Written Answers of 2 March 1992

ENERGY

  Oil and Gas Reserves
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a breakdown of the oil and gas platforms, oil and gas production, and oil and gas reserves between the Scottish and English sectors of the Moray Firth, central North sea, and mid North sea high fields.

  Moray Firth

  Central North sea

  Mid North sea high

  Number of oil and gas platforms

  7

  15

  Nil

  1991 oil production (million tonnes)1

  9·8

  19·3

  Nil

  1991 gas production (billion cubic metres)1

  3—

  3—

  Nil

  Initial discovered oil reserves (million tonnes)1 2

  455

  690

  Nil

  Initial discovered gas reserves (billion cubic metres)1 2

  80

  145

  Nil

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Central estimates at 31 December 1991.

  3 Less than one.

  Electricity Generators Licences
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the effect of the no discrimination provision in electricity generators licences on competition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations regarding the non-discrimination provisions in the electricity generators' licences. Licence conditions are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  Oil and Gas Unit
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has had for and against the moving of the oil and gas industry exploration appraisal and development unit to Aberdeen.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received a number of representations from Scottish organisations, and the matter has also been raised in discussions with the oil industry.

  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what time scale he envisages for the consultancy study considering the future position of the oil and gas industry exploration appraisal and development unit; when he expects to make a final decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The study of the case for or against relocating the Department of Energy's petroleum engineering directorate to Aberdeen is expected to take about five months. Ministers will then be in a position to make a final decision.
  2
  Mr. Moynihan
  Under international law, the continental shelf appertains to the United Kingdom as a whole. The reserves and production have not been divided between Scotland and England. The number of platforms presently located in the areas commonly known as the Moray Firth, the central North sea and the mid North sea high, together with my Department's provisional estimates of production in 1991 and of initial recoverable reserves discovered to date in each of these areas are shown in the table.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Malawi
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Minister for Overseas Development has had with her EC counterparts on linking Malawi's performance on human rights with the levels of EC development aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Following the EC Development Ministers' adoption last November of a resolution on human rights, democracy and development, agreed representations have been made to the Malawi Government. Britain and her European partners will continue to monitor Malawi's actions in all these areas and respond accordingly.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current levels of aid to Zimbabwe.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1990, the last year for which comprehensive figures are available, we spent £20·7 million including investments by the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Expenditure in 1992 will include balance of payments aid in support of Zimbabwe's economic reform.

  Aid Policy
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Minister for Overseas Development has had with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the co-ordination of aid policy.
  3
  Mrs. Chalker
  I attended the OECD joint ministerial environment and development meeting and the OECD development assistance committee high level meeting in Paris, on 2 to 4 December 1991.

  EC Aid Programmes
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with Britain's EC partners on EC aid programmes in the last month.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I last discussed development issues with all my EC colleagues at the Development Council in Brussels on 28 November 1991. My officials are in frequent contact with their opposite numbers in the Commission and other member states.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how British aid assists the contribution to family planning in developing countries made by the non-governmental sector.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Population assistance has a high priority in the United Kingdom aid programme—the amount has more than tripled since 1980 to £24 million in 1990. Non-governmental organisations have a vital role to play.

  We are providing substantial and increasing support to NGOs in this area through our support to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and through our joint funding scheme and bilateral programmes.

  Aid Policy
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met OECD development ministers to discuss the co-ordination of aid policy.

  Mrs Chalker
  I last met a number of overseas development ministers at the OECD joint ministerial environment and development meeting and the OECD Development Assistance Committee high level meeting in Paris from 2 to 4 December 1991.

  Development Co-ordination
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Contenonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with Britain's EC partners on overseas development co-ordination in the last month.

  Mrs Chalker
  I last discussed development issues with all my EC colleagues at the Development Council in Brussels on 28 November 1991. My officials are in frequent contact with their opposite numbers in the Commission and other members states.

  Aid Programmes
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development next intends to meet the Secretary-General of the United Nations and representatives of the World bank to discuss matters relating to the administration of multilateral aid programmes.
  4
  Mrs Chalker
  I met the United Nations Secretary-General on 13 January and the president of the World bank on 4 February. I have regular meetings with senior officials in these and other multilateral aid agencies.

  Animal Conservation
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions towards animal conservation are being made by the Overseas Development Administration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs Chalker
  Since 1990 ODA has committed almost £20 million to wildlife conservation projects. A list of projects is available in the Library of the House.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions he intends to place on future know-how and other funds offered to the states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

  Mrs Chalker
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The Government have designated the following four sectors as priorities for the delivery of technical assistance to the Baltic states: food processing and distribution, financial services, small business creation, and energy. This does not prevent us from responding to specific requests made by the Baltic authorities in other areas.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the British economic assistance that has been extended to the three Baltic states since independence.

  Mrs Chalker
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The following projects for technical assistance to the Baltic states under the know-how fund have now been approved:

  KNOW-How FUND: ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA

  COUNTRY PROGRAMME PROJECTS

  As at 28 February 1992

  SMALL BUSINESS CREATION

  Mitaline Technology (Estonia)
  Preparation of training programme for use by Estonian Small Business Association. Approved at a cost to KHF of £4,820.

  FINANCIAL SERVICES

  Ports Privatisation Conference
  Director of Estonian Maritime Board enabled to attend Privatisation Conference. Approved at cost to KHF of £900.

  Transcend Technology (Lithuania)
  To provide assistance to the Association of Light Industry Enterprises of Lithuania to prepare individual state enterprises for privatisation. Approved at a cost to KHF of £9,800.

  Lithuanian Association of Accountants
  Study Visit by representative of the Association to United Kingdom to examine accountancy practices. Approved at a cost to KHF of £8,000.

  POLITICAL AND CULTURAL

  Restructuring Ministries of Foreign Affairs
  Senior retired United Kingdom diplomats on short attachments to Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. To provide advice on restructuring in a democratic society. Approved at a cost to KHF of £ 15,000.
  5
  Police Training
  Senior officers from Strathclyde police on short missions to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to advise on police training needs and restructuring. Approved at a cost to KHF of £20,000.

  Low Cost Book Scheme
  Subsidies for text books for retailers and individuals in the three Baltic states in co-operation with International Books Development Ltd. Approved at a cost to KHF of £66,000.

  Short Term Scholarships
  One year scholarships for postgraduates and young professionals in the three Baltic states. Target areas are economics, finance and management. In co-operation with higher education institutions. Approved at a cost to KHF of £120,000.

  Bradford Baltic Unit
  Attachment of students from the three Baltic states to the Baltic Unit of Bradford University. Approved at a cost to KHF of £70,900.

  Books for Parliament
  Provision of text books in key areas to libraries of the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Approved at a cost to the KHF of £15,000.

  Seminar .for Parliamentary Librarians
  Training seminar for parliamentary librarians from three Baltic states. In co-operation with the Library of the House of Commons. Approved at a cost to the KHF of £8,000.

  Legal Attachments
  Attachments of young lawyers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the Law Society of Scotland and Scottish legal practices. Approved at a cost to KHF of £40,000.

  Legal Concepts for Translators
  Training in legal concepts in English for translators attached to the office of the Lithuanian Supreme Council. In co-operation with the University of Edinburgh. Approved at a cost to KHF of £10,000.

  Television Training Project
  Instructing trainees from the three Baltic states in British television production procedures. In co-operation with the Soros Foundation. Approved at a cost to the KHF of £26,000.

  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Training
  Visit to UK by Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Chief of Protocol. Approved at a cost to KHF of £2,000.

  Publisher Training
  Seminar on publishing and the book trade in Lithuania. In co-operation with the Open Society Foundation of Lithuania. Approved at a cost to KHF of £30,000.

  Re-integration Conference
  Conference on the re-integration of the Baltic states into the world community. In co-operation with the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Approved at a cost to KHF of £6,000.

  Voluntary Organisations Legislation
  Visit of legal experts to advise on framing voluntary organisation legislation in Lithuania. Approved at a cost to KHF of £5,000.

  Estonian Maritime Board
  Visit of delegation to UK to study hydrography, search and rescue methods. Approved at cost to KHF of £5,000.

  MISSIONS

  Banking, Finance and Privatisation Mission
  Short mission to Baltic states to identify potential projects and terms of reference by Know How Fund Adviser. Approved at cost to KHF of £11,000.

  Insurance Mission
  Mission to the Baltic states to identify potential projects and terms of reference by Know How Fund Adviser. Approved at cost to KHF of £6,000.
  6
  Energy Audit Mission
  Assessment missions to Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia to prepare terms of reference in co-operation with Ministries of Energy for National Energy Audit and other energy sector technical assistance projects by Know How Fund consultant. Approved at cost to KHF of £15,500.

  Joint Exchanges Committee Mission
  Mission to advise on the establishment of a physical commodity exchange. Approved at a cost to KHF of £4,000.

  TRAINING AND ACADEMIC LINK PROJECTS

  University of Stirling
  Exploratory visit in association with the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Cost to KHF to be finalised.

  Leicester Polytechnic
  Exploratory visit in association with Riga Technical University. Cost to KHF of £1,000.

  INVESTMENT SCHEMES PROJECTS

  Michael Abakhan Ltd.
  Training for personnel in partly British owned investment in Estonia. Approved at cost to KHF of £15,600.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS'

  South Africa
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further representations to the South African authorities to secure the release of all South African political prisoners in accordance with the UN declaration on South Africa adopted by consensus in December 1989; and if he will approach his partners in the European Community to do likewise.

  Mrs Chalker
  We have repeatedly urged the South African Government to release all political prisoners throughout South Africa. The issue is complicated by the late submission of thousands of indemnity applications from prisoners claiming political status. A demarche on political prisoners was handed to the South African Government by the Dutch ambassador, representing the European Community, in October 1991.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to try and increase the number of entries on the electoral roll in St. Helena.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The registers of electors are up-dated during a period of 28 days at the beginning of each calendar year. During this period and throughout the year the public are urged by radio news and the weekly newspaper to register. This coverage, which extends to Ascension island, is supplemented by the work of registration officers and councillors who urge their constituents to register on the electoral roll. The preliminary lists for 1992 show 27 new claims.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the latest available figures for the population of St. Helena 18 years old or over, the number of St. Helenians eligible to be entered on the electoral roll and entitled to vote at an election for the legislative council; and the number at present entered.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The latest available figure for the population of St. Helena 18 years old and over is 3,508.
  7
  The same number are entitled to be entered on the electoral roll and entitled to vote at an election for the legislative council. A total of 2,532 persons are presently entered on the electoral roll.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for the St. Helena olive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The St. Helena Government are collaborating with the royal botanic gardens in an attempt to propagate the St. Helena olive. There is only a single specimen which is now old and producing only a few seeds from which propagation is being attempted both on St. Helena and at the royal botanic gardens at Kew. There is optimism that the St. Helena olive can be saved and eventually propagated in larger numbers.

  Western Sahara
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide details of the United Kingdom financial contribution to the UN peace plan for the western Sahara; and if he will state how many United Kingdom personnel are currently in the western Saraha to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and peace plan.

  Dr. Douglas Hogg
  Our assessed contribution to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO) amounts to US$8,265,226 so far. In addition, we have provided 15 military observers.

  Nuclear Proliferation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) all measures taken by his Department in the last 12 months to prevent nuclear proliferation, (b) the number of personnel in his Department working to prevent nuclear proliferation and (c) his Department's total expenditure on control of nuclear proliferation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Following is the reply:

  (a) Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the FCO's departmental objectives. To that end we have been consistently active in promoting the nuclear non-proliferation regime in a wide range of international fora, including the UN, the IAEA, the EC, the nuclear suppliers group, the Zangger committee and in support of the UN Special Commission's activities in Iraq. We have undertaken regular bilateral lobbying to increase support for the NPT. In co-operation with other Departments we have provided advice to the DTI on export licensing matters.

  (b) Ten FCO staff in London are engaged directly in work to prevent nuclear proliferation. But a much larger number of staff, at home and overseas, were involved in activities in support of this objective at some time in 1991.

  (c) It is not possible to identify separately departmental expenditure specifically on the control of nuclear proliferation.

HEALTH

  Children at Risk
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are currently categorised as at risk in(a) London and (b) nationally.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  The information collected centrally relates to children on the child protection registers. The provisional figures for March 1991 show about 7,630 children on registers for London authorities and 45,200 for England. These figures may be adjusted slightly when the final publication is released in the next few months.

  Induced Births
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year for the last five years, the number of induced births carried out by each(a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority, and if he will show in his answer the age of the mothers in the following age ranges (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 19, (iii) 20 to 24, (iv) 25 to 29, (v) 30 to 39 and (vi) over 40 years.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the estimated percentages of induced deliveries by regional health authority for 1985, the last year of the hospital in-patient enquiry (HIPE) and for 1989–90, the first full year of the collection of maternity items in the hospital episode statistics system (HES). The 1989–90 figures are the latest available centrally.

  Induced deliveries as estimated percentages of all deliveries

  19851

  1989–902

  England

  18

  18

  Northern

  18

  22

  Yorkshire

  17

  21

  Trent

  18

  17

  East Anglia

  15

  17

  North West Thames

  24

  12

  North East Thames

  16

  18

  South East Thames

  15

  22

  South West Thames

  18

  15

  Wessex

  19

  n.a.

  Oxford

  19

  19

  South Western

  15

  17

  West Midlands

  17

  21

  Mersey

  16

  17

  North Western

  18

  24

  n.a. Not Available

  Source:

  1 Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  2 Hospital Episode Statistic (HES)

  Diabetics
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available finger-pricking devices free of charge for diabetics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  We are aware of the potential benefits of these devices: new additions to the list of prescribable items must be subject to the availability of resources and decisions on other competing priorities.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total capital expenditure on the national health service, expressed at 1992 prices for each year since 1962.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information, expressed at 1992 prices, is shown in the table. Figures are available only from 1970–71 onwards, and are not available on the present definition of capital prior to 1985–86.

  NHS capital gross expenditure (including trusts' capital expenditure)

  Cash (A) £ million

  Cash (B) £ million

  Adjusted by GDP 1992–93 prices (A) £ million

  Adjusted by GDP 1992–93 prices (B) £ million

  1970–71

  126

  —

  966

  —

  1971–72

  158

  —

  1,114

  —

  1972–73

  201

  —

  1,311

  —

  1973–74

  245

  —

  1,493

  —

  1974–75

  246

  —

  1,253

  —

  1975–76

  332

  —

  1,347

  —

  1976–77

  361

  —

  1,290

  —

  1977–78

  321

  —

  1,009

  —

  1978–79

  373

  —

  1,057

  —

  1979–80

  417

  —

  1,013

  —

  1980–81

  568

  —

  1,166

  —

  1981–82

  693

  —

  1,298

  —

  1982–83

  719

  —

  1,257

  —

  1983–84

  752

  —

  1,256

  —

  1984–85

  845

  —

  1,344

  —

  1985–86

  928

  1,013

  1,399

  1,527

  1986–87

  —

  1,089

  —

  1,590

  1987–88

  —

  1,129

  —

  1,563

  1988–89

  —

  1,221

  —

  1,577

  1989–90

  —

  1,454

  —

  1,764

  1990–91

  —

  1,603

  —

  1,792

  1991–92

  —

  1,912

  —

  1,998

  1992–93

  —

  2,073

  —

  2,073

  Notes:

  1. Figures in column B are adjusted to take into account the transfer to capital from current as a result of the redefinition of NHS capital.

  2. Expenditure figures for 1991–92 and 1992–93 include estimated capital expenditure by NHS trusts financed through internally generated income and external finance limits.

  Leighton Hospital
  Mrs Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the number of nurses of G grade and above employed at Leighton hospital, Crewe in 1990–91; and what are the comparable figures to date;

  (2) what are the present staff levels at Mid Cheshire hospitals trust Leighton hospital in (a) consultants, (b) nurses and (c) auxiliary medical porters; and what were the comparable figures for 1979–80, 1985–86 and 1990–91.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  The information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. R. F. Lawrence, the chairman of Mid Cheshire hospitals NHS trust, for details.

  Poliomyelitis
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of poliomyelitis there have been in each year since 1978 and in 1992 to date; and if he will give for 10
  each year the number of cases known to have been caused from (a) vaccination and (b) contact with a vaccinated person.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  Between 1978 and the end of 1991, there have been 42 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service communicable disease surveillance centre. A total of 18 were vaccine associated (recipient) cases and nine were vaccine associated (contact) cases.

  In 1992 there has been one vaccine associated (contact) case.

  Immunisation
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 111–12, how many of the 483 reported suspected adverse reactions to immunisation in 1991 were serious.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  One hundred and fifty nine.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 111–12 if he will list the research studies which show that the deaths to which he referred are temporally not causally related to immunisation.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  The United States Institute of Medicine has recently published a detailed review of studies of vaccine adverse events titled "Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines". The report concludes:there was insufficient evidence to indicate a causal relationship between Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine and aseptic meningitis, chronic neurological damage, erythema multiforme, Guillain Barre syndrome, haemolytic anaemia, juvenile diabetes, learning disabilities, peripheral mononeuropathy or thrombocytopenia, and rubella vaccine and radiculoneuritis and other neuropathies or thrombocytopenia purpura:
  that the evidence does not indicate a causal relationship between DPT vaccine and infantile spasms, hypsarrhythmia, Reye Syndrome or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

  The full bibliography can be made available. Thirty-nine references to studies on SIDS and DTP are listed in that publication.

  In this country, deaths reported in association with mumps, measles and rubella have been studied carefully by the clinicians involved, and no causal relationship established.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged;

  (2) if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November (a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants

  11
  facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Following a competitive tendering exercise, the Department has appointed KPMG Management Consultants to assist in identifying activities that might be suitable for market testing. No decisions have been taken on areas for market testing beyond those identified in the Department's contribution to the annex of "Competing for Quality" published on 18 November 1991, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  The full costs of external support for the Department's market testing programme cannot be estimated until that programme is decided. Payments under individual consultancy contracts are confidential.

  To avoid potential conflicts of interest, all nongovernmental organisations bidding in a market testing exercise will be required to declare any interest that might be contrary to the public interest. In particular, any companies that help to prepare specifications for any service will be excluded from the process of evaluating tenders.

