Written Answers of 19 June 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the public appointments which are made by the Lord Chancellor giving(a) the name of the person appointed, (b) the period of office and (c) the salary.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor makes some 1,800 public appointments. Full details can be provided only at disproportionate cost but the table shows the public bodies to which he makes appointments and the current number of appointees.

  The Lord Chancellor's Public Appointments

  Body

  Number of Appointments

  Insolvency Rules Committee

  7

  County Court Rule Committee

  10

  Supreme Court Rule Committee

  11

  Land Registration Rule Committee

  5

  Family Proceedings Rule Committee

  8

  Crown Court Rule Committee

  9

  Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax

  520

  Advisory Committees on JPs in England (excluding the Duchy of Lancaster) and Wales

  946

  Magistrates' Courts Rule Committee

  13

  Judicial Studies Board

  56

  Advisory Council on Public Records

  10

  Agency Chief Executives

  2

  Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct

  17

  Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board

  6

  Legal Services Ombudsman

  1

  Legal Aid Advisory Committee

  10

  Legal Aid Board

  11

  Advisory Committee on the Children Act

  13

  Council on Tribunals

  15

  Law Commission

  5

  Northern Ireland Court Service—Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax (NI)

  15

  Advisory Committees on JPs in Northern Ireland

  57

  Advisory Committees on Juvenile Court Lay Panel

  11

  Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI)

  11

  Insolvency Rules Advisory Committee

  8

  County Court Rules Committee

  9

  Supreme Court Rules Committee

  9

  Crown Court Rules Committee

  11

  Matrimonial Causes Rules Committee

  11

  Magistrates' Courts Rules Committee

  9

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the current levels of outstanding appeals for(a) the Immigration Tribunal and (b) the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.
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  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As at 31 May 1992, 27,879 cases were outstanding before immigration adjudicators and 552 before the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average period from the time the explanation statement is received by the Immigration Tribunal to the date for the hearing.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The current period from the time the explanatory statement is received by the Immigration Appellate Authorities (IAA) to the date of the hearing before the adjudicator can be shown as follows:

  (a) The time from the date the explanatory statement is received by the IAA to the date copies of the case papers are dispatched to the parties' representatives in this country is up to five days;

  (b) the time taken for the parties to prepare their case before indicating to the IAA that they are ready to proceed to a hearing averages six months;

  (c) the time for the hearing to take place once the parties have indicated readiness to proceed to a hearing is from four weeks to six months.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court oficers are employed; and, of these, how many are(a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of county court officers employed by the Lord Chancellor's Department is 5,018 at 12 June 1992. Approximately 78 per cent. of these have responded to the Department's ethnic origin questionnaire. Of the officers who have an ethnic record, 94 are black and 91 are Asian. A total of 3,382 of the officers are women.

  Combined court centres deal with county and Crown court matters. A total of 2,484 officers work within the combined court centres. We are not able to distinguish the number who work solely on county court matters. Approximately 80 per cent. of combined court centre officers have responded to the Department's ethnic origin questionnaire. Of the offices who have an ethnic record, 13 are black and 35 are Asian. A total of 1,666 of the officers are women.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the number of district judges; and how many are(a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  On 1 June 1992 there were 266 district judges, including those in the principal registry of the Family Division of the High Court.

  The ethnic origin of members of the judiciary and of applicants for judicial posts was not recorded prior to the autumn of 1991 and the formal records in respect of ethnic origin are therefore incomplete.

  It is, however, believed that there are at present no black district judges. There is one Asian—who is a woman—and 18 women holding this office.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current level of expenditure for the year 1991–92 in England and Wales on legal aid in respect of(a) civil litigation and (b) criminal litigation; and what proposals he has to reduce such expenditure levels.
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  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The estimated outturn of gross expenditure on legal aid in England and Wales in 1991–92—excluding advice and assistance under the "green form" or duty solicitor schemes—is:

  £million

  Civil legal aid

  540

  Criminal legal aid

  400

  These figures represent an increase of 28 per cent. overall on the equivalent figures for 1990–91. The Lord Chancellor has announced measures, including the introduction of standard fees in the magistrates courts, which will help to control the rate of increase in legal aid costs in future.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his proposals for establishing eligibility for legal aid within the framework of altered levels for legal aid expenditure.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The financial limits for legal aid are reviewed annually. Most limits were uprated by 7 per cent. in April. Financial eligibility is being considered more generally in the review of financial conditions.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to limit admissibility of applications for legal aid for less serious charges; and what criteria he proposes to apply.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is for the courts to decide whether to grant criminal legal aid in a particular case in accordance with the statutory criteria laid down by section 22 of the Legal Aid Act 1988.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what amounts he proposes to make alterations in the level of legal aid expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Future plans for legal aid expenditure are set out in the report on the Government's expenditure plans 1992–93 to 1994–95 for the Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments (Cm 1910) published in February 1992. The Lord Chancellor will if necessary seek additional provision for legal aid in the current financial year.

EDUCATION

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines are available for school governing bodies on the content and organisation of sex education; and whether they include information on tampon-related toxic shock syndrome.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department's circular 11/87 includes advice to school governing bodies on their responsibilities for determining their policy both on sex education and on the content and organisation of any sex education to be offered. The National Curriculum Council has issued guidance to all maintained schools in England, offering advice on how schools might incorporate topics about sex education and personal hygiene into their wider programmes of health education. Neither of the 682
  documents discusses the detailed content of the curriculum, which is for school governing bodies and teachers to decide.

  Departmental Staff
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many civil servants and educational advisers work for his Department.

  Mr. Forman
  The Department employs 2,471 civil servants. That figure includes 460 in Her Majesty's inspectorate, of whom the majority, together with their support staff, will transfer to the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, which is to be constituted as a separate non-ministerial department from 1 September 1992.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made in implementing the parents charter commitments regarding the annual publication of comparative information about school performance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  I am today publishing regulations and a circular that begin to implement our commitment in the parents charter to provide improved information for parents and the wider community about the performance of all local schools. In particular, they set out the arrangements under which I will publish this November comparative tables of public examination results for schools in the area of each local education authority.

  As a result, from autumn 1992, parents choosing among local secondary schools will be sent comparative tables showing school by school the latest public examination results and will find in each maintained school's prospectus, and in that of each city technology college, improved information on public examination results and truancy rates.

  Secondary schools are also being asked to include in their prospectuses and governors' annual reports details of the routes that their pupils take at ages 16, 17 and 18, showing staying-on rates and the destinations of those who leave school.

  Independent secondary schools are being asked to join in these arrangements voluntarily in 1992, and I expect that most will wish to do so.

  The new arrangements were the subject of consultation with local authorities and others in January this year. As a result of that consultation, I have decided not to impose the requirement to publish comparative tables on local education authorities this year, but to arrange central publication and distribution through primary schools myself.

  From 1993, further regulations to be made under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 will cover the complete parents charter commitments, securing by law the inclusion in comparative tables of all schools, including independent ones, and extending their scope to cover truancy rates, national curriculum assessment results and the routes taken by older pupils.

  Parents and the wider community have a right to know what is being achieved by our schools for our children. I hope that schools will make every effort to meet our requirements and requests this year. Informed choice by

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  parents is a valuable force for good in education, and we should make sure that choice is based on the best possible information.

  Copies of the regulations and circular will be placed in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fisheries Byelaws
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what draft sea fisheries byelaws are currently awaiting his approval; and when these were first submitted to his Department.

  Mr. Curry
  Twenty-three formally made sea fisheries committees' (SFCs) byelaws are awaiting ministerial confirmation, which cannot be given until the necessary legal, technical and EC Commission considerations have been completed. Eight concern shell fisheries, of which five were submitted this year and three in May 1991; six, received in the last six months, deal with the extension of sea fishery districts from three to six miles; three are concerned with fixed engines, two of which were submitted in the last month; two byelaws on minimum landing sizes of fish were submitted in May 1991 and January 1992 and two on length of vessels in May 1991 and April 1992; one byelaw on areas where fishing for bass is allowed was submitted in May 1991 and one on gear type in January 1992. A further seven made byelaws are awaiting SFC confirmation on certain technical points.

  Bird Culls
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for licences to cull(a) cormorants and (b) goosanders and mergansers in England and Wales were submitted to his Department in each of the past five years; and how many of these were granted.

  Mr. Soames
  The agriculture Departments in England and Wales do not issue licences to cull the species of bird in question. Licences are issued only to shoot a limited number of birds as an aid to scaring.

  With regard to licences for the killing or taking of cormorants, the requested information on the number of applications received is not yet available for the Ministry's north-east regional service centre. Details for the rest of England and Wales are as follows:

  Year

  Applications received

  Licences issued

  1987

  6

  3

  1988

  4

  2

  1989

  3

  2

  1990

  9

  4

  1991

  8

  3

  A completed table including the missing information will be provided as soon as possible.

  On mergansers and goosanders, only one application has been received for a licence to shoot these species in the last five years, in Wales in 1988, and no licence was granted.

  Salmon
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that annual salmon catch statistics are collated and published more quickly.

  Mr. Curry
  The collation and publication of salmon catch statistics in England and Wales are the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority. It is already taking steps to publish these statistics more quickly, and this is welcome.

