Written Answers of 7 July 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Time
  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what progress has been made on the Lord Chancellor's proposals concerning the management of court time;

  (2) what measures he has taken to improve the use of court time.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Over the last two years a number of measures have been introduced to improve the use of court time in the civil courts: jurisdictional changes and new arrangements for the allocation of business between the High Court and county courts which ensure cases are directed to the most appropriate forum for trial; procedural changes which advocate the early exchange of more informative pleadings so that trials can be focused on the issues in dispute, and the development of 80 county court trail centres which offer continuous hearings.

  In the Crown court and magistrates courts, recommendations to reduce delay made by a working party on pre-trial issues are being introduced. Three pilot schemes are already operating to monitor the effectiveness of magistrates committing defendants to appear in the Crown court on a specific date, either for pleas to be taken or directions given if the case is contested. The guidance for Crown court listing officers is being revised and will include maximum times for the period between committal and trial. Magistrates and their clerks have been asked to give the reduction of waiting times a high priority and are being encouraged to develop methods of listing which will minimise the time people have to wait at court.

  Magistrates
  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications have been made for the post of magistrate; and how many appointments have been made in each of the last five years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The first part of the question cannot be answered without disproportionate cost. The numbers of appointments made by the Lord Chancellor for each of the last five years are:

  Number

  1991

  1,687

  1990

  1,756

  1989

  1,687

  1988

  1,480

  1987

  1,213

  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have been relieved of their duties in each of the last five years owing to misconduct.
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  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Prior to 1989, the records kept provide no differentiation between those who were removed on the grounds of misconduct and those removed on other grounds. However, the figures for each of the last three years are as follows:

  Number

  1991

  10

  1990

  10

  1989

  7

  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria are used in the appointment of magistrates.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The criteria used in the appointment of magistrates are set out in the Lord Chancellor's "Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace" at pages 12 to 14. A copy of these directions is in the Library.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints are received each year concerning the conduct of magistrates.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  During the period 1 May 1991 to 30 April 1992, a total of 70 conduct files were opened where complaints were received which, by nature of allegations made, could have involved possible disciplin-ary action by the Lord Chancellor.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to what extent political persuasion is taken into account in the selection of magistrates.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A candidate's political persuasion is neither a qualification nor disqualification for appointment. Political persuasion and other factors are taken into account in order to obtain, so far as possible, a bench which broadly reflects the area it serves.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training magistrates receive; and how many are deemed unfit for duty after they have been selected.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  All newly appointed magistrates receive induction training totalling a minimum of 16 hours before they sit to adjudicate. This should be completed within three months after appointment. Following this, within 12 months after appointment they undertake the basic course—year one—comprising sitting in court to adjudicate with two experienced colleagues; visits to a local adult prison and a young offender institute, and an introduction to the probation service—totalling six hours; and a training course of 12 hours. The basic course continues in years two and three after appointment and may either take the form of four hours' training in each year or be combined into eight hours' training as a residential course. Further training takes the form of 12 hours' training in each three-year period thereafter. Members of the juvenile court—youth court from October 1992—and family panels, and chairmen of courts receive specialist training. No justice has been removed because he or she has failed to complete the training satisfactorily.

  Witnesses (Non-appearance)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases are adjourned each year owing to the non-appearance of witnesses.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No figures relating to this subject are generally collected.

  Immigration (Guidance)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the effects on his Department's work of the new guidance notes on the interpretation of the Immigration Act 1971.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The only recent policy guidance to immigration officers of which I am aware relates to primary purpose cases. The effect of policy on caseloads is continuously assessed but, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department made clear, in answer to a question from the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 30 June,Official Report, columns 523–24, it is not possible to estimate accurately the number of applicants who may be effected by this guidance. The effect, therefore, on the number of appeals to the immigration appellate authorities is similarly unclear.

  Court of Appeal
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he has plans to permit the Court of Appeal to be televised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans at the present time to promote amending legislation to permit the televising of proceedings in the Court of Appeal.

  Retired Judges
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to discontinue the system whereby retired judges are permitted to sit part time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has no plans to end the arrangements under existing legal provisions whereby retired judges may be asked to sit judicially from time to time. The Judicial Pensions and Retirement Bill[Lords], at present under consideration in another place, contains a provision which would prevent a retired judge from sitting after reaching the age of 75.

  Judicial Salaries
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on judicial salaries.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No. The Government are presently considering the salaries of members of the judiciary.

  Plea Bargaining
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he plans to introduce a pilot project for court-based plea bargaining; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor and I are considering the matter, but there are no plans to introduce a pilot project for court-based plea bargaining at the present time.

  Judicial Pensions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if it will be possible for judges to buy additional years under the new judicial pension provisions.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Judicial Pensions and Retirement Bill[Lords], which has recently completed its Committee stage in another place, contains a regulation-making power to enable provision to be made to entitle qualifying judicial officers to make voluntary contribution towards the cost of provision of additional benefits under the new judicial pension scheme.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to lay before Parliament and publish the annual report of the Crown prosecution service for the year 1991–92.

  The Attorney-General
  The CPS annual report for 1991–92 was laid before Parliament at 11 o'clock this morning. I have caused a copy of the report to he placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Former Members
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are being taken to make known to qualified former Members the availability of special guest passes.

  Mr. Beith
  It was agreed by the former Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) that the initiative for applying for special guest passes should lie with the former Members concerned. No specific steps are therefore being taken to alert those concerned to the availability of the new passes, although it is understood that a number of former Members have already submitted applications.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many special guest passes have been issued to qualified former hon. Members of the House.

  Mr. Beith
  Thirty-three.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many former Members are known to qualify for special guest passes.

  Mr. Beith
  Excluding the 81 former Members who have been elevated to the peerage and who therefore continue to enjoy certain facilities in this House, 205 former Members are known to qualify for special guest passes.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what special arrangements are in place within the precincts of the House of Commons for the parking of vehicles used by disabled people; how these arrangements are enforced; how the abuses of these arrangements are dealt with; what plans he has to improve such arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Beith
  The Serjeant at Arms has authorised four hon. Members, four Members' secretaries and 10 staff of the House to use on a first-come first-served basis the 12 parking spaces reserved for the use of vehicles driven by or used by photo-identity pass holders who are disabled. In addition, authority for the use of these spaces is given from time to time to disabled visitors and to photo-identity pass holders suffering from temporary incapacity.

  Those who use the other parking bays in Star Court have been reminded not to use the spaces reserved for disabled people.

  These arrangements are dependent in the first instant on the co-operation of all right hon. and hon. Members; but they do form part of the responsibilities of the Administration Committee in respect of regulations governing car parking in the precincts of the House. That Committee will act on advice from the Serjeant at Arms.

  I understand no complaints of misuse or abuse have been received this year and it would appear that the arrangements are working satisfactorily.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans he has to improve access and facilities for disabled people in the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Beith
  The arrangements for access and facilities for the disabled are kept under regular review. The hon. Gentleman may have noticed the recent installation of a stair lift up to the Grand Committee Room and Jubilee Room and handrails leading to the interview rooms off Westminster Hall. Consultants were commissioned last year to look at what might be done to improve access to the main public areas. Their initial report has been examined and further advice is now being sought.

  Telephone Directories
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the cost of producing new green plastic folders for the House of Commons telephone directory; why it was necessary to replace the black folders; how many were issued(a) to each hon. Member and (b) in total; who approved the cost; and how much was spent.

  Mr. Beith
  Some 3,500 new folders and directories are to be issued including a single personal issue to each hon. Member. The cost of the folders was £5,181. Their purchase was approved by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee in the last Parliament. The Sub-Committee's successor committee, the Administration Committee, approved a mock-up of the new directory and the new folder.

  The new green folders for the House of Commons telephone directory are to replace the current black folders
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  which are wearing out and which are too small satisfactorily to contain the newly designed telephone directory.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his policy on the release of information concerning low-flying avoidance areas has changed since the introduction of the new open government measures.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department will continue to provide information on how to apply for avoidance status and on matters taken into account when applications are considered; applicants are informed of the decision in all cases. Our policy continues to be based on the considerations set out in the Government's reply—HC 659, October 1990, page v—to the Defence Committee's report on low flying.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of low-flying sorties by aircraft type for each month of 1992 to date.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information for the period January 1992 to April 1992, the most recent month for which figures are available, is as follows:

  Numbers of Sorties

  Aircraft type

  January

  February

  March

  April

  Buccaneer

  153

  153

  95

  116

  F-4

  87

  167

  61

  115

  Harrier

  511

  698

  433

  541

  Hawk

  1,298

  1,563

  1,529

  1.500

  Jaguar

  403

  647

  761

  426

  Jet Provost

  567

  730

  669

  615

  Tornado

  1,704

  2,174

  2,232

  1.879

  Tucano

  348

  422

  349

  273

  A-10

  442

  522

  586

  542

  F-15

  0

  0

  4

  14

  F-111

  633

  693

  916

  858

  Other aircraft(including helicopters)

  3,482

  4,922

  5,541

  3,696

  Monthly total sorties

  9,628

  12,691

  13,176

  10.575

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to measure the noise levels generated by the F 15E aircraft at low level.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We hope to measure the noise generated by the F15E aircraft at low level later this year.

  Aurora
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the radar operators at RAF Machrihanish have detected the new United States aircraft Aurora during the last 12 months; and if he will list by location where it has been detected by other RAF radar monitoring stations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The existence of such an aircraft would be a matter for the United States authorities.

  "Agenda 21"
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that his Department's bases and facilities meet the guidelines set
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  out in paragraph 20.23, as amended, of chapter 20 of "Agenda 21" as agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is MOD policy to comply fully with United Kingdom environmental legislation except for certain operational activities where compliance is impractical and closely controlled exemptions are permitted. Appropriate guidance exists on the management of hazardous materials and wastes at defence establishments. It is MOD policy to minimise or eliminate the use of hazardous substances wherever practicable.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence following the agreement between the United States of America and Russia to cut strategic nuclear arms and to co-operate on the global protection against limited strikes system, whether Britain will develop a different tactical air-to-surface missile type delivery system.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are continuing to study a range of possible options for the eventual replacement of WE177. These include French and American tactical air-to-surface missiles. No decision has yet been taken.

  Jet Skis
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Queen's Harbour Master, Portsmouth has to extend restrictions on the use of jet skis in those waters off the Isle of Wight for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  David Pascall
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time RAF Leuchars was advised of the needs to provide an aircraft to rescue David Pascall on Sunday 28 June; at what time the aircraft was scrambled; how long was the flight time to the point of pick up of Mr. Pascall; how long was the flight time from the point of pick up to Vale of Leven hospital; and at what time the aircraft returned to RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF Leuchars was advised on Sunday 28 June at 2.03 pm. The aircraft was airborne at 2.10 pm, reaching Mr. Pascall some 35 minutes later. Once Mr. Pascal] was on board, the aircraft took 20 minutes to reach the Vale of Leven hospital, after which it returned to Leuchars, landing at 5.25 pm. The Royal Navy search and rescue flight at Prestwick, which operates to the same 15 minutes standby as the RAF search and rescue flight at Leuchars, would have had a similar transit time to the incident.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Aitken
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Ministry of Defence whose pay currently exceeds this figure is 12.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 24 empty houses referred to in his answer of 18 December 1991,Official Report, column 160, have been sold; how many are under offer; and how many have been sold to ex-service personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None has been sold. Six are surplus to my Department's requirements and these are currently being offered for sale through the services discount scheme.

  Service Children's Schools
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) Defence Support Agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The chief executive of Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)—SCS (NWE) —has been set the following key targets for 1992–93:To implement, so far as it is feasible in the British Forces Germany (BFG) situation, the Education Reform Act to the statutory timetable laid down for England and Wales by: Introducing the National Curriculum to SCS (NWE) by subject and Key Stage; introducing pupil assessment by subject and Key Stage; and implementing Teacher Appraisal.
  To implement the SCS (NWE) "Schools For the Future Plan" in line with BFG drawdown.
  To produce Management and School Development Plans to enable "taut" full cost financial and management planning within an agreed budget and to achieve annual efficiency savings of at least 1 per cent.
  To increase the overall pass rate at GCSE (grades A-G) and "A" Levels (grades A-E) by 10 per cent. Within this target achieve an annual 2 per cent. improvement in the proportion of pupils achieving grades A, B and C.
  To ensure that all teachers meet at least two of the four qualification-match criteria for their post with at least 75 per cent. meeting three criteria and at least 50 per cent. meeting all four criteria. The criteria are: a recognised professional qualification; relevant Specialist subject or phase qualifica-tions; broad and relevant previous teaching experience; and relevant post-entry in-service training;
  To implement Parents' Charter requirements for: child's progress report to parents annually and on change of school; examination/Standard Attainment Tests (SATs) results to be reported to parents annually; and informing parents of relevant educational developments.
  To be in a position to submit an application for a Charter Mark in mid-1993.

  A copy of the annual report and accounts for 1991–92 will be placed in the Library shortly.

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will respond to the third report of the Defence Select Committee, Session 1991–92, "Options for Change: Army, Review of the White Paper, Britain's Army for the 90s".

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses a memorandum giving the Government's formal response to this report.

  Trident
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am pleased to announce that an order is being placed today with Vickers Shipbuilding and
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  Engineering Ltd. at Barrow-in-Furness for the construc-tion of the Royal Navy's fourth Vanguard class Trident missile submarine.

  Negotiations have resulted in a keenly priced contract, and a price lower on a comparable basis than those for the first three submarines. This reflects improvements in productivity at VSEL and the considerable experience the company now has in building this class of submarine.

  The order underlines the Government's commitment to the United Kingdom Trident programme and to the effective maintenance of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent, while obtaining the best possible value for money for the taxpayer.

  Trident remains firmly on course for introduction into service with the Royal Navy in the mid-1990s.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants (Shares)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all regulations covering senior civil servants' shareholdings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  Central rules covering civil servants' shareholdings are contained in the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code", paragraphs 9874 and 9875; and the "Establishment Officers Guide", paragraph 4065. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House. In some cases, Departments and agencies supplement these rules by further regulations and guidance in handbooks or equivalent documents for their staff. These are not held centrally.

  Civil Service College (Theft)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the value of the 3 ft 6 in diameter table stolen from the Civil Service college, Sunningdale; what period of time elapsed before it was noticed it had been stolen; in what circumstances it was stolen; whether it has yet been recovered; how many other items were stolen at the same time: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  This is a matter for the chief executive and I have asked her to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library and Public Information Office.

  Duchy Aid
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many requests were made to the Duchy of Lancaster for financial aid in each year since 1982; if he will give the numbers that were unsuccessful; and if he will list the criteria by which such applications are judged.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since 1982 some 750 payments have been made by the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund. Most of these were selected by local advisers within the county palatine. There have been few unsuccessful applicants. These were either not connected with the county palatine or other areas of duchy interest, or had a reasonable prospect of raising funds elsewhere.
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  Decisions as to suitability have been based on the need for, and benefit to be derived from, each payment, while taking into account the wish to spread payments throughout the county palatine.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration will be given by the Duchy of Lancaster to the application for financial aid from the Lancashire free legal action centre.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The application for financial aid from the Lancashire free legal action centre in Blackpool is being considered with other requests for financial assistance the duchy office receives. In keeping with normal practice we will be taking local advice before any decision is made.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will commission additional research with the Medical Research Council for the development of Interleukin receptor antagonist—IL-Ira—in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Medical Research Council is funded by grant in aid from the science budget, and is an independent body which normally decides its research priorities on its own expert judgment. It is not currently funding research to develop interleukin receptor in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, it is supporting a considerable body of work relevant to the actions of interleukin in immunology, and has recently launched, with the help of additional funding from the science budget, a neuroscience approach to human health to develop further its research in fields such as Alzheimer's disease. The MRC welcomes high-quality research proposals relevant to the disease, and will consider them in competition by the usual peer review mechanisms.

  Information Disclosure
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the improvements in widening the scope of information disclosure to the public that are expected to arise from the European Commission's proposal for a council regulation on security measures applicable to classified information—Com (92) 56 final.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government consider that the draft regulation in its present form is unworkable. In consultation with other member states, the Government's aim will be to ensure that, within a framework which encourages greater openness in the EC's business, any genuinely sensitive material is effectively protected through appropriate security measures.

TRANSPORT

  River Safety
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the report of the inquiry into river safety by Mr. John Hayes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  After the tragic collision between the Bowbelle and the Marchioness in August 1989 an
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  investigation by the marine accident investigation branch —MAIB—was immediately mounted. Directions on two new safety measures were made straight away, and action put in hand on six further safety recommendations which were announced in the MAIB interim report 10 days later.

  The MAIB final report could not be published until April 1991, because of possible prejudice to legal proceedings, but its 27 recommendations were published separately in July 1990. All were accepted immediately, and prompt action taken to put them into effect. All but eight recommendations have been implemented; five of those outstanding have been the subject of public consultation, and resultant legislation will be in force this autumn; one depends on international developments; and consideration of the remaining two, relating to the involvement of military helicopters in civil search and rescue, is not yet completed.

  The MAIB report commented, with the acknowledged benefit of hindsight, that action taken by the Department in the past had not gone as far as it should. My predecessor felt that further investigation was needed and invited Mr. John Hayes, secretary of the Law Society, to carry out an inquiry into the Department of Transport's handling of its responsibility for the safety of vessels on rivers and inland waters. I am today publishing his report.

  While pointing out that
  "The onus for the safety of travellers rests with the operators who undertake to provide a service for profit",

  Mr. Hayes concludes that the Department
  "showed technical competence and dedication but lacked the vision and drive to lead the river marine industry into accepting that high safety standards and commercial success were compatible."

  I am considering carefully all Mr. Hayes's 22 recommendations. Several concern the overall approach of the Department to the exercise of its functions in this area. We are urged to take a much higher profile in promoting safety among a variety of fragmented operators and regulators. Conditions vary greatly in different parts of the country and I have therefore decided to establish a series of district marine safety committees throughout the United Kingdom to review for each area the way in which responsibilities for safety, rescue and accident prevention are presently distributed. The committees will identify risks and the scope for reducing them, assess the necessary new measures and ensure that systems are set up to support the arrangements.

  Mr. Hayes made a number of suggestions concerning the way in which the Surveyor-General's Organisation should in future exercise its responsibilities in connection with safety on rivers and at sea. Following recent reports by the National Audit Office and a Committee in another place, I have had an internal review carried out. This has recommended that the organisation be reconstituted as a Marine Safety Agency, responsible to me and with the degree of independence enjoyed by other next steps agencies. I am therefore putting in hand work to establish whether the Surveyor-General's Organisation should become a candidate for executive agency status. I will make a further announcement of my conclusions in due course.