  Dentists
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take to stop people in dentistry from leaving the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Our recent survey showed that 76 per cent. of dentists routinely accept all patients for NHS treatment, and 85 per cent. accept all children. There were always some dentists who provided a mixed service but prior to the registration of patients, as required by the 1990 dental contract, we had no means of checking the numbers. There are currently 25 per cent. more dentists practising in the general dental services in England than there were in 1979.

  Patient Statistics
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the in-patient and day case activity figures for the first six months of the current financial year for each national health service trust; and if he will provide comparable data for the previous three years.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  In all NHS trusts the number of patients treated in the first six months of the current financial year was: in-patients 536,425, day cases 140,812. This information is provisional only as it has not yet been validated.

  Comparable information for the previous three years for individual units is not available. However, in all NHS trusts the number of patients treated in the first six months of the last financial year was: in patients 516,129, day cases 120,078.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the in-patient and day case activity figures for the 75 directly managed units, showing the largest increase in activity rates in the first six months of the current year; and if he will provide comparable data for the performance of these units in the previous three years.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  National Blood Authority
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 586, if he will list those who responded to the consultation document on the proposal to establish a national blood authority for England and those whom he has asked to be part of the technical working group to consider operational matters.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The organisations which submitted comments in response to the consultation document are given in the table. Those who have been invited to nominate members for the technical working group are indicated with an asterisk.

  Alpha, Armour and Immuno Pharmaceutical Companies

  Association of Clinical Pathologists

  British Blood Transfusion Society

  British Society for Haematology

  Central Blood Laboratories Authority*

  College of Anaesthetists

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Special Health Authority

  Joint Consultants Committee of the British Medical Association

  Mersey and North Wales Regional Transfusion Centre

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  Mount Vernon Hospital NHS Trust

  National Directorate of the National Blood Transfusion Service*

  National Association of Blood Donors

  National Blood Transfusion Service (Regional Transfusion Directors)*

  National Health Service Trust Federation

  North East Thames Regional Transfusion Centre

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Northern Regional Blood Transfusion Service

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Oxford Regional Blood Transfusion Centre

  Pontefract Health Authority

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  Public Health Laboratory Service at Manchester

  Regional Health Authority Chairmen*

  Regional Directors of Public Health*

  Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospitals

  Royal College of Nursing

  Royal College of Physicians

  Royal College of Surgeons of England

  Senior Nurse Managers Group of the National Blood Transfusion Service

  South East and South West Thames Regional Health Authorities

  South Western Regional Transfusion Centre

  South Western Region Haematology Advisory Group

  The Haemophilia Society

  The Hospitals for Sick Children Special Health Authority

  The Royal College of Midwives Trust

  The Royal College of Pathologists

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  Trent Blood Transfusion Service Board

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Trent Regional Transfusion Centre

  United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Directors Organisation

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  West Midlands Regional Transfusion Centre

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  In addition, 14 individuals have commented in a personal capacity.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those parts of his Department, including executive agencies, carrying out reviews over the last 12 months into the pay and grading of staff and the firm of consultants engaged, where appropriate.

  Mr. Atkins
  No such reviews have yet taken place.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current number of staff in his Department dedicated to(a) the operation of local management of schools and (b) opted-out schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  Local management of schools is operated by local education authorities, not by the Department. There are 9.8 full-time-equivalent staff working in the Department's local management of schools unit, which is responsible for policy, development and implementation.

  A total of 53 staff currently work in schools 4, division B, which is responsible for policy on grant-maintained schools, including transitional arrangements and recurrent and capital funding.

  Kingsbridge School
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for South Hams's letter of 13 December, enclosing a letter from the principal of the Kingsbridge school and community college.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Vacancies filled

  Applications received

  Vacancies filled

  Applications received

  Vacancies filled

  Applications received

  Northern board

  123

  1,116

  239

  2,354

  153

  2,009

  Southern board

  103

  —1

  57

  576

  89

  790

  Western board

  102

  785

  160

  2,098

  90

  1,594

  Eastern board

  294

  3,500–4,000

  220

  3,695

  243

  4,135

  1 The Southern and Eastern health and social services boards have not retained application details for 1989.

  There were no complaints in 1989. In 1990 five complaints against the Western board and three against the Eastern board were taken to the Fair Employment Commission and are still under consideration. Three complaints against the Northern board were referred to tribunal, two were withdrawn and one is outstanding.

  In 1991 two complaints against the Western board were taken to the FEC and are still under consideration. To date, no complaints have gone to court and no compensation has been paid.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers were trained within the teacher training colleges in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is:

  Number

  1986–87

  386

  1987–88

  403

  1988–89

  422

  14
  Mr. Atkins
  A reply was sent by my right hon. and learned Friend on 26 February 1992.

  Students Charter
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to introduce a students charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Further and Higher Education Bill, when enacted, will improve opportunities for students and ensure that the quality of the education offered in both sectors is sustained and enhanced. My right hon. and learned Friend will be considering whether these advances will best be reflected in a charter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for each health and social services board headquarters, the number of vacancies filled in each of the last available three years, the number of applications received by each board for those vacancies in each of those years, and the number of complaints made under the fair employment legislation in respect of those posts in each year and the number of such complaints which went to a tribunal; how many went to court; and how many are still ongoing.

  Mr. Hanley
  I attach a table showing the information requested.

  Number

  1989–90

  432

  1990–91

  367

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the increase in staff working in the headquarters of the Eastern health and social services board since April 1989.

  Mr. Hanley
  Between 1 January 1989, the nearest date to April 1989 for which figures are available, and I January 1992 the number of staff employed in the headquarters of the Eastern health and social services board fell from the equivalent of 428.24 full-time workers to 352.12, a decrease of 76·12.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were on the electoral registers of each of the 17 parliamentary constituencies in June 1983; and how many there are now.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I understand from the chief electoral officer that the information is as set out. The figures for 1983 are estimates as the electoral register published that year was on the basis of the former 12 parliamentary constituencies.

  Persons on the register of parliamentary electors in Northern Ireland, by constituency—June 1983 and February 1992

  Constituency

  Persons on Register

  11983

  1992

  Belfast East

  56,231

  53,375

  Belfast North

  61,778

  55,587

  Belfast South

  54,344

  52,556

  Belfast West

  60,400

  55,280

  East Antrim

  59,430

  63,739

  East Londonderry

  68,015

  76,912

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  68,530

  71,472

  Foyle

  68,081

  75,970

  Lagan Valley

  60,749

  73,688

  Mid Ulster

  64,549

  70,410

  Newry and Armagh

  63,037

  68,716

  North Antrim

  63,904

  70,217

  North Down

  62,224

  69,604

  Strangford

  60,882

  69,855

  South Antrim

  59,949

  68,292

  South Down

  67,637

  77,371

  Upper Bann

  61,445

  68,422

  Total

  1,061,185

  1,141,466

  1 Estimated figures. Figures are available for the number of people eligible to vote in each of the 17 Northern Ireland constituencies in the June 1983 general election, but they do not include 11,049 persons who were under the age of 18 on election day but were on the electoral register because they would reach voting age while it was current.

  Health Service Staff
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of people employed by the NHS in Northern Ireland on a full-time and part-time basis.

  Mr. Hanley
  At 31 December 1991 the total number of people employed in the Northern Ireland health and personal social services was 61,050; of these 34,025 were employed on a full-time basis and 27,025 on a part-time basis.

  Note: These figures include staff employed in personal social services which are provided by local authorities in Great Britain.

  Electors
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statutory provisions which relate to the powers of the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland to arrange to have potential electors in residential homes excluded from the Register of Electors for 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The statutory powers and duties of chief electoral officer in respect of the compilation of the electoral register are contained in the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended and as applied by
  16
  schedule 1 to the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, and in subordinate legislation made under that Act. Under sections 1(1), 2(1) and 12 of the Act a person who is subject to a legal incapacity to vote may not be registered.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents are registered in residential homes in east Antrim; and how many of those residents have been excluded from the 1992 electoral register.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I understand from the chief electoral officer that this information is not available.

  Lough Foyle
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the running costs incurred in the operation of the research vessel Lough Foyle in each of the years from 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991.

  Mr. Hanley
  The running costs for the Lough Foyle are:

  £

  20 October 19881 to 31 March 1989

  168,662

  1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  409,332

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  585,483

  1 Date at which the vessel became operational in public service.

  Claimants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many, and what proportion, of supplementary benefit and income support claimants in Northern Ireland were in receipt of benefit because they were unemployed for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  Social security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Defence Sales
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist)Official Report, 21 February, column 338, if he will list those individual sales contracts for defence equipment covered by ECGD insurance where all commercial parties involved have agreed to disclosure.

  Mr. Lilley
  ECGD has no record of any instance where all the commercial parties have agreed to the disclosure of support in respect of defence sales contracts.

  Nuclear Proliferation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list(a) all measures taken by his Department in the last 12 months to prevent nuclear proliferation, (b) the number of personnel in his Department working to prevent nuclear proliferation and (c) his Department's total expenditure on control of nuclear proliferation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
  17
  Mr. Lilley
  The Export Control Organisation of DTI works together with other Government Departments to implement policy on nuclear non-proliferation. Over the past 12 months my officials have continued to participate in international fora dealing with nuclear proliferation issues, in particular the nuclear suppliers group and the European political co-operation working group on nuclear non-proliferation.

  Amendment No. 7 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order introduced in July 1991 was a significant unilateral measure which brought under control the export of a wide range of goods where the exporter knows or suspects that they will be used for nuclear proliferation purposes. In 1991 my Department organised a series of eight seminars for industry entitled "The Changing Threat" aimed at alerting exporters to proliferation issues in the context of export controls.

  The Export Control Organisation of DTI employs 119 staff. As the staff of the Export Control Organisation deal with all matters relating to export control, it is not possible to provide figures on the Department's expenditure specifically on the control of nuclear proliferation.

  Car Exports
  Mrs Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the total earnings of exports of British cars in 1990–91; and what are the latest figures for British car exports in total.

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

  Total United Kingdom exports of passenger motor cars

  Numbers

  Value (£ million)

  1990

  433,490

  3,306·3

  1991

  626,084

  4,081·0

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (Business Monitor MM20).

  Passenger motor cars are defined as item 781·2 of the standard international trade classification, revision 3.

  Innovation Unit
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the innovation unit of his Department.

  Mr. Leigh
  The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the background to the DTI's innovation unit as summarised in press notice P/91/544. Since its establishment in October 1991, the innovation unit has expanded, with the secondment of five top business men who are using their hands-on experience of innovation in industry to deal directly with firms, higher education institutes, schools and the media.

  Since its establishment, the unit has initiated or supported many activities such as the publication of the first United Kingdom research and development scoreboard and the "Innovation Plans Handbook", both aimed at improving communication between industry and investors. It is supporting the fellowship of engineering's MacRobert award and visiting professorship scheme and, in conjunction with the Fellowship of Engineering and the Royal Society, organised the first United Kingdom innovation lecture, delivered last month by Mr. Akio Morita, chairman of the Sony Corporation.

  Export Control Seminars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to his answer of 24 February,Official Report, column 380, if he will indicate (a) the number of corporate or individual attendees at each of the export control seminars held by his Department last year, (b) the number of such bookings taken for the seminar in Manchester on 23 March and (c) the feedback his Department has received on the utility of such seminars.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 February 1991]: (a) The number of corporate attendees at each seminar last year was as follows:

  Number

  Southampton

  27

  Manchester

  50

  London

  161

  Edinburgh

  29

  Bristol

  26

  Birmingham

  44

  Cambridge

  18

  Reading

  49

  (b) So far six companies have made bookings for the seminar in Manchester on 23 March. We are taking urgent steps to encourage further participation by businesses in the region.

  (c) Last year's seminars were all well received by exporters and assessed by participants as being informative and of practical value.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton),Official Report, 27 January, column 435, if he will set out for each year respectively from 1975 the proportion of United Kingdom total annual exports to Indonesia that were made up of military equipment requiring an export control licence.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: The information requested is not available.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the details of each external consultancy study undertaken, including its remit, into any aspects of the operation of the National Engineering Laboratory in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 28 February 1991]: Since this is an operational matter it would be best dealt with by direct contact with the agency. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested.

  EC Funding
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether local authorities in areas eligible to receive European regional development fund assistance will, from 1993–94, automatically have public expenditure cover made available for them to enable those local authorities to claim fully the European regional development fund made available by the European Commission.
  19
  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Yes. Local authorities are, however, of course not the only recipients of grant from the fund. In accordance with my statement on 17 February, from 1993–94 local authorities will receive supplementary credit approvals to match in full the ERDF-funded part of their expenditure on approved capital projects. Public expenditure cover will also be made available automatically for all other forecast ERDF receipts.

  I welcome the Commission's announcement on 26 February of its approval of the Government's RECHAR programmes.

  Additionality
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will deposit in the Library such papers relating to the discussions between the Government and the European Commission relating to the issue of additionality, and upon which he based his statement made on 17 February, as are not confidential.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: No. It is not usual for such papers to be deposited.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give full details of the nature of the transitional arrangements referred to in his statement of 17 February,Official Report, columns 22 to 37, on RECHAR.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: An announcement will be made as soon as possible about the details of the transitional arrangements in the intervening period until 1993–94. Allowance has already been made in public expenditure plans for RECHAR-linked expenditure, but it has not been possible for RECHAR grants to be made in 1991–92 because of the delay to the Commission's approval of the programmes.

  The transitional arrangements will include special arrangements for RECHAR to ensure that commensurate public expenditure cover is available to the relevant spending authorities for the element of their expenditure financed by the ERDF.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Disability
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  The annual review of employment of people with disabilities in the civil service is presented in the magazine "Independent" published today. This shows that the civil service employs 8,024 registered disabled people, an increase of 125 since 1990.

  Copies of "Independent" have been placed in the Library.

THE ARTS

  Arts Budget
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give details of the total United Kingdom arts budget for the last five financial years for which figures are available; and if these figures can be broken down for Scotland. England, Wales, Northern Ireland and London and expressed in cash terms and as percentages.

  Mr. Renton
  Details of the total arts budget for the United Kingdom are not available. The central Government arts programme for which I have responsibility is as follows:

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1986–87

  343

  —

  1987–88

  368

  +7

  1988–89

  414

  +13

  1989–90

  446

  +8

  1990–91

  496

  +11

  1991–92

  561

  +13

  It includes finance for the Arts Council of Great Britain which, in turn, passes funds on to the Scottish and Welsh Arts Councils.

  The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland make provisions for the arts in their respective expenditure programmes.

  A territorial presentation of Government expenditures by function and from 1986–87, is available in the Government's "Public Expenditure Analyses to 1994–95, Statistical Suplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement". Cm 1920.

  National Gallery
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what central Government financial assistance was given for the recent building work on the new wing of the national gallery in London.

  Mr. Renton
  None.

  Acceptance in Lieu
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if the statement in paragraph 3.3 of his Office's annual report for 1992, Cm 1912, concerning the availability from the contingency reserve of up to £10 million per annum, taking one year with another, for acceptance in lieu represents a change in policy from the announcement of 26 July 1985,Official Report, column 777, stating that the figure was not a limit but an estimate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  As Lord Gowrie said when he announced this policy in 1985, it is not possible to give an exact estimate of what might be accepted in lieu of tax in any one year, as too many unpredictables are involved. Looking at recent and current levels of acceptance in lieu offers, we would expect to call on the reserve for around £10 million or so a year, taking one year with another. I am pleased to say that there has been no change in policy in this area and must emphasise strongly that this is neither a target nor a limit, but an estimate. In any given year the demand could be either less or more.

  Bohemian Carvings
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts pursuant to the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) on 17 February,Official Report, column 152, what further consideration he has given to the matter of discussions with the art market about Bohemian carvings.

  Mr. Renton
  I will tomorrow be meeting with my consultative group on the export of works of art after 1992, on which there are representatives of the major art trade associations and auction houses. I will therefore take the opportunity to draw the matters of the Bohemian wood carvings to its attention, and I will follow this up in a letter. The hon. Member is no doubt aware of the voluntary code of practice adhered to by the art trade in the United Kingdom, whereby it undertakes not to deal in stolen works of art. I am sure it will wish to assist in the recovery of any wood carvings which might appear on the market.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of employees in his Departments; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. Maples
  The total number of employees in the Chancellor's departments at 1 October 1991 was 110,593·5.

  Departments collated their ethnic minority and disability figures at different times within the past 12 months. The combined totals are 5,611 from ethnic minority backgrounds and 1,7895 registered disabled workers.

  These figures include part-timers as 0·5.

  Some departments do not hold central records of the ethnic origin or disability of industrial staff. The response rate to ethnic origin questionnaires varies from 57 to 97·5 per cent. of staff. Some disabled people choose not to register as disabled.

  Mrs Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his Departments in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. Maples
  The combined total for the Chancellor's departments is:

  Grade

  Men

  Women

  1

  7·0

  0·0

  2

  19·0

  3·0

  3

  58·0

  2·0

  4

  58·0

  0·0

  5

  402·5

  31·0

  6

  1,135·5

  73·0

  7

  2,582·0

  344·0

  SEO

  4,132·0

  572·0

  HEO

  10,310·0

  3,576·5

  AT

  21·0

  5·0

  EO

  14,882·5

  12,244·0

  AO

  9,874·5

  20,568·5

  AA

  6,777·5

  18,862·0

  22
  These figures all relate to 1991–92, although the precise date varies between departments. The figures show full-time equivalents; part-timers are counted as 0·5. More women than men work part time; so the figures understate the actual number of women employed.

  Childcare Tax Allowance
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1992–93 and in a full year of introducing a child care tax credit of £5 per child for(a) all working mothers and (b) all mothers, giving figures separately for (i) all dependent children and (ii) children under five years only.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates of the cost of introducing such a tax credit are in the table. It has been assumed that the £5 per week payments would be made to all those with children whether taxpayers or non-taxpayers.