  Gill Nets
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has made of the effect of the ban on the carriage and use of monofilament gill nets in Scottish waters under the Inshore Fishing (Salmon and Migratory Trout) (Prohibition of Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1986 and the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Carriage of Monofilament Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1986; and if he will now use his powers under the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 to apply similar restrictions in English and Welsh waters.

  Mr. Curry
  The ban in Scottish waters was primarily introduced to protect salmon. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, as amended by the Salmon Act 1986, provides for control of nets in English and Welsh inshore waters.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures on a county basis in England for 1991–92 of(a) the number of serious irregularities of the set-aside scheme, (b) the number of minor breaches of the scheme and (c) the number of cases where payments were withheld in full or in part; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The 1991–92 set-aside year runs from 1 October 1991 to 30 September 1992, with payments being made in the last quarter of 1992. Consequently, it is not yet possible to provide this information for the current set-aside year.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amount of payments under the set-aside scheme that have been recovered or withheld in each county in England in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Set-aside payments for 1991–92 will be made in the last quarter of 1992. Consequently it is not yet possible to provide this information.

  Clenbuterol
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the measures in force to stop the import of beef cattle fed with the drug clenbuterol.

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: Under European Community rules, primary responsibility for ensuring that beef cattle fed with clenbuterol do not move between member states rests with the member states of

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  origin. Thereafter, animals imported into Great Britain from other member states are subject to surveillance at the port of entry and to ante mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse. All animals, including imported animals, are also subject to the routine Great Britain residue surveillance programme on farm and at slaughterhouses as required under Community rules.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which executive agencies have had their framework document amended since their establishment.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This is primarily a matter for departmental ministers and the chief executives of the agencies for which they are responsible. However, our records show that four agencies have had their framework documents amended since their establishment.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Press Complaints
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he intends to publish concerning a statutory press complaints commission.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government have made it clear that they intend to review the effectiveness of press self-regulation over the period from 1 January 1991 to 30 June 1992. The proposals and the form of their publication will be decided in the light of that review. I shall make a further announcement about the nature of the review shortly.

  British Library
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether he plans to review the British Library St. Pancras project.

  Mr. Mellor
  Yes. I am commissioning consultants: to establish whether the current budget for stage 1A and the completion phase of the St. Pancras project is adequate and whether the strategy and organisation
  for procurement of the completion phase are likely to be the most effective means of ensuring the timely and successful conclusion of the project; to audit the status and quality of the design information for the completion phase; to review the status of the British library's projects for the occupation of the new building, including the reliability of cost estimates for the work; to formalise the role of the British library in relation to the building project; and subsequently to audit the status of documentation for the procurement of the completion phase to ensure that it is unambiguous, precise and comprehensive.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Computer Services
  Mr. Page
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress is being made 686
  towards implementing the proposals in the fourth report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) of Session 1989–90 on computer services for Members (HC 614).

  Mr. Beith
  The Services Committee report, which was generally welcomed in an Adjournment debate on 8 July last year, proposed the installation of a new broad-band cable system throughout the parliamentary estate capable of carrying television channels, the annunciator system, and data traffic, and recommended that appropriate studies be made to identify the specifications of such a system and the information technology services which might be provided for Members, their staff and staff of the House.

  In the light of the debate, the House of Commons Commission gave immediate authority for the initial studies proposed by the Services Committee to be undertaken by consultants. In December 1991. the Commission authorised further expenditure, of up to £200,000 in financial year 1991–92, and up to £180,000 in financial year 1992–93, for further investigative and exploratory work towards the possible introduction of two parallel networks—one to carry television communications, and the second to carry data traffic—as recommended in the consultants' initial report. The Commission also invited the newly appointed Information Committee to liaise with the consultants, the relevant Officers of the two Houses, and the appropriate committee in the House of Lords, in the further development of plans for such a system.

  The Commission is grateful to the former Information Committee, to the joint working party established by them, and to the Officers concerned, for the progress which has been made during the early part of this year.

  At its meeting on 18 May, the Commission approved expenditure of about £720,500 in the current financial year to facilitate the installation of a pilot network project, as recommended by the Information Committee, in the new temporary accommodation to be provided in the autumn of this year at No. 7 Millbank. The Commission understands that this pilot scheme will assist the Information Committee—and the appropriate committee of the House of Lords—in reaching final conclusions about the nature of any network which they would wish to see installed in the parliamentary estate as a whole.

  Any network for the House as a whole is likely to be expensive to install and thereafter to operate. For this reason, the Commission is concerned to ensure that no final decisions are taken until a clear picture of the likely commitments has emerged and the full costs have been carefully and expertly scrutinised. It therefore intends to invite the new Finance and Services Committee to assess and make recommendations to the Commission about the financial implications of any scheme which may be proposed by the Information Committee, in accordance with the consultative arrangements provided under Standing Orders Nos. 125 (Domestic Committees) and 125A (Finance and Services Committee).

  Finally, in accordance with long-established practice, the Commission will not feel able to seek estimate provision for a major new service of this kind until the service itself has been specifically approved by the House. This stage cannot be reached until the Information Committee has had an opportunity to evaluate and report on the complex issues involved, and until the Finance and

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  Services Committee has had an opportunity fully to evaluate the financial implications of any proposed scheme.

PRIME MINISTER

  India
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to visit India; and what matters he plans to discuss.

  The Prime Minister
  I look forward to visiting India when dates can be agreed. The issues for discussion would be decided nearer the time.

  Expo '92 Fair
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost of the British pavilion at the Expo '92 Fair in Seville; which Minister was present at the opening ceremony; and what consideration in regard to the local ecology were taken into account in the preparation and construction of the United Kingdom pavilion.

  The Prime Minister
  The British pavilion at Expo '92 cost £14 million to construct. Its design is environmentally sensitive, using sails and water as shields from the sun, thus reducing its energy consumption substantially. Sir John Ure, United Kingdom Commissioner General, represented Britain at the Expo '92 opening ceremony.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out for each Government Department represented at the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, the number, grade and role of the 24 officials and eight junior support staff in the United Kingdom delegation; if he will list the title of each document submitted to the Rio de Janeiro conference; and what responses were made to each document.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside gave on 9 June 1992, column 147.

  The Government submitted the following documents to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development secretariat:
  "This Common Inheritance": 1990 Environment White Paper.
  "This Common Inheritance": first-year report.
  United Nations Environment Programme United Kingdom's non-governmental organisation Agenda 21 report.
  Local government statement on United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
  International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' "Caring for the Earth" report; and
  Inter-Agency Committee on Global and Environmental Change report on United Kingdom research.

  No formal response has been received to any of the documents as they were submitted for information only.

  Peace Dividend
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what level of peace dividend he expects the United Kingdom to achieve over the next five years on current Government policies.
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  The Prime Minister
  The Government's expenditure plans for the next three years were set out by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement (Cm 1729). These show the underlying cost of the defence programme being reduced significantly in real terms. No decisions have yet been taken on expenditure in later years. The Government remain committed to the maintenance of a strong and effective defence for the United Kingdom and its interests.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the long-term target for public spending as a proportion of gross domestic product compared to present levels and those of 1982.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government's objective is that public spending should take a declining share of national income over time. The ratio of public spending to GDP is expected to be 43 per cent. this year. This compares with a ratio of 47½ per cent. in 1982–83.

  Maxwell Group
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss publication of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation report on the Maxwell affair.

  Mr. Nelson
  I intend to meet the chairman soon to discuss a range of issues.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current cost to the Exchequer of mortgage interest tax relief.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of mortgage interest tax relief for 1992–93 is provisionally estimated at £5.8 billion.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the reduction in income tax in 1992–93 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime broken down into the top 1 per cent., 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and bottom 50 per cent. of taxpayers showing the total reduction and the average gain.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 18 June 1992]: Latest estimates of the annual change in income tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances, and thresholds are in the table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1992–93 levels by reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation.

  For the purposes of these calculations, the indexed regime of 1978–79 has been applied directly to the income base of 1992–93. In practice, retention of the 1978–79 regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

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  Reductions in income tax per individual1 in 1992–93 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime

  Quantile group of individual taxpayers

  Total reduction at 1992–93 prices

  Average reduction at 1992–93 prices £

  £ million

  £

  Top 1 per cent.

  8,700

  33,300

  Top 5 per cent.

  13,100

  10,000

  Top 10 per cent.

  15,200

  6,000

  Bottom 50 per cent.

  4,800

  400

  All taxpayers

  31,400

  1,200

  1 Individuals liable to income tax under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

TRANSPORT

  Network SouthEast
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require British Rail, when reporting on its compliance with the quality of service objectives for Network SouthEast, to specify the reasons for late running or cancellations of services.

  Mr. Freeman
  I expect Network SouthEast to tell passengers the reasons for delays and cancellations as they happen.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the criteria for eligibility for the orange badge scheme.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have no plans to review the eligibility criteria. New regulations were introduced on 2 March following a major review which looked at all aspects of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria. It would be premature to contemplate any further changes until we see how the new regulations are working.

