authority Social Services Statistics: staff of Local Authority Social Services Departments at 30 September 1991; England", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to preserve the service available at Henderson hospital, Sutton, Surrey, for personality-disordered clients; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  From 1 April 1993 the Henderson hospital will become part of South West Thames regional psychiatry service. This will ensure funding for the hospital to maintain and develop its services for those patients with special psychiatric needs.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will create a special hospitals authority to cover Henderson hospital, Sutton, Surrey.

  Mr. Yeo
  No.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the names of hospitals for the mentally ill in England, by districts, which were closed in each of the financial years 1981–82 to 1991–92, and the numbers of beds in those hospitals five years previously;

  (2) what amount of money was made available for other purposes in each of the financial years 1981–82 to 1991–92 as a result of the closure of mental hospitals.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which relevant local bodies, besides community health councils, health authorities are required to consult before recommending her to authorise the closure of hospitals for the mentally ill.

  Mr. Yeo
  Most substantial changes in hospital services—such as the opening or closing of facilities—are agreed locally and only where there is no local agreement are they
  419
  referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Health authorities are encouraged to consult widely in the community, including with community health councils.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ring fence departmental funding for Henderson hospital, Sutton, Surrey.

  Mr. Yeo
  This is a matter for South West Thames regional health authority.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact Professor Marian Hicks, the chairman of South West Thames regional health authority, for details.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account she is taking in her consideration of the Tomlinson report of the document issued by the North East Thames regional health authority entitled, "A Consultation Document on the Dissolution of the Bart's NHS Trust" published on 22 November; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The consultation document proposing dissolution of the St. Bartholomew's shadow trust was issued by North East Thames regional health authority with Ministers' agreement on the ground that it would be inappropriate for the trust to become operational on 1 April 1993 in the form originally proposed in direct conflict with the recommendations of the Tomlinson report. Moreover, there would have been serious doubts about St. Bartholomew's hospital's fitness for trust status on financial grounds. The consultation document relates solely to the proposed management arrangements for the hospital next year. Full account will be taken of the views expressed in response to it before a decision is reached.

  Community Care
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to give directions as to the manner in which assessment under section 47(4) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 is to be carried out; and what form the directions will take.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have already issued extensive policy and practice guidance on assessment. There are no current plans to issue directions on this matter.

  Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the membership and terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The members of the advisory committee are:

  Chairman

  Professor Harry A. Lee

  Professor of Renal Medicine (University of Southampton), Consultant Physician (St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth)

  Members

  Dr. Charles L. M. Beardmore

  General Practitioner (Walton-On-the-Naze, Essex)

  Professor Ian W. Booth
  420
  Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics and Child Health, Professor of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (University of Birmingham)

  Ms. Julie Fenton

  Senior Dietitian (Normansfield, Teddington)

  Dr. Anne Kobza Black

  Consultant Dermatologist (St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin), (Royal Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London)

  Professor Andrew H. G. Love

  Professor of Medicine (Queen's University, Belfast); Consultant Physician (Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast).

  Mrs. Anita MacDonald

  Chief Paediatric Dietitian (Children's Hospital, Birmingham).

  Mr. Graeme Millar

  Community Pharmacist (Edinburgh).

  Dr. Gwyn W. Phillips

  General Practitioner (Pencoed, Mid-Glamorgan).

  Professor Alan Shenkin

  Professor of Clinical Chemistry (Royal Liverpool Hospital).

  Dr. Richard S. Tiner

  General Practitioner (Taunton, Somerset)

  The committee's current terms of reference are:
  "To keep under review the principles for determining whether preparations should properly be regarded as drugs, foods, toilet preparations or disinfectants, and to give advice on the classifications of particular preparations in these categories submitted to the Committee."

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 12 November that the committee's remit is extended to have regard to comparative cost as well as therapeutic use when considering whether an item should be treated as a drug appropriate for prescription by general practitioners under the national health service. Revised terms of reference, to reflect this change, will be announced shortly.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the training, instruction and supervision of food handlers in food hygiene.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government will introduce a sole and simple requirement for all food handlers to he trained, instructed and supervised in food hygiene according to the work they do. Copies of a statement of intent and related documents issued to all interested parties have been placed in the Library.

  Folic Acid Report
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the chief medical officer's expert advisory group on folic acid to report its findings; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are pleased to announce the publication today of the group's report, "Folic Acid and the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects".

  The report endorses existing advice that women who have already had a baby with a neural tube defect should take a diet supplement of 5 mg of folic acid daily—or 4 mg if such a preparation becomes available—from the time when they wish to become pregnant until the end of the

  421
  third month of pregnancy. Additionally, the expert group has recommended that, to reduce the risk of having a first baby with a neural tube defect, all women who are likely to become pregnant should increase their intake of folic acid/folate throughout this same period. This particular B vitamin is available from certain foods in the form of folate. In addition, some foods are fortified with folic acid. Such women are also advised to take a 0.4 mg folic acid food supplement daily until the 12th week of pregnancy.

  We welcome this opportunity to reduce the risk of women giving birth to babies with a neural tube defect. The United Kingdom chief medical and nursing officers are ensuring that the advice reaches all doctors, senior nurses, midwives and health visitors. However, all women need to be aware of these recommendations as, in most cases, they will need to consider taking extra folic acid/folate before they have become pregnant.

  We are arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Doctors and Dentists
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the numbers of doctors and dentists by grade employed in the hospital and community health services in each English region for 1990 and 1991.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My Department conducts a census each September of doctors and dentists employed in the hospital and community health service—HCHS—in England. Copies have been placed in the Library. Checks on the data for September 1991 suggested that the national health service had omitted a significant number of doctors and dentists from the census for that year. A recent survey of all 14 regions, designed to produce reliable data on the numbers of HCHS doctors and dentists by grade in each region, confirmed that the NHS had omitted the whole-time equivalent—WTE—of about 2,000 HCHS doctors and dentists from the original September 1991 census. The survey also indicated that the NHS had omitted about 500 WTEs from the September 1990 census. I regret that some of the published figures for 1990 are therefore incorrect.

  The Department's best estimates of WTEs by grade for England as a whole and in each region for September 1990 and 1991 are shown in the table. More detailed estimates—for example—by specialty group—will be published in due course.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of(a) administrative staff, (b) managerial staff, (c) nurses, (d) junior doctors and (e) other medical staff employed in each region for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 9 November 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) today.

  The remainder of the information requested is in the tables.
  422

  Nursing and Midwifery Staff in each RHA, for 30 September of each year, excludes agency staff.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  27,800

  27,310

  27,270

  Yorkshire

  30,120

  30,020

  29,460

  Trent

  38,100

  38,210

  37,950

  East Anglia

  16,150

  16,140

  15,730

  North West Thames

  26,810

  26,480

  26,480

  North East Thames

  32,890

  32,980

  32,750

  South East Thames

  29,350

  29,110

  28,280

  South West Thames

  22,940

  22,120

  21,590

  Wessex

  23,360

  23,690

  23,570

  Oxford

  16,950

  17,080

  16,820

  South Western

  27,150

  27,340

  27,030

  West Midlands

  42,130

  42,070

  41,300

  Mersey

  21,960

  21,090

  20,100

  North Western

  37,510

  36,990

  36,480

  SHAs

  4,820

  4,650

  7,370

  Others

  40

  80

  30

  England

  398,050

  395,360

  392,200

  Managerial Staff in each RHA, for 30 September of each year

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  120

  550

  720

  Yorkshire

  520

  930

  1,130

  Trent

  300

  600

  810

  East Anglia

  250

  480

  560

  North West Thames

  90

  80

  680

  North East Thames

  540

  1,030

  1,310

  South East Thames

  290

  780

  980

  South West Thames

  260

  520

  650

  Wessex

  410

  610

  850

  Oxford

  200

  420

  520

  South Western

  390

  610

  780

  West Midlands

  530

  1,060

  1,440

  Mersey

  290

  500

  730

  North Western

  350

  690

  990

  SHAs

  40

  130

  290

  Others

  40

  680

  910

  England

  4,610

  9,680

  13,340

  Administrative and Clerical Staff in each RHA, for 30 September of each year

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  6,810

  6,940

  7,240

  Yorkshire

  7,500

  7,880

  8,090

  Trent

  9,740

  10,120

  10,540

  East Anglia

  3,990

  4,070

  4,550

  North West Thames

  8,260

  8,160

  8,660

  North East Thames

  10,150

  10,450

  11,050

  South East Thames

  9,760

  10,030

  10,800

  South West Thames

  6,290

  6,340

  6,590

  Wessex

  5,540

  5,840

  6,190

  Oxford

  4,860

  5,150

  4,930

  South Western

  6,600

  6,990

  7,680

  West Midlands

  11,800

  11,950

  12,740

  Mersey

  5,790

  5,820

  6,160

  North Western

  9,850

  10,070

  11,220

  SHAs

  1,700

  1,840

  2,390

  Others

  8,190

  8,400

  8,560

  England

  116,840

  120,040

  127,370

  The figures for 1991 for SHAs include figures for the Special Hospital Services Authority

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the administration costs of each regional health authority for each year since 1989–90; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 30 November 1992]: Figures of expenditure on headquarters administration for each regional health authority and region as a whole, for

  Expenditure on headquarters administration—1989–90

  Region

  Regional Health Authority £000 (cash)

  District Health Authorities £000 (cash)

  Region Total £000 (cash)

  Region Total as a proportion of total expenditure Per cent.

  Northern

  7,475

  30,429

  37,904

  4.07

  Yorkshire

  10,706

  35,213

  45,919

  4.34

  Trent

  11,498

  35,111

  46,609

  3.54

  East Anglian

  8,140

  16,761

  24,901

  4.37

  North West Thames

  9,119

  38,050

  47,169

  4.09

  North East Thames

  13,065

  47,480

  60,545

  4.33

  South East Thames

  15,044

  42,846

  57,890

  4.74

  South West Thames

  13,720

  30,713

  44,433

  4.45

  Wessex

  6,244

  26,586

  32,830

  3.98

  Oxford

  4,704

  22,511

  27,215

  4.22

  South Western

  8,000

  30,223

  38,223

  4.01

  West Midlands

  18,019

  46,946

  64,965

  4.32

  Mersey

  6,044

  25,640

  31,684

  4.22

  North Western

  12,356

  41,094

  53,450

  4.26

  Expenditure on headquarters administration—1990–91

  Region

  Regional Health Authority £000 (cash)

  District Health Authorities £000 (cash)

  Region Total £000 (cash)

  Region Total as a proportion of total expenditure Per cent.

  Northern

  9,329

  36,603

  45,932

  4.54

  Yorkshire

  13,158

  45,205

  58,363

  5.01

  Trent

  11,797

  44,113

  55,910

  3.85

  East Anglian

  11,487

  19,730

  31,217

  4.91

  North West Thames

  12,110

  47,386

  59,496

  4.81

  North East Thames

  15,335

  54,770

  70,105

  4.69

  South East Thames

  16,516

  55,852

  72,368

  5.51

  South West Thames

  15,234

  36,958

  52,192

  5.02

  Wessex

  8,578

  34,128

  42,706

  4.85

  Oxford

  6,266

  26,101

  32,367

  4.66

  South Western

  10,556

  36,621

  47,177

  4.52

  West Midlands

  27,353

  54,661

  82,014

  4.89

  Mersey

  6,336

  28,012

  34,348

  4.13

  North Western

  13,634

  52,887

  66,521

  4.77

  Source: Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England.

  Notes to the tables:

  1. The figures for expenditure on headquarters administration include all current expenditure on the pay and pay related costs of staff of all disciplines—including general managers—employed at regional or district headquarters levels and their office costs and overheads. The costs of clerical and secretarial support staff employed in departments in hospitals and at other local levels are excluded: such costs are regarded as operational.

  2. The expenditure by each regional health authority will be influenced by a number of factors such as the size of the total budgets managed, the population served, the extent to which services are directly managed, the balance of management between regional and district levels and the number of district health authorities involved all of which differ between regions.

  Health and Personal Social Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will update table 3.1 of "Health and Personal Services Statistics for England 1992" by giving the total numbers of health services staff and practitioners, and local authority social services staff on 30 September 1991 and 30 September 1992.
  424
  the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91, are shown in the tables. Regions are managed in an integrated way and it would be misleading to interpret regional health authority data in isolation from those for the district health authorities they manage. The region totals provide a more valid picture. Information for 1991–92—derivable primarily from annual financial returns—is not as yet available.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 8 December 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) today, at column 421.

  The remainder of the information requested is in the table.
  425

  Family Health Services and Local Authority Social Services Staff Summary England: 30 September 1991

  Number

  Family Health Services:

  Practitioners: Total

  49,841

  General medical practitioners1: Total

  27,888

  Unrestricted principals

  25,686

  Restricted principals

  138

  Assistants

  425

  Trainees

  1,639

  General dental practitioners: Total

  15,451

  Principals3

  14,978

  Assistants

  473

  Opthalmic medical practitioners2

  757

  Ophthalmic opticians2

  5,745

  Dispensing opticians

  Local authority social services staff: Total4

  236,043

  Senior directing, managing, professional and advisory staff

  7,148

  Field social work staff

  30,675

  Other headquarters, area office and field staff

  24,068

  Home help service staff

  57,354

  Sunderland health authority—revenue expenditure on salaries and wages

  Administrative and clerical staff £000 (cash)

  Nursing and midwifery staff £000 (cash)

  All other staff £000 (cash)

  1987–88

  4,755

  24,619

  21,404

  1988–89

  5,161

  28,883

  22,674

  1989–90

  5,224

  31,069

  25,065

  1990–91

  6,169

  32,935

  27,274

  1991–921

  6,899

  35,711

  30,730

  1 Provisional figures.

  Source:

  Annual accounts—and annual financial returns for 1991–92—of the Sunderland health authority.

  Notes to the table

  1. The figures are for gross pay costs and include employer's national insurance and superannuation contributions.

  2. For each year 'all other staff' includes medical, dental, professional and technical; ancillary and maintenance staff, etc and the relevant annual costs of general and senior managers (£182,000 in 1987–88 and £1,841,000 in 1991–92).

  The Mental Health Act Commission
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will name the members of the Mental Health Act Commission who have held office at any time since 1983, giving their periods of office.

  Period of office

  Name in alphabetical order

  From

  To

  Adam, Mr. I. M.

  14 July 1983

  1 September 1986

  Aiyegbusi, Ms. A.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Allam, Mr. J. M.

  8 June 1987

  31 August 1993

  Allen, Dr. A. C.

  12 January 1985

  31 December 1988

  Allott, Mr. P.

  30 September 1986

  30 September 1989

  Ashcroft, Dr. J. B.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Badland, Mr. S. G.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1988

  Ball, Mr. A. G.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  Barnes, Dr. M.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  Barnett, Dr. B.

  1 September 1985

  30 September 1988

  Barstead, Mr. A.

  1 September 1983

  30 August 1989

  Bellau, Mrs. V.

  1 October 1989

  30 June 1992

  Bennett, Mrs. C

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Bennett, Mr. P.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Benyon, Mrs. O. J.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Bernstein, Miss I.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Bevan, Mr. R. G.

  31 July 1992

  31 July 1996

  Black, Dr. D.

  5 August 1991

  31 August 1995

  426

  Number

  Day care establishment staff for adults

  20,220

  Day care establishment staff for children

  8,222

  Residential care staff for adults

  67,107

  Residential care staff for children

  15,894

  Other staff

  5,355

  1 At 1 October.

  2 Ophthalmic medical practitioners and ophthalmic opticians holding contracts to do General Ophthalmic Service sight tests. Figures relate to 31 December. Dispensing opticians' FHSA contracts terminated 30 June 1986.

  3 The number of assistants includes assistants plus vocational trainees.

  4 Whole time equivalent.

  Sunderland Health Authority
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount spent by Sunderland health authority on the salaries of(a) administrative staff, (b) nursing staff and (c) other staff for each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 10 December 1992]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 14 December 1992]: information requested is as follows:
  427

  Period of office

  Name in alphabetical order

  From

  To

  Black, Mr. D. A.

  30 September 1986

  31 August 1990

  Black, Mr. J.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1986

  Blackburn, Dr. J.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1986

  Blom-Cooper, QC, Sir. L.

  8 January 1988

  30 November 1993

  Blowers, Dr. A. J.

  9 November 1987

  30 September 1995

  Bluglass, Prof. R. S.

  1 September 1983

  20 July 1985

  Bollinger, Miss C.

  1 June 1987

  1 June 1991

  Bowyer, Mr. J. M.

  30 September 1986

  30 June 1991

  Breach, Mrs. S. L.

  1 July 1990

  30 June 1994

  Briscoe, Dr. O.

  1 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Broadhurst, Dr. A.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Bromley, Mr. E.

  1 September 1983

  16 August 1989

  Brotherhood, Mr. P.

  21 February 1985

  28 February 1993

  Brown, Mr. M. B.

  1 October 1989

  22 October 1992

  Brownlie Mr. T.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1986

  Bury, Mr. J.

  1 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Butler, Mrs. B.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1985

  Bye, Mr. G.

  10 September 1987

  31 August 1993

  Camp, Mr. J. E.

  1 September 1983

  31 December 1988

  Carr, Dr. E. F.

  1 September 1983

  31 December 1988

  Castell, Mr. D.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1986

  Cawthra, Mrs. S. H.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Chapman, Mr. R. H. D.

  1 September 1983

  6 October 1986

  Chitty, Mr. E. A. R.

  3 November 1986

  31 October 1992

  Lord Colville

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Cope, Dr. R.

  1 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Cottrell, Dr. W. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1986

  Crane, Mr. M.

  1 September 1985

  3 June 1988

  Crawshay Lady

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1987

  Cushing, Miss P.

  1 April 1991

  31 March 1995

  Dabbs, Mr. A. R.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Day, Dr. K. A.

  31 January 1987

  31 January 1995

  Deeley, Mrs. J.

  16 December 1986

  30 September 1993

  Dimond Professor B. C.

  21 June 1989

  31 August 1995

  Dolan Dr. R.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  Downham, Mr. D. J.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Drew, Miss C. Y. L.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Dunleavy Dr. D. L. F.

  9 November 1987

  30 September 1995

  Dunn, Mr. L.

  1 September 1985

  31 March 1989

  Eager T.

  1 September 1987

  30 September 1989

  Edwards, Mr. P. C.

  1 September 1983

  31 December 1988

  Eldergill, Mr. A. C.

  26 February 1992

  28 February 1996

  Entwhistle, Mrs. P. G. S.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  Evans, Dr. M.

  1 August 1986

  31 August 1990

  Edwardes-Evans, Mr. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Fennell, P. W. H.

  1 October 1987

  30 September 1989

  Fernando, Dr. S.

  11 November 1986

  31 October 1994

  Finch, Mr. J. D.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1991

  Firth, Dr. H.

  1 September 1985

  31 October 1988

  Fisher, Mr. T. W. OBE

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Forman Hardy, Mrs. J.

  9 November 1987

  30 September 1995

  Forth, Dr. M. W.

  30 September 1985

  31 March 1987

  Fraser, Mrs. R. M. F.

  30 September 1986

  30 September 1992

  Freeman, Dr. H. L.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Garden, Dr. E. B.

  30 September 1986

  30 September 1991

  Gardner, Mr. R. K.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Gaspar, Dr. D.

  13 June 1989

  30 June 1993

  Ghadiali, Dr. H.

  6 March 1989

  28 February 1993

  Gittleson, Dr. N. L.

  10 November 1986

  31 October 1994

  Godridge, Mr. M. J.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Goonatillake, Mrs. C.

  27 April 1989

  22 November 1990

  Gorden, Dr. E. B.

  30 September 1986

  30 September 1991

  Graham, Mr. M. J.

  8 October 1987

  31 August 1995

  Graham-White, Mr. J.

  2 February 1987

  2 February 1991

  Grant, Mrs. J. M.

  1 September 1985

  31 December 1988

  Griffiths, D. G.

  3 March 1988

  7 October 1988

  Grimshaw, Dr. J. S.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Guinan, Mrs. P.

  1 September 1983

  14 March 1986

  Gunn, Mr. M. J.

  1 June 1991

  31 May 1995

  Gwynne-Davies, Mr. R.

  1 September 1983

  22 March 1986

  Gwynne-Jones, Professor H.

  1 September 1983

  5 March 1985

  Halliday, Miss M. E.

  22 October 1992

  31 October 1996

  Hamadah, Dr. K.

  1 October 1986

  30 September 1992

  Hanham, Mrs. J. B.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Hargreaves, Mr. R.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Harper, Dr. M. A.

  10 September 1987

  31 August 1995

  428 429

  Period of office

  Name in alphabetical order

  From

  To

  Harper, Dr. P.

  16 February 1987

  24 April 1990

  Harrington, Dr. J. A.

  1 September 1983

  10 June 1985

  Hartley, Mr. R. G.

  1 September 1983

  10 June 1985

  Hauck, Dr. A.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Hawes, The Rev. Canon

  30 September 1986

  30 April 1994

  Herbert, Professor M.

  1 September 1983

  10 June 1985

  Hettiaratchy, Dr. P. D. J.

  2 February 1989

  31 January 1993

  Hide, Dr. D.

  1 September 1986

  10 November 1991

  Hillier, Mr. A. C.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Holt, Mr. J. R. T.

  1 September 1985

  26 April 1986

  Howarth, Dr. E.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Howd, Mrs. I.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Hughes, Mr. P.

  30 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Hughes-Roberts, Dr. H.

  1 September 1983

  31 August 1986

  Hurst, Dr. J.

  11 November 1985

  31 March 1989

  Hutchinson, Mr. P.

  20 March 1984

  20 March 1986

  Ingrey-Senn, Dr. R. C.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1985

  Jackson Mr. J.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Jancer, Dr. J.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Jefferys, Dr. P. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  John, Miss C.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1987

  Jones Mr. R. M.

  1 September 1983

  1 July 1986

  Jones, Professor K.

  1 September 1983

  3 June 1986

  Jowel, Mrs. T.

