Written Answers of 3 March 1992

TRANSPORT

  Rail Developments, London
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the total estimated full cost(a) in cash and (b) at constant 1992 prices of (i) the Jubilee line extension, (ii) east-west crossrail and (iii) other currently agreed new rail developments in London.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  £ million

  Cash

  1992 prices

  Jubilee Line Extension

  1,811

  1,699

  CrossRail

  2,376

  1,939

  Croydon Tramlink

  166

  141

  Chelsea-Hackney Line

  1—

  2,000

  DLR Lewisham Extension

  1—

  150

  Heathrow Express

  1—

  250–300

  1 Project expenditure profiles not available.

  These projects are at different stages of planning and approval. Construction of the Jubilee line extension is expected to begin shortly after Royal Assent. Construction of crossrail is expected to begin in 1995–96. The route of the Chelsea-Hackney line has been safeguarded, but no decision has been taken about when or whether the project should proceed. The Croydon tramlink, the DLR Lewisham extension and the Heathrow express are all projects which the Government expect to be taken forward by the private sector.

  Bridge, Portrack
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 99, what are his reasons for maintaining the high-level road bridge at Portrack.

  Mr. Chope
  A new crossing at a lower level is not economically justified and it would be unreasonable to divert traffic via the existing Cannon Park lifting bridge.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of rail routes are electrified in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The percentage of rail routes electrified is as follows:

  Total route miles

  Electrified route miles

  Percentage electrified

  Scotland

  1,705

  389

  22·8

  England

  7,969

  2,663

  33·4

  Wales

  631

  0

  0

  Northern Ireland

  210

  0

  0

  Total United Kingdom

  10,515

  3,052

  29·0

  88
  Sources: British Rail, Northern Ireland Railways Co. Ltd, Transport Statistics Great Britain.

  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what rate of return on investment: he requires from projects for electrification of main railway lines in Scotland;

  (2) if he will take social and economic cost benefits into account in reaching his decision on the electrification of the railway line from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Monday 2 March 1992.

  Airspace
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the results of the survey of infringements of regulated airspace in the first half of 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Matters of flight safety are the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. I have asked the chairman of the authority to write to the hon. Member.

  River Thames
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the future administration of navigation and shipping on the River Thames.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are no plans to change the existing arrangements for the administration of navigation and shipping on the River Thames.

  Tugs
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his policy of excluding certain tugs from regulations requiring safe manning certificates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The new Safe Manning Document Regulations will give effect to an amendment to the international convention for the safety of life at sea 19'74 and will require all United Kingdom sea-going ships of 500 tonnes or over to be provided with a document specifying the level of manning considered necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the ship. Sea-going tugs of 500 tonnes or over will be included and the voluntary safe manning document scheme currently in place will be retained for all vessels under 500 tonnes. In addition, Department surveyors are able to assess the minimum manning requirements of a vessel during any inspection.

  Railway Imports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway engines and new or used rolling stock have been imported into the United Kingdom in the last five years; and what were the countries of origin.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Training Certificates
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provisional certificates of training issued under EC directive 89/684 EC issued by his Department to meet the requirements of the directive will be recognised by the other EC member states.

  Mr. Chope
  They can only be used in the country of issue.

  Dangerous Substances (EC Directive)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take urgent action in relation to EC directive 89/684 EEC to ensure that British LGV drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous substances will not be stopped from entering other European Community states by not having in their possession the certificates and documentation required by the directive when it comes into effect on 1 July.

  Mr. Chope
  Administrative arrangements are in hand for training courses to run from April 1992 enabling drivers of road tankers, tank containers and vehicle carrying explosives to obtain the certificates before 1 July.

  British Rail
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Her Majesty's Government intend to raise the external financing limit for British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  In June 1991 we raised British Rail's external financing limit for 1991–92 by £400 million, to a revised total of £1,522 million. The limit for 1992–93 was set in the autumn statement at £2,041 million, in real terms the highest ever figure and an increase of 28 per cent. over 1991–92.

  Birmingham to Manchester Route
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost to the Exchequer of the competition for a new privately funded route from Birmingham to Manchester; how many proposals were received; and what studies have been carried out on the M6 widening scheme.

  Mr. Chope
  It is not possible to disaggregate departmental staff costs for this competition from those for other privately financed road schemes. The Department obtained financial advice from consultants at a cost of approximately £50,000.

  Four groups responded to the invitation for privately financed proposals.

  Since the M6 widening scheme entered the trunk road programme in 1989, a detailed study of options for widening has been undertaken by consultants commissioned by the Department. The study has included engineering, environmental, traffic and economic assessments.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.
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  Mr. McLoughlin
  Pay and grading reviews have been carried out during the past 12 months in the following parts of the Department, including executive agencies: The Air Accident Inspection Branch (Inspector grades); The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency;

  The Driving Standards Agency (Senior Driving Examiner grades).

  Consultants Price Waterhouse were involved in the DVLA review. Private consultants were not used in either of the other reviews.

  Car Ownership
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures his Department holds showing the number of people owning cars for the years 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Chope
  Information on car ownership is given in "Transport Statistics Great Britain". Table 2.14 of the 1991 edition showed that, in 1989, 66 per cent. of households, or 14·3 million households, in Great Britain had the regular use of a car. Figures for 1990 will be available in mid-1992.

  Railway Investment
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about its investment priorities for 1992–93.

  Mr. Freeman
  Investment priorities are regularly discussed with British Rail. BR is currently finalising its investment programme for the coming year as part of its budget, within the external finance limit of £2,041 million for 1992–93—the highest ever figure in real terms.

  Inland Waterways
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of successful applications for inland waterways freight facilities grants, section 36 grants, since they were set up in 1981.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government have awarded seven inland waterway freight facilities grants under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981. The awards have been as follows:-

  £

  Millgate Investments Ltd, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire

  369,340

  Varma Services Ltd, Deptford, London SE

  859,200

  Sheffield Haulage and Storage Ltd, Rotherham

  61,375

  West Country Fuels Ltd, Gloucester

  26,950

  Colwick Petroleum Ltd, Nottingham

  63,494

  Sand & Gravel (Leeds) Ltd

  20,640

  Wimpey Hobbs Ltd, Greenwich, London SE

  402,832

  Roads
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures his Department holds showing the amount of money spent on building, maintaining and policing roads in 1991.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department of Transport's report for 1992—Cm 1907—contains outturn figures for 1990–91 and provisional outturn figures for 1991–92 for:—

  (a) Capital expenditure on new construction and improvement of national roads—those for which the Secretary of State is the highway authority,

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  (b) capital expenditure on structural maintenance of national roads,

  (c) current expenditure on national roads,

  (d) expenditure on priority routes in London,

  (e) current expenditure on local roads—those for which local authorities are the highway authorities, and

  (f) capital expenditure on local roads.

  These figures relate to England. Roads in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Information from the Home Office on the costs of policing roads in 1991 is not yet available.

  Secondary Traffic Signals
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at how many road junctions secondary traffic signals have been removed, pursuant to his departmental advice note TA/18/81; what extension of this scheme is proposed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  It is for individual highway authorities to decide on the layouts of their traffic signals. The information requested is not available centrally. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981 define the essential requirements and these are supplemented by departmental advice. There are no plans to revise departmental advice note TA/18/81 in respect of the provision of secondary signals.

  Liverpool to London Flights
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of British Midland to discuss the proposed withdrawal of the service betwen Liverpool and London.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The chairman of British Midland has not requested a meeting. The decision to suspend air services between Liverpool and London was a matter for the company to determine in the light of its commercial judgment.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce an agreement for the construction of the Birmingham northern relief road; and if he will make a statement on the timetable he envisages.

  Mr. Chope
  I am pleased to announce that we have been able to complete with Midlands Expressway Ltd. the concession agreement for the Birmingham northern relief road. This will be the first privately financed toll motorway in the United Kingdom and the first road authorised under the provisions of the New Road and Street Works Act 1991. This project has been strongly backed by Midlands Expressway Ltd.'s parent companies, Trafalgar House and Iritecna of Italy.

  The new road, which should be opened in the late 1990s, will provide welcome relief to the M6 and to local traffic in the A5/A38 corridor. The agreement provides for a concession of 53 years and the concessionaire envisages that, on opening, tolls will be about £1·50 for cars and £3 for lorries at 1990 prices. The cost of engineering the Birmingham northern relief road will be some £270 million, including substantial measures for the mitigation of environmental impact.
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  Midlands Expressway Ltd.'s latest design reflect, significant number of changes to the scheme which. accepted as a basis for public consultation in the memorandum of agreement signed on 12 August 1991. This revised scheme will, I hope, address most of the points raised in the public consultation. Towards the end of this year I hope to bring forward orders to implement the scheme.

  A35 (Wilmington Bypass)
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making to ensure the building of a bypass for the village of Wilmington on the A35 at the earliest possible moment.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 20 February 1992]: We shall be inviting bids from consulting engineers for the design work on this scheme soon.

  Roads (Expenditure)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the total of revenue expenditure on(a) trunk roads and (b) all other roads in (i) Greater London and (ii) England for each year from 1980–81 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Total current expenditure by central Government and local authorities in £ million was as follows:

  (i) Greater London

  £ million

  Trunk Roads (including Motorways):

  1980–81

  n.a.

  1981–82

  n.a.

  1982–83

  8·3

  1983–84

  6·4

  1984–85

  5·6

  1985–86

  6·8

  1986–87

  12·0

  1987–88

  13·4

  1988–89

  14·9

  1989–90

  16·9

  1990–91

  17·6

  All Other Roads:

  1980–81

  n.a.

  1981–82

  n.a.

  1982–83

  60·8

  1983–84

  63·0

  1984–85

  74·1

  1985–86

  70·7

  1986–87

  79·0

  1987–88

  78·1

  1988–89

  94·7

  1989–90

  101·5

  1990–91

  n.a.

  (ii) England

  Year

  £ million

  Trunk Roads (including Motorways):

  1980–81

  50

  1981–82

  69

  1982–83

  60

  1983–84

  64

  1984–85

  78

  1985–86

  77

  1986–87

  93

  1987–88

  84

  1988–89

  102

  93

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  105

  1990–91

  121

  All Other Roads:

  1980–81

  894

  1981–82

  1,012

  1982–83

  1,037

  1983–84

  1,084

  1984–85

  1,124

  1985–86

  1,191

  1986–87

  1,248

  1987–88

  1,319

  1988–89

  1,302

  1989–90

  1,592

  1990–91

  1,592

  The figures are from "Transport Statistics Great Britain", an annual publication, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Figures for Greater London were not held prior to 1982–83. The figure for all London boroughs' expenditure on other roads for 1990–91 is not yet available.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the total of capital investment in(a) trunk roads and (b) all other roads in (i) Greater London and (ii) England for each year from 1980–81 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: Total capital investment by central Government and local authorities in £ millions was as follows:

  (i) Greater London

  Year

  £ million

  Trunk Roads (including Motorways):

  1980–81

  N/A

  1981–82

  N/A

  1982–83

  30·4

  1983–84

  22·6

  1984–85

  22·1

  1985–86

  59·6

  1986–87

  92·2

  1987–88

  97·2

  1988–89

  73·9

  1989–90

  135·7

  1990–91

  166·1

  All Other Roads

  1980–81

  N/A

  1981–82

  N/A

  1982–83

  139·5

  1983–84

  150·0

  1984–85

  147·1

  1985–86

  175·0

  1986–87

  174·6

  1987–88

  166·5

  1988–89

  198·0

  1989–90

  263·5

  1990–91

  N/A

  (ii) England:

  £ million

  Trunk Roads (including Motorways):

  1980–81

  472

  1981–82

  557

  1982–83

  672

  1983–84

  641

  1984–85

  718

  1985–86

  734

  1986–87

  766

  1987–88

  872

  94

  £ million

  1988–89

  897

  1989–90

  1,239

  1990–91

  1,689

  All Other Roads:

  1980–81

  429

  1981–82

  375

  1982–83

  456

  1983–84

  503

  1984–85

  508

  1985–86

  604

  1986–87

  629

  1987–88

  652

  1988–89

  873

  1989–90

  854

  1990–91

  831

  The figures are from "Transport Statistics Great Britain", an annual publication, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Figures for Greater London were not held prior to 1982–83. The figure for all London boroughs' expenditure on other roads for 1990–91 is not yet available.

  M25
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the traffic generated on other roads as a result of the building of the M25 motorway.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: It is estimated that the amount of heavy goods vehicle traffic in central London has declined by 20 per cent.

  Unleaded Fuel
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for(a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) new cars use unleaded fuel and (ii) car owners have converted their cars to unleaded fuel and what proportion this is of cars that can be converted, (iii) new cars have a catalytic converter, (iv) new cars made in the United Kingdom have catalytic converters and (v) car owners have had a catalytic converter fitted.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: The Information for (i) and (ii) is not available in the form requested although the hon. Gentleman may also wish to know that in December 1991, 43 per cent. of petrol sold in the United Kingdom was unleaded.

  According to a recent survey of barriers against further uptake of unleaded petrol, carried out by the Department of the Environment, some relevant information is as follows:

  (i) 95 per cent. of drivers with cars under two years old and whose cars can run on unleaded fuel, use it.

  (ii) 39 per cent. of regular drivers can and do use unleaded fuel. 7 per cent. of regular drivers can but do not use unleaded fuel.

  The rest of the information is as follows:

  (iii) According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in the fourth quarter of 1991, 24 per cent. of new cars sold in the United Kingdom had a catalytic converter.

  (iv) In the time available it has not been possible to produce comparable figures for new cars made in the United Kingdom.

  (v) It is not known how many car owners have had a catalytic converter fitted.

ENVIRONMENT

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on(a) discussions undertaken and (b) decisions agreed on toxic waste exports, at the recent European Environment Council meeting in Estoril.

  Mr. Baldry
  The topic of toxic waste exports was not on the agenda for the recent informal meeting of EC Environment Ministers in Estoril.

  Rainfall
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the rainfall in each National Rivers Authority region during the last six month period for which figures are available; what is the normal average rainfall for each region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The monthly rainfall, and the monthly average over the period 1941–1970, for each region of the national Rivers Authority to October 1991 is published by the Water Services Association in "Waterfacts 1991". More recent information is available from the Meteorological Office.

  National Heritage Memorial Fund
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of funding made from the National Heritage Memorial Fund for the purposes of safeguarding landscape features and wildlife habitats in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Grants made available by the trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund to assist in the acquisition, maintenance or preservation of land of scenic and/or scientific interest over the last five financial years were as follows:

  £ million

  1986–87

  1·429

  1987–88

  1·500

  1988–89

  1·157

  1989–90

  5·887

  1990–91

  1·071

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the county councils that are now free of long-term debt.

  Mr. Portillo
  Returns to the Department indicate that at 31 March 1991, Dorset, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and West Sussex were free of long-term debt.

  Travellers
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the representation from Nottinghamshire county council regarding the establishment of a permanent gipsy site at Fox Covert, Worksop; and what is the reason for the delay in announcing his decision.
  96
  Mr. Yeo
  Outstanding supporting information was received from Nottinghamshire county council on 3 January. The issues raised by all parties require very careful consideration, but the Secretary of State expects to issue his decision shortly.