  East-West Routes
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his officials have had with officers of Oxfordshire county council about extending the east-west route beyond the Buckinghamshire-Oxfordshire border.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Since July 1989, my officials have had six formal meetings with officials of Oxfordshire county council about the strategy for extending the east-west route from west of Aylesbury to Oxford. In addition, they gave a presentation to the council's officers and members in July 1991, and my predecessor received a delegation of officers and members led by the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) in December 1991.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish the terms of reference he has set for the study of the need for a new east-west strategic route between Kent and Hampshire; and who has been commissioned to carry out the study.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We will not consider making a start on the Kent-Hampshire study until work now in progress on the construction of a regional traffic model is further advanced.

  Road Grants
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions, in the past five years, he has offered 100 per cent. grants to highway authorities for the construction of particular roads; and what criteria he operates when determining whether to provide 100 per cent. grants for local road schemes.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In the past five years the Department has offered 100 per cent. grants to local highway authorities for the road schemes:

  A15 Brigg and Redbourne bypass, Humberside

  Al20 Stansted-Braintree, Essex

  A418 Leighton Linslade bypass, Bedfordshire

  A602 Little Wymondley bypass, Hertfordshire

  A418 Wing bypass, Buckinghamshire

  A134 Fornham St. Martin, Suffolk

  Black Country Spine road, West Midlands

  M56-A6 (M), Manchester airport link road (central section)

  A15-A16 Market Deeping-Deeping St. James bypass, Lincolnshire

  A158 Scremby, Lincolnshire

  Our practice is to use this power sparingly for roads which will be trunked on completion, where the local highway authority has made such progress that significant delay would be caused if the scheme were promoted by the Department.

  Inspectorate
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to set up an inspectorate for public transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are already a number of inspectorates and similar bodies responsible for overseeing various aspects of public transport. We have no plans to create any new inspectorate.

  British Rail (Privatisation)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will provide a list of the accountancy firms which are advising him for the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte is advising on liberalisation of access to the rail network.

  East London River Crossing
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to answer the letters sent to him by the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford on 13 January and 13 February regarding the east London river crossing; what recent communications he has had with the European Commission about the proposal; and what steps he now plans to take in respect of the proposal.

  Mr. Norris
  I am sorry that the hon. Member did not receive a reply to her letters. The United Kingdom sent its response to the European Commission's article 169 letter on 17 December. There have since been informal discussions with the Commission. Its formal response has not yet been received. In the meantime, preparatory work towards the construction of the east London river crossing continues but no contracts for the construction of this important and urgently needed scheme have yet been let.

  Marine Safety
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in implementing(a) recommendations 5, 15 and 17, (b) 20 and 24, (c) 4 and (d) 19 of the marine accident investigation branch report into the Marchioness disaster.

  Mr. Norris
  Recommendation 5 is to be given legislative force by regulations. A consultative document was issued in January 1992, and it is planned to bring these regulations into force in Autumn 1992.

  On recommendation 15, a consultative document was issued in September 1991 and it is planned to bring these regulations into force in Autumn 1992.

  A consultative document on recommendation 17 was issued in September 1991. It is planned to bring regulations in respect of river craft into force in Autumn 1992.

  A revised consultative document on recommendations 20 and 24 was issued in November 1991, and it is planned to bring the two sets of regulations into force in Autumn 1992.

  On recommendation 4, action in respect of United Kingdom ships has been completed; the longer-term development of internationally applicable requirements depends upon the success of our proposals at the International Maritime Organisation, which will be considered in December 1992.

  Action on recommendation 19 was completed in February 1992.

  Roads, Coventry
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to give his decision on the Coventry north-south road, phase 1; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this scheme on the economy and the environment in Coventry, North-East.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Decisions on the Coventry city council north-south orders and scheme are expected in early July. The responsibility for the assessment of the effect of the scheme on Coventry, North-East is essentially one for the local authority that sponsored the scheme. However, these issues were covered at the inquiries and have been reported on by the inspector. The Secretary of State will give full consideration to the report before making his decision.

ENVIRONMENT

  Ofwat
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the role, responsibilities and powers of the Office of Water Services to ensure effective limitation of charges to the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Present legislation gives the Director General of Water Services the powers he needs to fulfil his role of controlling increases in charges and protecting consumers.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost so far of carrying out valuations in preparation for the introduction of council tax; what is his estimate of the total cost; and when he expects the completion of valuations in preparation for the introduction of the council tax.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The cost of valuing 19 million properties in England for council tax and producing valuation lists is expected to be £70 million. To date, payments of some £30 million have been made by my Department to the Valuation Office Agency, which is responsible for supervising the valuation exercise. Private sector valuers have now, subject to quality control procedures, completed their work. The Valuation Office Agency expects to complete its own valuation work in the near future and to schedule.

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the planning inspectorate; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

  Mr. Baldry
  The first degree of the chief executive is Master of Arts—having read geography—of Cambridge university.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum salary payable, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the contract of the chief executive of the planning inspectorate.

  Mr. Baldry
  The maximum salary payable to the chief executive is £55,700 per annum. His term of appointment ends with his retirement in September 1994.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the planning inspectorate as an agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total amount spent was £12,300, all borne by the agency.

  Housing Finance, Harrogate
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum received from the sale of council houses by the Harrogate borough council in 1991–92.

  Mr. Baldry
  During 1991–92 Harrogate borough council received £1.642 million from the sale of 73 council dwellings.

  Carlisle City Council
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what receipts have been received by Carlisle city council in each year since 1987 through the sale of council houses, land and other buildings.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is given in the table
  693

  Carlisle DC: Total Sales of Fixed Assets

  £000

  1987–88

  5,926

  1988–89

  6,619

  1989–90

  9,413

  1990–91

  4,402

  1991–92

  12,268

  1 Provisional

  Air Quality
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what air quality tests have been carried out in the county of Durham since 1987; and if he will publish the results.

  Mr. Maclean
  Airborne concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide and acid deposition have been measured at Government monitoring sites in the county since 1987—and for some years before. A survey of nitrogen dioxide concentrations was undertaken last year as part of our national study to compare results of an earlier survey in 1986. All the monitoring results have been published in reports by Warren Spring laboratory and copies have been placed in the Library.

  Environmental Reports
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make arrangements to obtain the annual environmental reports produced by companies registered in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no statutory requirement on companies registered in the United Kingdom to produce annual environmental reports. However, I very much welcome the increasing trend for companies to report on their environmental performance, and my Department is glad to receive such reports.

  Rivers (Flows)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what report he has received from the National Rivers Authority on the progress of the campaign to combat low flows in 20 designated English rivers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The National Rivers Authority programme for ameliorating low flows in certain rivers is being discussed with the relevant water companies. There is continuing discussion of the programme between the NRA and the Department in the context of the annual corporate plan on which grant-in-aid decisions are based.

  Caravans
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish a consultation paper on caravan sites.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are working with all practicable speed, and hope to issue shortly a consultation paper to fulfil our manifesto undertaking to review the Caravan Sites Act 1968 with the aim of reducing the nuisance of illegal camping by travellers.

  Marsham Street Site
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to progress the sale or redevelopment of the site at 2 Marsham street.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has appointed Montagu Evans in association with St. Quintin to advise on the planning and development potential of the site at 2 Marsham street. This advice is a necessary precursor to any decisions on sale or redevelopment. Decisions will be taken in due course in the light of this advice and the Government's need for accommodation in the Westminster area.

  Refrigerants
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions he has made following recent consultations on the Government's proposal to ban the import and supply to the United Kingdom market of refrigerant in disposable containers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  In view of the clear environmental benefits, and with the support expressed by the refrigeration industry, we have decided to proceed with a ban on disposable containers. The use of such containers leads to emissions of ozone-depleting substances causing damage to the ozone layer, because the heel of chlorofluorocarbons that remains is usually vented to the atmosphere before disposal of the cylinder. Furthermore, containers that are designed to be thrown away rather than reused act are a disincentive to good practice in the industry and particularly to the recovery and recycling of CFCs. In the light of the views expressed in the consultation, we have now decided that the ban should apply to all sizes of disposable container, with an exemption for research and development. The legislation. which will be introduced as soon as possible, will require EC approval.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  The Attorney-General
  Proposals for market testing relating to the Departments for which I am responsible are being considered, together with those relating to other Government Departments, and an announcement will be made shortly.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the prosecution of those alleged by the "World in Action" television programme of 15 June to be trading in anabolic steroids; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I will write to the hon. Member.

SCOTLAND

  Communication Scotland
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what departments or agencies of the Scottish Office used the services of the Communication Scotland advertising agency prior to its collapse.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 17 June 1992]: There is no record of any Scottish Office department or agency having used the services of the Communication Scotland advertising agency.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Leningrad Model Farm
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the Overseas Development Administration has made with the establishment of a model farm in the Leningrad Oblast.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A mission, sponsored by the joint assistance unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, visited the Agrarian university and Pushkinskoye training farm near St. Petersburg from 29 March to 3 April 1992 to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a private farming company.

  The mission's main recommendation was that a detailed business development plan for the Pushkinskoye farm should be prepared as a precursor to implementing a project expected to last between 18 and 36 months. This recommendation has been accepted and we hope that work on the business development plan will begin shortly.

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Overseas Development Administration's review of aid and trade provision, mentioned in the Foreign Affairs Committee fourth special report, Session 1991–92, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Overseas Development Administration expenditure 1992, annex 4 will be completed; and whether he will publish the results.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This review by officials has now been completed and is under consideration by Ministers. No decision on publication has been taken.