  1 September 1985

  31 July 1990

  Kaye, Mr. L.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Kendrick, Mrs. G. M.

  1 September 1983

  4 August 1986

  Kennon, Dr. R. W.

  1 June 1984

  31 December 1988

  Kirkhope, Mr. T. J. R.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1988

  Lakes, Mr. G. H.

  1 January 1991

  31 December 1994

  Land, Mrs. E. A.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Langley, Dr. G. E.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Lee, Mr. A.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Lee, Mrs. S. N.

  13 June 1989

  30 June 1993

  Lee-Evans, Mr. J.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1986

  Lees Mr. G. D.

  1 September 1985

  30 September 1988

  Lennox, Dr. I. G.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Leopold, Mr. H. K. E.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Lewis, Mrs. A. R. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Lillington, Mr. B. R.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Lingham, Mr. R. C.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Linton, Miss G.

  3 November 1986

  31 October 1994

  Lipscomb, Mrs. V.

  24 April 1989

  30 April 1993

  Llewellyn, Dr. S. P.

  30 November 1986

  10 November 1989

  Llewellyn-Jones, Mrs. C.

  1 September 1983

  31 August 1994

  Lockie, Miss, D. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Malcolm, Dr. M. T.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  Manikon, Mr. S. S.

  26 February 1985

  28 February 1993

  Mason, Mrs. L.

  31 October 1987

  31 October 1993

  Meacher, Mrs. M.

  30 September 1986

  6 September 1992

  Meirion-Wynne, Mr. T.

  1 October 1986

  1 July 1987

  Mendelson, Dr. E. F.

  30 November 1991

  30 November 1995

  Mian, Dr. I. H.

  1 June 1991

  31 May 1995

  Midforth, Mrs. I.

  1 September 1985

  31 August 1993

  Milligan, Mr. A.

  24 April 1989

  30 April 1993

  Minto, Dr. A.

  1 September 1983

  27 March 1986

  Moody, Mr. R. H.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Moore, Dr. S. R. W.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1986

  Morgan, Mrs. E.

  1 September 1983

  31 December 1988

  Morley, A.

  22 October 1992

  30 September 1996

  Morris, Mrs. M. R.

  31 August 1989

  31 August 1990

  Mumford, Mr. S. A. R.

  22 November 1989

  31 August 1993

  Murphy, Professor E.

  24 March 1988

  30 November 1993

  McClarron, Mr. H.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  McCoubrie, Dr. M.

  6 March 1985

  6 March 1987

  McGinnis, Mr. E. B.

  29 August 1991

  4 September 1993

  McGuinness, Mr. E. M.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1987

  Napier, Mr. B. S.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1987

  Napier, Mr. T. M.

  1 October 1987

  20 May 1992

  Neal, Dr. C. D.

  1 April 1991

  31 March 1995

  Nelson, Dr. T. E.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Nutting, Miss I.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  O'Brien, Dr. P. M. J.

  9 November 1987

  21 May 1988

  Oakley, Mr. A. P.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Ogunremi, Mr. J.

  1 September 1985

  14 July 1986

  Olsen, Mrs. J.

  30 September 1992

  30 September 1996

  Olsen, Prof. M. R.

  1 September 1983

  1 November 1987

  430 431

  period of office

  Name in alphabetical order

  From

  To

  Ottley, Mrs. D.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Owen, Mrs. E.

  9 November 1987

  30 September 1995

  Oyebode, Dr. O.

  31 January 1989

  31 January 1993

  Palacios, Mr. J.

  1 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Parkin, Mr. A.

  21 December 1987

  30 September 1995

  Parkin, Mr. D.

  26 January 1987

  26 January 1991

  Peel, Mr. T.

  30 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Penrice, Dr. G. J.

  9 November 1987

  7 November 1988

  Phillips, Mrs. M.

  1 July 1991

  30 June 1995

  Philpott, Dr. R. M.

  16 December 1986

  31 December 1994

  Pinschof, Mr. J. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1989

  Pippard, Dr. J. S.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Prins, Mr. H. A.

  1 September 1985

  31 August 1989

  Prior, Miss J. M.

  1 May 1992

  30 April 1996

  Pryce, Dr. I. G. (WO)

  31 May 1991

  31 March 1995

  Rao, Dr. Y. J.

  1 July 1990

  15 June 1992

  Rassaby, Mrs. E.

  1 June 1991

  31 May 1995

  Richardson, Ms. G.

  1 January 1987

  31 December 1992

  Roberts, Mrs. M. R.

  31 May 1991

  31 March 1995

  Rogers, Ms. J.

  16 July 1991

  31 July 1995

  Rolfe, Dr. A.

  1 September 1983

  1 September 1987

  Rowton-Lee, Dr. M. A.

  1 July 1990

  30 June 1994

  Royle, Mr. G. A.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Samuels, Mrs. A.

  1 September 1989

  31 August 1993

  Scott-Fordham, Mrs. A.

  30 September 1985

  30 September 1989

  Scott-Moncrieff, Ms. L.

  24 April 1989

  28 January 1992

  Sebaratnam, Dr. N. P.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Selim, Mrs. C.

  30 September 1987

  30 September 1993

  Sharich, Mr. J.

  1 February 1991

  31 January 1995

  Shephard, Miss D. M.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Shephard, Mrs. G. P.

  1 September 1983

  8 April 1987

  Simon, Prof. G. B.

  22 February 1985

  2 August 1985

  Sinclair, Ms. L.

  13 June 1989

  30 June 1993

  Smith, Mr. B.

  1 June 1983

  30 September 1993

  Smith, Mr. G. A.

  1 September 1983

  31 August 1989

  Spinks, Ms. P.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Stables, Mr. R.

  21 July 1987

  21 July 1995

  Stroll, Mrs. B. J.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Sullivan, Mr. D. D. H.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Sykes, D. P.

  1 September 1983

  1 October 1984

  Tarlo, Dr. L.

  1 September 1983

  31 December 1988

  Taylor, Mr. M. B.

  1 October 1989

  30 September 1993

  Teaney, Mr. H. A.

  31 January 1989

  31 August 1992

  Tennent, Dr. T. G.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1987

  Thorne, Mr. B. G. J.

  17 November 1986

  30 November 1994

  Tickell, Mr. T.

  1 September 1983

  31 December 1989

  Timson, Mr. R. M.

  6 March 1985

  31 March 1989

  Torpy, Mr. D. M.

  1 June 1987

  1 June 1995

  Turner, Mrs. S. E.

  1 October 1983

  30 September 1989

  Vickers, Mr. H.

  31 March 1987

  31 March 1991

  Watson, Mr. A.

  1 April 1991

  31 March 1995

  Watts, Mr. C. N. S.

  1 October 1986

  6 October 1990

  Way, Dr. M.

  1 September 1983

  31 October 1984

  West, Prof. D. J.

  24 December 1988

  31 December 1996

  Williams, Dr. C.

  1 September 1983

  30 September 1985

  Williamson, A.

  22 October 1992

  30 September 1996

  Wilson, Mr. L. J.

  2 February 1987

  2 February 1995

  Wix, Mr. R. J.

  16 February 1987

  16 February 1995

  Yates, Prof. A. J.

  1 July 1990

  30 June 1994

  Zigmond, Dr. A. S.

  1 June 1991

  31 May 1995

  Health Charges
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 26 November,Official Report, column 810, what assessment she has made as part of her Department's review of the measures being taken throughout Europe to limit medicine bills of the proportion of the growth in national health service spending on medicines in 1991, which was due to the cost
  432
  of new medicines introduced in the past five years; and what comparable figures are available for Germany, France, Holland and Belgium.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1992, c. 180–81]: I regret that some of the figures quoted in the previous reply may have been misleading, because they included expenditure on medical devices as well as on medicines. To clarify the position, the figures, under the definition of new medicines stated before, are as follows.
  433
  For England only, the net ingredient cost of NHS drugs dispensed by chemists grew by £207 million in 1991. Of that growth, £143 million, or 69 per cent., was spent on new medicines introduced in the previous five years.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Bosnia
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the EC task force's contribution to the delivery and planning capacity in Bosnia of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since its formation in November, the European Community task force—ECTF—has focused its efforts on improving the co-ordination and liaison between the various relief programmes of EC member states, the European Commission and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees; the provision of additional trucking capacity and a secondary distribution network; and the provision of teams of experts from EC member states to work in conjunction with the UNHCR. To date the ECTF has 37 trucks with a further 30 expected shortly and various experts are being recruited. The United Kingdom has played a leading role in the formation of the EC task force and has provided its head, together with 12 trucks, 10 trailers and 17 drivers and mechanics.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the planning and priorities of the relief efforts for Bosnia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our relief effort in the former Yugoslavia is focused on the provision of food, shelter and medicines to those in need in Bosnia this winter. We have already committed over £70 million in humanitarian relief, all of which has been agreed in consultation with the UNHCR who are co-ordinating the international response to this crisis. I also refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 23 November at columns 452–53, in which I set out our humanitarian relief programme in more detail.

  Aid
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been taken since 1 July to increase economic aid and technical assistance to developing countries in(a) the European Development Council and (b) the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As announced in the autumn statement, the Government have made provision for our overseas aid programme to developing countries to increase to £1,900 million in 1993–94 and to be maintained at that level during 1994–95 and 1995–96. For 1993–94 this represents an increase of 3.5 per cent. in cash terms, 1 per cent. in real terms over the current year's figure. No decisions to increase economic aid or technical assistance were taken at the European Development Council.

  UN Relief and Works Agency
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwaelth Affairs what assistance has been provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the current financial year.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty Government's regular support for UNRWA amounts in 1992–93 to some £6 million, maintaining the United Kingdom's position as one of UNRWA's major donors. In addition, my noble friend the Minister for Overseas Development has agreed to provide nearly US$820,000—around £0.55 million—for the construction and equipping of a 630-place elementary and preparatory level girls school. The school is to be built at Beit Ula in the Hebron area of the West Bank and will help to relieve the increasing pressure on educational facilities among the growing school-age Palestinian community. Construction of this British/UNRWA school in a needy area is expected to start shortly and to be completed within 18 months. When complete it will provide 12 new classrooms, a laboratory, a library, a multi-purpose room, two administrative rooms arid playground as well as necessary furnishings and teaching equipment.

  We also contribute to the work of UNRWA via the EC which is to meet the total construction costs of the new Gaza general hospital, a 232 bed facility. The EC is providing 13 mecu and construction is expected to begin in February 1993.

  Guyana
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has regarding future aid for Guyana.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have concluded that it would be right to resume capital aid, following the holding of free and fair elections in October. We plan to provide up to £2 million of programme aid immediately for disbursement before 31 March 1993, conditional upon IMF board approval of a new enhanced structural adjustment facility arrangement for Guyana on 21 December. We will also be ready to consider new requests for technical co-operation. We will consider our longer-term plans early in the new year, after further discussions with the Government of Guyana.

  Annual Review
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the Overseas Development Administration's 1992 annual review.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Copies of the ODA's 1992 annual review "British Overseas Aid" have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Somalia
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 675, if he will list the sponsors of the Security Council resolution 794 and state for each sponsor (a) the nature and type of assistance that country is giving to the implementation of resolution 794,

  435
  (b) the type of humanitarian and development aid that country is providing and (c) the specific regions of Somalia in which that country is actively involved.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Security Council resolution 794 had no sponsors. It was submitted as a presidency text with the agreement of the members of the Security Council.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations assisted by the British Government to provide humanitarian and development aid to Somalia in each of the last five years and for each organisation state whether it is working(a) in the north, (b) in the south or (c) in both.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of 11 December 1992, Official Report, columns 434–35.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list every organisation through which cash from the British Government has been channelled for Somalia together with(a) in each case the sum of money agreed for each of the years 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992, (b) the sum paid out to each organisation in each of the past 24 months and (c) the range of aid or development project each organisation is helping to provide.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 11 December 1992]: The information the hon. Member has requested is not available for all of the last four years. Information on commitments of Britain's humanitarian assistance to Somalia by month, implementing agency and region is available for 1991 and 1992 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Information on disbursements of bilateral development assistance to Somalia in 1989, 1990 and 1991 by project has been placed in the House Libraries. These projects were implemented under bilateral aid agreements between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Somalia. The ODA was responsible for the administration of all funds disbursed.

  Iraq
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how Her Majesty's Government intend to act on the recommendations of the joint report by the ODA, EC and the office of the United States Foreign Disaster Assistance on the emergency winter assessment mission to northern Iraq in October.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In response to the findings of the assessment mission we reacted swiftly with a donation of £2.6 million to fund the purchase of 2,700 tonnes of chick peas and a similar quantity of edible oils through the United Nations World Food Programme, as well as road repair and maintenance through the Save the Children Fund. We are also contributing to relief efforts through our share of the EC emergency assistance allocation of 10.13 million ecu, which is being used for the provision of food and kerosene, and for support to non-governmental organisations projects in both northern and southern Iraq. We continue to monitor the situation and are considering the funding of further NGO proposals.

  Humanitarian Appeals
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what humanitarian appeals have been launched by the United Nations in the last six months; what the United Kingdom's contribution has been to each of the appeals; and whether the appeal targets have been met;

  (2) what humanitarian appeals are being considered or under preparation in the United Nations for launch in the next three months.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answers 19 November 1992]: The United Nations has issued consolidated humanitarian appeals in the last six months as follows:

  Million United States $

  Total amount sought

  Total contributions/pledges

  1. The Consolidated United Nations-Southern African Development (SADC) Appeal for the Drought Emergency in Southern Africa (DESA)

  858.1

  628.4

  2. The Consolidated Appeal for Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for Afghanistan

  179.7

  59

  3. The Special Consolidated United Nations Inter-Agency Appeal for Kenya1

  1159.7

  1128.3

  4. The Updated Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for the Special Emergency Programme for the Horn of Africa (SEPHA) (including the 100-day Plan of Action for Somalia)

  1,145.8

  793.0

  5. The United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Programme of Action and Appeal for former Yugoslavia

  561.7

  358.6

  6. The New Plan of Action for Inter-Agency Humanitarian Programme for Iraq (1 July 1992 to March 1993)

  256.1

  61.8

  1 This appeal was revised and integrated into the overall SEPHA appeal: the figures quoted are those included in the SEPHA appeal.

  The United Kingdom has provided £51.2 million in response to item No. 1 above including £20 million of programme food aid which was excluded from the appeal and £7.55 million, of which £2 million is via United Kingdom NGOs, for the appeal for Afghanistan, item No. 2. The special consolidated United Nations inter-agency appeal for Kenya, item No. 3 was incorporated into the second SEPHA appeal item No. 4 to which the United Kingdom contributed £18 million. This followed a contribution of £23 million in response to SEPHA I earlier in the year. On the appeal for the former Yugoslavia, item No. 5, we have provided £7¾ million in cash and over £14 million in kind and on the appeal for Iraq, item No. 6 £2½ million via the World Food Programme. These figures do not include the United Kingdom's share of EC assistance.

  More detailed information on appeals from individual United Nations agencies could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  We expect to receive shortly a consolidated appeal on Mozambique. The Secretary-General is expected to appeal this month for $6 million to cover costs associated with the remainder of the Cambodian refugee repatriation during 1993.
  437
  Note: All United Nations appeals are demoniated in United States dollars. Our pledges are made in pounds sterling and converted into United States dollars by the United Nations, using the exchange rate current on the day the moneys are received.

  World Bank
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to make the World bank more accountable.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The World bank is accountable to the 172 countries which are shareholders and which elect or appoint executive directors who form its board. The board is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the bank, including specific policies and lending proposals. Directors recently gave broad endorsement to the conclusions and recommendations of the report by an internal task force on portfolio management, which proposed changes designed to improve effective implementation of projects financed by the bank and internal accountability of staff. There will be further discussions in the board on various aspects of the bank's management practices; and our director will continue to play an active role in getting the recommendations put into effect.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  NHS Premises (Fire Safety)
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plan he has to remove Crown immunity from national health service buildings with respect to fire safety legislation; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what research his Department has carried out into the cost of bringing national health service premises up to the standards required by fire safety legislation; and what cost was estimated.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  National health service premises are already subject to the provisions of the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The Crown immunity which they formerly had was removed on 1 April 1991 by section 60 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has of the number of shops which have opened for trade on the Sundays in the weeks before Christmas; and what representations relating to loss of trade he has had since 1 November from shops which have remained closed on Sundays.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on the first point is not available centrally. The second point has been raised at ministerial meetings with two major retailers.

  Babri Masjid Mosque
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of religious places, private property and citizens which have been attacked where the attack has been linked to the 438
  Babri Masjid mosque incident; and what arrangements have been made for the protection of religious places, private property and citizens.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I am aware of 34 attacks on Muslim, Hindu or Sikh people and property since the Babri Masjid mosque incident.

  Police efforts to protect religious places are the responsibility of chief officers, working with the local community. All forces are in contact with local community leaders to provide them with advice on the protection of vulnerable targets. Where appropriate, specific measures have been taken, such as the assignment of officers to the protection of certain places, a telephone hotline and closed circuit television cameras.

  My right hon. and learned Friend met leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities on 10 December to discuss with them these incidents. Following that meeting, they issued a joint statement condemning violence and calling for restraint.

  Strip Searches
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip searches have taken place in each of the London police station within the Greater London area, on juvenile detainees in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are issued on who is allowed, when a juvenile detainee is being strip searched and such strip searches involve the anal/genital area,(a) to carry out the strip search and (b) to be present while it is taking place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A search involving physical examination of a person's body orifices is defined by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as an intimate search. Additional guidance which is issued by the Department advises that a visual inspection of intimate parts of the body should be regarded as an intimate search even though physical contact may be absent.

  An intimate search must be carried out by a doctor or a nurse, unless an officer of at least the rank of superintendent considers that this is not practicable. Code of practice C further prescribes that, subject to his or her wishes, an intimate search of a juvenile may take place only in the presence of an appropriate adult of the same sex.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who, under Home Office instructions, must be present when a strip search takes place of(a) a boy and (b) a girl juvenile being held in a police state; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The codes of practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 state that a strip search must take place only in the presence of persons who are of the same sex as the person being searched, and whose presence is necessary for the purpose of the search.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy as to the use of strip searches of juveniles detained in police stations and such searches taking place without their parents being present or informed that this action is to take place.
  439
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no specific requirement for the parents of a juvenile to be present during a strip search, although they must be notified as soon as practicable of the circumstances of his or her arrest and asked to come to the police station.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money has been made available to victim support organisations in each Welsh county in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jack
  Home Office grant aid to individual local schemes is allocated by the victim support local funding panel, on which the Home Office has observer status. The table details the public funding given to local schemes in Wales for the financial years 1990–91 to 1992–93:

  Funding of victim support in Wales 1990–91 to 1992–93

  County

  Home Office

  Local authority

  Urban aid

  Total

  1990–91

  Clwyd

  9,547

  500

  —

  10,047

  Dyfed

  11,880

  —

  —

  11,880

  Mid Glamorgan

  67,923

  3,600

  20,221

  91,744

  South Glamorgan

  10,385

  —

  —

  10,385

  West Glamorgan

  18,459

  1,050

  —

  19,509

  Gwent

  42,911

  22,356

  —

  65,267

  Gwynedd

  13,637

  525

  —

  14,162

  Powys

  37,568

  3,500

  —

  41,068

  Total

  212,310

  31,531

  20,221

  264,062

  1991–92

  Clwyd

  14,221

  —

  —

  14,221

  Dyfed

  45,522

  2,000

  —

  47,522

  Mid Glamorgan

  74,921

  3,055

  45,965

  123,941

  South Glamorgan

  12,316

  —

  —

  12,316

  West Glamorgan

  35,102

  2,200

  —

  37,302

  Gwent

  46,921

  29,258

  —

  76,179

  Number and percentage of juveniles found guilty of all offences in the West Midlands police force area Aldridge and Brownhills and Walsall petty sessional divisions12 by age and type of offence 1990 and 1991

  Total juveniles (aged 10 to under 17) (=100 per cent.)

  Aged 10 to under 15

  Number

  Per cent.

  Area/type of offence

  1990

  19913

  1990

  19913

  1990

  19913

  West Midlands pfa

  Indictable offences

  1,537

  1609

  458

  464

  30

  29

  Summary non-motoring offences

  489

  515

  103

  125

  21

  24

  Summary motoring offences

  164

  181

  24

  16

  15

  9

  All offences

  2,190

  2,305

  585

  605

  27

  26

  Aldridge and Brownhills psd1

  Indictable offences

  21

  19

  4

  —

  19

  —

  Summary non-motoring offences

  5

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Summary motoring offences

  4

  1

  —

  1

  —

  100

  All offences

  30

  27

  4

  1

  13

  4

  Walsall psd2

  Indictable offences

  102

  103

  29

  31

  28

  30

  Summary non-motoring offences

  33

  58

  5

  22

  15

  38

  Summary motoring offences

  15

  14

  —

  1

  —

  7

  All offences

  150

  175

  34

  54

  23

  31

  1 Including convictions at the Crown court where the committing court was Aldridge Brownhills psd.

  2 As above but committing court was Walsall psd.

  3 Provisional.

  440

  County

  Home Office

  Local authority

  Urban aid

  Total

  Gwynedd

  14,653

  —

  —

  14,653

  Powys

  49,454

  3,500

  —

  52,954

  Total

  293,110

  40,013

  45,965

  379,088

  1992–93

  County

  Home Office

  Local authority

  Urban aid

  Total

  Clwyd

  16,524

  16,524

  Dyfed

  48,376

  2,000

  50,376

  Mid Glamorgan

  93,311

  2,310

  36,088

  131,709

  South Glamorgan

  30,285

  30,285

  West Glamorgan

  65,654

  2,200

  67,854

  Gwent

  49,968

  41,564

  91,532

  Gwynedd

  16,414

  16,414

  Powys

  52,172

  3,150

  55,322

  Total

  372,704

  51,224

  36,088

  460,016

  Notes:

  A local authority grant of £1,025 to the north Wales victim support scheme in 1990–91 has been split arbitrarily between Clwyd and Gwynedd.