  All families

  All families with working mother1

  £billion

  £billion

  Payment in respect of:

  All children

  3·2

  1·9

  Children under five only

  1·0

  0·4

  1 Including lone fathers who are working.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of introducing a tax allowance for child care costs, set against the taxable income of the mother, equal to £50 per week(a) per family with children under age 16 years and (b) per family with at least one child under the age of five years, giving the numbers of each who would benefit from such allowance, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Estimates of the cost of introducing an allowance of £50 per week against taxable income of mothers and lone parents at 1992–93 levels, and the numbers of families benefiting from such an allowance are set out in the table.

  Cost £billion

  Numbers benefiting millions1

  Family with children under the age of 161

  1·3

  2·5

  Family with at least one child under the age of 51

  0·4

  0·8

  1 Includes lone parents.

  Families (Taxation)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families with children are estimated to have taxable incomes below the income tax threshold; and what proportion this represents of all families with children.

  Mr. Maude
  In 1991–92 it is estimated that 1.8 million single parents and married couples with children have no income tax liability. These represent about one quarter of all families with children.

  Non-taxpayers
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for how many(a) working and (b) non-working people do not pay tax, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  Just under 21 million people over 16 do not pay income tax in 1991–92, of whom 4·2 million have some earnings.

  Debtor Countries
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the estimated total value of debt relief will be for countries which recieved the Toronto terms if they were all to receive the same terms as recently agreed by the Paris Club for Nicaragua;

  (2) how much debt relief would be given by the United Kingdom Government if all the countries which received relief under the toronto terms were to receive the same terms as recently agreed by the Paris Club for Nicaragua.

  Mr. Maples
  The actual value of debt relief under the terms of a Paris Club agreement is dependent on a number of factors which are not known in advance of the conclusion of the agreement. However, the agreement concluded with Nicaragua in December of last year provided for the reduction by 50 per cent. of eligible debts.

  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the United States Government on the adoption of option A of debt relief agreements reached in the Paris Club of the kind agreed with Nicaragua last December.

  Mr. Maples
  The United States Government are aware at the highest level of the United Kingdom Government's objectives in this area. These objectives are the full implementation of Trinidad terms by all creditor countries at the Paris Club. Treasury officials are in regular contact with their United States counterparts, and will continue to pursue this matter vigorously.

  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the criteria for debtor countries' eligibility to receive the Trinidad terms of debt relief.

  Mr. Maples
  There are no formal criteria for eligibility for any set of debt restructuring terms at the Paris Club. The Trinidad terms are designed for a similar group of countries to the Toronto terms. These countries were informally designated as those very poor and heavily indebted countries with chronic balance of payments problems that render the country unable to service debts on conventional terms. It is a pre-condition of any agreement at the Paris Club that the debtor country has a strong economic adjustment programme in place supported by the IMF. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.

  The 20 countries which have benefited from the Toronto terms between October 1988 and June 1991, are as follows: Benin, Bolivia, Burkino Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire and Zambia. Since December 1991 four countries have further benefited from the Trinidad terms. These are Nicaragua, Benin, Tanzania and Bolivia. More are expected to follow.
  24
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the United Kingdom is owed by those countries which have received the Toronto terms of debt relief.

  Mr. Maples
  Taking into account the effect of debt reduction under the Toronto terms, the total of debt owed to the United Kingdom Government by the countries which have benefited from Toronto terms is £870 million, comprising £755 million of claims and outstanding interest on those claims owed to ECGD and £115 million owed to ODA.

  Capital Investment
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much British capital is currently invested in the USA.

  Mr. Maples
  The latest available information from United Kingdom sources relates to the book value of direct investments in branches, subsidiaries and associates of United Kingdom companies in the USA at the end of 1989 and is published in table 1.6 of "Business Monitor MA4 (1989 Overseas Transactions)" published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the Library. In addition, figures on the position at the end of 1990, are published by the US Department of Commerce in its "Survey of Current Business (August 1991)". A copy of this publication is also in the Library.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts of the inward and outward movement of capital to and from the United Kingdom for the last 10 years.

  Mr. Maples
  The available details inward and outward investment (distinguishing direct, portfolio and other flows) are contained in table A8 of the December 1991 issues of "Economic Trends" published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. Annual figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Japanese capital is currently invested in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maples
  The latest available information relates to the book values of direct investments in branches, subsidiaries and associates of Japanese companies in the United Kingdom at the end of 1989 and is published in table 2.6 of "Business Monitor MA4 (1989 Overseas Transactions)" published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Local Authority Borrowing
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total local authority borrowing requirement for each year from 1978–79 to 1991–92, estimated.

  Mr. Mellor
  The total local authority borrowing requirement (LABR) for each year from 1978–79 to 1990–91 is as follows:

  LABR £ billion

  1978–79

  1·3

  1979–80

  3·0

  1980–81

  2·1

  25

  LABR £ billion

  1981–82

  -0·2

  1982–83

  0·1

  1983–84

  1·2

  1984–85

  2·4

  1985–86

  1·7

  1986–87

  0·1

  1987–88

  1·4

  1988–89

  0·3

  1989–90

  1·3

  1990–91

  3·4

  An estimate for the LABR in 1991–92 will be published in the 1992 FSBR.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total corporation tax raised from companies in regard to their activities in Wales in 1990–91.

  Mr. Maude
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the gross domestic product of(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Greater London in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each year from 1980–81 to 1991–92, estimated.

  Mr. Mellor
  Current price figures for Greater London up to 1989 are published in "Economic Trends" No. 457, November 1991 page 96. These include the income from employment of non-residents who work in Greater London. Alternative estimates given on page 92 exclude the income of non-residents. These do not measure the whole of the economic activity taking place in Greater London, but annual estimates are available up to 1990. Both pages include comparable figures for the United Kingdom. Only calendar year estimates are made.

  Constant price estimates of regional GDP are not made because there are no regional deflators. Comparable constant prices figures for the United Kingdom are given in table 1.3 of the Central Statistical Office Blue Book, 1991 edition, "United Kingdom National Accounts".

  Government Revenue
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total Government revenue, including all taxation and other income accruing to both central and local government, for the year 1990–91; and what was the revenue per capita.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information on total general Government revenue, defined as total current and capital account receipts, is published in the Central Statistical Office monthly publication "Financial Statistics" in tables 2.1 and 2.2 and is £220,347 million for the financial year 1990–91. The total revenue divided by the home population for mid-1990 as published in "The United Kingdom National Accounts" (CSO Blue Book) table 17.1 gives a figure for revenue per capita of £3,838.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish identifiable general Government expenditure, by area and function, consistent with the figures in tables EIO and El 1 of Cm. 1920 for(a) Greater London and (b) the south-east excluding Greater London.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not available.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. Maude
  A study to determine the most promising areas for market testing within the Department is not yet complete. Guidance on the ethics of conducting business with the private sector is contained in the Treasury's public competition and purchasing units guidance—CUP No. 16 —which has been circulated to Departments.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Maude
  Following the evaluation of proposals from six firms, Touche Ross has been appointed to provide the private sector input to the study being undertaken to determine the scope for further market testing in Treasury in accordance with the White Paper "Competing for Quality" (Cm 1730). Information on the level of fees charged is commercially confidential.

  Uniforms
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will approve the introduction of uniforms to those employees in the public departments and executive agencies who currently wear individual clothes.

  Mrs Gillian Shephard
  I have no plans to do so.

  Tax Deductions (Training Courses)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether expenditure by a proprietor of a business on attending a training course(a) to obtain new knowledge or skills or (b) to upgrade existing knowledge is tax deductible.

  Mr. Maude
  Where a business proprietor incurs expenditure on training to extend or improve his or her
  27
  professional knowledge or skills, capital expenditure and tax relief will not normally be available for the expenditure when calculating the profits of the business for tax purposes. But money spent to update his or her professional skills or knowledge would generally be of a revenue nature and therefore allowable. It will be a question of fact in each case.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people presently have cars registered for ownership in a company's name; and if he will give a comparable figure for each year since 1973–74.

  Mr. Maude
  I assume that the hon. Member is interested in the numbers of employees with cars provided by their employers which are available for private use. It is estimated that in 1991–92 there were just under 2 million such employees. There are also about 2 million cars used by self-employed people for which relief is claimed against schedule D income tax liability. Available information on the numbers of employees who were taxed on the benefit of the provision of a car for private use for earlier years is as follows. Information for earlier years of numbers of self-employed people with cars used for business is not readily available.

  Numbers with taxable car benefit (thousands)

  1978–79

  560

  1980–81

  650

  1981–82

  790

  1983–84

  850

  1985–86

  1,070

  1987–88

  1,550

  1988–89

  1,750

  1989–90

  1,850

  1990–91

  1,950

  Pensioners
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are(a) under state retirement age and (b) over state retirement age, and receiving a pension from a recognised scheme, giving in each case the number who are (i) non-taxpayers, (ii) basic rate taxpayers and (iii) higher rate taxpayers;

  (2) what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are (a) under state retirement age and (b) over state retirement age, and receiving a pension from a recognised scheme, giving in each case the number who are (i) non-taxpayers, (ii) basic rate taxpayers and (iii) higher rate taxpayers in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Maude
  Available estimates arc for United Kingdom taxpayers with occupational pensions and are as follows:

  Basic rate taxpayers (thousands)

  Higher rate taxpayers (thousands)

  Aged under 65

  930

  50

  Aged 65 and over

  1,540

  70

  Purchasing Initiative
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in implementing the Government's purchasing initiative since 1989–90.

  Mr. Maude
  A report by the central unit on purchasing (CUP) on progress in Government purchasing during 1990–91 is published today. This will be the last report from CUP; following the publication of the Government's White Paper "Competing for Quality" Cm 1730, a new public competition and purchasing unit (PCPU), based in the Treasury, has been established to promote the Government's programme as part of the citizens charter initiative for extending competition in the provisions of public services as well as subsuming CUP's other work.

  The report records the high level of activity and considerable progress in Government purchasing in 1990–91. The main features include:
  in 1990–91 Departments achieved value for money savings of £153 million exceeding their target by some £36 million. For 1991–92 Departments have set themselves a target of 3.4 per cent;
  since 1985–86 Departments have achieved savings in excess of £1.5 billion;
  further strengthening of purchasing as a professional specialism in central Government;
  a core specification for purchasing information systems for all Government Departments;
  in the construction field, a database was established in 1990–91 which will offer departments a better system for tracking performance, so that projects can he properly managed within time and cost parameters.

  The report also records progress on other areas of the purchasing initiative and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for how many people who pay tax have earnings below the upper earnings limit in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Latest estimates for 1991–92 indicate that about 16 million taxpaying employees had earnings below the upper earnings limit.

  Marginal Tax Rates
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people faced marginal tax rates(a) including and (b) excluding social security, of (i) over 40 per cent., (ii) over 50 per cent., (iii) over 60 per cent., (iv) over 70 per cent., (v) over 80 per cent., (vi) over 90 per cent. and (vii) over 100 per cent. in every year since 1978–79, including 1991–92, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Estimated numbers of taxpayers liable to income tax at rates above the basic rate are in the table. Estimates of the numbers with marginal net income deduction rates (taking account of the withdrawal of social security benefits) at or above certain levels were published in figure 20 of "Social Security. The Government's expenditure plans 1992–93 to 1994–95" (Cm 1914).
  29

  Taxpayers1 liable at higher rate

  (thousands)

  Tax rate2

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–913

  1991–923

  40

  235

  302

  334

  445

  435

  355

  380

  380

  400

  360

  1,350

  1,500

  1,660

  1,620

  45

  158

  168

  216

  305

  245

  245

  255

  250

  300

  320

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50

  86

  108

  129

  170

  155

  140

  145

  150

  210

  240

  —

  —

  —

  —

  55

  84

  43

  52

  75

  65

  55

  65

  70

  90

  110

  —

  —

  —

  —

  60

  54

  53

  65

  95

  83

  65

  85

  100

  120

  160

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65

  45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  70

  32

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  75

  36

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  80

  33

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  763

  674

  796

  1,090

  983

  860

  930

  950

  1,120

  1,190

  1,350

  1,500

  1,660

  1,620

  1 Single people and married couples for years up to and including 1989–90, individuals from 1990–91.

  2 Tax rate applicable to earned income. This excludes any liability to the investment income surcharge for years up to 1983–84.

  3 Provisional estimates projected from the 1989–90 Survey of Personal Incomes.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue cost in 1992–93 of a reduced rate of income tax of(a) 20 per cent., (b) 23 per cent. and (c) 24 per cent., on the first (i) £1,000 and (ii) £2,000 of taxable income, in the United Kingdom giving the numbers with taxable incomes less than £1,000 and £2,000.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1992]: Estimates at 1992–93 levels of income are as follows. They assume that the basic rate limit (higher rate threshold) would not be affected by the introduction of the reduced rate band.

  Full year costs (£ million)

  Reduced rate

  Taxable income subject to reduced rate (£)

  20 per cent.

  23 per cent.

  24 per cent.

  1,000

  1,190

  480

  240

  2,000

  2,280

  910

  460

  Approximately 2 million tax-paying individuals have taxable income less than £1,000 and 4 million tax-paying individuals have taxable income less than £2,000 in 1992–93.

  Tax Relief, Isle of Dogs
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total cost of tax yields forgone as a result of the reliefs associated with the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, showing the total for each tax, for each year from 1981–82 to 1991–92 (estimated).

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Information on capital allowances claimed for investment in individuals enterprise zones is not held centrally. Estimates of investment in each zone are given in the HMSO publication "Enterprise Zone Information 1988–89" and earlier annual editions, copies of which are in the Library.

  Denatured Wine
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the reasons for leaving duty on denatured wine products for culinary uses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Excise duty is charged on wine and made-wine, whether or not denatured, under sections 54 and 55 of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979. There is no general
  30
  relief for culinary use but, subject to certain conditions, duty is repayable under sections 56 and 60 to manufacturers of products in which wine or made-wine is used as an ingredient.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Chief Justice
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will describe the procedure whereby the Lord Chief Justice is appointed;

  (2) if he will list the parties consulted before the nomination of the new Lord Chief Justice was submitted;

  (3) what consideration was given to the custom and practice that an outgoing Government should not seek to bind its successors before appointing the new Lord Chief Justice.

  The Prime Minister
  As with other senior appointments to the judiciary, the Lord Chief Justice is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister following confidential consultations in appropriate quarters. It has never been the practice to list the parties consulted nor to reveal the nature and source of any advice or recommendations received.

  Secondees
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the external secondees among the personnel of the efficiency unit, the "next steps" unit and the citizens charter unit, together with the seconding organisation or company where appropriate.

  The Prime Minister
  The external secondees working in these areas are:

  Seconding organisation

  Location

  N. R. Cribb

  Unilever

  Efficiency unit

  Dr. I. V. Howell

  British Petroleum

  Efficiency unit

  B. R. Ross

  Bass

  Efficiency unit

  C. Purbrook

  Ernst and Young

  Next Steps unit

  Alice Hyde
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister how he proposed to respond to the petition from Alice Hyde.

  The Prime Minister
  I have acknowledged Alice Hyde's petition on the effect of the proposed east London river
  31
  crossing on Oxleas wood and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will arrange for a full reply to be sent shortly. It will confirm that the impact of the road on the wood was carefully considered at the public inquiries held in 1985 and 1986, and subsequently by the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment before they approved the line of the road.

  The route has been aligned to preserve the largest part of Oxleas wood intact. The slopes of the cutting through the wood, and the new area of open space to be given in exchange for that required for the road, will be landscaped to recreate, as far as possible, the woodland habitat that existed before the road was built.

  The Government place much weight on environmental matters. However, we have to balance the environmental impact of measures associated with road schemes with the benefits of those schemes in order to reach decisions that are in the best interests of the community as a whole. We believe that the right decision was made in this case.

  Mirror Group
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the committee representing the staffs of Mirror Group Newspapers in regard to the recovery of pension assets from the banks which are holding them; if at an early date he will meet a deputation from the committee; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have recently received a request to meet a deputation and it will be considered in the usual way. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security, and other ministerial colleagues met representatives of trustees of all Maxwell pension schemes on 6 February.

WALES

  Home Ownership Schemes
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes are currently under the flexi-ownership scheme operated by the Development Board for Rural Wales; and how many households have taken advantage of the scheme.

  Mr. David Hunt
  To date the Development Board for Rural Wales has received 300 expressions of interest, dealt with 115 formal applications and completed 53 sales under the flexi-ownership scheme. To be eligible for the scheme, tenants must not have been in receipt of housing benefit or rent rebate in the preceding 12 months. When the scheme was launched approximately 850 households were eligible for flexi-ownership.

  A40, Abergavenny
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had regarding safety for pedestrians on the A40 between Abergavenny town centre and Hardwick roundabout, Abergavenny; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Two inquiries have been received regarding pedestrian safety on this section of the A40, one from a Plas Derwen resident and one from the hon. Gentleman.

  Grants to Industry
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 February Official Report, column 214, on the effects of grants to companies in Wales, what information is available in his Department to assess the cost-effectiveness of grants in aid to industries located in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department participates in a programme of evaluation studies of regional policy instruments such as regional selective assistance and regional enterprise grants which are available in the assisted areas of Great Britain. These evaluations include an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the grant schemes.

  The two most recently published studies are: "Regional Selective Assistance 1980–84," an Evaluation by DTI, IDS and WOID (HMSO 1990), and "Evaluation of Regional Enterprise Grants-Second Stage," a report by Segal Quince Wicksteed Ltd (HMSO 1991). Further evaluations of both grant schemes are currently taking place.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of poll tax income is still owed to local authorities for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It is estimated that at 31 December 1991 about £76 million of community charges remain to be collected in 1991–92, including arrears of 1990–91 charges. Many payments made by instalments will have been made during the final quarter of the year.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within the department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs charged to the department by them to date and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte has been engaged to help the Department draw up its forward programme of market testing. The amount of its fee is commercially confidential information.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The study to identify potential market testing candidates is not yet complete. My Department observes the guidance on the ethics of conducting business with the private sector which has been prepared by the Treasury's competition and purchasing unit.