  Aid
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussion of untying EC aid at the last Council of Ministers meeting; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to raise the issue further.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  At the Council of EC Development Ministers on 4 May, there was a wide-ranging but inconclusive discussion of a Commission paper which considered possible ways to untie member states' bilateral development aid at Community level. The Council asked the Commission to submit a new document for its next meeting in November.

  Africa
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much aid the Government have committed so far for the current emergency situation in southern Africa on a country-by-country basis;

  (2) whether he is prepared to give more aid to southern Africa in response to the recent appeals of Governments in the region.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has so far committed more than £38 million in response to the drought in southern Africa as follows:

  Country

  Allocation £000

  Description

  Lesotho

  25

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Malawi

  6,000

  Humanitarian assistance to be allocated

  1,000

  Emergency feeding programme

  67

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Mozambique

  3,000

  Food aid

  1,420

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Namibia

  45

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  South Africa

  215

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Swaziland

  42

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Tanzania

  28

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Zambia

  10,000

  Balance of payments support

  237

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  Zimbabwe

  7,500

  Balance of payments support

  124

  Support for non-governmental organisation activities

  791

  Other drought-related assistance

  Unallocated

  1,925

  Non-governmental organisation support/TC assistance

  5,000

  Food aid (intended mainly for Mozambique)

  Total

  38,319

  In addition to the above, Britain is contributing a further £12.5 million to the cost of food aid (364,300 tonnes) allocated to the countries of southern Africa under the European Community's special food aid programme.

  The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and are considering what additional assistance they can make available.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid is planned for refugees and displaced people in southern Africa; what assistance is being considered by the United Kingdom to displaced people in Khartoum; and if he will seek action by the United Nations to protect displaced people in Khartoum and to provide access to those in need in Mogadishu.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are providing assistance, both directly and through the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and our share of EC actions, to Mozambican refugees and displaced people. We recently made a donation of 5,000
  697
  tonnes of food aid for Mozambican refugees in Malawi. We have also made an initial allocation of £2£5 million for emergency and rehabilitation projects in Mozambique which will benefit displaced, as well as drought and war-affected, people. In Angola we have contributed £100,000 to help the United Nations Development Programme to co-ordinate relief operations in that country.

  We recently donated 2,000 tonnes of food worth £530,000 to displaced people in Khartoum, bringing the total of our assistance to this group since 1991 to £1.09 million. We continue to give close support to United Nations-led efforts to negotiate better treatment for the displaced and secure access for relief supplies and non-governmental organisation personnel.

  We fully support current United Nations efforts to provide relief to the needy in Mogadishu. In 1992, we have donated humanitarian aid worth £3.6 million, including 12,100 tonnes of bilateral food aid. Following the ceasefire agreed by the rival factions in March, food is now being delivered to Mogadishu by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being offered for recovery and rehabilitation in(a) Somalia, (b) Ethiopia, (c) Eritrea, (d) Namibia and (e) Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom is providing assistance for recovery and rehabilitation as follows:Somalia: Our emergency aid, valued at some £10 million since January 1991—including our share of EC assistance—includes finance for projects addressing rehabilitation needs.
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Under the bilateral programme, we are continuing to support rehabilitation projects in the natural resources sector through non-governmental organisations. We shall also be making a significant contribution to the process of recovery through our share of actions planned by the World bank and the European Community. Our humanitarian aid, valued at over £53 million since January 1991, including our share of EC assistance, also includes finance for emergency projects with a rehabilitation element.
  Namibia: The bilateral aid programme, totalling some £2.4 million in 1991–92 covers activities in a number of key sectors, including education, public administration and the police.

  Youth training leavers in Wearside (per cent.)

  Leaving early/transferring between schemes

  Completing planned training

  Not stated/not known

  Completing training and in full-time employment1

  Leavers in:

  1990–91

  53

  31

  16

  61

  April-August 19912

  42

  35

  23

  65

  1 This relates to respondents to the national follow-up survey and not to all completers.

  2 Latest period for which information available.

  Sources: YT Leavers database.
  National follow-up survey.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland have been assessed as needing training in (1) word power and(2) number power in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available in the form requested.
  698
  Angola: We are now processing proposals to rehabilitate water supplies and a bridge.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer on 22 May to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden),Official Report, columns 339-46, concerning wages councils, if she will give details as to the two prosecutions for underpayment of wages in Scotland in 1991; which employers were prosecuted; and if she will publish details of the offences.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is shown:

  Employer

  Details of offences

  Allardyce Cafe (Stonehaven) Ltd. Stonehaven

  Failure to pay statutory minimum remuneration to two workers

  Snooker Masters Ltd. Wishaw Lanarkshire

  Failure to pay statutory minimum remuneration to four workers. The keeping of wage records known to be false in a material particular.

  Training
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland have left their youth training scheme placements prematurely in(a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what are the latest figures for 1992.

  (2) how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland completed their YTS placements in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991 and subsequently obtained full-time employment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. Information is, however, available on the percentages of all YT leavers in the Wearside training and enterprise council area, which includes Sunderland, as follows:

  Youth training entrants' needs are assessed by training providers. If trainees need to develop their literacy and numeracy skills and word power/number power is appropriate, the training provider will make it available as a matter of course.

  The results of these assessments are not separately collated.
  699
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland have been assessed as needing special needs youth training scheme placements in(a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of school leavers assessed by the Careers Service as special needs in the Wearside training and enterprise council area in 1990–91 was 1,100. The figure for 1991–92 was 900. Figures for 1992–93 will not be available until late summer when all the young people concerned have left school and registered with the Careers Service.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are available on youth training schemes in Sunderland for(a) number power and (b) word power in (1) 1990 and (2) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The year 1992–93 is the first in which targets have been set by the Department for word power and number power. Wearside training and enterprise council has contracted to achieve 200 word power/number power certificates this financial year.

  Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places were available for 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland on youth training schemes in (1) 1990, (2) 1991; and what is the latest figure for 1992.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department of Employment contracts with training and enterprise councils for provision of training weeks in youth training. The actual contracted training weeks figures for the years requested are:

  Numbers

  1990–91

  143,599

  1991–92

  157,790

  1992–93

  1142,150

  1 Profile.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training scheme places there were for 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland for individuals with special needs in(a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Unemployed young people are guaranteed an appropriate training opportunity in youth training. It follows that the number of special needs training places provided is consistent with demand. To date, Wearside training and enterprise council has met the guarantee to unemployed young people in its area.

  The proportion of youth training entrants with special needs is approximately 30 per cent. In numerical terms provision of special needs training is estimated as:

  Number

  1990–91

  1,100

  1991–92

  1,070

  1992–93

  1,000

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates have been issued under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am aware of none so far as the Home Office is concerned.

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the Fire Service College; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The chief executive holds no degree.

  Criminal Injuries (Compensation)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the guidelines relating to the reduction of an award by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board because of previous criminal convictions of the claimant.

  Mr. Jack
  The guide to the criminal injuries compensation scheme, a copy of which is sent to every applicant with the application form, sets out at paragraphs 37 to 39 the grounds on which an application may be rejected or an award abated because of the applicant's conduct or past criminal convictions. A copy of the guide is in the Library of the House. Decisions in individual cases are determined by the board in the light of all relevant circumstances.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Wireless and Telegraphy Act 1949 to ensure that television sets can be used in prison cells without individual television licences being required.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice, The Way Ahead for the Prison Service in England and Wales" announced that carefully monitored experiments would be held in a small number of prisons to help determine whether and under what conditions there might be opportunities for televisions in cells.

  The television licensing requirements is one of the issues currently being considered.

  Mr. Lorrain Osman
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to delay the extradition of Mr. Lorrain Osman until he has met a delegation of hon. Members to discuss his case.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will suspend execution of his extradition warrant on Mr. Lorrain Osman until he has heard representations from a delegation of hon. Members who have expressed an interest in the case.

  Mr. Jack
  The Secretary of State signed the warrant ordering Mr. Osman's return on 15 June. Matters must now take their course.

  C3 Division
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference for C3 division of the Home Office.

  Mr. Jack
  The principal functions of C3 division are:

  1. To assist Ministers in discharging the Home Secretary's duties and powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Acts 1964 and 1991 in relation to offenders detained in psychiatric hospitals whose leave, transfer or discharge is subject to Home Office consent. To co-ordinate the development of policies designed to improve the response of the criminal justice system to mentally disordered offenders.

  2. To assist Ministers in discharging the Home Secretary's responsibilities in relation to the royal prerogative of mercy and references to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 and the payment of compensation to persons wrongfully convicted; and to keep the law and practice relating to the investigation and correction of wrongful convictions under review.

  3. To co-ordinate the Department's response to recent major miscarriage of justice cases, including the provision of evidence on these issues to the Royal Commission on criminal justice and the May inquiry and to advise on any further response which may be necessary.

  Hoax Fire Calls
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by fire service authority, the percentage of hoax fire calls attended during the last 12 months; and what the corresponding figures were for(a) 24 months, (b) 36 months and (c) 48 months ago.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 18 June 1992]: The latest available information is for the years 1987 to 1990 and is shown in the table. It gives the percentage of total fire calls attended by local authority fire brigades which the brigades believed to be malicious false alarms.