  Mr. Hayes recommended that there should be an early review of the rescue arrangements and equipment on the Thames. The Government have given careful considera-tion to the recommendation but have concluded that a further review of this kind would not be justified. Action is, however, being taken to ensure that the lessons from the
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  Marchioness/Bowbelle disaster have been fully assimilated. In addition, Thames rescue arrangements and equipment will also be examined by the relevant district marine safety committee as part of its wider review.

  A full list of Mr. Hayes's recommendations and the Government's initial response to them is being placed in the Library.

  Mr. Hayes's report makes a valuable contribution to the work we are doing to improve safety standards on our rivers and inland waterways, and I am most grateful to him for his work and that of his advisers, Captain Nic Rutherford and Mr. Mike Henderson.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects rolling stock for channel tunnel night passenger services to be ordered.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail and its continental partner railways have now confirmed with Metro Cammell their order for rolling stock. Night services are expected to begin in 1995.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on discussions, within the Council of Ministers, about the intervention by the Commissioner for Competition Policy in the decision by British Rail, together with the national railways of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, to operate through sleeper services via the channel tunnel; and if he will resist any attempt to prevent the provision of such services.

  Mr. Freeman
  There has been no discussion of the channel tunnel night trains within the Council of Ministers. The question of exempting from European Community competition rules the joint venture agreement between the participating railways covering the purchase and operation of the night trains is a matter between the railways and the European Commission.

  Air Transport Policy
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to reply to the first report from the Transport Committee of Session 1991–92 on developments in European Community air transport policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My predecessor as Secretary of State, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), submitted the Government's response to the Committee on 16 March 1992. Copies of the response have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Norris
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department of Transport whose pay currently exceeds this figure is one.

  Reduced-Mobility Workers
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Council of Ministers to approve the draft directive on safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roger Freeman
  There was full discussion on the draft directive on safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility in European Standing Committee A on 16 October 1991. I explained my position in detail at that time.

  I welcome moves towards more accessible transport for people with disabilities and my Department is actively promoting and encouraging them. There are a number of legal and technical objections to the directive as currently drafted. I will he discussing with the industry, with disabled people as consumers and with European colleagues, the best way to make progress.

  Unadopted Roads
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend local authorities' duties and powers to adopt currently unadopted roads.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have no such plans.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the obligations on local authorities to maintain those unadopted roads which have operated as public tracks for over 20 years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980 provides that a way over land which has been enjoyed by the public as of right and uninterruptedly for fully 20 years shall be deemed to be dedicated as a highway. But of itself this imposes no obligation for such a highway to be maintained at public expense.

  M1/M62
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the quality of life in local communities within the proposed M1/M62 link road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The effects of the proposals on local communities are considered in the environmental appraisal framework.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which the M1/M62 link motorway will attract traffic from the Snake and Woodhead passes, and divert south Yorkshire trans-Pennine traffic through west Yorkshire via the M 1.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  An assessment has been made which indicates that the transfer of trans-Pennine traffic from south Yorkshire to the proposed M1/M62 link road would not form a significant proportion of the total flow on that road.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how financial evaluations of cost-effectiveness have been undertaken for the proposed M1/M62 link road.
  104
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The economic evaluation of the scheme has been carried out using the Department's standard cost-benefit analysis—COBA. A copy of the COBA manual is in the House Library.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to announce the results of the public consultation process on the proposed M1/M62 motorway link; and if he will undertake to publish(a) the number of responses in favour of the yellow route, ( b) the number of responses against the yellow route, (c) the number of responses in favour of the purple route and (d) the number of responses against the purple route.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A full analysis of the response to the public consultation will take many months, after which an announcement will be made. Information about the responses will be published at that time.

  Totton Western Bypass
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the inspector's report on the final stage of the Totton western bypass; and when he expects to announce his final decision on the route.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The inspector's report on the reopened inquiries into the Totton western bypass was received by the Secretary of State for Transport on 28 May 1992. A final decision on the route may be expected by mid-August.

TRANSPORT

  Lowestoft Relief Road
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will instruct his officials to progress detailed discussions with staff at the Co-operative Wholesale Society factory at Lowestoft over the route of the Al2 relief road and the new crossing of Lake Lothing; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects to be in a position to give the hon. Member for Waveney a substantive reply further to his holding letter of 2 March, Ref. C/PSO/1907/92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The Co-operative Wholesale Society's alternative proposals for a Lowestoft relief road are currently the subject of an assessment of economic, environmental and engineering aspects. The assessment is expected to be complete in approximately four to six weeks' time, when a substantive reply to my hon. Friend's correspondence on the subject will be sent.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that those vans which are of the nature of saloon or estate cars in shape are classified as in category 1 for toll purposes under the Severn Bridges Act 1992.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: No. Car-based vans fall within the description of small goods vehicles for tolling purposes, and thus fall in toll category 2.
  105
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the amount of traffic now taking the northern route for the journey into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge;

  (2) what change there has been in the amount of road accidents as a result of traffic taking the northern route into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge;

  (3) what assessment he has made of environmental damage to villages in Gloucester as a result of traffic taking the northern route into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: No assessment has been made of the effects of traffic diversion from the Severn bridge as result of the recent toll changes. There was a reduction in westbound traffic flows on the bridge immediately after the introduction of the new tolls. There is already some evidence to show that some drivers who may have diverted initially are now reverting to using the bridge.

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on type approval as relating to motor cycles.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Many representations have been received on EC type-approval, mostly from private individuals, but also from representative organisations and industry. Apart from questioning the need for type-approval, they stressed, among other things, that customisation, low-volume manufacturers and sale of second-hand machines should be protected. Some went on to advocate that type-approval should apply only to the original design of a motor-cycle and not to machines in use. While supporting the principle of EC type-approval, industry stressed that much more time was needed to bring the scheme into operation. The Government took up these and other points during EC negotiations, and are now content that the main concerns of the motor-cycle user and industry are met in the type-approval framework directive as adopted on 30 June.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the need for leg protectors for motor cyclists.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Many representations have been received on this matter, mostly from private individuals, but also from representative organisations and industry. The majority are opposed to leg protectors, and many reflect the view of the motor-cycle industry that they could increase injuries to other parts of the body, particularly the head. The Government's response to industry criticism has been in the form of a research paper by the Transport Research Laboratory (working paper WP/VS/213: "TRL Review of Research on Motorcycle Leg Protection— 1991"). Among other things, it concludes that all the evidence to date, and there is much of it covering a very wide range of conditions, shows the TRL-designed leg protectors to be successful in achieving their objectives of reducing leg injuries without increase of other injuries, while being compatible with the production of motor-cycles. I have arranged for a copy of the TRL review to be placed in the Library today.
  106
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has has with the EC regarding type approval for motor cycles.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Full discussions were held in Council prior to the adoption of the EC motor-cycle type-approval framework directive on 30 June. A further 23 Commission proposals for the separate directives that will constitute EC motor-cycle whole-vehicle type-approval are yet to be considered by Council.

  Street Furniture
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what street furniture local authorities can add to unadopted roads(a) with and (b) without permission of the road owners.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Local authorities may place any street furniture in unadopted roads that they may in adopted roads unless the power to do so says otherwise.

  A27
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take regarding the blighted properties purchased on the proposed route of the A27 in the Worthing area and then let at an uneconomic rent when the leases expire in August.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All our properties will be retained until our land-take for roadworks has been confirmed following public inquiries. As they expire, existing tenancies will be extended for further fixed terms. Rent reviews will have regard to current market rent levels and the means of the tenant.

  M42
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the volume of traffic using the M42 motorway between the M6 junction and the M40 junction is greater than his Department's predictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department has made a number of predictions of likely traffic flows on this stretch of motorway over the period of several years during the phased construction of the M42 and M40 motorways. Projected flows for 1991 have varied between about 65,000 and 90,000 vehicles per day, with the whole of the M40 open to traffic. The figures vary for different parts of this stretch of motorway. The reasons for the disparity in the figures are changing circumstances affecting the basis on which traffic forecasts are made and the effects of developing plans for the trunk road network elsewhere. The actual flows for 1991 were about 95,000 vehicles per day.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of noise levels experienced by residents of Knowle due to traffic on the M42 motorway after the completion of the link between the M42 and the M40 motorways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department has made no such assessment. There is no statutory basis for one. The Department will be making an assessment of noise levels in this area when it widens the M42 motorway as proposed.

  Crossing Safety
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to introduce safer road crossings.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A new type of pedestrian crossing, called a Puffin crossing, is being installed at 50 trunk road sites in England during 1992–93. This crossing is equipped to detect the presence of pedestrians both on the crossing itself and waiting to cross. It automatically gives sufficient time for slow-moving people to cross in comfort and is designed to improve road safety.

  Solus 90
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ships that currently comply with Solus 90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available. All passenger ships built after 29 April 1990 and engaged on international voyages are required to comply with Solas 90.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement in respect of the reported air near-miss on 26 June, involving an United Airlines Boeing 767 and a Venezuelan business jet over south Wales;

  (2) if he will make a statement in respect of the reported air near-miss on 25 June, involving an Air UK F27 and a Royal Air Force Tornado at approximately 12,000 ft, 15 miles north of Grimsby.

  Mr. Norris
  The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority.

  All air-miss reports in United Kingdom airspace, involving civil or military aircraft, are investigated initially by the joint air-miss section of the national air traffic services, which is a joint CAA/Ministry of Defence organisation. They are then examined by the joint air-miss working group (JAWG), an independent committee drawn from a wide cross-section of responsible civil and aviation bodies.

  This incident is the subject of active investigation at this time. I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the CAA and have asked it to write to him direct when the investigation is complete.

  Air Fares
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) under what circumstances he is required to give approval for an air fare for scheduled flights in or out of the United Kingdom;

  (2) if he will set out the exact process by which an application for the setting of an airfare, for which he is required to give approval, is made; to what extent it involves (a) the Civil Aviation Authority, (b) officials of his Department, (c) any other body and (d) Ministers.

  Mr. Norris
  At present, the Civil Aviation Authority has the power to regulate air fares. Fares on scheduled services within the EC performed by EC carriers have to be 108
  approved if they are reasonably related to the carrier's long-term fully allocated relevant costs, or otherwise meet the requirements of current EC legislation. Fares on services to points outside the EC are governed by bilateral arrangements. From 1 January 1993 all fares within the EC are to be set by free pricing: there will no longer be an approval system.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what powers he has to regulate the air fares of British charter airlines;

  (2) what powers he has to regulate the air fares of non-British charter airlines flying in and out of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norris
  The cost of a seat on a charter flight is part of the overall cost of the package offered by the tour operator.

  As from 1 January 1993, European Community arrangements will cover charter services for the first time. Existing practice will be continued, as those arrangements stipulate that charter rates are to be determined by free negotiation between the parties concerned.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the powers he has to reject, vary, or accept applications for levels of air fares for(a) British scheduled airlines and (b) non-British scheduled airlines on routes other than EC or transatlantic;

  (2) if he will set out what powers he has to reject, vary, or accept applications for levels of air fares for (a) British scheduled airlines and (b) non-British scheduled airlines on transatlantic routes.

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority has power to regulate air fares(a) in the case of United Kingdom airlines, under the air transport licensing provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and (b) in the case of airlines using foreign-registered aircraft, under part X of the Air Navigation Order 1989. In approving or disapproving a fare for international services the Civil Aviation Authority will have regard to the United Kingdom's international obligations.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the powers he has to reject, vary, or accept applications for levels of air fares for(a) British scheduled airlines and (b) non-British scheduled airlines on EC routes.

  Mr. Norris
  EC regulation 2342/90 presently covers the setting of fares on scheduled services within the EC performed by British and other EC carriers. Generally, fares have to be approved if they are related to the carrier's costs. Fares charged by carriers from third countries on EC routes are governed by the bilateral agreements under which those services are permitted.

  Arrangements for EC carriers operating within the EC will change substantially on 1 January 1993 when free pricing is introduced for all carriers. The approval system disappears, and a carrier can bring in a fare on 24 hours' notice.

  There will be a safeguard against unfair pricing; but in agreeing this new regulation the Council and Commission made it clear that this safeguard was not intended as a means to reimpose a pricing policy on carriers. In the United Kingdom, whilst fares will be notified to the CAA, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide whether the safeguard should be activated.
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  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the date of the next meeting between his Department and the relevant United States authorities to discuss the Bermuda agreement.

  Mr. Norris
  The next round of discussions with the US authorities about possible liberalisation of the Bermuda 2 air services agreement is due to begin on 20 July.

  Scheduled Flights
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the United Kingdom airports from which scheduled transatlantic flights leave.

  Mr. Norris
  Scheduled passenger flights to airports in north America, south America, and the Caribbean leave the United Kingdom airports listed:

  Glasgow

  London Gatwick

  London Heathrow

  London Stansted

  Manchester

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list United Kingdom regional airports from which scheduled flights leave to airports abroad, other than in north America.

  Mr. Norris
  Scheduled passenger flights to airports abroad, other than in north America and the Caribbean, leave the United Kingdom regional airports listed:

  Aberdeen

  Belfast International

  Birmingham

  Blackpool

  Bristol

  Cardiff-Wales

  East Midlands

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  Humberside

  Leeds Bradford

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Norwich

  Plymouth

  Southampton

  Teesside

  Source: BAA Flight Guide, Summer 1992 edition.

  Motor Vehicles Register
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce a public register of motor vehicles on lease or hire purchase, together with an obligation to register, as a measure to protect innocent purchasers and intermediaries from fraud.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. Hire Purchase Information plc (HPI) has for many years maintained a record of third party interests. Motor traders have ready access to this information and I understand that HPI is considering how it may be made more readily available to the general public. I see no reason for the public sector to duplicate this service.

  Charter Flights
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list United Kingdom regional airports from which charter flights to airports abroad leave.
  110
  Mr. Norris
  Comprehensive information about the United Kingdom regional airports from which charter flights leave for airports abroad in the current season is not available in the Department. Information relating to 1991 is available in "UK Airports: Annual Statements of Movements, Passengers and Cargo 1991", published by the Civil Aviation Authority as CAP 504.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the effect on small businesses in the Severnside area of the recent increases in toll charges on the Severn bridge.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: A report by Pieda plc which was recently published by the Department of Employment concluded, on the basis of a survey of businesses in Avon and south Wales, that the second Severn crossing scheme, taking account of the new tolls, would have a positive effect on local trading and commercial activity, and stimulate investment opportunities in south Wales. Copies of the executive summary of the report, entitled "The Economic Impact of the Second Severn Crossing", are in the House Library.

  Road Blocks, France
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had concerning the impact on United Kingdom trade, tourism and the free movement of goods and people of the road blocks set up by French hauliers, dockers and farmers in Macon, Narbonne, Perpignan and elsewhere; what proposals he has to approach the French ambassador to the Court of St. James on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: We have received representations from or on behalf of individual transport operators and the relevant trade associations. My right hon. Friend is keeping in close and regular contact with Mr. Bianco, his French counterpart, and is urging him to find solutions to this appalling situation as quickly as possible.

  Trust Ports
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislative provisions govern the freedom of trust ports not to release their annual report and accounts to interested parties or the public.

  Mr. Norris
  The relevant provision, which will be applicable where it has been incorporated in local harbour legislation, is section 50 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847. This provides for the harbour undertakers to prepare annual accounts and send a copy to the county clerk, who will open them for inspection by the public for a small fee.

  Yachts
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he gives(a) Commonwealth countries and (b) Caribbean nations on apprehending stolen United Kingdom registered yachts.

  Mr. Norris
  Tracing and recovering stolen yachts and apprehending those responsible is essentially a police matter working in co-operation with foreign law enforcement agencies.
  111
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve(a) the use of ships registered papers and (b) the registration of yachts within the EC.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has made of(a) the principal destinations and (b) the sale of United Kingdom registered yachts stolen from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Tilbury
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the management of the recently privatised Port of Tilbury to discuss the write-off of outstanding loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  There are no Government loans to the Port of Tilbury.

  Marine Theft
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last attended a conference on marine theft from the leisure sector in(a) the EC and (b) worldwide.

  Mr. Norris
  Never.

  Roads, West Lancashire
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the proposed improvement scheme for the A59 and A570 roads in west Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Consulting engineers were appointed last year to investigate possible routes for three schemes in the Liverpool-Preston corridor; the A59 Ormskirk-Walmer bridge improvement (which would incorporate a bypass of Burscough); the A570 Ormskirk bypass; and the A570 Scarisbrick and Pinfold bypass. This work is still at an early stage. I cannot yet say when we shall be able to publish proposals.

  Ports (Loans)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the outstanding loans between the Government and the Port of London authority and the Port of Tilbury.

  Mr. Norris
  The Port of London authority repaid all its outstanding Government loans in April 1992.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fire Station, Crossmaglen
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current projected start date for work on the new fire station, Crossmaglen, Newry; what are the reasons for delays in the commencement of the building work; and if he will take steps to ensure that the work is started within the current financial year.
  112
  Mr. Atkins
  The fire authority considered tenders for the fire station at Crossmaglen on 23 June 1992 and awarded a contract. Work will commence within the next few months and should be completed in the spring of 1993. The delay in the commencement of building work arose as a result of the authority's decision to retender.

  Customs Clearance
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce measures to assist customs clearance agents(a) to prepare for the social impact of and (b) to cope with the economic consequences of the removal of tax barriers within the EC on 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Atkins
  European social fund assistance is being used by the Training and Employment Agency and others to finance activities aimed at the retaining or redeployment of those employed in small and medium-sized enterprises threatened with redundancies. There is also scope for some assistance within the existing INTERREG programme which was specifically designed to help border regions deal with the advent of the single market. In addition, assistance may become available as a result of recent proposals by the European Commission on the redeployment of customs agents, but it will be some time before final details are known.

  Official in the Department of Economic Development, including the Training and Employment Agency, can offer detailed advice about existing initiatives and have been in contact with customs clearance agents' representatives.

  Scottish Power
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent communications his Department has had with Scottish Power concerning plans to connect the province's electricity grid with the Scottish grid via a sea bed cable.

  Mr. Atkins
  None. The project is being progressed by Northern Ireland Electricity and Scottish Power directly.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Mates
  Three officials currently earn more than £63,047, the total salary of a Cabinet Minister, including reduced parliamentary salary.

  District Electoral Areas
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a boundary commissioner will be appointed for the purpose of forming district electoral areas; and what is the timetable for his reports.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. Friend has today appointed Dr. Maurice Hayes as district electoral areas commissioner to report on the grouping of local government wards in district council areas for local elections. The commissioner is an independent officer and it will be for him to decide his precise timetable; but the submission of the commissioner's report will be in time to enable my
  113
  right hon. Friend to lay before Parliament a draft Order in Council making provision for electoral areas prior to the general local elections to be held in May 1993.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the number of water disconnections in Northern Ireland in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  48

  1980

  59

  1981

  134

  1982

  123

  1983

  345

  1984

  913

  1985

  651

  1986

  388

  1987

  318

  1988

  408

  1989

  292

  1990

  258

  1991

  385

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Summer Solstice Celebrations
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reports he has received of damage to monuments or land in the counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucester, Avon, Dorset, Somerset and Devon for which he has responsibility, resulting from the various manifestations to celebrate the 1992 summer solstice.

