Written Answers of 5 March 1992

CIVIL SERVICE

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to take forward equal opportunities for women in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  I have, today, launched a new programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity for women in the civil service. This builds on the very considerable progress achieved under the programme of action launched in 1984. Departments and agencies will use the new programme to develop action plans which will ensure that the civil service continues to be a leading equal opportunities employer.

THE ARTS

  Public Sector Grants
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how much is received in public sector grants by(a) Dartington arts unit and (b) Exeter and Devon arts centre, in each of the past three years; what information he has on the proportion which public sector grants formed of the annual turnover in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 19 February 1992]: The information available is as follows:

  Darlington Arts Society

  1989 £

  1990 £

  1991 £

  South West Arts

  10,660

  10,875

  11,750

  Note: Local authority figures not available.

  Exeter and Devon Arts Centre

  1989 £

  1990 £

  1991 £

  Grants associated with educational and recreational activities

  Exeter City Council

  39,650

  28,771

  30,459

  Devon County Council

  —

  10,072

  11,464

  South West Arts

  11,300

  16,385

  14,490

  50,950

  55,288

  56,413

  Turnover (income from activities and trading)

  110,814

  194,726

  209,452

  Proportion which public sector income represents of turnover (Per cent.)

  46

  28

  27

  In addition the Exeter and Devon Arts Centre receives the following grants towards operational expenditure

  Devon County Council

  164,584

  179,238

  194,100

  Exeter City Council

  151,900

  134,107

  145,000

  226

  1989 £

  1990 £

  1991 £

  Total

  316,484

  313,345

  339,100

  All figures are expressed in real terms.

TRANSPORT

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentages of stock.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's portfolio is constantly changing as a consequence of properties being acquired or demolished for road schemes, or being disposed of as surplus to requirements.

  (a) Currently, the Department owns 2,577 properties, of which 460—17·9 per cent. of total stock—are empty, including those recently acquired, uninhabitable, being sold or awaiting demolition. The remaining 2,117 properties—82·1 per cent. of total stock—are equally divided between direct lettings by the Department and indirect letting on its behalf by housing associations and local authorities.

  (b) Currently, 124 properties—4·8 per cent. of total stock—are for sale on the open market.

  (c) A figure cannot be provided for the number of properties intended for sale on the open market as it is not known which will be surplus to the requirements of road schemes until an advanced stage when the line of the road is fixed.

  (d) Housing associations have an opportunity to buy almost all of the department's surplus housing. A small number of properties are bought back by previous owners under the Crichel Down rules, otherwise property is offered next to the agent housing association. Associations are also free to bid on the open market for other surplus properties not under their management.

  Buses
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with bus drivers concerning safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

  Mr. Freeman
  The safety of bus drivers and passengers is considered regularly by the standing panel on assaults on bus staff—STAB—which includes representatives of the bus industry, the unions and Government Departments. STAB's remit includes all forms of crime on buses including vandalism and attacks on passengers.

  At a local level the traffic commissioner has powers to attach conditions to an operator's licence if a local service has been operated in a manner dangerous to the public. The traffic commissioner may also suspend or revoke a PSV driver's licence if the driver has been convicted of dangerous driving.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new measures he will introduce to improve bus road safety; and if he will make a statement.
  227
  Mr. Freeman
  Buses are the safest form of road passenger transport in this country. Regulations covering the safety of buses are kept under continuous review and can be amended as the need becomes apparent.

  Ferry Services
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidance notes on the operational responsibilities of British ferry operators for ferry services marketed and advertised by them, but operated by a foreign company.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The responsibility for safe operation of a ship is prescribed in section 31 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988. No guidance notes are planned.

  Maritime Conventions
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the ratification of maritime conventions Nos.(a) 163, (b) 164, (c) 165, (d) 166, (e) 173 and (f)

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government stated their views on ILO conventions Nos. 163, 164, 165 and 166 in Command 658 dated April 1989 and indicated that they do not propose to ratify conventions 163, 165 and 166. Now that the syllabi for the necessary training courses in medical skills promulgated by the International Maritime Organisation, the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organisation have been reduced to performance criteria on which colleges and other bodies can base their instruction, the Department will shortly be going to a second round of consultation on how the United Kingdom should meet its obligations under article 9.2 of convention No. 164—health protection and medical care (seafarers)—and so proceed to ratification.

  The latest convention to be adopted by the ILO and therefore available for ratification is No. 172.

  River Thames (Cargo Handling)
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on maintaining competition in containerised cargo handling facilities on the River Thames, east of Tower bridge.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Any potential concerns about competition in the provision of such facilities would be a matter for consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Princess Maria Esmeralda
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the reply to the request for an investigation into the sailing of the Princess Maria Esmeralda on Sunday 21 July 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I will summarise that reply. This Belgian flag ship was sailing from a Belgian port under the sole jurisdiction of the Belgian authorities. The Department has now notified them of the reported incident. However, departmental marine surveyors have inspected the vessel and advise that the upper stern door can be left open without compromising the ship's safety. They also advise that the lower door is recessed into the stern and can appear from a distance to be open while actually closed and weathertight.

  Port of Tilbury
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the credit rating of Maritime Transport Services Ltd. which is bidding for the port of Tilbury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is for the Port of London authority to consider all relevant factors in assessing the bids for the port of Tilbury and in making its recommendation to my right hon. and learned Friend concerning the sale of the port.

  Bus Industry
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees there were in the bus industry in 1985–86 and 1990–91.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The numbers of staff employed in the bus industry in Great Britain in 1985–86 and 1990–91 were:

  1985–86

  174,200—annual average.

  1990–91

  155,500—end of year.

  The figures include all platform, maintenance and administrative staff employed by the bus industry. They also include working proprietors and the full-time equivalent of part-time public service vehicle staff.

PRIME MINISTER

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce changes to housing benefit and mortgage interest benefit to permit people paying part-rent part-mortgage to qualify for housing benefit and income support assistance.

  The Prime Minister
  The current regulations already make provision for such arrangements.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 5 March.

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

ENVIRONMENT

  Thorne and Hatfield Moors
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from English Nature concerning the conservation of the remaining vegetated areas of Thorne and Hatfield moors, including the effect of the continued extraction of peat from the other areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Gould) on 27 February 1992,Official Report, column 561. English Nature will be producing management plans for the vegetated areas of

  229
  these sites. High water tables will be maintained by a programme of controlled blocking of drains. Detailed monitoring of the effects will take place against recent baseline studies. English Nature will also be producing after-use plans for the areas where peat extraction is to continue.

  Sleeping Rough
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the most up-to-date figures recorded by his Department for the numbers of people sleeping rough in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Yeo
  The number of persons found sleeping rough at pre-identified sites in Greater London on census night—21 to 22 April 1991—was published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the 1991 census preliminary report for England and Wales "Supplementary Monitor on People sleeping rough". A copy is in the Library.

  Hedgehogs and Toads
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hedgehog ladders and toad tunnels have been constructed or funded by his Department since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  No information is available on the number of hedgehog ladders constructed since 1979. Five toad tunnel systems, incorporating 11 tunnels, and financed wholly or partly by central or local government, have been constructed since 1979.

  City Challenge
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will favourably consider the application for funding for the Blackie Great Georges project, Liverpool 1, under the city challenge scheme later in the current month.

  Mr. Key
  Under the city challenge management arrangements, it will be for Liverpool's city challenge executive committee in the first instance to decide whether to include particular projects within the five-year programme. Any project with a grant requirement of £500,000 or more will additionally require detailed appraisal by my Department, and will be considered on its merits on receipt.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount has been given by his Department for city challenge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 3 March 1992.]: A sum of £82·5 million per year for up to five years from 1992–93 has been allocated from the Department's inner-city and housing programmes to fund the 11 first-round "pacemaker" city challenge action plans. Up to £150 million per year is being made available for city challenge for up to five years from 1993–94 for those successful in the second round.

  PCBs
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of his development action plan for the phasing out of PCBs by 1999;

  (2) what action he has taken to implement the decision of the third North sea conference of March 1990 to phase out and destroy all PCBs by 1999, in 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what is planned for each year to 1999;

  (3) how many full and part-time posts are contributing to the phasing out of PCBs by 1999; and if he will give the job specification and location of each post;

  (4) if he will give an estimate of the number of tonnes of PCBs in the United Kingdom still awaiting disposal and details of targets set for the disposal of PCBs in the United Kingdom;

  (5) if he will give details of all existing incinerators, and those in respect of which planning applications (a) have been approved and (b) are outstanding, licensed to accept PCBs;

  (6) what estimate he has made in respect of the presence of PCBs in United Kingdom waters.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is intended to produce a plan in accordance with the decision of the third North sea conference. A copy will be placed in the Library when available. Work is currently directed to refining the assessment of the types and quantities of PCBs known to exist and the available incineration capacity. New treatment techniques and alternative disposal options to incineration for particular PCB arisings are being appraised.

  A revision of waste management paper No. 6 containing technical guidance on the treatment and disposals of PCB wastes is in preparation for publication in March 1993.

  Planning for phase-out involves a co-operative effort between my Department and other Government Departments. I cannot therefore be precise about numbers and locations of individual posts.

  The remaining PCBs in the United Kingdom are mainly associated with electrical equipment, much of which will be disposed of with its PCB content. Accurate figures are not available, but it is estimated that about 20,000 tonnes of contaminated plant requires disposal, of which about half are PCBs.

  There are two merchant incinerators available for the disposal of special wastes including solid and liquid PCBs; the Rechem plant at Pontypool and a plant at Ellesmere Port operated by Cleanaway. Plant capacity for PCB destruction cannot be stated in absolute terms since it is dependent upon the chlorine content and the physical form of the waste. It is not known if any proposed plant at the planning application stage is to be used for PCBs.

  Levels of PCBs in United Kingdom coastal waters are normally so low as to be beyond the limits of detection. However, since PCBs are known to accumulate in living tissue, government monitoring programmes concentrate on levels of PCBs in fish. Results of these programmes are regularly published by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the acquatic environment monitoring reports. Control measures taken by the Government have been effective in reducing peak levels of PCBs to considerably below those that were

  231
  found in the 1970s. The levels are below those that would cause harm to human consumers and there is no reason to believe that they threaten fish health.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what official statistics are kept on employment in the area covered by the Leeds development corporation.

  Mr. Key
  This is primarily a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. I understand that employment statistics for development corporation areas are not compiled. Official statistics for employees in employment are made available for local authority wards and aggregations of them. The area covered by Leeds development corporation does not coincide with ward boundaries.

  British Waterways Board
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about financing for the British Waterways Board.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am pleased to announce that we have increased the external finance limit for the British Waterways Board to £51·7 million for 1991–92. This is enabling the board to spend an additional sum of up to £3 million on canal maintenance. The increase is being financed through expenditure savings identified elsewhere within the Department, and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  EC Eco-labelling Scheme
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made towards implementing the EC eco-labelling scheme.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom is playing a leading role in preparing for the launch of the European scheme. We are developing criteria on a wider range of products than any other country and we are making a significant contribution to putting in place the necessary European administrative arrangements for the operation of the scheme.

  Nationally, we are required by the eco-labelling regulation to designate a competent body for the scheme. We have decided that a dedicated non-departmental public body would be the most suitable organisation to take on this role in the United Kingdom. In reaching this decision, we took account of the National Advisory Group on Eco-Labelling's advice that the body should be official, independent and at arm's length from ministerial control. This should demonstrate the authority and impartiality of the body and promote the credibility of the scheme. We will introduce legislation to establish this body when parliamentary time permits. Until then, it will operate in an advisory capacity.

  I am pleased to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Nelson has agreed to chair the United Kingdom eco-labelling body. Dr Nelson is presently chairman of Addison Group Consultancy plc and the Taylor Nelson Group Ltd., but has indicated that she intends to step down later in the year. She has extensive business experience, and particular expertise in the fields of marketing and market research,
  232
  which she will be able to contribute to the development of the eco-labelling scheme in the United Kingdom and across the European Community. We will be announcing the names of the other members of the board of the eco-labelling body in due course.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Power Stations
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to complete the sale of Northern Ireland Electricity power stations.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have now reached contractual agreement for the sale of Ballylumford power station to British Gas, the sale of Kilroot and Belfast West power stations to a consortium of Applied Energy Services and Tractebel and the sale of Coolkeeragh power station to a management-employee team—MEBO.

  The contracts provide for total sale proceeds of £353 million subject to the normal audit of completion accounts; £132·4 million for Ballylumford, £214 million for Belfast West and Kilroot and £6·5 million for Coolkeeragh. In the later case, a five-year profit-sharing deal offers the possibility of up to a further £2 million. The terms of the sales and the relevant documents have been notified to the European Commission.

  The companies which are being sold will be created out of the single entity of Northern Ireland Electricity at 1 April 1992 and have no separate trading records. Because of this, provisions are being included to allow for further adjustments to the sale price, if necessary, for a 15-month period until after the first year's trading has been completed and audited. These provisions mostly relate to assurances given by Government as to station liabilities and information made available and are subject to rigorous de minimus levels and caps of £26 million for British Gas, £53·5 million for AES/Tractebel and £0·5 million for the management buy-out.

  Completion of each of the sales is subject to a number of conditions mainly in relation to satisfying terms for financing. The sales to MEBO and AES/Tractebel are project financed and will not be completed until the money is in place. While I am hopeful that this can be achieved by 31 March, I cannot guarantee that this will be so. An important provision in the contracts allows a period before completion during which the new owners can familiarise themselves with the operation of the stations.

  The sale of Ballylumford brings with it plans for the construction by British Gas of a gas pipeline to Northern Ireland and the conversion of that station to gas firing and 1 am pleased to announce that the European Commission has approved a grant of up to 90 million ecu towards these costs. Terms have been agreed, but British Gas has still to carry out a detailed undersea survey and complete negotiations with Bord Gáis Éireann in respect of the shared onshore pipeline in Scotland. The agreement allows for a reassessment of the gas pipeline proposals following completion of these. The pipeline has been sized so that it it can accommodate additional gas requirements for either future power generation or the development of a downstream market in Northern Ireland and I welcome the opportunities which these will present.

  I am convinced that the sale of power stations on the terms which I have agreed represents the best outcome for

  233
  not only the taxpayer but energy users in Northern Ireland. A privatised industry represents the best means of securing maximum efficiency and will be more responsive to the needs of consumers. The provision of gas will give us not only access to a clean and cost effective fuel for electricity generation but the promise of an additional alternative fuel for industrial, commercial and domestic consumers in Northern Ireland in the years ahead.

  National Union of Students (Grant)
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been given in grants to the National Union of Students in higher education colleges in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No Government grants are paid to the National Union of Students. The students' unions of the Queen's University of Belfast, the university of Ulster and St. Mary's college of education are affiliated to the National Union of Students. Payment to the National Union of Students by the students' unions of the two universities were as follows:

  Queen's University of £

  University Ulster £

  1986–87

  24,600

  19,494

  1987–88

  27,554

  21,178

  1988–89

  28,576

  15,740

  1989–90

  36,450

  27,872

  1990–91

  42,265

  36,723

  Information on the amounts paid by the students' union of St. Mary's college is not readily available. Stranmillis college students' union is not affiliated.