  The percentage of total fire calls that were malicious false alarms 1987 to 1990

  Fire Brigade

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  UNITED KINGDOM

  18.45

  18.72

  15.80

  15.85

  ENGLAND

  18.86

  18.89

  15.78

  15.55

  Non-Metropolitan

  14.50

  14.31

  12.01

  12.10

  Avon

  12.94

  13.81

  12.08

  11.97

  Bedfordshire

  15.16

  14.17

  11.82

  10.76

  Berkshire

  10.19

  9.97

  8.91

  8.94

  Buckinghamshire

  13.40

  13.96

  11.73

  11.86

  Cambridgeshire

  14.84

  14.47

  12.53

  11.28

  Cheshire

  15.75

  12.96

  12.00

  11.81

  Cleveland

  34.97

  35.96

  30.76

  28.45

  Cornwall

  6.41

  7.49

  4.74

  5.53

  Cumbria

  13.56

  13.19

  12.42

  12.54

  Derbyshire

  17.69

  19.42

  15.14

  14.69

  Devon

  10.23

  11.67

  9.89

  12.25

  Dorset

  7.51

  8.48

  6.17

  7.77

  Durham

  22.69

  23.76

  19.63

  22.64

  East Sussex

  9.89

  10.62

  9.32

  8.96

  Essex

  15.15

  15.16

  12.33

  11.24

  Gloucestershire

  11.22

  11.79

  11.30

  13.70

  Hampshire

  7.44

  7.13

  5.35

  5.53

  Hereford and Worcester

  12.10

  13.97

  12.05

  13.02

  Hertfordshire

  10.70

  10.23

  9.07

  8.54

  Humberside

  20.05

  18.74

  16.67

  19.68

  Isle of Wight

  4.49

  4.95

  4.88

  4.95

  Kent

  17.79

  17.68

  14.19

  11.71

  Lancashire

  17.66

  17.03

  15.33

  15.68

  Leicestershire

  19.66

  19.66

  17.27

  16.40

  Lincolnshire

  18.06

  16.11

  14.69

  14.74

  Norfolk

  11.68

  9.59

  8.90

  7.91

  North Yorkshire

  10.75

  11.30

  8.62

  8.99

  702

  Fire Brigade

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Northamptonshire

  12.03

  13.00

  9.11

  8.15

  Northumberland

  13.79

  12.82

  8.64

  11.35

  Nottinghamshire

  20.33

  16.28

  12.22

  11.62

  Oxfordshire

  12.53

  13.83

  10.72

  12.03

  Shropshire

  5.58

  4.74

  5.78

  10.09

  Somerset

  5.27

  7.31

  5.80

  6.82

  Staffordshire

  17.14

  16.23

  12.83

  13.20

  Suffolk

  7.79

  7.23

  5.54

  5.16

  Surrey

  12.44

  10.76

  8.85

  8.51

  Warwickshire

  16.58

  14.30

  9.66

  9.79

  West Sussex

  8.94

  9.72

  8.42

  8.10

  Wiltshire

  9.31

  8.96

  8.21

  7.86

  Metropolitan

  23.61

  23.63

  19.82

  19.29

  Greater Manchester

  24.37

  24.00

  22.09

  21.27

  Merseyside

  22.27

  23.39

  18.45

  16.41

  South Yorkshire

  22.54

  24.30

  19.22

  18.08

  Tyne and Wear

  21.89

  25.22

  21.18

  21.49

  West Midlands

  28.44

  26.97

  21.06

  19.95

  West Yorkshire

  24.92

  26.59

  21.78

  19.87

  Greater London

  22.08

  21.10

  17.95

  18.54

  WALES

  19.72

  21.12

  17.86

  17.64

  Clwyd

  16.18

  14.70

  12.16

  14.65

  Dyfed

  11.96

  12.20

  13.59

  13.50

  Gwent

  22.81

  23.89

  20.78

  20.79

  Gwynedd

  10.90

  11.06

  11.93

  8.47

  Mid Glamorgan

  23.20

  26.60

  20.29

  19.63

  Powys

  6.97

  7.90

  6.91

  5.31

  South Glamorgan

  25.12

  24.50

  22.20

  19.88

  West Glamorgan

  20.63

  25.35

  19.23

  21.60

  NORTHERN IRELAND

  15.75

  17.37

  14.49

  17.67

  SCOTLAND

  15.85

  16.84

  15.47

  16.83

  Strathclyde

  17.17

  18.98

  17.36

  18.14

  Highland and Islands

  4.70

  5.90

  4.96

  6.43

  Grampian

  9.44

  10.41

  7.47

  8.81

  Tayside

  8.62

  9.26

  11.13

  13.10

  Lothian and Borders

  20.39

  19.01

  16.93

  21.53

  Fife

  19.22

  17.65

  16.76

  13.91

  Central

  14.87

  18.46

  17.13

  16.05

  Dumfries and Galloway

  10.46

  12.19

  13.10

  13.93

  Bail Offenders
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a full departmental inquiry into the serious crimes committed by persons on bail, following the case of Andrew Hagans, convicted at Bristol Crown court on 10 June.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 17 June 1992]: Although I fully understand and share the concern that has been widely expressed about the implications of this case, I have no plans to institute any formal inquiry. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that lessons learnt from cases such as this are always taken into account in developing policy. Steps have already been taken and others are in train to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring again. They include, but are not limited to, the measures to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker) referred in his statement on 25 February, Official Report, columns 813-14.

SOCIAL, SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the social fund allocations to individual DSS offices in Cumbria for each year since 1988;

  (2) how many applications were made to the Barrow-in-Furness DSS office for (a) loans and (b) grants from the social fund in each year since 1988; and how many of these applications were successful;

  (3) what was the total value of community care grants from the social fund made to applicants covered by the Barrow-in-Furness DSS office in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the Library.

  War Pension Claims
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for war pension on the basis, or partly on the basis, of psychiatric disability made between 1962 and 1980 were disallowed for the reason that the disability was not regarded as attributable to war service by virtue of its nature being a medical diagnosis of psychosis schizophrenia; in how many of such claims the refusal of pension or reduction in award has been reviewed in the light of his Department's acceptance of post-traumatic stress disorder as an accepted diagnosis leading to psychiatric disability; how many such reviews have led to war pension being paid in respect of such disability; and in how many such cases of successful review arrears of war pension, on the basis of such disability, have been paid for periods of disability prior to 1980.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost of paying full arrears of war pension to those claimants now regarded as entitled by virtue of a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder calculating those arrears as from the date of their disability instead of from 1980.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Awards of war pension in respect of conditions accepted as attributable to service which could be described as "post-traumatic stress disorders"—for instance, conditions formerly diagnosed as "anxiety state" or neurasthenia—have normally been made from the date of claim. The date of 1980 for the payment of arrears of war pension is of significance only in so far as claims in respect of schizophrenia are concerned.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend the social security regulations to ensure that young people aged 16 and 17 years who cannot find a place on youth training schemes can have their entitlement to child benefit restored for that period during which they do not receive unemployment benefit or income support and that parents be allowed increased benefits geared to child benefits where appropriate.

  Mr. Burt
  No. The Government believe that the current provisions for young people provide appropriate support 704
  to those waiting for a youth training place. Parents of such young people can already get child benefit for up to 16 weeks after their children leave school. Young people who are seeking a YT place whose parents are themselves dependent on income support may be entitled to income support in their own right under the severe hardship provision.

  Maxwell Group
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has set a target date for the return of Maxwell funds held in institutions abroad; and what action he is taking to bring this about.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 16 June at column 489.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the conference held in Liechtenstein on 17 June on the Maxwell funds;

  (2) if his Department was represented at the conference held in Liechtenstein on 19 June on the Maxwell funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department was not represented at the conference on Maxwell trusts which was held in Liechtenstein on 17 June, but which has been widely reported subsequently. It is primarily for the liquidators of the Maxwell investment management companies to establish the extent to which funds may have been transferred to Liechtenstein. However, where the special unit which we have established can make a useful contribution, it will do all it can to assist the liquidators, the trustees and others in securing the maximum return of assets to Maxwell pension funds.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends to meet ministers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to discuss the return of Maxwell funds to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans at present to meet Ministers in Liechtenstein or Switzerland to discuss disputed Maxwell pension fund assets.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the funding procedures for the emergency, short-term help for Maxwell pensioners he announced on 8 June.

  Mr. Lilley
  I announced on 8 June that the Government were making available temporary funding of £2.5 million, in the form of repayable grants to help ease the short-term pressures faced by Maxwell pensioners. Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for class XIV Department of Social Security, vote 3. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £2.5 million will be met by repayable advances from the contingency fund.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average proportion of the 10 years prior to attaining state pension age spent in paid work by(a) and (b) women.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The 1991 labour force survey (GB) showed that 61.7 per cent. of men between the ages of 55
  705
  and 64, and 58.6 per cent. of women between the ages of 50 and 59, were in paid employment—paid employment is defined as a minimum of one hour per week. Further information in the form requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

  Elderly Care Beds
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care of the elderly beds were available in the Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool health authorities each year since 1988.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information is given in the table.

  The fall in number of elderly care beds during this period is due to the provision of better alternative community-based services provided by Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool health authorities, in accordance with the initiatives outlined in the White Paper "Caring for People".