  Home Acquisition
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of acquisition by a local authority of a home in(a) London, (b) metropolitan districts and (c) non-metropolitan districts.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Local authorities acquire relatively few dwellings for continued housing use. Reliable information from which to derive unit costs of acquisition is not available centrally.

  Archaeological Heritage
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to ratify European conventions on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: We shall ratify this convention at the earliest opportunity.

  Planning Applications (Publicity)
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to publish details of how local authorities are to apply the new publicity arrangements for planning applications; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he intends to issue guidelines as to the procedures to be carried out by local authorities for compulsory publicity for all planning applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 5 February 1992, Official Report, column 166.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Proliferation
  Sir Patrick Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Co-operation Council to discuss nuclear proliferation; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The NACC will meet on 10 March in order to admit members of the CIS. There are no other formal items on the agenda. I will represent my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  We are working closely with our allies in NATO on ways to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, materials and expertise from the former Soviet Union, some of which may be raised at the meeting.

  Expresso Lucitania
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the presidency troika under European political co-operation,
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  the banning by the Government of Indonesia of the Portuguese ship Expresso Lucitania; and if he will deliver a protest to the Indonesian embassy in London over the banning.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have no plans to do so.

  Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to answer the letter sent to him by the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority dated 10 February.

  Mr. Key
  The Department replied on 25 February to Merseyside fire and civil defence authority's letter.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Lease Defaults
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps are being taken to review and protect the position of those who sell commercial or private leases on property from liability if the purchaser of the lease defaults; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  In 1988 the Law Commission published its report," Landlord and Tenant Law: Privity of Contract and Estate", Law Com No. 174. It recommended that all the obligations created by leases should bind the parties who for the time being are interested in the land and that those parties should cease to have any liability when they part with those interests, except in cases in which it is objectively reasonable that their liability continue. It is envisaged that in many cases a landlord consenting to an assignment by a tenant of his interest will be able to impose a condition that the tenant guarantees the performance of the lease covenants by his successor, but only until any subsequent assignment. The Lord Chancellor is actively considering the report's recommendations and hopes to be able to make an announcement about them in the near future.

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

  The Attorney-General
  As at 1 March there were 795 recorders in office, of whom 752 were men and 43 were women. There were also 469 circuit judges, of whom 447 were men and 22 were women.

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

  The Attorney-General
  County court judges comprise circuit judges and district judges. As at 1 March there were 469 circuit judges in office, of whom 447 were men and 22 were women. There were also 232 district judges, of whom 220 were men and 12 were women.

THE ARTS

  Libraries, Cheshire
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the expenditure of public libraries in Cheshire on book provision for the last 10 years at constant prices.
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  Mr. Renton
  Statistics about the public library service are collected and published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Real terms costs in Cheshire for the 10-year period up to 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, are:

  Year

  Expenditure on books per 1,000 population £

  1980–81

  1,205

  1981–82

  1,298

  1982–83

  1,318

  1983–84

  1,377

  1984–85

  1,204

  1985–86

  1,367

  1986–87

  1,291

  1987–88

  1,479

  1988–89

  1,324

  1989–90

  1,362

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many librarians were employed by Cheshire county council on(a) a full-time basis and (b) a part-time basis in 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Renton
  This information is not available. However, staff numbers in English library authorities as a whole have remained constant over the last 10 years.

  Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals he has for dealing with the problems encountered in the last report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art; and when he proposes to announce his intentions.

  Mr. Renton
  Following the examination of the system of controls on the export of works of art by the reviewing committee, I have consulted widely on the alternative approaches which would enable pre-eminent works of art to be retained in the United Kingdom. I have asked to receive representations before the end of March. I can assure my right hon. Friend that these representations, involving difficult and complex issues, will be fully taken into account before I take any decisions.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service 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. Renton
  Ernst and Young have been engaged to advise on the market testing programme for my Department and its agencies. The appointment was by single tender.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service 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.
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  Mr. Renton
  During the last 12 months, two pay and grading reviews have been undertaken in my Department, one in the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency, the other in the Civil Service Occupational Health Service. Outside consultants were not engaged in either case.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded in Wales in 1979 and 1983 and the latest year available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of notifiable offences recorded in Wales was 127,467 in 1979, 160,882 in 1983 and 229,248 in 1990 which is the latest available year.

  Voluntary Admissions
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 26 February,Official Report, column 515 and 5 February, Official Report, column 163, for what reasons information about the number of officers engaged in obtaining voluntary admissions during 1990–91 is available from the Chief Constable of Northumbria, but not from other forces, where more than 20 per cent. of their clear-up rate is accounted for by this practice.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on the number of detectives employed in obtaining voluntary admissions in Northumbria was available because of a special study reviewing this practice which was undertaken in that force. Such studies are at the discretion of the chief officer.

  Wrongful Imprisonment
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the compensation for wrongful imprisonment so far paid to(a) the four people convicted of the Guildford and Woolwich bombings, (b) Mrs. Maguire and her six co-defendants and (c) the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings; and when he expects to reach a final settlement in each case.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has paid interim awards of compensation to each of those concerned, on the advice of the independent assessor, but it is not our practice to publish details of individual payments to applicants for compensation. We are in touch with those representing the applicants in these cases and will make final payments as soon as possible.

  Mr. Ki Tang
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Islington, North dated 8 March 1989, 12 May 1989, 4 April 1990, 5 September 1990 and 17 October 1991, regarding his constituent Ki Tang and the question of rights of appeal for his family who applied to join Ki Tang under the provisions of the United Nations convention on refugees (family reunion).

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I very much regret the combination of circumstances which has caused this delay and shall reply to the hon. Member very shortly.

  Overseas Voters
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of overseas voters registered for each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Final figures for the electoral register for 1992–93 will be published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the summer; available figures will be published immediately before the general election, should it take place before then. The numbers of overseas electors included in the draft electoral register for 1992–93, together with totals for each constituent part of the United Kingdom, are set out in the table. The figures do riot include valid applications which were received too late for inclusion in the draft register, which was published on 28 November 1991.

  Overseas electors included in the draft electoral register published on 28 November 1991 by parliamentary constituency

  Number

  England

  28,179

  Aldershot

  113

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  23

  Altrincham and Sale

  64

  Amber Valley

  15

  Arundel

  70

  Ashfield

  8

  Ashford

  69

  Ashton-under-Lyne

  13

  Aylesbury

  93

  Banbury

  51

  Barking

  9

  Barnsley, Central

  2

  Barnsley, East

  4

  Barnsley, West and Penistone

  14

  Barrow and Furness

  28

  Basildon

  35

  Basingstoke

  78

  Bassetlaw

  19

  Bath

  89

  Batley and Spen

  27

  Battersea

  142

  Beaconsfield

  110

  Beckenham

  86

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  25

  Bethnal Green and Stepney

  27

  Beverley

  55

  Bexhill and Battle

  92

  Bexleyheath

  33

  Billericay

  60

  Birkenhead

  30

  Birmingham, Edgbaston

  58

  Birmingham, Erdington

  8

  Birmingham, Hall Green

  12

  Birmingham, Hodge Hill

  4

  Birmingham, Ladywood

  15

  Birmingham, Northfield

  31

  Birmingham, Perry Barr

  14

  Birmingham, Selly Oak

  79

  Birmingham, Small Heath

  7

  Birmingham, Sparkbrook

  23

  Birmingham, Yardley

  11

  Bishop Auckland

  16

  Blaby

  45

  Blackburn

  26

  101

  Number

  Blackpool North

  19

  Blackpool South

  22

  Blaydon

  17

  Blyth Valley

  15

  Bolsover

  4

  Bolton North East

  20

  Bolton South East

  9

  Bolton West

  42

  Boothferry

  49

  Bootle

  16

  Bosworth

  46

  Bournemouth East

  63

  Bournemouth West

  63

  Bow and Poplar

  24

  Bradford North

  13

  Bradford South

  14

  Bradford West

  28

  Braintree

  87

  Brent East

  43

  Brent North

  112

  Brent South

  28

  Brentford and Isleworth

  114

  Brentwood and Ongar

  94

  Bridgwater

  46

  Bridlington

  46

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  61

  Brighton, Kemptown

  92

  Brighton, Pavilion

  94

  Bristol East

  22

  Bristol North West

  40

  Bristol South

  20

  Bristol West

  168

  Bromsgrove

  15

  Broxbourne

  46

  Broxtowe

  43

  Buckingham

  87

  Burnley

  13

  Burton

  31

  Bury North

  34

  Bury South

  67

  Bury St. Edmunds

  62

  Number

  Calder Valley

  40

  Cambridge

  259

  Cannock and Burntwood

  24

  Canterbury

  84

  Carlisle

  22

  Carshalton and Wallington

  53

  Castle Point

  39

  Central Suffolk

  50

  Cheadle

  72

  Chelmsford

  77

  Chelsea

  188

  Cheltenham

  86

  Chertsey and Walton

  137

  Chesham and Amersham

  129

  Chesterfield

  11

  Chichester

  96

  Chingford

  33

  Chipping Barnet

  83

  Chislehurst

  81

  Chorley

  53

  102

  Number

  Christchurch

  89

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  77

  City of Chester

  78

  City of Durham

  37

  City of London and Westminster South

  174

  Colne Valley

  47

  Congleton

  45

  Copeland

  25

  Corby

  39

  Coventry North East

  11

  Coventry North West

  21

  Coventry South East

  16

  Coventry South West

  47

  Crawley

  63

  Crewe and Nantwich

  33

  Crosby

  70

  Croydon Central

  49

  Croydon North East

  51

  Croydon North West

  31

  Croydon South

  89

  Dagenham

  10

  Darlington

  35

  Dartford

  40

  Daventry

  43

  Davyhulme

  44

  Denton and Reddish

  13

  Derby North

  32

  Derby South

  27

  Devizes

  99

  Dewsbury

  23

  Don Valley

  13

  Doncaster Central

  17

  Doncaster North

  9

  Dover

  64

  Dudley East

  8

  Dudley West

  20

  Dulwich

  96

  Ealing, Acton

  128

  Ealing North

  53

  Ealing, Southall

  56

  Easington

  6

  East Berkshire

  117

  East Hampshire

  154

  East Lindsey

  30

  East Surrey

  73

  Eastbourne

  82

  Eastleigh

  95

  Eccles

  19

  Eddisbury

  69

  Edmonton

  29

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  60

  Elmet

  32

  Eltham

  36

  Enfield North

  20

  Enfield, Southgate

  89

  Epping Forest

  58

  Epsom and Ewell

  93

  Erewash

  28

  Erith and Crayford

  18

  Esher

  153

  Exeter

  53

  Falmouth and Camborne

  51

  103

  Number

  Fareham

  110

  Faversham

  59

  Feltham and Heston

  43

  Finchley

  88

  Folkestone and Hythe

  54

  Fulham

  172

  Fylde

  60

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  44

  Gateshead East

  19

  Gedling

  27

  Gillingham

  36

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  44

  Gloucester

  32

  Gosport

  63

  Grantham

  73

  Gravesham

  50

  Great Grimsby

  11

  Great Yarmouth

  29

  Greenwich

  60

  Guildford

  125

  Number

  Hackney North and Stoke Newington

  49

  Hackney South and Shoreditch

  36

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  32

  Halifax

  33

  Halton

  15

  Hammersmith

  93

  Hampstead and Highgate

  225

  Harborough

  60

  Harlow

  21

  Harrogate

  63

  Harrow East

  63

  Harrow West

  93

  Hartlepool

  18

  Harwich

  61

  Hastings and Rye

  64

  Havant

  87

  Hayes and Harlington

  28

  Hazel Grove

  37

  Hemsworth

  7

  Hendon North

  44

  Hendon South

  100

  Henley

  134

  Hereford

  58

  Hertford and Stortford

  110

  Hertsmere

  78

  Hexham

  53

  Heywood and Middleton

  4

  High Peak

  68

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  97

  Holland with Boston

  20

  Honiton

  78

  Hornchurch

  26

  Hornsey and Woodgreen

  192

  Horsham

  143

  Houghton and Washington

  11

  Hove

  92

  Huddersfield

  38

  Huntingdon

  79

  Hyndburn

  14

  Ilford North

  23

  Ilford South

  48

  104

  Number

  Ipswich

  45

  Isle of Wight

  55

  Islington North

  97

  Islington South and Finsbury

  98

  Jarrow

  15

  Keighley

  54

  Kensington

  162

  Kettering

  26

  Kingston upon Hull East

  11

  Kingston upon Hull North

  31

  Kingston upon Hull West

  8

  Kingston upon Thames

  138

  Kingswood

  31

  Knowsley North

  15

  Knowsley South

  21

  Lancaster

  72

  Langbaurgh

  44

  Leeds Central

  8

  Leeds East

  14

  Leeds North East

  46

  Leeds North West

  49

  Leeds West

  13

  Leicester East

  15

  Leicester South

  52

  Leicester West

  18

  Leigh

  15

  Leominster

  89

  Lewes

  98

  Lewisham, Deptford

  31

  Lewisham East

  56

  Lewisham West

  72

  Leyton

  25

  Lincoln

  37

  Littleborough and Saddleworth

  26

  Liverpool, Broadgreen

  26

  Liverpool, Garston

  26

  Liverpool, Mossley Hill

  27

  Liverpool, Riverside

  14

  Liverpool, Walton

  12

  Liverpool, West Derby

  5

  Loughborough

  38

  Ludlow

  38

  Luton South

  36

  Macclesfield

  101

  Maidstone

  57

  Makerfield

  19

  Manchester, Blackley

  14

  Manchester, Central

  16

  Manchester, Gorton

  30

  Manchester, Withington

  79

  Manchester, Wythenshawe

  16

  Mansfield

  10

  Medway

  54

  Meriden

  51

  Mid Bedfordshire

  87

  Mid Kent

  45

  Mid Norfolk

  32

  Mid Staffordshire

  52

  Mid Sussex

  81

  Mid Worcestershire

  48

  Middlesbrough

  14

  Milton Keynes

  110

  Mitcham and Morden

  39

  105

  Number

  Mole Valley

  117

  Morecambe and Lunesdale

  44

  Morley and Leeds South

  4

  New Forest

  86

  Newark

  37

  Newbury

  128

  Newcastle upon Tyne Central

  83

  Newcastle upon Tyne East

  16

  Newcastle upon Tyne North

  23

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  33

  Newham North East

  11

  Newham North West

  20

  Newham South

  6

  Normanton

  13

  North Bedfordshire

  108

  North Colchester

  104

  North Cornwall

  61

  North Devon

  55

  North Dorset

  70

  North Durham

  17

  North East Cambridgeshire

  38

  North East Derbyshire

  23

  North Hertfordshire

  88

  North Luton

  51

  North Norfolk

  51

  North Shropshire

  27

  North Thanet

  37

  North Warwickshire

  27

  North West Durham

  17

  North West Hampshire

  94

  North West Leicestershire

  24

  North West Norfolk

  56

  North West Surrey

  141

  North Wiltshire

  84

  Northampton North

  35

  Northampton South

  58

  Northavon

  95

  Norwich North

  46

  Norwich South

  92

  Norwood

  68

  Nottingham East

  37

  Nottingham North

  6

  Nottingham South

  42

  Nuneaton

  21

  Old Bexley and Sidcup

  44

  Oldham Central and Royton

  18

  Oldham West

  12

  Orpington

  83

  Oxford East

  101

  Oxford West and Abingdon

  199

  Peckham

  22

  Pendle

  29

  Penrith and The Border

  32

  Peterborough

  40

  Plymouth, Devonport

  35

  Plymouth, Drake

  40

  Plymouth, Sutton

  53

  Pontefract and Castleford

  4

  Poole

  89

  Portsmouth North

  42

  Portsmouth South

  56

  Preston

  42

  Pudsey

  28

  106

  Number

  Putney

  156

  Ravensbourne

  72

  Reading East

  100

  Reading West

  69

  Redcar

  27

  Reigate

  106

  Ribble Valley

  55

  Richmond (Yorks)

