Written Answers of 9 July 1992

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Obscene Publications
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will take action under section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 to confiscate copies of the book published by Arrow Books of which the hon. Member for Shoreham has given him details.

  The Attorney-General
  It is the police rather than the Crown prosecution service who initiate proceedings under section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 by the obtaining and execution of a search warrant. The Crown prosecution service would, however, expect to be consulted in advance of such action and would not endorse any such application in respect of the book in question in view of its decision not to institute proceedings under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

  Mr. David Irving
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration the Director of Public Prosecutions has given to prosecuting Mr. David Irving under the Race Relations Act 1976 over the organisation of revisionist seminars describing the holocaust as a liberal myth.

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions is not currently giving consideration to any proceedings against David Irving. Anyone who has evidence giving reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed should report it to the police.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Indonesian Military Personnel
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Indonesian military personnel have recently been awarded Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships awards schemes to study at the Royal College of Military Science at Shrivenham, Swindon.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Two Indonesian military officers are currently at the Royal College of Military Science at Shrivenham on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships award scheme. One student was at the college last year on the same basis; a further student is expected to attend the college in the next academic year.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will cancel the invitations issued to Mr. Kustanto Widiatmoko, Mr. Akmad Buldan and Mr. Minulyo Suprato to attend the Royal College of Military Science at Shrivenham under his Department's scholarships and awards scheme, in view of Indonesia's human rights record.
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  Mr. Goodlad
  Only one of the three Indonesians named —Mr. Widiatmoko—is to attend a course at the Royal College of Military Science, Shrivenham. The other two are to undertake studies at Nottingham university and at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, Bedford. There are no plans to cancel these scholarships awards. We do not believe that the cancellation of this form of educational assistance would help the human rights situation in Indonesia.

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the first meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in Budapest, between 3 and 6 July.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I welcome the addition of a parliamentary dimension to the CSCE process, and in particular the adoption by the parliamentary assembly of declarations in favour of strengthening CSCE institutions. I agree with the assembly that respect for CSCE values, including parliamentary democracy and human rights, should be translated into every day practice, and that CSCE should seek to prevent and resolve conflicts both within and between states.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names of each of the organisations and individuals who have sent responses to the White Paper on a national lottery; and if he will make a statement on the timetable for completing his consultation process.

  Mr. Mellor
  A total of 224 respondents were listed on 6 July,Official Report, columns 23–26, most of whom submitted their comments to the Home Office before 1 June. In addition, the Department of National Heritage has now received seven further communications from organisations and individuals. These are from the Continental On-Line Lottery and Totalisator Advisors; Nairn district council; Northern Arts; the Sports Council for Northern Ireland; the United Kingdom Lottery Company Limited; the Victoria and Albert museum; and the hon. Member. This brings the total to 231. Over the next few months we will continue discussions with key respondents. Legislation will be brought forward in due course.

  Press (Self-regulation)
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has for reviewing press self-regulation.

  Mr. Mellor
  When the report of the Committee on Privacy and Related Matters was published in June 1990, the then Home Secretary said that the Government would review the effectiveness of press self-regulation once the new Press Complaints Commission which the committee recommended be established had been in operation for 18 months.
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  Now that the 18 month period is over, I have decided to ask Sir David Calcutt QC, the Master of Magdalene college Cambridge, who chaired the earlier committee, to undertake an assessment of how self-regulation has worked in practice since his committee reported. His remit will be to assess the effectiveness of non-statutory self regulation by the press since the establishment of the Press Complaints Commission and to give his views on whether the present arrangements for self-regulation should now be modified or put on a statutory basis. I have also asked him to consider whether any further measures may be needed to deal with intrusions into personal privacy by the press, and to make recommendations.

  I believe that a further independent analysis based on recent experience of self-regulation will be of great assistance in determining the way forward in this difficult and sensitive area. In view of his chairmanship of the earlier committee, Sir David is uniquely qualified to carry out this task, and I am very grateful to him for agreeing to take it on.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Key
  Over the next 12 months, I shall continue to follow up commitments in the White Paper Cm 1200 "This Common Inheritance" and its successor Cm 1655 "The First Year Report". I shall also be contributing to the second anniversary White Paper in the autumn. By the end of 1992 my Department will have developed an environmental housekeeping strategy for the management of its accommodation and purchasing, and over the next year and beyond I shall continue to ensure that environmental concerns shape the policy and work of my Department whenever appropriate.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Marine Theft
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of marine theft of United Kingdom vessels stolen in United Kingdom territorial waters for the last five years; and if he will tabulate.

  Mr. Jack
  The requested information is not collected centrally.

  AIDS
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation so that charges of(a) indecent assault. (b) assault occasioning actual bodily harm and (c) procurement of sex with a woman by false pretences, may be brought against a person who is an HIV/AIDS carrier who wilfully infects others; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We have no current plans to introduce such legislation. There are difficulties both of principle and of practice in bringing this type of behaviour within the scope 278
  of the criminal law. The issue is, however, being kept under review and we will he taking into account the precedents in other countries before reaching a final view.

  Mr. Martin Foran
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer to the Court of Appeal the conviction of Martin Foran, presently at Her Majesty's prison, Millers Park, following the receipt of the letter from the Crown prosecution service of 28 May, 11NN 158212 Foran, relating to non-disclosure of evidence during his application for leave to appeal.

  Mr. Jack
  We are considering, in the light of further representations from solicitors for Mr. Foran, including the letter to them of 28 May from the Crown prosecution service, whether there are any grounds to justify intervention in the case. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as consideration of the representations is complete.

  Police, Wales
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of police officers in Wales relieved of duty because of criminal misconduct in(a) 1991, (b) 1990 and (c) 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The table gives total numbers of officers suspended from duty pending investigation of a criminal allegation, in respect of each of the four Welsh constabularies in the years in question. The figures in brackets denote the number of officers who were convicted of a criminal offence in those years. Any conviction of an officer who has been suspended from duty may take place in a year subsequent to that of his suspension.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Dyfed-Powys

  0 (0)

  3 (1)

  0 (0)

  Gwent

  6 (0)

  3 (1)

  4 (1)

  North Wales

  3 (1)

  1 (0)

  4 (1)

  South Wales

  8 (6)

  9 (3)

  14 (1)

  Total

  17 (7)

  16 (5)

  22 (3)

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog in dealing with referral cases at each of the immigration centres.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of passengers detained overnight under Immigration Act powers during 1991 by nationality.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Passengers1 detained overnight or longer in 1991, by nationality

  Geographical region and nationality2

  Number of persons

  All nationalities

  8,016

  European Community

  35

  279

  Geographical region and nationality2

  Number of persons

  Belgium

  —

  Denmark

  —

  France

  10

  Germany

  2

  Greece

  —

  Italy

  2

  Luxembourg

  —

  Netherlands

  4

  Portugal

  13

  Spain

  4

  Other Western Europe

  689

  Austria

  6

  Cyprus

  42

  Finland

  12

  Malta

  7

  Norway

  3

  Sweden

  27

  Switzerland

  8

  Turkey

  229

  Yugoslavia

  355

  Eastern Europe

  198

  Bulgaria

  28

  Czechoslovakia

  22

  Hungary

  27

  Poland

  48

  Romania

  55

  USSR

  18

  Americas

  1,031

  Argentina

  24

  Barbados

  5

  Brazil

  204

  Canada

  17

  Chile

  23

  Colombia

  297

  Cuba

  2

  Guyana

  11

  Jamaica

  219

  Mexico

  21

  Peru

  29

  Trinidad and Tobago

  16

  USA

  148

  Uruguay

  1

  Venezuela

  14

  Africa

  2.902

  Algeria

  232

  Egypt

  31

  Ethiopia

  113

  Ghana

  539

  Kenya

  50

  Libya

  27

  Mauritius

  34

  Morocco

  138

  Nigeria

  1,036

  Sierra Leone

  211

  Somalia

  190

  South Africa

  56

  Sudan

  52

  Tanzania

  41

  Tunisia

  19

  Uganda

  72

  Zambia

  26

  Zimbabwe

  35

  Indian sub-continent

  1,047

  Bangladesh

  497

  India

  223

  Pakistan

  327

  Middle East

  298

  Iran

  53

  Iraq

  81

  Israel

  71

  Jordan

  12

  280

  Geographical region and nationality2

  Number of persons

  Kuwait

  3

  Lebanon

  62

  Saudi Arabia

  2

  Syria

  14

  Remainder of Asia

  521

  China

  32

  Indonesia

  6

  Japan

  26

  Malaysia

  175

  Philippines

  31

  Singapore

  12

  Sri Lanka

  176

  Thailand

  12

  Hong Kong3

  51

  Australasia

  33

  Australia

  27

  New Zealand

  6

  Others

  1,262

  British Overseas Citizens

  33

  Other countries not elsewhere specified

  861

  Stateless

  368

  1Includes some illegal entrants and deportees.

  2Or claimed nationality where the nationality is in doubt.

  3British Dependent Territories citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) only.

  Derek Bentley
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 18 May,Official Report, column 10, when he expects to make an announcement or decision on his study of the report submitted to his predecessor, the right hon. Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker), by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the case of Derek Bentley.

  Mr. Jack
  This report is receiving careful consideration together with other material which has been submitted more recently, including a letter and dossier received on 1 June from solicitors acting for Miss Iris Bentley. My right hon. and learned Friend will decide as soon as possible whether any action on his part would be appropriate.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money has been made available to victim support organisations in the mid-Essex area in each of the last three available years.

  Mr. Jack
  Home Office funding of local victim support schemes is channelled through the National Association of Victim Support Schemes, and is allocated by the Victim Support local funding panel on which the Home Office has observer status. There is one local victim support scheme in the mid-Essex area, the Chelmsford and Braintree scheme. Home Office funding allocated to that scheme amounted to £14,484 in 1990–91, £15,788 in 1991–92, and is planned to amount to £26,208 in the current financial year.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders he has signed in each month in 1992.
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  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  January

  62

  February

  49

  March

  74

  April

  109

  May

  77

  June

  85

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on deporting foreign nationals whose families reside in this country and who have no means of support in their own country.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Deportation will normally be the proper course where a person subject to immigration control overstays a permitted leave, breaches a condition attached to it or engages in serious criminal or other activity against the public interest. Each case is considered on its merits having full regard to all known compassionate circumstances including age, character, domestic circumstances, length of residence in and strength of ties with the United Kingdom. The effect of deportation on a person's family in the United Kingdom and the situation he or she will face on return are factors to be taken into account.

  Prison Service
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a statement of the annual objectives of the prison service and of the resources provided for it.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I am placing in the Library a copy of the "Statement of Objectives and Resources for HM Prison Service, 1992–93", which is being issued today.

  The statement forms the "compact" between Ministers and the Director General of the prison service recommended by Lord Justice Woolf. It sets out the prison service's purpose and goals, the planning assumptions and resources for 1992–93 and the service's objectives, targets and performance indicators.

  It was announced in March 1992 that it was intended that the prison service should become an executive agency on 1 April 1993. The framework document and corporate and business plans for the agency will succeed the present statement from 1993–94 onwards.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committee Reports
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the substantive reports from the departmental Select Committees in the 1987 Parliament which have not been debated, or referred to on the Order Paper as relevant to a debate.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that this information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Office Costs Allowance
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he intends to publish the Top Salaries Review Body's report on the office costs allowance and the Government's response to it.
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  Mr. Newton
  I have today placed copies of the TSRB's report in the Vote Office.

  The TSRB's proposals

  The TSRB's wide-ranging report recommends fundamental changes to the level and structure of the OCA.

  The main recommendations are:

  (a) to disaggregate the OCA into separate allowances covering expenditure for different purposes (eg staff, equipment etc) in order to improve accountability;

  (b) a separate staff allowance of £33,360 (includng the 4·25 per cent. uprating from 1 April) to enable MPs to employ up to 2 full-time staff rather than 1½ as at present;

  (c) a separate allowance of £4,000 for general office expenses;

  (d) central procurement of IT equipment, to be introduced as soon as possible;

  (e) as an interim measure, a separate one-off initial acquisition grant for IT equipment of £5,000. available to all MPs, but with the general office expenses allowance halved in the year in which the grant is taken;

  (f) a separate additional allowance of £2,000 a year for MPs basing their activities in their constituency, provided they occupy only "the basic minimum accommodation at Westminster as defined by the House";

  (g) the creation of a Personnel Office, separate from the Fees Office, to advise MPs and their staff on matters including rates of pay and job specifications;

  (h) (in the expectation that their Report would not have been implemented in advance of the general election this year) only one quarter of the allowance for 1992–93 should be available to Members between 1 April 1992 and the election.

  If implemented in full these recommendations would increase the maximum of the OCA from the 1991–92 figure of £28,986 to between £37,360 for a Member not entitled to the constituency office allowance and not claiming the one-off initial acquisition grant and £42,360 in 1992–93 for a Member claiming both, which would cost up to an additional £8 million in the first year. In percentage terms the increases would range between 23·6 and 40·2 per cent. in addition to a 4·25 per cent. increase due from 1 April 1992 in line with the existing uprating formula.

  The Government's Views The TSBR's proposals raise three fundamental issues: compartmentalisation of the OCA; central procurement of IT equipment; creation of a separate Personnel Office.

  The key argument for compartmentalisation of the OCA is that it would improve accountability. But almost all MP's expenditure on office, secretarial and research support is disbursed directly by the Fees Office or reimbursed on the basis of invoices submitted. The Government do not consider therefore that disaggregation would significantly improve accountability, but it would reduce MP's flexibility to make most effective use of the OCA. The Government do not therefore support this proposal. It follows that we oppose the creation of a separate constituency office allowance. It would be exceedingly difficult to define an acceptable criterion based on a Member occupying "minimum accommodation at Westminster". It would also be difficult in some areas—for example, portable office equipment—to distinguish between general office expenses and constituency office expenses.

  Turning to the provision of IT equipment, we believe that the case for central procurement needs further consideration. It should be possible to negotiate discount arrangements without the need for bulk purchase of equipment by a central procurement authority which

  283
  would inevitably base its specification on a generalised requirement rather than specific needs. The Government therefore have strong reservations about this proposal. In of these concerns we also do not favour the introduction of a separate initial acquisition grant pending the introduction of central procurement. We consider that MPs should continue to lease or purchase equipment which best meets their particular requirements from the aggregate OCA. Subject to the views of the House, however, the Government would be content for an invitation to he extended to the Information Committee of the House to consider the TSRB's proposals on equipment provision in the light of planned progress on the study of networking in the House.

  The final fundamental issue is the proposal to create a separate Personnel Office. The Government appreciate the reasons underlying the recommendation, but are conscious of the concern of many Members about possible external intervention in the relationships between themselves and their staff. Subject to the views of the House, therefore, the Government do not propose to pursue this proposal.