  University Research
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to secure and develop research activity within Northern Ireland universities for the future.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government recognise the value of the research done at Northern Ireland's two universities, particularly its importance to the strengthening of the local economy and are already providing public funding in excess of £30 million a year to support such research.

  The Department of Education for Northern Ireland is currently considering, in consultation with the universities, what arrangements for the funding of basic research

  Number of awards

  Academic year

  Education and library board

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Belfast

  230

  109

  67

  43

  38

  North Eastern

  179

  93

  65

  31

  25

  South Eastern

  130

  82

  51

  38

  34

  Southern

  389

  303

  192

  102

  112

  Western

  575

  398

  171

  91

  144

  Total number of awards

  1,503

  985

  546

  305

  353

  234
  should succeed the present system, under which the department receives advice from the Universities Funding Council, when the latter ceases to exist in 1993.

  It is hoped that the new arrangements will continue to provide the universities with positive incentives not only to carry out research of international quality but to meet the needs of industry and society in Northern Ireland.

  Victims of Violence
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a new scheme to provide compensation to innocent victims of violence where the level of compensation falls outside existing provision.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. The existing criminal injuries compensation scheme in Northern Ireland provides fair and reasonable compensation to the innocent victims of violence.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement outlining what plans there are to implement the recommendations of the Poswillo report on the use of general anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry in Northern Ireland; and what funds will be allocated to support their implementation.

  Mr. Hanley
  The level of general anaesthesia in Northern Ireland is four times that in England and as a result the cost of implementing the Poswillo report in the Province will be relatively high. It has not been possible to earmark resources specifically for this purpose in 1992–93.

  The health and social services boards, however, will be asked to implement the recommendations of the report, as resources permit, giving priority to the hospital and community dental services. General dental practitioners will be invited to refer patients to the community dental service where appropriate, until resources become available for the requisite investment in the general dental service.

  Education Maintenance Allowances
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many education maintenance allowances were awarded by each education and library board in Northern Ireland for each academic year since 1986–87; and what was the total value of such awards by board in each year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:
  235

  Value of awards

  Financial year

  Education and library board

  1986–87 £

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  Belfast

  30,084

  23,475

  18,629

  8,582

  9,024

  North Eastern

  40,416

  32,465

  15,669

  11,278

  6,887

  South Eastern

  30,922

  28,622

  13,133

  12,880

  6,901

  Southern

  87,298

  63,518

  47,041

  29,169

  19,448

  Western

  127,681

  107,871

  45,916

  24,123

  15,160

  Total value of awards

  316,401

  255,951

  140,388

  86,032

  57,420

  Financial information is not available on an academic year basis.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of all changes to the value of education maintenance allowances and/or in the means test scales for education maintenance allowances since 1980 specifying the respective values and scales in each instance.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Academic year

  Maximum allowance (£)

  Means-test limits (£)

  Lower

  Upper

  Age 16

  1980–81

  380

  1,670

  2,980

  1981–82

  425

  1,910

  3,410

  1982–83

  445

  2,080

  3,715

  1983–84 to 1989–90

  390

  2,485

  3,925

  1990–91

  520

  2,800

  5,200

  1991–92

  551

  3,080

  5,720

  Age 17

  1980–81

  430

  1,670

  3,140

  1981–82

  480

  1,910

  3,590

  1982–83

  500

  2,080

  3,915

  1983–84 to 1989–90

  475

  2,485

  4,165

  1990–91

  520

  2,800

  5,200

  1991–92

  551

  3,080

  5,720

  Age 18

  1980–81

  510

  1,670

  3,470

  1981–82

  570

  1,910

  3,970

  1982–83

  595

  2,080

  4,325

  1983–84 to 1989–90

  494

  2,485

  4,645

  1990–91

  520

  2,800

  5,200

  1991–92

  551

  3,080

  5,720

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the progress of the review of the education maintenance allowance scheme by the Department of Education indicating the date of its initiation, consultation with education and library boards, unions or other interested bodies, the terms of the review and consultations and options identified and appraised.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of Education for Northern Ireland initiated the review in 1988. It was

  Offices

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Budget £

  Staff

  Budget £

  Staff

  Budget £

  Staff

  Budget £

  Staff

  Headquarters

  1348,114

  19

  1390,356

  20

  1461,457

  17

  1449,475

  14

  Belfast Area 1

  60,367

  4

  77,572

  5

  70,379

  5

  92,457

  5

  Belfast Area 2

  53,802

  4

  58,853

  4

  56,914

  6

  95,250

  6

  Specialist Metrology

  91,112

  5

  81,783

  5

  91,410

  7

  115,185

  7

  236
  completed in 1990. Government departments and education and library boards were consulted in the course of the review, which also took into account representations received from other organisations and public representatives.

  The review was charged with examining the requirements for the scheme and the options available for upgrading. In consultation, the options identified and appraised, ranged from discontinuation of the scheme to consideration of various levels of increases in allowances, in income bands, or both, and the redefinition of eligibility.

  Changes resulting from the review were implemented from 1 September 1990. The changes made the scheme more straightforward—with one scale of allowances and shorter and fewer income bands. At the same time, all means-test limits were raised by 12 per cent. with an additional increase of 10 per cent. in 1991.

  Trading Standards Branch
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the performance of the trading standards branch in Northern Ireland outlining the plans he has for expanding the service, enhancing its profile or increasing its responsibility or powers.

  Mr. Needham
  The trading standards branch of the Department of Economic Development performs a valuable service in promoting and maintaining standards of fair trading in Northern Ireland to the benefit of both consumers and reputable traders. Twenty-three trading standards officers and six enforcement officers are employed in the branch and a further three trading standards officers are undergoing training.

  Increased enforcement responsibilities will result from the implementation of European Community directives and national initiatives over the next three years. The need for additional resources will be kept under review.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the budget for the trading standards branch in the current year and each of the past three years specifying its distribution among offices and their respective staffing levels.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is set out in the table:
  237

  Offices

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Budget £

  Staff

  Budget £

  Staff

  Budget £

  Staff

  Budget £

  Staff

  Specialist Fair Trading

  42,220

  3

  58,097

  3

  66,595

  4

  85,964

  4

  Armagh

  44,814

  3

  44,600

  3

  43,105

  3

  63,469

  4

  Ballymena

  44,717

  3

  45,496

  3

  44,637

  2

  54,477

  3

  Coleraine

  24,948

  2

  27,291

  2

  28,526

  2

  33,486

  2

  Enniskillen

  24,865

  2

  26,674

  2

  29,751

  2

  34,502

  2

  Londonderry

  50,626

  3

  50,589

  3

  61,940

  3

  60,866

  3

  Newry

  25,418

  2

  26,462

  2

  28,747

  2

  33,993

  2

  Total

  811,003

  50

  887,773

  52

  983,462

  52

  1,119,124

  52

  1 Includes all centrally borne branch costs.

  Inventors
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the support provided for inventors in Northern Ireland who wish to develop their invention with a view to production in Northern Ireland, and on whether he has any plans to review the effectiveness of such support.

  Mr. Needham
  The Local Enterprise Development Unit acts as the initial source of advice and assistance to inventors seeking to develop their inventions either on their own or with suitable commercial partners.

  Inventors whose projects have technology as a key element will in future, be referred to the new industrial research and technology unit—IRTU—which was formally launched on 3 March 1992. The new organisation will concentrate the Government's research and development functions into a single unit and will provide single door access for individuals and companies to financial support and professional expertise for a wide range of innovatory projects. Advice is also available from the Industrial Science Centre on patents and support is given for initial patent searches.

ENERGY

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department does not own any residential properties.

  Offshore Licensing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for a further round of offshore licensing for the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Following the very successful 12th and frontier rounds announced two years ago, I am today announcing the 14th round of offshore licensing. Acreage in the round will be announced in three stages.

  Acreage announced today comprises all remaining unlicensed acreage in the main mature areas of the northern, central and southern North sea which can be released. Any finds in these areas will back up existing production plans.
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  A second announcement, at the end of July, will cover acreage which is more speculative, either because the economic uncertainties are greater or because the areas concerned may pose greater operating problems. This category principally contains acreage on the margins of the main mature areas and acreage outside the main areas but in and around other areas which are currently licensed.

  The third announcement, at the end of November, will cover true frontier acreage, where it will take long periods to prove up any finds and establish the economics for an infrastructure.

  Taken together the three categories of acreage provide the basis of a continuing strategy for replacing United Kingdom continental shelf reserves, with the aim of ensuring that the United Kingdom continental shelf remains a major oil province for at least another 25 years.

  As in previous rounds, it will be necessary in the case of many blocks to indicate any special features which ought to be taken into account by the operator in respect of activity under the licence. These features will reflect the concerns of defence, fishing, environmental, navigational and other interests, and will be made available by my Department as they are agreed with other Government Departments. Applicants will for the first time be required to submit a statement detailing their policy towards the environment.

  I will tomorrow publish in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes a formal announcement giving the detailed financial terms for the first category of acreage offered, the format of applications, the information required and the basis on which awards will be made. Applications for the first and second categories of acreage will be returnable by midday 16 December 1992. Applications for the third category of acreage will be returnable on 9 March 1993. I shall place in the Libraries of both Houses copies of this formal announcement.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Car Tax
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unregistered persons making or importing chargeable vehicles into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic have paid car tax in each of the last three financial years and the current year; and what, in each year, has been(a) the number of chargeable vehicles imported in each year and (b) what sums of tax were collected in each year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on importations by unregistered persons is not readily available. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  239
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many chargeable vehicles imported into Northern Ireland, in each of the last three years and the current financial year, from(a) the Irish Republic and (b) elsewhere, car tax was paid; and what in each year and case were the sums paid in total.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The number of chargeable vehicles imported into Northern Ireland in the last three years is as follows:

  From Irish Republic

  From elsewhere

  1988–89

  3,215

  712

  1989–90

  2,437

  970

  1990–91

  2,002

  1,195

  1991–921

  3,230

  630

  1 To end February.

  The information on revenue could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the average annual rate of growth of gross domestic product(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Scotland (i) excluding North sea oil and gas and (ii) including North sea oil and gas, over the periods 1964 to 1970, 1970 to 1980, 1974 to 1979, 1979 to 1991 or the most recent available figures, 1980 to 1990 and 1987 to 1991.

  Mr. Maples
  The latest information for the United Kingdom is as follows:

  Annual average growth rates in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

  Total GDP

  GDP excluding oil and gas extraction

  1964–70

  2·7

  2·7

  1970–80

  1·8

  1·4

  1974–79

  2·0

  1·3

  1979–89

  2·2

  2·2

  1979–91

  1·7

  1·7

  1980–90

  2·5

  2·5

  1987–91

  1·2

  1·6

  Available estimates for Scotland are not fully comparable with those for the United Kingdom. Such data as are available are published in table 3·5 of the "Scottish Economic Bulletin", June 1991 edition, which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what growth in the number of passengers and in the number of vehicles, vessels and aircraft the board of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise estimates from(a) other European Community countries and (b) countries outside the European Community in the period up to 1993–94.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The board of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise does not produce authoritative statistics for passenger and transport movements. For its own planning purposes the Department estimates that the number of passengers from both European Community 240
  countries and from countries outside the European Community will increase by about 1·5 per cent. in 1992–93 and 4·1 per cent. in 1993–94.

  The number of transport units, including containers, is expected to increase by 1·6 per cent. in 1992–93 and 6·5 per cent. in 1993–94. The percentage increases are estimated to be broadly similar for EC and non-EC movements in each category.

  Investment and Research
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the OECD figures for Government investment per worker in France, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maples
  In 1989 OECD figures show that general government investment per civilian employee was £868 in France, £436 in the United States of America and £342 in the United Kingdom.

  BT Share Offer
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the administrative costs of the British Telecom share offer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The costs to the Government in 1991–92 of the BT share offer are estimated to be as follows:

  United Kingdom offers

  £ million

  Selling and other commissions

  32·5

  Marketing

  17·2

  Share Information Office

  14·6

  Prospectus production and distribution

  6·6

  Receiving and Agent Bank operations

  23·8

  Advisers' fees and expenses

  6·4

  Total (United Kingdom offers)

  101·1

  Overseas offers

  3·9

  Total (United Kingdom and Overseas offers)

  105·0

  These costs represent about 1·9 per cent. of the total proceeds due from the sale of shares to the Government, which are estimated at £5,403 million. The costs exclude stamp duty and VAT on services provided to the Government, which are not net costs to the Exchequer.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residential properties owned by the Treasury are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Treasury does not own any property.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residential properties owned by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise does not currently own any residential properties.

  Income Tax
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of adults not in full-time education pay income tax at the rate of 40 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Latest estimates for 1991–92 are that 1.6 million individuals—some 31/4 per cent. of adults not in full-time education—are liable to income tax at the higher rate.

  I regret that no information on the educational status of these individuals is available.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, on the same basis as the ready reckoner published in the autumn statement, what is the effect on a one-earner, two-child family of spending in 1992–93 the same sum on(a) a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax, (b) raising income tax thresholds above their indexed levels and (c) raising child benefits, assuming (i) no change in income support and family credit rates and (ii) corresponding changes in income support and family credit rates.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: The cost in 1992–93 of (a) a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax, is estimated to be £1,950 million, which would be worth roughly £2·50 a week to a married man on average male earnings, compared with statutory indexation.

  (b) That amount would pay for an increase in income tax personal allowances and thresholds of 7 3/4 per cent. which would be worth almost £2 a week to a basic rate taxpayer, compared with statutory indexation.

  (c) On the assumption that each child benefit rate was increased by the same cash amount, £1,950 million would pay for an increase of

  (i) £4·50 per week per child if there were no corresponding changes to income-related benefit rates; or

  (ii) £3·05 per week per child if adjustments were made to income-related benefits to ensure all families received the same increase.

  Friendly Societies Bill
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make available notes on clauses for the Friendly Societies Bill prior to Second Reading.

  Mr. Maples
  Yes. Copies of notes on clauses are today being placed in the Vote Office and in the Libraries of the House for the convenience of Members.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing for 1990–91 and his estimate for the current financial year the number of males and females under pensionable age(a) with total incomes of more than £5,000 and less than £10,000 a year, the number assessed for tax and the amount of tax paid and (b) the number who earned more than £5,000 and less than £10,000 and the amount of national insurance contributions paid;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing for 1990–91 and his estimate for the current financial year (a) the estimated number of males and females under pensionable age with total incomes of less than £5,000 a year, the number
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  assessed for tax, the number who paid tax and the amount of tax paid and (b) the number of males and females who earned less than £5,000 a year, the number who paid national insurance contributions and the amount of such contributions.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 19 February 1992]: Estimates of total income for income tax purposes for taxpayers are available from projections of the 1989–90 survey of personal incomes. These are the basis of the following estimates of the number of taxpayers in the specified ranges and the corresponding tax liabilities.