  Non-Home Office figures for 1992–93 represent local schemes' budget estimates for the year, not outturn.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were convicted of offences in 1990 and 1991 in(a) the west midlands and (b) Walsall; and how many of these were under the age of 15 years.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is given in the table.

  Maritime Investigations
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances police authorities have powers to oversee and fund maritime investigations;
  441
  (2) if he will list the conditions of tender and give details of all tenders submitted to the Devon and Cornwall constabulary for the purpose of contracting for the salvage of MFV Pescado;

  (3) if he will instigate an independent inquiry into all aspects of the issuing of the tender to Swan Salvage for the salvage of MFV Pescado; and whether the Golden Eye salvage vessel displayed her flag of origin.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not readily available and I will be writing to the hon. Member.

  Race Relations Act 1976
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring sentencing within the scope of the Race Relations Act 1976.

  Mr. Jack
  We have no such plans, but my right hon. and learned Friend has recently published information under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to facilitate the performance by persons engaged in the administration of criminal justice of their duty to avoid discriminating on the grounds of race or sex or any other improper ground.

  Community Relations
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his meeting with Muslim and Hindu community leaders on 10 December.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and I welcomed the opportunity to listen to the concerns of both communities and were greatly encouraged that the community leaders were able to agree the following joint statement:"Recent events in the Indian sub-continent are a cause of deep concern to many people in Britain and touch profound religious feelings.
  In Britain, Hindus and Muslims have lived peacefully together for many years. We are appalled that some people are evidently using the troubles elsewhere as an excuse for attacks on places of worship, businesses and individuals in this country.
  We utterly condemn the use of violence where it occurs.
  We appeal now to everyone in our communities to continue to show the utmost restraint, to resist any suggestion of retaliation, and to co-operate fully with the police and other authorities.
  Restoring calm between our communities is in the best interests of every Hindu and Muslim in Britain."

  Close contact is being maintained with both communities, and on 16 December I visited the west midlands to talk to members of the local communities and to hear a police assessment of recent events in the area.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were(a) murdered or (b) assaulted by their spouses or co-habitees in the borough of North Warwickshire, the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and the county of Warwickshire in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jack
  Records available to me show the number of women who were the victims of offences currently recorded as homicide committed by their spouses or co-habitants in the Warwickshire police force area in each of the last five years is as follows:
  442

  Year

  Number

  1987

  1

  1988

  —

  1989

  —

  1990

  1

  1991

  —

  Information on the precise location within the police force or on assaults on women by their spouses or co-habitants is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands listing the domestic violence units in his area and the expenditure involved in maintaining each of the domestic violence units.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The force has 11 units, one for every division. Six of the units are staffed by two officers each, at an annual cost of £50,000 per unit; the remaining five are each staffed by a single officer at an annual cost of £30,000 per unit.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were(a) killed or (b) assaulted by their wives in Warwickshire in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jack
  Records available to me show the number of men who were the victims of offences currently recorded as homicide committed by their wives in the Warwickshire police force area in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Number

  1987

  —

  1988

  —

  1989

  1

  1990

  —

  1991

  —

  Information on assaults on men by their wives is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Warwickshire(a) giving the number of officers in his force who have received training in dealing with domestic violence and (b) listing the domestic violence units in the area covered by his force and the expenditure involved in maintaining such units.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All officers receive general training in dealing with incidents of domestic violence, by which the force means all violence which occurs within the family, including child abuse. Two hundred and ten officers have undergone more specialised training. The force currently has one dedicated family protection unit which was established in July this year. The unit is staffed by an inspector, two sergeants and 14 constables. The cost of maintaining the unit includes approximately £464,000 a year for staff salaries, plus additional costs for training and travelling.

  Prison Officers (Accommodation)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has received on the ability of prison officers to find accommodation in the London area at rents that they can afford; and if he will make a statement.
  443
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No survey has been undertaken by the prison service as to how prison officers newly posted to London prisons find suitable accommodation. Since fresh start, prison officers are no longer quarters entitled.

  Officers who are transferred to London prisons on permanent compulsory transfer terms are entitled to reimbursement of the expenses incurred in moving home. If they own a property, its sale at the current market value is guaranteed through a Home Office scheme operated by the Black Horse Relocation Company. Financial assistance to officers transferring at public expense from a cheaper to a more expensive area and whose outgoings have necessarily increased is available in the form of additional housing cost allowance. Officers may apply for an advance of salary for house purchase which is repayable, free of interest, over a 10-year period.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have resigned from the service in each of the last five years and have given as the reason the difficulty in finding reasonably priced accommodation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No records are kept of the number of prison officers who resign from the Prison Service because of their inability to find suitable accommodation.

  Mrs. Cynthia Hazig
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department now intends to take following the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on the complaint made to him by the hon. Member for Tooting on behalf of Mrs. Cynthia Hazig of Tooting, so that similar incidents do not in future take place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This case arose because of defective laminate in a passport issued in 1985. This type of passport is no longer issued and the new style, machine-readable passport has to meet very strict quality controls. New instructions have been issued to immigration officers on the examination of suspect travel documents.

  Racial Incidents
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of racially motivated crime have been recorded each year since 1979 in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  The information available relates to reported racial incidents, as defined by the Association of Chief Police Officers, and is for England and Wales only. The available figures are as follows:

  Number of racial incidents in England and Wales

  Number of incidents

  Year

  Provincial forces

  Metropolitan Police

  England and Wales

  1985

  3,955

  1,945

  5,900

  1986

  4,833

  1,733

  6,566

  1987

  3,126

  2,179

  5,305

  1988

  2,169

  2,214

  4,383

  1989

  2,347

  2,697

  5,044

  1990

  3,451

  2,903

  6,354

  1991

  4,509

  3,373

  7,882

  444
  ACPO definition: Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motive, or any incidents which include allegations of racial motivation made by any person.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been victims of racial attacks in London in each year since 1990, detailed by London borough; and what advice is given to the Metropolitan police on reporting such attacks as racially motivated.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 16 December on the number of racial incidents in each London borough.

  The Metropolitan police work to Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines in these matters in common with all other forces.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially motivated attacks on asylum seekers and refugees have been recorded by his Department in 1992; in which counties they took place; and what were the victims' nationalities.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Child Sex Abuse
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders involved in child sex abuse incidents are currently being held in bail hostels or other similar institutions whether awaiting trial or on probation or parole, in the Coventry and northern Warwickshire area.

  Mr. Jack
  There are currently two probation/bail hostels in Coventry and Nuneaton. On 15 December 1992 three of the residents out of 29 were defendants or offenders in child sex abuse cases.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of public funding paid to private institutions for the treatment of offenders involved in child sex abuse.

  Mr. Jack
  Local authorities, health authorities and probation committees may fund treatment of individual offenders at their discretion, but no funding for this purpose came directly from central Government.

  Parrots
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average fine imposed for killing parrots in 1991–92.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Police (Code of Ethics)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the code of ethics produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers; and if he will make a statement.
  445
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Home Office officials have been working with the police service on the development of the code of ethics, which was launched on 8 December by the Association of Chief Police Officers. The code of ethics is not yet finalised, and one of the issues that have to be addressed is its relationship with police disciplinary procedures. This will be considered as a part of the review of police disciplinary procedures announced on 16 December.

  Betting Shops
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representtions he has had from employees of William Hill's betting shops about the proposals to extend opening hours into the evening.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have record of 17 representations from employees of William Hill, all of which were opposed to the evening opening of licensed betting offices. In addition, we have received a number of other representations from betting office staff in which the employer was not identified.

  Gaming
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to maintain as public policy the avoidance of undue stimulation of gaming.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government have no plans to depart from their policy that the demand for gambling, including gaming, should not be unduly encouraged. As in the past, this principle will continue to be applied in different degrees according to the nature of the gambling involved.

  EC Frontier Controls
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the position regarding frontier controls on people travelling between the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Community after January 1993.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The date 1 January 1993 will not, in the event, be of any practical sigificance so far as the movement of people travelling within the European Community is concerned. There remain varying interpretations of article 8A of the treaty of Rome. None of the member states of the Community intends to make fundamental changes on 1 January 1993 to the arrangements in force at its frontiers with other member states for controlling immigration and for police checks.

  Immigration control on entry to and departure from the United Kingdom will continue to be operated in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971 and relevant Community legislation. Passengers entering the United Kingdom from other member states, except the Republic of Ireland, will continue to be required to present their passports or other national identity documents to the immigration officer for inspection. In the case of British citizens and other EC nationals, the purpose of the check is simply to establish their nationality, and the arrangements already made for expediting the passage
  446
  through the immigration control of EC nationals will continue. No change will be made in the exercise of the powers contained in the prevention of terrorism Act.

  It will similarly continue to be necessary for people travelling from the United Kingdom to other EC countries, other than the Republic of Ireland, to be in possession of a passport or other national identity document. The member states that are parties to the Schengen convention expect to abolish frontier controls at the land frontiers between their territories, and subsequently at airports in respect of flights between their countries, in the course of 1993. On present plans, however, it will still be necessary thereafter for people travelling from the United Kingdom to one of those countries to be in possession of a passport or other national identity document, together where necessary with a visa.

  I shall be considering what further changes might be made in the course of 1993 to the United Kingdom immigration control arrangements vis-a-vis other member states of the European Community, in furtherance of our policy of reducing checks on EC nationals to the minimum level compatible with the retention of effective immigration control of third-country nationals together with adequate safeguards against the entry of terrorists and other serious criminals.

  Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been received by his Department expressing concern about the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since 22 October we have received approximately 210 letters about the Bill.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the former Yugoslavia have entered the United Kingdom since 6 November.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Comprehensive information on admissions of passengers to the United Kingdom is collected on a monthly basis, and the data for the whole of November are not yet available.

  Refugee Children
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received in support of the provision of a children's advocate on behalf of unaccompanied refugee children.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not readily available.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide the asylum statistics for 1992, including details of the numbers of decisions reached, refusals by category and their nationalities.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for the period January to November 1992 is given in the table.
  447

  Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions,1 2 by nationality, 1 January 1992–30 November 1992.

  Decisions

  Nationality

  Applications

  Granted asylum

  Granted exceptional leave

  Total refused

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination

  Refused on safe third country grounds

  Refused under para 101 of immigration rules3

  Total decisions

  Europe and Americas

  Bulgaria

  145

  *

  —

  35

  20

  —

  15

  35

  Colombia

  220

  *

  10

  20

  10

  5

  5

  30

  Romania

  270

  —

  10

  85

  50

  10

  25

  95

  Turkey

  1,650

  420

  1,375

  580

  140

  70

  370

  2,375

  Former USSR

  230

  5

  5

  20

  *

  15

  10

  30

  Former Yugoslavia

  4,830

  —

  *

  110

  —

  60

  50

  110

  Others

  245

  5

  5

  65

  10

  25

  25

  75

  Total

  7,585

  430

  1,405

  915

  230

  180

  500

  2,745

  Africa

  Angola

  190

  10

  5

  3,640

  65

  5

  3,565

  3,650

  Benin

  15

  —

  —

  325

  —

  —

  325

  325

  Cameroon

  35

  —

  —

  530

  5

  —

  525

  530

  Congo

  15

  —

  *

  255

  *

  *

  255

  255

  Ethiopia

  590

  10

  1,900

  140

  5

  10

  120

  2,045

  Ghana

  1,400

  5

  20

  1,120

  270

  25

  825

  1,145

  Somalia

  1,360

  25

  2,065

  290

  *

  40

  250

  2,380

  Sudan

  510

  140

  100

  120

  *

  *

  115

  360

  Togo/Ivory Coast

  285

  —

  —

  1,120

  10

  5

  1,110

  1,120

  Uganda

  240

  10

  850

  270

  115

  5

  145

  1,130

  Zaire

  795

  10

  10

  4,470

  90

  65

  4,315

  4,490

  Others

  1,145

  5

  75

  1,355

  125

  25

  1,200

  1,440

  Total

  6,580

  210

  5,030

  13,640

  685

  190

  12,760

  18,880

  Middle East

  Iran

  345

  105

  580

  50

  15

  5

  30

  735

  Iraq

  635

  175

  1,165

  35

  5

  5

  25

  1,375

  Lebanon

  345

  20

  515

  60

  40

  10

  15

  600

  Others

  415

  30

  95

  105

  50

  15

  45

  230

  Total

  1,740

  335

  2,360

  250

  110

  30

  115

  2,945

  Asia

  China

  300

  15

  10

  35

  15

  *

  20

  60

  India

  1,325

  —

  435

  1,095

  700

  65

  330

  1,525

  Pakistan

  1,535

  *

  395

  965

  650

  10

  300

  1,360

  Sri Lanka

  1,860

  40

  4,135

  195

  10

  45

  140

  4,370

  Others

  460

  10

  240

  180

  125

  *

  50

  430

  Total

  5,480

  65

  5,215

  2,470

  1,500

  125

  845

  7,745

  Other and Unknown Nationality

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grand Total

  21,390

  1,040

  14,010

  17,270

  2,525

  530

  14,220

  32,315

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with* = 1 or 2.

  2 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.

  3 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been returned since November 1991 to third countries outside the EC; and if he will name those countries.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information is given in the table. All decisions on third country removals are taken in the light of the circumstances of the individual case.
  448

  Asylum applicants at ports removed on safe third country grounds to non-EC countries, by country to which removed, excluding dependants, 1 November 1991 to 30 November1992

  Country to which removed

  Switzerland

  20

  Sweden

  17

  United States

  10

  Austria

  5

  Ghana

  2

  Iran

  2

  Turkey

  2

  Australia

  1

  Canada

  1

  Guinea

  1

  India

  1

  449

  Country to which removed

  Kenya

  1

  Norway

  1

  Poland

  1

  Total

  65

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new detention places for asylum seekers have been set up since August 1991; if he will name the detention centers; and what further plans his Department has to set up new detention places.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since August 1991, the number of detention places available to accommodate Immigration Act 1971 detainees including asylum seekers has increased by 18. A new seven-bed detention center at Stansted airport was commissioned in August 1992 and improvements to the detention facilities at Haslar which were completed in September 1992 provided an additional 11 places. Under plans which have not yet been finalised, we are aiming to provide around a further 300 additional detention places in phases from 1993 to 1995.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the criteria used to place asylum seekers in Her Majesty's prisons and the conditions in force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Detention under the powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 is authorised only where there is no alternative. The overriding consideration is whether the person is likely to comply voluntarily with any restrictions imposed upon him, including any arrangements for removal from this country.

  Her Majesty's prison Haslar is used almost exclusively for Immigration Act detainees, including asylum seekers. Otherwise, prisons are used only when no places are available at either Haslar or an immigration service detention center, or where the detainee is unsuitable for detention in these establishments.

  Immigration detainees in prisons are accorded access to visits, private cash, education, physical education, work and legal aid.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants refused asylum have been deported or removed in 1991 and 1992, under category 101 and the safe third countries rule.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for the period January to November 1992 on asylum applicants refused under paragraph 101 of the immigration rules, and on applicants at ports removed from the United Kingdom on safe third country grounds, is given in the table. Comprehensive information for 1991 is not available.
  450

  Refusals1 under paragraph 101 of the immigration rules of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, and removals1 of port asylum applicants on safe third country grounds, excluding dependants, 1 January 1992 to 30 November 1992.

  Refused under para 101 of immigration rules2

  Removals of port applicants on safe third country grounds

  14,220

  365

  1 Figures rounded to nearest 5.

  2 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish indentity.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when instructions were sent to the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Mr. Syed Farhat Abbas—Ref. TH/16422/90 and—B 020653—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Charles Wardle
  I very much regret that the entry clearance officer was not immediately informed that the presenting officer's application for leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal against the adjudicator's decision to allow Mr. Abbas' appeal has been withdrawn on 27 October. Instructions to issue an entry clearance were sent by telex to the British high commission in Islamabad on 16 December.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when instructions were sent to the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Mr. Mohd Asif Gill—Ref. Imm/v 94835 and Imm (APP 320)—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The adjudicator's determination allowing Mr. Gill's appeal was delivered on 2 November and after consideration in the Home Office was sent to the British high commission in Islamabad on 1 December, with a request that the entry clearance officer should act in accordance with the spirit of the determination.

  Dr. Kypros Loucas
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries were made before Dr. Kypros Loucas began to work at Wormwood Scrubs; what these inquiries revealed; and what account was taken of the inquiries in considering whether to appoint Dr. Loucas to work connected to prisoners with severe mental disorders.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review the employment of Dr. Kypros Loucas in the prison medical service at Wormwood Scrubs;

  (2) what plans he has to investigate the circumstances in which Dr. Kypros Loucas was appointed to his present part-time post at Wormwood Scrubs; and if he will make a statement.
  451
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if his Department will continue to employ the services of Dr. K. Loucas as a visiting psychiatrist at Her Majesty's prison, Wormwood Scrubs;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the employment of Dr. Kypros Loucas at Wormwood Scrubs prison.

  (3) when his Department first became aware of the concern expressed by the Mental Health Act Commission on Dr. Kypros Loucas; and if he will make a statement on Dr. Loucas' continued employment at Wormwood Scrubs prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Dr. Kypros Loucas was appointed by open competition following an advertisement in the British Medical Journal inviting applications from fully registered medical practitioners of consultant status. Two professional references were offered and followed up. These provided no contra-indications to his appointment and an appointment as a visiting consultant psychiatrist was offered on 28 June 1990.

  The appointment requires Dr. Loucas's attendance for two sessions per week at Wormwood Scrubs. As visiting consultant he does not have sole charge of patients and acts as psychiatric adviser to, and under the direction of, the full-time senior medical officer.

  The Prison Service was not aware of the concern expressed by the Mental Health Act Commission until shortly before the broadcast of the "Cutting Edge" television programme on 7 December.

  In his own interests, Dr. Loucas has been advised not to visit the prison until the allegations contained in the programme have been investigated.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In general, private finance involving the acceptance of risk by the private sector, has not been used.

  I am considering how to apply the Government's private finance initiative in its areas of responsibility on the basis of the guidance which has recently been published by the Treasury.

  Women Prisoners
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the possibility of women prisoners joining the therapeutic regime at Grendon.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the end of 1994, a small unit will become available at Grendon. There are a number of possible options for its use: for adult male offenders, for young offenders or to make the unit one for women prisoners. No decision has been taken about the future of the unit.
  452
  Before the possibility of women prisoners participating in the therapeutic unit at Grendon could be contemplated it would be necessary:

  (a) to have reliable information about the therapeutic needs of women prisoners; and

  (b) to explore all possible options for meeting those needs, drawing on experience both inside and outside the prison service.

  Furthermore, any decision to place women prisoners in Grendon would require very careful consideration, including:

  (a) defining the objectives of such placement, in particular identifying what benefits the women would derive from it;

  (b) examining staffing mix, training, attitudes;

  (c) exploring essential safeguards for all involved; and

  (d) appropriate consultation.

  Careful, detailed planning would then be needed.

  Prison Staff
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers of(a) prison custody officers and supervisors, (b) management, (c) administrative and maintenance staff, (d) full and part-time chaplains, (e) catering staff, (f) medical staff, (g) education staff and (h) seconded probation officers working in HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Bullingdon, respectively.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: A contract for the operation of Blakenhurst prison has been awarded to UKDS and the prison is due to open in April 1993. There is currently a skeleton staff on site supervising routine maintenance work. The controller appointed under section 85(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and his secretary are also based at the prison.

  As at 10 December, the numbers of staff at Bullingdon prison, in the grades requested, were as follows: officer grades—prison officers, senior officers, principal officers, night patrol and auxiliary officers—309; governor grades—eight; administrative and industrial grades—50; chaplains—three; medical grades—16; education staff and instructional officers—12; seconded probation officers—six. A contract for the provision of catering services was awarded to ARA Services plc in March. One member of the administrative staff is responsible for monitoring the contract.

  Arrests, London
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis indicating how many(a) white people and (b) people from the ethnic minorities were arrested in London in each month of 1992; and, how many in each category were subject to an immigration check whilst in custody.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Information on the ethnic appearance of persons arrested in the Metropolitan police district is recorded by the arresting officer. The following information is available for 1992:
  453

  Month

  White European

  Dark European

  Black

  Asian

  Far Eastern

  Middle Eastern

  Unknown

  January

  5,537

  374

  1,668

  522

  99

  122

  650

  February

  5,524

  324

  1,812

  423

  74

  107

  644

  March

  5,679

  354

  1,671

  491

  65

  98

  620

  April

  5,394

  335

  1,801

  449

  69

  118

  605

  May

  5,313

  346

  1,739

  465

  54

  84

  590

  June

  5,631

  300

  1,787

  467

  62

  95

  546

  July

  5,441

  335

  1,861

  447

  57

  101

  542

  August

  5,111

  267

  1,631

  440

  54

  93

  584

  September

  5,287

  297

  1,796

  412

  58

  88

  565

  October

  4,658

  252

  1,606

  365

  59

  73

  468

  Total

  53,575

  3,184

  17,372

  4,481

  651

  979

  5,814

  Statistics on immigration checks are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  West Yorkshire Police
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were solved by allocation to known criminals serving prison sentences by the West Yorkshire police force in 1991; and what was the percentage of crimes detected for the year other than by allocation.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 December 1992]: The available information for 1991 shows that there were 15,280 offences cleared up in West Yorkshire by interview of convicted offenders in custody. Eighty one per cent. of offences were cleared up by methods other than allocations.