  Against this background, the Government consider that the most sensible course is to retain the OCA as a single sum but increase the maximum level. We accept that there is a case for increasing provision for support staff but taking account of both the TSRB's findings and the public expenditure implications and wider economic considerations we do not believe an increase as high as the TSRB recommends would be appropriate. The Government propose, therefore, that the OCA should he increased to provide for a maximum additional one quarter of a staff member, or equivalent expenditure, per Member. We also accept the TSRB's proposal that provision of £4,000 should be provided for general office expenses, but as part of the aggregate OCA rat her than as a separate allowance as the TSRB suggests.

  Taken together the Government's proposals would increase the maximum OCA from £28,986 in 1991–92 to £33,190 in 1992–93. This represents a 9·8 per cent. increase, to provide for additional support from members, in addition to a 4·25 per cent. increase from 1 April in line with the existing uprating formula.

  Finally, the Government note that at present an MP who joins or leaves the House part way through a year is entitled to claim against the full year's OCA. The TSRB addressed this point in the run-up to the election, but made no longer-term recommendation. The Government propose that from 1 April 1993 eligibility to the OCA will be calculated on a quarterly basis.

  Overall, the Government believe this new higher level of OCA, while less than the TSRB recommended, provides a substantial increase which represents a fair balance between the taxpayers' interests and the needs of MPs for sufficient support to enable them to carry out adequately their duties to their constituents. It also provides MPs with continued flexibility in the ways they organise staff and equipment support to meet best their individual requirements.

ACCOMMODATION AND WORKS COMMITTEE

  7 Millbank
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what percentage of the floor space of 7 Millbank is to be used for House of Commons purposes; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for not leasing the whole building.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  In response to the recommendation of the Services Committee that alternative accommodation should be provided for the occupants of St. Stephen's house, which has to be demolished as part of the works for the Jubilee line extension, the Secretary of State for the Environment took a lease on the basement, ground, first and second floors. Based on the figures provided by the landlord's agents, these floors represent some 50 per cent. of the total space available. Following the Parliamentary Corporate Bodies Act 1992, the lease has been transferred to the House authorities. The accommodation will become available during the summer recess.

  I understand that, in addition, the Department leased the third floor of 7 Millbank for use by the House of Lords.

  It is a matter for the Accommodation and Works Committee to consider against progress on the next phase of the new parliamentary building, whether further space should be taken in 7 Millbank or any of the other available buildings in the area.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Finance Bill
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what extra costs were incurred as a result of the Standing Committee considering the Finance Bill sitting after the House adjourned on 16 June, 23 June and 30 June.

  Mr. Beith
  The calculation of detailed and meaningful statistics in relation to extra costs incurred as a result of any specific late night sitting is complex and cannot begin until all claims for extra payment are received. However, the Finance Office will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is able to provide this information.

  1 Parliament Street
  Mr. Renton
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether he will make arrangements for a fax machine to be installed at 1 Parliament street for the use of hon. Members with rooms in that building.

  Mr. Beith
  The provision of facsimile machines for Members was examined by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee to the Services Committee in May 1988. It was resolved that centralised facsimile machine facilities in the House would be inappropriate and that the provision of these machines should be the responsibility of hon. Members. I understand that some 332 hon. Members now have individual facsimile
  285
  machines. Any proposal to review these arrangements would have to be considered by the Administration Committee.

  Transport Office (Bank Notes)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will make it a requirement of the continuation of Thomas Cook Ltd.'s operation of the Transport Office that the company will exchange Scottish and Northern Ireland notes on the same basis as it exchanges Bank of England notes.

  Mr. Beith
  It has never been the policy of the Transport Office in the House to impose a charge for the exchange of Scottish or Northern Ireland bank notes, or to charge for transactions settled in those notes.

  I am advised that within the United Kingdom no charge has been made by Thomas Cook for transactions made in these notes, except at Heathrow and Glasgow airports where, until recently, a commission was charged. That practice was terminated on 1 July.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Guyana
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the environmental projects currently funded by the Overseas Development Administration in Guyana.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA is currently funding two projects in this field. These are:

  (a) Research project on the major problems of the regeneration of Greenheart timber. Funded through Imperial College. Cost to the ODA: £200,000 over three years.

  (b) Support for the Commonwealth Programme for Sustainable Tropical Forestry. ODA commitment approximately £180,000, to meet the costs of the Phase 1 preparatory work programme, carried out by the Natural Resources Institute.

  Malawi
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position on the loan by the World bank to Malawi for construction of the Malawi V project; and what human rights considerations were taken into account when reaching this decision.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Malawi power V project was approved by the World Bank's executive board on 17 June. The United Kingdom judges all world bank loans on their economic and technical merits, in line with the provision of the bank's article of agreement. The proceedings of the World bank board on individual projects are confidential.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to reply to the letter dated 21 June from a constituent of the hon. Member for Brent,286
  East, the name and address of whom have been supplied to him; and what is the Government's commitment in the citizens charter about the length of time members of the public should expect to wait for a reply from the Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible for the matter on which the hon. Member's constituent wrote to me. The hon. Member's constituent will therefore receive a reply from officials at the Department of the Environment. That is normal practice where a correspondent raises matters with a Minister which do not relate to that Minister's responsibilities.

  I understand that my right hon. and learned Friend's officials will reply to the hon. Member's constituent by Friday, 10 July.

  The citizens charter calls for all public services to set standards for response times to correspondence. These should be appropriate both to local circumstances and to the needs of their clients.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 9 July.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is on his way to Helsinki to attend the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

  Top Salaries Review Body
  Mr. King
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement 'on the Top Salaries Review Body report.

  The Prime Minister
  The Review Body on Top Salaries —TSRB—has submitted to me the report of its fundamental review of the pay of the posts within their remit groups. These comprise about 1,290 members of the judiciary, 660 senior civil servants, and 190 senior officers in the armed forces. The TSRB last carried out a fundamental review in 1985. I am grateful for the work which it has done on this further review.

  The recommendations would add 19·7 per cent. to the pay bill for the remit groups, at a cost of £27·6 million. The Government understand the reasons which underlie these recommendations, which relate to senior people whose work it relies upon and greatly values, but believe that on this occasion there are also wider considerations which they must take into account. The rate of increase in average earnings is now at the lowest level for 25 years, and pay settlements in the private sector are running at around 4 per cent. The economy is moving to a low rate of inflation as the essential basis for resumed and sustained growth. Against this background the Government have decided to moderate the proposed increases.

  The increase from 1 April this year will therefore be limited to 4 per cent. The main new rates of pay for 1992–93 are set out in the table. A further 3 per cent. will be paid from 1 April 1993 and a final stage of 2·8 per cent. from 1 April 1994, in addition to whatever annual increase may be decided for those years. The total increase will, therefore, be about half of the recommended level.
  287
  For those groups which are covered by performance pay arrangements, individual increases will vary within the overall increases in the pay bill. The Government attach importance to strengthening links between pay and performance, in line with the principles of the citizens charter; I have therefore asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and other Ministers the possibility of extending the performance pay system.

  The TSRB has also made a number of additional recommendations affecting the judiciary and senior civil servants. The Government are considering the recommendations on regrouping for the judiciary, but have decided to reject the other recommendations affecting the judiciary and the increase in London pay for grade 3 civil servants.

  TSRB remit groups: existing and recommended salaries

  Group

  Existing Salary (£) (1 December 1991)

  Plus 4 per cent 1 April 1992

  Judiciary

  Lord Chief Justice of England

  104,750

  108,940

  Judicial Group 2 (includes Lords Justices of Appeal and President of the Family Division)

  97,000

  100,880

  Judicial Group 3(includes Lords Justices of Appeal and President of the Family Division)

  93.000

  96.720

  Judicial Group 4 (includes High Court Judges)

  84,250

  87,620

  Judicial Group 5 Official Referees

  73,250

  76,180

  Judicial Group 6

  —

  67,564

  Presidents of Industrial etc.

  Tribunals, Judge Advocate

  General (new appointments)

  Circuit judges etc.

  61,600

  64,064

  Judicial Group 7 (includes Chairmen of Industrial Tribunals and Magistrates)

  50,500

  52,520

  Note: The Government is considering the recommendations for regrouping of Senior Circuit Judges etc.

  Senior Civil Service

  Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service

  104,750

  108,940

  Permanent Secretary to the Treasury

  98,000

  101,920

  Grade 1 (Permanent Secretary)

  84,250

  87,620

  Grade 1A (2nd Permanent Secretary)

  77,500

  80,600

  Grade 2 (Deputy Secretary)

  range minimum

  60,100

  62,504

  range maximum

  70,400

  73,216

  Grade 3 (Under Secretary)

  London range minimum

  49,300

  51,272

  range maximum

  57,000

  59,280

  Elsewhere range minimum

  48,000

  49,920

  range maximum

  55,700

  57,928

  288

  Group

  Existing salary (£) (1 December 1991)

  Plus 4 per cent. 1 April 1992

  Senior Military

  Admiral of the Fleet

  104,750

  108,940

  Field Marshal

  Marshal of the RAF

  Admiral

  84,250

  87,620

  General

  Air Chief Marshal

  Vice Admiral

  60,600

  63,024

  Lieutenant-General

  Air Marshal

  Rear Admiral

  53,000

  55,120

  Major General

  Air Vice-Marshal

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the position of the United Kingdom in the league table of growth of employment among the Group of Seven countries in 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government do not publish forecasts of employment growth.

  VAT (Charities)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to require Oxfam and other charity shops to introduce VAT on their operations.

  Mr. Nelson
  We have no such proposals. Agreement has been reached with other member states that the United Kingdom's existing social VAT zero rates, including those specifically designed to benefit charities and charity shops, can be maintained at least until the end of 1996 without prejudice to their future thereafter.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his EC counterparts on the EC budget proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with his EC counterparts on the future financing of the Community, most recently at the ECOFIN Council on 9 June, at which a majority of member states indicated that they found the Commission's proposals excessive.

  Housing
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the prospects for recovery in the housing market.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As was said in this year's Financial Statement and Budget Report, any recovery in the housing market during 1992 is likely to be slow.

  Unemployment
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Government have made of the impact on Government revenues of any increase in unemployment.

  Mr. Portillo
  The projections of revenues in the Financial Statement and Budget Report take account of all relevant factors.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning stamp duty.

  Mr. Nelson
  We have received a number of representations that the temporary increase in the threshold for stamp duty should run for a longer period. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) earlier today.

  European Central Bank
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the location of the proposed European central bank.

  Mr. Lament
  I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's report on the discussions at Lisbon on 29 June,Official Report, column 588.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Last ham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the level of manufacturing output over the last three years.

  Mr. Lamont
  Manufacturing output fell by about 6¾ per cent. between 1989 and the first quarter of 1992, following a rise of over 30 per cent. between 1981 and 1989.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to bring the calculation of the public sector borrowing requirement into line with European practice.

  Mr. Portillo
  There is no standard European practice nor any internationally-agreed guidelines for the definition of the public sector borrowing requirement.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public sector borrowing requirement as a percentage of gross domestic product for each EC country since 1989.

  Mr. Nelson
  Comparable data for the public sector borrowing requirement in each Community country are not available. The following data are for general Government net borrowing as a percentage of GDP.

  General government net borrowing as a percentage of GDP

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Belgium

  6·5

  5·3

  6·2

  Denmark

  0·5

  1·4

  2·0

  Germany (West)

  -0·2

  1·9

  3·1

  290

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Greece

  18·3

  19·6

  16·5

  Spain

  2·8

  4·0

  4·4

  France

  1·2

  1·6

  1·7

  Ireland

  2·2

  2·6

  2·3

  Italy

  9·9

  11·0

  10·2

  Luxembourg

  -5·5

  -5·6

  -2·5

  Netherlands

  5·2

  5·3

  3·9

  Portugal

  3·4

  5·8

  6·4

  United Kingdom

  -1·2

  0·8

  2·0

  Note A negative number indicates a budget surplus.

  Source: European Economy

  VAT (Second-hand Goods)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to apply VAT to second-hand goods.

  Sir John Cope
  The sixth VAT directive requires tax to be charged on the full selling price of all goods and services unless otherwise relieved. Although there is no general relief for second-hand goods, there are special schemes for certain of these goods and works of art, antiques and collectors' items under which tax is charged only on the seller's margin.

  The draft EC seventh VAT directive, which requires unanimity for its adoption, proposes a harmonised scheme which will in general extend this relief to other second-hand goods. The Government have taken the representations that they have received fully into account in establishing their negotiating position.

  Economic Recovery
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the assumptions underlying his oral statement of 22 January 1992,Official Report, column 323, that there remain good grounds for believing that the recovery will become fairly established in the course of 1992.

  Mr. Lamont
  I spelt out the reasons underlying my statement of 22 January 1992 at the time—Official Report, column 323. The forces making for recovery are still in place. These include low inflation, reduced interest rates, rising real earnings, improved personal and corporate financial positions, higher consumer and business confidence, and renewed productivity growth. So I continue to believe that growth will become firmly established in the course of 1992.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for a realignment of currencies within the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the balance of payments.

  Mr. Nelson
  United Kingdom exports are at record levels.

  Taxation, West Midlands
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the proportion of income currently paid in tax by average income families in the west midlands.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is not available.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications the Bank of England as now received for compensation under the deposit protection scheme from former depositors of Bank of Credit and Commerce International; if he will list the amount claimed in monetary bands; how many claims are still with the liquidators of BCCI; and what is the current backlog at(a) the Bank of England, and (b) the liquidators.

  Mr. Nelson
  By 1 July 1992 the Deposit Protection Board had received some 15,600 claims for compensation under the deposit protection scheme from former depositors of BCCI. The board does not maintain an analysis of these claims by monetary bands. On that date approximately 2,900 of these claims had been settled; another 1,800 were in the process of being settled and further clarification was being sought from depositors on another 500 claims. The remaining claim forms are currently awaiting clearance by the liquidators, once proof of debt forms have been received.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning the Bank of Credit and Commerce International from(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public.

  Mr. Nelson
  My Treasury colleagues and I have received some 17 letters on BCCI from hon. Members this year and some further 50 from members of the public.

  Public Sector Undertakings
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 5 June,Official Report, column 652, if he will list all those other concerns or undertakings which operate under public sector management.

  Mr. Nelson
  Sections four and six of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement"—Cm 1920 —give details of the nationalised industries and other public corporations.

  VAT (Hoteliers)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has during the EC presidency to call for a study of the avoidance of VAT luxury rates by hoteliers in the EC member states.

  Sir John Cope
  I have no such plans. It would be for the Commission to propose such a study if it is required.

  VAT (Local Government)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those EC member states where local government, or its equivalent, can recoup VAT.

  Sir John Cope
  Article 4(5) of the EC sixth VAT directive allows member states not to treat local authorities as taxable persons in respect of those activities in which they engage as public authorities.
  292
  There are special provisions in United Kingdom law that permit local authorities to reclaim VAT on activities which they perform as public authorities.

  I have no information on how other member states implement this provision.