  1990–91 levels of income

  Total income · per year

  Number liable to income tax (million)

  Tax liability ·(million)

  Males aged under 65

  1–5,000

  0·7

  200

  5,000–10,000

  3·4

  2,900

  Females aged under 65

  1–5,000

  1·7

  400

  5,000–10,000

  3·8

  3,400

  1991–92 levels of income

  Total income · per year

  Number liable to income tax (million)

  Tax liability ·(million)

  Males aged under 65

  1–5,000

  0·6

  100

  5,000–10,000

  3·1

  2,500

  Females aged under 65

  1–5,000

  1·3

  300

  5,000–10,000

  3·8

  3,200

  The following tables are based on new earnings survey estimates of weekly earnings of employees and the corresponding employees's NIC liabilities.

  1990–91 levels of earnings

  Annual equivalent of weekly earning £

  Number of individuals (million)

  Number liable to National Insurance (million)

  National Insurance liability £ million

  Males under pensionable age

  1,–5,000

  1·2

  0·4

  100

  5,000–10,000

  2·4

  2·4

  1,300

  Females under pensionable age

  1,–5,000

  4·1

  1·9

  300

  5,000–10,000

  3·7

  3·7

  1,700

  1990–91 levels of earnings

  Annual equivalent of weekly earning £

  Number of individuals (million)

  Number liable to National Insurance (million)

  National Insurance liability £ million

  Males under pensionable age

  1–5,000

  1·1

  0·3

  100

  5,000–10,000

  1·9

  1·9

  1,000

  Females under pensionable age

  1–5,000

  3·8

  1·5

  200

  5,000–10,000

  3·4

  3·4

  1,500

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Albania
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the amount of bilateral aid given by his Department to(a) the Albanian Government and (b) aid agencies and charities working in Albania since May 1991.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is as follows:

  £

  (a) Nil

  (b) British Red Cross

  200,000

  Feed The Children

  180,000

  Oxfam

  35,000

  A further £135,000 will be allocated shortly, bringing the total to £550,000. Feed the Children has also been given a quantity of Ministry of Defence medical supplies which were surplus to requirements in Germany.

  Summary of Task Force Funding 1986–92

  Task Force

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Middlesbrough

  710,315

  1,104,937

  867,204

  711,314

  1,181,240

  1,125,379

  Moss Side

  187,690

  528,770

  873,575

  2,323,469

  2,024,551

  1,093,333

  Bristol

  772,380

  1,984,639

  581,374

  620·461

  2,017,379

  654,777

  West London

  187,300

  869,231

  959,947

  462,926

  1,296,688

  1,486,922

  North Peckham

  470,620

  981,696

  1,275,092

  883,365

  1,249,183

  1,825,618

  Coventry

  —

  253,264

  1,430,094

  1,469,219

  932,518

  1,229,062

  Nottingham

  —

  512,290

  1,494,045

  797,001

  1,012,710

  993,550

  East Birmingham

  —

  —

  330,335

  1,366,680

  1,025,743

  951,237

  Granby/Toxteth

  —

  —

  —

  576,335

  1,441,605

  1,518,053

  Bradford

  —

  —

  —

  440,419

  1,932,369

  846,798

  Deptford

  —

  —

  —

  205,708

  1,663,991

  989,005

  Derby

  —

  —

  —

  —

  218,830

  961,811

  Wirral

  —

  —

  —

  —

  549,961

  584,886

  Hackney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25,950

  Hull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  115,670

  South Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22,618

  Note: The 1991–92 figures arc up to January 1992.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement about the work of the shipbuilding task force within his Department.

  Mr. Leigh
  The objective of the shipbuilding task force remains as described in my reply to the hon. Lady on 20 March 1991,Official Report, columns 161–62.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department does not own any properties suitable for residential accommodation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Task Forces
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all those task forces currently in operation, giving dates for when they started, and projected dates for their wind-up and allocated funding for each year of their operation.

  Mr. Leigh
  Inner-city task forces currently in operation are: Middlesbrough, Moss Side and Hulme (Manchester), Bristol, West London, North Peckham (opened in 1986); Foleshill and Hillfields (Coventry), Nottingham (1987); East Birmingham (1988); Granby/Toxteth (Liverpool), Bradford, Deptford (1989); Derby, Wirral (1990); Hull, Hackney, South Tyneside (1991).

  The task force initiative is a rolling programme. Decisions on which task forces are to close this year, and where new ones are to open, will take place in parallel with decisions on city challenge.

  Allocated funding for each task force currently open is given in the table.

  New Houses (Warranty)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the National House Building Council 10-year warranty for new houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  A Monopolies and Mergers Commission —MMC—report on structural warranties for new homes was published in March last year. This recommended changes to the rules of the National House Building Council—NHBC—warranty scheme, to allow builders belonging to the scheme to place some of their new homes with a comparable alternative scheme. On publication my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry invited representations from interested parties on a number of alternative remedies. In response he received more than 100 letters from builders, trade associations and professional bodies, consumer organisations and members of the public, some supporting and some opposing changes to the NHBC scheme.

  The MMC report recognised that the NHBC had over a number of years made an impressive contribution to the improvement of housing standards and provision of safeguards for purchasers of new homes. However, it also

  245
  found that competition had started to bring substantial benefits. Discussions with the NHBC and other interested parties have been continuing with a view to finding a solution which brings the benefits of increased competition without prejudicing consumer interests.

  Regional Assistance (North-east England)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much regional assistance was provided under each scheme for the north-east of England in 1979, 1987 and the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The table lists the amount of money spent on regional assistance in the north-east of England in the financial years 1979–80, 1987–88 and 1990–91, the latest year for which figures are available. Expenditure by calendar year is not readily available for some of the schemes.

  £ million

  1979–80

  1987–88

  1990–91

  Regional Selective Assistance

  10·8

  24·6

  27·7

  Regional Development Grants1

  122·4

  57·4

  34·6

  Regional Enterprise Grants2

  —

  —

  2·4

  English Estates3

  12·5

  21·5

  18·3

  1 Includes expenditure under both the original scheme which closed to new applications in November 1984 and the revised scheme which replaced it in 1984 and in turn was closed to new applications in March 1988.

  2 Started in April 1988.

  3 Expenditure on factory building in the assisted areas of the north-cast of England.

  Beer and Cider (Foam)
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to introduce section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 relating to beer or cider and foam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Following my Department's consultation with interested parties, I have today made a commencement order which provides that section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 will come into force on 1 April 1994.

  The lengthy implementation period will give publicans plenty of time to prepare and ensure that compliance costs are kept to a minimum. This law does not outlaw froth, but I strongly believe that consumers should get what they pay for, if a pint is ordered a pint of liquid beer is what they should get.

  I have just decided that brim-measure glasses should not be prohibited. Licensees will therefore still be able to use these glasses as long as they serve a full liquid pint of beer or cider.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open
  246
  market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Eggar
  This Department owns no residential property.

  Pupil Placements
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils in each local education authority are educated in maintained special schools outside their own local education authority area.

  Mr. Fallon
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 28 February,Official Report, columns 619 to 21.

  Council for National Academic Awards
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when he intends to close down the Council for National Academic Awards; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he has taken to ensure that all those students registered with the Council for National Academic Awards will be transferred to other degree awarding bodies by the date of closure of the Council for National Academic Awards without any change in conditions or fees payable by the student;

  (3) how he will ensure that a national network of peer review is maintained after the abolition of the Council for National Academic Awards.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 16 December 1991,Official Report, column 31, that the dissolution of the Council for National Academic Awards was likely to be at the end of March 1993. That remains the position. He also referred to the importance of arrangements being made for students to be able to continue on the course of study for which they enrolled, in the institution at which they enrolled and with the expectation of receiving a degree or other award at the end of that course of similar standing to the CNAA degree or award for which they initially registered. We remain confident that new validation agreements will be in place by the beginning of the 1992–93 academic year. On 15 January the Department wrote to all higher education institutions making it clear that students who had already paid a validation fee to the CNAA should not be charged a further fee by a new validating institution.

  The new quality assurance organisation being established collectively by the higher education institutions will be responsible for scrutinising institutions' quality control systems and validation agreements, and will take over some other activities of the CNAA. The way in which validation is carried out will be a matter for individual institutions, taking account of views expressed by the new organisation. As my right hon. and learned Friend's announcement on 16 December indicated, the Open university is intending to offer a validation service broadly on existing CNAA lines.

  Education Statistics, Northumberland
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the per capita spending for primary and secondary school pupils in Northumberland,
  247
  and the average per capita spending for all pupils, in 1979, 1987, and the latest year for which figures arc available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The latest year for which actual spending information is available is 1989–90. Average school-based expenditure figures per nursery, primary and secondary pupil in Northumberland and for England as a whole are shown in the table.

  The real-terms increases in per pupil spending between 1979–80 and 1989–90 were 41 per cent. in Northumberland and 44 per cent. for England. Most Government support for local authorities is by way of unhypothecated revenue support grant. It is then for each local authority to determine how to allocate its spending between schools and other services.

  Net institutional expenditure1 per pupil

  Northumberland

  England average

  Year

  Cash £

  1989–90 prices2 £

  Cash £

  1989–90 prices2 £

  1979–80

  515

  1,030

  515

  1,030

  1987–88

  1,210

  1,380

  1,240

  1,420

  1989–90

  1,450

  1,450

  1,485

  1,485

  1 Net institutional expenditure covers the direct costs in schools of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, home to school transport, LEA central administration, and financing costs of capital expenditure.

  2 Figures for 1979–80 and 1987–88 have been repriced to 1989–90 prices using the GDP (Market Prices) Deflator index.

  Note: The figures are derived from LEAs' returns of their spending to the Department of the Environment and of their pupil numbers to the Department of Education and Science. Figures include nursery schools, information for which is not identified separately from that for primary schools.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the number of primary and secondary teachers in Northumberland in 1979, 1987 and for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the pupil-to-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools in Northumberland, and the average ratio for all pupils in 1979, 1987 and for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  Information on the pupil-teacher ratios and the number of full-time equivalent teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools in Northumberland local education authority for the years 1979, 1987 and 1991 are given in the table.

  Northumberland local education authority

  Year

  1 Full-time equivalent teachers

  2 "Within school" pupil-teacher ratios

  3 Overall pupil-teacher ratios

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  1979

  926

  1,770

  23·4

  17·5

  18·3

  1987

  832

  1,765

  13·1

  16·3

  17·8

  1991

  830

  1,684

  23·5

  16·7

  17·4

  1 Qualified teachers in schools only.

  2 The "within schools" PTRs are calculated using full-time equivalent numbers of qualified teachers in schools and full-time equivalent pupil numbers.

  3 The overall PTRs arc calculated using full-time equivalent pupil numbers and the full-time equivalent of all teachers employed by the LEA in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools. This

  248

  includes qualified teachers (including those not in schools and teachers providing short-term cover) as well as unqualified teachers such as student teachers, instructors and licensed teachers.

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he win list the schools in Kent whose applications for grant-maintained status(a) he has approved, (b) he has rejected and (c) he is still considering.

  Mr. Eggar
  A total of 41 schools in Kent have published proposals for grant-maintained status to date. These are set out in the categories requested:

  Grant-maintained schools in Kent

  Approved

  Wilmington Grammar School for Girls

  The Maplesden Noakes School

  The Cornwallis School

  Wilmington Grammar School for Boys

  St. George's CE School

  Southlands School

  Dartford Grammar School

  Thamesview School

  Homewood School

  Wrotham School

  Aylesford School

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls

  Simon Langton Boys Grammar

  Oldborough Manor High School

  Fulston Manor School

  Senacre Technology School

  Cranbrook School

  The Sheppy School

  The Skinners School

  Angley School

  Rainham Mark Grammar School

  The Cantchury High School

  Oakwood Park Grammar School

  The Robert Napier School

  Snodland Primary School

  Rejected

  Casticmount School

  Swanscombe High School

  Appledorc Primary School

  Edenbridge Middle School

  Being considered

  Cliffe Woods Middle School

  Cliffe Woods Primary School

  Hoo St. Wcrburgh Middle School Meopham School

  The Mailing School

  Sandown Court School

  Sevenoaks High School for Girls

  Archbishop's School

  Borough Green County Primary School

  Sir Roger Manwood's School

  Chatham Grammar School for Girls

  Sex Education
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the information imparted in sex education in schools for teenage girls.

  Mr. Atkins
  The implementation of those aspects of sex education which are included in national curriculum science arc being monitored by Her Majesty's inspectorate and by local education authorities. The National Curriculum Council is also carrying out a detailed evaluation of how the core subjects are being delivered in the classroom. Beyond the statutory requirements of
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  national curriculum science, schools' governing bodies are responsible for deciding whether any further sex education should be included in their schools' curriculum and, if they decide that additional sex education should be provided, for determining policy on its content and organisation.

  School Transport
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangments are made for the provision of school transport to those children entitled to free transport in(a) grant-maintained schools and (b) city technology colleges.

  Mr. Eggar
  Local education authorities have a statutory duty to provide free transport for school pupils for whom they consider it necessary, including pupils who attend grant-maintained schools and city technology colleges. Information on local education authorities school transport arrangements is not collected centrally.

  School Meals
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangments are made for the provision of school meals to those children entitled to free meals in(a) grant-maintained schools and (b) city technology colleges.

  Mr. Eggar
  Grant-maintained schools must provide a free school meal to any pupil who would be entitled to one in a local education authority-maintained school. Their annual maintenance grant makes provision for this.

  City technology colleges are independent institutions and it is for them to make arrangements to provide meals free of charge to those children entitled to free school meals. City technology colleges grant from the Department make provision for this.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General how many complaints he has received about the charging for legal aid forms by magistrates courts; and if he will ensure that the legal aid application forms continue to be provided free of charge.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have been asked to reply. I have received only very occasional complaints. However, the question of charging is currently being considered by an interdepartmental working group reviewing the operation of the legal aid scheme in the magistrates courts.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest available estimate of the information requested is:250

  (a)345 (12·5 per cent.) properties are empty, of which 210 (7·7 per cent.) are retained for redevelopment, security reasons, essential reallocation or demolition, and are therefore not available for disposal;

  (b) 120 (4·3 per cent.) properties are on the open market, of which 85 are the subject of an agreed sale and are awaiting completion;

  (c) 15 (0·5 per cent.) properties arc to be placed on the market for sale; and

  (d) there are no special arrangements for sales to housing associations, but any properties on the market are available for purchase by housing associations if they consider them suitable.

  Karamjit Singh Chahal
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will release from prison Karamjit Singh Chahal so that he may re-join his family in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to my written answer to him of 12 December 1991,Official Report, column 510. The decision to detain Mr. Chahal is regularly reviewed, but at the present time I see no grounds for his release.

  Amnesty International (Charities Bill)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Amnesty International about the provisions of the Charities Bill.

  Mr. John Patten
  My officials have had one meeting with representatives of Amnesty International. We have also received six letters from right hon. and hon. Members forwarding letters from their constituents. These representations all concern the system of exemption orders for public charitable collections created by clause 72 of the Bill.

  Nationality Applications
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by the immigration and nationality department to determine an application for British nationality.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average time taken for applications for British citizenship granted in February 1992 was 25 months.