  51

  Richmond and Barnes

  222

  Rochdale

  21

  Rochford

  58

  Romford

  25

  Romsey and Waterside

  84

  Rossendale and Darwen

  45

  Rother Valley

  10

  Rotherham

  10

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  102

  Ruislip—Northwood

  54

  Rushcliffe

  60

  Rutland and Melton

  76

  Ryedale

  50

  Number

  Saffron Walden

  73

  St. Albans

  164

  St. Helens North

  23

  St. Helens South

  13

  St. Ives

  57

  Salford East

  20

  Salisbury

  115

  Scarborough

  34

  Sedgefield

  14

  Selby

  50

  Sevenoaks

  106

  Sheffield, Attercliffe

  30

  Sheffield, Brightside

  19

  Sheffield, Central

  24

  Sheffield, Hallam

  113

  Sheffield, Heeley

  23

  Sheffield, Hillsborough

  20

  Sherwood

  31

  Shipley

  60

  Shoreham

  85

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  31

  Skipton and Ripon

  43

  Slough

  46

  Solihull

  67

  Somerton and Frome

  71

  South Colchester and Maldon

  71

  South Derbyshire

  54

  South Dorset

  54

  South East Cambridgeshire

  84

  South East Cornwall

  76

  South East Staffordshire

  16

  South Hams

  64

  South Norfolk

  68

  South Ribble

  47

  South Shields

  13

  South Staffordshire

  43

  South Suffolk

  41

  South Thanet

  55

  South West Bedfordshire

  83

  South West Cambridgeshire

  115

  107

  Number

  South West Hertfordshire

  113

  South West Norfolk

  49

  South West Surrey

  120

  South Worcestershire

  50

  Southampton Itchen

  53

  Southampton Test

  76

  Southend East

  47

  Southend West

  38

  Southport

  72

  Southwark and Bermondsey

  23

  Spelthorne

  77

  Stafford

  79

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  31

  Stalybridge and Hyde

  31

  Stamford and Spalding

  58

  Stevenage

  63

  Stockport

  39

  Stockton North

  2

  Stockton South

  94

  Stoke-on-Trent Central

  l0

  Stoke-on-Trent North

  7

  Stoke-on-Trent South

  8

  Stratford-on-Avon

  86

  Streatham

  121

  Stretford

  26

  Stroud

  81

  Suffolk Coastal

  81

  Sunderland North

  7

  Sunderland South

  16

  Surbiton

  83

  Sutton and Cheam

  81

  Sutton Coldfield

  59

  Swindon

  63

  Tatton

  51

  Taunton

  61

  Teignbridge

  61

  The Wrekin

  38

  Thurrock

  18

  Tiverton

  75

  Tonbridge and Malling

  84

  Tooting

  92

  Torbay

  64

  Torridge and West Devon

  63

  Tottenham

  23

  Truro

  59

  Tunbridge Wells

  88

  Twickenham

  132

  Tyne Bridge

  5

  Tynemouth

  46

  Upminster

  45

  Uxbridge

  45

  Vauxhall

  131

  Wakefield

  17

  Wallasey

  40

  Wallsend

  17

  Walsall North

  10

  Walsall South

  12

  Walthamstow

  30

  Wansbeck

  10

  Wansdyke

  37

  Wanstead and Woodford

  51

  Wantage

  97

  108

  Number

  Warley East

  16

  Warley West

  3

  Warrington North

  21

  Warrington South

  16

  Warwick and Leamington

  90

  Watford

  92

  Waveney

  52

  Wealden

  85

  Wellingborough

  33

  Wells

  56

  Welwyn Hatfield

  91

  Wentworth

  11

  West Bromwich East

  8

  West Bromwich West

  5

  West Derbyshire

  43

  West Dorset

  61

  West Gloucestershire

  52

  West Hertfordshire

  104

  West Lancashire

  33

  Westbury

  89

  Westminster North

  158

  Westmoreland and Lonsdale

  58

  Weston-Super-Mare

  45

  Wigan

  23

  Wimbledon

  138

  Winchester

  99

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  112

  Wirral South

  48

  Wirral West

  54

  Witney

  79

  Woking

  168

  Wokingham

  134

  Wolverhampton North East

  11

  Wolverhampton South East

  4

  Wolverhampton South West

  14

  Woodspring

  69

  Woolwich

  16

  Worcester

  52

  Workington

  12

  Worsley

  14

  Worthing

  75

  Wycombe

  97

  Wyre

  50

  Wyre Forest

  59

  Yeovil

  64

  York

  63

  Wales

  890

  Aberavon

  2

  Alyn and Deeside

  13

  Blaenau Gwent

  4

  Brecon and Radnor

  27

  Bridgend

  51

  Caernarfon

  24

  Caerphilly

  10

  Cardiff Central

  61

  Cardiff North

  37

  Cardiff South and Penarth

  20

  Cardiff West

  38

  Carmarthen

  31

  Ceredigion and Pembroke North

  39

  Clwyd North West

  33

  Clwyd South West

  26

  109

  Number

  Conwy

  29

  Cynon Valley

  0

  Delyn

  41

  Gower

  29

  Islwyn

  6

  Llanelli

  18

  Meirrionnydd Nant Conwy

  8

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  0

  Monmouth

  56

  Montgomery

  13

  Neath

  13

  Newport East

  11

  Newport West

  23

  Ogmore

  7

  Pembroke

  38

  Pontypridd

  27

  Rhondda

  3

  Swansea East

  7

  Swansea West

  31

  Torfaen

  2

  Vale of Glamorgan

  64

  Wrexham

  21

  Ynys Môn

  27

  Scotland

  1,679

  Aberdeen North

  16

  Aberdeen South

  51

  Angus East

  28

  Argyll and Bute

  14

  Ayr

  35

  Banff and Buchan

  9

  Caithness and Sutherland

  8

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  14

  Central Fife

  6

  Clackmannan

  5

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  13

  Clydesdale

  7

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  17

  Cunninghame North

  29

  Cunninghame South

  12

  Dumbarton

  38

  Dumfries

  15

  Dundee East

  31

  Dundee West

  12

  Dunfermline East

  13

  Dunfermline West

  18

  Number

  East Kilbride

  24

  East Lothian

  20

  Eastwood

  45

  Edinburgh Central

  91

  Edinburgh East

  26

  110

  Number

  Edinburgh, Leith

  37

  Edinburgh, Pentlands

  65

  Edinburgh South

  97

  Edinburgh West

  61

  Falkirk East

  23

  Falkirk West

  18

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  28

  Glasgow, Cathcart

  20

  Glasgow Central

  15

  Glasgow, Garscadden

  8

  Glasgow, Govan

  15

  Glasgow, Hillhead

  51

  Glasgow, Maryhill

  15

  Glasgow, Pollok

  18

  Glasgow, Provan

  4

  Glasgow, Rutherglen

  10

  Glasgow, Shettleston

  3

  Glasgow, Springburn

  5

  Gordon

  40

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  3

  Hamilton

  5

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  33

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  11

  Kincardine and Deeside

  55

  Kirkcaldy

  16

  Linlithgow

  13

  Livingston

  13

  Midlothian

  22

  Monklands East

  2

  Monklands West

  7

  Moray

  15

  Motherwell North

  4

  Motherwell South

  9

  North East Fife

  44

  North Tayside

  38

  Orkney and Shetland

  9

  Paisley North

  11

  Paisley South

  4

  Perth and Kinross

  28

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  30

  Ross, Cromarty and Sky

  25

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  12

  Stirling

  60

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  45

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  30

  Western Isles

  5

  Northern Ireland

  151

  Belfast East

  15

  Belfast North

  9

  Belfast South

  14

  Belfast West

  3

  East Antrim

  7

  East Londonderry

  9

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  8

  Foyle

  4

  Lagan Valley

  6

  111

  Number

  Mid Ulster

  12

  Newry and Armagh

  3

  North Antrim

  7

  North Down

  24

  South Antrim

  6

  South Down

  4

  Strangford

  13

  Upper Bann

  7

  United Kingdom Total

  30,899

  Inquests
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many inquests were held into deaths which involved allegations of medical or social service negligence in the last five years;

  (2) how many inquests were held into deaths which entailed potential collective or corporate responsibility in the last five years.

  Mr. John Patten
  These figures are not collected centrally.

  Leeds Prison
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the director general of the Prison Service next intends to visit Her Majesty's prison, Leeds.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The director general last visited the prison on 25 February and has not yet fixed a date for a further visit.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to consult the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds concerning proposals for a national lottery; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 13 February,Official Report, column 582.

  Obscene Publications Squad
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the total cost from 1987 to 1990 of the Operation Spanner investigation by the obscene publications squad;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of occasions on which police forces other than the Metropolitan police consulted or liaised with the obscene publications squad in each year from 1987 to 1991;

  (3) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the total running costs of the obscene publications squad in 1990 and 1991, and the projected cost in 1992;

  (4) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the cost of the installation
  112
  of the obscene publications squad's paedophile database, the number of officers that are employed to maintain it, the number of names of persons currently listed on the database and the nature of other databases maintained by the obscene publications squad.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total and projected manpower costs of the obscene publications squad are as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  1855,286

  1991–92

  1883,606

  1992–93

  12871,302

  1 These costs cover salaries for police and civilian staff and a personnel administration charge for recruitment, training and the pay roll function. Other costs are not recorded separately.

  2 Estimated.

  The squad does not have a computerised paedophile or other database. Two civilian staff do however maintain a manual index containing about 12,000 records. There is a close liaison between the squad and other police forces when the need arises but no record is kept of the number of times police forces consult or liaise with the obscene publications squad.

  Records are not maintained in such a way that it would be possible to identify easily the costs of Operation Spanner. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police of the Metropolis officers appointed to the obscene publications squad, the method of application or secondments used in selecting the officers appointed, the length of time for which officers are appointed to the squad and the considerations used in determining the time limit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are currently 18 officers, including the superintendent and detective inspector, working in the obscene publications branch. Vacancies in the branch are advertised in Metropolitan police notices.

  The criteria for selection are that applicants should be mature and well balanced, and able to carry out sensitive investigation in a professional manner with a minimum of supervision.

  Three years is the normal period for which Metropolitan police officers are attached to specialist units, but this is not an inflexible rule and it can be varied with an individual's suitability for the work.

  Informants
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the Home Office's guidelines on the use of informants.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  General guidance about the use of informants by the police is included in the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters, at paragraph 1.92. Similar guidance about the use of resident informants is contained in Home Office circular 9/92. Copies of these circulars are in the Library.

  Offences
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in rank order the number of offences committed per head of population in the most recent year available for each police authority in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information is given in the table:

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police per 100,000 population England and Wales 1990

  Police force area

  Offences per 100,000 population

  Northumbria

  14,236

  Cleveland

  13,363

  Nottinghamshire

  13,122

  Greater Manchester

  13,112

  Humberside

  12,201

  Metropolitan Police District

  11,642

  West Yorkshire

  11,420

  South Wales

  10,649

  West Midlands

  10,123

  Bedfordshire

  10,110

  Merseyside

  9,614

  Durham

  9,114

  Avon and Somerset

  8,987

  Northamptonshire

  8,353

  South Yorkshire

  8,286

  Leicestershire

  8,160

  Gloucestershire

  8,007

  Lancashire

  7,785

  Thames Valley

  7,551

  Norfolk

  7,298

  Dorset

  7,294

  Hampshire

  7,178

  Gwent

  7,084

  Staffordshire

  6,979

  Warwickshire

  6,811

  Cambridgeshire

  6,803

  Cumbria

  6,782

  Kent

  6,780

  Sussex

  6,700

  Lincolnshire

  6,677

  Essex

  6,552

  Derbyshire

  6,501

  North Yorkshire

  6,403

  Devon and Cornwall

  6,167

  Wiltshire

  6,013

  Suffolk

  5,888

  West Mercia

  5,836

  North Wales

  5,805

  Cheshire

  5,786

  Surrey

  5,724

  Hertfordshire

  5,513

  Dyfed-Powys

  4,427

  TOTAL

  8,986

  1 Including City of London.

  Television Licence Fees
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1992.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to my reply of 22 October 1991, column Nos. 536–637]: On 22 October 1991, at column 537, I announced that from 1 April the fee for a colour licence would be £80 and the fee for a monochrome licence £26·50. My right hon. Friend has today laid before the House the regulations necessary to bring these fees into
  114
  force. The regulations also increase the fee for a duplicate licence to £3·25 and for a dealer demonstration licence to £3·50.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Ethnic Minority Teaching
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science for what reasons he has not replied to letters to him dated 19 November, 20 December 1991 and 22 January 1992 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to courses for teachers of ethnic minority children; and if he will now reply as a matter of urgency.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, CATE, submitted advice to my right hon. and learned Friend last year, following a review it conducted on teaching English as a foreign language, teaching English as a second language, and teaching English to speakers of other languages as specialisms in courses of initial teacher training.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has recently decided to accept CATE's advice and is writing to the right hon. Member to confirm his decision.

  Seven-year-olds (Testing)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will publish the test results of seven-year-olds for Lambeth and Tower Hamlets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I undertook on 19 December that I would publish the test results from Lambeth and Tower Hamlets as soon as I had them. Parents and community charge payers have every right to know how their schools are performing. My Department had to press these two LEAs to get their results out.

  The results demonstrate that both Lambeth and Tower Hamlets need to give urgent attention to raising standards in their schools. In every single table both authorities are in the bottom quarter of LEAs. In the fundamental skill of reading, Lambeth succeeds in getting only 66 per cent. of its seven-year-olds to the level 2 targets for the age group and Tower Hamlets only 53 per cent. This must be a cause for immediate concern.

  The table sets out those results which were missing from the report on the national and local results published on 19 December. Copies of the tables published on 19 December, revised to take in the results from Lambeth and Tower Hamlets, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Percentage of pupils at level 2 and above

  Percentage of pupils at level 3

  English

  Lambeth

  71

  19

  Tower Hamlets

  64

  15

  Mathematics

  Lambeth

  68

  10

  Tower Hamlets

  63

  7

  Science

  Tower Hamlets

  85

  23

  Lambeth

  80

  26

  115

  Percentage of pupils at level 2 and above

  Percentage of pupils at level 3

  Reading

  Lambeth

  66

  14

  Tower Hamlets

  53

  14

  English Mathematics and Science

  Lambeth

  73

  18

  Tower Hamlets

  71

  15

  The results are based on returns from 83 per cent. of relevant primary schools in Lambeth and from 74 per cent. of relevant primary schools in Tower Hamlets.