  Security Risks
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in each year since 21 November 1979, and so far in 1992, the Director-General of the Security Service has reported information about a present or former Minister or senior public servant indicating that he or she may be or may have been a security risk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: It is not the practice to disclose information of this kind.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the expenditure per head of prison population, for prison education for(a) each United Kingdom prison and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Total payments to local education authorities and relevant overheads per head of prison population in England and Wales are available only from 1 April 1984, and are shown in the table. Information for individual prison establishments, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Year

  £

  1984–85

  470

  1985–86

  459

  1986–87

  402

  1987–88

  441

  1988–89

  515

  1989–90

  620

  454

  Year

  £

  1990–91

  740

  1991–92

  779

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he will take to evaluate the standard of education provided by prison education establishments;

  (2) what steps he is taking to monitor the quality of services provided within the prison education service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The Prison Service already employs professionally qualified education staff in its chief education officer's branch to provide guidance on the evaluation of education programmes and to advise and assist governors to monitor the standard and quality of educational services delivered in prison establishments. Education services for inmates are also inspected by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the curriculum provided within British prisons is comparable with that available within the community.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Yes. The need to ensure this is one of the main reasons why the present arrangements in England and Wales are being changed and competitive tendering has had to be undertaken. Local education authorities are the current providers of education to inmates in prisons, but from 1 April 1993 they will no longer have the primary responsibility for the provision in the community of the futher education curriculum which most prisoners require.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in force to ensure that prisoners can continue education courses after release from British prisons.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The Criminal Justice Act 1991 requires that from 1 October 1992 all adult offenders in England and Wales sentenced to one year's imprisonment or more and all young offenders will be supervised in the community after they leave the prison or young offender institution. Prison staff prepare discharge reports which identify to the supervising service, among other things, education and training programmes which the inmate has undertaken in custody and which he or she might usefully continue after release. Where possible, the inmate will be offered help in making any necessary arrangements.
  455
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve basic education resources for prisoners.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney) on 17 November, Official Report, column 104. Since 1979, the Government have consistently increased in real terms payments to local education authorities for the provision of education in prisons. Competition is directed to ensuring from 1 April 1993 the most effective use of the resources that can be made available by awarding contracts to those providers, whether from the public or private sector, which offer the best combination of quality and price and which reflect the priority of the service.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the prison experience available to agencies tendering for prison education service contracts which were not existing prison education establishments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: All organisations that have been invited to tender for the provision of educational services to prisoners were asked to give details of any experience which they had of delivering education provision in prison establishments, and of any other relevant experience.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if records of achievement will be kept in respect of prison education; and if these will have national accreditation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The terms and conditions of the contracts to be let for provision of educational services in prisons from 1 April 1993 will require providers to introduce nationally accredited records of achievement for prisoners.

  Prison Disablement Officers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disablement officers have been employed within the prison service; and in which prisons they were serving in the last financial year for which details are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The disabled persons liaison officer for the prison service is based in the headquarters directorate of personnel and finance—DPF3. There are no disablement officers employed in prison establishments.

SCOTLAND

  Housing Maintenance, Dundee
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums have been allocated to the City of Dundee district council for housing repairs and maintenance in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The level of a local authority's expenditure on the repairs and maintenance of its housing stock is a matter for decision by the local 456
  authority concerned. The expenditure by the City of Dundee district council on the repairs and maintenance of its housing stock in each of the past five years, as recorded in returns made to the Scottish Office Environment Department, is as follows:

  £

  1987–88

  7,425,628

  1988–89

  8,305,212

  1989–90

  10,181,038

  1990–91

  11,112,639

  1991–92

  14,581,254

  Hostel Schemes
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance his Department is giving directly or through Scottish Homes to the development of foyer hostel schemes in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Homes is contributing to the funding of a feasibility study for a foyer in Kirkcaldy, in conjunction with Kirkcaldy district council, Fife regional council and the Historic Buildings Council; and is examining the possibility of a feasibility study for a foyer in Glasgow.

  Local Authority Housing
  Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what central Government mechanism exists for ensuring that council-owned houses are maintained in a windproof, watertight and fit condition; and how many times these powers have been used over the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authorities have an obligation at common law to keep their houses in a tenantable and habitable condition. In addition, section 17 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 imposes a duty on local authorities to manage their houses. Repairing obligations are a matter between landlord and tenant.

  Kyle-Kyleakin Ferry
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the loss to Caledonian MacBrayne's annual revenues of the scheduled end to the Kyle to Kyleakin ferry.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend does not consider it justified to require Caledonian MacBrayne to make public commercially sensitive information about revenues, operating surpluses and deficits incurred on individual routes. The company's annual report and accounts for 1991, which were presented to Parliament on 27 May 1992, and are available in the Library, identified the operating deficits and surpluses realised by the company in respect of groups of services defined by area of operation.

  Whitson Fairhurst Houses
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government assistance is available for Whitson Fairhurst houses; and what sums have been allocated to each district council this year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Owners of Whitson Fairhurst houses and other house types designated as
  457
  defective who bought them from a public sector authority before 26 April 1984 can require their local authority to repurchase or give grant to make good the house under part XIV of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. The Government issue supplementary capital allocations each year to local authorities, on the basis of authorities' returns, to meet in full their liabilities to incur capital expenditure under the Act.

  The supplementary capital allocations issued to local authorities in 1992–93 on the housing revenue account—HRA—and non-HRA blocks to cover their expenditure under the Act in respect of all types of designated defective housing is set out in the following table. Allocations on the HRA block are in respect of the repurchase of defective houses and on the non-HRA block are to make available reinstatement grants for the repair of designated houses. Information is not held centrally in respect of individual types of designated defective housing such as Whitson Fairhurst.

  Local Authority

  HRA £ million

  Non-HRA £ million

  Roxburgh

  0.090

  —

  Clackmannan

  0.003

  —

  Falkirk

  —

  0.040

  Nithsdale

  0.009

  —

  Kirkcaldy

  0.005

  —

  Aberdeen

  0.154

  —

  Kincardine and Deeside

  0.533

  —

  East Lothian

  0.050

  —

  Edinburgh

  0.221

  —

  Midlothian

  —

  0.029

  Argyll and Bute

  —

  0.030

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  0.023

  —

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  0.025

  —

  Glasgow

  0.296

  —

  Dundee

  0.017

  —

  Perth and Kinross

  0.503

  0.017

  SCOTLAND

  1.929

  0.116

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures he has to show the life expectancy of Whitson Fairhurst houses in the City of Dundee district.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  When first built, the Whitson Fairhurst house type could reasonably have been expected to have a life of about 60 years. A defect subsequently discovered in the type may mean that some will last for a shorter period, but much depends on the condition of individual houses.

  KS Properties Ltd.
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he was consulted about the write-off of money due to the Scottish Development Agency by KS Properties Ltd; what steps he is taking to recover the money; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Scottish Office approved in June 1990 a request by the then Scottish Development Agency to write off the sum of £40,084, being the balance of a loan owed to the agency by KS Construction Limited. The agency earlier wrote off £4,900 in interest accrued on the loan. These actions followed the company entering into receivership. Writing off of debt is a step taken only where the debt is judged irrecoverable.

  If my hon. Friend requires further details about this matter, which was essentially an operational matter for the
  458
  Scottish Development Agency, I am sure that the chairman of the agency's successor body, Scottish Enterprise, would be pleased to attempt to assist him.

  Wool Production
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the effect of removing the wool price guarantee from 1 May 1993 upon(a) Scottish wool production, (b) wool production in the crofting counties and (c) crofter and sheep farmer incomes from wool production.

  Mr. Hector Monro
  Removal of the wool price guarantee should not significantly affect wool production in the crofting counties, nor in Scotland generally, wool being essentially a by-product of the sheepmeat industry.

  The effect on the incomes of individual producers will vary but returns from wool account for less than 5 per cent. of total producer returns from sheep.

  Fluoridation
  Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the chief dental officer will issue a statement on water fluoridation;

  (2) what considerations led to the issuing of the statement on fluoridation of water by the chief medical officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Stewart
  In light of newspaper articles which did not adequately represent his views on fluoridation, the chief medical officer wrote on 3 December to the chairman of Greater Glasgow health board to clarify the position. Copies of his letter were sent to the chairmen of Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran and Lanarkshire health boards. The letter explained his views and summarised the scientific evidence that fluoridation is a safe and highly effective means of reducing dental decay, particularly in children. The chief dental officer fully concurs with the terms of the letter and has no plans to issue a separate statement. Copies of the letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce the outcome of the current applications for NHS trust status in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have received 14 applications from hospitals/units interested in becoming NHS trusts in April 1993. These were submitted by Caithness and Sutherland, Raigmore, Moray Health Services, Grampian Healthcare, Dundee General Hospitals, West Lothian, Monklands and Bellshill, Stirling Royal infirmary, Royal Alexandra hospital, the North Ayrshire and Arran general hospitals, Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare and, in Glasgow, the Southern General, Yorkhill and the Victoria infirmary. Public consultation on the applications has been carried out by the appropriate host health boards who have submitted to me reports on the comments made.

  As previously, all applications are being considered against the published criteria of benefits for patients, management competence, the involvement of professional staff, and the financial viability of the applicant unit. I have completed my consideration of the applications for

  459
  Moray Health Services, Dundee General Hospitals, Grampian Healthcare, Stirling royal infirmary, the Royal Alexandra hospital, Yorkhill, Southern General and Victoria infirmary. I have concluded that these applications meet the criteria and consequently should be approved. My decision in respect of Glasgow hospitals is without prejudice to the review of acute services currently being undertaken by Greater Glasgow health board.

  I expect to complete my consideration of the outstanding six applications shortly and will announce my decisions as early as possible in order that successful candidates can get ahead with the work required before becoming operational on 1 April 1993.

  The establishment as NHS trusts of the successful candidates offers a further opportunity for improving services which are already of a high standard. The experience of the two Scottish trusts currently operational is of more patients being treated, greater innovation in the services being offered, and in general a service which is endeavouring to be more responsive to the needs of patients. Those promoting the current applications have indicated a commitment to achieving similar outcomes for their patients. This is to be welcomed and, I believe, augurs well for the NHS in Scotland and of course patient care.

  Shipping Subsidies
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for shipping subsidies for sea transport services in the Highlands and Islands in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the estimates, I propose to make available in 1993–94 total subsidy provision of £15.129 million as compared with £13.657 million in 1992–93. This represents an increase of 10.8 per cent. over last year's level of provision. The deficit subsidy for Caledonian MacBrayne will be £7.165 million. For services to Orkney and Shetland, tariff rebate subsidies of up to £6.679 million will be made available. Up to £1.285 million will be available for other coastal shippers operating on the west coast of Scotland.

  This substantial increase in financial support for shipping services clearly affirms the Government's continuing commitment to assist essential sea transport services to the western and northern isles.

  Nuclear Fuel, Torness
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all papers deposited by his Department at the public inquiry into the application to build a dry store for spent nuclear fuel at the Torness nuclear plant; how many officials from his Department are expected to attend the inquiry; and what budget has been made available to cover the costs of the inquiry.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 December 1992]: Two statements have been deposited by the Scottish Office Environment Department. One is a brief resume of radioactive waste management policy and the other gives a detailed statement of the regulatory regime operated by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate in Scotland. Scottish Office officials will attend the inquiry as necessary; thus far two officials from the Scottish Office Environment Department have given oral evidence. No specific budgetary provision has been made for this inquiry.

  Ewe and Suckler Cow Premiums
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider organising appeals on ewe and suckler cow premiums to be heard consecutively when an appeal so constituted would provide a new entrant to farming with a stocking requirement best suited to the land on which he operates.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: We are currently considering the detailed arrangements which will be necessary to manage quotas under the sheep annual premium scheme and the suckler cow premium scheme. It is too early to specify what these will be.

  EC Structural Funds
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which regional and island councils have made applications concerning the inclusion of areas eligible for assistance in relation to objective 1, objective 2, objective 3, objective 4 and objective 5 of the European Community's structural funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Regional and island authorities wholly or partly within the existing Highlands and Islands objective 5b area have presented a detailed case for objective 1 status. All other regional authorities, as well as Grampian and Strathclyde, have made representations regarding either objective 2 or objective 5b status for all or part of their respective areas. Objectives 3, 4 and 5a are not limited geographically.

  Housing
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new homes will be provided by Inverclyde district council in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; what is the total provision from Scottish Office funds which will be received by the council in support of capital expenditure on housing; and what capital expenditure he expects the council to incur in each of the next two years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Information on the number of dwellings completed in 1992–93 and 1993–94 is not yet available.

  Inverclyde district council's gross housing capital allocations for 1992–93 total £11.805 million. I plan to announce provisional allocations for 1993–94 before Christmas.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums of money have been given to the Inverclyde district council for housing maintenance and repairs in each of the last seven years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Local authority expenditure on housing maintenance and repairs is financed mainly from rental income. Expenditure on housing maintenance and repairs by Inverclyde district council in each of the last seven years, as recorded in returns made by the council to the Scottish Office Environment Department, is as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  4,115,765

  1986–87

  5,176,806

  1987–88

  5,550,497

  1988–89

  5,875,281

  461

  £

  1989–90

  6,296,113

  1990–91

  8,866,330

  1991–92

  7,856,574

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses were completed in Strathclyde in each year since 1979; and if he will publish an analysis of those figures by local authority district and between private, local authority and housing association ownership management.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Information on the number of dwellings completed in each district and islands council area for private, local authority, and housing association ownership or management is contained in the quarterly statistical bulletins published by the Scottish Office entitled "Housing Trends in Scotland", or prior to 1983 "Scottish Housing Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new homes were provided by Inverclyde district council in each of the past 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Information on the number of local authority dwellings completed in each district and islands council area is contained in the quarterly statistical bulletins published by the Scottish Office entitled "Housing Trends in Scotland", or prior to 1983 "Scottish Housing Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.

  Fisheries Protection
  Ms. Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a decision has now been made on the future of the Scottish fishery protection patrols run by the Royal Navy from Rosyth.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer of 15 December 1992]: The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency expects to reach agreement shortly with the Ministry of Defence on a contract to provide fisheries protection patrols in Scottish waters in 1993–94. No decision has been taken on arrangements for 1994–95 and future years.

  Earnings
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the proportion of part-time female manual workers, part-time female non-manual workers and all female part-time workers with earnings excluding overtime less than(a) £3, (b) £4.50 and (c) £5.20 per hour in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde, (iii) Fife, (iv) Grampian and (v) Scotland as a whole;

  (2) if he will publish a table giving the proportions of full-time male manual workers, full-time male non-manual workers and all full-time male workers with earnings excluding overtime less than (a) £190 per week and (b) £200 per week in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde, (iii) Grampian, (iv) Fife and (v) Scotland as a whole;

  (3) if he will publish a table showing the proportions of full-time female manual workers, full-time female
  462
  non-manual workers and all full-time female workers with earnings excluding overtime of less than £190 per week in (a) Strathclyde, (b) Grampian, (c) Fife and (d) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Information on the level of details requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member giving the requested information—where sample sizes allow—as soon as possible. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Edinburgh Summit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the total cost to(a) Edinburgh district council, (b) Lothian regional council and (c) the Scottish Office of the staging of the Edinburgh summit of the European Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: The main costs of organising the European Council and associated media facilities—estimated at £6.4 million—will be met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The policing costs—estimated by Lothian and Borders police at £2.5 million—will be met in the usual way: 51 per cent. by central Government, in this case the Scottish Office through police specific grant; and 49 per cent. by the relevant local authority, in this case Lothian regional council. In addition, a number of organisations, including the Scottish Office, have staged events or offered hospitality to mark the holding of the European Council in Edinburgh. The cost to the Scottish Office of the eve-of-Council concert, associated hospitality and media activity is estimated at £150,000. The cost of other events, including those for which Edinburgh district council and Lothian regional council were responsible, is a matter for the organisations concerned.

  Ambulance Service
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ambulance service cover operated through the night in(a) Renfrewshire and (b) Strathclyde as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: The level of ambulance service in Renfrewshire and Strathclyde is an operational matter for the general manager of the Scottish ambulance service. Cover in these areas has been reorganised to ensure that staff and vehicles are deployed in the most efficient manner using a system which has improved performance in other areas. The general manager will continue to monitor the level of night-time cover provided to ensure the most effective service.

  A1
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the most recent data on traffic volume and flows on sections of the A1 road in Scotland which have been prepared by the A1 steering group.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Traffic flows on the A1 are being continuously monitored. The annual average daily flows during 1991 which are the most recently collated figures are listed.
  463

  Number

  Edinburgh city bypass

  19,900

  Bankton to Tranent

  12,500

  Tranent to Haddington

  14,800

  Haddington to East Linton

  12,000

  East Linton to Dunbar

  10,700

  Dunbar to Lothian regional boundary

  7,100

  Lothian regional boundary to Ayton

  5,700

  Ayton to national border

  7,700

  Clyde Report
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate which recommendations made by Lord Clyde in the Orkney inquiry report he has(a) accepted, (b) already implemented, (c) rejected or (d) is still considering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Lord Clyde's recommendations cover a wide range of issues. Not all were directed to my right hon. Friend. Action to follow-up the recommendations can be summarised as follows:

  Recommendations

  1, 2, 3

  Accepted

  4

  Accepted, subject to consultation with training agencies, social work authorities and the police

  5, 7–14, 19–23, 27, 28

  Accepted, drawn to attention of social work authorities for action

  8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18

  Accepted, drawn to attention of education authorities for action

  5, 7–14, 19, 22, 23, 27

  Accepted, drawn to attention of chief constables for action

  6, 35, 180, 181, 182

  Accepted, drawn to attention of Child Protection Committees

  24

  Already considered by Child Care Law Review subject to further consideration

  25, 26

  Under consideration by the Scottish Office and Crown Office

  29, 30, 31

  Accepted, revised guidance in preparation

  32

  Accepted

  33, 34, 36

  Under consideration by The Scottish Office and the Association Directors of Social Work

  37, 38, 41, 45, 42–80, 138–148, 164

  Broad thrust accepted but subject to separate consultation on emergency protection legislation, regulations and guidance in view of complex procedural issues involved

  40, 42, 43, 44, 57, 61–68, 77–79, 85, 89, 91, 93, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 105, 106, 109, 111, 112, 114–120, 123–130, 132, 134, 135

  Accepted, social work authorities asked to review practice procedures

  100

  Accepted

  464

  101–3, 105–6

  Accepted, drawn to attention of health boards for co-operation with social work authorities

  81–84

  Under consideration; survey of safeguarders being conducted and subsequent conference planned by the Scottish Office

  95–99

  Under consideration by the Scottish Office and the Association of Directors of Social Work

  108–137

  Majority accepted; working party established to produce guidanced on joint investigation and interviewing and consider recommendations in detail

  149

  Accepted for inclusion in revised Children?s Hearings Rules

  150–152

  Accepted

  153–155

  Consideration to be given subject to consultations with hearings, professional and press interests

  156–157, 167

  Under consideration in context of report on ?Role and Functions of the Reporter? (Finlayson Report)

  168, 169

  For consideration by the Association of Directors of Social Work and Covention of Scottish Local Authorities

  39, 171, 175

  For consideration in the light of consultation with professional interests and training organisations

  172, 176

  Not possible for the present on grounds of cost

  173

  Accepted

  174

  For consideration by the Association of Directors of Social Work

  177

  Accepted, Open University course on investigative interviewing and guidance being prepared by working group on joint investigation and interviewing

  178

  Already accepted as priority area in The Scottish Office specific grant scheme

  170, 179, 185

  Management issues for consideration by social work authorities

  183, 184

  Accepted, to follow monitoring The Scottish Office specific grant scheme

  186, 187

  Accepted, drawn to the attention of Chief Constables

  188–192

  For consideration by The Scottish Office, local authorities and the Association of Directors of Social Work

  94, 193, 194

  Drawn to attention of Orkney Islands Council for action

  Community Charge
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in which regional and island areas the community charge registration officer has undertaken an annual canvass of premises since April in order to maintain the accuracy of the community charges register; and what information he has regarding the estimated costs of such canvasses in 1992–93.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: I understand that all Scottish community charges registration officers have, since April, conducted the annual canvass, required by the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, in order to maintain the accuracy of their community charges registers. No information is collected centrally about the cost of this exercise.

  A96
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current road improvement projects on the A96, giving details of expenditure in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Under the route action plan for the A96 trunk road, the following schemes are currently under construction or being prepared:

  Estimated cost

  1. Major Schemes

  £ million

  Bucksburn Diversion (under construction)

  6.9

  Lhanbryde Bypass

  2.6

  Keith Bypass

  12.0

  Kintore Bypass

  14.5

  Blackburn Bypass

  9.6

  2. Minor Improvements

  £

  Huntly/Dufftown Stacking Lane (under construction)

  200,000

  Ardgilzean Stacking Lane (under construction)

  200,000

  Alves Stacking Lane

  1 million

  Alves/Ardgye Climbing Lane

  Colpy Stacking Lane

  300,000

  East Road, Elgin Improvement

  650,000

  Banff Stacking Lane

  150,000

  Newtongarry/Adamston Climbing Lane

  1.5 million

  Central Reserve Safety Fencing, Tyrebagger Hill

  150,000

  Morayston to Tornagrain Improvement

  950,000

  3. Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) Schemes

  £

  Tertowie Junction, North of Blackburn

  1,000

  Mosstodloch

  14,000

  Bends West of Lhanbryde

  3,000

  Bends East of Ardgilzean

  7,500

  Kintore Primary School

  15,000

  Coachhouse Inn Junction Improvement

  1,800

  Smithton-Culloden West Junction

  20,000

  Smithton-Culloden East Junction Stacking Lane

  100,000

  Inverness-Hardmuir Junction

  6,000

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the commencement date for the Llanbryde bypass on the A96.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: A public local inquiry was held on 3 November 1992 to consider outstanding objections to the draft statutory orders for this scheme and the report of the inquiry is awaited.

  If the reporter recommends that the orders should be made the outstanding preparation work will be completed
  466
  in the summer of 1993. Within the A96 route action plan funds are being made available for various improvements to upgrade the route. The Lhanbryde bypass is well placed to compete for such funding.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the route and commencement date for the Keith bypass on the A96.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Draft orders and a draft compulsory purchase order have recently been published.

  In the statement which I made on 5 March setting out the forward roads programme, I announced that, subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds, it was the Government's intention to start this scheme in the year 1994–95.