  Rave Parties
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warehouse or rave parties are known by the police to have taken place in Gloucestershire in 1990 and 1991; and how many arrests were made in connection with these parties.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There were no warehouse or rave parties in Gloucestershire in 1990. In 1991 there were 16 such parties, resulting in 173 arrests.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment is made of the impact on legal aid expenditure of proposals to close magistrates courts.
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  Mr. John Patten
  Magistrates courts committees should take into account all relevant factors when deciding whether or not to close a courthouse including the possible impact upon legal aid expenditure. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 10 February, columns 344–45, to the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate).

  Emergency Warning System
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a report on a national emergency warning system.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend expects to receive a report from officials shortly.

  Violence Against Women
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken during the current session to strengthen the powers of the courts to punish offenders who have committed violent crimes against women.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are high maximum penalties for the most serious violent crimes against women, as against any victim: life imprisonment is mandatory for murder and is the maximum penalty for manslaughter, rape and the most serious woundings. The courts' powers will be enhanced when the Criminal Justice Act 1991 comes into force in October. The Act enables courts to impose longer custodial sentences than justified by the seriousness of the offence upon violent or sexual offenders in order to protect the public from serious harm from them. The Act also gives courts power to order longer and more intensive supervision for sex offenders following their release from custody.

  Drugs
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department what was the total number of registered drug addicts in each of the last 12 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of new addicts notified by doctors to the Home Office in each of the last 12 years is given in table 2 of the Home Office statistical bulletins "Statistics of the misuse of drugs: addicts notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom" for 1989 and 1990, copies of which are in the Library. The number of addicts renotified, which is available only for 1987 onwards, is given in table 1 of the 1990 publication.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were prosecuted for offences relating to drugs in each of the last 12 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is contained in table 3.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletins "Statistics of the misuse of drugs: seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom" for 1989 and 1990, copies of which are in the Library.

  Bail Information
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a bail information project in Gloucester.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand that Gloucestershire probation service is conducting a feasibility study at 252
  Cheltenham and Gloucester magistrates courts and, depending on its outcome, may submit a bid for resources in due course.

  Inquests
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake a review into the inquest system.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a review.

  Wolds Remand Centre
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department estimates should be spent on a prisoner's diet per day at the Wolds remand centre.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No such estimate was made in the course of inviting tenders for the management of Wolds prison. The Department's interest will be in ensuring that the contractors comply with the dietary standards set out in the operational specifications for the prison, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 2 May 1991.

  Overturned Convictions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people each year since 1985 have had convictions overturned because forensic evidence presented at trial has subsequently been reconsidered or challenged successfully.

  Mr. John Patten
  I regret that the information requested is not recorded centrally.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people each year since 1985 have had convictions for murder overturned.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 23 January 1992, column 317.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 821, when he expects to announce proposals for ensuring secure accommodation for juvenile offenders remanded on bail.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has established a national steering group, with representatives from central Government, the local authority associations, the police, the probation service, the Crown prosecution service and voluntary organisations to plan the provision of secure accommodation to replace prison custody for remanded juveniles. We are anxious that the work should be concluded as quickly as possible.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those parts of his Department, including executive agencies, carrying out
  253
  reviews over the last 12 months into the pay and grading of staff and the firm of consultants engaged, where appropriate.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Forensic Science Service agency, assisted by PA Consulting Group, is carrying out a pay and grading review of scientific grades within the agency.

  Operation Spaner
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the cost of the pre-trial hearings at Lambeth and Camberwell magistrates courts in 1990 in relation to Operation Spaner, (b) the cost of the Old Bailey trial proceedings in relation to Operation
  254
  Spaner in December 1990 and (c) the cost of the Court of Appeal hearing and subsequent ruling in February 1992 in relation to Operation Spaner.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  The costs of the pre-committal and committal hearing at Lambeth and Camberwell magistrates courts were approximately £64,500 including the court costs, prosecution costs and the cost to the legal aid fund.

  The cost of the trial at the central criminal court including the court costs, the prosecution costs and the legal aid costs was approximately £357,000.

  The costs of the appeal are not yet fully available as the legal aid costs and the prosecution costs have yet to be determined.

EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Jackson
  The numbers and percentages of residential properties for the Department are(a) 4, 100 per cent. (b) 4, 100 per cent. (c) nil (d) nil.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rise in unemployment in(a) London and (b) nationally over the 18 months.

  Mr. Jackson
  On the seasonally adjusted basis, unemployment rose by 189,200–92 per cent.—in London and 972,000–60 per cent.—in the United Kingdom between July 1990 and January 1992.

  Medicopharma UK (Redundancy Payments)
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when former employees of Medicopharma UK can expect to receive their company redundancy payments; if he will require their former employer to compensate them for the delay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Employees who are dismissed for redundancy and who satisfy the qualifying conditions are entitled to a lump sum payment from their employer. Questions arising as to the right of employees to a payment, or as to the amount of a payment, are matters for an industrial tribunal to determine on the application of the employees concerned.

  Sheltered Workshops
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on provision for sheltered workshops and the sheltered placement scheme in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Howard
  We are committed to providing sheltered employment for peole with severe disabilities. In the current financial year we are providing funds for an average of approximately 5,000 people in sheltered workshops and around 7,000 people under the sheltered placement scheme. In this financial year, in order to help meet the costs incurred by sponsors, we have already increased the annual grant ceiling per place for voluntary bodies by £280 to £3,800 and that for local authorities by £240 to £3,000. I am now further increasing these grant ceilings for this financial year by £100 to £3,900 and £3,100 respectively. The total increase this year over last are 10·8 per cent. and 12·3 per cent respectively.

  In 1992–93 I am providing £3·15 million more than this year's provision for current expenditure for sheltered workshops and the sheltered placement scheme. These additional funds will again be used to help meet the costs of voluntary bodies and local authorities by increasing the
  256
  grant ceilings by a further £240 and £170 respectively to bring them to £4,140 for voluntary bodies and £3,270 for local authorities. This represents incrases of 6·2 per cent and 5·5 per cent respectively.

  In addition, I shall be making available just over £10 million in 1992–93 for capital expenditure which represents an increase of just over £4·1 million on this year. This money will be available to help meet the cost of essential refurbishment and development where that is clearly consistent with our long-term objectives for sheltered employment.

  In order to ensure that we make the best use of available rsources, I have had to decide that the planned number of places nationally provided by these forms of sheltered provision taken together will remain the same in 1992–93 as 1991–92. However, previous patterns of turnover on the sheltered placement scheme indicate that some 1,000 existing places are likely to become vacant to allow new entrants to join the programme.

  I will be considering future sheltered employment provision in the light of the review of the current funding arrangements for sheltered employment which is now in hand. I will also take into account the findings of research we have commissioned on aspects of the sheltered employment programme. The consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" recommended that there should be a shift in the balance from workshop provision to sheltered placements. That view was widely supported in the course of consultations and it remains our intention. Sheltered placements promote integration and offer opportunities in a wider range of occupations and locations. Specific decisions on rebalancing will take account of the outcome of the funding review and the research. The numbers in workshops and placements may be subject to change in the light of these decisions.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much regional assistance was provided under each scheme for the north-east of England in 1979, 1987 and the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The amount of regional assistance provided to the north-east of England is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  However, this Department has a wide range of employment, training and enterprise schemes which are available in the north-east, as elsewhere. These measures include Restart courses and the job interview guarantee scheme delivered by the Employment Service to help the long-term unemployed in their search for jobs and employment training and enterprise allowance scheme delivered through the training and enterprise councils, to help unemployed people learn new skills or to start up in business.

SCOTLAND

  Recreation Projects
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a list of recreation projects built in the city of Glasgow in the last five years which have had
  257
  support from governmental or European Community funds; and if he will indicate the total project costs and Government or European contribution levels.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Not all the information requested is held centrally. The available figures and a list of the projects supported by governmental or EC funds are set out in the table below. The total capital building costs for urban aid projects was £4·417 million. The Government's grant contribution was 75 per cent. of this figure.

  Recreational projects built in the city of Glasgow with governmental or European Community bouts 1985–1991

  Grant awarded £

  Total cost of project £

  Scottish Sports Council Grants

  Kelvin Hall, Conversion

  500,000

  3,600,000

  Greenfields, Sand Carpet Pitch

  40,425

  50,425

  Greenfields, Sand/Slit Pitch

  7,500

  10,000

  Scottish Amateur Wrestling Association, Equipment

  8,066

  10,000

  Kelvin Hall, Timing Equipment

  60,000

  60,000

  Springburn, Demonstration Indoor Sports Centre

  150,000

  815,052

  Springburn, Management Information Centre

  18,000

  18,000

  Scottish Karate Board of Control, Scoreboards

  2,600

  2,600

  Jordanhill, Sports Science Support Service

  5,000

  5,000

  Scottish Amateur Ballroom Dancing Association, Equipment

  3,840

  3,840

  St. Marks Badminton Club

  700

  1,400

  Rutherglen Cruising Club

  2,000

  5,000

  Kelvin Hall, Athletics Track

  103,000

  515,000

  Helenvale, Hockey

  75,000

  585,500

  Angel Lights, Skatepark

  2,000

  4,000

  Willowbank Bowling Club

  1,000

  2,000

  Kelvin Hall, Karate Mats

  3,500

  3,500

  Kelvin Hall, Promotional Video

  11,000

  15,350

  Kelvin Hall, Sports Medicine

  8,470

  8,470

  Glasgow Green, Croquet

  3,986

  9,800

  Glasgow Lions American Football Club, Equipment

  1,000

  6,000

  Clydesdale Cricket Club, Equipment

  1,000

  3,980

  Kelvin Hall, Climbing Wall

  18,034

  30,872

  EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND ASSISTED PROJECTS

  Strathclyde Integrated Development Operational Programme

  McLellan Galleries

  1,491,120

  4,560,000

  Museum of Education

  249,600

  492,000

  Glasgow Concert Hall

  8,224,050

  25,150,000

  Glasgow Film Theatre

  25,000

  100,000

  Art Lover's House

  50,000

  100,000

  Scottish Youth Theatre

  50,000

  100,000

  Glasgow Green Improvements

  200,000

  400,000

  Glasgow Cathedral Precinct, Environmental Improvements

  114,689

  229,378

  Glasgow National Programme of Community Interest

  Kelvin Hall

  3,496,350

  6,357,000

  People's Palace

  319,000

  580,000

  Pollok Park

  187,000

  340,000

  Information Centre

  137,500

  250,000

  Glasgow Cathedral Precinct

  275,000

  500,000

  Recreational projects built in the City of Glasgow for which funding information is not held centrally

  Scottish Development Agency/Scottish Enterprise/Glasgow Development Agency
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  Garnethill Activity Park, Environmental Works

  Barlia Pitches, General Funding Support/Environmental Works

  Garthamlock Central Park, Environmental Works

  Cambusland Football Pitches, Environmental Works

  Glasgow Cathedral Precinct, Townscape Improvements

  McLellan Galleries, Building Facelift

  Museum of Transport, Floodlighting

  Kelvingrove Art Galleries and Museum, Building Facelift

  Urban Programme Grants

  Balornock East Youth Centre

  Barlanark Theatre Workshop and Adaptations

  Barlia All-Weather Pitch

  Bridgeton Youth Club

  Burnhill Recreation Proposals

  Business and the Arts Govan

  Castlemilk Flume

  Commercial Court Play Area

  Community Arts/Culture—"Animature"

  Community Inflatables

  Drumchapel Detached Youth Project

  Drumchapel Sports Centre Improvements

  Drumchapel Youth Centre—Access to Disabled Young People

  Easthall Play and Recreation Area Easterhouse

  Enterprise Theatre—Govan

  Floodlighting—St. Riochs School Playing Fields

  Games Court Calvay Crescent

  Garthamlock Visual Statement (Resource)

  Installation of a Boom—Drumchapel Swimming Pool

  James Lindsay Memorial Park

  Lauriston Youth Centre

  Milton Creative Playpark

  Muirglen Playpark

  Oatlands Leisure Gardens—Disabled Gardening Project

  Peterson Park Tenants Hall—Youth Centre

  Play Area Lochend Easterhouse

  Pollockshields Library—Project Room

  Possilpark Youth Action Project

  Reidvale Adventure Playground (Joint with GDC)

  Royston Community Building

  Springburn Museum and Exhibition Centre

  St. Mungo's Riding Centre for the Disabled

  Upgrade Gairbraid

  Westwood South Studio

  Woodside Youth Point

  Yoker Teenage Library

  Youth Action—Govan

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Lang
  In accordance with Government policy, my Department keeps pay and grading structures under review. Internal review teams check on grading as part of annual reviews across my Department, but over the last 12 months no reviews of pay have been carried out in my Department, including in executive agencies, by either internal or external review teams.

  Market Testing Programme
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.
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  Mr. Lang
  Following competitive tendering, Coopers and Lybrand, Deloitte has been retained to advise the Scottish Office and its executive agencies on the market testing programme.

  Building Security
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance is available to groups of owner-occupiers who, acting together, are seeking to improve security of their homes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no specific assistance for this purpose. However, local authorities may at their discretion give improvement grant for some security measures, generally as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation of houses.

  Roads Report
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the roads report; and if he will make a statement about progress on trunk road schemes during 1991–92 and those it is proposed to start in the next three years.

  Mr. Lang
  I am today publishing the report, "Roads, Traffic and Safety 1992", copies of which have been placed in the Library together with an associated summary.

  In the last fortnight, there have been three major Scottish publications dealing with road accidents, roads in the countryside, and the operational management of the road network. A consultation document will also be published tomorrow on the options for improving travel links around the Forth estuary. The report I am publishing today puts all these initiatives in the context of our overall strategic plans for the 1990s which have been developed following the completion of a major review of Scotland's key roads. The report details our medium-term strategy for the further improvement and better management of the network. It considers what further developments might be expected in the longer term. It sets out our road safety achievements and future objectives, and considers the special needs of local roads in urban areas.

  I am also listing those major schemes planned to start in the three years ahead following the increase in resources I announced at the end of last year under public expenditure plans for road construction. The range and importance of the schemes selected demonstrates our commitment to the strategic goals which are set out in the report for the improvement of the trunk road network.

  Schemes with an estimated cost of over £3 million started since 1 April 1991 or for which contracts are expected to be placed before 31 March 1992:

  M8 St James Interchange

  M74 Maryville-West Fullarton Road

  A74(M) Nether Abington-Elvanfoot

  A96 Bucksburn Diversion

  A9 Greenloaning-Blackford

  A929 Tarbrax-Forfar

  These schemes have a total value in excess of £100 million.

  Schemes with an estimated cost of over £3 million expected to start between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1995;

  1992–93

  A94 Brechin Bypass (dualling)

  A74(M) Lockerbie Bypass (Muirhouse-Water of Milk)

  A74(M) Water of Milk-Ecclefechan

  A74(M) Eaglesfield-Kirkpatrick Fleming (or alternative A74(M) scheme)

  A830 Morar Bypass (Lochan Doilead-Kinsadel)

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  A87 Skye Bridge Approach Roads

  M8 Newbridge to Edinburgh City Bypass

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  A77 Ayr Road Route

  A74(M) Paddy's Rickle-Greenhillstairs

  A96 Kintore Bypass

  A96 Keith Bypass

  A77 Glasgow to Ayr dualling (Fenwick—B764)

  A1 Tranent-Haddington

  A8/M8 North Lanarkshire access improvements

  These schemes have a total value in excess of £330 million. Our plans are, of course, subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work.