  Agriculture, Gwent
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the implication of the MacSharry proposals on agriculture in Gwent.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received a number of representations from industry bodies in Wales and individual farmers, including some from Gwent, on the implications for the industry generally of the EC reform proposals.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next proposes to meet the European Agriculture Commissioner to discuss the effects of the MacSharry proposals on agriculture in Gwent.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I met Commissioner MacSharry most recently on 21 February in Brussels when I again emphasised the deep concern of the Welsh farming industry over the EC's proposals for CAP reform.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of employment in agriculture in Gwent.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There were 3,761 persons engaged in work on main holdings in Gwent in 1991, excluding wives/husbands of farmers, partners and directors.

  Hospital Closures, South Glamorgan
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with South Glamorgan health authority concerning the proposed closure of Rook wood hospital, Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital and the Cardiff royal infirmary and the timing of announcements relating to such closures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None.

  Independent Farm Units
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many independent farm units there were in Gwent in 1981 and 1991.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There were 2,129 main holdings in Gwent in 1981 and 2,143 in 1991.

  Heartbeat Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West on 26 February,Official Report, column 526, if he will institute an independent evaluation study of the costs and benefits of Heartbeat Wales.

  Long term unemployed1

  July 1983

  January 1992

  Change

  Total

  Total

  Total

  Percentage

  Clwyd

  8,970

  3,403

  -5,567

  -62·1

  Dyfedd

  5,576

  3,361

  -2,215

  -39·7

  Gwent

  11,378

  6,144

  -5,234

  -46·0

  Gwynedd

  4,109

  3,237

  -872

  -21·2

  Mid Glamorgan

  13,494

  8,423

  -5,071

  -37·6

  Powys

  1,262

  648

  -614

  -48·7

  South Glamorgan

  9,000

  6,138

  -2,862

  -31·8

  West Glamorgan

  9,538

  4,546

  -4,992

  -52·3

  1 Unadjusted.

  34
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Health Promotion Authority for Wales has published its Heartbeat Wales evaluation strategy entitled "The Welsh Heart Programme Evaluation Strategy: progress, plans and possibilities", which has been subject to a scientific peer review. HPAW, in developing its strategy, has sought the advice of a wide range of external consultants. The evaluation was reviewed during 1989 by two international experts in the field of community programme evaluation, Professor Murray (University of Minnesota) and Professor Bosse Haglund (programme director of the Stockholm cancer prevention project), both of whom continue to give advice. In addition the Health Promotion Authority for Wales has an evaluation advisory group comprising United Kingdom-based experts.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the political advisers employed for each Minister in his Department since 1979, the period for which each was employed, the salary range applicable in each case, and the total annual cost to public funds of political advisers.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Mr. Christopher Butler served the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Nicholas Edwards MP, from 1983 to 1985. Mr. Rod Richards served as my special adviser from 1990. It would not be appropriate o reveal the salaries of special advisers, nor in consequence the total cost of individual appointments, as these are individually negotiated taking into account previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.

  Unemployment Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of long-term unemployed in each of the counties of Wales for the latest available date and for May 1979 giving the increase expressed both as a total and as a percentage.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The earliest month for which data comparable with present coverage are available for local areas is July 1983. The numbers of long-term unemployed in each of the counties of Wales in July 1983 and January 1992 are as follows:

  Alder Hey Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future prospects of Welsh patients in relation to treatment at Alder Hey hospital, Wirral.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for individual health authorities in Wales as purchasers of quality health care for their resident populations.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to make a statement on cancer treatment for north Wales patients.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  We are currently considering the far reaching implications of the Deloitte Haskins and Sells report in the light of the responses to consultation. We hope to announce our decision on the further development of the service before too long.

  Kytril
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the use in Wales for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment, of the drug Kytril to combat nausea.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Kytril became commercially available from January this year after being licensed for use in December 1991. Any new drug is considered by the appropriate local drugs and therapeutic committee prior to its approval for either general or limited use. The use of Kytril is a matter for health authorities, as purchasers of health services for their residents, to consider.

  Monmouth
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 56, if he will now state what delegation, representing what bodies, he intends to meet in relation to the application for assisted area status for the Monmouth travel-to-work area.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have agreed also to meet the Monmouth chamber of commerce on a date still to be fixed.

  On 6 January 1992 I received a document from the chief executive of Monmouth borough council arguing the case for the Monmouth travel-to-work area to be designated an assisted area and asking for a meeting with the council and other bodies. On 24 January a reply was sent from my office acknowledging the document but pointing out that in 1988 it was announced that there would be no changes made during the lifetime of this Parliament. Mr. Roger Evans then contacted me to argue the case for a meeting and raising some new issues in favour of a change which were not contained in the document. Today I met the leader, deputy leader, planning and development officer, and chairman of the industrial site sub-committee from Monmouth borough council, the town clerk of Monmouth town council, county councillor White and Mr. Evans.

  I shall now be considering the points raised and responding in due course. I am, of course, willing to see the hon. Gentleman on these issues should he make a request for a meeting.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the numbers of(a) men and (b) women in his Ministry in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. Curry
  The information has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and is as follows:

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Non-industrial staff in post statistics by grade eqivalent 1 April 1991

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  1

  Grade 2

  6

  0

  6

  Grade 3

  24

  1

  25

  Grade 4

  16

  0

  16

  Grade 5

  101

  9

  110

  Grade 6

  130

  13

  143

  Grade 7

  827

  130

  957

  SEO

  868

  131

  999

  HEO

  1,221

  423

  1,644

  EO

  948

  773

  1,721

  AO

  699

  1,365

  2,064

  AA

  557

  1,499

  2,056

  Total

  5,398

  4,344

  9,742

  Notes:

  1. Includes one Grade 2 who has been on secondment to the European Community for a number of years and excludes one female Grade 2 appointed shortly after 1 April 1991.

  2. Part-time staff are counted as half-units and numbers are rounded to whole units.

  3. The table covers all non-industrial staff and includes equivalents of the grades listed.

  Consumer Panel
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the operation of his Department's consumer panel.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since it was set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in November 1989, the consumer panel has proved to be a fruitful means of obtaining the views of the ordinary consumer. I have therefore agreed that it should continue. I have today announced the names of the persons who have agreed to serve on the panel for its second term. They are: Mr. Philip Bell, Mrs. Judy Brander, Mrs. Dorothy Craig, Mrs. Harriet Kimbell, Mrs. Suzi Leather, Mrs. Jean McVitty, Mrs. Maeve Robertson, Mr. Gareth Morgan, Mrs. Karen Powell and Mrs. Noel Whamond.

  Although individuals have been nominated by specific consumer organisations, they are appointed in a personal capacity to serve as ordinary consumers and to represent the views of ordinary consumers. I look forward to their playing a part in the continuing development of Government policies on food safety, diet and nutrition and consumer protection issues.

  In order to help better focus the panel's discussion on the issues it considers, I have revised the terms of reference for the panel. These are now:

  (i) to bring to the attention of Ministers food issues of concern to consumer;

  (ii) to advise on the transparency for consumers of Ministers' food policies;

  (iii) to advise on the transmission to consumers of advice and information relating to Ministers' policies on food safety, diet and nutrition.

  Agricultural Development Advisery Service Support Staff
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account has been taken by his Department of the conditions of service of support staff following the establishment of the Agricultural Development Advisery Service as a Government agency in April.

  Mr. Curry
  ADAS support staff remain civil servants, subject to civil service terms and conditions of service. As civil servants, staff are eligible to move between the agency and MAFF, the Welsh Office or other Government Departments, for example, for career development.

  Horse Manure
  Mr. Alex Carlisle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has which would prohibit the sale of horse manure for spreading on private gardens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no such proposals and have no intention of doing so.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Curry
  None. The Department is in the process of awarding a contract covering a preliminary exercise to assist with the selection of areas for more detailed examination.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. Curry
  No individuals or organisations from the private sector have identified any areas within the Department since 18 November 1991.

  As indicated in the "Competing for Quality" White Paper, the Department already has a programme for extending competition through market testing. Since publication of the White Paper, our officials have been reviewing further areas that could be considered suitable for market testing.

  The Department is conscious of the risk that conflicts of interest could arise as a result of contracting work out. The risk would be assessed very carefully on a case-by-case basis both in framing invitations to tender and in attaching conditions to any contracts subsequently awarded.

  Fish Conservation
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet able to draw up a detailed commissioning scheme to secure access to EC funding for British fishermen.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister gave on 27 February to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) at column 612–14.

  Intervention Stores, Coventry
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the EC intervention stores located within 20 miles of Coventry and tabulate the tonnage, value and type of stock held at each; how many storehouses for EC surplus foodstuffs there are in Britain; and what is the aggregate tonnage, value and type of the stocks they hold.

  Mr. Curry
  Since the question concerns matters which are the direct responsibility of the chief executive of the Intervention Board executive agency, I am asking him to write directly to the hon. Member.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Restrictive Covenants
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received about the law on restrictive covenants; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has received around 100 letters from Members of Parliament and the public expressing a range of views on the Law Commission's report on obsolete restrictive covenants published in July 1991.

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to reach a decision regarding prosecutions of West Midlands police officers arising from the West Yorkshire inquiry.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown prosecution service will take these decisions when consideration is completed of 73 files submitted to CPS headquarters by the West Yorkshire inquiry team.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the current annual cost of legal aid.

  The Attorney-General
  In the financial year 1990–91 expenditure on legal aid in England and Wales was £852 million gross and £684 million net. In addition, for the same period £33 million was spent on legal aid administration. In the current financial year it is estimated that expenditure will be around £1,150 million gross and around £900 million net plus £39 million on legal aid administration.

  Maxwell Pension Funds
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Director of the Serious Fraud Office has reached any decision on prosecutions relating to the Maxwell Communication Corporation and Mirror Group of companies pension funds; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney General
  No decision on prosecutions has yet been made. Inquiries will continue for some time.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a further statement about the work of the Serious Fraud Office.

  The Attorney-General
  The aims of the Serious Fraud Office remain to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system in dealing with serious fraud, thereby detering fraud and maintaining confidence in our financial systems. The Serious Fraud Office has, since its inception, prosecuted 171 individual defendants of whom 115 were convicted on one or more charges (67 per cent. of those brought to trial). Establishment of the Serious Fraud Office brought together the skills of several disciplines in a way which has made it possible successfully to investigate cases which previously might have proved impenetrable. The Serious Fraud Office has utilised modern technology extensively to ensure that cases can be presented succinctly and clearly to juries. Suggestions of overcharging are fallacious.

  Of the 20 cases since September 1990 in which the jury were asked to return verdicts, six indictments contained one count only and only three indictments involved in excess of 12 counts. Each of those three indictments related to investor fraud involving up to several hundred instances of alleged criminal conduct.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received about the operation of the Serious Fraud Office.

  The Attorney-General
  In 1992 I have received seven parliamentary questions on a variety of subjects which fall under the broad heading of representations about the operation of the Serious Fraud Office. Those are in addition to the questions on today's Order Paper. I have also received representations from one hon. Member and one constituent.

  Immigration
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Attorney-General, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey of 17 February,Official Report, column 19, what plans his Department has to speed up the determination of appeals against refusals of applications for visitors' visas by visitors to the United Kingdom from Bangladesh.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department plans to increase by 10 per cent. the staffing resources available to the immigration appellate authorities (IAA), and is improving and expanding the IAA's existing accommodation to provide more hearing rooms for adjudicators. Furthermore, a multi-terminal case-tracking computer system has recently been installed.40
  These measures will help the IAA to tackle more effectively their rising workload, including visitor visa appeals from Bangladesh.

  High Court Judges
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Attorney-General how many High Court judges are(a) men and (b) women.

  The Attorney-General
  As at 1 March there were 83 High Court judges in office, of which 81 were men and two were women. In addition, a further female High Court judge, Mrs. Justice Ebsworth, is being sworn in today.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each private sector consultancy firm which has been retained by each agency within his Department, and for his Department as a whole, for the purposes of advising on the market testing programme; and whether the appointment in each case was the result of competitive tendering.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte has been retained to conduct a single study, in conjunction with an internal review team, to advise me on the future market testing programme for my Department as a whole. It was selected through competitive tendering.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within the Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs charged to the Department by them to date and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte has been retained to conduct a study, in conjunction with an internal review team, to advise me on the future market testing programme for my Department. The review is not yet complete and no decisions have been taken on areas that are suitable for market testing. The value of contracts is a matter of commercial and contractual confidentiality.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  In reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 5 December at column 219, I set out plans for further private sector involvement in court escorts, custody and security and in prison management.
  41
  Private sector consultants, together with an internal review team, are conducting a study to advise me on my Department's overall market testing programme, but their work has not yet been completed.

  Contracting out of Home Office work to the private sector is carried out in accordance with guidance issued by the Treasury's public competition and purchasing unit.

  Dorset Police
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in police manpower in Dorset since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Dorset police had 1,280 police officers at the end of December 1991, 140 more than in May 1979. The authorised establishment of the force will increase by 15 police posts to 1,302 with effect from 1 April 1992.

  Effra House
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has taken on funding by his Department for 36 bed spaces at Effra house, 45 Effra road, London, SW2; and what representations he has received from the Effra Trust on that subject.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Home Office provides funding for 25 of the 26 bed spaces run by the Effra Trust at five different addresses including 45 Effra road, London SW2. I have received representations from the Effra Trust and five other organisations based in London that the probation service should take on the care payments to residents currently paid by the Department of Social Security and due to be transferred to local authorities in April 1993. I shall be replying shortly.

  Professional Jurors
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce professional jurors in serious fraud cases.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans to do so. The procedures for serious fraud cases will be kept under review, taking account of anything which might be said by the Royal Commission on criminal justice.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of immigration and customs officials will be permanently in place upon the opening of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The staffing levels which will be required when the channel tunnel opens will depend upon the nature and frequency of the services which will use it at that time and the estimated passenger volumes. These are matters about which officials are in touch with the service operators, but it is still too early to put a figure on the staffing requirement.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) summonses and (b) liability orders have been issued for poll tax debt in (i) England and (ii) Wales; and if he will make a statement.
  42
  Mr. John Patten
  About 11 million summonses have been issued alleging non-payment of community charge during the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1991, about 10·4 million in England and 0·6 million in Wales. During the same period about 8·1 million liability orders were made, 7·7 million in England and 0·4 million in Wales. In both cases, some will have involved the same persons in respect of different financial years.

  Drug-related Crime
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of crime which is drug-related.

  Mr. John Patten
  The latest estimates are published in paragraph 2·4 of the 1991 report "Drug Misusers and the Criminal Justice System: Part 1 Community resources and the probation service" by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, a copy of which is in the Library. These however relate only to heroin misusers and do not include estimates for crimes by other drug misusers.

  Wolds Prison
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total estimated cost of running Wolds prison during the financial year 1992–93; and how much of the total will be met by the remand contract unit.

  Mrs Rumbold
  The estimated cost of running Wolds prison in 1992–93 will be published in the "Supply Estimate" on Budget day.

  Police Forces
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) women and (b) men are employed by each police force in Britain; at what grade they are employed; and what percentage this is at each grade.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Re-offenders on Bail
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the West Midlands police force area have committed offences while on bail during 1991, or for the latest year available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The requested information is riot available.

  Football Stadia
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Football Stadia Advisory Design Council.

  Mr. John Patten
  This body was set up and funded jointly by the Football Association and the Football League following a recommendation of Lord Justice Taylor in his report on the Hillsborough disaster. He recommended that the council should:

  (a) conduct and marshal research into the improvement and design of football stadia and

  (b) disseminate regularly such information and expertise as they acquire in this field to members of the Football League and, on request, to other football and sports clubs in England, Wales and Scotland.

  43
  The council has already published some helpful guidance and I understand that discussions as to its future role are taking place with the Football Association.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the average cost per sitting hour of a magistrates court.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 January at column 415.

  Electoral Registration
  Mrs Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision exists for homeless people to register; what guidance has been given to electoral registration officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, in order to be entitled to vote a person must be resident at an address in a constituency or electoral area on the qualifying date of 10 October, and must be registered there as an elector. The question of whether someone can be regarded as resident for registration purposes is determined not by the nature of the accommodation but by the permanence of his or her residence at a particular place. No guidance has been issued to electoral registration officers on registering homeless people.

  Mr. Delroy McKnight
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish, and in what form, the results of his investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Delroy McKnight in Wandsworth prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs Rumbold
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Any death in custody is the cause of very great concern, to the Prison Service and to the public. In addition to the full public inquest, a careful review is carried out by prison management in each case to see whether there are any practical lessons which can be learned. It would not be appropriate to publish such reports routinely.

  The death of Delroy McKnight, however, revealed very serious inadequacies in the quality of care which, on this occasion, required a further and more detailed investigation. Following the inquest, which was held in March 1991, the director of prison medical services therefore established a working group to study the events leading to Mr. McKnight's death and make recommendations for change. The group, which was chaired by Dr. Michael Longfield, a principal medical officer within the medical directorate, submitted its report last November. In view of the seriousness of this case, I am now, exceptionally, arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The report makes 17 recommendations, the majority of which are concerned with specific practical changes in working procedures at Wandsworth and other establishments at which Mr. McKnight was in custody. The recommendations aim particularly at improving communication and continuity in the clinical management of
  44
  prisoners, for example by ensuring full documentation of all decisions, clear understanding by all staff of their responsibilities and regular multi-disciplinary reviews of the needs of prisoners who appear to be at risk of self-harm or are receiving treatment for psychiatric problems. Almost all the recommendations addressed to establishments have already been implemented. The local suicide prevention management group at Wandsworth has brought about substantial improvements in suicide prevention policy and procedure since Mr. McKnight's tragic death.

  In addition, the report makes several recommendations about general matters of health care management within the Prison Service, which are under active consideration within the medical directorate in the context of the follow-up to the scrutiny of the prison medical service.