  Hospital Volunteer Drivers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider his decision to tax hospital car service volunteer drivers' mileage allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The position in law is that motor mileage allowances paid to individuals, whether employees or volunteer drivers, who use a car on health service business are liable to income tax if, and only if, the allowances exceed the costs of running and maintaining the car for health service driving and so result in a profit.

  While I am very much aware of the important and valuable service provided by volunteer drivers, I am not persuaded that there is a case for amending the law to exempt them from tax on any profits on their mileage allowances. But, as the hon. Member may be aware, it has been decided to phase in the arrangements which were introduced last year for collecting tax on these allowances. For the period from 6 October 1991 to 5 April 1993 only one quarter of the profit element will be taxed; for the tax year 1993–94, one half of the profit will be taxed; and for the tax year 1994–95 three quarters of the profit will be taxed. Tax will not be payable on the full amount of the profit element until 1995–96.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the exchange rate.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government remain firmly committed to sterling's membership of the ERM and to its moving in due course to the narrow band at the current central rate of DM2·95.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on his policy regarding interest rates.

  Mr. Nelson
  Interest rates will continue to be set to keep sterling within its ERM band and to bear down on inflation.

  Investment Management Regulatory Organisation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer to the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Kinnock) of 30 June,Official Report, column 709, if he will make it his policy that so much of the content of the IMRO report as is to be published under Her Majesty's Government's auspices is published before 16 July.

  Mr. Lamont
  The Securities and Investment BoardSIB—has today published the summary of conclusions and findings of IMRO's review of its regulation of Maxwell companies—including Bishopsgate Investment Management Ltd.—BIM—and London and Bishopsgate
  293
  International Investment Management plc—LBI. The SIB is also publishing its assessment of its own and IMRO's performance in this affair and the action both the SIB and IMRO are taking to rectify the shortcomings identified. The SIB's assessment concludes that there were serious deficiencies in the supervision by IMRO of BIM and LBI. I am placing a copy of the SIB's statement in the Library of the House.

  The Maxwell affair was wholly exceptional—the vast majority of pension funds have served their members well. Moreover, the IMRO review covers a relatively limited part of the Maxwell story. Under the Financial Services Act, IMRO's role in supervising pension funds was to regulate and authorise pension fund managers. IMRO was not, and is not, responsible for ensuring that pension fund trustees respect their wider obligations under trust law. Moreover, effective regulation must in the final analysis involve the active co-operation of the private sector, including professional advisers, financial institutions and others, all of whom have their own responsibilities.

  None the less, in the Government's view the shortcomings identified in the SIB's assessment are of very serious concern. The SIB and IMRO are undertaking a number of actions, detailed in the SIB's assessment, to ensure more effective regulation in future.

  IMRO's performance also raises questions about the SIB's monitoring of IMRO and its general oversight of the self-regulatory organisations under the Financial Services Act. I have, therefore, asked Andrew Large, the SIB's new chairman, to conduct his own review of how the SIB carries out its regulatory responsibilities.

  I have also discussed with the chairman of the SIB the need to strengthen the implementation in practice of regulatory standards. I am confident that he fully appreciates the urgency and importance of his task and I have asked him to keep me closely in touch with progress on the further work, reviews and improvements that are now in hand.

  I have also looked into the recent allegations that IMRO warned the Government that it could not do its job properly because of problems over the relationship between the Financial Services Act regime and trust law. Neither the SIB nor I have found any evidence to substantiate these allegations. IMRO and the SIB made representations to the DTI over a number of years about the legal uncertainty they believed was created by the interaction of the Financial Services Act and trust law. However, there was no suggestion that this uncertainty posed a threat to investor protection. And the SIB's conclusion is that neither legal uncertainties created by the relationship between the Financial Services Act and trust law nor the existence of IMRO's special occupational pensions scheme regime made any material difference to IMRO's regulation of the Maxwell pension fund companies.

  No regulator and no system of regulation can guarantee that all fraud will be prevented or identified. But the Government are determined that all the lessons of the Maxwell affair, in its many aspects, must be learned and implemented. I will be assessing in detail over the coming months the effectiveness of the steps already taken by the SIB and IMRO, the additional action now proposed, and the outcome of the SIB's further reviews. I shall then report back to the House.

  Pensions
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those EC member states who pay their local government employees, or the equivalent, index linked inflation-proofed pensions.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the United Kingdom, index linked pensions are available to former local government employees who have contributed to public service pensions schemes. Information is not available on a comparable basis for other EC member states.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  County Courts, Northern Ireland
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he has any proposal to increase judicial and other county court manpower and improve equipment and county court premises following the increase in the limit of the county court jurisdiction in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has announced his intention to increase the current financial limits on the general civil jurisdiction of the county courts in Northern Ireland. This will initially be achieved by an increase to £10,000—from £5,000—in November 1992, with a further increase to £15,000 in September 1993. In determining the new jurisdictional levels, the Lord Chancellor has given careful consideration to the ability of the county courts to cope with any increased workload resulting from the increase and is satisfied that the county courts have sufficient capacity and resources to cope with the increased volume of business. At the same time, the Lord Chancellor recognises the need to continue to keep the position under review to ensure that the county court system in Northern Ireland is adequately resourced and equipped.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has for a general reform of county court rules in Northern Ireland; and when he expects such a review to be completed.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The regulation of the procedures in the county courts in Northern Ireland is a matter for the County Court Rules Committee established under article 46 of the County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980. The Lord Chancellor is aware, however, that the rules committee intends to carry out a wide ranging review of county court procedure to determine ways in which the current arrangements might be improved.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he proposes to replace the present periodic county court sittings in Northern Ireland with a system of continuous sitting along the lines current in the Northern Ireland High Court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The present arrangements for periodic sittings of the county court in Northern Ireland have generally worked in a satisfactory manner. The Lord Chancellor is conscious, however, that a system of continuous sittings may have some advantages and will wish to explore alternative methods of entry and listing of
  295
  county court actions. Accordingly the Lord Chancellor's officials in Northern Ireland will be examining, in consultation with the County Court Rules Committee and interested parties in Northern Ireland, the possibility of introducing a continuous listings system.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) whether he will introduce automatic discovery and disclosure of medical reports in personal injury actions in the county court in Northern Ireland;

  (2) whether he intends to introduce into the county court in Northern Ireland a procedure for summary judgment analogous to order 14 procedure in the High Court in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The revision of county court procedures in Northern Ireland is primarily the responsibility of the rules committee established under article 46 of the County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980. It is understood that further consideration of the present procedures on discovery of documents, exchange of medical and other expert evidence, and procedures for obtaining summary judgment will form part of the rules committee's review referred to in my earlier answer.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many different types of originating process exist in the county court in Northern Ireland; and what proposals there are to reduce the number thereof.

  Mr. John M.Taylor
  'There are currently three basic means of initiating proceedings in the county courts in Northern Ireland; by civil bill, by petition and by notice of application. There are, however, five types of civil bill—ordinary, equity, ejectment, default and summary civil bills. As explained in previous answers, the forms of originating process to be employed in the county courts are determined by the County Court Rules Committee. It may be that some reduction in the number of types of originating process will be effected by the rules committee as a result of the wider review of county court procedures mentioned in the answer to an earlier question.

  Appeal Hearings (Compensation)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will introduce a scheme of compensation for legal costs incurred in abortive appeal hearings where the court service or Government Departments are responsible for delays.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department is prepared to consider claims for compensation where loss is sustained through maladministration by court officers in matters for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible.

  Where loss is sustained as a result of the actions of one of the parties or of another Government Department it is open to the party who has sustained the loss to apply for an order for costs in cases where it is appropriate to do so.

  Mr. Mohammed Khan
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to provide compensation to Mr. Mohammed Khan in respect of abortive costs incurred in an immigration appeal hearing on 20 December 1991.
  296
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I regret that I cannot consider payment of compensation in this case as there was no mistake or failing by the immigration appellate authorities.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set out those matters in regard to the Public Record Office for which he will in future answer parliamentary questions by referring the matter to the Keeper, following the establishment of the Public Record Office as an executive agency.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government's policy on answering questions on agency matters was most recently set out in the Government's reply to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee's 1991 report on the next steps initiative—Cm 1761—which said:"In normal circumstances the source of the reply should follow the allocation of responsibilities as between the Secretary of State and the Chief Executive in the Agency's framework document; but in all cases the decision on who will respond rests with the Minister."

  The Lord Chancellor will be following this policy with regard to the Public Record Office. Copies of the Public Record Office's framework document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Expert Witnesses
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much notice is given to expert witnesses attending cases at the Crown court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is the responsibility of the prosecution and defence, and not the court, to notify witnesses of the date their attendance is required. The period of notice differs from case to case according to the circumstances of the case. However, those responsible for listing in the Crown court are aware of the difficulties faced by expert witnesses and, wherever possible, seek to give the parties as much notice of trial dates as they are able. Fixed dates for trial are often requested in cases involving expert witnesses, and such requests are acceded to wherever practicable.

ENVIRONMENT

  Building Temperatures
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 10 June,Official Report, columns 187–88 what publicity there has been for S.I. No. 1013 (1980) to the heating and ventilation industry, owners of non-residential buildings and trades unions; what inspections are carried out to ensure compliance with statutory instrument; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Reference to the statutory maximum legal heating limit of 19 C is included in the EEO's publication "Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Offices)." No inspections are carried out to ensure compliance with SI No. 1013. The Energy Efficiency Office encourages consumers to take cost-effective energy efficiency measures by providing independent and authoritative advice through a range of initiatives and programmes.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all contracts to advise his Department within the last two years let by single tender action; and if he will make a statement.

  Consultant(s)

  Subject of consultancy

  Financial year 1990–91

  Action Resource Centre

  Private sector secondments to City Action Teams

  Almondhall Computer Staff

  Business model: Planning Inspectorate

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  Grant Redemption Fund

  BIS Applied Systems

  North Sea database

  Burgess Cyril

  Review of HQ scientists and specialist professional and technical officers

  Chapman Hendy

  Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust

  Ekotheipi Electrical Associates Ltd.

  Development and production of MK.2 universal motor speed controller

  Electoral Reform Society

  Hull shadow Housing Action Trust

  Ernst and Young

  Local authority and housing association management and maintenance grant

  Forman L.

  Index to office instructions and staff handbook

  Geary N. R.

  Safety of manufacturing processes

  Gibson Dr.

  Meadowell Estate

  Griffiths K. F.

  Housing Topics

  Hanlon Computer Systems

  Inter-departmental urban database

  Hance Dr.

  Fate and behaviour of pesticides

  Healey and Baker

  Disposal of New Town assets

  Hull City Council

  Housing Action Trust team

  Imperial War Museum

  Staff inspection of the Royal Armouries

  Infologistix

  Translation service; software evaluation

  ISMa Consultants

  Computer risk analysis

  Kermon Management Consultants

  Network infrastructure project

  Kidd Susan

  Loose-leaf commercially produced reference works

  Kidson Impey

  Local authority waste disposal companies

  Kings College, London

  Design improvement controlled experiment

  KPMG Peat Marwick Mclintock

  Management accounting systems

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  Analysis of sludge/effluence

  Land and Urban Analysis

  Employment densities

  Linierman Prof.

  Performance measures

  Logica

  Technical assurance: local authority statistics

  McHugh, E.

  Enterprise and employment

  Mindworks

  Financial monitoring system

  MORI

  Barriers against uptake of unleaded petrol

  Otitoju, F.

  Training of ethnic minority staff

  P. A. Consulting

  Neighbourhood renewal manual

  298
  Mr. Howard
  The following contracts are recorded as having been let to consultants by single tender action in the last two financial years:
  299

  Consultant(s)

  Subject of consultancy

  PA Consulting System

  Security review of INFORM

  Peter Peregrinus Ltd.

  Register of research

  Phillips D.

  Air pollution management

  PIC Services

  Southwark Housing Action Trust

  Price Waterhouse

  Performance measures

  Rechem

  Analysis of emission-incinerator

  Safe Neighbourhood Unit

  Estate Action

  Signal UK

  Database archiving for Private Office

  Softlab

  SSADM training: Planning Inspectorate

  Tuffin, Ferraby and Taylor

  Works and maintenance services

  Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board

  Certificate of technical competence

  Watson Hawksley

  Technical audits of water companies (Phase 2)

  Financial year 1991–92

  Aspinwall & Co.

  Special hazardous wastes

  Brennan, Mrs.

  Library bibliographies

  CICA

  Disc general assembly representation

  Gibbs Environmental Sciences

  Landfill levy

  Green Alliance

  Comparative study of five national environmental plans

  Institute of Waste Management

  Review of waste management paper

  Knox Associates

  Co-disposal in the United Kingdom

  KPMG

  Small combustion plants directive

  London Waste Regulation Authority

  Review of waste management paper

  McCarthy, Kevin

  United Kingdom European Community Presidency Conference

  Middlesex

  Air pollutants factsheets

  National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors

  Review of waste management papers

  National Economic Development Office

  Construction research

  Nottingham Polytechnic

  Statistical basis for landfill sampling

  Offline Computer Services

  Computerised record-keeping and report-generating

  PA Consulting

  Criteria for award of eco-labels to washing machines and dishwashers

  Parry, Professor

  IPCC working group

  The Department's policy is to appoint consultants by single tender where they have unique experience or expertise relevant to the subject matter, or —exceptionally—where there is overriding urgency to let a contract without a tender process.

  Tree Preservation Orders
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of reported breaches of trees preservations orders for each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.
  300
  Mr. Maclean
  It is a criminal offence under section 102 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to contravene a tree preservation order. The number of prosecutions for each year since 1982 are as follows:

  Number

  1982

  42

  1983

  54

  1984

  71

  1985

  20

  1986

  56

  1987

  44

  1988

  57

  301

  Number

  1989

  72

  1990

  55

  Statistics are not yet available for the situation post–1990 where similar provisions are contained in section 210 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

  Local Authorities (Operating Companies)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the operating companies for services provided by each county and district authority, together with the number of directors appointed by each authority, their percentage voting power and the amount of equity retained by each authority in each company.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Such information is not held centrally.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in the United Kingdom qualify for grant aid under the home energy efficiency scheme; how many houses have been improved under the scheme since its inception; and if he will give a breakdown for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Maclean
  In order to be eligible for a grant under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), 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 are not available.

  Since the inception of the scheme on 1 January 1991, 208,055 homes have benefited from HEES grant; of these 155,776 were in England, 39,949 in Scotland and 12,330 in Wales. The scheme does not operate in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in the network installer area which contains the constituency of Banff and Buchan have been improved under the home energy efficiency scheme since the scheme's inception.

  Mr. Maclean
  Within the network installer area which contains the hon. Member's constituency, 2,950 homes have benefited from HEES grant since 1 January 1991.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority area the proportions of local authority finance derived from revenue support grant, specific grant, non-domestic rate income and poll tax for 1992–93.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House, together with the amount of revenue support grant, special grants, and redistributed non-domestic rate income paid per adult to each authority.