  The work in progress and planned will fulfil our commitment to dual the A9 between Stirling and Perth. Our commitment to dual the Perth to Aberdeen route will also be fulfilled. The Perth-Aberdeen route will be renumbered the A90, thus creating the arterial M90/A90 route from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

  The schemes being announced for the A74 upgrading mean that over 60 per cent. of the new motorway to replace the A74 in Scotland is already either open, under construction or firmly programmed to start.

  The Glasgow-Ayr motorway/near motorway route will be taken forward with the construction of the new trunk road section outwith Glasgow, to meet Strathclyde regional council's new M77 road, together with the first of the two new dualling schemes on the remainder of the route.

  The plans include provision of the two remaining sections of the A8 upgrading. The M8 Newbridge-Edinburgh scheme is subject to the results of the public local inquiry recently completed; the M8 north Lanarkshire scheme timetable is ambitious, but, with the continued co-operation of all concerned, I am sure it can be achieved.

  Following our announcement on the A1, financial provision has been made to commence the dualling of the route.

  In addition to the major schemes starts, funding for other schemes, road safety schemes and route action plans is being substantially increased. We will continue the very good progress which has already been made on the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness; A7 Edinburgh-M6; and Al Edinburgh-Newcastle action plans. The A90 Perth-Dundee road will be upgraded to near motorway standard. New route action plans will be developed for the A76 between Dumfries and Kilmarnock and the A830 west of Lochailort. Further improvements to the A9 north of Perth will be carried out, including the provision of improved overtaking opportunities, also as part of a route action plan.

  Secondary Schools Report
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the report of the committee established under the chairmanship of Professor John Howie to review curriculum and examinations in the fifth and sixth years of Scottish secondary schools.

  Mr. Lang
  I am glad to announce the publication today of the report of the committee which we appointed to review the curriculum and examinations in the fifth and sixth years of secondary education. As education Minister I initiated this study in 1990 and I am most grateful to Professor Howie and to his colleagues for a thorough and
  261
  comprehensive review of this important area of school education and for their thoughtful and challenging recommendations.

  There is no doubt that we must aim to have in Scotland a system of secondary education which draws the best from our traditions, and which compares well with the best that is available in Europe and beyond. We must ensure that there are appropriate qualifications in place to match the needs of the increasing number of pupils who are staying on after the fourth year—already 70 per cent.—to find a rewarding and relevant education.

  At the same time, changes of the dimension now recommended by the Howie committee need careful deliberation and wide consultation within the education system before they are introduced.

  I have decided therefore to publish this major report now and to invite all interested parties to comment on it in the period running to the end of this year. To assist this process we are arranging for the report summary to be printed separately and to be made available free of charge from the Scottish Office Education Department.

  Professor Howie and his committee have produced a report of quality and authority. It deserves to be considered with care and without undue haste. I hope no one will rush to judgment, but rather that we will all study his proposals thoroughly and reflect on the way forward.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now completed his consideration of the publication of careers service inspection reports in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The careers service has a key role to play in helping young people make the transition from school to employment and training. The Government wish to see a greater role for employers in the management of the service and have encouraged the formation of partnerships towards this end. It is also important and in accordance with the Government's citizens charter that the service should be accountable for its performance to parents, employers and the public. It is right therefore that the reports of the careers service inspectorate in Scotland should be published and, accordingly, publication will apply to reports of inspections begun on and after 1 April this year.

  Illegitimate Births
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: Since the tabulated information will be lengthy, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Tayside Health Board
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the business plan of the central pharmaceutical unit of Tayside health board;
  262
  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract with Tayside health board for the provision of the manufacture of -specialties", as outlined in SOHHD/ DGM (1991) 29.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 March 1992]: I do not intend placing a copy in the Library of the contract with Tayside health board for the manufacture of "special" medicines or the business plan of the central pharmaceutical unit of Tayside health board. These documents are "commercially confidential".

  EC Drinking Water Directive
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 21 January,Official Report, columns 164–74, what is his estimate of the total population of the supply zones listed, where water quality does not fully comply with the requirements of the EC drinking water directive.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My answer of 21 January 1992 to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey listed those zones currently subject to improvement undertakings given by water authorities because one or more of the standards set in the water quality regulations has been infringed at some time. The total population of the zones listed is about 2·5 million. Well over half that population receives water which has breached only one of the 57 standards and in many cases breaches were minor or occasional. Water authorities' annual reports for July to December 1990 showed that in that period many of the zones listed had no failures of the standards concerned.

  The population of zones listed as not meeting the standard for iron is almost 0–5 million. In most of these cases the water put into supply fully meets the standard but old iron water mains may cause occasional failures at consumers' taps. Zones for which the undertaking relates only to the standard for trihalomethanes, a United Kingdom standard not set in the EC directive, account for a population of about another 0·;5 million.

WALES

  Recession
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the effects of the recession upon the Welsh economy.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Wales cannot be isolated from the recession affecting the United Kingdom economy and that of many other industrialised countries. Although the business community is going through a difficult period and unemployment is rising, the effect on Wales has been less severe than elsewhere. Since unemployment began to rise in March 1990, the difference between the Welsh and United Kingdom seasonally adjusted work force rates has reduced from 0·9 percentage points to 0·3 percentage points.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he is taking to tackle(a) short-term and (b) long-term unemployment in Wales.
  263
  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government now offer a more comprehensive range of programmes than ever to help all unemployed people back to work. In July last year we announced a substantial package of measures to complement the existing programmes provided by the Employment Service and the training and enterprise councils. It includes expert advice and help in looking for a job, and for the long-term unemployed extra training provision and the new work experience programme, employment action.

  In addition my Department, the Welsh Development Agency and other Government agencies also operate a wide range of other measures aimed at stimulating economic development in Wales. The Welsh Office and all the other relevant bodies will continue to look for, and respond swiftly to, development opportunities that arise which have the potential to reduce unemployment.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government are already providing considerable support for employer-based apprenticeships through the youth training programme. However, it is primarily a matter for employers to determine how best to manage their training requirements in line with business needs.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the future structure of the fishing industry in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My continuing aims are to provide conditions for a viable fishing industry in Wales, including the sea fisheries sector, aquaculture and freshwater fisheries, and to promote the conservation and sound management of fish stocks. These policies will continue to be implemented through a range of statutory and administrative measures, including schemes of financial assistance.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he proposes to make to his Department's cash limits for 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The cash limit for Welsh Office/local authorities capital—LACAP—will be reduced by £16,323,000 from £397,362,000 to £381,039,000 and the cash limit for Welsh Office/Housing for Wales will be increased by £17,323,000 from £111,224,000 to £128,547,000.

  These changes largely reflect a transfer of resources—£17,323,000—from local authorities to Housing for Wales which will enable housing associations to provide additional housing units.

  The reduction in WO/LACAP in respect of this transfer has been partly offset by an increase of £1 million as a result of a transfer of provision from the Lord Chancellor's Department. A corresponding reduction is being made in the cash limit for class X, vote 1. This transfer will facilitate the provision of courtroom facilities at Swansea.

  Local Government
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of the responses he has received to his consultation papers on the structure and internal management of local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am today placing in the Library of the House copies of the responses to each consultation paper from the Welsh local authority associations, individual authorities and from representative bodies. Responses from members of the public are available for consultation in the Welsh Office library, Cathays Park, Cardiff.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the range of unit price training week costs in Wales for youth training indicating what are the higher and lower cost levels.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is confidential.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the operating surplus of each TEC in Wales for the current financial year; and of each surplus, how much has been committed to date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on the operating surpluses made in the current financial year will be published in due course by each TEC in its end of year accounts. Discussions with TECs on their plans for 1992–93 are in progress, and include consideration of how TECs will use their operating surpluses.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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 staff and the firm of consultants engaged, where appropriate.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committees
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the total annual cost of the staff of Select Committees.

  Mr. Beith
  The current annual remuneration of permanent staff of the Committee Office of the Clerk's Department amounts to £2,327,980. Some staff in other offices of the Department provide services to Select Committes in addition to their other duties, but it is not possible separately to quantify this element of their work in staff cost terms.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many residential properties owned by the Duchy are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Duchy of Lancaster owns a number of residential properties which are used solely for agricultural purposes—such as farmhouses or farm workers' cottages—or for housing staff, or which are held on long ground leases. These properties are excluded from the figures given:

  Of the balance of 240 residential properties,

  (a) nine are empty, or 3·75 per cent. of the total owned, all of which are in the course of being re-let—some after modernisation works have been completed;

  (b) one property, or 0·8 per cent. of the total, is vacant awaiting sale;

  (c) one, or 0·8 per cent. of the total, is intended for sale on the open market; and

  (d) none is for sale to housing associations.

  Authority

  Administration and Clerical

  Hospital Medical

  Nursing

  Total

  Consultants

  Others

  Northern

  8·2

  1·0

  1·7

  31·3

  42·2

  Yorkshire

  11·9

  1·0

  3·0

  46·7

  62·6

  Trent

  32·2

  4·0

  3·3

  52·8

  92·3

  East Anglian

  11·2

  0·0

  1·7

  20·6

  33·5

  North West Thames

  11·8

  1·0

  2·3

  49·3

  64·3

  North East Thames

  21·8

  4·0

  3·2

  55·6

  84·5

  South East Thames

  16·7

  4·0

  5·8

  45·9

  72·4

  South West Thames

  13·5

  2·0

  0·3

  44·4

  60·1

  Wessex

  12·0

  1·0

  2·0

  35·0

  50·0

  Oxford

  14·5

  0·0

  0·5

  29·2

  44·2

  South Western

  14·2

  1·0

  2·5

  37·0

  54·7

  West Midlands

  22·4

  0·0

  5·9

  64·6

  92·9

  Mersey

  12·3

  1·0

  2·7

  35·5

  51·5

  North Western

  15·3

  3·0

  4·5

  66·8

  89·6

  SHAs

  0·5

  0·0

  0·4

  5·5

  6·4

  England

  218·4

  23·0

  39·8

  620·1

  901·2

  Data are not available on "occupational health physicians".

  Data relating to OHNC qualifications, GPs and community health service staff in occupational health are not available centrally.

  Radiation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to evaluate the work of the Medical Research Council radiation biology unit on establishing links between low dose radiation and cell abnormality; and what additional guidance he proposes to give to hospitals engaging in radiotherapy treatment and to the National Radiological Protection Board.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The study by Kadim et al published in Nature on 20 February 1992, a copy of which is available in the Library, is one of numerous studies being conducted in this area. I am advised that whilst the reported findings of this relatively limited study pose interesting questions, relating to the response of cells to alpha particle irradiation, they should not be judged in isolation. The authors themselves have stated that this is only a "first and unexpected" step in a chain of research. The National Radiological Protection Board is aware of this study and is conducting related research. The results of the study have been drawn to the attention of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment which is

HEALTH

  Occupational Health Staff
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current number of occupational health staff in each health authority in England; and if he will publish a breakdown showing(a) the number of nurses with OHNC qualifications, (b) nurses undertaking OHNC qualifications, (c) nurses without OHNC qualifications, (d) full-time occupational health consultants, (e) full-time occupational health physicians and (f) GP sessions within occupational health departments.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The numbers—whole-time equivalents—of hospital occupational health staff, including consultants, employed by regional, district and special health authorities in England at 30 September 1990, the latest date for which information is available, are given in the table:

  being kept fully informed of all research in this area. No additional guidance to radiotherapy units is currently needed.

  Hip Replacements
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued about the use of plastic in hip joint replacement operations; and how many operations are still carried out using metal in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has not issued any guidelines on the use of plastic in hip joint replacement operations.

  All hip joint operations carried out in the United Kingdom use one or more metal components as part of the joint replacement device. Metal components may be used in combination with other metals, plastics and ceramics, depending upon the design of the particular hip system selected by the clinician.

  The number of hip replacement operations in England for 1990–91 was 44,477. Information relating to Wales,

  267
  Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Dentists
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet the Staffordshire local dental committee to discuss their concerns about dentists henceforth offering private treatment only to patients.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have asked officials to discuss dental provision with the Staffordshire local dental committee.

  HIV
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of(a) men and (b) women who have been diagnosed as having the HIV virus in the Greater London area as of 18 February.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Data on residence are not available on the HIV-1 infection reports received at the Public Health Laboratory Service AIDS centre of the communicable disease surveillance centre (CDSC). The region where the test took place may not be a good indicator of the region of residence of the individual tested.

  Within the four Thames regions 10,282 reports of HIV-1 infected people have been received at CDSC—9,277 men, 949 women and 56 where the sex was not stated on the report form. These data are cumulative from when testing began in late 1984 to the end of December 1991, and is for adults only.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average age of the ambulance vehicles of the London ambulance service; and how many vehicles are(a) between three and five years old and (b) five years or more.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Jim Harris, the chairman of the London Ambulance Service, for details.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the expected working life of ambulance vehicles; and what information his Department has on the actual average working life of ambulance vehicles.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on vehicle life is not collected centrally.

  Current guidance relates to capital provision for routine replacement programmes, based on glass-reinforced plastic-bodied ambulances. Under normal standards of high maintenance, such provision should be based on an assumed vehicle life of seven years or 140,000 miles. The guidance is not necessarily appropriate to all coach-built vehicles or to other types of ambulance vehicle, and health authorities are free to modify the guidelines to take account of local conditions and other relevant factors, such as maintenance costs and frequency of use.

  Hospitals (Crime)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of reported crime against patients and staff have taken place in national health service hospitals in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally. General managers are responsible for arrangements for security of patients and staff at NHS hospitals.

  Mental Illness
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many crisis intervention centres for the mentally ill are available at present; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Inquests
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inquests were held into deaths at the workplace in the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is not held in the form requested. The number of inquests held as a result of deaths from accidents at the workplace and registered in each of the latest five years is shown in the table.

  Year

  Number of inquests

  1986

  338

  1987

  299

  1988

  280

  1989

  339

  1990

  355

  Youth Treatment Service
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a policy and management specification for the youth treatment service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Details of the new structure of the youth treatment service were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 21 November 1991 at columns 311–12. This will come into effect on 1 April 1992.

  A copy of the policy and management specification for the youth treatment service is today being placed in the Library.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how work is progressing on analysing the 1991 census; and when results from the computer-processed data will be published.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Work on the clerical processing has progressed well and many tasks have been completed before their target dates. However, there has been some delay in the computer processing, caused by the need to amend the original system to cope with a particular form of ambiguity in the way some census forms had been completed. A routine data quality audit showed that some
  269
  400,000 people, who were apparently not students, had completed the question on term time address as though they were students. The correction of this misclassification is in hand, but it is causing some delay to the publication of census results.