  Mortality Statistics (Public Streets)
  Mrs Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for deaths on public streets in London due to causes other than violence or road traffic accidents for the period 1 October 1990 to 30 April 1991.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the figures for deaths on public streets in England and Wales due to hypothermia, malnutrition or self-neglect in the period from 1 October 1990 to 30 April 1991;

  (2) what are the figures for deaths on public streets in London due to hypothermia, malnutrition or self-neglect in the period from 1 October 1990 to 30 April 1991;

  (3) what are the figures for deaths on public streets in England and Wales due to (a) hypothermia, (b) malnutrition or (c) self-neglect in the year ended 31 December 1991 or the most recent available period.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  There were no deaths on the public streets in England and Wales due to hypothermia, malnutrition or self-neglect registered in the period I October 1990 to 30 September 1991.

  There were nine deaths registered due to these causes of persons of no known address, of which five were in Greater London and four elsewhere in England and Wales.

  All of the deaths occurred between 1 October 1990 and 30 April 1991 and of these, six died in hospital and three elsewhere.

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of suicides in prisons in England and Wales during the year 1991; and if he will list the prisons and the number of suicides that took place within them.

  Mrs Rumbold
  [pursuant to her reply, 22 January 1992, c. 191–92]:
  The total number of deaths in 1991 which resulted from an act of deliberate self-harm was 42 and not 41. The adjustment to the figure is necessary following the recent inquest into the death of a man at Cardiff prison in

  45
  October 1991, which was not initially thought to have been self-inflicted. Further evidence came to light at the inquest, however, and a verdict of "suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed" was recorded.

  Inquests have now been held on 29 of these deaths and a verdict of suicide was recorded for 23. The establishments at which the deaths occurred are listed in the table.

  Deaths at HM Prison Service Establishments in 1991 resulting from an act of deliberate self-harm.

  Establishment

  Numbers of deaths

  Birmingham

  3

  Bristol

  1

  Brixton

  1

  Cardiff

  2

  Dorchester

  1

  Durham

  1

  Featherstone

  1

  Feltham

  2

  Full Sutton

  2

  Garth

  1

  Glen Parva

  1

  Gloucester

  1

  Grendon

  2

  Haverigg

  1

  Leeds

  2

  Liverpool

  3

  Long Lartin

  1

  Manchester

  2

  The Mount

  1

  Norwich

  2

  Nottingham

  1

  Oxford

  1

  Parkhurst

  1

  Pentonville

  1

  Preston

  1

  Stafford

  1

  Stoke Heath

  1

  Wakefield

  1

  Wandsworth

  1

  Winchester

  1

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment If he will detail each local authority with the percentage of its community charge collected in 1990–91, and 1991–92 to date, in descending order of percentage collected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the proportion of local authority revenue expenditure in England financed by

  Local Authority Revenue Expenditure

  Revenue Expenditure1

  Government Grants2

  Non-Domestic rates3

  Domestic Rates/Community Charges4

  Cash £ million

  1991–92 prices £ million

  Cash prices £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Per cent.

  Cash prices £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Per cent.

  Cash prices £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Per cent.

  1981–82

  20,106

  36,026

  11,234

  20,129

  56

  5,013

  8,982

  25

  4,034

  7,228

  20

  1982–83

  21,952

  36,718

  11,705

  19,578

  53

  5,685

  9,509

  26

  4,548

  7,607

  21

  1983–84

  23,263

  37,188

  12,584

  20,117

  54

  6,042

  9,659

  26

  4,382

  7,005

  19

  1984–85

  24,119

  36,719

  13,126

  19,983

  54

  6,361

  9,684

  26

  4,707

  7,166

  20

  46
  (a) Government grant, (b) non-domestic rates and (c) local domestic taxation in each year from 1978–79 to 1990–91 and estimates for 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  The available information is as follows:

  Local Authority Revenue Expenditure1

  Government grants2 as percentage of local authority expenditure

  Non-domestic rates3 as percentage of local authority expenditure

  Domestic rates/community changes4 as percentage of local authority expenditure

  1981–82

  56

  25

  20

  1982–83

  53

  26

  21

  1983–84

  54

  26

  19

  1984–85

  54

  26

  20

  1985–86

  54

  28

  21

  1986–87

  50

  28

  22

  1987–88

  49

  28

  23

  1988–89

  46

  28

  25

  1989–90

  44

  29

  26

  1990–91

  41

  29

  28

  1991–92

  52

  31

  16

  11992–93

  56

  29

  15

  1 For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, local authority expenditure is taken to be 'relevant expenditure' plus expenditure on certain non-relevant items such as net expenditure on mandatory student awards. It represents spending to be financed by rate support grant, relevant specific grants, rates and balances. This measure of expenditure is net of sales, fees and charges, interest receipts etc. For the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 local authority expenditure is 'revenue expenditure do compare with TSS' which is expenditure to be met from revenue support grant, specific grants in aggregate external finance, special grants, non-domestic rates, community charges and appropriation from reserves In 1991–92 the also included community charge grant and in 1992–93 this will include teachers pay award additional grant.

  2 For the years 1978–79 to 1989–90 Government grants comprise aggregate exchequer grant and rate rebate grants. For the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 Government Grants included are revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge grant (1991–92), teachers pay award additional grant (1992–93), community charge benefit and transitional relief/community charge reduction scheme grants.

  3 For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.

  4 Net of domestic rate rebates for the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, net of community charge benefit grant and transitional relief/ community charge scheme grant in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  5 1992–93 settlement.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the breakdown of local authority revenue for each year from 1979–80 to 1991–92 in terms of (i) Government grant, (ii) business rates and (iii) rates/poll tax expressed both in million pounds and constant prices and as a percentage.

  Mr. Portillo
  The available information is as follows:
  47

  Revenue Expenditure1

  Government Grants2

  Non-Domestic rates3

  Domestic Rates/Community Charges4

  Cash £ million

  1991–92 prices £ million

  Cash prices £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Per cent.

  Cash prices £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Per cent.

  Cash prices £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Per cent.

  1985–86

  24,284

  35,037

  13,069

  18,856

  54

  6,740

  9,725

  28

  5,094

  7,350

  21

  1986–87

  26,630

  37,199

  13,402

  18,721

  50

  7,566

  10,569

  28

  5,912

  8,258

  22

  1987–88

  28,980

  38,394

  14,274

  18,911

  49

  8,088

  10,715

  28

  6,539

  8,663

  23

  1988–89

  31,240

  38,615

  14,469

  17,885

  46

  8,819

  10,901

  28

  7,689

  9,504

  25

  1989–90

  33,282

  38,633

  14,707

  17,072

  44

  9,595

  11,138

  29

  8,487

  9,852

  26

  1990–91

  36,448

  38,993

  15,037

  16,090

  41

  10,429

  11,159

  29

  10,109

  10,817

  28

  1991–92

  39,880

  39,880

  20,834

  20,834

  52

  12,408

  12,408

  31

  6,388

  6,388

  16

  Notes:

  1For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, local authority expenditure is taken to be 'relevant expenditure' plus expenditure on certain non-relevant items such as net expenditure on mandatory student awards. It represents spending to be financed by rate support grant, relevant specific grant, rates and balances. This measure of expenditure is net of sales, fees and charges, interest receipts etc. For the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 local authority expenditure is 'revenue expenditure to compare with TSS' which is expenditure to be met from revenue support grant, specific grants in aggregate external finance, special grants, non-domestic rates, community charges and appropriation from reserves. In 1991–92 this also included community charge grant.

  2 For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 Government grants comprise aggregate Exchequer grant and rate rebate grants. For 1990–91 and 1991–92 Government grants included are revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge grant (1991–92), community charge benefit grant and transitional relief/community charge reduction scheme grant.

  3 For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90, this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1991–92 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool

  4 Net of domestic rate rebates for the years 1981–82 to 1989–90. Net of community charge benefit grant and transitional relief/community charge reduction scheme grant for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of poll tax revenue is outstanding to local authorities for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  Local authorities budgeted to collect £10,200 million in community charges in respect of 1990–91 and £6,400 million in respect of 1991–92. I estimate that by 31 December 1991 they had collected £9,900 million of the former and £4,300 million of the latter. Much of the remaining 1991–92 amounts will subsequently have been collected in the form of routine monthly payments in January and February 1992.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what targets his Department has set for local authorities' collection of poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Local authorities should be attempting to collect 100 per cent. of the community charges due in their areas; well-managed authorities are coming very close to achieving this.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the safety net arrangements within the national non-domestic rate system; and if he has any plans to make changes to those arrangements.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have received a number of representations about the non-domestic rate transitional arrangements. We shall shortly be making regulations to allow transitional protection to continue in cases where a local authority waste disposal company takes over property occupied by an existing waste disposal authority under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make changes to the arrangements for the national non-domestic rate for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A number of provisions modifying the non-domestic rating system are contained in schedule 10 to the Local Government Finance Bill. Those which would 48
  have effect in 1992–93 concern the payment of interest in respect of overpayments of rates, the rating of multiple moorings, the exemption of church property, the reference date for the determination of rateable values, and the information which charging authorities must take into account in calculating their contributions into the national non-domestic rating pool.

  Council House Building
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority permanent dwellings have been started in the 32 London boroughs in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested for 1979 is shown in table 5 of the publication "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", issue No. 53 (May 1980). Figures for 1980 to 1989 appear in "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas, 1980 to 1989", tables 1.1 to 1.10. Figures for 1990 are in "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", issue No. 98 (July 1991). The following information is available on local authority housebuilding in 1991:

  Local authority

  (a) Authorities with local authority housing starts in 1991

  Barking 10 dwellings Barnet 4 dwellings Kensington and Chelsea 4 dwellings Waltham Forest 88 dwellings

  (b) Authorities with no local authority housing starts in 1991

  Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Havering, Hounslow, Islington, Redbridge, Sutton, Wandsworth, Westminster

  (c) Authorities which have not yet sent returns for all, or part, of 1991. No authority reporting for part of 1991 has recorded any local authority housing starts

  Bexley, Brent, Enfield, Haringey, Hillingdon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Tower Hamlets

  Tenants' Participation
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the Housing Corporation's document "Tenant Participation Strategy".

  Mr. Yeo
  The corporation has not yet completed its review of tenant participation strategy. As soon as it publishes a strategy document, I shall be happy to arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from his European opposite numbers with regard to orimulsion.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the burning of orimulsion; and to which power stations they relate.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have received a number of representations concerning the burning or proposed burning of orimulsion generally and at individual power stations such as Pembroke and Ince. A considerable number have also been received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in respect of applications for authorisation under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to burn orimulsion at Padiham and Pembroke power stations.

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions are placed on developments by local authorities of designated local nature reserves; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local planning authorities can grant themselves planning permissions under the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1976. Authorities are required to give their proposals the same publicity, to make them subject to the same consultations, and to consider them against the same criteria and policies, as they would an ordinary planning application for similar development. On 27 February the Department of the Environment issued for consultation a draft planning policy guidance note on nature conservation which provides up to date guidance on how the Government's policies on the conservation of our natural heritage are to be reflected in land use planning.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on wind farm developments; and what proposed developments he has called in.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on such developments in response to the Department's consultations and proposed planning policy guidance note on renewable energy. He has called in two planning applications for wind farms: at Kirkby moor in south Lakeland, and Ovenden moor, Halifax.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amounts outstanding in unpaid business rates for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that up to 31 December 1991 a total of £9,130 million was collectable from non-domestic rates in respect of properties on local rating lists for the 1990–91 financial year. By 31 December 1991 local authorities had collected £8,960 million.

  For 1991–92, I estimate that £10,600 million of non-domestic rates are collectable within the year. By 31 December 1991 local authorities had collected £8,180million.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the revenue available to local authorities from business rates for each year from 1979–80 to 1992–93 showing the figures in £ million and constant prices.

  Mr. Portillo
  The available information is as follows:

  Local authority non-domestic rates

  1Non-domestic rates £ million

  1991–92 prices £ million

  1979–80

  3,354

  7,798

  1980–81

  4,169

  8,191

  1981–82

  5,013

  8,982

  1982–83

  5,685

  9,509

  1983–84

  6,042

  9,659

  1984–85

  6,361

  9,684

  1985–86

  6,740

  9,725

  1986–87

  7,566

  10,569

  1987–88

  8,088

  10,715

  1988–89

  8,819

  10,901

  1989–90

  9,595

  11,138

  1990–91

  10,429

  11,159

  1991–92

  12,408

  12,408

  1992–93

  12,306

  11,776

  1 For the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimates of the amount of business rates being transferred between gainers and losers under the uniform business rate safety net arrangements for 1992–93, showing the amounts deferred for both categories.

  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that the amount of business rate increases in England being deferred for losers is about £475 million. An equal amount of reduction for gainers is also being deferred.

  Local Government (Political Control)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in rank order, showing political control, the all ages social index for local authorities for 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Portillo
  A table showing the information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list any area within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent;

  (2) if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November (a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants, the total fees or other costs to date and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My officials are currently drawing up proposals for new market testing areas within the Department in line with the timetable set out in the Financial Secretary's letter to the Home Secretary of 17 December. A market testing adviser from the private sector is to be appointed soon to assist in this task. The market testing areas are to be selected from the list of possible candidates set out on page 13 of the White Paper "Competing for Quality" (Cm 1730). My Department will carefully vet all non-government organisations involved in tendering for work currently undertaken by civil servants to ensure conflicts of interest do not arise.

  Reptiles (Indonesia)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what scientific advice he has received on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species appendix 2 status for reptile species from Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), are currently considering new information from the Indonesian authorities about these species. The European Commission proposes to arrange discussion of this information by representatives of EC member states during the current conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The JNCC will give advice at this meeting, which will decide whether or not the EC should lift its current ban on the import of certain species from Indonesia.

  Water Supply, Hull
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has decided to take in respect of the supply of water unfit for human consumption in Hull in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The drinking water inspectorate has reported to me on the progress of its investigations into the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in the Hull area in December 1989 and January 1990. This investigation has inevitably been difficult and lengthy because of gaps in 52
  scientific knowledge about cryptosporidium, which a research programme funded by the Department is seeking to remedy.

  This case has raised a number of new and complex issues, and necessarily continues to involve external advisers as well as the inspectorate. An outbreak control group, comprising representatives of the health authorities, the local authorities, the water company and the Public Health Laboratory Service, was established in the locality during the outbreak and its report was essential to the inspectorate's investigations. The group was not able to complete its report until March 1991. Advice then had to be sought from the Government's Chief Medical Officer and, in view of the possibility of a prosecution, from leading counsel.

  The case is being taken forward as quickly as possible and I shall make a further statement as soon as there is further progress to report.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance will be available to the Local Government Commission in assessing the identities and interests of local communities.

  Mr. Portillo
  We commissioned two research projects as a contribution to thinking on how to assess community identity in the restructuring of local government. The research is intended as a starting point for the Local Government Commission in its work in recommending changes to local government structure and boundaries. I have placed in the Library copies of the reports "Identification with local areas" by Alan Hedges and "Application of Geographic Information Systems to community boundary definition" by the centre for urban and regional development studies at Newcastle university. Copies have also been sent to the local authority associations and the Audit Commission.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report by the drinking water inspectorate on the incident at the Iver treatment works of Three Valleys Water in July 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have now received the drinking water inspectorate's report on the incident at the Iver treatment works in July 1992, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. A summary of the findings and recommendations is being made widely available.

  The inspectorate found that the normal disinfection processes failed on Saturday 20 July 1991 because, when a changeover occurred from one bulk liquid chlorine storage tank to another tank, a valve on the outlet from the second tank was not opened and remained shut for 41/2 hours. The effect of this failure was mitigated however by mixing that occurs at the treatment works and in the distribution networks part of the normal operation of the system, and by the fact that chlorine is applied at various stages. Having weighed all the evidence, the inspectorate has concluded that there is no reason to believe that the water supplied by the company in the period following the incident was unfit for human consumption. Any breach of the quality standards in the Water Quality Regulations is likely to have been trivial.
  53
  The inspectorate is critical of the company for not taking appropriate remedial action at the works within a reasonable period. It has nevertheless concluded that, on the basis of the situation at that time and the information available, senior management took a prudent decision on the Saturday night to issue advice to consumers to boil water. However the water undertakers owned by Three Valleys Water which supply water from the Iver works, Colne Valley Water Company Plc and Rickmansworth Water Plc, contravened the Water Quality Regulations by failing to notify each local authority and district health authority affected by the incident. At the time of the incident there were no powers to take enforcement action in relation to a contravention of this nature, but I can confirm that this gap in the legislation has now been filled for the future.

  The report identifies specific deficiencies in the instrumentation at the Iver works, in operational and management procedures, in emergency plans, and in contingency plans for communicating with consumers in such circumstances. Although microbiological analysis would not have provided results until the following day, the inspectorate is nevertheless critical of the company's failure to carry out comprehensive sampling and analysis particularly of water leaving the Iver works. The report also identifies weaknesses in the response to the incident by local authorities and district health authorities.

  The report puts forward 13 recommendations. Most of these have already been met by action which Three Valleys Water has subsequently taken, and the company has accepted the remaining recommendations. Some of the recommendations about contingency planning also require the co-operation of the relevant local authorities, district health authorities and police forces, and of the media, and I hope that this will be forthcoming.

  In a covering letter to the report, the chief inspector has drawn attention to a number of points which have implications for the approach adopted by water companies generally to preventing failures of disinfection and ensuring that the necessary contingency plans are in place. I have accepted the conclusions and recommendations of the report, and the chief inspector's advice that further guidance should be given to all water companies on these matters. He will be writing to companies promptly for this purpose, and special attention will be paid to emergency procedures in the annual inspections of water companies.

  In the light of the conclusions of this report, my Department will discuss with the Department of Health and the Home Office whether further guidance needs to be given to local authorities and health authorities about their role in responding to incidents affecting water supply. To ensure that liaison with the media functions effectively on future occasions and to secure a prompt response, we are also drawing the attention of water companies to the BBC guide on facilities for broadcasting emergency announcements. We are recommending them to make appropriate standing arrangements both with the BBC and with other television and radio stations serving their areas.

  The inspectorate's report is commendably thorough. The findings that, although we have a very high standard of drinking water in this country, and this particular incident did not cause damage to health, there is scope for improving procedures in order to provide more effective safeguards for the future. I confirm that the necessary action has either been taken or is in hand.