  Mr. Key
  Neither I nor my statutory advisers, English Heritage, have received any reports of any damage in the counties listed by my hon. Friend. In respect of Stonehenge, English Heritage advises that due to the vigilance of its representatives and the Wiltshire police, no damage occurred at the monument.

  Grant Aid
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will establish grant-aid funding to heritage projects which do not gain private good from public funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Department of National Heritage supports a number of heritage projects, both directly and indirectly, through agencies such as English Heritage and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. In all of the grant regimes funded by DNH resources, the primary objective is to ensure the preservation of the historic buildings, sites, or works of art concerned, or to enhance our knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the national heritage, by providing financial assistance which would not otherwise be available. Such policies are in the public, rather than private, interest.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.
  114
  Mr. Key
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department of National Heritage whose pay currently exceeds this figure is one.

  Church Buildings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give financial assistance to the listed grade II church of All Saints, Clayton-with-Frickley, south Yorkshire to cover the costs of subsidence damage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The church is potentially eligible for grant towards repairs from English Heritage, and an approach has been made by the parish. However, the major part of the repair bill is attributable to subsidence caused by undermining and the parish is pursuing a claim against British Coal for a significant proportion of the costs. A decision by English Heritage will not be possible until the question of compensation has been settled.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the practice in other EC countries of state subsidy of heritage church buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  No specific study has been undertaken, but general information suggests that United Kingdom grant regimes for historic buildings compare favourably with those of most other European countries.

  Sports Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much cash from the Sports and Arts Foundation has been disbursed to(a) Wales, (b) the Sports Council for Wales, (c) the Sports Council for England and (d) the Sports Council for Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: The Foundation for Sport and the Arts has allocated grants totalling £1,902,380 to projects in Wales, up to 5 April 1992. No grants have been made direct to the Sports Council for Wales, the Sports Council GB or the Sports Council for Scotland. The foundation is an independent body whose grants are made at the discretion of the trustees within the terms of the foundation's trust deed.

  Royal Parks Constabulary
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what statutory protection exists for constables of the Royal Parks constabulary from unfair dismissal; what statutory restrictions exist on their taking industrial action; what statutory police federation exists to represent them; and what statutory restrictions exist on their entitlement to join a trade union.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: No statutory protection exists from unfair dismissal for constables of the Royal Parks constabulary. In line with other police forces, they are an excluded category by virtue of section 146 (3) of the Employment Protection Consolidation Act 1978. There are similarly no statutory restrictions on their taking industrial action or their entitlement to join a trades union. Constables of the Royal Parks constabulary are

  115
  represented by the National Union of Civil and Public Servants and many have exercised their right to join that trades union. No statutory police federation exists to represent the Royal Parks constabulary.

PRIME MINISTER

  Darwin Initiative
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 24 June,Official Report, columns 200–1, if he is now able to say what funding for the Darwin initiative will be; if he will make a statement on his plans to set up the initiative; how it will relate to the United States biodiversity project based in New York; what further action he plans to conserve biological diversity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are asking interested parties to come forward with ideas on how best to develop a framework for the Darwin initiative and to set priorities for action. We will consider the appropriate level of funding once we have decided those priorities. The Darwin initiative is based on United Kingdom expertise in the field of biodiversity, but we will be looking at action which other countries are taking.

  In addition to launching this initiative I have also written to my EC and G7 colleagues urging them to take follow-up action to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, including taking forward the convention on biodiversity.

  Global Technology
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his speech at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, when he plans to hold the global technology partnership conference; where it will be held; who will be the invitees; which British companies will be involved; what discussions he held with British companies prior to announcing the conference; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The technology partnership initiative will extend the work of the United Kingdom throughout the preparations for the Earth summit to promote the role of technology co-operation in achieving sustainable development. It will provide developing countries with the opportunity to gain direct access to information on environmentally sound technologies, know-how, best practices and case studies available in the United Kingdom and will open up direct channels of communication with British companies.

  The initiative will be launched by a conference and exhibition in the first half of 1993. Officials are currently working on the details of both. We propose to invite representatives of developing countries and to approach United Kingdom companies and others who have experience in providing environmental solutions for developing countries.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister which non-governmental organisations he will be inviting to the global forum in June; if NGOs from developing nations will be involved in the preparation for the forum; where 116
  the forum will be held; what consultations he held with NGOs before announcing the forum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are discussing the arrangements with nongovernmental organisations. Overseas NGOs will be invited to attend and we expect them to be involved in the preparations.

  UNCED
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his speech at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, what extra amounts he intends to give to the following areas, stating for each over what time period the donation will be made and in what form(a) forestry conservation, (b) biodiversity, (c) energy efficiency, (d) population planning and (e) sustainable agriculture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said at Rio, we are planning to make available substantial extra resources for these areas. New commitments will be made as part of the planning and management of our overseas aid programme.

  Debt Burden
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to reduce the debt burden on developing countries and extend the Trinidad terms to other G7 nations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are fully committed to the agreed international debt strategy, and have given a strong lead in tackling the debt burden of the poorest and most heavily indebted countries. In addition to relieving developing countries of over $1 billion of aid loans, this Government have been responsible for both the Toronto and Trinidad initiatives. These were the first initiatives to result in the partial cancellation of the more substantial and burdensome debts owed by the poorest countries to export credit agencies.

  The Paris club began implementing Trinidad terms in December, and seven countries have already benefited. The agreed terms give a 50 per cent. reduction in debts falling due in the course of the debtor country's IMF programme of economic reform, and commit creditors to consider reducing the whole stock of debt in three to four years' time if the debtor keeps to its IMF and Paris club agreements. The Government hope that Trinidad terms can be further developed in the direction of our original proposals, which were for a benchmark figure of two thirds reduction applied immediately to the whole stock of debt. It would also be an important step forward if all creditors, without exception, were to implement debt reduction under Trinidad terms.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that(a) letters from hon. Members to Ministers concerning next steps agencies which are concerned with political rather than administrative or

  117
  commercial matters and (b) letters concerning the planning inspectorate will be replied to by Ministers and not chief executives.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government's policy on dealing with letters from hon. Members on agency matters was most recently set out in the Government's reply to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee's 1990 report on the next steps initiative, Cm 1263, which said:
  "It is for Ministers responsible for particular Agencies to respond in the way they consider most helpful and appropriate to inquiries raised by Members. Ministers will normally ask the Chief Executive to reply to letters which concern day-to-day operational matters delegated to the Agency".

  Royal British Legion (Training Centre)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 620, if he will make it his policy for any grant from PERIFRA II in respect of the Royal British Legion's bid for the establishment of a training centre at Tidworth, for the purpose of giving specific training to service personnel and dependants for employment in civilian life, to be treated as additional to the Ministry of Defence existing budget, to the extent necessary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The matter will be dealt with in accordance with the arrangements for grants from the European regional development fund set out in my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade's statement of 30 June at columns 525–26.

  Subsidiarity
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on applying the principle of subsidiarity to the work of local government within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is for Parliament to decide on the distribution of functions between central and local government.

  Intervention Wheat
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister how many tonnes of common wheat held in intervention by the European Commission to which he referred in his answer of 25 July 1991,Official Report, column 782, were released as emergency food and (a) in 1990 and (b) in 1991 and in each half of 1991 and (c) in the first half of 1992; and what is the predicted level for the whole of the current year.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Aid will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information requested is available from the European Commission.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 July.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 July.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.
  118
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is attending the economic summit in Munich.

  Child Health
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer on 24 June,Official Report, column 219, if he will make a statement on the implementation of declaration 76 of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Harare in October 1991, relating to the framework for collaboration to put children first, particularly through co-operation programmes devised to enhance health and literacy levels among children: what priority is being given to enhancing child health in the developing countries in Commonwealth programmes; and what funding has been allocated to these programmes.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 2 July 1992]: I have been asked to reply.

  Paragraph 76 of the Harare declaration endorses the declaration and plan of action of the survival, protection and development of children adopted by the World Summit for Children, which we support. The commit-ments undertaken at the summit to improve child health and security and to develop appropriate education are already among the basic concerns of the British aid programme.

  We are making a significant contribution through our aid programme of some £45 million a year to health and population programmes in Commonwealth countries. A breakdown of the likely beneficiaries between adults and children is not available, but a considerable proportion of this assistance will directly benefit child health.

EDUCATION

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Forman
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department for Education whose pay currently exceeds this figure is two.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of local education authorities in England will have two or fewer grant-maintained schools operating within their area in September 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  A total of 76 per cent. of local education authorities fall into this category. Over 50 per cent. of LEAs will have at least one GM school operating by this September.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what procedures apply to the audit of public money spent by individual city technology colleges.

  Mr. Forth
  Each city technology college is required to have its accounts audited annually by independent
  119
  auditors. The auditors are required to report that they are satisfied that the college's internal control arrangements are appropriate and they have not identified any material weaknesses. The books and accounts of the college arc also required to be open to officials of the Department for Education and the National Audit Office.

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the amount of the Further Education Funding Council transitional funds which will be required(a) to fund consultants' reports and (b) to meet the appropriate internal running costs of the FEFC.

  Mr. Forman
  Of the £25 million that will be available to the Further Education Funding Council for transitional funding in 1992–93, the council's running costs, including the cost of consultancies, will account for approximately one third. Just over £1 million will be spent in 1992–93 on surveys by consultants of equipment, health and safety, and colleges' management and financial controls and systems. These surveys will be of direct benefit to colleges and will save considerable duplication of effort and expenditure on their part.

  Voluntary-aided Schools, Rossendale
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he has received an application for capital grant in respect of an extension to St. Veronica's voluntary-aided primary school, Haslingden, Rossendale.

  School examination survey School leavers Number of leavers with A-level passes

  Thousands

  Subject

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  11990–91

  English

  33·6

  35·3

  36·4

  35·4

  34·0

  31·5

  32·9

  34·1

  36·8

  41·8

  43·6

  History

  23·1

  24·5

  24·6

  23·8

  22·9

  20·8

  22·6

  22·3

  24·2

  26·3

  25·9

  Social Studies

  4·1

  4·7

  4·9

  5·0

  5·0

  5·0

  6·1

  6·5

  7·9

  9·1

  10·3

  Creative Arts

  13·6

  14·1

  15·1

  15·1

  14·9

  14·7

  14·6

  15·3

  17·7

  19·9

  21·0

  Mathematics

  37·4

  40·9

  42·1

  42·3

  42·8

  41·4

  39·8

  41·5

  39·6

  39·2

  36·9

  Physics

  29·8

  31·8

  31·2

  31·7

  30·8

  28·7

  26·5

  26·4

  25·9

  26·3

  24·4

  Chemistry

  27·0

  29·0

  28·9

  29·0

  28·6

  27·7

  26·0

  25·9

  24·9

  26·8

  25·7

  Biology

  22·9

  23·8

  24·2

  23·8

  23·4

  21·6

  21·9

  21·5

  22·1

  24·7

  23·3

  1 Provisional.

SCOTLAND

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has as to the number of accesses made to the police national computer by each constabulary over the last year; and what is the proportion of access requests made to the vehicle indexes of the new police national computer;

  (2) how many accesses were made to each index of the new police national computer over the last year; and if he will include in these statistics an indication of the number of access requests that could search more than one index.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.
  120
  Mr. Forth
  Yes.

  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he has received an application for capital grant in respect of developments of St. Mary's voluntary-aided primary school, Haslingden, Rossendale.

  Mr. Forth
  Yes.

  Capital for Popular Schools
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if, in the consultation document "Capital for Popular Schools", the definition of popular schools includes grammar schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Yes. Details of how the popular schools initiative will be implemented, following our consulta-tions, will be issued shortly to LEAs and others.

  A-levels
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students have passed A-levels in English literature, history, sociology, art, maths, physics, chemistry and biology for each year since 1981.

  Mr. Forth
  The estimated number of school leaves who have passed A-level in English, history, social studies, creative arts, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology for each year since 1981 are shown in the table.

  Training
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the figures, by region, in Scotland for youth training and employment training budgets for(a) 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93.

  Mr. Lang
  The outturn figures for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93 for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for youth training and adult training, subject to an adjustment to the 1991–92 outturn for adult training for Scottish Enterprise to make it compatible with the coverage of the 1992–93 budget, are as follows:

  £'000

  Scottish Enterprise

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Youth training

  92,356

  90,150

  7,956

  6,080

  Adult training

  99,940

  93,567

  6,566

  5,655

  121
  These budgets cover a wider range of activities than the youth training and employment training schemes. The allocation of resources by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to local enterprise companies is an operational matter for these two bodies; and I have asked the chairmen to write to the hon. Member.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. Michael Cook
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information embassy or consular officials in Portugal received from the Portuguese authorities about the timing and decision of the appeal by Mr. Michael Cook; and if he will make a statement on developments in the case since the Adjournment debate on 9 June.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  When asked by our embassy in Lisbon on 26 June 1992 the Portuguese supreme court confirmed that Mr. Michael Cook's appeal had been heard and turned down on 17 June 1992.

  Since the Adjournment debate, consular officials have again visited Mr. Cook. They are also in touch with his Portuguese lawyer and with his brother in the United Kingdom about the implications of the appeal verdict.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an official request to the Portuguese authorities that none of the physical evidence connected with the Michael Cook case be destroyed until possible further proceedings are completed.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We understand that Mr. Cook may be appealing to the European Court of Human Rights. We have therefore instructed our embassy in Lisbon to ask the Portuguese authorities to ensure that all remaining evidence is retained.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Over the next year I will, as the responsible Minister, oversee FCO involvement in developing international environmental policy following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and instigate policies for energy saving on the FCO estates. These policies will be carried forward over the lifetime of this Parliament.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money is in the British embassy United Kingdom military training and assistance scheme fund in Indonesia; and for what purposes this fund is used.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A total of £14·7 million is available under UKMTAS worldwide in the current financial year. The allocation of funds to individual countries varies from year to year and is not made public.
  122
  In the case of Indonesia, UKMTAS funds enable a limited number of military personnel to attend develop-mental and educational training courses in the United Kingdom.

  EC Draft Regulations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what categories of draft regulations will be accepted by the British presidency of the European Council as being put forward as list A items by the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Council's rules of procedure state:"items for which approval of the Council is possible without discussion shall be included in Part A, but this does not exclude the possibility of any member of the Council or of the Commission expressing an opinion at the time of the approval of these items and having statements included in the minutes.
  However, an 'A' item shall be withdrawn from the agenda, unless the Council decides otherwise, if a position on an 'A' item might lead to further discussion thereof or if a member of the Council or the Commission so requests."

  It is clearly not possible now to predict which items will be taken as A items in any Council during the United Kingdom presidency.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There are 18 officers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and diplomatic service whose pay exceeds that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Tibet
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the number of Chinese settling in the Tibetan autonomous region and in the Tibetan autonomous areas in Qinghai, Sichnan, Gansa and Yunnan provinces, and the practice of the Chinese authorities to encourage Chinese immigration into these same areas, by freely granting licences to trade.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There have been numerous reports about the number of Chinese settling in Tibet. However, there is little or no reliable independent confirmation that a policy exists. According to the most recent Chinese census in 1990, over 95 per cent. of the population of the Tibet autonomous region is Tibetan while 3·7 per cent. is Han Chinese. The Chinese authorities have announced their intention of creating a special economic and technological zone in Lhasa aimed at attracting investment from other provinces, and from foreign countries.

  Brazil (Street Children)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Brazilian ambassador on a regular basis to discuss progress on bringing to justice the perpetrators of the killings of street children in Brazil.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 30 June, at column 508.

  GCHQ, Cheltenham
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider his policy on trade union membership at Government communications headquarters, Cheltenham.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government remain convinced that membership of national civil service trade unions is incompatible with employment at GCHQ. However, we remain ready to listen to any proposals the Council of Civil Service Unions may have for alternative arrangements which would meet the Government's operational aims.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Expert Witnesses
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions have been made by police forces to give adequate notice to expert witnesses of the date and time of cases in which they are to give evidence in the Crown court.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Police forces recognise the need to give all witnesses as much notice as possible of the date of the trial, and generally do so as soon as they know the date from the Crown court lists. If the trial date is unexpectedly brought forward, however, they might only be able to give witnesses comparatively short notice.

  Arrests (Reporting)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on police forces informing the media of opportunities to cover the arrest of people in connection with criminal charges.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Communications between the police and the press is an operational matter for chief officers, who must have regard to the relevant provisions of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

  The Holocaust
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the adequacy of existing race relations legislation to deal with untrue claims about the holocaust.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government deplore the sentiments expressed by exponents of "holocaust revisionism" and other extreme right-wing groups.

  It has always been the tradition in this country that people have the right to express their views—however controversial or repugnant they may be—provided that they do so within the law, including that covering incitement to racial hatred.

  We believe that part III of the Public Order Act 1986 has played an important part in deterring acts which are likely or intended to stir up racial hatred and it is for the police and prosecuting authorities to decide whether proceedings should be taken in any particular case. We shall continue to keep the legislation and its operation under review but we have no plans at present for amending it.

  Electoral Quotas
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, on the assumption of an unchanged number of parliamentary constituencies for England(a) the 1991 electoral quota and (b) the entitlement of each county and London borough.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The 1991 electoral quota for England is 69,281.

  The entitlement of each county and London borough is given in the tables:

  Borough

  1991 electorate

  Entitlement

  A. London boroughs

  City of London1

  4,019

  0·06

  Barking and Dagenham

  111,789

  1·61

  Barnet

  212,819

  3·07

  Bexley

  168,332

  2·43

  Brent

  175,902

  2·54

  Bromley

  230,645

  3·33

  Camden

  123,706

  1·79

  Croydon

  236,777

  3·42

  Ealing

  190,289

  2·75

  Enfield

  197,718

  2·85

  Greenwich

  159,404

  2·30

  Hackney

  132,605

  1·91

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  99,441

  1·44

  Haringey

  144,577

  2·09

  Harrow

  147,069

  2·12

  Havering

  181,153

  2·61

  Hillingdon

  179,470

  2·59

  Hounslow

  155,701

  2·25

  Islington

  110,802

  1·60

  Kensington and Chelsea

  85,782

  1·24

  Kingston upon Thames

  93,687

  1·35

  Lambeth

  169,749

  2·45

  Lewisham

  175,193

  2·53

  Merton

  122,233

  1·76

  Newham

  156,762

  2·26

  Redbridge

  174,203

  2·51

  Richmond upon Thames

  114,961

  1·66

  Southwark

  178,189

  2·57

  Sutton

  126,167

  1·82

  Tower Hamlets

  105,968

  1·53

  Waltham Forest

  164,556

  2·38

  Wandsworth

  196,291

  2·83

  Westminster

  108,546

  1·57

  1 The whole of the City of London shall be included within a constituency, the name of which shall refer to the City of London.