  Northern Region

  Average available beds for elderly patients (KHO3 Statistics)

  Mental illness elderly

  General elderly

  Short stay

  Long stay

  1987–88

  Durham

  236

  17

  —

  Sunderland

  409

  146

  187

  Hartlepool

  158

  3

  21

  1988–89

  Durham

  184

  35

  —

  Sunderland

  380

  59

  304

  Hartlepool

  167

  9

  3

  1989–90

  Durham

  188

  35

  —

  Sunderland

  389

  59

  286

  Hartlepool

  155

  9

  3

  1990–91

  Durham

  182

  18

  17

  Sunderland

  384

  59

  193

  Hartlepool

  155

  9

  3

  1991–92

  Durham

  145

  18

  17

  Sunderland

  371

  60

  161

  Hartlepool

  153

  9

  3

  Community Care (Funding)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ring-fence the money allocated to communities under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and what criteria she will use to determine allocations.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have made it clear that if necessary they will use their powers in full to ensure that authorities do not misuse funds intended for community care. We are continuing to discuss with the local authority associations the funding of new community care arrangements.

  Maternity Services
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide the current average cost to public funds of a normal birth at(a) hospital and (b) home.

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

  The average cost of care during pregnancy and childbirth in the hospital and community health services in 1990–91 was £1,217 per birth. This includes obstetric in-patient and out-patient services and community midwifery but excludes services provided by general practitioners.

  Cancer
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the percentage of the population who will develop cancer; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Statistical analysis of data relating to the period 1985 to 1987 suggests that approximately one third of the population of England and Wales will, at some point in their lives, be registered with a malignant cancer. More detailed data are published in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication "Cancer statistics: registrations 1986", series MB1 No. 19, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking against those found or believed to be engaged in fraudulent import and trading of anabolic steroids; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Any reports of illegal importation or suspected illegal importation of anabolic steroids into the United Kingdom are urgently investigated by the enforcement unit of the Medicines Control Agency, as are reports of illegal trading in anabolic steroids.

  Abortions
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the abortions performed under the new grounds and conditions created by the amendments to the Abortion Act 1967 by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1991 were performed after(a) 24 weeks and (b) 28 weeks.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the period 1 April 1991 to 30 September 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 32 abortions were performed in Great Britain after 24 weeks' gestation. Of these, seven were performed after 28 weeks' gestation.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports of inspections carried out by local health authority inspectors of private clinics providing abortions are received by her Department; and if she will publish them.

  Mr. Sackville
  Reports of health authority inspections are retained locally.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the complication rate associated with abortions
  707
  conducted at each of the private abortion clinics; and what was the national complication rate for each of the years (a) 1988, (b) 1989, (c) 1990 and (d)

  Mr. Sackville
  Aggregated details of complications are included on the abortion notification form sent to the chief medical officer and are published on an England and Wales basis in tables 16 and 17 of the "Annual Abortion Statistics"—series AB No. 15 (1988), No. 16 (1989) and No. 17 (1990), published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys—copies of which are available in the Library. The 1991 information is not yet available. The complication rates in places approved under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 are monitored by the Department, but information about individual places is not published.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS hospitals are currently using macerators to dispose of the remains of pre-born children;

  (2) how many health authorities have complied with guidelines issued to them by her Department regarding the disposal of pre-born children and their remains.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am not aware that any hospitals are currently using macerators for the purpose in question. The guidance issued by the Department to the NHS in November last year requires that the use of maceration and sluicing methods of disposal should cease by no later than 1 January 1992. Additional guidance on the sensitive disposal of the dead fetus and fetal tissue was issued to the NHS in December 1991. Compliance with this guidance is a matter for individual health authorities.

  Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if. she will publish the reports compiled by inspectors from her Department regarding the private clinics providing abortion inspected by them.

  Mr. Sackville
  No. These reports contain confidential information.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all places currently approved under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 together with the names of their proprietors and any company name associated with their clinic or advice agency together with the names of any company directors.

  Mr. Sackville
  A list of places currently approved under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967, together with the names of their proprietors, is held in the Library. Information about related companies and directors' names is provided to the Department on a "commercial in confidence" basis and cannot therefore be disclosed.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines on the counselling of mothers before and after abortion are issued by her Department; whether these are binding on the NHS and private clinics; what checks are conducted to ensure the quality of counselling; and if she will place a copy of such guidelines in the Library.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidance on arrangements for counselling women seeking abortion was issued in 1977—circular HC(77)26—to the national health service and places approved under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967. This remains current and a copy is available in the 708
  Library. Compliance in the NHS is a matter for individual health authorities. In the private sector, counselling arrangements are checked by the Department's officials in the course of their regular unannounced inspection visits to places approved under the Abortion Act 1967.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her policy regarding the institution of a system to record the actual handicap suffered by a pre-born child aborted on grounds of disability.

  Mr. Sackville
  The notification form for each abortion requires the operating practitioner to state the main medical condition for the abortion. Ground E of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, allows an abortion where there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. In such cases, there is a requirement to provide on the notification form information about the condition of the woman, and the fetus. Additionally, where abortions take place after 24 weeks' gestation, a full statement of the medical condition of the fetus is required.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department receives copies of the annual reports and accounts of the companies that provide abortion in private clinics together with the reports and accounts of any parent or subsidiary companies.

  Mr. Sackville
  No.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued by her Department on the definitions of substantial risk and seriously handicapped in the grounds under which a pre-born child may be aborted for disability; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Decisions as to what constitutes "substantial risk" and "seriously handicapped" within the grounds specified in the Abortion Act 1967 are matters for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned, taking account of the facts and circumstances of each case.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that residents are not denied the therapeutic or rehabilitative benefit of participation in catering and domestic tasks in residential homes for elderly people as a result of the application of regulations consequent on the Food Safety Act 1970.

  Mr. Sackville
  Nobody in residential or sheltered accommodation is precluded from taking part in the preparation of food. The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970, as amended, set out the controls necessary for the hygienic preparation of food. Environmental health departments advise on controls bearing in mind the nature of any food safety risk, including the type of food handled and the preparation involved.

DEFENCE

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  Mr. Aitken
  The Department's policy is that all defence support functions should be performed by the private sector unless there are overriding and clearly proven operational reasons for retaining them in-house, or definite value-for-money advantages. Our market testing programme therefore extends across all areas of the Department and its agencies.

  Ministry Police
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the operational support unit of the Ministry of Defence police was moved to RAF Wethersfield.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The operational support unit moved to Wethersfield on Friday 1 May 1992 as planned.

  Redundancy
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the rights to redundancy payments of soldiers in(a) the British Army and (b) each of the armies of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Soldiers made redundant with less than 22 years, but at least 12 years service from age 18, will receive an immediate pension calculated as a proportion of the 22 years rate based on their length of service and rank held. They will also receive a tax-free terminal grant of three times the annual rate of pension. In addition, special capital payments of up to 18 months' pay are also payable, related to the length of service and annual rate of pay. These payments are also tax free.

  Soldiers with less than 12 years' service will receive a special capital payment of up to 19 months' pay based on their years of completed service and annual pay. If they have more than two years' service, they will also be awarded a preserved pension and terminal grant of three times the rate of pension payable at age 60.

  My Department has little information on redundancy payments made to the forces of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states. Many of the European nations have conscript armies. In the American army, I understand redundancy payments are made to service personnel with between six and 18 years' service. Payment equates to one tenth of the annual basic salary for each completed year of service, and is taxable. Service of less than 20 years does not qualify for any form of pension. Personnel with 20 or more years service receive a pension. Anyone with 18 years of service is allowed to serve on to the 20-year point to qualify for a pension.

  Army Pay
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the basic annual pay of a soldier of the rank(a) private, (b) corporal, (c) sergeant, (d) second lieutenant,
  710
  (e) captain, (f) colonel, (g) major general and (h) field marshal in (i) the British Army and (ii) each of the armies of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Tables of annual pay rates for members of the armed forces are contained in the 21st report of the review body on armed forces pay, Cm 1815, for ranks up to brigadier, and the 14th report on top salaries, Cm 1413, for ranks above brigadier. The Government have implemented in full the recommendations contained in both reports. The Ministry of Defence does not have equivalent figures for the armies of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states.

WALES

  Abortions
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total number of abortions performed in Wales under the Abortion Act 1967 since its implementation; and how many and what percentage of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The total number of abortions performed in Wales and notified under the Abortion Act 1967 in the period since its implementation until the end of September 1991, which is the latest date for which information is available, was 83,015. Of these, seven were performed in emergency to save the life of the woman; this represents 0.008 per cent. of the total.

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Fisheries Byelaws
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he now expects to approve the draft sea fisheries byelaws for north Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Following receipt of the proposed byelaws in 1991, consideration by the Department and discussions with the promoters identified the need for some modifications. The promoters have recently submitted revised versions of the byelaws, which are now being considered before a final decision is made.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of people charged and prosecuted for non-payment of the community charge so far.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is not held centrally.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of homeless people in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  During the quarter October to December 1991, there were 5,550 people in households accepted as homeless by local authorities under part III of the Housing Act 1985.