  Share Lending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has received any advice from the Bank of England on the practice of share lending by local authority superannuation funds;

  (2) if he will amend the superannuation regulations relating to the pension funds of local authorities in order to clarify the vires of share lending.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Share lending is among the issues relating to investments under the local government superannuation scheme which are the subject of regular discussions between my Department, the local authority associations and other interested parties, including the Bank of England.

  Public Analyst Laboratories
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make available additional resources to public analyst laboratories to support their accreditation under the national measurement accreditation service—NAMAS—quality control scheme and to assist in the implementation of the in-service training required under NAMAS.

  Mr. Maclean
  All analytical laboratories should have systems for ensuring the quality of their results. The Government have recognised this by encouraging the setting up of NAMAS. It is not for the Government to subside any additional costs to laboratories of NAMAS accreditation. Such costs should be recovered in charges to their customers who benefit in terms of the quality and the reliability of the analyses carried out for them.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to revise the structure of the regional aggregates working parties to include representation by elected members of mineral planning authorities and third-party interests.

  Mr. Baldry
  I will consider membership of the regional aggregates working parties when the present review of mineral planning guidance note 6 is complete.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a summary of the views expressed to his Department on the national aggregates demand forecasts by the regional aggregates working parties in the regional commentaries.

  Mr. Baldry
  A summary of the views expressed by the regional aggregates working parties will be made available when the revised draft guidelines are published for public consultation.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new national forecasts of aggregates demand have been prepared for his Department since the publication of the document "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales Review of MPG6"; whether they will be circulated to the regional aggregates working parties for comment; whether they will be published for public comment; and whether they will be used in the preparation of a revised mineral planning guidance note 6.
  303
  Mr. Baldry
  New forecasts of aggregates demand have not yet been finalised by the independent consultants. I shall consider whether they should be circulated when they are available.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations were made to him by the regional aggregates working parties on the environmental implications of the national aggregates demand forecast published by his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  The views of the regional aggregates working parties on the environmental implications of the demand forecast were published earlier this year in their regional commentaries. These views will be taken into account by the Department in the preparation of the revised draft guidelines.

  Mineral Planning Guidance
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects drafts of mineral planning guidance note 1 and mineral planning guidance note 6 to be published for public comment.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is hoped that drafts of the revised mineral planning guidance notes 1 and 6 will be published for public consultation by the end of this year.

  Council Housing Investment
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached conclusions following his recent consultation exercise on the development of the local authority housing investment programme process.

  Mr. Howard
  On 21 May, my Department launched a major consultation exercise on the further development of the local authority housing investment programme—HIP —process. The proposals which we have put forward build on the measures begun last year by seeking to achieve better value for the money spent through housing capital programmes.

  The consultation paper made proposals in four broad areas: on the preparation of housing strategies by local authorities, and the co-ordination at area level of decisions on the initial allocation of Housing Corporation funding with local authorities' housing strategies; on the further development of recent trends in our approach to the allocation of all-purpose housing annual capital guideline —ACG—resources within the HIP process; on the development of the system of forward indications of housing ACGs; and on the further development of recent trends in the approach we have taken to the advance allocation of specified capital grant—SCG—resources for private sector renewal.

  During the consultation period, we agreed to a request from the local authority associations that discussions should continue after the formal close of the consultation exercise on the longer-term proposals. We have therefore taken decisions at this stage only on matters relevant to the arrangements for the 1993–94 HIP round.

  We have received a total of 211 responses, including material from the four relevant local authority associations, the Institute of Housing, the National Federation of Housing Associations, 161 local authorities and 29 housing associations. Discussions have also taken place with the Housing Corporation.
  304
  After considering and taking in to account the representations which have been made, I have decided to invite authorities to prepare comprehensive housing strategies for the 1993–94 HIP round as described in the consultation paper. This will involve authorities in preparing strategies which cover the housing needs and resources of their areas over a three-year period, set in the context of a realistic assessment of priorities and proposals. My Department will issue guidelines to authorities very shortly which will provide further details.

  We will carry forward the new arrangements made last year to place emphasis on the efficiency and effectiveness of authorities in our decisions on the allocation of HIP resources. This will help ensure that best value for money is obtained from capital resources for social housing and that there are incentives for authorities to improve their performance as landlords and enablers.

  I have also decided to proceed with our proposals to draw together, on to the same timetable for decision making, both the HIP process, which applies to local authorities, and the approved development programme —ADP—process which is used for the allocation of funds through the Housing Corporation to housing associations. The principle of co-ordinating these two funding streams, in the context of a single housing strategy, met with almost universal support; discussions will continue with interested parties on the practical details of implementation.

  Last year, Housing Ministers attended a number of successful presentations from local authorities, based on their housing strategies and HIP proposals. These occasions heightened the awareness and involvement of tenants and other local people in the HIP round, and pointed to the scope for partnership between local authorities, the private sector, and the Housing Corporation and housing associations in the provision of social housing. I have decided to continue this initiative during the coming year, and the Minister for Housing and Planning has written today to the leaders of 33 authorities inviting their authorities to give presentations to Housing Ministers during the autumn. A list of the authorities concerned has been placed in the Library and letters have been sent to local Members.

  A copy of a commentary paper on the responses to the consultation exercise has been placed in the Libraries of the House. I intend to report back to the House once the remaining decisions have been taken later this year.

  Livestock
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to support(a) a world watch system on indigenous livestock breeds, (b) the strengthening of the animal genetic resources data bank and (c) the completion of the system of regional animal gene banks.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  As members of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and contributors to its regular programme budget, the United Kingdom already supports these three initiatives. Under the budget for 1992–93 which was agreed at the last meeting of the FAO conference in 1991, over $1 million was allocated to the sub-programme on animal genetic resources from which these programmes are funded.

  Urban Development Areas
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will listt for each local authority which contains an urban development area the level of(a) urban programmes, (b) housing investment programmes and (c) derelict land grant for each year from 1987–88 at current prices and at 1987–88 prices.

  Urban Programme expenditure outturn (current prices)

  (000)

  Authority

  DC

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Black Country

  Sandwell

  4,400

  5,211

  4,689

  4,682

  4,646

  Walsall

  1,560

  1,533

  1,652

  1,925

  1,728

  Wolverhampton

  5,420

  5,062

  4,733

  5,625

  5,148

  Bristol

  Bristol

  1,570

  1,494

  1,377

  1,470

  1,590

  Central Manchester

  Manchester

  16,290

  20,906

  19,312

  19,650

  19,777

  London Docklands

  Newham

  1,720

  2,109

  2,690

  2,850

  2,750

  Southwark

  1,830

  2,032

  2,113

  2,025

  2,720

  Tower Hamlets

  4,470

  3,390

  3,693

  4,464

  4,335

  Leeds

  Leeds

  3,990

  4,810

  4,798

  5,333

  5,342

  Merseyside

  Liverpool

  16,490

  14,435

  16,473

  17,918

  17,940

  Sefton

  1,500

  1,470

  1,412

  1,682

  1,667

  Wirral

  3,610

  3,496

  3,262

  3,582

  3,544

  Sheffield

  Sheffield

  5,630

  5,519

  5,739

  6,614

  10,932

  Teesside

  Hartlepool

  1,270

  1,347

  1,721

  1,821

  1,926

  Langbaurgh

  1,340

  1,508

  1,538

  1,979

  1,887

  Stockton

  1,380

  1,125

  1,388

  1,485

  1,638

  Middlesborough

  5,290

  5,636

  5,073

  5,170

  5,178

  Trafford Park

  Trafford1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Salford2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  Newcastle

  17,600

  15,776

  17,933

  16,503

  16,263

  North Tyneside

  3,490

  3,448

  3,286

  3,604

  3,570

  South Tyneside

  4,950

  4,489

  4,799

  5,067

  5,023

  Sunderland

  4,310

  4,735

  4,890

  5,287

  5,257

  1 Not an Urban Programmee Area.

  2 Include in the Manchester figure.

  Housing investement programme expenditure outturn (current prices)

  (£000)

  UDC

  Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  11991–92

  Black Country

  Sandwell

  24,079

  41,287

  42,058

  26,659

  21,113

  Walsall

  17,551

  14,231

  30,318

  10,184

  15,039

  Wolverhampton

  13,436

  13,717

  29,957

  18,808

  20,347

  Bristol

  Bristol

  22,857

  34,971

  45,358

  33,859

  35,150

  Central Manchester

  Manchester

  83,268

  93,109

  110,426

  52,783

  53,021

  London Docklands

  Newham

  27,499

  28,880

  75,826

  29,648

  34,450

  Southwark

  49,816

  43,308

  101,326

  39,493

  46,262

  Tower Hamlets

  29,150

  34,353

  121,378

  42,558

  50,121

  Leeds

  Leeds

  36,933

  39,708

  41,469

  32,419

  38,992

  Merseyside

  Liverpool

  64,651

  45,151

  49,338

  55,194

  50,578

  Sefton

  9,460

  8,918

  8,907

  7,217

  8,332

  Wirral

  16,184

  13,095

  18,024

  12,945

  12,827

  Sheffield

  Sheffield

  55,070

  59,067

  70,717

  66,683

  49,211

  Teesside

  Hartlepool

  6,342

  5,621

  6,397

  5,088

  6,472

  Langbaurgh

  8,115

  9,509

  8,245

  6,769

  4,722

  Stockton

  12,053

  7,420

  13,898

  7,992

  6,158

  Middlesbrough

  8,837

  12,359

  13,228

  9,009

  11,529

  Trafford Park

  Trafford

  8,721

  8,893

  12,059

  9,213

  4,128

  Salford

  21,020

  24,200

  21,075

  18,606

  16,495

  306
  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Details of expenditure at outturn prices by local authority and financial year from 1987–88 onwards are listed in the table. To convert into 1987–88 constant prices, the 1988–89 figures should be multiplied by 0·93261, the 1989–90 ones by 0·87501, 1990–91 by 0·80877 and 1991–92 by 0·75586.
  307

  UDC

  Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  11991–92

  Tyne and Wear

  Newcastle

  24,915

  25,116

  23,037

  22,209

  18,878

  North Tyneside

  14,934

  9,237

  16,361

  11,802

  11,141

  South Tyneside

  13,029

  13,819

  13,536

  6,823

  7,174

  Sunderland

  16,900

  15,059

  14,494

  17,693

  21,826

  1Local authority estimate.

  Derelict land grant outturn (Current prices)

  (£000)

  UDC

  Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Black Country

  Sandwell

  2,470

  2,063

  1.322

  1,865

  1,024

  Walsall

  3,117

  3,474

  3,779

  3,738

  4,223

  Wolverhampton

  539

  826

  585

  447

  1,676

  Bristol

  Bristol

  68

  215

  —

  41

  84

  Central Manchester

  Manchester

  423

  177

  33

  —

  373

  London Docklands

  Newham

  —

  159

  441

  —

  —

  Southwark

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  27

  55

  196

  1,371

  Leeds

  Leeds

  126

  169

  228

  850

  771

  Merseyslde

  Liverpool

  249

  560

  403

  1,747

  2,289

  Sefton

  341

  534

  185

  606

  409

  Wirral

  188

  559

  175

  372

  351

  Sheffield

  Sheffield

  514

  1,078

  53

  134

  636

  Teesside

  Hartlepool

  586

  268

  81

  257

  12

  Langbaurgh

  319

  184

  202

  244

  28

  Stockton

  229

  262

  76

  35

  155

  Middlesbrough

  443

  156

  12

  50

  297

  Trafford Park

  Trafford

  45

  69

  12

  7

  20

  Salford

  5,255

  4,292

  3,120

  564

  820

  Tyne and Wear

  Newcastle

  1,181

  474

  194

  105

  539

  North Tyneside

  723

  643

  485

  774

  509

  South Tyneside

  1,096

  263

  299

  342

  297

  Sunderland

  1,336

  1,373

  1,240

  1,404

  1,594

  Stray Dogs
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the measures taken by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Leeds to control stray dogs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: None.

  Housing
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to determine the provision for new housing to be made in the new regional planning guidance for London and the south east.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of a letter which I have sent to the chairman of SERPLAN, the London and South East regional planning conference. SERPLAN is invited to put forward proposals for the allocation of future provision for new housing between London and the counties of the south east. These proposals should be based on a regional total rate of 57,000 additional dwellings per year, over the period 1991 to 2011. I will take account of SERPLAN's proposals, together with any other views on these matters which are put to my Department, in deciding the regional 308
  housing provision to be included in the draft new regional planning guidance for the south east. The draft will then be published for consultation in due course.

  Botanical Gardens
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state in(a) cash terms and (b) at 1991 prices the funding provided from Her Majesty's Government to (i) Kew and (ii) Edinburgh botanic gardens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  The planned grant in aid provision for The Royal Botanic gardens, Kew for 1992–93 is £14·3 million. At 1991–92 prices this is equivalent to £13·6 million.

  Responsibility for the Royal Botanic gardens at Edinburgh rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland but I am advised that the planned 1992–93 grant in aid provision for the Edinburgh Garden is £5·4 million. At 1991–92 prices this is equivalent to £5·1 million.

  Lead Water Pipes
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for assisting households on low incomes with the costs of replacing lead water supply pipes.
  309
  Sir George Young
  Further to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) to my then hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 19 February 1992,Official Report, column 201, following consultation with interested bodies, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have today announced the extension of minor works assistance, under the provisions of part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Local housing authorities are to be given wider scope in providing discretionary assistance to meet the cost of replacing lead pipes used to supply drinking or cooking water to all resident owner-occupiers or tenants on income-related benefits. The new measures which come into force on 1 September 1992 will enable authorities to respond speedily and effectively with discretionary help while targeting resources on those least able to meet the cost of replacement.

SCOTLAND

  Fisheries Protection
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources in terms of(a) personnel, (b) expenditure and (c) numbers of vessels, have been deployed in the fisheries protection service of Scottish waters for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: The information requested for those fisheries protection vessels directly operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for the years 1985–86 to 1991–92 is set out in the table. Information for previous years is not readily available in this form.

  Expenditure1£ million

  Personnel2

  Numberof vessels

  1985–86

  7·2

  117

  7

  1986–87

  6·9

  117

  7

  1987–88

  6–9

  117

  7

  1988–89

  7·4

  92

  6

  1989–90

  7·4

  92

  6

  1990–91

  7·6

  92

  6

  1991–92

  8·0

  92

  6

  1Full costs including capital utilization charge and superannuation.

  2Total crewing complement.