  County

  1991 electorate

  Entitlement

  B. Metropolitan counties

  Greater Manchester

  1,924,289

  27·78

  Merseyside

  1,089,059

  15·72

  South Yorkshire

  1,007,339

  14·54

  Tyne and Wear

  876,143

  12·65

  West Midlands

  1,982,139

  28·61

  West Yorkshire

  1,576,418

  22·75

  Non-metropolitan counties

  Avon

  726,177

  10·48

  Bedfordshire

  388,868

  5·61

  Berkshire

  548,402

  7·92

  Buckinghamshire

  472,624

  6·82

  Cambridgeshire

  491,068

  7·09

  Cheshire

  739,530

  10·67

  Cleveland

  418,596

  6·04

  Cornwall

  369,868

  5·34

  Cumbria

  384,381

  5·55

  Derbyshire

  726,723

  10·49

  Devon

  785,360

  11·34

  Dorset

  524,037

  7·56

  Durham

  471,299

  6·80

  125

  County

  1991 electorate

  Entitlement

  East Sussex

  549,078

  7·93

  Essex

  1,182,193

  17·06

  Gloucestershire

  411,453

  5·94

  Hampshire

  1,190,661

  17·19

  Hereford and Worcester

  525,511

  7·59

  Hertfordshire

  746,634

  10·78

  Humberside

  671,522

  9·69

  Isle of Wight

  101,784

  1·47

  Kent

  1,154,802

  16·67

  Lancashire

  1,069,715

  15·44

  Leicestershire

  671,451

  9·69

  Lincolnshire

  457,508

  6·60

  Norfolk

  587,528

  8·48

  Northamptonshire

  437,903

  6·32

  Northumberland

  238,044

  3·44

  North Yorkshire

  555,689

  8·02

  Nottinghamshire

  784,219

  11·32

  Oxfordshire

  420,055

  6·06

  Shropshire

  313,966

  4·53

  Somerset

  364,667

  5·26

  Staffordshire

  805,603

  11·63

  Suffolk

  481,342

  6·95

  Surrey

  778,598

  11·24

  Warwickshire

  378,145

  5·46

  West Sussex

  557,811

  8·05

  Wiltshire

  430,277

  6·21

  Probation Service, London
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to prevent the services provided by the inner London probation service homeless action research team being adversely affected by the imposition of cash limited budgets.

  Mr. Jack
  Decisions on the deployment of resources within the inner London and City probation service are matters for the management of the service, subject to their statutory responsibilities and national policies, standards and objectives. In 1992–93, the first year of cash limits on central government support to probation service expenditure, to the cash limit for the inner London and City probation service represents a 26·7 per cent. increase over their 1990–91 outturn compared with a national increase of 25·7 per cent.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current size of each index of the new police national computer; and if he will include in these statistics an indication of the minimum and maximum size of each index over the past year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers

  Vehicles (including stolen reports)

  41,222,646

  Persons (including wanted/missing and disqualified drivers)

  5,658,603

  Convictions

  4,223,022

  Fingerprints

  4,305,814

  Property

  41,682

  Police directories

  3,542

  Figures on the minimum and maximum size of each database over the last year are not available.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current size of each category in the 126
  wanted and missing persons' index of the new police national computer; and if he will include in these statistics an indication of the minimum and maximum size of each category on the index over the year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers

  Wanted

  32,378

  Failed to appear

  36,410

  Deserter

  1,362

  Locate

  52,849

  Missing

  2,523

  Found

  22

  Absconder

  1,979

  Recall

  321

  Arrested

  2,947

  Unstated

  5,320

  Figures on the minimum and maximum size of each category over the last year are not available.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current size of each category in the stolen and suspect vehicle index of the new police national computer; and if he will include in these statistics an indication of the minimum and maximum size of each category in the index over the year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  Lost

  373,042

  Found

  30,712

  Removed

  10,025

  Blocked

  6,258

  Information

  34,591

  Seen

  8,165

  Correction

  8,010

  Figures on the minimum and maximum size of each category over the last year are not available.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accesses were made to each index of the new police national computer over the last year; and if he will include in these statistics an indication of the number of access requests that could search more than one index.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The following accesses have been made to the new police national computer since it came into operation on 16 September 1991:

  Number of accesses to the new police national computer since 16 September 1991

  Number1

  Vehicles (including stolen reports)

  17,935,412

  Persons (including wanted/missing, disqualified drivers and convictions)

  10,630,976

  Fingerprints

  507,199

  Property

  216,450

  Police directories

  164,852

  Access to more than one database:

  Persons and fingerprints

  452,698

  1 To 30 June 1992.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of
  127
  accesses made to the police national computer by each constabulary over the last year; and if he will give the proportion or access requests made to the vehicle indexes of the new police national computer.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  Force

  Number of transactions for the year upto end June 1992

  Proportion of transactions made to vehicle database on PNC2 since 16 September 1991 Per cent.

  Avon and Somerset

  1,005,293

  67·9

  Bedfordshire

  376,810

  67·6

  British Transport Police

  157,147

  36·9

  Cambridgeshire

  395,113

  71·4

  Central

  178,845

  47·0

  Cheshire

  465,682

  62·2

  City of London

  131,595

  53·6

  Cleveland

  366,251

  52·8

  Cumbria

  411,513

  60·3

  Derbyshire

  499,539

  65·0

  Devon and Cornwall

  817,730

  58·7

  Dorset

  500,510

  55·5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  144,678

  52·1

  Durham

  438,370

  44·6

  Dyfed-Powys

  257,435

  46·4

  Essex

  978,632

  55·6

  Fife

  146,983

  54·2

  Gloucestershire

  413,502

  59·8

  Grampian

  296,778

  53·0

  Greater Manchester

  2,311,500

  63·1

  Guernsey

  26,788

  2·8

  Gwent

  262,288

  56·6

  Hampshire

  994,965

  51·8

  Hertfordshire

  473,262

  60·6

  Humberside

  522,632

  60·6

  Isle of Man

  22,259

  11·5

  Jersey

  52,208

  12·8

  Kent

  1,113,895

  59·0

  Lancashire

  1,301,886

  57·9

  Leicestershire

  426,477

  62·5

  Lincolnshire

  348,179

  56·5

  Lothian and Borders

  746,958

  65·1

  Merseyside

  896,264

  51·7

  Metropolitan

  7,499,843

  49·8

  Norfolk

  444,293

  59·4

  North Wales

  444,936

  50·3

  North Yorkshire

  532,677

  59·1

  Northamptonshire

  376,313

  63·1

  Northern

  123,843

  49·4

  Northumbria

  1,120,302

  68·5

  Nottinghamshire

  646,350

  69·3

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  20,357

  68·3

  South Wales

  892,097

  59·3

  South Yorkshire

  767,279

  69·8

  Staffordshire

  506,686

  55·8

  Strathclyde

  1,465,650

  44·3

  Suffolk

  391,347

  57·4

  Surrey

  373,719

  61·4

  Sussex

  817,687

  50·8

  Tayside

  293,099

  47·8

  Thames Valley

  1,169,547

  50·8

  Warwickshire

  337,650

  60·2

  West Mercia

  423,034

  59·2

  West Midlands

  2,119,945

  59·0

  West Yorkshire

  1,470,260

  55·8

  Wiltshire

  322,982

  61·6

  Prison Escapees
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a list of all prison escapees since 1974, including their original offences, sentences and time left unserved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested by the hon. Member is available centrally only for prisoners who escaped since 20 June 1988. However, it would not be right to publish information which relates to individual prisoners. A total of 936 prisoners are recorded as having escaped between that date and 20 June this year.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were recaptured in 1991 after escape; what was the average length of time before they were recaptured; and what were the comparable figures for 1981 and 1986.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 251 prisoners who had escaped from prison custody were recaptured in 1991, some of whom escaped before 1991. This includes prisoners who had escaped from penal establishments and prisoners who had escaped while being escorted by prison staff outside penal establishments, some before 1991.

  The figure does not include prisoners recaptured at or immediately following the time of escape; in these incidents the escape and recapture are subsumed in a single incident report of the escape; and this information could be retrieved only by a detailed manual search and at disproportionate cost.

  The average length of time prisoners were unlawfully at large was 40 days.

  On 20 June 1988 a new system of recording incident details came into operation. Prior to that date, records were not maintained centrally and information can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of(a) male and (b) female prison escapees in (i) Wales and (ii) the United Kingdom in 1991 together with comparable figures for 1981 and 1986: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The following information relates to England and Wales.

  In 1991, 311 prisoners were recorded as having escaped from prison or prison escort in England and Wales. Of these, 306 were male and five female.

  There are no female penal establishments in Wales, and consequently no female prisoners are recorded as escaping from penal establishments in Wales in 1991. There is one recorded escape from prison escort when a female prisoner escaped while attending Swansea magistrates court. The inmate had travelled to court, under escort, from a penal establishment in England.

  There was one recorded escape incident from male penal establishments in Wales in 1991; two prisoners escaped.

  The total number of escapees in 1981 was 201 and in the 12 months to 31 March 1987 it was 192. Information about the sex of those escapees is not available centrally.

  On 20 June 1988 a new system for recording incident details came into operation. Prior to that date, records were not maintained centrally and detailed information can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the harmonisation of race relations laws of the member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government are opposed absolutely to discrimination on grounds of race; and this position is reflected in all our discussions with our European partners on these matters. The detailed legislative arrangements in other member states are, however, a matter for them, taking account of their particular circumstances.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Home Office whose pay currently exceeds this figure is three.

  Air Guns
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents involving personal injury caused by air guns have been reported in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Jack
  Statistics on the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in which air weapons were reported to have caused injury are published in Criminal Statistics, England and Wales. The 1990 edition gives figures for the years 1980–1990 in table 3.10. A copy of this publication is in the Library.

  South Wales Police
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what fresh assessment he has made of the manpower needs of the south Wales police following criticism of his Department for using a mistaken assessment of the urban/rural split in the South Wales area.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 June to a question from the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones).

  Football Matches
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing for Football League matches in England and Wales for each of the seasons 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and as a total over to same period(a) the combined total of arrests and ejections, (b) total attendances at such matches and (c) (a), as a percentage of (b)and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is contained in the following table:130

  Season

  Arrests and ejections (a)

  Attendance1(b)

  Arrests and ejections (a) as a percentage of (b)

  1991–92

  8,556

  20,487,192

  0·04

  1990–91

  9,190

  19,541,341

  0·05

  1989–90

  12,918

  19,466,826

  0·07

  1988–89

  13,792

  18,477,565

  0·07

  1987–88

  12,689

  17,968,887

  0·07

  1 These figures which have been provided by the Football League may differ slightly from those given in earlier replies based on information from police.

  European Frontier Control
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with his EC counterparts about publishing the convention on European frontier control; if he will take steps to arrange for its publication; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The question of publication has not been discussed between EC Ministers. International treaties are normally published only after signature. In this case, the provisions were explained fully in a reply to a written question by my predecessor on 20 June 1991,Official Report, columns 242–43, in Home Office evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee. In view of the very long delay since agreement was reached on the general substance of the draft convention, I have now decided to make the draft text available to Parliament. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  European Community
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the meeting of Trevi and European Community Immigration Ministers in Lisbon on 11 and 12 June.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Discussion at the meeting of Trevi Ministers focused on the establishment of Europol—a European police office to facilitate the exchange of information and experience necessary to prevent and combat terrorism, unlawful drug trafficking and other serious forms of international crime. It was agreed that a convention between the member states would be needed before Europol could be fully operational. However, work on the first stage of Europol—the European drugs unit —-is proceeding with the aim of establishing the unit by 1 January 1993 on the basis of a preliminary agreement among the member states.

  It was agreed that a project team led by Germany should be established to take work forward on the unit. The project team would begin its work in Strasbourg. No decision was taken on the future location of Europol.

  The meeting of Ministers concerned with immigration. which was attended by a vice president of the European Commission, was the 12th in the series of meetings held towards the end of each presidency since 1986. The European Commission made a statement on its communication setting out its views on the requirements of article 8A of the treaty of Rome which has now been deposited in Parliament according to the normal rules for scrutiny of Community documents.

  I made clear the Government's view that article 8A applies only to EC nationals and had no effect on our

  131
  entitlement to retain a frontier-based system for controlling third country nationals. I emphasised that such a system necessitates a light check on EC nationals in order to ensure that the control of third country nationals is not evaded. I stressed the desirability of avoiding confronta-tion on this issue and I expressed a willingness to explore ways of keeping delays at frontiers to an unavoidable minimum in the interests of British and other Community citizens.

  I join other Ministers in stressing the importance of the external frontiers convention, signature of which continues to be held up because of a problem raised by Spain over the application of the convention to Gibraltar.

  On asylum, I announced that the United Kingdom hoped to ratify the Dublin convention shortly. Ministers agreed to consider extending the system of the Dublin convention to third countries, by means of a parallel convention.

  Ministers discussed the issue of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Asylum
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance in order to seek asylum in the United Kingdom were(a) received and (b) granted by country during 1991 and the first quarter of 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The available information on applications for asylum in the United Kingdom made abroad is given in the table. These figures may be under-recorded.

  Applications1, 3 for asylum in the United Kingdom received by British posts abroad and referred to the Home Office for decision2, and grants1, 3 of asylum, by nationality (provisional estimates4)

  Number of persons

  Applications received

  Grants of asylum4

  Nationality

  1991

  First quarter 1992

  1991

  First quarter 1992

  Angola

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Bulgaria

  *

  *

  —

  —

  China

  —

  *

  *

  —

  Ethiopia

  —

  —

  —

  *

  Ghana

  *

  —

  *

  —

  Iran

  5

  —

  5

  —

  Iraq

  10

  —

  5

  —

  Kenya

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Lebanon

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Nigeria

  —

  *

  —

  —

  Pakistan

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Somalia

  —

  —

  *

  —

  Turkey

  —

  —

  *

  —

  Uganda

  5

  *

  *

  —

  USSR

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Yugoslavia

  —

  *

  —

  —

  Zaire

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Nationality uncertain

  *

  —

  *

  —

  Total2

  30

  5

  20

  *

  1 Excluding dependants.

  2In addition a further 20 applications during 1991 and the first quarter of 1992, made by nationals of Afghanistan, and 40 applications during 1991 made by nationals of Liberia, to the British high commissions in New Delhi and Lagos, respectively, were processed locally. No grants of asylum were made during this time.

  3 Figures may understate: rounded to the nearest 5, with "*" = 1 or 2.

  4Grants in the time periods shown do not necessarily relate to applications made in those periods.

  132
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers seeking political asylum in(a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992 up to the nearest available date were granted temporary admission.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The information requested on temporary admission is not available centrally.

  The information on detention is not available in the form requested. However, information on passengers seeking asylum who at 3 July 1992 had been detained for seven days or more is given in the table.

  Prison department establishment

  IS detention

  Algeria

  —

  2

  Angola

  4

  —

  Chile

  1

  —

  Colombia

  —

  1

  Cyprus

  1

  —

  Ghana

  6

  10

  India

  5

  3

  Iran

  1

  2

  Ivory Coast

  1

  2

  Kenya

  —

  2

  Lebanon

  6

  8

  Morocco

  1

  —

  Namibia

  1

  —

  Niger

  —

  1

  Nigeria

  4

  7

  Pakistan

  1

  1

  Peru

  —

  1

  Saudi Arabia

  —

  1

  Sierra Leone

  1

  2

  Sri Lanka

  1

  —

  Uganda

  3

  —

  Zaire

  12

  13

  Zimbabwe

  1

  —

  Total

  50

  56

WALES

  Castell Alun High School
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay an official visit to Castell Alun high school.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans at present to do so. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State visited the school in May 1988.

  Tourism
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Wales tourist board over its planned consultative paper on tourism and the environment in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the Wales tourist board along with officials to discuss the development of suitable policies including the preparation of a new national tourism strategy to take tourism in Wales into the next century.

  The board has announced its intention to issue a series of consultative papers dealing with some of the key themes to be covered within the strategy, including tourism and the environment. The consultations will be supported by research studies and other papers relevant to the strategy.
  133
  We commend the board in taking forward this initiative.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the budget of the Welsh tourist board is currently spent outside the United Kingdom on the marketing of Wales as a tourist location.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  For 1992–93, 4·8 per cent of the Wales tourist board's net provisional budget will be allocated for the overseas promotion of Wales as a tourist destination.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by Gwent dental practitioners not to accept new national health service patients.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is for the Gwent family health services authority (FHSA), as manager of general dental services in its locality, to address the issue of NHS dental care drawing upon its expert local knowledge. If the FHSA should experience any difficulty in securing NHS care for its local residents, it can apply to the Department for approval to employ a salaried dentist.

  In the meantime, the community dental service provides a safety net for patients who are unable to obtain treatment under the general dental services.

  Paediatrics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the health authority areas in Wales which currently have a paediatric pathologist in post: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Metabolic Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much funding is currently allocated in each health authority area in Wales towards the provision of services for the detection of inherited metabolic disease; and if he will make it his policy to ensure adequate funding is granted to existing schemes for a two-year period to allow for successor arrangements to be fully evaluated.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Screening for inherited metabolic disease is undertaken for health authorities, by the medical genetics centre at the University hospital of Wales and through the supra-regional assay service. Funding has been devolved to the district authorities and details of specific costs are not held centrally.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has concluded his discussions with local authority associations concerning the reorganisation of local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the phased release of receipts from the sales of council houses in Wales.
  134
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 19 June 1992,Official Report. column 715.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil srvants in the Welsh Office whose pay exceeds that figure is one.

  Recycling
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much paper, by volume and by cost, he estimates is used annually by his Department: what arrangements are made for its recycling: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department uses an estimated 360 tonnes of paper, with an estimated value of £293,000 per annum. All restricted waste and shredded confidential waste are collected for recycling into various kinds of tissue-type paper. For other types of waste paper, the Welsh Office is currently trialling a waste paper recycling scheme. If the trial is successful, the scheme will be extended throughout the Department.

  Unitary Authority
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his intention that the new unitary authority based in Cardiff will be bounded on the north by a line based on the current natural physical boundaries which form the boundary between the current Cardiff authority and the current Rhymny Valley authority.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave him on 6 July 1992,Official Report, columns 7–8.