  Beef Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for the beef industry in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government recognise the difficult conditions that have faced the beef sector in recent years and have introduced a number of measures designed to assist specialist beef producers. At the EC level, intervention policies have proved a costly and inefficient method of supporting the beef industry. That is why, in our negotiations to reform the common agricultural policy, we insisted on resources being switched away from intervention mechanism and towards more direct aid for producers. I am confident that those forms of support will help the beef industry in Wales to meet the changing demands of the marketplace.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of set-aside acreages in each of the counties of Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  5 year scheme acres

  1 year scheme acres

  Clwyd

  303.20

  Nil

  Dyfed

  2,655.29

  54.36

  Mid Glamorgan

  Nil

  85.40

  South Glamorgan

  335.82

  Nil

  West Glamorgan

  483.05

  Nil

  Gwent

  856.31

  Nil

  Gwynedd

  217.53

  Nil

  Powys

  385.29

  95.37

  Total

  5,236.49

  235.13

  The one-year set-aside scheme ends on 31 August 1992.

  Dyfed

  Gwynedd

  Powys

  Gwent

  West Glamorgan

  Clwyd

  a Horse-based activities

  4

  Nil

  1

  1

  2

  1

  b Golf courses

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1

  c Game cover

  Nil

  Nil

  1

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  d Sports grounds

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  e Other recreational facilities

  Nil

  1

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  f Other

  1

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Totals

  5

  1

  2

  1

  2

  2

  Upland Areas
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new measures he proposes to assist the upland communities of Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department, together with other organisations, including the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Wales tourist board, provides significant resources for the development of the economic, social and environmental fabric of our upland communities and to secure for them the long-term prosperity which is the common objective of us all. I will continue to review my policies in response to identified demands.
  712
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the figures on a county basis in Wales for 1991–92 of(a) the number of serious irregularities of the set-aside scheme, (b) the number of minor breaches of the scheme and (c) the number of cases where payments were withheld in full or in part; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information to date for the 1991–92 set-aside year, which ends in September is as follows:

  (a) Serious irregularities—nil

  (b) Minor breaches—one (in Dyfed)

  (c) Payments withheld—no claims have yet been submitted.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of payments under the set-aside scheme in Wales which have been recovered or withheld in each region in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Claims for the 1991–92 set-aside year have not yet been submitted. Recoveries relating to 1990–91 payments amount so far to £1,431.40. The recoveries all arose from the exercise by farmers of the option to change from permanent fallow to another category of set-aside.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers have received payments under the set-aside scheme in 1991 in each county in Wales for(a) horse-based activities, (b) golf courses, (c) game cover for commercial shoots, (d) sports grounds, (e) other recreational facilities and (f) other uses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The numbers of farmers in Wales who received payments for the set-aside scheme year 1990–91 for non-agricultural use are as follows:

  Farming Accidents
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the number of accidents and fatalities in the farming industry for each of the last three years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The figures are shown in the table:

  Injuries to employees1 in agriculture2 in Wales reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates

  Severity of injury

  Year3

  Fatal

  Major4

  Over 3 days5

  Total

  1988–89

  —

  21

  82

  103

  1989–90

  1

  23

  83

  107

  1990–91

  1

  25

  53

  79

  713
  Source: Health and Safety Executive.

  1 Including trainees.

  2 SIC Division 0 (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing).

  3 Commencing 1 April.

  4 As defined under the Reporting of Injury, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

  5 Injuries which do not fit the criteria for "major" but which result in the absence of the employee from work for more than three days.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many enterprise zones exist in Wales; what were their dates of creation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There are three enterprise zones in Wales:

  Zone

  Date of designation

  Delyn

  21 July 1983

  Milford Haven Waterway

  24 April 1984

  Lower Swansea Valley No.2

  6 March 1983

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of jobs existing on each of the Welsh enterprise zones.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The most recent official estimates of employment in enterprise zones relate to December 1989. Employment in the zones in Wales was estimated to be:Lower Swansea Valley (zones 1 and 2)—4,200.
  Delyn—2,600.
  Milford Haven Waterway—2,100.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the full cost and benefits of each of the enterprise zones including tax and capital allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Costs and benefits are not calculated for individual enterprise zones. An interim evaluation of the enterprise zone scheme was carried out by consultants and the results were published in 1987. A copy of that report was placed in the Library. A final evaluation of the scheme is in progress.

  The Department of the Environment also publishes, on an annual basis, "Enterprise Zone Information". Copies of that document are also placed in the Library.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the numbers and grades of officials in his Department who are involved specifically with hospital trust applications, indicating whether they are wholly or partly engaged on this work.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Six full-time staff work specifically on NHS trust issues:

  Number

  Grade 7

  13

  Higher Executive Officer

  1

  Executive Officer

  1

  Administrative Officer

  1

  1 Including two NHS secondees.

  Other officials across the Department provide input as appropriate.

  Sign Language Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will assist the Welsh counties and the Wales Council for the Deaf to set up sign language interpreting services in Wales at least equal to those applying in England.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The promotion of training and the conduct of examinations in communication skills for deaf people, including sign language interpreting, are carried out by the Council for the Advance of Communication with Deaf People, a voluntary organisation set up for that purpose. The number of trained interpreters has increased rapidly over the past 10 years, and although available services tend to be centred on the main centres of population such as London and Manchester, they are gradually spreading to other parts, including Wales. The examinations conducted by CACDP, based at the university of Durham, are open to people from Wales. CACDP has worked in conjunction with Wales Council for the Deaf, and there should therefore be no need to set up a separate organisation in Wales.

  In recognition of the importance of developing sign language interpreting services in Wales, and to aid that process, Wales Council for the Deaf has also been awarded £141,264 in grant aid for the 1992–93 financial year, part of which is to fund a sign language communications project.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that disabled people in Wales or Welsh people who have experienced serious injury or illness are not precluded from the therapeutic or rehabilitative benefit of participation in catering and domestic tasks in residential homes as a result of the application of regulations consequent on the Food Safety Act 1990.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Food Safety Act does not prohibit anyone in residential or sheltered accommodation from preparing their own meals or beverages. However, the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970, as amended, set out the controls necessary for the hygienic preparation of food other than in domestic settings. Environmental health departments advise on controls bearing in mind the nature of any food safety risk, including the type of food handled and the preparation involved. Residents may assist staff in the kitchen if the hygiene controls can be satisfied.

  Economic Forum for Wales
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to establish the planned Economic Forum for Wales; and if he will be publishing a White Paper.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A consultation paper seeking views on how the council would operate will be issued in the near future.

  Disabling Conditions (Treatment)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to reduce the waiting time for treatment of specific disabling conditions; and if he will make a statement.
  715
  Mr. David Hunt
  I intend to strengthen and extend the guarantees in the patients charter for Wales by introducing two additional guarantees, which will take effect from 1 April 1993.

  No patient in Wales will have to wait more than 18 months for a hip or knee replacement or cataract operation. Those conditions can reduce the quality of life and merit priority attention. I shall expect health authorities in Wales to make full use of the services provided by the treatment centres that I have established to ensure that that commitment is met.

  I shall also introduce a guarantee that no patient in Wales will have to wait longer than one month for urgent in-patient or day case treatment. This is already a management target to which health authorities are committed.

  In order to assist authorities in Wales to achieve the patients charter guarantees, additional funding of £1 million will be made available to district health authorities and to GP fund holders, through family health authorities under the 1992–93 waiting times initiative.

  Ysgol Derwyn School
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review his financial allocations in order that the Ysgol Derwyn CP school, Higher Kinnerton might extend the number of classrooms and eliminate the need for temporary classrooms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No. It is for local authorities to determine the distribution of resources made available to them between services and projects in the light of their view of local needs and priorities.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will allow Alyn and Deeside council to use the capital receipts it has retained from the sale of council housing.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The legislation does not allow the release of receipts already set aside to meet credit liabilities except where a council has no overall debt, nor do I believe it would be right to do so. It is prudent financial management that a proportion of the receipts from council house sales should reduce debt incurred in construction. As at 31 March 1991, Alyn and Deeside had total debt of £32.97 million, of which £22.27 million was council housing—housing revenue account—debt.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to make any representations to the Government of Turkey concerning the initiation of political dialogue with the Kurds of north-west Turkey; what recent reports he has received about the treatment of Kurds in Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed human rights issues with the Turkish Foreign Minister 716
  during his visit to Turkey in April. We welcome Prime Minister Demirel's recognition of a Kurdish identity and his Government's intention to make human rights improvements a top priority. We look forward to the early implementation of the Government's programme of democratic and human rights reform.

  Thailand
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions are being made by Her Majesty's Government for proper legal representation for British subjects facing trial in Thailand.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British embassy in Bangkok, like British embassies and consular posts elsewhere, ensures that British nationals who are detained understand how to obtain legal representation. The embassy holds an up-to-date list of English-speaking lawyers, which is offered to all British detainees.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken by British consular officials to draw the attention of the Thai courts to Ms Cahill's juvenile British legal status at the time of sentencing.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Thai authorities were aware of Miss Cahill's age. She was tried and sentenced in a juvenile court. The British embassy has strongly supported her petition for a royal pardon on the grounds of her youth and immaturity at the time the offence was committed.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are currently being made by Her Majesty's Government in support of the British women, Patricia Cahill and Kathryn Smith, imprisoned in Thailand.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our embassy in Bangkok has submitted to the Thai authorities petitions from both girls for a royal pardon. The embassy gave both petitions strong support.