  The monitors for each county and Scottish region containing key results for each local authority area are now expected to be published between April and September 1992. Part 1 of the full reports for each county and Scottish region—containing results from all the census questions for which 100 per cent. of answers are processed—are expected to be published between June and December 1992, and part 1 of the national reports for England and Wales and for Scotland by February 1993. These dates are dependent on smooth running of the processing systems. There will also be delay to part 2 of the county, regional and national reports and the topic volumes.

  A provisional revised timetable for the county and regional monitors and part 1 of the county, regional reports, and for the associated statistical products is given in issue 19 of the "Census Newsletter", a copy of which is in the Library. A revised timetable for the remaining statistics will he issued as soon as possible.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A survey in 1990 indicated that about 14,000 NHS residential units—15 per cent. of the stock —were unoccupied. Of these 11,500 units were "bedsits" and about 1,000 were shared flats. The reasons for unoccupancy range from the need for accommodation to be available for new staff, to accommodation being empty whilst being refurbished or awaiting demolition or sale.

  Health authorities and NHS trusts are responsible for the management of NHS residential accommodation and the sale of property which becomes surplus. The disposal of surplus property is within guidelines issued by the Department. Details of sales are not held centrally.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to assist voluntary organisations in connection with implementation of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We made available £250,000 in 1991–92 specifically for training in the Children Act for the voluntary sector.

  Copies of the nine volumes of the Children Act guidance and regulations and the other Children Act publications were issued free of charge to the voluntary sector.

  Children Act training materials commissioned by the Department were also supplied to voluntary organisations.

  Our centrally funded child abuse training initiative grant, almost £1 million this financial year, has helped a range of organisations to assess the impact of the Children Act and to bring some of their own material up to date in the light of it.
  270
  Voluntary organisations also have an important part to play in local authorities' review of day care services in their area. The Department is currently funding in its under-fives initiative for development officers, based in different parts of the country, who have a remit to improve relationships between the relevant local authority and the voluntary sector. These posts will help the success of the review process.

  Under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, local authorities have a new duty to provide a range of services for children in need to promote their upbringing within their families. They will need to collaborate with the voluntary sector in the provision of such services. To help with this, the Department it to provide funding to voluntary organisations for three years, starting in 1992–93, under the family support initiative—total funding, £500,000 per annum.

  The Government also provide support to a wide range of voluntary organisations in the child care field under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.

  Liverpool Family Service Unit
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Liverpool family service unit concerning its possible closure; and what reply has been sent.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 20 February, at column 272.

  Northern Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the level of spending by the Northern regional health authority in 1979, 1987 and the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested, which is derived from the annual accounts of the health authorities comprising the Northern region for the financial years 1979–80, 1987–88 and 1990–91—the latest available—is shown in the table.

  The figures—when expressed at 1991–92 prices—represent real terms increases of 26·8 per cent. for revenue expenditure and 35·2 per cent. for capital expenditure between 1979–80 and 1990–91.

  Northern region—Total expenditure on hospital and community health services (HCHS)

  Revenue

  Capital

  £000(cash)

  £000 (at 1991–92 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1991–92 prices)

  1979–80

  337,996

  785,842

  27,590

  64,146

  1987–88

  726,424

  962,367

  52,432

  69,462

  1990–91

  931,400

  996,598

  81,122

  86,800

  Source:

  Annual accounts of the Northern regional health authority (RHA) and the district (formerly area) health authorities comprising the Northern region.

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure on the HCHS covers services directly managed and/or accounted for by the health authorities (at the relevant time) including hospital, community health, patient transport (i.e. ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. The figures for 1990–91 are as yet subject to audit. All figures have been expressed at 1991–92 prices by the use of gross domestic product deflators.
  271
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors and nurses were employed by the Northern regional health authority in 1979, 1987 and the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is given in the table.

  Year at 30 September

  Medical and Dental1

  Nursing and Midwifery2

  1979

  2,530

  323,940

  1987

  2,810

  27,540

  1990

  2,990

  427,310

  Note: The slight fall in the figures of nursing and midwifery staff in post between 1987 and 1990 relates to three separate factors: the transfer of senior nurses in management jobs from the senior nurse pay structure to the senior management pay structure; the inclusion of Project 2000 nursing students in staff-in-post returns; and the cessation of enrolled nurse training.

  Source:Department of Health medical and non-medical censuses.

  1 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  2 Includes agency staff.

  3 Not adjusted for reduction in nurses working hours during 1980–81 (from 40 to 37·5 hours per week).

  4 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of people on and the duration of waiting lists in the Northern regional health authority in 1979, 1987 and the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the table. Provisional figures show that since 1987 the number of patients waiting over two years has fallen by more than 83 per cent. and the number waiting over one year by 36 per cent. The region expects to have no patient waiting over two years by 31 March.

  Wailing lists

  11979

  1987

  21991

  In-patients

  Number waiting over one year

  9,526

  6,853

  4,213

  Number waiting over two years

  —

  2,525

  488

  Total number waiting

  47,642

  37,420

  39,749

  Day cases

  Number waiting over one year

  —

  1,290

  990

  Number waiting over two years

  —

  1,004

  100

  Total number waiting

  —

  10,059

  16,904

  Total all cases

  n.a.

  47,479

  56,653

  1 Day case waiting lists and over two years waiters were first collected in 1987.

  2 Provisional figures for December 1991.

  Infertility Treatment
  Mr. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the national health service budget has been dedicated to infertility treatment in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting for infertility treatment by region, for each of the last five years.
  272
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information about waiting lists for the treatment of specific conditions is not held centrally.

  Ms. Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give by region details of the regional facilities providing infertility treatment;

  (2) how many people in the west midlands region received infertility treatment in (a) the national health service and (b) privately in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Private Health Insurance
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state(a) for each year since 1978 and (b) for each region (i) the number and (ii) the percentage of the population covered by private health insurance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 28 February at columns 659–60. The information is not collected regionally.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards of attendance allowance were backdated in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 under regulation 9 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations, where a claim for income support has been treated as a claim for attendance allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people living in the London borough of Wandsworth have received the cold weather heating payments during the last four months.

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

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Jack
  Of the 45 properties on the Department's estate, only the 20 resettlement units could be described as residential property. Of these, one—5 per cent.—is empty and is for sale on the open market. By April 1992 a further four—20 per cent.—will be released for sale; one to a housing association and three on the open market.

  Claimant Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number of persons in receipt of supplementary benefit or income support in each year
  273
  since 1979, both in total and by type of claimant, including (a) the unemployed, (b) lone parents, (c) the sick and disabled, (d) pensioners, and (e) other groups, stating in each case the percentage increase each year.

  Year

  Number of supplementary benefit/income support recipients

  Percentage change

  Unemployed

  Unemployed percentage change

  Lone parents

  Lone parents percentage change

  Sick and disabled

  Sick and disabled percentage change

  Pensioners

  Pensioners percentage change

  Others

  Others percentage change

  1979

  2,855,000

  —

  566,000

  —

  306,000

  —

  207,000

  —

  1,723,000

  —

  52,000

  —

  1980

  3,118,000

  9·25

  854,000

  50·88

  316,000

  3·27

  205,000

  -1·00

  1,694,000

  -1·68

  49,000

  -5·77

  1981

  3,723,000

  19·40

  1,318,000

  54·33

  369,000

  16·77

  221,000

  7·80

  1,738,000

  2·60

  77,000

  57·14

  1982

  4,267,000

  14·61

  1,722,000

  30·65

  415,000

  12·47

  240,000

  8·60

  1,781,000

  2·47

  109,000

  41·56

  1983

  4,349,000

  1·92

  1,826,000

  6·04

  449,000

  8·19

  241,000

  0·42

  1,651,000

  -7·30

  182·000

  66·97

  1984

  4,609,000

  5·98

  1,953,000

  6·96

  492·000

  9·58

  273,000

  13·28

  1,683,000

  1·94

  208,000

  14·29

  1986

  4,938,000

  7·14

  2,121,000

  8·60

  575,000

  16·87

  301,000

  10·26

  1,717,000

  2·02

  224,000

  7·69

  1987

  4,896,000

  -0·85

  1,957,000

  -7·73

  629,000

  9·39

  352,000

  16·94

  1,727,000

  0·58

  231,000

  3·12

  1988

  4,352,000

  -11·13

  1,511,000

  -22·79

  694,000

  10·33

  247,000

  -29·83

  1,719,000

  -0·46

  180,000

  -22·08

  1989

  4,161,000

  -4·34

  1,216,000

  -19·52

  756,000

  8·93

  290,000

  17·41

  1,607,000

  -6·52

  293,000

  62·78

  1990

  4,180,000

  0·43

  1,063,000

  -12·58

  793,000

  4·89

  330,000

  13·79

  1·675,000

  4·23

  319,000

  8·87

  Sources: Supplementary Benefit/Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries 1979–1990.

  Notes:

  1. All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. There was no annual statistical inquiry in 1985; the one due in December of that year was deferred until February 1986.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners there area over the age 75 years divided into males and females; and what is(a) their average income from all sources and (b) the income distribution of such pensioners, in Great Britain.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 24 February 1992]: In mid-1990 the estimated number, in thousands, of people aged 75 or over in Great Britain was men, 1,331, and women, 2,568.

  The average net weekly income in 1988 from all sources for non-married men and women aged 75 years or over and married couples where either one or both of the partners are 75 or over was:

  £

  Non-married men

  86·10

  Non-married women

  70·50

  Married couples

  132·80

  The weekly net incomes of these people are distributed in the following way:

  Figures are in thousands of individuals or couples.

  Weekly net incomes

  Non-married men

  Non-married women

  Married couples

  up to £60

  140

  800

  0

  £60 up to £80

  180

  780

  140

  £80 up to £100

  70

  130

  330

  £100 up to £120

  40

  130

  150

  £120 and over

  50

  110

  300

  Total

  480

  1,950

  920

  Notes:

  1. Population data is from the 1990 OPCS mid-year estimates.

  2. Income data is from the 1988 family expenditure survey (FES).

  3. It is not possible accurately to apportion some income sources between husband and wife—for example, income support/ supplementary benefit—from the FES. It is therefore not possible to provide sensible estimates of the separate total incomes of all men and women by sex.

  Income Support
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of couples with children and lone parent households, respectively, who for the period April 1992 to March 1993 will come on to
  274
  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  family credit and who, but for the change in definition of full-time work from 24 to 16 hours for income support recipients, would have been eligible for income support; if he will give an estimate of how much his Department will save as a result; and if he will estimate the number of childless households no longer eligible for such help because they will no longer be eligible for income support.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: About 45,000 families with children currently claiming income support and working between 16 and 24 hours a week up to 7 April 1992 will be eligible to claim family credit, if they so choose, because of the change in the hours rule from 24 to 16 hours a week. Of these, 30,000 families—including 25,000 lone parents—are expected to be better off on family credit, and some 15,000 families with children are likely to have their family credit topped up with income support to maintain the level of their income. In addition, about 15,000 people without children, who are working 16 to 24 hours a week at the point of change will be able to remain on income support as at present.

  It is not possible to estimate how many new potential claimants would have been entitled to income support during 1992–93 if the remunerative work rule had remained at 24 hours a week, because the effect of behavioural changes cannot be predicted. However, it is expected that the substantial majority of families with children will be better off on family credit because of the more generous rules for treating earnings and, from 7 April, the introduction of a disregard of the first £15 a week of any maintenance received in family credit, housing benefit and community charge benefit.

  We also expect that up to 35,000 families with children—30,000 of them lone parents—who are already working between 16 and 24 hours a week but earning too much to get income support will qualify for family credit. In the longer term, we expect that the lower hours threshold will encourage many others to take up work of at least 16 hours or increase their hours so as to qualify for family credit.

  As a result of these changes more benefit rather than less will be paid. Together with the increasing numbers claiming family credit, the changes will lead to an increase in family credit expenditure, from an expected outturn of £617 million in 1991–92 to an estimated £850 million in 1992–93.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give, by social security region and by standard economic planning region, for the latest year available, including executive agency staff the number of civil servants, whole-time equivalent broken down by grade levels one to four, five, six, seven, SEO, HEO, EO, AO and AA, indicating the salary bands and indicating the percentage at each grade who are women, giving the percentage at each grade who are part time and the percentage of part-timers who are women.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 February 1992]: The information available for the Department of Social Security, including its agencies, as at 31 January 1992 is shown in the table.

  To give the breakdown by social security region and standard economic planning region could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A copy of the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code" which gives salary bands is available in the Library.

  Grade1

  Total full lime equivalents

  Per cent, who are women

  Per cent, who are part-time

  Per cent, part-timers who are women

  1–4

  26·5

  28

  2

  100

  5

  53

  30

  2

  0

  6

  88

  18

  3

  100

  7

  520

  17

  1

  83

  SEO

  1,458·5

  20

  0·5

  87

  HEO2

  4,983

  37

  2

  97

  EO

  21,346

  57

  7

  97

  AO

  35,436

  75

  9

  98

  AA

  11,857·5

  74

  6

  96

  1 For each grade we have included equivalent professional grades.

  2 Includes HEO(D) and administrative trainee.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Turkeys
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the health of turkeys.

  Mr. Maclean
  The national turkey flock is in robust health, like my hon. Friend.

  Food Prices
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how food prices have moved over the past year.

  Mr. Curry
  The annual rate of food price inflation fell from 5·9 per cent. in January 1991 to 4·5 per cent. in January 1992.

  Food Products
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of those food products grown in temperate climates which are consumed in the United Kingdom are produced in the United Kingdom; and what was the proportion in 1979.
  276
  Mr. Curry
  It is estimated that self-sufficiency in food products which can be produced in the United Kingdom was 74 per cent. in 1991, compared with 68 per cent. in 1979.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect a 2 per cent. increase in interest rates would have on farm incomes.

  Mr. Gummer
  No such assessment has been made, but it would inevitably have a negative effect on farm incomes. This would be extremely bad news for farmers as it would for everyone else. That is why the Government will bring down interest rates as quickly as it can.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the level of farm incomes in real terms in the last two years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Gummer
  The index for total income from farming, which gives the returns to farmers, partners, directors and their spouses, and family members working on the farm, was 102·1 in real terms for 1990 and is forecast to be 90·8 in 1991. Both figures relate to a base of 100 in 1985.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the level of farm incomes in the south-west; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The results of the farm business survey for the sample of 176 farms in the region have recently been published by the agricultural economics unit of Exeter university in "Farm Incomes in South-West England 1990–91". These show that on average the level of net farm income for all types of farm in the south-west fell by about one third between 1989–90 and 1990–91. Since that time, increases in cattle prices, the higher rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances and sheep subsidies in 1991 and increases in cereal yields and prices are expected to bring improvements for most farm types.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last discussed the future of the set-aside scheme outlined in the MacSharry proposals with other EC Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I last discussed the Commission proposals for reform of the common agricultural policy, including set-aside, with my EC colleagues on 2 and 3 March.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress being made in discussions for reform of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart).
  277
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and' Food what recent representations he has received regarding the reform of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have received representations on this subject from a wide range of organisations covering not only all sectors of the food and agriculture industries but environmental, consumer and other interests. I and my officials regularly meet representatives of these organisations.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest efforts being made to reform the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams).