  In addition, the Scottish Office makes a payment to the Ministry of Defence for fisheries protection services from the Royal Navy. These payments are related to the estimated costs of purchasing the service from the private sector. Payments by the Scottish Office since 1985–86 have been:

  Ministry of Defence £ million

  1985–86

  2·1

  1986–87

  1·0

  1987–88

  1·0

  310

  Ministry of Defence £ million

  1988–89

  1·0

  1989–90

  1·1

  1990–91

  1·2

  1991–92

  1·2

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) Spanish, (b) Portuguese, (c) French and (d) Danish skippers have been (i) charged with and (ii) convicted of offences relating to illegal fishing in Scottish waters in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: the information requested is as follows:

  Spanish

  Portuguese

  French

  Danish

  (i) Skippers charged

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1983

  2

  —

  —

  7

  1984

  5

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  3

  —

  —

  5

  1986

  2

  —

  —

  7

  1987

  7

  —

  1

  5

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  5

  1989

  2

  —

  —

  7

  1990

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1991

  —

  —

  2

  3

  1992 to date

  5

  1

  —

  —

  26

  1

  3

  42

  (ii)Skippers convicted

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1983

  2

  —

  —

  6

  1984

  5

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  3

  —

  —

  5

  1986

  2

  —

  —

  6

  1987

  7

  —

  1

  5

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  5

  1989

  2

  —

  —

  5

  1990

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1991

  —

  —

  2

  3

  1992 to date

  3

  1

  —

  —

  24

  1

  3

  38

EDUCATION

  London School of Economics
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average cost of tuition per year for a student from outside the European Community to attend the London School of Economics; what is the number of such students who attended the LSE last year; and what are the comparable figures for the previous two years.

  Mr. Forman
  Information about the average cost of tuition fees for overseas students from outside the European Community is not held centrally. The numbers of overseas students from outside the EC who attended the LSE in the last three available years, are as follows:
  311

  Non-EC overseas students at the London School of Economics

  1988

  1989

  1990

  UG

  PG

  UG

  UG

  PG

  UG

  UG

  PG

  UG

  Full-time

  705

  735

  1,440

  764

  735

  1,499

  775

  800

  1,575

  Part-time

  1

  103

  104

  59

  109

  168

  74

  120

  194

  Full-time+part-time

  706

  838

  1,544

  823

  844

  1,667

  849

  920

  1,769

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement concerning the possible relocation of the London School of Economics to the county hall building.

  Mr. Forman
  The disposal of county hall is primarily a matter for the London Residuary Body and for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment said on the matter during the Adjournment debate on 26 June,Official Report, columns 555–62.

  Full-time Education
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children are in full-time education in the United Kingdom and each of the other EC states.

  Mr. Forth
  The available data are shown in tables AA and BB of the Department's publication "Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1991 edition", copies of which are in the Library.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. Forth
  I have this responsibility in the Department: we will continue to pursue a number of initiatives relevant to environmental matters both during this year and for the rest of the parliamentary Session.

  These will include the development of environmental education as a cross-curricular theme in schools, which will be reflected in in-service training.

  Professor Toyne's expert committee on environmental education within further and higher education will report in the autumn, and we shall be considering how best its recommendations might be followed up. We shall also foster the development of energy efficiency initiatives in schools and colleges.

  The Department's own accommodation and purchasing policies reflect its concern for green issues. A strategy is being prepared and will be in place at the end of the year. The Department continues to monitor the scope for recycling glass, paper and plastics and the reuse of cartridges for machinery replenishment.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Foxes
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has carried out on the impact of predation of farm stock by foxes.
  312
  Mr. Curry
  None.

  Bananas
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to give effect to the Lome convention provisions requiring bananas from the African, Caribbean and Pacific states to gain access to United Kingdom and EC markets without being severely disadvantaged by banana imports from Latin American producers.

  Mr. Curry
  The United Kingdom's current banana market arrangements are designed to ensure preferential access for our traditional suppliers in African, Caribbean and Pacific states. Formal Commission proposals are expected shortly for harmonised EC arrangements to complete the single market, to replace these and other national schemes. The Government are determined to ensure that these new arrangements will fully meet our Lome convention obligations, while being compatible with a successful conclusion to the GATT Uruguay round negotiations.

  Seafish Industry
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total number of fishermen involved in the United Kingdom seafish industry.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1990 there were some 17,000 fishermen regularly employed and some 5,000 partially employed.

  Fish Licences
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many British fish licences are issued directly to owners in Spain and Holland by his Department.

  Mr. Curry
  None.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. Gummer
  As the Department's green Minister, I will ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account in all its policies and spending programmes and that the relevant commitments in the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance" and subsequent anniversary report are followed up.

  Slaughterers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of licensed slaughterers' or knackers' yards in each year since 1987.
  313
  Mr. Soames
  All abattoirs and knackers' yards currently operate under licences granted by local authorities. With the exception of abattoirs approved for intra-Community trade, records are not maintained centrally on the status of individual premises. However, annual statistics derived from state veterinary service visits produce the following approximate figures for abattoirs in England and Wales:

  Year

  Number

  1987

  905

  1988

  855

  1989

  780

  1990

  700

  1991

  640

  In the case of knackers' yards, it is estimated that in 1990 there were approximately 120 operating in England and Wales, and that currently there are 107.

  Plant Health and Pesticides HQ
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to announce a decision on the choice of site in York for the plant health and pesticides headquarters before 16 July; and what is the scheduled operational date of the new headquarters.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have nothing to add to the reply given on this matter on 8 June 1992.Official Report, column 13.

  Banned Farm Produce
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by location, the number of farms that have been banned by his Department from supplying farm produce from their premises to the public because of the possibility of toxic chemicals entering the food chain; what review he is currently carrying out to safeguard the farmers' livelihood; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  One farm, near Bolsover in Derbyshire. is subject to an order, under part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 because it is contaminated with dioxins to an unacceptable degree. Following the placing of restrictions the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service has given free advice to the farmer on his future farming options. The Government policy with regard to compensation which applies in cases of this nature is that it is the polluter who must pay.

  Cockles
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Gower on 24 June, Ref. 55919, regarding the treatment processes for cockles, if he will publish the date when he submitted for approval the Torry process to the EC's standing veterinary committee.

  Mr. Curry
  We have not at present submitted an application to the Standing Veterinary Committee for the approval of any specific heat treatment. We are formulating for early submission an application covering the use of processes which embody the principle of a minimum temperature of 90 deg C maintained for at least 90 seconds, the essential feature of the Torry process.

  Mink
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to allow the Mink Keeping Order 1987 to lapse; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Mink (Keeping) Order 1987 expires on 31 December 1992. A consultation exercise will take place this summer to seek the views of interested organisations on future arrangements for the secure keeping of mink. Following this, the Government will decide whether to make a new order.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food how much money was paid in set-aside payments in 1991 and 1992; how many individual payments were made; what was the average size of the payment and the largest payment made; and what were the numbers of payments in each British county.

  Mr. Curry
  The set-aside scheme year runs from 1 October to 30 September. Payments are normally made in arrears in the last quarter of the calendar year, although for various reasons a small number of payments cannot be made until early in the following year.

  Total set-aside payments in respect of England in the set-aside scheme years 1989–90 and 1990–91 are set out in the tables.

  Payments in respect of set-aside year

  Made in financial year

  1 October 1989 to 30 September 1990

  1 October 1990 to 30 September 1991

  (Made in financial year)

  (1990–91) £

  (1991–92) £

  Total payments

  15,301,906

  20,357,861

  Average payment per agreement

  6,596

  6,677

  Largest payment per agreement

  112,723

  114,151

  Number of participants eligible for payment

  Set-aside scheme year

  County

  1 October 1989 to 30 September 1990

  1 October 1990 to 30 September 1991

  Avon

  28

  45

  Bedfordshire

  51

  77

  Berkshire

  40

  54

  Buckinghamshire

  108

  140

  Cambridgeshire

  83

  120

  Cheshire

  29

  36

  Cleveland

  5

  7

  Cornwall

  50

  66

  Cumbria

  11

  12

  Derbyshire

  27

  37

  Devonshire

  89

  118

  Dorset

  40

  51

  Durham

  17

  26

  Essex

  115

  149

  Gloucestershire

  74

  106

  Greater London

  8

  16

  Greater Manchester

  7

  10

  Hampshire

  70

  92

  Hereford/Worcestershire

  48

  64

  Hertfordshire

  52

  64

  Humberside

  47

  60

  Isle of Wight

  6

  8

  315

  Set-aside scheme year

  County

  1 Ocober 1989 to 30 September 1990

  1 Ocober 1990 to 30 September 1991

  Kent

  117

  160

  Lancashire

  11

  14

  Leicestershire

  38

  50

  Lincolnshire

  72

  95

  Merseyside

  13

  14

  West Midlands

  5

  6

  Norfolk

  115

  135

  Northamptonshire

  76

  98

  Northumberland

  35

  39

  Nottinghamshire

  28

  38

  Oxfordshire

  110

  157

  Shropshire

  22

  29

  Somerset

  39

  56

  Staffordshire

  35

  43

  Suffolk

  151

  193

  Surrey

  44

  51

  East Sussex

  69

  91

  West Sussex

  77

  88

  Tyne and Wear

  10

  14

  Warwickshire

  61

  82

  Wiltshire

  67

  98

  North Yorkshire

  95

  110

  South Yorkshire

  15

  16

  West Yorkshire

  10

  14

  TOTAL.

  2,320

  3,049

  Sensitive Area Payments
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money in total was paid in environmentally sensitive area payments in 1991 and 1992; what was the average payment to recipients; how many recipients there were; and what was the largest payment to a recipient.

  Mr. Curry
  The total cost of payments under the ESA scheme in England for the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 was £7,459,000 and £8,005,000 respectively. There were 2,926 agreements in 1990–91 and 3,105 agreements in 1991–92 giving an average payment of £2,549 and £2,578 in each year. The largest single payment was £185,139.82.

EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled Workers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what plans there are for improving the training of non-specialist staff in her Department, with particular reference to training involving the disability organisations;

  (2) what quality standards have been developed for monitoring the use of outside agencies for the assessment, counselling and rehabilitation of disabled workers; which interested organisations have been consulted on this matter; and will such standards be made available to the House.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  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.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the percentage unemployed for the United Kingdom, and for each standard region, on the broad and narrow definitions for April 1984, November 1984, April 1990, April 1992 and May 1992.

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

  Economic Activity Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the travel-to-work areas, or smallest area available, concerning the 35 per cent. of United Kingdom population with the lowest economic activity rates according to 1981 census data and for June 1984, June 1990 and the latest available date with the areas with the lowest economic activity rates listed first; and if she will distinguish between the 15 per cent. of population in areas with the lowest economic activity rate and the 20 per cent. of population with the next lowest activity rates.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The latest available data on economic activity rates for travel-to-work areas are from the 1981 census of population. These can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Emergency Standby Vessels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 30 June,Official Report, column 451, what contingency plans she has developed or is considering for the provision of adequate safeguards for offshore installations should be a substantial proportion of the emergency standby vessels currently under assessment be taken out of service by their owners; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Executive has made it clear to the industry that it is the responsibility of each individual operator to ensure that there is adequate standby vessel cover available at all times to provide the necessary safeguards. The code of practice on standby vessels which was published last July and the deadlines set out in it were prepared in full consultation with the owners and operators of standby vessels; and the HSE considers that the final deadline for necessary improvements is achievable. The HSE is continuing to monitor the situation.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in each year since employment training started, what has been the cost of ET; what contribution has been made by the European social fund; and what would have been the cost of trainees' entitlement to social security benefits.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table shows the expenditure on ET since it began and estimated expenditure on that part of the trainee allowances equivalent to previous entitlement to social security benefit. The contribution made to employment training by the European social fund in 1989 was £72 million, in 1990 £126 million and in 1991 £157 million.
  317

  Employment training

  £ million

  Total expenditure

  Estimated benefit equivalent element of trainee allowances

  1988–891

  425

  117

  1989–90

  1,107

  425

  1990–91

  1,076

  425

  1991–922

  844

  337

  1992–933

  807

  318

  1ET began in September 1988. Transitional arrangements applied to participants previously on wages on the community programme.

  2Provisional outturn expenditure.

  3Planned expenditure.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how European social fund money has been distributed in each year since employment training started to(a) ET, (b) youth training, (c) voluntary organisations, (d) local authorities and (e) other purposes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Until the end of 1989, individual applications for European social fund support were submitted by a range of organisations which included Government, local authorities and voluntary organisations, for approval in Brussels.

  Since 1990, when new regulations took effect, applications have been made to the Department of Employment for approval. The money is paid out to applicants in three tranches. Advance payments of 50 per cent. and a further 30 per cent. are normally available during the life of a project and a final claim of up to the last 20 per cent. is payable after accounts have been scrutinised.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much an employer would have to supplement the minimum youth training allowance to compensate for its loss of value through inflation; and what evidence she has as to the proportion of employers who are paying supplements of these amounts.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 8 July 1992] : Supplements of £8·54 and £16·02 per week respectively would be needed to restore in real terms the value of the current YT minimum allowances of £29·50 for 16-yearolds and £35·00 for 17-year-olds and over to the levels when they were last changed.

  The level of the YT allowance is a minimum level and employers, providers and training and enterprise councils are free to arrange higher levels.

TRANSPORT

  Antares
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline the circumstances of the loss of the fishing vessel Antares; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The marine accident investigation branch report on the loss of the fishing vessel Antares with the loss of four lives has been published today. The report deals with the collision between the trawler and the Trafalgar class submarine HMS Trenchant in Bute sound, north east of the Isle of Arran, in the early hours of 22 318
  November 1990. The report finds that Antares foundered as a direct result of its net being snagged by Trenchant and that that was caused by a partial breakdown in both the structure and standards of watch keeping on board Trenchant following the completion of a command course exercise. The Ministry of Defence has admitted full liability for the accident.

  The report makes eight recommendations which substantially reflect the findings of the Royal Navy's own board of inquiry, and the determination made by the sheriff principal following the fatal accident inquiry. The majority of the report recommendations have already, as a result of similar recommendations from the earlier inquiries, been accepted and implemented either in full or in part. Major changes have been made in submarine operating policy and procedures in order to improve the safety of fishing vessels, in particular the mandatory minimum separation between dived submarines and fishing vessels has been extended to 4,000 yards. Further changes are under consideration by MoD, in consultation with my Department and with the sub-group of its fishing industry safety group which was established specifically to consider submarine and fishing vessel safety issues. As part of this continuing work, the Government will consider any remaining actions which may need to be taken in the light of the MAIB report.

  Aeroplane Crashes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of aeroplane crashes in Wales last year; what were the comparable figures for the previous two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The safety data and analysis unit of the Civil Aviation Authority advises me that there were 15 reportable aircarft accidents in Wales in 1991. The comparable figures for 1990 and 1989 were nine and eight respectively.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to require low-flying aircraft in rural areas to be equipped with silencers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  No.

  Speed Traps
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether speed measuring cameras would have a greater effect on reducing driving speeds(a) if they are covertly placed or (b) if they are preceded by warning signs.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Studies are currently being carried out to assess whether the use of area-wide signs to indicate the use of enforcement cameras increases driver compliance with speed limits.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will place warning signs in the areas where new speed measuring cameras are to he placed.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  This is a matter which my right hon. Friend will consider in the light of the current studies to assess the effectiveness of such signs in increasing driver compliance with speed limits.
  319
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what increase in fine income he expects as a result of the new speed measuring cameras.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The income from fines and fixed penalties will depend on factors such as the number of cameras deployed, their effectiveness in reducing speed, the number of suspected offenders and the proportion of them who are tried before a court rather than paying the fixed penalty. It is therefore not possible to give an estimate with any degree of accuracy.