  United Nations Conference
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what matters are on the agenda for the final preparatory committee meeting in New York from 2 March to 2 April for the forthcoming United Nations conference on environment and development.

  Mr. Baldry
  The main items for consideration al the final United Nations conference on environment and development preparatory committee are 900 pages of proposed action under the heading of "Agenda 21—a statement of principles on the world's forests and the Earth Charter".

  Inland Waterways
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the results of his consultation into the management of the navigation of inland waterways; and what changes he is considering in navigation rights as part of this review following the River Derwent judgment.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Responses are still being received. The outcome of the review will be announced as soon as possible.

  Peat Extraction
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment following the agreement between English Nature and Fisons plc(a) who now owns the mineral rights for the sites concerned and (b) to what habitat-type it is intended to restore cut over areas of lowland raised peatbog once the peat has been extracted.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Of the 8,000 acres of land involved, English Nature will immediately assume ownership of mineral rights over some 2,800 acres; Fisons will retain the mineral rights for the remainder.

  The objective has been to restore lowland peat vegetation on the cutover areas, but I am advised that a mosaic of other habitats, such as fen, is likely to be the end result.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Duchy Visits
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many visits he plans to make to the Duchy in the period before April.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have no present plans to visit the Duchy in my capacity as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster during the coming month.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Recycled Paper
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee (1) what target is set for the use of recycled writing paper in the House.

  (2) if he will make arrangements to supply all stores in the House with recycled writing paper;
  55
  (3) what is the cost of recycled House writing paper expressed as a percentage of the cost of non-recycled paper;

  (4) what proportion of writing paper used by hon. Members is recycled;

  (5) what was the level of recycled writing paper used in the House 12 months ago;

  (6) why it is not possible to order House of Commons writing paper which has been recycled for delivery in less than three weeks.

  Mr. Orme
  There is no target set for the use of recycled writing paper in the House. At its meeting on 18 June 1991 the Services Committee approved a resolution of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee that a range of recycled items of stationery should be stocked on a permanent basis in addition to existing ranges of equivalent stationery of archival quality, but that, for the present, it should be supplied only from the Serjeant at Arms stores. The Serjeant at Arms has taken steps to draw Members' attention to the availability of recycled writing paper and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Telephones
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many telephones there are in the House of Commons; and what was the total telephone bill for the last available year.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 5 December 1991]: I understand there are 2,972 telephones in the House of Commons; the House telephone bill for the year ended 31 March 1991 was £1,212,831·49.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what monitoring of telephone calls made from public areas of the House of Commons takes place; and what percentage of telephone expenditure takes place from such locations.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 5 December 1991]: The monitoring of telephone calls in the House has in the past caused Members great concern, particularly on the ground of the threat to their privacy. I am aware a number of Members make frequent use of telephones in the corridors and currently there is no monitoring of telephones in these areas or in any others.

  Over recent months the Director of Finance, appointed as a result of the Ibbs report, has been considering how to measure telephone usage and expenditure throughout the House. The Director of Finance is aware of the sensitivities of Members to the monitoring of telephone calls and it is now for him to make a proposal to the House of Commons Commission on the principle of monitoring if he wishes to do so.

  If telephone monitoring were to be introduced in any part of the House in the future, Members and staff would be given adequate warning and explanation of the measures planned. There remains, however, at present the need for the House to balance the identification of telephone expenditure against the preservation of privacy for Members in their use of the telephones throughout the House.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the policy towards supplying Members and 56
  authorised users with a key or pass card to access telephones in the public parts of the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 5 December 1991]: Proposals to limit the use of telephones will be considered by the Administration Committee shortly after the Easter recess and it is hoped to introduce new measures when the telephone exchange is upgraded in mid-1992; it is unlikely that a key or pass card will form part of these proposals.

EMPLOYMENT

  Doncaster Unemployment Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the unemployment office in Trafford way, Doncaster, was first open for business; and when it received its official opening.

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

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Empoyment if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. Jackson
  A study to determine the most promising areas for market testing within the Department is not yet complete. The Department follows the guidance on the ethics of conducting business with the private sector contained in the Treasury's public competition and purchasing unit's guidance—CUP No. 16.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determing areas within the Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs charged to the department by them to date and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Jackson
  Two companies have been used by this Department in considering areas for market testing or contracting out, namely Ernst and Young, chartered accountants and Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte. The fees agreed with these organisations for their services are commercially confidential.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the number of health and safety inspectors and the number of industrial accidents in(a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom for the years 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Forth
  The number of Health and Safety Executive inspectors based in Wales and the total number employed in Great Britain in 1979 and 1991 is as follows:

  Year (1 April)

  Inspectors based in Wales

  Inspectors employed in Great Britain

  1979

  169

  1,426·5

  1991

  62

  1,342·0

  1 Excludes mines and quarries and industrial air pollution inspectors as centrally held records for 1979, for these staff, cannot be analysed by location.

  The information available on the total number of occupational injuries occurring in Wales and in Great Britain in 1979 and the financial year 1990–91 is as follows:

  Total injuries reported1 to Health and Safety Executive's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates and Local Authorities

  Wales

  Great Britain

  21979

  3n/a

  269,763

  4 51990£91

  9,629

  180,450

  1 Reported under various pieces of health and safety legislation in 1979 and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) for 1990–91.

  2 Injuries to employees only compulsorily reportable.

  3 Regional analysis of injuries in 1979 is not available.

  4 Injuries to employees, self-employed people and members of the public injured as a result of someone else's work activity in year commencing 1 April 1990.

  5 Provisional.

  Responsibility for occupational health and safety matters in Northern Ireland lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Unemployment, London
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for reducing unemployment in inner London.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Employment Service and training and enterprise councils deliver a wide range of employment, enterprise and training programmes to help employment prospects for unemployed people. In inner London, as elsewhere, these programmes are often designed to take account of special local circumstances to help people find the best and quickest route back to employment.

  Noise
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's actions to combat noise in industry and other places of work since 1987.

  Mr. Forth
  During this period the Government introduced the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 requiring measures to control noise and protect workers. The Health and Safety Executive supplemented the regulations by 58
  publishing extensive guidance and free leaflets for employers, employees and machinery makers and suppliers, explaining the new legislation.

  Health and safety inspectors have been active in enforcing the legislation. They have mounted a series of campaigns and other initiatives to monitor compliance and to raise the awareness of the hazard created by excessive noise at work and improve understanding of the means of controlling it.

TRANSPORT

  Ports Privatisation
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable has been established for the privatisation of the port of Tilbury in accordance with the Ports Act 1991; what criteria he has laid down for management-employee buy-outs; how many bidders have submitted bids; when he expects to receive any recommendation as to the proposed successful bidder; when he proposes to announce his decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Final bids for the port of Tilbury were to be submitted by 28 February. Once they have assessed the bids, the Port of London authority board will make its recommendation to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, who will announce his decision as soon as he is able to do so. The objectives of sale for the port of Tilbury include the following criterion in respect of management and employee share-ownership:"In considering competing bids, the PLA will have regard to … the desirability of encouraging the disposal of the whole or a substantial part of the equity share capital of the company to managers or other persons employed by the company; or to another company the whole or a substantial part of whose equity share capital is owned by managers or other persons so employed."

  The number of bidders for the port is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what submissions he has received from the port of Dover for the privatisation of the port in accordance with the provisions of the Ports Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no proposals for privatisation from that port.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable has been established for the privatisation of the port of Medway in accordance with the Ports Act 1991; what criteria he has laid down for management-employee buy-outs; how many bidders have submitted bids; when he expects to receive any recommendation as to the proposed successful bidder; when he proposes to announce his decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Final bids for the Medway ports authority's undertakings were submitted on 24 February. Once it has assessed the bids, the Medway ports authority board will make its recommendation to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, who will announce his decision as soon as he is able to do so. The objectives of sale for the Medway ports authority include the following criterion in respect of management and employee share-ownership:"the Authority will have particular regard to the desirability of encouraging the disposal of the whole or a substantial part of the Company to managers and employees."
  59
  The number of bidders for the port is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable has been established for the privatisation of the Port of Forth in accordance with the Ports Act 1991; what criteria he has laid down for management-employee buy-outs; how many bidders have submitted bids; when he expects to receive any recommendation as to the proposed successful bidder; when he proposes to announce his decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed in principle to the privatisation of the Forth ports authority's undertaking by means of a flotation. The date of the flotation has not yet been announced. In considering the authority's detailed proposals my right hon. and learned Friend has had particular regard to the desirability of encouraging the disposal of the whole or a substantial part of the equity share capital to managers and employees.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what submissions he has received from the port of Ipswich for the privatisation of the port in accordance with the provisions of the Ports Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no proposals for privatisation from that port.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable has been established for the privatisation of the port of Clyde in accordance with the Ports Act 1991; what criteria he has laid down for management-employee buy-outs; how many bidders have submitted bids; when he expects to receive any recommendation as to the proposed successful bidders; when he proposes to announce his decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Final bids for the Clyde port authority's undertaking were submitted on 14 February. Once it has assessed the bids, the Clyde port authority board will make its recommendation to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, who will announce his decision as soon as he is able to do so. The objectives of sale for the Clyde port authority include the following criterion in respect of management and employee share-ownership:"the Authority will have particular regard to the desirability of encouraging the disposal of the whole or a substantial part of the equity (and voting rights) in the successor company to managers or other employees of the successor company (or to a company in which such managers or other employees have a substantial interest)."

  The number of bidders for the port is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what submissions he has received from the port of Tyne for the privatisation of the port in accordance with the provisions of the Ports Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no proposals for privatisation from that port.

  Service Areas
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the provision of services on new stretches of national non-motorway roads.
  60
  Mr. Chope
  Policy on the provision of services on all-purpose trunk roads, new and old, is set out in the Department's circular "Roads 4/88". A copy is in the Library. The need is for facilities, preferably comprehensive ones, at appropriate intervals to meet the needs of all users. Local authorities are encouraged to help to identify locations where facilities are not adequate. The Department will in general comment favourably on planning applications which conform to the advice in the circular. Non-motorway roads other than all-purpose trunk roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities.

  Canary Wharf
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which authorities are empowered to introduce traffic-calming measures at Canary wharf.

  Mr. Chope
  The introduction of traffic calming on the private roads at Canary wharf is primarily at the discretion of the developers, in consultation as necessary with the local highway authority.

  Thames River Bus
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public money supports the Thames river bus service.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Thames river bus service received a £500,000 grant in 1989–90 to promote and improve the service in recognition of its road decongestion and docklands regeneration benefits. Discussions are in progress about the possibility of further support on the basis of benefits to road decongestion from river transport.

  The case is yet to be made.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the largest sum tendered since 1975 for a motorway service area.

  Mr. Chope
  It has been the consistent practice to treat the sums tendered for motorway service areas as confidential between the tenderer and the Department.

  Road Services
  Mr. John Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the expenditure and improvement of road services within and to Bournemouth since 1987, including those improvements currently under way or approved.

  Mr. Chope
  The following major improvement schemes have been completed by the local highway authority Dorset county council, in each case with the assistance of 50 per cent. transport supplementary grant from central Government.

  Scheme

  Cost £ million

  Wessex Way, Bournemouth

  9·13

  Winton and Moordown Relief Road

  6·86

  Holes Bay Road, Poole

  11·93

  61
  No major trunk road improvement schemes have been carried out in the Bournemouth area since 1987. However, there are four schemes in the national programme at various stages of preparation:

  Scheme

  Estimated cost £ million

  A31 Ashley Heath Grade Separated Junction

  8·1

  A31 Ringwood-Ashley Heath Improvement

  3·8

  A31 to Mannings Heath Relief Road

  28·4

  Poole Harbour Bridge Replacement

  21·0

  In addition, the Department of Transport has carried out a number of small improvements to the A31 in the Bournemouth area. This includes one at Ashley Heath roundabout (£150,000) and approximately £0·5 million on other improvements.

  Ports Workers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of casual or temporary workers engaged in the ports industry.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The British Ports Federation's survey of numbers employed in the United Kingdom port industry on 2 April 1991 found 16,543 manual workers, of whom 638 were in temporary employment.

  British Rail
  Mrs Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when next he intends to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss the external financing limit and train procurement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend has regular meetings with Sir Bob Reid, the British Rail chairman, to discuss a variety of railway issues, including external financing and train procurement.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to review the Government's roads programme.

  Mr. Chope
  The White Paper (Cm 693) "Roads for Prosperity" is the basis of the trunk road programme in England. We keep this under review and from time to time I report progress to Parliament, and any modifications to our plans.

  Port of London Authority
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the future role of the Port of London authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Apart from those which it will lose with the sale of the Port of Tilbury, I have no proposals for changes in the statutory functions of the Port of London authority as the harbour authority for the tidal reaches of the Thames. These include conservancy, regulation of navigation, pilotage and the development, with a view to disposal, of its surplus land holdings.

  Air Services
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he received from British Midland for assistance on its decision to withdraw the air service from Liverpool to London.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None.

  Maritime Transport Service
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information on the Department's definition of substantial employee share ownership and management buy out preference has been given to Maritime Transport Service; in addition to that which has been given to any other bidder for any trust port under the Ports Act 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The chairman of Maritime Transport Services met officials of the Department on 4 February at his request. As regards a price preference for a management and employee buy-out, officials said that my right hon. and learned Friend had made it clear that he was prepared to consider a limited price preference in the light of the particular circumstances of the situation and that they were not able to add further to that statement. As regards the level of employee share ownership, officials said that this was a matter for the relevant port authority boards to consider in assessing bids against the objectives of sale agreed for their port before making their recommendation to my right hon. and learned Friend as to the sale of the port and suggested that Maritime Transport Services should seek any necessary clarification from the port authority boards as to how they would view the level of employee share ownership in assessing bids. The Department has given Maritime Transport Services no information on these matters which is not already available to other bidders for trust ports.

  Traffic, Hazel Grove
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the need for a grant from his Department to assist with traffic-calming measures in the town of Hazel Grove.

  Mr. Chope
  None since last year when the council was advised that a scheme may be eligible for consideration for transport supplementary grant if the council demonstrated road safety benefits.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A study to determine the most promising areas for market testing within the Department
  63
  is not yet complete. Guidance on the ethics of conducting business with the private sector is contained in the Treasury's public competition and purchasing unit's guidance—CUP No. 16—which has been circulated to Departments.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  After considering a number of possibilities, Mr. Dick Walker, a senior executive with ICI, has been appointed on a short-term contract to assist in the development of market-testing targets for the Department and its agencies. The Department will reimburse Mr. Walker's ICI salary.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the estimated rate of return on investment for the previously proposed channel tunnel rail link route and the current estimated rate of return from investment for the route which he has now decided.

  Mr. Freeman
  Estimates of the relative benefits and costs of different route options are contained in British Rail's "Comparison of Routes", published in October 1991, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House. British Rail is currently refining the easterly route, and it is too early to provide information on rates of return.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to consider social and economic factors in assessing new rail electrification projects to include such factors in the calculation of the internal rate of return; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The electrification of lines is expected to earn an 8 per cent. return compared with the alternative of diesel services. However, it is the policy to take into account external benefits where a project would not otherwise meet the relevant appraisal criteria.

  Coaches
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with coach operators concerning regulations for the discharge of waste from coach toilets.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: The law already prohibits a toilet fitted in a wheeled motor vehicle from being capable of discharging directly on to a road.

  We have had no consultations with coach operators on this subject.

  Road Building
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken on the effects of the road building programme on sites of importance for nature conservation.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: The effects of road schemes on sites of importance for nature conservation are assessed on a site specific basis as part of the environmental assessment carried out for each scheme. Consultation with English Nature takes place during this assessment.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend the present method of cost-benefit analysis of road building assessment, so as to include an assessment of the environmental impacts of road building.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: The Department's current methods for appraising trunk road schemes already include a comprehensive assessment of environmental effects. Effects are quantified as far as possible, but are not given monetary values at present. The Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment has recently reviewed the question of monetary valuation in environmental assessment. Its report and the Government's response will be published shortly.

  Cars
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken on the environmental consequences of the forecast increase in the number of cars on roads in Great Britain.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: My Department devotes a significant part of its research programme to many environmental issues relating to current and future road transport. For example, we are planning to develop a more accurate assessment of how vehicles perform in order to improve our forecasting of future emissions. We are also reviewing research on alternative vehicle engines and fuel. We are looking at ways of reducing urban congestion and pollution, including the scope for road pricing and the role of enhanced public transport in reducing emissions. Current forecasts of increased road traffic are relevant background to all this research. They are also taken into account in the environmental impact assessments carried out for each of our new road schemes.

SCOTLAND

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the total of local government(a) revenue and (b) capital expenditure by local government within Scotland for each year from 1978–79 to 1991–92 (estimated).

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information requested is as follows:
  65

  Total revenue expenditure £ million

  Total capital expenditure £ million

  1978–79

  1,738·0

  543·1

  1979–80

  2,096·1

  643·9

  1980–81

  2,616·5

  657·4

  1981–82

  2,927·3

  723·8

  1982–83

  3,145·7

  780·4

  1983–84

  3,316·3

  929·3

  1984–85

  3,490·8

  859·8

  1985–86

  3,606·0

  875·2

  1986–87

  3,824·2

  917·7

  1987–88

  4,085·0

  1,094·3

  1988–89

  4,426·0

  1,161·7

  1989–90

  4,724·1

  1,246·7

  1990–91

  5,178·9

  1,234·5

  1991–92

  5,647·4

  1,253·4

  Notes:

  1. The revenue figures are final outturn for the years up to and including 1989–90: provisional outturn for 1990–91: and budget estimate for 1991–92.

  2. The capital figures are final outturn for the years up to and including 1990–91: and estimated outturn for 1991–92.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the proportion of local authority revenue expenditure in Scotland financed by(a) Government grant, (b) non-domestic rates and (c) local domestic taxation in each year from 1978–79 to 1990–91 and estimates for 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The table shows the proportion of Scottish local authorities' income from each source. This differs from revenue expenditure only to the extent that local authorities made use of balances to fund expenditure.