  Commonwealth Games
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the response of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales to the recommendations of the Sports Council for Wales on the funding and organisation of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales especially in respect of the Commonwealth games in Canada.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is a matter for the Sports Council for Wales to assess the response of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales to the recommendations contained in its report.

  Tenants (Arrears)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward proposals for powers to issue regulations to local authorities in Wales to prevent eviction of local authority tenants for arrears of water and environmental charges.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No. Local authorities do not have powers to evict tenants solely on the grounds of the non-payment of water and environmental charges.

  Trusts (Salaries)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to require national health service trusts to publish the salary and fringe benefit packages of their executive directors in their annual reports.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  NHS trusts in Wales will be required to publish annual financial statements. The information to be provided will include:

  (i) Total emoluments paid to the chairman and to the highest paid hoard member:

  (ii) Emoluments paid to other board members in hands of £5,000 with no lower limit:

  (iii) The number of employees, excluding executive directors, who received remuneration in excess of £40,000 in hands of £5,000.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the number of water disconnections in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the lion. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) on 24 June 1992,Official Report, column 204. Information prior to 1984–85 was not held centrally. Since privatisation. this information is collected by the Office of Water Services. Data are also published by the Water Services Association in "Water Facts", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Foie Gras
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the volume of imports of foie gras into the United Kingdom, and their countries of origin, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Soames
  Provisional figures for 1991 show that the United Kindom imported 24,072 kg of foie gras—classified as "fatty livers of geese or ducks"—21,622 kg of which was dispatched from France and the remaining 2,450 kg from the Netherlands.

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Curry
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. Only three staff in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and its agencies are currently paid above that figure.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels beneficially owned in other EC member states are registered as fishing vessels in the United Kingdom; and what countries arc involved.
  136
  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 9 June, Official Report, column 110. There are now some 56 Spanish, 18 Dutch, two Danish and one Belgian vessels.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to review the regulatory system for controlling the level of domestic electricity prices.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations he has had from the Major Energy Users Council about the costs of electricity to the steel industry;

  (2) when he will next meet the Energy Intensive Users Group and the Major Energy Users Council to discuss electricity-pricing mechanisms;

  (3) if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the fossil fuel levy to large users of electricity and manufacturing industry to the extent necessary to bring their energy costs in line with European competitors;

  (4) if he will bring in reforms to the regulatory mechanism to ensure that electricity costs for manufacturing industry are competitive.

  Mr. Eggar
  I recently met representatives of the Major Energy Users Council and Energy Intensive Users Group to discuss electricity prices for their members. Proposals they put forward will be considered.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the opencast coal sites which are now, or have previously been, operated by the R A Young Mining Company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal as the licensing authority under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library details of what is stored in the high active shaft at Dounreay.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a management matter for the Atomic Energy Authority. I am asking the chairman of the AEA to write to the hon. Member.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plan he has to remove market distortions affecting combined heat and power developers in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  The operation of the electricity market is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  British Waterways Board
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to implement the recommendations of the 1987 Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry
  137
  into the activities of the British Waterways Board; and if he will ask the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to institute a further inquiry.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the further external review of the British Waterways Board as recommended in paragraph 2.35 of the 1987 Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry into the British Waterways Board to commence.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  In response to a question from Lord Brougham and Vaux on 24 July 1990, Lord Strathclyde welcomed the British Waterways Board's third and final response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's 1987 report. The board accepted almost all the commission's recommendations.

  At paragraph 2.35 of its 1987 report, the commission recommended that a further external review of BWB's progress in improving its efficiency should be undertaken in five years' time. There is no immediate plan to invite the commission to undertake such a review.

  Energy Study
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the details of the study conducted by the former Department of Energy in conjunction with the Major Energy Users Council.

  Mr. Eggar
  The study conducted by the former Department of Energy and the Major Energy Users Council is based on information supplied by individual companies; these details are commercially confidential.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the published report from the nuclear installations inspectorate on the long-term safety reviews for Dungeness A, Oldbury, Sizewell A, Trawsfynydd and Wylfa.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Health and Safety Executive has already published the nuclear installations inspectorate's detailed findings on Berkeley, Bradwell, Calder Hall, Chapelcross, Hinkley Point A, and Hunterston A. I understand that Nuclear Electric's safety reviews for the remaining Magnox power stations are currently at various stages of assessment by the NII. However, the need for thoroughness in the assessment of these reviews precludes the setting of a precise timetable. Nevertheless, I am assured by the NII that its findings on each of the remaining stations will be published at the earliest opportunity with the last of them, which will address Wylfa, being completed in 1994.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the National Engineering Laboratory.

  Mr. Leigh
  The National Engineering Laboratory became an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in October 1990 with the mission, published in its framework document at the time, of becoming commercially viable with a view to eventual privatisation. Good progress has been made towards that object. The 138
  agency's targets for 1991–92, its first year as an executive agency, were published on 16 October 1990 and all of them were achieved.

  Post Office
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the non-executive directors appointed to the board of the Post Office; on what basis they were selected; and for what levels of remuneration they are eligible.

  Mr. Leigh
  The non-executive members of the Post Office Board are as follows:

  Mrs. H. M. Cropper

  Mr. D. Gladwin CBE JP

  Dr. D. Grieves CBE

  Mr. D. Hodson

  These members were appointed by the Secretary of State for the wide range of skills and experience in industry, and for the independent judgment they bring to the board. Remuneration of directors of the Post Office is determined by the Secretary of State, with the approval of the Treasury, on an individual basis. The levels of remuneration paid are within the ranges shown in the Post Office report and accounts for 1991–92.

  Subcontractors (Late Payment)
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the effects of late payment in relation to payments due from main to sub-contractors.

  Mr. Leigh
  No such estimates have been made by the Department of Trade and Industry. I am nevertheless aware that late payment is a significant problem for sub-contractors.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent changes have been made by his Department in the provision of public information on nuclear energy in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is the Government's policy to assist Parliament and the public by being as open as practicable in the provision of information on civil nuclear energy in the United Kingdom, subject to considerations of security, commercial confidentiality and the costs of preparing the information.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list for each year of operation since 1986 the percentage of the yearly total of nuclear material reprocessed at the Windscale B204 plant at Sellafield that arose from reactors operated by Nuclear Electric, Scottish Nuclear or their predecessor electricity boards:

  (2) what proportion of the total weight of plutonium reprocessed at Sellafield, in the period 1986 to date, originated in Central Electricity Generating Board/ Nuclear Electric installations.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information has been extracted from the annual press releases on plutonium for the years in question as published by the former Department of Energy and placed in the Library of the House.
  139

  Feed of civil magnox irradiated fuel to the Sellafield reprocessing plant

  Tonnes of uranium

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  (a) From NE/SNL fuel1

  861

  772

  787

  988

  688

  (b) From overseas reactors

  121

  32

  88

  141

  51

  (c) (a) as a percentage of total

  88

  96

  90

  88

  93

  1 The information given is for Nuclear Electric plc (NE) and Scottish Nuclear Ltd. (SNL) in 1989–90 and 1990–91 and for their predecessor generating boards in the earlier years.

  Plutonium dispatched from magnox sites

  Kilograms of plutonium

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  (d) From NE1

  2,050

  2,050

  2,100

  1,984

  2,067

  (e) From SNL1

  250

  200

  200

  160

  111

  (f) (d) as a percentage of total

  89

  91

  91

  93

  95

  1 The information given is for Nuclear Electric plc (NE) and Scottish Nuclear Ltd. (SNL) in 1989–90 and 1990–91 and for their predecessor generating boards in the earlier years.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make it his policy to make available through the Public Record Office or other appropriate routes all of those documents relating to the foundation of the civil nuclear programme withheld from public inspection beyond the 30-year period.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: The records in question continue to be reviewed in accordance with the criteria established under the Public Records Acts. Those which are withheld from public inspection beyond the 30-year period are progressively released as and when the reasons for their closure or retention cease to apply.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to renegotiate the confidentiality clauses in intergovernmental plutonium export agreements to permit the wider publication of information on amounts and end-use declarations involved.

  Mr. Eggar
  Intergovernmental exchanges of notes covering the transfer of significant quantities of plutonium are published documents. They contain information on the quantity of material to he exported and a declaration of peaceful end-use.

  CE Marks
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment the Government have made of the progress of British construction companies in meeting the requirements for CE marks to be awarded.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  CE marks will be awarded within the framework of the EC construction products directive. They will be based on approved European technical specifications. It will he some time before these specifications are written. A recent sample survey by the Building Research Establishment has indicated that United Kingdom manufacturers are well placed to meet the procedures likely to be followed for CE marking. The Department is in close contact with the industry's representative organisations to ensure the developing requirements of the construction products directive are understood.

  Power Cut, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the power cut in Cardiff on 30 June and its causes, costs and consequences and the measures which are being considered to avoid a repetition.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: It is for the company to explain the circumstances of a particular incident. I understand that South Wales Electricity is to make an investigation into this matter.

  Chlor-alkali
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the impact of recent bulk electricity price increases on the future production of chlor-alkali in the United Kingdom; what information he has on the prices paid in other Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries by producers of chlor-alkali and other heavy industrial processes, whose viability is dependent on electricity price relativities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: I have met representatives of the chlor-alkali industry and of other industries which are major users of electricity.

  According to data supplied under the price transparency directive, electricity prices paid by large and medium consumers in the United Kingdom are around the middle of the range of other EC member states. In addition, the latest available data shows United Kingdom electricity prices for industry to be below the OECD average.

  Self-catering Accommodation (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 405, how long a consultation period he envisages for the draft amendment regulations and associated documents relating to the fire safety of furnishings in respect of self-catering accommodation under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987; what period of moratorium he proposes with effect from 1 March 1993; and if he will make a statement.
  141
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: The Department plans to allow a period of two months for comments by interested parties on the draft amendment regulations and associated documents relating to the fire safety of furnishings in respect of self-catering accommodation under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

  The date on which the requirement will apply will be decided in the light of this consultation.

  Electricity Division
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people were employed in the electricity division of his Department on the most recent date for which this information is available.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: Forty-seven people were employed in the Department's electricity division as at Wednesday 1 July 1992.

  Small Firms Division
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to relocate staff of the small firms division of his Department currently based in Sheffield.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: My Department is conducting a review to determine the best location for the work of the small firms division and I will make a decision in due course in the light of the findings. Staff currently working in the division are on loan from the Department of Employment and, on any outcome of the review, will he able to return to that Department if they so choose.

  Telephone and Postal Canvassing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish any proposed changes either emanating from the EC or his own Department which would restrict telephone and postal canvassing for trade or other commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: My Department has no plans for restrictions on telephone and postal canvassing for trade or other commercial purposes. We are discussing a European Commission proposal dated 9 June 1992 to the Council of Ministers for a directive on the protection of consumers in respect of contracts negotiated at a distance—distance selling. This proposal would impact on various kinds of direct marketing including mail order, telephone selling and automated telephone calling. A copy of the proposal is available in the Library of the House.

  In addition, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs is discussing with the Commission a further Commission proposal for a directive on data protection which. if adopted. would also be likely to affect direct marketing activities as well as on cross-border data transfer.

  Timeshare
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the president of the Board of Trade how many complaints his Department has received about International Resort Sales and Travel Ltd.
  142
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 1 July 1992]: I have as yet received no such complaints. I understand, however, that a number of complaints have been made to local trading standards officers.

  Pyramid Selling
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints his Department has received concerning pyramid selling schemes; how many of the complaints were upheld; and how many companies were prosecuted under part XI of the Fair Trading Act 1973, for each year from 1973 to 1992.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: My Department gets thousands of complaints about pyramid selling schemes, but the vast majority are on the mistaken assumption that such schemes are all illegal. The information requested on prosecutions under part XI of' the Fair Trading Act 1973 is not available. To the best of my knowledge. my Department has prosecuted two companies and individuals. These prosecutions, which related to a single scheme, were in 1987.

  Price Marking Order 1991
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will review section 10 of the Price Marking Order 1991 in the light of representations made to him on its effect.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: I am reviewing the order as a whole in the light of representations received. The draft amending order now in preparation will take account of these representations, so far as is practicable within the terms of the EC directives which the order implements.

HEALTH

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each year from 1970 to 1991 what was the total number of people in each of the exemption categories for prescription charges.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the tables.

  Table 1

  Estimated numbers of men aged 65 and over, women aged 60 and over, children aged under 16. recipients of Family Credit and recipients of Income Support in England 1970 to 1991 (millions)1

  Year

  Men over 65/ Women over 60

  Children under 16

  Family Credit2 recipients

  Income Support3 recipients

  1970

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1971

  7·6

  11·6

  —

  1·006

  1972

  7·7

  11·6

  —

  1·017

  1973

  7·8

  11·6

  —

  0·808

  1974

  7·9

  11·5

  —

  0·860

  1975

  8·0

  11·4

  —

  1·150

  1976

  8·0

  11·2

  —

  —

  1977

  8·1

  11·0

  —

  1·289

  1978

  8·1

  10·8

  —

  1·201

  1979

  8·1

  10·6

  —

  1·114

  1980

  8·3

  10·4

  —

  1·441

  1981

  8·4

  10·2

  —

  2·085

  1982

  8·4

  10·0

  —

  2·602

  1983

  8·4

  9·9

  —

  2·815

  143

  Year

  Men over 65/ Women over 60

  Children under 16

  Family Credit2 recipients

  Income Support3 recipients

  1984

  8·4

  9·7

  —

  3·055

  1985

  8·5

  9·6

  —

  —

  1986

  8·6

  9·6

  —

  3·334

  1987

  8·6

  9·5

  —

  3·217

  1988

  8·7

  9·5

  2·0

  2·811

  1989

  8·7

  9·5

  2·9

  2·670

  1990

  8·7

  9·5

  3·1

  2·598

  1991

  —

  —

  3·3

  3·071

  1 Source: OPCS. DSS.

  2 Family Credit introduced from April 1988.

  3 Numbers of Supplementary Benefit recipients 1970 to 1987.

  Table 2

  Estimated numbers of young people aged 16–18 in full-time education in England for each academic year from 1979–80 to 1989–90.

  Year

  Number (millions)

  1979–80

  0·629

  1980–81

  0·665

  1981–82

  0·732

  1982–83

  0·759

  1983–84

  0·718

  1984–85

  0·700

  1985–86

  0·694

  1986–87

  0·684

  1987–88

  0·699

  1988–89

  0·720

  1989–90

  0·747

  Source: DFE

  Metabolic Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to issue direct contacts for the provision of services associated with the detection of inherited metabolic disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  We recognise that particular care is required in developing appropriate contracting arrange-ments for specialist services which are provided for a disparate catchment population. The national health service management executive has agreed with regional general managers that regions should take a close interest in purchasing arrangements for such services, both in NHS trust hospitals and in those managed directly by districts. In taking on this role, regions have an interest in ensuring that those services which are required continue to be available and therefore that specialist services have a reasonable level of secure income.

  Respite Care
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to collect information on provision of respite care in each local authority area;

  (2) what figures her Department currently collects regarding respite care provided through local authorities; and when the figures will be published.

  Mr. Yeo
  Respite care can take many forms, such as a short-stay placement in a residential setting or hospital, attendance at a day centre, or arrangements for a care worker or volunteer to stay in the person's own home—perhaps for only a few hours a week—to provide respite for their main carer. Statistics collected by the Department do not therefore include respite care as a specific item.

  Information is collected centrally on the numbers of short-stay admissions and short-stay residents in local
  144
  authority staffed residential homes for adults for each local authority in England. These figures do not distinguish people receiving respite care from those receiving emergency, phased or intermittent care, which categories may all include elements of respite care. A copy of the publication—RA/91/2—containing the data for the year ending 31 March 1991 for the elderly and younger physically handicapped client groups is in the Library.

  Revised central statistical returns identify the provision of accommodation to children under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 by means of an agreement covering a series of placements. This information will include episodes of respite care but does not specifically identify them. The first such returns relate to the period ending 31 March 1992; no publication date for the information has been set.

  There are no current plans to collect additional information in respect of respite care.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will encourage local authorities to publish detailed information regarding respite provisions available in their respective areas.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities are expected to provide information to carers about the services available to support them, including respite care services. Community care plans should also include information about the provision of such services.

  Atopic Illnesses
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department had undertaken concerning the relationship between the agricultural use of pesticides and the incidence of atopic illnesses.

  Mr. Sackville
  Biomedical research is a matter for the Medical Research Council which is funded by the Office of Science and Technology.

  General Practitioner Fund Holders
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will hold talks with the chairman of the Mid-Cheshire trust on priorities given to fund-holding general practitioners in gynaecology.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is a matter for the trust to agree contracts with purchasers.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate the effects on patients of fund-holding general practitioners in the Crewe and Nantwich area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued to trust hospitals to ensure that patients from fund-holding general practitioners do not take precedence over the patients of non-fund-holding general practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In June of last year, the national health service management executive and the joint consultants committee of the British Medical Association issued guidance on GP fund holding in EL(91)84, a copy of which is available in the Library. This sets out the criteria for
  145
  acceptable contracts to be agreed between GP fund holders and all NHS hospitals, whether or not they have trust status. It clearly states that hospitals should not offer contracts to fund holders which would disadvantage patients of other purchasers.

  Multiple Pregnancies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the counselling guide about multiple pregnancies for patients attending infertility treatment centres which was produced by Frances Price of Cambridge university as part of research commissioned by her Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  No decisions have yet been made concerning the possible publication of this booklet.

  Leeds General Infirmary
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of(a) the cost of transferring the cardiothoracic facilities from Killingbeck to the Leeds general infirmary and (b) the cost of improving the Killingbeck facilities in the event of the transfer to the Leeds general infirmary not going ahead.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am advised that the net cost of transferring cardiothoracic facilities from Killingbeck to the Leeds general infirmary as part of an integrated redevelopment of Leeds general infirmary is estimated to be £2·1 million, taking into account site proceeds. The cost of upgrading Killingbeck to provide similar levels of performance is estimated to be 15·4 million.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide for disabled persons who, because of low earnings, are entitled to disability working allowance to be exempt from national health service charges; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no plans to exempt recipients of disability working allowance from NHS charges. Disability working allowance recipients may qualify for NHS charge remission on grounds of low income under the NHS low income scheme.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost of exempting all disability working allowance recipients from national health service charges.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Current estimates indicate that extending NHS charge exemption to everyone expected to qualify for disability working allowance would increase the Department's programme expenditure by over £3 million in a full year.