  Waterway Safety
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he published the report by the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch into the Marchioness disaster; on what date he appointed the Hayes inquiry into safety on inland waterways; and on what date he expects to publish the report of the Hayes inquiry.

  Mr. Norris
  The marine accident investigation branch's final report into the collision between the passenger launch Marchioness and MV Bowbelle was published on 15 August 1991. The report's safety recommendations had previously been published separately on 24 July 1990.

  On 20 December 1991, the Secretary of State for Transport appointed Mr. John W. Hayes, LLB, to head an inquiry into river safety. Mr. Hayes' report was published on 7 July 1992.

  Road Accidents, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicle accidents there were in the Chelmsford local authority area in each of the last three available years; and how many deaths and how many personal injuries occurred.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The figures for the years 1989 to 1991 are as follows:

  1989

  1990

  1991

  (1) Total accidents

  832

  716

  615

  (2) Casualties

  (i) Fatal

  16

  16

  18

  (ii) Serious

  208

  166

  106

  (iii) Slight

  947

  829

  726

  M11
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to reject the proposed private sector plans for an extension of the M11 motorway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have decided after careful consideration that the Government cannot support the project by providing the very large sums of public money, of the order of £750 million, which the promoters are seeking.

  I am determined to improve the road system on the eastern side of the country to promote the economic prosperity of all the areas which it serves. But I believe that our policy of upgrading the Al to motorway standard and improving the roads linked to it will achieve this objective more effectively, give better value for money and will be more environmentally acceptable.
  320
  The roads programme now includes schemes for upgrading all those sections of A1 which are not already motorway at a cost of almost £1·5 billion. This programme also includes a number of other schemes to improve road links in the east, at a cost of almost a further £1 billion. The northern section of Mll is to be widened and the A604, which connects it to the A1, will also be upgraded to motorway. A45 and A47 are also due to be improved. We have given 100 per cent. grant towards the cost of building the A15 in Humberside, much of it as dual carriageway, most of the A15 between Lincoln and the Humber bridge has been trunked and we are dualling the A46, in recognition of the importance of this regional route. The programme also includes 12 schemes for improving A16 and A17, important routes through Lincolnshire. Hull and the Humber ports are already well served by M62/A63 and M180/M18 respectively: a new route from the Humber bridge to the A1079 trunk road has been built with Government grant aid, and six other improvements are planned for the existing A1079, Al237 and A19 trunk roads north from the Humber Bridge towards the north east.

  I recognise the very considerable efforts which the promoters have devoted to this project. They are of course still free to pursue it if they wish as a privately financed one.

  M25
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the estimated cost of his plans to widen the M25 Motorway at 1992 prices in respect of(a) the new six lanes between the M3 and M4 intersections and (b) an additional lane on the rest of its surface sections.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The proposals announced on 25 June for link roads between Junctions 12 and 15 are estimated to cost £144 million. Those announced last September for rapid widening to duel four lanes between junctions 5 and 28 will cost an estimated £625 million.

  Rail Infrastructure Projects
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure the use of cost-benefit analysis assessment in the evaluation of rail infrastructure projects.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to an answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Booth) on 3 July 1992,Official Report, columns 733–34.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. MacGregor
  Over the next year and beyond, I have many environmental priorities. For a start, I am devoting part of the Informal Transport Council on 16 and 17 July to a discussion on the Commission's Green Paper on Transport and the Environment. I shall continue the policy of giving strong emphasis to environmental aspects in the road programme. I shall work towards more
  321
  environmentally acceptable standards for road vehicles. This I intend to do in collaboration with the European Community. I also want to see more traffic—both passengers and freight—transferred from road to rail. Our policy for involving the private sector in providing railway services will encourage this. And I shall support action to deal with traffic congestion and pollution in urban areas such as parking controls and other traffic restraint measures as well as encouraging the use of buses and safer cycling.

  Air-sea Rescue
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes any changes to the current arrangements for air-sea rescue in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire.

  Mr. Norris
  There are no current plans for the movement of the Coastguard helicopter from the Solent area. The MoD is responsible for the positioning of military aircraft having regard to agreed DTp/MoD criteria for helicopter civil search and rescue cover around the United Kingdom.

  To date, my Department has not been informed by MOD of any proposed changes which would affect such criteria.

  British Rail
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what firms are advising him on the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  Samuel Montagu provides merchant bank advice; Coopers and Lybrand advises on the liberalisation of access to the railway network; and Debenham Tewson Chinnocks advises on stations.

  Radioactive Substances
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representation the United Kingdom has on the special permanent working party for the transport of radioactive substances set up by the European Commission this year; and what plans he has to review the arrangements for the transport of radioactive materials within, into and from the European Community during his presidency of the European Transport Council.

  Mr. Norris
  The United Kingdom is represented on the special working group on the safe transport of radioactive material, which has been meeting since 1982, by officials from the Department's radioactive materials transport division.

  During the United Kingdom Presidency the main work of my Department on the transport of radioactive material worldwide will be continued participation in the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, with which the Community has close links.

WALES

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his proposals for Tir Cymen.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  A countryside stewardship scheme in Wales, to be called Tir Cymen, has been developed by the Countryside Council for Wales and an announcement regarding its introduction will be made shortly.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications he has received for participation in the countryside stewardship programme from farmers in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The countryside stewardship scheme run by the Countryside Commission in England is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. A countryside stewardship scheme in Wales, to be called Tir Cymen, has been developed by the Countryside Council for Wales and an announcement regarding its introduction will be made shortly.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were in employment in each county in(a) 1978 and (b) 1989; and how many were in employment in Cardiff, Swansea, Camarthen, Llanelli, Newport, Bangor and Wrexham (i) in 1978 and (ii) in 1989.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Numbers of employees in employment are shown in the following tables:

  County

  11978

  1989

  Clwyd

  127,767

  139,458

  Dyfed

  105,438

  102,867

  Gwent

  166,990

  155,979

  Gwynedd

  69,789

  76,955

  Mid Glamorgan

  186,192

  164,989

  Powys

  29,708

  40,638

  South Glamorgan

  168,689

  179,009

  West Glamorgan

  160,762

  126,778

  Source: NOMIS, Employment Department.

  1 Using approximations to county areas defined as the best-fit of jobcentre areas to each county.

  1984 Job Centre TTWAs1

  1978

  1989

  Cardiff

  176,317

  180,312

  Swansea

  103,327

  90,814

  Carmarthen

  16,959

  17,364

  Llanelli

  34,767

  27,309

  Newport

  78,591

  76,397

  Bangor and Caernarfon

  24,195

  24,545

  Wrexham

  44,637

  48,646

  Source NOMIS, Employment Department.

  1 These areas are used for both years and are defined as the best-fit of jobcentre areas into 1984 travel-to-work areas.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of household waste is currently recycled by each district council in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally although work is in hand nationally to establish
  323
  better data. Data on recycling will also be available from the plans district councils are preparing under section 49 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Road Accident Victims
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an estimated figure for the total number of working years lost in Wales as a result of road accident fatalities in each of last five years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information allowing such an estimate to be made is not collected centrally.

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning toxic shock syndrome; and what initiatives he proposes concerning toxic shock syndrome.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but very unpleasant condition which is believed to be caused by toxin-producing strains of the bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus. About 50 per cent. of all cases occur in women during menstruation, but non-menstrual cases occur in association with abscesses, osteomyelitis, wound infections and pneumonia—i.e. any severe infections. It can therefore also affect men, children and non-menstruating women. Management of the condition is a matter for clinical judgment.

  Information received from the public health laboratory service suggests that in recent years there have been, on average, one or two deaths a year from TSS associated with tampon use in the United Kingdom. Government action has been focused on cases relating to tampon usage as the prime identifiable cause of TSS.

  In 1984 the Department of Trade and Industry and the sanitary protection industry set up a voluntary prior notification scheme for menstrual tampons. This scheme applies to the entire manufactured product, including the instructions for use. Under the scheme, manufacturers submit to the Government any new tampon to which there have been significant changes in the design or materials, and toxicologists from the Department of Health scrutinise them to decide whether they pose a health hazard. The manufacturers' own code of practice also covers manufacturing standard quality assurance.

  For the past decade, the instruction leaflet—included in every pack by tampon manufacturers—has contained information on TSS, advice on using the lowest level of absorbency required and on changing tampons frequently. It is likely that these simple precautions minimise the risk of TSS.

  At the end of 1990 the industry, in agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Health, made some improvements to the labelling of tampon packages and the instruction leaflets. The principal modifications to pack statements were to add instructions to users to read and retain the leaflet, and clearer advice on absorbency selection. Fuller information on TSS, including what to do if symptoms occur, was also put into the leaflet.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his intention to choose a boundary for the new unitary authority based on Cardiff which to the west and north west follows or falls within the current South Glamorgan boundary.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave him on 6 July 1992.

  Flood Damage
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of the total cost of damage to agriculture in Wales due to flooding since I March; if he has any plans to improve facilities to prevent similar flooding in future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is not held centrally. Measures to improve flood protection in Wales are continually being undertaken where it is economic and technically appropriate to do so.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hectares in Wales are designated as environmentally sensitive areas; what is the number of farmers under this scheme and the total expenditure in 1991 under the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  ESA

  Designated area (ha)

  Number of current management agreements

  Expenditure 1991–92 (£)

  Lleyn peninsula

  39,700

  411

  351,907

  Cambrian mountains (includingextension)

  153,000

  422

  1,106,936

  Total

  192,700

  833

  1,458,843

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to extend further the environmentally sensitive areas scheme in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made on 22 June 1992 and decisions about any further expansion of the ESA scheme in Wales will be taken in the light of available resources.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of sites in Wales designated as sites of special scientific interest currently and for the previous two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of sites of special scientific interest

  1990–769 (as at 31 March)

  1991–816 (as at 31 March)

  1992–841 (as at 31 May)

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hectares in Wales are designated as sites
  325
  of special scientific interest; what is that figure as a percentage of (a) farm land in Wales and (b) Wales as a whole; what is the percentage change in the number of sites of special scientific interest in hectares from 1982; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is as follows:

  1982

  1992

  Area of Wales covered by SSSI's (hectares)

  167,518

  200,896

  Area of Wales coverd by SSSI's as a percentage of farm land

  9·9

  11·8

  Area of Wales coverd by SSSI's as a percentage of total area

  7·9

  9·5

  The increase in the number of hectares of Wales notified as sites of special scientific interest from 1982 to 1992 is therefore 19·9 per cent.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase the number of sites in Wales designated as sites of special scientific interest.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The responsibility for notifying sites of special scientific interest in the Principality rests with the Countryside Council for Wales. However, I understand that it has plans to designate more sites.

  Miscarriages
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many miscarriages occurred in 1991 in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wales attributable to smoking during pregnancies; what were the comparable figures for the previous two years; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Power Failures
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contingency plans exist to deal with the provision of electricity in Wales following power failures during violent storms; what plans he has to revise these; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The National Grid Company has contingency plans to restore supplies as quickly as practicable in the event of their loss during violent storms. these plans are regularly tested and reviewed.

  In addition, both South Wales Electricity and Manweb are party to a national code of practice which provides for mutual assistance from other regional electricity companies during network problems ca used by storms and other emergencies. The code is reviewed on an ongoing basis.

  Hospital Treatment
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated impact of the separate classification of tertiary referrals in hospitals as episodes of treatment on the total number of hospital in-patient treatments enumerated in national health service statistics in Wales;326
  on what date tertiary referrals were first separately counted for statistical purposes; and what public announcement was made of the change.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Aggregate information on in-patient treatments in NHS hospitals in Wales continues to be collected as deaths and discharges from hospitals as in previous years.

  A letter to district general managers DGM(90)123, announced that from 1 April 1991, data relating to individual patient episodes would record tertiary referrals and cross-specialty referrals separately. These data will be used to supply detailed disaggregated analyses of patients' episodes of care in hospitals relating to specific types of treatment, characteristics of patients, and categories of illness.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with fund-holding general practitioners concerning the introduction of separate accounting for tertiary referrals during hospital treatment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Guidance was issued in January 1991 on the handling of tertiary referrals. No indications have been received that further guidance is necessary. Fundholding general practitioners should specify in their contracts the arrangements for tertiary referrals to ensure that these are only made with their agreement. Where a referral is made without this agreement they are not liable for payment.

  Health Authorities (Public Relations)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning its public relations contract with Harrison Cowley; what level of expenditure is planned under this contract; which other health authorities in Wales have such contracts, with which public relations agencies and for what value; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have discussed the public relations arrangements in place in South Glamorgan health authority with its chairman, though he has been congratulated on the professionalism with which his authority presented its waiting times policy to local people.

  Responsibility for locally based public relations in the NHS rests firmly with individual district health authorities and family health services authorities. Details of the kind sought are therefore best obtained directly from the authorities themselves.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the discretionary limit for capital expenditure by the Cardiff Bay development corporation without reference to his Department; if he will list each of the projects above that limit submitted for evaluation to his Department in each year since 1987; and if he will give a summary of each evaluation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Details of the various financial delegation thresholds for Cardiff Bay development corporation are set out in the following table. I will write
  327
  to the hon. Gentleman, shortly, with a list of projects that exceed those thresholds. Details of the evaluation given to each project cannot be summarised without incurring disproportionate cost. A copy of my reply to the hon. Gentleman will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Schedule of delegations to Cardiff Bar Development Corporation

  £

  Projects (including land acquisition)

  Full delegation threshold

  250,000

  Partial delegation threshold

  3,000,000

  Consultancies

  De minimis level (competitive tender not required)

  3,000

  Single tender level for urgent studies

  15,000

  Full consultancy delegation threshold

  100,000

  Administrative expenditure ("Project" items)

  Delegation levels for administrative 'projects' before full project level ar introduced:

  Initial administrative delegation level (prior to approval of full budget)

  20,000

  Interim administrative delegation level (after approval of full budget)

  50,000

  Computing or information technology expenditure

  (i) Purchase of computer hardware (capital cost)

  50,000

  (ii) Bureau services (per annum)

  10,000

  (iii) Consultancies (per annum)

  10,000

  Proposals to incur computing expenditure above these levels have to be referred to the Department with full supporting information, including an appraisal of the strategic consideration.

  Works contracts

  De minimis level (competitive tender not required)

  3,000

  Single tender level for specialist of fixed price purchase

  15,000

  Value above which contracts must be advertised in the Official Journal (1 million ecu)

  710,000

  Write-offs and gifts

  Following may be written off/given without prior reference to the Department

  All cash losses, other than overpayments

  Other losses not exceeding

  1,000

  Gifts not exceeding

  500

  —up to a total value in any one year of

  10,000

  Land disposal

  Disposal on terms set out in the Notes for Guidance may be effected without prior reference to the Department providing the area involved does not exceed

  5 ha

  Employment Action
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to reduce the waiting time for the unemployed interested in applying for employment action programmes; and what special priority schemes approved for employment action he will allocate where length of unemployment qualification periods are shorter than the standard six months.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There are no proposals to change the general requirement that applicants for employment action should have been unemployed and in receipt of benefit for 26 weeks or more.