  EC Initiatives
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been received by(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole under each of the approved European Community initiatives to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Three Community initiatives operate in Scotland with specific allocations for the period 1990–93. These are:

  Total Allocation Scotland

  Total Allocation Strathclyde

  mecu

  £million

  mecu

  £million

  Renaval

  24.43

  19.86

  21.04

  17.11

  Rechar

  20.02

  16.28

  4.00

  3.26

  Leader

  7.21

  5.86

  1.39

  1.13

  In addition, Scotland benefits from allocations to Great Britain programmes under other Community initiatives. The details of the amounts committed to successful Scottish projects are:

  Scotland £

  Strathclyde £

  Stride

  1,493,103

  1n/a

  Now

  999,411

  142,336

  Horizon

  3,178,742

  992,772

  Euroform

  2,794,124

  383,875

  1Beneficiaries are spread throughout the Objective 2 areas in Scotland. A separate figure for Strathclyde is not available.

  For 1993, objective 2 and 5b areas in Scotland will be able to bid for a Great Britain programme under the RETEX Community initiative. As yet, no allocations under RETEX have been made.

  Note: The authentic figures for allocations are those expressed in ecu. Equivalents expressed at the current exchange rate of £1 = 1.23 ecu are for illustrative purposes only. For most initiatives part of the allocation has already been received from the Commission at a previous exchange rate. The final sterling sums available to the programmes will depend on the exchange rates at the time the various payments are received.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  RECHAR
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to relax capital spending controls for those local authorities entitled to bid for European Community RECHAR programme moneys to enable them to bid for a fair entitlement of the money available under the scheme.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have been asked to reply.

  On 30 June 1992 my Department issued details of the 1992–93 arrangements for the treatment of European regional development fund—ERDF—grants to local authorities through the "other services" block, which covers the generality of ERDF grants for which this Department is responsible. These will ensure that local authorities will receive supplementary credit approvals to provide 100 per cent. public expenditure cover for ERDF receipts for RECHAR projects. From 1993–94 onwards, public expenditure cover will be provided at 100 per cent. for all forecast ERDF receipts.

  In addition, although there are no plans to relax the capital finance rules specifically for those local authorities which are eligible for ERDF, from 13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993, every authority will be able to spend virtually all of the capital receipts they receive.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he has taken to attract and secure a second RECHAR programme;

  (2) what response he has made to the report on proposals for a second phase of the Community's RECHAR programme for the regeneration of coal mining areas; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if the will support local authority attempts to secure a second RECHAR programme of EC aid for coal areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 16 December 1992.]: The present RECHAR initiative is only one of 13 Community initiatives financed by the European structural funds.

  The Edinburgh European Council decided that after 1993:
  "The allocation for Community Initiatives should be between 5 and 10 per cent. of total resources committed under the Structural Funds. They should mainly promote cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation and assistance for the outermost regions, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity".

  Detailed decisions on future Community initiatives, including the possibility of a second RECHAR initiative, will not be taken until after next year's review of all the regulations on the structural funds.

  Tropical Timber
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 808, if he will publish an estimated number of forest dwellers that are dependent directly upon the trade in tropical timber; and if he will outline the benefits derived by the forest people from such trade.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  Reliable global estimates of the numbers of forest dwellers dependent upon the tropical timber trade are not available. the main benefit is likely to be employment.

  "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account he took of the advice on page 7 of the Department of the Environment's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", issued in 1991, before announcing the current proposed pit closures and energy policy.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department's objectives, copies of which are in the Library, include the objective of taking proper account of environmental issues in the development of all its policies.

  Royal Mail
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to allow the Royal Mail to carry items through the post under 5kg in weight, exempted from the distance selling arrangements for value added tax; and what effect he estimates this would have on intra-Community trade.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no plans to vary the range of products that may be carried by the Royal Mail, or the conditions under which such products may be carried.

  Magazine Publishers
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will broaden his review of barriers to trade to take into account the distance selling arrangements for magazine publishers after 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Leigh
  I am aware of concerns which have been expressed about the possible impact of distance selling regulations on magazines. These are being taken into account in the Council working group discussions in Brussels. I shall be happy to consider any representations from magazine publishers.

  Caminus Energy
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the appointment of Caminus Energy as consultants to his Department was the result of competitive tender; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what factors were taken into account in the decision to appoint Caminus Energy as consultants for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We invited a number of companies to tender to undertake work on the review. After evaluating all the proposals, we appointed Caminus Energy because of its experience in the coal and electricity fields and the quality of its presentation. It also represented good value for money.

  Furniture (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning his proposals for variation of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations concerning the letting of furnished accommodation.

  Mr. Leigh
  To date, some 90 representative organisations and individual businesses have commented on the proposals. Organisations representing providers of
  469
  furnished accommodation and tourism interests have sought a much longer period in which to meet the fire resistance requirements, while those representing consumer interests expressed concern about the safety implications of any further postponement.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he informed the European Commission of all loans, grants and loan guarantees provided to British Nuclear Fuels plc under the Atomic Energy Act 1989, in respect of the Thorp reprocessing plant; and under what provision of EC law this notification is required.

  Mr. Eggar
  The question whether the matters referred to by the hon. Member are notifiable state aids is one which will have to be considered by the Commission in addressing Greenpeace's complaint.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the predicted construction cost of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield when consent for construction was given; and what is the most recent estimate of its completion cost, in both historic and current prices.

  Mr. Eggar
  When consent was given for construction of the THORP plant at Sellafield, the estimated cost of the plant, together with that of the receipt and storage facilities and an appropriate share of the cost of vitrification facilities for high level waste, was £645 million in mid-1977 money values.

  Construction was completed in February 1992. I am advised by BNFL that the actual cost of the plant, together with the ancillary facilities mentioned above, was £1,960 million. The cost, exclusive of the share of the vitrification facilities, was approximately £1,850 million.

  If the cost of £1,960 million is deflated to mid-1977 money values from the date when the various expenditures occurred, the equivalent value is £851 million.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what job-creation measures were introduced following the announcement of the closure of the Chatham dockyards, the Corby steelworks and the Ravenscraig steelworks; what was the total cost of these measures; and how many new jobs have been created.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following the Chatham dockyard closure in 1984, remedial measures included the designation of an enterprise zone by the then Secretary of State for the Environment and activity by English Estates to clear dereliction, provide new infrastructure and market the reclaimed dockyard site under a co-ordinated development plan. Total net expenditure by English Estates to date has been £69 million, but the eventual level of receipts from the project is expected to broadly balance out expenditure. The English Estates site is expected to provide some 5,000 jobs and housing for 5,000 people.

  The Corby steelworks closed during 1980, and remedial measures included development area status in 1979, designation as a European Coal and Steel Community—ECSC—steel closure area in 1980, the setting up of the Corby development corporation in 1980 and an enterprise zone in 1981. Expenditure on regional grants—regional
  470
  development grants, regional selective assistance and regional enterprise grants—to date has been £51.4 million: not all of this has been directly job related, but that which was resulted in the creation of 5,195 jobs and the safeguarding of a further 113.

  Figures about ECSC loans for all areas are held by the European Commission. Questions about development corporations and enterprise zones are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, and those about Ravenscraig for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  East Sussex
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what proposals he has for ensuring that the potential for economic growth in East Sussex is fulfilled;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the economic difficulties facing East Sussex;

  (3) what assistance is available to East Sussex to enable the county to attract inward investment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies that I gave on 8 and 10 December,Official Report, columns 590 and 749–50.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that East Sussex is able to attract foreign-based companies wishing to set up business in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what are the opportunities for economic development in East Sussex.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answers of 8 and 10 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden),Official Report, columns 589–90 and 749–50.

  Businesses in East Sussex as in the rest of the country will benefit from a favourable tax regime, lower interest rates and a stable low inflation economy.

  European Structural Fund
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what policy he will adopt in deriving his priorities when responding to any request for advice from, or consultation by, the European Commission in respect of bids made by local authorities relating to the designation of parts of their areas as being eligible for support under objective 5(b)of the European structural fund; and when he expects to be in a position to respond to such requests for advice or consultation;

  (2) what is the latest date after which he will not entertain submissions from local authorities for parts of their areas to be considered as eligible for support under objective 5(b)of the European structural fund.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The European Commission does not expect to present its proposals for revised structural funds regulations until early next year. It will then have to be considered by the Council.

  Copyright
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department will make to EC Ministers on home copying of copyright music; and what assessment he has made of the effect as between EC member states of the introduction of an EC-wide home copying royalty.
  471
  Mr. Leigh
  The possibility of a directive on home taping has been discussed three times in the Internal Market Council, and on each occasion the United Kingdom has expressed a general expression reservation on the need for Community action. It is not possible to make an assessment of the effects of an EC-wide levy scheme until details are known. At the present time, the Commission has not submitted any formal proposal for such a scheme.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates his Department has made on the level of home copying of copyright music in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department has not itself conducted or commissioned research into the level of home copying in the United Kingdom, but both copyright owners and consumer groups have carried out their own surveys. These surveys are not directly comparable, but both indicate that the practice of home copying of copyright music is widespread. The bodies concerned have drawn differing conclusions as to the consequences of this for the economic interests of copyright owners.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department have made to the Government of Poland on piracy of copyright music.

  Mr. Leigh
  The United Kingdom Government has not made direct representations to the Government of Poland on the piracy of copyright music, but has fully supported European Community initiatives to achieve effective protection of intellectual property in that country. Earlier this year, Poland entered into an association agreement with the Community, one condition of which is that both the level of intellectual property protection and the means for enforcing rights must be brought up to the standard comparable to that in the Community.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a paper outlining the United Kingdom Government position on the EC proposals on copyright harmonisation.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no plans to publish such a paper. Early in 1991, the Commission announced an ambitious programme for harmonisation in the copyright field. A directive on rental, lending and related rights has already been adopted under that programme. Other directives are at an advanced stage of negotiation, and further initiatives are expected. In all cases where proposals have already been submitted by the Commission, the Government have provided explanatory memoranda to Parliament, and have fully consulted relevant interests in establishing its negotiating position. This process will continue as new proposals emerge.

  Telephone Charges
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to oblige telephone service providers to lower or remove the standing charge element of domestic telephone bills.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no such proposals. Under existing legislation, the Director General of Telecommunications has the power to limit or reduce telecommunications operators' standing charges if he considers that there is insufficient competition to ensure that prices are set at a fair level.

  Rural Post Offices
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many rural post offices closed in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Leigh
  For the four years commencing 1 April 1989 the changes in the numbers of rural post offices were as follows:

  Closures

  Openings

  Total number of rural post offices

  1988–89

  262

  54

  10,470

  1989–90

  241

  49

  10,278

  1990–91

  294

  65

  10,049

  1991–92

  193

  86

  110,016

  1 Includes 74 satellite offices not previously included.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. George
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small businesses have gone out of business in(a) the west midlands and (b) Walsall metropolitan borough council since 1987.

  Mr. Leigh
  The best available guide to trends of businesses comes from VAT data. During the period end 1986 to end 1991, 74,700 businesses left the VAT register in the west midlands region. In the same period, 93,500 businesses joined the VAT register.

  The latest available figures down to county and local authority level are for the period end 1986 to end 1990. In this time 28,700 businesses left the register in the county of west midlands and 2,700 left in the Metropolitan borough of Walsall. The number of businesses joining the VAT register were 35,500 and 3,300 respectively.

  Car Advertising
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation requiring vehicle manufacturers to adopt European Community motor traders guidelines relating to advertising of cars; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. I do not consider that any additional controls are necessary at the present time over and above those contained in the British code of advertising practice administered by the Advertising Standards Authority. The code requires that all advertisements in the printed media are legal, decent, honest and truthful.

  The ASA monitors car advertising for compliance with the code on a regular basis, paying particular attention to claims relating to speed, power, acceleration and performance. Its latest survey in April 1992 confirmed an overall improvement in compliance of car advertising with the British code of advertising practice.

  Business Information Services
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measure he is taking to encourage the use of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry business information services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is my Department's policy to encourage United Kingdom businesses to make the fullest use of
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  commercially available business information. As announced on 19 March 1991, Official Report, column 89, we are providing support towards the development strategy of chambers of commerce, including accrediting chambers' business information services. I have now decided that from January 1993 my Department will direct to a nearby approved chamber business information service, inquiries from United Kingdom firms seeking published information on either United Kingdom suppliers of goods and services or on firms in western Europe or North America as potential buyers of United Kingdom goods and services. I understand that chambers will charge for their services. My Department will no longer maintain its own database of such information. I am currently considering whether to extend this arrangement to other overseas markets where there is good published information.

  Single Market
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the frontier controls on the movement of goods between EC member states following the completion of the single market on 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Heseltine
  1. The Edinburgh European Council recognised the completion of the single market by its end 1992 target date.

  2. Perhaps the most visible sign of the completion of the single market will be the changes in the general regime for trade in goods at our frontiers with other member states of the European Community. These changes will not apply to the movement of goods between the United Kingdom and countries outside the Community.

  3. Customs are making very considerable changes to controls for the single market. Formalities, forms and fiscal frontiers will end for intra-EC traffic. In particular the single administrative document will be abolished. Her Majesty's Customs calculates that reduced documentation will save British business £135 million a year. As a result of these changes EC travellers will see a panoply of controls traditionally associated with customs at the border vanish, including red and green channels, the need to make a declaration and quantitive or value restriction on goods brought back for personal consumption.

  4. Baggage and car hall layouts will therefore no longer present an impression of barriers to travellers; screens, baggage benches and notices barring the way will all be removed. All of this amounts to no visible sign of a regular or routine Customs presence. In the single market, Customs are confident that travellers and freight traffic will now move freely through the Customs area, subject only to spot checks, conducted on the basis of intelligence and sharply focused profiles, on a small proportion to detect illicit traffic in a few high priority areas.

  5. Her Majesty's Customs will, above all, continue their vigilance against traffic in illicit drugs. The money laundering provisions which form an important adjunct in the fight against drug smuggling will likewise remain in place. Licences will also still be needed for the movement of licit drugs, in keeping with our international obligations under the Vienna conventions. Her Majesty's Customs will also continue to seize obscene material imnported from other EC member states.

  6. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade announced on 10 December, a new Export of Goods (Control) Order will come into force on 31 December
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  1992. Under this order, licences will still be needed for the export to all destinations of dual use goods, weapons, explosives, munitions and firearms and nuclear goods. It will remain an offence to export these goods to EC member states without a licence.

  7. EC visitors wishing to bring firearms into the United Kingdom will continue to need prior permission to do so from the police. Commercial firearms movements will be covered by the harmonised Community licensing regime introduced by the weapons directive. Under this regime we will be notified of all firearms movements to, or through, the United Kingdom and a specific licence will still be needed to import the most dangerous firearms which are prohibited in the United Kingdom. The ban on individuals importing stun guns and CS gas sprays, the private possession of which is prohibited in this country, will continue. The import into the United Kingdom of other forbidden weapons will remain prohibited.

  8. Licences will continue to be required for the export of cultural goods over certain monetary thresholds. This licensing system will be policed, inter alia, by selective frontier checks.

  9. The EC waste shipments regulation will permit member states and their competent authorities to exercise controls on all cross-frontier shipment of wastes, including bans in prescribed circumstances. This will therefore render the existing United Kingdom import controls on asbestos waste unnecessary. However, in the intervening period after 1 January 1993, but before the regulation comes into force, it will continue to be an offence to import asbestos waste into the United Kingdom.

  10. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 1 December the arrangements for trade in wildlife, and products derived from the wildlife trade, following the completion of the single market. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is separately announcing changes in connection with the completion of the single market in relation to agriculture, fisheries and food.

  11. In addition, the Government have been reviewing, along with other member states, all the other prohibitions and restrictions on trade between the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Community, the enforcement of which has in the past heavily depended on the information available from the single administrative documents. Traditionally, these prohibitions and restrictions have applied to a range of goods imported or exported from or to both EC and non-EC countries. For a great many of these goods, the risks have been predominantly on trade between the United Kingdom and non-EC countries. The Government have therefore reviewed the rationale for those prohibitions and restrictions, some of which are historical, with a view to determining which can only be enforced effectively and proportionately by means of export and import controls. Throughout the review, the Government's main concern has been to retain the highest possible standard of protection for the United Kingdom, consistent with our Community obligations. Where it has been decided that frontier controls need not be retained, therefore, any restrictions on the sale, use or manufacture of these items on the territory of the United Kingdom will remain in place.

  12. In other areas, the Government's review has revealed a number of prohibitions and restrictions which derived from moribund legislation, or legislation which

  475
  has been overtaken. It has been a specific offence to import articles bearing devices which imply Government sanction or guarantee. Domestic protection against this abuse is, however, provided by the—more general—provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. Although the prohibition of imports of goods bearing a false indication of origin has been enforced actively, alternative domestic protection is also available under the Trade Descriptions Act.

  13. The recent legislation to prohibit certain types of dangerous dogs only needed the security of an import ban during the transitional period. Now that the legislation is fully in force, and the deadline for obtaining a certificate of exemption in respect of these types of dogs has passed, the offence of possession of an un-exempted dog in the United Kingdom provides adequate protection. The separate announcement by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture will cover other frontier controls on animals.

  14. Further cases of prohibitions and restrictions have been overtaken by EC legislation: our national prohibitions on the import of specific carcinogenic substances and matches made of white phosphorus have been overtaken by EC legislation on dangerous substances. The spread of common safety standards in the EC, particularly through the "New Approach" industrial standards directives, make it no longer necessary to retain Her Majesty's Customs' formal powers to detain unsafe consumer goods at the frontier, though Customs will continue to liaise closely with trading standards authorities in cases where information about such goods becomes available to them. The increasing body of harmonised food law and legislation on medicines in the European Community makes our national frontier controls on foodstuffs and medicines from next year unnecessary. The national United Kingdom controls on the import of textiles and clothing will become redundant on the completion of the single market, and will be subsumed into a genuinely Community-wide regime.

  15. We have identified a further set of prohibitions and restrictions which are rarely used, and where the Government feel confident in relying in future on inland offences, which already carry the greatest weight of enforcement. These are described below.

  16. The import control on substances—chiefly goat hair—which might be infected with anthrax, affects imports destined for only a few United Kingdom processing sites. However, the legal obligation of all processors of these substances to handle them correctly and prevent any risk of infection will prevent any increased hazard to health. The prohibition on the supply and use of certain sizes of lead fishing weights by anglers has played an important role in reducing the poisoning of swans and other water fowl. The main legislative weapon has been the National Rivers Authority byelaws; the associated frontier control has rarely been used. Similarly, the frontier zones have not proved an effective place to challenge counterfeit. So from next year there will be no importation or exportation offence for counterfeit currency, and fictitious postage stamps and the dies for making them as far as goods travelling between the United Kingdom and EC countries are concerned.

  17. A similar pattern appears in intellectual property. Powers for owners of intellectual property to request Her Majesty's Customs to seize counterfeit or pirate goods, that is goods that infringe trademark or copyright, have never been used to detain goods imported from the EC. In
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  practice, enforcement of intellectual property rights inland has been the norm, either with rights owners taking legal action themselves or by the enforcement of criminal offences. From next year, the option of action at the frontier will cease for goods entering the United Kingdom from the EC.

  18. The prohibition on the import of horror magazines had also fallen into disuse, and from next year the Government are content to rely on the offence of possession for selling or hire and other offences which penalise those who seek to profit from such material. Similarly, the prohibitions on the import and export of lottery material are now rarely used, and other powers already exist to deal inland with unlawful lottery material. As regards imports of nuclear materials, we have concluded that there is sufficient control of these materials within the United Kingdom to enable the associated frontier control on their import to be abolished.

  19. Finally, frontier controls on unapproved CB radios and cordless telephones play in important role in forestalling the use of equipment using the wrong radio frequencies. Such equipment can cause serious interference and endanger life and limb by interrupting radio use by emergency services. However, the main danger here is equipment from outside the Community. Our controls on third country traffic in CB radios and cordless telephones will be retained and restrictions on manufacture, sale and possession will continue to be vigorously enforced.

  Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what preparations his Department is making for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty first preparatory committee meeting for the 1995 review.

  Mr. Eggar
  Within Whitehall, primary responsibility for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty lies with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. As such it will take the lead in preparations for the meeting of the first preparatory committee, which is to be held from 10 to 14 May next year. My Department works closely with the Foreign Office on this subject, and will support preparations for the meeting as appropriate.

  British Coal
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take action to ensure that the present redundancy scheme operated by British Coal is extended beyond the current termination date of March 1993.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal. It would however seem reasonable for the corporation not to determine their redundancy arrangements from 1 April 1993 until the outcome of the coal review and the current statutory consultations are known.

  Private Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what areas of his Department's responsibilities he has introduced, or may introduce, private finance; and if he will describe in each case the procedures by which private finance is sought.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will be taking full account of the private
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  finance initiative announced in the autumn statement and of the guidance which has been published by the Treasury in determining his priorities for departmental expenditure and in considering how to encourage a still closer partnership between his Department and the private sector.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made as to whether the coverage of the assisted area map is likely to include travel-to-work areas on the south-east coast.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The needs and circumstances of all areas, including those on the south-east coast, are currently being considered as part of the assisted areas map review.

  Energy Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions have taken place in the Eurapean Energy Council in regard to the requirement to renegotiate by 31 December 1995 the agreement on the co-operation between the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community—1958—during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.

  Mr. Eggar
  None. Co-operation between Euratom and the USA is a matter for the Foreign Affairs Council. Discussions in the Council working group during the United Kingdom presidency have been of a general nature.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to verify the recent financial projections British Nuclear Fuels plc has made in regard to THORP at Sellafield.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Nuclear Fuels plc has advised me that for the United Kingdom to abandon the THORP project would cost the country as a whole over £1 billion—at a 6 per cent. discount rate—and some 3,000 jobs, even if there were no requirement to repay overseas customers their investments. This projection, which was made with the assistance of the accountants Touche Ross and Co., which has been discussed in detail between my officials and BNFL. While I am not in a position to verify every figure, the methodology is considered to be sound and we have no reason to believe the numbers to be inaccurate.

  Nuclear Power Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the relationship between the energy policy review and the forthcoming 1994 review of nuclear power policy.