  Each month a member of staff of the embassy visits the girls. With money provided by family, friends and Prisoners Abroad, our embassy helps them with the purchase of food, cosmetics, toiletries and so on. Our embassy also provides books and magazines and has arranged for vaccinations.

  Slovenia
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of United Nations' sanctions against Serbia on Slovenia's tourist trade; and what restrictions have been placed on payments to Slovenian hoteliers or the Slovenian national airline Adria.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have made no specific assessment of the impact on the Slovenian tourist industry of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro. There are, however, no prohibitions on payments to Slovenian hoteliers or the Slovenian national airline.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being offered to the newly independent country of Slovenia to provide services for the refugees arriving from Croatia and Bosnia.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The relief effort in all the former Yugoslav republics, much of it involving assistance to refugees, is being led by the United Nations humanitarian agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Since last November the United Kingdom has given £9.7 million for its work.

  Entry Clearance Officers
  Mr. Madden
  to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for reducing the establishment of entry clearance officers in British posts in the Indian sub-continent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The staffing complement at posts in the Indian sub-continent is reviewed annually on the basis of demand for entry clearances. A slow-down in the number of people applying, coupled with increased operational efficiency, may lead to possible savings, but final decisions have yet to be taken. Any reductions will be phased in and will not adversely affect waiting times for settlement applicants or the ability of the post to offer a same-day service to genuine visit visa applicants.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for deploying entry clearance officers to British posts in the Russian federation and other states in each and central Europe; how many entry clearance officers are now in post in those countries; and what establishment in each country he proposes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are four entry clearance officers at the British embassy in Moscow.

  An entry clearance section will be established at the consulate-general in St. Petersburg as soon as suitable accommodation is available. We are considering what services our embassy in Alma Ata, to open this autumn, should provide. We will open an entry clearance section at the embassy in Kiev as soon as an office can be located.

  Nationals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania travelling on national passports do not require visas for short visits to the United Kingdom. There are no visa-issuing facilities currently at our posts at Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius.

  Nationals of the states of what was fomerly Yugoslavia do not require visas for short visits to the United Kingdom. Entry clearances can already be obtained from the embassy at Belgrade. Consideration will be given to the establishment of an entry clearance section at Ljubljana when we open an embassy there.

  There are three entry clearance officers in Bucharest and one at each of the embassies in Belgrade, Budapest, Prague and Sofia. Following the abolition of the visa requirement for Poles, the number of full-time entry clearance officers at Warsaw will be reduced from six to two over the coming months.

  Persons who require visas for the United Kingdom and who reside in a country where we do not have an entry clearance section may apply to any British visa-issuing office.

  Rudolf Hess
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his present estimate of the date of release of remaining Foreign Office files FO/1093 (pieces 1 to 5) on the Rudolf Hess case to the Public Record Office.
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  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The second batch of the Hess files in the FO 1093 series should be released to the Public Record Office in early July.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now release the files relating to Rudolf Hess for the period since the Nuremburg trials.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  All Foreign and Commonwealth Office files relating to Rudolf Hess for the period since the Nuremberg trials and up to 1961 are now open at the Public Record Office. Records since 1962 will be released as provided for in the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967, 30 years after their creation.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 15 June.

  Mr. Hurd
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 15 June.

  The Council discussed the Commission's future financing proposals. As at the Economic and Finance Council on 9 June, a large number of member states expressed serious doubts about the Commission package. The Council had a brief discussion on the administrative arrangements for the proposed new Committee of the Regions established under the treaty on European union. Ministers also discussed preparations for the European Council in Lisbon on 26 and 27 June.

  The Council considerd a communication on Community relations with Japan and adopted conclusions outlining the Community's approach. Ministers issued a declaration on Yugoslavia supporting the United Nations initiative to re-open Sarajevo airport to allow humanitarian help into Bosnia-Herzegovina. They also endorsed Lord Carrington's continuing peace efforts in Bosnia and urged restraint on Serbs, Albanians and Kosovars to defuse the situation in Kosovo.

  The Council discussed the development of the Community's relations with the Maghreb and agreed that permanent representatives should examine the question further. The Council considered the Swiss application to join the Community and agreed to refer the application to the Commission for its opinion.

  Vietnamese Migrants
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Vietnamese migrants.

  Mr. Goodlad
  On 19 June, 38 Vietnamese illegal immigrants were repatriated from Hong Kong to Vietnam on the first flight under the final stage of the orderly repatriation programme. The operation, which was carried out in accordance with international practice, went smoothly.

  The group comprised migrants who had arrived in Hong Kong before 29 October 1991. All had undergone the full screening and appeal procedure vetted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and been found not to be refugees.
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  Since the orderly repatriation programme was announced on 29 October 1991, there has been a dramatic drop in the number of arrivals in Hong Kong, accompanied by a surge in applications for voluntary repatriation. We hope that most of the non-refugees still in Hong Kong will now volunteer to return. Already, more than 20,000 non-refugees have returned to Vietnam from the region without a single substantiated case of persecution.

  It does no service to the genuine refugee to classify him among those who are merely seeking a better life abroad. The clearing of the Hong Kong camps will enable genuine refugees to be properly looked after and resettled as appropriate.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Alternative Energy
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all alternative energy projects receiving grants from his Department by(a) level of grant, (b) institution or body administering the grant and (c) date of completion.

  Mr. Eggar
  Given the number of such projects receiving grants from my Department, I shall write to the hon. Member with the list he requests and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Protective Equipment
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, if a product passses the relevant European standard under the personal protective equipment directive, the product automatically complies with the directive even if the committee working on the standard has widened the scope for more products to be exempt.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The personal protective equipment directive (89/686/EEC) lays down certain requirements and specifies categories of equipment to which they apply. The relevant European standards-making body is drawing up standards for manufacturers to follow, as part of compliance procedures. The scope of the directive cannot be altered by the technical committee drawing on these standards, but only by the EC Council.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement relating to the distribution of RECHAR moneys in East Durham.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  East Durham is part of the Durham RECHAR programme area, which has been allocated £8.7 million of RECHAR grants for 1992 and 1993. The programme is now under way. A seminar was held for prospective applicants and a first round of applications has been invited for 26 June. A programme monitoring committee, chaired by an official of my Department, will be responsible for the selection of projects to receive grants. The committee will be formally constituted on 25 June.

  EC Structural Funds
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's position in the discussions with EC Industry Ministers in Lisbon on 15 May concerning the future of EC structural funds.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I represented the United Kingdom at the informal meeting of EC Regional Policy Ministers which took place in Lisbon on 15 and 16 May. As this was an informal meeting, no decisions were taken. Discussion concentrated on a number of issues which will be central to the review of the structural funds regulations—due to take place by the end of 1993—notably the simplification of administrative procedures and the application of the principles of programming, partnership and subsidiarity.

  Japanese Cars
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proposal from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission concerning voluntary restraints on imports of Japanese-built cars.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The existing voluntary restraint on imports of Japanese cars agreed between the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and its Japanese counterpart will be discontinued at the end of this year in accordance with the agreement between the EC and Japan concluded last year, known as "The Elements of Consensus". It is open to the Government to decide whether the United Kingdom should be a restricted market from 1 January 1993 for the purposes of the implementation of this agreement. I expect to take a decision on this matter before the end of this year.

  Energy Tax
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with his counterparts in the European Commission responsible for energy policy concerning the carbon/energy tax proposals agreed by the Commission at its meeting on 13 May; what proposals he has for its implementation at United Kingdom level; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  While the general issue of energy/carbon taxation has been discussed at a number of Councils, including the Energy Council, the proposals which the Commission has recently agreed have not yet been formally issued to member states. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is responsible for taxation in the United Kingdom, will take the lead in responding to the proposals when they have been received and carefully considered.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to review the policy instruments by which regional assistance to industry is delivered; if he will co-ordinate such a review with the assisted areas map review he announced on 9 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Regional policy instruments are kept under continuing review.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with the Director General of

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  Electricity Supply regarding alterations of (a) the regulatory price mechanisms for the regional electricity companies for England and Wales and (b) the 1998 limit for the loss of franchise over domestic and small customers by the regional electricity companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I meet the Director General of Electricity Supply from time to time and discuss matters of mutual interest.

  The price control conditions in the public electricity supply licences are subject to modification as provided for in the Electricity Act 1989 and those licences. The franchise restrictions, and their expiry in 1998, remain as provided for in second-tier supply licences.

  National Grid Company
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had regarding the statutory restrictions on the sale or flotation of the National Grid Company; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Eggar
  I have received no such representations.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the annual Government expenditure on research and development for renewable energy sources since 1979–80; and what are the provisional estimates for expenditure in 1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in money terms and at 1991–92 prices.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 June 1992]: For 1979–80 to 1989–90, I refer the hon. Member to the reply on 21 November 1991, Official Report, columns 260-62. Outturn expenditure under the renewables energy budget for 1991 was £0.6 million higher than the estimated provision for that year of £24.0 million. Provision for 1992–93 is £24.3 million—£23.1 million in 1991–92 prices. Expenditure for 1993–94 will be determined in the course of the public expenditure survey exercise.