  Trusts
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the current chairs and members of all the hospital trusts so far established, with their previous and current jobs and business interests, and their current salaries.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information concerning chairmen's and non-executive directors' previous and current jobs is not held centrally. Remuneration paid to chairmen and non-executive directors is as follows:
  146
  Chairmen

  Band 1 £19,285

  Band 2 £17,145

  Band 3 £15,125

  Non-executive directors

  £5,000 (all non-executives)

  Lists of the initial appointments of chairmen and non-executive directors of first wave NHS trusts which were made on 17 and 21 December 1990 and second wave NHS trusts on 1 November 1991, are available in the Library. Since then, the following appointments to NHS trusts have been made.

  CHAIRMEN

  Aylesbury Vale Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Sir Timothy Raison appointed from 1 June 1992 to 30 November 1994

  Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust

  Sir Michael Knight appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1995

  West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust

  Captain Michael Fulford-Dobson appointed from 1 December 1991 to 30 November 1995

  NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

  Leeds General Infirmary and Associated Hospitals NHS Trust

  Mr. R. Farrar appointed from 7 February 1992 to 30 November 1994

  Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  Professor C. E. M. Normand appointed from 20 January 1992 to 30 November 1994

  Mrs. D. J. W. Venables appointed from 18 February 1991 to 30 November 1993

  Mrs. M. Ryder appointed from 23 January 1991 to 30 November 1992

  St. Helier NHS Trust

  Mr. R. B. Hill appointed from 1 December 1991 to 31 November 1992

  East Somerset NHS Trust

  Mr. J. D. P. Keegan appointed from 16 March 1991 to 30 November 1992

  East Gloucestershire NHS Trust

  Mrs. S. Pullen appointed from 1 December 1991 to 30 November 1992

  Mrs. J. Ralph appointed from 1 June 1992 to 30 November 1994

  Weston Area NHS Trust

  Mr. R. Norton-Collins appointed from 1 May 1991 to 30 November 1994

  Mental Health Foundation of Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust

  Dr. J. F. Fleming-Patterson appointed from 1 May 1991 to 30 November 1994

  Northern Devon Healthcare Trust

  Mr. G. E. Andrews appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1995

  Mr. D. Rowbottom appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1995

  Mr. J. B. Nash appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1995

  Miss D. M. Dibble appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1992

  Mr. J. R. Urquhart appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1992

  Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust

  Mrs. Z. P. Manzoor appointed from 1 April 1991 to 30 November 1993

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
  147
  Miss J. Flindall appointed from 9 October 1991 to 30 November 1993

  West Dorset Community Health NHS Trust

  Ms. A. Neuberger appointed from 1 April 1992 to 30 November 1993

  South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance and Paramedic Services NHS Trust

  Mrs. P. Battersby appointed from 12 March 1992 to 30 November 1993

  Barnsley Community and Priority Services Trust

  Mrs. J. R. Lees appointed from 8 June 1992 to 30 November 1994

  South Bedfordshire Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Cllr. J. N. Tizard appointed from 15 June 1992 to 30 November 1993

  The Bart's NHS Trust

  Sir Charles Reece appointed from 17 February 1992 to 30 November 1993

  Optimum Health Services NHS Trust

  Mr. B. Huett appointed from 27 May 1992 to 30 November 1994

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will acquire and publish information on the comparable salary and fringe benefit packages of executive directors of health trusts in England and Wales.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Annual accounts for each NHS trust in England show the emoluments of the highest paid board member separately and the number of board members receiving emoluments in bands of £5,000 with no lower limit. These statements also show the number of employees, excluding executive directors, receiving remuneration of over £40,000 in bands of £5,000.

  Copies of NHS trusts' annnual accounts, when available, will he placed in the Library.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of junior doctors in the national health service; what is the comparable figure for 1985; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 30 September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available centrally, there were 23,377 whole-time equivalent junior doctors in the national health service compared to 21,368 whole-time equivalent junior doctors at 30 September 1985. These figures are rounded to the nearest whole number and include all permanent paid and honorary medical staff.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average number of hours per week worked by junior doctors in the national health service; what is the maximum amount allowed by law; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 30 September 1990, the latest date for which information is available, junior hospital doctors in England and Wales were contracted to be on duty for an average of 79 hours per week. Information on the number of hours spent actually working is not routinely collected centrally.

  There are currently no legal limits on the working hours of junior doctors. However, the new deal for junior doctors launched in June 1991 made clear our intention
  148
  that, regardless of the contracted hours of duty for individual posts, from 31 December 1994 doctors in training employed on a full-time basis should not normally be expected to work for more than an average of 56 hours per week.

  Specialists
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average number of weeks it takes a patient in the United Kingdom to see a specialist in the national health service; what is the comparable amount of time it takes for a citizen of (i) Germany, (ii) the United States of America and (iii) Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of tuberculosis have been notified nationally in the current year and in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) how many cases of tuberculosis have been notified in London in the current year and in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available information from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is given in the table.

  Notifications of tuberculosis

  Year

  England and Wales

  Greater London

  1981

  8,128

  2,495

  1982

  7,410

  2,146

  1983

  6,803

  2,027

  1984

  6,141

  1,833

  1985

  5,857

  1,741

  1986

  5,993

  1,701

  1987

  5,086

  1,445

  1988

  5,164

  1,486

  1989

  5,432

  1,646

  1990

  5,204

  1,603

  11991

  5,436

  1,794

  21992

  2,692

  893

  1 Provisional.

  2 Provisional (up to week ending 12 June 1992).

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the advisory committees and their memberships which advise her on matters relating to the European Community; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no specific committees. We are advised by officials of the Department who consult other bodies on individual issues.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in her Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.
  149
  Mr. Sackville
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department of Health whose pay currently exceeds this figure is seven.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical provision is available for homeless men and women and children respectively.

  Mr. Yeo
  General medical and hospital services are available to homeless people on the same basis as the rest of the population.

  In some areas there are significant numbers of homeless people whose needs for general medical services cannot be fully met under the normal arrangements, and the Department is funding special schemes. There are 10 such schemes already and more are being considered. These are designed to make general medical services available to homeless people at places where they are known to congregate. Each is staffed by a team of health professionals, including a GP.

  In addition, a demonstration project for homeless people who are mentally ill has been set up in London where the problem of homelessness is most acute. The £20 million programme includes up to 150 specialist short-term hostel places, 750 move-on places and four community psychiatric outreach teams.

  Child Employment
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will strengthen regulatory powers to ensure employers' adherence to child employment byelaws.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government are very much aware of the need to protect children in whatever form of activity they may be engaged. We are generally satisfied that the safeguards which exist in legislation and byelaws to protect children who work are presently adequate.

  Suicide
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people committing suicide in each year from 1987 to the latest convenient date, were recorded as being(a) homeless or (h) schizophrenic or suffering other mental illness; and how many of these were (i) men and (ii) women.

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of people who have been recorded as having committed suicide and were homeless in each year from 1987 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number of those having been recorded as having committed suicide in the period in question as being schizophrenic or suffering from other mental illness is not available centrally.

  Clinical Grading Appeals
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical grading appeals have been decided in each month since the start of the current process; how many appeals have been allowed in each month, and how many disallowed(a) in England, (b) in Wales, (c) in Scotland and (d) in each health authority area in England, Wales and Scotland.
  150
  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 1 July 1992]: The Department does not collect information on appeals at employing authority level. The available information has been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water (Lead Content)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has received from the drinking water inspectorate on the number of water supply zones which exceed 15 mg/litres in lead content; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The drinking water inspectorate has received data on lead in water supplies from the water companies of England and Wales under the requirements of the information direction. The data relate to the concentration of lead in water supplies taken from consumers' taps in 1991, being set out in concentration bands of 10µg/1. Information was not sought specifically in relation to 15µg/1.

  In 1991, approximately 77,000 samples from 2,565 water supply zones were analysed for lead: 76·7 per cent. contained 10µg/1 or less; 10·6 per cent. contained between 11 and 20µg/1; and 3·7 per cent. contained more than 50µg/1, the standard set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. At least one sample taken during 1991 from 1,908, 1,396 and 941 zones respectively contained more than 10, 20 and 50µg/1 of lead. In each zone where there is a risk of the water exceeding the lead standard because of lead dissolved from consumers' pipes, companies are evaluating and, where appropriate, installing treatment to reduce the plumbosolvency of the water.

  "Agenda 21"
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government supported the amendments to paragraphs 20.1, 20.13, 20.15, 20.17, 20.20 and 20.26 of chapter 20 on the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes including prevention of illegal international traffic in such wastes. of "Agenda 21" as presented to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the advisory committees and their memberships which advise him on matters relating to the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no committees dedicated to advising my Department on European Community matters. However, we consult as widely as necessary to ensure European Community proposals are given full consideration, and receive advice and views from a wide variety of sources.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in the Paisley, South constituency qualify for grant aid under the home energy efficiency scheme; and how many houses have been improved under the scheme in each year since its inception.

  Mr. Maclean
  In order to be eligible for grant under the home energy efficiency scheme, an applicant or his or her spouse must be in receipt of one of five passportable benefits: housing benefit, income support, family credit, community charge benefit and disability working allowance. In addition, his or her property must meet certain criteria concerning existing levels of insulation and receipt of a grant for similar work under previous schemes. Data on numbers of households eligible in any particular area at a particular time are not available.

  Figures for the number of homes treated under the scheme are not collected on a constituency basis. Within the network installer area which contains the hon. Member's constituency, 3,495 homes have benefited from home energy efficiency scheme grant since 1 January 1991.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in the Inverclyde district council area qualify for grant aid under the home energy efficiency scheme; and how many houses have been improved under the scheme since its inception in 1991.

  Mr. Maclean
  In order to be eligible for grant under the home energy efficiency scheme, an applicant or his or her spouse must be in receipt of one of five passportable benefits: housing benefit, income support, family credit, community charge benefit and disability working allowance. In addition, his or her property must meet certain criteria concerning existing levels of insulation and receipt of a grant for similar work under previous schemes. Data on numbers of households eligible in any particular area at a particular time are not available.

  Figures for the number of homes treated under the scheme are not collected on the basis requested. Within the network installer area which contains the Inverclyde district council's area, 3,495 homes have benefited from HEES grant since 1 January 1991.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in the City of Durham constituency qualify for grant aid under the home energy efficiency scheme; and how many houses have been improved under the scheme since its inception in 1991.

  Mr. Maclean
  In order to be eligible for grant under the home energy efficiency scheme, an applicant or his or her spouse must be in receipt of one of five passportable benefits: housing benefit, income support, family credit, community charge benefit and disability working allowance. In addition, his or her property must meet certain criteria concerning existing levels of insulation and receipt of a grant for similar work under previous schemes. Data on numbers of households eligible in any particular area at a particular time are not available.

  Figures for the number of homes treated under the scheme are not collected on a constituency basis. Within the network installer area which contains the hon. Member's constituency, 1,017 homes have benefited from home energy efficiency scheme grant since 1 January 1991.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes within the network 152
  installer area which contains the Leeds, West constituency have been improved under the home energy efficiency scheme since its inception in 1991.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Within the network installer area, which contains the hon. Member's constituency, 2,058 homes have benefited from home energy efficiency scheme grant since 1 January 1991.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in Preston have qualified for grant aid under the home energy efficiency scheme in the most recent available period; and how many houses have been improved under the home energy efficiency scheme in the network installer area including Preston since its inception in 1991.

  Mr. Maclean
  In order to be eligible for grant under the home energy efficiency scheme, an applicant or his or her spouse must be in receipt of one of five passportable benefits: housing benefit, income support, family credit, community charge benefit and disability working allowance. In addition, his or her property must meet certain criteria concerning existing levels of insulation and receipt of a grant for similar work under previous schemes. Data on numbers of households eligible in any particular area at a particular time are not available.

  Within the network installer area which contains the hon. Member's constituency, 1,626 homes have benefited from home energy efficiency scheme grant since 1 January 1991.

  Environmental Charter
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made towards issuing an environmental charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State announced his intention to develop a charter for local authority environment services at the Prime Minister's seminar on 19 June. He has proposed that the charter should be developed through a working group of the central and local government environment forum and that it should build on the existing good practice in authorities. In addition, other environmental authorities will apply the charter principles to their services to the public.

  Hoop Iron Housing
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals he has to assist former tenants who have purchased hoop iron housing and are now unable to sell their properties;

  (2) what consideration he has given to reports on the problems associated with hoop iron housing; and if he will make it his policy to include properties with this type of construction in the definition of defective housing under the Housing Act 1985.

  Sir George Young
  At the Department's suggestion, the London borough of Sutton has commissioned a report on these houses from the Building Research Establishment, which is expected shortly. When the borough, and the Department, have had an opportunity to consider its findings, it will be possible to decide whether any assistance to owners is needed, and, if so, what form it should take.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Redwood
  Four in the main Department and three in the Property Services Agency.

  London Docklands (Vandalism)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent of building vandalisation in the London docklands area to avoid payment of rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have not been advised of any empty properties in London docklands that have been unusable by their owners in order to avoid rates liability.

  Salt Water
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has under-taken on the use of salt water in fire hydrants, street cleaning or domestic sewerage.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The Water Industry Act 1991 requires water companies to make available supplies of water for fire fighting, cleansing and watering highways, and other public purposes, in addition to their duty to supply water for domestic purposes. To deliver non-potable water for certain of these purposes would require the development of a separate supply system to avoid contamination of drinking water. The use of salt water for such purposes could also have implications for the contamination of land.

  British Waterways Board
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to commercialise the operations of the British Waterways Board.

  Mr. Maclean
  As far as is consistent with its statutory obligations, the British Waterways Board is already required to run its affairs on a commercial basis. How it manages its day-to-day operations is a matter for the board, but in all its activities BWB should achieve value for money, seek an adequate return on investment and increase opportunities for private sector participation.

  Council Rents
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing average council sector rents in each year since 1979 in cash and constant prices.

  Sir George Young
  Average local authority rents in England were as follows:

  Average unrebated rent (£ per week)

  As at April

  As reported £

  At 1992 prices £

  1979

  6·40

  16·36

  1980

  7·71

  16·19

  1981

  11·43

  21·42

  1982

  13·52

  23·16

  1983

  14·05

  23·14

  154

  As at April

  As reported £

  At 1992 prices £

  1984

  14·75

  23·10

  1985

  15·63

  22·89

  1986

  16·45

  23·38

  1987

  17·24

  23·51

  1988

  18·88

  24·77

  1989

  20·76

  25·21

  1990

  23·79

  26·40

  1991

  27·26

  28·43

  1992

  130·55

  130·55

  1 Estimates.

  In 1991 61 per cent. of council tenants were receiving housing benefit and therefore not paying the full rent.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the number of water disconnections in England in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) on 24 June,Official Report, column 204. Information prior to 1984–85 was not held centrally. Since privatisation this information is collected by the Director General of Water Services. It is also published by the Water Services Association in "Water Facts", copies of which are in the Library.

  Local Authority Tenants (Arrears)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals for powers to issue regulations to local authorities to prevent eviction of local authority tenants for arrears of water and environmental charges.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. Local authorities do not have powers to evict tenants solely on the grounds of the non-payment of water and environmental charges.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review non-domestic rating regulations to ensure the same treatment for self-catering holiday units as for bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. Bed-and-breakfast accommodation is not rated if the person who lives in the premises intends to make the accommodation available to six people or fewer and such use is subsidiary to the use of the property as his home. It would not be appropriate to apply such a test to self-catering holiday units.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current policy on planning regulations and consents in environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government's planning policy for areas of environmental sensitivity, including national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, is set out in planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside and
  155
  the Rural Economy". Paragraph 3.18 states that designation as an environmentally sensitive area under the Agriculture Act 1986 does not affect the status of the area in terms of national planning policies or development control regulations. However, the features which contributed to the designation of the area as an ESA may sometimes also be important features in local countryside planning policies and development control decisions.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to restrict the liability of residential care homes to the council tax.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is right that residential care homes should contribute to the cost of local services from which they benefit. However, we have taken several measures to ensure that these contributions are modest and fair.

  Special rules mean that the owner of a care home, not its residents, will be liable to pay the council tax bill. The size of that bill will be kept down by the banding arrangements, which ensure that larger dwellings gibe rise to less tax, proportionate to their value, than smaller ones.

  There will be personal discounts for residents of care homes, so that they do not count towards the personal element of the tax. In many cases these discounts will reduce the council tax bill by 50 per cent. Finally, any home with a resident who, because of a disability, needs a room, an extra bathroom or kitchen, or circulation space indoors for a wheelchair will be able to apply to the local authority for a reduction equivalent to one valuation band.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require county councils to provide information to district councils which is considered necessary by district councils for the purposes of their submissions to the Royal Commission on the restructuring of local government.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Under schedule 2 to the Local Government Act 1992, public bodies have a duty to supply the Local Government Commission with any information which it reasonably requires in connection with any of its functions. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State intends to direct the commission to make such information available on request to local authorities provided the information is not sensitive for commercial or other reasons.

  Planning
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to review the permitted development rights granted in the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 in relation to environmental assessment; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Yes. We are committed to ensuring that all projects which could have significant environ-mental effects are thoroughly assessed by planning authorities before going forward. The Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 already secures this for projects which 156
  require a planning permission. But certain minor classes of development defined in the General Development Order do not presently require a specific planning application and this may require amendment.

  A consultation paper will shortly be issued with proposals for such amendments on which the views of industry, the public and planning authorities will be sought.

  Peat
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the terms of reference of the working group on peat extraction.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am pleased to announce that a working group has been convened by my Department which will work to the following terms of reference. Membership of the working group includes representatives of the peat industry, mineral planning authorities, the statutory nature and countryside conservation bodies, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Forestry Commission and the Scottish Office Environment Department. The working group will advise my Department about:current peat extraction and usage having regard to the overall peatland resource in Great Britain and the place of imports and alternatives, and having regard to the Government's general policies for reconciling the supply of minerals with sustainable development;
  any required guidance at national level in respect of development control over existing extraction sites; guidance on rehabilitation of existing workings; and guidance in respect of future land-use issues affecting peatlands, especially the nature conservation of, and extraction from, lowland peat mires.

  Particular topics that the group will need to consider include:

  (i) occurrence and types of peat;

  (ii) the nature conservation status of the identified peat areas, including the scale and extent of the protected areas; and the archaeological and landscape importance of peatlands;

  (iii) current areas of peat production;

  (iv) production and uses of peat, and the place of imports;

  (v) peat working practices, rehabilitation and after-uses, including the issues of old peat permissions as part of the Department's review of the operation of the 1981 Minerals Act;

  (vi) peat alternatives;

  (vii) the effects of mineral extraction on other peatland land uses (eg. conservation, agriculture and forestry);

  (viii) other land uses affecting peatlands (eg. agriculture and forestry);

  (ix) use of information from the above to consider preparation of further planning guidance about nature conservation, peat extraction and other land-use matters affecting peatlands.

  Information on these topics will be obtained through factual papers and other information provided by my Department and other members of the working group. The Department will also invite information and views on these topics from additional consultees.