  This summer I will require all local education authorities to send me the results of the tests of seven-year-olds from all of their schools. I do not expect the delays that occurred in last year's exercise to happen again.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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. Atkins
  Following competitive tendering, the Department has appointed KPMG Management Consulting to advise on its market testing programme.

  Libraries, Cheshire
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure on school libraries in the county of Cheshire in the last ten years.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Schools (Commercial Products)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he issues to local education authorities about the free distribution in schools of commercial products; and what actions he intends to take with regard to the distribution of the product of which details have been sent to him.

  Mr. Fallon
  This Department does not issue guidelines to local education authorities about the free distribution in schools of commercial products. The distribution of particular free products is a matter for headteachers and their governing bodies to agree.

  Education, Cambridgeshire
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the amount of the increase in the central Government contribution to the cost of education in Cambridgeshire in 1991–92 over(a) 1990–91 and (b) 1978–79; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  Local authorities are free to determine their own spending priorities between services within the framework of the annual local authority finance settlement. The overall amount of RSG which 116
  Cambridgeshire receives and its share of payments from the national non-domestic rate pool is based on its standard spending assessment, SSA, the Government's assessment of the expenditure which the authority would need to incur to provide a standard level of service. The education component for Cambridgeshire's SSA for 1991–92 was £225 million; and for 1990–91 it was £193·4 million—cash figures. There was no equivalent of SSAs in 1978–79. Cambridgeshire's outturn recurrent expenditure on education in 1978–79 represented some £191 million at 1991–92 prices. That figure includes the cost of higher education which in 1989–90 became the responsibility of the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council, PCFC.

  Education, Bournemouth
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those changes in education and to schools in Bournemouth since 1987 and those currently under way or approved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  In common with other parts of the country, schools in Bournemouth will have benefited from the reforms introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Statutory proposals have been approved for the enlargement of five voluntary aided primary schools, and for a new county primary school, providing additional places. Approval has been given for one secondary school to change its age range from 11 to 16 to 11 to 18.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has approved the applications for grant-maintained status from two local secondary schools, one of which has been operating since September 1990. He is currently considering an application from one other secondary school.

  I understand that the local education authority have plans to transfer one county secondary school to new premises and to make improvements at one voluntary aided primary school.

  Sport
  Mr. Denis Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what Government grants have been paid to the cities of Edinburgh, Sheffield and Birmingham in the last 10 years in order to provide sports facilities of international standards; and if he will pay grants to cities providing facilities in connection with the Manchester Olympic bid.

  Mr. Atkins
  All Government funds for sport in England and Scotland are channeled through the respective sports councils which allocate them according to their policies and priorities. Cities are eligible to apply for grant from existing Government programmes provided normal grant criteria are met.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Foot and Mouth Disease
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, and the county in which the outbreaks took place, in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, and to date in 1992; and if he will make a statement.
  117
  Mr. Maclean
  There have been none.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, columns 187–88, if he will list the amount of payments recovered or withheld under the set-aside scheme in England for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: This information is set out in the table. It takes account of developments since my earlier answer of 5 February and this has resulted in some very minor discrepancies between the two sets of figures.

  Set-aside scheme: England: Payments recovered/withheld

  County

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  Avon

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  623·80

  668·00

  478·80

  Berkshire

  6,898·00

  8,230·00

  459·00

  Buckinghamshire

  2,805·00

  6,055·00

  5,913·00

  Cambridgeshire

  114·75

  643·95

  774·92

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  521·49

  Cornwall

  —

  1,010·00

  815·70

  Cumbria

  —

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  —

  585·00

  —

  Devonshire

  2,808·60

  329·00

  —

  Dorset

  —

  —

  —

  Durham

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  —

  1,065·00

  1,712·70

  Gloucestershire

  —

  2,024·00

  —

  Greater London

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  —

  —

  —

  Hereford and Worcester

  —

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  —

  1,175·40

  —

  Humberside

  —

  —

  256·00

  Isle of Wight

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  3,060·00

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  20,261·90

  Lincolnshire

  1,276·00

  2,747·72

  1,026·00

  Merseyside

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  —

  4,834·00

  105·14

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  16,000·50

  Northumberland

  162·00

  80·00

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  150·00

  6,193·20

  Oxfordshire

  2,133·00

  6,711·00

  9,259·00

  Shropshire

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  2,184·00

  Suffolk

  —

  300·00

  —

  Surrey

  2,800

  —

  4,438·00

  East Sussex

  —

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  —

  —

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  —

  —

  —

  Warwickshire

  4,081·50

  —

  831·00

  Wiltshire

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  586·00

  South Yorkshire

  —

  —

  3,048·00

  West Yorkshire

  —

  —

  2,692·00

  Total

  26,762·65

  36,608·07

  77,556·26

  Group Marketing Grant
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the group marketing grant.
  118
  Mr. Curry
  The scheme will fall into two phases. In the first, farmers, growers and other producers will be able to carry out a feasibility study, which will need to demonstrate that the proposal has long-term benefits to producers, and is a viable proposition.

  With the aid of the feasibility study applicants will be able to apply for the second phase, of grant for developing existing groups or starting up new ones. Under this second phase aid is available for legal costs, salaries of key staff, training and expenses of outside directors. The maximum grant per group will be £107,000.

  This scheme has been designed expressly to help producers respond to the shortcomings perceived by supermarkets and other big buyers. It will encourage producers to come together in large professionally managed groups, so that they have the confidence and the clout to deal with retailers on equal terms. Producers will be able to choose the format which suits their enterprise—the scheme will not be limited to cooperatives.

  The scheme has been drawn up by MAFF after full consultation with the industry. It will be administered by MAFF with the advice of "Food from Britain."

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the benefits to importers from the postponed accounting system for value added tax from 1 January 1993; and what is the additional cost to the large domestic businesses which will be required to account for value added tax on a monthly basis from the autumn of 1992.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed (Mr. Beith),Official Report 25 November 1991, column 375. A new forecast will be available with the Budget statement.

  Some 90,000 businesses will make a cash flow saving in 1992–93 from the postponed accounting system equivalent to deferring payment for six weeks.

  Some 1,600 of the largest businesses will also experience a reduction in cash flow in 1992–93 as a result of the introduction of accounting for VAT on a monthly basis. They will still have the cash flow benefit of VAT paid by customers before it is paid to the Exchequer, albeit for a shorter period.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue yield, in the latest year for which information is available, from VAT on(a) hot takeway food and drink, (b) alterations to residential buildings, (c) alterations to non-residential buildings and civil engineering works, (d) newspaper advertising, (e) cereal bars, (f) non-residential construction and property development, (g) news services, (h) protective boots and helmets supplied by employers, (i) fuel and power supplied to businesses, and (j) water and sewerage services supplied to industry.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Detail about the revenue yield from VAT on specific items of expenditure is not collected on VAT returns. Estimated receipts for 1991–92 are as follows:
  119

  £ million

  (a) Hot takeaway food and drink

  400

  (b) & (c) Alterations to residential & non-residential buildings and civil engineering works

  800

  (d) Newspaper advertising

  100

  (e) Cereal bars

  10

  (f) Non-residential construction and property development

  500

  (g) News services

  5

  (h) Protective boots and helmets supplied by employers

  —1

  (i) Fuel and power supplied to businesses

  100

  (j) Water and sewerage services supplied to industry

  —1

  1 negligible

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was generated in 1991–92 by the increase in VAT to 17·5 per cent.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 13 February,Official Report, column 595.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implementation of EC single market legislation associated with value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Commissioners of Customs and Excise have issued draft Finance Bill clauses relating to the VAT treatment of goods (and associated services), to relevant trade representative bodies for consultation. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the average gain per taxpayer in 1992–93 from a one penny reduction in the basic rate of income tax for those with incomes(a) below £5,000, (b) between £5,000 and £10,000, (c) between £10,000 and £20,000, (d) between £20,000 and £30,000 and (e) over £30,000, giving in each case the average gain if the same money were instead spent on increasing the single person's tax allowance, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  At 1992–93 levels a one penny reduction in the basic rate of income tax would cost about £1·95 billion in a full year. Increasing the personal allowance for taxpayers of all ages by £300 would also cost about £1·95 billion in a full year in 1992–93 compared with statutory indexation.

  Average reduction in income tax (£ per year)

  Annual income (£)

  One penny reduction in basic rate

  Increase in personal allowance of (£)300

  0— 5,000

  10

  60

  5,000–10,000

  30

  70

  10,000–20,000

  80

  80

  20,000–30,000

  170

  80

  over 30,000

  230

  110

  Total

  80

  80

  Child Care Tax Allowance
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1992–93 of introducing an allowance against income tax of(a) £1,000 and (b) £2,000 for all working mothers, giving both full and first year costs;

  (2) if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1992–93 of introducing an allowance against income tax of (a) £1,000 and (b) £2,000 for all working mothers, with at least one child under age five years, giving both full and first year costs.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates of the cost of introducing allowances against taxable incomes for working mothers and lone parents at 1992–93 levels are set out in the table:

  Cost (£ billion) allowance of

  (a) £1,000 per year

  (b) £2,000 per year

  All working mothers1

  0·6

  1·2

  All working mothers with a child under five1

  0·2

  0·3

  1 Including lone parents who are working.

  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 allowing the cost of child care against the income tax of(a) working mothers and (b) either partner in a two-earner couple, giving figures separately for children under five and those aged five to 16 years.

  Mr. Maude
  Information on child care costs paid by working mothers and by two-earner couples with different levels of income is not available. It is therefore not possible to estimate the cost of such a measure.

  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 allowance of £50 a week for(a) working women and (b) either partner in a two-earner couple, assuming that relief is available at the basic rate only, giving figures separately for (i) all families with dependent children and (ii) families with at least one child under five years.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates of the full year cost of introducing such an allowance in 1992–93 are set out in the table:

  Cost (£ billion) Allowance of £50 per week restricted to basic rate relief and given to

  (a) working mothers and lone parents

  (a) the higher earner in a twoearner couple

  All families with dependent children1

  1·4

  2·2

  Family with at least one child under the age of 5

  0·4

  0·8

  1 Includes dependent children aged 16 to 18.

  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 allowance of £50 a week for(a) working mothers

  121
  and (b) either partner in a two-earner couple, giving figures separately for (i) all families with dependent children and (ii) families with at least one child under five years.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates for 1992–93 are in the table:

  Cost (£ billion) allowance of £50 per week given to

  working mothers and lone parents

  the higher earner in a twoearner couple

  All families with dependent children1

  1·4

  2·3

  Family with at least one child under the age of five

  0·4

  0·8

  1 Includes dependent children aged 16 to 18.

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Total income (£ million)

  Average income (£ million)

  Total earned income (£ million)

  Average earned income (£ million)

  1990–91

  Top 1 per cent.

  28

  107,400

  20

  78,000

  Top 5 per cent.

  68

  53,000

  54

  42,200

  Top 10 per cent.

  101

  39,600

  84

  32,800

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  160

  8,900

  145

  8,100

  Bottom 50 per cent.

  95

  7,400

  86

  6,700

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  12

  4,700

  11

  4,200

  All taxpayers

  354

  13,800

  313

  12,300

  1991–92

  Top 1 per cent.

  28

  113,000

  22

  88,400

  Top 5 per cent.

  71

  56,300

  59

  47,200

  Top 10 per cent.

  106

  42,000

  91

  36,200

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  166

  9,400

  152

  8,700

  Bottom 50 per cent.

  98

  7,800

  89

  7,200

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  12

  4,900

  11

  4,400

  All taxpayers

  368

  14,600

  332

  13,300

  Invisible Exports
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the value of invisible exports to the United Kingdom economy in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest estimates of the value of invisible exports were published in the balance of payments quarterly press notice of 11 December 1991. They are as follows:

  £ billion

  1980

  41

  1981

  57

  1982

  65

  1983

  66

  1984

  77

  1985

  80

  1986

  77

  1987

  80

  1988

  88

  1989

  108

  1990

  117

  First estimates for 1991 will be published on 6 March.

  Tax Changes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update, to take account of the 1991 Budget, the information on tax changes contained in his answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total and average income and earned income in 1990–91 and 1991–92 of(a) the top one per cent., (b) the top five per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottome 70 per cent., (e) the bottom 50 per cent., (f) the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers and (g) all taxpayers.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates are given in the table:

  Kirkwood) on 3 April 1990, Official Report, columns 525–26, and including two additional ranges of income, those from £70,000 to £100,000 and those over £100,000.

  Mr. Maude
  Latest estimates of the reduction in tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances and thresholds are in the following table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1991–92 levels by reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation. A reliable analysis of taxpayers with incomes over £80,000 is not available.

  For the purposes of these calculations the indexed regime of 1978–79 is applied directly to the income base of 1991–92. In practice, retention of the regime, indexed as appropriate for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Reduction in income tax compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Range of individual's income in 1991–92

  Number of individuals 1991–921 (million)

  Total reduction in (£ million)

  Average gain per individual (£)

  Under 5,000

  3·5

  450

  120

  5,000–10,000

  8·4

  2,600

  310

  10,000–15,000

  6·5

  4,100

  640

  15,000–20,000

  4·0

  3,900

  980

  20,000–30,000

  2·9

  4,400

  1,500

  30,000–50,000

  1·1

  3,000

  2,800

  50,000–80,000

  0·3

  2,600

  8,700

  Over 80,000

  0·1

  6,600

  45,600

  Total

  26·8

  27,800

  1,000

  123
  1 Individuals who would he liable to tax under the indexed 1978–79 regime.

  Return on Capital
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the average real rate of return on capital invested in British industry over the following periods:(a) 1964–1973, (b) 1973–1979 and (c) 1979–1989.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The average net real rates of return on capital employed by United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies are estimated as follows:

  Per cent.

  (a) 1964–73

  9·9

  (b) 1973–79

  6·5

  (c) 1979–89

  8·9

  The figure for each year may be found in the Central Statistical Office Bulletin 70/91, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Debt written oft prior to privatization

  Privatisation

  Amount £

  Type of debt

  British Aerospace

  60,000,000

  Public Dividend Capital

  National Freight Corporation1

  100,000,000

  National Loans Fund

  British Transport Docks Board2

  81,293,616

  National Loans Fund

  British Telecommunications

  2,789,865,772

  National Loans Fund

  British Airways

  160,000,000

  Fund Public Dividend Capital

  BAA

  43,503,340

  National Loans Fund

  British Steel

  500,000,000

  Public Dividend Capital

  British Steel

  3,480,000,000

  Borrowing under Iron and Steel Act 1982

  Water Holding Companies

  4,973,332,672

  National Loans Fund

  Water Holding Companies

  55,013,916

  Public Works Loan Board

  Scottish Electricity Companies3

  1,043,573,600

  National Loans Fund

  1 Privatised as National Freight Consortium (now NFC).

  2 Privatised as Associated British Ports.

  3 Prior to privatisation, National Loans Fund debt due to the South of Scotland Electricity Board nuclear programme of £1,368,390,398 was transferred to Scottish Nuclear Ltd. and subsequently written off.