  Central Government Grant Per cent

  Non-Domestic Rates Per cent

  Domestic Rates/ Community Charge Per cent.

  1978–79

  64·9

  22·2

  12·9

  1979–80

  63·1

  24·2

  12·8

  1980–81

  60·3

  25·8

  13·8

  1981–82

  53·9

  29·7

  16·4

  1982–83

  52·9

  30·1

  17·0

  1983–84

  54·1

  29·4

  16·5

  1984–85

  55·1

  28·6

  16·3

  1985–86

  53·6

  28·6

  17·8

  1986–87

  51·0

  30·0

  19·0

  1987–88

  50·3

  30·1

  19·6

  1988–89

  51·3

  29·4

  19·3

  1989–90

  52·4

  25·9

  21·7

  1990–91

  54·9

  23·8

  21·3

  1991–92

  60·9

  23·8

  15·3

  1992–93

  63·1

  20·6

  16·4

  Notes:

  1. The rate and revenue support grant figures used in calculating the percentages are final amounts or those applying to the most recent order.

  2. The domestic rate figures used are net of domestic relief and are inclusive of rebates.

  3. For 1991–92 Government support includes community charge grant.

  4. The 1992–93 community charge income proportions are calculated from budget estimate amounts taken from the provisional outturn/budget estimate 1992 returns made to the Scottish Office by local authorities. For those authorities whose returns have not yet been received, amounts have been estimated based on assumed payment rates for 1991–92.

  5. The proportions for 1991–92 and 1992–93 are estimates.

  6. From 1984–85 onwards central Government support includes revenue support grant and specific grants. A breakdown of specific grants is not available for earlier years.

  66
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total numbers of(a) summonses and (b) liability orders issued for poll tax debt in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  None. The procedure for recovery of debts, including community charge arrears, is different in Scotland from that in England and Wales.

  There is no equivalent of summonses for community charge arrears in Scotland.

  The nearest equivalent to a liability order is a summary warrant. It is however customary for local authorities to apply for a single warrant in respect of many debtors. Information on the total number of persons subject to summary warrant procedure is not held centrally.

  The number of summary warrants issued in respect of the community charge for the two years for which figures are available are:

  Year

  Number

  1989

  76

  1990

  876

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of poll tax income is still owed to local authorities for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The amount of local authorities' budgeted community charge income uncollected at 31 December 1991—the most recent date for which information is available—is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  68·7

  1990–91

  157·6

  1991–92

  351·0

  Health Service Staff
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase of staff in health boards since April 1989.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not held centrally for the month of April 1989. Between 30 September 1989 and 30 September 1991, however, the whole-time equivalent of all NHS staff in Scotland fell from 120,677.7 to 117,600.8, a decrease of 2.5 per cent. The data for medical, dental and nursing staff at 30 September 1991 are provisional.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of people employed by the NHS in Scotland on a full-time and part-time basis.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available information held centrally shows that at 30 September 1991 there were 85,600 full-time and 56,465 part-time employees in the NHS in Scotland. The data for medical, dental and nursing staff are provisional.

  Employees (Expenditure)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the net capital expenditure per employee in(a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland.
  67
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Net capital expenditure per employee in manufacturing industries for Renfrewshire, Strathclyde and Scotland is set out in the table. The latest available figures are for 1989.

  Net Capital Expenditure Per Employee —1989

  Area

  Net Capital Expenditure £ per employee

  Renfrewshire

  3,745

  Strathclyde

  2,983

  Scotland

  3,313

  Source: Annual Census of Production.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the level for the most recent date for which figures are available of manufacturing productivity in(a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The official data on manufacturing productivity are published by the Employment Department in the Employment Gazette. However, separate regional figures are not included.

  Expressing manufacturing productivity in terms of gross value added per employee, the figures for Renfrewshire, Strathclyde and Scotland are set out in the table. The latest available figures are for 1989.

  Manufacturing productivity—1989

  Area

  Gross value added £ per employee

  Renfrewshire

  31,014

  Strathclyde

  23,128

  Scotland

  22,340

  Source: Annual Census of Production.

  Paisley Pattern Goods
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will encourage Scottish Enterprise to fund a feasibility study into the development of the manufacture of Paisley pattern goods in Paisley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: I wrote to the local enterprise company about the manufacture of Paisley pattern goods in Paisley following a meeting I had with the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Paisley, North (Mrs. Adams) on this subject on 4 September last year.

  It is a matter for the local enterprise company how it chooses to pursue this issue. I have however noted the hon. Member's suggestion of a feasibility study and will pass it on to the local enterprise company. If he wishes also to pursue the proposal direct with Renfrewshire Enterprise then I would be happy for him to do so.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the formula for determining the apportionment of resources to local enterprise companies; and if he will make a statement;
  68
  (2) if he will publish a table showing the resources allocated to each local enterprise company (a) in financial terms and (b) on a per capita basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The basis on which resources are allocated to local enterprise companies is a matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in their respective areas. I have asked the chairmen of these two bodies to write to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.

  Employment Growth, Renfrewshire
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate employment growth in Renfrewshire over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. The total level of employment in Renfrew district is estimated to have increased by 19.8 per cent. between 1987 and 1989, the latest year for which data are available.

  Employment Performance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the employment performance of(a) Renfrew district, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland between 1980 and 1990.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Available data from the September 1981 and September 1989 censuses of employment show that (a) the number of employees in employment in Renfrew district was 10,800 in 1989 and 13,000 in 1981; (b) the number in Strathclyde was 861,200 in 1989 and 885,000 in 1981; and (c) the number in Scotland was 1,966,500 in 1989 and 1,965,500 in 1981.

  Exports
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish exports came from Renfrewshire in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The information requested is not available.

  Renfrew Enterprise
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the Renfrew Enterprise annual(a) capital and (b) revenue budgets is already legally committed in the financial year 1991–92 and each of the subsequent four years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer, 27 February 1992]: Renfrewshire Enterprise Company's forward financial commitments are a matter for the company.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the percentage of total employment within Renfrewshire in each sector in(a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1985 and (d)
  69
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer, 27 February 1992]: Available data from the Employment Department's census of employment relate to the years 1975, 1981, 1984 and 1989. For each of these years, the percentage of employees in employment in each sector in Renfrew district is shown in the table:

  Percentage

  1981

  1984

  1989

  1980 Standard Industrial Classification Sector:

  Agriculture

  0

  1

  1

  Energy and Water Supply

  1

  2

  1

  Manufacturing

  42

  52

  33

  Construction

  18

  1

  1

  Services

  38

  40

  58

  Percentage

  1975

  1981

  1968 Standard Industrial Classification Sector:

  Primary Production

  0

  0

  Manufacturing Industry

  57

  43

  Construction

  21

  18

  Service Industries

  22

  38

  1 Indicates figure unable to be provided due to the very small number of census units.

  Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of employees in his Department; and how many are(a) black and (b) disabled.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: At 1 April 1991 the total number of staff employed in the Scottish Office and associated departments was 6,186. Of that number, 29 have described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority. At 1 June 1991, the Departments employed 80 staff who were registered disabled and an unrecorded number of people with a disability who had chosen not to register.

  Mrs Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of(a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: The information at 1 April 1991 for my Department is set out in the tables:

  The Scottish Office

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 1

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  Grade 2

  9·5

  —

  9· 5

  Grade 3

  24·0

  2·0

  26·0

  Grade 4

  17·0

  2·0

  19·0

  Grade 5

  110·0

  12·0

  122·0

  Grade 6

  175·0

  34·5

  209·5

  Grade 7

  365·0

  51·5

  416·5

  Senior Executive Officer

  419·0

  35·5

  454·5

  Higher Executive Officer

  650·0

  222·5

  872·5

  Administration Trainee

  4·0

  2·0

  6·0

  Executive Officer

  639·0

  486·0

  1,125·0

  Administrative Officer

  432·0

  861·5

  1,293·5

  Administrative Assistant

  414·0

  774·5

  1,188·5

  70

  Scottish Record Office

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 5

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  Grade 6

  2·0

  —

  2·0

  Grade 7

  5·0

  4·0

  9·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  4·0

  2·0

  6·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  9·0

  1·0

  10·0

  Executive Officer

  6·0

  4·0

  10·0

  Administrative Officer

  13·0

  10·0

  23·0

  Administrative Assistant

  33·0

  16·0

  49·0

  General Register Office for Scotland

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 4

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  Grade 5

  1·0

  —

  1·0

  Grade 7

  9·0

  —

  9·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  9·0

  1·0

  10·0

  Higher Executive Officer

  29·0

  8·5

  37·5

  Executive Officer

  35·0

  29·5

  64·5

  Administrative Officer

  40·0

  61·0

  101·0

  Administrative Assistant

  40·0

  68·5

  108·5

  Notes:

  Figures are for the grades stated and their equivalents.

  Part-time staff are counted as half units.

  RETEX
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the European Community RETEX programme, its application in Scotland and whether the Paisley area is eligible for assistance;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the method of application of the additionality rule to the European Community RETEX programme;

  (3) which agencies are eligible to apply for assistance through the European Community RETEX proposal; what assistance is available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: We are considering the draft notice to member states which the Commission sent us on 22 January. Decisions on eligible areas, agencies eligible to apply and levels of assistance, will not be taken until the final shape of the initiative is known. The United Kingdom Government will naturally seek to ensure the most effective coverage of United Kingdom textile areas while avoiding any unfair competition against United Kingdom producers. The new arrangements for ERDF spending announced by my right hon. Friend on 17 February at column 22 will apply to RETEX.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request Scottish Enterprise to undertake a study into how the damage to local economies through the loss of textile jobs may be minimised or alleviated; and what financial assistance is available from public agencies at all levels of government.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Addressing these sorts of issues is a central part of the role which the Government intended for Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies when deciding to set up the new framework.
  71
  Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies monitor carefully the effects of industrial closures in Scotland and have a range of measures at their disposal to help minimise or alleviate the effects of job losses. In the case of the textiles industry, Scottish Enterprise has recently completed an internal review of the industry and is now considering how best to implement the strategy which that has identified. Scottish Borders Enterprise, along with the industry, has established the borders textiles initiative to provide practical support for design, marketing and promotion of the industry. The full range of the enterprise company's powers and functions are deployed to assist with economic development, training and job creation in the area.

  In addition, the enterprise initiative provides a wide range of assistance to industry, including assistance under the Government's regional policy. The full range of Employment Service functions are also available to help those made redundant as a result of industrial closures.

  There is in place, therefore, a range of measures to tackle precisely the concerns which the hon. Member has raised.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the use by health boards of the pocket money of long-stay psychiatric patients to buy their personal clothing: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Hospitals are strongly encouraged by boards to use the savings of patients who are unable to look after their own affairs in an imaginative way for their benefit. They know that balances should not build up to high levels unless there are particular personal circumstances to justify this. Many of these patients are very elderly, frail and suffer from dementia. The opportunities to spend money on them creatively are limited. Buying new clothes and dressing well is one of the few pleasures nursing staff can help very dependent elderly people to enjoy.

  Unemployment, Cunninghame
  Mr. Lambie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he is prepared to propose to deal with unemployment in Cunninghame.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 26 February 1992]: The development of initiatives to deal with unemployment in particular areas, where action is necessary to supplement the very broad range of measures alread in place, is a matter for local enterprise companies. I am confident that Enterprise Ayrshire will bring forward any new proposals which are necessary to address unemployment in Cunninghame.

  Inspector of Constabulary
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the post of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland is full or part-time.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Her Majesty's inspectorate for Scotland consists of one Her Majesty's inspector (full-time) and one Her Majesty's chief inspector (full-time). Both are former chief constables.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the current annual amount of(a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level nuclear waste generated in Scotland; if he will express this as a percentage of the total United Kingdom figure; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Information relating to the rate of generation of low, intermediate and high level radioactive waste at United Kingdom nuclear establishments including those in Scotland is contained in the regular statements of the United Kingdom radioactive waste inventory published jointly by the Department of the Environment and UK Nirex Ltd. The statements are published every other year, the most recent being Department of the Environment report DOE/RW 89–110 which is in the Library.

  Nursery School Places
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the capital and revenue costs of providing nursery school places for all children in the three to five age group.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: Local authorities have the power to provide for nursery education as they deem appropriate in response to local needs and circumstances and their own spending priorities.

  The Opposition have made various claims about the importance of providing nursery places for all three and four-year-olds, but I am not aware of any estimates of the total cost of providing these places.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Shareholders
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners own shares.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest information available suggests that in 1988 approximately 1·35 million pensioners owned shares and other marketable securities.

  Lone Parents
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of lone parents receive regular maintenance payments.

  Mr. Jack
  A survey of the circumstances of lone parent families in the United Kingdom carried out in 1989 found that only 30 per cent. of lone mothers received regular amounts of maintenance for their children. Our proposals for a new system of child maintenance aim to remedy the situation.

  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to help lone parents who want to re-enter the labour market.

  Mr. Jack
  Currently, significant help is built into the benefits available to lone parents who want to work. In
  73
  particular, family credit gives considerable encouragement. Lone parents get the same adult credit as a two-parent family, and one parent benefit is disregarded in calculating their income. Disability working allowance, which is to be introduced on 6 April 1992, will make the same provision for lone parents as family credit.

  In housing benefit and community charge benefit, those lone parents not on income support, benefit from the higher, £25, earnings disregard and from a lone parent premium which is higher than the rate of lone parent premium in income support.

  From 7 April 1992, this help will be further enhanced by two measures. First, family credit will be available to those working at least 16 hours a week rather than 24. This will enable many lone parents to work the qualifying number of hours and fit them around school hours, and so benefit from the more generous provisions of family credit.

  Secondly, from the same date, the first £15 of maintenance they receive will be disregarded in calculating income in family credit, housing benefit, community charge benefit, and disability working allowance. This will increase the disposable income of all such recipients.

  In addition, when the new Child Support Agency starts work in April 1993, more lone parents will receive higher amounts of child maintenance and be able to take full advantage of the changes in family credit.

  On 11 December 1991, we announced a grant of £1 million to the National Council for One Parent Families to enable it to provide courses for lone parents who are thinking of going back to work. The courses will help lone parents to improve their job search skills, and will provide a range of information on local facilities and personal finances.

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to meet the housing associations to discuss the level of housing benefit for income support claimants.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans to do so and I am not aware of any requests to this Department for such a meeting.

  Housing benefit cases in England (May 1990)

  Rent rebate

  Rent allowance

  Cases

  Average benefit £

  Cases

  Average benefit £

  With income support

  Pensioners (claimant or partner aged 60 or over)

  571,000

  21·94

  189,000

  24·67

  Lone Parents1

  327,000

  25·05

  91,000

  36·74

  Others2

  444,000

  22·82

  235,000

  34·61

  Total

  1,343,000

  22·98

  515,000

  31·28

  Without income support

  Pensioners (claimant or partner aged 60 or over)

  737,000

  15·95

  201,000

  18·50

  Lone Parents1

  37,000

  18·34

  10,000

  36·24

  Others2

  190,000

  17·24

  200,000

  18·03

  Total

  964,000

  16·28

  411,000

  19·07

  Total all cases

  Pensioners (claimant or partner aged 60 or over)

  1,308,000

  18·57

  390,000

  21·49

  Lone Parents1

  365,000

  24·36

  100,000

  36·69

  Others2

  634,000

  21·15

  436,000

  26·98

  74
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the latest estimates for England of(a) the number of households receiving housing benefit, (b) the average amount of housing benefit paid and (c) the cost of housing benefit, distinguishing (i) those households which receive income support and those which do not, (ii) rent rebates and rent allowances and (iii) pensioner households, lone parent families, two parent families, childless couples and others.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 26 February 1992]: The information available is set out in the table.

  Housing Benefit Expenditure

  1990–91 IS NON IS £ million

  1991–92 IS NON IS £ million

  Rent Rebate (England)

  Pensioners (Claimant or partner aged 60 or over)

  621

  692

  483

  752

  Lone Parents1

  441

  47

  462

  47

  Others2

  590

  176

  712

  212

  Total

  1,652

  915

  1,657

  1,010

  Rent Allowance (Great Britain)3

  Pensioners (Claimant or partner aged 60 or over)

  257

  281

  250

  371

  Lone Parents1

  197

  26

  259

  33

  Others2

  546

  238

  862

  341

  Total

  1,000

  545

  1,371

  744

  Source:1990·91 data is consistent with the Departmental Report. Estimated outturn expenditure figures have been provided for 1991–92.

  Notes:

  1 Lone parents are defined as those in receipt of the lone parent premium.

  2 "Others" include two parent families and childless couples because the information on these two categories is not available.

  3 Information for England only is not available.

  75

  Rent rebate

  Rent allowance

  Cases

  Average benefit £

  Cases

  Average benefit £

  Total

  2,307,000

  20·18

  925,000

  25·86

  Source: Housing benefit and Community Charge Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent, sample for May 1990.

  1 Lone parents are defined as those in receipt of the lone parent premium.

  2 "Others" includes two parent families and childless couples because the information on these two categories is not available.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the improvement of contact between his Department and London local authorities to speed up the payment of housing benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department and the Benefits Agency keep the arrangements for housing benefit liaison with local authorities under constant review. Discussions are currently taking place with the Benefits Agency and the local authority associations on the preparation of a national service level agreement. This will provide a model framework for individual local authorities and social security districts throughout Great Britain, allowing them to negotiate local agreements which more closely suit local needs. One of the first local agreements will operate between certain London authorities and the Glasgow benefits centre. In addition to these initiatives, regular liaison meetings, at working and management levels, are actively encouraged. Finally, the forms used by the Benefits Agency to supply information to local authorities are to be improved later this year. With these improvements in place, all authorities should see gains in the quality of service provided.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unemployed benefit claimants there were in St. Helens in December 1978 and in December 1991.

  Mr. Scott
  In December 1978 there were 14,288 unemployed people registering in the Wigan and St. Helens travel-to-work area. In December 1991 there were 22,740 people signing unemployed in that area.