  The Department's remit for minerals and planning policy legislation and guidance covers England. The Scottish and Welsh Offices are associated with the group, whose work will assist in preparing any similar guidance for Scotland and Wales.

  Rents
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from housing associations on the effect of reductions in Government grants on the level of rents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 6 July 1992] : My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning met representatives of the National Federation of Housing Associations recently to discuss housing association matters, including the level of rents. He has also received
  158
  some letters from individual associations. The Housing Corporation is monitoring outturn rents under the new financial regime and will shortly be putting proposals to the Department for grant rates in 1993–94. In reaching a decision we will take into account the views expressed by the federation and associations. Schemes are now financed by both grant and private loan and this, combined with the substantially increased resources which the Government are making available overall, should result in associations completing nearly twice as many new homes next year as they did last.

  Education Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table for each local education authority in England showing their basic credit approval for(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92 and (d) 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: I have today placed in the Library a table which gives the basic credit approval for all of the services provided by each local education authority in England for 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93. No basic credit approvals were issued for 1989–90 as section 53 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, under which they are issued, was not in force for that financial year.

  Local education authority basic credit approvals

  1990–91 £000

  1991–92 £000

  1992–93 £000

  Counties and lsles of Scilly

  Avon

  13,614

  14,671

  16,746

  Bedfordshire

  7,361

  6,957

  9,505

  Berkshire

  11,926

  10,729

  6,687

  Buckinghamshire

  7,779

  9,017

  7,969

  Cambridgeshire

  18,327

  12,828

  9,944

  Cheshire

  15,578

  15,213

  20,930

  Cleveland

  11,397

  9,680

  9,847

  Cornwall

  13,003

  13,274

  11,067

  Cumbria

  12,826

  14,164

  12,615

  Derbyshire

  21,209

  30,139

  18,840

  Devon

  23,724

  17,672

  15,948

  Dorset

  8,702

  2,993

  8,790

  Durham

  9,797

  12,975

  13,322

  East Sussex

  15,373

  25,028

  22,926

  Essex

  32,312

  36,716

  29,470

  Gloucestershire

  12,527

  11,152

  12,340

  Hampshire

  22,172

  28,415

  22,449

  Hereford and Worcester

  9,250

  12,486

  8,841

  Hertfordshire

  14,131

  15,685

  14,497

  Humberside

  18,659

  18,431

  18,228

  Isle of Wight

  4,033

  4,231

  3,108

  Kent

  28,368

  61,843

  48,508

  Lancashire

  39,679

  39,781

  35,744

  Leicestershire

  17,990

  15,846

  17,926

  Lincolnshire

  11,198

  12,990

  16,076

  Norfolk

  9,388

  8,281

  8,834

  Northamptonshire

  9,601

  12,897

  7,631

  Northumberland

  5,025

  8,022

  6,283

  North Yorkshire

  11,268

  14,124

  15,110

  Nottinghamshire

  9,109

  15,891

  12,013

  Oxfordshire

  10,508

  12,777

  11,139

  Shropshire

  11,448

  12,865

  8,819

  Somerset

  10,228

  10,698

  10,201

  Staffordshire

  14,113

  17,304

  13,407

  Suffolk

  15,766

  23,297

  15,130

  Surrey

  9,454

  12,104

  8,908

  Warwickshire

  4,241

  4,292

  4,354

  West Sussex

  12,048

  11,024

  9,393

  Wiltshire

  12,700

  11,580

  8,956

  Isles of Scilly

  411

  293

  281

  Metropolitan districts

  Bolton

  14,272

  11,150

  12,185

  Bury

  7,680

  5,992

  5,295

  Manchester

  60,272

  55,860

  53,645

  Oldham

  17,236

  19,779

  13,687

  Rochdale

  17,279

  22,245

  13,824

  Salford

  21,127

  17,424

  13,968

  Stockport

  7,678

  8,563

  9,053

  Tameside

  8,694

  8,762

  10,952

  Trafford

  16,528

  10,463

  8,912

  Wigan

  18,150

  21,202

  15,178

  Knowsley

  10,864

  13,941

  20,756

  Liverpool

  48,548

  40,148

  33,819

  160

  1990–91 £000

  1991–92 £000

  1992–93 £000

  St. Helens

  14,000

  18,637

  16,968

  Sefton

  10,715

  11,260

  9,750

  Wirral

  15,043

  14,164

  14,346

  Barnsley

  16,295

  15,994

  17,009

  Doncaster

  13,264

  12,646

  11,058

  Rotherham

  11,272

  8,613

  10,075

  Sheffield

  43,962

  45,432

  43,145

  Gateshead

  12,148

  13,122

  9,921

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  19,034

  19,707

  17,886

  North Tyneside

  11,818

  10,381

  10,400

  South Tyneside

  10,635

  9,777

  7,938

  Sunderland

  19,481

  19,051

  19,110

  Birmingham

  87,409

  92,368

  90,930

  Coventry

  11,578

  17,259

  18,452

  Dudley

  16,568

  23,354

  19,431

  Sandwell

  20,519

  18,590

  23,123

  Solihull

  4,070

  5,610

  5,186

  Walsall

  18,623

  14,959

  12,929

  Wolverhampton

  15,145

  23,424

  18,433

  Bradford

  29,424

  29,674

  22,829

  Calderdale

  8,086

  9,308

  10,074

  Kirklees

  13,958

  17,255

  17,607

  Leeds

  40,098

  57,583

  55,917

  Wakefield

  25,626

  18,035

  17,124

  London

  City of London

  1,376

  0

  0

  Camden

  30,174

  32,298

  30,239

  Greenwich

  29,467

  27,453

  19,141

  Hackney

  30,902

  37,940

  33,387

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  20,271

  18,662

  22,319

  Islington

  33,371

  29,145

  26,822

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15,222

  12,091

  15,445

  Lambeth

  31,410

  36,247

  33,723

  Lewisham

  24,815

  29,073

  23,872

  Southwark

  39,942

  35,076

  34,273

  Tower Hamlets

  31,871

  32,339

  32,826

  Wandsworth

  26,631

  19,211

  26,183

  Westminster

  21,724

  19,359

  18,423

  Barking and Dagenham

  5,477

  3,729

  4,277

  Barnet

  6,298

  1,714

  8,148

  Bexley

  6,458

  7,920

  7,961

  Brent

  29,544

  25,454

  20,860

  Bromley

  4,557

  12,044

  14,196

  Croydon

  12,181

  17,793

  21,747

  Ealing

  24,316

  22,034

  19,110

  Enfield

  11,173

  11,475

  19,880

  Haringey

  31,477

  28,777

  28,092

  Harrow

  8,658

  9,258

  12,957

  Havering

  8,738

  4,827

  6,815

  Hillingdon

  5,379

  8,858

  17,790

  Houndslow

  10,224

  12,487

  17,602

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  6,886

  5,150

  5,794

  Merton

  15,751

  5,876

  5,604

  Newham

  28,952

  35,411

  35,073

  Redbridge

  7,164

  6,206

  13,947

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  10,685

  7,953

  7,456

  Sutton

  8,365

  8,370

  7,434

  Waltham Forest

  24,644

  18,350

  22,693

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his latest estimates for each local authority and for England of(a) the percentage of total budgeted poll tax income collected so far for 1990–91,

  161
  1991–92 and 1992–93, (b) the total amounts outstanding in pound sterling million and (c) the numbers of liability orders taken out for poll tax debt.

  Mr. Redwood
  I estimate that by 31 March 1992 charging authorities in England had collected 97 per cent. and 89 per cent. of their budgeted community charge income for 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively. Figures for 1992–93 are not yet available.

  I am arranging for a listing of the percentage of 1990–91 budgeted community charge income collected by each authority in the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1992 to be placed in the Library of the House.

  With respect to the percentage of 1991–92 budgeted community charge income collected, I refer the hon. member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire), on 17 June 1992 to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond), at column 565.

  My Department does not collect figures for amounts of community charges outstanding or for the numbers of liability orders granted. Figures for the amount of community charge arrears at 31 March 1991, and for liability orders granted in 1990–91, were published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in "Revenue Collection Statistics 1990–91 Actuals", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many training places were awarded by the Construction Industry Training Board in the north-west last year; and how many of them were filled.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Construction Industry Training Board negotiates individually with each training and enterprise council the number of training weeks rather than training places under youth training the CITB will provide. In 1991–92 in the north-west a total of 158,905 weeks were contracted, of which 127,482 were delivered.

  At March 1991 there were 2,235 young people in youth training with the CITB in the north-west.

  The CITB is not itself a training manager for employment training but provides support to employment training training managers through direct contracts with them. The detail of these contracts is not known to the Department.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Regional Economies
  Mr. Biffen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the degree of convergence between the English and Welsh economies based upon the statistical data provided in appendix E of the statistical supplement to the "Autumn Statement 1991" and the territorial gross domestic product data published in the regional accounts of the November 1991 issue of "Economic Trends".

  Mr. Lamont
  Simple comparisons of regional spending per head are misleading. Account needs also to be taken of a wide range of economic and social differences between the regions. Gross domestic product per head can provide 162
  a measure of the relative economic performances of regions of the United Kingdom although, due to the lack of regional price deflators, comparisons of regions' real rates of economic growth cannot be made. Gross domestic product per head in Wales was 82·8 per cent. of the level in England, very close to the equivalent 1980 figure of 82·4 per cent. This ratio has fluctuated a little, but has remained generally steady over the decade.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the variation in the position of the pound sterling against the deutschmark as at the close of business on each of the 10 working days following the reductions in the United Kingdom's bank base lending rates on(a) 8 October 1990, (b) 13 February 1991, (c) 27 February 1991, (d) 22 March 1991, (e) 12 April 1991, (f) 24 May 1991, (g) 12 July 1991, (h) 4 September 1991 and (i) 5 May 1992.

  Mr. Nelson
  The percentage differences from sterling's central exchange rate mechanism rate of DM2·95 as at the third concertation among central banks for the days in question were as follows:

  Date

  Percentage

  9 October 1990

  +1·95

  10

  +2·10

  11

  +2·06

  12

  +1·77

  15

  +0·70

  16

  +0·68

  17

  0·76

  18

  +0·14

  19

  +0·02

  22

  +0·03

  14 February 1991

  -1·62

  15

  -1·36

  18

  -1·38

  19

  -1·33

  20

  -1·19

  21

  -1·10

  22

  -0·95

  25

  -0·62

  26

  -0·88

  27

  -1·15

  28

  -1·11

  1 March 1991

  -1·13

  4

  -1·27

  5

  -1·17

  6

  -1·21

  7

  -1·04

  8

  -0·85

  11

  -0·85

  12

  -0·98

  13

  -0·76

  25

  -0·20

  26

  +0·45

  27

  +0·69

  28

  +0·86

  2 April 1991

  +0·76

  3

  +0·63

  4

  +0·71

  5

  +0·97

  8

  +1·23

  9

  +1·26

  15

  +0·97

  16

  +0·97

  17

  +0·94

  18

  +1·32

  163

  Date

  Percentage

  19

  +1·48

  22

  +1·35

  23

  +1·09

  24

  +0·59

  25

  +0·31

  26

  +0·22

  28 May 1991

  +0·34

  29

  +0·24

  30

  +0·03

  31

  +0·10

  3 June

  +0·46

  4

  +0·47

  5

  +0·34

  6

  +0·22

  7

  +0·30

  10

  +0·13

  15 July 1991

  +0·14

  16

  +0·39

  17

  +0·19

  18

  +0·16

  19

  +0·19

  22

  +0·27

  23

  +0·24

  24

  -0·25

  25

  -0·28

  26

  -0·46

  5 September 1991

  -0·14

  6

  -0·25

  9

  -0·30

  10

  -0·57

  11

  -0·70

  12

  -0·87

  13

  -1·02

  16

  -1·23

  17

  -1·23

  18

  -1·23

  6 May 1992

  -0·76

  7

  -0·38

  8

  -0·18

  11

  -0·29

  12

  -0·27

  13

  -0·25

  14

  -0·44

  15

  -0·60

  18

  -0·64

  19

  -0·78

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he considers it will be prudent to move the pound sterling into the narrow band of the exchange rate mechanism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  Sterling will move to the narrow band of the ERM in due course at the current central rate of DM2·95.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the provisions which govern the power of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation to investigate the conduct or control of pension fund managers.

  Mr. Nelson
  Schedule 2 to the Financial Services Act 1986 sets out the requirements which a self-regulatory organisation must meet in order to be recognised under the Act. These include adequate arrangements for the effective 164
  monitoring and enforcement of compliance with its rules and with any directly applicable conduct of business requirements.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish the latest Treasury forecast on the PSBR.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. Forecasts are published twice a year. The next forecast will be published in the autumn statement.

  Oil Taxation
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those organisations and individuals whom he has consulted during his review of oil taxation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government remain in contact with a range of parties interested in oil production taxes. For instance, my officials have had exchanges with oil industry representative bodies—the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and BRINDEX—and individual oil companies in devising the oil tax measures now before Parliament in the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to complete his review of oil taxation; and if he intends to report to Parliament before deciding what reforms, if any, to introduce.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As with other taxes, the fiscal regime for oil production is kept under continuing review. Proposals are put to Parliament as appropriate.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Eight.

  Third World
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that any future structural adjustments agreed with third world Governments should take fully into account the effect of the changes experienced by vulnerable groups in debtor countries.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 July 1992] : The Government have made clear-most recently in my right hon. Friend's statement to the development committee at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World bank-the priority they attach to Governments and the international financial institutions taking full account of their responsibility to devise and implement effective strategies for the reduction of poverty when designing adjustment programmes. It is the policy of the IMF and the World bank to pay full regard to the impact of adjustment programmes on the poor.

  Inheritance Tax (Exemptions)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the hectarage of land where there is currently exemption from inheritance tax for access purposes in each county or region.
  165
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 6 July 1992] : I regret that this information is not readily available.

  The Countryside Commission has estimated that, in England, there are about 130,000 hectares—315,000 acres —of heritage quality land for which a management agreement has been or is being negotiated. It is thought that about half of this area is land for which conditional exemption has been granted; the remainder relates to private treaty sales of land to bodies qualifying under schedule 3 to the Inheritance Tax Act, acceptances in lieu of tax, designations of land for heritage maintenance funds and conditional exemption claims which have not yet been agreed. Comparable figures for the rest of the United Kingdom are not available.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates and in what parts of the City of Durham constituency the cold weather payments scheme was triggered during the winter of 1991–92; and how many households received payments on each occasion;

  (2) on what dates cold weather payments were made in the City of Durham constituency in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and what period was taken for payments to be made once the system was triggered.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates, and in what parts of the Falkirk, West constituency, the cold weather payments system was triggered during the winter of 1991–92; and how many households received payments on each occasion;

  (2) on what dates cold weather payments were made in the Falkirk, West constituency in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and whether he will indicate the period taken for payments to be made once the system had been triggered.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates the cold weather payments system was triggered in Preston during the winter of 1991–92; and how many households received payments on each occasion;

  (2) on what dates cold weather payments were made in Preston in response to a forecast of a qualifying period, indicating the period taken for payments to be made once the system had been triggered.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates cold weather payments were made in the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and what was the period taken for payments to be made once the system has been triggered off;

  (2) on what dates, and in what areas of the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, the cold weather payments system was triggered during the winter of 1991–92; and how many households received payments on each occasion.

  Mr. Scott
  Such information as is available is in the Library.
  166
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in the Falkirk, West constituency qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in the City of Durham constituency qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Members with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will rewrite the section of the disability living allowance form on preparing a cooked main meal;

  (2) if he intends to rewrite the claim pack for the disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Ms. Lynne) on 15 June at column 384.

  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the claim pack for the disability living allowance will be available in a format accessible to blind and partially sighted people; and what the format will be.

  Mr. Scott
  The benefit inquiry line provides a forms completion service for disability living allowance. The claim pack is completed over the telephone and then sent to the person to be checked, signed and returned. The forms completion service is available in Braille and large print. The benefit inquiry line also provide audio cassette tapes to help visually impaired people to complete the disability living allowance forms.

  Pension Rights
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he will take to reduce the gender imbalance in pension rights.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government have long been committed to the principle of equal treatment in pensions. We are now actively considering how best to achieve this in the state and occupational schemes.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons he decided that women widowed before the age of 45 years cannot receive widows' pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The changes were made in 1988 to target help where it is most needed—older widows and widows with dependent children. This is fairer and reflects the reality of the changed employment pattern of women. Widows under 45 with dependent children continue to be eligible for widowed mother's allowance and there is now
  167
  a widow's payment of £1,000 for all eligible women immediately on bereavement regardless of entitlement to a subsequent weekly benefit.

  Young People (Hardship Payments)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for special hardship payments to 16 and 17-year-olds have been made at each benefit office in Tyne and Wear in each year since the general right to benefit was withdrawn; and how many of these applications were successful.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support 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 copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will allow pensioners in receipt of income support to continue to have benefit entitlement for housing/community charge benefit without having to re-apply every 12 months.

  Mr. Burt
  The existing arrangements are currently being examined in conjunction with representatives of the local authority associations.

  Standard rate of retirement pension

  Retirement pension as percentage of average gross earnings1

  Year

  Single £

  Couple £

  Average gross earnings £

  Single £

  Couple £

  November 1977

  17·50

  28·00

  83·40

  20·98

  33·57

  November 1978

  19·50

  31·20

  95·80

  20·35

  32·57

  November 1979

  23·30

  37·30

  114·10

  20·42

  32·69

  November 1980

  27·15

  43·45

  135·10

  20·10

  32·16

  November 1981

  29·60

  47·35

  149·50

  19·80

  31·67

  November 1982

  32·85

  52·55

  160·60

  20·45

  32·72

  November 1983

  34·05

  54·50

  172·40

  19·75

  31·61

  November 1984

  35·80

  57·30

  187·40

  19·10

  30·58

  November 1985

  38·30

  61·30

  199·50

  19·20

  30·73

  July 1986

  38·70

  61·95

  210·90

  18·35

  29·37

  April 1987

  39·50

  63·25

  224·00

  17·63

  28·24

  April 1988

  41·15

  65·90

  245·80

  16·74

  26·81

  April 1989

  43·60

  69·80

  269·50

  16·18

  25·90

  April 1990

  46·90

  75·10

  295·60

  15·87

  25·41

  April 1991

  52·00

  83·25

  318·90

  16·31

  26·11

  April 1992

  54·15

  86·70

  337·50

  16·04

  25·69

  1 Average gross earnings =average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult males in Great Britain.

  Child Support Act 1991
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated annual loss of revenue due to members of the armed forces being exempt from the provisions of the Child Support Act 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  It is intended that members of the Armed Forces will be subject to the child maintenance provisions of the Child Support Act 1991 in the same way as they are currently subject to court orders for maintenance. The necessary amending legislation is intended to be brought before the House in time for the implementation of the new scheme in April next year.