  Mr. Eggar
  The 1994 review of the future prospects for nuclear power will need to take account of any relevant conclusions reached as a result of the current coal review.

  Preston Farm Industrial Estate
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with the Teesside development corporation about future developments at Preston Farm industrial estate, Stockton-on-Tees.
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  Mr. Sainsbury
  None recently. However, officials of the Department of the Environment have regular meetings with the Teesside development corporation to discuss a range of issues.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce a decision on assistance from his Department to the proposed hydroponics plant at Preston Farm industrial estate, Stockton-on-Tees.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I am not aware of any application to my Department for assistance for a hydroponics plant in the north-east region. But in any event such applications are confidential matters between applicant and the Government.

  Companies House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the potential conflict of interest concerning an official of Companies House being a non-executive director of a company subject to penalty for the late filing of accounts.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  In accordance with standard DTI procedures, when an official is offered the post as a non-executive director, the relevant line manager is informed. Guidance is given to ensure that if a conflict of interest arises with his her official duties, the individual will stand aside.

  Late Filing
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many company directors and how many public limited companies of which they are directors have been given mandatory late filing penalties; how many company directors and companies have been given extensions of time for late filing; and what is the average length of time between warning letters in relation to late filing and sequential prosecution action by the Registrar of Companies(a) from April 1991 to March 1992 and (b) from April 1992 to October 1992.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Since the introduction of late filing penalties in July 1992, some 48,640 penalties have been levied on companies in Great Britain whose accounts have been filed late with Companies House. The penalties are levied on the company not on the directors. No extensions have been given for late filing: extensions can only be granted in exceptional circumstances before the period of time allowed for filing has elapsed. In the six months to November 1992, 2,003 applications were received and 559 were granted. The length of time between the issue of warning letters for late filing and subsequent prosecution depends upon the circumstances of each individual company and the available court time, but is usually about nine months.

  Auditors
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the first annual report of the recognised supervisory bodies on the regulation of auditors under part II of the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have received the joint first annual report of the three institutes of chartered accountants on their activities as recognised supervisory bodies for the
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  regulation of company auditors, and have placed copies in the Library. I expect to receive shortly the reports of the other two recognised supervisory bodies. My Department will be discussing the contents of the reports with the bodies.

  Wave Energy Review
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the report of the wave energy review will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the report of the wave energy review will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have today placed a copy of the main report of the wave energy review in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The review, which has been overseen by the wave energy steering committee, which has independent members, has involved close liaison with the wave energy teams included in the review. There is generally good agreement with the wave energy teams over the methodology and values in the review.

  I will now consider the report in the light of the report of the renewable energy advisory group and in the context of the Government's energy policy and the coal review and will announce decisions in due course.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the report by the renewable energy advisory group will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the report by the renewable energy advisory group will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have today published the report by the renewable energy advisory group and placed a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

  I shall give careful consideration to the report's recommendations in the context of the Government's energy and environmental policy and the coal review and announce decisions in due course.

  I am particularly grateful to the chairman and all the members of the renewable energy advisory group for their efforts in producing this report.

  Iran
  Mrs. Chaplin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the export licensing policy towards Iran.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government are considering carefully the criteria that should be applied in exercising its policy of rigorous scrutiny of export licence applications for Iran. While this consideration is taking place, I have decided that no licence applications will be granted for Iran until January 1993. Licences which have already been granted and trade in non-licensable goods will not be affected.

  Offshore Licensing
  Mrs. Chaplin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the 14th offshore licensing round.
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  Mr. Eggar
  I am very pleased with the response to the round shown by the oil and gas industry. We received 96 applications from groups involving 62 companies for 122 blocks offered in the first two stages of the 14th round. The number of blocks applied for is the highest since the 4th round, over 20 years ago. The response shows there is still a major commitment to exploring in the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  I am particularly encouraged by the sustained level of interest shown in exploring the southern basin of the North sea which historically has been associated with major gas finds.

  Applications were received for a wide variety of blocks, with considerable interest shown in a number of relatively new areas such as the Rona ridge—west of Shetland—Cardigan bay and the Solway firth. As we anticipated, there will be some tough competition for the popular blocks in oil and gas areas.

  The applications we have received will help maintain the momentum of activity on the UKCS into the next century in both gas and oil areas. It is confirmation that oil and gas companies are confident they will be able to secure cost reductions, which will allow them to develop the discoveries they make economically. This is increasingly important given the number of oil provinces worldwide and other sources of gas against which the UKCS must now compete.

  Recycling
  Mrs. Chaplin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take on the recycling of waste.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have today published a report prepared by Environmental Resources Limited for our Departments. The report sets out a range of options for the use of economic instruments to promote the recovery of resources from waste. It identifies a number of different approaches which could be effective in promoting recycling and my Department has therefore invited comments on these from interested parties by 31 January 1993.

  I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Patents and Licences
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department provides for patenting or licensing of any products or processes developed from work funded by the Department.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: The Department is aware of the importance of protecing intellectual property arising from work for which it provides financial assistance. Recipients of DTI funding are required to take reasonable steps to exploit the results of their projects, including making arrangements for intellectual property rights. The scope exists under the collaborative schemes to include in eligible costs reasonable patenting costs incurred by small and medium-sized companies, and in the case of SMART and SPUR, the expense of patenting in the United Kingdom and overseas can be claimed as an eligible cost.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number and total cost of consultancies commissioned into the coal industry in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and so far this year.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: The Department of Energy commissioned only one consultancy on the coal industry in 1990–91, from Alan Oakes. On grounds of commercial confidentiality, the costs of individual consultancies is not released.

  In 1991–92 the Department of Energy commissioned six consultancies on coal privatisation at a cost that year of £3.3 million. A further two consultancies have been commissioned by the DTI in 1992–93 and expenditure on privatisation consultants in total was £1.2 million in the first six months of this year.

  In addition, a number of consultants have been used as part of the Department's coal research and development programme, managed by the energy technology support unit at Harwell.

  Coal Mines
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received in the last three months from businesses wishing to take over existing pits in Wales; how many different firms have sent such offers; what criteria he is using to judge each request; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 November 1992]: My Department has received representations from four businesses interested in existing pits in Wales.

  On the question of consideration of expressions of interest in closing pits, I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 15 December, Official Report, columns 145–46.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessments he has made of the social, economic and environmental costs and potential benefits of a plan for coal-fired electricity generation based on fluidised bed combustion and flue gas desulphurisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: My Department is aware of a number of assessments of the economic and environmental advantages of fluidised bed combustion systems for electricity generation as an alternative to conventional pulverised coal fired plant that may require flue gas desulphurisation. The Government are committed to achieving the emission reductions required by the EC large combustion plant directive.

  Patents
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals the United Kingdom Patent Office has to continue to act as an international preliminary examining authority after 1 June 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The Comptroller General of the Patent Office has discussed with other members of the European Patent
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  Organisation's administrative council whether the office should continue to act as an international preliminary examining authority after 31 May 1993. He has also consulted the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The administrative council has concluded that the provisions of the protocol on centralisation of the European patent convention, under which this work will cease on 31 May 1993, should prevail but has commissioned a wide-ranging study of the relationships between the European Patent Office and the offices in member countries and of the needs of small and medium-sized firms.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the principles of subsidiarity will be applied with regard to the relationship between the patent offices of member states of the EC which are contracting states of the European patent convention and the European Patent Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The European Patent Office is not a Community body—the European patent convention is a free-standing treaty and the principles of subsidiarity do not directly affect the relationship between the patent offices of contracting states and the European Patent Office.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what fee is charged for international preliminary examinations for patents by(a) the European Patent Office and (b) the United Kingdom Patent Office; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the new protocol for centralisation, requiring United Kingdom applicants for international preliminary examinations to have these carried out at the European Patent Office on the development of innovation in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: The European Patent Office charges DM 3,000 for international preliminary examinations and the United Kingdom Patent Office charges £130. The effects of the protocol on innovation in the United Kingdom cannot be quantified with precision but do not effect the innovator's ability to seek national patents. The 1973 treaty, which provides for these examinations to be conducted by the European Patent Office after 31 May 1993, can only be amended by unanimous agreement of the 17 contracting states. The Comptroller General of the Patent Office has, however, discussed with the other members of the European Patent Organisation's admininstrative council the need to ensure that the European patent convention and its protocol on centralisation, which date from 1973, do not inhibit the process of innovation in the United Kingdom and Europe.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from, or on behalf of, patent agents in the United Kingdom with regard to the implementation of the European protocol on centralisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: None. The Comptroller General of the Patent Office has, however, had a number of discussions with representatives of the patent agent profession on this matter in the course of the last 18 months.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the proportion of the worldwide
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  total of international preliminary examinations under the patent co-operation treaty which are currently undertaken by the United Kingdom Patent Office.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: It is estimated that the United Kingdom Patent Office currently undertakes about 13 per cent. of the worldwide total of international preliminary examinations under the patent co-operation treaty.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures are necessary to ensure that the United Kingdom Patent Office may continue to act as an international preliminary examining authority.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Continuation of the United Kingdom Patent Office's work as an international preliminary examining authority after 31 May 1993 would require a unanimous decision to this effect of the 17 contracting states of the European Patent Organisation.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in his Department's budget by 1995 for spending on regional financial assistance; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what were the amounts of regional financial assistance expenditure in 1979 and 1991; and if he will increase the funding in future years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: In the financial year to the end of March 1980, £272 million was spent on regional financial assistance. Total expenditure in 1991–92 amounted to £159 million.

  The allocation of funds to individual programmes is currently being considered and will be published in the trade and industry expenditure plans report in February 1993.

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Coal about the release of financial information to representatives of the work force at the 10 collieries currently scheduled for closure.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: British Coal is fully aware of the importance I attach to the statutory consultations being conducted in a genuine manner, and to the provision of information necessary for that.

  Electromagnetic Compatibility
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the estimated total compliance cost to all businesses and as to(a) the setting up cost and (b) the typical cost for a small business on-going annual cost arising from the regulation sponsored by his Department giving effect to EC directive 89/336 on electromagnetic compatibility; and what is the estimated public expenditure cost of enforcing this measure annually.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 14 December 1992]: The United Kingdom regulations on electromagnetic compatibility arise from an EC treaty obligation to implement a
  484
  directive. Approximately 60,000 manufacturing companies with 200 or more employees and another 9,000 each employing fewer than 200 people will be affected. It is not possible to calculate the cost for a typical small business and difficult to estimate costs to industry as a whole as companies will not all choose to comply at the same time during the transitional period running to 31 December 1995. It will, therefore, be some time before a reliable estimate of compliance costs can be made. Enforcement will be carried out from within existing resources and no significant extra cost is expected.

  EC Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much European regional development fund expenditure there has been in the United Kingdom's assisted areas in each year since 1984–85(a) at current prices and (b) at 1984–85 prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 November,Official Report, columns 131–32.

  Disposable Nappies
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce specific safety regulations governing the flammability of disposable nappies.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 11 December 1992]: These products are subject to the general safety requirement under section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

  My Department has no plans to introduce specific safety regulations on the flammability of disposable nappies.

  Coal Mining
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he will take in order to provide new employment opportunities in areas which have lost mining jobs since 1988;

  (2) what plans he has to increase employment in coal mining areas;

  (3) what new investment initiatives have been proposed for revitalising areas which have previously been economically dependent on the British coal industry;

  (4) what proposals he has for attracting new high technology industry to declining mining areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Since 1988 there have been a number of measures to provide new employment opportunities in areas which have lost mining jobs. Those areas which are also assisted areas are, amongst other things, eligible for regional selective assistance which provides funding for firms with projects that safeguard or create employment. Within the assisted areas, English Estates has also been able to provide sites and premises for business. In addition most of the areas concerned are eligible for and benefit from support under the European structural funds objective 2 and RECHAR programmes. British Coal Enterprise has also been active in these areas and its initiatives have successfully created employment for many former British Coal employees.

  More recently, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 13 and 19 October a

  485
  substantial package of measures to assist areas which may suffer from job losses in the mining industry. The measures include—an £85 million programme of premises/sites provision by English Estates; a £75 million package of training/counselling measures; enhanced assisted area status for Barnsley, Doncaster and Mansfield; £11 million of unallocated European structural funds; £5 million coalfield areas fund for local authority measures; the deployment of enterprise zones where appropriate; nearly £2 million for the Tyne and Wear development corporation; funding for the emerging East Midlands development organisation; the extension of regional enterprise grants for small firms; and extra help for inward investment promotion and for local regeneration agencies. In addition, British Coal will clear the sites of any closed collieries quickly and British Coal Enterprise is implementing measures to assist ex-British Coal employees. Lord Walker is acting as a co-ordinator of these measures and is advising my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Wales. The shape and timing of these latest measures will be reconsidered in the light of the outcome of the coal review.

  Nuclear Material
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to publish in the MM20 business monitor series on trade statistics details of the movement by air into and without the United Kingdom of(a) nuclear fuel rods and (b) plutonium.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The MM20 business monitor series does not include details of mode of transport.

  Oil and Gas Exploration
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the 14th round of offshore oil and gas production licences arid its implications for wildlife areas in(a) Cardigan bay, (b) the Pembrokeshire islands, (c) Lundy island, (d) the Moray Firth and (e) the Wash.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 December 1992]: Since the announcement of the current licensing round, I have received approximately 350 letters regarding licensing in Cardigan Bay. Some 100 of these refer also to the Pembrokeshire islands and Lundy island; areas adjacent to these islands have not been offered for licensing in this round. About 30 of the letters also refer to the implications of licensing for wildlife in the Moray firth, an area which already has an established oil production industry. No other representations on licensing have been received concerning the Pembrokeshire islands, Lundy island, the Moray firth or the Wash.

  Coal Prices
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade by how much the price of British coal, delivered to the power station, has increased or decreased in each of the past six years expressed as an index, taking 1985–86 as 100; and what has been the equivalent increase or decrease in the price of electricity to the domestic consumer.
  486
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: The available information expressed in 1985 prices, is as follows:

  Average Prices of All Coal Purchased by Major Electricity Generating Companies:

  Fuel Price Index for Domestic Electricity:

  Index 1985=100

  1985

  100

  100

  1986

  98

  99

  1987

  88

  94

  1988

  89

  93

  1989

  81

  93

  1990

  73

  94

  1991

  68

  97

  Deflated by the GDP (market prices) deflator.

  Source: Based on information published in Energy Trends Tables 26 and 28.

  The cost of fuels such as coal represents less than a third of the total price of electricity to domestic consumers, and is only one of the many factors that dictate the final price.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advisory bodies have been established under section 54 (i) of the Telecommunications Act 1984; and if he will list their members.

  Mr. Leigh
  The advisory bodies established under section 54 (i) of the Telecommunications Act are: the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Small Businesses; the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People; the English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications; the Wesh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications; the Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications and the Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications. The membership of each committee is as follows:

  Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Smell Businesses

  Chairman

  Mr. M. J. Ashton

  Members

  Miss J. R. Allan

  Mrs. J. A. Barden

  Mr. S. H. Bennett

  Mr. R. W. Frenzel

  Mr. P. A. Frymann

  Mr. R. Furey

  Mr. M. Jordan

  Mr. S. A. Mayo

  Mrs. P. G. Parker

  Mrs. M. R. Seymour

  Mr. M. E. G. Taylor

  Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People

  Chairman

  Mr. D. Hobman CBE

  Members

  Mrs. S. Barrows MBE

  Mr. D. R. L. Dunsmuir

  Mr. M. C. Godfrey

  Mr. W. Harbert OBE

  Mr. D. Hyslop

  Mr. C. M. Low

  Mr. M. C. Martin OBE

  Dr. E. C. Midwinter OBE

  Mrs. S. A. Porter

  Dr. E. M. Steiner

  487

  Mr. B. J. Vernon

  English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Chairman

  Mr. H. R. Hutton

  Members

  Ms. A. Ballard

  Mrs. D. C. Banks OBE

  Professor M. D. I. Chisholm

  Mr. S. J. Cooper

  Mrs. J. H. Fergus MBE

  Mr. J. D. Green

  Mr. D. O. Michel OBE

  Mr. D. R. Oram

  Mr. A. C. Squires

  Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Chairman

  Professor M. D. Tedd

  Secretary

  Mr. G. MacKenzie

  Members

  Mr. J. Bannon

  Mrs. P. Blackwell

  Mr. D. R. Dutton

  Mr. G. S. Hall

  Mr. D. T. Jones

  Mr. J. C. Maynard

  Mr. L. Murphy

  Professor J. J. O'Reilly

  Miss G. M. Williams

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Chairman

  Mr. W. K. Begg, OBE

  Secretary

  Mr. R. L. L. King

  Members

  Mrs. J. M. Dickson

  Lady Forbes

  Mr. D. A. Gardner

  Mrs. C. J. Jones

  Mr. P. Michie

  Mr. J. Purvis, CBE

  Mrs. K. Scott

  Mr. J. G. Watson, MBE

  Professor H. Williams

  Mr. P. Wilson

  Mr. E. Young

  Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Chairman

  Mr. J. L. C. Thompson

  Secretary

  Mr. R. T. Jordan, MBE

  Members

  Mr. F. C. Barter

  Mr. W. Carruthers, OBE

  Mrs. M. Jefferson, MBE

  Mr. J. A. Kerr

  Mrs. O. M. Marshall

  Mr. J.O. McDonald, MBE

  Mr. W. J. H. McPherson

  Mr. G. E. Mills

  Mrs. M. Noble

  Mr. J. D. Thompson

  Military Plants (Conversion)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to provide a substantive answer to the question of 22 May from the hon. Member for Newport, West concerning military to civil industrial conversion.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 23 October 1992]: The meeting confirmed that the conversion of military plants in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union may be seen
  488
  as an end in itself, but where there are no commercial means to achieve it is not of direct interest to my Department.

  Board of Trade
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the functions of the Board of Trade; who are its members; and when it last met.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: Under the Order in Council of 23 August 1786, the Board of Trade was appointed to deal with all matters relating to trade and foreign plantations. Its members are the Lord Archibisop of Canterbury, the First Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, the First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, the Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Paymaster General. The last meeting of the board, which was held to coincide with its bicentenary, was on 21 March 1986.

  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to answer the question from the Member for Hyndburn of 18 November regarding the Board of Trade.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave today.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Quality
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many EC countries have been or are currently being prosecuted for failing to implement EC directives on water quality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department holds details of the number of infraction cases referred to the European Court of Justice following a reasoned opinion for the period 1983–92. This information in respect of water quality directives is as follows:

  1983–87

  Belgium

  titanium dioxide waste

  Belgium

  pollution of groundwater

  Greece

  pollution of groundwater

  Greece

  mercury and cadmium discharges

  Italy

  water quality for freshwater fish

  Italy

  pollution of groundwater

  Netherlands

  pollution of groundwater

  1988

  France

  drinking water

  Germany

  pollution of groundwater

  Italy

  water quality for freshwater fish

  1989

  Belgium

  drinking water

  Belgium

  quality of surface water for drinking, and measurement and sampling of surface water

  France

  quality of surface water for drinking, and measurement and sampling of surface water

  Germany

  quality of surface water for drinking, and measurement and sampling of surface water

  Greece

  quality of surface water for drinking

  Italy

  discharges of HCH

  Italy

  discharges of cadmium

  489

  Spain

  Pollution of groundwater

  Spain

  discharges of HCH

  United Kingdom

  drinking water

  1990

  Germany

  drinking water

  Italy

  discharges of cadmium

  United Kingdom

  bathing water

  1991 None

  1992

  None to date

  Empty Office Buildings
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated numbers of empty office buildings in the Greater London area on 1 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information on the number of empty office buildings in Greater London is not kept by this Department.

  Local Authority Revenue Expenditure

  Revenue Expenditure £ million

  Government Grants

  Non-Domestic Rates

  Domestic Rates/Community Charges

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  £ million

  Per cent.

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1981–82

  20,106

  11,234

  56

  5,013

  25

  4,034

  20

  1982–83

  21,952

  11,705

  53

  5,685

  26

  4,548

  21

  1983–84

  23,263

  12,584

  54

  6,042

  26

  4,382

  19

  1984–85

  24,119

  13,126

  54

  6,361

  26

  4,707

  20

  1985–86

  24,284

  13,069

  54

  6,740

  28

  5,094

  21

  1986–87

  26,630

  13,402

  50

  7,566

  28

  5,912

  22

  1987–88

  28,980

  14,274

  49

  8,088

  28

  6,539

  23

  1988–89

  31,240

  14,469

  46

  8,819

  28

  7,689

  25

  1989–90

  33,282

  14,707

  44

  9,595

  29

  8,487

  26

  1990–91

  35,893

  15,004

  42

  10,429

  29

  10,109

  28

  1991–92

  40,137

  20,820

  52

  12,408

  31

  6,381

  16

  1992–93

  42,934

  23,246

  54

  12,306

  29

  7,213

  17

  Notes:

  1. For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, local authority expenditure is taken to be "relevant expenditure" plus expenditure on certain non-relevant items such as net expenditure on mandatory student awards. It represents spending to be financed by rate support grant, relevant specific grant, rates and balances. This measure of expenditure is net of sales, fees and charges, interest receipts etc. For the years 1990–91 to 1993–94 local authority expenditure is "revenue expenditure to compare with TSS" which is expenditure to be met from revenue support grant, specific and special grants in aggregate external finance, non-domestic rates, community charges/council tax and appropriation from reserves. In 1991–92 this also included community charge grant.

  2. For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 Government grants comprise aggregate Exchequer grant and rate rebate grants. For 1990–91 to 1992–93 Government grants included are revenue support grant, specific and special grants in aggregate external finance, community charge grant (1991–92), community charge benefit grant and transitional relief-community charge reduction scheme grant.

  3. For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1993–94 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.

  4. Net of domestic rate rebates for the years 1981–82 to 1989–90. Net of community charge benefit grant and transitional relief/community charge reduction scheme grant for the years 1990–91 to 1992–93.