  Taxable Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each social security benefit which is currently taxable indicating the numbers affected and the revenue obtained for the latest available tax year.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The table lists the benefits liable to tax together with provisional estimates, where available, of the number of people liable to income tax in receipt of each benefit for the whole or part of 1991–92. Table 9.6 of the 1991 edition of the United Kingdom National Accounts (the CSO Blue Book) provides an estimate of income tax attributable in total to these benefits, applying the recipients' average rate of income tax on the whole of their income to the amount of benefit received.

  Contract Compliance
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to introduce contract compliance for firms employed on Government contracts and for organisations receiving Government funding.

  Mr. Maude
  None. All parties to a contract are expected to abide by its terms, which are legally enforceable.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the value of debt to Government written off in each privatisation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The table shows, by privatisation, debt written off and the type of debt concerned. This includes both debt written off as part of the privatisation process and debt written off in a company which was subsequently privatised.

  Taxpayers receiving in 1991–92

  Taxable benefit

  Thousands

  Industrial death benefit

  n.a.

  Retirement pension

  2,500

  Widow's benefit

  250

  Old person's pension

  n.a.

  Invalid care allowance

  n.a.

  Income support

  500

  Unemployment benefit

  500

  Statutory sick pay

  3,000

  Statutory maternity pay

  n.a.

  n.a.-not available

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost of increasing mortgage tax relief for first-time buyers to (i) 40 per cent. and (ii) 50 per cent.
  125
  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: On the basis that such a relief would apply only to those buying for the first time after the relief was introduced, the cost of increasing mortgage interest tax relief from 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. for every 100,000 first-time buyers would be about £45 million in a full year. Increasing the relief to 50 per cent. would cost about £75 million for every 100,000 first time buyers.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact in 1992–93 on the retail prices index of raising £1 billion from(a) tobacco products, (b) beer, (c) wine and spirits, (d) petrol, (e) VAT and (f) vehicle excise duty.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]:

  Percentage change

  (a) Tobacco products

  0·4

  (b) Beer

  0·5

  (c) Wine and spirits

  0·7

  (d) Petrol

  0·2

  (e) VAT

  0·3

  (f) Vehicle Excise Duty

  0·2

  These estimates are based on 1991 RPI weights. The weights for 1992 have yet to be finalised.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the most recent figures for the number of non-taxpayers who are claiming mortgage interest relief at source, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: MIRAS is available on all qualifying mortgages regardless of the tax status of the mortgagor. A very approximate estimate, based on household survey information, is that there are about 1 million non-taxpayers with MIRAS.

PRIME MINISTER

  Libya
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to arrange a meeting with Colonel Gadaffi to discuss a solution to the Libyan incident.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Disability
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a specific Minister for the Disabled.

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1975, beginning with the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) there has been a Minister for Disabled People with specific responsibility for disability issues and coordinating Government policies for disabled people.

  Open Government
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for improving open government.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government will continue to review all areas of policy with a view to increasing 126
  transparency and enhancing accountability for the delivery of public services, and will announce future advances as and when they are made.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 3 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Lockerbie Bombing
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made by the United Nations in creating a mechanism to allow the trial by a neutral body of the Libyans alleged to be responsible for the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: UN Security Council resolution 731 makes no provision for any such mechanism. We now await a report from the UN Secretary-General about his recent efforts under that resolution to secure Libyan compliance with it.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Blood Plasma
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence has been made available to his Department concerning the dumping on the United Kingdom market of blood plasma products such as 8SM high purity factor 8.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department is aware of this and other complaints about the working of the market in blood products. These complaints are being pursued with the Department of Health and the Office of Fair Trading.

  National Lottery
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received proposing that post offices,(a) in rural areas and (b) elsewhere, should handle applications for a national lottery.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received no representations in respect of post offices in any part of the country handling applications for a national lottery.

  Network Marketing
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to regulate the activities of network marketing companies; and what estimate he has of the expansion of this type of selling in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Leigh
  Network marketing is already regulated under part XI of the Fair Trading Act 1973. Statistics are not collected on selling methods.

  Beer
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the effect the implementation of section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 will have on the use of traditional hand pumps in dispensing draught beer.

  Mr. Leigh
  No estimate is available.

  It will be possible to use hand-pumps. Whether or not to do so in any particular case will be a matter for the trade, as it is now.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect he estimates that the implementation of section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 will have on the price of a pint of beer.

  Mr. Leigh
  The effect of implementing section 43 will be to increase the transparency of the price because it will then relate to a full pint of liquid, which it seldom does at present.

  British Technology Group
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has held with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals on the privatisation of the British Technology Group.

  Mr. Leigh
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Bray) on 25 February 1992,Official Report, columns 472–73.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. Leigh
  No parts of the DTI, including its executive agencies, have carried out a review of pay and grading of staff in the last 12 months.

  Sub-postmasters
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce regulations to require all appeals against termination of sub-postmasters' contracts to be heard by an independent person or tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The conduct of appeals procedures, in common with all other employment issues, is an operational matter and therefore the responsibility of the Post Office. It would not be consistent with Government policy to seek to make regulations on such matters. All appeals against termination of subpostmasters' contracts are heard by an appeals authority of Post Office managers not connected with the case in question. This arrangement has been agreed with the National Federation of Subpostmasters.

  Electrical Appliances
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that the proposal that all new electrical appliances can be sold only with a128
  pre-fitted plug will be implemented in such a way as to ensure that all pre-fitted plugs meet the requirements of disabled people, including people with wasting of the muscles and other difficulties in manipulating appliances.

  Mr. Leigh
  The proposed regulations will allow suppliers of domestic electrical appliances to fit plugs that are suitable for use by the disabled.

  Package Travel
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to consult interested parties on his proposals for implementing article 7 of the EC package travel directive.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department has today issued a consultation letter on proposals to implement article 7 of the directive. This article requires the organiser and/or retailer parties to the contract to provide sufficient evidence of security for the refund of money paid over and for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency.

  In our consultation document issued on 24 July 1991, we proposed the establishment of a licensing authority which would require all operators of packages, other than those already licensed through the air transport organisers licence system, to be licensed and bonded to a prescribed percentage of turnover. The outcome of this consultation has caused the Department to reconsider this proposal.

  The Government's objective in implementing the directive has been to do so in a way which would provide full implementation and proper protection for consumers, but would impose the minimum burdens on industry. It is now clear that the numbers of licensable operators would be large, but their average size would be likely to be small. A licensing system would thus be expensive and would conflict with the Government's objective.

  We now propose that it will be for organisers to have their own security for refunds in the event of insolvency. Failure to have adequate security will he a criminal offence, punishable by fines and personal liability, both criminal and civil, for any director or manager who has connived at the commission of the offence. Within the bounds of the implementing regulations, it will be for the individual operator to decide what form of security to adopt.

  It is envisaged that three broad possibilities will be offered in the regulations:
  organisers may be bonded, in a sum equal to the maximum amount they hold by way of pre-payments during the period of the bond, to an approved organisation;
  organisers may arrange insurance against insolvency, again in the sum equal to the maximum amount they hold by way of pre-payments;
  organisers may place pre-payments in a designated account from which they should only be withdrawn when the service against which the pre-payment has been made has been performed.

  In the case of packages abroad, organisers will be required to have security also against the cost of repatriation in the event of no longer being able to meet their obligations to customers.

  Market Testing
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November
  129
  (a) by private 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. Leigh
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: Studies to determine the most promising areas for market testing within the Department are 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—and the Department's own procurement and supply manual, which have been circulated to all purchasing units within the Department.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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 and the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: The Department is establishing a review panel, including officials and representatives of the private sector, to identify the most promising areas for market testing in the Department. The first meeting of the panel will be held in the near future.

WALES

  Local Authority Land Sales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the total amount of land sold by each local authority in Wales at less than market value to(a) housing associations and (b) private developers for low-cost housing development in each year from 1988;

  (2) what was (a) the total original market value and (b) the total actual sale price of land sold by each local authority in Wales at less than market value to (i) housing associations and (ii) private developers for low cost housing development in Wales in each year from 1988.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the sites in Wales currently utilised in order to monitor levels of(a) sulphur emission and (b) acid rain; and how much money has been allocated by his Department in order to undertake such work.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Sulphur dioxide—sites at Cardiff, Newport, Neyland, Port Talbot, Welshpool and Wrexham.

  (b) Acid rain—sites at Beddgelert, Plynlimon, Llyn Brianne, and Tycanol Wood.

  130
  The monitoring network to which these sites belong are funded on a United Kingdom basis by the Department of the Environment.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made by his Department of the use of fuel orimulsion to increase the output of power stations in Wales and the consequent effect of this action on acidification in upland areas and the level of sulphur emissions.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  One application to burn orimulsion fuel at a power station in Wales has been made by National Power, in respect of its plant at Pembroke. As required, National Power has made separate applications to the Department of Energy and to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Electricity Act 1989 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 respectively. The Department is being consulted about both applications. In advance of decisions by the relevant bodies, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the proposals, or on the Department's assessment of them, particularly in view of Ministers statutory appellate role under the Environmental Protection Act.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county areas how many tonnes of(a) sulphur dioxide, (b) nitrogen oxide and (c) particulate carbon were discharged into the atmosphere in Wales during the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available on a county level basis. However, information on United Kingdom estimated emission levels, by emission source and type of fuel, can be found in the Department of the Environment's publication "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" No. 13 1990.

  For emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate carbon, the latest available United Kingdom figures are for 1989—and are 3·67 million, 2·69 million and 0·15 million tonnes respectively.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of Tai Cymru's scheme to encourage the development of affordable housing for young people in the rural areas of Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The village initiative, which was launched in 1989, has resulted in the provision of 160 additional homes—seven more than expected.

  Housing for Wales is also finalising arrangements for joint working fora involving key organisations in north, mid and west Wales. These measures will help in targeting resources allocated to rural housing which in 1992–93 will amount to over 27 per cent. of housing for Wales's programme.

  Accommodation Above Shops
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grants are currently made available by his Department for developing accommodation currently available above shops for renting purposes or for purchase as affordable housing.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In 1991–92, £4·6 million is being made available to assist Welsh local authorities in
  131
  providing schemes, specifically in the private rented sector, including flats above shops. A further £5 million is available for similar schemes in 1992–93.

  Market Testing Programme
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. David Hunt
  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte have been retained to offer advice on potential market testing candidates within my Department, its executive agency and non-departmental public bodies. Their appointment followed a competitive tendering exercise.

  Deaths and discharges from NHS hospitals with specified diagnosis recorded by age group

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  CD9

  Diagnosis

  0–4 years

  5–14 years

  0–4 years

  5–14 years

  0–4 years

  5–14 years

  0–4 years

  5–14 years

  0–4 years

  5–14 years

  Code

  580

  Acute glomerulonephritis

  1

  0

  1

  4

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  581

  Nephrotic syndrome

  11

  25

  12

  29

  13

  16

  7

  20

  5

  21

  582

  Chronic glomerulonephritis

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  583

  Nephritis and nephropathy

  0

  5

  0

  16

  3

  8

  1

  17

  2

  4

  584

  Acute renal failure

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  585

  Chronic renal failure

  3

  9

  2

  5

  2

  18

  10

  12

  32

  17

  586

  Renal failure, unspecified

  0

  4

  5

  0

  0

  2

  1

  2

  0

  0

  587

  Renal sclerosis, unspecified

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  590

  Infections of kidney

  5

  9

  1

  18

  1

  16

  1

  10

  3

  6

  591

  Hydronephrosis

  2

  4

  8

  8

  4

  9

  9

  8

  7

  5

  593·6

  Postural protelnuria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  593·7

  Vesicouretono reflux

  5

  6

  4

  2

  4

  4

  6

  6

  2

  5

  595

  Cystitis

  1

  2

  1

  0

  2

  3

  0

  4

  0

  4

  599·0

  Urinary tract infection, site not specified

  192

  213

  137

  198

  166

  224

  196

  181

  189

  155

  599·7

  Haematuna

  16

  50

  13

  32

  3

  36

  9

  22

  14

  30

  753·1

  Cyetic kidney disease1

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  3

  0

  753·2

  Obstructive defects of renal pelvis and ureter2

  7

  1

  4

  0

  5

  3

  4

  3

  5

  5

  779·8

  Other and ill-defined conditions originating in the perinatal period; other3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  788·9

  Symptoms involving urinary systom system;other3

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  997·5

  Urinary complications5

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1 Includes congenital cyst of kidney.

  2 Includes congenital hydronephrosis.

  3 Includes slow to respond.

  4 Includes extrarenal uraemia.

  5 Includes acute renal failure due to a procedure.

  Note: The information is based on data provided by NHS hospitals for hospital activity analysis. It may understate the true position in that not all hospitals provide complete clinical details relating to patient discharges and deaths.

  Libraries
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet(a) Clwyd county councillors and librarians and (b) the county council librarians of Wales, to discuss library provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The statutory duty to provide a comprehensive public library service rests with the library authorities. I would be prepared to consider a request to meet with those concerned with library provision, should one be made.

  Hospital Discharges and Deaths
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital discharges and/or deaths have occurred in Wales, in the age groups up to four years and five to 14 years, in the international classification of diseases (ICD) categories, in each of the years 1986 to 1991, 580 acute glomerulonephritis,(a) 581 nephrotic syndrome, (b) 582 chronic glomerulonephritis, (c) 583 nephritis and nepropathy, (d) 584 acute renal failure, (e) 997·5 acute postoperative renal failure, (f) 585 chronic renal failure, (g) 779·80 chronic renal failure in newborn, (h) 586 renal failure (unspecified),(i)788·9 uraemia, (j) 587 renal sclerosis, (k) 590 infections of kidney, (l) 591 hydronephrosis, (m) 753·2 congenital hydronephrosis, (n) 753·1 congenital cyst of kidney, (o) 593·6 postural proteinuria, (p) 593·7 vesicoureteric reflux, (q) 595 cystitis, (r) 599·0 urinary tract infection, site not specified and (s) 599·7 haematuria.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information for the years 1986 to 1990 is given in the table. Information for 1991 is not yet available.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many public libraries there are in Wales; and what is his estimate of the numbers of people employed in them.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The published estimates for 1991–92 indicate that the 13 public library authorities in Wales have 1,171 service points and a staff establishment of 1,260.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of manufacturing investment in 1979 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The value of net capital expenditure by manufacturing establishments—Divisions 2–4, SIC (revised) 1980—in Wales in 1979 was £472·1 million at current prices. The value in 1989, the latest year for which the figure is available, was £1,114·5 million.

  Source: annual census of production, Central Statistical Office.