  Lodgers
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he proposes to take to encourage the taking in of lodgers(a) generally and (b) among those of or near retirement age.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans for such initiatives in the social security system. However, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced proposals for fiscal incentives in the current Finance Bill.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams, dated 23 April, regarding Mrs. J. Thorne of Southfield Rise, Paignton.

  Mr. Scott
  A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 3 July. I very much regret the delay in responding.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average level of(a) a single person's state pension and (b) a married couple's state pension in each of the last 15 years; and how pension levels have related to average earnings in each year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is not available in the form requested. Details of the levels of the standard basic retirement pension, and how these have related to average earnings, are given in the table.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications his Department received in 1991 for back payment of attendance allowance; and how many of those applications were successful.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the criteria used by his Department in determining applications for back payment of attendance allowance.
  169
  Mr. Scott
  Payment of attendance allowance cannot be made for any period before it is claimed.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the advisory committees and their memberships which advise him on matters relating to the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I am advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) on relevant EC matters. This is a statutory advisory body made up of medical experts in occupational health, representatives of employers and employees organisations, a lawyer and an independent social researcher. A list of members can be found in their report published in May 1992, "Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders", Cm 1936.

  Other advisory committees associated with the Department are kept informed of EC issues. The Department also discusses EC issues with representatives of the pensions and financial services sector as necessary.

  War Disablement Pension
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the present level of war disablement pension for each rank; and what plans he has to increase the level.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information regarding levels of war disablement pension is contained in leaflet MPL 154, a copy of which is available in the Library. For ranks above private the levels include rank additions: for most war pensioners these represent only a few pence a week but several pounds for some officers.

  In order to simplify the war pensions scheme and provide a better service, rank additions will be abolished from April 1993. To ensure that no individual war pensioner will lose out as a result of the abolition the basic war disablement pension will be increased by 84p a week for non-commissioned officers and £5 for most officers.

  Mrs. Joanna Rotas
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the progress of the application of Mrs. Joanna Rotas of Western 'Has, Collins road, Totnes, south Devon, for(a) attendance allowance, made in October 1991 and (b) disability living allowance, made in March 1992; and when she can expect to learn whether these applications have been successful.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of attendance allowance and disability living allowance are matters for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Burt
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department of Social Security whose pay exceeds that figure is three.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what errors were made in the calculation of social fund allocations to district offices for 1992–93; when they were discovered; what changes were made in consequence and when; how many districts have had their allocations reduced or increased; and if he will supply details of the changes to hon. Members whose constituencies are affected.

  Mr. Scott
  An error in the data on which social fund discretionary budget allocations were based was identified on 17 March 1992; figures on income support caseload for a small number of districts had been attributed to the wrong districts. A full list of the revised allocations made to all districts was placed in the Library on 21 May 1992.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been his Department's response to the Social Security Advisory Committee's report "The Social Fund—A New Structure".

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 11 May at column 47.

  Benefits Agency Answers
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a daily addendum to the Official Report which includes details of answers provided to hon. Members by the director of the Benefits Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Copies of letters from the chief executive of the Benefits Agency which respond to hon. Members' questions are placed in the Library and Public Information Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 29 June at column 577 about future arrangements.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now publish the evidence of all the organisations that replied to him in his recent consultations regarding the Child Support Agency regulations.

  Mr. Burt
  A number of interested organisations were approached for their views on the proposed content of the various regulations to be made under the Child Support Act 1991. It is for the organisations themselves to publish their views, if they wish to do so.

  Retirement Age
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those organisations that supplied evidence to him in his recent consultations over the question of the equal state retirement age for men and women; and if he will now publish the evidence provided by all these organisations.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Over 3,500 responses have been received from organisations and individuals on the question of equalising state pension age. We will be examining these responses in detail and will be prepared to
  171
  accept late responses. The publication of the evidence received, and other issues arising from the discussion period, are still under consideration.

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific measures she is taking to help the long-term unemployed.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am determined to provide the best possible range of help and advice for long-term unemployed people. I keep our comprehensive package of employment and training measures under review to ensure that they continue to offer the most practical and effective help in getting back to work.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Compared with the previous month, there was a welcome slow-down in May in the increase in seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment, which for the United Kingdom stood at 2,716,600.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she has planned to reduce unemployment in Ilford, South.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The employment service and training and enterprise councils deliver a wide range of employment, enterprise and training programmes to help unemployed people find the best and quickest route back to employment. In Ilford, South, as elsewhere. these programmes are tailored to take account of special local circumstances.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about the level of unemployment in the northern region.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In May 1992 seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment in the northern region was 153,800.

  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish a table showing unemployment rates by ethnic origin in Greater London on the same basis as the answer on 13 November 1990,Official Report, column 123, to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman).

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is as follows:

  Unemployment rates by ethnic origin in Greater London aged 16 and over Spring 1991

  per cent.

  All persons1

  9

  White

  8

  Non-white

  14

  West Indian/Guyanese

  15

  Indian

  12

  Pakistan/Bangladeshi

  18

  other ethnic origins2

  15

  Source Labour force survey.

  1 Includes those who did not state origin.

  2 Includes those of mixed origin.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the definition of health and safety as used by European institutions in assessing the procedures by which instruments of European legislation are processed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Article 118A of the treaty of Rome does not define health and safety, and we will continue to argue vigorously against its use where there are no proven health and safety risks.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will increase the Government's provision for young people's training.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We plan to spend over £850 million on youth training in the current financial year. This compares with a mere £63 million spent on YOP in 1978–79. I am satisfied that this Government has given training and enterprise councils the resources they require to meet the training needs of young people.

  Bridlington Agreement
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will introduce legislation to make the Bridlington agreement unlawful.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following proposals in the Green Paper, "Industrial Relations in the 1990s", my right hon. Friend intends to bring forward legislation which would greatly increase individuals' freedom to belong to the trade union of their choice. That legislation would make it unlawful for a union to exclude or expel an individual simply because it was required to do so through the application of the Trades Union Congress "Bridlington principles".

  Employment
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how full employment is currently defined.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Full employment is a concept with no generally accepted definition.

  Training
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent review she has undertaken of the effectiveness of the Government's training programmes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am satisfied that, across the country as a whole, the Government's training programmes are meeting the needs of young people, unemployed people and the economy.

  Single Parents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to allow single parents to carry out employment and training.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We offer single parents help to join employment training through special eligibility conditions
  173
  and the chance to train on a part-time basis. In addition, all single parents who have been out of work for six months or more are eligible to join a job club. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is also making changes to the benefit system which will make it easier for single parents to go to work when they are ready to do so.

  European Community Working Time Directive
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about the EC's proposals to introduce a 48-hour working week.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The proposed working time directive was discussed at the Social Affairs Council on 24 June. I made it clear that the United Kingdom continues to have very severe doubts about the directive as a whole and its proposed legal base. In discussions on the text, the United Kingdom secured all its key objectives, in particular the right for employees to work for more than 48 hours a week if they choose to do so. Other member states continued to have difficulties with the directive as drafted and in consequence the Council did not reach a common position.

  Women Workers
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how she intends to increase opportunities for women throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend on 9 June 1992,Official Report, column 140.

  Pregnant Workers
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will support the European Commission pregnant women at work directive.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government are seeking to uphold the common position on the directive which was agreed by the Council of Ministers in 1991.

  Travel-to-Interviews Scheme
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to review the pilot scheme for travel to interviews currently operated on the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am informed by the chief executive of the Employment Service that the pilot arrangements for travel to interviews currently operated on the Isle of Wight are being considered as part of an ongoing review of the travel-to-interview scheme. In the meantime, the pilot arrangements for the Isle of Wight will continue.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to raise awareness among small businesses of the services offered to them by training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) offer businesses, including small businesses, a174
  variety of support services to help business development. In doing so, TECs work with other local organisations such as chambers of commerce and local enterprise agencies. TECs are therefore best placed to raise awareness and market these services at local level.

  Work Statistics
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated ratio of the work force to the non-working population(a) currently and (b) in the years (i) 2000, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2020, respectively.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In 1991, the ratio of the estimated United Kingdom civilian labour force to the non-working population was 0·999. In the year 2000, the corresponding ratio is projected to be 0·995.

  Labour force projections are not currently available beyond the year 2001.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is her estimate of the size of the work force relative to the size of the retired population in the years(a) 2000, (b) 2010 and (c) 2020, respectively.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the year 2000 the United Kingdom civilian labour force is projected to be 29,449,000, 2·97 times the retired population.

  Labour force projections are not currently available beyond the year 2001.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria she uses to measure the performance of employment services for disabled people; what plans she has to improve these services; what consultations she intends to carry out with disability organisations before introducing any amendments to service provision; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Department's main provision for helping to meet the employment needs of people with disabilities is delivered through the Employment Service (ES).

  The ES's objectives in its services for people with disabilities are to provide them with particular assistance to take advantage of work and training opportunities; and to help and encourage employers to make such opportunities available. The annual performance agreement between the Employment Department and ES sets out a performance target for the ES for 1991–92 that 2·5 per cent. of the total number of people placed in work are to be people with disabilities. In addition, the ES monitors the effectiveness of schemes using both management information, such as the numbers of people benefiting, and special research and surveys.

  Proposals for improving the Department's services for people with disabilities were contained in the consultative document "Employment and Training of People with Disabilities" published in June 1990 and further proposals were made when the "Evaluation of Special schemes for People with Disabilities" was published in November 1990. We received many responses to these documents from various individuals and organisations, including organisations of and for disabled people.

  As a result of these consultation exercises, we have announced and implemented changes in some areas and

  175
  we are considering other ways to improve our provision. For example, the ES is introducing placing assessment and counselling teams (PACTs) during 1992. PACTs will take on all the present functions of disablement resettlement officers, the disablement advisory service and the assessment functions of the employment rehabilitation service. These new teams will provide a more integrated service to both employers and disabled individuals.

  Ministers consult regularly with the National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities on plans and performance nationally and on local matters with committees for the employment of people with disabilities. When reconstituting the Department's advisory bodies care has been taken to include in them individuals with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities, some of whom are members of disability organisations.

  In considering, planning and implementing improvements to employment services for people with disabilities the Department involves disability organisations as appropriate. For example, a number of interested organisations will be consulted on proposals arising from a recent review of funding for sheltered employment.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by her Department to improve the accessibility of mainstream employment services to people with disabilities.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Most people with disabilities who find work through our services do so using our mainstream services. These services are kept under review with the aim of ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.

  Since April 1991 people with disabilities have priority access to the main employment and training programmes—employment training, employment action, the job interview guarantee scheme, job clubs and the enterprise allowance scheme.

  The Employment Service has issued guidance to mainstream personnel about their role in helping people with disabilities to find work. The new placing assessment and counselling teams and regional ability development centres will offer support and guidance to mainstream personnel, including help with training, in providing help for people with disabilities who do not require specialist help.

  The Employment Service has issued to staff responsible for its premises guidance on improving access to jobcentres for people with disabilities which takes account of the latest standards in the building regulations.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the audit of non-specialist programmes against the needs of people with disabilities was completed; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department's consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" referred to the Department's intention to audit new and established programmes and services to ensure that they meet the needs of clients with disabilities. Auditing is now under way but the process is continuous and so there will be no report on its completion.

  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to evaluate the policy of using agencies for the assessment and rehabilitation of disabled people.
  176
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Service regularly monitors the effectiveness and quality of provision within individual agencies with which it contracts to provide specialist employment assessment and rehabilitation. It is currently considering carrying out further research into the effectiveness of rehabilitation.

  Health and Safety at Work Festival
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 5 June,Official Report, columns 645–46, if she will list the titles and originators of the videos chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the festival on safety, hygiene and health protection at work in Greece in October.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A list of the titles and originators of the United Kingdom video entries to the European video film festival is not yet available from the European Commission.

  The film festival was open to all health and safety videos made after 1989. Entries were made direct to the European Commission and there was no pre-selection or nomination process.

  I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available and place a copy in the Library.

  Nursery Facilities
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures her Department are taking to encourage industry to make nursery and creche facilities available for female employees.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department consistently encourages employers to consider the possible advantages to them of supporting nursery and creche facilities which could benefit all employees with young children. The booklet, "The Best of Both Worlds", describes some initiatives which different employers have taken.

  EC Social Affairs Ministers
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will state the purpose of the informal meeting of Social Affairs Ministers of the European Community scheduled to take place on 12 and 13 October; when she expects to announce the agenda of that meeting; and in what manner the results will be communicated to Parliament and the public.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The informal meeting will focus on means of making progress on major employment and social affairs issues facing the Community. The discussion is, for example, likely to be concerned with how best to promote employment growth in the member states, and with ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of existing EC legislation across the Community. I shall arrange for the House to be informed of the main outcomes.

  Building Trade
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full apprenticeships in the building trade were begun in the north-west in each of the last five years and in 1981, 1971 and 1961.
  177
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information is not collected by the Department in the form requested. However, the labour force survey for the years 1987 to 1991 indicates that the numbers in the north-west of those continuing a construction trade apprenticeship were as follows:

  Numbers

  1987

  1under 10,000

  1988

  1under 10,000

  1989

  11,002

  1990

  11,226

  1991

  10,344

  1 Estimates for 10,000 people or fewer (after grossing up) are not shown, since they are likely to be based on small samples and therefore unreliable. This is in line with current practice for labour force survey based analyses.

  Jobseekers Charter
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the working of the jobseekers charter.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the advisory committees and their memberships which advise her on matters relating to the European Community; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment consults widely on all proposals for EC legislation and other significant Community instruments. She particularly values the comments of advisory committees whose responsibilities cover matters which are the subject of the EC proposal in question.

  My right hon. Friend is advised by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on matters relating to health and safety at work, including proposed EC legislation in this area. HSC's advice follows consultation with its relevant consultative committees. The members of the Health and Safety Commission are:

  Sir John Cullen (Chairman)

  Councillor Eddie Carrick

  Mr. Paul Gallagher

  Mr. Peter Jacques CBE

  Mr. John C. Marvin

  Mr. Nigel J. Pitcher

  Councillor Dr. Colin Shannon CBE

  Mr. Rex H. M. Symons

  Mr. Alan Tuflin

  Dame Rachel Waterhouse

  Civil Servants,
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants in her Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department of Employment group whose pay currently exceeds this figure is three.
  178
  The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, the chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and the President of the Central Office of the Industrial Tribunals, Scotland are also paid more than a Cabinet Minister but are not civil servants.

  Wages Councils
  Mr.Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary to State for Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the wages councils as they affect Wales.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government have made it clear on many occasions that the wages councils have no permanent place in the labour market in Wales or the rest of the United Kingdom.

  International Labour Organisation
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the implementation by the Government of those conventions of the International Labour Organisation to which the Government are currently a signatory.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government continue to have full and proper regard to the importance of the International Labour Organisation conventions which the United Kingdom has ratified and to honour its obligations accordingly.

  Earnings
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she will provide a table indicating the average gross weekly earnings of(a) women and (b) men in each county area in the northern region for each year from 1979, (i) at current prices and (ii) at 1979 prices;

  (2) if she will provide a table indicating the average gross weekly earnings of (a) women and (b) men in each standard region for each year from 1979 at (i) current prices and (ii) 1979 prices;

  (3) if she will provide a table indicating the numbers and proportion of (a) women and (b) men earning less than 68 per cent. of the national average gross weekly wage in each county area in the northern region in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1991;

  (4) if she will provide a table indicating the proportion of (a) women and (b) men earning less than 68 per cent. of the national average gross weekly wage in each standard region in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1991;

  (5) if she will provide a table indicating the number of (a) women and (b) men earning less than 68 per cent. of the national average gross weekly wage in each standard region in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The average gross weekly earnings of men and women by standard region and county can be found in tables 110 and 113 of part E of the new earnings survey report from 1979 onwards. Information on the retail prices index—all items—to convert 1979 figures to 1991 prices is published in table 6.4 of the latest Employment Gazette for April 1991, and in table 26 of the annual supplement to Economic Trends for April of earlier years. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

  Sixty-eight per cent. of average gross weekly earnings for all full-time adult employees was £60·09 in 1979 and

  179
  £193·06 in 1991. Estimates of the numbers earning less than these amounts are not available. The proportions earning less than the available figures which are closest to these are shown in the table.

  Full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence

  Percentage1 with weekly earnings less than:

  April 1979 £60

  April 1991 £60

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Standard Regions

  South East

  41·8

  6·4

  31·6

  13–0

  East Anglia

  59·3

  10·7

  56·2

  20·8

  South West

  60·5

  11·8

  53·7

  22·3

  West Midlands

  56·6

  7·0

  57·6

  21·3

  East Midlands

  59·8

  8·4

  57·5

  21·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  61·0

  8·6

  56·4

  23·2

  North West

  58·2

  8·7

  54·5

  20·9

  North

  60·2

  8·1

  59·4

  22·0

  Wales

  56·8

  9·9

  57·7

  24·8

  Scotland

  59·5

  9·3

  54·7

  23·2

  Counties in the Northern region

  Tyne and Wear MC

  58·2

  9·4

  57·2

  22·5

  Cleveland

  54·4

  4·8

  58·9

  20·9

  Cumbria

  67·6

  7·8

  57·4

  16·7

  Durham

  62·9

  8·4

  63·9

  25·6

  Northumberland

  62·8

  9·8

  65·0

  26·7

  1 The percentages are not strictly comparable because the 1979 figures are for men aged 21 and over and women aged 18 and over while the 1991 figures are for men and women on adult rates of pay. Additional tables in part F of the 1983 NES report provide information on the change.

  Source: New earnings survey, 1979 and 1991.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will provide a table of expenditure showing the cost of running each regional office of the Employment Service aggregated by region, with Greater London shown as a separate region and excluding the funding programmes operated by the offices for each year from 1987–88(a) at current prices and (b) at 1987–88 prices.
  180
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of all 16 and 17-year-olds is currently on a training credit scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 3 July 1992] : Training credits schemes currently operate in 10 of the 82 training and enterprise councils in England and Wales, and one of the 22 local enterprise companies in Scotland, and offer training to those 16 and 17-year-olds who leave full-time education.

  The number of 16 and 17-year-olds currently on a training credit scheme represents an estimated 1 per cent. of the total number of 16 and 17-year-olds in Great Britain.

  Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is her estimate of the number of young people seeking a youth training place for the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 6 July 1992] : The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the contribution of the European social fund to the Government's youth training, employment training and employment action programmes.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 6 July 1992] : In 1991, the latest year for which contributions received are available, employment training received £156·59 million and youth training received £15·81 million from the European social fund (ESF). There was no contribution to employment action.

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