  Type

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  19911

  (a) Sets of:

  (i) Twins

  298

  305

  306

  263

  304

  272

  281

  322

  287

  281

  267

  315

  (ii) Triplets

  4

  3

  2

  4

  3

  3

  2

  7

  1

  2

  5

  6

  (iti) Quadruplets

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  (iv) Quintuplets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  (v) Sextuplets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  School Maintenance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what statistics he has on the total school maintenance backlog for all the counties in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Responsibility for the repair and maintenance of school buildings rests with local education authorities and statistics on the maintenance backlog are not collected centrally.

  Cadw
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets he has set for Cadw, Welsh Historic Monuments executive agency.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Cadw has been set the following key targets for 1992–93:

  (i) To complete 90 per cent. of the approved conservation maintenance programme.

  (ii) To promote the preservation of historic buildings and ancient monuments by completing 12 re-survey lists and 60 scheduling entries.

  (iii) To resolve 75 per cent. of statutory cases within the target periods (28 days for listed building consent cases, 90 days for scheduled monument consent cases and 120 days for ad hoc listings).

  (iv) To resolve 80 per cent. of grant applications within the target periods (18 weeks for Historic Buildings Council cases, six weeks for ancient monument cases and 12 weeks for civic initiatives (heritage) grant scheme cases); and to pay 90 per cent. of certified claims within six weeks of receipt.

  (v) To raise Cadw's market share of the number of visitors to the top twenty heritage sites in Wales from 63–7 per cent. in 1991 to 65 per cent. in 1992.

  (vi) To increase the average spend per visitor from 163 pence in 1991–92 to 175 pence in 1992–93.

  (vii) To operate within allocated programme and running cost budgets.

  (viii) To achieve an efficiency saving of 1·5 per cent. on gross running costs.

  Full details of Cadw's performance against its targets for 1991–92 are contained in the agency's annual report, which will be published shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the total numbers of(a) sets of (i) twins, (ii) triplets, (iii) guadruplets, (iv) quintuplets and (v) sextuplets born in Northern Ireland in each year from 1980 to 1991, (b) maternities in Northern Ireland in each year and (c) multiple births of each type in each year which were conceived as a result of (1) in vitro fertilisation, (2) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (3) other forms of assisted conception.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:
  329

  Type

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  19911

  (b) Maternitie

  28,542

  27,229

  26,905

  27,188

  27,547

  27,529

  27,989

  27,694

  27,614

  25,928

  25,338

  26,058

  (c)2 IVF (i) Twins3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  7

  5

  12

  N/K

  (ii) Triplets3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  1

  2

  N/K

  GIFT4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  N/K =Not Known.

  1 Provisional.

  2Figures are not collated centrally on infertility treatment other than IVF and GIFT.

  3These figures are the results of IVF by year of conception with IVF having been available in Northern Ireland only since 1987.

  4GIFT was available in Northern Ireland in only 1986 and 1987.

  Ards Hospital
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total expenditure at Ards hospital in each of the past five years; and how much in each year was for capital projects.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Capital works £

  Total £

  1986–87

  118,753

  7,521,157

  1987–88

  619,148

  8,712,289

  1988–89

  359,464

  9,155,789

  1989–90

  399,852

  9,894,402

  1990–91

  665,474

  11,044,410

  Hospital Services
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated population within each of the district councils in the areas for which the Eastern Health and Social Services area board provides hospital services; and what were the corresponding figures five years ago.

  Mr. Hanley
  The most recent information, contained in the mid-year estimates of population, relates to 1990 and is as follows:

  District council area

  1987

  1990

  Ards

  63,600

  65,400

  Belfast

  303,800

  295,100

  Castlereagh

  57,900

  58,100

  Down

  56,400

  57,700

  Lisburn

  92,900

  98,700

  North Down

  70,700

  72,600

  Figures for 1991 will be based on data obtained from the 1991 census and will not be available until after publication of the census summary report in the autumn. I shall write to the right hon. Member when the figures are available and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Terrorist Funding
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the amount of money raised by terrorist sympathisers in north America and received in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  Although for obvious reasons I cannot be precise, we understand that somewhere between $½ million and $1 million is sent to Northern Ireland each year.

  Airport Police
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statutory protection exists for constables of the Northern Ireland Airports Authority from unfair dismissal; what statutory police federation exists to represent them; and what statutory restrictions exist on their entitlement to join a trade union.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: Persons employed in police service, or in any other capacity by virtue of which they have the powers or privileges of a constable are excluded from the unfair dismissal legislation. Accordingly, constables of the Northern Ireland Airports Authority have no statutory protection from unfair dismissal. There are no statutory restrictions on their entitlement to join a trade union and they are represented by the Belfast Airport Police Association rather than a statutory police federation.

HEALTH

  Hospitals (Infections)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients are known to have contracted post-operative infections in(a) national health service hospitals and (b) private hospitals in each of the last five years; and if she will express those cases as a percentage of the total of patients treated;

  (2) what estimates she has of the cost of treating people who have contracted post-operative infections in (a) national health service hospitals and (b) private hospitals.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information on numbers of patients contracting post-operative infections is based on hospital discharge summaries. The 1989–90 estimates show 17,600 patients in national health service hospitals diagnosed as suffering from post-operative infection. The corresponding number in 1985 was 15,540. In both years, this number represented 0·2 per cent. of patients treated in hospital, but information from research studies indicates that this is an underestimate of the total incidence. Data for the intervening years are not available and corresponding information is not held in respect of private hospitals.

  Information is not held centrally about the cost of treating patients with post-operative infection.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people are known to have died in each of the past five years due to infections contracted while in hospital;
  331
  (2) what measures she intends to take to reduce the number of people who contract infections during their stay in hospital;

  (3) if she will list the types of infections which are most frequently contracted during a patient's stay in hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is not held centrally on the prevalence and type of hospital-acquired infections. A study in 1980 indicated that urinary infections, wound infections, lower respiratory infections and skin infections were those most frequently acquired.

  The information available on deaths relates to those known to be due to post operative infection and is given in the table.

  We are very much aware of the importance of preventing hospital-acquired infection to the fullest: extent possible. In 1988 we issued to health authorities the guidance produced by the joint Department of Health/ Public Health Laboratory Service hospital infection working group. Authorities were asked to ensure that the recommended arrangements for infection control were in place in all acute hospitals. The Department is updating and expanding this advice. The guidance assists both purchasing authorities and provider units in carrying out their respective responsibilities of ensuring that the proper preventive measures are in place and of determining the quality measures to be specified in contracts. Part of the role of the newly appointed consultants in communicable disease control is to advise their health authorities on these quality measures.

  Adequate surveillance is an important aspect of the control of hospital-acquired infection and guidance on methods of surveillance has recently been issued to the national health service.

  The Department also welcomes the development by the professions of clinical standards in hospital infection control. The clinical standards advisory group has been undertaking preliminary work with a view to proposing further studies in this area. We are also considering a proposal for research in to the financial costs and other burdens resulting from hospital acquired infection.

  Deaths from post operative infections

  1England and Wales, 1987–91

  Year

  Deaths

  1987

  11

  1988

  15

  1989

  12

  1990

  7

  1991

  8

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, code 998.5 source OPCS death registrations.

  Pay Bargaining
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list her Department's discussion documents on the subject of pay bargaining in the private health sector; and if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on pay bargaining in the private health sector.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for the independent sector to set its own pay bargaining procedures.

  National Health Service Staff (Transfers)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she proposes to make regulations under section 49 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 for transfer of staff from health service to local authority employment;

  (2) what discussions she has had with staff and staff representatives facing transfer from national health service employment to local government employment in accordance with section 49 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is proposed to make regulations under section 49 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 at the same time as the commencement order bringing part III of the 1990 Act into force is made. Staff representatives will be consulted about the regulations in the normal way.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the effect of introducing a prior approval limit on treatment of £200; what percentage of dental treatment would require prior approval at 1992 prices with an immediate introduction of the £200 limit; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is good management to put cost monitoring mechanisms in place for the most expensive treatments. Prior approval does not limit the range of treatments available. At £200, it will only apply to rather less than 3 per cent. of all courses of treatment.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the loss in net income to dentists from a 7 per cent. reduction in dental treatment fees.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Overall, we anticipate that these changes will not only deliver the 8·5 per cent. increase in dentists' target average net income which the review body recommended, but that dentists will on average receive some £5,000 more than this target.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what complaints in each of the last three years she has received about the London ambulance service allegedly being inadequate or at fault in individual cases where it has been called out; and in how many of those cases loss of life was involved.

  Mr. Sackville
  The London ambulance service—LAS —is responsible for dealing with complaints about the service. It has a formal complaints procedure that ensures that complaints are dealt with in line with the patients charter. A number of complaints have been made about the LAS both to Ministers and direct to the LAS. I can assure the hon. Member that each complaint has been thoroughly investigated. Information on the number of cases that involve loss of life is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will review the level of emergency ambulance cover for(a) Leyton and (b) London; and if she will make a statement.
  333
  Mr. Sackville
  The London ambulance service is managed as a pan-London service. Resources available in individual geographic regions of the service are shared with other regions, as necessary. The LAS is currently reviewing manning levels and shift rosters covering the whole of London. Management information derived from the recently introduced computer-aided dispatch will further improve the ability of managers to match available resources to demands on the service.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason a ceiling budget has been placed on the accident and emergency service of the London ambulance service; and if she will make this particular service demand led.

  Mr. Sackville
  Like all other ambulance services, the London ambulance service contracts to provide a full 24-hour accident and emergency service. All such services are expected to match income to expenditure, taking account of the demands placed upon them. The level of expenditure for 1992–93 has been agreed, and this includes real growth of £1 million.

  Regional Health Authority Chairmen
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will announce the appointment of regional health authority chairmen.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am pleased to announce that I have made two new appointments to chair regional health authorities, as follows:South West Thames RHA, Professor Marian Hicks
  South Western RHA, Ms. Rennie Fritchie
  In addition, the chairmen of the following three regional health authorities have been reappointed from I August 1992:
  North East Thames RHA, Mr. Tim Chessells
  Northern RHA, Mr. Peter Carr
  Oxford RHA, Dr. Stuart Burgess

  I would like to express my appreciation of the contribution to the national health service made by Mr. Charles Stuart at South Western RHA. For personal reasons, Mr. Stuart is relinquishing the regional chairmanship, and I have invited him to become the chairman-designate of the proposed Plymouth hospitals unit which has made a formal application to become an NHS trust operational from 1 April 1993.

  Hospices
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been made available(a) nationally in respect of hospice support and (b) to the Chelmsford hospice in each of the last three available years.

  Waiting lists England

  All patients waiting

  Waiting under 3 months

  Waiting under 6 months

  Waiting under 12 months

  Waiting under 24 months

  Waiting over 24 months

  31 March 1991

  All cases

  General surgery

  206,622

  86,220

  128,219

  169,553

  195,645

  10,977

  Urology

  58,541

  24,495

  36,241

  47,135

  54,483

  4,058

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  170,648

  56,512

  95,079

  135,992

  161,305

  9,343

  ENT

  121,837

  50,670

  77,413

  104,092

  118,046

  3,791

  Ophthalmology

  95,210

  34,567

  58,125

  82,579

  93,673

  1,537

  Oral Surgery

  62,176

  20,852

  34,424

  49,371

  58,743

  3,433

  Neurosurgery

  3,913

  1,651

  2,439

  3,202

  3,724

  189

  Plastic surgery

  53,485

  11,424

  18,837

  28,793

  39,907

  13,578

  Cardiothoracic surgery

  9,236

  3,664

  5,904

  7,996

  8,937

  299

  334
  Mr. Sackville
  In each of the last three years the Government have allocated funds to regional health authorities to enable them to increase the support they give to hospices and similar organisations providing care and support for dying people and their families. In each of the last two years, funds have also been allocated to enable hospices to obtain supplies of drugs free of charge. The allocations are shown in the table:

  Hospices (£ million)

  Drugs (£ million)

  1990–91

  8·00

  —

  1991–92

  16·96

  3·20

  1992–93

  31·70

  5·50

  The allocation of funds to individual projects is a matter for local discussion and agreement. The Chelmsford hospice received £54,000 in 1990–91 and £108,000 in 1991–92 from North East Thames regional health authority. The allocation for 1992–93 has yet to be approved by the RHA.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average number of days' wait for disabled people needing(a) artificial limbs and (b) wheelchairs from the national health service; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been on hospital waiting lists in England in total, and in each specialty, on 1 April 1991 and on 1 April 1992 for(a) three months or less, (b) six months or less, (c) 12 months or less, (d) 24 months or less and (e) over 24 months.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information as at 31 March 1991 is given in the table. Figures for 31 March 1992 by specialty are not yet available centrally. For the provisional overall picture at 31 March 1992, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 12 May at columns 489–92. These show that between 31 March 1991 and 31 March 1992 the number waiting over two years fell by 97 per cent. and the total number waiting dropped by 3·5 per cent. or 33,131.
  335

  Waiting lists England

  All patients waiting

  Waiting under 3 months

  Waiting under 6 months

  Waiting under 12 months

  Waiting under 24 months

  Waiting over 24 months

  Paediatric surgery

  6,202

  2,872

  4,313

  5,616

  6,109

  93

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  118,235

  58,986

  84,190

  105,578

  115,724

  2,511

  General medicine

  9,832

  7,454

  8,428

  9,111

  9,515

  317

  Cardiology

  10,954

  5,418

  7,750

  10,003

  10,715

  239

  Dermatology

  1,557

  1,100

  1,313

  1,418

  1,514

  43

  Thoracic medicine

  589

  348

  438

  536

  576

  13

  Medical oncology

  199

  176

  180

  185

  193

  6

  Neurology

  2,709

  1,697

  2,166

  2,443

  2,578

  131

  Rheumatology

  2,426

  1,484

  1,921

  2,231

  2,352

  74

  Geriatric medicine

  461

  369

  413

  434

  449

  12

  Mental illness

  830

  357

  513

  647

  705

  125

  Radiotherapy

  652

  636

  645

  649

  652

  0

  General practice

  742

  427

  555

  657

  740

  2

  Other

  11,187

  7,468

  9,196

  10,261

  10,905

  282

  Total

  948,243

  378,847

  578,702

  778,482

  897,190

  51,053

  Dentists' Pay
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the fundamental review of the dental remuneration system will be carried forward.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am pleased to announce that Sir Kenneth Bloomfield has accepted an invitation from the United Kingdom Health Ministers to review the system of dental remuneration.