  Rural Conversion Grants
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to set time limits for the payment of grants under the clawback arrangements for rural conversion grants awarded by the Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Malignant neoplasms

  12,889

  14,033

  14,202

  14,959

  14,261

  Benign and other neoplasms

  812

  1,066

  1,316

  1,572

  1,691

  Total

  13,701

  15,099

  15,518

  16,531

  15,952

  Source: Welsh Cancer Registry

  Information about the treatment of those patients is not held centrally.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount of coal imported into Welsh ports annually for the last five years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is as follows:

  Anthracite, coking coal and steam coal imported through ports in Wales

  Year

  Thousand tones

  1987

  2,184

  1988

  2,499

  1989

  3,111

  1990

  3,587

  11991

  3,680

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

  1 Provisional

  GP Expenses
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about family health services authority allocations in respect of general medical services expenses.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The cash limited general medical services provision for 1992–;93 will be £36·117 million. This covers direct reimbursement to GPs as part of their expenses on practice staff and premises improvements, and the development of computerisation. I am today announcing the allocations to family health services authorities. These are:

  £ million

  Clwyd.

  4·698

  Dyfed

  5·056

  Gwent

  5·928

  134
  Mr. David Hunt
  The procedural details governing this grant scheme are a matter for the Welsh Development Agency.

  Cancer
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people develop cancer annually and are treated by(a) radiotherapy and (b) chemotherapy.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The latest available information about the number of usual residents of Wales who have developed cancer is given in the table:

  £ million

  Gwynedd

  3,823

  Mid Glamorgan

  5·984

  Powys

  2·194

  South Glamorgan

  4·652

  West Glamorgan

  3·782

  Total

  36·117

  These allocations will enable an average of 3 per cent. real terms improvement on committed investment for this year in respect of premises and staff; and improve and underpin the targets for GP computing levels.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each of the local authorities in Wales(a) the amounts of poll tax to be collected in 1991–92, (b) the poll tax actually collected in 1991–92, (c) the poll tax outstanding for 1991–92, (d) the surcharge on the 1992–93 poll tax for non collection in pounds, (e) the numbers of summonses for poll tax outstanding, (f) the numbers of people already served summonses and (g) the number of people who have served gaol sentences for non-payment of poll tax.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 2 March 1992]: The information available by local authority is given in the following table. The total number of summonses issued by Welsh courts for the period 1 April 1990 to 30 September 1991 was 442,988; no breakdown is available by local authority area. Information relating to collection fund adjustments for 1992–93 is not yet available. Information relating to numbers of summonses outstanding and people committed for non-payment of community charge is not held centrally.

  Illegitimate Births
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the number of illegitimate births to teenage girls in each year since 1980 in each registry area giving the age in years of the teenage mothers.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Community charges in 1991–92 including 1990–91 arrears

  Estimated amount to be collected1 £ million

  Amount collected by 31 December 1991£ million

  Estimated amount remaining to be collected £ million

  Alyn and Deeside

  7·9

  5·0

  2·9

  Colwyn

  5·7

  3·9

  1·8

  Delyn

  6·8

  4·5

  2·3

  Glyndwr

  4·1

  2·3

  1·9

  Rhuddlan

  6·9

  4·0

  2·9

  Wrexham Maelor

  11·0

  6·4

  4·6

  Carmarthen

  2·8

  2·2

  0·7

  Ceredigion

  4·0

  2·9

  1·1

  Dinefwr

  2·1

  1·9

  0·2

  Llanelli

  5·3

  3·5

  1·8

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  3·7

  3·0

  0·6

  South Pembrokeshire

  2·5

  1·7

  0·8

  Blaenau Gwent

  5·1

  2·7

  2·4

  Islwyn

  4·8

  2·7

  2·1

  Monmouth

  7·1

  4·7

  2·4

  Newport

  12·8

  7·6

  5·2

  Torfaen

  7·3

  5·1

  2·1

  Aberconwy

  4·5

  3·5

  1·1

  Arfon

  3·7

  2·2

  1·5

  Dwyfor

  2·2

  1·8

  0·4

  Meirionnydd

  3·0

  2·4

  0·5

  Ynys MÔn

  5·9

  4·0

  1·9

  Cynon Valley

  3·0

  2·0

  1·0

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3·4

  2·0

  1·3

  Ogwr

  6·6

  5·0

  1·6

  Rhondda

  2·2

  1·6

  0·6

  Rhymney Valley

  8·1

  4·7

  3·4

  Taff Ely

  7·8

  4·8

  3·0

  Brecknock

  3·1

  2·6

  0·5

  Montgomeryshire

  3·5

  2·7

  0·8

  Radnorshire

  1·6

  1·2

  0·3

  Cardiff

  26·1

  15·5

  10·7

  Vale of Glamorgan

  9·2

  7·0

  2·2

  Port Talbot

  3·3

  2·0

  1·3

  Lliw Valley

  3·4

  2·6

  0·8

  Neath

  4·3

  2·6

  1·7

  Swansea

  16·5

  10·6

  5·9

  WALES

  221·4

  145·0

  76·4

  Estimated as the product of the average community charge for 1991–92 and register population at November 1990, less Community Charge Reduction Scheme Grant and estimated Community Charge Benefit, plus arrears of 1990–91 charges.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Theft
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1991,Official Report, column 258, how many arrests have been made by the police in connection with reported thefts from the Palace of Westminster since 1989.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The number of arrests made by the police in connection with reported thefts from the Palace of Westminster was as follows:

  in 1989-one;

  in 1990-one;

  in 1991-six;

  in 1992-nil to date.

  136
  Information for registry areas could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Information for the mother's usual local authority of residence has been placed in the Library. Annual tables are available for 1980 and for 1982 to 1990, inclusive. Industrial action by registrars means that such a detailed analysis is impractical for 1981.

  Welsh Grand Committee
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he has made in arranging a meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee in Cardiff to debate the future government of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Discussions are continuing through the usual channels and it is my hope that a Cardiff meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee can yet be arranged.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  India
  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Rihand and Hindustan Zinc Corporation projects in India.
  137
  Mrs. Chalker
  Rihand power station and the Hindustan zinc mine and smelter in India are two of Britain's largest aid projects involving £200 million of grant aid. I attended ceremonies in India last month to mark the successful completion of both. The projects have already achieved record levels of production and include the latest emission control technology of its time.

DEFENCE

  RAF St. Athan
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of expenditure by his Department on the development and modernisation of the RAF facility at St. Athan over the next 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  About £40 million.

  RN Workshops, Almondbank
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the Royal Naval workshops, Almondbank.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am glad to be able to announce that the Royal Naval aircraft workshops at Almondbank are to become part of the new Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation defence support agency on 1 April 1992. I will be announcing later today full details of the new defence support agency, including the targets being set to enable the chief executive to achieve maximum efficiency and value for money.

  Entertainment
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate for the amount to be spent by his Department on entertainment in 1991–92.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is estimated that around £3·6 million will be spent in the financial year to the end of March 1992. This figure includes expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence itself, by formations and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable.

  Commonwealth of Independent States
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet representatives of the Commonwealth of Independent States to discuss defence issues of mutual concern.

  Mr. Tom King
  I met Marshal Shaposhnikov for discussions when he accompanied President Yeltsin on his visit to London on 30 January. I hope to meet CIS representatives during the meeting between NATO Defence Ministers and their counterparts from the CIS and central and eastern Europe which is planned for 1 April.

  Job Losses
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether following recent events at Brawdy and Trecwn he will review the way in which the Ministry of Defence communicates with employees when a decision involving closure or job losses is taken.
  138
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All such decisions are handled strictly in accordance with the Department's consultation agreement with the trade unions. Since the way employees are informed of such decisions forms a part of that agreement, it would be wrong to review these procedures now.

  Defence Cuts
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with other NATO Defence Ministers regarding cuts in defence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I last met my NATO colleagues collectively at the Defence Planning Committee meeting in Brussels on 12 and 13 December 1991. A copy of the communiqué issued after that meeting has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Trident
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stage of procurement has been reached in respect of the fourth Trident submarine.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the programme for ordering and commissioning a fourth Trident submarine.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Contract negotiations with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. for the fourth Trident submarine are under way. We intend to place the order as soon as these negotiations have been satisfactorily concluded. Meanwhile, construction of steelwork and major engineering items is making good progress under long lead funding arrangements.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of nuclear warheads that will be carried when the Trident programme is completed; and how many the United Kingdom had 10 years ago.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to specify publicly the size of our nuclear weapon holdings. However, no United Kingdom Trident submarine will carry more than 128 warheads.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on progress towards completion and commissioning of the first three Trident submarines.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Construction of the first three Vanguard class Trident missile submarines at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. is making good progress, with all on schedule to meet their planned in-service dates.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Trident programe remains on time and within budget. The first submarine, Vanguard, is set to roll out of the Devonshire dock hall in Barrow tomorrow, and following a series of sea trials, will enter service with the Royal Navy in the mid-1990s.
  139
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the total cost of the Trident programme, including a breakdown of running costs and capital costs for each of the financial years 1992–93 to 1995–96.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The currently estimated cost of the Trident programme is £10·518 million. Estimated capital expenditure on the Trident programme for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 is £1,019 million and £827 million respectively. It remains our practice not to provide detailed forecasts of project expenditure more than two years in advance. We do not expect the level of running costs of the Trident force to be significantly different from those of Polaris.

  Equipment Expenditure
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed defence spending on equipment for the years covered by the current public expenditure White Paper.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Our plans for equipment expenditure are outlined in the departmental report by the Ministry of Defence on Government expenditure plans from 1992–93 to 1994–95.

  Advanced Short-range Air-to-air Missile System
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce a decision for the advanced short-range air-to-air missile system.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Today.

  Nuclear Deterrence
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, when he next meets his European counterparts, he will discuss with them levels of nuclear deterrence.

  Mr. Tom King
  My next meeting with my European counterparts will be at the meeting in Oslo on 5 and 6 March of the Independent European Programme Group, which deals with equipment procurement issues.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the necessity for a continuing nuclear deterrent.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government believe, in common with our NATO allies, that nuclear weapons remain essential as the ultimate guarantee of our security.

  Air-to-surface Missiles
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about discussions he has had with his German counterpart about basing of tactical air-to-surface missiles on German soil.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 December 1991,Official Report, column 140.

  Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence support agency status for the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation.
  140
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation will be established as a defence support agency of the Ministry of Defence on 1 April 1992. The NARO comprises a Royal Navy aircraft yard at Fleetlands, Gosport, and the Royal Navy aircraft workshops at Almondbank, Perth. Together, they employ some 12 RN personnel and 1,652 civilians, who will transfer to the agency. Also included within the agency is a subsidiary storage site at Wroughton near Swindon, manned by contractors' personnel with a small MOD presence. The full cost budget for the NARO for 1992–93 is assessed at £141 million.

  The role of the NARO is to provide repair, modification, overhaul and storage services for the tri-service helicopter fleet, their engines and selected components and for marine gas turbine engines and their components. The high professional standards of the NARO will be maintained and agency status will provide the chief executive with new opportunities to improve the efficiency and value for money of his organisation. Captain David Symonds, Royal Navy has been appointed as the agency's chief executive. The corporate strategy of the NARO will be centred on the following two principal targets:
  To deliver the core programme of work to the required standards of quality and timeliness and to the customers' satisfaction.
  to increase the efficiency of the utilisation of its capacity, assets and facilities by maintaining the optimum level of throughput, and by reducing the unit production cost of core work by 7·5 per cent. over the next three years and by 21 per cent. over the following seven years.

  The chief executive has been set the following strategic targets:
  Quantity—to complete 100 per cent. of the task as detailed in the DGA(N) schedule of identified repair work.
  Quality—to reduce by 2 per cent. the weighted number of allied quality assurance publication non-conformances in 1992–93.
  Timeliness—to complete more than 90 per cent. of contracts on time in 1992–93 and to increase this figure to over 95 per cent. by the end of 1994–95.

  Cost—Based on the values at the time of launch:
  —reduce cost of the direct output units—standard
  hour—by 2.5 per cent. by the end of 1992–93.
  —reduce cost of the direct output units—standard
  hour—by 7·5 per cent. by the end of 1994–95.
  Efficiency—Improve the efficiency index—measured work content divided by measured time taken—from 59·5 per cent. in 1990–91 to 62 per cent. by the end of 1992–93 and to 65 per cent. by the end of 1994–95.
  Productivity—Improve productivity from the 1990–91 figure of 706.7 to an average of 720 direct output units per employee by the end of 1992–93 and 750 direct output units per employee by the end of 1994–95.
  Market Testing—To commence a five-year market testing programme in 1992–93 to the value of £2 million.

  Private Robert Sean Thomas
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect to receive a substantive response to his letter of 23 October 1991, in the matter of number 24885335, Private Robert Sean Thomas.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces provided a substantive response to my hon. Friend on 27 February.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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 Carlisle
  I have recently appointed Mr. Christopher Littmoden, finance director of Marks and Spencer, to act as a part-time private sector adviser on the Department's market testing programme. No consultancy firms are employed for this purpose.

  Surplus Land
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the disposal of his Department's surplus land.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Surplus Ministry of Defence land is disposed of as quickly as possible.

  AWE, Llanishen
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the future ownership and management of the atomic weapons establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff; and if he will state the timing proposed for changes and the policy considerations underlying his decision.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Following the passage of the Atomic Weapons Establishment Act through Parliament last year the Government intend to transfer the atomic weapons establishment, which includes the Cardiff site, to full contractor operation on 1 April 1993. The establishment will remain in government ownership. Contractorisation will enable the establishment to gain additional project and production management expertise as well as giving access to the corporate support of a major industrial company or consortium.