  Fishery Decommissioning
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss decommissioning.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell).

  Confectionery
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to make an official visit to York to discuss confectionery issues.

  Mr. Curry
  I am always open to invitations to visit this industry which makes a strong contribution to United Kingdom exports.

  Dioxin, Bolsover
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to identify the cause of the dioxin in the Bolsover area; and what steps he intends to take.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available evidence does not allow for conclusions to be drawn on the cause of the dioxin contamination.

  As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment has already made clear, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has investigated the emissions from the chemical incinerator at the coalite works near Bolsover. The concentrations measured in the emissions form only a part of the dioxins which have been found in the milk on the affected farms.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his Ministry's contribution to the citizens charter.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells).

  Farm Animals (Welfare)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to obtain equal standards of farm animal welfare throughout the EC.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns).

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from fishermen in the north-west of England in the last month about the prospects for the fishing industry.

  Mr. Curry
  Fishermen, including fishermen in the north-west of England, make representations on a wide range of subjects every month.

  Horses
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he is taking to consider the reclassification of the horse as an agricultural animal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The horse is an agricultural animal when it is engaged in agricultural activities. The Department takes the lead role on EC legislation covering animal health questions concerning horses, zootechnics and competitions. It is for other Departments to take the lead on matters that relate to their responsibilities.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many residential properties owned by the Ministry are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market,(c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is set out:

  (a) 11 representing 7.6 per cent.

  (b) 3 representing 2.0 per cent.

  (c) 4 representing 2.7 per cent.

  (d) Nil.

  EC Surplus Foodstuffs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list EC surplus foodstuffs held in storage in the United Kingdom and the tonnage of such surplus as at 31 January.

  Mr. Curry
  Tables showing current levels of surplus produce in store within the EC and the United Kingdom are deposited in the Library of the House at monthly intervals. The latest tables were deposited on 13 February.

  Farmers (Public Relations)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to assist farmers to improve relations with the public and to reduce problems arising from trespass and vandalism.
  279
  Mr. Gummer
  My Department have today agreed with Groundwork to provide pump priming funding for a project to be known as Farmlink. This project aims to help children to understand and respect the countryside and farming and to create beneficial links between farmers and local urban communities. The scheme will result in the creation of approximately 180 links between individual farms and schools over three years in seven Groundwork trust areas. These are expected to be St. Helens, East Durham, Rossendale, Wakefield, Erewash, West Cumbria and Kerrier. The total cost of the project will be £170,000 spread over the three-year period.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has in the food safety area.

  Mr. Maclean
  On behalf of the Agriculture and Health Ministers I have today issued for consultation to interested organisations a draft food safety and consumer protection programme setting out the Government's plans in this area in 1992. It applies the principles of information, consultation and accountability set out in the citizens charter published last year. I am sure the publication of this programme will be welcomed and I look forward to the response to it. I am placing a copy of the document in the Library of the House.

  Badgers
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on mortality rates amongst badgers caused by(a) licensed killing and (b) motor vehicles in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Maclean
  In the past three years only two badgers have been killed under licence under the Badgers Act 1973, both in order to protect poultry. Out of a population of 250,000 adult badgers, we estimate that at least 20,000 are killed each year on our roads.

  Milk
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure adequate supplies of home-produced milk for processing.

  Mr. Curry
  The changes to milk marketing in the United Kingdom must give higher priority to the production of value added dairy products.

DEFENCE

  Reserve Forces
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans any changes in the role of the reserve forces in the future.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have recently received proposals arising from a major study on the future mix of regular and reserve forces in the longer term and I am publishing today a consultative open government document "The Future of Britain's Reserve Forces" which seeks views on the key proposals arising from this study. I am placing copies of this document in the Vote Office and in the Library of the House.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his policy of purchasing any dwelling in the vicinity of a military airfield found to be subjected to noise levels greater than 125 dB (A) from military aircraft also applies to civil airfields where military jet aircraft regularly carry out practice approach and overshoot movements.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. Military jet aircraft carry out practice manoeuvres at civil airfields on very few occasions. Evidence of noise surveys carried out at 42 military airfields covering a range of manoeuvres by a variety of aircraft types indicates no likelihood of maximum noise levels of 125 dB (A) being reached in the proximity of dwellings contiguous to civil airfields.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the results of the measurements made of noise levels of F15, F16 and F111 aircraft during Exercise Luce Belle in June 1990.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The results of the measurements of the noise levels of F15 and F16 aircraft participating in Exercise Luce Belle were published in the National Physical Laboratory report RSA (Ext.) 16, dated February 1991. The F111 aircraft did not participate in the exercise.

  Fast Jet Activity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the fast jet activity which has been taking place between West Freugh airfield and the Carsphairn-New Galloway area since 18 November; how many and what types of aircraft are taking part; what is the minimum permitted height during these operations; and what increase there has been in the level of such activity.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Since 18 November 1991 the following groups of fast jet aircraft have operated from West Freugh and flown in the Carsphairn-New Galloway area:

  Date

  Aircraft

  Purpose of activity

  18–22 November 1991

  6 RAF Harriers

  6 RAF Tornados

  Routine training

  3–7 February 1992

  5 RN Sea Harriers

  Routine training

  10–21 February 1992

  2 RAF Tornados

  3 RAF Harriers

  I RAF Jaguar

  Trials

  All aircraft were authorised to fly to a minimum permitted height of 250 ft. The three sets of activity were not related.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the statistics obtained during the survey of low flying by RAF strike command in early 1989.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A representative sample of the statistics obtained from the survey of low flying begun by RAF strike command in 1989 will be provided to the Select Committee on Defence later this year.
  281
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will prohibit the use of fixed low-flying routes in the United Kingdom by front-line strike/attack/ reconnaissance units.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to providing continuation training at 100 ft for RAF Tornado crews while deployed to the Gulf region.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Detailed arrangements for future deployments of RAF aircraft to the Gulf for training exercises will he the subject of discussions with the host nations concerned.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Royal Air Force's Harrier GR7s commenced night low-level training; and what decisions have been taken on the location of such training.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Harrier GR7 squadrons have not yet commenced night low-level training. This training will be distributed throughout the United Kingdom night low flying system and we expect to carry out some training overseas.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to monitor the selection of fixed low-level routes over the United Kingdom by front-line strike/attack/reconnaissance units.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Air crew use standard routes as little as possible. Where this is unavoidable, routes are varied as much as possible and standard routes are in any case replaced at regular intervals.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are made available in Turkey for RAF Jaguar crews deployed to Incirlik to maintain their qualifications to fly at 100 ft above ground level.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the maximum permitted speeds between initial point and simulated target, or during mock interceptions, while flying in the United Kingdom at 100 ft above ground level, for(a) Tornado aircraft, (b) Jaguar aircraft, (c) Harrier aircraft, (d) Hawk aircraft, (e) F4 aircraft and (f) Buccaneer aircraft; on what date these speed limits were introduced; which information channels or documents are used to communicate these speed limits to Royal Air Force pilots; and what advice has been given to the low flying complaints office concerning the communication of information on the new limits to the public.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  For the aircraft listed, the maximum permitted speeds between initial point and simulated target, or during mock interceptions, while flying in the United Kingdom at not less than 100 ft above ground level are as follows:

  Kts

  (a) Tornado

  500

  (b) Jaguar

  520

  (c) Harrier GR5/7

  420

  (d) Hawk

  480

  There is no routine requirement for the F4 and Buccaneer aircraft to fly below 250 feet in the United Kingdom low-flying system.
  282
  Speed restrictions for most of those aircraft concerned were introduced in January 1991 and are stated in the United Kingdom Military Low Flying Handbook. The advice given to the low flying complaints office on the communication of information related to low flying in the United Kingdom is a matter for my Department.

  Exercise Red Flag
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which location the eight RAF Tornados which took part in Exercise Red Flag 92–2 flew following completion of that exercise; and what training tasks were allocated to the aircraft following participation in Red Flag.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  On completion of Exercise Red Flag 92–2 eight RAF Tornados were recovered to Goose Bay, Canada. Following a period of maintenance the aircraft will undertake tactical training from 2 to 7 April prior to deployment to Alaska for Exercise Distant Frontier 92.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the air miss between a military aircraft and a civilian Cessna aircraft near Lockerbie on 8 November 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No such air miss has been reported.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the air miss incident between two RAF Tornados and a Spanish airliner off Gibraltar on 29 January.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Two RAF Tornado F3 aircraft participating in a naval air defence exercise in a notified exercise area, some 45 nautical miles south of Malaga, were directed by the Royal Navy vessel controlling them to identify an unknown aircraft transiting the exercise area. The RAF aircraft carried out a standard approach to identify the aircraft and, having established that it was a civil airliner, returned to their exercise task. The approach and visual identification were conducted in accordance with normal procedures in international airspace and within the notified exercise area. No air miss report has been received from the Spanish authorities.

  Hydrazine Incident, Yeovilton
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the hydrazine incident involving a Dutch air force F16 aircraft at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on 2 October 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The incident on 2 October 1991 occurred after a Dutch F16 aircraft operating in the vicinity of Yeovilton suffered a generator failure and was diverted to the airfield for a precautionary landing. The aircraft's emergency power unit had been engaged and in line with standard procedure a safety check was conducted to ensure that there had been no hydrazine fuel leak. On this occasion the unit had functioned correctly and there was no leak.

  RAF Machrihanish
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of unidentified supersonic radar contacts detected in the vicinity of RAF Machrihanish since January.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There have been no unidentified supersonic radar contacts detected in the vicinity of RAF Machrihanish since January.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent hypersonic flights from RAF Machrihanish; whether consent for such flights by United States aircraft is required from his Department; and what assessment he has made of the effects that might be experienced by people on the ground as a result of flights at Mach 3.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have been no such flights from RAF Machrihanish.

  Loch Trool
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature, purpose and title of the military exercise centred on Loch Trool, Galloway, in the week commencing 16 February; how many troops and aircraft took part; how many low-level sorties were carried out; and what information about the exercise was given to local Members of Parliament and the press.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Exercise Hardcore took place from 10 to 21 February and was a small-scale squadron training exercise involving attacks against targets on the ground together with intercepts by air defence aircraft. The exercise involved up to 120 men and 16 aircraft. Some 140 low-level sorties were flown during the exercise; some of these involved operational low flying which was notified to Members of Parliament in the normal way.

  Luce Bay Weapons Range
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when evening opening hours of the Luce Bay weapons range were last extended; and for what purpose.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Research Agency and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  RAF Training (Alaska)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all RAF training deployments to Alaska since 1988, stating, for each deployment,(a) the number and type of aircraft, (b) the location of the deployment, (c) the title of the exercise, (d) the types of training carried out during the deployment, (e) the number of sorties flown and (f) the additional cost of providing the training in Alaska rather than Europe or Labrador.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Four Tornado GR1 deployed to Eielson air force base For Exercise Distant Frontier in June 1990. The aircraft carried out tactical flying training and weapon practice. Forty-one sorties were flown. The information requested on additional costs is not readily indentifiable.

  Tornado Crew Training
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the requirement for RAF air defence Tornado crews to be trained at Goose Bay, Canada; and what is the additional cost of providing the training at that location.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A number of air defence crews will deploy from time to time to Goose Bay to carry out tactical training in association with RAF and other allied aircraft undertaking low-flying training at the base. The additional cost of providing air defence training for crews at Goose Bay cannot readily be identified.

  Exercise Luce Belle
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which airfield the US Air Force F-15 aircraft operated when participating in the Exercise Luce Belle noise measurement trial in June 1990.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The F-15 aircraft which took part in Exercise Luce Belle were based with the United States Air Force 36 tactical fighter wing, Bitburg, West Germany. Available records do not indicate the use of a United Kingdom airfield for refuelling.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Kenneth Carlisle
  A review of the pay and grading of civilian staff at the atomic weapons establishment has been undertaken by the management contractor—Hunting-Brae Ltd.—as part of the current AWE management contract. In general, pay and grading structures throughout the Department, including the Department's agencies, are kept under review in accordance with Government policy.

  Defence Procurement Budget
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence procurement budget was spent during 1990–91 in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I would expect the information the hon. Gentleman requests to be published in the 1992 "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many residential properties owned by his Department are(a) empty, (b) for sale on the open market, (c) intended for sale on the open market and (d) for sale to housing associations, in terms of numbers and percentage of stock.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,817 properties, representing 13·4 per cent. of the service married quarter stock, and 139 properties, representing 18·4 per cent. of the
  285
  MOD civilian housing stock, were vacant. Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly and more than 600 were being considered for disposal.

  A futher 2,774 properties, not included in the above and not all vacant, were in the process of sale. Of these, 296—11 per cent.—were for sale on the open market, 295—11 per cent.—were intended for sale on the open market, 1,002—36 per cent.—were for sale to housing associations or local authorities, 423—15 per cent.—were being sold through the services' discount scheme and 758—27 per cent.—were being offered for sale to tenants.

  United Nations (Military Staff Committee)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the actions which have resulted from the meetings of the United Nations Military Staff Committee since 1981, what changes to his policies have resulted from these meetings; and what proposals he has to change the work of the United Nations Military Staff Committee.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Nations military staff committee played a useful role in the Gulf crisis as a forum for informal exchanges on naval deployments to the region. We do not rule out the possibility of using it in other ways to reinforce the valuable and close co-operation that has evolved between the five permanent members of the Security Council. But we do not believe there is a case for the formal activation of the committee under article 47 of the United Nations charter.

  Diversification
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many seminars held in Britain on the diversification of defence industries his officials have attended in each quarter of the last two years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  One in the third quarter of 1990 on defence industry conversion in the former USSR.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice or information his officials have provided to the defence industry about diversification in the last two years.

  Mr. Carlisle
  None, because decisions affecting the future of a company, including its product lines, are best left to the commercial judgment of its management.

  Ex-RAF Pilots
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to increase the number of ex-RAF pilots joining the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the RAF Volunteer Reserve.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no proposals to increase the number of ex-RAF pilots joining the Royal Auxiliary Air Force or the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

  Operation Granby
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is now in a position to state the additional maintenance costs that were incurred for British military equipment used during Operation Granby.
  286
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The additional defence costs of Operation Granby, include an estimated sum of around £550 million for additional maintenance.

  Metallurgy
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records were kept by his Department of the two telephone conversations that took place between Walter Somers Ltd. and his Department's metallurgical expert on 16 and 22 June 1988.

  Mr. Carlisle
  The metallurgical expert made notes of his telephone conversations.

  Housing Task Force
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to setting up a housing task force prior to August 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence referred in the White Paper "Britain's Army for the 90s" to his intention to set up a task group to bring service housing up to date with developments in the community. The housing task force was established shortly thereafter.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the terms of reference of the housing task force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The terms of reference of the task force were to review the arrangements for service housing, building on work already undertaken by the Department and to identify any other practical initiatives which should be taken, with a view to ultimately developing a comprehensive scheme for service housing. To this end, the task force was to:

  (a) assess the extra steps which should be taken to help those leaving the services over the next three to four years.