  The text of my invitation to Sir Kenneth is set out as follows:
  "I am writing on behalf of the UK Health Ministers to confirm my invitation to you to review the system of dental remuneration, and if possible to report before the end of the year.

  The terms of reference are:
  ""To conduct a fundamental review of the existing system of remuneration of general dental practitioners and to identify options for change""

  There are a number of important points which you will need to bear in mind.
  First, the review should consider the system of remuneration. The level of remuneration for general dental practitioners are a matter for recommendation by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' remuneration.Second, the aim of the review should be to identify options for remunerating general dental practitioners which would provide a proper framework of financial control; would be fair to dentists and the public and as simple as practicable; and would therefore contribute positively to the development of the NHS dental service.Third, I am looking to you to identify a number of options for change, rather than a single recommendation, though I would be happy for you to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.You will of course need to consult a number of interests in the course of the review. To assist you in this, I suggest that we establish a panel of advisers, drawn from the Government departments concerned, the NHS and the dental profession.The Government attaches great importance to your review and looks forward to receiving your advice in due course."

  NHS Statistics
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what date tertiary and cross-specialty referrals in hospitals were recorded as separate episodes of treatment in national health service statistics on out-patient and in-patient hospital activity; what the estimated impact of such a change has been on time-series comparisons of hospital activity prior to and since the change in recording methods; and if she will make a statement.
  336
  Mr. Sackville
  Hospital activity has been measured in terms of finished consultant episodes since April 1987. The move to this sytem from the previous system, which recorded discharges and deaths, was designed to monitor more accurately the volume of work carried out by each consultant in each specialty. Data continued to be collected on the old basis of discharges and deaths until 1988–89. Comparisons of in-patient cases over time should not be affected as figures for 1988–89 are available on both basis. The change had no effect on the number of out-patient consultations.

  HIV
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for the divergences between her Department's forecasts of the numbers estimated to be infected by the HIV-1 virus and the actual numbers so infected; and for what reasons she has decided to allocate financial resources on the basis of estimated rather than actual numbers.

  Mr. Sackville
  Overall the forecasts contained in the 1990 Day report "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in England and Wales to end 1993" have not proved significantly different from the actual numbers diagnosed to date, after these have been adjusted for reporting delays.

  Financial allocations made each year to the national health service for the treatment and care of people with HIV/AIDS are based on the numbers actually reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre for each regional health authority and not on the basis of estimates. Other non-treatment allocations including funds for prevention initiatives are made on a population basis, using Office of Population Censuses and Surveys data.

  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the different degrees of threat from the HIV virus to(a) heterosexuals and (b) homosexuals.

  Mr. Sackville
  HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, is primarily a sexually transmitted disease. In the United Kingdom, homosexual and bisexual men still account for the greatest number of reports of both HIV and AIDS. The number of reports of those infected heterosexually is much smaller, but reported cases are growing faster in this group than in any other.
  337
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will show from her departmental statistics, the incidence of HIV-1 virus among(a) homosexuals and (b) heterosexuals.

  Mr. Sackville
  Up to March 1992, 16,013 HIV infected adults, whose sexual orientation is known, had been reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service's communicable disease surveillance centre and the communicable disease (Scotland) unit. Of these, 10,569 —66 per cent.—are recorded as homosexual or bisexual men and 5,444—34 per cent.—as heterosexual men and women.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy in respect of weighting the transfer of social security funding to local authorities with effect from next April, to take account of the concentration of private care and nursing homes in certain geographical areas.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are currently discussing with the local authority associations a number of options for the distribution of community care finance from next April.

  OPCS, Birkdale
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will enter into negotiations to rent car parking space from Birkdale cricket club for the staff of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys at Birkdale, Southport.

  Mr. Sackville
  Officials of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys at Southport have already met representatives of Birkdale cricket club and members of Sefton council and are in correspondence with the council. They are currently considering whether renting 50 car parking spaces from the club would be a cost-effective way of alleviating the problem of on-street parking.

  Consultants
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now make it her policy to publish the names of national health consultants who receive distinction awards.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The names of award holders remain confidential and there are no plans for national publication. Since 1980 any consultant eligible for an award has had access to the regional list of current award holders which is held by the regional director of public health, and since 1990 this list has also been held by district directors of public health.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to announce an extension of the multi-fibre arrangment on its existing terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The terms of the interim agreement to bridge the gap between the expiry of the multi-fibre 338
  arrangment on 31 December 1992 and the implementation of a replacement GATT agreement are due to be negotiated between importing and exporting countries later this year.

  Recycling
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the report by his Department's business and environmental group about creating markets for recycled products; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Under commission from the environment unit in my Department, Warren Spring Laboratory undertook a study "Market Barriers to Materials Reclamation and Recycling". Warren Spring Laboratory published this report in September 1991.

  Timeshare
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the representations of the hon. Member for Macclesfield about the activities and operations of Club Riviera Sales Ltd., Club Riviera Management (U.K.) Ltd., and Club Riviera plc., companies involved in timeshare properties.

  Mr. Leigh
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms has recently responded. Moreover, the Director General of Fair Trading has stated that he is minded to revoke the consumer credit licences of Club Riviera Sales Ltd.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of insolvencies and liquidations in the first quarter of 1992.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Information on insolvencies is regularly published by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. in "Business Briefing". Insolvency figures for the first quarter of 1992 were published on 8 May 1992.

  EC Industry Council
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions which took place in the EC Industry Council On 17 June.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I attended the Industry Council meeting on 17 June. The Council reached political agreement on aid to be provided by Germany to the east German shipbuilding industry. The Council also adopted resolutions on the textiles and clothing and vehicles industries and on small and medium sized enterprises and agreed conclusions on the aircraft industry. The Commission gave presentations on industry and the environment, maritime industries, the mining industry and future financing of the European Coal and Steel Community. The Council held a first discussion on a Commission proposal to allow a derogation for the Dutch and Danish steel industries from national carbon taxes.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what rules have been laid down for current employees of British Coal and British Rail to engage in discussions with third parties with a view to management buy-outs in the course of the privatisations of British Coal and British Rail.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal and British Rail.

  Abu Dhabi
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the amount by value of imports and exports to and from Abu Dhabi for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Needham
  Details of trade with Abu Dhabi are regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", which is available in the Library of the House.

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the financial consequences to the British economy of United Nations sanctions against Libya.

  Mr. Needham
  The adoption of the UN arms embargo under Security Council resolution 748 had no financial consequences for exports of military goods to Libya as trade in military goods to Libya has been subject to an EC embargo since 1986.

  It is too early to put a figure on the losses that have arisen due to the embargo on the export of aircraft and aircraft components to Libya. The United Kingdom's total exports to Libya were worth £255·7 million in 1991 —10·7 per cent. of total Libyan imports. Only a small proportion—£16·3 million, or approximately 6 per cent. —fall within the scope of current sanctions.

  Credit Facilities
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that customers for credit facilities are no longer blacklisted solely because they share the same address as someone else, unconnected with them, who has a bad debt record.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 29 June 1992]: No, this was a matter recently considered by the Data Protection Tribunal. The tribunal ruled that from 31 July 1993, credit reference agencies, which provide details of individuals' credit status to lenders, should no longer provide information on people other than the credit applicant except people who are reasonably believed to have been living as members of the same family as the applicant in a single household. Where agencies are aware that individuals sharing the same address have no financial connection with the applicant, they may not provide information about those individuals.

  Pyramid Selling
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce legislation(a) to make it a requirement that the promoter of a pyramid
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  scheme is clearly stated in any advertisement for the scheme and (b) to ensure that estimates of earnings from legal pyramid schemes are verified independently; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: The Pyramid Selling Schemes Regulations 1989 already ensure that potential participants are given full information about a scheme before they make any commitment. The required information includes the name and address of the promoter.

  The regulations also require a promoter to have evidence if he refers to a specified financial benefit or a financial benefit being greater than or not less than a specified sum. It would be for the courts to decide whether the evidence was acceptable.

  I have no plans for further legislation.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulations exist whereby participants in companies licensed as legal pyramid selling schemes have their incomes restricted by the number of people recruited; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: No such regulations exist. Pyramid selling and similar trading schemes are not licensed.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are the criteria whereby firms are licensed under the term "legal pyramid selling scheme"; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the number of companies in the United Kingdom licensed under the term "legal pyramid selling schemes"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: There are no licensing arrangements for pyramid selling or similar trading schemes.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce legislation that would require promoters of legal pyramid selling schemes not to take payment from participants in such a scheme unless they hold an appropriate insurance policy indemnifying them against the possibility that members or participants in the scheme choose to exercise their rights of resignation or refund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 July 19921: I have no such plans.

  Ms. Joan Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of companies failing to comply with current legislation relating to pyramid selling regulations under the Fair Trading Act 1973.

  Mr. Leigh
  Each case receives individual consideration. There have, as yet, been no prosecutions under the Pyramid Selling Schemes Regulations (1989), but in view of public concern the effectiveness and appropriateness of the regulations are kept under review.

  "No Credit?"
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many copies of the booklet "No Credit?" have been published since March 1991 and at what cost; how many copies have been distributed and through which avenues;
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  and what contributions towards the costs of publication and distribution have been obtained from the four credit agencies listed on its centre pages.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: A total of 550,000 copies of the booklet "No Credit?" have been printed at a cost of £21,708. A total of 397,000 copies have been distributed through local authority trading standards offices, main libraries and citizens advice bureaux. A total of 20,000 and 3,500 copies respectively have been distributed free of charge by the credit reference agencies CCN Systems Ltd. and Credit Data and Marketing Services. There has been no contribution to costs of publication by the four main credit reference agencies.

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

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: As at 30 June 1992 there were eight civil servants in the Department of Trade and Industry paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pension Rights
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons it was decided not to allow females who retired prior to 1988 to confer pension rights on their spouses in the event of their death; and if he will now introduce provisions to provide pension rights for widows whose spouses retired pre-1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There is no statutory prohibition on occupational pension schemes providing in their rules for survivor's benefits to widows or widowers irrespective of their date of death or age at date of death. On 6 April 1988 it became a condition for a scheme to be used for contracting out of the state earnings-related pension scheme that it provided guaranteed minimum pensions to widowers in circumstances analogous to those required for widow's pensions.

  Leeds Benefit Offices
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has yet received a report from the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, into his fact-finding tour of Leeds benefit offices; if a copy of the report will be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  We do not receive formal reports of the field visits made by Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. Mr. Bichard will write to the hon. Member about his recent visit to Leeds and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates and in which parts of Banff and Buchan the cold weather payments section was triggered during the winter of 1991–92; and how many households received payment on each occasion;
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  (2) on what dates cold weather payments were made in Banff and Buchan; and what was the period taken for payments to be made once the system had been triggered.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not collected in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the Library.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in Banff and Buchan have qualified, or do qualify, for payments under the cold weather payments scheme since its inception in 1991.

  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. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Income Support
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the extra cost in 1992–93 of extending payments to working income support claimants by way of mortgage interest outgoings to those working between 16 and 24 qualifying hours.

  Mr. Burt
  The cost of continuing to pay income support to people working between 16 and 24 hours a week when the remunerative work rule changed from April 1992 has been estimated to be £30 million in the first year. It is not possible to estimate with any degree of confidence how much income support in respect of mortgage interest is included in that figure.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 483, how many single people aged 18 to 24 years were receiving income support at the 18 to 24 years rate in May 1990; and what is the estimated number who were then living away from home, as defined in his answer.

  Mr. Burt
  In May 1990 the number of single people aged 18 to 24 receiving income support at the 18 to 24-year-old rate was 423,0001. There is no comparable figure for the number of these who were living away from home. However, as I stated in my reply of 2 June at column 483, it is estimated that in 1992–93 180,0002 18 to 24-year-olds, who receive the 18 to 24 income support personal allowance, are living away from home.

  Note: "Living away from home" includes people classified by the FES as the head of the household, plus all those living in the household of a person who is a non-relative.

  Source: 1 Income Support Annual Statistical Inquiry, May 1990.

  2 Modelled using data from the 1987–89 Family Expenditure Survey.

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce legislation to require the trustee boards of occupational pension schemes to contain at least 50 per cent. employee and pensioner representatives chosen by the employees and pensioners themselves.

  Miss Widecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 8 June that he had set up an independent committee to review the framework of law
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  and regulation within which occupational pension schemes operate under the chairmansip of Professor Goode of Oxford university. As the terms of reference include a consideration of the accountability and roles of trustees, it would be premature for the Government to consider any changes until the recommendations of the review committee have been assessed.

  Patients' Benefits
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce legislation to simplify the method by which patients are able to claim benefits whilst receiving respite and rotational care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no plans to do so. People receiving respite care are entitled to claim the higher income support limit appropriate to those in residential care or nursing homes.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in each regional and islands authority area in Scotland are in receipt of payments from the independent living fund; and what is the total amount paid from the fund in each of the said areas.

  Mr. Scott
  The information as at 8 May 1992, the last date for which it is available, is in the table.

  Area

  Number of clients

  Total amount of weekly payments £

  Highland Grampian

  37

  3,092

  Grampian

  73

  8,281

  Tayside Fife

  56

  4,288

  Fife

  93

  7,946

  Lothian

  252

  27,577

  Central

  52

  4,607

  Borders

  25

  2,403

  Strathclyde

  1,655

  153,518

  Dumfries and Galloway

  23

  2,600

  Orkneys

  2

  137

  Shetlands

  4

  567

  Western Isles

  38

  2,264

  TOTALS

  2,310

  217,280

  Social Fund
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many grants and awards have been refused to applicants as a result of the £4,000 underpayment of social fund moneys to the North Tees district social fund which was a product of a computer error; and if he will instruct social fund officers to reconsider these refusals in the light of these budget errors.

  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. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mortgage Payments
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the interest on accrued mortage interest arrears over the first 16 weeks of an income support claim will continue to be met by his Department after 25 May.

  Mr. Burt
  Yes. Help with the interest on arrears of interest accrued as a result of the 50 per cent. restriction on income support mortgage interest payments during the first 16 weeks of claims from people under age 60 has been available since the restriction was introduced. We have no plans to change this.

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the transaction costs payable by building societies to his Department as a consequence of the new regulations introduced to allow direct payment of income support mortgage interest costs from his Department to the building mortgage interest costs from his Department to the building societies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. Watson) on 8 July.

  Household Incomes
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he plans to publish the results of the households below average income analysis for 1989 before 16 July.

  Mr. Burt
  Yes.

  "ANTARES": LOSS
  "ANTARES": LOSS
  IRAQI ASSETS HELD BY UK BANKS
  IRAQI ASSETS HELD BY UK BANKS
  IRAQI ASSETS AND UK CREDITORS
  IRAQI ASSETS AND UK CREDITORS
  LOCAL AUTHORITY EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA
  LOCAL AUTHORITY EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA
  PRESS SELF-REGULATION
  PRESS SELF-REGULATION
  COAL MINING: JOB LOSSES AND OPPORTUNITIES
  COAL MINING: JOB LOSSES AND OPPORTUNITIES