  Underground Nuclear Explosions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the proceedings of the seminar on the detection and

  Value of child support1 for each child in standard rate tax-paying families expressed at April 19912 prices (£)

  Date3

  Children under age 11

  Children aged 11–15

  Children aged 16 and over

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd4 child

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd4 child

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd4 child

  April 1961

  7·83

  10·65

  11·49

  9·71

  12·64

  13·37

  11·70

  14·52

  15·35

  April 1962

  7·41

  10·08

  10·87

  9·19

  11·96

  12·65

  11·07

  13·74

  14·53

  April 1963

  8·33

  10·94

  11·72

  10·07

  12·88

  13·46

  11·91

  14·62

  15·38

  April 1964

  8·16

  10·73

  11·48

  9·87

  12·62

  13·19

  11·67

  14·33

  15·00

  April 1965

  8·18

  10·70

  11·24

  9·98

  12·41

  13·04

  11·78

  14·21

  14·84

  April 1966

  7·90

  10·33

  10·85

  9·64

  11·98

  12·59

  11·37

  13·72

  14·33

  April 1967

  7·61

  10·03

  10·34

  9·36

  11·63

  12·22

  11·04

  13·32

  13·91

  April 1968

  7·34

  9·20

  9·76

  8·96

  10·81

  11·30

  10·57

  12·35

  12·91

  April 1969

  6·96

  9·10

  9·63

  8·49

  10·63

  11·16

  10·02

  12·16

  12·62

  April 1970

  6·59

  8·62

  9·12

  8·04

  10·06

  10·57

  9·49

  11·51

  11·95

  April 1971

  7·68

  9·73

  10·19

  8·87

  10·98

  11·45

  10·12

  12·18

  12·64

  April 1972

  7·22

  9·15

  9·59

  8·34

  10·33

  10·77

  9·52

  11·45

  11·89

  April 1973

  6·55

  8·21

  8·61

  7·75

  9·35

  9·75

  8·72

  10·32

  10·71

  April 1974

  7·52

  8·91

  9·25

  8·66

  9·95

  10·34

  9·60

  10·89

  11·28

  April 1975

  6·59

  9·11

  9·11

  7·52

  10·05

  10·05

  8·34

  10·90

  10·90

  April 1976

  6·91

  9·06

  9·06

  7·70

  9·85

  9·85

  8·41

  10·54

  10·54

  142
  recognition of underground nuclear explosions, held at the Royal Astronomical Society on 14 February; and if he will make a statement on the utility to his Department of participation in such discussion meetings.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes. My Department welcomes and encourages participation in seminars in which there is an exchange of ideas aimed at resolving the technical problems associated with the detection and recognition of underground nuclear explosions.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Resettlement Units
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) under the revised strategy for the future of the resettlement units(a) to which voluntary agencies the resettlement units will be transferred, (b) what discussions have been held with voluntary organisations, local authorities and other interested parties concerning the proposal to transfer responsibility for the resettlement units, and (c) if it is intended to re-establish the regional review groups;

  (2) following the transfer of the resettlement units to voluntary organisations, (a) if the planned closure of the units and the rehousing of residents to suitable accommodation will still take place, (b) if the voluntary organisations taking responsibility for the resettlement units will be able to use the proceeds from the sale of land and buildings arising from the closure programme to fund replacement beds and (c) if resources made available to voluntary organisations include an allowance for inflation for both capital and revenue costs.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The management of the Resettlement Agency is a matter for Mr. Tony Ward, the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Child Support
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of child support for each child in standard rate tax-paying families in 1991 prices from 1961 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is in the table:
  143

  Value of child support1 for each child in standard rate tax-paying families expressed at April 19912 prices (£)

  Date3

  Children under age 11

  Children aged 11–15

  Children aged 16 and over

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd4 child

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd4 child

  1st child

  2nd child

  3rd4 child

  April 1977

  6·64

  7·60

  7·60

  7·31

  8·27

  8·27

  7·89

  8·82

  8·82

  April 1978

  7·91

  7·91

  7·91

  8·53

  8·53

  8·53

  9·04

  9·04

  9·04

  April 1979

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  9·81

  November 1980

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  9·10

  November 1981

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  8·98

  November 1982

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  9·42

  November 1983

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  9·98

  November 1984

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  10·02

  November 1985

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  9·71

  July 1986

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  9·69

  April 1987

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  9·48

  April 1988

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  9·12

  April 1989

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  8·44

  April 1990

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  7·71

  April 1991

  8·25

  7·25

  7·25

  8·25

  7·25

  7·25

  8·25

  7·25

  7·25

  October 1991

  9·11

  7·39

  7·39

  9·11

  7·39

  7·39

  9·11

  7·39

  7·39

  April 51992

  1 The combined value of child tax allowance after clawback and family allowance/child benefit.

  2 Based on the movement in the general index of retail prices at April 1991.

  3 Child tax allowance ceased after the 1978–79 tax year and uprating dates are shown from 1979 onwards.

  4 And subsequent children.

  5 April 1992 benefit rates at April 1991 prices not yet available

  Income Support
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people in Wales in receipt of income support; and how many face prepayment deductions to meet various debts and unpaid bills.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest information available is contained in tables 1.4 and 10.1c of volume 3 of the "Department of Social Security Income Support Statistics Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1990", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State far Social Security when he received the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on the social fund; and if he has any plans to change the operation of the fund in response.

  Mr. Scott
  We have today received this report. We welcome its constructive approach, based on an endorsement of many of the principles on which the fund's operation rests and an acknowledgement of the services which social fund officers are providing. In considering its conclusions and recommendations, we shall wish also to take into account the findings of the university of York social policy research unit's report which we commissioned at the start of the fund and which should be published later this year.

  Meanwhile, we have today placed details of the 1992–93 social fund allocations in the Library. The discretionary budget will be £302 million in total. The budget is now over 30 per cent., or almost £75 million, higher than the April 1991 figure. Budgets have increased for both loans, by £51 million, and community care grants, by £23·3 million, since April 1991. As a result of this latest increase, over 70 per cent. of districts will receive increases of 10 per cent. or more on their loans or grants budget and no office will have a reduced allocation. These increases show the Government's commitment to maintaining an adequate level of provision for the social fund.

  These increased allocations will be supplemented with a number of improvements to the operation of the fund which are currently being introduced by the Benefits Agency. The improvements include a revised and improved application
  144
  form; improved training for social fund officers; improved guidance to assist SFOs in understanding the legal framework and framework for making decisions; improved forms to assist SFOs in making their decisions; and improvements to some of the letters which are sent to applicants to make them clearer and more informative. All these changes are designed to smooth the process of application to the fund and to provide a better service for the people who use it. In addition, we are on target for the introduction of a new computer system next year to administer the social fund. This new system will both considerably speed up the processing of claims, and improve the quality of the decision making.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the amount of money being paid out each month in benefit excluding attendance allowance to residents of residential care homes in the county of Hereford and Worcester.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Disability Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members selected to sit on the disability appeal tribunals are also in receipt of(a) invalidity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance and (c) income support.

  Mr. Scott
  Responsibility for the administration of disability appeal tribunals lies with the president of the Independent Tribunal Service, his honour judge Holden. I have been advised by his office that the information requested is not yet available as recruitment of members is still taking place.

  Pensioners (London Weighting)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans for introducing a London weighting addition for people in receipt of state retirement pensions living in Greater London.
  145
  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans to do so.

  Pensions
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) the amount of the old age pension for a single person and for a married couple, (b) the rate of inflation and (c) the level of average earnings for each year from 1970 to the latest year for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table.

  Date of benefit up-rating

  (a)1

  (a)2

  (b)3

  (c)4

  November 1969

  5·00

  8·10

  —

  25·00

  September 1971

  6·00

  9·70

  16·5

  30·70

  October 1972

  6·75

  10·90

  8·5

  35·80

  October 1973

  7·75

  12·50

  9·9

  40·40

  July 1974

  10·50

  16·00

  13·5

  46·30

  April 1975

  11·60

  18·50

  17·7

  55·70

  November 1975

  13·30

  21·20

  11·7

  61·80

  November 1976

  15·30

  24·50

  15·0

  69·30

  November 1977

  17·50

  28·00

  13·0

  75·70

  November 1978

  19·50

  31·20

  8·1

  87·40

  November 1979

  23·30

  37·30

  17·4

  103·60

  November 1980

  27·15

  43·45

  15·3

  118·60

  November 1981

  29·60

  47·35

  12·0

  129·50

  November 1982

  32·85

  52·55

  6·3

  138·40

  November 1983

  34·05

  54·50

  4·8

  147·70

  November 1984

  35·80

  57·30

  4·9

  159·60

  November 1985

  38·30

  61·30

  5·5

  168·70

  July 1986

  38·70

  61·95

  1·7

  176·70

  April 1987

  39·50

  63·25

  4·4

  185·50

  April 1988

  41·15

  65·90

  3·9

  200·60

  April 1989

  43·60

  69·80

  8·0

  217·80

  April 1990

  46·90

  75·10

  9·4

  237·20

  April 1991

  52·00

  83·25

  6·4

  253·10

  1 Weekly rate of retirement pension for a single person.

  2 Weekly rate of retirement pension for a married couple.

  3 Percentage increase in the retail prices index (All Items) between benefit uprating dates.

  4 Average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in the month of the benefit uprating.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Local Government Boundaries Review, Moyle
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations have been made by the Government of the Republic of Ireland in connection with the review of local government boundaries of Moyle district council.

  Mr. Brooke
  The question was discussed briefly at the intergovernmental conference in Dublin on 20 November 1991. Conference took note of the independence of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner for Northern Ireland in drawing up his recommendations.

  Curriculum Monitoring
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the names of the schools involved in the Northern Ireland Curriculum Council monitoring programmes for English, mathematics and science in years one, five and eight.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The schools are:

  Primary

  Kilmaine, Bangor

  146

  Tirkane, Maghera

  St. Colmcille's Omagh

  St. Comgall's, Antrim

  St. Patrick's, Saul

  Orangefield, Belfast

  St. McCartan's, Dromore

  Sion Mills, Strabane

  St. Mary's, Strabane

  St. Columbkille's, Carrickmore

  Bridge, Banbridge

  St. Colman's, Kilkeel

  St. Mary's, Annalong

  Londonderry Model

  St. Joseph's Covent, Newry

  Donaghadee

  Dromara

  Mersey Street, Belfast

  Loanends, Crumlin

  Fullerton Prep, Belfast

  Mt. St. Catherine's, Armagh

  Lisnasharragh, Belfast

  Secondary

  St. Patrick's College, Armagh

  St. Columb's College, Londonderry

  St. Joseph's, Londonderry

  St. Louise's, Belfast

  Kilkeel High

  Faughan Valley High, Cross

  Larne High

  St. Colm's High, Draperstown

  St. Eugene's, Castlederg

  Lurgan High

  Special

  Manor House, Armagh

  Greystone Hall, Limavady

  St. Gerard's Resource Centre, Belfast Jordanstown

  Brookfield, Moira Fleming Fulton, Belfast

  School Meals
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children are not currently eligible for free school meals but would have been before the Social Security Act 1986; and what would be the gross and net costs of restoring their right to free school meals, in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  University Accommodation
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated level of funding required by(a) Queen's university, Belfast and (b) the university of Ulster, to meet identified maintenance needs and refurbishment of existing accommodation together with additional provision required for increasing student enrolment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is not currently available in the form required.

  The Universities Funding Council, in consultation with its working party on capital policy, has recently appointed consultants to undertake a detailed study into the accommodation implications of the growth in student numbers over the next decade for all United Kingdom

  147
  universities, including those in Northern Ireland. The council will advise the Department of Education for Northern Ireland on the needs of the universities in Northern Ireland in due course.

  The Department has, however, recently agreed to provide grant off £5·34 million to the University of Ulster to enable it to construct an additional 3,000 sq m block of teaching and staff accommodation on its Jordanstown campus. It has also provided grant aid, and allowed Queen's university to use the proceeds of property sales, to fund an extensive programme of rationalisations and refurbishment amounting to over £10 million in the last five years.

SCOTLAND

  Staff Accommodation
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make an announcement on the future accommodation for Scottish Office staff in Edinburgh.

  Mr. Lang
  Staff are being informed today that subject to the satisfactory conclusion of detailed negotiations the Scottish Office is to occupy a major new office building of 290,000 sq ft to be provided by Forth Properties Limited at Victoria quay, Leith. The new building which will accommodate about 1,400 staff from New St. Andrew's House and some other central Edinburgh buildings will be ready in the summer of 1994. St. Andrew's House will remain the headquarters of the Scottish Office.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans regarding the debt formerly owed to the National Loans Fund by the Scottish Development Agency.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I have decided that Scottish Enterprise should continue to take responsibility for the National Loans Fund debt formerly owed by the Scottish Development Agency. In turn, Scottish Enterprise will benefit from interest and capital repayments arising from on-lending financed by National Loans Fund loans. The original intention had been to extinguish the National Loans Fund debt and to return direct to the Exchequer income arising from related loans to sub-borrowers. Scottish Enterprise has been consulted about and is content with the revised arrangements, which have the approval of the Treasury.

  Education (Evening Classes)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the amount spent by each local education authority in Scotland in funding non-certificated evening classes in (i) 1989–90, (ii) 1990–91 and (iii) 1991–92 and any projected level of expenditure for 1992–93.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

EMPLOYMENT

  Radiation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans the Health and Safety Executive has to evaluate the work of the Medical Research Council radiation biology unit on the links between low dose radiation and cell abnormality.

  Mr. Forth
  The study undertaken by the MRC radio biology unit is one of a number of studies on the effects of low-dose radiation currently under way which will need to be assessed together. This is a complex field and it would not be appropriate to evaluate the results of a single study in isolation.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Jackson
  No contracts have been undertaken by any of the agencies in the Department for this purpose. Two private sector consultancy firms have been retained by the headquarters section of the Department for this purpose—Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte and Ernst and Young. Both appointments were the result of competitive tendering.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Jackson
  Reviews of pay and grading within the Employment Department group are taking place within the framework of the Government's plans for reform of civil service pay and grading. These were announced by the Chancellor at the end of July 1991 and give Departments and agencies the opportunity to develop their own pay and grading systems, to suit their own needs.

  The Employment Service conducted a small-scale study from July to October 1991, supported by Price Waterhouse Management Consultants.

  The Health and Safety Executive has begun a review of pay and grading structures which will be undertaken with the support of external consultants over the next six months. The consultants have yet to be selected.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the percentage of(a) female part-time workers, (b) male part-time workers, (c) female full-time workers, (d) male full-time workers, (e) all full-time workers, (f) all part-time workers and (g) all workers in (i) Scotland, (ii) Great Britain and (iii) each Scottish region, with hourly earnings of less than £3·40 an hour, excluding overtime; and if he will provide figures for the number of employees this percentage represents in each category in Scotland.
  149
  Mr. Forth
  The percentages requested, which are available from the 1991 new earnings survey, are given in the following table.

  It is broadly estimated, from the new earnings survey and other sources, that around 0·4 million employees in Scotland earned less than £3·40 per hour in April 1991, of whom two thirds were women and one half were part-timers.

  Employees on adult rates whose pay was unaffected by absence: Percentage with hourly earnings (excluding overtime) below £3·40 April 1991

  Women

  Men

  All

  Full-time

  Borders

  28·2

  1—

  1—

  Central

  23·5

  6·0

  12·2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1—

  7·6

  13·7

  Fife

  22·3

  9·2

  13·9

  Grampian

  20·7

  8·5

  12·3

  Highland

  23·4

  7·4

  13·6

  Lothian

  13·1

  7·1

  9·5

  Strathclyde

  15·8

  7·3

  10·5

  Tayside

  20·1

  9·7

  13·6

  Islands

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Highland and Islands

  23·4

  7·9

  13·6

  Scotland

  17·5

  7·7

  Great Britain

  13·9

  5·7

  8·6

  Part-time

  Borders

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Central

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Fife

  54·8

  2—

  2—

  Grampian

  46·4

  2—

  2—

  Highland

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Lothian

  37·4

  2—

  2—

  Strathclyde

  38·6

  2—

  2—

  Tayside

  49·7

  2—

  2—

  Islands

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Highland and Islands

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Scotland

  42·4

  2—

  2—

  Great Britain

  38·8

  39·0

  38·8

  Full-time and part-time

  Borders

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Central

  32·3

  2—

  2—

  Dumfries and Galloway

  34·8

  2—

  2—

  Fife

  34·2

  2—

  2—

  Grampian

  30·5

  2—

  2—

  Highland

  30·2

  2—

  2—

  Lothian

  20·6

  2—

  2—

  Strathclyde

  23·3

  2—

  2—

  Tayside

  29·9

  2—

  2—

  Islands

  1—

  2—

  2—

  Highland and Islands

  31·2

  2—

  2—

  Scotland

  25·8

  2—

  2—

  Great Britain

  22·5

  6·7

  13·8

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 — Denotes sampling error too large or sample error too small for reliable estimate.