  5. The information is not available for years prior to 1981/82.

  6. The column percentages do not add to 100 per cent. because of withdrawals from or additions to reserves.

  For 1993–94, total standard spending—excluding care in the community—is £41.168 billion of which, it is estimated, £23–061 billion—or 56 per cent.—will be met by revenue support grant, specific and special grants in

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what part he expects electricity generated by combined cycle gas turbine stations to play in reducing United Kingdom carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

  Mr. Maclean
  Combined cycle gas turbine stations emit around half as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as conventional coal fired plants per unit of electricity generated. The discussion document, "Climate Change: Our National Programme for CO2 Emissions", published on 14 December, sets out a number of options for limiting CO2 emissions. Decisions on the programme as a whole will be taken in the light of decisions taken pursuant to the coal review.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the breakdown of local authority revenue for each year from 1979–80 to 1992–93, with estimates for 1993–94, in terms of (i) Government grants, (ii) non-domestic rates and (iii) domestic rates or community charges or council tax, expressed both in pound million and as a percentage.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is as follows:

  aggregate external finance, council tax benefit grant arid the council tax transitional reduction scheme grant, £11.559 billion—or 28 per cent. —will be met by the distributable amount from the non domestic rates pool and £6.541 billion—or 16 per cent.—will be met by council

  491
  tax net of estimated council tax benefit grant and council tax transitional reduction scheme grant.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by grade and location, the number of staff employed by his Department throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Howard
  Following is the information for non-industrial staff:

  Economic region

  Number

  Eastern

  HEO and equivalent

  1

  EO and equivalent

  2

  AO and equivalent

  2

  AA and equivalent

  1

  TOTAL

  6

  East Midlands

  Grade 4

  1

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  12

  SEO and equivalent

  11

  HEO and equivalent

  16

  EO and equivalent

  23

  AO and equivalent

  32

  AA and equivalent

  24

  TOTAL

  121

  London

  Grade 1

  1

  Grade 2

  7

  Grade 3

  26

  Grade 4

  6

  Grade 5

  115

  Grade 6

  249

  Grade 7

  590

  SEO and equivalent

  487

  HEO and equivalent

  697

  EO and equivalent

  803

  AO and equivalent

  962

  AA and equivalent

  496

  Special Grades

  7

  TOTAL

  4,446

  North West

  Grade 3

  2

  Grade 5

  5

  Grade 6

  4

  Grade 7

  45

  SEO and equivalent

  56

  HEO and equivalent

  68

  EO and equivalent

  100

  AO and equivalent

  151

  AA and equivalent

  78

  Special Grades

  1

  TOTAL

  510

  Northern

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  2

  Grade 6

  1

  Grade 7

  14

  SEO and equivalent

  17

  HEO and equivalent

  18

  EO and equivalent

  26

  AO and equivalent

  32

  AA and equivalent

  22

  TOTAL

  133

  492

  Economic region

  Number

  Scotland

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  6

  SEO and equivalent

  8

  HEO and equivalent

  11

  EO and equivalent

  14

  AO and equivalent

  25

  AA and equivalent

  7

  TOTAL

  73

  South East

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  Grade 6

  6

  Grade 7

  26

  SEO and equivalent

  39

  HEO and equivalent

  34

  EO and equivalent

  60

  AO and equivalent

  124

  AA and equivalent

  87

  TOTAL

  380

  South West

  Grade 3

  2

  Grade 4

  2

  Grade 5

  13

  Grade 6

  22

  Grade 7

  49

  SEO and equivalent

  60

  HEO and equivalent

  110

  EO and equivalent

  165

  AO and equivalent

  309

  AA and equivalent

  181

  Special Grades

  1

  TOTAL

  914

  Wales

  Grade 6

  10

  Grade 7

  5

  SEO and equivalent

  6

  HEO and equivalent

  3

  EO and equivalent

  3

  AO and equivalent

  3

  AA and equivalent

  4

  TOTAL

  34

  West Midlands

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  Grade 6

  1

  Grade 7

  21

  SEO and equivalent

  21

  HEO and equivalent

  27

  EO and equivalent

  38

  AO and equivalent

  58

  AA and equivalent

  33

  TOTAL

  203

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  Grade 6

  3

  Grade 7

  19

  SEO and equivalent

  41

  HEO and equivalent

  29

  EO and equivalent

  40

  AO and equivalent

  52

  AA and equivalent

  41

  TOTAL

  229

  GRAND TOTAL

  7,049

  493
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by grade and location the number of staff employed in his Department's headquarters buildings in London.

  Mr. Howard
  Following is the information for non-industrial staff based in Marsham street, Romney house, St. Christopher house and Lambeth Bridge house:

  Number

  Grade 1

  1

  Grade 2

  7

  Grade 3

  22

  Grade 4

  5

  Grade 5

  95

  Grade 6

  73

  Grade 7

  371

  SEO and equivalent

  309

  HEO and equivalent

  476

  EO and equivalent

  579

  AO and equivalent

  675

  AA and equivalent

  379

  Special grades

  3

  Grand Total

  2,995

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by grade, the number of staff employed by his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  Following is the information:

  Number

  Grade 1 staff

  1

  Grade 2 staff

  7

  Grade 3 staff

  34

  Grade 4 staff

  9

  Grade 5 staff

  145

  Grade 6 staff

  300

  Grade 7 staff

  788

  SEO and equivalent

  748

  HEO and equivalent

  1,016

  EO and equivalent

  1,276

  AO and equivalent

  1,751

  AA and equivalent

  975

  Special grades

  9

  Grand Total

  7,059

  Pilot Plant Emissions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ask Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to make any additions to its guidance relating to pilot plant emissions and novel processes following the appeal by ICI against the setting of quantitative release limits for its HFC32 experimental production unit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The appeal by ICI has yet to be determined by the Secretary of State, and therefore no further advice can be given in relation to this appeal at this stage.

  However, as a general principle, it is reasonable to set quantitative limits for all prescribed processes, after due consideration of all credible potential releases. If, due to the novel nature of a process, greater awareness of release limits improves with operation, then the authorisation
  494
  may be amended to reflect this. In line with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's precautionary approach to pollution control, quantitative release limits are required in order to demonstrate compliance, through monitoring, with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, particularly the requirement to apply best available techniques not entailing excessive cost/best practical environmental options.

  Vehicle Noise
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources will be granted to local authorities and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency towards the implementation of the extended noise nuisance abatement powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  In June, my Department consulted on proposals to extend the statutory abatement procedures of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include noise in the street. The responses to this consultation are currently being considered. If new legislation is introduced, potential savings and additional costs will be taken into account in revenue support grant settlements for the appropriate financial year.

  Local Authorities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each English and Welsh local authority(a) its population, (b) its number of employees, (c) the number of employees per thousand population and (d) the political party in control.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have today placed the information requested about local authority employees, for England, in the Library of the House. The information shows staff numbers for all general services taken from the joint staffing watch.

  Staffing levels of local authorities in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Aerials and Antennae
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning guidance he has issued in relation to the control of aerials and antennae on high grounds.

  Mr. Baldry
  We will publish a revised planning policy guidance note 8 "Telecommunications" on Monday 21 December 1992.

  Recycling
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exempt local authority expenditure on recycling from the financial costs mechanism of the standard spending assessment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Standard spending assessments reflect the revenue costs of providing a standard level of service across the full range of local authority services, including recycling. Under the provisional capping criteria, which my right hon. and learned Friend announced in his statement on 26 November, no local authority expenditure would be outside the capping regime.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to which local authorities his Department has circulated the British Nuclear Fuels' application for authorisation to operate the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield, under section 8(4A) of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960; and what criteria were used by his Department to decide in which local authorities radioactive disposal from THORP is likely to take place.

  Mr. Maclean
  The four applications received from BNFL for authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960—RSA 60—to dispose of radioactive waste from Sellafield, including proposed discharges from THORP plant were sent to Cumbria county council and Copeland district council. These local authorities were identified because, as required by section 8(4) of RSA 60, they are the ones in whose areas the Sellafield discharge points are located.

  However, on 16 November 1992, the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution acting jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food initiated wide-ranging formal public consultations involving a large number of local authorities. This consultation is about the applications themselves, additional information supplied by BNFL, draft authorisations and related explanatory memorandums.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total cost to public funds of(a) introducing and (b) administering the council tax.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The cost to local authorities in England of preparing for the council tax is estimated to be £156.1 million.

  The local authority associations have estimated that the cost of collecting the council tax in 1993–94 will be 40 per cent. lower than the cost of collecting the community charge, with further reductions in later years when transitional problems have been dealt with.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps a householder may take if he or she feels that a mistake has been made in the boundary of his or her property in the council tax assessment.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Anyone who wishes to correct a factual error in a draft valuation list may now approach his or her listing officer at the local office of the Valuation Office agency. Where the listing officer agrees, such an error will be amended before the final list is compiled on 1 April 1993. If the listing officer does not agree, however, a householder will between 1 April and 30 November 1993 be able to lodge a formal proposal to alter the compiled list.

  Primates
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 16 November,Official Report, column 48, what further investigations the Government have made into the evidence of the import of wild primates from Kenya; and if he will make a statement.
  496
  Mr. Maclean
  We are not aware of any evidence that the export of primates from Kenya poses a threat to the survival of wild populations. Each application to import primates into this country is examined by our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and allowed only if they are satisfied that there will be no harm to the species.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many emergency cold weather hostels there are in the Greater London area; and if he will list their locations.

  Mr. Baldry
  To provide immediate shelter for people who would otherwise sleep rough over the winter, my Department is funding 400 bedspaces in nine temporary shelters in central London. The shelters will be open between 1 December 1992 and 31 March 1993. In addition, we are planning to provide up to 300 further places across London, which can be opened at short notice in the event of exceptionally severe weather. The nine winter shelters being funded by my Department are:

  Managing agency

  Address

  London borough of Camden

  25 Parker street, WC2

  London borough of Lambeth

  Cynthia Moseley centre, Oval way, SE11

  Crisis

  147 Tooley street, SE1

  Single Homeless Project

  1 John street, WC1

  St. Mungo's

  10–11 Bulstrode place, W1

  Centrepoint

  Soho Women's hospital, Soho square, WC2

  Salvation Army

  1 St. Ann's street, SW1

  Salvation Army

  23–27 Tudor street, EC4

  English Churches Housing Group

  156 St. John street, EC1

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the extra resources given by his Department for homeless people living outside the Greater London area between 1 January and 1 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  In the current financial year the Department is paying £6.1 million in grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to nearly 150 voluntary organisations throughout England which provide direct practical help to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.

  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the numbers sleeping rough in London at the most recent convenient date and the number of empty hostel places as at the same date.

  Mr. Baldry
  The 1991 census found that on the night of 21 and 22 April, there were 1,275 people sleeping rough in London. A count by voluntary sector organisations in central London on 5 November 1992 found around 420 people sleeping rough—less than half the number who were estimated to have been sleeping on the streets of central London before my Department's rough sleepers initiative began in 1990–91. Information about the number of empty hostel places available at any one time is not held centrally.
  497
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless households are currently living in temporary accommodation in England.

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest available estimate for the number of homeless households living in temporary accommodation in England relates to 30 September and appears in table 4(d) of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England: Statistics for the third quarter 1992", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is providing to schemes linking provision of accommodation for homeless young people to training.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on Tuesday 15 December,Official Report, columns 94–95.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that homeless families place themselves in bed-and-breakfast or temporary accommodation; and if he will provide an estimate of the total number of self-placed families living in such accommodation in each local authority area.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has no information about this.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make extra resources available to assist the homeless to have clean and dry accommodation over the Christmas period.

  Mr. Baldry
  In addition to the 2,550 places in various types of accommodation so far provided in central London under the rough sleepers initiative, we are providing a further 400 bed spaces in temporary shelters this winter. The shelters will be open in central London from 1 December 1992 to 31 March 1993. We are also planning to provide up to 300 further places across London, that can be opened at short notice in the event of particularly severe weather.

  Nationally, the Government are providing over £6 million in grants this year to voluntary organisations throughout England which give direct practical help to homeless people. The primary responsibility for help to people sleeping rough in severe weather rests with local authorities. The local authority associations have accepted this responsibility through their support for the winter watch guidelines published by Crisis and Shelter.

  Private Sector Housing
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of private sector housing starts in(a) the west midlands and (b) Walsall for 1991–92.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is estimated that private enterprise housebuilding starts amounted to 13,100 dwellings, and housing association starts to 2,100 dwellings, in the west midlands standard statistical region during the financial year 1991–92. The corresponding figures reported for the Walsall local authority area were 503 and 159 dwellings.

  Stockport Metropolitan Borough
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions he has taken in respect of the future local government boundary of Stockport metropolitan borough; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Cheshire and Greater Manchester (County and District Boundaries) (No. 2) Order 1992 was made on 26 August 1992, giving effect to the Secretary of State's decision on changes to the City of Manchester and Stockport local government boundary from 1 April 1993.

  A draft order was issued on 4 December 1992 showing the Secretary of State's decision on Stockport's boundaries with Tameside, High Peak in Derbyshire and Macclesfield in Cheshire.

  I am sending the details of both these sets of changes to my hon. Friend.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the measures which he is taking to implement compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Regulations and guidance to be issued under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 are expected to be in place early in the new year. These regulations and guidance will clarify the statutory framework for services currently subject to compulsory competitive tendering.

  On 10 November, Official Report, columns 743–45, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced his decisions following consultation on proposals to extend competition to local authorities' professional services. A preliminary meeting about the detailed implementation of these decisions has been held with the local authority associations, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Audit Commission, the Accounts Commission, and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage contract saving his Department uses for assessing savings as a result of council compulsory competitive tendering on contracts valued at above £100,000 and below £500,000.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Secretary of State does not assess the savings on individual local authority contracts. Research carried out by the Institute of Local Government Studies for the Department of the Environment indicated that following competition there was an overall reduction of about 6 to 7 per cent. in the cost of work subject to compulsory competitive tendering under the Local Government Act 1988, whether the service was carried out in-house or by a private contractor.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the current level for the de minimis level would be for compulsory competitive tendering if it had been upgraded in line with the retail prices index.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The amount is £132,041.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contracts valued at between £100,000 and £500,000 have been put out to tender by councils under compulsory competitive tendering in each year since 1988.
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  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to adjust the de minimis level to take account of inflation since 1988 for local authority compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are no proposals to adjust the de minimis level, although it is kept under review.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of putting a contract out to tender for councils under compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Research carried out by the Institute of Local Government Studies for the Department of the Environment indicated that the average cost of preparing for competition was about 2.5 per cent. of the total contract value.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 19 November,Official Report, column 301, if he will (a) make a statement on decisions taken at the meeting of the International Radioactive Waste Department Advisory Committee in Vienna from 27 to 29 October and (b) arrange for a copy of the documentation submitted by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Maclean
  The answer is as follows:

  (a) No decisions were taken at the meeting of the International Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee subgroup in Vienna, 27 to 29 October 1992, since it was convened solely as a discussion forum to help develop an international consensus on principles and criteria for disposal of solid radioactive waste, with particular reference to safety indicators for disposal in geological formations. A copy of the minutes of the meeting, prepared by International Atomic Energy Agency staff, has been placed in the Library.

  (b) HMIP did not submit documentation to this meeting, but the HMIP representative participated fully in the discussions.

  Roads (Public Paths)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to clarify the requirement for vehicular use in respect of the definition of roads used as a public path in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sought to dispel any confusion surrounding roads used as public paths—RUPPs— by requiring highway authorities to acknowledge the rights found to exist. Where vehicular rights exist, RUPPs must be reclassified as byways open to all traffic—BOATs—which are defined as routes over which the public have a right of way for vehicular traffic, but which are used mainly by walkers and riders.

  I am aware of a growing concern about the reclassification procedure. A working party of the rights of way review committee has been considering a number of relevant issues including the definition of a BOAT. The working party has recently drawn up recommendations which we will be considering carefully.

  Pollution (Consultations)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what targets have been set for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to reply to inquiries made to the inspectorate on matters subject to a public consultation period.

  Mr. Maclean
  Members of the public may make representations to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution about applications for authorisation and other legislation under integrated pollution control. It is Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's practice to acknowledge such representations at the earliest opportunity.

  British Waterways
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy for moneys raised from the sale of British Waterways properties to be spent on improvements to the waterway system.

  Mr. Maclean
  Moneys raised from the sale of British Waterways' properties are reinvested for the benefit of the waterways.

  Planning Guidance (South-east England)
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what appraisal has been undertaken of the environmental impact of his proposals to base regional planning guidance in the south-east on a requirement for 855,000 houses to be built between 1991 and 2006; if he will publish it; and what alternative levels of development have been considered.

  Mr. Baldry
  The proposals referred to are those contained in my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State's letter of 9 July 1992 to the chairman of the London and South East Regional Planning Conference—SERPLAN—inviting SERPLAN to put forward proposals for the distribution of new housing provision in the south-east. The letter which was sent to my hon. Friend at the time asked SERPLAN to have regard to various criteria including environmental constraints in different parts of the region, the protection of green belts, the avoidance of development pressure on areas of outstanding natural beauty and the need to optimise the use of urban land. The suggested provision of 855,000 net additional dwellings over the period 1991 to 2006 was arrived at after considering a wide range of views put to my Department, including suggestions for higher and lower provision.

  SERPLAN's views on the housing distribution, together with those of others will be taken into account in deciding the content of new draft regional planning guidance for the south-east which will be published shortly for consultation.

  Development Plans
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the extent to which the establishment of an urban regeneration agency will result in a reduction in the proportion of housing development taking place outside Greater London and other urban areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  When the URA comes into being it will bring vacant, derelict and under-used land back into
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  use in partnership with the private sector and local authorities. The agency will focus on urban land, but it is not possible to estimate the impact of this on the amount of development, including housing, on land outside urban areas. All schemes that the agency is able to bring forward on vacant and derelict land will, however, relieve pressure on other sites, many of which might otherwise be in rural areas.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what importance will be given to development plans in terms of the guidance provided in paragraph 5 of planning policy guidance note 1.

  Mr. Baldry
  Paragraph 5 of PPG1 explains that applications for development proposals should be allowed, having regard to the development plan and all material considerations, unless the proposed development would cause demonstrable harm to interests of acknowledged importance. Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 requires planning decisions to be determined in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. It follows that the contents of a development plan are of pivotal importance in deciding planning applications, as is explained in more detail between paragraphs 25 and 31 of that guidance.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authority development plans placed on deposit since 10 February to which his Department has objected on the ground of an omission of environmental policies contained in any of the new or revised planning policy guidance notes issued in 1992.

  Mr. Baldry
  Of the 59 development plans1 placed on deposit on or after 10 February 1992, my Department has made 260 objections on environmental grounds to the following 55:

  Babergh

  Barking and Dagenham Unitary Development Plan (UDP)

  Basingstoke and Deane Borough

  Berkshire Structure Plan

  Bexley UDP

  Bolton UDP

  Braintree

  Brent UDP

  Brentwood

  Bridgnorth

  Broxbourne

  Broxtowe

  Calderdale UDP

  Cambridge City

  Chorley

  Corby

  Cumbria and Lake District Structure Plan

  Erewash

  Forest Heath

  Gosport Borough

  Hartlepool

  Hackney UDP

  Hammersmith and Fulham UDP

  Harrow UDP

  Hereford and Worcester Minerals

  Kensington and Chelsea UDP

  Leicester City

  Leicestershire Minerals Plan

  Leicestershire Structure Plan Replacement

  Manchester UDP

  Merton UDP

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  North Kesteven Local Plan

  North Yorkshire Structure Plan (Alteration)

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  Peak Park Structure Plan

  Portsmouth City

  Reading Borough

  Richmond UDP

  Rossendale

  St. Edmundsbury

  Salford UDP

  Sandwell UDP

  South Kesteven

  South Shropshire

  Surrey Structure Plan Replacement 1992

  Tamworth

  Test Valley

  Tower Hamlets UDP

  Tunbridge Wells Borough

  Uttlesford

  Waltham Forest UDP

  Wandsworth UDP

  Warwick

  Wychavon

  Wycombe

  1 Local plans unless otherwise specified.

  Environmental considerations should permeate the policies of the development plan as a whole, which should be as concise as is consistent with providing the framework for development. Authorities need to apply national policy guidance in the light of local circumstances; not all such guidance will be relevant to every plan. The departmental objections on environmental grounds related to policies not conforming with national policy guidance. Examples are inconsistency with national policies on the green belt, nature conservation, countryside and the rural economy, and omission of policies for waste disposal, as well as objections to policies considered too restrictive, too vague, or not relating to land use.

  Asylum
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources will be available for local authorities for the settlement of asylum seekers and refugees.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Warley, West (Mr. Spellar) at column 318.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources have been received by urban programme authorities in(a) the first round and (b) the second round of city challenge.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Sums of £82.5 million and £150 million will be available for the first round and second round city challenge winners respectively each year for five years.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to consider the action plans of each of the city challenge departments.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Round II city challenge partnerships are required to submit their action plans to the Department by 31 December. The plans will be assessed against published guidance and decisions will be announced in February.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the loss of training places which will result from the reduction in the urban programme.
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  Mr. Robin Squire
  The urban programme will support an estimated 74,097 training places in 1992–93. Because of the increase in total resources available for the urban programme and city challenge, from £319 million in 1992–93 to £408 million in 1993–94, I would expect to see a corresponding rise in the number of training places.Source (training places): UP Submissions 1992–93.

  PSA, Wick
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes following the investigation of management practice at the Property Services Agency office, Wick.

  Mr. Redwood
  The investigation has confirmed that some irregularities have been committed by an officer in the Wick office and appropriate disciplinary action is being considered.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response Her Majesty's Government have received from the European Commission to the submission on Sizewell B made on 13 May.

  Mr. Maclean
  The favourable opinion of the European Commission was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 26 November 1992, reference number L344/40. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Fire Advisory Panel
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to review the membership of the Fire Advisory Panel in order to include greater representation from fire brigade officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Fire Advisory Panel members who have fire service experience provide valuable input to the discussions, but I see no need to add more fire brigade officers to the panel.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the criteria used to appoint members of the Fire Advisory Panel.