  Incomes
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have incomes in excess of £20,280 a year solely by virtue of receiving overtime and bonus payments.

  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated from the April 1991 "New Earnings Survey" that nearly three quarters of a million employees have gross weekly earnings above £390—the equivalent of £20,280—by virtue of overtime, bonus and other premium payments.

  Upper Earnings Limit
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the estimated revenue yield in 1992–93 of abolishing the employee's national insurance upper earnings limit from October 1992.

  Mr. Newton
  We estimate that the contribution yield in 1992–93 would be £1·1 billion.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the average cost to a non-pensioner of the imposition of national insurance contributions at 9 per cent. on income from savings above £3,000.

  Mr. Newton
  We estimate that in the United Kingdom the average cost in 1991–92 to a non-pensioner would be £770.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing full national insurance benefits to those with earnings below the lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Jack
  The cost would depend on various factors, including the scope of the benefits scheme proposed and the incidence of claims among low earners. I regret that the information on which such an estimate could be made is not presently available.

  However, some 3 million employees earning less than the lower earnings limit might be affected from such an arrangement and as a result payment for such benefit could cost billions in the longer term.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the revenue yield(a) of a 4.5 per cent. rate of national insurance contributions applied to all income in excess of £20,280 a year and (b) an increase in the national insurance contributions upper earnings limit to £26,000 a year.

  Mr. Jack
  We estimate that a 4.5 per cent. charge on earnings over £20,280 a year would yield about £1–5 billion in respect of 1991–92.

  Raising the upper earnings limit for employees to £26,000 a year, would yield about £0·6 billion.

  Disability Benefits
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures are being taken to improve awareness of the new disability benefits due to be introduced in April.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to publicise improvements to the system of benefits for disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  The advertising campaign for disability living allowance and disability working allowance commenced on 5 February. The campaign includes television commercials, supported by advertising in the national press, specialist, and ethnic press as well as a number of other publications. The advertisements invite people to telephone or send off a coupon to a freepost address to obtain the "Guide to New Benefits for Disabled People". I am very pleased to announce that we have already received 120,000 responses to the advertising.
  77
  The advertisements form part of a larger publicity campaign targeted at disabled people, carers, advisers, and health professionals. As part of this campaign, we have written to over one million existing beneficiaries of attendance allowance and mobility allowance to let them know about the benefit changes and how to claim extra help, if appropriate. We are also writing to organisations of and for disabled people, advisers, and health professionals—such as doctors, nurses and therapists—telling them about the benefits and how they can help their clients and patients to claim. We are also making use of the new out-of-hours service BBC Select to broadcast a series of information programmes about DLA and DWA.

  The key materials—including the commercials and advertisements—have been researched with disabled people, and the campaign has been prepared in liaison with representatives of organisations of and for disabled people.

  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps have been taken to consult disabled people and their representatives in the design and promotion of the new disability living allowance and disability working allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  There has been considerable consultation and testing with disabled people and their representative organisations on many of the key elements of the new benefits, including proposals for the new assessment and adjudication arrangements, draft claim packs, regulations and leaflets. In addition the key materials for the publicity campaign—including the television commercials and press advertisements—have been researched with disabled people, and the campaign has been prepared in liaison with representatives of organisations of and for disabled people.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response his Department has received to the current advertising campaign for disability working allowance and disability living allowance.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response his Department has received to the current advertising campaign for disability working allowance and disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  In response to the advertising campaign for the new disability benefits which began on 5 February we have received more than 120,000 inquiries so far. I regard this as a very successful start to the campaign, and one which reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring that as many disabled people as possible learn of the new opportunities that the benefits provide.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what percentage total expenditure on social security has increased since 1979 in real terms.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Total expenditure on Social Security increased by 52 per cent. in real terms between 1978–79 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the likely increase in expenditure that will result from the change from mobility allowance and attendance allowance to disability living allowance.
  78
  Mr. Scott
  We expect by next year to be spending nearly £1/4 billion extra on additional help for around 300,000 disabled people as a result of introducing disability living allowance. This expenditure comes on top of several other substantial improvements introduced during this Parliament and, of course, on top of an increase of over £7 billion in real terms since 1979 in the benefits we pay to disabled people.

  Family Credit
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the value of the average family credit award expressed as a proportion of gross wages for those who receive family credit.

  Mr. Jack
  In August 1991, a 5 per cent. sample of family credit recipients showed that the average is 30 per cent. of the gross weekly earnings of the main earner.

  Self-employed People
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many self-employed people earn more than £20,280 a year.

  Mr. Jack
  As I confirmed to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont-Dark), we estimate that in 1991–92 about 400,000 self-employed people will earn above the upper profits limit of £20,280.

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further representations he has received concerning the existing legal basis for occupational pension schemes.

  Mr. Newton
  My Department has received a number of representations from Members of Parliament, interested organisations and members of the public on the basis of which occupational pension schemes operate.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of household income derives from social security payments in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested can be found in table 31 of the 1990 "Family Expenditure Survey". These percentages are affected by the interplay of a wide range of demographic and economic, as well as social, factors.

  Claimants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many, and what proportion, of supplementary benefit and income support claimants in Great Britain were in receipt of benefit because they were unemployed for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jack
  The information available for the period is in the table:
  79

  Year

  Total number of supplementary benefit/income support claimants thousands

  Number of supplementary benefit/income support claimants who were unemployed thousands

  Proportion of supplementary benefit/income support claimants who were unemployed

  1979

  2,855

  566

  1 in 5·04

  1980

  3,118

  854

  1 in 3·65

  1981

  3,723

  1,318

  1 in 2·82

  1982

  4,267

  1,722

  1 in 2·48

  1983

  4,349

  1,826

  1 in 2·38

  1984

  4,609

  1,953

  1 in 2·36

  1986

  4,938

  2,121

  1 in 2·33

  1987

  4,896

  1,957

  1 in 2·50

  1988

  4,352

  1,511

  1 in 2·88

  1989

  4,161

  1,216

  1 in 3·42

  1990

  4,180

  1,063

  1 in 3·93

  Note: Figures for claimants have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Income Support
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether unemployed claimants who are receiving income support who participate in European social fund vocational training courses provided either by(a) voluntary organisations or local authorities, or (b) training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies are required to be available for, and actively seeking, employment.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 26 February at column 537.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total value for the last 12-month period for which records are available, of assistance paid to mortgagors currently in receipt of income support, for(a) direct help with mortgage interest payments, (b) passported help from the social fund for help with the cost of furniture and other essential household items and (c) other passported help from the social fund, by category; and if he will subdivide the figures into childless, couples with children, and lone parent household categories.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The information required for (b) and (c) is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information requested for (a) is as follows:

  Status

  Number of claimants(000s)

  Amount included in assessments for mortgage interest (£ million)

  Childless

  169

  231

  Couples with children

  64

  146

  Lone parents

  77

  177

  Total

  310

  554

  Source: Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1990.

  Notes:

  1. All numbers of claimants have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. All amounts of money have been rounded to the nearest million.

  Over-60s Card
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to introduce the European Community over-60s card.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett) on 80
  3 February at columns 96–7. I will send him a copy of the letter I wrote to Members of the European Parliament on 20 January 1992.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each private sector consultancy firm which has been retained by each agency within his Department, and for his Department as a whole, for the purposes of advising on the market testing programme; and whether the appointment in each case was the result of competitive tendering.

  Mr. Jack
  Individual agencies within the Department have not retained a private sector consultancy firm to give advice on market testing. Price Waterhouse has been retained to advise the Department as a whole on potential areas for market testing. The appointment was made following competitive tendering.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November 1991(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial actitivies they are involved in or other clients they represent.

  Mr. Jack
  Since 18 November 1991 the Department has been working to draw up a three to five-year programme of market testing, informed by studies undertaken with the private sector, as required by the White Paper "Competing for Quality". All support areas are being considered.

  Contract documents include a clause on confidentiality covering both commercial and other information. All contractors' employees are bound by the same conditions on confidentiality as civil servants under the Official Secrets Acts of 1911 and 1989 and section 19 of the Social Security Act 1989 and are required to sign a declaration to that effect.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been
  81
  involved since 18 November 1991 (a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants and the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Jack
  Price Waterhouse has been contracted by this Department to advise on potential areas for market testing. The fees charged on individual contracts are regarded as commercial in confidence and cannot be divulged.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list changes in the criteria for attendance allowance made between May 1990 and May 1991.

  Mr. Scott
  From 1 October 1990 people with a terminal illness who are unlikely to live long enough to satisfy the six-month qualifying period for the benefit have been able to qualify for the higher rate automatically, and do not have to satisfy the qualifying period.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when attendance allowance was first paid to Mrs. Mary Wood of Fairfax place, Dartmouth; when it was withdrawn; when a doctor appointed by his Department last carried out a medical examination of Mrs. Wood; when he expects to make a decision on Mrs. Wood's entitlement to the allowance; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessments were made of the entitlement of Mrs. Mary Wood of Fairfax place, Dartmouth to receive attendance allowance in (a) May 1990 and (b) May 1991; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the circumstances under which payment of attendance allowance may be discontinued.

  Mr. Scott
  Payment may be discontinued because:

  (a) the medical criteria for an award are no longer satisfied;

  (b) more than 28 days have been spent as an inpatient in a health service hospital and/or publicly funded residential accommodation;

  (c) the residence and presence conditions are no longer satisfied;

  (d) there is a complete overlap with constant attendance allowance;

  (e) of imprisonment or detention in legal custody.

  Benefits
  Mrs Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many benefit claimants in Glasgow have requested a review of their supplementary benefit entitlement under the regulation 72 take-up campaign; how many of these(a) have had their requests for review refused, (b) are pending and (c) have received payments; what is the total amount of back-dated benefit paid out to Glasgow claimants as at 31 January; and what was the average amount of such payments;
  82
  (2) if he will list the number of claimants for each individual benefit at each of his Department's offices serving the Glasgow, Maryhill constituency as at 30 December.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the public information office.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many additional people who at present have reduced entitlement to benefits would qualify for full entitlement to benefit as a result of increasing the initial capital cut off point from £3,000 to £6,000, while retaining the present upper limits and tapers for(a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) housing benefit and (d) community charge benefits; and what would be the full year cost in each case;

  (2) what is the number of people who receive reduced entitlement to benefit as a result of the rules on capital limits for (a) family credit, (b) income support, (c) housing benefit and (d) community charge benefit;

  (3) how many additional people, who at present have reduced entitlement to benefits, would qualify for full entitlement to benefit as a result of increasing the initial capital cut off point from £3,000 to £4,000, while retaining the present upper limits and tapers for (a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) housing benefit and (d) community charge benefits; and what would be the full year cost in each case;

  (4) how many additional people who at present have reduced entitlement to benefits would qualify for full entitlement to benefit as a result of increasing the initial capital cut off point from £3,000 to £5,000, while retaining the present upper limits and tapers for (a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) housing benefit and (d) community charge benefits; and what would be the full year cost in each case.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 25 February 1992]: Where a claimant's capital exceeds £3,000, a weekly income is assumed in each of the income-related benefits according to a tariff income formula. However, any actual interest earned by the capital is not counted as income when deciding entitlement to benefit. In many cases, this interest exceeds the tariff income taken into account.

  The estimated numbers of recipients of income-related benefits, whose entitlement to benefit is affected because they have capital in excess of £3,000 are as follows:

  (a) Family Credit: 3,000

  (b) Income Support: 73,000

  (c) Housing Benefit: 174,000

  (d) Community Charge Benefit: 608,000

  Increasing the existing lower capital limit of £3,000 would affect all claimants with capital above £3,000. The numbers of claimants who, on the latest information available, would not have tariff income taken into account if the lower capital limit were increased to the levels stated, and the estimated costs of raising the lower level for all cases with capital, are in the table:

  £4,000

  £5,000

  £6,000

  Income Support

  39,000

  58,000

  69,000

  Family Credit

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Housing Benefit

  59,000

  101,000

  130,000

  83

  £4,000

  £5,000

  £6,000

  Community Charge Benefit

  165,000

  289,000

  389,000

  Estimated costs across the income·related benefits

  £90 million

  £150 million

  £200 million

  Sources: (latest information available)

  August 1991 Family Credit Statistical System

  May 1990 Annual Statistical Enquiry of Income Support recipients

  May 1990 Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Costs of increasing the lower capital limit are based on the results of modelling using data drawn from the 1987–88–89 family expenditure surveys at 1992–93 prices and benefits levels.

  2. Estimates of capital holdings drawn from the family expenditure survey are imputed from reported income from investment and savings and are therefore uncertain.

  1—Less than 2,500 claimants.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for Coventry and Warwickshire for the number of claims to(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit; and what were the figures one year ago.

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

  Social Fund
  Mrs Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications to the social fund for(a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans were made by applicants at each of his Department's offices covering the Glasgow, Maryhill constituency between 1 July 1991 and 31 December; how many were successful; and how many were awarded to pensioners.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and Public Information Offices.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mrs Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants in Glasgow have automatically received the £6 cold weather payment during the month of January 1992, via the income support computer system.

  Mr. Scott
  Such information as is available is in the Library.

  Benefit Changes
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of(a) the saving from a 100,000 fall and (b) the cost of a 100,000 increase, in the number of people unemployed, arising from changes in benefits.

  Mr. Jack
  The latest estimate of the effect of variation of 100,000 is contained in figure 25 on page 18 of the "Departmental Report" (Cm 1914). The estimate for 1992–93 is £330 million.

  Earnings-related Supplement
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cash value of earnings-related supplement to unemployment benefit in 1992 for(a) a person on half average male earnings, (b) a person on average male earnings and (c) a person on one-and-a-half average male earnings if the supplement had not been abolished in 1991 and assuming it had been uprated by the pre-1981 formula.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: In 1980 the formula for calculating ERS was 33 per cent. of reckonable weekly earnings in the last complete tax year between £17–50 (the then lower earnings limit for payment of national insurance contributions) and £30, plus 15 per cent. of earnings between £30 and £120 (the then upper earnings limit for payment of national insurance contributions). Because ERS was found not to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the employment field it was abolished in January 1982 and the resulting savings targeted elsewhere within the social security system.

  Values in 1992 would be:

  Earnings base for calculating ERS

  Cash value of supplement to UB £

  Half average male earnings

  18·10

  Average male earnings

  38·90

  One-and-a-half average male earnings

  55·85

  Notes:

  1. Earnings related supplement has been uprated from its 1980 level.

  2. Average male earnings are taken from the April 1991 new earnings survey.

  Using a 1980 base the net cost of re-introducing ERS is estimated at about £530 million which takes account of a £120 million reduction in payments of income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit.

DEFENCE

  Departmental Flats and Maisonettes
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flats or maisonettes under his Department's control were constructed by the Jesperson 12M system; how many are(a) now demolished or (b) scheduled for demolition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no central record within the Ministry of Defence of how many married quarters, either flats or maisonettes, were constructed using this system nor of how many may have been demolished.

  HMS Daedalus
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will co-operate with Gosport borough council, the Gosport Aviation Society and other interested bodies in order to ensure the maximum possible retention within Gosport of historical artefacts and preservation of sites of historical interest, following the closure of HMS Daedalus.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes. Contact with both Hampshire county council and Gosport borough council has already been established at local level. No approach from the Gosport Aviation Society has been received to date.

  Departmental Orders
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of orders placed by his Department with Rolls-Royce in Scotland, British Aerospace, Prestwick, GEC/Ferranti, Edinburgh, Babcock, Rosyth, Babcock Renfrew and Yarrow on the Clyde in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The following is the information:

  Company

  Number of contracts since 1 April 1989

  Total value of contracts placed since 1 April 1989 £ million

  Roll-Royce

  20

  81·6

  British Aerospace Prestwick

  62

  3·3

  GEC-Ferranti Edinburgh

  149

  53·7

  Babcock Rosyth

  345

  141·3

  Babcock Renfrew

  44

  0·6

  Yarrow Clyde

  94

  19·6

  Information on orders placed prior to 1 April 1989 could be obtained only with disproportionate cost and effort.

  Service Contracts
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the total value of contracts awarded to local firms by RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Kinloss, RAF Leuchars, RN Bases Coulport, Faslane and Rosyth and Royal Marine Base Condor.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Maintenance and Repair Contracts
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the value of maintenance and repair contracts awarded by his Department during the last 10 years to Scottish industrial engineering companies and to Scottish shipyards and dockyards.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the firms in the engineering and allied industries that have been consulted about his policy statement in "Options for Change".

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Decisions on the content of the defence programme arising from our proposals for Britain's defence for the 1990s are for Government. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet firms from all sectors of the defence industry to discuss a wide range of issues. Subject to the necessary constraints of security and confidentiality, we would always wish companies to be briefed as fully as possible on future requirements in which they may have an interest.

  Equipment Sales
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the second phase of the Al Yamamah contract for Tornadoes, Hawks and support equipment is likely to be signed.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the next phase of purchases of British equipment under the Al Yamamah agreement with Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I am not in a position to make a statement at this time.

  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimate of the cost of the additional expenditure which would be incurred if beneficiaries of the armed forces pension scheme who were invalided from the service prior to 1973 received the improvement in benefits made to the scheme in 1973; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The additional cost of providing benefits under the armed forces pension scheme to personnel invalided from service before 31 March 1973, on the same basis as applies to personnel invalided on or after that date, is estimated to be in the region of £400 million per year.

  Advanced Short-range Air-to-air Missile
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when an announcement on the advanced short-range air-to-air missile is to be made.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.

  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Conscripts)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation which have conscript military forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states have conscript military forces:

  Belgium

  Denmark

  France

  Germany

  Greece

  Italy

  The Netherlands

  Norway

  Portugal

  Spain

  Turkey

  ORTON AND VERA CHIRWA
  ORTON AND VERA CHIRWA
  NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICITY PRIVATISATION: COSTS
  NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICITY PRIVATISATION: COSTS
  ABANDONED MINES: POLLUTION LIABILITY
  ABANDONED MINES: POLLUTION LIABILITY
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  WHEAL JANE TIN MINE