  (b) address ways of building quickly on initiatives that had already been devised to encourage home ownership by the services.

  (c) examine other options to put service men and women on the housing ladder as a normal part of their career pattern.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he informed(a) the Association of District Councils, (b) the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and (c) the Association of County Councils of the contents of his briefing on the work of the housing task force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Earl of Arran hopes shortly to meet representatives of local authority associations in England, Wales and Scotland together with my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to discuss the Government announcements on housing the armed forces.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to be able to conclude his considerations of the housing task force recommendation.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 24 February,Official Report, column 395.

  Budgets
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current budgets of all the higher level budget holders with the exception of GOC Northern Ireland, DG General Intelligence (Eurasia), DG Management and Support of Intelligence, DG of Strategic and Technical Intelligence and DG Intelligence (Rest of World).

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  Commander· Training and Reserve Forces Royal Marines

  50·743

  Major General Royal Marines, Headquarters Commando Forces

  82·459

  Assistant Under Secretary of State (Naval Personnel)

  2·099

  Director General of Naval Personal Services

  3·758

  Naval Secretary

  3·952

  Medical Director General (Navy)

  38·816

  Director General of Naval Manpower and Training

  41·492

  Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff

  15·567

  Director General Aircraft (Navy)

  44·385

  Director General Ship Refitting

  483·695

  Director General of Supplies and Transport (Naval)

  975·083

  Director General Fleet Support Policy and Services

  346·812

  Hydrographer of the Navy

  7·976

  Assistant Under Secretary of State (Fleet Support)

  -33·828

  Flag Officer Portsmouth

  115·773

  Flag Office Scotland and Northern Ireland

  42·448

  Flag Officer Plymouth

  89·378

  Naval Base Commander Portland

  12·989

  Naval Base Commander Clyde

  65·690

  Captain, Training Naval Home Command

  137·765

  Chief Staff Officer Reserves

  29·491

  Flag Officer Naval Aviation

  204·162

  Chief of Staff, Headquarters Commander in Chief Fleet

  78·609

  Flag Officer Surface Fleet

  265·323

  Flag Officer Submarines

  133·326

  Commodore Minor War Vessels

  23·308

  Commander United Kingdom Field Army

  1,131·256

  Inspector General Doctrine and Training

  471·935

  Assistant Chief of Staff, General Staff Division 1,Headquarters British Army of the Rhine

  117·100

  Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters British Army of the Rhine, General Staff Division 3

  1,023·800

  Assistant Chief of Staff, General Staff Division 4, Headquarters British Army of the Rhine

  551·900

  Director General Army Manning and Recruiting

  94·788

  Director General of Personal Services (Army)

  23·579

  Director General Logistic Policy (Army)

  488·146

  Director General of Transport and Movements

  105·413

  Director General of Ordnance Services

  259·476

  Director General of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

  81·433

  Director General Territorial Army and Organisation

  98·418

  Director General Military Survey

  40·317

  Director General Command, Control, Communication and Information Systems (Army)

  14·298

  Director General of Support Management

  1,045·495

  Director General of Support Services

  199·614

  Director General (Policy and Planning)—National Air Traffic Services

  37·535

  Air Secretary

  142·987

  Air Officer Commanding 1 Group

  532·234

  Air Officer Commanding 11 Group

  359·725

  Air Officer Commanding 18 Group

  210·097

  Air Officer Administration Headquarters Strike Command

  56·148

  Air Officer Training, Headquarters Royal Air Force Support Command

  299·624

  288

  £million

  Air Officer Maintenance, Headquarters Royal Air Force Support Command

  311·308

  Air Officer Administration, Headquarters Royal Air Force Support Command

  171·011

  Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Programmes and Personnel)

  42·385

  Deputy Under Secretary of State (Policy)

  10·568

  Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Systems)

  122·853

  Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Commitments)

  402·029

  Deputy Under Secretary of State (Civilian Management)

  547·840

  Deputy Under Secretary of State (Finance)

  321·749

  Deputy Under Secretary of State (Personnel and Logistics)

  168·834

  Deputy Under Secretary of State (Resources and Programmes)

  7·264

  Assistant Chief Scientific Adviser (Capabilities)

  4·428

  Assistant Chief Scientific Adviser (Research)

  8·810

  Assistant Chief Scientific Adviser (Projects)

  0·907

  Assistant Chief Scientific Adviser (Nuclear)

  0·560

  Director of Strategic Defence Initiative Participation Office

  0·743

  Director Operations Meteorological Office

  40·222

  Director Commercial Services Meteorological Office

  2·182

  Director Finance and Administration Meteorological Office

  18·407

  Director Research Meteorological Office

  5·189

  Controller of the Navy

  112·973

  Master General of the Ordnance

  89·006

  Controller Aircraft

  622·627

  Deputy Under Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)

  155·411

  Head of Defence Export Services

  7·317

  Managing Director Military and Aerospace Divisions Defence Research Agency

  348·647

  Managing Director Electronics Division Defence Research Agency

  123·211

  Managing Director Maritime Division Defence Research Agency

  157·633

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the planned budgets for all higher level budget holders in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and (c) 1994–95, with the exception of GOC Northern Ireland, DG General Intelligence (Eurasia), DG Management and Support of Intelligence, DG of Strategic and Technical Intelligence and DG Intelligence (Rest of World).

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This information is derived from the long-term costing. It is not our practice to provide such details.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters are currently vacant but not awaiting major works in each region, as at 3 December.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1991, a total of 8,333 service married quarters were vacant but not awaiting major works.

  The regional breakdown is as follows:

  Region

  Total vacant excluding those awaiting major works

  Northern

  42

  Yorkshire

  680

  East Midlands

  482

  East Anglia

  511

  South East

  3,288

  South West

  1,480

  West Midlands

  300

  289

  Region

  Total vacant excluding those awaiting major works

  North West

  134

  Wales

  216

  Scotland

  811

  Northern Ireland

  389

  Total

  8,333

  Many of these properties were undergoing major works or modernisation, some were already allotted to service

  15 January 1979

  15 January 1980

  15 April 1981

  15 April 1982

  15 April 1983

  15 April 1984

  15 January 1985

  31 March 1986

  31 March 1987

  31 March 1988

  31 March 1989

  31 March 1990

  31 March 1991

  Northern

  202

  193

  164

  153

  160

  154

  186

  122

  133

  146

  136

  79

  68

  Yorkshire

  1,681

  1,792

  1,520

  1,599

  1,366

  1,091

  1,414

  1,298

  1,329

  948

  1,164

  755

  673

  North West

  411

  401

  374

  149

  141

  148

  116

  163

  149

  153

  160

  136

  112

  South East

  7,280

  6,991

  4,438

  4,731

  5,195

  4,632

  5,365

  4,814

  5,856

  5,322

  4,905

  4,172

  3,532

  South West

  4,863

  4,863

  3,162

  2,027

  2,297

  1,970

  2,395

  2,777

  3,195

  3,251

  2,627

  1,601

  1,622

  East Anglia

  1,819

  1,864

  1,400

  1,226

  1,126

  1,042

  907

  675

  902

  1,015

  905

  636

  885

  East Midlands

  2,092

  1,705

  1,291

  1,405

  1,745

  1,777

  1,565

  1,422

  1,172

  1,423

  1,455

  859

  698

  West Midlands

  1,090

  1,013

  419

  474

  547

  444

  599

  556

  790

  745

  665

  361

  303

  Wales

  506

  538

  291

  260

  350

  335

  277

  337

  383

  390

  514

  423

  391

  Scotland

  1,405

  1,569

  1,364

  1,064

  996

  976

  1,133

  1,440

  1,492

  1,452

  1,666

  1,427

  1,295

  Northern Ireland

  297

  500

  206

  138

  136

  100

  212

  272

  326

  383

  538

  621

  534

  Total

  21,646

  21,429

  14,629

  13,226

  14,059

  12,669

  14,169

  13,876

  15,727

  15,228

  14,735

  11,070

  10,113

  SSN 20
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what details of information from the long-term costings regarding the SSN20 order he has supplied to the management of VSEL.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Private Housing
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 1991,Official Report, column 356, if he will change his policy relating to the holding of information on the private housing arrangements or plans of those Army personnel who have applied for redundancy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As the Army redundancy programme has developed, information has been assembled on the current housing position, and future intentions, of some 5,200 Army personnel who indicated that they would be willing to be considered for selection. Eighty per cent. completed and returned a questionnaire. Of these 49 per cent. already owned their homes and another 33 per cent. indicated that it was their intention to purchase one.

  Emergency Tours
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 November 1991,Official Report, column 86, how many units have deployed on an emergency tour after an interval of less than two years, in each year between 1980 and 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following number of infantry battalions have undertaken emergency tours, either in whole or in part, at an interval of less than 24 months:290
  families who were due to move in shortly, and others were being considered for disposal. In addition, 1,560 properties were in the process of being sold.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 5 February, if he will provide the regional breakdown of the numbers of vacant married quarters in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The regional breakdown of the number of vacant married quarters in each year since 1979 is as follows. The reporting dates over the years vary due to changes in the accounting procedures.

  Number

  1980

  Nil

  1981

  Nil

  1982

  One

  1983

  Two

  1984

  Two

  1985

  One

  1986

  Seven

  1987

  Four

  1988

  One

  1989

  Two

  1990

  Two

  Redundancies
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of redundancies amongst his Department's civilian personnel that will result from "Options for Change".

  Mr. Hamilton
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has made clear, the number of MOD civilians is expected to fall in line with the 20 per cent. reduction in the size of the armed forces. It is too early to say exactly how many redundancies will be required.

  Procurement Costs
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 November,Official Report, column 648–49, how much of the procurement costs of (a) GWS26 vertical launch Sea Wolf missile system, (b) Spearfish torpedo, (c) TRIGAT medium-range missile, (d) Rapier field standard C and (e) EH101 ASW helicopter will be incurred in each year up to 1994–95.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not our practice to make such details public.

  Modernisation Programmes
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December,Official Report, column 385 what is the cost of the extensive modernisation programme planned for Tidworth garrison; and what other extensive modernisation programmes are currently planned for property belonging to his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  About £250 million is also planned for Aldershot. There are no other programmes currently planned of equivalent scale. Details of other current schemes can be found in the long-term project table section of the supply estimates.

  Royal William Yard
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to dispose of Royal William yard at Devonport dockyards; what is the current state of repair of the buildings at Royal William yard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  On current plans, Royal William yard will be surplus to Ministry of Defence requirements by the end of next year. We are currently examining options for disposal and hope to make a decision very soon. In the meantime, the buildings are being maintained.

  Special Saving Scheme
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the special saving scheme he is planning to help service personnel buy their own homes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The cost of the special savings scheme will depend upon how many service men take advantage of the scheme, and the period for which they save. When fully operational, it might cost up to £50 million a year. This will represent a new commitment for which additional provision will be made.

  WE177 Replacement
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number of procurement options for the possible replacement of the W E177 free-fall bomb that are currently being considered.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald) on 19 December 1991,Official Report, column 284.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will change his policy relating to ethnic monitoring of promotion within the services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Our policy relating to ethnic monitoring within the armed forces, including the monitoring of promotion, is currently under review and we shall be announcing the outcome of this review shortly.

  Resettlement Provision
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete his review of resettlement provision; and if he will make a statement.
  292
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the note mentioned in the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 24 February 1992 Official Report, column 395.

  Nuclear-powered Submarines
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the feasibility studies into SSN20 class nuclear-powered submarines were completed.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The studies into the then proposed SSN20 class were completed in 1989.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the first of class of a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines is currently expected to enter service by the end of the century; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The studies, which I announced in the debate on the Royal Navy on 27 June 1991,Official Report, column] 1181, into a second batch of Trafalgar class nuclear-powered submarines to replace the Swiftsure class are now under way. Subject to the outcome of these studies, the submarines could begin entering service around the turn of the century.

  Rapid Reaction Corps
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance from NATO he has taken into account in determining the proposed levels of spares holdings for the British units which will be deployed with the rapid reaction corps.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO guidance on stock levels is currently under review by member nations and NATO's military authorities and w ill be taken into account when it is approved.

  Logistic planning for the United Kingdom element of a rapid reaction corps is still in its early stages.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British units stationed in Germany as part of the proposed rapid reaction corps will be capable of more rapid deployment than those British units currently assigned to NATO as part of NORTHAG.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Precise readiness requirements for units assigned to the ACE rapid reaction corps have not yet been decided, but in general we would expect them to be less demanding than those that applied when we faced the possibility of surprise attack by Soviet forces stationed in eastern Europe.

  Steel Tubes, Iraq
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December,Official Report, column 383, what action was taken by his Department as a result of establishing that the steel tubes which Walter Somers Ltd. proposed to export to Iraq were almost certainly pressure vessels of some kind.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The discussions with Walter Somers Ltd. were undertaken following a request from the Department of Trade and Industry for advice on the
  293
  defence implications of the steel tubes which the company proposed to export to Iraq. Following these discussions the Department of Trade and Industry were informed that no military application could be established.

  Ceremonial Uniforms
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 87, what records are kept of contributions towards the cost of purchasing ceremonial uniforms.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Parachute Regiments
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 December,Official Report, column 285, whether he is now in a position to write to the hon. Member for Clackmannan regarding recruiting levels in the parachute regiments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 3 March 1992.

  Northern Ireland Tours
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 November,Official Report, column 86, what impact on the ability of units to react rapidly will result from units based in Germany undertaking a greater share of short, unaccompanied operational tours in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are confident that the Army will be able to maintain appropriate levels of readiness for NATO and national tasks.

  NATO Review
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the review of readiness and availability requirements for NATO forces has been completed; and what effect Operation Granby has had on that review.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Good progress is being made on NATO's continuing review of readiness and availability requirements and has already resulted in some relaxation in the readiness of NATO forces. Details are classified. Work is underway to complete the review and all relevant factors, including the lessons to be learnt from the Gulf conflict, are being taken into account.

  Information
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 1992,Official Report, column 329, what are the factors which determine whether it is appropriate to make available information on plans for and progress of individual projects.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Plans for significant new projects are normally announced when decisions to place contracts or invite tenders are made. Progress on major projects is reported regularly in the major projects statement and the defence equipment programme review.

  Homelessness
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1991,Official Report, column 386, what consideration has been given to his policy relating to the production of separate certification of impending discharge.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to my answer of 20 December 1991,Official Report, column 386.

  REFUGEES: CULTURAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
  REFUGEES: CULTURAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
  INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT COMPENSATION RECOVERY
  INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT COMPENSATION RECOVERY
  FARMLINK PROJECT
  FARMLINK PROJECT
  BT SHARE OFFER: COSTS
  BT SHARE OFFER: COSTS
  ROYAL PARKS: CONTRACTORS' STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS
  ROYAL PARKS: CONTRACTORS' STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS
  LONDON ZOO: LISTED BUILDING MAINTENANCE
  LONDON ZOO: LISTED BUILDING MAINTENANCE
  BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD: FUNDING
  BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD: FUNDING