  Mr. Baldry
  Members of the Fire Advisory Panel are chosen for their expertise in areas relevant to the scope of those aspects of fire safety most closely concerning the building regulations.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current members of the Fire Advisory Panel and indicate whether each member has served or currently serves as a member or officer of the Society of Fire Safety Engineers, or has had or currently has experience as a professional firefighter.

  Mr. Baldry
  The current members of the Fire Advisory Panel are:

  Dr. E. Marchant, Mr. R. Read, Mr. S. Ham, Mr. L. Davies, Mr. A. Morris, Dr. P. Warren, Mr. T. Ashton, Mr. D. Wright, Mr. P. Dalloway, Mr. F. Hoehnke, Mr. D. O'Brien, Dr. S. Melinek, Miss N. Bovill, Mr. A. Porter, Mr. T. Shields, Mr. W. Malhotra, Mr. A. Ferguson (chairman), Mr. I. Macpherson, Mr. A. Edwards, Dr. J. Denney, Mr. L. Turner, Dr. G. Cooke, Dr. P. Beaver, Mr. R. Graham, Mr. D. Stewart, Dr. A. Macpherson, Mrs. B. Menzies.
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  Two of these members, Mr. Wright and Mr. Graham, have professional firefighting experience. I understand that the Society of Fire Safety Engineers amalgamated with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers to form the Institute of Fire Safety—IFS. The Department has not asked members whether they are affiliated to the IFS, but I understand that nine of them are.

  Housing Act 1985 (Grants)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of the voluntary organisations that have received grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 in the past three years and the nature of projects for which the grants have been specifically allocated.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have today placed in the Library information about the nationwide programme of grants to homelessness voluntary organisations in respect of the current financial year and the two previous financial years.

  Riverbus
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the funding of Riverbus by the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Baldry
  The London Docklands development corporation has made a contribution of £83,000 towards the funding of Riverbus to help the service to continue operating in the short term.

  Southern Water
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will prosecute Southern Water following the contamination of water supplies in southern Hampshire by the crypto-sporidium organism.

  Mr. Maclean
  The drinking water inspectorate is investigating the circumstances of this case and will advise my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State on what action, if any, should be taken.

  Forest Strategies
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue guidance on the preparation of forest strategies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am pleased to be able to announce today the issue of a new circular, jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales which provides guidance to relevant local authorities on the drawing up of forestry strategies for their areas. The issue of the circular follows up a consultation exercise held earlier in the year, announced as part of the action for the countryside initiative.

  The main thrust of forest policy has changed over recent years. Increasingly new forests are designed with multiple objectives in mind. The value of forests for landscape, recreation and wildlife, as well as a general environmental resource, is now seen by the Government as being equally important as timber production. Accordingly, it is increasingly important that new forests are located in the right places. Indicative forestry strategies

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  will provide a means of identifying preferred locations for new woodlands as well as areas where such expansion may be inappropriate, because of environmental or other reasons.

  I am arranging for copies of the circular to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 15 and 16 December.

  Mr. Howard
  I chaired the Environment Council which met in Brussels on 15 and 16 December. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside represented the United Kingdom. Many of the United Kingdom's presidency objectives were achieved.

  The Council agreed a regulation on ozone-depleting substances, accelerating the schedule for phasing out their production and consumption within the Community. Halons are to be phased out by the end of 1993, chlorofluorocarbons and carbon tetracholoride by the end of 1994, with a cut of 85 per cent. by the end of 1993, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane by the end of 1995, with a cut of 50 per cent. by the end of 1993. The Council also looked forward to early proposals from the Commission for ratification by the Community and its member states for the Copenhagen amendment to the Montreal protocol, and for the control of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, HBFCs and methyl bromide.

  The Council adopted a common position on a new directive to apply stringent standards on exhaust pollutants and evaporative emission controls from light-duty vehicles. The same technical solutions developed for passenger cars will be applied to all passenger vehicles, vans and light goods vehicles below 3.5 tonnes. The standards will come into force on 1 October 1993 for new types, and 1 October 1994 for all vehicles entering into service.

  The Council agreed a resolution setting out its response to the Commission's fifth environmental action programme, "Towards Sustainability". The programme maps out a broad strategy for the Community's environmental policy until the end of the century. The Council noted that the programme constitutes a good basis for the implementation in the Community of "Agenda 21" and that Community environmental policy will be guided by the principle of subsidiarity in the light of decisions reached at the Edinburgh European Council. The Council recognised inter alia the importance of the integration of environmental concerns into other policy areas; the use of new approaches such as economic instruments and voluntary schemes such as eco-labelling and eco-auditing; the need to take account of the costs and benefits of action or lack of action; the need to improve the implementation and enforcement of Community legislation; and the need to keep the implementation of the programme under regular review.

  The Council reached agreement on a decision on ratification by the Community and its member states of the United Nations Environment Programme's Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The Council will decide on the date of ratification after the adoption of the waste shipments regulation. The date of ratification will, if at all possible, be no later than three months prior to the
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  second meeting of the parties to the convention which is likely to be in February/March 1994, so that the Community and its member states can become full parties to the convention in time for that meeting.

  The Council reached political agreement, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament and a general reserve by one member state, on a regulation introducing an eco-management and audit scheme. The aim of the scheme, which is a voluntary one, is to encourage effective environmental management of industrial sites and regular public reporting of environmental impacts. The Government believe that the scheme will provide the incentive for industry to compete in delivering substantial environmental improvement.

  The Council held a useful discussion of the progress that has been made on the various elements of the Community's climate change strategy, and on the framework convention on climate change. There was general agreement that the Community and its member states should aim to ratify the convention by the end of 1993 at the very latest. There was also agreement that the council should reach agreement on the proposal for a monitoring mechanism as soon as possible, and that work should continue on the carbon/energy tax proposal. This work will be carried forward under the Danish presidency.

  The Council held a useful first discussion on the question of ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation, based on a report from the Commission on the current position in member states. The Commission undertook to produce these reports on a regular basis, and the Council agreed to discuss the subject annually in the future. A number of proposals were made for improving the collaboration between the Commission and the member states on this question, and the Council welcomed in particular the successful establishment of the network of environment enforcement authorities following its first meeting at Chester in November.

  The Council considered for the first time the Commission's proposal for a directive on packaging and packaging waste and invited the Committee of Permanent Representatives—COREPER—to continue their work on this issue. The directive is designed to prevent distortions to the single market in this area while ensuring a high level of environmental protection.

  The Council noted the good progress which had been made on the Commission's proposal for a revision of controls on the wildlife trade—the CITES regulation—and invited COREPER to take the discussion forward.

  The Council noted the decisions of the Edinburgh Council on the locations of various European bodies. They reaffirmed the importance of reaching a speedy decision on the site of the European Environment Agency. Meanwhile, there was general agreement with the Commission's plans for entering preparatory work for the agency.

  The Council formally adopted a directive on procedures for harmonizing the programmes for the reduction and eventual elimination of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry.

  The Commission announced proposals for a formal European launch of the eco-labelling scheme in June.

  Housing
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the Housing Corporation's approved development programme, local authorities' housing investment programme allocations, the distribution of resources for estate action and the details of the housing revenue account subsidy determinations.

  Sir George Young
  I am today announcing a number of decisions about the provision of resources for housing in 1993–94.

  Today, I am informing local housing authorities of their housing investment programme—HIP—allocations for 1993–94, some £1.9 billion in total.

  These HIP allocations will support the investment programmes of local authorities which, as we have already announced, will receive a major boost for the remainder of 1992–93 and in 1993–94 and later years, as a result of the Government's decision to allow local authorities to spend virtually all of the capital receipts which they receive in the period from 13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993. Some £1 billion of additional housing capital expenditure should take place over the period 1992–93 to 1994–95 as a result of this change, which is being supported by the new capital partnership programme announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Of the HIP allocations that I am today announcing, some £1,380 million are general purpose allocations, or housing "annual capital guidelines". In July, I confirmed to local authorities that 40 per cent. of these would be distributed on the basis of a statistical assessment of local housing needs, leaving 60 per cent. to be allocated on a discretionary basis in relation to published criteria. The primary criterion has been the efficiency and effectiveness of local authorities in making use of capital resources to meet housing needs, and discretion has also been exercised significantly in relation to needs and other factors not adequately reflected in the statistical assessment. My regional offices have carefully considered the strategy statements submitted by each local housing authority, and their bids, and Ministers have reached their decisions on the allocations in the light of the advice provided by regional controllers.

  The picture emerging from this process demonstrates very clearly the success of the new developments in the Government's housing policies, introduced over the past two years. The performance of local authorities across the country has improved substantially, both in their role as landlords of nearly 4 million council houses, and in the encouraging development of the enabling role of authorities. This has been accompanied by substantial changes in their perception of the broad and vital role in encouraging the private sector. Welcome new efforts have also been made to produce housing strategies and plans which are more accessible and to involve housing interests, tenants and residents in their preparation. In addition, the measures that we have taken this year to draw together the local authority HIP process, with the approved development programme—ADP—process of the Housing Corporation has got off to a good start. This has assisted in establishing coherent local housing strategies, and in demonstrating the considerable scope for effective
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  co-ordination of the very large sums which Government are investing in local housing needs, through the programmes of local authorities and housing associations.

  Arising from the assessments of performance, we have again been able to direct resources to a greater degree to local authorities who are best able to make use of them, while withholding resources to some degree from authorities where significant improvements still need to be made. I am glad to be able to publish today the names of the authorities who are the best performers in each region under the HIP process. All other authorities will have the assessment of their performance and proposals conveyed to them, partly in letters which are being sent out today from the Department's regional offices, and more fully in the discussions which will continue to take place in the continuous cycle of the HIP process. I am glad that many of the local authorities who were identified as the worst performers last year have made significant improvements in their performance and proposals, and I hope that it is encouraging to them that these improvements can be recognised through the allocations that I am announcing today. It is essential that, even where improvements are being made, better performance is sustained, and that proposals for greater progress are delivered. We shall return to this in future HIP rounds. Those authorities who are average performers should also look to do better, so that overall the standards of local authorities as landlords and enablers will continue to rise.

  A further £370 million has been allocated for private sector renewal and housing defects, in the form of "specified capital grant", to assist councils with their expenditure in these areas. Taking account of local authorities' greater access to usable capital receipts, we propose to reduce the rate of Exchequer contribution from 75 to 60 per cent., so that the above allocations will support a higher total expenditure on private sector renewal and housing defects nationally than in the current year. The Department is consulting authorities on this proposed change. As with the annual capital guideline allocations, 40 per cent. of these resources have been distributed on a statistical assessment of local needs and 60 per cent. on a discretionary basis.

  I am depositing tables in the Library of the House showing the 1992–93 allocation to each authority of the annual capital guideline and of specified capital grant. Together, these comprise the HIP allocations. I am also depositing a list of the names of authorities in each region who have been assessed as the best performers.

  We have conducted a consultation exercise, over the last few months, into the future development of the HIP process. I am grateful for the many responses to this exercise on a range of issues relating to the strategies and programmes of local housing authorities. I shall be making an announcement early in the new year on our conclusions to this exercise, which will be followed by proposed working arrangements to ensure the timely launch of the HIP round for 1993.

  The estate action budget for 1993–94 will be £356 million. Of this, some £113 million will be available for new schemes, the remainder being for schemes already under way. Local authorities are today being notified of the outcome of their bids for resources for new schemes next year, as well as of the resources being provided for continuing schemes. The tables in the Library show the latest position on the distribution of these resources between authorities.
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  The number of new schemes in next year's programme is at present 166. I am placing a list of these in the Library. Final approval will depend on confirmation of the extent to which authorities are able to contribute to overall scheme costs by using capital receipts freed-up as a result of the Secretary of State's announcement on the capital partnership programme. So far, it has been possible to increase the number of new schemes in the programme by almost 20 per cent. as a result of the capital partnership initiative.

  Turning to the revenue expenditure of local housing authorities, I have today made the housing revenue account subsidy determination for 1993–94. I am placing copies of the determinations in the Library.

  On subsidy allowances for management and maintenance, I confirm the proposals to increase allowances by 3.75 per cent.—1 per cent. in real terms—overall and to continue to distribute the increase through a system of targeted allowances reflecting authorities' relative need to spend.

  For rent guidelines, I am confirming the proposal for an average increase in guidelines of 7.75 per cent.—5 per cent. in real terms. This will result in an average increase in guideline rents of £2.12 per week over those which apply this year, with a range of between £1.50 and £3 for individual councils, bringing the national average guideline rent to £29.40. Responsibility for setting actual rents, however, remains with individual local authorities. Housing benefit will normally meet the whole of any rent increase for the 70 per cent. of tenants receiving it.

  We have already announced that £597 million more than originally planned will be made available to the Housing Corporation this year to boost the housing market. This has increased the estimated output from the corporation's approved development programme this year from 47,000 completions to 65,000 completions. The implementation of this programme is proceeding satisfactorily and we are confident that the resources will be spent in full. Over the next three years, the ADP is expected to provide a further 154,000 homes for rent or shared-ownership. Lower interest rates and competitive prices, as well as the increased contribution which we hope to obtain from the private sector, should enable us to maintain the programme at a lower cost to the taxpayer than previously projected.

  In view of the importance of housing association rehabilitation projects to inner city regeneration and as a contribution to making the best use of existing stock, I have asked that the corporation should aim to maintain the proportion of such projects at 18 per cent. of new approvals for rent next year, pending completion of the Department's research into this subject.

  Decisions on ADP allocations and local authority HIP allocations are now taken within a co-ordinated framework. Local authorities, the Housing Corporation and local housing associations have co-operated closely in preparing local programmes as part of a single housing strategy, and we have been able to consider the two programmes in parallel in taking decisions about the distribution of HIP resources. The tables in the Library also show indicative new ADP allocations for each local authority area for schemes to be approved in 1993–94, which are used for planning purposes, together with the full-life value of housing association schemes under way at
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  1 April 1993. Final ADP allocations will be announced in February next year. In future, the two processes will run to a common timetable.

  These various allocations, combined with the measures on the use of capital receipts, continue the Government's commitment to social housing investment within a coherent framework involving local authorities, housing associations and the private sector. They also sustain the intention of helping the most neglected council estates. Local authorities should continue the encouraging improvements that they have made over the past year in response to our policies and, in particular, to improve further the standards of their management and the efforts that they make to draw the resources of the private sector into meeting housing needs.

  Housing Resources Announcement—17 December 1992

  List of those local housing authorities in each region of the Department of the Environment assessed as the best within the HIP process.

  Northern

  Blyth

  Derwentside

  Hartlepool

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Kingston upon Hull

  York

  East Midlands

  Derby

  Newark and Sherwood

  South East

  Brighton

  Eastbourne

  New Forest

  Portsmouth

  Southampton

  South West

  Bath

  Mendip

  Taunton Deane

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  The Wrekin

  Eastern

  Cambridge

  Chelmsford

  Colchester

  Milton Keynes

  London

  Croydon

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Newham

  Westminster

  North West

  Bolton

  Rochdale

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  EC Acquired Rights Directive
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the EC acquired rights directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 December 1992]: This information is not held centrally.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of the annual meeting of the convention to control toxic waste which met in Uruguay in early December.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 14 December 1992]: The main issue discussed at the first meeting of the contracting parties to the Basel convention was that of movements of waste from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to developing countries. The conference adopted a decision containing the following key elements: a request that industrialised countries prohibit transboundary movements for disposal to developing countries; agreement that, until the conference takes further action and until the convention is reviewed in 1995, transboundary movements for recovery and recycling operations take place in accordance with the provisions of the convention an in particular with the requirement that waste be handled in an environmentally sound manner; and a request to developing countries to prohibit the import of hazardous wastes from industrialised countries. The United Kingdom presidency, on behalf of the European Community, made a statement explaining the European Community's position as set out in the recently agreed waste shipments regulation. The statement said that the regulation will prohibit exports for disposal except to European Free Trade Association countries and will strictly control exports for recovery to ensure the environmentally sound management of that waste in developing countries. The statement noted that Denmark, under its presidency of the European Community, would seek to promote a ban on the export of waste from the European Community to all developing countries.

  Other decisions established a useful platform for work leading to the second meeting of the parties planned for February/March 1994. The conference decided on an open-ended ad hoc committee which will consider proposals on liability and compensation, a revolving fund for emergencies, technical guidelines and regional training centres for developing countries.

  Lecturers (Council Elections)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances lecturers in further education colleges are barred from standing in local elections for councils with responsibility for education.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 14 December 1992]: Lecturers in further education colleges are currently barred only from standing for election to the local education authorities of which they are employees. When further education colleges transfer to the new further education sector on 1 April 1993, lecturers at the colleges
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  will become employees of the corporations established to conduct the colleges. In these circumstances such lecturers will be entitled to stand for election to any council.

  Shropshire
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the actual cash sums paid by central Government to Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council in support of(a) revenue and (b) capital expenditure in the years for which figures are conveniently available and the projected figures for 1993–94;

  (2) if he will give the actual cash sums paid by central Government to Shropshire county council in support of (a) revenue and (b) capital expenditure in the years for which figures are conveniently available and the projected figure for 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Local authorities report the following:

  Central Government contributions

  £ million

  Shropshire county council

  Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council

  1987–88

  Revenue

  Rate Support Grant

  77.354

  2.484

  Relevant specific grants to revenue

  14.390

  0.919

  Rate Rebate Grant

  0.0

  1.942

  Transport Supplementary Grant to revenue

  1.429

  0.0

  TOTAL REVENUE

  93.173

  5.345

  CAPITAL

  1.244

  0.0

  1988–89

  Revenue

  Rate Support Grant

  81.269

  2.451

  Relevant specific grants to revenue

  15.984

  0.945

  Rate Rebate Grant

  0.0

  2.203

  Transport Supplementary Grant to revenue

  2.176

  0.0

  TOTAL REVENUE

  99.429

  5.599

  CAPITAL

  1.789

  0.0

  1989–90

  Revenue

  Rate Support Grant

  77.646

  2.423

  Relevant specific grants to revenue

  16.327

  0.936

  Rate Rebate Grant

  0.0

  2.755

  Transport Supplementary Grant to revenue

  1.806

  0.0

  TOTAL REVENUE

  95.779

  6.114

  CAPITAL

  0.593

  0.0

  1990–91

  Revenue Grants

  To Collection Fund

  Rate Support Grant

  0.0

  13.593

  Special Grants

  0.0

  0.0

  To General Fund

  Specific grants inside AEF

  18.925

  0.127

  Other Revenue Support

  NNDR Entitlement (to Collection Fund)

  0.0

  20.389

  TOTAL REVENUE SUPPORT INSIDE AEF

  18.925

  34.109

  513

  Shropshire county council

  Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council

  CAPITAL

  1.710

  0.053

  1991–92

  Revenue Grants

  To Collection Fund

  Revenue support grant

  0.0

  11.074

  Special grants

  0.0

  0.0

  Community charge grant

  0.0

  9.550

  To General Fund

  Specific grants inside AEF

  20.202

  0.151

  Other Revenue Support

  NNDR Entitlement (to Collection Fund)

  0.0

  24.467

  TOTAL REVENUE SUPPORT INSIDE AEF

  20.202

  45.242

  CAPITAL

  3.344

  0.714

  Displaced Persons
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance will be given to local authorities who provide accommodation and other facilities to refugees from the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  As announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Housing and Planning on 16 November,Official Report, column 54, we propose to make available a special grant to assist the small number of local authorities worst affected by the recent influx of displaced
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  persons from the former Yugoslav republic. My Department will be writing to local authorities shortly in order to obtain information on which to base the grant.

  House Renovation Grant Scheme
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the outcome of this Department's review of the house renovation grant system.

  Sir George Young
  [pursuant to his answer, 16 July 1992, c. 1047]: During recent months, it has become clear that the present renovation grant system is placing increasing financial pressure on a growing number of local authorities, mainly because of the demands of mandatory grants. I have concluded that there is a need to take a further thorough look at the operation of the system, in particular to examine whether it remains appropriate given the likely availability of resources in future years. Accordingly, my Department will be issuing a consultation paper early next year setting out possible options for change. I shall want to consider very carefully the views expressed by local authorities and others in response to this document.

  I have today separately announced the resources which we are making available in 1993–94 to support local authorities expenditure on renovation grants, on other aspects of private housing renewal and on dealing with defective housing. I am pleased to say that, taken together with authorities' increased spending power from receipts next year, these provide for higher total expenditure than in the current financial year.

  ODA ANNUAL REVIEW
  ODA ANNUAL REVIEW
  ENTRY CLEARANCE VISAS: FEES WAIVED
  ENTRY CLEARANCE VISAS: FEES WAIVED
  WAR CRIMES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
  WAR CRIMES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
  SARAJEVO: SIEGE
  SARAJEVO: SIEGE
  GUYANA
  GUYANA
  UNRWA: UK SUPPORT
  UNRWA: UK SUPPORT
  BOSNIA: CHEMICAL WARFARE THREAT
  BOSNIA: CHEMICAL WARFARE THREAT
  EAST KENT: ASSISTED AREA APPLICATION
  EAST KENT: ASSISTED AREA APPLICATION
  EXPORTS: WEAPONS
  EXPORTS: WEAPONS
  SINGLE MARKET LEGISLATION: IMPLEMENTATION
  SINGLE MARKET LEGISLATION: IMPLEMENTATION
  HUMAN GENES: MRC PATENT APPLICATION
  HUMAN GENES: MRC PATENT APPLICATION
  EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND
  EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND
  SUNDAY TRADING: EMPLOYEE PROTECTION
  SUNDAY TRADING: EMPLOYEE PROTECTION
  SHEEP DIP
  SHEEP DIP
  BETTING SHOP AND TOTALISATOR EMPLOYEES' HOURS
  BETTING SHOP AND TOTALISATOR EMPLOYEES' HOURS
  RIVER THAMES: TRANSPORT USE STUDY
  RIVER THAMES: TRANSPORT USE STUDY
  CYCLING: 1992 WORLD CONFERENCE
  CYCLING: 1992 WORLD CONFERENCE