  2 — Denotes information not available.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the need for legislation to assist small businesses to obtain prompt payment of bills; and if he will make a statement.
  150
  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans at present to introduce prompt payment legislation, but I am keeping the issue under close review. Though I understand the frustrations felt by small businesses because of delayed payments, I remain to be convinced that legislation would be effective. The majority of organisations representing small firms share the Government's view that the effect of a legislative approach would be, at best, minimal and could even be damaging to the small firms sector. I have made it known, however, that I would be interested to receive views on how an effective legislative framework might operate.

  This Department will continue to address late payment through a strategy of persuasion and education and, in addition to a number of measures already in place, I am considering what further initiatives may be appropriate.

  Remploy
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in establishing a new financial arrangement with Remploy.

  Mr. Howard
  Discussions have been taking place between my Department and Remploy to establish arrangements which would enable the company to operate a more flexible financial regime within an agreed planning framework which would include quantified annual performance targets. Tomorrow, I will join the chairman of Remploy, Sir Ivor Cohen, to sign documents setting out the financial arrangements under which Remploy will operate from 1 April 1992.

  These new arrangements, which will be operated on my behalf by the chief executive of the Employment Service, will enable the company to improve its efficiency, competitiveness and value for money. The greater commercial freedom which will be enjoyed by Remploy should benefit the workforce of severely disabled employees for whom the company was established.

  I will arrange for copies of the documents describing the new arrangements, and in due course the annual performance agreement that I will have with Remploy, to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies will also be made available by the Employment Service on request individuals or organisations with a genuine interest in the arrangements.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the area boundaries laid down for the purposes of the budgets of training and enterprise councils in general, and East Anglia in particular.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 28 February 1992]: The boundaries of all training and enterprise councils—TECs —were established in discussion with the groups of employers who joined together in local areas to respond to the government's invitation to establish TECs. Those discussions took account of such factors as travel to work patterns, local demography and the structure of industry and commerce.

  The budgets for individual TECs are negotiated between the TEC and this Department's regional directors and are not related to the geographical area covered.

HEALTH

  Cost Rent Schemes
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ring-fence funding for the cost rent scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Cash-limited allocations made by regional health authorities to family health services authorities (FHSAs) cover spending on general practitioner premises, practice staff and practice computers. How allocations are spent between these three headings is a matter for FHSAs in the light of local needs and priorities. There are no plans to ring-fence funds for cost rent schemes within these allocations.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on cost rent schemes to improve general practitioners' surgeries in each of the last five years in(a) Waltham Forest, (b) London and (c) nationally.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is shown in the table for the last two years. Records of individual cost rent expenditure prior to 1989–90 are unavailable.

  Cost-rent expenditure

  1989–90 £ million

  1990–91 £ million

  Waltham Forest (including Redbridge)

  0·534

  0·785

  London

  15·341

  28·487

  Nationally

  56·766

  79·593

  Drug Costs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the cost to the NHS resulting from the prescription of branded drugs rather than their chemically identical generic version in each of the past four years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is not possible to estimate such a cost.

  Nebulisers
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the arrangements concerning charging for NHS nebulisers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No charge can be made for nebulisers supplied by district health authorities as part of NHS treatment.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will ensure that adequate resources are made available for providing treatment for and giving advice on myalgic encephalomyelitis to general practitioners;

  (2) if he will give details of the current funding of research into the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and what guidance is given by his Department to general practitioners in regard to treatment of this condition.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There is no question of patients not receiving the treatment they need when they visit their 152
  general practitioner, including referral to a specialist if that is necessary. It is not the practice of the Department to issue clinical guidance to doctors, but we are encourged by the increasing number of informed articles on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) appearing in professional journals and by the number of regional health authorities approving courses for GPs in ME; the various ME groups do valuable work in this area too. With regard to research into causes of and treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis, I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) on 21 November 1991 at column 313.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund research into the physical causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis and possible treatments.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) on 21 November 1991 at column 313.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will reconsider the definition of myalgic encephalomyelitis as given in the DSS disability living handbook.

  Mr. Scott
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Fazakerley Hospital
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received from the Mental Health Commission a report on staffing levels at Fazakerley hospital, Liverpool.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. I understand that the commission has visited this hospital and are discussing its findings with the health authority. This reflects normal practice in handling the commission's reports.

  Nurse Regradings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to pay arrears to nurses regraded after appeals against a grade awarded in 1988 when the hospital concerned has become a trust in the intervening period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Guidance issued to the national health service makes it clear that trusts assume all the rights, powers, duties and liabilities for the contracts of employment of people formerly employed by health authorities. Trusts are therefore responsible for any arrears of pay which may become due if a nurse is regraded following an appeal.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by individual health authority in England the provision made in the final accounts for 1990–91 for payments due to nurses who awaited settlement of the grading claims; if he will estimate the total sum due to be paid on 31 March 1991 for grading arrears to such nurses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The provision made in the final accounts of health authorities for 1990–91 for payments due to nurses who awaited settlements of
  153
  grading claims is not separately identifiable. No estimate of the total sum of arrears due to be paid as a result of grading appeals can be made.

  Radiotherapy
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Radiotherapy Exposure Action Group; and what was his response.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No representations have been received.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require all radiotherapy departments to routinely provide all patients with written information about radiotherapy they are to receive, with the information indicating any likely side effects; and if he will ensure that written consent is requested if the treatment is in any way experimental.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All patients have a right to reject or consent to treatment. They are entitled to as much information as they need, on an individual basis, to enable them to make a proper decision. Written consent should be obtained where a proposed procedure, including an experimental one, carries a substantial risk or substantial side effect. Most radiotherapy departments routinely provide patients with information on side effects of their treatment.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health approximately how many people develop cancer annually and are treated with radiotherapy.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, there were approximately 193,000 registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasms in England. Information on whether radiotherapy forms part of a patient's treatment is not routinely collected.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the staff size of the inspectorate set within his Department to enforce the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1988; when it was established; and what changes there have been in the level of radiation doses since 1988.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department of Health inspectorate to enforce the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 was established in 1989 and currently warrants are held by four officials. The inspectorate is supported by the Department of Health (DH) administrative division concerned with ionising radiation.

  Currently, the DH inspectorate is concentrating on investigating incidents that have been reported, but since 1988 we have asked health authorities to introduce dose reduction strategies.

  DH has endorsed the joint report of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Royal College of Radiologists entitled "Patient Dose Reduction in Diagnostic Radiology" and is currently funding, at NRPB, a national survey of diagnostic radiology doses which will be published in 1993.

  All these initiatives are directed towards reducing doses in the diagnostic radiology field.
  154
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which professional bodies advise him on radiotherapy exposure.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department holds regular meetings with the Royal College of Radiologists and is offered advice on an informal basis by the British Nuclear Medicine Society. Both these professional bodies advise the Department on radiotherapy exposure among other issues.

  The Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) advises Ministers on the administration of radioactive medicinal products and related scientific and radiological safety matters. The members appointed to this committee are proposed by the relevant professional bodies.

  The chief medical officer at the Department is advised by his radiotherapy adviser, Professor Bleehan, on radiotherapy matters relating to the NHS.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what sources he is provided with information about the extent and nature of damage from exposure to radiotherapy; and if he will establish a research programme to provide comprehensive information and to look at ways of preventing damage from both excess and inadequate exposure.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information about the extent and nature of damage from exposure to radiotherapy is available in the clinical literature, as a result of research carried out by doctors, radiobiologists and related medical scientists.

  The Department circulated a document "Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy" to all radiography departments in May 1991, a copy of which is available in the Library. This document was produced by a working party established by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee. A research project to establish the applicability of this approach is being funded at two centres by the Department. The results of the research will be promulgated widely.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require his radiation inspectorate regularly to inspect radiotherapy equipment and its use in all NHS hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Employers in the NHS and private health sector are required by the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985 to ensure that radiotherapy equipment is designed, constructed, installed and maintained so as to be capable of providing the required treatment with the minimum of exposure. These regulations are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the number of patients damaged by(a) excess radiotherapy and (b) inadequate amounts of radiotherapy.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information on which such an estimate could be based is not available centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require all district health authorities(a) regularly to monitor exposure to radiotherapy, (b) to record every incident of excess or inadequate exposure and (c) to prepare an annual report for him, to include details on the nature, quality and age of its radiotherapy equipment.
  155
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All district health authorities are required by the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 (IR(POPUMET) Regs 1988) to ensure their staff are adequately trained and that those who physically direct medical exposures"ensure a dose of ionising radiation to the patient is as low as reasonably practicable in order to achieve the required diagnostic or therapeutic purpose".

  Every radiotherapy treatment is calculated for a specific patient and involves the regular monitoring of exposures from radiotherapy machines, as well as the regular review and clinical audit of the results of such treatment. All radiotherapy departments are required by the IR(POPUMET) Regs 1988) to keep an inventory of radiotherapy equipment which would include details of the nature, quality and age of that equipment.

  We would expect provider units to report any untoward incidents to the Department of Health inspectorate.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified radiotherapists are in post within his Department.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department does not employ any radiotherapists.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a central fund to provide immediate no fault payments for those damaged by excess or inadequate radiotherapy.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No-fault compensation was proposed as part of the National Health Service (Compensation) Bill which was defeated on a free vote by a substantial majority at Second Reading. The Government's position remains that the basis for seeking compensation should be through proof of negligence actions through the courts.

  Tinnitus
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his estimates of the numbers of tinnitus sufferers in the United Kingdom; how many trained specialists are employed in the NHS to help alleviate this condition; what funding is currently provided to charities and research institutions working on tinnitus problems; and what are his plans for future funding and assistance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is estimated that between 0·5 per cent. and 1 per cent. of the population are seriously affected by tinnitus. There are 375 consultants in otolaryngology and 13 consultant audiological physicians employed by the NHS in England. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science. In 1991 the MRC spent £112,000 on research into tinnitus.

  The Meniere's Society, many of whose members suffer from tinnitus, received a grant of £7,500 in 1991–92 and have applied for a further grant in 1992–93. Decisions on funding for 1992–93 onwards will be announced shortly. There are no plans for funding of any other voluntary organisations at present but any future applications will be carefully considered.

  Thalidomide
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the research publications on the absence of the side effect of peripheral neuropathy in United Kingdom leprosy patients taking thalidomide;

  (2) what, apart from producing teratogenic effects on the foetus, are the other major adverse effects of thalidomide; if he will ensure that every patient being given thalidomide on a named patient basis is warned that the drug can cause a severe and permanent loss of sensation; and if he will require manufacturers to give this information in a leaflet included in the packaging of the drug;

  (3) if he will list the basis for the findings reported in the letter of 19 December from the Minister of Health to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South that none of the experts on leprosy has seen thalidomide neuropathy in their patients; and what evidence he has of the frequency of this adverse effect in patients with other diseases taking thalidomide.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A literature survey undertaken by the Department has failed to reveal any research publications on the absence of peripheral neuropathy in United Kingdom leprosy patients taking thalidomide.

  Apart from the teratogenic effects of thalidomide on the foetus the other major adverse event is peripheral neuropathy. Thalidomide is used to treat a very few patients with rare diseases unresponsive to other treatments on a "named-patient" basis by an experienced group of physicians. They will be alert to the possibility of nerve damage and should be able to recognise it at an early stage.

  The provision of warnings about the use of drugs prescribed on a "named-patient" basis lies with the doctor writing the prescription, not with the supplier. In the case of thalidomide, a practitioner should arrange for appropriate warnings about the possible side effects to be provided when it is dispensed to the patient.

  My letter of 19 December 1991 to the right hon. Member was based on the clinical findings of the panel of leprosy opinion. This experienced group of physicians who treat a condition that affects peripheral nerves have not detected signs of peripheral neuropathy associated with the use of thalidomide. Their findings are in agreement with the absence of any report in the literature that thalidomide causes peripheral neuropathy in patients treated for leprosy. Peripheral neuropathy is a well known side effect in patients with other diseases being treated with thalidomide. There are no accurate figures for the frequency of this side effect.

  Abortions
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the total number of abortions under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 in the Sheffield health authority area in 1991(a) by the ground on which they were performed and (b) how many were repeat abortions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Data for 1991 are not yet available.

  Dentists' Fees
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will discuss with the British Dental Association the need to avoid cuts in fees paid by his Department; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the payment of the arrears of fees for dentists following the recommendations by the pay review body.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The proposed increase in target net income of 8·5 per cent. which was recommended by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) was accepted by the Government. To ensure that the level at which fees are pitched in the coming year will deliver this proposed increase in dentists' net income the health departments consulted the British Dental Association (BDA). Following discussions between the British Dental Association and the health departments, agreement was reached to hold a joint inquiry to review the level of payments to dentists in 1991–92, the results of which will be considered by the Health departments and the British Dental Association in May when they reconsider the appropriate fee scale for 1992–93; simultaneously, they will begin a more fundamental review of the structure of dentists' remuneration.

  Southern Derbyshire Health Authority
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give figures for the number of patients in the Southern Derbyshire health authority area who have been waiting for more than two years for an operation; and if he will give equivalent figures for a year ago.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest provisional figures show that at December 1991 there were 29 patients waiting over two years for treatment in the Southern Derbyshire health authority area. The equivalent figure in December 1990 was 108. The authority expects to have no patient waiting over two years by 31 March.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give figures for the number of health care staff working for Southern Derbyshire health authority in 1982 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The whole-time equivalent number of health care staff working for Southern 158
  Derbyshire health authority in 1982 and 1990 were 4,740 and 4,960 respectively. These are direct care staff, which includes nursing and midwifery (including agency), medical and dental (including permanent paid, honorary and locum staff, but excluding consultants and senior registrars whose contracts are held by the region) and professional and technical staff. The sources of the data are the Department of Health's annual censuses of national health service medical and non-medical manpower.

  Health Service Finance
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial information, including sets of accounts, will be made available at the annual meetings of NHS trusts.

  Mr. Dorrell
  At each annual public meeting NHS trusts are required to make available their audited annual accounts and any report made on those accounts by the auditor.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of the numbers of people waiting over two years for treatment who were removed from the lists between 1 October and 31 December because of(a) being treated and (b) for a reason other than being treated.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not yet available centrally.

  Illegitimate Births
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of illegitimate births to teenage girls in England in each year since 1980 in each registry area, giving the age in years of the teenage mothers.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information for registry areas could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Information for the mother's usual local authority of residence has been placed in the Library. Annual tables are available for 1980 and for 1982 to 1990 (inclusive). Industrial action by registrars means that such a detailed analysis is impractical for 1981.

  MORTGAGE ARREARS AND REPOSSESSIONS: ASSISTANCE
  MORTGAGE ARREARS AND REPOSSESSIONS: ASSISTANCE
  SEALS: MANAGEMENT
  SEALS: MANAGEMENT
  COMMUNITY IDENTITY: RESEARCH REPORTS
  COMMUNITY IDENTITY: RESEARCH REPORTS
  BIRMINGHAM NORTHERN RELIEF ROAD
  BIRMINGHAM NORTHERN RELIEF ROAD